bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increases in Generative Concern among Older Adults following Reminders of Mortality
Authors: Maxfield Molly , Greenberg Jeff , Pyszczynski Tom , Weise David R. , Kosloff Spee , Soenke Melissa , Abeyta Andrew A. , Blatter Jamin
Published: August 2014

According to terror management theory, people are motivated to protect themselves from the potential for anxiety resulting from awareness of mortality. It was hypothesized that increased concern for future generations, and the symbolic immortality this produces, may be particularly important to older adults when awareness of their mortality is increased. In two studies, older and younger adults' generative concern was examined following mortality or control primes. As hypothesized, older adults' generative concern and preference for pro-social over pro-self generativity were greater following reminders of mortality, whereas neither effect was observed among younger adults. For both studies, age differences were only observed when mortality salience was heightened; older and younger adults' generative concern did not differ in control conditions. Results provide support for the hypothesis that younger and older adults differ in their responses to increased awareness of mortality and suggest that older adults respond to death reminders by adopting a more pro-social generative orientation.
Simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx with ammonia combined with gas-phase oxidation of NO using ozone
Authors: Guo Shaopeng , Lv Lina , Zhang Jia , Chen Xin , Tong Ming , Kang Wanzhong , Zhou Yanbo , Lu Jun
Published: August 2014

A process for simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification was proposed,
which was made up of ozone as the oxidizing agent for NO and ammonia
solution as absorbent. The results showed that the presence of SO2 and the
concentration changes of NO and SO2 have little impact on the oxidation of
NO, the oxidation efficiency of NO can achieve over 90% when the molar ratio
of O3/NO is 1.0. The presence of NOx had little effects on the absorption of
SO2, an appropriate increase of SO2 concentration was favorable to the NOx
absorption. The removal efficiency of SO2 and NOx reached 99.34% and 90.01%
at pH 10, flow rate 0.95 Nm3/h, n[O3]/n[NO] 1.0, initial SO2 concentration
2000 mg/Nm3, initial NO concentration 200 mg/Nm3, ammonia concentration
0.3%, oxygen content of the simulated flue gas 12%, oxidation reaction
temperature 423K and absorption reaction temperature 298K in the
experimental system.
Synthesis, antimicrobial and antioxidative activity of some new isatin derivatives
Authors: Sekularac Gavrilo , Nikolic Jasmina , Petrovic Predrag , Bugarski Branko , Djurovic Boban , Drmanic Sasa
Published: August 2014

The isatin derivatives, Schiff bases, were synthesized by the reaction of
isatin and various substituted primary amines and characterized by several
spectroscopic methods. Investigation of the antimicrobial activity of the
synthesized compounds was performed by the agar dilution method, against
different strains of bacteria and one fungi. The antioxidative activity of
the synthesized compounds was also determined. Some of the compounds have
shown the significant activity against the selected strains of
microorganisms and the antioxidative activity.
A Former PCAOB Board Member Looks to the Past…and to the Future
Authors: Gradison Bill
Published: August 2014

SYNOPSIS

The PCAOB is still new compared with most government agencies; indeed it is a work in progress. Overall I think the original board on which I served, as well as the new Board, have done good work, staying focused on the mission of protecting investors. Based on my experience during my eight years as a Board member, the greatest challenges I identified that the original Board left for the new Board involved international inspections, inspection of broker-dealers, and the need to speed up the issuance of PCAOB auditing standards to replace the interim standards adopted by the Board early in its existence.
A Perspective on the PCAOB—Past and Future
Authors: Wedemeyer Phil D.
Published: August 2014

SYNOPSIS

The auditing of financial statements of public companies in the United States is now a regulated industry, and the primary instrument of its regulation is the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), an entity created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). The PCAOB is one element of a politicized regulatory structure and, as a result, future developments in auditing will continue to be difficult to predict. SOX requirements for PCAOB inspections of audit firms substantially increased the possibility that an audit will be subsequently evaluated despite the absence of identified errors in audited financial statements. The SOX requirement for an auditor's opinion on internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) immediately increased audit costs and continues to generate heated political debate. In addition, certain aspects of audit quality and PCAOB inspections as well as reporting and audit standards have, or will, affect the conduct of audits and the activities of audit firms. The net effect of these changes has been to increase the cost of audits, particularly as a result of increased review, other quality control activities, and the performance of audits of ICFR, where required. In return, the quality of audits in terms of compliance with audit standards has improved significantly. However, the business models of audit firms and the processes for education and certification of accountants have remained substantially unchanged and are major influences on the quality of audits.
Shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets to enamel after application of a caries infiltrant
Authors: Mews Laura , Kern Matthias , Ciesielski Robert , Fischer-Brandies Helge , Koos Bernd
Published: August 2014

Objective: 

To examine differences in the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets on differently mineralized enamel surfaces after applying a caries infiltrant or conventional adhesive.

Materials and Methods: 

A total of 320 bovine incisors were assigned to eight pretreated groups, and the shear force required for debonding was recorded. Residual adhesive was evaluated by light microscopy using the adhesive remnant index. Statistical analysis included Kolmogorov-Smirnov, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffé tests.

Results: 

The highest bond strength (18.8 ± 4.4 MPa) was obtained after use of the caries infiltrant. More residual adhesive and fewer enamel defects were observed on infiltrated enamel surfaces. Brackets on demineralized enamel produced multiple enamel defects.

Conclusions: 

Acceptable bond strengths were obtained with all material combinations. A caries-infiltrant applied before bracket fixation has a protective effect, especially on demineralized enamel.
Malocclusion, orthodontic treatment, and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14): Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Andiappan Manoharan , Gao Wei , Bernabé Eduardo , Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin , Donaldson Ana Nora
Published: August 2014

Objective: 

To synthesize evidence on the impact of malocclusion and its associated treatment on people's quality of life across studies that used the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire in the adult population.

Materials and Methods: 

A systematic search of the English literature using Medline, PubMed, and EMBASE yielded 98 unique citations. Studies using OHIP-14 with individuals 15 years of age and older were included. After initial screening, 64 citations were excluded and another 9 were excluded after reading full text reports; the remaining 25 were included in the review. All studies were observational and used one of three study designs: 11 compared the same group before and after treatment (pre-post design), 10 compared groups with and without malocclusion (independent groups design) and four compared an orthodontically treated group with an independent group requiring treatment (treated-untreated groups design). Only three studies using the pre-post design and four using the independent groups design reported comparable OHIP-14 data and were combined in separate meta-analyses. Meta-analysis was carried out using metan command in Stata.

Results: 

The standardized mean difference (SMD) in OHIP-14 total score was 1.29 (95% CI: 0.67 to 1.92) for the three studies using the pre-post design. Similarly, the SMD score was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.25 to 1.43) for the four studies using the independent groups design. There was evidence of high heterogeneity and publication bias among the studies included.

Conclusions: 

This meta-analysis revealed that OHIP-14 scores were significantly lower after receiving treatment for malocclusion and in individuals without malocclusion/orthodontic treatment need compared to those with such condition (independent groups).
Regulation of AMPK Activation by CD36 Links Fatty Acid Uptake to β-Oxidation
Authors: Samovski Dmitri , Sun Jingyu , Pietka Terri , Gross Richard W. , Eckel Robert H. , Su Xiong , Stahl Philip D. , Abumrad Nada A.
Published: August 2014

Increases in muscle energy needs activate AMPK and induce sarcolemmal recruitment of the fatty acid (FA) translocase CD36. The resulting rises in FA uptake and FA oxidation are tightly correlated, suggesting coordinated regulation. We explored the possibility that membrane CD36 signaling might influence AMPK activation. We show, using several cell types, including myocytes, that CD36 expression suppresses AMPK, keeping it quiescent, while it mediates AMPK activation by FA. These dual effects reflect the presence of CD36 in a protein complex with the AMPK kinase LKB1 (liver kinase B1) and the src kinase Fyn. This complex promotes Fyn phosphorylation of LKB1 and its nuclear sequestration, hindering LKB1 activation of AMPK. FA interaction with CD36 dissociates Fyn from the protein complex, allowing LKB1 to remain cytosolic and activate AMPK. Consistent with this, CD36−/− mice have constitutively active muscle and heart AMPK and enhanced FA oxidation of endogenous triglyceride stores. The molecular mechanism described, whereby CD36 suppresses AMPK, with FA binding to CD36 releasing this suppression, couples AMPK activation to FA availability and would be important for the maintenance of cellular FA homeostasis. Its dysfunction might contribute to the reported association of CD36 variants with metabolic complications of obesity in humans.
Delayed Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial ADP Recovery in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Relates to Muscle Insulin Resistance
Authors: Cree-Green Melanie , Newcomer Bradley R. , Brown Mark S. , Baumgartner Amy D. , Bergman Bryan , Drew Brendan , Regensteiner Judith G. , Pyle Laura , Reusch Jane E.B. , Nadeau Kristen J.
Published: August 2014

Insulin resistance (IR) increases cardiovascular morbidity and is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. IR is now recognized to be present in type 1 diabetes; however, its relationship with mitochondrial function is unknown. We determined the relationship between IR and muscle mitochondrial function in type 1 diabetes using the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and 31P-MRS before, during, and after near-maximal isometric calf exercise. Volunteers included 21 nonobese adolescents with type 1 diabetes and 17 nondiabetic control subjects with similar age, sex, BMI, Tanner stage, and activity levels. We found that youths with type 1 diabetes were more insulin resistant (median glucose infusion rate 10.1 vs. 18.9 mg/kglean/min; P < 0.0001) and had a longer time constant of the curve of ADP conversion to ATP (23.4 ± 5.3 vs. 18.8 ± 3.9 s, P < 0.001) and a lower rate of oxidative phosphorylation (median 0.09 vs. 0.21 mmol/L/s, P < 0.001). The ADP time constant (β = −0.36, P = 0.026) and oxidative phosphorylation (β = 0.02, P < 0.038) were related to IR but not HbA1c. Normal-weight youths with type 1 diabetes demonstrated slowed postexercise ATP resynthesis and were more insulin resistant than control subjects. The correlation between skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction in type 1 diabetes and IR suggests a relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and IR in type 1 diabetes.
Molecular Mechanisms of Glucose-Stimulated GLP-1 Secretion From Perfused Rat Small Intestine
Authors: Kuhre Rune E. , Frost Charlotte R. , Svendsen Berit , Holst Jens J.
Published: August 2014

Glucose is an important stimulus for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion, but the mechanisms of secretion have not been investigated in integrated physiological models. We studied glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion from isolated perfused rat small intestine. Luminal glucose (5% and 20% w/v) stimulated the secretion dose dependently, but vascular glucose was without significant effect at 5, 10, 15, and 25 mmol/L. GLP-1 stimulation by luminal glucose (20%) secretion was blocked by the voltage-gated Ca channel inhibitor, nifedipine, or by hyperpolarization with diazoxide. Luminal administration (20%) of the nonmetabolizable sodium-glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) substrate, methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (α-MGP), stimulated release, whereas the SGLT1 inhibitor phloridzin (luminally) abolished responses to α-MGP and glucose. Furthermore, in the absence of luminal NaCl, luminal glucose (20%) did not stimulate a response. Luminal glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion was also sensitive to luminal GLUT2 inhibition (phloretin), but in contrast to SGLT1 inhibition, phloretin did not eliminate the response, and luminal glucose (20%) stimulated larger GLP-1 responses than luminal α-MGP in matched concentrations. Glucose transported by GLUT2 may act after metabolization, closing KATP channels similar to sulfonylureas, which also stimulated secretion. Our data indicate that SGLT1 activity is the driving force for glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion and that KATP-channel closure is required to stimulate a full-blown glucose-induced response.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Restores Glucose Homeostasis in Apolipoprotein A-IV KO Mice
Authors: Pressler Josh W. , Haller April , Sorrell Joyce , Wang Fei , Seeley Randy J. , Tso Patrick , Sandoval Darleen A.
Published: August 2014

Bariatric surgery is the most successful strategy for treating obesity, yet the mechanisms for this success are not clearly understood. Clinical literature suggests that plasma levels of apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) rise with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). apoA-IV is secreted from the intestine postprandially and has demonstrated benefits for both glucose and lipid homeostasis. Because of the parallels in the metabolic improvements seen with surgery and the rise in apoA-IV levels, we hypothesized that apoA-IV was necessary for obtaining the metabolic benefits of bariatric surgery. To test this hypothesis, we performed vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), a surgery with clinical efficacy very similar to that for RYGB, in whole-body apoA-IV knockout (KO) mice. We found that VSG reduced body mass and improved both glucose and lipid homeostasis similarly in wild-type mice compared with apoA-IV KO mice. In fact, VSG normalized the impairment in glucose tolerance and caused a significantly greater improvement in hepatic triglyceride storage in the apoA-IV KO mice. Last, independent of surgery, apoA-IV KO mice had a significantly reduced preference for a high-fat diet. Altogether, these data suggest that apoA-IV is not necessary for the metabolic improvements shown with VSG, but also suggest an interesting role for apoA-IV in regulating macronutrient preference and hepatic triglyceride levels. Future studies are necessary to determine whether this is the case for RYGB as well.
Proinsulin-Specific, HLA-DQ8, and HLA-DQ8-Transdimer–Restricted CD4+ T Cells Infiltrate Islets in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Pathiraja Vimukthi , Kuehlich Janine P. , Campbell Peter D. , Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian , Loudovaris Thomas , Coates P. Toby H. , Brodnicki Thomas C. , O’Connell Philip J. , Kedzierska Katherine , Rodda Christine , Bergman Philip , Hill Erin , Purcell Anthony W. , Dudek Nadine L. , Thomas Helen E. , Kay Thomas W.H. , Mannering Stuart I.
Published: August 2014

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) develops when insulin-secreting β-cells, found in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, are destroyed by infiltrating T cells. How human T cells recognize β-cell-derived antigens remains unclear. Genetic studies have shown that HLA and insulin alleles are the most strongly associated with risk of T1D. These long-standing observations implicate CD4+ T-cell responses against (pro)insulin in the pathogenesis of T1D. To dissect the autoimmune T-cell response against human β-cells, we isolated and characterized 53 CD4+ T-cell clones from within the residual pancreatic islets of a deceased organ donor who had T1D. These 53 clones expressed 47 unique clonotypes, 8 of which encoded proinsulin-specific T-cell receptors. On an individual clone basis, 14 of 53 CD4+ T-cell clones (26%) recognized 6 distinct but overlapping epitopes in the C-peptide of proinsulin. These clones recognized C-peptide epitopes presented by HLA-DQ8 and, notably, HLA-DQ8 transdimers that form in HLA-DQ2/-DQ8 heterozygous individuals. Responses to these epitopes were detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of some people with recent-onset T1D but not in HLA-matched control subjects. Hence, proinsulin-specific, HLA-DQ8, and HLA-DQ8-transdimer–restricted CD4+ T cells are strongly implicated in the autoimmune pathogenesis of human T1D.
Glycated Albumin With Loss of Fatty Acid Binding Capacity Contributes to Enhanced Arachidonate Oxygenation and Platelet Hyperactivity: Relevance in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Blache Denis , Bourdon Emmanuel , Salloignon Pauline , Lucchi Géraldine , Ducoroy Patrick , Petit Jean-Michel , Verges Bruno , Lagrost Laurent
Published: August 2014

High plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), transported bound to serum albumin, are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The effects of albumin on platelet function were investigated in vitro. Modifications of albumin, such as those due to glycoxidation, were found in patients with T2D, and the consequences of these modifications on biological mechanisms related to NEFA handling were investigated. Mass spectrometry profiles of albumin from patients with T2D differed from those from healthy control subjects. Diabetic albumin showed impaired NEFA binding capacity, and both structural and functional alterations could be reproduced in vitro by incubating native albumin with glucose and methylglyoxal. Platelets incubated with albumin isolated from patients with T2D aggregated approximately twice as much as platelets incubated with albumin isolated from healthy control subjects. Accordingly, platelets incubated with modified albumin produced significantly higher amounts of arachidonate metabolites than did platelets incubated with control albumin. We concluded that higher amounts of free arachidonate are made available for the generation of active metabolites in platelets when the NEFA binding capacity of albumin is blunted by glycoxidation. This newly described mechanism, in addition to hypoalbuminemia, may contribute to platelet hyperactivity and increased thrombosis, known to occur in patients with T2D.
In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the evaluation of hepatic encephalopathy in dogs
Authors: Carrera Inés , Kircher Patrick R. , Meier Dieter , Richter Henning , Beckman Katrin , Dennler Matthias
Published: August 2014

Objective—To investigate clinical use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) and to compare metabolic brain bioprofiles of dogs with and without hepatic encephalopathy.

Animals—6 dogs with hepatic encephalopathy and 12 control dogs.

Procedures—Conventional MRI and single-voxel 1H MRS were performed with a 3-T magnet. Images for routine MRI planes and sequences were obtained. Single-voxel 1H MRS was performed with a point-resolved sequence with a short echo time (35 milliseconds) and voxel of interest placement at the level of the basal ganglia. Metabolites of interest included the glutamine-glutamate complex (sum quantification of glutamate and glutamine), myoinositol, N-acetyl aspartate, total choline, and creatine. Data were analyzed with postprocessing fitting algorithm software, and metabolite concentration relative to water and ratios with creatine as the reference metabolite were calculated.

Results—Compared with control dogs, dogs with hepatic encephalopathy had specific changes, which included significantly higher concentration relative to water of the glutamine-glutamate complex and significantly lower concentration of myoinositol. Choline and N-acetyl aspartate concentrations were also slightly lower in dogs with hepatic encephalopathy than in control dogs. No differences in creatine concentration were detected between groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—1H MRS aided in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy in dogs, and findings supported the assumption that ammonia is a neurotoxin that manifests via glutamine-glutamate complex derangements. Use of 1H MRS may provide clinically relevant information in patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy, equivocal results of bile acids tests, and equivocal ammonia concentrations or may be helpful in monitoring efficacy of medical management.
Effect of small interfering RNAs on in vitro replication and gene expression of feline coronavirus
Authors: Anis Eman A. , Wilkes Rebecca P. , Kania Stephen A. , Legendre Alfred M. , Kennedy Melissa A.
Published: August 2014

Objective—To evaluate the ability of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to inhibit in vitro viral replication and gene expression of feline coronavirus (FCoV).

Sample—Cell cultures of Crandell-Rees feline kidney cells.

Procedures—5 synthetic siRNAs that each targeted a different region of the FCoV genome were tested individually and in various combinations for their antiviral effects against 2 strains of FCoV (feline infectious peritonitis virus WSU 79-1146 and feline enteric coronavirus WSU 79-1683) in cell cultures. Tested combinations targeted the FCoV leader and 3′ untranslated region, FCoV leader region and nucleocapsid gene, and FCoV leader region, 3′ untranslated region, and nucleocapsid gene. For each test condition, assessments included relative quantification of the inhibition of intracellular viral genomic RNA synthesis by means of real-time, reverse-transcription PCR analysis; flow cytometric evaluation of the reduction of viral protein expression in infected cells; and assessment of virus replication inhibition via titration of extracellular virus with a TCID50 infectivity assay.

Results—The 5 siRNAs had variable inhibitory effects on FCoV when used singly. Combinations of siRNAs that targeted different regions of the viral genome resulted in more effective viral inhibition than did individual siRNAs that targeted a single gene. The tested siRNA combinations resulted in approximately 95% reduction in viral replication (based on virus titration results), compared with findings in negative control, nontargeting siRNA–treated, FCoV-infected cells.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In vitro replication of FCoV was specifically inhibited by siRNAs that targeted coding and noncoding regions of the viral genome, suggesting a potential therapeutic application of RNA interference in treatment of feline infectious peritonitis.
Effect of endotoxin on leukocyte activation and migration into laminar tissue of isolated perfused equine limbs
Authors: Patan-Zugaj Bianca , Gauff Felicia C. , Plendl Johanna , Licka Theresia F.
Published: August 2014

Objective—To investigate effects of endotoxin on leukocyte activation and infiltration of the laminar tissue in isolated perfused equine limbs.

Sample—10 right forelimbs and 3 left forelimbs collected from 10 healthy adult horses after slaughter at a licensed abattoir.

Procedures—Isolated right forelimbs were randomly assigned to 2 groups (5 forelimbs/group): perfusion of the distal portion for 10 hours with 80 ng of endotoxin/L and perfusion under the same conditions without endotoxin. After perfusion, samples for immunohistochemical detection of leukocytes (by use of antibodies against calprotectin and myeloperoxidase) and transmission electron microscopy were collected from the laminar tissue of the dorsal aspect of the hooves. Additionally, control samples were collected from the 3 nonperfused left forelimbs.

Results—Samples of laminar tissue from the endotoxin perfusion group had significantly higher scores for calprotectin and myeloperoxidase staining than did control samples and samples perfused without endotoxin. Ultrastructural examination revealed endotoxin-induced damage of the epidermal basal cells with loss of cell contacts including hemidesmosomes and anchoring filaments and a resulting separation of parts of the basement membrane. Additionally, local breakdown of the basement membrane was detected at the location of leukocyte adherence.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In isolated perfused equine limbs, endotoxin at a clinically relevant concentration induced a distinct inflammatory reaction with intravascular and extravascular accumulation of leukocytes in the laminar tissue, similar to that seen during the developmental phase of laminitis. Therefore, endotoxin should be considered as a causative factor for some types of laminitis.
Clinical sensitivity and specificity of a real-time PCR assay for Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis in preputial samples from bulls
Authors: Guerra Alvaro García , Chaban Bonnie , Hill Janet E. , Waldner Cheryl L. , Hendrick Steven H.
Published: August 2014

Objective—To determine clinical sensitivity and specificity of a quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay for Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis (Cfv) in preputial samples of bulls.

Animals—313 beef bulls.

Procedures—Preputial samples were collected from 300 virgin bulls and 13 Cfv-infected bulls. Specificity of the qRT-PCR assay, determined on the basis of results for samples collected from virgin bulls, was compared with specificity of bacteriologic culture performed with transport enrichment medium (TEM). Sensitivity of the qRT-PCR assay, determined on the basis of results for multiple samples collected at weekly intervals from infected bulls, was compared with sensitivity of the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT), bacteriologic culture, and bacteriologic culture with TEM.

Results—Specificity was 85% for the qRT-PCR assay and 100% for bacteriologic culture; results were significantly different. Mean sensitivity was 85.4% for the qRT-PCR assay, 82.3% for direct culture in blood agar, 72.1% for the DFAT, 32.7% for direct culture in Skirrow agar, 30% for bacteriologic culture with TEM and blood agar, and 38.1% for bacteriologic culture with TEM and Skirrow agar. Differences in sensitivity among tests varied with ambient outdoor temperature. Repeated sampling significantly increased sensitivity of the qRT-PCR assay.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Use of the qRT-PCR assay as a screening test on direct preputial samples had comparable sensitivity to bacteriologic culture, and repeated sampling improved sensitivity. Although improved performance of the qRT-PCR assay, compared with direct bacteriologic culture, was dependent on temperature, transport times that allow direct culture are unlikely under field conditions. The qRT-PCR assay would provide a fast and sensitive screening method for Cfv in bulls.
The Impact of Trust in Government on Tax Paying Behavior of Nonfarm Sole Proprietors
Authors: Birskyte Liucija
Published: August 2014

The paper explores the relationship between the taxpayers’ trust in government and their willingness to pay taxes. When honored, trust promotes feelings of goodwill between individuals, strengthens democracy, and reduces transaction costs in economic exchange. Literature on government regulation finds that if citizens trust the government they are more likely to comply with laws and regulations. In this article, the index of trust in government calculated by the American National Elections Studies (ANES) and the AGI (adjusted gross income) gap produced by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are used to test an empirical model if trust in government has a positive impact on tax compliance of the least compliant taxpayers group - nonfarm sole proprietors - controlling for the deterrent effects of tax enforcement. The results indicate that the higher trust in government improves tax compliance. The paper contributes to the existing literature on tax compliance by combining survey and statistical income reporting data to find evidence that perceptions about the trust in the government translate into actual tax payments
Capon Production – Breeding Stock, Rooster Castration And Rearing Methods, And Meat Quality – A Review
Authors: Calik Jolanta
Published: August 2014

Over the last decade, there has been an increased consumer interest in niche food products with special aroma and flavour, and rich in nutrients. Poland has a large (19 lines) and valuable collection of laying hens enrolled in the genetic resources conservation programme. Research to date has shown these hen breeds to vary in phenotype, productivity, and biological quality of hatching eggs and meat. A significant problem in using hens for both egg and meat production is that the number of unwanted cockerels increases with increasing intensity of egg production. This problem can be overcome by castration of cockerels. Roosters were sterilized long before Christ, first as a religious ritual and then to increase the body weight of birds. The qualities of capon meat were noticed much later when it turned out to be more delicate, juicy and tender compared to rooster meat. The aim of this paper was to review the literature on capon production, including the effects of castration on the bird’s body and on the quality of meat obtained.
Dry Period Length as Related to Milk Yield and SCC During the First Month of Subsequent Lactation
Authors: Sawa Anna , Krężel-Czopek Sylwia , Bogucki Mariusz
Published: August 2014

Analysis was made of the effect of dry period length in primiparous and multiparous cows on daily milk yield during the first month of subsequent lactation and on milk somatic cell count (SCC) on the basis of the information about the test-day milkings of 59 138 cows. The GLM and FREQ procedures of the SAS package were used in the statistical calculations. Dry period length in the primiparous and multiparous cows had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on daily milk yield and udder health, determined based on SCC. In terms of milk yield, the most favourable dry period would be 51-70 days for both primiparous and multiparous cows. Depending on udder health, a dry period of 51-90 days can be suggested. Shorter dry periods had more undesirable effects than longer dry periods. Excessively shortened dry period (≤10 days) caused the daily milk yield to decrease by 17% in primiparous and by 13% in multiparous cows while increasing the risk of clinical changes of the cow’s udder, regardless of age. The proportion of milk samples that showed evidence of clinical mastitis also increased when the dry period was excessively long (>90 days), especially in multiparous cows.
Influence of Increased Dietary Selenium on Glutathione Peroxidase Activity and Glutathione Concentration in Erythrocytes of Lactating Sows
Authors: Horký Pavel
Published: August 2014

We studied the influence of different selenium (Se) levels on some parameters of the antioxidant potential of lactating sows. The experiment involved 15 sows of the Large White breed divided into 3 equal groups. The addition of Se (from Se-enriched yeast) amounted to 0.0, 0.25 and 0.50 mg per kg of diet in the control, Se1 and Se2 groups, respectively. Erythrocyte Se concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and reduced/oxygenated glutathione ratio were measured as some of the indicators of the sow’s antioxidant status. Supplementation of Se at 0.25 mg/kg of diet increased Se concentration (by 50.0%; P<0.01), GPx activity (by 17.0%: P<0.05) and reduced/ oxygenated glutathione ratio (by 29.7%; P<0.05). Addition of Se at 0.50 mg/kg of diet increased Se concentration (by 63.6%; P<0.01), GPx activity (by 34.7%; P<0.01) and reduced/oxygenated glutathione ratio (by 64.0%; P<0.01). A significant relationship (P<0.01) was found between the Se concentrations and activity of GPx in erythrocytes from sows in the Se1 and Se2 groups (r=0.76 and 0.77, respectively). Percentage of piglets weaned/born was higher (P>0.05) in the Se2 than in the Se1 and control groups. In summary, addition of 0.25 or 0.50 mg Se/kg of diet can improve antioxidant status of lactating sows, but addition of 0.25 mg Se/kg may be also sufficient.
Non-classical Signature of Parametric Fluorescence and its Application in Metrology
Authors: Hamar M. , Michálek V. , Pathak A.
Published: August 2014

The article provides a short theoretical background of what the non-classical light means. We applied the criterion for the existence of non-classical effects derived by C.T. Lee on parametric fluorescence. The criterion was originally derived for the study of two light beams with one mode per beam. We checked if the criterion is still working for two multimode beams of parametric down-conversion through numerical simulations. The theoretical results were tested by measurement of photon number statistics of twin beams emitted by nonlinear BBO crystal pumped by intense femtoseconds UV pulse. We used ICCD camera as the detector of photons in both beams. It appears that the criterion can be used for the measurement of the quantum efficiencies of the ICCD cameras.
Spectral EEG Features of a Short Psycho-physiological Relaxation
Authors: Teplan Michal , Krakovská Anna , Špajdel Marián
Published: August 2014

Short-lasting psycho-physiological relaxation was investigated through an analysis of its bipolar electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics. In 8 subjects, 6-channel EEG data of 3-minute duration were recorded during 88 relaxation sessions. Time course of spectral EEG features was examined. Alpha powers were decreasing during resting conditions of 3-minute sessions in lying position with eyes closed. This was followed by a decrease of total power in centro-parietal cortex regions and an increase of beta power in fronto-central areas. Represented by EEG coherences the interhemispheric communication between the parieto-occipital regions was enhanced within a frequency range of 2-10 Hz. In order to discern between higher and lower levels of relaxation distinguished according to self-rated satisfaction, EEG features were assessed and discriminating parameters were identified. Successful relaxation was determined mainly by the presence of decreased delta-1 power across the cortex. Potential applications for these findings include the clinical, pharmacological, and stress management fields.
Interaction of SiO2 Nanoparticles with Seed Prechilling on Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Tall Wheatgrass (Agropyron Elongatum L.)
Authors: Azimi Reyhane , Borzelabad Mohammad Jankju , Feizi Hassan , Azimi Amin
Published: August 2014

The effect of six SiO2 nanosized concentrations (0, 5, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg L-1) and three seed prechilling treatments (control, seed prechilling before nano SiO2 treatments, treatments of seed with nano SiO2 before prechilling) on germination and seedling growth of tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum L.) were studied. Results indicated that application of SiO2 nanoparticles significantly increased seed germination of tall wheatgrass from 58 percent in control group to 86.3 and 85.7 percent in 40 and 60 mg L-1, respectively. Applying SiO2 nanoparticles increased dry weight of shoot, root and seedling of tall wheatgrass. Increasing concentration of nanoparticle from 0 up to 40 mg L-1 increased seedling weight around 49 percent compared to the control, nevertheless decreased under 60 and 80 mg L-1 treatments. In conclusion, seed prechilling in combination with SiO2 nanoparticles largely broke the seed dormancy for A. elongatum.
Modified and Unmodified Zinc Oxide as Coagent in Elastomer Compounds
Authors: Kołodziejczak-Radzimska Agnieszka , Jesionowski Teofi , Maciejewska Magdalena , Zaborski Marian
Published: August 2014

The aim of this work was to study the activity of unmodified and modified ZnO in the peroxide crosslinking of hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene elastomer (HNBR) and ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM). In the first step, zinc oxide was obtained by emulsion precipitation. Maleic acid was introduced onto the surface of ZnO using an in situ method. The unmodified and modified zinc oxide was characterized using dispersive and morphological analysis, BET surface area analysis, and elemental, spectroscopic and thermal analysis. In the second stage of the research, the ZnO/MA systems were incorporated into the structure of elastomer compounds improving the kinetic and mechanical properties of vulcanizates. The proposed modification method had a favorable effect on the physicochemical properties of the zinc oxide and on the kinetic and mechanical properties of the vulcanizates. This study demonstrated that modification of zinc oxide by maleic acid is a promising technique.
Kłopoty z nazwami wartości (i wartościami)
Authors: Puzynina Jadwiga
Published: August 2014

The article analyzes some of the difficulties in understanding the discourse of values and the way ‘values’ are employed in argument. It deals in particular with the meaning of the term ‘value’ itself as well as the various names of values which appear to be rather general and to contain a broad range of diverse semantic components. The problem is illustrated by the case of the different perceptions of the adjective ‘good’ as used in the phrase ‘a good man’. The processes of communication and understanding are further complicated by the different ranking of a given value in people’s individual hierarchies of value. The latter part of the article is concerned with the problem of shaping the moral and rational self-understanding of the young generation - a task of great importance from both the social and ethical point of view
Wiersz o prawdzie, na którą się czeka
Authors: Sawicki Stefan
Published: August 2014

This is an interpretation of the poem ‘Ideas and the truth’, Item XLII from Cyprian Kamil Norwid’s Vade-mecum. Its sequence of images based on the revaluation of the semantic markers ‘up’ and ‘down’ suggests that the seemingly futile quest for the truth can make sense. The right attitude is to persevere in one’s efforts and, at the same time, to wait and hope that the truth will eventually reveal itself to the dedicated seeker.
Józefa Bogdana Dziekońskiego i jego kompanów „życie na żart ”
Authors: Szargot Maciej
Published: August 2014

This article deals with the early chapters of Józef Bogdan Dziekoński’s swashbuckling life, ie. his student years and the time when he joined the Warsaw Bohemians (Warszawska Cyganeria), a group of artists and free spirits that flourished in the Polish capital in the 1840s. While his later career is by no means easy to reconstruct, the Warsaw phase is relatively well-documented. Contemporary sources contain plenty of references to his pranks and wild parties. It seems that all of the fun and games organized by Dziekoński had the form of carnivalesque masquerade balls punctuated with blood-curdling or incongruous interruptions, such as outbursts of fighting, duels, funerals, scenes of interrogation and imprisonment. His jokes, aimed not only at the bourgeois and the police but also at the very system of Tzarist rule, were often scandalous and provocative. In this way they created a culture of irreverent laughter opposed to both the grim regime of Ivan Paskiewicz, the Russian Governor General of the Kingdom of Poland, and the Romantic ‘culture of grief’ of the Polish insurrectionists
Literacka antropologia szkoły przełomu XIX i XX w. Rekonesans
Authors: Rusek Marta
Published: August 2014

This article attempts to point out the issues which make up the literary anthropology of the school of the late 19th and early 20th century. This period deserves special attention for a number of reasons, among them a rapid growth of the educational debate both in Europe and the United States and fundamental changes in the functioning of the educational system, eg. the extension of universal primary education, and the opening up of elementary and secondary schools for girls. All of those developments were not only associated with the idea of modernity but constituted the practical realization of the progressive content of that idea. Our understanding of the anthropology of the school is based the premise that human beings acquire their knowledge (ie. learn and are taught) within an organized educational framework. The issues that this article deals with are directly connected with that institutional framework, ie. the school as an anthropological site, the technology of power, symbolic violence, individual subjectivity, the relationship between the individual and the group, individual and collective identity. The discussion focuses on two books, which are characteristic of their time, Stefan Żeromski’s popular school-novel The Labors of Sisyphus and Janusz Korczak’s utopian novel The School of Life. They both suggest that the institutionalized educational drive of early modernity was aimed at influencing and transforming society through the schooling of individuals. What is striking about Żeromski’s presentation of the school with its mechanism of knowledge as power, used by the Russian authorities to inculcate submission in individuals and in the society at large, is the sheer brazenness of the scheme which tends to neutralize its symbolic violence. By contrast, in Korczak’s novel we find a totally new educational institution based on the principle of treating children as adults. For Korczak a radical respect for the autonomy of child and its individual development was the first step towards social change and the transformation of interpersonal relations. Our analyses demonstrate that fiction was used to examine the paradoxes inherent in institutionalized education at a time when it became one of the most universal forms of everyday praxis
Transmutacja utopii. „Nowoczesna alchemia” i nauka w Mirandzie Antoniego Langego
Authors: Wójtowicz Aleksander
Published: August 2014

Published in 1924, Miranda is a utopian novel, saturated with modern debates about the nature of progress. Antoni Lange’s project of a perfect society presented in Miranda runs counter to the view shared by the majority of writers of utopian fiction that science and new technologies should be the foundations of an ideal society. He believes that the society of the future should be founded on a marriage of scientific progress and the occult. While science would bring into this alliance the discovery of the smallest particle of matter, esotericism would contribute its understanding of the characteristics of such a particle, analogous to the alchemical prima materia. Lange’s insistence on the union of the incompatible discourses of science and occultism situates his utopia in the sphere of Modern Alchemy
The use of laser technology to shape properties of the contacts of silicon solar cells and their structure
Authors: Musztyfaga-Staszuk Małgorzata , Dobrzański Leszek
Published: August 2014

The paper presents the results of the investigation of the front contact manufactured using silver pastes (based on experimentally prepared silver powder) on monocrystalline silicon solar cells in order to reduce contact resistance. Various deposition and fabrication techniques were applied to improve the electrical properties of contacts. The aim of the paper was to apply an unconventional method (selective laser sintering) to improve the quality of forming contacts of silicon solar cells. The topography of both the melted/sintered contact and textured silicon was investigated using atomic force microscopy. Resistance of front electrodes was measured using the Transmission Line Model (TLM). Both surface topography and cross section of front contacts were researched using the scanning electron microscopy.
Convective heat transfer and MHD effects on Casson nanofluid flow over a shrinking sheet
Authors: Haq Rizwan , Nadeem Sohail , Khan Zafar , Okedayo Toyin
Published: August 2014

Current study examines the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow of a Casson nanofluid over an exponentially permeable shrinking sheet with convective boundary condition. Moreover, we have considered the suction/injection effects on the wall. By applying the appropriate transformations, system of non-linear partial differential equation along with the boundary conditions are transformed to couple non-linear ordinary differential equations. The resulting systems of non-linear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using Runge-Kutta method. Numerical results for velocity, temperature and nanoparticle volume concentration are presented through graphs for various values of dimensionless parameters. Effects of parameters for heat transfer at wall and nanoparticle volume concentration are also presented through graphs and tables. At the end, fluid flow behavior is examined through stream lines. Concluding remarks are provided for the whole analysis.
Investigation of complex impedance and modulus properties of Nd doped 0.5BiFeO3-0.5PbTiO3 multiferroic Composites
Authors: Behera Ajay , Mohanty Nilaya , Satpathy Santosh , Behera Banarji , Nayak Pratibindhya
Published: August 2014

0.5BiNdxFe1−x

O
3 − 0.5PbTiO3 (BNxF1−x
− PT)(x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) composites were successfully synthesized by a solid state reaction technique. At room temperature, X-ray diffraction shows tetragonal structure for all concentrations of Nd doped 0.5BiFeO3 − 0.5PbTiO3 composites. The nature of Nyquist plot confirms the presence of bulk effects only for BNxF1−x
− PT (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) composites. The bulk resistance is found to decreases with the increasing temperature as well as Nd concentration and exhibits a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior. Both the complex impedance and modulus studies have suggested the presence of non-Debye type of relaxation in the composites. Conductivity spectra reveal the presence of hopping mechanism in the electrical transport process of the composites. The activation energy calculated from impedance plot of the composite decreases with increasing Ndx concentration and found to be 0.89, 0.76, 0.71 and 0.70 eV for x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 respectively.
Inflation and Financial Sector Performance: The Case of Nigeria
Authors: Alimi R. Santos
Published: August 2014

The paper examines the long run and short run relationships between inflation and the financial sector development in Nigeria over the period between 1970 and 2012. Three variables, namely; broad definition of money as ratio of GDP, quasi money as share of GDP and credit to private sector as share of GDP, were used to proxy financial sector development. Our findings suggest that inflation presented deleterious effects on financial development over the study period. The main implication of the results is that poor macroeconomic performance has deleterious effects to financial development - a variable that is important for affecting economic growth and income inequality. Moreover, we observed a negative effect of the measures of financial development on growth, suggesting that impact of inflation on the economic growth passes through financial sector. Therefore, low and stable prices, is a necessary first step to achieving a deeper and more active financial sector that will enhance growth as predicted by Schumpeter.
The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on the Market Value of Shares of Erste Bank Group
Authors: Popovici Andreea Nicoleta
Published: August 2014

Mergers and acquisitions are ways used by banks to improve their profitability and to obtain other advantages. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of mergers and acquisitions on the performance of the bidder bank. For this study, I have chosen to research the impact of acquisitions and mergers of Erste Group during 2000-2011, considering the target bank is in Central and Eastern Europe. Using the event study methodology, the result of the study shows that a merger or an acquisition does not improve the value market of the shares of the bidder bank.