Analytical and numerical results for American style of perpetual put options through transformation into nonlinear stationary Black-Scholes equations

We analyze and calculate the early exercise boundary for a class of stationary generalized Black-Scholes equations in which the volatility function depends on the second derivative of the option price itself. A motivation for studying the nonlinear Black Scholes equation with a nonlinear volatility arises from option pricing models including, e.g., non-zero transaction costs, investors preferences, feedback and illiquid markets effects and risk from unprotected portfolio. We present a method how to transform the problem of American style of perpetual put options into a solution of an ordinary differential equation and implicit equation for the free boundary position. We finally present results of numerical approximation of the early exercise boundary, option price and their dependence on model parameters

Supporting the Mobile In-situ Authoring of Locative Media in Rural Places: Design and Expert Evaluation of the SMAT app

Providing users with carefully authored Locative media experiences (which can be consumed via their GPS equipped smartphones or tablets) has significant potential for fostering a strong engagement with their current surroundings. However, the availability of mobile tools to support the authoring of locative media experiences in-situ, and by non-technical users, remains scarce. In this article we present the design and field-trial expert evaluation of a mobile app developed under the SHARC project (Investigating Technology Support for the Shared Curation of Local History in a Rural Community). The app is named SMAT (SHARC Mobile Authoring Tool) and supports the authoring of Locative Media experiences with a focus on the creation of POIs (Points of Interest) and associated geo-fences which trigger the pushed delivery of media items such as photos, audio clips, etc. One important requirement of SMAT is the ability to support authoring in places where connectivity is intermittent or unavailable, e.g. many rural areas

Targeted delivery of lysosomal enzymes to the endocytic compartment in human cells using engineered extracellular vesicles.

Targeted delivery of lysosomal enzymes to the endocytic compartment of human cells represents a transformative technology for treating a large family of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). Gaucher disease is one of the most common types of LSDs caused by mutations to the lysosomal β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA). Here, we describe a genetic strategy to produce engineered exosomes loaded with GBA in two different spatial configurations for targeted delivery to the endocytic compartment of recipient cells. By fusing human GBA to an exosome-anchoring protein: vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG), we demonstrate that the chimeric proteins were successfully integrated into exosomes which were secreted as extracellular vesicles (EVs) by producer cells. Isolation and molecular characterization of EVs confirmed that the fusion proteins were loaded onto exosomes without altering their surface markers, particle size or distribution. Further, enzyme-loaded exosomes/EVs added to cultured medium were taken up by recipient cells. Further, the endocytosed exosomes/EVs targeted to endocytic compartments exhibited a significant increase in GBA activity. Together, we have developed a novel method for targeting and delivery of lysosomal enzymes to their natural location: the endocytic compartment of recipient cells. Since exosomes/EVs have an intrinsic ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier, our technology may provide a new approach to treat severe types of LSDs, including Gaucher disease with neurological complications

Changing Internal Medicine Residents’ Perspective on Social Determinants of Health

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) shape the conditions of a person’s daily life and include factors such as housing, occupation, education, safety and income. While physicians are aware of the inequalities that exists in healthcare, not all physicians feel adequately able to address such concerns. Understanding of factors that contribute to the development and perpetuation of inequities in health care must be developed at the medical education training level. Objectives: Evaluate internal medicine residents’ understanding of SDOH and implement a curriculum on health disparities in order to improve their comfort in addressing social needs. Methods: A survey regarding several aspects of SDOH were collected from the Rowan SOM/Jefferson Health NJ internal medicine residency program. A curriculum involving several didactic sessions was subsequently provided. A post-education survey was then administered to the same group to determine whether the curriculum had effectively addressed understanding of SDOH. Results: Among 45 residents representing all three years of training, 72.4% did not fully understand factors composing SDOH. Interestingly, 100% of residents have cared for patients with social factors as the primary cause of inpatient admission, but 30% were not at all comfortable addressing SDOH. This dropped to 5.9% after implementation of the curriculum, indicating that 94.1% now feel comfortable and better equipped to address SDOH. Conclusions: Very few residents understand SDOH, while most agree that social factors play a major role in health equity. Education should come at or before the residency level with the goal to not only educate, but to empower physicians to care for their patients with a more holistic approach

Seventy years later: Noel Rosa's copyrights

Um regime ótimo de direitos autorais, ao tomar fundamento no estímulo ao desenvolvimento de novos bens intelectuais, depende de limites bem traçados. Este artigo procura aferir a funcionalidade desses direitos no que diz respeito a composições musicais, de sorte a avaliar, nesse campo específico, a maleabilidade da proteção aos direitos autorais e sua adequação à criação de novas obras. Para tanto, remete-se à experiência criativa de e sobre noel rosa, expoente do samba brasileiro. A marcada assunção de riscos por autores de obras derivadas, a formalização irregular das relações jurídicas entre titulares de direitos autorais e a profissionalização de determinados autores são constatadas como respostas diretas aos incentivos legais pertinentes. A incerteza decorrente dessas respostas expõe a dessintonia entre alguns dos objetivos das normas analisadas e seus efeitos práticos.An optimal copyright regime, based on fostering the development of new intellectual works, depends on well designed limitations. This article aims to analyze such rights' functionality with respect to musical works, in order to evaluate, in this field specifically, the flexibility of copyright protection and its adequacy for the creation of new works. To perform such task, the creative process of brazilian samba expert, noel rosa, is examined. A remarkable assumption of risks by derivative works' authors, the irregular formalization of legal relations between copyright owners and the profissionalization of certain authors are seen as direct answers to the legal incentives currently in force. The uncertainty derived from such answers exposes the tension between some of the analyzed norms' objectives and their actual effects

O papel dos conflitos socioambientais e de fenômenos climáticos extremos no fortalecimento da gestão ambiental municipal no Sul Catarinense

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, 2010.Esta tese de doutorado trata de analisar em que medida os conflitos socioambientais e os desastres naturais provocados por fenômenos climáticos extremos contribuem para o fortalecimento de ações ambientais e para a institucionalização da gestão ambiental nos municípios. Para tanto, foi feita uma revisão teórica acerca do tema e elaborado um estudo sobre o perfil municipal brasileiro relacionado à estrutura dos municípios para a gestão ambiental. Uma pesquisa de campo foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de analisar os fatores determinantes e condicionantes para o surgimento dos órgãos municipais de meio ambiente nos municípios do Sul Catarinense. Verificou-se que na maioria dos municípios estudados a criação se deu em função da sobrecarga de trabalho e lentidão na emissão de licenças ambientais do órgão estadual e da necessidade de agilizar os processos de licenciamento. A partir dessa análise, foram selecionados os dois casos de conflitos socioambientais mais emblemáticos na região. Os casos tratam de conflitos socioambientais em Áreas de Proteção Ambiental (APA). O primeiro deles se deu nas comunidades agrícolas de Santa Cruz e Esperança, no município de Içara,SC. É um conflito que envolve agricultores familiares contra uma grande mineradora, a Indústria Carbonífera Rio Deserto, com sede em Criciúma,SC. O segundo conflito ocorre na localidade de Rio Maior, município de Urussanga,SC. e aborda a mobilização da comunidade contra as atividades de mineração de basalto e diabásio, britagem e usinagem de asfalto conduzidos pela empresa Setep Construções, com sede em Criciúma,SC. A análise dos casos acima se deu com base na hipótese de que o acirramento dos conflitos socioambientais é um dos fatores determinantes para o fortalecimento das ações e para a formação de estruturas de governança ambiental local e, consequentemente, pela institucionalização da gestão ambiental municipal. Na sequência foi elaborado mais um estudo de caso que abordou os desastres naturais ocasionados por fenômenos climáticos extremos. Mais precisamente, buscou-se analisar a atual situação e estrutura de gestão ambiental dos municípios afetados pelo primeiro furacão do Atlântico Sul, o furacão Catarina, cinco anos após sua ocorrência. Nesse sentido, verifica-se em que medida a percepção de ameaças globais, como as mudanças climáticas, aumenta ou não a pré-disposição para melhoria institucional relacionada ao meio ambiente nos municípios. Com a análise dos dados verifica-se que pouco se avançou em termos de gestão ambiental mesmo passados cinco anos do ocorrido. Por fim, com base nos casos selecionados, buscou-se traçar alguns pressupostos importantes a serem observados no processo de institucionalização da gestão ambiental municipal. ________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis doctoral thesis examines in what extent environmental conflicts and natural disasters caused by extreme weather events contributes for the strengthening of environmental actions and for the municipal environmental management institutionalization process. Therefore, it was made a theoretical review on the thesis subject and elaborated a study about the profile of Brazilian municipalities related to the environmental sector structure. A field research was developed in order to analyze the determining factors and conditionings for the creation of the local environmental agencies in the South of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. It was found that in the majority of the studied municipalities, the creation occurred because of the excess of work and slow environmental licensing process in the State Environmental Agency and because of the local need to speed up the licensing process. From this analysis, it was selected the two most relevant environmental conflicts going on in the region. The selected cases are related to conflicts in environmental protected areas. The first one happened in Santa Cruz and Esperança agriculture communities, in the municipality of Içara, SC. It is a conflict involving family farmers against a big coal mining company, Rio Deserto, established in Criciúma, SC. The second conflitct occurs in the rural community of Rio Maior, municipality of Urussanga, SC. and is related to the community mobilization against mining activities of basalt, diabase and asphalt mill conducted by Setep Construction Company, settled in Criciúma, SC. The cases were analyzed based on the hypothesis that the increasing of environmental conflicts is one of the determining factors for the strengthening of environmental actions and for the formation of local environmental governance structures and, consequently, for the institutionalization of the municipal environmental management. In the sequence, it was developed a case study related to natural disasters caused by extreme weather events. More precisely, it was analyzed the current situation and structure of the municipalities affected by the first South Atlantic hurricane ever registered, the Catarina hurricane, five years after its occurrence. In this sense, it was verified in what extent the global changes perception, as the climate change, increases or not the predisposition for institutional improvement related to the environment in the municipalities. Based on the data analysis it was verified that very few has changed in terms of environmental management even five years after the hurricane ocurrence. Finally, based on the selected cases, it was identified some important assumptions to be observed in the municipal environmental management institutionalization process. ___________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMÉCette thèse, elle s’agit d'examiner dans quelle mesure les conflits environnementaux et les catastrophes naturelles causés par des événements météorologiques extrêmes contribuent à renforcer les initiatives environnementales et à l'institutionnalisation de la gestion environnementale dans les municipalités. À cette fin, on a fait un examen théorique sur le sujet et on a préparé une étude sur le profil des municipalités brésiliennes liées à la structure des municipalités pour la gestion de l’environnement. Une enquête a été développée avec l’objectif d’analyser les facteurs déterminants et les conditions pour l'apparence d'organismes municipaux de l’environnement dans les districts du Sud Catarinense, Brésil. Il a été constaté que dans la plupart des villes étudiées, la création a été due à la surcharge de travail et au retard dans la délivrance de permis d'environnement d'organes d‘état et la nécessité de rationaliser le processus de permission. De cette analyse, on a sélectionné les deux cas de conflits de l'environnement plus emblématiques de la région. Les cas de traitement des conflits zonent de protection de l'environnement (APA). Leur première se trouve dans les communautés agricoles de Santa Cruz et Esperança à la ville de Içara, SC. C'est un conflit associant les agriculteurs contre un grand l'exploitation minière, l'industrie du charbon de Rio Deserto, établies à Criciúma, SC. Le deuxième conflit survient à l'endroit Rio Maior, la ville de Urussanga, SC. et il aborde la mobilisation communautaire contre les activités de l'exploitation minière de basalte et de diabase, de concassage et de broyage asphalte mené par l’entreprise Setep Construções, avec base à Criciúma, SC. L'analyse des cas s'est produite sur l'hypothèse que l'intensification des conflits est l'un des facteurs de l'environnement pour le renforcement des actions et la formation des structures gouvernance locale de l'environnement et donc la l'institutionnalisation de la gestion environnementale municipale. Dans la séquence, on a été mieux préparé une étude de cas abordé les catastrophes provoquées par des phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes. Plus précisément, nous avons cherché d'analyser la situation actuelle et la structure de gestion de l'environnement des municipalités touchées par le premier ouragan Sud-Atlantique, l'ouragan Catarina, cinq ans après son incident. En cette intention, on vérifie dans quelle mesure la perception de menaces mondiales, telles que les changements climatiques, augmente ou non la prédisposition pour amélioration institutionnelle liée à l'environnement dans les municipalités. Grâce à l'analyse des données, il apparaît que peu de progrès a été accomplis dans termes de gestion de l'environnement, même après cinq ans de s'est produite. Enfin, à partir des cas sélectionnés, on a aspiré à certaines présupposés importantes d'être observées dans le processus d'institutionnalisation de la gestion environnementale municipale. __________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMENEsta tesis de doctorado trata de analizar en qué medida los conflictos socio ambientales y los desastres naturales provocados por fenómenos climáticos extremos aportan para el fortalecimiento de acciones ambientales y para a institucionalización de la gestión ambiental en los municipios. Para tanto, fue hecha una revisión teorética acerca de la tema y elaborado un estudio sobre el perfil municipal brasileño relacionado a la estructura de los municipios para la gestión ambiental. Una pesquisa de campo fue crecida con el objetivo de analizar los factores determinantes y condicionantes para el surgimiento de los órganos municipales de medioambiente en los municipios del Sur Catarinense, Brasil. Se verificó que en la mayoría de los municipios estudiados la creación se dio en función del recargo de trabajo y lentitud en la emisión de licencias ambientales del órgano estadual y de la necesidad de agilizar los procesos de licenciamiento. Desde ese análisis, fueron seleccionados los dos casos de conflictos socio ambientales más emblemáticos en la región. Los casos tratan de conflictos socios ambientales en Áreas de Protección Ambiental (APA). El primero de ellos se dio en las comunidades agrícolas de Santa Cruz y Esperança, en el municipio de Içara, SC. Es un conflicto que envuelve agricultores familiares contra una gran minera, la Industria Carbonífera Rio Desierto, con sede en Criciúma, SC. Lo según conflicto ocurre en la localidad de Rio Maior, municipio de Urussanga, SC. y aborda la movilización de la comunidad contra las actividades de minería de basalto y diábases, aplastamiento y factoría de asfalto acarreados por la empresa Setep Construcciones, con sede en Criciúma, SC. El análisis de los casos se dio con base en la hipótesis de que la intensificación de los conflictos socio ambientales es uno de los factores determinantes para el fortalecimiento de las acciones y para la formación de estructuras de gobernanza ambiental local y, consecuentemente, por la institucionalización de la gestión ambiental municipal. En la secuencia fue elaborado más un estudio de caso que abordó los desastres naturales ocasionados por fenómenos climáticos extremos. Más precisamente, se buscó analizar la actual situación y estructura de gestión ambiental de los municipios afectados por el primer huracán del Atlántico Sur, el huracán Catarina, cinco años después de su ocurrencia. En ese sentido, se verifica en qué medida la percepción de amenazas globales, como los cambios climáticos, aumenta o no a disposición para mejoría institucional relacionada al medioambiente en los municipios. Basado en el análisis de los datos se ha mostrado que poco ha cambiado en relación con la gestión ambiental mismo cinco años después de lo ocurrido. Por fin, con base en los casos seleccionados, se buscó plantear algunos presupuestos importantes a ser observados en el proceso de institucionalización de la gestión ambiental municipal