Polvo violonista : sistema multiagente para simulação de performances em violão

Este trabalho apresenta um sistema multiagente que permite simular execuções musicais em violão. Em uma execução musical no violão observam-se elementos distintos que, trabalhando em conjunto, produzem a sonoridade desejada pelo músico. Ou seja, as ações tomadas pelo violonista, através do sincronismo de suas mãos sobre o instrumento, influenciam diretamente na sonoridade obtida. A idéia básica deste trabalho é desenvolver uma comunidade de agentes que represente as entidades envolvidas em uma performance musical de violão. Quatro agentes foram identificados e modelados no contexto desta dissertação. São eles: Mão Esquerda (ME): Responsável pela execução dos acordes, ou seja, deve possuir o conhecimento de formação de acordes dada a afinação do instrumento bem como a interpretação das cifras que representam os acordes. Agente Mão Direita (MD): Responsável pelo ritmo impresso na música; Caixa de Som (CS): Permite que os usuários simplesmente escutem a composição, sem nenhuma (ou muito pouca) interferência na composição. Agente Solista (SL): Projetado somente para ler arquivos MIDI e enviar notas para o Agente Caixa de Som (CS). O conhecimento relativo ao reconhecimento das cifras, geração do acorde e posterior cálculo do desenho do acorde para um instrumento de corda foi encapsulado em duas bibliotecas que visam auxiliar no desenvolvimento de outros novos projetos que necessitem de funcionalidades similares. Ainda, são abordadas as questões da comunicação entre os agentes e componentes gráficos utilizados na captura de informações rítmicas. O material musical produzido pelo sistema está contido no CD-ROM em anexo, bem como a documentação das API’s.

Estimating the output gap: a SVAR approach

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo calcular o hiato do produto por meio da identificação de choques de demanda estimados por um SVAR e estudar, em um modelo de pequeno porte que utiliza essa medida de hiato, como se dá a interdependência entre a política fiscal, a política monetária e a inflação. Essa abordagem identifica uma maior sensibilidade da inflação à política fiscal do que nas estimativas usuais encontradas na literatura brasileira. Por outro lado, as estimativas para a sensibilidade da inflação à política monetária estão em linha com os resultados de outros trabalhos. A principal vantagem desta metodologia é a identificação de choques de demanda em momentos de mudança da trajetória de produto potencial, como recentemente ocorreu na economia brasileira. Além disso, ela aponta uma possível explicação para o recente paradoxo entre o baixo crescimento da atividade e a alta inflação.

The evolution of international output differences (1960-2000) : from factor to productivity

This article presents a group of exercises of leveI and growth decomposition of output per worker using cross-collntry data from 1960 to :2000. It is shown that at least llntil 197.5 factors of production (capital anel education) ",ere the main source of output dispersion across ecoIlomies and that productivity variance was considerably srnaller than in late years. Qnly after this date the prominence of productivity started to sho\\' up in the data. as the majority of the litcrature has found. The gro\\'th decomposition exercises showecl that t he reversal of relative irnportance of proeluctivity vis-a-\'is factors is explainecl by the very good (bad) performance of procluctivity of fast (slow) growing cconomies. Although growth in the pcriod, on avcragc. is mostly clue to factors accumulation. its variance is explained by productivity.

Fecundity and reproductive output of the speckled swimming crab Arenacus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Brachyura, Portunidae)

Areanaeus cribrarius females were collected over a 12-month period with otter-trawl nets in the Ubatuba littoral zone, Brazil. Ovigerous individuals were measured (CW = carapace width excluding lateral spines) and weighed (WW = wet weight). Each egg brood was weighed (WE = wet weight), dried, and the number of eggs (EN) counted. Scatterplots from EN/CW, EN/WW, and EN/WE were submitted to regression analyses. Mean relative fecundity ((F) over bar') was calculated in each month/season to assess seasonal variation of reproductive intensity. The number of eggs showed a positive correlation with CW, WW, and WE. Fecundity of A. cribrarius ranged from 135,210 to 682,156 eggs, intermediate in comparison with other portunids. Fecundity in Portunidae is typically high; lower values are found in Polybiinae and higher ones in Portuninae. Mean fecundity did not reveal significant differences over months and seasons, but reproductive activity tended to be more intense in summer and winter, a phenomenon related to reduced temperature oscillations as found in subtropical regions.

Comparison between two methods for cardiac output measurement in propofol-anesthetized dogs: thermodilution and Doppler

ObjectiveTo compare cardiac output (CO) measured by Doppler echocardiography and thermodilution techniques in spontaneously breathing dogs during continuous infusion of propofol. To do so, CO was obtained using the thermodilution method (CO(TD)) and Doppler evaluation of pulmonary flow (CO(DP)) and aortic flow (CO(DA)).Study designProspective cohort study.AnimalsEight adult dogs weighing 8.3 +/- 2.0 kg.MethodsPropofol was used for induction (7.5 +/- 1.9 mg kg-1 IV) followed by a continuous rate infusion at 0.7 mg kg-1 minute-1. The animals were positioned in left lateral recumbency on an echocardiography table that allowed for positioning of the transducer at the 3rd and 5th intercostal spaces of the left hemithorax for Doppler evaluation of pulmonary and aortic valves, respectively. CO(DP) and CO(DA) were calculated from pulmonary and aortic velocity spectra, respectively. A pulmonary artery catheter was inserted via the jugular vein and positioned inside the lumen of the pulmonary artery in order to evaluate CO(TD). The first measurement of CO(TD), CO(DP) and CO(DA) was performed 30 minutes after beginning continuous infusion (T0) and then at 15-minute intervals (T15, T30, T45 and T60). Numeric data were submitted to two-way anova for repeated measurements, Pearson's correlation coefficient and Bland & Altman analysis. Data are presented as mean +/- SD.ResultsAt T0, CO(TD) was lower than CO(DA). CO(DA) was higher than CO(TD) and CO(DP) at T30, T45 and T60. The difference between the CO(TD) and CO(DP), when all data were included, was -0.04 +/- 0.22 L minute-1 and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was 0.86. The difference between the CO(TD) and CO(DA) was -0.87 +/- 0.54 L minute-1 and r = 0.69. For CO(TD) and CO(DP), the difference was -0.82 +/- 0.59 L minute-1 and r = 0.61.ConclusionDoppler evaluation of pulmonary flow was a clinically acceptable method for assessing the CO in propofol-anesthetized dogs.

LMI-based algorithm for strictly positive real systems with static output feedback

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

Observer-based state-feedback versus H-infinity output feedback control solved by LMI approach for applications in smart structures

This paper aims with the use of linear matrix inequalities approach (LMIs) for application in active vibration control problems in smart strutures. A robust controller for active damping in a panel was designed with piezoelectrical actuators in optimal locations for illustration of the main proposal. It was considered, in the simulations of the closed-loop, a model identified by eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA) and reduced by modal decomposition. We tested two differents techniques to solve the problem. The first one uses LMI approach by state-feedback based in an observer design, considering several simultaneous constraints as: a decay rate, limited input on the actuators, bounded output peak (output energy) and robustness to parametic uncertainties. The results demonstrated the vibration attenuation in the structure by controlling only the first modes and the increased damping in the bandwidth of interest. However, it is possible to occur spillover effects, because the design has not been done considering the dynamic uncertainties related with high frequencies modes. In this sense, the second technique uses the classical H. output feedback control, also solved by LMI approach, considering robustness to residual dynamic to overcome the problem found in the first test. The results are compared and discussed. The responses shown the robust performance of the system and the good reduction of the vibration level, without increase mass.

Performances da escrita

Este artigo aponta as características de uma escrita performática a partir do cruzamento entre o discurso ficcional, o discurso filosófico e o discurso crítico como formas equivalentes de experiência. Busca-se compreender os diferentes contextos em que a performance, como campo de experimentação, invade a área dos estudos literários, produzindo efeitos de deslocamento do cânone e seus modos de legitimidade, bem como visa a problematizar os lugares determinados do emissor e do receptor do texto; do artista, do filósofo e do crítico

Apropriações, conflitos e negociações de gênero, classe e sorologia: etnografando situações e performances no mundo social do HIV/AIDS (Rio de Janeiro)

Considerando o caráter multifacetado e socialmente heterogêneo da epidemia do HIV/AIDS, gostaria de refletir sobre as formas pragmáticas de apropriação, negociação e conflito de gênero em termos das disposições possíveis de masculinidade e feminilidade ou, ainda, suas amplas combinações entre homens e mulheres de diferentes identidades sexuais e diversos status sorológicos. Os contextos a serem explorados e descritos são aqueles particulares ao mundo social da AIDS, incluindo tanto o cotidiano de uma ONG AIDS específica, bem como os que se apresentam em situações tanto públicas como privadas na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Pretendo discutir como novas subjetividades podem se constituir a partir dos usos de categorias sexuais e sorológicas, valores morais e de expressões performativas de gênero.

Urinary fluoride output in children following the use of a dual-fluoride varnish formulation

Objective: This study evaluated the bioavailability of fluoride after topical application of a dual-fluoride varnish commercially available in Brazil, when compared to Duraphat T. Material and methods: The urinary fluoride output was evaluated in seven 5-year-old children after application of the fluoride varnishes, in two different phases. In the first phase (I), children received topical application of the fluoride varnish Duofluorid XII (2.92% fluorine, calcium fluoride + 2.71% fluorine, sodium fluoride, FGM (TM)). After 1-month interval (phase II), the same amount (0.2 mL) of the fluoride varnish Duraphat (2.26% fluorine, sodium fluoride, Colgate T) was applied. Before each application all the volunteers brushed their teeth with placebo dentifrice for 7 days. Urinary collections were carried out 24 h prior up to 48 h after the applications. Fluoride intake from the diet was also estimated. Fluoride concentration in diet samples and urine was analyzed with the fluoride ion-specific electrode and a miniature calomel reference electrode coupled to a potentiometer. Data were tested by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). Results: There were significant differences in the urinary fluoride output between phases I and II. The use of Duofluorid XII did not significantly increase the urinary fluoride output, when compared to baseline levels. The application of Duraphat caused a transitory increase in the urinary fluoride output, returning to baseline levels 48 h after its use. Conclusions: The tested varnish formulation, which has been shown to be effective in in vitro studies, also can be considered safe.

Reproductive output of Uca vocator (Herbst, 1804) (Brachyura, Ocypodidae) from three subtropical mangroves in Brazil

Crab fecundity is widely known to vary proportionally to female size, but the female's nutritional state also has an important effect on egg production. This study evaluates intraspecific variability of reproductive output by monthly sampling Uca vocator populations from the Itapanhau, Indaia, and Itamambuca mangroves on the southeastern coast of Brazil. The presence of ovigerous crabs, their carapace width (CW) and their number of eggs were recorded. Additionally, the productivity of the mangroves and the content of organic matter of the sediments were analysed in order to estimate food availability in each locality. Size-specific fecundity relationships were obtained for each population and compared among the three populations. Ovigerous females from Itamambuca are the largest and their fecundities are also the highest among the populations studied. These results probably are associated with the favourable environmental conditions in Itamambuca, as this is a young mangrove with a high productivity level.

Reproductive output of the spider crab Epialtus bituberculatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura) associated with beds of the alga Sargassum cymosum (C. Agardh, 1820) on the southeastern Brazilian coast

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)