Pension reform in Croatia

Croatia's transition toward independence, and the market economy in the 1990s, exacerbated problems in the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system, and ultimately led to its financial collapse. Although a comprehensive three-pillar reform was initiated in late 1995, implementation of the reform only began in 1998, with an overhaul of PAYG parameters, including shifting to a German-style points system. Introduction of the mandatory, and voluntary funded pillars was announced in 1998, and implemented in 2002. The new system includes a privately-managed individual account scheme, with a contribution rate of five percent, in addition to a downsized pay-as-you-go, defined benefit component. This paper describes the design of the new system, and highlights areas where further refinements are needed.Pensions&Retirement Systems,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Sector Economics,Economic Stabilization

New Hope Drive

On April 13 and 14, 2020, aci consulting conducted a cultural resources survey for the proposed New Hope Drive in Williamson County, Texas. New Hope Drive would expand CR 272 between Ronald Reagan Boulevard and CR 175 in Cedar Park, Williamson County, Texas. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for this project is approximately 1.76 (2.83 kilometers) miles in total length and includes approximately 0.62 (0.99 kilometer) mile of existing right of way (ROW) for CR 272. The remaining approximately 1.14 (1.83 kilometers) miles would be construction of new ROW where no road currently exists. The expansion includes four lanes along CR 272, a storm sewer system, water line, wastewater line, traffic signals, bridge, and intersection improvements. The proposed ROW will be approximately 120 to 130 feet (36.58 to 39.62 meters) wide, and the total area of the APE is approximately 27.73 acres (11.22 hectares). This work was conducted in compliance with the Texas Administrative Code (13 TAC 26.20[2]) under Texas Antiquities Code permit number 9370, as well as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The survey did not result in the location of any new archeological sites, historic structures, or additional historic properties. Previously recorded sites 41WM1163 and 41WM1268 were revisited during the survey. The sites were not relocated within the APE, and no artifactual evidence was observed within either previously mapped site boundary. As the previously recorded archeological sites 41WM1163 and 41WM1268 were not relocated within the New Hope Drive APE, and no artifactual or other site evidence was observed in surface or subsurface contexts, no mitigation or avoidance strategies are recommended for either of the archeological sites. The portion of 41WM1163 and 41WM1268 overlapping with the New Hope Drive APE does not contribute to either site’s eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and does not warrant designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL). Based on these results, no further archeological work is recommended. Records from this investigation will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL). Joey O’Keefe served as Principal Investigator

Cultural Resources Survey For The Braun Elevated Storage Tank (EST) Project

On September 20, 2018, aci consulting conducted a cultural resources survey for the Braun Elevated Storage Tank (EST) Project in Williamson County, Texas. The Area of Potential Effect APE(APE) consists of a square, 0.82-acre (0.33-hectare) area and is located 656 feet (200 meters) north on an unnamed road off of W. State Highway (SH) 29, 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) west of Ronald Reagan Blvd. The entire 0.82-acre area was surveyed in preparation for the installation of the Braun EST (Figures 1 and 2). This work was conducted in compliance with the Texas Administrative Code (13 TAC 26.20[2]) under Texas Antiquities Code permit number 8515, as well as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The survey did not result in the location of any new archeological sites, historic structures, or additional historic properties. Based on these results, no further archeological work is recommended. Records from this investigation will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL). Julie Shipp served as Principal Investigator

Working with what you have: Utilizing an event management framework

Library events provide opportunities for patrons to connect with collections, services, and library staff in meaningful ways. However, managing these events when programming and outreach are often only a small portion of library staff work presents many challenges. Recognizing these challenges, a Programming Team at an art library created a framework for library event workflows and group documentation; all of which maximized staff time, resources, and overall efficiency. While this framework was designed in a large, academic setting, the model and tools like the crucial event workbook and worksheet were later adapted to different contexts, including remote programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, a library committee’s event series, and at an art and design school with only two librarians managing the library’s events. The presenters will showcase this top-level model for coordinating events systematically, share customizable tools created using commonly available software (like the Microsoft and Google suites) and provide scalability advice for various institutional sizes. This model is built to be flexible, adaptable, and sustainable no matter how few or many staff are able to coordinate or support library programming. The application of this model and these tools will be shown in two brief case studies, which offer more complex event series as examples. One discusses hosting multiple in-person events in a one-week span, and the other discusses coordinating multiple guest speakers over a three-month span for remote, synchronous events. The presenters will conclude with a list of recommendations for librarians contemplating a similar approach for their events and programming

Maintaining Conventional Septic Systems

Septic systems are used in Kentucky where municipal sewage treatment is not available. They are an effective, longstanding method of collecting, treating, and disposing of homeowner wastewater, provided they are properly sited, installed, and maintained. However, a well-sited, properly sized and installed system will fail if not properly maintained. A failed septic system creates problems such as noxious odors, lowered property values, surface water contamination, and groundwater pollution and may be a health hazard. Repair and replacement costs are considerable. Additional information on assessing septic system performance and reducing the potential risk of groundwater contamination is available from a KY-A-Syst publication: Household Wastewater Treatment (IP-44). This self-evaluation can be used by the homeowner to determine performance and as additional information for keeping the system maintained

Persistence of Gamma-H2AX Foci in Irradiated Bronchial Cells Correlates with Susceptibility to Radiation Associated Lung Cancer in Mice

The risk of developing radiation-induced lung cancer differs between different strains of mice, but the underlying cause of the strain differences is unknown. Strains of mice also differ in their ability to efficiently repair DNA double strand breaks resulting from radiation exposure. We phenotyped mouse strains from the CcS/Dem recombinant congenic strain set for their efficacy in repairing DNA double strand breaks during protracted radiation exposures. We monitored persistent gamma-H2AX radiation induced foci (RIF) 24 hours after exposure to chronic gamma-rays as a surrogate marker for repair deficiency in bronchial epithelial cells for 17 of the CcS/Dem strains and the BALB/cHeN founder strain. We observed a very strong correlation R2 = 79.18%, P < 0.001) between the level of persistent RIF and radiogenic lung cancer percent incidence measured in the same strains. Interestingly, spontaneous levels of foci in non-irradiated strains also showed good correlation with lung cancer incidence (R2=32.74%, P =0.013). These results suggest that genetic differences in DNA repair capacity largely account for differing susceptibilities to radiation-induced lung cancer among CcS/Dem mouse strains and that high levels of spontaneous DNA damage is also a relatively good marker of cancer predisposition. In a smaller pilot study, we found that the repair capacity measured in peripheral blood leucocytes also correlated well with radiogenic lung cancer susceptibility, raising the possibility that such phenotyping assay could be used to detect radiogenic lung cancer susceptibility in humans

Pain coping skills training for African Americans with osteoarthritis (STAART): study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Background: African Americans bear a disproportionate burden of osteoarthritis (OA), with higher prevalence rates, more severe pain, and more functional limitations. One key barrier to addressing these disparities has been limited engagement of African Americans in the development and evaluation of behavioral interventions for management of OA. Pain Coping Skills Training (CST) is a cognitive-behavioral intervention with shown efficacy to improve OA-related pain and other outcomes. Emerging data indicate pain CST may be a promising intervention for reducing racial disparities in OA symptom severity. However, there are important gaps in this research, including incorporation of stakeholder perspectives (e.g. cultural appropriateness, strategies for implementation into clinical practice) and testing pain CST specifically among African Americans with OA. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally enhanced pain CST program among African Americans with OA. Methods/Design: This is a randomized controlled trial among 248 participants with symptomatic hip or knee OA, with equal allocation to a pain CST group and a wait list (WL) control group. The pain CST program incorporated feedback from patients and other stakeholders and involves 11 weekly telephone-based sessions. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, 12 weeks (primary time point), and 36 weeks (to assess maintenance of treatment effects). The primary outcome is the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and secondary outcomes include self-efficacy, pain coping, pain interference, quality of life, depressive symptoms, and global assessment of change. Linear mixed models will be used to compare the pain CST group to the WL control group and explore whether participant characteristics are associated with differential improvement in the pain CST program. This research is in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, East Carolina University, and Duke University Health System. Discussion: This culturally enhanced pain CST program could have a substantial impact on outcomes for African Americans with OA and may be a key strategy in the reduction of racial health disparities.Funded by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Award (AD-1408-19519)

Cultural Resources Survey For The Fort Worth-Haslet-Trinity River Authority (FW-Haslet-Tra) Sewer Project

On August 30, and September 4 through 6, 2018, aci consulting conducted a cultural resources survey for the Fort Worth-Haslet-Trinity River Authority of Texas (FW-HASLET-TRA) Sewer Project in Tarrant County, Texas. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for this project consists of the 50-foot Right-of-Way (ROW) for the proposed 1.24-mile sewer line, for a total of 7.53 acres (3.05 hectares) (Figures 1 and 2). The depth of impact is approximately 4 feet The project is the result of a three-way agreement between the City of Haslet, the City of Fort Worth, and the Trinity River Authority and will be funded through the City of Haslet, thus the project is conducted in compliance with the Texas Administrative Code (13 TAC 26.20[2]) as well as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The work was completed under Texas Antiquities Code permit number 8524. The investigation consisted of an intensive pedestrian survey, shovel testing, and backhoe trenching. The investigation did not result in the location of any new archeological sites, historic structures, or additional historic properties. Based on these results, no further archeological work is recommended. Records from this investigation will be curated at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory. Julie Shipp served as Principal Investigator

Review: Run: Book One

A review of the 2021 book by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, L. Fury, and Nate Powell, “Run: Book One,” for inclusion in ARLIS/NA's 2021 Notable Graphic Novels Review