Estimation of consumption-capital asset pricing model (C-CAPM) with two clusters of consumption expenditures

In this paper, we develop a new model that explicitly considers two endogenous consumption items and investigates its applicability to consumption-capital asset pricing model (C-CAPM) by testing it with various sets of instruments. We found that our model is not rejected with reasonable values for both risk aversion and time preference parameters.C-CAPM, multiple consumption commodities, inter-temporal and intra-temporal choice

Uninsurable Risk and Financial Market Puzzles

Following Kocherlakota and Pistaferri (2009), we consider two forms of incomplete risk sharing in economies with consumer heterogeneity: (a) where agents are unable to insure their consumption against idiosyncratic skill shocks and (b) where idiosyncratic shocks to skills can be partially insured by striking long term insurance contract with truth revelation constraint. When considering the equity premium, currency premium, risk-free rate, and consumption-real exchange rate puzzles in an integrated framework, we find empirical evidence that although the pricing kernel associated with (a) outperforms the complete risk-sharing stochastic discount factor and the pricing kernel associated with (b), it is still unable to jointly resolve these asset-pricing anomalies.Currency Premium, Equity Premium, Exchange Rate.

Discussions on a long gap discharge to an EHV transmission tower by a rocket triggered lightning experiment

The triggered lightning experiments using a rocket have been carried out on a winter mountain in Japan since 1986. For the four years from 1986 to 1989, 39 rockets were launched and 19 of them triggered lightning strikes. The emphasis here is on the methodology for triggering lightning to the transmission system. Completed experiments are discussed. The failure of lightning protection and the striking distance are noted

Predictors for Incident Mild Parkinsonian Signs in Older Japanese

Background: Mild parkinsonian signs are important clinical symptoms related to the decline of motor and cognitive functions. We aimed to identify predictors for the incidence of mild parkinsonian signs in older Japanese by conducting an 8-year longitudinal community-based cohort study. Methods: Participants aged 65 years or older, living in Ama-cho, a rural island town in western Japan, underwent a baseline assessment of motor function, cognitive function, depression score, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Tanner questionnaire, and cerebral white matter lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging from 2008 to 2010, and then underwent a follow-up neurological examination from 2016 to 2017. Mild parkinsonian signs were defined according to a modified Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale score. Results: Of the 316 participants without mild parkinsonian signs at baseline, 94 presented with incident mild parkinsonian signs at follow-up. In addition to an absence of exercise habits, a higher score on the Tanner questionnaire, PSQI, and deep white-matter hyperintensity Fazekas scores were significant independent predictors for incidence of mild parkinsonian signs. Conclusion: We suggest multiple factors related to incidence of mild parkinsonian signs. Vascular lesions and sleep disorders are associated with a pathogenesis of mild parkinsonian signs, the Tanner questionnaire is useful for early detection of subclinical mild parkinsonian signs, and exercise has a possibility of being associated with preventing onset of mild parkinsonian signs

MicroRNAs as Biomarkers for Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome represents the clinical situation characterized by presence of massive proteinuria and low serum protein caused by a variety of diseases, including minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and membranous glomerulonephropathy. Differentiating between diagnoses requires invasive renal biopsies in general. Even with the biopsy, we encounter difficulties to differentiate MCNS and FSGS in some cases. There is no other better option currently available for the diagnosis other than renal biopsy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are no-coding RNAs of approximately 20 nucleotides in length, which regulate target genes in the post-transcriptional processes and have essential roles in many diseases. MiRNAs in serum and urine have been shown as non-invasive biomarkers in multiple diseases, including renal diseases. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge of miRNAs as the promising biomarkers for nephrotic syndrome

The Effect of Job Training Programs at a Juvenile Correctional Facility in Japan

We consider the effect of characteristics of prison inmates in general and the job training program participation in particular on the recidivism in Japan. By employing individual level dataset from a Kawagoe Juvenile Correctional Facility, we find that some of the inmates characterstics will lower recidivism and the participation in job training is effective in lowering the probability of re-entry into prison

Uninsurable Risk and the Determination of Real Interest Rates: An Investigation Using UK Indexed Bonds

This paper investigates the empirical performance of a new class of uninsurable risk models in the context of UK indexed bond market. Using closed form expressions for pricing kernels, we test the ability of three consumption-based models to price indexed bonds in the UK, and find that the standard general equilibrium, complete markets model is soundly rejected in favour of two uninsurable-risk models. Using the estimated bond price equation, impulse response analysis is undertaken to understand the effects of three macroeconomic fundamental shocks on real interest rates. In contrast to the estimates that typically arise in equity markets, the estimated coefficient of relative risk aversion is found to be small in this class of models with uninsurable risk

Potential Strategies for Kidney Regeneration With Stem Cells: An Overview

Kidney diseases are a major health problem worldwide. Despite advances in drug therapies, they are only capable of slowing the progression of kidney diseases. Accordingly, potential kidney regeneration strategies with stem cells have begun to be explored. There are two different directions for regenerative strategies, de novo whole kidney fabrication with stem cells, and stem cell therapy. De novo whole kidney strategies include: 1) decellularized scaffold technology, 2) 3D bioprinting based on engineering technology, 3) kidney organoid fabrication, 4) blastocyst complementation with chimeric technology, and 5) the organogenic niche method. Meanwhile, stem cell therapy strategies include 1) injection of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, nephron progenitor cells, adult kidney stem cells and multi-lineage differentiating stress enduring cells, and 2) injection of protective factors secreted from these stem cells, including growth factors, chemokines, and extracellular vesicles containing microRNAs, mRNAs and proteins. Over the past few decades, there have been remarkable step-by-step developments in these strategies. Here, we review the current advances in the potential strategies for kidney regeneration using stem cells, along with their challenges for possible clinical use in the future

A Single-institution Study on Predictors of Short-term Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease to Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia

Background: Patients with non-demented Parkinson’s disease (PD) sometime have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD-MCI) may convert to Parkinson’s disease with dementia (PDD) within several years. Cognitive impairment also occurs in the early stages of the disease, gradually progressing to lower quality of life and instrumental activities of daily living. It is important to elucidate the predictors of progression from PD-MCI to PDD via longitudinal studies. Methods: This was a single center, case-control study. We analysed data from 49 patients with PD-MCI diagnosed as level I using the Movement Disorder Society PD-MCI criteria at baseline who had completed 1.5 years of follow-up. We defined patients who progressed to PDD as patients with progressive PD-MCI and patients who did not progress to PDD as patients with non-progressive PD-MCI. Depression, apathy, sleep disorders, constipation, light-headedness, hallucinations, impulse control disorders (ICDs) and impulsive-compulsive behaviors (ICBs) at baseline were statistically analysed as predictors of progression. Results: Of the 49 PD-MCI patients, 33 did not convert to PDD (non-progressive PD-MCI), and 16 converted to PDD (progressive PD-MCI). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, light-headedness and ICDs were elucidated as predictors of progressive PD-MCI via a multivariate logistic regression model. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each item were MMSE score, OR 0.324, 95% CI 0.119-0.882, P = 0.027; light-headedness, OR 27.665, 95% CI 2.263-338.185, P= 0.009; and ICDs, OR 53.451, 95% CI 2.298-291.085, P = 0.010. Conclusion: Cognitive function, ICDs and light-headedness may be risk factors for the development of PDD in PD-MCI patients