Government size, unemployment, and inflation nexus in eight large emerging market economies

Using a panel of eight large emerging market economies from 1980 to 2015, this paper seeks to assess the causal linkages between government size, unemployment, and inflation. Overall, our results suggest that the government size is positively associated with both unemployment and inflation. The Granger causality runs from the government size to unemployment and to inflation. From our analysis, two aspects stand out. First, the effects of government size on unemployment and inflation depend essentially on how the government size is measured. As long as government consumption spending is considered as the proxy measure of the government size, the government size is significantly and positively correlated with unemployment, and with inflation. Second, indirect taxes, like government consumption spending, have a positive as well as statistically significant association with unemployment. However, the direct taxes solely exert a strong effect on inflation in the countries considered.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effects of different weaning modes on the endocrine stress response

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the stress response on plasma insulin, cortisol, glucose, and urinary vanilmandelic acid during weaning and after extubation, using pressure support (PS), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and T-piece modes. METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20). The PS group received FiO(2 )≤ 0.4, PS ≤ 10 cmH(2)O, and positive end expiratory pressure ≤ 5 cmH(2)O for 2 hours. The CPAP group was given FiO(2 )≤ 0.4 and CPAP 5 ≤ cmH(2)O for 2 hours. The T-piece group (group T) received 4 l/min oxygen via a T-piece for 2 hours. After 1 hour and 2 hours in their respective weaning modes, blood and urine samples were taken for insulin, cortisol, glucose and vanilmandelic acid measurements. Forty-eight hours after extubation, blood and urine samples were again taken. RESULTS: Plasma insulin was greater in group T than in the PS and CPAP groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01). The plasma cortisol concentration was greater in group T than in group PS during weaning (P < 0.05) and after extubation (P < 0.05). Blood glucose concentrations were greater in group T than in the other groups (both P < 0.01) both during weaning and post extubation. Urine vanilmandelic acid was greater in group T than in the other groups during weaning and after extubation (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Weaning via the T-piece caused a greater stress response than the PS and CPAP modes

Attention: there is an inconsistency between android permissions and application metadata!

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Springer in International Journal of Information Security on 07/01/2021, available online: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10207-020-00536-1 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Since mobile applications make our lives easier, there is a large number of mobile applications customized for our needs in the application markets. While the application markets provide us a platform for downloading applications, it is also used by malware developers in order to distribute their malicious applications. In Android, permissions are used to prevent users from installing applications that might violate the users’ privacy by raising their awareness. From the privacy and security point of view, if the functionality of applications is given in sufficient detail in their descriptions, then the requirement of requested permissions could be well-understood. This is defined as description-to-permission fidelity in the literature. In this study, we propose two novel models that address the inconsistencies between the application descriptions and the requested permissions. The proposed models are based on the current state-of-art neural architectures called attention mechanisms. Here, we aim to find the permission statement words or sentences in app descriptions by using the attention mechanism along with recurrent neural networks. The lack of such permission statements in application descriptions creates a suspicion. Hence, the proposed approach could assist in static analysis techniques in order to find suspicious apps and to prioritize apps for more resource intensive analysis techniques. The experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves high accuracy.Published onlin

Tuning of LQR controller for an experimental inverted pendulum system based on The Bees Algorithm

Stabilizing of an inverted pendulum (IP) system is a main problem for researchers working on control theory. Balancing of an inverted pendulum system is one of the major benchmark problems in the control system community. This paper presents optimal tuning of linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller with The Bees Algorithm (BA) for a linear inverted pendulum. In this paper, a metaheuristic approach which is a nature-inspired search method that mimics the foraging behavior of honey bees is used for design of LQR controller to obtain optimal performance. In LQR controller design, state (Q) and control (R) weighting matrices are basic parameters of LQR which are tuning by designer using trial and error method in usually. The Bees Algorithm optimizes the weighting matrices of the LQR controller so that it can move the cart to a desired position with the minimum change in pendulum’s angle from vertically upright position during the movement. The tuned LQR controller is benchmarked on the linear inverted pendulum experimental device (IP02) that is manufactured by QUANSER Company. After description of the system and The Bees Algorithm, the paper gives the experimental results obtained from the IP02 system to demonstrating the efficiency of the tuning of the LQR controller. Simulation and experimental results are given graphically to show the success of controller. As a result of the paper, the performance of LQR controller shows the effectiveness of The Bees Algorithm which is a diversity method for provide an efficient solution to conventional trial and error design approach

Effect of Fluoride Varnish Containing CPP-ACP on Preventing Enamel Erosion

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a fluoride varnish with added casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate treatment on the prevention of enamel erosion, and it compared the results with those of other fluoride varnishes. Fifty enamel specimens obtained from bovine incisors were randomly divided into five groups (n=10) based on the type of surface pretreatment used: intact enamel (Group 1); intact enamel+erosive cycles (Group 2); intact enamel+MI varnish+erosive cycles (Group 3); intact enamel+Clinpro White varnish+erosive cycles (Group 4); and intact enamel+Duraphat varnish+erosive cycles (Group 5). The specimens were subjected to erosive cycles for five days. The surface roughness was evaluated using atomic force microscopy. The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests. Group 1 had the smoothest surfaces. After the erosive cycles, the greatest surface roughness values were observed in Group 2, followed by Groups 5, 4, and 3, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed among all groups (p&lt;0.05). The application of fluoride varnishes had some positive effects on preventing enamel erosion; however, the most effective agent was fluoride varnish with added casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate.</jats:p

CYTOTOXIC AND GENOTOXIC EVALUATION OF SOME NEWLY SYNTHESIZED SULFONAMIDE DERIVATIVES

In the present study, it was aimed to assess the genotoxic potentials of [4,4-Dimethyl-2,6dioxocyclohexylidene) methylamino) benzene sulfonamide] (2b) and [4-((1,3-Dimethy1-2,4,6trioxo-tetrahydropyrimidin-5(6H)-ylidene) methyla mino) benzenesulfonamide] (2e) compounds which were synthesized considering that they may be used as drug raw materials and detected to inhibit human carbonic anhydrase I, II isoenzymes. For this purpose, chromosomal aberration, micronucleus and comet tests were implemented in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. 2b was used at the concentrations of 2.12, 1.06, 0.53 mu g/mL. 2e was used at the concentrations of 2.52, 1.26, 0.63 mu g/mL for these in vitro assays. We observed that 2b and 2e had no significant difference in all our application doses for chromosomal abnormalities and micronucleus assay. 2b and 2e showed different responses for tail length, tail intensity and tail moment in Comet assay. 2b reduced the mitotic index in all concentrations in 48 h application compared to both control groups, whereas 2e only reduced mitotic index at 2.52 mu g/mL compared to negative control and in all concentrations compared to the solvent control. According to the obtained results, the test substances are cytotoxic at high concentrations and long-term exposure but they are not genotoxic in human peripheral lymphocytes

Effect of carvedilol on silent anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity assessed by strain imaging: A prospective randomized controlled study with six-month follow-up

Background: The use of antracycline (ANT) in breast cancer has been associated with adverse cardiac events. Two-dimensional (2D) strain imaging (SI) can provide a more sensitive measure of altered left ventricular (LV) systolic function. We aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of carvedilol administration assessed by SI in a patient with breast cancer treated with ANT.Methods: Patients receiving ANT were randomly assigned to the carvedilol- or placebo-receiving group. Each received an echocardiographic examination with conventional 2D echocardiography, pulsed tissue Doppler, and 2D SI prior to and 6 months post ANT treatment.Results: During the 6-month follow-up period there were no patient deaths or interrupted chemotherapy treatments due to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Both left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS) were within normal limits for all patients before and after ANT therapy. EF, FS and LV dimensions were measured using M-mode echocardiography and found to be similar in both groups before and after ANT therapy. The mean EF, FS, and LV echocardiograph baseline and control dimensions were similar in both groups after 6 months. Though baseline SI parameters were similar between the groups, there was a significant decrease in LV basal septal and basal lateral peak systolic strain in the control group compared to the carvedilol group.Conclusions: These results indicate that carvedilol has a protective effect against the cardiotoxicity induced by ANT.

Vision-based autonomous UGV detection, tracking, and following for a UAV

This study proposes a methodology for unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) navigation in off-road environments where GPS signals are not available. The Husky-A200 at Cranfield University, United Kingdom has been used as a UGV in this research project. Due to the limited field of vision of UGVs, a UAV-UGV collaboration approach was adopted. The methodology involves five steps. The first step is divided into three phases: The aerial images of UGV from UAV are generated in the first phase. In the second phase, the UGV is detected and tracked using computer vision techniques. In the third phase, the relative pose (position and heading) between the UAV and UGV is estimated continuously using visual data. In the second step, the UAV maintain a fixed location (position and heading) relative to the UGV. The third step involves capturing aerial images from the UAV‘s mounted camera and transmitting it to the ground station instantly to create a global traversability map that classifies terrain features based on their traversability. In the fourth step, additional sensors such as LiDAR, radar, and IMU are used to refine the global traversability map. In the final step, the UGV navigates automatically using the refined traversability map. This study will focus on the first two steps of the methodology, while subsequent studies will address the remaining steps

Genotoxicity evaluation of a new phthalazine substituted ?-lactam derivative in human lymphocytes

The aim of present study, to evaluate the genotoxic potential of 1-(4-(3,3-dimethyl-1,6-dioxo-2,3,4,6,11,13-hexahydro-1H-indazolo[1,2b] phthalazine-13yl) phenyl)-2-phenylazetidine-3-yl-acetate which was synthesised assuming that it may be a pharmaceutical raw material and found to inhibit human carbonic anhydrase I, II isozymes. To determine the genotoxic potential of this phthalazine substituted beta-lactam compound, chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) tests were implemented in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. In these tests, lymphocyte cultures were treated with four concentrations (30, 15, 7.5, 3.75 mu g/mL) of test compound and simultaneously with negative control (sterile distilled water), solvent control (DMSO) positive control (MMC). According to our results, CA frequencies were significantly increased in two high applied concentrations (30, 15 mu g/mL) compared with negative and solvent control. MN frequencies were significantly increased in three applied concentrations (30, 15, 7.5 mu g/mL) except lowest concentration (3.75 mu g/mL) compared with solvent control. Mitotic indices were also affected by treatment with test compound. The obtained results provide evidence to demonstrate that new phthalazine substituted beta-lactam derivative can exert genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in peripheral human lymphocytes especially at high concentrations

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia