The disqualification of company directors and its effect on entrepreneurship

The disqualification of directors or members of the management of a company, expressed as a prohibition for these persons to manage or take part in the management of the companies, is a highly significant Act of Company Law, which is implemented in many legislatures around the world. Utterly restrictive in its nature, it applies to the directors and members of the management team, and in some legislation systems even to the capital owners of the companies whose illegal actions initiate its application. The activation of this institution in precisely determined situations most often results in the prohibition of a particular person to manage a company for a definite period of time. These restrictive measures are effected with the purpose of establishing certain control in trading, while imposing limitations to a certain focus group. In its nature, these measures differ from those brought into effect in order to instigate entrepreneurship. For entrepreneurship in a given country to flourish would necessitate the realization of a liberalized regulation of the market. This paper focuses on the impact that this restrictive institution has in practice, and whether it is in fact achieving the objective(s) for which it was legally established. Particular attention is given to the adverse consequences that directors’ disqualification may bring on entrepreneurial freedom and innovation, and how this in turn could influence directly or indirectly economic growth or in weathering the recessional storm(s).peer-reviewe

MRI Indices of Cortical Development in Young People With Psychotic Experiences: Influence of Genetic Risk and Persistence of Symptoms

Background Psychotic experiences (PEs) are considered part of an extended psychosis phenotype and are associated with an elevated risk of developing a psychotic disorder. Risk of transition increases with persistence of PEs, and this is thought to be modulated by genetic and environmental factors. However, it is unclear if persistence is associated with progressive schizophrenia-like changes in neuroanatomy. Methods We examined cortical morphometry using MRI in 247 young adults, from a population-based cohort, assessed for the presence of PEs at ages 18 and 20. We then incorporated a polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS) to elucidate the effects of high genetic risk. Finally, we used atlas-based tractography data to examine the underlying white matter. Results Individuals with persisting PEs showed reductions in gyrification (local gyrification index: lGI) in the left temporal gyrus as well as atypical associations with brain volume (TBV) in the left occipital and right prefrontal gyri. No main effect was found for the PRS, but interaction effects with PEs were identified in the orbitofrontal, parietal, and temporal regions. Examination of underlying white matter did not provide strong evidence of further disturbances. Conclusions Disturbances in lGI were similar to schizophrenia but findings were mostly limited to those with persistent PEs. These could reflect subtle changes that worsen with impending psychosis or reflect an early vulnerability associated with the persistence of PEs. The lack of clear differences in underlying white matter suggests our findings reflect early disturbances in cortical expansion rather than progressive changes in brain structure

Airborne laser systems for atmospheric sounding in the near infrared

This paper presents new techniques for atmospheric sounding using Near Infrared (NIR) laser sources, direct detection electro-optics and passive infrared imaging systems. These techniques allow a direct determination of atmospheric extinction and, through the adoption of suitable inversion algorithms, the indirect measurement of some important natural and man-made atmospheric constituents, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The proposed techniques are suitable for remote sensing missions performed by using aircraft, satellites, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), parachute/gliding vehicles, Roving Surface Vehicles (RSV), or Permanent Surface Installations (PSI). The various techniques proposed offer relative advantages in different scenarios. All are based on measurements of the laser energy/power incident on target surfaces of known geometric and reflective characteristics, by means of infrared detectors and/or infrared cameras calibrated for radiance. (cont.

The effects of Anabasine and the alkaloid extract of Nicotiana glauca on Lepidopterous Larvae

For several decades, Nicotiana glauca has been known for its content of the pyridine alkaloid, anabasine. The toxicological effects of this metabolite have been extensively studied, as opposed to its potential insecticidal activity. The anabasine content of leaves of N. glauca, collected from Malta, was 0.258 ± 0.0042% as determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. In the Pieris rapae larval bioassay, the median effective concentrations of anabasine and the alkaloid extract were 0.572 and 1.202 mg per larva, respectively. The presence of other interfering metabolites may have resulted in this elevated EC50 for the crude extract. Anabasine is quoted to be a very toxic alkaloid not solely to insects, but also to other animals, and its use in minute concentrations in insect traps may well prove it to be an effective natural insecticide.peer-reviewe

Cancer patients requiring interruption of long-term warfarin because of surgery or chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia: the use of fixed sub-therapeutic doses of low-molecular weight heparin.

No data are available regarding the management of cancer patients requiring interruption of long-term vitamin-K antagonist (VKA) therapy. For this purpose, we tested the efficacy and safety of fixed doses of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in substitution of VKA because of invasive procedures or chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. In cancer patients on VKA, therapy was discontinued 5 ± 1 days before surgery or chemotherapy. Heparin was given at prophylactic dosage in patients at low risk and at fixed subtherapeutic doses (3,800 or 4,000 UI anti-FXa, b.i.d.) in those at high-risk for thrombosis. LMWH was reinitiated 12 hr after surgery and VKA the day after. In patients receiving chemotherapy, LMWH was reinitiated 12/24 hr after obtaining a stable platelet count ≥ 30,000 mmc(3) and VKA after a stable platelet count ≥ 50,000 mmc(3) . Thromboembolism and major bleeding events were recorded from the time of VKA suspension to 30 ± 2 days postprocedure or until the next chemotherapy. Overall, 156 patients (56.4% at low risk and 43.5% at high risk for thrombosis) were enrolled; 34.6% underwent major surgery, 40.4% nonmajor surgery, and 25% chemotherapy. Thrombotic events occurred in five patients [3.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41-7.27], four belonging to the high-risk and one to the low-risk group. Major bleeding occurred in five patients (3.2%, 95 CI: 1.41-7.27), all belonging to the high-risk group (three during major surgery and two during chemotherapy). In conclusion, LMWH given at fixed subtherapeutic is a feasible and relatively safe approach for bridging therapy in cancer patients on long-term VK

Nuclear factor κB-inducing kinase activation as a mechanism of pancreatic β cell failure in obesity

The nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway is a master regulator of inflammatory processes and is implicated in insulin resistance and pancreatic β cell dysfunction in the metabolic syndrome. Whereas canonical NF-κB signaling is well studied, there is little information on the divergent noncanonical NF-κB pathway in the context of pancreatic islet dysfunction. Here, we demonstrate that pharmacological activation of the noncanonical NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) disrupts glucose homeostasis in zebrafish in vivo. We identify NIK as a critical negative regulator of β cell function, as pharmacological NIK activation results in impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mouse and human islets. NIK levels are elevated in pancreatic islets isolated from diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, which exhibit increased processing of noncanonical NF-κB components p100 to p52, and accumulation of RelB. TNF and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), two ligands associated with diabetes, induce NIK in islets. Mice with constitutive β cell-intrinsic NIK activation present impaired insulin secretion with DIO. NIK activation triggers the noncanonical NF-κB transcriptional network to induce genes identified in human type 2 diabetes genome-wide association studies linked to β cell failure. These studies reveal that NIK contributes a central mechanism for β cell failure in diet-induced obesity.</p

A randomised crossover trial investigating actual and perceived changes in peak knee extensor torque following Kinesio Tape® application.

Also presented by E. Walsh as a "Rapid 5" presentation at the conferenceAbstract: Background: The application and use of Kinesio tape® (KT) has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Previous studies investigating the effect of KT on strength at the knee have provided inconclusive results, and have highlighted the potential for KT to have a placebo effect. Aim: The primary aim investigated the correlation between actual and perceived change in peak knee extensor torque following KT application. The secondary aim sought to determine the extent to which KT improves peak knee extensor torque. Methods: A randomised crossover, placebo controlled design was used. A convenience sample of 36 healthy adults between 18-30 years of age were recruited via email. The three conditions investigated included no tape, acting as a baseline measure, followed by KT and sham tape in a randomised order. Outcome measures included the isokinetic dynamometer to measure peak knee extensor torque at 180°/s and the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRCS) to measure participants’ perception of strength. Results/Findings: No significant correlation was identified between actual and perceived peak knee extensor torque following KT application (P = 0.408). The majority of participants (56%) perceived their strength to have improved following KT. The secondary aim found a significant decrease in peak knee extensor torque after KT compared to no tape (P = 0.005), with no statistical difference when KT was compared to sham tape (P = 0.975). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that there is no relationship between participants’ actual strength and their perception of strength following the application of KT. The results of this study do not support the use of KT to improve peak knee extensor torque