Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Theory of Institutionalization: Permanent Employment and Tradition in Japan

The practice of permanent employment has come to be seen as a striking symbol of a unique industrial relations system in Japan. Permanent employment generally means that an employee enters a company after school graduation, receives in-company education and training, and remains an employee in the same company until the retirement age of fifty-five. Such a practice is commonly seen by Western economists as incompatible with the requirements of labor mobility in an advanced industrial society. At present, it is difficult to delimit exactly the number of workers covered by the practice of permanent employment. Government statistics are ill-suited for this purpose with their more nebulous category of regular workers. With the exception of such special categories as temporary workers, Japanese labor contracts, generally, bind the contracting parties together for an indefinite period of time. Permanent employment has been established as a company practice and employee behavioral pattern that is reinforced by the distribution of rewards according to age and length of service and strengthened by social and judicial pressures. For example, fellow employees are reluctant to accept as social equals those individuals hired with prior job experience. Employers commonly pay lower wages and give lower yearly wage increments to such employees. Judicial precedents specify that there must be "just cause" for dismissals. An employer is not safe in a dismissal case unless he can prove some reasonable cause.
Benefits from International Diversification: Across Time and Country Perspectives

Over the last 20 years, research has confirmed and reconfirmed the benefits of international diversification. [See Madura (1984) for a review of this research. ] However, changes in international stock market and foreign exchange market behavior require that some issues be reassessed. First, how do potential gains from international diversification vary across perspectives? Most of the past research focused solely on a U.S. perspective. Solnik (1974) assessed various perspectives, but the period assessed was prior to the inception of floating exchange rates. Because of the high degree of integration of stock markets and the volatility of foreign exchange rales, a reassessment from various perspectives is necessary.
Divergent Regulation of Terpenoid Metabolism in the Trichomes of Wild and Cultivated Tomato Species1[W][OA]

The diversification of chemical production in glandular trichomes is important in the development of resistance against pathogens and pests in two species of tomato. We have used genetic and genomic approaches to uncover some of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that underlie the divergence in trichome metabolism between the wild species Solanum habrochaites LA1777 and its cultivated relative, Solanum lycopersicum. LA1777 produces high amounts of insecticidal sesquiterpene carboxylic acids (SCAs), whereas cultivated tomatoes lack SCAs and are more susceptible to pests. We show that trichomes of the two species have nearly opposite terpenoid profiles, consisting mainly of monoterpenes and low levels of sesquiterpenes in S. lycopersicum and mainly of SCAs and very low monoterpene levels in LA1777. The accumulation patterns of these terpenoids are different during development, in contrast to the developmental expression profiles of terpenoid pathway genes, which are similar in the two species, but they do not correlate in either case with terpenoid accumulation. However, our data suggest that the accumulation of monoterpenes in S. lycopersicum and major sesquiterpenes in LA1777 are linked both genetically and biochemically. Metabolite analyses after targeted gene silencing, inhibitor treatments, and precursor feeding all show that sesquiterpene biosynthesis relies mainly on products from the plastidic 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway in LA1777 but less so in the cultivated species. Furthermore, two classes of sesquiterpenes produced by the wild species may be synthesized from distinct pools of precursors via cytosolic and plastidial cyclases. However, highly trichome-expressed sesquiterpene cyclase-like enzymes were ruled out as being involved in the production of major LA1777 sesquiterpenes.
Executive Compensation in the Nonprofit Sector

An examination of executive compensation in the nonprofit sector indicates that, as in the for-profit sector, the salaries of nonprofit executive directors depend heavily upon the organization's size. Among nonprofits, both ideology and the composition of revenues substantially affect executive compensation levels. The results of this study indicate broad differences across segments of the nonprofit sector and a strong role for ideology in the setting of compensation.
Preventing Banking Crises—with Private Insurance?

In this article, we review the functioning of private insurance against banking crises and identify its potential. The essential idea is that banks are recapitalized by private investors when negative events would otherwise cause a write-down of capital--or even bank insolvency. There are two modes of private insurance: pure insurance contracts and contingent debt contracts. In the former, funding of banks and insurance are separated, whereas in the latter, debt holders provide insurance. We summarize the main insights regarding the potential and limits of private insurance. We also discuss how such crisis insurance could be strengthened through complementary regulatory measures. Finally, we outline the overall pecking order of buffers and insurance for banking systems. (JEL codes: D41, E4, G2) Copyright The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Ifo Institute, Munich. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.
The Mystery of TIPS

Practitioners are accustomed to thinking of TIPS (Treasury Inflation Indexed Securities) as an alternative to conventional bonds, not an alternative to stocks. But TIPS are not much different from stocks: Both securities provide income that rises with inflation, or a fall in the relevant real cost of capital. So, TIPS should be viewed as "government stocks. " Yet, TIPS have yielded as much as four times the stock yield. The only explanation for this mystery is that many in the investment community still consider TIPS (if they consider these securities at all) to be an alternative to conventional bonds rather than an alternative to stocks. TIPS yields and stock market yields (plus a 1 percent growth premium) are the best measures of the cost of capital for, respectively, the government and the corporate world. Because of the parallels in the ways the two assets deliver returns to their investors, a comparison of the two is today's best measure of the relative attractiveness of stocks and bonds. Hedge funds and other alternative investments are treated as a small and specialized part of the investment universe, but in fact, they are the broad part, representing just about every possible investment strategy outside the narrow set of “traditional” investments. Hedge funds encompass all investment strategies that allow both long and short positions and that allow leverage. They span all markets, from derivatives to emerging markets to real estate. And the focus of hedge funds is dynamic—waxing and waning as new markets and classes of financial instruments arise and other markets and securities become commoditized. Therefore, treating hedge funds as a category to study or monitor is all but impossible. I argue that, in fact, there is no such class as hedge funds. Hedge funds are not a homogenous class that can be analyzed in a consistent way. The “hedge funds/alternative investments” moniker is a description of what an investment fund is not rather than what it is. The universe of alternative investments is just that—the universe. It encompasses all possible investment vehicles and all possible investment strategies less the traditional investment funds and vehicles. This all-encompassing nature of hedge funds has important implications for the study of and attempts to classify hedge funds and is critical for the attempts to regulate and provide standardized risk management for hedge funds. To study hedge funds is to study the world of investment strategies. And with so broad a classification, seeking a uniform approach to regulating hedge funds or managing hedge fund risk is tantamount to setting up a standard for regulating the entire investment universe. It is like getting a committee together to develop a single set of traffic rules to apply to all modes of transportation from pedestrians to commercial jets. Faced with so general a task, what more can one say than “Be careful”? I believe that we will discover—as we continue our attempts to study, categorize, manage, and regulate hedge funds—either that we have failed or that we have enveloped the entire world of investments under a different name.
Racial Wage Inequality: Job Segregation and Devaluation across U.S. Labor Markets1

Despite decades of research showing greater black‐white inequality in local areas where the black population is relatively large, little is known about the mechanisms for this effect. Using a unique data set of individuals nested within jobs across labor markets, this article tests two possible mechanisms for the black concentration effect on wage inequality: job segregation and devaluation. Results show that black population size is associated with greater segregation of black workers into black‐dominated jobs. On the other hand, no evidence is found that the penalty for working in a black‐dominated job (the devaluation effect) increases as a function of black population size. The article concludes that discrimination against workers—especially exclusion from better‐paying jobs—is an important mechanism for the effect of black population size on the racial wage gap.
Adapting to a boundaryless world: A developmental expatriate model

Executive Overview Expatriate executives face a double-edged challenge to their mental and physical health: The stressors affecting them are not only new and unfamiliar, but the coping responses that worked at home may not do so abroad. The various stages involved in a successful adjustment are discussed. The executive's ability to identify with the host and the parent culture plays a critical role in every stage of the adjustment process. Failure to accept that the two cultural identities are not mutually exclusive is a source of internal conflict among expatriates. Cross-cultural competence training and a sensible repatriation plan help buffer the stressors encountered abroad. However, the willingness and courage to undergo the profound personal transformation associated with an international assignment are essential for a healthy expatriate adjustment, even after the expatriate's return. Learning to live with the paradox of dual identification is an essential coping mechanism for expatriate executives.
Validation of Conductance Catheter System for Quantification of Murine Pressure-Volume Loops

The purpose of this study was to define the validation methods and outcomes of a conductance catheter system specifically for in vivo murine cardiac hemodynamic analysis. To express the relationship between conductance and blood volumes, we used an in vitro model to derive a volume-conductance line. The volume-conductance line was used to compute raw volume from the modified conductance signals. The parallel volume was calibrated with hypertonic (15%) saline injected from extrajugular vein. The ventricular volume was computed by raw volume minus parallel volume. The accuracy of conductance volumetric measurements was validated with a static in situ infusion of calibrated volumes of whole blood injected into arrested left ventricles. In vivo dynamic measurements were performed with 24 C57Bl/6 mice, 6 months old; for comparison of established values. The in situ model showed that after calibration, the experimental coefficient, f , was equal to 1 and the measured volume by conductance catheter was equal to the true volume of the left ventricle ( y = 0.982 x + 0.513, p < .0001). For the in vivo models, the end-diastolic volumes and the stroke volumes and cardiac output determined with the conductance catheter system were 17.3 - 1.0 w L, 10.6 - 0.9 w L, and 6.0 - 0.5 mL/min, respectively. We validated the relationship between measured volume by conductance catheter and the true volume and demonstrated the accuracy of the volume-conductance line for conversion of conductance to volume.
Inﬂation Dynamics in Brazil: The Case of a Small Open Economy

This paper derives and estimates a structural model for inﬂation in an open economy. The model represents the standard new-Keynesian Phillips curve (NKPC) and the hybrid curve proposed by Woodford (2003) and Gal´i and Gertler (1999) as special cases. We present two sets of estimates for the Brazilian economy, initially regarded as a closed economy and then as a small open economy. According to the recent literature, the model contemplates indexation to past inﬂation and a measure of marginal cost as relevant inﬂation indicators. Some of the results can be summarized as follows: (i) Brazil, when regarded as a closed economy, has a relatively higher level of nominal rigidity than that of the United States and Europe, and a high level of indexation as well; (ii) In an open economy with indexation, nominal exchange rate appreciation plus foreign inﬂation aﬀects consumer inﬂation, and this eﬀect becomes more intense with larger economic openness; (iii) There is a small direct impact of the variables associated with economic openness, with the sum of their coeﬃcients being close to zero; (iv) However, the indirect impact is signiﬁcant, consistently changing the weights associated with lagged inﬂation and the expected future inﬂation.
A Wake for the Welfare State: Social Welfare and the Neoconservative Challenge

Recent political developments portend a reformulation of the welfare state consistent with private-sector principles. Corporate reform of the government monopoly of social welfare is congruent with the interests of proprietary service providers while conflicting with the objectives of welfare bureaucrats. Traditional providers furnish rhetorical support to the neoconservative initiative. The consequences of this development include the introduction of the rationality of the marketplace as the dominant means for organizing service provision, the focusing of service delivery on discrete individual problems, and the retreat from universalized coverage of at-risk populations. Neoconservative "think tanks" provide theoretical and empirical support to this movement.
A minimalist network model for coarse-grained normal mode analysis and its application to biomolecular x-ray crystallography

In this article, we report a method for coarse-grained normal mode analysis called the minimalist network model. The main features of the method are that it can deliver accurate low-frequency modes on structures without undergoing initial energy minimization and that it also retains the details of molecular interactions. The method does not require any additional adjustable parameters after coarse graining and is computationally very fast. Tests on modeling the experimentally measured anisotropic displacement parameters in biomolecular x-ray crystallography demonstrate that the method can consistently perform better than other commonly used methods including our own one. We expect this method to be effective for applications such as structural refinement and conformational sampling.
Depression Comorbid with Anxiety: Results from the WHO Study on Psychological Disorders in Primary Health Care

The World Health Organization collaborative study on “Psychological Problems in General Health Care” investigated the form, frequency, course and outcome of common psychological problems in primary care settings at 15 international sites. The research employed a two-stage case-finding procedure. GHQ–12 was administered to 25 916 adults who consulted health-care services. The second-stage assessment (n=5438) consisted of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (GDI), the Social Disability Schedule, and questionnaires. Possible cases or borderline cases of mental disorder, and a sample of known cases, were followed up at three months and one year. Using standard diagnostic algorithms (ICD–10), prevalence rates were calculated for current disorder (one-month) and lifetime experience disorder. Well-defined psychological problems are frequent in all the general health-care settings examined (median 24.0%). Among the most common were depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse, somatoform disorders, and neurasthenia. Nine per cent of patients suffered from a “subthreshold condition” that did not meet diagnostic criteria but had clinically significant symptoms and functional impairment. The most common co-occurrence was depression and anxiety. Comorbidity increases the likelihood of recognition of mental disorders in general health care, and the likelihood of receiving treatment.
Antibody 12‐15 cross‐reacts with mouse Feγ receptors and CD2: study of thymus expression, genetic polymorphism and biosynthesis of the CD2 protein

Previously we described a monoclonal antibody (mAb 12–15) that reacted with murine Fc receptor proteins (betal, beta2 and alpha) and an undefined molecule of 37 kDa (beta3) on certain types of cells. Here we present serological and biochemical evidence that the beta3 chain is expressed on mouse thymocytes and that it is identical to the CD2 antigen. By immunofluorescence staining and cytofluorographic analysis >95% of thymocytes were positive. Brightly staining cells coincided with cortison‐resistant thymocytes suggesting that mature thymocytes expressed higher levels of the antigen. Biosynthetic labeling of DBA/2 thymocytes with [35S]methionine showed that the size of the CD2 precursor molecule was 43 kDa which was processed to approximately 55–65 kDa in the mature molecule. mAb 12–15 was also reactive with the tunicamycin‐treated form of the CD2 antigen suggesting that the cross‐reactive epitope was of protein nature. Comparison of different mouse strains indicated that two molecular forms of CD2 exist. On BALB/c thymocytes, the relative mass of the native molecule was approximately 60–70 kDa (CD2.1) and slightly larger than in DBA/2 (CD2.2). Following endoglycosidase F treatment both proteins still showed a slight difference in electrophoretic mobility. Several inbred mouse strains were analyzed for expression of CD2 forms. When mAb 12–15 was used in cyotoxic T lymphocyte inhibition experiments using specific CTL and tumor target cells it was found that the antibody could specifically inhibit CTL‐mediated lysis presumably by interfering with CD2 function.
Mix-Voltage Conversion for Single-Inductor Dual-Output Buck Converters

A single-inductor dual-output (SIDO) buck converter has recently found applications in hand-held battery-powered electronic devices. The circuit operation and the functional interdependencies among basic converter parameters such as dc voltage gains, transistor duty cycles, and load current levels are much more complicated than those of the single-output counterpart. In this paper, a rigorous analysis was conducted to develop dc equations in steady-state operation for SIDO converters. More importantly, from the analysis results, a possibility of a new mode of operation, dubbed “mix-voltage” operation, will be pointed out. In the so-called “mix-voltage” operation, the converter is capable of working even when the input voltage is lower than one of the two output voltages. In the past, a SIDO buck converter has been used for providing “pure-buck” outputs, i.e., both output voltages are lower than the input voltage. Therefore, this possibility not only opens up new applications but also extends the operating battery range in existing applications. Experimental results confirmed the dc equations and the “mix-voltage” conversion of SIDO buck converters.
Forward versus Spot Interest Rate Models of the Term Structure

Valuation theory for derivatives based on interest rates and bond prices continues to be in flux. A wide variety of models have been introduced over the years, and many are still actively used. Some are based on modeling the behavior of spot interest rates, with enough structure that the model is constrained to be consistent with the current market term structure. Others begin with the observed term structure and model behavior of the forward rates embedded in it. Moraleda and Pelsser conduct a comparison of five of the most common interest rate models, including some of each type. The data used include U.S. spot interest rates for maturities out to ten years and dollar cap and floor prices. The authors find that the models of the spot rate appear to outperform those based on forward rates, with the Black-Karasinski model doing the best overall.
Biotechnologically Relevant Enzymes and Proteins

A new source of resistance to 2-furaldehyde from Scheffersomyces (Pichia) stipitis for sustainable lignocellulose-to-biofuel conversion Abstract Aldehyde inhibitory compounds derived from ligno-cellulosic biomass pretreatment have been identified as a major class of toxic chemicals that interfere with microbial growth and subsequent fermentation for advanced biofuel production. Development of robust next-generation biocatalyst is a key for a low-cost biofuel production industry. Scheffersomyces (Pichia) stipitis is a naturally occurring C-5 sugar utilization yeast; however, little is known about the genetic background underlying its potential tolerance to biomass conversion inhibi-tors. We investigated and identified five uncharacterized puta-tive aryl-alcohol dehydrogenase genes (SsAADs) from this yeast as a new source of resistance against biomass fermentation in-hibitor 2-furaldehyde (furfural) by gene expression, gene cloning , and direct enzyme assay analysis using partially purified proteins. All five proteins from S. stipitis showed furfural reduction using cofactor NADH. An optimum active temperature was SsAad4p showed tolerance to a wide range of pH from 4.5 to 8, but SsAad1p and SsAad5p were sensitive to pH changes beyond 7. Genes SsAAD2, SsAAD3, and SsAAD4 displayed significantly enhanced higher levels of expression in response to the challenge of furfural. Their encoding proteins also showed higher levels of specific activity toward furfural and were suggested as core functional enzymes contributing aldehyde resistance in S. stipitis.
An Econometric Analysis of Automobile Scrappage

It has been suggested that a used car is scrapped when its price net of repair costs falls below its scrap value. This simple hypothesis captures the essence of the important idea that the life spans of durable goods are determined by both economic and technical considerations. We present empirical evidence based on an explicit econometric model of the scrappage decision. Analyzing make-model-vintage specific scrappage rates in Israel for 1979, we find that the hypothesized inverse relationship between price and scrappage probability exists and is of striking magnitude. This finding, when combined with the fact that new car prices in Israel are almost triple CIF prices, may explain why the median life expectancy of a vehicle in Israel is so much longer than that of a similar vehicle in Western Europe or the United States.