Unemployment Insurance in an Economy with a Hidden Labor Market

This paper considers the problem of optimal unemployment insurance in a moral hazard framework. Unlike existing literature, unemployed workers can secretly participate in a hidden labor market; as a consequence, an endogenous lower bound for promised utility preventing "immiserization" arises. Moreover, the presence of a hidden labor market makes possible an extra deviation and therefore hardens the provision of incentives. Under linear cost of effort, we show that the optimal contract prescribes no participation in the hidden labor market and a decreasing sequence of unemployment payments until the lower bound for promised utility is reached. At that moment, participation jumps and unemployment payments drop down to zero. For the case of non-linear effort cost we calibrate the model to Spain. As in the linear cost of effort, this exercise reproduces no participation and decreasing payments during the initial phase of unemployment. After around three years of unemployment, the contract prescribes a jump in participation and an abrupt decline in unemployment payments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper justifying an abrupt drop in unemployment payments. In addition, the quantitative analysis suggests that in an environment in which agents differ in separation rate, the hidden labor market reinforces the benefits from a type-dependent unemployment system

Natural Sources of Spraying to Preserve Apple Fruit Quality during Post-Harvest

One of the great challenges that apple producers face is to substantially improve the quality of fruit, including after harvest. A balanced and timely supply of calcium (Ca) during growth and in the post-harvest stage is considered a technique that could improve shelf life and fruit quality; thus calcium plays a key role during post-harvest, with calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate being an alternative of foliar spraying. The study was carried out on ‘Top Red’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ apple cultivars, in a randomized complete block design with 13 treatments (referring to different commercial presentations of calcium) and 6 repetitions; 8 foliar sprays were applied weekly, from June 22 until harvest; ‘Top Red’ (151 days after full flowering, DDCF) and ‘Golden Delicious’ (145 DDCF) fruit were evaluated in regard with fruit traits (diameter, weight and colour) and maturity (pulp firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and sugar acidity ratio). In ‘Top Red’ cv., calcium carbonate presented the best results, with intermediate to high quality apple fruit, while for cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ the best results were obtained with calcium sulphate, which increased fruits’ diameter, weight, colour and titratable acidity. Even more, of the products evaluated, CaCO3 and CaSO4 had the lowest costs, and can be considered as good alternatives of foliar calcium supplement applied in order to preserve the quality of the apple during post-harvest

Serum levels and removal by haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration of tryptophan-derived uremic toxins in ESKD patients

Tryptophan is an essential dietary amino acid that originates uremic toxins that contribute to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patient outcomes. We evaluated serum levels and removal during haemodialysis and haemodiafiltration of tryptophan and tryptophan-derived uremic toxins, indoxyl sulfate (IS) and indole acetic acid (IAA), in ESKD patients in different dialysis treatment settings. This prospective multicentre study in four European dialysis centres enrolled 78 patients with ESKD. Blood and spent dialysate samples obtained during dialysis were analysed with high-performance liquid chromatography to assess uremic solutes, their reduction ratio (RR) and total removed solute (TRS). Mean free serum tryptophan and IS concentrations increased, and concentration of IAA decreased over pre-dialysis levels (67%, 49%, -0.8%, respectively) during the first hour of dialysis. While mean serum total urea, IS and IAA concentrations decreased during dialysis (-72%, -39%, -43%, respectively), serum tryptophan levels increased, resulting in negative RR (-8%) towards the end of the dialysis session (p < 0.001), despite remarkable Trp losses in dialysate. RR and TRS values based on serum (total, free) and dialysate solute concentrations were lower for conventional low-flux dialysis (p < 0.001). High-efficiency haemodiafiltration resulted in 80% higher Trp losses than conventional low-flux dialysis, despite similar neutral Trp RR values. In conclusion, serum Trp concentrations and RR behave differently from uremic solutes IS, IAA and urea and Trp RR did not reflect dialysis Trp losses. Conventional low-flux dialysis may not adequately clear Trp-related uremic toxins while high efficiency haemodiafiltration increased Trp losses

Care of peripheral intravenous catheters in three hospitals in Spain: Mapping clinical outcomes and implementation of clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are the most widely used invasive devices worldwide. Up to 42% of PIVCs are prematurely removed during intravenous therapy due to failure. To date, there have been few systematic attempts in European hospitals to measure adherence to recommendations to mitigate PIVC failures. AIM: To analyse the clinical outcomes from clinical practice guideline recommendations for PIVC care on different hospital types and environments. METHODS: We conducted an observational study in three hospitals in Spain from December 2017 to April 2018. The adherence to recommendations was monitored via visual inspection in situ evaluations of all PIVCs inserted in adults admitted. Context and clinical characteristics were collected by an evaluation tool, analysing data descriptively. RESULTS: 646 PIVCs inserted in 624 patients were monitored, which only 52.7% knew about their PIVC. Regarding PIVC insertion, 3.4% (22/646) patients had at least 2 PIVCs simultaneously. The majority of PIVCs were 20G (319/646; 49.4%) and were secured with transparent polyurethane dressing (605/646; 93.7%). Most PIVCs (357/646; 55.3%) had a free insertion site during the visual inspection at first sight. We identified 342/646 (53%) transparent dressings in optimal conditions (clean, dry, and intact dressing). PIVC dressings in medical wards were much more likely to be in intact conditions than those in surgical wards (234/399, 58.7% vs. 108/247, 43.7%). We identified 55/646 (8.5%) PIVCs without infusion in the last 24 hours and 58/646 (9.0%) PIVCs without infusion for more than 24 hours. Regarding PIVC failure, 74 (11.5%) adverse events were identified, all of them reflecting clinical manifestation of phlebitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the clinical outcome indicators from CPG for PIVC care were moderate, highlighting differences between hospital environments and types. Also, we observed that nearly 50% of patients did not know what a PIVC is

Tectonic evolution of Variscan Iberia: Gondwana–Laurussia

An integrated interpretation of the late Paleozoic structural and geochronological record of the Iberian Massif is presented and discussed under the perspective of a Gondwana-Laurussia collision giving way to the Variscan orogen. Compressional and extensional structures developed during the building of the Variscan orogenic crust of Iberia are linked together into major tectonic events operating at lithosphere scale. A review of the tectonometamorphic and magmatic evolution of the IberianMassif reveals backs and forths in the overall conver- gence between Gondwana and Laurussia during theamalgamation of Pangea in late Paleozoic times. Stages dom- inated by lithosphere compression are characterized by subduction, both oceanic and continental, development of magmatic arcs, (over- and under-) thrusting of continental lithosphere, and folding. Variscan convergence re- sulted in the eventual transference of a large allochthonous set of peri-Gondwanan terranes, the Iberian Allochthon, onto the Gondwana mainland. The Iberian Allochthon bears the imprint of previous interaction be- tween Gondwana and Laurussia, including their juxtaposition after the closure of the Rheic Ocean in Lower De- vonian times. Stages governed by lithosphere extension are featured by the opening of two short-lived oceanic basins that dissected previous Variscan orogenic crust, first in the Lower-Middle Devonian, following the closure of the Rheic Ocean, and then in the early Carboniferous, following the emplacement of the peri-Gondwanan allochthon. An additional, major intra-orogenic extensional event in the early-middle Carboniferous dismem- bered the Iberian Allochthon into individual thrust stacks separated by extensional faults and domes. Lateral tec- tonics played an important role through the Variscan orogenesis, especially during the creation of new tectonic blocks separated by intracontinental strike-slip shear zones in the late stages of continental convergence

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with NAFLD

The expression of immune- and cancer-related genes was measured in liver biopsies from 107 NAFLD patients. The strongest difference in overall gene expression was between liver fibrosis stages F3 and F4, with 162 cirrhosis-associated genes identified. Strong correlations with fibrosis progression from F1 to F4 were observed for 91 genes, including CCL21, CCL2, CXCL6, and CCL19. In addition, the expression of 21 genes was associated with fast progression to F3/F4 in an independent group of eight NAFLD patients. These included the four chemokines, SPP1, HAMP, CXCL2, and IL-8. A six-gene signature including SOX9, THY-1, and CD3D had the highest performance detecting the progressors among F1/F2 NAFLD patients. We also characterized immune cell changes using multiplex immunofluorescence platforms. Fibrotic areas were strongly enriched in CD3+ T cells compared to CD68+ macrophages. While the number of CD68+ macrophages increased with fibrosis severity, the increase in CD3+ T-cell density was more substantial and progressive from F1 to F4. The strongest correlation with fibrosis progression was observed for CD3+CD45R0+ memory T cells, while the most significant increase in density between F1/F2 and F3/F4 was for CD3+CD45RO+FOXP3+CD8- and CD3+CD45RO-FOXP3+CD8- regulatory T cells. A specific increase in the density of CD68+CD11b+ Kupffer cells with liver fibrosis progression was also observed

Dietary Antioxidants Impact DDT Resistance in \u3cem\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/em\u3e

Insects experience a diversity of subtoxic and/or toxic xenobiotics through exposure to pesticides and, in the case of herbivorous insects, through plant defensive compounds in their diets. Many insects are also concurrently exposed to antioxidants in their diets. The impact of dietary antioxidants on the toxicity of xenobiotics in insects is not well understood, in part due to the challenge of developing appropriate systems in which doses and exposure times (of both the antioxidants and the xenobiotics) can be controlled and outcomes can be easily measured. However, in Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established insect model system, both dietary factors and pesticide exposure can be easily controlled. Additionally, the mode of action and xenobiotic metabolism of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a highly persistent neurotoxic organochlorine insecticide that is detected widely in the environment, have been well studied in DDT-susceptible and -resistant strains. Using a glass-vial bioassay system with blue diet as the food source, seven compounds with known antioxidant effects (ascorbic acid, β-carotene, glutathione, α-lipoic acid, melatonin, minocycline, and serotonin) were orally tested for their impact on DDT toxicity across three strains of D. melanogaster: one highly susceptible to DDT (Canton-S), one mildly susceptible (91-C), and one highly resistant (91-R). Three of the antioxidants (serotonin, ascorbic acid, and β-carotene) significantly impacted the toxicity of DDT in one or more strains. Fly strain and gender, antioxidant type, and antioxidant dose all affected the relative toxicity of DDT. Our work demonstrates that dietary antioxidants can potentially alter the toxicity of a xenobiotic in an insect population

Impacto de la Atención Farmacéutica en la adherencia de los pacientes con VIH en el Hospital San Pablo de Coquimbo, Chile.

Introducción: Garantizar la sostenibilidad de un sistema de salud requiere que los esfuerzos multidisciplinarios estén enfocados en contribuir con el éxito de los tratamientos farmacológicos, siendo la falta de adherencia a los tratamientos un problema a nivel mundial. La Atención Farmacéutica está enfocada en optimizar la adherencia a la farmacoterapia. Objetivos: Determinar el impacto de la Atención Farmacéutica en la adherencia de los pacientes con VIH en el Hospital San Pablo de Coquimbo de Chile. Método: Estudio epidemiológico, sin grupo control, prospectivo y longitudinal. Medición de las variables antes y después en un periodo de 6 meses. Se evalúa el impacto de la Atención Farmacéutica en la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico, carga viral, CD4 y grado de conocimiento de los medicamentos y enfermedad por parte de los pacientes. Los resultados obtenidos se procesaron en el programa estadístico SPSS V.21. Resultados: El 45,46% de los Resultados Negativos asociados a la Medicación (RNM) encontrados estuvieron relacionados a la efectividad. Se consiguió un incremento de 13% en el puntaje de la encuesta de adherencia CEAT-VIH. Se logró un aumento del promedio de CDL desde 210.3 a 249.3 y una disminución de la carga viral promedio de 60660 a 291.2. Los pacientes con > 50 de carga viral pasaron de 11 a 3 mientras que los pacientes con < 50 de carga viral pasaron de 7 a 14. Finalmente, hubo un aumento del 60% en los valores del cuestionario de conocimientos. Conclusión: La Atención Farmacéutica en pacientes con VIH es efectiva en la mejora de la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico, en mejores resultados de CD4 y carga viral así como el conocimiento de la enfermedad y los medicamentos

Impacto de la Atención Farmacéutica en la adherencia de los pacientes con VIH en el Hospital San Pablo de Coquimbo, Chile.

Introducción: Garantizar la sostenibilidad de un sistema de salud requiere que los esfuerzos multidisciplinarios estén enfocados en contribuir con el éxito de los tratamientos farmacológicos, siendo la falta de adherencia a los tratamientos un problema a nivel mundial. La Atención Farmacéutica está enfocada en optimizar la adherencia a la farmacoterapia. Objetivos: Determinar el impacto de la Atención Farmacéutica en la adherencia de los pacientes con VIH en el Hospital San Pablo de Coquimbo de Chile. Método: Estudio epidemiológico, sin grupo control, prospectivo y longitudinal. Medición de las variables antes y después en un periodo de 6 meses. Se evalúa el impacto de la Atención Farmacéutica en la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico, carga viral, CD4 y grado de conocimiento de los medicamentos y enfermedad por parte de los pacientes. Los resultados obtenidos se procesaron en el programa estadístico SPSS V.21. Resultados: El 45,46% de los Resultados Negativos asociados a la Medicación (RNM) encontrados estuvieron relacionados a la efectividad. Se consiguió un incremento de 13% en el puntaje de la encuesta de adherencia CEAT-VIH. Se logró un aumento del promedio de CDL desde 210.3 a 249.3 y una disminución de la carga viral promedio de 60660 a 291.2. Los pacientes con > 50 de carga viral pasaron de 11 a 3 mientras que los pacientes con < 50 de carga viral pasaron de 7 a 14. Finalmente, hubo un aumento del 60% en los valores del cuestionario de conocimientos. Conclusión: La Atención Farmacéutica en pacientes con VIH es efectiva en la mejora de la adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico, en mejores resultados de CD4 y carga viral así como el conocimiento de la enfermedad y los medicamentos