Speculative Enthusiasm: An Examination of the Role of Risk Appetite within the Framework of Minsky's Financial Instability Hypothesis

Thesis advisor: Harold PetersenMinsky developed a Financial Instability Hypothesis which sought to find an endogenous explanation for a modern economy’s vulnerability to crashes. Specifically, he investigated the ways in which the financial structures of a modern economy might contribute to its instability. The hypothesis rests upon the twin assertions that some financial arrangements are more dangerous than others, and that during economic booms, investors’ incentives are altered to favor these more dangerous arrangements. Essentially, in good times, the profit-seeking motive of investors overrides a diminished risk aversion, as memories of losses fade into the past. This paper empirically tests Minsky’s second assertion, by using econometric techniques to analyze the relationship between risk appetite and market returns. Spreads between the yields of bonds of different credit qualities are used as a proxy for wider investor sentiment toward risk. Regressions demonstrate that changes in risk appetite can be explained at least in part by historical market returns. Such a finding supports Minsky’s proposal that incentives of investors change in response to varying market conditions. It further implies that regulatory authorities might examine the level of risk appetite to determine whether increases in asset prices indicate the formation of speculative bubbles or are rather reflecting developments in the fundamentals underlying said assets.Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2010.Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Economics Honors Program.Discipline: College Honors Program.Discipline: Economics

Polyunsaturated fatty acid interactions and breast cancer incidence: a population-based case-control study on Long Island, New York

Experimental studies demonstrate that ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) inhibit inflammatory eicosanoids generated by ω-6 PUFAs. Epidemiologic studies on dietary ω-3 PUFA intake show consistent inverse associations with breast cancer incidence among Asian populations, where ω-3, relative to ω-6, intake is high. In contrast, associations are inconsistent among Western populations, where intake of ω-3, relative to ω-6, intake is low. We hypothesized that examining interactions between ω-3 and ω-6 would help elucidate the PUFA-breast cancer association in the U.S

Polymorphisms in oxidative stress genes, physical activity, and breast cancer risk

The mechanisms driving the physical activity–breast cancer association are unclear. Exercise both increases reactive oxygen species production, which may transform normal epithelium to a malignant phenotype, and enhances antioxidant capacity, which could protect against subsequent oxidative insult. Given the paradoxical effects of physical activity, the oxidative stress pathway is of interest. Genetic variation in CAT or antioxidant-related polymorphisms may mediate the physical activity–breast cancer association

Genotype-stratified treatment for monogenic insulin resistance: a systematic review

This is the final version. Available from Nature Research via the DOI in this record. Data availability: All data used in this review is available from publicly available and herein referenced sources. A list of included studies is provided in Supplementary Data 1. All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files. Source data for the figures are available as Supplementary Data 2.BACKGROUND: Monogenic insulin resistance (IR) includes lipodystrophy and disorders of insulin signalling. We sought to assess the effects of interventions in monogenic IR, stratified by genetic aetiology. METHODS: Systematic review using PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase (1 January 1987 to 23 June 2021). Studies reporting individual-level effects of pharmacologic and/or surgical interventions in monogenic IR were eligible. Individual data were extracted and duplicates were removed. Outcomes were analysed for each gene and intervention, and in aggregate for partial, generalised and all lipodystrophy. RESULTS: 10 non-randomised experimental studies, 8 case series, and 23 case reports meet inclusion criteria, all rated as having moderate or serious risk of bias. Metreleptin use is associated with the lowering of triglycerides and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in all lipodystrophy (n = 111), partial (n = 71) and generalised lipodystrophy (n = 41), and in LMNA, PPARG, AGPAT2 or BSCL2 subgroups (n = 72,13,21 and 21 respectively). Body Mass Index (BMI) is lowered in partial and generalised lipodystrophy, and in LMNA or BSCL2, but not PPARG or AGPAT2 subgroups. Thiazolidinediones are associated with improved HbA1c and triglycerides in all lipodystrophy (n = 13), improved HbA1c in PPARG (n = 5), and improved triglycerides in LMNA (n = 7). In INSR-related IR, rhIGF-1, alone or with IGFBP3, is associated with improved HbA1c (n = 17). The small size or absence of other genotype-treatment combinations preclude firm conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence guiding genotype-specific treatment of monogenic IR is of low to very low quality. Metreleptin and Thiazolidinediones appear to improve metabolic markers in lipodystrophy, and rhIGF-1 appears to lower HbA1c in INSR-related IR. For other interventions, there is insufficient evidence to assess efficacy and risks in aggregated lipodystrophy or genetic subgroups.Wellcome TrustWellcome Trus

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Glycosylation of Human IgA Directly Inhibits Influenza A and Other Sialic-Acid-Binding Viruses

Summary: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays an important role in protecting our mucosal surfaces from viral infection, in maintaining a balance with the commensal bacterial flora, and in extending maternal immunity via breast feeding. Here, we report an additional innate immune effector function of human IgA molecules in that we demonstrate that the C-terminal tail unique to IgA molecules interferes with cell-surface attachment of influenza A and other enveloped viruses that use sialic acid as a receptor. This antiviral activity is mediated by sialic acid found in the complex N-linked glycans at position 459. Antiviral activity was observed even in the absence of classical antibody binding via the antigen binding sites. Our data, therefore, show that the C-terminal tail of IgA subtypes provides an innate line of defense against viruses that use sialic acid as a receptor and the role of neuraminidases present on these virions. : Vertebrate IgA molecules possess a conserved N-linked glycosylated C-terminal tail. Maurer et al. show that sialic acid found in the complex glycosylation of the C-terminal tail of human IgA1 inhibits sialic-acid-binding viruses and, therefore, may constitute an additional line of innate immunity. Keywords: immunoglobulin, antibodies, IgA, glycosylation, virus neutralization, innate immunity, influenza virus, heterosubtypic antibodies, mucosal immunity, neuraminidas

Glycosylation of human IgA directly inhibits influenza A and other sialic-acid-binding viruses

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays an important role in protecting our mucosal surfaces from viral infection, in maintaining a balance with the commensal bacterial flora, and in extending maternal immunity via breast feeding. Here, we report an additional innate immune effector function of human IgA molecules in that we demonstrate that the C-terminal tail unique to IgA molecules interferes with cell-surface attachment of influenza A and other enveloped viruses that use sialic acid as a receptor. This antiviral activity is mediated by sialic acid found in the complex N-linked glycans at position 459. Antiviral activity was observed even in the absence of classical antibody binding via the antigen binding sites. Our data, therefore, show that the C-terminal tail of IgA subtypes provides an innate line of defense against viruses that use sialic acid as a receptor and the role of neuraminidases present on these virions. Vertebrate IgA molecules possess a conserved N-linked glycosylated C-terminal tail. Maurer et al. show that sialic acid found in the complex glycosylation of the C-terminal tail of human IgA1 inhibits sialic-acid-binding viruses and, therefore, may constitute an additional line of innate immunity.</p