Bank regulation and the process of internationalisation: a study of Japanese bank entry into London

The paper provides a theoretical insight into bank regulation and the process of internationalisation by examining the concepts of regulatory push and market pull within the context of Japanese bank entry into London during the 1980s. Rugman and Verbeke's [(1998). Corporate strategy and international environmental policy. Journal of International Business Studies, 29(4), 819–833] Consistency of Home and Host Government Goals model is utilised to structure the discussion, which centres on a situation where there is a conflict of goals between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the home government but goal alignment between MNEs and the host government. As such the paper examines a relatively under-researched aspect of internationalisation and concludes that in certain circumstances internationalisation can occur despite great ‘psychic distance’. The paper also argues that although bank regulation can lead to a conflict situation it can also be conducive to the development of a strong home base and the development of firm specific advantages.

From warfare to welfare: veterans, military charities and the blurred spatiality of post-service welfare in the United Kingdom

The military offers a form of welfare-for-work but when personnel leave they lose this safety net, a loss exacerbated by the rollback neoliberalism of the contemporary welfare state. Increasingly the third sector has stepped in to address veterans’ welfare needs through operating within and across military/civilian and state/market/community spaces and cultures. In this paper we use both veterans’ and military charities’ experiences to analyse the complex politics that govern the liminal boundary zone of post-military welfare. Through exploring ‘crossing’ and ‘bridging’ we conceptualise military charities as ‘boundary subjects’, active yet dependent on the continuation of the civilian-military binary, and argue that the latter is better understood as a multidirectional, multiscalar and contextual continuum. Post-military welfare emerges as a competitive, confused and confusing assemblage that needs to be made more navigable in order to better support the ‘heroic poor’.

NORs inheritance analysis in crossings including individuals from two stocks of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Silver nitrate staining of rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss) chromosomes, for the identification of the nucleolar organizing regions (NORs), revealed that in individuals from Nucleo Experimental de Salmonicultura de Campos do Jordao (Brazil) NORs were located in the long arms of a submetacentric pair while in specimens from Mount Shasta (USA) NORs were located in the short arms of a submetacentric pair. Cytogenetic analysis of the offspring, obtained through artificial crosses including individuals from both stocks, allowed the identification of NORs in two submetacentric chromosomes, one in the short arms and the other in the long arms, confirming the effectiveness of the hybridization process. Complementary results obtained using the FISH technique with 18S and 5S rDNA probes showed that NOR-bearing chromosomes exhibited a cluster of 5S genes located in tandem with the 18S gene cluster in both stocks. The results allow us to suggest that the difference in NOR-bearing chromosomes found between the two stocks is likely to be due to a pericentric inversion involving the chromosome segment where 18S and 5S rDNA genes are located. The presence of ribosomal genes in the long arms of a submetacentric chromosome is apparently a particular characteristic of the rainbow trout stock of Campos do Jordao and might be used as a chromosome marker in studies of controlled crosses in this species.

Relationships among growth and different NOR phenotypes in a specific stock of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

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

SEX-CHROMOSOME POLYMORPHISM AND HETEROGAMETIC MALES REVEALED BY 2 CLONED DNA PROBES IN THE ZW ZZ FISH LEPORINUS-ELONGATUS

In order to study the divergence of teleost sex chromosomes, subtractive cloning was carried out between genomic DNA of males and females of the rainbow trout (XX/XY) and of Leporinus elongatus (ZW/ZZ). Inserts cloned in a plasmid vector were individually tested on Southern blots of DNA of males and females for sex specificity. No sex-specific insert was obtained from trout, but two out of ten inserts cloned from L. elongatus showed sex-specific patterns in this species: one corresponds to a sequence present on both Z and W chromosomes, while the other is W specific. Sequences of these two inserts show neither clear homology with other known sequences, nor an open reading frame. They cross-hybridize with the genomic DNA of Leporinus friderici, but without sex-specific patterns. Twenty-four L. elongatus adults were sexed by gonadal observation, chromosomed examination and Southern hybridization with one or the other insert. Ten males and 11 females had chromosomes and hybridization patterns typical of their sex. One ZW female was recognized as a male with the W-specific probe. This was also the case for two unusual ZW males, one having a male hybridization pattern with the other probe. These three atypical individuals may result from single genetic exchanges between four regions of the Z and the W, giving rise to three atypical W chromosomes. Finding males with such atypical heterochromosomes in a female heterogametic species may indicate that a gradual transition occurs between the heterogametic systems.

Biologia, direitos humanos e educação: diálogos necessários

Nessa pesquisa investigo no discurso biológico moderno, teorias e proposições que legitimam as igualdades e desigualdades sociais a partir de argumentos considerados científicos, a fim de relacioná-las à Educação em Direitos Humanos. Minha motivação inicial para tal estudo decorreu da identificação de concepções contrárias a valores humanísticos entre estudantes da educação básica. Concepções essas mantidas e defendidas a partir de argumentos tidos como científicos por esses sujeitos, que ao serem indagados sobre temas relacionados à raça, etnia, sexualidade e organização social manifestaram preconceitos usando elementos do discurso biológico como forma de justificar suas idéias. Com o propósito de estabelecer relações entre Discurso Biológico e Educação em Direitos Humanos, recorro aos valores presentes na Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos que integram um projeto global de ensino das prerrogativas estabelecidas pela Organização das Nações Unidas e à análise de três obras de referência da Biologia Moderna A Origem do Homem e a Seleção Sexual, de Charles Darwin (1809-1882); O Gene Egoísta, de Richard Dawkins (1941 -) e A Origem da Espécie Humana, de Richard Leakey (1944 -). O material empírico selecionado foi organizado e investigado com a utilização de princípios metodológicos da análise de conteúdo, inclusive a construção do corpo textual que recebe inferências em seu desenvolvimento, proporcionando a visualização de discursos que refutam ou corroboram valores próximos às concepções humanísticas presentes nos Direitos Humanos. A diversidade dos discursos biológicos analisados partindo de razões diferentes, indicam a necessidade do ensino de valores altruístas e cooperativos, quer por trazerem argumentos reveladores de nossa natureza egoísta quer por defenderem nossa tendência ao altruísmo inato que precisa ser mantido e reforçado pelos meios culturais. Os temas desenvolvidos no trabalho promovem múltiplas discussões que podem ser aproveitadas por educadores em ciências biológicas para, ao ensinar biologia, divulgar, educar e refletir sobre Direitos Humanos.

Dressed perturbation theory for the quark propagator: Fernando Enrique Serna Algarín. -

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Processing yield and chemical composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with regard to body weight

The influence of weight (W) category of the rainbow trout on processing yield and chemical composition of the entire eviscerated fish and fish fillet was analyzed. A completely randomized design was employed for processing variables (W1 = 300 to 370 g and W2 = 371 to 440) coupled to a 2 x 2 factorial scheme for the chemical composition (W1 and W2 and forms of presentation: fillet and whole eviscerated fish). W1 showed higher yield for entire eviscerated fish (83.00%) and head (13.27%), but a lower yield for the viscera (17.00%), when compared to W2. We did not affect abdominal muscle yield, fillet with or without skin, skin percentage and residues. There were significant differences between W for moisture (W1 = 72.30% and W2 = 71.15%) and lipids (CP1 = 7.96% and CP2 = 9.04%) rates. Fillet moisture contents (73.74%) and crude protein (19.05%) were higher (p < 0.01) than for entire eviscerated fish (69.71% and 17.81%, respectively). Ash (2.15%) and lipid (10.48%) rates were higher (p < 0.01) for entire fish when compared to those of fillets (1.16% and 6.52%, respectively). The slaughter of fish weighing between 300 and 370 g and their fillets are more adequate for the market.

In vivo and in vitro effects of antioxidant compounds and PPAR γ modulators on rainbow trout oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

The aquafeed use of raw plant materials, as protein and lipid sources, has been considered and approved as a sustainable alternative to fish products (fish meal and oils) because the current trend to use high-lipid diets has been shown to induce undesirable increase in fat depots or further physiological alterations, such as induction of oxidative stress. In the aquaculture perspective, the addition of natural substances with antioxidant properties is an emerging strategy for protecting biological systems and foodstuffs from oxidative damage. Among natural substances, hydroxytyrosol (HT) and caffeic acid (CA) have attracted considerable attention as food antioxidant additives and modulators of physiological and molecular pathways involved in energy metabolism and adiposity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CA and HT on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In vitro results showed the potential anti-obesogenic effects of the compounds CA and HT on the adipose tissue of the rainbow trout. To support these data, in vitro assays performed (MTT, ORO, immunofluorescence) resulted in accordance among them; only results from proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) assay were not significant. In vivo results showed a possible anti-obesogenic effect of CA in liver and HT in adipose tissue. Regarding oxidative stress, we could hypothesize a possible anti-oxidant role of CA in liver.

The effect of 3 versus 6 years of zoledronic acid treatment of osteoporosis: a randomized extension to the HORIZON-Pivotal Fracture Trial (PFT)

Zoledronic acid 5 mg (ZOL) annually for 3 years reduces fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. To investigate long-term effects of ZOL on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk, the Health Outcomes and Reduced Incidence with Zoledronic acid Once Yearly-Pivotal Fracture Trial (HORIZON-PFT) was extended to 6 years. In this international, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled extension trial, 1233 postmenopausal women who received ZOL for 3 years in the core study were randomized to 3 additional years of ZOL (Z6, n = 616) or placebo (Z3P3, n = 617). The primary endpoint was femoral neck (FN) BMD percentage change from year 3 to 6 in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary endpoints included other BMD sites, fractures, biochemical bone turnover markers, and safety. In years 3 to 6, FN-BMD remained constant in Z6 and dropped slightly in Z3P3 (between-treatment difference = 1.04%; 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 1.7; p = 0.0009) but remained above pretreatment levels. Other BMD sites showed similar differences. Biochemical markers remained constant in Z6 but rose slightly in Z3P3, remaining well below pretreatment levels in both. New morphometric vertebral fractures were lower in the Z6 (n = 14) versus Z3P3 (n = 30) group (odds ratio = 0.51; p = 0.035), whereas other fractures were not different. Significantly more Z6 patients had a transient increase in serum creatinine >0.5 mg/dL (0.65% versus 2.94% in Z3P3). Nonsignificant increases in Z6 of atrial fibrillation serious adverse events (2.0% versus 1.1% in Z3P3; p = 0.26) and stroke (3.1% versus 1.5% in Z3P3; p = 0.06) were seen. Postdose symptoms were similar in both groups. Reports of hypertension were significantly lower in Z6 versus Z3P3 (7.8% versus 15.1%, p < 0.001). Small differences in bone density and markers in those who continued versus those who stopped treatment suggest residual effects, and therefore, after 3 years of annual ZOL, many patients may discontinue therapy up to 3 years. However, vertebral fracture reductions suggest that those at high fracture risk, particularly vertebral fracture, may benefit by continued treatment.