The Impact of Corruption on Consumer Markets: Evidence From the Allocation of Second-Generation Wireless Spectrum in India

Theoretical predictions of the impact of corruption on economic efficiency are ambiguous, with models allowing for positive, negative, or neutral effects. While much evidence exists on levels of corruption, less is available on its impact, particularly its impacts on consumer markets. This paper investigates empirically the effect of the corrupt sale of spectrum licenses to ineligible firms on the wireless-telecommunications market in India. I find that the corrupt allocation had, at worst, no impact on the number of subscribers, prices, usage, revenues, competition, and measures of quality. I argue that the market-based transfer of licenses to competent firms other than the original awardees, combined with fierce competition in the telecommunications sector, may have mitigated potential deleterious impacts of corruption on consumers. These results suggest that the original corrupt allocation did not matter, which provides support for the Coase theorem

Sweetening the Deal? Political Connections and Sugar Mills in India

Political control of firms is prevalent across the world. Evidence suggests that firms profit from political connections, and politicians derive benefit from control over firms. This paper investigates an alternative mechanism through which politicians may benefit electorally from connected firms, examining sugar mills in India. I find evidence of embezzlement in politically controlled mills during election years, reflected in lower prices paid to farmers for cane. This result complements the literature on political cycles by demonstrating how campaign funds are raised rather than used. Politicians may recompense farmers upon getting elected, possibly explaining how they can get away with pilferage. (JEL D72, G34, L66, O13, O17, Q12, Q13

Developing A Technical Translation Program: A Needs Assessment Study

This paper presents a needs assessment study designed to determine the skills needed by technical translators to become successful in their work and content areas to be covered to develop these skills in a new technical translation program at the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Oakland University. A mixed qualitative and quantitative research design was used to collect data from professional technical translators. Content analysis and descriptive statistics of interview and survey data revealed several insights and suggestions regarding prerequisites for the students entering into the program, program content, and instructional strategies. Based on the findings, the paper concludes with twelve recommendations for the design of the program

Biometric payment systems and welfare benefits

Biometric payment systems are claimed to reduce leakages in public welfare programmes. Indeed, 230 programmes in more than 80 countries are currently deploying such systems to improve security and reduce corruption and fraud. Yet, there is little evidence for their effectivenes

BU10038 as a safe opioid analgesic with fewer side-effects after systemic and intrathecal administration in primates

© 2019 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Background: The marked increase in mis-use of prescription opioids has greatly affected our society. One potential solution is to develop improved analgesics which have agonist action at both mu opioid peptide (MOP) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors. BU10038 is a recently identified bifunctional MOP/NOP partial agonist. The aim of this study was to determine the functional profile of systemic or spinal delivery of BU10038 in primates after acute and chronic administration. Methods: A series of behavioural and physiological assays have been established specifically to reflect the therapeutic (analgesia) and side-effects (abuse potential, respiratory depression, itch, physical dependence, and tolerance) of opioid analgesics in rhesus monkeys. Results: After systemic administration, BU10038 (0.001–0.01 mg kg −1 ) dose-dependently produced long-lasting antinociceptive and antihypersensitive effects. Unlike the MOP agonist oxycodone, BU10038 lacked reinforcing effects (i.e. little or no abuse liability), and BU10038 did not compromise the physiological functions of primates including respiration, cardiovascular activities, and body temperature at antinociceptive doses and a 10–30-fold higher dose (0.01–0.1 mg kg −1 ). After intrathecal administration, BU10038 (3 μg) exerted morphine-comparable antinociception and antihypersensitivity without itch scratching responses. Unlike morphine, BU10038 did not cause the development of physical dependence and tolerance after repeated and chronic administration. Conclusions: These in vivo findings demonstrate the translational potential of bifunctional MOP/NOP receptor agonists such as BU10038 as a safe, non-addictive analgesic with fewer side-effects in primates. This study strongly supports that bifunctional MOP/NOP agonists may provide improved analgesics and an alternative solution for the ongoing prescription opioid crisis.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and SAR studies of 14β-phenylacetyl substituted 17-cyclopropylmethyl-7, 8-dihydronoroxymorphinones derivatives : Ligands with mixed NOP and opioid receptor profile

© 2018 Kumar, Polgar, Cami-Kobeci, Thomas, Khroyan, Toll and Husbands.A series of 14β-acyl substituted 17-cyclopropylmethyl-7,8-dihydronoroxymorphinone compounds has been synthesized and evaluated for affinity and efficacy for mu (MOP), kappa (KOP), and delta (DOP) opioid receptors and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors. The majority of the new ligands displayed high binding affinities for the three opioid receptors, and moderate affinity for NOP receptors. The affinities for NOP receptors are of particular interest as most classical opioid ligands do not bind to NOP receptors. The predominant activity in the [35S]GTPγS assay was partial agonism at each receptor. The results are consistent with our prediction that an appropriate 14β side chain would access a binding site within the NOP receptor and result in substantially higher affinity than displayed by the parent compound naltrexone. Molecular modeling studies, utilizing the recently reported structure of the NOP receptor, are also consistent with this interpretation.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Mobile money

The surge in access to mobile phones throughout the developing world has brought with it a wide range of benefits. One of the most noteworthy breakthroughs has been mobile money, enabling users to deposit, transfer, and withdraw funds from a digital account without owning a bank account Mobile money provides a dramatic reduction in transaction costs, as well as improvements in convenience, security, and time taken for the transaction. There is a growing literature that documents the benefits of mobile money, including improvements in the ability to smooth consumption better in the face of health and economic shocks, improving women’s empowerment, and reducing poverty. More recently, there has been a growth in digital financial services that use mobile money as the rails to deliver other products (largely credit). However, such innovations are few and far between with more research needed on their deployment and impact.otherpublishe

Public sector innovation, e-government, and anticorruption in China and India: insights from civil servants

Both China and India are adopting information and communication technologies to facilitate openness and transparency in their governments, and hence reduce corruption. Distinctive from their traditional anticorruption approaches, is the innovative e-government approach an effective solution to corruption in these two large developing countries? This paper addresses the question through comparative in-depth interviews with 44 mid- or senior-level officials in the public sector in these two countries. The first study of its kind, our research shows that civil servants in both countries overall think positively about transparency and technology in reducing corruption. However, to what extent these innovative measures will be effective is conditional on various factors, such as political willingness, income inequality, and infrastructure readiness. What is worth noting is that the Chinese respondents were more positive regarding the role of transparency, whereas the Indian respondents were more positive about the role of technology, which may reflect the different facilitators of corruption and the constraints of anticorruption in China and India

Inhibition of p38-MAPK signaling pathway attenuates breast cancer induced bone pain and disease progression in a murine model of cancer-induced bone pain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mechanisms driving cancer-induced bone pain are poorly understood. A central factor implicated to be a key player in the process of tumorigenesis, osteoclastogenesis and nociception is p38 MAPK. We determined the role of p38 MAPK in a mouse model of breast cancer induced bone pain in which mixed osteolytic and osteoblastic remodeling occurs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In cancer-treated mice, acute as well as chronic inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB203580 blocked flinching and guarding behaviors in a dose-dependent manner whereas no effect on thresholds to tactile stimuli was observed. Radiographic analyses of bones demonstrated that chronic inhibition of p38 MAPK reduced bone loss and incidence of spontaneous fracture in cancer-treated mice. Histological analysis of bones collected from mice treated with the p38 MAPK inhibitor showed complete absence of osteoblastic growth in the intramedullary space as well as significantly reduced tumor burden.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Blockade of non-evoked pain behaviors but not hypersensitivity suggests differences in the underlying mechanisms of specific components of the pain syndrome and a possibility to individualize aspects of pain management. While it is not known whether the role of p38 MAPK signaling can be expanded to other cancers, the data suggest a need for understanding molecular mechanisms and cellular events that initiate and maintain cancer-induced bone pain for effective management for both ongoing pain as well as breakthrough pain.</p

A novel orvinol analog, BU08028, as a safe opioid analgesic without abuse liability in primates

Despite the critical need, no previous research has substantiated safe opioid analgesics without abuse liability in primates. Recent advances in medicinal chemistry have led to the development of ligands with mixed mu opioid peptide (MOP)/nociceptin-orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor agonist activity to achieve this objective. BU08028 is a novel orvinol analog that displays a similar binding profile to buprenorphine with improved affinity and efficacy at NOP receptors. The aim of this preclinical study was to establish the functional profile of BU08028 in monkeys using clinically used MOP receptor agonists for side-by-side comparisons in various well-honed behavioral and physiological assays. Systemic BU08028 (0.001–0.01 mg/kg) produced potent long-lasting (i.e., >24 h) antinociceptive and antiallodynic effects, which were blocked by MOP or NOP receptor antagonists. More importantly, the reinforcing strength of BU08028 was significantly lower than that of cocaine, remifentanil, or buprenorphine in monkeys responding under a progressive-ratio schedule of drug self-administration. Unlike MOP receptor agonists, BU08028 at antinociceptive doses and ∼10- to 30-fold higher doses did not cause respiratory depression or cardiovascular adverse events as measured by telemetry devices. After repeated administration, the monkeys developed acute physical dependence on morphine, as manifested by precipitated withdrawal signs, such as increased respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. In contrast, monkeys did not show physical dependence on BU08028. These in vivo findings in primates not only document the efficacy and tolerability profile of bifunctional MOP/NOP receptor agonists, but also provide a means of translating such ligands into therapies as safe and potentially abuse-free opioid analgesics