On comparing two sequences of numbers and its applications to clustering analysis

A conceptual problem that appears in different contexts of clustering analysis is that of measuring the degree of compatibility between two sequences of numbers. This problem is usually addressed by means of numerical indexes referred to as sequence correlation indexes. This paper elaborates on why some specific sequence correlation indexes may not be good choices depending on the application scenario in hand. A variant of the Product-Moment correlation coefficient and a weighted formulation for the Goodman-Kruskal and Kendall`s indexes are derived that may be more appropriate for some particular application scenarios. The proposed and existing indexes are analyzed from different perspectives, such as their sensitivity to the ranks and magnitudes of the sequences under evaluation, among other relevant aspects of the problem. The results help suggesting scenarios within the context of clustering analysis that are possibly more appropriate for the application of each index. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dimethylthallium(III) complexes with picolinic acid and its hydroxyl derivatives

The reaction of dimethylthallium(III) hydroxide with picolinic acid (Hpic), 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (H(2)3hpic) and 6-hydroxypicolinic acid (H(2)6hpic) in an aqueous/methanol mixture afforded the complexes [TlMe(2)(pic)] (1), [TlMe(2)(H3hpic)] (2) and [TlMe(2)(H6hpic)] (3), respectively. Complex 3`, [NaTlMe(2)(6hpic)(2)](n), was obtained as a minor product from a methanolic solution of 3. Compounds 1-3 were characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopy and, in the cases of 1, 2 and Y, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 3` is the first example of an H6hpic(-) heterobimetallic compound to be isolated. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of 1 and 2 are also discussed. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Calucaltion of waste heat from hot rolled steel coils at SSAB and its recovery

Hot rolling process is heat input process. The heat energy in hot rolled steel coils can be utilized. At SSAB Strip Product Borlänge when the hot rolled steel coils came out of the hot rolling mill they are at the temperature range of 500°C to 800°C. Heat energy contained by the one hot rolled steel coil is about 1981Kwh whereas the total heat energy for the year 2008 is 230 GWh/year.The potential of heat is too much but the heat dissipation rate is too slow. Different factors on which heat dissipation rate depends are discussed.Three suggestions are proposed to collect the waste heat from hot rolled steel coils.The 2nd proposal in which water basin is suggested would help not only to collect the waste heat but to decrease in the cooling time.

Conditional treatment and its effect on recidivism

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the 1985 ”Employment Services for Ex-Offenders” (ESEO) program on recidivism. Initially, the sample has been split randomly in a control group and a treatment group. However, the actual treatment (mainly being job related counseling) only takes place conditional on finding a job, and not having been arrested, for those selected in the treatment group. We use a multiple proportional hazard model with unobserved heterogeneity for job seach and recidivism time which incorporates the conditional treatment effect. We find that the program helps to reduce criminal activity, contrary to the result of the previous analysis of this data set. This finding is important for crime prevention policy.

Delivering educational value: evaluation of The Corporate International Master's Program by its stakeholders

Over the past decade, the number and diversity of executive education (EE) programs have continued to grow (BusinessWeek, 2006). With the proliferation of EE programs come the challenges of evaluating the overall quality of such programs. What makes a valuable EE program to the companies that purchase them, to the universities that manage them, and to the participants that learn from them? The present research focuses on key factors that have served to determine the value of EE programs, and apply these criteria to evaluate the quality of a new EE program: The Corporate International Master’s (CIM) program. The CIM program was launched in the fall of 2013. Hence, the present research will focus on evaluating the CIM program in its first year of operations. It is my hope that this research will inform the optimization and future development of the CIM program.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

SOARES, Elvira Maria Mafaldo et al. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertility and Sterility, v.89, n.3, p.649-655, mar. 2008

Functional characterization by genetic complementation of aroB-Encoded dehydroquinate synthase from Mycobactetium tuberculosis H37Rv and its heterologous expression and purification

The recent recrudescence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains have created an urgent need for new therapeutics against tuberculosis. The enzymes of the shikimate pathway are attractive drug targets because this route is absent in mammals and, in M. tuberculosis, it is essential for pathogen viability. This pathway leads to the biosynthesis of aromatic compounds, including aromatic amino acids, and it is found in plants, fungi, bacteria, and apicomplexan parasites. The aroB-encoded enzyme dehydroquinate synthase is the second enzyme of this pathway, and it catalyzes the cyclization of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate in 3-dehydroquinate. Here we describe the PCR amplification and cloning of the aroB gene and the overexpression and purification of its product, dehydroquinate synthase, to homogeneity. In order to probe where the recombinant dehydroquinate synthase was active, genetic complementation studies were performed. The Escherichia coli AB2847 mutant was used to demonstrate that the plasmid construction was able to repair the mutants, allowing them to grow in minimal medium devoid of aromatic compound supplementation. In addition, homogeneous recombinant M. tuberculosis dehydroquinate synthase was active in the absence of other enzymes, showing that it is homomeric. These results will support the structural studies with M. tuberculosis dehydroquinate synthase that are essential for the rational design of antimycobacterial agents.

Improvement of heart rate variability after exercise training and its predictors in COPD

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Functional significance of eIF5A and its hypusine modification in eukaryotes

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

Melatonin and its kynurenin-like oxidation products affect the microbicidal activity of neutrophils

Activated phagocytes oxidize the hormone melatonin to N-1-acethyl-N-2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) in a superoxide anion- and myeloperoxidase-dependent reaction. We examined the effect of melatonin, AFMK and its deformylated-product N-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK) on the phagocytosis, the microbicidal activity and the production of hypochlorous acid by neutrophils. Neither neutrophil and bacteria viability nor phagocytosis were affected by melatonin, AFMK or AMK. However these compounds affected the killing of Staphylococcus aureus. After 60 min of incubation, the percentage of viable bacteria inside the neutrophil increased to 76% in the presence of 1 mM of melatonin, 34% in the presence of AFMK and 73% in the presence of AMK. The sole inhibition of HOCl formation, expected in the presence of myeloperoxidase substrates, was not sufficient to explain the inhibition of the killing activity. Melatonin caused an almost complete inhibition of HOCl formation at concentrations of up to 0.05 mM. Although less effective, AMK also inhibited the formation of HOCl However, AFMK had no effect on the production of HOCl These findings corroborate the present view that the killing activity of neutrophils is a complex phenomenon, which involves more than just the production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the action of melatonin and its oxidation products include additional activities beyond their antioxidant property. The impairment of the neutrophils' microbicidal activity caused by melatonin and its oxidation products may have important clinical implications, especially in those cases in which melatonin is pharmacologically administered in patients with infections. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

A geometric interpretation for transmission real losses minimization through the optimal power flow and its influence on voltage collapse

This work presents an approach for geometric solution of an optimal power flow (OPF) problem for a two bus system (a slack and a PV busses). Additionally, the geometric relationship between the losses minimization and the increase of the reactive margin and, therefore, the maximum loading point, is shown. The algebraic equations for the calculation of the Lagrange multipliers and for the minimum losses value are obtained. These equations are used to validate the results obtained using an OPF program. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Metabolic syndrome and its associated risk factors in Brazilian postmenopausal women

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated risk factors in Brazilian postmenopausal women.Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 368 postmenopausal women, aged 40-75 years, seeking health care at a public outpatient center in Southeastern Brazil, were included. According to the US National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) guidelines, MetS was diagnosed in subjects with three or more of the following: waist circumference >= 88 cm, blood pressure >= 130/85 mHg, triglycerides >= 150 mg/dl, high density lipoprotein cholesterol <50 mg/dl and glucose >= 110 mg/dl. Data on past medical history, tobacco use, anthropometric indicators, and values of C-reactive protein (CRP) were collected. Multivariate analysis, using a logistic regression model (odds ratio, OR) was used to evaluate the influence of various simultaneous MetS risk factors.Results The prevalence of having at least three, four and five MetS diagnostic criteria were met in 39.6%, 16.8% and 3.8% of the cases, respectively. The most prevalent risk factor was abdominal obesity, affecting 62.5% of women. The risk of MetS increased with a personal history of diabetes (OR 5.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.82-12.54), hypertension (OR 4.52, 95% CI 2.89-7.08), cardiovascular disease (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.18-3.94) and high CRP (>1 mg/dl) (OR 3.35, 95% CI 1.65-6.79). Plasma CRP levels increased with the number of MetS components present. Age, time since menopause and smoking had no influence, while hormone therapy reduced MetS risk (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.97).Conclusion Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent among Brazilian postmenopausal women seeking gynecologic health care. Abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension and high CRP were strong MetS predictors and hormone therapy appeared to play a protective role for this condition.

The 434(G > C) polymorphism in the eosinophil cationic protein gene and its association with tissue eosinophilia in oral squamous cell carcinomas

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

Effect of propolis, some isolated compounds and its source plant on antibody production

Propolis is a beehive product with a very complex chemical composition, widely used in folk medicine because of its several therapeutic activities. Its biological properties and chemical composition may vary according to the geographic location and to the different plant sources. The possible mechanism of action of propolis as well as of its active compounds has been the subject of researchers in recent years. In this work, first we reported the results of our study on the seasonal effect of the immunomodulatory action of propolis on antibody production in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-immunized rats. Then, we compared the effect of Brazilian and Bulgarian propolis, some isolated compounds and Baccharis extract on anti-BSA antibody levels. Based on the results, we conclude that propolis stimulates antibody production, independently of the season and geographic origin. Caffeic acid, quercetin and Baccharis extract had no effect on antibody production, although the importance of isolated compounds is well reported in other biological assays. Propolis action is a consequence of plant-derived products with synergic effects. while isolated compounds or extracts from its plant sources had no effect in this assay. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.