Do Countries with Similar Levels of Corruption Compete to Attract Foreign Investment? Evidence Using World Panel Data

This paper examines whether foreign direct investment in one country helps to increase foreign investment in other countries with a similar degree of corruption. Our estimates are based on an unbalanced annual panel of 164 countries over the 2005–2015 period. Using spatial econometric techniques, our main findings reveal that foreign investment in one recipient country is complementary to that in countries with similar levels of corruption. Furthermore, our results point to the existence of different circuits of foreign direct capital among countries that are determined by corruption similarity. These results suggest important policy implications for countries aiming to attract foreign investment

L2 perception of Spanish palatal variants across different tasks

While considerable dialectal variation exists, almost all varieties of Spanish exhibit some sort of alternation in terms of the palatal obstruent segments. Typically, the palatal affricate [ɟʝ] tends to occur in word onset following a pause and in specific linear phonotactic environments. The palatal fricative [ʝ] tends to occur in syllable onset in other contexts. We show that listeners’ perceptual sensitivity to the palatal alternation depends upon the task and exposure to Spanish input. For native Spanish listeners, the palatal alternation boosts segmentation accuracy on an artificial speech segmentation task and also reduces latencies on a phonotactically-conditioned elision task. L2 Spanish listeners, on the other hand, only benefit from the palatal alternation in the second task. These results suggest that while Spanish L2 learners benefit from the presence of the alternation in linear phonotactic terms, this benefit does not carry over to a more abstract segmentation task

Lung, Breast and Colorectal Cancer Incidence by Socioeconomic Status in Spain: A Population-Based Multilevel Study

Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer incidence are not well documented in southern Europe. We aim to study the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and colorectal, lung, and breast cancer incidence in Spain. We conducted a multilevel study using data from Spanish populationbased cancer registries, including incident cases diagnosed for the period 2010–2013 in nine Spanish provinces. We used Poisson mixed-effects models, including the census tract as a random intercept, to derive cancer incidence rate ratios by SES, adjusted for age and calendar year. Male adults with the lowest SES, compared to those with the highest SES, showed weak evidence of being at increased risk of lung cancer (risk ratio (RR): 1.18, 95% CI: 0.94–1.46) but showed moderate evidence of being at reduced risk of colorectal cancer (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.74–0.97). Female adults with the lowest SES, compared to those with the highest SES, showed strong evidence of lower breast cancer incidence with 24% decreased risk (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68–0.85). Among females, we did not find evidence of an association between SES and lung or colorectal cancer. The associations found between SES and cancer incidence in Spain are consistent with those obtained in other European countries.Spanish National Health Institute Carlos III Miguel Servet-I Investigator grant/award, grant number CP17/00206-EU-FEDERInstituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII): PI18/01593 and CP17/00206-EU/FEDERAsociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC): PROYE20023SÁNCCancer Epidemiological Surveillance Subprogram (VICA) from the CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) from the Instituto de Salud Carlos IIILa Caixa Foundatio

LDR brachytherapy offers superior tumor control to single-fraction HDR prostate brachytherapy: A prospective study

[Purpose]: To compare the clinical outcomes of single-fraction high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and single-fraction low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy as the sole treatment for primary prostate cancer. [Material and Methods]: A quasi-randomized study that allocated, from March 2008 to February 2012, 129 low and intermediate risk prostate cancer patients to one single-fraction HDR of 19 Gy (61 patients) or to a 145 Gy 125I LDR permanent implant (68 patients. Biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis. [Results]: After a median follow-up of 72 months in the HDR group, 26 patients relapsed, and after a median follow-up of 84 months in the LDR group, 7 patients relapsed (p < 0.0001). The 5-year bRFS was significantly better for the LDR group than for the HDR group (93.7% and 61.1%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). The 5-year OS also was significantly better in the LDR group (95.5% vs. 89.9%) (p = 0.0436). [Conclusions]: Permanent LDR prostate implant brachytherapy offers better clinical outcomes than single-fraction HDR for prostate cancer.Peer reviewe

Nutrient flux and budget in the Ebro estuary

The Ebro river flows to the Mediterranean coast of Spain. During its final stretch, the Ebro behaves in a similar way to a highly stratified estuary. This paper describes the transport of nutrients to the Ebro estuary, evaluates the general movement of nutrients in the estuarine region, using a mass balance approach, and estimates the amounts of nutrients discharged to the coastal environment. Given the strong saline stratification, this study only includes the surface layer that contains the continental freshwater. The annual nutrient budget for the Ebro estuary shows a net excess for nitrogen and phosphorus, while silicate almost attains equilibrium between addition and removal. There are several reasons for gains in nitrogen and phosphorous: a contribution of dissolved and particulate compounds in the freshwater (some of which are mineralized); a lower uptake of phytoplankton indicated by chlorophyll reduction in the estuary; an entrainment of the nutrient-rich upper part of the salt wedge; and, to a lesser extent, the impact of wastewater and agricultural water use. The biggest load discharged into the Mediterranean Sea by the Ebro is nitrogen, followed by silicate with over 10 000 tons of each deposited annually. Phosphorus is discharged at relatively low concentrations and with an annual load of about 200 t yr¿1.This project was funded by the European Union in the framework of the MAST-III research project: "Preparation and Integration of Analysis Tools towards Operational Forecast of Nutrients in Estuaries of European Rivers (PIONEER)", Reference No. MAS3-CT98-0170.Falco Giaccaglia, SL.; Niencheski, L.; Rodilla Alamá, M.; Romero Gil, I.; González Del Rio Rams, J.; Sierra, J.; Mösso, C. (2010). Nutrient flux and budget in the Ebro estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 87(1):92-102. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2009.12.020S9210287

Xanthone-photosensitized detoxification of the veterinary anthelmintic fenbendazole

Fenbendazole (1) is a common veterinary anthelmintic, toxic to water living microorganisms. Fluorescence quantum yields of 1 were found to be 0.11 in acetonitrile, 0.068 in methanol, 0.034 in cyclohexane, and 0.013 in water. The singlet excited state energy was ca. 96 kcal mol(-1) in all solvents. The phosphorescence spectrum of 1 in ethanol at 77 K displayed a maximum at 450 nm, leading to a triplet energy of 75 kcal mol(-1). Experimental excited state energies agree well with the results of OFT calculations at the time-dependent B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. Laser flash photolysis (LFP) of 1 at 266 nm led to transients absorbing in the 300-700 nm range, ascribed to radical cation 1(.+), which were also observed upon 355 nm LFP of xanthone (XA) in the presence of 1. Solar-simulated photolysis revealed XA-enhanced photodegradation of 1 and led to decreased toxicity, as shown by Daphnia magna assays. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Financial support from the MICINN (CTQ2010-19909) and the Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeo Program) is gratefully acknowledged.Jornet Olivé, MD.; Castillo López, MÁ.; Sabater Marco, C.; R. Domingo, L.; Tormos Faus, RE.; Miranda Alonso, MÁ. (2013). Xanthone-photosensitized detoxification of the veterinary anthelmintic fenbendazole. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry. 264:34-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2013.05.002S344026

Clinical Risk Score to Predict Pathogenic Genotypes in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background: Although genotyping allows family screening and influences risk-stratification in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or isolated left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), its result is negative in a significant number of patients, limiting its widespread adoption. Objectives: This study sought to develop and externally validate a score that predicts the probability for a positive genetic test result (G+) in DCM/LVSD. Methods: Clinical, electrocardiogram, and echocardiographic variables were collected in 1,015 genotyped patients from Spain with DCM/LVSD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables independently predicting G+, which were summed to create the Madrid Genotype Score. The external validation sample comprised 1,097 genotyped patients from the Maastricht and Trieste registries. Results: A G+ result was found in 377 (37%) and 289 (26%) patients from the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Independent predictors of a G+ result in the derivation cohort were: family history of DCM (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.73-3.04; P &lt; 0.001), low electrocardiogram voltage in peripheral leads (OR: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.38-5.49; P &lt; 0.001), skeletal myopathy (OR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.60-7.31; P = 0.001), absence of hypertension (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.67-3.13; P &lt; 0.001), and absence of left bundle branch block (OR: 3.58; 95% CI: 2.57-5.01; P &lt; 0.001). A score containing these factors predicted a G+ result, ranging from 3% when all predictors were absent to 79% when ≥4 predictors were present. Internal validation provided a C-statistic of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.71-0.77) and a calibration slope of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.80-1.10). The C-statistic in the external validation cohort was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.71-0.78). Conclusions: The Madrid Genotype Score is an accurate tool to predict a G+ result in DCM/LVSD

Desarrollo de productos avanzados para la misión SEOSAT/Ingenio

Revista oficial de la Asociación Española de Teledetección[EN] SEOSAT/Ingenio is the future Spanish Earth Observation high spatial resolution mission in the optical domain. While Level 1 products, at-sensor geo-referenced radiances, are in an advanced phase of development under the framework of an industrial contractor, Level 2 products must be developed by the users. This fact limits the use of the satellite images only to the scientific community, restricting their use in other applications. The need to alleviate this limitation motivated this work, developed under the framework of a coordinate project, which aimed at offering a list of Level2 products to the Ingenio/SEOSAT user community. In this paper, we present the different methodologies developed to produce the proposed Level2 products, from surface reflectance at nominal sensor spatial resolution to images with higher spatial resolution or the possibility to create spatial and temporal mosaics. On the one side, for the surface reflectance product, we proposed an atmospheric correction algorithm based on using the spatial information, linked to a cloud screening algorithm and including morphological and topographic shadow corrections. On the other side, to enhance the image spatial resolution, we applied different fusion techniques using the multispectral and the panchromatic band, as well as some of the so-called “super-resolution” techniques. Finally, we provided different tools to develop spatial mosaics and temporal composites, directed to users interested on the exploitation of the Ingenio/ SEOSAT images.[ES] SEOSAT/Ingenio es la futura misión española de observación de la Tierra en el óptico en alta resolución es-pacial. Mientras que los productos de imagen a Nivel 1, radiancias geo-referenciadas a nivel de sensor, se encuentran en una fase avanzada de desarrollo existiendo para ello un contrato industrial, los productos de Nivel 2 deben ser de-sarrollados por los propios usuarios. Este hecho limita el uso de las imágenes a la comunidad científica, restringiendo sus posibles aplicaciones fuera de ésta. Así pues, bajo el marco de un proyecto coordinado y motivados por ofrecer productos de Ingenio/SEOSAT de Nivel 2 a disposición de cualquier usuario, se origina y desarrolla este trabajo. En este artículo se presentan los diferentes procesos desarrollados para la elaboración de productos a Nivel 2, desde reflectividades en superficie a la resolución nominal del sensor hasta imágenes con información espacial realzada y la posibilidad de crear mosaicos espaciales y compuestos temporales. Por una parte, en el caso de los productos de reflectividad en superficie se propone una técnica de corrección atmosférica basada en el uso de la información es-pacial, previo enmascaramiento de las nubes y una exhaustiva corrección de sombras morfológicas y/o topográficas. Por otra parte, para el realce de la información espacial, han sido evaluados diferentes métodos basados en la fusión de bandas multiespectrales con una banda pancromática así como la aplicación de técnicas llamadas de “Super-re-solución”. Finalmente, se proporcionan las herramientas necesarias para la realización de mosaicos tanto espaciales como temporales para todo tipo de usuarios interesados en la explotación de las imágenesEste artículo ha sido posible gracias al proyecto coordinado “Generación de Productos de Nivel 2 para la Misión INGENIO/SEOSAT”, ESP2013- 48458-C4-1-P, subvencionado por el Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad dentro del Programa Estatal de Fomento de la Investigación Científica y Técnica de Excelencia.Sabater, N.; Ruiz-Verdú, A.; Delegido, J.; Fernández-Beltrán, R.; Latorre-Carmona, P.; Pla, F.; González-Audícana, M.... (2016). Development of advanced products for the SEOSAT/Ingenio mission. Revista de Teledetección. (47):23-40. https://doi.org/10.4995/raet.2016.6569SWORD234047Blesius, L., & Weirich, F. (2005). The use of the Minnaert correction for land‐cover classification in mountainous terrain. 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