Transfers and the transition from socialism : key tradeoffs

The old days in the now transition societies were characterized by stagnant incomes, rationed goods, and few civil liberties, but a high degree of income security. The early days of reform have brought crashing incomes, more goods, civil liberties, and rising insecurity. Most countries are set on a course toward some form of capitalism, which by definition means greater risk-taking, less security, and almost certainly greater inequality in income distribution. Should transfers be used to compensate for increasing insecurity and poverty? The short-run drop in incomes, the heritage of cradle-to-grave state protection, and the Western European vision of the welfare state provide compelling motivation for using transfers. But, argue the authors, there are significant tradeoffs between moving to a welfare state and shifting to dynamic, growing economies. The transition economies do not have the real levels of productivity or the tax bases needed to sustain the kind of tax effort a large-scale system of transfers would require. Short-run gains in security could in the long run mean insufficient private and public capital accumulation and lack of competitiveness. The result could be financial collapse (as witnessed in Ukraine) or an extreme form of Eurosclerosis (a possibility for Hungary or Poland). Under either scenario, those whom the transfers are supposed to protect - the old, the poor, the disabled, and the unemployed - are most likely to suffer disproportionately over the medium to long term, and probably even in the short term. In any viable scenario, transfers are likely to be important for both welfare and political reasons. Some options for providing transfers are more likely to be consistent with macroeconomic imperatives and to have relatively low adverse-incentive effects - for example, flat-rate (or flatter) pensions at quite low replacement rates, and local rather than general (income-tested) social assistance. The authors recommend using intrisically temporary measures - such as temporary employment schemes - in the transition. This avoids a permanent transfer burden while recognizing the severity of the interim transition period. In sum, the alternative of less reliance on comprehensive transfers puts more pressure on private coping mechanisms and will, in the short run, increase risk. But it may be the price of a viable transition to the growth that is essential to success.Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Theory&Research,Services&Transfers to Poor,Safety Nets and Transfers

Korrektur von Nichtlinearitäten des Abbildungssystems bei der Computertomographie von heterogenen Objekten

In computed tomography (CT) several physical effects reduce the quality of reconstructed CT images. Beside scatter, one major deterministic artifact is the beam hardening effect which arises due to the polychromatic character of the used X-ray spectrum and causes cupping and streak artifacts. In this thesis a method is proposed which allows a significant reduction of beam hardening and scatter artifacts in computed tomography images of multi-component objects. The approach is based on the assumption that the relation between material thickness and X-ray attenuation can be expressed by a global function. This function contains the information about all global nonlinearities of the imaging system. Neither is it necessary to have any estimate or knowledge of the incident X-ray spectrum nor material characteristics like mass density or absorption coefficients. The method works without any reference measurements and uses the original projection images. Several simulated and real measured specimens of miscellaneous material combinations were tested and corrected to show the efficiency of the proposed method.In der Computertomographie (CT) treten zahlreiche Effekte in Erscheinung, die die Bildqualität beeinträchtigen. Neben Streustrahlung ist dies in erster Linie Strahlaufhärtung, die aufgrund der polychromatischen Eigenschaft der Röntgenstrahlung zu Artefakten wie z. B. Cupping oder dunklen Streifen führt. Diese Artefakte erschweren oder verhindern die Auswertung der erzeugten Bilder hinsichtlich Fehlerfindung oder Bestimmung dimensioneller Größen. In dieser Arbeit wird ein Verfahren vorgestellt, mit dem es möglich ist, die Effekte der Strahlaufhärtung und Streustrahlung zu mindern, sodass eine Auswertung computertomographischer Bilder von heterogenen, also mehrmaterialigen Prüfobjekten, verbessert wird. Es wird gezeigt, dass der Zusammenhang zwischen der Materialdicke der unterschiedlichen Materialien und der totalen Abschwächung des Röntgenstrahls über ein Funktional ausgedrückt werden kann. Grundlage dafür ist die Annahme, dass die Reihenfolge in der die verschiedenen Materialien durchstrahlt werden, vernachlässigt werden kann. In dem bestimmten Funktional werden alle globalen Nichtlinearitäten des Abbildungssystems zusammengefasst, was zwar eine explizite Berücksichtigung von lokalen Effekten wie z. B. Objektstreustrahlung vernachlässigt, aber dennoch eine effektive Reduktion der Artefaktbildung ermöglicht. Zusatzinformationen über das bildgebende System wie z. B. eine Abschätzung des Quellenspektrums oder der Effizienz des Röntgendetektors sind genauso wenig erforderlich, wie die Kenntnis über die im Prüfobjekt vorkommenden Materialien und deren Eigenschaften. Mit Hilfe mehrerer simulierter und real gemessener estkörper wird die Leistungsfähigkeit des Verfahrens getestet und anhand definierter Bildgütekriterien bewertet

Problems of Nonidentifiability and Alternative Solutions

The bifactor model is a widely applied model to analyze general and specific abilities. Extensions of bifactor models additionally include criterion variables. In such extended bifactor models, the general and specific factors can be correlated with criterion variables. Moreover, the influence of general and specific factors on criterion variables can be scrutinized in latent multiple regression models that are built on bifactor measurement models. This study employs an extended bifactor model to predict mathematics and English grades by three facets of intelligence (number series, verbal analogies, and unfolding). We show that, if the observed variables do not differ in their loadings, extended bifactor models are not identified and not applicable. Moreover, we reveal that standard errors of regression weights in extended bifactor models can be very large and, thus, lead to invalid conclusions. A formal proof of the nonidentification is presented. Subsequently, we suggest alternative approaches for predicting criterion variables by general and specific factors. In particular, we illustrate how (1) composite ability factors can be defined in extended first-order factor models and (2) how bifactor(S-1) models can be applied. The differences between first-order factor models and bifactor(S-1) models for predicting criterion variables are discussed in detail and illustrated with the empirical example

The relationship between telework and job characteristics: a latent change score analysis during the COVID‐19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a sizable proportion of employees conducted home-based telework to contain virus spreading. This situation made it possible to investigate the relationship between telework and job characteristics. Many positive and negative associations between telework and job characteristics have been proposed in the literature, but most studies relied on cross-sectional data as well as narrow samples (e.g. employees voluntarily choosing to telework). Repeated measures designs investigating the association between telework intensity and job characteristics using less selective samples are currently rare. To address this research gap, we collected data at two time points in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 479) and investigated if change in telework intensity was associated with change in 19 job characteristics using structural equation modeling. Our analyses showed that—in contrast to several prior cross-sectional studies—telework intensity had a small to moderate association with only two out of the 19 job characteristics: Work scheduling and decision-making autonomy. Hence, the study challenges the previously assumed manifold positive and negative associations between telework intensity and job characteristics and adds to the debate about the role of telework intensity as an antecedent of work design. Future studies should investigate the generalizability of the findings to non-pandemic work contexts

The relationship between telework and job characteristics: A latent change score analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a sizable proportion of employees conducted home-based telework to contain virus spreading. This situation made it possible to investigate the relationship between telework and job characteristics. Many positive and negative associations between telework and job characteristics have been proposed in the literature, but most studies relied on cross-sectional data as well as narrow samples (e.g. employees voluntarily choosing to telework). Repeated measures designs investigating the association between telework intensity and job characteristics using less selective samples are currently rare. To address this research gap, we collected data at two time points in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 479) and investigated if change in telework intensity was associated with change in 19 job characteristics using structural equation modeling. Our analyses showed that—in contrast to several prior cross-sectional studies—telework intensity had a small to moderate association with only two out of the 19 job characteristics: Work scheduling and decision-making autonomy. Hence, the study challenges the previously assumed manifold positive and negative associations between telework intensity and job characteristics and adds to the debate about the role of telework intensity as an antecedent of work design. Future studies should investigate the generalizability of the findings to non-pandemic work contexts

21-cm synthesis observations of VIRGOHI 21 - a possible dark galaxy in the Virgo Cluster

Many observations indicate that dark matter dominates the extra-galactic Universe, yet no totally dark structure of galactic proportions has ever been convincingly identified. Previously we have suggested that VIRGOHI 21, a 21-cm source we found in the Virgo Cluster using Jodrell Bank, was a possible dark galaxy because of its broad line-width (~200 km/s) unaccompanied by any visible gravitational source to account for it. We have now imaged VIRGOHI 21 in the neutral-hydrogen line and find what could be a dark, edge-on, spinning disk with the mass and diameter of a typical spiral galaxy. Moreover, VIRGOHI 21 has unquestionably been involved in an interaction with NGC 4254, a luminous spiral with an odd one-armed morphology, but lacking the massive interactor normally linked with such a feature. Numerical models of NGC 4254 call for a close interaction ~10^8 years ago with a perturber of ~10^11 solar masses. This we take as additional evidence for the massive nature of VIRGOHI 21 as there does not appear to be any other viable candidate. We have also used the Hubble Space Telescope to search for stars associated with the HI and find none down to an I band surface brightness limit of 31.1 +/- 0.2 mag/sq. arcsec.Comment: 8 pages, accepted to ApJ, uses emulateapj.cls. Mpeg animation (Fig. 2) available at ftp://ftp.naic.edu/pub/publications/minchin/video2.mp

Potent Host-Directed Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Myxovirus RNA-Dependent RNA-Polymerases

Therapeutic targeting of host cell factors required for virus replication rather than of pathogen components opens new perspectives to counteract virus infections. Anticipated advantages of this approach include a heightened barrier against the development of viral resistance and a broadened pathogen target spectrum. Myxoviruses are predominantly associated with acute disease and thus are particularly attractive for this approach since treatment time can be kept limited. To identify inhibitor candidates, we have analyzed hit compounds that emerged from a large-scale high-throughput screen for their ability to block replication of members of both the orthomyxovirus and paramyxovirus families. This has returned a compound class with broad anti-viral activity including potent inhibition of different influenza virus and paramyxovirus strains. After hit-to-lead chemistry, inhibitory concentrations are in the nanomolar range in the context of immortalized cell lines and human PBMCs. The compound shows high metabolic stability when exposed to human S-9 hepatocyte subcellular fractions. Antiviral activity is host-cell species specific and most pronounced in cells of higher mammalian origin, supporting a host-cell target. While the compound induces a temporary cell cycle arrest, host mRNA and protein biosynthesis are largely unaffected and treated cells maintain full metabolic activity. Viral replication is blocked at a post-entry step and resembles the inhibition profile of a known inhibitor of viral RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) activity. Direct assessment of RdRp activity in the presence of the reagent reveals strong inhibition both in the context of viral infection and in reporter-based minireplicon assays. In toto, we have identified a compound class with broad viral target range that blocks host factors required for viral RdRp activity. Viral adaptation attempts did not induce resistance after prolonged exposure, in contrast to rapid adaptation to a pathogen-directed inhibitor of RdRp activity

The Victorian Newsletter (Fall 1995)

The Victorian Newsletter is sponsored for the Victorian Group of Modern Language Association by Western Kentucky University and is published twice annually.Oscar Wilde: Crime and the "Glorious Shapes of Art" / Peter Allan Dale -- Metamorphosis as Metaphor in Bram Stoker's Dracula / Pascale Krumm -- Flatness and Ethical Responsibility in Little Dorrit / Dominic Rainsford -- Intertextuality and Intratextuality: The Full Text of Christina Rossetti's "Harmony on First Corinthians XIII" Rediscovered / Mary Arseneau and Jan Marsh -- Pre-Raphaelite Paintings and Jungian Images in Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White / Sophia Andres -- Crucifixes and Madonnas: George Eliot's Fascination with Catholicism in Romola / Michael Schiefelbein -- Gerard Manley Hopkins: Priest vs. Poet / A. R. Coulthard -- Coming in Victorian Newsletter -- Books Received -- Group New

Mountain lions prey selectively on prion-infected mule deer

The possibility that predators choose prey selectively based on age or condition has been suggested but rarely tested. We examined whether mountain lions (Puma concolor) selectively prey upon mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) infected with chronic wasting disease, a prion disease. We located kill sites of mountain lions in the northern Front Range of Colorado, USA, and compared disease prevalence among lion-killed adult (≥2 years old) deer with prevalence among sympatric deer taken by hunters in the vicinity of kill sites. Hunter-killed female deer were less likely to be infected than males (odds ratios (OR) = 0.2, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.1–0.6; p = 0.015). However, both female (OR = 8.5, 95% CI = 2.3–30.9) and male deer (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1–10) killed by a mountain lion were more likely to be infected than same-sex deer killed in the vicinity by a hunter (p < 0.001), suggesting that mountain lions in this area actively selected prion-infected individuals when targeting adult mule deer as prey items