The simple analytics of commodity futures markets: do they stabilize prices? Do they raise welfare?

This paper uses a simple, graphical approach to analyze what happens to commodity prices and economic welfare when futures markets are introduced into an economy. It concludes that these markets do not necessarily make prices more or less stable. It also concludes that, contrary to common belief, whatever happens to commodity prices is not necessarily related to what happens to the economic welfare of market participants: even when futures markets reduce the volatility of prices, some people can be made worse off. These conclusions come from a series of models that differ in their assumptions about the primary function of futures markets, the structure of the industries involved, and the tastes and technologies of the market participants.Futures ; Commercial products

Demystifying Wireless Technologies: Navigating Through The Wireless Technology Maze

A significant part of the growth in consumer-to-business electronic commerce is likely to originate from the increasing numbers of mobile computing devices and smart telephone devices. Most of the data from mobile computers will be carried over by emerging wireless networks. Many wireless technologies and standards are now available. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult for non-domain experts like managers, to sort through the maze of wireless technologies and standards to make business decisions involving these technologies. This article surveys existing and emerging wireless technologies and uses the Open System Interconnect (OSI) framework to organize the wireless landscape. The survey provides a quick reference to the entire spectrum of wireless technologies in use today

Seasonalities in security returns: the case of earnings announcements

An examination of the behavior of stock returns around quarterly earnings announcement dates finds a seasonal pattern: small firms show large positive abnormal returns and a sizable increase in the variability of returns around these dates. Only part of the large abnormal returns can be accounted for by the fact that firms with good news tend to announce early. Large firms show no abnormal returns around announcement dates and a much smaller increase in variability.Stock - Prices

Computational prediction and experimental validation associating FABP-1 and pancreatic adenocarcinoma with diabetes

<p/> <p>Background</p> <p>Pancreatic cancer, composed principally of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PaC), is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. PaC-associated diabetes may be a marker of early disease. We sought to identify molecules associated with PaC and PaC with diabetes (PaC-DM) using a novel translational bioinformatics approach. We identified fatty acid binding protein-1 (FABP-1) as one of several candidates. The primary aim of this pilot study was to experimentally validate the predicted association between FABP-1 with PaC and PaC with diabetes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched public microarray measurements for genes that were specifically highly expressed in PaC. We then filtered for proteins with known involvement in diabetes. Validation of FABP-1 was performed via antibody immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded pancreatic tissue microarrays (FFPE TMA). FFPE TMA were constructed using148 cores of pancreatic tissue from 134 patients collected between 1995 and 2002 from patients who underwent pancreatic surgery. Primary analysis was performed on 21 normal and 60 pancreatic adenocarcinoma samples, stratified for diabetes. Clinical data on samples was obtained via retrospective chart review. Serial sections were cut per standard protocol. Antibody staining was graded by an experienced pathologist on a scale of 0-3. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess FABP-1 staining and clinical characteristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Normal samples were significantly more likely to come from younger patients. PaC samples were significantly more likely to stain for FABP-1, when FABP-1 staining was considered a binary variable. Compared to normals, there was significantly increased staining in diabetic PaC samples (p = 0.004) and there was a trend towards increased staining in the non-diabetic PaC group (p = 0.07). In logistic regression modeling, FABP-1 staining was significantly associated with diagnosis of PaC (OR 8.6 95% CI 1.1-68, p = 0.04), though age was a confounder.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Compared to normal controls, there was a significant positive association between FABP-1 staining and PaC on FFPE-TMA, strengthened by the presence of diabetes. Further studies with closely phenotyped patient samples are required to understand the true relationship between FABP-1, PaC and PaC-associated diabetes. A translational bioinformatics approach has potential to identify novel disease associations and potential biomarkers in gastroenterology.</p

A study of the conformational and pharmacophoric requirements of ligands of the cannabinergic system using NMR and computer modeling

The interaction of different ligands with various components of the cannabinergic system was studied to determine the role of the ligands\u27 conformations. Such ligands can modulate many physiological and psychological responses controlled by that system. Therefore knowledge of their conformations may aid in developing potent cannabinergic drugs. Three objectives were achieved. ^ First, NOESY and molecular dynamics were performed, and a method based upon relaxation rate calculations was developed, to determine the arachidonyl backbone conformations of six anandamide analogs in isotropic bicelles ( q=1.0, 3% w/v, and 10:1 [DMPC]:[ligand]) and DMSO. No long range NOEs were observed, suggesting extended conformations for the backbones. In bicelles, anandamide preferred an inverse-L shape while R-methyl anandamide preferred either a fully extended or compact-C shape. Additionally, analysis of measured coupling constants revealed a possible intramolecular hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen and the hydroxy proton of those ligands in DMSO. NOESY spectra analysis, however, suggests this bond occurs infrequently in bicelles. Finally, experiments with chemical shift reagents showed that the analogs orient within the bicelle with their head groups at the aqueous interface and their alkyl tails within the interior. ^ Second, quantum mechanical calculations were employed to explain differences in kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km) among six anandamide analogs with different head group structures when hydrolyzed by fatty acid amide hydrolase. For all analogs, head group conformations with a dihedral angle (C1-N-C1\u27-C2\u27) of -140° yielded transition state energies that correlated with the Vmax values. The binding energies, however, did not correlate with the Km values. Since the active site is buried within the enzyme, solvation energies, strain energies, and head group surface areas were needed to explain the mechanism of ligand binding. ^ Finally, cannabinoid receptor docking was used to explain differences in binding affinity among various classical cannabinoids. Calculated receptor volume maps revealed the ideal sizes needed by different ligand moieties for optimal binding. Surprisingly, docking showed that although large ligand moieties may be accommodated by the receptors instead of clashing with nearby residues, unfavorable interactions may result between the binding pocket and other areas of the ligand normally well accommodated by the receptor.

On a connection between the non-central [chi]2 distribution and Bessel diffusions

The noncentral [chi]2 random variable can be written as the sum of two independent random variables one of which is a (central) [chi]2 random variable and the other is known as the [chi]2 random variable with zero d.f. We give a probabilistic proof of this by using properties of the square of a Bessel diffusion.Noncentral [chi]2 decompositions Bessel diffusions

Reversible dementia in elderly: Really uncommon?

There has been a steady rise in the prevalence of dementia all over the world. Our understanding of the illness, as well as its etiopathology, has also improved. Dementias due to degenerative and vascular pathology form the most common types of dementias resulting in cognitive impairment. However, these conditions usually lead to irreversible impairment and cause significant morbidity and mortality among patients. On the other hand, there is a group of conditions among elderly, where dementia follow a reversible course provided these conditions are picked and managed early. Few common causes of reversible dementias are Vitamin B12 deficiency, normal pressure hydrocephalus, thyroid dysfunction, anticholinergic medications, depression, etc. This review will discuss all these conditions with reference to their presentation, diagnosis, and management