Health, economic growth, and Gini index in North America using a panel model / Salud, crecimiento económico, e índice Gini en Norteamérica usando un modelo panel

Abstract Objective: The objective of this paper is assessed the nexus among health status, economic growth, and the Gini index in North America and its countries using a panel model. Materials and Method: The materials consist of annual data regarding life expectancy, government health expenditure as percentage of the gross domestic product, Gini index, and gross domestic product at constant 2015 US$ for the period 2000-2019. The method applies a panel model for North America and its three countries: Canada, Mexico and The United States. North America diversity treatment among countries is dealt with fixed and random effects. Results: North America inhabitants health status are negatively influenced by an increasing income inequality, and a reduction on economic growth. The country that expends more in health care is The United States, follow by Canada and Mexico. The biggest reduction on life expectancy from an increase in income inequality is in The United States, followed by Canada and Mexico. Life expectancy increases when Canada and The United States experience economic growth. The countries with inarticulate health policy responses to an increase in income inequality are first Mexico followed by The United States. Conclusions: In North America and its countries an increasing income inequality reduces life expectancy, and government health expenditure. Economic growth benefits life expectancy and government health expenditure. Health status seems to improve with a reduction in income inequality and a greater public health expenditure. Therefore, policies that increases income inequality and reduces public health expenditure seems to be advocates of a reduction: in health status, population welfare and economic growth.

Resumen: Objetivo: Un análisis cuantitativo de las relaciones entre salud, crecimiento económico e índice de Gini en América del Norte y sus países se realiza mediante un modelo de panel. El estado de salud está representado por la esperanza de vida y los sistemas de salud pública por el gasto público en salud. El crecimiento económico es el cambio porcentual del producto interno bruto. La desigualdad de ingresos se representa con el índice de Gini. Materiales y método: Los materiales consisten en datos anuales de esperanza de vida, gasto público en salud como porcentaje del producto interno bruto, índice de Gini y producto interno bruto en dólares estadounidenses constantes de 2015 para el período 2000-2019. El método consiste en aplicar un modelo de panel para América del Norte y sus tres países: Canadá, México y Estados Unidos. El tratamiento de la diversidad entre los países de América del Norte es abordada con efectos fijos y aleatorios. Resultados: El estado de salud de los habitantes de América del Norte se ve influenciado negativamente por la creciente desigualdad de ingresos y la reducción del crecimiento económico. El país que más gasta en salud es los Estados Unidos, seguido de Canadá y México. La mayor reducción en la esperanza de vida debido a un aumento en la desigualdad de ingresos se encuentra en los Estados Unidos, seguido de Canadá y México. La esperanza de vida aumenta cuando Canadá y Estados Unidos experimentan crecimiento económico. Los países con respuestas de política de salud desarticuladas ante un aumento en la desigualdad de ingresos son primero México seguido de Estados Unidos. Conclusiones: Las políticas que aumentan la desigualdad de ingresos y reducen el gasto público en salud parecen ser promotoras de una reducción: en el estado de salud, el bienestar de la población, y el crecimiento económico.

Modified Gini Index Detector for Cooperative Spectrum Sensing over Line-of-Sight Channels.

Recently, the Gini index detector (GID) has been proposed as an alternative for data-fusion cooperative spectrum sensing, being mostly suitable for channels with line-of-sight or dominant multi-path components. The GID is quite robust against time-varying noise and signal powers, has the constant false-alarm rate property, can outperform many the state-of-the-art robust detectors, and is one of the simplest detectors developed so far. The modified GID (mGID) is devised in this article. It inherits the attractive attributes of the GID, yet with a computational cost far below the GID. Specifically, the time complexity of the mGID obeys approximately the same run-time growth rate of the GID, but has a constant factor approximately 23.4 times smaller. Equivalently, the mGID takes approximately 4% of the computation time spent to calculate the GID test statistic, which brings a huge reduction in the latency of the spectrum sensing process. Moreover, this latency reduction comes with no performance loss with respect to the GID.

Modeling the role of charged residues in thermophilic proteins by rotamer and dynamic cross correlation analysis.

Discerning the determinants of protein thermostability is very important both from the theoretical and applied perspective. Different lines of evidence seem to indicate that a dynamical network of salt bridges/charged residues plays a fundamental role in the thermostability of enzymes. In this work, we applied measures of dynamic variance, like the Gini coefficients, Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence and dynamic cross correlation (DCC) coefficients to compare the behavior of 3 pairs of homologous proteins from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus and mesophilic Escherichia coli. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of these proteins were performed at 303 K and 363 K. In the characterization of their side chain rotamer distributions, the corresponding Gini coefficients and KL-divergence both revealed significant correlations with temperature. Similarly, a DCC analysis revealed a higher trend to de-correlate the movement of charged residues at higher temperatures in the thermophilic proteins, when compared with their mesophilic homologues. These results highlight the importance of dynamic electrostatic network interactions for the thermostability of enzymes.

Biodiversity in Times of COVID-19 and its Relationship with the Socio-Economic and Health Context: A Look from the Digital Media.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a pause in people's activities and a socio-economic crisis worldwide due to confinement. This situation is an unprecedented opportunity to understand how these changes may impact biodiversity and its conservation, as well as to study human-nature interaction. Biodiversity plays an essential role in conservation and economic activities, and in countries with greater inequality and low gross domestic product (GDP), biodiversity could have a low priority. Moreover, how biodiversity is prioritized in a society impacts how the citizens view it, and digital news tends to shape biodiversity narratives. The aim of this work was to determine the main trends in biodiversity-related news categories during the COVID-19 pandemic in countries with terrestrial and marine hotspots and relate them to the socioeconomic and public health context of each country. For this, we searched for news on biodiversity and Covid-19 in the first 6 months of the pandemic and related them to GDP, Gini-index, deaths, and infections by Covid-19. Results showed that conservation, public policies, and use of natural resources stood out as the main news categories across countries, with a positive narrative and mostly related to terrestrial rather than marine environments. On the other hand, the socio-economic and public health characteristics of each country had an influence on which aspect of the biodiversity was reflected in the media. For example, countries with greater inequality were associated with tourism news, additionally, countries with low GDP, high cases, and deaths by Covid-19 were associated with news about cultural diversity. In contrast, countries with high GDP and low inequality were associated with news about zoonosis, research and development, public policies, and alien and invasive species.

A Two-Parameter Fractional Tsallis Decision Tree.

Decision trees are decision support data mining tools that create, as the name suggests, a tree-like model. The classical C4.5 decision tree, based on the Shannon entropy, is a simple algorithm to calculate the gain ratio and then split the attributes based on this entropy measure. Tsallis and Renyi entropies (instead of Shannon) can be employed to generate a decision tree with better results. In practice, the entropic index parameter of these entropies is tuned to outperform the classical decision trees. However, this process is carried out by testing a range of values for a given database, which is time-consuming and unfeasible for massive data. This paper introduces a decision tree based on a two-parameter fractional Tsallis entropy. We propose a constructionist approach to the representation of databases as complex networks that enable us an efficient computation of the parameters of this entropy using the box-covering algorithm and renormalization of the complex network. The experimental results support the conclusion that the two-parameter fractional Tsallis entropy is a more sensitive measure than parametric Renyi, Tsallis, and Gini index precedents for a decision tree classifier.

Efecto del programa SERUMS en la equidad de la distribución de recursos humanos del primer nivel de atención en Perú

Introducción. La adecuada dotación y distribución con equidad de recursos humanos son fundamentales para el desempeño del sistema de salud, especialmente en el primer nivel de atención. El Programa Servicio Rural y Urbano Marginal (SERUMS) es la principal estrategia desarrollada por el Estado peruano para este fin. Objetivo. Describir el efecto de la dotación de médicos, enfermeros y obstetras del Programa SERUMS en la equidad de la distribución de recursos humanos en el primer nivel de atención. Métodos. Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, de carácter censal con base en el Registro Nacional de Personal de Salud - INFORHUS, agosto 2019. Se aplicó indicadores de dotación, se verificó si existe diferencia entre la distribución porcentual de profesionales SERUMS y no SERUMS, se calculó la densidad (profesionales/10 000 hab. a nivel departamental, quintil de pobreza y ruralidad) y coeficientes de Gini (departamental). Resultados. La población estuvo constituida por 6037 profesionales SERUMS y 27 495 no SERUMS. El Programa SERUMS incrementó de manera importante la dotación y densidad de profesionales en casi todas las regiones del país. En 5 regiones los profesionales SERUMS representaron más del 50% de la dotación. Incrementos importantes se encontraron en el análisis por quintil de pobreza y en el ámbito rural, especialmente en la dotación de médicos. El programa SERUMS evidenció una mayor desigualdad en su distribución, según los coeficientes de Gini, a favor de las poblaciones más vulnerables. Conclusiones. El Programa SERUMS incrementa de manera importante la dotación y densidad de profesionales, especialmente en los distritos más pobres del Perú.

Introduction. The adequate allocation and equitable distribution of human resources are essential for the health system›s performance, especially at the first level of care. The Rural and Urban Marginal Service Program (SERUMS) is the primary strategy developed by the Peruvian State for this purpose. Objective. To describe the effect of the number of doctors, nurses, and midwives of the SERUMS Program on the equity of the distribution of human resources at the primary care level. Methods. Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study of a census nature based on the National Registry of Health Personnel - INFORHUS, August 2019. Staffing indicators were applied, it was verified if there is a difference between the percentage distribution of SERUMS and non-SERUMS professionals, density (professionals per 10 000 inhabitants at the departmental level, poverty quintile, and rurality), and Gini coefficients (departmental) were calculated. Results. The population consisted of 6037 SERUMS professionals and 27 495 non-SERUMS professionals. The SERUMS Program significantly increased the number and density of professionals in almost all departments. In 5 regions, SERUMS professionals represented more than 50% of the workforce. Significant increases in the number of doctors were found in the poverty quintile and rural areas analysis. According to the Gini coefficients, the SERUMS program showed greater inequality in its distribution in favor of the most vulnerable populations. Conclusions. The SERUMS Program significantly increases the number and density of healthcare professionals, especially in the poorest districts of Peru.

Glycine Receptor Inhibition Differentially Affect Selected Neuronal Populations of the Developing Embryonic Cortex, as Evidenced by the Analysis of Spontaneous Calcium Oscillations.

The embryonic developing cerebral cortex is characterized by the presence of distinctive cell types such as progenitor pools, immature projection neurons and interneurons. Each of these cell types is diverse on itself, but they all take part of the developmental process responding to intrinsic and extrinsic cues that can affect their calcium oscillations. Importantly, calcium activity is crucial for controlling cellular events linked to cell cycle progression, cell fate determination, specification, cell positioning, morphological development and maturation. Therefore, in this work we measured calcium activity in control conditions and in response to neurotransmitter inhibition. Different data analysis methods were applied over the experimental measurements including statistical methods entropy and fractal calculations, and spectral and principal component analyses. We found that developing projection neurons are differentially affected by classic inhibitory neurotransmission as a cell type and at different places compared to migrating interneurons, which are also heterogeneous in their response to neurotransmitter inhibition. This reveals important insights into the developmental role of neurotransmitters and calcium oscillations in the forming brain cortex. Moreover, we present an improved analysis proposing a Gini coefficient-based inequality distribution and principal component analysis as mathematical tools for understanding the earliest patterns of brain activity.

Spatial Dynamics of Internal Migration Flows of the Skilled and Unskilled in Mexico / Dinámica espacial de los flujos de migración interna de personas calificadas y no calificadas en México

Abstract The dynamics of the internal migration is a crucial element in the composition of the workforce of a certain region, so its analysis contributes to the better understanding of labor markets and sociodemographic changes in a region. In order to characterize the most recent patterns of migratory flows of skilled and unskilled labor, census data are considered for the periods 1995-2000, 2005-2010 and 2010- 2015. The analysis considers different indicators that describe the intensity and relative concentration of interstate migration. Changes in migratory patterns are evident; a lower concentration of internal migration whose effect is more marked for unskilled labor. That is, it is observed that the number of states that play a preponderant role in the redistribution of labor in Mexico has increased. The relationship of domestic labor mobility is evident to the regional transformation as a result of new geographical patterns of location of investment, production and economic agglomeration.

Resumen La dinámica de la migración interna en México es un elemento determinante en la composición de la mano de obra de cierta región, por lo que su análisis coadyuva, entre otras cosas, al mejor entendimiento de los mercados laborales y cambios sociodemográficos de la región. Con la finalidad de caracterizar los patrones más recientes de los flujos migratorios de la mano obra calificada y no calificada, se consideran datos censales para los periodos 1995-2000, 2005-2010 y 2010-2015. Con esto se estiman diferentes indicadores que describen la intensidad y concentración relativa de la migración interestatal. Se evidencian cambios en los patrones migratorios y una menor concentración de la migración interna, cuyo efecto es más marcado para la mano de obra no calificada. Es decir, se observa que el número de entidades que juegan un rol preponderante en la redistribución de la mano obra en México ha aumentado. La relación de la movilidad laboral interna se hace evidente con el dinamismo regional y como resultado de nuevos patrones geográficos de ubicación de inversión, producción y aglomeración económica.

Livelihood capitals on income inequality among rural households: evidence from China / Efeito das capitais de subsistência na desigualdade de renda entre as famílias rurais: evidências da China

We used the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2014 to examine the effects of livelihood capitals which include natural, material, human, financial, and social capitals on total household income, per capita income, agricultural income, wage income, operational income, and property income inequality among rural households in China. Results showed that different kinds of livelihood capitals have different effects on different types of rural households income. Specifically; (1) although, the area of cultivated land reduces agricultural income inequality, it increases per capita income inequality. (2) Forest land area enlarges per capita income inequality and total household income inequality. (3) Tractor variable reduces inequality in agricultural income and total household income. (4) While reducing the property income inequality, education variable enlarges the wage income inequality, the per capita income inequality and the total household income inequality. (5) Book variable reduces property income inequality. (6) Loan variable increases inequality in agricultural incomes. (7) Party variable reduces the agricultural income inequality. (8) Although, the internet variable increases agricultural income inequality, and property income inequality, it reduces wage income inequality, operational income inequality, per capita income, and total household income inequality.(AU)

Utilizamos os dados da Pesquisa de Dinâmica da Força de Trabalho da China de 2014 para examinar os efeitos dos capitais de subsistência, que incluem capitais natural, material, humano, financeiro e social sobre a renda total da família, renda per capita, renda agrícola, renda salarial, renda operacional e desigualdade de renda da propriedade entre as famílias rurais da China. Os resultados mostraram que diferentes tipos de capitais de subsistência têm efeitos diferentes sobre os diferentes tipos de renda das famílias rurais. Especificamente, (1) embora a área de terra cultivada reduza a desigualdade de renda agrícola, aumenta a desigualdade de renda per capita. (2) A área florestal aumenta a desigualdade de renda per capita e a desigualdade total de renda familiar. (3) A variável trator reduz a desigualdade na renda agrícola e na renda familiar total. (4) Embora reduza a desigualdade de renda da propriedade, a variável educação aumenta a desigualdade de renda salarial, a desigualdade de renda per capita e a desigualdade total de renda familiar. (5) A variável contábil reduz a desigualdade de renda da propriedade. (6) A variável empréstimo aumenta a desigualdade na renda agrícola. (7) A variável partidária reduz a desigualdade de renda agrícola. (8) Embora a variável internet aumente a desigualdade de renda agrícola e a desigualdade de renda da propriedade, reduz a desigualdade de renda salarial, a desigualdade de renda operacional, a renda per capita e a desigualdade total de renda familiar.(AU)

Impact of incarceration on tuberculosis incidence and its interaction with income distribution inequality in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Deteriorated conditions in the non-prison population can lead to an approximation of its tuberculosis (TB) risk to that in the prison population. We evaluated the association between incarceration and TB incidence rate and its interaction with population income distribution inequality in Brazilian municipalities (2013-2015). METHODS: We included 954 municipalities with at least one prison. Interaction between the Gini coefficient and prison exposure was analysed in a multiple regression model. We estimated the fraction of TB in the population attributable fraction (PAF) to exposure to prisons according the Gini coefficient. RESULTS: Compared with the non-prison population, the prisoners had 22.07 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.38 to 23.89) the risk of TB in municipalities where the Gini coefficient was <0.60 and 14.96 times (95% CI 11.00 to 18.92) the risk where the Gini coefficient was ≥0.60. A negative interaction in the multiplicative scale was explained by a higher TB incidence in the non-prison population in municipalities with a Gini coefficient ≥0.60. The PAF ranged from 50.06% to 5.19% in municipalities with Gini coefficients <0.40 and ≥0.60, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to reduce prison exposure would have an ostensible impact in population TB incidence rates mainly in settings with lower Gini coefficients. In those with extreme inequality in income distribution, strategies focused on mitigating the effects of socio-economic factors should also be prioritized.

Livelihood capitals on income inequality among rural households: evidence from China / Efeito das capitais de subsistência na desigualdade de renda entre as famílias rurais: evidências da China

ABSTRACT: We used the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2014 to examine the effects of livelihood capitals which include natural, material, human, financial, and social capitals on total household income, per capita income, agricultural income, wage income, operational income, and property income inequality among rural households in China. Results showed that different kinds of livelihood capitals have different effects on different types of rural households' income. Specifically; (1) although, the area of cultivated land reduces agricultural income inequality, it increases per capita income inequality. (2) Forest land area enlarges per capita income inequality and total household income inequality. (3) Tractor variable reduces inequality in agricultural income and total household income. (4) While reducing the property income inequality, education variable enlarges the wage income inequality, the per capita income inequality and the total household income inequality. (5) Book variable reduces property income inequality. (6) Loan variable increases inequality in agricultural incomes. (7) Party variable reduces the agricultural income inequality. (8) Although, the internet variable increases agricultural income inequality, and property income inequality, it reduces wage income inequality, operational income inequality, per capita income, and total household income inequality.

RESUMO: Utilizamos os dados da Pesquisa de Dinâmica da Força de Trabalho da China de 2014 para examinar os efeitos dos capitais de subsistência, que incluem capitais natural, material, humano, financeiro e social sobre a renda total da família, renda per capita, renda agrícola, renda salarial, renda operacional e desigualdade de renda da propriedade entre as famílias rurais da China. Os resultados mostraram que diferentes tipos de capitais de subsistência têm efeitos diferentes sobre os diferentes tipos de renda das famílias rurais. Especificamente, (1) embora a área de terra cultivada reduza a desigualdade de renda agrícola, aumenta a desigualdade de renda per capita. (2) A área florestal aumenta a desigualdade de renda per capita e a desigualdade total de renda familiar. (3) A variável trator reduz a desigualdade na renda agrícola e na renda familiar total. (4) Embora reduza a desigualdade de renda da propriedade, a variável educação aumenta a desigualdade de renda salarial, a desigualdade de renda per capita e a desigualdade total de renda familiar. (5) A variável contábil reduz a desigualdade de renda da propriedade. (6) A variável empréstimo aumenta a desigualdade na renda agrícola. (7) A variável partidária reduz a desigualdade de renda agrícola. (8) Embora a variável internet aumente a desigualdade de renda agrícola e a desigualdade de renda da propriedade, reduz a desigualdade de renda salarial, a desigualdade de renda operacional, a renda per capita e a desigualdade total de renda familiar.

Desigualdade econômica e risco de infecção e morte por COVID-19 no Brasil / Income inequality and risk of infection and death by COVID-19 in Brazil

RESUMO: Objetivo: Avaliar, por meio de análise espaçotemporal, se a desigualdade econômica das Unidades Federativas (UF) do Brasil pode estar associada com o risco de infecção e morte por COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo ecológico, baseado em dados secundários das taxas de incidência e mortalidade para COVID-19. Os dados foram analisados em nível estadual, tendo como principal variável independente o coeficiente de Gini. Foram utilizados os registros de 12 dias, espaçados em uma semana cada, entre 21 de abril e 7 de julho de 2020. A variação semanal das taxas foi calculada pela regressão de Prais-Winsten, com o objetivo de medir a evolução da pandemia em cada UF. O teste de correlação de Spearman foi empregado para avaliar a correlação entre as taxas e suas evoluções semanais e as variáveis independentes. Por fim, realizou-se diagnóstico de dependência espacial dos dados e usou-se o modelo de defasagem da regressão espacial, quando aplicável. Resultados: As taxas de incidência e mortalidade por COVID-19 foram crescentes em todas as UF brasileiras, tendo sido mais acentuada entre aquelas com maior desigualdade econômica. A associação entre coeficiente de Gini e incidência e mortalidade por COVID-19 manteve-se mesmo quando levados em consideração aspectos demográficos e espaciais. Conclusão: A desigualdade econômica pode exercer papel importante no impacto da COVID-19 em território brasileiro, por meio de efeitos absolutos e contextuais. Políticas estruturais para a redução da desigualdade são fundamentais para o enfrentamento dessa e de futuras crises sanitárias no Brasil.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To assess, through space-time analyses, whether the income inequality of the Federative Units (FUs) in Brazil can be associated with the risk of infection and death by COVID-19. Methods: This was an ecological study, based on secondary data on incidence and mortality rates for COVID-19. Data were analyzed at the state level, having the Gini coefficient as the main independent variable. Records of twelve days were used, spaced one week each, between April 21th and June 7th, 2020. The weekly variation in the rates was calculated through Prais-Winsten regression, aiming at measuring the evolution of the pandemic in each FU. Spearman's correlation test was used to assess correlation between the rates and their weekly evolution and the independent variables. Lastly, a spatial dependence diagnosis was conducted, and a Spatial Regression lag model was used when applicable. Results: Incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 increased in all Brazilian FUs, being more pronounced among those with greater economic inequality. Association between Gini coefficient and COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates remained even when demographic and spatial aspects were taken into account. Conclusion: Income inequality can play an important role in the impact of COVID-19 on the Brazilian territory, through absolute and contextual effects. Structural policies to reduce inequality are essential to face this and future health crises in Brazil.

Introduction of Application of Gini Coefficient to Heart Rate Variability Spectrum for Mental Stress Evaluation / Introdução da Aplicação do Coeficiente de Gini ao Espectro de Variabilidade da Frequência Cardíaca para Avaliação do Estresse Mental

Abstract Background: The Gini coefficient is a statistical tool generally used by economists to quantify income inequality. However, it can be applied to any kind of data with unequal distribution, including heart rate variability (HRV). Objectives: To assess the application of the Gini coefficient to measure inequality in power spectral density of RR intervals, and to use this application as a psychophysiological indicator of mental stress. Methods: Thirteen healthy subjects (19 ± 1.5 years) participated in this study, and their RR intervals were obtained by electrocardiogram during rest (five minutes) and during mental stress (arithmetic challenge; five minutes). These RR intervals were used to obtain the estimates of power spectral densities (PSD). The limits for the PSD bands were defined from 0.15 to 0.40 Hz for high frequency band (HF), from 0.04 to 0.15 Hz for low frequency band (LF), from 0.04 to 0.085 Hz for first low frequency sub-band (LF1) and from 0.085 to 0.15 Hz for second low frequency sub-band (LF2). The spectral Gini coefficient (SpG) was proposed to measure the inequality in the power distribution of the RR intervals in each of above-mentioned HRV bands. SpG from each band was compared with its respective traditional index of HRV during the conditions of rest and mental stress. All the differences were considered statistically significant for p < 0.05. Results: There was a significant decrease in HF power (p = 0.046), as well as significant increases in heart rate (p = 0.004), LF power (p = 0.033), LF2 power (p = 0.019) and LF/HF (p = 0.002) during mental stress. There was also a significant increase in SpG(LF) (p = 0.009) and SpG(LF2) (p = 0.033) during mental stress. Coefficient of variation showed SpG has more homogeneity compared to the traditional index of HRV during mental stress. Conclusions: This pilot study suggested that spectral inequality of Heart Rate Variability analyzed using the Gini coefficient seems to be an independent and homogeneous psychophysiological indicator of mental stress. Also, HR, LF/HF, SpG(LF) of HRV are possibly important, reliable and valid indicators of mental stress.

Resumo Fundamento: O coeficiente de Gini é um instrumento estatístico geralmente usado por economistas para quantificar a desigualdade de renda. No entanto, ele pode ser aplicado a qualquer tipo de dados com distribuição desigual, incluindo a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC). Objetivos: Avaliar a aplicação do coeficiente de Gini para medir a desigualdade na densidade espectral de potência de intervalos RR, e usar esta aplicação como um indicador psicofisiológico do estresse mental. Métodos: Treze indivíduos saudáveis (19 ± 1,5 anos) participaram deste estudo, e seus intervalos RR foram obtidos por eletrocardiograma durante repouso (cinco minutos) e durante estresse mental (desafio aritmético; cinco minutos). Esses intervalos RR foram utilizados para obter as estimativas de densidades espectrais de potência (PSD). Os limites para as bandas PSD foram definidos de 0,15 a 0,40 Hz para banda de alta frequência (HF), de 0,04 a 0,15 Hz para banda de baixa frequência (LF), de 0,04 a 0,085 Hz para a primeira sub-banda de baixa frequência (LF1) e de 0,085 a 0,15 Hz para a segunda sub-banda de baixa frequência (LF2). O coeficiente de Gini espectral (SpG) foi proposto para medir a desigualdade na distribuição de potência dos intervalos RR em cada uma das bandas de VFC mencionadas acima. O SpG de cada banda foi comparado com seu respectivo índice tradicional de VFC durante as condições de repouso e de estresse mental. Todas as diferenças foram consideradas estatisticamente significativas para p < 0,05. Resultados: Houve uma diminuição significativa no poder de FC (p=0,046), bem como aumentos significativos na frequência cardíaca (p = 0,004), potência da LF (p = 0,033), potência da LF2 (p = 0,019) e LF/HF (p = 0,002) durante estresse mental. Houve também um aumento significativo de SpG(LF) (p = 0,009) e SpG(LF2) (p = 0,033) durante estresse mental. O coeficiente de variação mostrou que o SpG tem mais homogeneidade em comparação com o índice tradicional de VFC durante o estresse mental. Conclusões: Este estudo piloto sugeriu que a desigualdade espectral da VFC analisada pelo coeficiente de Gini parece ser um indicador psicofisiológico independente e homogêneo de estresse mental. Além disso, FC, LF/HF, SpG(LF) da VFC são possivelmente indicadores importantes, confiáveis e válidos de estresse mental.

Inequality in the brazilian exports of wooden doors / Desigualdade nas exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira

The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of Brazilian exports of wooden doors from 2005 to 2015 regarding the degree of inequality. In order to determine the inequality, the Gini Index was used. To that end, monetary values of exports were collected in the UNCONTRADE database and deflated, using empirically the base year 2005. The results showed that the Brazilian exports of wooden doors were characterized by very strong to absolute inequality. In addition, the absolute value of exports for the period analyzed increased from US $ 227.3 million in 2005 to US $ 154.3 million in 2015. In this way, this analysis indicates that Brazil should expand its exports, it is of fundamental importance the interaction between the organizations and the government, aiming at elaborating and perfecting strategies that allow the competitiveness of the Brazilian product in relation to the other exporters.

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar a evolução das exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira no período de 2005 a 2015, quanto ao grau de desigualdade. Para a determinação da desigualdade utilizou-se o Índice de Gini. Para isso valores monetários das exportações foram coletados no banco de dados UNCONTRADE e deflacionados, utilizando de maneira empírica o ano base 2005. Os resultados mostraram que as exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira se caracterizaram com caráter de desigualdade muito forte a absoluta. Além disso, o valor absoluto das exportações, para o período analisado apresentou decrescimento, passando de US$ 227,3 milhões em 2005 para US$ 154,3 milhões em 2015. Desta maneira, esta análise indica que o Brasil deve expandir suas exportações, sendo de fundamental relevância a interação entre as organizações e o governo, visando elaborar e aperfeiçoar estratégias que possibilitem a competitividade do produto brasileiro frente aos demais exportadores.

Desigualdade nas exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira / Inequality in the brazilian exports of wooden doors

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar a evolução das exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira no período de 2005 a 2015, quanto ao grau de desigualdade. Para a determinação da desigualdade utilizou-se o Índice de Gini. Para isso valores monetários das exportações foram coletados no banco de dados UNCONTRADE e deflacionados, utilizando de maneira empírica o ano base 2005. Os resultados mostraram que as exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira se caracterizaram com caráter de desigualdade muito forte a absoluta. Além disso, o valor absoluto das exportações, para o período analisado apresentou decrescimento, passando de US$ 227,3 milhões em 2005 para US$ 154,3 milhões em 2015. Desta maneira, esta análise indica que o Brasil deve expandir suas exportações, sendo de fundamental relevância a interação entre as organizações e o governo, visando elaborar e aperfeiçoar estratégias que possibilitem a competitividade do produto brasileiro frente aos demais exportadores.

The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of Brazilian exports of wooden doors from 2005 to 2015 regarding the degree of inequality. In order to determine the inequality, the Gini Index was used. To that end, monetary values of exports were collected in the UNCONTRADE database and deflated, using empirically the base year 2005. The results showed that the Brazilian exports of wooden doors were characterized by very strong to absolute inequality. In addition, the absolute value of exports for the period analyzed increased from US $ 227.3 million in 2005 to US $ 154.3 million in 2015. In this way, this analysis indicates that Brazil should expand its exports, it is of fundamental importance the interaction between the organizations and the government, aiming at elaborating and perfecting strategies that allow the competitiveness of the Brazilian product in relation to the other exporters.

Desigualdade nas exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira / Inequality in the brazilian exports of wooden doors

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar a evolução das exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira no período de 2005 a 2015, quanto ao grau de desigualdade. Para a determinação da desigualdade utilizou-se o Índice de Gini. Para isso valores monetários das exportações foram coletados no banco de dados UNCONTRADE e deflacionados, utilizando de maneira empírica o ano base 2005. Os resultados mostraram que as exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira se caracterizaram com caráter de desigualdade muito forte a absoluta. Além disso, o valor absoluto das exportações, para o período analisado apresentou decrescimento, passando de US$ 227,3 milhões em 2005 para US$ 154,3 milhões em 2015. Desta maneira, esta análise indica que o Brasil deve expandir suas exportações, sendo de fundamental relevância a interação entre as organizações e o governo, visando elaborar e aperfeiçoar estratégias que possibilitem a competitividade do produto brasileiro frente aos demais exportadores.(AU)

The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of Brazilian exports of wooden doors from 2005 to 2015 regarding the degree of inequality. In order to determine the inequality, the Gini Index was used. To that end, monetary values of exports were collected in the UNCONTRADE database and deflated, using empirically the base year 2005. The results showed that the Brazilian exports of wooden doors were characterized by very strong to absolute inequality. In addition, the absolute value of exports for the period analyzed increased from US $ 227.3 million in 2005 to US $ 154.3 million in 2015. In this way, this analysis indicates that Brazil should expand its exports, it is of fundamental importance the interaction between the organizations and the government, aiming at elaborating and perfecting strategies that allow the competitiveness of the Brazilian product in relation to the other exporters.(AU)

Inequality in the brazilian exports of wooden doors / Desigualdade nas exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira

The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of Brazilian exports of wooden doors from 2005 to 2015 regarding the degree of inequality. In order to determine the inequality, the Gini Index was used. To that end, monetary values of exports were collected in the UNCONTRADE database and deflated, using empirically the base year 2005. The results showed that the Brazilian exports of wooden doors were characterized by very strong to absolute inequality. In addition, the absolute value of exports for the period analyzed increased from US $ 227.3 million in 2005 to US $ 154.3 million in 2015. In this way, this analysis indicates that Brazil should expand its exports, it is of fundamental importance the interaction between the organizations and the government, aiming at elaborating and perfecting strategies that allow the competitiveness of the Brazilian product in relation to the other exporters.

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar a evolução das exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira no período de 2005 a 2015, quanto ao grau de desigualdade. Para a determinação da desigualdade utilizou-se o Índice de Gini. Para isso valores monetários das exportações foram coletados no banco de dados UNCONTRADE e deflacionados, utilizando de maneira empírica o ano base 2005. Os resultados mostraram que as exportações brasileiras de portas de madeira se caracterizaram com caráter de desigualdade muito forte a absoluta. Além disso, o valor absoluto das exportações, para o período analisado apresentou decrescimento, passando de US$ 227,3 milhões em 2005 para US$ 154,3 milhões em 2015. Desta maneira, esta análise indica que o Brasil deve expandir suas exportações, sendo de fundamental relevância a interação entre as organizações e o governo, visando elaborar e aperfeiçoar estratégias que possibilitem a competitividade do produto brasileiro frente aos demais exportadores.

Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador / Atributos de los bordes de los fragmentos en un bosque húmedo neotropical, en Ecuador

Abstract The application of gap dynamics theory appears to be a promising option for tropical forest management and conservation. In the present study of a tree species-rich and old-growth Ecuadorian Neotropical forest, we assessed the spatial distribution of gaps and gap size in relation to: i) tree number at the gap edge, ii) number of tree species at the gap edge, iii) number of tree species per stem at the gap edge, iv) species similarity, v) species evenness at the gap edge, vi) size differentiation at the gap edge, vii) gap isolation and viii) species mingling at the gap edge. Our results demonstrated that the spatial distribution of gaps was random. Various gap attributes were strongly associated with gap size. The number of tree species per stem at the gap edge was negatively correlated to the gap size. Gap sizes up to 50 m2were mostly sufficient to generate tree species-rich forest stands. Assuming that our results were representative for an old-growth neotropical rainforest in Ecuador, our study remarks the following management recommendations: 1) Rainforests have a very complex spatial and diversity structure and logging activities should preferably be omitted because of adverse effects. 2) If logging is inevitable, this should mimic a random choice of trees and tree species, to prevent special selection of tree dimension and species; and a random distribution of trees to be logged, to produce gaps smaller than 50 m2and never larger than 400 m2. Additionally, we suggest cutting not more than 5 % of the tree biomass per 10-20 years period, to preclude stronger alterations of ecosystem processes, and the reduction of existing dead wood from the ecosystem. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 149-163. Epub 2018 March 01.

Resumen Aplicar la teoría de la dinámica de parches parece ser una opción prometedora para el manejo y conservación de los bosques tropicales. En el presente estudio se analizó la distribución espacial y el tamaño de los parches en relación con: i) el número de árboles en el borde del parche, ii) el número de especies arbóreas en el parche iii) número de especies arbóreas por tronco en el borde del parche, iv) similitud de las especies, v) uniformidad de las especies en el borde del parche, vi) separación del tamaño en el borde del parche, vii) aislamiento del parche y viii) borde del parche. Nuestros resultados demostraron que la distribución espacial de los parches fue aleatoria. Varios atributos de la vegetación se asociaron fuertemente con el tamaño del parche. El número de especies de árboles por fuste en el borde del parche se correlacionó negativamente con el tamaño del parche. Asumiendo que, nuestros resultados fueron representativos de un bosque neotropical en el Ecuador, nuestro estudio respalda las siguientes recomendaciones: 1) Este tipo de bosque húmedo tiene una diversidad espacial y estructural muy compleja; por lo tanto, las actividades de explotación forestal deberían omitirse, ya que afectarán negativamente sus estructuras. 2) Si la tala es inevitable, entonces deberían imitarse las estructuras naturales descritas en este estudio. Es decir, i) una selección aleatoria de especies de árboles a cosechar, con el fin de evitar la selección específica por dimensiones del arbolado o por especies, ii) en la distribución aleatoria de árboles debe tomarse en cuenta que los parches sean menores a 50 m2y jamás mayores a 400 m2. Adicionalmente, se recomienda no cortar más del 5 % de la biomasa arbórea en cada período de corta de entre 10 a 20 años, para evitar alteraciones mayores en los procesos del ecosistema y la reducción de madera muerta existente en estos ecosistemas.

A laboratory for Latin eugenics: the Italian Committee for the Study of Population Problems and the international circulation of eugenic knowledge, 1920s-1940s / Um laboratório para eugenia latina: o Comitê Italiano para Estudo dos Problemas da População e a circulação internacional do conhecimento eugênico, décadas de 1920-1940

Abstract The aim of this article is to shed light on the rise to international prominence of the Italian statistician and eugenicist Corrado Gini and his appointment as the inaugural president of the Latin International Federation of Eugenic Societies in October 1935. It explores the numerous pioneering, still little known, investigations he undertook with a few Italian scientists and some foreign scholars, in order to analyze the role played by “isolation,” and “racial hybridization” in the formation and degeneration of human races. After outlining Gini’s professional and political trajectory, the article focuses on the scientific expeditions launched by the Italian Committee for the Study of Population Problems between 1933 and 1940 under his stewardship.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar a projeção internacional do estatístico e eugenista italiano Corrado Gini e sua nomeação como presidente inaugural da Federação Latina Internacional de Sociedades Eugênicas em outubro de 1935. Examina várias pesquisas pioneiras, ainda pouco conhecidas, que Gini, alguns cientistas italianos e outros estrangeiros empreenderam a fim de analisar o papel do “isolamento” e da “hibridização racial” na formação e degeneração de raças humanas. Após apresentar a trajetória profissional e política de Gini, o artigo concentra-se nas expedições científicas lançadas pelo Comitê Italiano para Estudo dos Problemas da População, entre 1933 e 1940, sob sua direção.