THE RELEVANCE OF SUBSIDIARY INITIATIVES FOR BRAZILIAN MULTINATIONALS

The put-pose of this paper is to analyze relationship patterns between headquarters and subsidiaries of Brazilian Multinationals Enterprises (BrMNEs). The key construct for that investigation is Subsidiary Initiative, which comprises Subsidiary Entrepreneurial Orientation, Autonomy, Integration, Local Competitive Context and Business Network. A survey was carried out in a sample of 65 subsidiaries of 29 BrMNEs. The main outcome is that subsidiaries are highly integrated and receive Entrepreneurial Orientation from Headquarters (HQs), but Initiative is limited. Actually, the main determinants of subsidiary's initiatives are Local Context and Business Networking in the host country. This apparent paradox may be explained by what we call 'rebellious subsidiaries', which take initiatives based on their business environment and connections, regardless of their HQs' directions or delegation of autonomy.

Relevance of leaf surface contamination for assessing chemical composition of bromeliads in a restinga forest

Resuspended soil and other airborne particles adhered to the leaf surface affect the chemical composition of the plant. A well-defined cleaning procedure is necessary to avoid this problem, providing a correct assessment of the inherent chemical composition of bromeliads. To evaluate the influence of a washing procedure, INAA was applied for determining chemical elements in the leaves of bromeliads from Vriesea carinata species, both non-washed and washed with Alconox, EDTA and bi-distilled water. Br, Ce, Hg, La, Sc, Se, Sm and Th showed higher mass fractions in non-washed leaves. The washing procedure removed the exogenous material without leaching chemical elements from inside the tissues.

Relevance of extractives and wood transformation products on the biodegradation of Pinus taeda by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora

Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is a promising white-rot fungus for biopulping. However, the underlying biochemistry involved in lignin removal and insignificant cellulose degradation by this species is not completely understood. This paper addresses this topic focusing on the involvement of ethanol-soluble extractives and wood transformation products in the biodegradation process. Cultures containing ethanol-extracted or in natura wood chips presented similar levels of extracellular enzymes and degradation of wood components. Fe3+-reducing compounds present in undecayed Pinus taeda were rapidly diminished by fungal degradation. Lignin-degradation products released during biodegradation restored part of the Fe3+-reducing activity. However, Fe3+ reduction was ineffective in presence of 0.5 mM oxalate at pH 4.5. Fungal consumption of Fe3+-reducing compounds and secretion of oxalic acid minimized the significance of Fenton`s reaction in the initial stages of wood biotreatment. This would explain limited polysaccharide degradation by the fungus that also lacks a complete set of hydrolytic enzymes. Scientific relevance of the paper: Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is a white-rot fungus suitable for biopulping processes because it degrades lignin selectively and causes significant structural changes on the wood components during the earlier decay stages. However, the intricate mechanism to explain lignin transformation and insignificant cellulose degradation by this species remains poorly understood. Some recent evidences pointed out for lipid peroxidation reactions as all initiating process explaining lignin degradation. On the other hand, alkylitaconic acids produced by the fungus via transformations of fatty acids occurring in wood showed to prevent polysaccharide degradation in Fenton reactions. In this context, one may conclude that the involvement of native wood substances or their transformation products in the overall wood biodegradation process induced by C subvermispora is still a matter of discussion. While free and esterified fatty acids present in wood extractives may be involved in the biosynthesis of alkylitaconic acids and in lipid peroxidation reactions, some extractives and lignin degradation products can reduce Fe3+, providing Fe2+ species needed to form OH radical via Fenton`s reaction. The present study focuses on this topic by evaluating the relevance of ethanol-soluble extractives and wood transformation products on the biodegradation of P. taeda by C subvermispora. For this, solid-state cultures containing ethanol-extracted and in natura wood chips were evaluated in details for up to 4 weeks. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lignocellulosic polysaccharides and lignin degradation by wood decay fungi: the relevance of nonenzymatic Fenton-based reactions

The brown rot fungus Wolfiporia cocos and the selective white rot fungus Perenniporia medulla-panis produce peptides and phenolate-derivative compounds as low molecular weight Fe(3+)-reductants. Phenolates were the major compounds with Fe(3+)-reducing activity in both fungi and displayed Fe(3+)-reducing activity at pH 2.0 and 4.5 in the absence and presence of oxalic acid. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified. Together with Fe(3+) and H(2)O(2) (mediated Fenton reaction) they produced oxygen radicals that oxidized lignocellulosic polysaccharides and lignin extensively in vitro under conditions similar to those found in vivo. These results indicate that, in addition to the extensively studied Gloeophyllum trabeum-a model brown rot fungus-other brown rot fungi as well as selective white rot fungi, possess the means to promote Fenton chemistry to degrade cellulose and hemicellulose, and to modify lignin. Moreover, new information is provided, particularly regarding how lignin is attacked, and either repolymerized or solubilized depending on the type of fungal attack, and suggests a new pathway for selective white rot degradation of wood. The importance of Fenton reactions mediated by phenolates operating separately or synergistically with carbohydrate-degrading enzymes in brown rot fungi, and lignin-modifying enzymes in white rot fungi is discussed. This research improves our understanding of natural processes in carbon cycling in the environment, which may enable the exploration of novel methods for bioconversion of lignocellulose in the production of biofuels or polymers, in addition to the development of new and better ways to protect wood from degradation by microorganisms.

Distribution of transferrin saturation in an Australian population: Relevance to the early diagnosis of hemochromatosis

Background & Aims: An elevated transferrin saturation is the earliest phenotypic abnormality in hereditary hemochromatosis. Determination of transferrin saturation remains the most useful noninvasive screening test for affected individuals, but there is debate as to the appropriate screening level. The aims of this study were to estimate the mean transferrin saturation in hemochromatosis heterozygotes and normal individuals and to evaluate potential transferrin saturation screening levels. Methods: Statistical mixture modeling was applied to data from a survey of asymptomatic Australians to estimate the mean transferrin saturation in hemochromatosis heterozygotes and normal individuals. To evaluate potential transferrin saturation screening levels, modeling results were compared with data from identified hemochromatosis heterozygotes and homozygotes. Results: After removal of hemochromatosis homozygotes, two populations of transferrin saturation were identified in asymptomatic Australians (P < 0.01). In men, 88.2% of the truncated sample had a lower mean transferrin saturation of 24.1%, whereas 11.8% had an increased mean transferrin saturation of 37.3%. Similar results were found in women, A transferrin saturation threshold of 45% identified 98% of homozygotes without misidentifying any normal individuals. Conclusions: The results confirm that hemochromatosis heterozygotes form a distinct transferrin saturation subpopulation and support the use of transferrin saturation as an inexpensive screening test for hemochromatosis. In practice, a fasting transferrin saturation of greater than or equal to 45% identifies virtually all affected homozygous subjects without necessitating further investigation of unaffected normal individuals.

Initial results of ultrasound screening for aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in Western Australia: relevance for endoluminal treatment of aneurysm disease

Background. Increased life expectancy in men during the last thirty years is largely due to the decrease in mortality from cardiovascular disease in the age group 29-69 yr. This change has resulted in a change in the disease profile of the population with conditions such as aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (AAA) becoming more prevalent. The advent of endoluminal treatment for AAA has encouraged prophylactic intervention and fuelled the argument to screen for the disease. The feasibility of inserting an endoluminal graft is dependent on the morphology and growth characteristics of the aneurysm. This study used data from a randomized controlled trial of ultrasound screening for AAA in men aged 65-83 yr in Western Australia for the purpose of determining the norms of the living anatomy in the pressurized infrarenal aorta. Aims. To examine (1) the diameters of the infra-renal aorta in aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal cases, (2) the implications for treatment modalities, with particular reference to endoluminal grafting, which is most dependent on normal and aneurysmal morphology, and (3) any evidence to support the notion that northern Europeans are predisposed to aneurysmal disease. Methods. Using ultrasound, a randomized control trial was established in Western Australia to assess the value of a screening program in males aged 65-83 yr, The infra-renal aorta was defined as aneurysmal if the maximum diameter was 30 mm or more. Aortic diameter was modelled both as a continuous tin mm) and as a binary outcome variable, for those men who had an infra-renal diameter of 30 mm or more. ANOVA and linear regression were used for modelling aortic diameter as a continuum, while chi-square analysis and logistic regression were used in comparing men with and without the diagnosis of AAA. Findings. By December 1998, of 19.583 men had been invited to undergo ultrasound screening for AAA, 12.203 accepted the invitation (corrected response fraction 70.8%). The prevalence of AAA increased with age from 4.8% at 65 yr to 10.8% at 80 yr (chi (2) = 77.9, df = 3, P<0.001). The median (IQR) diameter for the non-aneurysmal group was 21.4 mm (3.3 mm) and there was an increase (<chi>(2) = 76.0, df = 1, P<0.001) in the diameter of the infra-renal aorta with age. Since 27 mm is the 95th centile for the non-aneurysmal infra-renal aorta, a diameter of 30 mm or more is justified as defining an aneurysm. The risk of AAA was higher in men of Australian (OR = 1.0) and northern European origin (OR = 1.0, 95%CL: 0.9. 1.2) compared with those of Mediterranean origin (OR = 0.5, 99%CL: 0.4, 0.7). Conclusion. Although screening has not yet been shown to reduce mortality from AAA. these population-based data assist the understanding of aneurysmal disease and the further development and use of endoluminal grafts for this condition. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery.

The Controllership Relevance or Risk Management in non-Financial Companies: a study of risk managers` and controllers` perceptions

The purpose of this study is to analyze the Controllership relevance as support risk management in non-financial companies. Risk management is a widely discussed and disseminated subject amongst financial institutions. It is obvious that economic uncertainties and, consequently, prevention and. control must also exist in non-financial companies. To enable managers to take safe-decisions, it is essential for them to be able to count on instrumental support that provides timely and adequate information, to ensure lower levels of mistakes and risk exposure. However, discussion concerning risk management in non-financial companies is still in its early stages in Brazil. Considering this gap, this study aims at assessing how Controllership has been acting in? companies under the insight of risk and how it can contribute to risk management in non-financial companies. To achieve the proposed goal, a field research was. carried-out with non-financial companies that are located in the city Sao Paulo and listed in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa). The research was carried out using questionnaires, which were sent do Risk Officers and Controllers of those companies with the purpose of evaluating their perception on the subject. The results,of the research allow us to conclude that Controllership offers support to risk management, through information that contributes to the mitigation of the risks in non-financial companies.

Antimicrobial Activity of Rosmarinus officinalis against Oral Pathogens: Relevance of Carnosic Acid and Carnosol

The in vitro inhibitory activity of crude EtOH/H(2)O extracts from the leaves and stems of Rosmarinus officinalis L. was evaluated against the following microorganisms responsible for initiating dental caries: Streptococcus mutans, salivarius, S. sobrinus, S. mitts 5 sanguinis, and Enterococcus faecalis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined with the broth microdilution method. The bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaf extract, which displayed the higher antibacterial activity than the stem extract, led to the identification of carnosic acid (2) and carnosol (3) as the major compounds in the fraction displaying the highest activity, as identified by HPLC analysis. Rosmarinic acid (1), detected in another fraction, did not display any activity against the selected microorganisms. HPLC Analysis revealed the presence of low amounts of ursolic acid (4) and oleanolic acid (5) in the obtained fractions. The results suggest that the antimicrobial activity of the extract from the leaves of R. officinalis may be ascribed mainly to the action of 2 and 3.

Aquisition and extinction of two characteristics consistent with fear relevance

Fear relevance, the potential of a stimulus to become quickly associated with fear, is a characteristic assumed to have an evolutionary basis and to result in preferential processing. Previous research has shown that fear relevant stimuli share a number of characteristics, negative valence and preferential identification in a visual search task, for instance. The present research examined whether these two characteristics can be acquired by non-fear relevant stimuli (geometric shapes) as a result of Pavlovian fear conditioning. Two experiments employed an aversive learning paradigm with geometric shape CSs and a shock US, with stimulus ratings, affective priming and visual search performance assessed before and after acquisition and after extinction. Differential electrodermal responses, larger during CS1 than CS, were present during acquisition but not during extinction. Affective priming results suggest that the CS1 acquired negative valence during acquisition, which was lost during extinction. However, negative valence as indexed by more negative ratings for CS1 than for CS shapes seemed to survive extinction. Preferential attentional processing as indexed by faster detection of CS1 among CS shapes than vice versa on the visual search task also remained. The current research confirmed that characteristics of fear relevant stimuli can be acquired in an aversive learning episode and that they may be extinguished. This supports the proposal that fear relevance may be malleable through learning.

Liver transplantation and quality of life: relevance of a specific liver disease questionnaire

Aim: A positive effect of liver transplantation on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been well documented in previous studies using generic instruments. Our aim was to re-evaluate different aspects of HRQOL before and after liver transplantation with a relatively new questionnaire the `liver disease quality of life` (LDQOL). Methods: The LDQOL and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires were applied to ambulatory patients, either in the transplant list (n=65) or after 6 months to 5 years of liver transplant (n=61). The aetiology of cirrhosis, comorbidities, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) Child-Pugh scores and recurrence of liver disease after liver transplantation were analysed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis tests. Results: In patients awaiting liver transplantation, MELD scores >= 15 and Child-Pugh class C showed statistically significant worse HRQOL, using both the SF-36 and the LDQOL questionnaires. HRQOL in pretransplant patients was found to be significantly worse in those with cirrhosis owing to hepatitis C (n=30) when compared with other aetiologies (n=35) in 2/7 domains of the SF-36 and in 7/12 domains of the LDQOL. Significant deterioration of HRQOL after recurrence of hepatitis C post-transplant was detected with the LDQOL questionnaire although not demonstrated with the SF-36. The statistically significant differences were in the LDQOL domains: symptoms of liver disease, concentration, memory and health distress. Conclusions: The LDQOL, a specific instrument for measuring HRQOL, has shown a greater accuracy in relation to liver symptoms and could demonstrate, with better reliability, impairments before and after liver transplantation.

Mutations of the thyroglobulin gene and its relevance to thyroid disorders

Purpose of review To perform an update review on thyroglobulin gene mutations associated with congenital hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, and autoimmunity. Recent findings Forty-two thyroglobulin mutations have been identified in dyshormonogenetic congenital hypothyroidism. Clinical and laboratory criteria defining defective thyroglobulin synthesis are mostly related to thyroglobulin mutations, generally caused by intracellular thyroglobulin transport defects to the colloid rather than defects in thyroid hormones synthesis. Some mutated thyroglobulin may escape the rigorous chaperone control and reach the colloid, allowing a wide phenotypic spectrum that includes euthyroidism in an adequate iodine environment. In some patients, continuous levothyroxine treatment does not reduce elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels that may lead to goiter development. Prenatally, inactive mutant thyroglobulin will not be able to synthesize thyroid hormones and may increase pituitary thyrotroph threshold for thyroid hormone feedback. Congenital goiter is a risk factor for thyroid cancer and some thyroglobulin variants may confer susceptibility to thyroid autoimmunity. Summary Advances in the understanding of thyroglobulin genetic defects and its severity should allow researchers to perform adequate molecular diagnosis, genetic counseling, and intrauterine treatment to prevent subtle deficits in central nervous system development. This knowledge should improve the understanding of physiological functions of the thyroid and influence of nutritional iodine.

Experimental models of sepsis and their clinical relevance

Sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality mainly because of sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction. In contrast to preclinical studies, most clinical trials of promising new treatment strategies for sepsis have failed to demonstrate efficacy. Although many reasons could account for this discrepancy, the misinterpretation of preclinical data obtained from experimental studies and especially the use of animal models that do not adequately mimic human sepsis may have been contributing factors. In this review, the potentials and limitations of various animal models of sepsis are discussed to clarify to which extent these findings are relevant to human sepsis. Such models include intravascular infusion of endotoxin or live bacteria, bacterial peritonitis, cecal ligation and perforation, soft tissue infection, pneumonia or meningitis models using different animal species including rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, pigs, sheep, and nonhuman primates. Despite several limitations, animal models remain essential in the development of all new therapies for sepsis and septic shock because they provide fundamental information about the pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and mechanism of drug action that cannot be replaced by other methods. New therapeutic agents should be studied in infection models, even after the initiation of the septic process. Furthermore, debility conditions need to be reproduced to avoid the exclusive use of healthy animals, which often do not represent the human septic patient.

Prognostic relevance of TTF-1 and MMP-9 expression in advanced lung adenocarcinoma

Background: The thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is a tissue-specific transcription factor that Could playan important role in cell differentiation and morphogenesis of lung tumors. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a protease commonly expressed in non-small cell lung cancer, conferring angiogenic and metastatic potential. Methods: We assessed TTF-1 and MMP-9 tumor expression by immunohistochemistry in 51 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, stage 11113 or IV, treated with platinum regimens. A bicategorical prognostic model was obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method, COX regression, and conjunctive consolidation. Results: The median expression of TTF-1 was 30.0% (range: 0-85.9%). All tumors expressed MMP-9 (median: 78.7%: range: 15.2-96.1%). Median survival was 41.6 weeks, with estimated 1- and 2-year survival rates of 45.0% and 22.0%, respectively. Poor performance status (Karnofsky scale) - hazards ratio(HR): 1.03. 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.06: low TTF-1 expression (<40%) - FIR: 4.00, 95% CI: 1.75-9.09: and high MMP-9 expression (>= 80%) - HR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.30-6.08 were independent prognostic factors. Patients could be stratified in three death risk groups according to markers expression: low risk (high TTF-1 and low MMP-9; median survival: 127.6 weeks), intermediate risk (low TTF-1 OF high MMP-9; median survival: 39.0 weeks): and high risk (low TTF-1 and high MMP-9: median survival: 16.4 weeks). Conclusion: TTF-1 and MMP-9 tumor expression as detected by immunohistochemistry may allow identification of different, clinically meaningful, prognostic groups of advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients treated with platinum regimens. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.