The Political Economy of FDI flows into Developing Countries: Does the depth of International Trade Agreements Matter?

There is considerable debate whether the domestic political institutions (specifically, the country s level of democracy) of the host developing country toward foreign investors are effective in establishing the credibility of commitments are still underway, researchers have also analyzed the effect of international institutions such as (GATT-WTO) membership and Bilateral Investment treaties (BIT) in their role of establishing the credibility of commitment to attract foreign investments. We argue that there are qualitative differences among various types of trade agreements and full-fledged trade agreements (FTA-CU) provide credibility to foreign investors and democracy level in the host country conditions this effect whereas the partial scope agreements (PSA) are not sufficient in providing credibility of commitments and not moderated by democracy. This paper analyses the impact of heterogeneous TAs, and their interaction with domestic institutions, on FDI inflows. Statistical analyses for 122 developing countries from 1970 to 2005 support this argument. The method adopted relies on fixed effects estimator which is robust to control endogeneity on a large panel dataset. The strict erogeneity of results by using a method suggested by Baier and Bergstrand (2007) and no feedback effect found in sample. The results state that (1) More the FTA-CU concluded, larger the amount of FDI inflows are attracted into the developing countries and PSA are insignificant in determining the FDI inflow; (2) FTA CU are complementary to democratic regime whereas the conditional effect of PSA with democracy on levels of FDI inflows is insignificant.Comment: University of Orleans (France

Comparison of Ephedrine Versus Lidocaine in Reducing the Frequency of Pain on Propofol Injection during Elective Surgeries

Background: To compare the ephedrine with lidocaine for reducing frequency of pain on propofol injection during elective surgeries.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial 80 patients were observed by taking 40 patients in each group, i.e. group A: ephedrine group and group B:lidocaine group. Patients with ASA–I (normal healthy patient), II (mild systemic disease with no functional limitation) aging between 20 and 40 years and opting for elective surgical procedures were included. The pain intensity was classified in four levels from no pain to severe pain. The frequencies of pain intensity were recorded during the injection period before the loss of consciousness according to the verbal rating scale (VRS) explained to patients at the preoperative visit. Chi square test was used to compare the frequency of pain in two groups, where p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Effect modifiers i.e. the age, gender and ASA were controlled by stratification. The post stratification Chi-square test was applied keeping the p-value <0.05 as significant.Results: In Group A, 35% complained of severe pain, 42.5% had moderate pain, 22.5% had mild pain and no patients reported absence of pain as per our operational definition. In Group B 47.5% reported no pain during propofol injection, 40% complained of mild pain, 12.5% had moderate and no patients reported severe pain. The p-value is 0.00.Conclusion: Pretreatment with lidocaine resulted in significantly better pain control during propofol infusion than pretreatment with ephedrin

Molecular Characterization of Wheat Genotypes Using SSR Markers

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rusts are the most destructive and widespread among all other diseases of wheat because of their wide distribution, and their capacity to form new races that can attack previously resistant cultivars which result in serious yield losses. The molecular characterization and genetic diversity of 20 wheat genotypes was investigated using 34 polymorphic Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) screened primers. About thirty-one loci were found. Lr-19 gene was present in all 20 wheat genotypes that cause resistance against wheat rust. Shalimar-86 and Chakwal-86 showed the highest genetic diversity with SH-02 and Ufaq respectively, giving a 98.94% genetic similarity and a minimum genetic diversity was observed between Chakwal-50 and Bhakar which showed that they are 74% similar. The current research found that SSR makers could distinguish and characterize all of the genotypes, more screened primers could be used for study and for saturation of different regions in further research. The identification of rust resistant genes in Pakistani wheat germplasm will help in accelerating the breeding program in future, including pyramiding of different wheat resistant genes in wheat genotypes and varieties

Impact of Political and Economic Institutions on FDI Inflows: evidence from South Asian countries

The current study examines the effects of political and economic institutions on the FDI inflows for the selected 4 South Asian countries including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.  For this, Panel data is employed for the period 1984--2020. Panel unit root test, Pedroni Cointegration test, Dynamic OLS (DOLS), and Panel Error Correction Model (PECM) methods have been used to extract the results. The empirical findings revealed the significant and positive effect of economic institutions on the inward FDI of South Asian countries. However, political institutions are found to be insignificant for inward FDI. The outcomes of the VECM and the panel cointegration approach confirmed the presence of a cointegrated relationship among the variables. The short-run effects are found to be insignificant.  Therefore, Policymakers should make certain policies by taking into account the heterogeneity between economic and political institutions. They need to pay attention to the steps through which the institutions can be made stronger and more effective so that they can make the environment more favorable to attract the maximum number of FDI projects into a specific region

Hypoglycemic activity of Capparis ovata desf. var. palaestina zoh. methanol extract

Caper (Capparis ovata Desf. and Capparis spinosa L.) is naturally widespread in Turkey. Traditionally, buds, fruits, seeds and roots of this plant are used as tonic, diuretic, anti-rheumatic, expectorant, antidiabetic, and antifungal. The aim of this study is to evaluate potential hypoglycemic effect of C. ovata var. palaestina extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. For this purpose; diabetic mice were administered with 100, 300, 500 mg/kg (i.p.) doses of methanol extract of bud and fruit. Blood glucose levels were screened 60, 120, 240 and 360 min. after treatment. Furthermore, high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis, ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging activity test, and phenolic and flavonoid compounds analysis of extracts were carried out. The data obtained from in vivo study revealed that fruit-methanol 500 mg/kg (FM3), bud-methanol 300 mg/kg (BM2), bud-methanol 500 mg/kg (BM3) extracts showed significant hypoglycemic activity. All extracts indicated significant antioxidant activity, however bud-methanol (BM) extract demonstrated the most potent antioxidant activity. Moreover high levels of phenolic substances and flavonoids were involved in all extracts, but the highest levels were found in FM extract. HRMS study showed that rutin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin) and stachydrine substances had seen in BM extract. The results of this study showed that the C. ovata var. palaestina extracts which, indicate hypoglycemic, antioxidant activities, might provide additional support in diabetes

In silico elucidation of potential drug target sites of the Thumb Index Fold Protein, Wnt-8b

Purpose: The involvement of Wnt-8b in Wnt signaling pathway leads to various  cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic compounds from the available library by targeting Wnt-8b using molecular docking analyses.Methods: Threading and comparative modeling approaches were employed to predict the 3D structure of Wnt-8b. Sixty-eight models were evaluated using molprobity, ERRAT and rampage evaluation tools and the model having 82.456 % overall quality value was selected for further analyses. The acyl group was added to the suitable model to satisfy the hydrophobic nature of the Wnt-8b. Literature-derivedcompounds were selected for comparative molecular docking studies using GOLD, AutoDock and AutoDock Vina. Furthermore, docked complexes were analyzed and visualized using Chimera and Ligplot.Results: The compound ZINC04029462 exhibited high binding potential with Wnt-8b and palmitoleic acid and was found common among top 20 compounds of each tool. His-183, Val-185, Ser-186, Gly-187, Ser-188 and Thr-190 residues commonly interacted with compounds and palmitoleic acid and considered as potential interacting residues.Conclusion: Common interacting residues from top 20 compounds of each tool suggest that these compounds may be utilized to inhibit aberrant expression of Wnt-8b. The common inhibitor ZINC04029462 may act as a lead compound for further drug designing against Wnt family.Keywords: Wnt-8b, Cancer, Homology modeling, Molecular docking, AutoDoc

Anaesthetic Practices and Maternal Outcome in Rising Placenta Accreta Spectrum in Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: This study was carried out to determine whether the rate of abnormal placentation is increasing in concurrence with the cesarean section and to assess risk factors and outcomes with multidisciplinary team interventions and anesthetic practices. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Material & Methods: A study was conducted in the department of anaesthesia from January 2014 to December 2017. All candidates under the spectrum of placenta accreta were observed for maternal age, parity, mode of anesthesia, blood loss, and outcome. Results: Out of 109 patients, the preoperative diagnosis of PAS was made up of 100 (91.74%) and intraoperative diagnosis of 9 (08. 26%) patients. According to the mode of anesthesia, 100 (91.74%) patients received GA, and 09 (08.26%) patients received spinal anesthesia. In 06 (05.49%) patients, spinal was converted to GA. Perioperative CPR was done in 05 (04.58%) cases. Out of 109 cases, 83 survived uneventfully, and 21 developed complications. 05 patients expired in the following days. (01 immediately postoperative period, 02 in 1st 24 hours and 02 in 1st 48 hours. Conclusion The rate of placenta accreta increased in conjunction with cesarean deliveries; the most important risk factors were previous cesarean delivery, placenta previa, and advanced maternal age and outcomes improved in a multidisciplinary team intervention

Phlomis Pungens’in fitokimya ve in vitro farmakolojik etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the in vitro wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Phlomis pungens Willd. extract derived from the aerial parts. Material and Method: The phytochemical analysis was performed using GC-MS in order to identify the volatile components of the bioactive Hex extract. The wound healing activity of P. pungens extract was evaluated based on in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and, scratch activity was studied. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the extract was also evaluated. Result and Discussion: P. pungens methanol extract depicted a 5-LOX inhibitory activity at 78.2µg/mL (IC50), while the antioxidant activity by DPPH radical provided an IC50=2.41mg/mL, and the ABTS radical showed IC50=3.32mg/mL, respectively. The extract showed dose-dependently anti-inflammatory activity while L-NAME and P. pungens methanol extract significantly decreased LPS stimulated PGE2 production. According to the scratch assay results, all treatments led to an increase in cell migration rate with a dose-dependent effect. Our findings suggested that P. pungens methanol extract may have a role in wound healing according to the scratch test, and it is thought that its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity also contributed. Further evaluations are ongoing to confirm the in vitro activity under in vivo conditions.Amaç: Bu çalışmada, Phlomis pungens Willd. topraküstü kısımlarından elde edilen ekstrelerin in vitro yara iyileşmesi, antiinflamatuar, antimikrobiyal ve antioksidan aktivitesinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Biyoaktif hekzan ekstresinin uçucu bileşenlerini belirlemek için fitokimyasal analiz GC-MS kullanılarak yapılmıştır. P. pungens ekstresinin yara iyileştirme aktivitesi, in vitro antimikrobiyal, antioksidan, antiinflamatuar etkinlikleri değerlendirilmiş ve ek olarak ekstrenin in vitro sitotoksisitesi de değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuç ve Tartışma: P. pungens metanol ekstresi, 78,2 µg/mL'de (IC50) 5-LOX inhibe edici aktivite gösterirken, DPPH yöntemi ile antioksidan aktivitesi IC50=2.41mg/mL ve ABTS IC50=3.32 mg/mL olarak bulunmuştur. Ekstre, doza bağlı olarak anti-inflamatuar aktivite gösterirken, L-NAME ve P. pungens metanol ekstresi, LPS ile uyarılan PGE2 üretimini önemli ölçüde azaltmıştır. Strach metodu sonuçlarına göre doza bağlı etki ile hücre göç hızında bir artış gözlemlenmiştir. Bulgularımız, starch testine göre P. pungens metanol ekstresinin yara iyileşmesinde rol oynayabileceğini ve antioksidan ve antiinflamatuar aktivitesinin de katkıda bulunduğu düşündürmüştür. İn vivo koşullar altında in vitro aktiviteyi doğrulamak için başka değerlendirmeler devam etmektedir

Comparison of Ondansetron & Dexmedetomidine for Prevention of Post Spinal Shivering

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Spinal Anaesthesia is a major component of Anaesthetist's tool set and is widely used in Anaesthesia practices. A frequent problem encountered after spinal Anaesthesia is shivering caused by hypothermia. Incidence is 10-40%, if no prophylactic measures are taken, in different studies conducted on this topic. Hypothermia during intraoperative period is caused by different causes like  cold ambient OR temperature, cold IV fluids, unhumidified cold inspired gases, body cavity exposure, extremes of age and prolonged procedures. Shivering occurs because of vasodilation caused by inhibition of vasoconstriction by spinal Anaesthesia and altered perception from anaesthetized dermatomes. Shivering has an array of adverse effects including increased workload for cardiopulmonary system , poorly tolerated by patients at extremes of age. A number of drugs have been studied for shivering. Objective: To compare efficacy of Dexmedetomidine and ondansetron for prevention of shivering under spinal Anaesthesia Setting: AFIU  Study design: Randomized quasi experimental study  Study duration: 03 months  Materials and Methods:  The selected patients were randomly allocated to any of the two groups  with 50 patients each, according to computer generated random numbers. Both groups recieved study drugs after spinal Anaesthesia. Ondansetron group, 0.1mg/kg (groupO) and Dexmedetomidine group 0.1mcg/kg (group D). Patients were scored for shivering at scheduled intervals and rescue doses of Pethidine were given for severe shivering not responding to study drugs. Results:  Our study in group O had high mean shivering scores at scheduled intervals as compared to group D  Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine provides better control of shivering than Ondansetron               &nbsp