The economic determinants of the Brazilian nominal term structure of interest rates

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of monetary policy and macroeconomic shocks on the dynamics of the Brazilian term structure of interest rates. We estimate a near-VAR model under the identification scheme proposed by Christiano et al. (1996, 1999). The results resemble those of the US economy: monetary policy shocks that flatten the term structure of interest rates. We find that monetary policy shocks in Brazil explain a significantly larger share of the dynamics of the term structure than in the USA. Finally, we analyse the importance of standard macroeconomic variables (e. g. GDP, inflation and measure of country risk) to the dynamics of the term structure in Brazil.

Mediatizing educational policy: The journalistic field, science policy, and cross-field effects

This paper is concerned to demonstrate the usefulness of the theory of Bourdieu, including the concepts of field, logics of practice and habitus, to understanding relationships between media and policy, what Fairclough has called the 'mediatization' of policy. Specifically, the paper draws upon Bourdieu's accessible account of the journalistic field as outlined in On television and journalism. The usefulness of this work is illustrated through a case study of a recent Australian science policy, The chance to change. As this policy went through various iterations and media representations, its naming and structure became more aphoristic. This is the mediatization of contemporary policy, which often results in policy as sound bite. The case study also shows the cross-field effects of this policy in education, illustrating how today educational policy can be spawned from developments in other public policy fields.

Systemic Model for Diagnosis of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises from Two Cities from the Countryside of the State of So Paulo in Brazil

This article presents a proposal of a systemic model composed for the micro and small companies (MSE) of the region of Ribeiro Preto and the agents which influenced their environment. The proposed model was based on Stafford Beer`s (Diagnosing the system for organizations. Chichester, Wiley, 1985) systemic methodologies VSM (Viable System Model) and on Werner Ulrich`s (1983) CSH (Critical Systems Heuristics). The VSM is a model for the diagnosis of the structure of an organization and of its flows of information through the application of the cybernetics concepts (Narvarte, In El Modelo del Sistema Viable-MSV: experiencias de su aplicacin en Chile. Proyecto Cerebro Colectivo del IAS, Santiago, 2001). On the other hand, CSH focus on the context of the social group applied to the systemic vision as a counterpoint to the organizational management view considered by the VSM. MSE of Ribeiro Preto and Sertozinho had been analyzed as organizations inserted in systems that relate and integrate with other systems concerning the public administration, entities of representation and promotion agencies. The research questions: which are the bonds of interaction among the subsystems in this process and who are the agents involved? The systemic approach not only diagnosed a social group, formed by MSE of Ribeiro Preto and Sertozinho, public authorities and support entities, but could also delineate answers that aimed the clarification of obscure questions generating financial assistance to the formularization of efficient actions for the development of this system.

Mechanical vibration preserves bone structure in rats treated with glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are an important cause of secondary osteoporosis in humans, which decreases bone quality and leads to fractures. Mechanical stimulation in the form of low-intensity and high-frequency vibration seems to be able to prevent bone loss and to stimulate bone formation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mechanical vibration on bone structure in rats treated with glucocorticoids. Thirty 3-month-old adult male Wistar rats were randomized to three groups: control (C), glucocorticoid (G), and glucocorticoid with vibration (CV). The G and GV groups received 3.5 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone 5 days/week for a duration of 9 weeks, and the C group received vehicle (saline solution) during the same period. The CV group was vibrated on a special platform for 30 min per day, 5 days per week during the experiment. The platform was set to provide a vertical acceleration of 1 G and a frequency of 60 Hz. Skeletal bone mass was evaluated by total body densitometry (DXA). Fracture load threshold, undecalcified bone histomorphometry, and bone volume were measured in tibias. Glucocorticoids induced a significantly lower weight gain (-9.7%) and reduced the bone mineral content (-9.2%) and trabecular number (-41.8%) and increased the trabecular spacing (+98.0%) in the G group, when compared to the control (C). Vibration (CV) was able to significantly preserve (29.2%) of the trabecular number and decrease the trabecular spacing (+ 26.6%) compared to the G group, although these parameters did not reach C group values. The fracture load threshold was not different between groups, but vibration significantly augmented the bone volume of the tibia by 21.4% in the CV group compared to the C group. Our study demonstrated that low-intensity and high-frequency mechanical vibration was able to partially inhibit the deleterious consequences of glucocorticoids on bone structure in rats. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of Time on Ultrastructural Integrity of Parathyroid Tissue Before Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation of parathyroid tissue is used in the surgical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. After surgical resection, the tissue is temporarily maintained in a cell culture solution until it arrives at the specialized laboratory where the cryopreservation process will take place. The present study evaluates the time that the human hyperplastic parathyroid gland tissue can wait before cryopreservation, based on parathyroid cell ultrastructural integrity. This prospective study included 11 patients who underwent total parathyroidectomy with heterotopic autotransplantation and cryopreservation of parathyroid tissue fragments. Part of the tissue was kept in cell culture solution at 4A degrees C. Five time periods between 2 and 24 h were defined, and parathyroid fragments were kept in the solution for that length of time. At the end of each period, the fragments were removed from the transport solution, fixed, and prepared for ultrathin sections. Of the 11 cases studied, 10 showed ultrastructural findings consistent with cellular viability in tissue fragments that remained in the transport solution up to 12 h. Electron microscopy revealed that cell adhesion and the integrity of plasma membranes, nuclei, and mitochondria were preserved in one case for up to 24 h. Changes in mitochondrial structure represented the most constant ultrastructural damage seen in the cases studied, in addition to the presence of edema and cell vacuoles. Analysis of the ultrastructure of hyperplastic parathyroid gland tissue showed that ultrastructural integrity was in most cases properly maintained in fragments stored up to 12 h in a cell culture solution at 4A degrees C.

Effects of carbohydrate supplementation on competitive runners undergoing overload training followed by a session of intermittent exercise

This study evaluated the effects of a micro cycle of overload training (1st-8th day) on metabolic and hormonal responses in male runners with or without carbohydrate supplementation and investigated the cumulative effects of this period on a session of intermittent high-intensity running and maximum-performance-test (9th day). The participants were 24 male runners divided into two groups, receiving 61% of their energy intake as CHO (carbohydrate-group) and 54% in the control-group (CON). The testosterone was higher for the CHO than the CON group after the overload training (694.0 +/- A 54.6 vs. CON 610.8 +/- A 47.9 pmol/l). On the ninth day participants performed 10 x 800 m at mean 3 km velocity. An all-out 1000 m running was performed before and after the 10 x 800 m. Before, during, and after this protocol, the runners received solution containing CHO or the CON equivalent. The performance on 800 m series did not differ in either group between the first and last series of 800 m, but for the all-out 1000 m test the performance decrement was lower for CHO group (5.3 +/- A 1.0 vs. 10.6 +/- A 1.3%). The cortisol concentrations were lower in the CHO group in relation to CON group (22.4 +/- A 0.9 vs. 27.6 +/- A 1.4 pmol/l) and the IGF1/IGFBP3 ratio increased 12.7% in the CHO group. During recovery, blood glucose concentrations remained higher in the CHO group in comparison with the CON group. It was concluded that CHO supplementation possibly attenuated the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and resulted in less catabolic stress, and thus improved running performance.

Effects of oxide promoters on metal dispersion and metal-support interactions in Ni catalysts supported on activated carbon

Various oxide-promoted Ni catalysts supported on activated carbon were prepared, and the effect of promoters on the surface structure and properties of Ni catalysts was studied. Physical adsorption (Na adsorption), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the catalysts. It is found that nickel is fairly uniformly distributed in the pores of the carbon support. Addition of promoters produces a more homogeneous distribution of nickel ion in carbon. However, distributions of promoters in the pores are varying. Addition of promoters increases the dispersion of nickel in carbon. Promoters also change the interaction between the carbon and Ni, resulting in significantly different behaviors of catalysts under various environments. CaO and MgO promoters improve the reactivity of nickel catalysts with O-2 but retard the interaction between nickel oxide and carbon. La2O3 shows some inhibiting effect on the interactions between nickel oxide and oxygen as well as carbon.

Ultrastructural evaluation of gingival glycosaminoglycans in ovariectomized rats: Effects of steroid hormone therapy

Background/Aims: To evaluate the behavior of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in rat gingiva and the effects of lack of sexual steroids and the hormonal therapy with estrogen and dexamethasone (DEX). Methods: 40 female rats were divided into four groups: GI: animals in permanent estrus; GII: ovariectomized (OVX) animals + vehicle; GIII: OVX animals treated with 17 beta-estradiol benzoate (10 mu g/kg), and GIV: OVX animals treated with 17 beta-estradiol benzoate (10 mu g/kg) + DEX (3 mg/kg). After treatment, the gingiva was removed and its GAGs content was evaluated by electronic microscopy after stained by cuprolinic blue technique. Results: The electron-microscopic data showed that low values of chondroitin sulfate were found in castrated animals (35.05 +/- 3.58%) compared to other groups (GI: 41.17 +/- 1.13; GIII: 48.04 +/- 2.60; GIV: 49.09 +/- 2.68%). In contrast, the amount of dermatan sulfate in GII (57.70 +/- 2.50%) was higher than in the other groups (GI: 46.12 +/- 1.30; GIII: 42.65 +/- 2.98; GIV: 42.68 +/- 5.43%). Conclusions: GAGs may be influenced by estradiol, and DEX did not seem to antagonize the role of estradiol in the GAGs of gingiva. The histotypical structure of gingiva is related to the amount of chondroitin sulfate. Consequently, the estrogen therapy may be important for gingival health. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Airway epithelium mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise on asthma

Airway epithelium plays an important role in the asthma physiopathology. Aerobic exercise decreases Th2 response in murine models of allergic asthma, but its effects on the structure and activation of airway epithelium in asthma are unknown. BALB/c mice were divided into control, aerobic exercise, ovalbumin-sensitized and ovalbumin-sensitized plus aerobic exercise groups. Ovalbumin sensitization occurred on days 0, 14, 28, 42, and aerosol challenge from day 21 to day 50. Aerobic exercise started on day 22 and ended on day 50. Total cells and eosinophils were reduced in ovalbumin-sensitized group submitted to aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise also reduced the oxidative and nitrosative stress and the epithelial expression of Th2 cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, growth factors and NF-kB and P2X7 receptor. Additionally, aerobic exercise increased the epithelial expression of IL-10 in non-sensitized and sensitized animals. These findings contribute to the understanding of the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise for chronic allergic airway inflammation, suggesting an immune-regulatory role of exercise on airway epithelium. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of semen storage and separation techniques on sperm DNA fragmentation

Objective: To determine the effect of semen storage and separation techniques on sperm DNA fragmentation. Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: An assisted reproductive technology laboratory. Patient(s): Thirty normoozospermic semen samples obtained from patients undergoing infertility evaluation. Intervention(s): One aliquot from each sample was immediately prepared (control) for the sperm chromatin dispersion assay (SCD). Aliquots used to assess storage techniques were treated in the following ways: snap frozen by liquid nitrogen immersion, slow frozen with Tris-yolk buffer and glycerol, kept on ice for 24 hours or maintained at room temperature for 4 and 24 hours. Aliquots used to assess separation techniques were processed by the following methods: washed and centrifuged in media, swim-up from washed sperm pellet, density gradient separation, density gradient followed by swim-up. DNA integrity was then measured by SCD. Main Outcome Measure(s): DNA fragmentation as measured by SCD. Result(s): There was no significant difference in fragmentation among the snap frozen, slow frozen, and wet-ice groups. Compared to other storage methods short-term storage at room temperature did not impact DNA fragmentation yet 24 hours storage significantly increased fragmentation. Swim-up, density gradient and density gradient/swim-up had significantly reduced DNA fragmentation levels compared with washed semen. Postincubation, density gradient/swim-up showed the lowest fragmentation levels. Conclusion(s): The effect of sperm processing methods on DNA fragmentation should be considered when selecting storage or separation techniques for clinical use. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010;94:2626-30. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)

Brain structure and symptom dimension relationships in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A voxel-based morphometry study

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a clinically heterogenous disorder characterized by temporally stable symptom dimensions. Past inconsistent results from structural neuroimaging studies of OCD may have resulted from the effects of these specific symptom dimensions as well as other socio-demographic and clinical variables upon gray matter (GM) volume. Methods: GM volume was measured in 25 adult OCD patients and 20 adult healthy controls using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), controlling for age and total brain GM volume. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were carried out between regions of GM difference and age, age of onset, medication load, OCD severity, depression severity, and separate symptom dimension scores. Results: Significant GM volumetric differences in OCD patients relative to controls were found in dorsal cortical regions, including bilateral BA6, BA46, BA9 and right BA8 (controls > patients), and bilateral midbrain (patients > controls). Stepwise regression analyses revealed highly significant relationships between greater total OCD symptom severity and smaller GM volumes in dorsal cortical regions and larger GM volumes in bilateral midbrain. Greater age was independently associated with smaller GM volumes in right BA6, left BA9, left BA46 and larger GM volumes in right midbrain. Greater washing symptom severity was independently associated with smaller GM volume in right BA6, while there was a trend association between greater hoarding symptom severity and lower GM volume in left BA6. Limitations: The sample was relatively small to examine the relationship between symptom scores and GM volumes. Multiple patients were taking medication and had comorbid disorders. Conclusions: These analyses suggest dorsal prefrontal cortical and bilateral midbrain GM abnormalities in OCD that appear to be primarily driven by the effects of total OCD symptom severity. The results regarding the relationship between GM volumes and symptom dimension scores require examination in larger samples. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural evaluation of the effects of chronic ethanol ingestion on the testis of Calomys callosus

Chronic exposure to ethanol may results in pathophysiologic changes in cellular function. The present work was designed to investigate the morphology of testis submitted to experimental ethanol ingestion. Experimental animals were divided into two groups. The control group (n = 23) received a solid diet and tap water and the alcoholic group (n = 23) received the same solid diet and ethanol P.A. diluted 20% in water (v/v). After 120 days of treatment, all animals were anesthetized, weighed and sacrificed. Testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels in serum were lower in the alcoholic group than in the control group. Histological and ultrastructural alterations were observed in the testicular alcoholic germinative cells like enormous spaces, lipid droplets accumulation, digestive vacuoles, irregular diameter of the seminiferous tubules and interstitial dilated blood vessels. It was concluded that 20% ethanol provokes lesions on the testis germinative epithelium probably inducing gonadal dysfunction. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lack of effects of clomipramine on Fos and NADPH-diaphorase double-staining in the periaqueductal gray after exposure to an innate fear stimulus

Lack of effects of clomipramine on Fos and NADPH-diaphorase double-staining in the periaqueductal gray after exposure to an innate fear stimulus - nitric oxide (NO) acts as a neurotransmitter in the rat dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dIPAG), a midbrain structure that modulates fear and defensive behavior. Since defensive reactions can be alleviated by anxiolytic/anti-panic drugs, the present study tested the effect of clomipramine, a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, on the activation of NO-producing neurons in the dlPAG of rats exposed to a live predator. Double staining was performed using Fos immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase as techniques to mark neural activation and to detect NO-producing neurons, respectively. Male Wistar rats received acute or chronic (21 days) injections of saline or clomipramine (10 or 20 mg/kg/day) and were exposed to a live cat. The animals exhibited a robust defensive reaction accompanied by an increase in the number of Fos- and doublestained neurons in the dlPAG, suggesting that cat exposure activates NO-producing neurons. Such effects were not significantly attenuated by clomipramine treatments. The intensity of fear reaction correlated with the intensity of neural staining in the dlPAG, regardless the drug treatment. Thus, the present results reinforce the hypothesis that NO may coordinate defensive responses in the dIPAG and indicate that this mechanism may not be modulated by a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of reversible inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus on the behavioral and cardiovascular responses to an aversive conditioned context

In rats, conditioned fear to context causes freezing immobility and cardiovascular changes. The dorsal hippocampus (DH) has a critical role in several memory processes, including conditioning fear to contextual information. To explore a possible involvement of the DH in contextual fear conditioning-evoked cardiovascular (mean arterial pressure and heart rate increases) and behavioral (freezing) responses, DH synaptic transmission was temporarily inhibited by bilateral microinjections of 500 nl of the nonselective synapse blocker, cobalt chloride (COCl2, 1 mmol/l), at different periods of the experimental procedure. During re-exposure to the foot shock chamber in which conditioning had taken place, bilateral DH inhibition 10 min before the conditioning session had no effect on either behavioral or cardiovascular responses. Bilateral DH inhibition immediately after the conditioning session (110 min) decreased both behavioral and cardiovascular responses during the context test. Finally, 48 h after the conditioning session, bilateral DH inhibition 10 min before re-exposure to the foot shock chamber significantly reduced cardiovascular responses but not freezing responses. These results suggest that contextual fear conditioning acquisition does not depend on the DH. This structure, however, is crucial for the consolidation of contextual fear. Moreover, although the DH appears to be less important for the behavioral (freezing) changes induced by re-exposure to the aversive conditioned context, it may play an important role on the cardiovascular responses generated by this model.

Micro-Positron Emission Tomography in the Evaluation of Trypanosoma cruzi-Induced Heart Disease: Comparison with Other Modalities

Noninvasive assessment of cardiac structure and function is essential to understand the natural course of murine infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography have been used to monitor anatomy and function; positron emission tomography (PET) is ideal for monitoring metabolic events in the myocardium. Mice infected with T. cruzi (Brazil strain) were imaged 15-100 days post infection (dpi). Quantitative (18)F-FDG microPET imaging, MRI and echocardiography were performed and compared. Tracer ((18)F-FDG) uptake was significantly higher in infected mice at all days of infection, from 15 to 100 dpi. Dilatation of the right ventricular chamber was observed by MRI from 30 to 100 dpi in infected mice. Echocardiography revealed significantly reduced ejection fraction by 60 dpi. Combination of these three complementary imaging modalities makes it possible to noninvasively quantify cardiovascular function, morphology, and metabolism from the earliest days of infection through the chronic phase.