Displaying the future: Techno-nationalism and the rise of the consumer in postwar Japan

This paper explains how, in the aftermath of World War II, a type of techno-nationalism emerged that linked being Japanese to science and technology and the increased consumption of electrical appliances. By closely examining official exhibitions, we can see how the state and private sector strongly encouraged this techno-scientific dreaming. Dazzling displays highlighted how the peaceful atom would help lead the nation to achieve high economic growth. At the same time, through the judicious purchase of labor saving appliances, consumers could reconcile the need to spend with the need to save.

A modernização do atraso : os fundamentos da urbanização de Vitória-1889-1930

Esta dissertação volta-se para a investigação da modernização da cidade de Vitória durante a passagem do século XIX ao XX. Trata-se, especificamente, da tentativa de compreender a modernização de Vitória no seu conteúdo arcaico, no sentido de, no conjunto das estratégias do poder, preservarem-se interesses de estruturas sociais anteriores, para um novo contexto econômico e sociopolítico. O referencial teórico de análise pressupôs apreender a cidade (seu espaço construído) articulada à estrutura econômica, enquanto condições urbanas necessárias à reprodução do capital. Para tal efeito, foi necessário compreender as implicações da metamorfose da riqueza, representada anteriormente pela propriedade do escravo e transferida para a propriedade da terra. Nessa tarefa, investigamos a hegemonia dos interesses da instância mercantil-exportadora do capital que dominou o aparelho de Estado e dirigiu o processo. A interferência dessa fração do capital no processo foi compreendida a partir da estruturação do poder no Espírito Santo processada na reorganização das bases da produção de café na transição do trabalho escravo para o livre. Através da modernização da cidade, foram criadas novas alternativas de valorização do capital por intermédio da construção da cidade (habitações, edifícios públicos, infraestrutura e serviços urbanos). Contudo, não se verificou de forma significativa desdobramento do excedente acumulado na esfera do comércio em atividades produtivas modernas (multiplicadoras da riqueza). Nesse processo, surge a perspectiva de a valorização da propriedade imobiliária como expressão do desenvolvimento das condições gerais da produção e da reprodução do trabalho possibilitar rendas futuras crescentes ao capital. O que indica uma urbanização fundamentalmente dominada pelos interesses mercantil-exportadores e patrimonialistas, revelando um forte traço de atraso da modernização da cidade em seu papel de centro comercial da economia regional.

Towards an uncertain future? The strengthening of Japan's autonomy in Asia-Pacific

Recently, Japan has been increasing tensions with China regarding the Pinnacle Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Due to the Chinese military development, Japan has been working on its political and military strengthening in Asia. This essay presents two possible scenarios for Japan.

The effect of leaf area reduction on corn plants during the reproduction phase

Reduction in leaf area in corn plants during reproduction changes physiological metabolism and consequently the accumulation of dry matter in grains. The aim of this work was to study changes in agronomic characteristics caused by defoliation in corn during the reproduction phase. The experiment was carried out in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais state, in the agricultural year 2007/2008. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design, consisting of seven treatments: control without defoliation, removal of two apical leaves, removal of four apical leaves, removal of all leaves above spike, removal of four intermediate leaves, removal of all leaves below spike, and removal of all plant leaves, with five repetitions. The genotype used for the evaluations was hybrid NB 7376. Defoliation was carried out when plants were at the growth stage R2. The variables assessed were: yield, density of spikes and corncobs, root resistance and stem integrity. When all leaves above the spike were removed, grain yield was reduced by 20%. Corncob density, stem integrity and root resistance to uprooting were also affected. Spike density was only affected when all plant leaves were removed. The leaf area remaining physiologically active above the spike was found to be most efficient in terms of grain yield.

Criminal Liability of Organizations, Corporations, Legal Persons, and Similar Entities on Law of Portuguese Cybercrime: A Brief Discussion on the Issue of Crimes of “False Information,” the “Damage on Other Programs or Computer Data,” the “Computer-Software Sabotage,” the “Illegitimate Access,” the “Unlawful Interception,” and “Illegitimate Reproduction of the Protected Program”

Abstract: in Portugal, and in much of the legal systems of Europe, «legal persons» are likely to be criminally responsibilities also for cybercrimes. Like for example the following crimes: «false information»; «damage on other programs or computer data»; «computer-software sabotage»; «illegitimate access»; «unlawful interception» and «illegitimate reproduction of protected program». However, in Portugal, have many exceptions. Exceptions to the «question of criminal liability» of «legal persons». Some «legal persons» can not be blamed for cybercrime. The legislature did not leave! These «legal persons» are v.g. the following («public entities»): legal persons under public law, which include the public business entities; entities utilities, regardless of ownership; or other legal persons exercising public powers. In other words, and again as an example, a Portuguese public university or a private concessionaire of a public service in Portugal, can not commit (in Portugal) any one of cybercrime pointed. Fair? Unfair. All laws should provide that all legal persons can commit cybercrimes. PS: resumo do artigo em inglês.

Kidney targeting and puncturing during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: recent advances and future perspectives

Background and Purpose: Precise needle puncture of the kidney is a challenging and essential step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Many devices and surgical techniques have been developed to easily achieve suitable renal access. This article presents a critical review to address the methodologies and techniques for conducting kidney targeting and the puncture step during PCNL. Based on this study, research paths are also provided for PCNL procedure improvement. Methods: Most relevant works concerning PCNL puncture were identified by a search of Medline/PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus databases from 2007 to December 2012. Two authors independently reviewed the studies. Results: A total of 911 abstracts and 346 full-text articles were assessed and discussed; 52 were included in this review as a summary of the main contributions to kidney targeting and puncturing. Conclusions: Multiple paths and technologic advances have been proposed in the field of urology and minimally invasive surgery to improve PCNL puncture. The most relevant contributions, however, have been provided by the applicationofmedical imaging guidance, newsurgical tools,motion tracking systems, robotics, andimage processing and computer graphics. Despite the multiple research paths for PCNL puncture guidance, no widely acceptable solution has yet been reached, and it remains an active and challenging research field. Future developments should focus on real-time methods, robust and accurate algorithms, and radiation free imaging techniques

Kidney targeting and puncturing during percutaneous nephrolithotomy:recent advances and future perspectives

Precise needle puncture of the kidney is a challenging and essential step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Many devices and surgical techniques have been developed to easily achieve suitable renal access. This article presents a critical review to address the methodologies and techniques for conducting kidney targeting and the puncture step during PCNL. Based on this study, research paths are also provided for PCNL procedure improvement. Methods: Most relevant works concerning PCNL puncture were identified by a search of Medline/PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus databases from 2007 to December 2012. Two authors independently reviewed the studies.

Mortality problems in Brazil and in Germany: past-present-future. Learning from each other?

This article was written by a Swiss-German historical demographer after having visited different Brazilian Universities in 1984 as a guest-professor. It aims at promoting a real dialog between developed and developing countries, commencing the discussion with the question: Can we learn from each other? An affirmative answer is given, but not in the superficial manner in which the discussion partners simply want to give each other some "good advice" or in which the one declares his country's own development to be the solely valid standard. Three points are emphasized: 1. Using infant mortality in S. Paulo from 1908 to 1983 as an example, it is shown that Brazil has at its disposal excellent, highly varied research literature that is unjustifiably unknown to us (in Europe) for the most part. Brazil by no means needs our tutoring lessons as regards the causal relationships; rather, we could learn two things from Brazil about this. For one, it becomes clear that our almost exclusively medical-biological view is inappropriate for passing a judgment on the present-day problems in Brazil and that any conclusions so derived are thus only transferable to a limited extent. For another, we need to reinterpret the history of infant mortality in our own countries up to the past few decades in a much more encompassing "Brazilian" sense. 2. A fruitful dialog can only take place if both partners frankly present their problems. For this reason, the article refers with much emprasis to our present problems in dealing with death and dying - problems arising near the end of the demographic and epidemiologic transitions: the superanuation of the population, chronic-incurable illnesses as the main causes of death, the manifold dependencies of more and more elderly and really old people at the end of a long life. Brazil seems to be catching up to us in this and will be confronted with these problems sooner or later. A far-sighted discussion already at this time seems thus to be useful. 3. The article, however, does not want to conclude with the rather depressing state of affairs of problems alternatingly superseding each other. Despite the caution which definitely has a place when prognoses are being made on the basis of extrapolations from historical findings, the foreseeable development especially of the epidemiologic transition in the direction of a rectangular survival curve does nevertheless provide good reason for being rather optimistic towards the future: first in regards to the development in our own countries, but then - assuming that the present similar tendencies of development are stuck to - also in regard to Brazil.

Avaliação de imóveis históricos

O objectivo da presente dissertação é o estudo e desenvolvimento de um modelo de avaliação de imóveis históricos: os edifícios classificados como Monumentos Nacionais - “MN”, os Imóveis de Interesse Público - “IIP”, os imóveis de Interesse Municipal - “IIM”, e todos os imóveis cuja arquitectura e história os façam distinguir pela sua singularidade e marco, enquanto memória a preservar. A investigação realizada, permitiu compreender a forma, como são actualmente avaliados os imóveis históricos. A pesquisa incidiu no património edificado nacional, considerando as respectivas características, que os definem como imóveis a preservar. Foi observado um conjunto de imóveis classificados pelo Estado, e enfatizados os conceitos de arquitectura, história e património, considerados como parte essencial do processo de avaliação. O estado de negligência, em Portugal, a que está votado parte significativa do património edificado, com raras excepções, foi igualmente focado, analisando-se as razões desta situação. Realizou-se a aplicação do Método do Custo de Reprodução a um edifício classificado como Monumento Nacional, e actualmente em estado devoluto, o “Forte de Nossa Senhora da Graça”, localizado em Elvas. Os resultados obtidos, foram comparados através da aplicação do Método de Actualização das Rendas Futuras, por seriação de critérios e pela análise dos valores obtidos. Os métodos de avaliação utilizados foram comparados entre si, procurando-se estabelecer um modelo baseado em critérios de avaliação, que revele o impacto histórico e arquitectónico, numa perspectiva social. Foram expostas as premissas nas quais assentam este tipo de avaliações imobiliárias e retiradas conclusões sobre os resultados obtidos.

Computational intelligence applications for future power systems

Power system planning, control and operation require an adequate use of existing resources as to increase system efficiency. The use of optimal solutions in power systems allows huge savings stressing the need of adequate optimization and control methods. These must be able to solve the envisaged optimization problems in time scales compatible with operational requirements. Power systems are complex, uncertain and changing environments that make the use of traditional optimization methodologies impracticable in most real situations. Computational intelligence methods present good characteristics to address this kind of problems and have already proved to be efficient for very diverse power system optimization problems. Evolutionary computation, fuzzy systems, swarm intelligence, artificial immune systems, neural networks, and hybrid approaches are presently seen as the most adequate methodologies to address several planning, control and operation problems in power systems. Future power systems, with intensive use of distributed generation and electricity market liberalization increase power systems complexity and bring huge challenges to the forefront of the power industry. Decentralized intelligence and decision making requires more effective optimization and control techniques techniques so that the involved players can make the most adequate use of existing resources in the new context. The application of computational intelligence methods to deal with several problems of future power systems is presented in this chapter. Four different applications are presented to illustrate the promises of computational intelligence, and illustrate their potentials.