Hierarchical analysis of production efficiency in a coastal trawl fishery

We present, pedagogically, the Bayesian approach to composed error models under alternative, hierarchical characterizations; demonstrate, briefly, the Bayesian approach to model comparison using recent advances in Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods; and illustrate, empirically, the value of these techniques to natural resource economics and coastal fisheries management, in particular. The Bayesian approach to fisheries efficiency analysis is interesting for at least three reasons. First, it is a robust and highly flexible alternative to commonly applied, frequentist procedures, which dominate the literature. Second,the Bayesian approach is extremely simple to implement, requiring only a modest addition to most natural-resource economist tool-kits. Third, despite its attractions, applications of Bayesian methodology in coastal fisheries management are few.

Neural stem cells, inflammation and NF-kappaB: basic principle of maintenance and repair or origin of brain tumours?

Several recent reports suggest that inflammatory signals play a decisive role in the self-renewal, migration and differentiation of multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs are believed to be able to ameliorate the symptoms of several brain pathologies through proliferation, migration into the area of the lesion and either differentiation into the appropriate cell type or secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Although NSCs have beneficial roles, current evidence indicates that brain tumours, such as astrogliomas or ependymomas are also caused by tumour-initiating cells with stem-like properties. However, little is known about the cellular and molecular processes potentially generating tumours from NSCs. Most pro-inflammatory conditions are considered to activate the transcription factor NF-kappaB in various cell types. Strong inductive effects of NF-kappaB on proliferation and migration of NSCs have been described. Moreover, NF-kappaB is constitutively active in most tumour cells described so far. Chronic inflammation is also known to initiate cancer. Thus, NF-kappaB might provide a novel mechanistic link between chronic inflammation, stem cells and cancer. This review discusses the apparently ambivalent role of NF-kappaB: physiological maintenance and repair of the brain via NSCs, and a potential role in tumour initiation. Furthermore, it reveals a possible mechanism of brain tumour formation based on inflammation and NF-kappaB activity in NSCs.

Investigation of high-efficiency Wireless Power Transfer criteria of resonantly-coupled loops and dipoles through analysis of the figure of merit

The efficiency of a Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) system is greatly dependent on both the geometry and operating frequency of the transmitting and receiving structures. By using Coupled Mode Theory (CMT), the figure of merit is calculated for resonantly-coupled loop and dipole systems. An in-depth analysis of the figure of merit is performed with respect to the key geometric parameters of the loops and dipoles, along with the resonant frequency, in order to identify the key relationships leading to high-efficiency WPT. For systems consisting of two identical single-turn loops, it is shown that the choice of both the loop radius and resonant frequency are essential in achieving high-efficiency WPT. For the dipole geometries studied, it is shown that the choice of length is largely irrelevant and that as a result of their capacitive nature, low-MHz frequency dipoles are able to produce significantly higher figures of merit than those of the loops considered. The results of the figure of merit analysis are used to propose and subsequently compare two mid-range loop and dipole WPT systems of equal size and operating frequency, where it is shown that the dipole system is able to achieve higher efficiencies than the loop system of the distance range examined.

Assessment of production efficiency, physicochemical properties and storage stability of spray-dried chlorophyllide, a natural food colourant, using gum Arabic, maltodextrin and soy protein isolate-based carrier systems

P>The aim of this research was to study spray drying as potential action to protect chlorophyllide from environmental conditions for shelf-life extension and characterisation of the powders. Six formulations were prepared with 7.5 and 10 g of carrier agents [gum Arabic (GA), maltodextrin (MA) and soybean protein isolate (SPI)]/100 mL of chlorophyllide solutions. The powders were evaluated for morphological characteristics (SEM), particle size, water activity, moisture, density, hygroscopicity, cold water solubility, sorption isotherms, colour and stability, during 90 days. All the powders were highly soluble, with solubility values around 97%. A significant lower hygroscopicity was observed for GA powders, whilst the lower X(m) values obtained by GAB equation fitting of the sorption isotherms was observed for the 7.5 g MA/100 mL samples. All formulations, but the 1 (7.5 g SPI/100 mL of chlorophyllide), provided excellent stability to the chlorophyllide during 90 days of storage even at room temperature.

Constitutional Haploinsufficiency of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Mentally Retarded Patients With Microdeletions in 17p13.1

Chromosome microdeletions or duplications are detected in 10-20% of patients with mental impairment and normal karyotypes. A few cases have been reported of mental impairment with microdeletions comprising tumor suppressor genes. By array-CGH we detected 4 mentally impaired individuals carrying de novo microdeletions sharing an overlapping segment of similar to 180 kb in 17p13.1. This segment encompasses 18 genes, including 3 involved in cancer, namely KCTD11/REN, DLG4/PSD95, and GPS2. Furthermore, in 2 of the patients, the deletions also included TP53, the most frequently inactivated gene in human cancers. The 3 tumor suppressor genes KCTD11, DLG4, and GPS2, in addition to the GABARAP gene, have a known or suspected function in neuronal development and are candidates for causing mental impairment in our patients. Among our 4 patients with deletions in 17p13.1, 3 were part of a Brazilian cohort of 300 mentally retarded individuals, suggesting that this segment may be particularly prone to rearrangements and appears to be an important cause (similar to 1%) of mental retardation. Further, the constitutive deletion of tumor suppressor genes in these patients, particularly TP53, probably confers a significantly increased lifetime risk for cancer and warrants careful oncological surveillance of these patients. Constitutional chromosome deletions containing tumor suppressor genes in patients with mental impairment or congenital abnormalities may represent an important mechanism linking abnormal phenotypes with increased risks of cancer. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Eficiência em órgãos públicos: uma proposta de indicadores

A inserção do Princípio Constitucional da Eficiência no art. 37 da Constituição Federal do Brasil, por meio da Emenda Constitucional n. 19/98, representa a busca da maximização do aproveitamento dos recursos públicos na prestação apropriada de serviços públicos e da excelência da qualidade dos mesmos. Observa-se, ainda, que a aplicação deste Princípio na Administração Pública carece de instrumentos normativos que permitam o alcance da melhor efetividade possível. Este trabalho busca elencar indicadores com capacidade de mensurar o grau de eficiência de certos órgãos públicos, seja por intermédio de órgãos (organizações) fiscalizadores ou superiores, ou pelo público atendido, que se beneficia dos serviços disponibilizados. Para isso buscou-se, inicialmente, conceituar termos como princípio, eficiência e outros diretamente ligados à Administração Pública. Em seguida, são abordados os conceitos relativos a indicadores, em especial aos de eficiência. De forma mais específica, são apresentados indicadores usados por alguns órgãos públicos e, a fim de contribuir com a implementação mais efetiva destes, foram feitos acréscimos e adaptações de outros, bem como se sugere uma planilha para avaliar a gestão em seus diversos aspectos, seja por auditoria ou pela mensuração da qualidade e satisfação referentes aos serviços públicos prestados à população. Tenciona-se com este trabalho colaborar para a melhoria da gestão com foco nos resultados na Administração Pública, disponibilizando um rol de indicadores básicos que possam ser utilizados na mensuração da eficiência de um órgão público, destacando-se que é necessário atualizar e aprimorar constantemente a aplicação destes instrumentos.

Licenciamento ambiental em postos de revenda de combustíveis à luz dos princípios constitucionais de defesas do meio ambiente: o caso do município de Natal/RN

This study approaches the question of the administrative procedure of the environmental licensing of ranks of fuel resale, taking as basis a study case of the reality of the City of Natal/RN (Brazil). For in such a way, it was done a retrospect on the evolution of the system of road transport in Brazil, having started to briefly analyze the urbanization process that if after accented in the capitals of the Brazilian States the decade of 1950, relating these subjects with the growth of the sector of fuel resale. After that, it was transferred boarding of the defense of the national environment to the light of ambient principles constitutional. In the sequence, a boarding on the ambient guardianship in the Federal Constitution of 1988 was made, treating basically specifies and on the national urban politics and the national politics of the environment, with its instruments. In the sequence, it was transferred the analysis of the abilities and attributions of the National Advice of the Environment (CONAMA) and its Resolutions, for then only enter in the most important part of this work: an analysis of the environmental licensing of ranks of fuel resale, in the reality of the City of Natal/RN. Before this specific boarding, it was proceeded specifically a survey and communication from the applicable norms to such establishments (Resolutions of the CONAMA and norms of the ABNT), for after that carrying through an geo-ambient characterization of the City of Natal/RN. Finally, a reflection was made on the possibility of magnifying of the state activity, in terms of guarantees for the responsible members for the environmental policy and of administrative efficiency, through the idea of the ambient regulation. For the accomplishment of this study, it was proceeded research in diverse sources such as books, magazines, sites of the Internet, periodicals, thesis and dissertations, among others material, beyond visits the agencies that direct or indirectly act with the ambient defense and as fuel resale, such as Secretariat of Environment and Urbanism of the City of Natal (SEMURB), Institute of Economic Development and Environment of RN (IDEMA), Brazilian Institute of the Environment and the Natural resources You renewed, Executive Management of RN (IBAMA/RN), Public prosecutor's office of the Environment of Natal (Public prosecution service of the RN), National Agency of Oil (ANP) and Union of the Retailing of Derivatives of Oil of the RN, among others. To the end, satiated regulation is observed that although on the substance of the ambient licensing in ranks of fuel resale, also with federal, state and municipal norms, the municipal Public Power is very far from the fulfilment of its institutional functions, in the question environmental policy of these establishments, a time that few are the permitted ranks of resale in the city of Natal/RN

O princípio constitucional da legalidade administrativa e os limites do controle das atividades-fim das agências reguladoras pelo Tribunal de Contas da União

Analysis of the role of the Union Accounts Court on the control of regulatory agencies, with the objective of identifying the limits of the Institution s acting on the aim activities of the agencies, particularly the control limits of the Court on the merits of discretionary administrative actions, taking into account the autonomy of these entities in the model of regulatory state. Analyzes the principle of administrative legality, the control of public administration, state s action in the economy and facing regulatory agencies, their emergence, evolution and characteristics. Includes the study of jurisprudence and doctrinal differences, as for the limits of the powers conferred by the constitutional legislator to Federal Court of Audit, regarding the control of agencies aim activities, or, in other terms, their regulatory and inspector missions of market, under the principle of administrative legality. Performs analysis, based on case studies involving Court s audits on regulatory agencies. Are appreciated differences within the Institution about the their decisions effects - imposed or not - as regards the arrangements to be adopted by regulatory agencies to correct the flaws and omissions found during Court s inspections, in which content of the act of public agent, despite their technical nature, can happen the criterion of convenience and opportunity

A boa-fé objetiva na concessão dos incentivos fiscais / Humberto Antônio Barbosa Lima

This essay analyzes tax incentives concepts and existing discussions on national and foreing doctrine, especially in countries that influence our legal culture, such as Germany, United States of America, Spain, Italy and England, providing a detailed study about the requirements that must be observed to ensure that there be a legitimate concession of the same. All this using as argument the Constitutional Charter and the development of the Law, mainly through the principle of objective good faith, which acts as the limiting principle of administrative discretion in granting such tax incentives, as well as creative element of the new duties for the public managers in order to be more effective, efficient and transparent compliance with the pact between the government and society and the objectives pursued by the last. Always chasing a strong argument through a broad historical and philosophical analysis of the institutes discussed. Thus, through studies that reveal the necessary incidence of objective good faith in granting tax incentives to achieve the constitutional purposes, this work does not merely disclose what is wrong, but provides solutions to modify reality hitherto existing, ie, introduces ways to reduce the encumbrance of the odious and ineffective tax incentives in society and to redirect these values unjustly destinated for obscure interests to achieve the real reasons for the existence of tax incentives, especially economic development through the reduction of regional and social inaqualities and poverty eradication

DEVIDO PROCESSO LEGAL E PROCESSO ADMINISTRATIVO SANCIONADOR NAS AGÊNCIAS REGULADORAS

This paper discusses the growing attention that, over the last decades, has been given to the administrative procedure in Administrative Law, as it also highlights the procedures which are in tune with the new trappings of this legal field. It focuses on the sanctioning competence of regulatory agencies, notably what concerns the procedural guide that conditions its exercise. It aims at gathering varied elements, many times dispersed over the legal system, so it is possible to list, with a satisfactory degree of detail, the procedural constitutional guidelines which are indispensable to the sanctioning of private entities through punitive action by regulatory agencies. It highlights the due legal process clause, for the abundance of the protective set there is around it, as a guiding constitutional principle for the application of sanctions by regulatory agencies. It examines the repercussion of the constitutional principle of the due legal process on Administrative Law, focusing on the most relevant principles on which the first unfolds itself. It analyzes, in light of the due legal process principle, the sanctioning administrative procedure developed in regulatory agencies. In conclusion, it is asserted that there is no room, in the Brazilian legal system as a whole, for sanctions to be applied summarily; that there reigns, in our system, an absolute presumption, dictated by the Constitution, that only through regular procedures can the best and fairest decision, concerning cases in which the rights of private parties could be affected, be taken by the public administration; that, respecting the principle of the right to a fair hearing, it is indispensable that there be motivation of a decision that imposes a sanction; that there should be, in homage to the principle of full defense and for the need to preserve the autonomy of the regulatory party, an appeal court in every agency; that the principles listed in the federal law No. 9.784/1999 should be mandatorily monitored by the agencies, for this is the only alternative consistent with the Constitution

A tutela constitucional da exploração de petróleo em águas internacionais em face do princípio do desenvolvimento sustentável: a possibilidade de responsabilização civil do dano futuro

The demands brought by a society doomed to the constant production of global risks, which whose effects are not immediately noticed effects are not perceived immediately, claim from the Law a new Theory about the Risk, that would offer a broad environmental protection, at the same time it would still be compatible with the idea of economic efficiency, required by the Modern Industry. The expansion of the methods and technologies regarding the exploitation and production of oil causes the constant expansion of the exploitable boundaries, especially in ultra-deep waters with the Pre-salt layer, in Brazil, or the still incipient research about the polymetallic nodules and other mineral sources in international waters, like the Atlântico Sudoeste, by the Programme on Ocean Science in Relation do Non Living Resources (OSNLR), a global study performed in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, from UNESCO (IOC UNESCO) and also with the Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS). Thus, we aim to analyze the correlation, and possible collisions between the right to a balanced environment and the free exercise of economic activity and the occurrence of environmental damages from the perspective of the exploitation activities of oil and other natural resources in international waters, specifically in the Area, from the constitutional principle of sustainable development and its legitimacy by the environmental international protection. Therefore, this study also aims to evaluate the legal framework for exploration and production of oil in international waters, particularly in the Area, and appraise how the constitutional instruments and mechanisms for environmental protection can impact on the international environmental protection system in order to ensure the present and future generations an ecologically balanced environment, laid down in Article 225 of the Brazilian Constitution, even with so many risks posed by the activities of exploitation and production of oil in international waters. In the meantime, we intend to also intend to investigate the possibility of future liability for environmental damage in order to ensure that constitutional principle and, consequently, and try to define the concept of environmental damage and its implications on the constitutional principle of environmental protection. Given all that was in summary, this work aims to contribute to the evolution of the new Theory of Environmental Risk, turning the law into something more than a punitive or corrective element in this society, but into a legal risk management, that may be triggered even before the consolidation of the damage

Investment recovery period in electric motor of higher efficiency in pumping for irrigation

Neste trabalho, ajustou-se um modelo matemático para quantificar o efeito do rendimento do motor elétrico sobre os custos de um sistema de bombeamento para irrigação na estrutura tarifária de energia elétrica convencional e horo-sazonal verde, bem como calcular o tempo de recuperação do capital investido no equipamento de maior rendimento. em seguida, o mesmo foi aplicado a um sistema de irrigação tipo pivô central em duas opções de rendimento do motor elétrico: 92,6% (linha padrão) e 94,3% (linha alto rendimento), sendo que o custo de aquisição do primeiro correspondeu a 70% do segundo. A potência do motor elétrico era de 100 cv. Os resultados mostraram que o modelo permitiu avaliar se um motor de alto rendimento era viável economicamente em relação ao motor-padrão em cada estrutura tarifária. Nas duas estruturas tarifárias, o motor de alto rendimento não foi viável. Na tarifa horo-sazonal verde, somente seria viável se seu rendimento fosse 4,46% superior ao do motor-padrão. Na tarifa convencional, somente seria viável se o ganho de rendimento superasse 2,71%.

Rapid determination of desorption efficiency, and analysis of solvent mixtures for occupational exposure studies

An analytical procedure has been developed for simultaneous determination of solvent mixture vapors to enable evaluation of occupational exposure. To determine the desorption efficiency the volatile components of the solvent mixtures were generated from a glass tube filled with glass wool. This device is easy to prepare and use. These vapors were then collected in activated charcoal tubes and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. The method was tested with a mixture of 22 solvents, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, esters, and ketones, oil at low concentrations. All the components were defected. When a 99: 1 mixture of carbon disulfide-dimethylformamide was used for desorption the efficiency was > 75% for most of the solvents.