Why are fruits colorful? The relative importance of achromatic and chromatic contrasts for detection by birds

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The use of nonparametric contrasts in one-way layouts and random block designs

Nonparametric simple-contrast estimates for one-way layouts based on Hodges-Lehmann estimators for two samples and confidence intervals for all contrasts involving only two treatments are found in the literature.Tests for such contrasts are performed from the distribution of the maximum of the rank sum between two treatments. For random block designs, simple contrast estimates based on Hodges-Lehmann estimators for one sample are presented. However, discussions concerning the significance levels of more complex contrast tests in nonparametric statistics are not well outlined.This work aims at presenting a methodology to obtain p-values for any contrast types based on the construction of the permutations required by each design model using a C-language program for each design type. For small samples, all possible treatment configurations are performed in order to obtain the desired p-value. For large samples, a fixed number of random configurations are used. The program prompts the input of contrast coefficients, but does not assume the existence or orthogonality among them.In orthogonal contrasts, the decomposition of the value of the suitable statistic for each case is performed and it is observed that the same procedure used in the parametric analysis of variance can be applied in the nonparametric case, that is, each of the orthogonal contrasts has a chi(2) distribution with one degree of freedom. Also, the similarities between the p-values obtained for nonparametric contrasts and those obtained through approximations suggested in the literature are discussed.

La technique de l’arc segmenté. Contrôle de l’ancrage et modification significative du profil facial : une étude de cas

This article evaluates space closure mechanics efficiency in an extraction case where maximum anchorage was a requirement. The Segmented Arch Technique (SAT) was utilized as an anchorage control strategy to obtain maximum anterior retraction and, in consequence, significant facial profile change. A 20-year-10-month old woman needed severe labial and profile changes. The patient had four premolars extracted and SAT with type A mechanics [1] (Marcotte [2] activation protocol) was applied. The results showed significant reduction in labial protrusion and incisal angulation with effective anchorage control. The results were compared to others available in the literature derived from different techniques, where anterior retraction was also accomplished with maximum anchorage [3-7]. In conclusion, the SAT with type A mechanics has been shown to be another treatment option when significant changes in the soft-tissue profile are needed in extraction cases. © 2008. CEO. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

La prosodie dans l’acquisition de la négation : étude de cas d’une enfant monolingue francaise

La négation représente une étape cruciale dans l’acquisition du langage, car elle permet à l’enfant de se positionner au sein de l’interaction, bien avant l’apparition des marques de la première personne. Si l’acquisition de la négation a déjà fait l’objet d’une description approfondie, la plupart des modèles se limitent à une approche morphosyntaxique qui néglige la prosodie. Dans cet article, nous présentons les données longitudinales d’une enfant monolingue francophone enregistrée de 14 à 28 mois, en interaction spontanée avec ses parents. L’analyse prosodique des différentes occurrences de «non» fait apparaître que les premiers «non» émergent à 14 mois sous une forme redupliquée et exagérée au niveau prosodique, suivis à 19 mois, par des «non» réalisés en isolation ou à l’intérieur d’un énoncé. De 14 à 21 mois, les «non» en isolation sont majoritairement produits avec des contours montants et une durée syllabique croissante, de 22 à 25 mois, avec des contours montant-descendant et de 26 à 28 mois, avec des contours plats ou descendants et une durée syllabique réduite. Un tel changement au niveau prosodique semble refl éter une meilleure maîtrise linguistique dans l’expression de la négation à partir de 25 mois.

Towards controlled synthesis and better understanding of blue shift of the CaS crystals

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Auditory perceptual performance of children in the identification of contrasts between stressed vowels

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Analyse du processus d'inclusion d'un élève avec déficience physique en cours d'éducation physique: étude de cas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of peer tutor teaching strategy, after a re-training, in relation to the inclusion process of a student with physical disability during physical education classes. The participants were: the student with physical disability, eight peer tutors, and a physical education teacher of a public school in Bauru, Brazil. As the students had previously experienced the tutoring training, a re-training was prepared, which enabled the reinforcement of some aspects of the tutoring and assistance strategies, in order to improve the tutor colleague action. To analyze, two observation instruments were used: System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) and Souza Observation Protocol. Behavioral changes of the involved students were notable, due to the significant action of the re-training process. Thus, we highlight the importance of the periodic reinforcements of the training for the tutor colleagues, in order to preserve, or even improve the autonomy and self-esteem of the student with disability.