A new instability framework in 2-component reaction-diffusion systems

This paper concerns pattern formation in 2-component reaction-diffusion systems with linear diffusion terms and a local interaction. We propose a new instability framework with 0-mode Hopf instability, $m$ and $m + 1$ mode Turing instabilities in 2-component reaction-diffusion systems. The normal form for the codimension 3 bifurcation is derived via the center manifold reduction, which is one of the main results in the present paper. We also show numerical results on bifurcation of some reaction-diffusion systems and on a chaotic behavior of the normal form

Koordinative Fähigkeiten bei Schülern der ersten Klasse: - Eine vergleichende Studie in Japan und Deutschland -

Das Ziel dieser Forschung ist es, dass jeweilige Leistungsniveau der fünf koordinativen Fähigkeiten bei deutschen und japanischen Erstklässlern zu ermitteln. Jeweils 100 Erstklässler/innen durchlaufen eine Testreihe von fünf verschiedenen Koordinationstests. Um die Überprüfung der koordinativen Fähigkeiten zu ermöglichen, ist die weiterentwickelte Testbatterie LKT (Leipziger Koordinationstest) für 6-7-jährige Kinder konstruiert worden. Diese orientiert sich hauptsächlich an der Orientierungs-, Reaktions-, Gleichgewichts-, Differenzierungs und Rhythmisierungsfähigkeit. Die koordinativen Fähigkeiten bei deutschen und japanischen Erstklässlern und Erstklässlerinnen sind unterschiedlich ausgeprägt. Im Bereich der Orientierungs- und Differenzierungsfähigkeit erzielten die deutschen Probanden signifikant höhere Leistungen. Bei der Gleichgewichts- und Rhythmisierungsfähigkeit hingegen ergaben sich deutlich bessere Testwerte für die japanischen Test-Teilnehmer. Im Bereich der Reaktionsfähigkeit bestehen keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen beiden Ländern

Strategic interaction between inter vivos gifts and housing acquisition

This paper models the interdependence of parental inter vivos gifts and children\u27s home purchases when informal care affects decision making. We use data from Japanese households who purchased a detached house in an urban area to test this strategic interaction. Considering both censoring and endogeneity of inter vivos gifts, which are identified by information on formal care, our preferred results demonstrate that inter vivos gifts do not significantly increase the purchase price of housing. Theory suggests that this occurs when informal care tends to be a heavy burden for children. However, subsample analysis of young home buyers indicates that the empirical results are consistent with the literature: children who receive parental gifts tend to purchase a higher-priced dwelling. One potential explanation is that relatively young adult children are less likely to take charge of care obligations, and accordingly, parental gifts are only expected to relax their liquidity constraints. Subsample analysis appears to indicate that the underlying motivation of parental gifts is influenced by the timing of children\u27s home purchase decisions

Inheritance and family conflicts:exploring asset transfers shaping intergenerational relations

In contemporary societies with slower economic growth and increased rates of home ownership, asset transfers are of increasing importance for families as a way of transmitting advantages over generations. Compared to the positive impact, however, little is known about how inheritance generates disputes, tensions or dissatisfaction among family members, and how law, policy and practice play a role in this process. Drawing evidence from English court cases, this article develops categories of asset transfers over generations that cause or accentuate disputes in families, and contributes to theoretical debates on family solidarity, conflict and ambivalence by examining how such family conflicts are embedded in a wider family history and established social and institutional systems. The analysis, based on the three-fold framework of contested intentions of transfers, challenged distributions of assets and unexpected timing of transfers, demonstrates that family relations rest on a delicate balance of autonomy and dependency in families. It also highlights the critical interaction between institutional systems and interpersonal family relations. The lack of accurate knowledge and different interpretations of inheritance laws and intestacy rules among potential testators and beneficiaries contribute to family disputes over inheritance.</jats:p

Emerging Adulthood Transitions in Japan:The Role of Marriage and Housing Careers

Post-war Japanese adulthood derived from a hegemonic framework in which young people formed home-owning family households featuring “salary-men” and female-homemakers. Since the 1980s, however, along with prolonged economic downturn, Japanese adult transitions have become increasingly fragmented and non-linear. A growing concern has been the social, economic and ontological individualisation of younger adults, resulting in a phenomenal decline in partnering and marriage, on the one hand, and sharp increases in young people either staying on in the natal home or living alone, on the other. This paper begins by examining the wider context of recent unravelling in marriage and family formation before going on to consider the case of Japan in more detail. While dominant understandings of contemporary transitions into adulthood focus on “delay”, socioeconomic decline since the bursting of the economic bubble in the 1990s has undermined transitions into adulthood in Japan more substantially. Specifically, while many existing studies address labour market transitions among younger generations, we focus on the interaction of marriage and housing careers which play particularly important roles. Our analysis thereby contributes to both understanding of social contingencies that shape adult transitions and the role of housing and marriage markets, together, in mediating the attainment of full adulthood

Periostin in Allergic Inflammation

ABSTRACTPeriostin, an extracellular matrix protein belonging to the fasciclin family, has been shown to play a critical role in the process of remodeling during tissue/organ development or repair. Periostin functions as a matricellular protein in cell activation by binding to their receptors on cell surface, thereby exerting its biological activities. After we found that periostin is a downstream molecule of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, signature cytokines of type 2 immune responses, we showed that periostin is a component of subepithelial fibrosis in bronchial asthma, the first formal proof that periostin is involved in allergic inflammation. Subsequently, a great deal of evidence has accumulated demonstrating the significance of periostin in allergic inflammation. It is of note that in skin tissues, periostin is critical for amplification and persistence of allergic inflammation by communicating between fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Furthermore, periostin has been applied to development of novel diagnostics or therapeutic agents for allergic diseases. Serum periostin can reflect local production of periostin in inflamed lesions induced by Th2-type immune responses and also can predict the efficacy of Th2 antagonists against bronchial asthma. Blocking the interaction between periostin and its receptor, αv integrin, or down-regulating the periostin expression shows improvement of periostin-induced inflammation in mouse models or in in vitro systems. It is hoped that diagnostics or therapeutic agents targeting periostin will be of practical use in the near future