Does funding of pensions stimulate economic growth?

Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press.Debate over superiority of pension funding over pay-as-you-go links notably to the question whether funding improves economic performance sufficiently to generate additional resources to meet the needs of an ageing population. To address this issue, we design a modified Cobb–Douglas production function with pension assets as a shift factor, and investigate the direct link between pension assets and economic growth employing a dataset covering up to 38 countries, using a variety of appropriate econometric methods. We find positive results for both OECD countries and Emerging Market Economies (EMEs), with consistent evidence for a larger effect for EMEs than OECD countries

The St. Thomas More Collection at the Boston College Law Library

Exhibition program from a Fall 2007 exhibit presented in the Daniel R. Coquillette Rare Book Room at the Boston College Law Library. The exhibit featured works by and about St. Thomas More, with publication dates ranging from the 16th to the 20th century

More Accurate Theory for Bose-Einstein Condensation Fraction

In the thermodynamic limit the ratio of system size to thermal de Broglie wavelength tends to infinity and the volume per particle of the system is constant. Our familiar Bose-Einstein statistics is absolutely valid in the thermodynamic limit. For finite thermodynamical system this ratio as well as the number of particles is much greater than 1. However, according to the experimental setup of Bose-Einstein condensation of harmonically trapped Bose gas of alkali atoms this ratio near the condensation temperature($T_c$) typically is $\sim 32$ and at ultralow temperatures well below $T_c$ a large fraction of particles come down to the single particle ground state, and this ratio becomes comparable to 1. We justify the finite size as well as ultralow temperature correction to Bose-Einstein statistics. From this corrected statistics we plot condensation fraction versus temperature graph. This theoretical plot satisfies well with the experimental plot(A. Griesmaier et al..,Phys.Rev.Lett. {\bf{{94}}}{(2005){160401}}).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

SELECTED ISSUES AND FEATURES OF UNDERGRADUATE INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

The Galam Model of Minority Opinion Spreading and the Marriage Gap

In 2002, Serge Galam designed a model of a minority opinion spreading. The effect is expected to lead a conservative minority to prevail if the issue is discussed long enough. Here we analyze the marriage gap, i.e. the difference in voting for Bush and Kerry in 2004 between married and unmarried people. It seems possible to interpret this marriage gap in terms of the Galam model.Comment: 6 page

CSU FIRE 2 cirrus field experiment: Description of field deployment phase

The Colorado State University (CSU) surface observing systems are described. These systems were deployed at the Parsons, Kansas site during the FIRE 2 Cirrus Special Observing Period (SOP) from 13 Nov. - 7 Dec. 1991. The geographical coordinates of the site containing most of the CSU instrumentation are 37 deg. 18 min N. latitude and 96 deg. 30 min. W. longitude; site elevation was 269 meters. In addition, one surface meteorological and broadband flux observing site was maintained at the Tri City Airport which is approximately 18 miles due west of Parsons (37 deg. 20 min. N. latitude, 95 deg. 30 min. 30 sec. W. longitude). A map of the locations of the CSU deployment sites is presented. At the main Parsons site, the instrumentation was located directly adjacent to and north of a lake. Under most cirrus observing conditions, when the wing had a significant southernly component, the lake was upwind of the observing site. The measurements and observations collected during the experiment are listed. These measurements may be grouped into five categories: surface meteorology; infrared spectral and broadband measurements; solar spectral and broadband measurements; upper air measurements; and cloud measurements. A summary of observations collected at the Parsons site during the SOP are presented. The wind profiler, laser ceilometer, surface meteorology and surface broadband radiation instrumentation were operated on a continuous basis. All other systems were operated on an 'on demand' basis when cloud conditions merited the collection of data

Cognitive and Biochemical Processes in Depressed Adult Outpatients: a Test of the Circular Process Model

The circular process model is a psychobiological model of depression, in which it is postulated that catecholamines and negative cognitions interact to influence depression. Since its publication, there have been no empirical tests to support or refute the model. This study tested the model in 92 depressed adult outpatients with non-bipolar non-psychotic depression. There were no significant bivariate correlations among the biochemical and cognitive measures. However, the interactive model was supported by results of two out of three hierarchical regression analyses, in which the biochemical-by-cognitive interactive terms significantly predicted depression after the main effects of each variable were accounted for. These findings show sufficient evidence in support of the Circular Process Model to warrant further testing over the treatment period

The Data Imaginary: Fears and Fantasies

The Data Imaginary: Fears and Fantasies brings together eminent and emerging artists and designers to show how creative applications of data technology are crucial for a vital, inclusive and sustainable future. The exhibition includes artworks and designs that engage audiences in critical, playful and agentic reflections on data and creative technologies. Through the exhibition, workshops, podcast and publication, the audience will be empowered to respond to climate change patterns and future city design, interact with empathy from remote locations, learn about Indigenous cultural knowledges and reflect on everyday habits that secure data privacy. Dedicated url: http://thedataimaginary.com

Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Review and the Role of Biogeography

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is typically a diagnosis of exclusion, assigned by clinicians after ruling out other identifiable etiologies. Since a report by Gasbarrini et al. in 1998, an accumulating body of evidence has proposed a pathophysiological link between ITP and chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Clinical reports have described a spontaneous resolution of ITP symptoms in about 50% of chronic ITP patients following empirical treatment of H. pylori infection, but response appears to be geography dependent. Studies have also documented that ITP patients in East Asian countries are more likely to express positive antibody titers against H. pylori-specific cytotoxic-associated gene A (CagA), a virulence factor that is associated with an increased risk for gastric diseases including carcinoma. While a definitive mechanism by which H. pylori may induce thrombocytopenia remains elusive, proposed pathways include molecular mimicry of CagA by host autoantibodies against platelet surface glycoproteins, as well as perturbations in the phagocytic activity of monocytes. Traditional treatments of ITP have been largely empirical, involving the use of immunosuppressive agents and immunoglobulin therapy. However, based on the findings of clinical reports emerging over the past 20 years, health organizations around the world increasingly suggest the detection and eradication of H. pylori as a treatment for ITP. Elucidating the exact molecular mechanisms of platelet activation in H. pylori-positive ITP patients, while considering biogeographical differences in response rates, could offer insight into how best to use clinical H. pylori eradication to treat ITP, but will require well-designed studies to confirm the suggested causative relationship between bacterial infection and an autoimmune disease state.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (T320D010978-26)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (P01CA028842-23)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (P30ES002109