Inequality in carbon intensity in EU-28 : analysis based on club convergence

This study examines the convergence properties of CO2 intensity in EU-28 countries, using panel data for the period 1990 to 2016. We use Phillips and Sul’s (2007) approach to test for CO2 intensity convergence and identify convergence clubs. In addition to the EU-28 members, we analyze the EU-15, and the new EU members (EU-new) that joined after 2004, as distinct groups for the periods 1990–2016, 1990–2004, and 2005–2016. Our results show no convergence to a single group among the EU countries during the full and two subsample periods. However, the convergence takes place within five to seven clubs for the EU-28 and within three to five clubs for the EU-15 and EU-new. There is no evidence of all members converging to a single club in either group or the three sub-periods examined. This study highlights the need for adopting new strategies considering club properties and for sustainable growth, which meets the EU-28 environmental regulation standards.http://link.springer.com/journal/113562020-02-01hj2019Economic

Water Impact Resistant and Antireflective Superhydrophobic Surfaces Fabricated by Spray Coating of Nanoparticles: Interface Engineering via End-Grafted Polymers

Fully transparent and water impact resistant superhydrophobic coatings are of great importance for a range of applications including photovoltaics, photonics, automotive windshields, and building windows. A widely utilized approach to fabricate such coatings involves solution-based deposition of hydrophobic nanoparticles. A central challenge is that these coatings do not simultaneously offer high levels of water repellency, perfect transparence, and water impact resistance. Here we demonstrate that end-grafted polymers present excellent interfaces for spray-coated hydrophobic nanoparticles and enable fabrication of water impact resistant and antireflective superhydrophobic coatings (SHPARCs). Depending on the backbone chemistry and thickness, end-grafted polymers uniquely interacted with the fluorinated nanoparticles, resulting in nanostructured films that provided reduction of reflective losses and protection from the impact of water droplets. Counterintuitively, substrates modified with end-grafted hydrophilic polymers exhibited high water impact resistance: the sliding angle of SHPARC on 12 nm thick end-grafted poly(ethylene glycol) layer was <2 degrees after exposure to 100000 water droplets. SHPARC increased the transparency of the glass substrate by similar to 5% through omnidirectional antireflectivity. We finally demonstrate application of SHPARC on a large area (156 x 156 mm(2)) silicon solar cell without significant (<0.23%) reduction of the power conversion efficiency, illustrating the promise of the presented approach in fabrication of self-cleaning photovoltaic modules

Late elimination of challenging idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from left ventricular summit by anatomical ablation

Ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) originating from left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT)/left ventricular summit (LVS) is challenging with considerable rate of failure. Recently, in a novel approach to ablation of these arrythmias, application of radiofrequency energy to anatomically opposite sites of presumed origin of arrythmia, has been associated with moderate procedure success. Although late elimination of PVCs that are persistent following an ablation procedure has been previously reported, this observation has not been studied sufficiently. In this report, firstly, we present three cases of lately eliminated LVS PVCs, then, we discuss possible mechanism of this observation and conclude that after an initial failed attempt of anatomic ablation, operators may choose a period of watchful waiting before attempting a redo procedure. Keywords: Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias, Radiofrequency, Coronary sinus, Left ventricular summit, Anatomical approac