The Future of Retirement and the Pension System: How the Public’s Expectations Vary over Time and across Socio-Economic Groups

We analyze expectations of the Dutch population of ages 25 and older concerning the future generosity state and occupational pensions, the two main pillars of the Dutch pension system. Since the summer of 2006, monthly survey data were collected on the expectations of Dutch households concerning purchasing power of occupational pensions, eligibility and purchasing power of old age social security benefits, and the average retirement age ten or twenty years from now. We investigate how these expectations have changed over time and how they vary with socio-economic characteristics. Exploiting the fact that we have data until September 2010, we also analyze the effect of the recent financial and economic crisis. We find significant differences in expectations of different socio-economic groups, mainly suggesting that groups who are probably better informed were also more pessimistic.subjective probabilities;old age social security;occupational pensions

Essays on subjective expectations and stated preferences

This dissertation's unifying theme is the study of subjective data, with particular emphasis on subjective expectations. Eliciting expectations of survey respondents has become a frequent practice in economics over the last decade. This thesis presents studies of such data, analyzing expectations of future income, behavior of participants in an economic experiment, reform of the Dutch pension system, and perceived survival probabilities at older ages. Some chapters focus on the study of expectations per se, analyzing, for instance, who are the individuals reporting higher probabilities that a given outcome will realize, or discussing the rationality of these expectations. Several chapters discuss important econometric issues in the analysis of subjective expectations, proposing ways to estimate models including this information or discussing the importance of heterogeneity in expectations to identify key preference parameters in an economic model. The last chapter discusses an approach to estimate a life-cycle model without having to elicit detailed expectations by relying on stated preferences, another type of subjective data.

Essays on subjective expectations and stated preferences.

This dissertation's unifying theme is the study of subjective data, with particular emphasis on subjective expectations. Eliciting expectations of survey respondents has become a frequent practice in economics over the last decade. This thesis presents studies of such data, analyzing expectations of future income, behavior of participants in an economic experiment, reform of the Dutch pension system, and perceived survival probabilities at older ages. Some chapters focus on the study of expectations per se, analyzing, for instance, who are the individuals reporting higher probabilities that a given outcome will realize, or discussing the rationality of these expectations. Several chapters discuss important econometric issues in the analysis of subjective expectations, proposing ways to estimate models including this information or discussing the importance of heterogeneity in expectations to identify key preference parameters in an economic model. The last chapter discusses an approach to estimate a life-cycle model without having to elicit detailed expectations by relying on stated preferences, another type of subjective data.

Letter from Camille L. Bissonnette to Charlotte Michaud

Handwritten letter from Camille L. Bissonnette to Charlotte Michaud. Also included: Envelope front and envelope back.https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/michaud-1970-1973/1004/thumbnail.jp

34587 Efficacy of ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis by anatomic region: Pooled analysis from two randomized phase 3 studies

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly pruritic inflammatory skin disease. Two phase 3 studies (TRuE-AD1/TRuE-AD2) enrolled patients aged ≥12 years with AD for ≥2 years, an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 2/3, and 3%–20% affected body surface area. Patients (total N = 1249; median age, 32 years) were randomized (2:2:1) to twice-daily 0.75% ruxolitinib (Janus kinase [JAK] 1/JAK2 inhibitor) cream, 1.5% ruxolitinib cream, or vehicle cream for 8 weeks of double-blind treatment, and thereafter continued in a long-term, 44-week period of the studies. In this pooled analysis, mean percentage change from baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) anatomic region subscores is reported up to Week 8 (n = 1208). For the head and neck region, patients applying 0.75%/1.5% ruxolitinib cream (vs vehicle) achieved mean improvements of 59.3%/55.8% (vs 13.4%), 70.4%/71.3% (vs 22.4%), and 70.0%/78.7% (vs 45.0%) at Weeks 2, 4, and 8, respectively (all P \u3c.0001). Results were similar for the upper limbs region (48.5%/54.7% [vs 13.3%], 66.6%/70.3% [vs 25.0%], and 73.5%/74.9% [vs 35.1%] all P \u3c.0001). For the trunk region, patients achieved mean improvements of 49.8%/60.0% (vs 12.1%), 67.3%/73.8% (vs 15.0%), and 72.7%/81.0% (vs 15.6%) at Weeks 2, 4, and 8, respectively (all P \u3c.0001). Similar results were observed for the lower limbs region (46.0%/48.2% [vs 16.3%], 65.9%/66.2% [vs 13.9%], and 76.3%/74.9% [vs 39.8%]; all P \u3c.0001). Ruxolitinib cream was well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to vehicle. In summary, ruxolitinib cream demonstrated significant improvements vs vehicle in patients with AD across anatomic regions as early as Week 2

Ergot of cereals and grasses

1 online resource (PDF, 2 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Chemical control of cereal leaf diseases

1 online resource (PDF, 2 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

Verticillium Wilt of Potatoes

AG-FS-1160 Revised 198

Verticillium wilt of potatoes

1 online resource (PDF, 2 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu

IL-4Rα Blockade by Dupilumab Decreases Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Increases Microbial Diversity in Atopic Dermatitis.

Dupilumab is a fully human antibody to interleukin-4 receptor α that improves the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). To determine the effects of dupilumab on Staphylococcus aureus colonization and microbial diversity on the skin, bacterial DNA was analyzed from swabs collected from lesional and nonlesional skin in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 54 patients with moderate to severe AD randomized (1:1) and treated with either dupilumab (200 mg weekly) or placebo for 16 weeks. Microbial diversity and relative abundance of Staphylococcus were assessed by DNA sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA, and absolute S. aureus abundance was measured by quantitative PCR. Before treatment, lesional skin had lower microbial diversity and higher overall abundance of S. aureus than nonlesional skin. During dupilumab treatment, microbial diversity increased and the abundance of S. aureus decreased. Pronounced changes were seen in nonlesional and lesional skin. Decreased S. aureus abundance during dupilumab treatment correlated with clinical improvement of AD and biomarkers of type 2 immunity. We conclude that clinical improvement of AD that is mediated by interleukin-4 receptor α inhibition and the subsequent suppression of type 2 inflammation is correlated with increased microbial diversity and reduced abundance of S. aureus