A CGE-Analysis of Energy Policies Considering Labor Market Imperfections and Technology Specifications

The paper establishes a CGE/MPSGE model for evaluating energy policy measures with emphasis on their employment impacts. It specifies a dual labor market with respect to qualification, two different mechanisms for skill specific unemployment, and a technology detailed description of electricity generation. Non clearing of the dual labor market is modeled via minimum wage constraints and via wage curves. The model is exemplarily applied for the analysis of capital subsidies on the application of technologies using renewable energy sources. Quantitative results highlight that subsidies on these technologies do not automatically lead to a significant reduction in emissions. Moreover, if emission reductions are achieved these might actually partly result from negative growth effects induced by the promotion of cost inefficient technologies. Inefficiencies in the energy system increase unemployment for both skilled and unskilled labor.CGE, Energy Economic Analysis, Employment Impact, Choice of Technology

Emission trading vs. renewable energy technology promotion for GHG control in the European Union : effectiveness, economic costs, and security of supply

Policy instruments for GHG abatement may follow different strategies. Two prominent distinct strategies that are also part of the EU climate protection approach are market oriented cap and trade regimes and support schemes for carbon free generation technologies. The two strategies differ in their impact on the energy system and thus in effectiveness of abatement, in economic impact, and in consequences for energy security. We contrast the EU-wide impacts of two policy instruments each representing a single control strategy by using the recursive-dynamic, technology rich CGE model NEWAGE-W. First, we consider a cap and trade regime where international emission allowance trade is implemented following the Kyoto-protocol. Second, we consider targets for the application of renewable energy sources in electricity generation. Our model results suggest that for reasons of effectiveness, economic efficiency, and security of supply a GHG control strategy should not merely rely on technology oriented policies. Combining a technology oriented strategy with a cap and trade strategy may only slightly further decrease emissions where this reduction is accompanied by negative growth impacts. Impacts differ between new and old member states and are highly sensitive to the allocation of the overall EU target

Predictive Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Excluding a Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia During Prophylaxis with Aerosolized Pentamidine

We assessed the negative predictive value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) during prophylaxis with aerosolized pentamidine. On the basis of the assumption that undiagnosed and untreated PCP would progress and become clinically apparent, for 3 months we prospectively followed 34 consecutive cases in which BAL had not detected PCP. All patients were immunodeficient, had a symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection, and were evaluated for possible PCP during prophylaxis with aerosolized pentamidine. No transbronchial biopsies were performed. In 32 of 34 cases, a diagnosis of PCP could be excluded because of other definite diagnoses or improvement during the follow-up. Despite negative results of an examination of their BAL fluid, two patients received empirical treatment that was active against PCP; these patients were regarded as possibly having undiagnosed PCP. Thus, the negative predictive value of BAL alone was at least 94% (32 of 34 cases) in excluding a diagnosis of PCP during prophylaxis with aerosolized pentamidin

Evaluierung der Strafvorschriften zur Bekämpfung des Menschenhandels (§§ 232 bis 233a StGB)

The present study, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, critically examined the criminal law provisions on combating human trafficking (Sections 232 to 233a of the Criminal Code), which were reformed in 2016. For this purpose, among other things, a file analysis, numerous interviews with experts and a workshop were conducted. The result of the research is sobering: The goals pursued by the legislator with the reform were not achieved for the most part. The authors therefore propose several measures to improve the fight against human trafficking.PublishedMit der vorliegenden, vom Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz in Auftrag Studie wurden die im Jahr 2016 reformierten strafrechtlichen Vorschriften über die Bekämpfung des Menschenhandels (§§ 232 bis 233a StGB) einer kritischen Prüfung unterzogen. Zu diesem Zweck wurden unter anderem eine Aktenanalyse, zahlreiche Interviews mit ExpertInnen und ein Workshop durchgeführt. Das Ergebnis der Forschung ist ernüchternd: Die vom Gesetzgeber mit der Reform verfolgten Ziele wurden zum Großteil nicht erreicht. Die AutorInnen schlagen daher mehrere Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Bekämpfung des Menschenhandels vor

A human embryonic kidney 293T cell line mutated at the Golgi -mannosidase II locus

Disruption of Golgi -mannosidase II activity can result in type II congenital dyserythropoietic anemia and can induce lupus-like autoimmunity in mice. Here, we isolate a mutant human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cell line, called Lec36, that displays sensitivity to ricin that lies between the parental HEK 293T cells, whose secreted and membrane-expressed proteins are dominated by complex-type glycosylation, and 293S Lec1 cells, which only produce oligomannose-type N-linked glycans. The stem cell marker, 19A, was transiently expressed in the HEK 293T Lec36 cells, and in parental HEK 293T cells with and without the potent Golgi -mannosidase II inhibitor, swainsonine. Negative-ion nano-electrospray ionization mass spectra of the 19A N-linked glycans from HEK 293T Lec36 and swainsonine-treated HEK 293T cells were qualitatively indistinguishable and, as shown by collision-induced dissociation spectra, dominated by hybrid-type glycosylation. Nucleotide sequencing revealed mutations in each allele of MAN2A1, the gene encoding Golgi -mannosidase II: a point mutation in one allele mapping to the active site and an in-frame deletion of twelve-nucleotides in the other. Expression of wild-type but not the mutant MAN2A1 alleles in Lec36 cells restored processing of the 19A reporter glycoprotein to complex-type glycosylation. The Lec36 cell line will be useful for expressing therapeutic glycoproteins with hybrid-type glycans and provides a sensitive host for detecting mutations in human MAN2A1 causing type II congenital dyserythropoietic anemia

Energieprognose Bayern 2030

Im Gutachten „Energieprognose Bayern 2030“ wird untersucht, wie sich die erfolgten Veränderungen der energiewirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen auf die Entwicklung von Energieversorgung und -anwendung in Bayern auswirken und welche Folgen dies wiederum auf die Entwicklung der energiebezogenen Emissionen haben wird. Damit sollen Daten und Analysen vorgelegt werden, die eine belastbare Basis für die Ausgestaltung der energiepolitischen Rahmenbedingungen in Bayern darstellen, die sich an den Zielen einer sicheren, wirtschaftlichen, umwelt- und nachweltverträglichen, d. h. dem Leitbild der „nachhaltigen Entwicklung“ entsprechenden Energieversorgung orientiert, so dass sowohl die ökonomischen als auch die ökologischen Anforderungen an die Energieversorgung bestmöglich erfüllt werden können

Use of the α-mannosidase I inhibitor kifunensine allows the crystallization of apo CTLA-4 homodimer produced in long-term cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells

The α-mannosidase I inhibitor kifunensine inhibited N-glycan processing in long-term cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells, allowing deglycosylation and crystallization of the homodimeric extracellular region of the inhibitory glycoprotein receptor CTLA-4 (CD152)