Macroeconomic effects of fiscal consolidations in a DSGE model for the Euro Area: does composition matter?

We develop a new-Keynesian DSGE model with an extended fiscal policy block to assess the conditions for expansionary fiscal consolidations. In addition to several taxes, we consider public employment expenditures and government spending, which may have different degrees of productivity. We calibrate the model for the Euro Area and use it to simulate alternative fiscal consolidations with changes in the budget composition. Among the main conclusions we find that: (i) if conducted with a cut in weaklyproductive spending and a symmetric increase in highly-productive spending, fiscal consolidations have expansionary effects on investment and output; (ii) if consolidation is pursued through a pure reduction in weaklyproductive public employment, the effects on output decrease with the degree of labor market competition and turn out to be positive under perfect competition.fiscal policy, fiscal consolidation, new-Keynesian DSGE model

Relativistically into finance

The change of information near the light speed, advances in high-speed trading, spatial arbitrage strategies and foreseen space exploration, suggest the need to consider the effects of the theory of relativity into finance models. Time and space, under certain circumstances, are not dissociated and no longer can be interpreted as Euclidean. This paper provides an overview of research made on this field, while formally defining the key notions of spacetime and proper time. Further progression in this field does require a common ground of concepts and an understanding of how time dilation impacts financial models. For illustration purposes, we compute relativistic effects for option prices when viewed from the viewpoint of two distinct reference frames, based upon the classical Balck-Scholes model. We show relativistic effects are non-negligible and illustrate how they depend on option characteristics such as maturity of the contract and volatility of the underlying.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Conservative Physiology of the Immune System. A Non-Metaphoric Approach to Immunological Activity

Historically, immunology emerged as a biomedical science, concerned with host defense and production of anti-infectious vaccines. In the late 50s, selective theories were proposed and from then on, immunology has been based in a close association with the neo-Darwinian principles, such as random generation of variants (lymphocyte clones), selection by extrinsic factors (antigens)—and, more generally, on genetic determinism and functionalism. This association has had major consequences: (1) immunological jargon is full of “cognitive” metaphors, founded in the idea of “foreignness”; (2) the immune system is described with a random clonal origin, coupled to selection by random encounters; and (3) physiological events are virtually absent from immunological descriptions. In the present manuscript, we apply systemic notions to bring forth an explanation including systemic mechanisms able to generate immunological phenomena. We replace “randomness plus selection” and the notion of foreignness by a history of structural changes which are determined by the coherences of the system internal architecture at any given moment. The importance of this systemic way of seeing is that it explicitly attends to the organization that defines the immune system, within which it is possible to describe the conservative physiology of the immune system. Understanding immune physiology in a systemic way of seeing also suggests mechanisms underlying the origin of immunopathogeny and therefore suggests new insights to therapeutic approaches. However, if seriously acknowledged, this systemic/historic approach to immunology goes along with a global conceptual change which modifies virtually everything in the domain of biology, as suggested by Maturana

Pavimento flutuante com aglomerado de cortiça, de desempenho acústico optimizado

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados do desenvolvimento de pavimentos flutuantes com aglomerado de cortiça com o objectivo de melhorar o seu isolamento sonoro a ruídos de percussão. Foram realizados ensaios de percussão a 26 tipos de pavimentos em câmara reverberante da FEUP com o apoio da empresa SEDACOR. Os resultados mostraram que o melhor desempenho acústico é atingido com a combinação dos produtos 012, contraplacado e 51 PL/12 PL ou 012, MDF e 25 MS. Foi possível apurar que outros tipos de underlay podem melhorar substancialmente o isolamento sonoro nas médias-altas frequências. Fundamentada na comparação dos resultados, foi sugerida uma adaptação à actual normalização através da aplicação da curva de ponderação tipo A.This work presents the results of the development of agglomerated cork floating floors through the optimization of their acoustic performance, with the goal of improving sound insulation to structure borne noise. Percussion tests were performed in 26 floors in the reverberation room of FEUP, and with the support of the cork company SEDACOR. The results showed that the best acoustic performance is attained with the combination of the "012", "plywood" and "51 PL"/"12 PL" or "012", "MDF" and "25" products. It was found that other underlay shapes can substantially improve sound insulation in medium-high frequencies. For a better comparison of results an adaptation of the current standardization is suggested, through the use of the A-weighting curve

Methodology for phytoplankton taxonomic group identification towards the development of a lab-on-a-chip

This paper presents the absorbance and fluorescence optical properties of various phytoplankton species, looking to achieve an accurate method to detect and identify a number of phytoplankton taxonomic groups. The methodology to select the excitation and detection wavelengths that results in superior identification of phytoplankton is reported. The macroscopic analyses and the implemented methodology are the base for designing a lab-on-a-chip device for a phytoplankton group identification, based on cell analysis with multi-wavelength lighting excitation, aiming for a cheap and portable platform. With such methodology in a lab-on-a-chip device, the analysis of the phytoplankton cells’ optical properties, e.g., fluorescence, diffraction, absorption and reflection, will be possible. This device will offer, in the future, a platform for continuous, autonomous and in situ underwater measurements, in opposition to the conventional methodology. A proof-of-concept device with LED light excitation at 450 nm and a detection photodiode at 680 nm was fabricated. This device was able to quantify the concentration of the phytoplankton chlorophyll a. A lock-in amplifier electronic circuit was developed and integrated in a portable and low-cost sensor, featuring continuous, autonomous and in situ underwater measurements. This device has a detection limit of 0.01 µ/L of chlorophyll a, in a range up to 300 µg/L, with a linear voltage output with chlorophyll concentration.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/04436/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/04436/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. PD/BD/150581/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. 2021.01087.CEECINDFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. 2021.01086.CEECIN

Giant Amazonian fish pirarucu (Arapaima gigas): Its viscera as a source of thermostable trypsin

A trypsin was purified from pyloric caeca of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). the effect of metal ions and protease inhibitors on its activity and its physicochemical and kinetic properties, as well its N-terminal sequence, were determined. A single band (28.0 kDa) was observed by SDS-PAGE. Optimum pH and temperature were 9.0 and 65 degrees C, respectively. the enzyme was stable after incubation for 30 min in a wide pH range (6.0-11.5) and at 55 degrees C. the kinetic parameters K-m, k(cat) and k(cat)/K-m were 0.47 +/- 0.042 mM, 1.33 s(-1) and 2.82 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively, using BApNA as substrate. This activity was shown to be very sensitive to some metal ions, such as Fe2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, Al3+, Pb2+, and was highly inhibited by trypsin inhibitors. the trypsin N-terminal sequence IVGGYECPRNSVPYQ was found. the features of this alkaline peptidase suggest that it may have potential for industrial applications (e.g. food and detergent industries). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP/RECAR-CINE)Ministerio da Aquicultura e Pesca (MAP)Empresa brasileira de pesquisa agropecuaria (Embrapa)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Apoio a Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE)Petroleo do Brasil S/A (PETROBRAS)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ Fed Pernambuco, Lab Enzimol LABENZ, Dept Bioquim, BR-50670420 Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, LIKA, BR-50670420 Recife, PE, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Biofis, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Biofis, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Metal-sensitive and thermostable trypsin from the crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) pyloric caeca: purification and characterization

Background: Over the past decades, the economic development and world population growth has led to increased for food demand. Increasing the fish production is considered one of the alternatives to meet the increased food demand, but the processing of fish leads to by-products such as skin, bones and viscera, a source of environmental contamination. Fish viscera have been reported as an important source of digestive proteases with interesting characteristics for biotechnological processes. Thus, the aim of this study was to purify and to characterize a trypsin from the processing by-products of crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) fish.Results: A 27.5 kDa trypsin with N-terminal amino acid sequence IVGGFECTPHVFAYQ was easily purified from the pyloric caeca of the crevalle jack. Its physicochemical and kinetic properties were evaluated using N-alpha-benzoyl-(DL)-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA) as substrate. in addition, the effects of various metal ions and specific protease inhibitors on trypsin activity were determined. Optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. After incubation at 50 degrees C for 30 min the enzyme lost only 20% of its activity. K-m, k(cat), and k(cat)/K-m values using BApNA as substrate were 0.689 mM, 6.9 s(-1), and 10 s(-1) mM(-1), respectively. High inhibition of trypsin activity was observed after incubation with Cd2+, Al3+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ at 1 mM, revealing high sensitivity of the enzyme to metal ions.Conclusions: Extraction of a thermostable trypsin from by-products of the fishery industry confirms the potential of these materials as an alternative source of these biomolecules. Furthermore, the results suggest that this trypsin-like enzyme presents interesting biotechnological properties for industrial applications.Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP/RECARCINE)Petroleo do Brasil S/A (PETROBRAS)Secretaria Especial de Aquicultura e Pesca (SEAP/PR)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundacao de Apoio a Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE)Univ Fed Pernambuco, Lab Enzimol LABENZ, Dept Bioquim CCB, BR-50670910 Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, LIKA, BR-50670910 Recife, PE, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biofis, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Lab Glicoprot, Dept Bioquim CCB, BR-50670910 Recife, PE, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biofis, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Methodology for phytoplankton taxonomic group identification towards the development of a lab-on-a-chip

This paper presents the absorbance and fluorescence optical properties of various phytoplankton species, looking to achieve an accurate method to detect and identify a number of phytoplankton taxonomic groups. The methodology to select the excitation and detection wavelengths that results in superior identification of phytoplankton is reported. The macroscopic analyses and the implemented methodology are the base for designing a lab-on-a-chip device for a phytoplankton group identification, based on cell analysis with multi-wavelength lighting excitation, aiming for a cheap and portable platform. With such methodology in a lab-on-a-chip device, the analysis of the phytoplankton cells’ optical properties, e.g., fluorescence, diffraction, absorption and reflection, will be possible. This device will offer, in the future, a platform for continuous, autonomous and in situ underwater measurements, in opposition to the conventional methodology. A proof-of-concept device with LED light excitation at 450 nm and a detection photodiode at 680 nm was fabricated. This device was able to quantify the concentration of the phytoplankton chlorophyll a. A lock-in amplifier electronic circuit was developed and integrated in a portable and low-cost sensor, featuring continuous, autonomous and in situ underwater measurements. This device has a detection limit of 0.01 µ/L of chlorophyll a, in a range up to 300 µg/L, with a linear voltage output with chlorophyll concentration.European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg VA Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014–2020 Program under grant agreement 0591_FOODSENS_1_E, under the national support to R&D units grant, through the reference project UIDB/04436/2020 and UIDP/04436/2020, and by project NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000039 co-founded by the European Social Fund FSE and through National funds NORTE 2020 and Regional Operacional Programa of North 2014/2020. The University of Vigo work was funded by a Xunta de Galicia grant to the Biological Oceanography Research Group (Consolidación e estruturación de unidades). This output reflects only the views of the authors, and the program authorities cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therei