Customer satisfaction and corporate investment policies

This paper examines the effect of satisfaction with firms’ products and services on their capital investment policies. Using data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index from 1994 to 2013, the results of the regression models show that firms with higher customer satisfaction will invest more heavily in capital expenditures in the future. The results further show that this positive effect is more pronounced for firms with less growth opportunities or a high cost of capital. This would include those firms with low market-to-book ratios, young and small firms, or firms in more competitive industries. Overall, this study argues that customer satisfaction is an important factor affecting the firm’s investment policy. The findings provide a better understanding of the role of customer satisfaction which can generate growth opportunities, reduce cost and motivate a firm to invest more in capital

Structure of the NheA Component of the Nhe Toxin from Bacillus cereus: Implications for Function

The structure of NheA, a component of the Bacillus cereus Nhe tripartite toxin, has been solved at 2.05 Å resolution using selenomethionine multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD). The structure shows it to have a fold that is similar to the Bacillus cereus Hbl-B and E. coli ClyA toxins, and it is therefore a member of the ClyA superfamily of α-helical pore forming toxins (α-PFTs), although its head domain is significantly enlarged compared with those of ClyA or Hbl-B. The hydrophobic β-hairpin structure that is a characteristic of these toxins is replaced by an amphipathic β-hairpin connected to the main structure via a β-latch that is reminiscent of a similar structure in the β-PFT Staphylococcus aureus α-hemolysin. Taken together these results suggest that, although it is a member of an archetypal α-PFT family of toxins, NheA may be capable of forming a β rather than an α pore

Formation of Very Large Conductance Channels by Bacillus cereus Nhe in Vero and GH4 Cells Identifies NheA + B as the Inherent Pore-Forming Structure

The nonhemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe) produced by Bacillus cereus is a pore-forming toxin consisting of three components, NheA, -B and -C. We have studied effects of Nhe on primate epithelial cells (Vero) and rodent pituitary cells (GH4) by measuring release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), K+ efflux and the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Plasma membrane channel events were monitored by patch-clamp recordings. Using strains of B. cereus lacking either NheA or -C, we examined the functional role of the various components. In both cell types, NheA + B + C induced release of LDH and K+ as well as Ca2+ influx. A specific monoclonal antibody against NheB abolished LDH release and elevation of [Ca2+]i. Exposure to NheA + B caused a similar K+ efflux and elevation of [Ca2+]i as NheA + B + C in GH4 cells, whereas in Vero cells the rate of K+ efflux was reduced by 50% and [Ca2+]i was unaffected. NheB + C had no effect on either cell type. Exposure to NheA + B + C induced large-conductance steps in both cell types, and similar channel insertions were observed in GH4 cells exposed to NheA + B. In Vero cells, NheA + B induced channels of much smaller conductance. NheB + C failed to insert membrane channels. The conductance of the large channels in GH4 cells was about 10 nS. This is the largest channel conductance reported in cell membranes under quasi-physiological conditions. In conclusion, NheA and NheB are necessary and sufficient for formation of large-conductance channels in GH4 cells, whereas in Vero cells such large-conductance channels are in addition dependent on NheC

Studying the impact of university system on the entrepreneurail intent : the case study of Vietnam

Le champ de recherche en entrepreneuriat est aujourd’hui très répandu mais dans le contexte du Vietnam, il reste encore un domaine de recherche à explorer. Parmi les paradigmes de l’entrepreneuriat, l’approche processuelle, se trouve au coeur de plusieurs recherches récentes. Cette thèse s’intéresse à l’intention qui constitue la première étape du processus entrepreneurial. Elle est consacrée à l’étude des impacts du système éducatif universitaire sur l’intention entrepreneuriale des étudiants vietnamiens. Elle tente de déterminer le rôle de l’« environnement universitaire » dans la formation de l’intention entrepreneuriale chez les étudiants. Le travail est interdisciplinaire entre les sciences de gestion et les sciences de l’information et de la communication. Il consiste à décrire un modèle de facteurs constitutifs de l’environnement universitaire et mesure l’influence de ces facteurs sur l’intention entrepreneuriale. Cette recherche s’appuie sur le modèle d’intention entrepreneuriale de Davidsson (1995) repris par Autio et al. (1997) et la théorie du comportement d’Ajzen (1991). La thèse est effectuée en mobilisant un pluralisme méthodologique combinant approche quantitative par questionnaire et qualitative par entretiens approfondis. Les donnés quantitatives recueillies l’ont été à travers deux enquêtes par questionnaires auprès de 781 étudiants (questionnaire 1) et 220 étudiants (questionnaire 2). Afin de valider les hypothèses de recherche, des tests statistiques ont été conduits : l’indépendant simple T-test, l’analyse de variance Anova ou la régression multiple. Quinze entretiens approfondis auprès de jeunes entrepreneurs qui sont passés par la vie universitaire ont pour but de clarifier le rôle de l’environnement universitaire ainsi que le rôle de la méthodologie pédagogique dans la formation de l’intention entrepreneuriale au sein des établissements universitaires. Le travail de terrain s’est déroulé sur plusieurs mois, auprès de 9 universités vietnamiennes situées au Nord (Hanoï) et du Sud (Ho Chi Minh Ville) du Vietnam. Les résultats de recherche montrent que l’environnement universitaire, dont la méthodologie pédagogique représente un facteur majeur, influence positivement l’intention entrepreneuriale des étudiants vietnamiens. Le rôle de la pédagogie active dans l’enseignement de l’entrepreneuriat est à nouveau confirmé. Les stages en entreprise sont préconisés dans la formation à l’entrepreneuriat. En se basant sur les entretiens approfondis, cette étude ouvre des perspectives nouvelles. Citons notamment le rôle du facteur réseau ainsi que la communication engageante.The entrepreneurial field is a popular subject in the world, but it is a new and attracting research inVietnam where the private economic part has been more appreciated since 1986 (the most important point that marked the renovation of socio-economic system in Vietnam). In the entrepreneurial paradigms, the processing approach that attracts many attentions of recent researchers is followed by this study. With considering the entrepreneurship as the process, this thesis concentrates in the primary of business process (called the creation of enterprise). It studies the influences of university system on the entrepreneurial intention of Vietnamese students, especially the role of university environment in creating the students’ business intention. The most valued aim of this thesis is to describe the factors of university environment and to measure the influences of these factors on entrepreneurial ideas. It is evident that this research is typical combination between management science and information and communication science.This study bases on the entrepreneurial intention paradigm of Davisson (1995) that practiced by Autio etal (1997) and the behavioural theory of Ajzen (1991). The subject is studied by the combination between qualitative and quantitative methods. The two survey questionnaires were conducted with about 1000 completed questionnaires to collect the data for the research. The statistical tests were done such as the independent simple T-test, the analysis of variance ANOVA, the multiple regressions in order to confirm the hypotheses of research. Moreover, the fifteen of deep interview with young entrepreneurs who grow up from university system supplements the deeper understanding about the role of teaching method and university environment in creating entrepreneurial intention. The study is based on six months of fieldwork at nine universities in both the North and the South of Vietnam. The results show that the studying environment and teaching method are two key factors which have high positive influence on entrepreneurial intention of Vietnamese students. They also acknowledge the role of active pedagogic and the close relationship between the literature and the practice by the encouragement to be on probation in enterprises. This research also opens up the new prospect including the role of definition “réseau et communication engageante”

Regulation of prostanoid effects in whole blood : immediate-early anti-inflammatory effects of prostaglandin E2

To understand the regulation of the pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation, thrombosis and atherosclerosis, it is very important to characterize the interactions between circulating cells and which molecules that contributes to and promote these interactions. As a part of this, the role of eicosanoids in cell-cell interactions in whole blood ex vivo and isolated blood cells are investigated. In this study, various inhibitors were used to regulate the amount of prostaglandins (and leukotrienes) and how these eicosanoids affect the activity- and expression level of tissue factor (TF), cytokines, enzymes, and receptors involved in the intercellular communication. Before the inhibition study, time course experiments revealed that the incubation times between 1.5 h and 2 h was sufficient for further study of the parameters under investigation. In the inhibition study, whole blood samples were preincubated with different eicosanoid inhibitors, and then stimulated with LPS for ninety minutes prior to TF activity measurement and real-time PCR analysis of cytokine gene expressions. Aspirin did not significantly enhance the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TF activity in whole blood, however a trend for enhance induction was indicated

Inflammatory activation of endothelial cells increases glycolysis and oxygen consumption despite inhibiting cell proliferation

Endothelial cell function and metabolism are closely linked to differential use of energy substrate sources and combustion. While endothelial cell migration is promoted by 2-phosphofructokinase-6/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB3)-driven glycolysis, proliferation also depends on fatty acid oxidation for dNTP synthesis. We show that inflammatory activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by interleukin-1β (IL-1β), despite inhibiting proliferation, promotes a shift toward more metabolically active phenotype. This was reflected in increased cellular glucose uptake and consumption, which was preceded by an increase in PFKFB3 mRNA and protein expression. However, despite a modest increase in extracellular acidification rates, the increase in glycolysis did not correlate with extracellular lactate accumulation. Accordingly, IL-1β stimulation also increased oxygen consumption rate, but without a concomitant rise in fatty acid oxidation. Together, this suggests that the IL-1β-stimulated energy shift is driven by shunting of glucose-derived pyruvate into mitochondria to maintain elevated oxygen consumption in HUVECs. We also revealed a marked donor-dependent variation in the amplitude of the metabolic response to IL-1β and postulate that the donor-specific response should be taken into account when considering targeting dysregulated endothelial cell metabolism

A mini review of current studies on metal-organic frameworks-incorporated composite solid polymer electrolytes in all-solid-state lithium batteries

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) using solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are believed to be future next-generation batteries aiming to replace high-risk traditional batteries using liquid electrolytes, which have a wide application range in portable electronic devices, portable power supplies, and especially in electric vehicles. Moreover, the appearance of SPEs can overcome the electrolyte leakage and flammability problems in conventional lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, ASSLBs still face some limitations due to the low ionic conductivity of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) at room temperature and the poor contact electrode/electrolyte interface, which can be solved by suitable strategies. Currently, the research strategies of metal-organic frameworks that can be incorporated into solid polymer electrolytes offer a remarkable method for producing uniform solid polymer electrolytes that have good electrode/electrolyte contact interfaces and high ionic conductivity. Herein, the updates of current studies about metal-organic framework-incorporated composite solid polymer electrolytes are discussed in this mini-review