The Signalling Role of Promotion in Japan

Under asymmetric information conditions regarding worker productivity between current and prospective employers, a worker's promotion signals his/her productivity. In this Paper, we tested the signalling role of promotion, using Japanese micro-level data. We found that among lower-level positions, promotion seems to signal a worker's ability, and both the business cycle and foreign-capital ratio of his/her company significantly strengthen this effects. These results suggest that external labour market conditions (i.e. asymmetric information regarding a worker's abilities between a current and prospective employer) affect the economic differences among workers in the internal labour market.Strategically delayed promotion, Signalling, Wage growth, Japan.

State Dependence in Labour Force Participation of Married Women in Japan

This paper investigates state dependence in labour participation by married women in Japan. We statistically investigate whether ’true’ state dependence, in which preferences, abilities, or constraints on future decisions are altered by experiencing certain events, exists in the choice between regular and non-regular work (part-time, contract, or other non-regular work). The empirical results suggest significant true state dependence for the choice of regular and non-regular work. This significant effect of true state dependence on regular work justifies ’stepping stone’ policies from nonparticipation or non-regular work to regular work or ’maintenance’ policies to support participation in temporary non-regular work. On the other hand, the significant effect of true state dependence on non-regular work indicates that non-regular work constrains the ability or preference of married women to participate in regular work. In this sense, non-regular work is exclusionary. This result suggests that policies are needed to support the movement of non-regular workers into regular work.Multinomial ; Labour ; Participation ; State dependence ; Stepping stone

Job Tasks, Skill Formation, and Wages: An Internal Labor Market Approach

This study highlighted the institutional aspects of the task approach and quantitatively showed the mechanisms of tasks, skills, and wage determination through the operations of the internal labor market. As a skill measure, intellectual skills to deal with changes and problems in the workplace were employed. Using an original survey from Japan, it was found that the internal labor market-oriented skill formation system affects task allocation. The most important finding was that task polarization occurs through the skill-formation system as a subsystem of internal labor market. This result suggests the possibility of controlling task distribution through internal labor market design. Furthermore, we found that non-routine tasks positively affect intellectual skills. Finally, in estimating the wage function, we found that abstract task increases wages, while routine and manual tasks decreases wages. This result is consistent with previous studies and robust regardless of skill measure controls. Our findings suggest that task polarization and wage returns of tasks in previous studies can be interpreted from the aspects of internal labor market, and the importance of model analysis from such perspectives in the future

Job Tasks, Skill Formation, and Wages: An Internal Labor Market Approach

This study highlighted the institutional aspects of the task approach and quantitatively showed the mechanisms of tasks, skills, and wage determination through the operations of the internal labor market. As a skill measure, intellectual skills to deal with changes and problems in the workplace were employed. Using an original survey from Japan, it was found that the internal labor market-oriented skill formation system affects task allocation. The most important finding was that task polarization occurs through the skill-formation system as a subsystem of internal labor market. This result suggests the possibility of controlling task distribution through internal labor market design. Furthermore, we found that non-routine tasks positively affect intellectual skills. Finally, in estimating the wage function, we found that abstract task increases wages, while routine and manual tasks decreases wages. This result is consistent with previous studies and robust regardless of skill measure controls. Our findings suggest that task polarization and wage returns of tasks in previous studies can be interpreted from the aspects of internal labor market, and the importance of model analysis from such perspectives in the future

Job Tasks, Skill Formation, and Wages: An Internal Labor Market Approach

This study highlighted the institutional aspects of the task approach and quantitatively showed the mechanisms of tasks, skills, and wage determination through the operations of the internal labor market. As a skill measure, intellectual skills to deal with changes and problems in the workplace were employed. Using an original survey from Japan, it was found that the internal labor market-oriented skill formation system affects task allocation. The most important finding was that task polarization occurs through the skill-formation system as a subsystem of internal labor market. This result suggests the possibility of controlling task distribution through internal labor market design. Furthermore, we found that non-routine tasks positively affect intellectual skills. Finally, in estimating the wage function, we found that abstract task increases wages, while routine and manual tasks decreases wages. This result is consistent with previous studies and robust regardless of skill measure controls. Our findings suggest that task polarization and wage returns of tasks in previous studies can be interpreted from the aspects of internal labor market, and the importance of model analysis from such perspectives in the future

Do neutrophil extracellular traps implicate in atheromatous plaques from carotid endarterectomy? Re-analyzes of cDNA microarray data by surgeons

BackgroundCarotid artery stenosis is the cause of 15% of strokes. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) are believed to be involved in thrombosis. This pilot study described the differential expression profile of NETs between atheromatous plaques and surrounding tissues.MethodsMicroarray datasets of carotid plaques were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus. The normalized data were processed into comma-separated value matrix files using spreadsheet software. Analyzes of microarray data were conducted using integrated differential expression and pathway analysis.ResultThe clustering results illustrated that the classifications of plaque and control had reasonable biological validity. Pathway analysis revealed the relevance of immune response, cell signaling, and other pathways. Differentially expressed genes were detected between carotid plaques and control specimens. However, enrichment analyzes did not reveal a difference in PAD4 expression between the groups and that NET implication was only found in one cDNA microarray dataset.DiscussionThis pilot study does not necessarily dismiss the possibility of a relationship between NETs and atherothrombotic stroke. Gene expression could differ between endothelial cells and atheromas, and further studies are needed

Subaru Deep Survey V. A Census of Lyman Break Galaxies at z=4 and 5 in the Subaru Deep Fields: Photometric Properties

(abridged) We investigate photometric properties of Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) at z=3.5-5.2 based on large samples of 2,600 LBGs detected in deep (i'~27) and wide-field (1,200 arcmin^2) images taken in the Subaru Deep Field (SDF) and the Subaru/XMM Deep Field (SXDF). The selection criteria for the LBG samples are examined with 85 spectroscopically identified objects and by Monte Carlo simulations. We find in the luminosity functions of LBGs (i) that the number density of bright galaxies (M_{1700}<-22; corresponding to SFR_{corr}>100 Msolar yr^{-1}) decreases significantly from z=4 to 5 and (ii) that the faint-end slope of the luminosity function may become steeper towards higher redshifts. We estimate dust extinction of z=4 LBGs with M<M^* from UV slopes, and obtain E(B-V)=0.15+/-0.03 as the mean value. The dust extinction remains constant with apparent luminosity, but increases with intrinsic luminosity. We find no evolution in dust extinction between LBGs at z=3 and 4. We investigate the evolution of UV-luminosity density at 1700A, rho, and find that rho does not significantly change from z=3 to z=5, i.e., rho(z=4)/rho(z=3)=1.0+/-0.2 and rho(z=5)/rho(z=3)=0.8+/-0.4, thus the cosmic star-formation rate (SFR) density remains constant. We find that the stellar mass density estimated from the cosmic SFR is consistent with those derived directly from the stellar mass function at z=0-1, but exceeds those at z~3 by a factor of 3. We find that the ratio of the UV-luminosity density of Ly-a emitters (LAEs) to that of LBGs is ~60% at z=5, and thus about a half of the star formation at z=5 probably occurs in LAEs. We obtain a constraint on the escape fraction of UV-ionizing photons produced by LBGs, f_{esc}>~0.13.Comment: 41 pages, 22 figures, ApJ in press. Paper with high resolution figures is available at http://hikari.astron.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~ouchi/work/astroph/SDS_V_VI/SDS_V.pdf (PDF

Cognitive dysfunction and amyloid β accumulation are ameliorated by the ingestion of green soybean extract in aged mice

AbstractThe effects of soybean extracts were investigated in senescence-accelerated (SAMP10) mice, a mouse model of brain senescence with cognitive dysfunction. Mature soybeans are usually yellow. However, the green soybean retains green color after being ripened. Cognitive functions were significantly better-preserved in aged mice fed green soybean than age-matched control mice with or without yellow soybean feeding. Molecular mechanisms of the beneficial effect of green soybean on brain functions were examined through transcriptome analysis of SAMP10 hippocampus. The high expression of Ptgds was significantly associated with green soybean diet, which encodes lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase, a putative endogenous amyloid β(Αβ)-chaperone. In consonance, Aplp1 expression was significantly reduced, a member of amyloid precursor proteins. Furthermore, the amount of Aβ 40 and 42 was reduced in the insoluble fraction of cerebral cortex. These results suggest that the intake of green soybean ameliorates cognitive dysfunction of aged mice through the reduction of Aβ accumulation