Human Capital and Non-Renewable Natural Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: ‘Is It a Curse or a Blessing’?

This study examines the role of non-renewable natural resources in the accumulation of human capital in a sample of eighteen Latin American and Caribbean countries from 1995 to 2018. We assess the influence of non-renewable resources through six distinct variables and employ panel data co-integration techniques (PMG-ARDL). Our findings reveal a positive long-run effect, whether measured by abundance or dependence indicators. Even in cases where negative short-run effects are observed, the positive impact is consistent in the long term. Furthermore, physical capital stock, institution quality, and a more open economy are the most important drivers of human capital accumulation in the region. Although the long-run effect of non-renewable natural resources on human capital was positive, the estimated elasticities account for a relatively low effect. Consequently, even in the absence of the ‘curse’ effect, we do not deem it appropriate to consider these results as a blessing

Enfermedades por inmunosupresión asociadas al virus de la leucemia felina

Este trabajo trata de resaltar la importancia del síndrome de inmunosupresión/mielosupresión inducido por el virus de la leucemia felina (FeLV), frente a la patología tumoral más característica y divulgada. Se realiza una revisión de las principales enfermedades asociadas a este síndrome citosupresivo, diagnosticándose por primera vez la asociación clínica de coccidiosis (Cystoisospora felis) y de FeLV en una colonia de gatos afectados porFeLV. Finalmente, se comentan los aspectos más destacados del tratamiento y prevención de esta importante virosis felinaThe aim of this work is to highlight the clinical relevance of the immunosupressive/myelosupressive syndrome induced by the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) as oposed to the better known and reported tumoral pathology. The main diseases associated to this cytosupressive syndrome are revised, reporting for the first time the clinical association between FeLV and feline coccidiosis (Cystoisospora felis) in a FeLV affected cattery. Finally, we comment on the more relevant aspects about treatment and prevention of this major feline virosis

Selección de variables en la predicción de llamadas en un centro de atención telefónica

En este artículo se ilustra la importancia de la selección de variables independientes para modelos neuronales destinados a la predicción de la demanda en un centro de atención telefónica. Los modelos tienen como objetivo ayudar en la planificación semanal del personal del centro, tarea que se realiza con 14 días de antelación. Los modelos requeridos pueden hacer uso de gran cantidad de variables independientes. Sin embargo, el número de casos que pueden ser usados para obtener los parámetros del modelo es escaso debido a los cambios socio-económicos. Esto plantea la necesidad de seleccionar cuidadosamente las variables independientes y utilizar el menor número posible de ellas, de otro modo la generalización del modelo se degradaría. Para resolver el problema se utiliza un método mixto que permite trabajar con un alto número de variables candidatas, en una primera fase, y seleccionar más cuidadosamente un número menor de variables en una segunda fase. Los resultados obtenidos por los modelos resultantes de aplicar el método propuesto y sus variantes son analizados utilizando datos reales de un centro de atención telefónica. Los resultados de la comparación muestran que la correcta selección de variables independientes es vital para este tipo de aplicación.Unión Europea HYCON FP6-511368

Estudio de la temperatura del suelo en Puerto Rico.

Soil temperature measurements from a climate monitoring network in Puerto Rico were evaluated and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature, known as isotivity value, was calculated. Air and soil temperature was collected from five weather stations of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service from sea level to 1,019 m above sea level and from different soil moisture regimes. Isotivity values ranged from 1.2 to 3.9° C with an average of 2.6° C. The 750-m elevation was identified as the limit between the isohyperthermic and isothermic soil temperature regimes in the perudic soil moisture regime in Puerto Rico. The greatest differences between mean annual soil temperature and mean annual air temperature were observed at Guánica, Combate and Guilarte (2.1 ° C) stations. The smallest differences were observed at Maricao (0.8° C) and Isabela (1.8° C) stations. The study also indicated that the mean annual soil temperature in Puerto Rico can be estimated by adding 1.8° C to the mean annual air temperature or by the equation y = -0.007x + 28.0° C. The equation indicates that 97 percent of the time the behavior of the mean annual soil temperature is a function of elevation. According to the updated soil temperature regime boundaries, eight soil series were established in the Soil Survey of San Germán Area. In an area under the isothermic soil temperature regime, four soil series were classified as Oxisols (Haploperox), two soil series as Inceptisols (Eutrudepts) and two soil series as Mollisols (Argiudolls). This is the first field recognition of the Haploperox soil great group in the United States and its territories.Se evaluaron mediciones de temperatura del suelo de la red de monitoreo de clima en Puerto Rico y se calculó la diferencia entre la temperatura promedio del suelo de verano y de invierno, conocida como valor de isotividad. Se tomaron datos de temperatura del aire y del suelo de cinco estaciones climatológicas del Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos desde el nivel del mar hasta 1,019 m de elevación sobre el nivel del mar y a diferentes regímenes de humedad del suelo. Los valores de isotividad oscilaron entre 1.2 y 3.9° C con una media de 2.6° C. El límite entre el régimen de temperatura de suelo isohipertérmico e isotérmico en el régimen de humedad perúdico en Puerto Rico fue identificado a una elevación de 750 m. En las estaciones de Guánica, Combate y Guilarte se observaron las mayores diferencias entre la media anual de la temperatura del suelo y la media anual de la temperatura del aire (2.1° C). En las estaciones de Maricao (0.8° C) e Isabela (1.8° C) se observaron las menores diferencias. El estudio también indica que la media anual de la temperatura del suelo en Puerto Rico puede ser estimada añadiéndole 1.8° C a la media anual de la temperatura del aire o por la ecuación y = -0.007x + 28.0° C. La ecuación indica que el 97 por ciento del tiempo el comportamiento de la media anual de la temperatura del suelo es una función de la elevación. De acuerdo con la actualización de los límites de los regímenes de temperatura de suelo, se establecieron ocho series de suelo en el Catastro de Suelos del Área de San Germán. Cuatro series de suelo clasificaron como Oxisoles (Haploperox), dos series de suelos como Inceptisoles (Eutrudepts) y dos series de suelos como Molisoles (Argiudolls) en el área bajo régimen de temperatura isotérmico. Este es el primer reconocimiento en el campo del gran grupo de suelos Haploperox en los Estados Unidos de América y sus territorios

Four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations using a transformed harmonic oscillator basis

The scattering of a weakly bound three-body system by a target is discussed. A transformed harmonic oscillator basis is used to provide an appropriate discrete and finite basis for treating the continuum part of the spectrum of the projectile. The continuum-discretized coupled channels framework is used for the scattering calculations. The formalism is applied to different reactions, 6He+12C at 229.8 MeV, 6He+64Zn at 10 and 13.6 MeV, and 6He+208Pb at 22 MeV, induced by the Borromean nucleus 6He. Both the Coulomb and nuclear interactions with a target are taken into account.Comment: Published in Phys. Rev.

Characterisation of Co@Fe3O4 core@shell nanoparticles using advanced electron microscopy

Cobalt nanoparticles were synthesised via the thermal decomposition of Co2(CO)8 and were coated in iron oxide using Fe(CO)5. While previous work focused on the subsequent thermal alloying of these nanoparticles, this study fully elucidates their composition and core@shell structure. State-of-the-art electron microscopy and statistical data processing enabled chemical mapping of individual particles through the acquisition of energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) images and detailed electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) has been used to greatly improve the quality of elemental mapping data from core@shell nanoparticles. Results from a combination of spatially resolved microanalysis reveal the shell as Fe3O4 and show that the core is composed of oxidatively stable metallic Co. For the first time, a region of lower atom density between the particle core and shell has been observed and identified as a trapped carbon residue attributable to the organic capping agents present in the initial Co nanoparticle synthesis.Junta de Andalucía Feder PE2009-FQM-4554 TEP-217EU FP7 AL-NANOFUNC CT-REGPOT2011-1-28589

The drivers of the success of Spanish Canoeing: an analysis of the efficiency of regional federations

Even though canoeing is not a particularly popular sport in Spain, it is one of the Olympic disciplines that has brought much success to the Spanish medal table. This high performance of Spanish canoeing could be attributed to the work of the clubs and regional federations (FFAA) which can optimise the scarce resources available to them, most of which come from public transfers. This study measures the efficiency of the Spanish autonomous canoeing federations (FFAAP) during the 2013-2016 Olympic cycle using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique and the Malmquist index. A second analysis tries to identify the key factors that lead to the efficiency of the federations. The results show that, despite the significant differences between FFAAs, there is no single way to reach efficiency. In general, the availability of resources increases the chances of achieving results, while coaches and internal competition contribute to optimising the performance of available resources. © 2022 Federacion Espanola de Docentes de Educacion Fisica. All rights reserved

Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in pork-meat and other processed products from the Colombian swine industry

ABSTRACT Objective. To determine the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in pork carcasses, meat cuts, and meat products (“chorizo”, sausage and ham). Materials and methods. Stratified sampling was implemented in meat-processed products. We analyzed 566 (37%) carcasses, 472 (31%) meat cuts, and 481, (32%) meat-processed products, distributed as follows: 169 (11%) sausage, 163 (11%) ham, and 149 (10%) “chorizo”, for a total of 1519 (100%) samples in a period of 18 months. The samples were processed using the ISO-17604, ISO-11290-1 and the USDA/FSIS (MLG-8.03) methods. Genus and species were confirmed by multiplex-PCR. Results. We obtained isolates of L. monocytogenes from 21 carcasses (10%), 160 (76%) from meat deboning, 10 (5%) from ham, 6 (3%) from “chorizo”, and 13 (6%) from sausage. The prevalence found was 3.7% and 33.9% in carcasses and meat deboning respectively. The prevalence in the meat-processed products was 4.03% in “chorizo”, 6.13% in ham and 7.69% in sausage. The overall prevalence of L. monocytogenes in the study was 13.82%. Conclusions. We found L. monocytogenes in different products analyzed, with particular interest in ham and sausage since both are consumed without previous heat treatmen