CONCENTRATION AND INTENSITY OF KNOWLEDGE IN SECTORS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE RETURNS OF EDUCATION IN BRAZIL

Os objetivos deste trabalho consistem nos seguintes: 1) verificar se os investimentos e educação em nível setorial são crescentes ou decrescentes; 2) se ocorre o efeito espraiamento do conhecimento dos setores de alta tecnologia para os demais setores; 3) se existe o efeito threshold educacional em nível setorial. A primeira hipótese decorre do fundamento proposto por Acemoglu (1996) e dos modelos de crescimento econômico de Lucas (1988) e Romer (1990). A segunda hipótese é derivada do trabalho de Dias et al. (2014). A terceira foi proposta por Dias e McDemortt (2012) e Dias (2018) onde os benefícios dos retornos crescentes ocorrem somente após um determinado nível educacional na América Latina. Os dados utilizados são da PNAD de 2006 e 2015, o que permitiu comparar os efeitos no tempo. As estimativas demonstraram que os setores apresentam retornos crescentes e o efeito espraiamento está presente em quase todos eles. A hipótese de que existe um threshold educacional foi confirmada e o valor é em torno de 9,0 anos de escolaridade em média nos setores. Os benefícios de ganhos de produtividade crescente advindo da acumulação de educação nos setores ainda estão por ocorrer na maioria dos setores analisados.O objetivo deste trabalho é triplo. Primeiro, estimar os retornos para a educação a nível setorial a fim de verificar a hipótese desses retornos serem crescentes. Segundo, usar o estoque de conhecimento superior presente nos setores de serviços de alta tecnologia para testar a hipótese do efeito transbordamento. Terceiro, verificar se existe o efeito threshold educacional em nível setorial. A primeira hipótese está ligada aos trabalhos de Acemoglu (1996), Lucas (1988) e Romer (1990). A segunda é derivada do trabalho de Dias et al. (2013). A terceira é proposta por Dias e McDemortt (2012) e Dias (2017), que afirmam que os benefícios dos retornos crescentes ocorrem somente após um determinado nível educacional na América Latina. Os dados utilizados são da PNAD de 2006 e 2015, o que permite comparar os efeitos no tempo. As estimativas mostraram que os setores apresentam retornos crescentes e o efeito espraiamento está presente em quase todos eles. A hipótese de que existe um threshold educacional foi confirmada e o valor é em torno de 9,0 anos de escolaridade, em média, nos setores. Os benefícios de ganhos de produtividade crescente advindos da acumulação de educação nos setores ainda estão por ocorrer na maioria dos setores analisados

Nearly-freestanding supramolecular assembly with tunable structural properties

The synthesis and design of two-dimensional supramolecular assemblies with specific functionalities is one of the principal goals of the emerging field of molecule-based electronics, which is relevant for many technological applications. Although a large number of molecular assemblies have been already investigated, engineering uniform and highly ordered two-dimensional molecular assemblies is still a challenge. Here we report on a novel approach to prepare wide highly crystalline molecular assemblies with tunable structural properties. We make use of the high-reactivity of the carboxylic acid functional moiety and of the predictable structural features of non-polar alkane chains to synthesize 2D supramolecular assemblies of 4-(decyloxy)benzoic acid (4DBA;C[Formula: see text] H[Formula: see text] O[Formula: see text] ) on a Au(111) surface. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory calculations and photoemission spectroscopy, we demonstrate that these molecules form a self-limited highly ordered and defect-free two-dimensional single-layer film of micrometer-size, which exhibits a nearly-freestanding character. We prove that by changing the length of the alkoxy chain it is possible to modify in a controlled way the molecular density of the “floating” overlayer without affecting the molecular assembly. This system is especially suitable for engineering molecular assemblies because it represents one of the few 2D molecular arrays with specific functionality where the structural properties can be tuned in a controlled way, while preserving the molecular pattern

CONCENTRATION AND INTENSITY OF KNOWLEDGE IN SECTORS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE RETURNS OF EDUCATION IN BRAZIL

Os objetivos deste trabalho consistem nos seguintes: 1) verificar se os investimentos e educação em nível setorial são crescentes ou decrescentes; 2) se ocorre o efeito espraiamento do conhecimento dos setores de alta tecnologia para os demais setores; 3) se existe o efeito threshold educacional em nível setorial. A primeira hipótese decorre do fundamento proposto por Acemoglu (1996) e dos modelos de crescimento econômico de Lucas (1988) e Romer (1990). A segunda hipótese é derivada do trabalho de Dias et al. (2014). A terceira foi proposta por Dias e McDemortt (2012) e Dias (2018) onde os benefícios dos retornos crescentes ocorrem somente após um determinado nível educacional na América Latina. Os dados utilizados são da PNAD de 2006 e 2015, o que permitiu comparar os efeitos no tempo. As estimativas demonstraram que os setores apresentam retornos crescentes e o efeito espraiamento está presente em quase todos eles. A hipótese de que existe um threshold educacional foi confirmada e o valor é em torno de 9,0 anos de escolaridade em média nos setores. Os benefícios de ganhos de produtividade crescente advindo da acumulação de educação nos setores ainda estão por ocorrer na maioria dos setores analisados.O objetivo deste trabalho é triplo. Primeiro, estimar os retornos para a educação a nível setorial a fim de verificar a hipótese desses retornos serem crescentes. Segundo, usar o estoque de conhecimento superior presente nos setores de serviços de alta tecnologia para testar a hipótese do efeito transbordamento. Terceiro, verificar se existe o efeito threshold educacional em nível setorial. A primeira hipótese está ligada aos trabalhos de Acemoglu (1996), Lucas (1988) e Romer (1990). A segunda é derivada do trabalho de Dias et al. (2013). A terceira é proposta por Dias e McDemortt (2012) e Dias (2017), que afirmam que os benefícios dos retornos crescentes ocorrem somente após um determinado nível educacional na América Latina. Os dados utilizados são da PNAD de 2006 e 2015, o que permite comparar os efeitos no tempo. As estimativas mostraram que os setores apresentam retornos crescentes e o efeito espraiamento está presente em quase todos eles. A hipótese de que existe um threshold educacional foi confirmada e o valor é em torno de 9,0 anos de escolaridade, em média, nos setores. Os benefícios de ganhos de produtividade crescente advindos da acumulação de educação nos setores ainda estão por ocorrer na maioria dos setores analisados

Rejuvenating Agents vs. Fluxing Agents: Their Respective Mechanisms of Action on Bitumen Subjected to Multiple Aging Cycles

During the service life of road pavements, the asphalt, more specifically the surface layer, is susceptible to aging due to the oxidation phenomenon and the loss of the volatile compounds of bitumen, which functions as the binder in the asphalt conglomerate. Road pavements that undergo a significant level of oxidation become rigid and susceptible to cracking, and new paving operations will need to be carried out in order to make the road ideal for continued use. However, due to recent eco-friendly initiatives that have been put in place to promote a circular economy and also mitigate the problem of environmental pollution, the asphalt industry is currently devising means of safeguarding the environment while also minimizing the cost of the production of road pavements without compromising their quality. As a general solution to this issue, old asphalt pavements are removed and recycled as reclaimed asphalt (RA), with the aim of restoring the original properties of the binder in such a way that RA can be re-used in combination with virgin materials to produce new road pavements. In this research study, virgin bitumen is subjected to a cycle of aging, after which two recycling agents are used to modify the aged bitumen samples. These samples containing the different recycling agents were subjected to a second aging cycle, a second recycling agent treatment, and then again subjected to a final aging cycle. The two recycling agents have different compositions, and each one of them could be either a rejuvenating agent or a fluxing agent. This study investigates the effect of these recycling agents on aged bitumen, and how the addition of these recycling agents influences the changes observed between virgin, aged and recycled bitumen. This would enable an understanding of rejuvenation and fluxing mechanisms, which will help in the classification of the asphalt recycling agents as either rejuvenating or fluxing agents. Dynamic shear rheology, atomic force microscopy, and light microscopy to determine asphaltene melting point were the techniques used in this investigation. The results obtained demonstrate that rejuvenating agents are more effective in reversing the effects of oxidative aging on the bitumen binder than fluxing agents

Clinically guided pacemaker choice and setting: pacemaker expert programming study

The aim of this multicentre, observational, transversal study was to evaluate pacemaker (PM) choice and setting in a large number of patients, in order to understand their relationship with the patients' clinical characteristics

Evaluation of synergistic effects of resynchronization therapy and a β-blocker up-titration strategy based on a predefined patient-management program: the RESTORE study

Prior studies have suggested that a substantial number of eligible heart failure (HF) patients fail to receive β-blocker therapy, or receive it at a suboptimal dose. The aim of this study is to assess the benefit of a predefined management program designed for β-blocker up-titration, evaluating the synergistic effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and β-blockers in a HF population. The Resynchronization Therapy and β-Blocker Titration (RESTORE) study is a prospective, case-control, multicenter cohort study designed to test the hypothesis that a β-blocker up-titration strategy based on a predefined management program maximizes the beneficial effect of CRT, increasing the number of patients reaching the target dose of β-blockers and improving their clinical outcome. All study patients receive an implantable defibrillator for CRT delivery in accordance with current guidelines. Enrollments started in December 2011 and are scheduled to end in December 2014. Approximately 250 consecutive patients will be prospectively enrolled in 6 Italian centers and followed up for 24 months after implantation. The primary endpoint is to demonstrate that CRT may allow titration of β-blockers until the optimal dose, or at least to the effective dose, in patients with HF. This study might provide important information about the benefit of a predefined management program for β-blocker up-titration in patients receiving CRT. Moreover, assessment of health-care utilization and the consumption of resources will allow estimating the potential utility of remote monitoring by means of an automated telemedicine system in facilitating the titration of β-blockers in comparison with a standard in-hospital approach

Effectiveness of a management program for outpatient clinic or remote titration of beta-blockers in CRT patients: The RESTORE study

Background Many patients fail to receive β-blockers before cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation, or receive them at a suboptimal dose, and require optimization after implantation. We assessed the effectiveness of a structured program for β-blocker titration in CRT-D patients followed up by means of conventional in-clinic visits or remote monitoring. Methods and results 130 patients undergoing CRT implantation and treated according to the standard practice of the centers were included as a control group. A second group of 124 CRT-D candidates (Study Group) underwent up-titration visits every 2 weeks after implantation (target dose: 10 mg/day of bisoprolol or 50 mg/day of carvedilol). In the Study Group, remote monitoring was undertaken in 66 patients, who received additional equipment for daily transmission of weight and blood pressure data, and scheduled titration telephone calls. In the Control Group, the maximal dose of β-blockers was being administered to 12 (9%) patients on implantation and 21 (16%) on 6-month follow-up examination (p > 0.05). In the Study Group, 25 (20%) patients were receiving the maximal dose of β-blockers on implantation and 72 (58%) on follow-up examination (p < 0.001). The 66 Study Group patients on remote monitoring underwent fewer in-clinic visits (p = 0.034). Of these, 50 (76%) were on the maximal dose after remote up-titration (versus 38% of patients followed up conventionally, p < 0.001). The decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume was larger in the Study Group (p = 0.040). Conclusions The program for β-blocker up-titration increased the number of patients reaching the target dose and improved the response to the therapy. The use of remote monitoring and daily transfer of weight and blood pressure data facilitated β-blocker titration

Nearly-freestanding supramolecular assembly with tunable structural properties

Abstract The synthesis and design of two-dimensional supramolecular assemblies with specific functionalities is one of the principal goals of the emerging field of molecule-based electronics, which is relevant for many technological applications. Although a large number of molecular assemblies have been already investigated, engineering uniform and highly ordered two-dimensional molecular assemblies is still a challenge. Here we report on a novel approach to prepare wide highly crystalline molecular assemblies with tunable structural properties. We make use of the high-reactivity of the carboxylic acid functional moiety and of the predictable structural features of non-polar alkane chains to synthesize 2D supramolecular assemblies of 4-(decyloxy)benzoic acid (4DBA;C $$_{17}$$ 17 H $$_{26}$$ 26 O $$_{3}$$ 3 ) on a Au(111) surface. By means of scanning tunneling microscopy, density functional theory calculations and photoemission spectroscopy, we demonstrate that these molecules form a self-limited highly ordered and defect-free two-dimensional single-layer film of micrometer-size, which exhibits a nearly-freestanding character. We prove that by changing the length of the alkoxy chain it is possible to modify in a controlled way the molecular density of the “floating” overlayer without affecting the molecular assembly. This system is especially suitable for engineering molecular assemblies because it represents one of the few 2D molecular arrays with specific functionality where the structural properties can be tuned in a controlled way, while preserving the molecular pattern