Wealth Effects in Emerging Market Economies

We build a panel of 14 emerging economies to estimate the magnitude of housing, stock market, and money wealth effects on consumption. Using modern panel data econometric techniques and quarterly data for the period 1990/1-2008/2, we show that; (i) wealth effects are statistically significant and relatively large in magnitude; (ii) housing wealth effects tend to be smaller for Asian emerging markets while stock markets wealth effects are, in general, smaller for Latin American countries; (iii) housing wealth effects have increased for Asian countries in recent years; and (iv) consumption reacts stronger to negative than to positive shocks in housing and financial wealth.wealth effects, consumption, emerging markets.

Asset prices, Credit and Investment in Emerging Markets

We build a panel of 31 emerging economies to uncover the determinants of private investment growth in emerging markets. Using several econometric techniques and quarterly data for the period 1990:1-2008:3, we show that: (i) the GDP and the cost of capital are among the fundamental determinants of private investment; (ii) the equity price impacts positively and significantly on investment; (iii) financial factors (such as, credit and lending rate) play an important role on the dynamics of investment, in particular, for Asian and Latin American countries; (iv) investment growth exhibits substantial persistence and responds sluggishly to shocks; and (v) crises episodes magnify the negative response of investment.investment, credit, asset prices, emerging markets.

Relationships between climate and winter cereal grain quality in Finland and their potential for forecasting

Many studies have demonstrated the effects of climate on cereal yield, but there has been little work carried out examining the relationships between climate and cereal grain quality on a national scale. In this study national mean hectolitre weight for both rye and winter wheat in Finland was modelled using monthly gridded accumulated snow depth, precipitation rate, solar radiation and temperature over the period 1971 to 2001. Variables with significant relationships in correlation analysis both before and after difference detrending were further investigated using forward stepwise regression. For rye, March snow depth, and June and July solar radiation accounted for 66% of the year-to-year variance in hectolitre weight, and for winter wheat January snow depth, June solar radiation and August temperature accounted for 62% of the interannual variance in hectolitre weight. Further analysis of national variety trials and weather station data was used to support proposed biological mechanisms. Finally a cross validation technique was used to test forecast models with those variables available by early July by making predictions of above or below the mean hectolitre weight. Analysis of the contingency tables for these predictions indicated that national hectolitre weight forecasts are feasible for both cereals in advance of harvest

Effect of Rhesus D incompatibility on schizophrenia depends on offspring sex.

Rhesus D incompatibility increases risk for schizophrenia, with some evidence that risk is limited to male offspring. The purpose of this study is to determine whether risk for schizophrenia due to Rhesus D incompatibility differs by offspring sex using a nuclear family-based candidate gene approach and a meta-analysis approach. The genetic study is based on a sample of 277 nuclear families with RHD genotype data on at least one parent and at least one child diagnosed with schizophrenia or related disorder. Meta-analysis inclusion criteria were (1) well-defined sample of schizophrenia patients with majority born before 1970, (2) Rhesus D incompatibility phenotype or genotype data available on mother and offspring, and by offspring sex. Two of ten studies, plus the current genetic study sample, fulfilled these criteria, for a total of 358 affected males and 226 affected females. The genetic study found that schizophrenia risk for incompatible males was significantly greater than for compatible offspring (p=0.03), while risk for incompatible and compatible females was not significantly different (p=.32). Relative risks for incompatible males and females were not significantly different from each other. Meta-analysis using a larger number of affected males and females supports their difference. Taken together, these results provide further support that risk of schizophrenia due to Rhesus D incompatibility is limited to incompatible males, although a weak female incompatibility effect cannot be excluded. Sex differences during fetal neurodevelopment should be investigated to fully elucidate the etiology of schizophrenia

Tumour-cell-derived complement components C1r and C1s promote growth of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Summary Background Incidence of epidermal keratinocyte-derived cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is increasing worldwide. Objectives To study the role of complement classical pathway components C1q, C1r and C1s in the progression of cSCC. Methods The mRNA levels of C1Q subunits, C1R and C1S in cSCC cell lines, normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs), cSCC tumors in vivo and normal skin were analyzed with quantitative RT-PCR. The production of C1r and C1s was determined with Western blotting. The expression of C1r and C1s in tissue samples in vivo was analyzed with immunohistochemistry and further investigated in human cSCC xenografts by knocking down C1r and C1s. Results Significantly elevated C1R and C1S mRNA levels and production of C1r and C1s were detected in cSCC cells, compared to normal human epidermal keratinocytes. The mRNA levels of C1R and C1S were markedly elevated in cSCC tumors in vivo compared to normal skin. Abundant expression of C1r and C1s by tumor cells was detected in invasive sporadic cSCCs and recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa-associated cSCCs, whereas the expression of C1r and C1s was lower in cSCC in situ, actinic keratosis, and normal skin. Knockdown of C1r and C1s expression in cSCC cells inhibited activation of ERK1/2 and Akt, promoted apoptosis of cSCC cells and significantly suppressed growth and vascularization of human cSCC xenograft tumors in vivo. Conclusions These results provide evidence for the role of tumor cell-derived C1r and C1s in the progression of cSCC and identify them as biomarkers and putative therapeutic targets in cSCC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Extreme reductions of entropy in an electronic double dot

We experimentally study negative fluctuations of stochastic entropy production in an electronic double dot operating in nonequilibrium steady-state conditions. We record millions of random electron tunneling events at different bias points, thus collecting extensive statistics. We show that for all bias voltages the experimental average values of the minima of stochastic entropy production lie above $-k_B$, where $k_B$ is the Boltzmann constant, in agreement with recent theoretical predictions for nonequilibrium steady states. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that the experimental cumulative distribution of the entropy production minima is bounded, at all times and for all bias voltages, by a universal expression predicted by the theory. We also extend our theory by deriving a general bound for the average value of the maximum heat absorbed by a mesoscopic system from the environment and compare this result with experimental data. Finally, we show by numerical simulations that these results are not necessarily valid under non-stationary conditions.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figure

Kielitietoisuus matematiikan käsitteiden opetuksessa:miltä kielitietoisuus tuntuu opettajista?

Tiivistelmä. Tässä tutkimuksessa perehdytään matematiikan käsitteiden opettamiseen S2-oppilaita sisältävässä ryhmässä ja erityisesti opettajien kokemiin haasteisiin ja keinoihin, joita heillä on kielitietoisen opetuksensa toteuttamisessa. Matematiikan käsitteet ovat sekä käsitteinä että sanaston tasolla erityisiä. Kielitietoisuuteen liittyy kunkin oppiaineen tyypillisen diskurssin, eli kielen käytön tapojen kuten käsitteiden, opettamisen huomioiminen. Tutkimuksessa perehdytään kielitietoisuuden määritelmiin, jotka auttavat ymmärtämään opettajien kokemusta kielitietoisuuden toteutumisesta. Kielitietoisuuteen kuuluvat käsitteellisen ajattelun osiot, käsitteet ja tieteenalan tyypillinen kieli, käsitellään tarkemmin matematiikan kontekstissa. Aihe on erittäin ajankohtainen, sillä kielitietoisuus on mainittu erikseen 2014 ilmestyneessä opetussuunnitelmassa ja koulut ovat ottaneet sen haltuun muutama vuosi sitten. Aikaisempaa tutkimusta ei juurikaan ole tehty Suomessa. Tutkimusote on laadullinen ja metodia määrittää fenomenologia. Fenomenologinen tutkimus tutkii kokemusta, ja kuten tässäkin tutkimuksessa, kokemuksen sisältöjä ja niiden merkityksiä. Pyrkimyksenä on kokemuksen ymmärtäminen. Aineiston keruu on toteutettu focus group -keskusteluna, eli ryhmähaastatteluna, jossa haastattelijan antamalle aiheelle syntynyttä vuoropuhelua on hyödynnetty analyysissa. Kokemuksista käyty vuorovaikutus on välttämätöntä tieteellisen tiedon saamiseksi. Keskustelutilanne oli fenomenologian mukaisesti avoin ja osallistujien esille nostamat seikat muodostavat analyysin luokat. Aineiston analyysi on näin ollen aineistolähtöinen. Tutkimuksessa kuvataan opettajien kokemusta kielitietoisuuden toteutumisesta oppiainekontekstissa. Tutkimukseen osallistui kolme alakoulun opettajaa, joilla on kokemusta S2-oppilaiden opettamisesta matematiikan tunnilla. Aineisto osoittaa, että opettajat ovat opetuksessaan kielitietoisia, ja heillä on paljon keinoja ja tapoja sen toteuttamiseen. Kuitenkin opettajat kokevat jäävänsä yksin monipuolisen opetusryhmän kanssa ja kokevat huonoa omatuntoa siitä, että S2-oppilas ei aina saa tarvitsemaansa huomiota muun ryhmän joukossa. Opettajien keskustelusta huokuu tunne siitä, että käsitteitä rakentavia keinoja ei aina pystytä arjen muuttuvissa tilanteissa pitämään opetuksessa mukana ja yksilöllisen materiaalin ja oppimissuunnitelmien tiukka seuraaminen on hyvin työlästä. Käsitteet ja sanasto tuottavat S2-oppilaille paljon haasteita ja erityisesti käsitteet eivät tunnu löytävän mitään tarttumapintaa oppilaiden tietopohjasta tai arjesta