A Model of Union Formation

In an analysis of the formation of unions within a single firm, this paper addresses conditions under which encompassing unions form. It is shown that a production function satisfying decreasing marginal productivity leads to the formation of encompassing unions. This result holds for different ways of dividing the surplus within the union. The effects of changes in heterogeneity, e.g. increased demand for skilled labor, are also analyzed. In the most reasonable setup, a change in heterogeneity does not affect the decision whether to form a union or not. This contrasts with the result in Jun (1989).Union; Heterogeneity; Labor

Transthyretin and Amyloid in the Islets of Langerhans in Type-2 Diabetes

Transthyretin (TTR) is a major amyloid fibril protein in certain systemic forms of amyloidosis. It is a plasma protein, mainly synthesized by the liver but expression occurs also at certain minor locations, including the endocrine cells in the islets of Langerhans. With the use of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we have studied the distribution of transthyretin-containing cells in islets of Langerhans in type-2 diabetic and nondiabetic individuals. TTR expression was particularly seen in alpha (glucagon) cells. Islets from type-2 diabetic patients had proportionally more transthyretin-reactive islet cells, including beta cells. A weak transthyretin immunoreaction in IAPP-derived amyloid occurred in some specimens. In seeding experiments in vitro, we found that TTR fibrils did not seed IAPP while IAPP fibrils seeded TTR. It is suggested that islet expression of transthyretin may be altered in type-2 diabetes

Importance of Aggregated Islet Amyloid Polypeptide for the Progressive Beta-Cell Failure in Type 2 Diabetes and in Transplanted Human Islets

Original Publication: Gunilla Westermark and Per Westermark, Importance of Aggregated Islet Amyloid Polypeptide for the Progressive Beta-Cell Failure in Type 2 Diabetes and in Transplanted Human Islets, 2008, EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES RESEARCH, (2008), 528354. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/528354 Copyright: Authors</p

Real and nominal wage adjustment in open economies

How are wages set in an open economy? What role is played by demand pressure, international competition, and structural factors in the labour market? How important is nominal wage rigidity and exchange rate policy for the medium term evolution of real wages and competitiveness? To answer these questions, we formulate a theoretical model of wage bargaining in an open economy and use it to derive a simple wage equation where all parameters have clear economic interpretations. We estimate the wage equation on data for aggregate manufacturing wages in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden from the mid 1960s to the mid 1990s.Wage formation; efficiency wage; turnover; bargaining; rent sharing; nominal wage rigidity; exchange rate policy; competitiveness

Real and Nominal Wage Adjustment in Open Economies

How are wages set in an open economy? What role is played by demand pressure, international competition, and structural factors in the labour market? How important is nominal wage rigidity and exchange rate policy for the evolution of real wages and competitiveness? To answer these questions, we formulate a theoretical model of wage bargaining in an open economy and use it to derive a simple wage equation where all parameters have clear economic interpretations. We estimate the wage equation on data for aggregate manufacturing wages in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden from the mid 1960s to the mid 1990s.wage formation, efficiency wage, turnover, bargaining, rent sharing, nominal wage rigidity, exchange rate policy, competitiveness

Fibrils from Designed Non-Amyloid-Related Synthetic Peptides Induce AA-Amyloidosis during Inflammation in an Animal Model

Background: Mouse AA-amyloidosis is a transmissible disease by a prion-like mechanism where amyloid fibrils act by seeding. Synthetic peptides with no amyloid relationship can assemble into amyloid-like fibrils and these may have seeding capacity for amyloid proteins. Principal Findings: Several synthetic peptides, designed for nanotechnology, have been examined for their ability to produce fibrils with Congo red affinity and concomitant green birefringence, affinity for thioflavin S and to accelerate AAamyloidosis in mice. It is shown that some amphiphilic fibril-forming peptides not only produced Congo red birefringence and showed affinity for thioflavin S, but they also shortened the lag phase for systemic AA-amyloidosis in mice when they were given intravenously at the time of inflammatory induction with silver nitride. Peptides, not forming amyloid-like fibrils, did not have such properties. Conclusions: These observations should caution researchers and those who work with synthetic peptides and thei

Extremism, Campaigning and Ambiguity

This paper studies a model of how political parties use resources for campaigning to inform voters. We show existence of equilibrium under mild assumptions for an arbitrary number of parties. The main result is that if the parties are more extreme, then they spend less resources on campaigning (on average), compared with moderate parties. The reason is the following. Consider voters that are informed by one party only, say party 1. If both parties move closer to each other, then the actual and expected platform moves closer to the indifferent voters peak. By concavity of preferences, the increase in payoff of voting for the party that informed is bigger than the increase in payoff of voting for the other party. Thus, the previously indifferent voter now strictly prefers party 1. The effect makes parties gain more votes by informing when parties are moderate. Since spending increases, voters are (on average) more informed when parties are moderates.Political Parties; Campaigning

Amyloid in the islets of Langerhans: Thoughts and some historical aspects

Deposition of amyloid, derived from the polypeptide hormone islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP; ‘amylin’) is the single most typical islet alteration in type 2 diabetes. Islet amyloid was described as hyalinization already in 1901, but not until 1986 was it understood that it is a polymerization product of a novel β-cell regulatory product. The subject of this focused review deals with the pathogenesis and importance of the islet amyloid itself, not with the biological effect of the polypeptide. Similar to the situation in Alzheimer's disease, it has been argued that the amyloid may not be of importance since there is no strict correlation between the degree of islet amyloid infiltration and the disease. However, it is hardly discussable that the amyloid is important in subjects where islets have been destroyed by pronounced islet amyloid deposits. Even when there is less islet amyloid the deposits are widely spread, and β-cells show ultrastructural signs of cell membrane destruction. It is suggested that type 2 diabetes is heterogeneous and that in one major subtype aggregation of IAPP into amyloid fibrils is determining the progressive loss of β-cells. Interestingly, development of islet amyloid may be an important event in the loss of β-cell function after islet transplantation into type 1 diabetic subjects

Toward Multiscale Models of Cyanobacterial Growth

Oxygenic photosynthesis dominates global primary productivity ever since its evolution more than three billion years ago. While many aspects of phototrophic growth are well understood, it remains a considerable challenge to elucidate the manifold dependencies and interconnections between the diverse cellular processes that together facilitate the synthesis of new cells. Phototrophic growth involves the coordinated action of several layers of cellular functioning, ranging from the photosynthetic light reactions and the electron transport chain, to carbon-concentrating mechanisms and the assimilation of inorganic carbon. It requires the synthesis of new building blocks by cellular metabolism, protection against excessive light, as well as diurnal regulation by a circadian clock and the orchestration of gene expression and cell division. Computational modeling allows us to quantitatively describe these cellular functions and processes relevant for phototrophic growth. As yet, however, computational models are mostly confined to the inner workings of individual cellular processes, rather than describing the manifold interactions between them in the context of a living cell. Using cyanobacteria as model organisms, this contribution seeks to summarize existing computational models that are relevant to describe phototrophic growth and seeks to outline their interactions and dependencies. Our ultimate aim is to understand cellular functioning and growth as the outcome of a coordinated operation of diverse yet interconnected cellular processes.Peer Reviewe