GAMMA; a simulation model for ageing, pensions and public finances

To answer policy questions that have intergenerational implications, a computable simulation model should obey four conditions, it should: incorporate long-term demographic developments; include a detailed modelling of the public sector; decompose the population into several generations; account for the behaviour of the various economic agents. This document describes and illustrates a model that meets all these conditions. It is an applied general equilibrium model that is based on generational accounting principles named GAMMA (Generational Accounting Model with Maximizing Agents).

Risk assessment and relationship management: practical approach to supply chain risk management

The literature suggests the need for incorporating the risk construct into the measurement of organisational performance, although few examples are available as to how this might be undertaken in relation to supply chains. A conceptual framework for the development of performance and risk management within the supply chain is evolved from the literature and empirical evidence. The twin levels of dyadic performance/risk management and the management of a portfolio of performance/risks is addressed, employing Agency Theory to guide the analysis. The empirical evidence relates to the downstream management of dealerships by a large multinational organisation. Propositions are derived from the analysis relating to the issues and mechanisms that may be employed to effectively manage a portfolio of supply chain performance and risks

The impact of demographic uncertainty on public finances in the Netherlands

This paper presents stochastic simulations, i.e. simulations that combine the CGE model of the Dutch economy GAMMA with stochastic population projections, to quantify uncertainties surrounding the consequences of population ageing for Dutch public finances. The expected increase in the ratio of retirees to workers that is due to population ageing is sure to increase pressure on public finances and the Dutch economy in the coming decades. However, because of the uncertainty regarding future demographic developments, the exact extent of the problem is unknown. This paper quantifies the�uncertainties by stochastic simulation.

Neurodiversity HCI

The objective of this paper is to introduce neurodiversity movement. Like Feminist HCI[5] neurodiversity critiques the implicit notion of ‘user’ in the singular. Neurodiversity suggests that current approaches carry with them certain assumptions about the cognitive processing abilities of users which need to be challenged. This paper is concerned with the design and evaluation of interactive systems that are imbued with an awareness of the central commitments of neurodiversity. The paper seeks to identify and promote neurodiversity under the banner of neurodiversity HCI. This paper introduces neurodiversity and then critically evaluates aspects of HCI from the neurodiversity perspective

Opioid substitution therapy in manipur and nagaland, north-east india: operational research in action

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is good evidence for the effectiveness of opioid substitution therapy (OST) for injecting drug users (IDUs) in middle and high-income countries but little evidence regarding the provision of OST by non-government organisations (NGOs) in resource-poor settings. This paper reports on outcomes of an NGO-based OST program providing sub-lingual buprenorphine to opiate dependent IDUs in two north-east Indian states (Manipur and Nagaland), a region where conflict, under-development and injecting of heroin and Spasmoproxyvon (SP) are ongoing problems. The objectives of the study were: 1) to calculate OST treatment retention, 2) to assess the impact on HIV risk behaviours and quality of life, and 3) to identify client characteristics associated with cessation of treatment due to relapse.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study involves analysis of data that were routinely and prospectively collected from all clients enrolled in an OST program in Manipur and Nagaland between May 2006 and December 2007 (n = 2569, 1853 in Manipur and 716 in Nagaland) using standardised questionnaires, and is best classified as operational research. The data were recorded at intake into the program, after three months, and at cessation. Outcome measures included HIV risk behaviours and quality of life indicators. Predictors of relapse were modelled using binary logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of all clients enrolled in OST during the month of May 2006 (n = 713), 72.8% remained on treatment after three months, and 63.3% after six months. Statistically significant (p = 0.05) improvements were observed in relation to needle sharing, unsafe sex, incidents of detention, and a range of quality of life measures. Greater spending on drugs at intake (OR 1.20), frequently missing doses (OR 8.82), and having heroin rather than SP as the most problematic drug (OR 1.95) were factors that increased the likelihood of relapse, and longer duration in treatment (OR 0.76) and regular family involvement in treatment (OR 0.20) reduced the likelihood of relapse.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings from this operational research indicate that the provision of OST by NGOs in the severely constrained context of Manipur and Nagaland achieved outcomes that are internationally comparable, and highlights strategies for strengthening similar programs in this and other resource-poor settings.</p

Investigating the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors in general practice : the PRACtICe Study

Report prepared by the University of Nottingham, University of Reading and University of Hertfordshir

Corrosion of aluminium metal in OPC- and CAC-based cement matrices

Corrosion of aluminium metal in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) based pastes produces hydrogen gas and expansive reaction products causing problems for the encapsulation of aluminium containing nuclear wastes. Although corrosion of aluminium in cements has been long known, the extent of aluminium corrosion in the cement matrices and effects of such reaction on the cement phases are not well established. The present study investigates the corrosion reaction of aluminium in OPC, OPC-blast furnace slag (BFS) and calcium aluminate cement (CAC) based systems. The total amount of aluminium able to corrode in an OPC and 4:1 BFS:OPC system was determined, and the correlation between the amount of calcium hydroxide in the system and the reaction of aluminium obtained. It was also shown that a CAC-based system could offer a potential matrix to incorporate aluminium metal with a further reduction of pH by introduction of phosphate, producing a calcium phosphate cement

Application of immersive virtual reality mirror therapy for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke: a scoping review

Mirror therapy is a commonly used rehabilitation intervention in post stroke upper limb rehabilitation. Despite many potential technological developments, mirror therapy is routinely delivered through the use of a static mirror or mirror box. This review aims to synthesise evidence on the application of immersive virtual reality mirror therapy (IVRMT) in poststroke upper limb rehabilitation. A scoping review was performed on relevant English studies published between 2013 to 2023. Literature search was undertaken on APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed and Web of Science between August 5 and 17, 2023. Additional studies were included from Google Scholar and reference lists of identified articles. A total of 224 records were identified, of which 8 full-text articles were selected for review. All included studies were published between 2019 and 2023, and from high- and upper-middle-income nations. All the studies were experimental (n = 8). The total sample size in the studies was 259, most of whom were stroke patients with upper limb weakness (n = 184). This review identified three major themes and two sub-themes based on the contents of the studies conducted on the application of IVRMT: IVRMT’s technical application, feasibility and impact on clinical outcomes (motor recovery and adverse events). IVRMT was concluded to be a safe and feasible approach to post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation, offering enhanced engagement and motor recovery. However, more methodologically robust studies should be conducted to advance this area of practice, and to include a uniform IVRMT intervention protocol, dose, and use of outcome measure

The Grizzly, October 27, 2016

How UC Students Get the News • International Students Sound Off on Election • Attorney General Candidate Discusses Platform • UC Alumni on the Campaign Trail • Local Volunteers Get Out the Vote • Opinions: The Difficulties of Voting from Past to Present; The Future of the Supreme Court is on the Ballot • UC Students Weigh in on Pro-Athlete Protests • Rein Wrestles Political Issueshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1653/thumbnail.jp

Research Techniques Made Simple: Analysis of Autophagy in the Skin.

Autophagy is required for normal skin homeostasis and its disordered regulation is implicated in a range of cutaneous diseases. Several well-characterized biomarkers of autophagy are used experimentally to quantify autophagic activity or clinically to correlate autophagy with disease progression. This article discusses the advantages and limitations of different approaches for measuring autophagy as well as the techniques for modulating autophagy. These include analysis of endogenous LC3, a central autophagy regulatory protein, and measurement of LC3 flux using a dual-fluorescent reporter, which provides a quantitative readout of autophagy in cell culture systems in vitro and animal models in vivo. Degradation of SQSTM1/p62 during autophagy is proposed as an alternative biomarker allowing the analysis of autophagy both experimentally and clinically. However, the complex regulation of individual autophagy proteins and their involvement in multiple pathways means that several proteins must be analyzed together, preferably over a time course to accurately interpret changes in autophagic activity. Genetic modification of autophagy proteins can be used to better understand basic autophagic mechanisms contributing to health and disease, whereas small molecule inhibitors of autophagy regulatory proteins, lysosomal inhibitors, or activators of cytotoxic autophagy have been explored as potential treatments for skin disorders where autophagy is defective. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.