The Phillips Curve is Back? Using Panel Data to Analyze the Relationship Between Unemployment and Inflation in an Open Economy

Expanding on an approach suggested by Ashenfelter (1984), we extend the Phillips curve to an open economy and exploit panel data to estimate the textbook 'expectations augmented' Phillips curve with a market-based and observable measure of inflation expectations. We develop this measure using assumptions common in economic analysis of open economies. Using quarterly data from 9 OECD countries and the simplest econometric specification, we estimate the Phillips curve with the same functional form for the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Our analysis suggests that although changing expectations played a role in creating the empirical failure of the Phillips Curve in the 1970s, supply shocks were at least as important.

Resistance of sugarcane cultivars to Diataea saccharalis.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the ovipositions preference of Diatraea saccharalis and the effect of ten sugarcane cultivars on larval development. Oviposition preference was assessed under greenhouse condition by three releases of couples of moths, with subsequent counting of egg masses and eggs per plant. In order to evaluate the effet of the cultivars on larval development, each plant was infected with about 150 eggs, and, 29 days later, the total number of internodes, number of bored internodes, number of life forms found, larval and pupal weight and length, and the width of larval head capsule were evaluated.Título em português: Resistência de cultivares de cana?de?açúcar a Diatraea saccharalis

Localized Excitons and Breaking of Chemical Bonds at III-V (110) Surfaces

Electron-hole excitations in the surface bands of GaAs(110) are analyzed using constrained density-functional theory calculations. The results show that Frenkel-type autolocalized excitons are formed. The excitons induce a local surface unrelaxation which results in a strong exciton-exciton attraction and makes complexes of two or three electron-hole pairs more favorable than separate excitons. In such microscopic exciton "droplets" the electron density is mainly concentrated in the dangling orbital of a surface Ga atom whereas the holes are distributed over the bonds of this atom to its As neighbors thus weakening the bonding to the substrate. This finding suggests the microscopic mechanism of a laser-induced emission of neutral Ga atoms from GaAs and GaP (110) surfaces.Comment: submitted to PRL, 10 pages, 4 figures available upon request from: [email protected]

A randomised controlled trial of treatments of childhood anxiety disorder in the context of maternal anxiety disorder: clinical and cost-effectiveness outcomes

Background: This study evaluated whether clinical and economic outcomes from CBT for child anxiety disorders in the context of maternal anxiety disorders are improved by adding treatment focused on (i) maternal anxiety disorders, or (ii) mother-child interactions. Methods: 211 children (7 – 12 years, 85% White British, 52% female) with a primary anxiety disorder, whose mothers also had a current anxiety disorder, were randomised to receive (i) child-focused CBT with non-specific control interventions (CCBT+Con), (ii) CCBT with CBT for the maternal anxiety disorder (CCBT+MCBT), or (iii) CCBT with an intervention targeting the mother-child interaction (CCBT+MCI). A cost-utility analysis from a societal perspective was conducted using mother/child combined Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). [Trial registration: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19762288]. Results: MCBT was associated with immediate reductions in maternal anxiety compared to the non-specific control; however, after children had also received CCBT, maternal outcomes in the CCBT+MCI and CCBT+Con arms improved and CCBT+MCBT was no longer superior. Neither CCBT+MCBT nor CCBT+MCI conferred a benefit over CCBT+Con in terms of child anxiety disorder diagnoses post-treatment [primary outcome] (adj RR: 1.22 (95% CI 0.88, 1.67), p = .23; adj RR: 1.21 (95% CI 0.88, 1.65), p = .24 respectively) or global improvement ratings (adj RR 1.25 (95% CI 0.99, 1.57), p = .06; adj RR 1.18 (95% CI 0.93, 1.50), p = .17) or six and 12 months later. No significant differences between the groups were found on the main economic outcome measures (child/mother combined QALY mean difference: CCBT+MCBT vs CCBT+Con: -0.04 (95% CI -0.12, 0.04), p = 0.29; CCBT+MCI vs CCBT+Con: 0.02 (95% CI -0.05, -0.09), p = 0.54). CCBT+MCI was associated with non-significantly higher costs than CCBT (mean difference: £154 (95% CI -£1239, £1547), p = 0.83) but, when taking into account sampling uncertainty, it may be cost-effective compared with CCBT alone. Conclusions: Good outcomes were achieved for children and their mothers across treatment arms. There was no evidence of significant clinical benefit from supplementing CCBT with either CBT for the maternal anxiety disorder or treatment focussed on mother-child interactions, but the addition of MCI (and not MCBT) may be cost-effective. Keywords: Child; anxiety; mother; parent-child interaction; CBT

Analysis and Modification of Amorphous and Partially-Crystalline Thin Films

Thin films of light atomic weight elements in amorphous, partially-crystalline, or crystalline forms have applications in a broad range of technologies. For example, amorphous tetrahedral carbon (a-tC) and polymeric thin films impact electronic materials technology as electron- and light-emitting device elements, respectively. A lack of crystallinity introduces complexity in the experimental and theoretical characterization of these materials but is not necessarily a limiting factor in their performance. While the growth process is clearly a major factor governing the physical properties of a film, interactions with the substrate are also important, so surface and interface analysis provides an important complement to bulk measurements. This paper focuses on several approaches in the characterization and modification of thin films made possible by recent experimental advances. The structural and electronic properties of two model systems are considered as examples: a-tC thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and polyaniline thin films grown by vapor deposition. First, scanning probe microscopies and X-ray scattering are used to investigate the structural aspects of a-tC films as a function of PLD growth conditions. The possible connection of nanoscale surface modification and characterization with electron emission properties will be discussed. Second, the results of inelastic scattering spectroscopy and other surface techniques will be discussed to obtain information on both interfacial aspects of the growth of polyaniline thin films and microscopic and macroscopic aspects of electrical conductivity upon doping. Comparisons will be made with other studies that address properties of analogous crystalline systems as appropriate. A brief assessment of the broader problem of analyzing these systems will be given

Dietary supplementation of suckling lambs with anthocyanins: Effects on growth, carcass, oxidative and meat quality traits

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of the dietary inclusion in suckling lambs of a red orange and lemon extract rich in anthocyanins on growth performance, antioxidant status, carcass characteristics and of both dietary antioxidant addition and aging on meat fatty acids, colorimetric and antioxidant profile, and meat texture. The experiment was carried out using 44 Merino male lambs randomly assigned to two groups: one group received the red orange and lemon extract (RLE) (RLE; n = 22) and the control group (CON; n = 22) did not receive the anthocyanins. The RLE extract was orally administered (90 mg/kg of live weight) to each lamb every day from birth until slaughter (40 ± 1 days). Longissimus lumborum muscle was sampled and aged for 7 days. Rheological, colorimetric and oxidative parameters were affected by aging time and anthocyanins administration. The meat from RLE supplemented lambs had lower cooking loss and Warner-Blatzer Shear Force (WBSF) values. Moreover, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides were lower (P < 0.01) in RLE meat along the entire aging period, although in both groups they increased during aging (P < 0.01). The RLE addition affect yellowness values during aging, showing lower values in CON group at 7 d (P < 0.01). The RLE feed addition in able to positively affect oxidative animal status, and consequently animal welfare, enhancing meat oxidative stability and reducing colour deterioration during aging

A Fibre- vs. cereal grain-based diet: Which is better for horse welfare? Effects on intestinal permeability, muscle characteristics and oxidative status in horses reared for meat production

Horses reared for meat production are fed high amounts of cereal grains in comparison with horses raised for other purposes. Such feeding practice may lead to risk of poor welfare consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two feeding practices on selected metabolic parameters and production aspects. Nineteen Bardigiano horses, 14.3 ± 0.7 months of age, were randomly assigned to two groups—one fed with high amounts of cereal grains (HCG; n = 9; 43% hay plus 57% cereal grain-based pelleted feed) vs. one fed with high amounts of fibre (HFG; n = 10; 70% hay plus 30% pelleted fibrous feed)—for 129 days. At slaught on abattoir, biological and tissue samples were collected to evaluate the microbiological contamination of mesenteric lymph nodes and liver; selected meat quality traits (chemical composition and fatty acid profile of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle); and the oxidative status of the horse. A linear mixed model was used: dietary treatment and sex were fixed effects and their interaction analysed on production and metabolic parameters as dependent variables. Results showed an increased intestinal permeability in the horses fed HCG compared to HFG, according to the significant increased total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts in mesenteric lymph nodes (p = 0.04) and liver samples (p = 0.05). Horses in HCG showed increased muscle pH (p = 0.02), lighter muscle colour (L) (p = 0.01), increased intramuscular fat concentrations (p = 0.03), increased muscle glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Moreover, horses in HCG had lower muscle water holding capacity at interaction with sex (p = 0.03, lower in female), lower muscle protein content (p = 0.01), lower concentration of muscle PUFAs (p = 0.05) and lower plasma catalase activities (p = 0.05). Our results showed that feeding a high cereal grains diet can have global effects on horse physiology, and thus represents a threat for their welfare

Is conditioning a useful framework for understanding the development and treatment of phobias?

Despite the prevalence of therapeutic interventions based on conditioning models of fear acquisition, conditioning has been seen by many as a poor explanation of how fears develop: partly because research on conditioning has become less mainstream and models of teaming have become increasingly more complex. This article reviews some of what is now known about conditioning/associative teaming and describes how these findings account for some early criticisms of conditioning models of fear acquisition. It also describes how pathways to fear such as vicarious teaming and fear information can be conceptualised as forms of associative teaming that obey the same teaming rules. Some popular models of conditioning are then described with a view to highlighting the important components in teaming. Finally, suggestions are made about how what we know about conditioning can be applied to improve therapeutic interventions and prevention programs for child anxiety. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved