State capitalism and capital markets: Comparing securities exchanges in emerging markets

Finance plays a major role in discussions about state capitalism in emerging markets, but the focus has so far been on banks. Capital markets have been neglected. Moreover, findings from the growing literature on financialization in emerging markets indicate that in some cases there is increasing state involvement in the development and functioning of capital markets. Hence, the relationship between the state and finance in these economies may be fundamentally different from the picture provided by liberal Western-centric perspectives. Instead of looking at capital markets as uniform entities, we propose to analyse them as variegated – while characterized by common financialization processes, they can be informed by different institutional logics, leading to very different market dynamics and outcomes. We explore to what extent these differences exist and how state-capitalist economies facilitate capital market development. Our comparative institutional analysis of securities exchanges as central parts of capital markets in six increasingly financialized emerging market economies – Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa and South Korea – focuses on the degree to which capital markets are integrated into state-capitalist institutions. Instead of mere platforms on which market transactions take place, we analyse exchanges as powerful actors which actively shape capital markets. While in most advanced economies exchanges are situated within an institutional setting informed by neoliberal institutional logic, we demonstrate that exchanges in emerging markets often organize capital markets to facilitate state objectives

Characterization of novel NADPH oxidases in endothelial cells under basal and stress conditions

Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to vascular diseases like pulmonary hypertension and atherosclerosis. Although a NOX2-containing NADPH oxidase similar to the neutrophil one has been described to be active in endothelial cells, the contribution of newly discovered NOX homologues (NOX1-NOX5) was still unclear. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to better characterize the expression, regulation and function of NOX homologues in different endothelial cell models. First, we could demonstrate the presence of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, NOX5 including NOX5S as well as p22phox mRNA and protein levels in Ea.Hy926 or HMEC-1 cells. Furthermore, NOX5 protein was also present in endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall of spleen and lung tissue. We found that NOX2, NOX4 and NOX5 were present in an intracellular perinuclear compartment, whereby NOX2 and NOX4 could be localized simultaneously in one cell. NOX2, NOX4, NOX5 were able to interact with p22phox and overexpression of NOX2, NOX4 and NOX5 increased ROS generation, although NOX5-dependent ROS generation did not require the presence of p22phox. NOX2, NOX4 and NOX5 also increased endothelial proliferation while depletion of NOX2, NOX4 and NOX5 decreased ROS generation, proliferation and tube forming ability indicating angiogenic activity under basal conditions. NOX2- and NOX4-induced proliferation was mediated by p38 MAP kinase. Although NOX1 expression as well as the expression of its regulatory subunits NOXO1 and NOXA1 was detectable in endothelial cells, depletion of NOX1 did not significantly affect basal ROS generation or proliferation of endothelial cells. Second, we could demonstrate the upregulation of NOX2, NOX5 and NOX5S after thrombin stimulation in endothelial cells and the modulation of p22phox expression in an ATF4- and XBP1-dependent manner under ER-stress conditions. Cellular stress either by thrombin or UPR also induced ROS generation of endothelial cells. In addition, thrombin induced proliferation and enhanced the tube forming ability of endothelial cells. Thrombin-induced ROS generation, proliferation and tube forming ability were diminished by silencing NOX2 or NOX5, whereas UPR induced ROS generation was inhibited by silencing p22phox as well as by silencing ATF4 or XBP1. In summary, this work provides evidence that in endothelial cells, NOX2, NOX4 and NOX5, but not NOX1, contribute to basal ROS generation, proliferation and angiogenesis and that the NOX proteins NOX2 and NOX5 as well as p22phox play an important role in the response to thrombin and ER-stress providing new insights in endothelial function and redox signaling

„Serve the City“: an empirical-theological study of adolescent participation from a public theology perspective

Den Ausgangspunkt für die vorliegenden Ausführungen stellt der Blick auf gegenwärtige und zukünftige gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen im gelebten Miteinander dar. Von Seiten der Öffentlichen Theologie wird der Anspruch erhoben einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Bewältigung gesellschaftlicher Problemstellungen liefern zu können. Die vorliegende Arbeit möchte diesen teilweise eher theoretisch erhobenen Anspruch in Verbindung mit einem praktisch umgesetzten Projekt beleuchten und dabei der Frage nachgehen, wie den bestehenden Herausforderungen begegnet werden kann. Dabei geht es explizit, um partizipative Strukturen und deren Förderung. Partizipation gilt als entscheidendes Element für ein funktionierendes, gesellschaftliches Miteinander. Partizipationsförderung mit Blick auf Jugendliche beinhaltet dabei ein aktivierendes, ein förderndes und ein zuwendendes Element. Im Rahmen dieser Untersuchung soll der Frage nachgegangen werden, welche Zugangswege Jugendliche zu partizipativem Engagement nehmen, wie diese ausgestaltet und erlebt werden und wie es verstärkt oder gefördert werden kann. Von der Beantwortung dieser Fragen werden konkrete Handlungsoptionen für das Forschungsprojekt STC-Bremen abgeleitet und darüber hinaus verallgemeinerbare Interpretationen geliefert, welche anderen konkreten Handlungsfelder bei der Weiterentwicklung helfen sollen.The basis for the work at hand is a look at current and future societal challenges in living together in communities. Public Theology claims to offer an important contribution as far as the overcoming of societal issues is concerned. The aim of this research is to shed light on this theoretical claim by relating it to a practically applied project while asking the question how the existing challenges can be dealt with. It is explicitly about participatory structures and their advancement. Participation is considered a key element for functioning communities in society. The advancement of participation for young people contains an element of activation, support and care. This research investigates which access paths the young people chose for their participatory engagement, how these are designed and experienced, and finally, how these paths can be strengthened and developed. The response to these questions resulted in concrete courses of action for the research project STC-Bremen, and furthermore, in generalized interpretations which can aid the development of other fields of action.Philosophy, Practical and Systematic TheologyM.A. (Practical Theology

Balancing on the Triple-Bottom-Line: Tensions in the Success Factors of Digital Business Models for Sustainability

We need innovations that enable a sustainable economy and sustainable private consumption to meet the grand challenges of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As an essential source of innovation, startups play a crucial role in improving sustainability by creating innovative and sustainable products and services as part of their business models (BMs). Since BMs are at a firm's core, BMs are a decisive factor that influences whether startups fail or thrive; we analyze the success factors of sustainable BMs. We interviewed 16 experts from 15 startups implementing sustainable BMs based on digital technologies and one incubator specializing in sustainability. We identify six success factors representing tensions in digital BM design that entrepreneurs need to address. Our analysis shows how the design of sustainable digital BMs differs from regular digital BMs and how the tensions affect the success of startups. For established firms, the results guide BM design and technology use

Balancing on the Triple-Bottom-Line: Tensions in the Success Factors of Digital Business Models for Sustainability

We need innovations that enable a sustainable economy and sustainable private consumption to meet the grand challenges of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As an essential source of innovation, startups play a crucial role in improving sustainability by creating innovative and sustainable products and services as part of their business models (BMs). Since BMs are at a firm\u27s core, BMs are a decisive factor that influences whether startups fail or thrive; we analyze the success factors of sustainable BMs. We interviewed 16 experts from 15 startups implementing sustainable BMs based on digital technologies and one incubator specializing in sustainability. We identify six success factors representing tensions in digital BM design that entrepreneurs need to address. Our analysis shows how the design of sustainable digital BMs differs from regular digital BMs and how the tensions affect the success of startups. For established firms, the results guide BM design and technology use

Neutron macromolecular crystallography at the FRM IIThe neutron single crystal diffractometer BIODIFF

The research reactor Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) is a modern high flux neutron source which feeds at the present 27 state of the art instruments. The newly build neutron single crystal diffractometer BIODIFF is especially designed to collect data from crystals with large unit cells. The main field of application is the structure analysis of proteins, especially the determination of hydrogen atom positions. BIODIFF is a joint project of the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ/JCNS) and the Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II). Typical scientific questions addressed are the determination of protonation states of amino acid side chains and the characterization of the hydrogen bonding network between the protein and an inhibitor or substrate. BIODIFF is designed as a monochromatic instrument. By using a highly orientated pyrolytic graphite monochromator (PG002) the diffractometer is able to operate in the wavelength range of 2.4 Å to about 5.6 Å. Contaminations of higher order wavelengths are removed by a neutron velocity selector. To cover a large solid angle and thus to minimize the data collection time the main detector of BIODIFF consists of a neutron imaging plate system in a cylindrical geometry. A Li/ZnS scintillator CCD camera is available for additional detection abilities. The main advantage of BIODIFF is the possibility to adapt the wavelength to the size of the unit cell of the sample crystal while operating with a clean monochromatic beam that keeps the background level low. BIODFF is equipped with a standard Oxford Cryosystem “Cryostream 700+” which allows measurements in the temperature regime from 90K up to 500K

Main compounds and major methods in latent fingermark aging analysis : a short review

Fingermarks are a complex biological matrix with variability factors that change in the same donor, depending on the moment of collection, and in different donors, according to age, sex and routine. Thus, they can still undergo alterations related to the deposition surface, the environment, and the variable that connects all those mentioned: the action of time. In Forensic Science, time is a important variable to situate the crime events. This review proposes a classification in the temporal estimation research of fingermarks, dividing them into Temporal Preservation Analysis (TPA) and Temporal Aging Analysis (TAA). In TPA studies, the components in fingermark residues undergo a few changes over time, tending to stability after a certain period. Those are interesting targets to identify possible exogenous components, such as firearm residues, illegal substances and contaminants related to particularity of forensic cases. In TAA studies, a time estimation related to the fingermarks age can be established. In this case, the time elapsed from its deposition until the forensic processing will vary according to the component classes degradation. Endogenous and exogenous substances that are demonstrably present in one donor and that undergo changes over time will, resulting be demonstrated by a decrease in intensity and/or formation of other substances, and those are good targets for this type of study. The same analysis can have both proposals and the instrumental method available will enable the extraction of information relevant to the sample. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how important is to identify fingermarks components as evidence beyond the ridge pattern and to list the main instrumental methods used in the analysis of fingermark degradation

UNIDADE DEMONSTRATIVA E AVALIAÇÃO FENOLÓGICA DE VIDEIRA NO ALTO VALE DO ITAJAÍ

A cultura da videira nos últimos anos tem despertado o interesse de muitos produtores no Estado de Santa Catarina. Cada vez mais tem-se o aumento das áreas cultivadas e com isso regiões distintas desenvolvem projetos voltados a avaliação do desenvolvimento de cultivares adaptadas a cada região. Para isso, realizou-se pesquisas no Instituto Federal Catarinense-Campus Rio do Sul com o apoio da Embrapa Uva e Vinho com a finalidade de avaliar cultivares mais adaptadas a região do Alto Vale do Itajaí, observando características de manejo que podem interferir no desenvolvimento das cultivares de interesse. A área de pesquisa dispõe de um pomar com aproximadamente 400 plantas, dispostas em 16 linhas de produção com 25 plantas. As cultivares utilizadas no projeto são a BRS Núbia, BRS Ísis, BRS Vitória, Niágara Rosada, Isabel Precoce, Concord Clone 30, Bordô, BRS Violeta, BRS Magna e BRS Carmem. Tratos culturais relacionados a poda, aplicação de fungicidas, fertilizantes e entre outros foram realizados em todas as cultivares de maneira indistinta. Sabendo que a videira é uma cultura perene que permanece em dormência durante o inverno, a poda que foi realizada no mês de julho, sendo aplicados superadores de dormência em todas as cultivares com a finalidade de comparar o desenvolvimento da brotação das gemas após o inverno. Para cada cultivar, foram realizados três tratamentos com seis repetições cada, totalizando 18 plantas, sendo esses tratamentos: testemunha (sem aplicação de superador de dormência), Cianamida Hidrogenada 3% (DormexR) e Extrato de alho 4%. As avaliações fenológicas foram conduzidas a cada três dias conforme indicação da Embrapa, seguindo criteriosamente o passo a passo até o término da brotação. Os ramos oriundos da brotação foram conduzidos por meio de alceamento, sendo realizada poda verde quando os ramos excedem o tamanho limitado pela parreira. Frequentemente foram realizadas roçadas e coroamento em torno das plantas do pomar, juntamente com a distribuição de iscas para prevenir o ataque de formigas. Distribuição de fertilizantes químicos e orgânicos são realizados conforme a necessidade da cultura. As aplicações de fungicidas foram baseadas no monitoramento de doenças fúngicas no pomar. A colheita ocorreu nos meses de dezembro, janeiro e fevereiro, conforme a maturação das diferentes cultivares implantadas. Durante a colheita, foi realizada a pesagem da produção de cada planta pertencente ao experimento, posteriormente foram retiradas amostras de frutos de cada planta e encaminhadas ao Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal e Pós colheita do próprio Campus para avaliação de pH, Brix, sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, antocianinas e flavonoides. Portanto, analisando dados obtidos ao longo dos anos, verifica-se que todo o manejo envolvido no processo produtivo reflete significativamente na produtividade final, onde a partir do mesmo manejo aplicado a todas as cultivares, tem-se diferentes respostas que ilustram a adaptabilidade a região, expressa mediante sua produtividade, sanidade e qualidade dos frutos.Fomento: edital APL: 88/2021-IFC