Deposit insurance and the coexistence of commercial and shadow banks

This is the final version. Available from Springer via the DOI in this record. We investigate how deposit insurance affects the structure of the financial system in a general equilibrium setting in which a government insurer guarantees deposits at commercial banks, but not at shadow banks. With deposit-based or risky-asset-based insurance premia, price distortions induced by subsidized deposit insurance benefit shadow banks, by allowing these banks to trade to their advantage. Insured commercial banks and uninsured shadow banks coexist under subsidized deposit insurance. Capital requirements on commercial banks make shadow banking more attractive. The asset price distortion is eliminated when the aggregate subsidy to unsuccessful commercial banks equals the aggregate penalty to successful banks

A Hybrid Model of Mammalian Cell Cycle Regulation

The timing of DNA synthesis, mitosis and cell division is regulated by a complex network of biochemical reactions that control the activities of a family of cyclin-dependent kinases. The temporal dynamics of this reaction network is typically modeled by nonlinear differential equations describing the rates of the component reactions. This approach provides exquisite details about molecular regulatory processes but is hampered by the need to estimate realistic values for the many kinetic constants that determine the reaction rates. It is difficult to estimate these kinetic constants from available experimental data. To avoid this problem, modelers often resort to ‘qualitative’ modeling strategies, such as Boolean switching networks, but these models describe only the coarsest features of cell cycle regulation. In this paper we describe a hybrid approach that combines the best features of continuous differential equations and discrete Boolean networks. Cyclin abundances are tracked by piecewise linear differential equations for cyclin synthesis and degradation. Cyclin synthesis is regulated by transcription factors whose activities are represented by discrete variables (0 or 1) and likewise for the activities of the ubiquitin-ligating enzyme complexes that govern cyclin degradation. The discrete variables change according to a predetermined sequence, with the times between transitions determined in part by cyclin accumulation and degradation and as well by exponentially distributed random variables. The model is evaluated in terms of flow cytometry measurements of cyclin proteins in asynchronous populations of human cell lines. The few kinetic constants in the model are easily estimated from the experimental data. Using this hybrid approach, modelers can quickly create quantitatively accurate, computational models of protein regulatory networks in cells

Exploring of Antimicrobial Activity of Triphala Mashi—an Ayurvedic Formulation

Triphala Mashi is an ayurvedic formulation that was prepared in our lab. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of both Triphala and Triphala Mashi were used, to evaluate antimicrobial activity. Comparative phytochemical profile of Triphala and Triphala Mashi was done by preliminary phytochemical screening, total phenolic content and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Antimicrobial activity includes isolation of pathogens from clinical samples, its characterization, testing its multiple drug resistance against standard antibiotics and antimicrobial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of both Triphala and Triphala Mashi against these organisms by using agar gel diffusion method. Triphala Mashi containing phenolic compounds, tannins exhibited comparable antimicrobial activity in relation to Triphala against all the microorganisms tested. It inhibits the dose-dependent growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In conclusion, it appears that Triphala Mashi has non-specific antimicrobial activity

From population growth to firm demographics: implications for concentration, entrepreneurship and the labor share

This is the final version. Available from The Econometric Society via the DOI in this record. In the U.S., large firms now account for a greater share of economic activity, new firms are being created at slower rates, and workers are receiving a smaller share of GDP. Changes in population growth provide a unified quantitative explanation. A decrease in population growth lowers firm entry rates, shifting the firm-age distribution toward older firms. Firm aging accounts for (i) the concentration of employment in large firms, (ii) and trends in average firm size and exit rates, key determinants of firm entry rates. Feedback effects from firm demographics generate two-thirds of the effect. Prior to the decrease, entry rates rose steadily reflecting the earlier baby boom. The glut of firms due to the baby boom lead to rich transitional dynamics within the feedback effects, accounting for more than half the total change. Baby boom induced changes in the firm-age distribution provide a driving force for the post-WWII rise and fall in the aggregate labor share. Ignoring changes in population growth attributes all the long run decline in entry rates to a decrease in firm exit rates, which in reality have been only one-third as large.National Science Foundatio

Evaluation of early generation progenies, (F2) of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) crosses for seed yield and yield related characters

F2 generation of five crosses of fenugreek were evaluated for seed yield and its components along with parents. F2 generation had wider range than the parents for most of the characters in the crosses. Genetic parameter of variation also indicated that substantial amount of variability was generated in F2 of all the crosses which will be very useful in fenugreek improvement. Pods per plant had high PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean in all the five crosses. Association analysis indicated that pods per plant had positive association with seed yield plant in all the five crosses. On the basis of the present study, selection for pods per plant in F2 generation of fenugreek crosses will be useful for improvement in seed yield. &nbsp

Inheritance of powdery mildew resistance and growth habit in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Inheritance of resistance to powdery mildew was studied by evaluating parents, F1 and F2 generations of cross UM-305 x UM-117 along with susceptible check varieties over the years for powdery mildew reaction. The F3 and F4 families of the cross were also evaluated along with the F1, parents and the check varieties for powdery mildew' reaction to confirm the results. X2 test was applied to test the fitness of assumed ratio. The inheritance pattern suggested resistance to powdery mildew was monogenic recessive. Results indicated that gene for powdery mildew resistance and gene for determinate growth habit assort independent of each other. &nbsp

Inheritance of giant mutant plant type in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

The inheritance of giant mutant plant type was worked out by evaluating F1, F2 and Fa generations in a cross (RMt-1 x Mutant) of fenugreek. On the basis of plant type in F1 and the segregation ratios in F2 and F3, it was concluded that the normal plant type of RMt-1 was controlled by a single dominant gene and mutant plant type by its recessive allele. &nbsp

Aberrant DNA Methylation Reprogramming During Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation is Dependent on the Choice of Reprogramming Factors

The conversion of somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells via overexpression of reprogramming factors involves epigenetic remodeling. DNA methylation at a significant proportion of CpG sites in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differs from that of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Whether different sets of reprogramming factors influence the type and extent of aberrant DNA methylation in iPSCs differently remains unknown. In order to help resolve this critical question, we generated human iPSCs from a common fibroblast cell source using either the Yamanaka factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and cMYC) or the Thomson factors (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG and LIN28), and determined their genome-wide DNA methylation profiles. In addition to shared DNA methylation aberrations present in all our iPSCs, we identified Yamanaka-iPSC (Y-iPSC)-specific and Thomson-iPSC (T-iPSC)-specific recurrent aberrations. Strikingly, not only were the genomic locations of the aberrations different but also their types: reprogramming with Yamanaka factors mainly resulted in failure to demethylate CpGs, whereas reprogramming with Thomson factors mainly resulted in failure to methylate CpGs. Differences in the level of transcripts encoding DNMT3b and TET3 between Y-iPSCs and T-iPSCs may contribute partially to the distinct types of aberrations. Finally, de novo aberrantly methylated genes in Y-iPSCs were enriched for NANOG targets that are also aberrantly methylated in some cancers. Our study thus reveals that the choice of reprogramming factors influences the amount, location, and class of DNA methylation aberrations in iPSCs. These findings may provide clues into how to produce human iPSCs with fewer DNA methylation abnormalities

Combining ability in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) for yield and quality

Twelve genetically diverse varieties of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) were evaluated at Jobner (Rajasthan) following diallel mating design for determining their utility as parents in the development of hybrids and/or high yielding composites. The analysis of variance indicated that varieties and heterosis were significant for most of the characters studied, indicating complex type of inheritance involving additive, dominance and epistatic components. The heterosis sum of squares accounted for more than 75% of the entries sum of squares. Partitioning of overall heterosis variation indicated that contribution of specific heterosis was the highest (>50%) among the three components. Estimates of genetic constants indicated that varietal heterosis effects were significa nt for all the tra its except days to 50% flowering and test weight, while specific heterosis effects were significant for most of the characters. The cross RF-101 x JF-25 showed the highest positive specific heterosis effect for seed yield plant·, along with high specific heterosis effects for umbels and biological yield plan 1''. These two parents represented a good choice to initiate inter-population improvement. &nbsp

Gender-dependent differences in plasma matrix metalloproteinase-8 elevated in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health pandemic and greater understanding of underlying pathogenesis is required to develop novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are emerging as key effectors of tissue destruction in TB but have not been comprehensively studied in plasma, nor have gender differences been investigated. We measured the plasma concentrations of MMPs in a carefully characterised, prospectively recruited clinical cohort of 380 individuals. The collagenases, MMP-1 and MMP-8, were elevated in plasma of patients with pulmonary TB relative to healthy controls, and MMP-7 (matrilysin) and MMP-9 (gelatinase B) were also increased. MMP-8 was TB-specific (p<0.001), not being elevated in symptomatic controls (symptoms suspicious of TB but active disease excluded). Plasma MMP-8 concentrations inversely correlated with body mass index. Plasma MMP-8 concentration was 1.51-fold higher in males than females with TB (p<0.05) and this difference was not due to greater disease severity in men. Gender-specific analysis of MMPs demonstrated consistent increase in MMP-1 and -8 in TB, but MMP-8 was a better discriminator for TB in men. Plasma collagenases are elevated in pulmonary TB and differ between men and women. Gender must be considered in investigation of TB immunopathology and development of novel diagnostic markers