Analysis of life expectancy using linear and nonlinear models

Life expectancy has consistently increased over the last 150 years due to improvements in nutrition, medicine, and public health. Several studies found that in many developed countries, life expectancy continued to rise following a nearly linear trend, which was contrary to a common belief that the rate of improvement in life expectancy would decelerate and was fit with an S-shaped curve. Using samples of countries that exhibited a wide range of economic development levels, we explored the change in life expectancy over time by employing both nonlinear and linear models. We then observed if there were any significant differences in estimates between linear models, assuming an auto-correlated error structure. When data did not have a sigmoidal shape, nonlinear growth models sometimes failed to provide meaningful parameter estimates. The existence of an inflection point and asymptotes in the growth models made them inflexible with life expectancy data. In linear models, there was no significant difference in the life expectancy growth rate and future estimates between ordinary least squares (OLS) and generalized least squares (GLS). However, the generalized least squares model was more robust because the data involved time-series variables and residuals were positively correlated. ^

Epidemiology of Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in children in Vietnam

Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) are life- threatening disorders that can result from many severe conditions and diseases. Since the American European Consensus Conference established the internationally accepted definition of ALI and ARDS, the epidemiology of pediatric ALI/ARDS has been described in some developed countries. In the developing world, however, there are very few data available regarding the burden, etiologies, management, outcome, and factors associated with outcomes of ALI/ARDS in children. ^ Therefore, we conducted this observational, clinical study to estimate the prevalence and case mortality rate of ALI/ARDS among a cohort of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi, the largest children's hospital in Vietnam. Etiologies and predisposing factors, and management strategies for pediatric ALI/ARDS were described. In addition, we determined the prevalence of HIV infection among children with ALI/ARDS in Vietnam. We also identified the causes of mortality and predictors of mortality and prolonged mechanical ventilation of children with ALI/ARDS. ^ A total of 1,051 patients consecutively admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from January 2011 to January 2012 were screened daily for development of ALI/ARDS using the American-European Consensus Conference Guidelines. All identified patients with ALI/ARDS were followed until hospital discharge or death in the hospital. Patients' demographic and clinical data were collected. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to identify independent predictors of mortality and other adverse outcome of ALI/ARDS. ^ Prevalence of ALI and ARDS was 9.6% (95% confidence interval, 7.8% to 11.4%) and 8.8% (95% confidence interval, 7.0% to 10.5%) of total PICU admissions, respectively. Infectious pneumonia and sepsis were the most common causes of ALI/ARDS accounting for 60.4% and 26.7% of cases, respectively. Prevalence of HIV infection among children with ALI/ARDS was 3.0%. The case fatality rate of ALI/ARDS was 63.4% (95% confidence interval, 53.8% to 72.9%). Multiple organ failure and refractory hypoxemia were the main causes of death. Independent predictors of mortality and prolonged mechanical ventilation were male gender, duration of intensive care stay prior to ALI/ARDS diagnosis, level of oxygenation defect measured by PaO2/FiO2 ratio at ALI/ARDS diagnosis, presence of non-pulmonary organ dysfunction at day one and day three after ALI/ARDS diagnosis, and presence of hospital acquired infection. ^ The results of this study demonstrated that ALI/ARDS was a common and severe condition in children in Vietnam. The level of both pulmonary and non-pulmonary organ damage influenced survival of patients with ALI/ARDS. Strategies for preventing ALI/ARDS and for clinical management of the disease are necessary to reduce the associated risks.^

Gestión del paisaje y ordenamiento territorial : Abordajes conceptuales y metodológicos

El propósito de la ponencia es elaborar un panorama sobre la relevancia de la gestión del paisaje dentro del ordenamiento territorial, un tema cuya discusión ha emergido en los últimos años y en base al cual se han desarrollado numerosas normativas y técnicas dentro del contexto europeo y norteamericano. El proceso de globalización ha intensificado las dinámicas homogeneización urbana de dispersión territorial, y especialización funcional. En Europa y EEUU, como respuesta a éstas dinámicas, se han impulsado estrategias de gestión territorial sobre la base del ordenamiento del paisaje. Las acciones emprendidas responden a la instrumentación de políticas, metodologías e intervenciones impregnadas de una concepción de paisaje entendido como atributo de la totalidad del territorio; referido tanto a los espacios singulares y/o destacados como a los cotidianos y degradados. Desde el diagnóstico urbano y territorial comienzan a implementarse instrumentos que profundizan en el conocimiento del territorio desde este enfoque. El establecimiento de acuerdos internacionales dirigidos a impulsar la gestión del paisaje, ha promovido el desarrollo de legislaciones, instrumentos y proyectos que sitúan al paisaje como un componente destacado dentro del ordenamiento territorial y la planificación urbanística, que se establecen dentro de dos líneas claramente definidas: una línea propositiva en la que el paisaje es considerado como reactivador de territorios patrimoniales y una línea normativa, integrada por leyes que intentan guiar la gestión del territorio asociado a la valoración del paisaje. Las experiencias desarrolladas en Europa y en Norteamérica en materia de gestión del paisaje Invitan a pensar en estrategias adecuadas al escenario latinoamericano. Puede verificarse que dichas estrategias presentan cierto nivel de transferencia a otros contextos, dejando en claro que es posible utilizar el concepto de paisaje para dar respuesta a cuestiones de ordenamiento territorial en contextos con menor nivel de desarrollo que el europeo, sin dejar de tener en cuenta que las demandas son diferentes. De esta manera, queda por responder cómo implementar este tipo de proyectos dentro del contexto latinoamericano, resolviendo problemáticas que exceden la escala de los países desarrollados, y donde el paisaje puede constituirse como una herramienta de reconocimiento de la particular identidad local, además de cumplir un significativo rol en el aspecto medioambiental

Activity, work and employment: some reflections on a topic under debate

Since ten years ago, it is intensely thought of human work and employment in developed countries as a consequence of the deep changes on the productive system. In this chapter we analyze at first place the concept of work and its evolution, based on recent researches. In second place we review the notions of activity, work and employment and also the definition and measurement of unemployment, which is not a very old notion. The third part is about the work rol in human life and finally we study the different alternatives on activity and specific work contracts, proposals that nowadays replace the notion of "full employment" in France.

Activity, work and employment: some reflections on a topic under debate

Since ten years ago, it is intensely thought of human work and employment in developed countries as a consequence of the deep changes on the productive system. In this chapter we analyze at first place the concept of work and its evolution, based on recent researches. In second place we review the notions of activity, work and employment and also the definition and measurement of unemployment, which is not a very old notion. The third part is about the work rol in human life and finally we study the different alternatives on activity and specific work contracts, proposals that nowadays replace the notion of "full employment" in France.

Gestión del paisaje y ordenamiento territorial : Abordajes conceptuales y metodológicos

El propósito de la ponencia es elaborar un panorama sobre la relevancia de la gestión del paisaje dentro del ordenamiento territorial, un tema cuya discusión ha emergido en los últimos años y en base al cual se han desarrollado numerosas normativas y técnicas dentro del contexto europeo y norteamericano. El proceso de globalización ha intensificado las dinámicas homogeneización urbana de dispersión territorial, y especialización funcional. En Europa y EEUU, como respuesta a éstas dinámicas, se han impulsado estrategias de gestión territorial sobre la base del ordenamiento del paisaje. Las acciones emprendidas responden a la instrumentación de políticas, metodologías e intervenciones impregnadas de una concepción de paisaje entendido como atributo de la totalidad del territorio; referido tanto a los espacios singulares y/o destacados como a los cotidianos y degradados. Desde el diagnóstico urbano y territorial comienzan a implementarse instrumentos que profundizan en el conocimiento del territorio desde este enfoque. El establecimiento de acuerdos internacionales dirigidos a impulsar la gestión del paisaje, ha promovido el desarrollo de legislaciones, instrumentos y proyectos que sitúan al paisaje como un componente destacado dentro del ordenamiento territorial y la planificación urbanística, que se establecen dentro de dos líneas claramente definidas: una línea propositiva en la que el paisaje es considerado como reactivador de territorios patrimoniales y una línea normativa, integrada por leyes que intentan guiar la gestión del territorio asociado a la valoración del paisaje. Las experiencias desarrolladas en Europa y en Norteamérica en materia de gestión del paisaje Invitan a pensar en estrategias adecuadas al escenario latinoamericano. Puede verificarse que dichas estrategias presentan cierto nivel de transferencia a otros contextos, dejando en claro que es posible utilizar el concepto de paisaje para dar respuesta a cuestiones de ordenamiento territorial en contextos con menor nivel de desarrollo que el europeo, sin dejar de tener en cuenta que las demandas son diferentes. De esta manera, queda por responder cómo implementar este tipo de proyectos dentro del contexto latinoamericano, resolviendo problemáticas que exceden la escala de los países desarrollados, y donde el paisaje puede constituirse como una herramienta de reconocimiento de la particular identidad local, además de cumplir un significativo rol en el aspecto medioambiental

Gestión del paisaje y ordenamiento territorial : Abordajes conceptuales y metodológicos

El propósito de la ponencia es elaborar un panorama sobre la relevancia de la gestión del paisaje dentro del ordenamiento territorial, un tema cuya discusión ha emergido en los últimos años y en base al cual se han desarrollado numerosas normativas y técnicas dentro del contexto europeo y norteamericano. El proceso de globalización ha intensificado las dinámicas homogeneización urbana de dispersión territorial, y especialización funcional. En Europa y EEUU, como respuesta a éstas dinámicas, se han impulsado estrategias de gestión territorial sobre la base del ordenamiento del paisaje. Las acciones emprendidas responden a la instrumentación de políticas, metodologías e intervenciones impregnadas de una concepción de paisaje entendido como atributo de la totalidad del territorio; referido tanto a los espacios singulares y/o destacados como a los cotidianos y degradados. Desde el diagnóstico urbano y territorial comienzan a implementarse instrumentos que profundizan en el conocimiento del territorio desde este enfoque. El establecimiento de acuerdos internacionales dirigidos a impulsar la gestión del paisaje, ha promovido el desarrollo de legislaciones, instrumentos y proyectos que sitúan al paisaje como un componente destacado dentro del ordenamiento territorial y la planificación urbanística, que se establecen dentro de dos líneas claramente definidas: una línea propositiva en la que el paisaje es considerado como reactivador de territorios patrimoniales y una línea normativa, integrada por leyes que intentan guiar la gestión del territorio asociado a la valoración del paisaje. Las experiencias desarrolladas en Europa y en Norteamérica en materia de gestión del paisaje Invitan a pensar en estrategias adecuadas al escenario latinoamericano. Puede verificarse que dichas estrategias presentan cierto nivel de transferencia a otros contextos, dejando en claro que es posible utilizar el concepto de paisaje para dar respuesta a cuestiones de ordenamiento territorial en contextos con menor nivel de desarrollo que el europeo, sin dejar de tener en cuenta que las demandas son diferentes. De esta manera, queda por responder cómo implementar este tipo de proyectos dentro del contexto latinoamericano, resolviendo problemáticas que exceden la escala de los países desarrollados, y donde el paisaje puede constituirse como una herramienta de reconocimiento de la particular identidad local, además de cumplir un significativo rol en el aspecto medioambiental

Activity, work and employment: some reflections on a topic under debate

Since ten years ago, it is intensely thought of human work and employment in developed countries as a consequence of the deep changes on the productive system. In this chapter we analyze at first place the concept of work and its evolution, based on recent researches. In second place we review the notions of activity, work and employment and also the definition and measurement of unemployment, which is not a very old notion. The third part is about the work rol in human life and finally we study the different alternatives on activity and specific work contracts, proposals that nowadays replace the notion of "full employment" in France.

Executive Managers in Large Mexican Family Businesses

The involvement of members of owners' families in the running of large family businesses in Mexico is decreasing. Although family members still hold key posts such as that of CEO, other executive posts tend to be delegated to professional salaried managers. Top managers, including family members, share some common characteristics. They are young compared with managers in other developed countries, their quality as human resources is high, and many of them are graduates of overseas MBA courses. Most of them are sufficiently experienced. Improvement of quality among top managers is a recent phenomenon in Mexico, and has been encouraged mainly by the following two factors. First, globalization of business activities was promoted by intense competition among firms under conditions of market liberalization. In order to equip themselves with the ability to cope with the globalization of their operations, large family businesses tried hard to improve the quality of top management, by training and educating existing managers, and/or by recruiting managers in the outside labor market. Second, developments in the Mexican economy during the 1990s led to a growth in the labor market for top managers Thus, business restructuring caused by bankruptcy, as well as mergers and acquisitions, privatization and so on, led to the dismissal of business managers who then entered the labor market in large numbers. The increasing presence of these managers in the labor market helped family businesses to recruit well-qualified senior executives.

Management for a Variety of Environmental Pollution and North-South Trade

A simple static model incorporating a variety of environmental pollution is developed. An autarky model shows that a developing country regulates fewer types of pollution by income-induced environmental policy. As income grows, the types of regulated pollution increase and also introduced regulations become tougher.Then the model incorporates international trade between a developed country and a developing country. The model gives a new interpretation for the pollution haven hypothesis. Some types of pollution abated with inefficient technology are emitted more in a developing country but other types necessarily increase in a developed country in order to meet the trade balance.

Exploiting the Modularity of Value Chains: Inter-firm Dynamics of the Taiwanese Notebook PC Industry

This paper explores the inter-firm dynamics that govern the rise of capabilities of latecomer firms operating in global value chains. By extending and modifying the model proposed by Gereffi, Humphrey and Sturgeon [2005], I present a framework in which the rise of supplier capabilities is determined by interactions among the strategies of the firms. Based on a case study of the Taiwanese notebook PC industry, the paper will explore how the interactions among outsourcing strategies by lead firms from the developed countries, the learning strategies of Taiwanese suppliers, and the product strategy of powerful component vendors have driven the explosive growth of the industry after the 1990s. By so doing, the paper attempts to highlight the active roles firms play in determining the speed and direction of the rise in supplier capabilities.

Re-examining "difference" and "development" : a note on broadening the field of gender and development in Japan

It is the author’s position that the framework for WID/GAD, as academic field and practice concerned primarily with developing countries should be broadened so as to incorporate Japan’s own gender and development issues in its scope. Unlike other developed countries, activists and scholars in Japan rarely connected, as was also the case with the fields of women’s/gender studies and WID/GAD. However, this was not due to any lack of interest among Japanese women regarding the lives of women in developing countries. Rather the points of fissure were the notions of ‘difference’ and ‘development’ held by Japanese women. These analytical concepts were narrowly defined, which resulted in limited interaction between discourse on women’s issues in Japan and WID/GAD related to ‘other’ women. By re-examining these notions and looking more deeply into perceived differences in the local context of ‘development’, not only can we strategize on ‘differences’ in such a way that we draw strength from the very fact of being different, but also prevent ‘differences’ from being used as grounds for discrimination. As a whole, we could gain substantially by broadening the field of Gender and Development and, as such, it is imperative that this field be broadened with urgency as development itself changes in this ever-interconnected world

Empirical global value chain analysis in electronics and automobile industries :An application of Asian international input-output tables

This study aims to examine the international value distribution structure among major East Asian economies and the US. The mainstream trade theory explains the gains from trade; however, global value chain (GVC) approach emphasises uneven benefits of globalization among trading partners. The present study is mainly based on this view, examining which economy gains the most and which the least from the East Asian production networks. Two key industries, i.e., electronics and automobile, are our principle focus. Input-output method is employed to trace the creation and flows of value-added within the region. A striking fact is that some ASEAN economies increasingly reduce their shares of value-added, taken by developed countries, particularly by Japan. Policy implications are discussed in the final section.

Normative Influences of "Special and Differential Treatment" on North-South RTAs

Recently, there has been a surge in bilateral and regional trade arrangements between developed and developing countries, which are known as North-South RTAs. Under the current legal system of the WTO, North-South RTAs are governed by Article XXIV of the GATT or Article V of the GATS, which means such RTAs must be reciprocal and must cover substantially all the trade. On the other hand, there is another category of rules on RTAs based on the so-called Enabling Clause, which, in exceptional circumstances, provides special and differential treatment (SDT) for RTAs among developing countries. This paper considers the applicability of the SDT concept to North-South RTAs by examining why rules on RTAs and the concept of SDT were incorporated into the GATT/WTO legal framework so as to permit the derogation of most-favored-nation (MFN) obligations.