International Quota Transfer and Intermediate Goods

In this paper we use a general equilibrium model to examine the effects of international quota transfer when a quota restricts world commodity production whilst the trade in an intermediate good is not regulated. The analysis shows that, when the quota regime is not internationally transferable, intermediate input trade substitutes for final good trade. In these circumstances, the distortions are lower than expected. International quota transfer increases world welfare proportionally to quota rent gap. Welfare distribution is also conditioned by commodity terms of trade and, particularly, by the outcome of the intermediate good price.Production quota, international trade, intermediate goods, International Relations/Trade,

Evolutionarily conserved aspects of animal nutrient uptake and transport in sea anemone vitellogenesis

The emergence of systemic nutrient transport was a key challenge during animal evolution, yet it is poorly understood. Circulatory systems distribute nutrients in many bilaterians (e.g., vertebrates and arthropods) but are absent in non-bilaterians (e.g., cnidarians and sponges), where nutrient absorption and transport remain little explored at molecular and cellular levels. Vitellogenesis, the accumulation of egg yolk, necessitates high nutrient influx into oocytes and is present throughout animal phyla and therefore represents a well-suited paradigm to study nutrient transport evolution. With that aim, we investigated dietary nutrient transport to the oocytes in the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis (Anthozoa). Using a combination of fluorescent bead labeling and marker gene expression, we found that phagocytosis, micropinocytosis, and intracellular digestion of food components occur within the gonad epithelium. Pulse-chase experiments further show that labelled fatty acids rapidly translocate from the gonad epithelium through the extracellular matrix (ECM) into oocytes. Expression of conserved lipid transport proteins vitellogenin (vtg) and apolipoprotein-B (apoB) and colocalization of labeled fatty acids with a fluorescently tagged ApoB protein further support the lipid-shuttling role of the gonad epithelium. Complementary oocyte expression of very low-density lipoprotein receptor (vldlr) orthologs, which mediate endocytosis of bilaterian ApoB- and Vtg-lipoproteins, supports that this evolutionarily conserved ligand/receptor pair underlies lipid transport during sea anemone vitellogenesis. In addition, we identified lipid- and ApoB-rich cells with potential lipid transport roles in the ECM. Altogether, our work supports a long-standing hypothesis that an ECM-based lipid transport system predated the cnidarian-bilaterian split and provided a basis for the evolution of bilaterian circulatory systems.publishedVersio

Profitability of private equity: mean reversion and transitory shocks.

This paper deals with the analysis of the statistical properties of the profitability yielded by Private Equity from a fractionally integrated viewpoint. Using quarterly data from 1981q2 to 2021q3, the results support the hypothesis of stationarity and mean reversion in all cases; however, we observe differences in the degree of persistence across regions, Europe being the closest to short memory while the US shows the highest degree of long range dependence and thus the longer lasting effects of shocks. Some policy recommendations of the results obtained are included at the end of the manuscript.post-print997 K

La demanda de importaciones y exportaciones, 2000-2017

En este artículo se presentan unas funciones de demanda agregada de importaciones y de exportaciones de bienes para la economía española desde 2000 hasta 2017 con datos trimestrales. La metodología econométrica utilizada ha sido el análisis de cointegración, mediante la técnica de Johansen. Los resultados de la estimación sugieren que, en 2008, tanto para el caso de la ecuación de importaciones como de exportaciones, se produce una ruptura estructural, por lo que se estiman por separado ambos períodos

X-ray detection with a scintillating YAP-window hybrid photomultiplier tube

A YAP(YAlO/sub 3/:Ce)-scintillating window, coated on its inner surface with an S20-photocathode, seals a cross-focusing hybrid photomultiplier tube (HPMT) equipped with a small p-i-n anode of 2-mm diameter. This new radiation detector separates X-ray lines down to about 2-keV peak energy from the HPMT noise. Its detection efficiency for high gamma energies depends on the YAP-window thickness and amounts to about 18% attenuation at 400-keV energy in the present version. Competitive radiation detectors like Si photodiodes and Si drift chambers are discussed and compared to our prototype, with particular attention given to their energy resolution and noise performance, which limits their active area considerably. (19 refs)

Stem girdling uncouples soybean stomatal conductance from leaf water potential by enhancing leaf xylem ABA concentration

To understand the impact of shoot-to-root ABA transport on water potential of, and xylem ABA concentration in, different plant tissues during soil drying, soybean (Glycine max cv. Siverka) plants were subjected to drought and girdling in a factorial experiment. Girdling was achieved by surgically excising the phloem tissue from just above the cotyledonary node. After girdling and withholding water, ABA concentrations were determined in xylem saps extracted from individual leaves, detached shoots and de-topped roots, after measuring stomatal conductance (gs), tissue water potentials, and root ABA concentrations. Soil drying decreased water potential throughout the plant and approximately doubled xylem ABA concentrations, coinciding with stomatal closure. Girdling slightly enhanced water potential, especially in droughted plants. Girdling diminished the soil-drying induced increase in xylem sap ABA concentration, and completely prevented root tissue ABA accumulation. Furthermore, girdling decreased root ABA concentration and increased leaf xylem ABA concentration of well-watered (WW) plants. Stomatal conductance declined linearly with leaf water potential only in intact plants, while gs declined as leaf xylem ABA concentration increased, independently of girdling. Thus shoot to root ABA transport not only determines (soil-drying induced) root ABA accumulation, but also limits ABA accumulation in the shoot to maintain stomatal opening of WW plants

Application of Real-time PCR for the Detection and Quantification of Oomycetes in Ornamental Nursery Stock

Funding: This research was funded by EUPHRESCO (European Phytosanitary Research Coordi-nation network) and the UK Forestry Commission. Acknowledgments: The authors would like to acknowledge the technical support of Dr. Hedda Weitz and Els Verstappen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD