Molecular footprints of human immunoglobulin gene evolution: a new sequence family.

Analysis of the human VK (ref. 2) gene locus led to the detection of a new sequence family (L sequences). Its copy number is in the range of 10(2). The L sequences, which are about 500 bp long, are found as part of the 3' flanking regions of a clustered set of human VKI genes but they occur also separate from the genes. Models are discussed in which L sequences are viewed as molecular footprints of amplification and transposition processes of VK genes

Recruitment and selection of older workers

In recent decades there has been a shift in labor market public policy from a culture of early retirement to one centered on hiring older workers, i.e., those aged over 50. The culture of early exit flourished in most major industrialized economies until the 1990s. Previously, older workers who left the workforce prematurely were regarded to be early retirees rather than unemployed. Their joblessness ended not with their reentering the workforce but transferring to pensions (Casey and Laczko 1989). Subsequently, there has been a policy shift towards prolonging working lives that has been generated by population aging in general as well as the aging of workforces in specific industry sectors, such as nursing and teaching

The Fair Trade Idea: Towards an Economics of Social Labels

The concept of Fair Trade is applied to the marketing of a variety of goods. In recent years it has met a continually increasing interest among consumers. Different Fair Trade organizations are trying to accomplish an improvement in working and living conditions in developing countries by means of Fair Trade certificates and by paying a price markedly above world market standard. This is meant to lead to the attainment of basic social standards, especially in agricultural production. The article deals with how Fair Trade works and whether the social aims can be achieved by the application of this trade concept. Our main result is that even though efficiency of redistribution through the Fair Trade institutions is lower than through traditional relief organizations, the Fair Trade concept provides an additional incentive to support better living conditions in the Third World. Moreover, it provides a stimulus for producers to reorganize the production process in a socially more acceptable manner even when this is not rewarded by the Fair Trade company. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007Fair trade, Social labels, International trade, Sustainability, Social justice, Extrinsic product quality,