Corruption, Public Expenditure and Human Capital Accumulation

This paper investigates the possible non-linear effect of corruption on human capital accumulation through two channels. The first channel is through the effect of corruption on the public expenditure on education and the second channel is through the effect of corruption on the physical capital investment. Initially, we construct an endogenous two-sector growth model with human capital accumulation and we try to explore the impact of corruption on the allocation of public expenditure and therefore on the distribution of human capital across sectors. Then by using a semi-parametric method, we confirm the presence of non-linearities between human capital and corruption

Semi-dense SLAM on an FPGA SoC

Deploying advanced Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping, or SLAM, algorithms in autonomous low-power robotics will enable emerging new applications which require an accurate and information rich reconstruction of the environment. This has not been achieved so far because accuracy and dense 3D reconstruction come with a high computational complexity. This paper discusses custom hardware design on a novel platform for embedded SLAM, an FPGA-SoC, combining an embedded CPU and programmable logic on the same chip. The use of programmable logic, tightly integrated with an efficient multicore embedded CPU stands to provide an effective solution to this problem. In this work an average framerate of more than 4 frames/second for a resolution of 320×240 has been achieved with an estimated power of less than 1 Watt for the custom hardware. In comparison to the software-only version, running on a dual-core ARM processor, an acceleration of 2× has been achieved for LSD-SLAM, without any compromise in the quality of the result

Bribery, on-the-job training, and firm performance

The previous literature has extensively examined the effect of firm-level bribery on firm performance but not through on-the-job training. This paper investigates the impact of paying bribes on the firm’s investment decisions in on-the-job training and offers mediating implications of corruption on firm performance. We empirically examine the relationship between bribery and on-the-job training using firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys consisting of a sample of 94 developing countries with 20,601 firms. The findings show that bribery and on-the-job training intensity affects real annual sales growth rates negatively and positively, respectively. Furthermore, firms exposed to more bribery reduce their on-the-job training intensity. The results are robust to the different classifications of the firm’s size, different subsamples, and controls for the endogeneity of the on-the-job training and bribery

Essays in Human Capital Accumulation-Based Economic Growth.

This paper investigates the relationship between per-capita human capital investment and the birth rate. Since the consequences of higher fertility (birth rate) on per-capita human capital accumulation (the so-called dilution effect) are not the same (in sign and magnitude) across different groups of countries with different birth rates, we analyze the growth impact of a non-linear dilution-effect. The main predictions of the model (concerning the relationship between population and economic growth rates) are then compared with those of a standard model in which the exogenous birth rate affects linearly and negatively (as postulated by most of the existing theoretical literature) human capital investment at the individual level. By using non-parametric techniques, we find evidence of strong nonlinearities in the total effect of fertility on human capital accumulation. This supports the idea that fertility plays a non-monotonic role in the accumulation of human capital and hence in the growth rate of an economy. The non-monotonic effect of fertility on human capital appears to be valid for OECD, as well as non-OECD countries according to our empirical results

Οι Στόχοι για τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη του Ο.Η.Ε και η Εκπαίδευση για τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη μέσα από ένα Μοντέλο για την Ανθρώπινη Ανάπτυξη

Η ιστορία του Ανθρώπου πάνω στην Γη αποτελεί ένα μοναδικό και σύνθετο φαινόμενο που έχει απασχολήσει την ανθρώπινη γνώση από διάφορες πλευρές. Η σύγχρονη επιστήμη που εξετάζει τον Άνθρωπο και την ανάπτυξή του οργανώνεται σε πολλά επιστημονικά αντικείμενα και σώματα γνώσης που δεν χρησιμοποιούν κοινές παραδοχές και μεθοδολογίες. Ωστόσο, όσο αυξάνεται η γνώση γύρω από τον Άνθρωπο δημιουργούνται νέα διεπιστημονικά ερευνητικά πεδία που προσπαθούν να απαντήσουν σε σύνθετα ζητήματα που τα παραδοσιακά επιστημονικά αντικείμενα δεν μπορούν να απαντήσουν. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας εργασίας διερευνήθηκαν οι τρόποι με τους οποίους τα διαφορετικά επιστημονικά αντικείμενα διαπραγματεύονται τον Άνθρωπο και την Ανθρώπινη Ανάπτυξη καθώς και οι έως τώρα συνθετικές επιστημονικές προσεγγίσεις επί του θέματος. Η έρευνα αυτή οδήγησε στο να προταθεί ένα Μοντέλο για την έρευνα της Ανθρώπινης Ανάπτυξης ως χρονικά και κατηγορικά ενιαίας διαδικασίας. Το μοντέλο βασίζεται στην αλληλεπίδραση τριών παραγόντων που καθορίζουν τον Άνθρωπο και την Ανάπτυξή του: ο παράγοντας Φύση που περιλαμβάνει τις υλικές συνθήκες ύπαρξης του Ανθρώπου, ο παράγοντας Κοινωνία που περιγράφει τις σχέσεις του Ανθρώπου, και ο παράγοντας Γνώση που περιγράφει τη συσσώρευση, την οργάνωση και τη μεταφορά της πληροφορίας, των συμπεριφορών και των σωμάτων γνώσεων. Για τη θεμελίωση του μοντέλου περιγράφεται το περιεχόμενο των τριών αυτών παραγόντων, καθώς και παραδείγματα από την Ανθρώπινη Ανάπτυξη που καταδεικνύουν αυτή την αλληλεπίδραση στα διάφορα επίπεδα οργάνωσης και μελέτης της ανθρωπότητας. Ως βασικός μηχανισμός για την Ανθρώπινη Ανάπτυξη εξετάζεται η επίλυση προβλημάτων και η μεταφορά και συσσώρευση καινοτομιών (νεωτερισμών) σχετικά με την επίλυσή τους μέσω του επιπολιτισμού και των μορφών του. Στα πλαίσια της διαχείρισης των σύγχρονων προβλημάτων που αντιμετωπίζει η ανθρωπότητα παρουσιάζονται οι Στόχοι του ΟΗΕ για τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη και κατηγοριοποιούνται οι επιμέρους 169 Στόχοι στις τρεις κατηγορίες του Μοντέλου Ανθρώπινης Ανάπτυξης. Επίσης, εξετάζονται και χαρτογραφούνται οι αλληλεπιδράσεις που έχουν καταγραφεί στη βιβλιογραφία. Παρουσιάζονται τα αποτελέσματα και τα συμπεράσματα αυτής της διαδικασίας και συζητιόνται στα πλαίσια της αξιοποίησης του Μοντέλου. Διαμορφώνεται ένας οδικός χάρτης για τη διασαφήνιση, ιεράρχηση και αξιολόγηση των προβλημάτων σε σχέση με τα εμπλεκόμενα μέρη και τις περιστάσεις των προβλημάτων αυτών, αλλά και για την χαρτογράφηση των αλληλεπιδράσεων ανάμεσα στους στόχους ως εργαλείο αναπτυξιακού σχεδιασμού για την επίλυση των προβλημάτων και την εφαρμογή των Στόχων Βιώσιμης Ανάπτυξης. Τέλος στα πλαίσια της εργασίας αυτής εξετάζεται η εκπαίδευση και η σχέση της με την Ανθρώπινη Ανάπτυξη στην ιστορία της ανθρωπότητας ως μια μορφή επιπολιτισμού. Εξετάζεται η σχέση της με την επίλυση προβλημάτων και η ένταξή της στον σχεδιασμό των εθνών και της ανθρωπότητας, η κοινωνικοποίησή της και η ανάπτυξή της παράλληλα με την ανάπτυξη των άλλων ανθρώπινων δραστηριοτήτων. Παρουσιάζεται η σχέση της εκπαίδευσης με τους Στόχους Βιώσιμης Ανάπτυξης και η σχέση της εκπαίδευσης των Φυσικών Επιστημών και της Περιβαλλοντικής Εκπαίδευσης με την Εκπαίδευση για τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη. Παρουσιάζονται τρία επίπεδα στη σχέση της εκπαίδευσης με τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη: 1. Η Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη, οι Σ.Β.Α. και η σχετική επιστημονική γνώση ως γνωστικό περιεχόμενο, 2. η εκπαίδευση του πληθυσμού σαν αναπτυξιακή δύναμη και 3. η εκπαίδευση ως ανθρώπινη δραστηριότητα που υπόκειται σε αναπτυξιακό σχεδιασμό. Διατυπώνεται τέλος η διαπίστωση ότι αυτά τα τρία επίπεδα της σχέσης της εκπαίδευσης με την Ανθρώπινη Ανάπτυξη μπορούν να διερευνηθούν περαιτέρω στα πλαίσια του Μοντέλου της Ανθρώπινης Ανάπτυξης.The history of human presence on Earth is a unique and complex phenomenon central to human knowledge in its various forms. Contemporary Science examining Human and human development is organized in multiple disciplines and bodies of knowledge lacking common concepts and methodologies. However, as knowledge regarding human grows, new interdisciplinary research fields emerge, trying to solve complex issues not solved by traditional scientific disciplines. In the context of this thesis, the different ways in which various scientific disciplines examine Human and human development have been reviewed, as well as the historical and contemporary unifying theories regarding these matters. This research led to proposing a Model for the research of Human Development as a single process through time (Human Development Model). The Model is based on the interaction of three factors that define Human and Human Development: 1. Nature, as the material conditions of human existence, 2. Society, referring to human relationships, 3. Knowledge, describing accumulation, organization and transmission of information, behaviors and bodies of knowledge. Setting the foundations of this Model, the content of the three factors is described, combined with examples of Human Development that highlight the above interactions between the levels of organization of humanity and the interactions between research fields. Problem-solving and related transmission and accumulation of innovations through enculturation in its various forms are examined as a key mechanism for Human Development. In the context of solving contemporary global problems, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are presented and the 169 targets are categorized based on the three pillars of the Human Development Model (HDM) that has been proposed. Moreover, the documented interlinkages are examined and mapped. The results and the key conclusions of categorizing targets and mapping interlinkages are presented and discussed, examining the contribution of the HDM. A “road map” is drawn for clarification, prioritization and the assessment of problems, their circumstances, the role of stakeholders, but also for mapping SDGs interlinkages as a tool for development planning, problem solving and SDGs implementation. In the last section of this thesis, education is examined as a form of enculturation and its relation with human development through human history is being investigated. The relation between education and problem-solving is sought along with the place of education in nations’ and humanity’s planning, its socialization and education’s development in accordance with the development of various human activities. Education and SDGs, Science Education and Environmental education are linked with Education for Sustainable Development. The relation between Education and Sustainable Development is examined in three distinct levels: 1. Sustainable Development, SDGs and the relevant scientific knowledge as content knowledge in education, 2. Educating people as a developmental force, 3. Education as a human activity under development planning. Finally, it is being proposed that these three levels of the relation between Education and Human Development can be further examined in the context of Human Development Model

Novel polymorphisms and lack of mutations in the ACD gene in patients with ACTH resistance syndromes

Objective  ACTH resistance is a feature of several human syndromes with known genetic causes, including familial glucocorticoid deficiency (types 1 and 2) and triple A syndrome. However, many patients with ACTH resistance lack an identifiable genetic aetiology. The human homolog of the Acd gene, mutated in a mouse model of adrenal insufficiency, was sequenced in 25 patients with a clinical diagnosis of familial glucocorticoid deficiency or triple A syndrome. Design  A 3·4 kilobase genomic fragment containing the entire ACD gene was analysed for mutations in all 25 patients. Setting  Samples were obtained by three investigators from different institutions. Patients  The primary cohort consisted of 25 unrelated patients, primarily of European or Middle Eastern descent, with a clinical diagnosis of either familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD) or triple A syndrome. Patients lacked mutations in other genes known to cause ACTH resistance, including AAAS for patients diagnosed with triple A syndrome and MC2R and MRAP for patients diagnosed with familial glucocorticoid deficiency. Thirty-five additional patients with adrenal disease phenotypes were added to form an expanded cohort of 60 patients. Measurements  Identification of DNA sequence changes in the ACD gene in the primary cohort and analysis of putative ACD haplotypes in the expanded cohort. Results  No disease-causing mutations were found, but several novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two putative haplotypes were identified. The overall frequency of SNPs in ACD is low compared to other gene families. Conclusions  No mutations were identified in ACD in this collection of patients with ACTH resistance phenotypes. However, the newly identified SNPs in ACD should be more closely examined for possible links to disease.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73948/1/j.1365-2265.2007.02855.x.pd

Carney-Complex: Multiple resections of recurrent cardiac myxoma

We report a case of a female patient who was operated at the third relapse of an atrial myxoma caused by Carney complex. The difficult operation was performed without any complications despite extensive adhesions caused by the previous operations. The further inpatient course went without complications and the patient was discharged to the consecutive treatment on the 9th postoperative day. The echocardiographic finding postoperative showed no abnormalities

Treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours in paediatric and young adult patients with sunitinib: a multicentre case series

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are rarely encountered mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract (1.5 people per 100,000/year) that are even more rarely seen in paediatric patients (1-2% of all cases). The standard treatment for advanced adult GIST is imatinib with sunitinib as a second-line option. Although the efficacy and tolerability of sunitinib in adults with GIST has been established, little is known of the profile of sunitinib in paediatric/young adult patients with GIST given the rarity of this disease. Methods: Paediatric/young adult patients aged up to 21 years with diagnosis of GIST who were treated with sunitinib were identified from retrospective records from three centres in Europe and the US. Most patients commenced sunitinib in a 6-week cycle, however, dosing could be reduced, delayed, changed to (or initiated with) a continuous schedule. Objective response (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours [RECIST]) and adverse events were recorded. Results: We identified 9 paediatric/young adult patients (aged 11-21 years) with GIST who were treated with sunitinib de novo (n = 1) or following failure of imatinib (n = 8). Progressive disease was previously documented for all patients including 7 patients during imatinib therapy. Baseline patient and tumour profile characteristics showed a distinct profile (notably all were wild-type KIT/PDGFR) compared to that established for adults. Sunitinib treatment was associated with a best response of stable disease for 7 patients, with disease stabilisation lasting from 1 month to > 73 months and a median progression free survival time of 15 months. There was some evidence of better disease control for sunitinib when compared to prior imatinib. Most adverse events with sunitinib were manageable and all were consistent with the known profile of the agent. Conclusion: The ability to draw firm conclusions from this case series is limited by the small number of patients and the use of retrospective data which is largely reflective of the rarity of this condition. However, our findings provide initial evidence of clinical benefit and a generally manageable toxicity profile for sunitinib when administered to paediatric/young adult patients with GIST, most of whom had documented progressive disease during prior imatinib treatment