This dissertation contains four essays on various topics in the fields of corporate finance and corporate governance. The first essay, entitled Corporate Governance and Ownership, presents an overview of the causes and consequences of, and possible remedies for, the separation of ownership and control in corporations. In particular, the essay addresses the costs and benefits of ownership concentration. A specific purpose is to put the role of ownership into perspective, while bringing the reader up to date with some recent developments. Essay number two, Shareholder Gains from Equity Private Placements: Evidence from the Stockholm Stock Exchange, contains an empirical investigation of the stockmarket’s reaction to announcements of equity private placements and rights issues. The essay sets out to test a range of hypotheses put forward in the literature. Extensive cross-sectional analyses of private placement discounts and abnormal returns are performed. The third essay is named Optimal Deterrence and Inducement of Take-overs: An analysis of Poison Pills and Dilution. This essay models how the ex ante wealth of shareholders could be increased with customized contractual provisions that affect takeover probabilities and premia. The proposed provisions resemble anti-takeover defense measures in the form of poison pill plans, and conversely, voluntary dilution schemes in the fashion prescribed by Sanford Grossman and Oliver Hart (1980). Finally, the fourth essay models the wealth effects of a particular takeover regulation, The Mandatory Bid Rule. This rule requires a potential bidder for a control position in a target firm to extend the offer to include any or all of the outstanding shares. Although the mandatory bid rule is aimed at the protection of minority shareholders, the essay argues that this regultion is not generally in the best interest of the shareholders. Each essay is self-contained and could, in principle, be read in any order chosen by the reader. However, for readers less familiar with the corporate finance literature, the first essay may also serve as a helpful introduction to the following three essays. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

As fosfolipases A2 secretadas, particularmente do grupo II são abundantes nos venenos de serpentes, incluindo o gênero Bothrops e estão envolvidas em diversos processos fisiológicos e fisiopatológicos, como inflamação e dor, incluindo artrite. Contudo, não está totalmente caracterizado o papel da FLA2 para a gênese e manutenção dos quadros de inflamação articular. Nosso objetivo foi padronizar um novo modelo de artrite, utilizando sFLA2 do grupo IIA (miotoxina II) isolada do veneno da serpente Bothrops asper e avaliar a mediação química envolvida no processo nociceptivo deste quadro. Os resultados indicaram aumento de permeabilidade vascular, infiltrado celular e hiperalgesia. A hiperalgesia é um processo multimediado com a participação de prostanóides, sendo sua produção decorrente da ativação de FLA2 endógenas. Estes dados sugerem que esta FLA2 pode se tornar uma ferramenta científica importante para o entendimento dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos envolvidos nos processos de inflamação articular. / Secretory phospholipases A2 are abundant in different animal tissues and particularly group II are found in venom snakes and are proteins involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, like inflammation and pain, components of arthritis. However, the involvement of PLA2 in the genesis and maintenance of articular inflammation is not well characterized. Our aim is to characterize the articular inflammatory response induced by Lys 49-PLA2 (IIA group) isolated from B. asper snake venom. It was analyzed the nociceptive process involved, developing a new experimental model of articular inflammation. Our results indicated that sPLA2 induces increase in the vascular permeability, cell migration and hyperalgesia. Hyperalgesia is a multimediated process and prostanoids are involved in the nociceptive process, being its production dependent of the endogenous PLA2 activation. These data indicate that this PLA2 could be an important scientific tool for the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in articular inflammation processes.

Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The intense use of pesticides in Brazil has caused numerous social, environmental and health impacts, being now a public health problem. Since 2009, our country is the largest consumer of pesticides in the world, staying at the top of the ranking since then. Estimatives show that each Brazilian consumes, in average, 5,2 L of pesticides each year, furthermore, laboratory tests conducted by the Program of Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Food (PARA) reveal high levels of intoxication by this product in basic food provided to society. That way, numerous problems are originated by the use of agricultural pesticides in Brazil, and Sergipe is also harmed by this process. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the social-environmental impacts brought to the life of salaried rural workers and family-based producers in the state of Sergipe, particularly in the city of Carira, caused by the use of pesticides. The city of Carira was chosen because of the fact it is the largest corn producer in the state, hence, a lot of pesticides are used in its tillages. Thus, to understand the socio-environmental impacts originated by the use of pesticides in Sergipe, many interviews were conducted in the city. We interviewed several people directly and indirectly related to the issue of pesticides, such as: family-based producers, rural workers and health, agriculture and environment professionals, besides analysis of legal documents that regulates the use of these products in Brazil and in the state of Sergipe. The qualitative research was of the explanatory type, because it was sought to understand and explain the dynamics of the impacts arising from the use of pesticides in the state. That way, it was found how much the problems originated by the use of pesticides are neglected by the public power in Sergipe, state in which the systematization of the intoxication cases by these products is pratically absent, in other words, we do not have any idea of the real impacts caused by the undiscriminated use of pesticides in Sergipe. Along this research, it was also perceived the strong articulation between Capital, State and Agribusiness in the city of Carira, which is territorialised by the Capital, a fact expressed in the production and enlargement of corn crops, which culminates not only on the strong use of pesticides, but also on genetically modified corn. Thus, numerous difficulties were evidenced along this dissertative research, especially the lack of reliable and official data about the intoxications suffered by family-based producers from Carira by the use of agricultural poison. / O intenso uso de agrotóxicos no Brasil tem gerado inúmeros impactos de natureza social, ambiental e de saúde humana, tendo tomado a proporção de um problema de saúde pública. Desde o ano 2009, nosso País é o maior consumidor de pesticidas do mundo, mantendo-se no topo do ranking desde então. Estima-se que cada brasileiro consuma, em média, 5,2 L de agrotóxicos por ano, ademais, exames laboratoriais realizados pelo Programa de Análise de Resíduos de Agrotóxicos em Alimentos (PARA) revelam altos níveis de intoxicação por esse produto em alimentos básicos fornecidos à sociedade. Desse modo, inúmeros são os problemas originários do uso de veneno agrícola no Brasil, e Sergipe não passa incólume a esse processo. Portanto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar os impactos socioambientais acarretados na vida de trabalhadores rurais assalariados e agricultores de base familiar do estado de Sergipe, particularmente do município de Carira, ocasionados pelo uso intenso de agrotóxicos. Escolheu-se o município de Carira pelo fato deste ser o maior produtor de milho do Estado, consequentemente, muitos praguicidas são utilizados em suas lavouras. Assim, para compreender os impactos socioambientais originários do uso de agrotóxicos em Sergipe, foram realizadas diversas entrevistas no município. Entrevistaram-se vários sujeitos relacionados direta e indiretamente a questão dos agrotóxicos, tais como: agricultores de base familiar, trabalhadores rurais, profissionais da saúde, da agricultura e meio ambiente, além da análise de documentos legais que regulamentam o uso desses produtos no Brasil e no Estado sergipano. A pesquisa qualitativa foi do tipo explicativa, pois buscou-se compreender e explicar a dinâmica dos impactos advindos do uso de agrotóxicos no Estado. Desse modo, constatou-se o quão os problemas originários do uso de pesticidas são negligenciados pelo poder público em Sergipe, estado no qual a sistematização dos casos de intoxicação por esses produtos é praticamente inexiste, ou seja, não temos ideia dos reais impactos ocasionados pelo uso indiscriminado de agrotóxicos em Sergipe. Ao longo da pesquisa, percebeu-se também a forte articulação entre Capital, Estado e Agronegócio no município carirense, o qual se encontra territorializado pelo Capital, fato expresso na produção e ampliação do cultivo do milho, o que culmina não apenas no forte uso de agrotóxicos, mas também de transgênicos do milho. Portanto, inúmeras dificuldades foram evidenciadas ao longo desta pesquisa dissertativa, sobretudo, a falta de dados fidedignos e oficiais acerca das intoxicações sofridas por agricultores carirenses pelo uso de veneno agrícola.

Orientador: Maria da Graça Garcia Andrade / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T12:06:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gandolfi_Eliane_D.pdf: 2106286 bytes, checksum: 8033c283ed5232f22b2d680fe338d89d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O estudo objetivou conhecer a toxicovigilância no Brasil, com ênfase no estado de São Paulo, e propor diretrizes e modelo para o SUS. Foi utilizado banco organizado com esta finalidade a partir dos eventos toxicológicos registrados pelos CEATOX no Estado de São Paulo. Realizou-se dois estudos epidemiológicos descritivos de série de casos: um para o período de 1991 a 2000, no qual observou-se a distribuição em relação às características gerais dos eventos, dos pacientes, dos agentes tóxicos e das circunstâncias em que ocorreram, e outro em 1998, no qual observou-se a distribuição dos eventos toxicológicos relacionados a medicamentos. Encontrou-se no primeiro 128.769 eventos toxicológicos em humanos, originados em sua maioria de ligações telefônicas (68,65%), de serviços de saúde hospitalares (51%); 60,8% dos atendimentos presenciais, foram oriundos de enfermarias e, 33,3%, de UTI. Predominaram as exposições agudas (84,5%), por via oral (68%), oriundas de área urbana (87,8%). O principal local de exposição foi a residência (74%). Predominou para o sexo masculino (52%), com maior concentração até os 10 anos (43%), sobretudo aos 2 e 3 anos de idade. Os agentes tóxicos predominantes foram os: medicamentos (38,6%), agrotóxicos (17,9%) e produtos de uso domiciliar (15,4%). As principais circunstâncias: acidentais (47,0%), tentativas de suicídio (19,8%) e ocupacionais (11,7%). Os medicamentos ocuparam o 1º lugar entre todos os tipos de agentes tóxicos registrados, e foram predominantemente registrados por telefone (78,5%), a partir de hospitais (86,6%); originados em exposições agudas, por via oral (90,2%), em residências (85,7%) de área urbana (95%). Predominou para o sexo feminino (59%) e nos primeiros 10 anos de vida (49,4%), sobretudo aos 2 e 3 anos. Preponderaram os grupos terapêuticos: psiquiatria, analgesia/anestesia e respiratório. Preponderaram os princípios ativos: fenobarbital, diazepam, haloperidol, carbamazepina e bromazepam, e as circunstâncias: acidentais (38,8%) e tentativas de suicídio (36,5%). Foram analisados documentos marcos da política internacional, nacional, e estadual e os aspectos operacionais da toxicovigilância no SUS relacionados à: informação, assistência, vigilância à saúde, constituição de equipes e integração de áreas. Diagnosticaram-se os principais sistemas de informação que registram agravos com o objetivo de verificar o estado da arte em relação às necessidades da toxicovigilância, para o qual estabeleceram-se critérios. Considerou-se estratégica a construção de sistema específico, propôs-se instrumentos e aspectos operacionais. Propôs-se o modelo no marco da vigilância da saúde, a inclusão da exposição e do evento toxicológico como objeto do registro de informações para a toxicovigilância e que as análises e ações consideram causa e contexto, atuando de modo integrado, articulado, programático, com parcerias intersetoriais, promovendo ações preventivas, de promoção da saúde e de precaução / Abstract: The study to make known the toxicological surveillance in the Brazil, with accentuation in the State of São Paulo, as well as toxicological surveillance according to the National Health System guidelines and suggest and model. To assess the epidemiological characteristics of related toxic events in the Toxicology Centers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, in period 1991 and 2000. A descriptive epidemiological case series study was conducted, using the category related toxic event, and registered cases were analyzed. The variables studied comprised the characteristics of the events and the affected patients, toxic agents and the circumstances involved. In the study 97% (128.769) the related toxic event concerning to human cases, related toxic events were mostly reported by phone (68.65%) and hospitals (51%); they were originated from acute exposure (84,5%), oral (68%) at home (74%) and place to work (13%) in the urban area (87.8%). Most people affected were males (59%) in their first decade of life (43%), mainly between two and three years of age. Drugs ranked first among all toxic agents registered in the Centers (38.6%) and pesticides (17.9%) and the products to use in home (15.4%). The main circumstances were accidental ingestion (47%) and suicidal attempts (19.8%) and the occupactional (11.7%). Another descriptive epidemiological case series study was conducted. Using the category "drug-related toxic event", 6,673 registered cases were analyzed in the Toxicology Centers in the State of São Paulo throughout 1998. The variables studied comprised the characteristics of the events and the affected patients, toxic agents and the circumstances involved. The analysis of toxic agents took into consideration three levels of disaggregation: therapeutical groups, active ingredients and commercial brand names. Drugs ranked first among all toxic agents registered in the Centers. Drug-related toxic events were mostly reported by phone (78.5%) and hospitals (86.6%); they were originated from acute oral exposure (90.2%) at home (85.7%) in the urban area (95%). Most people affected were females (59%) in their first decade of life (49.4%), mainly between two and three years of age. The most common active ingredients found were: phenobarbital, diazepam, haloperidol, carbamazepine and bromazepam. The main circumstances were accidental ingestion (38.8%) and suicidal attempts (36.5%) and among the related active ingredients, the most prevailing therapeutical group were psychiatric, analgesic/anesthetic and respiratory. Law-abiding practices regarding prescription drugs are needed, as well as toxicological surveillance according to the National Health System guidelines. Are needed as well as toxicological surveillance according to the National Health System guidelines. The instruments principal strategy the following the toxic events and the articulate to epidemiological surveillance and sanitary surveillance the occurrence to approach integral and sectors association actions / Doutorado / Saude Coletiva / Doutor em Saude Coletiva

O envenenamento por aranhas Loxosceles é caracterizado pelo desenvolvimento de dermonecrose. A expressão de metaloproteases induzidas pelas esfingomielinases do veneno pode estar envolvida no loxoscelismo cutâneo. Os resultados mostraram que o veneno de Loxosceles laeta e a proteína recombinante SMase I foram capazes de: induzir a expressão de metaloproteases (MMP-2, MMP-7 e MMP-9); diminuir a expressão de alguns marcadores de superfície e causar morte celular. A indução de MMP-7, como produto da ação do veneno e da SMase I de L. laeta, não foi reportada em outras espécies do gênero. O uso de inibidores de metaloproteases, como a tetraciclina, impediu a morte celular e reduziu a expressão de MMPs. A galardina, um composto que inibe metaloproteases da família das adamlisinas e das MMPs, evitou a clivagem dos marcadores MCP, 2-microglobulina, MHCI, EPCR em queratinócitos humanos tratados. Os resultados revelam que a inibição das metaloproteases de matriz extracelular e da família das adamlisinas pode ser uma alternativa eficaz no tratamento do loxoscelismo cutâneo. / The envenomation by Loxosceles spider characterized by the development of dermonecrosis. Metalloproteinases expression, induced by venom sphingomyelinases, may be involved in cutaneous loxoscelism. The results showed that Loxosceles laeta venom and the recombinant protein SMase I were able to: induce the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-7 e MMP-9); reduce the expression of some surface markers and cause cell death. The induction of MMP-7, as a product of venom and SMase I action, has not been reported for other genus species. The use of metalloproteinase inhibitors, such as tetracycline, prevented cell death and reduced MMPs expression. Galardin, a compound that inhibits metalloproteinases from the adamlisins family and MMPs, avoided the cleavage of MCP, 2-microglobulin, MHCI and EPCR on the surface of the treated human keratinocytes. These data indicate that inhibition of metalloproteinases can be an effective alternative on the cutaneous loxoscelism treatment.

O veneno da serpente Crotalus durissus terrificus e seus componentes desencadeiam importantes efeitos biológicos que envolvem direta e/ou indiretamente, componentes do sistema circulatório. Contudo, não há estudos específicos na literatura sobre os efeitos do veneno crotálico ou de suas toxinas, em células endoteliais. As células endoteliais constituem a camada de revestimento interna dos vasos sanguíneos, denominada endotélio. Este tecido é metabolicamente ativo, com função protetora do sistema cardiovascular e desempenha papel central na regulação da função circulatória, através do controle da coagulação, permeabilidade e do tônus vascular. Neste contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do veneno de Crotalus durissus terrificus (VCdt), do seu componente majoritário, a crotoxina (CTX) e de suas subunidades, fosfolipase A2 (CB) e crotapotina (CA), sobre células endoteliais, em cultura, quanto à: i) viabilidade e proliferação celular; ii) integridade das monocamadas; iii) produção de óxido nítrico, de prostaciclina e mecanismos envolvidos neste efeito. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o veneno de Crotalus durissus terrificus afetou a viabilidade e a integridade de células endoteliais em cultura, de modo tempo-dependente e apenas na maior concentração, sugerindo sua baixa toxicidade sobre as células endoteliais. A subunidade CB, mas não a CTX nem a crotapotina, reproduziu os efeitos causados pelo VCdt. Em concentrações não citotóxicas, tanto o veneno quanto as toxinas não alteraram a proliferação celular nem a produção basal de óxido nítrico pelas células endoteliais. Por outro lado, o veneno e a subunidade CB, mas não a CTX nem a CA causaram aumento significativo da produção de prostaciclina, via COX-1 e COX-2, sendo que a expressão protéica da isoforma COX-2 foi induzida por estes agentes. Além disso, foi demonstrado que a fosfolipase citosólica é relevante para o aumento da produção de prostaciclina, induzido pela CB. Adicionalmente, foi demonstrado que a atividade catalítica da subunidade CB é essencial para os efeitos descritos. Isto reforça a sugestão de que a subunidade fosfolipásica, isoladamente, possa contribuir para os efeitos do veneno total no endotélio. Nesse sentido, se houver alguma fração desta enzima na sua forma livre, no veneno total, sugere-se que ela contribua, de modo significativo, para os efeitos do veneno de Crotalus durissus terrificus no endotélio. / Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom (CdtV) and their components induces systemic effects, which interfere with blood vessel system. Endothelial cells (EC) are central elements for haemostasis, regulating blood vessel-wall permeability, blood fluidity and adhesion properties of circulating leukocytes. However, there is no available data on the effects of this venom and its components on endothelial cells. In this study, the effects of CdtV, crotoxin (CTX) which is formed by two distinct subunits named crotapotin (CA) and phospholipase A2 (CB), on endothelial cells in vitro were investigated, analyzing EC viability and proliferation, EC monolayers integrity, release of both nitric oxide and prostacyclin (PGI2). CdtV, at the highest concentration, time-dependently decreased the viability of EC and the integrity of cell monolayers. The CB subunit, but not CTX nor CA, reproduced the effects caused by crude venom. In contrast, neither EC proliferation nor release of oxide nitric were affected by non-cytotoxic concentrations of CdtV or isolated toxins. However, at the same experimental condition, both CdtV and CB increased the prostacyclin release by endothelium through activation of COX-1 and -2 enzyme systems. Moreover, these toxins upregulated protein expression of COX-2 isoform, but did not alter constitutive expression of COX-1. On the other hand, neither CTX nor CA affected basal production of PGI2. Inhibition of cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) by AACOCF3 significantly reduced PGI2 increments caused by both CdtV and CB implying that cPLA2 cooperates for the synthesis of PGI2 induced by them. Inhibition of the catalytic activity of CB abrogated its ability to induce the release of PGI2, thus suggesting the importance of the phospholipase A2 enzyme activity for this effect. These findings provide evidence that CdtV and CB can directly activate EC and up-regulate cyclooxygenase pathways for production of prostacyclin, an important mediator of vasodilation and inflammation. Moreover, CB through its catalytic activity may significantly contribute for the stimulatory effect of CdtV in EC. Therefore, these findings indicate novel regulatory mechanisms for both CdtV and venom secretory PLA2 in endothelial cells.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation considers whether photography as a language translates a transient moment into an embodied image. This is considered to be a mimesis of the moment as an aid for memory. By following a dialectic approach I posit a thesis based on the common sense perception of photography which states that photography is an artefactual mimesis aiding memory. After reflecting on Plato’s concept of writing as a pharmakon and Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction theory I establish an antithesis which proclaims that a photograph aids memory but also leads to the illusion of remembering past experiences. The synthesis is then presented which resolves the opposing ideas. This component argues that a photograph is a mimetic device that aids memory by presenting embodied fragmented reflections of time which can be used to create new meanings and memories. The dissertation concludes with a discussion that supports and integrates this argument with visual research. / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / M.A. (Visual Arts)

Alexandrium tamarense is a harmful algal species that can produce saxitoxins, a suite of powerful neurotoxins that bioaccumulate up the food chain and can have severe economic and health impacts. With harmful algal blooms increasing temporally and spatially, it is important for us to understand the relationship between harmful algal blooms and nutrients, particularly nitrogen from anthropogenic sources. To this end, the stable nitrogen isotopic composition (δ¹⁵N) of medium nitrate, algal cells and toxin in both nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-limited batch cultures of A. tamarense were measured in order to assess the potential for using the δ¹⁵N of the toxin as a tracer of the nitrogen source used for growth. A. tamarense cells grown under nitrate-replete conditions were depleted by 1.5‰ relative to the growth medium, and saxitoxin was depleted by 1.5‰ relative to the whole cells. Under nitrate-limiting conditions, the isotopic difference between cells and saxitoxin changed as nitrate in the growth medium was depleted, indicating uncoupling of toxin synthesis and cell growth rates under changing external nutrient conditions. Determination of the absolute magnitude of the isotopic differences between the medium nitrate and either the cells or the saxitoxin was confounded by 1) using two different nitrate sources – one nitrate source was used to grow the inoculum and a different nitrate source was used for the experimental medium - with different ‰ values and 2) the presence of an unidentified, isotopically-light, nitrogen blank in the low-nitrate medium samples. I conclude that STX nitrogen isotope values have the potential to be used as nitrogen source indicators. However, overall fractionation between whole cells and STX is unknown due to the uncoupling between cell growth and STX synthesis observed during my nitrogen-limited experiment. Based on previous research on cell growth and toxin production dynamics under different nutrient regimes, it is also reasonable to assume that the observed results here may differ if a different nitrogen source was utilized by the cells for STX production. Further research could include isotope analysis of cultures grown on different nitrogen sources, such as ammonium and urea; isotopic analysis of additional compounds, such as amino acids; or use of additional stable isotopes, such as C or O. / text