Working Paper 02-02 - The impacts of energy and carbon taxation in Belgium - Analysis of the impacts on the economy and on CO2 emissions

This working paper brings together three analyses that were carried out by the Federal Planning Bureau at the request of the Secretary of State for Energy and Sustainable Development and the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Public Health and the Environment. It looks at the harmonisation (increase) in energy levies up to the average level in our neighbouring countries and the introduction of a co2 levy. In the case of the co2 levy we analyse both the situation whereby all energy products are taxed and the case where the levy is only applicable to road transport. All policy variants are intended to reduce co2 emissions in Belgium within the context of the Kyoto Protocol. The analyses presented in this working paper were finalized in September 2001.

Working Paper 10-07 - Foreign trade in Modtrim

This working paper gives an overview of the Modtrim team's recent research in the field of Belgian exports and export markets. In the first chapter a new leading indicator is introduced as a supplementary tool to determine a growth profile for Belgium's potential export markets in the first quarters of the forecasting period. In the second chapter, an attempt is made to improve forecasts of Belgium's exports by breaking down the model equation into a goods and a services component. Finally, the third chapter reveals that (a lack of) competitiveness is probably not the only reason for the losses of export market share in Belgium and in some of its main trading partners in the past 25 years.

Critical roles of endogenous glucocorticoids for disease tolerance in malaria

During malaria, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated and glucocorticoid (GC) levels are increased, but their essential roles have been largely overlooked. GCs are decisive for systemic regulation of vital processes such as immune responses, vascular function, and metabolism, which are crucial in malaria. Here, we introduce GCs in general, followed by their versatile roles for disease tolerance in malaria. A complementary comparison is provided with their role in sepsis. Finally, potential translational implications are considered. The failed clinical trials of dexamethasone against cerebral malaria in the past have diminished the interest in GCs in malaria. However, the issue of relative corticosteroid insufficiency has barely been explored in malaria patients, but may hold promise for a better understanding and treatment of specific malaria complications

Monitoring enteral nutrition efficacy in ICU patients: is there a place for the Brix value-derived fraction of enteral formula in gastric residual volume?

status: publishe