Human capital, technology intensity and growth in a regional context

This paper contributes to the vast literature on the regional application of endogenous growth theory. A well-known feature of capitalist growth and development is the vast and persistent divergence in per capita income growth between regions. These differences have been explained theoretically and empirically using neoclassical approaches emphasising increasing returns at a regional level, with reference, for example, to the development of industrial districts. The new economics of urban and regional growth look at the \u2018local\u2019 dimension focussing on the role of the so-called knowledge economy as an explanation for uneven development across regions. Within this heterogeneity, the operation of human capital and knowledge spillovers play roles in differentiating growth rates. The study of the concentration of a specific mix of economic activities and human capital, with a \u2018fine grain\u2019 focus at the local level, is a useful tool to understand growth and spatial differentials. In this study, we develop an empirical analysis of the pattern of growth in the Veneto region, focusing mainly on the role played by human capital employed in sectors with different technological intensities. To do so, we built up an original dataset by merging data available at a very local level (Local Labour Systems-LLS), which was produced by the National Institute of Statistics, with our elaborations on data from an employee-employer dataset made available by the Local Labour Agency (Veneto Lavoro). The latter dataset included all employment spells in the Veneto region. Our new dataset allows both definition of the human capital content of every worker and classification of firms according to their technological intensity. This dataset is used to estimate growth equations for the cross-section of the Venetian LLSs and to test the validity of different growth models. The results underline how growth in the Veneto region is positively affected by human capital employed not in high to medium-high technology industries, but in medium to medium-low ones

Organic and total mercury determination in sediments by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry: methodology validation and uncertainty measurements

The purpose of the present study was to validate a method for organic Hg determination in sediment. The procedure for organic Hg was adapted from literature, where the organomercurial compounds were extracted with dichloromethane in acid medium and subsequent destruction of organic compounds by bromine chloride. Total Hg was performed according to 3051A USEPA methodology. Mercury quantification for both methodologies was then performed by CVAAS. Methodology validation was verified by analyzing certified reference materials for total Hg and methylmercury. The uncertainties for both methodologies were calculated. The quantification limit of 3.3 µg kg-1 was found for organic Hg by CVAAS

The role of sexual orientation in the relationships between body perception, body weight dissatisfaction, physical comparison, and eating psychopathology in the cisgender population

Purpose: Body weight dissatisfaction (BWD) and visual body perception are specific aspects that can influence the own body image, and that can concur with the development or the maintenance of specific psychopathological dimensions of different psychiatric disorders. The sexual orientation is a fundamental but understudied aspect in this field, and, for this reason, the purpose of this study is to improve knowledge about the relationships among BWD, visual body size-perception, and sexual orientation. Methods: A total of 1033 individuals participated in an online survey. Physical comparison, depression, and self-esteem was evaluated, as well as sexual orientation and the presence of an eating disorder. A Figure Rating Scale was used to assess different valences of body weight, and mediation analyses were performed to investigated specific relationships between psychological aspects. Results: Bisexual women and gay men reported significantly higher BWD than other groups (p < 0.001); instead, higher body misperception was present in gay men (p = 0.001). Physical appearance comparison mediated the effect of sexual orientation in both BWD and perceptual distortion. No difference emerged between women with a history of eating disorders and without, as regards the value of body weight attributed to attractiveness, health, and presence on social media. Conclusion: This study contributes to understanding the relationship between sexual orientations and body image representation and evaluation. Physical appearance comparisons should be considered as critical psychological factors that can improve and affect well-being. The impact on subjects with high levels of eating concerns is also discussed. Level of evidence: Level III: case\u2013control analytic study

Vittone 250. L'atelier dell'Architetto

Gli undici saggi che compongono questa speciale raccolta denotano una certa diversità. Si fondano infatti su metodi di analisi storica radicati nei vari percorsi professionali dei loro autori (storia dell'architettura, storia dell'arte, storia medievale e dell’età moderna, musicologia...). Eppure, un obiettivo comune c’è e ha guidato la selezione: offrire ai lettori di Archistor approfondimenti su aspetti specifici dell’opera e del percorso professionale di Bernardo Vittone. Scegliendo di gettare uno sguardo più attento su specifici eventi, testi e documenti, sono emersi nuovi elementi sia da episodi poco noti della carriera dell'architetto, sia da scenari ritenuti già sufficientemente indagati. Tra i temi affrontati ci sono i libri proibiti nascosti nell’inventario della biblioteca di Vittone, la complessa rete di riferimenti visivi incorporata nelle illustrazioni delle Istruzioni, le nuove coordinate da assegnare alla formazione di Vittone, le sue competenze musicali, la sequenza di eventi che spiegano la dispersione del suo lascito grafico in diversi fondi archivistici. Un saggio finale fornisce un’utile sintesi e una valutazione della letteratura critica. Grazie a questi nuovi approfondimenti, alcuni dei quali sfuggono a definizioni ristrette di storia dell'architettura, la nostra valutazione del ruolo di Vittone nell'Italia del XVIII secolo, a 250 anni dalla sua morte nel 1770, diventa più complessa e più contraddittoria

Nonparametric Bayesian multi-armed bandits for single cell experiment design

The problem of maximizing cell type discovery under budget constraints is a fundamental challenge for the collection and analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. In this paper, we introduce a simple, computationally efficient, and scalable Bayesian nonparametric sequential approach to optimize the budget allocation when designing a large scale experiment for the collection of scRNA-seq data for the purpose of, but not limited to, creating cell atlases. Our approach relies on the following tools: i) a hierarchical Pitman-Yor prior that recapitulates biological assumptions regarding cellular differentiation, and ii) a Thompson sampling multi-armed bandit strategy that balances exploitation and exploration to prioritize experiments across a sequence of trials. Posterior inference is performed by using a sequential Monte Carlo approach, which allows us to fully exploit the sequential nature of our species sampling problem. We empirically show that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods and achieves near-Oracle performance on simulated and scRNA-seq data alike. HPY-TS code is available at https://github.com/fedfer/HPYsinglecell

Segregated anatomical input to sub-regions of the rodent superior colliculus associated with approach and defense

The superior colliculus (SC) is responsible for sensorimotor transformations required to direct gaze toward or away from unexpected, biologically salient events. Significant changes in the external world are signaled to SC through primary multisensory afferents, spatially organized according to a retinotopic topography. For animals, where an unexpected event could indicate the presence of either predator or prey, early decisions to approach or avoid are particularly important. Rodents’ ecology dictates predators are most often detected initially as movements in upper visual field (mapped in medial SC), while appetitive stimuli are normally found in lower visual field (mapped in lateral SC). Our purpose was to exploit this functional segregation to reveal neural sites that can bias or modulate initial approach or avoidance responses. Small injections of Fluoro-Gold were made into medial or lateral sub-regions of intermediate and deep layers of SC (SCm/SCl). A remarkable segregation of input to these two functionally defined areas was found. (i) There were structures that projected only to SCm (e.g., specific cortical areas, lateral geniculate and suprageniculate thalamic nuclei, ventromedial and premammillary hypothalamic nuclei, and several brainstem areas) or SCl (e.g., primary somatosensory cortex representing upper body parts and vibrissae and parvicellular reticular nucleus in the brainstem). (ii) Other structures projected to both SCm and SCl but from topographically segregated populations of neurons (e.g., zona incerta and substantia nigra pars reticulata). (iii) There were a few brainstem areas in which retrogradely labeled neurons were spatially overlapping (e.g., pedunculopontine nucleus and locus coeruleus). These results indicate significantly more structures across the rat neuraxis are in a position to modulate defense responses evoked from SCm, and that neural mechanisms modulating SC-mediated defense or appetitive behavior are almost entirely segregated

Rapid System to Detect Variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Nasopharyngeal Swabs

Currently, the reference method for identifying the presence of variants of SARS-CoV-2 is whole genome sequencing. Although it is less expensive than in the past, it is still time-consuming, and interpreting the results is difficult, requiring staff with specific skills who are not always available in diagnostic laboratories. The test presented in this study aimed to detect, using traditional real-time PCR, the presence of the main variants described for the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The primers and probes were designed to detect the main deletions that characterize the different variants. The amplification targets were deletions in the S gene: 25-27, 69-70, 241-243, and 157-158. In the ORF1a gene, the deletion 3675-3677 was chosen. Some of these mutations can be considered specific variants, while others can be identified by the simultaneous presence of one or more deletions. We avoided using point mutations in order to improve the speed of the test. Our test can help clinical and medical microbiologists quickly recognize the presence of variants in biological samples (particularly nasopharyngeal swabs). The test can also be used to identify variants of the virus that could potentially be more diffusive as well as not responsive to the vaccine

Chitosan-based hydrogel to support the paracrine activity of mesenchymal stem cells in spinal cord injury treatment

Abstract Advanced therapies which combine cells with biomaterial-based carriers are recognized as an emerging and powerful method to treat challenging diseases, such as spinal cord injury (SCI). By enhancing transplanted cell survival and grafting, biomimetic hydrogels can be properly engineered to encapsulate cells and locate them at the injured site in a minimally invasive way. In this work, chitosan (CS) based hydrogels were developed to host mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), since their paracrine action can therapeutically enhance the SC regeneration, limiting the formation of a glial scar and reducing cell death at the injured site. An injectable and highly permeable CS-based hydrogel was fabricated having a rapid gelation upon temperature increase from 0 to 37 °C. CS was selected as former material both for its high biocompatibility that guarantees the proper environment for MSCs survival and for its ability to provide anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant cues. MSCs were mixed with the hydrogel solution prior to gelation. MSC viability was not affected by the CS hydrogel and encapsulated MSCs were able to release MSC-vesicles as well as to maintain their anti-oxidant features. Finally, preliminary in vivo tests on SCI mice revealed good handling of the CS solution loading MSCs during implantation and high encapsulated MSCs survival after 7 days

Macauba palm pulp oil and olive oil: comparative study of their effects upon dyslipidemia in rats.

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