Money growth pegging, Taylor rule, status-seeking behavior and the 'spirit of capitalism'

This paper analyzes the impact of “spirit of capitalism” on stationary welfare and stability properties of a one-sector Ramsey economy, where the demand of money is motivated by a cash-in-advance constraint on consumption expenditures. Preferences are defined over consumption and capital stock. There is a monetary authority that follows either a money growth pegging rule or an interest rate pegging rule. When a money growth pegging rule is introduced, a unique steady state emerges. A slight desire for status is a sufficient condition for an increase in the money growth rate to exert a local stabilizing effect and to improve stationary welfare. When an interest rate pegging rule is introduced, two steady states may emerge: a “liquidity trap” and an “interior” steady state. Both steady states are locally determinate. Moreover, we show that a slight desire for status is also a sufficient condition to ensure that the stationary welfare at “interior” steady state is higher than the one of the “liquidity trap”. It follows that an increase in the policy rate is, then, an efficient way to exit the “liquidity trap” steady state. Under similar conditions, a higher policy rate increases the stationary welfare at the “interior” steady state

Vitamin A status of populations in three West african countries

Les résultats des enquêtes de consommation alimentaire et d'épidémiologie (clinique et biochimique) entreprises dans trois régions sub-sahéliennes ont mis en évidence l'existence de xérophtalmie au Burkina Faso, une déficience transitoire en vitamine A durant la saison humide au sud du Mali sans signes cliniques graves et un bon état en vitamine A en Casamanc

Mammalian frataxin directly enhances sulfur transfer of NFS1 persulfide to both ISCU and free thiols

Friedreich's ataxia is a severe neurodegenerative disease caused by the decreased expression of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein that stimulates iron sulfur (Fe-S) cluster biogenesis. In mammals, the primary steps of Fe-S cluster assembly are performed by the NFS1 ISD11 ISCU complex via the formation of a persulfide intermediate on NFS1. Here we show that frataxin modulates the reactivity of NFS1 persulfide with thiols. We use maleimide-peptide com- pounds along with mass spectrometry to probe cysteine-persulfide in NFS1 and ISCU. Our data reveal that in the presence of ISCU, frataxin enhances the rate of two similar reactions on NFS1 persulfide: sulfur transfer to ISCU leading to the accumulation of a persulfide on the cysteine C104 of ISCU, and sulfur transfer to small thiols such as DTT, L-cysteine and GSH leading to persulfuration of these thiols and ultimately sulfide release. These data raise important questions on the physiological mechanism of Fe-S cluster assembly and point to a unique function of frataxin as an enhancer of sulfur transfer within the NFS1 ISD11 ISCU complex

Braces optimized with computer-assisted design and simulations are lighter, more comfortable, and more efficient than plaster-cast braces for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Study Design Feasibility study to compare the effectiveness of 2 brace design and fabrication methods for treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a standard plaster-cast method and a computational method combining computer-aided design and fabrication and finite element simulation. Objectives To improve brace design using a new brace design method. Summary of Background Data Initial in-brace correction and patient's compliance to treatment are important factors for brace efficiency. Negative cosmetic appearance and functional discomfort resulting from pressure points, humidity, and restriction of movement can cause poor compliance with the prescribed wearing schedule. Methods A total of 15 consecutive patients with brace prescription were recruited. Two braces were designed and fabricated for each patient: a standard thoracolumbo-sacral orthosis brace fabricated using plaster-cast method and an improved brace for comfort (NewBrace) fabricated using a computational method combining computer-aided design and fabrication software (Rodin4D) and a simulation platform. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the torso and the trunk skeleton were used to create a personalized finite element model, which was used for brace design and predict correction. Simulated pressures on the torso and distance between the brace and patient's skin were used to remove ineffective brace material situated at more than 6 mm from the patient's skin. Biplanar radiographs of the patient wearing each brace were taken to compare their effectiveness. Patients filled out a questionnaire to compare their comfort. Results NewBraces were 61% thinner and had 32% less material than standard braces with equivalent correction. NewBraces were more comfortable (11 of 15 patients) or equivalent to (4 of 15 cases) standard braces. Simulated correction was simulated within 5° compared with in-brace results. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of designing lighter and more comfortable braces with correction equivalent to standard braces. This design platform has the potential to further improve brace correction efficiency and its compliance

Colectivización, participación y disidencia en el eje trasatlántico durante la Guerra Fría: guerrilla cultural para desestabilizar el equilibrio de poder en los años sesenta

This article analyses the role of collectivization and participation and their configuration under the concept of Cultural Guerrilla that implied a socio-political commitment of artists in the 1960s. It discusses how the Cultural Guerrilla was understood by the artists and how it participated in the destabilization of the social (and political) system and in confronting the imperialist policies of the US. It, firstly, focuses on the development processes of a collective and participative action during that decade and its role for confronting the aesthetic model that was fostered by the US within their Cold War cultural politics. Secondly, the text approaches the exchanges of French-based artists and intellectuals with the revolutionary government of Cuba in 1967 during the organization of the Salón de Mayo in Havana, discussing, thirdly, their impact on the artists’ participation during the events of May’68 in Paris.Este artículo analiza el papel que la colectivización y la participación tuvieron en la configuración del concepto de Guerrilla Cultural, el cual implicó el compromiso socio-político del artista en los años sesenta. Se estudia el modo en el que fue entendida dicha Guerrilla Cultural por los artistas y como, a partir de la misma, participaron en la desestabilización del sistema social (y político) y en la confrontación con las políticas imperialistas de los Estados Unidos. En primer lugar, se estudia el desarrollo de los procesos de acción colectiva y participativa durante los años sesenta y su rol en el cuestionamiento del canon estético apoyado por los EEUU en sus políticas culturales durante la Guerra Fría. En segundo lugar, el artículo analiza los intercambios entre artistas e intelectuales residentes en Francia con el gobierno revolucionario cubano en 1967, durante la organización del Salón de Mayo en la Habana, tratando, finalmente, su impacto en los artistas que participaron en las revueltas de Mayo del 68 en París

Metabolic responses to the acute ingestion of two commercially available carbonated beverages: A pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over study was to compare the effects of two commercially available soft drinks on metabolic rate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After giving informed consent, twenty healthy men and women were randomly assigned to ingest 12 ounces of Celsius™ and, on a separate day, 12 ounces of Diet Coke®. All subjects completed both trials using a randomized, counterbalanced design. Metabolic rate (via indirect calorimetry) and substrate oxidation (via respiratory exchange ratio) were measured at baseline (pre-ingestion) and at the end of each hour for 3 hours post-ingestion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant interaction (p < 0.001) between trials in metabolic rate. Scheffe post-hoc testing indicated that metabolic rate increased by 13.8% (+ 0.6 L/min, p < 0.001) 1 hr post, 14.4% (+0.63 L/min, p < 0.001) 2 hr post, and 8.5% (+0.37 L/min, p < 0.004) 3 hr post Celsius™ ingestion. In contrast, small (~4–6%) but statistically insignificant increases in metabolic rate were noted following Diet Coke^®ingestion. No differences in respiratory exchange ratio were noted between trials.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These preliminary findings indicate Celsius™ has thermogenic properties when ingested acutely. The effects of repeated, chronic ingestion of Celsius™ on body composition are unknown at this time.</p

RACK1 Associates with Muscarinic Receptors and Regulates M2 Receptor Trafficking

Receptor internalization from the cell surface occurs through several mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms, such as clathrin coated pits, are well understood. The M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor undergoes internalization via a poorly-defined clathrin-independent mechanism. We used isotope coded affinity tagging and mass spectrometry to identify the scaffolding protein, receptor for activated C kinase (RACK1) as a protein enriched in M2-immunoprecipitates from M2-expressing cells over those of non-M2 expressing cells. Treatment of cells with the agonist carbachol disrupted the interaction of RACK1 with M2. We further found that RACK1 overexpression inhibits the internalization and subsequent down regulation of the M2 receptor in a receptor subtype-specific manner. Decreased RACK1 expression increases the rate of agonist internalization of the M2 receptor, but decreases the extent of subsequent down-regulation. These results suggest that RACK1 may both interfere with agonist-induced sequestration and be required for subsequent targeting of internalized M2 receptors to the degradative pathway