Why Are Some People (and Countries) More Protectionist Than Others?

We analyze a rich cross-country data set that contains information on attitudes toward trade as well as a broad range of socio-demographic and other indicators. We find that pro-trade preferences are significantly and robustly correlated with an individual's level of human capital, in the manner predicted by the factor endowments model. Preferences over trade are also correlated with the trade exposure of the sector in which an individual is employed: individuals in non-traded sectors tend to be the most pro-trade, while individuals in sectors with a revealed comparative disadvantage are the most protectionist. Third, an individual's relative economic status, measured in terms of either relative income within each country or self-expressed social status, has a very strong positive association with pro-trade attitudes. Finally, non-economic determinants, in the form of values, identities, and attachments, play an important role in explaining the variation in preferences over trade. High degrees of neighborhood attachment and nationalism/patriotism are associated with protectionist tendencies, while cosmopolitanism is correlated with pro-trade attitudes. Our framework does a reasonable job of explaining differences across individuals and a fairly good job of explaining differences across countries.

Why are some people (and countries) more protectionist than others?

We analyze two cross-country data sets that contain information on attitudes toward trade as well as a broad range of socio-demographic and other indicators. We find that pro-trade preferences are significantly and robustly correlated with an individual's level of human capital, in the manner predicted by the factor endowments model. Preferences over trade are also correlated with the trade exposure of the sector in which an individual is employed: individuals in nontraded sectors tend to be the most pro-trade, while individuals in sectors with a revealed comparative disadvantage are the most protectionist. Third, an individual's relative economic status has a very strong positive association with pro-trade attitudes. Finally, non-economic determinants, in the form of values, identities, and attachments, play an important role in explaining the variation in preferences over trade. High degrees of neighborhood attachment and nationalism/patriotism are associated with protectionist tendencies.trade preferences, attitudes toward trade

Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of surfactant treatment (Curosurf®) in respiratory distress syndrome therapy in preterm infants: early treatment compared to late treatment

BACKGROUND: The best criteria for surfactant treatment in the perinatal period are unknown and this makes it of interest to consider the possible economic implications of lessening the use of more restrictive criteria. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is the evaluation of the costs of respiratory care for preterm infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) treated with "early rescue" surfactant compared to a "late rescue" strategy. METHODS: The study was carried out applying the costs of materials used, of staff and pharmacological therapy calculated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of an Italian hospital to the Verder et al. study (Pediatrics 1999) clinical data. RESULTS: The cost for patients treated with early strategy was slightly lower than for patients treated with late strategy (Euro 4,901.70 vs. Euro 4,960.07). The cost of treatment with surfactant was greater in the early group (Euro 458.49 vs. Euro 311.74), but this was compensated by the greater cost of treatment with Mechanical Ventilation (MV) in the late group (respectively Euro 108.85 vs. Euro 259.25). CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness analysis performed in this study shows how early treatment with surfactant in preterm infants with RDS, as well as being clinically more effective, is associated with a slightly lower cost

A study of different loss of life based calculations on batteries operating in enhanced frequency response

© 2018 IEEE. National Grid are investigating battery energy storage as a solution to help with energy balancing for frequency control. They are currently looking at Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) as a solution, but, are unlikely to adapt this directly as they investigate new, more open, market strategies. Battery Energy Storage is still an expensive asset and the opportunity to use a hybrid scheme (with new and second life batteries) offers a potential lower cost solution. Determining the life cycle of a battery energy storage system is complex, as this is a combination of several processes including cyclic and calendric aging. Determining life cycles of a hybrid system is even more complex. This paper discusses different ways of determining life span published in literature and uses a model based case study approach using National Grid published data on frequency and EFR envelopes to investigate the different range of theoretical loss of life within different battery system

Lactobacillus Sepsis and Probiotic Therapy in Newborns: Two New Cases and Literature Review

Many term and preterm infants are commonly supplemented with probiotics to prevent adverse effects of antibiotic administration and necrotizing enterocolitis and they are believed to be safe. However, the supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has been associated with the development of sepsis with a cause–effect relationship in six newborns and children. In this study, we report two further cases and discuss the emerging issue of probiotic supplementation safety in neonates. We conclude that physicians must be aware that supplementation with L. rhamnosus GG can cause sepsis in high-risk patients on rare occasions

Pelatihan Pencegahan dan Penanggulangan Demam Berdarah Dengue

Pelatihan pencegahan dan penanggulangan Demam Berdarah Dengue telah dilakukan oleh tim pengabdi Universitas Kristen Maranatha di Kelurahan Sukagalih Bandung pada tanggal 4 Desember 2018. Tujuan pengabdian kepada masyarakat berupa pelatihan tersebut adalah agar masyarakat dapat mempunyai perilaku yang baik untuk mencegah peningkatan jumlah nyamuk penyebab Demam Berdarah Dengue. Hal ini disebabkan Indonesia termasuk negara beriklim tropis yang hampir pada setiap tahun dan di beberapa  kota ditemukan banyak penderita yang terinfeksi penyakit Demam Berdarah Dengue akibat cucukan nyamuk Aedes aegypti betina. Para peneliti merumuskan bahwa iklim dapat mempengaruhi perkembangan nyamuk Aedes aegypti, sementara peneliti lain menyimpulkan bahwa iklim tidak mempengaruhi hal tersebut. Terlepas dari polemik tersebut, pada kenyataannya yang terpenting untuk mengurangi bertambahnya jumlah nyamuk adalah perilaku masyarakat sehingga diperlukan pelatihan kepada masyarakat untuk pencegahan dan penganggulangan penyakit Demam Berdarah Dengue. Metode yang digunakan adalah ceramah, diskusi, dan peran aktif masyarakat. Hasil yang diperoleh sampai makalah ini dibuat adalah meningkatnya pengetahuan masyarakat terhadap pencegahan dan penanggulangan penyakit Demam Berdarah Dengue yang diperoleh dari kuesioner yang disebarkan. Simpulan yang diperoleh adalah pemahaman masyarakat tentang hal-hal mengenai penyakit Demam Berdarah Dengue telah meningkat dengan rata-rata pemahaman sebesar 85,6%

NÍVEL DE INTEGRAÇÃO DOS SISTEMAS DE CONTABILIDADE FINANCEIRA E GERENCIAL COM O PROCESSO DE CONVERGÊNCIA CONTÁBIL E A EFETIVIDADE DA CONTROLADORIA

This study aims to verify the integration level between the financial and management accounting systems as a result of the convergence process with the international accounting standards and of the effectiveness of controllership in Brazilian companies. A descriptive research was undertaken, based on the application of the questionnaire by Angelkort and Weißenberger (2011) to the 500 Best and Biggest of Revista Exame, issue 2011, using a sample of 32 companies that answered the research. The correlations between the integration level of the financial and management accounting systems and the variables “consistency of financial language”, “quality of services provided” and “degree of influence in decision making”, during the convergence period with the international accounting standards, were positive and moderate. It was also observed that the period before the accounting convergence (2004 till 2007) showed a better integration level of the financial and management accounting systems than the accounting convergence period (2008 till 2011). In conclusion, the accounting convergence process increased the integration level of the financial and management accounting systems in the investigated companies, as well as the effectiveness of controllership, particularly in the consistency of the financial language, in the quality of the services provided and in the influence of the controllers’ services on these companies’ decisions.Este estudio objetiva verificar el nivel de integración de los sistemas de contabilidad financiera y gerencial en consecuencia del proceso de convergencia a las normas internacionales de contabilidad y de la efectividad de la Controladuría en empresas brasileñas. Fue realizada una pesquisa descriptiva a partir de la aplicación del cuestionario de Angelkort y Weißenberger (2011) en las 500 Mejores y Mayores de la Revista Exame (Examen), edición 2011, teniendo como muestra las 32 empresas que respondieron a la pesquisa. Las correlaciones entre el nivel de integración de los sistemas de contabilidad financiera y gerencial y las variables “consistencia del lenguaje financiero”, “calidad de los servicios prestados” y “grado de influencia en las decisiones”, en el período de convergencia a las normas internacionales de contabilidad, fueron positivas y moderadas. Se observó asimismo que el período anterior a la convergencia contable (2004 a 2007) presentó menor nivel de integración de los sistemas de contabilidad financiera y gerencial que el período de la convergencia contable (2008 a 2011). Se concluyó que el proceso de convergencia contable aumentó el nivel de integración de los sistemas de contabilidad financiera y gerencial en las empresas pesquisadas, así como la efectividad del órgano Controladuría, particularmente, en la consistencia del lenguaje financiero, en la calidad de los servicios prestados y en la influencia de los servicios prestados por los controllers en las decisiones de esas empresas.Este estudo objetiva verificar o nível de integração dos sistemas de contabilidade financeira e gerencial em decorrência do processo de convergência às normas internacionais de contabilidade e da efetividade da controladoria em empresas brasileiras. Pesquisa descritiva foi realizada a partir da aplicação do questionário de Angelkort e Weißenberger (2011) nas 500 Melhores e Maiores da Revista Exame, edição 2011, tendo como amostra as 32 empresas respondentes da pesquisa. As correlações entre o nível de integração dos sistemas de contabilidade financeira e gerencial e as variáveis “consistência da linguagem financeira”, “qualidade dos serviços prestados” e “grau de influência nas decisões”, no período de convergência às normas internacionais de contabilidade, foram positivas e moderadas. Observou-se ainda que o período anterior à convergência contábil (2004 a 2007) apresentou menor nível de integração dos sistemas de contabilidade financeira e gerencial do que o período da convergência contábil (2008 a 2011). Conclui-se que o processo de convergência contábil aumentou o nível de integração dos sistemas de contabilidade financeira e gerencial nas empresas pesquisadas, bem como a efetividade do órgão controladoria, particularmente, na consistência da linguagem financeira, na qualidade dos serviços prestados e na influência dos serviços prestados pelos controllers nas decisões dessas empresas

The DNA relaxation activity and covalent complex accumulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis topoisomerase I can be assayed in Escherichia coli: application for identification of potential FRET-dye labeling sites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>topoisomerase I (MtTOP1) and <it>Escherichia coli </it>topoisomerase I have highly homologous transesterification domains, but the two enzymes have distinctly different C-terminal domains. To investigate the structure-function of MtTOP1 and to target its activity for development of new TB therapy, it is desirable to have a rapid genetic assay for its catalytic activity, and potential bactericidal consequence from accumulation of its covalent complex.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that plasmid-encoded recombinant MtTOP1 can complement the temperature sensitive <it>topA </it>function of <it>E. coli </it>strain AS17. Moreover, expression of MtTOP1-G116 S enzyme with the TOPRIM mutation that inhibits DNA religation results in SOS induction and loss of viability in <it>E. coli</it>. The absence of cysteine residues in the MtTOP1 enzyme makes it an attractive system for introduction of potentially informative chemical or spectroscopic probes at specific positions via cysteine mutagenesis. Such probes could be useful for development of high throughput screening (HTS) assays. We employed the AS17 complementation system to screen for sites in MtTOP1 that can tolerate cysteine substitution without loss of complementation function. These cysteine substitution mutants were confirmed to have retained the relaxation activity. One such mutant of MtTOP1 was utilized for fluorescence probe incorporation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurement with fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotide substrate.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The DNA relaxation and cleavage complex accumulation of <it>M. tuberculosis </it>topoisomerase I can be measured with genetic assays in <it>E. coli</it>, facilitating rapid analysis of its activities, and discovery of new TB therapy targeting this essential enzyme.</p