This paper considers the problems of statistically analysing the levels of financial time series rather than their differences, which are often equivalent to returns and which are traditionally analysed in econometric modelling. This focus on differences is a consequence of the inherent nonstationarity of the levels, and hence analysing the latter requires introducing an alternative framework for modelling nonstationary behaviour. We do this by considering randomized unit root processes, arguing that these can have a natural interpretation in the financial context. The paper thus develops methods for testing for randomized unit roots and for modelling such processes. It then applies these techniques to various financial time series, so as to ascertain their potential usefulness, particularly for forecasting. 相似文献
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic and progressive degenerative disease of the retina, which culminates in blindness and affects mainly the elderly population. AMD pathogenesis and pathophysiology are incredibly complex due to the structural and cellular complexity of the retina, and the variety of risk factors and molecular mechanisms that contribute to disease onset and progression. AMD is driven by a combination of genetic predisposition, natural ageing changes and lifestyle factors, such as smoking or nutritional intake. The mechanism by which these risk factors interact and converge towards AMD are not fully understood and therefore drug discovery is challenging, where no therapeutic attempt has been fully effective thus far. Genetic and molecular studies have identified the complement system as an important player in AMD. Indeed, many of the genetic risk variants cluster in genes of the alternative pathway of the complement system and complement activation products are elevated in AMD patients. Nevertheless, attempts in treating AMD via complement regulators have not yet been successful, suggesting a level of complexity that could not be predicted only from a genetic point of view. In this review, we will explore the role of complement system in AMD development and in the main molecular and cellular features of AMD, including complement activation itself, inflammation, ECM stability, energy metabolism and oxidative stress.
The enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR) is the last enzyme in the fatty acid elongation cycle. Unlike most enzymes
in this essential pathway, ENR displays an unusual diversity among organisms. The growing interest in ENRs is mainly due to
the fact that a variety of both synthetic and natural antibacterial compounds are shown to specifically target their activity.
The primary anti-tuberculosis drug, isoniazid, and the broadly used antibacterial compound, triclosan, both target this enzyme.
In this review, we discuss the diversity of ENRs, and their inhibitors in the light of current research progress.
Received 3 November 2008; received after revision 5 December 2008; accepted 8 December 2008 相似文献
The exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) at the cell surface plays a critical role in blood coagulation and serves as a macrophage
recognition moiety for the engulfment of apoptotic cells. Previous observations have shown that a high extracellular [K+] and selective K+ channel blockers inhibit PS exposure in platelets and erythrocytes. Here we show that the rate of PS exposure in erythrocytes
decreases by ~50% when the intracellular [K+] increases from 0 to physiological concentrations. Using resealed erythrocyte membranes, we further show that lipid scrambling
is inducible by raising the intracellular [Ca2+] and that K+ ions have a direct inhibitory effect on this process. Lipid scrambling in resealed ghosts occurs in the absence of cell shrinkage
and microvesicle formation, processes that are generally attributed to Ca2+-induced lipid scrambling in intact erythrocytes. Thus, opening of Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels causes loss of intracellular K+ that results in reduced intrinsic inhibitory effect of these ions on scramblase activity.
Received 11 September 2008; received after revision 17 October 2008; accepted 27 October 2008 相似文献
Indenone KR-62776 acts as an agonist of PPARγ without inducing obesity in animal models and cells. X-ray crystallography reveals
that the indenone occupies the binding pocket in a different manner than rosiglitazone. 2-Dimensional gel-electrophoresis
showed that the expression of 42 proteins was altered more than 2.0-fold between KR-62776- or rosiglitazone-treated adipocyte
cells and control cells. Rosiglitazone down-regulated the expression of ERK1/2 and suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2
in these cells. However, the expression of ERK1/2 was up-regulated in KR-62776-treated cells. Phosphorylated ERK1/2, activated
by indenone, affects the localization of PPARγ, suggesting a mechanism for indenone-inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte
cells. The preadipocyte cells are treated with ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, a large amount of the cells are converted to adipocyte
cells. These results support the conclusion that the localization of PPARγ is one of the key factors explaining the biological
responses of the ligands.
Received 04 March 2009; received after revision 13 March 2009; accepted 17 March 2009 相似文献
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in a variety of essential and interconnected processes in human cells, including
protein biogenesis, signal transduction, and calcium homeostasis. The central player in all these processes is the ER-lumenal
polypeptide chain binding protein BiP that acts as a molecular chaperone. BiP belongs to the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70)
family and crucially depends on a number of interaction partners, including co-chaperones, nucleotide exchange factors, and
signaling molecules. In the course of the last five years, several diseases have been linked to BiP and its interaction partners,
such as a group of infectious diseases that are caused by Shigella toxin producing E. coli. Furthermore, the inherited diseases Marinesco-Sj?gren syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease, Wolcott-Rallison
syndrome, and several cancer types can be considered BiP-related diseases. This review summarizes the physiological and pathophysiological
characteristics of BiP and its interaction partners.
Received 20 November 2008; received after revision 09 December 2008; accepted 12 December 2008 相似文献
Large conductance, Ca2+-activated potassium (BK) channels are widely expressed throughout the animal kingdom and play important roles in many physiological
processes, such as muscle contraction, neural transmission and hearing. These physiological roles derive from the ability
of BK channels to be synergistically activated by membrane voltage, intracellular Ca2+ and other ligands. Similar to voltage-gated K+ channels, BK channels possess a pore-gate domain (S5–S6 transmembrane segments) and a voltage-sensor domain (S1–S4). In addition,
BK channels contain a large cytoplasmic C-terminal domain that serves as the primary ligand sensor. The voltage sensor and
the ligand sensor allosterically control K+ flux through the pore-gate domain in response to various stimuli, thereby linking cellular metabolism and membrane excitability.
This review summarizes the current understanding of these structural domains and their mutual interactions in voltage-, Ca2+ - and Mg2+ -dependent activation of the channel.
Received 25 September 2008; received after revision 23 October 2008; accepted 24 October 2008 相似文献