Cross-border reverse takeover: o caso das multinacionais brasileiras

O Cross-border reverse takeover, conduzido pelas multinacionais brasileiras, gerou desempenho superior? Cross-border reverse takeover tem sido a expressão usada para designar a aquisição de empresas em países desenvolvidos por empresas de países em desenvolvimento. Essas aquisições, reversas porque invertem o fluxo tradicional dos investimentos internacionais, respondem atualmente por parcela significativa desses investimentos e colocam em cheque a forma tradicional de pensar os negócios internacionais. Meu argumento é que as empresas que fizeram aquisições em países desenvolvidos passam a ter acesso aos recursos não disponíveis no país de origem, tais como novas tecnologias, técnicas de gestão mais avançadas, mercado de capitais mais desenvolvidos, recursos financeiros de baixo custo, entre outros. Por outro lado, elas já desenvolveram competências para gerir esses recursos e passam a ter vantagem competitiva sobre os competidores locais, levando ao desempenho superior. No entanto, partindo dos dados da base de dados Thomson ONE, que registra todas as fusões e aquisições anunciadas, oncluídas ou não, e empregando as metodologias de estudos de evento e de regressões multivariadas, com base em dados contábeis sobre uma amostra de empresas brasileiras listadas em bolsa de valores, esta tese demonstra que estatisticamente não é possível afirmar que essas empresas obtiveram desempenho superior.

Quantification of polyphenols with potential antioxidant properties in wines using reverse phase HPLC

A RP-HPLC method with photodiode array detection (DAD) was developed to separate, identify and quantify simultaneously the most representative phenolic compounds present in Madeira and Canary Islands wines. The optimized chromatographic method was carefully validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy and sensitivity. A high repeatability and a good stability of phenolics retention times (a3%) were obtained, as well as relative peak area. Also high recoveries were achieved, over 80.3%. Polyphenols calibration curves showed a good linearity (r2 A0.994) within test ranges. Detection limits ranged between 0.03 and 11.5 lg/mL for the different polyphenols. A good repeatability was obtained, with intra-day variations less than 7.9%. The described method was successfully applied to quantify several polyphenols in 26 samples of different kinds of wine (red, ros and white wines) from Madeira and Canary Islands. Gallic acid was by far the most predominant acid. It represents more than 65% of all phenolics, followed by p-coumaric and caffeic acids. The major flavonoid found in Madeira wines was trans-resveratrol. In some wines, (–)-epicatechin was also found in highest amount. Canary wines were shown to be rich in gallic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids and quercetin.

Selection and validation of reference genes for gene expression studies by reverse transcription quantitative PCR in Xanthomonas citri subsp citri during infection of Citrus sinensis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Hydrocephalus and moderate mental retardation in a boy with Van der Woude phenotype and IRF6 gene mutation

In this report, we present a boy with lower lip pits, distinct craniofacial dysmorphism with cleft lip and palate, central nervous system malformation, and severe mental retardation. Similar but less pronounced facial findings were present in his mentally normal mother and maternal grandfather, both presenting with lower lip pits. Cleft lip was present in patient's father. Analysis of the VWS1 and VWS2 regions were performed to elucidate the molecular basis of the phenotype of the propositus. Screening or mutations at the IRF6 gene detected a pathogenic mutation (c.960G > C) in the propositus and in his mother; and a single nucleotide polymorphism (c.175-5C > G) in the propositus and in his father. Clinical and genetic aspects of this case are discussed.

A new algorithm for Reverse Monte Carlo simulations

We present a new algorithm for Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulations of liquids. During the simulations, we calculate energy, excess chemical potentials, bond-angle distributions and three-body correlations. This allows us to test the quality and physical meaning of RMC-generated results and its limitations. It also indicates the possibility to explore orientational correlations from simple scattering experiments. The new technique has been applied to bulk hard-sphere and Lennard-Jones systems and compared to standard Metropolis Monte Carlo results. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.

A study of reverse logistics flow management in vehicle battery industries in the midwest of the state of São Paulo (Brazil)

Having the objective of minimizing costs and improving their image in the consumer and export market, car battery industries began to seek environmental alternatives geared towards sustainable development. Reverse logistics flow represents an unprecedented tool for the economic and operational development of company activities, as well as a differential in the search for competitive advantages through environmentally correct practices. The aim of this paper is to describe the reverse logistics chain adopted by automotive battery industries in the midwest of the state of São Paulo, proposing a reverse logistics framework for small manufacturers that creates actions aimed at not harming the environment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel mutation (Q40P) in PAX8 associated with congenital hypothyroidism and thyroid hypoplasia: Evidence for phenotypic variability in mother and child

Congenital hypothyroidism associated with thyroid hypoplasia can be caused by several genetic defects, including mutations in the TSH beta -subunit, the TSH receptor, the G(A)alpha -subunit, and the transcription factor PAX8. Four girls with sporadic congenital hypothyroidism and hypoplastic thyroid glands were analyzed for mutations in PAX8 and TTF2 (FKHL15). Mutations in the coding region of the TSH beta -subunit gene, the TSH receptor gene, and exons 8 and 9 of G(mu)alpha had been excluded previously. Serum TSH concentrations were 150 mU/liter or more, TG levels were within normal limits, and thyroid autoantibodies were absent. Technetium scintigraphies did not reveal the presence of thyroid tissue, but ultrasonography documented hypoplastic, normally located glands.One patient was found to harbor a heterozygous transversion 119A -->C in exon 3 of PAX8 replacing a conserved glutamine by proline in the paired box domain (Q40P). Analysis of her family members revealed that her mother, who has a thyroid gland of normal size and mild, adult-onset autoimmune hypothyroidism, is also heterozygous for this mutation. Functional analyses of the PAX8 Q40P mutation showed impaired binding to a PAX8 response element and absent transactivation of a thyroid peroxidase promoter luciferase reporter gene.These findings confirm the important role of PAX8 in the development of the thyroid, but they indicate that PAX8 gene mutations may have a variable penetrance or expressivity. The absence of mutations in the coding sequences of the analyzed genes in the three other patients supports the concept that the pathogenesis of congenital hypothyroidism associated with thyroid hypoplasia is diverse.

Brazilian natural dietary components (annatto, propolis and mushrooms) protecting against mutation and cancer

Considering the high number of new cancer cases in Brazil (approximately 470 000 cases in 2005) and the remarkable differences in the incidence of this disease around the world, the development of chemopreventive strategies using foods widely consumed would have a huge impact, both medically and economically. This review summarizes some of our studies conducted to verify the anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic potential of some Brazilian natural dietary constituents (annatto, mushrooms, and propolis). Overall data have shown a clear role for these compounds in preventing mutation and specific preneoplastic lesions. Taken together, these agents indicate a favorable side-effect profile and may prove to be a promising alternative for cancer prevention strategies, although more investigation is needed to fully explore this issue.

Dietary components may prevent mutation-related diseases in humans

Since it is not always possible to reduce human exposure to mutagens, attempts have been directed to identify potential antimutagens and anticarcinogens for use in protecting the population against environmental disease. The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with information about the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic potentials of some dietary constituents and foods widely consumed in Brazil, and to reinforce diet as a key factor in determining genomic stability and preventing human diseases. In this report, we have summarized data that show interactive effects between some dietary components and specific chemical mutagens or carcinogens using in vitro and in vivo short- or medium-term assays. The summary indicates that certain dietary compounds may be useful agents for disease prevention. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A nonsense mutation in the tyrosinase gene causes albinism in water buffalo

Background: Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is an autosomal recessive hereditary pigmentation disorder affecting humans and several other animal species. Oculocutaneous albinism was studied in a herd of Murrah buffalo to determine the clinical presentation and genetic basis of albinism in this species.Results: Clinical examinations and pedigree analysis were performed in an affected herd, and wild-type and OCA tyrosinase mRNA sequences were obtained. The main clinical findings were photophobia and a lack of pigmentation of the hair, skin, horns, hooves, mucosa, and iris. The results of segregation analysis suggest that this disease is acquired through recessive inheritance. In the OCA buffalo, a single-base substitution was detected at nucleotide 1,431 (G to A), which leads to the conversion of tryptophan into a stop codon at residue 477.Conclusion: This premature stop codon produces an inactive protein, which is responsible for the OCA buffalo phenotype. These findings will be useful for future studies of albinism in buffalo and as a possible model to study diseases caused by a premature stop codon.

Targeted Nucleotide Exchange in Bovine Myostatin Gene

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Visual detection of turkey coronavirus RNA in tissues and feces by reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) with hydroxynaphthol blue dye

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Direct detection of infectious bursal disease virus from clinical samples by in situ reverse transcriptase-linked polymerase chain reaction

The presence of the very virulent (vv) Brazilian strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was determined in the bursa of Fabricius, thymus and liver of 2-week-old broilers from a flock with a higher than expected mortality. For this purpose, a direct in situ reverse transcriptase (RT)-linked polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed using specific primers for vvIBDV. Unlabelled forward and reverse biotinylated oligonucleotides were used for RT-PCR in a one-step method and the respective products were revealed by a direct enzymatic reaction. The results were compared with those obtained by standard RT-PCR using general primers for IBDV and virus isolation. The virus isolation, RT-PCR and in situ RT-PCR revealed positive results on the bursa of Fabricius in 86%, 80% and 100%, respectively. The in situ RT-PCR detected vvIBDV in all tested thymus and liver samples, whereas the standard RT-PCR detected virus in 80% and 90% of the samples, respectively. After three consecutive passages on chicken embryonated eggs, IBDV was isolated from 64% of the thymus samples and 30% of the liver samples. In the present study, no classical or antigenic variants of IBDV were detected. The developed in situ RT-PCR assay was able to detect the very virulent strain of IBDV with a higher sensitivity than the conventional RT-PCR and virus isolation.