Endogenous longevity, biological deterioration and economic growth

The identification of the types of bidirectional interactions that take place between longevity and economic growth in the long-run is carried out by means of the integration of human capital accumulation, innovation in medical technology, a health goods sector, and individual decisions on health and longevity in a dynamic general equilibrium set-up. In this context, in which individual agents decide not only on their “quality” of life but also on its “quantity”, the mere process of biological deterioration, that is to say, the continuous loss of health goods effectiveness in maintaining a given level of health as individuals age, provides the reason for an additional, and new, engine of growth.Biological deterioration; Health; Health goods; Endogenous longevity; Endogenous growth

The Socioeconomic Determinants of Terrorism: A Bayesian Model Averaging Approach

This paper introduces model uncertainty into the empirical study of the determinants of terrorism at country level. This is done by adopting a Bayesian model averaging approach and accounting for the over-dispersed count data nature of terrorist attacks. Both a broad measure of terrorism and incidents per capita have been analyzed. Our results suggest that, among the set of regressors considered, those reflecting labor market conditions and economic prospects tend to receive high posterior inclusion probabilities. These findings are robust to changes in the model specification and sample composition and are not meaningfully affected by the generalized linear regression model applied. Evidence of a geographically heterogeneous relationship between terrorism and its determinants is also provided. Abbreviation: BMA- Bayesian Model Averaging; GLM- Generalized Linear Models

Generic delimitation between Alstroemeria and Bomarea (Alstroemeriaceae)

The taxonomic relationships between Alstroemeria and Bomarea, two closely related genera in Alstroemeriaceae, are controversial. With the aim of clarifying their systematic position and generic circumscription, morphological and anatomical studies were carried out on 18 species of Alstroemeria and 11 species of Bomarea. Light microscopy (LM) and scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy were used to study the morphology of mature seeds and pollen. Observations on the most distinctive characters are discussed and compared with other data available for Alstroemeriaceae. Morphology of subterranean organs, pollen exine, adaptive dehiscence of capsules, seed dispersal, seed coat and karyotype characteristics (such as basic chromosome number and symmetry) support the view that these genera are related but should have independent generic status. Results indicate that Alstroemeriaceae comprises three genera: Alstroemeria (including Schickendantzia and Taltalia), Bomarea and Leontochir.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

The impact of the American Civil War on city growth

This paper analyses the persistence of the shock caused by the American Civil War on the relative city size distribution of the USA. Two features make the study of this conflict interesting. First, it took place at an earlier stage of the industrialisation and urbanisation processes than those previously analysed in the related literature. Second, the battles were fought in the open field, not in urban areas. In line with previous results for the Second World War in Japanese and German cities, our findings suggest that the effects of the shock were transitory. Furthermore, some evidence regarding the possible presence of a ‘safe harbour effect’ is reported

Chromosomal studies in species of Salvia (Lamiaceae) from Argentina

Meiotic and mitotic chromosomes of 13 species of Salvia from Argentina were studied. Most of our data are new counts but some, mainly from cultivated species, confirm previous reports or represent numbers which are different from those cited previously. Only Salvia gilliesii Benth. and the introduced species S. coccinea Juss., S. farinacea Benth., S. involucrata Cav. and S. microphylla Kunth are diploids. S. cardiophylla Benth., S. procurrens Benth., S. splendens Roem. & Schult. and S. uliginosa Benth. are tetraploids; S. stachydifolia Benth. is hexaploid; and S. guaranitica A. St.-Hil., S. pallida Benth. and S. rypara Briq. are octoploids. The basic number most frequently found is x = 11, but two species, S. procurrens and S. uliginosa, have x = 13. S. farinacea has x = 10 but this species is a widespread cultivated plant, not native in this area. Seven of the studied species showed one to three B chromosomes. We discuss some systematic and evolutionary aspects of the genus in the light of the cytogenetic data, the relationships between geographical distribution and chromosome numbers in relation to levels of ploidy and basic chromosome numbers, and make comparisons with some of the different taxonomic sections.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Chromosomal studies in species of Salvia (Lamiaceae) from Argentina

Meiotic and mitotic chromosomes of 13 species of Salvia from Argentina were studied. Most of our data are new counts but some, mainly from cultivated species, confirm previous reports or represent numbers which are different from those cited previously. Only Salvia gilliesii Benth. and the introduced species S. coccinea Juss., S. farinacea Benth., S. involucrata Cav. and S. microphylla Kunth are diploids. S. cardiophylla Benth., S. procurrens Benth., S. splendens Roem. & Schult. and S. uliginosa Benth. are tetraploids; S. stachydifolia Benth. is hexaploid; and S. guaranitica A. St.-Hil., S. pallida Benth. and S. rypara Briq. are octoploids. The basic number most frequently found is x = 11, but two species, S. procurrens and S. uliginosa, have x = 13. S. farinacea has x = 10 but this species is a widespread cultivated plant, not native in this area. Seven of the studied species showed one to three B chromosomes. We discuss some systematic and evolutionary aspects of the genus in the light of the cytogenetic data, the relationships between geographical distribution and chromosome numbers in relation to levels of ploidy and basic chromosome numbers, and make comparisons with some of the different taxonomic sections.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Chromosomal studies in species of Salvia (Lamiaceae) from Argentina

Meiotic and mitotic chromosomes of 13 species of Salvia from Argentina were studied. Most of our data are new counts but some, mainly from cultivated species, confirm previous reports or represent numbers which are different from those cited previously. Only Salvia gilliesii Benth. and the introduced species S. coccinea Juss., S. farinacea Benth., S. involucrata Cav. and S. microphylla Kunth are diploids. S. cardiophylla Benth., S. procurrens Benth., S. splendens Roem. & Schult. and S. uliginosa Benth. are tetraploids; S. stachydifolia Benth. is hexaploid; and S. guaranitica A. St.-Hil., S. pallida Benth. and S. rypara Briq. are octoploids. The basic number most frequently found is x = 11, but two species, S. procurrens and S. uliginosa, have x = 13. S. farinacea has x = 10 but this species is a widespread cultivated plant, not native in this area. Seven of the studied species showed one to three B chromosomes. We discuss some systematic and evolutionary aspects of the genus in the light of the cytogenetic data, the relationships between geographical distribution and chromosome numbers in relation to levels of ploidy and basic chromosome numbers, and make comparisons with some of the different taxonomic sections.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse