bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pensiones de contribución teórica definida con fondos de reserva públicos en las economías en proceso de envejecimiento: una aplicación para el Japón
Authors: Lu Bei , Mitchell Olivia S. , Piggott John 
Published: November 2008

ResumenVarios países desarrollados y en desarrollo han adoptado recientemente un enfoque de contribuciones teóricas definidas (CTD) en sus reformas de las pensiones de jubilación. El sistema CTD es, básicamente, un sistema de jubilación no prefinanciado de cotizaciones definidas que asigna una «tasa de rentabilidad» a las cotizaciones asociada al crecimiento salarial global, mientras que el sistema contable gestiona los aumentos de la cuenta individual. Los pagos se computan en función de la mortalidad prevista de cada cohorte que alcanza la jubilación. Los programas de CTD pueden ser identificados como planes de reparto debidamente calibrados en equilibrio demográfico, pero los dos paradigmas divergen cuando se introduce el cambio demográfico. Este documento investiga las principales implicaciones actuariales y económicas de las disposiciones alternativas del sistema CTD, prestando especial atención al Japón, que es la economía que presenta el envejecimiento más rápido del mundo. Examinamos el posible papel que pueden desempeñar las reservas de los fondos de pensiones en el período de transición a un régimen CTD y mostramos la manera en que pueden ser utilizadas para amortiguar el impacto de la transición demográfica en una sociedad de edad avanzada. Por último, demostramos que países como el Japón pueden utilizar las reservas de fondos de pensiones acumuladas en el pasado para facilitar la transición al sistema CTD.
¿(A)típico e (in)seguro? La seguridad social del trabajo «no normalizado» en Europa
Authors: Buschoff Karin Schulze , Protsch Paula 
Published: November 2008

ResumenLas relaciones laborales atípicas (trabajo a tiempo parcial, infraempleo, contratos de duración determinada y trabajo autónomo) han adquirido importancia durante los últimos años en muchos países europeos. Frecuentemente forman parte de trayectorias laborales cambiantes y entrañan un elevado riesgo de desempleo. En una comparación de seis países (Alemania, Dinamarca, Italia, Países Bajos, Polonia y Reino Unido) investigamos si las normas sociales nacionales contemplan las distintas formas de empleo atípico y de qué manera, así como si tienen en cuenta los riesgos específicos asociados a dichas formas de empleo atípico. Se han constatado importantes variaciones en los seguros regulados y en las prácticas entre países así como una variabilidad considerable dentro de los países en sus reacciones a los diferentes tipos de empleos atípicos. Es necesario una coordinación mejor y mas extensa tanto de la legislación social como de la fiscal.
Prestaciones de invalidez y trabajadores con VIH/SIDA: asuntos relativos a la cobertura y desafíos en la República Unida de Tanzania
Authors: Ackson Tulia 
Published: November 2008

ResumenEl presente documento se propone explorar la no disponibilidad concreta de prestaciones de discapacidad/invalidez para los trabajadores formales con VIH/SIDA en la República Unida de Tanzania. La dificultad legal para establecer un vínculo directo entre el VIH/SIDA y los accidentes del trabajo y las enfermedades profesionales representa un reto para las instituciones y los regímenes de seguridad social que simultáneamente tratan de enfrentarse a los crecientes problemas de la contracción del sector formal y de la baja cobertura. Se proponen respuestas de políticas de recuperación. Éstas identifican los ajustes obligatorios y legales necesarios tanto para garantizar la convergencia de los criterios de elegibilidad respecto de la solicitud de prestaciones de invalidez entre las instituciones interesadas, como para garantizar que las condiciones de calificación sean coherentes y estén en consonancia con los enfoques contemporáneos relativos a la invalidez. Los ajustes sugeridos simplificarían y aclararían los criterios de elegibilidad en los casos de invalidez que implican a los afiliados del régimen vigente, permitiendo también potencialmente una futura extensión de la cobertura de las prestaciones a efectos de reflejar mejor las realidades del mercado laboral.
Entre el mercado de trabajo y las pensiones de jubilación — la transición flexible ¿es un nuevo paradigma para las sociedades en proceso de envejecimiento?
Authors: Bredt Stephan 
Published: November 2008

ResumenEl alza de la edad de la jubilación debido al aumento de la esperanza de vida hace frente a una importante resistencia política. Por razones de salud y motivos inherentes al mercado laboral siempre existirán casos de personas que nunca serán elegibles para obtener una pensión completa únicamente como consecuencia del empleo. Incluso en el caso de que no se restrinjan las opciones de la jubilación anticipada, la posibilidad de acumular ingresos para financiar una pensión anticipada está sujeta a una definición frecuentemente restrictiva. Por consiguiente, es imposible que quienes se jubilan anticipadamente puedan compensar las reducciones de las pensiones que perciben. Por oposición a la tendencia general de aumentar la edad de la jubilación, actualmente se está discutiendo en círculos de política social de Alemania una propuesta de reforma alternativa. Dicha propuesta implica la libre elección de la edad de jubilación a partir de los 60 años; una acumulación ilimitada de derechos complementarios de pensiones durante la vida activa; deducciones actuariales por jubilación anticipada; y la consideración de la esperanza de vida cuando se efectúen ajustes en las pensiones concedidas. Esta solución disminuye la presión financiera del sistema público de pensiones, aumenta el atractivo de los ciudadanos de edad avanzada en el mercado laboral, ofrece la oportunidad de que las personas determinen ellas mismas la transición del trabajo a la jubilación y reduce la resistencia política a la reforma de las pensiones. Queda por comprobar el impacto que tendrá en el mercado de trabajo de los ciudadanos de edad avanzada.
Determination of the More Adequate Modified Agglutination Test Cut‐off for Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Sheep
Authors: Sousa S. , Thompson G. , Silva E. , Freire L. , Lopes D. , Correia da Costa J. M. , Castro A. , Carvalheira J. , Canada N. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryToxoplasmosis is one of the most common food borne disease world‐wide. Among food animals, sheep seems to having higher prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. However, there is no consensus about the best cut‐off for serodiagnosis in sheep. To estimate the more adequate cut‐off value of Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) for serodiagnosis in sheep, a commercial ELISA kit was used as a golden standard. Evaluation of the optimal sensitivity and specificity was calculated using Youden’s J‐statistics. Values obtained were used to estimate the prevalence of sheep toxoplasmosis. One thousand four hundred and sixty seven blood samples were collected randomly from 160 farms from northern Portugal, representing approximately 10% of the ovine population from the region. All sera were tested for anti‐T. gondii antibodies using the MAT. One hundred nine sheep (7.4%) presented a MAT titer ≥1 : 80; 45 (3.0%) a MAT titer of 1 : 40; 97 (6.6%) a MAT titer of 1 : 20 and 1216 (83.0%) a MAT titer ≤1 : 20. The best Youden’s J‐statistic was obtained at 1 : 20 titer (0.752), with 86.15% of sensitivity and 89.09% of specificity with negative and positive predictive values of 90.32% and 84.48% respectively, suggesting that the 1 : 20 was the most appropriate cut‐off for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in sheep. Assuming this cut‐off, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the studied population was 17.1% and 92 (57.5%) of the 160 studied flocks having one or more positive sheep. Those results indicate that toxoplasmosis in Portugal should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abortions in sheep and neurological signs in lambs. Furthermore, while Portugal produces ovine meat for internal consumption and for exportation, isolation of T. gondii from ovine meat and further characterization of the isolates will be needed to understand the risk that ovine toxoplasmosis may represent for human health.
Investigation of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in a Public Water‐Treatment System
Authors: Nishi L. , Baesso M. L. , Santana R. G. , Fregadolli P. , Falavigna D. L. M. , Falavigna‐Guilherme A. L. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryThe objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in a public water‐treatment system and to relate the results to physical, chemical, bacteriological and climate parameters. From March to September 2006, 30 samples, 15 of raw water and 15 of treated water, were examined by membrane filtration and direct immunofluorescence (Merifluor). For each sample, a volume of 1000 l was collected. Of the raw‐water samples, 26.6% were positive for Cryptosporidium (mean concentration of 0.15 oocysts/l), and 6.66% were positive for Giardia (concentration of 0.2 cysts/l); 13.33% of the samples were positive for both (mean concentrations of 0.06 oocysts/l and 0.026 cysts/l respectively). All the samples of treated water were negative. There was no correlation (P < 0.05) between the presence of protozoans in the raw water and the parameters measured. The finding of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in raw water indicates that the water sources are contaminated. Considering that giardiasis is prevalent in the population and that Cryptosporidium has recognized zoonotic potential, long‐term monitoring at critical points of the system is necessary to guarantee that the water will not be a vehicle for transmission of these protozoans.
Binary linear forms as sums of two squares
Authors: de la Bretèche R. , Browning T. D. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe revisit recent work of Heath-Brown on the average order of the quantity r(L1(x))⋯r(L4(x)), for suitable binary linear forms L1,…,L4, as x=(x1,x2) ranges over quite general regions in ℤ2. In addition to improving the error term in Heath-Brown’s estimate, we generalise his result to cover a wider class of linear forms.
Geochemistry of post‐kinematic mafic dykes from central to eastern Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica: evidence for a Pan-African suture in Dronning Maud Land
Authors: Owada Masaaki , Baba Sotaro , Osanai Yasuhito , Kagami Hiroo 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The region comprising central to eastern Dronning Maud Land (2°W to 40°E), East Antarctica, is underlain by Mesoproterozoic to Cambrian metamorphic rocks and post-kinematic intrusive rocks with varied compositions. The post-kinematic mafic dykes linked to the Pan-African orogen include various types of lithologies: lamprophyre and lamproite in Mühlig-Hofmannfjella in central Dronning Maud Land and lamprophyre and high-K dolerite in the Sør Rondane Mountains in eastern Dronning Maud Land. Most of the mafic dykes have been weakly affected by low-grade metamorphism, but clearly preserve their igneous textures. The mafic dykes show a high abundance of Rb, Ba, Sr and light rare earth elements with negative anomalies of Nb, Ta and Ti in a multi-element primitive mantle-normalized diagram. The geochemical characteristics of the mafic dykes suggest that they were derived from a metasomatized mantle source leaving phlogopite, rutile and/or titanite as residual phases. Considering Sr and Nd isotopic systematics of the mafic dykes and the host metamorphic rocks and coeval felsic intrusive rocks, a large crustal boundary potentially related to a suture zone of West and East Gondwana should pass between Mühlig-Hofmannfjella and the Sør Rondane Mountains.
Impaired negative regulation of homeostatically proliferating T cells
Authors: Shvets Anna , Chakrabarti Rabindranath , Gonzalez-Quintial Rosana , Baccala Roberto , Theofilopoulos Argyrios N. , Prud'homme Gérald J. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Acute lymphopenia-induced homeostatic proliferation (HP) of T cells promotes antitumor immunity, but the mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that this is due to a lack of inhibitory signals that allows activation of T cells with low affinity for self-antigens. Tumors resist immunity in part by expressing inhibitory molecules such as PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), B7-H4, and TGF-β. In irradiated mice undergoing HP, we found that T cells displayed a severe deficit in the activation-induced expression of inhibitory molecules PD-1 and CTLA-4, and TGF-β1–induced expression of Foxp3. HP T cells were also less suppressed by B7-H4/Ig and, unlike control T cells, failed to produce IL-10 in response to this molecule. This deficiency in regulation was reversed as normal T-cell numbers were restored. We conclude that T cells are weakly regulated by inhibitory molecules during the acute phase of HP, which could explain their increased effectiveness in cancer immunotherapy.
Recombinant human activated protein C ameliorates oleic acid-induced lung injury in awake sheep
Authors: Waerhaug Kristine , Kirov Mikhail Y , Kuzkov Vsevolod V , Kuklin Vladimir N , Bjertnaes Lars J 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Introduction
Acute lung injury (ALI) may arise both after sepsis and non-septic inflammatory conditions and is often associated with the release of fatty acids, including oleic acid (OA). Infusion of OA has been used extensively to mimic ALI. Recent research has revealed that intravenously administered recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) is able to counteract ALI. Our aim was to find out whether rhAPC dampens OA-induced ALI in sheep.

Methods
Twenty-two yearling sheep underwent instrumentation. After 2 days of recovery, animals were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) an OA+rhAPC group (n = 8) receiving OA 0.06 mL/kg infused over the course of 30 minutes in parallel with an intravenous infusion of rhAPC 24 mg/kg per hour over the course of 2 hours, (b) an OA group (n = 8) receiving OA as above, or (c) a sham-operated group (n = 6). After 2 hours, sheep were sacrificed. Hemodynamics was assessed by catheters in the pulmonary artery and the aorta, and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) was determined with the single transpulmonary thermodilution technique. Gas exchange was evaluated at baseline and at cessation of the experiment. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance; a P value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results
OA induced profound hypoxemia, increased right atrial and pulmonary artery pressures and EVLWI markedly, and decreased cardiac index. rhAPC counteracted the OA-induced changes in EVLWI and arterial oxygenation and reduced the OA-induced increments in right atrial and pulmonary artery pressures.

Conclusions
In ovine OA-induced lung injury, rhAPC dampens the increase in pulmonary artery pressure and counteracts the development of lung edema and the derangement of arterial oxygenation.
HMO-planes
Authors: Kantor William M. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Hiramine, Matsumoto and Oyama [Osaka J. Math. 24: 123–137, 1987] made the remarkable discovery that every translation plane of order q
2 that is 2-dimensional over its kernel produces translation planes of order q
4. This construction is studied, with emphasis on isomorphisms among the resulting planes.
Separating TV ads from TV programming. What we can learn about program-integrated advertising from economic theory and research on media use
Authors: Steininger Christian , Woelke Jens 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Revenues from television spot-advertising can be viewed as a kind of indirect financing of editorial content. This applies still further to endeavours to incorporate advertising messages into programming. In order to identify problems associated with doing away with the separation principle, it is meaningful to adopt a perspective that brings together theories and findings which are genuinely embedded in economics and communication science. Such a perspective shows that appealing to the self-regulating forces of the market is nonsensical in a sector where market failure is the rule as opposed to the exception. And when it comes to media competence of television viewers, audience research and research on media effects indicates that expectations with respect to the advertising effectiveness of product placement are unlikely to be met.
Comments on the Interpretation of Results from the Restrained Ring Test
Authors: Radlinska Aleksandra , Bucher Brooks , Weiss Jason 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
The restrained ring test has recently been standardized (ASTM C1581-04) as a test method to assess the restrained shrinkage cracking susceptibility of a concrete mixture. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of published information regarding the repeatability of the test. This paper quantifies the variability of the ASTM C1581-04 ring test procedure. To determine the repeatability of the standard test, 24 restrained ring specimens were cast from the same mortar mixture and stored in carefully controlled environmental conditions. Results from the restrained ring test were assessed using the same mixture proportions. The results indicate that a standard deviation of approximately 6 με can be expected in the strain measurements from the same mixture and 8 με from different batches of the same mixture. The total coefficient of variation observed was less than 12 % (within single mixture and between different batches). A probabilistic approach was used to describe the variability associated with the age of cracking and to provide a tool that allows cracking prediction, especially when only a fraction of the ring specimens crack.
Circulating levels of GH predict mortality and complement prognostic scores in critically ill medical patients
Authors: Schuetz Philipp , Müller Beat , Nusbaumer Charly , Wieland Melanie , Christ-Crain Mirjam 
Published: November 2008

BackgroundCirculating levels of GH are increased during critical illness and correlate with outcome in children with meningococcal sepsis. We assessed the prognostic implications of GH on admission and during follow-up in critically ill adult patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit.Materials and methodsWe measured GH, IGF1 and IGF-binding protein3 (IGFBP-3) plasma concentrations in 103 consecutive critically ill patients and compared it with two clinical severity scores (APACHE II, SAPS II).ResultsMedian GH levels on admission were similar in septic (n=53) and non-septic (n=50) patients and about 7-fold increased in the 24 non-survivors as compared with survivors (9.50 (interquartile ranges (IQR) 3.53–18.40) vs 1.4 (IQR 0.63–5.04), P<0.0001). GH levels increased with increasing severity of sepsis (sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock, P=0.019). By contrast, IGF1 and IGFBP-3 did not correlate with severity of disease or mortality. Logistic regression models showed that GH and both clinical scores were independent predictors of mortality with a similar prognostic accuracy (GH: area under the curve (AUC) 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71–0.92), APACHE II: AUC 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58–0.83), P=0.16, SAPS II: AUC 0.75 (95% CI, 0.63–0.86, P=0.36)). GH improved the prognostic accuracy of the APACHE II score to an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.66–090, P=0.04) and tended to improve the SAPS II score to an AUC of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.67–0.90, P=0.09).ConclusionGH plasma concentrations on admission are independent predictors for mortality in adult critically ill patients and may complement existing risk prediction scores, namely the APACHE II and the SAPS II score.
IFATS Collection: The Conditioned Media of Adipose Stromal Cells Protect Against Hypoxia-Ischemia-Induced Brain Damage in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Wei Xing , Du Zhimei , Zhao Liming , Feng Dongni , Wei Gang , He Yongzheng , Tan Jiangning , Lee Wei-Hui , Hampel Harald , Dodel Richard , Johnstone Brian H. , March Keith L. , Farlow Martin R. , Du Yansheng 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAdipose tissue stroma contains a population of mesenchymal stem cells, which support repair when administered to damaged tissues, in large part through secreted trophic factors. We directly tested the ability of media collected from cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to protect neurons in a rat model of brain hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury. Concentrated conditioned medium from cultured rat ASCs (ASC-CM) or control medium was infused through the jugular vein of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to HI injury. The ASC-CM was administered either 1 hour before or 24 hours after induction of injury. Analysis at 1 week indicated that administration at both time points significantly protected against hippocampal and cortical volume loss. Analysis of parallel groups for behavioral and learning changes at 2 months postischemia demonstrated that both treated groups performed significantly better than the controls in Morris water maze functional tests. Subsequent post-mortem evaluation of brain damage at the 2-month time point confirmed neuronal loss to be similar to that observed at 1 week for all groups. We have identified several neurotrophic factors in ASC-CM, particularly insulin-like growth factor-1 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which are important factors that could contribute to the protective effects of ASCs observed in studies with both in vitro and in vivo neuronal injury models. These data suggest that delivery of the milieu of factors secreted by ASCs may be a viable therapeutic option for treatment of HI, as well as other brain injuries.
Improved Autograft Survival of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells by Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 Inhibition
Authors: Copland Ian B. , Lord-Dufour Simon , Cuerquis Jessica , Coutu Daniel L. , Annabi Borhane , Wang Eugenea , Galipeau Jacques 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) display robust reparative properties through their ability to limit apoptosis, enhance angiogenesis, and direct positive tissue remodeling. However, low in vivo survival of transplanted cells limits their overall effectiveness and significantly affects their clinical usage. Consequently, identifying strategies to improve cell survival in vivo are a priority. One explanation for their low survival is that MSCs are often transplanted into ischemic tissue, such as infarcted myocardium, where there is poor blood supply and low oxygen tension. Therefore, we examined how MSCs respond to a hypoxic, nutrient-poor stress environment to identify trophic factors that could be manipulated in advance of MSC transplantation. Combining microarray and proteomic screens we identified plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) as one factor consistently upregulated in our in vitro ischemia-mimicking conditions. Subsequent genetic and chemical manipulation studies define PAI-1 as a negative regulator of MSC survival in vivo. Mechanistically, MSC-derived PAI-1 does not alter MSC survival through a plasmin-dependent mechanism but rather directly impacts on the adhesiveness of MSCs to their surrounding matrices. Thus we can conclude that post-transplantation, PAI-1 negatively impacts MSC survival by promoting anoikis via matrix detachment.