Measuring Fiscal Decentralization in the Philippines

This paper focuses on the fiscal decentralization in the Philippines after the 1991 Local Government Code. It first examines the intergovernmental fiscal relationship between central and local governments by using fiscal decentralization indicators, and then investigates its impact on local finance. After fiscal decentralization, the local expenditure responsibility is expanded while the local fiscal capacity is not strengthened in the Philippines. Local governments consequently comes to depend heavily on fiscal transfers from the central government, internal revenue allotments (IRAs), which has a substantial influence on local finance. The heavy dependence on IRAs makes local finance unpredictable and unstable. The distribution of IRAs also affects the horizontal balance between provincial governments.Fiscal Decentralization, Fiscal Decentralization Indicators, Horizontal Balance, The Philippines, Philippines, Decentralization, Local Finance

Fiscal Decentralization, Chinese Style: Good for Health Outcomes?

This study analyzes the effect of fiscal decentralization on health outcomes in China using a panel data set with nationwide county-level data. We find that counties in more fiscal decentralized provinces have lower infant mortality rates compared with those counties in which the provincial government retains the main spending authority, if certain conditions are met. Spending responsibilities at the local level need to be matched with county government?s own fiscal capacity. For those local governments that have only limited revenues, their ability to spend on local public goods such as health care depends crucially upon intergovernmental transfers. The findings of this study thereby support the common assertion that fiscal decentralization can indeed lead to more efficient production of local public goods, but also highlights the necessary conditions to make this happen. --

Fiscal Decentralization, Chinese Style: Good for Health Outcomes?

This study analyzes the effect of fiscal decentralization on health outcomes in China using a panel data set with nationwide county-level data. We find that counties in more fiscal decentralized provinces have lower infant mortality rates compared with those counties in which the provincial government retains the main spending authority, if certain conditions are met. Spending responsibilities at the local level need to be matched with county government?s own fiscal capacity. For those local governments that have only limited revenues, their ability to spend on local public goods such as health care depends crucially upon intergovernmental transfers. The findings of this study thereby support the common assertion that fiscal decentralization can indeed lead to more efficient production of local public goods, but also highlights the necessary conditions to make this happen

Langerhans' cells: influence of the of oral contraceptives by women with negative hybrid capture for human papillomavirus

PURPOSE: to study the influence of the use of oral contraceptives (OC) on the number of Langerhans' cells in women without cervical infection by human papillomavirus (HPV). METHODS: thirty women who presented abnormal cervical cytology and colposcopy-guided biopsy with samples of uterine cervix negative for HPV were selected. The absence of HPV DNA was confirmed by hybrid capture. Langerhans' cells were identified by immunohistochemistry using anti-S100 antigens. The cells visualized in light microscopy were counted using the Cytoviewer software. The nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum test was employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: the average number of Langerhans' cells in OC users was 320.7/mm² and in non-users 190.7/mm², this difference being statistically nonsignificant. In the intermediary layer of the cervical epithelium a tendency towards the increase of these cells was observed, with the averages 192.1/mm² for OC users and 93.4/mm² for non-users (p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the present study reports a tendency towards the increase in the number of the Langerhans' cells among OC users. This result suggests the OC may induce alterations in the number of Langerhans' cells, but considering the limited number of cases, more studies should be developed for a definitive conclusion.OBJETIVO: estudar a influência do uso de anticoncepcionais orais (AO) sobre o número de células de Langerhans em mulheres sem infecção cervical por papilomavírus humano (HPV). MÉTODOS: foram incluídas trinta mulheres com alterações citológicas e biópsia dirigida pela colposcopia com amostras de colo uterino sem sinais de infecção por HPV. A ausência de DNA de HPV foi confirmada pela captura híbrida. As células de Langerhans foram identificadas pela reação de imuno-histoquímica com uso de antígenos anti-S100. As células visualizadas em microscopia de luz foram contadas utilizando o software Cytoviewer. Para análise estatística utilizou-se o teste não paramétrico de soma das ordens de Wilcoxon. RESULTADOS: a média do número de células de Langerhans em mulheres usuárias de AO foi de 320,7/mm² e em não usuárias 190,7/mm², não sendo esta diferença significante. Na camada intermediária do epitélio cervical observou-se tendência ao aumento dessas células, com as médias 192,1/mm² para usuárias e 93,4/mm² para não usuárias de AO (p=0,05). CONCLUSÕES: no presente estudo não se observou diferença significativa no total de células de Langerhans entre as usuárias e não usuárias de AO, porém, na camada intermediária do epitélio observou-se tendência ao aumento no número dessas células entre as usuárias de AO. Este resultado sugere que os AO podem induzir alterações no número das células de Langerhans, considerando porém o limitado número de casos, este achado não pode ser confirmado.Universidade Estadual de Maringá Divisão de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia do Hospital Universitário de Maringá Departamento de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Núcleo de Prevenção de Doenças Ginecológicas Departamento de GinecologiaUniversidade Estadual de MaringáUNIFESP, Núcleo de Prevenção de Doenças Ginecológicas Depto. de GinecologiaSciEL

3D Vehicle Extraction and Tracking from Multiple Viewpoints for Traffic Monitoring by using Probability Fusion Map

This paper presents a novel solution of vehicle occlusion and 3D measurement for traffic monitoring by data fusion from multiple stationary cameras. Comparing with single camera based conventional methods in traffic monitoring, our approach fuses video data from different viewpoints into a common probability fusion map (PFM) and extracts targets. The proposed PFM concept is efficient to handle and fuse data in order to estimate the probability of vehicle appearance, which is verified to be more reliable than single camera solution by real outdoor experiments. An AMF based shadowing modeling algorithm is also proposed in this paper in order to remove shadows on the road area and extract the proper vehicle regions

Correlation of MLH1 and MGMT expression and promoter methylation with genomic instability in patients with thyroid carcinoma

Background: Gene silencing of the repair genes MLH1 and MGMT was shown to be a mechanism underlying the development of microsatellite instability (MSI), a phenotype frequently associated with various human malignancies. Recently, aberrant methylation of MLH1, MGMT and MSI were shown to be associated with mutations in genes such as BRAF, RAS and IDH1 in colon and brain tumours. Little is known about the methylation status of MLH1 and MGMT in thyroid tumours and its association with MSI and mutational status.Methods: in a series of 96 thyroid tumours whose mutational profiles of BRAF, IDH1 and NRAS mutations and RET/PTC were previously determined, we investigated MLH1 and MGMT expression and methylation status by qPCR and methylation-specific PCR after bisulphite treatment, respectively. MSI was determined by PCR using seven standard microsatellite markers.Results: Samples with point mutations (BRAF, IDH1 and NRAS) show a decrease in MLH1 expression when compared to negative samples. Additionally, malignant lesions show a higher MSI pattern than benign lesions. the MSI phenotype was also associated with down-regulation of MLH1.Conclusions: the results of this study allow us to conclude that low expression of MLH1 is associated with BRAF V600E mutations, RET/PTC rearrangements and transitions (IDH1 and NRAS) in patients with thyroid carcinoma. in addition, a significant relationship between MSI status and histological subtypes was found.Univ Sao Francisco, Unidade Integrada Farmacol & Gastroenterol, BR-12900000 Braganca Paulista, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Genet, Lab Bases Genet Tumores Tiroide, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina Genet, Lab Bases Genet Tumores Tiroide, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

A role for SUMO modification in transcriptional repression and activation

Since the discovery of the SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) family of proteins just over a decade ago, a plethora of substrates have been uncovered including many regulators of transcription. Conjugation of SUMO to target proteins has generally been considered as a repressive modification. However, there are now a growing number of examples where sumoylation has been shown to activate transcription. Here we discuss whether there is something intrinsically repressive about sumoylation, or if the outcome of this modification in the context of transcription will prove to be largely substrate-dependent. We highlight some of the technical challenges that will be faced by attempting to answer this question

Prevalência de anemia em escolares de escolas públicas de Maringá-PR, 2008

A anemia é um problema de saúde pública que afeta tanto países desenvolvidos quanto os em desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste estudo foi de estimar a prevalência de anemia em crianças que ingressaram no primeiro ano do Ensino Fundamental das escolas públicas do município de Maringá-PR, no ano de 2008 e os fatores associados à sua ocorrência. Estudo transversal realizado nas 57 escolas públicas de Maringá-PR, com população amostral probabilística constituída de 371 escolares. A dosagem de hemoglobina (Hb) foi feita pelo HemoCue, e a anemia classificada pelo critério estabelecido pela Organização Mundial da Saúde, Hb <11,5g/dL. Foram realizadas análises univariada e multivariada com regressão logística para as variáveis relacionadas ao evento. A prevalência da anemia foi de 39,3%. Foi verificada associação significativa entre anemia e número de filhos, verificando-se que em famílias com mais de 3 filhos a criança tem 8,6 vezes mais chance de ter a doença quando comparada à outras famílias. A prevalência da anemia nos escolares ingressantes foi elevada no município,evidenciando a necessidade de implementação e adoção de ações efetivas para sua prevenção e controle