ImmunoCap 250 for Diagnostics of Allergy and Autoimmunity

As HLS EU International coordinator, I have planned and led DMUglobal trips for students and staff in 2019 and 2020 to Vilnius Life Science Centre and the COINS Life Science conference, this poster has been presented at this conference in 2020.See Abstract Booklet p.4

The Role of "Volume Dispersion" in Explaining the Price-Change Volume Relation at the Index Level

In this paper, we examine the dynamics of the price change-trading volume relation at the aggregate market/index level. We introduce the use of a novel “volume dispersion” measure designed to proxy for the variability in firm-specific information flows across securities that comprise the market. Our results suggest that the price change-volume relation can be strengthened by the introduction of this measure. We also offer evidence of a positive relation between market volatility and trading volume and a negative relation between market volatility and volume dispersion. Furthermore, we demonstrate that lagged values of market level trading volume and volume dispersion can predict the next day’s index level volatility. Our findings remain robust when the implied volatility of the S&P 100 index options is used in the analysis. This suggests that index option traders need to pay close attention to both aggregate market level trading volume and volume dispersion to better capture the dynamics of daily market volatility.postprin

Special and Differential Treatment in the WTO: Framing Differential Treatment to Achieve (Real) Development

Purpose – Special and differential treatment (SDT) in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has failed to integrate developing countries into the international trading system, as contemplated by the WTO Agreement, itself. This paper aims to interrogate the current application of SDT by WTO members as the possible undermining factor for SDT not delivering on its objective. Design/methodology/approach – The research uses a qualitative legal methodology. This study conducts desk analysis of primary legal materials and existing literature to assess current reflections of SDT and draw lessons for reforms in the WTO. Findings – From interrogating current SDT practice in the WTO and a comparative analysis with a similar differential treatment under the Montreal Protocol, this paper finds that indeed, the problem lies in the current approach to SDT application in the WTO. This study finds that the existing absence of eligibility criteria for determining access to SDT by countries is the core reason for the abuse and sub-optimal outcome from its application. Originality/value – While making a case for a rules-based approach to differentiation in the WTO, this paper proposes a unique methodology for differentiating between developing countries for SDT, including the use of a composite indicator to ensure that indicators that are used sufficiently reflect their heterogeneous needs. Drawing inspiration from Gonzalez et al. (2011a), this study introduces an adaptation for selecting a threshold for graduation. Specifically, the proposal on the value of the standard deviation of countries from the weighted mean of the composite indicator as the threshold for graduating countries from SDT is novel

Trade, human rights and EU-India negotiations

There is now an increasing recognition that the effects of trade and trade policy are far too great to be treated separately from other development goals such as human rights

Humanitarian aid as an integral part of the European Union's external action: the challenge of reconciling coherence and independence

The article focuses on the European Union's (EU) humanitarian aid policy. It addresses the challenge for the EU to deliver independent humanitarian aid while simultaneously seeking to establish more coherence between its external policies. The article examines how the EU tries to reconcile these potentially conflicting policy goals, both de jure and in practice. Empirically, it explores the interaction between EU humanitarian aid and development cooperation, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and trade policy. While the independence of the humanitarian aid delivery is, for the most part, not being undermined, it remains difficult to establish positive synergies with other external policies because of institutional hurdles and legal constraints, as well as political obstacles and operational incompatibilities

Light-stable rhodopsin. II. An opsin mutant (TRP-265→PHE) and a retinal analog with a nonisomerizable 11-cis configuration form a photostable chromophore

In order to prepare a completely light-stable rhodopsin, we have synthesized an analog, II, of 11-cis retinal in which isomerization at the C11-C12 cis-double bond is blocked by formation of a cyclohexene ring from the C10 to C13-methyl. We used this analog to generate a rhodopsin-like pigment from opsin expressed in COS-1 cells and opsin from rod outer segments (Bhattacharya, S., Ridge, K.D., Knox, B.E., and Khorana, H. G. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 6763-6769). The pigment (lambda max, 512 nm) formed from opsin and analog II (rhodospin-II) showed ground state properties very similar to those of rhodopsin, but was not entirely stable to light. In the present work, 12 opsin mutants (Ala-117→Phe, Glu-122→Gln(Ala, Asp), Trp-126→Phe(Leu, Ala), Trp-265→Ala(Tyr, Phe), Tyr-268→Phe, and Ala-292→Asp), where the mutations were presumed to be in the retinal binding pocket, were reconstituted with analog II. While all mutants formed rhodopsin-like pigments with II, blue-shifted (12-30 nm) chromophores were obtained with Ala-117→Phe, Glu-122→Gln(Ala), Trp-126→Leu(Ala), and Trp-265→Ala(Tyr, Phe) opsins. The extent of chromophore formation was markedly reduced in the mutants Ala-117→Phe and Trp-126→Ala. Upon illumination, the reconstituted pigments showed varying degrees of light sensitivity; the mutants Trp-126→Phe(Leu) showed light sensitivity similar to wild-type. Continuous illumination of the mutants Glu-122→Asp, Trp-265→Ala, Tyr-268→Phe, and Ala-292→Asp resulted in hydrolysis of the retinyl Schiff base. Markedly reduced light sensitivity was observed with the mutant Trp-265→Tyr, while the mutant Trp-265→Phe was light-insensitive. Consistent with this result, the mutant Trp-265→Phe showed no detectable light-dependent activation of transducin or phosphorylation by rhodopsin kinase

The labour market impact of COVID-19: early evidence for a sample of enterprises from Southern Europe

Purpose: The choice of Southern Europe is partly based on the observation that the sample includes a number of countries whose economies faced more severe difficulties than elsewhere in Europe. Economically they were less able to absorb the economic shock posed by COVID-19. It is also partly based on the characteristics of the pandemic. A number of countries in the sample were amongst the earliest in Europe to be hit by the pandemic and a several were harder hit in terms of both morbidity and mortality. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses evidence from World Bank enterprise surveys of a sample of firms from six countries in Southern Europe. It examines the early evidence of the effects of COVID-19 on labour markets. The economic consequences potentially cover a wide range of issues. The focus of this study is on firm level evidence of the effect on labour. The evidence and the analysis are provided at a time when the pandemic is still in progress. The authors use both traditional regression analysis and IPWRA to assess the joint effect of loans versus government support on, firstly, the change in sales revenues and, secondly, the number of weeks that the firm would expect to survive with no sales revenues. Findings: The study suggests that, despite efforts to support firms and hoard labour, there is a prospect of a significant number of firm closures with a consequent loss of employment. Temporary firm closures also represent a substantial loss of labour weeks. These are partly related to a significant number of workers subject to furloughs. The empirical findings suggest that COVID-19 cases and deaths have directly affected firm sales but government containment measures, particularly closures, have more strongly affected firms. Losses of sales were unsurprisingly related to losses of employment. Remote working has contributed to sustaining employment but online business has not affected most sectors. Research limitations/implications: The future progress of COVID-19 and government containment measures is uncertain, and the full economic consequences will probably continue to emerge after the end of the pandemic. The full extent of the impact on labour will probably not be the first of these. There are obvious advantages in seeking to learn lessons from the early stages of the pandemic but there are also obvious constraints. The full economic consequences will take longer to emerge than the pandemic itself and the full consequences for employment will take longer to be evident than many other economic effects. Practical implications: Both temporary closures and furloughs impose costs that will be borne by firms, workers and government. The effects of COVID-19 on firms differ across sectors. Adverse effects tend to be higher in hospitality, non-essential retail and travel. That many firms lack the capacity to survive further temporary closures of a similar duration to those in the earlier stages emphasises that the support provided in the near future is of critical importance to control employment losses through permanent firm closures. A long-term perspective suggests neither permanent closure nor laying off workers may be the best response to a temporary crisis in demand. A stakeholder model of the firm would often suggest that it is not an optimal for the point of view of workers or the wider economy either. Both imply a preference for labour hoarding. Social implications: The most affected are sectors with a high proportion of female workers and, in consequence, most of the countries in the sample exhibit an early decline of the already lower than average share of women in employment. Originality/value: The data used have been recently released and this is the first analysis using the data to look at the consequence on firms employment decisions during the Pandemic. The case of Southern Europe is much understudied, though one of the most dramatic as to the consequences of the pandemic. From a methodological point of view, the authors use not only traditional regression analysis, but also the matching approach to identify the effect of different policy options on labour demand by firms

Analysis of the potential of cancer cell lines to release tissue factor-containing microvesicles: correlation with tissue factor and PAR2 expression

BackgroundDespite the association of cancer-derived circulating tissue factor (TF)-containing microvesicles and hypercoagulable state, correlations with the incidence of thrombosis remain unclear.MethodsIn this study the upregulation of TF release upon activation of various cancer cell lines, and the correlation with TF and PAR2 expression and/or activity was examined. Microvesicle release was induced by PAR2 activation in seventeen cell lines and released microvesicle density, microvesicle-associated TF activity, and phoshpatidylserine-mediated activity were measured. The time-course for TF release was monitored over 90 min in each cell line. In addition, TF mRNA expression, cellular TF protein and cell-surface TF activities were quantified. Moreover, the relative expression of PAR2 mRNA and cellular protein were analysed. Any correlations between the above parameters were examined by determining the Pearson’s correlation coefficients.ResultsTF release as microvesicles peaked between 30–60 min post-activation in the majority of cell lines tested. The magnitude of the maximal TF release positively correlated with TF mRNA (c = 0.717; p

Cost‐effectiveness analysis of low‐dose direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for the prevention of cancer‐associated thrombosis in the United States

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154607/1/cncr32724.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154607/2/cncr32724_am.pd