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PubMed2006

Juggling land retirement objectives on an agricultural landscape: coordination, conflict, or compromise?

Strategic land retirement in agricultural settings has been used as one way to achieve a combination of social objectives, which include ameliorating water quality problems and enhancing existing systems of wildlife habitat. This study uses a simulation model operating on a virtual landscape, along with the compromise programming method, to illustrate the implications of alternative weighting schemes for the long-term performance of the landscape toward various objectives. The analysis suggests that particular spatial patterns may be related to how various objectives are weighted. The analysis also illustrates the inevitable trade-offs among objectives, although it may be tempting to present retirement strategies as "win-win."

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

DNA repair gene polymorphisms in relation to chromosome aberration frequencies in retired radiation workers.

Polymorphic variation in DNA repair genes was examined in a group of retired workers from the British Nuclear Fuels plc facility at Sellafield in relation to previously determined translocation frequencies in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Variation at seven polymorphisms in four genes involved in the base excision repair (XRCC1 R194W, R399Q and a [AC]n microsatellite in the 3' UTR) and double strand break repair (XRCC3 T241M and a [AC]n microsatellite in intron 3 of XRCC3, XRCC4 I134T, and a GACTAn microsatellite located 120 kb 5' of XRCC5) pathways was determined for 291 retired radiation workers who had received cumulative occupational external radiation doses of between 0 and 1873 mSv. When the interaction between radiation dose and each DNA repair gene polymorphism was examined in relation to translocation frequency there was no evidence for any of the polymorphisms studied influencing the response to occupational exposure. A positive interaction observed between genotype (individuals with at least one allele > or =20 repeat units) at a microsatellite locus in the XRCC3 gene and smoking status should be interpreted cautiously because interactions were investigated for seven polymorphisms and two exposures. Nonetheless, further research is warranted to examine whether this DNA repair gene variant might be associated with a sub-optimal repair response to smoking-induced DNA damage and hence an increased frequency of translocations.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Heat treatment of incinerator retired sorbents containing heavy metals.

Previous studies have indicated that an effective control technique for heavy metal emissions from incinerators is to use solid sorbents to capture metals by physical deposition and chemical adsorption. However, the adsorbed heavy metals on the retired sorbents could possibly cause secondary pollution if they are inadequately treated. The main objective of this study is to increase the stability of four heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd) on retired sorbents by heat treatment. The stability was based on the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests. The parameters evaluated included: (1) different temperatures (900, 1100 and 1300 degrees C); and (2) various heating times (20, 40 and 60 min). The results indicated that most of the leaching rates decreased with increasing temperature for the four toxic heavy metals. The heat treatment time did not regularly influence the stability of heavy metals, and affected it slightly when the temperature was controlled at 1300 degrees C.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1999

Evidence for up-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA by soy phytoestrogens in the frontal cortex of retired breeder female rats.

In this study, we examined the effects of oral micronized estradiol and soy phytoestrogens on the mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the frontal cortex of ovariectomized retired breeder female rats. Fifteen ovariectomized rats were randomized into three groups and fed either a soy-free control diet (OVX), a control diet with added soybean estrogens (SBE), or a control diet with added estradiol (E2) for 8 weeks. Frontal cortex samples were collected for RNA isolation. Northern and Phosphorlmager analyses were used to determine the relative levels of BDNF mRNA. Both estradiol and soy phytoestrogens significantly increased the mRNA levels of BDNF compared to ovariectomized controls, suggesting that soy phytoestrogens may act as estrogen agonists in regulating BDNF mRNA in the frontal cortex of retired breeder female rats.

Actins↗
PubMed2006

Positive and negative recency effects in retirement savings decisions.

Retirement savings decisions can be influenced by the fund composition of the retirement savings plan. In 2 experiments, strong composition effects were observed, with a larger percentage of resources being invested in stock funds when more stock than bond funds were offered. Although participants changed their allocations repeatedly, the opportunity to learn did not alter the composition effects. Learning processes led to positive and negative recency effects as well, providing evidence that allocations were strongly influenced by the recent performance of the different allocation options. Two learning models were tested to explain these learning processes. The first, a local adaptation learning model, assumes that people change their behavior on the basis of recent experience, whereas the second, a reinforcement learning model, assumes that decisions are made on the basis of the totality of accumulated experience. The local adaptation model was more accurate in predicting allocation decisions, in explaining positive and negative recency effects, and in showing why composition effects are not overcome by learning.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The effect of group exercise on physical functioning and falls in frail older people living in retirement villages: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a 12-month program of group exercise can improve physical functioning and reduce the rate of falling in frail older people. DESIGN: Cluster randomized, controlled trial of 12 months duration. SETTING: Retirement villages in Sydney and Wollongong, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-one people aged 62 to 95 (mean+/-standard deviation=79.5+/-6.4) who were living in self- and intermediate-care retirement villages. MEASUREMENTS: Accidental falls, choice stepping reaction time, 6-minute walk distance postural sway, leaning balance, simple reaction time, and lower-limb muscle strength. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty subjects were randomized to the weight-bearing group exercise (GE) intervention that was designed to improve the ability of subjects to undertake activities for daily living. Subjects randomized to the control arm (n=271) attended flexibility and relaxation (FR) classes (n=90) or did not participate in a group activity (n=181). In spite of the reduced precision of cluster randomization, there were few differences in the baseline characteristics of the GE and combined control (CC) subjects, although the mean age of the GE group was higher than that of the CC group, and there were fewer men in the GE group. The mean number of classes attended was 39.4+/-28.7 for the GE subjects and 31.5+/-25.2 for the FR subjects. After adjusting for age and sex, there were 22% fewer falls during the trial in the GE group than in the CC group (incident rate ratio=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.62-0.99), and 31% fewer falls in the 173 subjects who had fallen in the past year (incident rate ratio=0.69, 95% CI=0.48-0.99). At 6-month retest, the GE group performed significantly better than the CC group in tests of choice stepping reaction time, 6-minute walking distance, and simple reaction time requiring a hand press. The groups did not differ at retest in tests of strength, sway, or leaning balance. CONCLUSION: These findings show that group exercise can prevent falls and maintain physical functioning in frail older people.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1998

Effects of walking on mortality among nonsmoking retired men.

BACKGROUND: The potential benefit of low-intensity activity in terms of longevity among older men has not been clearly documented. We examined the association between walking and mortality in a cohort of retired men who were nonsmokers and physically capable of participating in low-intensity activities on a daily basis. METHODS: We studied 707 nonsmoking retired men, 61 to 81 years of age, who were enrolled in the Honolulu Heart Program. The distance walked (miles per day) was recorded at a base-line examination, which took place between 1980 and 1982. Data on overall mortality (from any cause) were collected over a 12-year period of follow-up. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, there were 208 deaths. After adjustment for age, the mortality rate among the men who walked less than 1 mile (1.6 km) per day was nearly twice that among those who walked more than 2 miles (3.2 km) per day (40.5 percent vs. 23.8 percent, P=0.001). The cumulative incidence of death after 12 years for the most active walkers was reached in less than 7 years among the men who were least active. The distance walked remained inversely related to mortality after adjustment for overall measures of activity and other risk factors (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in older physically capable men indicate that regular walking is associated with a lower overall mortality rate. Encouraging elderly people to walk may benefit their health.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lead in vertebral bone biopsies from active and retired lead workers.

Samples of vertebral bone were obtained by skeletal biopsy and lead concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The median level of lead in bone in 27 active lead workers was 29 micrograms/g wet weight (range 2-155), corresponding to 370 micrograms/g calcium (range 30-1,120). In 9 retired workers, the corresponding levels were 19 micrograms/g (5-76) and 250 micrograms/g calcium (60-700); in 14 reference subjects without occupational exposure, 1.3 micrograms/g (1-4) and 13 micrograms/g calcium (8-40). The bone lead content rose with time of exposure. Comparison of levels in vertebra with those in fingerbone, as measured by in vivo x-ray fluorescence in the same subjects, strongly suggested the presence of lead pools with different kinetics. The accumulation pattern, as well as the relation between levels in vertebra and fingerbone, suggests a much shorter half-time of lead in the mainly trabecular vertebral bone as compared to the mainly cortical fingerbone. Further, there was an association between vertebral and blood lead levels in the retired workers, which shows a considerable endogenous lead exposure from the skeletal pool.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The effect of private insurance on the health of older, working age adults: evidence from the health and retirement study.

OBJECTIVE: Primarily, to determine if the presence of private insurance leads to improved health status, as measured by a survey-based health score. Secondarily, to explore sensitivity of estimates to adjustments for endogeneity. The study focuses on adults in late middle age who are nearing entry into Medicare. DATA SOURCES: The analysis file is drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, a national survey of relatively older adults in the labor force. The dependent variable, an index of 5 health outcome items, was obtained from the 1996 survey. Independent variables were obtained from the 1992 survey. State-level instrumental variables were obtained from the Area Resources File and the TAXSIM file. The final sample consists of 9,034 individuals of which 1,540 were uninsured. STUDY DESIGN: Estimation addresses endogeneity of the insurance participation decision in health score regressions. In addition to ordinary least squares (OLS), two models are tested: an instrumental variables (IV) model, and a model with endogenous treatment effects due to Heckman (1978). Insurance participation and health behaviors enter with a lag to allow their effects to dissipate over time. Separate regressions were run for groupings of chronic conditions. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The OLS model results in statistically significant albeit small effects of insurance on the computed health score, but the results may be downward biased. Adjusting for endogeneity using state-level instrumental variables yields up to a six-fold increase in the insurance effect. Results are consistent across IV and treatment effects models, and for major groupings of medical conditions. The insurance effect appears to be in the range of about 2-11 percent. There appear to be no significant differences in the insurance effect for subgroups with and without major chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Extending insurance coverage to working age adults may result in improved health. By conjecture, policies aimed at expanding coverage to this population may lead to improved health at retirement and entry to Medicare, potentially leading to savings. However, further research is needed to determine whether similar results are found when alternative measures of overall health or health scores are used. Future research should also explore the use of alternative instrumental variables. Preliminary results provide no justification for targeting certain subgroups with susceptibility to certain chronic conditions rather than broad policy interventions.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1991

Adverse reactions to amantadine prophylaxis of influenza in a retirement home.

OBJECTIVE: Controversy exists about the safety of following the recommendation of the Immunization Practice Committee of the Centers for Disease Control that nursing home residents be given amantadine prophylaxis during influenza outbreaks. This study was undertaken to define the incidence of adverse reactions to amantadine in the elderly and to identify risk factors for side effects. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A retirement home which offered amantadine prophylaxis to its residents during a presumed influenza outbreak. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 96 elderly residents, 79 accepted the offer of amantadine prophylaxis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attributable adverse health outcomes as assessed by chart review. RESULTS: 41% of the people receiving amantadine had attributable adverse reactions, of which 22% were classified as severe. Severe adverse reactions were associated with residence in the assisted living section of the facility (P = 0.002), a greater number of underlying diagnoses (P = 0.009), congestive heart failure (P = 0.02), and high serum creatinine (P = 0.02). A person with none of these risk factors had a 7% chance of having a severe adverse outcome compared to a 70% chance for someone with all four risk factors. CONCLUSION: The findings raise concern that the prophylactic administration of amantadine to all elderly residents of nursing and retirement homes may be associated with a high incidence of unacceptable reactions, particularly among less healthy residents.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Mixed solvent exposure and cerebral symptoms among active and retired workers. An epidemiological investigation of 3387 men aged 53-75 years.

In an epidemiological study comprising 3,387 men aged 53 to 75 years, 3303 men with valid questionnaire answers to questions on occupational organic solvents exposure, four cerebral symptoms and current work status were examined. Two-hundred and ninety-five men had been occupationally exposed to mixed organic solvents for a period of 5 years or more. Among them 178 were retired, while 117 were still gainfully employed. The exposed men in both groups had highly significantly more complaints of decreased concentration ability and of memory difficulties. Of the exposed retired men a higher prevalence of headache was found. Among the exposed still employed a trend towards a higher prevalence of dizziness was found. This study was conducted within a cardiovascular study with no focus on the relationship between organic solvent exposure and cerebral symptoms, a design reducing the risk of overreporting. If overreporting was responsible for the differences found between solvent-exposed and unexposed cases a similar pattern for reporting of acute and chronic symptoms should be expected. This was not the case. Our results support the hypothesis, that occupational exposure to organic solvents for a period of 5 years or more increases the risk of developing persistent memory difficulties and a decrease in concentration ability.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Serum protein electrophoresis in retired racing Greyhounds.

BACKGROUND: Retired racing Greyhounds are becoming common as pets. Because of their unique physiology, results of routine laboratory tests are frequently outside the reference interval for dogs. Compared with other breeds, Greyhounds have low serum protein concentrations, but the concentrations of different serum protein fractions have not been reported. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to evaluate the results of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) in healthy, retired racing Greyhounds and compare them with a control group of age- and gender-matched non-Greyhound dogs. METHODS: Agarose gel electrophoresis was done using a standard method; the gels were stained with amido black and scanned with a Cliniscan 2 densitometer (Helena Laboratories, Beaumont, TX, USA). Protein fractions were identified by visual inspection of the electrophoretogram. A Student's t-test assuming equal variances was used to compare the concentration of the different fractions between groups. RESULTS: The concentrations of total protein, total globulins, and alpha-1-, alpha-2-, beta-1-, and beta-2-globulins were significantly lower and the albumin to globulin (A:G) ratio was significantly higher in Greyhounds than in non-Greyhound dogs (P < .05). There was no significant difference in albumin or gamma-globulin concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Low serum protein concentrations in Greyhounds are the result of low concentrations of a- and b-globulins. These results should be kept in mind when evaluating both healthy and sick Greyhounds. Additional studies are needed to identify the individual proteins associated with low alpha- and beta-globulin concentrations in Greyhounds.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

The impact of late career job loss on myocardial infarction and stroke: a 10 year follow up using the health and retirement survey.

BACKGROUND: Involuntary job loss is a major life event associated with social, economic, behavioural, and health outcomes, for which older workers are at elevated risk. OBJECTIVE: To assess the 10 year risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke associated with involuntary job loss among workers over 50 years of age. METHODS: Analysing data from the nationally representative US Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to estimate whether workers who suffered involuntary job loss were at higher risk for subsequent MI and stroke than individuals who continued to work. The sample included 4301 individuals who were employed at the 1992 study baseline. RESULTS: Over the 10 year study frame, 582 individuals (13.5% of the sample) experienced involuntary job loss. After controlling for established predictors of the outcomes, displaced workers had a more than twofold increase in the risk of subsequent MI (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.49 to 4.14) and stroke (HR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.18 to 4.98) relative to working persons. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the true costs of late career unemployment exceed financial deprivation, and include substantial health consequences. Physicians who treat individuals who lose jobs as they near retirement should consider the loss of employment a potential risk factor for adverse vascular health changes. Policy makers and programme planners should also be aware of the risks of job loss, so that programmatic interventions can be designed and implemented to ease the multiple burdens of joblessness.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Evolution of osteoarticular disorders as a function of past heavy physical work factors: longitudinal analysis of 627 retired subjects living in the Paris area.

The relations between osteoarticular disorders and occupational exposure to heavy physical work factors were studied in a random sample of retired subjects living in the Paris area, all of whom had contributed to the same retirement pension fund. 627 subjects were originally seen in 1982-3 and 464 of them were seen again five years later. On both occasions, the same questionnaire was completed during a home interview. Osteoarticular disorders were evaluated by the presence of pain, with or without restricted joint movement, for at least six months before interview. The heavy physical work factors were those reported by the subject at the first interview, and only subjects who stated that they had been exposed to these factors for more than 10 years were considered as exposed persons. For those who were seen twice, the frequency of osteoarticular pain increased during the five years between the two interviews, from 52% to 65% in the men and 72% to 82% in the women. Among both sexes, these frequencies were significantly higher in those who stated that in the past they had to carry heavy weights and work in tiring positions. The increases in frequency of pain during the five year study period were also related to these occupational factors. In general, the frequencies for subjects not exposed to occupational factors caught up with those found for the exposed group. This interaction of age with the relation between exposure to heavy physical work factors and osteoarticular disorders does not seem to be explained by confounding factors, including age at the first interview, the fact of living alone, of being a former manual worker, of having a cardiorespiratory disorder, and smoking habits. The results of the survey suggest that working conditions are an important cause of osteoarticular disorders that last well beyond the end of working life.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Effect of body weight gain on insulin sensitivity after retirement from exercise training.

The objectives of this study were to determine how long increased insulin sensitivity, elicited by exercise training, persists after the end of training and what the effect of weight gain is on this retention. Exercise-trained (ET) rats ran voluntarily in freely rotating wheel cages, and insulin sensitivity was assessed by oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and insulin suppression tests (IST). After training, ET rats were retired for 1, 3, or 7 days (R1, R3, or R7). Initial OGTT and IST studies indicated that sensitivity to insulin-induced glucose uptake was increased in ET rats compared with sedentary control (C) rats and was progressively lost with retirement: ET greater than R1 and R3 greater than R7 and C rats, and this reaction was generally associated with a rapid gain in body weight. Subsequent IST tests were performed on C and R7 rats fed laboratory chow or a hypocaloric diet consisting of equal parts of cellulose and chow for 7 days before the test. The results of these tests showed that steady-state serum glucose (SSSG) levels averaged 165 +/- 12 mg/dl for chow-fed C rats and 172 +/- 11 mg/dl for chow-fed R7 rats that gained body weight at rates twice those of C rats. Chow-fed R7 rats, gaining weight at rates comparable to C rats, had SSSG levels of 104 +/- 6 mg/dl. C and R7 rats fed the hypocaloric diet had SSSG values of 102 +/- 6 and 59 +/- 4 mg/dl, respectively. Muscle glycogen levels were comparable in all groups, and liver glycogen was lower in C and R7 rats fed the hypocaloric diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The decision process for retirement center development: is market research being used effectively?

This paper examines the role of market research in the decision process used to invest in continuing care retirement centers (CCRCs). Given changing demographics and the availability of financing, there has been a rapid increase in the number of CCRCs that are being developed. However, a large number of these centers have either failed or are experiencing financial difficulty. Some industry participants have blamed poor or inadequate market research as a factor contributing to the failure of many centers to meet expectations. This paper discusses how the process used to invest in centers and how the motivations of the different actors in the investment decision can influence the role and use of market research. Recommendations are suggested for how industry investors can better understand and use market research in the decision to invest in a retirement center.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Management responsibilities in the retirement village industry: a New Zealand study.

The Retirement Village/Rest Home industry is growing rapidly. Many of those fulfilling managerial roles within this industry do not appear to have management qualifications or prior managerial experience outside the public sector health system. If the industry is to effectively manage anticipated growth, managers may need to update their qualifications and knowledge base to ensure that they possess the skills and abilities required to meet changing business needs. This paper reports on an exploratory study designed to gather information that identifies the primary duties and responsibilites of retirement village managers and nurse managers, and their essential and desirable skills, attributes, and characteristics.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Age discrimination--disability benefits; public sector. Arnett v. California Public Employees Retirement System, No. 98-15574, __F.3d __(9th Cir.1999).

Under the statutory formula for determining disability retirement benefits for California public safety employees, the amount of benefits differs solely on the basis of the retiree's age when hired. This formula may violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) under a disparate treatment theory if the employees can prove discriminatory motive. While a formula for determining benefits that is based upon actual years of service does not violate ADEA, a formula based upon potential years of service as determined with reference to a presumed retirement age may violate the act. The disparate impact theory may be used to prove violation of ADEA in the Ninth Circuit.

Age Factors↗