Cross-border Insurance in Europe

At the start of Solvency II in January 2016, there is no overview of the insurance market in Europe. This paper develops a methodology to link various data sets on foreign branches and subsidiaries. The result is a new and comprehensive data set of cross-border insurance in Europe. We find that cross-border business in insurance is higher than in banking. We also find that the share of cross-border insurance has increased over the last decade, notwithstanding the global financial crisis. EIOPA, the European supervisory authority, plays a coordinating role among the national supervisors in the approval of internal models under Solvency II. Game theory suggests that there are limits to the coordination model. The increasing share of cross-border insurance, documented in this paper, may tilt the supervisory balance from coordination towards centralisation in an Insurance Union

Disruption of the \u3ci\u3eprotein kinase N\u3c/i\u3e gene of \u3ci\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/i\u3e Results in the Recessive \u3ci\u3edelorean\u3c/i\u3e Allele (\u3ci\u3epkn\u3csup\u3edln\u3c/sup\u3e\u3c/i\u3e) With a Negative Impact on Wing Morphogenesis

We describe the delorean mutation of the Drosophila melanogaster protein kinase N gene (pkndln) with defects in wing morphology. Flies homozygous for the recessive pkndln allele have a composite wing phenotype that exhibits changes in relative position and shape of the wing blade as well as loss of specific vein and bristle structures. The pkndln allele is the result of a P-element insertion in the first intron of the pkn locus, and the delorean wing phenotype is contingent upon the interaction of insertion-bearing alleles in trans. The presence of the insertion results in production of a novel transcript that initiates from within the 3\u27 end of the P-element. The delorean-specific transcript is predicted to produce a wild-type PKN protein. The delorean phenotype is not the result of a reduction in pkn expression, as it could not be recreated using a variety of wing-specific drivers of pkn-RNAi expression. Rather, it is the presence of the delorean-specific transcript that correlates with the mutant phenotype. We consider the delorean wing phenotype to be due to a pairing-dependent, recessive mutation that behaves as a dosage-sensitive, gain of function. Our analysis of genetic interactions with basket and nemo reflects an involvement of pkn and Jun-terminal kinase signaling in common processes during wing differentiation and places PKN as a potential effector of Rho1’s involvement in the Jun-terminal kinase pathway. The delorean phenotype, with its associated defects in wing morphology, provides evidence of a role for PKN in adult morphogenetic processes

The determinants and impact of foreign direct investment in Central and Eastern Europe: A comparison of survey and econometric evidence

This note considers evidence that has been collected on the determinants and effects of foreign direct investment in Central and Eastern Europe, with a strong focus on Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. There are two main sources from which information is drawn: survey studies and econometric studies. We consider how each of these sources can contribute to research, whether they provide complementary or contradictory information, and how the information can be best exploited. We conclude that the findings of econometric studies tend to support survey results. This suggests that market size and growth potential have been the driving forces behind foreign direct investment, with factor-cost advantages playing a lesser, but still significant role. Macroeconomic and political stability were also taken into account. Investment incentives have not had a decisive influence on foreign direct investment inflows; however, the privatization process has affected the timing of foreign direct investment. Access to markets has been the primary motive for foreign direct investment; however, the absence of trade barriers and membership in free trade areas have been important for export-oriented investments. Foreign direct investment inflows have improved the overall growth potential of the economies under consideration, primarily through productivity improvements within foreign affiliates, rather than through linkages with domestic firms or spillovers

Atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscopy images of Au(111) surfaces in air and polar organic solvents

Atomic features of a close‐packed metal surface have been observed for the first time by scanning tunneling microscopy in organic polar solvents. Evaporated gold films, exhibiting large reconstructed (111) terraces, have been imaged with a resolution far superior to previous results in aqueous environments

Effectiveness of counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions for people with dementia and their families: a systematic review

As there is currently no cure for dementia, providing psycho-social support is imperative. Counselling and psychotherapeutic interventions offer a way to provide individualised support for people with dementia and their families. However, to date, there has not been a systematic review examining the research evidence for these interventions. This review aimed to examine the following research questions: (1) Are counselling/psychotherapeutic interventions effective for people with dementia?, (2) Are counselling/psychotherapeutic interventions effective for care-givers of people with dementia? and (3) Which modes of delivery are most effective for people with dementia and care-givers of people with dementia? A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), PsycINFO and CINAHL in March 2019. Keyword searches were employed with the terms ‘dement*’, ‘counsel*’, ‘psychotherapy’, ‘therap*’, ‘care’ and ‘outcome’, for the years 2000–2019. Thirty-one papers were included in the review, from seven countries. Twenty studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or adopted a quasi-experimental design. The remaining studies were qualitative or single-group repeated-measures design. The review identified variation in the counselling/psychotherapeutic approaches and mode of delivery. Most interventions adopted either a problem-solving or cognitive behavioural therapy approach. Mixed effectiveness was found on various outcomes. The importance of customised modifications for people with dementia was highlighted consistently. Understanding the dyadic relationships between people with dementia and their care-givers is essential to offering effective interventions and guidance for practitioners is needed. Information about the cognitive impairment experienced by participants with dementia was poorly reported and is essential in the development of this research area. Future studies should consider the impact of cognitive impairment in developing guidance for counselling/psychotherapeutic intervention delivery for people with dementia

Integrating the emotional intelligence construct: the relationship between emotional ability and emotional competence

This paper posits that the concept of emotional intelligence (EI) has not advanced as quickly and adroitly as it could have because of a lack of validity studies that combine the two most prevalent models, emotionality ability (EA) and emotional competency (EC). Although prior EI validations studies exist, none have examined the relationship between the primary EA and EC measurement tools – the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test and the Emotional Competency Inventory – University Edition, respectively – at the sub-trait levels with a population of undergraduate and MBA students. Findings indicate that there is no direct relationship between the total item scores and limited relationships among sub-trait scores. The paper concludes by issuing a call for research that conceives of EI as both an ability and a constellation of behaviors, and measures EI with a combination of knowledge, reasoning, self-report, and other-report, to provide a more holistic and encompassing examination that would foundationally contribute to unlocking the construct’s potential

Cost-Efficient Storage of Cryogens

NASA's cryogenic infrastructure that supports launch vehicle operations and propulsion testing is reaching an age where major refurbishment will soon be required. Key elements of this infrastructure are the large double-walled cryogenic storage tanks used for both space vehicle launch operations and rocket propulsion testing at the various NASA field centers. Perlite powder has historically been the insulation material of choice for these large storage tank applications. New bulk-fill insulation materials, including glass bubbles and aerogel beads, have been shown to provide improved thermal and mechanical performance. A research testing program was conducted to investigate the thermal performance benefits as well as to identify operational considerations and associated risks associated with the application of these new materials in large cryogenic storage tanks. The program was divided into three main areas: material testing (thermal conductivity and physical characterization), tank demonstration testing (liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen), and system studies (thermal modeling, economic analysis, and insulation changeout). The results of this research work show that more energy-efficient insulation solutions are possible for large-scale cryogenic storage tanks worldwide and summarize the operational requirements that should be considered for these applications

The small RNA ncS35 regulates growth in Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315

Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 is a member of the B. cepacia complex. It has a large genome with three replicons and one plasmid; 7,261 genes code for annotated proteins, while 113 code for functional RNAs. Small regulatory RNAs of B. cenocepacia have not yet been functionally characterized. We investigated a small regulatory RNA, designated ncS35, that was discovered by differential RNA sequencing. Its expression under various conditions was quantified, and a deletion mutant, Delta ncS35, was constructed. Compared to planktonic growth in a rich medium, the expression of ncS35 was elevated when B. cenocepacia 12315 was grown in biofilms and in minimal medium. Cells of the deletion mutant showed increased aggregation, higher metabolic activity, a higher growth rate, and an increased susceptibility to tobramycin. A transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of the phenylacetic acid and tryptophan degradation pathways in Delta ncS35. Computational target prediction indicated that ncS35 likely interacts with the first gene of the tryptophan degradation pathway. Overall, we demonstrated that small RNA ncS35 is a noncoding RNA with an attenuating effect on the metabolic rate and growth. It is possible that slower growth protects B. cenocepacia J2315 against stressors acting on fast-dividing cells and enhances survival under unfavorable conditions. IMPORTANCE Small RNAs play an important role in the survival of bacteria in diverse environments. We explored the physiological role of ncS35, a small RNA expressed in B. cenocepacia J2315, an opportunistic pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients. In cystic fibrosis patients, infections can lead to "cepacia syndrome," a rapidly progressing and often fatal pneumonia. Infections with Burkholderia spp. are difficult to threat with antibiotics because of their high intrinsic resistance and ability to form biofilms. We show that ncS35 attenuates the growth and reduces the metabolic rate of B. cenocepacia and influences biofilm structure. This demonstrates that as-yet-uncharacterized small RNAs with regulatory function can influence physiological traits of B. cenocepacia that are relevant for infection

Selected papers from the international conference on reconfigurable computing and FPGAs (ReConFig'10)

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