PERFORATING POTENTIAL OF LOLIGINID SPERMATOPHORES

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

Immunocytochemical characterization of the pregeniculate nucleus and distribution of retinal and neuropeptide Y terminals in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the Cebus monkey

Circadian rhythms generated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are modulated by photic and non-photic stimuli. In rodents, direct photic stimuli reach the SCN mainly through the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT), whereas indirect photic stimuli are mainly conveyed by the geniculohypothalamic tract (GHT). In rodents, retinal cells form a pathway that reaches the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) where they establish synapses with neurons that express neuropeptide Y (NPY), hence forming the GHT projecting to the SCN. In contrast to the RHT, which has been well described in primates, data regarding the presence or absence of the IGL and GHT in primates are contradictory. Some studies have suggested that an area of the pregeniculate nucleus (PGN) of primates might be homologous to the IGL of rodents, but additional anatomical and functional studies on primate species are necessary to confirm this hypothesis. Therefore, this study investigated the main histochemical characteristics of the PGN and the possible existence of the GHT in the SCN of the primate Cebus, comparing the distribution of NPY immunoreactivity, serotonin (5-HT) immunoreactivity and retinal terminal fibers in these two structures. The results show that a collection of cell bodies containing NPY and serotonergic immunoreactivity and retinal innervations are present within a zone that might be homologous to the IGL of rodents. The SCN also receives dense retinal innervations and we observed an atypical distribution of NPY- and 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers without regionalization in the ventral part of the nucleus as described for other species. These data may reflect morphological differences in the structures involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms among species and support the hypothesis that the GHT is present in some higher primates (diurnal animals). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

WHICH TOPOLOGIES HAVE IMMEDIATE PREDECESSORS IN THE POSET OF HAUSDORFF TOPOLOGIES?

We study which topology have an immediate predecessor in the poset of Sigma(2) of Hausdorff topologies on set X. We show that certain classes of H-closed topologies, do have predecessors. and we give examples of second countable H-closed topologies which are not upper Sigma(2.)

O fluxo de caixa pelo método indireto como um instrumento gerencial para a avaliação qualitativa da capacidade de geração de caixa

O estudo em questão tem por objetivo atestar a eficácia do modelo do Fluxo de Caixa pelo Método Indireto em comparação ao Fluxo de Caixa Direto e à Demonstração de Origens e aplicações de Recursos, como sendo o instrumento mais recomendado para avaliar e mensurar a capacidade de geração de caixa em relação a um determinado período de tempo. O fundamento teórico foi baseado nos seguintes autores: Matarazzo (1998), Brigham e Houston (1999), Vinagre Brasil e Guimarães Brasil (1992); Sanvicente (1993), Assaf Neto (1991), Falcini (1992), Ross, Westerfild e Jaffe (1995), Hoji (2001), Brigham, Gapenski e Ehrhardt (2001), Campos (1999) e Gitman (2001). Para validar a questão central, foi elaborada uma análise dos dados relativos aos demonstrativos da Petrobrás SI A referentes aos anos de 2001 e 2000, comparando-se os resultados observados no Fluxo de Caixa Indireto com os da Demonstração de Origens e Aplicações de Recursos. A pesquisa conclui que o fluxo de caixa pelo método indireto é um instrumento útil para se avaliar qualitativamente a capacidade de geração de caixa, porém limitado às organizações de maior porte, em função da necessidade de um sistema integrado de planejamento e análise de informações gerenciais, que nem sempre é observado no universo das empresas de menor dimensão.

O novo federalismo social e o Rio: desenho de programas complementares de transferência de renda condicionada

Brazilian public policy entered in the so-called new social federalism through its conditional cash transfers. States and municipalities can operate together through the nationwide platform of the Bolsa Familia Program (BFP), complementing federal actions with local innovations. The state and the city of Rio de Janeiro have created programs named, respectively, Renda Melhor (RM) and Família Carioca (FC). These programs make use of the operational structure of the BFP, which facilitates locating beneficiaries, issuing cards, synchronizing payment dates and access passwords and introducing new conditionalities. The payment system of the two programs complements the estimated permanent household income up to the poverty line established, giving more to those who have less. Similar income complementation system was subsequently adopted in the BFP and the Chilean Ingreso Ético Familiar, which also follow the principle of estimation of income used in the FC and in the RM. Instead of using the declared income, the value of the Rio cash transfers are set using the extensive collection of information obtained from the Single Registry of Social Programs (Cadastro Único): physical configuration of housing, access to public services, education and work conditions for all family members, presence of vulnerable groups, disabilities, pregnant or lactating women, children and benefits from other official transfers such as the BFP. With this multitude of assets and limitations, the permanent income of each individual is estimated. The basic benefit is defined by the poverty gap and priority is given to the poorest. These subnational programs use international benchmarks as a neutral ground between different government levels and mandates. Their poverty line is the highest of the first millennium goal of the United Nations (UN): US$ 2 per person per day adjusted for the cost of living. The other poverty line of the UN, US$ 1.25, was implicitly adopted as the national extreme poverty line in 2011. The exchange of methodologies between federal entities has happened both ways. The FC began with the 575,000 individuals living in the city of Rio de Janeiro who were on the payroll of the BFP. Its system of impact evaluation benefited from bi-monthly standardized examinations. In the educational conditionalities, the two programs reward students' progress, a potential advantage for those who most need to advance. The municipal program requires greater school attendance than that of the BFP and the presence of students’ parents at the bimonthly meetings held on Saturdays. Students must achieve a grade of 8 or improve at least 20% in each exam to receive a bi-monthly premium of R$50. In early childhood, priority is given to the poor children in the program Single Administrative Register (CadÚnico) to enroll in kindergarten, preschools and complementary activities. The state program reaches more than one million people with a payment system similar to the municipal one. Moreover, it innovates in that it transfers awards given to high school students to savings accounts. The prize increases and is paid to the student, who can withdraw up to 30% annually. The total can reach R$3,800 per low-income student. The State and the city rewarded already education professionals according to student performance, now completing the chain of demand incentives on poor students and their parents. Increased performance is higher among beneficiaries and the presence of their guardians at meetings is twice compared to non beneficiaries; The Houston program, also focuses on aligning the incentives to teachers, parents and students. In general, the plan is to explore strategic complementarities, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The objective is to stimulate, through targets and incentives, synergies between social actors (teachers, parents, students), between areas (education, assistance, work) and different levels of government. The cited programs sum their efforts and divide labor so as to multiply interactions and make a difference in the lives of the poor.

Influence of Implant Inclination Associated With Mandibular Class I Removable Partial Denture

The aim of this study was to use two-dimensional finite element method to evaluate the displacement and stress distribution transmitted by a distal extension removable partial denture (DERPD) associated with an implant placed at different inclinations (0, 5, 15, and 30 degrees) in the second molar region of the edentulous mandible ridge. Six hemimandibular models were created: model A, only with the presence of the natural tooth 33; model B, similar to model A, with the presence of a conventional DERPD replacing the missing teeth; model C, similar to the previous model, with a straight implant (0 degrees) in the distal region of the ridge, under the denture base; model D, similar to model C, with the implant angled at 5 degrees in the mesial direction; model E, similar to model C, with the implant angled at 15 degrees in the mesial direction; and model F, similar to ME, with the implant angled at 30 degrees in the mesial direction. The models were created with the use of the AutoCAD 2000 program (Autodesk, Inc, San Rafael, CA) and processed for finite element analysis by the ANSYS 8.0 program (Swanson Analysis Systems, Houston, PA). The force applied was vertical of 50 N on each cusp tip. The results showed that the introduction of the RPD overloaded the supporting structures of the RPD and that the introduction of the implant helped to relieve the stresses of the mucosa alveolar, cortical bone, and trabecular bone. The best stress distribution occurred in model D with the implant angled at 5 degrees. The use of an implant as a support decreased the displacement of alveolar mucosa for all inclinations simulated. The stress distribution transmitted by the DERPD to the supporting structures was improved by the use of straight or slightly inclined implants. According to the displacement analysis and von Mises stress, it could be expected that straight or slightly inclined implants do not represent biomechanical risks to use.

Cortical Bone Stress Distribution in Mandibles with Different Configurations Restored with Prefabricated Bar-Prosthesis Protocol: A Three-Dimensional Finite-Element Analysis

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

Bi-Lipschitz G-triviality and Newton polyhedra, G = R, C, K, R-V, C-V, K-V

In this work we provide estimates for the bi-Lipschitz G-triviality, G = C or K, for a family of map germs satisfying a Lojasiewicz condition. We work with two cases: the class of weighted homogeneous map germs and the class of non-degenerate map germs with respect to some Newton polyhedron. We also consider the bi-Lipschitz triviality for families of map germs defined on an analytic variety V. We give estimates for the bi-Lipschitz G(V)-triviality where G = R,C or K in the weighted homogeneous case. Here we assume that the map germ and the analytic variety are both weighted homogeneous with respect to the same weights. The method applied in this paper is based in the construction of controlled vector fields in the presence of a suitable Lojasiewicz condition. In the last section of this work we compare our results with other results related to this work showing tables with all estimates that we know, including ours.

Free actions of abelian p-groups on the n-torus

In this work we make some contributions to the theory of actions of abelian p-groups on the n-Torus T-n. Set congruent to Z(pk1)(h1) x Z(pk2)(h2) x...x Z(pkr)(hr), r >= 1, k(1) >= k(2) >=...>= k(r) >= 1, p prime. Suppose that the group H acts freely on T-n and the induced representation on pi(1)(T-n) congruent to Z(n) is faithful and has first Betti number b. We show that the numbers n, p, b, k(i) and h(i) (i = 1,..,r) satisfy some relation. In particular, when H congruent to Z(p)(h), the minimum value of n is phi(p) + b when b >= 1. Also when H congruent to Z(pk1) x Z(p) the minimum value of n is phi(p(k1)) + p - 1 + b for b >= 1. Here phi denotes the Euler function.

Produção de bulbinhos de cebola em bandejas de isopor

Com o objetivo de estudar a viabilidade de produção de bulbinhos de cebola sob ambiente protegido em diferentes tipos de bandejas de poliestireno expandido foram instalados dois experimentos. No primeiro, trabalhando com a cultivar Serrana, foram avaliadas três tipos de bandejas com diferentes números de plantas por célula: uma planta/célula na bandeja de 288 células, três a cinco plantas/célula na de 128 e cinco a nove plantas/célula na de 72 células. No outro experimento, testaram-se nove cultivares, semeadas somente em bandejas de 128 células com três plantas por célula. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições no primeiro ensaio e cinco no segundo, sendo cada parcela constituída por uma bandeja. Observou-se que quanto maior a densidade de plantio menor o tamanho do bulbinho (diâmetro e peso). O manejo adequado de adubações em cobertura pode viabilizar, tecnicamente, a produção de cinco bulbinhos com 1,3 cm de diâmetro (2 g) por célula, na bandeja de 128 células. Quanto ao ensaio de cultivares, Crioula da Agroflora, Crioula da Granja Lotário e Houston apresentaram 83%, 67% e 81% de plantas bulbificadas, enquanto que nas demais ( Aurora , Baia Periforme , Brownsville , Petroline , Pira Ouro , Pirana e Serrana ) obteve-se 100% de bulbificação. As principais vantagens na produção de bulbinhos em bandeja foram: uniformidade, ausência de plantas daninhas e de patógenos. É um sistema que pode ser útil aos viveiristas que tem entressafra de mudas nos meses de agosto a novembro, período de produção dos bulbinhos. Poderá, também, ser uma alternativa na produção de bulbinhos para conserva, no controle de qualidade de lotes de sementes e em programas de melhoramento de cebola.

Localized mechanics of dentin self-etching adhesive system

The bond strength of composite resins (CRs) to dentin is influenced by the interfacial microstructure of the hybrid layer (HL) and the resin tags (TAG). The contemporary self-etching primer adhesive systems overcame the inconvenient of the etch-and-rinse protocol. Studies, however, have demonstrated that HL thickness and TAG length vary according to the wetting time and additional use of acid-etching prior to self-etching primers. This study investigated the localized stress distribution in the HL and the dentin/adhesive interface. Two HL thicknesses (3 or 6 mu m), two TAG lengths (13 or 17 mu m) and two loading conditions (perpendicular and oblique-25 degrees) were investigated by the finite element (FE) analysis. Five two-dimensional FE models (M) of a dentin specimen restored with CR (38 x 64 mu m) were constructed: M1 - no HL and no TAG; M2 - 3 mu m of HL and 13 mu m of TAG; M3 - 3 mu m of HL and 17 mu m of TAG; M4 - 6 mu m of HL and 13 mu m of TAG; and M5 - 6 mu m of HL and 17 mu m of TAG. Two distributed loadings (L) (20N) were applied on CR surface: L1 - perpendicular, and L2 - oblique (25 degrees). Fixed interfacial conditions were assigned on the border of the dentin specimen. Ansys 10.0 (Ansys (R), Houston, PA, USA) software was used to calculate the stress fields. The peak of von Mises (sigma(vM)) and maximum principal stress (sigma(max)) was higher in L2 than in L1. Microstructures (HL and TAG) had no effect on local stresses for L1. Decreasing HL decreased sigma(vM) and sigma(max) in all structures for L2, but the TAG length had influence only on the peributular dentin. The thickness of HL had more influence on the sigma(vM) and sigma(max) than TAG length. The peritubular dentin and its adjacent structures showed the highest sigma(vM) and sigma(max), mainly in the oblique loading.

Dilema del suministro de gas natural en México

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Influência do formato do rebordo alveolar na distribuição interna das tensões em prótese parcial removível dento-implantossuportada

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Narrow-band search of continuous gravitational-wave signals from Crab and Vela pulsars in Virgo VSR4 data

In this paper we present the results of a coherent narrow-band search for continuous gravitational-wave signals from the Crab and Vela pulsars conducted on Virgo VSR4 data. In order to take into account a possible small mismatch between the gravitational-wave frequency and two times the star rotation frequency, inferred from measurement of the electromagnetic pulse rate, a range of 0.02 Hz around two times the star rotational frequency has been searched for both the pulsars. No evidence for a signal has been found and 95% confidence level upper limits have been computed assuming both that polarization parameters are completely unknown and that they are known with some uncertainty, as derived from x-ray observations of the pulsar wind torii. For Vela the upper limits are comparable to the spin-down limit, computed assuming that all the observed spin-down is due to the emission of gravitational waves. For Crab the upper limits are about a factor of 2 below the spin-down limit, and represent a significant improvement with respect to past analysis. This is the first time the spin-down limit is significantly overcome in a narrow-band search.

Directed search for gravitational waves from Scorpius X-1 with initial LIGO data

We present results of a search for continuously emitted gravitational radiation, directed at the brightest low-mass x-ray binary, Scorpius X-1. Our semicoherent analysis covers 10 days of LIGO S5 data ranging from 50-550 Hz, and performs an incoherent sum of coherent F-statistic power distributed amongst frequency-modulated orbital sidebands. All candidates not removed at the veto stage were found to be consistent with noise at a 1% false alarm rate. We present Bayesian 95% confidence upper limits on gravitational-wave strain amplitude using two different prior distributions: a standard one, with no a priori assumptions about the orientation of Scorpius X-1; and an angle-restricted one, using a prior derived from electromagnetic observations. Median strain upper limits of 1.3 x 10(-24) and 8 x 10(-25) are reported at 150 Hz for the standard and angle-restricted searches respectively. This proof-of-principle analysis was limited to a short observation time by unknown effects of accretion on the intrinsic spin frequency of the neutron star, but improves upon previous upper limits by factors of similar to 1.4 for the standard, and 2.3 for the angle-restricted search at the sensitive region of the detector.