Firm Level Productivity under Imperfect Competition in Output and Labor Markets

This article examines the role of the interaction between product market and labor market imperfections in determining total factor productivity growth (TFPG). Embedding Dobbelaere and Mairesse’s (2009) generalization of Hall’s (1990) approach, allowing for the possibility that wages are determined according to an efficient bargaining process between employers and employees, we correct estimated TFPG for possible biases arising from labor market imperfections. Our analysis contributes to the literature in a number of ways. First, we propose a new empirical measure of TFPG which takes into account possible biases coming from imperfect competition on both labor and output markets, whereas Dobbelaere and Mairesse (2009) focus on the decomposition of the Solow residual. Second, in contrast to most of the literature following Hall’s approach, we estimate market power including the user cost of capital stock. Third, we measure the sensitivity of TFPG to an alternative specification of competition based on relative profits. Using a large Dutch firm-level panel database over the period 1989-2005, we find that workers’ unions power, and in general rigidities of the labor market, affect firms’ marginal cost, and, consequently, the markups. Moreover, taking into account variable returns to scale and imperfect competition in the output market translate into increased TFPG, while accounting for labor market bargaining power leads to lower TFPG. Next, the investigation of our empirical relationship between the price-cost margin and an alternative specification of imperfect competition of the output market (profit elasticity) as a sensitivity analysis of the TFPG shows that adding more structure to the competition measure does not affect the level of productivity change.

Fungal inoculation effect on post-harvest sugarcane residue decomposition under field conditions

Fungal inoculation effect on post-harvest sugarcane residue (SCR) decomposition in field conditions was studied. In vitro interaction between selected fungi was determined by direct confrontation. Mycelial growth response to different concentrations of herbicides and urea was also assessed. Fungal combinations did not show inhibitory effects. Bjerkandera sp. Y-HHM2 and Myrothecium sp. S-3.20 growth decreased in 2.4-D agar plates. However, Pleurotus sp. Y- RN3 showed a stimulation in 10 ppm 2.4-D agar plates. The biggest growth in ametrine supplemented cultures was observed in Pleurotus sp. Y-RN3. Evaluation of increasing urea concentrations on mycelial growth showed that 5,000 ppm significantly inhibits mycelial growth. The field assay under rainfed condition showed that post-harvest SCR decomposition rate significantly increases in Y-HHM2, Y-RN3 and Y-HHM2/Y-RN3/S-3.20 treatments. This is the first report on the capability of Bjerkandera sp. Y-HHM2 and Pleurotus sp. Y-RN3 to accelerate post-harvest SCR decomposition in rainfed conditions at field scale, suggesting that these fungi might be useful tools in the sugarcane crop system.Fil: Maza, Marianela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semiárido; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Sanidad Vegetal. Cátedra Fitopatología; ArgentinaFil: Medina, M.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Plasencia, Adriana María. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Amoroso, Maria Julia del R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Yasem, Marta Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Sanidad Vegetal. Cátedra Fitopatología; Argentin

Angiogenic and angiostatic factors in renal scleroderma-associated vasculopathy

BACKGROUND: The angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is impaired. An imbalance of pro-angiogenic factors and angiogenesis inhibitors has been implicated in the progression of peripheral microvascular damage, defective vascular repair and fibrosis. Intrarenal resistance index are considered markers of renal vasculopathy. The aim of the study is to evaluate angiogenic and angiostatic factors (VEGF and endostatin) in SSc patients and to correlate with intrarenal hemodynamic parameters. METHODS: 91 SSc patients were enrolled in this study. Serum VEGF and endostatin levels were determined. All patients underwent a renal Doppler ultrasound RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was observed between endostatin and renal Doppler parameters (p<0.0001). A negative correlation was observed between serum levels of endostatin and eGFR (p<0.01). In SSc patients with high resistive index, serum levels of endostatin were significantly (p<0.01) higher than in SSc patients with normal resistive index. The serum levels of endostatin significantly increased with progression of nailfold videocapillaroscopy damage (p<0.01) and were significantly (p<0.05) higher in SSc patients with digital ulcers than in SSc patients without digital ulcers. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that assess in SSc patients intrarenal hemodynamic parameters and endostatin. In SSc patients, endostatin represents a marker of renal scleroderma-associated vasculopathy

Bis[4-amino-N-(pyrimidin-2-yl-κN)benzene­sulfonamidato-κN](4,4′-di­methyl-2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)cadmium dimethyl­formamide disolvate

In the title compound, [Cd(C10H9N4O2S)2(C12H12N2)]·2C3H7NO, the CdII ion lies on a twofold rotation axis, is six-coordinated by N atoms, and displays a trigonal–prismatic geometry arising from the two sulfadiazinate ligands and one 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligand. Both ligands are bidentate and coordinate via their N atoms. The O and carbonyl C atoms of the dimethyl­formamide mol­ecule show disorder and were modelled with two different orientations and with site occupancies of 0.584 (10):0.416 (10). The geometry around the sulfadiazine S atom is distorted tetra­hedral. The crystal structure involves N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds which link mol­ecules into a three-dimensional network. Weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are also observed

The Effect of Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS) on public transport demand and its uncertainty

Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATISs) include a broad range of advanced computer and communication technologies. These systems are designed to provide transit riders pre-trip and real-time information, to make better informed decisions regarding their mode of travel, planned routes and travel times. ATISs include in-vehicle displays, terminal or wayside based information centres, information by phone or mobile and internet. In this article, a Stated Preference survey has been carried out in order to know the preferences of public transport\u2019s customers related to different ATISs and their willingness to pay in Palermo. An ordered probit demand model has been calibrated to determine the potential additional share of demand attracted by the adoption of ATISs. Finally, Monte Carlo simulation has been carried out to appraise the uncertainty on some parameters of the calibrated demand model. The results show that respondents give more importance to the type of information and its cost, whereas they are less interested in the system that provides the information

Experimental and Simulation Study of a High Current 1D Silicon Nanowire Transistor Using Heavily Doped Channels

Silicon nanowires have numerous potential applications, including transistors, memories, photovoltaics, biosensors and qubits [1]. Fabricating a nanowire with the required characteristics for a specific application, however, poses some challenges. For example, a major challenge is that, as the transistors dimensions are reduced, it is difficult to maintain a low off-current (Ioff) whilst simultaneously maintaining a high on-current (Ion). Some sources of this parasitic leakage current include quantum mechanical tunnelling, short channel effects and statistical variability [2, 3]. A variety of new architectures, including ultra-thin silicon-on-insulator (SOI), double gate, FinFETs, tri-gate, junctionless and gate all-around (GAA) nanowire transistors, have therefore been developed to improve the electrostatic control of the conducting channel. This is essential since a low Ioff implies low static power dissipation and it will therefore improve power management in the multi-billion transistors circuits employed globally in microprocessors, sensors and memories