EU Core Research Articles

Highly biocompatible, monodispersed and mesoporous La(OH)3:Eu@mSiO2 core-shell nanospheres: Synthesis and luminescent properties

Monodispersed La(OH)3:Eu nanospheres(core-NSs) were synthesized by urea-based homogeneous co-precipitation process, where mesoporous silica layer was coated over the surface of luminescent La(OH)3:Eu core-NSs. The XRD data exhibit the high crystalline, single hexagonal-shaped La(OH)3:Eu core and silica modified La(OH)3:Eu@mSiO2 (core-shell) NSs. Monodispersibility, spherical shaped, high surface area and mesoporosity were identified by TEM analysis and were further confirmed by BET analysis. The as-synthesized samples are highly soluble in aqueous media at ambient conditions. Spectroscopic analyses were also carried out to examine the impact of surface modification on structural, surface chemistry, optical and luminescence behavior of the as-designed silica coated core-shell NSs. The emission spectral study revealed that the luminescence intensity of magnetic-dipole transition (590 nm, 5D0 → 7F1) is dominant with respect to electric-dipole (614 nm, 5D0 → 7F2) transition. The high crystallinity of the hydroxide products supports the existence of good photoluminescence intensity, a good indication for their future use in detection of biomacromolecules through hypersensitive emission (614 nm, 5D0 → 7F2) transition. Excellent biocompatibility, cell viability and good luminescence properties suggested that the as-prepared core-shell NSs are an ideal candidate for luminescence biolabeling/bioimaging and as an optical bio-probe.

Silica-modified luminescent LaPO4 :Eu@LaPO4 @SiO2 core/shell nanorods: Synthesis, structural and luminescent properties.

Monoclinic-type tetragonal LaPO4 :Eu (core) and LaPO4 :Eu@LaPO4 (core/shell) nanorods (NRs) were successfully prepared using a urea-based co-precipitation process under ambient conditions. An amorphous silica layer was coated around the luminescent core/shell NRs via the sol-gel process to improve their solubility and colloidal stability in aqueous and non-aqueous media. The prepared nano-products were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and FTIR, UV/Vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy to examine their phase purity, crystal phase, surface chemistry, solubility and luminescence characteristics. The length and diameter of the nano-products were in the range 80-120nm and 10-15nm, respectively. High solubility of the silica-modified core/shell/Si NRs was found for the aqueous medium. The luminescent core NRs exhibited characteristic excitation and emission transitions in the visible region that were greatly affected by surface growth of insulating LaPO4 and silica layers due to the multiphonon relaxation rate. Our luminescence spectral results clearly show a distinct difference in intensities for core, core/shell, and core/shell/Si NRs. Highly luminescent NRs with good solubility could be useful candidates for a variety of photonic-based biomedical applications.

Photochemical studies of monodispersed YPO 4 :Eu microspheres: The role of surface modification on structural and luminescence properties

Abstract Well-aqueous soluble, monodispersed, luminescent YPO 4 :Eu (core), YPO 4 :Eu@LaPO 4 (core/shell) and YPO 4 :Eu@LaPO 4 @SiO 2 (core/shell/Si) microspheres (MSs) were fabricated at low temperature with a facile synthesis process. TEM micrographs demonstrate the monodispersed, spherical shaped MSs were effectively covered with rough, porous silica surface, which is average grain size around 223 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis and FTIR spectral studies verified the silica surface modification. High absorbance of silica modified core/shell/Si MSs in the ultraviolet region suggests the good solubility and colloidal stability in an aqueous environment. Photoluminescence intensity of the electric-dipole ( 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 ) transition was dramatically decreased and magnetic-dipole ( 5 D 0 → 7 F 1 ) transition was increased in core/shell MSs regardless core MSs, it could be due to the formation of the undoped LaPO 4 shell surrounding the luminescent seed core-MSs. The formation of silica layer over the core/shell MSs not only increase the particle size but also improve the solubility character, however silica layer greatly quenched the luminescence intensity because of enhancement in multiphonon relaxation rate. Our finding suggests that monodispersed, spherical shaped luminescent MSs could be suitable materials for future use in photonic based bioapplications.

RUNNERS AND RIDERS: THE HORSEMEAT SCANDAL, EU LAW AND MULTI-LEVEL ENFORCEMENT

Abstract The 2013 horsemeat scandal shone a bright light on some of the darkest corners of supply-chain governance across the EU, revealing a blind spot in current EU food law. “Beef” frozen-food products were found to contain up to 100% horse. The British and Irish are squeamish about eating horse. Even for those countries where horsemeat is seen as a delicacy, the horse getting into the frozen “beef” was often of poor quality and possibly contaminated with “bute”, a veterinary drug not permitted in food for human consumption. The ability of the EU's regulatory regime to prevent fraud on such a scale was shown to be inadequate. EU food law, with its (over) emphasis on food safety, failed to prevent the occurrence of fraud and may even have played an (unintentional) role in facilitating or enhancing it. Domestic law offered little better protection, thus showing the difficulties associated with the implementation of a multi-level and multi-agency regulatory regime. Beyond the regulatory system, the EU's core Treaty commitment to the free movement of goods may also have laid the ground for complex and opaque supply chains into which unscrupulous traders and middlemen could slip unnoticed.

From emigrants to free movers: whither European emigration and diaspora policy?

ABSTRACTThis article examines the level of convergence in the field of emigration and diaspora policies of the European Union Member States. The analysis of policies of 28 states shows that the convergence of emigration and diaspora policies is more pronounced in the area of intra-EU mobility. Moreover, EU states tend to apply territorial limitations to their emigration and diaspora policies. Therefore, it might be expected that future convergence will concern only the EU core. The most developed area of intervention of the individual EU Member States is heritage promotion, but it predates the EU and is a derivative of the historical emigration from Europe. Today, considering the diversity of EU emigrants, traditional heritage promotion is challenging, both on the national and EU level.

Economy and Democracy in Slovakia during the Crisis: From a Laggard to the EU Core

This article demonstrates that the EU’s multiple economic crises have not shifted the main political trajectories in Slovakia. Despite a severe impact on the labor market, the crises themselves have neither triggered strong anti-EU sentiments nor led to an upsurge of social unrest or anti-EU populist politics. We argue that differentiated Europeanization and instrumental socialization based solely on strategic calculation, together with the elites’ narrow focus on fiscal governance, have recently prompted anti-EU attitudes, undermined citizens’ trust, and further weakened the quality of democracy. In sum, the Slovak case suggests that it is the inadequate elite response to the crisis, rather than the economic crisis itself, that has decreased democratic legitimation (Habermas 1975).

Is internal devaluation policy in the EU effective?

This research provides indepth analysis of the causes and outcomes of internal devaluation policy in EU. It is conducted using statistical and econometric tools on a sample of three groups of EU member states: EU new member states, PIIGS, and the rest of the EU (EU-core). The analysis points to the key drivers of economic growth in the whole of the EU as being productivity and investment (and consumption in EU new member states and EU core members). Unit labour costs are relevant for GDP growth in PIIGS but with a positive sign, while for the rest of the EU it is not a significant variable. The policy of internal devaluation is unsuitable for application in any EU member states, due to individual specificities. The solution is stronger EU governance that takes the heterogeneity of EU member states into consideration in the process of creating policies and finding solutions.

The Irish Economic Crisis: The Expiry of a Development Model?

This article studies the impact of the 2008 economic crisis on the Irish development model. The Republic of Ireland has developed its economy thanks to an FDI-led strategy. This strategy was very successful during the Celtic Tiger period in the 1990s and 2000s. Will the crisis put an end to Ireland’s economic development? If Ireland manages to keep a low corporate tax rate, it appears that the country will be able to carry on with its development model. However, Ireland seems to have almost achieved its catching up with the EU core countries and it will be difficult to reach growth rates similar to those of the Celtic Tiger period.

Fabrication of MPEG-b-PMAA capped YVO4:Eu nanoparticles with biocompatibility for cell imaging

A novel nanoparticle with multilayer core–shell architecture for cell imaging is designed and synthesized by coating a fluorescent YVO4:Eu core with a diblock copolymer, MPEG-b-PMAA. The synthesis of YVO4:Eu core, which further makes MPEG-b-PMAA-YVO4:Eu NPs adapt for cell imaging, is guided by the model determined upon the evaluation of pH and CEu%. The PMAA block attached tightly on the YVO4:Eu core forms the inner shell and the MPEG block forms the biocompatible outermost shell. Factors including reaction time, reaction temperature, CEu% and pH are optimized for the preparation of the YVO4:Eu NPs. A precise defined model is established according to analyzing the coefficients of pH and CEu% during the synthesis. The MPEG-b-PMAA-YVO4:Eu NPs, with an average diameter of 24nm, have a tetragonal structure and demonstrate luminescence in the red region, which lies in a biological window (optical imaging). Significant enhancement in luminescence intensity by MPEG-b-PMAA-YVO4:Eu NPs formation is observed. The capping copolymer MPEG-b-PMAA improves the dispersibility of hydrophobic YVO4:Eu NPs in water, making the NPs stable under different conditions. In addition, the biocompatibility MPEG layer reduces the cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles effectively. 95% cell viability can be achieved at the NPs concentration of 800mgL−1 after 24h of culture. Cellular uptake of the MPEG-b-PMAA-YVO4:Eu NPs is evaluated by cell imaging assay, indicating that the NPs can be taken up rapidly and largely by cancerous or non-cancerous cells through an endocytosis mechanism.

A Eu(II)-Containing Cryptate as a Redox Sensor in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Living Tissue.

The Eu(II) ion rivals Gd(III) in its ability to enhance contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. However, all reported Eu(II)-based complexes have been studied in vitro largely because the tendency of Eu(II) to oxidize to Eu(III) has been viewed as a major obstacle to in vivo imaging. Herein, we present solid- and solution-phase characterization of a Eu(II)-containing cryptate and the first in vivo use of Eu(II) to provide contrast enhancement. The results indicate that between one and two water molecules are coordinated to the Eu(II) core upon dissolution. We also demonstrate that Eu(II)-based contrast enhancement can be observed for hours in a mouse.

The NGOization of LGBT activism: ILGA-Europe and the Treaty of Amsterdam

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the Europeanization of social movement organizations using the case of ILGA-Europe, the umbrella of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organizations in Europe. It examines the impact of Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, which bans discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and focuses on three entrenched dynamics ILGA-Europe has rapidly undergone: NGOization, institutionalization, and professionalization. It argues that although we should be aware of the role of the European political opportunity structure in shaping civil society organizations, we cannot overlook internal organizational dynamics and movement identities. Following the literature on the Europeanization of social movements, this piece confirms institutional opportunities and interactions with European institutions are a major cause of transformation: The adoption of Article 13 and the development of a European equal opportunity policy constitute a pivotal moment in ILGA-Europe’s history, endowing it with easier access to EU institutions and core funding. This allowed the organization to NGOize, contributed to a transformation of its internal structures, and led to the appointment of highly skilled professionals. However, this article also insists on the importance of movement identity. These transformations are not solely the result of interactions with the European institutional environment, but had been prepared by long-term orientations within ILGA, that is a preference for reformist claims and institutional strategies. ILGA-Europe’s NGOization is thus not only a response to institutional and political changes, but also results from specific ways of imagining activism. It is the interaction between movement identity and arising institutional opportunities that allowed the organization to transform.

Immigration to the European Union from its neighborhoods

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of immigration from European Neighborhood (EN) and new member states to the EU core countries over the period 2000-2010. Apart from income differentials, unemployment rates and other standard variables hypothesized to determine immigration, the paper focusses attention on welfare-chasing as well as measures to enforce immigration policy. Using a variant of the gravity model, the paper investigates whether tests of these hypotheses are robust with respect to spatial misspecification. Design/methodology/approach – The determinants of migration from the European Neighborhood and new member states to the EU core countries is estimated using a spatial variant of the gravity model. The methodology is used for both multilateral and spatial flows. Gravity model estimations are presented for immigration into the EU core destinations using standard, non-spatial econometrics, as well as spatial econometrics for single and double-spatial dynamics. Fin...

Impact of Production Location, Production System, and Variety on the Volatile Organic Compounds Fingerprints and Sensory Characteristics of Tomatoes

Consumers have more and more interest in where and how their foods are produced. However, it is often challenging to discriminate products from different production locations and systems. The objective of this study was to examine fingerprinting of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as an approach for characterization and discrimination of tomatoes by their production location, production system, and variety using Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry combined with multivariate statistics. Sensory analysis was complementing the VOC analyses. The study was part of the EU CORE Organic II project AuthenticFood. Tomato sample batches cultivated in two locations in Italy, according to the organic and conventional production system, comprising two varieties, and produced in two consecutive years were examined. Both factors production location and production system impacted considerably the VOC fingerprints, but compared to these two factors, minor differences were observed between the two varieties of tomatoes studied. VOC data were successfully used to predict the origin and production system for this sample set. Sensory data also primarily indicated the differences between origin and production systems, and several sensory attributes could be predicted from the VOC fingerprints. Therefore, VOC fingerprints reflect production conditions and are promising for substantiation and authentication of special tomato traits.

War and Peace in Eastern Europe: The Ukrainian Lessons

The issue of war and peace in Eastern Europe is discussed in this interpretive essay on the grounds of war between Russia and Ukraine in Eastern Ukraine. Focus is on what happened to the worlds of geopolitics, EU core values, European liberal consensus on human rights and civil liberties, and present Russia with its increasing rejection of the aforementioned liberal attitudes and democratic values. Made up by a series of insights into the clashes of Russian and EU politics, this essay offers a philosophical perspective on why and how ongoing low intensity conflicts waged and orchestrated by Russia in Ukraine and in Eastern Partnership countries substantially changed the character of war and peace over the past years. The question raised here is as to what kind of political implications we can expect from this process. The trajectories of moral and political consciousness in present Russia and the EU are examined and compared with the help of an overview of some recent political and cultural events.

Sainfoin seeds in organic diets for weaned piglets—utilizing the protein-rich grains of a long-known forage legume

AbstractSainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a tanniniferous legume that has been used as non-bloating forage for horses and ruminants for centuries, but so far its protein-rich seeds have not been utilized as a feedstuff for monogastric animals. In Europe, the main protein sources in diets for organic pigs are the grain legumes faba beans (Vicia faba) and peas (Pisum sativum), alongside the expensive high-quality components soybean cake, skimmed milk powder and potato protein. Because of the scarce supply of organic soybean cake and the highly variable yield of peas, alternative and locally produced protein sources are of great interest. As part of the EU Core Organic II research project ICOPP (improved contribution of local feed to support 100% organic feed supply to pigs and poultry), sainfoin seeds have been tested as a protein source for organic weaned piglets. In a feeding trial, a control diet, one diet containing 10% sainfoin seeds with hulls and two diets with 10 and 16% dehulled seeds, respectively (as fed basis) were fed to 137 piglets (crosses of [Pietrain×Duroc]×[Landrace×Large White]) during the 4-week post-weaning phase. The protein-rich components of the control diet were peas and soybean cake, which were partly substituted for sainfoin seeds in the experimental diets. Sainfoin seeds were found to contain 279 g kg−1 crude protein (388 g kg−1 when dehulled, as fed basis) with an amino acid profile suitable for pig feeding. Neither feed intake and body weight gain nor feed conversion ratio differed between treatments. It is concluded that sainfoin seeds can be a valuable protein source in moderate percentages of 10–16% in organic diets for weaned piglets. Where sainfoin can be cultivated easily and the seeds are harvested, using them as feed for piglets can therefore be recommended.

Effect of surface coating on optical properties of Eu3+-doped CaMoO4 nanoparticles

A simple polyol method has been used for the synthesis of CaMoO4:Eu (core), CaMoO4:Eu@CaMoO4 (core/shell) and their silica coated CaMoO4:Eu@CaMoO4 (core/shell/shell) nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies techniques has been employed for their characterization. XRD patterns and FT-Raman spectra showed that these nanoparticles have a scheelite-type tetragonal structure without the presence of deleterious phases. These nanoparticles were easily dispersed in water, producing a transparent colloidal solution. The optical energy band-gap decreases after core/shell formation due to increase the crystalline size. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the as-synthesized core, core/shell and core/shell/shell nanoparticles measured with an excitation source wavelength of 325nm showed that the emission intensity was increases after shell formation around the surface of core nanoparticles.

Sources of funding for decentralized R&D activity: effects of MNE subsidiaries' entry choice and laboratory roles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between R&D internationalization and finance decisions by providing survey evidence on the funding sources of R&D in light of recent perceptions of MNEs' decentralized knowledge-related competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach – The study draws upon a survey of 83 decentralized R&D units located in countries outside the EU core of mature economies. Funding sources are classified as MNE-internal and external. Using simulation-based models, six ordered probit regression models were run with each funding source forming the dependent variable. Findings – There are three significant findings. First, decentralized R&D funding relies mainly on MNE-internal sources. Second, decentralized R&D funding patterns reflect on the interdependencies within an overall MNE R&D strategy that is articulated through varied laboratory roles. Third, while the strategy-finance interaction is confirmed, the prevalence of parent funding is challenged. Instead, evidence recorded here suggests support for the decentralized, “subsidiary-focused” perspective that has recently regained a considerable momentum in the literature. Research limitations/implications – Notwithstanding that this study reinforces the interaction between strategic decisions and funding patterns, more work is required to identify the effects of other aspects of strategy on the funding sources of decentralized R&D activity. However, it is seemingly the first study that investigates MNEs' R&D financial decisions in economies outside the EU core, incorporating also a wide array of external funding sources. Practical implications – Funding choices for decentralized R&D labs should be contingent upon their unique contribution to the competitive evolution of the MNE group. Further, R&D activity seems to leverage the autonomy of subsidiary managers. Originality/value – This research is one of the very few empirical studies providing evidence on the funding sources of decentralized R&D laboratories, and suggests possible predictors that have not been put forward hitherto.

A Memorandum of Misunderstanding – The doomed road of the European Stability Mechanism and a possible way out: Enhanced cooperation

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) stands pars pro toto for how the EU and the Member States have confronted what allegedly started out as a sovereign debt crisis and has turned into an existential crisis of the EU. Attempts to get Europe back on track rely too heavily on technocratic governance and abandon some of the EU's core values. This paper proposes an alternative, more legitimate route. It argues that ESM-like financial assistance should be integrated into the framework of the EU's legal order, by using the legal instrument of enhanced cooperation under Article 20 TEU.A critical analysis is given of economic governance under the ESM, addressing and assessing its shortcomings in terms of human rights protection, the rule of law ideal and lack of input legitimacy. The feasibility of using enhanced cooperation for the ESM is examined.

Evaluation of Competitiveness in the European Union: Alternative Perspectives

The paper deals with different approaches to evaluation of competitiveness of the EU countries. Alternative measures of competitiveness indicators are applied and compared in the paper. The traditional approach of cost-based productivity measures is applied in the analysis. In addition, the set of infrastructure and human capital quality indices reflecting the country's potential to attract firms to establish and conduct competitive high-tech business is suggested to examine competiveness from the firm-level perspective. Internally homogenous clusters of EU countries with similar competitiveness characteristics are identified using the Ward agglomerative method in the analysis. Also, the dynamics and convergence processes of the EU core, periphery and CEE countries are examined using the measure of average distances within clusters. The results of countries’ competitiveness evaluation show differences using both alternative approaches. Whereas the division between core, periphery and CEE countries is obvious using traditional cost-base productivity measures, unstable disparate clustering structures were identified using the firm-level approach. The results also show slow and steady convergence of CEE towards the core countries from the perspective of infrastructure and human capital quality dimension.

Playing with Fire: Internal Devaluation for the GIPSI Countries

European authorities are encouraging internal devaluation by GIPSI countries in order to improve their competitiveness and reduce current account deficits. However, this option introduces an additional source of risk, as it may generate deflation, making fiscal consolidation for these countries even harder to achieve. Several authors have suggested that an enhanced coordination of national fiscal policies would be preferable. This paper contributes to the debate in two instances. First, we analyze the main drivers of debt dynamics for peripheral versus core countries in the Eurozone in the last decade, to evidence that GIPSI countries should focus on a fiscal consolidation that does not damage growth, while deflation should be avoided. Second, we implement a scenario analysis to analyze the effectiveness of a coordinated policy among Eurozone members, where core countries accept a 3% target for inflation and reduce the pace of their fiscal consolidation, while GIPSI countries focus on fiscal consolidation with a low (but positive) level of inflation. This coordinated policy might be a better option as it (i) increases the competitiveness of GIPSI countries while avoiding the risks of deflation, (ii) ensures stability of debt for both groups of countries without imposing an excessive inflation target from EU core countries, and (iii) introduces the possibility of a fiscal stimulus.