This chapter assesses the effects of "Eastern" EU-enlargement on the race for FDI and the policy implications. We start from the proposition that the evolving production patterns of incumbent and new member states determine the need for and the justification of location policy (LP) and FDI promotion policy (FDI-PP). On the basis of empirical production patterns, it is argued that while the specialisation outcome dominates in the short run, the convergence scenario is more likely to prevail in the medium term. Therefore, old and new EU-members will compete increasingly for the same type of FDI. How EU-enlargement per se affects the spatial distribution of inward FDI is described next. The role of FDI-PPs and LPs in an enlarged EU are discussed on the basis of the convergence outcome. Since the new economics of location competition and of FDI-promotion cast serious doubt on the economic justification and effectiveness of FDI-PP, the chapter concludes with a basic dilemma in the race for FDI: namely, the greater ineffectiveness of FDI incentives in the Single Market and fewer possibilities for differentiation of LPs. The latter is due to harmonisation pressures, which calls for innovative policy strategies by central and regional authorities. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

This paper reviews and summarises the results of selected studies on performance gaps between multinational enterprises and their domestic counterparts. Performance gaps arise in such fields as productivity, technology, profitability, wages, skills and growth. While these gaps are often attributed to foreign ownership of the affiliates, the theory of the Multinational Enterprise argues that these gaps are due to being a Multinational rather than the nationality of the firm. Empirical evidence on the existence of performance gaps between foreign and domestic firms is supportive of this view: foreign ownership turns out to be a much less important explanatory factor than normally assumed. Firm-specific assets and firm characteristics like industry, size, parent country and multinationality per se are more important. Such results are broadly consistent with those derived in the literatures on ownership change, on foreign entry and on spillovers. We conclude that there is little case for foreign direct investment promotion policies to discriminate between firms on the basis of ownership. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

The central thesis of the dissertation is that in the Phaedrus philosophy is presented as a kind of madness in a strict sense, that is to say, the claim is not that philosophy is necessarily unappreciated by the many, hence considered by their standards as insane, but that the philosophical soul is in a way not in rational control, but in a state of mind that can fairly be defined as madness, and that the philosophical life is arranged in order to visit or revisit this state of mind. Socrates' account of eros and madness is based on his account of the soul, thus the first chapter shall give a close reading of Socrates' account of the soul. The second chapter, in turn, interprets Socrates' account of eros in light of his account of the soul. The third chapter, again, looks into Socrates' depiction of eros as a certain kind of madness in light of the first two chapters, focusing respectively on the following three characterizations: madness as the opposite of sōphrosunē, madness as the opposite of tekhnē, and madness as the core of the best human life, namely, the philosophical life. This dissertation, hopefully, gives a faithful interpretation of Socrates' account of eros in the Phaedrus on the one hand, on the other hand reveals the rationale behind Socrates' conception of eros and its highest form, philosophy, as a kind of divine madness. By doing so, I wish to contribute to our understanding of Plato's Socrates and his life as a paradigm of philosophy.

Influenza A virus (IAV) causes annual seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics resulting in significant levels of mortality and socio-economic costs worldwide. PB1-F2 is a small non-structural protein encoded by an alternate +1 open reading frame in the PB1 gene. PB1-F2 is considered to play important roles in primary influenza virus infection and post-influenza secondary bacterial pneumonia in mice. It is a multifunctional and enigmatic protein with diverse functions attributed to it and the precise contribution of PB1-F2 to the IAV life cycle in avian and mammalian hosts remains largely unknown. In the triple-reassortant H3N2 (TR H3N2) swine influenza virus (SIV) background, we found that PB1-F2 expression did not affect nasal shedding, lung viral load, immunophenotypes, and lung pathology in pigs. On the other hand, in turkeys, deletion of PB1-F2 resulted in early induction of clinical disease and effective transmission among the turkey poults. Interestingly, the virulence associated 66S mutation in PB1-F2 abolished the ability of the IAV to successfully infect turkeys and transmit to in-contacts. These results highlight the strain- and species-specific role of PB1-F2 protein. We also demonstrated that specific amino acid residues in the C-terminal of PB1-F2 determine the pathogenicity of 2009 swine-origin pandemic H1N1 virus in a mouse model. The C-terminal residues 73K, 75R, and 79R together with 66S increased virus replication, decreased type I interferon response, increased infiltration of neutrophils and myeloperoxidase production in lungs resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in mice with characteristic clinical and pathological features of acute lung injury (ALI). Further, we found that PB1-F2 induces mitochondrial superoxide production and mitochondrial damage in a sequence dependent manner in IAV-infected lung epithelial cells. PB1-F2-mediated mitochondrial damage promotes Parkin-mediated mitophagy but suppresses the autophagic degradation of damaged mitochondria in the infected lung epithelial cells. Accumulated dysfunctional mitochondria likely to aggravate host cell death and inflammatory responses. Taken together, the present findings enhance our understanding of PB1-F2 protein as a virulence determinant in IAV infection in a species- and strain-specific manner and provide new insights into the impact of genetic changes in PB1-F2 on the host pathogenesis of virulent IAV strains. / Ph. D.

Tableau d’honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales, 2013-2014. / Un stress oxydatif survient lorsqu’il y a surproduction de dérivés actifs de l’oxygène par rapport aux défenses antioxydantes. Ce déséquilibre est associé, entre autres, à la prééclampsie, une pathologie de la grossesse. Les F2-isoprostanes regroupent soixante-quatre isomères issus de la peroxydation de l’acide arachidonique. Ceux-ci sont reconnus comme étant les biomarqueurs les plus fiables du stress oxydatif in vivo. Une méthode d’analyse par chromatographie liquide couplée à la spectrométrie de masse en tandem pour le dosage de sept isomères de F2-isoprostanes dans des échantillons de plasma, de sang et de membranes érythrocytaires a été mise au point et validée. Les F2-isoprostanes dans le plasma ont été corrélés positivement avec plusieurs acides gras trans plasmatiques au troisième trimestre de la grossesse. Contre toute attente, les F2-isoprostanes du plasma, du sang et des membranes érythrocytaires sont moins abondants en prééclampsie par rapport aux contrôles en fin de grossesse. / An oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses of the organism. This imbalance has been associated with preeclampsia, a pathology of the mid-to-late pregnancy. Peroxidation of arachidonic acid generates sixty-four isomers of F2-isoprostanes. The latter are recognized as the most reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo. A method using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for the determination of seven isomers of F2-isoprostanes in plasma samples, whole blood and erythrocyte membranes has been developed and validated. The F2-isoprostanes correlated positively with several trans fatty acids in plasma at end of the pregnancy. Unexpectedly, F2-isoprostanes were less abundant in preeclampsia than in control pregnancies at the third trimester.

<p>In the present thesis dietary markers for intake of milk fat, associations between intake of milk fat and risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), and the effects of supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to healthy humans are investigated.</p><p>The dietary fat quality is one of the main lifestyle factors affecting risk for CHD. When studying the associations between diet and health it is important to have accurate dietary information. Objective dietary markers increase the possibilities to interpret dietary surveys.</p><p>In a study of 62 men we demonstrated that the milk fatty acid pentadecanoic acid (15:0) measured in serum lipids can be used as marker for intake of fat from milk products. In the same study we observed inverse correlations between intake of milk fat and certain risk factors for CHD, especially anthropometric variables.</p><p>To further investigate these findings we supplemented humans with CLA, naturally present in milk. CLA has in animals and <i>in vitro</i> been ascribed positive effects on adiposity and glucose and lipid metabolism. When supplementing humans with CLA we observed a slight decrease in body fat, but no effects on other anthropometric variables or serum lipids. However, markers of lipid peroxidation and inflammation increased. From a second supplementation study we concluded that CLA <i>trans </i>10, <i>cis </i>12 induced lipid peroxidation more than did a mixture of isomers.</p><p>We conclude that the inverse associations between milk fat intake and CHD risk factors, and the effects of CLA, are interesting and need further investigation. However, according to current knowledge, the general population is still advised to have a limited intake of total and saturated fat and to instead choose unsaturated fats. In addition, there is to date no medical reasons for humans to take CLA as supplements.</p>

In the present thesis dietary markers for intake of milk fat, associations between intake of milk fat and risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), and the effects of supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to healthy humans are investigated. The dietary fat quality is one of the main lifestyle factors affecting risk for CHD. When studying the associations between diet and health it is important to have accurate dietary information. Objective dietary markers increase the possibilities to interpret dietary surveys. In a study of 62 men we demonstrated that the milk fatty acid pentadecanoic acid (15:0) measured in serum lipids can be used as marker for intake of fat from milk products. In the same study we observed inverse correlations between intake of milk fat and certain risk factors for CHD, especially anthropometric variables. To further investigate these findings we supplemented humans with CLA, naturally present in milk. CLA has in animals and in vitro been ascribed positive effects on adiposity and glucose and lipid metabolism. When supplementing humans with CLA we observed a slight decrease in body fat, but no effects on other anthropometric variables or serum lipids. However, markers of lipid peroxidation and inflammation increased. From a second supplementation study we concluded that CLA trans 10, cis 12 induced lipid peroxidation more than did a mixture of isomers. We conclude that the inverse associations between milk fat intake and CHD risk factors, and the effects of CLA, are interesting and need further investigation. However, according to current knowledge, the general population is still advised to have a limited intake of total and saturated fat and to instead choose unsaturated fats. In addition, there is to date no medical reasons for humans to take CLA as supplements.

Ce travail porte sur la synthèse et la caractérisation de fluorures à base d’alcalins, d’alcalinoterreuxet de terres rares et sur la réactivité de ces composés vis-à-vis de ReF6 pour lapurification de UF6. L’étude traite dans un premier temps de la synthèse de fluorures tels queKMgF3, MgF2 et CaF2 en couplant une voie solvothermale assistée par micro-ondes et uneétape de fluoration à partir de fluor élémentaire (F2). Les techniques de caractérisationutilisées mettent notamment en avant le caractère basique au sens de Lewis de ces composéset la possibilité de contrôler leur surface spécifique et leur taux d’oxygène, à l’origine dessites basiques, via la température de fluoration (F2) en phase gaz. Dans un second temps, lasolution solide Ce1-xZrxF4 à base de Ce4+ et Zr4+ a été obtenue par fluoration directe d’oxydesmixtes à partir de fluor élémentaire dilué. L’étude par DRX et RMN du 19F montre laprésence d’une solution solide pour des compositions voisines de x=0,5. Enfin, la réactivité deReF6 et UF6 sur KMgF3, MgF2 et CaF2 montre que KMgF3 est un très bon candidat pour lapurification de UF6 vis-à-vis de ReF6, qui dépend à la fois de paramètres intrinsèques auxfluorures divisés (surface spécifique, taux d’oxygène, basicité, cations mis en jeu…) maisaussi du procédé de purification (température, temps de contact). / This work deals with the synthesis and characterization of alkali, alkali-earth and rare earthbased fluorides and the reactivity of the latter with ReF6 for UF6 purification. In a first part,we focused our attention on the synthesis of KMgF3, MgF2 and CaF2 high surface area metalfluorides coupling both microwave assisted solvothermal process and a fluorination step withelemental fluorine (F2). The higher the surface area, the higher the oxygen rate. Thesenanofluorides exhibit Lewis basic character. In a second part, several compositions of theCe1-xZrxF4 solid solution were synthesized by direct fluorination of mixed oxides usingelemental fluorine (F2). XRD an 19F NMR characterizations show the occurence of a newsolid solution for compositions close to x=0.5. Finally, the reactivity between ReF6/UF6 andKMgF3, MgF2 and CaF2 leads to conclude that KMgF3 is the best candidate for thepurification of UF6. This study indicates that the purification depends on several parameters :intrinsic parameters of the divided fluorides (surface area, oxygen rate, basicity, cations…)and parameters directly related to the process (temperature, contact time).

Fresh isolated erythrocyte ghost membranes and erythrocyte suspensions were incubated with an organic hydroperoxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, to establish the in vitro oxidative stress models. Circulating erythrocytes from normal individuals were fractionated into subpopulations of different ages by ultracentrifugation and used as an in vivo model. In these models, membrane iPF2alpha-III content accumulation was proportional to oxidative stress and correlated with decreased membrane fluidity. In circulating erythrocytes, membrane iPF2alpha-III increased with age and inversely correlated with membrane fluidity only in the core region. / Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of a wide variety of human diseases. Isoprostanes, a family of prostaglandin derivatives, are mainly derived from free radical peroxidation of specific polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Measurement of F2-isoprostanes (F2-iPs) or one specific biologically active isomer (iPF2alpha-III) is considered to be a reliable lipid peroxidation marker in human diseases. However, the association observed between increased plasma/urine F2-iPs and diseases does not necessarily reflect tissue oxidative damages. Circulating erythrocytes, a tissue with limited biosynthetic capacity and poor repair mechanism, would offer a number of advantages for assessment of in vivo oxidative damages. In this thesis, human erythrocyte membrane iPF2alpha-III content was investigated as a new marker for in vivo oxidative stress assessment. Membrane fluidity was used as an indirect marker of cellular function. / To use membrane iPF2alpha-III in a human disease with known oxidative stress burden, 49 Chinese patients on long-term haemodialysis and 31 healthy Chinese subjects were recruited. Both plasma and membrane iPF 2alpha-III showed that haemodialysis patients had increased oxidative stress. Only membrane iPF2alpha-III, but not the conventional used plasma iPF2alpha-III, correlated with membrane fluidity. Furthermore, the significant inverse correlation between membrane iPF 2alpha-III and the core region of membrane fluidity was observed for this group of patients too. Since membrane iPF2alpha-III was shown to provide a link between oxidative stress and erythrocyte function, it would be considered as a new marker of in vivo erythrocyte oxidative stress assessment. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Yu Xiongwen. / "July 2005." / Advisers: Wai Kei Christopher Lam; Chung Shun Ho. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3724. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-223). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

The aims were to investigate oxidative stress (I), angiogenesis (II) and inflammation (III-IV) in healthy women during pregnancy and postpartum. Oxidative stress was estimated by measurement of 8-iso-PGF2α and the antioxidants α- and γ-tocopherol. The angiogenic factors PlGF, VEGF-A and the antiangiogenic factor sFlt1 were measured to estimate angiogenesis. PTX3, IL-6, TNF-α and a PGF2α metabolite were measured to estimate inflammation. Out of 52 included women, 15 had minor pregnancy complications and 37 were classified as normal. In study III data from all 52 women were used. For the other studies (I, II and IV) only data from the 37 women with normal pregnancy were used. Pregnancy was associated with increased levels of 8-iso-PGF2α with advancing gestational age. The median postpartum value corresponded to values observed in early gestation and a significant decrease was observed from late pregnancy to postpartum. Lipid-adjusted α- and γ-tocopherol levels decreased with advancing gestational age (I). PlGF increased from early pregnancy until weeks 29–30 and thereafter decreased until week 40. sFlt1 levels were relatively constant until weeks 29–30, when they increased, reaching a peak at weeks 39–40. Postpartum levels were low. The sFlt1:PlGF ratio decreased from weeks 9–12, was constantly low from weeks 19–20 to 37–38 and then increased to weeks 39–40. VEGF-A was detectable in only 8 % of the samples during pregnancy and in 64 % postpartum (II). There was a continuous increase of PTX3 as pregnancy progressed. The increase was most evident after week 31 with the highest levels just before delivery (III). IL-6 increased throughout pregnancy and remained high postpartum. No change in TNF-α could be seen with advancing gestational age or postpartum. The PGF2α metabolite levels increased throughout pregnancy and decreased postpartum (IV). In conclusion, normal pregnancy is associated with mild oxidative stress and inflammation. This might have physiological effects for normal pregnancy development. By delineating how these mediators of oxidative stress, angiogenesis and inflammation fluctuate throughout normal pregnancy and postpartum, we have established a reference for studies of these factors in pregnancy complications.