Productivity and Internationalization A Micro/Data Approach

An appropriate analysis of the effects of globalization requires a careful analysis of the various ways in which different firms operate in international markets. Micro data at the level of individual firms and employees can enhance our empirical understanding of the relationships between internationalization, firms, jobs and employees. These micro data become increasingly available. This paper provides an introduction to this special issue that illustrates the wide variation, richness and policy relevance of the emerging micro data driven research on the effects of internationalization and productivity. © 2011 The Author(s)

Antimicrobial management and appropriateness of treatment of urinary tract infection in general practice in Ireland

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common bacterial infections in general practice and a frequent indication for prescription of antimicrobials. Increasing concern about the association between the use of antimicrobials and acquired antimicrobial resistance has highlighted the need for rational pharmacotherapy of common infections in general practice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Management of urinary tract infections in general practice was studied prospectively over 8 weeks. Patients presenting with suspected UTI submitted a urine sample and were enrolled with an opt-out methodology. Data were collected on demographic variables, previous antimicrobial use and urine samples. Appropriateness of different treatment scenarios was assessed by comparing treatment with the laboratory report of the urine sample.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 22 practices participated in the study and included 866 patients. Bacteriuria was established for 21% of the patients, pyuria without bacteriuria for 9% and 70% showed no laboratory evidence of UTI. An antimicrobial agent was prescribed to 56% (481) of the patients, of whom 33% had an isolate, 11% with pyuria only and 56% without laboratory evidence of UTI. When taking all patients into account, 14% patients had an isolate identified and were prescribed an antimicrobial to which the isolate was susceptible. The agents most commonly prescribed for UTI were co-amoxyclav (33%), trimethoprim (26%) and fluoroquinolones (17%). Variation between practices in antimicrobial prescribing as well as in their preference for certain antimicrobials, was observed. Treatment as prescribed by the GP was interpreted as appropriate for 55% of the patients. Three different treatment scenarios were simulated, i.e. if all patients who received an antimicrobial were treated with nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim or ciprofloxacin only. Treatment as prescribed by the GP was no more effective than treatment with nitrofurantoin for all patients given an antimicrobial or treatment with ciprofloxacin in all patients. Prescribing cost was lower for nitrofurantoin. Empirical treatment of all patients with trimethoprim only was less effective due to the higher resistance levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There appears to be considerable scope to reduce the frequency and increase the quality of antimicrobial prescribing for patients with suspected UTI.</p

Molecular Determinants of Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) Protein Cleavage by the Calcium-Activated Protease, Calpain

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a leading genetic cause of childhood mortality, caused by reduced levels of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. SMN functions as part of a large complex in the biogenesis of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). It is not clear if defects in snRNP biogenesis cause SMA or if loss of some tissue-specific function causes disease. We recently demonstrated that the SMN complex localizes to the Z-discs of skeletal and cardiac muscle sarcomeres, and that SMN is a proteolytic target of calpain. Calpains are implicated in muscle and neurodegenerative disorders, although their relationship to SMA is unclear. Using mass spectrometry, we identified two adjacent calpain cleavage sites in SMN, S192 and F193. Deletion of small motifs in the region surrounding these sites inhibited cleavage. Patient-derived SMA mutations within SMN reduced calpain cleavage. SMN(D44V), reported to impair Gemin2 binding and amino-terminal SMN association, drastically inhibited cleavage, suggesting a role for these interactions in regulating calpain cleavage. Deletion of A188, a residue mutated in SMA type I (A188S), abrogated calpain cleavage, highlighting the importance of this region. Conversely, SMA mutations that interfere with self-oligomerization of SMN, Y272C and SMNΔ7, had no effect on cleavage. Removal of the recently-identified SMN degron (Δ268-294) resulted in increased calpain sensitivity, suggesting that the C-terminus of SMN is important in dictating availability of the cleavage site. Investigation into the spatial determinants of SMN cleavage revealed that endogenous calpains can cleave cytosolic, but not nuclear, SMN. Collectively, the results provide insight into a novel aspect of the post-translation regulation of SMN

Modelling wave overtopping for flood defense reliability

Failure of dike covers due to wave overtopping erosion may initiate dike breach. Surface transitions in the dike cover, such as cure points, height difference, roughness difference and objects are often weak spots, but the effects of such transitions on the wave overtopping discharge and associated location and evolution of dike cover erosion are highly uncertain. Dike cover erosion is dominated by the turbulence-dominated shear stress at the jet front. Therefore, a detailed numerical Finite Element model was developed. In this paper the preliminary results of the model of Aguilar-Lopez (2016) and Bomers et al. (2018) are briefly presented. At the University of Twente, two PhD students recently started on the challenge of quantifying the effect of transitions in grass covered dikes on dike erosion. In this paper, we present their research plans

Surf zone morphodynamics during low-moderate energetic condtions; The TASTI field experiment

During low-moderate energetic conditions, onshore migration of intertidal bars results in beach accretion. The mechanisms driving the onshore directed transport of sand and their relative importance are still under debate. To improve our knowledge on these mechanisms, a field experiment was conducted at the beach of Vejers, Denmark. Measurements of flow velocities including turbulence, sand concentrations and morphology were collected in the intertidal zone for a period of four weeks. This resulted in a unique dataset including detailed measurements at multiple locations during two periods with an onshore migrating intertidal bar. This paper gives an insight in the type of measurements that were collected, the hydrodynamic conditions and resulting variability in the cross-shore and alongshore morphology during the campaign, and presents preliminary results

Surf zone morphodynamics during low-moderate energetic condtions; The TASTI field experiment

During low-moderate energetic conditions, onshore migration of intertidal bars results in beach accretion. The mechanisms driving the onshore directed transport of sand and their relative importance are still under debate. To improve our knowledge on these mechanisms, a field experiment was conducted at the beach of Vejers, Denmark. Measurements of flow velocities including turbulence, sand concentrations and morphology were collected in the intertidal zone for a period of four weeks. This resulted in a unique dataset including detailed measurements at multiple locations during two periods with an onshore migrating intertidal bar. This paper gives an insight in the type of measurements that were collected, the hydrodynamic conditions and resulting variability in the cross-shore and alongshore morphology during the campaign, and presents preliminary results