A Modified Environmental Kuznets Curve for Sustainable Development Assessment Using Panel Data

Sustainable development is a concept strictly connected with basic needs of the individuals. During the last years a number of empirical studies have tried to discover and quantify the causal relations between economic growth and environmental consumption and degradation. The most widely used empirical model is the so-called Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), nowadays applied to different polluting elements. Despite the huge diffusion of EKC studies, this model has been criticised for incompleteness of a sustainable development analysis. The aim of this paper is to build a Modified EKC (MEKC) in order to consider a wider concept of development rather than pure economic growth, including well-being aspects and sustainability of the development process. Using a macroeconomic measure of sustainability such as the World Bank’s Genuine Saving and a measure of well-being such as the United Nations’ Human Development Index, we build a model in order to analyse linkages between higher welfare levels and natural resources consumption, verifying the sustainability of human development. A panel analysis for three years (1990-1995-2000) for a wide range of countries (including developed and developing countries) has been applied in order to respond to criticisms related to conjunctural results linked to pure cross-section studies. Comparisons among alternative pollutants (i.e., CO2, NOX, and SOX) and GS are described, and the robustness of the MEKC clearly emerges. Furthermore, in order to respond to criticisms for the reduced form of the EKC, an Instrumental Variables model has been tested both on CO2 and GS, while a system of equations has been tested considering simultaneously a traditional EKC and a MEKC for a longer time period (1996-2004). Unit root tests for non-stationary series have been computed, showing that the IV model gives satisfactory results. An indicator for technological capabilities has been added at this stage, accounting for diffusion of technical progress and import technology as suggested by Archibugi and Coco (2004). Causal relations identified within a MEKC allow to identify correlation between human development and sustainable development, following the classic inverted U-shaped curve of the EKC. Nonetheless, comparing the turning points of the MEKC and EKC, respectively, it seems that using this alternative specification some useful policy implications apply. The threshold level of human development in the MEKC corresponds to an income per capita level lower than the threshold level for the EKC, confirming the possibility of “tunnelling through the curve” as suggested in Munasinghe (1999). Our results show that human development should be the first objective of international development policies, and an increase in human well-being is necessary to provide a sustainability path.Environmental Kuznets Curve, Sustainable development, Human development, Genuine saving, Panel data

The causality between energy consumption and economic growth: A multi-sectoral analysis using non-stationary cointegrated panel data

The increasing attention given to global energy issues and the international policies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have given a renewed stimulus to research interest in the linkages between the energy sector and economic performance at country level. In this paper, we analyse the causal relationship between economy and energy by adopting a Vector Error Correction Model for non-stationary and cointegrated panel data with a large sample of developed and developing countries and four distinct energy sectors. The results show that alternative country samples hardly affect the causality relations, particularly in a multivariate multi-sector frameworkEnergy Sector, Panel Unit Roots, Panel Cointegration, Vector Error Correction Models, Granger Causality

Cooperative and non-cooperative solutions to carbon leakage

A modified version of the CGE GTAP-E model is developed for assessing the economic and carbon emissions effects related to alternative policy measures implemented with the aim of reducing carbon leakage. We explore a set of scenarios, comparing solutions where Annex I countries introduce exogenously or endogenously determined carbon border taxes in order to solve the carbon leakage problem unilaterally. Results provide evidence on the scarce effectiveness of carbon tariffs in reducing carbon leakage and enhancing economic competitiveness, while they have large negative welfare effects not only on the Non-Annex countries, but also on certain Annex I countriesCarbon Leakage, Carbon Border Tax, GTAP-E model

Nanoparticle drug delivery systems for inner ear therapy: An overview

open7noembargoed_20180701Valente, Filippo; Astolfi, Laura; Simoni, Edi; Danti, Serena; Franceschini, Valeria; Chicca, Milvia; Martini, AlessandroValente, Filippo; Astolfi, Laura; Simoni, Edi; Danti, Serena; Franceschini, Valeria; Chicca, Milvia; Martini, Alessandr

Loss of cd45 protein in canine small clear cell/t-zone lymphoma is due to absence of gene transcription.

Canine small clear cell/T-zone lymphoma (TZL) is a peculiar lymphoma subtype characterized by an indolent clinical course and aberrant CD45-negative phenotype, easily recognized by flow cytometry (FC). Recent studies have described clinical presentation and behavior, but to date the mechanisms for CD45-negativity have never been investigated.Aim of this study is to confirm the lack of surface protein using a different technique from FC and to investigate if CD45-absence in TZL is linked to the lack of the corresponding transcript and gene.40 TZL cases and 17 controls (7 T-high grade lymphoma, 10 reactive lymphnodes) were included in the present study. Immunohistochemistry was performed with a different antibody respect with FC to confirm CD45 surface protein absence. Total RNA and genomic DNA were extracted from lymph-nodes aspirates. CD45 transcript amount was investigated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and the corresponding gene fragment was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. ΔΔCt method was used for the relative quantification of transcript amount and DNA load compared to housekeeping genes.All TZL cases were negative for CD45 at immunohistochemistry. CD45 transcript amount was significantly lower in TZL compared to controls (p=0.000). This difference was not significant (p=0.584) for CD45 DNA load, that was similar between TZL and controls.These results highlight that CD45 protein is lacking on cell surface and gene transcription is absent in TZL, whereas the corresponding gene is not deleted. The data here reported support further studies for clarifying possible genomic or epigenomic factors involving CD45 gene transcription and for better clarifying the possible role of CD45 in lymphomagenesis

Flow cytometry for feline lymphoma: a retrospective study about pre-analytical factors possibly affecting the quality of samples

Introduction Flow cytometry (FC) is an increasingly required technique on which veterinary oncologists rely to have an accurate, fast, minimally invasive lymphoma or leukemia diagnosis. FC has been studied and applied with great results in canine oncology, whereas in feline oncology the use of this technique is still to be experienced. This is mainly due to a supposed discomfort in sampling, because of the high prevalence of intra-abdominal lymphomas. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether any pre-analytical factor might affect the quality of suspected feline lymphoma samples for FC analysis.Methods 97 consecutive samples of suspected feline lymphoma were retrospectively selected from the authors’ institution FC database. The referring veterinarians were recalled and interrogated about several different variables, including signalling, features of the lesion, features of the sampling procedure and the experience of veterinarians performing the sampling. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the possible influence of these variables on the cellularity of the samples and the likelihood of being finally processed for FC.Results None of the investigated variables significantly influenced the quality of the submitted samples, but the needle size, with 21G needles providing the highest cellularity (Table 1). Notably, the samples quality did not vary between peripheral and intra-abdominal lesions. Sample cellularity alone influenced the likelihood of being processed. About a half of the cats required pharmacological restraint. Side effects were reported in one case only (transient swelling after peripheral lymph node sampling).Conclusions FC can be safely applied to cases of suspected feline lymphomas, even for intra-abdominal lesions. 21G needle should be preferred for sampling. This study provides the bases for the spread of this minimally invasive, fast and cost-effective technique in feline medicine

Immunophenotypical and cytomorphological examination of feline peripheral blood in patients with suspect leukemia

To date, knowledge about leukemias in feline patients is poor. Classification of leukemias is mostly based on morphological, immunological and genetic aspects in dogs and humans [Harvey, 2012]. However, in cat poor literature about classification of leukemias via flow cytometric (FC) immunophenotyping is available and just a few publications of case reports are present . We retrospectively selected 44 cases of leukemias from our FC service database from 2009 to 2017 with the aim to describe the major immunological features and define the prevalence of different subtypes. Blood and/or bone marrow submitted for FC analysis with a prevalent hematological presentation were selected. Cases with an evident lymph node enlargement or with clinical aspects suggesting a solid lesion (lymphoma) were excluded. Cases were classified depending on antigen expression and hematologic features in five groups: chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL), acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL), acute myelogenous leukemias (AML), acute undifferentiated leukemias (AUL) and undetermined ALL vs lymphoma stage V.26 cases (59%) were classified as acute leukemias whereas 11 cases (25%) were classified as chronic leukemias; 7 cases (16%) were classified as undetermined. Among acute leukemias 10 (38.5%) were AML, 10 (38.5%) AUL and 6 (23%) ALL. All ALL were of T cell origin (CD3+ or CD5+). Among chronic leukemias, 10 (91%) were of T cell origin and among these, 80% expressed CD4 (T-helper lymphocytes), while 20% were double negative (CD4- CD8-).These results confirmed that T cell leukemias are more frequent than B ones in the cat with a prevalent T-helper phenotypes as previously described. AMLs were highly represented, but the lack of an adequate panel of specific antibodies for myeloid lineage rendered a high number of AUL in our caseload. Similarly, the lack of an anti-feline CD34 antibody did not permit differential diagnosis of acute leukemia vs lymphoma with blood involvement in a remarkable percentage of cases without an evident nodal enlargement and without an extreme leukocytosis

How to Measure the ET-ET Construct for Ambidexterity Comparative Analysis of Measures and New Measurement Proposal

Although there is broad agreement that ambidexterity somehow relates to the simultaneous pursuit of exploratory and exploitative activities, a lack of conceptual clarity exists regarding the extent to which ambidexterity concerns matching the magnitude (BD) of exploration and exploitation on a relative basis, or concerns the combined magnitude (CD) of both activities. This fragmentation has inspired different operationalization of the construct and limited its usefulness, both for scholars and practitioners, since interpretations, comparisons and analysis between cross studies or research have become more difficult. This article proposes and tests an alternative measure of ambidexterity, which attempts to simultaneously and explicitly include in an overall index both the combined (CD) and the balanced dimension (BD)