Vertical integration for full outsourcing: growth and internationalization of a portuguese packaging firm

Based on a case study of a Portuguese packaging firm, this paper examines how vertical integration of the supplier serves as a vehicle for the full outsourcing of the client firms' needs in a solution that reduces transaction costs, favors specialization, and permits small and mediumsized firms to develop competencies that may be exploited in a wide array of projects. Vertical integration by the supplier (a governance decision) is a strategic response to changes in the sourcing model of the clients. Client-supplier relationships have inter-spatial and inter-temporal value that surpasses spot market exchanges

Seasonal Oscillation of Human Infection with Influenza A/H5N1 in Egypt and Indonesia

As of June 22, 2011, influenza A/H5N1 has caused a reported 329 deaths and 562 cases in humans, typically attributed to contact with infected poultry. Influenza H5N1 has been described as seasonal. Although several studies have evaluated environmental risk factors for H5N1 in poultry, none have considered seasonality of H5N1 in humans. In addition, temperature and humidity are suspected to drive influenza in temperate regions, but drivers in the tropics are unknown, for H5N1 as well as other influenza viruses. An analysis was conducted to determine whether human H5N1 cases occur seasonally in association with changes in temperature, precipitation and humidity. Data analyzed were H5N1 human cases in Indonesia (n = 135) and Egypt (n = 50), from January 1, 2005 (Indonesia) or 2006 (Egypt) through May 1, 2008 obtained from WHO case reports, and average daily weather conditions obtained from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. Fourier time series analysis was used to determine seasonality of cases and associations between weather conditions and human H5N1 incidence. Human H5N1 cases in Indonesia occurred with a period of 1.67 years/cycle (p<0.05) and in Egypt, a period of 1.18 years/cycle (p≅0.10). Human H5N1 incidence in Egypt, but not Indonesia, was strongly associated with meteorological variables (κ2≥0.94) and peaked in Egypt when precipitation was low, and temperature, absolute humidity and relative humidity were moderate compared to the average daily conditions in Egypt. Weather conditions coinciding with peak human H5N1 incidence in Egypt suggest that human infection may be occurring primarily via droplet transmission from close contact with infected poultry

RNAi of Complex I and V of the electron transport chain in glutamate neurons extends life span, increases sleep, and decreases locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster.

RNAi targeting the electron transport chain has been proven to prolong life span in many different species, and experiments specifically with Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans have shown a distinct role for neurons. To determine which subset of neurons is implicated in this life span extension, we used the GAL4/UAS system to activate RNAi against genes of Complex I and Complex V. We found life span extension of 18-24% with two glutamate neuron (D42 and VGlut) GAL4 lines. We used the GAL80 system to determine if the overlapping set of glutamate neurons in these two GAL4 lines imparts the life span extension. Limiting GAL4 activity to non-VGlut glutamate neurons in the D42 background failed to extend life span, suggesting that glutamate neurons have an important role in aging. Interestingly, RNAi of the electron transport chain in D42 glutamate neurons also caused an increase in daytime and nighttime sleep and a decrease in nighttime locomotor activity. Changes to sleep patterns and prolonged life span were not accompanied by any changes in female fertility or response to starvation. Our findings demonstrate that a small subset of neurons can control life span, and further studies can look into the contributions made by glutamate neurons

Standard and line-to-line cementation of a polished short hip stem: Long-term in vitro implant stability

The current trend is toward shorter hip stems. While there is a general agreement on the need for a cement mantle thicker than 2 mm, some surgeons prefer line-to-line cementation, where the mantle has only the thickness provided by the cement-bone interdigitation. The aim of this study was to assess if a relatively short, polished hip stem designed for a standard cementation can also be cemented line-to-line without increasing the risk of long-term loosening. Composite femurs with specific open-cell foam to allow cement-bone interdigitation were used. A validated in-vitro biomechanical cyclic test replicating long-term physiological loading was applied to femurs where the same stem was implanted with the Standard-mantle (optimal stem size) and Line-to-line (same rasp, one-size larger stem). Implant-bone motions were measured during the test. Inducible micromotions never exceeded 10 \u3bcm for both implant types (differences statistically not-significant). Permanent migrations ranged 50\u2013300 \u3bcm for both implant types (differences statistically not-significant). While in the standard-mantle specimens there was a pronounced trend toward stabilization, line-to-line had less tendency to stabilize. The cement cracks were observed after the test by means of dye penetrants: The line-to-line specimens included the same cracks of the standard-mantle (but in the line-to-line specimens they were longer), and some additional cracks. The micromotions and cement damage were consistent with those observed in-vitro and clinically for stable stems, confirming that none of the specimens became dramatically loose. However, it seems that for this relatively short polished stem, standard-mantle cementation is preferable, as it results in less micromotion and less cement cracking. \ua9 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2736\u20132744, 2018

Evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of varenicline in rats

Engin Burak Sel&ccedil;uk,1 Meltem Sungu,2 Hakan Parlakpinar,3 Necip Ermiş,4 Elif Taslıdere,5 Nigar Vardı,5 Murat Yal&ccedil;insoy,6 Mustafa Sagır,3 Alaaddin Polat,7 Mehmet Karatas,8 Burcu Kayhan-Tetik11Department of Family Medicine, 2Inonu University Medical Faculty, Malatya, Turkey; 3Department of Pharmacology, 4Department of Cardiology, 5Department of Histology and Embryology, 6Department of Pulmonary Medicine, 7Department of Physiology, 8Department of Medical Ethics, Inonu University Medical Faculty, Malatya,&nbsp;TurkeyBackground: Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among tobacco users. Varenicline is widely used worldwide to help smoking cessation, but some published studies have reported associated cardiovascular events.Objective: To determine the cardiovascular toxicity induced by varenicline in rats.Materials and methods: We randomly separated 34 rats into two groups: 1) the control group (given only distilled water orally, n=10) and the varenicline group (given 9 &micro;g/kg/day varenicline on days 1&ndash;3, 9 &micro;g/kg twice daily on days 4&ndash;7, and 18 &micro;g/kg twice daily on days 8&ndash;90 [total 83&nbsp;days], n=24). Each group was then subdivided equally into acute and chronic subgroups, and all rats in these groups were euthanized with anesthesia overdose on days 45 and 90, respectively. Body and heart weights, hemodynamic (mean oxygen saturation, mean blood pressure, and heart rate, electrocardiographic (PR, QRS, and QT intervals) biochemical (oxidants and antioxidants), and histopathological analyses (including immunostaining) were&nbsp;performed.Results: Acute varenicline exposure resulted in loss of body weight, while chronic varenicline exposure caused heart weight loss and decreased mean blood pressure, induced lipid peroxidation, and reduced antioxidant activity. Both acute and chronic varenicline exposure caused impairment of mean oxygen saturation. QT interval was prolonged in the chronic varenicline group, while PR interval prolongation was statistically significant in both the control and acute varenicline groups. Caspase-9 activity was also significantly increased by chronic exposure. Moreover, histopathological observations revealed severe morphological heart damage in both groups.Conclusion: Adverse effects of chronic varenicline exposure on cardiovascular tissue were confirmed by our electrocardiographic, biochemical, and histopathological analyses. This issue needs to be investigated with new experimental and clinical studies to evaluate the exact mechanism(s) of the detrimental effects of varenicline. Physicians should bear in mind the toxic effects of varenicline on the cardiovascular system when prescribing it for smoking cessation.Keywords: varenicline, smoking, cardiovascular, rat, electrocardiogram, histopathological evaluatio