Search results for "MACRO"

The entangled relationship between cilia and actin

2020

Primary cilia are microtubule-based sensory cell organelles that are vital for tissue and organ development. They act as an antenna, receiving and transducing signals, enabling communication between cells. Defects in ciliogenesis result in severe genetic disorders collectively termed ciliopathies. In recent years, the importance of the direct and indirect involvement of actin regulators in ciliogenesis came into focus as it was shown that F-actin polymerisation impacts ciliation. The ciliary basal body was further identified as both a microtubule and actin organising centre. In the current review, we summarize recent studies on F-actin in and around primary cilia, focusing on different acti…

Effects of confinement on insulin amyloid fibrils formation.

2006

Insulin, a 51-residue protein universally used in diabetes treatment, is known to produce amyloid fibrils at high temperature and acidic conditions. As for other amyloidogenic proteins, the mechanisms leading to nucleation and growth of insulin fibrils are still poorly understood. We here report a study of the fibrillation process for insulin confined in a suitable polymeric hydrogel, with the aim of ascertain the effects of a reduced protein mobility on the various phases of the process. The results indicate that, with respect to standard aqueous solutions, the fibrillation process is considerably slowed down at moderately high concentrations and entirely suppressed at low concentration. M…

Polymorphism, Metastable Species and Interconversion

2014

Abstract The natively unfolded peptide hormone glucagon forms fibrillar structures with amyloid properties. Here, we summarize past advances in glucagon fibrillation and combine them with recent new unpublished data to provide some more general conclusions on how glucagon fibrillation adapts to different physicochemical conditions such as high temperature, pressure, mechanical and chemical stress. Factors such as peptide concentration, accessible surface area, surface hydration of the glucagon molecular state, contact surface, temperature and ionic strength all contribute to fibrillar structure and stability. In addition to fundamental changes in secondary structure, glucagon fibril morphol…

Analysis of the Modifications in the Spectral and Morphologic Regularity during Ventricular Fibrillation Produced by Physical Exercise and the Use of…

2015

Chronic physical exercise modifies cardiac activity improving response to malignant arrhythmia and, specifically, ventricular fibrillation (VF). Drug administration as glibenclamide, responsible for K + ATP channel blocking, is also generating a positive response against fibrillation.

Il Ficus di Villa Garibaldi

2011

Emergence of regional leadership – a field approach

2016

ABSTRACTEmergence of regional leadership – a field approach. Regional Studies. The complex processes associated with the emergence of regional leadership are interpreted in this paper through a field theoretical framework, and are discussed with example cases relating to green economy developments in four Nordic regions. It is argued that macro- and meso-level processes create opportunities and constraints for local agency, and how local agency can respond to this is discussed. Field theory offers a novel perspective on regional leadership because it helps one gain a deeper understanding of the various forms regional leadership can take.

Firms’ investment, indebtedness and financial constraints: Size does matter

2022

Abstract This paper provides evidence of the importance of size in explaining the impact of financing conditions on firms´ investment rate. The study makes two main contributions: a) it allows the relationship between indebtedness and firms´ investment to be non-linear; and b) it contrasts whether the impact of indebtedness and the degree of financial restriction differ depending on the size of the company (SME vs large). Results show that while in SMEs indebtedness has a negative impact on investment, there is a threshold beyond which this effect is even larger (based on a debt/assets ratio of 59%). However, in large companies the impact of indebtedness is positive although there is also a…

Private–Public Partnerships as Strategic Alliances

2008

A new approach to the design of concession contracts of port infrastructures that adapts some of the methods used in the design and start-up of strategic alliances is presented. From a cost–benefit analysis of the project, based on the industry benchmarks, a revenue-sharing model dependent on the investment interest and the risk undertaken or transferred by each partner was formulated. This model aids in the calculation of the amount of the canons (lease and royalty charges) that should be stated in the contract. Also, to avoid complicated renegotiations and undesired deadlock situations, methods are presented for the dynamic actualization of such canons according to changes that might occ…

A Methodology to Detect the Deviations of the Project s Budget Compared to Market Prices

2015

[EN] The budget of a project reflects the cost of the investment needed to build an infrastructure, install a system or acquire new materials or supplies. A well-formulated budget in accordance with market prices, allows contractors to prepare offers according to their technical, economic and financial characteristics. On the other hand, it avoids current philosophies that aim to get the contract at any price. Philosophies subsequently used to point out problems and claims during the execution of the project (contradictory prices, delays, etc.) in order to recover some or the entire economic bid carried out during the tendering. In this paper a simple and fast methodology is developed to ch…

The influence of financial features and country characteristics on B2B ICOs’ website traffic

2021

Abstract Technology, blockchain, and initial coin offerings (ICOs) have changed the established ways of financing companies and doing business. The changes that affect organizational communications, specifically marketing communications, remain unclear, especially in the context of business-to-business (B2B) organizations. The current trend is for B2B companies to view social media as an optimal way to enhance lasting and valuable relationships with other companies. There is little research on social media marketing strategies by B2B organizations. To fill this gap, this study uses a sample of 57 B2B ICOs completed by December 2019 and qualitative comparative analysis to examine how the com…