The graves of Pecica-Rovine/Căprăvanul Mic, and distribution networks of amber and personal adornments in the 6th and 7th centuries

Two graves, with altogether four skeletons, discovered near Pecica and buried in W–E orientation, offer us the possibility of a more nuanced analysis of the cultural realities of the groups of people living in the Trans-Tisza region in the 6th and 7th centuries. However, the amber and earring finds allow us to contemplate communication networks in the early Avar Age and their significant transformation by the late Avar period. Placing these transformations in the first half of the 7th century, they explain the appearance of some rare goods, like ambers, in the region of Pecica

Pigmented melanoma cell migration study on murine syngeneic B16F10 melanoma cells or tissue transplantation models

Melanoma is a lethal form of skin cancer with poor prognosis, especially due to the early metastatic feature. Recent studies have shown that the melanin pigment influences the nanomechanical properties and, therefore, the metastatic behavior of the melanoma cells. We aimed to study the growth of subcutaneously transplanted syngeneic melanoma tissue in female C57BL/6 mice harvested from a mouse with a four-week B16F10 melanoma. Also, we studied the effect of the melanin pigment loading on the peritumoral migratory abilities of melanoma cells. Even when the syngeneic transplant was different (cultured cells vs. tumor tissue), the morphological features and the tumor growth were similar in both groups of mice. Heavily pigmented melanoma cells had low migration abilities. Angiogenesis, the depigmentation phenomenon, and the cell shape changes were related to pigmented melanoma cell migration along the matrix collagen fibers of peritumoral structures: the abluminal face of the vessels (angiotropism), the endomysium, and the nerves (neurotropism). The replacement of the histopathological growth pattern, the absence of angiogenesis, and rapidly tumor-bearing emboli were correlated with amelanotic and low pigmented melanoma cells. This study demonstrated that syngeneic melanoma tissue transplantation was a viable technique, and that the melanin pigment loading level can affect the melanoma cell migration profile

IMF lending arrangements in emerging and developing countries – participation and prediction

The literature on determinants of International Monetary Fund (IMF) interventions in emerging and developing countries shows that the IMF’s decisions are determined by political and economic causes. This article empirically investigates economic factors, showing that a country’s probability to sign an IMF arrangement can be predicted by looking at a core group of macroeconomic variables. Using discriminant analysis we develop a score function that allows us to predict a country’s future participation in IMF programmes. The study covers 153 emerging and developing countries, over more than 30 years (1980–2011) and 654 agreements, for both non-concessional and concessional loans. The proposed tools are simple, consistent and relevant and they can be used both to monitor an IMF country and its economic development in real time and to forecast future demand for IMF aid