MicroRNA dysregulation and esophageal cancer development depend on the extent of zinc dietary deficiency

open9siopenFong, Louise Y.; Taccioli, Cristian; Jing, Ruiyan; Smalley, Karl J.; Alder, Hansjuerg; Jiang, Yubao; Fadda, Paolo; Farber, John L.; Croce, Carlo M.Fong, Louise Y.; Taccioli, Cristian; Jing, Ruiyan; Smalley, Karl J.; Alder, Hansjuerg; Jiang, Yubao; Fadda, Paolo; Farber, John L.; Croce, Carlo M

Ray-Singer Type Theorem for the Refined Analytic Torsion

We show that the refined analytic torsion is a holomorphic section of the determinant line bundle over the space of complex representations of the fundamental group of a closed oriented odd dimensional manifold. Further, we calculate the ratio of the refined analytic torsion and the Farber-Turaev combinatorial torsion. As an application, we establish a formula relating the eta-invariant and the phase of the Farber-Turaev torsion, which extends a theorem of Farber and earlier results of ours. This formula allows to study the spectral flow using methods of combinatorial topology.Comment: To appear in Journal of Functional Analysis The definition of the refined torsion was slightly changed, which made it more invariant, some references and remarks are adde

On Farber's invariants for simple 2q2q-knots

Let $K$ be a simple $2q$-knot with exterior $X$. We show directly how the Farber quintuple $(A,\Pi,\alpha,\ell,\psi)$ determines the homotopy type of $X$ if the torsion subgroup of $A=\pi_q(X)$ has odd order. We comment briefly on the possible role of the EHP sequence in recovering the boundary inclusion from the duality pairings $\ell$ and $\psi$. Finally we reformulate the Farber quintuple as an hermitian self-duality of an object in an additive category with involution.Comment: v2. Minor reorganization and corrections to final sectio

A Canonical Quadratic Form on the Determinant Line of a Flat Vector Bundle

We introduce and study a canonical quadratic form, called the torsion quadratic form, of the determinant line of a flat vector bundle over a closed oriented odd-dimensional manifold. This quadratic form caries less information than the refined analytic torsion, introduced in our previous work, but is easier to construct and closer related to the combinatorial Farber-Turaev torsion. In fact, the torsion quadratic form can be viewed as an analytic analogue of the Poincare-Reidemeister scalar product, introduced by Farber and Turaev. Moreover, it is also closely related to the complex analytic torsion defined by Cappell and Miller and we establish the precise relationship between the two. In addition, we show that up to an explicit factor, which depends on the Euler structure, and a sign the Burghelea-Haller complex analytic torsion, whenever it is defined, is equal to our quadratic form. We conjecture a formula for the value of the torsion quadratic form at the Farber-Turaev torsion and prove some weak version of this conjecture. As an application we establish a relationship between the Cappell-Miller and the combinatorial torsions.Comment: 13 page

A general formula for the WACC: A correction

This paper corrects some of the equations of Farber, Gillet and Szafarz (2006). The WACC is a discount rate widely used in corporate finance. However, correctly calculating the WACC involves properly calculating the value of tax shields, and the value of tax shields depends on the company's debt policy. Many authors [e.g. Inselbag and Kaufold (1997), Booth (2002), Cooper and Nyborg (2006), Farber, Gillet and Szafarz (2006)] have stated that debt policy can only be implemented by maintaining a fixed market-value debt ratio (Miles-Ezzell's assumption) or a fixed dollar amount of debt (Modigliani-Miller's assumption).required return to equity; value of tax shields; company valuation; cost of equity;

Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency Ameliorates Farber Disease

Farber disease is a rare lysosomal storage disorder resulting from acid ceramidase deficiency and subsequent ceramide accumulation. No treatments for Farber disease are clinically available, and affected patients have a severely shortened lifespan. We have recently reported a novel acid ceramidase deficiency model that mirrors the human disease closely. Acid sphingomyelinase is the enzyme that generates ceramide upstream of acid ceramidase in the lysosomes. Using our acid ceramidase deficiency model, we tested if acid sphingomyelinase could be a potential novel therapeutic target for the treatment of Farber disease. A number of functional acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors are clinically available and have been used for decades to treat major depression. Using these as a therapeutic for Farber disease, thus, has the potential to improve central nervous symptoms of the disease as well, something all other treatment options for Farber disease can’t achieve so far. As a proof-of-concept study, we first cross-bred acid ceramidase deficient mice with acid sphingomyelinase deficient mice in order to prevent ceramide accumulation. Double-deficient mice had reduced ceramide accumulation, fewer disease manifestations, and prolonged survival. We next targeted acid sphingomyelinase pharmacologically, to test if these findings would translate to a setting with clinical applicability. Surprisingly, the treatment of acid ceramidase deficient mice with the acid sphingomyelinase inhibitor amitriptyline was toxic to acid ceramidase deficient mice and killed them within a few days of treatment. In conclusion, our study provides the first proof-of-concept that acid sphingomyelinase could be a potential new therapeutic target for Farber disease to reduce disease manifestations and prolong survival. However, we also identified previously unknown toxicity of the functional acid sphingomyelinase inhibitor amitriptyline in the context of Farber disease, strongly cautioning against the use of this substance class for Farber disease patients

The Golden Mean Between Kurt & Dan: A Moderate Reading of the Ninth Amendment

In these remarks given at the Drake Constitutional Law Center Symposium, Professor Randy Barnett addresses his disagreement with Dan Farber\u27s view of the Ninth Amendment in his new book and with Kurt Lash\u27s view of the Ninth Amendment in his recent articles, and he asks why the Ninth Amendment and the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment have been overlooked. The author explains that his view is closer to Farber\u27s; however, he asserts that the Ninth Amendment protects all fundamental liberties—not just some. He asserts that Lash incorrectly views the Ninth Amendment as protecting state majoritarianism rather than individual liberties. His argument relies on historically significant writings by Philadelphia Constitutional Convention delegate Representative Roger Sherman. The author responds to critics who worry that his broad view of liberty could permit courts to impede the workings of government by saying that rights do not receive absolute protection. Instead, his approach sensibly places the burden on the government to justify its restrictions on individual rights. Professor Barnett provided a detailed explanation of his theory in a significant recent book