Solidifying Consensus. An Inquiry into the Expertise of European Monetary Policy Makers

Economic experts are increasingly involved in European macroeconomic policymaking and their expertise in turn matters for economic outcomes. This fact is of particular significance with regard to the case of independent European central bankers, for monetary policy and beyond. This article presents new empirical data on who European central bankers are, and what kind of expertise they hold. It identifies patterns of expertise composition in the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in longitudinal and cross-country comparison, thereby reflecting the ideational macroeconomic policy consensus of the EMU and its on first sight paradoxical – because of contradictory directions of fiscal and monetary policy – macroeconomic policy mix. The article infers two complementary logics – one of intergovernmental negotiations and another of imposed consolidation demands – by using a mixed-methods approach. It proposes these logics to leverage explanations for the resilience of EMU"s paradoxical macroeconomic policy consensus. They provide insights on the causal mechanisms of central banker expert appointments and thus explanations for both the homogeneity and dominance of ordo- and neo-liberal economic expertise. Against the backdrop of asymmetric effects of the European policy-mix and because consolidation demands and intergovernmental rationalities entail certain risks, the article highlights the importance of consideration of the politics of expertise

Laccase coating of catheters with poly(catechin) for biofilm reduction

Urinary polyurethane (PU) and silicone (SI) catheters were coated with poly(catechin) to reduce bacterial adhesion. Laccase was used as a biocatalyst to oxidize the catechin monomer and produce the polymer. Optimization of the catheter surface functionalization followed two different approaches: with or without previous alkali treatment. The results indicated higher levels of polymer attachment for the alkali-treated catheters ( 18% for PU and 33% for SI catheters). The reduction of biofilm formation on the catheter surface was quantitatively evaluated under static adhesion conditions against Escherichia coli (96% reduction on PU) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (81% reduction on SI). The type of catheter material greatly influenced bacterial adhesion, though alkali treatment was consistently beneficial for poly(catechin) attachment and consequently for biofilm reduction.The author Idalina Goncalves would like to acknowledge the NOVO project (FP7-HEALTH-2011.2.3.1-5) for the funding. The author Carla Silva and Teresa Matama would like to acknowledge FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia for the grants SFRH/BPD/46515/2008 and SFRH/BPD/47555/2008