DISINFLATION AND MONETARY POLICY ARRANGEMENTS IN ROMANIA

Disinflation has been pursued successfully in Romania in recent years. Inflation came down from over 40 per cent in 2001 to 14 per cent in 2003 and is expected to be cca 9.5 per cent in 2004. By 2007 it should come down to around 3%. The benefits of a lowinflation environment are unquestionable, as price stability is the ultimate objective of monetary policy. In addition, low inflation is a pre-condition for EU accession. There only remains the other critical question, namely, what is the proper strategy to achieve the ultimate objective. Different central banks have adopted strategies which place different emphasize on the various pieces of information, or elements of their decision-making process or different aspects of their communication policies. Inflation targeting (IT) is one of those strategies.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40175/3/wp789.pd

Disinflation and Inflation Targeting in Romania

With a view of enhancing disinflation inflation targeting (IT) was introduced in Romania in mid-2005. Contradictory pressures have challenged ever since the functioning of this monetary policy regime owing to peculiar features and objectives of the Romanian economy. First, the requirements imposed by the achievement of nominal and real convergence in order to join the European Union, and, eventually, the European Monetary Union, ask for sustainable high economic growth and the consolidation of disinflation simultaneously, which is an extremely ambitious task. Second, the economics of inflation targeting tells that the “divine coincidence” of inflation stabilization and real stabilization objectives can be achieved in specific economic circumstances, which might be pretty hard to fulfill in the Romanian economy. Third, the operational requirements of the implementation of a strict inflation targeting regime are unlikely to be met under the current monetary transmission mechanisms; this paper argues that a soft version of inflation-targeting is feasible under the circumstances. Fourth, the integration into global financial market (and a premature opening of the capital account) increases the sensitivity of the economy to external shocks and diminishes the efficiency of an independent monetary policy.inflation targeting, Romania

DISINFLATION AND MONETARY POLICY ARRANGEMENTS IN ROMANIA

Disinflation has been pursued successfully in Romania in recent years. Inflation came down from over 40 per cent in 2001 to 14 per cent in 2003 and is expected to be cca 9.5 per cent in 2004. By 2007 it should come down to around 3%. The benefits of a lowinflation environment are unquestionable, as price stability is the ultimate objective of monetary policy. In addition, low inflation is a pre-condition for EU accession. There only remains the other critical question, namely, what is the proper strategy to achieve the ultimate objective. Different central banks have adopted strategies which place different emphasize on the various pieces of information, or elements of their decision-making process or different aspects of their communication policies. Inflation targeting (IT) is one of those strategies.inflation-targeting, transition economy, EU accession

Flux tubes, visons, and vortices in spin-charge separated superconductors

The idea of spin-charge separation in cuprate superconductors has been recently energized by Senthil and Fisher who formulated a Z_2 gauge theory and, within its context, proposed a ``vison detection'' experiment as a test for topological order in a sample with multiply connected geometry. Here we show that the same experiment can be performed to test for the spin-charge separation in U(1) [but not in SU(2)] theory and argue that vortex core spectroscopy can in fact distinguish between the different symmetries of the fictitious gauge field.Comment: 3 pages, 1 ps figure. Invited talk at the 13th International Symposium on Superconductivity in Toky

On the E10/Massive Type IIA Supergravity Correspondence

In this paper we investigate in detail the correspondence between E10 and Romans' massive deformation of type IIA supergravity. We analyse the dynamics of a non-linear sigma model for a spinning particle on the coset space E10/K(E10) and show that it reproduces the dynamics of the bosonic as well as the fermionic sector of the massive IIA theory, within the standard truncation. The mass deformation parameter corresponds to a generator of E10 outside the realm of the generators entering the usual D=11 analysis, and is naturally included without any deformation of the coset model for E10/K(E10). Our analysis thus provides a dynamical unification of the massless and massive versions of type IIA supergravity inside E10. We discuss a number of additional and general features of relevance in the analysis of any deformed supergravity in the correspondence to Kac-Moody algebras, including recently studied deformations where the trombone symmetry is gauged.Comment: 68 pages, including 5 appendices, 5 figures. v2: Typos corrected, published version. v3:Title correcte

Development of intraindividual value structures in middle childhood: A multicultural and longitudinal investigation

Objective We examined changes in value interrelations during middle childhood. In line with the Personal Values Theory, we expected a value system, with individuals similarly valuing related motivations, and setting priorities between conflicting motivations. We hypothesized this system to develop dynamically during middle childhood as children deepen their understanding of their own values. Method Using unfolding analysis, we estimated intraindividual value structure coherence, that is, the extent to which the interrelations among a child's values are similar to the hypothesized interrelations. Cross-Cultural Study 1 (N = 4615, 6–12-year-old children) included children from 12 countries. Cross-Sequential Study 2 (N = 629, 6–10-year-old children at Time 1) included three annual measurements. Results In Study 1, we found a curvilinear association between age and intraindividual value structure coherence: Children's values were more coherent at ages 9–10 than before or after. Study 2 confirmed this pattern of within-individual development. Conclusions We propose that development in coherence with the theoretical value structure offers insight into children's understanding of values as well as changes in value priorities

1U CubeSat Reaction Wheel Attitude Control Testbed

The current process to learn CubeSat controls is vastly conceptual for students from the high school, undergraduate, and even graduate levels. Building a testbed in a gimbal connected to the internet would allow students the opportunity to test their designs, theories, and software on real CubeSat hardware in real-time. The goal of this project is to design and manufacture a 1U CubeSat testbed for autonomous control systems utilizing reaction wheels. The testbed will include three separate reaction wheels each mounted on its own respected axis of the rotation plane to control the attitude in 3 degrees of freedom. The end goal of the 1U CubeSat testbed is to be integrated into a website where anyone online can upload their own controls algorithm and watch a live stream of how their algorithm performs on hardware in real-time. CubeSat attitude control is to enable the CubeSat to point in the desired direction that is set. In the classroom, learning the math behind developing an attitude control algorithm for any spacecraft is math-intensive. It is common that students struggle to develop the connection between the math they are learning and how it could actually be applied to a real-world application. A use case for the testbed would be to integrate into the classroom while learning the math behind attitude controls. For example, the professor can upload individual lesson examples code to easycontrols.org with the 1U CubeSat testbed selected, then display the livestream of the physical testbed to the whole class. Enabling students visual-spatial improvement between the high-level conceptual math to a physical system for spacecraft attitude controls

Auxin-sensitive Aux/IAA proteins mediate drought tolerance in Arabidopsis by regulating glucosinolate levels.

A detailed understanding of abiotic stress tolerance in plants is essential to provide food security in the face of increasingly harsh climatic conditions. Glucosinolates (GLSs) are secondary metabolites found in the Brassicaceae that protect plants from herbivory and pathogen attack. Here we report that in Arabidopsis, aliphatic GLS levels are regulated by the auxin-sensitive Aux/IAA repressors IAA5, IAA6, and IAA19. These proteins act in a transcriptional cascade that maintains expression of GLS levels when plants are exposed to drought conditions. Loss of IAA5/6/19 results in reduced GLS levels and decreased drought tolerance. Further, we show that this phenotype is associated with a defect in stomatal regulation. Application of GLS to the iaa5,6,19 mutants restores stomatal regulation and normal drought tolerance. GLS action is dependent on the receptor kinase GHR1, suggesting that GLS may signal via reactive oxygen species. These results provide a novel connection between auxin signaling, GLS levels and drought response

Too much pressure? Driving and restraining forces and pressures relating to the state of connected and autonomous vehicles in cities

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are predicted by many analysts to transform the transport system over the coming decades. Which direction and path this transformation will take remains highly uncertain, as do the related environmental effects. In the present study we examine the introduction of CAVs in cities in terms of the indirect or underlying processes (drivers) and the direct expressions of interest that are related to specific actions, events or processes (pressures). The drivers and pressures are identified in interviews with stakeholders from across the quadruple helix (academia, industry, government and civil society). We then use an analytical framework that combines the drivers and pressures of the DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressures, States, Impacts, Responses) model and force field analysis. This framework is used to map survey data on the strength of the driving and restraining forces and pressures behind the introduction of CAVs in cities, and to identify which stakeholders are involved in this socio-technical transition. Results showed that there was a strong belief across stakeholder groups that CAVs should be connected with mobility planning strategies. This need for planning has been discussed at length in other contexts, and now our results show that respondents find this need is also present in the Swedish context. An unexpected finding was that those who are sceptical to CAVs may form unique groups with a broad range of stakeholder types, for example elderly people, cyclists, people who are concerned because of conspiracies related to new technology, and those who are concerned about environmental effects

Galectin-1 is essential for efficient liver regeneration following hepatectomy

Galectin-1 (Gal1) is a known immune/inflammatory regulator which actsboth extracellularly and intracellularly, modulating innate and adaptive immuneresponses. Here, we explored the role of Gal1 in liver regeneration using 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) of C57BL/6 wild type and Gal1-knockout (Gal1-KO, Lgals1-/-) mice. Gene or protein expression, in liver samples collected at time intervals from 2 to 168 hours post-operation, was tested by either RT-PCR or by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. We demonstrated that Gal1 transcript and protein expression was induced in the liver tissue of wild type mice upon PHx. Liver regeneration following PHx was significantly delayed in the Gal1-KO compared to the control liver. This delay was accompanied by a decreased Akt phosphorylation, and accumulation of the hepatocyte nuclear p21 protein in the Gal1-KO versus control livers at 24 and 48 hours following PHx. Transcripts of several known regulators of inflammation, cell cycle and cell signaling, including some known PHx-induced genes, were aberrantly expressed (mainly down-regulated) in Gal1-KO compared to control livers at 2, 6 and 24 hours post-PHx. Transient steatosis, which is imperative for liver regeneration following PHx, was significantly delayed and decreased in the Gal1- KO compared to the control liver and was accompanied by a significantly decreased expression in the mutant liver of several genes encoding lipid metabolism regulators.Our results demonstrate that Gal1 protein is essential for efficient liver regeneration following PHx through the regulation of liver inflammation, hepatic cell proliferation, and the control of lipid storage in the regenerating liver.Fil: Potikha, Tamara. Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center; IsraelFil: Ella, Ezra. Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center; IsraelFil: Cerliani, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Mizrahi, Lina. Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center; IsraelFil: Pappo, Orit. Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center; IsraelFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Galun, Eithan. Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center; IsraelFil: Goldenberg, Daniel S.. Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center; Israe