Global Flow of Foreign Aid and Change in Recipients’ Local Labor Institutions

How does foreign aid affect recipient countries’ labor institutions? Extant empirical evidence is sparse due to ambiguous theoretical predictions and potential endogeneity issues. This study uses data detailing aid flow and institutional functions to mitigate such inconclusiveness and displays originality by constructing a concise theoretical framework in which foreign aid contributes to the improvement of the labor institutions in recipient countries through two mechanisms—economic growth purpose and expected aid attraction. The findings indicate that only aid to enhance local economic growth provides incentives to change domestic labor markets. Such effects have a more crucial influence on labor institutions of minimum wage, collective bargaining rights, and working hours than those related to hiring and firing regulations, mandated costs for worker dismissal, and conscription. For comparison with the actual aid level, we construct forecasted proxies to capture exogenous fluctuations in aid, determining that domestic labor markets can also change via a novel mechanism, as the recipient voluntarily mimics the funder’s labor policies in anticipation of receiving future aid, with exact amounts derived from the noninstitutional characteristics of pairs of bilateral recipient and giver economies. Therefore, we provide policy implications for the aid giver on how to secure a continued and increased aid flow and for the aid receivers on which aspects of reforming measures are most effective in enhancing the labor market regulations

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Sensitive Marker in Patients Undergoing Irreversible Electroporation for Pancreatic Cancer

Background/Aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in extremely poor 5-year survival. Late diagnosis of PDAC is mainly due to lack of a reliable method of early detection. Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 is often used as a tumor biomarker in PDAC; however, the test lacks sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, new sensitive and minimally invasive diagnostic tools are required to detect pancreatic cancer. Methods: Here, we investigated circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) which contained KRAS-mutated as a potential diagnostic tool for PDAC patients who underwent irreversible electroporation (IRE). We used droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to detect the expression of KRAS-mutated genes in plasma samples of 65 PDAC patients who underwent IRE. Results: In these 65 cases, ctDNA was detected in 20 (29.2%) samples. The median overall survival (OS) was 11.4 months with ctDNA+ patients and 14.3 months for ctDNA- patients. ctDNA+ patients had a obviously poorer prognosis associated to overall survival (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results suggested that the existence of ctDNA was a predictor of survival for PDAC patients. Therefore, ctDNA may be a new sensitive biomarker for monitoring treatment outcome in PDAC

Allogenic Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy Combined with Irreversible Electroporation for Stage IV Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Survival Outcome

Background/Aims: We evaluated the clinical effectiveness of irreversible electroporation (IRE) in combination with immunotherapy using allogenic natural killer cells (NK) for stage IV hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The study involved 40 patients with stage IV HCC who were divided equally into two groups: 1) simple IRE; and 2) IRE plus allogenic NK cells (IRE-NK); we mainly assessed the overall survival (OS). Results: The effect of the IRE-NK treatment was synergistic, i.e., not only did it enhance immune function, it also decreased alpha-fetoprotein expression and showed significantly good clinical effectiveness. At the median 7.6-month follow-up (range, 3.8–12.1 months), median OS was higher in the IRE-NK group (10.1 months) than in the IRE group (8.9 months, P = 0.0078). Conclusion: IRE combined with allogeneic NK cell immunotherapy significantly increases the median OS of patients with stage IV HCC

Promoting neuro-supportive properties of astrocytes with epidermal growth factor hydrogels

Biomaterials provide novel platforms to deliver stem cell and growth factor therapies for central nervous system (CNS) repair. The majority of these approaches have focused on the promotion of neural progenitor cells and neurogenesis. However, it is now increasingly recognized that glial responses are critical for recovery in the entire neurovascular unit. In this study, we investigated the cellular effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) containing hydrogels on primary astrocyte cultures. Both EGF alone and EGF‐hydrogel equally promoted astrocyte proliferation, but EGF‐hydrogels further enhanced astrocyte activation, as evidenced by a significantly elevated Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene expression. Thereafter, conditioned media from astrocytes activated by EGF‐hydrogel protected neurons against injury and promoted synaptic plasticity after oxygen–glucose deprivation. Taken together, these findings suggest that EGF‐hydrogels can shift astrocytes into neuro‐supportive phenotypes. Consistent with this idea, quantitative‐polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated that EGF‐hydrogels shifted astrocytes in part by downregulating potentially negative A1‐like genes (Fbln5 and Rt1‐S3) and upregulating potentially beneficial A2‐like genes (Clcf1, Tgm1, and Ptgs2). Further studies are warranted to explore the idea of using biomaterials to modify astrocyte behavior and thus indirectly augment neuroprotection and neuroplasticity in the context of stem cell and growth factor therapies for the CNS. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019 Biomaterials provide novel platforms to deliver stem cell and growth factor therapies for central nervous system repair. Our data suggest that epidermal growth factor‐containing hydrogels can shift astrocytes into potentially beneficial A2‐like phenotypes that may augment neuroprotection and neuroplasticity during the recovery phase after brain injury

Unsteady Oblique Detonation Waves in a Tunnel Induced by Inflow Mach Number Variation

Oblique detonation waves (ODWs) have been investigated widely aiming at facilitating their application in hypersonic engines. However, there is a lack of research on unsteady ODWs which are unavoidable in the hypersonic air-breathing scenario. In this study, unsteady ODWs triggered by the variation of the inflow Mach number (M0) have been studied and the geometric model is a tunnel with an outward-deflection upper wall to mimic an engine outlet. Numerical results demonstrate that when M0 deviates from the designed state, two typical wave structures arise, featuring a Mach stem of detonation or a post-corner recirculation zone. A sudden change in M0 leads to the transition of these two structures, generating unsteady ODWs temporally with a multi-segment-complex wave surface caused by triple points. The wave structures near the corner have been analyzed in detail, revealing how the Mach stem and the recirculation zone evolve into each other. Furthermore, the effects of unsteady ODWs on hypersonic propulsion applications have been discussed, providing possible ways to suppress the Mach stem of detonation

Water stress affects the frequency of Firmicutes, Clostridiales and Lysobacter in rhizosphere soils of greenhouse grape

The objective of this study was to identify the microbial community structures in rhizosphere soils of grapevine in protected cultivation and to assess the effects of soil water regulation on the main bacteria. Based on a two-year field test, soil samples from mild water stress and control (CK)treatments were collected during the flowering (FS) and early fruit development stages (ES) of grapes. Soil microbial community structures were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. The species composition (Observed species), species diversity index (Shannon, Simpson and PD_whole_tree), and community richness values (Chao1, ACE) under the mild water stress treatments at FS and ES were all significantly higher than under the CK treatment (P < 0.05). Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria were the main types of microbial phyla in grapevine rhizosphere soils. The relative abundance of Firmicutes under the mildwater stress treatments at FS and ES was significantly lower than under the CK treatment. Xanthomonadales and Clostridiales were the main orders, and the frequency of Clostridiales under the mild water stress treatments at FS and ES were significantly lower than under the CK treatment. Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 was the dominant genus, the relative abundance of which reduced under the mild water stress, both at the two sampling stages. However, water stress had little effect on the relative abundance of Lysobacter. Meanwhile, a compensatory effect on grape growth was detected after re-watering. Results show that Firmicutes, Clostridiales, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1werethe main drought sensitive microorganisms at phylum, order and genus levels, respectively. Mild water stress was an appropriate water management which can increase the diversity and richness of soil microorganisms in greenhouse grape soils, and can save water resources compared with the traditional irrigation regimes

Correlations between caregiver competence, burden and health-related quality of life among Chinese family caregivers of elderly adults with disabilities: a cross-sectional study using structural equations analysis

Objective To examine the relationship between caregiver competence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among family caregivers of disabled elderly adults, and to evaluate the role of caregiver burden as a potential mediator of that relationship.Design Cross-sectional study.Setting Two general hospitals in Shanghai, China.Participants Study participants were 135 family caregivers of disabled elderly adults listed on a roster for outpatient and emergency services utilisation from January to March 2022.Data analysis and outcome measures We used stratified linear regression and structural equation model analysis. HRQoL was the main outcome, measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short form Health Survey. Caregiver competence was assessed using the Family Caregiver Task Inventory, and caregiver burden was assessed with the Zarit Burden Interview.Results Caregivers of moderately and severely disabled elderly adults showed poorer scores in Physical Component Summary (F=20.463, p&lt;0.05) and Mental Component Summary (F=17.062, p&lt;0.05) compared with caregivers of older adults with mild disabilities. At the same time, those caregivers showed higher scores on the caregiving burden (F=19.533, p&lt;0.05) and caregiving difficulties (F=16.079, p&lt;0.05). A structural equation model was performed and successfully adjusted (χ2/df=1.175, p=0.261, NFI=0.970, RFI=0.949, IFI=0.995, CFI=0.995, GFI=0.963, TLI=0.992, AGFI=0.920, RMSEA=0.036). The total effect of Family Caregiver Task Inventory scores on HRQoL scores was −0.980, with a direct effect of −0.645. The mediating effect on HRQoL scores through the intermediate variable of caregiver burden scores was −0.335.Conclusions Family caregivers’ HRQoL is closely related to caregiver difficulties and burdens. Early identification and targeted measures are needed to reduce the burden and problems in caregiving

Evolution of weakly unstable oblique detonation in disturbed inflow

The surface instability of oblique detonation waves (ODWs) without perturbations has been extensively investigated, yet the impact of external perturbations remains under-explored. Utilizing reactive Euler equations coupled with a two-step induction-exothermic reaction model, this study conducts a numerical examination of the evolution of unstable ODW surfaces subjected to a continuous sinusoidal density/temperature perturbation inflow. The results show that, without inflow perturbations, the ODW can evolve into triple points in the downstream due to detonation instability, similar to previous work. However, a small continuous perturbation can induce a significant forward movement of the ODW unstable position. Surprisingly, as the perturbation magnitude increases, the changes in the unstable position become progressively less pronounced. By increasing the perturbation frequency, the oscillation amplitude first increases, but a decreasing period/stage occurs with a modest frequency. To investigate the response of ODW to the increase in perturbation, the frequency characteristics and numerical smoked cells of detonation surfaces are examined and analyzed using Fast Fourier Transformation. The power spectral density indicates the presence of two distinct oscillation modes within oblique detonation. Low-frequency, small-amplitude perturbations serve to amplify the instability of the detonation, and more irregular oscillations could be observed. Conversely, high-frequency, large-amplitude perturbations suppress the development of small-scale waves on the detonation wavefront and lead to a relative regular oscillation, indicating that the wavefront pressure oscillations are entirely determined by inflow perturbations and become predictable. These findings have significant implications for the control of intrinsically unstable ODWs, providing valuable insights into the regulation of ODW dynamics

Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function after Stroke: The Mediating Roles of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

This study examined the association between post-stroke cognitive function and sleep status at 30 days post-stroke and evaluated the role of anxiety and depression as potential mediators of that association. The participants in this study were 530 acute ischemic stroke (IS) patients. Sleep disturbance at 30 days post-stroke was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Basic patient information, cognitive function, depression, and anxiety status were assessed before discharge from the hospital. Stratified linear regression analysis models were fit to examine the associations between post-stroke sleep quality and the influencing factors. A structural equation model was developed to evaluate the role of anxiety and depression as potential mediators of sleep quality and cognitive function. At 30 days post-stroke, 58.7% of IS patients had sleep disturbance. Women and older IS patients were more likely to suffer poorer sleep quality (p &lt; 0.05). A stratified linear regression analysis showed that the inclusion of cognitive function variables and indicators of depression and anxiety were statistically significant in predicting improvement in the sleep disturbance of AIS patients. Cognitive function, depression, anxiety, and sleep status were selected to construct a structural equation model. The total effect of cognitive function on sleep status was &minus;0.274, with a direct effect of &minus;0.097 and an indirect effect (through depression) of &minus;0.177. The total effect of anxiety on sleep status was 0.235, with a direct effect of 0.186 and an indirect effect (through depression) of 0.049. IS patients often experience poor sleep quality. Depression in IS patients mediates two pathways: the pathway through which cognitive function affects sleep quality and the pathway through which anxiety affects sleep quality