Are oil shocks permanent or temporary? panel data evidence from crude oil and NGL production in 60 countries

This paper examines the unit root properties of crude oil production for 60 countries employing a range of panel data unit root tests for the period 1971 to 2003. The study first employs a number of panel data tests that do not accommodate structural breaks and then proceeds to apply the Lagrange Multiplier (LM) panel unit root test with one structural break. The results of the panel data tests without a structural break are inconclusive with at best mixed support for joint stationarity. The findings from the LM panel unit root test with a structural break, however, are conclusive, suggesting that for a world panel and smaller regional-based panels, crude oil and NGL production are jointly stationary.

Inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase reduces adipogenesis and diet-induced obesity

We previously described a putative role for inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), a rate-limiting enzyme in de novo guanine nucleotide biosynthesis, in lipid accumulation. Here we present data which demonstrate that IMPDH activity is required for differentiation of preadipocytes into mature, lipid-laden adipocytes and maintenance of adipose tissue mass. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes inhibition of IMPDH with mycophenolic acid (MPA) reduced intracellular GTP levels by 60% (p < 0.05) and blocked adipogenesis (p < 0.05). Co-treatment with guanosine, a substrate in the salvage pathway of nucleotide biosynthesis, restored GTP levels and adipogenesis demonstrating the specificity of these effects. Treatment of diet-induced obese mice with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), the prodrug of MPA, for 28 days did not affect food intake or lean body mass but reduced body fat content (by 36%, p = 0.002) and adipocyte size (p = 0.03) and number. These data suggest that inhibition of IMPDH may represent a novel strategy to reduce adipose tissue mass.

Temporal expression of heat shock proteins 60 and 70 at lesion-prone sites during atherogenesis in ApoE-deficient mice

In the study, we investigate whether the expressions of heat shock protein (hsp)60 (a potential autoantigen) and the stress-inducible form of cytoprotector hsp70 are correlated with the development of atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic tree of apolipoprotein E–deficient (apoE^-/-) mice. The apoE^-/- mouse model is advantageous because the stress-inducible form of hsp70 is not constitutively expressed in mice, unlike primates; hence, tissues under stress can be clearly defined. Both mammalian hsps were detected newly expressed (before mononuclear cell infiltration) on aortic valves and endothelia at lesion-prone sites of 3-week-old apoE^-/- mice. In 8- and 20-week-old mice, they were strongly and heterogeneously expressed in early to advanced fibrofatty plaques, with levels correlating with lesion severity. Expression was markedly downregulated in advanced collagenous, acellular, calcified plaques of 40- and 69-week-old mice and was absent in control aortas of normocholesterolemic wild-type (apoE^+/+) mice. Western blot analysis of tissue homogenates confirmed the temporal expression of the hsps. Double immunostaining revealed that both hsps were expressed by lesional endothelial cells, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and CD3⁺ T lymphocytes. This study provides evidence that hsp60 and hsp70 are temporally expressed on all major cell types in lesion-prone sites during atherogenesis, suggesting that few cells escape the toxic environment of the atherosclerotic plaque.

Fluorescent and electrochemical sensing of (poly)phosphate nucleotides by ferrocene functionalised with two (ZnII-TACN-pyrene) complexes

The [Fc[BOND]bis{ZnII(TACN)(Py)}] complex, comprising two ZnII(TACN) ligands (Fc=ferrocene; Py=pyrene; TACN=1,4,7-triazacyclononane) bearing fluorescent pyrene chromophores linked by an electrochemically active ferrocene molecule has been synthesised in high yield through a multistep procedure. In the absence of the polyphosphate guest molecules, very weak excimer emission was observed, indicating that the two pyrene-bearing ZnII(TACN) units are arranged in a trans-like configuration with respect to the ferrocene bridging unit. Binding of a variety of polyphosphate anionic guests (PPi and nucleotides di- and triphosphate) promotes the interaction between pyrene units and results in an enhancement in excimer emission. Investigations of phosphate binding by 31P NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence and electrochemical techniques confirmed a 1:1 stoichiometry for the binding of PPi and nucleotide polyphosphate anions to the bis(ZnII(TACN)) moiety of [Fc[BOND]bis{ZnII(TACN)(Py)}] and indicated that binding induces a trans to cis configuration rearrangement of the bis(ZnII(TACN)) complexes that is responsible for the enhancement of the pyrene excimer emission. Pyrophosphate was concluded to have the strongest affinity to [Fc[BOND]bis{ZnII(TACN)(Py)}] among the anions tested based on a six-fold fluorescence enhancement and 0.1 V negative shift in the potential of the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. The binding constant for a variety of polyphosphate anions was determined from the change in the intensity of pyrene excimer emission with polyphosphate concentration, measured at 475 nm in CH3CN/Tris-HCl (1:9) buffer solution (10.0 mM, pH 7.4). These measurements confirmed that pyrophosphate binds more strongly (Kb=(4.45±0.41)×106 M−1) than the other nucleotide di- and triphosphates (Kb=1–50×105 M−1) tested.

The novel as social satire: 60 years later, the wind done gone and the limitations of fair use

The absence of the doctrine of fair use from Australian copyright law has been a bone of contention in Australia after the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA). As the Australian government reformed the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) in the aftermath of the FTA it eschewed the option of adopting fair use. Instead, Australia chose to incorporate a version of fair use into its existing fair dealing framework. Accordingly, the Copyright Amendment Act 2006 (Cth) inserted ss 41A and 103AA into the Copyright Act. These provisions provide that a fair dealing with a copyright protected work does not constitute an infringement if it is done for the purposes of parody or satire. These provisions codify part of the ratio of the United States Supreme Court in the seminal case of Campbell v Acuff Rose Music. However, the parameters of these new provisions are unexplored and the sparse nature of fair dealing jurisprudence means that the true meaning of the provisions is unclear. Moreover, two cases from the United States, SunTrust Bank v Houghton Mifflin and Salinger v Colting, underline just how important it is to have legal rules that protect literary ‘re-writes’. Both cases involved authors using an original novel to ‘write back’ to the original author and the broader culture. ‘Writing back’ or the ‘re-write’ has a firm basis in literature. It adds something invaluable to our culture. The key question is whether our legal landscape can allow it to flourish. This paper examines the interaction between fair use and literary re-writes.

Have attitudes to Asia changed in 60 years? Not as much as you'd think

In 2013,the BBC World Service, Pew Global Research and the Lowy Institute released public opinion polls that revealed declining views of Asia. The polls elicited negative views of China, India and Japan that were reminiscent of public opinion polls undertaken by UNESCO in the 1950s. Why, this article asks, is there lingering mistrust of Asia at a time of unprecedented global interaction?

Effects of 60-day bed rest with and without exercise on cellular and humoral immunological parameters

Exercise at regular intervals is assumed to have a positive effect on immune functions. Conversely, after spaceflight and under simulated weightlessness (e.g., bed rest), immune functions can be suppressed. We aimed to assess the effects of simulated weightlessness (Second Berlin BedRest Study; BBR2-2) on immunological parameters and to investigate the effect of exercise (resistive exercise with and without vibration) on these changes. Twenty-four physically and mentally healthy male volunteers (20-45 years) performed resistive vibration exercise (n=7), resistance exercise without vibration (n=8) or no exercise (n=9) within 60 days of bed rest. Blood samples were taken 2 days before bed rest, on days 19 and 60 of bed rest. Composition of immune cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokines and neuroendocrine parameters were analyzed by Luminex technology and ELISA/RIA in plasma. General changes over time were identified by paired t-test, and exercise-dependent effects by pairwise repeated measurements (analysis of variance (ANOVA)). With all subjects pooled, the number of granulocytes, natural killer T cells, hematopoietic stem cells and CD45RA and CD25 co-expressing T cells increased and the number of monocytes decreased significantly during the study; the concentration of eotaxin decreased significantly. Different impacts of exercise were seen for lymphocytes, B cells, especially the IgD(+) subpopulation of B cells and the concentrations of IP-10, RANTES and DHEA-S. We conclude that prolonged bed rest significantly impacts immune cell populations and cytokine concentrations. Exercise was able to specifically influence different immunological parameters. In summary, our data fit the hypothesis of immunoprotection by exercise and may point toward even superior effects by resistive vibration exercise.Cellular & Molecular Immunology advance online publication, 10 November 2014; doi:10.1038/cmi.2014.106.

Influence of vibration resistance training on knee extensor and plantar flexor size, strength, and contractile speed characteristics after 60 days of bed rest

Spaceflight and bed rest (BR) result in loss of muscle mass and strength. This study evaluated the effectiveness of resistance training and vibration-augmented resistance training to preserve thigh (quadriceps femoris) and calf (triceps surae) muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), isometric contractile speed, and neural activation (electromyogram) during 60 days of BR. Male subjects participating in the second Berlin Bed Rest Study underwent BR only [control (CTR), n = 9], BR with resistance training (RE; n = 7), or BR with vibration-augmented resistance training (RVE; n = 7). Training was performed three times per week. Thigh CSA and MVC torque decreased by 13.5 and 21.3%, respectively, for CTR (both P < 0.001), but were preserved for RE and RVE. Calf CSA declined for all groups, but more so (P < 0.001) for CTR (23.8%) than for RE (10.7%) and RVE (11.0%). Loss in calf MVC torque was greater (P < 0.05) for CTR (24.9%) than for RVE (12.3%), but not different from RE (14.8%). Neural activation at MVC remained unchanged in all groups. For indexes related to rate of torque development, countermeasure subjects were pooled into one resistance training group (RT, n = 14). Thigh maximal rate of torque development (MRTD) and contractile impulse remained unaltered for CTR, but MRTD decreased 16% for RT. Calf MRTD remained unaltered for both groups, whereas contractile impulse increased across groups (28.8%), despite suppression in peak electromyogram (12.1%). In conclusion, vibration exposure did not enhance the efficacy of resistance training to preserve thigh and calf neuromuscular function during BR, although sample size issues may have played a role. The exercise regimen maintained thigh size and MVC strength, but promoted a loss in contractile speed. Whereas contractile speed improved for the calf, the exercise regimen only partially preserved calf size and MVC strength. Modification of the exercise regimen seems warranted.

WISE-2005: bed-rest induced changes in bone mineral density in women during 60 days simulated microgravity

To better understand the effects of prolonged bed-rest in women, 24 healthy women aged 25 to 40 years participated in 60-days of strict 6° head-down tilt bed-rest (WISE-2005). Subjects were assigned to either a control group (CON, n=8) which performed no countermeasure, an exercise group (EXE, n=8) undertaking a combination of resistive and endurance training or a nutrition group (NUT, n=8), which received a high protein diet. Using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bone mineral density (BMD) changes at various sites, body-composition and lower-leg and forearm muscle cross-sectional area were measured up to 1-year after bed-rest. Bone loss was greatest at the distal tibia and proximal femur, though losses in trabecular density at the distal radius were also seen. Some of these bone losses remained statistically significant one-year after bed-rest. There was no statistically significant impediment of bone loss by either countermeasure in comparison to the control-group. The exercise countermeasure did, however, reduce muscle cross-sectional area and lean mass loss in the lower-limb and also resulted in a greater loss of fat mass whereas the nutrition countermeasure had no impact on these parameters. The findings suggest that regional differences in bone loss occur in women during prolonged bed-rest with incomplete recovery of this loss one-year after bed-rest. The countermeasures as implemented were not optimal in preventing bone loss during bed-rest and further development is required.

Resistive exercises, with or without whole body vibration, prevent vertebral marrow fat accumulation during 60 days of head-down tilt bed rest in men

Fat accumulates in the bone marrow of lumbar vertebrae with bed rest. Exercise with or without whole body vibration may counter this effect. Our objectives were to measure 1) the vertebral fat fraction (VFF) of men subjected to bed rest who performed resistive exercises with (RVE, n = 7) or without whole body vibration(RE, n = 8) or no exercise (CTR, n = 9) using three MRI techniques; and 2) changes in peripheral blood counts. Twenty-four healthy men (age: 20-45 yr) underwent -6° head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest for 60 days. MRI was performed using three techniques (fat saturation, proton spectroscopy, and in and out of phase) to measure the fat fraction of L(3), L(4), and/or L(5) at baseline, mid-HDT, and end-HDT. Erythrocytes and leukocytes were counted at HDT days 19, 33, 47, 54, and 60. The mean absolute VFF was increased in the CTR group at mid-HDT and end-HDT (+3.9 ± 1.3 and +3.6 ± 1.2%, respectively, both P < 0.05). The RE group had a smaller VFF change than the CTR group at mid-HDT (-0.9 ± 1.2 vs. +3.9 ± 1.3%, P < 0.05). The RVE group had a smaller VFF change than the CTR group at end-HDT (-2.6 ± 1.9 vs. +3.5 ± 1.2%, P < 0.05). Erythrocyte counts were increased in all groups at HDT day 19 and HDT day 33 and in the RE group at HDT day 54 (all P < 0.05). Bed rest for 60 days at -6° HDT increased lumbar VFF in men beyond natural involution. RVE and RE regimens effectively prevented VFF accumulation. Higher erythrocyte counts were not altered by RVE or RE. Whole body vibration, along with RE administered to people with prolonged immobility, may prevent fat accumulation in their bone marrow.

Trabecular and cortical bone density and architecture in women after 60 days of bed rest using high-resolution pQCT: WISE 2005

Prolonged bed rest is used to simulate the effects of spaceflight and causes disuse-related loss of bone. While bone density changes during bed rest have been described, there are no data on changes in bone microstructure. Twenty-four healthy women aged 25 to 40 years participated in 60 days of strict 6-degree head-down tilt bed rest (WISE 2005). Subjects were assigned to either a control group (CON, n = 8), which performed no countermeasures; an exercise group (EXE, n = 8), which undertook a combination of resistive and endurance training; or a nutrition group (NUT, n = 8), which received a high-protein diet. Density and structural parameters of the distal tibia and radius were measured at baseline, during, and up to 1 year after bed rest by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). Bed rest was associated with reductions in all distal tibial density parameters (p < 0.001), whereas only distal radius trabecular density decreased. Trabecular separation increased at both the distal tibia and distal radius (p < 0.001), but these effects were first significant after bed rest. Reduction in trabecular number was similar in magnitude at the distal radius (p = 0.021) and distal tibia (p < 0.001). Cortical thickness decreased at the distal tibia only (p < 0.001). There were no significant effects on bone structure or density of the countermeasures (p ≥ 0.057). As measured with HR-pQCT, it is concluded that deterioration in bone microstructure and density occur in women during and after prolonged bed rest. The exercise and nutrition countermeasures were ineffective in preventing these changes.

Incomplete recovery of lumbar intervertebral discs 2 years after 60-day bed rest

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recovery of the lumbar intervertebral discs after bed rest. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prolonged bed rest is a useful model to understand the modeling and remodeling of tissues due to disuse and reloading, yet this process in the lumbar intervertebral discs has not been examined in detail. METHODS: A total of 24 male subjects completed 60 days of head-down tilt bed rest as part of the 2nd Berlin BedRest Study and returned for magnetic resonance scanning 180 days (n = 22) and 2 years (n = 21) after bed rest. Lumbar disc volume, anterior and posterior disc height, disc signal intensity, intervertebral length, and lordosis were measured on sagittal plane magnetic resonance images. RESULTS.: Compared with prior to bed rest, increases in disc volume, disc height, and intervertebral length persisted 180 days (P ≤ 0.0004) and 720 days (P ≤ 0.024) after bed rest. Disc signal intensity remained increased 180 days (P = 0.034) after bed rest but was then decreased (P = 0.018) compared with baseline at the next measurement date. CONCLUSION: The recovery of the lumbar intervertebral discs after 60-day bed rest is a prolonged process and incomplete within 2 years.