Smart Specialisation in EU and Chile, challenges and opportunities. Towards a transcontinental policy learning dialogue methodology.

The Smart Specialisation approach is being an inspiratory driver of regional innovation not only within the European Union but beyond. This paper elaborates on the Policy Learning Dialogue: Smart Specialisation in EU and Chile which took place at the Joint Research Centre, Seville (21st November 2016). The article showcases policy reflections and outcomes derived from a fruitful discussion between practitioners of regional innovation strategies in EU and Chile, smart specialisation platform staff and experts. This policy dialogue was part of the activities carried out by the smart specialisation platform aiming at providing evidence-based support to policy makers and stakeholders of smart specialisation through common reflections focused on cooperation dynamics and joint learning.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Smart Specialisation, an innovation bridge between the EU and Latin America: Evidence and lessons from the International Urban Cooperation Programme

Since 2016, the International Urban Cooperation Programme has been a vehicle for cooperation between the European Union and Latin America on the topic of innovation for local and regional development. In this endeavour, the Smart Specialisation approach originally deployed in the EU, and its potential to foster localised, innovation-driven sustainable territorial development, have been a great source of inspiration. Building on the 20 regional pairings between regions from the EU and Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru), this Science for Policy Report analyses the outcomes and the lessons generated by transcontinental cooperation and examines the potential to enshrine the EU touch on Smart Specialisation in the innovation landscape of Latin America.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Symmetrical six-phase induction machines: a solution for multiphase direct control strategies

Six-phase induction machines are considered an interesting multiphase option because they can benefit from the well-known three-phase converter technology. These multiphase machines can be classified according to the spatial distribution of their windings into two main groups: asymmetrical and symmetrical six-phase machines. In the case of symmetrical sixphase machines, some sets of voltage vectors show an important advantage from the point of view of the - current mitigation. They provide an active production in the - plane with a completely null injection of - components. This fact is a desired feature for direct control strategies, such as standard model predictive control (MPC), where a single switching state is applied during the entire sampling period. Based on these statements, this work proposes an MPC strategy for symmetrical six-phase induction machines using voltage vectors with null - voltage production in order to obtain the flux/torque generation with minimum - currents. Simulated results have been included to validate the goodness of the developed control scheme.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Good practices for smart specialisation in energy: S3 Working paper Series No. 16/2018

The EU Member States and regions are currently implementing the priorities of their Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation and their investments in sustainable energy from European Structural and Investment Funds under Thematic Objectives 4 and 7. This working paper is part of the policy support provided by the Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy (S3PEnergy) to EU regions and Member States in the implementation phase of their Smart Specialisation Strategies. In order to guide their work, the S3PEnergy has elaborated an inductive approach to identify good examples on smart specialisation and energy priorities implementation and on the use of Cohesion Policy funds for sustainable energy. The paper is organised in three main sections. The first describes a method for the identification of good practices, including the definition of a good practice in the frame of smart specialisation and energy, and the criteria used to identify good examples (under three categories: necessary, relevant and optional criteria). The second section elaborates a pilot exercise to put in practice this methodology and includes an initial catalogue of 11 demonstration cases of good practices. The third section draws the main lessons learnt from this pilot exercise whereas the conclusion provides insights to practitioners of smart specialisation.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Smart Specialisation in the world, an EU policy approach helping to discover innovation globally

The first global workshop on Smart Specialisation was organised in Seville on 25 September 2018. This workshop has showcased the variety of experiences and interests generated by Smart Specialisation on the five continents and represented a first step towards the creation of an international community of Smart Specialisation. Building on the outcomes and lessons from this event, the present Science for Policy report brings together experiences, policy aspects, challenges and opportunities gravitating around the topic of Smart Specialisation worldwide, and elaborates on the further international potential of the Smart Specialisation concept and approach.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Association between a Mediterranean lifestyle and growth differentiation factor 15: The seniors ENRICA-2 cohort

Background: Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) is a marker of inflammation and oxidative stress that has been associated with multiple age-related chronic diseases. Since lifestyle is key for preventing these adverse health outcomes, we examined the association between a Mediterranean lifestyle and GDF-15 serum concentrations in Spanish older adults. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from 2502 older adults participating in the Seniors ENRICA-2 cohort. Adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed with the 27-item MEDLIFE index, divided into three blocks: 1) "Mediterranean food consumption, 2) Mediterranean dietary habits, 3) Physical activity, rest, social habits, and conviviality". Analyses of the association between the MEFLIFE index and GDF-15 concentrations were performed using multivariable linear regression models adjusting for the main potential confounders. Results: The MEDLIFE index was inversely associated with GDF-15. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of the MEDLIFE score, GDF-15 mean percentage differences (95% CI) were -3.0% (-8.0, 2.3) for the second quartile, -8.7% (-13.0, -4.1) for the third quartile, and -10.1% (-15.0, -4.9) for the fourth quartile (p-trend<0.001). Block 3 of MEDLIFE, and particularly doing sufficient physical activity, adequate sleep duration, and participating in collective sports, was individually linked to lower concentrations of GDF-15. Results remained similar after excluding participants with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or obesity. Conclusions: A Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with reduced levels of GDF-15, suggesting that a combination of multiple lifestyles may be an integral approach to reduce chronic inflammation and disease burden in older adults.This work was supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III; the Secretary of R+D+I; the European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund (FIS grants 19/319, 20/00896); the National Plan on Drugs (grant 2020/17); Fundación Soria Melguizo (MITOFUN project); Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RYC 2018-02069I to MSP); Universidad Autonóma de Madrid (FPI contract to JMR); FACINGLCOVID-CM project, Funding REACT EU Program (Comunidad de Madrid, European Regional Development Fund). Reagents for measuring Growth Differentiation Factor 15 have been provided by Roche Diagnostics International through a Research Agreement with the FUAM (Fundación de la Universidad Autonóma de Madrid). The funding agencies had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation or the decision to submit this manuscript for publication.S

Prognostic model for early acute rejection after liver transplantation

Hepatic graft rejection is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT), with a maximum incidence within the first weeks. The identification of high-risk patients for early acute rejection (EAR) might be useful for clinicians. A series of 133 liver graft recipients treated with calcineurin inhibitors was retrospectively assessed to identify predisposing factors for EAR and develop a mathematical model to predict the individual risk of each patient. The incidence of EAR (< or =45 days after LT) was 35.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that recipient age, underlying liver disease, and Child's class before LT were independently associated with the development of EAR. Combining these 3 variables, the following risk score for the development of EAR was obtained: EAR score [F(x)] = 2.44 + (1.14 x hepatitis C virus cirrhosis) + (2.78 x immunologic cirrhosis) + (2.51 x metabolic cirrhosis)--(0.08 x recipient age in years) + (1.65 x Child's class A) [corrected]. Risk for rejection = e(F(x))/1 + e(F(x)). The combination of age, cause of liver disease, and Child's class may allow us to predict the risk for EAR

Liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients with diabetes mellitus: Midterm results, survival, and adverse events

Liver cirrhosis is frequently associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), and this metabolic complication is also frequent after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of our study is to investigate which factors are associated with DM before and after OLT and their impact on post-OLT evolution. We evaluated the prevalence of DM among 115 liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis and assessed their evolution after OLT (median follow-up, 41 months). Sixteen candidates had DM requiring pharmacological therapy (group A), 45 candidates had DM controlled with diet (group B), and 54 candidates did not have DM (group C). One-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 100% and 100% for group A, 91% and 85% for group B, and 77% and 74% for group C, respectively (P <.03). Post-OLT DM was more frequent in group A. The incidence of other metabolic complications, major infections, rejection, and arterial hypertension; the need for hospitalization; and renal and graft function of patients in groups A, B, and C were similar. The only risk factor for DM 1 year after OLT on multivariate analysis was pre-OLT DM requiring pharmacological treatment. The incidence of complications, need for hospitalization, and renal and graft function 1 year after OLT for patients with post-OLT DM were similar to those of patients without post-OLT DM. In conclusion, patients with cirrhosis who have DM have a greater risk for post-OLT DM, but their midterm survival is not worse than the survival of those without DM

Study and Evolution of the Dune Field of La Banya Spit in Ebro Delta (Spain) Using LiDAR Data and GPR

La Banya spit, located at the south of the River Ebro Delta, is a sandy formation, developed by annexation of bars forming successive beach ridges, which are oriented and modeled by the eastern and southern waves. The initial ridges run parallel to the coastline, and above them small dunes developed, the crests of which are oriented by dominant winds, forming foredune ridges and barchans. This study attempted to test a number of techniques in order to understand the dune dynamic on this coastal spit between 2004 and 2012: LiDAR data were used to reconstruct changes to the surface and volume of the barchan dunes and foredunes; ground-penetrating radar was applied to obtain an image of their internal structure, which would help to understand their recent evolution. GPS data taken on the field, together with application of GIS techniques, made possible the combination of results and their comparison. The results showed a different trend between the barchan dunes and the foredunes. While the barchan dunes increased in area and volume between 2004 and 2012, the foredunes lost thickness. This was also reflected in the radargrams: the barchan dunes showed reflectors related to the growth of the foresets while those associated with foredunes presented truncations associated with storm events. However, the global balance of dune occupation for the period 2004-2012 was positive

Implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies: A Handbook

Smart Specialisation represents the most comprehensive industrial policy experiment being implemented in Europe. Conceived within the reformed Cohesion policy of the European Commission, Smart Specialisation is a place-based policy promoting economic transformation and investment in innovative activities in selected areas of the socio-economic system in order to achieve a smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. Drawing on empirical evidence, the Smart Specialisation Implementation Handbook is targeted at policy-makers and regional development professionals who are crafting their innovation policy according to a common set of principles and methodologies. The handbook aims at taking stock of the Smart Specialisation experience and presenting its current state of the art, both in terms of conceptual developments and practical implementation. It addresses five key milestones of the implementation process: 1) The Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) cycle: from priority selection to strategy implementation 2) Good governance: principles and challenges 3) From priorities to projects: selection criteria and selection process 4) Transnational cooperation and value chains 5) MonitoringJRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen