What Do Participation Fluctuations Tell Us About Labor Supply Elasticities?

In this paper we use information on the cyclical variation of labor market participation to learn about the aggregate labor supply elasticity. For this purpose, we extend the standard labor market matching model to allow for endogenous participation. A model that is calibrated to replicate the variability of unemployment and participation, and the negative correlation of unemployment and GDP, implies an aggregate labor supply elasticity along the extensive margin of around 0.3 for men and 0.5 for women. This is in line with recent micro-econometric estimates.matching models, labor market participation, labor supply elasticity

Endogenous labor market participation and the business cycle

Existing models of equilibrium unemployment with endogenous labor market participation are complex, generate procyclical unemployment rates and cannot match unemployment variability relative to GDP. We embed endogenous participation in a simple, tractable job market matching model, show analytically how variations in the participation rate are driven by the cross-sectional density of home productivity near the participation threshold, and how this density translates into an extensive-margin labor supply elasticity. A calibration of the model to macro data not only matches employment and participation variabilities but also generates strongly countercyclical unemployment rates. With some wage rigidity the model also matches unemployment variations well. Furthermore, the labor supply elasticity implied by our calibration is consistent with microeconometric evidence for the US.Matching Models, Labor Market Participation, Labor Supply Elasticity, Time Aggregation

Laryngoscopic Image Stitching for View Enhancement and Documentation - First Experiences

One known problem within laryngoscopy is the spatially limited view onto the hypopharynx and the larynx through the endoscope. To examine the complete larynx and hypopharynx, the laryngoscope can be rotated about its main axis, and hence the physician obtains a complete view. If such examinations are captured using endoscopic video, the examination can be reviewed in detail at a later time. Nevertheless, in order to document the examination with a single representative image, a panorama image can be computed for archiving and enhanced documentation. Twenty patients with various clinical findings were examined with a 70 rigid laryngoscope, and the video sequences were digitally stored. The image sequence for each patient was then post-processed using an image stitching tool based on SIFT features, the RANSAC approach and blending. As a result, endoscopic panorama images of the larynx and pharynx were obtained for each video sequence. The proposed approach of image stitching for laryngoscopic video sequences offers a new tool for enhanced visual examination and documentation of morphologic characteristics of the larynx and the hypopharynx

Cilia and Obesity

The ciliopathies Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Alström syndrome cause obesity. How ciliary dysfunction leads to obesity has remained mysterious, partly because of a lack of understanding of the physiological roles of primary cilia in the organs and pathways involved in the regulation of metabolism and energy homeostasis. Historically, the study of rare monogenetic disorders that present with obesity has informed our molecular understanding of the mechanisms involved in nonsyndromic forms of obesity. Here, we present a framework, based on genetic studies in mice and humans, of the molecular and cellular pathways underlying long-term regulation of energy homeostasis. We focus on recent progress linking these pathways to the function of the primary cilia with a particular emphasis on the roles of neuronal primary cilia in the regulation of satiety

Genetic Parameters of Austrian Fleckvieh Cattle in Organic and Conventional Production Systems with Different Levels of Management Intensity

Improvement of breeding and management has resulted in a considerable improvement of production and many fitness traits in Austrian dairy cattle. Apart from that, a variety of different dairy production systems, comprising organic, extensive to intensive systems can be observed in Austria. It can be assumed that different breeding goals exist in different production systems which would cause differences in genetic parameters and would imply the necessity of adapted breeding objectives. Therefore, the aim of the study was to estimate genetic parameters of three different production systems (organic, conventional low and high level of farm intensity) for three productions (milk kg, fat kg, protein kg) and six fitness traits (persistency, somatic cell score, functional longevity, milking speed, udder health index and fertility index) using an approximate multivariate two-step approach. In general, heritabilities and genetic correlations were similar in all three production systems. Heritabilities ranged from 0.04 for fertility index for the farms with a low level of farm intensity to 0.65 for milk kg for farms with a high level of farm intensity. Almost no deviations were found between the genetic correlations across the defined production systems. Due to the similar results it can be concluded that breeding objectives are similar in different production systems and currently breeding objectives do not need to be adjusted

Genetic Parameters of Austrian Fleckvieh Cattle in Organic and Conventional Production Systems with Different Levels of Management Intensity

Improvement of breeding and management has resulted in a considerable improvement of production and many fitness traits in Austrian dairy cattle. Apart from that, a variety of different dairy production systems, comprising organic, extensive to intensive systems can be observed in Austria. It can be assumed that different breeding goals exist in different production systems which would cause differences in genetic parameters and would imply the necessity of adapted breeding objectives. Therefore, the aim of the study was to estimate genetic parameters of three different production systems (organic, conventional low and high level of farm intensity) for three productions (milk kg, fat kg, protein kg) and six fitness traits (persistency, somatic cell score, functional longevity, milking speed, udder health index and fertility index) using an approximate multivariate two-step approach. In general, heritabilities and genetic correlations were similar in all three production systems. Heritabilities ranged from 0.04 for fertility index for the farms with a low level of farm intensity to 0.65 for milk kg for farms with a high level of farm intensity. Almost no deviations were found between the genetic correlations across the defined production systems. Due to the similar results it can be concluded that breeding objectives are similar in different production systems and currently breeding objectives do not need to be adjusted

High-sensitive troponin T measurements: what do we gain and what are the challenges?

Cardiac troponin (cTn) I and T are structural proteins unique to the heart. Detection of cTn in peripheral blood indicates cardiomyocyte damage. As acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most important cause of cardiomyocyte damage, cTns have become an integral part in the diagnosis of AMI. For this indication, cTns are superior to all other biomarkers and therefore are the preferred marker for the diagnosis of AMI. However, cTn indicates and provides an estimate of cardiomyocyte damage irrespective of its cause. The major limitation of contemporary cTn assays is that they are often not elevated during the initial hours of AMI. Recent advances in assay technology have led to more sensitive and precise cTn assays that will have a profound impact on clinical practice. High-sensitive cTn (hs-cTn) assays have two differentiating features from contemporary cTn assays: (i) detection of cTn in a majority of healthy persons and (ii) precise definition of what is ‘normal' (=the 99th percentile). Recent multicentre studies have shown that hs-cTn assays improve the early diagnosis of patients with suspected AMI, particularly the early rule-out. To achieve best clinical use, cTn has to be interpreted as a quantitative variable. Rising and/or falling levels differentiate acute from chronic cardiomyocyte damage. The terms ‘troponin-positive' and ‘troponin negative' should therefore be avoided. ‘Detectable' levels will become the norm and will have to be differentiated from ‘elevated' levels. The differential diagnosis of a small amount of cardiomyocyte damage and therefore minor elevations of cTn is broad and includes acute and chronic cardiac disorders. The differential diagnosis of larger amount of injury and therefore more substantial elevations of cTn is largely restricted to AMI, myocarditis, and a rare patient with tako-tsubo cardiomyopath