Cell stress-induced phosphorylation of ATF2 and c-Jun transcription factors in rat ventricular myocytes.

Ventricular myocytes are exposed to various pathologically important cell stresses in vivo. In vitro, extreme stresses (sorbitol-induced hyperosmotic shock in the presence or absence of okadaic acid, and anisomycin) were applied to ventricular myocytes cultured from neonatal rat hearts to induce a robust activation of the 46 and 54 kDa stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs). These activities were increased in nuclear extracts of cells in the absence of any net import of SAPK protein. Phosphorylation of ATF2 and c-Jun was increased as shown by the appearance of reduced-mobility species on SDS/PAGE, which were sensitive to treatment with protein phosphatase 2A. Hyperosmotic shock and anisomycin had no effect on the abundance of ATF2. In contrast, cell stresses induced a greater than 10-fold increase in total c-Jun immunoreactivity detected on Western blots with antibody to c-Jun (KM-1). Cycloheximide did not inhibit this increase, which we conclude represents phosphorylation of c-Jun. This conclusion was supported by use of a c-Jun(phospho-Ser-73) antibody. Immunostaining of cells also showed increases in nuclear phospho-c-Jun in response to hyperosmotic stress. Severe stress (hyperosmotic shock+okadaic acid for 2 h) induced proteins (migrating at approx. 51 and 57 kDa) that cross-reacted strongly with KM-1 antibodies in both the nucleus and the cytosol. These may represent forms of c-Jun that had undergone further modification. These studies show that stresses induce phosphorylation of transcription factors in ventricular myocytes and we suggest that this response may be pathologically relevant.

Bioethanol from lignocelluloses: Status and perspectives in Brazil

The National Alcohol Program - ProAlcool, created by the government of Brazil in 1975 resulted less dependency on fossil fuels. The addition of 25% ethanol to gasoline reduced the import of 550 million barrels oil and also reduced the emission CO(2) by 110 million tons. Today, 44% of the Brazilian energy matrix is renewable and 13.5% is derived from sugarcane. Brazil has a land area of 851 million hectares, of which 54% are preserved, including the Amazon forest (350 million hectares). From the land available for agriculture (340 million hectares), only 0.9% is occupied by sugarcane as energy crop, showing a great expansion potential. Studies have shown that in the coming years, ethanol yield per hectare of sugarcane, which presently is 6000 L/ha, could reach 10,000 L/ha, if 50% of the produced bagasse would be converted to ethanol. This article describes the efforts of different Brazilian institutions and research groups on second generation bioethanol production, especially from sugarcane bagasse. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relative roles of biogenic emissions and Saharan dust as ice nuclei in the Amazon basin

Some aerosol particles, known as ice nuclei, can initiate ice formation in clouds, thereby influencing precipitation, cloud dynamics and the amount of incoming and outgoing solar radiation. In the absence of biomass burning, aerosol mass concentrations in the Amazon basin are low(1). Tropical forests emit primary biological particles directly into the atmosphere; secondary organic aerosols form from the emission and oxidation of biogenic gases(2). In addition, particles derived from biomass burning in central Africa, marine aerosols, and windblown dust from North Africa(3-5) often reach the central part of the Amazon basin during the wet season. The contribution of these aerosol sources to ice nucleation in the region is uncertain. Here we present observations of the concentration and elemental composition of ice nuclei in the Amazon basin during the wet season. Using transmission electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, we show that ice nuclei are primarily composed of carbonaceous material and dust. We show that biological particles dominate the carbonaceous fraction, whereas import of Saharan dust explains the intermittent appearance of dust-containing nuclei. We conclude that ice-nucleus concentration and abundance can be explained almost entirely by local emissions of biological particles supplemented by import of Saharan dust. Using a simple model, we tentatively suggest that the contribution of local biological particles to ice nucleation is increased at higher atmospheric temperatures, whereas the contribution of dust particles is increased at lower temperatures.

The Xanthomonas citri effector protein PthA interacts with citrus proteins involved in nuclear transport, protein folding and ubiquitination associated with DNA repair

P>Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri utilizes the type III effector protein PthA to modulate host transcription to promote citrus canker. PthA proteins belong to the AvrBs3/PthA family and carry a domain comprising tandem repeats of 34 amino acids that mediates protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. We show here that variants of PthAs from a single bacterial strain localize to the nucleus of plant cells and form homo- and heterodimers through the association of their repeat regions. We hypothesize that the PthA variants might also interact with distinct host targets. Here, in addition to the interaction with alpha-importin, known to mediate the nuclear import of AvrBs3, we describe new interactions of PthAs with citrus proteins involved in protein folding and K63-linked ubiquitination. PthAs 2 and 3 preferentially interact with a citrus cyclophilin (Cyp) and with TDX, a tetratricopeptide domain-containing thioredoxin. In addition, PthAs 2 and 3, but not 1 and 4, interact with the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme complex formed by Ubc13 and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme variant (Uev), required for K63-linked ubiquitination and DNA repair. We show that Cyp, TDX and Uev interact with each other, and that Cyp and Uev localize to the nucleus of plant cells. Furthermore, the citrus Ubc13 and Uev proteins complement the DNA repair phenotype of the yeast Delta ubc13 and Delta mms2/uev1a mutants, strongly indicating that they are also involved in K63-linked ubiquitination and DNA repair. Notably, PthA 2 affects the growth of yeast cells in the presence of a DNA damage agent, suggesting that it inhibits K63-linked ubiquitination required for DNA repair.

Stoichiometry and thermodynamics of the interaction between the C-terminus of human 90 kDa heat shock protein Hsp90 and the mitochondrial translocase of outer membrane Tom70

A large majority of the 1000-1500 proteins in the mitochondria are encoded by the nuclear genome, and therefore, they are translated in the cytosol in the form and contain signals to enable the import of proteins into the organelle. The TOM complex is the major translocase of the outer membrane responsible for preprotein translocation. It consists of a general import pore complex and two membrane import receptors, Tom20 and Tom70. Tom70 contains a characteristic TPR domain, which is a docking site for the Hsp70 and Hsp90 chaperones. These chaperones are involved in protecting cytosolic preproteins from aggregation and then in delivering them to the TOM complex. Although highly significant, many aspects of the interaction between Tom70 and Hsp90 are still uncertain. Thus, we used biophysical tools to study the interaction between the C-terminal domain of Hsp90 (C-Hsp90), which contains the EEVD motif that binds to TPR domains, and the cytosolic fragment of Tom70. The results indicate a stoichiometry of binding of one monomer of Tom70 per dimer of C-Hsp90 with a K(D) of 360 30 nM, and the stoichiometry and thermodynamic parameters obtained suggested that Tom70 presents a different mechanism of interaction with Hsp90 when compared with other TPR proteins investigated. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mjukvaruverktyg för loggning och analys avindustriella processer

This report discusses developing a software log tool for analysis of industrial processes. The target was to develop software that can help electro Engineers for monitor and fault finding in industrial processes. The tool is called PLS (Process log server), and is developed in Visual Studio.NET Framework 2005. PLS works as a client with Beijer Electronics OPC Server. The program is able to read data from PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), trough the OPC Server. PLS connects to all kind of controllers that is supported by the Beijer Electronics OPC Server. Signal data is stored in a database for later analysis. Chosen signals data can easily be exported into a text file. The text file is adopted for import to MS Office Excel. User manual [UM-07] is written as a separate document. The software acted stable through the function test. The final product becomes a first-rate tool that is simple to use. As an advantage, the software can be developed with more functions in the future.

Trade effects of exchange rate fluctuations: Evidence from Sweden

An overview of the theoretical literature for the last two decades suggests that there is no clear-cut relationship one can pin down between exchange rate volatility and trade flows. Analytical results are based on specific assumptions and only hold in certain cases. Especially, the impact of exchange rate volatility on export and import activity investigated separately leads also to dissimilar conclusions among countries studied. The general presumption is that an increase in exchange rate volatility will have an adverse effect on trade flows and consequently, the overall heath of the world economy. However, neither theoretical models nor empirical studies provide us with a definitive answer, leaving obtained results highly ambiguous and inconsistent (Baum and Caglayan, 2006). We purposed to empirically investigate trade effects of exchange rate fluctuations in Sweden from the perspective of export and import in this research. The data comprises period from January 1993 to December 2006, where export and import volumes are considered from the point of their determinants, including exchange rate volatility, which has been measured through EGARCH model. The results for the case of Sweden show that short run dynamics of volatility negatively associated with both export and import, whereas considered from the case of previous period volatility it exhibits positive relationship. These results are consistent with the most findings of prior studies, where the relationship remained ambiguous.

Economic growth in Sweden, 2000-2010 : The dot-com bubble and the financial crisis

    Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. The total output is the quantity of goods or servicesproduced in a given time period within a country. Sweden was affected by two crises during the period 2000-2010: a dot-com bubble and a financial crisis. How did these two crises affect the economic growth?     The changes of domestic output can be separated into four parts: changes in intermediate demand, final domestic demand, export demand and import substitution. The main purpose of this article is to analyze the economic growth during the period 2000-2010, with focus on the dot-com bubble in the beginning of the period 2000-2005, and the financial crisis at the end of the period 2005-2010. The methodology to be used is the structural decomposition method.     This investigation shows that the main contributions to the Swedish total domestic output increase in both the period 2000-2005 and the period 2005-2010 were the effect of domestic demand. In the period 2005-2010, financial crisis weakened the effect of export. The output of the primary sector went from a negative change into a positive, explained mainly by strong export expansion. In the secondary sector, export had most effect in the period 2000-2005. Nevertheless, domestic demand and import ratio had more effect during the financial crisis period. Lastly, in the tertiary sector, domestic demand can mainly explain the output growth in the whole period 2000-2010.

Soft money : private foundations of party politics

In the area of campaign financing in federal elections, one of the most controversial issues is that of soft money. Soft money refers to those funds raised by the national party organizations for use on various grassroots and party-building activities. but which are not subject to the restraints of federal campaign finance law. Critics contend that these party-building activitie, such as generic television advertising, voter registration and get-out-the vote drives, provide ancillary benefits to federal candidates and should, therefore, be subject to federal contribution and expenditure limits. Critics further argue that because these funds are not subject to federal law and do benefit federal candidates, the national parties raise monies in amounts and from sources, such as corporations and unions, that are prohibited under federal law. Efforts to gain a better understanding of soft money have been hampered by a lack of data, as the national parties were not required to disclose their soft money receipts and transactions until 1991. The purpose of this study is to analyze data recently made available in an attempt to add the import of empirical evidence to the debate over soft money. The nature, size and timing of soft money contributions are investigated and national party soft money disbursements are examined. The findings suggest that any attempts to reform the soft money system must first consider its compensatory benefits. Most prominently, this includes the extent to which soft money has promoted the resurgence of the national party organizations in the context of election politics.

Análise das variáveis organizacionais do comportamento de compra das grandes empresas industriais do Rio Grande do Sul

Compreender o comportamento de compra das organizações é um importante desafio, tanto para os meios acadêmicos quanto empresariais, não apenas pela abrangência e complexidade do tema, mas também pelos volumes de negócios envolvidos entre empresas. Com o intuito de contribuir com o aprofundamento dos conhecimentos atinentes ao assunto, o presente estudo objetivou descrever as variáveis organizacionais referentes ao comportamento de compra das grandes empresas industriais associadas à Federação das Indústrias do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram pesquisadas 82 organizações com mais de 500 funcionários e analisados seus comportamentos relativos à compra de itens considerados "A" de estoque e utilizados diretamente em seus processos produtivos. Buscou-se verificar a utilização da tecnologia como forma de otimização de processos, o nível de prúfissionalização dos funcionários dos departamentos, a fonnalização e centralização empregadas nas atividades de compras, as principais políticas, regras e procedimentos da área, a participação da mesma em decisões consideradas de alto nível relativas a fontes de suprimentos e a predominância de atividades estratégicas ou operacionais no funcionamento dos setores de compras. Visou-se também identificar a existência de associações entre tais aspectos e o tamanho das empresas. Verificou-se que as empresas preocupam-se com o investimento em recursos para os setores de compras, através do oferecimento de treinamentos a seus funcionários e da disponibilização de tecnologias para a otimização de rotinas. Constatou-se também que as organizações são, em geral, bastante formalizadas e centralizadas, e que o comprador dispõe de pouca autonomia. Com relação às políticas relativas a fontes de fornecimento, observou-se que a maioria das empresas pratica a terceirização de seus processos produtivos e possui relacionamentos mais estreitos com seus fornecedores, sem entretanto, limitar-se a uma base local de suprimento, pois reconhecem e adquirem insumos de acordo com as alternativas globais. Identificou-se ainda a prevalência de atividades operacionais em relação às estratégicas no funcionamento dos setores de aquisição pesquisados. Com relação ao tamanho das organizações, foi possível constatar que as maiores tendem a oferecer mais treinamentos a seus profissionais de compras, possuem mais recursos tecnológicos alocados a estes setores, mais comumente estabelecem relacionamentos de longo prazo com os fornecedores e importam componentes.

The evolution of TFP in Latin America

Due to widespread government intervention and import-substitution industrialization, there has been a general perception that Latin America has always been less productive than the leading economies. In this paper, however, we show that until the mid-seventies Latin America had high productivity levels relative to the US and other regions. Moreover, total factor productivity in Latin America increased relative to the US during this period, declining only in the subsequent years.

Formação do campo publicitário brasileiro 1930-1970

Este relatório sucede a um anterior que examinou a industrialização americana e a constituição de uma sociedade de consumo nos EUA entre 1870 e 1930. Uma vez examinada a situação nos EUA, lida-se aqui com a expansão internacional da publicidade americana no Brasil, a partir da instalação das primeiras filiais de agências americanas na década de 1920. O papel de relevo que elas tiveram na formação de profissionais e de um mercado publicitário no país é examinado dentro da lógica do interesse comercial das grandes corporações, assim como dentro da lógica dos interesses do governo americano em relação ao Brasil durante e após a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Observando-se as biografias de dois publicitários brasileiros que construíram carreira nessas agências Rodolfo Lima Martensen e Renato Castelo Branco, o texto mostra o perfil social dos jovens suscetíveis de se interessar por um ramo de atividade novo no país e bastante distante das alternativas profissionais valorizadas para quem tinha alguma probabilidade de acesso ao ensino superior. Focalizando o período compreendido entre 1930 e 1970, a análise dá conta do surgimento de um campo publicitário relativamente autônomo no Brasil, no qual brasileiros conseguem abrir agências e competir as americanas que controlavam o mercado. O novo contexto favorece profissionais com inserção necessária a agir nos bastidores do governo e da política, para conquistar contas públicas, assessorar candidatos e partidos e negociar interesses categoriais. Tudo isso em uma conjuntura em que a atividade publicitária se transfere do Rio a São Paulo, o país transita da democracia ao autoritarismo militar, a mídia eletrônica suplanta a impressa e a industrialização por substituição de importações avança em ritmo muito forte.

Evolução setorial e trajetórias tecnológicas em nível de empresas na indústria de celulose e papel no Brasil (1970 - 2004): contexto da política de substituição de importações à competição globalizada

Accordingly, a variety of firms's technological capabilities studies, the literature recently is still lacking about the dynamic of sector evolution and technological development in inter-firm and their implication for technical and economical financial performance. More lacking is the research catching up the evolution of industrial sectors after the institutional reforms in the 90. For that, the focus of the dissertation is to analyze the main of the evolution of the pulp and paper industry from 1970 to 2004, using as reference points the import-substitution policy and the economic deregulation of the 1990s. Futhermore, the work tries to evaluate how such changes at industry level have been perceived from a firm point of view in terms of accumulation of technological capabilities and improvement of economic financial performance. This linkage is tested and examined in the following firms: Aracruz (Barra do Riacho establishment ), Klabin (Monte Alegre establishment) e Votorantim Celulose e Papel ¿ VCP (Jacareí establishment), defining the same time period of sectoral level. As far as the industry level study is concerned, it is based on the average rate of annual growth of some selected variables, given that the technological capabilities test is performed according to the methodology already existing in the literature, but properly adapted to the pulp and paper case. Similarly, the analysis regarding the improvement of the economic financial performance is based on a set of industry specific indicators. Hence, the work is built upon multiple case studies, taking into account both the qualitative and quantitative evidence, i.e. interviews, direct observations, as well as firm reports. Finally, it is worth emphasizing as the analysis of the changes in the sector, in conjunction with the above mentioned methodology used to measure the technological capabilities in the context of an evolving industrial regime, is still lacking in emerging economies as well as in Brazil. According to the empirical evidence, the reforms of the 1990s had a positive impact on the industrial development, from both the national and international viewpoint. Such a transformation was evident at firm level in terms of accumulation of technological capabilities and improvement of economic financial indicators. Indeed, the results show that the speed of accumulation of technological capabilities within the firms influences positively the performance indicators. On the other hand, these are also related to external factors, such as the macroeconomic conditions, which as such have not been considered in details.

Ensaios em opções reais e investimento sob incerteza

Esta tese é composta por três artigos, nos quais são apresentadas extensões e aplicações da Teoria das Opções Reais, todas de interesse para formuladores de política econômica no Brasil. O primeiro faz uma análise original da questão da bioprospecção, ou a exploração da diversidade biológica para fins econômicos. Duas estruturas alternativas para o desenho do mecanismo de concessão, visando o uso sustentável da biodiversidade brasileira, são sugeridas: (i) um modelo de projetos de P&D com maturidade incerta, no qual a intensidade do processo de Poisson que governa o tempo de maturação é explicitamente dependente do nível da biodiversidade no local concedido; (ii) um modelo de Agente-Principal, onde o Estado delega o exercício da opção de investimento à empresa de pesquisa biotecnológica. O segundo artigo avança a analogia entre opções de venda (“put options”) e cotas de importação. Os parâmetros relevantes para apreçar as licenças são agora obtidos endogenamente, a partir da interação entre a firma importadora e os produtores domésticos. Por fim, no terceiro, é feita análise pioneira do mercado paralelo de títulos precatórios no Brasil. Um modelo para a valoração de tais títulos é construído e proposto, tendo por base o arcabouço institucional existente sobre o assunto, tanto no governo central, como nos estados e municípios.

Crescimento econômico secular no Brasil, modelo de thirlwall e termos de troca

Explaining the Brazilian economic growth performance during the 20th is a challenging task to academics. As shown, Brazil had already experienced faster growth and recently it is far from such belle époque. Most explanation lies on conventional frameworks. This paper assesses the Thirlwall’s balance-of-payments constraint model to Brazilian economic growth in the period 1900-2005, highlighting the importance of the terms of trade. The results show, first, that the terms of trade are significant in the estimation of import demand function and change the income elasticity, especially in the first period of the sample (1900-1970), and, second, when the simplest Thirlwall’s model is controlled by terms of trade, it seems that such variable is important through export growth, which cause changes in economic performance.