bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An exploratory study of reiki experiences in women who have cancer
Authors: Kirshbaum Marilynne N , Stead Maxine , Bartys Serena
Published: April 2016

Aims:

To explore the perceptions and experiences of reiki for women who have cancer and identify outcome measures for an intervention study.

Methods:

A cross-sectional qualitative study of 10 women who had received reiki after cancer treatment was conducted. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and coded using framework analysis.

Results:

Key themes identified were: limited understanding of reiki prior to receiving any reiki; release of emotional strain during reiki—feelings of a release of energy, a clearing of the mind from cancer, inner peace/relaxation, hope, a sense of being cared for; experience of physical sensations during reiki, such as pain relief and tingling; physical, emotional and cognitive improvements after reiki, such as improved sleep, a sense of calm and peace, reduced depression and improved self-confidence.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest that reiki could be a beneficial tool in the self-management of quality of life issues for women who have cancer.
Block imbedding and interlacing results for normal matrices
Authors: Maroulas John , Katsouleas Georgios
Published: April 2016

A pair of matrices is said to be imbeddable precisely when one is an isometric projection of the other on a suitable subspace. The concept of imbedding has been the subject of extensive study. Particular emphasis has been placed on relating the spectra of the matrices involved, especially when both matrices are Hermitian or normal. In this paper, the notion of block imbedding is introduced and shown to be intimately connected to an extension of interlacing for eigenvalues of normal matrices. Thus, a generalization of a classic Theorem of K. Fan and G. Pall is obtained, which is then applied to yield bounds on the number of eigenvalues of a block imbeddable pair in a closed, convex set. Moreover, a wide class of normal matrices, for which block imbedding applies, is indicated. Finally, comments and links on the necessary imbedding conditions of D. Carlson and E.M. de Sa, and J.P. Queiro and A.L. Duarte are provided.
A Spoken-Language Intervention for School-Aged Boys With Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: McDuffie Andrea , Machalicek Wendy , Bullard Lauren , Nelson Sarah , Mello Melissa , Tempero-Feigles Robyn , Castignetti Nancy , Abbeduto Leonard
Published: April 2016

Using a single case design, a parent-mediated spoken-language intervention was delivered to three mothers and their school-aged sons with fragile X syndrome, the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability. The intervention was embedded in the context of shared storytelling using wordless picture books and targeted three empirically derived language-support strategies. All sessions were implemented through distance videoteleconferencing. Parent education sessions were followed by 12 weekly clinician coaching and feedback sessions. Data were collected weekly during independent homework and clinician observation sessions. Relative to baseline, mothers increased their use of targeted strategies, and dyads increased the frequency and duration of story-related talking. Generalized effects of the intervention on lexical diversity and grammatical complexity were observed. Implications for practice are discussed.
Innovación en materiales a partir de desechos.
Authors: Yajnes Arq. Marta Edith , Caruso Arq. Susana Inés
Published: April 2016

El CEP FADU–UBA funciona desde el año 1986 bajo la dirección del Arq. Carlos Levinton. A través de los años ha colaborado con la comunidad en resolver situaciones relacionadas con manejo de riesgo y remediación habitacional en ocasión de desastres (Levinton, Caruso, Yajnes, 2012). Además se realiza en el Centro Investigación y Docencia en Innovación sobre Materiales Sostenibles de Construcción con Residuos Sólidos Urbanos (RSU) y Residuos de Construcción y Demolición (RCD), Vivienda Saludable y Capacitación a Cooperativas, a través de un programa de creación de Empleos Verdes. Se describe aquí la experiencia de las Arqs. Yajnes y Caruso durante el desarrollo de los Proyectos SI que dirigen (sin presupuesto asignado) y la evolución de los mismos hasta la aplicación a casos reales. Se trata de un bloque de cerramiento fabricado con RCD y de un cielorraso de placas de papel cemento con fabricación y colocación en una vivienda.

Palabras clave

construcción; demolición; investigación; residuos; sostenible
Centro histórico de Salvador
Authors: De Sant’Anna Dra. Arq. Marcia  Genésia
Published: April 2016

O artigo examina o problema da falta de regulamentação e de normas específicas para a preservação do Centro Histórico da cidade de Salvador, Bahia, reconhecido como Patrimônio da Humanidade. Este relativo “vazio legal”, de uma maneira que ainda não foi suficientemente avaliada, tem possibilitando a proposição e realização de projetos arquitetônicos e urbanos que comprometem ou destroem os valores culturais e paisagísticos que se busca proteger nesta área da cidade. Após algumas tentativas de normatização conduzidas ao longo dos anos 1980, a proteção conferida a este setor da cidade pela legislação federal e a Lei Municipal Nº 3.289/1983, que instituiu a “Área de Proteção Cultural e Paisagística” da área central, permanecem como instrumentos que contêm apenas diretrizes genéricas e de aplicação difícil. O artigo descreve, sucintamente, as principais consequências deste problema e, por fim, reflete sobre as razões e interesses que alimentam a permanência dessa situação por mais de 30 anos.

Palabras clave

legislação; patrimônio urbano; planejamento urbano; bahia; Brasil
Pharmacokinetics of Lornoxicam in rabbits after single intravenous bolus and intramuscular administrations
Authors: El-Mahmoudy Abubakr
Published: April 2016

The pharmacokinetics of lornoxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) at a dose of 0.4 mg/Kg body weight was evaluated after single intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) bolus administrations in rabbits. An HPLC assay using pure lornoxicam base as a standard was used to measure its concentrations in plasma at prefixed time points up to 12 hours post administration. Following an i.v. bolus injection, the plasma concentration-time curves of lornoxicam were best represented by two-compartment open model. The drug was rapidly distributed and moderately eliminated with half-lives of distribution (t1/2Î±) and elimination (t1/2Î²) of 0.238 and 2.611 h, respectively. The volume of distribution was large with (Vdss) value of 1.499 L. The total body clearance (ClB) was 0.413 L/h. After i.m. bolus administration of the same dose, lornoxicam was moderately and completely absorbed in rabbits with an absorption half-life (tÂ½ab) of 1.228 h with peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of 0.463 Î¼g/mL attained at 1.512 h (Tmax) and systemic bioavailability of 99.79%. The elimination half-life following i.m. administration was 2.283 h. The extent of plasma protein binding percent was 98.9%. The study recommends the use of lornoxicam in rabbits because of its good pharmacokinetic profile indicated by good absorption, bioavailability and plasma concentrations.
Tailored Finite Point Method for Parabolic Problems
Authors: Huang Zhongyi , Yang Yi
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we propose a class of new tailored finite point
methods (TFPM) for the numerical solution of parabolic equations. Our finite
point method has been tailored based on the local exponential basis
functions. By the idea of our TFPM, we can recover all the traditional
finite difference schemes. We can also construct some new TFPM schemes with better stability condition and accuracy. Furthermore, combining with the Shishkin mesh technique, we construct the uniformly convergent
TFPM scheme for the convection-dominant convection-diffusion problem. Our numerical examples show the
efficiency and reliability of TFPM.
Konjunktur, Wachstum und Traverse: Adolph Lowes Beitrag zur Wirtschaftstheorie / Cycles, Growth and Traverse: Adolph Lowe's Contributions to Economic Theory
Authors: Caspari Volker
Published: April 2016

Der Aufsatz beschäftigt sich mit den drei Themenbereichen der ökonomischen Theorie, zu denen Adolph Lowe wesentliche Beiträge geliefert hat. Zunächst werden seine in der Weimarer Zeit verfaßten Beiträge zur Konjunkturtheorie dargestellt. Daran schließt sich eine Würdigung seiner Beiträge zur disaggregierten Wachstumstheorie, zur Traversenanalyse und zur Diskussion um die durch technischen Fortschritt erzeugte Freisetzung von Arbeit an. Mit der vornehmlichen Konzentration auf das Gleichgewichtskonzept der langen Periode und der Analyse von Reproduktionsbedingungen erweist sich Lowe als ein Ökonom, der sowohl methodisch als auch thematisch an die klassische Wirtschaftstheorie anknüpft.
Dynamics of Continuous Time and Related Discrete Time Economic Models / Dynamische Modelle mit stetiger Zeit und verwandte zeitdiskrete Modelle
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Herman J. , Schoonbeek Lambert
Published: April 2016

We compare the dynamic behaviour of a given linear economic model with continuous time and two discrete time models derived from it. The latter two models with discrete time play an important role in the literature on econometric models with continuous time. We analyze and compare the eigenvalues of the models, and obtain results with respect to the stability behaviour and the periods of oscillations that arise in the case of complex eigenvalues.
Empirische allgemeine Gleichgewichtsmodelle Struktur und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten / Computable General Equilibrium Models — Structure and Scope for Applications
Authors: Klepper Gernot , Lorz Jens-Oliver , Stähler Frank , Thiele Rainer , Wiebelt Manfred
Published: April 2016

In diesem Artikel wird ein Überblick über neuere Entwicklungen bei empirischen allgemeinen Gleichgewichtsmodellen (EAG) gegeben, wobei walrasianische Modelle weitgehend ohne makroökonomische Aspekte im Vordergrund stehen. Zunächst wird eine typische EAG-Modellstruktur dargestellt und die Erstellung einer konsistenten Datenbasis zusammen mit der Modellkalibrierung diskutiert. Neuere Modelle mit unvollständiger Konkurrenz werden im Anschluß dargestellt. Ein besonderes Problem bei der Berücksichtigung von diesen Modellen ist Kongruenz zwischen dem theoretischen Modell strategischen Verhaltens und den empirischen Tatbeständen herzustellen. Danach werden zwei Typen von dynamischen Modellen vorgestellt: Sequentiell, dynamische Modelle, die als Sequenz von statischen Modellen lösbar sind, und vollständig dynamische Modelle, denen eine explizite Modellierung der intertemporalen Entscheidungen zugrunde liegt.
Umwelthandeln und Konsumtechnologie / Household Production and Environment
Authors: Seel Barbara , Hufnagel Rainer
Published: April 2016

Zur Erklärung der in zahlreichen empirischen Studien konstatierten Diskrepanz zwischen (auf Befragen bekundetem) Umweltbewußtsein und dem tatsächlichen Umwelthandeln auf der persönlichen bzw. der Haushaltsebene wird ein produktionstheoretisches Modell mit einer Konsumtechnologie vom Lancaster-Typ vorgeschlagen. Die Modellüberlegungen zeigen, daß - je nach den durch die Konsumtechnologie gegebenen Interdependenzen auf der Haushaltsebene - Änderungen von Daten wie dem Haushaltseinkommen oder der Besteuerung von Ressourcen unerwartete oder sogar umweltpolitisch unerwünschte Effekte zeitigen können. Einige Schlußfölgerungen für die Anlage und die inhaltlichen Schwerpunkte künftiger empirischer Untersuchungen werden gezogen.
Eingrenzung der Lorenzkurve und des Gini-Koeffizienten aus klassierten Daten bei verschiedenen Annahmen über den Informationsstand / Grouping Bounds for the Lorenz Curve and the Gini Index. Under Alternative Assumptions About the Level of Information
Authors: Gasnier Sylvie , Jöhnk Max-Detlev
Published: April 2016

Liegen Daten - beispielsweise einer Einkommensverteilung - nur in klassierter Form vor, dann ist es nicht möglich, die zugehörige Lorenzkurve und den Ginikoeffizienten eindeutig zu bestimmen. Der Fall bekannter Klassendurchschnitte wurde von J. L. Gastwirth behandelt. Für den Fall unbekannter Klassendurchschnitte werden Umhüllungen für die möglichen Lorenzkurven und Schranken für den Ginikoeffizienten angegeben. Der Gesamtdurchschnitt wird zunächst als bekannt, dann als unbekannt angenommen.
Kapitalkosten der Banken / Capital Costs of Banks
Authors: Jüttner D. Johannes , Gup Benton E.
Published: April 2016

Wir wenden das Wicksell-Tobin Investitionsmodell, ergänzt durch die capital asset pricing Theorie, zur Ableitung der Kapitalkosten der Banken an. Im Gegensatz zum in der Literatur üblichen Verfahren arbeiten wir heraus, daß die Banken indirekt Kapitalgüter erwerben, wenn sie Unternehmen Darlehen gewähren. Zwei wichtige Ergebnisse folgen logischerweise. Erstens, unkritische Anwendung des capital asset pricing Modells auf die Bankenindustrie führt zu tautologischen Ergebnissen. Zweitens, der duale Charakter der Kapitalbewertungen in der Form des Marktwertes und der Reproduktionskosten des Kapitals führt uns zu Vorbehalten hinsichtlich des Bilanzbewertungsprinzips marking to market. Bewertung zu Wiederbeschaffungskosten verhindert, daß Banken während Aktienhaussen Geschäftsdarlehen aufgrund aufgeblähter Marktwerte gewähren. Unser vorgeschlagener Bewertungsgrundsatz dürfte zu größerer Stabilität des Bankensystems beitragen.
Voraussetzungen einer Sozialstaatsreform - kritische Anmerkungen zur aktuellen Diskussion über den Umbau des Sozialstaates / Conditions for Reforming the Weifare State — Some Critical Remarks Regarding the Current Discussion on Reform
Authors: Lampert Heinz
Published: April 2016

Ausgehend von der Tatsache, daß für die Therapie der Sozialstaatskrise eine zutreffende Zustandsbeschreibung und eine zutreffende Diagnose von grundlegender Bedeutung sind, setzt sich der Verfasser zunächst kritisch mit einigen gängigen Thesen zu den Ursachen und zur Bedeutung der Sozialstaatskrise auseinander. Er skizziert anschließend den Bedarf an Maßnahmen zur Reform des Sozialstaates, um dann wesentliche Voraussetzungen für eine Sozialstaatsreform abzuleiten. In bezug auf die Feststellung des Reformbedarfs, die Reformziele und die Reformprinzipien ist bisher so wenig Konsens im politischen Raum erkennbar wie in bezug auf Reformkonzepte. Abschließend arbeitet der Verfasser Nebenbedingungen heraus, die erfüllt sein müssen, wenn eine Reformpolitik auch durchsetzbar sein soll.
On the Use of Projection Methods in the Computation of OLG Models / Zur Berechnung von OLG-Modellen mit Hilfe von Projektionsmethoden
Authors: Heer Burkhard , Trede Mark
Published: April 2016

We compare projection methods with the standard value function grid algorithm in order to solve overlapping generations models. We apply the methods to a particular 60-period OLG model with elastic labor supply in order to study the effects of unfunded public pensions on aggregate savings and employment. For given accuracy, projection methods are found to dominate standard value function grid methods in terms of speed and required storage capacity. Furthermore, we apply projection methods to problems characterized by a multi-dimensional state space. Our results suggest that such more complex problems are also solvable with the help of ordinary personal computers using projection methods, while the use of value function grid methods may require excessive computer time and storage capacity with regard to current PC technology.
Technischer Fortschritt und Produktivitätsveränderungen in der deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft / Efficiency Progress and Productivity Change in Germany Insurance Industry
Authors: Mahlberg Bernhard
Published: April 2016

Die Ziele dieser Studie sind die Messung der Änderungen von Effizienz und Produktivität in der deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft. Damit wird eine wichtige Auswirkung der durch die Europäische Integration induzierten Deregulierung und Öffnung des deutschen Versicherungsmarkts untersucht. Mit Hilfe der Data Envelopment Analysis konstruieren wir eine Effizienzgrenze, die als Maßstab für die Effizienz dient. Die Ergebnisse der Effizienzanalyse sind Basis für die Schätzung des Produktivitätsfortschritts, der mit Hilfe des Malmquist-Produktivitätsindex berechnet wird. Die Daten stammen aus den Jahresabschlüssen der Geschäftsjahre 1992 bis 1996. Die Produktivität steigt während des Untersuchungszeitraums um 12 %, wobei die Effizienz sinkt und technischer Fortschritt zu verzeichnen ist.
Statistik als Instrument der empirischen Wirtschafts- und Sozialforschung. Eine methodologische Betrachtung aus der Sicht der Frankfurter Schule der sozialwissenschaftlichen Statistik / Statistics as an Instrument of Empirical Research in Economy and Society. A Methodological Reflection in the View of Frankfurt School of Statistics
Authors: Grohmann Heinz
Published: April 2016

Im ersten Teil des Beitrags wird die Ideengeschichte der Frankfurter Schule der sozialwissenschaftlichen Statistik skizziert. Im zweiten Teil erfolgt, darauf aufbauend, eine systematische Betrachtung der Rolle der Statistik im Erkenntnisprozeß der empirischen Wirtschafts- und Sozialforschung unter methodologischen Aspekten. Grundlegend dafür ist die Unterscheidung zwischen der theoretisch-politisch-institutionellen Ebene einerseits und der statistischen andererseits. Für die Anwendung der Statistik in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft maßgeblich ist deshalb zum einen das Postulat einer bestmöglichen Adäquation der statistischen Begriffe und Verfahren in Bezug auf die theoretischen, politischen und institutionellen Konzepte, zum anderen das einer kritischen und problembewußten Interpretation der Ergebnisse mit dem Ziel, sie zur empirischen Fundierung von Theorien oder wirtschafts- und sozialpolitischen Entscheidungen sinnvoll nutzen zu können.
Leistungsorientierte Hochschulfinanzierung in Baden-Württemberg. Reflektionen zur statistischen Adäquation im politischen Prozess / Formula Funding in Higher Education in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Reflections on Statistical Adequation in Policy-Making
Authors: Körber-Weik Margot , Schmidt Diana
Published: April 2016

Der Beitrag analysiert die Entstehung und Ausgestaltung der leistungsorientierten Hochschulfinanzierung in Baden-Württemberg aus ökonomischer, politischer und statistischer Perspektive. Dazu wird die verbale Vereinbarung des Finanzierungsmodells, die 1999 zwischen Ministerium und Hochschulen abgeschlossen wurde, in Formeln übersetzt und mit den angestrebten Zielen verglichen.

Das Modell soll höhere Leistungen bei Lehre, Forschung, Nachwuchsförderung sowie Gleichstellung von Frau und Mann bewirken, indem es Anreize setzt und Wettbewerb zwischen den Hochschulen induziert. Diese Ziele werden durch das aktuelle Modell im Kern voraussichtlich auch erreicht, allerdings erst in eingeschränkter Form.

Einschränkungen resultieren vordergründig daraus, dass die statistische Adäquation bei der Entwicklung des Modells dem Anschein nach sekundär war: Neben vagen sachlichen und instrumentellen Zielen stehen sogleich einzelne statistische Indikatoren und spezielle mathematische Verknüpfungen. Die eigentliche Ursache liegt in den Verhandlungsprozessen bei der Entwicklung des Modells. Der erzielte Konsens impliziert, dass das Modell die spezifischen Ziele der Akteure hinreichend erfüllt, Einschränkungen also zumindest teilweise beabsichtigt sind. Das wiederum hat den Wandel überhaupt erst ermöglicht - und zu einer suboptimalen statistischen Adäquation beigetragen.

Verbesserungen sind vor allem zu erwarten, wenn bei der geplanten Fortentwicklung des Modells unabhängiger Sachverstand einbezogen wird - primär empirisch orientierte Ökonomen und Statistiker mit Spezialkenntnissen über Gesamtindikatoren und Indextheorie.
Distribution and Endogenous Growth: The Two-Class Pasinetti Model / Verteilung und endogenes Wachstum: Das Zwei-Klassen Modell von Pasinetti
Authors: Greiner Alfred
Published: April 2016

The paper extends the two-class Pasinetti model with workers and capitalists to allow for endogenous growth. Sustained per-capita growth results from positive externalities of investment which for its part only occur if workers devote time to education so that an efficient use of new machines is guaranteed. It is shown that there exists a unique balanced growth path which is a saddle point. The effects of raising education on the growth rate as well as on the income distribution between workers and capitalists are studied as well. It is demonstrated that education affects the balanced growth rate and, thus, the income of workers. However, it does not affect the ratio of workers’ income relative to the income of capitalists.
Kapitalmobilität in Europa aus empirischer Sicht. Befunde und wirtschaftspolitische Implikationen / Capital Mobility in Europe from an Empirical Viewpoint. Evidence and Implications for Economic Policy
Authors: Jungmittag Andre , Untiedt Gerhard
Published: April 2016

Die hohe Korrelation zwischen nationalen Investitions- und Sparquoten ist seit der Studie von Feldstein/Horioka (1980) ein umstrittener, aber zunächst häufig bestätigter empirischer Befund. In diesem Beitrag wird dieser Zusammenhang erneut für die EU-Staaten im Zeitraum von 1960 bis 1997 untersucht. In Erweiterung der bisherigen Untersuchungen werden in unserer auf Zeitreihen basierenden Analyse für die Länder einerseits unterschiedliche Grade an Kapitalmobilität zugelassen und andererseits wird für die interessierenden Größen explizit zwischen den lang- und kurzfristigen Zusammenhängen unterschieden. Zusammenfassend ergeben sich die folgenden Schlußfolgerungen. Erstens bestehen in den EU-Staaten kaum langfristige Beziehungen zwischen den nationalen Investitions- und Sparquoten, sondern die beobachtbaren Korrelationen sind vielmehr der Ausdruck von Scheinkorrelationen zwischen trendbehafteten Variablen. Die Analyse der kurzfristigen Zusammenhänge sowie die sich daran anschließenden Strukturbruchüberprüfungen legen zweitens nahe, daß auch in diesem Fall für die EU-Staaten im untersuchten Zeitraum allgemein ein hoher Grad an Kapitalmobilität vorliegt, der häufig im Zeitablauf zunimmt.
Adjustment Costs and Nominal Rigidities in a Small Open Economy / Anpassungskosten und nominelle Rigiditäten in einer kleinen offenen Volkswirtschaft
Authors: Maußner Alfred
Published: April 2016

What does account for the persistence of monetary shocks in dynamic general equilibrium models of the business cycle? A number of papers have dealt with that question and point at labor market frictions besides those introduced by overlapping wage contracts.

In this paper I investigate an obvious source of persistence, namely small adjustment costs of labor at the firm level. These introduce indeed hump shaped impulse responses of hours worked in simulated time series. Compared with a benchmark model without nominal and real frictions my model outperforms the former in most respects.

However, its account of the time series properties of monetary variables is not satisfactory. This holds true for closely related models that change the current period utility function, that introduce money into the utility function, or that posit a cash in advance constraint. I take this as suggestive to think about more sophisticated models of money demand.
Energy Costs, Endogenous Innovation, and Long-run Growth / Energiekosten, endogener technischer Fortschritt und Wirtschaftswachstum
Authors: Welsch Heinz , Eisenack Klaus
Published: April 2016

Based on the observation that energy costs have been decreasing over much of the 20th century, this paper extends the Romer (1990) model of endogenous technological change to examine the impact of secular changes in energy costs on technological progress and long-run growth. The key finding is that decreasing energy costs, while unambiguously increasing the rate of growth of output, enhance or reduce the rate of technological progress depending on the representative household's elasticity of marginal utility. A calibration exercise shows that even if technological progress is actually neither enhanced nor reduced, the endogenous innovation model of growth predicts a substantially stronger effect of energy costs on growth than the neoclassical model.
Exogenous Preferences, and Endogenous Tastes / Exogene Präferenzen und endogener Geschmack
Authors: Ebert Udo , Hagen Oskar von dem
Published: April 2016

This paper presents a unifying approach to modelling endogenous tastes. Tastes are defined as orderings of a subspace of a (suitable chosen) commodity space. Using this definition endogenous tastes are analytically similar to externalities. Accordingly, many models in economic theory can be interpreted as dealing with endogenous tastes.

It is shown that changes in tastes have a direct and an indirect impact on welfare. The literature on externalities usually focuses on the direct effect while the literature on endogenous tastes mainly deals with the indirect effect.

The analysis focuses on two main aspects of variable tastes: the institutional question (who influences tastes) and the technological question (what does it cost). The allocative inefficiency of an economic system with endogenous tastes is demonstrated and Pigouvian-type corrective taxes are discussed.

The unifying framework presented in this paper can be used to analyze and discuss a wide variety of variable tastes.
Value at Risk and Bank Equity / Value at Risk und Eigenkapitalausstattung von Banken
Authors: Broll Udo , Wahl Jack E.
Published: April 2016

The value at risk measure has become a widespread risk management concept in many different types of financial organizations. The value at risk concept is the attempt to summarize in a single number the return risk in a portfolio of financial assets. This paper studies the impact of the value at risk approach on required equity capital of a banking firm. Value at risk is a measure of risk based on a probability of loss and time in which this loss can be expected to occur. We demonstrate that managerial and market factors determine optimal asset liability and equity policy of the bank. It is shown that the probability of bankruptcy has a complex impact upon the decision making of bank management.
Inflation and the Skewness of the Distribution of Relative Price Changes: Empirical Evidence for Germany / Inflation und die Schiefe der Verteilung relativer Preisänderungen: Empirische Evidenz für Deutschland
Authors: Döpke Jörg , Pierdzioch Christian
Published: April 2016

The paper uses German annual data covering the period 1969-2000 to present evidence on the link between aggregate inflation and the skewness of the distribution of relative price changes. Our empirical results are mixed. Our regression-based analyses suggest that the skewness of the distribution of relative price changes may be an explanatory variable for the inflation rate. Our empirical evidence in favor of the hypothesis that the skewness measure may help to explain shifts in the Phillips curve is somewhat weaker. Moreover, a structural vector autoregression reveals that the skewness may help to explain the dynamics of real output. At the same time, however, demand shocks seem to explain a non-negligible proportion of the variation of the skewness.
Money Stock, Monetary Base and Bank Behavior in Germany / Geldmenge, Geldbasis und Bankenverhalten in Deutschland
Authors: Holtemöller Oliver
Published: April 2016

This paper contributes to the analysis of the money supply process in Germany during the period of monetary targeting by the Bundesbank from 1975-1998. While the standard money multiplier approach assumes that the money stock is determined by the money multiplier and the monetary base it is argued here that both the money stock and the monetary base are determined endogenously by the optimizing behavior of commercial banks and private agents like households and firms. An industrial organization style model for the money creating sector that describes the money creation process is developed assuming that the main policy variable of the central bank is the money market interest rate. A vector error correction model for the nominal money stock, the monetary base, nominal income, short-term and long-term interest rates, and the required reserve rate is specified, and the interaction between these variables is analyzed empirically. The evidence contradicts the money multiplier approach and supports the presented model of the money creating sector.
Die Einflüsse von Antwortverweigerung und mehrfacher Ergänzung fehlender Daten auf Produktivitätsschätzungen mit dem IAB-Betriebspanel / The Effect of Item-nonresponse and Multiple imputation of Missing Data on the Estimation of Productivity Based on German Establishment Data
Authors: Kölling Arnd , Rässler Susanne
Published: April 2016

Der Beitrag schildert die Effekte partieller Antwortverweigerung auf die Ergebnisse multivariater statistischer Analysen anhand von Produktivitätsschätzungen auf Betriebsdatenebene. Als Datenbasis dient das IAB-Betriebspanel aus dem Jahr 2000, wobei fehlende Daten mit Hilfe des „Data Augmentation” Algorithmus’ geeignet mehrfach ergänzt werden. Grundlage der Produktivitätsschätzungen ist eine verallgemeinerte Produktionsfunktion des Translog-Typs, wobei Arbeit und Kapital als Produktionsfaktoren unterstellt sowie Brancheneinflüsse und die Effekte der Nutzung moderner Technologien berücksichtigt werden. Um mögliche Ost-West-Differenzen besser erklären zu können, werden neben einer Dummy-Variablen auch alle anderen exogenen Variablen mit dieser Ost-West-Variable multipliziert und zusätzlich in das Modell aufgenommen. Neben einer Reihe von Unterschieden in den Branchen, ergibt sich auch eine höhere Produktivität bei Nutzung von modernen Technologien. Zwischen Ost und West zeigen sich dagegen signifikante Unterschiede in der Konstanten und bei einigen Branchen, nicht jedoch bei den Produktionsfaktoren. Durch den Antwortausfall scheinen diese Differenzen zu hoch ausgewiesen zu werden. Bei den ergänzten Daten reduzieren sich die konstanten Unterschiede in der Produktivität um etwa 10 %-Punkte. Ebenso werden die Branchendifferenzen deutlich geringer.
Tarifverträge – nein danke!? Ausmaß und Einflussfaktoren der Tarifbindung west- und ostdeutscher Betriebe / Collective Agreements - No Thanks!? Extent and Determinants of Firms’ Bargaining Coverage in Western and Eastern Germany
Authors: Kohaut Susanne , Schnabel Claus
Published: April 2016

Eine Auswertung repräsentativer Daten des IAB-Betriebspanels zeigt, dass im Jahr 2000 knapp die Hälfte der westdeutschen, aber nur gut ein Viertel der ostdeutschen Betriebe durch Flächenoder Firmentarifverträge gebunden waren, wobei die Flächentarifbindung in den letzten Jahren rückläufig war. Theoretische Erklärungen betonen u.a. die Bedeutung von Transaktionskostenaspekten und von verschiedenen mikro- und makroökonomischen Veränderungen. Ökonometrische Analysen zeigen, dass die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Tarifbindung mit der Betriebsgröße und dem Anteil qualifizierter Mitarbeiter zunimmt. Filialbetriebe neigen häufiger, Einzelunternehmen und Personengesellschaften sowie jüngere Betriebe seltener zu tariflichen Regelungen. Größere Betriebe, Filialbetriebe und solche mit Betriebsrat ziehen sich auch seltener aus Flächentarifverträgen zurück.
Does Fixed-term Contract Employment Raise Firms’ Adjustment Speed?. Evidence from an Establishment Panel for West Germany / Erhöhen befristete Verträge die Anpassungsgeschwindigkeit von Unternehmen?. Empirische Evidenz auf Basis eines Betriebspanels
Authors: Hagen Tobias
Published: April 2016

Fixed-term labour contracts were liberalised in Germany in order to raise the flexibility of the labour market. However, empirical studies using industry-level data find no significant effect of FTCs on employment adjustment. This paper investigates the impact of FTC employment on firms’ flexibility by estimating dynamic labour demand models with the IAB-Establishment Panel for West Germany in 1996-2000. Using a GMM estimator and comparing the estimated adjustment of total employment to the adjustment of permanent contract employment some evidence is found that FTCs raise firms’ adjustment speed.
Seasonal and Cyclical Properties of Ifo Business Test Variables / Saisonale und zyklische Eigenschaften von ifo Konjunkturtest Variablen
Authors: Flaig Gebhard
Published: April 2016

In this paper, an Unobserved Components Model is used to decompose the balances of Ifo Business survey data into the cyclical, the seasonal and the irregular components, as well as the working day effect. The empirical results show that the total cycle consists of three subcycles with about 3, 5 and 11 years. Each subcycle of the assessment variable is “similar” to the corresponding subcycle of the expectations variable. The seasonal pattern is changing over time and the working day effect is significant for the assessment of the current business situation and for the Ifo Business Climate, but not for the expectation series.
Ökonometrische Analyse der Entscheidungspraxis des Bundeskartellamtes / Econometric Analysis of the Decisions of the German Federal Cartel Office
Authors: Lauk Martina
Published: April 2016

Die Arbeit untersucht Entscheidungen des Bundeskartellamtes in den Bereichen „Missbrauchsaufsicht" und „Wettbewerbsbeschränkende Vereinbarungen". Die hier interessierende Frage ist, inwieweit die Entscheidungen der Kartellbehörde durch Kenntnis des Vorwurfs und einiger beobachtbarer Marktstrukturmerkmale erklärt werden können. Für die ökonometrische Analyse wurde in 196 Kartell- und Missbrauchsfällen der Jahre 1985-2000 recherchiert. Ergebnis der Analyse ist, dass Marktstrukturmerkmale einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Entscheidungen des BKartA haben. Ca. 75 % der Entscheidungen können mit Kenntnis einiger beobachtbarer Marktstrukturmerkmale und dem kartellbehördlichen Vorwurf erklärt werden.
GluD2 Endows Parallel Fiber–Purkinje Cell Synapses with a High Regenerative Capacity
Authors: Ichikawa Ryoichi , Sakimura Kenji , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: April 2016

Although injured axons usually do not regenerate in the adult CNS, parallel fibers (PFs) regenerate synaptic connections onto cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). In this study, we investigated the role of GluD2 in this regenerative process after PF transection using GluD2-knock-out (KO) mice. All dendritic spines on distal dendrites were innervated by PFs in sham-operated wild-type controls, whereas one-third were devoid of innervation in GluD2-KO mice. In both genotypes, a steep drop in the number of PF synapses occurred with a reciprocal surge in the number of free spines on postlesion day 1, when the PF territory aberrantly expanded toward the proximal dendrites. In wild-type mice, the territory and number of PF synapses were nearly fully restored to normal on postlesion day 7, although PF density remained low. Moreover, presynaptic and postsynaptic elements were markedly enlarged, and the PF terminal-to-PC spine contact ratio increased from 1:1 to 1:2 at most synapses. On postlesion day 30, the size and contact ratio of PF synapses returned to sham-operated control values and PF density recovered through the sprouting and elongation of PF collaterals. However, GluD2-KO mice showed neither a hypertrophic response nor territorial restoration 7 d postlesion, nor the recovery of PF axons or synapses on postlesion day 30. This suggests that PF wiring regenerates initially by inducing hypertrophic responses in surviving synaptic elements (hypertrophic phase), followed by collateral formation by PF axons and retraction of PF synapses (remodeling phase). Without GluD2, no transition to these regenerative phases occurs.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe glutamate receptor GluD2 expressed at parallel fiber (PF)–Purkinje cell (PC) synapses regulates the formation and maintenance of the synapses. To investigate the role of GluD2 in their extraordinarily high regenerative capacity, the process after surgical transection of PFs was compared between wild-type and GluD2-knock-out mice. We discovered that, in wild-type mice, PF synapses regenerate initially by inducing hypertrophic responses in surviving synaptic elements, and then by sprouting and elongation of PF collaterals. Subsequently, hypertrophied PF synapses remodel into compact synapses. In GluD2-knock-out mice, PF wiring remains in the degenerative phase, showing neither a hypertrophic response nor recovery of PF axons or synapses. Our finding thus highlights that synaptic connection in the adult brain can regenerate with aid of GluD2.
Task-Related Dynamic Division of Labor Between Anterior Temporal and Lateral Occipital Cortices in Representing Object Size
Authors: Chiou Rocco , Lambon Ralph Matthew A.
Published: April 2016

Object size is represented by functionally distinct sectors along the ventral visual pathway. The early visual cortex encodes objects' sensory-retinal size. Subsequently, the occipitotemporal cortex computes objects' canonical size based on statistical regularities of visual features. Although the neurocomputation of size has been studied in a “bottom-up” sensory-driven framework, little is known about how perceptual size information is transformed into conceptual knowledge and how this computation is modulated by “top-down” goal-driven signals. Using continuous theta burst stimulation, we demonstrated that behavioral goal shapes the neurocognitive network underpinning object size. We manipulated the congruency of perceptual versus conceptual object size, which provides a robust behavioral probe reflecting implicit size knowledge. Neurostimulation was targeted at the lateral occipital cortex (LOC), a key region for object perception, or the anterior temporal lobe (ATL), a “hub” of supramodal conceptual processing. We observed striking contextual modulation of the neurocognitive architecture: when human participants judged perceptual size, the congruency effect was significantly attenuated by LOC stimulation but stayed resilient to ATL stimulation. By contrast, when they judged conceptual size, both LOC and ATL stimulation eradicated the otherwise robust effect. Our findings demonstrate disparate functional profiles of the LOC and ATL, providing the first evidence of a malleable network adaptively altering its division of labor with top-down states. The LOC, regardless of task demand, automatically represents “bottom-up” statistical regularities of visual conformation (reflecting typical object size), whereas the ATL contributes to this computation when the context requires semantically based linkage of visual attributes to object recognition.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn the present study, we provide compelling evidence that the “top-down” cognitive state of an observer changes the dynamic interaction between different subregions of the ventral temporal cortex. Using inhibitory neurostimulation combined with a novel paradigm, we demonstrate a flexible division of labor in the neurocognitive architecture that underpins size knowledge: the lateral occipital cortex codes perceptually based aspects (statistical visual configuration of small/large objects), whereas the anterior temporal lobe represents semantically based aspects (object identity), with their involvement interactively weighted by task demand. The interactive nature of the ventral temporal cortex highlights how top-down modulation constrains and shapes neural representations in the visual system.
Epac Signaling Is Required for Cocaine-Induced Change in AMPA Receptor Subunit Composition in the Ventral Tegmental Area
Authors: Liu Xiaojie , Chen Yao , Tong Jiaqing , Reynolds Ashley M. , Proudfoot Sarah C. , Qi Jinshun , Penzes Peter , Lu Youming , Liu Qing-song
Published: April 2016

Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) and protein kinase A (PKA) are intracellular receptors for cAMP. Although PKA and its downstream effectors have been studied extensively in the context of drug addiction, whether and how Epac regulates cellular and behavioral effects of drugs of abuse remain essentially unknown. Epac is known to regulate AMPA receptor (AMPAR) trafficking. Previous studies have shown that a single cocaine exposurein vivoleads to an increase in GluA2-lacking AMPARs in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). We tested the hypothesis that Epac mediates cocaine-induced changes in AMPAR subunit composition in the VTA. We report that a single cocaine injectionin vivoin wild-type mice leads to inward rectification of EPSCs and renders EPSCs sensitive to a GluA2-lacking AMPAR blocker in VTA dopamine neurons. The cocaine-induced increase in GluA2-lacking AMPARs was absent in Epac2-deficient mice but not in Epac1-deficient mice. In addition, activation of Epac with the selective Epac agonist 8-CPT-2Me-cAMP (8-CPT) recapitulated the cocaine-induced increase in GluA2-lacking AMPARs, and the effects of 8-CPT were mediated by Epac2. We also show that conditioned place preference to cocaine was impaired in Epac2-deficient mice and in mice in which Epac2 was knocked down in the VTA but was not significantly altered in Epac1-deficient mice. Together, these results suggest that Epac2 is critically involved in the cocaine-induced change in AMPAR subunit composition and drug-cue associative learning.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAddictive drugs, such as cocaine, induce long-lasting adaptions in the reward circuits of the brain. A single intraperitoneal injection of cocaine leads to changes in the composition and property of the AMPAR that carries excitatory inputs to dopamine neurons. Here, we provide evidence that exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac), a cAMP sensor protein, is required for the cocaine-induced changes of the AMPAR. We found that the effects of cocaine were mimicked by activation of Epac but were blocked by genetic deletion of Epac. Furthermore, cocaine-cue associative learning was impaired in mice lacking Epac. These findings uncovered a critical role of Epac in regulating the cellular and behavioral actions of cocaine.
Neurotrophin-3 Regulates Synapse Development by Modulating TrkC-PTPσ Synaptic Adhesion and Intracellular Signaling Pathways
Authors: Han Kyung Ah , Woo Doyeon , Kim Seungjoon , Choii Gayoung , Jeon Sangmin , Won Seoung Youn , Kim Ho Min , Heo Won Do , Um Ji Won , Ko Jaewon
Published: April 2016

Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is a secreted neurotrophic factor that binds neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase C (TrkC), which in turn binds to presynaptic protein tyrosine phosphatase σ (PTPσ) to govern excitatory synapse development. However, whether and how NT-3 cooperates with the TrkC-PTPσ synaptic adhesion pathway and TrkC-mediated intracellular signaling pathways in rat cultured neurons has remained unclear. Here, we report that NT-3 enhances TrkC binding affinity for PTPσ. Strikingly, NT-3 treatment bidirectionally regulates the synaptogenic activity of TrkC: at concentrations of 10–25 ng/ml, NT-3 further enhanced the increase in synapse density induced by TrkC overexpression, whereas at higher concentrations, NT-3 abrogated TrkC-induced increases in synapse density. Semiquantitative immunoblotting and optogenetics-based imaging showed that 25 ng/ml NT-3 or light stimulation at a power that produced a comparable level of NT-3 (6.25 μW) activated only extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, whereas 100 ng/ml NT-3 (light intensity, 25 μW) further triggered the activation of phospholipase C-γ1 and CREB independently of PTPσ. Notably, disruption of TrkC intracellular signaling pathways, extracellular ligand binding, or kinase activity by point mutations compromised TrkC-induced increases in synapse density. Furthermore, only sparse, but not global, TrkC knock-down in cultured rat neurons significantly decreased synapse density, suggesting that intercellular differences in TrkC expression level are critical for its synapse-promoting action. Together, our data demonstrate that NT-3 is a key factor in excitatory synapse development that may direct higher-order assembly of the TrkC/PTPσ complex and activate distinct intracellular signaling cascades in a concentration-dependent manner to promote competition-based synapse development processes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn this study, we present several lines of experimental evidences to support the conclusion that neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) modulates the synaptic adhesion pathway involving neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase C (TrkC) and presynaptic protein tyrosine phosphatase σ (PTPσ) in a bidirectional manner at excitatory synapses. NT-3 acts in concentration-independent manner to facilitate TrkC-mediated presynaptic differentiation, whereas it acts in a concentration-dependent manner to exert differential effects on TrkC-mediated organization of postsynaptic development. We further investigated TrkC extracellular ligand binding, intracellular signaling pathways, and kinase activity in NT-3-induced synapse development. Last, we found that interneuronal differences in TrkC levels regulate the synapse number. Overall, these results suggest that NT-3 functions as a positive modulator of synaptogenesis involving TrkC and PTPσ.
Knockdown of Dyslexia-GeneDcdc2Interferes with Speech Sound Discrimination in Continuous Streams
Authors: Centanni Tracy Michelle , Booker Anne B. , Chen Fuyi , Sloan Andrew M. , Carraway Ryan S. , Rennaker Robert L. , LoTurco Joseph J. , Kilgard Michael P.
Published: April 2016

Dyslexia is the most common developmental language disorder and is marked by deficits in reading and phonological awareness. One theory of dyslexia suggests that the phonological awareness deficit is due to abnormal auditory processing of speech sounds. Variants inDCDC2and several other neural migration genes are associated with dyslexia and may contribute to auditory processing deficits. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that RNAi suppression ofDcdc2in rats causes abnormal cortical responses to sound and impaired speech sound discrimination. In the current study, rats were subjectedin uteroto RNA interference targeting of the geneDcdc2or a scrambled sequence. Primary auditory cortex (A1) responses were acquired from 11 rats (5 withDcdc2RNAi; DC−) before any behavioral training. A separate group of 8 rats (3 DC−) were trained on a variety of speech sound discrimination tasks, and auditory cortex responses were acquired following training.Dcdc2RNAi nearly eliminated the ability of rats to identify specific speech sounds from a continuous train of speech sounds but did not impair performance during discrimination of isolated speech sounds. The neural responses to speech sounds in A1 were not degraded as a function of presentation rate before training. These results suggest that A1 is not directly involved in the impaired speech discrimination caused byDcdc2RNAi. This result contrasts earlier results usingKiaa0319RNAi and suggests that different dyslexia genes may cause different deficits in the speech processing circuitry, which may explain differential responses to therapy.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAlthough dyslexia is diagnosed through reading difficulty, there is a great deal of variation in the phenotypes of these individuals. The underlying neural and genetic mechanisms causing these differences are still widely debated. In the current study, we demonstrate that suppression of a candidate-dyslexia gene causes deficits on tasks of rapid stimulus processing. These animals also exhibited abnormal neural plasticity after training, which may be a mechanism for why some children with dyslexia do not respond to intervention. These results are in stark contrast to our previous work with a different candidate gene, which caused a different set of deficits. Our results shed some light on possible neural and genetic mechanisms causing heterogeneity in the dyslexic population.