Is Telecommunications Productivity Characterized by Steady State Conditions? Some Empirical Evidence for 13 OECD Countries

This paper studies the convergence process, or lack thereof, of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) for a panel of 13 OECD countries over the period 1979-2007, adding breadth and depth to the convergence debate in the telecommunications industry. TFP growth is examined through the Malmquist Index and decomposed in its main determinates. Absolute and conditional convergences are estimated. Fixed-effects estimates across countries convert the cross-section test of absolute convergence into a pooled test of conditional convergence. Our findings show a growth in TFP, mainly driven by technological process. It is boosted by an increase in production possibilities and lack of bias in input utilization. Inefficiency in scale is found. Convergence tests do not suggest support in favor of absolute convergence but do exhibit evidence of conditional convergenceTotal Factor Productivity (TFP), Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), conditional b-convergence; Fixed Effects Model.

Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies and Supermassive Black Holes at High Redshifts: In- Situ Coevolution

We have exploited the continuity equation approach and the star-formation timescales derived from the observed \u2018main sequence\u2019 relation ( Star Formation Rate vs Stellar Mass), to show that the observed high abundance of galaxies with stellar masses 73 a few 10^10 M 99 at redshift z 73 4 implies the existence of a galaxy population featuring large star formation rates (SFRs) \u3c8 > 73 10^2 M 99 yr^ 121 in heavily dust-obscured conditions. These galaxies constitute the high-redshift counterparts of the dusty star-forming population already surveyed for z 72 3 in the Far-InfraRed (FIR) band by the Herschel space observatory. We work out specific predictions for the evolution of the corresponding stellar mass and SFR functions out to z 3c 10, elucidating that the number density at z 72 8 for SFRs \u3c8 73 30 M 99 yr^ 121 cannot be estimated relying on the UltraViolet (UV) luminosity function alone, even when standard corrections for dust extinction based on the UV slope are applied. We compute the number counts and redshift distributions (including galaxy-scale gravitational lensing) of this galaxy population, and show that current data from AzTEC-LABOCA, SCUBA-2 and ALMA-SPT surveys are already digging into it. We substantiate how an observational strategy based on a color preselection in the far-IR or (sub-)mm band with Herschel and SCUBA-2, supplemented by photometric data via on-source observations with ALMA, can allow to reconstruct the bright end of the SFR functions out to z 72 8. In parallel, such a challenging task can be managed by exploiting current UV surveys in combination with (sub-)mm observations by ALMA and NIKA2. The same could be done with radio observations by SKA and its precursors. In particular we have worked out predictions for the radio counts of star-forming galaxies down to nJy levels, along with redshift distributions down to the detection limits of the phase 1 Square Kilometer Array MID telescope (SKA1-MID) and of its precursors. To do that we exploited our SFR functions with relations between SFR and radio (synchrotron and free-free) emission. Our results show that the deepest SKA1- MID surveys will detect high-z galaxies with SFRs two orders of magnitude lower com- pared to Herschel surveys. The highest redshift tails of the distributions at the detection limits of planned SKA1-MID surveys comprise a substantial fraction of strongly lensed galaxies. The SKA1-MID will thus provide a comprehensive view of the star formation history throughout the re-ionization epoch, unaffected by dust extinction. We have also provided specific predictions for the EMU/ASKAP and MIGHTEE/MeerKAT surveys. We finally provide a novel, unifying physical interpretation on the origin, the aver- age shape, the scatter, and the cosmic evolution for the main sequences (MS) of star- forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei at high redshift z 73 1. We achieve this goal in a model-independent way by exploiting the redshift-dependent SFR functions, and the deterministic evolutionary tracks for the history of star formation and black hole accretion, gauged on a wealth of multiwavelength observations including the observed Eddington ratio distribution. We further validate these ingredients by showing their consistency with the observed galaxy stellar mass functions and active galactic nucleus (AGN) bolometric luminosity functions at different redshifts via, again, the continuity equation approach. Our analysis of the main sequence for high-redshift galaxies and AGNs highlights that the present data strongly support a scenario of in situ coevolution for star formation and black hole accretion, envisaging these as local, time coordinated processes

Stellar Mass Function of Active and Quiescent Galaxies via the Continuity Equation

The continuity equation is developed for the stellar mass content of galaxies and exploited to derive the stellar mass function of active and quiescent galaxies over the redshift range z â¼ 0-8. The continuity equation requires two specific inputs gauged from observations: (i) the star formation rate functions determined on the basis of the latest UV+far-IR/submillimeter/radio measurements and (ii) average star formation histories for individual galaxies, with different prescriptions for disks and spheroids. The continuity equation also includes a source term taking into account (dry) mergers, based on recent numerical simulations and consistent with observations. The stellar mass function derived from the continuity equation is coupled with the halo mass function and with the SFR functions to derive the star formation efficiency and the main sequence of star-forming galaxies via the abundance-matching technique. A remarkable agreement of the resulting stellar mass functions for active and quiescent galaxies of the galaxy main sequence, and of the star formation efficiency with current observations is found; the comparison with data also allows the characteristic timescales for star formation and quiescence of massive galaxies, the star formation history of their progenitors, and the amount of stellar mass added by in situ star formation versus that contributed by external merger events to be robustly constrained. The continuity equation is shown to yield quantitative outcomes that detailed physical models must comply with, that can provide a basis for improving the (subgrid) physical recipes implemented in theoretical approaches and numerical simulations, and that can offer a benchmark for forecasts on future observations with multiband coverage, as will become routinely achievable in the era of JWST

Huellas de tetrápodos del Triásico Medio del extremo sur de América del Sur

In South America, tetrapod footprints of Middle Triassic age were only described from the Cuyana (Cerro de las Cabras Formation) and Ischigualasto-Villa Unión (Los Rastros Formation) basins in west-central Argentina. They are scarce and remain mostly undescribed. Their significance and the putative trackmakers are identified and discussed within a phylogenetic context in the present contribution. Several groups of tetrapods are suggested to be represented, as non-mammalian therapsids, crurotarsal archosaurs and putative dinosaurs. The presence of crurotarsal archosaurs and non-mammalian therapsids in Cerro de las Cabras Formation suggests a tetrapod fauna more diverse than that documented by the known body fossil record. The ichnites described from the Los Rastros Formation are, until now, the only evidence of amniotes in the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin during the deposition of these levels. They indicate the presence of putative dinosaurs, crurotarsal archosaurs and non-mammalian therapsids, which are already well represented in the rest of the sequence by skeletal remains.En América del Sur, huellas de tetrápodos del Triásico Medio sólo se conocen en niveles de las cuencas Cuyana (Formación Cerro de las Cabras) e Ischigualasto-Villa Unión (Formación Los Rastros), en el centro-oeste de Argentina. Las huellas son escasas y la mayoría de los especímenes no están descriptos. En el presente trabajo el significado de estas huellas y sus supuestos generadores son discutidos en un contexto filogenético. Así, varios grupos de tetrápodos han sido identificados como terápsidos no mamalianos, arcosaurios crurotarsales y probables dinosaurios. La presencia de arcosaurios crurotarsales y terápsidos no mamalianos en niveles de la Formación Cerro de las Cabras sugiere una fauna más diversa que lo que indica el registro de restos fósiles esqueletarios conocidos para los mismos niveles. Las icnitas de la Formación Los Rastros son hasta el momento la única evidencia de amniotas en la Cuenca de Ischigualasto-Villa Unión durante la depositación de dichos niveles. Ellas indican la existencia de probables dinosaurios, arcosaurios crurotarsales y terápsidos no mamalianos, bien representados en el resto de la sequencia por restos esqueletarios.Fil: Marsicano, Claudia Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra de Paleontología de Vertebrados; ArgentinaFil: Arcucci, Andrea Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Mancuso, Adriana Cecilia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología. Cátedra de Paleontología de Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caselli, Alberto Tomás. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Hospitalizations for tuberculosis in Sicily over the years 2009–2021: Clinical features, comorbidities, and predictors of mortality

Background: Very few data are available in the literature regarding tuberculosis (TB) hospitalization, and few studies have reported the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of admitted patients and burden and cost of hospitalization. In our study, we described the occurrence of TB hospital admissions in the southern Italian region of Sicily over 13 years (2009–2021), explored the characteristics of patients with TB, and determined the comorbidities associated with mortality. Method: Data on the hospital discharge of all patients with TB hospitalized in all Sicilian hospitals were retrospectively collected from hospital standard discharge forms. Age, sex, nationality, length of hospital stay, comorbidities, and TB localization were evaluated using univariate analysis according to in-hospital mortality. The factors associated with mortality were included in the logistic regression model. Results: In Sicily, 3745 people were hospitalized for TB, with 5239 admissions and 166 deaths from 2009 to 2021. Most hospitalizations involved Italian-born people (46.3%), followed by African-born people (32.8%) and Eastern European-born people (14.1%). The average hospitalization cost was EUR 5259 ± 2592, with a median length of stay of 16 days (interquartile range, 8–30) days. Multivariate analysis showed that the development of acute kidney failure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=7.2, p < 0.001), alcohol consumption (aOR=8.9, p = 0.001), malignant tumors (aOR=2.1, p = 0.022), human immunodeficiency virus infection (aOR=3.4, p < 0.001), sepsis (aOR=15.2, p < 0.001), central nervous system involvement (aOR=9.9, p < 0.001), and miliary TB (aOR=2.5, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion: TB in Sicily remains an important cause of hospitalization. HIV infection and comorbidities may complicate patient management and worsen patient outcomes

The Main Sequences of Star-Forming Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei at High Redshift

We provide a novel, unifying physical interpretation on the origin, the average shape, the scatter, and the cosmic evolution for the main sequences of starforming galaxies and active galactic nuclei at high redshift z $\gtrsim$ 1. We achieve this goal in a model-independent way by exploiting: (i) the redshift-dependent SFR functions based on the latest UV/far-IR data from HST/Herschel, and re- lated statistics of strong gravitationally lensed sources; (ii) deterministic evolutionary tracks for the history of star formation and black hole accretion, gauged on a wealth of multiwavelength observations including the observed Eddington ratio distribution. We further validate these ingredients by showing their consistency with the observed galaxy stellar mass functions and AGN bolometric luminosity functions at different redshifts via the continuity equation approach. Our analysis of the main sequence for high-redshift galaxies and AGNs highlights that the present data are consistently interpreted in terms of an in situ coevolution scenario for star formation and black hole accretion, envisaging these as local, time coordinated processes

Selective adhesive luting: A novel technique for improving adhesion achieved by universal resin cements

Objective: We aimed to introduce the concept of "Selective adhesive luting-SAL" which is explained through clinical steps and supported by preliminary laboratory evidence. Clinical considerations: Cementation with rubber dam is difficult to perform in case of short abutment teeth and/or subgingival crown margins. By means of universal resin cements/universal adhesive systems, which can be employed in self-adhesive as well as adhesive luting procedures, this paper presents a novel technique allowing clinicians to perform reliable cementation where rubber dam isolation is difficult. The SAL technique entails the application of a universal adhesive system only on easily accessible abutment surfaces, enabling simultaneous adhesive and self-adhesive luting in different portions of the abutment. The SAL clinical workflow is explained through prosthodontic rehabilitation of maxillary right central incisor affected by microdontia and restored with a lithium-disilicate crown. Furthermore, our laboratory microshear bond strength study supports the rationale behind SAL application demonstrating higher bond strength even when the adhesive resin is placed only on one portion of the cementation substrate. Clinical significance: This article advocates the application of SAL technique in clinical situations where effective adhesive luting is uncertain, since it can improve the adhesion between the tooth and universal resin cements

Resin composite cements: Current status and a novel classification proposal

ObjectivesCurrently, a classification of resin cements that includes relatively recently formulated ("universal") cements is lacking. Furthermore, the terminology used to define different resin cements in the scientific reports is inconsistent. Accordingly, this work aims to: (i) propose a novel classification of resin composite cements; (ii) disambiguate the term "universal cements" and (iii) present an overview of the properties of these cements. MethodsAn analysis of peer-reviewed literature (PubMed search), as well as market research on definitive resin composite cements were performed. ResultsA tendency toward simplified and versatile luting materials was observed both in the scientific literature and on the dental market with the advent of self-adhesive/one-step resin cements. However, additional priming procedures were necessary to improve their bonding performance in certain clinical situations. Hence, several cements that can be applied both in adhesive and self-adhesive mode were introduced. These cements are associated with a universal adhesive resin, that can be used as a tooth and/or restorative material primer, without the need for other priming systems, regardless of the substrate. These systems should be considered truly universal. Therefore, we hereby suggested a new classification of resin-based cements: (1) adhesive/multi-step; (2) self-adhesive/one-step; (3) universal cements (one- or multi-step). Despite promising in vitro results, clinical trials and long-track laboratory studies are necessary to confirm the reliability of the universal cements. ConclusionsThis review presented the current advances in the field of resin-based cements, which are reflected in the proposed classification. The term "universal cement" was disambiguated, which will help standardize the terminology used in published research. Clinical SignificanceThe classification of resin-based cements and a better understanding of the proper terminology will help standardize the terminology in published research, as well as improve the understanding of the clinical practitioners of the different indications and possible modalities of use of the available cements