How Do Informal & Formal Institutions Affect Economic Development in East Asia and West?

This research explores how informal and formal institutions affect economic development differently in various East Asian country groups and West. Based on previous studies, we theorize that informal and formal institutions – social trust and protection of property rights – promote economic development in West, but hinder economic development in East Asia, due to different market mechanisms. In West, informal and formal institutions promote economic development by constraining government from acting on its whim, sustaining liberal market. On the contrary, such constraints may hamper economic development in East Asia, where government plays a central role sustaining market. Using two-way fixed effects panel data analysis from 1995 to 2010, our analysis confirms our expectation for East Asia. The result is robust after analysing similar country groups – East Asia and East Asian democracies. This research makes contribution to previous studies by empirically testing different market mechanisms for development in the two regions

Brain tumors in the mesial temporal lobe: long-term oncological outcome

Object. Surgical treatment of brain tumors in the mesial temporal lobe (MTL) is a highly demanding procedure. Only a few studies describing the surgery of MTL tumors have been reported, and they have been focused on the operative techniques and immediate results of the surgery. The authors have analyzed the long-term oncological outcome in patients with MTL tumors. Methods. Thirty-six patients with an MTL tumor were studied. The mean patient age at surgery was 32 years (range 13-62 years). The tumors were confined to the MTL (Schramm Type A) in 25 patients (69%). Extension of the tumor into the fusiform gyrus (Schramm Type C) and temporal stem (Schramm Type D) was observed in 4 and 7 patients (11 and 19%),respectively. There was a significant difference in the tumor size according to Schramm types (p = 0.001). Complete tumor resection was achieved in 26 patients (72%). All tumors were low-grade lesions except for 1 anaplastic astrocytoma. Results. After a median follow-up period of 50.5 months, 7 patients showed progression of the disease. The actuarial progression-free survival rates were 97% in the 1st year, 84% in the 2nd year, and 80% in the 5th year. The degree of tumor resection was significantly related to the tumor control failure (p = 50 years (p = 0.007, RR 8.312); and 4) short duration of epilepsy (< 6 months; p = 0.001, RR 21.54). Conclusions. Surgery is the principal treatment for MTL tumors, despite its technical difficulty. Complete tumor resection is strongly recommended for long-term tumor control. The MTL tumors are heterogeneous in their prognosis. Older age, short duration of epilepsy, and tumor size are all associated with poor outcome. Patients with these characteristics may have a more aggressive form of the disease than those with MTL tumors associated with chronic epilepsy. (DOI: 10.3171/2009.5.FOCUS09106)Uribe JS, 2009, J NEUROSURG, V110, P137, DOI 10.3171/2008.4.17508PHI JH, 2009, CANCER IN PRESSPichlmeier U, 2008, NEURO-ONCOLOGY, V10, P1025, DOI 10.1215/15228517-2008-052McGirt MJ, 2008, NEUROSURGERY, V63, P700, DOI 10.1227/01.NEU.0000325729.41085.73Schramm J, 2008, ACTA NEUROCHIR, V150, P857, DOI 10.1007/s00701-008-0013-7Smith JS, 2008, J CLIN ONCOL, V26, P1338, DOI 10.1200/JCO.2007.13.9337van Breemen MSM, 2007, LANCET NEUROL, V6, P421Schramm J, 2007, NEUROSURGERY, V60, P285, DOI 10.1227/01.NEU.0000249281.69384.D7Cataltepe O, 2005, J NEUROSURG, V102, P280Clusmann H, 2004, J NEUROL NEUROSUR PS, V75, P1589, DOI 10.1136/jnnp.2003.024208Schramm J, 2004, NEUROSURGERY, V55, P340, DOI 10.1227/01.NEU.0000129546.38675.1BDoetsch F, 2003, NAT NEUROSCI, V6, P1127, DOI 10.1038/nn1144Luyken C, 2003, EPILEPSIA, V44, P822Bauman G, 1999, INT J RADIAT ONCOL, V45, P923Lote K, 1997, J CLIN ONCOL, V15, P3129Piepmeier J, 1996, NEUROSURGERY, V38, P872Duffner PK, 1996, J NEURO-ONCOL, V28, P245Campbell JW, 1996, NEUROSURGERY, V38, P258PRAYSON RA, 1993, EPILEPSIA, V34, P609YASARGIL MG, 1992, ACTA NEUROCHIR, V118, P40YASARGIL MG, 1992, ACTA NEUROCHIR, V116, P147

Spinal cord compression by B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma in a patient seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Although non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most common and frequently fatal of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining illnesses, survival has improved significantly since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy. Patients with spinal cord compression resulting from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma present with clinically acute or rapidly progressive neurologic deficits. The purpose of this case report is to present a case of a patient seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus with spinal cord compression due to B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old Asian man, who was seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus, presented with progressive neurological deficits. Magnetic resonance images of his thoracic spine showed an epidural mass from T2 to T4, resulting in severe cord compression. Emergent surgical decompression and biopsy were performed, followed by palliative radiation therapy. The pathologic findings showed that the specimen was compatible with B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. Palliative radiation therapy was performed; however, leptomeningeal seeding and pulmonary embolism led to his death. CONCLUSIONS: When a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus presents with a rapidly progressive spinal tumor accompanying paraplegia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma should be considered, and surgical decompression should be weighed with respect to the patient’s general condition and the subtype/prognosis of the lymphoma

Realization of giant magnetoelectricity in helimagnets

We show that low field magnetoelectric (ME) properties of helimagnets Ba0.5Sr1.5Zn2(Fe1-xAlx)12O22 can be efficiently tailored by Al-substitution level. As x increases, the critical magnetic field for switching electric polarization is systematically reduced from ~1 T down to ~1 mT, and the ME susceptibility is greatly enhanced to reach a giant value of 2.0 x 10^4 ps/m at an optimum x = 0.08. We find that control of nontrivial orbital moment in the octahedral Fe sites through the Al-substitution is crucial for fine tuning of magnetic anisotropy and obtaining the conspicuously improved ME characteristics

Electric polarization enhancement in multiferroic CoCr2O4 crystals with Cr-site mixing

Single crystals of multiferroic cobalt chromite Co (Cr2-x Cox) O4 have been grown via several methods to have different Co3+ doping levels (x=0.0, 0.14, and 0.18). Under magnetic fields, all the crystals display electric polarization reversal below their spiral spin ordering temperatures. We find that both saturated electric polarization and magnetization under magnetic fields increase significantly with the increase in x. This result can be qualitatively explained by a broken balance between at least two electric polarization contributions existing in CoCr2 O4 and is expected to be useful in tailoring electric polarization in similar kinds of multiferroics. &amp;#169; 2009 American Institute of Physics.open222

Electric field control of nonvolatile four-state magnetization at room temperature

We find the realization of large converse magnetoelectric (ME) effects at room temperature in a multiferroic hexaferrite Ba$_{0.52}$Sr$_{2.48}$Co$_{2}$Fe$_{24}$O$_{41}$ single crystal, in which rapid change of electric polarization in low magnetic fields (about 5 mT) is coined to a large ME susceptibility of 3200 ps/m. The modulation of magnetization then reaches up to 0.62 $\mu$$_{B}$/f.u. in an electric field of 1.14 MV/m. We find further that four ME states induced by different ME poling exhibit unique, nonvolatile magnetization versus electric field curves, which can be approximately described by an effective free energy with a distinct set of ME coefficients

Mini-Open Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Combined with Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Corrective Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity

Study DesignProspective observational study.PurposeTo introduce the techniques and present the surgical outcomes of mini-open anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) at the most caudal segments of the spine combined with lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for the correction of adult spinal deformityOverview of LiteratureAlthough LLIF is increasingly used to correct adult spinal deformity, the correction of sagittal plane deformity with LLIF alone is reportedly suboptimal.MethodsThirty-two consecutive patients with adult spinal deformity underwent LLIF combined with mini-open ALIF at the L5–S1 or L4–S1 levels followed by 2-stage posterior fixation. ALIF was performed for a mean 1.3 levels and LLIF for a mean 2.7 levels. Then, percutaneous fixation was performed in 11 patients (percutaneous group), open correction with facetectomy with or without laminectomy in 16 (open group), and additional pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) in 5 (PSO group). Spinopelvic parameters were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. Hospitalization data and clinical outcomes were recorded.ResultsNo major medical complications developed, and clinical outcomes improved postoperatively in all groups. The mean postoperative segmental lordosis was greater after ALIF (17.5°±5.5°) than after LLIF (8.1°±5.3°, p <0.001). Four patients (12.5%) had lumbar lordosis with a pelvic incidence of ±9° preoperatively, whereas this outcome was achieved postoperatively in 30 patients (93.8%). The total increase in lumbar lordosis was 14.7° in the percutaneous group, 35.3° in the open group, and 57.0° in the PSO group. The ranges of potential lumbar lordosis increase were estimated as 4°–25°, 23°–42°, and 45°–65°, respectively.ConclusionsMini-open ALIF combined with LLIF followed by posterior fixation may be a feasible technique for achieving optimal sagittal balance and reducing the necessity of more extensive surgery