Convex combinations of long memory estimates from different sampling rates

Convex combinations of long memory estimates using the same data observed at different sampling rates can decrease the standard deviation of the estimates, at the cost of inducing a slight bias. The convex combination of such estimates requires a preliminary correction for the bias observed at lower sampling rates, reported by Souza and Smith (2002). Through Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the bias and the standard deviation of the combined estimates, as well as the root mean squared error (RMSE), which takes both into account. While comparing the results of standard methods and their combined versions, the latter achieve lower RMSE, for the two semi-parametric estimators under study (by about 30% on average for ARFIMA(0,d,0) series).

Improved combinations of parametric and nonparametric Regression estimators

This paper provides a systematic and unified treatment of the developments in the area of kernel estimation in econometrics and statistics. Both the estimation and hypothesis testing issues are discussed for the nonparametric and semiparametric regression models. A discussion on the choice of windowwidth is also presented.

Mudanças climáticas: uma realidade (trailer parte 1, 2, 3)

Secas extremas, inundações, furacões, pessoas que perderam suas casas, suas plantações, seus animais, sua fé. Essa é a realidade enfrentada por brasileiros em diversas regiões do País. A causa? As mudanças do clima. Apesar de muita gente ainda achar que aquecimento global é coisa de cinema ou que só acontecerá daqui a muitas gerações, o documentário do Greenpeace "Mudanças do Clima, Mudanças de Vidas" mostra que tudo isso já é, infelizmente, uma realidade. Confira ao lado o filme e clique no menu acima para adquirir a sua cópia

Trailer Musikinésia

Vídeo componente do jogo “Musikinésia (http://www.loa.sead.ufscar.br/musikinesia.php)” desenvolvido pela equipe do Laboratório de Objetos de Aprendizagem da Universidade Federal de São Carlos (LOA/UFSCar).

Synonymy of the yeast genera Moniliella and Trichosporonoides and proposal of Moniliella fonsecae sp nov and five new species combinations

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of the season of the year, truck type and location on truck on skin bruises and meat quality in pigs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the season of the year (summer vs winter), type of truck (A: single decker vs B : double-decker) and pig location on the truck (front, middle, rear) on the incidence of skin bruising and pork quality variation. For this purpose, 2660 gilts of an average weight of 126.7 (+/- 6.6) kg originating from 19 different farms were used. No interaction between season of the year, type of truck and location on truck was observed. A higher number of bruises on the body at unloading and slaughter (P < 0.0001) and a higher number of bruises on the carcass (P < 0.01) were observed in winter. At unloading a higher number of bruises on the body and on the carcass after slaughter was observed in pigs transported on Truck A (P=0.004 and P=0.05). A higher, although not significant, number of bruises was found on the body of pigs transported in the rear compartment of both trucks. Higher paleness value was found in the longissimus and semimembranosus muscles in summer (P=0.0001) than in winter. Cold and heat stress have a negative influence on skin bruises and meat quality, respectively. Poor vehicle design increases the incidence of bruised carcasses without detracting from pork quality regardless of the climate conditions tested and location of the animal it] the truck. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Combinations of low doses of unfractionated heparin and of low-molecular-weight heparin prevent experimental venous thrombosis

Synergism between low-molecular-weight heparin and low doses of unfractionated heparin (UH) enhancing anti-factor Xa activity and the release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor was observed. The aim of this study was to verify whether this association is effective in preventing experimental venous thrombosis. Seventy rats were allocated into 7 groups: the control group treated with distilled water, the H-350 group treated with UH 350 IU/kg, the E-2 group treated with enoxaparin 2 mg/kg, the H-175 group treated with UH 175 IU/kg, the E-1 group treated with enoxaparin 1 mg/kg, the H-175 + E-1 group treated with UH 175 IU/kg plus enoxaparin 1 mg/kg, and the H-100 + E-0.5 group treated with UH 100 IU/kg plus enoxaparin 0.5 mg/kg. Forty minutes after subcutaneous injection, thrombosis was induced in vena cava. Three hours later, if present, thrombi were withdrawn and weighed. Bleeding time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time (TT), and anti-factor Xa were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Fortyeight other animals were treated, but without inducing thrombus, and tests were performed 40 min after injection. Thrombus developed in 90.9% of control animals, 20% of the H-350 group, 22.2% of the E-2 group, 10% of the H-175 + E-1 group, and 30% of the H-100 + E-0.5 group; there was a difference between group C and the other groups. Only in the H-350 and H-175 + E-1 groups were TT and activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged in relation to control at the end of the experiment. Forty minutes after injection, TT was prolonged in the H-350 and H-175 + E-1 groups. In conclusion, combinations of low doses of low-molecular-weight heparin and low doses of UH were as effective as high doses of each one used alone in preventing thrombus development in rat vena cava. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Comparison of visual inspection, radiographic examination, laser fluorescence and their combinations on treatment decisions for occlusal surfaces

Purpose: To compare visual inspection (VI), radiographic examination (RX) and the laser fluorescence device DIAGNOdent (L), as well as their combinations in vitro regarding treatment decisions for occlusal surfaces. Methods: 72 extracted human permanent teeth (molars and premolars) were used. Treatment decisions were recorded by three calibrated examiners, and the options available were fissure sealant and conservative restoration. For validation of treatment decisions, the teeth were sectioned and examined in a stereomicroscope. Thereafter, dental slices were scanned and the images were edited to facilitate classification of existing carious lesions. Intra and inter-examiner reproducibility for the determination of treatment plans were calculated using Cohen's kappa test (95%-CI). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the area under the ROC curve were also calculated. Results: VI and L provided on average the greatest intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility, respectively. Although the combination of diagnostic methods may decrease both intra- and inter examiners reproducibility, combination of VI, L and RX resulted in the greatest sensitivity, being statistically superior to RX and L. There was more inter-examiner agreement for the option of restorative treatment, while the use of sealants as a treatment option yielded the lowest values. Negative predictive values were numerically inferior to positive predictive values, indicating that the examiners preferred not to restore a carious tooth than to proceed operatively in an intact tooth. The combination of the three methods studied showed the best results in determining treatment plans for occlusal surfaces, when compared to the other types of exams. on the other hand, radiographic examination and laser fluorescence were less efficient when used alone.

EFFECT of DIFFERENT AIRBORNE-PARTICLE ABRASION/BONDING AGENT COMBINATIONS on THE BOND STRENGTH of A RESIN CEMENT TO A BASE METAL ALLOY

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

Evaluation of pH, available chlorine content, and antibacterial activity of endodontic irrigants and their combinations against Enterococcus faecalis

Objectives. The objectives of this study were to evaluate pH, available chlorine content, and antibacterial activity of endodontic irrigants and their combinations.Study design. The pH and chlorine content of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) were analyzed pure and in combination with 10% citric acid (CA) and apple vinegar (AV). The antibacterial effect of the following solutions was measured by direct contact test against Enterococcus faecalis: 2.5% NaOCl, 2.5% NaOCl + 10% CA (7:3), 2.5% NaOCl + AV (5:5), 10% CA, and AV. Sterile saline was used as control. The colony-forming units were determined by serial decimal dilutions.Results. The combination of 2.5% NaOCl with CA or AV lowered the pH and the chlorine content. NaOCl, alone or in combination was able to eliminate E. faecalis in 30 seconds, and CA, after 10 minutes. AV promoted reduction (32.2%) after 10 minutes.Conclusions. NaOCl with acidic solutions lowered the pH and the chlorine content, but did not alter its antibacterial effect. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011; 112:132-135)

Antibacterial efficacy of endodontic irrigating solutions and their combinations in root canals contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis

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

Electrocardiographic evaluation of two anesthetic combinations in dogs

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar as possíveis alterações eletrocardiográficas de cães submetidos a duas condutas anestésicas, indicando aquela que produz menores alterações no eletrocardiograma (ECG). Foram utilizados 40 cães com idade igual ou superior a cinco anos, 24 machos e 16 fêmeas, com peso entre 5 e 42kg, oriundos de clínicas particulares da cidade de São Paulo e do canil da Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo, sem sintomas cardiovasculares e triados para tartarectomia. Todos os cães foram submetidos a dois ECG: um antes da anestesia e outro imediatamente antes de se iniciar o procedimento cirúrgico. As características eletrocardiográficas avaliadas foram: ritmo, duração da onda P, do complexo QRS e dos intervalos PR e QT, amplitude das ondas P e R e alterações do segmento ST e da onda T; avaliou-se também o índice de tono vagal (ITV). Os cães foram divididos em: grupo 1, que recebeu atropina, levomepromazina, tiopental e halotano (ALTH) e grupo 2, que recebeu atropina, tiletamina e zolazepam (ATZ). Os resultados mostraram que a associação ALTH produziu algumas alterações discretas no ECG dos cães avaliados, caracterizadas por modificações qualitativas no segmento ST, na onda T e no ritmo cardíaco, reduzindo significativamente o ITV, com tendência à bradicardia e hipóxia. Já a associação ATZ, além das alterações já citadas, produziu diminuição da duração dos intervalos PR e QT, bem como aumentou a freqüência cardíaca, com tendência à taquicardia e hipóxia.

On linear combinations of L-orthogonal polynomials associated with distributions belonging to symmetric classes

This paper deals with the classes S-3(omega, beta, b) of strong distribution functions defined on the interval [beta(2)/b, b], 0 < beta < b <= infinity, where 2 omega epsilon Z. The classification is such that the distribution function psi epsilon S-3(omega, beta, b) has a (reciprocal) symmetry, depending on omega, about the point beta. We consider properties of the L-orthogonal polynomials associated with psi epsilon S-3(omega, beta, b). Through linear combination of these polynomials we relate them to the L-orthogonal polynomials associated with some omega epsilon S-3(1/2, beta, b). (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of cardiorespiratory effects of combinations of dexmedetomidine and atropine in cats

The cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine alone or in combination with atropine were studied in six cats. Cats underwent four treatments in a randomized crossover design as follows: DEX15, saline + dexmedetomidine 15 mu g/kg; DEX30, saline + dexmedetomidine 30 mu g/kg; ADEX15, atropine + dexmedetomidine 15 mu g/kg; ADEX30, atropine + dexmedetomidine 30 mu g/kg. Pulse rate (PR) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) decreased in DEX15 and DEX30. Premedication with atropine was effective in preventing bradycardia (PR < 100 beats/min) and resulted in a biphasic effect in blood pressure. Hypertension was followed by a gradual decrease in SAP. Rate pressure product decreased in DEX15 and DEX30 whereas in ADEX15 and ADEX30 it remained within baseline values for at least 60 min. Although premedication with atropine in cats sedated with dexmedetomidine prevents bradycardia, it induces hypertension and increases myocardial oxygen consumption. The magnitude of cardiovascular effects produced by dexmedetomidine in cats does not seem to be dose-related. (C) 2009 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.