What Has Happened to Marginal Tax Rates? ESRI Research Bulletin 2011/3/4

As the economy boomed in the early 2000s, income tax rates were reduced, tax credits were increased and the standard rate band was widened. With the onset of the crisis in 2007‐2008, and the collapse of revenues from capital gains tax and stamp duty, major increases in taxes on income were introduced to sustain and increase tax revenue.What has been the net impact of these policy changes on marginal effective rates of tax on income? This is one of the topics examined in a recent conference paper.

Neonatal weight loss and gain patterns in caesarean section born infants : integrative systematic review

There is evidence that caesarean section delivery can impact on neonatal weight loss and weight gain patterns in the first 5 days of life. We conducted an integrative systematic review to examine the association of mode of delivery on early neonatal weight loss. Pubmed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online were searched for relevant papers published before June 2019. Reference lists from the relevant papers were then backwards and forwards searched. As neonatal weight loss was reported in different formats, a meta‐analysis could not be carried out. Most studies did not distinguish between elective and emergency caesarean sections or instrumental and nonassisted vaginal deliveries. Seven papers were included. All papers except one found that caesarean section was associated with higher weight loss in the early days of life. Two papers presented data from studies on babies followed up to 1 month. One study found that on day 25, babies born by caesarean section had significantly higher weight gain than those born vaginally, while another found that by day 28, babies born vaginally gained more weight per day (11.9 g/kg/day) than those born by caesarean section (10.9 g/kg/day; p = .02). Overall, infants born by caesarean section lost more weight than those born vaginally, but due to the small number of studies included, more are needed to look at this difference and why it may occur. This discrepancy in weight between the two groups may be corrected over time, but future studies will need larger sample sizes and longer follow‐up periods to examine this

Budget Perspectives 2012. RESEARCH SERIES NUMBER 22 October 2011

The annual Budget Perspectives Conference, co‐hosted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Foundation for Fiscal Studies (FFS), provides a forum for discussing key public policy issues of both immediate and longer‐term concern. Against the current backdrop of major economic and fiscal challenges, budgetary policy must be seen to support Ireland’s return to a sustainable growth path. At a time when expenditure cuts are needed and more tax revenue must be generated, equity issues are of great importance to social solidarity. Research on the allocation of benefits and tax burdens allows these equity issues to be addressed systematically

An extended genotyping framework for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the cause of human typhoid.

The population of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), the causative agent of typhoid fever, exhibits limited DNA sequence variation, which complicates efforts to rationally discriminate individual isolates. Here we utilize data from whole-genome sequences (WGS) of nearly 2,000 isolates sourced from over 60 countries to generate a robust genotyping scheme that is phylogenetically informative and compatible with a range of assays. These data show that, with the exception of the rapidly disseminating H58 subclade (now designated genotype 4.3.1), the global S. Typhi population is highly structured and includes dozens of subclades that display geographical restriction. The genotyping approach presented here can be used to interrogate local S. Typhi populations and help identify recent introductions of S. Typhi into new or previously endemic locations, providing information on their likely geographical source. This approach can be used to classify clinical isolates and provides a universal framework for further experimental investigations

Values and the experience of family care-giving: cultural values or shared family values?

The Sociocultural Stress and Coping Model focuses on the role of cultural values in shaping the stress and coping process for family care-givers of frail older adults. The literature suggested ethnic group-specific values as influences. The current study explored care-givers' perceptions of values influencing caring to identify values not addressed in quantitative studies of cross-cultural care-giving. Seventeen family care-givers from Australian Aboriginal, Romanian-Australian, Pacific Island and white non-immigrant Australian backgrounds participated in semi-structured interviews about their care-giving experience and the role that values played in caring for a frail older adult. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts led to identification of themes of cultural values of familism and care for frail older adults, religious values of filial piety and religious coping, love, reciprocity and responsibility/obligation. While cultural values influenced family care versus institutional care, religion was a more clearly identified source of values. Care-givers mostly shared values of love, reciprocity and responsibility/obligation rather than endorsing culture-specific values, with potential variations in expression between individualist and collectivist cultures. These findings suggest that the focus on cross-cultural differences may have missed core values shared across cultural groups and underestimated the influence of religion on care-giving values. Future research could focus on these perceptions of care-givers themselves rather than external perceptions of researchers and service providers

EPHA3 as a novel therapeutic target in the hematological malignancies

The Eph receptors are the largest family of tyrosine kinases and are of increasing interest in developmental therapeutics. Their unique method of interaction with their ligands, the ephrins, via bidirectional signaling, and their variable expression in different tissues are well documented. Ephs are upregulated in, and critical to, embryological processes, most notably development of the neurological system. They are central in many processes involving cell motility and adhesion. Recent findings on elevated expression of Eph receptors in human malignancies as well as in stem cell environments are of particular interest. With increasing focus on molecularly targeted anticancer therapies, exploration of the potential of Eph receptors as therapeutic targets in both solid and hematologic malignancies has begun. The most promising of the Eph receptors in this regard is EPHA3, which is overexpressed in many hematologic malignancies. Preclinical data support the value of pursuing this target for further development, and lead compounds are now entering the clinic

Elacytarabine: lipid vector technology under investigation in acute myeloid leukemia

Cytosine arabinoside (cytarabine or Ara-C) has been one of the cornerstones of treatment of acute myeloid leukemia since its approval in 1969. Standard induction therapy worldwide for all patients deemed fit for treatment (excluding those with acute promyelocytic leukemia) remains unchanged for over 40 years and consists of Ara-C administered by continuous infusion in combination with a topoisomerase II inhibitor (e.g., daunorubicin, idarubicin and mitoxantrone). Despite decades of clinical investigation, the optimum dose of both agents still remains unclear. Although higher doses of Ara-C have been shown to improve response rates, the elderly poorly tolerate these regimens. Resistance mechanisms also develop or may be present at diagnosis resulting in poor outcomes. Elacytarabine (CP-4055), an elaidic acid ester of Ara-C, has been developed using lipid vector technology in an attempt to overcome these limitations. Clinical data are encouraging, with evidence suggesting that this novel agent is circumventing resistance mechanisms but retaining the potent antileukemic efficacy of Ara-C