Institutional requirements for market-led development in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Propulsive force asymmetry during tethered-swimming

This study aimed to determine whether: i) tethered-swimming can be used to identify the asymmetry during front crawl swimming style; ii) swimmers that perform unilateral breathing present greater asymmetry in comparison to others that use bilateral breathing; iii) swimmers of best performance present smaller asymmetry than their counterparts; iv) repeated front crawl swimming movements influence body asymmetry. 18 swimmers were assessed for propulsive force parameters (peak force, mean force, impulse and rate of force development) during a maximal front crawl tethered-swimming test lasting 2 min. A factorial analysis showed that propulsive forces decreased at the beginning, intermediate and end of the test (p<0.05), but the asymmetries were not changed at different instants of the test. When breathing preference (uni- or bilateral) was analyzed, asymmetry remained unchanged in all force parameters (p>0.05). When performance was considered (below or above mean group time), a larger asymmetry was found in the sub-group of lower performance in comparison to those of best performance (p<0.05). Therefore, the asymmetries of the propulsive forces can be detected using tethered-swimming. The propulsive forces decreased during the test but asymmetries did not change under testing conditions. Although breathing preference did not influence asymmetry, swimmers with best performance were less asymmetric than their counterparts. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York.

Trade and Development Nexus: reflections on the performance of trade in goods under the Cariforum-European Union Partnership agreement a Cariforum perspective

Given the asymmetry in the levels of development and capacity which exist between the EU and CARIFORUM States, the architects of the CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)1 anticipated the need for review and monitoring of the impacts of implementation. Article 5 and other provisions in the Agreement therefore specifically mandate that monitoring be undertaken to ensure that the Agreement benefits a wide cross-section of the population in member countries. The paper seeks to provide a preliminary assessment of the impact of the EPA on CARIFORUM countries. In so doing, it highlights some critical information and implementation gaps and challenges that have emerged during the implementation process. The analysis however, is restricted to goods trade. The services sector will be the subject of a separate report. The paper draws on a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses. While the paper undertakes a CARIFORUM-wide analysis for the most part, five CARIFORUM member states including Barbados, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia are examined more closely in some instances. These economies were selected by virtue of economic structure and development constraints, as a representative subset of CARIFORUM, which comprises the CARICOM membership as well as the Dominican Republic.

Dynamics of the corotating vortices in dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of dissipation

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

Role of cholinergic and adrenergic pathways of the medial septal area in the control of water intake and renal excretion in rats

In this study, we investigated an interaction between noradrenergic and cholinergic pathways of the medial septal area (MSA) on the control of water intake and urinary electrolyte excretion by means of injection of their respective agonists. Noradrenaline (a nonspecific α-adrenergic agonist) and clonidine (an α2-adrenergic agonist), but not phenylephrine (an α1-adrenergic agonist), induced natriuresis and kaliuresis. α-Adrenergic activation had no effect on the natriuresis and kaliuresis induced by carbachol (a cholinergic agonist) and it inhibited the antinatriuresis and antikaliuresis induced by isoproterenol (a ß-adrenergic agonist). Interactions related to volume excretion are complex. α-Adrenergic activation induced a mild diuresis and inhibited the antidiuresis induced by isoproterenol, but phenylephrine combined with carbachol induced antidiuresis. The water intake induced by carbachol was inhibited by clonidine and noradrenaline, but not phenylephrine. These results show an asymmetry in the interaction between α-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors concerning water intake and electrolyte excretion. © 1992.

A hormonal misunderstanding in Acca sellowiana embryogenesis: levels of zygotic embryogenesis do not match those of somatic embryogenesis

Endogenous levels of IAA, ABA and four types of CKs were analyzed in zygotic and indirect (ISE) and direct somatic embryogenesis of Acca sellowiana. Zygotic and somatic embryos at different developmental stages were sampled for morphological and hormonal analysis. Both embryo types showed substantial asymmetry in hormone levels. Zygotic embryos displayed a conspicuous peak of IAA in early developmental stages. The results outlined the hormonal variations occurring during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis regarding the timing, nature and hormonal status involved in both processes. The short transient pulse of IAA observed on the 3rd day in culture was suggested to be involved with the signaling for the induction of somatic embryogenesis. Fertilized ovule development was associated with increased IAA levels 21-24 days after pollination, followed by a sharp decrease in the cotyledonary stage, both in zygotic and somatic embryos. There was a prominent increase in ABA levels in cultures which generated ISE 24-30 days after pollination, a period that corresponds to the heart and torpedo stages. The levels of total CKs (Z, [9R]Z, iP and [9R]iP) were also always higher in zygotic than in somatic embryogenesis. While zygotic embryogenesis was dominated by the presence of zeatin, the somatic process, contrarily, was characterized by a large variation of the other cytokinin forms and amounts studied. The above results, when taken together, could be related to the previously observed high frequency formation of anomalous somatic embryos formed in A. sellowiana, as well as to their low germination ability.

Mitochondrial Network Size Scaling in Budding Yeast

Mitochondria must grow with the growing cell to ensure proper cellular physiology and inheritance upon division. We measured the physical size of mitochondrial networks in budding yeast and found that mitochondrial network size increased with increasing cell size and that this scaling relation occurred primarily in the bud. The mitochondria-to-cell size ratio continually decreased in aging mothers over successive generations. However, regardless of the mother's age or mitochondrial content, all buds attained the same average ratio. Thus, yeast populations achieve a stable scaling relation between mitochondrial content and cell size despite asymmetry in inheritance.

Large asymmetric hypertrophy of rectus abdominis muscle in professional tennis players

[EN] PURPOSE: To determine the volume and degree of asymmetry of the musculus rectus abdominis (RA) in professional tennis players. METHODS: The volume of the RA was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 8 professional male tennis players and 6 non-active male control subjects. RESULTS: Tennis players had 58% greater RA volume than controls (P = 0.01), due to hypertrophy of both the dominant (34% greater volume, P = 0.02) and non-dominant (82% greater volume, P = 0.01) sides, after accounting for age, the length of the RA muscle and body mass index (BMI) as covariates. In tennis players, there was a marked asymmetry in the development of the RA, which volume was 35% greater in the non-dominant compared to the dominant side (P<0.001). In contrast, no side-to-side difference in RA volume was observed in the controls (P = 0.75). The degree of side-to-side asymmetry increased linearly from the first lumbar disc to the pubic symphysis (r = 0.97, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Professional tennis is associated with marked hypertrophy of the musculus rectus abdominis, which achieves a volume that is 58% greater than in non-active controls. Rectus abdominis hypertrophy is more marked in the non-dominant than in the dominant side, particularly in the more distal regions. Our study supports the concept that humans can differentially recruit both rectus abdominis but also the upper and lower regions of each muscle. It remains to be determined if this disequilibrium raises the risk of injury.

Diencephalic asymmetries: morphological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis of habenular nuclei in elasmobranchs and teleosts

The habenular nuclei are diencephalic structures present in Vertebrates and they form, with the associated fiber systems, a part of the system that connects the telencephalon to the ventral mesencephalon (Concha M. L. and Wilson S. W., 2001). In representative species of almost all classes of Vertebrates the habenular nuclei are asymmetric, both in terms of size and of neuronal and neurochemical organization, although different types of asymmetry follow different evolutionary courses. Previous studies have analyzed the spread and diversity of the asymmetry in species for which data are not clear (Kemali M. et al., 1980). Notwithstanding that, it’s still not totally understood the evolution of the phenomenon, and the ontogenetic mechanisms that have led to the habenular asymmetry development are not clear (Smeets W.J. et al., 1983). For the present study 14 species of Elasmobranchs and 15 species of Teleostean have been used. Brains removed from the animals have been fixed using 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffer; brains have been analyzed with different tecniques, and I used histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis to describe this asymmetry. My results confirm data previously obtained studying other Elasmobranchs species, in which the left habenula is larger than the right one; the Teleostean show some slightly differences regarding the size of the habenular ganglia, in some species, in which the left habenular nucleus is larger than the right. In the course of studies, a correlation between the habits of life and the diencephalic asymmetry seems to emerge: among the Teleostean analyzed, the species with benthic life (like Lepidorhombus boscii, Platichthys flesus, Solea vulgaris) seem to possess a slight asymmetry, analogous to the one of the Elasmobranchs, while in the other species (like Liza aurata, Anguilla anguilla, Trisopterus minutus) the habenulae are symmetrical. However, various aspects of the neuroanatomical asymmetries of the epithalamus have not been deepened in order to obtain a complete picture of the evolution of this phenomenon, and new searches are needed to examine the species without clear asymmetry, in order to understand the spread and the diversity of the asymmetry among the habenulae between the Vertebrates.

Aufbau eines Moeller-Polarimeters für die Drei-Spektrometer-Anlage und Messung der Helizitätsasymmetrie in der Reaktion p(vec{e},e' p)pi 0 im Bereich der Delta-Resonanz

An der Drei-Spektrometer-Anlage am Beschleuniger MAMI wurde ein Elektronpolarimeter aufgebaut, das die longitudinale Spinpolarisation für Strahlenergien von 500-880 MeV bestimmt. Messprinzip ist die Møller-Streuung. Weiterhin wird ein Experiment zur Bestimmung der Strahlhelizitäts-Asymmetrie in resonanter Elektroproduktion neutraler Pionen am Proton vorgestellt. Diese Observable bietet Zugang zu nichtresonanten Untergrundamplituden in der Nukleon-Delta-Anregung, die im Hinblick auf die Extraktion der Quadrupolamplituden in diesem Übergang wichtig sind.

Einzelspin-Asymmetrien in der elastischen Elektron-Proton-Streuung und die Beiträge der Strange-Quarks zu den Formfaktoren des Nukleons

Die A4-Kollaboration am Mainzer Mikrotron MAMI erforscht die Struktur des Protons mit Hilfe der elastischen Streuung polarisierter Elektronen an unpolarisiertem Wasserstoff. Bei longitudinaler Polarisation wird eine paritätsverletzende Asymmetrie im Wirkungsquerschnitt gemessen, die Aufschluß über den Beitrag der Strangeness zu den Vektor-Formfaktoren des Protons gibt. Bei transversaler Polarisation treten azimutale Asymmetrien auf, die auf Beiträge des Zwei-Photon-Austauschs zum Wirkungsquerschnitt zurückzuführen sind und den Zugriff auf den Imaginärteil der Zwei-Photon-Amplitude ermöglichen. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden Messungen bei zwei Impulsüberträgen und jeweils Longitudinal- und Transversalpolarisation durchgeführt und analysiert. Im Vordergrund standen die Extraktion der Rohasymmetrien aus den Daten, die Korrekturen der Rohasymmetrien auf apparative Asymmetrien, die Abschätzung des systematischen Fehlers und die Bestimmung der Strange-Formfaktoren aus den paritätsverletzenden Asymmetrien. Bei den Messungen mit Longitudinalpolarisation wurden die Asymmetrien zu A=(-5.59 +- 0.57stat +- 0.29syst)ppm bei Q^2=0.23 (GeV/c)^2 und A=(-1.39 +- 0.29stat +- 0.12syst)ppm bei Q^2=0.11(GeV/c)^2 bestimmt. Daraus lassen sich die Linearkombinationen der Strange-Formfaktoren zu GEs+0.225GMs= 0.029 +- 0.034 bzw. GEs+0.106GMs=0.070+-0.035 ermitteln. Die beiden Resultate stehen in Übereinstimmung mit anderen Experimenten und deuten darauf hin, daß es einen nichtverschwindenden Strangeness-Beitrag zu den Formfaktoren gibt. Bei den Messungen mit Transversalpolarisation wurden die azimutalen Asymmetrien zu A=(-8.51 +- 2.31stat +-0.89syst)ppm bei E=855 MeV und Q^2=0.23(GeV/c)^2 und zu A=(-8.59 +- 0.89stat +- 0.83syst)ppm bei E=569 MeV und Q^2=0.11(GeV/c)^2 bestimmt. Die Größe der gemessenen Asymmetrien belegt, daß beim Zwei-Photon-Austausch neben dem Grundzustand des Protons vor allem auch angeregte Zwischenzustände einen wesentlichen Beitrag liefern.

Aufbau und Betrieb einer schnellen Kalorimeterelektronik für ein Experiment zur Messung der Paritätsverletzung in der elastischen Elektronenstreuung

Die A4-Kollaboration am Mainzer Mikrotron MAMI erforscht die Struktur des Protons mit Hilfe der elastischen Streuung polarisierter Elektronen an unpolarisiertem Wasserstoff. Bei longitudinaler Polarisation wird die paritätsverletzende Asymmetrie im Wirkungsquerschnitt gemessen, die Aufschluss über den Strangeness-Beitrag zu den Vektor-Formfaktoren des Protons gibt. Insbesondere wurde eine Messung für Rückwärtsstreuwinkel bei einer Elektronenstrahlenergie von 319 MeV durchgeführt, die zusammen mit einem unter Vorwärtsstreuung bei gleichem Impulsübertrag bestimmten Wert die Separation der magnetischen und elektrischen Strangeness-Formfaktoren erlaubt. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde ein Elektroniksystem zur Energiemessung und Histogrammierung der auftretenden Einzelereignisse aufgebaut, das eine vernetzte Struktur aus 1022 Einzelkanälen besitzt und zur Verarbeitung einer Gesamtereignisrate von 100 MHz ausgelegt wurde. Für den experimentellen Betrieb wurden für alle Kanäle erforderliche Qualitäts-prüfungen und Eichmessungen vorgenommen. Die volle Funktionsfähigkeit des Systems zur Durchführung eines Zählratenexperiments für die paritätsverletzende Asymmetrie im Bereich von 10^{-6} wurde demonstriert. Um den bei rückwärtigen Streuwinkeln dominierenden inelastischen Untergrund an Photonen in den Spektren zu reduzieren, wurde das System außerdem um ein Taggersystem für Elektronen erweitert. Das Ergebnis einer vorläufigen Analyse für die paritätsverletzende Asymmetrie im Streuquerschnitt von longitudinal polarisierten Elektronen an unpolarisierten Protonen unter Rückwärtsstreuung bei einem Viererimpulsübertrag Q^2 = 0.23 GeV^2/c^2 beträgt A{PV}=(-16.37 +- 0.93 {stat} +- 0.69 {syst}) ppm. Für die Differenz der gemessenen Asymmetrie A{PV} und der theoretischen Vorhersage ohne Strangeness A{0}=(-16.27 +- 1.22) ppm ergibt sich A{S}= A{PV} - A{0} = (-0.10+-1.68) ppm. Mit dem bereits vorliegenden Wert der Vorwärtsstreuung von A{PV} = (-5.59+- 0.57 {stat} +- 0.29 {syst}) ppm kann ein Wert für den magnetischen bzw. elektrischen Formfaktor von G{M}^s = -0.01+- 0.15 bzw. G{E}^s = 0.034 +- 0.050 ermittelt werden.

Electroweak precision observables and effective four-fermion interactions in warped extra dimensions

In this thesis, we study the phenomenology of selected observables in the context of the Randall-Sundrum scenario of a compactified warpedrnextra dimension. Gauge and matter fields are assumed to live in the whole five-dimensional space-time, while the Higgs sector is rnlocalized on the infrared boundary. An effective four-dimensional description is obtained via Kaluza-Klein decomposition of the five dimensionalrnquantum fields. The symmetry breaking effects due to the Higgs sector are treated exactly, and the decomposition of the theory is performedrnin a covariant way. We develop a formalism, which allows for a straight-forward generalization to scenarios with an extended gauge group comparedrnto the Standard Model of elementary particle physics. As an application, we study the so-called custodial Randall-Sundrum model and compare the resultsrnto that of the original formulation. rnWe present predictions for electroweak precision observables, the Higgs production cross section at the LHC, the forward-backward asymmetryrnin top-antitop production at the Tevatron, as well as the width difference, the CP-violating phase, and the semileptonic CP asymmetry in B_s decays.

Oxotremorine Delays and Scopolamine Accelerates Sexual Exhaustion When Applied to the Preoptic Area in Male Hamsters

Acetylcholine (ACh) has not been tested for a role in the development of sexual exhaustion in males. However, male hamsters receiving infusions into the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine (OXO) or antagonist scopolamine (SCO) show changes in the postejaculatory interval, one of the measures that changes most consistently as exhaustion approaches. In addition, central SCO treatments cause changes in the patterning of intromissions that resemble those signaling exhaustion. To extend these observations and more thoroughly test the dependence of sexual exhaustion on ACh, male hamsters received MPOA treatments of OXO, SCO or the combination of the two before mating to exhaustion. Relative to placebo, OXO infusions caused small but consistent increases in ejaculation frequency and long intromission latency, delaying the appearance of exhaustion. Scopolamine treatments did the reverse, dramatically accelerating the development of exhaustion. Consistent with and possibly responsible for these changes were effects on the quality of performance prior to exhaustion. These included differences in overall copulatory efficiency (e.g., ejaculations/intromission), which was increased by OXO and decreased by SCO. They also extended to several standard measures of copulatory behavior, including intromission frequency, ejaculation latency and the postejaculatory interval: Most of these were increased by SCO and decreased by OXO. Finally, whereas most or all effects of OXO were counteracted by SCO, most or all of the responses to SCO resisted change by added OXO. This asymmetry in the responses to combined treatment raises the possibility that the effects of these drugs on sexual exhaustion and other elements of male behavior are mediated by distinct muscarinic receptors. Copyright 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Responses to Central Oxotremorine and Scopolamine Support the Cholinergic Control of Male Mating Behavior in Hamsters

The responses of hamsters to intracranial injections of the cholinergic agonist oxotremorine (OXO) implicate cholinergic mechanisms in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) in the control of male mating behavior. To extend these observations, we ran three studies of responses to cholinergic drugs delivered singly or in combination to the vicinity of the MPOA. The first tested responses to OXO, confirming its ability to reduce the postejaculatory interval. The second complemented the first by examining responses to MPOA microinjections of the cholinergic antagonist scopolamine (SCO). These caused several changes revolving around intromission. These included increases in intromission frequency and ejaculation latency. They also included a change in the patterning of intromissions, marked by continuous strings without the usual separation by dismounts. The final study resembled the others in examining the effects of MPOA injections of OXO and SCO but focused on the ability of each drug to antagonize responses to the other. Most of the responses to OXO and SCO individually replicated earlier findings, though the measures examined here also permitted the description of effects on some noncopulatory sexual behaviors, specifically the male's inspection of the female. However, the most interesting results may be those suggesting asymmetry in the responses to the addition of the second drug: Whereas responses to OXO tended to be antagonized by SCO, OXO was less effective at counteracting responses to SCO. Though the explanation of this asymmetry is not completely clear, it is consistent with previous suggestions of differences in the affinities of these drugs for subtypes of muscarinic receptors. Therefore, it suggests that the cholinergic synapses and circuits controlling distinct elements of male behavior could differ in their dependence on these receptors. Copyright 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.