Estimation of network externalities and critical mass in the mobile telephone market: a panel data analysis of the OECD countries

Network Externalities, Mobile Telecommunication, Critical Mass

Galectin-1 in myelin repair

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a member of a highly conserved family of animal lectins which binds to the common disaccharide [Galβ(1-4)-GlcNAc] on both N- and O-glycans decorating cell surface glycoconjugates. Current evidence supports a role for Gal-1 in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases, as approximately one third of MS patients generate high titres of anti-Gal-1 antibodies. Four different lesion types have been described in MS: pattern-1 and -2 lesions are thought to be mediated by the autoimmune response, while pattern-3 and -4 lesions are considered primary oligodendropathy. The first two types are experimentally simulated in mice by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), while the second two are mimicked by toxic models such as cuprizone (CPZ) or lysolecithin (LPC) administration. Studies in EAE models have demonstrated that Gal-1 is highly expressed in the acute phase of the disease and that its deficiency leads to severe inflammation-induced neurodegeneration [1]. Regarding its mechanism of action,Fil: Rinaldi, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Thomas, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Pasquini, Laura Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; Argentin

Household debt sustainability: what explains household non-performing loans? An empirical analysis

Sound household financial conditions are relevant for both financial and monetary stability. Therefore, we analyse household financial fragility in a sample of euro area countries with the aim to shed some light on the nature of the large debt increase accumulated in recent years. We focus on household arrears on payment obligations, which are one of the most direct measures of financial stress of the sector. The probability of falling into arrears is derived from a life-cycle type of model and is investigated empirically using a cross-section and time series approach. We analyse cointegration and model arrears within an errorcorrection framework. The results suggest that the financial conditions of households might become more vulnerable to adverse shocks in their income and wealth. JEL Classification: C23, G21, D14default, household debt sustainability, non-performing loans, Panel Cointegration

Toxoplasmosis in livestock in Italy: an epidemiological update

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic infections of human being and other warm-blooded animals. It has been found worldwide from Alaska to Australia. Public health organizations repeatedly encourage the collection of accurate data about T. gondii in animals and humans due to its medical importance as a major source of parasitic zoonosis. For these reasons, epidemiological updates on toxoplasmosis in livestock are strongly advised also to plan control strategies. In the present paper, seroprevalence data on T. gondii that have been recorded in livestock from different Italian regions over the last 3 decades are reviewed, showing the high level of exposure of livestock to this parasite

Modelling riverbank retreat by combining reach-scale hydraulic models with bank-scale erosion and stability analyses

River morphodynamics and sediment transportBank erosion and protectio

POTENSI PENERAPAN PRODUKSI BERSIH PADA RUMAH POTONG HEWAN (RPH) KOTA JAMBI

Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menganalisis  potensi  pencemaran dan pemanfaatan limbah cair dan limbah padat dari UPTD Rumah Potong Hewan (RPH) Kota Jambi, serta  penerapan produksi bersih bersih berdasarkan Guidance Manual: How to Establish and Operate Cleaner Production Centres.  Parameter  yang  diambil  adalah  BOD,  COD, TSS,  Minyak  &  Lemak,  pH.  Limbah  padat  berupa  C  dan  N,  serta  wawancara dengan  pekerja.  Hasil  penelitian  menunjukan  kualitas  BOD  11.280  mg/l,  COD 17.110 mg/l, TSS 2.300 mg/l, Minyak & Lemak 168 mg/l berada di atas standar baku  mutu  yang  berpotensi  mencemari  lingkungan  kecuali  pH  7,9  yang  masih dibawah  baku  mutu.  Darah  dapat  berpotensi  sebagai  pakan  ternak  sekitar  60 kg/hari,  urine  menjadi  pupuk  organik  cair  sekitar  900  liter.  Limbah  padat berpotensi  menjadi  Pembangkit  Listrik  Tenaga  Biogas  (PLTB)  sekitar  11,28 kWh/hari  dan  pupuk  organik/kompos  yang  bisa  meningkatkan  produktivitas pertanian  sekitar  180kg/hari.  kesimpulan  yang  dapat  diambil  untuk mengoptimalkan  produksi  bersih,  yakni:  pemasangan  keran,  pemasangan  water sprayer  gun,  penggunaan  masker,  dan  pembuatan  poster  mengenai  produksi dengan penghematan mencapai Rp 3.718.578,08/tahun

Household debt sustainability: what explains household non-performing loans? An empirical analysis

Sound household financial conditions are relevant for both financial and monetary stability. Therefore, we analyse household financial fragility in a sample of euro area countries with the aim to shed some light on the nature of the large debt increase accumulated in recent years. We focus on household arrears on payment obligations, which are one of the most direct measures of financial stress of the sector. The probability of falling into arrears is derived from a life-cycle type of model and is investigated empirically using a cross-section and time series approach. We analyse cointegration and model arrears within an errorcorrection framework. The results suggest that the financial conditions of households might become more vulnerable to adverse shocks in their income and wealth

A Model of the Card Payment System and the Interchange Fee

We analyse a card payment system to assess the economic impact of the interchange fee. This fee is paid by the bank of the merchant, the acquirer, to the bank of the consumer, the issuer. We build up a mode in order to explore whether the interchange fee can enhance the participation to the system and thus increase the benefits of the system as a whole. We also investigate what kind of incentives the interchange fee provides to the actors of the system. We show that the interchange fee selected by the card associations differs from the one that would be selected by a welfare maximising social planner. Moreover the interchange fee selected by the market is likely to produce a smaller market for cards than the socially optimal one

A microwave-based chemical factory in the lab: From milligram to multigram preparations

Microwave technology is changing the way we design and optimize synthetic protocols and their scaling up to multigram production levels. The latest generation of dedicated microwave reactors enables operators to quickly screen reaction conditions by means of parallel tests and select the best catalyst, solvent, and conditions. Pilot scale synthetic procedures require flow-through conditions in microwave flow reactors which can be obtained by adapting classic batch protocols. Microwave-assisted chemical processes play a pivotal role in the design of sustainable multigram preparations which address the double requirement of process intensification and competitive production costs. Although most researchers are likely to be acquainted with the great potential of dielectric heating, the advantages and disadvantages of a particular device or the conditions needed to maximize efficiency and functionality are often overlooked. The double aims of the present review are to provide a panoramic snapshot of commercially available lab microwave reactors and their features as well as highlighting a few selected applications of microwave chemistry of particular relevance