An Empirical Analysis of Convergence Hypothesis

A useful contribution of wide ranging debate in the growth literature is that it has put forward a number of testable hypotheses. One of such hypotheses is known as the convergence hypothesis whereby it is postulated that in the long run developing countries would catch-up with the developed countries in terms of per capita income. Although the convergence hypothesis has gained researchers’ interest in recent times, the basic proposition was laid down in the neo-classical growth model of Solow (1956) and Swan (1956). Traditionally Solow-Swan model has been regarded as a theoretically consistent answer to Harrods’s (1939) twin problems of discrepancy between the warranted and natural rates of growth and instability in the growth process. Although Solow- Swan model is designed to study growth process within a single country, the concept of conditional convergence is far from being alien to the model; it in fact forms the core of argument in the attack on Harrod-Domar model [Harrod (1939) and Domar (1946)]. The model predicts that under perfect competition and in the absence of market distortions, an economy converges to equilibrium capital-labour ratio to yield steady state growth rate that is equal to the natural growth rate and is dynamically stable.

It\u27s a woman\u27s world: Feminist themes from \u3ci\u3ePride and Prejudice\u3c/i\u3e to \u3ci\u3eThe Lizzie Bennet Diaries\u3c/i\u3e

The overall objective of It’s a woman’s world: Feminist themes from Pride and Prejudice to The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is to examine the feminist themes present in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and their representation in Bernie Su and Hank Green’s recent web series adaptation of Austen’s novel, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. There is first discussion of the critical conversation regarding Austen’s position as a feminist, as well as background on The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Analysis of the feminist themes present in novel and, subsequently, adaptation, follows, and the project concludes with a discussion of some of the implications of the shift from Austen’s work to that of Green, Su, and other adapters

Effectiveness of typhoid conjugate vaccine against culture-confirmed salmonella enterica serotype typhi in an extensively drug-resistant outbreak setting of Hyderabad, Pakistan: A cohort study

Background: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S Typhi) is a major public health problem in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and impact of the typhoid conjugate vaccine Typbar-TCV against S Typhi among children in an outbreak setting of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) S Typhi in Pakistan.Methods: This cohort study was done from Feb 21, 2018, to Dec 31, 2019. A census survey of all households located in the Qasimabad and Latifabad subdistricts of Hyderabad, Pakistan, was done at baseline, and 174 005 households were registered in the census. The Typbar-TCV immunisation campaign was initiated at temporary vaccination centres and 207 000 children aged 6 months to 10 years were vaccinated from Feb 21, 2018, to Dec 31, 2018. Social mobilisers informed parents about the vaccination process. Vaccination records were maintained electronically and linked with the household census surveys. Active surveillance for suspected and blood-culture-confirmed S Typhi was established in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories to assess the following outcomes: cases of suspected typhoid fever, culture-confirmed S Typhi, and antimicrobial resistance. An age-stratified cohort of 1100 vaccinated children was randomly selected from the vaccination registry, tested for Vi-IgG antibodies (data not reported), and followed up fortnightly (via telephone calls or household visits) until Dec 31, 2019, for ascertainment of outcomes during the study period. 20 847 vaccinated and unvaccinated children were randomly selected from the census registry as a quality control cohort and followed up from Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2019, for ascertainment of outcomes. Vaccine effectiveness against suspected, culture-confirmed, and XDR S Typhi was calculated.Findings: 23 407 children from the census registry and surveillance system were included in the vaccine effectiveness analysis. 13 436 (57·4%) children were vaccinated, 12 214 (52·2%) were male, and 10 168 (43·4%) were aged 6-59 months. 5378 (23·0%) of 23 407 children had suspected S Typhi, among whom 775 (14·4%) had culture-confirmed S Typhi and 361 (68·6%) of 526 had XDR S Typhi. Vaccine effectiveness was 55% (95% CI 52-57) against suspected S Typhi (regardless of culture confirmation), 95% (93-96) against culture-confirmed S Typhi, and 97% (95-98) against XDR S Typhi.Interpretation: Typbar-TCV is effective in protecting children against S Typhi infection in an outbreak setting, and was able, with moderate deployment, to curtail a major XDR S Typhi outbreak in a densely populated setting. The vaccine shows efficacy against S Typhi irrespective of antimicrobial resistance.Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Detection of astrocytic tau pathology facilitates recognition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with the development of a range of neurodegenerative pathologies, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Current consensus diagnostic criteria define the pathognomonic cortical lesion of CTE neuropathologic change (CTE-NC) as a patchy deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons, with or without glial tau in thorn-shaped astrocytes, typically towards the depths of sulci and clustered around small blood vessels. Nevertheless, although incorporated into consensus diagnostic criteria, the contribution of the individual cellular components to identification of CTE-NC has not been formally evaluated. To address this, from the Glasgow TBI Archive, cortical tissue blocks were selected from consecutive brain donations from contact sports athletes in which there was known to be either CTE-NC (n = 12) or Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic change (n = 4). From these tissue blocks, adjacent tissue sections were stained for tau antibodies selected to reveal either solely neuronal pathology (3R tau; GT-38) or mixed neuronal and astroglial pathologies (4R tau; PHF-1). These stained sections were then randomised and independently assessed by a panel of expert neuropathologists, blind to patient clinical history and primary antibody applied to each section, who were asked to record whether CTE-NC was present. Results demonstrate that, in sections stained for either 4R tau or PHF-1, consensus recognition of CTE-NC was high. In contrast, recognition of CTE-NC in sections stained for 3R tau or GT-38 was poor; in the former no better than chance. Our observations demonstrate that the presence of both neuronal and astroglial tau pathologies facilitates detection of CTE-NC, with its detection less consistent when neuronal tau pathology alone is visible. The combination of both glial and neuronal pathologies, therefore, may be required for detection of CTE-NC

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

An Empirical Analysis of Convergence Hypothesis

A useful contribution of wide ranging debate in the growth literature is that it has put forward a number of testable hypotheses. One of such hypotheses is known as the convergence hypothesis whereby it is postulated that in the long run developing countries would catch-up with the developed countries in terms of per capita income. Although the convergence hypothesis has gained researchers’ interest in recent times, the basic proposition was laid down in the neo-classical growth model of Solow (1956) and Swan (1956). Traditionally Solow-Swan model has been regarded as a theoretically consistent answer to Harrods’s (1939) twin problems of discrepancy between the warranted and natural rates of growth and instability in the growth process. Although Solow- Swan model is designed to study growth process within a single country, the concept of conditional convergence is far from being alien to the model; it in fact forms the core of argument in the attack on Harrod-Domar model [Harrod (1939) and Domar (1946)]

Heterologous expression and enhanced production of β-1,4-glucanase of Bacillus halodurans C-125 in Escherichia coli

Background: Recombinant DNA technology enables us to produce proteins with desired properties and insubstantial amount for industrial applications. Endo-1, 4-β-glucanases (Egl) is one of the major enzyme involved in degradation of cellulose, an important component of plant cell wall. The present study was aimed at enhancing the production of endo-1, 4-β-glucanases (Egl) of Bacillus halodurans in Escherichia coli. Results: A putative Egl gene of Bacillus Halodurans was expressed in E. coli by cloning in pET 22b (+). On induction with isopropyl-b-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside, the enzyme expression reached upto ~20% of the cell protein producing 29.2 mg/liter culture. An increase in cell density to 12 in auto-inducing LB medium (absorbance at 600 nm) enhanced β-glucanase production up to 5.4 fold. The molecular mass of the enzyme was determined to be 39 KDa, which is nearly the same as the calculated value. Protein sequence was analyzed by CDD, Pfam, I TASSER, COACH, PROCHECK Servers and putative amino acids involved in the formation of catalytic, substrate and metal binding domains were identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the β-glucanases of B. halodurans was performed and position of Egl among other members of the genus Bacillus producing endo-glucanases was determined. Temperature and pH optima of the enzyme were found to be 60°C and 8.0, respectively, under the assay conditions. Conclusion: Production of endo-1, 4 β-glucanase enzymes from B. halodurans increased several folds when cloned in pET vector and expressed in E. coli. To our knowledge, this is the first report of high-level expression and characterization of an endo-1, 4 β-glucanases from B. halodurans.How to cite: Zeeshan N, Naz S, Naz S et al. Heterologous expression and enhanced production of β-1,4-glucanase of Bacillus halodurans C-125 in E. coli. Electron J Biotechnol 2018;34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2018.05.001. Keywords: Bacillus halodurans, Cellulases, Cellulose hydrolysis, Degradation of cellulose, Endo-1, 4-β-glucanases, Expression analysis, Heterologous expression, In silico protein characterization, IPTG, pET expression system, Plant cell wal

Self-Employment Dynamics of Immigrants and Natives: Individual-level Analysis for the Canadian Labour Market

This paper analyses the dynamic transitions of self-employment in four states of the Canadian labour market (paid-employment, self-employment, unemployment, and being out of the labour force) by answering three core questions: (1) What are the determinants of the transitions into and out of the four labour market states? (2) Are the probabilities of transitions between immigrants and natives significantly different, and if so, are they due to entry–exit rate gaps between immigrants and natives? (3) What are the proportions of spurious and structural state dependence in the labour market states of immigrants and natives? Our analysis was based on longitudinal data from Canada’s Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) for males aged 25 to 55 for the period 1993 to 2004. Our results revealed that immigrants rather than natives are relatively more likely to be self-employed during the unemployment period. The findings also confirmed that males with positive investment income or wealth tended to be largely self-employed. From a policy perspective, the government provision of financial support towards self-employment positively benefits natives in seeking self-employment opportunities. Government policies to lessen labour market discrimination promotes the self-employment of immigrants

Lead Poisoning: Awareness in Medical and Non-Medical Population of Karachi

Lead is a heavy element, also termed as nerve poison. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues, including the central nervous system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate awareness regarding lead poisoning, factors that cause lead poisoning, symptoms, effect on enzymes, treatment and preventive measure that can be adopted to reduce lead poisoning in our population. It is a descriptive cross sectional survey based study consisting of 300 individuals comprising of 100 medical professionals and 200 laypersons (100 from Literate and 100 from Illiterate Population). The study was carried out from different locations in Karachi and answers were recorded as open and close ended. Our study showed that 95% medical professionals, 53% Literate layperson whereas only 29% Illiterate layperson were aware about lead poisoning. 38% Literate, 27% Illiterate and 54% medical professional knew about the sources of lead poisoning. 82% medical professionals, 17% Literate laypersons were aware about pharmacological intervention and there was no awareness among Illiterate Population