State-of-the-Art in Regional Computable General Equilibrium Modelling with a Case Study of the Philippines

The developments in regional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models have been reviewed with a view to identify future directions for modelling in the Philippines. It is observed that regional CGE models have been used extensively in the analysis of national and regional issues. These models can be divided into three classes: region-specific, bottomup and “partial†models. This paper asserts that existing models of the Philippines generally belong to the third class. This implies that there is very little scope for evaluating region-specific issues in the Philippines.Community/Rural/Urban Development, International Development,

Impacts of the Free Trade Area of the Pacific (FTAAP) on Production, Consumption, and Trade of the Philippines

This paper examines the economy-wide impacts of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) on the Philippine economy. In particular, it uses an applied general equilibrium model to determine the effects of alternative scenarios on aggregate and sectoral outputs, consumption, and international trade. The paper also compares the FTAAP to reforms which are confined to the ASEAN plus 3 and to a broader set of tariff changes that covers all the trading partners of the Philippines. The findings of the paper are as follows. First, the FTAAP is likely to benefit the Philippines in the form of higher aggregate output and employment. However, such gains are not projected for all industries as the simulation results indicate declines in the outputs of activities related to rice and corn. Second, the benefits from the FTAAP are likely to come more from the removal of tariffs on nonagriculture products. Finally, the aggregate gains from the FTAAP are larger than an arrangement which is limited to ASEAN plus 3 countries. However, the differences in the impacts do not appear to be very large

Behavior of diploid and tetraploid genotypes of 'Carrizo' citrange under abiotic stresses

Tetraploidy is a spontaneous phenomenon in citrus and some anatomical differences have been described between tetraploid (4x) citrus plants and their corresponding diploids (2x). The choice of a suitable rootstock is often very restricted by a combination of biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent data points out that tetraploidy in citrus induces interesting phenotypes like dwarfing and tolerance to abiotic constraints. In this work we investigated the behavior of 4x and 2x 'Carrizo' citrange (Citrus sinensis X Poncirus trifoliata) subjected to the main abiotic stresses that threat Spanish citrus industry. Seedlings were exposed to salinity, drought and iron deficiency and physiological parameters were measured. Results suggest that 4x plants stressed by drought were able to maintain high leaf water potential more efficiently than 2x, thus gas exchange parameters (transpiration, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis) were less affected. Under salt stress no difference was found in leaf chloride content neither in gas exchange parameters, but leaf burn was less severe in 4x than in 2x. Concerning iron deficiency, a better tolerance of 4x compared to 2x was supported by higher ferricchelate reductase activity, SPAD index and chlorophyll fluorescence. These preliminary results suggest that 4x 'Carrizo' citrange could be a promising rootstock, having the same general performance than the original 2x, but producing smaller trees more tolerant to abiotic stresses. (Résumé d'auteur

The Impact of a Philippine-US FTA: The Case of Philippine Agriculture

The paper examines the effect of an RP-US FTA in the Philippine agricultural sector. Using an Applied General Equilibrium (AGE) Model, it analyzes the impact of the removal of tariffs on imports from the US on the various commodities in agriculture and food processing. The simulation results suggest that most of the commodities in these sectors experience gains in output and employment following the removal of Philippine tariffs on its imports from the U.S. It also shows that the benefits of agriculture and food processing from the FTA are larger with a comprehensive removal of tariffs

The diameter of random Cayley digraphs of given degree

We consider random Cayley digraphs of order $n$ with uniformly distributed generating set of size $k$. Specifically, we are interested in the asymptotics of the probability such a Cayley digraph has diameter two as $n\to\infty$ and $k=f(n)$. We find a sharp phase transition from 0 to 1 at around $k = \sqrt{n \log n}$. In particular, if $f(n)$ is asymptotically linear in $n$, the probability converges exponentially fast to 1.Comment: 11 page

Scaling properties of growing noninfinitesimal perturbations in space-time chaos

We study the spatiotemporal dynamics of random spatially distributed noninfinitesimal perturbations in one-dimensional chaotic extended systems. We find that an initial perturbation of finite size $\epsilon_0$ grows in time obeying the tangent space dynamic equations (Lyapunov vectors) up to a characteristic time $t_{\times}(\epsilon_0) \sim b - (1/\lambda_{max}) \ln (\epsilon_0)$, where $\lambda_{max}$ is the largest Lyapunov exponent and $b$ is a constant. For times $t < t_{\times}$ perturbations exhibit spatial correlations up to a typical distance $\xi \sim t^z$. For times larger than $t_{\times}$ finite perturbations are no longer described by tangent space equations, memory of spatial correlations is progressively destroyed and perturbations become spatiotemporal white noise. We are able to explain these results by mapping the problem to the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang universality class of surface growth.Comment: 4.5 pages LaTeX (RevTeX4) format, 3 eps figs included. Submitted to Phys Rev

X-ray structure of the mature ectodomain of phogrin

Phogrin/IA-2β and ICA512/IA-2 are two paralogs receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatases (RPTP) that localize in secretory granules of various neuroendocrine cells. In pancreatic islet β-cells, they participate in the regulation of insulin secretion, ensuring proper granulogenesis, and β-cell proliferation. The role of their cytoplasmic tail has been partially unveiled, while that of their luminal region remains unclear. To advance the understanding of its structure-function relationship, the X-ray structure of the mature ectodomain of phogrin (ME phogrin) at pH 7.4 and 4.6 has been solved at 1.95- and 2.01-Å resolution, respectively. Similarly to the ME of ICA512, ME phogrin adopts a ferredoxin-like fold: a sheet of four antiparallel β-strands packed against two α-helices. Sequence conservation among vertebrates, plants and insects suggests that the structural similarity extends to all the receptor family. Crystallized ME phogrin is monomeric, in agreement with solution studies but in striking contrast with the behavior of homodimeric ME ICA512. The structural details that may cause the quaternary structure differences are analyzed. The results provide a basis for building models of the overall orientation and oligomerization state of the receptor in biological membranes

Arterial vascularization of the cloacal bursa in Gallus gallus domesticus (breeding stoch of the Avian Farms linage)

Estudou-se em trinta exemplares de Gallus gallus domesticus da linhagem Avian Farms, fêmeas, com idades entre 10 e 12 semanas, a origem, o número e a ordenação dos vasos arteriais da bolsa cloacal, mediante injeção dos sistemas vasculares arteriais das aves com solução aquosa de Neoprene Látex 450 a 50% e posterior dissecação. Os resultados mostraram a participação das artérias bursocloacais direita e esquerda em todos os casos, às quais se associavam as artérias mesentérica caudal e caudal mediana em 13,33% e 3,33% dos casos, respectivamente. O número total de vasos, independentemente da origem, variou de 2 a 5 com maior freqüência de 2 a 3 vasos. __________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe vessel’s origin, number and sequence were studied. The results showed the participation of the left and right bursocloacal arteries in all cases, with the association of the caudal mesenteric artery (13.33%) and median caudal artery (3.33%). The total branches number, without considering its origin, varied in 2 to 5, being 2 to 3 branches the major frequency

Irrigation of the cloacal bursa in breeding stoch of the Peterson linage (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Estudaram-se em 30 exemplares de matrizes pesadas de corte machos da linhagem Peterson (Gallus gallus domesticus), com idade variando de 10 a 12 semanas, a origem, o número e a ordenação dos vasos arteriais da bolsa cloacal, um dos órgãos responsáveis pela produção de respostas humorais nas aves. Mediante injeção dos contingentes arteriais com solução aquosa de Artecola a 50%, via artéria isquiática direita, a dissecação evidenciou que em 100% dos casos a bolsa cloacal era irrigada por 1 ou 2 artérias bursocloacais; em 16,66% dos casos por 1 ramo direto oriundo das artérias cloacais; em 6,66% dos casos por 2 ramos diretos da artéria caudal mediana e em 3,33% dos casos por 1 ramo bursal da artéria mesentérica caudal. O número de vasos, independentemente da sua origem, variou de 2 a 5 com maior freqüência de 2 vasos. A distribuição dos vasos se fez de maneira própria para cada peça. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe cloacal bursa’s arteries of 30 males Gallus gallus domesticus were injected whit 50% ARTECOLA solution, and submitted to dissection. The age of the birds was to 10 to 12 weeks. The vessel’s origin, number and sequence were studied. The results showed the participation of the left and right bursocloacal arteries in all cases, whit the association of the left and right cloacal arteries (16.66%), median caudal artery (6.66%) and caudal mesenteric artery (3.33%). The total branches number, without considering its origin, varied in 2 to 5, being 2 branches the major frequency. The vessel distribution was the same in each bird

Proposal for the teaching of the chemical control of supragingival biofilm

The mechanical control of supragingival biofilm is accepted as one of the most important measures to treat and prevent dental caries and periodontal diseases. Nevertheless, maintaining dental surfaces biofilm-free is not an easy task. In this regard, chemical agents, mainly in the form of mouthwashes, have been studied to help overcome the difficulties involved in the mechanical control of biofilm. The aim of this paper was to discuss proposals for the teaching of supragingival chemical control (SCC) in order to improve dentists' knowledge regarding this clinical issue. Firstly, the literature regarding the efficacy of antiseptics is presented, clearly showing that chemical agents are clinically effective in the reduction of biofilm and gingival inflammation when used as adjuvant agents to mechanical control. Thus, it is suggested that the content related to SCC be included in the curricular grid of dental schools. Secondly, some essential topics are recommended to be included in the teaching of SCC as follows: skills and competencies expected of a graduate dentist regarding SCC; how to include this content in the curricular grid; teaching-learning tools and techniques to be employed; and program content