Health status and retirement decisions for older European couples

In this paper we use data the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) to describe and analyse the dynamics of joint labour force behaviour of older couples for the EU12 countries. We focus on three main issues: the relevance of joint retirement across EU12 countries, the existence of complementarities in leisure and/or assortative matting and the effects of health variables. Concerning the evidence, we first find that a working spouse is more likely to retire the more recently the other spouse has retired; this effect is stronger if the wife is the working spouse. Second, there is evidence of assortative mating and/or complementarities in leisure; the effects of all relevant factors on the retirement decision of one spouse depend strongly on whether the other one is working, unemployed, or retired. Third, besides the standard evidence that poor health increases the retirement probability, we find that the husband's health affects the couple's retirement decisions much more strongly than the wife's health does. Additional asymmetric effects are detected with respect to income related variables.joint retirement decisions ; labour force transitions ; health variables ; asymmetric effects

Health status and retirement decisison for older european couples.

In this paper we use data the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) to describe and analyse the dynamics of joint labour force behaviour of older couples for the EUI2 countries. We focus on three main issues: the relanvance of joint retirement across EUI2 countries, the existence of complementarities in leisure and/or assortative matting and the effects of health variables. Concerning the evidence, we first find that a working spouse is more likely to retire the more recently the other spouse has retired; this effect is stronger if the wife is the working spouse. Second, there is evidence of assortative mating and/or complementarities in leisure; the effects of all relevant factors on the retirement decision of one spouse depend strongly on whether the other one is working, unemployed, or retired. Third, besides the standard evidence that poor health increases the retirement probabiliby, we find that the husband's health affects the couple's retirement decisions much more strongly than the wife's health does. Additional asymmetric effects are detected with respect to income related variables.Joint retirement decisions; Labour force transitions; Health variables; Asymmetric effects;

An Empirical Analysis of the Demand for Physician Services Across the European Union

This paper presents parameter estimates for physician services equations using the European Community Household Panel for 12 countries covering the period 1994-1996. The focus is on two specific points: i) the identification of behavioural similarities and differences in the demand for health across the countries; ii) the variability of the demand for health captured through a joint model for all the countries. We find that there are significant differences across countries, although there are also similarities in the effect of variables such as the health stock, labour situation or family structure. An important fraction of the variability of the demand of health services across countries could be explained from differences in age, income, and the role of General Practitioners (GP) as a gatekeepers in the public health system. We also find some evidence of induced demand effects in both the decision to visit and the number of visits to specialists.count data; demand; physician services; latent class model; two-part model

An empirical analysis of the demand for health using the European Community Household Panel

This paper estimates demand for health equations using three waves of data from the European Community Household Panel. The economic model is a typical specification of Grossman's [1] proposal. The paper focuses on three specific points: i) the existence of two stages in the demand for health decision process (to contact a physician and how often to visit him). ii) the analysis of this double-hurdle process in different scenarios (visits to the general practitioners, the specialists and the dentists). iii) the analysis of differences across countries due to the differences on the coverage of the National Insurance Systems. The results suggest that the contact and frequency decisions of visits to either the general practitioner, the specialist or even the dentist are governed by different stochastic processes. As expected, we find some differences in the behaviour of men and women, mainly in the decisions to visit and the number of visits to specialist. We also show that the behavioural differences across countries are not extremely important, being perhaps income a determinant of the decision to contact and the intensity of the treatment in poor countries

Health status and retirement decisison for older european couples

In this paper we use data the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) to describe and analyse the dynamics of joint labour force behaviour of older couples for the EUI2 countries. We focus on three main issues: the relanvance of joint retirement across EUI2 countries, the existence of complementarities in leisure and/or assortative matting and the effects of health variables. Concerning the evidence, we first find that a working spouse is more likely to retire the more recently the other spouse has retired; this effect is stronger if the wife is the working spouse. Second, there is evidence of assortative mating and/or complementarities in leisure; the effects of all relevant factors on the retirement decision of one spouse depend strongly on whether the other one is working, unemployed, or retired. Third, besides the standard evidence that poor health increases the retirement probabiliby, we find that the husband's health affects the couple's retirement decisions much more strongly than the wife's health does. Additional asymmetric effects are detected with respect to income related variables

Induced systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea by Micromonospora strains isolated from root nodules

This article is part of the Research Topic: Harnessing useful rhizosphere microorganisms for pathogen and pest biocontrol.-- Edited by: Aurelio Ciancio, Corné M. J. Pieterse and Jesús Mercado-Blanco.Micromonospora is a Gram positive bacterium that can be isolated from nitrogen fixing nodules from healthy leguminous plants, where they could be beneficial to the plant. Their plant growth promoting activity in legume and non-legume plants has been previously demonstrated. The present study explores the ability of Micromonospora strains to control fungal pathogens and to stimulate plant immunity. Micromonospora strains isolated from surface sterilized nodules of alfalfa showed in vitro antifungal activity against several pathogenic fungi. Moreover, root inoculation of tomato plants with these Micromonospora strains effectively reduced leaf infection by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, despite spatial separation between both microorganisms. This induced systemic resistance, confirmed in different tomato cultivars, is long lasting. Gene expression analyses evidenced that Micromonospora stimulates the plant capacity to activate defense mechanisms upon pathogen attack. The defensive response of tomato plants inoculated with Micromonospora spp. differs from that of non-inoculated plants, showing a stronger induction of jasmonate-regulated defenses when the plant is challenged with a pathogen. The hypothesis of jasmonates playing a key role in this defense priming effect was confirmed using defense-impaired tomato mutants, since the JA-deficient line def1 was unable to display a long term induced resistance upon Micromonospora spp. inoculation. In conclusion, nodule isolated Micromonospora strains should be considered excellent candidates as biocontrol agents as they combine both direct antifungal activity against plant pathogens and the ability to prime plant immunity.This work was supported by MICINN Grant AGL2010-17380 and AGL-2012-39923. Fellowship from CSIC JAE-PREPeer reviewe

A jade pished hand-axe from Tubino's Cection (Valencina de la Concepción Local Museum, Sevilla, Spain)

A pished axe donated to the Valencina de la Concepción Museum (Seville, Spain) in November 2010, and that had belonged to Francisco María Tubino y Oliva's (1833-1888) personal clection, is studied. Although the exact provenance of this object is unknown, there are reasons to think that it might have been found on some archaẽogical site of the Seville province. Through the application of two different analytical techniques (XRD, DCμRS), this axe is identified as a jade-jadeite of purity above 95 ml%, which necessarily implies it came from the Alps. In the conclusions a discussion of this artifact is made in terms of long distance contact in Iberian Late Prehistory.Peer Reviewe

El quiste óseo aneurismático en niños y adolescentes

Desde el año 1981 hasta el año 1996 hemos tratado en nuestro servicio un total de 12 pacientes con diagnóstico de Quiste Óseo Aneurismático (QOA). Esta entidad clínico-patológica continúa hoy teniendo un origen incierto que en la mayoría de las ocasiones no puede reconocerse. Los tratamientos empleados fueron: legrado e injerto óseo en siete casos, resección en bloque en tres casos, y en 2 casos tratamiento expectante. Los resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico fueron satisfactorios en el 75% de los casos, encontrando un 25% de recidivas, que ocurrieron en los pacientes más jóvenes con quistes más agresivos. El tiempo medio de seguimiento fue de 4 años (mínimo 1 - máximo 8). Realizamos en el trabajo, además, una comparación con otros métodos de tratamiento publicados como son la crioterapia intratumoral y la embolizacón arterial selectiva, los cuales encontramos de utilidad relativa ya que requieren una alta especialización y una selección precisa de los casos. También la radioterapia que tiene una utilidad restringida a aquellos casos de inaccesibilidad operatoria.From 1981 to 1996 twelve patients were treated in our orthopaedic department with the diagnosis of Aneurismal Bone Cyst (ABC). This pathologic and clinical entity has an unknown etiology that in the majority of cases it can¿t be elucidated. The threatment was: curettage and bone graft in seven cases; in bloc excision in three cases and expectant in two. Surgical treatment results were satisfactory in 75% of cases, with 25% of local recurrences that took place in younger patients with more aggressive cysts. Mean follow-up was four years (range: 1-8). In this study we make a comparison with other methods of treatment reported like intratumoral criotherapy and selective arterial embolization. We find these methods of relative utility due to their high level of orthopaedist specialization and precise selection of cases. The radiotherapy has restricted application to cases of unresectable tumours

Fracturas femorales en pacientes portadores de artroplastia de cadera

Se han revisado 25 pacientes con fractura femoral portadores de artroplatia de cadera. Las fracturas se clasifican según los tipos de Johansson. Se encontraron 9 tipo I, 9 tipo II y 7 tipo III. El tratamiento fue en 4 ocasiones conservador y en 21 quirúrgico: 2 osteosíntesis con tornillos de compresión, 9 recambios de vástago y 9 osteosíntesis con placa. Se valora el resultado del tratamiento de la fractura. Consolidaron todas salvo una tras el tratamiento inicial. El resultado de la artroplastia fue valorado según la Escala de Merle D'Aubigne siendo bueno en un 68% de los casos. Las complicaciones fueron 2 consolidaciones en varo, una infección superficial y una infección profunda. Se evalúan los diferentes tratamientos realizados y se expone nuestra actitud actual ante estas fracturas.The present study includes 25 patients with hip replacement who presented an ipsilateral fracture of the femur. According to Johansson's grading system, there were 9 types I fractures, 9 types II and 7 types III. Surgical treatment was indicated in 21 cases, and conservative treatment in 4. Of the 21 patients operated on 9, required stem replacement, 9 internal fixations with plate and screws, and inter-fragmentary compression screws in 2 cases. Outcome assessment showed that, except one case, all fractures healded after treatment. The results of the arthroplasty were good in 68% of cases according to the Merle D'Aubigne scale. Complications included 2 various deformities, one superficial infection and one deep infection

Experiencias en la Enseñanza de la Física en la Escuela Universitaria Politécnica de Córdoba

En esta comunicación presentamos la experiencia a nivel docente de nuestro grupo de trabajo en la utilización de software desarrollado por nosotros con los alumnos de distintas asignaturas de la ingeniería Técnica en Informática como prácticas simuladas por ordenador. La experiencia durante los años de implementación ha sido altamente satisfactoria aumentando el interés de los alumnos y su nivel de conocimiento