A two-country dynamic model of international trade and endogenous growth: multiple balanced growth paths and stability

We formulate a two-country endogenous growth model which explain joint determination of long-run trade patterns and world growth rates. After providing the existence and local stability of the continuum of balanced growth paths, we show that main standard trade propositions hold under some modifications and that, subject to certain conditions concerning social and private rankings of factory intensities between production sectors, the higher is the growth rate, the smaller is the volume of international trade among balanced growth paths in the continuum.

End-sequencing and characterization of silkworm (Bombyx mori) bacterial artificial chromosome libraries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We performed large-scale bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) end-sequencing of two BAC libraries (an <it>Eco</it>RI- and a <it>Bam</it>HI-digested library) and conducted an <it>in silico </it>analysis to characterize the obtained sequence data, to make them a useful resource for genomic research on the silkworm (<it>Bombyx mori</it>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More than 94000 BAC end sequences (BESs), comprising more than 55 Mbp and covering about 10.4% of the silkworm genome, were sequenced. Repeat-sequence analysis with known repeat sequences indicated that the long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) were abundant in <it>Bam</it>HI BESs, whereas DNA-type elements were abundant in <it>Eco</it>RI BESs. Repeat-sequence analysis revealed that the abundance of LINEs might be due to a GC bias of the restriction sites and that the GC content of silkworm LINEs was higher than that of mammalian LINEs. In a BLAST-based sequence analysis of the BESs against two available whole-genome shotgun sequence data sets, more than 70% of the BESs had a BLAST hit with an identity of ≥ 99%. About 14% of <it>Eco</it>RI BESs and about 8% of <it>Bam</it>HI BESs were paired-end clones with unique sequences at both ends. Cluster analysis of the BESs clarified the proportion of BESs containing protein-coding regions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>As a result of this characterization, the identified BESs will be a valuable resource for genomic research on <it>Bombyx mori</it>, for example, as a base for construction of a BAC-based physical map. The use of multiple complementary BAC libraries constructed with different restriction enzymes also makes the BESs a more valuable genomic resource. The GenBank accession numbers of the obtained end sequences are <ext-link ext-link-type="gen" ext-link-id="DE283657">DE283657</ext-link>–<ext-link ext-link-type="gen" ext-link-id="DE378560">DE378560</ext-link>.</p

A BAC-Based Integrated Linkage Map of the Silkworm \u3cem\u3eBombyx mori\u3c/em\u3e

Background: In 2004, draft sequences of the model lepidopteran Bombyx mori were reported using whole-genome shotgun sequencing. Because of relatively shallow genome coverage, the silkworm genome remains fragmented, hampering annotation and comparative genome studies. For a more complete genome analysis, we developed extended scaffolds combining physical maps with improved genetic maps. Results: We mapped 1,755 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) end sequences onto 28 linkage groups using a recombining male backcross population, yielding an average inter-SNP distance of 0.81 cM (about 270 kilobases). We constructed 6,221 contigs by fingerprinting clones from three BAC libraries digested with different restriction enzymes, and assigned a total of 724 single copy genes to them by BLAST (basic local alignment search tool) search of the BAC end sequences and high-density BAC filter hybridization using expressed sequence tags as probes. We assigned 964 additional expressed sequence tags to linkage groups by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of a nonrecombining female backcross population. Altogether, 361.1 megabases of BAC contigs and singletons were integrated with a map containing 1,688 independent genes. A test of synteny using Oxford grid analysis with more than 500 silkworm genes revealed six versus 20 silkworm linkage groups containing eight or more orthologs of Apis versus Tribolium, respectively. Conclusion: The integrated map contains approximately 10% of predicted silkworm genes and has an estimated 76% genome coverage by BACs. This provides a new resource for improved assembly of whole-genome shotgun data, gene annotation and positional cloning, and will serve as a platform for comparative genomics and gene discovery in Lepidoptera and other insects

高校生の短距離走と持久走・長距離走での負傷要因に関する検討‐負傷部位の違いに着目して‐

Background: Injuries at high schools have a large impact on the future, such as growth disorders and functional disorders due to injuries during the growth period. Needs such as conditioning instruction for prevention are very high.Objectives: Focused on “running” which is the basic motion of all competitions, we divided into sprint and long-distance running, and examined how the difference in mileage affected the content of injury.Methods: Our study examined the data from high schools of 7 prefectures in Japan. The study periods was one year from April 2015 to March 2016, and the 755 school injuries cases which caused by sprint and long-distance running. The data that sprint and long-distance running were compared for body parts (the thigh and hip joints, the knee, the lower thigh, the ankle joint, the foot and toes) were statistically analyzed.Results: Comparison of the relationship between sprint, long distance running and injury : Thigh and hip joints (p <0.001) were significantly associated with sprint injuries. The knee (p <0.05), the lower thigh (p <0.001), the ankle joint (p <0.001), and foot and toes (p <0.05) were significantly associated with long-distance running injuries.Conclusion: It is necessary to prevent injuries through preventive measures that match the characteristics of the competition, such as careful conditioning such as muscle stretching and preparatory exercises including joint range of motion training

Brain activity in response to the touch of a hand on the center of the back.

The aim of this study was to validate the possibility of using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure changes in cerebral blood flow in response to a hand being placed on a participant's back, and to identify the areas of enhanced activity in the brain. Nineteen female adult volunteers participated in the study. An experienced school nurse touched the center of the participant's back between the shoulder blades with the palm of her hand. Cerebral blood volume dynamics were measured with a 52-channel fNIRS system. Significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration levels were recorded by channels 11, 14, 21, 22, 24, 32, 35, 45, 46, and 49 during the touching period than during the resting period. These channels indicated enhanced activity in the supramarginal gyrus, the middle frontal gyrus, the superior temporal gyrus, and the inferior frontal gyrus. The ability to detect changes in cerebral blood flow using this method indicates the possibility of measuring changes in cerebral blood flow using fNIRS when a person is touched on the back. fNIRS has been shown to be useful for studying the effects of touch