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The study focuses on the relationship between the corruption perception index and mechanisms of corporate governance. We focus on a sample of 130 countries that are included in the data provided by the World Economic Forum and Transparency International from 2006 to 2017. Current research provides empirical evidence that the strength of investors' protection and efficacy of corporate boards help control corruption and the country level. A panel regression model was used to examine the hypothetical relationships. The findings of the study suggest the negative relationship between the efficacy of corporate boards and the corruption perception index. Similarly, we found the negative impact of the strength of investor protection on the corruption perception index. Hence the results indicated that two of the above-mentioned corporate governance mechanisms i.e. the strength of investors' protection and efficacy of corporate boards help reduce corruption at the country level. The policymakers should continue to strengthen the legislation of corporate governance, and the management authorities should adopt corporate governance practices in the true spirit. Hence this paper contributes to existing research on corporate governance and corruption by taking the global perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is some evidence that natural levels of lithium (Li) in drinking water may have a protective effect on neurological health. In present study, we evaluate the Li levels in drinking water of different origin and bottled mineral water. To evaluate the association between lithium levels in drinking water with human health, the scalp hair samples of male subjects (25-45 years) consumed drinking water obtained from ground water (GW), municipal treated water (MTW) and bottled mineral water (BMW) from rural and urban areas of Sindh, Pakistan were selected. The water samples were pre-concentrated five to tenfold at 60 °C using temperature-controlled electric hot plate. While scalp hair samples were oxidized by acid in a microwave oven, prior to determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The Li content in different types of drinking water, GW, MTW and BMW was found in the range of 5.12-22.6, 4.2-16.7 and 0.0-16.3 µg/L, respectively. It was observed that Li concentration in the scalp hair samples of adult males consuming ground water was found to be higher, ranged as 292-393 μg/kg, than those who are drinking municipal treated and bottle mineral water (212-268 and 145-208 μg/kg), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is compelling evidence in support of interaction between calcium (Ca) and lead (Pb) in thyroid disorders. The aim of present study was to compare the level of Ca and Pb with thyroid hormones such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxin (FT4) in serum samples of hyperthyroid (HPRT) and hypothyroid (HPOT) patients of both genders. For comparative purpose, age-matched (25-50 years) subjects having no thyroid disorders were selected as referents/controls. The serum samples were acid-digested prior to analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked by certified reference materials. The resulted data indicates that the mean values of Ca in serum samples of HPRT patients were significantly higher than those of referent subjects ( p < 0.01), while reverse pattern was observed in the case of HPOT patients. The level of Pb was higher in the serum samples of both types of thyroid patients, but difference was significant in case of HPOT patients as compare to referent subjects ( p < 0.01). A negative correlation was observed between serum Ca levels and TSH of HPRT patients (− r = 0.37-0.39, p < 0.01), while FT3 and FT4 have positive correlation ( r = 0.49-0.52 and r = 0.46-0.47), p values <0.01. The Pb in serum had positive correlation with TSH ( r = 0.48-0.51, p < 0.005), while negative correlation was observed for FT3 and FT4 (− r = 0.55-0.56, 0.5-0.54, p < 0.05) in HPRT patients. On the other hand, a reverse pattern was observed, for correlation of Ca and Pb with thyroid functions in HPOT patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]