Does tobacco spending crowd-out the household budget? Preliminary results using nationwide survey data

The aim of this paper is to examine the crowding out effect of tobacco spending on other household commodity groups. It uses a national representative household sample survey retrieved from Hellenic Statistical Authority for the year 2017. A system of conditional Engel curve formula was estimated for a set of 12 commodity groups based on Eurostat categorization. Results reveal that spending on tobacco leads to a household budget allocation having a negative effect on certain commodity groups such as food, clothes, health and durables and positive on communication, education and spending on hotels and restaurants. Policy implications suggest that a regressive policy recommendation that result a cut tobacco effect could lead to a better wellbeing and household health status with a more sustainable consuming behavior

Cultural Heritage led Growth: Regional evidence from Greece (1998-2016)

This paper brings empirical evidence on the relationship between cultural heritage assets and economic growth. The case of Greece over the period 1998-2016 is taken as an example. Regional growth is approached through the formulation of a neoclassical growth model augmented with cultural heritage factors. Using panel methods of estimation, the empirical results reveal a positive impact of cultural heritage on regional growth, thus supporting a culture-led growth hypothesis for the Greek economy. In addition, a significant influence of other growth drivers such as physical and human capital, fertility and unemployment on regional growth is evidenced. Our results leave ample room for smart, inclusive and sustainable national, regional and EU policies to operate for the promotion of economic growth

Cultural Heritage led Growth: Regional evidence from Greece (1998-2016)

This paper brings empirical evidence on the relationship between cultural heritage assets and economic growth. The case of Greece over the period 1998-2016 is taken as an example. Regional growth is approached through the formulation of a neoclassical growth model augmented with cultural heritage factors. Using panel methods of estimation, the empirical results reveal a positive impact of cultural heritage on regional growth, thus supporting a culture-led growth hypothesis for the Greek economy. In addition, a significant influence of other growth drivers such as physical and human capital, fertility and unemployment on regional growth is evidenced. Our results leave ample room for smart, inclusive and sustainable national, regional and EU policies to operate for the promotion of economic growth

Foreign direct investment and environmental degradation: Further evidence from Brazil and Singapore.

This paper assesses empirically the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows on environmental quality, measured by CO2 emissions. The cases of Brazil and Singapore are taken as examples for our empirical investigation, on the grounds of their specific similarities and differences. The empirical analysis is carried out in a multivariate setting, using a variety of models (ARDL, FMOLS, OLS) for the early 1970s to 2010. The results indicate that FDI inflows have lead to environmental degradation in Brazil but not in Singapore. Our findings point to the importance of the sectoral composition of FDI as a determinant of its impact on environmental quality. The analysis is supplemented with an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), our results showing that the EKC hypothesis holds for the case of Singapore but its validity is marginal in Brazil

Receiving Care Through Digital Health Technologies: Drivers and Implications of Old-Age Digital Health Exclusion

AbstractThe transition from traditional to progressively digitised health systems is leading to new forms of care including, for instance, telehealth and mobile health (mHealth) solutions. On the one hand, such solutions hold the potential for allowing easier, quicker and remote access to health care. On the other hand, digital health technologies can set new challenges for older people, especially for those who are not familiar with such technologies, in terms of receiving the care they need through good access and level of use of services. Furthermore, these services do not necessarily reflect everyone's preferences and needs. This chapter aims to conceptualise and systematically discuss old-age digital health exclusion. First, we highlight key structural, environmental, individual and socio-technical drivers of the non-use and low-use of digital technologies, considering also the aspect of agency and personal preferences. Second, we point out the main individual and societal implications of old-age digital health exclusion. Third, we provide a conceptual framework for old-age digital health exclusion which includes older people, drivers and implications. Finally, we offer some reflections about digital health technologies in health care, highlighting related issues, risks and challenges for ageing societies

Foreign direct investment and environmental degradation: Further evidence from Brazil and Singapore.

This paper assesses empirically the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows on environmental quality, measured by CO2 emissions. The cases of Brazil and Singapore are taken as examples for our empirical investigation, on the grounds of their specific similarities and differences. The empirical analysis is carried out in a multivariate setting, using a variety of models (ARDL, FMOLS, OLS) for the early 1970s to 2010. The results indicate that FDI inflows have lead to environmental degradation in Brazil but not in Singapore. Our findings point to the importance of the sectoral composition of FDI as a determinant of its impact on environmental quality. The analysis is supplemented with an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), our results showing that the EKC hypothesis holds for the case of Singapore but its validity is marginal in Brazil

Structural diversity and catalytic properties in a family of Ag(I)-benzotriazole based coordination compounds

In this work we study the coordination chemistry of a series of semi-rigid benzotriazole based ligands (L1-L3) along with the low coordination number but versatile AgI ions. This has led to nine new coordination compounds formulated [Ag(L1)(CF3CO2)] (1), [Ag2(L1T)2(CF3SO3)2]·2Me2CO (2), [Ag(L2T)(ClO4)(Me2CO)] (3), [Ag(L2T)(BF4)(Et2O)] (4), [Ag2(L3T)2(ClO4)2]2 (5), [Ag(L3)(NO3)] (6), [Ag2(L3T)2(CF3CO2)2] (7), [Ag2(L3T)(CF3SO3)2] (8) and [Ag2(L3T)2(CF3CF2CO2)2]·2Me2CO (9). These compounds show structural diversity including dimers (5, 7, 9), one dimensional (1D) (3, 4, 6) and two dimensional (2D) (1, 2, 8) coordination polymers. The presence of the two -CH2- units between the three rigid backbones, benzotriazole/-C6H4-/benzotriazole, provides a limited, but significant, flexibility in L1-L3, influencing their variety coordination abilities. Interestingly, certain structures exhibit an isomerism effect (L1T-L3T) in the benzotriazole unit when in solid state; a series of studies are indicative of the 1,1- form is generally dominant in solution even in cases where the crystal structure does not contain this tautomer. The homogeneous catalytic efficacy of all compounds against the well-known multi component A3 coupling reaction and the hydration of alkynes were investigated. Compound 4 was identified as the optimal catalyst for both reactions, promoting the multicomponent coupling as well as the alkyne hydration reaction under low loadings (0.5 and 3 mol%, respectively) and in high yields (up to 99 and 93% in each case)

Metabolic syndrome is not associated with reduction in aortic distensibility in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aortic distensibility (AD) is a marker of the elastic properties of the aorta. Reduction of AD occurs early in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and it is associated with subclinical generalized atherosclerosis. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in subjects with T2DM and predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study examined the potential relationship between MetS and AD in a cohort of subjects with T2DM.</p> <p>Methods and results</p> <p>A total of 210 subjects with T2DM were studied. MetS was diagnosed using the NCEP/ATP-III criteria. AD was assessed non-invasively by ultrasonography. The prevalence of MetS was 64.8%. AD was not significantly different between subjects with and without MetS (1.80 ± 0.54 vs. 1.84 ± 0.53 10^-6dyn^-1cm², p = 0.55). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that AD was associated positively with male sex (p = 0.02) as well as glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.001), and negatively with age (p = 0.04), history of hypertension (p = 0.001), as well as duration of diabetes (p < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, AD was associated independently and significantly only with age (p = 0.02), duration of diabetes p < 0.001), and history of hypertension (p = 0.004); no significant relationship was found with MetS status, the sum of the components of the MetS or the individual components-besides hypertension-of the MetS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In subjects with T2DM, MetS status <it>per se </it>is not associated with reduction of AD. In addition, it was shown that besides ageing, duration of glycemia was a strong predictor of AD. From the components of the MetS only hypertension was associated with reduction of the elastic properties of the aorta.</p

Metal-catalysed A3 coupling methodologies: classification and visualisation

The multicomponent reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes, known as A3 coupling, yields propargylamines, a valuable organic scaffold, and has received significant interest and attention in the last years. In order to fully realise the potential of the metal-based catalytic protocols that facilitate this transformation, we summarise substrates, in situ and well-characterised synthetic methods that provide this scaffold and attempt a monumental classification considering several variables (Metal, Coordinating atom(s), Ligand type and name, in-situ or well-characterised, co-catalyst, catalyst and ligand Loading (mol%), solvent, volume, atmosphere, temperature, microwave, time, yield, selectivity (e.e. d.r.), substrate name, functionality, loading (amines, aldehydes, alkynes), and use of molecular sieves). This pioneering work creates a valuable database that contains 2376 entries and allows us to produce graphs and better visualise their impact on the reaction