Do agglomeration economies reduce the sensitivity of firm location to tax differentials?

Low corporate taxes can help attract new firms. This is the main mechanism underpinning the standard 'race-to-the-bottom'view of tax competition. A recent theoretical literature has qualified this view by formalizing the argument that agglomeration forces can reduce firms' sensitivity to tax differentials across locations. We test this proposition using data on firm startups across Swiss municipalities. We find that, on average, high corporate income taxes do deter new firms, but that this relationship is significantly weaker in the most spatially concentrated sectors. Location choices of firms in sectors with an agglomeration intensity at the twentieth percentile of the sample distribution are estimated to be twice as responsive to a given difference in local corporate tax burdens as firms in sectors with an agglomeration intensity at the eightieth percentile. Hence, our analysis confirms the theoretical prediction: agglomeration economies can neutralize the impact of tax differentials on firms' location choices.

Influência do Sal, ph e Temperatura no Desenvolvimento de Estafilococos Coagulase Negativa Isolados de Produtos Cárneos Fermentados

Os Estafilococos Coagulase Negativa (SCN) são bactérias isoladas a partir de uma ampla variedade de produtos cárneos fermentados. Os SCN possuem diversas propriedades tecnológicas importantes, das quais se destaca a capacidade de multiplicação em diferentes condições de temperatura, cloreto de sódio e pH. Mas também podem apresentar aspetos negativos, como a presença de resistências a antibióticos. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo selecionar estirpes sem qualquer resistência secundária a antibióticos e avaliar a capacidade desses selecionados para desenvolverem em temperaturas de 7 ºC, 15 ºC e 25 ºC, na presença de 2 %, 4 % e 6 % de NaCl e a valores de pH 4,5, 5,5 e 6,5. A partir dos resultados de antibioresistências, foram escolhidos 5 isolados de Staphylococcus xylosus (C1C3, L1M2, P1B2, S2M7 e S3M3) e 4 isolados de Staphylococcus equorum (Ch3C2, Cv1C2, P1B6 e SG3C5). Face às diferentes condições de estudo, dos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que as estirpes L1M2, S2M7, P1B2, Ch3C2 e Cv1C2, pelas suas capacidades de multiplicação e adaptação, são as mais indicadas para serem utilizadas em culturas de arranque

On the efficiency and sensitivity of a pyramidal classification algorithm

In this paper we propose a Pyramidal Classification Algorithm,which together with an appropriate aggregation index producesan indexed pseudo-hierarchy (in the strict sense) withoutinversions nor crossings. The computer implementation of thealgorithm makes it possible to carry out some simulation testsby Monte Carlo methods in order to study the efficiency andsensitivity of the pyramidal methods of the Maximum, Minimumand UPGMA. The results shown in this paper may help to choosebetween the three classification methods proposed, in order toobtain the classification that best fits the original structureof the population, provided we have an a priori informationconcerning this structure.

Noise in Brain Activity Engenders Perception and Influences Discrimination Sensitivity.

Behavioral and brain responses to identical stimuli can vary with experimental and task parameters, including the context of stimulus presentation or attention. More surprisingly, computational models suggest that noise-related random fluctuations in brain responses to stimuli would alone be sufficient to engender perceptual differences between physically identical stimuli. In two experiments combining psychophysics and EEG in healthy humans, we investigated brain mechanisms whereby identical stimuli are (erroneously) perceived as different (higher vs lower in pitch or longer vs shorter in duration) in the absence of any change in the experimental context. Even though, as expected, participants' percepts to identical stimuli varied randomly, a classification algorithm based on a mixture of Gaussians model (GMM) showed that there was sufficient information in single-trial EEG to reliably predict participants' judgments of the stimulus dimension. By contrasting electrical neuroimaging analyses of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to the identical stimuli as a function of participants' percepts, we identified the precise timing and neural correlates (strength vs topographic modulations) as well as intracranial sources of these erroneous perceptions. In both experiments, AEP differences first occurred ∼100 ms after stimulus onset and were the result of topographic modulations following from changes in the configuration of active brain networks. Source estimations localized the origin of variations in perceived pitch of identical stimuli within right temporal and left frontal areas and of variations in perceived duration within right temporoparietal areas. We discuss our results in terms of providing neurophysiologic evidence for the contribution of random fluctuations in brain activity to conscious perception.

Flowering date of taxonomic families predicts phenological sensitivity to temperature: Implications for forecasting the effects of climate change on unstudied taxa.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Numerous long-term studies in seasonal habitats have tracked interannual variation in first flowering date (FFD) in relation to climate, documenting the effect of warming on the FFD of many species. Despite these efforts, long-term phenological observations are still lacking for many species. If we could forecast responses based on taxonomic affinity, however, then we could leverage existing data to predict the climate-related phenological shifts of many taxa not yet studied. METHODS: We examined phenological time series of 1226 species occurrences (1031 unique species in 119 families) across seven sites in North America and England to determine whether family membership (or family mean FFD) predicts the sensitivity of FFD to standardized interannual changes in temperature and precipitation during seasonal periods before flowering and whether families differ significantly in the direction of their phenological shifts. KEY RESULTS: Patterns observed among species within and across sites are mirrored among family means across sites; early-flowering families advance their FFD in response to warming more than late-flowering families. By contrast, we found no consistent relationships among taxa between mean FFD and sensitivity to precipitation as measured here. CONCLUSIONS: Family membership can be used to identify taxa of high and low sensitivity to temperature within the seasonal, temperate zone plant communities analyzed here. The high sensitivity of early-flowering families (and the absence of early-flowering families not sensitive to temperature) may reflect plasticity in flowering time, which may be adaptive in environments where early-season conditions are highly variable among years.

Use of 2D Sensitivity Encoding for Slow-Infusion Contrast-Enhanced Isotropic 3-T Whole-Heart Coronary MR Angiography.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to improve the blood-pool signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and blood-myocardium contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of slow-infusion 3-T whole-heart coronary MR angiography (MRA).SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In 2D sensitivity encoding (SENSE), the number of acquired k-space lines is reduced, allowing less radiofrequency excitation per cardiac cycle and a longer TR. The former can be exploited for signal enhancement with a higher radiofrequency excitation angle, and the latter leads to noise reduction due to lower data-sampling bandwidth. Both effects contribute to SNR gain in coronary MRA when spatial and temporal resolution and acquisition time remain identical. Numeric simulation was performed to select the optimal 2D SENSE pulse sequence parameters and predict the SNR gain. Eleven patients underwent conventional unenhanced and the proposed 2D SENSE contrast-enhanced coronary MRA acquisition. Blood-pool SNR, blood-myocardium CNR, visible vessel length, vessel sharpness, and number of side branches were evaluated.RESULTS. Consistent with the numeric simulation, using 2D SENSE in contrast-enhanced coronary MRA resulted in significant improvement in aortic blood-pool SNR (unenhanced vs contrast-enhanced, 37.5 +/- 14.7 vs 121.3 +/- 44.0; p < 0.05) and CNR (14.4 +/- 6.9 vs 101.5 +/- 40.8; p < 0.05) in the patient sample. A longer length of left anterior descending coronary artery was visualized, but vessel sharpness, coronary artery coverage, and image quality score were not improved with the proposed approach.CONCLUSION. In combination with contrast administration, 2D SENSE was found effective in improving SNR and CNR in 3-T whole-heart coronary MRA. Further investigation of cardiac motion compensation is necessary to exploit the SNR and CNR advantages and to achieve submillimeter spatial resolution.

A critical review of the molecular pathophysiology of lenalidomide sensitivity in 5q - myelodysplastic syndromes.

Abstract The 5q deletion is a chromosomal abnormality that is observed in a subset of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). When isolated, this abnormality defines a specific clinical syndrome termed MDS associated with isolated deletion 5q, presenting with macrocytic anemia, normal platelet count or slight thrombocytosis, hypolobated megakaryocytes and fewer than 5% blasts in the bone marrow. MDS with the 5q deletion have a particular sensitivity to treatment with lenalidomide, a thalidomide analog. In this article, molecular changes in 5q- MDS derived from haploinsufficiency of genes encoded from the deleted region in 5q are reviewed, and mechanisms that link these molecular lesions with lenalidomide sensitivity are proposed.

Les clavecinistes français des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles / d'Anglebert, d'Andrieu, J.- Ph. Rameau... [et al.], comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav.

Comprend : Allemande, gavotte, menuet / J.- H. d'Anglebert, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Le ramage, Les amours, L'hymen / Jean-François Dandrieu, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; L'entretien des muses / Jean-Philippe Rameau, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Chaconne / Louis Couperin, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Allemande, courante, sarabande / Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; La rare / Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Musette / Louis Claude Daquin, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Tambourin / Louis Claude Daquin, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Les bergères / Louis Claude Daquin, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Chaconne / J.- H. d'Anglebert, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Les roseaux / François Couperin, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav. ; Les petits moulins à vent / François Couperin, comp. ; Isabelle Nef, clav.

Estimativa da acidez potencial pelo método do pH SMP em solos do estado do Rio de Janeiro

A extração da acidez potencial com acetato de cálcio 0,5 mol L-1 é um método amplamente utilizado nos laboratórios de análises de solo no Brasil. Neste trabalho, foram analisadas cento e duas amostras de solos do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, em 1996, visando obter a curva de calibração entre a acidez potencial e o pH de equilíbrio da suspensão de solo com solução-tampão (pH SMP). Os resultados demonstraram que a acidez potencial pode ser estimada por meio da curva de regressão da solução-tampão SMP (R² = 0,90**). Também foi observada correlação significativa entre o pH de equilíbrio da suspensão de acetato de cálcio 0,5 mol L-1 e o pH SMP.

pH como un trazador de la variabilidad biogeoquímica en el Sistema de Humboldt

Se analizó información sobre parámetros biogeoquímicos como pH, CO2 parcialmente disuelto, clorofila-a, oxígeno, salinidad y temperatura, obtenidos en el Sistema de Humboldt frente a Perú en los años 2007-2009, a fin de comprender la importancia del pH como una variable clave para trazar la variabilidad biogeoquímica del Sistema de Afloramiento de Humboldt. Las Aguas Costeras Frías (ACF) ricas en nutrientes evidencian una relación inversa con el pH, en ese sentido valores de 7,6 a 8,0 se encontraron asociados a la ocurrencia de eventos de afloramiento; en condiciones frías como La Niña 2007 el pH predominante se encuentra por debajo de 8,0, y en el caso de las Aguas Subtropicales Superficiales presentan un pH entorno a 8,3. La productividad en los veranos se incrementa debido a factores como la intensidad de luz generándose núcleos de clorofila-a superiores a 10,0 μg.L-1; como constituyentes de la reacción bioquímica de fotosíntesis se tiene en cuenta la forma inmediata del compuesto CO2 y el consumo de iones hidronio; en situaciones extremas de fertilización, se tiene elevado pH entre 8,2 e inclusive 9,0, en donde los contenidos de oxígeno disuelto superan los 6,0 mL.L-1.

Estimativa de H + AL pelo pH SMP em solos do Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina

A capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC) e a proporção dos principais cátions retidos nas cargas negativas do solo são de grande importância para a caracterização química e para o diagnóstico da fertilidade do solo. Essas características, juntamente com o Al, o Ca e o Mg trocáveis, foram incluídas na análise de solo realizada pelos laboratórios oficiais do Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina, a partir de 1994. Este trabalho avaliou a relação entre o valor de H + Al e o pH SMP, visando estabelecer uma equação para a estimativa do valor de H + Al (acidez potencial), o qual pode ser utilizado no cálculo da CTC (método da soma de cátions trocáveis). O trabalho foi realizado nos laboratórios de solos da Universidade de Passo Fundo (UPF) e da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), em 1995, constando da determinação do teor de H + Al, extraído com acetato de cálcio 1,0 mol L-1, pH 7,0, e do pH SMP em um grupo de 113 amostras de solo. Os resultados obtidos foram reunidos com os de outros pesquisadores, procedendo-se à análise de regressão para um conjunto de 250 amostras representativas de solos dos dois estados. Observou-se relação significativa entre o valor de H + Al e o pH SMP. Concluiu-se que as equações log (H + Al) = 3,9014 - 0,391 SMP (R² = 0,90) ou ln (H + Al) = 8,9832 - 0,9004 SMP (R² = 0,90), com os valores de H + Al expressos em mmol c dm-3, podem ser utilizadas para a estimativa do teor de H + Al pelo uso do pH SMP.

Fluxo difusivo de zinco em amostras de solo influenciado por textura, íon acompanhante e pH do solo

O fluxo difusivo (difusão) é a forma mais importante de transporte de zinco no solo, dada sua baixa concentração na solução. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o fluxo difusivo de Zn em amostras de um solo de textura argilosa (Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro - LE), outro de textura média (Podzólico Vermelho-Amarelo - PV) e um terceiro de textura arenosa (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo - LV), submetidos a níveis de pH: pH natural (4,38) e 5,40, para o LE; natural (4,87) e 6,00, para o PV, e somente pH natural (4,64), para o LV, e a três fontes de Zn (ZnCl2, ZnEDTA e ZnSO4) nas doses de 0, 20 e 40 mg dm-3 de Zn. As unidades experimentais constituíram-se de 400 cm³ de amostras de solo, colocadas em câmaras feitas de tubos de PVC, com 10 cm de diâmetro e 5 cm de altura, contendo, cada câmara, uma lâmina de resina trocadora de cátions ácido forte (modelo CR61CZR IONICS, Inc) como dreno de Zn, nas dimensões de 2,0 x 5,0 cm, colocada à profundidade de 2,5 cm no meio da câmara. As amostras, umedecidas até a capacidade de campo, foram incubadas por um período de 15 dias à temperatura de 24 ± 4ºC. Após esse período, as lâminas foram retiradas, realizando-se a extração do Zn adsorvido às lâminas de resina. O pH do solo demonstrou ser fator de grande importância no controle do fluxo difusivo do Zn, acarretando-lhe grande diminuição quando da elevação de pH. De modo geral, o fluxo difusivo de Zn foi menor com o aumento do teor de argila do solo. O fluxo difusivo de Zn foi maior, nos três solos, quando a fonte utilizada foi ZnCl2.