Aerobic biotransformation of a novel highly functionalized polyfluoroether-based surfactant using activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant

A replacement fluorosurfactant has been recently introduced to the European market as an alternative to other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have been phased-out or banned. Here, we incubated...

Russian gas supply to EU will intertwine with politics

Significance Worries over supply shortages persist despite President Vladimir Putin's promise to increase deliveries. Russian output is close to the limit of current capacity and domestic demand is rising. European claims that Russia is withholding gas for political ends are linked to fears of conflict in Ukraine and controversy over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Impacts If gas shortages persist, Germany may approve limited flows through Nord Stream 2 before the pipeline is certified. Higher gas prices are a boost not only for Gazprom but also Novatek, Russia's largest liquefied natural gas exporter. Oil giant Rosneft may realise its long-held ambition to break Gazprom's monopoly on gas exports. Pipeline gas sales to China will remain uncorrelated with European market developments.

Study of the availability of gene therapeutic drugs in the Russian Federation

The authors studied the availability of gene therapy drugs in the Russian Federation on the basis of information on the permission of the medical use of drugs of this group in the world. Literature data and information about medicines approved by the FDA, EMA and the Ministry of Health of Russia were used. In general, the FDA registered only 13 drugs (46%) of the total approved for medical use in the world, 2 of them have already been withdrawn from the market, and 2 additional clinical trials are underway. In Europe, the EMA has approved 16 drugs for medical use (57%), with 4 of them already withdrawn. Most of the drugs were first approved by the FDA, and then, on average, a year later, were approved in the European market. A total of 4 drugs were approved in the European market and were not approved by the FDA at the time the data was requested. And only 1 drug, approved in the USA, is not registered in Europe. In the Russian Federation, two medicines are allowed, Neovasculgen (2011) and Spinraza (2019). This is only 7% of the total number of gene therapy drugs on the world market. Most of the drugs are intended for the treatment of orphan diseases and are cost expensive. This can explain the unevenness of their distribution across regions.

Vegan Alternatives to Processed Cheese and Yogurt Launched in the European Market during 2020: A Nutritional Challenge?

Vegan alternatives to cheese (VAC) and yogurt (VAY) are fast-growing markets in Europe due to the increasing interest in plant-based alternatives to dairy products. This study aimed to take a closer look at the year 2020 and accordingly retrieved the nutritional information of dairy cheese and yogurt and their vegan counterparts for comparison. It was found that VAY (n = 182) provide more energy, total fats, and carbohydrates than dairy yogurt (n = 86), while saturated fatty acids (SFAs), sugars, and salt were not different between the two categories. Compared to dairy products (25.6%), 72.9% of the alternative products were declared low/no/reduced allergen, hence providing a larger spectrum of products to respond to consumers’ requirements. VAC (n = 114) showed high versatility of form compared to dairy (n = 115). Nutritionally, VAC have higher total fats, SFAs, and carbohydrates, but lower protein, salt, and sugar than dairy cheese. Food developers will continue to look for clean label solutions to improve the nutritional values of vegan products through the incorporation of natural ingredients, besides enhancing their taste and texture to appeal to flexitarians.

Moving beyond traditional sponsorships: understanding the structure and dynamics of minority equity sponsorship agreements

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the structure and dynamics of minority equity sponsorship agreements and the motivations for organizations to go beyond traditional sponsorships by acquiring minority equity in the sponsored organization. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a qualitative methodology and presents interview data from key actors involved in minority equity sponsorship agreements. Findings The findings of the paper include major characteristics of minority equity sponsorship agreements including the motivations, dynamics and resources exchanged by sponsoring firms and clubs in these relationships, based on the experiences of key actors from firms, clubs and other key stakeholders, and a conceptual model for forming and maintaining these relationships. Practical implications Sponsorships are increasingly evolving into minority equity sponsorship agreements, particularly in the European market. The findings of this study assist sponsoring firms and the executives of clubs in better understanding the dynamics and stakeholder-related consequences of these relations. Originality/value The findings of this paper illustrate the differences between minority equity sponsorship agreements and both traditional sponsorships and minority equity alliances. The findings also identify major characteristics of these relationships and the interdependencies among these characteristics.

Growth and Competitiveness

After two prosperous decades, the European Union suffered a serious setback in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with sluggish growth and weak competitiveness in high-tech sectors compared to the USA and Japan. The creation of the single European market in 1993 was a major boost to growth and competitiveness in Europe. Yet, today, even abstracting from the coronavirus crisis, the European Union again faces some economic troubles. Growth has been subdued for a while and the EU is suffering yet again from weak competitiveness in high-tech sectors compared to the USA and to China, which has replaced Japan as the main Asian powerhouse. At the same time, however, the geopolitical situation has changed dramatically. In the earlier days, the world was divided between East and West, and all three main economic powers, the EU, Japan, and the USA, were in the same political camp. Their rivalry was therefore purely economic. Today, there are political dividing lines between the three main economic powers. The EU’s competitiveness problem vis-à-vis China and the USA in some key technologies is therefore not just economic but also geopolitical. Yet, the European Union remains largely an economic entity, though it has started to think and even to act geopolitically. The obvious question is whether Europe will be able to repeat its achievement of nearly 30 years ago and come up with a new design that will boost its growth and competitiveness in this new geopolitical era, or whether this quest will prove elusory.