Money Matters - Evidence from a Large-Scale Randomized Field Experiment with Vouchers for Adult Training

This paper presents the results of a randomized experiment analyzing the use of vouchers for adult training. In 2006, 2,400 people were issued with a training voucher which they were entitled to use in payment for a training course of their choice. User behavior was compared with a control group of 14,000 people. People in the treatment and in the control group were not aware at any time that they were part of an experiment. The experiment shows that the voucher had a significant causal impact on participation in training modules. Nevertheless, the increase was partially offset by a deadweight loss in excess of fifty percent.field experiment, voucher, adult education, training, Switzerland

A Gift is not Always a Gift: Gift Exchange in a Voucher Experiment

Different from traditional gift exchange experiments, we study a field experiment where a random subsample of participants in the Swiss Labor Force Survey was sent vouchers to be used in adult training courses. Importantly for our purposes, actual voucher redemption can be traced. This gives the unique opportunity to study whether gift exchange in the form of participation in future rounds of the survey depends on the perceived usefulness of the gift. We find that the group of voucher recipients as a whole has significantly higher response rates in the survey six months after the vouchers were sent out. There is considerable heterogeneity, though. Our results point to a long-lasting gift exchange relationship for the sub-group that had redeemed their vouchers. Contrary to this group, the individuals who did not redeem their vouchers, had a response pattern that was not significantly different from the voucher non-recipients.gift exchange, reciprocity, field experiment, long-run effects

Effects of Adult Education Vouchers on the Labor Market: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

Lifelong learning is often promoted in ageing societies, but little is known about its returns or governments’ ability to advance it. This paper evaluates the effects of a large-scale randomized field experiment issuing vouchers for adult education in Switzerland. We find no significant average effects of voucher-induced adult education on earnings, employment, and subsequent education one year after treatment. But effects are heterogeneous: Low-education individuals are most likely to profit from adult education, but least likely to use the voucher. The findings cast doubt on the effectiveness of existing untargeted voucher programs in promoting labor market outcomes through adult education.field experiment, voucher, adult education, LATE, Switzerland

Nurse Practitioner Professional Autonomy: Relationship Between Structural Autonomy and Attitudinal Autonomy

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the possible components of structural autonomy that influence Nurse Practitioners\u27 (NPs) perceptions of independence in practice. The components identified were NP state regulatory practices, educational background, and managed care environment. The study explored the relationship between NP structural autonomy as it relates to the above components and attitudinal autonomy as it relates to perceptions of independence in practice. A conceptual framework derived from a review of the literature demonstrated the possible relationships. The investigator employed a mail survey to collect data from certified NPs in six eastern and mid-eastern states. Current state regulations regarding advanced nursing practice were used to establish current state practice scores. The Nursing Autonomy Scale (Pankratz & Pankratz, 1974), the Index of Work Satisfaction (Stamps & Piedmonte, 1986), and the Professional Inventory (Hall, 1974) measured perceptions of autonomy. Additional information was collected to determine the NP demographic background, educational background, practice setting and managed care circumstances. Of 300 surveys mailed, 227 participants responded. Data analysis included correlation analysis, t-tests, analysis of variance, and multiple regression procedures. Demographic information was summarized with descriptive statistics. The major findings of the study were: (1) State regulatory guidelines do not affect perceptions of autonomy as measured on the scales used. (2) Preceptor experience during NP education does not affect perceptions of autonomy as measured on the scales used. (3) Pharmacology preparedness does not affect perceptions of autonomy as measured on the scales used. (4) Managed care circumstances do not affect autonomy as measured on the scales used. It was concluded that structural autonomy is a more complex and multi-dimensional experience than originally hypothesized. Many additional factors must be taken into consideration when exploring NPs\u27 perceptions of autonomy. It may be that most NPs are practicing in an independent, yet collaborative role, which provides opportunity for autonomy. The investigator also concluded that NP educational programs do not adequately prepare NPs for independent prescriptive authority. Variables related to NP autonomy were not determined in the study, yet it is evident that NPs\u27 perceptions of autonomy are affected by many variables. Further study is needed to ascertain these variables

An economic framework for analysing the social determinants of health and health inequalities

Reducing health inequalities is an important part of health policy in most countries. This paper discusses from an economic perspective how government policy can influence health inequalities, particularly focusing on the outcome of performance targets in England, and the role of sectors of the economy outside the health service – the ‘social determinants’ of health - in delivering these targets.

Development, comparison and utilization of enhanced immunoassays for the detection of lettuce mosaic virus

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing alkaline phosphatase, (beta)-galactosidase, and biotin to conjugate the anti-LMV Immunoglobulin (L-IgG) was used to detect lettuce mosaic virus (LMV). Substrates, 4-methylumbelliferyll phosphate (MUP), and 4-methylumbelliferyll-(beta)-D-galactopyranoside (MUG) and p-nitrophenylphosphate (NPP) were used to react with the appropriate labeled antibody. Polystyrene microtiter plates and polystyrene beads were used as the solid-phase in the immunoassays. Optimal conditions for coating the solid-phase, specificity of the immune reaction, and other sensitivities of the immune reaction were also defined for standardization. A sensitivity level of 25 and 50 ng/ml of purified LMV was obtained when beads and plates were used as the solid-phase in s-ELISA, respectively. The b-ELISA was sensitive at 1 and 10 ng/ml of purified LMV when beads and plates were used, respectively. Fluorescence assays with beads as the solid-phase were sensitive at 1 ng/ml of purified LMV when either the substrate MUP for alkaline phosphatase or MUG for (beta)-galactosidase were used. The use of a fluorogenic substrate and beads as the solid-phase can enhance sensitivity for detection of LMV. The addition of seed extracts did not interfere with the ability of the assay to detect purified virus. This indicates a potential for seed assay. In the seed assay using ELFA-MUP, LMV was detected in at least one infected seed from a contrived sample containing 17 infected (virus source was predetermined to have 2% LMV infection) and 483 healthy seeds with a probability of 0.30. The chances of detecting the virus using the bead ELFA-MUP increases with increasing number of infected seeds to be tested;The simplicity and reproducibility of an ELFA-MUP system has potential utility for routine screening of seed samples

Modification of aftertaste with a menthol mouthwash reduces food wanting, liking, and ad <i>libitum </i>intake of potato crisps

This research investigated the effect of modifying the aftertaste of potato crisps on (1) temporal sensory perception and (2) appetite using three mouthwash conditions (no mouthwash, a water mouthwash, and a menthol mouthwash). For the sensory study, 17 screened female subjects were trained on the Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS) methodology. Subjects undertook TDS to monitor all sensory attributes during the mastication of a 2 g crisp until swallowing (at 20s), then conducted the mouthwash, and then continued the TDS task to monitor aftertaste until 90s. For the appetite study, 36 subjects (18 male, 18 female) completed 100 mm Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for desire, liking, hunger, and thirst, followed by an ad libitum eating task. For the VAS scales testing, subjects chewed and swallowed a 2 g crisp, and then immediately conducted the mouthwash before completing the VAS scales. For the ad libitum task, subjects were given 12 min to consume as many crisps as they desired on a plate (up to 50 g). Every three minutes they were required to conduct a mouthwash. TDS results showed that in comparison with no mouthwash, the water mouthwash significantly reduced aftertaste attributes such as savoury, salty, and fatty mouthcoating, and the menthol mouthwash significantly increased aftertaste attributes of cooling, minty, and tingly. The water mouthwash did not influence desire and liking of crisps, or hunger and thirst. The water mouthwash did not influence ad libitum intake of the crisps over a 12 min period. The menthol mouthwash significantly reduced desire and liking of the crisps, as well as hunger and thirst. Furthermore, the menthol mouthwash significantly reduced ad libitum crisp intake by 29% over the 12 min period

Nodal involvement evaluation in advanced cervical cancer: a single institutional experience

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of different imaging techniques in the detection of nodal involvement in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma. Moreover, to analyze the correlation between the presurgical (FIGO) and postsurgical (pTNM) staging classifications. Materials and Methods: All patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (FIGO Stages IIB-IV) from 2005 to 2012 were selected. The medical charts of 51 patients that underwent presurgical assessment with posterior surgical staging by means of paraaortic lymphadenectomy, were reviewed. Nodal status assessment by computed tomography scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and sonography was compared, as well as the size given in imaging techniques compared to the final pathologic report information. Results: Presurgical analysis by CT scan, MRI, PET, and sonography showed pelvic nodal involvement in 51.3% of patients, and para-aortic involvement in 30.8% of cases. CT scan showed positive pelvic nodes in 35% of cases, but pathologic confirmation was observed in just 17.6% of cases. However, MRI resulted in higher rates of up to 48.8% of cases. Concerning para-aortic nodal involvement, CT scan showed positive nodes in 25% of cases, MRI in 3.2% of cases, and the pathologic report in 15.6% of cases. The authors found significant differences between staging groups among both classifications (FIGO vs. pTNM; p < 0.001). Eight cases (15.7%) were understaged by FIGO classification. Conclusions: Despite all imaging techniques available, none has demonstrated to be efficient enough to avoid the systematic study of para-aortic nodal status by means of surgical evaluatio

Estimación de la composición corporal del ganado ovino : métodos de difusión

Las necesidades nutritivas de las ovejas varían a lo largo de su ciclo reproductivo, siendo elevadas al final de la gestación y primera fase de la lactación y próximas al mantenimiento en el resto de ios periodos. Como se verá en el transcurso de este seminario (Guada, 1991) el aporte de nutrientes no se ajusta siempre a esta evolución de las necesidades, bien por razones fisiológicas, debido a la limitada capacidad de ingestión al final de la gestación e inicio de la lactación, o bien por razones de disponibilidad de alimentos como consecuencia de la variación estacional de la producción de pastos. Para amortiguar el defase entre necesidades y aporte de nutrientes, las ovejas movilizan y utilizan sus propias reservas corporales, pudiendo perder hasta el 50 % de sus reservas iipídicas durante la gestación (Russel et al., 1968) y llegar prácticamente a la deplección de grasa a mitad de la lactación (Sykes, 1974), cuando se mantienen en condiciones de explotación extensiva. Por consiguiente no se puede establecer una relación causal entre aportes y producción si no se conoce en que medida las movilizaciones de las reservas corporales contribuyen al desarrollo del feto y anexos o a la producción de leche. Para el establecimiento de estas relaciones es precisó disponer de un método fiable de estimación de la composición corporal o estado de reservas de los animales a lo largo del ciclo reproductivo