Market Integration for Shrimp and the Effect of Catastrophic Events

Seasonal unit-root testing and seasonal cointegration methods are employed to investigate the price transmission in U.S. shrimp markets. ARIMA and Vector Error Correction Models (VECM) are used to identify the effect of catastrophic events on individual price series in one region and the spillover effects in the price series for other regions. Results showed that a cointegrating relation exists between neighboring states, specifically between Alabama and Mississippi and Louisiana and Texas. Cointegrating relations also exist between the Gulf States and the Pacific region, but not the Atlantic region, and the price of imported shrimp is cointegrated with each of the domestic shrimp price series. Finally, while Katrina had an effect on shrimp prices in Gulf States, the effect was not long lasting.catastrophic events, cointegration, market integration, seasonal unit-roots, spillover effects, Marketing, Risk and Uncertainty, C13, Q11, Q13,

Floquet analysis of the modulated two-mode Bose-Hubbard model

We study the tunneling dynamics in a time-periodically modulated two-mode Bose-Hubbard model using Floquet theory. We consider situations where the system is in the self-trapping regime and either the tunneling amplitude, the interaction strength, or the energy difference between the modes is modulated. In the former two cases, the tunneling is enhanced in a wide range of modulation frequencies, while in the latter case the resonance is narrow. We explain this difference with the help of Floquet analysis. If the modulation amplitude is weak, the locations of the resonances can be found using the spectrum of the non-modulated Hamiltonian. Furthermore, we use Floquet analysis to explain the coherent destruction of tunneling (CDT) occurring in a large-amplitude modulated system. Finally, we present two ways to create a NOON state (a superposition of $N$ particles in mode 1 with zero particles in mode 2 and vice versa). One is based on a coherent oscillation caused by detuning from a partial CDT. The other makes use of an adiabatic variation of the modulation frequency. This results in a Landau-Zener type of transition between the ground state and a NOON-like state.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures; published in Phys. Rev.

Young People Consenting to Medical Research

The regulations and guidance regarding young people’s consent to participate in medical research are complex.1 Current regulations divide medical research into two types: research that involves the trial of a medication and research that does not (figure 1). Trials of medications are governed by the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004,2 whereas other forms of medical research operate without statutory guidance. The statute states that anyone aged 16 years or older can consent to participate in a clinical trial. Those under the age of 16 cannot consent, and consent must be provided by a parent or guardian. This age-based approach is in keeping with other legislation surrounding a young person’s decision-making, such as age limits on learning to drive or buying a lottery ticket. This approach is pragmatic, as it is straightforward to identify which young people can consent for themselves.<br/

O-GlcNAc transferase – an auxiliary factor or a full-blown oncogene?

The beta-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) is a posttranslational modification of serine and threonine residues catalyzed by the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). Increased OGT expression is a feature of most human cancers and inhibition of OGT decreases cancer cell proliferation. Antiproliferative effects are attributed to posttranslational modifications of known regulators of cancer cell proliferation, such as MYC, FOXM1, and EZH2. In general, OGT amplifies cell-specific phenotype, for example, OGT overexpression enhances reprogramming efficiency of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into stem cells. Genome-wide screens suggest that certain cancers are particularly dependent on OGT, and understanding these addictions is important when considering OGT as a target for cancer therapy. The O-GlcNAc modification is involved in most cellular processes, which raises concerns of ontarget undesirable effects of OGT-targeting therapy. Yet, emerging evidence suggest that, much like proteasome inhibitors, specific compounds targeting OGT elicit selective antiproliferative effects in cancer cells, and can prime malignant cells to other treatments. It is, therefore, essential to gain mechanistic insights on substrate specificity for OGT, develop reagents to more specifically enrich for O-GlcNAc-modified proteins, identify O-GlcNAc "readers," and develop OGT" small-molecule inhibitors. Here, we review the relevance of OGT in cancer progression and the potential targeting of this metabolic enzyme as a putative oncogene.Peer reviewe

Surface Energy Fluxes and Temperatures at Jezero Crater, Mars

Diurnal ground surface and air temperatures (Tg, Ta) and the five major surface energy budget fluxes are displayed as derived from M2020 mission observations and from column model simulations in two extreme cases (low and high diurnal Tg-variation) along the Perseverance rover track in the Jezero crater. In both cases the fluxes and Tg are well modeled when using diurnally variable apparent ground thermal inertia I derived via a Fourier series method from the hourly observations. Hence the measurements, the diagnostic method and the model results are consistent with high- and low-I nonhomogeneous terrain in the field-of-view (FOV) of the thermal infrared and solar sensors. In contrast less extreme values of I consistent with THEMIS retrievals are necessary for good simulations of observed Ta. We deduce that the measured Tg for the small ?3 m2 FOV may not always be representative for the larger region around the rover, which controls the near-surface atmospheric temperature profile.Peer reviewe

Surface energy budget at Curiosity through observations and column modeling

Diurnal ground surface temperatures (T-g) and the five major terms of the surface energy budget (SEB) are dis-played from hourly Mars Science Laboratory observations and from column model simulations in four contrasting cases along the Curiosity traverse. T(g )and the SEB terms are otherwise well simulated on regolith near the landing spot and on rocky Pahrump Hills, but the residual in observation-based SEB (-downwelling longwave radiation) shows unexplained peaks in the morning and evening and simultaneously model-T(g )is too cold. Enhanced or diurnally variable crater dust does not help but diurnally variable soil thermal inertia (suggested by Fourier analysis of observed T-g) reduces both defects at both sites. Sand on the steep Namib dune is instead homogeneous, defects here being reduced by taking into account slope effects. Regolith at the 2018 dust storm site appears inhomogeneous, with the SEB terms and T(g )relatively well simulated even in this case of extremely heavy dust load.Peer reviewe

ExoMars entry, descent and landing science

The entry, descent and landing of ExoMars offer a rare (once-per-mission) opportunity to perform in situ investigation of the martian environment over a wide altitude range. Entry, Descent and Landing System (EDLS) measurements can provide essential data for atmospheric scientific investigations. We intend to perform atmospheric science measurements by exploiting data from EDLS engineering sensors and exploiting their readings beyond the expected engineering information

O-GlcNAc transferase maintains metabolic homeostasis in response to CDK9 inhibition

Co-targeting of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and the transcriptional kinase cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is toxic to prostate cancer cells. As OGT is an essential glycosyltransferase, identifying an alternative target showing similar effects is of great interest. Here, we used a multiomics approach (transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics) to better understand the mechanistic basis of the combinatorial lethality between OGT and CDK9 inhibition. CDK9 inhibition preferentially affected transcription. In contrast, depletion of OGT activity predominantly remodeled the metabolome. Using an unbiased systems biology approach (weighted gene correlation network analysis), we discovered that CDK9 inhibition alters mitochondrial activity/flux, and high OGT activity is essential to maintain mitochondrial respiration when CDK9 activity is depleted. Our metabolite profiling data revealed that pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is the metabolite that is most robustly induced by both OGT and OGT+CDK9 inhibitor treatments but not by CDK9 inhibition alone. Finally, supplementing prostate cancer cell lines with vitamin B5 in the presence of CDK9 inhibitor mimics the effects of co-targeting OGT and CDK9.Peer reviewe

Observations of downwelling far-infrared emission at Table Mountain California made by the FIRST instrument

AbstractThe Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Troposphere (FIRST) instrument measured downwelling far-infrared (far-IR) and mid-infrared (mid-IR) atmospheric spectra from 200 to 800cm−1 at Table Mountain, California (elevation 2285m). Spectra were recorded during a field campaign conducted in early autumn 2012, subsequent to a detailed laboratory calibration of the instrument. Radiosondes launched coincident with the FIRST observations provide temperature and water vapor profiles for model simulation of the measured spectra. Results from the driest day of the campaign (October 19, with less than 3mm precipitable water) are presented here. Considerable spectral development is observed between 400 and 600cm−1. Over 90% of the measured radiance in this interval originates within 2.8km of the surface. The existence of temperature inversions close to the surface necessitates atmospheric layer thicknesses as fine as 10m in the radiative transfer model calculations. A detailed assessment of the uncertainties in the FIRST measurements and in the model calculations shows that the measured radiances agree with the model radiance calculations to within their combined uncertainties. The uncertainties in modeled radiance are shown to be larger than the measurement uncertainties. Overall, the largest source of uncertainty is in the water vapor concentration used in the radiative transfer calculations. Proposed new instruments with markedly higher measurement accuracy than FIRST will be able to measure the far-IR spectrum to much greater accuracy than it can be computed. As such, accurate direct measurements of the far-IR, and not solely calculations, are essential to the assessment of climate change

The effect of vitamin C on upper respiratory infections in adolescent swimmers: A randomized trial

The risk of upper respiratory infections (URIs) is increased in people who are under heavy physical stress, including recreational and competitive swimmers. Additional treatment options are needed, especially in the younger age group. The aim of this study was to determine whether 1 g/day vitamin C supplementation affects the rate, length, or severity of URIs in adolescent swimmers. We carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial during three winter months, among 39 competitive young swimmers (mean age 13.8 ± 1.6 years) in Jerusalem, Israel. Vitamin C had no effect on the incidence of URIs (rate ratio = 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.70-1.46). The duration of respiratory infections was 22% shorter in vitamin C group, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, we found a significant interaction between vitamin C effect and sex, so that vitamin C shortened the duration of infections in male swimmers by 47% (95% CI: -80% to -14%), but had no effect on female swimmers (difference in duration: +17%; 95% CI: -38% to +71%). The effect of vitamin C on the severity of URIs was also different between male and female swimmers, so that vitamin C was beneficial for males, but not for females. Our study indicates that vitamin C does not affect the rate of respiratory infections in competitive swimmers. Nevertheless, we found that vitamin C decreased the duration and severity of respiratory infections in male swimmers, but not in females. This finding warrants further research.Peer reviewe