A longevidade de pequenas empresas familiares em narrativas históricas de seus integrantes

Objective of the study: The objective of this research was to understand the longevity of small family businesses from memories of their members. Methodology/approach: The method was the oral history using historical narratives. The unit of analysis was two small, long-lasting companies. The research subjects were, for each of the companies, one of the founders, a successor and the oldest employee. The data were analyzed according to the structural analysis. Originality/Relevance: The research approached the longevity of small businesses from the memory and historical narratives of members of the companies, resulting in a more dynamic and interactive interpretation of longevity. Main results: Results pointed to different trajectories of small long-standing family businesses. In the first case, four moments were identified, which resulted in creation, growth, decline and continuity. In the second case, two moments were observed: consolidation and growth. For both cases the succession was an important event in the trajectory of the companies. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The use of historical narratives and oral history in the study of small longevity businesses represents a contribution of this research, highlighting the relevance of aspects associated with longevity in small family businesses, such as decline and succession. With this, the results present theoretical and methodological contributions to the fields of studies in strategy, Entrepreneurship and Family Businesses.Objetivo do estudo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi compreender a longevidade de pequenas empresas familiares a partir de memórias de seus integrantes.Metodologia/abordagem: O método foi o de narrativas históricas e a coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevistas do tipo narrativas. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram, para cada uma das empresas, um dos fundadores, um sucessor e o funcionário mais antigo. Os dados foram analisados de acordo com a análise estrutural.Originalidade/Relevância: A pesquisa mostrou a trajetória de pequenas empresas longevas com foco diferente de abordagens lineares predominantes no estudo da temática.Principais resultados: Os resultados apontaram diferentes trajetórias de pequenas empresas familiares longevas. No primeiro caso, foram identificados três momentos de mudança, que resultaram em crescimento, declínio e continuidade. No segundo caso, foram observados dois momentos: o de consolidação e o de crescimento. Os resultados mostraram ainda a importância da sucessão familiar para empresas longevas.Contribuições teóricas/metodológicas: A utilização de narrativas históricas e da história oral no estudo de pequenas empresas longevas representa uma contribuição desta pesquisa, evidenciando aspectos associados à longevidade em pequenas empresas familiares, como a relevância da sucessão. No campo de pequenas empresas, o estudo mostrou que longevidade não é diferente de crescimento e que diferentes trajetórias podem configurar a longevidade

EVN and MERLIN observations of microquasar candidates at low galactic latitudes

In an attempt to increase the number of known microquasars, Paredes et al. (2002) have presented a long-term project focused on the search for new objects of this type. They performed a cross-identification between X-ray and radio catalogs under very restrictive selection criteria for sources with |b|<5 degrees, and obtained a sample of 13 radio-emitting X-ray sources. Follow-up observations of 6 of these sources with the VLA provided accurate coordinates, which were used to discover optical counterparts for all of them. We have observed these six sources with the EVN and MERLIN at 5 GHz. Five of the six objects have been detected and imaged, presenting different morphologies: one source has a two-sided jet, three sources have one-sided jets, and one source is compact. With all the presently available information, we conclude that two of the sources are promising microquasar candidates in our Galaxy.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. Published in A&A, see http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2002A%26A...394..983

Temporal dissociation of phencyclidine: Induced locomotor and social alterations in rats using an automated homecage monitoring system – implications for the 3Rs and preclinical drug discovery

Background: Rodent behavioural assays are widely used to delineate the mechanisms of psychiatric disorders and predict the efficacy of drug candidates. Conventional behavioural paradigms are restricted to short time windows and involve transferring animals from the homecage to unfamiliar apparatus which induces stress. Additionally, factors including environmental perturbations, handling and the presence of an experimenter can impact behaviour and confound data interpretation. To improve welfare and reproducibility these issues must be resolved. Automated homecage monitoring offers a more ethologically relevant approach with reduced experimenter bias. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an automated homecage system at detecting locomotor and social alterations induced by phencyclidine (PCP) in group-housed rats. PCP is an NMDA receptor antagonist commonly utilised to model aspects of schizophrenia. Methods: Rats housed in groups of 3 were implanted with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. Each homecage was placed over a RFID reader baseplate for the automated monitoring of the social and locomotor activity of each individual rat. For all rats, we acquired homecage data for 24 h following administration of both saline and PCP (2.5 mg/kg). Results: PCP resulted in significantly increased distance travelled from 15 to 60 min post injection. Furthermore, PCP significantly enhanced time spent isolated from cage-mates and this asociality lasted from 60 to 105 min post treatment. Conclusions: Unlike conventional assays, in-cage monitoring captures the temporal duration of drug effects on multiple behaviours in the same group of animals. This approach could benefit psychiatric preclinical drug discovery though improved welfare and increased between-laboratory replicability

INTERFERÊNCIA DE DOSES DE COBRE NO CRESCIMENTO E NA QUALIDADE DE MUDAS DE Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul E Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell.

Copper is an essential element for the plants, but when it’s present in high amounts in soil, it becomes toxic to vegetable metabolism. One of the strategies for rehabilitation of contaminated areas by metals is the phytoremediation, which consists in the introduction of vegetable species on contaminated soil. The research aimed to evaluate the interference of increasing doses of copper, applied in soil, on growth and on quality of seedling of Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul e Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, completely randomized design, with eight repetitions and in factorial arrangement (3 x 6), which include three forest species and six copper dosages in soil (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 end 300 mg kg-1). It was evaluated the following parameters: height, collar diameter, aerial dry mass, root dry mass, specific surface area and Dickson Quality Index. The results evidenced that the Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell seedlings are more tolerant than Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul seedlings and they have better quality of seedlings at higher doses of copper. Copper doses reduce with higher intensity plant height, dry mass of aerial and roots parts, specific surface area and Dickson Quality Index of seedlings of Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul in relation to Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell Seedlings of Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell are more tolerant to higher copper doses than Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul in soil.O cobre é um elemento essencial às plantas, mas quando presente em altas concentrações no solo pode se tornar tóxico ao metabolismo vegetal. Uma das estratégias para reabilitação de áreas contaminadas por metais é a fitorremediação, que consiste na introdução de espécies vegetais no solo contaminado. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a interferência de doses crescentes de cobre aplicadas ao solo no crescimento e na qualidade de mudas de Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul e Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com oito repetições, em arranjo fatorial (3 x 6), sendo três espécies florestais e seis doses de cobre no solo (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 e 300 mg kg-1). Foram avaliados os parâmetros: altura, diâmetro de colo, massa seca aérea, massa seca radicular, área superficial específica e índice de qualidade de Dickson. Os resultados evidenciaram que as mudas de timbaúva são mais tolerantes do que as de pata-de-vaca e carne-de-vaca e apresentam melhor qualidade de mudas em doses mais elevadas de cobre. As doses de cobre reduzem com maior intensidade a altura de plantas, massa seca da parte aérea e raízes, área superficial específica e o índice de qualidade de Dickson das mudas de Bauhinia forficata Link e Pterogyne nitens Tul em relação à Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. As mudas de timbaúva toleram maiores doses de cobre no solo em relação à pata-de-vaca e à carne-de-vaca

INTERFERENCE OF DOSES OF COPPER ON GROWTH AND QUALITY OF Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul AND Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. SEEDLINGS

O cobre \ue9 um elemento essencial \ue0s plantas, mas quando presente em altas concentra\ue7\uf5es no solo pode se tornar t\uf3xico ao metabolismo vegetal. Uma das estrat\ue9gias para reabilita\ue7\ue3o de \ue1reas contaminadas por metais \ue9 a fitorremedia\ue7\ue3o, que consiste na introdu\ue7\ue3o de esp\ue9cies vegetais no solo contaminado. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a interfer\ueancia de doses crescentes de cobre aplicadas ao solo no crescimento e na qualidade de mudas de Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul e Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegeta\ue7\ue3o, no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com oito repeti\ue7\uf5es, em arranjo fatorial (3 x 6), sendo tr\ueas esp\ue9cies florestais e seis doses de cobre no solo (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 e 300 mg kg-1). Foram avaliados os par\ue2metros: altura, di\ue2metro de colo, massa seca a\ue9rea, massa seca radicular, \ue1rea superficial espec\uedfica e \uedndice de qualidade de Dickson. Os resultados evidenciaram que as mudas de timba\ufava s\ue3o mais tolerantes do que as de pata-de-vaca e carne-de-vaca e apresentam melhor qualidade de mudas em doses mais elevadas de cobre. As doses de cobre reduzem com maior intensidade a altura de plantas, massa seca da parte a\ue9rea e ra\uedzes, \ue1rea superficial espec\uedfica e o \uedndice de qualidade de Dickson das mudas de Bauhinia forficata Link e Pterogyne nitens Tul em rela\ue7\ue3o \ue0 Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. As mudas de timba\ufava toleram maiores doses de cobre no solo em rela\ue7\ue3o \ue0 pata-de-vaca e \ue0 carne-de-vaca.Copper is an essential element for the plants, but when it\u2019s present in high amounts in soil, it becomes toxic to vegetable metabolism. One of the strategies for rehabilitation of contaminated areas by metals is the phytoremediation, which consists in the introduction of vegetable species on contaminated soil. The research aimed to evaluate the interference of increasing doses of copper, applied in soil, on growth and on quality of seedling of Bauhinia forficata Link, Pterogyne nitens Tul e Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, completely randomized design, with eight repetitions and in factorial arrangement (3 x 6), which include three forest species and six copper dosages in soil (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 end 300 mg kg-1). It was evaluated the following parameters: height, collar diameter, aerial dry mass, root dry mass, specific surface area and Dickson Quality Index. The results evidenced that the Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell seedlings are more tolerant than Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul seedlings and they have better quality of seedlings at higher doses of copper. Copper doses reduce with higher intensity plant height, dry mass of aerial and roots parts, specific surface area and Dickson Quality Index of seedlings of Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul in relation to Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell Seedlings of Enterolobium contortisiliquum Vell are more tolerant to higher copper doses than Bauhinia forficata Link and Pterogyne nitens Tul in soil

Nanoparticle Mediated Tumor Vascular Disruption: A Novel Strategy in Radiation Therapy

More than 50% of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy. The clinical delivery of curative radiation dose is strictly restricted by the proximal healthy tissues. We propose a dual-targeting strategy using vessel-targeted-radiosensitizing gold nanoparticles and conformal-image guided radiation therapy to specifically amplify damage in the tumor neoendothelium. The resulting tumor vascular disruption substantially improved the therapeutic outcome and subsidized the radiation/nanoparticle toxicity, extending its utility to intransigent or nonresectable tumors that barely respond to standard therapies

Impact of risk factors on the timing of first postpartum venous thromboembolism: a population-based cohort study from England

For women with preeclampsia, BMI &gt;30 kg/m2, infection, or those having cesarean delivery, VTE risk remained elevated for 6 weeks postpartum.For women with postpartum hemorrhage or preterm birth, the relative rate of VTE was only increased for the first 3 weeks postpartum.Impact on the timing of first postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE) for women with specific risk factors is of crucial importance when planning the duration of thromboprophylaxis regimen. We observed this using a large linked primary and secondary care database containing 222 334 pregnancies resulting in live and stillbirth births between 1997 and 2010. We assessed the impact of risk factors on the timing of postpartum VTE in term of absolute rates (ARs) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) using a Poisson regression model. Women with preeclampsia/eclampsia and postpartum acute systemic infection had the highest risk of VTE during the first 3 weeks postpartum (ARs ≥2263/100 000 person-years; IRR ≥2.5) and at 4-6 weeks postpartum (AR ≥1360; IRR ≥3.5). Women with body mass index (BMI) &gt;30 kg/m2 or those having cesarean delivery also had elevated rates up to 6 weeks (AR ≥1425 at 1-3 weeks and ≥722 at 4-6 weeks). Women with postpartum hemorrhage or preterm birth, had significantly increased VTE rates only in the first 3 weeks (AR ≥1736; IRR ≥2). Our findings suggest that the duration of the increased VTE risk after childbirth varies based on the type of risk factors and can extend up to the first 3 to 6 weeks postpartum

Evaluation of polygenic risk scores for breast and ovarian cancer risk prediction in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 94 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer (BC) risk and 18 associated with ovarian cancer (OC) risk. Several of these are also associated with risk of BC or OC for women who carry a pathogenic mutation in the high-risk BC and OC genes BRCA1 or BRCA2. The combined effects of these variants on BC or OC risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have not yet been assessed while their clinical management could benefit from improved personalized risk estimates. Methods: We constructed polygenic risk scores (PRS) using BC and OC susceptibility SNPs identified through population-based GWAS: for BC (overall, estrogen receptor [ER]-positive, and ER-negative) and for OC. Using data from 15 252 female BRCA1 and 8211 BRCA2 carriers, the association of each PRS with BC or OC risk was evaluated using a weighted cohort approach, with time to diagnosis as the outcome and estimation of the hazard ratios (HRs) per standard deviation increase in the PRS. Results: The PRS for ER-negative BC displayed the strongest association with BC risk in BRCA1 carriers (HR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23 to 1.31, P = 8.2 x 10(53)). In BRCA2 carriers, the strongest association with BC risk was seen for the overall BC PRS (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.28, P = 7.2 x 10(-20)). The OC PRS was strongly associated with OC risk for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. These translate to differences in absolute risks (more than 10% in each case) between the top and bottom deciles of the PRS distribution; for example, the OC risk was 6% by age 80 years for BRCA2 carriers at the 10th percentile of the OC PRS compared with 19% risk for those at the 90th percentile of PRS. Conclusions: BC and OC PRS are predictive of cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Incorporation of the PRS into risk prediction models has promise to better inform decisions on cancer risk management

Risks of breast or ovarian cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 predictive test negatives: findings from the EMBRACE study.

Purpose BRCA1/BRCA2 predictive test negatives are proven noncarriers of a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation that is carried by their relatives. The risk of developing breast cancer (BC) or epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in these women is uncertain. The study aimed to estimate risks of invasive BC and EOC in a large cohort of BRCA1/BRCA2 predictive test negatives. Methods We used cohort analysis to estimate incidences, cumulative risks, and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). Results A total of 1,895 unaffected women were eligible for inclusion in the BC risk analysis and 1,736 in the EOC risk analysis. There were 23 incident invasive BCs and 2 EOCs. The cumulative risk of invasive BC was 9.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.9-15%) by age 85 years and the corresponding risk of EOC was 0.6% (95% CI 0.2-2.6%). The SIR for invasive BC was 0.93 (95% CI 0.62-1.40) in the overall cohort, 0.85 (95% CI 0.48-1.50) in noncarriers from BRCA1 families, and 1.03 (95% CI 0.57-1.87) in noncarriers from BRCA2 families. The SIR for EOC was 0.79 (95% CI 0.20-3.17) in the overall cohort. Conclusion Our results did not provide evidence for elevated risks of invasive BC or EOC in BRCA1/BRCA2 predictive test negatives. Genetics in Medicine advance online publication, 22 March 2018; doi:10.1038/gim.2018.44