Regional performance in the Research, Innovation and Competitiveness Priorities of the Energy Union

The Energy Union is one of the 10 political priorities of the current Commission; and comprises five closely interlinked dimensions, the fifth of which addresses research, innovation and competitiveness (RIC). Trends in patents are among the key performance indicators monitored annually to evaluate the contribution of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) to the objectives of the Energy Union in a quantifiable way, as part of the reporting on the State of the Energy Union. At regional level, the Commission has called on the relevant authorities to develop smart specialisation strategies for research and innovation, encouraging all European regions to identify their areas of competitive advantage, where research and innovation investment under cohesion policy could be prioritised. This document provides an overview of regional performance in the Research, Innovation and Competitiveness Priorities of the Energy Union through maps.JRC.C.7-Knowledge for the Energy Unio

An Atypical Form of αB-crystallin Is Present in High Concentration in Some Human Cataractous Lenses IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ABERRANT N- AND C-TERMINAL PROCESSING

Two unique polypeptides, 22.4 and 16.4 kDa, were prominent in some human cataracts. Both proteins were identified as modified forms of the small heat shock protein, αB-crystallin. The concentration of total αB-crystallin in most of these cataracts was significantly increased. The 22.4-kDa protein was subsequently designated as αBg. Mass spectrometric analyses of tryptic and Asp-N digests showed αBg is αB-crystallin minus the C-terminal lysine. αBg constituted 10–90% of the total αB-crystallin in these cataracts and was preferentially phosphorylated over the typical form of αB-crystallin. Human αBg and αB-crystallin were cloned and expressed inEscherichia coli. The differences in electrophoretic mobility and the large difference in native pI values suggest some structural differences exist. The chaperone-like activity of recombinant human αBg was comparable to that of recombinant human αB-crystallin in preventing the aggregation of lactalbumin induced by dithiothreitol. The mechanism involved in generating αBg is not known, but a premature termination of the αB-crystallin gene was ruled out by sequencing the polymerase chain reaction products of the last exon for the αB-crystallin gene from lenses containing αBg. The 16.4-kDa protein was an N-terminally truncated fragment of αBg. The high concentration of αB-crystallin in these cataracts is the first observation of this kind in human lenses

Evaluación frecuente, mentorías y rendimiento académico en el programa mentor de Aeronáuticos

El Programa Mentor de Aeronáuticos se inicia en 2004con una doble vertiente de actuación. Por un lado, Tutores y Mentores facilitan el proceso de integración de los Alumnos de Nuevo Ingreso en la vida universitaria; por otro, el estudio de las dificultades académicas de los Alumnos Tutelados conduce a Cambios Metodológicas en el Aula que ayudan a activar las relaciones profesor-alumno y a mejorar el rendimiento del esfuerzo de todos, profesores y alumnos. Se describen éstas experiencias, así como los resultados obtenidos en los últimos cuatro año

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Chinese foreign direct investments in the EU energy sector

The European Union (EU) is not only China’s biggest trading partner but also a crucial destination for Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI). During the past 15 years, Chinese FDI transactions have gained momentum, coinciding with the “Going Abroad”, “Going Global” and “Belt and Road” strategies. During the post-financial crisis, the EU became the fastest growing destination for Chinese FDI triggered by a friendly investment environment and the undervaluation of forcefully privatized assets. Investments in the EU Low Carbon Energy Technologies (LCET) sector reflect a commercial and political strategy led by the Chinese government, promoting sustainable energy development as well as securing the privileged position of state-owned energy companies. Chinese state-backed companies account for a large share of FDI transactions LCET in the EU. The recently adopted “Made in China 2025” strategy gives grounds for expecting an increase in strategically motivated FDI. The increase in investment has fuelled the debate whether the EU possess sufficient policy instruments to protect national and supranational interests and to control FDI.JRC.C.7-Knowledge for the Energy Unio

SETIS Research & Innovation country dashboards

Data on public and private R&D investments and patenting trends in the SET Plan Actions and Energy Union Priorities for the EU and per Member State.JRC.C.7-Knowledge for the Energy Unio

Does exposure to noise pollution influence the incidence and severity of COVID-19?

Research that analyzes the effect of different environmental factors on the impact of COVID-19 focus primarily on meteorological variables such as humidity and temperature or on air pollution variables. However, noise pollution is also a relevant environmental factor that contributes to the worsening of chronic cardiovascular diseases and even diabetes. This study analyzes the role of short-term noise pollution levels on the incidence and severity of cases of COVID-19 in Madrid from February 1 to May 31, 2020. The following variables were used in the study: daily noise levels averaged over 14 days; daily incidence rates, average cumulative incidence over 14 days; hospital admissions, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions and mortality due to COVID-19. We controlled for the effect of the pollutants PM10 and NO2 as well as for variables related to seasonality and autoregressive nature. GLM models with Poisson regressions were carried out using significant variable selection (p < 0.05) to calculate attributable RR. The results of the modeling using a single variable show that the levels of noise (leq24 h) were related to the incidence rate, the rate of hospital admissions, the ICU admissions and the rate of average cumulative incidence over 14 days. These associations presented lags, and the first association was with incidence (lag 7 and lag 10), then with hospital admissions (lag 17) and finally ICU admissions (lag 22). There was no association with deaths due to COVID-19. In the results of the models that included PM10, NO2, Leq24 h and the control variables simultaneously, we observed that only Leq24 h went on to become a part of the models using COVID-19 variables, including the 14-day average cumulative incidence. These results show that noise pollution is an important environmental variable that is relevant in relation to the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in the Province of Madrid.The authors gratefully acknowledge ENPY 221/20 project grant from the Carlos III Institute of Health.S

BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020 and global surgical practice was compromised. This Commission aimed to document and reflect on the changes seen in the surgical environment during the pandemic, by reviewing colleagues' experiences and published evidence