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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2004.12.005 Byline: George Yip Keywords: Internet; Globalization; Global strategy; Multinational companies Abstract: How does the Internet affect globalization and global strategy within firms? How should multinational companies re-evaluate their global strategies to best take advantage of the Internet? Both managers and researchers have assumed that a correct and appropriate use of Internet technologies by companies speeds up globalization of industries and enables firm use of global strategies. This paper provides empirical evidence on the exact uses of the Internet by global companies, how their use affects key globalization drivers and how they believe this, in turn, affects performance. We derive ten lessons on how companies can use the Internet to enhance their global strategies. Author Affiliation: London Business School

Research is presented concerning the benefits of regional and global strategy mixes in the automotive industry. The development of regional strategy following the implementation of global strategy is discussed.

Abstract: Metallothioneins (MTs) are a group of metal-binding proteins involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The MT-2A isoform is generally the most abundant isoform among the 10 known functional MT genes. In the present study, we observed that down-regulation of the MT-2A gene in MCF-7 cells via siRNA-mediated silencing inhibited cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest in G1-phase (G1-arrest) and a marginal increase in cells in sub-G1-phase. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the cells with silenced expression of MT-2A (siMT-2A cells) revealed essentially normal cell morphology with presence of scattered apoptotic cells. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism, we examined the expression of cell cycle related genes in MT-2A-silenced cells and found a higher expression of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene concomitant with a lower expression of the cdc25A gene. These data suggest that MT-2A could plausibly modulate cell cycle progression from G1- to S-phase via the ATM/Chk2/cdc25A pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heparan sulfate and cytoskeletal actin microfilaments have both been shown to be important regulators of neural tube closure during embryonic development. To determine the functional relationship of these two molecules in formation of the spinal neural tube, we cultured ARC mouse embryos at embryonic day E8.5 in the presence of chlorate, a competitive inhibitor of glycosaminoglycan sulfation, and examined the effects on organization of actin microfilaments in the neuroepithelium. Compared against embryos cultured under control conditions, chlorate-treated embryos had shortened posterior neuropore, a loss of median hinge point formation and increased bending at the paired dorsolateral hinge points. Furthermore, apical organization of actin microfilaments in the neuroepithelial cells was absent, and this was associated with convex bending of the neuroepithelium. The results suggest that heparan sulfate is an important determinant of cytoskeletal actin organization during spinal neurulation, and that its biological action is dependent on sulfation of the heparan molecule. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel series of trisubstituted benzimidazole and its precursors (3–7) were synthesised and characterized by using 1H NMR, LC/MS, FTIR and elemental analysis techniques. The title compounds were evaluated for inhibition against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell proliferation. The results revealed that the compound N-(4-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)-4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzamide (3) was the potent inhibitor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]