International new ventures in the digital age: the case of a big data and analytics provider

Digital technologies offer new opportunities of business for entrepreneurs that possess big data and analytical skills. In particular, in the international competition context, new opportunities for new ventures internationalization arise in sectors related to Industry 4.0 digital technologies. However, when internationalization and digitalization merge, the dynamics can change, opening a new area of research still little investigated. To contribute to fill this gap, we adopted a case study approach to investigate the internationalization process of a digital International New Venture, which offers services related to Big Data and Analytics. Preliminary findings highlight factors influencing the growth process of this company, showing opportunities and challenges related to digitalization. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of the authors´findings, opening new debates for international entrepreneurship research and practice

Neural Networks Reduction via Lumping

The increasing size of recently proposed Neural Networks makes it hard to implement them on embedded devices, where memory, battery and computational power are a non-trivial bottleneck. For this reason during the last years network compression literature has been thriving and a large number of solutions has been published to reduce both the number of operations and the parameters involved with the models. Unfortunately, most of these reducing techniques are actually heuristic methods and usually require at least one re-training step to recover the accuracy. The need of procedures for model reduction is well-known also in the fields of Verification and Performances Evaluation, where large efforts have been devoted to the definition of quotients that preserve the observable underlying behaviour. In this paper we try to bridge the gap between the most popular and very effective network reduction strategies and formal notions, such as lumpability, introduced for verification and evaluation of Markov Chains. Elaborating on lumpability we propose a pruning approach that reduces the number of neurons in a network without using any data or fine-tuning, while completely preserving the exact behaviour. Relaxing the constraints on the exact definition of the quotienting method we can give a formal explanation of some of the most common reduction techniques

Barriers and Enablers for Industry 4.0 in SMEs: A Combined Integration Framework

Although Industry 4.0 was introduced a decade ago, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still have not adopted several technologies. Therefore, integrating SMEs along horizontal, vertical, and end-to-end engineering dimensions remains challenging. Due to the importance of SMEs for industrial value chains, understanding SMEs' barriers and respective enablers for Industry 4.0 integration is vital. Applying a multiple case study approach, this paper investigates their experience in Industry 4.0 through technological, organizational, and environmental factors. We aggregate the barriers and respective enablers to Industry 4.0 into an integration framework, which helps to understand Industry 4.0 in SMEs from a broader viewpoint inside these firms, upstream and downstream supply chains, and beyond manufacturing. The findings show that the success of Industry 4.0 integration is more oriented toward operational benefits than strategic advantages and depends upon how these technologies are integrated with various stakeholders across the supply chain, such as original equipment manufacturers, R&D agencies, or sub-suppliers

Activation of APE1/Ref-1 is dependent on reactive oxygen species generated after purinergic receptor stimulation by ATP

Apurinic apyrimidinic endonuclease redox effector factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is involved both in the base excision repair (BER) of DNA lesions and in the eukaryotic transcriptional regulation. APE1/Ref-1 is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-translational levels, through control of subcellular localization and post-translational modification. In response to stress conditions, several cell types release ATP, which exerts stimulatory effects on eukaryotic cells via the purinergic receptors (P2) family. By using western blot and immunofluorescence analysis on a human tumour thyroid cell line (ARO), we demonstrate that purinergic stimulation by extracellular ATP induces quick cytoplasm to nucleus translocation of the protein at early times and its neosynthesis at later times. Continuous purinergic triggering by extracellular ATP released by ARO cells is responsible for the control of APE1/Ref-1 intracellular level. Interference with intracellular pathways activated by P2 triggering demonstrates that Ca(2+) mobilization and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are responsible for APE1/Ref-1 translocation. The APE1/Ref-1 activities on activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding and DNA repair perfectly match its nuclear enrichment upon ATP stimulation. The biological relevance of our data is reinforced by the observation that APE1/Ref-1 stimulation by ATP protects ARO cells by H(2)O(2)-induced cell death. Our data provide new insights into the complex mechanisms regulating APE1/Ref-1 functions

Bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs used in medical practice - Ribeirão Preto (SP) - 1994

Apresenta-se a situação da susceptibilidade bacteriana a antimicrobianos, em amostras isoladas em 1994, no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto-USP. A resistência do Staphylococcus aureus à oxacilina foi verificada em 17% das amostras de infecções da comunidade, e em 51% dos casos hospitalares. Os valores correspondentes para o Staphylococcus epidermidis foram, respectivamente, 19% e 39%. A resistência in vitro à penicilina foi observada em 7% das amostras de pneumococo, e em 20% das amostras de enterococo. Com exceção de poucas amostras, todos os cocos Gram-positivos eram sensíveis à vancomicina e teicoplanina. Com relação aos bacilos Gram-negativos, a sensibilidade in vitro das enterobactérias foi baixa para a ampicilina, carbenicilina e cotrimoxazole (26% a 53%), intermediária para cefalotina, cloranfenicol e cefoxitina (64% a 82%) e alta para as cefalosporinas de terceira geração, amicacina, fluoroquinolonas, aztreonam e imipenem (93% a 99%). Acima de 90% das amostras de Pseudomonas aeruginosa foram sensíveis à cefatazidina, aztreonam e imipenem. O Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, causa freqüente de infecção hospitalar, mostrou alta sensibilidade (98%) ao imipenem, porém resistência acentuada a outros antiinfeciosos. Conclui-se comentando sobre a escolha de antimicrobianos para o tratamento de infecções comunitárias e hospitalares.The authors analyse the bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs in strains isolated during 1994 in the university hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (USP) - Brazil. Oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was verified in 17% of community strains, and in 51% of nosocomial infection strains. The correspondent rates for Staphylococcus epidermidis were, respectively, 19% and 39%. In vitro resistance to penicillin was observed in 7% of the pneumococci strains and in 20% of enterococci strains. All the Gram-positive cocci, except few microorganisms, were susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. Respecting enterobacteria, the in vitro susceptibility was low for ampicillin, carbenicillin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (26% - 53%), intermediate for cephalothin, chloramphenicol and cefoxitin (64% - 82%) and high for third-generation cephalosporins, amikacin, fluoroquinolones, aztreonam and imipenem (93% - 99%). More than 90% of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were susceptible to ceftazidime, aztreonam and imipenem. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, common agent of nosocomial infections, showed high susceptibility (98%) to imipenem, but frequent resistance to other antimicrobials. The final commentaries were about the selection of antibiotics for treatment of community and hospital-acquired infections

Neuropsychological and neurophysiological correlates of fatigue in post-acute patients with neurological manifestations of COVID-19: Insights into a challenging symptom

More than half of patients who recover from COVID-19 experience fatigue. We studied fatigue using neuropsychological and neurophysiological investigations in post-COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. Neuropsychological assessment included: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Fatigue Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Apathy Evaluation Scale, cognitive tests, and computerized tasks. Neurophysiological examination was assessed before (PRE) and 2 min after (POST) a 1-min fatiguing isometric pinching task and included: maximum compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude in first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) following ulnar nerve stimulation, resting motor threshold, motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and silent period (SP) duration in right FDI following transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left motor cortex. Maximum pinch strength was measured. Perceived exertion was assessed with the Borg-Category-Ratio scale. Patients manifested fatigue, apathy, executive deficits, impaired cognitive control, and reduction in global cognition. Perceived exertion was higher in patients. CMAP and MEP were smaller in patients both PRE and POST. CMAP did not change in either group from PRE to POST, while MEP amplitudes declined in controls POST. SP duration did not differ between groups PRE, increased in controls but decreased in patients POST. Patients' change of SP duration from PRE to POST was negatively correlated to FSS. Abnormal SP shortening and lack of MEP depression concur with a reduction in post-exhaustion corticomotor inhibition, suggesting a possible GABAB-ergic dysfunction. This impairment might be related to the neuropsychological alterations. COVID-19-associated inflammation might lead to GABAergic impairment, possibly representing the basis of fatigue and explaining apathy and executive deficits

The Axial Organ and the Pharynx Are Sites of Hematopoiesis in the Sea Urchin

Background: The location of coelomocyte proliferation in adult sea urchins is unknown and speculations since the early 1800s have been based on microanatomy and tracer uptake studies. In adult sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) with down-regulated immune systems, coelomocyte numbers increase in response to immune challenge, and whether some or all of these cells are newly proliferated is not known. The gene regulatory network that encodes transcription factors that control hematopoiesis in embryonic and larval sea urchins has not been investigated in adults. Hence, to identify the hematopoietic tissue in adult sea urchins, cell proliferation, expression of phagocyte specific genes, and expression of genes encoding transcription factors that function in the conserved regulatory network that controls hematopoiesis in embryonic and larval sea urchins were investigated for several tissues.Results: Cell proliferation was induced in adult sea urchins either by immune challenge through injection of heat-killed Vibrio diazotrophicus or by cell depletion through aspiration of coelomic fluid. In response to either of these stimuli, newly proliferated coelomocytes constitute only about 10% of the cells in the coelomic fluid. In tissues, newly proliferated cells and cells that express SpTransformer proteins (formerly Sp185/333) that are markers for phagocytes are present in the axial organ, gonad, pharynx, esophagus, and gut with no differences among tissues. The expression level of genes encoding transcription factors that regulate hematopoiesis show that both the axial organ and the pharynx have elevated expression compared to coelomocytes, esophagus, gut, and gonad. Similarly, an RNAseq dataset shows similar results for the axial organ and pharynx, but also suggests that the axial organ may be a site for removal and recycling of cells in the coelomic cavity.Conclusions: Results presented here are consistent with previous speculations that the axial organ may be a site of coelomocyte proliferation and that it may also be a center for cellular removal and recycling. A second site, the pharynx, may also have hematopoietic activity, a tissue that has been assumed to function only as part of the intestinal tract

The 2022 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: towards a climate resilient future

In the past few decades, major public health advances have happened in Europe, with drastic decreases in premature mortality and a life expectancy increase of almost 9 years since 1980. European countries have some of the best health-care systems in the world. However, Europe is challenged with unprecedented and overlapping crises that are detrimental to human health and livelihoods and threaten adaptive capacity, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the fastest-growing migrant crisis since World War 2, population displacement, environmental degradation, and deepening inequalities. Compared with pre-industrial times, the mean average European surface air temperature increase has been almost 1°C higher than the average global temperature increase, and 2022 was the hottest European summer on record. As the world's third largest economy and a major contributor to global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, Europe is a key stakeholder in the world's response to climate change and has a global responsibility and opportunity to lead the transition to becoming a low-carbon economy and a healthier, more resilient society.Peer ReviewedArticle signat per 44 autors/autores: Institute for Global Health (K R van Daalen MPhil, M Romanello PhD), Institute for Sustainable Resources (P Drummond MSc, D Scamman EngD), and Energy Institute (Prof I Hamilton PhD, H Kennard PhD), University College London, London, UK; Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK (K R van Daalen); Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (Prof J Rocklöv PhD, Prof J C Semenza PhD); Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine (Prof J Rocklöv, Z Farooq MSc, M O Sewe PhD, H Sjödin PhD) and Department of Epidemiology and Global Health (Prof M Nilsson PhD), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain (C Tonne ScD, H Achebak PhD, J Ballester PhD, S J Lloyd PhD, C Milà MSc, Prof J C Minx PhD, Prof M Nieuwenhuijsen PhD, M Quijal-Zamorano MSc, Prof J M Anto MD); Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain (C Tonne, C Milà, M Nieuwenhuijsen, M Quijal-Zamorano, J M Anto); CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain (C Tonne, C Milà, J C Minx, M Nieuwenhuijsen, J M Anto); BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change, Bilbao, Spain (Prof A Markandya PhD); School of Government, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (N Dasandi PhD); Data Science Lab, Hertie School, Berlin, Germany (Prof S Jankin PhD, H Bechara PhD, O Gasparyan PhD); Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK (M W Callaghan MPP); Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, Berlin, Germany (M W Callaghan); Energy Efficiency Group, Institute for Environmental Sciences (ISE), University of Geneva, Switzerland (J Chambers PhD); Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC), Venice, Italy (S Dasgupta PhD); Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE), UK (S Dasgupta, Prof E J Z Robinson PhD); Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain (N Gonzalez-Reviriego PhD, B Solaraju-Murali MSc, Prof R Lowe PhD, M Lotto Batista MSc); Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Helsinki, Finland (R Hänninen DSci, J Palamarchuk PhD, M Sofiev PhD); European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark (A Kazmierczak PhD); European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany (V Kendrovski PhD, O Schmoll Dipl Ing); Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Programme, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria (G Kiesewetter PhD); Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of Epidemiology, Brunswick, Germany (M Lotto Batista); Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (Prof J Martinez-Urtaza PhD); Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food and Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (M Springmann PhD); Department of Electronics and Computer Science, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain (J Triñanes PhD); Centre for Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK (Prof R Lowe); Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain (Prod R Lowe)Postprint (published version