Amazon forest biomass density maps: tackling the uncertainty in carbon emission estimates

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Orçamento Participativo (OP) após vinte anos de experiências no Brasil: mais qualidade na gestão orçamentária municipal?

This article consists on an analysis of dissertations and thesis on Participatory Budget (PB) in post-graduation courses in Brazil (from the CAPES data bank), from 2000 to 2009. It also makes the evolution of works explicit, the institutions where they were carried out, and the area in which they were produced. Results show that the Participatory Budget has not been often evaluated, understood and explained in terms of its finance and budget technical dimension, in spite of there are two decades studies have been carried out regarding this method on budget management in Brazil. Finally, the importance of understanding aspects on PB must be taken into consideration when carrying out new studies.

Do pets reduce the likelihood of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy?

Purpose: To assess the relationship between the presence of pets in homes of epilepsy patients and the occurrence of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Methods: Parents or relatives of SUDEP patients collected over a ten-year period (2000-2009) in a large epilepsy unit were asked if the patient lived together with any domestic pet at the time of death or not. Patients who did not experience SUDEP served as controls. Results and conclusions: Eleven out of the 1092 included patients (1%) experienced SUDEP, all with refractory symptomatic epilepsy, but none of them had pets in their homes at the time of death. In contrast, the frequency of pet-ownership in the control group (n = 1081) was 61%. According to previous studies there are some indications that human health is directly related to companionship with animals in a way that domestic animals prevent illness and facilitate recovery of patients. Companion animals can buffer reactivity against acute stress, diminish stress perception and improve physical health. These factors may reduce cardiac arrhythmias and seizure frequency, factors related to SUDEP. Companion animals may have a positive effect on well-being, thus irnproving epilepsy outcome. (c) 2012 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The impact of R&D in firm value across Europe

In this thesis the impact of R&D expenditures on firm market value and stock returns is examined. This is performed in a sample of European listed firms for the period 2000-2009. I apply different linear and GMM econometric estimations for testing the impact of R&D on market prices and construct country portfolios based on firms’ R&D expenditure to market capitalization ratio for studying the effect of R&D on stock returns. The results confirm that more innovative firms have a better market valuation,investors consider R&D as an asset that produces long-term benefits for corporations. The impact of R&D on firm value differs across countries. It is significantly modulated by the financial and legal environment where firms operate. Other firm and industry characteristics seem to play a determinant role when investors value R&D. First, only larger firms with lower financial leverage that operate in highly innovative sectors decide to disclose their R&D investment. Second, the markets assign a premium to small firms, which operate in hi-tech sectors compared to larger enterprises for low-tech industries. On the other hand, I provide empirical evidence indicating that generally highly R&D-intensive firms may enhance mispricing problems related to firm valuation. As R&D contributes to the estimation of future stock returns, portfolios that comprise high R&D-intensive stocks may earn significant excess returns compared to the less innovative after controlling for size and book-to-market risk. Further, the most innovative firms are generally more risky in terms of stock volatility but not systematically more risky than low-tech firms. Firms that operate in Continental Europe suffer more mispricing compared to Anglo-Saxon peers but the former are less volatile, other things being equal. The sectors where firms operate are determinant even for the impact of R&D on stock returns; this effect is much stronger in hi-tech industries.

Real-World Performance of Longitudinal Barriers Struck by Large Trucks

Outside of relatively limited crash testing with large trucks, very little is known regarding the performance of traffic barriers subjected to real-world large truck impacts. The purpose of this study was to investigate real-world large truck impacts into traffic barriers to determine barrier crash involvement rates, the impact performance of barriers not specifically designed to redirect large trucks, and the real-world performance of large-truck-specific barriers. Data sources included the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (2000-2009), the General Estimates System (2000-2009) and 155 in-depth large truck-to-barrier crashes from the Large Truck Crash Causation Study. Large truck impacts with a longitudinal barrier were found to comprise 3 percent of all police-reported longitudinal barrier impacts and roughly the same proportion of barrier fatalities. Based on a logistic regression model predicting barrier penetration, large truck barrier penetration risk was found to increase by a factor of 6 for impacts with barriers designed primarily for passenger vehicles. Although large-truck-specific barriers were found to perform better than non-heavy vehicle specific barriers, the penetration rate of these barriers were found to be 17 percent. This penetration rate is especially a concern because the higher test level barriers are designed to protect other road users, not the occupants of the large truck. Surprisingly, barriers not specifically designed for large truck impacts were found to prevent large truck penetration approximately half of the time. This suggests that adding costlier higher test level barriers may not always be warranted, especially on roadways with lower truck volumes.

Immunodeficiency at the start of combination antiretroviral therapy in low-, middle-, and high-income countries

OBJECTIVE To describe the CD4 cell count at the start of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in low-income (LIC), lower middle-income (LMIC), upper middle-income (UMIC), and high-income (HIC) countries. METHODS Patients aged 16 years or older starting cART in a clinic participating in a multicohort collaboration spanning 6 continents (International epidemiological Databases to Evaluate AIDS and ART Cohort Collaboration) were eligible. Multilevel linear regression models were adjusted for age, gender, and calendar year; missing CD4 counts were imputed. RESULTS In total, 379,865 patients from 9 LIC, 4 LMIC, 4 UMIC, and 6 HIC were included. In LIC, the median CD4 cell count at cART initiation increased by 83% from 80 to 145 cells/μL between 2002 and 2009. Corresponding increases in LMIC, UMIC, and HIC were from 87 to 155 cells/μL (76% increase), 88 to 135 cells/μL (53%), and 209 to 274 cells/μL (31%). In 2009, compared with LIC, median counts were 13 cells/μL [95% confidence interval (CI): -56 to +30] lower in LMIC, 22 cells/μL (-62 to +18) lower in UMIC, and 112 cells/μL (+75 to +149) higher in HIC. They were 23 cells/μL (95% CI: +18 to +28 cells/μL) higher in women than men. Median counts were 88 cells/μL (95% CI: +35 to +141 cells/μL) higher in countries with an estimated national cART coverage >80%, compared with countries with <40% coverage. CONCLUSIONS Median CD4 cell counts at the start of cART increased 2000-2009 but remained below 200 cells/μL in LIC and MIC and below 300 cells/μL in HIC. Earlier start of cART will require substantial efforts and resources globally.

Shifting the focus: Addressing breast cancer disparities at the health care organization level

The purpose of this study was to understand the scope of breast cancer disparities within the Texas Medical Center. The goal was to increase the awareness of breast cancer disparities at the health care organization level, and to foster the development of organizational interventions to reduce breast cancer disparities. The study seeks to answer the following questions: 1. Are hospitals in the Texas Medical Center implementing interventions to reduce breast cancer disparities? 2. What are their interventions for reducing the effects of non clinical factors on breast cancer treatment disparities? 3. What are their measures for monitoring, continuously improving, and evaluating the success of their interventions? ^ This research project was designed as a mixed methods case study. Quantitative breast cancer data for the years 2000-2009 was obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR). Qualitative data collection and analysis was done by conducting a total of 20 semi-structured interviews of administrators, physicians and nurses at five hospitals (A, B, C, D and E) in the Texas Medical Center (TMC). For quantitative analysis, the study was limited to early stage breast cancer patients: local and regional. The dependent variable was receipt of standard treatment: Surgery (Yes/No), BCS vs Mastectomy, Chemotherapy (Yes/No) and Radiation after BCS (Yes/No). The main independent variable was race: non-Hispanic White (NHW) , non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic. Other covariates included age at diagnosis, diagnosis date, percent poverty, grade, stage, and regional nodes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test the adjusted association between receipt of standard care and race. Qualitative data was analyzed with the Atlas.ti7 software (ATLAS.ti GmbH, Berlin). ^ Though there were significant differences by race for all dependent variables when the data was analyzed as a single group of all hospitals; at the level of the individual hospitals the results were not consistent by race/ethnicity across all dependent variables for hospitals A, B, and E. There were no racial differences in adjusted analysis for receipt of chemotherapy for the individual hospitals of interest in this study. For hospitals C and D, no racial disparities in treatment was observed in adjusted multivariable analysis. All organizations in this study were aware of the body of research which shows that there are disparities in breast cancer outcomes for patient population groups. However, qualitative data analysis found that there were differences in interest among hospitals in addressing breast cancer disparities in their patient population groups. Some organizations were actively implementing directed measures to reduce the breast cancer disparity gap in outcomes for patients, and others were not. Despite the differences in levels of interest, quantitative data analysis showed that organizations in the Texas Medical Center were making progress in reducing the burden of breast cancer disparities in the patient populations being served.^

Paleoclimate reconstructions from sediment core MD01-2378

On the basis of the radiocarbon (14C) plateau-tuning method a new age model for Timor Sea Core MD01-2378 was established. It revealed a precise centennial-scale phasing of climate events in the ocean, cryo-, and atmosphere during the last deglacial and provides important new insights into causal linkages controlling events of global climate change. At Site MD01-2378 reservoir ages of surface waters dropped from 1600 yr prior to 20 cal ka to 250-500 yr after 18.8 cal ka. This evidence was crucial for generating a high-resolution age model for deglacial events in the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool. Sea-surface temperatures (SST) started to change near 18.8 cal ka, that is ~500 yr after the start of, presumably northern hemispheric, deglacial melt and sea level rise as shown by the benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope ratio (d18O). However, the SST rise occurred 500-1000 yr prior to the onset of deglacial Antarctic warming and the first major rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide at about 18 ka. The increase in SST may partly reflect reduced seasonal upwelling of cold subsurface waters along the eastern margin of the Indian Ocean, which is reflected by a doubling of the thermal gradient between the sea surface and the thermocline, a halving of chlorin productivity from 19 to 18.5 cal ka, and in particular, by the strong decrease in surface water reservoir ages. Two significant increases in deglacial Timor Sea surface salinities from 19-18.5 and 15.5-14.5 cal ka, may partly reflect the deglacial increase in the distance of local river mouths, partly an inter-hemispheric millennial-scale see-saw in tropical monsoon intensity, possibly linked to a deglacial increase in the dominance of Pacific El Niño regimes over Heinrich stadial 1.

Un estudio etnopragmático de la variación morfosintáctica en el empleo de los tiempos de futuro en el discurso político

El siguiente trabajo presenta los inicios de una tesis de maestría de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en Análisis del Discurso bajo el título El futuro de los políticos. Un estudio de la variación morfosintáctica en el empleo de los tiempos de futuro en el discurso político. El marco teórico describe qué se entiende por lenguaje y por discurso desde la concepción de la Escuela de Columbia (Diver, W. 1995; Contini-Morava 1995) que sostiene que la sintaxis no es autónoma. Se basa también en la definición de discurso político de corte institucional-funcionalista de Mangone & Warley (1994). El corpus abarca 160 casos/ejemplos de expresiones futuras tomadas de discursos reales. El propósito es develar el significado del tiempo verbal futuro elegido por los políticos argentinos en sus discursos, concentrándonos en el futuro imperfecto (lograré) y el futuro perifrástico (voy a lograr), que están en la variación del español de Argentina. Nuestro interés es hacer un estudio etnopragmático (García, E. 1990, 1995; Martínez, A. 1995, 1999, 2000, 2009; Mauder 2000) que combine los análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo del uso de cada una de estas formas partiendo del foco problemático ¿Por qué los políticos argentinos emplean el futuro imperfecto en sus discursos cuando en el discurso cotidiano se impone el uso del futuro perifrástico para expresar lo que se tiene intención de concretar? Observamos en las primeras conclusiones parciales que si bien las formas de futuro estudiadas conservan el mismo significado respecto del uso general del español, se manifiesta una extensión paradigmática del empleo del futuro morfológico ligado a la posibilidad de control sobre la acción proclamada y al mensaje apodíctico

Análisis de la composición y dinámica de grupos de investigación en perspectiva comparada input-ouput : Estudio de caso en Bibliotecología y Ciencia de la Información

El presente trabajo es una contribución al estudio de la composición y dinámica de los grupos de investigación en el ámbito universitario. El enfoque novedoso que plantea es una estrategia de demarcación y análisis de grupos en perspectiva comparada entre los proyectos (inputs) y las coautorías (outputs). Combina técnicas bibliométricas y de análisis de redes sociales aplicadas a un estudio de caso: el Departamento de Bibliotecología de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, en el periodo 2000-2009

Cobertura y solapamiento de Web of Science y Scopus en el análisis de la actividad científica española en psicología

Este estudio tiene como primer objetivo conocer el volumen y evolución de la producción científica española en psicología a partir de las bases de datos del Web of Science (Thomson Reuters) y Scopus (Elsevier), durante el periodo 2000-2009. A partir de allí, se propone determinar cuáles son las revistas científicas más utilizadas por los psicólogos españoles para difundir sus trabajos a nivel internacional y comparar la cobertura y solapamiento de revistas y documentos que presentan ambas bases de datos. Se ofrecen datos cuantitativos, se estudia la posible correlación entre las dos bases de datos y se analiza el solapamiento de documentos y de revistas, el modelo de crecimiento que presentan y la dispersión de los trabajos, entre otros. Los resultados muestran que ambos sistemas de información son complementarios pero no excluyentes, así como la relevancia e importancia de las revistas españolas de psicología en la difusión de la investigación de esta disciplina en el contexto internacional de la ciencia

Analysis and visualization of the dynamics of research groups in terms of projects and co-authored publications : A case study of library and information science in Argentina

Objective: The present study offers a novel methodological contribution to the study of the configuration and dynamics of research groups, through a comparative perspective of the projects funded (inputs) and publication co-authorships (output). Method: A combination of bibliometric techniques and social network analysis was applied to a case study: the Departmento de Bibliotecología (DHUBI), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, for the period 2000-2009. The results were interpreted statistically and staff members of the department, were interviewed. Results: The method makes it possible to distinguish groups, identify their members and reflect group make-up through an analytical strategy that involves the categorization of actors and the interdisciplinary and national or international projection of the networks that they configure. The integration of these two aspects (input and output) at different points in time over the analyzed period leads to inferences about group profiles and the roles of actors. Conclusions: The methodology presented is conducive to micro-level interpretations in a given area of study, regarding individual researchers or research groups. Because the comparative input-output analysis broadens the base of information and makes it possible to follow up, over time, individual and group trends, it may prove very useful for the management, promotion and evaluation of science

Cobertura y solapamiento de Web of Science y Scopus en el análisis de la actividad científica española en psicología

Este estudio tiene como primer objetivo conocer el volumen y evolución de la producción científica española en psicología a partir de las bases de datos del Web of Science (Thomson Reuters) y Scopus (Elsevier), durante el periodo 2000-2009. A partir de allí, se propone determinar cuáles son las revistas científicas más utilizadas por los psicólogos españoles para difundir sus trabajos a nivel internacional y comparar la cobertura y solapamiento de revistas y documentos que presentan ambas bases de datos. Se ofrecen datos cuantitativos, se estudia la posible correlación entre las dos bases de datos y se analiza el solapamiento de documentos y de revistas, el modelo de crecimiento que presentan y la dispersión de los trabajos, entre otros. Los resultados muestran que ambos sistemas de información son complementarios pero no excluyentes, así como la relevancia e importancia de las revistas españolas de psicología en la difusión de la investigación de esta disciplina en el contexto internacional de la ciencia

Analysis and visualization of the dynamics of research groups in terms of projects and co-authored publications : A case study of library and information science in Argentina

Objective: The present study offers a novel methodological contribution to the study of the configuration and dynamics of research groups, through a comparative perspective of the projects funded (inputs) and publication co-authorships (output). Method: A combination of bibliometric techniques and social network analysis was applied to a case study: the Departmento de Bibliotecología (DHUBI), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, for the period 2000-2009. The results were interpreted statistically and staff members of the department, were interviewed. Results: The method makes it possible to distinguish groups, identify their members and reflect group make-up through an analytical strategy that involves the categorization of actors and the interdisciplinary and national or international projection of the networks that they configure. The integration of these two aspects (input and output) at different points in time over the analyzed period leads to inferences about group profiles and the roles of actors. Conclusions: The methodology presented is conducive to micro-level interpretations in a given area of study, regarding individual researchers or research groups. Because the comparative input-output analysis broadens the base of information and makes it possible to follow up, over time, individual and group trends, it may prove very useful for the management, promotion and evaluation of science

Un estudio etnopragmático de la variación morfosintáctica en el empleo de los tiempos de futuro en el discurso político

El siguiente trabajo presenta los inicios de una tesis de maestría de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en Análisis del Discurso bajo el título El futuro de los políticos. Un estudio de la variación morfosintáctica en el empleo de los tiempos de futuro en el discurso político. El marco teórico describe qué se entiende por lenguaje y por discurso desde la concepción de la Escuela de Columbia (Diver, W. 1995; Contini-Morava 1995) que sostiene que la sintaxis no es autónoma. Se basa también en la definición de discurso político de corte institucional-funcionalista de Mangone & Warley (1994). El corpus abarca 160 casos/ejemplos de expresiones futuras tomadas de discursos reales. El propósito es develar el significado del tiempo verbal futuro elegido por los políticos argentinos en sus discursos, concentrándonos en el futuro imperfecto (lograré) y el futuro perifrástico (voy a lograr), que están en la variación del español de Argentina. Nuestro interés es hacer un estudio etnopragmático (García, E. 1990, 1995; Martínez, A. 1995, 1999, 2000, 2009; Mauder 2000) que combine los análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo del uso de cada una de estas formas partiendo del foco problemático ¿Por qué los políticos argentinos emplean el futuro imperfecto en sus discursos cuando en el discurso cotidiano se impone el uso del futuro perifrástico para expresar lo que se tiene intención de concretar? Observamos en las primeras conclusiones parciales que si bien las formas de futuro estudiadas conservan el mismo significado respecto del uso general del español, se manifiesta una extensión paradigmática del empleo del futuro morfológico ligado a la posibilidad de control sobre la acción proclamada y al mensaje apodíctico