6,420 research outputs found
B cell reductive therapy with rituximab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
The approach to treating autoimmune disorders is currently undergoing a significant change in focus. As therapies are developed that are more precise in targeting the pathogenesis for these diseases, patients experience significantly fewer side effects. At the same time, as more precise therapies are discovered, the etiologies of these diseases become further elucidated. It is now widely accepted that B-lymphocytes play a significant role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases, the extent of which continues to be the focus of ongoing research. Rheumatoid arthritis is one such disease process that has been the focus of various B-lymphocyte-directed therapeutic trials. In this paper we review the current research available on rituximab as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. This review details results from four main studies, as well as others, which used rituximab in at least one of the arms in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The results are promising and will likely lead to longer term studies as well as a potential focus on B cell subsets
SOAP Services with Clarens: Guide for Developers and Administrators
The Clarens application server enables secure, asynchronous SOAP services to run on a Grid cluster such as one of those of the TeraGrid. There is a Client, who wants to use the service and understands the application domain enough to form a reasonable service request; a Developer, who is a power-user of the TeraGrid, who understands both Clarens and the application domain, and creates and deploys a service on a TeraGrid head node; and there is a Root system administrator, who controls the Clarens installation and the cluster on which it runs. The purpose of this document is to provide all of the information a service developer needs to know in order to deploy a Clarens service, with information also provided for the system administrator of the Clarens installation. First we discuss how each of the three roles see the service
Strategic Interactions between Fiscal and Monetary Authorities in a Multi-Country New-Keynesian Model of a Monetary Union
In this paper we consider a number of key issues related to the policy coordination in a monetary union that has been recently discussed in the literature. To this end we propose a multi-country New-Keynesian model of a monetary union cast in the framework of linear quadratic differential games. Our framework can be used to simulate strategic interactions between an arbitrary number of fiscal authorities interacting in coalitions with or against the common central bank. For many parameter combinations our results confirm the findings of Beetsma et al. (2001) that for symmetric inflation and output gap shocks, fiscal coordination between all the countries is counter-productive within a monetary union. The clash between the central bank and the coalition of national governments is most intense under a symmetric inflation shocks when there is strong conflict concerning the orientation of stabilisation policies. This conflict is less pronounced under an asymmetric inflation and output gap shocks, however, still makes fiscal cooperation unattractive. We extend the existing New-Keynesian literature on policy coordination by considering not only cases of non-coordination, fiscal cooperation and the grand coalition, but also the partial cooperation arrangements between fiscal players. We show that, in many cases, partial fiscal coordination of a subgroup of fiscal players is more efficient, from the social point of view, than non-coordination. However, this regime still delivers poor results from the perspective of individual players. This occurs especially in the case of asymmetric shocks, as the countries directly affected by the shocks tend to "export" losses to the countries with whom they form a coalition. Furthermore, we show that the common objective of the grand coalition is of the upmost importance for the outcome of the stabilisation process.macroeconomic stabilisation, EMU, policy coordination, linear quadratic differential games
Reduction in the reconstruction error of computer-generated holograms by photorefractive volume holography
We suggest a method for coding high-resolution computer-generated volume holograms. It involves splitting the computer-generated hologram into multiple holograms, their individual recording as volume holograms by use of the maximal resolution available from the spatial light modulator, and subsequent simultaneous reconstruction. We demonstrate the recording and the reconstruction of a computer-generated volume hologram with a space-bandwidth product much higher than the limitation imposed by the interfacing spatial light modulator. Finally, we analyze the scheduling procedure of the multiple holographic recording process in photorefractive medium in this specific application
Lucky’s Legacy: Determining an Effective Relationship Between Music and Business Management Principles
The Recognition-Conversation-Reflection (hereafter “RCR”) framework is modeled after popular change management frameworks for accomplishing projects and goals, utilizing concepts found often in business management and strategy. While traditionally these ideas are found in the workplace, they also serve as complex practices that can be used in various contexts. The music industry is composed of a plethora of professions exploring vast genres and interpretations of melody around the world. Despite its diverse perspectives, music is rooted in performance involving ensembles of varying capacities. With the complexities of the RCR framework and the diversity of the music industry, the question I looked to answer in this project is “What principles can be extrapolated in juxtaposing business constructs with musical performance?” Through applying the RCR framework developed by the author in the creation and performance of the Bowling Green State University Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra, a conventional perspective and answer to this question can be established. RCR provides the tangible and intangible reasoning for the usage of business concepts through a musical lens
Common law courts as regulators, an exposition: The Judiciary as a regulatory mechanism
An exposition on a new regulatory theory; Common law courts as regulators – the judiciary as a regulatory mechanism. In this paper the author ascribes to the judiciary/courts specific regulatory powers with regards to fundamental rights, the Bill of Rights and upholding and adjudicating constitutional norms. Via judicial regulation, courts can exercise power outside of the lis in disputes of distinction
A Deformable Model for Magnetic Vortex Pinning
A two-parameter analytical model of the magnetic vortex in a thin disk of
soft magnetic material is constructed. The model is capable of describing the
change in evolution of net vortex state magnetization and of core position when
the vortex core interacts with a magnetic pinning site. The model employs a
piecewise, physically continuous, magnetization distribution obtained by the
merger of two extensively used one-parameter analytical models of the vortex
state in a disk. Through comparison to numerical simulations of ideal disks
with and without pinning sites, the model is found to accurately predict the
magnetization, vortex position, hysteretic transitions, and 2-D displacement of
the vortex in the presence of pinning sites. The model will be applicable to
the quantitative determination of vortex pinning energies from measurements of
magnetization.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures, including supplementary information, ancillary
files:3 supplementary movie
Farm Level Incidence of the U.S. Farm Policy Proposal to the WTO
A farm level simulation model is used to analyze the financial impacts of the U.S. proposal to the WTO to reduce farm subsidy payments. The impacts are examined for farms of different sizes, debt positions, and household characteristics. Results indicate that cash flow impacts of the policy change are much greater than net worth impacts.Agricultural and Food Policy,
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