Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Explaining Welfare State Developments: Towards a Comparative Research Agenda

The aim of this paper is to provide a first sketch of an analytical framework which could be used for the comparative analysis of welfare state developments, under the form of emergence , consolidation , expansion and reform . We shall do so inspired by Flora and Heidenheimer’s (1981) seminal work on the development of the welfare state, and more specifically we shall de-part from the ‘sequencing’ which is provided at the end of the book in the contribution by Hugh Heclo (“Towards a New Welfare State? ”) which differentiates the ‘stages of welfarism’ in four phases: experimentation, consolidation, expansion, reformulation based on the analysis of political and economic events (Heclo, 1981: 386-387). Furthermore, we will also use Flora’s ‘macro-constellation’ of factors in proposing an analytical framework which will be used also for comparative purposes. The article is organised as follows: section 2 traces the main similarities and differences with respect to welfare state developments in Western Europe and Latin America; section 3 critically discusses the most relevant theories of welfare state developments used for the analysis of welfare state developments in the two continents; section 4 discusses the results of our review and presents the analytical framework which should allow us to better understand – from a theoretical perspective – the evolution of welfare states in the two continents under scrutiny, and beyond.
The relationship between social support and anxiety among caregivers of children in HIV-endemic South Africa

Caring for children can be a source of joy and fulfilment, but also a source of stress, especially for caregivers living with illness and/or coping with difficult socio-economic conditions. Risks for poor caregiver mental health are especially salient in many parts of southern Africa affected by a generalised HIV-epidemic, high rates of physical illness, difficult livelihood conditions and an increasing number of orphaned and vulnerable children in need of care. Given limited availability and low uptake of formal mental health services in South Africa, the potential protective role of informal community or “social” resources for caregiver populations requires greater attention. To our knowledge, this is the first study to quantitatively assess the relationship between social support and symptomatic anxiety among caregivers of children living in HIV-endemic southern African communities. The data are from household survey interviews with 2477 adult primary caregivers of children aged 10–17 years living in two (urban and rural) resource-deprived HIV-endemic South African communities. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis with interaction terms was conducted to assess whether HIV and other illness were significant stressors for caregiver anxiety, whether social support had main or stress-buffering protective effects on anxiety and whether gender moderated the association between social support and anxiety. Our findings showed significant main effects of social support on caregiver anxiety, but no evidence of stress-buffering effects of support or of gender moderating the support-anxiety relationship. This suggests that social support is a general mental health resource for both male and female caregivers of children in these HIV-endemic communities, regardless of whether they are facing specific stressors related to HIV or other illness. Our results highlight the importance of paying greater attention to the social environment when designing and implementing caregiver health interventions, and indicate that social support could be a valuable component of such interventions.
Effect of edoxaban on markers of coagulation in venous and shed blood compared with fondaparinux

Summary Edoxaban, an oral direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor, is in phase III clinical development for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and treatment of venous thromboembolism. The shed blood model allows for study of activated coagulation at a site of standardised tissue injury due to local release of tissue factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three doses of edoxaban on markers of coagulation in shed and venous blood versus placebo and a standard prophylactic dose of fondaparinux. A total of 100 healthy male subjects were randomised to receive single doses of one of five treatments: subcutaneously administered fondaparinux 2.5 mg; orally administered edoxaban 30, 60, or 120 mg; or placebo. The primary objective was measurement of blood coagulation markers prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and thrombinantithrombin (TAT) complex, and platelet activation marker β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), in venous and shed blood. Secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics, shed blood volume, and safety of edoxaban. Single doses of edoxaban caused rapid and significant decreases of F1+2, TAT, and β-TG in the shed blood model, indicating inhibition of thrombin generation and platelet activation. Inhibition was significantly less for fondaparinux versus edoxaban. Baseline-corrected F1+2, TAT, and β-TG values demonstrated sustained inhibition up to 24 hours for shed blood in the edoxaban groups but no significant inhibition in venous blood. Overall, edoxaban treatments were well tolerated. In conclusion, single oral doses of edoxaban 30, 60, or 120 mg caused rapid and sustained inhibition of coagulation up to 24 hours in the shed blood model.
Biology of Bony Fish Macrophages

Macrophages are found across all vertebrate species, reside in virtually all animal tissues, and play critical roles in host protection and homeostasis. Various mechanisms determine and regulate the highly plastic functional phenotypes of macrophages, including antimicrobial host defenses (pro-inflammatory, M1-type), and resolution and repair functions (anti-inflammatory/regulatory, M2-type). The study of inflammatory macrophages in immune defense of teleosts has garnered much attention, and antimicrobial mechanisms of these cells have been extensively studied in various fish models. Intriguingly, both similarities and differences have been documented for the regulation of lower vertebrate macrophage antimicrobial defenses, as compared to what has been described in mammals. Advances in our understanding of the teleost macrophage M2 phenotypes likewise suggest functional conservation through similar and distinct regulatory strategies, compared to their mammalian counterparts. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing teleost macrophage functional heterogeneity, including monopoetic development, classical macrophage inflammatory and antimicrobial responses as well as alternative macrophage polarization towards tissues repair and resolution of inflammation.
Left Superior Temporal Gyrus Is Coupled to Attended Speech in a Cocktail-Party Auditory Scene

Using a continuous listening task, we evaluated the coupling between the listener's cortical activity and the temporal envelopes of different sounds in a multitalker auditory scene using magnetoencephalography and corticovocal coherence analysis. Neuromagnetic signals were recorded from 20 right-handed healthy adult humans who listened to five different recorded stories (attended speech streams), one without any multitalker background (No noise) and four mixed with a “cocktail party” multitalker background noise at four signal-to-noise ratios (5, 0, −5, and −10 dB) to produce speech-in-noise mixtures, here referred to as Global scene. Coherence analysis revealed that the modulations of the attended speech stream, presented without multitalker background, were coupled at ∼0.5 Hz to the activity of both superior temporal gyri, whereas the modulations at 4–8 Hz were coupled to the activity of the right supratemporal auditory cortex. In cocktail party conditions, with the multitalker background noise, the coupling was at both frequencies stronger for the attended speech stream than for the unattended Multitalker background. The coupling strengths decreased as the Multitalker background increased. During the cocktail party conditions, the ∼0.5 Hz coupling became left-hemisphere dominant, compared with bilateral coupling without the multitalker background, whereas the 4–8 Hz coupling remained right-hemisphere lateralized in both conditions. The brain activity was not coupled to the multitalker background or to its individual talkers. The results highlight the key role of listener's left superior temporal gyri in extracting the slow ∼0.5 Hz modulations, likely reflecting the attended speech stream within a multitalker auditory scene. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT When people listen to one person in a “cocktail party,” their auditory cortex mainly follows the attended speech stream rather than the entire auditory scene. However, how the brain extracts the attended speech stream from the whole auditory scene and how increasing background noise corrupts this process is still debated. In this magnetoencephalography study, subjects had to attend a speech stream with or without multitalker background noise. Results argue for frequency-dependent cortical tracking mechanisms for the attended speech stream. The left superior temporal gyrus tracked the ∼0.5 Hz modulations of the attended speech stream only when the speech was embedded in multitalker background, whereas the right supratemporal auditory cortex tracked 4–8 Hz modulations during both noiseless and cocktail-party conditions.
Demographic transition: A forcing model

Transition Theory provides the theoretical underpinning for many explanations for past population changes and, more importantly, for many population projections. Our paper proves, through the use of symbolic logic, that Transition Theory does not contain principles strong enough to support population projections. Such projections, consequently, must be based upon their author’s intuition rather than a reasoned application of Transition Theory. We follow our proofs with a brief discussion of various ways in which the Theory may be modified. Our emphasis is upon and only upon the logical characters of these modifications.
Effects of 3‐ and 5‐Year Treatment With Risedronate on Bone Mineralization Density Distribution in Triple Biopsies of the Iliac Crest in Postmenopausal Women

Long‐term effects of risedronate on bone mineralization density distribution in triple transiliac crest biopsies of osteoporotic women were evaluated. In this double‐blinded study, 3‐ and 5‐year treatment with risedronate increased the degree and homogeneity of mineralization without producing hypermineralization. These changes at the material level of bone could contribute to risedronate's antifracture efficacy.
THE SEPTIC ABSCESS WALL: A CYTOKINE‐GENERATING ORGAN ASSOCIATED WITH PORTAL VENOUS CYTOKINEMIA, HEPATIC OUTFLOW FIBROSIS, SINUSOIDAL CONGESTION, INFLAMMATORY CELL SEQUESTRATION, HEPATOCELLULAR LIPID DEPOSITION, AND FOCAL CELL DEATH

&NA; —An acute septic inflammatory response with access to the portal circulation was created in a rat model using an intra‐abdominal abscess composed of a sterile agar pellet, or one contaminated with 102 Escherichia coli (E. coli) and 109 Bacteriodes fragilis (B. fragilis). After 3 days postimplantation, a well‐formed intra‐abdominal abscess occurred whose wall showed IL‐6 DNA by PCR and IL‐6 mRNA by in situ hybridization. Portal venous blood draining into the liver from the intra‐abdominal abscess had increased levels of TNF‐&agr;, IL‐1&bgr;, and IL‐6 in both sterile and septic groups compared with a control normal animal group. Increased levels of these cytokines were also found in suprahepatic inferior vena caval blood, but were correlated with the higher portal vein levels, suggesting a gradient from abscess wall to portal vein into the systemic circulation via the liver. Liver histology demonstrated sinusoidal congestion centering on the central vein, growing worse with progression from normal in control, to sterile, to septic. Similarly, the degree of intrahepatic myeloperoxidase‐positive inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocellular lipid deposition and apoptosis also increased from control, to sterile, to septic. Gene expression by in situ hybridization demonstrated a significant increase in IL‐6 and fibrinogen mRNAs in cells surrounding the central vein in sterile and septic animals, being greatest in animals with sepsis, associated with an increased deposition of collagen in the central vein area, most prominent in the septic liver. The pericentral vein cells with IL‐6 and fibrinogen mRNA increases paralleled the increases in cells containing IL‐6 and fibrinogen mRNAs in the abscess walls of sterile and septic animals, respectively. The data suggest that an intra‐abdominal abscess, especially when contaminated with gram‐negative bacteria, induces mRNA‐generated cytokine responses in the abscess wall that are related to increased portal venous levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF‐&agr;, IL‐1&bgr;, and IL‐6 perfusing the liver. These, in turn, induce localized production of IL‐6 and fibrinogen mRNAs in cells at the central vein area with resultant outflow fibrosis and increased inflammatory cell sequestration within the liver lobular sinuses. This is associated with a generalized inflammatory response and intrahepatic portal sinusoid congestion. There is also increased hepatocellular lipid deposition and apoptosis. Thus, the cytokine production of the abscess wall itself appears to be a major mediator of the septic hepatic response.
Parent and child reports of fruit and vegetable intakes and related family environmental factors show low levels of agreement.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to determine the level of agreement between child and parent reports of 9- to 10-year-old children's consumption of fruit and vegetables and potential family-environmental determinants. METHODS Schoolchildren and their parents completed parallel questionnaires at baseline and at follow-up (1 year later) about usual fruit and vegetable consumption of the child, potential determinants and general demographics. Matched child-parent couples were included in the analyses (baseline = 380; follow-up = 307). To assess the level of agreement between child and parent reports at both points in time, dependent-sample t-test, correlation coefficients, weighted Cohen's kappa coefficients and Bland-Altman plots including limits of agreement were used. RESULTS Both at baseline and at follow-up, the mean intake of fruit and vegetable reported by the children were significantly higher than reported by their parents, but differences were smaller at follow-up. Correlation coefficients between child and parent reports (0.28-0.43) and weighted Cohen's kappa coefficients (0.25-0.28) were weak to moderate. Limits of agreement were wide. CONCLUSION The agreement between parent and child reports is weak to moderate and may depend on the age of the child. Fourth graders may overestimate their own intake of fruit and vegetables.
Plasma protein levels are markers of pulmonary vascular permeability and degree of lung injury in critically ill patients with or at risk for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome*

Objectives:To evaluate the diagnostic value of plasma protein levels for pulmonary vascular permeability and acute respiratory distress syndrome. During acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, increased vascular permeability induces protein-rich fluid extravasation. We hypothesized that plasma protein levels predict increased vascular permeability and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Design:A prospective, observational study. Patients:Eighty-three consecutive, mechanically ventilated patients with or at risk for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, of whom 18 had sepsis. Patients with increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressures or central venous pressures were excluded. Interventions:Patients were subjected to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure/central venous pressure-guided fluid loading with saline or colloid fluids. Measurements and Main Results:We measured plasma albumin and transferrin levels and determined the 67Gallium-transferrin pulmonary leak index, the American European Consensus Conference criteria, and the lung injury score. Measurements were performed before and after fluid loading to evaluate effects of fluid loading. Plasma albumin and transferrin levels were approximately 30% lower in acute respiratory distress syndrome than patients with acute lung injury (p < .01) and patients without lung injury (p < .05). Protein levels inversely related to the pulmonary leak index (standardized regression coefficient −0.28, p < .001 for albumin; standardized regression coefficient −0.30, p = .003 for transferrin) and the lung injury score (standardized regression coefficient −0.19, p = .01 for albumin), independently of presence of sepsis, severity of disease, and fluid loading. Albumin and transferrin levels had a high sensitivity (77–93%) and negative predictive value (80–98%) for elevated pulmonary vascular permeability and acute respiratory distress syndrome (American European Consensus Conference criteria and lung injury score). The addition of hypoalbuminemia (<17.5 g/L) and hypotransferrinemia (<0.98 g/L) as criteria to the American European Consensus Conference criteria or the lung injury score increased their predictive values for elevated pulmonary vascular permeability. Conclusions:In critically ill patients, decreased plasma albumin and transferrin levels parallel increased pulmonary vascular permeability irrespective of underlying disease and fluid status. While normal levels help to exclude acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypoalbuminemia and hypotransferrinemia increase the diagnostic accuracy of the American European Consensus Conference criteria and lung injury score for elevated pulmonary vascular permeability.
Fiscal Space and the Aftermath of Financial Crises: How It Matters and Why

ABSTRACT:In a sample of 30 countries during the period 1980–2017, those with lower debt-to-GDP ratios responded to financial distress with much more expansionary fiscal policy and suffered much less severe aftermaths. Two lines of evidence together suggest that the relationship between the debt ratio and the policy response is driven partly by problems with sovereign market access, but even more so by the choices made by domestic and international policymakers. First, although there is some relationship between more direct measures of market access and the fiscal response to distress, incorporating the direct measures attenuates only slightly the link between the debt ratio and the policy response. Second, contemporaneous accounts of the policymaking process in episodes of major financial distress show a number of cases where shifts to austerity were driven by problems with market access, but show at least as many where the shifts resulted from policymakers' choices despite an absence of difficulties with market access. These results point to a twofold message: conducting policy in normal times to maintain fiscal space provides valuable insurance in the event of a financial crisis, and domestic and international policymakers should not let debt ratios unnecessarily determine the response to a crisis.
Patients' beliefs about medicines in a primary care setting in Germany.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore patients' beliefs about medicines by administering the German version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) in a primary care setting among chronically ill patients and to examine its psychometric properties. The BMQ assesses patients' beliefs about their individual prescribed medication as well as their beliefs about medicines in general. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 485 chronically ill patients was performed. The German version of the BMQ was evaluated in terms of internal consistency, validity and scale structure. To assess validity the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-D) and the Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale (SIMS-D) were applied. RESULTS The BMQ showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.79-0.83). Patients' belief about the specific necessity of their medicines correlated positively with the MARS-D (ρ = 0.202; P < 0.01). There were significant correlations in the predicted direction between the MARS-D and all the BMQ subscales with the exception of the General-Overuse subscale (ρ = -0.06; P = 0.30). Relationship to the SIMS-D was comparable to the original study. Factor analysis corroborated the scale structure. CONCLUSIONS The BMQ is a suitable instrument to measure patients' beliefs in medicines in German primary care settings. Most patients in our sample had positive beliefs concerning the necessity of their medication. Their levels of concern were associated with higher non-adherence.
Liposome-coated metal stents: an in vitro evaluation of controlled-release modality in the ureter.

PURPOSE In vitro preparation of liposome-covered metal stents and loading of liposomal drug formulations that will slowly release the drug in the vicinity of the stent. MATERIALS AND METHODS Polytetrafluoroethylene-coated stents were used. Large multilamellar (MLV) liposomes (phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol 1:1 mol/mol), empty or entrapping the corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, were prepared by the thin-film hydration method and applied to pieces of stent using a simple and mild evaporation technique. Initially, a freeze-drying method for applying liposomes to stents was also evaluated, but it failed to produce stents that efficiently retain liposomal lipid when incubated in an aqueous environment. The presence of liposomes on the stent surface was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS After analyzing the release of liposomal lipid (using a phospholipid assay) and liposomal drug (by a modified dexamethasone high-pressure liquid chromatography method) in an in vitro system developed to simulate in vivo conditions, it was found that 39.11+/-6.8% of the lipid and 50.84+/-5.48% of the drug was released from the stent pieces during 48 hours of incubation in the presence of artificial urine. The amount of dexamethasone released from stents during their application procedure was found to be negligible in an in vitro dry run. CONCLUSION The use of stent-associated liposomal drug formulations as slow-release depots could be an efficient method of treating the untoward event of ureteral stent obstruction.