SOME REMARKS ON THE YOGASUTRA

In this article are discussed some problems raised by T. S. Rukmani regarding the Yogasutra. According to Rukmani, yoga is not a coherent logical system. After stating the general goals of the yoga system, interpretations of some passages of the Yogasutra are formulated, and the defense is given that one must at least acknowledge the necessity of more exegetical investigation before judging the logical incoherence of the text. Finally, the problematic doctrine of living liberation in Yogasutra is exposed.

The Last Missionary to Leave the Temple Should Turn Off the Light Sociological Remarks on the Decline of Japanese ""Immigrant"" Buddhism in Brazil

Empirical data indicate that the so-called ""Buddhism of yellow color"" that is predominantly associated with Japanese ""immigrant"" Buddhism, is constantly in decline in terms of ""explicit"" adherents. After some methodological observations, this article gives an overview of the relevant statistical data. The last part discusses possible reasons for these negative dynamics, referring to causes within Buddhist institutions, the ethnic community, and at the level of the individual.

A new species of land planarian of Gigantea Ogren and Kawakatsu, 1990 (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from Colombia, with taxonomic remarks on the genus

A new species of land planarian from Colombia, Gigantea maupoi sp. nov., is described herein. The penis papilla of the new species is provided with numerous accessory genital organs, or mgo. These mgo are of a unique morphology, consisting of a very strong barrel-shaped circular muscle coat and an underlying longitudinal one, both derived from the subepithelial musculature of the penis papilla. The central mass of each mgo contains secretions and 8-15 canalicula that open to the male atrium on the central region of the organ. Differences in structures constituting the mgo and details of the muscular systems and of the reproductive organs among the 11 Gigantea species from literature and from type material of G. bistriata (Hyman, 1962), G. chiriquii (Hyman, 1962), and G. sandersoni (Prudhoe, 1949) reexamined here show that the genus is heterogeneous.

Some remarks on static-feedback linearization for time-varying systems

This work summarizes some results about static state feedback linearization for time-varying systems. Three different necessary and sufficient conditions are stated in this paper. The first condition is the one by [Sluis, W. M. (1993). A necessary condition for dynamic feedback linearization. Systems & Control Letters, 21, 277-283]. The second and the third are the generalizations of known results due respectively to [Aranda-Bricaire, E., Moog, C. H., Pomet, J. B. (1995). A linear algebraic framework for dynamic feedback linearization. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 40, 127-132] and to [Jakubczyk, B., Respondek, W. (1980). On linearization of control systems. Bulletin del` Academie Polonaise des Sciences. Serie des Sciences Mathematiques, 28, 517-522]. The proofs of the second and third conditions are established by showing the equivalence between these three conditions. The results are re-stated in the infinite dimensional geometric approach of [Fliess, M., Levine J., Martin, P., Rouchon, P. (1999). A Lie-Backlund approach to equivalence and flatness of nonlinear systems. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 44(5), 922-937]. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Person, existence and phenomenology: remarks on the conceptions of personalism of Emmanuel Mounier

This article aims to discuss the personalism of Emmanuel Mounier, especially his views on the person and existence, and its relation to phenomenology. Mounier does not refer to the influence of phenomenology on his thoughts. However, it is possible to notice that his philosophy was strongly influenced by phenomenological ideas. Personalism is a philosophy that says a person`s value as an absolute. The absolute here is understood as a purpose that gives meaning to all the political and social organization. Human existence is the starting point and fundamental postulate of personalism. This means that there is, therefore, a priority of the existence about the human nature, understanding this as an information ""ontological definitive"". This position is a requirement of epistemological reformulation, which means, within personalism, the attempt to develop a phenomenology of existence, located between the radical objectivism of the science and subjectivism of metaphysics.

What Brazilian Portuguese Says about Control: Remarks on Boeckx & Hornstein

In an article in this journal, Boeckx & Hornstein (2006a) present data from Brazilian Portuguese (BP) as an argument in favor of the Movement Theory of Control (MTC). In this reply, I show that the data presented by those authors do not necessarily argue for a movement analysis of BP finite subjects nor of nonfinite control. I also show that BP provides arguments against the MTC when inflected infinitives are considered. Inflected infinitives may be used in BP in partial control structures, which makes it explicit that a singular matrix argument may control a syntactically plural null subject and shows that these two positions cannot be related by movement. Additionally, I show that the MTC makes the wrong predictions when a language with inflected infinitives is considered.

Do Phenotypic Characteristics, Parental Psychopathology, Family Functioning, and Environmental Stressors Have a Role in the Response to Methylphenidate in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? A Naturalistic Study From a Developing Country

Little is known about the effect of clinical characteristics, parental psychopathology, family functioning, and environmental stressors in the response to methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) followed up in a naturalistic setting. Data from cultures outside the United States are extremely scarce. This is a longitudinal study using a nonrandom assignment, quasi-experimental design. One hundred twenty-five children with ADHD were treated with methylphenidate according to standard clinical procedures, and followed up for 6 months. The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed by the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham rating scale. In the final multivariate model, ADHD combined subtype (P < 0.001) and comorbidity with oppositional defiant disorder (P = 0.03) were both predictors of a worse clinical response. In addition, the levels of maternal ADHD symptoms were also associated with worse prognosis (P < 0.001). In the context of several adverse psychosocial factors assessed, only undesired pregnancy was associated with poorer response to methylphenidate in the final comprehensive-model (P = 0.02). Our study provides evidence for the involvement of clinical characteristics, maternal psychopathology, and environmental stressors in the response to methylphenidate. Clinicians may consider adjuvant strategies when negative predictors are present to increase the chances of success with methylphenidate treatment.

Taxonomic review of Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 (Stauromedusae, Staurozoa, Cnidaria), with remarks on the genus Haliclystus Clark, 1863

Difficulties concerning the taxonomy of stauromedusae are long known, and there is a clear need for taxonomic revision of the genus Haliclystus, as well as the reevaluation of some species. Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 is recorded from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Due to the lack of detailed information on this species, we provide a redescription, presenting new data on the cnidome, morphometry, geographical distribution and intraspecific variation. Based on these characters, we propose that our specimens and Haliclystus auricula from Chile and Argentina are synonymous and should be classified as H. antarcticus. We also review the worldwide distribution of the genus Haliclystus Clark, 1863 and discuss taxonomic issues, concluding that some characters traditionally used in the taxonomy of the group should be used cautiously.

Revision of the new wandering spider genus Ohvida and taxonomic remarks on Celaetycheus Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Ctenidae)

The new ctenid genus Ohvida is proposed to include eight species: Ohvida fulvorufa (Franganillo, 1931) comb. nov. (type species) (=Celaetycheus cabriolatus Franganillo, 1930 syn. nov.; = C. cabriolatus pardosiformis Franganillo, 1930 syn. nov.; = C. fulvorufus afoliatus Franganillo, 1931 syn. nov.), O. isolata (Bryant, 1940) comb. nov., O. vernalis (Bryant, 1940) comb. nov., O. brevitarsus (Bryant, 1940) comb. nov., O. coxanus (Bryant, 1940), comb. nov., and three new species, O. turquino sp. nov. (all species from Cuba), and O. andros sp. nov. and O. bimini sp. nov. (both species from The Bahamas). Species of Ohvida differ from all other ctenid spiders by the presence of a retrodorsal projection on the cymbium of the male pedipalp and by a basal position of the lateral spurs on the female epigyne. The genus Celaetycheus Simon, 1897 is reviewed to only include its type species, C. flavostriatus Simon, 1897 from Brazil. We propose the following synonyms and new combinations: Ctenus ottleyi (Petrunkevitch, 1930) (= Celaetycheus strenuus Bryant, 1942 syn. nov. and C. modestus Bryant, 1942 syn. nov.); Ctenus delesserti (Caporiacco, 1947) comb. nov., and Leptoctenus paradoxus (F.O. P.-Cambridge, 1900) comb. nov. Celaetycheus modestus Bryant, 1942 is considered incertae sedis.

Peixes da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, bacias dos Rios Tocantins e São Francisco, com observações sobre as implicações biogeográficas das "águas emendadas" dos Rios Sapão e Galheiros

Um levantamento preliminar da ictiofauna que ocorre na Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins, situada no Sudeste do Estado do Tocantins e Noroeste do Estado da Bahia, é apresentado. A Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins situa-se no divisor de águas entre as bacias do Rio São Francisco (Rio Sapão) e Rio Tocantins (bacias dos Rios Novo, Balsas e Manuel Alves). A cabeceira comum ou "água emendada" do Rio Sapão e Rio Galheiros, este um afluente do Rio Novo, situa-se no interior da estação e é considerada na literatura como uma possível área de intercâmbio ictiofaunístico entre a bacia do Rio São Francisco e a bacia do Rio Tocantins. Trinta e cinco espécies de peixes foram registradas dentro da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins e em seu entorno imediato, algumas delas desconhecidas da ciência e possivelmente endêmicas da região. Um total de 111 espécies de peixes foi registrado regionalmente (incluindo espécies de peixes registrados nos trechos do Rio Sapão e do Rio Novo/do Sono abaixo da estação). O acará Cichlasoma sanctifranciscense é aqui registrado pela primeira vez na bacia do Rio Tocantins. A ocorrência desta espécie, bem como do lambari Astyanax novae, no Rio Sapão e no Rio Novo/do Sono, são considerados os únicos exemplos inequívocos de transposição natural de espécies de peixes entre as bacias do Rio São Francisco e Tocantins efetuado pelas águas emendadas dos rios Sapão e Galheiros.

Disciplinas de Fundamentos de Matemática: uma discussão à luz dos significados da palavra “fundamentos”

Based on a survey of summaries of courses on the Foundations of Mathematics, from Mathematics Teacher Education programs in the southern part of Brazil, and some remarks on the legislation related to the course syllabuses, we discuss the meaning of the word ""Foundations"" in order to reflect on the proposals of these issues in the courses, which will be undergoing reformulation. The opinions of students in one of these courses regarding the meaning of the term ""foundations"", as well as the data obtained from the survey and the remarks regarding legislation, may lead to considerations about the possibilities for a better qualification of the initial education of Mathematics teachers.

The effects of skin-to-skin contact during acute pain in preterm newborns

Background and purpose: Several promising non-pharmacological interventions have been developed to reduce acute pain in preterm infants including skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her infant. However, variability in physiological outcomes of existing studies on skin-to-skin makes it difficult to determine treatment effects of this naturalistic approach for the preterm infant. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of mother and infant skin-to-skin contact during heel prick in premature infants. Method: Fifty nine stable preterm infants (born at least 30 weeks gestational age) who were undergoing routine heel lance were randomly assigned to either 15 min of skin-to-skin contact before, during and following heel prick (n = 31, treatment group), or to regular care (n = 28, control group). Throughout the heel lance procedure, all infants were assessed for change in facial action (NFCS), behavioral state, crying, and heart rate. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted between the treatment and control groups during the puncture, heel squeeze and the post phases of heel prick. Infants who received skin-to-skin contact were more likely to show lower NFCS scores throughout the procedure. Both groups of infants cried and showed increased heart rate during puncture and heel squeeze although changes in these measures were less for the treated infants. Conclusions: Skin-to-skin contact promoted reduction in behavioral measures and less physiological increase during procedure. It is recommended that skin-to-skin contact be used as a non-pharmacologic intervention to relieve acute pain in stable premature infants born 30 weeks gestational age or older. (C) 2007 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new species of Abacarus (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) damaging sugarcane, Sacharrum officinarum L., from Costa Rica-the first eriophyoid mite described with a tibial seta on leg II

A new species of eriophyoid mite, belonging in the genus Abacarus Keifer (Eriophyidae), causing damage to sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L. (Poaceae), in Costa Rica is illustrated and described. Abacarus doctus n. sp. is the only eriophyoid species recorded so far with a tibial seta (l`) on the second pair of legs, an unexpected characteristic observed for the first time in the superfamily Eriophyoidea. Remarks on the phylogenetic and taxonomical aspects related to the presence of this seta are presented. Damage symptoms caused by this mite are presented as well as a key for Abacarus species described from sugarcane. In addition, the need to apply biosecurity procedures during sugarcane germplasm exchange to avoid dissemination of the new mite species is discussed.

Description of a new species of Asymmetrione (Isopoda: Bopyridae: Pseudioninae) infesting the hermit crab Paguristes tomentosus (Anomura: Diogenidae) from Peru, with a key to species and a review of southeastern Pacific bopyrids

A new species of bopyrid isopod is described from a host hermit crab Paguristes tomentosus collected from Pisco, Peru and assigned to the pseudionine isopod genus Asymmetrione Codreanu, Codreanu and Pike, 1965. This is the second species in the genus with less than 20 asymmetry in females, but agrees with all other species in the genus in having the characteristic ""socket"" on the propodus of the female`s pereopods, and in all characters of the males. A key is provided to the 10 species now in Asymmetrione. New records of an Anathelges sp. from Pagurus villosus collected in central Chile are given but additional material is required to determine whether these specimens represent the eastern Pacific A. thompsoni or the western Atlantic A. hyptius. A review of all the bopyrid species known from the western South American coast, with remarks on their taxonomy and biology, is provided.