Evidence for economic convergence in the EU: the analysis of past EU enlargements

This paper discusses the evidence of economic convergence in the European Union during the past several decades and consecutive EU enlargements. We cluster different member states of the European Union by groups representing countries that joined the EU together and analyze whether these clusters converge against each other. In addition, we analyse whether there is a convergence within different groups of countries. We employ real GDP per capita in its seasonally adjusted version as the measure of convergence. Our results reveal that there is not much evidence about the existence of economic convergence within the European Union. First published online: 21 May 201

The Potential of Satellite Imagery for Surveying Whales

The emergence of very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery (less than 1 m spatial resolution) is creating new opportunities within the fields of ecology and conservation biology. The advancement of sub-meter resolution imagery has provided greater confidence in the detection and identification of features on the ground, broadening the realm of possible research questions. To date, VHR imagery studies have largely focused on terrestrial environments; however, there has been incremental progress in the last two decades for using this technology to detect cetaceans. With advances in computational power and sensor resolution, the feasibility of broad-scale VHR ocean surveys using VHR satellite imagery with automated detection and classification processes has increased. Initial attempts at automated surveys are showing promising results, but further development is necessary to ensure reliability. Here we discuss the future directions in which VHR satellite imagery might be used to address urgent questions in whale conservation. We highlight the current challenges to automated detection and to extending the use of this technology to all oceans and various whale species. To achieve basin-scale marine surveys, currently not feasible with any traditional surveying methods (including boat-based and aerial surveys), future research requires a collaborative effort between biology, computation science, and engineering to overcome the present challenges to this platform’s use

Transcriptional Response of Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Human Respiratory Mucus

Adaptation of bacterial pathogens to a host can lead to the selection and accumulation of specific mutations in their genomes with profound effects on the overall physiology and virulence of the organisms. The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of colonizing the respiratory tract of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), where it undergoes evolution to optimize survival as a persistent chronic human colonizer. The transcriptome of a host-adapted, alginate-overproducing isolate from a CF patient was determined following growth of the bacteria in the presence of human respiratory mucus. This stable mucoid strain responded to a number of regulatory inputs from the mucus, resulting in an unexpected repression of alginate production. Mucus in the medium also induced the production of catalases and additional peroxide-detoxifying enzymes and caused reorganization of pathways of energy generation. A specific antibacterial type VI secretion system was also induced in mucus-grown cells. Finally, a group of small regulatory RNAs was identified and a fraction of these were mucus regulated. This report provides a snapshot of responses in a pathogen adapted to a human host through assimilation of regulatory signals from tissues, optimizing its long-term survival potential

Identification of two gene clusters (atuABCDEFGH, liuRABCDE) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and their functional analysis in the metabolism of methyl-branched compounds

Azyklische Terpene wie Citronellol und Geraniol sind in der Natur weit verbreitete Geruchsstoffe, die aufgrund ihrer β-methylverzweigten Struktur von Mikroorganismen nur schwer metabolisiert werden können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der Abbau azyklischer Terpene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 untersucht. 1. Durch Insertionsmutagenesen wurden zwei Gencluster identifiziert, die für die meisten der in früheren biochemischen Beiträgen postulierten Abbauschritte codieren. Das erste Gencluster besteht aus acht Genen und einem potentiellen Regulatorgen und entspricht den Genprodukten der ORF PA2885 bis PA2993 der P. aeruginosa PAO1 Datenbank. Das zweite Gencluster (gny-Cluster), welches durch Diaz-Perez und Mitarbeiter identifiziert wurde [DIAZ-PEREZ et al. (2004), Appl Environ Microbiol 70: 5102] besteht aus fünf Genen und einem vermeintlichen Regulatorgen und entspricht den Genprodukten der ORF PA2016 bis PA2011. 2. Insertionen im ersten Gencluster (PA2890 und PA2891) führten zu einem Verlust des Wachstums auf azyklischen Terpenen, die Fähigkeit zum Wachstum auf Leucin und Isovaleriansäure war nicht beeinträchtigt. Insertionen im zweiten Gencluster (PA2012 und PA2013) führten hingegen zum Verlust des Wachstums sowohl auf azyklischen Terpenen (Citronellol, Geraniol) als auch auf Leucin und Isovaleriansäure. Das erste Gencluster wurde als atu- (acyclic terpene utilization) Gencluster bezeichnet, das gny-Cluster wurde in das liu- (leucine/isovalerate utilization) Gencluster umbenannt. 3. Der aus biochemischen Untersuchungen postulierte Abbauweg von Citronellol enthält zwei charakteristische Carboxylierungsschritte (Geranyl-CoA-Carboxylase [GCase] und Methylcrotonyl-CoA-Carboxylase [MCase]). Diese wandeln die β-Methylverzweigungen in Acetatseitengruppen um, welche in anschließenden enzymatischen Reaktionen abgespalten werden. Beide Carboxylasen wurden durch Avidin-Affinitätschromatographie aus Zellextrakten gereinigt und durch Trypsin-Fingerprint-Massenspektrometrie als Genprodukte von PA2888/PA2891 (atuD/atuF; GCase) bzw. als Genprodukte von PA2014/PA2012 (liuB/liuD; MCase) eindeutig identifiziert. Durch Western-Blot Analysen und Aktivitätsbestimmungen der GCase und MCase wurde bestätigt, dass die GCase (AtuF) nur beim Wachstum auf Citronellol, die MCase (LiuD) sowohl beim Wachstum auf Citronellol als auch beim Wachstum auf Leucin bzw. Isovaleriansäure induziert wurde. 4. Für die übrigen Genprodukte des atu- und liu-Genclusters konnten die möglichen biochemischen Funktionen durch Datenbankvergleiche vorhergesagt werden. 5. Vorausgesagte Genprodukte mit hohen Ähnlichkeiten zu den Genprodukten des liu-Clusters konnten in anderen Pseudomonaden (P. putida KT2440, P. fluorescens Pf-5, P. syringae tomato DC3000) nachgewiesen werden. Vorausgesagte Proteine mit hohen Ähnlichkeiten zu den Genprodukten des atu-Clusters konnten nur in P. fluorescens Pf-5 festgestellt werden, der als einziger dieser Pseudomonaden in der Lage ist, Citronellol als Kohlenstoffquelle zu verwerten. 6. Das atu-Cluster aus P. aeruginosa PAO1 konnte in die Pseudomonaden P. putida, P. fluorescens GK13 und P. oleovorans übertragen werden. Keiner dieser rekombinanten Stämme war anschließend in der Lage, Citronellol und Geraniol als Kohlenstoffquelle verwerten, so dass offenbar noch weitere, bislang unbekannte Gene für einen funktionellen Abbauweg notwendig sind. 7. Die Untersuchungen von weiteren Transposoninsertionsmutanten und Hemmversuche mit Wolframat ergaben, dass die Oxidation von Geraniol über molybdänabhängige Schritte verläuft, und somit unterschiedlich zur Oxidation von Citronellol ist. Weiterhin zeigte sich, dass das moeA2-Gen (ORF PA3028), welches an der Molybdäncofaktor-Biosynthese beteiligt ist, für die Verwertung von Geraniol essentiell ist.Acyclic terpenes like citronellol and geraniol are widespread odours in nature which are difficult to metabolize for microorganisms due to their β-methyl branched structures. Degradation of acyclic terpenes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was investigated in the present work. 1. Two gene clusters were identified by insertion mutagenesis, which code for the most degradation steps postulated in earlier biochemical studies. The first gene cluster is composed of eight genes and one potential regulator gene and corresponds to the gene products of ORF PA2885 to PA2893 of the P. aeruginosa PAO1 database. The second gene cluster (gny-cluster), which was independently identified by Diaz-Perez and coworkes [DIAZ-PEREZ et al. (2004), Appl Environ Microbiol 70: 5102] and by me, contains five genes and a probable regulator gene and corresponds to the gene products of ORF PA2016 to PA2011. 2. Insertions in the first gene cluster (PA2890 and PA2891) resulted in loss of ability to utilize and to grow on acyclic terpenes while growth on leucine and isovalerate was not affected in the respective mutants. Insertions in the second gene cluster (PA2012 and PA2013) resulted in loss of growth on both acyclic terpenes (citronellol, geraniol) and on leucine and isovalerate. The first gene cluster was named as atu- (acyclic terpene utilization) cluster, the gny-cluster was renamed liu- (leucine/isovalerate utilization) cluster. 3. The degradation pathway of citronellol contains two characteristic carboxylation steps (geranyl-CoA carboxylase [GCase] and methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase [MCase]). These carboxylation steps convert the β-methyl branched group of geranyl-CoA and methylcrotonyl-CoA to acetate side chains which are cleaved off in subsequent enzymatic steps. Both carboxylases were purified from crude extracts by avidin-affinity chromatography and were unequivocally identified as gene products of PA2888/PA2891 (atuD/atuF; GCase) and gene products of PA2014/PA2012 (liuB/liuD; MCase) by trypsin-fingerprint-mass spectrometry, respectively. Activity determinations of GCase and MCase as well as Western blot analysis confirmed that GCase was only induced by growth on citronellol. MCase was induced by growth on citronellol as well as on leucine and isovalerate, respectively. 4. Plausible biochemical functions of the other gene products from the atu- and liu- gene clusters were predicted by database analysis. 5. Predicted gene products with high similarity to gene products of the liu cluster were found in different pseudomonads (P. putida KT2440, P. fluorescens Pf-5, P. syringae tomato DC3000). Predicted proteins with high similarity to the atu cluster were only found in P. fluorescens PF-5. The latter is the only strain of these pseudomonads able to use citronellol as sole source of carbon and energy. 6. The atu-cluster of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was transferred to P. putida KT2440, P. fluorescens Pf-5 and P. syringae tomato DC3000. None of the recombinant strains was able to use citronellol and geraniol as carbon source. Thus, it is likely that so far other unknown genes are needed for a functional degradation pathway. 7. Investigations of additional transposon mutants of P. aeruginosa and inhibition tests with tungstate revealed that oxidation of geraniol but not of citronellol requires molybdenum-dependent steps and is therefore different to the oxidation of citronellol. This conclusion is in agreement with the finding that the moeA2 gene (PA3028), which is involved in molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis, is essential for geraniol degradation

Capacity Mechanisms in Future Electricity Markets

Striving for a more sustainable society is strongly dependent on the transition of the energy system. Concerning the power system, there are three pillars which are crucial for a sustainable transition: decarbonization, security of supply, and competitiveness. Trying to balance these three pillars is necessary but has presented a number of challenges. Emerging concerns about the long-term generation adequacy and market adequacy, as well as challenges to the short-term reliability can also be linked to the three pillars. The decarbonization of the power system has led to a paradigm shift from technologies with low investment cost and high fuel cost to new technologies with high investment cost and low fuel costs, as is the case for Renewable Energy Sources (RES). The question arises if the current market design can cope with this development. Incentives to invest in long-term generation adequacy have to emerge from a combination of market signals and decision-making of individual market participants. Yet, in current markets, the adequacy of the market signals is doubted. One proposed market mechanism to address these challenges is a complementary capacity mechanism (CM). A CM explicitly assigns a value to the contribution of the different technologies to the generation adequacy. The purpose of this doctoral research is to better understand the working principle and the outcome of market designs including a CM. The research examines the role of a complementary CM in existing energy market designs including markets for energy output, flexibility and RES. For that purpose, a modeling framework is developed. By means of this framework, different CM implementation concepts, including capacity markets and strategic reserves, can be analyzed. Each model assumes individual market participants, facing the decision to invest in generation technologies based on their accumulated revenues across the different markets. The capacity expansion problem is set up as a non-cooperative game of the market participants. The resulting equilibrium is analyzed with respect to shares and origins of revenues, impacts on the generation mix or total cost for consumers. Specifically three research questions are addressed. First, the model is applied to assess the shift of revenues between the markets. Analysis of the changing decision-making of market participants and the resulting generation mix is done. The findings show that with increasing RES shares, the role of energy-based markets is reduced and shifted to more specific market segments. It is noteworthy that different market settings affect both technologies participating in the CM, as well as other technologies. The latter are affected indirectly through changing prices in other market segments and changing decision-making of their competitors. In addition, the results indicate that revenues from CMs make scarcity pricing on energy-based markets partly or fully obsolete. Consequently, revenues for all technologies are less dependent on scarcity events. In the current case study cost differences between markets with and without CMs are small. Therefore further research should elaborate on market participation rules such that all technologies are able to valorize their contribution in terms of energy output, flexibility and availability. Second, the model is used to assess the impact of CMs, harmonized or not, in a multi-zonal market context. The case study focuses on efficient use of capacity assets by means of cross-border participation in the CMs and highlights the benefits and pitfalls of implicit and explicit participation models. Cross-border effects such as capacity leakage, shared generation adequacy, and cost distribution are taken into account. The findings indicate that differing incentives in the market zones cause a distortion of the market harmonization. This leads to disturbed investment signals and in the end to a less efficient market outcome. However, even with a harmonized approach of CMs, there is a chance of under- or overestimating the cross-border participation. The consequences can be either over-investments because of too conservative assumptions about non-domestic contribution, or insufficient reserve margins because of double counting of available capacity across multiple markets. Third, the focus of the research is shifted to the decision- making of individual market participants in the presence of uncertainties, which create major risks for capital-intensive investments. Risk-averse decision-making might lead to inadequate investments and might undermine long-term generation adequacy. The effect of CMs on risk-averse market participants is examined under different market settings. The results of the analysis show that CMs have a positive effect on the security of supply and the overall costs when market participants are risk-averse. This is due to the more stable investment signal. Furthermore, the investment signals from the CM remain sufficient, even at very high risk aversion. Finally, the results show that the positive effect of a CM cannot be achieved by increasing the price cap for energy in times of scarcity.nrpages: 228status: publishe

Technology specific remuneration for capacity to ensure generation adequacy

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Die deutsche Textilindustrie zwischen 1933 und 1939 : Staatsinterventionismus und ökonomische Rationalität

Bei der wirtschaftshistorischen Aufarbeitung des Nationalsozialismus wurde die Konsumgüterindustrie bislang vernachlässigt. Dabei ist gerade die umfassende staatliche Regulierung der Textilindustrie – wichtigster Vertreter dieses Sektors – höchst bedeutsam, da sie dem NS-Regime als wirtschaftspolitisches Experimentierfeld diente. Gleichwohl gelang es einer größeren Anzahl von Textilunternehmen, mit beachtlichem Gewinn zu wirtschaften. Entscheidend hierfür war die positive Reaktion auf ein staatlicherseits installiertes, an den Regimezielen orientiertes Anreizsystem, das eine Umgehung der rigiden Einschränkungen ermöglichte. Die Kehrseite der NS-Textilpolitik war aber eine seit 1937 bestehende qualitative und quantitative Unterversorgung der deutschen Bevölkerung

Evidence for economic convergence in the eu: the analysis of past eu enlargements

This paper discusses the evidence of economic convergence in the European Union during the past several decades and consecutive EU enlargements. We cluster different member states of the European Union by groups representing countries that joined the EU together and analyze whether these clusters converge against each other. In addition, we analyse whether there is a convergence within different groups of countries. We employ real GDP per capita in its seasonally adjusted version as the measure of convergence. Our results reveal that there is not much evidence about the existence of economic convergence within the European Union