Validating measures of gender identity for economic research

Many economic preferences and labor market outcomes, like risktaking, competitiveness, negotiation, managerial responsibilities, etc., display binary gender gaps. With the growing literature on non-binary gender in other fields, and the emphasis on gender as a subjective concept in our society, a new continuous gender measure (CGI) has been developed by a group of economic researchers. Even though there is preliminary evidence on the usefulness of CGI, the benefit of this subjective gender measure for economics is to be further explored. In this thesis, with an online experiment with approximately 2800 US residents, I examine the explanatory power of CGI and other subjective gender measures beyond biological gender. The results suggest that many economic preferences and labor market outcomes are associated with several of the non-binary gender measures I use. I find that CGI has an explanatory power beyond sex for competitiveness, hypothetical risk, a higher female share in the completed major and the probability of being a full-time homemaker. I also observe that older inventories that capture feminine and masculine behaviors, norms and traits, also have explanatory power beyond sex for many of our variables of interest

Η αναπροσαρμογή των συμβάσεων επί τη βάσει των άρθρων ΑΚ 388 και 288, ιδίως σε περιόδους οικονομικής κρίσης

Αντικείμενο εξέτασης της παρούσας εργασίας αποτελεί η αναπροσαρμογή των συμβάσεων σε περίπτωση απρόοπτης μεταβολής των συνθηκών, συνεπεία της οποίας μεταβάλλεται κατά το χρόνο εκτέλεσης της σύμβασης η ισορροπία των συμβατικών παροχών που είχαν επιθυμήσει και συμφωνήσει τα μέρη κατά το χρόνο σύναψης της σύμβασης. Στην πρώτη ενότητα επιχειρείται μία προσέγγιση των επιμέρους, αντικρουόμενων αρχών που καλούνται οι εφαρμοστές της εκάστοτε έννομης τάξης να λάβουν υπόψη. Στη συνέχεια, εξετάζεται η αντιμετώπιση του ζητήματος σε αλλοδαπές έννομες τάξεις. Σε επόμενη ενότητα εξετάζονται οι προϋποθέσεις εφαρμογής της διάταξης του άρθρου ΑΚ 388, και καταβάλλεται μια προσπάθεια ανάδειξης θεμάτων που έχουν απασχολήσει την θεωρία και τη νομολογία. Τούτο επιτυγχάνεται μέσω αναδρομής στην ιστορία της διάταξης και στις γόνιμες απόψεις που έχουν εκφραστεί από θεωρητικούς του ιδιωτικού – κυρίως – δικαίου, και κυρίως μέσω εμβάθυνσης στις προϋποθέσεις εφαρμογής της, υπό το φως αφενός των εννοιών που περιλαμβάνει στο γράμμα της η διάταξη, και αφετέρου της κρίσιμης και ιδιαιτέρως ενδιαφέρουσας πρόσφατης νομολογίας των ελληνικών δικαστηρίων. Της ανάλυσης αυτής έπεται η διερεύνηση των εννόμων συνεπειών εφαρμογής του άρθρου ΑΚ 388 σε συνδυασμό με ορισμένες σχετικές δικονομικές παρατηρήσεις. Τέλος, εξετάζεται η δικαιϊκή σχέση της διάταξης του άρθρου ΑΚ 288 – λαμβανομένων υπόψη περιπτώσεων αυτοτελούς εφαρμογής της τελευταίας – με αυτή του ΑΚ 388.The purpose of the present paper is to examine the amendment of contractual terms in the event of an unexpected and unforeseen change in the conditions, as a result of which the contractual obligation of one party has become exceptionally onerous at the time of performance of the contract in comparison to what the parties wished and agreed at the time of conclusion of the contract

Морфологический анализ местной тканевой реакции на подкожную имплантацию фрагментов ацеллюлярного дермального матрикса

Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are gaining popularity as surgical materials for operations on the pelvic organs, as well as in burn therapy and plastic surgery. Evaluation of the biocompatibility of surgical materials is an important and necessary step in the development of new ADMs.The aim of the study was to compare the results of subcutaneous implantation of ADM and native porcine skin in rats.Materials and methods. To obtain ADMs, detergent – enzymatic decellularization was used. On days 7, 14, 21, and 60 after the implantation of ADMs (the experimental group) and native porcine skin (the control group), the animals were removed from the experiment. The histologic sections were stained with hematoxylin – eosin and Masson’s trichrome stain, then an immunohistochemical reaction with antibodies to CD3 and CD68 was performed. Computer morphometry was carried out using the ImageJ software.Results. On day 7 after the implantation, moderate sterile inflammation in the experimental group and pronounced sterile inflammation with eosinophil infiltration in the control group were observed. On day 14 of the experiment, the samples from the experimental group were characterized by a relatively low content of macrophages and T-lymphocytes with insignificant edema and no signs of ADM biodegradation. The control group showed pronounced inflammation, a large number of infiltrating macrophages and T lymphocytes, as well as fragmentation of collagen fibers. On day 21 of the experiment, a thin capsule was formed around ADM, there was a small number of infiltrating T lymphocytes and macrophages, the collagen fibers of the implant were intact. In the samples of the control group, there was pronounced inflammation with the presence of a significant number of lymphocytes and macrophages, as well as fragmentation and vascularization of the implant. On day 60 of the experiment, no inflammatory response was observed around ADM, biodegradation was minimal, and a dense fibrous capsule was formed around the fragment of the native porcine skin.Conclusion. The experimental ADM has low immunogenicity and a low degree of biodegradation, which makes it possible to use it for further research to create efficient surgical material that is safe for use in clinical practice.Ацеллюлярные дермальные матриксы (АДМ) набирают большую популярность в качестве хирургических материалов при операциях на органах малого таза, в ожоговой терапии и пластической хирургии. Проверка биосовместимости материалов является важным и необходимым этапом при разработке новых АДМ.Цель исследования – провести сравнительный анализ результатов подкожной имплантации крысам АДМ и нативной дермы свиньи. Материалы и методы. Для получения АДМ использовали детергентно-энзиматический метод децеллюляризации. Через 7, 14, 21, 60 сут после имплантации АДМ (экспериментальная группа) и нативной дермы свиньи (контрольная группа) животных выводили из эксперимента. Гистологические срезы окрашивали гематоксилином и эозином, трихромом по Массону, выполняли иммуногистохимическую реакцию с антителами к CD3 и CD68. Компьютерную морфометрию проводили с помощью программы ImageJ.Результаты. На 7-е сут в экспериментальной группе отмечалось умеренное асептическое воспаление, в контрольной группе – выраженное асептическое воспаление с эозинофилами в инфильтрате. На 14-е сут в экспериментальной группе показано относительно низкое содержание макрофагов и Т-лимфоцитов с незначительным отеком, без биодеградации АДМ. В контрольной группе выявлено выраженное воспаление, инфильтрация большим количеством макрофагов и Т-лимфоцитов, а также фрагментация коллагеновых волокон. На 21-е сут вокруг АДМ сформировалась тонкая капсула, в инфильтрате малое количество Т-лимфоцитов и макрофагов, коллагеновые волокна имплантата были интактны. В образцах контрольной группы – выраженное воспаление с присутствием значительного количества лимфоцитов и макрофагов, фрагментация и васкуляризация имплантата. На 60-е сут вокруг АДМ воспалительной реакции не наблюдалось, биодеградация была минимальной, вокруг фрагмента нативной дермы свиньи сформировалась плотная фиброзная капсула.Заключение. Разработанный АДМ обладает низкой иммуногенностью и малой степенью биодеградации. Это позволяет использовать данную конструкцию для дальнейших исследований по созданию полноценного хирургического материала, безопасного для применения в клинической практике

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Anion-Exchange Membrane AMX-Sb Fouled by Red Wine Components

The broad possibilities of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for assessing the capacitance of interphase boundaries; the resistance and thickness of the foulant layer were shown by the example of AMX-Sb membrane contacted with red wine from one side and 0.02 M sodium chloride solution from the other side. This enabled us to determine to what extent foulants affect the electrical resistance of ion-exchange membranes, the ohmic resistance and the thickness of diffusion layers, the intensity of water splitting, and the electroconvection in under- and over-limiting current modes. It was established that short-term (10 h) contact of the AMX-Sb membrane with wine reduces the water-splitting due to the screening of fixed groups on the membrane surface by wine components. On the contrary, biofouling, which develops upon a longer membrane operation, enhances water splitting, due to the formation of a bipolar structure on the AMX-Sb surface. This bipolar structure is composed of a positively charged surface of anion-exchange membrane and negatively charged outer membranes of microorganisms. Using optical microscopy and microbiological analysis, it was found that more intense biofouling is observed on the AMX-Sb surface, that has not been in contacted with wine

Mathematical Description of the Increase in Selectivity of an Anion-Exchange Membrane Due to Its Modification with a Perfluorosulfonated Ionomer

In this paper, we simulate the changes in the structure and transport properties of an anion-exchange membrane (CJMA-7, Hefei Chemjoy Polymer Materials Co. Ltd., China) caused by its modification with a perfluorosulfonated ionomer (PFSI). The modification was made in several stages and included keeping the membrane at a low temperature, applying a PFSI solution on its surface, and, subsequently, drying it at an elevated temperature. We applied the known microheterogeneous model with some new amendments to simulate each stage of the membrane modification. It has been shown that the PFSI film formed on the membrane-substrate does not affect significantly its properties due to the small thickness of the film (≈4 µm) and similar properties of the film and substrate. The main effect is caused by the fact that PFSI material “clogs” the macropores of the CJMA-7 membrane, thereby, blocking the transport of coions through the membrane. In this case, the membrane microporous gel phase, which exhibits a high selectivity to counterions, remains the primary pathway for both counterions and coions. Due to the above modification of the CJMA-7 membrane, the coion (Na+) transport number in the membrane equilibrated with 1 M NaCl solution decreased from 0.11 to 0.03. Thus, the modified membrane became comparable in its transport characteristics with more expensive IEMs available on the market

Neutralization Dialysis for Phenylalanine and Mineral Salt Separation. Simple Theory and Experiment

A simple non-steady state mathematical model is proposed for the process of purification of an amino acid solution from mineral salts by the method of neutralization dialysis (ND), carried out in a circulating hydrodynamic mode. The model takes into account the characteristics of membranes (thickness, exchange capacity and electric conductivity) and solution (concentration and components nature) as well as the solution flow rate in dialyzer compartments. In contrast to the known models, the new model considers a local change in the ion concentration in membranes and the adjacent diffusion layers. In addition, the model takes into consideration the ability of the amino acid to enter the protonation/deprotonation reactions. A comparison of the results of simulations with experimental data allows us to conclude that the model adequately describes the ND of a strong electrolyte (NaCl) and amino acid (phenylalanine) mixture solutions in the case where the diffusion ability of amino acids in membranes is much less, than mineral salts. An example shows the application of the model to predict the fluxes of salt ions through ion exchange membranes as well as pH of the desalination solution at a higher than in experiments flow rate of solutions in ND dialyzer compartments

Παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την έγκαιρη προσέλευση στο νοσοκομείο ασθενών με οξύ έμφραγμα του μυοκαρδίου

Εισαγωγή Το ΟΕΜ είναι μια απειλητική για την ζωή εκδήλωση, η οποία χρήζει άμεσης αναγνώρισης και διαχείρισης καθώς αποτελεί μια από τις συχνότερες αιτίες θνητότητας και νοσηρότητας παγκοσμίως. Η άμεση εφαρμογή οποιασδήποτε θεραπευτικής επιλογής με σκοπό την μείωση του κινδύνου για την ζωή του ασθενούς και την πρόληψη των επιπλοκών του ΟΕΜ προϋποθέτει την έγκαιρη προσέλευση των ασθενών στις υπηρεσίες υγείας όπου μπορούν να παρέχουν εξειδικευμένη διαγνωστική και θεραπευτική φροντίδα. Η άφιξη στο νοσοκομείο εντός των καθορισμένων χρονοδιαγραμμάτων είναι η μεγαλύτερη πρόκληση στην αντιμετώπιση των ασθενών με ΟΕΜ. Σκοπός Σκοπός της μελέτης ήταν η αναζήτηση των παραγόντων που σχετίζονται με την προνοσοκομειακή καθυστέρηση από την έναρξη των συμπτωμάτων μέχρι την άφιξη στο νοσοκομείο των ασθενών με ΟΕΜ. Μέθοδος Πρόκειται για μια συγχρονική περιγραφική μελέτη η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε σε δυο τριτοβάθμια νοσοκομεία της Αθήνας κατά την χρονική περίοδο Νοέμβριο 2019 – Ιανουάριο 2020. To δείγμα της μελέτης, το οποίο αποτέλεσαν 119 ασθενείς με ΟΕΜ, κατηγοριοποιήθηκε σε δύο ομάδες, στην πρώτη ομάδα ασθενείς οι οποίοι έφτασαν στο νοσοκομείο τις πρώτες δύο ώρες από την έναρξη των συμπτωμάτων και στην δεύτερη ομάδα ασθενείς που προσήλθαν μετά τις δύο πρώτες ώρες. Η συλλογή των δεδομένων έγινε με προσωπική συνέντευξη με βάση ερωτηματολόγιο. Αποτελέσματα Ο μέσος χρόνος προνοσοκομειακής καθυστέρησης ήταν 4 ώρες και 41 λεπτά. Από το δείγμα μας το 17,6% (n 21) των ασθενών έφτασε στο νοσοκομείο τις πρώτες δύο ώρες ενώ το 82,4% (n 98) των ασθενών έφτασε μετά τις δύο πρώτες ώρες από την έναρξη των συμπτωμάτων. Καθυστέρηση μεγαλύτερη των δύο ωρών παρατηρήθηκε στους ασθενείς που είχαν μορφωτικό επίπεδο μικρότερο των 9 χρόνων (p 0,008), η απουσία κάποιου άλλου προσώπου κατά την διάρκεια των συμπτωμάτων (p 0,003), χρησιμοποίησαν κάποιο ιδιωτικό μέσο μεταφοράς και όχι το ασθενοφόρο (p 0,001), η διαμονή τους ήταν εκτός Αθήνας (p 0,049). Επίσης στους ασθενείς που ο τόπος διαμονής από το νοσοκομείο ήταν μεγαλύτερη των 10 χιλιομέτρων καθυστερούσαν να προσέλθουν στο νοσοκομείο σε σχέση με τους ασθενείς που διέμεναν σε απόσταση μικρότερη των 10 χιλιομέτρων (p <0,001). Πιο γρήγορη προσέλευση είχαν ασθενείς οι οποίοι αναγνώρισαν ότι τα συμπτώματα προέρχονται από την καρδία ( p 0,025). Από την λογιστική παλινδρόμηση παρατηρήθηκε ότι το κάπνισμα και το θετικό οικογενειακό ιστορικό καρδιαγγειακών παθήσεων συντέλεσε στην πιο γρήγορη αναζήτηση ιατρικής βοήθειας. Συμπεράσματα Η αύξηση της ευαισθητοποίησης των ασθενών με ΟΕΜ σχετικά με τα συμπτώματα των καρδιαγγειακών παθήσεων και τους παράγοντες κινδύνου θα μπορούσε να βοηθήσει στην απόφαση έγκαιρης αναζήτησης ιατρικής φροντίδας, μειώνοντας έτσι τον χρόνο προνοσοκομειακής καθυστέρησης και κατ’ επέκταση μειώνοντας την θνητότητα, την νοσηρότητα και τις μακροχρόνιες επιπλοκές που χαρακτηρίζουν το ΟΕΜ.Background Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) needs prompt and urgent diagnosis and therapy because most of the patients die after symptoms onset and before arriving at hospital. Prehospital delay is the most significant obstacle for effective AMI management despite efforts in public and patients education. Aim The purpose of this study was to identify the sociodemographic, personal and clinical predictors of prehospital delay in care seeking among patients with AMI. Methods A cross sectional study among 119 AMI patients was carried out during a three months period in two large hospitals in Athens. Demographic data, educational level, marital status, medical history, type of transfer to hospital and delay in arrival to hospital were recorded by a face to face interview. The patients were analyzed in two groups according to symptoms onset -to-door time ( short delay time group < 2 hours vs long delay group > 2 hours ). Results The median delay time was 4 hours and 41 minutes and only 17,8% (n21) of patients were admitted to hospital within the first 2 hours of symptoms onset. The main factors that were found to be correlated with longer prehospital delay (>2hours), were the long distance more than 10km away from the hospital ( p <0.001), The absence of company during the incident (p 0.003), and not living in Athens (p 0.049). Having high level education, more than 9 years (p 0.008), arrival by ambulance (p 0.001), family history of coronary artery disease ( 0.015) and self perceived cardiac symptoms (p 0.025) were associated with shorter prehospital delay. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, distance from hospital (b 0.301, p 0.044), smoking (b 3.135, p 0.048) and family history heart disease ( b 3.782, p 0, 021) were independent predictors of prolonged prehospital delay. Conclusion The delay time from symptoms onset to hospital admission was high in patients with AMI. Public education campaigns to shorten this time should place more emphasis on the factors and patients subgroups associated with long prehospital delay

Mathematical Description of the Increase in Selectivity of an Anion-Exchange Membrane Due to Its Modification with a Perfluorosulfonated Ionomer

In this paper, we simulate the changes in the structure and transport properties of an anion-exchange membrane (CJMA-7, Hefei Chemjoy Polymer Materials Co. Ltd., China) caused by its modification with a perfluorosulfonated ionomer (PFSI). The modification was made in several stages and included keeping the membrane at a low temperature, applying a PFSI solution on its surface, and, subsequently, drying it at an elevated temperature. We applied the known microheterogeneous model with some new amendments to simulate each stage of the membrane modification. It has been shown that the PFSI film formed on the membrane-substrate does not affect significantly its properties due to the small thickness of the film (≈4 µm) and similar properties of the film and substrate. The main effect is caused by the fact that PFSI material “clogs” the macropores of the CJMA-7 membrane, thereby, blocking the transport of coions through the membrane. In this case, the membrane microporous gel phase, which exhibits a high selectivity to counterions, remains the primary pathway for both counterions and coions. Due to the above modification of the CJMA-7 membrane, the coion (Na+) transport number in the membrane equilibrated with 1 M NaCl solution decreased from 0.11 to 0.03. Thus, the modified membrane became comparable in its transport characteristics with more expensive IEMs available on the market

Is It Possible to Prepare a “Super” Anion-Exchange Membrane by a Polypyrrole-Based Modification?

In spite of wide variety of commercial ion-exchange membranes, their characteristics, in particular, electrical conductivity and counterion permselectivity, are unsatisfactory for some applications, such as electrolyte solution concentration. This study is aimed at obtaining an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) of high performance in concentrated solutions. An AEM is prepared with a polypyrrole (PPy)-based modification of a heterogeneous AEM with quaternary ammonium functional groups. Concentration dependences of the conductivity, diffusion permeability and Cl− transport number in NaCl solutions are measured and simulated using a new version of the microheterogeneous model. The model describes changes in membrane swelling with increasing concentration and the effect of these changes on the transport characteristics. It is assumed that PPy occupies macro- and mesopores of the host membrane where it replaces non-selective electroneutral solution. Increasing conductivity and selectivity are explained by the presence of positively charged PPy groups. It is found that the conductivity of a freshly prepared membrane reaches 20 mS/cm and the chloride transport number > 0.99 in 4 M NaCl. A choice of input parameters allows quantitative agreement between the experimental and simulation results. However, PPy has shown itself to be an unstable material. This article discusses what parameters a membrane can have to show such exceptional characteristics