Term Risk in Interest Rate Markets

Using a stylised financial system along with a systemic perspective thereof, the definition of an aggregated banking system that is default-free but vulnerable to liquidity risks is enabled. Within this setup, a consistent mathematical modelling framework for term interest rate systems is derived that enables the pricing and valuation of associated linear derivative instruments. It is then demonstrated that term rates may not be synthetically replicated, in general, which in turn enables the extraction and explanation of the genesis of term risk. These findings provide: (i) a rigorous understanding of the incomplete market paradigm that encapsulates inter-bank term rates and the risk management processes involved therein; and (ii) quantitative theoretical evidence against global interest rate reform proposals advocating for the replacement of term Libor (London inter-bank offered rate) reference rates with overnight rate-based alternatives

COVID-19 and lung cancer: risks, mechanisms and treatment interactions.

Cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to rise worldwide. To date, there is no effective treatment. Clinical management is largely symptomatic, with organ support in intensive care for critically ill patients. The first phase I trial to test the efficacy of a vaccine has recently begun, but in the meantime there is an urgent need to decrease the morbidity and mortality of severe cases. It is known that patients with cancer are more susceptible to infection than individuals without cancer because of their systemic immunosuppressive state caused by the malignancy and anticancer treatments. Therefore, these patients might be at increased risk of pulmonary complications from COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 could in some case induce excessive and aberrant non-effective host immune responses that are associated with potentially fatal severe lung injury and patients can develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Cytokine release syndrome and viral ARDS result from uncontrolled severe acute inflammation. Acute lung injury results from inflammatory monocyte and macrophage activation in the pulmonary luminal epithelium which lead to a release of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α. These cytokines play a crucial role in immune-related pneumonitis, and could represent a promising target when the infiltration is T cell predominant or there are indirect signs of high IL-6-related inflammation, such as elevated C-reactive protein. A monoclonal anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab has been administered in a number of cases in China and Italy. Positive clinical and radiological outcomes have been reported. These early findings have led to an ongoing randomized controlled clinical trial in China and Italy. While data from those trials are eagerly awaited, patients' management will continue to rely for the vast majority on local guidelines. Among many other aspects, this crisis has proven that different specialists must join forces to deliver the best possible care to patients

E2 strengths and transition radii difference of one-phonon 2+ states of 92Zr from electron scattering at low momentum transfer

Background: Mixed-symmetry 2+ states in vibrational nuclei are characterized by a sign change between dominant proton and neutron valence-shell components with respect to the fully symmetric 2+ state. The sign can be measured by a decomposition of proton and neutron transition radii with a combination of inelastic electron and hadron scattering [C. Walz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 062501 (2011)]. For the case of 92Zr, a difference could be experimentally established for the neutron components, while about equal proton transition radii were indicated by the data. Method: Differential cross sections for the excitation of one-phonon 2+ and 3- states in 92Zr have been measured with the (e,e') reaction at the S-DALINAC in a momentum transfer range q = 0.3-0.6 fm^(-1). Results: Transition strengths B(E2;2+_1 -> 0+_1) = 6.18(23), B(E2; 2+_2 -> 0+_1) = 3.31(10) and B(E3; 3-_1 -> 0+_1) = 18.4(11) Weisskopf units are determined from a comparison of the experimental cross sections to quasiparticle-phonon model (QPM) calculations. It is shown that a model-independent plane wave Born approximation (PWBA) analysis can fix the ratio of B(E2) transition strengths to the 2+_(1,2) states with a precision of about 1%. The method furthermore allows to extract their proton transition radii difference. With the present data -0.12(51) fm is obtained. Conclusions: Electron scattering at low momentum transfers can provide information on transition radii differences of one-phonon 2+ states even in heavy nuclei. Proton transition radii for the 2+_(1,2) states in 92Zr are found to be identical within uncertainties. The g.s. transition probability for the mixed-symmetry state can be determined with high precision limited only by the available experimental information on the B(E2; 2+_1 -> 0+_1) value.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C, revised manuscrip

Knowledge, Awareness and Use of Neurodynamic Mobilization in Athletes Training Among Palestinian Physiotherapists

Background: The use of Neurodynamic mobilizations to improve those qualities had not been enough studies; the aim of this research is to investigate the knowledge, use, and awareness of Palestinian physiotherapists about the Neurodyanimc mobilization (NDM) effect on the above-mentioned variables. Results: 58 physiotherapists responded with the average age of participants was 30.24 (± 8.14 years), the average years of experience were 5.58 (± 6.59 years). 60.3% of the participants attended courses in ND, 58.6% attended courses in NDM, postgraduate sport rehabilitation courses were reported by 60.3%. 58.6% reported the application of NDMs after warm-up exercise. 32.7% expressed knowledge in NDM with 39.7% 32.7% reported the knowledge of ND tests. 63.5% of the participants believe that ND is effective in the management of sport injures. Participants believed in positive the effect of the NDM on improving speed (48.3%) <, endurance (60.3%), balance (57%) and athlete performance 72.4%. ND assessment (r 5.31, p =0.00). Males had more knowledge than females in both ND tests and in NDM (p <0.05). Males had twice the chance to attend post-graduate courses. Methods: An online data collection sheet was developed by the researchers and was distributed online, special invitations were sent to physiotherapists on local websites of the Union, and social media. Conclusion: There was gender variation favorable for males in terms of the chances to attend postgraduate courses, more than half of the participants supported the positive effect of ND on athlete’s performance

A pilot Citizens' Assembly on Electricity and Energy Justice in Hamra, Lebanon

The Citizens’ Assembly Pilot (CA) on energy justice and electricity was a conceptual and a methodological experiment conducted over five sessions over three days in the neighborhood of Hamra and Beirut in October and November 2020. The CA aimed at exploring meanings, dimensions, priorities of energy justice in a deliberative democratic setting. The CA tackled five main questions: How did we get to where we are? What is energy justice to us? What is the energy-mix we would like to have? What do we need to be doing as individuals and communities to achieve a better energy future? How should we move forward with our decisions on the above questions? The responses produced interesting findings for researchers and international stakeholders to consider further; such as skepticism over renewable energy targets, the interest in circular solutions to solve multiple intersecting service sectors like waste and water in particular. It also raised questions over decentralization as well as privatization at different scales of governance

Novel targets for immune-checkpoint inhibition in cancer.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy, yet many patients either do not derive any benefit from treatment or develop a resistance to checkpoint inhibitors. Intrinsic resistance can result from neoantigen depletion, defective antigen presentation, PD-L1 downregulation, immune-checkpoint ligand upregulation, immunosuppression, and tumor cell phenotypic changes. On the other hand, extrinsic resistance involves acquired upregulation of inhibitory immune-checkpoints, leading to T-cell exhaustion. Current data suggest that PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG-3 upregulation limits the efficacy of single-agent immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating novel immune-checkpoint targets to avoid or overcome resistance. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of potentially targetable immune-checkpoints in cancer. We highlight their biology, emphasizing the current understanding of resistance mechanisms and focusing on promising strategies that are under investigation. We also summarize current results and ongoing clinical trials in this crucial field that could once again revolutionize outcomes for cancer patients

Control of malaria by bio-therapeutics and drug delivery systems

Malaria is a ubiquitous disease that can affect more than 40% of the world’s population who live with some risk of contracting this disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently highlighted the high spread of this disease in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the considerable fall in mortality rate over the past decade, the development of resistance against main treatment strategies still exists. This problem has provoked scientific efforts to develop various treatment strategies including use of vaccines, drug delivery systems, and biotherapeutics approaches.A vaccination strategy is being implemented to trigger direct clearance of the causative parasites from the human host. However, the complex life-cycle of Plasmodium parasites with continuous antigenic mutations has partly hindered this approach so far. The application of different types of drug delivery systems for the delivery of antimalarial drugs is also being considered in order to improve the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and reduce toxicity of existing anti-malarial drugs. A third approach has emerged from the high success of antibodies to treat complex diseases like cancer and autoimmune diseases. Various antibody engineering methods and formats have been proposed to tackle the notable sophisticated lifecycle of malaria.Within the malaria research field, the characteristics of these diverse treatment strategies, individually, are broadly acknowledged. This review article considers the current status of these approaches and the future outlook

Where traditional drug discovery meets modern technology in the quest for new drugs

Identifying novel compounds or improving bioavailability of drugs requires extensive screening, in vitro and in vivo testing and subsequent commercialisation. Traditional methods can be labour intensive and time-consuming. Use of modern technologies can reduce these challenges and is best achieved through collaboration with researchers specialising in different research fields. The range of research activities carried out in our lab is outlined and demonstrates the diversity of techniques used in our drug discovery programme