Growth Effects of Non-Devolved Government Expenditure: Evidence from ARDL Approach to Co integration

Although it is theoretically expected that fiscal decentralization leads to efficient provision of local public services and induces economic growth, there is a mixed outcome of the non-devolved and devolved effect on economic expansion across earlier empirical studies. This could be due to non growth-enhancing expenditures that crowd-out outlays that are meant to boost economic growth. Further, devolved allocation is small, about 15 % of total revenue, to full stimulate economic growth in Kenya. However, national government spends a substantial amount in counties to complement devolved expenditure. Therefore, the issue of which non-devolved expenditure by national government can foster permanent movements in county economic growth becomes core. The panel ARDL and Kao co integration technique were used to test the linkage between non-devolved expenditure and economic growth in Kenya during the period, 2013-2017. The panel ARDL regression results revealed that the effect of non-devolved expenditure on economic growth was positive and significant in both long-run and short-run. The findings provide a basis for recommendation on the need for national government to increase budget allocation and execution in counties to complement devolved expenditure and also stimulate county economic growth in long-run. Keywords: Non-devolved, Economic growth, Kenya, ARDL, Expenditure, Panel DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-14-12 Publication date:July 31st 201

Generation of orthotopic patient-derived xenografts from gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

BackgroundGastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common sarcoma and its treatment with imatinib has served as the paradigm for developing targeted anti-cancer therapies. Despite this success, imatinib-resistance has emerged as a major problem and therefore, the clinical efficacy of other drugs has been investigated. Unfortunately, most clinical trials have failed to identify efficacious drugs despite promising in vitro data and pathological responses in subcutaneous xenografts. We hypothesized that it was feasible to develop orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from resected GIST that could recapitulate the genetic heterogeneity and biology of the human disease.MethodsFresh tumor tissue from three patients with pathologically confirmed GISTs was obtained immediately following tumor resection. Tumor fragments (4.2-mm3) were surgically xenografted into the liver, gastric wall, renal capsule, and pancreas of immunodeficient mice. Tumor growth was serially assessed with ultrasonography (US) every 3-4 weeks. Tumors were also evaluated with positron emission tomography (PET). Animals were sacrificed when they became moribund or their tumors reached a threshold size of 2500-mm3. Tumors were subsequently passaged, as well as immunohistochemically and histologically analyzed.ResultsHerein, we describe the first model for generating orthotopic GIST PDXs. We have successfully xenografted three unique KIT-mutated tumors into a total of 25 mice with an overall success rate of 84% (21/25). We serially followed tumor growth with US to describe the natural history of PDX growth. Successful PDXs resulted in 12 primary xenografts in NOD-scid gamma or NOD-scid mice while subsequent successful passages resulted in 9 tumors. At a median of 7.9 weeks (range 2.9-33.1 weeks), tumor size averaged 473 ± 695-mm³ (median 199-mm3, range 12.6-2682.5-mm³) by US. Furthermore, tumor size on US within 14 days of death correlated with gross tumor size on necropsy. We also demonstrated that these tumors are FDG-avid on PET imaging, while immunohistochemically and histologically the PDXs resembled the primary tumors.ConclusionsWe report the first orthotopic model of human GIST using patient-derived tumor tissue. This novel, reproducible in vivo model of human GIST may enhance the study of GIST biology, biomarkers, personalized cancer treatments, and provide a preclinical platform to evaluate new therapeutic agents for GIST

Consumers’ salient beliefs regarding foods from edible insects in Kenya: a qualitative study using concepts from the theory of planned behaviour

Population growth, urbanization and climate change, are among the factors that have created uncertainties and pressures on current global food and economic systems. Agricultural intensification can no longer support the increasing demand for food, especially of protein origin. Consequently, pressure is mounting on the supply side (private sector) to develop viable alternative sources of protein’ foods. Insects as food and consumption of foods from edible insects (FEI) are being promoted as one potential solution to the declining access to protein foods. However, one of the challenges facing the private sector is to demonstrate the efficacy of FEI programmes in the face of limited information regarding consumer - psychographic characteristics including their attitudes, values, interests and beliefs. The aim of the study was to explore the salient beliefs underlying consumer attitudes towards FEI consumption in Kenya. To achieve this objective, six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted (n= 43), three with only female participants and the other three with a mixed gender. The FGD script was coded using the Theory of Planned Behaviour theoretical framework. The results show that, salient beliefs related to taste, availability, convenience, affordability and other benefits beyond nutrition, are the main determinants of the participants’ intentions to consume FEI. Intentions are also influenced by the perceived feelings regarding the social referents, including family members, peers, religious leaders and health officials; and perceived behavioural control factors such as perceived risks on their food choices, perceived convenience and availability. While designing local programmes to promote FEI consumption, participants support the idea of small groups, but expresses concern about the time of day (evening preferred), length and location of the group session. However, many participants are not receptive to receiving telephone messages, although they are open to the idea of receiving phone calls. The study findings provide unique insights, among them, cultural beliefs that underlies consumer attitudes towards consuming FEI. Additionally, the results suggest possible approaches and practical interventions that can be used to promote FEI consumption in specific regions of Kenya.Key words: Foods from edible insects, theory of planned behaviour, Salient belief

Some basement rocks from Bear Mountain to the Housatonic Highlands

Guidebook for field trips in western Massachusetts, northern Connecticut and adjacent areas of New York: 67th annual meeting October 10, 11, and 12, 1975: Trip A-1; C-

Placental transfer of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-209 in a human placenta perfusion system: an experimental study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been widely used as flame retardants in consumer products. PBDEs may affect thyroid hormone homeostasis, which can result in irreversible damage of cognitive performance, motor skills and altered behaviour. Thus, in utero exposure is of very high concern due to critical windows in fetal development.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A human ex vivo placenta perfusion system was used to study the kinetics and extent of the placental transfer of BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-209 during four-hour perfusions. The PBDEs were added to the maternal circulation and monitored in the maternal and fetal compartments. In addition, the perfused cotyledon, the surrounding placental tissue as well as pre-perfusion placental tissue and umbilical cord plasma were also analysed. The PBDE analysis included Soxhlet extraction, clean-up by adsorption chromatography and GC-MS analysis.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>Placental transfer of BDE-47 was faster and more extensive than for BDE-99. The fetal-maternal ratios (FM-ratio) after four hours of perfusion were 0.47 and 0.25 for BDE-47 and BDE-99, respectively, while the indicative permeability coefficient (IPC) measured after 60 minutes of perfusion was 0.26 h^-1and 0.10 h^-1, respectively. The transport of BDE-209 seemed to be limited. These differences between the congeners may be related to the degree of bromination. Significant accumulation was observed for all congeners in the perfused cotyledon as well as in the surrounding placental tissue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The transport of BDE-47 and BDE-99 indicates in utero exposure to these congeners. Although the transport of BDE-209 was limited, however, possible metabolic debromination may lead to products which are both more toxic and transportable. Our study demonstrates fetal exposure to PBDEs, which should be included in risk assessment of PBDE exposure of women of child-bearing age.</p

Combined linkage and association mapping of putative QTLs controlling black tea quality and drought tolerance traits

The advancements in genotyping have opened new approaches for identification and precise mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in plants, particularly by combining linkage and association mapping (AM) analysis. In this study, a combination of linkage and the AM approach was used to identify and authenticate putative QTLs associated with black tea quality traits and percent relative water content (%RWC). The population structure analysis clustered two parents and their respective 261 F1 progenies from the two reciprocal crosses into two clusters with 141 tea accessions in cluster one and 122 tea accessions in cluster two. The two clusters were of mixed origin with tea accessions in population TRFK St. 504 clustering together with tea accessions in population TRFK St. 524. A total of 71 putative QTLs linked to black tea quality traits and %RWC were detected in interval mapping (IM) method and were used as cofactors in multiple QTL model (MQM) mapping where 46 putative QTLs were detected. The phenotypic variance for each QTL ranged from 2.8 to 23.3% in IM and 4.1 to 23% in MQM mapping. Using Q-model and Q + K-model in AM, a total of 49 DArTseq markers were associated with 16 phenotypic traits. Significant marker-trait association in AM were similar to those obtained in IM, and MQM mapping except for six more putative QTLs detected in AM which are involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, carbon fixation and abiotic stress. The combined linkage and AM approach appears to have great potential to improve the selection of desirable traits in tea breeding.James Finlay (Kenya) Ltd., George Williamson (Kenya) Ltd., Sotik Tea Company (Kenya) Ltd., Mcleod Russell (Uganda) Ltd., the TRI of Kenya and Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products (SABINA) as well as the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industries of South Africa (dti), the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, and the University of Pretoria (South Africa).https://www.springer.com/journal/106812020-09-11hj2020BiochemistryGeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Multi-zone trapped-ion qubit control in an integrated photonics QCCD device

Multiplexed operations and extended coherent control over multiple trapping sites are fundamental requirements for a trapped-ion processor in a large scale architecture. Here we demonstrate these building blocks using a surface electrode trap with integrated photonic components which are scalable to larger numbers of zones. We implement a Ramsey sequence using the integrated light in two zones, separated by 375 $\mu$m, performing transport of the ion from one zone to the other in 200 $\mu$s between pulses. In order to achieve low motional excitation during transport we developed techniques to measure and mitigate the effect of the exposed dielectric surfaces used to deliver the integrated light to the ion. We also demonstrate simultaneous control of two ions in separate zones with low optical crosstalk, and use this to perform simultaneous spectroscopy to correlate field noise between the two sites. Our work demonstrates the first transport and coherent multi-zone operations in integrated photonic ion trap systems, forming the basis for further scaling in the trapped-ion QCCD architecture.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figure

Perbandingan Analgesia Epidural Menggunakan Bupivakain 0,125% dengan Kombinasi Bupivakain 0,0625% dan Fentanil 2 μg/mL terhadap Nyeri dan Blok Motorik pada Persalinan Normal

Analgesia epidural merupakan standar emas untuk memfasilitasi persalinan normal tanpa nyeri. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk membandingkan analgesia epidural bupivakain 0,125% dengan bupivakain 0,0625% ditambah fentanil 2 μg/mL yang diukur dengan numeric rating scale (NRS) dan blok motorik yang dinilai dengan skala bromage selama persalinan normal. Penelitian dilakukan sebagai uji klinis acak terkontrol buta ganda terhadap 34 parturien primigravida dengan status fisik ASA II yang direncanakan melahirkan normal di ruang bersalin Rumah Sakit Dr. Hasan Sadikin Bandung pada Desember 2011–Juni 2012. Subjek dikelompokkan menjadi 2, kelompok bupivakain (B) dan kelompok bupivakain fentanil (BF). Hasil penelitian dianalisis memakai uji chi-kuadrat dan uji t-independent dengan tingkat kepercayaan 95% dan dianggap bermakna bila p0,05. Nilai bromage kelompok B vs BF berbeda bermakna dengan nilai p0.05. Bromage score B vs BF group significantly different with p value <0.05 at 90 minutes. This study concluded that the combination of 0.0625% bupivacaine + fentanyl 2 μg/mL produce analgesia similar to that provided by infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine and reduce the incidence of motor block during labor.Key words: Bupivacaine, bromage score, epidural, fentanyl, numeric rating scale (NRS), parturien, primigravida DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15851/jap.v1n2.12

Antioxidant treatment attenuates lactate production in diabetic nephropathy

The early progression of diabetic nephropathy is notoriously difficult to detect and quantify before the occurrence of substantial histological damage. Recently, hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate has demonstrated increased lactate production in the kidney early after the onset of diabetes, implying increased lactate dehydrogenase activity as a consequence of increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide substrate availability due to upregulation of the polyol pathway, i.e., pseudohypoxia. In this study, we investigated the role of oxidative stress in mediating these metabolic alterations using state-of-the-art hyperpolarized magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Ten-week-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: healthy controls, untreated diabetic (streptozotocin treatment to induce insulinopenic diabetes), and diabetic, receiving chronic antioxidant treatment with TEMPOL (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl) via the drinking water. Examinations were performed 2, 3, and 4 wk after the induction of diabetes by using a 3T Clinical MR system equipped with a dual tuned 13C/1H-volume rat coil. The rats received intravenous hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate and were imaged using a slice-selective 13C-IDEAL spiral sequence. Untreated diabetic rats showed increased renal lactate production compared with that shown by the controls. However, chronic TEMPOL treatment significantly attenuated diabetes-induced lactate production. No significant effects of diabetes or TEMPOL were observed on [13C]alanine levels, indicating an intact glucose-alanine cycle, or [13C]bicarbonate, indicating normal flux through the Krebs cycle. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that diabetes-induced pseudohypoxia, as indicated by an increased lactate-to-pyruvate ratio, is significantly attenuated by antioxidant treatment. This demonstrates a pivotal role of oxidative stress in renal metabolic alterations occurring in early diabetes. </jats:p