The role of environmental sustainability in the relocation choices of MNEs: Back to the home country or welcome in a new host country?

This study investigates how firms' awareness of environmental sustainability affects the revision of their internationalization strategies. Combining Stakeholder and Signalling theories, we argue that firms concerned with environmental sustainability have a higher propensity to return to their home country when confronted with the need to relocate foreign manufacturing subsidiaries, in order to match Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stakeholder expectations and enhance the effectiveness of sustainable disclosure endeavours. We also argue that the home country's environmental policy stringency, reflecting a stronger pressure by stakeholders and a higher need for effective signals, positively moderates the relationship between the firm environmental sustainability concern and the likelihood to move back home. The empirical analysis conducted on a sample of 150 relocations performed across European nations in 2002–2016 reveals that MNEs signalling their CSR are more likely to backshore only in case of rigid environmental laws, which are perceived as an opportunity to align with CSR stakeholder expectations and to amplify the benefits of disclosing the shortening of their global value chain

Study of Neutron From a Dense Plasma Focus Paco Instrument by Means of Nuclear Tracks Detectors

A most interesting feature of dense plasma foci is the acceleration of charge particle at energy in the range of MeV per nucleon. Using deuterium gas, this devices produce fusion D-D reactions, generation fast neutron pulses (~ 2.5 MeV). The device used in the present work is a Mather-type dense plasma focus, called PACO. It is a 2kJ device at 31 kV, with an oxygen-free copper anode, 50 mm long with 40 mm diameter. The coaxial cathode is formed by ten copper rods arranged in a squirrel cage configuration at a radius of 50 mm. The insulator in an annular Pyrex® tube located at the base of the anode. The energy store is provided by four 1 μF (40 kV, 40 nH) capacitors in parallel. The plasma focus was operated at 1.5 mb deuterium gas pressure. Neutron and accelerated particles are analyzed with material detectors (CR-39 Lantrack®) for different conditions. A detailed study is made of track diameters when the plastic is chemically etched with, 6N KOH at 60°C (±1) for 12

HSD17B13 and other liver fat-modulating genes predict development of hepatocellular carcinoma among HCV-positive cirrhotics with and without viral clearance after DAA treatment

Background: Genetic predisposition to accumulate liver fat (expressed by a polygenic risk score, GRS, based on the number of at-risk alleles of PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7 and GCKR) may influence the probability of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatitis C treatment. Whether this holds true taking into account carriage of the HSD17B13:TA splice variant, also affecting lipogenesis, and achievement of viral clearance (SVR), is unknown. Methods: PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7, GCKR and HSD17B13 variants were determined in a cohort of 328 cirrhotic patients free of HCC before starting treatment with direct acting antivirals (DAA). Results: SVR in the study cohort was 96%. At the end of follow-up, N = 21 patients had been diagnosed an HCC; none of the genes included in the GRS was individually associated with HCC development. However, in a Cox proportional hazards model, a GRS > 0.457 predicted HCC independently of sex, diabetes, albumin, INR and FIB4. The fit of the model improved adding treatment outcome and carriage of the HSD17B13:TA splice variant, with sex, GRS > 0.457, HSD17B13:TA splice variant and failure to achieve an SVR (hazard ratio = 6.75, 4.24, 0.24 and 7.7, respectively) being independent predictors of HCC. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that genes modulating liver fat and lipogenesis are important risk factors for HCC development among cirrhotics C treated with DAA

17β-Oestradiol Protects from Hepatitis C Virus Infection through Induction of Type I Interferon

Background and Aims: Sex hormones are widely recognised to act as protective factors against several viral infections. Specifically, females infected by the hepatitis C virus display higher clearance rates and reduced disease progression than those found in males. Through modulation of particle release and spread, 17β-oestradiol controls HCV’s life cycle. We investigated the mechanism(s) behind oestrogen’s antiviral effect. Methods: We used cell culture-derived hepatitis C virus in in vitro assays to evaluate the effect of 17β-oestradiol on the innate immune response. Host immune responses were evaluated by enumerating gene transcripts via RT-qPCR in cells exposed to oestrogen in the presence or absence of viral infection. Antiviral effects were determined by focus-forming unit assay or HCV RNA quantification. Results: Stimulation of 17β-oestradiol triggers a pre-activated antiviral state in hepatocytes, which can be maintained for several hours after the hormone is removed. This induction results in the elevation of several innate immune genes, such as interferon alpha and beta, tumour necrosis factor, toll-like receptor 3 and interferon regulatory factor 5. We demonstrated that this pre-activation of immune response signalling is not affected by a viral presence, and the antiviral state can be ablated using an interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha inhibitor. Finally, we proved that the oestrogen-induced stimulation is essential to generate an antiviral microenvironment mediated by activation of type I interferons. Conclusion: Resulting in viral control and suppression, 17β-oestradiol induces an interferon-mediated antiviral state in hepatocytes. Oestrogen-stimulated cells modulate the immune response through secretion of type I interferon, which can be countered by blocking interferon-alpha/beta receptor alpha signalling

Detrimental Impact of Interferon-Based Regimens for Chronic Hepatitis C on Vitamin D/Parathyroid Hormone Homeostasis

Background: Both the anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D, an essential hormone of calcium homeostasis, have ample support in the literature. The high rates of vitamin D deficiency among patients with chronic hepatitis C are also well known. That supplementation with vitamin D may boost sustained viral response rates in vitamin D deficient, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients undergoing Interferon-alpha (IFN) treatment, on the other hand, is controversial. Surprisingly, studies considering in this latter setting what are the effects of IFN treatment (with or without vitamin D supplementation) on the other major regulator of mineral metabolism, i.e. the Parathyroid hormone (PTH), are lacking. Aim: Evaluate the impact of interferon-based treatment against HCV (±cholecalciferol supplementation) on vitamin D and PTH homeostasis. Methods: A series of 40 consecutive patients received pegylated IFN plus ribavirin to treat chronic hepatitis C. At the discretion of their physician, some of them (N. = 27) received vitamin D supplementation while others did not (N. = 13). All had measured plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and PTH concentrations at baseline, at completion of the 4th (TW4) and 12th treatment week (TW12) and at 24 weeks after the end of therapy (SVR24). Results: Plasma PTH concentration increased significantly from baseline during treatment, raising to 44.8 [30.7-57.2] pg/mL at TW4 (p=0.01), 47.0 [37.1-63.2] pg/mL at TW12 (p=0.006) to return to baseline levels in the follow-up (34.5 [27.6-43.0]; p=0.16). The proportion of patients who satisfied criteria for hyperparathyroidism was higher at TW12 (N=10, 25%) than at TW4 (N=6, 15%). There was no statistical correlation between vitamin D and PTH blood levels (ρ=-0.07; p=0.65). Conclusion: An increase in plasma PTH occurs systematically during IFN treatment of HCV patients and cannot be prevented by vitamin D supplementation

Small Plasma Focus as Neutron Pulsed Source For Nucleids Identification

In this paper, we present preliminary results on the feasibility of employing a low energy (2 kJ, 31 kV) plasma focus device as a portable source of pulsed neutron beams (2.45 MeV) generated by nuclear fusion reactions D-D, for the “in situ” analysis of substances by nuclear activation. This source has the relevant advantage of being pulsed at requirement, transportable, not permanently radioactive, without radioactive waste, cheap, among others. We prove the feasibility of using this source showing several spectra of the characteristic emission line for manganese, gold, lead, and silverFil: Milanese, Maria Magdalena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones en Física e Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina;Fil: Niedbalski, Jorge Julio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones En Física E Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina;Fil: Moroso, Roberto Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones En Física E Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aire;Fil: Barbaglia, Mario Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones En Física E Ingeniería del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aire;Fil: Mayer, Roberto Edmundo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina;Fil: Castillo, Fernando Anibal. Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México;Fil: Guichón, S.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Bs.as.. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Fisica Arroyo Seco; Argentina

Gene Capture by Helitron Transposons Reshuffles the Transcriptome of Maize

Helitrons are a family of mobile elements that were discovered in 2001 and are now known to exist in the entire eukaryotic kingdom. Helitrons, particularly those of maize, exhibit an intriguing property of capturing gene fragments and placing them into the mobile element. Helitron-captured genes are sometimes transcribed, giving birth to chimeric transcripts that intertwine coding regions of different captured genes. Here, we perused the B73 maize genome for high-quality, putative Helitrons that exhibit plus/minus polymorphisms and contain pieces of more than one captured gene. Selected Helitrons were monitored for expression via in silico EST analysis. Intriguingly, expression validation of selected elements by RT–PCR analysis revealed multiple transcripts not seen in the EST databases. The differing transcripts were generated by alternative selection of splice sites during pre-mRNA processing. Selection of splice sites was not random since different patterns of splicing were observed in the root and shoot tissues. In one case, an exon residing in close proximity but outside of the Helitron was found conjoined with Helitron-derived exons in the mature transcript. Hence, Helitrons have the ability to synthesize new genes not only by placing unrelated exons into common transcripts, but also by transcription readthrough and capture of nearby exons. Thus, Helitrons have a phenomenal ability to “display” new coding regions for possible selection in nature. A highly conservative, minimum estimate of the number of new transcripts expressed by Helitrons is ∼11,000 or ∼25% of the total number of genes in the maize genome

The role of environmental sustainability in the relocation choices of MNEs: back to the home country or welcome in a new host country?

This study investigates how firms' awareness of environmental sustainability affects the revision of their internationalization strategies. Combining Stakeholder and Signalling theories, we argue that firms concerned with environmental sustainability have a higher propensity to return to their home country when confronted with the need to relocate foreign manufacturing subsidiaries, in order to match Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stakeholder expectations and enhance the effectiveness of sustainable disclosure endeavours. We also argue that the home country's environmental policy stringency, reflecting a stronger pressure by stakeholders and a higher need for effective signals, positively moderates the relationship between the firm environmental sustainability concern and the likelihood to move back home. The empirical analysis conducted on a sample of 150 relocations performed across European nations in 2002–2016 reveals that MNEs signalling their CSR are more likely to backshore only in case of rigid environmental laws, which are perceived as an opportunity to align with CSR stakeholder expectations and to amplify the benefits of disclosing the shortening of their global value chain

Nutritional status in post SARS-Cov2 rehabilitation patients

After prolonged hospitalization, the assessment of nutritional status and the identification of adequate nutritional support is of paramount importance. In this observational study, we aimed at assessing the presence of a malnutrition condition in SARS-Cov2 patients after the acute phase and the effects of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program on nutritional and functional status

Role of Gas6 and TAM Receptors in the Identification of Cardiopulmonary Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis and Scleroderma Spectrum Disorders

Background: Few biomarkers are available for early identification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SS) and scleroderma spectrum disorders (SSD). Aims: To evaluate Gas6, sAxl, and sMer as biomarkers for cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study, we recruited 125 consecutive patients, affected by SS and SSD and referred to a tertiary-level pulmonary hypertension outpatient clinic. All patients underwent a comprehensive evaluation for identification of PAH and ILD. Gas6, sMer, and sAxl concentrations were measured with ELISA protocols, and concentrations were compared according to PAH or ILD. Results: Nineteen subjects had pulmonary hypertension (PH) (14 PAH), and 39 had ILD (6 severe). Plasma sMer was increased in PAH (18.6 ng/ml IQR [11.7-20.3]) with respect to the absence (12.4 [8.0-15.8]) or other form of pulmonary hypertension (9.6 [7.4-12.5]; K-W variance p < 0.04). Conversely, Gas6 and sAxl levels were slightly increased in mild ILD (25.8 ng/ml [19.5-32.1] and 24.6 [20.1-32.5]) and reduced in severe ILD (16.6 [15.0-22.1] and 15.5 [14.9-22.4]) in comparison to no evidence of ILD (23.4 [18.8-28.1] and 21.6 [18.1-28.4]; K-W, p 64 0.05). Plasma sMer 65 19 ng/ml has 50% sensitivity and 92% specificity in PAH identification (area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.697, p < 0.03). Values of Gas6 64 24.5 ng/ml and of sAxl 64 15.5 ng/ml have 100% and 67% sensitivity and 47% and 86% specificity, respectively, in identifying severe ILD (Gas6 AUC 0.787, p < 0.001; sAxl AUC 0.705, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The assay of Gas6 sAxl and sMer may be useful to help in the identification of PAH and ILD in SS and SSD patients. The Gas6/TAM system seems to be relevant in cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD and merits further investigations