Spinal associative plasticity in depth: evidence from animal model

Spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) implies changes in the effectiveness of the synapse strength depending on exact timing of pre- and postsynaptic activation. STDP is thought to mediate forms of associative plasticity based on the Hebbian theory. Associative plasticity can be probed experimentally and non-invasively in humans by applying “paired associative stimulation” (PAS). The original PAS protocol described in humans (Stefan et al. 2000) consists of repetitive cortical and peripheral nerve stimuli delivered at specific interstimulus intervals (ISIs), able to elicit long-term potentiation (LTP)- and depression (LTD)- like plasticity in the primary motor cortex (M1). More recently, a number of modified PAS protocols have been designed and tested in humans such as protocols able to promote plasticity in the spinal cord (Suppa et al. 2017). Spinal PAS might be in theory applied to harness plasticity for motor recovery in patients with various neurological disorders. However, a number of issues, including the specific physiological basis of plasticity induced by various spinal PAS protocols, remain to be clarified. Understanding the precise neurophysiological basis of spinal associative plasticity is the necessary precondition of development of new non-invasive neurostimulation strategies in human neurological disorders

Differentiation Theory over Infinite-Dimensional Banach Spaces

In this paper we study, for any positive integer $k$ and for any subset\ $I$\ of \QTR{bf}{N}^{\ast }, the Banach space $E_{I}$ of the bounded real sequences $\left\{ x_{n}\right\} _{n\in I}$, and a measure over \left( \QTR{bf}{R}^{I},\QTR{cal}{B}^{(I)}\right) that generalizes the $k$-dimensional Lebesgue one. Moreover, we expose a differentiation theory for the functions defined over this space. The main result of our paper is a change of variables' formula for the integration of the measurable real functions on \left( \QTR{bf}{R}^{I},\QTR{cal}{B}^{(I)}\right) . This change of variables is defined by some infinite-dimensional functions with properties that generalize the analogous ones of the standard finite-dimensional diffeomorphisms

Salt tolerance in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seedlings

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of salt stress on germination of 28 red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) populations collected from Black Sea Region of Turkey. Seeds were germinated in 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 mM NaCl concentration. Germination percentage (%), mean germination time (MGT), promptness index (PI), root and shoot length (mm) were measured to determine the salinity tolerance on red clover populations. The results showed that as the salt concentration increased, germination percentage decreased in all populations, moreover, seeds could not germinate in 240 mM NaCl. Mean germination time increased with increasing NaCl level. Populations 17 and 19 were best suited for germination under the range of salinity stress in this study. The population 17 gave the highest PI, while population 19 produced the longest root at 180 mM NaCl concentration.Key words: Forage plant, germination, salinity, promptness index

Integration over an Infinite-Dimensional Banach Space and Probabilistic Applications

We study, for some subsets I of N*, the Banach space E of bounded real sequences {xn}n∈I. For any integer k, we introduce a measure over (E,B(E)) that generalizes the k-dimensional Lebesgue measure; consequently, also a theory of integration is defined. The main result of our paper is a change of variables' formula for the integration

Do Public-to-Private Leveraged Buyouts Result in Improved Operating Performance? Evidence from the United Kingdom

This study investigates the changes in the operating performance of public-to-private leveraged buyouts (LBOs) backed by one or more private equity firms. For this purpose, this dissertation focuses on a sample of 65 completed public-to-private LBOs in the United Kingdom, which were finalised between 2003 and 2015, and exited by 2018. Specifically, the changes in operating performance in terms of EBITDA/sales, EBIT/sales and EBITDA/total assets, as measured directly and relative to the industry median, before the LBO and at exit by the equity provider, is analysed. A regression methodology from the literature is used to determine the impact of various transaction and company-specific attributes on operating performance changes, based on the shareholder-related agency costs and free cash flow/benefits of debt theories. Surprisingly, the overall picture indicates a negative operating performance change of going-private LBOs in the post-buyout period. The main factors explaining the changes in operating performance seem to be changes in leverage. On the other hand, the hypotheses relating to improved management incentives and improved shareholder monitoring are not supported by the results, as these factors seem to have little to no effect on the operating performance changes related to the public-to-private LBOs in the sample