Hypercapitalism: New media, language, and social perceptions of value

Every day trillions of dollars circulate the globe in a digital data space and new forms of property and ownership emerge. Massive corporate entities with a global reach are formed and disappear with breathtaking speed, making and breaking personal fortunes the size of which defy imagination. Fictitious commodities abound. The genomes of entire nations have become corporately owned. Relationships have become the overt basis of economic wealth and political power. Hypercapitalism explores the problems of understanding this emergent form of global political economic organization by focusing on the internal relations between language, new media networks, and social perceptions of value. Taking an historical approach informed by Marx, Phil Graham draws upon writings in political economy, media studies, sociolinguistics, anthropology, and critical social science to understand the development, roots, and trajectory of the global system in which every possible aspect of human existence, including imagined futures, has become a commodity form.

Overflow characteristics of circular weirs: Effects of inflow conditions

The most common types of weirs are the broad-crested weir, the sharp-crested weir, the circular-crested weir, and nowadays, the ogee crest weir, Advantages of the cylindrical weir shape include the stable overflow pattern, the ease to pass floating debris, the simplicity of design compared to ogee crest design, and the associated lower costs. in this study, the writers describe new experiments of circular weir overflows, with eight cylinder sizes, for several weir heights and for five types of inflow conditions: partially developed inflow, fully developed inflow, upstream ramp, upstream undular hydraulic jump, and upstream (breaking) hydraulic jump. Within the range of the experiments, the cylinder size, the weir height DIR and the presence of an upstream ramp had no effect on the discharge coefficient, flow depth at crest, and energy dissipation. But the inflow conditions had substantial effects on the discharge characteristics and flow properties at the crest. Practically, the results indicate that discharge measurements with circular weirs are significantly affected by the upstream flow conditions.

The mechanical properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cell-wall mechanical properties play an integral part in the growth and form of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, In contrast to the tremendous knowledge on the genetics of S. cerevisiae, almost nothing is known about its mechanical properties. We have developed a micromanipulation technique to measure the force required to burst single cells and have recently established a mathematical model to extract the mechanical properties of the cell wall from such data, Here we determine the average surface modulus of the S, cerevisiae cell wall to be 11.1 +/- 0.6 N/m and 12.9 +/- 0.7 N/m in exponential and stationary phases, respectively, giving corresponding Young's moduli of 112 +/- 6 MPa and 107 +/- 6 MPa, This result demonstrates that yeast cell populations strengthen as they enter stationary phase by increasing wall thickness and hence the surface modulus, without altering the average elastic properties of the cell-wall material. We also determined the average breaking strain of the cell wall to be 82% +/- 3% in exponential phase and 80% +/- 3% in stationary phase, This finding provides a failure criterion that can be used to predict when applied stresses (e,g,, because of fluid flow) will lead to wall rupture, This work analyzes yeast compression experiments in different growth phases by using engineering methodology.

Cancer knowledge and skills of interns in Australia and New Zealand in 2001: comparison with 1990, and between course types

Objective: To compare the cancer knowledge and skills of interns in 2001 who graduated from graduate medical program (GMP) courses with those from non-GMP courses, and to compare the cancer knowledge and skills of interns in 2001 with those who completed a similar survey in 1990. Design: Questionnaire survey of recently graduated interns in a random sample of Australian and New Zealand hospitals. The questionnaire was designed to allow direct comparison with the 1990 survey, and was guided by the Australian Cancer Society's Ideal Oncology Curriculum for Medical Schools. Results: 443 interns completed the survey (response rate, 62%; 42 were excluded, leaving 401 surveys for analysis: 118 from GMP courses and 283 from non-GMP courses). Interns from GMP courses felt more competent than those from non-GMP courses at discussing death (P= 0.02), breaking bad news (P= 0.04) and advising on smoking cessation (P= 0.02), but less competent at preparing a patient for a hazardous procedure (P= 0.02). Mote GMP interns would refer a breast cancer patient to a multidisciplinary clinic (83% versus 70%; P= 0.03). Knowledge about cancer risks and prognosis was significantly less in GMP interns, but GMP interns rated their clinical skills, such as taking a Pap smear, higher than non-GMP interns. The GMP and non-GMP groups did not differ in their exposure to cancer patients, but compared with 1990 interns recent graduates had less exposure to patients with cancer. Conclusions: GMP curricula appear to have successfully introduced new course material and new methods of teaching, but have not always succeeded in producing doctors with better knowledge about cancer. Recent graduates have less exposure to cancer patients than those who trained 10 years ago.

Deconvolving the delta O-18 seawater component from subseasonal coral delta O-18 and Sr/Ca at Rarotonga in the southwestern subtropical Pacific for the period 1726 to 1997

To reconstruct oceanographic variations in the subtropical South Pacific, 271-year long subseasonal time series of Sr/Ca and delta(18)O were generated from a coral growing at Rarotonga (21.5degreesS, 159.5degreesW). In this case, coral Sr/Ca appears to be an excellent proxy for sea surface temperature (SST) and coral delta(18)O is a function of both SST and seawater delta(18)O composition (delta(18)O(sw)). Here, we focus on extracting the delta(18)O(sw) signal from these proxy records. A method is presented assuming that coral Sr/Ca is solely a function of SST and that coral delta(18)O is a function of both SST and delta(18)O(sw). This method separates the effects of delta(18)O(sw) from SST by breaking the instantaneous changes of coral delta(18)O into separate contributions by instantaneous SST and delta(18)O(sw) changes, respectively. The results show that on average delta(18)O(sw) at Rarotonga explains similar to39% of the variance in delta(18)O and that variations in SST explains the remaining similar to61% of delta(18)O variance. Reconstructed delta(18)O(sw) shows systematic increases in summer months (December-February) consistent with the regional pattern of variations in precipitation and evaporation. The delta(18)O(sw) also shows a positive linear correlation with satellite-derived estimated salinity for the period 1980 to 1997 (r = 0.72). This linear correlation between reconstructed delta(18)O(sw) and salinity makes it possible to use the reconstructed delta(18)O(sw) to estimate the past interannual and decadal salinity changes in this region. Comparisons of coral delta(18)O and delta(18)O(sw) at Rarotonga with the Pacific decadal oscillation index suggest that the decadal and interdecadal salinity and SST variability at Rarotonga appears to be related to basin-scale decadal variability in the Pacific. Copyright (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Polarization vision and its role in biological signaling

Visual pigments, the molecules in photoreceptors that initiate the process of vision, are inherently dichroic, differentially absorbing light according to its axis of polarization. Many animals have taken advantage of this property to build receptor systems capable of analyzing the polarization of incoming light, as polarized light is abundant in natural scenes (commonly being produced by scattering or reflection). Such polarization sensitivity has long been associated with behavioral tasks like orientation or navigation. However, only recently have we become aware that it can be incorporated into a high-level visual perception akin to color vision, permitting segmentation of a viewed scene into regions that differ in their polarization. By analogy to color vision, we call this capacity polarization vision. It is apparently used for tasks like those that color vision specializes in: contrast enhancement, camouflage breaking, object recognition, and signal detection and discrimination. While color is very useful in terrestrial or shallow-water environments, it is an unreliable cue deeper in water due to the spectral modification of light as it travels through water of various depths or of varying optical quality. Here, polarization vision has special utility and consequently has evolved in numerous marine species, as well as at least one terrestrial animal. In this review, we consider recent findings concerning polarization vision and its significance in biological signaling.

Social rules and attributions in the personnel selection interview

The study investigated the social rules applicable to selection interviews, and the attributions ions made by interviewers in response to rule-breaking behaviours by candidates. Sixty personnel specialists (31 males and 29 females) participated in the main study which examined their perceptions of social rules and attributions about rule breaking in their work experience. They listened to audiotapes of actual selection interviews, and made judgments about hireability communication competence, and specific social rules. Results indicated that interview rules could be categorized into two groups: specific interview presentation skills and general interpersonal competence. While situational attributions were more salient in explaining the breaking of general interpersonal competence rules, internal attributions (ability, effort) were more salient explanations for the breaking of more specific interview rules (with the exception of the preparation rule where lack of effort was the most likely explanation for rule breaking). Candidates previously judged as competent communicators were rated more favourably on both global and specific measures of rule-following competence, as well as on hireability. The theoretical and practical implications of combining social rules and attribution theory in the study of selection interviews are discussed.

Student characteristics and academic success: An econometric study of the performance of "equity groups"

Like previous volumes in the Educational Innovation in Economics and Business Series, this book is genuinely international in terms of its coverage. With contributions from nine different countries and three continents, it reflects a global interest in, and commitment to, innovation in business education, with a view to enhancing the learning experience of both undergraduates and postgraduates. It should prove of value to anyone engaged directly in business education, defined broadly to embrace management, finance, marketing, economics, informational studies, and ethics, or who has responsibility for fostering the professional development of business educators. The contributions have been selected with the objective of encouraging and inspiring others as well as illustrating developments in the sphere of business education. This volume brings together a collection of articles describing different aspects of the developments taking place in today’s workplace and how they affect business education. It describes strategies for breaking boundaries for global learning. These target specific techniques regarding teams and collaborative learning, transitions from academic settings to the workplace, the role of IT in the learning process, and program-level innovation strategies. This volume addresses issues faced by professionals in higher and further education and also those involved in corporate training centers and industry.

Infiltration effects on sediment mobility under waves

Sediment mobility measurements with a horizontal sand bed under non-breaking waves are reported. Conditions include no seepage and steady downward seepage corresponding to head gradients up to 2.5. The results indicate that infiltration tends to inhibit sediment mobility for a horizontal bcd of 0.2 mm quartz sand exposed to moderated wave induced bed shear stresses. The effect is weak for the parameter range of the present study. The two opposing effects of shear stress increase due to boundary layer thinning and the stabilizing downward drag are successfully accounted for through the modified Shields parameter of Nielsen [Nielsen, P., 1997. Coastal groundwater dynamics. Proc. Coastal Dynamics '97, Plymouth, ASCE, Dp, 546-555] using coefficients derived from independent studies. That is, from the shear stress experiments of Conley [Conley, D.C., 1993. Ventilated oscillatory boundary layers. PhD Thesis, University of California, San Diego, 74 pp.] and the slope stability experiments of Martin and Aral [Martin, C.S. and M.M. Aral, 1971. Seepage force on interfacial bed particles. J. Hydraulics Div., proc. ASCE, Vol. 97, No. Hy7, pp. 1081-1100]. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Seed dormancy mechanisms in warm season grass species

Available evidence suggests that there are at least two locations for dormancy mechanisms in primary dormant seeds: mechanisms based within the embryo covering structures, and mechanisms based within the embryo. Mechanisms within the covering structures may involve mechanical, permeability and chemical barriers to germination. Mechanisms within the embryo may involve the expression of certain genes, levels of certain plant growth regulators, the activity of important respiratory pathways or the mobilisation and utilisation of food reserves. In addition, some embryos may be too immature to germinate immediately and must undergo a further growth phase before germination is possible. An individual species could have one or several of these various dormancy mechanisms and these mechanisms need to be understood when selecting treatments to overcome dormancy. The way in which certain dormancy breaking agents are thought to work is discussed and practical applications of such agents in field situations are explained.

Effects of vitamin E deficiency on fatigue and muscle contractile properties

Radical-mediated oxidative damage of skeletal muscle membranes has been implicated in the fatigue process. Vitamin E (VE) is a major chain breaking antioxidant that has been shown to reduce contraction-mediated oxidative damage. We hypothesized that VE deficiency would adversely affect Muscle contractile function, resulting in a more rapid development of muscular fatigue during exercise. To test this postulate, rats were fed either a VE-deficient (EDEF) diet or a control (CON) diet containing VE. Following a 12-week feeding period, animals were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Muscle endurance (fatigue) and contractile properties were evaluated using an in situ preparation of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Contractile properties of the TA muscle were determined before and after a fatigue protocol. The muscle fatigue protocol consisted of 60 min of repetitive contractions (250 ms trains at 15 Hz; duty cycle = I I %) of the TA muscle. Prior to the fatigue protocol, no significant differences existed in the force-frequency curves between EDEF and CON animals. At the completion of the fatigue protocol, muscular force production was significantly (P

Spatial and temporal changes in multiple hormone groups during lateral bud release shortly following apex decapitation of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seedlings

Although the co-ordination of promotive root-sourced cytokinin (CK) and inhibitory shoot apex-sourced auxin (IAA) is central to all current models on lateral bud dormancy release, control by those hormones alone has appeared inadequate in many studies. Thus it was hypothesized that the IAA : CK model is the central control but that it must be considered within the relevant timeframe leading to lateral bud release and against a backdrop of interactions with other hormone groups. Therefore, IAA and a wide survey of cytokinins (CKs), were examined along with abscisic acid (ABA) and polyamines (PAs) in released buds, tissue surrounding buds and xylem sap at 1 and 4 h after apex removal, when lateral buds of chickpea are known to break dormancy. Three potential lateral bud growth inhibitors, IAA, ABA and cis-zeatin 9-riboside (ZR), declined sharply in the released buds and xylem following decapitation. This is in contrast to potential dormancy breaking CKs like trans-ZR and trans-zeantin 9-riboside 5'phosphate (ZRMP), which represented the strongest correlative changes by increasing 3.5-fold in xylem sap and 22-fold in buds. PAs had not changed significantly in buds or other tissues after 4 h, so they were not directly involved in the breaking of bud dormancy. Results from the xylem and surrounding tissues indicated that bud CK increases resulted from a combination synthesis in the bud and selective loading of CK nucleotides into the xylem from the root.

Análise do processo de implementação de políticas de saúde: Um estudo de caso baseado no enfoque da política institucional

O processo de implementação de políticas públicas tem se apresentado como o elo perdido da ação governamental. Apesar da importância desse processo, esta etapa carece de métodos de análises que deem conta de sua complexidade como forma de lhe garantir uma posição chave dentro do ciclo da análise de políticas públicas. A partir da adaptação do referencial da política institucional, proposta pelo grupo Francês Strategor, que analisa uma instituição sob quatro determinantes – estratégia, estrutura, decisão e identidade-, este estudo propõe-se a analisar o processo de implementação de uma política municipal de saúde voltada para Hipertensos e Diabéticos no município de Venda Nova do Imigrante/ES, avaliada como uma estratégia exitosa. Como resultado, esse estudo evidenciou que o processo exitoso de implementação da política avaliada pautou-se numa decisão participava e colegiada, no reconhecimento e valorização da autonomia profissional e na discussão democrática. Além disso, a estrutura institucional analisada proporcionou uma coordenação menos normativa, que favoreceu momentos de encontro entre o núcleo estratégico e os centros operacionais, rompendo com a excessiva verticalização das estruturas tradicionais. A análise do determinante identidade demonstrou uma apropriação dos valores e da missão institucional e um importante envolvimento dos atores, indicado pelo fortalecimento de parcerias e sinergias internas. A estratégia de implementação dessa política municipal mostrou-se potente no sentido de inverter a lógica do modelo de atenção, dentro de um processo de aprendizado, sendo este o grande diferencial competitivo de sucesso da instituição. A partir desses resultados, o referencial de Strategor se afirma como importante método de análise do processo de implementação, além de sua potência para indicar questões que colaborem para garantir à etapa de implementação uma posição de destaque dentro do ciclo da política pública.

Cidades sob clichê imagético imaginação espacial e experimentações em poesias visuais

Esse trabalho procurou caracterizar o clichê imagético, articulando-o a exemplos relacionados às cidades provindas de pesquisas iconográficas realizadas no Google Imagens, dando-se, a partir desse contexto, se deram as rasuras dos clichês imagéticos por poesias visuais. A pesquisa iconográfica específica para a palavra “cidades” direcionou o estudo viabilizando a constatação deste clichê, que, por sua vez, foi enunciado como intermediador de imaginação espacial. As constatações empíricas sobre esta temática fez a pesquisa ser conduzida a cinco nomes de capitais brasileiras, que foram contrastadas com as imagens destas cidades caracterizadas fora do clichê imagético, sendo o formato padrão e estático da propagação das imagens foi o universo sobre o qual orbitou este estudo. Uma vez realizadas as observações sobre esta temática, passou-se à discussão poética referente às imagens captadas, e a partir de então foi feito um diálogo com artistas e poetas ao ponto de se delimitar uma justificativa para que poesias visuais fossem elaboradas rumando para outras grafias de mundo, passando, assim, a enfatizar novas possibilidades, para essas imagens identificadas como clichês. Então, este estudo visa possibilitar novas versões a serem produzidas sobre o mundo, optando pela temática “cidade” para melhor categorizar e referenciar a pesquisa iconográfica, direcionando a discussão acerca de espaços e paisagens urbanas. Para tanto, foram adotados os autores Deleuze e Guatarri, articulando seus diálogos com McLuhan e Watson, adentrando-se à dimensão do clichê e aparando-se na iconografia Google e na sua configuração repetida que então passa a evidenciar as características opostas das considerações elaboradas por Doreen Massey, para a imaginação espacial em seu processo fluídico, e não engessado. Pensando nas reverberações de dizeres que se contradizem dessas versões, a imaginação foi evidenciada para além desses processos, atentando-se, assim, às obras poéticas e artísticas de Manoel de Barros ou Valdelino Gonçalves, em que foram verificadas possibilidades de abertura de canais de diálogos com tais clichês, com poesias visuais, em um lançamento para a imaginação, rompendo-os. Em conclusão, foram observadas possibilidades de construções poéticas como dizeres de uma Geografia constituída no imaginário, mas que também possui suas significações perante a realidade, formuladas em rupturas com o dizer totalizante, repetido e homogêneo. Foram evidenciadas, então, essas características como contribuição aos estudos que tangem à temática “Geografia e Imagens”, possibilitando novas reverberações em universos de estudos para essa linha de pesquisa, que procura inovar nas percepções sobre o entendimento das imagens como canal de construção dos espaços geográficos de uma maneira geral.

Cartografando movimentos curriculares produzidos nas redes de conversações nos encontrosformações do PROEJA/IFES/ES

Problematiza a constituição do currículo (e da “formação docente” no campo curricular), no cotidiano escolar, na dimensão das conversações. Objetiva acompanhar os movimentos curriculares concernentes ao Proeja entre formas e forças complexas no cotidiano do Ifes – campus Venda Nova do Imigrante (VNI). Compõe com as linhas de pensamentos principalmente de Alves (2008, 2010, 2012); Carvalho (2004, 2008a, 2008b, 2009, 2012); Deleuze (1988, 2002, 2010); Deleuze e Guattari (1995); Ferraço (2007, 2008a, 2008b); Garcia (2011); Guattari (1987, 2004, 2012); Kastrup (2009, 2013); Lopes e Macedo (2011); Lopes (2010, 2011); Oliveira (2005, 2009, 2012); Paiva (2004, 2009); Rolnik (1989); e Spinoza (2013), entremeando os conceitos de movimentos e afetos no campo do currículo em redes na relação híbrida com os encontros-formações docente do/no Proeja. Adota a (não) metodologia cartográfica ao acompanhar movimentos curriculares (des)(re)territorializantes nas redes de conversações, especialmente nos encontrosformações: “Rodas de conversas com professores e demais servidores do Proeja”. Utiliza como principais instrumentos metodológicos a observação participante, a gravação das vozes e o registro em diário de campo. Contribui para outros movimentos de pesquisa ao capturar produzir e analisar dados em que se percebe que: ainda que tenha ocorrido um planejamento coletivo, outras temáticas surgiram nos encontros formações (que não se pretendiam engessados e não objetivavam a paralisação dos fluxos que pedem passagem), e tais assuntos puderam ser usados como disparadores para criação de outros movimentos curriculares; as concepções dos professores sobre a “dificuldade/facilidade” em ministrar aulas para o Proeja e os lugares estabelecidos entre estudantes e docentes no processo ensino-aprendizagem não estão relacionados diretamente, em relação de causa e efeito, à disciplina/área de conhecimento específica que ministram, mas aos agenciamentos, aos ligamentos e às rupturas produzidas nas relações com essas redes de saberes fazeres poderes que envolvem múltiplos agentes: docentes, outros servidores, alunos, experiências e encontros múltiplos dentro fora no espaço tempo do Ifes; uma tríade-refrão coopera para a criação de uma fôrma triangular que enfatiza a noção de um padrão em um processo molar enraizado nas árvores do conhecimento: perfil, seleção e nivelamento, contudo, algumas linhas de fuga dissonantes são criadas por entre as fissuras dos pretensos tons harmônicos; as frases “os professores do IF não estão preparados para ministrar aulas para o Proeja” ou “não há formação/qualificação para os docentes se relacionarem com o Proeja” são utilizadas, em alguns discursos, como escudos-argumentos para a opção-política de não oferta de vagas para a modalidade EJA em composição com fios que afirmam tal especificidade da educação básica, dentro da rede federal, como um “favor social”; processos que envolvem a (des)organização da matriz curricular são considerados por alguns participantes como início, “produto” e objetivo das conversas curriculares e provocam tensões que (i)mobilizam, (não) movimentam entre os afetos dos corpos, podendo levar à (não) ação coletiva; a noção de “mercado de trabalho” ainda impera nos discursos, ciclicamente, enquanto início fim das problematizações do currículo do Ensino Médio e da EJA; a expressão “integração curricular” é constantemente usada nos discursos que circulam o campus, no entanto, os sentidos produzidos, as concepções e as teorias curriculares que embasam a noção de “integração” no currículo são bem diversos; não há totalidades nos discursos, não há homogeneização, não foi efetivada nenhuma coesão/única voz representante (e esse também não era o objetivo desta pesquisa); ainda que o tema da roda se propusesse às conversas curriculares do/no Proeja, nesses encontros, os participantes manifestaram a necessidade de intensificar os movimentos produzidos nas rodas visando à discussão dos currículos textos de todos os cursos e modalidades ofertados pelos campus VNI e na intensificação de espaços para trocas de experiências curriculares cotidianas; na potencialização das diferenças como possibilidades de inventividade nos encontros-formações docente e nas danças curriculares que envolvem diversas relações de aprendizagem no Ifes, algumas experimentações foram produzidas, entre afetos, criando composições(des)(re)territorializantes e ressonando com movimentos que não se restringiram às rodas de conversas, contudo, enredaram-se em fios de outros espaços tempos do campus em tentativas de propagações de currículos multidão.