bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal hedging with higher moments
Authors: Brooks Chris , Černý Alešs , Miffre Joëlle 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis study proposes a utility‐based framework for the determination of optimal hedge ratios (OHRs) that can allow for the impact of higher moments on hedging decisions. We examine the entire hyperbolic absolute risk aversion family of utilities which include quadratic, logarithmic, power, and exponential utility functions. We find that for both moderate and large spot (commodity) exposures, the performance of out‐of‐sample hedges constructed allowing for nonzero higher moments is better than the performance of the simpler OLS hedge ratio. The picture is, however, not uniform throughout our seven spot commodities as there is one instance (cotton) for which the modeling of higher moments decreases welfare out‐of‐sample relative to the simpler OLS. We support our empirical findings by a theoretical analysis of optimal hedging decisions and we uncover a novel link between OHRs and the minimax hedge ratio, that is the ratio which minimizes the largest loss of the hedged position. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 32:909–944, 2012
“I know you can hear me”: Neural correlates of feigned hearing loss
Authors: McPherson Bradley , McMahon Katie , Wilson Wayne , Copland David 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIn the assessment of human hearing, it is often important to determine whether hearing loss is organic or nonorganic in nature. Nonorganic, or functional, hearing loss is often associated with deceptive intention on the part of the listener. Over the past decade, functional neuroimaging has been used to study the neural correlates of deception, and studies have consistently highlighted the contribution of the prefrontal cortex in such behaviors. Can patterns of brain activity be similarly used to detect when an individual is feigning a hearing loss? To answer this question, 15 adult participants were requested to respond to pure tones and simple words correctly, incorrectly, randomly, or with the intent to feign a hearing loss. As predicted, more activity was observed in the prefrontal cortices (as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging), and delayed behavioral reaction times were noted, when the participants feigned a hearing loss or responded randomly versus when they responded correctly or incorrectly. The results suggest that cortical imaging techniques could play a role in identifying individuals who are feigning hearing loss. Hum Brain Mapp, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Probabilistic tractography recovers a rostrocaudal trajectory of connectivity variability in the human insular cortex
Authors: Cerliani Leonardo , Thomas Rajat M. , Jbabdi Saad , Siero Jeroen C.W. , Nanetti Luca , Crippa Alessandro , Gazzola Valeria , D'Arceuil Helen , Keysers Christian 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe insular cortex of macaques has a wide spectrum of anatomical connections whose distribution is related to its heterogeneous cytoarchitecture. Although there is evidence of a similar cytoarchitectural arrangement in humans, the anatomical connectivity of the insula in the human brain has not yet been investigated in vivo. In the present work, we used in vivo probabilistic white‐matter tractography and Laplacian eigenmaps (LE) to study the variation of connectivity patterns across insular territories in humans. In each subject and hemisphere, we recovered a rostrocaudal trajectory of connectivity variation ranging from the anterior dorsal and ventral insula to the dorsal caudal part of the long insular gyri. LE suggested that regional transitions among tractography patterns in the insula occur more gradually than in other brain regions. In particular, the change in tractography patterns was more gradual in the insula than in the medial premotor region, where a sharp transition between different tractography patterns was found. The recovered trajectory of connectivity variation in the insula suggests a relation between connectivity and cytoarchitecture in humans resembling that previously found in macaques: tractography seeds from the anterior insula were mainly found in limbic and paralimbic regions and in anterior parts of the inferior frontal gyrus, while seeds from caudal insular territories mostly reached parietal and posterior temporal cortices. Regions in the putative dysgranular insula displayed more heterogeneous connectivity patterns, with regional differences related to the proximity with either putative granular or agranular regions. Hum Brain Mapp 33:2005–2034, 2012. © 2011 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional dissociation of the left and right fusiform gyrus in self‐face recognition
Authors: Ma Yina , Han Shihui 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIt is well known that the fusiform gyrus is engaged in face perception, such as the processes of face familiarity and identity. However, the functional role of the fusiform gyrus in face processing related to high‐level social cognition remains unclear. The current study assessed the functional role of individually defined fusiform face area (FFA) in the processing of self‐face physical properties and self‐face identity. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor neural responses to rapidly presented face stimuli drawn from morph continua between self‐face (Morph 100%) and a gender‐matched friend's face (Morph 0%) in a face recognition task. Contrasting Morph 100% versus Morph 60% that differed in self‐face physical properties but were both recognized as the self uncovered neural activity sensitive to self‐face physical properties in the left FFA. Contrasting Morphs 50% that were recognized as the self versus a friend on different trials revealed neural modulations associated with self‐face identity in the right FFA. Moreover, the right FFA activity correlated with the frequency of recognizing Morphs 50% as the self. Our results provide evidence for functional dissociations of the left and right FFAs in the representations of self‐face physical properties and self‐face identity. Hum Brain Mapp 33:2255–2267, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Event‐related potential activity in the basal ganglia differentiates rewards from nonrewards: Response to commentary
Authors: Foti Dan , Weinberg Anna , Dien Joseph , Hajcak Greg 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe recently demonstrated that the feedback negativity may be better understood as a reward‐related positivity that is absent on nonreward trials, and source localization revealed that this reward response may reflect activity in the striatum. In a commentary on our report, Cohen et al. argue against this latter finding, claiming it is unlikely that the striatum contributes to the scalp‐recorded event‐related potential. We disagree with the line of reasoning presented by Cohen et al., and we respond here to each of their points. Based on all the available evidence, we argue that the striatum is a plausible generator of a reward‐related response observed at the scalp, and this possibility warrants further investigation. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Uptake and Intracellular Disposition of Iga by Rat Hepatocytes in Monolayer Culture
Authors: Jones Albert L. , Huling Sandra , Hradek Gary T. , Gaines Henry S. , Christiansen William D. , Underdown Brian J. 
Published: July 2011

It is well documented that the liver provides an important source of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the gut fluid. In the rat, liver parenchymal cells can actively sequester the dimeric form of IgA (dIgA) from plasma and transfer it attached to its receptor, secretory component (SC), via vesicles into the bile. In the present investigation, isolated rat hepatocytes in monolayer culture were studied using quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography to determine if the previous reported specific binding of dIgA by isolated cells would result in internalization of the ligand and, if so, whether its distribution within the cultured hepatocytes would be similar to that found in vivo. The specificity of the process for receptor (SC) availability was evaluated utilizing sIgA and by blocking the receptor with rabbit IgG anti–rat SC antibody. For these studies, purified dIgA and sIgA were iodinated with [125I] and added to fresh culture medium 24 hr following the isolation of the hepatocytes. After 3, 30, and 60 min of incubation with the isotope, the cells were washed, fixed, and processed for light and electron microscopic autoradiography. Binding of dlgA to the cells occurred by 3 min, and the number of autoradiographic grains per unit membrane length remained constant throughout the 60–min time period. With time, there was a progressive increase in the per cent of internalized grains. As in the previous in vivo studies, the majority of these internalized grains were localized to vesicles and smooth surface endoplasmic reticulum. There was no evidence of binding or uptake of sIgA at any time period and pretreatment with anti–SC reduced binding and internalization of dIgA to 16% of the control value.
These data provide new evidence that isolated hepatocytes in monolayer culture appear functionally intact with regard to dIgA uptake and demonstrate their usefulness as an in vitro system for future studies of IgA metabolism.
Spontaneous Disappearance of Viral Replication and Liver Cell Inflammation in Hbsag–Positive Chronic Active Hepatitis: Results of A Placebo Vs. Interferon Trial
Authors: Schalm Solko W. , Heijtink Rudolf A. 
Published: July 2011

In 20 patients with HBsAg–and HBeAg–positive chronic active hepatitis, we determined the long–term effect of human leukocyte interferon as well as placebo treatment. During the 2–year follow–up period, HBsAg remained present in all patients, but the Dane particle markers HBeAg and DNA polymerase disappeared in two of 10 patients who had received interferon, and in 4 of 10 patients from the placebo group.
Patients with loss of HBeAg initially had HBs antigenemia for a longer period as well as a lower serum concentration of both HBsAg and DNA polymerase, fewer HBcAg–containing hepatocyte nuclei, and higher serum transaminase levels than did the patients in whom HBeAg persisted. Disappearance of Dane particle markers was associated with a decrease in HBsAg titer, appearance of anti–HBe, normalization of the serum transaminases, and morphological transition to inactive chronic hepatitis.
We conclude that, in HBsAg– and HBeAg–positive chronic active hepatitis, disappearance of Dane particle markers occurs in approximately 30% of the patients within a 2–year period and that arrest of active viral replication is associated with loss of activity of chronic hepatitis. Treatment with human leukocyte interferon in the doses used in this study did not change the natural course of the disease.
The Significance of Igm Antibodies to Hepatitis B Core Antigen in Hepatitis B Carriers and Hepatitis B–Associated Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Feinman Victor S. , Overby Lacy R. , Berris Barnet , Chau Kurt , Schable Charles A. , Maynard James E. 
Published: July 2011

IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti–HBc) was determined in 60 patients whose serum was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 18 patients whose serum was negative for HBsAg, but positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti–HBc). Two radioimmunoassays were done utilizing either anti–u antibody to capture IgM or Staphylococcus A protein to separate IgG and IgM. Both methods failed to detect IgM anti–HBc in 30 healthy carriers, 5 HBsAg–positive cirrhotics, 2 patients with HBsAg–positive hepatocellular carcinoma, and 18 HBsAg–negative anti–HBc–positive patients. IgM anti–HBc was present in all 4 patients with acute hepatitis B and in 4 of 8 patients with HBsAg–positive chronic active hepatitis. In patients with chronic active hepatitis, IgM anti–HBc was positive in those with the most intense infiltrate of mononuclear cells on liver biopsy. There was no correlation with the presence of hepatitis B e antigen or anti–HBe. Three of 11 patients with HBsAg–positive chronic persistent hepatitis were intermittently positive by the Staphylococcus A method but all were negative by the u–capture method when a low sensitivity cutoff was employed. The sensitivity of the test can be adjusted at will by the manufacturers and, therefore, introduction of interchangeable controls and standards will enable clinical application of this testing system with meaningful results.
Testing for IgM anti–HBc may help the clinician in differentiating healthy HBsAg carriers from patients with HBsAg–positive acute and chronic hepatitis. It is also of value in differentiating patients with acute hepatitis B from HBsAg carriers who develop acute hepatitis of different etiology. Accumulation of more data and correlations with the intensity and nature of the mononuclear infiltrates in chronic hepatitis will increase understanding of the mechanism of switchover from IgM to IgG anti–HBc response and factors favoring chronicity in hepatitis B.
Demonstration of Albumin Receptors Onisolated Human Hepatocytes by Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Trevisan Alessandro , Gudat Fred , Guggenheim Richard , Krey Gunthild , Dürmüller Ursula , Lüond Guido , Düggelin Marcel , Landmann Jonas , Tondelli Pietro , Bianchi Leonardo 
Published: July 2011

The presence of albumin receptors on the plasma membrane of isolated human hepatocytes was investigated employing albumin–coupled latex minibeads. Hepatocyte–latex reaction was visualized by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy.
The experiments demonstrate that hepatocytes exhibit binding activity for polymeric and monomelic forms of glutaraldehyde–treated albumin. Additionally, the reaction was shown to be species–nonspecific.
These findings support the hypothesis that polymerized albumin may act as a bridge between receptors on hepatitis B virus and human hepatocytes.
Highly Acylated 3,4‐Secograyanane Diterpenoids from the Fruits of Pieris formosa
Authors: Wu Zhao‐Yuan , Li Hong‐Mei , Li Yuan‐Dan , Li Hai‐Zhou , Li Rong‐Tao 
Published: July 2011

AbstractFrom the fruits of Pieris formosa, four new highly acylated 3,4‐secograyanane diterpenoids, secorhodomollolides E–H (1–4, resp.), along with two known ones, secorhodomollolides C and D (5 and 6, resp.), were obtained. Their structures were established mainly by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.
Drug delivery by red blood cells
Authors: Biagiotti Sara , Paoletti Maria Filomena , Fraternale Alessandra , Rossi Luigia , Magnani Mauro 
Published: July 2011

AbstractDrug delivery is a growing field of interdisciplinary activities that combine the use of new materials with the biochemical properties of selected drugs, with the aim of improving their therapeutic action and reducing their toxicity. In few cases, proper medical devices have been also realized to implement new drug delivery modalities. In this article, we have summarized available information and our experience on the use of autologous Red Blood Cells as carriers for drugs to be released within the vascular system. This is not a comprehensive review, but it focusses on the mechanisms that are available to distribute drugs in circulation by carrier red blood cells and provide illustrative examples on how this is currently obtained. We have not included a summary of clinical data collected in recent years using this technology but simply provided proper references for the interested readers. Finally, a special attention is devoted to the possibility of entrapping, into autologous red blood cells, recombinant drug‐binding proteins. This new strategy is opening the way at a new modality to influence the vascular distribution of drugs by realizing a dynamic circulating container (the engineered red cell) capable of reversible binding and transportation of one or more drugs of interest selected on the bases of the red cell entrapped target proteins. This new modality is not yet fully developed and explored but will certainly provide a technical solution to the problem of stabilizing drug concentration in circulation improving drug efficacy and reducing drug toxicity. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2011
Delivery of nanoparticle‐complexed drugs across the vascular endothelial barrier via caveolae
Authors: Wang Zhenjia , Tiruppathi Chinnaswamy , Cho Jaehyung , Minshall Richard D. , Malik Asrar B. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe endothelial cell monolayer lining the vessel wall forms a size‐selective, semi‐permeable barrier between the blood and tissue that must be crossed by blood borne therapeutic agents to reach diseased extravascular tissue. Nanoparticles engineered to carry drugs present an opportunity to enhance the specificity and efficacy of drug delivery. Therefore, an understanding of how these engineered nanoparticles are transported across the vessel wall will help us to more fully exploit this powerful therapeutic technology. Vascular endothelial cells are rich in caveolae, cell surface invaginations 50–100 nm in diameter that mediate endocytosis of lipids, proteins, and viruses. Caveolar invaginations pinch off to form intracellular vesicles that can transport cargo across the cell and release the cargo into the extravascular space via exocytosis. Here, we will review the current concepts and state of development for delivering engineered nanoparticles across the endothelium via the caveolae‐mediated pathway. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2011
Drug carriers for vascular drug delivery
Authors: Koren Erez , Torchilin Vladimir P. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe currently used drug carriers for vascular drug delivery are reviewed. The human vascular system possesses unique physiological features that can be exploited for enhanced and effective targeted drug delivery. Although the thin layer of endothelial cells (EC) lines the interior surface of blood vessels forming an interface between circulating blood in the lumen and the tissue beyond the vessel wall, it can also function as a target for drugs to EC in different vascular areas. ECs overexpress specific cell‐surface molecules under various pathological conditions (tumor neovasculature, inflammation, oxidative stress, and thrombosis), which are absent or barely detectable in established normal blood vessels. By coupling unique endothelial surface markers, such as antibodies, specific peptides, and growth factors to a variety of drug carriers, effective active vascular‐targeted drug delivery systems can be achieved. This review focuses on the recent advances and strategies for effective targeted vascular drug delivery using a variety of drug‐loaded carriers along with new targeting approaches that can be used in the design and optimization of such carriers. © 2011 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2011
Macroeconomic forecasting and structural change
Authors: D'Agostino Antonello , Gambetti Luca , Giannone Domenico 
Published: July 2011

SUMMARYThe aim of this paper is to assess whether modeling structural change can help improving the accuracy of macroeconomic forecasts. We conduct a simulated real‐time out‐of‐sample exercise using a time‐varying coefficients vector autoregression (VAR) with stochastic volatility to predict the inflation rate, unemployment rate and interest rate in the USA. The model generates accurate predictions for the three variables. In particular, the forecasts of inflation are much more accurate than those obtained with any other competing model, including fixed coefficients VARs, time‐varying autoregressions and the naïve random walk model. The results hold true also after the mid 1980s, a period in which forecasting inflation was particularly hard. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of low‐level laser associated with osteogenic proteins recombinant human BMP‐2 and Hevea brasiliensis on bone repair in Wistar rats
Authors: Iyomasa Mamie Mizusaki , Mardegan Issa João Paulo , de Queiróz Tavares Mirella Lemos , Lara Pereira Yamba Carla , Sasso Stuani Maria Bernadete , Mishima Fabíola , Coutinho‐Netto Joaquim , Sebald Walter 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis study analyzed the newly formed bone tissue after application of recombinant human BMP‐2 (rhBMP‐2) and P‐1 (extracted from Hevea brasiliensis) proteins, 2 weeks after the creation of a critical bone defect in male Wistar rats treated or not with a low‐intensity laser (GaAlAs 780 nm, 60 mW of power, and energy density dose of 30 J/cm2). The animals were divided into two major groups: (1) bone defect plus low‐intensity laser treatment and (2) bone defect without laser irradiation. The following subgroups were also analyzed: (a) 5 μg of pure rhBMP‐2; (b) 5 μg of pure P‐1 fraction; (c) 5 μg of rhBMP‐2/monoolein gel; (d) 5 μg of P‐1 fraction/monoolein gel; (e) pure monoolein gel. Comparisons of the groups receiving laser treatment with those that did not receive laser irradiation show differences in the areas of new bone tissue. The group treated with 5 μg of rhBMP‐2 and laser irradiation was not significantly different (P >0.05) than the nonirradiated group that received the same treatment. The irradiated, rhBMP‐2/monoolein gel treatment group showed a lower area of bone formation than the nonirradiated, rhBMP‐2/gel monoolein treatment group (P < 0.001). The area of new bone tissue in the other nonirradiated and irradiated groups was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the group that received the 5 μg of rhBMP‐2 application showed the greatest bone formation. We conclude that the laser treatment did not interfere with the area of new bone tissue growth and that the greatest stimulus for bone formation involved application of the rhBMP‐2 protein. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Study of the osteoconductive capacity of hydroxyapatite implanted into the femur of ovariectomized rats
Authors: Do Prado Ribeiro Daniele Cristina , de Abreu Figueira Luanda , Mardegan Issa JoÃO Paulo , Dias Vecina Cesar Adriano , JosÉDias Fernando , Da Cunha Marcelo Rodrigues 
Published: July 2011

AbstractOsteoporosis is a global public health that affects postmenopausal women due to the deficiency of estrogen, a hormone that plays an important role in the microarchitecture of bone tissue. Osteoporosis predisposes to pathological bone fracture that can be repaired by conventional methods. However, depending on the severity and quantity of bone loss, the use of autogenous grafts or biomaterials such as hydroxyapatite might be necessary. The latter has received increasing attention in the medical field because of its good biological properties such as osteoconductivity and biocompatibility with bone tissue. The objective of this study was to evaluate using histologic and radiographic analyses, the osteogenic capacity of hydroxyapatite implanted into the femur of rats with ovariectomy‐induced osteoporosis. Eighteen rats were divided into three groups with six animals in each: group nonovariectomized, bilaterally ovariectomized not receiving estrogen replacement therapy, and bilaterally ovariectomized submitted to estrogen replacement therapy. Defects were created experimentally in the distal epiphysis of the femur with a surgical drill and filled with porous hydroxyapatite granules. The animals were sacrificed 8 weeks after surgery. The volume of newly formed bone in the implant area was quantified by morphometrical methods. The results were analyzed by ANOVA followed by the Tukey test (P < 0.05). The hydroxyapatite granules showed good radiopacity. Histological analysis revealed less quantity of newly formed bone in the ovariectomized group not submitted to hormone replacement therapy. In conclusion, bone neoformation can be expected even in bones compromised by estrogen deficiency, but the quantity and velocity of bone formation are lower. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.