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"Umbrella Clause" in investment disputes The diploma thesis deals with the topic of the so-called umbrella clause, a provision that can be often encountered in the bilateral investment treaties. The aim of the thesis is to identify and assess individual interpretation issues that are faced by the arbitration tribunals when applying this provision. The thesis is composed from two main parts, theoretical one and analytical one. Each part is further divided into two separate chapters. First chapter familiarizes a reader with the basic instruments of international investment law, the bilateral investment treaties and investment contracts. The umbrella clause issue is closely intertwined with the topic of internationalization of investment contract, which is also discussed within this chapter. The second chapter provides basic introduction to the examined legal institution. Besides determining characteristic features of the umbrella clause and basic variations of its wording, the chapter also focuses on presence of this provision in contemporary sources of international investment law. In this regard, detailed analysis of the Czech bilateral investment treaties is presented. Last but not least, the attention is paid to the historical context of the issue. The detailed analysis of the International...

To improve the success of vegetative propagation of Sciadopitys verticillata, stem cuttings were subjected to three treatments designed to minimize the accumulation of a latex-like sap at the cut ends of stems. A 24-hour soak in water before a hormone dip significantly enhanced rooting success and root mass. The water soak pretreatment was more beneficial to hardwood cuttings compared with softwood cuttings. Cuttings from shade-grown source trees showed the highest rooting success, but source tree age, height, and place of origin were not important factors. The water-insoluble latex-like sap had strong antibacterial activity against 3 of 11 bacterial species tested, but activity was not related to bacterial Gram reaction or the bacterial natural environment. In contrast, pine resins and latexes from selected angiosperms showed no antibacterial activity. The antibacterial component of the Sciadopitys latex-like sap was heat stable and therefore probably not protein based.

Branding is essential for a business success although it may be difficult to decide what branding strategy to use. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the concept of branding, and more explicitly the strategies of umbrella branding and brand extensions and how it relates to value, in practice. A case study of an ice cream company, SIA Glass, was conducted to answer the research question of how SIA Glass’ branding strategy affect its’ brands. The method used was based on a deductive approach with semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that SIA Glass’ decision to offer a more diverse brand portfolio created problems in its’ internal communication and the focus was lost on brands less prioritized. Instead of focusing on the SIA Glass brand, the company wanted to connect SIA Glass to its’ corporate heritage and the Bertegruppen group, and offer products in new segments with less connection to the SIA Glass brand. Conclusions from the study imply that it is difficult for a company with limited resources to have an extended brand portfolio. In addition, as brand value is co-created with consumers and customers it demand more emphasis in practice, as well as in branding research.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory auto-immune disease with various symptoms, which requires comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment for distinct and individualized conditions. Reviews on this population address treatment alternatives (i.e., pharmaceutical and rehabilitation). Orthotic interventions are seldom mentioned or mentioned briefly in conjunction with physiotherapy interventions. Aim: This study aims to critically appraise and summarize current evidence regarding orthotic interventions for multiple sclerosis population with lower limb deficiencies. Methods: This study uses umbrella review protocol for systematic reviews. 5 databases were used (CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science). From 44 reviews, 6 systematic reviews were obtained using JBI appraisal tool. Methodological quality is appraised using AMSTAR II, data were extracted via JBI data extraction form for umbrella reviews. 2 articles were excluded and the evidence quality of the remaining 4 articles were appraised via GRADE. Results: 2 out of 4 investigated the effect of foot orthoses, whilst the remaining investigated FES devices. 3 out of 4 articles scored “Critically low” in methodological quality, 1 scored “High”. The evidence quality of the different outcomes ranges from "Very low” to “High”. Conclusion: Foot orthoses reported an increase RoM in ankle and knee joints. FES intervention found an increase in speed and endurance during gait and increased RoM of ankle and knee. However, more studies with higher quality are needed to establish clinical recommendations. / Bakgrund: Multipel skleros är en kroniskt inflammatorisk auto-immun sjukdom med komplexa symtom som kräver en omfattande multidisciplinär behandlingsplan för att främja positiva, måluppnående behandlingsresultat. Artiklar gällande denna populationen kollar på behandlings alternativ (som medicinska och rehabilitering). Ortos interventioner nämns kort men ofta vid sidan av diskuterade medicinska interventionerna eller som komplement till fysioterapin. Syfte: Denna studie syftar att kritiskt värdera och summera den nuvarande evidensen gällande användningen av ortoser som intervention för brister i lägre extremiteters funktion för patienter med multipel skleros. Metod: Sökningen genomfördes i 5 databaser (CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science). Från 44 artiklar, var 6 studier behöriga efter JBI utvärderings verktyg. Metodologisk kvalitet var testat genom AMSTAR II, data var framtagen genom ” JBI data extraktion form for Umbrella reviews”. 2 artiklar var exkluderade ytterligare och evidens kvalitén av de kvarstående 4 artiklarna var testat med GRADE. Resultat: Två av de fyra inkluderade studierna studerade användningen av fotortoser medans de kvarvarande studerade FES-enheter. Tre av fyra studier fick betyget ”Critically low” gällande metodologisk kvalitet, en fick betyget ”High”. Evidens kvaliten av interventionernas resultat varierade mellan ”Very low” till ”High”. Sammanfattning: Fotortoser rapporterade en chans att öka rörlighets omfånget i ankel och knä. FES-enhet visade en ökning av hastighet och uthållighet vid gång samt öka rörelseomfånget i ankel och knä. Denna studie konstaterar att det behövs fler starka studier för att kunna skapa kliniska rekommendationer gällande ortoser för nedre extremiteter för MS patienter.

Transcription factors need to rapidly find one specific binding site among millions of nonspecific sites on the chromosomal DNA. In this thesis I use various aspects of reaction-diffusion theory to investigate the interaction between proteins and DNA and to explain the searching, finding and binding to specific operator sites. Using molecular dynamics methods we calculate the free energy profile for the model protein LacI as it leaves a nonspecific stretch of DNA and as it slides along DNA. Based on the free energy profiles we estimate the microscopic dissociation rate constant, kdmicro ~1.45×104s-1, and the 1D diffusion coefficient, D1 ~ 0.05-0.29 μm2s-1 (2-40μs to slide 1 basepair (bp)). At a non-atomistic level of detail we estimate the number of microscopic rebindings before a macroscopic dissociation occurs which leads to the  macroscopic residence time, τDmacro ~ 48±12ms resulting in a in vitro sliding length estimate of 135-345bp. When we fit the DNA interaction parameters for in vivo conditions to recent single molecule in vivo experiments we conclude that neither hopping nor intersegment transfer contribute to the target search for the LacI dimer, that it appears to bind the specific Osym operator site as soon as it slides into it, and that the sliding length is around 40bp in the cell. The estimated in vivo D1 ~ 0.025 μm2s-1 is higher than expected from estimates of D1 based on viscosity and the atomistic simulations. Surprisingly, we were also forced to conclude that the nonspecific association for the LacI dimer appeared reaction limited which is in conflict with the free energy profile. This inconsistency is resolved by allowing for steric effects. Using reaction-diffusion theory and simulations we show that an apparent reaction limited association can be diffusion limited if geometry and steric effects are taken into account. Furthermore, the simulations show that a protein binds ~2 times faster to a DNA molecule with a helical reactive patch than to a stripe patch running along the length of the DNA. This facilitated binding has a direct impact on the search time especially in the presence of other DNA binding proteins.

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Orientador: Eudes Eterno Fileti / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2013

Orientador: Eudes Eterno Fileti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2013

The current thesis presents work on the structure and dynamics of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides as well as the free energetics of carbohydrate-protein interactions. By applying various computational tools such as molecular dynamics simulation, our in-house fast sugar structure prediction software, replica exchange molecular dynamics, homology modeling, umbrella sampling, steered molecular dynamics as well as the thermodynamic integration formalism, we have been able to study the role of water on the surface of homopolysaccharides as well as complex oligosachharides, we have been able to produce a prediction of the bound structure of triantennary oligosaccride on the asialoglycoprotein receptor, we have been able to estimate the free energy of binding of ManΑ1→2Man to the HIV-1 inactivating protein, Cyanovirin-N as well as the relative binding free energies of mutants of Cyanovirin-N to the same ligand.