Whither Japan's Economy?

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. This paper is a revised and updated version of an article published in Stato e Mercato in 2002.The Japanese economy entered a long recession in spring 1997. Its economic growth has been much lower than in the US and the EU despite large fiscal stimulus packages, a monetary policy which has brought interest rates to zero since 1999, injections of public money to recapitalize banks, and programs of liberalization and deregulation. How could all these policies have failed to bring the Japanese economy back on a sustainable growth path? This paper argues that the failure of Japan's efforts to restore a sound economic environment is the result of having deliberately chosen inappropriate and inadequate monetary and fiscal instruments to tackle the macroeconomic and structural problems that have burdened the Japanese economy since the burst of the financial bubble at the beginning of the 90s. These choices were deliberate, since the "right" policies (in primis the resolution of the banking crisis) presented unbearable political costs, not only for the ruling parties, but also for the bureaucratic and business elites. The misfortunes of the Japanese economy during the long recession not only allow us to draw important economic policy lessons, but also stimulate reflections on the disruptive role on economic policies caused by powerful vested interests when an economy needs broad and deep structural changes. The final part of the paper focuses on ways to tackle Japan's banking crisis. In particular, it explores the Scandinavian solution, which, mutatis mutandis, might serve Japanese policy-makers well

Physical studies of Centaurs and Trans-Neptunian Objects with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array

Once completed, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) will be the most powerful (sub)millimeter interferometer in terms of sensitivity, spatial resolution and imaging. This paper presents the capabilities of ALMA applied to the observation of Centaurs and Trans-Neptunian Objects, and their possible output in terms of physical properties. Realistic simulations were performed to explore the performances of the different frequency bands and array configurations, and several projects are detailed along with their feasibility, their limitations and their possible targets. Determination of diameters and albedos via the radiometric method appears to be possible on ~500 objects, while sampling of the thermal lightcurve to derive the bodies' ellipticity could be performed at least 30 bodies that display a significant optical lightcurve. On a limited number of objects, the spatial resolution allows for direct measurement of the size or even surface mapping with a resolution down to 13 milliarcseconds. Finally, ALMA could separate members of multiple systems with a separation power comparable to that of the HST. The overall performance of ALMA will make it an invaluable instrument to explore the outer solar system, complementary to space-based telescopes and spacecrafts.Comment: Accepted for publication in Icarus (23 pages, 7 figures

Influence of organic matter transformations on the bioavailability of heavy metals in a sludge based compost

[EN] The agricultural use of anaerobically digested sewage sludge (ADSS) as stable, mature compost implies knowing its total content in heavy metals and their bioavailability. This depends not only on the initial characteristics of the composted substrates but also on the organic matter transformations during composting which may influence the chemical form of the metals and their bioavailability. The objective of this work was to examine the relationships between the changes in the organic matter content and humus fractions, and the bioavailability of heavy metals. A detailed sampling at 0, 14, 84, and 140 days of the composting process was performed to measure C contents in humic acids (HAs), fulvic acids, (FAs) and humin, the total content of Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cd, and also their distribution into mobile and mobilisable (MB), and low bioavailability (LB) forms. Significant changes of C contents in HA. FA, and Humin, and in the FA/HA, HA/Humin and C-humus/TOC ratios were observed during composting. The MB and LB fractions of each metal also varied significantly during composting. The MB fraction increased for Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd, and the LB fraction increased for Pb. Stepwise linear regressions and quadratic curve estimation conducted on the MB and LB fractions of each metal as dependent on the measured organic variables suggested that Zn bioavailability was mainly associated to percentage of C in FAs. Bioavailability of Cu, Ni and Cd during composting was associated to humin and HAs. Pb concentration increased in the LB form, and its variations followed a quadratic function with the C-humus/TOC ratio. Our results suggest that the composting process renders the metals in more available forms. The main forms of metal binding in the sludge and their availability in the final compost may be better described when metal fractionation obtained in sequential extraction and humus fractionation during composting are considered together. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work was part of the Generalitat Valenciana projects IIARCO2004-A-196, IIARCO2004-A-212, and IIARCO/2004/213, and the national project 135/2004/3 (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente). We thank FACSA Sewage Treatment Plant (Castellon, Spain), and University Jaume I of Castellon (Spain) for providing materials and technical assistance. We thank the two anonymous reviewers for their useful comments on the manuscript.Ingelmo Sánchez, F.; Molina, MJ.; Soriano Soto, MD.; Gallardo, A.; Lapeña, L. (2012). Influence of organic matter transformations on the bioavailability of heavy metals in a sludge based compost. Journal of Environmental Management. 95(Suplemento):104-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.04.015S10410995Suplement

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Parvovirus B19/B19V primary infection in pregnant women can be transmitted to the embryo/fetus and cause anomalies associated with TORCH syndrome. Local knowledge of the infection can help visualize the clinical picture to achieve early diagnosis. The objectives were to identify B19V in suspected cases of parvoviral infection during pregnancy and to describe the clinical manifestations present in positive cases. Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: pregnant patients with suspected B19V infection (compatible maternal or fetal-neonatal clinical manifestations or with epidemiological link), newborns (NB) of mothers with suspected or confirmed infection and NB with signs/symptoms associated with congenital infection (still present or not at birth), selected according to medical records of the clinical history. Viral DNA (PCR), specific IgM and IgG (ELISA) were determined in serum samples stored at the institution’s biobank. Ethical Committee of participating centers approved the protocol: Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Hospital Universitario de Maternidad y Neonatología, Clínica Privada Vélez Sársfield (2018-2022). A total of 242 patients were included (epidemiological weeks/EW 1-52, 171 pregnant women and 71 NB, 60 of them were mother-NB pair). Infection was confirmed in 27/242 (11.1%) cases, the majority (24/27, 88.9%) in pregnant women and 3/27 (11.1%) in NB. In the mother-NB pair group, 9 pregnant women and 2 NB were positive (vertical transmission rate: 22.2%). Epidemiological characteristics of B19V+ cases: mean age of pregnant women 30.1±6.3 years (p=0.45 versus study sample; median 30.5), 96% in EW 15-52 (autumn-spring). Clinical manifestations in pregnant women: maternal anemia 14/24 (58.3%), hydrops fetalis 5/24 (20.8%), abortion 5/24 (20.8%), fetal anemia 2/24 (8.3%), polyhydramnios 1/24 (4.2%), rash and arthralgia 1/24 (4.2%). One NB presented hydrops, another anemia, and one was asymptomatic, born to mother with rash, arthralgia, and anemia). Laboratory markers of infection: 16/27 (59.3%) cases were confirmed by detection of viral DNA (DNA+/IgM-/IgG+). During the study period, B19V was detected in 11% of the sample, being frequent in symptomatic pregnant women (24/171, 14%), with a rate of transmission to the fetus of 22%. Upon clinical suspicion, the complementary determination of virus and antibodies can improve diagnostic performance.La primoinfección por parvovirus B19/B19V en la embarazada puede transmitirse al embrión/feto y causar manifestaciones clínicas asociadas al síndrome de TORCH. Conocer la infección en nuestro medio puede contribuir a visibilizar su presentación clínica y promover el diagnóstico temprano. Los objetivos fueron identificar B19V en casos sospechosos de infección parvoviral durante la gestación y describir las manifestaciones clínicas presentes en los casos positivos. Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Se incluyeron pacientes embarazadas con sospecha de infección por B19V (manifestaciones clínicas maternas o feto-neonatales compatibles o nexo epidemiológico), RN de madres con infección sospechada o confirmada y RN con signos/síntomas asociables a infección congénita (aún presentes o no al nacer), seleccionados a partir de los datos de la historia clínica. Se determinó ADN viral (PCR), IgM e IgG específicas (ELISA) en muestras de suero recuperadas del biobanco. Protocolo aprobado por los Comités de Ética de los centros participantes: Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Hospital Universitario de Maternidad y Neonatología, Clínica Privada Vélez Sársfield (2018-2022). Se estudiaron 242 pacientes (semanas epidemiológicas/SE 1-52, 171 embarazadas y 71 RN, de ellos 60 constituían binomio madre-RN), confirmándose la infección en 27/242 (11,1%), la mayoría (24/27, 88,9%) en embarazadas y 3/27 (11,1%) en RN. En el grupo de binomios, fueron positivos 9 embarazadas y 2 RN (tasa de transmisión vertical: 22,2%). Características epidemiológicas de los casos B19V+: edad promedio de las embarazadas 30,1±6,3 años (p=0,45 versus muestra estudiada; mediana 30,5), 96% en las SE 15-52 (otoño-primavera). Manifestaciones marcadoras en embarazadas: anemia materna 14/24 (58,3%), hydrops fetal 5/24 (20,8%), aborto 5/24 (20,8%), anemia fetal 2/24 (8,3%), polihidramnios 1/24 (4,2%), exantema y artralgia 1/24 (4,2%). Un RN presentó hydrops, otro anemia y otro fue asintomático (con antecedente de madre positiva con exantema, artralgia y anemia en la madre). Marcadores laboratoriales de infección: 16/27 (59,3%) casos fueron confirmados por detección de ADN viral (ADN+/IgM-/IgG+). En el período estudiado se detectó B19V en 11% de la muestra, siendo frecuente en embarazadas sintomáticas (24/171, 14%), con una tasa de transmisión al feto de 22%. Ante la sospecha clínica, la determinación complementaria de virus y anticuerpos puede mejorar el rendimiento diagnóstico.

Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns

Performance and Operation of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The operation and general performance of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter using cosmic-ray muons are described. These muons were recorded after the closure of the CMS detector in late 2008. The calorimeter is made of lead tungstate crystals and the overall status of the 75848 channels corresponding to the barrel and endcap detectors is reported. The stability of crucial operational parameters, such as high voltage, temperature and electronic noise, is summarised and the performance of the light monitoring system is presented

Calibration of the CMS Drift Tube Chambers and Measurement of the Drift Velocity with Cosmic Rays

Peer reviewe

CMS Data Processing Workflows during an Extended Cosmic Ray Run

Peer reviewe

Aligning the CMS Muon Chambers with the Muon Alignment System during an Extended Cosmic Ray Run

Peer reviewe

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset