A model-based assessment of the macroeconomic impact of EU structural funds on the new Member States

This paper gives a model-based analysis of the potential macro-economic impact of European Union Structural and Cohesion Funds payments on the economies of the new Member States. The model used is a four-region DSGE model with human capital accumulation and endogenous technological change. The framework that we adopt is the Jones (2005) extension of the endogenous growth model, which uses a variety approach for modelling knowledge investment. The EU funds average around 1.5 percent of GDP and are used for investment in infrastructure, human capital and R&D. The model simulations show this can lead to significant gains in output, both in the short as well as in the long run.Fiscal transfers, Structural Funds, public investment, DSGE modelling, Varga, in 't Veld

How to close the productivity gap between the US and Europe: A quantitative assessment using a semi-endogenous growth model

This paper uses a semi-endogenous growth model to identify possible sources for three interrelated stylised differences between the EU and the US, namely a higher level of productivity and knowledge investment and larger skill premia in the US compared to the EU. The model allows us to explain these differences in terms of differences in subsidies to R and D, mark ups, administrative entry barriers and financial frictions.The paper provides a ranking about the relative importance of these factors. Goods market competition and both administrative and financial entry barriers are the most important explanatory factors for lower productivity in the EU, while entry barriers explain the bulk of the knowledge investment gap and high skilled wage premia.productivity differences endogenous growth R and D market structure skill composition dynamic general equilibrium modelling Economic P how to close the productivity gap between the US a quantitative assessment using a semi-endogenou Varga Roeger in 't Veld European Economy. Economic Papers

Structural Reforms in the EU: A simulation-based analysis using the QUEST model with endogenous growth

This paper describes the endogenous growth version of the QUEST III model and uses it to analyse the macroeconomic impact of various structural reform measures. This paper describes a micro-founded DSGE model with endogenous growth that is used to analyse the macroeconomic impact of structural reforms in Europe. The new QUEST III model is a useful tool for analysing the costs and benefits of reforms in terms of concrete and quantifiable policy measures, in particular fiscal policy instruments such as taxes, benefits, subsidies and education expenditures, administrative costs faced by firms and regulatory indices. Our results confirm the beneficial effects on output and employment of skill-biased tax reforms, measures that improve the skill composition of the labour force, R&D subsidies, raising competition in final goods market, increased financial market integration and measures that remove entry barriers in certain markets. The model also allows us to examine the adjustment path and the time lags involved before these benefits can be reaped.Structural reforms, endogenous growth, R&D, DSGE modelling, Roeger, Varga , in 't Veld, Structural Reforms in the EU: A simulation-based analysis using the QUEST model with endogenous growth

Quantitative assessment of Structural Reforms: Modelling the Lisbon Strategy

Using a variety of economic models, the Commission services have examined the impact of several reforms forming part of the Growth and Jobs Strategy (GJS). Overall, the results show that past reforms have delivered significant benefits, and that further reforms in key areas could generate important additional gains. The modelling results provide support for the existence of positive interactions between structural reforms in different areas, and thus for having a comprehensive reform strategy. They also highlight spillovers between reforms at EU and national level, the magnitude of which is being enhanced through the growing intensity of trade and investment.structural reforms, growth and jobs strategy, GJS, economic models, trade, investment, Arpaia, Roeger, Varga, in 't Veld, Hobza, Grilo, Wobst

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

Genome sequencing and analysis of the versatile cell factory Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is widely exploited by the fermentation industry for the production of enzymes and organic acids, particularly citric acid. We sequenced the 33.9-megabase genome of A. niger CBS 513.88, the ancestor of currently used enzyme production strains. A high level of synteny was observed with other aspergilli sequenced. Strong function predictions were made for 6,506 of the 14,165 open reading frames identified. A detailed description of the components of the protein secretion pathway was made and striking differences in the hydrolytic enzyme spectra of aspergilli were observed. A reconstructed metabolic network comprising 1,069 unique reactions illustrates the versatile metabolism of A. niger. Noteworthy is the large number of major facilitator superfamily transporters and fungal zinc binuclear cluster transcription factors, and the presence of putative gene clusters for fumonisin and ochratoxin A synthesis

Cardiovascular effects of exercise induced dynamic hyperinflation in COPD patients-Dynamically hyperinflated and non-hyperinflated subgroups.

IntroductionAn increase in respiratory rate and expiratory flow limitation can facilitate dynamic hyperinflation (DH), which may cause an element of the intrathoracic pressure in connection with the worsening of venous return, with negative effect on stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO). It has been unclassified, whether poor circulatory adaptation to exercise can be attributed to DH or poor cardio-vascular performance itself in COPD. Only a subset of COPD patients exhibit dynamic hyperinflation during exercise.Patients and methodsWe designed a study to show how lung mechanical and cardiovascular parameters change in hyperinflated and non-hyperinflated COPD patients during exercise with a new experimental set-up. Thirty-three COPD patients with similar severity of COPD and left ventricular performance (20 men, 13 women, mean±SD age: 65,36±6,95 years) participated. We measured the cardiovascular parameters with a non-invasive device (Finometer-pro) including the left ventricular ejection time index (LVETi) and estimated the change of DH with inspiratory capacity (IC) manoeuvres during exercise.ResultsTwenty-one subjects exhibited DH (DH group) and 12 did not (non-DH group). The measurement results were given in mean ± SD and difference between the values measured during maximal load and rest also (ΔX = Xmax.load-Xrest). ΔSV and ΔCO were significantly higher in non-DH vs. DH patients (ΔSV: non-DH 9,7 ± 13,22 ml vs. DH -3,6 ± 14,34 ml, p = 0.0142; ΔCO: non-DH 2,26 ± 1,46 l/min vs. DH 0,88 ± 1,35 l/min, p = 0.0024). LVETi was not different between the two groups. Calculated oxygen delivery (DO2) during maximal load was significantly higher in non-DH group.ConclusionWe concluded that worse cardiovascular adaptation to exercise of COPD patients can be associated with exercise-induced DH in a similar cardiovascular aged COPD group

Web- And cloud-based software infrastructure for materials design

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) simulations play an important role in materials design. However, the effective use of the most widely used MD simulators require significant expertise of the scientific domain and deep knowledge of the given software tool itself. In this paper, we present a tool that offers an intuitive, component-oriented approach to design complex molecular systems and set up initial conditions of the simulations. We integrate this tool into a web- and cloud-based software infrastructure, called MetaMDS, that lowers the barrier of entry into MD simulations for practitioners. The web interface makes it possible for experts to build a rich library of simulation components and for ordinary users to create full simulations by parameterizing and composing the components. A visual programming interface makes it possible to create optimization workflows where the simulators are invoked multiple times with various parameter configurations based on results of earlier simulation runs. Simulation configurations including the various parameters, the version of tools utilized and the results are stored in a database to support searching and browsing of existing simulation outputs and facilitating the reproducibility of scientific results