Unemployment, Labour Market Programmes and Wage Determination: Evidence from the Czech and Slovak Republics

This paper studies effects of unemployment and labour market programmes on real wages in the Czech and Slovak Republics using district paneldata for the period 1992-1998. Clear evidence of a "wage curve" exists in both countries. The estimated unemployment elasticity of pay is, however, higher in the Slovak Republic, than in the Czech Republic. The wage subsidy and the public works programme exert upward pressure on real wages in Slovakia. When accounting for effects from adjacent districts, a positive significant effect of labour market programmes is also estimated for the Czech Republic.Wage determination; Unemployment; Labour market programmes

Unemployment and Labour Market Transitions in the Czech Republic: Evidence from Micro-data

The Czech labour market performance in early 1990s has widely been regarded as a success story. In particular, the Czech unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in Europe. In this paper we provide a microperspective on the Czech labour market by using data from the Czech labour force survey. We use the panel features of the labour force survey to investigate the determinants of transitions between employment, unemployment, and non-participation. The paper consists of two parts. The first part examines the Czech labour market with respect to unemployment and unemployment duration. In the second part, we make an empirical analysis of the labour market transitions in the Czech Republic.labour market transitions; unemployment; unemployment duration; transition probabilities

Identification of 14-3-3ζ as an EGF receptor interacting protein

AbstractThe 14-3-3 proteins are known to interact with a number of proteins involved in the regulation of cell signaling. Here, we describe an association of 14-3-3ζ with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that is rapidly induced by EGF. The 1028-EGFR truncated mutant which lacks the cytoplasmic tail from amino acids 1029–1186 identified the binding site for 14-3-3 to be between amino acid 1028 and the receptor carboxyl terminus. Mutational deletion of serine residues 1046, 1047, 1057 and 1142 did not inhibit EGF-induced 14-3-3 association with the receptor. Immunofluorescence microscopy indicated an EGF-induced co-localization of EGFR and HA-14-3-3ζ along the plasma membrane. Our finding adds to the growing complexity of EGF receptor signaling and indicates a role for 14-3-3 proteins in EGF receptor signaling or regulation

Skin Calcium-Binding Protein Is a Parvalbumin of the Panniculus Carnosus

Skin calcium-binding protein (SCaBP) is a calcium binding protein purified from whole rat skin. It has a molecular weight of approximately 12,000 daltons but migrates at Mr 13,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. On nitrocellulose blots of SDS-polyacrylamide gels, 6 different antisera to SCaBP reacted equally well with SCaBP and parvalbumin (PV), an 11,500-dalton calcium-binding protein purified from rat skeletal muscle, which also migrates at Mr 13,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Rabbit antiserum to muscle PV also recognized both PV and SCaBP, and either protein absorbed specific antibodies against either antigen from both types of antisera. Soluble protein extracts from whole adult rat and mouse skin contained a Mr 13,000 protein which was recognized on nitrocellulose blots of SDS gels by both antisera. Blots of extracts from epidermis, dermis, whole skin, and skin scraped on the dermal side to remove hypodermal tissue revealed that the Mr 13,000 PV/SCaBP cross-reacting antigen was restricted to the hypodermal tissue removed by scraping. Immunofluorescent staining of Bouin-fixed skin sections with these antisera confirmed the localization of PV/SCaBP to the panniculus carnosus, a hypodermal muscle layer. Newborn mouse skin does not contain this antigen. Additional polypeptides of Mr 10,500 and 12,000 on SDS gels of extracts from the epidermis of newborn and adult rats and mice were found to be immunoreactive with anti-SCaBp serum. These polypeptides were not recognized by the PV antiserum, and the reactivity of anti-SCaBP for these antigens was not absorbed by purified PV or SCaBP. Our results indicate that SCaBP is antigenically indistinguishable from PV and is localized in the adult rodent panniculus carnosus, and that antisera to SCaBP are poly-specific, recognizing epidermal proteins in addition to SCaBP/PV

Structure function analysis of SH2D2A isoforms expressed in T cells reveals a crucial role for the proline rich region encoded by SH2D2A exon 7

BACKGROUND: The activation induced T cell specific adapter protein (TSAd), encoded by SH2D2A, interacts with and modulates Lck activity. Several transcript variants of TSAd mRNA exist, but their biological significance remains unknown. Here we examined expression of SH2D2A transcripts in activated CD4+ T cells and used the SH2D2A variants as tools to identify functionally important regions of TSAd. RESULTS: TSAd was found to interact with Lck in human CD4+ T cells ex vivo. Three interaction modes of TSAd with Lck were identified. TSAd aa239–256 conferred binding to the Lck-SH3 domain, whereas one or more of the four tyrosines within aa239–334 encoded by SH2D2A exon 7 was found to confer interaction with the Lck-SH2-domain. Finally the TSAd-SH2 domain was found to interact with Lck. The SH2D2A exon 7 encoding TSAd aa 239–334 was found to harbour information essential not only for TSAd interaction with Lck, but also for TSAd modulation of Lck activity and translocation of TSAd to the nucleus. All five SH2D2A transcripts were found to be expressed in CD3 stimulated CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSION: These data show that TSAd and Lck may interact through several different domains and that Lck TSAd interaction occurs in CD4+ T cells ex vivo. Alternative splicing of exon 7 encoding aa239–334 results in loss of the majority of protein interaction motives of TSAd and yields truncated TSAd molecules with altered ability to modulate Lck activity. Whether TSAd is regulated through differential alternative splicing of the SH2D2A transcript remains to be determined

Epidermal growth factor receptor levels are reduced in mice with targeted disruption of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a key target molecule in current treatment of several neoplastic diseases. Hence, in order to develop and improve current drugs targeting EGFR signalling, an accurate understanding of how this signalling pathway is regulated is required. It has recently been demonstrated that inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) induces a ligand-independent internalization of EGFR. Cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase consists of a regulatory dimer bound to two catalytic subunits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have investigated the effect on EGFR levels after ablating the two catalytic subunits, Cα and Cβ in two different models. The first model used targeted disruption of either Cα or Cβ in mice whereas the second model used Cα and Cβ RNA interference in HeLa cells. In both models we observed a significant reduction of EGFR expression at the protein but not mRNA level.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that PKA may represent a target that when manipulated can maintain EGFR protein levels at the single cell level as well as in intact animals.</p

Unemployment and Labour market transitions in the Czech republic : evidence from micro-data

The Czech labour market performance in early 1990s has widely been regarded as a success story. In particular, the Czech unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in Europe. In this paper we provide a microperspective on the Czech labour market by using data from the Czech labour force survey. We use the panel features of the labour force survey to investigate the determinants of transitions between employment, unemployment, and non-participation. The paper consists of two parts. The first part examines the Czech labour market with respect to unemployment and unemployment duration. In the second part, we make an empirical analysis of the labour market transitions in the Czech Republic

Unemployment and Labour market transitions in the Czech republic : evidence from micro-data

The Czech labour market performance in early 1990s has widely been regarded as a success story. In particular, the Czech unemployment rate has been one of the lowest in Europe. In this paper we provide a microperspective on the Czech labour market by using data from the Czech labour force survey. We use the panel features of the labour force survey to investigate the determinants of transitions between employment, unemployment, and non-participation. The paper consists of two parts. The first part examines the Czech labour market with respect to unemployment and unemployment duration. In the second part, we make an empirical analysis of the labour market transitions in the Czech Republic

Unemployment, labour market programmes and wage determination : evidence from the Czech and Slovak republics

This paper studies effects of unemployment and labour market programmes on real wages in the Czech and Slovak Republics using district paneldata for the period 1992-1998. Clear evidence of a “wage curve” exists in both countries. The estimated unemployment elasticity of pay is, however, higher in the Slovak Republic, than in the Czech Republic. The wage subsidy and the public works programme exert upward pressure on real wages in Slovakia. When accounting for effects from adjacent districts, a positive significant effect of labour market programmes is also estimated for the Czech Republic