Wealthy and Healthy in the South Pacific

Objectives- The main aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between socio-economic status and health status at the household level in Fiji, a developing country in the South Pacific, based on original household survey data compiled by the authors Method- We exploit the geographic conditions of Viti Levu, the relatively small main island of Fiji, to isolate the effects of household wealth on health. For households on this island physical distance is not a significant impediment for access to health care and other publicly-provided services. We use a constructed index of household wealth in place of the more commonly used income measure of socio-economic status. To control for reverse causality and other possible sources of endogeneity we use an Instrumental Variable strategy in the regression analysis. Findings- We find that a household’s socio-economic status, as measured by a constructed wealth index, has a substantial impact on the household’s health status. We estimate that if a household's wealth increased from the minimum to the maximum level, this would decrease its probability of being afflicted by an incapacitating illness by almost 50 per cent. Conclusions- Health outcomes from existing health services can therefore be improved by raising the economic well-being of poor households. Conversely, the provision of additional health services alone may not necessarily improve health outcomes for the poorest.

Productividad y rentabilidad de las infraestructuras regionales a partir de estimaciones por máxima entropía

El método de estimación por máxima entropía permite estimar modelos con pocas observaciones para el número de parámetros o con problemas de multicolinealidad. Estos son problemas habituales en la estimación de funciones de producción regionales. Por ello, el método resulta de utilidad para analizar dos aspectos de la elasticidad output de las infraestructuras poco estudiados en la literatura: invariabilidad temporal y heterogeneidad regional. Para calcular la productividad marginal y rentabilidad social de las infraestructuras esta heterogeneidad se ha tratado estimando una elasticidad output propia de cada región. Los resultados muestran un descenso paulatino en la productividad y rentabilidad, así como la existencia de importantes diferencias regionales en cuanto a los efectos que sus infraestructuras tienen sobre la producción. Maximum entropy econometrics is well suited to estimate models with very few observations or to deal with multicollinearity. These are common problems in the estimation of a regional production function. In this paper, maximum entropy is used to analyze two issues that, so far, have not been fully addressed in the literature: the temporal stability of output elasticity of infrastructure and the change on its values across regions. We estimate the elasticity for each region to calculate the productivity and the social returns of infrastructure. The results show a decrease over time and the existence of important regional differences in both productivity and social returns of infrastructure. Hence, the effects of infrastructures on production can be very different across regions.Infrastructure, productivity, social returns, maximum entropy

Spatial Structures and Spatial Spillovers: A GME Approach

Spatial econometrics is a subdiscipline that have gained a huge popularity in the last twenty years, not only in theoretical econometrics but in empirical studies as well. Basically, spatial econometric methods measure spatial interaction and incorporate spatial structure into regression analysis. The specification of a matrix of spatial weights W plays a crucial role in the estimation of spatial models. The elements of this matrix measure the spatial relationships between two geographical locations i and j, and they are specified exogenously to the model. Several alternatives for W have been proposed in the literature, although binary matrices based on contiguity among locations or distance matrices are the most commons choices. One shortcoming of using this type of matrices for the spatial models is the impossibility of estimating “heterogeneous†spatial spillovers: the typical objective is the estimation of a parameter that measures the average spatial effect of the set of locations analysed. Roughly speaking, this is given by “ill-posed†econometric models where the number of (spatial) parameters to estimate is too large. In this paper, we explore the use of generalized maximum entropy econometrics (GME) to estimate spatial structures. This technique is very attractive in situations where one has to deal with estimation of “ill-posed†or “ill-conditioned†models. We compare by means of Monte Carlo simulations “classical†ML estimators with GME estimators in several situations with different availability of information.

Socioeconomic Status and Health Outcomes in a Developing Country

While the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health is well documented for developed countries, less evidence has been presented for developing countries. The aim of this paper is to analyse this relationship at the household level for Fiji, a developing country in the South Pacific, using original household survey data. To allow for the endogeneity of SES status in the household health production function we utilize a simultaneous equation approach where estimates are achieved by full information maximum likelihood. By restricting our sample to one, relatively small island, and including area and district hospital effects, physical geography effects are unpacked from income effects. We measure SES, as permanent income which is constructed using principal components analysis. An alternative specification considers transitory household income. We find that a 1% increase in wealth (our measure of permanent income) would lead to a 15% decrease in the probability of an incapacitating illness occurring intra-household. While presence of a strong causal relationship indicates that relatively small improvements in SES status can significantly improve health at the household level, it is argued that the design of appropriate policy would also require an understanding of the various mechanisms through which the relationship operates.

Mind the Gap: A Generative Approach to Interpretable Feature Selection and Extraction

We present the Mind the Gap Model (MGM), an approach for interpretable feature extraction and selection. By placing interpretability criteria directly into the model, we allow for the model to both optimize parameters related to interpretability and to directly report a global set of distinguishable dimensions to assist with further data exploration and hypothesis generation. MGM extracts distinguishing features on real-world datasets of animal features, recipes ingredients, and disease co-occurrence. It also maintains or improves performance when compared to related approaches. We perform a user study with domain experts to show the MGM's ability to help with dataset explorationNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (ACI 1544628

Spatial Structures and Spatial Spillovers: A GME Approach

Spatial econometrics is a subdiscipline that have gained a huge popularity in the last twenty years, not only in theoretical econometrics but in empirical studies as well. Basically, spatial econometric methods measure spatial interaction and incorporate spatial structure into regression analysis. The specification of a matrix of spatial weights W plays a crucial role in the estimation of spatial models. The elements of this matrix measure the spatial relationships between two geographical locations i and j, and they are specified exogenously to the model. Several alternatives for W have been proposed in the literature, although binary matrices based on contiguity among locations or distance matrices are the most commons choices. One shortcoming of using this type of matrices for the spatial models is the impossibility of estimating "heterogeneous" spatial spillovers: the typical objective is the estimation of a parameter that measures the average spatial effect of the set of locations analysed. Roughly speaking, this is given by "ill-posed" econometric models where the number of (spatial) parameters to estimate is too large. In this paper, we explore the use of generalized maximum entropy econometrics (GME) to estimate spatial structures. This technique is very attractive in situations where one has to deal with estimation of "ill-posed" or "ill-conditioned" models. We compare by means of Monte Carlo simulations "classical" ML estimators with GME estimators in several situations with different availability of information

Effects of Bioactive Glass Scaffold and BMP-2 in Segmental Defects

poster abstractReconstruction of segmental defects in the load-bearing area has long been a challenge in orthopaedics. We have demonstrated the feasibility of a biodegradable load-bearing scaffold fabricated from poly(propylene fumarate)/tricalcium phosphate (PPF/TCP) loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) to successfully induce healing in those defects. However, there is limited osteoconduction observed with the PPF/TCP scaffold itself. Furthermore, a recent review on BMP-2 revealed greater risks in radiculities, ectopic bone formation, osteolysis and poor global outcome in association with the use of BMP-2 for spinal fusion. The aims of this study were to evaluate the potential use of a more osteoconductive material 13-93 bioactive glass and the potential side effects of locally delivered BMP-2 on adjacent bones. 13-93 glass scaffolds were fabricated by indirect selective laser sintering and implanted into critical size defects created in rat right femurs with and without 10 micrograms of BMP-2. The X-ray and micro-CT results showed that bridging callus was found as soon as 3 weeks and progressed gradually in the BMP group while minimal bone formation was observed in the control group. As expected, stiffness, peak load and energy to break of the BMP group were all higher than the control group. Higher healing rates in the 13-93 group was found compared to the healing rate in PPF/TCP group evaluated in the past indicating a more osteoconductive nature of the 13-93 scaffolds. The scaffolds of both control and BMP groups were partially degraded after 15 weeks as seen in the histological images. For the effects of local BMP-2 delivery to adjacent bones, no statistical difference in the bone area, mineral content and mineral density was found between control and BMP groups. In conclusion, a 13-93 bioactive glass scaffold with local BMP-2 delivery has been demonstrated for its potential application in treating large bone defects

Civic Lessons: Public Schools and the Civic Development of Undocumented Students and Parents

In the Court reasoned that by providing undocumented students with core academic instruction, public schools could contribute to their participation in democratic institutions and thus enhance civic life. This article assesses this and a set of related claims. Drawing on three data sets, the authors consider how access to public schools shapes the civic development and civic engagement of undocumented students and their parents. They first introduce data from a longitudinal study tracking the civic development of youth through high school and into adulthood. They then share survey data that indicates the relatively high levels of school participation among undocumented immigrant parents in . Finally, they report on a case study of twelve community-based groups who support robust school participation of undocumented immigrant parents. They find that public schools are key sites where undocumented immigrant youth and adults encounter other citizens and engage the state. Public schools teach about, and provide practice in, civic engagement. Undocumented immigrant students and parents develop knowledge, skills, and commitments for civic engagement by participating in school activities, school-based social networks, school governance, and educational reform

“No te pre-ocupes” : um projeto de tradução para o livro “Ami, el niño de las estrellas” de Enrique Barrios

Este trabalho dedicou-se à tradução para o português da obra infantojuvenil Ami, El Niño de las Estrellas (1986), do escritor chileno Enrique Barrios. Além da tradução da primeira para da obra, foram abordados alguns dos problemas de tradução e suas soluções, considerando que se tratava da tradução de um texto de literatura infantojuvenil. Para dar conta dos objetivos anteriores, em um primeiro momento, foi traduzida a primeira parte da obra. Em seguida, foi feita a identificação dos problemas e as soluções dadas aos mesmos. Após a análise, tais soluções foram categorizadas e comparadas às técnicas de tradução propostas por Hurtado Albir (2001). Assim, os oito tipos de soluções encontradas foram incluídos nas seguintes técnicas: variação, ampliação linguística, adaptação e modulação. A fundamentação teórica baseou-se nas ideias de Shavit (1986) e Oittinen (2000), acerca de tradução aplicada à literatura infantojuvenil, e em Hurtado Albir em relação à tradução e às técnicas de tradução. A partir deste trabalho, espera-se, por um lado, introduzir Ami, uma obra também latino-americana, no cenário da literatura infantojuvenil brasileira; por outro, refletir sobre aspectos relativos à tradução de literatura infantojuvenil, principalmente no par de línguas português-espanhol.Este trabajo se dedica a la traducción de la obra infantil y juvenil Ami, El Niño de las Estrellas (1986), del escritor chileno Enrique Barrios, al portugués. Además de la traducción de la primera parte del libro, este estudio también abarcó algunos de los problemas de traducción y sus respectivas soluciones, teniendo en cuenta que se trataba de la traducción de un texto de literatura infantil y juvenil. Para lograr los objetivos anteriores, en un primer momento, se tradujo la primera parte de la obra. Enseguida, se hizo la identificación de los problemas y de las soluciones que les fueron dadas. Después del análisis, dichas soluciones fueron clasificadas y comparadas a las técnicas de traducción que propone Hurtado Albir (2001). De ese modo, los ocho tipos de soluciones encontrados fueron incluidos en las siguientes técnicas: variación, ampliación lingüística, adaptación y modulación. El marco teórico estuvo basado en las ideas de Shavit (1986) y Oittinen (2002) sobre traducción aplicada a la literatura infantil y juvenil, y en Hurtado Albir con relación a la traducción y a las técnicas de traducción. A partir de este estudio, se espera, por un lado, inserir Ami, una obra también latinoamericana, en la escena de la literatura infantil y juvenil brasileña; por otro, se espera reflexionar sobre las características relativas a la traducción de literatura infantil y juvenil, sobre todo en el par de lenguas portugués-españo

Civic Lessons: Public Schools and the Civic Development of Undocumented Students and Parents

In the Court reasoned that by providing undocumented students with core academic instruction, public schools could contribute to their participation in democratic institutions and thus enhance civic life. This article assesses this and a set of related claims. Drawing on three data sets, the authors consider how access to public schools shapes the civic development and civic engagement of undocumented students and their parents. They first introduce data from a longitudinal study tracking the civic development of youth through high school and into adulthood. They then share survey data that indicates the relatively high levels of school participation among undocumented immigrant parents in . Finally, they report on a case study of twelve community-based groups who support robust school participation of undocumented immigrant parents. They find that public schools are key sites where undocumented immigrant youth and adults encounter other citizens and engage the state. Public schools teach about, and provide practice in, civic engagement. Undocumented immigrant students and parents develop knowledge, skills, and commitments for civic engagement by participating in school activities, school-based social networks, school governance, and educational reform