Previous research has shown that firms identified as derivative users tend to be valued at a premium relative to non-users. In this paper I develop the hypothesis that the derivative premium' is higher in firms with centralised FX exposure management, compared to a decentralised approach in which subsidiaries retain bank contacts and/or decision-making authority. This study benefits from unique su

We have previously shown that the use of a combination of antioxidants delayed the degeneration process in rd1 mouse retina. In an effort to understand the mechanism of action of these substances (zeaxanthin, lutein, alpha-lipoic acid, glutathione, and Lycium barbarum extract) the changes in the levels of several proteins and oxidative stress markers in the rd1 retina have been studied. The treatm

In this work, we demonstrate the fabrication of bilayer metal wire-grid polarizers and the characterization of their performance. The polarizers with 200 nm period were fabricated on flexible plastic substrates by nanoimprint lithography (NIL), followed by aluminum deposition. Transmission efficiency over 0.51 and extinction ratio higher than 950 can be achieved in the visible range when the alumi

Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) of the M2 phenotype are present in the stroma of many tumours and are frequently associated with the progression of several types of cancer. We investigated the role of M2 macrophages in colon cancer progression and found that human colon cancer tissue had elevated numbers of CD68(+) (macrophage marker) cells and CD206(+) (M2 macrophage marker) cells and increa

Abstract: Urban densification increases exposure to noise, light, odour, and vibration in urban dwellings. Exposure from combined environmental stressors intruding into the home could increase the risk of adverse effects on wellbeing, even when the exposure is at a relatively low level. This study assesses the prevalence of annoyance with a combination of potential environmental stressors common i

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is first-line treatment for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are the most commonly used ADT but have several theoretical physiologic disadvantages (e.g. initial testosterone surge, potential microsurges upon repeat administration). Testosterone surge delays the intended serologic endpoint of testosterone suppressio

Is has long been established, that views to natural scenes can a have a dampening effect on physiological stress responses. However, as people in Europe, Canada and North America today spent 50-85% of their time indoors, attention might also be paid to how the artificial man-made indoor environment influences these mechanisms. The question that this study attempts to start addressing is therefore

Removal of organic micropollutants in a hybrid biofilm-activated sludge process was investigated through batch experiments, modeling, and full-scale measurements. Batch experiments with carriers and activated sludge from the same full-scale reactor were performed to assess the micropollutant removal rates of the carrier biofilm under oxic conditions and the sludge under oxic and anoxic conditions.

Southernmost Patagonia, located at the relatively narrow passage between Antarctica and South America, is a highly sensitive region for recording meridional and zonal changes in the pattern of oceanic and atmospheric circulation. The island of Isla de los Estados, situated at 54.5 degrees S, 64 degrees W, east of Argentinean Tierra del Fuego, provides an exceptional possibility, to investigate ter

The aim of the present study was to identify predictive factors for outcome after surgery of vestibular schwannomas.

The fusion-evaporation reaction 244Pu(48Ca, 3-4n)288,289114 was studied at the new gas-filled recoil separator TASCA. Thirteen correlated decay chains were observed and assigned to the production and decay of 288,289114. At a compound nucleus excitation energy of E* = 39.8-43.9 MeV, the 4n evaporation channel cross section was 9.8(-3.1)(+3.9) pb. At E* = 36.1-39.5 MeV, that of the 3n evaporation c

We demonstrate metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy of InAs1-xSbx nanowires (x=0.08-0.77) for applications in high-speed electronics and long-wavelength optical devices. The composition of the InAsSb nanowires and InAsSb epilayers on the same sample is independently determined using lab-setup high resolution x-ray diffraction, by making use of the size-dependent in-plane broadening of the nanowire Bra

Most aerobic organisms contain catalase which functions to decompose hydrogen peroxide. Typical catalases are structurally complex homo-tetrameric enzymes with one heme prosthetic group buried in each subunit. It is not known how catalase in the cell is assembled from its constituents. The bacterium Enterococcus faecalis cannot synthesize heme but can acquire it from the environment to form a cyto

Objective: It has been suggested that individuals have an inherent acceptance of noise in the presence of speech, and that different acceptance of noise results in different hearing-aid (HA) use. The acceptable noise level (ANL) has been proposed for measurement of this property. It has been claimed that the ANL magnitude can predict hearing-aid use patterns. Many papers have been published report

Two polytypic modifications of (1R,3S)-dimethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylate intergrow to form allotwins. One phase shows monoclinic symmetry, Cc, while the other is orthorhombic Pmc21. The structures may be considered as two different modes of superstructure ordering of an underlying, disordered structure. Considered in the same metrically orthorhombic unit cell a = 37.8883, b = 4.7233, c =

We assessed the interaction between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and education level in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) among memory clinic patients from the multicenter DESCRIPA study. Subjects (n = 544) were followed for 1 to 5 years. We used Cox's stratified survival modeling, adjusted for age, gender, and center. APOE epsilon 4 predicted the onset of AD-type dementia in middle (HR 3.45 9

Aims/hypothesis Since protein ingestion is known to stimulate the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), we hypothesised that enhancing GLP-1 secretion to harness its insulinotropic/beta cell-stimulating activity with whey protein pre-load may have beneficial glucose-lowering effects in type 2 diabetes. Methods In a randomised, open-label crossover clinical trial, we studied 15 individuals

Qualitative comparison of bird and bat wakes has demonstrated significant differences in the structure of the far wake. Birds have been found to have a unified vortex wake of the two wings, while bats have a more complex wake with gradients in the circulation along the wingspan, and with each wing generating its own vortex structure. Here, we compare quantitative measures of the circulation in the

AIM: Recent studies suggest that the incretin concept is not restricted to glucose ingestion but relevant also after non-glucose macronutrient administration. We therefore hypothesized that raising incretin hormones reduces circulating glucose after both glucose and non-glucose macronutrient ingestion in healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve healthy subjects received the dipeptidyl peptid