Bounds analysis of competing risks : a nonparametric evaluation of the effect of unemployment benefits on migration in Germany

"In this paper we derive nonparametric bounds for the cumulative incidence curve within a competing risks model with partly identified interval data. As an advantage over earlier attempts our approach also gives valid results in case of dependent competing risks. We apply our framework to empirically evaluate the effect of unemployment benefits on observed migration of unemployed workers in Germany. Our findings weakly indicate that reducing the entitlement length for unemployment benefits increases migration among high-skilled individuals." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))Arbeitslosenunterstützung, Leistungsanspruch - Dauer, Binnenwanderung, regionale Mobilität, Wanderungsmotivation, Mobilitätsbereitschaft, Arbeitslose, Hochqualifizierte, IAB-Beschäftigtenstichprobe

Bounds Analysis of Competing Risks: A Nonparametric Evaluation of the Effect of Unemployment Benefits on Imigration in Germany

In this paper we derive nonparametric bounds for the cumulative incidence curve within a competing risks model with partly identified interval data. As an advantage over earlier attempts our approach also gives valid results in case of dependent competing risks. We apply our framework to empirically evaluate the effect of unemployment benefits on observed migration of unemployed workers in Germany. Our findings weakly indicate that reducing the entitlement length for unemployment benefits increases migration among high-skilled individuals. --cumulative incidence curve,partially missing data,bounds analysis,difference-in-differences

Bounds analysis of competing risks : a nonparametric evaluation of the effect of unemployment benefits on migration in Germany (Revised version of the FDZ Methodenbericht No. 04/2007)

"This paper suggests an approach for analyzing a dependent competing risks model in presence of partly identified interval data. We apply our nonparametric bounds framework to empirically evaluate the effect of unemployment benefits on the cumulative incidence of local job finding and inter-regional migration of unemployed workers in Germany. Our findings indicate that reducing the entitlement length for unemployment benefits has heterogenous effects depending on the household composition and the wage replacement ratio in absence of unemployment benefits." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))Arbeitslosenunterstützung, Leistungsanspruch - Dauer, Binnenwanderung, regionale Mobilität, Wanderungsmotivation, Mobilitätsbereitschaft, Arbeitslose, Hochqualifizierte, IAB-Beschäftigtenstichprobe

A collection of tools for factory eco-efficiency

co-efficiency is generally defined as doing more with less, aiming to decouple environmental impact from economic and social value creation. This paper presents three tools to guide the implementation of eco-efficiency in factories: (1) definition and patterns of good practices for sustainable manufacturing, (2) a self-assessment tool and maturity grid, and (3) a factory modelling framework

Über die Wirksamkeit von Anti-Phishing-Training

Phishing ist noch immer ein verbreitetes Problem im Internet. Konsequenzen von Phishing können sowohl finanzieller als auch persönlicher Natur sein. Phishingangriffe werden ausgefeilter und sind nicht mehr einfach anhand fehlerhafter Rechtschreibung oder Grammatik zu identifizieren. Somit ist es für Internetnutzer wichtig den Aufbau von URLs zu verstehen um sich gegen Phishingangriffe schutzen zu können. Das von uns entwickelte „NoPhish“ Training basiert auf der Idee Nutzern sowohl die notwendige Awareness als auch die notwendigen Fähigkeiten zur Identifikation von Phishingangriffen zu vermitteln. Wir haben NoPhish mit einer Nutzerstudie empirisch evaluiert und können eine signifikante Verbesserung der Teilnehmer in diesen Bereichen zeigen.&nbsp

Resolution of Key Roles for the Distal Pocket Histidine in Cytochrome c Nitrite Reductases

Cytochrome c nitrite reductases perform a key step in the biogeochemical N-cycle by catalyzing the six-electron reduction of nitrite to ammonium. These multi-heme cytochromes contain a number of His/His ligated c-hemes for electron transfer and a structurally differentiated heme that provides the catalytic center. The catalytic heme has proximal ligation from lysine, or histidine, and an exchangeable distal ligand bound within a pocket that includes a conserved histidine. Here we describe properties of a penta-heme cytochrome c nitrite reductase in which the distal His has been substituted by Asn. The variant is unable to catalyze nitrite reduction despite retaining the ability to reduce a proposed intermediate in that process, namely, hydroxylamine. A combination of electrochemical, structural and spectroscopic studies reveals that the variant enzyme simultaneously binds nitrite and electrons at the catalytic heme. As a consequence the distal His is proposed to play a key role in orienting the nitrite for N-O bond cleavage. The electrochemical experiments also reveal that the distal His facilitates rapid nitrite binding to the catalytic heme of the native enzyme. Finally it is noted that the thermodynamic descriptions of nitrite- and electron-binding to the active site of the variant enzyme are modulated by the prevailing oxidation states of the His/His ligated hemes. This is behavior that is likely to be displayed by other multi-centered redox enzymes such that there are wide implications for considering the determinants of catalytic activity in this important and varied group of oxidoreductases

Potential research participants’ use of information during the consent process : a qualitative pilot study of patients enrolled in a clinical trial

There is increasing evidence that clinical trial participants are uninformed about the trials in which they participate, raising ethical concerns regarding informed consent. The aim of this pilot study was to explore clinical trial participants’ use of consent discussions and information sheets when considering participating in clinical trials research. A qualitative, interview-based pilot study was designed in order to elicit, through dialogue, details of the reasons for participants’ use of, and preferences regarding, different modes of information provision. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with two different groups of patients who were participants in the Reinforcement of Closure of Stoma Site trial. The first group comprised newly-consented trial participants, who had been recruited up to 72 hours before our interview; the second group comprised patients attending a follow-up clinic 12 months after joining the trial. Thirteen participants were recruited in total: three newly-consented patients, and ten follow-up patients. The study found that participants’ use of consent discussions to gain information about clinical trials was varied, and that they only minimally used information sheets after providing initial consent for the trial. Participants demonstrated varying degrees of knowledge about the trial, with some having forgotten that they were still involved in the trial. Participants reported a high level of trust in medical staff as a reason for not seeking more information about the trial. Some participants reported dissatisfaction with the timing of information provision. Some were amenable to novel ways of receiving trial information, such as web-based methods. The pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of a larger study into the provision of information to prospective clinical trial participants. The results suggest that considering alternative ways of providing information and the appropriateness of existing information provision may be acceptable to and useful for potential trial participants

The role of the A C395 IFNGR1 mutation in determining susceptibility to intracellular infection in Malta

Background: The first human mycobacterial susceptibility gene was identified amongst four children on the island of Malta in 1995. All affected children were homozygous for a nonsense mutation at position 395 of the interferon gamma receptor 1 (IFNGR1) gene, and all but one died of overwhelming mycobacterial infection. The population of Malta has high rates of infection with intracellular pathogens; leishmania, brucellosis and tuberculosis are all endemic, while leprosy, which was previously endemic, has only recently been eradicated. We hypothesised that heterozygous carriers of the IFNGR1 gene mutation, while resistant to infection with poorly pathogenic organisms, may have increased susceptibility to infection with more virulent pathogens. Methodology and Result: Screening patients with a past history of intracellular infection and healthy newborns for the presence of the IFNGR1 A->C395 mutation, using sequence specific primer PCR, did not identify any carriers of the mutation. Conclusion: These results suggest that the IFNGR1 mutation is unlikely to be of public health significance on Malta.peer-reviewe