Methods for compressing k-mers set with counters

openWith this work we want to find an efficient way to compress k-mers sets with counters since they take up a lot of disk space but their use brings several advantages over genomes or sets of genomes. Here some strategies are pro- posed to explore the cdBGs in order to produce smaller files than UST and the counts encoding has been revised. A new application has been presented to implement the above strategies and fix a bug in UST which caused wrong counts ordering. It has been shown that it is possible to improve the com- pression with respect to UST based on the density of the graph. Finally, a small value of k leads to denser graphs and therefore better results.With this work we want to find an efficient way to compress k-mers sets with counters since they take up a lot of disk space but their use brings several advantages over genomes or sets of genomes. Here some strategies are pro- posed to explore the cdBGs in order to produce smaller files than UST and the counts encoding has been revised. A new application has been presented to implement the above strategies and fix a bug in UST which caused wrong counts ordering. It has been shown that it is possible to improve the com- pression with respect to UST based on the density of the graph. Finally, a small value of k leads to denser graphs and therefore better results

The New Standardised Approach as a Credible Fallback

The paper intends to measure the effect of Basel IV’s revamped Standardised Approach (SA) as a credible fallback to the Internal Models Approach. Using equity portfolios in the UK and US, the analysis reveals somewhat high Minimum Capital Requirements (MCR), conferring these figures an extra conservative nature. This, In turn, would generate disincentives to develop precise Internal Models stifling financial innovation, which could be remedied introducing slight changes in SA’s specification. A simulation analysis shows that, varying the fixed components of the formula alongside the introduction of calibration parameters, the output floor could be tailored to suit the needs of the local regulators using a stressed yardstick like the Loss Coverage Ratio, although every precaution must be taken in this regard. The present study ranks amongst the first to quantify the level of the output floor outside the BCBS and evaluate it against a crisis of considerable magnitude, finding that the current configuration delivers relatively excessive  MCRs and, furthermore, providing alternative solutions that could enable the constitution of adequate –albeit not disproportionate- capital coverage.El nuevo enfoque estandarizado como alternativa creíble El artículo intenta mensurar el efecto del Enfoque Estandarizado (SA) modificado de Basilea IV como un soporte creíble para el enfoque de Modelos Internos (IMA). Empleando portafolios accionarios de UK y US, el análisis revela Capitales Mínimos Regulatorios (MCR) algo elevados, confiriendo a dichos valores una naturaleza extra-conservadora. Ello, a su vez, generaría desincentivos para el desarrollo de Modelos Internos precisos ahogando la innovación financiera, hecho que podría remediarse introduciendo cambios mínimos en la especificación de SA. Un análisis de simulación muestra que la variación de los componentes fijos de la fórmula conjuntamente con la introducción de parámetros de calibración permiten adaptar los MCR a las necesidades de los reguladores locales utilizando un indicador estresado como el Ratio de Cobertura de Pérdidas, siempre bajo extrema precaución. Este estudio se sitúa entre los primeros –excluido el BCBS- al momento de cuantificar el nivel de capital mínimo y evaluarlo en función de una crisis de magnitud considerable hallando que la configuración actual entrega MCR relativamente excesivos; adicionalmente, proporciona soluciones alternativas que permitirían la constitución de coberturas de capital adecuadas –mas no desproporcionadas-

El impacto de los impuestos y gastos sobre la pobreza y la distribución de ingresos en Argentina y algunas simulaciones de políticas

Using standard fiscal incidence analysis, this paper estimates the impact of tax and expenditure policies on income distribution and poverty in Argentina with data from the National Household Survey on Incomes and Expenditures 2012-2013. The results show that fiscal policy has been a powerful tool in reducing inequality and poverty but that the unusually high levels of public spending may make the programs unsustainable. The impact of several policy measures carried out by the government have also been simulated.Utilizando un análisis de incidencia fiscal estándar, este trabajo estima el impacto de las políticas tributarias y de gasto público en la distribución del ingreso y la pobreza en Argentina con datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Gastos de los Hogares 2012-2013. Los resultados muestran que la políticas fiscal ha sido una poderosa herramienta en la reducción de la desigualdad y la pobreza pero los inusualmente elevados niveles de gasto público podrían hacer que los programas resulten no sustentables. Se ha simulado también el impacto de algunas medidas de política fiscal llevadas a cabo por el gobierno

El esfuerzo fiscal en los países de América Latina y el Caribe

In Latin America, tax revenue has increased in the last fifteen years; nevertheless, the prevailing levels of inequality and poverty lead to the question of whether these countries can increase tax revenues even more, in order to be able to genuinely finance public expenditure levels that are necessary to restrain them. Using fiscal effort as metodology, this article presents estimations that allow concluding that countries with lower levels of development have a lower capacity to generate fiscal resources, while countries with medium or high levels of development could be able to increase their tax collection, but due to political and institutional reasons they have decided to maintain low tax rates.En América Latina, la recaudación fiscal ha experimentado un crecimiento en los últimos quince años; sin embargo, los niveles de desigualdad y pobreza imperantes llevan a preguntarse si los países pueden aumentar aún en mayor medida los ingresos tributarios, en función de poder financiar en forma genuina los niveles de gasto público necesarios para morigerarlos. Mediante la metodología de esfuerzo fiscal, en este artículo se presentan estimaciones que permiten concluir que los países con menor nivel de desarrollo están asociados a una menor capacidad de generación de recursos fiscales, y países con desarrollo medio o alto podrían incrementar su recaudación, pero por decisiones políticas e institucionales han determinado mantener tasas impositivas bajas

Analysis of pozzolanicity of the rind cashew nut ashes by X-ray diffraction

Atualmente, o aproveitamento de resíduos na construção civil tem sido estimulado, uma vez que esse setor apresenta-se como um dos maiores consumidores de materiais naturais em seus processos e produtos. As cinzas ocupam lugar de destaque entre os resíduos agroindustriais por resultarem de processos de geração de energia. Grande parte dessas cinzas possui atividade pozolânica, podendo ser utilizada como substituto parcial do cimento Portland, resultando numa economia significativa de energia e custo. Este trabalho faz parte de uma pesquisa mais ampla, a qual busca avaliar a viabilidade técnica da cinza da casca da castanha de caju (CCCC) como adição mineral em matrizes de cimento Portland, como também, propor uma metodologia de análise de cinzas agroindustriais. Aplicou-se a técnica de difratometria de raios X para avaliar a reatividade do hidróxido de cálcio pela cinza da casca da castanha de caju em pastas, empregaram-se teores de substituição entre 2,5 e 30,0% e os difratogramas das pastas foram comparados com os das pastas confeccionadas com sílica ativa, executados sobre as mesmas condições de ensaio. Os resultados apontam para a ausência de reatividade pozolânica da CCCC com o cimento Portland.Nowadays, the residues exploitation in civil building has been stimulated, mainly because this sector of activity is one of the biggest consumers of natural materials. Some agricultural wastes, such as ashes, have become materials of great interest for building construction because of their pozzolanic activity, and can be used as replacement material for Portland cement, resulting in less energy waste and low cost. This stage of analyses is part of a wider research for the evaluation of the technical viability of the cashew nut rind ashes (CCCC) as mineral admixture in Portland cement products, as well as, the proposition of a methodology of analysis of agroindustrial ashes. In that stage, the technique of X-ray diffraction (XRD) was applied to evaluate the reactivity of the calcium hydroxide for the cashew nut rind ashes in pastes. Substitution rates from 2.5 to 30.0%. The difratograms of the pastes were compared with the ones with silica fume, executed under the same test conditions. The results indicate that the CCCC don't react with the Portland cement

Localization transitions and mobility edges in coupled Aubry-Andr\'e chains

We study the localization transitions for coupled one-dimensional lattices with quasiperiodic potential. Besides the localized and extended phases there is an intermediate mixed phase which can be easily explained decoupling the system so as to deal with effective uncoupled Aubry-Andr\'e chains with different transition points. We clarify, therefore, the origin of such an intermediate phase finding the conditions for getting a uniquely defined mobility edge for such coupled systems. Finally we consider many coupled chains with an energy shift which compose an extension of the Aubry-Andr\'e model in two dimensions. We study the localization behavior in this case comparing the results with those obtained for a truly aperiodic two-dimensional (2D) Aubry-Andr\'e model, with quasiperiodic potentials in any directions, and for the 2D Anderson model.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figures, 2D Aubry-Andr\'e model included, published versio

EVIDENCE AND METHODS FROM AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT AREA- BASED URBAN REGENERATION

Abstract EVIDENCE AND METHODS FROM AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE ABOUT AREA- BASED URBAN REGENERATION Cristiana Rossignolo and Silvia Saccomani This paper refers to an education experience developed within the BA in Territorial, Urban, Landscape and Environmental Planning of Politecnico di Torino (Italy). Actually, all the study organisation of both the BA and the Master with the same title, which the BA graduates can attend, are strongly inspired by the goal to make students aware of the inter and trans-disciplinary nature of Planning, and of the necessity for a planner to cooperate with different experts and different stakeholders. Interdisciplinary Studios are one of the means used to reach this educational goal. In these Studios students have to develop proposals/plans/designs/policies for future interventions. The specific experience this paper deals with is a Studio about themes such as urban regeneration, local and sustainable development with a place-based approach. It proposes to groups of students a sort of simulation: they are asked to behave as a team to which the public administration gave the task to produce a proposal in order to participate in a real regional tender for the allocation of European funds to a regeneration programme dealing with a neighborhood in the city periphery. The programme must include and integrate physical, economic, social and cultural actions, with a special attention to sustainable urban development goals and participation processes needs and thus asks for the contributions of different teachers who interact during the Studio development. The methodology of this Studio has proved to be efficient and meaningful for either the student's awareness of the importance of interdisciplinary in real spatial planning tasks and their ability to face these tasks in a almost professional ways

ESPON Project 2.3.1., Application and effects of the ESDP in Member States. First Interim Report

This First Interim Report includes the initial results of the project "Application and Effects of the ESDP in the Member States" within the ESPON Programme 2000-2006. The focus of the study is the application of the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), which was adopted at the Potsdam European Council meeting in May 199

ESPON Project 2.3.1., Application and effects of the ESDP in the Member States. Second Interim Report

This Second Interim Report includes the preliminary results of the project, "Application and Effects of the ESDP in the Member States" within the ESPON Programme 2000-2006. The focus of the study is the application of the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), which was adopted at the Potsdam informal Ministerial Council meeting in May 199