An Empirical Analysis of Agglomeration Effect in the Japanese Food Industry -Panel Analysis Using Flexible Translog Production Function-

In this paper, we examine the existence of agglomeration effect on production in the Japanese food industry from 1985 to 2000 using plant-level 4-digit subclassification, panel dataset and new agglomeration index in Akune and Tokunaga (2005), and Tokunaga, Kageyama, and Akune (2005), based on Ellison and Glaeser (1997). This is an improvement on the the conventional indices such as Location Quotient (LQ) or Location Gini Coefficient (L).When we apply a flexible translog production function and cost share equation as suggested by Kim (1992), we find that around 2% of positive agglomeration effect exists in absence of any restriction on homotheticity in the the case of employment based agglomeration (Gamma EG ).Agglomeration, Japanese food industry, Panel data analysis, Flexible translog production functions, Agribusiness, R12, R3, Q59,

Agglomeration Effects and Japanese Food Industry Investment in China: Evidence from the Cities

This paper uses the data from Chugoku Shinshutsu Kigyou Ichiran 2003-2004 (A View of Japanese Enterprises Investments in China 2003-2004) to study 1ocation choice of Japanese food industry investment in 231 Chinese cities from 1992 to 2001, paying a particular attention to agglomeration effects. A negative binominal model indicates that labor cost (WAGE) is the most important factor that deters Japanese food industry investment. Market size (GDP), raw material (MATER), port (PORT) and policy incentives (POLICY), however, have positive effects in Japanese food industry investment location choice in China. As for the three-tier agglomeration effects' test, the agglomeration effects of Japanese manufactures agglomeration (AG2) and Japanese food manufactures agglomeration (AG3) are confirmed, but not for foreign investment agglomeration (AG1).food industry, agglomeration, Japan, China, FDI, Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade, F21, Q13, Q18,

Visualization of spatiotemporal activation of Notch signaling: Live monitoring and significance in neural development

AbstractNotch signaling plays various key roles in cell fate determination during CNS development in a context-dependent fashion. However, its precise physiological role and the localization of its target cells remain unclear. To address this issue, we developed a new reporter system for assessing the RBP-J-mediated activation of Notch signaling target genes in living cells and tissues using a fluorescent protein Venus. Our reporter system revealed that Notch signaling is selectively activated in neurosphere-initiating multipotent neural stem cells in vitro and in radial glia in the embryonic forebrain in vivo. Furthermore, the activation of Notch signaling occurs during gliogenesis and is required in the early stage of astroglial development. Consistent with these findings, the persistent activation of Notch signaling inhibits the differentiation of GFAP-positive astrocytes. Thus, the development of our RBP-J-dependent live reporter system, which is activated upon Notch activation, together with a stage-dependent gain-of-function analysis allowed us to gain further insight into the complexity of Notch signaling in mammalian CNS development

A Serine Palmitoyltransferase Inhibitor Blocks Hepatitis C Virus Replication in Human Hepatocytes

Background & AimsHost cell lipid rafts form a scaffold required for replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Serine palmitoyltransferases (SPTs) produce sphingolipids, which are essential components of the lipid rafts that associate with HCV nonstructural proteins. Prevention of the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids by an SPT inhibitor disrupts the HCV replication complex and thereby inhibits HCV replication. We investigated the ability of the SPT inhibitor NA808 to prevent HCV replication in cells and mice.MethodsWe tested the ability of NA808 to inhibit SPT’s enzymatic activity in FLR3-1 replicon cells. We used a replicon system to select for HCV variants that became resistant to NA808 at concentrations 4- to 6-fold the 50% inhibitory concentration, after 14 rounds of cell passage. We assessed the ability of NA808 or telaprevir to inhibit replication of HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, and 4a in mice with humanized livers (transplanted with human hepatocytes). NA808 was injected intravenously, with or without pegylated interferon alfa-2a and HCV polymerase and/or protease inhibitors.ResultsNA808 prevented HCV replication via noncompetitive inhibition of SPT; no resistance mutations developed. NA808 prevented replication of all HCV genotypes tested in mice with humanized livers. Intravenous NA808 significantly reduced viral load in the mice and had synergistic effects with pegylated interferon alfa-2a and HCV polymerase and protease inhibitors.ConclusionsThe SPT inhibitor NA808 prevents replication of HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a, and 4a in cultured hepatocytes and in mice with humanized livers. It might be developed for treatment of HCV infection or used in combination with pegylated interferon alfa-2a or HCV polymerase or protease inhibitors

Regulation of interkinetic nuclear migration by cell cycle-coupled active and passive mechanisms in the developing brain

In proliferating neural epithelia, cells undergo interkinetic nuclear migration: stereotyped cell cycle-dependent movements in the apico-basal plane. The microtubule-binding protein Tpx2 is here shown to regulate the G2-phase basal-to-apical migration, while passive displacement effects are responsible for basally directed movements

Association of Human Leukocyte Antigen with Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Protective Role for Shared Epitope

INTRODUCTION: Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is frequently associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) as one of extra-articular manifestations. Many studies for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) allelic association with RA have been reported, but few have been validated in an RA subpopulation with ILD. In this study, we investigated the association of HLA class II alleles with ILD in RA. METHODS: An association study was conducted on HLA-DRB1, DQB1, and DPB1 in 450 Japanese RA patients that were or were not diagnosed with ILD, based on the findings of computed tomography images of the chest. RESULTS: Unexpectedly, HLA-DRB1*04 (corrected P [Pc] = 0.0054, odds ratio [OR] 0.57), shared epitope (SE) (P = 0.0055, OR 0.66) and DQB1*04 (Pc = 0.0036, OR 0.57) were associated with significantly decreased risk of ILD. In contrast, DRB1*16 (Pc = 0.0372, OR 15.21), DR2 serological group (DRB1*15 and *16 alleles) (P = 0.0020, OR 1.75) and DQB1*06 (Pc = 0.0333, OR 1.57, respectively) were significantly associated with risk of ILD. CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1 SE was associated with reduced, while DR2 serological group (DRB1*15 and *16) with increased, risk for ILD in Japanese patients with RA

Combined analysis of cell growth and apoptosis-regulating proteins in HPVs associated anogenital tumors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The clinical course of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with Bowenoid papulosis and condyloma acuminatum of anogenital tumors are still unknown. Here we evaluated molecules that are relevant to cellular proliferation and regulation of apoptosis in HPV associated anogenital tumors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the levels of telomerase activity, and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) family (c-IAP1, c-IAP2, XIAP) and c-Myc mRNA expression levels in 20 specimens of Bowenoid papulosis and 36 specimens of condyloma acuminatum in anogenital areas. Overall, phosphorylated (p-) AKT, p-ribosomal protein S6 (S6) and p-4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1) expression levels were examined by immunohistochemistry in anogenital tumors both with and without positive telomerase activity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Positive telomerase activity was detected in 41.7% of Bowenoid papulosis and 27.3% of condyloma acuminatum compared to normal skin (<it>p </it>< 0.001). In contrast, the expression levels of Bowenoid papulosis indicated that c-IAP1, c-IAP2 and XIAP mRNA were significantly upregulated compared to those in both condyloma acuminatum samples (<it>p </it>< 0.001, <it>p </it>< 0.001, <it>p </it>= 0.022, respectively) and normal skin (<it>p </it>< 0.001, <it>p </it>= 0.002, <it>p </it>= 0.034, respectively). Overall, 30% of Bowenoid papulosis with high risk HPV strongly promoted IAPs family and c-Myc but condyloma acuminatum did not significantly activate those genes. Immunohistochemically, p-Akt and p-S6 expressions were associated with positive telomerase activity but not with p-4EBP1 expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Combined analysis of the IAPs family, c-Myc mRNA expression, telomerase activity levels and p-Akt/p-S6 expressions may provide clinically relevant molecular markers in HPV associated anogenital tumors.</p

Marking Embryonic Stem Cells with a 2A Self-Cleaving Peptide: A NKX2-5 Emerald GFP BAC Reporter

Fluorescent reporters are useful for assaying gene expression in living cells and for identifying and isolating pure cell populations from heterogeneous cultures, including embryonic stem (ES) cells. Multiple fluorophores and genetic selection markers exist; however, a system for creating reporter constructs that preserve the regulatory sequences near a gene's native ATG start site has not been widely available.Here, we describe a series of modular marker plasmids containing independent reporter, bacterial selection, and eukaryotic selection components, compatible with both Gateway recombination and lambda prophage bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) recombineering techniques. A 2A self-cleaving peptide links the reporter to the native open reading frame. We use an emerald GFP marker cassette to create a human BAC reporter and ES cell reporter line for the early cardiac marker NKX2-5. NKX2-5 expression was detected in differentiating mouse ES cells and ES cell-derived mice.Our results describe a NKX2-5 ES cell reporter line for studying early events in cardiomyocyte formation. The results also demonstrate that our modular marker plasmids could be used for generating reporters from unmodified BACs, potentially as part of an ES cell reporter library