Proteins and peptides: non-invasive delivery

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing Eco-Efficiency in Asian and African Countries Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis

This study aims to evaluate the economic and environmental efficiency of Asian and African economies. In the model proposed, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is considered as the desired output and Greenhouse Gases (GHG), like carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as the undesirable output. Capital, labor, fossil fuels, and renewable energy consumption are regarded as inputs, and the GDP/CO2 ratio is the output, by using a log-linear Translog production function and using data from 2005 until 2018, including 22 Asian and 22 African countries. Results evidence cross-countries heterogeneity among production inputs, namely labor, capital, and type of energy use and its efficiency. The models complement each other and are based on different distributional assumptions and estimation methods while providing a picture of Eco-efficiency in Asian and African economies. Labor and renewable energy share increase technical Eco-efficiency, while fixed capital decreases it under time-variant models. Technical improvements in Eco-efficiency are verified through time considering the time variable into the model estimations, replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources. An inverted U-shaped Eco-efficiency function is found concerning the share of fossil fuel consumption. Important policy implications are drawn from the results regarding the empirical results.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Does economic sectorial diversification affect the relationship between carbon emissions, economic growth, energy consumption, coal and gas consumption? Evidence from OPEC countries using panel cointegration analysis

This work aims to investigate a relationship between economic and environmental drivers under the economic diversification condition including seven economic activity sectors for a set of nine OPEC countries during 1974–2016. For validating the two Environmental Kuznets Curve – EKC – equations proposed, a panel data analysis was followed through the long and short-run estimations, including the Pooled Mean Group, Mean Group, and Dynamic Fixed Effect estimators. Results of the cointegration panel estimators show, for some sectors the validity of the EKC in the form of an inverted U shape, alternating with the U-shaped form. Namely, sector 2 of the extractive and manufacturing industries, including the electricity, gas, and water industries, and sector 5, including wholesale, lodging, restoration, and similar activities, validate the EKC hypothesis. However, the validity of the Kuznets curve with the panel data does not make it clear which OPEC countries are in the most favorable conditions to mitigate the polluting effects.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Two-Stage DEA Model to Evaluate the Technical Eco-Efficiency Indicator in the EU Countries

This paper evaluates the evolution of eco-efficiency for the 27 European Union (EU) countries over the period 2008–2018, provided the traditional high concerns of the EU concerning the economic growth-environmental performance relationship. The EU has triggered several initiatives and regulations regarding environmental protection over the years, but as well the Sustainable Development Goals demand it. Under this setting, we conduct a two-stage analysis, which computes eco-efficiency scores in the first stage for each of the pairs EU 27-year, through the nonparametric method data envelopment analysis (DEA), considering the ratio GDP per capita and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). In the second stage, scores are used as a dependent variable in the proposed fractional regression model (FRM), whose determinants considered were eight pollutants (three greenhouse gases and five atmospheric pollutants). CO2/area and N2O/area effects are negative and significant, improving the eco-efficiency of the EU 27 countries. When the efficient European countries are excluded from the estimations, the results evidence that CO2/area and CH4/area decrease the DEA score. The country with the lowest GHG emissions and pollutant gases was Ireland, being the country within the considered period that mostly reduced emissions, particularly SOx and PM10, increasing its score.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of the New Kuznets Relationship: Considering Emissions of Carbon, Methanol, and Nitrous Oxide Greenhouse Gases - Evidence from EU Countries

Decreased greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are urgently needed in view of global health threat represented by climate change. The goal of this paper is to test the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, considering less common measures of environmental burden. For that, four different estimations are done, one considering total GHG emissions, and three more taking into account, individually, the three main GHG gases—carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane gas (CH4)—considering the oldest and most recent economies adhering to the EU27 (the EU 15 (Old Europe) and the EU 12 (New Europe)) separately. Using panel dynamic fixed effects (DFE), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) techniques, we validate the existence of a U-shaped relationship for all emission proxies considered, and groups of countries in the short-run. Some evidence of this effect also exists in the long-run. However, we were only able to validate the EKC hypothesis for the short-run in EU 12 under DOLS and the short and long-run using FMOLS. Confirmed is the fact that results are sensitive to models and measures adopted. Externalization of problems globally takes a longer period for national policies to correct, turning global measures harder and local environmental proxies more suitable to deeply explore the EKC hypothesis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A new composite indicator for assessing energy poverty using normalized entropy

Using a unique or common measure of energy poverty is very limited for the true classification of a household being in energy poverty. Thus, this study proposes a composite indicator, whose weights will be determined from the estimation of two relationships using a robust and stable methodology based on information theory. This work considers two regression models, where the two dependent variables are the gross domestic product and greenhouse gas, and the 12 energy poverty explanatory variables are based on those proposed by Recalde et al. (2019), for the period 2008-2018. Hence, the study presents a more comprehensive measurement with additional dimensions, weights, and indicators. Probably most important, in addition to the discussed proposal with a specific choice of models and variables, this work reveals a promising methodology that can be replicated in any other theoretical configuration. This approach is suitable for the discussion and design of new energy, environmental and social policies. Findings can be used to assess in advance the effectiveness of energy poverty measures, turning the model into a valuable policy tool.publishe

Development of innovative nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for cancer therapy

Controlled drug delivery systems are not a new subject in the biomedical field. The continuously increasing need for the improvement of health care services has been the driving force for both search and development of such systems. Among these, micro- and nano-sized vehicles (e.g. nanocapsules, liposomes and mixed micelles) have received special attention over the last decade; they have been used for the delivery and vectorization of many pharmacologically active molecules, as is the case of anti-neoplastic drugs.Os sistemas de libertação controlada de fármacos não são uma temática recente na área das ciências biomédicas: a crescente exigência no sector dos cuidados de saúde despoletou o desenvolvimento desta área científica. De entre os vários tipos de sistemas propostos, as micro- e nano-estruturas (i.e., nanocápsulas, lipossomas e micelas mistas) têm recebido especial atenção por parte dos investigadores ao longo da última década, tendo sido desenvolvidos sistemas de libertação e vectorização de muitas moléculas farmacologicamente activas, nomeadamente de fármacos anti-neoplásicos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is There Convergence and Causality Between the Drivers of Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Among the Portuguese Tourism Industry?

The various sub-sectors related to tourism have different impacts on the level of emissions but also different factors that contribute to these emissions. The purpose of this paper is to study: (i) whether the various subsectors of tourism in Portugal behaved similarly in the period 1996-2009 inrelation to the intensity of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and for their determinant ratios. This question is studied through the convergence analysis, dividing tourism subsectors between their direct or indirect impact on tourism industry; and (ii) the prediction of the interaction between the intensity of emissions and its determinant ratios in the future. The lower divergences in tourism activities would facilitate the implementation of measures on how to mitigate CO2 emissions at tourism industry and as a result, commit to Kyoto protocol Keywords: CO2 emissions intensity; Convergence; Decomposition; Generalized variance decomposition; impulse response functions; Tourism; Portugal. JEL Classifications: Q49 ; Q53 ; Q5

The effect of urban air pollutants in Germany: eco-efficiency analysis through fractional regression models applied after DEA and SFA efficiency predictions

Cities and living standards contribute intensively to air pollution, an environmental risk factor which causes diseases. Recently, in developed countries, the majority of cities has grown rapidly and has experienced increasing environmental problems. In this article we analyze the effect of urban air pollution considering the available data for the years 2007, 2010 and 2013 in 24 German cities. Proposing a new model, we start the analysis using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to predict eco-efficiency scores for the 24 German cities. Afterwards, it is applied fractional regression to infer about the influencing factors of the eco-efficiency scores, at the city level. Results suggest a significant impact over eco-efficiency due to the excess of PM10, the average temperature, the average of NO2 concentration and rainfall. The findings in this study hold important implications for policymakers and urban planners in Germany, especially those that coordinate environmental protection and economic development in cities. Therefore, interventions to reduce urban air pollution can be accomplished on different regulatory levels, leading to synergistic effects as the decrease of climate change effects and noise.publishe

What is the value of entrepreneurial orientation on the network and performance? An examination in trade fairs context

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of entrepreneurial orientation on the network and exhibitor’s performance. The entrepreneurial orientation is seen as a highly competitive factor for the company, which can foster its trade fair business. Design/methodology/approach – A survey-based quantitative approach was adopted, including a questionnaire (n 5 362) applied to companies participating in trade fairs. To arrive at results, the study developed structural equations modeling techniques, using SPSS 24 and AMOS 20 software. Findings – The study demonstrates positive impacts of entrepreneurial orientation on network capability and consequent exhibitor’s non-sales performance and exhibitor’s sales performance. A conceptual model is presented. Research limitations/implications – The study was carried out mainly on Portuguese companies, restricting its generalization. In addition, the exhibitor’s performance was measured based on the exhibitors’ level of satisfaction and not on real sales results. Practical implications – The study offers a process which the results highlight such as innovativeness, proactivity, risk-taking, competitiveness and autonomy (dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation) as a mix of important ingredients for the exhibitor’s networking. The networking promotes intangible results (non-sales performance) that can generate sales (sales performance). Originality/value – The study is the first research to apply entrepreneurial orientation in the trade fair context and it also presents a relationship between non-sales performance and sales performance