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Purpose This study proposes spatial origin-destination threshold Tobit to address spatial interdependence among bilateral trade flows while accounting for zero trade volumes. Design/methodology/approach This model is designed to capture multiple forms of spatial autocorrelation embedded in \"directional\" trade flows. The authors apply this improved model to export flows among 32 Asian countries in 1990. Findings The empirical results indicate the presence of all three types of spatial dependence: exporter-based, importer-based and exporter-to-importer-based. After further considering multifaceted spatial correlation in bilateral trade flows, the authors find that the effect of conventional trade variables changes in a noticeable way. Research limitations/implications This finding implies that the standard gravity model may produce biased estimates if it does not take spatial dependence into account. Originality/value This paper attempts to offer an improved model of the standard gravity model by taking spatial dependence into account.

Purpose - This study proposes a Bayesian approach to analyze structural breaks and examines whether structural changes have occurred, at the onset of civil war, with respect to economic development and population during the period from 1945 to 1999. Design/methodology/approach - In the Bayesian logit regression changepoint model, parameters of covariates are allowed to shift individually, regime transitions can move back and forth, and the model is applicable to cross-sectional, time-series data. Findings - Contrary to popular belief that the causal process of civil war changed with the end of the Cold War, the empirical analysis shows that the regression relationships between civil war and economic development, as well as between civil war and population, remain quite stable during the study period. Originality/value - This is the first to develop a Bayesian logit regression changepoint model and to apply it to studies of economic development and civil war.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine a curvilinear effect of legislative constraints on foreign debt. Design/methodology/approach - A cross-sectional, time-series data analysis of 68 developing countries during the period from 1981 to 1999 was performed. Findings - Foreign borrowing is most likely to increase at both low and high levels of legislative constraints, while it is most likely to decrease at moderate levels. Originality/value - The paper is a first-cut empirical analysis of a curvilinear relationship between legislative constraints and foreign debt.

While the International Relations literature has long debated whether or not economic sanctions are an effective foreign policy tool, it neglects to empirically examine the damage sanctions impose on target economies. This study presents two theoretical explanations about the impact of sanctions on target countries’ economies, and collects extensive empirical data to test such theoretical connections in three areas: international trade; foreign direct investment; and foreign portfolio investment. A cross-national, time-series data analysis of 133 countries during the period from 1970 to 2005 reveals that regardless of the number of senders, the type of sanctions or the level of anticipated costs to the target and the sender, economic coercion damages none of the economic conditions of the target. This finding suggests that if the objective is to maximize economic pain in the sanctioned country, a sanctioning country should think twice before choosing economic coercion as its primary non-military strategy.

The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome and coping patterns of patients with stomach, colon, and rectal cancer in a hospital in China. Health-related quality of life was assessed in 118 stomach, colon, and rectal cancer patients in Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China, using the generic version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (QOL) Questionnaire Core 30 Items, Self-rated Anxiety Scores (SAS), Self-rated Depression Scores (SDS), Medical Coping Modes of Questionnaire (MCMQ), and Social Support Requirement Scale (SSRS) questionnaires. The overall QOL was 50.7 ± 6.5, 48.1 ± 7.7, and 47.6 ± 6.4, respectively, for stomach, colon, and rectal cancer groups. Correlations between QOL and SAS and SDS in stomach cancer patients were significantly higher than observed in the cohort of colon or rectal cancer patients (Spearman coefficient of 0.366 and 0.129, respectively). Cluster analysis of MCMQ data revealed four identifiable patterns (resign, confront, avoid–confront, and avoid–resign) of coping in the study group. Subjective support was significantly higher than objective support ( p  < 0.05); however, extent of using the support was significantly lower than either objective ( p  < 0.05) or subjective support ( p  < 0.01). SAS and SDS were negatively correlated to SSRS scores ( p  < 0.01 and p  < 0.05, respectively). Stomach, colon, and rectal cancer patients had anxiety and depression stemming from their cancer diagnosis and postdiagnosis treatment, and sex dependency was prevalent in SSRS response. Coping patterns were reliable indicators of psychosocial side effects in patients with stomach, colon, and rectal cancers.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely used in the production of consumer products globally due to the excellent water and oil resistance and anti-fouling properties. The multiple toxic effects of some PFASs also pose a threat to human health and ecosystem, and the frequent use of certain consumer products increased the risk of human exposure to PFASs. More data on the occurrence, concentration, and migration of PFASs in consumer products is urgently needed to address the possible risks posed by exposure to consumer products. This paper reviews the PFAS concentrations found, the migration characteristics known, and the exposure risks of PFASs arising from several types of consumer products over the last five years. The types of consumer products considered here include food contact materials, textiles, and disposable personal hygiene products. The influence of different factors on the migration process of PFASs from these products are summarized and discussed. Additionally, the main approaches and models of exposure assessment are evaluated and summarized. Current challenges and future research prospects in this field are discussed with a view to providing guidance for the future assessment and regulation of PFASs in consumer products.

Background The risk of cervical cancer progression in high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV)-positive women is associated with cervical lesion severity and molecular heterogeneity. Classification systems based on p16 and Ki67 expression cumulative scores (0–3 each)—p16/Ki67 collectively known as an immunoscore [IS]—are an accurate and reproducible method for grading cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions. Meanwhile, DNA methylation is an early event in the development of cervical cancer. Hence, this study evaluated the relationship among CIN, p16/Ki-67 IS, and PAX1 / ZNF582 methylation. Methods In this study, 414 HPV-positive paraffin-embedded specimens were collected, and PAX1 / ZNF582 methylation and the p16/ki67 IS were determined. A total of 43 invalid samples were excluded and 371 were included in the statistical analyses. There were 103 cervicitis, 95 CIN1, 71 CIN2, 89 CIN3, and 13 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases. The association between PAX1 / ZNF582 methylation and p16/Ki6 immunohistochemical staining scores was analyzed. Results The ΔCp of PAX1 m ( PAX1 methylation) and ZNF582 m ( ZNF582 methylation) decreased with cervical lesion severity (Cuzick trend test, all P  < 0.001). The severity of the cervical lesions and p16, Ki67, and p16/Ki67 IS showed an increasing trend (Multinomial Cochran-Armitage trend test, all P  < 0.001). The prevalence of PAX1 m / ZNF582 m increased with an increase in the IS of p16, Ki67, and p16/Ki67 (Cochran-Armitage trend test, all P  < 0.001). In cervical SCC, the IS was 5–6, and the PAX1 m / ZNF582 m was positive. Meanwhile, heterogeneity was observed in CIN lesions: 10 cases had an IS of 3–4 and were PAX1 m / ZNF582 m -positive in ≤ CIN1; 1 case had an IS of 0–2 and was PAX1 m / ZNF582 m -positive in CIN2/3. Conclusions Significant heterogeneity was observed in CIN lesions for p16 and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining scores and PAX1 / ZNF582 methylation. This may help clinicians personalize the management of CIN based on the predicted short-term risk of cancer progression, minimizing the rate of missed CIN1 diagnoses and incorrect treatment of CIN2/3.

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer (CC). DNA methylation is a promising biomarker for cervical cancer screening. This study aimed to validate the clinical efficacy of a cytological DNA methylation-based ZNF 582 methylation ( ) test for triage in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 or higher (CIN3+) among women with HR-HPV infection. This case-control study examined 199 women who tested positive for HR-HPV from the colposcopy clinic. The cohort included 15 cases of CC, 37 cases of CIN3, 45 cases of CIN2, 49 cases of CIN1, and 53 normal cases. Using cervical pathology results as a reference, the performance of the test for detecting CIN3 + was evaluated and compared with liquid-based cytology (LBC) and P16/Ki67 double stain cytology (DSC). test showed statistically significant differences in pathological results between CIN2 and CIN3 (  < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for distinguishing between

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