Shale gas in Europe: much ado about little? Egmont Paper No. 64, March 2014

Introduction. Shale gas is an unconventional form of gas1 because its extraction is more difficult or less economical than that of conventional natural gas. It has become an important item of energy policy during the last years since new processes have allowed its extraction. In the medium term, shale gas should foster a reinforcement of the gas part in the world’s energy mix. In 2011, the IEA released an influential report entitled “Are we entering a golden age of gas?” This report suggests that shale gas could help substantially boost global gas use.2 It also warns at the same time that this success could bring into question the international goal of limiting the long-term increase in the global temperature to 2° C above pre-industrial levels. In the world economy, the impact of shale gas is increasing rapidly (especially in the USA, albeit apparently not as significantly as expected3). In the EU, its perspectives remain uncertain, for many reasons. Estimates are not reliable. Shale gas exploitation remains a controversial issue due to geology, lack of infrastructure and also fears for the environment and public health. The EU institutions seem to have a favorable attitude towards shale gas development while the Member States’ attitude seems to vary from enthusiasm to hesitation or opposition. Public opinion on the issue appears quite divided everywhere. This brief paper will examine various estimations of potential resources in the EU (§ 1), the potential costs and benefits (§ 2), the initiatives taken by the EU institutions (§ 3) and the national authorities (§ 4), and finally the emerging EU framework (§ 5). The conclusion is, rather surprisingly, that whatever happens on this front, this will not modify the present structural challenges of the EU in the domains of climate and energy.4

One year after the Youth Guarantee: Policy fatigue or signs of action? EPC Policy Brief, 27 May 2015

In April 2013, the EU Council called on EU member states to establish Youth Guarantee (YG) schemes, ensuring that “all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education”. Implementation was meant to start more than a year ago, but political interest seems to have waned a bit. Is a ‘policy fatigue’ contaminating youth employment policies across the EU? Have some timid signs of economic recovery led to youth unemployment being less urgent or are we witnessing the usual policy developments whereby grand EU statements are worn down by political realities and resistance on the ground? In this Policy Brief, Claire Dhéret and Martina Morosi assess the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and provide suggestions on how to renew a sense of enthusiasm for such an ambitious tool across Europe.

The Common Security and Defence Policy: National Perspectives. Egmont Paper No. 79, May 2015

FOREWORD. When one looks at the present state of the CSDP, one cannot help but look on with disenchantment at the energy that appears to have abandoned both institutions and Member States. Commentators increasingly take for granted that nothing much should be expected from this field of EU policy. The reasons for this state of mind are well known: the recent economic and financial strains, which have impacted all EU action since 2008, means that most of the Member States will struggle to keep their defence budgets at their present level in the future, and we may even see reductions. Furthermore, and to put it mildly, most of the recent CSDP operations have also experienced a lack of enthusiasm. Adding to this overall trend, the EU is far from presenting a common vision of what security and defence should really mean. Many of the Member States do not want to be involved in all of today’s international turmoils, and they rarely share the strategic culture which inspires those Member States who see themselves as having special responsibilities in dealing with these crises. In the end it may be that Member States diverge fundamentally on the simple question of whether it is relevant for the EU to engage in most of the ‘hot’ crises Europe faces; many prefer to see Europe as a soft power, mostly dedicated to intervening on less dramatic fronts and more inclined to mend than to fight. For whatever reason given, it remains that if there is a lack of common understanding on what CSDP should really be about, it should not come as a surprise if this policy is presently in stalemate. As an additional blow, the Ukrainian crisis, which dragged on for the whole of last year, could only add to the downward spiral the EU has been experiencing, with a new Russia aggressively confronting Europe in a manner not too distant from the Cold War days. This attitude has triggered the natural reaction among EU Member States to seek reassurances from NATO about their own national security. Coupled with the return of France a few years ago into the integrated military command, NATO’s renewed relevance has sent a strong message to Europe about the military organisation’s credibility with regard to collective defence. Surprisingly, this overall trend was gathering momentum at the same time as other more positive developments. The European Council of December 2013 dedicated its main session to CSDP: it underlined Europe’s role as a ‘security provider’ while adopting a very ambitious road map for Europe in all possible dimensions of the security sector. Hence the impression of a genuine boost to all EU institutions, which have been invited to join efforts and give CSDP a reinvigorated efficiency. In the same way, the increasing instability in Europe’s neighbourhood has also called for more EU operations: most recently in Iraq, Libya, Northern Nigeria or South Sudan. Pressure for further EU engagement has been one of the most constant features of the discussions taking place around these crises. Moreover, a growing number of EU partners in Asia, Latin America or Eastern Europe have shown a renewed eagerness to join CSDP missions in what sounds like a vote of confidence for EU capacities. What kind of conclusion should be drawn from this contradictory situation? Probably that the EU has much more potential than it can sometimes figure out itself, if only it would be ready to adapt to the new global realities. But, more than anything else, an enhanced CSDP needs from all Member States strong political will and a clear vision of what they want this policy to be. Without this indispensable ingredient CSDP may continue to run its course, as it does today. It may even grow in efficiency but it will keep lacking the one resource that would definitely help it overcome all the present shortcomings that have prevented Europe from finding its true role and mission through the CSDP. Member States remain central to EU security and defence policy. This is why this collection of essays is so valuable for assessing in no uncertain way the long road that lies ahead for any progress to be made. Pierre VIMONT Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe Former Executive Secretary-General of the European External Action Service

Angiogenesis in cancer - general pathways and their therapeutic implications

A vast amount of data shows that angiogenesis has a pivotal role in tumor growth, progression, invasiveness and metastasis. This is a complex process involving essential signaling pathways such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Notch in vasculature, as well as additional players such as bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells. Primary tumor cells, stromal cells and cancer stem cells strongly influence vessel growth in tumors. Better understanding of the role of the different pathways and the crosstalk between different cells during tumor angiogenesis are crucial factors for developing more effective anticancer therapies. Targeting angiogenic factors from the VEGF family has become an effective strategy to inhibit tumor growth and so far the most successful results are seen in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLL). Despite the initial enthusiasm, the angiogenesis inhibitors showed only moderate survival benefit as monotherapy, along with a high cost and many side effects. Obviously, other important pathways may affect the angiogenic switch, among them Notch signaling pathway attracted a large interest because its ubiquitous role in carcinogenesis and angiogenesis. Herein we present the basics for VEGF and Notch signaling pathways and current advances of targeting them in antiangiogenic, antitumor therapy.

Patenting Systems, Patentable Subject Matter, and Prior Art

The International School of Solid State Physics presented the 56th Course"Materials for Renewable Energy” in Erice (Italy), from July 18th to 28th 2012. This course was sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Scientific Research, the Materials Research Society and the European Materials Research Society. The event was hosted at the "Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture”. The school reviewed critical materials issues for the production and storage of renewable and sustainable energy. The aim of the School was to present the state-of-the-art and future perspectives in this critical area. It was to bring together the international community of students, young scientists, and experts in a unique atmosphere for reciprocal benefits in terms of enthusiasm, knowledge and new ideas.

The new British novelist; comprising works by the most popular and fashionable writers of the present day.

The young queen. v. 1-3.--Écarté [by John Richardson] v. 4-6.--Sentiment not principle [by Mrs. C. DeHavilland] v. 7.--The sea-king in England [by Edwin Atherstone] v. 8-9.--The exiles of Palestine [by John Carne] v. 10-12.--Walter Colyton [by Horatio Smith] v. 13-15.--The adventures of a king's page [by Charles White] v. 16-18.--Stratton Hill [by John Carne] v. 19-21.--Richmond [by Thomas Gaspey] v. 22-24.--English fashionables abroad [by Mrs. C.D. Burdett] v. 25-27.--Confessions of and old maid [by E. Carrington] v. 28-30.--Florence [by Mrs. Robertson] v. 31-33.--The incognito. v. 34-36.--Exile of Erin [by W.F. Deacon] The magic of love. v. 37.--Truckleborough hall [by W.P. Scargill] v. 40-42.--No enthusiasm. v. 43-44--The man of two lives [by James Boaden] v. 45-46.--The military bijou [by John Shipp] v. 47-48.--The rifleman's comrade. v. 49.--The Boyne water [by John Banim] v. 50.

Dramas,

v. 1. Romiero: a tragedy. The alienated manor: a comedy. Henriquez: a tragedy. The martyr: a drama--v. 2. The separation: a tragedy. The stripling: a tragedy ... written in prose. The phantom: a musical drama. Enthusiasm: a comedy.--v. 3. Witchcraft: a tragedy in prose. The homicide: a tragedy in prose, with occasional passages of verse. The bride: a drama. The match: a comedy. Appendix [notes, etc.]

The novels of Charles Brockden Brown ... : with a memoir of the author.

v. 1. Memoir of Charles Brockden Brown [and] Wieland; or The Transformation. -- v. 2-3. Arthur Mervyn; or Memoirs of the year 1793. -- v. 4. Edgar Huntly; or Memoirs of a sleep walker. -- v. 5. Jane Talbot. -- v. 6. Ormond; or The secret witness. -- v. 7. Clara Howard; or The enthusiasm of love.

Schwärmerische Gräuelscenen, oder, Kreuzigungsgeschichte einer religiösen Schwärmerinn in Wildenspuch, Cantons Zürich : mit beygefügter Darstellung der Verhältnisse sämmtlicher in diesen Criminal-Prozess verwickelter Personen, ihres Benehmens im Gefängnisse, ihrer religiösen Begriffe und ihrer endlichen Beurtheilung : ein merkwürdiger Beytrag zur Geschichte des religiösen Fanatismus /

Mode of access: Internet.

An essay on the character of the apostles and evangelists : designed to prove that they were not enthusiasts : containing the substance of several discourses /

Printed on wove paper.

The vestibule of eloquence : original articles oratorical and poetical, intended as exercises in recitation, at the Institution, Bedford Place, Russell Square /

Have special title pages: The trident of Albion, an epic effusion ; and an oration on the influence of elocution on martial enthusiasm ; with an address to the shade of Nelson... Liverpool : Printed for the author by G. F. Harris, 1805. Mr. Thelwall's ode addressed to the energies of Britain in behalf of the Spanish patriots... London : Printed by J. M'Creery, 1808.

Intramural Building UM

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, architect. Inspired by Fielding H. Yost's enthusiasm and support of athletics for all, this building opened in October 1928 and was the first university-owned structure in the nation devoted primarily to intramural sports (Encyclopedic Survey, p. 1988). On verso: Recieved from A.M. Leslie, Ch. E. Sc. '38

Intramural Sports Building

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, architect. Inspired by Fielding H. Yost's enthusiasm and support of athletics for all, this building opened in October 1928 and was the first university-owned structure in the nation devoted primarily to intramural sports (Encyclopedic Survey, p. 1988). Munted as "November" in 1931 calendar.

Intramural Sports Bldg.

Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, architect. Inspired by Fielding H. Yost's enthusiasm and support of athletics for all, this building opened in October 1928 and was the first university-owned structure in the nation devoted primarily to intramural sports (Encyclopedic Survey, p. 1988).

Digital Classics Outside the Echo-Chamber : Teaching, Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement /

The international perspectives on these issues are especially valuable in an increasingly connected, but still institutionally and administratively diverse world. The research addressed in several chapters in this volume includes issues around technical standards bodies like EpiDoc and the TEI, engaging with ways these standards are implemented, documented, taught, used in the process of transcribing and annotating texts, and used to generate publications and as the basis for advanced textual or corpus research. Other chapters focus on various aspects of philological research and content creation, including collaborative or community driven efforts, and the issues surrounding editorial oversight, curation, maintenance and sustainability of these resources. Research into the ancient languages and linguistics, in particular Greek, and the language teaching that is a staple of our discipline, are also discussed in several chapters, in particular for ways in which advanced research methods can lead into language technologies and vice versa and ways in which the skills around teaching can be used for public engagement, and vice versa. A common thread through much of the volume is the importance of open access publication or open source development and distribution of texts, materials, tools and standards, both because of the public good provided by such models (circulating materials often already paid for out of the public purse), and the ability to reach non-standard audiences, those who cannot access rich university libraries or afford expensive print volumes. Linked Open Data is another technology that results in wide and free distribution of structured information both within and outside academic circles, and several chapters present academic work that includes ontologies and RDF, either as a direct research output or as essential part of the communication and knowledge representation. Several chapters focus not on the literary and philological side of classics, but on the study of cultural heritage, archaeology, and the material supports on which original textual and artistic material are engraved or otherwise inscribed, addressing both the capture and analysis of artefacts in both 2D and 3D, the representation of data through archaeological standards, and the importance of sharing information and expertise between the several domains both within and without academia that study, record and conserve ancient objects. Almost without exception, the authors reflect on the issues of interdisciplinarity and collaboration, the relationship between their research practice and teaching and/or communication with a wider public, and the importance of the role of the academic researcher in contemporary society and in the context of cutting edge technologies. How research is communicated in a world of instant- access blogging and 140-character micromessaging, and how our expectations of the media affect not only how we publish but how we conduct our research, are questions about which all scholars need to be aware and self-critical.