A MATLAB Solver for Nonlinear Rational Expectations Models

A framework for describing nonlinear rational expectation models is developed that synthesizes previously described approaches. Computational issues for solving such models include how the expectation operator is approximated, what family of approximation is used for the solution function, what criteria are used for choosing approximation parameters and what algorithm is used to identify the parameters. A user-friendly MATLAB procedure that incorporates a wide variety of possible choices is described. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005projection methods, rational expectations,

Very high frequency of hypermethylated genes in breast cancer metastasis to the bone, brain, and lung

PURPOSE: Most often it is not the primary tumor, but metastasis to distant organs that results in the death of breast cancer patients. To characterize molecular alterations in breast cancer metastasis, we investigated the frequency of hypermethylation of five genes (Cyclin D2, RAR-beta, Twist, RASSF1A, and HIN-1) in metastasis to four common sites: lymph node, bone, brain, and lung. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Methylation-specific PCR for the five genes was performed on DNA extracted from archival paraffin-embedded specimens of paired primary breast cancer and its lymph nodes (LN) metastasis (n = 25 each); in independent samples of metastasis to the bone (n = 12), brain (n = 8), and lung (n = 10); and in normal bone, brain, and lung (n = 22). RESULTS: No hypermethylation was detected in the five genes in the normal host tissues. In paired samples, LN metastasis had a trend of higher prevalence of methylation compared with the primary breast carcinoma for all five genes with significance for HIN-1 (P = 0.04). Compared with the primary breast carcinomas, all five genes had higher methylation frequencies in the bone, brain, and lung metastasis, with HIN-1 and RAR-beta methylation being significantly higher (P < 0.01) in each group. Loss of expression of all five genes correlated, with a few exceptions, to hypermethylation of their promoter sequences in metastatic carcinoma cells microdissected from LNs. CONCLUSION: The frequent presence of hypermethylated genes in locoregional and distant metastasis could render them particularly susceptible to therapy targeted toward gene reactivation combining demethylating agents, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and/or differentiating agent

A Proposal to Continue Measurements of Direct Muon Production in the Forward Direction

The authors recently have measured the direct muon production in the forward direction at small p{perpendicular} and find a large direct muon to pion ratio. At x = 0.3 the ratio is {mu}{sup -}/{pi}{sup -} = 1.83 {+-} 0.43 x 10{sup -4} for negatives and {mu}{sup +}/{pi}{sup +} = 6.4 {+-} 1.3 x 10{sup -5} for positives. The direct production of {mu}{sup +} and {mu}{sup -} are equal although the {pi}{sup +}/{pi}{sup -} ratios is large. They propose to continue these measurements and extend them to higher x. These new measurements would also include the A dependence of the {mu}/{pi} ratio. Based on their experience with this apparatus, they believe it is possible to extend these measurements of single lepton production to production by incident pions and kaons

Guanylate-Binding Proteins 2 and 5 Exert Broad Antiviral Activity by Inhibiting Furin-Mediated Processing of Viral Envelope Proteins

Guanylate-binding protein (GBP) 5 is an interferon (IFN)-inducible cellular factor reducing HIV-1 infectivity by an incompletely understood mechanism. Here, we show that this activity is shared by GBP2, but not by other members of the human GBP family. GBP2/5 decrease the activity of the cellular proprotein convertase furin, which mediates conversion of the HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) precursor gp160 into mature gp120 and gp41. Because this process primes HIV-1 Env for membrane fusion, viral particles produced in the presence of GBP2/5 are poorly infectious due to increased incorporation of non-functional gp160. Furin activity is critical for the processing of envelope glycoproteins of many viral pathogens. Consistently, GBP2/5 also inhibit Zika, measles, and influenza A virus replication and decrease infectivity of viral particles carrying glycoproteins of Marburg and murine leukemia viruses. Collectively, our results show that GPB2/5 exert broad antiviral activity by suppressing the activity of the virus-dependency factor furin