Choices associated with automobiles for Men and Women: convergence or divergence?

The increase of the women purchase power has led some companies to adopt strategies of products differentiation as well as to produce specific products to the female public. The auto industry is not immune to this phenomenon, once the women represent, approximately half of the automobile sales in the country. Considering the consumption and the behavior differences between women and men, it has set the following question: are there differences between the choices associated to the automobile by men and the choices associated to the automobile by women? It has been presented to the participants items found in the people`s day-by-day, which are valorized by them, and the participants have been asked to choose and associate these items to the automobile. The results analysis revealed there are more similarities than differences between choices associated to the automobile by men ad choices associated to the automobile by women. The similarity between the choices suggests that the representations, the meanings and values assigned. to the car by men ana women are similar and thus the strategy of product differentiation does not apply to the automotive industry

The Controllership Relevance or Risk Management in non-Financial Companies: a study of risk managers` and controllers` perceptions

The purpose of this study is to analyze the Controllership relevance as support risk management in non-financial companies. Risk management is a widely discussed and disseminated subject amongst financial institutions. It is obvious that economic uncertainties and, consequently, prevention and. control must also exist in non-financial companies. To enable managers to take safe-decisions, it is essential for them to be able to count on instrumental support that provides timely and adequate information, to ensure lower levels of mistakes and risk exposure. However, discussion concerning risk management in non-financial companies is still in its early stages in Brazil. Considering this gap, this study aims at assessing how Controllership has been acting in? companies under the insight of risk and how it can contribute to risk management in non-financial companies. To achieve the proposed goal, a field research was. carried-out with non-financial companies that are located in the city Sao Paulo and listed in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa). The research was carried out using questionnaires, which were sent do Risk Officers and Controllers of those companies with the purpose of evaluating their perception on the subject. The results,of the research allow us to conclude that Controllership offers support to risk management, through information that contributes to the mitigation of the risks in non-financial companies.

Hippolyte obliquimanus (Decapoda : Caridea : Hippolytidae): a gonochoric or hermaphroditic shrimp species?

Several studies have reported the occurrence of hermaphroditism in caridean shrimps of the family Hippolytidae. Here we provide the first observations of population traits from the small Western Atlantic shrimp, Hippolyte obliquimanus, to determine its sexual system using descriptive and experimental approaches. Specimens were collected at 2-month intervals from March 2005 to May 2006 in Ubatuba Bay on the northern coast of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The sex of individuals was checked and morphometric dimensions (carapace length, maximum pleura of second abdominal segment width, appendix masculina length, maximum propodus width, and dactyl length of the third pereopod) were also analyzed. The gonads were dissected and examined for signs of abnormalities. The possibility of sex change was experimentally evaluated under laboratory conditions. A total of 674 specimens were collected: 211 males, 339 non-ovigerous females, and 124 ovigerous females. The carapace length ranged from 0.55 to 3.20 mm, with females being significantly larger than males. Hippolyte obliquimanus showed sexual dimorphism in the third pereopod, absence of cincinnuli in the first pleopod, and no reduction of the appendix masculina in the largest males. All males examined had only testes, and all females had only ovaries. There was no sex change observed in the experiments. Together, these data indicate a population with females reaching larger sizes than males, males with a well-developed appendix masculina, and no transitional individuals. The results presented allow characterizing H. obliquimanus as a gonochoric species.

Does Petrolisthes armatus (Anomura, Porcellanidae) form a Species Complex or Are We Dealing with Just One Widely Distributed Species?

Fernando L. Mantelatto, Leonardo G. Pileggi, Ivana Miranda, and Ingo S. Wehrtmann (2011) Does Petrolisthes armatus (Anomura, Porcellanidae) form a species complex or are we dealing with just one widely distributed species? Zoological Studies 50(3): 372-384. Petrolisthes armatus has the widest distribution known among members of the family Porcellanidae and is one of the most ubiquitous and locally abundant intertidal decapods along the Atlantic coast of the Americas. Considering its geographical distribution and morphological plasticity, several authors postulated the existence of a P. armatus species complex. In the present study we used genetic data from the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal gene to determine the genetic variability of P. armatus from selected locations within its eastern tropical Pacific and western Atlantic distributions. Our phylogenic analysis included 49 specimens represented by 26 species of the genus Petrolisthes and 16 specimens from 10 species and 4 related genera. Genetic distances estimated among the analyzed Petrolisthes species ranged from 2.6%-22.0%; varied between 0%-5.7% for 16S. Additionally, the revision of P. armatus specimens from Pacific Costa Rica and Brazilian Waters showed no geographically significant morphological variations among the analyzed specimens. Therefore, our morphological and genetic data do not support the hypothesis of a P. armatus complex within the specimens studied herein from the Americas, but convincingly confirm the monophyly and non-separateness of the members assigned as P. armatus. http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/50.3/372.pdf

Visible and near-infrared luminescent Eu(3+) or Er(3+) doped laponite-derived xerogels and thick films: Structural and spectroscopic properties

Laponite-derived materials represent promising materials for optical applications. In this work, Eu(3+)- or Er(3+)-doped laponite xerogels and films were prepared from colloidal dispersion. Homogeneous, crack-free and transparent single layers were deposited on soda-lime substrates with a thickness of 10 mu m. Structural and spectroscopic properties were analyzed by thermal analyses, X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy. The addition of a rare earth ion to the laponite does not promote any changes in thermal stability or phase transition. Laponite clay was identified after annealing up to 500 degrees C, with a decrease in basal spacing when the annealing temperature is changed from 100 degrees C to 500 degrees C. Enstatite polymorphs and amorphous silicate phases were observed after heat treatment at 700 degrees C and 900 degrees C. Stationary and time-dependent luminescence spectra in the visible region for Eu(3+), and (5)D(0) lifetime are discussed in terms of thermal treatment and structural evolution. In the layered host, the Eu(3+) ions are distributed in many different local environments. However, Eu(3+) ions were found to occupy at least two symmetry sites, and the ions are preferentially incorporated into the crystalline enstatite for the materials annealed at 700 degrees C and 900 degrees C. A (5)D(0) lifetime of 1.3 ms and 3.1 ms was obtained for Eu(3+) ions in an amorphous silicate and crystalline MgSiO(3) local environment, respectively. Strong Er(3+) emission at the 1550 nm region was observed for the materials annealed at 900 degrees C, with a bandwidth of 44 nm. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dermaseptins from Phyllomedusa oreades and Phyllomedusa distincta: Liposomes fusion and/or lysis investigated by fluorescence and atomic force microscopy

Three dermaseptins, DS 01, DD K, and DD L, were compared with respect to their structural features and interactions with liposomes. Circular dichroic spectra at alcohols of different chain lengths revealed that DS 01 has the higher helicogenic potential in hydrophobic media. Binding of DS 01, DD K, and DD L to liposomes induced significant blue shifts of the emission spectra of the single tryptophan located at position 3 of all sequences indicating association of the peptides with bilayers. Kinetics evaluation of atomic force microscopy images evidenced the strong fusogenic activity of DS 01 whereas DD K and DD L showed increased lytic activities. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reverse Microemulsion Synthesis, Structure, and Luminescence of Nanosized REPO(4):Ln(3+) (RE = La, Y, Gd, or Yb, and Ln = Eu, Tm, or Er)

A surfactant-mediated solution route for the obtainment of nanosized rare-earth orthophosphates of different compositions (LaPO(4):Eu(3+), (Y,Gd)PO(4):Eu(3+),LaPO(4):Tm(3+), YPO(4):Tm(3+), and YbPO(4):Er(3+)) is presented, and the implications of the morphology control on the solids properties are discussed. The solids are prepared in water-in-heptane microemulsions, using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and 1-butanol as the surfactant and cosurfactant; the alteration of the starting microemulsion composition allows the obtainment of similar to 30 nm thick nanorods with variable length. The morphology and the structure of the solids were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy and through powder X-ray diffractometry; dynamic light scattering and thermal analyses were also performed. The obtained materials were also characterized through vibrational (FTIR) and luminescence spectroscopy (emission/excitation, luminescence lifetimes, chromaticity, and quantum efficiency), where the red, blue, and upconversion emissions of the prepared phosphors were evaluated.

Synthesis of (Z)-tributylstannyl enynes: systematic studies of Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions between (E)-1-iodovinyl-1-tributylstannanes and terminal acetylenes using amines or tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) as activator

Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions involving (E)-iodo vinyl stannanes and terminal acetylenes were carried out in the presence of Pd(PPh(3))(4), Cul and several amines, affording (Z)-tributylstannyl enynes in moderate to good yields (62-91%). Utilizing the catalytic system containing Pd(PPh(3))(4) (5%), Cul (10%), and TBAOH (40% in aqueous media) as activator, better yields (72-91%) and lower reaction times were achieved. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pollen substitutes increase honey bee haemolymph protein levels as much as or more than does pollen

Adequate substitutes for pollen are necessary for maintaining healthy bee colonies during periods of pollen dearth, but testing them objectively is both time consuming and expensive. We compared two commercial diets with bee collected pollen and acacia pod flour (used by beekeepers in some parts of Brazil) by measuring their effect on haemolymph protein contents of young bees exclusively fed on these diets, which is a fast and inexpensive assay. The commercial diets included a new, non-soy-based, pollen substitute diet (named Feed-Bee (R)) and a soy-based diet, named Bee-Pro (R). The diets were each given in patty form to groups of 100 Africanized honey bees in hoarding cages, maintained and fed from emergence until six days of age. Sucrose, in the form of sugar syrup, was used as a protein free control. Feed-Bee (R), Bee-Pro (R), pollen and acacia pod flour diets increased protein titers in the haemolymph by factors of 2.65, 2.51, 1.76 and 1.69, respectively, over protein titers in bees fed only sucrose solution. The bees fed Feed-Bee (R) and Bee-Pro (R) had their haemolymph significantly enriched in protein compared to the controls and those fed acacia pod flour and to titers slightly higher than those fed pollen. All four proteinaceous diets were significantly superior to sucrose alone.

Overshadowing in conditioned taste aversion or in conditioned emotional response after neonatal ventral hippocampal lesions in rats

The neonatal hippocampus lesion thought to model schizophrenia should show the same modifications in behavioural tests as other models, especially pharmacological models. namely decreased latent inhibition, blocking and overshadowing. The present study is set out to evaluate overshadowing in order to complement our previous studies, which had tested latent inhibition. ""Overshadowing"" refers to the decreased conditioning that occurs when the to-be-conditioned stimulus is combined with another stimulus at the conditioning stage. We used the same two Pavlovian conditioning paradigms as in our previous works, namely conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and conditioned emotional response (CER). A sweet taste overshadowed a salty conditioned stimulus, and a tone overshadowed a flashing light. Totally different stimuli were used to counter possible sensory biases. The protocols were validated with two groups of Sprague Dawley rats. The same two protocols were then applied to a cohort of rats whose ventral hippocampus had been destroyed when they were 7 days old. Only rats with extended ventral hippocampus lesions were included. The overall effect of Pavlovian conditioning was attenuated, significantly so in the conditioned emotional response paradigm, but overshadowing appeared not to be modified in either the conditioned emotional response or the conditioned taste aversion paradigm. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Perioperative Temporary Occlusion of the Internal Iliac Arteries as Prophylaxis in Cesarean Section at Risk of Hemorrhage in Placenta Accreta

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the preliminary results of prophylactic temporary balloon occlusion of the internal iliac arteries for bleeding control in patients with placenta accreta during cesarean hysterectomy. Methods From May 2006 to March 2010, 21 patients diagnosed with placenta accreta using ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging were submitted to prophylactic balloon occlusion before hysterectomy. Fluoroscopy, balloon occlusion time, surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, transfusion volume, and procedure complications were analyzed. Results The mean age was 30.5 years with a mean of 3.6 previous gestations. Imaging studies revealed that all patients had placenta accreta and all were submitted to cesarean hysterectomy. One hysterectomy was due to previous diagnosis of fetal death and another due to cesarean with uterine curettage. Mean fluoroscopy time was 7.5 min, balloon occlusion time was 164 min, and surgery duration was 260 min. Estimated blood loss was 1,671.5 ml with mean reposition fluids of 3,538 ml of crystalloids, 309.5 ml of colloids, and 1.24 ml of packed red blood cells. Two patients were submitted to thromboembolectomy due to prolonged surgical time. There was no maternal or fetal mortality related to the procedure. Conclusions The results demonstrated that prophylactic balloon occlusion of internal iliac artery is a safe method and appears to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients diagnosed with placenta accreta who undergo cesarean hysterectomy. Antenatal imaging diagnosis of placenta accreta enables preoperative planning.

The Absence of Coronary Calcification Does Not Exclude Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease or the Need for Revascularization in Patients Referred for Conventional Coronary Angiography

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate whether the absence of coronary calcium could rule out >= 50% coronary stenosis or the need for revascularization. Background The latest American Heart Association guidelines suggest that a calcium score (CS) of zero might exclude the need for coronary angiography among symptomatic patients. Methods A substudy was made of the CORE64 (Coronary Evaluation Using Multi-Detector Spiral Computed Tomography Angiography Using 64 Detectors) multicenter trial comparing the diagnostic performance of 64-detector computed tomography to conventional angiography. Patients clinically referred for conventional angiography were asked to undergo a CS scan up to 30 days before. Results In all, 291 patients were included, of whom 214 (73%) were male, and the mean age was 59.3 +/- 10.0 years. A total of 14 (5%) patients had low, 218 (75%) had intermediate, and 59 (20%) had high pre-test probability of obstructive coronary artery disease. The overall prevalence of >= 50% stenosis was 56%. A total of 72 patients had CS = 0, among whom 14 (19%) had at least 1 >= 50% stenosis. The overall sensitivity for CS = 0 to predict the absence of >= 50% stenosis was 45%, specificity was 91%, negative predictive value was 68%, and positive predictive value was 81%. Additionally, revascularization was performed in 9 (12.5%) CS = 0 patients within 30 days of the CS. From a total of 383 vessels without any coronary calcification, 47 (12%) presented with >= 50% stenosis; and from a total of 64 totally occluded vessels, 13 (20%) had no calcium. Conclusions The absence of coronary calcification does not exclude obstructive stenosis or the need for revascularization among patients with high enough suspicion of coronary artery disease to be referred for coronary angiography, in contrast with the published recommendations. Total coronary occlusion frequently occurs in the absence of any detectable calcification. (Coronary Evaluation Using Multi-Detector Spiral Computed Tomography Angiography Using 64 Detectors [CORE-64]; NCT00738218) (J Am Coll Cardiol 2010;55:627-34) (C) 2010 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation

Randomized Evaluation of Two Drug-Eluting Stents With Identical Metallic Platform and Biodegradable Polymer But Different Agents (Paclitaxel or Sirolimus) Compared Against Bare Stents: 1-Year Results of the PAINT Trial

Objectives: We tested two novel drug-eluting stents (DES), covered with a biodegradable-polymer carrier and releasing paclitaxel or sirolimus, which were compared against a bare metal stent (primary objective). The DES differed by the drug, but were identical otherwise, allowing to compare the anti-restenosis effects of sirolimus versus paclitaxel (secondary objective). Background: The efficacy of novel DES with biodegradable polymers should be tested in the context of randomized trials, even when using drugs known to be effective, such as sirolimus and paclitaxel. Methods: Overall, 274 patients with de novo coronary lesions in native vessels scheduled for stent implantation were randomly assigned (2:21 ratio) for the paclitaxel (n = 111), sirolimus (n = 106), or bare metal stent (n = 57) groups. Angiographic follow-up was obtained at 9 months and major cardiac adverse events up to 12 months. Results: Both paclitaxel and sirolimus stents reduced the 9-month in-stent late loss (0.54-0.44 mm, 0.32-0.43 mm, vs. 0.90-0.45 mm respectively), and 1-year risk of target vessel revascularization and combined major adverse cardiac events (P < 0.05 for both, in all comparisons), compared with controls. Sirolimus stents had lower late loss than paclitaxel stents (P < 0.01), but similar 1-year clinical outcomes. There were no differences in the risk of death, infarction, or stent thrombosis among the study groups. Conclusion: Both novel DES were effective in reducing neointimal hyperplasia and 1-year re-intervention, compared to bare metal stents. Our findings also suggest that sirolimus is more effective than paclitaxel in reducing angiographic neointima, although this effect was not associated with better clinical outcomes. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Prognostic Value of Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography With Early Injection of Atropine With Versus Without Chronic Beta-Blocker Therapy in Patients With Known or Suspected Coronary Heart Disease

Although a new protocol of dobutamine stress echocardiography with the early injection of atropine (EA-DSE) has been demonstrated to be useful in reducing adverse effects and increasing the number of effective tests and to have similar accuracy for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with conventional protocols, no data exist regarding its ability to predict long-term events. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of EA-DSE and the effects of the long-term use of beta blockers on it. A retrospective evaluation of 844 patients who underwent EA-DSE for known or suspected CAD was performed; 309 (37%) were receiving beta blockers. During a median follow-up period of 24 months, 102 events (12%) occurred. On univariate analysis, predictors of events were the ejection fraction (p <0.001), male gender (p <0.001), previous myocardial infarction (p <0.001), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy (p = 0.021), calcium channel blocker therapy (p = 0.034), and abnormal results on EA-DSE (p <0.001). On multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of events were male gender (relative risk [RR] 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13 to 2.81, p = 0.013) and abnormal results on EA-DSE (RR 4.45, 95% CI 2.84 to 7.01, p <0.0001). Normal results on EA-DSE with P blockers were associated with a nonsignificant higher incidence of events than normal results on EA-DSE without beta blockers (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.87, p = 0.54). Abnormal results on EA-DSE with beta blockers had an RR of 4.97 (95% CI 2.79 to 8.87, p <0.001) compared with normal results, while abnormal results on EA-DSE without beta blockers had an RR of 5.96 (95% CI 3.41 to 10.44, p <0.001) for events, with no difference between groups (p = 0.36). In conclusion, the detection of fixed or inducible wall motion abnormalities during EA-DSE was an independent predictor of long-term events in patients with known or suspected CAD. The prognostic value of EA-DSE was not affected by the long-term use of beta blockers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Am J Cardiol 2008;102:1291-1295)

Hemihypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy after mastoid dissection of the facial nerve: Results in 24 patients and comparison with the classic technique

OBJECTIVE: Hypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy has been widely used for reanimation of paralyzed facial muscles after irreversible proximal injury of the facial nerve. However, complete section of the hypoglossal nerve occasionally results in hemiglossal dysfunction and interferes with swallowing and speech. To reduce this morbidity, a modified technique with partial section of the hypoglossal nerve after mastoid dissection of the facial nerve (HFM) has been used. We report our experience with the HFM technique, retrospectively comparing the outcome with results of the classic hypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed in 36 patients who underwent hypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy with the classic (n = 12) or variant technique (n = 24) between 2000 and 2006. Facial Outcome was evaluated with the House-Brackmann grading system, and tongue function was evaluated with a new scale proposed to quantify Postoperative tongue alteration. The results were compared, and age and time between nerve injury and surgery were correlated with the outcome. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two techniques concerning facial reanimation. A worse outcome of tongue function, however, was associated with the classic technique (Mann-Whitney U test; P < 0.05). When HFM was used, significant correlations defined by the Spearman test were identified between preoperative delay (p = 0.59; P = 0.002) or age (p = 0.42; P = 0.031) and results of facial reanimation evaluated with the House-Brackmann grading system. CONCLUSION: HFM is as effective as classic hypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy for facial reanimation, and it has a much lower morbidity related to tongue function. Better results are obtained in younger patients and with a shorter interval between facial nerve injury and surgery.