Price transmission and market power analysis in the Spanish seafood market chain

[cat] Espanya és un dels principals mercats de productes pesquers d’Europa i del món. El consum de productes pesquers ha estat tradicionalment molt important a Espanya, el 2005 es varen consumir 36,7 kg per persona (MAPA, diversos anys). Malgrat això, el mercat i cóm interactuen els diversos nivells de la cadena de comercialització han gaudit de poca atenció. En aquest estudi, utilitzant dades setmanals, s’analitza per als dotze principals productes pesquers, l’elasticitat en la transmissió de preus al llarg de la cadena de comercialització a Espanya (llotja, mercat central i detallista). Finalment s’investiga la presència d’assimetria en la transmissió de preus entre aquests nivells de mercat. Els resultats obtinguts tenen importants implicacions a l’hora d’analitzar la demanda, poder de mercat i marges al llarg del mercat per als productes pesquers.

Membrane-destabilizing activity of pH-responsive cationic lysine-based surfactants: role of charge position and alkyl chain length

Many strategies for treating diseases require the delivery of drugs into the cell cytoplasm following internalization within endosomal vesicles. Thus, compounds triggered by low pH to disrupt membranes and release endosomal contents into the cytosol are of particular interest. Here, we report novel cationic lysine-based surfactants (hydrochloride salts of N¿- and N¿-acyl lysine methyl ester) that differ in the position of the positive charge and the length of the alkyl chain. Amino acid-based surfactants could be promising novel biomaterials in drug delivery systems, given their biocompatible properties and low cytotoxic potential. We examined their ability to disrupt the cell membrane in a range of pH values, concentrations and incubation times, using a standard hemolysis assay as a model of endosomal membranes. Furthermore, we addressed the mechanism of surfactant-mediated membrane destabilization, including the effects of each surfactant on erythrocyte morphology as a function of pH. We found that only surfactants with the positive charge on the ¿-amino group of lysine showed pH-sensitive hemolytic activity and improved kinetics within the endosomal pH range, indicating that the positive charge position is critical for pH-responsive behavior. Moreover, our results showed that an increase in the alkyl chain length from 14 to 16 carbon atoms was associated with a lower ability to disrupt cell membranes. Knowledge on modulating surfactant-lipid bilayer interactions may help us to develop more efficient biocompatible amino acid-based drug delivery devices.

Respiratory chain dysfunction associated with multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions in antiretroviral therapy-related lipodystrophy.

Highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can induce a characteristic lipodystrophy syndrome characterized by peripheral fat wasting and central adiposity, usually associated with hyperlipidaemia and insulin resistance [1,2]. Indirect data have led some authors to propose that mitochondrial dysfunction could play a role in this syndrome [3,4].To date, as recently outlined by Kakuda et al. [5] in this journal, HIV-infected patients developing lipodystrophy have not been studied for mitochondrial changes or respiratory chain capacity...

Hindleg muscle energy and substrate balances in cold-exposed rats

Rats chronically cannulated in the carotid artery and the muscular branch of the femoral vein were subjected to a cold (4 °C) environment for up to 2 h. The changes in blood flow (measured with 46Sc microspheres) and arterio-venous differences in the concentrations of glucose, lactate, triacylglycerols and amino acids allowed the estimation of substrate (and energy) balances across the hindleg. Mean glucose uptake was 0.28mmol min21, mean lactate release was 0.33mmol min21 and the free fatty acid basal release of 0.31mmol min21 was practically zero upon exposure to the cold; the initial uptake of triacylglycerols gave place to a massive release following exposure. The measurement of PO·, PCO· and pH also allowed the estimation of oxygen, CO2 and bicarbonate balances and respiratory quotient changes across the hindleg. The contribution of amino acids to the energy balance of the hindleg was assumed to be low. These data were used to determine the sources of energy used to maintain muscle shivering with time. Three distinct phases were observed in hindleg substrate utilization. (1) The onset of shivering, with the use of glucose/glycogen and an increase in lactate efflux. Lipid oxidation was practically zero (respiratory quotient near 1), but the uptake of triacylglycerols from the blood remained unchanged. (2) A substrate-energy shift, with drastically decreased use of glucose/glycogen, and of lactate efflux; utilization of triacylglycerol as practically the sole source of energy (respiratory quotient approximately 0.7); decreasing uptake of triacylglycerol and increased tissue lipid mobilization. (3) The onset of a new heat-homeostasis setting for prolonged cold-exposure, with maintenance of muscle energy and heat production based on triacylglycerol utilization and efflux from the hindleg (muscle plus skin and subcutaneous adipose masses) contributing energy to help sustain heat production by the core organs and surrounding brown adipose tissue.

Price transmission and market power analysis in the Spanish seafood market chain

[cat] Espanya és un dels principals mercats de productes pesquers d’Europa i del món. El consum de productes pesquers ha estat tradicionalment molt important a Espanya, el 2005 es varen consumir 36,7 kg per persona (MAPA, diversos anys). Malgrat això, el mercat i cóm interactuen els diversos nivells de la cadena de comercialització han gaudit de poca atenció. En aquest estudi, utilitzant dades setmanals, s’analitza per als dotze principals productes pesquers, l’elasticitat en la transmissió de preus al llarg de la cadena de comercialització a Espanya (llotja, mercat central i detallista). Finalment s’investiga la presència d’assimetria en la transmissió de preus entre aquests nivells de mercat. Els resultats obtinguts tenen importants implicacions a l’hora d’analitzar la demanda, poder de mercat i marges al llarg del mercat per als productes pesquers.

Electronic structure and magnetic interactions of the spin-chain compounds Ca2CuO3 and Sr2CuO3

The results are presented of a combined periodic and cluster model approach to the electronic structure and magnetic interactions in the spin-chain compounds Ca2CuO3 and Sr2CuO3. An extended t-J model is presented that includes in-chain and interchain hopping and magnetic interaction processes with parameters extracted from ab initio calculations. For both compounds, the in-chain magnetic interaction is found to be around -240 meV, larger than in any of the other cuprates reported in the literature. The interchain magnetic coupling is found to be weakly antiferromagnetic, -1 meV. The effective in-chain hopping parameters are estimated to be ~650 meV for both compounds, whereas the value of the interchain hopping parameter is 30 meV for Sr2CuO3 and 40 meV for Ca2CuO3, in line with the larger interchain distance in the former compound. These effective parameters are shown to be consistent with expressions recently suggested for the Néel temperature and the magnetic moments, and with relations that emerge from the t-J model Hamiltonian. Next, we investigate the physical nature of the band gap. Periodic calculations indicate that an interpretation in terms of a charge-transfer insulator is the most appropriate one, in contrast to the suggestion of a covalent correlated insulator recently reported in the literature.

Legal Issues for FOSS-based Supply Chain Management ¿ Black Duck Software

Open source is typically outside of normal commercial software procurement processes.The Challenges.Increasingly diverse and distributed set of development resources.Little/no visibility into the origins of the software.Supply Chain Comparison: Hardware vs Software.Open source has revolutionized the mobile and device landscape, other industries will follow.Supply chain management techniques from hardware are useful for managing software.SPDX A standard format for communicating a software Bill of Materials across the supply chain.Effective management and control requires training, tools, processes and standards.

Reversible mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment during symptomatic hyperlactatemia associated with antiretroviral therapy

Direct evidence confirming the hypothesis that a dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) underlies the pathogenesis of hyperlactatemia associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is scarce. We studied mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and MRC function in the skeletal muscle of an HIV-infected patient during an episode of symptomatic hyperlactatemia. Skeletal muscle biopsy was performed during the episode when the patient was symptomatic and 3 months later when the patient was clinically recovered. Assessment of mitochondria was performed using histological, polarographic, spectrophotometrical, and Southern blot and real time PCR DNA quantification methods. The histological study disclosed extensive mitochondrial impairment in the form of ragged-red fibers or equivalents on oxidative reactions. These findings were associated with an increase in mitochondrial content and a decrease in both mitochondrial respiratory capacity and MRC enzyme activities. Mitochondrial DNA content declined to 53% of control values. Mitochondrial abnormalities had almost disappeared later when the patient became asymptomatic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MRC dysfunction stands at the basis of HAART-related hyperlactatemia.

Reversible mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment during symptomatic hyperlactatemia associated with antiretroviral therapy

Direct evidence confirming the hypothesis that a dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) underlies the pathogenesis of hyperlactatemia associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is scarce. We studied mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and MRC function in the skeletal muscle of an HIV-infected patient during an episode of symptomatic hyperlactatemia. Skeletal muscle biopsy was performed during the episode when the patient was symptomatic and 3 months later when the patient was clinically recovered. Assessment of mitochondria was performed using histological, polarographic, spectrophotometrical, and Southern blot and real time PCR DNA quantification methods. The histological study disclosed extensive mitochondrial impairment in the form of ragged-red fibers or equivalents on oxidative reactions. These findings were associated with an increase in mitochondrial content and a decrease in both mitochondrial respiratory capacity and MRC enzyme activities. Mitochondrial DNA content declined to 53% of control values. Mitochondrial abnormalities had almost disappeared later when the patient became asymptomatic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MRC dysfunction stands at the basis of HAART-related hyperlactatemia.

1,2-Dimethylindole-3-sulfonyl (MIS) as protecting group for the side chain of arginine

The protection of arginine (Arg) side chains is a crucial issue in peptide chemistry because of the propensity of the basic guanidinium group to produce side reactions. Currently, sulfonyl-type protecting groups, such as 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman (Pmc) and 2,2,4,6,7-pentamethyldihydrobenzofurane (Pbf), are the most widely used for this purpose. Nevertheless, Arg side chain protection remains problematic as a result of the acid stability of these two compounds. This issue is even more relevant in Arg-rich sequences, acid-sensitive peptides and large-scale syntheses. The 1,2-dimethylindole-3-sulfonyl (MIS) group is more acid-labile than Pmc and Pbf and can therefore be a better option for Arg side chain protection. In addition, MIS is compatible with tryptophan-containing peptides.

The differentiable chain functor is not homotopy equivalent to the continuous chain functor

Let $S_*$ and $S_*^\{infty}$ be the functors of continuous and differentiable singular chains on the category of differentiable manifolds. We prove that the natural transformation $i: S_*^\infty \rightarrow S_*$, which induces homology equivalences over each manifold, is not a natural homotopy equivalence.

Monoidal functors, acyclic models and chain operads

We prove that for a topological operad $P$ the operad of oriented cubical singular chains, $C^{\ord}_\ast(P)$, and the operad of simplicial singular chains, $S_\ast(P)$, are weakly equivalent. As a consequence, $C^{\ord}_\ast(P\nsemi\mathbb{Q})$ is formal if and only if $S_\ast(P\nsemi\mathbb{Q})$ is formal, thus linking together some formality results which are spread out in the literature. The proof is based on an acyclic models theorem for monoidal functors. We give different variants of the acyclic models theorem and apply the contravariant case to study the cohomology theories for simplicial sets defined by $R$-simplicial differential graded algebras.

Photocatalytic Activity of Nanostructured Anatase Coatings Obtained by Cold Gas Spray

This article describes a photocatalytic nanostructured anatase coating deposited by cold gas spray (CGS)supported on titanium sub-oxide (TiO22x) coatings obtained by atmospheric plasma spray (APS) onto stainless steel cylinders. The photocatalytic coating was homogeneous and preserved the composition and nanostructure of the starting powder. The inner titanium sub-oxide coating favored the deposition of anatase particles in the solid state. Agglomerated nano-TiO2 particles fragmented when impacting onto the hard surface of the APS TiO22x bond coat. The rough surface provided by APS provided an ideal scenario for entrapping the nanostructured particles, which may be adhered onto the bond coat due to chemical bonding; a possible bonding mechanism is described. Photocatalytic experiments showed that CGS nano-TiO2 coating was active for photodegrading phenol and formic acid under aqueous conditions. The results were similar to the performance obtained by competitor technologies and materials such as dip-coating P25 photocatalysts. Disparity in the final performance of the photoactive materials may have been caused by differences in grain size and the crystalline composition of titanium dioxide.

Reversible mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment during symptomatic hyperlactatemia associated with antiretroviral therapy

Direct evidence confirming the hypothesis that a dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) underlies the pathogenesis of hyperlactatemia associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is scarce. We studied mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and MRC function in the skeletal muscle of an HIV-infected patient during an episode of symptomatic hyperlactatemia. Skeletal muscle biopsy was performed during the episode when the patient was symptomatic and 3 months later when the patient was clinically recovered. Assessment of mitochondria was performed using histological, polarographic, spectrophotometrical, and Southern blot and real time PCR DNA quantification methods. The histological study disclosed extensive mitochondrial impairment in the form of ragged-red fibers or equivalents on oxidative reactions. These findings were associated with an increase in mitochondrial content and a decrease in both mitochondrial respiratory capacity and MRC enzyme activities. Mitochondrial DNA content declined to 53% of control values. Mitochondrial abnormalities had almost disappeared later when the patient became asymptomatic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MRC dysfunction stands at the basis of HAART-related hyperlactatemia.

Reversible mitochondrial respiratory chain impairment during symptomatic hyperlactatemia associated with antiretroviral therapy

Direct evidence confirming the hypothesis that a dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) underlies the pathogenesis of hyperlactatemia associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is scarce. We studied mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and MRC function in the skeletal muscle of an HIV-infected patient during an episode of symptomatic hyperlactatemia. Skeletal muscle biopsy was performed during the episode when the patient was symptomatic and 3 months later when the patient was clinically recovered. Assessment of mitochondria was performed using histological, polarographic, spectrophotometrical, and Southern blot and real time PCR DNA quantification methods. The histological study disclosed extensive mitochondrial impairment in the form of ragged-red fibers or equivalents on oxidative reactions. These findings were associated with an increase in mitochondrial content and a decrease in both mitochondrial respiratory capacity and MRC enzyme activities. Mitochondrial DNA content declined to 53% of control values. Mitochondrial abnormalities had almost disappeared later when the patient became asymptomatic. Our findings support the hypothesis that MRC dysfunction stands at the basis of HAART-related hyperlactatemia.