LVH: consequences associated with cardiac remodeling

With increased hemodynamic stress, the heart must adjust to meet the greater demands placed upon it. This adjustment frequently involves an alteration or remodeling in its structure or geometry, which augments its performance and helps to maintain adequate function under changing conditions. One of the most important forms of remodeling that the heart may undergo is an increase in muscle mass in response to a pressure or volume overload or myocardial injury. This increase in muscle mass is known as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LVH is of great importance from a risk selection perspective for two reasons: it is common, and it is associated with a significant increase in both morbidity and mortality risk. Thus, it is critical that both underwriters and medical directors be aware of this form of remodeling, its causes, diagnosis and consequences.     

How Australian organizations use global communications

Global communications technology offers those organisations that embrace it many strategic advantages in conducting business overseas. Despite this, it has not been a technology that Australian organisations have rushed to implement.This paper investigates several Australian organisations and looks at their use of global communications technology. The organisations chosen are a mix of those that are Australian owned and foreign companies. Some of the organisations have been exporting their products or services for a number of years, whilst others are new to business operations on a global scale.Whilst the number of organisations researched is small, there appears to be a clear indication that global communications is a technology that all the Australian organisations (included in the research) have investigated. However they have then only proceeded to implement the technology, provided that it offers some definable form of competitive advantage when conducting business overseas.The organisations included in the research may not have had a definite management strategy in place for global communications initially, but, as the technology has become more efficient, has proven to be advantageous or has been accepted by an organisation's competitors, it has been included in management's strategic planning.The results also show that the implementation of global communications has enhanced profitability. However, the additional profit is not always derived from an increase in revenue but often a reduction in costs.The research shows that those foreign organisations with headquarters overseas have been much quicker to implement the technology for one or more of the following reasons: to increase their competitive advantage to improve company reporting to lower the costs of communication to provide more efficient methods of sharing common information.     

The long-term impact of education on dietary diversity among women in Zimbabwe

Education is perceived to have a positive impact on a variety of health outcomes. However, it is unclear how causal this association is or what could account for the observed relationship, especially in low-income countries. This study examined the educational gradient in dietary diversity among young women using individual-level survey data from Zimbabwe. A parametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design was used in the empirical analysis, with school reform exposure serving as an instrumental variable for educational attainment. The results show that increased schooling improves dietary diversity among women and that this effect is large and statistically significant. An examination of the potential mechanisms by which education improves dietary diversity revealed that women with more education are more likely to engage with print media by reading newspapers or magazines, to be literate, to access prenatal care when pregnant, to be wealthier, to have fewer children, and to live in metropolitan areas. These findings suggest that expanding educational opportunities, particularly for young girls in developing countries like Zimbabwe, could be a useful policy strategy to promote healthy eating among young women and, as a result, could enhance population health and nutrition outcomes.     

The regulation of water services in the EU

The European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on the award of concession contracts has sparked vigorous public debate and intense opposition. This Directive is controversial because of the nature of the policy it proposes and because the sectors involved are highly sensitive. This Forum examines the weaknesses of the Commission’s proposal and presents an overview of the current issues in water regulation and the provision of water services. The authors analyse the regulation of natural monopolies, water efficiency and upstream competition in the water industry.     

Is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Ready for China?

Abstract:

The re-emergence of China as a global economic power has intensified calls for the urgent reform of Western-dominated international organizations. We evaluate efforts by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to adapt to the challenge of China. From the first decade of the 2000s, the OECD has undertaken reforms to boost its significance as a key policy actor in the global economy. Part of this effort involves bringing China closer to the organization. To date, only limited progress has been made. We set out three bold policy reforms the OECD could implement that would deepen the OECD’s relationship with China as well as with other emerging economies.     

The efficiency of small and medium enterprises in informal metal manufacturing in Zimbabwe: Implications for stakeholders in the agricultural sector

This study uses the structure–conduct–performance framework to examine the structure and efficiency of small and medium enterprises in the informal metal manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe. Small and medium enterprises provide a lifeline to the country's resource-poor farmers, whose numbers increased exponentially after the agrarian reform in 2000. The study utilises nationally representative, enterprise-level data from five major towns (Harare, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo, Mutare and Rusape) in Zimbabwe. Various performance measures are applied at the industry level to assess efficiency, profitability and competitiveness; these include the Herfindahl–Hirschman index, concentration ratios, average yearly profits and Tobin's q ratio. The results indicate that small and medium enterprises in Zimbabwe are modestly efficient, profitable and competitive. These findings highlight the need to integrate informal metal fabrication activities into Zimbabwe's national economic development plans.     

Alpha or beta in the eye of the beholder: What drives hedge fund flows?

Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) alpha explains hedge fund flows better than alphas from more sophisticated models. This suggests that investors pool together sophisticated model alpha with returns from exposures to traditional (except for the market) and exotic risks. We decompose performance into traditional and exotic risk components and find that while investors chase both components, they place greater relative emphasis on returns associated with exotic risk exposures that can only be obtained through hedge funds. However, we find little evidence of persistence in performance from traditional or exotic risks, which cautions against investors’ practice of seeking out risk exposures following periods of recent success.     

Matters of the athletic heart

Frequently an underwriter or medical director will question whether an increase in left ventricular mass represents pathologic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) or physiologic changes related to exercise. The LVH condition reflects end-organ damage related to abnormal hemodynamic stresses and confers an increased morbidity and mortality risk. When left ventricular mass is increased because of exercise, measured changes represent a normal, healthy cardiovascular system responding to the demands of that exercise. This article summarizes medical findings that distinguish pathologic LVH from an "athletic heart."     

The maximin objective function and less developed countries

Conclusions Modifying a traditional optimal growth model by using a maximin objective function and allowing the country to borrow from abroad is a useful process for examining the problems faced by LDC's. For example, an LDC's planners may realize the importance of long-term planning, but, because of the gravity of the country's current situation, be forced to emphasize short-term goals. In the model developed here, the planners' desire to maximize current sustainable consumption precludes the possibility of long-term gorwth. The ability to borrow from abroad eases this dilemma but does not remove it.Extending and complicating this maximin model can provide insights about other issues. In this model, the cost of borrowing function is unchanging. If the function varies because of changes in world demand and supply conditions, the growth path of the LDC could fluctuate even if it were trying to follow a constant consumption program. Similarly, the introduction of technical progress would imply the domestic capital stock would not have to remain constant.This model also points out the ability to borrow from abroad is not a sufficient condition for long-term growth unless the cost of borrowing is continually decreasing. Programs promoting increases in a country's domestic savings are also important.The views presented here are the author's and do not necessarily represent the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. I am indebted to N. Spulber and R. Becker for their suggestions.