Pension reforms in EU11 countries: An evaluation of post‐socialist pension policies

This article evaluates the pension policy pathways of the 11 former state socialist nations that have joined the European Union since 2004. Focusing primarily on the post‐2004 period, the analysis discusses the most important measurable outcomes of these countries’ pension reforms, in terms of poverty alleviation, pension adequacy and fiscal sustainability. Going beyond the quantifiable concepts, we also investigate the quality of the 11 countries’ pension systems in terms of equity as well as efficiency, emphasizing the less conspicuous design errors present in these systems. Although these errors have received little attention to date, they may harm pension schemes along several dimensions, including their fiscal sustainability.     

Une jeunesse stigmatisée: l'influence du chômage précoce sur le chômage ultérieur

Le chômage rencontré au début du parcours professionnel favorise‐t‐il le chômage ultérieur? Pour le savoir, les auteurs suivent la trajectoire de quelque 700 000 actifs allemands sur une période de vingt‐quatre ans en utilisant des données administratives appariées employeurs‐salariés. Grâce à la méthode des variables instrumentales (l'instrument étant ici la fermeture de l'entreprise), ils font apparaître des séquelles durables du chômage précoce, chaque nouvelle journée chômée pendant les huit premières années de vie active augmentant d'une demi‐journée en moyenne le chômage des seize années suivantes. Selon des régressions quantiles, le caractère prolongé et répété des épisodes de chômage initial renforce sensiblement cet «effet cicatrice».     

India's demand for international reserve and monetary disequilibrium: Reserve adequacy under floating regime

The main aim of this study is to investigate India's demand for international reserve by focusing on the role of national monetary disequilibrium and to present new benchmarks for assessing the adequacy of international reserves. We assessed India's position in terms of reserve adequacy and found that India is well placed and has sufficient stock of international reserves to meet the minimum adequacy requirements. Also, the results reveal that the central bank is holding substantial excess reserves and the related opportunity cost (1.5% of GDP) appears to be quite considerable. Further, the estimates of reserve demand function suggest that scale of foreign trade, uncertainty and profitability considerations play significant role in determining India's long-term reserve demand policies. More importantly, validating the monetary approach to balance of payment, our results show that national monetary disequilibrium does play a crucial role in short-run reserve movements. An excess of money demand (supply) induces an inflow (outflow) of international reserves with an elasticity of 0.56 which also implies that Reserve Bank of India responds to correct the domestic money market disequilibrium; and did not just leave it completely on the mercy of reserve inflows.     

Curved versus straight scissors to avoid 3rd and 4th degree perineal tears: A randomised feasibility study

BackgroundSevere perineal tears sustained during childbirth cause significant distress and morbidity amongst women. The objective of this study was to compare the use of straight scissors for cutting an episiotomy with the use of curved scissors, which are designed to curve away from the anal sphincter.MethodsWe used a single-centre, randomised feasibility trial. The intervention was the use of curved scissors. Women were recruited during a prenatal visit and randomised in the delivery suite, when it became clear that an episiotomy was required. The feasibility outcomes were the proportion of women able to be recruited, randomised and followed up. We also calculated the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injury when either straight or curved scissors were used to cut an episiotomy. Other outcomes assessed were pain, length of hospital stay, perineal infection and perineal dehiscence.ResultsOf the 155 patients recruited in the prenatal period, only 20 (12.9%) were eventually randomised at birth. The main reasons for the high loss were that women either did not have a vaginal delivery (38, 24.5%), or they did not need an episiotomy (72, 46.5%). Rates of obstetric anal sphincter injury and other outcomes were similar between groups.DiscussionAnal sphincter injury during childbirth remains an important problem. Although the use of curved scissors provides a theoretical solution, we found that the high attrition rate made feasibility of conducting a suitably powered, randomised trial using the current design untenable. Alternative strategies have been suggested to make any future study more viable.     

对华北油田勘探历程的再认识

华北油田是我国最早发现古潜山海相碳酸盐岩油气藏的地方,也是产量骤起骤降幅度最大的一个油田,它的勘探过程中蕴含着太多丰富的经验值得总结.从任4井发现的细节入手进行回顾,对华北油田勘探经验中的古潜山、碳酸盐岩、震旦系灰岩等关键问题进行了深入思考.指出按有机成油论的学说很难将华北油田的历史经验深入总结下去,应按无机成油论的观点,对华北油田的历史经验进行再认识.     

对RC4算法的错误引入攻击研究

错误引入攻击假设攻击者可以向密码设备(智能卡)引入错误,使其出现错误的加密结果。攻击者同时利用正确的和错误的加密结果来发现隐藏在密码设备中的秘密信息(密钥)。该文给出了一种对RC4算法的错误引入攻击方法。模拟实验表明,一轮攻击有可能找出RC4初始状态中3个位置的值,连续使用该算法能以较高(大于1/2)的概率恢复RC4的整个初始状态。恢复整个初始状态所需的密钥字个数约为O(216),引入的错误数量约为O(216)。     

“五四”精神的内在本质和现代传承

“五四”精神由两个层面的内容构成。第一层面是“五四”精神的内在本质，主要由“五四”精神的核心点与精髓构成；第二层面是“五四”精神的外在表现形式，主要包括不怕困难顽强斗争的精神、改革创新的精神、与为民精神等。在全面落实科学发展观、构建社会主义和谐社会的新的历史时期，应结合时代的变化，从“五四”精神的上述两个方面入手．切实发扬传承好这份宝贵的精神遗产。     

艾滋病疗法的评价及疗效的预测

根据美国艾滋病医疗实验机构ACTG提供的两组数据，利用二次拟合预测了持续使用这四种艾滋病疗法的效果，并对这些疗法做出了一定的评价。     

交际性语言测试理论与新CET-4写作测试

交际性语言测试以测试交际能力为宗旨。具体到写作命题，它侧重命题本身的交际性。大学英语四级（CET-4）对促进大学英语教学功不可没，但其写作部分在命题、任务类型、评分标准等方面受到众多质疑。新CET-4交际性写作命题必将对写作教学产生积极的反拨作用。     

晚清与“五四”小说变革同异论

晚清与“五四”小说变革虽有动机上的相近之处,却有性质上的不同.这导致晚清小说与“五四”小说出现了形态上的差别.晚清小说变革持续的时间、规模都超过“五四”,但却没有真正实现中国小说由古典向现代的转变,主要原因在于晚清小说变革是非自觉的文学变革.相比而言,“五四”小说变革的自觉性更强,也更注重文学自身的特征.晚清小说变革并非必然走向“五四”小说,它的变革路径与“五四”有很大不同,即基本保留古典小说模式,只是在内容上和形式上容纳一些新的思想、艺术因素.“五四”小说变革因历史背景、文化语境的特殊作用,找到了一条新的路径,这就是精神与艺术的一体化即“心理化”.通过“心理化”,“五四”小说最终实现了中国小说由古典向现代的转变.