Accounting for the International Great Depression: Efficiency, Distortions and Factor Utilization during the Interwar Period

In this paper, we analyze the International Great Depression (IGD) in the U.S. and Western Europe by applying the business cycle accounting method to a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with time-varying production efficiency and factor market distortions. We measure the size of labor and capital market distortions with endogenous factor utilization and their relative importance in accounting for output fluctuation during the interwar period. Our main findings are that labor market distortions accounted for two-thirds of the output drops in both the U.S. and Western Europe, endogenous factor utilization amplified the negative effects of labor market distortions, and government spending played an important role in the recovery from the Great Depression in European countries who left the Gold Standard in the early 1930s.

Formic Acid Induces Hypertension-Related Hemorrhage in hSSAOTG in Mice and Stroke Patients

Hypertension is a confirmed risk factor for cerebral hemorrhage in humans. Which endogenous factor directly induces hypertension-related stroke is unclear. In this study, 42 hemorrhagic stroke patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia and 42 age-matched healthy controls were recruited. The contents of serum semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) and formic acid (FC, a final product of SSAO metabolism) were examined in the patients after stroke. Hemorrhagic areas were quantified by computer tomography. In the animal study, hemorrhagic degree was assessed by hemotoxylin & eosin or tissue hemoglobin kits. The relationship between FC and blood pressure/hemorrhagic degree was explored in wild-type mice and hSSAOTG mice fed with high-fat diets or high-fat and -salt diets. The results showed that the levels of serum FC were positively correlated with blood pressure and hemorrhagic areas in stroke patients. Transfection of microRNA-134 could enhance SSAO expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Consistently, after treatment with high-fat and -salt diets, hSSAOTG mice exhibited higher levels of miR134 and FC, higher blood pressure, and more severe hemorrhage than wild-type mice. Interestingly, folic acid reduced hypertension and hemorrhage in hSSAOTG mice fed with high-fat diets. These findings suggest that FC is a crucial endogenous factor for hypertension and hemorrhage.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM: CURRENT SITUATION AND SOLUTIONS

There is a cause & effect relationship between human resources, capital, natural resources, technical infrastructure, science & technology, etc. However, human resources are considered the endogenous factor that dominates other resources as well as the process of socioeconomic development of each country. Compared to other resources, human resources, in which intellectual and grey matter are prominent characteristics, have the outstanding advantage of not being exhausted if they can be fostered, exploited and used properly; while other resources, no matter how much, are limited and can only prove their usefulness by being combined with human resources effectively. Human resources are the factor that decides the exploitation, use, protection and regeneration of other resources; in which, high-quality human resources determine the socioeconomic growth and development of each country. JEL: J24; O15 <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0795/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety Outcomes of Edoxaban in 8040 Women Versus 13 065 Men With Atrial Fibrillation in the ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 Trial

Background: Female sex is an independent risk factor for stroke and systemic embolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety profile of edoxaban in women versus men. Methods: The ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 trial (Effective Anticoagulation with Factor Xa Next Generation in Atrial Fibrillation-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 48) randomly assigned 21 105 patients (8040 women) with atrial fibrillation and CHADS 2 score ≥2 either to a higher-dose edoxaban regimen, a lower-dose edoxaban regimen, or warfarin. The primary end points of the trial were the composite of stroke or systemic embolic events (efficacy), and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis–defined major bleeding (safety). Results: In comparison with men, women were older, had lower body weight, were more likely to have hypertension and renal dysfunction, but less likely to smoke, drink alcohol, or have diabetes or coronary artery disease. Pretreatment endogenous factor Xa activity was significantly higher in women than in men (92.5% versus 86.1%, P <0.001). Treatment with edoxaban in women resulted in greater peak edoxaban concentration and inhibition of endogenous factor Xa in comparison with men, resulting in similar endogenous factor Xa activity between the sexes 2 to 4 hours after dose. Treatment with higher-dose edoxaban regimen (versus warfarin) resulted in similar reduction in the risk of stroke/systemic embolic events (women: hazard ratio [HR], 0.87 [0.69–1.11], men: HR, 0.87 [0.71–1.06]; P -interaction=0.97) and major bleeding (women: HR, 0.74 [0.59–0.92], men: HR, 0.84 [0.72–0.99]; P -interaction=0.34) in women and men. However, women assigned to higher-dose edoxaban regimen experienced greater reductions in hemorrhagic stroke (HR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.15–0.59] versus HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.46–1.06]), intracranial bleeding (HR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.10–0.39] versus HR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.44–0.89]), and life-threatening or fatal bleeding (HR, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.15–0.42] versus HR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.54–0.96]) than men (each P -interaction<0.05). Conclusions: Despite many differences in baseline characteristics between women and men and higher baseline endogenous factor Xa levels in women, the intensity of anticoagulation achieved with edoxaban between the sexes was similar. Treatment with higher-dose edoxaban regimen resulted in an even greater reduction in hemorrhagic stroke and several serious bleeding outcomes in women than in men, whereas the efficacy profile was similar between sexes.

EVALUATION OF LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AS ELEMENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES

The concept of local development factors has gained in importance in the context of the reduction of existing resources, especially financial ones. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate localized economic activity as an endogenous factor in the development of small and medium-sized cities. Therefore, the individual sources of income of residents were examined on the basis of the data submitted with their tax declarations. The study covered the years 2016-2018, and included 255 small and medium-sized Polish cities that are revealing a depletion of their socio-economic functions. In order to assess local economic activities, the normalization method was used to compare the cities in terms of their potential. The results thus obtained allow for conclusions to be drawn on the importance of various sources of revenue to the development of cities, and are complementary to the analyses carried out so far in this area.