Inflation, expectations and monetary policy

In this speech, Professor David Blanchflower, member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), talks about the importance of inflation expectations for monetary policy making. He discusses what has happened to inflation and inflation expectations in recent months, and what actions should be taken in this area in the context of the current conjuncture. He then identifies four distinct phases of the downturn in the United States, and notes a number of similarities with the United Kingdom, suggesting that in the United Kingdom we may see a substantial decline in growth, a pickup in unemployment, and declining consumption growth driven by significant declines in house prices. He emphasises the importance of getting ahead of the curve in order to head off these downside risks

Amino acid sequence of human factor D of the complement system Similarity in sequence between factor D and proteases of non-plasma origin

AbstractThe amino acid sequence of human factor D is proposed from the analysis of the peptides produced by treatment of the factor D with cyanogen bromide, iodosobenzoic acid, trypsin and V-8 protease. Comparison of the proposed sequence with the sequences of other serine esterases indicated that factor D, although it is a plasma serine esterase, is more closely related to certain proteases not found in the plasma than to other plasma serine esterases of the complement system. For example, 36% and 32% identity in amino acid sequence was found on comparison of factor D with elastase and group-specific protease, respectively. Whereas only 27% and 18% identity was observed between factor D and the other complement serine esterases, Clr and factor B, respectively

Collectins and ficolins: Sugar pattern recognition molecules of the mammalian innate immune system

10.1016/S0304-4165(02)00320-3Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects15722-3387-400BBGS