Appropriate Financial Instruments for Public-Private Partnership to Boost Cross-Border Infrastructural Development-EU Experience

The member states of the European Union (EU) and the EU institutions have increasingly been using public-private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate the development of (ambitious) trans-national infrastructure. This paper argues that in the EU (i) private sector partners remain risk-averse; and (ii) risk-pooling across a larger number of tax-payers tends to reduce the cost of risk to zero, making EU funds highly desirable and sought after for public infrastructure development. This paper argues that private equity has not been forthcoming to the extent that had been expected by those propagating this method of finance. In those instances where private non-publicly guaranteed resources have been used, the distribution of risks between public and private partners remained asymmetric, with public governmental bodies carrying the financial risks, which ultimately may become a contingent liability for the country’s public finances. However, EU and European Investment Bank (EIB) public funding is used not simply because the risks are spread more widely, but rather because EU rules and regulations for using such funds lead to better preparation of projects and greater efficiency gains in project implementation and delivery.public-private partnerships; trans-national infrastructure; european union institutions; european union; public infrastructure development

Spin phenomena in semiconductor quantum dots

This thesis discusses development of new semiconductor quantum dot (QD) devices and materials. Optical spectroscopy of single QDs is employed in order to investigate electronic structure and magnetic properties of these materials. First we realise self-assembled InP/GaInP QDs embedded in Schottky diode structures, with the aim to realise charge control in these nanostructures, which recently provided an important test-bed for spin phenomena on the nano-scale. By varying the bias applied to the diode, we achieve accurate control of charge states in individual QDs, and also characterise the electron-hole alignment and the lateral extent of the exciton wavefunction. Second part of the thesis explores optimum regimes for optically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in neutral InGaAs/GaAs QDs. Very efficient DNP under ultra low optical excitation is demonstrated, and its mechanism is explained as the electron-nuclear flip-flop occurring in the second order process of the dark exciton recombination. The final part of the thesis reports on magneto-optical studies of novel individual InPAs/GaInP quantum dots studied in this work for the first time. Here the long-term aim is to realise strong carrier confinement potentially suitable for QD operation at elevated temperatures, e.g. as a single photon emitter. Here we lay foundations for future structural studies of these dots using optically detected nuclear magnetic resonance, and explore regimes for ecient DNP in InPAs dots emitting in a wide range of wavelength 690-920 nm

AccuSyn: Using Simulated Annealing to Declutter Genome Visualizations

We apply Simulated Annealing, a well-known metaheuristic for obtaining near-optimal solutions to optimization problems, to discover conserved synteny relations (similar features) in genomes. The analysis of synteny gives biologists insights into the evolutionary history of species and the functional relationships between genes. However, as even simple organisms have huge numbers of genomic features, syntenic plots initially present an enormous clutter of connections, making the structure difficult to understand. We address this problem by using Simulated Annealing to minimize link crossings. Our interactive web-based synteny browser, AccuSyn, visualizes syntenic relations with circular plots of chromosomes and draws links between similar blocks of genes. It also brings together a huge amount of genomic data by integrating an adjacent view and additional tracks, to visualize the details of the blocks and accompanying genomic data, respectively. Our work shows multiple ways to manually declutter a synteny plot and then thoroughly explains how we integrated Simulated Annealing, along with human interventions as a human-in-the-loop approach, to achieve an accurate representation of conserved synteny relations for any genome. The goal of AccuSyn was to make a fairly complete tool combining ideas from four major areas: genetics, information visualization, heuristic search, and human-in-the-loop. Our results contribute to a better understanding of synteny plots and show the potential that decluttering algorithms have for syntenic analysis, adding more clues for evolutionary development. At this writing, AccuSyn is already actively used in the research being done at the University of Saskatchewan and has already produced a visualization of the recently-sequenced Wheat genome

Temporal Variations of Shallow Subtidal Meiofauna in Los Cristianos Bay (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Ne Atlantic Ocean)

As assembleias da meiofauna de Los Cristianos Bay, Tenerife, Ilhas Canárias, foi amostrada de maio de 2000 a abril de 2001 a 3 m de profundidade. Nematoda dominou durante todo o período de estudo, variando entre 84.52% em maio de 2000 a 95.93% em outubro do mesmo ano. Copepoda e Polychaeta foram o segundo e terceiro grupos mais abundantes, respectivamente. A densidade apresentou diferenças significativas ao longo do período, com valores mínimos na primavera-verão (maio-julho) e máximos no inverno (janeiro e fevereiro). Essa sazonalidade está sendo atribuída principalmente às variações temporais das espécies mais abundantes de nemátodes (Daptonema hirsutum e Pomponema sedecima). A meiofauna apresentou ainda diferenças na composição e abundância em maio e junho de 2000 quando comparado com os meses restantes do estudo. As variáveis ambientais explicaram parcialmente as variações na estrutura da comunidade e o tipo sedimentar areia muito fina destacou-se entre os mais importantes, juntamente com outras variáveis, tais como nitrogênio e conteúdo de matéria orgânica.A subtidal meiofaunal assemblage in Los Cristianos Bay, Tenerife, Canary Islands was sampled from May 2000 to April 2001, at 3 m depth. Nematodes dominated overwhelmingly during the study period, ranging from 84.52% in May 2000 to 95.93% in October 2000. Copepods and polychaetes were the second and the third most abundant groups, respectively. Meiofaunal densities showed significant differences throughout the study period, with minimum abundances during the spring-summer months (May-July) and highest densities in winter (January and February). This seasonality is mainly due to the temporal variations of the most abundant species (nematodes Daptonema hirsutum and Pomponema sedecima), with differences in meiofauna species composition and abundance during May and June 2000 as compared to the remaining months of the study period. Environmental variables partly explained meiofaunal community structure, being the sedimentary type of very fine sands the most important, jointly with other variables, such as nitrogen and organic matter content

Evaluacion de la informacion en las escuelas de negocios, a traves de sus portales de internet

107 p.Este trabajo es un intento de visualizar la gestión del conocimiento en las Escuelas de Negocios de distintas universidades, tanto chilenas como extranjeras, con respecto a la FACE de la Universidad de Talca. Este intento es realizado a partir de evaluaciones efectuadas al portal de la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales –FACE-en relación a otras Escuelas de Negocios de entidades nacionales y extranjeras. Además, se establecen diferencias entre los portales de Escuelas de Negocios nacionales y portales de instituciones extranjeras. En esta presentación se identificarán indicadores de interés de las diferentes Escuelas de Negocios insertas en portales de Internet, los que posibilitarán analizar la gestión de conocimiento que éstas poseen. La gestión del conocimiento es un proceso cultural, en el cual la universidad constituye un sector intensivo en su estimulación, generación y desarrollo. Ello, porque la creación del conocimiento y su transmisión forman parte de la razón de ser de la universidad. El estudio es de carácter evaluativo, ya que valora el funcionamiento de los portales de Internet en base a una matriz formal que sintetiza un grupo de atributos. Como resultado de esta evaluación se ha observado que existen algunas instituciones que mllevan la delantera en materia de investigación y publicaciones, las que serán utilizadas como un benchmarking (comparación con algún parámetro de referencia)

Safety and effectiveness of propranolol in severely burned patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness and safety of propranolol compared to placebo or usual care for improving clinical relevant outcomes in severely burned patients (TBSA \u3e20%). Methods Relevant articles from randomized controlled trials were identified by a literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. We included trials involving patients with a severe burn (\u3e20% of total body surface area affected). Trials were eligible if they evaluated propranolol and compared to usual care or placebo. Two investigators independently assessed articles for inclusion and exclusion criteria and selected studies for the final analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model. Results We included ten studies in our systematic review. These studies randomized a total of 1236 participants. There were no significant differences between propranolol and placebo with respect to mortality (RD −0.02 [95% CI −0.06 to 0.02]), sepsis (RD −0.03 [95% CI −0.09 to 0.04]), and the overall hospital stay (MD −0.37 [−4.52 to 3.78]). Propranolol-treated adults had a decrease in requirements of blood transfusions (MD −185.64 [95% CI −331.06 to −40.43]) and a decreased heart rate (MD −26.85 [95% CI −39.95 to −13.75]). Conclusions Our analysis indicates that there were no differences in mortality or sepsis in severely burned patients treated with propranolol compared with those who had usual care or placebo. However, the use of propranolol in these patients resulted in lower requirements of blood transfusion and lower values of heart rate. The evidence synthesized in this systematic review is limited to conclude that propranolol reduces the length of hospital stay among severely burned patients. Future trials should assess the impact of propranolol on clinically relevant outcomes such as mortality and adverse events

The time for rapid redevelopment of coal regions is now. CEPS Policy Insights 20 May 2020.

The economic slow-down caused by the pandemic will aggravate the existing stress in some regions, especially those relying on lignite, coal and peat as their main economic activity. But efficient and effective use of Covid-19 recovery funds can give real meaning to the ‘just transition’ concept if they focus on tangible progress to the benefit of the regional, national and EU economy while improving the environment and implementing the European Green Deal. For coal regions, the European Commission needs a regional place-based approach that builds on the ‘targeted approach’ of the European Green Deal while identifying urgent actions. Member states must reinforce regional strategies for coal regions in light of the recovery measures and the European Green Deal for the next multiannual financial framework 2021-27, taking account of the transition towards a more sustainable and lower carbon economic structure. Appropriate EU instruments should be combined in a complementary way to restructure the economies of the regions by developing low-carbon power and other carbon-saving solutions, using the know-how and infrastructures in place. Solid strategies to address the transition costs that creating an investment-friendly economic environment should be devised to build up self-sustainable activities and avoid subsidy dependency. The opportunities offered by InvestEU should be used as funding leverage to attract large-scale new industry investment. The short-term economic and social costs should soon be recovered. By contrast, supporting declining activities will most likely lead to significant long-term losses. Many good examples of conversions exist to inform those addressing inter- and intra-generational redistribution issues