Austrian and mainstream economics on mathematics : a comment on Pieniążek (2018) : reply to Machaj (2019)

In this piece, I address Machaj's (2019) criticism of the claims in Pieniążek (2018). I refute the criticism and reinforce the claims

Multimarker approach in discriminating patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Several circulating biomarkers have been implicated in carotid atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis; however, their clinical utility remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of a large biomarker panel in the discrimination of symptomatic (S) vs. asymptomatic (A/S) subjects in a contemporary population with carotid artery stenosis (CS). METHODS: Prospective sampling of circulating cytokines and blood lipids was performed in 300 unselected, consecutive patients with ≥50% CS, as assessed by duplex ultrasound (age 47-83 years; 110 with A/S and 190 with S) who were referred for potential CS revascularization. RESULTS: CS severity and pharmacotherapy did not differ between the A/S and S patients. The median values of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) did not differ, but high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was significantly higher (p<0.001) and triglycerides were lower (p=0.03) in the A/S-CS group than in the S-CS group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were higher (p=0.04 and p=0.07, respectively) in the S-CS group. Circulating visfatin, soluble CD 40 receptor ligand, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule, leptin, adiponectin, IL-1β, IL-8, IL-18, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinases-8, -9, and -10, and fibrinogen were similar, but tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP) was reduced in S-CS compared to A/S-CS (p=0.02). Nevertheless, incorporation of TIMP and IL-6 did not improve the HDL-cholesterol receiver operating characteristics for S-CS status prediction. S-CS status was unrelated to angiographic stenosis severity or plaque burden, as assessed by intravascular ultrasound (p=0.16 and p=0.67, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed low HDL-cholesterol to be the only independent predictor of CS symptoms, with an odds ratio of 1.81 (95% confidence interval=1.15-2.84, p=0.01) for HDL <1.00 mmol/L (first quartile) vs. >1.37 (third quartile). In S-CS, osteoprotegerin and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) were elevated in those with recent vs. remote symptoms (p=0.01 and p=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In an all-comer CS population on contemporary pharmacotherapy, low HDL-cholesterol (but not other previously implicated or several novel circulating biomarkers) is an independent predictor of S-CS status. In addition, an increase in circulating osteoprotegerin and Lp-PLA(2) may transiently indicate S transformation of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque

Chasing charge localization and chemical reactivity following photoionization in liquid water

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3664746.The ultrafast dynamics of the cationic hole formed in bulk liquid water following ionization is investigated by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and an experimentally accessible signature is suggested that might be tracked by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. This is one of the fastest fundamental processes occurring in radiation-induced chemistry in aqueous systems and biological tissue. However, unlike the excess electron formed in the same process, the nature and time evolution of the cationic hole has been hitherto little studied. Simulations show that an initially partially delocalized cationic hole localizes within ∼30 fs after which proton transfer to a neighboring water molecule proceeds practically immediately, leading to the formation of the OH radical and the hydronium cation in a reaction which can be formally written as H2O+ + H2O → OH + H3O+. The exact amount of initial spin delocalization is, however, somewhat method dependent, being realistically described by approximate density functional theory methods corrected for the self-interaction error. Localization, and then the evolving separation of spin and charge, changes the electronic structure of the radical center. This is manifested in the spectrum of electronic excitations which is calculated for the ensemble of ab initio molecular dynamics trajectories using a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) formalism applying the equation of motion coupled-clusters method to the radical core. A clear spectroscopic signature is predicted by the theoretical model: as the hole transforms into a hydroxyl radical, a transient electronic absorption in the visible shifts to the blue, growing toward the near ultraviolet. Experimental evidence for this primary radiation-induced process is sought using femtosecond photoionization of liquid water excited with two photons at 11 eV. Transient absorption measurements carried out with ∼40 fs time resolution and broadband spectral probing across the near-UV and visible are presented and direct comparisons with the theoretical simulations are made. Within the sensitivity and time resolution of the current measurement, a matching spectral signature is not detected. This result is used to place an upper limit on the absorption strength and/or lifetime of the localized H2O+ (aq) species

Electronic structure of liquid water from polarization-dependent two-photon absorption spectroscopy

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jcp/130/8/10.1063/1.3078336.Two-photon absorption (2PA) spectroscopy in the range from 7 to 10 eV provides new insight on the electronic structure of liquid water. Continuous 2PA spectra are obtained via the pump-probe technique, using broadband probe pulses to record the absorption at many wavelengths simultaneously. A preresonance enhancement of the absolute 2PA cross section is observed when the pump-photon energy increases from 4.6 to 6.2 eV. The absorption cross section also depends on the relative polarization of the pump and probe photons. The variation of the polarization ratio across the spectrum reveals a detailed picture of the 2PA and indicates that at least four different transitions play a role below 10 eV. Theoretical polarization ratios for the isolated molecule illustrate the value of the experimental polarization measurement in deciphering the 2PA spectrum and provide the framework for a simple simulation of the liquid spectrum. A more comprehensive model goes beyond the isolated molecule picture and connects the 2PA spectrum with previous one-photon absorption, photoelectron, and x-ray absorptionspectroscopy measurements of liquid water. Previously unresolved, overlapping transitions are assigned for the first time. Finally, the electronic character of the vertical excited states is related to the energy-dependent ionization mechanism of liquid water

Editor's Choice-2017 ESC Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Diseases, in collaboration with the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS)

Document covering atherosclerotic disease of extracranial carotid and vertebral, mesenteric, renal, upper and lower extremity arteries Endorsed by: the European Stroke Organization (ESO) The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) Authors/Task Force Members (a), Victor Aboyans (*), Jean- Baptiste Ricco (*), Marie- Louise E. L. Bartelink, Martin Bjorck, Marianne Brodmann, Tina Cohnert, Jean-Philippe Collet, Martin Czerny, Marco De Carlo, Sebastian Debus, Christine Espinola-Klein, Thomas Kahan, Serge Kownator, Lucia Mazzolai, A. Ross Naylor, Marco Roffi, Joachim Rother, Muriel Sprynger, Michal Tendera, Gunnar Tepe, Maarit Venermo, Charalambos Vlachopoulos, Ileana Desormais Document Reviewers (b), Petr Widimsky, Philippe Kolh, Stefan Agewall, Hector Bueno, Antonio Coca, Gert J. De Borst, Victoria Delgado, Florian Dick, Cetin Erol, Marc Ferrini, Stavros Kakkos, Hugo A. Katus, Juhani Knuuti, Jes Lindholt, Heinrich Mattle, Piotr Pieniazek, Massimo Francesco Piepoli, Dierk Scheinert, Horst Sievert, Iain Simpson, Jakub Sulzenko, Juan Tamargo, Lale Tokgozoglu, Adam Torbicki, Nikolaos Tsakountakis, Jose Tunon, Melina Vega de Ceniga, Stephan Windecker, Jose Luis ZamoranoPeer reviewe

[Reviews and discussions:] Thomas Piketty, Capital and ideology

In this piece, I review Thomas Piketty's (2020) book. First, I briefly present its content, while in particular I try to highlight what can be especially interesting to the Polish reader. Moreover, I situate the book in the context of the previous book of the author, i.e. Capital in the Twenty-First Century, as well as of the discussion and critique which it has met. Finally, I shortly assess the book

Austrian and mainstream economics : how do they differ?

In the aftermath of the 2008 financial and economic crisis, mainstream economics (ME) was accused of being unable to predict, prevent, and alleviate it. In this situation, one might be curious if alternatives to mainstream economics are of any value. The aim of this paper is to answer whether the theory of the Austrian school of economics (ASE) can be considered a serious alternative to ME. This is done by examining its methodology and especially its attitude towards the use of mathematics in economic theory. Some shortcomings of the ASE's methodology are considered that make it a less attractive alternative than might initially be assumed. Next, the arguments of the ASE economists against the use of mathematics in economics are reviewed careful examination indicates that they are not sound. All of this shows that the ASE cannot be considered a serious alternative to ME. Finally, this conclusion is illustrated with a comparison of methods with which theories of business cycles are arrived at and analyzed in the two approaches