Explaining the Employment Effect of Exports: Value-Added Content Matters

This paper estimates and decomposes the impact of export opportunities on countries’ employment by using a global input-output analysis, focusing on the U.S., China, and Japan. The greater they export, the greater employment in the exporting countries. However, we first document that the number of jobs created per exports varies substantially across destination countries. We find that exports from sectors with higher domestic value-added contents such as natural resource, textile, and service sectors lead to a greater employment effect. As a result, cross-country differences in sectoral compositions of exports explain a large part of the variations in the employment effects across destination countries. Time series changes in the employment effect of exports come from changes in (1) the labor-to-output ratio, (2) input-output linkages, and (3) sectoral compositions in exports. Results suggest that the first channel worked to reduce the employment effect in all of the three countries we focused but the directions of the last two channels are different across the countries

Gains from Trade and the Sovereign Bond Market

Increasing international flows of goods, services, and financial assets have been shown to increase a country's welfare through various channels. This paper studies the interaction between a country's welfare gains from international trade and its sovereign’s access to bond markets. We do so by incorporating a sovereign bond market into a simple Armington (1969)'s trade model. While standard trade models suggest surprisingly small gains from trade, our model implies that introducing channels through a sovereign bond market greatly magnifies the gains from trade

Limited effects from professional identity formation-oriented intervention on self-regulated learning in a preclinical setting: a randomized-controlled study in Japan

Background Developing self-regulated learning in preclinical settings is important for future lifelong learning. Previous studies indicate professional identity formation, i.e., formation of self-identity with internalized values and norms of professionalism, might promote self-regulated learning. We designed a professional identity formation-oriented reflection and learning plan format, then tested effectiveness on raising self-regulated learning in a preclinical year curriculum. Methods A randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted using 112 students at Jichi Medical University. In six one-day problem-based learning sessions in a 7-month pre-clinical year curriculum, Groups A (n = 56, female 18, mean age 21.5y ± 0.7) and B (n = 56, female 11, mean age 21.7y ± 1.0) experienced professional identity formation-oriented format: Group A had three sessions with the intervention format in the first half, B in the second half. Between-group identity stages and self-regulated learning levels were compared using professional identity essays and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Results Two-level regression analyses showed no improvement in questionnaire categories but moderate improvement of professional identity stages over time (R2 = 0.069), regardless of timing of intervention. Conclusions Professional identity moderately forms during the pre-clinical year curriculum. However, neither identity nor self-regulated learning is raised significantly by limited intervention

CD206+ M2-like macrophages regulate systemic glucose metabolism by inhibiting proliferation of adipocyte progenitors

Adipose tissue resident macrophages have important roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and regulate insulin sensitivity for example by secreting pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we show that M2-like macrophages in adipose tissue regulate systemic glucose homeostasis by inhibiting adipocyte progenitor proliferation via the CD206/TGFβ signaling pathway. We show that adipose tissue CD206+ cells are primarily M2-like macrophages, and ablation of CD206+ M2-like macrophages improves systemic insulin sensitivity, which was associated with an increased number of smaller adipocytes. Mice genetically engineered to have reduced numbers of CD206+ M2-like macrophages show a down-regulation of TGFβ signaling in adipose tissue, together with up-regulated proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte progenitors. Our findings indicate that CD206+ M2-like macrophages in adipose tissues create a microenvironment that inhibits growth and differentiation of adipocyte progenitors and, thereby, control adiposity and systemic insulin sensitivity

Surface Science Approach to Photochemistry of TiO_2

Surface science studies of photochemistry on titanium dioxide (TiO_2) were reviewed. In the studies, photochemical processes were investigated in relation to atomic-scale surface structures by applying surface-sensitive analytical methods to single crystal TiO_2 surfaces with well-defined structures. It is demonstrated that a surface science approach is promising for full description of the photochemical processes on TiO_2

Frequency modulation atomic force microscope observation of TiO_2(110) surfaces in water

Rutile titanium dioxide (TiO_2) (110) surfaces were examined in water using a frequency modulation atomic force microscope. On the surfaces cleaned by Ar^+ sputtering and annealing in ultrahigh vacuum, step-terrace structure was observed. The inlets at the steps and the pits on the terraces indicated erosion of the surface in water. Strings extended to the [001] direction were occasionally observed in the topography images and assigned to the clusters of the H_2O molecules. The tip experienced a repulsive force when the vertical tip position of z was less than 6 nm from the surface, and the force oscillated at z at less than 2 nm. The repulsive force originated from the disruption of the hydrogen bonding network of H_2O molecules formed on the hydrophilic sputter-annealed surface. The oscillatory force arose from structural alternate order-disorder transitions of the H_2O molecules at the gap between the tip and the TiO_2 surfaces. On the TiO_2 surface annealed in air, no strings were observed in the topography images. The tip experienced an attractive force before experiencing a repulsive force in its approach to the surface. Oscillatory behavior was not observed in the force curve. The air-annealed TiO_2 and tip surfaces were both hydrophobic and attracted to each other to expel the H_2O molecules from their gap. Ordering the H_2O molecules at the gap between the two hydrophobic surfaces was entropically unfavorable

Kelvin Probe Force Microscope Observation of Chlorine-Adsorbed TiO_2(110) Surfaces

The rutile titanium dioxide (TiO_2) (110) surface exposed to Cl_2 gas was examined using scanning probe microscopes. The Cl adatoms formed by Cl_2 dissociation were observed as bright spots in empty-state scanning tunneling microscope images. While 94% of the Cl adatoms were on the top of surface Ti atoms, the remaining 6% of the adatoms missed the on-top site. The Kelvin probe force microscope measurements revealed a local work function increase on the Cl adatoms. The electronegative Cl adatoms were proposed to accumulate electrons from the surface. The resultant dipole moments were directed from the vacuum to the surface, and hence the work function of the adatoms locally increased