1,075 research outputs found
Que valent les engagements des régimes de retraite envers les retraités en France ?
Using the "Echantillon Inter régimes des Retraités" (EIR) 2008 and 2012 panel data, we calculate retirees\u27 pension wealth (consumed and residual) at an aggregated level, and provide in-depth results by type of pension scheme and by managing organism. We put an emphasis on direct pensions already perceived by retirees and to be paid in the future, without taking into account current contributors\u27 future retirement. We find that the overall pension wealth is not very sensitive to the discount rate, but this result does not hold if we concentrate on the future pension wealth. From this point of view, it must be noted that some of the organisms have a high proportion of pension still to be paid. Moreover, whatever the type of pension wealth calculated, the results show a rapid increase from 2008 to 2012 (except for the basic scheme of farmers). Finally, spread indicators and Gini index of pension wealth are relatively higher than those found in the distribution of labor income by other studies. We find that there are more inequalities in the private sector than in the public, particularly in the private sector for complementary pension schemes
Pension Wealth in France: An Assessment on Panel Data
This contribution proposes a measure of pension wealth in the French public PAYG schemes (first and second pillar schemes) and of its distribution among the population of retirees in 2008 using the Echantillon Inter rĂ©gimes de RetraitĂ©s (EIR) panel data. We show that aggregate pension wealth amounts to around 4765 billion Euros assuming a 2 percent discount rate. There are significant differences in the amount of individualâs pension wealth between the pension schemes of the private and public sector. Moreover, there is more inequality in the distribution of pension wealth among private sector retirees than public sectorones
Charge redistribution at Pd surfaces: ab initio grounds for tight-binding interatomic potentials
A simplified tight-binding description of the electronic structure is often
necessary for complex studies of surfaces of transition metal compounds. This
requires a self-consistent parametrization of the charge redistribution, which
is not obvious for late transition series elements (such as Pd, Cu, Au), for
which not only d but also s-p electrons have to be taken into account. We show
here, with the help of an ab initio FP-LMTO approach, that for these elements
the electronic charge is unchanged from bulk to the surface, not only per site
but also per orbital. This implies different level shifts for each orbital in
order to achieve this orbital neutrality rule. Our results invalidate any
neutrality rule which would allow charge redistribution between orbitals to
ensure a common rigid shift for all of them. Moreover, in the case of Pd, the
power law which governs the variation of band energy with respect to
coordination number, is found to differ significantly from the usual
tight-binding square root.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Latex; Phys.Rev. B 56 (1997
La réforme des retraites de 1993 : quel impact sur l'équivalent patrimonial des droits à retraite ?
Depuis 1993, la France a enregistrĂ© plusieurs rĂ©formes de son systĂšme de retraites, visant avant tout Ă en assurer la soutenabilitĂ©. Cette contribution a pour objectif dâĂ©valuer lâimpact de la rĂ©forme de 1993 sur lâĂ©quivalent patrimonial des droits individuels Ă la retraite (EPDR), c\u27est-Ă -dire la somme actuarielle probable des pensions Ă recevoir, de la date de liquidation des droits jusquâau dĂ©cĂšs. Plus prĂ©cisĂ©ment, nous mesurons lâimpact de cette rĂ©forme sur lâEPDR des mono-pensionnĂ©s du rĂ©gime gĂ©nĂ©ral, Ă lâaide des donnĂ©es de lâEchantillon InterrĂ©gimes de RetraitĂ©s 2008. Parmi les mesures phares de la rĂ©forme de 1993 figure lâaugmentation progressive de la durĂ©e de cotisation nĂ©cessaire pour obtenir une retraite Ă taux plein au rĂ©gime gĂ©nĂ©ral. Cette augmentation est susceptible dâengendrer deux effets opposĂ©s : un effet de report de lâĂąge de liquidation pour conserver un EPDR adĂ©quat pour ses vieux jours (voire lâaugmenter) ou un effet de dĂ©cote, si lâassurĂ©-e ne souhaite, ou ne peut, pas prolonger son activitĂ© et subit donc une dĂ©cote sur sa pension, et partant sur son EPDR. Pour tester les effets nets de la rĂ©forme de 1993 sur lâEPDR, nous procĂ©dons Ă des estimations Ă©conomĂ©triques en diffĂ©rences premiĂšres et en doubles diffĂ©rences, ainsi quâĂ des estimations par quantiles pour mesurer les impacts le long de la distribution de lâEPDR. Nos estimations montrent des rĂ©sultats diffĂ©rents selon que les individus partent avant ou aprĂšs 2004, date dâentrĂ©e en vigueur de la rĂ©forme. Ainsi, toutes choses Ă©gales par ailleurs, un dĂ©part en retraite avant 2004 plutĂŽt que postĂ©rieurement, augmente lâEPDR des retraitĂ©s concernĂ©s. Toutefois, lâinteraction avec les autres variables nuance cette conclusion. Dâune part, reporter son dĂ©part en retraite rĂ©duit lâEPDR moyen dâenviron 20% : le report permet dâaccumuler des droits supplĂ©mentaires, mais sur une pĂ©riode rĂ©duite. Dâautre part, lâeffet de la dĂ©cote est nĂ©gatif, mais son intensitĂ© est rĂ©duite quand les retraitĂ©s reportent leur dĂ©part. En outre, comme les gĂ©nĂ©rations 1934-1943 ont subi conjointement les rĂ©formes de 1993 et 2003, nos estimations en double diffĂ©rence permettent dâisoler lâeffet « pur » de la rĂ©forme de 1993 : lorsque les affiliĂ©s ont subi une dĂ©cote, sans avoir reportĂ© leur dĂ©part en retraite pour lâattĂ©nuer, la liquidation des droits aux conditions de 2003 par rapport aux conditions de 1993 est la plus dĂ©favorable. Enfin, les estimations par quantiles montrent que ces effets sâintensifient dans la premiĂšre moitiĂ© de la distribution, et sâattĂ©nuent au-delĂ
Surfactant effect in heteroepitaxial growth. The Pb - Co/Cu(111) case
A MonteCarlo simulations study has been performed in order to study the
effect of Pb as surfactant on the initial growth stage of Co/Cu(111). The main
characteristics of Co growing over Cu(111) face, i.e. the decorated double
layer steps, the multiple layer islands and the pools of vacancies, disappear
with the pre-evaporation of a Pb monolayer. Through MC simulations, a full
picture of these complex processes is obtained. Co quickly diffuses through the
Pb monolayer exchanging place with Cu atoms at the substrate. The exchange
process diffusion inhibits the formation of pure Co islands, reducing the
surface stress and then the formation of multilayer islands and the pools of
vacancies. On the other hand, the random exchange also suppress the nucleation
preferential sites generated by Co atoms at Cu steps, responsible of the step
decoration.Comment: 4 pages, latex, 2 figures embedded in the tex
Low number of neurosecretory vesicles in neuroblastoma impairs massive catecholamine release and prevents hypertension
Introduction: Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric cancer of the developing sympathetic nervous system. It produces and releases metanephrines, which are used as biomarkers for diagnosis in plasma and urine. However, plasma catecholamine concentrations remain generally normal in children with NB. Thus, unlike pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PHEO/PGL), two other non-epithelial neuroendocrine tumors, hypertension is not part of the usual clinical picture of patients with NB. This suggests that the mode of production and secretion of catecholamines and metanephrines in NB is different from that in PHEO/PGL, but little is known about these discrepancies. Here we aim to provide a detailed comparison of the biosynthesis, metabolism and storage of catecholamines and metanephrines between patients with NB and PHEO. Method: Catecholamines and metanephrines were quantified in NB and PHEO/PGL patients from plasma and tumor tissues by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Electron microscopy was used to quantify neurosecretory vesicles within cells derived from PHEO tumor biopsies, NB-PDX and NB cell lines. Chromaffin markers were detected by qPCR, IHC and/or immunoblotting. Results: Plasma levels of metanephrines were comparable between NB and PHEO patients, while catecholamines were 3.5-fold lower in NB vs PHEO affected individuals. However, we observed that intratumoral concentrations of metanephrines and catecholamines measured in NB were several orders of magnitude lower than in PHEO. Cellular and molecular analyses revealed that NB cell lines, primary cells dissociated from human tumor biopsies as well as cells from patient-derived xenograft tumors (NB-PDX) stored a very low amount of intracellular catecholamines, and contained only rare neurosecretory vesicles relative to PHEO cells. In addition, primary NB expressed reduced levels of numerous chromaffin markers, as compared to PHEO/PGL, except catechol O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase A. Furthermore, functional assays through induction of chromaffin differentiation of the IMR32 NB cell line with Bt2cAMP led to an increase of neurosecretory vesicles able to secrete catecholamines after KCl or nicotine stimulation. Conclusion: The low amount of neurosecretory vesicles in NB cytoplasm prevents catecholamine storage and lead to their rapid transformation by catechol O-methyltransferase into metanephrines that diffuse in blood. Hence, in contrast to PHEO/PGL, catecholamines are not secreted massively in the blood, which explains why systemic hypertension is not observed in most patients with NB
Low number of neurosecretory vesicles in neuroblastoma impairs massive catecholamine release and prevents hypertension.
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric cancer of the developing sympathetic nervous system. It produces and releases metanephrines, which are used as biomarkers for diagnosis in plasma and urine. However, plasma catecholamine concentrations remain generally normal in children with NB. Thus, unlike pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PHEO/PGL), two other non-epithelial neuroendocrine tumors, hypertension is not part of the usual clinical picture of patients with NB. This suggests that the mode of production and secretion of catecholamines and metanephrines in NB is different from that in PHEO/PGL, but little is known about these discrepancies. Here we aim to provide a detailed comparison of the biosynthesis, metabolism and storage of catecholamines and metanephrines between patients with NB and PHEO.
Catecholamines and metanephrines were quantified in NB and PHEO/PGL patients from plasma and tumor tissues by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Electron microscopy was used to quantify neurosecretory vesicles within cells derived from PHEO tumor biopsies, NB-PDX and NB cell lines. Chromaffin markers were detected by qPCR, IHC and/or immunoblotting.
Plasma levels of metanephrines were comparable between NB and PHEO patients, while catecholamines were 3.5-fold lower in NB vs PHEO affected individuals. However, we observed that intratumoral concentrations of metanephrines and catecholamines measured in NB were several orders of magnitude lower than in PHEO. Cellular and molecular analyses revealed that NB cell lines, primary cells dissociated from human tumor biopsies as well as cells from patient-derived xenograft tumors (NB-PDX) stored a very low amount of intracellular catecholamines, and contained only rare neurosecretory vesicles relative to PHEO cells. In addition, primary NB expressed reduced levels of numerous chromaffin markers, as compared to PHEO/PGL, except catechol O-methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase A. Furthermore, functional assays through induction of chromaffin differentiation of the IMR32 NB cell line with Bt2cAMP led to an increase of neurosecretory vesicles able to secrete catecholamines after KCl or nicotine stimulation.
The low amount of neurosecretory vesicles in NB cytoplasm prevents catecholamine storage and lead to their rapid transformation by catechol O-methyltransferase into metanephrines that diffuse in blood. Hence, in contrast to PHEO/PGL, catecholamines are not secreted massively in the blood, which explains why systemic hypertension is not observed in most patients with NB
The pre-launch Planck Sky Model: a model of sky emission at submillimetre to centimetre wavelengths
We present the Planck Sky Model (PSM), a parametric model for the generation
of all-sky, few arcminute resolution maps of sky emission at submillimetre to
centimetre wavelengths, in both intensity and polarisation. Several options are
implemented to model the cosmic microwave background, Galactic diffuse emission
(synchrotron, free-free, thermal and spinning dust, CO lines), Galactic H-II
regions, extragalactic radio sources, dusty galaxies, and thermal and kinetic
Sunyaev-Zeldovich signals from clusters of galaxies. Each component is
simulated by means of educated interpolations/extrapolations of data sets
available at the time of the launch of the Planck mission, complemented by
state-of-the-art models of the emission. Distinctive features of the
simulations are: spatially varying spectral properties of synchrotron and dust;
different spectral parameters for each point source; modeling of the clustering
properties of extragalactic sources and of the power spectrum of fluctuations
in the cosmic infrared background. The PSM enables the production of random
realizations of the sky emission, constrained to match observational data
within their uncertainties, and is implemented in a software package that is
regularly updated with incoming information from observations. The model is
expected to serve as a useful tool for optimizing planned microwave and
sub-millimetre surveys and to test data processing and analysis pipelines. It
is, in particular, used for the development and validation of data analysis
pipelines within the planck collaboration. A version of the software that can
be used for simulating the observations for a variety of experiments is made
available on a dedicated website.Comment: 35 pages, 31 figure
High level expression of soluble glycoproteins in the allantoic fluid of embryonated chicken eggs using a Sendai virus minigenome system
BACKGROUND: Embryonated chicken eggs have been used since the mid-20th century to grow a wide range of animal viruses to high titers. However, eggs have found so far only limited use in the production of recombinant proteins. We now describe a system, based on a Sendai virus minigenome, to produce large amounts of heterologous viral glycoproteins in the allantoic cavity of embryonated eggs. RESULTS: Soluble forms of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) fusion (F) proteins, devoid of their transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, were produced in allantoic fluids using the Sendai minigenome system. The first step was rescuing in cell cultures Sendai virus minigenomes encoding the proteins of interest, with the help of wild type Sendai virus. The second step was propagating such recombinant defective viruses, together with the helper virus, in the allantoic cavity of chicken embryonated eggs, and passage to optimize protein production. When compared with the production of the same proteins in the culture supernatant of cells infected with vaccinia recombinants, the yield in the allantoic fluid was 5â10 fold higher. Mutant forms of these soluble proteins were easily constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in eggs using the same approach. CONCLUSION: The simplicity and economy of the Sendai minigenome system, together with the high yield achieved in the allantoic fluid of eggs, makes it an attractive method to express soluble glycoproteins aimed for structural studies
Equivalent Patrimonial des Droits Ă Retraite en France : MĂ©thodologie et Mesure dans l'EIR
LâĂ©quivalent patrimonial des droits Ă retraite (directs ou dĂ©rivĂ©s) permet dâĂ©valuer la soutenabilitĂ© et la gĂ©nĂ©rositĂ© des rĂ©gimes de retraite. A lâaide des donnĂ©es de lâEchantillon Inter-rĂ©gimes des RetraitĂ©s de 2008, nous proposons une mesure de cet indicateur pour les assurĂ©s Ă la retraite du systĂšme de retraite français. Lâobjectif de cet article est de discuter des choix mĂ©thodologiques retenus Ă chaque Ă©tape de calcul de lâĂ©quivalent patrimonial et de souligner les contraintes et les limites spĂ©cifiques Ă un tel exercice. Les rĂ©sultats obtenus rĂ©vĂšlent que les diffĂ©rences entre les rĂ©gimes de retraite peuvent gĂ©nĂ©rer des engagements dâune ampleur variable envers les assurĂ©s Ă la retraite. Lâanalyse de la concentration montre que la distribution de lâĂ©quivalent patrimonial des droits directs est plus inĂ©gale entre les assurĂ©s aux rĂ©gimes complĂ©mentaires quâentre les assurĂ©s des rĂ©gimes de base ou intĂ©grĂ©s
(rĂ©gime gĂ©nĂ©ral, SRE-civile par exemple). Les inĂ©galitĂ©s au sein des rĂ©gimes et entre les gĂ©nĂ©rations dans la distribution de lâĂ©quivalent patrimonial tendent globalement Ă diminuer au fil des gĂ©nĂ©rations Ă©tudiĂ©es
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