The contribution of Business services to the export performances of manufacturing industries. An empirical study on 5 European countries

This paper investigates the contribution provided by the Business service sector (BS) to the international competitiveness of manufacturing industries that acquire and use intangible intermediate inputs (in particular those provided by two main BS sub-sectors: “Communication and computer related services” and “Other business activities”). The main valued added of this paper consists of having assessed the role played by BS on the export performances of manufacturing sectors integrating – for a selected number of EU countries - different industry level data sources, namely the OECD Input-Output Tables, the OECD Structural Analysis Database and data provided by the Community Innovation Survey. The results of the empirical analysis show that BS do exert a positive impact on the international competitiveness of manufacturing industries even though these effects vary according to the type of intermediate intangible input acquired and type of user sector

The formyl peptide fMLF primes platelet activation and augments thrombus formation

Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) play pivotal roles in the regulation of innate immunity and host defence. FPRs include three family members; FPR1, FPR2/ALX and FPR3. The activation of FPR1 by its high affinity ligand, N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLF) (a bacterial chemoattractant peptide), triggers intracellular signalling in immune cells such as neutrophils and exacerbates inflammatory responses to accelerate the clearance of microbial infection. Notably, fMLF has been demonstrated to induce intracellular calcium mobilisation and chemotaxis in platelets that are known to play significant roles in the regulation of innate immunity and inflammatory responses. Despite a plethora of research focused on the roles of FPR1 and its ligands such as fMLF on the modulation of immune responses, their impact on the regulation of haemostasis and thrombosis remains unexplored

Exceptional and Durable Responses to TDM-1 After Trastuzumab Failure for Breast Cancer Skin Metastases: Potential Implications of an Immunological Sanctuary

Breast Cancer (BC) skin metastases represent a challenging clinical scenario. Although they usually arise when other distant metastases are already present, they may also represent a form of locoregional recurrence (LRR). Systemic therapy in this setting may have a role both in case a radical locoregional approach is unfeasible in order to achieve disease control, and as adjuvant strategy after radical removal of cutaneous lesions, in order to prevent or delay subsequent disease spread. Systemic therapy for HER2+ metastatic BC (MBC) currently relies on anti-HER2 targeted agents. In this context TDM1 is an option in trastuzumab-resistant patients.Here we present 2 cases of isolated skin metastases in patients with HER2+ BC progressing during or early after trastuzumab-based therapy, showing impressive responses to TDM1. We hypothesize that the unique properties of skin immune microenvironment may explain the failure of trastuzumab, which exerts its action also through immunological mechanisms, and the subsequent outlier responses to TDM1, that relies on a partially different mechanism of action

Satellite guidance systems in agriculture: experimental comparison between EZ-Steer/RTK and AUTOPILOT/EGNOS

The research has been conducted using two different satellite-guidance devices and two different correction systems of the GPS signal: the EZ-Steer/RTK and Autopilot/EGNOS. The machines used in the tests were the tractor New Holland T7060, the rotary harrow Alpego DG-400 and the burier Forigo DG-45, in order to determine which of the two systems ensured the best quality of work. On the basis of the results obtained it is clear that the EZ-Steer/RTK system, guarantees a lower stability of the theoretical trajectory compared to the Autopilot/EGNOS system, above 1,77%. From the elaboration of data of the two guidance systems behavior to manage the only width of transposition, it is observed that the EZ-Steer/RTK system is able to guarantee a better hold of the line compared to the Autopilot/EGNOS system, which provides a mistake of 164 cm on the total width of transposition and 2 cm on the mean value. In the matter of the normalized transposition surfaces, the Autopilot/EGNOS system ensures a better work quality

Elementos da comunicação visual de marca de lugares : análise da composição da marca do Peru

Em um cenário cada vez mais competitivo, as marcas auxiliam no processo de identificação e diferenciação de um produto, serviço, território ou lugar, tornando-se cada vez mais importante na conquista do seu reconhecimento diante de seu público. Assim como empresas procuram se destacar diante a concorrência, os países competem para buscar a atenção de turistas e investidores. O Peru, percebendo a necessidade em atrair e impulsionar as exportações, investimentos e turismo, reformulou sua identidade visual e apresentou-a em 2011. O presente estudo foi realizado a partir de uma revisão bibliográfica e de um estudo de caso da marca turística do Peru, que teve como objetivo analisar a utilização dos elementos da comunicação visual verificando se sua aplicação transmite ao público a expectativa desejada pelo país.ABSTRACT: In an increasingly competive environment, brands assist in the identification and differentiation of a product, service, territory or place process, becoming increasingly important in the achievement of their recognition in front of your audience. As companies seek to stand before the competition, countries compete to get the attention of tourists and investors. Peru, realizing the need to attract and boost exports, investments and tourism, redesigned its visual identity and presented it in 2011. This study was conducted from a literature review and a case study of Peru's tourism brand, which aims to analyze the use of elements of visual communication checking if your application passes the expectation required by the country to the public.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optimizing the Oil Extraction/Water Adsorption Step in Sequential Extraction Processing of Corn

The Sequential Extraction Process (SEP) uses ethanol to extract oil and protein from cracked, flaked, and dried corn, and the corn simultaneously dehydrates the ethanol. The optimum conditions to reduce zein extraction in the oil extraction/water adsorption step of SEP involved a single–pass system using 15 length/diameter ratio extraction cells, 30% hexanes: 70% ethanol, and 56C extraction temperature, which improved the efficiencies of oil extraction from the corn and moisture adsorption from the ethanol. The extract contained only 0.1% protein in the desolventized solids. The moisture content of the solvent was reduced to 1.03%, and the residual oil content of the corn was 0.18%. Oil recovery was improved from 90.8% to 95.5%. The countercurrent laboratory extraction system confirmed that using 30% hexanes:70% ethanol at 56C in a single–pass system reduced zein co–extraction with oil while increasing oil extraction and moisture adsorption