A moral kantiana entre deontologia e teleologia

This dissertation examines the Kantian moral in a teleological perspective. It consists of a reconstruction of philosophy practice that departs from the investigation of the categorical imperative, the concepts of duty, will, good will, as well as an approach on the ways of investigation of nature, which will enable the foundation to engage in the teleological argument, investigating the organized human beings, the harmonious system, its relationship with the ultimate and most important purpose, always flexing the analysis of these concepts the idea of purpose. Subsequently we will establish an argument about the end terminal and the implication of this concept to think about the real idea of the system in Kant and his relationship or support for moral theory. In essence this paper approaches the moral point of view of ethics, outlining the insufficiency of this field for the foundation of architectural moral, which will enable the final touch or the indispensability or the teleological argument as fundamental to the Kantian moral Theory

Ativos intangíveis (modelo RBV) como recurso estratégico e competitivo: um estudo em hotéis de pequeno porte (zona sul, Natal/RN)

The study aims to analyze the perception of managers on intangible assets as strategic and competitive resources in small hotels in Natal/RN, through the theory of the Resource Based View (RBV). This is a qualitative study of exploratory and descriptive, conducted with managers of the means of hosting small the capital of Rio Grande do Norte through semi-structured interviews, which was applied later, the technique content analysis based on the results of the information obtained in the interviews. Thus, research has shown that managers of small hotels visited (A, B, C) are not sufficient and satisfactory knowledge to set as their unique intangible assets of the company and makes use of them, on an occasional basis, without understanding or in essence understand its true value as a resource that can be used strategically for sustainable competitive advantage in the hotel market in Natal/RN. This means that managers do not know how to create new attributes and use them strategically. And they need to expand their partnerships with stakeholders. Given the importance of the subject of the present research, the information achieved by this analysis may contribute to the provision of information to establish a current situation with regard to the attributed to the knowledge and use of resources (intangible assets) importance as a strategic source and competitive for the internal management of the company by managers and thus, enabling a differential and greater economic profit over time in this segment

Retinoscopia com luz em faixa em cães fácicos, afácicos e pseudofácicos

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

Efeito de valores discrepantes em grupos de contemporâneos na predição dos valores genéticos

Foram simuladas nove populações, cada uma com cinco replicações da variável ganho médio diário (GMD1) com distribuição normal e média 100, variando o tamanho dos grupos e os desvios-padrão. Cada replicação foi dividida de modo a formar grupos que representariam grupos de contemporâneos (GC) e de progênie dentro de GC. Cada GC tinha dez pais. Obtiveram-se três conjuntos: o conjunto 1 com 1.000 grupos de contemporâneos (GC), cada um com 100 observações e dez observações por pai; o conjunto 2, com 2.500 GC, 40 observações e quatro observações por pai; e o conjunto 3, com 5.000 GC, 20 observações e dois filhos por pai. em cada população, gerou-se GMD1, a qual foi transformada em outra variável, da seguinte forma: DIAS1 = 100/GMD1. Calcularam-se para cada pai, dentro de cada GC, as contribuições de cada GC ao valor de cada pai, para GMD1 (Cx) e DIAS1 (Cy). Os efeitos do máximo e da média de DIAS1 no grupo sobre o valor absoluto de Cy foram significativos, mas o R² foi baixo (máximo de 16%). O mínimo de DIAS1 não influenciou o valor de Cy. O máximo e o mínimo de GMD1 sobre Cx foram significativos, mas os R² foram muito baixos (máximo de 2%). A média não influenciou Cx. em grupos de contemporâneos com um animal com valor de GMD muito baixo, o valor de DIAS desse animal será relativamente muito mais alto, o que afetará a média do grupo e os valores de todos os animais do grupo. Esse efeito se refletirá na avaliação de seus pais e será mais uma importante fonte de erros na avaliação genética do rebanho. Assim, a utilização de DIAS em substituição ao GMD como critério de seleção para o melhoramento de bovinos é contra-indicada, pois deverá reduzir a possibilidade de ganho genético para crescimento.

Some practical advice on polynomial regression analysis from blocked response surface designs

It is often necessary to run response surface designs in blocks. In this paper the analysis of data from such experiments, using polynomial regression models, is discussed. The definition and estimation of pure error in blocked designs are considered. It is recommended that pure error is estimated by assuming additive block and treatment effects, as this is more consistent with designs without blocking. The recovery of inter-block information using REML analysis is discussed, although it is shown that it has very little impact if thc design is nearly orthogonally blocked. Finally prediction from blocked designs is considered and it is shown that prediction of many quantities of interest is much simpler than prediction of the response itself.

The influence of landscape characteristics and home-range size on the quantification of landscape-genetics relationships

A common approach used to estimate landscape resistance involves comparing correlations of ecological and genetic distances calculated among individuals of a species. However, the location of sampled individuals may contain some degree of spatial uncertainty due to the natural variation of animals moving through their home range or measurement error in plant or animal locations. In this study, we evaluate the ways that spatial uncertainty, landscape characteristics, and genetic stochasticity interact to influence the strength and variability of conclusions about landscape-genetics relationships. We used a neutral landscape model to generate 45 landscapes composed of habitat and non-habitat, varying in percent habitat, aggregation, and structural connectivity (patch cohesion). We created true and alternate locations for 500 individuals, calculated ecological distances (least-cost paths), and simulated genetic distances among individuals. We compared correlations between ecological distances for true and alternate locations. We then simulated genotypes at 15 neutral loci and investigated whether the same influences could be detected in simple Mantel tests and while controlling for the effects of isolation-by distance using the partial Mantel test. Spatial uncertainty interacted with the percentage of habitat in the landscape, but led to only small reductions in correlations. Furthermore, the strongest correlations occurred with low percent habitat, high aggregation, and low to intermediate levels of cohesion. Overall genetic stochasticity was relatively low and was influenced by landscape characteristics.

Avaliação de métodos de diagnóstico da lesão de cárie

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar in vitro a efetividade de três métodos de diagnóstico da lesão de cárie em 26sítios de interesse, dispostos na face palatina de 20 coroas de dentes caninos permanentes de humanos. Quatro examinadores receberam orientação teórico-prática para o diagnóstico, através de três métodos: inspeção visual; táctil (inspeção visual - sonda exploradora com ponta romba); e videoscópico (sistema AcuCam). Para a validação dos dados, os dentes foram seccionados paralelamente ao seu longo eixo por um disco de diamante e analisados histologicamente em um microscópio estereoscópico com aumento de 40X. Diagnósticos compatíveis com o exame histológico apresentaram percentual de acerto no método de inspeção visual de 40,4%, no exame táctil de 38,5% e no videoscópico de 41,3%, resultados que não demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significante. Concluiu-se, pelos resultados obtidos, que os três métodos apresentaram acuidade semelhante no diagnóstico da lesão de cárie; dentre os métodos estudados, o exame ao videoscópio foi o que mais se aproximou do histológico, seguido pelo visual; o mais distante foi o táctil. Constatou-se também uma elevada porcentagem de erro de diagnósticos (59,9%), o que conseqüentemente acarretaria uma conduta terapêutica inadequada

2006 GEP-ISFG collaborative exercise on mtDNA: reflections about interpretation, artefacts, and DNA mixtures

We report the results of the seventh edition of the GEP-ISFG mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) collaborative exercise. The samples submitted to the participant laboratories were blood stains from a maternity case and Simulated forensic samples, including a case of mixture. The success rate for the blood stains was moderate (similar to 77%); even though four inexperienced laboratories concentrated about one-third of the total errors. A similar success was obtained for the analysis of mixed samples (78.8% for a hair-saliva mixture and 69.2% for a saliva-saliva Mixture). Two laboratories also dissected the haplotypes contributing to the saliva-saliva mixture. Most of the errors were due to reading problems and misinterpretation of electropherograms, demonstrating once more that the lack of a solid devised experimental approach is the main cause of error in mtDNA testing. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comments, with reply on 'Continuous time relay-controlled model reference adaptive-system' by A. Abdulkareem and R. Nagarajam

An adaptive scheme is shown by the authors of the above paper (ibid. vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 275-276, Feb. 1983) for continuous time model reference adaptive systems (MRAS), where relays replace the usual multipliers in the existing MRAS. The commenter shows an error in the analysis of the hyperstability of the scheme, such that the validity of this configuration becomes an open question.

Towards an intelligent graphical interface for linear programming modelling

The increase of computing power of the microcomputers has stimulated the building of direct manipulation interfaces that allow graphical representation of Linear Programming (LP) models. This work discusses the components of such a graphical interface as the basis for a system to assist users in the process of formulating LP problems. In essence, this work proposes a methodology which considers the modelling task as divided into three stages which are specification of the Data Model, the Conceptual Model and the LP Model. The necessity for using Artificial Intelligence techniques in the problem conceptualisation and to help the model formulation task is illustrated.

Revendo os códigos hamming e CRC para tratar com erros na transmissão de dados

This article has the purpose to review the main codes used to detect and correct errors in data communication specifically in the computer's network. The Hamming's code and the Ciclic Redundancy Code (CRC) are presented as the focus of this article as well as CRC hardware implementation. Each code is reviewed in details in order to fill the gaps in the literature and to make it accessible to the computer science and engineering students as well as to anyone who may be interested in learning the technique to treat error in data communication.

Análise retrospectiva da toxicidade de gotas otológicas, medicamentos tópicos nasais e orofaríngeos registrada na Grande São Paulo.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective analysis of human toxicity files involving topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases (eardrops, topical nasal medicines, lozenges, drops and sprays for oropharyngeal affections). METHODS: Thirty-four brands of eardrops, 48 of topical nasal medicines and 22 of tablets, lozenges and sprays for oropharyngeal affections were selected, from a total of 104 products available in Brazil. We analyzed the registries in the electronic database from the Poison Control Centre of São Paulo (CCI-Jabaquara), Brazil, for the period from January 1996 through December 2000. The cases related to selected pharmaceuticals were collected. RESULTS: 10,823 cases of human toxicity caused by medicines were voluntarily reported to CCI-Jabaquara. Topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases accounted for 291 cases (2.68%), from which 240 (82.5%) represented poisoning; 12 (4.1%) involved ear drops, 268 (92%), topical nasal medicines and 11 (3.9%), topical medicines for oropharyngeal affections. Among topical nasal medicines, vasoconstrictors predominated (233 cases), and among medicines for oropharyngeal affections, it was tetracaine (four cases). Considering age distribution, toxicity predominated significantly in children aged from 1 to 4 years (p=0.0003). The main causes of toxicity were: accidental intake of medicines (43%) and error in drug administration (14.8%). Hypereflexia and vomiting were the most frequent symptoms related to toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant incidence of systemic toxicity due to eardrops, topical nasal and oropharyngeal medicines in children 1 to 4 years-old, whose main cause was accidental intake of these medicines.

Modelagem em tempo real do erro sistemático das observáveis GPS devido à ionosfera

Single frequency GPS receivers have been many used in GPS surveys. Among the several applications, one can mention those that are to obtain the receiver's antenna coordinates in real time. One of the main error sources to these applications is the ionosphere systematic error. In the FCT/UNESP a regional ionosphere model (Mod_Ion) was developed. It has been implemented to execute after collecting of GPS data. At real time application two improvements in the Mod_Ion were introduced, consisting of an alteration of the function of modeling and implementation of the Kalman Filter. The results of the experiments showed that the modifications were the most effective in the ionosphere systematic effect's corrections, providing a improvement in the accuracy of point positioning, of 90,75%, in period of the highest ionosphere activity.

An effective wavelet method to detect and mitigate low-frequency multipath effects

To ensure high accuracy results from GPS relative positioning, the multipath effects have to be mitigated. Although the careful selection of antenna site and the use of especial antennas and receivers can minimize multipath, it cannot always be eliminated and frequently the residual multipath disturbance remains as the major error in GPS results. The high-frequency multipath from large delays can be attenuated by double difference (DD) denoising methods. But the low-frequency multipath from short delays is very difficult to be reduced or modeled. In this paper, it is proposed a method based on wavelet regression (WR), which can effectively detect and reduce the low-frequency multipath. The wavelet technique is firstly applied to decompose the DD residuals into the low-frequency bias and high-frequency noise components. The extracted bias components by WR are then directly applied to the DD observations to correct them from the trend. The remaining terms, largely characterized by the high-frequency measurement noise, are expected to give the best linear unbiased solutions from a least-squares (LS) adjustment. An experiment was carried out using objects placed close to the receiver antenna to cause, mainly, low-frequency multipath. The data were collected for two days to verify the multipath repeatability. The ground truth coordinates were computed with data collected in the absence of the reflector objects. The coordinates and ambiguity solution were compared with and without the multipath mitigation using WR. After mitigating the multipath, ambiguity resolution became more reliable and the coordinates were more accurate.

Métodos de interpolação para estimar o ph em solo sob dois manejos de café Arábica

There are many methods used to estimate values in places no sampled for construction of contours maps. The aim of this study was to use the methods of interpolation kriging, inverse of the square of the distance and polynomial in the representation of the spatial variability of the pH of the soil in the organic and conventional management in the culture of the coffee plantation. For that, irregular meshes were built for soil sampling in the depth of 0-0,10 meters, totaling 40 points sampling in each area. For gauging of the interpolation methods they were solitary 10% of the total of points, for each area. Initially, the data were appraised through the classic statistics (descriptive and exploratory) and spatial analysis. The method inverse square of the distance and kriging has low error in estimating dados. The method of kriging presented low variation around the average in different managements.