Firm-Level Policy Toward Older Workers

This paper focuses on one aspect of long-term labor contracts -- employer-provided pensions -- in order to develop a better understanding of how such contracts affect employment patterns of older workers. Pensions are one of the few elements of the employment package which explicitly describe long term agreements between workers and their employers; consequently they offer a unique opportunity to study these agreements. The present paper combines labor supply and contract theory to examine pension responses to changes in taxes, Social Security benefits, and the federal government's recent decision to lift the age of mandatory retirement. Evidence on a longitudinal sample of pension plans from 1960 to the present suggests:(1) During the 1960-70 period, Social Security increases generated changes in pensions favoring early retirement; and (2) During the 1970-80 period, some plans reduced private pension benefits in response to the raising of the mandatory retirement age.

Halide Adsorption on Single-crystal Silver Substrates: Dynamic Simulations and ab-initio Density-functional Theory

We investigate the static and dynamic behaviors of a Br adlayer electrochemically deposited onto single-crystal Ag(100) using an off-lattice model of the adlayer. Unlike previous studies using a lattice-gas model, the off-lattice model allows adparticles to be located at any position within a two-dimensional approximation to the substrate. Interactions with the substrate are approximated by a corrugation potential. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) to calculate surface binding energies, a sinusoidal approximation to the corrugation potential is constructed. A variety of techniques, including Monte Carlo and Langevin simulations, are used to study the behavior of the adlayer. The lateral root-mean-square (rms) deviation of the adparticles from the binding sites is presented along with equilibrium coverage isotherms, and the thermally activated Arrhenius barrier-hopping model used in previous dynamic Monte Carlo simulations is tested.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, to appear in Faraday Discussion

Theology at the coal-face of hospitalisation - the development and evaluation of a postgraduate certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy

Healthcare chaplaincy is working towards recognition as a registered health profession. An accredited programme of professional education is part of that process. The University of Glasgow supported by NHS Education for Scotland have developed a programme of professional education for healthcare chaplains that is integrated into an MSc. (MedSci) in healthcare. This article outlines the commissioning, development and evaluation of a postgraduate certificate in healthcare chaplaincy by students, clinical mentors and experienced healthcare chaplains. It also highlights an innovative approach to practice development in spiritual and religious care in healthcare

Hypothesis testing near singularities and boundaries

The likelihood ratio statistic, with its asymptotic $\chi^2$ distribution at regular model points, is often used for hypothesis testing. At model singularities and boundaries, however, the asymptotic distribution may not be $\chi^2$, as highlighted by recent work of Drton. Indeed, poor behavior of a $\chi^2$ for testing near singularities and boundaries is apparent in simulations, and can lead to conservative or anti-conservative tests. Here we develop a new distribution designed for use in hypothesis testing near singularities and boundaries, which asymptotically agrees with that of the likelihood ratio statistic. For two example trinomial models, arising in the context of inference of evolutionary trees, we show the new distributions outperform a $\chi^2$.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figure

Fractal templates in the escape dynamics of trapped ultracold atoms

We consider the dynamic escape of a small packet of ultracold atoms launched from within an optical dipole trap. Based on a theoretical analysis of the underlying nonlinear dynamics, we predict that fractal behavior can be seen in the escape data. This data would be collected by measuring the time-dependent escape rate for packets launched over a range of angles. This fractal pattern is particularly well resolved below the Bose-Einstein transition temperature--a direct result of the extreme phase space localization of the condensate. We predict that several self-similar layers of this novel fractal should be measurable and we explain how this fractal pattern can be predicted and analyzed with recently developed techniques in symbolic dynamics.Comment: 11 pages with 5 figure

Monte Carlo Methods for Equilibrium and Nonequilibrium Problems in Interfacial Electrochemistry

We present a tutorial discussion of Monte Carlo methods for equilibrium and nonequilibrium problems in interfacial electrochemistry. The discussion is illustrated with results from simulations of three specific systems: bromine adsorption on silver (100), underpotential deposition of copper on gold (111), and electrodeposition of urea on platinum (100).Comment: RevTex, 14 pages, 8 figures. To appear in book _Interfacial Electrochemisty