Optimal taxation in an endogenous growth model with variable population and public expenditure

In this paper we analyse second-best optimal taxation in an endogenous-growth model driven by public expenditure, in presence of endogenous fertility and labour supply. Normative analysis shows positive taxes on the number of children, which are necessary to correct for congestion in the publicly provided input (such as education and healthcare), negative public debt. Results on capital and labour income taxation depend on whether the public input is optimally provided

Population Growth: A Pure Welfarist Approach

In this study we propose a framework based on welfarist principles to deal with several issues concerned with population economics models, such as the Repugnant Conclusion, both in absolute and relative sense, the shape of childbearing costs and population dynamics, under both normative and positive perspectives. We show that the relative critical level criterion can avoid both the assumption of high childbearing costs and the absolute repugnant conclusion (ARC) but cannot avoid the relative repugnant conclusion (RRC). Moreover, optimal fertility is increased by technological shocks and displays cycles. Both ARC and RRC can be avoided by extending the model to a decentralized economy with consumption externalities; in the latter model, a technological shock reduces long‐run fertility and can generate cycles along the transitional path

Workers' Choice on Pension Schemes: an Assessment of the Italian TFR Reform Through Theory and Simulations

In this paper we aim at providing a theoretical framework to model workers’ choice problem of switching between different pension schemes. This choice problem is common in several countries that have reformed their social security system in the last decades. Although with some specific features, such process is currently affecting private sector employees in Italy, since the reform of the TFR mechanism in 2007. This reform basically allows workers to choose between a scheme directly managed by the firms and an external defined contribution scheme. In their decision workers not only have to weight out the different pros and cons that different schemes offer but they also have to consider the effect that their choice exerts on the financial structure of the firm they work in. Once we have formalized this decision problem, we carry out some simulations in order to replicate the Italian data and to shed some light on the outcomes of the Italian reform

A Comparison of a Brain-Computer Interface and an Eye Tracker: Is There a More Appropriate Technology for Controlling a Virtual Keyboard in an ALS Patient?

The ability of people affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy or spinal cord injuries to physically interact with the environment, is usually reduced. In some cases, these patients suffer from a syndrome known as locked-in syndrome (LIS), defined by the patient’s inability to make any move-ment but blinks and eye movements. Tech communication systems available for people in LIS are very limited, being those based on eye-tracking and brain-computer interface (BCI) the most useful for these patients. A comparative study between both technologies in an ALS patient is carried out: an eye tracker and a visual P300-based BCI. The purpose of the study presented in this paper is to show that the choice of the technology could depend on user´s preference. The evaluation of performance, workload and other subjective measures will allow us to determine the usability of the systems. The obtained results suggest that, even if for this patient the BCI technology is more appropriate, the technology should be always tested and adapted for each user.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in cancer.

Degradation by the 26S proteasome of specific proteins that have been targeted by the ubiquitin pathway is the major intracellular non-lysosomal proteolytic mechanism and is involved in a broad range of processes, such as cell cycle progression, antigen presentation and control of gene expression. Recent work, reviewed here, has shown that this pathway is often the target of cancer-related deregulation and can underlie processes, such as oncogenic transformation, tumour progression, escape from immune surveillance and drug resistance

An amino acid mixture, enriched with Krebs cycle intermediates, enhances extracellular matrix gene expression in cultured human fibroblasts

: In the human body, the skin is one of the organs most affected by the aging process. Nutritional approaches aimed to counteract the age-induced decline of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition could be a valuable tool to decrease the degenerative processes underlying skin aging. Here, we investigated the ability of a six-amino acid plus hyaluronic acid (6AAH) formulation enriched with tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediates to stimulate ECM gene expression. To this aim, human BJ fibroblasts were treated with 6AAH alone or plus succinate or malate alone or succinate plus malate (6AAHSM), and mRNA levels of several ECM markers were evaluated. 6AAHSM increased the expression of all the ECM markers significantly above 6AAH alone or plus only succinate or malate. Furthermore, in an in vitro oxidative damage model, 6AAHSM blunted the hydrogen peroxide-induced decline in ECM gene expression. Our data suggest that feeding cells with 6AAH enriched with TCAs could efficiently be employed as a non-pharmacological approach for counteracting skin aging

Application of Fractional Operators in Physics and Engineering

In this paper we present a solution to a fractional integral of order 3/2 with the use of fractional Cauchy-like integral formula. The integral arises during the solution of BiotSavart equation to find the exact analytical solution for the magnetic field components of a solenoid. The integrals are computed by cutting the branch line in order to have an analytic function inside the integral instead of multi-valued operation

Progress on the hybrid gun project at UCLA

UCLA/INFN-LNF/Univ. Rome has been developing the hybrid gun which has an RF gun and a short linac for velocity bunching in one structure. After the cavity was manufactured at INFN-LNF in 2012, tests of the gun was carried out at UCLA. The field in the standing wave part was 20 % smaller than the simulation but the phase advance was fine. The cavity was commissioned successfully up to 13 MW. The beam test was performed at 11.5 MW and demonstrated the bunch compression

Electron Gun and Magnetic Systems Studies for a 36 GHz Klystron Amplifier

Self consistent analytic and numeric design for a set of innovative electron guns suitable for Ka-band klystrons is proposed in this paper. The proposed electron sources are designed to produces narrow beam with high currents that can be used in devices with critical dimensions. The proposed set of electron gun is destined to high power klystrons to be used as power sources for accelerating structures operating in Ka-Band. This family of accelerators is foreseen to achieve energy gradients around 150 MV/m. A klystron amplifier is being investigated in order to feed a linearizer structure. In this paper different electron gun and beam focusing channel designs are presented

Progress on the π-mode X-band RF cavity for SPARC

The Frascati photo-injector SPARC (Pulsed Self Amplified Coherent Radiation Source) will be equipped with a X-band RF cavity for linearizing emittance to enhance bunch compression and for reducing bunch longitudinal energy spread. The nine cells standingwave cavity prototype made of separated cells has been already built and measured. In this paper we report on characterisation of the first brazed prototype. Heat load studies have been performed as well to design the cooling system for the final device