Reducing Rents from Energy Technology Adoption Programs by Exploiting Observable Information

In this CPB Discussion Paper, we study how regulators may improve upon the efficiency of their energy technology adoption programs by exploiting readily observable information to limit rent extraction by firms. Using panel data on 862 investment decisions in the Netherlands, we find that rent extraction is closely linked not only to technology characteristics, but also to the firm's capital budgetting technique. In particular, we find that rms are more likely to extract rent when either the technology's pay-back period or its required investment is lower, but less likely if they do not use a formal capital budgeting technique. Standard firm characteristics, such as size and sector, correlate with firms' use of capital budgeting techniques, thereby partly resolving the regulator's asymmetric information problem.

The preoperative cardiology consultation: Indications and risk modification

Background The cardiologist is regularly consulted preop-eratively by anaesthesiologists. However, insights into the efficiency and usefulness of these consultations are unclear. Methods This is a retrospective study of 24,174 preoperatively screened patients ≥18 years scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery, which resulted in 273 (1%) referrals to the cardiologist for further preoperative evaluation. Medical charts were reviewed for patient characteristics, main reason for referring, requested diagnostic tests, interventions, adjustment in medical therapy, 30-day mortality and major adverse cardiac events. Results The most common reason for consultation was the evaluation of a cardiac murmur (95 patients, 35%). In 167 (61%) patients, no change in therapy was initiated by the cardiologist. Six consultations (2%) led to invasive interventions (electrical cardioversion, percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery). On average, consultation delayed clearance for surgery by two weeks. Conclusion In most patients referred to the cardiologist after being screened at an outpatient anaesthesiology clinic, echocardiography is performed for ruling out specific conditions and to be sure that no further improvement can be made in the patient’s health. In the majority, no change in therapy was initiated by the cardiologist. A more careful consideration about the potential benefits of consulting must be made for every patient

Cantor Spectrum for Schr\"odinger Operators with Potentials arising from Generalized Skew-shifts

We consider continuous $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$-cocycles over a strictly ergodic homeomorphism which fibers over an almost periodic dynamical system (generalized skew-shifts). We prove that any cocycle which is not uniformly hyperbolic can be approximated by one which is conjugate to an $SO(2,\mathbb{R})$-cocycle. Using this, we show that if a cocycle's homotopy class does not display a certain obstruction to uniform hyperbolicity, then it can be $C^0$-perturbed to become uniformly hyperbolic. For cocycles arising from Schr\"odinger operators, the obstruction vanishes and we conclude that uniform hyperbolicity is dense, which implies that for a generic continuous potential, the spectrum of the corresponding Schr\"odinger operator is a Cantor set.Comment: Final version. To appear in Duke Mathematical Journa

The ab-anisotrophy of twinfree YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ films above and below T_c

High quality twin-free c-axis oriented YBa2Cu3O7 films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on NdGaO3. We find resistive anisotropies between 1 < a/b < 1.6. The resistive anisotropy above Tc appears to be correlated to the anisotropy in the critical current below Tc. The normal state properties of the chains along b seem to have a significant influence on the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7

The mechanism of the colour shift of astaxanthin in alpha-crustacyanin as investigated by C-13 MAS NMR and specific isotope enrichment

By selective isotope enrichment of astaxanthin, MAS NMR and semi-empirical modelling, ligand-protein interactions associated with the red shift in alpha-crustacyanin, the major blue astaxanthin binding carotenoprotein complex from the carapace of the lobster Homarus gammarus, have been analysed. C-13 Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR spectra were obtained after reconstitution with astaxanthins labelled in the centre of the molecule or at the two keto groups. The MAS data reveal electrostatic polarizations of the conjugated chain. In addition, solid state NMR results for pure unlabelled astaxanthin can be compared with natural abundance C-13 MAS data for canthaxanthin and beta-carotene, to address the effect of the ring functionalities on the electronic properties of the polyene chain. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to reconcile the MAS data with one of several simple and straightforward mechanisms for the colour shift. The results point towards a colour shift mechanism in which the astaxanthin may be doubly charged, possibly by a double protonation of the two ring keto groups.Bio-organic SynthesisSolid state NMR/Biophysical Organic Chemistr

Protein-chromophore interactions in α-crustacyanin, the major blue carotenoprotein from the carapace of the lobster, homarus gammarus a study by 13C magic angle spinning NMR

Bio-organic Synthesi

High knee loading in male adolescent pre-professional football players: Effects of a targeted training programme

Objective: To assess whether targeted neuromuscular exercises can decrease knee loading of adolescent pre-professional footballers with high knee loading as identified with the field-based Drop Vertical Jump Test (DVJT). Design: Prospective controlled trial, conducted between August and November 2016 at Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands. Methods: Pre-professional football players (aged 14–21 years) were evaluated at baseline and after 12 weeks follow-up with the field-based DVJT. The field-based DVJT is a standardised test in which a player drops from a box and jumps up immediately after landing; knee load is calculated based on five parameters. Players with high knee load (probability ≥ 0.75) from one club performed regular training(control group), and players with high knee load from another other club performed targeted neuromuscular exercises for 12 weeks (intervention group). The difference of change in knee load between both groups after 12 weeks was the primary outcome measure. Results: Of 107 eligible players, 75 had a high knee loading. Knee loading decreased in both groups after 12 weeks of training, but change in probability of high knee load was not significantly different between both groups (95% Confidence Interval [−0.012–0.082], p = 0.139). Conclusion: Targeted neuromuscular exercises had no additional effect in decreasing knee loading of adolescent male pre-professional football players compared to regular training. Trial registration number: The Netherlands Trial Register (ID number: 6044)