Profit participation annuities: a business profitability analysis within a demographic risk sensitive approach

The aim of the paper is to analyze the performance of a portfolio of participating life annuities, focusing on the minimum acceptable income level throughout the quantiles of the return distribution. The model, in addition to the necessary consideration of the volatility of financial markets, gives a central role to the impact of the longevity phenomenon. The sensitivity of the portfolio performance to the survival projection, the presence of a break-even point and the time of optimum performance are pointed out, under different hypotheses for the participating quota and with stochastic assumption for the accumulation and the discounting financial processes and for the survival description

Top-down N-doped carbon quantum dots for multiple purposes: heavy metal detection and intracellular fluorescence

In the present study, we successfully synthesized N-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) using a top-down approach, i.e., hydroxyl radical opening of fullerene with hydrogen peroxide, in basic ambient using ammonia for two different reaction times. The ensuing characterization via dynamic light scattering, SEM, and IR spectroscopy revealed a size control that was dependent on the reaction time, as well as a more pronounced -NH2 functionalization. The N-CQDs were probed for metal ion detection in aqueous solutions and during bioimaging and displayed a Cr3+ and Cu2+ selectivity shift at a higher degree of -NH2 functionalization, as well as HEK-293 cell nuclei marking

A novel point mutation in a class IV glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant (G6PD São Paulo) and polymorphic G6PD variants in São Paulo State, Brazil

In this study, we used red cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity to screen for G6PD-deficient individuals in 373 unrelated asymptomatic adult men who were working with insecticides (organophosphorus and carbamate) in dengue prevention programs in 27 cities in São Paulo State, Brazil. Twenty-one unrelated male children suspected of having erythroenzymopathy who were attended at hospitals in São Paulo city were also studied. Fifteen of the 373 adults and 12 of the 21 children were G6PD deficient. G6PD gene mutations were investigated in these G6PD-deficient individuals by using PCR-RFLP, PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. Twelve G6PD A-202A/376G and two G6PD Seattle844C, as well as a new variant identified as G6PD São Paulo, were detected among adults, and 11 G6PD A-202A/376G and one G6PD Seattle844C were found among children. The novel mutation c.660C > G caused the replacement of isoleucine by methionine (I220M) in a region near the dimer interface of the molecule. The conservative nature of this mutation (substitution of a nonpolar aliphatic amino acid for another one) could explain why there was no corresponding change in the loss of G6PD activity (64.5% of normal activity in both cases)

Veno-occlusive disease nurse management: Development of a dynamic monitoring tool by the GITMO nursing group

Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a complication arising from the toxicity of conditioning regimens that have a significant impact on the survival of patients who undergo stem cell transplantation. There are several known risk factors for developing VOD and their assessment before the start of conditioning regimens could improve the quality of care. Equally important are early identification of signs and symptoms ascribable to VOD, rapid diagnosis, and timely adjustment of support therapy and treatment. Nurses have a fundamental role at the stages of assessment and monitoring for signs and symptoms; therefore, they should have documented skills and training. The literature defines nurses' areas of competence in managing VOD, but in the actual clinical practice, this is not so clear. Moreover, there is an intrinsic difficulty in managing VOD due to its rapid and often dramatic evolution, together with a lack of care tools to guide nurses. Through a complex evidence-based process, the Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO), cellule staminali emopoietiche e terapia cellulare nursing board has developed an operational flowchart and a dynamic monitoring tool applicable to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients, whether they develop this complication or not

Observing the Evolution of the Universe

How did the universe evolve? The fine angular scale (l>1000) temperature and polarization anisotropies in the CMB are a Rosetta stone for understanding the evolution of the universe. Through detailed measurements one may address everything from the physics of the birth of the universe to the history of star formation and the process by which galaxies formed. One may in addition track the evolution of the dark energy and discover the net neutrino mass. We are at the dawn of a new era in which hundreds of square degrees of sky can be mapped with arcminute resolution and sensitivities measured in microKelvin. Acquiring these data requires the use of special purpose telescopes such as the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT), located in Chile, and the South Pole Telescope (SPT). These new telescopes are outfitted with a new generation of custom mm-wave kilo-pixel arrays. Additional instruments are in the planning stages.Comment: Science White Paper submitted to the US Astro2010 Decadal Survey. Full list of 177 author available at http://cmbpol.uchicago.ed

Il paesaggio delle aree periurbane tra trasformazione e identità. Il caso di Agrigento

Urbanizzazione incontrollata, localizzazione dispersiva di insediamenti residenziali e produttivi, consumo di suolo legato a nuove forme di tempo libero, progressivo abbandono delle campagne, sono soltanto alcuni dei segni allarmanti di un processo di aggressione del territorio che rischia di stravolgere l’identità del paesaggio agrario siciliano. Tuttavia, riteniamo che sia ancora possibile ritrovare nel territorio stesso i segnali per una inversione di tendenza: le aree periurbane, che si configurano spesso come spazi rurali in stato di abbandono, potrebbero diventare una occasione per ritrovare l’equilibrio perduto tra insediamento urbano e territorio aperto. Nell’obiettivo di verificare questa ipotesi, il paper affronta il caso della città di Agrigento, in cui l’abnorme crescita edilizia spesso abusiva, nonchè l’invadenza delle infrastrutture viarie hanno stravolto l’assetto del paesaggio periurbano. A partire da tali premesse la ricerca si compone dei seguenti punti: - ipotesi di classificazione delle aree periurbane del territorio comunale agrigentino; - analisi delle ricadute del Piano di sviluppo rurale regionale nel territorio in esame e le relazioni con i piani regolativi e con eventuali politiche urbane in atto; - selezione di alcune aree campione all’interno del territorio comunale, su cui approfondire l’analisi delle più recenti dinamiche di trasformazione e aggressione, per ipotizzare possibili scenari di tutela, nonché di sviluppo, a partire da piani e politiche vigenti. Dalla ricerca viene fuori che le aree periurbane, in relazione al rilancio dell’agricoltura come ingrediente irrinunciabile da integrare nei processi di riqualificazione urbana, potrebbero contribuire a recuperare il valore economico, sociale e “identitario” del paesaggio agrario. Tuttavia ciò deve partire da una necessaria integrazione della questione ambientale nell’ambito di piani e politiche di governo del territorio per promuovere azioni coerenti di salvaguardia attiva del paesaggio siciliano