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In recent years, a greater portion of international trade is conducted by multinational firms. In this paper, I empirically analyze the relation between firms’ multinational status and pricing behavior associating with foreign tax rate and exchange rate using data in US manufacturing industries. The results show that prices in industries with lower intrafirm share are more sensitive to foreign tax rate change. Also, this study concludes that industries with more intrafirm transaction show lower pass-through rate., Article, 【論文／Articles】

第5回観測ロケットシンポジウム(2023年2月28日-3月1日. オンライン開催), 5th Sounding Rocket Symposium(February 28-March 1, 2023. Online Meeting), 資料番号: SA6000185001, レポート番号: Ⅰ-1

Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is highly prevalent in older women, and previous studies suggest the involvement of hormonal factors play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. KOA causes musculoskeletal impairment, resulting in decreased physical activity, muscle mass, and strength, which leads to sarcopenia and further increases the burden on healthcare systems. Oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) improves joint pain and muscle performance in early menopausal women. Muscle resistance exercise (MRE) is a non-pharmacological method that preserves the physical functions of patients with KOA. However, data on short-term oestrogen administration combined with MRE in postmenopausal women, especially in those aged > 65 years, are limited. Therefore, this study presents a protocol of a trial aimed to examine the synergistic effect of ERT and MRE on lower-limb physical performance in older women with KOA. Methods We will conduct a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial in 80 Japanese women aged > 65 years living independently with knee pain. The participants will be randomly categorised into two groups: (1) 12-week MRE programme with transdermal oestrogen gel containing 0.54 mg oestradiol per push and (2) 12-week MRE programme with placebo gel. The primary outcome measured using the 30-s chair stand test, and secondary outcomes (body composition, lower-limb muscle strength, physical performance, self-reported measure of knee pain, and quality of life) will be measured at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months, and these outcomes will be analysed based on the intention-to-treat. Discussion The EPOK trial is the first study to focus on the efficacy of ERT on MRE among women aged > 65 years with KOA. This trial will provide an effective MRE to prevent KOA-induced lower-limb muscle weakness, confirming the benefit of short-term oestrogen administration. Trial registration Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs061210062. Registered 17th December 2021, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs061210062.

In this paper, we analyze how firms’ export status affects price markups using Chilean plant-level data. We rely on the framework in Gandhi, Navarro and Rivers （2020） to estimate the industry-level markups, controlling for unobserved heterogeneity. We show that globally operating firms tend to set higher markups than firms supplying only domestic market, which supports findings in international trade literature. We also consider firms’ characteristics such as foreign technical supports status and material import status and analyze how those factors affect their markups. We conclude that firms linked with foreign countries either by trade or technology adoption tends to set higher markups., Article, 【論文／Articles】

北米にいる講師が大阪にいる受講生にリアルタイムで講義をする形式の遠隔授業にスマートフォン対応授業支援アプリを導入した．その方法と効果について双方向性コミュニケーションの観点から議論した．いくつかの授業支援システムを組み合わせることにより，講師と受講生間のコミュニケーションが向上し，学習環境が改善された．, Bidirectional communications are crucial to distance courses where an instructor in North America gives a lecture to students in Japan. Implementation of a new smartphone compatible learning support system better assists bidirectional communications on a video conference system. Combination of multiple learning support systems creates a better learning environment, and provides more tools for the instructor and students to communicate naturally.

An endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase specific for plant glycoprotein oligosaccharides was purified from the culture fluid of a fungus. The Mr of the purified enzyme was 89,000. This enzyme was stable at pH 5.5-7.0, up to 30 degrees C, and showed the highest activity at pH 6.0. Among sugar chains tested, xylose-containing sugar chains (M3X, M3FX, and M2FX) were the most favored substrates. Oligomannose type (M3, M5, and M9) and hybrid type (GNM3) sugar chains were hydrolyzed much more slowly than xylose-containing sugar chains, and a complex type sugar chain (GN2M3) was not hydrolyzed at all by the enzyme. Moreover, the enzyme released sugar chains from native horseradish peroxidase and stem bromelain, which were not hydrolyzed by other endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases (Endo H, D, and F). The enzyme could transfer the xylose-containing sugar chain from bromelain to DNS-Asn-GlcNAc-Fuc.