Calibrating CAT bonds for Mexican earthquakes

The study of natural catastrophe models plays an important role in the prevention and mitigation of disasters. After the occurrence of a natural disaster, the reconstruction can be financed with catastrophe bonds (CAT bonds) or reinsurance. This paper examines the calibration of a real parametric CAT bond for earthquakes that was sponsored by the Mexican government. The calibration of the CAT bond is based on the estimation of the intensity rate that describes the earthquake process from the two sides of the contract, the reinsurance and the capital markets, and from the historical data. The results demonstrate that, under specific conditions, the financial strategy of the government, a mix of reinsurance and CAT bond, is optimal in the sense that it provides coverage of USD 450 million for a lower cost than the reinsurance itself. Since other variables can affect the value of the losses caused by earthquakes, e.g. magnitude, depth, city impact, etc., we also derive the price of a hypothetical modeled-index loss (zero) coupon CAT bond for earthquakes, which is based on the compound doubly stochastic Poisson pricing methodology from BARYSHNIKOV, MAYO and TAYLOR (2001) and BURNECKI and KUKLA (2003). In essence, this hybrid trigger combines modeled loss and index trigger types, trying to reduce basis risk borne by the sponsor while still preserving a nonindemnity trigger mechanism. Our results indicate that the (zero) coupon CAT bond price increases as the threshold level increases, but decreases as the expiration time increases. Due to the quality of the data, the results show that the expected loss is considerably more important for the valuation of the CAT bond than the entire distribution of losses. The study of natural catastrophe models plays an important role in the prevention and mitigation of disasters. After the occurrence of a natural disaster, the reconstruction can be financed with catastrophe bonds (CAT bonds) or reinsurance. This paper examines the calibration of a real parametric CAT bond for earthquakes that was sponsored by the Mexican government. The calibration of the CAT bond is based on the estimation of the intensity rate that describes the earthquake process from the two sides of the contract, the reinsurance and the capital markets, and from the historical data. The results demonstrate that, under specific conditions, the financial strategy of the government, a mix of reinsurance and CAT bond, is optimal in the sense that it provides coverage of USD 450 million for a lower cost than the reinsurance itself. Since other variables can affect the value of the losses caused by earthquakes, e.g. magnitude, depth, city impact, etc., we also derive the price of a hypothetical modeled-index loss (zero) coupon CAT bond for earthquakes, which is based on the compound doubly stochastic Poisson pricing methodology from BARYSHNIKOV, MAYO and TAYLOR (2001) and BURNECKI and KUKLA (2003). In essence, this hybrid trigger combines modeled loss and index trigger types, trying to reduce basis risk borne by the sponsor while still preserving a nonindemnity trigger mechanism. Our results indicate that the (zero) coupon CAT bond price increases as the threshold level increases, but decreases as the expiration time increases. Due to the quality of the data, the results show that the expected loss is considerably more important for the valuation of the CAT bond than the entire distribution of losses.CAT bonds, Reinsurance, Earthquakes, Doubly Stochastic Poisson Process, Trigger mechanism, Risk and Uncertainty,

Psychosocial Challenges on Latinx Caregivers

The purpose of the research disclosed in this study is to describe the experiences and hardships caregivers in the Latinx community face. In order to understand the psychosocial challenges that Latinx caregivers experience, the study compared Latinx to non-Latinx caregivers in order to answer the question, “What psychosocial challenges do Latinx caregivers experience?” A convenience sample of twelve caregivers were interviewed. The qualitative approach used in this study allowed a better insight into the problem which could bring public awareness and provide better resources to this population. The exploratory study was directed by a series of questions which were open-ended questions that covered topics related to burnout, stress, financial strains, and lack of support systems. The analysis of the data was reviewed and highlighted repeated themes in the interviews. With the lack of research on this population, it allows social workers to consider other possible factors when providing aid to the caregiver population

Volumetric and Linear Analysis of Soft Tissue Changes After Tooth Extraction and Socket Grafting

Introduction: The success and survival of dental implants are dependent on proper three- dimensional positioning in the bone, the anatomical shape of the prosthetic restoration1, the quantity and quality of the soft tissue,2 and the presence of a balanced occlusion.3 Adequate preservation of the alveolar bone dimension is of great importance to adequately place dental implants. Various methods have been utilized with the aim of preserving the alveolar ridge and soft tissue contours post tooth extraction due to the importance that it has on prosthetic and esthetic outcomes when replacing missing teeth. Purpose: To evaluate the linear and volumetric changes in soft tissue following site preservation/socket grafting with a xenograft bone mineral that was covered with either a collagen sponge or a 3D-collagen matrix at the 1 month, 3 month and 6-month post extraction time points. Methods: This clinical trial included twenty-four subjects who required tooth extraction, site preservation and implant placement. All patients received extraction and grafting with xenograft + 10% collagen (Geistlich Bio-Oss Collagen®) and were randomly assigned to a test or control group for closure of the extraction site. The control group received socket closure with a collagen dressing/sponge/plug (HeliPlug®) and test group with a 3D-collagen matrix (Geistlich Mucograft® Seal). Linear and volumetric soft tissue analysis were performed using Standard Tessellation Language (STL) files, obtained with an intra-oral scanner and were analyzed via a non-contact reverse engineering system to compare the facial linear and volumetric soft tissue changes between the control and test group. Results: The linear measurement analysis revealed less linear soft tissue loss with the collagen matrix. The difference between groups was not statistically significant. The volumetric analysis demonstrated a longitudinal decreased loss of soft tissue volume when a 3-D collagen matrix was used compared to a collagen sponge from month 1 to month 6. The longitudinal difference in volume was statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusion: This human investigation provides early evidence of the volumetric soft tissue changes after tooth extraction and socket grafting. The linear soft tissue analysis at the 1, 3 and 6-month time points did not show a statistical difference between the use of a collagen sponge and a 3-D collagen matrix. The results from the volumetric analysis demonstrated a reduced volume loss when a 3-D collagen matrix was used compared to a collagen dressing. The data provides early evidence in regards to decreased amount of volume loss using a 3-D collagen matrix. This finding may positively benefit clinicians when managing soft tissue contours around implants in the esthetic zone.Master of Scienc

Simulacion del analisis de riesgos en la gestion de proyectos como herramienta en el proceso de formacion de ingenieros civiles

El programa de Ingeniería Civil en la Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila es el resultado de un proceso de Acreditación y Revisión constante, el cual da respuesta a la creciente demanda social de Gestión de Proyectos, aun cuando en la práctica es severamente cuestionada por la poca aplicación de los escenarios de modelación; por lo que, la investigación que se desarrolla por parte de la Cátedra de Proyectos nos permite fomentar el estudio de las Variables de Riesgo con el fin de establecer de manera eficiente un marco de referencia que permita incrementar el conocimiento de esta herramienta como material didáctico en la materia de Gestión de Proyectos. De esta manera, en la investigación se exponen las técnicas de identificación, los modelos de análisis y las herramientas de modelación que desarrollen las habilidades y actitudes en la toma de decisión, atendiendo a los criterios establecidos por los PMC, DIP, PMP; esto, con el fin de apoyar los trabajos de Gestión de Proyectos en escenarios crítico

From the Classroom to the Screen: Experiences of Women and Femmes of Color MFA Film Students

This dissertation discusses the methodological and empirical findings that emerged from a filmmaking-based study with Women and Femmes of Color in MFA film programs. This work opens with an autobiographical testimonio, in an act of reciprocity for my research collaborators and my community. Weaving together Critical Race Theory in Education, Film theory and production, and well as Chicana and Endarkened Feminist theories and praxis, this dissertation is designed to honor and protect the stories of recruited research collaborators. Together we explore the methodological, theoretical, epistemic, and pedagogical contributions born from this study. This dissertation also incorporates screenplays as representative of Cinematic Critical Race Composite Counterstories that illustrate key findings and contributions, including a reimagining of film school pedagogy through the reclamation of narrative agency

Melanoma: Diagnóstico, evolución y tratamiento bajo una perspectiva molecular

La incidencia de cáncer de piel y particularmente de melanoma se encuentra en franco ascenso debido a la combinación de factores ambientales y socio-culturales. A diferencia de otros tipos de tumores malignos, en la mayoría de los casos la aparición de esta enfermedad y/o sus consecuencias más graves pueden preverse simplemente a través de cambios en nuestras conductas. Fundamentalmente, se recomienda tomar mayores recaudos al exponernos a la radiación ultravioleta y seguir los consejos médicos para la detección precoz de lesiones cutáneas potencialmente peligrosas. El objetivo del presente artículo es proporcionar a los lectores un mayor conocimiento acerca de los distintos aspectos de esta enfermedad, tales como los factores de riesgo, su diagnóstico y pronóstico. También se intenta informar sobre los avances más recientes en el campo de la investigación y como estos descubrimientos están siendo aplicados para mejorar el tratamiento de los pacientes que sufren esta enfermedad.Fil: Picco, María Elisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Natalia Brenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Bergami, Pablo Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; Argentin

Gestión por procesos y rendimiento laboral de los colaboradores de la institución Provias Descentralizado, Lima 2020

El presente estudio titulado “Gestión por procesos y rendimiento laboral de los colaboradores de la institución Provias Descentralizado, Lima 2020” tuvo como objetivo general analizar en qué medida se relaciona la gestión por procesos y el rendimiento laboral de los colaboradores de la institución Provias Descentralizada, Lima 2020. Para ello se aplicó la siguiente metodología: investigación aplicada con diseño no experimental, de corte transaccional, nivel correlacional y enfoque cuantitativo, a una muestra intencional de 30 colaboradores de la empresa referida, a los que se le aplicó un cuestionario con escala de Likert, validado por juicio de expertos cuya confiabilidad global fue 0,899. A partir de los resultados del estudio se obtuvo un coeficiente de correlación entre la gestión por procesos y el rendimiento laboral de los colaboradores de 0,629 según la prueba estadística de Rho de Spearman con una significancia bilateral de 0,00 lo que refiere una correlación positiva moderada entre las variables de estudio. Se concluyó que, a medida que la gestión por procesos se ejecute adecuadamente en la institución crecerán notablemente los canales de comunicación, habrá mayor interacción en las diferentes áreas, por consiguiente, se incrementará de igual forma el rendimiento laboral de los colaboradores

A comparison of PBDE serum concentrations in Mexican and Mexican-American children living in California.

BackgroundPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which are used as flame retardants, have been found to be higher in residents of California than of other parts of the United States.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the role of immigration to California on PBDE levels in Latino children.MethodsWe compared serum PBDE concentrations in a population of first-generation Mexican-American 7-year-old children (n = 264), who were born and raised in California [Center for Health Analysis of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study], with 5-year-old Mexican children (n = 283), who were raised in the states in Mexico where most CHAMACOS mothers had originated (Proyecto Mariposa).ResultsOn average, PBDE serum concentrations in the California Mexican-American children were three times higher than their mothers' levels during pregnancy and seven times higher than concentrations in the children living in Mexico. The PBDE serum concentrations were higher in the Mexican-American children regardless of length of time their mother had resided in California or the duration of the child's breast-feeding. These data suggest that PBDE serum concentrations in these children resulted primarily from postnatal exposure.ConclusionsLatino children living in California have much higher PBDE serum levels than their Mexican counterparts. Given the growing evidence documenting potential health effects of PBDE exposure, the levels in young children noted in this study potentially present a major public health challenge, especially in California. In addition, as PBDEs are being phased out and replaced by other flame retardants, the health consequences of these chemical replacements should be investigated and weighed against their purported fire safety benefits

Análisis de la nueva ley del teletrabajo, sus implicancias y cumplimiento frente a una emergencia sanitaria

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar la Nueva Ley del Teletrabajo, su implementación y cumplimiento frente a una emergencia sanitaria, en relación al Principio de Primacía de la Realidad, en aquellas instituciones públicas y empresas privadas del Perú donde se utilice esta modalidad de trabajo, asimismo, promover parámetros de fiscalización para evitar la vulneración de los derechos de los teletrabajadores, garantizando su cumplimiento en respeto de los derechos fundamentales de los teletrabajadores. La investigación es de tipo aplicada, no experimental, descriptivo, consiste en observar el problema, analizar su comportamiento y obtener una solución, asimismo, se aplicó dos instrumentos de recolección de datos, un cuestionario dirigido a quince abogados que laboren en una institución pública o empresa privada en Piura, obteniendo que el 67% de los encuestados están de acuerdo con que debe de modificarse la Nueva Ley del Teletrabajo, siendo más específicos en su regulación; y el otro instrumento aplicado fue una guía de análisis documental en donde se realizó un cuadro de análisis de la Nueva Ley del Teletrabajo. Concluyendo la investigación, en que se debe establecer parámetros de fiscalización en la Nueva Ley del Teletrabajo, para garantizar la no vulneración de los derechos de los teletrabajadores