Catalonia and European integration: A regionalist strategy for nationalist objectives.

This thesis examines the strategy employed by the Catalan nationalist movement in the late 1980s and 1990s to secure a greater role for sub-national authorities in the process of European integration. It includes an analysis of the relationship of the Generalitat, the government of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia, and particularly, Convergencia i Unio, the centre-right Catalan party in power since 1980, with the various actors and institutions central to the process of European integration. Thus, the Catalan nationalist movement has pursued a dual strategy to consolidate its participation in the process of European integration based on the one hand on a co-operative regionalist strategy and on the other, a bilateral nationalist strategy. A close examination of this dual strategy would suggest that there is a clear disenchantment among Catalan nationalists with the concept of "Europe of the Regions" and with the EU-wide efforts in the 1990s to secure a greater role for sub-national authorities

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

The reference site collaborative network of the european innovation partnership on active and healthy ageing

Seventy four Reference Sites of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) have been recognised by the European Commission in 2016 for their commitment to excellence in investing and scaling up innovative solutions for active and healthy ageing. The Reference Site Collaborative Network (RSCN) brings together the EIP on AHA Reference Sites awarded by the European Commission, and Candidate Reference Sites into a single forum. The overarching goals are to promote cooperation, share and transfer good practice and solutions in the development and scaling up of health and care strategies, policies and service delivery models, while at the same time supporting the action groups in their work. The RSCN aspires to be recognized by the EU Commission as the principal forum and authority representing all EIP on AHA Reference Sites. The RSCN will contribute to achieve the goals of the EIP on AHA by improving health and care outcomes for citizens across Europe, and the development of sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs

A Comparison of City Region Dynamics in the UK, Spain and Italy: More Similarities than Differences?

GIORDANO B. and ROLLER E. (2003) A comparison of city region dynamics in the UK, Spain and Italy: more similarities than differences?, Reg. Studies 37, 911-927. How relations between the city and the regional scales of governance will be framed has been largely ignored in the devolution debate in the UK, and especially in England, thus far. It is imperative, then, to compare the experiences of other European countries which share longer histories of devolution. This paper, therefore, focuses upon a comparison with the Italian and Spanish experiences, which are especially pertinent because local and regional authorities in both countries have wide-ranging powers. In both countries, however, the situation is often problematical and therefore important lessons can be drawn for the on-going situation in England, and the UK as a whole.GIORDANO B. et R OLLER E. (2003) Une comparaison de la dynamique urbano-regionale au Royaume-Uni, en Espagne et en Italie: y a-t-il plus de dissemblances que de ressemblances?, Reg. Studies 37, 911-927. Au coeur du debat au Royaume-Uni a propos de la regionalisation, on a fait peu d' attention jusqu'ici a la delimitation des relations entre les niveaux d'administration municipal et regional, surtout en Angleterre. Aussi est-il imperatif que l'on le compare aux experiences d'autres pays europeens dont l'histoire de la regionalisation remonte a plus loin. Ainsi, cet article cherche a le comparer aux experiences acquises en Italie et en Espagne qui y ont rapport vu les competences de grande envergure des administrations municipale et regionale dans ces deux pays. Toujours est-il que, dans ces deux pays, la situation s'ave re problematique. Donc il y a d'importantes lecons a en tirer pour ce qui est de la situation en vigueur en Angleterre, et au Royaume-Uni dans son ensemble.GIORDANO B. und R OLLER E. (2003) Ein Vergleich der Stadtregionendynamik im Vereinigten Konigreich, Spanien und Italien - mehr Ahnlichkeiten als Unterschiede?, Reg. Studies 37, 911-927. Wie Beziehungen zwischen Hauptstadt und regionalem Umfang der Regierungskompetenzen zu umreissen sind, ist bisher im UK und besonders in England in der Debatte um Dezentralisierung grosstenteils vernachlassigt worden. Es ist deshalb unbedingt geboten, die Erfahrungen anderer europaischer Lander mit einer langeren Geschichte der Dezentralisierung zum Vergleich heranzuziehen. Dieser Aufsatz konzentriert sich deshalb auf einen Vergleich zwischen in Italien und Spanien gemachten Erfahrungen, die besonders sachdienlich sind, weil in beiden Landern Orts - und Regionalverwaltungen weitreichende Machtbefugnisse haben. In beiden Landern ist die Lage jedoch oft problematisch, und wichtige Lehren konnen deshalb fur die gegenwartige Situation in England, und in UK uberhaupt, gezogen werden.Italy, Spain, England, Devolution, Local regional relations,

'T� para todos'? A comparison of the processes of devolution in Spain and the UK

This paper focuses upon a comparison of the experiences of regionalisation in Spain and the United Kingdom. Spain's process of devolution, initiated in the late 1980s, has led to an asymmetrical structure of devolution with certain regions, such as Catalonia and the Basque Country, acquiring more autonomy than others. However, the slogan 'caf� para todos ' (coffee for everyone) has in recent years been employed by Catalan and other nationalists to argue that the State of Autonomies has not respected the special status of Spain's historic communities and has diluted their claims for greater levels of self-government. It is precisely such a model of asymmetrical autonomy that has been adopted in the United Kingdom since 1997, the implications of which remain to be seen. As this paper explores, however, there are already signs emerging that the United Kingdom is following a similar trajectory to that in Spain, which is why the comparisons are particularly important and timely. Indeed, the authors argue that adopting a model of asymmetrical autonomy can lead, even at an early stage, to the emergence of regional identities in regions with no previous manifestations of regional consciousness, the rise in territorial tension after devolution, and the backlash by the historic regions against a 'one size fits all' or uniform approach towards devolution.

Regions in Covid-19 recovery

Covid-19 is undoubtedly a regional crisis, spatially uneven in its impacts. While it is too soon to talk about a transition ‘from pandemic to recovery’, with attention switching to regional development priorities and the implications of Covid-19 on regional policy, planning and development, increasingly we will need to focus on regions in their recovery phase. In this article we ask four leading researchers what this recovery phase will mean for regions. Opening the way for future discussion perspectives on regional economic recovery, resilience planning, building healthy and just places, and overcoming the ‘shadow’ pandemic indicate how this recovery phase is unfolding and what we would benefit from doing differently to ‘build back better’ and overcome ‘wicked problems’ preventing more inclusive, just and sustainable regional futures

Regions in Covid-19 recovery

Covid-19 is undoubtedly a regional crisis, spatially uneven in its impacts. While it is too soon to talk about a transition ‘from pandemic to recovery’, with attention switching to regional development priorities and the implications of Covid-19 on regional policy, planning, and development, increasingly we will need to focus on regions in their recovery phase. In this article we ask four leading researchers what this recovery phase will mean for regions. Opening the way for future discussion Perspectives on regional economic recovery, resilience planning, building healthy and just places, and overcoming the ‘shadow’ pandemic indicate how this recovery phase is unfolding and what we would benefit from doing differently to ‘build back better’ and overcome ‘wicked problems’ preventing more inclusive, just and sustainable regional futures