Non-Spatial Government Policies and Regional Income Inequality in Brazil

Silveira Neto R. Da M. and Azzoni C. R. Non-spatial government policies and regional income inequality in Brazil, Regional Studies. This paper uses both macro- and micro-data to analyse the role of social programmes in the recent reduction in Brazilian regional income inequality. Convergence indicators are presented for different sources of regional income in the period 1995-2006. A decomposition of the Gini indicator allows the identification of the role of each of these income sources with respect to the reduction of regional inequality during the period. The results point out that both labour productivity and government non-spatial policies - mainly minimum wage changes and income transference programmes - do have a role in explaining regional inequality reduction during the period. [image omitted] Silveira Neto R. Da M. et Azzoni C. R. Les politiques gouvernementales non-spatiales et l`ecart des revenus regionaux au Bresil, Regional Studies. Cet article emploie des donnees a la fois macroeconomiques et microeconomiques afin d`analyser le role des programmes d`actions sociales quant a la baisse recente de l`ecart des revenus regionaux au Bresil. On presente des indicateurs de convergence pour diverses sources des revenus regionaux pour la periode allant de 1995 a 2006. Une decomposition du coefficient de Gini permet d`identifier le role de chacune de ces sources des revenus par rapport a la baisse de l`ecart des revenus pendant cette periode. Les resultats indiquent que la productivite du travail et les politiques gouvernementales non-spatiales - notamment la modification du salaire minimum et les programmes visant le transfert des revenus - ont un role a jouer pour expliquer la baisse de l`ecart des revenus regionaux pendant la periode en question. Convergence Productivite du travail Transfert des revenus Salaire minimum Effets spatiaux des politiques non-spatiales Silveira Neto R. Da M. und Azzoni C. R. Nicht raumliche Regierungspolitiken und das regionale Einkommensungleichgewicht in Brasilien, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag analysieren wir mit Hilfe von Makro- und Mikrodaten die Rolle von sozialen Programmen bei der unlangst erzielten Verringerung des regionalen Einkommensungleichgewichts in Brasilien. Wir stellen Konvergenz-Indikatoren fur verschiedene regionale Einkommensquellen im Zeitraum von 1995 bis 2006 vor. Eine Dekomposition des Gini-Indikators ermoglicht die Identifizierung der jeweiligen Rolle dieser Einkommensquellen fur die Verringerung des regionalen Ungleichgewichts im betreffenden Zeitraum. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass sowohl die Produktivitat der Arbeitskrafte als auch die nicht raumlichen Regierungspolitiken - in erster Linie Veranderungen beim Mindestlohn und Programme fur Einkommenstransfers - als Grunde fur die Verringerung des regionalen Ungleichgewichts in dieser Periode durchaus eine Rolle spielen. Konvergenz Arbeitsproduktivitat Einkommenstransfer Mindestlohn Raumliche Auswirkungen nicht raumlicher Politiken Silveira Neto R. Da M. y Azzoni C. R. Politicas gubernamentales no espaciales y desigualdades de ingresos regionales en Brasil, Regional Studies. En este articulo utilizamos datos macro y micro para analizar el papel de los programas sociales en la reciente reduccion en las desigualdades de ingresos regionales de Brasil. Presentamos los indicadores de convergencia para diferentes fuentes de ingresos regionales en el periodo de 1995 a 2006. Una descomposicion del indice Gini permite identificar el papel de cada una de estas fuentes de ingresos con respecto a la reduccion de las desiguadades regionales durante este periodo. Los resultados destacan que tanto la productividad laboral como las politicas no espaciales del gobierno - principalmente los cambios de salario minimo y los programas de transferencias de ingresos - desempenan una funcion a la hora de explicar la reduccion de las desigualdades regionales durante este periodo. Convergencia Productividad laboral Transferencias de ingresos Salario minimo Efectos espaciales de politicas no espaciales.

Economic performance of Brazilian manufacturing firms: a counterfactual analysis of innovation impacts

This article assesses if innovators outperform non-innovators in Brazilian manufacturing during 1996-2002. To do so, we begin with a simple theoretical model and test the impacts of technological innovation (treatment) on innovating firms (treated) by employing propensity score matching techniques. Correcting for the survivorship bias in the period, it was verified that, on an average, the accomplishment of technological innovations produces positive and significant impacts on the employment, the net revenue, the labor productivity, the capital productivity, and market share of the firms. However, this result was not observed for the mark-up. Especially, the net revenue reflects more robustly the impacts of the innovations. Quantitatively speaking, innovating firms experienced a 10.8-12.5 percentage points (p.p. henceforth) higher growth on employment, a 18.1-21.7 p.p. higher growth on the net revenue, a 10.8-11.9 p.p. higher growth on labor productivity, a 11.8-12.0 p.p. higher growth on capital productivity, and a 19.9-24.3 p.p. higher growth on their market share, relative to the average of the non-innovating firms in the control group. It was also observed that the conjunction of product and process innovations, relative to other forms of innovation, presents the stronger impacts on the performance of Brazilian firms.

C-reactive protein levels and the expansion of screen-detected abdominal aortic aneurysms in men

Background-C- reactive protein (CRP) levels have been shown to predict a number of cardiovascular outcomes. CRP levels have also been found to be elevated in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). The aim of this study was to assess the relation between CRP levels and rates of expansion of small AAAs. Methods and Results-A cohort of men with small aneurysms was identified in a trial of screening with ultrasound scanning. After initial screening, men were rescanned at 6- to 12-month intervals. CRP levels were measured at the first follow-up visit. Rates of expansion and risk factors for expansion were assessed with the use of data from 545 men who attended for at least 1 scan after CRP levels were measured. These men were followed for a median of 48 (range, 5 to 69) months. The mean annual rate of expansion was 1.6 mm. The median CRP level was 2.6 mg/L in men with the smaller AAAs (30 to 39 mm, n=433) compared with 3.5 mg/L in men with larger AAAs (40 to 54 mm, n=112) (P=0.007). The multivariate age-adjusted logistic model confirmed initial aortic diameter to be the only factor associated with rapid expansion with an odds ratio of 7.2 (95% CI, 4.3,12.2) for an initial diameter of 40 to 54 mm relative to one of 30 to 39 mm. Conclusions-Most small aneurysms expand slowly. CRP levels are elevated in larger aneurysms but do not appear to be associated with rapid expansion. The most useful predictor of aneurysmal expansion in men is aortic diameter.

Protection against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection conferred by the prophylactic administration of native and recombinant ArtinM

We determined the prophylactic effect of both the d-mannose-binding lectin ArtinM extracted from the seeds of Artocarpus integrifolia (jackfruit) and its recombinant counterpart during the course of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis induced in BALB/c mice. Four experimental protocols of prophylaxis were employed to evaluate the most protective regimen of ArtinM administration. It was demonstrated that the best effect was obtained by administration of two ArtinM doses on days 10 and 3 before the challenge with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. By following this protocol, the lungs of mice that received native or recombinant ArtinM exhibited reduced fungal burden and granuloma incidence. In addition, the protocol augmented contents of IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and NO. On the other hand, the control group consisting of untreated infected mice had higher pulmonary levels of IL-4 and IL-10. In conclusion, prophylaxis with ArtinM significantly reproduces the effect of its therapeutic administration, i.e, it confers resistance to P. brasiliensis infection in mouse models by promoting IL-12 production and favours Th1-immunity.

The higher-level phylogeny of Archosauria (Tetrapoda: Diapsida)

Crown group Archosauria, which includes birds, dinosaurs, crocodylomorphs, and several extinct Mesozoic groups, is a primary division of the vertebrate tree of life. However, the higher-level phylogenetic relationships within Archosauria are poorly resolved and controversial, despite years of study. The phylogeny of crocodile-line archosaurs (Crurotarsi) is particularly contentious, and has been plagued by problematic taxon and character sampling. Recent discoveries and renewed focus on archosaur anatomy enable the compilation of a new dataset, which assimilates and standardizes character data pertinent to higher-level archosaur phylogeny, and is scored across the largest group of taxa yet analysed. This dataset includes 47 new characters (25% of total) and eight taxa that have yet to be included in an analysis, and total taxonomic sampling is more than twice that of any previous study. This analysis produces a well-resolved phylogeny, which recovers mostly traditional relationships within Avemetatarsalia, places Phytosauria as a basal crurotarsan clade, finds a close relationship between Aetosauria and Crocodylomorpha, and recovers a monophyletic Rauisuchia comprised of two major subclades. Support values are low, suggesting rampant homoplasy and missing data within Archosauria, but the phylogeny is highly congruent with stratigraphy. Comparison with alternative analyses identifies numerous scoring differences, but indicates that character sampling is the main source of incongruence. The phylogeny implies major missing lineages in the Early Triassic and may support a Carnian-Norian extinction event.

Comparing predictions of extinction risk using models and subjective judgement

Models of population dynamics are commonly used to predict risks in ecology, particularly risks of population decline. There is often considerable uncertainty associated with these predictions. However, alternatives to predictions based on population models have not been assessed. We used simulation models of hypothetical species to generate the kinds of data that might typically be available to ecologists and then invited other researchers to predict risks of population declines using these data. The accuracy of the predictions was assessed by comparison with the forecasts of the original model. The researchers used either population models or subjective judgement to make their predictions. Predictions made using models were only slightly more accurate than subjective judgements of risk. However, predictions using models tended to be unbiased, while subjective judgements were biased towards over-estimation. Psychology literature suggests that the bias of subjective judgements is likely to vary somewhat unpredictably among people, depending on their stake in the outcome. This will make subjective predictions more uncertain and less transparent than those based on models. (C) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Nutrient-induced perturbations to delta C-13 and delta N-15 in symbiotic dinoilagellates and their coral hosts

Inorganic nutrients play a critical role in determining benthic community structure in tropical seas. This study examined the impact of adding inorganic nutrients (ammonium and phosphate) on the isotopic composition of 2 reef-building corals, Pocillopora damicornis and Heliofungia actiniformis, on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The addition of elevated nutrients to patch reefs that pond at low tide did not perturb the C:N ratio of either species or their symbiotic dinoflagellates. The C:N ratios were significantly higher in material extracted from the skeleton (14.8 +/- 1.50 and 10.8 +/- 1.42) than either host (7.6 +/- 0.87 and 6.0 +/- 0.71) or symbiotic dinoflagellates (5.7 +/- 0.48 and 6.9 +/- 0.66) (P. damicornis and H. actiniformis respectively; 95 confidence intervals). The ratio of acquired N to background N suggests that the added dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) accounted for 50 to 100% of total nitrogen within the tissues of P. damicornis and H. actiniformis at the end of the experiment. The addition of the isotopically depleted nutrients (delta(15) N = 0parts per thousand) to patch reefs significantly decreased delta(15)N from control values of between 3 and 4 to values to below 1 in the case of all compartments, while delta(13)C values were relatively unresponsive to nutrient treatments. These findings suggest that coral delta(15)N has the potential to provide a historical record of the delta(15)N of dissolved nitrogen surrounding reef-building corals and their symbiotic dinoflagellates.

Fast and efficient synthesis of pyrano[3,2-c]quinolines catalyzed by niobium(V) chloride

A highly efficient two-step method for the synthesis of pyranoquinoline derivatives from imino-Diels-Alder reactions between aldimines and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran using niobium(V) chloride as catalyst under mild conditions is described.

Recognition of cyclic, acyclic, exocyclic, and spiro Acetals via structurally diagnostic ion/molecule reactions with the (CH3)(2)N-C+=O acylium ion

Reactions of the model acylium ion (CH3)(2)N-C+=O with acyclic, exocyclic, and Spiro acetals of the general formula (RO)-O-1-(CRR4)-R-3-OR2-upole mass spectrometry. Characteristic intrinsic reactivities were observed for each of these classes of acetals. The two most Characteristic intrinsic reactivities were observed for each of these classes of acetals. The two most common reactions observed were hydride and alkoxy anion [(RO-)-O-1 and (RO-)-O-2] abstraction. Other specific reactions were also observed: (a) a secondary polar [4(+) + 2] cycloaddition for acetals bearing alpha,beta-unsaturated R-3 or R-4 substituents and (b) OH- abstraction for exocyclic and spiro acetals. These structurally diagnostic reactions, in conjunction with others observed previously for cyclic acetals, are shown to reveal the class of the acetal molecule and its ring type and substituents and to permit their recognition and distinction from other classes of isomeric molecules.

Effect of W on PtSn/C catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation

Binary and ternary Pt-based catalysts were prepared by the Pechini-Adams modified method on carbon Vulcan XC-72, and different nominal compositions were characterized by TEM and XRD. XRD showed that the electrocatalysts consisted of the Pt displaced phase, suggesting the formation of a solid solution between the metals Pt/W and Pt/Sn. Electrochemical investigations on these different electrode materials were carried out as a function of the electrocatalyst composition, in acid medium (0.5 mol dm(-3) H2SO4) and in the presence of ethanol. The results obtained at room temperature showed that the PtSnW/C catalyst display better catalytic activity for ethanol oxidation compared to PtW/C catalyst. The reaction products (acetaldehyde, acetic acid and carbon dioxide) were analyzed by HPLC and identified by in situ infrared reflectance spectroscopy. The latter technique also allowed identification of the intermediate and adsorbed species. The presence of linearly adsorbed CO and CO2 indicated that the cleavage of the C-C bond in the ethanol substrate occurred during the oxidation process. At 90 degrees C, the Pt85Sn8W7/C catalyst gave higher current and power performances as anode material in a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC).

Stereochemistry of cyclopentane derivatives from (2,3)J(CH) dependence on dihedral angle (theta H-C-C-X)

The (2,3)J(CH) dependence on dihedral angle (theta H-C-C-X) for cyclopentane derivatives was investigated. We observed that the combined use of experimentally obtained (2,3)J(CH) values and the theoretically determined dihedral angles between the corresponding nuclei can be used to infer the relative stereochemistry of the ring substituents in cyclopentane derivatives. There is a good correlation between the magnitude of (3)J(CH) and the dihedral angle between the hydrogen and the coupled carbon (R-2 = 0.88). Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hydroalumination of Thioacetylenes: A Versatile Generation and Reactions of -Aluminate Sulfides Intermediates

Hydroalumination of thioacetylenes using DIBAL-H and lithium di-(isobutyl)-n-(butyl)-aluminate hydride (Zweifel`s reagent), followed by addition of water, furnished exclusively the (Z)- and (E)-vinyl sulfides, respectively. The regio- and stereochemistry of the intermediates generated, (Z)- and (E)-phenylthio vinyl alanates, were determined by capture with iodine, which afforded the corresponding (E)- and (Z)-1-iodo-1-phenylthio-2-organoyl ethenes. Reactions of the (E)-iodo(thio)ketene acetals with n-BuLi followed by addition of hexanal afforded the (Z)-phenylthio allylic alcohol, while the (Z)-iodo(thio)ketene acetals under similar reactions conditions gave the (E)-phenylthio allylic alcohol exclusively.

Effect of Ni on Pt/C and PtSn/C prepared by the Pechini method

Different compositions of Pt, PtNi, PtSn, and PtSnNi electrocatalysts supported on carbon Vulcan XC-72 were prepared through thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors. The nanoparticles were characterized by morphological and structural analyses (XRD, TEM, and EDX). XRD results revealed a face-centered cubic structure for platinum, and there was evidence that Ni and Sn atoms are incorporated into the Pt structure. The electrochemical investigation was carried out in slightly acidic medium (H(2)SO(4) 0.05 mol L(-1)), in the absence and in the presence of ethanol. Addition of Ni to Pt/C and PtSn/C catalysts significantly shifted the onset of ethanol and CO oxidations toward lower potentials, thus enhancing the catalytic activity, especially in the case of the ternary PtSnNi/C composition. Electrolysis of ethanol solutions at 0.4 V us. RHE allowed for determination of acetaldehyde and acetic acid as the reaction products, as detected by HPLC analysis. Due to the high concentration of ethanol employed in the electrolysis experiments (1.0 mol L(-1)), no formation of CO(2) was observed. Copyright (C) 2010, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of methanol on the stability of Pt/C and Pt-RuO(x)/C catalysts

The behavior of Pt/C and Pt-RuO(x)/C electrodes subjected to a larger number of potential scans and constant potential for prolonged time periods was investigated in the absence and presence of methanol. The structural changes were analyzed on the basis of the modifications observed in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the catalysts. Carbon monoxide stripping experiments were performed before and after the potential scans, thus enabling analysis of the behavior of the electrochemically active surface area. The resulting solutions were examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). There was reduction in the electrochemically active surface area, as well as increase in crystallite size and dissolution of catalyst components after the potential scan tests. Catalyst degradation was more pronounced in the presence of methanol, and cyclic potential conditions accelerate the degradation mechanisms. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.