Optimal welfare-to-work programs

A Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program is a mix of government expenditures on “passive” (unemployment insurance, social assistance) and “active” (job search monitoring, training, wage taxes/subsidies) labor market policies targeted to the unemployed. This paper provides a dynamic principal-agent framework suitable for analyzing the optimal sequence and duration of the different WTW policies, and the dynamic pattern of payments along the unemployment spell and of taxes/subsidies upon re-employment. First, we show that the optimal program endogenously generates an absorbing policy of last resort (that we call “social assistance”) characterized by a constant lifetime payment and no active participation by the agent. Second, human capital depreciation is a necessary condition for policy transitions to be part of an optimal WTW program. Whenever training is not optimally provided, we show that the typical sequence of policies is quite simple: the program starts with standard unemployment insurance, then switches into monitored search and, finally, into social assistance. Only the presence of an optimal training activity may generate richer transition patterns. Third, the optimal benefits are generally decreasing or constant during unemployment, but they must increase after a successful spell of training. In a calibration exercise based on the U.S. labor market and on the evidence from several evaluation studies, we use our model to analyze quantitatively the features of the optimal WTW program for the U.S. economy. With respect to the existing U.S. system, the optimal WTW scheme delivers sizeable welfare gains, by providing more insurance to skilled workers and more incentives to unskilled workers.

Thin-plate spline analysis of mandibular morphological changes induced by early class III treatment: a long-term evaluation

To evaluate the long-term mandibular morphological changes induced by early treatment of class III malocclusion with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and facial mask (FM)

Treatment and posttreatment effects of a facial mask combined with a bite-block appliance in Class III malocclusion.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: In this cephalometric investigation, we analyzed the treatment and posttreatment effects of an orthopedic protocol for Class III malocclusion consisting of a facial mask combined with a removable bite-block appliance. METHODS: The treated sample consisted of 22 Class III patients treated with the facial mask and bite-block protocol before the pubertal growth spurt (mean age, 8.9 +/- 1.5 years). Treated subjects were evaluated after facial mask and bite-block therapy and at a posttreatment observation in absence of retention. The treated group was compared with a matched control group of 12 untreated Class III subjects. All treated and control subjects were postpubertal at the final observation. Significant differences between the treated and control groups were assessed with the Mann-Whitney U test (P <0.05). RESULTS: Both angular and linear sagittal measurements of the maxilla showed significant improvements during active treatment. Significant improvements of SNA angle, ANB angle, overjet, and molar relationship remained stable during the posttreatment period. No significant effect was found in the mandibular skeletal measures. No significant protraction of the maxillary incisors or retraction of the mandibular incisors was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A bite-block appliance in the mandibular arch with a facial mask enabled effective control of mandibular rotation with progressive closure of the gonial angle. This added to the favorable maxillary outcomes of the treatment protocol. 2010 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved

Maxillary arch development with Invisalign system: Analysis of expansion dental movements on digital dental casts

Objectives: To evaluate tooth movements during maxillary arch expansion with clear aligner treatment.Materials and Methods: The study group included 28 subjects (16 females, 12 males, mean age 31.9 +/- 5.4 years) collected prospectively from January 2018 to May 2019. Inclusion criteria were European ancestry, posterior transverse discrepancy of 3-6 mm, permanent dentition stage, presence of second permanent molars, mild or moderate crowding, and good compliance with aligners. Treatment protocol included nonextraction strategies, application of Invisalign clear aligner system, and no auxiliaries other than Invisalign attachments. Linear and angular measurements were performed before treatment (T1), at the end of treatment (T2), and on final virtual models (T2 ClinCheck). A paired t-test was used to compare T2-T1 and T2-T2 ClinCheck changes. The level of significance was set at 5%.Results: Statistically significant differences were found for all measurements, except for ones at the upper second molars. The greatest increase in maxillary width was detected at the upper first and second premolars: 13.5 mm for the first premolar and 13.8 mm for the second premolar at T2. Comparison of T2-T1 angular outcomes showed statistically significant changes in the inclinations of all teeth except for the second permanent molars. T2-T2 ClinCheck showed significant differences for both linear and angular measurements for maxillary canines, resulting in poor predictability.Conclusions: Maxillary arch development revealed a progressive reduction of the expansion rate and buccal tipping in the anterior, lateral, and posterior regions, with the greatest net increase at the first and second premolars. Clinical attention should be paid to maxillary canine movements, and overcorrection should be planned for them during dentoalveolar expansion

The Natural Compound Fucoidan From New Zealand Undaria Pinnatifida Synergizes With the ERBB Inhibitor Lapatinib Enhancing Melanoma Growth Inhibition

Melanoma remains one of the most aggressive and therapy-resistant cancers. Finding new treatments to improve patient outcomes is an ongoing effort. We previously demonstrated that melanoma relies on the activation of ERBB signaling, specifically of the ERBB3/ERBB2 cascade. Here we show that melanoma tumor growth is inhibited by 60% over controls when treated with lapatinib, a clinically approved inhibitor of ERBB2/EGFR. Importantly, tumor growth is further inhibited to 85% when the natural compound fucoidan from New Zealand U. pinnatifida is integrated into the treatment regimen. Fucoidan not only enhances tumor growth inhibition, it counteracts the morbidity associated with prolonged lapatinib treatment. Fucoidan doubles the cell killing capacity of lapatinib. These effects are associated with a further decrease in AKT and NFκB signaling, two key pathways involved in melanoma cell survival. Importantly, the enhancing cell killing effects of fucoidan can be recapitulated by inhibiting ERBB3 by either a specific shRNA or a novel, selective ERBB3 neutralizing antibody, reiterating the key roles played by this receptor in melanoma. We therefore propose the use of lapatinib or specific ERBB inhibitors, in combination with fucoidan as a new treatment of melanoma that potentiates the effects of the inhibitors while protecting from their potential side effects