High-dimensional Log-Error-in-Variable Regression with Applications to Microbial Compositional Data Analysis

In microbiome and genomic study, the regression of compositional data has been a crucial tool for identifying microbial taxa or genes that are associated with clinical phenotypes. To account for the variation in sequencing depth, the classic log-contrast model is often used where read counts are normalized into compositions. However, zero read counts and the randomness in covariates remain critical issues. In this article, we introduce a surprisingly simple, interpretable, and efficient method for the estimation of compositional data regression through the lens of a novel high-dimensional log-error-in-variable regression model. The proposed method provides both corrections on sequencing data with possible overdispersion and simultaneously avoids any subjective imputation of zero read counts. We provide theoretical justifications with matching upper and lower bounds for the estimation error. We also consider a general log-error-in-variable regression model with corresponding estimation method to accommodate broader situations. The merit of the procedure is illustrated through real data analysis and simulation studies

Análisis visual de movimientos microsacádicos

El gran volumen de datos que se generan durante los experimentos de eye tracking hace necesario el uso de técnicas que permitan explorar estos conjuntos de manera efectiva y poder así encontrar patrones en los datos. Los modelos tradicionales empleados en el análisis de los datos oculares resultan muy complejos para un primer análisis de éstos. En particular, muchas veces estos modelos resultan complejos de comprender debido a su naturaleza cuantitativa y no facilitan el entendimiento específico de un comportamiento. En el marco del análisis conductual de cómo un sujeto procesa la información que adquiere visualmente, un tipo de movimiento ocular denominado microsacada ha emergido como potencial candidato para marcador cognitivo que sea invariante a factores externos. El objetivo de esta Línea de Investigación es el diseño e implementación de técnicas visuales que permitan analizar y evaluar el efecto de los movimientos microsacádicos durante la realización de diferentes tareas cognitivas. Mediante el uso de las mismas será posible determinar la naturaleza de este fenómeno bajo distintas condiciones.Eje: Computación gráfica, imágenes y visualización.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Trabajo del PNUD en América Latina y el Caribe en Pobreza y Desigualdad

Esta presentación fue comisionada por la Red de Reducción de la Pobreza y Protección Social del Diálogo Regional de Política para la VII Reunión Hemisférica celebrada los días 11 y 12 de noviembre de 2004. Reducir pobreza extrema a la mitad. Informes de país: 12 terminados; 13 en preparación; Informes regionales; Informes temáticos; Desagregaciones: género, etnicidad; Costeo; Metodologías; Trabajo inter-agencial.Estadísticas demográficas y sistemas de información, Seguridad ciudadana y prevención de la delincuencia, Pobreza, Desarrollo social, Estrategias para la Reducción de la Pobreza Poverty Reduction Strategies

Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty, and Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper takes up a question frequently raised but rarely addressed empirically - do macroeconomic policy changes and exogenous macro shocks have significant impacts on poverty and income inequality more generally? For 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean over the past two decades, the answer is unequivocally "Yes." Specifically, poverty reduction appears to be generally associated with increases in GDP and GDP per capita, reductions in unemployment, reductions in inflation, increases in the minimum wage, reductions in overall inequality, and increases (or at least stability) of the share of social expenditures in GDP. The foregoing relationships are observed over macro "episodes" (typically bounded by substantial economic disturbances and/or major realignments in policy). Countries and overall time periods examined include Argentina, 1974-96; Bolivia, 1980-96; Brazil, 1985-96; Chile, 1974-96; Colombia, 1978-95; Costa Rica, 1989-96; Cuba, 1989-96; Dominican Republic, 1981-96; Ecuador, 1970-96; Jamaica, 1960-95; Mexico, 1984-94; Nicaragua, 1980-93; Paraguay, 1970-96; Peru, 1985-95; and El Salvador, 1980-96. Within this data set, the authors identify 49 episodes. Poverty incidence is estimated for 45 of them: it stays stable or rises in 26 and decreases in the remaining 19 cases. The sample appears to be large enough to provide insight into distributional processes which operate across nations, or at least developing countries in the Western Hemisphere. The paper concludes with some implications for economic policy.income inequality; poverty; Latin America

Are export promotion and trade liberalization good for Latin America's poor?:a comparative macro-micro CGE analysis

Since the late 1980s, almost all Latin American countries have gone through aprocess of far-reaching economic reforms, featuring in particular trade, financial andcapital account liberalization. Contrary to expectations the reforms have failed to giveeconomic growth a major boost. At the same time, income inequality has risen in acontext where inequality was already very high to begin with. Not surprisingly, littleprogress has been made on poverty reduction since 1990. Indeed poverty has beenrising in the region as growth slowed down after 1995.An important and natural question to ask is whether the reforms are the reasonor at least a significant contributing factor in the poor performance of the region sincethe mid 1990s? Did they contribute to the growth slowdown and the rise in povertyand inequality? These are crucial questions the more so, because the countries in theregion are considering further trade integration under the flag of the Free Trade Areaof the Americas (FTAA) and the regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO),subscribing to further trade liberalization. Key players from the region, like Brazil,were instrumental in blocking a new global trade agreement under WTO aegis in September 2003 precisely because of concerns about the developmental and equity effectsof freer world trade.In this paper we apply a rigorous comparative analysis of the impact of tradereforms on growth, employment and poverty.1 We use computable generalequilibrium (CGE) models for sixteen countries in the region, covering over 90% ofits population and of its GDP. We also develop a micro simulation model to translatethe macroeconomic, sector and labor market impacts analyzed through the CGEmodel into changes in poverty and inequality.Our short answer to the main questions posed above is that trade liberalizationand the switch to export-led growth are not the cause of the growth slowdown in theregion. Nor are they the cause of rising poverty and inequality. On the contrary formost countries their impact is mildly positive for both growth and poverty reduction.But overall, the impact of the reforms or of export growth while positive, are small.Trade reforms increase the skill-intensity in labor demand distributing the gains unevenly. Some social groups win (mostly the better-educated workers and profitearners) and some lose (often agricultural and unskilled workers) in the processproviding the explanation towards rising inequality observed in most countryexperiences. So while the trade reforms are not to blame for the region’s woes, theydo not appear – by themselves – to be the solution for them either.<br/

Gasto público en servicios sociales básicos: la situación regional

In this essay the social cost is analyzed —conceptualized from the perspective of the sustainable human development— it’s consider like an investment which are made by 13 countries of the region of Latin America and the Caribbean, in the frame of the named Initiative 20/20, adopted in the World wide Summit for the Social Development, celebrated in Copenhagen in 1995, it maintains that it is possible to reach the universal cover of basic social services in the countries developing, if these will destine public budgets destined 20 per cents of their budgets public and developed countries another 20 percent of the official attendance for the development to social basic services. The headings that are analyzed are the total public social cost spendings, the cost in social basic services, some elements related to the proposals of resources reassignment to reach the propose goals in the matter and the paper of the official attendance for the development.En este ensayo se analiza el gasto social —conceptualizado desde la perspectiva del desarrollo humano sostenible, que lo considera como una inversión— que realizan 13 países de la región de América Latina y el Caribe, en el marco de la llamada Iniciativa 20/20, adoptada en la Cumbre Mundial para el Desarrollo Social, celebrada en Copenhague en 1995, la cual sostiene que es posible alcanzar la cobertura universal de los servicios sociales básicos en los países en desarrollo, si éstos destinaran 20 por ciento de sus presupuestos públicos y los países desarrollados otro 20 por ciento de la asistencia oficial para el desarrollo de los servicios sociales básicos. Los rubros que se analizan son el gasto público social total, el gasto en servicios sociales básicos, algunos elementos relacionados con las propuestas de reasignación de recursos para alcanzar las metas propuestas en la materia y el papel de la asistencia oficial para el desarrollo

Gasto público en servicios sociales básicos: la situación regional

En este ensayo se analiza el gasto social -conceptualizado desde la perspectiva del desarrollo humano sostenible, que lo considera como una inversión- que realizan 13 países de la región de América Latina y el Caribe, en el marco de la llamada Iniciativa 20/20, adoptada en la Cumbre Mundial para el Desarrollo Social, celebrada en Copenhague en 1995, la cual sostiene que es posible alcanzar la cobertura universal de los servicios sociales básicos en los países en desarrollo, si éstos destinaran 20 por ciento de sus presupuestos públicos y los países desarrollados otro 20 por ciento de la asistencia oficial para el desarrollo de los servicios sociales básicos. Los rubros que se analizan son el gasto público social total, el gasto en servicios sociales básicos, algunos elementos relacionados con las propuestas de reasignación de recursos para alcanzar las metas propuestas en la materia y el papel de la asistencia oficial para el desarrollo