Economic freedom, human rights, and the returns to human capital : an evaluation of the Schultz hypothesis

According to T.W. Schultz, the returns to human capital are highest in economic environments experiencing unexpected price, productivity, and technology shocks that create"disequilibria."In such environments, the ability of firms and individuals to adapt their resource allocations to shocksbecomes most valuable. In the case of negative shocks, government policies that mitigate the impact of the shock will also limit the returns to the skills of managing risk or adapting resources to changing market forces. In the case of positive shocks, government policies may restrict access to credit, labor, or financial markets in ways that limit reallocation of resources toward newly emerging profitable sectors. This paper tests the hypothesis that the returns to skills are highest in countries that allow individuals to respond to shocks. Using estimated returns to schooling and work experience from 122 household surveys in 86 developing countries, this paper demonstrates a strong positive correlation between the returns to human capital and economic freedom, an effect that is observed throughout the wage distribution. Economic freedom benefits those workers who have attained the most schooling as well as those who have accumulated the most work experience.Debt Markets,Political Economy,Economic Theory&Research,Labor Policies,Population Policies

Evidence for azimuthal variations of the oxygen abundance gradient tracing the spiral structure of the galaxy HCG91c

Context. The distribution of elements in galaxies forms an important diagnostic tool to characterize the system's formation and evolution. This tool is however complex to use in practice, as galaxies are subject to a range of simultaneous physical processes active from pc to kpc scales. This renders observations of the full optical extent of galaxies down to sub-kpc scales essential. Aims. Using the WiFeS integral field spectrograph, we previously detected abrupt and localized variations in the gas-phase oxygen abundance of the spiral galaxy HCG91c. Here, we follow-up on these observations to map HCG91c's disk out to ~2Re at a resolution of 600pc, and characterize the non-radial variations of the gas-phase oxygen abundance in the system. Methods. We obtained deep MUSE observations of the target under ~0.6 arcsec seeing conditions. We perform both a spaxel-based and aperture-based analysis of the data to map the spatial variations of 12+log(O/H) across the disk of the galaxy. Results. We confirm the presence of rapid variations of the oxygen abundance across the entire extent of the galaxy previously detected with WiFeS, for all azimuths and radii. The variations can be separated in two categories: a) localized and associated with individual HII regions, and b) extended over kpc scales, and occurring at the boundaries of the spiral structures in the galaxy. Conclusions. Our MUSE observations suggest that the enrichment of the interstellar medium in HGC91c has proceeded preferentially along spiral structures, and less efficiently across them. Our dataset highlights the importance of distinguishing individual star-forming regions down to scales of a few 100pc when using integral field spectrographs to spatially resolve the distribution of oxygen abundances in a given system, and accurately characterize azimuthal variations and intrinsic scatter.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&A. Supplementary movie assocociated with Fig. 8 is available (until publication) at: http://www.sc.eso.org/~fvogt/supp_mat/HCG91c/O_gradient.mp

Magnetism and Electronic Correlations in Quasi-One-Dimensional Compounds

In this contribution on the celebration of the 80th birthday anniversary of Prof. Ricardo Ferreira, we present a brief survey on the magnetism of quasi-one-dimensional compounds. This has been a research area of intense activity particularly since the first experimental announcements of magnetism in organic and organometallic polymers in the mid 80s. We review experimental and theoretical achievements on the field, featuring chain systems of correlated electrons in a special AB2 unit cell structure present in inorganic and organic compounds

Gipsy 3D: Analysis, Visualization and Vo-Tools

The scientific goals of the AMIGA project are based on the analysis of a significant amount of spectroscopic 3D data. In order to perform this work we present an initiative to develop a new VO compliant package, including present core applications and tasks offered by the Groningen Image Processing System (GIPSY), and new ones based on use cases elaborated in collaboration with ad- vanced users. One of the main goals is to provide local interoperability between GIPSY (visualization and data analysis) and other VO software. The connectivity with the Virtual Observatory environment will provide general access to 3D data VO archives and services, maximizing the potential for scientific discovery.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the proceedings of the "Multi-wavelength Astronomy and Virtual Observatory" Workshop held at ESAC 1-3 Dec 200

Potencialidades hídricas superficiais de Fernando de Noronha, PE, e alternativas para incremento da oferta.

A disponibilidade de recursos hídricos para usos múltiplos, com ênfase no abastecimento público, é questão da mais alta relevância e depende de aspectos edáficos, hidrológicos, ambientais e de gestão. Avaliou-se o potencial hídrico de bacias hidrográficas da Ilha de Fernando de Noronha, com vistas a dar suporte à gestão da água no arquipélago; para isto se delimitaram e caracterizaram cinco bacias representativas e se estimou a precipitação efetiva através do método da Curva Número. Adicionalmente, foram investigadas as características de infiltração dos principais solos do arquipélago. Verifica-se que, em geral, as bacias hidrográficas têm limitada infiltrabilidade e elevado potencial de escoamento, constatando-se o potencial de incremento de oferta de água superficial superior a 90%, desde que se contemple a utilização racional das principais bacias existentes. Dentre os solos analisados, os Cambissolos Háplicos Vertissólicos e os Vertissolos são os solos de menor infiltrabilidade e, portanto, de maior contribuição à macrodrenagem do arquipélago. Sugere-se a utilização das bacias estudadas no abastecimento doméstico da Ilha, de modo a incrementar a disponibilidade de água no local

A ~ 12 kpc HI extension and other HI asymmetries in the isolated galaxy CIG 340 (IC 2487)

HI kinematic asymmetries are common in late-type galaxies irrespective of environment, although the amplitudes are strikingly low in isolated galaxies. As part of our studies of the HI morphology and kinematics in isolated late-type galaxies we have chosen several very isolated galaxies from the AMIGA sample for HI mapping. Here we present GMRT 21-cm HI line mapping of CIG 340 which was selected because its integrated HI spectrum has a very symmetric profile, Aflux = 1.03. Optical images of the galaxy hinted at a warped disk in contrast to the symmetric integrated HI spectrum profile. Our aim is to determine the extent to which the optical asymmetry is reflected in the resolved HI morphology and kinematics. GMRT observations reveal significant HI morphological asymmetries in CIG 340 despite it's overall symmetric optical form and highly symmetric HI spectrum. The most notable HI features are: 1) a warp in the HI disk (with an optical counterpart), 2) the HI north/south flux ratio = 1.32 is much larger than expected from the integrated HI spectrum profile and 3) a ~ 45" (12 kpc) HI extension, containing ~ 6% of the detected HI mass on the northern side of the disk. We conclude that in isolated galaxies a highly symmetric HI spectrum can mask significant HI morphological asymmetries. The northern HI extension appears to be the result of a recent perturbation (10^8 yr), possibly by a satellite which is now disrupted or projected within the disk. This study provides an important step in our ongoing program to determine the predominant source of HI asymmetries in isolated galaxies. For CIG 340 the isolation from major companions, symmetric HI spectrum, optical morphology and interaction timescales have allowed us to narrow the possible causes the HI asymmetries and identify tests to further constrain the source of the asymmetries.Comment: 10 page

Predisposition To Metabolic Acidosis Induced By Topiramate.

Metabolic acidosis induced by topiramate is a well documented but infrequent adverse event. The objective was to demonstrate the lowering of carbon dioxide serum levels, which is usually asymptomatic but may facilitate the occurrence of metabolic acidosis in patients using topiramate. We evaluated, prospectively, the carbon dioxide serum levels of 18 patients seen at the epilepsy clinic of our university hospital, before and 3 months after introducing topiramate. Five patients were female and 13 were male, age ranging from 2 to 16 years old (mean=9. 3). Carbon dioxide mean serum levels were 25 and 21.2 mmol/L (normal = 22 to 30), before and 3 months after introducing topiramate, respectively. Dose ranged from 2.08 to 11.76 mg/kg/day (mean=6. 7mg/kg/day). Adverse events were anorexia, nausea and somnolence. We conclude that the lowering of carbon dioxide serum levels induced by topiramate is mostly asymptomatic, but may facilitate the occurrence of metabolic acidosis. Since patients in use of topiramate have refractory epilepsy, they may need epilepsy surgery, and must be carefully monitored for the risk of metabolic acidosis during surgery.581021-

Economic Freedom, Human Rights, and the Returns to Human Capital: An Evaluation of the Schultz Hypothesis

T.W. Schultz (1975) proposed that returns to human capital were highest in economic environments where technology, price or production shocks were common and managerial skills to adapt resource allocations to those shocks were most in need.� We hypothesize that variation in returns to human capital across developing countries can be explained in part by government institutions that blunt the magnitude of those shocks or that limit individual abilities to respond to those shocks.� Using estimated returns to schooling and experience from 122 household surveys from 86 developing countries, we demonstrate a strong positive correlation between economic freedom and returns to human capital. The positive effect is observed at all quantiles of the wage distribution.� Economic freedom benefits the most skilled who get higher returns to schooling; but it also benefits the least skilled who get higher returns from experience.Returns to education; Returns to experience; Economic freedom; inequality; quantiles

PREPARACION Y CARACTERIZACIÓN DE ALGUNOS DERIVADOS DEL QUITOSANO

Some derivatives were prepared from chitosan extracted from shrimp shell with a molecular weight of 7.14 x 105 g / mol. The first of these derivatives was carboxymethylchitosan which was prepared by the addition of monochloroacetic acid to chitosan giving a product with molecular weight of 17.97 x 105 g / mol and degree of deacetylation 2.79%, which was characterized by Infrared Spectrumcopy with Transformed Fourier (FTIR). Chitosan was also acylated through a reaction with cinnamaldehyde obtaining N-Acyl-chitosan as a product, which was characterized by solubility tests and FTIR, with which the formation of the product was determined. Chitosan crosslinking with polyvinyl alcohol was performed and characterized by FTIR and its surface morphology using electron scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, biodegradability was determined as an eco-friendly alternative and as a manufacturing material. In these tests the loss of sample weight, thickness and diameter was taken into account, demonstrating that the sample of the chitosan crosslinked with polyvinyl alcohol degrades at a lower rate than the uncrosslinked sample.Se prepararon algunos derivados a partir de quitosano extraído de cascará de camarón con peso molecular de 7,14 x105 g/mol.  El primero de estos derivados fue el carboximetilquitosano que se preparó por adición de ácido monocloroacético al quitosano dando un producto con peso molecular de 17,97 x 105 g/mol y grado de desacetilación 2.79 %, el cual fue caracterizado por Espectrocopía Infrarrojo con Transformada de Fourier (FTIR).   También se aciló el quitosano a través de una reacción con cinamaldehído obteniéndose N-Acil-quitosano como producto, el cual se caracterizó por pruebas de solubilidad y FTIR, con la cual se determinó la formación del producto. Se realizó el entrecruzamiento de quitosano con alcohol polivinilico y se caracterizo por FTIR y por su morfología superficial usando microscopia electrónica de barrido de electrones (SEM).  Adicionalmente, se les determinó la biodegradabilidad  como una alternativa eco-amigable y como material de manufactura. En estas pruebas se tomó en cuenta la pérdida de peso de la muestra, espesor y diámetro demostrando que la muestra del quitosano entrecruzado con alcohol polivinílico se degrada a una velocidad  menor que la muestra sin entrecruzar. Por otro lado, también se prepararon hidrogeles por entrecruzamiento de quitosano y alcohol polivinílico seguido de entrecruzamiento con etilenglicol diglicil éter (Q-EDGE-PVA), los cuales fueron caracterizados por espectroscopia infrarrojo y por su morfología superficial usando microscopia electrónica de barrido de electrones (SEM).&nbsp