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Political frictions significantly affect both pricing and supply in the long-term care insurance (LTCI) market. Comparing the same insurer's requests submitted for the same policy at the same time to different state regulators, we find that they are 13% more likely to be approved and receive 4% more of the requested amount after an election year. Over time, regulatory pushback on premium increase requests leads to persistently lower cash reserves and increases the probability of company dropout. An insurer who receives one-standard-deviation less of their requested increase is 20% more likely to leave the market next year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the effect of injection–production coupling development to improve crude oil recovery in complex fault-block reservoirs, we carried out a physical simulation experiment based on a sandpack model of transforming water-driven development into injection–production coupling development and quantitatively evaluated the influence of rounds of injection pressure coupling on the crude oil mobilization in reservoirs with different permeability levels and on oil recovery. Meanwhile, the characteristics of residual oil were studied via a numerical simulation method. The mechanism of increased oil production via injection–production coupling development was revealed by analyzing the water and oil contents, formation pressure, and streamline fields through the establishment of mechanism models. The results of the physical experiment show that injection–production coupling can improve the recovery effect of medium- and low-permeability reservoirs by 55.66%. With an increase in the injection pressure, the oil recovery percentage of the low-permeability sandpack model at 20 MPa is 100%, and this study finds that injection–production coupling is the main way to develop the recoverable oil in a low-permeability reservoir. The numerical simulation results show that among the four remaining oil distribution types (interwell-enriched, low-permeability zone-enriched, well network imperfection, and mismatch between injection and production), the interwell-enriched type of the remaining oil reserves accounts for the highest proportion (48.52%). The simulation results of the mechanism model show that water-driven development easily leads to streamline solidification, resulting in ineffective circulation of the injected water. Compared with conventional water-driven development, the pressure propagation range is significantly increased in injection–production coupling development. The reservoir streamline distribution is more continuous and uniform, and the flooding wave is wider in volume and range. This research provides a theoretical basis for the injection–production coupling technology policy in complex fault-block reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The '100% money' proposal aims at divorcing the creation of money from banking, by requiring 100% reserves on transaction accounts. The public monetary authority would then be the sole issuer of means of payment, while the banks would function as true intermediaries, financing loans with pre‐existing money. This article, building on the works of 1930s economists such as Irving Fisher, presents ten arguments in favour of this reform proposal — arguing that it would, in particular, prevent cumulative variations in the money stock, facilitate monetary control, reduce government intervention in banking, improve public finances, and make money creation more neutral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activities of business entities are conducted in conditions of uncertainty, which leads to the emergence of various types of business risks. The accounting system plays an important role in the information provision of risk management. Reliable accounting data can be a reliable source of information when making decisions on economic risk management both by the managers of the enterprise and by other parties interested in its activities. The article is devoted to the study of the accounting provision of capital reserves as a risk management tool for the protection of the capital of the enterprise. In the classification of capital reserves, an additional feature is distinguished by the identification of risks for the management of which the reserves are formed. It has been established that the risks of enterprises are the subject of the formation of reserves, and therefore it is advisable for the enterprise to create specific types of reserves that are necessary to cover the types of risks that are inherent in its activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the shortcomings of the AISC 360–22 and Eurocode 3–22 provisions for calculating the plateau and lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) flexural resistance of thin-web singly-symmetric steel I-section members with the larger flange in compression. In addition, the paper proposes and evaluates corresponding newly recommended AISC 360 procedures, which eliminate the tension flange yielding (TFY) limit state check and implement a more mechanistically-based solution accounting for the inelastic reserve strength associated with flexural yielding in tension. The recommended procedures incorporate other recently proposed improvements to AISC 360, solving substantive LTB overprediction problems for certain types of built-up I-section members. The results from six large-scale experimental tests, associated finite element analysis (FEA) simulations, and parametric FEA simulation studies are considered. The results demonstrate improved accuracy and substantial gains in the predicted strengths by the recommended procedures relative to the AISC 360–22 and Eurocode 3–22 calculations for a significant range of geometries and loadings. In addition, the recommended methods address LTB overprediction problems exhibited by AISC 360–22 for a limited range of the member types studied. • Experimental evidence shows current flexure design codes can be overly conservative. • Accounting for tensile yield in flexure can result in substantial strength gains. • Codes do not calculate the true stain distribution for larger flanges in compression. • Experimental evidence shows current flexure design codes can overpredict capacity. • Improvements can be made to the design codes through simple modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems, especially in peninsular Spain. Biosphere Reserves are internationally protected areas that seek to protect biodiversity and, at the same time, promote sustainable development. Evaluating these protected areas is essential to verify environmental changes and establish priorities in their management. In this work, we have studied the time trends of NDVI in the high mountain Biosphere Reserves of Spain from 2001 to 2016 to check if the trend patterns are associated with some environmental variables. Significant differences were found between NDVI trends and high mountain Biosphere Reserves. Firstly, significant positive trends in NDVI were observed when analysing both reserves together. However, significant differences were found between the two reserves. The Ordesa-Viñamala Reserve shows higher positive NDVI trends and lower negative trends, while this pattern is reversed in Sierra Nevada. We observed how the fluctuations in temperature and drought due to climate change have already negatively affected the Mediterranean reserve (Sierra Nevada). In contrast, the alpine reserve (Ordesa-Viñamala) maintains positive NDVI trends. This study helps to close the gap in information related to Biosphere Reserves, which gives value to the work that is being carried out by the local communities that make up them, generating statistically significant results that Biosphere Reserves are protected areas that help us understand how to manage and govern socioecological systems sustainably. • The study assesses NDVI trend in the Spanish high mountain Biosphere Reserves. • We analysis the association between NDVI trends and environmental variables. • Significant differences in NDVI trend frequency found between the reserves. • Climate change is having effects on reserves NDVI trends. • Trend data is key to ensuring reserves take into account in political decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]