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The effects of economic uncertainty and economic policy uncertainty on banks’ loan loss provision in Brazil

This paper investigates the effects of economic uncertainty and economic policy uncertainty on banks’ loan loss provision in Brazil, and it seeks to identify which uncertainties have the greatest impact on loan loss provisions. Regarding uncertainties, it is possible to proxy economic uncertainty and economic policy uncertainty through disagreements among professional forecasters and through news-based proxies. Thus, as a novelty, disagreements among professional forecasters are used to proxy both economic and economic policy uncertainties, and for checking robustness, news-based proxies are employed. The disagreements in expectations are divided into two groups: the first focuses on uncertainties related to economic policy instruments (i.e., monetary policy interest rate and primary surplus), and the second on uncertainties related to economic outcomes (i.e., inflation, exchange rate, GDP growth, and public debt). Regarding the news-based proxies of economic policy uncertainty and economic uncertainty, two indicators were employed: the first is the Economic Policy Uncertainty index, and the second is the index of economic uncertainty unrelated to economic policy that we calculate. Based on dynamic panel data analysis for 125 Brazilian banks, the findings suggest uncertainties in economic outcomes have greater influence on banking provisions than uncertainties in economic policy. The study validates the results using news-based indexes and a subsample representing the post-global financial crisis period.

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A high fat diet potentiates neonatal iron overload-induced memory impairments in rats.

The present study aimed at evaluating possible synergistic effects between two risk factors for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders, i.e. iron overload and exposure to a hypercaloric/hyperlipidic diet, on cognition, insulin resistance, and hippocampal GLUT1, GLUT3, Insr mRNA expression, and AKT phosporylation. Male Wistar rats were treated with iron (30mg/kg carbonyl iron) or vehicle (5% sorbitol in water) from 12 to 14th post-natal days. Iron-treated rats received a standard laboratory diet or a high fat diet from weaning to adulthood (9months of age). Recognition and emotional memory, peripheral blood glucose and insulin levels were evaluated. Glucose transporters (GLUT 1 and GLUT3) and insulin signaling were analyzed in the hippocampus of rats. Both iron overload and exposure to a high fat diet induced memory deficits. Remarkably, the association of iron with the high fat diet induced more severe cognitive deficits. Iron overload in the neonatal period induced higher insulin levels associated with significantly higher HOMA-IR, an index of insulin resistance. Long-term exposure to a high fat diet resulted in higher fasting glucose levels. Iron treatment induced changes in Insr and GLUT1 expression in the hippocampus. At the level of intracellular signaling, both iron treatment and the high fat diet decreased AKT phosphorylation. The combination of iron overload with exposure to a high fat diet only led to synergistic deleterious effect on emotional memory, while the effects induced by iron and by the high fat diet on AKT phosphorylation were comparable. These findings indicate that there is, at least to some extent, an additive effect of iron combined with the diet. Further studies investigating the mechanisms associated to deleterious effects on cognition and susceptibility for the development of age-associated neurodegenerative disorders are warranted.

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Mapping projects for expanding rapid HIV testing in key populations, Brazil, 2004-2021.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a persistent and real issue, especially in key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender persons. Projects for expanding rapid HIV testing are strategic initiatives aimed at the earliest possible identification of individuals' serological status and thus early treatment, screening of sex partners, and upscaling of preventive actions to interrupt the transmission chain. This study thus maps, describes, and systematizes the projects for expanding rapid HIV testing implemented from 2004 to 2021 in Brazil, highlighting the on-going contribution of civil society organizations and discussing the interoperability and cooperation resulting from public governance processes. We selected 67 documents for analysis, including 30 scientific publications retrieved from electronic databases and 37 documents produced by government institutions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Find Out (Fique Sabendo), I Want to Get Tested (Quero Fazer), The Time is Now (A Hora É Agora), Live Better Knowing (Viva Melhor Sabendo), and Live Better Knowing Young (Viva Melhor Sabendo Jovem) were the projects mapped. Results show that the projects have used strategies adapted to the key population, such as mobile testing units, peer education, and innovative community engagement approaches. Such actions were enabled by effective cooperation and interoperability between participating stakeholders, especially NGOs.

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