bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Irregular breakfast habits are associated with children’s increased adiposity and children’s and parents’ lifestyle-related behaviors: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo Rogério Melo , Pereira Rosangela Alves , Santana Ana Margarida Sebastião , Gama Augusta , Carvalhal Isabel Mourão , Nogueira Helena , Rosado-Marques Vitor , Padez Cristina
Published: July 2016

Background

Skipping meals, especially breakfast, is related to an increase in adiposity indicators, and this behavior is related to metabolic changes that predispose to the development of chronic diseases, recognized as major causes of death worldwide. The objective of the present paper was estimated the association between irregular breakfast habits with adiposity indices in schoolchildren and other lifestyle factors.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009–2010, including schoolchildren (n = 10,243) between 6 and 9 years old (51.3 % girls) from 18 districts of mainland Portugal. Breakfast habits were ascertained by asking a yes/no question (“Does your child eat breakfast regularly?”). An index estimated by performing principal component analysis was used to assess body adiposity from three different adiposity indicators (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and the triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfolds (used to estimate body fat percentage (BFP))). Multivariate logistic regression and multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the association of irregular breakfast habits with anthropometric indicators (BMI, BMI z score, WC, BFP, and adiposity index) and with children’s and parents’ lifestyle and socioeconomic characteristics.

Results

A total of 3.5 % of the children did not have breakfast regularly (girls 3.9 %; boys 3.1 %; P = 0.02). Among boys, irregular breakfast habits were associated with lower fathers’ education level, television time ≥2 h/day, and soft drink consumption ≥2 times/week. For girls, irregular breakfast habits were associated with lower mothers’ education level and physical inactivity, soft drink consumption ≥2 times/week, and <1 portion of milk/day. Multivariate linear models revealed a positive association between irregular breakfast habits with increased adiposity indicators among boys (BMI (kg/m2): β = 1.33; BMI z score: β = 0.48; WC (cm): β = 2.00; BFP (%): β = 2.20; adiposity index: β = 0.37; P < 0.01 for all). No significant association was found for girls.

Conclusions

Irregular breakfast habits were positively associated with boys’ increased global adiposity and were significantly affected by children’s and parents’ lifestyle-related behaviors.
Crucial roles of the Arp2/3 complex during mammalian corticogenesis
Authors: Wang Pei-Shan , Chou Fu-Sheng , Ramachandran Sreekumar , Xia Sheng , Chen Huei-Ying , Guo Fengli , Suraneni Praveen , Maher Brady J. , Li Rong
Published: July 2016

The polarity and organization of radial glial cells (RGCs), which serve as both stem cells and scaffolds for neuronal migration, are crucial for cortical development. However, the cytoskeletal mechanisms that drive radial glial outgrowth and maintain RGC polarity remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the Arp2/3 complex – the unique actin nucleator that produces branched actin networks – plays essential roles in RGC polarity and morphogenesis. Disruption of the Arp2/3 complex in murine RGCs retards process outgrowth toward the basal surface and impairs apical polarity and adherens junctions. Whereas the former is correlated with an abnormal actin-based leading edge, the latter is consistent with blockage in membrane trafficking. These defects result in altered cell fate, disrupted cortical lamination and abnormal angiogenesis. In addition, we present evidence that the Arp2/3 complex is a cell-autonomous regulator of neuronal migration. Our data suggest that Arp2/3-mediated actin assembly might be particularly important for neuronal cell motility in a soft or poorly adhesive matrix environment.
JAK/STAT signalling mediates cell survival in response to tissue stress
Authors: La Fortezza Marco , Schenk Madlin , Cosolo Andrea , Kolybaba Addie , Grass Isabelle , Classen Anne-Kathrin
Published: July 2016

Tissue homeostasis relies on the ability of tissues to respond to stress. Tissue regeneration and tumour models in Drosophila have shown that c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) acts as a prominent stress-response pathway promoting injury-induced apoptosis and compensatory proliferation. A central question remaining unanswered is how both responses are balanced by activation of a single pathway. Signalling through the Janus kinase/Signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, which is a potential JNK target, is implicated in promoting compensatory proliferation. While we observe JAK/STAT activation in imaginal discs upon damage, our data demonstrate that JAK/STAT and its downstream effector Zfh2 promote the survival of JNK signalling cells. The JNK component fos and the pro-apoptotic gene hid are regulated in a JAK/STAT-dependent manner. This molecular pathway restrains JNK-induced apoptosis and spatial propagation of JNK signalling, thereby limiting the extent of tissue damage, as well as facilitating systemic and proliferative responses to injury. We find that the pro-survival function of JAK/STAT also drives tumour growth under conditions of chronic stress. Our study defines the function of JAK/STAT in tissue stress and illustrates how crosstalk between conserved signalling pathways establishes an intricate equilibrium between proliferation, apoptosis and survival to restore tissue homeostasis.
The Drosophila neurogenin Tap functionally interacts with the Wnt-PCP pathway to regulate neuronal extension and guidance
Authors: Yuan Liqun , Hu Shu , Okray Zeynep , Ren Xi , De Geest Natalie , Claeys Annelies , Yan Jiekun , Bellefroid Eric , Hassan Bassem A. , Quan Xiao-Jiang
Published: July 2016

The neurogenin (Ngn) transcription factors control early neurogenesis and neurite outgrowth in mammalian cortex. In contrast to their proneural activity, their function in neurite growth is poorly understood. Drosophila has a single predicted Ngn homolog, Tap, of unknown function. Here we show that Tap is not a proneural protein in Drosophila but is required for proper axonal growth and guidance of neurons of the mushroom body, a neuropile required for associative learning and memory. Genetic and expression analyses suggest that Tap inhibits excessive axonal growth by fine regulation of the levels of the Wnt signaling adaptor protein Dishevelled.
Separate elements of the TERMINAL FLOWER 1 cis-regulatory region integrate pathways to control flowering time and shoot meristem identity
Authors: Serrano-Mislata Antonio , Fernández-Nohales Pedro , Doménech María J. , Hanzawa Yoshie , Bradley Desmond , Madueño Francisco
Published: July 2016

TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) is a key regulator of Arabidopsis plant architecture, which responds to developmental and environmental signals to control flowering time and the fate of shoot meristems. TFL1 expression pattern is dynamic, being found in all shoot meristems, but not in floral meristems, with its level and distribution changing throughout development. Using a variety of experimental approaches, we have analysed the TFL1 promoter to elucidate its functional structure. TFL1 expression is based on distinct cis-regulatory regions, the most important ones located 3' of the coding sequence. Our results indicate that TFL1 expression in the shoot apical vs. lateral inflorescence meristems is controlled through distinct cis-regulatory elements, suggesting that different signals control expression in these meristem types. Moreover, we identified a cis-regulatory region necessary for TFL1 expression in the vegetative shoot, required for a wild-type flowering time, supporting that TFL1 expression in the vegetative meristem controls flowering time. Our study provides a model for the functional organization of TFL1 cis-regulatory regions, contributing to understanding of how developmental pathways are integrated at the genomic level of a key regulator to control plant architecture.
Myocardin-related transcription factors are required for skeletal muscle development
Authors: Cenik Bercin K. , Liu Ning , Chen Beibei , Bezprozvannaya Svetlana , Olson Eric N. , Bassel-Duby Rhonda
Published: July 2016

Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) play a central role in the regulation of actin expression and cytoskeletal dynamics. Stimuli that promote actin polymerization allow for shuttling of MRTFs to the nucleus where they activate serum response factor (SRF), a regulator of actin and other cytoskeletal protein genes. SRF is an essential regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation and numerous components of the muscle sarcomere, but the potential involvement of MRTFs in skeletal muscle development has not been examined. We explored the role of MRTFs in muscle development in vivo by generating mutant mice harboring a skeletal muscle-specific deletion of MRTF-B and a global deletion of MRTF-A. These double knockout (dKO) mice were able to form sarcomeres during embryogenesis. However, the sarcomeres were abnormally small and disorganized, causing skeletal muscle hypoplasia and perinatal lethality. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated dramatic dysregulation of actin genes in MRTF dKO mice, highlighting the importance of MRTFs in actin cycling and myofibrillogenesis. MRTFs were also shown to be necessary for the survival of skeletal myoblasts and for the efficient formation of intact myotubes. Our findings reveal a central role for MRTFs in sarcomere formation during skeletal muscle development and point to the potential involvement of these transcriptional co-activators in skeletal myopathies.
Sip1 regulates the generation of the inner nuclear layer retinal cell lineages in mammals
Authors: Menuchin-Lasowski Yotam , Oren-Giladi Pazit , Xie Qing , Ezra-Elia Raaya , Ofri Ron , Peled-Hajaj Shany , Farhy Chen , Higashi Yujiro , Van de Putte Tom , Kondoh Hisato , Huylebroeck Danny , Cvekl Ales , Ashery-Padan Ruth
Published: July 2016

The transcription factor Sip1 (Zeb2) plays multiple roles during CNS development from early acquisition of neural fate to cortical neurogenesis and gliogenesis. In humans, SIP1 (ZEB2) haploinsufficiency leads to Mowat–Wilson syndrome, a complex congenital anomaly including intellectual disability, epilepsy and Hirschsprung disease. Here we uncover the role of Sip1 in retinogenesis. Somatic deletion of Sip1 from mouse retinal progenitors primarily affects the generation of inner nuclear layer cell types, resulting in complete loss of horizontal cells and reduced numbers of amacrine and bipolar cells, while the number of Muller glia is increased. Molecular analysis places Sip1 downstream of the eye field transcription factor Pax6 and upstream of Ptf1a in the gene network required for generating the horizontal and amacrine lineages. Intriguingly, characterization of differentiation dynamics reveals that Sip1 has a role in promoting the timely differentiation of retinal interneurons, assuring generation of the proper number of the diverse neuronal and glial cell subtypes that constitute the functional retina in mammals.
Leapfrogging: primordial germ cell transplantation permits recovery of CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations in essential genes
Authors: Blitz Ira L. , Fish Margaret B. , Cho Ken W. Y.
Published: July 2016

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing is revolutionizing genetic loss-of-function analysis but technical limitations remain that slow progress when creating mutant lines. First, in conventional genetic breeding schemes, mosaic founder animals carrying mutant alleles are outcrossed to produce F1 heterozygotes. Phenotypic analysis occurs in the F2 generation following F1 intercrosses. Thus, mutant analyses will require multi-generational studies. Second, when targeting essential genes, efficient mutagenesis of founders is often lethal, preventing the acquisition of mature animals. Reducing mutagenesis levels may improve founder survival, but results in lower, more variable rates of germline transmission. Therefore, an efficient approach to study lethal mutations would be useful. To overcome these shortfalls, we introduce ‘leapfrogging’, a method combining efficient CRISPR mutagenesis with transplantation of mutated primordial germ cells into a wild-type host. Tested using Xenopus tropicalis, we show that founders containing transplants transmit mutant alleles with high efficiency. F1 offspring from intercrosses between F0 animals that carry embryonic lethal alleles recapitulate loss-of-function phenotypes, circumventing an entire generation of breeding. We anticipate that leapfrogging will be transferable to other species.
Desigualdade de Renda e Crescimento Econômico no Brasil: 1976-1985
Authors: Ramos Lauro
Published: July 2016

This paper aims at revisiting the discussion on the possible conflict between income distribution and economic development. The analysis is based on the Brazilian experience from 1976 to 1985. The basic exercise relates the evolution of earnings inequality, as measured by the Theil T index, to the behavior af income per capita in that period. The results suggest that there is room for accomplishing efficiency and equity targets; simultaneously, even at the early stages of economic development.
O Declínio na Desigualdade da Escolaridade no Brasil e seus Efeitos na Desigualdade de Rendimentos
Authors: Lam David , Levison Deborah
Published: July 2016

Household survey data demonstrate that Brazilian males born between 1925 and 1963 experienced steady increases in mean schooling and significant declines in schooling inequality. The variance in years of schooling increased for cohorts born up until 1950, with steady declines for more recent cohorts. Decomposition of a standrad human capital earnings equation indicates that trends in schooling tended to reduce earnings inequality from 1976 to 1985, due to reductions in both the variance of shooling and in return to shooling. These improvements were more than offset, however, by increases in other sources of inequality. Although the net increase in earnings inequality from 1976 to 1985 is disturbing, the reduction in schooling inequality represents a fundamental improvement in the determinants of eranings inequality in Brazil that will have beneficial effects for decades.
Subadditive Probabilities and Portfolio Inertia
Authors: Simonsen Mario Henrique , Werlang Sérgio Ribeiro da Costa
Published: July 2016

We show that in the presence of uncertainty (in the sense of Knight), as axiomatized by Schmeidler (1982, 1984) and Gilboa (1987) (as opposed to the classical view of Savage (1954)) one may obtain portfolio inertia with positive quantities held of all assets. We also present a comprehensive survey of the recent literature on uncertainty, with special emphasis on the subadditive probabilities model.
Repeated Games Played by Finite Automata: A Survey
Authors: Menezes Flavio Marques
Published: July 2016

In this paper we survey the recent literature on games played by finite automata. We discuss issues regarding players' rationality, procedural costs of decision making, and cooperation among players.
The Cyclical Component in Brazilian GDP
Authors: Cribari-Neto Francisco
Published: July 2016

This paper presents an estimate of the cyclical component in Brazilian GDP obtained by allowing the trend component to follow a stochastic process. It also compares this estimate with a more naive one, obtained by forcing the trend to be deterministic. The main result this paper conveys is that the cyclical component in Brazilian GDP is very small, and hence almost all output fluctuations have been caused by long-run (real) factors.
Equilibrium Theory in Infinite Dimensional Spaces
Authors: Menezes Flávio Marques
Published: July 2016

Este é o primeiro número da nova série da editora SpringerVerlag, "Studies in Economic Theory", editada por C.D. Aliprantis (Departamento de Matemática, IUPUI, Indianápolis, IN, EUA) e N.C. Yannelis (Departamento de Economia, Universidade de Illinois, Champaign, IL, EUA). Mais uma vez essa editora demonstra que está na vanguarda da divulgação científica na área de teoria econômica avançada.
Ajuste de um Modelo de Arbitragem de Preços Sob Incertezas Inflacionárias
Authors: Tannuri M. Eduarda , Souza Geraldo S. , Caron Alain
Published: July 2016

This article investigates the adequability of on arbitrage princing theory (APT) model under uncertain inflation to the Brazilian stock market. It is carried out through the statistical adjustment of this model to the historical series of the nominal asset returns of the more traded stocks in the So Paulo stock exchange. The hypothcses are validated by the factorial analysis of the asset returns adopting the principal factors method.
Intertemporal Substitution in Consumption: An American Investigation for Brazil
Authors: Cavalcanti Carlos B.
Published: July 2016

This paper examines different formulations of the Euler equation in order to assess their magnitude of the intertemporal substitution effect in Brazil during the 1980. Estimates of the intertemporal elasticity of substitution for those consumers that are not liquidity constrained are statistically significant, but less than one. The result suggest that an increase in interest rates in Brazil during this period had both income and substitution effects.
Economic Policy for the Environment: The Role of International Cooperation
Authors: Terra M. Cristina
Published: July 2016

In a normative approach, this paper studies the use of economic policy when environmentally harmful externalities of production/consumption cross the countries' frontiers. In a model with two countries, one of the countries produces an air polluting good, while the other produces a good that destroys its rain forest. Pollution destroys the ozone layer, and the rain forest helps in rebuilding it. Two solutions will be analyzed: the cooperative solution, where the two countries implement the globally optimizing solution; and the non-cooperative solution, where each country separately implements the national best allocation. The main result of this paper is that, absent worldwide coordination, the implementation of environmental policies could actually worsen welfare. The reason is that the countries would take the opportunity to introduce protectionist policies to exploit their monopoly power in the world market for goods.
A Review of "Non-Stationary Time Series Analysis and Cointegration" by Colin P. Hargreaves
Authors: Carneiro Francisco G.
Published: July 2016

The book is addressed to both professional economists who believe in econometrics and graduate students with a taste for time series analysis. It discusses important features of the increasingly popular method of cointegration analysis and non-stationary time series blending the theoretical discussion with detailed implementations which appear quite helpful to practitioners. Common questions such as how to determine the lag length in a Johansen VAR, or what treatment to give to a second valid cointegrating vector are dealt with in this book, which is another volume of the excellent series Advanced Texts in Econometrics, edited by Granger and Mizon. In this volume, Collin Hargreaves gathers ten articles showing major developments in the econometric analysis of long-run relationships and model evaluation. The papers discuss in depth the problems involved with, and the new methods related to, the analysis of non-stationary time series and cointegration. The authors who contribute to the book not only address the technical details but also give a fair dimension of how the subject matter has so profoundly affected recent econometric analysis in general.
As Reservas e o Caso de Bandas Múltiplas
Authors: Araujo Aloísio , Feijó Filho Cypriano L.
Published: July 2016

The paper addresses the issue of frequent government interventions in the exchange rate market in the attempt to stabilize the exchange rate. The problem is reduced to a simple comparison between two regimes. In the first one, the government intervenes at a single exchange rate level. In the other regime the intervention occurs at two different levels. Using techniques common to the Target Zone literature, the paper shows that more frequent interventions lead to short run stability at the expense of a more volatile exchange market afterwards.
A Monte Carlo Study on the Fit of a Cost Function by a Fourier Flexible Functional Form
Authors: Souza João Carlos F. , Souza Geraldo S.
Published: July 2016

We use the simulation model of Chalfallt and Gallant (1985) to investigate the fit of a Fourier flexible form to a cost function when interest is to estimate elasticities of substitution. The data is subject to errors in variables and the estimation method is seemingly unrelated regressions. We use two approximating Fourier functional forms with 13 (FFF13) and 22 (FFF22) parameters. The biases in point estimation are negligible for FFF13. The classical t statistics do not follow, in general, the Student's distribution. Even when estimates are properly centered and scaled there are cases where the normal approximation does not hold.
A Model to Estimate the Us Term Structure of Interest Rates
Authors: Júnior Antonio Marcos Duarte , Werlang Sérgio Ribeiro da Costa
Published: July 2016

The US term structure of interest rates plays a central role in fixed-income analysis. For example, estimating accurately the US term structure is a crucial step for those interested in analyzing Brazilian Brady bonds such as IDUs, DCBs, FLIRBs, EIs, etc. In this work we present a statistical model to estimate the US term structure of interest rates. We address in this report all major issues which drove us in the process of implementing the model developed, concentrating on important practical issues such as computational efficiency, robustness of the final implementation, the statistical properties of the final model, etc. Numerical examples are provided in order to illustrate the use of the model on a daily basis.
Stable Outcomes in Discrete and Continuous Models of Two-Sided Matching: a Unified Treatment
Authors: Roth Alvin E. , Sotomayor Marilda
Published: July 2016

We present a unified treatment of a class of two-sided matching models that includes discrete models (such as the marriage model of Gale and Shapley) and continuous models (such as the assignmnent model of Shapley aud Shubik and the generalized assignment model of Demange aud Gale). In contrast with previous, treatments, the parallel conclusions for the two sets of models are derived here in the same way from the same assumptions. We show that the results ill question all follow closely from the assumptions that the core coincides with the core defined by weak domination. In the marriage model, the assumption of strict preferences causes these two sets to coincide, while in the continuous models the two sets coincide because agents have continuous preferences and prices can be adjusted continuously.
Introducing Non-Linearity Into Cointegration
Authors: Granger Clive W. J.
Published: July 2016

A wide class of processes is considered in which initially a persistent series and a transient series are generated separately, as unobserved components, and from them a pair of observable series are generated as a weighted combination of the components. It follows that the observable series will be persistent but have a linear combination that is transient, aud so can be considered cointegrated. From the construction, the series need not be I(1) and other linear aspects of standard theory is removable, but often error-correction models are available. Some theoretical examples are provided.
Inflation and the Informativeness of Prices: Microeconomic Evidence from High Inflation
Authors: Tommasi Mariano
Published: July 2016

I study the effect of inflation on the ability of economic agents to forecast real prices, using microeconomic data from Argentina 1990-1992. The evidence favors the view that inflation degrades the informational content of real prices. Several rules for forecasting real prices are shown to perform worst at higher iuflation. Also, at high inflation, real prices have shorter durations, and mark-down sales disappear. This snggests that inflation (at least high inflation) has "Industrial Organization" effects usually ignored in macroeconomic assessments of the effects of inflation.
A Framework for the Active Management of a Global Currency Fund
Authors: Júnior Antonio Marcos Duarte
Published: July 2016

We consider the problem of optimally managing an investment fund by taking positions in spot and derivatives foreign exchange markets. The framework proposed combines scenario analysis and downside risk to provide an optimization model more realistic and conceptually superior when compared to previous currency works based on the Markowitz's Mean-Variance framework. A historical simulation covering three years, and involving eleven currencies, is presented to illustrate the potential of the framework. Extensions to cover multiperiod investment analysis are also discussed.
Debt Crisis and Inflation
Authors: Terra Maria Cristina T.
Published: July 2016

This paper develops and tests a model that predicts a negative link between the degree of openness of an economy and its equilibrium inflation rate. The effect arises in an economy going through a debt crisis, and in which inflation tax constitutes an important source of the government's revenue. The predictions of the analysis are compared to those in Romer (1993), which uses a Barro-Gordon type model to argue that openness puts a check on a government's incentive to engage in unanticipated inflation, because of induced exchange rate depreciation. Romer's tests are reevaluated, and it is shown that the degree of openness is only a significant determinant of inflation among highly indebted countries, during the debt crisis period. The empirical results indicate that the model of openness and inflation' presented here explains the data better than Romer.
Financial Modeling Using Sampling-Importance Resampling
Authors: Mendes Beatriz Vaz de Melo
Published: July 2016

While Bayesian methodology has been for decades widely applied to econometric models, robust methods had just lately gained more attention of econometricians. More recently, simulation-based techniques, such as the Sampling-Importance Resampling (SIR) algorithm, have become useful and popular approaches to statistical problems. This article puts together the robust and Bayesian approaches through the SIR technique. Using financial models we show how the statistics usually obtained through the SIR technique can be enhanced by the incorporation of robust aspects. For these models we investigate the posterior inference sensitivity in relation to the change in the likelihood and prior distribution, and obtain the SIR point estimates as well as confidence intervals, which are compared to classical and robust solutions.
Auctions of Identical Objects With Singleunit Demands: a Survey
Authors: Menezes Flavio
Published: July 2016

The theory of auctions of a single object generalizes to a situation where identical objects are sold either sequentially or simultaneously but individuals can only buy one object. In this context, I will present a survey of the main results regarding the ranking of auctions based on revenue, bidding behaviour, effects of entry fees and reserve prices, and other strategic issues.
Modelos GARCH Bayesianos: Métodos Aproximados e Aplicações
Authors: Migon Helio S. , Mazucheli Josmar
Published: July 2016

The class of GARCH models is briefly revised and those models reformulated as dynamic Bayesian models. Gaussian quadrature technique and Laplace approximation are used to estimate both static and dynamic GARCH models of moderate dimension. The implemented algorithms are validated using artificially generated data. Four real return time series were analized and the performance of the different models and estimation methods accessed through their predictive capability and, also, comparing the non-observed volatilities with the square af the returns, its natural proxy.
ESTRUTURA ESTRATÉGICA DE UM SIMPLES MERCADO DE COMPRA E VENDA
Authors: Sotomayor Marilda
Published: July 2016

We consider the cooperative market game studied in Sotomayor (1999-a), where identical and indivisible items are to be sold by only one seller to potential buyers. Agents' preferences are described by a reservation value and all buyers can buy up to their quota of objects. The buying and selling mechanism is a sealed bid auction. Suhmitted bids determine an interval (...) from where a market-c1earing price can be selected. The price (...), where each choice of (...) and of a matching rule define a different mechanism. Each of these mechanisms induces a non-cooperative game whose strategic structure is then analysed. Under reasonable assumptions we show that these non-cooperative games can be regarded as a competitive process for achieving a cooperative outcome: every equilibrium payoff is a competitive equilibrium for the cooperative market game. Precise answers can be given to the strategic questions raised.
Índices de divisia, integrais curvilíneas e índices econômicos
Authors: Brandão Antonio Salazar Pessôa
Published: July 2016

O número índice de divisia desempenha um papel ímpar na Teoria Econômica. De um lado, pelas propriedades interessantes que possui - tais como ser encadeado e ser invariante à la Richter ele exerce uma grande atração sobre aqueles que trabalham com problemas empíricos e também (talvez principalmente) sobre aqueles economistas interessados em questões teóricas.
Are One-Sided S,s Rules Useful Proxies For Optimal Pricing Rules?
Authors: Bonomo Marco
Published: July 2016

This article is motivated by the prominence of one-sided S,s rules in the literature and by the unrealistic strict conditions necessary for their optimality. IT aims to assess whether one-sided pricing rules could be an adequate individual rule for macroeconomic models, despite its suboptimality. It aims to answer two questions. First, since agents are not fully rational, is it plausible that they use such a non-optimal rule? Second, even if the agents adopt optimal rules, is the economist committing a serious mistake by assuming that agents use one-sided Ss rules? Using parameters based on real economy data, we found that since the additional cost involved in adopting the simpler rule is relatively small, it is plausible that one-sided rules are used in practice. We also found that suboptimal one-sided rules and optimal two-sided rules are in practice similar, since one of the bounds is not reached very often. We concluded that the macroeconomic effects when one-sided rules are suboptimal are similar to the results obtained under two-sided optimal rules, when they are close to each other. However, this is true only when one-sided rules are used in the context where they are not optimal.
Real Wages and the Lucas Critique: Can the Government Tax Policy Influence Wage Growth in Brazil?
Authors: Carneiro Francisco Galrão , Henley Andrew
Published: July 2016

The paper uses cointegration analysis to investigate the long run behaviour and short term dynamics of aggregate real wages in Brazil over the period 1986 to 1993. First, we show that real wages, inflation, productivity, unemployment and the tax wedge are cointegrated. Second, the dynamics of this relationship are specified to obtain a satisfactory representation of the real wages, which is structurally stable over the period despite major policy changes. Thirdly, evidence is presented for the super-exogeneity of the tax wedge, an important result which shows that the path or real wages can be influenced by government policy without inducing Lucas-critique problems.
A Monthly Indicator of Brazilian GDP
Authors: Chauvet Marcelle
Published: July 2016

This paper constructs an indicator of Brazilian GDP at the monthly frequency. The peculiar instability and abrupt changes of regimes in the dynamic behavior of the Brazilian business cycle are explicitly modeled within nonlinear frameworks. In particular, a Markov switching dynamic factor model is used to combine several macroeconomic variables that display simultaneous comovements with aggregate economic activity. The model generates as output a monthly indicator of the Brazilian GDP and real time probabilities of the current phase of the Brazilian business cycle. The monthly indicator shows a remarkable historical conformity with cyclical movements of GDP. In addition, the estimated filtered probabilities predict all recessions in sample and out-of-sample. The ability of the indicator in linear forecasting growth rates of GDP is also examined within and out-of-sample. In both cases the estimated indicator displays a better predictive performance compared to a linear autoregressive model for GDP. In particular, the inclusion of lags of the indicator improves substantially forecasts of the severity of recessions and strength of expansions, as measured by the volatility of changes in GDP. These results suggest that the estimated monthly indicator can be used to forecast GDP and to monitor the state of the Brazilian economy in real time.
Instability and chaotic dynamics in stock returns
Authors: Ohashi Alberto Masayoshi F .
Published: July 2016

In this paper we examine certain properties of the Dow Jones and the Nikkey indices, investigating the existence of stochastic and deterministic nonlinear structures. Using the detrended fluctuation analysis, we construct a local measurement of randomness which identifies some extreme events and their impact on the randomness of the systems. Our results suggest no evidence of chaos in the data. In fact, GARCH processes explain most of the nonlinear dependence in the Dow Jones daily returns and the estimated Kolmogorov entropy for the Nikkey index diverges, conversely to what one would expect if the data followed a chaotic dynamics.
Collusion in the Brazilian steel sector: A new industrial economy approach
Authors: Vasconcelos Silvinha Pinto , Ramos Francisco de Souza
Published: July 2016

The Brazilian Law of Competition Defense does not have a special system of collusion proofs to be adopted by the Antitrust Authority. The usual procedure consists in analyzing the structure and conduct characteristics of anticompetitive actions. Nevertheless, this method presents remarkable restrictions, such as the supposition of a causal relationship between structure, conduct and performance variables. The objective of this paper is to present a complementary methodological instrument for the detection of collusion that can contribute towards obtaining indirect evidence. For this purpose, we apply the results of a model of strategic choices of capacity in a Brazilian steel segment, recently condemned by collusion. The test shows that it is possible to proceed by using an auxiliary path that verifies collusive results and not only those related to market power, even when the information about the firms are difficult to obtain.
Political risk, incentives and international credit market equilibrium
Authors: Araújo Carlos Hamilton Vasconcelos
Published: July 2016

The present article discusses some important issues, dealt with in the literature, which are concerned with the problems faced by emerging economies in the international credit market. Initially, the incentives that encourage international investors to lend are investigated, with special emphasis on the portfolio diversification theory. Next, the incentives that encourage the emerging economies to borrow, and also those that lead to debt servicing, are addressed, with special emphasis on the theory of reputational equilibrium.
A Dynamic Market Clearing Price Mechanism with Multiple Demands
Authors: Sotomayor Marilda
Published: July 2016

We propose a dynamic selling procedure for the generalization of the buyer-seller market game of Shapley and Shubik (1972) to the case where buyers can purchase more than one indivisible object, up to their quota, and have separable and additive utilities. This mechanism generalizes the auction studied by Demange et al. (1986), which in its turn is a generalization of the English auction to the multi-item case. It represents an enormous simplification of the restriction of the auction proposed by Gul and Stachetti (2000) to the linear case, by providing a different and simpler technique. Increasing the prices of all items of an overdemanded set chosen by the auctioneer always leads to the same price vector, namely the minimum competitive equilibrium price, in a finite number of steps. Consequently, the mechanism sells any two similar objects at the same price. When buyers are allowed to acquire the total amount of objects, the mechanism is strategy-proof.
Método econométrico: algumas reflexões sobre a obra pioneira de Von Thünen
Authors: Wright Charles L.
Published: July 2016

Johann Heinrich von Thünen's contributions to econometrics include: the formulation of first economic model; one of the first aplications of mathematics in the analysis of economic problems; and the pioneer use of empirical data from observation and experiments in the use and validation of an economic model. This essay presents and discusses the main lessons which may be gleaned from is masterpiece, The Isolated State, as well as a summary of its most important theories.
Os cenários da utilização da energia solar no Brasil no horizonte 1990
Authors: Santos João Luiz Fonseca dos
Published: July 2016

It is proposed that solar energy be a complementary part of Brazil's energy development framework. Actually, it may be the only available alternative for certain Brazilian regions. This study consists of the development of a series of hypotheses related to the use existing foreign solar techniques in Brazil. Generally, the present is the point of departure in the construction of "scenarios" defined by Jantsch as "the hypothetical occurence of events, built to point out chains of causation and decision knots". In the case of solar energy, the construction of scenarios starting from the present, as a classific way of exploring the future, would be of minor service due to the fact that most practical utilizations of solar energy in Brazil are still at the experimental stage. Consequently, this article suggests that construction of scenarios based not in the present but on tendencies, produced by integrating various forecasting methods which have been used in the study. A double approach of exploratory and normative scenarios is emphatized in this study. Whithin this approach the method of crossed impacts appears to be especially suitable to increase the level of precision of the probabilities assigned to the chosen scenarios.
A neoclassical fiscal framework for a growing economy
Authors: Guedes Paulo
Published: July 2016

Neokeynesian models emphasize government policy to smooth out the short run business cycles; NEOCLASSICAL models point to the neutrality of anticipated counter cyclical policy, discarding feed-back rules from the short run state of the economy to the settings of monetary and fiscal policies. My purpose in these notes is to formulate an expanded version (with public investment and public debt) of Friedman's (1957) NEOCLASSICAL FISCAL FRAMERWORK, whose policy proposals, as pointed out by Lucas (1981), may have increasing acceptance and influence at the light of new theoretical developments. The neoclassical fiscal rules are derived from a dynamic optimization program concerned with "long run efficiency or prospects for growth of the economic system", as suggested by Friedman. Government expenditures, public capital formation, taxation and public debt emission are determined irrespectively of short run cyclical fluctuations. A neoclassical fiscal framework whereby the government levies taxes to finance consumption, issues debt for financing public capital formation, charges a rental price for public capital services according to its marginal productivity and uses the proceeds to pay interest on public debt along the optimal growth path is shown to be an optimal public policy.
Efeitos dos termos de troca externos sobre os preços e a produção doméstica: uma análise de equilíbrio geral.
Authors: Hidalgo Álvaro Barrantes
Published: July 2016

This work analyzes how domestic prices and production react to changes in international terms of trade, subsidies and incentives to production of exportable goods. Previous works have dealt with some of these effects upon the Brazilian economy, but their focus was restricted to the interaction between export agriculture and agriculture destined for the domestic market. Here we also take into account interactions with the industrial sector by using a general equilibrium model. In section two, we build a theoretical model, showing that the effect of a change in the international terms of trade upon the real price of domestic goods depends only on the ranking of factor intensities on the sectors to be considered. An improvement in the international terms of trade lead to an increase in the real price of the domestic good only when the industrial sector is more intensive in capital (or labor) than the three sectors considered. In section three we show that the effect of a change in the international terms of trade on the quantity of gaods produced does not depend only on factorial intensities but also on consumer preference. An improvement in the terms of trade will always increase the production of exportable goods and decrease the production of domestic goods, as long as we admit that both goods are gross complements (or independent) that the domestic good is inferior, and that the import sector is more intensive in capital (or labor) than the three sectors of the economy.
Moeda e preços relativos: evidência empírica
Authors: Brandão Antonio Salazar P.
Published: July 2016

In this paper we estimate a Vector Autoregressive Model of Money and Relative Prices in Brazil. The variables included in the model are the Money Supply (M1), the agricultural component of the Wholesale Price lndex and the industrial component of the same index. A thirteen lag structure is estimated and exogeneity tests as well as innovation accounting are performed. The most important empirical regularities observed in these series are the following: monetary shocks have important impacts on relative prices and inflation; agricultural and industrial shocks lead to increases in inflation but they are usually smaller than the monetary shocks.
Stability of the edgeworth process with firms but no production
Authors: Saldanha Fernando M.C.B.
Published: July 2016

In this paper an Edgeworth Process for economies with firmsis defined, and its stability is proved. The process constrains trade to occur if and only if there is, at the given prices, a trade that increases the sum of utilities and profits without decreasing the utility of a household or the profits of a firm. A proof of convergence of prices to an equilibrium price vector is provided.
Econometric methods, J. Johnston, 3ª edição, Mcgraw-Hikk, international student edition, 1984
Authors: Rossi José W.
Published: July 2016

O desenvolvimento da econometria está intimamente ligado aos nomes de Goldberger, Theil, Malinvaud, Klein, Drhymes, Maddala, Aigner e Chow, para mencionar apenas os personagens mais ilustres. Todos eles autores também de excelentes livros-texto na área.
Considerações sobre o tratamento do empréstimo compulsório do cálculo do IPC.
Authors: Pinto Ricardo Braule
Published: July 2016

A produção do índice de Preços ao Consumidor (IPC) tem como base conceitual o índice de Utilidade Constante que, por sua vez, apoia-se na teoria ordinal de comportamento do consumidor.
Retornos aos investimentos no setor não-agrícola e agrícola da economia brasileira
Authors: Teixeira Erly C. , Martin Marshall A.
Published: July 2016

Data are obtained on capital for the nonagricultural sector and for the agricultural subsectors domestic products and export crops; and then investment data are derived. Translog-like production functions are estimated for each sector. The results suggest that investment returns in agriculture are greater than in the nonagricultural sector. Agricultural investments show returns slightly higher in the export crops relative to the domestic agricultural products.
Adolescent Klinefelter syndrome: is there an advantage to testis tissue harvesting or not?
Authors: Oates Robert
Published: July 2016

It is currently unclear whether an adolescent with 47,XXY Klinefelter syndrome will be better off having testicular sperm extraction (TESE) performed in an effort to ‘preserve fertility’ for the future or, alternatively, should be advised to simply wait until adulthood when he and his partner are ready to begin a family. This report will provide data suggesting that there is no obvious ‘preservation’ benefit and that recommending TESE to the 47,XXY boy and his parents may not be as helpful as it might appear and may be overly aggressive.
Capabilities of Additional Space Education in the Formation of Axiological Sphere of the Child
Authors: �������  , Ivanova Irina
Published: July 2016

The article deals with the formation of axiological sphere of children in terms of additional space education, which methodological basis is to support the idea philosophical cosmic consciousness that addresses to the inner roots of human activity, his way of �I�, the existential approach to understanding personality. Axiological sphere which plays the role of controller of directional self-development, has the ability to purposefully form on the basis of cosmic consciousness ideas that are the basis of additional space education, which today is an innovative educational practice that combines further education as an educational form and cosmism as an existential basis of self-knowledge and space, the integration of which enables the creation of conditions and opportunities for self-discovery, nurturing a child�s value and meaning, and as a result, leads to self-development and self-forecasting of personality. The article suggested the description of the author�s program of extracurricular activities, �Little Prince�, based on the lines of similar work content of Exupery, realized in working with children of primary school age on the basis of secondary schools of the city of Kaluga and Yukhnovsky area of Kaluga region. The purpose of the program is the creation of conditions for self-knowledge, self-development, self-education and self-forecasting of identity through assimilation of moral and ethical standards and the development of axiological sphere. The novelty of the program is that it is built taking into account the principles of cosmic education. The article describes the structure and content units, methodological support, the criteria for the eff ectiveness of the program, there is the author�s self-monitoring system for children. The �Little Prince� can be widely used in regional educational practice in the context of the implementation of the �Concept of the spiritual and moral development and education of the individual citizen in the Russian sphere of general education.
The Monitoring Results of Requirements of Students with Disabilities and Special Needs in the Process of Professional Education
Authors: ����  , Yaraya Tatyana , �����������  , Rokotyanskaya Lesya
Published: July 2016

The article deals with the problem of access to education for persons with disabilities and invalidity. The analysis of legal documents was carried out,

proclaims the right of persons with disabilities for education and regulated the establishment of special conditions in the process of training and education.

We examine the practical aspects of training this category of students in scientifi c research. The monitoring results of the needs of students with

disabilities and special needs in higher education are given. Particular attention is paid to the issue of creating an accessible and barrier-free educational

environment, which includes equipment and training and equipping of premises, implementation of the system of psycho-pedagogical and medical

support, the creation of psychologically comfortable and safe learning environment, organization of leisure activities.