The distributional impact of KiwiSaver incentives

New Zealand’s approach to retirement incomes profoundly changed with the recent introduction of KiwiSaver and its associated tax incentives. Previous policy reduced lifetime inequality but KiwiSaver and its tax incentives will increase future inequality and lead to diverging living standards for the elderly. In this paper we evaluate the distributional effects of these tax incentives. Using data from a nationwide survey conducted by the authors, we estimate the value of the equivalent income transfer provided to individuals by the tax incentives for KiwiSaver participation. Concentration curves and inequality decompositions are used to compare the distributive impact of these tax incentives with those for New Zealand Superannuation. Estimates are reported for both initial and lifetime impacts, with the greatest effect on inequality apparent in the lifetime impacts

Alien Registration- Hector, John (Augusta, Kennebec County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/17338/thumbnail.jp

Redox supercapacitor performance of nanocrystalline molybdenum nitrides obtained by ammonolysis of chloride- and amide-derived precursors

Reactions of MoCl5 or Mo(NMe2)4 with ammonia result in cubic ?-Mo2N or hexagonal ?1-MoN depending on reaction time and temperature. At moderate temperatures the cubic product from Mo(NMe2)4 exhibits lattice distortions. Fairly high surface areas are observed in the porous particles of the chloride-derived materials and high capacitances of up to 275 F g?1 are observed when electrodes made from them are cycled in aqueous H2SO4 or K2SO4 electrolytes. The cyclic voltammograms suggest charge is largely stored in the electrochemical double layer at the surface of these materials. Amide-derived molybdenum nitrides have relatively low surface areas and smaller capacitances, but do exhibit strong redox features in their cyclic voltammograms, suggesting that redox capacitance is responsible for a significant proportion of the charge stored

Performance of nanocrystalline Ni3N as a negative electrode for sodium-ion batteries

Nickel nitride is synthesised by high temperature ammonolysis of nickel(II) hexamine and tris(ethylenediamine) salts. Its electrochemical characteristics are examined in half-cells vs. lithium and sodium. Samples with high surface area are found to have significant reversible charge storage capacity in sodium cells and hence to be a promising negative electrode material for sodium-ion batteries

Integration of Information & Communication Technology in Public Secondary Schools in Metro-Manila, Philippines

The purpose of the study was to examine integration of ICT in selected public secondary education schools in Metro Manila, Philippines. The parameters used included a)availability of ICT resources b)level of skills, c)extent of usage d)problems inhibiting adoption, and e)perceptions and goals. Samples of the study included 431 teachers, 1001 students and 17 principals representative of the divisions of schools in Metro Manila. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research design. Methods used included researcher-prepared questionnaire,interview, focus group discussion, and document review.Major Findings The lack of hardware remains to be the most pressing and persistent problem. Relative to student population, the computer-to-student ratio is dismally low at 1:63. Access to computers is limited to those taking computer education subjects. Almost half of the schools do not have computer maintenance due to lack or low budget. While 88 percent of schools have internet connections, yet half of the students claimed that they do not use it. Almost half of the teachers never attended ICT-related trainings. Trainings conducted were generally on computer literacy like basic operations, word processing, and spreadsheet. Critical applications using educational games, CAI, simulations registered lower usage. Most of the teachers do not use ICT in the classroom. The study revealed that ICT is used few times a year and type of use is concentrated on lesson preparation and class management. Majority of teachers accept that students know more about computer and internet and the result of data analysis confirmed this view. Most students underscored the importance of education. With ICT, they believed it can facilitate and improve their learning achievements. Students indicated that they be given more responsibility for their learning. Their problems are primarily on lack of computer, time, internet, and software. Students’ awareness in the relevance of ICT to their future employment is very high. Conclusion The benefits of ICT have not trickled in the classroom. ICT integration remains to be learning about, rather than learning with ICT tools. A policy review is needed for equitable distribution of sparse ICT resources across all learning areas. Public-Private Partnership program have to be strengthened given governments limited resources. A clear strategic plan, concrete actions,continuous measurement & evaluation, and strong leadership are needed to make ICT atransformative tool in teaching and learning

Associations between Dietary Acid Load and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Hyperglycemia in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Metabolic acidosis can lead to inflammation, tissue damage, and cancer metastasis. Dietary acid load contributes to metabolic acidosis if endogenous acid-base balance is not properly regulated. Breast cancer survivors have reduced capacities to adjust their acid-base balance; yet, the associations between dietary acid load and inflammation and hyperglycemia have not been examined among them. We analyzed data collected from 3042 breast cancer survivors enrolled in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study who had provided detailed dietary intakes and measurements of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Using a cross-sectional design, we found positive associations between dietary acid load and plasma CRP and HbA1c. In the multivariable-adjusted models, compared to women with the lowest quartile, the intakes of dietary acid load among women with the highest quartile showed 30-33% increases of CRP and 6-9% increases of HbA1c. Our study is the first to demonstrate positive associations between dietary acid load and CRP and HbA1c in breast cancer survivors. Our study identifies a novel dietary factor that may lead to inflammation and hyperglycemia, both of which are strong risk factors for breast cancer recurrence and comorbidities

Paper Session I-A - Value Chain Analysis of the Ariane-4 Launch Campaigh

This paper discusses the concept of Value Chain and proposes the use of this philosophy to analyze the Ariane program. The objective of analyzing this concept is to clearly identify the competitive advantages of this European vehicle over its competitors. This paper also provides a description of the method followed to formulate a value chain analysis. Furthermore, it links the Ariane program, to the concepts of value chain analysis and competitive advantage. WhatÕs more, the explanation of the methodology presents the possibility of its application in other fields. This document presents a brief report of the entire Ariane program, emphasizing the description of the Ariane-4 (A-4) rockets, the launch campaign and the performance of the A-4 vehicles. Finally, Arianespace’s (A-Space) short-term plans for the 21st century are presented and conclusions are established