Homeownership, Informality and the Transmission of Monetary Policy

Cross-country aggregate data exhibits a strong (positive) relationship between the size of the informal employment and aggregate homeownership rates. We investigate this empirical observation using a cash-in-advance model with housing markets and argue that the rate of inflation is important in explaining the nexus between informality and homeownership rates. Specifically, we uncover a novel monetary transmission mechanism and show that households with informal employment desire to economize on their short-term cash usage and avoid periodic rental payments when (i) informality is associated with constrained business investment finance, and (ii) inflation expectations are high. Our empirical and theoretical findings highlight an important interaction between the conduct of monetary policy and the performance of housing markets

Rock-eating mycorrhizas: their role in plant nutrition and biogeochemical cycles

A decade ago, tunnels inside mineral grains were found that were likely formed by hyphae of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi. This observation implied that EcM fungi can dissolve mineral grains. The observation raised several questions on the ecology of these ¿rock-eating¿ fungi. This review addresses the roles of these rock-eating EcM associations in plant nutrition, biogeochemical cycles and pedogenesis. Research approaches ranged from molecular to ecosystem level scales. Nutrient deficiencies change EcM seedling exudation patterns of organic anions and thus their potential to mobilise base cations from minerals. This response was fungal species-specific. Some EcM fungi accelerated mineral weathering. While mineral weathering could also increase the concentrations of phytotoxic aluminium in the soil solution, some EcM fungi increase Al tolerance through an enhanced exudation of oxalate. Through their contribution to Al transport, EcM hyphae could be agents in pedogenesis, especially podzolisation. A modelling study indicated that mineral tunnelling is less important than surface weathering by EcM fungi. With both processes taken together, the contribution of EcM fungi to weathering may be significant. In the field vertical niche differentiation of EcM fungi was shown for EcM root tips and extraradical mycelium. In the field EcM fungi and tunnel densities were correlated. Our results support a role of rock-eating EcM fungi in plant nutrition and biogeochemical cycles. EcM fungal species-specific differences indicate the need for further research with regard to this variation in functional traits

Heavy-ion Physics at a Fixed-Target Experiment Using the LHC Proton and Lead Beams (AFTER@LHC): Feasibility Studies for Quarkonium and Drell-Yan Production

We outline the case for heavy-ion-physics studies using the multi-TeV lead LHC beams in the fixed-target mode. After a brief contextual reminder, we detail the possible contributions of AFTER@LHC to heavy-ion physics with a specific emphasis on quarkonia. We then present performance simulations for a selection of observables. These show that $\Upsilon(nS)$, $J/\psi$ and $\psi(2S)$ production in heavy-ion collisions can be studied in new energy and rapidity domains with the LHCb and ALICE detectors. We also discuss the relevance to analyse the Drell-Yan pair production in asymmetric nucleus-nucleus collisions to study the factorisation of the nuclear modification of partonic densities and of further quarkonia to restore their status of golden probes of the quark-gluon plasma formation.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Pure DCIS: Is It Necessary?

Introduction. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has been a matter of debate due to very low rate of axillary metastases. We therefore aimed to identify factors in a single institutional series to select patients who may benefit from SLNB. Material and Methods. Patients, diagnosed with pure DCIS (n = 63) between July 2000 and March 2011, were reviewed. All the sentinel lymph nodes were examined by serial sectioning (50 μm) of the entire lymph node and H&E staining, and by cytokeratin immunostaining in suspicious cases. Results. Median age was 51 (range, 30–79). Of 63 patients, 40 cases (63.5%) with pure DCIS underwent SLN, and 2 of them had a positive SLN (5%). In both 2 cases with SLN metastases, only one sentinel lymph node was involved with tumor cells. Patients who underwent SLNB were more likely to have a tumor size >30 mm or DCIS with intermediate and high nuclear grade or a mastectomy in univariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusion. In our series, we found a slightly higher rate of SLNB positivity in patients with pure DCIS than the large series reported elsewhere. This may either be due to the meticulous examination of SLNs by serial sectioning technique or due to our patient selection criteria or both

EFEKTIVITAS LAMA PERENDAMAN TELUR IKAN LELE SANGKURIANG (Clarias gariepinus) YANG TERBUAHI PADA EKSTRAK DAUN PEPAYA TERHADAP DAYA TETAS TELUR

Enzim papain yang terdapat pada ekstrak daun pepaya dapat mengurai protein pada lapisan lendir telur ikan dan berfungsi mencegah tumbuhnya suatu penyakit atau jamur yang dapat menyebabkan rendahnya daya tetas telur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas lama perendaman telur ikan lele sangkuriang (Clarias gariepinus) yang terbuahi pada ekstrak daun pepaya terhadap daya tetas telur. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Balai Perikanan Budidaya Air Tawar (BPBAT) Mandiangin Kalimantan Selatan pada tanggal 14-21 Februari 2023. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap dengan 4 perlakuan dan 3 ulangan. Perlakuan A (Lama perendaman selama 5 menit/ 4000 ppm), Perlakuan B (Lama perendaman selama 10 menit/ 4000 ppm), Perlakuan C (Lama perendaman selama 15 menit/ 4000 ppm), dan Perlakuan D (Kontrol atau tanpa dilakukan perendaman dengan larutan daun pepaya). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan C memperoleh hasil terbaik dengan rata-rata waktu perkembangan embriogenesis pada fase blastula yaitu 0,7 jam, pada fase gastrula yaitu 1,5 jam, persentase daya tetas telur mencapai 86,3%, persentase abnormalitas pro-larva sebesar 0%, persentase kelangsungan hidup sebesar 92,3%. Dari hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan bahwa lama perendaman telur ikan Lele Sangkuriang yang terbuahi berpengaruh nyata terhadap daya tetas telur

Heavy-ion Physics at a Fixed-Target Experiment Using the LHC Proton and Lead Beams (AFTER@LHC): Feasibility Studies for Quarkonium and Drell-Yan Production

We outline the case for heavy-ion-physics studies using the multi-TeV lead LHC beams in the fixed-target mode. After a brief contextual reminder, we detail the possible contributions of AFTER@LHC to heavy-ion physics with a specific emphasis on quarkonia. We then present performance simulations for a selection of observables. These show that $\varUpsilon (nS)$ , $J/\psi$ and $\psi (2S)$ production in heavy-ion collisions can be studied in new energy and rapidity domains with the LHCb and ALICE detectors. We also discuss the relevance to analyse the Drell–Yan pair production in asymmetric nucleus–nucleus collisions to study the factorisation of the nuclear modification of partonic densities and of further quarkonium states to restore their status of golden probes of the quark–gluon plasma formation.Peer Reviewe