The Cubic Form Hypothesis and the Flying Geese Pattern Hypothesis of Income Distribution: The Case of Korea

This paper examines the cubic form hypothesis and the flying geese pattern hypothesis of income distribution. We use time series data for the Gini coefficients of Korea for 1961-2006 and panel data calculated based on a household income survey for the period 1998-2003. We show; (1) The Korean economy has a cubic form inequality as shown in many advanced countries such as the U.S, U.K and Japan, and (2) Different relationships between income inequality and income level are observed among regions since less developed rural areas lagged behind more developed urban ones. Thus the pattern of the change of inequality by region in Korea has similarities to the flying geese pattern and the multiple catching up pattern that are processes of the industrialization of manufacturing.Income inequality, Cubic form, Flying geese pattern of development, Multiple catching-up

Insights into Proton Conducting Solid Oxide Cell for Production of Power and Fuel

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the promising energy technology to generate electricity from chemical fuel, with no discharge of pollutant. Much effort has been made to enhance the performance of it, while little knowledge regarding anodic reaction of SOFCs is available, still ongoing debating1-4; the overall performance of SOFCs is the output originating from multiple kinetic steps, including surface electro-catalysis and bulk ion-electron transport. In this study, H2/D2 pulse isotopic exchange experiment is utilized to gain insight into the hydrogen oxidation mechanism in the anode of proton conducting and also oxygen conducting SOFCs, especially, H2 surface exchange reaction rate on corresponding proton and oxygen conducting electrode materials is determined.In next chapter, the possibility of a proton conducting ceramic as a support material for catalytic reaction is discussed; non-oxidative ethane dehydrogenation and CO2 methanation. This study not only shows the potential of proton conducting oxide as support for catalytic reaction, also open new reaction pathways through proton incorporation in the support material11. Furthermore, the use of a proton conducting support opens the possibility of creating electrochemical reactors systems for cogeneration of electricity and fuel12-16. Hydrogen obtained from alkane dehydrogenation would be utilized as fuel for the proton conducting solid oxide fuel cell with the product olefin generated at the cell anode. Also, hydrocarbon fuel production would be expected via CO2 methanation in the reverse mode of SOFCs, solid oxide electrolyzer cell

Technological Progress and the Future of Kuznets Curve's

We use OECD members' data to ascertain that new-born technological inventions increase the degree of inequality but that this declines as the technology disperses into the overall economy (e.g., Galor and Tsiddon, 1997; Weil, 2005). Therefore, we show explicitly that Kuznets curve does not converge to a single inverted U-curve but fluctuates through technological progress as a sine curve.Kuznets curve; Income inequality; Cubic hypothesis; Technological progress

Technological Progress and Future of Kuznets Curve

This study considers the fluctuation in the degree of income inequality after the Kuznets curve completes a single inverted U-shaped curve. It ascertains that new-born technological inventions increase the degree of inequality; however, the degree of inequality declines as the technology disperses into the overall economy using OECD members’ data. Assuming that technological progress takes place repetitively throughout long term economic growth, the Kuznets curve does not converge to a single inverted U-shaped curve. Rather, it fluctuates through technological progress where technology appears as an invention, but with time it becomes common knowledge

EFFECT OF ALKALINE IONS ON THE PHASE EVOLUTION, PHOTOLUMINESCENCE, AND AFTERGLOW PROPERTIES OF SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ PHOSPHOR

A series of SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ long-afterglow (LAG) phosphors with varying concentration of Li+, Na+ and K+, has been synthesized. The increased concentration of the three types of alkaline ions does not decrease the quantity of the total luminescent phases (SrAl2O4 plus Sr4Al14O25), but a different set of secondary phases has been evoluted for the K+-added series due to the failure of the incorporation of relatively large K+ (1.38 Å) to the Sr2+ (1.18 Å) site in the hosts, unlike the cases of smaller Li+ (0.76 Å) and Na+ (1.02 Å) ions. PL excitation, PL emission, and LAG luminescence, are decreased by all investigated alkaline ions, which would be due to the diminished incorporation of Eu2+ and Dy3+ activators into the luminescent hosts by the alkaline ions. For the cases of the Li+ and Na+-added series, the incorporated Li+ or Na+ to the luminescent hosts would also limit the activation of Eu2+ and charge trapping/detrapping of Dy3+ to yield the diminished PL properties and LAG luminescence. The type of defect complex formed by the addition of Li+ and Na+ ions has been deduced and compared with that formed when no alkaline ion is added

Technological Progress and the Future of Kuznets Curve's

We use OECD members' data to ascertain that new-born technological inventions increase the degree of inequality but that this declines as the technology disperses into the overall economy (e.g., Galor and Tsiddon, 1997; Weil, 2005). Therefore, we show explicitly that Kuznets curve does not converge to a single inverted U-curve but fluctuates through technological progress as a sine curve

The Cubic Form Hypothesis and the Flying Geese Pattern Hypothesis of Income Distribution: The Case of Korea

This paper examines the cubic form hypothesis and the flying geese pattern hypothesis of income distribution. We use time series data for the Gini coefficients of Korea for 1961-2006 and panel data calculated based on a household income survey for the period 1998-2003. We show; (1) The Korean economy has a cubic form inequality as shown in many advanced countries such as the U.S, U.K and Japan, and (2) Different relationships between income inequality and income level are observed among regions since less developed rural areas lagged behind more developed urban ones. Thus the pattern of the change of inequality by region in Korea has similarities to the flying geese pattern and the multiple catching up pattern that are processes of the industrialization of manufacturing

Whole genome sequencing of an ethnic Pathan (Pakhtun) from the north-west of Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Pakistan covers a key geographic area in human history, being both part of the Indus River region that acted as one of the cradles of civilization and as a link between Western Eurasia and Eastern Asia. This region is inhabited by a number of distinct ethnic groups, the largest being the Punjabi, Pathan (Pakhtuns), Sindhi, and Baloch. RESULTS: We analyzed the first ethnic male Pathan genome by sequencing it to 29.7-fold coverage using the Illumina HiSeq2000 platform. A total of 3.8 million single nucleotide variations (SNVs) and 0.5 million small indels were identified by comparing with the human reference genome. Among the SNVs, 129,441 were novel, and 10,315 nonsynonymous SNVs were found in 5,344 genes. SNVs were annotated for health consequences and high risk diseases, as well as possible influences on drug efficacy. We confirmed that the Pathan genome presented here is representative of this ethnic group by comparing it to a panel of Central Asians from the HGDP-CEPH panels typed for ~650 k SNPs. The mtDNA (H2) and Y haplogroup (L1) of this individual were also typical of his geographic region of origin. Finally, we reconstruct the demographic history by PSMC, which highlights a recent increase in effective population size compatible with admixture between European and Asian lineages expected in this geographic region. CONCLUSIONS: We present a whole-genome sequence and analyses of an ethnic Pathan from the north-west province of Pakistan. It is a useful resource to understand genetic variation and human migration across the whole Asian continent

MCP-1 and RANTES Polymorphisms in Korean Diabetic End-Stage Renal Disease

Macrophage infiltration has been observed in the renal biopsy specimens of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and hyperglycemic state stimulates the renal expression of RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1). Upregulation of RANTES and MCP-1 with infiltrating macrophages may play a crucial role in the development and progression of DN. Genetic polymorphisms of RANTES and its receptors were reported to be independent risk factors for DN. We genotyped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in the MCP-1 G-2518A, CCR2 G46295A, RANTES C-28G and G-403A in 177 diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and 184 patients without renal involvement (controls) in order to investigate the effects of these SNPs on DN in Korean patients with type 2 DM. There were no differences in the frequencies of SNPs and the distribution of haplotypes of RANTES promoter SNPs between two groups. In conclusion, there were no associations of MCP-1, CCR2 and RANTES promoter SNPs with diabetic ESRD in Korean population. Prospective studies with clearly-defined, homogenous cohorts are needed to confirm the effect of these genetic polymorphisms on DN