Do Business Cycles Influence Long-Run Growth? The Effect of Aggregate Demand on Firm-Financed R&D Expenditures

This paper finds that inventive activity, as measured by firm-financed R&D expenditures, is procyclical. In addition, the "lost" R&D during recessions is larger than the "extra" R&D during expansions so the overall effect of the business cycle is to reduce firm-financed R&D during the 1957 5o 1999 period. The results suggest that a business cycle activity might influence the long-run growth rate of an economy by reducing firm-financed R&D and productivity growth.Business Cycle; Cycle; Expansion; Growth; Procyclical; Productivity; R&D; Recession

Analysis of the canola lip mutant

Canola (Brassica napus) is a broadleaf agricultural plant grown mainly in regions of the United States and Canada. Its seeds are used to produce edible oil (canola oil) as well as biofuel. The study of mutagenized wild-type Brassica napus seeds in the CAN-TILL project, (http://www.botany.ubc.ca/can-till/), led to the discovery of a phenotype called Lamina epiphylla (LIP ). The lip mutant is characterized by changes in leaf shape that cause the leaves to look trumpeted, among other variations. This research project compared wild-type Brassica napus leaf development with the lamina epiphylla mutant to assess leaf development and to determine the precise gene that causes the mutation. By analyzing the anatomy, histology, and genetics of the lip leaf mutant, this investigation will contribute to a deeper understanding of the overall development of this very important oil seed crop. Specifically, understanding the development of leaves, the main photosynthetic organ of the plant, may improve the overall growth of the crop plant. Ultimately this will potentially aid in the production of a larger quantity of seeds which will provide increased oil outputs

Variola minor in coalfield areas of England and Wales, 1921–34: geographical determinants of a national smallpox epidemic that spread out of effective control

This paper uses techniques of binary logistic regression to identify the spatial determinants of the last national epidemic of smallpox to spread in England and Wales, the variola minor epidemic of 1921–34. Adjusting for age and county-level variations in vaccination coverage in infancy, the analysis identifies a dose-response gradient with increasing odds of elevated smallpox rates in local government areas with (i) medium (odds ratio [OR] = 5.32, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 1.96–14.41) and high (OR = 11.32, 95% CI 4.20–31.59) coal mining occupation rates and (ii) medium (OR = 16.74, 95% CI 2.24–125.21) and high (OR = 63.43, 95% CI 7.82–497.21) levels of residential density. The results imply that the spatial transmission of variola virus was facilitated by the close spatial packing of individuals, with a heightened transmission risk in coal mining areas of the country. A syndemic interaction between common respiratory conditions arising from exposure to coal dust and smallpox virus transmission is postulated to have contributed to the findings. We suggest that further studies of the geographical intersection of coal mining and acute infections that are transmitted via respiratory secretions are warranted

Neckties and Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Young Healthy Males: A Pilot Randomised Crossover Trial

Background. A necktie may elevate intracranial pressure through compression of venous return. We hypothesised that a tight necktie would deleteriously alter cerebrovascular reactivity. Materials and Methods. A necktie was simulated using bespoke apparatus comprising pneumatic inner-tube with aneroid pressure-gauge. Using a randomised crossover design, cerebrovascular reactivity was measured with the “pseudo-tie” worn inflated or deflated for 5 minutes (simulating tight/loose necktie resp.). Reactivity was calculated using breath hold index (BHI) and paired “t” testing used for comparative analysis. Results. We enrolled 40 healthy male volunteers. There was a reduction in cerebrovascular reactivity of 0.23 units with “tight” pseudotie (BHI loose 1.44 (SD 0.48); BHI tight 1.21 (SD 0.38) P < .001). Conclusion. Impairment in cerebrovascular reactivity was found with inflated pseudo-tie. However, mean BHI is still within a range of considered normal. The situation may differ in patients with vascular risk factors, and confirmatory work is recommended

IPPro: FPGA based image processing processor

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Variola minor in England and Wales: the geographical course of a smallpox epidemic and the impediments to effective disease control, 1920–1935

The 1920–1935 epidemic of variola minor in England and Wales is a prime example of a major smallpox outbreak that spread in a national population with waning levels of vaccine-induced immunity. This paper examines the geographical course of the epidemic and the reasons why the disease was able to evade the (then) established protocols for smallpox control in many local government areas. The control issue is examined using archival records from the English county of Gloucestershire, where smallpox spread out of effective control in 1923. At the national level, our analysis demonstrates that the build-up (1920–1927) of the epidemic was characterised by a persistent core of reported cases of high intensity in the counties of central and northern England. Epidemic fade-out (1928–1935) was associated with an accelerated shift of disease activity to London and the southeast. Set against this national context, Gloucestershire represented a microcosm of the impediments to smallpox control in inter-war Britain. Here, a series of sociodemographic and administrative factors operated to impede disease control. Our study demonstrates the potential fragility of established disease control systems and the importance of professional and public cooperation, sometimes in the face of vehemently contested evidence over the nature of a disease and the means of its control, in attempts to limit the spread of epidemics

Are the patterns of cytomegalovirus viral load seen after solid organ transplantation affected by circadian rhythm?

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important opportunistic pathogen after transplantation. Some virological variation in transplant recipients is explained by donor and recipient CMV serostatus, but not all. Circadian variability of herpesviruses has been described, so we investigated the effect of time of day of transplantation on posttransplant CMV viremia. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 1517 patients receiving liver or kidney allografts at a single center from 2002 to 2018. All patients were given preemptive therapy with CMV viremia monitoring after transplantation. Circulatory arrest and reperfusion time of donor organ were categorized into 4 periods. Patients were divided into serostatus groups based on previous CMV infection in donor and recipient. CMV viremia parameters were compared between time categories for each group. Factor analysis of mixed data was used to interrogate this complex data set. Results: Live-donor transplant recipients were less likely to develop viremia than recipients of deceased-donor organs (48% vs 61%; P < .001). After controlling for this, there was no evidence of time of day of transplantation affecting CMV parameters in any serostatus group, by logistic regression or factor analysis of mixed data. Discussion: We found no evidence for a circadian effect of transplantation on CMV viremia, but these novel results warrant confirmation by other centers

Suicidal thoughts and behaviour among healthcare workers in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, concern has been raised about suicide risk among healthcare workers (HCWs). We investigated the incidence risk and prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviour (STB), and their relationship with occupational risk factors, among National Health Service HCWs in England between April 2020 and August 2021. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, we analysed online survey data completed by 22,501 HCWs from 17 NHS Trusts at baseline (Time 1) and six months (Time 2). The primary outcome measures were suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury. We used logistic regression to investigate the relationship between these outcomes and demographic characteristics and occupational factors. Results were stratified by occupational role (clinical/non-clinical). RESULTS: Time 1 and Time 2 surveys were completed by 12,514 and 7,160 HCWs, respectively. At baseline, 10.8% (95% CI = 10.1%, 11.6%) of participants reported having experienced suicidal thoughts in the previous two months, whilst 2.1% (95% CI = 1.8%, 2.5%) of participants reported having attempted suicide over the same period. Among HCWs who had not experienced suicidal thoughts at baseline (and who completed the Time 2 survey), 11.3% (95%CI = 10.4%, 12.3%) reported such thoughts six months later. Six months after baseline, 3.9% (95% CI = 3.4%, 4.4%) of HCWs reported attempting suicide for the first time. Exposure to potentially morally injurious events, lack of confidence about raising safety concerns and these concerns being addressed, feeling unsupported by managers, and providing a reduced standard of care were all associated with increased suicidal ideation among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. At six months, among clinicians, a lack of confidence about safety concerns being addressed, independently predicted suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Suicidal thoughts and behaviour among healthcare workers could be reduced by improving managerial support and enhancing the ability of staff to raise safety concerns

Nursing skill mix in European hospitals: cross-sectional study of the association with mortality, patient ratings, and quality of care

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of hospital nursing skill mix with patient mortality, patient ratings of their care and indicators of quality of care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional patient discharge data, hospital characteristics and nurse and patient survey data were merged and analysed using generalised estimating equations (GEE) and logistic regression models. SETTING: Adult acute care hospitals in Belgium, England, Finland, Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Survey data were collected from 13 077 nurses in 243 hospitals, and 18 828 patients in 182 of the same hospitals in the six countries. Discharge data were obtained for 275 519 surgical patients in 188 of these hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient mortality, patient ratings of care, care quality, patient safety, adverse events and nurse burnout and job dissatisfaction. RESULTS: Richer nurse skill mix (eg, every 10-point increase in the percentage of professional nurses among all nursing personnel) was associated with lower odds of mortality (OR=0.89), lower odds of low hospital ratings from patients (OR=0.90) and lower odds of reports of poor quality (OR=0.89), poor safety grades (OR=0.85) and other poor outcomes (0.80<OR<0.93), after adjusting for patient and hospital factors. Each 10 percentage point reduction in the proportion of professional nurses is associated with an 11% increase in the odds of death. In our hospital sample, there were an average of six caregivers for every 25 patients, four of whom were professional nurses. Substituting one nurse assistant for a professional nurse for every 25 patients is associated with a 21% increase in the odds of dying. CONCLUSIONS: A bedside care workforce with a greater proportion of professional nurses is associated with better outcomes for patients and nurses. Reducing nursing skill mix by adding nursing associates and other categories of assistive nursing personnel without professional nurse qualifications may contribute to preventable deaths, erode quality and safety of hospital care and contribute to hospital nurse shortages.European Union's Seventh Framework Program (223468), National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health (NR014855), Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology.S

Leadership and decision-making practices in public versus private universities in Pakistan

The goal of this study is to examine differences in leadership and decision-making practices in public and private universities in Pakistan, with a focus on transformational leadership (TL) and participative decision-making (PDM). We conducted semi-structured interviews with 46 deans and heads of department from two public and two private universities in Pakistan. Our findings indicate that leadership and decision-making practices are different in public and private universities. While differences were observed in all six types of TL-behaviour, the following three approaches emerged to be crucial in both public and private universities: (1) articulating a vision, (2) fostering the acceptance of group goals, and (3) high-performance expectations. In terms of PDM, deans and heads of department in public and private universities adopt a collaborative approach. However, on a practical level this approach is limited to teacher- and student-related matters. Overall, our findings suggest that the leadership and decision-making practices in Pakistani public and private universities are transformational and participative in nature