580 research outputs found
Cutting'aesthetic teeth' : Flannery O'Connor's habit of art
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e ExpressãoEste trabalho foi sugerido pela afirmação de Flannery O'Connor que sua "dedicação estética" nasceu através do contato com Art and Scholasticism de Jacques Maritain. O propósito foi chegar a uma interpretação do sentido da frase. Uma investigação detalhada foi feita do conteúdo de Art and Scholasticism, posteriormente contrastada com os resultados de uma pesquisa feita em seus ensaios e suas cartas, o que revelou numerosos ecos de diversos trechos constando no texto de Maritain. Três pontos principais foram escolhidos como critérios na análise do hábito artístico de O'Connor: 1) a prática de arte implica uma luta; 2) a arte somente pode ser percebida pelos sentidos; e 3) a prática de arte exige do artista a dedicação indivisa à obra nascente. O estudo conclui que, para O'Connor, o brotar da dentição estética, através da leitura de Art and Scholasticism, significou que, ao perceber na análise da natureza da arte algo com que podia concordar, ela reconheceu tanto sua própria capacidade de tornar-se uma artista literária, quanto sua vontade de assumir a tarefa de desenvolver em sua pessoa o hábito de arte
Maternal immune activation alters behavior in adult offspring, with subtle changes in the cortical transcriptome and epigenome
No full textCo-author Caroline Connor is a student in the Neuroscience and MD/PhD programs in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at UMass Medical School. Aslihan Dincer is a student in GSBS' Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program.Maternal immune activation during prenatal development, including treatment with the viral RNA mimic, polyriboinosinic–polyribocytidilic acid (poly IC), serves as a widely used animal model to induce behavioral deficits reminiscent of schizophrenia and related disease. Here, we report that massive cytokine activation after a single dose of poly IC in the prenatal period is associated with lasting working memory deficits in adult offspring. To explore whether dysregulated gene expression in cerebral cortex, contributes to cognitive dysfunction, we profiled the cortical transcriptome, and in addition, mapped the genome-wide distribution of trimethylated histone H3-lysine 4 (H3K4me3), an epigenetic mark sharply regulated at the 5′ end of transcriptional units. However, deep sequencing-based H3K4me3 mapping and mRNA profiling by microarray did not reveal significant alterations in mature cerebral cortex after poly IC exposure at embryonic days E17.5 or E12.5. At a small set of genes (including suppressor of cytokine signaling Socs3), H3K4me3 was sensitive to activation of cytokine signaling in primary cultures from fetal forebrain but adult cortex of saline- and poly IC-exposed mice did not show significant differences. A limited set of transcription start sites (TSS), including Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (Disc1), a schizophrenia risk gene often implicated in gene–environment interaction models, showed altered H3K4me3 after prenatal poly IC but none of these differences survived after correcting for multiple comparisons. We conclude that prenatal poly IC is associated with cognitive deficits later in life, but without robust alterations in epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the cerebral cortex
PRICE-FIXING OVERCHARGES: LEGAL AND ECONOMIC EVIDENCE
No full textThis paper surveys hundreds of published social-science studies of private, hard-core cartels that contain 699 observations of long-run overcharges. The primary finding is that the median cartel overcharge for all types of cartels over all time periods is 25%: 19% for domestic cartels, 32% for international cartels, and 31% for all successful cartels. Thus, international cartels have historically been about 68% more effective in raising prices than domestic cartels. Cartel overcharges are skewed to the high side, pushing the mean overcharge for all types of cartels over all time periods to 42%. "Peak" cartel overcharges are typically double those of the long-run averages. These results are generally consistent with the few, more limited, previously published works that survey cartel overcharges. There is no evidence that convicted cartels are markedly less effective than unpunished ones. The results of a second survey of final verdicts in decided U.S. horizontal collusion cases, only three of which were international cartels, show an average median overcharge of 21% and an average mean overcharge of 30%. Outside the United States, 62 decisions of competition commissions cited median average overcharges of 25% and a mean of 47%. There are three significant policy implications. First, there is a view among some antitrust writers that there is little evidence that cartels raise prices significantly for a period long enough to justify the height of current U.S. cartel penalties. This survey's results, which are based upon an extraordinarily large amount of data spanning a broad swath of history of all types of private cartels, sharply contradict these views. In fact, the data suggest that U.S. penalties ought to be increased. Mean overcharges are three times as high as the level presumed by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Surprisingly, bid rigging was no more injurious than other forms of collusion, which suggests that the USSC should amend its Guidelines that currently treat bid rigging more harshly than other forms of collusion. Second, the principal antitrust authorities abroad often base their typical or maximum fines on a 10% harm presumption. Average fines imposed since 1995 by Canada and the EU on identical cartels have been lower than U.S. government fines, yet overcharges generated by cartels discovered outside the United States are higher than North America-centered cartels. Consequently, anticartel laws and fine-setting practices abroad are in even greater need of strengthening. Third, cartels with multi-continental price effects are the most harmful type. Despite the evident increases in cartel detection rates and the size of monetary fines and penalties in the past decade, a good case can be made that current global anticartel regimes are under-deterring. While the recent worldwide trend towards the intensification of cartel penalties has been desirable, global cartels are more difficult to detect, have less fear from entry of rivals, achieve higher levels of sales and profitability, and systematically receive weaker corporate sanctions than comparable domestic cartels. Antitrust sanctions worldwide should be higher for global cartels than for other types.International Relations/Trade,
NEW ESTIMATES OF WELFARE AND CONSUMER LOSSES IN U.S. FOOD MANUFACTURING
No full textIn the past 15 years, industrial-organization economists have significantly expanded the range of algorithms for calculating welfare losses due to imperfect competition. We compare eleven empirical estimates of economic losses due to market power in 47 U.S. food manufacturing industries, almost all of them previously unpublished. Each of the studies incorporate different theoretical assumptions about demand conditions, supply conditions, or industry pricing behavior; or they utilize various data sources, time periods, and assumptions about the proper competitive benchmark. The estimates of average allocative losses due imperfect competition range from 0.2 percent to an impossibly high 289 percent of industry output; consumer losses range from 6.0 percent to 816 percent. However, there is a high degree of congruence in the rankings of economic losses due to market power. Hence, from the perspective of antitrust enforcement, the choice of industry targets has not been greatly altered by advances in estimation techniques.Agribusiness,
MARKET-STRUCTURE DETERMINANTS OF NATIONAL BRAND-PRIVATE LABEL PRICE DIFFERENCES OF MANUFACTURED FOOD PRODUCTS
No full textThis paper estimates the relationships between market structure and the Lerner index of monopoly constructed from price data on processed food products sold through grocery stores. A theoretical model of a differentiated oligopoly specifies two determinants of price-cost margins: the Herfindahl-Hirschman index of seller concentration adjusted for the elasticity of demand and the industry advertising-to-sales ratio. The results indicate that the three principal determinants of price-cost margin variation, in order of their impacts, are: advertising intensity, elasticity of demand, and concentration. Previous structure-performance studies that did not incorporate the elasticity of demand were probably misspecified.Agribusiness, Demand and Price Analysis,
Measurement of the differential inclusive B+ hadron cross sections in pp collisions at root s=13TeV
No full textThe differential cross sections for inclusive production of B+ hadrons are measured as a function of the B+ transverse momentum p(T)(B) and rapidity y(B) in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, using data collected by the CMS experiment that correspond to an integrated luminosity of 48.1 pb(-1). The measurement uses the exclusive decay channel B+ -> J/psi K+, with J/psi mesons that decay to a pair of muons. The results show a reasonable agreement with theoretical calculations within the uncertainties. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V
Geometric and information-theoretic approaches to high-dimensional search
No full textThis thesis comprises a brief introduction along with a presentation of ten selected research papers, the primary author of each being the candidate
Responses of mouse macrophages to oxidative stress
No full textTissue injury induced by infections or xenobiotics is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, which are thought to contribute to pathogenic response. We hypothesized that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is important in macrophage responsiveness to oxidative stress. To test this, we compared the response of TLR4 mutant C3H/HeJ mice and control C3H/HeOuJ mice to ozone and to bacterially-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Exposure of C3H/HeOuJ mice to ozone (0.8 ppm for 3 h) resulted in increases in bronchoalveolar lavage lipocalin 24p3, 4-hydroxynonenal, surfactant protein-D, macrophage and protein content. Increased nuclear binding activity of NF-B and expression of TNF mRNA was also noted in lung macrophages. Findings that these responses to ozone were reduced in C3H/HeJ mice demonstrate that functional TLR4 contributes to ozone-induced injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We next determined if lung and liver macrophage responses to LPS are also mediated by TLR4. Treatment of control C3H/HeOuJ mice with LPS (3 mg/ml) resulted in increased numbers of macrophages in liver and lung after 48 h. In liver, but not lung macrophages, a rapid increase in mRNA expression of MnSOD and HO-1, as well as COX-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 was also observed. Conversely, macrophage COX-2 protein expression increased in both macrophage populations. The effects of LPS were significantly reduced in C3H/HeJ mice indicating TLR4 is also involved in LPS-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and macrophages activation in the liver and lung. To investigate mechanisms regulating macrophage responses, we evaluated the effects of hypoxia-induced oxidative stress on LPS-induced activation of macrophages using RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Hypoxia augmented the effects of LPS on iNOS, COX-2, IL-1, GLUT-1 and VEGF-A mRNA expression. Hypoxia also upregulated LPS-induced protein expression of iNOS and COX-2, as well as MnSOD, lipocalin 24p3, and MMP-9. Some of these responses were dependent on p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase signaling. Taken together, these studies demonstrate a key role of TLR4 in both sterile and infection driven inflammatory responses. These findings may be important in the development of effective therapeutics for treating diseases associated with prominent macrophages inflammatory responses.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Agnieszka Jankowska Conno
Occurrence and determinants of Klebsiella species bloodstream infection in the western interior of British Columbia, Canada
No full textBackground: Klebsiella species are among the most common causes of bloodstream infection (BSI). However, few studies have evaluated their epidemiology in non-selected populations. The objective was to define the incidence of, risk factors for, and outcomes from Klebsiella species BSI among residents of the western interior of British Columbia, Canada.
Methods: Population-based surveillance was conducted between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2017.
Results: 151 episodes were identified for an incidence of 12.1 per 100,000 population per year; the incidences of K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca were 9.1 and 2.9 per 100,000 per year, respectively. Overall 24 (16%) were hospital-onset, 90 (60%) were healthcare-associated, and 37 (25%) were community-associated. The median patient age was 71.4 (interquartile range, 58.8–80.9) years and 88 (58%) cases were males. Episodes were uncommon among patients aged < 40 years old and no cases were observed among those aged < 10 years. A number of co-morbid medical illnesses were identified as significant risks and included (incidence rate ratio; 95% confidence interval) cerebrovascular accident (5.9; 3.3–9.9), renal disease 4.3; 2.5–7.0), cancer (3.8; 2.6–5.5), congestive heart failure (3.5; 1.6–6.6), dementia (2.9; 1.5–5.2), diabetes mellitus (2.6; 1.7–3.9), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.3; 1.5–3.5). Of the 141 (93%) patients admitted to hospital, the median hospital length stay was 8 days (interquartile range, 4–17). The in-hospital and 30-day all cause case-fatality rates were 24/141 (17%) and 27/151 (18%), respectively.
Conclusions: Klebsiella species BSI is associated with a significant burden of illness particularly among those with chronic co-morbid illnesses.Peer reviewedFinal article publishedEpidemiologyBacteremiaMortalityIncidenceRisk facto
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Oriental enlightenment: the problematic military experiences and cultural claims of Count Maurice Auguste comte de Benyowsky in Formosa during 1771
No full textMaurice Benyowsky's colourful version of his global adventures during the heady, expansive days of the late-Enlightenment remains still as an historical account, and is perhaps destined for reification at a time of romantic, postmodernist cultural affirmation. Yet this paper argues that within it there lies a virile and possibly dangerous Orientalism, one at least partially based upon a lurid, opportunistic and self-seeking fabrication of his visit to Taiwan (Formosa) in the year 1771. This paper examines the veracity, provenance and historiography of the Benyowsky account of late-eighteenth century Formosa, both as an exercise in one facet of Taiwanese history and as some exploration of the origin and maintenance of European views of the "other" and of the "orient" as they were transforming during the late-Enlightenment period. Furthermore a principal task is to provide an historiographical analysis that illustrates both the initial reasons for the acceptance of Benyowsky's lurid account as well as the wider contexts of its long life as a seemingly reliable and authentic tale. Questions remain as to the cultural contexts of any general acceptance of otherwise doubtful stories, experiments, claims and "adventures". Here there is little doubt that the original Memoirs were given greater credence by Benyowsky's talent in self-fashioning his character and status as those of a reliable gentleman
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