What the cognitive neurosciences mean to me

Cognitive Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary area of research that combines measurement of brain activity (mostly by means of neuroimaging) with a simultaneous performance of cognitive tasks by human subjects. These investigations have been successful in the task of connecting the sciences of the brain (Neurosciences) and the sciences of the mind (Cognitive Sciences). Advances on this kind of research provide a map of localization of cognitive functions in the human brain. Do these results help us to understand how mind relates to the brain? In my view, the results obtained by the Cognitive Neurosciences lead to new investigations in the domain of Molecular Neurobiology, aimed at discovering biophysical mechanisms that generate the activity measured by neuroimaging instruments. In this context, I argue that the understanding of how ionic/molecular processes support cognition and consciousness cannot be made by means of the standard reductionist explanations. Knowledge of ionic/molecular meclianisms can contribute to our understanding of the human mind as long as we assume an alternative form of explanation, based on psycho-physical similarities, together with an ontological view of mentality and spirituality as embedded in physical nature (and not outside nature, as frequently assumed in western culture).

Annual and monthly mean global, direct and diffuse solar irradiation in Botucatu/SP/Brazil

This paper presents a climatic and statistical analysis of global, direct horizontal and diffuse radiation from a database of solar radiation measured from 1996 to 2006 in the city of Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Variation intervals of hourly and daily irradiation, annual mean 〈H̄G〉, 〈H̄bh〉 and 〈H̄d〉 irradiation, monthly mean 〈H̄G〉, 〈H̄ bh〉 and 〈H̄d〉 irradiation and monthly mean 〈K̄t〉, 〈K̄bh〉 and 〈K̄d〉 fractions were determined. Results showed that values of hourly and daily annual mean irradiation were as follows: 〈H̄G〉=1.49MJ/m2 and 〈H̄ G〉=17.74MJ/m2; 〈H̄bh〉=0. 90MJ/m2 and 〈H̄bh〉=10.33MJ/m2 and 〈H̄d〉=0.57 MJ/m2 and 〈H̄d〉=7.09MJ/m2, respectively. Variation intervals of hourly monthly mean irradiation were as follows: 〈H̄G〉 ranged from 1.65MJ/m2 in March to 1.16MJ/m2 in June; 〈H̄bh〉 ranged from 1.06MJ/m2 in April to 0.79MJ/m2 in June, and 〈H̄d〉 ranged from 0.70MJ/m2 in January to 0.37MJ/m2 in June and July. Similarly, daily 〈H̄ G〉 irradiation ranged from 21.35MJ/m2 in November to 12.94MJ/m2 in June; 〈H̄bh〉 ranged from 11.83MJ/m2 in April to 8.49MJ/m2 in June, and 〈H̄d〉 ranged from 10.29MJ/m2 in December to 4.38MJ/m2 in June. Variation intervals of hourly monthly mean fractions were as follows: 〈K̄t〉 ranged from 43.5% in January to 54.2% in April; 〈K̄bh〉 ranged from 33.6% in January to 58.0% in April and 〈K̄d〉 ranged from 66.4% in January to 42.0% in April. In the same way, daily 〈K̄ t〉 fractions ranged from 45.5% in January to 59.8% in August; 〈K̄bh〉 ranged from 38.9% in January to 62.0% in August and 〈K̄d〉 ranged from 61.1% in January to 37.7% in July.

Labour market flexibility: what does it really mean?

Includes bibliography

Mean surface temperature prediction models for broiler chickens-a study of sensible heat flow

Body surface temperature can be used to evaluate thermal equilibrium in animals. The bodies of broiler chickens, like those of all birds, are partially covered by feathers. Thus, the heat flow at the boundary layer between broilers' bodies and the environment differs between feathered and featherless areas. The aim of this investigation was to use linear regression models incorporating environmental parameters and age to predict the surface temperatures of the feathered and featherless areas of broiler chickens. The trial was conducted in a climate chamber, and 576 broilers were distributed in two groups. In the first trial, 288 broilers were monitored after exposure to comfortable or stressful conditions during a 6-week rearing period. Another 288 broilers were measured under the same conditions to test the predictive power of the models. Sensible heat flow was calculated, and for the regions covered by feathers, sensible heat flow was predicted based on the estimated surface temperatures. The surface temperatures of the feathered and featherless areas can be predicted based on air, black globe or operative temperatures. According to the sensible heat flow model, the broilers' ability to maintain thermal equilibrium by convection and radiation decreased during the rearing period. Sensible heat flow estimated based on estimated surface temperatures can be used to predict animal responses to comfortable and stressful conditions. © 2013 ISB.

A single chart with supplementary runs rules for monitoring the mean vector and the covariance matrix of multivariate processes

The MRMAX chart is a single chart based on the standardized sample means and sample ranges for monitoring the mean vector and the covariance matrix of multivariate processes. User's familiarity with the computation of these statistics is a point in favor of the MRMAX chart. As a single chart, the recently proposed MRMAX chart is very appropriate for supplementary runs rules. In this article, we compare the supplemented MRMAX chart and the synthetic MRMAX chart with the standard MRMAX chart. The supplementary and the synthetic runs rules enhance the performance of the MRMAX chart. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Study of pK Values and Effective Dielectric Constants of Ionizable Residues in Pentapeptides and in Staphylococcal Nuclease (SNase) Using a Mean-Field Approach

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

Trends in Mean Annual Streamflows in Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area

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

The mean corpuscular volume and hydroxyurea in brazilian patients with sickle cell anemia: a surrogate marker of compliance

The suppression of erythropoiesis by Hydroxyurea (HU) therapy is associated with increase in mean corpuscular volume, in addition to the increase in Hb F. Monitoring the mean corpuscular volume values and the presence of macrocytosis are effective tools of adherence to the treatment with HU in patients with sickle cell anemia. The aim of this study is to monitor the mean corpuscular volume values after starting treatment with HU to determine if macrocytosis can be used as a surrogate marker of compliance with therapy. We conducted a prospective cohort study over one year with measurements of blood counts and mean corpuscular volume after starting therapy with HU in 95 patients with sickle cell anemia who were regularly followed in our ambulatory outpatient unit. In one-year of successful use of HU the mean value of the mean corpuscular volume increased significantly. The Andersen and Gill model demonstrated that the increase of one unit of MCV implies a 5% reduction in the risk of visiting the emergency room. Monitoring mean corpuscular volume values after prescribing HU alerts the provider of noncompliance in order to counsel the patient in question for better adherence to the use of HU that could improve the quality of care and to reduce morbidity and the frequency of acute pain crises and associated healthcare costs.

A new sampling strategy for the Shewhart control chart monitoring a process with wandering mean

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Existence and multiplicity of solutions for a prescribed mean-curvature problem with critical growth

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Attribute charts for monitoring the mean vector of bivariate processes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estimation of hourly, daily and monthly mean diffuse radiation based on MEO shadowring correction

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

Use of recent geoid models to estimate mean dynamic topography and geostrophic currents in South Atlantic and Brazil Malvinas confluence

The use of geoid models to estimate the Mean Dynamic Topography was stimulated with the launching of the GRACE satellite system, since its models present unprecedented precision and space-time resolution. In the present study, besides the DNSC08 mean sea level model, the following geoid models were used with the objective of computing the MDTs: EGM96, EIGEN-5C and EGM2008. In the method adopted, geostrophic currents for the South Atlantic were computed based on the MDTs. In this study it was found that the degree and order of the geoid models affect the determination of TDM and currents directly. The presence of noise in the MDT requires the use of efficient filtering techniques, such as the filter based on Singular Spectrum Analysis, which presents significant advantages in relation to conventional filters. Geostrophic currents resulting from geoid models were compared with the HYCOM hydrodynamic numerical model. In conclusion, results show that MDTs and respective geostrophic currents calculated with EIGEN-5C and EGM2008 models are similar to the results of the numerical model, especially regarding the main large scale features such as boundary currents and the retroflection at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence.

Reducing Water and Chloride Penetration Through Silicate Treatments for Concrete as a Mean to Control Corrosion Kinetics

There are currently many types of protective materials for reinforced concrete structures and the influence of these materials in the chloride diffusion coefficient and water penetration still needs more research. The aim of this work is to analyze the contributions regarding the typical three surface concrete protection systems (coatings, linings and pore blockers) and discusses the results of three pore blockers (sodium silicate) tested in this work. To this end, certain tests were used: one involving permeability mechanism (low pressure-immersion absorption), one involving capillary water absorption, and the last, a migration test used to estimate the effective chloride diffusion coefficient in saturated condition. Results indicated reduction in chloride diffusion coefficients and capillary water absorption, therefore, restrictions to water penetration from external environmental. As a consequence, a reduction of the corrosion kinetics and a control of the chloride ingress are expected.

Mean and Variability of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean in the CCSM4

This study analyzes important aspects of the tropical Atlantic Ocean from simulations of the fourth version of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM4): the mean sea surface temperature (SST) and wind stress, the Atlantic warm pools, the principal modes of SST variability, and the heat budget in the Benguela region. The main goal was to assess the similarities and differences between the CCSM4 simulations and observations. The results indicate that the tropical Atlantic overall is realistic in CCSM4. However, there are still significant biases in the CCSM4 Atlantic SSTs, with a colder tropical North Atlantic and a hotter tropical South Atlantic, that are related to biases in the wind stress. These are also reflected in the Atlantic warm pools in April and September, with its volume greater than in observations in April and smaller than in observations in September. The variability of SSTs in the tropical Atlantic is well represented in CCSM4. However, in the equatorial and tropical South Atlantic regions, CCSM4 has two distinct modes of variability, in contrast to observed behavior. A model heat budget analysis of the Benguela region indicates that the variability of the upper-ocean temperature is dominated by vertical advection, followed by meridional advection.