Should Public Capital Be Subsidized or Provided?

In an endogenous-growth model, we consider alternative ways of providing public capital using distortionary taxes. We show that if the government provides the good, the resulting growth rate and welfare may or may not be higher than under laissez-faire. By contrast, if the government subsidizes private providers, not only are growth and welfare higher than under public provision, they are also unambiguously higher than under laissez-faire.

Dynamics of Income Distribution

In this paper, we have obtained closed-form solutions in Cass-Koopmans growth models with heterogeneous agents. The relationship between the form of production function and the dynamics of income distribution is made explicit. We then use this relationship to determine what production structure is simultaneously consistent with facts on growth and income inequality. Our empirical findings give support to models with decreasing returns in the reproducible factor.Income Distribution, Economic Growth

Should Public Capital Be Subsidized or Provided?

In an endogenous-growth model, we consider alternative ways of providing public capital using distortionary taxes. We show that if the government provides the good, the resulting growth rate and welfare may or may not be higher than under laissez-faire. By contrast, if the government subsidizes private providers, not only are growth and welfare higher than under public provision, they are also unambiguously higher than under laissez-faire. Forthcoming 1998. Journal of Monetary Economics.Public Capital; Subsidy; Taxes; Public Provision

Effects of plyometric training on kicking performance in soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled effect size (ES) of plyometric training (PT) on kicking performance (kicking speed and distance) in soccer players depending upon some related factors (i.e., age, gender, skill level, and intervention duration). This study was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines. Four electronic databases—EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science—were searched for relevant studies. A total of n = 16 studies yielding 17 ES with n = 553 participants were finally included in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used to calculate Hedge’s g with a 95% confidence interval (CI), which showed that plyometric training had a large-sized positive effect on soccer kicking performance (g = 0.979, 95% CI [0.606, 1.353], p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses were performed according to participants’ characteristics (i.e., age, gender, skill level) and intervention duration, demonstrating no significant differences between these subgroups. The study pointed out that plyometric training is a generally effective method to improve soccer players’ kicking performance, which plays a crucial role in passing and shooting actions during games. As for soccer players and strength and conditioning coaches, the plyometric training aiming to enhance kicking performance has valuable implications in practice. Therefore, besides well-known training methods like power training in the weight room, plyometric training could be incorporated into the overall strength and conditioning programs for soccer players to reach high standards of kicking performance

Cloning and Expression of the Neuropeptide F and Neuropeptide F Receptor Genes and Their Regulation of Food Intake in the Chinese White Pine Beetle Dendroctonus armandi

Neuropeptide F (NPF) is an important signaling molecule that acts as a neuromodulator to regulate a diversity of physiological and behavioral processes from vertebrates to invertebrates by interaction with NPF receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). However, nothing is known about NPF in Chinese white pine beetle, Dendroctonus armandi, a destructive pest of natural and coniferous forests in the middle Qinling Mountains of China. We have cloned and characterized cDNAs encoding one NPF precursor and two NPF receptors in D. armandi and made bioinformatics predictions according to the deduced amino acid sequences. They were highly similar to that of Dendroctonus ponderosa. The transcription levels of these genes were different between larvae and adults of sexes, and there were significant differences among the different developmental stages and tissues and between beetles under starvation and following re-feeding states. Additionally, downregulation of NPF and NPFR by injecting dsRNA into beetles reduced their food intake, caused increases of mortality and decreases of body weight, and also resulted in a decrease of glycogen and free fatty acid and an increase of trehalose. These results indicate that the NPF signaling pathway plays a significant positive role in the regulation of food intake and provides a potential target for the sustainable management of this pest

Should Public Capital Be Subsidized or Provided?

In an endogenous-growth model, we consider alternative ways of providing public capital using distortionary taxes. We show that if the government provides the good, the resulting growth rate and welfare may or may not be higher than under laissez-faire. By contrast, if the government subsidizes private providers, not only are growth and welfare higher than under public provision, they are also unambiguously higher than under laissez-faire.

Dynamics of income distribution

In this paper, we have obtained closed-form solutions in Cass-Koopmans growth models with heterogeneous agents. The relationship between the form of the production function and the dynamics of income distribution is made explicit. We then use this relationship to determine what production structure is simultaneously consistent with facts on growth and income inequality. Our empirical findings give support to models with decreasing returns in the reproducible factor.

Identification of the Short Neuropeptide F and Short Neuropeptide F Receptor Genes and Their Roles of Food Intake in Dendroctonus armandi

The short neuropeptide F (sNPF) is an essential signaling molecule that is evolutionarily conserved and involved in a broad range of physiological functions in the invertebrates, by interacting with sNPF receptors, which belong to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). However, the function of sNPF in regulating the food intake of Dendroctonus armandi has been unclear. In this study, we cloned and characterized cDNAs encoding sNPF and sNPF receptor in the D. armandi and made bioinformatics predictions on the deduced amino acid sequences. They had a high degree of similarity to that of Dendroctonus ponderosa. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that the transcript levels of both sNPF and sNPFR varied across developmental stages and body parts. In addition, the sNPF and sNPFR expression levels were upregulated in starved beetles, and the expression levels recovered after re-feeding. Furthermore, RNAi knockdown by the injection of sNPF and sNPFR dsRNA into beetles significantly increased mortality and reduced their food intake and body weight, and also caused decrease of glycogen and free fatty acid and increase of trehalose. These results indicate that sNPF signaling pathway plays an important role in the regulation of food intake and provides a potential molecular target for the eco-friendly control strategies of this pest