Cooperative Competitiveness and Capital Structure in the Greek Dairy Industry

There has been an increasing interest in cooperative capital structure and its association with the cooperative competitiveness, but the relevant hypotheses have not been tested by using a comprehensive analysis. This paper examines the effects of financial ratios on net profit margins using panel data for the period 1990-981 and explains differences between the cooperative and the investor owned firms (IOFs) operating in the Greek dairy industry. The relevant descriptive statistics show that IOFs are more profitable, while fixed effect results suggest that profitability differences between the two groups can be mainly attributed to the greater effectiveness of IOF capital structure determinants. These results provide a clear message to the cooperative management that if cooperatives’ aim is to improve their competitiveness against IOFs, then Greek dairy cooperatives should increase the contribution of retained profits to capital along with a better exploitation of capital intensity and economies of scale. The paper, however, suggests that a study of non-economic aspects is also required for a complete evaluation of the Greek dairy cooperative performance.Agribusiness,

Développement de compositions polymères biosourcées sur base PLA pour des applications automobiles

National audiencePLA is a bio-based and biodegradable polymer with high tensile strength and rigidity. Nevertheless, its low impact toughness and its brittleness are obstacles for a use in highly loaded parts. To overcome these drawbacks, the influence of several additives is studied. First of all, PLA plasticization by TBC leads to a marked increase of ductility, however counterbalanced by a drop of tensile strength and rigidity. The formation of copolymers PLA-impact modifier (BS) allows to increase impact toughness but not ductility. Finally, quaternary compositions PLA-BS-TBC-clay nano-reinforcements have interesting tensile and impact properties compared to a mineral filled PP frequently used for automotive applications.Le PLA est un polymère biosourcé, biodégradable et à hautes rigidité et résistance en traction. Toutefois, sa faible résilience et sa fragilité sont des obstacles à son utilisation pour des pièces fortement sollicitées. Pour y remédier, cette étude s'intéresse à l'enrichissement progressif de compositions à base de PLA. Dans un premier temps, l'ajout de plastifiant (TBC) permet une nette augmentation de la ductilité du matériau, mais dégrade les autres propriétés en traction. La formation de copolymères PLA-modificateur d'impact (BS) permet un fort accroissement de la résilience, mais pas de la ductilité. Enfin, les compositions quaternaires PLA-BS-TBC-nanocharges d'argile constituent une piste viable pour une utilisation sous fortes sollicitations, grâce à des propriétés mécaniques en traction et à l'impact prometteuses, comparées à celles d'un PP chargé, classiquement utilisé dans l'automobile

Distinct routes of lineage development reshape the human blood hierarchy across ontogeny

In a classical view of hematopoiesis, the various blood cell lineages arise via a hierarchical scheme starting with multipotent stem cells that become increasingly restricted in their differentiation potential through oligopotent and then unipotent progenitors. We developed a cell-sorting scheme to resolve myeloid (My), erythroid (Er), and megakaryocytic (Mk) fates from single CD34+ cells and then mapped the progenitor hierarchy across human development. Fetal liver contained large numbers of distinct oligopotent progenitors with intermingled My, Er and Mk fates. However, few oligopotent progenitor intermediates were present in the adult bone marrow. Instead only two progenitor classes predominate, multipotent and unipotent, with Er-Mk lineages emerging from multipotent cells. The developmental shift to an adult ‘two-tier’ hierarchy challenges current dogma and provides a revised framework to understand normal and disease states of human hematopoiesis.This work was supported by Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards from Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) to FN and SZ. SZ is supported by (Aplastic Anemia). FN is a recipient of a scholar’s research award from the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research (OICR), through generous support from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. Research in EL laboratory is supported by a Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale Fellowship and core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust – Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. Work in the Dick laboratory is supported by grants from the CIHR, Canadian Cancer Society, Terry Fox Foundation, Genome Canada through the Ontario Genomics Institute, OICR with funds from the province of Ontario, a Canada Research Chair and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (OMOHLTC).This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from AAAS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aab211

Chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells are not dependent on Bcr-Abl kinase activity for their survival

Recent evidence suggests CML stem cells are insensitive to kinase inhibitors and responsible for minimal residual disease in treated patients. We investigated whether CML stem cells, in a transgenic mouse model of CML-like disease or derived from patients, are dependent on Bcr-Abl. In the transgenic model, following re-transplantation, donor-derived CML stem cells in which Bcr-Abl expression had been induced and subsequently shut off, were able to persist in vivo and re-initiate leukemia in secondary recipients upon Bcr-Abl re-expression. Bcr-Abl knockdown in human CD34+ CML cells cultured for 12 days in physiological growth factors achieved partial inhibition of Bcr-Abl and downstream targets p-CrkL and p-STAT5, inhibition of proliferation and colony forming cells, but no reduction of input cells. The addition of dasatinib further inhibited p-CrkL and p-STAT5, yet only reduced input cells by 50%. Complete growth factor withdrawal plus dasatinib further reduced input cells to 10%, however the surviving fraction was enriched for primitive leukemic cells capable of growth in long-term culture initiating cell assay and expansion upon removal of dasatinib and addition of growth factors. Together these data suggest that CML stem cell survival is Bcr-Abl kinase independent and suggest curative approaches in CML must focus on kinase-independent mechanisms of resistance

The effect of marketing expenses on car sales – an empirical analysis

The paper assesses empirically the relationship between marketing expenditures and sales in a highly competitive industry, namely automotive, by analyzing the marketing expending of Automobile Dacia S.A. The first part of the paper presents the state-of-the-art and discusses the studies previously conducted which focus on the structure, dynamic and the impact of marketing expenses, while the second part consists in an empirical analysis conducted on Automobile Dacia S.A. marketing spending. The results of the study show that the company managed to increase its’ market share by adopting differentiated marketing for each geographical area. Although the research revealed that the allocation percentage from sales for marketing spending is relatively low (5-6%), the analysis conducted on the cost per unit sold reveals a share of 3% on marketing spending

Effect of stretch and release on myofascial stem cell function in vitro: A putative model to understand the molecular benefits of the myofascial release (MFR) technique

Despite the beneficial effects of osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT), there is a lack of in vitro models to understand the molecular mechanisms associated with these time-tested therapies. The Myofascial Release (MFR) technique is a non-invasive approach that involves passive stretching, hold and release, of the soft tissue to achieve myofascial homeostasis. Tissue-resident mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can regulate the myofascial microenvironment by altering their secreted factors following stretch and release. Therefore, we initiated studies to develop an in vitro model to investigate the possible effects of stretch and release on MSC function, i.e. proliferation and differentiation capabilities, and changes in secreted factors. Preliminary optimization of protocols towards MSC culturing on a stretchable silicone membrane and their mechanical manipulation using the MechanoCulture FX (MCFX) machine, a programmable stretch and release device

Candida parapsilosis Endocarditis in a Patient With Mitral Valve Clip Receiving Chronic Fluconazole Therapy

Introduction Fungal endocarditis (FE) is a relatively uncommon and challenging form of endocarditis, making up a modest percentage of infectious endocarditis cases, ranging from 1.3% to 6%.1 While Candida albicans has historically been recognized as a common causative agent, the landscape is evolving, with Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis) emerging as a prevalent non-albicans species associated with this condition. Recent data show FE prevalence rising to 2-5% of endocarditis cases, highlighting evolving epidemiology. We present a rare case of C. parapsilosis endocarditis, contributing to understanding the changing fungal pathogen landscape in cardiovascular infections. By highlighting this unique instance of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis, we contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities associated with fungal endocarditis, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and vigilance in diagnosing and managing these challenging infections within the realm of cardiovascular health. Case The patient was a 73-year-old male with a past medical history of history of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (35-40%), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy, and thoracic aortic aneurysm. Three years and five months before presentation, he underwent MitraClip© mitral valve repair due to severe mitral regurgitation caused by a myxomatous mitral valve and flail posterior leaflet. He experienced two episodes of Candida parapsilosis fungemia post-procedure, leading to a daily prophylactic regimen of 400 mg oral fluconazole. He presented with worsening left upper quadrant abdominal pain, and imaging revealed a splenic infarct, suggesting septic emboli. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed reduced ejection fraction without obvious valvular vegetations. Upon consultation, he was started on daptomycin, cefepime, and micafungin. Blood cultures confirmed C. parapsilosis fungemia on day 3, prompting adjustments to his antifungal regimen. A transesophageal echocardiogram revealed mobile mass lesions on the atrial surface of the anterior mitral leaflet, with the largest mass measuring 1.1 cm. He was referred for surgical evaluation. Discussion Due to previous modification of the mitral and aortic valves, patients with prosthetic implants or valves are more susceptible to C. parapsilosis infection. Fungal endocarditis has a significant morbidity and mortality rate, hence early identification and treatment are essential. Echocardiography is used to identify lesions, which are usually seen on the left side of the heart, and Mannan antigen testing is used in conjunction with blood cultures to aid in diagnosis. Because of their potency against biofilms, echinocandins such as micafungin are recommended as first line of treatment. Another treatment option is voriconazole, particularly in cases of prophylactic fluconazole failure. Patients who have received prior treatment might benefit from echinocandin sensitivity testing. Complications such as embolism risk, chronic infection, or heart failure may warrant surgery. Our case is the first documented example of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis in a patient receiving long-term preventative fluconazole medication, despite the fact that infective endocarditis associated with MitraClip© usually includes bacterial pathogens. Conclusion Although fungal endocarditis is relatively uncommon, it is an important differential diagnosis to consider in patients with MitraClip©. Treatment with echinocandin antifungal agents is considered to be an effective option. In some patients, however, surgical intervention may be required

PERT: A Method for Expression Deconvolution of Human Blood Samples from Varied Microenvironmental and Developmental Conditions

The cellular composition of heterogeneous samples can be predicted using an expression deconvolution algorithm to decompose their gene expression profiles based on pre-defined, reference gene expression profiles of the constituent populations in these samples. However, the expression profiles of the actual constituent populations are often perturbed from those of the reference profiles due to gene expression changes in cells associated with microenvironmental or developmental effects. Existing deconvolution algorithms do not account for these changes and give incorrect results when benchmarked against those measured by well-established flow cytometry, even after batch correction was applied. We introduce PERT, a new probabilistic expression deconvolution method that detects and accounts for a shared, multiplicative perturbation in the reference profiles when performing expression deconvolution. We applied PERT and three other state-of-the-art expression deconvolution methods to predict cell frequencies within heterogeneous human blood samples that were collected under several conditions (uncultured mono-nucleated and lineage-depleted cells, and culture-derived lineage-depleted cells). Only PERT's predicted proportions of the constituent populations matched those assigned by flow cytometry. Genes associated with cell cycle processes were highly enriched among those with the largest predicted expression changes between the cultured and uncultured conditions. We anticipate that PERT will be widely applicable to expression deconvolution strategies that use profiles from reference populations that vary from the corresponding constituent populations in cellular state but not cellular phenotypic identity

SIADH and Stauffer Syndrome in a Patient with Renal cell carcinoma Coinciding with Liposarcoma

We present a rare patient case of Stauffer syndrome (SS). SS manifests with many types of cancers including Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Historically named nonmetastatic nephrogenic hepatic dysfunction syndrome, manifesting with reversible anicteric transaminitis, elevated alkaline phosphatase, thrombocytosis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, prolongation of prothrombin time, and in some cases hepatosplenomegaly in the absence of hepatobiliary obstruction; literature supports more than 100 cases of SS since its discovery in 1961. Most cases are associated with RCC with an incidence of 3% - 6% and soft tissue sarcomas or prostate cancer coming in second. SS was first described with renal cell carcinoma associated with hepatosplenomegaly and abnormality of liver function with characteristic features of cholestatic disease pattern with the key feature being the absence of metastasis to the liver. The mechanism of how SS occurs is poorly understood. However, the literature suggests that this may be due to increased IL-6 from renal cell carcinoma. The increased IL-6 seems to have an immuno-neuroendocrine effect on cells in the posterior pituitary causing the release of vasopressin by binding both soluble and insoluble IL-6R which activate complex cascades of transcription factors and affects the production of transport proteins made by biliary cells of the liver. One study that was treating wrongly suspected giant cell arteritis in a patient with SS used corticosteroids which regressed cholestasis and inflammatory markers. Now we would like to present a 76-year-old male with a history of prostate cancer, a left nephrectomy due to RCC, a left thigh mass, and other medical conditions who came to the hospital due to diminished oral intake and persistent diarrhea. On admission, he had hyponatremia with a sodium of 129 and elevated liver function tests with alkaline phosphatase of 240 and AST of 52. Previous workup of the hyponatremia revealed elevated urine osmolality that did not respond to IV fluid administration, which was consistent with SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti Diuretic Hormone). A PET Scan was previously done and showed a mass on his left thigh and an MRI showed a 12.2 cm mass deep in the sartorius muscle. Labs prior to surgery were as follows: 10.8 WBC, 7.8 Hb, 344 PLT, 129 Na, 825 ALK, and 65 AST. The patient did not have jaundice during this time nor scleral icterus but had gradually worsening anemia, persistent hyponatremia due to SIADH, and persistently elevated alkaline phosphatase and AST. The patient\u27s AST started to increase just before the renal cell carcinoma was discovered. After the patient\u27s nephrectomy, the alkaline phosphatase started to increase, and the alkaline phosphatase and the AST remained elevated until a brief time of about two months after nephrectomy. The AST remained elevated and spiked right after the liposarcoma resection but both sodium and LFTs normalized 6 weeks later. The conclusion was that this patient had coinciding liposarcoma with clear cell RCC that led to hepatic syndromes twice without liver metastasis and SIADH of malignancy. The findings support this case as a variant of SS without jaundice or icterus

El precio de la tierra en pradera pampeana y su relación con los commodities agropecuarios : periodo 1988 - 2008

El presente trabajo se focaliza en el estudio del valor de la tierra en pradera pampeana y su relación con los commodities agropecuarios para el período comprendido entre los años 1988 y 2008. En la década de 1990 se ha producido un nuevo escenario en el mercado inmobiliario rural argentino, principalmente en la zona conocida como Pradera Pampeana. Los motivos principales que lo han desencadenado fueron la adaptación de la siembra directa y el uso de variedades transgénicas, acompañado por todo un paquete tecnológico hasta entonces desconocido en el país. El valor de la tierra está determinado por la productividad de los factores y el instrumento que se utilizó para cuantificar el mismo fue el método de flujo de fondos y del valor residual descontado por la tasa de corte imperante en cada período bajo análisis. En el presente trabajo se buscó verificar el comportamiento del valor de equilibrio (técnico)de la tierra en la pampa húmeda y su relación con el valor de mercado. El valor de la tierra en las distintas zonas de la pampa húmeda constituye un sistema de vasos comunicantes que se expresa a través de la correlación que existe entre los valores de las distintas zonas. Se produce una revalorización de los campos por arbitraje o arrastre al variar los precios de algunos commodities más que otros. Finalmente se demostró que el precio relativo de los granos a nivel internacional, la tecnología aplicada, las políticas públicas vigentes y la tasa de corte son determinantes del valor técnico de la tierra; el cual, sumado a las expectativas de valoración genera el valor de mercado. Las encuestas realizadas a expertos en el mercado inmobiliario rural reflejan que el valor de la tierra se debe a lo dicho, además de ser un factor escaso y un refugio contra la desvalorización del dólar y el peso