Identification Robust Empirical Evidence on the Open Economy IS-Curve

OnlinePublExisting empirical evidence on the Euler equation based on closed economy models suggests low responsiveness of aggregate consumption to changes in interest rates. We incorporate open economy features and consider extensions that include habit formation and hand-to-mouth consumers. For several open economies and applying econometric methods that are robust to weak instruments and structural changes, we continue to find low values for the elasticity of intertemporal substitution, implying a small effect of real interest rate changes on aggregate income. In some countries, structural changes are informative for identification, but otherwise aggregate data provide limited information to learn about IS-curve specifications.Qazi Haque, Leandro M. Magnusso

Prison vs. hospital for offenders with psychosis; effects on reoffending

With research showing a high prevalence of psychosis in prisons, its effective management is essential for clinical and criminal outcomes. In a matched sample of released prisoners and discharged patients with psychosis (124 pairs) we investigated whether group participation (prison vs. hospital) affected the likelihood of reoffending as well as time to reoffending. Statistical analysis was completed using multilevel logistic regression and multilevel survival analysis. We found that prison cases were more likely to commit any offence within a given period of time (1, 2 or 3 years). Moreover, at any particular time 3 times as many patients with psychosis released from prisons reoffended proportionally to their matched controls discharged from hospitals (HR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.99, 4.29, P < 0.001). In conclusion, release from prison carries higher risk of a future offending and reduced time to reoffending among offenders with psychosis. Notwithstanding limitations inherent in observational study designs, we advocate that in addition to clinical need and the humanitarian argument, offenders with psychosis should be treated in secure hospitals to reduce future recidivism

On bootstrapping tests of equal forecast accuracy for nested models

First published: 15 April 2023. OnlinePublThe asymptotic distributions of the recursive out-of-sample forecast accuracy test statistics depend on stochastic integrals of Brownian motion when the models under comparison are nested. This often complicates their implementation in practice because the computation of their asymptotic critical values is burdensome. Hansen and Timmermann (2015, Econometrica) propose a Wald approximation of the commonly used recursive F-statistic and provide a simple characterization of the exact density of its asymptotic distribution. However, this characterization holds only when the larger model has one extra predictor or the forecast errors are homoscedastic. No such closed-form characterization is readily available when the nesting involves more than one predictor and heteroscedasticity or serial correlation is present. We first show through Monte Carlo experiments that both the recursive F-test and its Wald approximation have poor finite-sample properties, especially when the forecast horizon is greater than one and forecast errors exhibit serial correlation. We then propose a hybrid bootstrap method consisting of a moving block bootstrap and a residual-based bootstrap for both statistics and establish its validity. Simulations show that the hybrid bootstrap has good finite-sample performance, even in multi-step ahead forecasts with more than one predictor, and with heteroscedastic or autocorrelated forecast errors. The bootstrap method is illustrated on forecasting core inflation and GDP growth.Firmin Doko Tchatoka, Qazi Haqu

Enhanced Metal Levels in Vegetables and Farm Soil irrigated with Industrial Waste Water

In water stressed Karachi city, waste water is often used for irrigating vegetables fields. Persistent use of waste water causes accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils and vegetables. Cd, Cr, Zn and Mn act as essential micronutrients but become toxic after crossing threshold values. To study the effect of waste water on heavy metal concentration in vegetables, soil and water an area irrigated separately with waste water and treated water were selected. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Zn and Mn in beet, potato and radish were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data obtained was tested at 95% (±2s) confidence level for six replicate measurements. The levels of Zn was found higher in both the treated water and vegetables beet, potato and radish irrigated with treated water but Mn was higher in industrial waste water and soil irrigated with industrial waste water and treated water. Soil irrigated with treated water contained (mg.L-1) 0.007 of Cd; 0.128 Cr; 2.672 Mn and 0.714 Zn. Soil irrigated with waste water seems to accumulate significant concentration of metals. It showed (mg.L-1) 5.85 of Cd; 84.5 Cr; 480.3 Mn and 305 Zn. Vegetables irrigated with industrial waste water have shown concurrent rise in metal levels. Mn was 0.860 mg.L-1 in radish, Cr 0.320 mg.L-1 in beet and Cd 0.330 mg.L-1 in potato

A Cellular Automata Model with Probability Infection and Spatial Dispersion

In this article, we have proposed an epidemic model by using probability cellular automata theory. The essential mathematical features are analyzed with the help of stability theory. We have given an alternative modelling approach for the spatiotemporal system which is more realistic and satisfactory from the practical point of view. A discrete and spatiotemporal approach are shown by using cellular automata theory. It is interesting to note that both size of the endemic equilibrium and density of the individual increase with the increasing of the neighborhood size and infection rate, but the infections decrease with the increasing of the recovery rate. The stability of the system around the positive interior equilibrium have been shown by using suitable Lyapunov function. Finally experimental data simulation for SARS disease in China and a brief discussion conclude the paper

Monetary policy and indeterminacy after the 2001 slump

Abstract not availableFirmin Doko Tchatoka, Nicolas Groshenny, Qazi Haque, Mark Wede

Tackling the Mouse‐on‐Mouse Problem in Cochlear Immunofluorescence: A Simple Double‐Blocking Protocol for Immunofluorescent Labeling of Murine Cochlear Sections with Primary Mouse Antibodies

The mouse is the most widely used animal model in hearing research. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining of murine cochlear sections have, thus, remained a backbone of inner ear research. Since many primary antibodies are raised in mouse, the problem of "mouse-on-mouse" background arises due to the interaction between the anti-mouse secondary antibody and the native mouse immunoglobulins. Here, we describe the pattern of mouse-on-mouse background fluorescence in sections of the postnatal mouse cochlea. Furthermore, we describe a simple double-blocking immunofluorescence protocol to label mouse cochlear cryosections. The protocol contains a conventional blocking step with serum, and an additional blocking step with a commercially available anti-mouse IgG blocking reagent. This blocking technique virtually eliminates the "mouse-on-mouse" background in murine cochlear sections, while adding only a little time to the staining protocol. We provide detailed instructions and practical tips for tissue harvesting, processing, and immunofluorescence-labeling. Further protocol modifications are described, to shorten the duration of the protocol, based on the primary antibody incubation temperature. Finally, we demonstrate examples of immunofluorescence staining performed using different incubation times and various incubation temperatures with a commercially available mouse monoclonal primary antibody

Subcellular Localization of SUN2 Is Regulated by Lamin A and Rab5

SUN2 is an inner nuclear membrane protein with a conserved Sad1/UNC-84 homology SUN-domain at the C-terminus. Intriguingly, SUN2 has also been reported to interact with Rab5, which localizes in early endosomes. To clarify the dual subcellular localization of SUN2, we investigated its localization in lamin A/C deficient cells rescued with lamin A or lamin C isoform, and in HeLa cells transfected with Rab5 or its mutants. We found that expression of lamin A but not lamin C partly restored the nuclear envelope localization of SUN2. SUN2 was redistributed to endosomes upon overexpression of Rab5, but remained on the nuclear envelope when the SUN domain was deleted. To explore the physiological function of SUN2 in vesicle trafficking and endocytosis, we demonstrated the colocalization of endogenous SUN2 and Rab5. Moreover, overexpression of SUN2 stimulated the uptake of transferrin while suppression of SUN2 expression attenuated the process. These findings support a role of SUN2 in endocytosis

The RING-CH ligase K5 antagonizes restriction of KSHV and HIV-1 particle release by mediating ubiquitin-dependent endosomal degradation of tetherin

Tetherin (CD317/BST2) is an interferon-induced membrane protein that inhibits the release of diverse enveloped viral particles. Several mammalian viruses have evolved countermeasures that inactivate tetherin, with the prototype being the HIV-1 Vpu protein. Here we show that the human herpesvirus Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is sensitive to tetherin restriction and its activity is counteracted by the KSHV encoded RING-CH E3 ubiquitin ligase K5. Tetherin expression in KSHV-infected cells inhibits viral particle release, as does depletion of K5 protein using RNA interference. K5 induces a species-specific downregulation of human tetherin from the cell surface followed by its endosomal degradation. We show that K5 targets a single lysine (K18) in the cytoplasmic tail of tetherin for ubiquitination, leading to relocalization of tetherin to CD63-positive endosomal compartments. Tetherin degradation is dependent on ESCRT-mediated endosomal sorting, but does not require a tyrosine-based sorting signal in the tetherin cytoplasmic tail. Importantly, we also show that the ability of K5 to substitute for Vpu in HIV-1 release is entirely dependent on K18 and the RING-CH domain of K5. By contrast, while Vpu induces ubiquitination of tetherin cytoplasmic tail lysine residues, mutation of these positions has no effect on its antagonism of tetherin function, and residual tetherin is associated with the trans-Golgi network (TGN) in Vpu-expressing cells. Taken together our results demonstrate that K5 is a mechanistically distinct viral countermeasure to tetherin-mediated restriction, and that herpesvirus particle release is sensitive to this mode of antiviral inhibition

A clinical study of arrhythmias associated with acute coronary syndrome: a hospital based study of a high risk and previously undocumented population

Background: ACS represents a global epidemic. Arrhythmia in ACS is common. Careful investigation may lead to further improvement of prognosis. Retrospectively analyzed the year- round data of our center. Study was undertaken to analyze the incidence, frequency and type of arrhythmias in ACS. This is to aid timely intervention and to modify the outcome. Identification of the type of arrhythmia is of therapeutic and prognostic importance.Methods: This cross sectional analytical study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals Dhaka, from January 2019 to January 2020 with ACS patients. Enrolled consecutively and data analyzed.Results: There were 500 patients enrolled considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sample was subdivided into 3 groups on the type of ACS. Group-I with UA, Group-II with NSTE - ACS and Group-III with STE - ACS. Different types of arrhythmia noted. Types of arrhythmia were correlated with type of ACS. 500 patients included. Mean age 55.53±12.70, 71.6% male and 28.4% female. 60.4% hypertensive, 46.2% diabetic, 20.2% positive family history of CAD, 32.2% current smoker, 56.4% dyslipidaemic and 9.6% asthmatic. 31.2% UA, 39.2% NSTE-ACS and 29.6% STE-ACS. Type of arrhythmias noted. 22% sinus tachycardia, 20.2% sinus bradycardia, 9% atrial fibrillation, 5.2% ventricular ectopic, 4.8% supra ventricular ectopic, 2.8% bundle branch block, 2.2% atrio-ventricular block, 1% broad complex tachycardia, 0.4% narrow complex tachycardia, 0.2% sinus node dysfunction and 32.2% without any arrhythmia. Significant incidences of arrhythmia detected - respectively 29.8%, 39.2% and 31%, p<0.001.Conclusions: In conclusion, arrhythmias in ACS are common. More attention should be paid to improve their treatment and prognosis