Inference on Income Inequality and Tax Progressivity Indices: U-Statistics and Bootstrap Methods

This paper discusses asymptotic and bootstrap inference methods for a set of inequality and progressivity indices. The application of non-degenerate U-statistics theory is described, particularly through the derivation of the Suits-progressivity index distribution. We have also provided formulae for the “plug-in” estimator of the index variances, which are less onerous than the U-statistic version (this is especially relevant for those indices whose asymptotic variances contain kernels of degree 3). As far as inference issues are concerned, there are arguments in favour of applying bootstrap methods. By using an accurate database on income and taxes of the Spanish households (statistical matching EPF90-IRPF90), our results show that bootstrap methods perform better (considering their sample precision), particularly those methods yielding asymmetric CI. We also show that the bootstrap method is a useful technique for Lorenz dominance analysis. An illustration of such application has been made for the Spanish tax and welfare system. We distinguish clear dominance of cashbenefits on income redistribution. Public health and state school education also have significant redistributive effects.Income Inequality; Tax Progressivity; Statistical Inference; U-statistics; Bootstrap method.

A DFT study of the reactivity indexes of ionic [4 + 2+] Diels-Alder cycloaddition to nitrilium and immonium ions

The global electrophilicity index, defined within the conceptual density functional theory (DFT), was used to classify the dienes and dienophiles currently used in Diels-Alder reactions on a unique scale of electrophilicity. The index, obtained within the Kohn-Sham scheme, is based on the HOMO and LUMO energies. A systematic study of the global reactivity indexes of the reagents involved in formal [4 + 2+] Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions of nitrilium and immonium ions with isoprene is presente

Microalgae recycling improves biomass recovery from wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds

Microalgal biomass harvesting by inducing spontaneous flocculation (bioflocculation) sets an attractive approach, since neither chemicals nor energy are needed. Indeed, bioflocculation may be promoted by recycling part of the harvested microalgal biomass to the photobioreactor in order to increase the predominance of rapidly settling microalgae species. The aim of the present study was to improve the recovery of microalgal biomass produced in wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds (HRAPs) by recycling part of the harvested microalgal biomass. The recirculation of 2% and 10% (dry weight) of the HRAPs microalgal biomass was tested over one year in an experimental HRAP treating real urban wastewater. Results indicated that biomass recycling had a positive effect on the harvesting efficiency, obtaining higher biomass recovery in the HRAP with recycling (R-HRAP) (92–94%) than in the control HRAP without recycling (C-HRAP) (75–89%). Microalgal biomass production was similar in both systems, ranging between 3.3 and 25.8 g TSS/m2d, depending on the weather conditions. Concerning the microalgae species, Chlorella sp. was dominant overall the experimental period in both HRAPs (abundance >60%). However, when the recycling rate was increased to 10%, Chlorella sp. dominance decreased from 97.6 to 88.1%; while increasing the abundance of rapidly settling species such as Stigeoclonium sp. (16.8%, only present in the HRAP with biomass recycling) and diatoms (from 0.7 to 7.3%). Concerning the secondary treatment of the HRAPs, high removals of COD (80%) and N-NH4+ (97%) were found in both HRAPs. Moreover, by increasing the biomass recovery in the R-HRAP the effluent total suspended solids (TSS) concentration was decreased to less than 35 mg/L, meeting effluent quality requirements for discharge. This study shows that microalgal biomass recycling (10% dry weight) increases biomass recovery up to 94% by selecting the most rapidly settling microalgae species without compromising the biomass production and improving the wastewater treatment in terms of TSS removal.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Adaptive short-term associative conditioning in the pancreatic β-cell

This study associates cholinergic stimulation of the pancreatic β-cell electrical activity with a short-term memory phenomenon. Glucose pulses applied to a basal glucose concentration induce depolarizing waves which are used to estimate the evolution of the β-cell glucose sensitivity. Exposure to carbamoylcholine (carbachol) increases the size of the glucose-induced depolarizing waves. This change appears after carbachol withdrawal and implies a temporal potentiation of sensitivity (TPS) lasting up to one hour. TPS induction requires the simultaneous action of carbachol and glucose. The substitution of glucose with the secretagogues glyceraldehyde or 2-ketoisocaproate mimics glucose-induced TPS, while palmitate does not. TPS is not produced if the membrane is kept hyperpolarized by diazoxide. Glucose can be replaced by tolbutamide, suggesting a role of depolarization and a subsequent increase in intracellular calcium concentration. A role for kinases is suggested because staurosporine prevents TPS induction. Cycloheximide does not impair TPS induction, indicating that de novo protein synthesis is not required. The fact that the two inputs acting simultaneously produce an effect that lasts up to one hour without requiring de novo protein synthesis suggests that TPS constitutes a case of short-term associative conditioning in non-neural tissue. The convergence of basal glucose levels and muscarinic activation happens physiologically during the cephalic phase of digestion, in order to later absorb incoming fuels. Our data reveals that the role of the cephalic phase may be extended, increasing nutrient sensitivity during meals while remaining low between them

Posterior subhyaloid precipitates in cytomegalovirus retinitis

This study aims to report a novel finding of posterior subhyaloid precipitates (PSPs) in two patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. A small case series was conducted. Clinical findings, treatment, and follow-up of two patients with CMV and PSPs are presented. Inflammatory precipitates may collect in the posterior subhyaloid space in acute CMV retinitis and resolve with treatment

Phase 2 Trial (POLA Study) of Lurbinectedin plus Olaparib in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors: Results of Efficacy, Tolerability, and the Translational Study

Endometrial cancer; Genomic instability; OlaparibCáncer endometrial; Inestabilidad genómica; OlaparibCàncer d'endometri; Inestabilitat genòmica; OlaparibWe hypothesized that the combination of olaparib and lurbinectedin maximizes DNA damage, thus increasing its efficacy. The POLA phase 1 trial established the recommended phase 2 dose of lurbinectedin as being 1.5 mg (day 1) and that of olaparib as being 250 mg/12 h (days 1–5) for a 21-day cycle. In phase 2, we explore the efficacy of the combination in terms of clinical response and its correlation with mutations in the HRR genes and the genomic instability (GI) parameters. Results: A total of 73 patients with high-grade ovarian (n = 46), endometrial (n = 26), and triple-negative breast cancer (n = 1) were treated with lurbinectedin and olaparib. Most patients (62%) received ≥3 lines of prior therapy. The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 9.6% and 72.6%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.54 months (95% CI 3.0–5.2). Twelve (16.4%) patients were considered long-term responders (LTR), with a median PFS of 13.3 months. No clinical benefit was observed for cases with HRR gene mutation. In ovarian LTRs, although a direct association with GI and a total loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events was observed, the association did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.055). Globally, the total number of LOHs might be associated with the ORR (p =0.074). The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were anemia and thrombocytopenia, in 6 (8.2%) and 3 (4.1%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: The POLA study provides evidence that the administration of lurbinectedin and olaparib is feasible and tolerable, with a DCR of 72.6%. Different GI parameters showed associations with better responses.This trial was sponsored by AstraZeneca and PharmaMar, including supply of the drugs used in this study

Xylella Fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa es una bacteria que habita solamente los vasos xilemáticos de las plantas. Ha sido asociada mundialmente con enfermedades que causan grandes pérdidas en cultivos económicamente importantes (fig. 1 y 2). En Argentina se la encontró en la década del ´40 en plantaciones de ciruelo japonés de la zona del Delta del Paraná, produciendo la escaldadura del borde de la hoja del ciruelo (Fernandez Valiela y Bakarcic, 1963) (fig. 3). Esta grave enfermedad afectó a la mayoría de las variedades cultivadas de ciruelo en esa zona. No había antecedentes de alguna afección similar en ese momento y se pensó que el agente causal era un virus. Fue declarada plaga de la agricultura (Dec. P. E. Nac. 15523/56), provocando la muerte de más de 500.000 plantas, pero afortunadamente no pasó a otra región del país y desapareció cuando la zona dejó de ser frutícola.Instituto de Patología VegetalFil: Tolocka, Patricia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Paccioretti, Mauro Andres. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Haelterman, Raquel Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patología Vegetal; Argentin

A theoretical study on the mechanism of the base-promoted decomposition of N-chloro,N-methylethanolamine

The first step of the base-promoted decomposition of N-chloro,N-methylethanolamine in aqueous solution (CH3N(Cl)CH2CH2OH + HO- →imine + Cl- + H2O (+ CH2O)→amine + aldehyde) is investigated at the MP2/6-31++G(d,p) computing level. Solvation is included by using both a microsolvated model, in which two explicit water molecules simulate the specific solvent effects, and a hybrid cluster-continuum model, by applying a polarized continuum on the previous results, to account for the bulk effect of the solvent. Four alternative pathways (bimolecular fragmentation, Hofmann, Zaitsev and intramolecular eliminations) are possible for the rate-limiting step of this base-promoted decomposition. These reactive processes are bimolecular asynchronous concerted reactions. The common feature of the four pathways is the proton transfer to HO- being more advanced than all other molecular events, whereas imine formation is delayed. Non-reactive cyclic arrangements involving one of the explicit water molecules are found at transition structures of Hofmann and Zaitsev eliminations, such water molecule acting both as H+ donor and acceptor. Although MP2 calculations misjudge the absolute activation Gibbs free energy values, this computational level adequately predicts the enhancement in the decomposition rate due to the presence of the -OH grou