Fairness and Annuitisation Divisors for Notional Defined Contribution Pension Schemes

The use of a gender-neutral annuity divisor introduces an intra-generational redistribution from short-lived towards long-lived individuals; this entails a transfer of wealth from males to females and from low socioeconomic groups to high socioeconomic groups. With some subpopulations consisting of females from low socioeconomic groups (or males from high groups), the net effect of the redistribution is unclear. The study aims to quantify the lifetime income redistribution of a generic NDC system using two types of divisor—the demographic and the economic—to compute the amount of an initial pension. With this in mind, the redistribution (actuarial fairness) among subpopulations is assessed through the ratio between the present value of expected pensions received and contributions paid. We find that all subgroups of women and men with high educational attainment benefit from the use of the unisex demographic divisor. This paper also shows that the value of the economic divisor depends markedly on population composition. When mortality differentials by gender and level of education are considered, economic divisors are mostly driven by the longevity effect corresponding to gender

Non-geometric fluxes and mixed-symmetry potentials

We discuss the relation between generalised fluxes and mixed-symmetry potentials. We first consider the NS fluxes, and point out that the `non-geometric' $R$ flux is dual to a mixed-symmetry potential with a set of nine antisymmetric indices. We then consider the T-duality family of fluxes whose prototype is the Scherk-Schwarz reduction of the S-dual of the RR scalar of IIB supergravity. Using the relation with mixed-symmetry potentials, we are able to give a complete classification of these fluxes, including the ones that are non-geometric. The non-geometric fluxes again turn out to be dual to potentials containing nine antisymmetric indices. Our analysis suggests that all these fluxes can be understood in the context of double field theory, although for the non-geometric ones one expects a violation of the strong constraint.Comment: 19 pages, refs. adde

Soybean Chlorosis Studies on High pH Bottomland Soils

Soybean varieties are different in tolerance to lime-induced chlorosis. Field trials were conducted to evaluate variety performance on soils where chlorosis in soybeans was a known problem. Thirty-six varieties out of 177 were identified as tolerant to soil conditions that cause chlorosis. Eleven varieties of these 36 were found to have the most consistent yield performance on high pH soils. Tolerant varieties must be planted at adequate densities for best performance. A seeding rate of 13.5 seeds per foot of row, the highest seeding rate employed, did not appear to maximize yield on soils where chlorosis was severe. On some soils, chlorosis is so severe that even tolerant varieties planted at adequate densities will not produce seed. Under conditions where soils cause moderate to severe chlorosis in tolerant varieties, yields were improved by the use of a high pH stable chelate (Fe-EDDHA) with the seed

Soybean Chlorosis Studies on High pH Bottomland Soils

Soybean varieties are different in tolerance to lime-induced chlorosis. Field trials were conducted to evaluate variety performance on soils where chlorosis in soybeans was a known problem. Thirty-six varieties out of 177 were identified as tolerant to soil conditions that cause chlorosis. Eleven varieties of these 36 were found to have the most consistent yield performance on high pH soils. Tolerant varieties must be planted at adequate densities for best performance. A seeding rate of 13.5 seeds per foot of row, the highest seeding rate employed, did not appear to maximize yield on soils where chlorosis was severe. On some soils, chlorosis is so severe that even tolerant varieties planted at adequate densities will not produce seed. Under conditions where soils cause moderate to severe chlorosis in tolerant varieties, yields were improved by the use of a high pH stable chelate (Fe-EDDHA) with the seed

¿CÓMO DESCANSA EL PACIENTE ONCOHEMATOLÓGICO EN EL HOSPITAL?

The nursing profession has an image stereotyped by society; the vision of the paradigm of the categorization dominating their training. That is the reason why it is interesting to know what the nurses think about their own discipline through the study of the elements of the nursing methaparadigm while comparing whether or not the specialty of the area modifies our perspective. Objective: To analyze and compare the nurse perspective on the elements of the metaparadigm among surgical nurses and medical nurses. Method: Comparative, observational, cross-sectional study. Using a questionnaire of our own elaboration between April - May, 2006. Results: 40 nurses of the surgical area and 61 of the medical area. Age 38±9 in surgery, 34,5±9 in medicine. Years of work experience: 16±11 and 12±8. Henderson Model guided their training. For the most part, they identify themselves with nursing definitions based on Henderson, health based on Erickson, environment based on Roy and Henderson and person founded on Travelbee.  Conclusions: The nursing areas studied do not modify the perspective on the elements of the methaparadigm.  El descanso nocturno es imprescindible para el bienestar físico y psíquico de toda persona y una inadecuada cobertura de esta necesidad influye negativamente en el paciente y altera su calidad de vida. El insomnio definido como ”una deficiencia persistente en la cantidad del sueño que afecta a la normal actividad y bienestar del individuo” es una queja frecuente entre los pacientes hospitalizados; motivo que justifica la necesidad de una atención especial a este problema.   Nos planteamos como objetivos identificar qué factores afectan en el descanso nocturno y saber si el personal de enfermería  conoce estos factores.   Se trata de un estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en las unidades de hematología y oncología durante el mes de marzo de 2008. Para recoger los datos elaboramos una encuesta para los pacientes y otra para el personal de enfermería.    El 91% de la muestra respondió que se despertaba durante la noche en el hospital y el 40% lo hace más de tres veces. Los factores que más alteran el descanso del paciente son los factores psicológicos (preocupación por la enfermedad, por la familia y el aburrimiento durante la hospitalización).   Como conclusiones destacamos que tanto enfermería como pacientes coinciden en que no se duerme en el hospital. El personal de enfermería demostró tener una buena percepción de las causas principales de insomnio de los pacientes. Ambos han coincidido en cómo los factores psicológicos influyen en el patrón de reposo/sueño.   Por ello sería importante que el personal de enfermería dedicara especial atención al manejo de los factores psicológicos a través de distintas técnicas

Diversity of oat varieties in eliciting the early inflammatory events in celiac disease

Purpose Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy, triggered by dietary gluten. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. Oats are included in the list of gluten-free ingredients by European Regulation, but the safety of oats in CD is still a matter of debate. The present study examined the capability of different oat cultivars of activating the gliadin-induced transglutaminase-2 (TG2)-dependent events in some in vitro models of CD. In addition, we compared this capability with the electrophoresis pattern of peptic\u2013tryptic digests of the proteins of the oat cultivars. Methods K562(S) cells agglutination, transepithelial electrical resistance of T84-cell monolayers, intracellular levels of TG2 and phosphorylated form of protein 42\u201344 in T84 cells were the early gliadin-dependent events studied. Results The results showed that the Nave oat cultivar elicited these events, whereas Irina and Potenza varieties did not. The ability of a cultivar to activate the above-described events was associated with the electrophoretic pattern of oat proteins and their reactivity to anti-gliadin antibodies. Conclusion We found significant differences among oat cultivars in eliciting the TG2-mediated events of CD inflammation. Therefore, the safety of an oat cultivar in CD might be screened in vitro by means of biochemical and biological assays, before starting a clinical trial to definitely assess its safety

Automatic Balancing Mechanisms for Mixed Pension Systems under Different Investment Strategies

State pension systems are usually pay-as-you-go financed, i.e. current contributions cover pension expenditure. However, some countries combine funding and pay-as-you-go (PAYG) elements within the first pillar. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, using nonlinear optimisation based on Godínez-Olivares, Boado-Penas, and Haberman (2016), it seeks to assess the impact of a compulsory funded defined contribution (DC) pension scheme that complements the traditional defined benefit (DB) PAYG on the level of pension benefits. Future expected returns for both the funded part and the buffer fund of the PAYG are simulated through the non-overlapping block bootstrap technique. Second, in the case of a partial financial sustainability, we design different optimal strategies, that involve variables such as the contribution rate, age of retirement and indexation of pensions, to restore the long-term financial equilibrium of the system. We show that the adjustments needed to ensure sustainability for the mixed pension systems are less severe that the pure DB PAYG but the total replacement rate for the former is lower in most of the cases studied. When calculating the return that the individuals would receive, we prove that some cohorts are better off under a mixed pension system

Toll-like receptor signaling adapter proteins govern spread of neuropathic pain and recovery following nerve injury in male mice.

BackgroundSpinal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and signaling intermediaries have been implicated in persistent pain states. We examined the roles of two major TLR signaling pathways and selected TLRs in a mononeuropathic allodynia.MethodsL5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) was performed in wild type (WT, C57BL/6) male and female mice and in male Tlr2-/-Tlr3-/-, Tlr4-/-, Tlr5-/-, Myd88-/-, Triflps2, Myd88/Triflps2, Tnf-/-, and Ifnar1-/- mice. We also examined L5 ligation in Tlr4-/- female mice. We examined tactile allodynia using von Frey hairs. Iba-1 (microglia) and GFAP (astrocytes) were assessed in spinal cords by immunostaining. Tactile thresholds were analyzed by 1- and 2-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test was used.ResultsIn WT male and female mice, SNL lesions resulted in a persistent and robust ipsilateral, tactile allodynia. In males with TLR2, 3, 4, or 5 deficiencies, tactile allodynia was significantly, but incompletely, reversed (approximately 50%) as compared to WT. This effect was not seen in female Tlr4-/- mice. Increases in ipsilateral lumbar Iba-1 and GFAP were seen in mutant and WT mice. Mice deficient in MyD88, or MyD88 and TRIF, showed an approximately 50% reduction in withdrawal thresholds and reduced ipsilateral Iba-1. In contrast, TRIF and interferon receptor null mice developed a profound ipsilateral and contralateral tactile allodynia. In lumbar sections of the spinal cords, we observed a greater increase in Iba-1 immunoreactivity in the TRIF-signaling deficient mice as compared to WT, but no significant increase in GFAP. Removing MyD88 abrogated the contralateral allodynia in the TRIF signaling-deficient mice. Conversely, IFNβ, released downstream to TRIF signaling, administered intrathecally, temporarily reversed the tactile allodynia.ConclusionsThese observations suggest a critical role for the MyD88 pathway in initiating neuropathic pain, but a distinct role for the TRIF pathway and interferon in regulating neuropathic pain phenotypes in male mice

The combined impact of sauerkraut with Leuconostoc mesenteroides to enhance immunomodulatory activity in Escherichia coli-infected mice

This study investigated the combined impact of sauerkraut and Leuconostoc mesenteroides culture on immunomodulatory activity in experimental animal. The in vivo immunomodulatory activity of Escherichia coli-infected Balb-C mice was ascertained in fermented sauerkrauts [test vs. control]. Both sauerkrauts enhanced the adaptive immune response [evidenced by an increase in CD4+ CD8+ IFN-γ, TNFα] and innate immune response [represented by a decrease of CD68-IL-6]. Nev- ertheless, the in vivo immunomodulatory activity of sauerkraut combined with L. mesenteroides was higher than that shown in sauerkraut control solely

Effectiveness of manual therapy compared to usual care by the general practitioner for chronic tension-type headache: design of a randomised clinical trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with Chronic Tension Type Headache (CTTH) report functional and emotional impairments (loss of workdays, sleep disturbances, emotional well-being) and are at risk for overuse of medication. Manual therapy may improve symptoms through mobilisation of the spine, correction of posture, and training of cervical muscles.</p> <p>We present the design of a randomised clinical trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of manual therapy (MT) compared to usual care by the general practitioner (GP) in patients with CTTH.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>Patients are eligible for participation if they present in general practice with CTTH according to the classification of the International Headache Society (IHS).</p> <p>Participants are randomised to either usual GP care according to the national Dutch general practice guidelines for headache, or manual therapy, consisting of mobilisations (high- and low velocity techniques), exercise therapy for the cervical and thoracic spine and postural correction. The primary outcome measures are the number of headache days and use of medication. Secondary outcome measures are severity of headache, functional status, sickness absence, use of other healthcare resources, active cervical range of motion, algometry, endurance of the neckflexor muscles and head posture. Follow-up assessments are conducted after 8 and 26 weeks.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This is a pragmatic trial in which interventions are offered as they are carried out in everyday practice. This increases generalisability of results, but blinding of patients, GPs and therapists is not possible.</p> <p>The results of this trial will contribute to clinical decision making of the GP regarding referral to manual therapy in patients with chronic tension headache.</p