Modelling Private Wealth Accumulation and Spend-down in the Italian Microsimulation Model CAPP_DYN: A Life-Cycle Approach

In microsimulation literature a limited number of models include a module aimed at analyzing and projecting the evolution of privat e wealth over time. However, this issue appears crucial in order to comprehensively evaluate the li kely distributional effects of institutional reforms adopted to cope with population ageing. In this work we describe the implementation in the Italian dynamic micro simulation model CAPP_DYN of a new module in which households\u2019 savings and asset allocation are modelled. In parti cular, we aim to account for possible behavioural responses to pension reforms in househo ld savings. To this end, we rely on an approximate life cycle structural framework for est imating saving behaviour, while adopting a traditional stochastic micro simulation approach fo r asset allocation. In line with Ando and Nicoletti Altimari (2004), we emphasize the role of lifetime economic resources in households\u2019 consumption decisions, yet we further account for i nternal habit formation and subjective expectations on pension outcomes in the econometric stage. In addition, we model intergenerational transfers of private wealth in a probabilistic fashio

The Introduction of a Private Wealth Module in CAPP_DYN: an Overview

Household saving rate in Italy declined over the last two decades.This trend still persists despite three pension reforms have been enacted since the beginning of the nineties. In this paper we search further evidence of general macroeconomic effects through the analysis of households behaviour. In the first part of the paper we use data from five surveys of the Bank of Italy Surveys of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) to estimate the lifetime profiles of saving and wealth accumulation. Estimates show that the age profile of the propensity to save has been influenced more by cohort effects than by general trend effects; whereas the age profile of the ratios of financial assets to disposable income has been subject to relevant trend effects. In the second part of the paper we analyse the effects of pension reforms on saving behaviour of Italian Households. Firstly we use a difference-in-difference estimator in order to test whether the groups more severely hit by the reforms actually increased their saving rate relative to the other groups. Then we estimate the Social Security Net Wealth (SSWN) for each individual in the SHIW in the analysed period (1989-2000). Finally we estimate the substitution coefficient between SSWN and private wealth taking into account that the reaction of saving to a change in SSWN depends also on age of the individual. Our results show that the reduction of SSWN is unequally distributed across individuals. The cut is stronger for self employed, young workers and women. Most of the groups more severely hit by the reforms did not increase their saving rate relative to the control group: younger households, in particular, did not increase the saving rate. On the whole a reduction of one Euro in SSWN seems to induce, on the average, a compensating increase in private wealth by about fifty cents. The substitution coefficient between private and social security wealth is higher for the richest and oldest part of the sample. Finally when we split the sample observations by year we find that the more dramatised is the impact of the reform, the higher is the substitution coefficient.Pension reform; household saving; social security wealth; difference-in-difference

Modelling Private Wealth Accumulation and Spend-down in the Italian Microsimulation Model CAPP_DYN: A Life-Cycle Approach

In microsimulation literature a limited number of models are provided with a module aimed at analyzing and projecting the evolution of private wealth over time. However, this issue appears crucial in order to get a comprehensive evaluation of the likely distributional effects of institutional reforms adopted to cope with population ageing. In this work we describe the implementation in the Italian dynamic micro simulation model CAPP_DYN of a new module in which household’s savings and asset allocation are modelled. In particular, our efforts are addressed at accounting for some possible behavioural responses to pension reforms in household savings. To this end, we rely on an approximate life cycle structural framework for estimating saving behaviour, while adopting the traditional stochastic micro simulation approach for assets allocation. In line with Ando and Nicoletti Altimari (2004), we emphasize the role of lifetime economic resources in households’ consumption decisions, yet we further account for internal habit formation and subjective expectations on pension outcomes in the econometric stage. In addition, we model intergenerational transfers of private wealth in a probabilistic fashion. Despite possible saving responses to pension reforms, simulated results for the period 2008-2050 suggest a rising dispersion in saving propensity and intergenerational transfers received are largely responsible for the predicted increase in disposable income inequality in the next decades which, differently from the recent past, will also affect the group of elderly.household consumption, habit formation, pension expectations, social security, intergenerational transfers, income and wealth distribution, microsimulation

Force Field Parameterization for the Description of the Interactions between Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin and Proteins

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides, widely used as drug carriers, solubilizers, and excipients. Among cyclodextrins, the functionalized derivative known as hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) offers several advantages due to its unique structural features. Its optimal use in pharmaceutical and medical applications would benefit from a molecular-level understanding of its behavior, as can be offered by molecular dynamics simulations. Here, we propose a set of parameters for all-atom simulations of HPβCD, based on the ADD force field for sugars developed in our group, and compare it to the original CHARMM36 description. Using Kirkwood-Buff integrals of binary HPβCD-water mixtures as target experimental data, we show that the ADD-based description results in a considerably improved prediction of HPβCD self-association and interaction with water. We then use the new set of parameters to characterize the behavior of HPβCD toward the different amino acids. We observe pronounced interactions of HPβCD with both polar and nonpolar moieties, with a special preference for the aromatic rings of tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. Interestingly, our simulations further highlight a preferential orientation of HPβCD's hydrophobic cavity toward the backbone atoms of amino acids, which, coupled with a favorable interaction of HPβCD with the peptide backbone, suggest a propensity for HPβCD to denature proteins

Il microcarcinoma papillare della tiroide. Implicazioni cliniche e strategia terapeutica

Gli Autori riportano la propria esperienza sulle implicazioni cli - niche e le strategie terapeutiche del microcarcinoma papillare della tiroide, valutando 412 pazienti sottoposti ad intervento chirurgico per patologia tiroidea. Essi sottolineano l’attuale problematica della diagnosi “incidentale” postoperatoria, la relativa strategia terapeutica adiuvante, il frequente riscontro di una patologia tiroidea benigna associata, fattori che giustificano, oltre le note motivazioni oncologi - che, la scelta della tiroidectomia totale di principio

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity on breast cancer cells of new half-titanocene derivatives

A series of novel titanocene-complexes has been prepared and evaluated for their growth regulatory effects in MCF7 and SkBr3 breast cancer cells. The capability of some of these compound to elicit relevant repressive effects on cancer cell growth could be taken into account towards novel pharmacological approaches in cancer therapy

How to manage the COVID-19 diffusion in the angiography suite. experiences and results of an Italian interventional Radiology Unit

Introduction: The management of the diffusion of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a massive problem for healthcare systems worldwide and Interventional Radiology (IR) is a fundamental hospital unit which must continue to provide its service. The aim of this article is to summarize the preventive measures taken in our IR unit and to report the results of these measures over a 7 weeks period. Material and Methods: Between the 25th of February, when we started to apply the recommended containing measures, and the 6th of April 2020, when all the IR staff started to undergo nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs screening, a total of 25 healthcare operators worked at our IR unit. Operators who, during this period, also worked in other hospital units such as diagnostic emergency department or other healthcare facilities, were excluded. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs screening and blood samples for specific SARS-CoV-2 IgG-IgM were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The overall procedures number decreased by a rate of 33% and twenty-three (16%) were performed in confirmed or strongly suspected COVID-19 patients. Two procedures were performed in non-suspected ones, who revealed positive in the following hospitalization days. Seventeen operators were included in the study. Only one of them resulted positive at the swabs, with an estimated infection rate in our IR unit of 6%. Specific SARS-CoV-2 IgG-IgM resulted negative in all the operators included. Conclusion: Our experience demonstrates that applying adequate measures to limit SARS-CoV-2 infection spread can efficiently reduce the viral transmission among IR healthcare workers

How to Improve the Quality of Life of Patients with Prostate Cancer Treated with Hormone Therapy?

Prostate cancer (PC) is a hormone-sensitive tumor. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone of systemic therapy for patients with intermediate or high-risk localized, recurrent, and metastatic prostate cancer. Although generally well tolerated, ADT can lead to short- and long-term adverse events that can worsen the quality of life of patients with PC. In the last decade, the introduction of novel generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI) has resulted in an improvement in the prognosis of patients with metastatic PC when used in combination with ADT. The use of ARPI in increasingly early stages of the disease determines a longer exposure of patients to these treatments. Although ARPIs are normally well-tolerated drugs, they generally cause an increase in toxicity compared to ADT alone, being able to worsen some adverse events already induced by ADT or leading to the development of specific side effects. Although there are no specific treatments for all the adverse events induced by hormonal therapies, it is essential to know the possible toxicities induced by the different treatments and to start procedures to prevent and/or recognize and consequently treat them early in order to not compromise the quality of life of the patients with PC. The aim of this review is to describe the adverse events induced by hormonal therapies. We will first describe the side effects induced by both ADT and ARPI and then the specific adverse events of the different ARPIs. Furthermore, we will try to highlight the possible therapeutic options to prevent or mitigate the toxicity induced by hormone therapies in order to improve the quality of life of the patients with PC