The Border Effects of Domestic Trade in Transitional China: Local Governments’ Preference and Protectionism

Following a two-region border effect model with consumption preference of local governments, this article examines the segmentation of the Chinese domestic market as well as its determinants. Through empirical tests, we find that the average border effect of domestic trade among provinces in China showed an upward trend from 1997–2002 and 2002–2010. The significant difference of border effects between western and eastern areas of China indicate more regional trade barriers in the western areas than in the eastern areas. In addition, compared to agricultural products, there are less trade barriers on industrial products. This partially verifies that there is more trade protection and self-consumption from local government on raw materials. Under the local governments’ preference for regional protection, the higher degree of financial autonomy and larger output share of SOEs will both significantly contribute to the trade barriers among provinces. Local governments’ behavior is the key to understanding the pattern of border effects among provinces

The Existance and Management of Local Assortment in Multinational Corporations - A case study at DeLaval

Issue of study: In decentralised companies, products that are not in the central assortment, but still sold by the subsidiaries are known as local assortment. Understanding the reasons to why local assortment exists is important for the companies to ensure compliance. To have products that comply with laws and regulations are especially vital in the agricultural industry, due to its large personal risks for farmers. In order to create understanding for this, one must study reasons for why local assortment exists on the broadest level; both externally and internally. Few earlier studies have suggested approaches on how to manage them. Through studying a wide range of management tools in order to find the most suitable ones for local assortment, this gap will be filled by this study. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide an understanding to why local assortment exists in multinational corporations and develop a framework consisting of key variables in managing such products. Methodology: A case study has been conducted at DeLaval. The case consists of four sub-cases where information regarding local products was collected through semi-structured interviews with DeLaval´s subsidiaries. The study has used a cross-sectional research design with identical qualitative data collection in each case. This allows for a cross sub-case analysis in order to find general patterns. The deductive research approach was applied throughout the study, which allowed for the usage of a theoretical framework when approaching the empirical study. In order to have an unbiased literature review and find the most important sources, a systematic review was used. Conclusion: The conclusion is divided into two major parts; an academic contribution and a case specific conclusion. The academic contribution consists of a framework which explains the five most important reasons to why local products exist. The most important reason is system sell, which indicates that local products are used to support sales of the central assortment. The framework also presents key variables for successfully managing local products, where different types of communication as well as a structured and simple process are extra important. The case specific conclusion points out the need of local products for the case company. Currently, there are tensions and ambiguities regarding if local product are acceptable or not. Hence, the case company should clarify, within the whole organisation, on what grounds local products are acceptable. This study suggests a global process for local product development as one of those grounds

Ectodomain Architecture Affects Sequence and Functional Evolution of Vertebrate Toll-like Receptors

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial components of innate immunity that specifically recognize diverse pathogen-associated molecular patterns from pathogens. The continuous hydrogen-bond network (asparagine ladder) formed among the asparagine residues on the concave surfaces of neighboring leucine-rich repeat modules assists in stabilizing the overall shape of TLR ectodomains responsible for ligand recognition. Analysis of 28 types of vertebrate TLRs showed that their ectodomains possessed three types of architectures: a single-domain architecture with an intact asparagine ladder, a three-domain architecture with the ladder interrupted in the middle, and a trans-three-domain architecture with the ladder broken in both termini. Based on a phylogenetic analysis, the three vertebrate TLR architectures arose during early evolution. The 1428 vertebrate TLRs can be divided into eight families based on sequence and structural differences. TLRs ligand specificities are affected by their ectodomain architectures. Three-domain TLRs bind hydrophobic ligands, whereas single-domain and trans-three-domain TLRs mainly recognize hydrophilic ligands. Analysis of 39 vertebrate genomes suggested that the number of single-domain TLR genes in terrestrial vertebrate genomes decreased by half compared to aquatic vertebrate genomes. Single-domain TLR genes underwent stronger purifying selective pressures than three-domain TLR genes in mammals. Overall, ectodomain architecture influences the sequence and functional evolution of vertebrate TLRs

Density-functional study of Au n ( n = 2 – 2 0 ) clusters: Lowest-energy structures and electronic properties

We have investigated the lowest-energy structures and electronic properties of the Au$_n$(n=2-20) clusters based on density functional theory (DFT) with local density approximation. The small Au$_n$ clusters adopt planar structures up to n=6. Tabular cage structures are preferred in the range of n=10-14 and a structural transition from tabular cage-like structure to compact near-spherical structure is found around n=15. The most stable configurations obtained for Au$_{13}$ and Au$_{19}$ clusters are amorphous instead of icosahedral or fcc-like, while the electronic density of states sensitively depend on the cluster geometry. Dramatic odd-even alternative behaviors are obtained in the relative stability, HOMO-LUMO gaps and ionization potentials of gold clusters. The size evolution of electronic properties is discussed and the theoretical ionization potentials of Au$_n$ clusters compare well with experiments. Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

β-arrestin2/miR-155/GSK3β Regulates Transition of 5\u27-Azacytizine-Induced Sca-1-Positive Cells to Cardiomyocytes

Stem-cell antigen 1-positive (Sca-1+) cardiac stem cells (CSCs), a vital kind of CSCs in humans, promote cardiac repair in vivo and can differentiate to cardiomyocytes with 5\u27-azacytizine treatment in vitro. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. b-arrestin2 is an important scaffold protein and highly expressed in the heart. To explore the function of b-arrestin2 in Sca-1+ CSC differentiation, we used b-arrestin2-knockout mice and overexpression strategies. Real-time PCR revealed that b-arrestin2 promoted 5\u27-azacytizine-induced Sca-1+ CSC differentiation in vitro. Because the microRNA 155 (miR-155) may regulate b-arrestin2 expression, we detected its role and relationship with b-arrestin2 and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3β), another probable target of miR-155. Real-time PCR revealed that miR-155, inhibited by b-arrestin2, impaired 5\u27-azacytizine-induced Sca-1+ CSC differentiation. On luciferase report assay, miR-155 could inhibit the activity of b-arrestin2 and GSK3β, which suggests a loop pathway between miR-155 and b-arrestin2. Furthermore, b-arrestin2-knockout inhibited the activity of GSK3β. Akt, the upstream inhibitor of GSK3β, was inhibited in b-arrestin2-Knockout mice, so the activity of GSK3β was regulated by b-arrestin2 not Akt. We transplanted Sca-1+ CSCs from b-arrestin2-knockout mice to mice with myocardial infarction and found similar protective functions as in wild-type mice but impaired arterial elastance. Furthermore, low level of b-arrestin2 agreed with decreased phosphorylation of AKT and increased phophorylation of GSK3β, similar to in vitro findings. The β-arrestin2/miR-155/GSK3β pathway may be a new mechanism with implications for treatment of heart disease

Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Bitumen Emulsifiers Based on Molecular Simulation

Under the guidance of molecular simulation technology, the Monte Carlo molecular mechanics simulation was used to calculate the compatibility of different lipophilic groups with each component of bitumen, and the compatibility of different hydrophilic groups with water. Based on the calculated results of interaction parameters Chi and mixture energy Emix, the preferred structures of lipophilic and hydrophilic groups of bitumen emulsifier were determined. The target bitumen emulsifier was then synthesized by the reaction of organic acid and polyamine. The molecular simulation results showed that the compatibility of lipophilic group T11 with the bitumen was the best, and the mixing ability of the hydrophilic group H5 with water was excellent. The experimental results show that the preferred structures T11H5 had a good emulsifying performance to prepare emulsified bitumen with good storage stability, consistent with the results of the molecular simulation

Synergistic treatment of osteosarcoma with biomimetic nanoparticles transporting doxorubicin and siRNA

IntroductionOsteosarcoma tumors are the most common malignant bone tumors in children and adolescents. Their treatment usually requires surgical removal of all detectable cancerous tissue and multidrug chemotherapy; however, the prognosis for patients with unresectable or recurrent osteosarcoma is unfavorable. To make chemotherapy safer and more effective for osteosarcoma patients, biomimetic nanoparticles (NPs) camouflaged by mesenchymal stem cell membranes (MSCMs) were synthesized to induce osteosarcoma cell apoptosis by co-delivering the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride(DOX) and a small interfering RNA (siRNA). Importantly, these NPs have high biocompatibility and tumor-homing ability. This study aimed to improve the efficacy of osteosarcoma therapy by using the synergistic combination of DOX and an siRNA targeting the apoptosis suppressor gene survivin.MethodsBiomimetic NPs (DOX/siSUR-PLGA@MSCM NPs) were synthesized by coloading DOX and survivin siRNA (siSUR) into poly (lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) via a double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The NPs were camouflaged by MSCMs to deliver both DOX and survivin-targeting siRNA and characterized and evaluated in terms of cellular uptake, in vitro release, in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects, and biosafety.ResultsDOX/siSUR-PLGA@MSCM NPs had good tumor-homing ability due to the MSCMs modification. The drug-laden biomimetic NPs had good antitumor effects in homozygous MG63 tumor-bearing mice due to the synergistic effect of the drug combination.ConclusionDOX/siSUR-PLGA@MSCM NPs can show improved therapeutic effects in osteosarcoma patients due to the combination of a chemotherapeutic drug and gene therapy based on their good tumor targeting and biosafety

Density functional study of Aun_n (n=2-20) clusters: lowest-energy structures and electronic properties

We have investigated the lowest-energy structures and electronic properties of the Au$_n$(n=2-20) clusters based on density functional theory (DFT) with local density approximation. The small Au$_n$ clusters adopt planar structures up to n=6. Tabular cage structures are preferred in the range of n=10-14 and a structural transition from tabular cage-like structure to compact near-spherical structure is found around n=15. The most stable configurations obtained for Au$_{13}$ and Au$_{19}$ clusters are amorphous instead of icosahedral or fcc-like, while the electronic density of states sensitively depend on the cluster geometry. Dramatic odd-even alternative behaviors are obtained in the relative stability, HOMO-LUMO gaps and ionization potentials of gold clusters. The size evolution of electronic properties is discussed and the theoretical ionization potentials of Au$_n$ clusters compare well with experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure