Premošćivanje granica, ublažavanje siromaštva: uloga inozemnih doznaka

This paper examines the impact of international remittances on poverty. A three-stage least squares model is used to examine whether there is a two-way relationship between poverty and international remittances. Rising poverty levels create incentives for migration abroad, with immigrants sending remittances back to their country of origin, thereby reducing poverty. Higher household incomes are associated with a decline in poverty, while growing income inequality tends to exacerbate poverty. In addition, trade openness has a positive effect on international remittances, and in financially developed economies, official remittances flow more smoothly as transaction costs decline. By channeling international remittances, which are recognised as a stable source of financial support, into the accumulation of physical and human capital, they contribute to economic development and enhance their impact on poverty reduction. This study makes a notable contribution to the literature by using the latest comprehensive dataset and an econometric methodology. It also distinguishes the impact of international remittances on poverty using income group-specific and region-specific considerations.Ovaj rad istražuje utjecaj inozemnih doznaka na siromaštvo. Metodom trostupanjskog modela najmanjih kvadrata ispituje se postoji li dvosmjerna veza između siromaštva i inozemnih doznaka. Sve veće razine siromaštva potiču migraciju u inozemstvo, pri čemu imigranti šalju doznake natrag u svoju zemlju podrijetla, smanjujući siromaštvo. Viši prihodi kućanstava povezani su sa smanjenjem siromaštva, dok ga sve veća nejednakost u prihodima pogoršava. Osim toga, otvorenost trgovine pozitivno utječe na inozemne novčane doznake, a u financijski razvijenim gospodarstvima službene doznake teku lakše kako transakcijski troškovi opadaju. Usmjeravanjem inozemnih novčanih doznaka, koje su prepoznate kao stabilan izvor financijske potpore, u akumulaciju fizičkoga i ljudskoga kapitala, one pridonose gospodarskom razvoju i pojačavaju svoj utjecaj na smanjenje siromaštva. Ovaj rad daje značajan doprinos literaturi upotrebom najnovijeg sveobuhvatnog skupa podataka i ekonometrijske metodologije te razlikuje utjecaje inozemnih doznaka na siromaštvo služeći se razmatranjima specifičnim za dohodovnu skupinu i regiju

BRANCHING NEURAL NETWORKS

A conditional deep learning model that learns specialized representations on a decision tree is described. Unlike similar methods taking a probabilistic mixture of experts (MoE) approach, a feature augmentation based method is used to jointly train all network and decision parameters using back–propagation, which allows for deterministic binary decisions at both training and test time, specializing subtrees exclusively to clusters of data. Feature augmentation involves combining intermediate representations with scores or confidences assigned to branches. Each representation is augmented with all of the scores assigned to the active branch on the computational path to encode the entire path information, which is essential for efficient training of decision functions. These networks are referred to as Branching Neural Networks (BNNs). As this is an approach that is orthogonal to many other neural network compression methods, such algorithms can be combined to achieve much higher compression rates and further speedups

Nilotinib significantly induces apoptosis in imatinib resistant K562 cells with wild-type BCR-ABL, as effectively as in parental sensitive counterparts

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematological malignancy characterized by high levels of immature white blood cells. CML is caused by the translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 (which results in the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome) creating BCR-ABL fusion protein. Imatinib and nilotinib are chemotherapeutic drugs which specifically bind to the BCR-ABL and inhibit cancer cells. Nilotinib is more effective in this respect than imatinib. We have shown that nilotinib induces apoptosis in imatinib-resistant K562 CML cells which have the wild-type BCR-ABL fusion gene almost to the same extent as it does in the parental sensitive cells by the increase in caspase-3 enzyme activity and the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. This effect of nilotinib, even in low concentrations, may indicate the efficacy of the usage of nilotinib in imatinib-resistant CML with less risk of undesired cytotoxic effects in the remaining cells of the body. © 2010 W. S. Maney & Son Ltd

Application of Power Flow problem to an open quantum neural hardware

Significant progress in the construction of physical hardware for quantum computers has necessitated the development of new algorithms or protocols for the application of real-world problems on quantum computers. One of these problems is the power flow problem, which helps us understand the generation, distribution, and consumption of electricity in a system. In this study, the solution of a balanced 4-bus power system supported by the Newton-Raphson method is investigated using a newly developed dissipative quantum neural network hardware. This study presents the findings on how the proposed quantum network can be applied to the relevant problem and how the solution performance varies depending on the network parameters.Comment: 5 Figures, 6 Page

Apoptotic effects of resveratrol, a grape polyphenol, on imatinib-sensitive and resistant K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells

To examine the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of resveratrol on imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant K562 chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Antiproliferative effects of resveratrol were determined by the 3-Bis[2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt (XTT) cell proliferation assay. Apoptotic effects of resveratrol on sensitive K562 and resistant K562/IMA-3 cells were determined through changes in caspase-3 activity, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and apoptosis by annexin V-(FITC). The concentrations of resveratrol that inhibited cell growth by 50% (IC(50)) were calculated as 85 and 122 μM for K562 and K562/IMA-3 cells, respectively. There were 1.91-, 7.42- and 14.73-fold increases in loss of MMP in K562 cells treated with 10, 50, and 100 μM resveratrol, respectively. The same concentrations of resveratrol resulted in 2.21-, 3.30- and 7.65-fold increases in loss of MMP in K562/IMA-3 cells. Caspase-3 activity increased 1.04-, 2.77- and 4.8-fold in K562 and 1.02-, 1.41- and 3.46-fold in K562/IMA-3 cells in response to the same concentrations of resveratrol, respectively. Apoptosis was induced in 58.7%- and 43.3% of K562 and K562/IMA-3 cells, respectively, in response to 100 μM resveratrol. Taken together these results may suggest potential use of resveratrol in CML, as well as in patients with primary and/or acquired resistance to imatinib

Multidrug resistance mediated by MRP1 gene overexpression in breast cancer patients

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a serious handicap towards the effective treatment of breast cancer patients. One of the most prevalent MDR mechanisms is through the overexpression of genes coding the proteins called Multidrug Resistance-associated Proteins (MRPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MRP1 in tumor tissues from breast cancer patients. In this study, a semi-quantitative RT-PCR approach was utilized. Our results suggest that MRP1 overexpression can mediate MDR in patients. Pre-evaluation of the level of such MDR mediators before chemotherapy can increase the efficacy of the treatment

A new lumbar fixation device alternative to pedicle-based stabilization for lumbar spine: In vitro cadaver investigation

Context: To evaluate the stability provided by a new bilateral fixation technique using an in vitro investigation for posterior lumbar segmental instrumentation. Design: Experimental cadaver study. In this study, we propose an alternative technique for a posterior lumbar fixation technique called “inferior-oblique transdiscal fixation” (IOTF). Setting: Study performed at Engineering Center for Orthopedic Research Exellence (ECORE) in Toledo University-Ohio. Participants: Six human lumbar cadaveric specimen used in this study. Interventions: In this study, we propose an alternative technique for a posterior lumbar fixation technique called “inferior-oblique transdiscal fixation” (IOTF). As a novel contribution to the classical technique, the entry point of the screw is the supero-lateral point of the intersecting line drawn between the corpus and the pedicle of the upper vertebra. This approach enables the fixation of two adjacent vertebrae using a single screw on each side without utilizing connecting rods. Outcome Measures: Flexion (Flex), extension (Ext), right and left lateral bending (LB & RB), and right and left axial rotation (LR & RR), and the position data were captured at each load step using the Optotrak motion measurement system and compared for IOTF and posterior transpedicular stabilization. Results: The Posterior stabilization system (PSS) and IOTF significantly reduced the ROM of L4-L5 segment compared to intact segment’s ROM. During axial rotation (AR) IOTF fused index segment more than PSS. Besides this, addition of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) cage improved the stabilization of IOTF system during flexion, extension and lateral bending. Whereas, PSS yielded better fusion results during extension compared to IOTF with and without interbody fusion cages. Conclusions: We hypothesized that the new posterior bilateral system would significantly decrease motion compared to the intact spine. This cadaver study showed that the proposed new posterior fusion technique IOTF fused the index segment in a similar fashion to the classical pedicle screw fusion technique.National Science Foundation (NSF)University of Toledo, Toledo, O

Clinical results of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Objective: To review our results of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: We evaluated the medical records of patients undergoing carotid artery revascularization procedure, between 2001 and 2013 in Baskent University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Carotid artery stenting or CEA procedures were performed in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (=70%) or symptomatic stenosis (=50%). Demographic data, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Primary outcome measures were in 30-day stroke/transient ischemic attacks (TIA)/amaurosis fugax or death. Secondary outcome measures were nerve injury, bleeding complications, length of stay in hospital, stroke, restenosis (ICA patency), and all-cause death during long-term follow-up. Results: One hundred ninety-four CEA and 115 CAS procedures were performed for symptomatic and/or asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. There is no significant differences 30-day mortality and neurologic morbidity between CAS (13%) and CEA procedures (7.7%). Length of stay in hospital were significantly longer in CEA group (p=0.001). In the post-procedural follow up, only in symptomatic patients, restenosis rate was higher in the CEA group (p=.045). The other endpoints did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is an alternative for vascular surgery, especially for patients that are high risk for standard CEA. The increasing experience, development of cerebral protection systems and new treatment protocols increases CAS feasibility

Comparison of the Accuracy of Manual and Digital Cephalometric Prediction Methods in Orthognathic Surgical Planning: A Pilot Study

Objective:To compare and evaluate the reliability of manual and digital cephalometric prediction methods in orthognathic surgical planningMethods:Ten adults (5 females and 5 males) with skeletal class III malocclusion were included. The mean patient age was 21.97 years. Pre- to postoperative changes were evaluated using paired t-test. Manual surgical predictions made by tracing on acetate paper and digital predictions made using computer software were compared with actual postoperative values using intraclass correlation coefficient and root mean square.Results:Statistically significant changes were observed in SNA, SNB, ANB, U1i-FH, and Nperp-A following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (p<0.001). Postoperative changes in Co-A and Nperp-Pg were statistically significant (p<0.05). Comparison of manual and digital surgical predictions with actual postoperative values revealed that overbite and overjet showed the lowest agreements. Manual predictions were less accurate for points that were difficult to distinguish (Co and U6). Skeletal predictions were more accurate than dental predictions.Conclusion:Parameters with low reproducibility (Co and U6) decrease the reliability of predictions. Dental predictions were inaccurate in both methods due to the effects of intermaxillary elastics, but both methods yielded similar predictions for skeletal parameters. The impact of applying strong elastics for postoperative intermaxillary fixation should be considered when making surgical predictions