Inequality of outcomes and inequality of opportunities in Brazil

This paper departs from John Roemer's formulation of the theory of equality of opportunities. It seeks to determine what part of observed outcome inequality may be attributed to differences in observed 'circumstances', including family background, and what part is due to 'personal efforts'. We use a micro-econometric technique to simulate what the distribution of outcomes would look like if 'circumstances' were the same for everybody. This technique is applied to Brazilian data from the 1996 household survey, both on the distribution of earnings for active individuals and on the distribution of household income per capita. It is shown that observed circumstances are a major source of outcome inequality in Brazil, probably more so than in other countries for which information is available. Yet, the level of inequality after equalizing circumstances remains very high. While a policy aimed at equalizing opportunities - through facilitating more equal access to schooling, for instance - might therefore be successful in lowering Brazilian inequality somewhat, more ambitious targets for inequality reduction may require more direct income redistribution.Inequality of Opportunities, Intergenerational Educational Mobility JEL Codes: D31, D63, J62

Inequality of outcomes and inequality of opportunities in Brazil

The authors depart from John Roemer's theory of equality of opportunities. They seek to determine what part of observed outcome inequality may be attributed to differences in observed"circumstances,"including family background, and what part is due to"personal efforts."The authors use a microeconometric technique to simulate what the distribution of outcomes would look like if circumstances were the same for everybody. They apply this technique to Brazilian data from the 1996 household survey, both for earnings and for household incomes. The authors show that observed circumstances are a major source of outcome inequality in Brazil, probably more so than in other countries for which information is available. Nevertheless, the level of inequality after observed circumstances are equalized remains very high in Brazil.Economic Theory&Research,Public Health Promotion,Curriculum&Instruction,Teaching and Learning,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Teaching and Learning,Economic Theory&Research,Inequality,Poverty Impact Evaluation

Infección por virus Zika Manejo práctico en situaciones especiales

Zika: situación mundial. Epidemiología en Europa y en España. Evolución del conocimiento. Diagnóstico. Transmisión. Complicaciones. En gestantes. Transmisión sexual.Tratamientos potenciales.N

The N-fixing legume Periandra mediterranea constrains the invasion of an exotic grass (Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv) by altering soil N cycling

Melinis minutiflora is an invasive species that threatens the biodiversity of the endemic vegetation of the campo rupestre biome in Brazil, displacing the native vegetation and favouring fire spread. As M. minutiflora invasion has been associated with a high nitrogen (N) demand, we assessed changes in N cycle under four treatments: two treatments with contrasting invasion levels (above and below 50%) and two un-invaded control treatments with native vegetation, in the presence or absence of the leguminous species Periandra mediterranea. This latter species was considered to be the main N source in this site due to its ability to fix N2 in association with Bradyrhizobia species. Soil proteolytic activity was high in treatments with P. mediterranea and in those severely invaded, but not in the first steps of invasion. While ammonium was the N-chemical species dominant in plots with native species, including P.mediterranea, soil nitrate prevailed only in fully invaded plots due to the stimulation of the nitrifying bacterial (AOB) and archaeal (AOA) populations carrying the amoA gene. However, in the presence of P. mediterranea, either in the beginning of the invasion or in uninvaded plots, we observed an inhibition of the nitrifying microbial populations and nitrate formation, suggesting that this is a biotic resistance strategy elicited by P. mediterranea to compete with M. minutiflora. Therefore, the inhibition of proteolytic activity and the nitrification process were the strategies elicited by P.mediterranea to constrain M.munitiflora invasion

Legumes display common and host-specific responses to the rhizobial cellulase CelC2 during primary symbiotic infection.

Primary infection of legumes by rhizobia involves the controlled localized enzymatic breakdown of cell walls at root hair tips. Previous studies determined the role of rhizobial CelC2 cellulase in different steps of the symbiotic interaction Rhizobium leguminosarum-Trifolium repens. Recent findings also showed that CelC2 influences early signalling events in the Ensifer meliloti-Medicago truncatula interaction. Here, we have monitored the root hair phenotypes of two legume plants, T. repens and M. sativa, upon inoculation with strains of their cognate and non-cognate rhizobial species, R. leguminosarum bv trifolii and E. meliloti, (over)expressing the CelC2 coding gene, celC. Regardless of the host, CelC2 specifically elicited ‘hole-on-the-tip’ events (Hot phenotype) in the root hair apex, consistent with the role of this endoglucanase in eroding the noncrystalline cellulose found in polarly growing cell walls. Overproduction of CelC2 also increased root hair tip redirections (RaT phenotype) events in both cognate and non-cognate hosts. Interestingly, heterologous celC expression also induced non-canonical alterations in ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) homeostasis at root hair tips of Trifolium and Medicago. These results suggest the concurrence of shared unspecific and host-related plant responses to CelC2 during early steps of symbiotic rhizobial infection. Our data thus identify CelC2 cellulase as an important determinant of events underlying early infection of the legume host by rhizobia

Relato de una experiencia de investigación-acción con respecto al abandono en la FRA – UTN.

El presente trabajo se ubica en el marco de las investigaciones del Programa Fénix de retención institucional que se pregunta cuáles son las estrategias y los modos de intervención que contribuyen para resolver los problemas de retención y rendimiento de alumnos en la universidad pública. Tiene por objetivos identificar y conceptualizar vías alternativas y también, acumular y evaluar experiencias donde las estrategias, como los sistemas tutoriales implementados, resultan eficaces. En el año 2006 decidimos profundizar sobre el comportamiento de un grupo de alumnos ingresantes que tomaron la decisión de abandonar el Seminario de Ingreso, habiendo aprobado el examen diagnóstico del área de Matemática. El trabajo está pensado en cuatro partes: en la primera se presenta una breve explicitación del Programa Fénix como marco de la experiencia; en la segunda, el Seminario Universitario de acceso a la universidad como contexto en donde se realizó la experiencia; en la tercera se relata la historia de la experiencia y la generación de una nueva alternativa de retención y por último se extraen algunas conclusiones preliminares

Genome Analysis of Endobacterium cerealis, a Novel Genus and Species Isolated from Zea mays Roots in North Spain.

In the present work, we analyse the genomic and phenotypic characteristics of a strain named RZME27T isolated from roots of a Zea mays plant grown in Spain. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequences showed that the strain RZME27T clustered with the type strains of Neorhizobium galegae and Pseudorhizobium pelagicum from the family Rhizobiaceae. This family encompasses several genera establishing symbiosis with legumes, but the genes involved in nodulation and nitrogen fixation are absent in its genome. Nevertheless, genes related to plant colonization, such as those involved in motility, chemotaxis, quorum sensing, exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and hydrolytic enzymes production were found. The comparative pangenomic analyses showed that 78 protein clusters present in the strain RZME27T were not found in the type strains of its closest relatives N. galegae and P. pelagicum. The calculated average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between the strain RZME27T and the type strains of N. galegae and P. pelagicum were 75.61% and 75.1%, respectively, similar or lower than those found for other genera from family Rhizobiaceae. Several phenotypic differences were also found, highlighting the absence of the fatty acid C19:0 cyclo ω8c and propionate assimilation. These results support the definition of a novel genus and species named Endobacterium cerealis gen. nov. sp. nov. whose type strain is RZME27T

Plasmatic level of neurosin predicts outcome of mild cognitive impairment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a disorder considered to be a transitional stage from health to dementia. Diagnosis of dementias at these early stages is always troublesome because the pathophysiologic events leading to dementia precede clinical symptoms. Thus, the development of biomarkers that can be used to support the diagnosis of dementias at early stages is rapidly becoming a high priority. We have recently reported the value of measuring plasmatic levels of neurosin in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to determine whether measuring plasmatic concentration of neurosin is a valuable test to predict progression of MCI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Plasmatic neurosin concentrations were measured in 68 MCI patients and 70 controls subjects. Blood samples were obtained at the beginning of the study. Sixty six patients diagnosed with MCI were observed for 18 months. In 36 patients a second blood sample was obtained at the endpoint.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean value of plasmatic neurosin concentration differs significantly between MCI patients who converted to Dementia with vascular component, those who converted to AD, or those who remained at MCI stage. The relative risk of developing Dementia with vascular component when neurosin levels are higher than 5.25 ng/ml is 13 while the relative risk of developing mild AD when neurosin levels are lower than 5.25 ng/ml is 2. Increases in the levels of neurosin indicate progression to Dementia with vascular component.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The measurement of plasmatic neurosin level in patients diagnosed with MCI may predict conversion from MCI to Dementia with vascular component. A single measurement is also valuable to estimate the risk of developing AD and Dementia with vascular component. Finally, repeated measurement of plasmatic neurosin might be a useful test to predict outcome in patients with MCI.</p

Integrin-Linked Kinase Expression in Human Valve Endothelial Cells Plays a Protective Role in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is highly prevalent during aging. CAVD initiates with endothelial dysfunction, leading to lipid accumulation, inflammation, and osteogenic transformation. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) participates in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, such as endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. However, ILK role in CAVD is unknown. First, we determined that ILK expression is downregulated in aortic valves from patients with CAVD compared to non-CAVD, especially at the valve endothelium, and negatively correlated with calcification markers. Silencing ILK expression in human valve endothelial cells (siILK-hVECs) induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and promoted a switch to an osteoblastic phenotype; SiILK-hVECs expressed increased RUNX2 and developed calcified nodules. siILK-hVECs exhibited decreased NO production and increased nitrosative stress, suggesting valvular endothelial dysfunction. NO treatment of siILK-hVECs prevented VEC transdifferentiation, while treatment with an eNOS inhibitor mimicked ILK-silencing induction of EndMT. Accordingly, NO treatment inhibited VEC calcification. Mechanistically, siILK-hVECs showed increased Smad2 phosphorylation, suggesting a TGF-β-dependent mechanism, and NO treatment decreased Smad2 activation and RUNX2. Experiments performed in eNOS KO mice confirmed the involvement of the ILK-eNOS signaling pathway in valve calcification, since aortic valves from these animals showed decreased ILK expression, increased RUNX2, and calcification. Our study demonstrated that ILK endothelial expression participates in human CAVD development by preventing endothelial osteogenic transformationpost-print4615 K