Classic and spatial shift-share analysis of state-level employment change in Brazil

This paper combines classic and spatial shift-share decompositions of 1981 to 2006 employment change across the 27 states of Brazil. The classic shift-share method shows higher employment growth rates for underdeveloped regions that are due to an advantageous industry-mix and also due to additional job creation, commonly referred to as the competitive effect. Alternative decompositions proposed in the literature do not change this broad conclusion. Further examination employing exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) shows spatial correlation of both the industry-mix and the competitive effects. Considering that until the 1960s economic activities were more concentrated in southern regions of Brazil than they are nowadays, these results support beta convergence theories but also find evidence of agglomeration effects. Additionally, a very simple spatial decomposition is proposed that accounts for the spatially-weighted growth of surrounding states. Favourable growth in northern and centre-western states is basically associated with those states’ strengths in potential spatial spillover effect and in spatial competitive effect

Effects of thermal annealing on the morphology of the AlxGa(1x)N films

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Effects of thermal annealing on the morphology of the AlxGa(1-x)N films with two different high Al-contents (x=0.43 and 0.52) have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The annealing treatments were performed in a nitrogen (N-2) gas ambient as short-time (4 min) and long-time (30 min). Firstly, the films were annealed as short-time in the range of 800-950 degrees C in steps of 50-100 degrees C. The surface root-mean-square (rms) roughness of the films reduced with increasing temperature at short-time annealing (up to 900 degrees C), while their surface morphologies were not changed. At the same time, the degradation appeared on the surface of the film with lower Al-content after 950 degrees C. Secondly, the Al0.43Ga0.57N film was annealed as long-time in the range of 1000-1200 degrees C in steps of 50 degrees C. The surface morphology and rms roughness of the film with increasing temperature up to 1150 degrees C did not significantly change. Above those temperatures, the surface morphology changed from step-flow to grain-like and the rms roughness significantly increased. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The Endogenous Cannabinoid Anandamide Inhibits Cromakalim-Activated K+ Currents in Follicle-Enclosed Xenopus Oocytes

The effect of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide on K+ currents activated by the ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel opener cromakalim was investigated in follicle-enclosed Xenopus oocytes using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Anandamide (1–90 μM) reversibly inhibited cromakalim-induced K+ currents, with an IC50 value of 8.1 ± 2 μM. Inhibition was noncompetitive and independent of membrane potential. Coapplication of anandamide with the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboximide hydrochloride (SR 141716A) (1 μM), the CB2 receptor antagonist N-[(1S)endo-1,3,3-trimethyl bicyclo heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR144528) (1 μM), or pertussis toxin (5 μg/ml) did not alter the inhibitory effect of anandamide, suggesting that known cannabinoid receptors are not involved in anandamide inhibition of K+ currents. Similarly, neither the amidohydrolase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (0.2 mM) nor the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 μM) affected anandamide inhibition of K+ currents, suggesting that the effects of anandamide are not mediated by its metabolic products. In radioligand binding studies, anandamide inhibited the specific binding of the KATP ligand [3H]glibenclamide in the oocyte microsomal fractions, with an IC50 value of 6.3 ± 0.4 μM. Gonadotropin-induced oocyte maturation and the cromakalim-acceleration of progesterone-induced oocyte maturation were significantly inhibited in the presence of 10 μM anandamide. Collectively, these results indicate that cromakalim-activated K+ currents in follicular cells of Xenopus oocytes are modulated by anandamide via a cannabinoid receptor-independent mechanism and that the inhibition of these channels by anandamide alters the responsiveness of oocytes to gonadotropin and progesterone

SPYTHIA, A Supersymmetric Extension of PYTHIA 5.7

SPYTHIA is an event level Monte Carlo program which simulates particle production and decay at lepton and hadron colliders in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). It is an extension of PYTHIA 5.7, with all of its previous capabilities. This paper is meant to supplement the PYTHIA/JETSET user manual, providing a description of the new particle spectrum, hard scattering processes, and decay modes. Several examples of using the program are provided.Comment: 12 pages, Latex2e, also available at http://www.hep.anl.gov/theory/mrenna

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Corporate governance compliance and disclosure in the banking sector: using data from Japan

Using regression model this study investigates which characteristics of a bank is associated with the extent of corporate governance disclosure in Japan. The findings suggest that on average 8 banks out of a sample of 46 disclose optimal corporate governance information. The regression model results reveal in general that non-executive directors, cross-ownership, capital adequacy ratio and type of auditors are associated with the extent of corporate governance disclosure. Of these four variables, non-executive directors have a more significant impact on the extent of disclosure contrary to total assets and audit firms of banks in the context of Japan. The findings of this paper are relevant for corporate regulators, professional associations and developers of corporate governance code when designing or updating corporate governance code