Exchange Rate Regimes for the New Member States of the European Union

One important issue for the new Member States (NMS) of the EU is the choice of the exchange rate regime that will allow them to participate successfully in the EMU process. Two exchange rate arrangements, compatible with the EU Treaty and ERM2 regulations, deserve special attention: flexible exchange rate regime and currency board with respect to the euro. The first regime (within stipulated bands), coupled with an inflation targeting scheme, agrees with the spirit of the European Commission and absorbs more easily supply shocks and Balassa Samuelson effects (which are present in real convergence and catching up episodes). It also prompts the process of nominal convergence. The second regime is suited to countries that need to foster the credibility of their monetary policy, but makes real adjustments to country-specific shocks and Balassa-Samuelson effects more difficult and/or costly. In this paper we investigate the dynamics of output and inflation under each exchange rate regime in NMS during the post EU accession and Maastricht phases. For that purpose, our model extends Gerlach and Smets (2000) and Detken and Gaspar (2003), icluding market distortions and three possible exchange rate regimes. In the empirical part of the paper we estimate SVAR models, following Bayoumi and Eichengreen (1993) methodology, in order to extract variances and covariances between shocks to each NMS and to the euro zone and compute individual social losses under each exchange rate arrangement. We use monthly data on industrial production and CPI for eight NMS countries. Our main result is that the optimal choice varies depending on the institutional and structural features of each economy, and on the likely source and nature of economic shocks to which it is exposed with respect to the whole euro area. Interestingly, the results for each country seem to conform to the general prescriptions that one would derive from the theory of optimal currency areasEU enlargment, exchange rate systems, SVAR, European monetary integration

The comovement between height and some economic development indicators in Spain

This paper investigates the relationship between height and some measures of human welfare in Spain for the period 1850-1978. For that purpose, we employ several filtering methods to measure the correlation between variables such as first order differences, deterministic trends, the Hodrick and Prescott filter, the band-pass filter or den Haan (2000)’s methodology which uses a new set of statistics to characterize the co-movement between variables to capture the dynamic between variables. We always find a strong and positive correlation between height and GDP per cápita, height and the weight of health services in total consumption, and height and openness. By contrast, we have a negative correlation between height and the mortality rate and height and the ratio between the deflator of private consumption and the GDP deflator. By applying den Haan (2000)’s method, we find that the comovement between height and GDP per cápita is always positive, increasing in the medium and long-run. This correlation is higher after the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). We also observe that height and mortality rate have a negative correlation in the medium-run. Other health indicators such as the weight of health services in total consumption and the ratio between the deflator of private consumption and the GDP deflator show a positive and negative co-movement in the short-run, respectively. Nevertheless, they change their sign of correlation in the long-run. Finally, we observe a positive co-movement between height and illiteracy rate in the short-run, a negative one in the long-run, and a strong and positive comovement between height and the grade of openness.Height, physical stature, anthropometrics, education, economic development, VAR forecast errors

Exportación de petróleo y desarrollo económico. Una tipología

La utilización industrial del petróleo y sus derivados es ya centenaria, pero sólo en el siglo XX ha adquirido un relieve enorme como fuente de energía. Su protagonismo en este campo se acentuó sobremanera después de la segunda guerrra mundial, debido, en primer lugar, al creciente consumo de hidrocarburos por parte de los paises ya industrializados y, en segundo lugar, a la demanda de este producto por parte de un número cada vez mayor de paises en vias de industrialización. Es evidente que el abaratamiento relativo del petróleo frente a otras fuentes de energía no fue ajeno a este incremento de la demanda, y por tanto al rápido aumento de su participación en el suministro mundial de energia. Entre 1960 y 1979 la producción y el consumo mundiales se triplicaron, y alrededor del 85 % de este incremento ocurrió entre 1960 y 1973, en condiciones de bajos precios relativos. Fue sin duda en este periodo cuando el petróleo conquistó y consolidó una posición estratégica en el cuadro de la oferta energética mundial. El consumo de petróleo está en función del nivel económico y del grado de industrialización y, en cambio, la producción de petróleo crudo depende exclusivamente del medio físico, por lo que no guarda relación con aquéllos. De ah

Respondiendo a un desafío pendiente en Geografía. El enfoque de género visto desde España

Hace tan sólo quince años que publiqué un artículo en España en el que yo misma abogaba por la necesidad de no excluir del estudio a la mitad del género humano, y argumentaba que la introducción del enfoque de género era una tarea ineludible en geografía huinana. Actualmente se podría asegurar que la consolidación de los estudios de género en la geografía internacional es un hecho muy destacable aunque se observe grandes diferencias de ritmo en este proceso según los diferentes países y regiones del mundo. En primer lugar, en este artículo quiero hacer un balance del desarrollo de las nuevas tendencias a nivel internacional desde la década de los años 1990's y, en segundo lugar, quiero hacer un balance de la producción científica en esta temática en España desde la introducción del enfoque.In an article signed by myself just fifteen years ago I was advocating the need of not excluding from our research in human geography half of the humankind, thereby arguing that the introduction of the gender approach was an unavoidable task. Nowdays it could be asserted that gender studies have been fully integrated in international Geography althoug at very different rates in different regions of the world. The present article tries to present first, the recent developments and new trends at the internacional level since the 1990's and, second, to present a survey of the scietific procduction on the field in Spain since the gender approached was introduced

Negative Autopsy in Infant and Juvenile Population: Role of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Negative autopsy is a post-mortem examination in which a comprehensive analysis does not provide a cause of death. These include situation of death, anatomical and histological analysis, toxicology and microbiological study. A low part of autopsies remain without a conclusive cause of death, but all these cases are usually seen in young population, apparently healthy who died suddenly and unexpectedly. In these situations a cardiac arrhythmia is suspected as cause of death and genetic testing is recommended despite not regularly performed. Sudden death is a natural and unexpected decease that occurs in apparently healthy people, or whose disease was not severe enough to expect a fatal outcome. It can be due to several pathologies, usually of cardiac cause and called sudden cardiac death. In infants and young people, both long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia are main causes in negative autopsies. These genetic diseases lead to ventricular fibrillation, syncope and sudden cardiac death in a normal heart. Unfortunately, sudden cardiac death could be the first manifestation of the diseases, being early identification and prevention a crucial point in current medical practice. This chapter focuses on sudden death and negative autopsy in young population, mainly due to cardiac arrhythmias

Economic Burden of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Spain: A Prospective Real-World Data Study (OASIS Study)

Carga económica; Fibrosis pulmonar idiopática; EspañaCàrrega econòmica; Fibrosi pulmonar idiopàtica; EspanyaEconomic burden; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; SpainBackground Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal lung disease associated with dyspnoea, cough and impaired quality of life affecting around 7500 patients in Spain. Objective Our aim was to estimate the economic impact of IPF according to forced vital capacity (FVC) % predicted level in adult patients. Methods We conducted a prospective, observational, multicentric study of patients with confirmed IPF in Spain. Total annual IPF-related costs were estimated per patient, and categorised according to the FVC% predicted value (FVC 80%) and total sample. Incurred direct health- and non-health-related costs and indirect costs were calculated considering the IPF-related healthcare resource use and the corresponding unitarian costs. Results were updated to 2023 euros. Results Two hundred and four consecutive patients with IPF were included: 77% male, average age (standard deviation) 70.8 (7.6) years. At baseline, FVC% was 80% of predicted value in 10.8%, 74.5% and 14.7% of patients, respectively. The final cost-evaluable population included 180 subjects. The mean (standard deviation) total annual IPF-related cost was €26,997 (17,555), with statistically significant differences (p = 0.0002) between groups: €44,412 (33,389) for the FVC 80%. Annual direct health costs had the greatest weight and included pharmacological treatments [€22,324 (13,773)] and hospitalisation days [€1659 (7362)]. 14 patients had ≥ 1 acute exacerbation of IPF during the study; mean total cost of an acute exacerbation of IPF was €10,372. According to the multivariate analysis, an impaired lung function (FVC < 50%) and use of antifibrotic treatment were determinants of cost (p < 0.0001 both). Conclusions We observed a significantly higher annual IPF-related cost at a lower level of predicted FVC%, the direct cost having the greatest weight to the total costs. Maintaining patients at early disease stages by slowing IPF progression is relevant to reduce the economic impact of IPF

Circulating adiponectin and Its association with metabolic traits and Type 2 Diabetes: gene-diet interactions focusing on selected gene variants and at the genome-wide level in high-cardiovascular risk mediterranean subjects

Adiponectin is gaining renewed interest since, in addition to its possible protective role against insulin resistance and arteriosclerosis, recent studies suggest other additional favorable effects. However, the influence of gene-diet interactions on plasma adiponectin levels is still little understood. We analyzed the association between plasma adiponectin levels and various metabolic traits in a high-cardiovascular risk Mediterranean population, as well as the genetic effect of four candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) and their interactions with the Mediterranean dietary pattern. Additionally, we explored, at the genome-wide level, the SNPs most associated with plasma adiponectin levels, as well as gene–diet interactions with the Mediterranean diet. In the 954 participants studied (aged 55–80 years), plasma adiponectin levels were strongly associated with plasma HDL-C concentrations (p = 6.6 × 10−36) and inversely related to triglycerides (p = 4.7 × 10−18), fasting glucose (p = 3.5 × 10−16) and type 2 diabetes (p = 1.4 × 10−7). Of the four pre-selected ADIPOQ candidate SNPs, the one most associated with plasma adiponectin was the −11391G > A (rs17300539) promoter SNP (p = 7.2 × 10−5, in the multivariable adjusted model). No significant interactions with the Mediterranean diet pattern were observed for these SNPs. Additionally, in the exploratory genome-wide association study (GWAS), we found new SNPs associated with adiponectin concentrations at the suggestive genome-wide level (p < 1 × 10−5) for the whole population, including the lead SNP rs9738548 (intergenic) and rs11647294 in the VAT1L (Vesicle Amine Transport 1 Like) gene. We also found other promising SNPs on exploring different strata such as men, women, diabetics and non-diabetics (p = 3.5 × 10−8 for rs2850066). Similarly, we explored gene–Mediterranean diet interactions at the GWAS level and identified several SNPs with gene–diet interactions at p < 1 × 10−5. A remarkable gene–diet interaction was revealed for the rs2917570 SNP in the OPCML (Opioid Binding Protein/Cell Adhesion Molecule Like) gene, previously reported to be associated with adiponectin levels in some populations. Our results suggest that, in this high-cardiovascular risk Mediterranean population, and even though adiponectin is favorably associated with metabolic traits and lower type 2 diabetes, the gene variants more associated with adiponectin may be population-specific, and some suggestive gene–Mediterranean diet interactions were detected

Prevenció dels accidents tòxics a les Escoles d'Educació General Bàsica: Proposta de programa

El Departament d'Ensenyament de la Generalitat de Catalunya va aprovar en l'Ordre de 25 de maig de 1984, les orientacions i programes d'Educació per a la Salut a l'Escola, incorporant-los al projecte educatiu dels Centres d'Educació General Bàsica. D'aquesta manera es reconeix la merescuda importància que té la prevenció de malalties i accidents en l'educació sanitària de la comunitat. Aquests programes (segons l'esmentada ordre), formen part de l'educació integral de l'infant que ha de recollir tots aquells factors que incideixen directament sobre el desenvolupament de la seva personalitat. De tots és sabut que l'educació per a la salut té especial importància, ja que a través d'ella es poden assolir coneixements i actituds positius que contribueixin, en general, a millorar el nivell sanitari, cultural i social de tota la població.

Personalized Management of Fatigue in Individuals With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Using a Smart Digital mHealth Solution: Protocol for a Participatory Design Approach

Fatigue; Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; Personalized self-managementFatiga; Encefalomielitis miálgica/síndrome de fatiga crónica; Autogestión personalizadaFatiga; Encefalomielitis miàlgica/síndrome de fatiga crònica; Autogestió personalitzadaBackground: Fatigue is the most common symptom in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID, impacting patients’ quality of life; however, there is currently a lack of evidence-based context-aware tools for fatigue self-management in these populations. Objective: This study aimed to (1) address fatigue in ME/CFS and long COVID through the development of digital mobile health solutions for self-management, (2) predict perceived fatigue severity using real-time data, and (3) assess the feasibility and potential benefits of personalized digital mobile health solutions. Methods: The MyFatigue project adopts a patient-centered approach within the participatory health informatics domain. Patient representatives will be actively involved in decision-making processes. This study combines inductive and deductive research approaches, using qualitative studies to generate new knowledge and quantitative methods to test hypotheses regarding the relationship between factors like physical activity, sleep behaviors, and perceived fatigue in ME/CFS and long COVID. Co-design methods will be used to develop a personalized digital solution for fatigue self-management based on the generated knowledge. Finally, a pilot study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptance, and potential benefits of the digital health solution. Results: The MyFatigue project opened to enrollment in November 2023. Initial results are expected to be published by the end of 2024. Conclusions: This study protocol holds the potential to expand understanding, create personalized self-management approaches, engage stakeholders, and ultimately improve the well-being of individuals with ME/CFS and long COVID.This study received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Knowledge Generation Project Grant PID-2021-125528OB-I00), and it was cofunded by the 2020 European Union’s Research and Innovation Funding Program

100 key questions to guide hydropeaking research

Hydropeaking has received increasing attention in the last years, but many knowledge gaps remain, potentially hampering effective policy and management efforts in rivers under such type of hydropower production. In this study, we collected open hydropeaking research questions from over 200 experts in river science, practice, and policy across the globe using an online survey available in five languages. We used a systematic method of determining expert consensus (Delphi method) to identify 100 core questions related to the following thematic fields: (i) hydrology, (ii) physico-chemical properties of water, (iii) river morphology and sedimentology, (iv) ecology and biology, (v) socio-economics and energy markets, (vi) policy and regulation, as well as (vii) management and mitigation measures. The consensus list of questions shall inform and guide researchers in focusing their efforts to foster a better science-policy interface, thereby improving the sustainability of peak-operating hydropower in a variety of settings