Top pair cross section measurements at the LHC

The most recent results on the measurements of (tt) production and cross sections at 7 TeV are presented. These are obtained using CMS [1] and ATLAS [2] data collected in 2011. Recent results on the tt production cross section at 8 TeV using 2012 CMS data are also presented. The tt inclusive cross sections are measured in the lepton+jets, dilepton and fully hadronic channels, including the tau-dilepton and tau+jets modes. The results are combined and confronted with precise theory calculations.Comment: Proceedings of CKM 2012, the 7th International Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle, University of Cincinnati, USA, 28 September - 2 October 201

Job Stability and Labor Mobility in Urban Mexico: A Study Based on Duration Models and Transition Analysis

Can the relatively slow growth of the formal sector in Mexico during the 1990s be attributed to a rigid labor market and to low turnover rates? Is the increasing share of workers in the informal sector and of self-employed workers evidence of market segmentation, and hence a source of inequality and poverty? Or, as suggested by Maloney (1997), could the relatively large and symmetric flows of workers among all sectors (formal, informal, self-employed, unemployed, etc. ) be more consistent with a well-integrated market where workers search across sectors for job opportunities than one where informal workers seek permanent status in the formal sector and stay until they retire?[1] [1] Maloney, (1997, p. 13).

Updating V_us from kaon semileptonic decays

We update the determination of |V_us| using semielectronic and semimuonic decays of K mesons. A modest improvement of 15% with respect to its present value is obtained for the error bar of this matrix element when we combine the four available semileptonic decays. The combined effects of long-distance radiative corrections and nonlinear terms in the vector form factors can decrease the value of |V_us| by up to 1%. Refined measurements of the decay widths and slope form factors in the semimuonic modes and a more accurate calculation of vector form factors at zero momentum transfer can push the determination of |V_us| at a few of percent level.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Effect of housing on rubber slat mats during pregnancy on the behaviour and welfare of sows in farrowing crates

peer-reviewedThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of flooring type during gestation, lameness and limb lesion scores on welfare and behaviour of sows in farrowing crates. Sixty sows group-housed during gestation in pens with solid concrete floored feeding stalls and a concrete, fully slatted group area either uncovered (CON; n = 30) or covered with 10 mm thick rubber slat mats (RUB; n = 30) were transferred to the farrowing crate at 110d of gestation (-5d). Lameness was scored on -5d and at weaning (28 d postfarrowing). Limb lesions were scored on -5d, 24 h later (-4d), 3 to 5 days post farrowing and at weaning (i.e., day 28 post farrowing). Sows were video recorded for 24 h on -5d, after the last piglet was born (FARROW) and prior to weaning. Videos were sampled every 10 min and an index of the proportion of time spent in different postures (standing [S], ventral [VL] and lateral lying [LL] and total lying) and number of postural changes was calculated. Median scores were calculated for limb lesions and classified as ≤ median or > median. Postural data were tested for normality and analysed using mixed model equations methodology. Flooring during gestation did not affect any of the variables recorded in this study. However, RUB sows tended to make more postural changes than CON sows (P = 0.10). Sows with swelling scores > median spent more time LL (68.9 vs. 63.1 ± 2.19%; P < 0.05) and less time VL (19.9 vs. 25.8 ± 2.27%; P < 0.05) than sows with swelling scores ≤ median. Time spent S and VL decreased and LL increased at FARROW compared to -5d and prior to weaning (P < 0.01). We found no effect of flooring type during gestation on welfare and behaviour in the farrowing crate. Factors such as limb lesions and adaptation to confinement (i.e., time spent inside the farrowing crate) appeared to have a greater influence on sow welfare and behaviour in farrowing crates than the flooring on which they were housed during gestation.This work was administered by Teagasc’s Walsh Fellowship Scheme via funding from Enterprise Ireland and EasyFix™ Rubber Products

Trade and economic growth : evidence on the role of complementarities for CAFTA-DR countries

This paper examines the effects of trade on growth among Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement countries. To accomplish this task, the authors collected a panel data set of 136 countries over 1960-2010, and estimated cross-country growth regressions using an econometric methodology that accounts for unobserved effects and the likely endogeneity of the growth determinants. Following recent empirical efforts, they tested whether the impact of trade openness on growth may be more effective after surpassing a"minimum threshold"in specific areas closely related to economic development. The analysis finds not only that there is a robust causal link from trade to growth, but also that the growth benefits from trade are larger in countries with higher levels of education and innovation, deeper financial markets, a stronger institutional framework, more developed infrastructure networks, a high level of integration with world capital markets, and less stringent economic regulations. On average, rising trade has benefited growth in Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement countries. However, the lack of progress in structural reforms has not allowed these countries to maximize the potential benefits from trade.Economic Theory&Research,Free Trade,Achieving Shared Growth,Emerging Markets,Trade Policy