The Impact of Sovereign Risk in the Business Cycle – Case Albania

The sovereign credit risk is becoming one of the most concerns for the international financial community, and understanding its nature and its effect on the real financial market is very crucial. The sovereign defaults tend to cluster at business-cycle frequencies, the business itself defaults tax authority payments and loan repayments, in turn all serving to creating a vicious cycle in the entire financial market.  Country Risk is the major factor, indicating in the default of credit swap, and this is more intuitive, rather than taken from frequency macroeconomic data, which are highly missing in the transition economies like Albania. Country sovereign rating for Albania, assessed by the International Intelligence Agencies, historically shows that Albania is a risky country and that is why the Foreign Direct Investments had been in a moderate level through the time. Beyond borrowing in foreign currency from Albanian Government, accompanied by a devaluation of national currency during crises, the higher debt service cost has contributed in a comparably lower level of Foreign Debt. Notwithstanding the positive developments in the country, the Albanian market economy, it is still far from being a stable & developed one in a longer term, and be considered as an attractive country for foreign investments. The global economic crises revealed real problems of the economy, by showing that positive trends of GDP growth, during the first years, failed to create an essential and steady base for a sustainable development. The sovereign credit risk is a combined product of many country-specific factors, and also global ones, which in turn should be diminished by installing and applying modern portfolio diversification methods. Keywords: sovereign Credit risk, Country sovereign rating, credit default swap, debt servicing, foreign debt

The Short-Term Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on Eating Habits and Dietary Changes Case of Tirana, Albania

Covid-19, one of the biggest crises that humanity has faced since WW2, has affected the normal life drastically and irreversibly. The rapid spread of the virus, radically changed every aspect of life, starting from the daily routine, the way of thinking and behaving, shopping habits and obviously eating habits and diets. This study aims to assess and analyze the short-term impact of quarantine on eating habits and food choices of citizens of Tirana, Albania, identifying and comparing the differences of quantity and quality of the main food products consumed during and after the lockdown. The research methodology used in this study is descriptive analysis. The selected area for the study is the city of Tirana, and the survey is conducted online due to the strict government regulations regarding social distancing and limited travelling after the Covid-19 outbreak. A total number of 325 respondents are included in the study. Based on the survey, 66.5% of the respondent’s claimed that their diet was affected by the quarantine, while 33.5% have not experienced any major changes in their diets during the pandemic period. Staying at home has led 57% of them to consume all the main meals, and about 67.4% of the respondents claimed to have consumed more snacks than usually. The main products taken into study are bread, dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables, sweets, carbonated drinks, coffee, alcohol and water. Almost 50% of the respondents from a total of 325 confirmed that they consumed more bread, dairy products, meat, sweets and vegetables during the lockdown, than before. Their preferable foods were white bread, milk, chicken, homemade baked sweets and tomatoes. More than 70% claimed to have consumed more fruits, especially oranges, and more coffee and water. On the other hand, almost 70% of the respondents were drinking less alcohol and carbonated drinks during lockdown than before

Archivists and Faculty Collaborative Course Development

This article describes an innovative collaboration and partnership between archivists and a faculty member to enhance teaching and learning on a college campus. For archivists, instruction is often relegated to a secondary function with well-worn show-and-tell sessions that feature collection highlights. However, in a dynamic university environment, these traditional teaching methods are not sufficient for the needs of faculty in their teaching, students in their learning, or archivists seeking broader uses for their collections

Precision Pion-Proton Elastic Differential Cross Sections at Energies Spanning the Delta Resonance

A precision measurement of absolute pi+p and pi-p elastic differential cross sections at incident pion laboratory kinetic energies from T_pi= 141.15 to 267.3 MeV is described. Data were obtained detecting the scattered pion and recoil proton in coincidence at 12 laboratory pion angles from 55 to 155 degrees for pi+p, and six angles from 60 to 155 degrees for pi-p. Single arm measurements were also obtained for pi+p energies up to 218.1 MeV, with the scattered pi+ detected at six angles from 20 to 70 degrees. A flat-walled, super-cooled liquid hydrogen target as well as solid CH2 targets were used. The data are characterized by small uncertainties, ~1-2% statistical and ~1-1.5% normalization. The reliability of the cross section results was ensured by carrying out the measurements under a variety of experimental conditions to identify and quantify the sources of instrumental uncertainty. Our lowest and highest energy data are consistent with overlapping results from TRIUMF and LAMPF. In general, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute SM95 partial wave analysis solution describes our data well, but the older Karlsruhe-Helsinki PWA solution KH80 does not.Comment: 39 pages, 22 figures (some with quality reduced to satisfy ArXiv requirements. Contact M.M. Pavan for originals). Submitted to Physical Review

OPTIMAL ELECTRODES SETTING FOR TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE QUADRICEPS

peer reviewedIntroduction Treatment or training sessions with neuromuscular electrical stimulations (NMES) are generally performed in a transcutaneous manner with the aid of surface electrodes. Several investigators have highlighted the benefits of quadriceps stimulation during rehabilitation following traumatic injury or surgery of the knee and during physical preparation of athletes (Kramer and Mendryyk, 1982). However, the practical modalities of quadriceps stimulation (number, size and localization of electrodes) remain controversial (Vanderthommen and Duchateau, 2007). The present work aimed to determine the optimal electrodes setting for NMES applied to the quadriceps. Methods Twenty physically active men (23 ± 2 years, 180 ± 8 cm, 75 ± 12 Kg) underwent first an evaluation of left quadriceps maximal isometric voluntary torque (QMIVT). The exact localization of the motor points of vastus medialis (MPVM) and vastus lateralis (MPVL) was also determined. Then, we tested unilaterally, isometrically and consecutively five electrodes settings (ES) including rectangular (10 x 5 cm) (RE) or square (5 x 5 cm) (SE) electrodes, with identical stimulation parameters (biphasic symmetric rectangular pulses, 80 Hz, pulse duration 0.35 ms, constant current intensity (42 ± 11 mA)): ES1= 1 channel, 2 RE transversally on the thigh (with the distal electrode placed on MPVM and MPVL); ES2= 1 channel, 2 RE longitudinally on MPVM and MPVL; ES3= 1 channel, 2 SE on MPVM and MPVL; ES4= 2 channels, 4 SE (with 2 SE placed on MPVM and MPVL); ES5= 2 channels, channel 1= 1 SE on MPVM and 1 RE transversally on the proximal part of the thigh, channel 2= 1 SE on MPVL and 1 RE transversally on the proximal part of the thigh. For each ES we measured the electrostimulated torque. Results The mean QMIVT reached 200 ± 51 Nm. The MPVM and MPVL were situated 10 ± 2 cm and 14 ± 3 from the patellar base, respectively. The stimulated contractions reached 9.2 ± 7.4 Nm (4.6% of QMIVT) for ES1, 8 ± 4.8 Nm (4% of QMIVT) for ES2, 15 ± 8.3 Nm (7.5% of QMIVT) for ES3, 16.3 ± 7.7 Nm (8.2% of QMIVT) for ES4 and 40.4 ± 11.3 Nm (20.2% of QMIVT) for ES5 (p<0.05). Discussion During NMES programs it appears crucial to use a proper electrode setting ensuring efficient muscle recruitment and therefore optimized training effects. However, physiotherapists and trainers often place electrodes empirically especially for NMES applied to the quadriceps. This study demonstrated the relevance of using two channels for quadriceps NMES and of setting, for each channel, one small “excitative” electrode exactly on the motor point of vastus medialis or lateralis and one bigger “dispersive” electrode transversally on the proximal part of the thigh (in order to close the circuit). References Kramer JF, Mendryyk SW. (1982). Phys Ther, 4, 1657-1667. Vanderthommen M, Duchateau J. (2007). Exerc Sport Sci Rev, 35, 180-185

Factors Impacting Vaccine Uptake, Safety, and Efficacy Concerns among Black and White Adults Previously Infected with COVID-19: A Survey-Based Study

BACKGROUND: Despite COVID-19 disproportionality impacting Black communities, vaccine hesitancy may be higher in this group owing to longstanding and enduring systemic racism. In this study, we determined whether Black (vs White) adults within a Georgia (GA) integrated healthcare system, previously infected with COVID-19, were more or less likely to report vaccine hesitancy, report concerns about vaccine safety, and efficacy. We also explored how factors like social determinants of health and hardships faced during the COVID-19 pandemic can affect the impact race has on vaccine outcomes (uptake, safety concerns, efficacy concerns). METHODS: We invited all adult members age ≥18 years at Kaiser Permanente Georgia, with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis between March 2020 and April 2021 to participate in a cross-sectional COVID-19-specific survey (n=17,608 eligible members) sent between June 2021 and August 2021. Participants self-reported race (White, Black) and were asked their willingness to receive a vaccine, concerns about vaccine efficacy, and vaccine safety. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between race and three vaccine-specific outcomes (uptake, safety concern, efficacy concern), adjusted for age, sex, social determinants of health, chronic conditions and COVID-19 impact. Mediation analysis was used to assess the impact of education and COVID-19 experiences on the relation between race and vaccine outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 482 adults (response rate 3%) completed the survey, but only 414 were eligible to take part in the analysis: mean age 51.3 years (SD=13.1), 32.6% males, and 38.5% reported Black race. A total of 288 (75.0%) participants reported having received the COVID-19 vaccine. Black adults had higher crude OR to not have received the COVID-19 vaccine (cOR=1.8 ; 95% CI: 1.1-2.9), but this was not significant when adjusted for age, sex, chronic conditions, and COVID-19 experiences. Black adults were more likely to have vaccine safety (aOR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.3-4.0) and vaccine efficacy concerns (aOR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.3-4.1) when compared to White adults. Having everyone with a high level of education would eliminate 37% of the effect of race on vaccine uptake and 12% on the effect of race on vaccine safety concerns. Having no one experience financial hardship would eliminate the effect of race on vaccine uptake (29%), vaccine safety concerns (14%), and vaccine efficacy concerns (12%). CONCLUSION: Our results show that among adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in Georgia, Black adults were not less likely to have received the vaccine compared to White adults, despite having higher odds of being concerned about the vaccine safety and vaccine efficacy. Education and financial hardship negatively impacted the effect of race on vaccine outcomes

Characterizing the effect of menin early deletion in the osteoblast lineage using conditional knockout mice

Menin, the product of the Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 (MEN1) gene, is a widely expressed, predominantly nuclear protein that facilitates cell proliferation and differentiation control. In osteoblasts, menin has been shown to modulate osteoblast differentiation, an essential process for bone homeostasis. Our laboratory has initially established in vivo the importance of menin for proper functioning of the mature osteoblast and maintenance of bone mass in adult mice. In the current study, we seek to better understand the role that menin plays in vivo when expressed at earlier stages of the osteoblast lineage. To achieve this, conditional knockout mice in which the Men1 gene is specifically deleted early in the osteoblast lineage were generated by using the Cre-LoxP recombination system. Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f and Osx-Cre; Men1f/f mice represent knockout of the Men1 gene at the level of the pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell and preosteoblast, respectively. Proceeding with the gross phenotypic characterization, the bodyweights of knockout mice were decreased in comparison to control Men1f/f mice. Adult animals between 10-14 month-old from both knockout strains revealed changes in fat and lean mass content. Brown adipose tissue activity was also affected, with the relative expression of Ucp1 being significantly higher in Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f mice. By 3-dimensional micro-computed tomography imaging of the femur, both strains of Men1 knockout mice had decreased trabecular bone volume with altered trabecular structure. Bone mass and femur length were also significantly reduced in both knockout mice models. Three-point bending test showed a reduction in femur strength and stiffness in knockout animals. The forelimb grip strength of Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f mice was reduced and that of Osx-Cre; Men1f/f increased in comparison to wild-type mice. Proliferative capabilities of calvarial osteoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) of Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f and Osx-Cre; Men1f/f animals were unaltered. Mineralization capabilities of primary calvarial osteoblasts in the knockout mice were however deficient relative to those of wild-type mice as assessed by alizarin red staining. The gene expression profiles of primary calvarial osteoblasts and BMSCs of Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f mice were also altered. Culturing primary calvarial osteoblasts via a new method using dense collagen gels, which better mimic the physiological bone microenvironment, revealed defective mineralization capabilities in Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f mice. The RANKL/OPG ratio from bone RNA was also found to be higher in Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f animals, which is consistent with in vivo histomorphometric analysis that demonstrates an increase in osteoclast number and activity in Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f and Osx-Cre; Men1f/f mice. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate the essential role that osteoblast menin plays in bone homeostasis and show the potential of menin as a molecular therapeutic target for treating disorders of low bone mass such as osteoporosis.La ménine, le produit du gène de la néoplasie endocrinienne multiple de type 1 (MEN1), est une protéine principalement exprimée dans le noyau qui joue un rôle dans le contrôle de la prolifération et de la différenciation cellulaire. Dans les ostéoblastes, il a été montré que la ménine régularise l'ostéoblastogenèse, un processus essentiel au cours de l'homéostasie osseuse. Notre laboratoire a aussi initialement établi in vivo l'importance de la ménine pour le bon fonctionnement des ostéoblastes matures et pour le maintien de la masse osseuse chez les souris adultes. Dans l'étude présente, nous cherchons à mieux comprendre le rôle que joue la ménine in vivo lorsqu'elle est exprimée à des stades précoces de la lignée ostéoblastique. Pour atteindre cet objectif, des souris knock-out conditionnelles dans lesquelles le gène Men1 est spécifiquement supprimé au début de la lignée ostéoblastique ont été générées, et ceci en utilisant le système de recombinaison Cre-LoxP. Les souris Prx1-Cre ; Men1f/f et Osx-Cre ; Men1f/f représentent à cet effet l'invalidation du gène Men1 au niveau de la cellule souche mésenchymateuse pluripotente et des préostéoblastes, respectivement. En procédant à la caractérisation phénotypique des souris transgéniques, les poids des souris knock-out sont réduits par rapport aux souris Men1f/f servant de contrôles. Les animaux adultes âgés entre 10 à 14 mois provenant des deux souches knock-out révèlent des changements en termes de la teneur en gras et en masse maigre. L'activité du tissu adipeux brun est également affectée par le fait que l'expression relative de Ucp1 est plus élevée dans les souris Prx1-Cre ; Men1f/f. Par micro-tomographie tridimensionnelle du fémur, nous percevons une diminution du volume trabéculaire osseux et une structure trabéculaire aberrante dans les deux souches de souris knock-out. La masse osseuse et la longueur des fémurs sont également significativement réduites dans les deux modèles de souris knock-out. Le test de flexion en trois points démontre aussi une réduction en termes de force et de raideur du fémur chez les animaux knock-out. La force de pré-adhérence des membres antérieurs des souris Prx1-Cre ; Men1f/f est réduite et celle des souris Osx-Cre; Men1f/f élevée par rapport aux souris de type sauvage. Les capacités prolifératives des ostéoblastes issues de la calvaria et des cellules stromales de la moelle osseuse (BMSCs) des souris Prx1-Cre ; Men1f/f et Osx-Cre ; Men1f/f ne sont pas affectées. Le degré de minéralisation des ostéoblastes primaires issues de la calvaria chez les souris knock-out est cependant réduit par rapport aux cellules provenant des souris de type sauvage, tel qu'évalué par coloration alizarine rouge. Les profils d'expression géniques des ostéoblastes primaires et des BMSCs des souris Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f sont également altérés. Cultiver les cellules ostéoblastiques issues de la calvaria par une nouvelle méthode consistant à utiliser des gels de collagène dense, qui imitent mieux le microenvironnement osseux physiologique, révèle des capacités de minéralisation défectueuses au niveau des cellules ostéoblastiques issues des souris Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f. Le ratio RANKL/OPG de l'ARN osseux est également plus élevé dans les animaux Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f, ce qui est concorde avec l'analyse histomorphométrique in vivo qui démontre également une augmentation au niveau du nombre et de l'activité des ostéoclastes dans les souris Prx1-Cre; Men1f/f et Osx-Cre; Men1f/f. En conclusion, ces études illustrent le rôle essentiel que joue la ménine ostéoblastique dans l'homéostasie osseuse et soulignent également le potentiel de la ménine ostéoblastique comme cible thérapeutique moléculaire pour le traitement des troubles de faible masse osseuse comme l'ostéoporose

Understanding directed self-placement as it relates to student persistence and success

Advisors: Amy D. Rose; Sonya L. Armstrong.Committee members: Thomas Smith.Includes bibliographical references.Increasing college completion rates is important not only for institutions of higher learning, but also for the nation. Success in the first year and persistence to second year are vital to increasing these completion rates. One aspect of the first-year experience is placement into math, reading and writing courses. A majority of college freshman are placed using standardized placement exams that determine if they take pre-college or college-level courses. Directed self-placement (DSP) is an alternative placement method that is being utilized in lieu of standardized placement exams at a small selection of institutions within the U.S. A secondary analysis was conducted to understand the relationships among DSP, student persistence and success. Specifically, analyses were conducted to understand how previous performance (high school GPA and ACT scores) related to student choice, persistence and success. Participants were from one private Midwestern university (N = 2,760). T-tests were conducted and effect sizes were calculated as well as a logistic regression, chi-square test of independence, and an ordinal regression. The results of the analyses provided evidence that previous performance, specifically high school GPA and ACT score were related to the DSP choice. It was also found that there is a relationship between DSP choice, student success, and persistence in preparatory and college-level writing courses. High school GPA and ACT score were found to be predictors of success in the first writing course. The ACT score was found to not be significantly related to persistence through course, but high school GPA was found to be significantly related. These findings underscored the need to explore alternative methods of placement beyond standardized placement exams.Ed.D. (Doctor of Education