Foreign Direct Investment in China: Effects on Growth and Economic Performance

By almost all accounts, foreign direct investment (FDI) in China has been one of the major success stories of the past 10 years. Starting from a base of less than $19 billion in 1990, the stock of FDI in China rose to over$300 billion at the end of 1999. Ranked by the stock of inward FDI, China thus has become the leader among all developing nations and second among the APEC nations (only the United States holds a larger stock of inward FDI). China's FDI consists largely of greenfield investment, while inward FDI in the United States by contrast has been generated more by takeover of existing enterprises than by new establishment, a point developed later in this paper. The majority of FDI in China has originated from elsewhere in developing Asia (i.e., not including Japan). Hong Kong, now a largely self-governing "special autonomous region" of China itself, has been the largest source of record. The dominance of Hong Kong, however, is somewhat illusory in that much FDI nominally from Hong Kong in reality is from elsewhere. Some of what is listed as Hong Kong-source FDI in China is, in fact, investment by domestic Chinese that is "round-tripped" through Hong Kong (see footnote 2). Other FDI in China listed as Hong Kong in origin is in reality from various western nations and Taiwan that is placed into China via Hong Kong intermediaries. Alas, no published records exist to indicate exactly how much FDI in China that is nominally from Hong Kong is in fact attributable to other nations. According to official sources, in the period 1992-96, FDI from developing Asian nations dominated total FDI flows into China, but since 1996 a growing portion of these flows has come from other sources (i.e., Europe, North America, and Japan). This latter FDI generally has been of a different character than FDI from developing Asian nations. While the latter has been concentrated in export-processing activities in sectors in which China has revealed comparative advantage, much of the former has been directed more toward the domestic market in sectors in which China has no revealed comparative advantage. Thus one consequence of a rising percentage of FDI from Japan, Europe, and North America has been that overall the activities of foreign-invested enterprises in China have become somewhat more focused on the domestic market, and less on export markets, in the late 1990s relative to the mid-1990s. The consequences are discussed in more detail later in this paper. This includes an econometric test of whether FDI in China has contributed to increased total factor productivity growth in those provinces that have received large amounts of FDI. The tests suggest that the result is positive, and hence that FDI has contributed significantly to economic growth in China beyond that which results from faster capital accumulation.

Price Level Convergence and Inflation in Europe

Consumer price inflation in the euro area declined steadily during most of the 1990s. However, in the last two years, both headline and core inflation have risen throughout the area, and sizable cross-country differences in inflation have re-emerged. This is illustrated by Figure 1, which shows the headline consumer price inflation rate for the euro area as a whole and for select member countries. As of October 2000, all euro area countries had headline inflation rates above the European Central Bank's 2 percent medium-term ceiling, with rates ranging from 2.1 percent in France and Austria to 6 percent in Ireland. In Greece, which will join the euro area on 1 January 2001, inflation was 3.8 percent. One factor, discussed prominently in policymaking circles, that may be contributing to cross-country differences in inflation is price level convergence or "inflation catch-up". According to the argument, if prices expressed in a common currency are initially different across countries, convergence to a common level of prices implies higher inflation in countries where prices are initially low. There are several reasons to expect at least some price convergence in Europe. Progress toward a single market, including already completed trade liberalization and adoption of the single currency, should narrow differences in common-currency prices across countries, at least for traded goods. To the extent that the currency conversion rates chosen at the launch of the euro did not equate price levels across the euro area, scope remained for further price convergence after January 1999. The Balassa-Samuelson hypothesis provides another explanation why prices of nontraded goods might rise faster in poorer European countries. Suppose that poor countries are initially low-price countries, and that economic integration creates pressure for European-wide convergence of productivity levels in making traded goods. In addition, suppose that productivity levels in making nontraded goods converge at a much slower rate, if at all. Under these assumptions, poor countries will find that their productivity growth is concentrated in the traded goods sector. The rise in output and wages in the traded goods sector that would result from a European-wide convergence of productivity, would then push up wages and hence prices in the nontraded goods sector of the poor countries, compared to the wealthier, high-price countries.

Análise dos Stakeholders e Gestão dos Meios de Hospedagem: estudo de casos múltiplos na Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande, RJ

Verify the involvement of the lodging sector with the various groups that influence or can influence an organization, the so-called stakeholders, can improve the connections. This research is aimed to diagnose the relationship between the accommodation sector and stakeholders for the development of tourism in the locality. As specific objectives, aims to rank the level of importance of each stakeholder for the success of business and identify the ways of integrating lodging sector and stakeholders in the Vila do Abraão, at Ilha Grande. The work consisted of an exploratory study with qualitative and multiple case studies of accommodations in the Vila do Abraão, located at Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Reviewed the literature on business management, taking the work of Freeman (1984) as its reference point. There were identified nine stakeholders that influence the management of lodging facilities. The groups identified have different levels of importance to business success, noting that customers and the media are stakeholders with greater influence. The existing relations of cooperation are scarce and lack of management projects to improve the connections with stakeholders.Verificar o envolvimento dos meios de hospedagem com os grupos que influenciam ou podem influenciar uma organização, os chamados stakeholders, pode aprimorar as conexões entre empreendimentos, instituições e pessoas em um destino turístico. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo diagnosticar as relações existentes entre os meios de hospedagem e os stakeholders para o desenvolvimento turístico da localidade. Como objetivos específicos, visa hierarquizar o nível de importância de cada stakeholder para o sucesso dos negócios e identificar as formas de integração dos meios de hospedagem e os stakeholders na Vila do Abraão, Ilha Grande. O artigo é resultado da dissertação de mestrado. Consistiu em estudo exploratório com caráter qualitativo e estudo de casos múltiplos dos meios de hospedagem na Vila do Abraão, localizada na Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro. Efetuou-se levantamento bibliográfico sobre gestão empresarial, tomando a obra de Freeman (1984) como marco referencial. Identificaram-se nove stakeholders que influenciam a gestão dos meios de hospedagem. Os grupos identificados têm níveis diferentes de importância para o sucesso dos negócios, verificando que os clientes e a mídia são os stakeholders com maior nível de influência. As relações existentes de cooperação são escassas e falta gestão dos empreendimentos para aprimorar as conexões com os stakeholders.Verificar la participación de los alojamientos con los diversos grupos que influyen o pueden influir en una organización, llamados stakeholders, puede mejorar las conexiones. Esta investigación tiene por objeto el diagnóstico de la relación entre los alojamientos y los stakeholders para el desarrollo del turismo en la localidad. Como objetivos específicos, clasificar el nivel de importancia de cada uno para el éxito de los negocios y identificar las formas de integrar los alojamiento y los stakeholders en la Vila do Abraão, de Ilha Grande, Brasil. El trabajo consistió en un estudio exploratorio con tipos de estudios cualitativos y múltiples casos de alojamiento en la Vila do Abraão, ubicado en Ilha Grande, Río de Janeiro.Se realizó la revisión de la literatura sobre gestión empresarial, teniendo el trabajo de Freeman (1984) como punto de referencia. Se identificaron nueve stakeholders que influyen en la gestión de las instalaciones de alojamiento. Los grupos identificados tienen diferentes niveles de importancia para el éxito del negocio, teniendo en cuenta que los clientes y los medios de comunicación son actores con mayor influencia. Las relaciones de cooperación existentes son escasos y falta proyectos de gestión para mejorar las conexiones con stakeholders

Dopaminergic neuroprotective effects of rotigotine via 5-HT1A receptors: Possibly involvement of metallothionein expression in astrocytes

Astrocytes exert neuroprotective effects through production of antioxidant molecules and neurotrophic factors. A recent study showed that stimulation of astrocyte serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors promotes astrocyte proliferation and upregulation of the antioxidant molecules metallothionein (MT)-1,2, which protect dopaminergic neurons against oxidative stress. Rotigotine, an anti-parkinsonian drug, can bind to dopamine and 5-HT1A receptors. In this study, we examined neuroprotective effects of rotigotine in models of Parkinson's disease and involvement of astrocyte 5-HT1A receptors in neuroprotective effects of rotigotine against dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Rotigotine increased the number of astrocytes and MT-1,2 expression in cultured astrocytes. Pretreatment with conditioned media from rotigotine-treated astrocytes significantly inhibited 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. These effects were completely blocked by a 5-HT1A antagonist or MT-1,2 specific antibody. Subcutaneous administration of rotigotine increased MT-1,2 expression in striatal astrocytes and prevented reduction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of a 6-OHDA-lesioned mouse model of Parkinson's disease. These effects were blocked by co-administration with a 5-HT1A antagonist. These results suggest that rotigotine exerts neuroprotective effects through upregulation of MT expression in astrocytes by targeting 5-HT1A receptors. Our findings provide a possible therapeutic application of rotigotine to prevent dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease

Effects of Wnt-β-Catenin Signaling and Sclerostin on the Phenotypes of Rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are classified into 3 major categories with distinct driver genes: pseudohypoxia, kinase signaling, and Wnt-altered subtypes. PPGLs in the Wnt-altered subtype are sporadic and tend to be aggressive with metastasis, where somatic gene fusions affecting mastermind-like 3 (MAML3) and somatic mutations in cold shock domain containing E1 (CSDE1) cause overactivation of Wnt-β-catenin signaling. However, the relation between Wnt-β-catenin signaling and the biological behavior of PPGLs remains unexplored. In rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, Wnt3a treatment enhanced cell proliferation and suppressed mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis, and dopamine secretion. We identified the expression of sclerostin in PC12 cells, which is known as an osteocyte-derived negative regulator for Wnt signaling-driven bone formation. Inhibition of endogenous Wnt pathway by XAV939 or sclerostin resulted in attenuated cell proliferation and increased TH expression. Furthermore, Wnt3a pretreatment suppressed bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-induced Smad1/5/9 phosphorylation whereas BMPs enhanced sclerostin expression in PC12 cells. In the Wnt-altered subtype, the increased Wnt-β-catenin pathway may contribute the aggressive clinical behavior with reduced catecholamine production. Furthermore, upregulated expression of sclerostin by BMPs may explain the osteolytic metastatic lesions observed in metastatic PPGLs

A case of acute encephalopathy with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and clonal T-cell expansion

We report on a 9-year-old boy who presented with acute encephalopathy and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The patient was referred to our hospital because of fever, seizures, and decreased consciousness. He showed moderately elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, and clonal expansion of highly activated CD8 + T cells in the peripheral blood. These CD8 + T cells were found to be larger cells that stained positive for T-cell receptor Vβ13.6, and decreased shortly after steroid therapy. Our findings suggest that his acute encephalopathy was likely a clinical manifestation of HLH, and that immunophenotypic analysis may be helpful for early recognition of HLH in such rare encephalopathy. © 2011 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology

Flow cytometric analysis of skin blister fluid induced by mosquito bites in a patient with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系In chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (CAEBV), ectopic EBV infection has been described in T or natural killer (NK) cells. NK cell-type infection (NK-CAEBV) is characterized by large granular lymphocytosis, high IgE levels and unusual reactions to mosquito bites, including severe local skin reactions, fever and liver dysfunction. However, the mechanisms underlying these reactions remain undetermined. Herein, we describe a patient with NK-CAEBV whose blister fluid after mosquito bites was analyzed. The patient exhibited significant increases in the percentage of CD56+ NK cells in the fluid compared with a simple mosquito allergy, in which the majority of infiltrated cells were CD203c+ cells, indicating basophils and/or mast cells. His fluid also contained CD203c+ cells, and his circulating basophils were activated by mosquito extracts in vitro. These results suggest that CD203c+ cells as well as NK cells may play pathogenic roles in the severe skin reactions to mosquito bites in NK-CAEBV. © 2009 The Japanese Society of Hematology.出版者に照会中.2010年12月より全文公開予定

APINHAMENTO DENTÁRIO EM ESCOLARES DE 7 A 15 ANOS DE IDADE EM SÃO LUIS, MARANHÃO / DENTAL CROWDING IN STUDENTS FROM 7 TO 12 YEARS OF AGE IN SÃO LUÍS, MARANHÃO

Introdução: O Apinhamento Dentário (AD) é caracterizado como a discrepância entre o espaço requerido e o espaço presente no arco dentário. Estudos mostram que é o tipo de má oclusão mais presente no Brasil e no mundo. Além de proporcionar uma estética ruim, favorece o aparecimento de cárie edoenças na gengiva. Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência de AD em escolares de São Luís (MA), avaliando os fatores associados. Métodos: Estudo transversal, utilizando-se um questionário como instrumento para coleta de dados. Realizou-se documentação fotográfica padronizada nos escolares para avaliação da presença de AD. As tomadas fotográficas foram efetuadas por três examinadores previamente treinados, consistindo em fotos digitais intraorais e extraorais. Para as avaliações estatísticas, empregou-se o teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Dos 251 alunos avaliados, 53.25% apresentaram AD em pelo menos um dos arcos dentários, sendo mais prevalente no arco inferior (28.45%). Evidenciou-se que o AD foi mais comum entre estudantesna faixa etária de 12 a 15 anos, se comparados àqueles com idade de 6 a 11 anos (p=0,034). Para as demais variáveis, não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes na distribuição desta má oclusão. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a prevalência de AD nas dentaduras mista e permanente dos escolares examinados em São Luís (MA) foi alta, sendo mais comum no arco inferior e nas crianças/jovens entre 12 e 15 anos.Palavras-chave: Má oclusão. Prevalência. Dentição mista.AbstractIntroduction: Dental Crowding is characterized as the discrepancy between the space required and the space available in the dental arch. Studies have shown that dental crowding is the most prevalent malocclusion in Brazil and in the world. In addition to the unfavorable effect on esthetics, dental crowding favors the appearance of caries and periodontal diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dental crowding in students from São Luís, MA, Brazil, by evaluating the factors associated to this condition. Methods: We developed a cross sectional study using a questionnaire as a tool for data collection. We used standardized photographic documentation in all students in order to assess the presence of dental crowding. The photos were taken by three previously trained examiners. These photos consisted of extraoral and intraoral digital photos. For statistical analysis, we used the Pearson's chi-square test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Of the 251 students assessed, 53.25% had crowded teeth in at least one of the dental arches, being more prevalent in the lower arch (28.45%). It was noticed that dental crowding was more common among students from the age group of 12 to 15 years compared to those with 6 to 11 years (p = 0.034). For the other variables, we did not observe statistically significant differences in the distribution of this malocclusion. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of dental crowding in mixed and permanent dentition of all the students that took part of this study, being more common on the lower arch and in kids/young people from 12 to 15 years of age.Keywords: Malocclusion. Prevalence. Mixed Dentition

A Patient with Type 3 Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome who Developed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 8 years after the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Eight years prior to her present admission, a 61-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, slowly progressive insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and chronic thyroiditis; she had been treated with oral prednisolone (PSL). After she suddenly discontinued PSL, she newly developed systemic lupus erythematosus. A combination therapy of oral PSL and intravenous cyclophosphamide resulted in remission. She was finally diagnosed with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) type 3 (3A ,3B, 3D), complicated with four different autoimmune diseases. Since patients with type 3 APS may present many manifestations over a long period of time, they should be carefully monitored

An interspecific linkage map of SSR and intronic polymorphism markers in tomato

Despite the collection and availability of abundant tomato genome sequences, PCR-based markers adapted to large scale analysis have not been developed in tomato species. Therefore, using public genome sequence data in tomato, we developed three types of DNA markers: expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (TES markers), genome-derived SSR markers (TGS markers) and EST-derived intronic polymorphism markers (TEI markers). A total of 2,047 TES, 3,510 TGS and 674 TEI markers were established and used in the polymorphic analysis of a cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ‘LA925’ and its wild relative Solanum pennellii ‘LA716’, parents of the Tomato-EXPEN 2000 mapping population. The polymorphic ratios between parents revealed by the TES, TGS and TEI markers were 37.3, 22.6 and 80.0%, respectively. Those showing polymorphisms were used to genotype the Tomato-EXPEN 2000 mapping population, and a high-density genetic linkage map composed of 1,433 new and 683 existing marker loci was constructed on 12 chromosomes, covering 1,503.1 cM. In the present map, 48% of the mapped TGS loci were located within heterochromatic regions, while 18 and 21% of TES and TEI loci, respectively, were located in heterochromatin. The large number of SSR and SNP markers developed in this study provide easily handling genomic tools for molecular breeding in tomato. Information on the DNA markers developed in this study is available at http://www.kazusa.or.jp/tomato/