The Dialectical Relationship of Preferential and Multilateral Trade Agreements

Preferentialism and multilateralism are not two independent and succinct avenues in the pur-suit of market access and regulatory policies. They historically build upon each other in a dialectical process, closely related and linked through regulatory bridges and references. They influence and direct each other in various ways. The paper mainly focuses on the evolution of international protection of intellectual property rights and of services. The multilateral regulation of the TRIPS and others derive from years of regulatory experience and high numbers of preferential agreements across the globe. The GATS and others, on the other hand, have entered the pluri- or multilateral stage early. Once regulation has reached the mul-tilateral stage, preferentialism focuses on WTO-plus and -extra commitments. Both areas, however, show close interaction. The principle of MFN ensures that multilateralism and preferentialism do not evolve independently from each other. It produces significant spill-over effects of preferential agreements. Such effects and the need to develop uniform and coherent regulatory standards have led in parallel to a number of preferential, plurilateral and multilateral regulatory initiatives. We submit that the process will eventually encourage the return to multilateralism and negotiations in international fora, in particular the WTO while traditional market access may stay with preferential relations among Nations. Such burden-sharing between different regulatory fora should be reflected in future WTO rules providing the overall backbone of the system.

Major ion concentrations and chlorine isotope composition of water-soluble chloride and structurally bound chloride in DSDP/ODP serpentinized ultramafic rocks

Eight DSDP/ODP cores were analyzed for major ion concentrations and d37Cl values of water-soluble chloride (d37Clwsc) and structurally bound chloride (d37Clsbc) in serpentinized ultramafic rocks. This diverse set of cores spans a wide range in age, temperature of serpentinization, tectonic setting, and geographic location of drilled serpentinized oceanic crust. Three of the cores were sampled at closely spaced intervals to investigate downhole variation in Cl concentration and chlorine isotope composition. The average total Cl content of all 86 samples is 0.26±0.16 wt.% (0.19±0.10 wt.% as water-soluble Cl (Xwsc) and 0.09±0.09 wt.% as structurally bound Cl (Xsbc)). Structurally bound Cl concentration nearly doubles with depth in all cores; there is no consistent trend in water-soluble Cl content among the cores. Chlorine isotope fractionation between the structurally bound Cl**- site and the water-soluble Cl**- site varies from -1.08? to +1.16?, averaging to +0.21?. Samples with negative fractionations may be related to reequilibration of the water-soluble chloride with seawater post-serpentinite formation. Six of the cores have positive bulk d37Cl values (+0.05? to +0.36?); the other two cores (173-1068A (Leg-Hole) and 84-570) have negative bulk d37Cl values (-1.26? and -0.54?). The cores with negative d37Cl values also have variable Cl**-/SO4**2- ratios, in contrast to all other cores. The isotopically positive cores (153-920D and 147-895E) show no isotopic variation with depth; the isotopically negative core (173-1068A) decreases by ~1? with depth for both the water-soluble and structurally bound Cl fractions. Non-zero bulk d37Cl values indicate Cl in serpentinites was incorporated during original hydration and is not an artifact of seawater infiltration during drilling. Cores with positive d37Cl values are most likely explained by open system fractionation during hydrothermal alteration, with preferential incorporation of 37Cl from seawater into the serpentinite and loss of residual light Cl back to the ocean. Fluid / rock ratios were probably low as evidenced by the presence of water-soluble salts. The two isotopically negative cores are characterized by a thick overlying sedimentary package that was in place prior to serpentinization. We believe the low d37Cl values of these cores are a result of hydration of ultramafic rock by infiltrating aqueous pore fluids from the overlying sediments. The resulting serpentinites inherit the characteristic negative d37Cl values of the pore waters. Chlorine stable isotopes can be used to identify the source of the serpentinizing fluid and ultimately discern chemical and tectonic processes involved in serpentinization.

Why Do Economies Enter into Preferential Agreements on Trade in Services? Assessing the Potential for Negotiated Regulatory Convergence in Asian Services Markets

More than one-third of the World Trade Organization-notified services trade agreements that were in effect between January 2008 and August 2015 involved at least one South or Southeast Asian trading partner. Drawing on Baier and Bergstrand’s (2004) determinants of preferential trade agreements and using the World Bank’s database on the restrictiveness of domestic services regimes (Borchert, Gootiiz, and Mattoo 2012), we examine the potential for negotiated regulatory convergence in Asian services markets. Our results suggest that Asian economies with high levels of preexisting bilateral merchandise trade and wide differences in services regulatory frameworks are more likely candidates for services trade agreement formation. Such results lend support to the hypothesis that the heightened “servicification” of production generates demand for the lowered services input costs resulting from negotiated market openings.

Why do Countries Enter into Preferential Agreements on Trade in Services? Assessing the Potential for Negotiated Regulatory Convergence in Asian Services Markets

More than a third of the World Trade Organization (WTO)-notified services trade agreements (STAs) in effect over January 2008 - August 2015 have involved at least one (South or Southeast) Asian trading partner. Drawing on Baier and Bergstrand's (2004) determinants of preferential trade agreements and using the World Bank's database on the restrictiveness of domestic services regimes (Borchert et.al. 2012), we examine the potential for negotiated regulatory convergence in Asian services markets. Our results suggest that countries within Asia with high levels of pre-existing bilateral merchandise trade and wide differences in services regulatory frameworks are more likely candidates for STA formation. Such results lend support to the hypothesis that the heightened "servicification" of production generates a demand for the lowered service input costs resulting from negotiated market opening.

The role of Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) in facilitating global production networks

This paper examines the effects of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in facilitating international trade flows connecting production networks. We consider over 250 PTAs with trade flows distinguished into parts and components and final goods for the period 1979-2008. The gravity equation estimates suggest that the concurrent year effects of PTA formation on trade in parts and components are unseen, whereas PTAs have positive and pervasive effects on both types of trade flows 6 and 9 years after the PTA formation.

Gender-preferential intergenerational patterns in primary education attainment : a quantitative analysis of a case of rural Mindanao, the Philippines

The Philippines has achieved a relatively high standard of education. Previous researches, most of which deal with Luzon Island, have indicated that rural poverty alleviation began partly due to the increased investment in education. However, the suburban areas beyond Luzon Island have rarely been studied. This study examines a case from rural Mindanao, and investigates the determinants and factors associated with children's education, with a special focus on delays in schooling, which may be a cause of dropout and holdover incidences, as well as exploring gender-specific differential patterns. The result shows that after controlling other socioeconomic attributes, (1) delays in schooling, as well as years completed, are more favorable for girls than boys; (2) the level of maternal education is equally associated with the child(ren)’s education level regardless of their gender; and (3) paternal education is preferentially and favorably influential to the same-gender child(ren), i.e., son(s). To reduce the boy-unfriendly gender bias in primary education, this study suggests two future tasks, i.e., providing boy-specific interventions to enhance the magnitude of the father-son educational virtuous circle, and comparing the magnitude of gender-equal maternal education influence and boy-preferential paternal education influence to specify which effect is larger.

Measuring the usage of preferential tariffs in the world

The preference utilization ratio, i.e., the share of imports under preferential tariff schemes out of total imports, has been a popular indicator for measuring the usage of preferential tariffs vis-à-vis tariffs on a most-favored-nation basis. A crucial shortcoming of this measure is the data requirements, particularly for import value data classified by tariff schemes, which are not available in most countries. This study proposes an alternative measure for preferential tariff utilization, termed the "tariff exemption ratio." This measure offers the unique advantage of needing only publicly available data, such as those provided by the World Development Indicators, for its computations. We can thus calculate this measure for most countries for an international comparison. Our finding is that tariff exemption ratios differ widely across countries, with a global average of approximately 50%.

Hydration of C3S, C2S and their Blends. Micro- and Nanoscale Characterization

This study forms part of wider research conducted under a EU 7 th Framework Programme (COmputationally Driven design of Innovative CEment-based materials or CODICE). The ultimate aim is the multi-scale modelling of the variations in mechanical performance in degraded and non-degraded cementitious matrices. The model is being experimentally validated by hydrating the main tri-calcium silicate (T1-C3S) and bi-calcium silicate (β-C2S), phases present in Portland cement and their blends. The present paper discusses micro- and nanoscale studies of the cementitious skeletons forming during the hydration of C3S, C2S and 70 % / 30 % blends of both C3S/C2S and C2S/C3S with a water/cement ratio of 0.4. The hydrated pastes were characterized at different curing ages with 29 Si NMR, SEM/TEM/EDS, BET, and nanoindentation. The findings served as a basis for the micro- and nanoscale characterization of the hydration products formed, especially C-S-H gels. Differences were identified in composition, structure and mechanical behaviour (nanoindentation), depending on whether the gels formed in C3S or C2S pastes. The C3S gels had more compact morphologies, smaller BET-N2 specific surface area and lesser porosity than the gels from C2S-rich pastes. The results of nanoindentation tests appear to indicate that the various C-S-H phases formed in hydrated C3S and C2S have the same mechanical properties as those formed in Portland cement paste. Compared to the C3S sample, the hydrated C2S specimen was dominated by the loose-packed (LP) and the low-density (LD) C-S-H phases, and had a much lower content of the high density (HD) C-S-H phase

Agent-based modelling for cement hydration

The Agent-Based Modelling and simulation (ABM) is a rather new approach for studying complex systems withinteracting autonomous agents that has lately undergone great growth in various fields such as biology, physics, social science, economics and business. Efforts to model and simulate the highly complex cement hydration process have been made over the past 40 years, with the aim of predicting the performance of concrete and designing innovative and enhanced cementitious materials. The ABM presented here - based on previous work - focuses on the early stages of cement hydration by modelling the physical-chemical processes at the particle level. The model considers the cement hydration process as a time and 3D space system, involving multiple diffusing and reacting species of spherical particles. Chemical reactions are simulated by adaptively selecting discrete stochastic simulation for the appropriate reaction, whenever that is necessary. Interactions between particles are also considered. The model has been inspired by reported cellular automata?s approach which provides detailed predictions of cement microstructure at the expense of significant computational difficulty. The ABM approach herein seeks to bring about an optimal balance between accuracy and computational efficiency.

Agent-based model for the effect of curing temperature on cement hydration

The agent-based model presented here, comprises an algorithm that computes the degree of hydration, the water consumption and the layer thickness of C-S-H gel as functions of time for different temperatures and different w/c ratios. The results are in agreement with reported experimental studies, demonstrating the applicability of the model. As the available experimental results regarding elevated curing temperature are scarce, the model could be recalibrated in the future. Combining the agent-based computational model with TGA analysis, a semiempirical method is achieved to be used for better understanding the microstructure development in ordinary cement pastes and to predict the influence of temperature on the hydration process.

Modeling the evolution of item rating networks using time-domain preferential attachment

The understanding of the structure and dynamics of the intricate network of connections among people that consumes products through Internet appears as an extremely useful asset in order to study emergent properties related to social behavior. This knowledge could be useful, for example, to improve the performance of personal recommendation algorithms. In this contribution, we analyzed five-year records of movie-rating transactions provided by Netflix, a movie rental platform where users rate movies from an online catalog. This dataset can be studied as a bipartite user-item network whose structure evolves in time. Even though several topological properties from subsets of this bipartite network have been reported with a model that combines random and preferential attachment mechanisms [Beguerisse Díaz et al., 2010], there are still many aspects worth to be explored, as they are connected to relevant phenomena underlying the evolution of the network. In this work, we test the hypothesis that bursty human behavior is essential in order to describe how a bipartite user-item network evolves in time. To that end, we propose a novel model that combines, for user nodes, a network growth prescription based on a preferential attachment mechanism acting not only in the topological domain (i.e. based on node degrees) but also in time domain. In the case of items, the model mixes degree preferential attachment and random selection. With these ingredients, the model is not only able to reproduce the asymptotic degree distribution, but also shows an excellent agreement with the Netflix data in several time-dependent topological properties.

Effects of physical exercise and hydration on homocysteine concentrations in physically active male adults = Efectos del ejercicio físico y la hidratación sobre las concentraciones de homocisteína en varones físicamente activos

La presente tesis analiza el efecto del ejercicio físico agudo y la hidratación sobre las concentraciones de homocisteína total (tHcy) y su relación con los parámetros implicados en el metabolismo de la homocisteína como el folato, la vitamina B12, y la creatina en una muestra de varones jóvenes físicamente activos. El trabajo se basa en los resultados del estudio realizado en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Para el cual se contó con un total de 29 voluntarios sanos físicamente activos de la Comunidad de Madrid. Los principales resultados de esta tesis son: a) Las concentraciones de tHcy aumentaron después del ejercicio agudo tanto tras una prueba de intensidad máxima (VO2max) como una submáxima (65 % of VO2max) en varones físicamente activos independientemente de las sus concentraciones basales de tHcy. b) Las concentraciones de tHcy disminuyeron 2 h después del ejercicio físico aeróbico submáximo tras aplicar un protocolo de hidratación con una bebida para deportistas. c) Un adecuado protocolo de hidratación durante el ejercicio físico agudo previno el aumento de las concentraciones de tHcy hasta 2 h después del ejercicio. d) Las concentraciones de tHcy aumentaron a las 6 h tras la finalización del ejercicio únicamente en los test en los que no se siguió un protocolo de hidratación durante el ejercicio físico. e) A las 24 h tras el ejercicio, las concentraciones de tHcy volvieron a los niveles basales independientemente de si se aplicó un protocolo de hidratación durante el ejercicio o no. f) Es necesario aclarar si existen mecanismos subyacentes relacionados con el riesgo cardiovascular debido al aumento transitorio de las concentraciones de tHcy inducidas por el ejercicio agudo. Se necesitan más estudios que analicen la relación entre las concentraciones de tHcy después del ejercicio físico agudo y la implicación de la creatina, vitamina B12 y folato como parámetros relacionados en el metabolismo de la homocisteína. El efecto agudo del ejercicio físico aumenta las concentraciones de tHcy por encima de los valores recomendados; sin embargo, un adecuado protocolo de hidratación mantiene las concentraciones a niveles basales y previene el posterior aumento en una muestra de varones adultos físicamente activos. ABSTRACT The current thesis analyzes the effect of exercise and hydration on total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations and the relationship with the implicated parameters, like folate, vitamin B12, and creatine in physically active male adults. The work is based on the results of the study conducted at the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences of the Technical University of Madrid. A total of 29 physically active voluntary healthy males from the Region of Madrid were recruited. The main outcomes of this thesis are: a) tHcy concentrations increased after acute exercise with both, maximal (VO2max) and submaximal (65 % of VO2max) tests in physically active male subjects independently of their baseline tHcy status. b) After 2 h of rehydration with a sport drink, tHcy concentrations, which had previously increased during an acute exercise, decreased significantly, although they didn´t recover to baseline values. c) An adequate hydration protocol during acute aerobic submaximal exercise prevents the increase of tHcy concentrations and maintains these concentrations at baseline up to 2 h post-exercise. d) Serum tHcy concentrations increased after submaximal exercise when the hydration protocol during exercise was not applied. Furthermore, tHcy concentrations reached maximal values 6 h after the end of exercise. e) At 24 h, tHcy concentrations recovered baseline values independently whether or not there was a hydration protocol during exercise. f) There is a need to clarify the underlying mechanisms related to cardiovascular risk due to the transient increase of tHcy concentrations induced by acute exercise. Further research analayzing the relationship between tHcy concentrations after acute exercise and the implication of creatine, vitamin B12 and folate as related parameters in the homocysteine metabolism is needed. Finally, tHcy concentrations increased above the recommended values after an acute aerobic submaximal exercise; nevertheless, a good hydration protocol maintains tHcy concentrations at baseline and prevents the further increase in a sample of physically active male adults.

In disperse solution, “osmotic stress” is a restricted case of preferential interactions

In the practice of “osmotic stress,” the effect of excluded cosolvents on a biochemical equilibrium is interpreted as the number of water molecules participating in the reaction. This action is attributed to lowering of solvent water activity by the cosolvent. This concept of osmotic stress in disperse solution is erroneous: (i) A cosolvent cannot be both excluded and inert, i.e., noninteracting, because exclusion requires a positive free energy change; (ii) a decrease in water activity alone by addition of solute cannot affect an equilibrium when the reacting surface is in contact with the solvent; and (iii) osmotic stress in disperse solution is a restricted case of preferential interactions; the reaction is driven by the free energy of cosolvent exclusion, and the derived number of water molecules is solely a measure of the mutual perturbations of the chemical potentials of the cosolvent and the protein.

Preferential interaction of the his pause RNA hairpin with RNA polymerase β subunit residues 904–950 correlates with strong transcriptional pausing

RNA secondary structures (hairpins) that form as the nascent RNA emerges from RNA polymerase are important components of many signals that regulate transcription, including some pause sites, all ρ-independent terminators, and some antiterminators. At the his leader pause site, a 5-bp-stem, 8-nt-loop pause RNA hairpin forms 11 nt from the RNA 3′ end and stabilizes a transcription complex conformation slow to react with NTP substrate. This stabilization appears to depend at least in part on an interaction with RNA polymerase. We tested for RNA hairpin interaction with the paused polymerase by crosslinking 5-iodoUMP positioned specifically in the hairpin loop. In the paused conformation, strong and unusual crosslinking of the pause hairpin to β904–950 replaced crosslinking to β′ and to other parts of β that occurred in nonpaused complexes prior to hairpin formation. These changes in nascent RNA interactions may inhibit reactive alignment of the RNA 3′ end in the paused complex and be related to events at ρ-independent terminators.