An Asymmetric Extension for the Family of Elliptical Slash Distributions

In this article, we introduce an asymmetric extension to the univariate slash-elliptical family of distributions studied in Gomez et al. (2007a). This new family results from a scale mixture between the epsilon-skew-symmetric family of distributions and the uniform distribution. A general expression is presented for the density with special cases such as the normal, Cauchy, Student-t, and Pearson type II distributions. Some special properties and moments are also investigated. Results of two real data sets applications are also reported, illustrating the fact that the family introduced can be useful in practice.

Whole blood genome-wide gene expression profile in males after prolonged wakefulness and sleep recovery

Pellegrino R, Sunaga DY, Guindalini C, Martins RC, Mazzotti DR, Wei Z, Daye ZJ, Andersen ML, Tufik S. Whole blood genome-wide gene expression profile in males after prolonged wakefulness and sleep recovery. Physiol Genomics 44: 1003-1012, 2012. First published September 4, 2012; doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00058.2012.-Although the specific functions of sleep have not been completely elucidated, the literature has suggested that sleep is essential for proper homeostasis. Sleep loss is associated with changes in behavioral, neurochemical, cellular, and metabolic function as well as impaired immune response. Using high-resolution microarrays we evaluated the gene expression profiles of healthy male volunteers who underwent 60 h of prolonged wakefulness (PW) followed by 12 h of sleep recovery (SR). Peripheral whole blood was collected at 8 am in the morning before the initiation of PW (Baseline), after the second night of PW, and one night after SR. We identified over 500 genes that were differentially expressed. Notably, these genes were related to DNA damage and repair and stress response, as well as diverse immune system responses, such as natural killer pathways including killer cell lectin-like receptors family, as well as granzymes and T-cell receptors, which play important roles in host defense. These results support the idea that sleep loss can lead to alterations in molecular processes that result in perturbation of cellular immunity, induction of inflammatory responses, and homeostatic imbalance. Moreover, expression of multiple genes was downregulated following PW and upregulated after SR compared with PW, suggesting an attempt of the body to re-establish internal homeostasis. In silico validation of alterations in the expression of CETN3, DNAJC, and CEACAM genes confirmed previous findings related to the molecular effects of sleep deprivation. Thus, the present findings confirm that the effects of sleep loss are not restricted to the brain and can occur intensely in peripheral tissues.

Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Industrial Areas in Brazil: A 15-Year Survey

To investigate whether there is an increased incidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) in individuals living in the vicinity of industrial plants that manufacture petroleum byproducts in the state of So Paulo, Brazil. Between 1989 and 2004, 6,306 patients of both sexes, from 5 to 78 years old were divided in two groups according to their home location: Group 1: 3,356 residents living near industrial plants that manufacture petroleum byproducts (Region A), and Group 2: 2,950 residents living far from Region A in an area with predominantly steel industries (Region B). For all patients, we measured the serum levels of antithyroglobulin antibody, antithyroperoxidase antibody, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, free thyroxine and thyrostimulating hormone. Sonographic scans of the thyroid gland were also conducted. The proportion of patients with CAT coming from Region A increased from 2.5 % (5 patients with CAT/200 total patients) in 1992 to 57.6 % (106 patients with CAT/184 total patients) in 2001. This striking increase was highly significant (p < 0.001). Similar findings were not observed in Region B. The difference in the number of patients with CAT between 1989 and 2004 coming from Region A and Region B was highly significant (p < 0.001), with 905 CAT patients (83.95 %) in Region A and 173 CAT patients (16.05 %) in Region B. Our results showed a striking increase in the incidence of CAT in residents in the vicinity of large industrial plants that manufacture petroleum byproducts compared with residents living near steel industries, which opens the field to new areas of research.

O ensino libertário e a relação entre trabalho e educação: algumas reflexões

Um dos principais desafios nos estudos a respeito da pedagogia escolar anarquista consiste, precisamente, em apreender os conteúdos de ensino. Com essa preocupação, este texto tem triplo objetivo: analisar a proposta educativa da instituição a cargo do professor libertário João Penteado, em São Paulo, nas primeiras décadas do século XX; indicar aspectos considerados relevantes relacionados à concepção de educação integral e à forma como o trabalho está presente na organização do ensino; e, por fim, apresentar alguns apontamentos de pesquisa que possam contribuir para sua continuidade e seu aprofundamento. Optou-se por abarcar período relativo a dois momentos de existência da escola dirigida por João Penteado - a Escola Moderna Nº 1 (1912-1919) e a Escola Nova (1920-1923). Entende-se que a cronologia definida consegue abranger a pluralidade de práticas escolares necessárias aos propósitos da análise. A documentação utilizada limita-se basicamente a jornais e demais fontes produzidas e/ou acumuladas nos diferentes períodos de existência da(s) escola(s), em particular, os jornais Boletim da Escola Moderna, Boletim da Escola Nova, Boletim da Academia Saldanha Marinho, O Início, O Iris. No estudo do primeiro período, que coincide com o da Escola Moderna, são também utilizadas notícias publicadas por alguns jornais da imprensa operária e anarquista, como A Lanterna, A Vida e O Amigo do Povo, entre outros.