Is 2% the optimal inflation rate for the Euro Area?

According to the relevant literatu re, monetary policy implications concerning the optimal inflation rate can be derived by examining the relationship between inflation and the Relative Price Variability (RPV). This paper studies this issue for selected Euro Area (EA) countries, using monthly data for the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices. In particular, semi-parametric estimations are employed so as to find the accurate form of the inflation-RPV relationship. The results indicate that this relationship exhibits a U-shape functional profile. Furthermore, the optimal inflation rates for the EA, France, Germany and Spain are also calculated. For all countries and the EA, we find that although the European Central Bank ’ s “ below but close to 2 % ” inflation target is optimal for the EA average, it is not the optimum inflation rate for the individual counties.Junta de Andalucía SEJ-454

Teaching and learning in information retrieval

A literature review of pedagogical methods for teaching and learning information retrieval is presented. From the analysis of the literature a taxonomy was built and it is used to structure the paper. Information Retrieval (IR) is presented from different points of view: technical levels, educational goals, teaching and learning methods, assessment and curricula. The review is organized around two levels of abstraction which form a taxonomy that deals with the different aspects of pedagogy as applied to information retrieval. The first level looks at the technical level of delivering information retrieval concepts, and at the educational goals as articulated by the two main subject domains where IR is delivered: computer science (CS) and library and information science (LIS). The second level focuses on pedagogical issues, such as teaching and learning methods, delivery modes (classroom, online or e-learning), use of IR systems for teaching, assessment and feedback, and curricula design. The survey, and its bibliography, provides an overview of the pedagogical research carried out in the field of IR. It also provides a guide for educators on approaches that can be applied to improving the student learning experiences

Microstructural and molecular level characterisation of plastic crystal phases of pyrrolidinium trifluoromethanesulfonyl salts

Ambient temperature conductive plastic crystal phases of alkylmethylpyrrolidinium trifluoromethanesulfonyl amide (TFSA) salts are studied using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) to examine the role of vacancy size and concentration in conductivity. The ethyl methylpyrrolidinium TFSA salt (P12 TFSA) has larger vacancies and a greater concentration of vacancies than the dimethylpyrrolidinium TFSA salt (P11 TFSA) over the temperature range investigated. The relative vacancy size and concentration vary with temperature and reflect the solid&ndash;solid transitions as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). P12 TFSA has greater conductivity than P11 TFSA and has furthermore been observed to exhibit slip planes at room temperature. P12 TFSA has greater entropy changes associated with solid&ndash;solid phase transitions below the melting point than P11 TFSA possibly indicating greater rotational freedom in P12 TFSA. These results support the notion that the diffusion, conduction, and plastic flow properties of the pyrrolidinium TFSA salts are derived from the lattice vacancies.<br /

Methods of sputum processing for cell counts, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation.

Since the first attempts to use standardised methods for sampling induced airways sputum, two methods for processing the expectorate have evolved. The first involves selecting all viscid or denser portions from the expectorated sample with the aid of an inverted microscope. This method has been extensively evaluated and reported in detail. The second approach involves processing the entire expectorate, comprising sputum plus variable amounts of saliva. Recent modifications to this method include collecting saliva and sputum separately in order to reduce salivary contamination. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of using selected sputum are: squamous cell contamination is v5%, making cell counting easier and quicker to perform, the total cell count (TCC) can be expressed per gram of lower airway secretions, and concentrations of chemicals in the fluid phase are unaffected by the confounding influence of saliva, and can be accurately corrected for dilution. The disadvantage is that selection takes a few minutes longer to perform and requires an inverted microscope. The advantage of using the entire expectorate is that the technique is quicker to perform, but there are some disadvantages that require consideration. The expectorate contains a variable mixture of sputum plus saliva which maydilute the sputum and confound its analysis. The reproducibility of cell counts has been reported to be lower if squamous cell contamination represents w20% of all recovered cells. There is conflicting data as to whether or not differential cell counts (DCCs) differ between the two methods. One study reported a higher percentage of eosinophils in sputum processed by the selection method compared to the entire expectorate but this has not been confirmed in other studies. Although, both the selected sputum and the entire expectorate methods have the same ability to distinguish asthmatics or bronchitics from healthy subjects, they are not interchangeable, and, once a technique has been adopted for a given study, it should always be applied

Elective laparoscopic splenectomy for giant hemangioma: a case report

Although unusual, hemangioma is the most common primary splenic neoplasm. Splenectomy is indicated when the tumor is large, with increased risk of hemorrhage. The laparoscopic approach is preferred for most elective splenectomies. Although technically feasible, laparoscopic splenectomy can be a challenge in the patient with splenomegaly. We present herein a case of an 18-year-old male asymptomatic patient who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy for the incidental finding of splenomegaly caused by a large splenic hemangioma. Laparoscopic splenectomy appears to be a safe and effective procedure, in appropriately experienced hands, for patients with splenomegaly, given the spleen's fragile anatomy and its relationship to other abdominal viscera