Lack of access to good road networks is a major constraint on the incomes and welfare of the poor. Using household expenditure survey data for Lao PDR this paper models the causes of poverty and shows the impact on poverty levels of road improvements.

• Holds introductory meeting with finance minister
• Govt pledges to end gas supply to captive power plants by Jan
• Lender’s team to hold joint session with power and petroleum divisions today

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sought a detailed, output-based update on Pakistan’s digitalisation plans for its revenue system, including the use of artificial intelligence to expand the tax base and increase collections.

On the energy side, the country has pledged to halt gas supply to captive power plants (CPPs) by January 2025, redirecting them to the national grid despite a strong pushback from influential rent-seeking industrialists. The IMF has firmly rejected any amendments to this programme benchmark.

The visiting IMF team, led by Pakistan’s mission chief Nathan Porter, held an introductory meeting on Tuesday with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Minister of State for Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial were also present.

The mission is also holding separate technical sessions with all the stakeholders, including the FBR, power and petroleum divisions and the energy sector regulatory authorities. In all these engagements, the mission appeared to have not expressed its mind so far, except from raising exploratory questions, participants told Dawn.

It is not yet clear if the dialogue would lead to policy-level discussions that had been a critical part of IMF programmes’ quarterly reviews.

The current $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), however, has been designed in a manner that the IMF and Pakistan authorities should hold biannual review meetings for the disbursement of about $1bn instalments during each cycle.

The first formal review has to take place based on the end-December performance for Pakistan to qualify for disbursement for a second instalment of over $1bn by March 15, 2025.

Officials said the IMF mission has called for detailed explanations on the digitalisation of FBR’s processes for revenue collection, application of artificial intelligence for identifying and tracing tax evaders and their taxable incomes and businesses and involvement of specialised expert firms. They have also sought a complete update on the track-and-trace system.

In initial meetings, the FBR attributed recent revenue shortfalls — particularly in the first month of the second quarter — to the declining inflation.

The power sector’s performance appears to be within agreed limits concerning circular debt and current revenues.

Circular debt rose by about Rs70bn, below earlier estimates of Rs240-250bn. A circular debt management plan was approved only last week by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), led by the finance minister.

Sources said the government had been going back and forth over the disconnection of gas supply to inefficient captive power plants, belonging mostly to the textile sector, to utilise surplus capacity in the national power grid.

The industrialists have, however, now mustered support from gas companies. Some stakeholders are now pushing for the supply of imported LNG to CPPs at a weighted average cost of local and imported molecules on the premise that electricity connections were not available or were insufficient in certain areas.

The IMF mission is scheduled to have a joint session with the power and petroleum divisions on Wednesday (today) to discuss their interrelated issues, including circular debt, planned tariff adjustments, loss reduction programmes and recoveries.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

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This report highlights Bangladesh’s cross-border paperless trade readiness, outlines the significant legal and technical gaps it still needs to address, and provides a comprehensive action plan.

This edition of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide series focuses on updates in the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) market since the publication of the previous guide for the ROK in 2018.

Title: Early COPD Treatment Slows Disease
Category: Health News
Created: 8/28/2009 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/28/2009 12:00:00 AM

Title: Health Tip: Recognizing COPD
Category: Health News
Created: 8/25/2010 10:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/25/2010 12:00:00 AM

Title: Health Tip: Help Keep COPD in Check
Category: Health News
Created: 8/31/2012 8:05:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2012 12:00:00 AM

BACKGROUND:Home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may improve chronic hypercarbia in COPD and patient-important outcomes. The efficacy of home high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as an alternative is unclear.METHODS:We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized trials of subjects from inception to March 31, 2023, and updated the search on July 14, 2023. We performed a frequentist network meta-analysis and assessed the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NIV, HFNC, or standard care in adult subjects with COPD with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Outcomes included mortality, COPD exacerbations, hospitalizations, and quality of life (St George Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ]).RESULTS:We analyzed 24 RCTs (1,850 subjects). We found that NIV may reduce the risk of death compared to standard care (relative risk 0.82 [95% CI 0.66–1.00]) and probably reduces exacerbations (relative risk 0.71 [95% CI 0.58–0.87]). HFNC probably reduces exacerbations compared to standard care (relative risk 0.77 [0.68–0.88]), but its effect on mortality is uncertain (relative risk 1.20 [95% CI 0.63–2.28]). HFNC probably improves SGRQ scores (mean difference −7.01 [95% CI −12.27 to −1.77]) and may reduce hospitalizations (relative risk 0.87 [0.69–1.09]) compared to standard care. No significant difference was observed between HFNC and NIV in reducing exacerbations.CONCLUSIONS:Both NIV and HFNC reduce exacerbation risks in subjects with COPD compared to standard care. HFNC may offer advantages in improving quality of life.

Introduction

Exacerbation of COPD complicated by respiratory acidaemia is the commonest indication for noninvasive ventilation (NIV). The NIV outcomes (NIVO) score offers the best estimate of survival for those ventilated. Unfortunately, two-thirds of cases of COPD are unrecognised, and patients may present without COPD having been confirmed by spirometry.

The Registry of Fast Myocardial Perfusion Imaging with Next-Generation SPECT (REFINE SPECT) has been expanded to include more patients and CT attenuation correction imaging. We present the design and initial results from the updated registry. Methods: The updated REFINE SPECT is a multicenter, international registry with clinical data and image files. SPECT images were processed by quantitative software and CT images by deep learning software detecting coronary artery calcium (CAC). Patients were followed for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, late revascularization). Results: The registry included scans from 45,252 patients from 13 centers (55.9% male, 64.7 ± 11.8 y). Correlating invasive coronary angiography was available for 3,786 (8.4%) patients. CT attenuation correction imaging was available for 13,405 patients. MACEs occurred in 6,514 (14.4%) patients during a median follow-up of 3.6 y (interquartile range, 2.5–4.8 y). Patients with a stress total perfusion deficit of 5% to less than 10% (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.42; 95% CI, 2.23–2.62) and a stress total perfusion deficit of at least 10% (unadjusted HR, 3.85; 95% CI, 3.56–4.16) were more likely to experience MACEs. Patients with a deep learning CAC score of 101–400 (unadjusted HR, 3.09; 95% CI, 2.57–3.72) and a CAC of more than 400 (unadjusted HR, 5.17; 95% CI, 4.41–6.05) were at increased risk of MACEs. Conclusion: The REFINE SPECT registry contains a comprehensive set of imaging and clinical variables. It will aid in understanding the value of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging, leverage hybrid imaging, and facilitate validation of new artificial intelligence tools for improving prediction of adverse outcomes incorporating multimodality imaging.

SUMMARY:

The 2021 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS5), introduced significant changes, impacting tumors ranging from glial to ependymal neoplasms. Ependymal tumors were previously classified and graded based on histopathology, which had limited clinical and prognostic utility. The updated CNS5 classification now divides ependymomas into 10 subgroups based on anatomic location (supratentorial, posterior fossa, and spinal compartment) and genomic markers. Supratentorial tumors are defined by zinc finger translocation associated (ZFTA) (formerly v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene [RELA]), or yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) fusion; posterior fossa tumors are classified into groups A (PFA) and B (PFB), spinal ependymomas are defined by MYCN amplification. Subependymomas are present across all these anatomic compartments. The new classification kept an open category of "not elsewhere classified" or "not otherwise specified" if no pathogenic gene fusion is identified or if the molecular diagnosis is not feasible. Although there is significant overlap in the imaging findings of these tumors, a neuroradiologist needs to be familiar with updated CNS5 classification to understand tumor behavior, for example, the higher tendency for tumor recurrence along the dural flap for ZFTA fusion-positive ependymomas. On imaging, supratentorial ZFTA-fused ependymomas are preferentially located in the cerebral cortex, carrying predominant cystic components. YAP1-MAMLD1-fused ependymomas are intra- or periventricular with prominent multinodular solid components and have significantly better prognosis than ZFTA-fused counterparts. PFA ependymomas are aggressive paramedian masses with frequent calcification, seen in young children, originating from the lateral part of the fourth ventricular roof. PFB ependymomas are usually midline, noncalcified solid-cystic masses seen in adolescents and young adults arising from the fourth ventricular floor. PFA has a poorer prognosis, higher recurrence, and higher metastatic rate than PFB. Myxopapillary spinal ependymomas are now considered grade II due to high recurrence rates. Spinal-MYCN ependymomas are aggressive tumors with frequent leptomeningeal spread, relapse, and poor prognosis. Subependymomas are noninvasive, intraventricular, slow-growing benign tumors with an excellent prognosis. Currently, the molecular classification does not enhance the clinicopathologic understanding of subependymoma and myxopapillary categories. However, given the molecular advancements, this will likely change in the future. This review provides an updated molecular classification of ependymoma, discusses the individual imaging characteristics, and briefly outlines the latest targeted molecular therapies.

SUMMARY:

The ASNR Neuroradiology Division Chief Working Group's 2023 survey, with responses from 62 division chiefs, provides insights into turnaround times, faculty recruitment, moonlighting opportunities, and academic funds. In emergency cases, 61% aim for a turnaround time of less than 45–60 minutes, with two-thirds meeting this expectation more than 75% of the time. For inpatient CT and MR imaging scans, 54% achieve a turnaround time of 4–8 hours, with three-quarters meeting this expectation at least 50% of the time. Outpatient scans have an expected turnaround time of 24–48 hours, which is met in 50% of cases. Faculty recruitment strategies included 35% offering sign-on bonuses, with a median of $30,000. Additionally, 23% provided bonuses to fellows during fellowship to retain them in the practice upon completion of their fellowship. Internal moonlighting opportunities for faculty were offered by 70% of divisions, with a median pay of $250 per hour. The median annual academic fund for a full-time neuroradiology faculty member was $6000, typically excluding license fees but including American College of Radiology and American Board of Radiology membership, leaving $4000 for professional expenses. This survey calls for further dialogue on adapting and innovating academic institutions to meet evolving needs in neuroradiology.

We present a unique case of a single patient presenting with two mutationally distinct, PD-L1⁺ diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). One of these DLBCLs demonstrated exceptionally high mutational burden (eight disease-associated variants and 41 variants of undetermined significance) with microsatellite instability (MSI) and an acquired PMS2 mutation with loss of PMS2 protein expression, detected postchemotherapy. This report, while highlighting the extent of possible tumor heterogeneity across separate clonal expansions as well as possible syndromic B-cell neoplasia, supports the notion that, although rare, PD-L1 expression and associated states permissive of high mutational burden (such as mismatch repair gene loss of function/MSI) should be more routinely considered in DLBCLs. Appropriate testing may be predictive of outcome and inform the utility of targeted therapy in these genetically diverse and historically treatment-refractory malignancies.

The diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), a monogenic form of diabetes mellitus caused by a mutation in a single gene, is often uncertain until genetic testing is performed. We report a 13-yr-old Korean boy who was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). MODY was suspected because of his nonobese body habitus and family history of multiple affected members. Targeted panel sequencing of all MODY-related genes was performed using the NextSeq 550Dx platform (Illumina). Sanger sequencing was performed using blood samples from the parents, siblings, and other relatives. A frameshift variant in the 3' region of the last exon of PDX1 was detected in the patient and his family members with diabetes. PP1_Moderate criterion was applied and this variant was confirmed to be the genetic cause of diabetes in the family and classified as likely pathogenic. The study highlights the importance of genetic testing for nonobese, early-onset diabetic patients with multiple affected family members. Increased awareness and aggressive genetic testing for MODY are needed.

Background

In an evolving landscape of practices and policies, reviewing and incorporating the latest scientific evidence is necessary to ensure optimal clinical management for people with opioid use disorder. We provide a synopsis of the 2024 update of the 2018 National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder, from the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters.

COPD is a heterogeneous condition, with tobacco smoking being the main environmental risk factor. The presence of type 2 (T2) inflammation is a well-recognised feature of asthma; however, it is now apparent that a subset of COPD patients also displays evidence of T2 inflammation with respect to elevated eosinophil counts and altered gene and protein expression of several T2 inflammatory mediators. T2 inflammatory mediators represent an attractive therapeutic target in both COPD and asthma; however, the efficacy of pharmaceutical interventions varies between diseases. Furthermore, the nature of some shared clinical features also differs. We provide a narrative review of differences in the nature of T2 inflammation between COPD and asthma, which may partly explain phenotypic differences between diseases. We focus on evidence from studies of pulmonary histopathology, sputum and epithelial gene and protein expression, and response to pharmacological interventions targeted at T2 inflammation.

Capcom has updated its list of Platinum Titles, games that have sold over one million units as of September 30, 2024. The list includes 122 games with sales over one million units, 64 over two million units, 14 over five million units, and six over 10 million units sold.

Resident Evil 4 remake sold 400,000 units to bring lifetime sales to eight million units, Resident Evil 2 remake sold 300,000 units to bring sales to 14.5 million units, and Resident Evil 3 remake sold 200,000 units to bring lifetime sales to 9.2 million units. 

Resident Evil 7: biohazard sold 300,000 units to bring lifetime sales to 14 million units and Resident Evil Village sold 400,000 units to bring sales to 10.5 million units.

Monster Hunter Rise sold 600,000 units in the quarter to bring lifetime sales to 16 million units. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak sold 400,000 units to bring lifetime sales to 8.8 million units.

Monster Hunter: World sold 400,000 units in the quarter to bring lifetime sales to 20.9 million units, while the Iceborne expansion sold 600,000 units for a total of 14 million units.

Dragon's Dogma 2 sold 300,000 units in the quarter to bring lifetime sales to 3.3 million units. Street Fighter 6 sold 400,000 units in the quarter to bring lifetime sales to 4.1 million units. Devil May Cry 5 sold 300,000 units to bring sales to 8.7 million units. 

Check out the complete list below:

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Full Article - https://www.vgchartz.com/article/463020/capcom-updates-its-best-sellers-list-monster-hunter-world-at-209m-re4-remake-at-8m-more/