A sensitivity analysis of cross-country growth regressions

A vast amount of literature uses cross-country regressions to find empirical links between policy indicators and long-run average growth rates. The authors study whether the conclusions from existing studies are robust or fragile when small changes in the list of independent variables occur. They find that although"policy"appears to be importantly related to growth, there is no strong independent relationship between growth and almost every existing policy indicator. They also find that very few macroeconomic variables are robustly correlated with cross-country growth rates. They clarify the conditions under which one finds convergence of per capita output levels and confirm the positive correlation between the share of investment in GDP and long-run growth. They conclude that all findings using the share of exports in GDP could be obtained almost identically using the total trade or import share and also that few commonly used fiscal indicators are robustly correlated with growth. Finally, the authors highlight the importance of considering alternative specifications in cross-country growth regressions.Economic Theory&Research,Achieving Shared Growth,Governance Indicators,Inequality,Environmental Economics&Policies

Understanding the Cost of Horse Ownership

Even though many consider horse ownership a hobby and a pleasure, there are costs associated with owning a horse. In fact, it has been said that the cheapest part of horse ownership is the initial purchase. With that in mind, potential horse owners need to be aware of these costs upfront

Economic growth : a review of the theoretical and empirical literature

In recent years, economists have developed new models of endogenous economic growth that consider policy influences on growth and divergent outcomes among countries. These models deal with such issues as growth, the operation of financial markets, trade policy, government expenditures, and taxation. Using the standard neoclassical growth model as a point of departure, the author reviewed important recent developments in growth theory. He analyzed the methodology of several endogenous growth models and examined models aimed at particular policy issues. One reason for the success of the standard neoclassical growth model, is that it provided a convenient tool for organizing data on the sources of economic growth. The model left much of the growth unexplained, however. Cross-sectional analysis has provided some useful insights into the growth process. Economists working in this area should target their work directly to the analysis of policy options in developing countries. More work is also necessary at the sectoral level. The new models of growth have not adequately described the issues of structural transformation and disequilibrium in factor markets. Policymaking generally will benefit from empirical results generated from more carefully constructed structural economic models.Economic Growth,Economic Theory&Research,Achieving Shared Growth,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation

An optimally stable approximation of reactive transport using discrete test and infinite trial spaces

In this contribution we propose an optimally stable ultraweak Petrov-Galerkin variational formulation and subsequent discretization for stationary reactive transport problems. The discretization is exclusively based on the choice of discrete approximate test spaces, while the trial space is a priori infinite dimensional. The solution in the trial space or even only functional evaluations of the solution are obtained in a post-processing step. We detail the theoretical framework and demonstrate its usage in a numerical experiment that is motivated from modeling of catalytic filters

Mobile and Web-Based Applications to Determine the Most Economical Feedstuffs for Livestock

Producers are turning to mobile and Web-based decision-making tools in increasing numbers to better manage their businesses. To assist livestock producers in evaluating feed options, a Feed Cost Calculator was developed as an app for iOS, Android, and Web-based platforms. Mobile applications are a viable alternative to spreadsheet tools to address the needs of Extension clientele; however, there are certain inherent limitations to using mobile technology that must be considered

Model order reduction of an ultraweak and optimally stable variational formulation for parametrized reactive transport problems

This contribution introduces a model order reduction approach for an advection-reaction problem with a parametrized reaction function. The underlying discretization uses an ultraweak formulation with an $L^2$-like trial space and an 'optimal' test space as introduced by Demkowicz et al. This ensures the stability of the discretization and in addition allows for a symmetric reformulation of the problem in terms of a dual solution which can also be interpreted as the normal equations of an adjoint least-squares problem. Classic model order reduction techniques can then be applied to the space of dual solutions which also immediately gives a reduced primal space. We show that the necessary computations do not require the reconstruction of any primal solutions and can instead be performed entirely on the space of dual solutions. We prove exponential convergence of the Kolmogorov $N$-width and show that a greedy algorithm produces quasi-optimal approximation spaces for both the primal and the dual solution space. Numerical experiments based on the benchmark problem of a catalytic filter confirm the applicability of the proposed method.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

47 patients with FLNA associated periventricular nodular heterotopia

Background: Heterozygous loss of function mutations within the Filamin A gene in Xq28 are the most frequent cause of bilateral neuronal periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH). Most affected females are reported to initially present with difficult to treat seizures at variable age of onset. Psychomotor development and cognition may be normal or mildly to moderately impaired. Distinct associated extracerebral findings have been observed and may help to establish the diagnosis including patent ductus arteriosus Botalli, progressive dystrophic cardiac valve disease and aortic dissection, chronic obstructive lung disease or chronic constipation. Genotype-phenotype correlations could not yet be established. Methods: Sanger sequencing and MLPA was performed for a large cohort of 47 patients with Filamin A associated PVNH (age range 1 to 65 years). For 34 patients more detailed clinical information was available from a structured questionnaire and medical charts on family history, development, epileptologic findings, neurological examination, cognition and associated clinical findings. Available detailed cerebral MR imaging was assessed for 20 patients. Results: Thirty-nine different FLNA mutations were observed, they are mainly truncating (37/39) and distributed throughout the entire coding region. No obvious correlation between the number and extend of PVNH and the severity of the individual clinical manifestation was observed. 10 of the mutation carriers so far are without seizures at a median age of 19.7 years. 22 of 24 patients with available educational data were able to attend regular school and obtain professional education according to age. Conclusions: We report the clinical and mutation spectrum as well as MR imaging for a large cohort of 47 patients with Filamin A associated PVNH including two adult males. Our data are reassuring in regard to psychomotor and cognitive development, which is within normal range for the majority of patients. However, a concerning median diagnostic latency of 17 to 20 years was noted between seizure onset and the genetic diagnosis, intensely delaying appropriate medical surveillance for potentially life threatening cardiovascular complications as well as genetic risk assessment and counseling prior to family planning for this X-linked dominant inherited disorder with high perinatal lethality in hemizygous males

Consensus recommendations of the german consortium for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: The German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (GC-HBOC) has established a multigene panel (TruRisk®) for the analysis of risk genes for familial breast and ovarian cancer. SUMMARY: An interdisciplinary team of experts from the GC-HBOC has evaluated the available data on risk modification in the presence of pathogenic mutations in these genes based on a structured literature search and through a formal consensus process. KEY MESSAGES: The goal of this work is to better assess individual disease risk and, on this basis, to derive clinical recommendations for patient counseling and care at the centers of the GC-HBOC from the initial consultation prior to genetic testing to the use of individual risk-adapted preventive/therapeutic measures

47 patients with FLNA associated periventricular nodular heterotopia

Background Heterozygous loss of function mutations within the Filamin A gene in Xq28 are the most frequent cause of bilateral neuronal periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH). Most affected females are reported to initially present with difficult to treat seizures at variable age of onset. Psychomotor development and cognition may be normal or mildly to moderately impaired. Distinct associated extracerebral findings have been observed and may help to establish the diagnosis including patent ductus arteriosus Botalli, progressive dystrophic cardiac valve disease and aortic dissection, chronic obstructive lung disease or chronic constipation. Genotype-phenotype correlations could not yet be established. Methods Sanger sequencing and MLPA was performed for a large cohort of 47 patients with Filamin A associated PVNH (age range 1 to 65 years). For 34 patients more detailed clinical information was available from a structured questionnaire and medical charts on family history, development, epileptologic findings, neurological examination, cognition and associated clinical findings. Available detailed cerebral MR imaging was assessed for 20 patients. Results Thirty-nine different FLNA mutations were observed, they are mainly truncating (37/39) and distributed throughout the entire coding region. No obvious correlation between the number and extend of PVNH and the severity of the individual clinical manifestation was observed. 10 of the mutation carriers so far are without seizures at a median age of 19.7 years. 22 of 24 patients with available educational data were able to attend regular school and obtain professional education according to age. Conclusions We report the clinical and mutation spectrum as well as MR imaging for a large cohort of 47 patients with Filamin A associated PVNH including two adult males. Our data are reassuring in regard to psychomotor and cognitive development, which is within normal range for the majority of patients. However, a concerning median diagnostic latency of 17 to 20 years was noted between seizure onset and the genetic diagnosis, intensely delaying appropriate medical surveillance for potentially life threatening cardiovascular complications as well as genetic risk assessment and counseling prior to family planning for this X-linked dominant inherited disorder with high perinatal lethality in hemizygous males