“Policy Scepticism” and the Impact of Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on their Host Region: Accounting for Regional Budget Constraints under Devolution

A “policy scepticism” has emerged that challenges the results of conventional regional HEI impact analyses. Its denial of the importance of the expenditure impacts of HEIs appears to be based on a belief in either a binding regional resource constraint or a regional public sector budget constraint. In this paper we provide a systematic critique of this policy scepticism. However, while rejecting the extreme form of policy scepticism, we argue that it is crucial to recognise the importance of the public-sector expenditure constraints that are binding under devolution. We show how conventional impact analyses can be augmented to accommodate regional public sector budget constraints. While our results suggest that conventional impact studies overestimate the expenditure impacts of HEIs, they also demonstrate that the policy scepticism that treats these expenditure effects as irrelevant neglects some key aspects of HEIs, in particular their export intensity.

“Policy Scepticism” and the Impact of Welsh Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on their Host Region: Accounting for Regional Budget Constraints

This paper replicates the analysis of Scottish HEIs in Hermannsson et al (2010b) for the case of Wales in order to provide a self-contained analysis that is readily accessible by those whose primary concern is with the regional impacts of Welsh HEIs. A “policy scepticism” has emerged that challenges the results of conventional regional HEI impact analyses. This denial of the importance of the expenditure impacts of HEIs appears to be based on a belief in either a binding regional resource constraint or a regional public sector budget constraint. In this paper we provide a systematic critique of this policy scepticism. However, while rejecting the extreme form of policy scepticism, we argue that it is crucial to recognise the importance of the publicsector expenditure constraints that are binding under devolution. We show how conventional impact analyses can be augmented to accommodate regional public sector budget constraints. While our results suggest that conventional impact studies overestimate the expenditure impacts of HEIs, they also demonstrate that the policy scepticism that treats these expenditure effects as irrelevant neglects some key aspects of HEIs, in particular their export intensity.

“Policy Scepticism” and the Impact of Northern Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on their Host Region: Accounting for Regional Budget Constraints

This paper replicates the analysis of Scottish HEIs in Hermannsson et al (2010b) for the case of Northern Ireland. The motivation is to provide a self-contained analysis that is readily accessible by those whose primary concern is with the regional impacts of Northern Irish HEIs. A comparative analysis will follow in due course. A “policy scepticism” has emerged that challenges the results of conventional regional HEI impact analyses. This denial of the importance of the expenditure impacts of HEIs appears to be based on a belief in either a binding regional resource constraint or a regional public sector budget constraint. In this paper we provide a systematic critique of this policy scepticism. However, while rejecting the extreme form of policy scepticism, we argue that it is crucial to recognise the importance of the public sector expenditure constraints that are binding under devolution. We show how conventional impact analyses can be augmented to accommodate regional public sector budget constraints. While our results suggest that conventional impact studies overestimate the expenditure impacts of HEIs, they also demonstrate that the policy scepticism that treats these expenditure effects as irrelevant neglects some key aspects of HEIs, in particular their export intensity.

Digamacris n. gen. (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) de la region atlantica meridional de Brasil

Digamacris, a new genus of the Dichroplini (Acrididae, Melanoplinae) is described for the species Pezotettix amoenus Stal, 1878 and Dichroplus fratemus Carl, 1916, both included at present in the genus Dichroplus. These species live in edges and clearings of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlantica) of Brazil. D. fratemus is found in the states of Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro east of the Bay of Guanabara. D. amoenus in the state of Rio de Janeiro W. of the Bay of Guanabara and in the coastal area of the state of São Paulo. The species are illustrated and redescribed. Both have two neatly different chromatic forms of females, while the males are uniform in coloration and closely correspond with one of the female forms.

Levantamento preliminar de moluscos em praias arenosas e areno-lodosas de Piúma, estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil

The present work is a preliminary contribution to the knowledge of the fauna, with regard to the aspect of mullusks, on the coast located in the city of Piúma (40º45' lat. L and 20º50' long. W) Espírito Santo State, aiming a better comprehension of the distribution and ecology of mollusks in the South Atlantic. Collections were made in planned sporadic periods (May/29 to 31 of 1984; May/04-05 and September/13-16 of 1985; March/26-28; October/30-31 and November/01-02 of 1986), in the intertidal zones in the area, in each chosen region and in presence of an 0.0 tide. The material identified by comparative analysis of the morphologic variability presented a total of 41 generic taxa (52.56%) and 44 specific taxa (52.38%) of the class Gastropoda, 36 generic taxa (46.15%) and 39 specific taxa (46.43%) of the class Bivalvia and 1 generic taxa (1,28%) and 1 specific taxa (1.19%) of the class Scaphopoda.

Prevalence of frailty indicators and association with socioeconomic status in middle-aged and older adults in a swiss region with universal health insurance coverage : a population-based cross-sectional study

Frailty prevalence in older adults has been reported but is largely unknown in middle-aged adults. We determined the prevalence of frailty indicators among middle-aged and older adults from a general Swiss population characterized by universal health insurance coverage and assessed the determinants of frailty with a special focus on socioeconomic status. Participants aged 50 and more from the population-based 2006-2010 Bus Santé study were included (N = 2,930). Four frailty indicators (weakness, shrinking, exhaustion, and low activity) were measured according to standard definitions. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine associations. Overall, 63.5%, 28.7%, and 7.8% participants presented no frailty indicators, one frailty indicator, and two or more frailty indicators, respectively. Among middle-aged participants (50-65 years), 75.1%, 22.2%, and 2.7% presented 0, 1, and 2 or more frailty indicators. The number of frailty indicators was positively associated with age, hypertension, and current smoking and negatively associated with male gender, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and serum total cholesterol level. Lower income level but not education was associated with higher number of frailty indicators. Frailty indicators are frequently encountered in both older and middle-aged adults from the Swiss general population. Despite universal health insurance coverage, household income is independently associated with frailty.

Sarcopromusca pruna (Diptera: Muscidae) as an egg transport host of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae) in the cacau region of Bahia, Brazil

Sarcopromusca pruna appears to be the predominant transport host for Dermatobia hominis eggs among cattle herds in central eastern Bahia, Brazil. In the study area, two seasonal peaks of S. Pruna abundance coincide with those of Dermatobia, from mid July through late September and from mid November until early January, two periods of moderate monthly rainfall between anual extremes. Among more than 26,000 flies examined during the study, 75 (all female S. pruna) bore Dermatobia eggs. Certain aspects of Dermatobia behavior and ovoposition habits in the field are also discussed.

Prevalence of human T cell leukemia virus-I (HTLV-I) antibody among populations living in the Amazon region of Brazil (preliminary report)

Forty-tree (31.4%) out of 137 serum samples obtained from two Indian communities living in the Amazon region were found to be positive for HTLV-I antibody, as tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). Eighty-two sera were collected from Mekranoiti Indians, yielding 39% of positivity, whereas 11 (20.0%) or the 55 Tiriyo serum samples had antibody to HTLV-I. In addition, positive results occurred in 10 (23.2%) out of 43 sera obtained from patients living in the Belem area, who were suffering from cancer affecting different organs. Five (16.7%) out of 30 Elisa positive specimens were also shown to be positive by either Western blot analysis (WB) or indirect immunogold electron microscopy (IIG-EM).

Human leptospirosis in a slum area in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a serological and epidemiological study

A serologic survey was carried out on slum dwellers in the city of Rio de Janeiro. A total of 259 serum samples from male and female individuals of different age groups were tested for the presence of antileptospire antibodies by microagglutination. Prevalence data were analyzed in relation to the major risk factors present at the site, mainly represented by the presence of carrier animals and the occurence of frequent floods. Of the samples tested, 25% reacted with antigens of different serogroups at titres ranging from 1:100 to 1:6400, with a predominance of titres <= 1:400; 35% of positive sera reacted with leptospirae of the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup. Reactions with Djasiman, Panama, Javanica, Canicola, Pyrogenes, Australis, Ballum, Sejroe, Bataviae, Grippotyphosa, Autumnalis and Cynopteri were also detected, though at lower frequencies. There was no statistically significant difference between sexes, but higher prevalence rates were found to be associated with increasing age. A focus of infection was characterized, in which social and economic factors contribute to the persistance of leptospirae by favoring the proliferation of the main reservoir.

Local consumption and territorial based accounting for CO2 Emissions

We examine the complications involved in attributing emissions at a sub-regional or local level. Speci cally, we look at how functional specialisation embedded within the metropolitan area can, via trade between sub-regions, create intra-metropolitan emissions interdependencies; and how this complicates environmental policy implementation in an analogous manner to international trade at the national level. For this purpose we use a 3-region emissions extended input-output model of the Glasgow metropolitan area (2 regions: city and surrounding suburban area) and the rest of Scotland. The model utilises data on commuter flows and household consumption to capture income and consumption flows across sub-regions. This enables a carbon attribution analysis at the sub-regional level, allowing us to shed light on the signi cant emissions interdependencies that can exist within metropolitan areas.

Problèmes d'échantillonnage lors d'une enquête sur la plombémie d'enfants citadin [Sampling problems in a survey of blood lead levels in city children].

A study on lead pollution was carried out on a sample of ca. 300 city children. This paper presents the errors producing bias in the sample. It is emphasized that, in Switzerland, the difference between the Swiss and the migrant population (the latter being mainly Italian and Spanish) must be taken into account.