This paper examines tracking stock issuances, a relatively uncommon method of equity restructuring. I utilize likely the entire population of tracking stock issuances on US exchanges – from the first ever in October 1984 to the most recent one in November 2009 – in order to analyze the effect that they have on the shortrun excess returns of issuing companies. I analyze the excess returns of companies that issue tracking stock that trade in the US, one year before and one year after completion of their restructuring. The results of this paper indicate that companies perform worse relative to a benchmark market index in the year following their tracking stock restructuring. However, it is important to note that the number of observations studied is relatively small, as there have been only 41 issuances of tracking stock since the first recorded case. This suggests that more data and greater research are necessary in order to more accurately measure the effects of tracking stock restructurings. With the limited data available, I find that there is a statistically significant decrease in excess stock returns following tracking stock issuances.

Title: Behavioural advertising on Facebook: The user perspective regarding leisure industry. Authors: Jean-Marc Desfougères and Valentin Bloux Supervisor: Albert Thor Magnusson Level: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration Marketing Key Words: Behavioural advertising, Facebook, privacy, online consumer behaviour, social network, leisure industry, targeting. Purpose: study how a specific age bracket of Facebook users perceives the leisure industry behavioural advertising on this social networking site. Method: This thesis follows a deductive approach. We are using secondary data from books, articles and studies but also primary data thanks to a questionnaire; which allows us to answer our purpose. Theoretical Framework: First define the online consumer behaviour and its characteristics through existing models and then define behavioural advertising, how is the leisure industry using this marketing tool and what are the drawbacks of such practices. Conclusion: The authors conclude that Facebook users are more and more aware of the use of behavioural advertising. But due to a lack of education about such marketing techniques the 18-30 years old tend to adopt mostly strict privacy settings with the intention to block those advertisements. The privacy issue is important and even if the users seems to be interested in the offers of the leisure industry there is still a long way before obtaining a full acceptance of this practice. Then are presented the contributions given and the further research possible regarding this topic.

The Swedish beauty industry face challenges with product samples as a promotion technique. The lack of a defined strategy results in a random distribution, which leads to weak ROI. However, product samples could be used proactively as a strategic marketing tool creating long-term brand value. This thesis provides a framework for L’Oréal to fulfill their objectives of using product samples – from strategy formation to tactical practice. Davies’s (1992) model “Using promotions as part of a strategic plan” is used as a sorting mechanism. We created a three-step process based on the model as a structure for this thesis: strategy preparation, strategy implementation, and strategy follow-up. Qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey proved that different product sample types require different strategies depending on the aim of the promotion. As a complement, targeted product samples via GlossyBox enabled L’Oréal to gain market insight and use product samples more strategically.

One of the main problems of current cancer chemotherapy is the lack of selectivity of anti-cancer drugs to tumor cells which leads to systemic toxicity and adverse side effects. In order to overcome these limitations, researches on controlled drug delivery systems have gained much attention. Nanoscale based drug delivery systems provide tumor targeting. Among many types of nanocarriers, superparamagnetic nanoparticles with their biocompatible polymer coatings can be targeted to an intented site by an external magnetic field. Thus, the drug can be carried to the targeted site safely. The aim of this study is to prepare poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coated magnetic nanoparticles and load anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin to them. For this purpose, magnetite (Fe3O4) iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized as a magnetic core material (MNP) and then coated with oleic acid. Oleic acid coated MNP (OA-MNP) was encapsulated into PLGA. Effects of different OA-MNP/PLGA ratios on magnetite entrapment efficiency were investigated. Doxorubicin loaded magnetic polymeric nanoparticles (DOX-PLGA-MNP) were prepared. After the characterization of prepared nanoparticles, their cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 cell line were studied. PLGA coated magnetic nanoparticles (PLGA-MNP) had a proper size and superparamagnetic character. The highest magnetite entrapment efficiency of PLGA-MNP was estimated as 63 % at 1:8 ratio. Cytotoxicity studies of PLGA-MNP did not indicate any notable cell death between the concentration ranges of 2 and 250 &mu / g ml-1. It was observed that DOX-PLGA-MNP showed significant cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells compared to PLGA-MNP. The results showed that prepared nanoparticles have desired size and superparamagnetic characteristics without serious toxic effects on cells. These nanoparticles may be suitable for targeted drug delivery applications. The findings obtained from drug studies may contribute to further work.

The use of hydrogel nanoparticles, or nanogels, as targeted delivery vehicles to cancer cells was described. The nanogels were synthesized by free radical precipitation polymerization, with poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) as the main monomer, and have a core/shell architecture. The nanogels were near 50 nm in radius, contained fluorescein for visualization, and had an amine-containing shell for bioconjugation, making these particles ideal for delivery studies. The nanogels were conjugated with the YSA (YSAYPDSVPMMSC) peptide, which is an ephrin mimic, allowing for uptake by the EphA2 (erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular) receptor. We have delivered YSA-conjugated nanogels to Hey cells and BG-1 cells, as evidenced by fluorescence microscopy. We have shown that the nanogels can encapsulate siGLO Red Transfection Indicator (siGLO) and deliver the siGLO to Hey cells in vitro. After successful delivery of the non-targeting siGLO, we delivered siRNA for knockdown of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We have shown protein knockdown from 24-120 h after nanogel delivery, as well as knockdown with different siRNA concentrations delivered to the cells. Furthermore, addition of taxol following EGFR knockdown suggests that the chemosensitivity of the Hey cells is increased. Successful in vitro delivery of the nanogels prompted in vivo studies with the nanogels. The nanogels were used to encapsulate silver nanoclusters for potential bioimaging applications. Targeting of the nanogels to MatrigelTM plugs in mice suggest that the particles hold promise as in vivo delivery agents.

<p>Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney disease and one of the more severe complications from diabetes mellitus type 2. The glomerular and tubular dysfunctions usually lead to end stage renal disease and the treatments of these patients (dialysis, kidney transplants) are a huge economic burden for the society. Due to an epidemiologic increase of type 2 diabetes, conventional diagnostic markers like creatinine and albumin are not sufficient, since they are only able to identify already existing kidney damage. With targeted metabolomics, the analysis of small molecules produced from metabolism, this project aimed at finding novel and more sensitive metabolic biomarkers from several different classes of metabolites. The different assays were performed with flow injection analysis, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and with principal component analysis and discriminant analysis, up-and down-regulated metabolites could be identified and their respective biochemical pathways, if possible, explained. In diabetics significantly elevated concentrations of very long chain fatty acids (impaired peroxisomal β-oxidation), urinary sugars and acylcarnitines in plasma could be recognized. Markers indicating kidney damage included significantly increased plasma concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (inhibition of nitric oxide synthase resulting in decreased endothelial functionality) and histamine (indication of uremic pruritus). Oxidative stress was also found to be a potential prognostic marker as indicated by the raised methionine-sulfoxide to methionine ratio in nephrotic patients. To summarize, this project succeeded in identifying metabolic biomarkers both for diabetes type 2 and nephropathy, which in the future might become important tools in slowing down progression or diagnosing these diseases.</p>

This dissertation presents the theory and practice of designing, synthesizing and using peptidomimetics to disrupt protein-protein interactions. Our general strategy is to design and synthesize peptidomimetics that will mimic peptide secondary structures (alpha-helices and beta-sheets). Chapter One is a theoretical examination of the feasibility of using beta-sheet mimics called molecular clamps to inhibit substrate-receptor interactions by blocking the substrate rather than the receptor or enzyme. Several natural and synthetic examples of this approach are given in support of this concept. We also present the results of a kinetic modeling study and a consideration of which types of systems would be the best candidates for a substrate-targeted inhibitor approach. Chapter Two relates a continuation of previous work in our lab to synthesize five novel beta-protected hydrazino amino acids. These hydrazines are essential precursors for synthesizing constrained beta-strand mimetics. We showed that we could selectively deprotect the alpha-nitrogen of the hydrazines, and we synthesized several novel examples of polar beta-protected hydrazino amino acids. Chapter Three discusses the design and synthesis of small-molecule and peptidomimetic MDM2 inhibitors, including our work on synthesizing a new class of alpha-helix mimics that have improved water solubility compared with previously reported examples of alpha-helix mimics. As with the constrained beta-strand mimics described in Chapter Two, the synthesis of novel hydrazino amino acid precursors is a key step in synthesizing our alpha-helix mimics. One isoleucine hydrazine derivative was synthesized, and progress was made toward synthesizing two other hydrazines from tryptophan. In addition, the synthesis of three potential small-molecule inhibitors of MDM2 is described. Chapter Four describes the use of the GLIDE program to design and evolve an alpha-helix mimic that will interact with the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Progress toward the synthesis of this compound is also reported.

If small isoprenoids, the starting component of carotenoids, can be efficiently excreted from thermophilic cyanobacteria, they could help satisfy the demand for sustainably produced hydrocarbons. This is the driving force behind wanting to understand the response and regulation of isoprenoid pathways to environmental stimuli in the thermophilic cyanobacterium, Thermosynechococcus elongatus, BP-1. The portion of the isoprenoid pathway studied here is the carotenoid pathway since these products are critical to adaptation and they encompass the largest pool of isoprenoid compounds in cyanobacteria. Although synthetic biology in cyanboacteria has improved in recent years, there are many undiscovered metabolic complexities that make large-scale commercial production challenging. To address this need, I quantify and report for the first time metabolic shifts within the carotenoid pathway of BP-1 due to combined effects of temperature, pH and blue light. I show that metabolism shifts from the dicyclic into the monocyclic carotenoid pathway in response to pH, and that decreasing temperature drives flux into the end products of both pathways. Also, I report that the productivity of an uncommon carotenoid, 2-hydroxymyxol 2’-fucoside (HMF), approached 500 μg/L-day in cultures grown at 45 °C, high light intensity, and pH 8. In order to further elucidate these responses, I analyzed 42 RNAseq samples taken over time of BP-1 induced by cold and heat stress and compared these results to metabolomics data. I showed that crtR and crtG, two central carotenogenesis genes, are transcriptionally controlled and used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to determine eight separate co-expressed modules of biological significance. Among the co-regulated heat response and cold response genes there were three and five non-coding RNA, respectively, providing targets for future investigation. Using subtractive genomics and transcriptional data I narrowed the potential missing steps of the myxol pathway in cyanobacteria to seven unknown BP-1 genes, two of which were confirmed not to be involved in the missing step(s). Finally, by generating a ΔcrtG mutant and testing it under different environmental parameters, I showed that HMF does not protect against high pH or low temperature (despite up-regulation at these conditions), and that CrtG has a higher affinity for monocyclic than dicyclic carotenoids. / text

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of using preferred characters with a constant time delay instructional procedure to teach community sign reading to three students with moderate intellectual disability with the definitions of the signs as non-targeted information. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the preferred characters on acquisition of the community signs. Pre- and post- assessments were conducted on acquisition of the non-targeted definitions, as well as generalization of the signs and their meanings. The results indicated that all students learned the target signs and they learned all of the definitions of the signs when they were presented with a preferred character. Students did not generalize the meanings of the signs to community settings.

Cancer is a set of complex genetic diseases driven by diverse genomic alterations. The genomic study of cancer has enabled the discovery of novel, targetable events in almost all cancer types and in turn, has led to the development of new, targeted cancer therapies benefiting patients; however, the recent explosion of genomic datasets has also resulted in huge lists of new oncogenic factors of unknown biological relevance, and uncertainty over how best to use the data appropriately to influence patient care. Some of the most pressing questions surround the use of statistical methods to identify actionable genomic alterations in cancer and the identification of driving oncogenes in the context of the genomic evolution of cancer cells, undergone before, during, and after prolonged treatment regimens.