INTRODUÇÃO: O surgimento da tomografia computadorizada quantitativa periférica de alta resolução (HR-pQCT) tornou possível medir a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) volumétrica e a microarquitetura óssea tridimensional in vivo, bem como avaliar a resistência óssea através da análise de elemento finito (FE). Como não há na literatura um banco de dados para a população masculina brasileira, o objetivo principal deste estudo transversal e estabelecer valores de referência para os parâmetros ósseos obtidos por HR-pQCT em homens, categorizados por décadas e ajustados por peso e altura, na região distal do rádio e da tíbia. Como objetivo secundário, correlacionar o parâmetro de resistência óssea - rigidez do tecido ósseo (S), com os demais parâmetros medidos por HR-pQCT, e com parâmetros obtidos por absorciometria de raios- X de dupla energia (DXA), incluindo escore de osso trabecular (TBS). METODOS: Homens brasileiros saudáveis (n = 340) entre as idades de 20 e 92 anos foram incluídos neste estudo. O antebraço não dominante e a perna esquerda foram imobilizados, e foram realizados métodos de segmentação padrão e avançado para as análises da região distal do rádio e da tíbia por HRpQCT. A partir das imagens HR-pQCT, a DMO volumétrica e microestrutura do osso trabecular e cortical foram avaliadas, e a resistência óssea foi estimada usando analise de FE. Também foi realizada medição da coluna lombar e fêmur por DXA para obtenção dos valores de DMO e TBS. Os dados foram descritos em mediana e quartis (IQR). Modelos de regressão linear múltipla em função da idade, peso e altura foram desenvolvidos e ilustrados por diagramas de dispersão com intervalos de 95% de normalidade. Foram calculadas as correlações de Pearson entre alguns parâmetros de interesse. RESULTADOS: Tanto na região distal do rádio como na tíbia, os parâmetros de DMO volumétrica, estrutura e de resistência óssea apresentaram relação estatisticamente significativa com a idade (p < 0,05). As correlações entre S com os demais parâmetros de DMO volumétrica e microarquitetura, bem como com DMO areal e TBS, foram mais fortes na região da tíbia, exceto com espessura trabecular, que foi melhor na região do rádio. As correlações entre TBS com os parâmetros de densidade (trabecular e cortical), número e espessura trabecular, e espessura cortical nas regiões periféricas, foram significativas (p < 0,05), exceto com espessura cortical na tíbia. Quando o TBS foi avaliado de acordo com a categoria de risco, e correlacionado com a rigidez do tecido na região distal do rádio e da tíbia, e com DMO da coluna lombar, apenas o grupo de baixo risco (TBS ³ 1.310) apresentou correlações significativas (p < 0,05). CONCLUSOES: Este trabalho estabeleceu valores de referência para os parâmetros ósseos obtidos por HR-pQCT, com base em uma população saudável miscigenada do sexo masculino. As correlações entre os parâmetros ajudam a compreender o papel de cada variável em relação ao risco de fratura. Pesquisadores e clínicos poderão utilizar esses dados como uma ferramenta adicional para avaliar a saúde óssea e alterações na qualidade óssea / INTRODUCTION: The availability of high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) has made it possible to measure volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and three-dimensional bone microarchitecture in vivo, as well as to evaluate bone strength through finite element (FE) analysis. As there is no database for Brazilian male population, the main objective of this cross-sectional study was to establish reference values for the bone parameters obtained by HR-pQCT in men, categorized for decades and adjusted for weight and height, of the distal radius and tibia. As a secondary objective, to correlate the bone strength parameter - stiffness (S) and other parameters measured by HR-pQCT and parameters obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), including trabecular bone score (TBS). METHODS: Healthy Brazilian men (n = 340) including ages of 20 to 92 years were included in this study. The non-dominant forearm and left leg were immobilized, and standard and advanced segmentation methods were performed for the distal radius and tibia analyzes by HR-pQCT. From HR-pQCT images, volumetric BMD and bone microstructure of trabecular and cortical were evaluated, and bone strength was estimated using FE analysis. Measurements of the lumbar spine and femur by DXA were also performed to obtain BMD and TBS values. The data were described as median and quartiles (IQR). Multiple linear regression models according to age, weight and height were developed and illustrated by dispersion diagrams with 95% normality intervals. Pearson correlations were calculated between some parameters of interest. RESULTS: Parameters of volumetric BMD, structure and bone strength, at distal radius and tibia, showed a significant association with age (p < 0.05). The correlations between S with the other parameters of volumetric BMD and microarchitecture, as well as with areal BMD and TBS, were stronger in the tibia except for trabecular thickness, which was better in the distal radius. The correlations between TBS and density parameters (trabecular and cortical), number and trabecular thickness, and cortical thickness in the peripheral sites were significant (p < 0.05), except with cortical thickness in the tibia. When TBS was evaluated according to risk category, and correlated with S in the distal radius and tibia, and lumbar spine BMD, only the low risk group (TBS ³ 1.310) had significant correlations (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This work developed reference values for the bone parameters obtained by HR-pQCT, based on a healthy population for males. Correlations between the parameters support to understand the role of each variable and the relationship with fracture risk. Researchers and clinicians can use these data as an additional tool to assess male bone health and changes in bone quality

Síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC) está associada à diabetes mellitus (DM), mas a associação não está claramente demonstrada com pré-diabetes (PD). Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de PD e fatores de risco associados em pacientes com STC. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal incluindo 115 pacientes com STC idiopática e 115 controles pareados por idade, gênero e índice de massa corporal (IMC). Avaliação clínica, laboratorial e neurofisiológica foi realizada em todos os indivíduos para confirmar o diagnóstico e gravidade da STC de acordo com a classificação neurofisiológica de STC. PD foi definido usando critérios estritos. Resultados: A prevalência de PD foi similar no grupo STC e controles (27% vs. 21,7%, P=0,44). Sintomas noturnos (91,3%) e classificação moderada de STC (58,3%) foram os mais frequentemente observados. Pacientes com STC com PD apresentaram média de idade significativamente mais alta comparada à pacientes com STC sem PD (53,8 +- 10,2 vs. 49,5 +- 8,6 anos, P=0,027). Tendência de média mais alta de IMC (30,6 +- 4,1 vs. 28,7 +- 4,8 kg/m2, P=0,059) e duração dos sintomas (21,5 +- 29,6 vs. 14,8 +- 20,6 meses, P=0,062) e menor frequência de gênero feminino (80,6% vs. 92,9%, P=0,057) foram observados em pacientes com STC com PD. Frequências de pacientes com STC com PD e idade > 60 anos (29,0% vs. 8,3%, P=0,04) e IMC > 30 kg/m2 (64,5% vs. 33,3%, P=0,03) foram significativamente mais altas que em pacientes com STC sem PD. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas em ambos os grupos com relação aos sintomas (P > 0,05) e classificação neurofisiológica da STC (P > 0,05). Conclusões: Nossos achados apóiam fortemente a noção de que a STC não está associada à PD, mas está intimamente ligada a idade e sobrepeso / Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated to Diabetes mellitus (DM) but not clearly demonstrated to Prediabetes (PD). Objective: Determine prevalence of PD and risk factors in CTS. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 115 idiopathic CTS patients and 115 age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)- matched controls was performed. Clinical, laboratorial and neurophysiological evaluations were performed in all subjects to confirm CTS diagnosis and severity according to CTS classification. PD was defined using strict criteria. Results: Prevalence of PD was similar in CTS and control groups (27% vs. 21.7%, P=0.44). Nocturnal symptoms (91.3%) and moderate classification of CTS (58.3%) were most frequently observed in CTS patients. CTS with PD had a significant higher mean age compared to CTS without PD (53.8 +- 10.2 vs. 49.5 +- 8.6 years, P=0.027). A trend of higher mean BMI (30.6 +- 4.1 vs. 28.7 +- 4.8 kg/m2, P=0.059) and duration of symptoms (21.5 +- 29.6 vs. 14.8 +- 20.6 months, P=0.062) and lower female gender frequency (80.6% vs. 92.9%, P=0.057) were observed in CTS with PD. Frequencies of CTS with PD patients with age > 60 years (29.0% vs. 8.3%, P=0.04) and BMI > 30 kg/m2 (64.5% vs. 33.3%, P=0.03) were significantly higher than CTS without PD. No significant differences were observed in both groups regarding each symptoms (P > 0.05) and neurophysiological classifications of CTS (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings strongly supports the notion that CTS is not associated with PD but is closely linked to age and overweight

Síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC) está associada à diabetes mellitus (DM), mas a associação não está claramente demonstrada com pré-diabetes (PD). Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de PD e fatores de risco associados em pacientes com STC. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal incluindo 115 pacientes com STC idiopática e 115 controles pareados por idade, gênero e índice de massa corporal (IMC). Avaliação clínica, laboratorial e neurofisiológica foi realizada em todos os indivíduos para confirmar o diagnóstico e gravidade da STC de acordo com a classificação neurofisiológica de STC. PD foi definido usando critérios estritos. Resultados: A prevalência de PD foi similar no grupo STC e controles (27% vs. 21,7%, P=0,44). Sintomas noturnos (91,3%) e classificação moderada de STC (58,3%) foram os mais frequentemente observados. Pacientes com STC com PD apresentaram média de idade significativamente mais alta comparada à pacientes com STC sem PD (53,8 +- 10,2 vs. 49,5 +- 8,6 anos, P=0,027). Tendência de média mais alta de IMC (30,6 +- 4,1 vs. 28,7 +- 4,8 kg/m2, P=0,059) e duração dos sintomas (21,5 +- 29,6 vs. 14,8 +- 20,6 meses, P=0,062) e menor frequência de gênero feminino (80,6% vs. 92,9%, P=0,057) foram observados em pacientes com STC com PD. Frequências de pacientes com STC com PD e idade > 60 anos (29,0% vs. 8,3%, P=0,04) e IMC > 30 kg/m2 (64,5% vs. 33,3%, P=0,03) foram significativamente mais altas que em pacientes com STC sem PD. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas em ambos os grupos com relação aos sintomas (P > 0,05) e classificação neurofisiológica da STC (P > 0,05). Conclusões: Nossos achados apóiam fortemente a noção de que a STC não está associada à PD, mas está intimamente ligada a idade e sobrepeso / Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is associated to Diabetes mellitus (DM) but not clearly demonstrated to Prediabetes (PD). Objective: Determine prevalence of PD and risk factors in CTS. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 115 idiopathic CTS patients and 115 age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)- matched controls was performed. Clinical, laboratorial and neurophysiological evaluations were performed in all subjects to confirm CTS diagnosis and severity according to CTS classification. PD was defined using strict criteria. Results: Prevalence of PD was similar in CTS and control groups (27% vs. 21.7%, P=0.44). Nocturnal symptoms (91.3%) and moderate classification of CTS (58.3%) were most frequently observed in CTS patients. CTS with PD had a significant higher mean age compared to CTS without PD (53.8 +- 10.2 vs. 49.5 +- 8.6 years, P=0.027). A trend of higher mean BMI (30.6 +- 4.1 vs. 28.7 +- 4.8 kg/m2, P=0.059) and duration of symptoms (21.5 +- 29.6 vs. 14.8 +- 20.6 months, P=0.062) and lower female gender frequency (80.6% vs. 92.9%, P=0.057) were observed in CTS with PD. Frequencies of CTS with PD patients with age > 60 years (29.0% vs. 8.3%, P=0.04) and BMI > 30 kg/m2 (64.5% vs. 33.3%, P=0.03) were significantly higher than CTS without PD. No significant differences were observed in both groups regarding each symptoms (P > 0.05) and neurophysiological classifications of CTS (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings strongly supports the notion that CTS is not associated with PD but is closely linked to age and overweight

Κύριο αντικείμενο της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι να εξετασθεί και να αξιολογηθεί η επίδραση ποικίλων παραγόντων στην πορεία μεγέθυνσης των επιχειρήσεων. Για την πραγματοποίηση της έρευνας χρησιμοποιείται ένα σύνολο δεδομένων για επιχειρήσεις που δραστηριοποιούνται στους ελληνικούς τομείς μεταποίησης και υπηρεσιών κατά την διάρκεια της χρονικής περιόδου 1995-2001. Η ενδοκλαδική δυναμική μεγέθυνση των επιχειρήσεων αναλύεται στο πλαίσιο της στοχαστικής θεωρίας της μεγέθυνσης, η οποία εκφράζεται κυρίως από το νόμο του Gibrat. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, το αρχικό μέγεθος των επιχειρήσεων θεωρείται ως κρίσιμη μεταβλητή για την διερεύνηση της συμπεριφοράς μεγέθυνσης των επιχειρήσεων. Παράλληλα, η παρούσα διατριβή διερευνά εάν κάποιοι παράγοντες - όπως είναι το μέγεθος και η ηλικία των επιχειρήσεων, η διατήρηση της μεγέθυνσης των επιχειρήσεων, η ύπαρξη χρηματοδοτικών περιορισμών και η ένταση χρησιμοποίησης Τεχνολογιών Πληροφορίας και Επικοινωνίας (ΤΠΕ) - διαδραματίζουν οποιοδήποτε ρόλο στη μεγέθυνση των επιχειρήσεων. Η διδακτορική διατριβή αποτελείται από 6 κεφάλαια. Το πρώτο κεφάλαιο προσφέρει μια σύντομη εισαγωγή στο θέμα της διατριβής. Το κεφάλαιο 2 προσφέρει μια εκτενή παρουσίαση της θεωρητικής και εμπειρικής βιβλιογραφίας αναφορικά με την μεγέθυνση των επιχειρήσεων. Το κεφάλαιο 3 διερευνά τη δυναμική διαδικασία μεγέθυνσης των επιχειρήσεων στο πλαίσιο του νόμου του Gibrat και λαμβάνει υπόψη την πιθανή διατήρηση της μεγέθυνσης με την πάροδο του χρόνου, χρησιμοποιώντας ένα σύνολο δεδομένων από 3685 επιχειρήσεις που λειτουργούν στον ελληνικό τομέα μεταποίησης. Σε αυτό το εμπειρικό κεφάλαιο, εφαρμόζοντας την Μέθοδο των Ελαχίστων Τετραγώνων και την Δέλτα Μέθοδο, τα αποτελέσματα προτείνουν ότι στο συνολικό δείγμα οι μικρές επιζούσες επιχειρήσεις παρουσιάζουν μία υψηλότερη εν δυνάμει μεγέθυνση σε σχέση με τις μεγαλύτερες επιχειρήσεις. Η ταξινόμηση των επιχειρήσεων σε 4 κατηγορίες μεγέθους και σε 4 κατηγορίες ηλικίας αποδίδει ενδιαφέροντα ευρήματα. Συγκεκριμένα, παρατηρείται για τις μικρές, τις μίκρο και τις νέες επιχειρήσεις μία τάση διατήρησης των ποσοστών μεγέθυνσής τους στις επόμενες χρονικές περιόδους. Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι πορείες μεγέθυνσης των μεγάλων, μεσαίων και ηλικιωμένων επιχειρήσεων ακολουθούν έναν τυχαίο περίπατο. Στο κεφάλαιο 4 εξετάζονται οι πορείες μεγέθυνσης 4975 επιχειρήσεων που δραστηριοποιούνται στον ελληνικό τομέα των υπηρεσιών, δίνοντας ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στον ρόλο των ΤΠΕ. Η συγκεκριμένη εμπειρική ανάλυση χρησιμοποιεί τη Γενικευμένη Μέθοδος Ροπών συστήματος εφαρμόζοντας ξεχωριστές εκτιμήσεις για κάθε έναν από τους 14 διαθέσιμους κλάδους των υπηρεσιών. Τα αποτελέσματα προτείνουν ότι οι πορείες μεγέθυνσης των επιχειρήσεων εμφανίζονται να είναι ετερογενείς ανάλογα με τον τύπο ΤΠΕ των κλάδων και ότι η δυναμική διαδικασία μεγέθυνσης των επιχειρήσεων στις υπηρεσίες που σχετίζονται με ΤΠΕ μπορεί να μην απεικονίζει την αντίστοιχη που ισχύει στην μεταποίηση. Στο κεφάλαιο 5 εξετάζεται η επίδραση των χρηματοδοτικών περιορισμών στην μεγέθυνση 1734 επιχειρήσεων που δραστηριοποιούνται στον ελληνικό τομέα μεταποίησης. Ταυτόχρονα, η συγκεκριμένη εμπειρική ανάλυση διερευνά πιθανούς παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την δυνατότητα πρόσβασης των επιχειρήσεων σε εξωτερική χρηματοδότηση, χρησιμοποιώντας την Γενικευμένη Μέθοδο Ροπών συστήματος για την εκτίμηση των υπό εξέταση υποδειγμάτων μεγέθυνσης. Ταξινομώντας τις επιχειρήσεις σε 3 ηλικιακές ομάδες επιχειρήσεων και σε 2 μεγάλες ομάδες κλάδων με κριτήριο την έντασή τους σε ΤΠΕ, αποδεικνύεται ότι στους μη-ΤΠΕ κλάδους οι νέες επιχειρήσεις αντιμετωπίζουν μεγαλύτερα προβλήματα χρηματοδότησης σε σχέση με τις πιο ηλικιωμένες επιχειρήσεις. Αντίθετα, στους ΤΠΕ κλάδους οι νέες επιχειρήσεις εμφανίζονται να είναι ικανές να αποκτήσουν όμοια πρόσβαση σε εξωτερική χρηματοδότηση όπως οι ηλικιωμένες επιχειρήσεις. Στο τελευταίο κεφάλαιο συνοψίζονται αρχικά τα βασικά ευρήματα και τα συμπεράσματα που προκύπτουν από τα τρία εμπειρικά κεφάλαια της διατριβής, κατόπιν διατυπώνονται κάποιες προτάσεις αξιοποίησης των ευρημάτων της παρούσας διατριβής στο πλαίσιο της οικονομικής πολιτικής, μετέπειτα αναφέρονται κάποιοι περιοριστικοί παράγοντες που παρουσιάστηκαν κατά την εκπόνηση της διατριβής, και τέλος προτείνονται κάποιες κατευθύνσεις για μελλοντική έρευνα. / The main objective of the present thesis is to examine and evaluate the impact of various factors on the growth patterns of firms. In doing so, we make use of a dataset on firms that operate in the Greek sectors of manufacturing and services during the period 1995-2001. Intra-industry growth dynamics of firms are analyzed in the context of the stochastic theory of growth, which is expressed mainly by Gibrat’s Law. In this framework, initial firm size is considered as a critical variable for the investigation of the behaviour of firm growth. At the same time, the present thesis investigates whether relevant factors - such as firm size, firm age, persistence of firm growth, financing constraints, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) - play any role in the growth process of firms. The thesis consists of 6 chapters. The first chapter provides a short introduction in the subject of thesis. Chapter 2 provides an extensive empirical and theoretical literature review on firm growth. Chapter 3 investigates the dynamic growth process of firms in the context of Gibrat’s Law and considers the potential persistence of firm growth over time, using a dataset of 3685 firms that operate in the Greek manufacturing sector. In this empirical chapter, applying the OLS and the delta method, the results suggest for the total sample that small surviving firms have a higher potential of growth than larger ones. The classification of firms in 4 size groups and 4 age groups yields interesting findings. In particular, it is observed that the growth rates of micro, small and young firms tend to persist in subsequent periods. On the other hand, the growth patterns of medium, large and old firms follow a random walk. Chapter 4 examines the growth patterns of 4975 firms that act in the Greek service sector, focusing particularly on the role of ICT. This empirical analysis uses the GMM system technique to estimate separately each of the 14 available disaggregated service industries. The results show that the firm growth patterns are heterogeneous for different ICT groups of industries and the dynamic growth process of firms in ICT-related services might not resemble the firm growth patterns holding in manufacturing. Chapter 5 examines the impact of financing constraints on the growth of 1734 firms that operate in the Greek manufacturing sector. At the same time, this empirical analysis investigates possible factors that affect the ability of firms to have access to external finance, using the GMM system method in order to estimate the examined growth models. By classifying firms in 3 age groups and in 2 major groups of industries with respect to their intensity in the use of ICT, it is found that young firms face greater financing constraints than their older counterparts. On the contrary, in ICT sectors young firms appear to be able to acquire similar access to external finance as the older firms. The last chapter, summarizes the main findings of the three empirical chapters, points at relevant policy implications, limitations and directions for further research.

<p>In this study, any change in fingerprint performance, image quality and minutiae count for infants in three different age groups was evaluated (0-6, 7-12, and >12 months). This was done to determine whether there is a difference in performance between infant age groups for a fingerprint recognition system.</p> <p>The purpose of this research was to determine whether there is a difference in infant fingerprint performance and image quality metrics, between three different age groups (0-6, 7-12, and >12 months old), using the same optical sensor? The data used for this secondary analysis was collected as part of a longitudinal multimodal infant study, using the Digital Persona U.are.U 4500. DET curves, zoo analysis, and image quality metrics were used to evaluate performance and quality factored by infant age group.</p><p>This study found that there was a difference in image quality and minutiae count, genuine and impostor match scores, and performance error rates (EER) between the three age groups. Therefore, quality and performance were dependent on age. While there was a difference in performance between age groups, there was generally stability for subjects who overlapped between multiple age groups. Difference in performance was most likely due to the difference in physical characteristics between subjects in each age group, rather than individual instability. The results showed that it could potentially be feasible to use fingerprint recognition for children over the age of 12 months.</p>

Moral judgments and moral emotions are a ubiquitous feature of social interactions. Humans decide quickly and intuitively whether an action is morally right or wrong. Schadenfreude and sympathy, as emotional reactions to the misfortunes of others, are prototypical moral emotions. So far, however, little evidence exists concerning children’s understanding of schadenfreude. Within three studies, we investigated the experience of schadenfreude and sympathy among N = 364 children of different age groups. We interviewed the children while showing them picture stories. In the picture stories, we varied the behavior of the protagonist prior to a misfortune: (1) whether his behavior had been morally right or wrong, (2) whether the protagonist attained his goal, (3) whether the protagonist was responsible for the misfortune. In addition, in one study we varied (4) the emotional relationship of the interviewed children to the protagonist. Furthermore, we asked the children to decide whether they want to sit next to the protagonist or do him a favor. Results show that children experience sympathy as well as schadenfreude at the age of 4 years. Sympathy is more likely to arise when the protagonists of a story are likable, when these actors typically pursue morally positive goals, and if they are not responsible for their misfortune. In contrast, schadenfreude is more likely when the protagonist is disliked, when actors pursue immoral goals and if they are responsible for their misfortune. In addition, sympathy increases approach (helping behavior, sitting next to the agent and doing favors), whereas schadenfreude increases avoidance tendencies.

Магистерская диссертация посвящена проблеме дискриминации по возрасту в трудовой сфере, которая с повышением пенсионного возраста в России актуализировалась еще больше. Сегодняшняя ситуация, связанная с мерами противодействия распространения короновируса в России, также грозит усилением проявлений эйджизма. Цель исследования: оценить влияние повышения пенсионного возраста на масштабы распространения возрастной дискриминации на рынке труда и разработать рекомендации по противодействию возрастной дискриминации на рынке труда в Свердловской области в связи с последствиями, вызванными повышением пенсионного возраста. Методология исследования основана на сочетании количественных и качественных методов сбора необходимой информации, обеспечивающих рассмотрение проблемы как с позиции работников (метод массового анкетного опроса населения), так и с точки зрения работодателя (методы: контент-анализ объявлений о вакансиях в Свердловской области и глубинные интервью с работодателями). В исследовании проанализированы социально-экономические последствия повышения пенсионного возраста для рынка труда; выявлены основные проблемы крайних возрастных групп на рынке труда, дана оценка масштаба распространения возрастной дискриминации в сфере труда; определены оптимальные способы для преодоления выявленных проблем. Результатом работы стала разработка ряда рекомендаций для противодействия возрастной дискриминации на рынке труда в Свердловской области. / The master's thesis is devoted to the problem of age discrimination in the labor sector, which has become even more relevant with the increase in the retirement age in Russia. The current situation related to measures to counteract the spread of coronovirus in Russia also threatens to increase the manifestations of ageism. Objective: to assess the impact of raising the retirement age on the prevalence of age discrimination in the labor market and to develop recommendations for countering age discrimination in the labor market in the Sverdlovsk region in connection with the consequences caused by the increase in the retirement age. The research methodology is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods for gathering the necessary information, ensuring the consideration of the problem both from the position of employees (mass questionnaire survey of the population) and from the point of view of the employer (methods: content analysis of job ads in the Sverdlovsk region and in-depth interviews with employers). The study analyzes the socio-economic consequences of raising the retirement age for the labor market; identifies the main problems of extreme age groups in the labor market, assesses the scale of age discrimination in the labor sphere; identifies the best ways to overcome the identified problems. The work resulted in the development of a number of recommendations to counteract age discrimination in the labor market in the Sverdlovsk region.

The literature directly comparing the epidemiology of MRSA among adult and pediatric hospitalized patients is strikingly minimal. The objective of this thesis was to identify any differences between these two patient groups. The Canadian Nosocomial Infections Surveillance Program MRSA data (1995 to 2007: n=1,262 pediatric and 35,907 adult cases) were used to compare MRSA clinical and molecular characteristics and rates. Hospital characteristics were modeled using repeated measures Poisson regressions. The molecular and epidemiological characteristics of MRSA differed significantly between adults and children. Compared to children, MRSA in adults was more likely to be healthcare-associated, colonization, SCCmec type II, PVL negative, and resistant to most antibiotics. Rates of MRSA in Canada increased in both populations over time but were significantly higher in adults. The hospital characteristics associated with increased MRSA rates differed in adult and pediatric facilities. Implications for infection prevention and control strategies are discussed.

The literature directly comparing the epidemiology of MRSA among adult and pediatric hospitalized patients is strikingly minimal. The objective of this thesis was to identify any differences between these two patient groups. The Canadian Nosocomial Infections Surveillance Program MRSA data (1995 to 2007: n=1,262 pediatric and 35,907 adult cases) were used to compare MRSA clinical and molecular characteristics and rates. Hospital characteristics were modeled using repeated measures Poisson regressions. The molecular and epidemiological characteristics of MRSA differed significantly between adults and children. Compared to children, MRSA in adults was more likely to be healthcare-associated, colonization, SCCmec type II, PVL negative, and resistant to most antibiotics. Rates of MRSA in Canada increased in both populations over time but were significantly higher in adults. The hospital characteristics associated with increased MRSA rates differed in adult and pediatric facilities. Implications for infection prevention and control strategies are discussed.