Distribution Dynamics in the US. A spatial perspective.

It is quite common in cross-sectional convergence analyses that data exhibit strong spatial dependence. While the literature adopting the regression approach is now fully aware that neglecting this feature may lead to inaccurate results and has therefore suggested a number of statistical tools for addressing the issue, research is only at a very initial stage within the distribution dynamics approach. In particular, in the continuous state-space framework, a few authors opted for spatial pre-filtering the data in order to guarantee the statistical properties of the estimates. In this paper, we follow an alternative route that starts from the idea that spatial dependence is not just noise but can be a substantive element of the data generating process. In particular, we develop a tool that, building on a mean-bias adjustment procedure established in the literature, explicitly allows for spatial dependence in distribution dynamics analysis thus eliminating the need for pre-filtering. Using this tool, we then reconsider the evidence on convergence across US states

Search for the Lepton-Flavor-Violating Decays B-s(0) -> e(+/-)mu(-/+) and B-0 -> e(+/-)mu(-/+)

A search for the lepton-flavor-violating decays B0s\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13 and B0\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13 is performed with a data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0\u2009\u2009fb 121 of pp collisions at s 1a=7\u2009\u2009TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment. The observed number of B0s\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13 and B0\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13 candidates is consistent with background expectations. Upper limits on the branching fractions of both decays are determined to be \u212c(B0s\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13)<1.1(1.4) 710 128 and \u212c(B0\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13)<2.8(3.7) 710 129 at 90% (95%) confidence level (C.L.). These limits are a factor of 20 lower than those set by previous experiments. Lower bounds on the Pati-Salam leptoquark masses are also calculated, MLQ(B0s\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13)>101\u2009\u2009TeV/c2 and MLQ(B0\u2192e\ub1\u3bc 13)>126\u2009\u2009TeV/c2 at 95% C.L., and are a factor of 2 higher than the previous bounds