Short-term Regulation Research Articles

"Airbnb in the City": assessing short-term rental regulation in Bordeaux.

Short-term rental platforms, led by Airbnb, have disrupted the tourism accommodation industry over the last decade. This disruption has encouraged policy-makers to intervene. However, little is known about how effective such interventions are. This paper empirically evaluates the impact Bordeaux's regulation has had on short-term rental (STR) activity through both a differences-in-differences and a triple-difference design. We find that regulation has had a reductive effect of over 322 rented days per month per district on average. This equates to 44% of mean reservation days and over 28 thousand less nights spent per month in STRs across the city. This effect is persistent in peripheral areas of the city, with an average effect of 35% of monthly reservation days. However, the city's attempts to limit activity stemming from targeted (commercial) listings yields mixed results as non-targeted (home-sharing) listings also seem to have modified their behavior. Additionally, analysis in the periphery paves the way for discussion about the effectiveness of one-size-fits-all STR policy design.

Estimating the effect of long-term mechanism for real estate in China: a regression discontinuity approach

Housing prices in China have risen dramatically in recent decades, giving rise to bubble concerns. Many studies show that short-term regulation of real estate market is ineffective, which drove central government to propose the construction of a long-term mechanism for real estate in late 2016. However, few studies have been conducted to estimate its effects. This article highlights the effects of the long-term mechanism on housing prices, similar to a quasi-natural experiment, with the proposal of the long-term mechanism. In this context, the study was conducted with the end of 2016 as a breakpoint, using the RDiT method and panel data for 35 large- and medium-sized cities from 2009 to 2021, to find out whether the long-term mechanism has stabilized housing prices or not. The results reveal that the long-term mechanism dramatically reduced the divergence and dispersion of housing prices from the long-term equilibrium level. Further study shows that there is significant heterogeneity in the impact of the long-term mechanism on housing prices across cities, with significant effects in second-tier cities but not in first-tier cities, and with significant effects in central and western cities but not in eastern cities. Therefore, we suggest that the eastern, including the first-tier cities, remain the focus of the construction of the long-term mechanism in the future, and continue to implement short-term regulation for key cities, and build a system that coordinates with the long-term mechanism.

Short-term transcriptomic analysis at organ scale reveals candidate genes involved in low N responses in NUE-contrasting tomato genotypes.

Understanding the complex regulatory network underlying plant nitrogen (N) responses associated with high Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is one of the main challenges for sustainable cropping systems. Nitrate (NO3 -), acting as both an N source and a signal molecule, provokes very fast transcriptome reprogramming, allowing plants to adapt to its availability. These changes are genotype- and tissue-specific; thus, the comparison between contrasting genotypes is crucial to uncovering high NUE mechanisms. Here, we compared, for the first time, the spatio-temporal transcriptome changes in both root and shoot of two NUE contrasting tomato genotypes, Regina Ostuni (high-NUE) and UC82 (low-NUE), in response to short-term (within 24 h) low (LN) and high (HN) NO3 - resupply. Using time-series transcriptome data (0, 8, and 24 h), we identified 395 and 482 N-responsive genes differentially expressed (DEGs) between RO and UC82 in shoot and root, respectively. Protein kinase signaling plant hormone signal transduction, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were the main enriched metabolic pathways in shoot and root, respectively, and were upregulated in RO compared to UC82. Interestingly, several N transporters belonging to NRT and NPF families, such as NRT2.3, NRT2.4, NPF1.2, and NPF8.3, were found differentially expressed between RO and UC82 genotypes, which might explain the contrasting NUE performances. Transcription factors (TFs) belonging to several families, such as ERF, LOB, GLK, NFYB, ARF, Zinc-finger, and MYB, were differentially expressed between genotypes in response to LN. A complementary Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) allowed the identification of LN-responsive co-expression modules in RO shoot and root. The regulatory network analysis revealed candidate genes that might have key functions in short-term LN regulation. In particular, an asparagine synthetase (ASNS), a CBL-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (CIPK1), a cytokinin riboside 5'-monophosphate phosphoribohydrolase (LOG8), a glycosyltransferase (UGT73C4), and an ERF2 were identified in the shoot, while an LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase (FEI1) and two TFs NF-YB5 and LOB37 were identified in the root. Our results revealed potential candidate genes that independently and/or concurrently may regulate short-term low-N response, suggesting a key role played by cytokinin and ROS balancing in early LN regulation mechanisms adopted by the N-use efficient genotype RO.

A caveolin-1 dependent glucose-6-phosphatase trafficking contributes to hepatic glucose production

ObjectiveDeregulation of hepatic glucose production is a key driver in the pathogenesis of diabetes, but its short-term regulation is incompletely deciphered. According to textbooks, glucose is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum by glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and then exported in the blood by the glucose transporter GLUT2. However, in the absence of GLUT2, glucose can be produced by a cholesterol-dependent vesicular pathway, which remains to be deciphered. Interestingly, a similar mechanism relying on vesicle trafficking controls short-term G6Pase activity. We thus investigated whether Caveolin-1 (Cav1), a master regulator of cholesterol trafficking, might be the mechanistic link between glucose production by G6Pase in the ER and glucose export through a vesicular pathway. MethodsGlucose production from fasted mice lacking Cav1, GLUT2 or both proteins was measured in vitro in primary culture of hepatocytes and in vivo by pyruvate tolerance tests. The cellular localization of Cav1 and the catalytic unit of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC1) were studied by western blotting from purified membranes, immunofluorescence on primary hepatocytes and fixed liver sections and by in vivo imaging of chimeric constructs overexpressed in cell lines. G6PC1 trafficking to the plasma membrane was inhibited by a broad inhibitor of vesicular pathways or by an anchoring system retaining G6PC1 specifically to the ER membrane. ResultsHepatocyte glucose production is reduced at the step catalyzed by G6Pase in the absence of Cav1. In the absence of both GLUT2 and Cav1, gluconeogenesis is nearly abolished, indicating that these pathways can be considered as the two major pathways of de novo glucose production. Mechanistically, Cav1 colocalizes but does not interact with G6PC1 and controls its localization in the Golgi complex and at the plasma membrane. The localization of G6PC1 at the plasma membrane is correlated to glucose production. Accordingly, retaining G6PC1 in the ER reduces glucose production by hepatic cells. ConclusionsOur data evidence a pathway of glucose production that relies on Cav1-dependent trafficking of G6PC1 to the plasma membrane. This reveals a new cellular regulation of G6Pase activity that contributes to hepatic glucose production and glucose homeostasis.

Altered baroreflex sensitivity at rest and during Valsalva maneuver in healthy male offspring of hypertensive patients

A family history of hypertension puts young adults at a higher risk of developing hypertension, that too, at an earlier age than their parents. Recent studies suggest that the baroreflex mechanism, which takes care of the short-term regulation of blood pressure (BP), also plays a role in the long-term regulation of BP. Studies have reported decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in hypertensives. Reduced BRS is shown to herald the future occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and helps in risk stratification AIM: Toassess BRS at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver among apparently healthy male offspring (age 18-35 years) of hypertensive patients. We recruited 37 participants whose parents (either/both) were hypertensive in the study group and whose parents (both) were not hypertensive in the control group. We measured basic anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist circumference), cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and BP), short-term heart rate variability, and BRS (at rest and during Valsalva). We found that BRS at rest and BRS during the Valsalva maneuver were reduced among healthy male offspring of hypertensive parents than in healthy male offspring of non-hypertensive parents. Further, HRV indices and Valsalva ratio showed a sympathovagal imbalance in the form of decreased vagal and increased sympathetic activity. The reduced BRS and sympathovagal imbalance in male offspring of hypertensive parents reveal the early risk of developing hypertension in the future.

Retinoic Acid Signalling in the Pineal Gland Is Conserved across Mammalian Species and Its Transcriptional Activity Is Inhibited by Melatonin.

The pineal gland is integral to the circadian timing system due to its role in nightly melatonin production. Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent regulator of gene transcription and has previously been found to exhibit diurnal changes in synthesis and signalling in the rat pineal gland. This study investigated the potential for the interaction of these two systems. PCR was used to study gene expression in mouse and human pineal glands, ex-vivo organotypic cultured rat pineal gland and cell lines. The mouse and human pineal glands were both found to express the necessary components required for RA signalling. RA influences the circadian clock in the brain, therefore the short-term effect of RA on clock gene expression was determined in ex vivo rat pineal glands but was not found to rapidly regulate Per1, Per2, Bmal1, or Cry1. The interaction between RA and melatonin was also investigated and, unexpectedly, melatonin was found to suppress the induction of gene transcription by RA. This study demonstrates that pineal expression of the RA signalling system is conserved across mammalian species. There is no short-term regulation of the circadian clock but an inhibitory effect of melatonin on RA transcriptional activity was demonstrated, suggesting that there may be functional cross-talk between these systems.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ПЕРСПЕКТИВ ЗАПРОВАДЖЕННЯ ВИМОГ БАЗЕЛЯ ІІІ У ВІТЧИЗНЯНУ ПРАКТИКУ БАНКІВСЬКОГО РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ТА НАГЛЯДУ

One of the ways to increase the level of financial stability of banks and, as a result, to strengthen the banking system of Ukraine, is to introduce new standards into the national practice of state regulation and supervision of bank activities. This work is aimed at evaluating the prospects for the introduction of Basel III requirements in Ukraine, in particular, taking into account the national specifics of conducting banking business. The key principles of the functioning of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision are characterized. The main agreements adopted by the Basel Committee (Basel I, Basel II, Basel III) have been studied, in particular, the prerequisites for their introduction and the main changes in the practice of banking regulation due to their adoption have been outlined. The positive and negative consequences of the introduction of Basel III requirements on the state of the banking system, which take place both at the international level and within the boundaries of a separate economy, including the Ukrainian one, are analyzed. It is noted that the Basel reforms implemented after the 2007–2009 crisis contributed to the effective strengthening of the banking sector, which in turn helped banks to continue lending to the real economy during the COVID-19 crisis. The main tasks of the implementation of the Basel standards of banking supervision in Ukraine and the key achievements along the way are outlined. It was found that the key innovations of recent years, which significantly contribute to the approximation of the domestic practice of banking regulation to European standards and the strengthening of the effectiveness of the banking system of Ukraine, are the introduction of liquidity standards LCR (short-term liquidity regulation) and NSFR (long-term liquidity regulation) in Ukraine. Given the importance of maintaining long-term liquidity by domestic banks in today's difficult operating conditions, the dynamics of the coefficient of net stable financing of domestic banks for the period 04/01/2021 – 03/01/2023 was analyzed. The relationship between the form of ownership of the bank and the profitability of its capital was studied, based on which a conclusion was made about the influence of the level of implementation of the requirements of the Basel Committee on the success of the bank's operation. The dynamics of the capital of banks in the section of their groups is analyzed, attention is focused on the state policy regarding the support of banks with a state share and its consequences for the domestic banking system.

The Effects of Short-term Rental Regulation: Insights from Chicago

The Effects of Short-term Rental Regulation: Insights from Chicago

Stock price prediction based on SVM, LSTM, ARIMA

In general, forecasting on stock prices is a famous and interesting area that gathers many researchers in. Contemporarily, after the birth of AI, the number of the algorithms used in the prediction of equity market fluctuation are boomed rapidly. Applying the combination of statistics and algorithms can help researchers as well as investors learn about either short-term regulation (such as opening price) or the long-term market movement. This paper discusses three kinds of models which are used to predict the stock price for long or short term. Specifically, some empirical results are presented to prove the feasibility and significance of the models. By analyzing techniques used to predict stock prices and the limitation of these models, the discussion about the challenges and the outlook posed from the scope of future work in this filed are also shown and demonstrated. These results shed light on guiding further exploration of price forecasting for different kinds of underlying assets as well as portfolios.

State preemption and affordable housing policy

Many affordable housing policies are the domain of local governments. While subnational housing policies can be used to increase racial and economic segregation, they can also protect renters, and thus are not without controversy. Local affordable housing policies include inclusionary zoning, rent control, short-term rental regulation and source of income discrimination. Starting in the 1980s, states began to preempt these local laws, preventing their cities from adopting affordable housing policies. We ask why states choose to preempt one or more of these four affordable housing policies. Using a cross-sectional, time-series dataset of preemptions, we find evidence that more conservative legislatures are more likely to adopt preemptions, while more professional legislatures and states with higher rental rates and previous preemptions are less likely to preempt. Contrary to expectations, interest group density, electoral competition and policy diffusion are not significant predictors of preemption. For advocates and policymakers concerned with increasing affordable housing in their jurisdictions, these results raise unease about the ability to further an affordable housing agenda at the local level, particularly in more conservative political environments, suggesting instead that affordable housing may need to return to the purview of the federal government.

Intraocular Pressure Fluctuation in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Canaloplasty and Microcatheter Assisted Trabeculotomy.

Background: Schlemm’s canal (SC) targeted procedures constitute a promising therapy for open angle glaucoma (POAG), safer and less invasive. However, little attention was paid to the intraocular pressure (IOP) variation in patients receiving these procedures, which is the risk factor for POAG progression. This study is to evaluate the IOP variation in eyes with POAG after modified canaloplasty (MC) and microcatheter assisted trabeculotomy (MAT). (2) Methods: POAG with good IOP in office hours after MC or MAT and age-matched normal subjects were recruited in this prospective coherent study. IOP in sitting and supine positions and 24-h IOP was measured. Aqueous vein and blood reflux into the SC were examined. (3) Results: Among 20 normal subjects, 25 eyes with MC eyes and 30 eyes with MAT were recruited in this study. Aqueous veins are frequently located in the inferior nasal quadrants in all groups. No pulsatile signs were observed in an aqueous vein in the MAT group but they were observed in 68% of the MC group. Blood reflux in the SC could be seen in all the operated eyes. The IOP in the sitting position was not significant different among groups (p = 0.419). Compared to normal, the IOP increased dramatically after lying down for 5 min in the MC and MAT groups (PMC vs. normal = 0.003, PMAT vs. normal = 0.004), which is similar for IOP change after lying down for 60 min (PMC vs. normal < 0.001, PMAT vs. normal < 0.001). In terms of diurnal IOP, subjects were stable in the MAT group (p < 0.01), variable in the normal group (p = 0.002), and most fluctuant in MC group (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: MC and MAT reduce the IOP but present aberrant short-term IOP regulation, which should be paid attention to in clinical settings.

Insulin and Body Mass Index Decrease Serum Soluble Leptin Receptor Levels in Humans.

Serum soluble leptin receptor (sOb-R) may protect against future type 2 diabetes or serve as a marker for protective features, but how sOb-R is regulated is largely unknown. This work aimed to test how serum sOb-R is influenced by glucose, insulin, body fat, body mass index (BMI), food intake, and physical activity. We performed an epidemiological triangulation combining cross-sectional, interventional, and Mendelian randomization study designs. In 5 independent clinical studies (n = 24-823), sOb-R was quantified in serum or plasma by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits using monoclonal antibodies. We performed mixed-model regression and 2-sample Mendelian randomization. In pooled, cross-sectional data, leveling by study, sOb-R was associated inversely with BMI (β [95% CI] -0.19 [-0.21 to -0.17]), body fat (-0.12 [-0.14 to -0.10), and fasting C-peptide (-2.04 [-2.46 to -1.62]). sOb-R decreased in response to acute hyperinsulinemia during euglycemic glucose clamp in 2 independent clinical studies (-0.5 [-0.7 to -0.4] and -0.5 [-0.6 to -0.3]), and immediately increased in response to intensive exercise (0.18 [0.04 to 0.31]) and food intake (0.20 [0.06 to 0.34]). In 2-sample Mendelian randomization, higher fasting insulin and higher BMI were causally linked to lower sOb-R levels (inverse variance weighted, -1.72 [-2.86 to -0.58], and -0.20 [-0.36 to -0.04], respectively). The relationship between hyperglycemia and sOb-R was inconsistent in cross-sectional studies and nonsignificant in intervention studies, and 2-sample Mendelian randomization suggested no causal effect of fasting glucose on sOb-R. BMI and insulin both causally decreased serum sOb-R levels. Conversely, intensive exercise and food intake acutely increased sOb-R. Our results suggest that sOb-R is involved in short-term regulation of leptin signaling, either directly or indirectly, and that hyperinsulinemia may reduce leptin signaling.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective role of ghrelin against NAFLD progression.

The underlying mechanisms for the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are complex and multifactorial. Within the last years, experimental and clinical evidences support the role of ghrelin in the development of NAFLD. Ghrelin is a gut hormone that plays a major role in the short-term regulation of appetite and long-term regulation of adiposity. The liver constitutes a target for ghrelin, where this gut-derived peptide triggers intracellular pathways regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. Interestingly, circulating ghrelin levels are altered in patients with metabolic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, which, in turn, are well-known risk factors for the pathogenesis of NAFLD. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the hepatoprotective action of ghrelin, including the reduction of hepatocyte lipotoxicity via autophagy and fatty acid β-oxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress and programmed cell death, the reversibility of the proinflammatory phenotype in Kupffer cells, and the inactivation of hepatic stellate cells. Together, the metabolic and inflammatory pathways regulated by ghrelin in the liver support its potential as a therapeutic target to prevent NAFLD in patients with metabolic disorders.

Remote sensing analysis on primary productivity and forest cover dynamics: A Western Ghats India case study

Tropical forest ecosystems are among the most essential habitats on Earth for conserving biological diversity and short-term climate regulation. For this reason, they are key areas of conservation policies in the world. In this paper, we aim to investigate the dynamics of forest cover and their changes in primary productivity by empowering information on historical forest management and fieldwork research with remote sensing vegetation monitoring methods. The study area falls within the central portion of the Indian Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. In particular, part of the analysis was performed on the Kadamakal Reserve Forest and Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, which harbours an endemic low elevation dipterocarp evergreen forest. This area was managed by selective logging and became fully protected in 1984. We performed multiple time series macroscale analyses between 1999 and 2020 on the Indian Central Western Ghats region, using satellite products at 1 km spatial resolution from the VITO Copernicus Global Land Service on Dry Matter Productivity, Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation, and Normalised Difference Vegetation Index. We also performed a very-high spatial resolution Normalised Difference Vegetation Index differential analysis between 2021 and 2016 with Sentinel 2-L2A products to investigate forest dynamics within the reserve. At the 1 km spatial resolution has been found an increase in all three vegetation indices, by employing the LOESS statistical method for the smoothed transition autoregressive model of raster data medians of our datasets. The boxplot raster distribution analysis also highlighted a significant imbalance in dry matter productivity in the last decade (2010−2020) comparing the previous one (1999–2009). The second part of the analysis, at 10 m spatial resolution within the reserve forest, revealed a growth in the vegetation cover on the top of the Pushpagiri Mountain ridge and in a previously landslide area. The study found new erosion channels down to the upper plateau on the South-West side of the reserve due to an increment of the run-off processes during the monsoon period. This satellite analysis highlighted generalised positive vegetation trends in the Central Western Ghats, India, over the last twenty-two years, enhancing an improvement in the ecosystem functioning and carbon storage ecosystem service. Notably, through this work, we also developed a standardised and open-access framework to monitor the vegetation remotely (SVIT) during periods of forest inaccessibility for fieldwork sampling.

The temporal dynamics of attribute-based firm reputation: examining short-term and long-term reputation and regulation in the U.S. automobile industry

PurposeThis study aims to examine the implications of short-term and long-term reputation change because of government agency responses to firm product defects.Design/methodology/approachThis study’s findings have important implications for both scholars and practitioners. From a scholarly perspective, the authors create a more fine-grained examination of reputation that may be used to assess various performance dimensions. From a practice perspective, managers must realize that reputation can be one of an organization’s most important resources as it meets each of the valuable, rare, inimitable and nonsubstitutable criteria associated with those resources capable of providing sustainable competitive advantage.FindingsAnalysis of 17,879 product recalls from 15 automobile manufacturers in the US suggests that firms with higher long-term reputations are more likely to face regulator sanctions when a reputation-damaging event happens. On the other hand, firms with higher short-term reputations are less likely to face sanctions in such circumstances. Finally, firms whose short-term reputation exceeds their long-term reputation are less likely to be sanctioned by regulators when reputation-damaging events occur.Research limitations/implicationsThere are several limitations that should be addressed. First, as our reputation measure is based on government investigations of potential defects, vehicles that have never been inspected are not included in the sample. Although this number is likely extremely low, omitting vehicles that have never been inspected leaves out some high-reputation firms from the sample. In addition, the study relies on a single-firm stakeholder that is capable of punitive actions.Practical implicationsFrom a practical perspective, this study’s findings encourage managers to think about the temporal aspects associated with firm reputation, and to realize that stakeholders may react differently when their expectations are not met depending on an organization’s relative long- and short-term reputations. From a theoretic perspective, the primary contribution of this study is to illustrate how long-term and short-term changes in reputation can provide mixed signals to firm stakeholders regarding future performance.Originality/valueThis study explores the temporal aspects of firm reputation by examining how government sanctions vary depending on firms’ long-term (10 years) and short-term (1 year) reputation. The findings of this study contribute to current reputation research by illustrating the variation in government responses to product defects as a function of short-term and long-term reputation. In doing so, the important role of the timing of firm performance is considered.

Energy storage integration with run of river power plants to mitigate operational environmental constraints: Case study of Sweden

Increasing environmental restrictions, create stringent regulations for the use and management of rivers and water bodies, thereby jeopardizing the operational flexibility of hydropower plants. The national plan for new environmental regulations in Sweden is expected to be implemented in 2025. Hence, it is imperative for the hydropower producers to consider alternatives which can overcome the environmental restrictions for providing flexibility. In this paper, a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) based algorithm for the short-term regulation of hydropower plants with energy storage is proposed. There are two stages of the algorithm: Future electricity market prices model using machine learning techniques, and the combined hydropower plant and battery system (CHBS)’s operation model using MILP. The designed algorithm is used to analyze the techno-economic feasibility of the operation of three hydropower plants Skattungbyn, Unnån and Hansjö, located in lower Oreälven river in Sweden. Three different electricity market scenarios were developed based on Swedish nuclear energy targets for 2040. The forecasted market prices act as inputs for the designed optimization algorithm. The algorithm optimizes the operation of hydropower plants with an objective to maximize revenue through harnessing flexibility enabled by storage. It is observed from the results that with the current battery costs (≈0.36 million €/MWh), the CHBS for short-term regulation is not profitable with NPV ranging from −1 to −4 million € and the cost of battery needs to be less than 50 000 €/MWh to make it economically feasible.

Short-term frequency regulation of power systems based on DFIG wind generation

Short-term frequency regulation is important for the safety and efficiency of power systems based on wind generation units. However, unmodeled dynamics and stochastic disturbances in wind speed and load present a challenge for frequency regulation. This paper offers a frequency regulation scheme that caters for doubly fed induction generator-based wind power units requiring short-term frequency regulation. To this end, a data-driven additive controller is cast into a stochastic framework. Since the survival information potential (SIP) of a random variable has some advantages over information potential, the SIP of frequency deviation is presented in order to simultaneously evaluate droop control and inertial control. Thereafter, the optimal additive control coefficient can be obtained using a particle swarm optimization technique and an arithmetic mean filter. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach over traditional additive control strategies.

Association of age, hormonal, and lifestyle factors with the Leydig cell biomarker INSL3 in aging men from the European Male Aging Study cohort.

BackgroundAging in men is accompanied by a broad range of symptoms, including sexual dysfunction, cognitive and musculoskeletal decline, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, organ degeneration/failure, and increasing neoplasia, some of which are associated with declining levels of Leydig cell‐produced testosterone. High natural biological variance, together with multiple factors that can modulate circulating testosterone concentration, may influence its interpretation and clinical implications. Insulin‐like peptide 3 is a biomarker of Leydig cell function that might provide complementary information on testicular health and its downstream outcomes.ObjectivesTo characterize insulin‐like peptide 3 as a biomarker to assess gonadal status in aging men.Methods and materialsA large European multicenter (European Male Aging Study) cohort of community‐dwelling men was analyzed to determine how insulin‐like peptide 3 relates to a range of hormonal, anthropometric, and lifestyle parameters.Results and discussionInsulin‐like peptide 3 declines cross‐sectionally and longitudinally within individuals at approximately 15% per decade from age 40 years, unlike testosterone (1.9% per decade), which is partly compensated by increasing pituitary luteinizing hormone production. Importantly, lower insulin‐like peptide 3 in younger men appears to persist with aging. Multiple regression analysis shows that, unlike testosterone, insulin‐like peptide 3 is negatively dependent on luteinizing hormone and sex hormone‐binding globulin and positively dependent on follicle‐stimulating hormone, suggesting a different mechanism of gonadotropic regulation. Circulating insulin‐like peptide 3 is negatively associated with increased body mass index or waist circumference and with smoking, and unlike testosterone, it is not affected by weight loss in obese individuals. Geographic variation in mean insulin‐like peptide 3 within Europe appears to be largely explained by differences in these parameters. The results allowed the establishment of a European‐wide reference range for insulin‐like peptide 3 (95% confidence interval) adjusted for increasing age.ConclusionInsulin‐like peptide 3 is a constitutive biomarker of Leydig cell functional capacity and is a robust, reliably measurable peptide not subject to gonadotropin‐dependent short‐term regulation and within‐individual variation in testosterone.

Functional implications of microvascular heterogeneity for oxygen uptake and utilization.

In the vascular system, an extensive network structure provides convective and diffusive transport of oxygen to tissue. In the microcirculation, parameters describing network structure, blood flow, and oxygen transport are highly heterogeneous. This heterogeneity can strongly affect oxygen supply and organ function, including reduced oxygen uptake in the lung and decreased oxygen delivery to tissue. The causes of heterogeneity can be classified as extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic heterogeneity refers to variations in oxygen demand in the systemic circulation or oxygen supply in the lungs. Intrinsic heterogeneity refers to structural heterogeneity due to stochastic growth of blood vessels and variability in flow pathways due to geometric constraints, and resulting variations in blood flow and hematocrit. Mechanisms have evolved to compensate for heterogeneity and thereby improve oxygen uptake in the lung and delivery to tissue. These mechanisms, which involve long‐term structural adaptation and short‐term flow regulation, depend on upstream responses conducted along vessel walls, and work to redistribute flow and maintain blood and tissue oxygenation. Mathematically, the variance of a functional quantity such as oxygen delivery that depends on two or more heterogeneous variables can be reduced if one of the underlying variables is controlled by an appropriate compensatory mechanism. Ineffective regulatory mechanisms can result in poor oxygen delivery even in the presence of adequate overall tissue perfusion. Restoration of endothelial function, and specifically conducted responses, should be considered when addressing tissue hypoxemia and organ failure in clinical settings.

Addressing Biases that impact homeowners’ adoption of solar panels

ABSTRACT Solar power is now economically competitive with fossil fuels in many countries, yet relatively few homeowners have elected to install solar panels. A principal reason for this behavior stems from cognitive biases—such as myopia, inertia, and herding—that cause consumers to avoid investing in long-term measures, even those that are financially attractive to them and produce social benefits, such as reducing the long-term consequences of climate change. A behavioral risk audit can demonstrate ways to address these cognitive biases, in concert with short-term economic incentives, social influences and regulation to spark climate action now. We focus on the installation of solar panels and the additional use of solar energy, an issue that has global relevance. The behavioral risk audit offers a way to guide decisions on how to incentivize and accelerate diffusion of solar in the United States and offers lessons for other countries. Key policy insights Solar power is now economically competitive with fossil fuels in many countries, yet relatively few homeowners have installed solar panels on their property. Cognitive biases such as myopia, inertia, and herding cause consumers to avoid investing in long-term measures, such as solar panels, even if they are financially attractive. A behavioral risk audit that addresses biases in concert with short-term economic incentives, social influences and regulation encourages the adoption of solar panels.