bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-195Protects Against Dementia Induced by Chronic Brain Hypoperfusion via Its Anti-Amyloidogenic Effect in Rats
Authors: Ai Jing , Sun Li-Hua , Che Hui , Zhang Rong , Zhang Tian-Zhu , Wu Wan-Chen , Su Xiao-Lin , Chen Xin , Yang Guang , Li Kang , Wang Ning , Ban Tao , Bao Ya-Nan , Guo Fei , Niu Hui-Fang , Zhu Yu-Lan , Zhu Xiu-Ying , Zhao Shi-Guang , Yang Bao-Feng
Published: February 2013

Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic brain hypoperfusion (CBH) causes Aβ aggregation by upregulating expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) protein, which is accompanied by cognitive impairment, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the effect of microRNA on memory impairment in rats induced by CBH. We show here that CBH generated by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) significantly decreased the learning and memory ability in rats, as assessed by Morris water maze, and upregulated expression of APP and BACE1 proteins in the hippocampus and cortex of rats, as evaluated by Western blot and immunofluorescence. In reciprocal, qRT-PCR analysis showed thatmicroRNA-195(miR-195) was downregulated in both the hippocampus and cortex of rats following CBH, and in the plasma of dementia patients. APP and BACE1 proteins were downregulated bymiR-195overexpression, upregulated bymiR-195inhibition, and unchanged by binding-site mutation or miR-masks, indicating that APP and BACE1 are two potential targets formiR-195. Knockdown of endogenousmiR-195by lentiviral vector-mediated overexpression of its antisense molecule (lenti-pre-AMO-miR-195) elicited dementia in rats, whereas overexpression ofmiR-195using lenti-pre-miR-195reduced dementia vulnerability triggered by 2VO. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that NFκB was bound to the promoter region ofmiR-195and inhibited its expression. We conclude thatmiR-195may play a key role in determining dementia susceptibility in 2VO rats by regulating APP and BACE1 expression at the post-transcriptional level, and exogenous complement ofmiR-195may be a potentially valuable anti-dementia approach.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation Regulates the Endocytosis and Surface Expression of GluN3A-Containing NMDA Receptors
Authors: Chowdhury Dhrubajyoti , Marco Sonia , Brooks Ian M. , Zandueta Aitor , Rao Yijian , Haucke Volker , Wesseling John F. , Tavalin Steven J. , Pérez-Otaño Isabel
Published: February 2013

Selective control of receptor trafficking provides a mechanism for remodeling the receptor composition of excitatory synapses, and thus supports synaptic transmission, plasticity, and development. GluN3A (formerly NR3A) is a nonconventional member of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunit family, which endows NMDAR channels with low calcium permeability and reduced magnesium sensitivity compared with NMDARs comprising only GluN1 and GluN2 subunits. Because of these special properties, GluN3A subunits act as a molecular brake to limit the plasticity and maturation of excitatory synapses, pointing toward GluN3A removal as a critical step in the development of neuronal circuitry. However, the molecular signals mediating GluN3A endocytic removal remain unclear. Here we define a novel endocytic motif (YWL), which is located within the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail of GluN3A and mediates its binding to the clathrin adaptor AP2. Alanine mutations within the GluN3A endocytic motif inhibited clathrin-dependent internalization and led to accumulation of GluN3A-containing NMDARs at the cell surface, whereas mimicking phosphorylation of the tyrosine residue promoted internalization and reduced cell-surface expression as shown by immunocytochemical and electrophysiological approaches in recombinant systems and rat neurons in primary culture. We further demonstrate that the tyrosine residue is phosphorylated by Src family kinases, and that Src-activation limits surface GluN3A expression in neurons. Together, our results identify a new molecular signal for GluN3A internalization that couples the functional surface expression of GluN3A-containing receptors to the phosphorylation state of GluN3A subunits, and provides a molecular framework for the regulation of NMDAR subunit composition with implications for synaptic plasticity and neurodevelopment.
The Sparseness of Mixed Selectivity Neurons Controls the Generalization–Discrimination Trade-Off
Authors: Barak Omri , Rigotti Mattia , Fusi Stefano
Published: February 2013

Intelligent behavior requires integrating several sources of information in a meaningful fashion—be it context with stimulus or shape with color and size. This requires the underlying neural mechanism to respond in a different manner to similar inputs (discrimination), while maintaining a consistent response for noisy variations of the same input (generalization). We show that neurons that mix information sources via random connectivity can form an easy to read representation of input combinations. Using analytical and numerical tools, we show that the coding level or sparseness of these neurons' activity controls a trade-off between generalization and discrimination, with the optimal level depending on the task at hand. In all realistic situations that we analyzed, the optimal fraction of inputs to which a neuron responds is close to 0.1. Finally, we predict a relation between a measurable property of the neural representation and task performance.
Visual Salience Improves Spatial Working Memory via Enhanced Parieto-Temporal Functional Connectivity
Authors: Santangelo Valerio , Macaluso Emiliano
Published: February 2013

In everyday life, the brain is bombarded with a multitude of concurrent and competing stimuli. Only some of these enter consciousness and memory. Attention selects relevant signals for in-depth processing depending on current goals, but also on the intrinsic properties of stimuli. We combined behavior, computational modeling, and functional imaging to investigate mechanisms supporting access to memory based on intrinsic sensory properties. During fMRI scanning, human subjects were presented with pictures of naturalistic scenes that entailed high levels of competition between possible target objects. Following a retention interval of 8 s, participants judged the location (same/different) of a target object extracted from the initial scene. We found that memory performance at retrieval increased with increasing object salience at encoding, indicating a “prior entry” for salient information. fMRI analyses revealed encoding-related activation in the posterior parietal cortex, selectively for salient objects that were later remembered. Moreover, parietal cortex showed increased functional coupling with the medial-temporal lobe, for remembered objects only. These findings reveal a parietotemporal circuit that integrates available sensory cues (based on attention-grabbing saliency signals) and current memory requirements (storing objects' locations) to encode object-related spatial information in working memory.
Increased Agonist Affinity at the μ-Opioid Receptor Induced by Prolonged Agonist Exposure
Authors: Birdsong William T. , Arttamangkul Seksiri , Clark Mary J. , Cheng Kejun , Rice Kenner C. , Traynor John R. , Williams John T.
Published: February 2013

Prolonged exposure to high-efficacy agonists results in desensitization of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR). Desensitized receptors are thought to be unable to couple to G-proteins, preventing downstream signaling; however, the changes to the receptor itself are not well characterized. In the current study, confocal imaging was used to determine whether desensitizing conditions cause a change in agonist–receptor interactions. Using rapid solution exchange, the binding kinetics of fluorescently labeled opioid agonist, dermorphin Alexa594 (derm A594), to MORs was measured in live cells. The affinity of derm A594 binding increased after prolonged treatment of cells with multiple agonists that are known to cause receptor desensitization. In contrast, binding of a fluorescent antagonist, naltrexamine Alexa594, was unaffected by similar agonist pretreatment. The increased affinity of derm A594 for the receptor was long-lived and partially reversed after a 45 min wash. Treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin did not alter the increase in affinity of the derm A594 for MOR. Likewise, the affinity of derm A594 for MORs expressed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from arrestin 1 and 2 knock-out animals increased after treatment of the cells with the desensitization protocol. Thus, opioid receptors were “imprinted” with a memory of prior agonist exposure that was independent of G-protein activation or arrestin binding that altered subsequent agonist–receptor interactions. The increased affinity suggests that acute desensitization results in a long-lasting but reversible conformational change in the receptor.
Homer1 Mediates Acute Stress-Induced Cognitive Deficits in the Dorsal Hippocampus
Authors: Wagner Klaus V. , Hartmann Jakob , Mangold Katharina , Wang Xiao-Dong , Labermaier Christiana , Liebl Claudia , Wolf Miriam , Gassen Nils C. , Holsboer Florian , Rein Theo , Müller Marianne B. , Schmidt Mathias V.
Published: February 2013

In recent years, the glutamatergic system has been implicated in the development and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Glutamate signaling is processed by different receptors, including metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which in turn interact with the scaffolding protein Homer1 to modulate downstream Ca2+signaling. Stress is a major risk factor for the incidence of psychiatric diseases, yet acute stress episodes may have diverging effects on individuals. Cognitive impairments have often been shown to occur after episodes of stress, however the specific role of mGluR5/Homer1 signaling in the interaction of stress and cognition has not yet been elucidated. In this study we show that a single episode of social defeat stress is sufficient to specifically induce cognitive impairments in mice 8 h after the stressor without affecting the animals' locomotion or anxiety levels. We also demonstrate that Homer1b/c levels as well as mGluR5/Homer1b/c interactions in the dorsal hippocampus are reduced up to 8 h after stress. Blockade of mGluR5 during the occurrence of social stress was able to rescue the cognitive impairments. In addition, a specific overexpression of Homer1b/c in the dorsal hippocampus also reversed the behavioral phenotype, indicating that both mGluR5 and Homer1b/c play a crucial role in the mediation of the stress effects. In summary, we could demonstrate that stress induces a cognitive deficit that is likely mediated by mGluR5/Homer1 signaling in the hippocampus. These findings help to reveal the underlying effects of cognitive impairments in patients suffering from stress-related psychiatric disorders.
Vertebrate Intersectin1 Is Repurposed to Facilitate Cortical Midline Connectivity and Higher Order Cognition
Authors: Sengar Ameet S. , Ellegood Jacob , Yiu Adelaide P. , Wang Hua , Wang Wei , Juneja Subhash C. , Lerch Jason P. , Josselyn Sheena A. , Henkelman R. Mark , Salter Michael W. , Egan Sean E.
Published: February 2013

Invertebrate studies have highlighted a role for EH and SH3 domain Intersectin (Itsn) proteins in synaptic vesicle recycling and morphology. Mammals have twoItsngenes (Itsn1andItsn2), both of which can undergo alternative splicing to include DBL/PH and C2 domains not present in invertebrate Itsn proteins. To probe for specific and redundant functions of vertebrateItsngenes, we generatedItsn1,Itsn2, and double mutant mice. While invertebrate mutants showed severe synaptic abnormalities, basal synaptic transmission and plasticity were unaffected at Schaffer CA1 synapses in mutant mice. Surprisingly, intercortical tracts—corpus callosum, ventral hippocampal, and anterior commissures—failed to cross the midline in mice lackingItsn1, but notItsn2. In contrast, tracts extending within hemispheres and those that decussate to more caudal brain segments appeared normal.Itsn1mutant mice showed severe deficits in Morris water maze and contextual fear memory tasks, whereas mice lackingItsn2showed normal learning and memory. Thus, coincident with the acquisition of additional signaling domains, vertebrateItsn1has been functionally repurposed to also facilitate interhemispheric connectivity essential for high order cognitive functions.
Understanding Others' Feelings: The Role of the Right Primary Somatosensory Cortex in Encoding the Affective Valence of Others' Touch
Authors: Bolognini Nadia , Rossetti Angela , Convento Silvia , Vallar Giuseppe
Published: February 2013

Brain imaging studies in humans have shown the existence of a shared somatosensory representation in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), putatively involved in understanding others' sensations (Keysers et al., 2010); however, the role of S1 in such a high-level process is still unknown. To ascertain the causal involvement of S1, and its possible hemispheric lateralization, in encoding the affective valence of emotional scenes, depicting, or not, a tactile event, we gave to healthy participants a picture-based affective go/no-go task and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was chosen as control site. rTMS over the right, but not the left, S1 selectively increased the participants' latencies in the affective go/no-go task, but only when the affective state was conveyed by touch; intriguingly, this interfering effect was associated with the empathic ability to adopt the subjective perspective of others. The left, not the right, DLPFC is also involved in affective go/no-go performance, but regardless of the sight of touch, and independently of empathic abilities. This novel evidence demonstrates the crossmodal role of right S1 in encoding the pleasant and aversive consequences of others' sensations evoked by touch.
Altered Synaptic Dynamics during Normal Brain Aging
Authors: Mostany Ricardo , Anstey James E. , Crump Kerensa L. , Maco Bohumil , Knott Graham , Portera-Cailliau Carlos
Published: February 2013

What is the neuroanatomical basis for the decline in brain function that occurs during normal aging? Previous postmortem studies have blamed it on a reduction in spine density, though results remain controversial and spine dynamics were not assessed. We used chronicin vivotwo-photon imaging of dendritic spines and axonal boutons in somatosensory cortex for up to 1 year inthy1GFP mice to test the hypothesis that aging is associated with alterations in synaptic dynamics. We find that the density of spines and en passant boutons (EPBs) in pyramidal cells increases throughout adult life but is stable between mature (8–15 months) and old (>20 months) mice. However, new spines and EPBs are two to three times more likely to be stabilized over 30 d in old mice, although the long-term retention (over months) of stable spines is lower in old animals. In old mice, spines are smaller on average but are still able to make synaptic connections regardless of their size, as assessed by serial section electron microscopy reconstructions of previously imaged dendrites. Thus, our data suggest that age-related deficits in sensory perception are not associated with synapse loss in somatosensory cortex (as might be expected) but with alterations in the size and stability of spines and boutons observed in this brain area. The changes we describe here likely result in weaker synapses that are less capable of short-term plasticity in aged individuals, and therefore to less efficient circuits.
Clustering Analysis in Boron and Phosphorus Implanted (100) Germanium by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Sahiner M. Alper , Ansari Parviz , Carroll Malcolm S. , King C. A. , Suh Y. S. , Levy R. A. , Buyuklimanli Temel , Croft Mark
Published: February 2013

Recently, germanium based semiconductor device technology gained renewed interest due to new developments such as the use of high-k dielectrics for high mobility Ge MOSFETS. However, a systematic local structural investigation of clustering of dopants has been lacking in the literature. In this study, we present a detailed local structural analysis of boron and phosphorus implanted Ge wafers. We have used Ge K-edge x-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (XAFS) in order to probe the local structural modifications around the Ge atom under various implantation parameters and postimplantation annealing treatments. The (100) Ge wafers were implanted and with 11B+ or 31P+ using energies ranging from 20 keV to 320 keV and doses of 5×1013 to 5×1016/cm2. Pieces of the implanted wafers were subjected to thermal annealing at 400°C or 600°C for three hours in high purity nitrogen. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements on these wafers were used to correlate the dopant concentration profiles with the local structural information obtained from XAFS. B and P implanted Ge exhibit distinct responses to annealing. For the P implanted Ge samples annealing leads to recrystallization of Ge with increasing annealing temperature, but also an increase in Ge Debye-Waller factors, whereas B implanted Ge samples e×hibit recrystallization at 400°C annealing but more randomness after 600°C annealing.
Determination of Diffusivities of Si Self-Diffusion and Si Self-Interstitials using Isotopically Enriched Single-or Multi-30Si Epitaxial Layers
Authors: Matsumoto S. , Aid S.R. , Sakaguchi T. , Toyonaga K. , Nakabayashi Y. , Sakuraba M. , Shimamune Y. , Hashiba Y. , Murota J. , Wada K. , Abe T.
Published: February 2013

Self-diffusivity of Si has been obtained over a wide temperature range (867°C-1300°C) using highly isotopically enriched 30Si epi-layers (99.88%) as a diffusion source into natural Si substrates. 30Si epi-layers were grown on both CZ-Si substrates and non-doped epi-layers grown on CZ-Si substrates using low pressure CVD with 30SiH4. Diffusion was performed in resistance-heated furnaces under a pure Ar atmosphere. After annealing, the concentrations of the respective Si isotopes were measured with secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). Diffusivity of 30Si (called Si self-diffusivity, DSD) was determined using a numerical fitting process with 30Si SIMS profiles. We found no major differences in self-diffusivity between bulk Si and epi-Si. Within the 867°C -1300°C range investigated, DSD can be described by an Arrhenius equation with one single activation enthalpy: DSD =14 exp (—4.37 eV/kT) cm2/s. The present result is in good agreement with that of Bracht et. al.

Diffusivity and thermal equilibrium concentration of Si self-interstitials have been determined using multi-30Si epi-layers consisting of alternative layers with isotopically pure 30Si and natural Si. The sample surface was oxidized and the Si self-interstitials were introduced from the surface. Spreading of 30Si spikes of each layer due to the diffusion of Si self-interstitials generated at the surface was measured with SIMS analysis. The diffusivity of Si self-interstitials, DI, is obtained by fitting with experimental results. In the temperature range between 820 -920°C, DI and thermal equilibrium concentration of Si self-interstitials, CIi, are described by the Arrhenius equations DI3.48×104 exp (—3.82eV/KT) cm2/s and CIi= 9.62×1018 exp (—0.475eV/KT) cm-3, respectively.
Barrier to Migration of the Intrinsic Defects in Silicon in Different Charged System Using First-principles Calculations
Authors: Zhang Jinyu
Published: February 2013

Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), we have investigated the structure, energies and diffusion behavior of Si defects including interstitial, vacancy, FFCD and divacancy in various charged states.
P-N Junction Diodes Fabricated Based on Donor Formation in Plasma Hydrogenated P-Type Czochralski Silicon
Authors: Huang Y. L. , Simoen E. , Job R. , Claeys C. , Düngen W. , Ma Y. , Fahrner W. R. , Versluys J. , Clauws P.
Published: February 2013

A rather large amount of shallow donors is created in p-type Czochralski silicon (Cz Si) wafers after a hydrogen plasma exposure at ∼270 °C (substrate temperature) and a subsequent annealing in the temperature range of 350-450 °C. This two-step process has been used for the fabrication p-n junction diodes at low temperatures. Current-voltage characteristics show that the breakdown voltages of these diodes are higher than 100 V. The diode leakage is found to be improved after slow ramp annealing at temperatures up to 250 °C. Deep level transient spectroscopy measurements reveal that the oxygen related thermal donor is not the dominant doping species as expected before.
The Role of Surface Annihilation in Annealing Investigated by Atomic Model Simulation
Authors: Yu Min , Zhang Xiao , Huang Ru , Zhang Xing , Wang Yangyuan , Zhang Jinyu , Oka Hideki
Published: February 2013

Behavior of point defects in annealing is investigated a lot in order to suppress the Transient Enhanced Diffusion (TED) of boron as is urged by the development of integrated circuits. Surface annihilation possibility for point defects is very important in determining junction depth in the case of ultra-shallow doping. However the understanding on it is still ambiguous considering the inconsistent results on surface annihilation behavior. In this paper the variation of surface annihilation possibility is studied. The simulation on boron diffusion as well as silicon diffusion is performed. The evolution of Si clusters is simulated. By explaining experimental results with Kinetic Monte Carlo method based simulation, we proposed that surface annihilation possibility varies in different cases.
Os novos territórios da produção e do trabalho: a indústria de calçados no Ceará
Authors: Lima Jacob Carlos , Borsoi Izabel Cristina Ferreira , Araújo Iara Maria
Published: February 2013

Este artigo objetiva analisar a relocalização industrial do setor calçadista para o Nordeste a partir da década de 1990, bem como o perfil dos "novos" contingentes de trabalhadores decorrentes desse processo. A quase inexistência de um mercado de trabalho formal anterior torna o emprego fabril nesses novos territórios atrativo para trabalhadores mais escolarizados. Para as empresas, a atração encontra-se nos incentivos fiscais, no baixo custo da força de trabalho e na baixa mobilização desses contingentes de trabalhadores. O recorte empírico é o Ceará, que se tornou, com a política de interiorização industrial, o terceiro produtor de calçados no País, com unidades fabris distribuídas de forma desconcentrada pelo estado. A pesquisa constou de: dados secundários obtidos em associações e sindicatos patronais nacionais e em órgãos empresariais e governamentais; entrevistas com dirigentes sindicais de quatro cidades; e aplicação de questionário a 197 trabalhadores de seis fábricas - oriundas do Sul e Sudeste - localizadas em diferentes regiões do estado.
A precarização do trabalho e a produção de acidentes na colheita de árvores
Authors: Assunção Ada Ávila , Camara Guilherme Ribeiro
Published: February 2013

A indústria florestal apresenta as maiores taxas de mortalidade associada ao trabalho no mundo, apesar da introdução da mecanização no setor. Neste artigo, foram estudados os documentos da Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito instituída para verificar os acidentes fatais ocorridos em Minas Gerais. Analisou-se o processo de trabalho realizado pelas equipes de corte de árvores de uma empresa do setor de extrativismo vegetal e constatou-se que o conhecimento acumulado quanto aos fatores de risco de acidentes nesse setor não orientou a transformação das situações de trabalho. O momento da derrubada de árvores e os riscos consequentes de ser "atingido por" são as principais causas dos acidentes e motivaram a demanda do estudo, sendo coerentes com a descrição encontrada na literatura. As relações de trabalho precarizadas predominam no setor. Os autores associam a manutenção da exposição aos riscos à terceirização crescente, concentrada nas fases da produção, reconhecidas como perigosas.
Subcontratação e informalidade na construção civil, no Brasil e na França
Authors: Costa Luciano Rodrigues
Published: February 2013

Este artigo apresenta uma análise comparativa do mercado de trabalho do setor da Construção Civil, no Brasil e na França, em um contexto de flexibilização. Fruto de pesquisas de campo em canteiros de obras, nesses dois países, o texto aborda especificidades da informalidade dos contratos de trabalho no setor, que vêm produzindo uma transferência das ilegalidades das grandes para as pequenas empresas. No caso Francês, mediante as agências de temporários. No Brasil, através das pequenas empresas clandestinas, denominadas "gatas". Enfatizam-se a percepção dos trabalhadores frente às ilegalidades e suas estratégias para se manter no mercado. No caso Francês, ressalta-se o trabalho de imigrantes clandestinos ou portadores de títulos de estadia precários, viabilizados pelas agências de temporários. No Brasil, percebe-se que o setor sempre se organizou com base na informalidade e busca, aos poucos, fidelizar os trabalhadores, ainda que se mantenha predominante o trabalho informal.
The Roadmap for Industry Adoption of the PRODML Standard
Authors: Ormerod Laurence , Crawford Mark L. , Lucas-Clements Daniel , Ranjan Priyesh , Tessier Carol , Vettical Celestine
Published: February 2013

The goal of the PRODML1 (Production Markup Language) initiative is to establish an industry standard for data exchange to support production processes within a "digital oil field" (DOF) context. The first efforts used pilots to demonstrate the standard in the form of XML objects and Web services. These showed software applications and databases from multiple vendors could be configured to seamlessly exchange data to partially automate specific production workflows. Subsequent work demonstrated the need for a higher level of interoperability with other standards such as WITSML1 and RESQML1 and for additional capabilities to improve work process automation. Development of an industry standard is difficult, and the challenge is greater when interoperability among multiple industry standards is required. This requirement has forced a higher level of coordination and development planning among standards groups. PRODML standards are now used across a wide range of commercial applications but adoption rates remain low. The PRODML Special Interest Group has developed a roadmap that projects industry adoption of specific capabilities over several years. The roadmap shows the development and delivery of the standard to support three high-level capabilities: surveillance and optimization, industry reporting, and shared asset models. The first aims to partially automate production processes; the second covers data exchange between third parties including service company-to-operating company reporting, regulatory reporting, and operating company-to-non-operating company reporting. The third is a standard set of data management services for managing and finding structured and unstructured data, accomplished by storing hierarchy or relationships of data and a registry of where the data live. This capability can serve as an interface to related standards such as OPC and MIMOSA and be used to integrate production, process control, and business systems. The roadmap has two major phases for PRODML development: industry acceptance and standards-based digital oil field. The initial phase emphasizes the importance of building industry awareness and buy-in of objectives through the use of the standards in commercial applications using the three capabilities. The second phase shows a path toward increased implementation across the industry in which PRODML will ultimately be the industry standard for production data exchange.
Does Mandatory Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards Decrease the Voting Premium for Dual-Class Shares?
Authors: Hong Hyun A.
Published: February 2013

I examine whether voting premiums are reduced following mandatory International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption for firms that have a dual-class share structure. I find that mandatory adopters' voting premiums decrease, on average, by 8 percent subsequent to mandatory IFRS adoption. This effect is statistically significant relative to the corresponding effect for non-IFRS adopters. Further, I find that this effect is more pronounced in countries with strong legal enforcement and for mandatory adopters that experience an increase in the transparency and comparability of reported information under the new accounting regime. Taken together, these results support the view that mandatory IFRS adoption benefits minority shareholders by providing an effective mechanism to constrain the private benefits of control. However, one should interpret these results with caution as concurrent efforts to strengthen corporate governance regimes and the enforcement of corporate and securities laws may also contribute to the decrease in voting premiums documented in this paper.

Data Availability: Data used in this study are available from the sources listed in the text.
Surgical stabilization of shoulder luxation in a pot-bellied pig
Authors: Rubio-Martínez Luis M. , Rioja Eva , Shakespeare A. S.
Published: February 2013

Case Description—A 4.6-month-old pot-bellied pig was evaluated because of non–weight-bearing lameness (grade 5/5) in the right forelimb of 4 days' duration.

Clinical Findings—Clinical and radiographic examination revealed a closed, lateral luxation of the right shoulder joint.

Treatment and Outcome—Initial attempts at closed reduction failed to provide adequate stability of the shoulder joint. Open reduction and internal fixation by placement of 2 lateral tension sutures with a system designed for canine cranial cruciate ligament repair provided adequate joint stability and a successful outcome.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Stabilization of the shoulder joint with lateral tension sutures after open reduction should be considered for management of lateral shoulder luxation in pot-bellied pigs.
Evaluation of a point-of-care portable analyzer for measurement of plasma immunoglobulin G, total protein, and albumin concentrations in ill neonatal foals
Authors: Wong David M. , Giguère Steeve , Wendel Mara A.
Published: February 2013

Objective—To compare the diagnostic performance of a point-of-care (POC) analyzer with that of established methods for the measurement of plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations in neonatal foals.

Design—Evaluation study.

Animals—100 neonatal foals < 7 days of age.

Procedures—Plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations were measured with a POC analyzer via an immunoturbidimetric method. Corresponding measurements of plasma IgG, total protein, and albumin concentrations were measured by means of automated biochemical analyzers via automated immunoturbidimetric, biuret, and bromocresol green dye–binding assays, respectively (standard laboratory methods).

Results—The sensitivity and specificity of the POC analyzer for detection of failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPTI) in foals were 80.7% and 100%, respectively, when FPTI was defined as a plasma IgG concentration < 400 mg/dL and were 75.9% and 100%, respectively, when FPTI was defined as a plasma IgG concentration < 800 mg/dL. The POC analyzer overestimated plasma albumin concentrations and, to a lesser extent, plasma total protein concentrations, compared with values determined with the standard laboratory methods.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested the POC analyzer was acceptable for determination of plasma IgG and total protein concentrations in ill foals. The POC analyzer overestimated plasma albumin concentration such that its use was clinically unacceptable for the determination of that concentration. The POC analyzer provided timely measurements of plasma IgG concentrations, which is necessary information for the assessment of passive transfer of maternal antibodies to neonatal foals.
Gangrenous mastitis caused by Bacillus species in six goats
Authors: Mavangira Vengai , Angelos John A. , Samitz Eileen M. , Rowe Joan D. , Byrne Barbara A.
Published: February 2013

Case Description—6 lactating dairy goats were examined because of acute mastitis.

Clinical Findings—Goats were considered to have endotoxemia on the basis of physical examination and clinicopathologic findings. The affected udder halves had gangrenous discolored distal portions with sharp demarcations from grossly normal tissue proximally. Udder secretions from the affected sides were serosanguineous in all cases. A Bacillus sp was isolated in pure cultures in all cases. In 1 case, the Bacillus sp was identified as Bacillus cereus.

Treatment and Outcome—Goats were treated for mastitis and endotoxemia with polyionic IV fluid therapy, systemic and intramammary antimicrobial administration, anti-inflammatory drug administration, and other supportive treatment. All goats survived to discharge. All except 1 goat had follow-up information available. The affected udder halves sloughed in 1 to 2 months following discharge. In subsequent lactations after the mastitis episodes, milk production in 2 of 5 goats was above the mean, as determined on the basis of Dairy Herd Improvement records, and 3 of 5 goats were voluntarily withdrawn from lactation. All 5 goats had successful kiddings after the Bacillus mastitis episode.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Bacillus sp should be considered as a causative agent in goats with gangrenous mastitis, especially when the Bacillus sp is isolated in a pure culture. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing is recommended for selection of an appropriate antimicrobial for treatment. Prognosis for survival appears to be good, although milk production may be decreased.
Factors controlling consumer behaviour in frontier towns
Authors: KulczyńskaCDFPMR Katarzyna
Published: February 2013

This article focuses on the most important factors shaping the spatial behaviour of transborder consumers in Słubice and Frankfurt on the Oder, towns split by a state border. The factors are highly diversified and differ in the spatial range of influence. They can be divided into seven groups, viz. geographical, political- administrative, legal-normative, economic, demographic, psycho-social and cultural, and the foreign-language information layout of a town. But it is economic factors, like the level of prices in the given country or the currency exchange rate, that have the strongest effect on the movement of inhabitants and the intensity of transborder contacts between the two frontier towns
A new genus and four new species of sea cucumbers (Echinodermata) from Admiralty Bay, King George Island
Authors: O’Loughlin P. Mark , Stępień Anna , Kuźniak Marek , Van Den Spiegel Didier
Published: February 2013

Four new Antarctic holothuroid species are described for specimens from Admiralty Bay in King George Island. A new genus Dendrelasia O’Loughlin is erected for new cucumariid species Dendrelasia sicinski with dendrochirotid body form and elasipodid− type spinous rod ossicles. Cucumariid Staurocucumis krzysztofi has bowl ossicles predominantly with marginal teeth. Provisionally−assigned thyonid Allothyone presleri has table ossicles with spires comprising predominantly four pillars. Molpadiid Molpadia magdae has a prickly cover of irregular table ossicle spires and fusiform table discs in both body wall and tail. Staurocucumis liouvillei (Vaney) is a “species complex”
Studies on diversity of soil microfungi in the Hornsund area, Spitsbergen
Authors: Hafizah Siti Hafizah , Alias Siti Aisyah , Siang Hii Yii , Smykla Jerzy , Pang Ka−Lai , Guo Sheng−Yu , Convey Peter
Published: February 2013

We assessed culturable soil microfungal diversity in various habitats around Hornsund, Spitsbergen in the High Arctic, using potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Thermal growth classification of the fungi obtained was determined by incubating them in 4°C and 25°C, permitting separation of those with psychrophilic, psychrotolerant and mesophilic char− acteristics. In total, 68 fungal isolates were obtained from 12 soil samples, and grouped into 38 mycelial morphotypes. Intergenic spacer regions of these morphotypes were sequenced, and they represented 25 distinct taxonomic units, of which 21 showed sufficient similarity with available sequence data in NCBI to be identified to species level. Soil under ornithogenic influence showed the highest species diversity, including sequences assigned to Mortierella macrocystis, M. elongata, Mortierella sp., Cudoniella sp., Varicosporium elodeae, Beauveria bassiana, Geomyces pannorum, Penicillium sp. and Atradidymella muscivora. Fourteen taxa were classified as psychrophilic, seven mesophilic, and four psychrotolerant.
Saurichthys (Pisces, Actinopterygii) teeth from the Lower Triassic of Spitsbergen, with comments on their stable isotope composition (δ13C and δ18O) and X−ray microtomography
Authors: Błażejowski Błażej , Duffin Christopher J. , Gieszcz Piotr , Małkowski Krzysztof , Binkowski Marcin , Walczak Michał , Mcdonald Samuel A. , Withers Philip J.
Published: February 2013

A rich collection of exceptionally preserved Lower Triassic fossil fish remains obtained during the Polish Spitsbergen Expedition of 2005 includes many isolated teeth be− lieved to belong to a saurichthyid actinopterygian. Stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ18O) of putative Saurichthys teeth from the Hornsund area (South Spitsbergen) acting as a paleoenvironmental proxy has permitted trophic−level reconstruction and comparison with other Lower Triassic fish teeth from the same location. The broader range of δ13C values ob− tained for durophagous teeth of the hybodont selachian, Lissodus, probably reflects its mi− gratory behaviour and perhaps a greater feeding diversity. X−ray microcomputed tomogra− phy (XMT), a non−destructive technique, is used for the first time in order to elucidate de− tails of tooth histology, the results of which suggest that the method has considerable poten− tial as a future analytical tool.
Inequalities in women’s mortality by education / Neenakosti v umrljivosti žensk po izobrazbi
Authors: Simon Mateja Rok , Tomšič Sonja , Šelb Šemerl Jožica , Nadrag Petra , Mihevc Ponikvar Barbara , Lavtar Darja , Korošec Aleš , Kofol Bric Tatjana
Published: February 2013

Background: Researchers have found that mortality is decreasing in all socioeconomic population groups but the
relative differences in mortality between lower and higher social classes remain unchanged or have even increased.
In Slovenia this has not yet been studied.

Methods: The analysis included all women in Slovenia who died in the 2005-2010 period and were recorded in the
Registry of deaths. Cause of death data was linked to data on the educational attainment of the deceased person,
which was applied successfully in 98.8% of cases. The rate ratios (RR) for age-standardised death rates were
calculated for women with a low and high educational attainment.

Results: The calculated gap in life expectancy at age 30 between women with low and high educational attainment
stood at 5.5 years. Women aged 0-84 with a low educational attainment had a statistically significant higher risk
of death than women with a high educational attainment (RR=1.65; 95% CI: 1.57-1.73). Inequalities in premature
mortality were even greater (1.78; 1.65-1.93). Educational inequalities in premature mortality were revealed in the
majority of causes of death, e.g. cervical cancer (1.99; 1.22-3.67), lung cancer (1.70; 1.30-2.26), cardiovascular
diseases (3.02; 2.41-3.91), causes directly attributable to alcohol (7.34; 4.96-12.27), motor vehicle accidents (2.23;
1.21-4.45) and suicide (1.68; 1.19-2.41).

Conclusions: Significant socioeconomic gaps in women’s mortality in Slovenia obligate us to more systematic
monitoring of health inequalities in the future. Further research is required in order to clarify specific reasons for the
major gaps in mortality from specific causes of death.
The role of cultural capital in producing good health: a propensity score study / Vpliv kulturnega kapitala na zdravje: študija nagnjenja
Authors: Kamin Tanja , Kolar Ana , Steiner Peter M.
Published: February 2013

Introduction: Following Bourdieu’s concept of capital, the paper discusses how different states of cultural capital
(institutionalised, incorporated and objectified) affect health capital.

Methods: The effect of cultural capital on self-assessed health is estimated with a propensity score matching approach
using observational data from the »Media consumption, class and cultural stratification« survey. The survey was
conducted in 2010 and covered the adult population in the two biggest cities in Slovenia: Ljubljana and Maribor (n =
820). The analyses investigate whether and how different states of cultural capital affect self-assessed health, and
whether there are gender differences in how cultural capital affects self-assessed health.

Results: Cultural capital has a positive effect on health: persons with high cultural capital report a better selfassessed
health than persons with low cultural capital. All states of cultural capital (institutionalised, objectified and
incorporated) have a significant positive conditional effect on self-assessed health for women, but for men only the
overall cultural capital has a significant positive effect.

Conclusions: Cultural capital is an important resource for gaining and maintaining good health and can be seen
as a source of (in)equities in health.
The differences in selected health-related behaviour indicators among women with different educational attainment in Slovenia / Razlike v izbranih kazalnikih vedenj, povezanih z zdravjem, med različno izobraženimi ženskami v Sloveniji
Authors: Gabrijelčič Blenkuš Mojca , Čeplak Metka Mencin , Bajt Maja , Korošec Aleš , Djomba Janet Klara , Maučec Zakotnik Jožica , Ribič Cirila Hlastan , Jeriček Klanšček Helena
Published: February 2013

Background: Numerous studies have found significant gender differences in health-related behaviour, while a lower
number analyse these differences within the gender. The aim of the article is to analyse the differences in individual
health-related behaviour indicators among women from different educational groups in Slovenia.

Methods: The analysis is based on the CINDI Health Monitor (2008) survey for Slovenia. The nationally representative
sample was chosen using probability sampling and the analysis included 4,237 women aged 25 to 74. The independent
variables are: education, in consideration of age, community type, region of residence, the presence of a partner and
children and self-perceived social class. The dependent variables are health-related behaviours: nutrition, physical
activity, sleeping, stress and care for own health. By comparing averages in health-related behaviour with education
and other factors and by classifying participants into homogenous groups, we were able to show differences in
health-related behaviour in women with different educational attainment.

Results: Individual health-related behaviour indicators show statistically significant differences between groups of
women with different educational attainment; however these are neither very distinct nor unambiguous. Women
with a higher educational attainment evaluate the majority of the indicators more favourably than women in other
educational groups, but differences can also be found within the group of women with a higher educational attainment.
The differences in the health-related behaviour of women with a lower educational attainment are relatively blurred.

Conclusion: The relatively small differences in health-related behaviour can be partially explained by existing
differences within the group of women with a higher educational attainment and the fact that the group of women
with the lowest educational attainment does not have the worst health-related behaviour indicators, which affects the
greater equality in health-related behaviour. On the other hand, the well-established universal and targeted family
and child care policies, which have been implemented in Slovenia for decades, also affect these results.
Development of a method of exposed characteristic points in activity pattern for rat behaviour classification
Authors: Stefko Kamil , Bukowski Tomasz , Urbański Michał
Published: February 2013

A fast method for visual inspection and classification of massive locomotor activity data registered from laboratory rats is presented. Positions in the home cage of one hundred rats have been constantly recorded during 90 day period using photodiodes and beam crossing method with use of custom build system. Direct inspection and comparison of classic form of actograms did not bring information for fast and easy recognition of anomalies in daily behavioural cycle. A method of obtaining fast and easy to compare locomotor activity pattern is presented. The key point of proposed method is exposition of characteristic points in the activity diagram. About 9000 actograms were inspected and classified for investigation with use of ANOVA.
Rediscovery of two endemic species of Berberis from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, India
Authors: Tiwari Umeshkumar L. , Rawat Gopal Singh , Adhikari Bhupendra Singh
Published: February 2013

Two endemic Berberis species (Berberidaceae) viz., Berberis ahrendtii R. R. Rao and Uniyal and Berberis lambertii Parker, are first time rediscovered after ca. 100 years since their type localities were found. These species are recorded from the Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand, India. Taxonomic description, synonyms, distribution information, locality details of specimens examined and photographs are provided for each species.
Spread of Veronica filiformis (Scrophulariaceae) in the Sudetes
Authors: Pielech Remigiusz , Zając Krzysztof , Malicki Marek
Published: February 2013

Veronica filiformis is an alien plant species widely distributed, across Central and Western Europe. The first observation of the species in the Sudetes was reported in 1942. Until 2000, only a few scattered sites were known in south-western Poland. During the last decade, V.filiformis was observed more frequently in many ranges of the Sudetes. In 2007, field works intended to discover new sites of the species were conducted as well as a critical revision of herbarium specimens stored in WRSL was performed. The number of known localities totals 37. Almost 65% of them were discovered during the last decade. The data are now summarized to bring up to date the known distribution and invasion scale of V. filiformis in the Polish part of the Sudetes.
Differences in the ultrastructure of two selected taxa of phytoplankton in a thermally stratified Lake Holzmaar (Germany)
Authors: Messyasz Beata , Czerwik-Marcinkowska Joanna , Lücke Andreas , Uher Bohuslav
Published: February 2013

This paper presents the results of ultrastructural studies and ecological aspects of some phytoplankton species belonging to the groups of cyanobacteria (Planktothrix rubescens, Synechocystis aquatilis) and green algae (Desmodesmus grahneisii). Specimens were collected during summertime from the mesotrophic and stratified Lake Holzmaar (Western Germany) as planktonic forms from the pelagic zone. The highest cyanobacterium concentration was detected in the metalimnion, where the alkaline pH, low phosphorus and high nitrogen contents were recorded. P. rubescens was characterized by straight filaments up to 1000 μm long and 5.4-8 μm wide and numerous aerotopes in cells. The accompanying algae were identified by ultrastructural analysis and photographic documentation was provided. In the case of D. grahneisii, chloroplast was situated in the parietal part of cell, with one large, oval pyrenoid and, in addition, the granular and spiny cell wall was an important taxonomical criterium for the Desmodesmus genus. This is in contrast with the cyanobacterium S. aquatilis, in which a homogeneous content with visible chromatoplasma was mostly distributed throughout the cell. This algal association was stable in the epilimnion characterized by the presence of high temperature, pH values (>8), nitrate nitrogen and oxygen concentrations