Educational Attainment and Risk Preference

We explore the relationship between risk preference and educational attainment for a sample of adults drawn from the 1996 U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Using a sequence of questions from the 1996 PSID, we construct measures of an individual´s risk aversion and risk tolerance allowing us to explore the implications of interpersonal differences in risk preference for educational attainment. Our empirical findings suggest that an individual´s degree of risk aversion (tolerance) is inversely (positively) associated with their educational attainment. In addition, using the 1997 and 2002 Child Development Supplements of the PSID, we explore the relationship between the risk preference of parents and the academic achievements of their children. Our findings suggest that a parent´s degree of risk aversion (tolerance) is negatively (positively) related to the academic achievements of their children

Educational loans and attitudes towards risk

We explore the relationship between willingness to take financial risk and the probability of taking out a loan for educational purposes as well as the influence of risk attitudes on the size of the loan using data drawn from the U.S. Survey of Consumer Finances. The findings suggest a positive relationship between individuals’ willingness to take financial risk and the probability of taking out a loan for educational purposes. Similarly, individuals’ willingness to take financial risk appears to be an important determinant of the size of the educational loan. The findings suggest that non-white individuals and individuals from less wealthy backgrounds are less likely to finance education through loans which could potentially increase inequalities in education and income if such individuals are deterred from investing in human capital

Educational loans and attitudes towards risk

We explore the relationship between willingness to take financial risk and the probability of taking out a loan for educational purposes as well as the influence of risk attitudes on the size of the loan using data drawn from the U.S. Survey of Consumer Finances. The findings suggest a positive relationship between individuals’ willingness to take financial risk and the probability of taking out a loan for educational purposes. Similarly, individuals’ willingness to take financial risk appears to be an important determinant of the size of the educational loan. The findings suggest that non-white individuals and individuals from less wealthy backgrounds are less likely to finance education through loans which could potentially increase inequalities in education and income if such individuals are deterred from investing in human capital.Educational loan, Risk aversion

Self-Employment and Risk Preference

We explore the relationship between self-employment and attitudes towards financial risk using individual level data drawn from the U.S. Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Both surveys include questions, which enable us to construct measures of an individual´s willingness to take risk allowing us to explore the implications of interpersonal differences in risk preference for the probability and success of self-employment. Our empirical findings suggest that willingness to take financial risk is positively associated with both the incidence and success of self-employment. We find that this relationship is particularly pronounced in cases where the individual actually started the business. Finally, we exploit the panel aspect of the PSID and find evidence consistent with a causal relationship between attitudes towards risk and self-employment with attitudes towards risk measured over 1969-1972 (i.e. prior to becoming self-employed) having a statistically significant positive influence on the probability of self-employment in 1996

Self-Employment and Risk Preference.

Business Performance; Risk Preference; Self-Employment

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of levansucrase (LsdA) from Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus SRT4

The endophytic bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus SRT4 secretes a constitutively expressed levansucrase (LsdA; EC 2.4.1.10), which converts sucrose to fructo-oligosaccharides and levan. Fully active LsdA was purified to high homogeneity by non-denaturing reversed-phase HPLC and was crystallized at room temperature by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using ammonium sulfate and ethanol as precipitants. The crystals are extremely sensitive, but native data have been collected to 2.5 A under cryogenic conditions using synchrotron radiation. LsdA crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P22(1)2(1) or P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 53.80, b = 119.39, c = 215.10 A

Computational modelling of COVID-19: A study of compliance and superspreaders

Background: The success of social distancing implementations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) depends heavily on population compliance. Mathematical modelling has been used extensively to assess the rate of viral transmission from behavioural responses. Previous epidemics of SARS-Cov-2 have been characterised by superspreaders, a small number of individuals who transmit a disease to a large group of individuals, who contribute to the stochasticity (or randomness) of transmission compared to other pathogens such as Influenza. This growing evidence proves an urgent matter to understand transmission routes in order to target and combat outbreaks. / Objective: To investigate the role of superspreaders in the rate of viral transmission with various levels of compliance. / Method: A SEIRS inspired social network model is adapted and calibrated to observe the infected links of a general population with and without superspreaders on four compliance levels. Local and global connection parameters are adjusted to simulate close contact networks and travel restrictions respectively and each performance assessed. The mean and standard deviation of infections with superspreaders and non-superspreaders were calculated for each compliance level. / Results: Increased levels of compliance of superspreaders proves a significant reduction in infections. Assuming long-lasting immunity, superspreaders could potentially slow down the spread due to their high connectivity. / Discussion: The main advantage of applying the network model is to capture the heterogeneity and locality of social networks, including the role of superspreaders in epidemic dynamics. The main challenge is the immediate attention on social settings with targeted interventions to tackle superspreaders in future empirical work. / Conclusion: Superspreaders play a central role in slowing down infection spread following compliance guidelines. It is crucial to adjust social distancing measures to prevent future outbreaks accompanied by population-wide testing and effective tracing

Soft palate preservation after tumor resection with transoral laser microsurgery

Background: Management and preservation of the soft palate is dependent on clinical stage and tumor histology. However, available literature is scarce regarding the palate preservation with the use of laser CO 2 . Objectives : We report the results obtained after management with laser surgery and soft palate preservation in three patients with salivary gland neoplasms. Method: Three patients with minor salivary gland tumors were treated by means of transoral laser microsurgery. All tumors were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. All tumors were >3 cm. Soft palate function was preserved and reconstruction was performed with primary closure. Patients began oral feeding the same day and were discharged after 24 h. Conclusions : Transoral laser microsurgery is recommended for treatment of soft palate tumors. This treatment can be considered a better option when compared with other modalities such as radio- or chemoradiotherapy which require a longer time of treatment, are more expensive and tend to produce significant toxicity

Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence: A Proposed Framework to Incorporate Data Privacy, Information Security, E-Discovery, and Information Governance into Due Diligence Practices

Merger and Acquisition or “M&A” deals are both figuratively and literally big business, where the stakes for the organization are often the highest. While casual observers might expect that the importance attached to these deals makes each new deal the vanguard for incorporating metrics and practices regarding every efficiency and contingency, existing research demonstrates that this is decidedly not the case

Control of Frey?s syndrome in patients treated with botulinum toxin type A

Aim: To identify the severity of Frey?s syndrome and its response to botulinum toxin type A. Methods: Minor test was performed in all cases to assess the extent of the affected area, using the contralateral side as control. Severity was assessed according to the proposal of Luna-Ortiz et al. Response was evaluated after 3 and 6 months, and was compared with the basal data. Results: Frey?s syndrome was documented in 38 patients, but only 23 cases accepted the botulinum toxin type A treatment. Severity was moderate in 8 (35%) and severe in 15 (65%) cases. Mean applied dose was 1.41 MU/cm2 in 21 patients (91%), whereas one patient was treated with 10 MU for a 0.8 cm2 affected area (12.5 MU/cm2 ) and another patient with 10 MU for a 0.5 cm2 affected area (20 MU/cm2 ) due to severity of their symptomatology. Average affected area at the beginning was 14.2 cm2 , while after 3 and 6 months of treatment it was 4.1 cm2 and 4.4 cm2 respectively (p0.05). In conclusion, botulinum toxin A remains as the treatment of choice for Frey?s syndrome