Expression pattern of four storage xyloglucan mobilization-related genes during seedling development of the rain forest tree Hymenaea courbaril L.

During seedling establishment, cotyledons of the rain forest tree Hymenaea courbaril mobilize storage cell wall xyloglucan to sustain growth. The polysaccharide is degraded and its products are transported to growing sink tissues. Auxin from the shoot controls the level of xyloglucan hydrolytic enzymes. It is not yet known how important the expression of these genes is for the control of storage xyloglucan degradation. In this work, partial cDNAs of the genes xyloglucan transglycosylase hydrolase (HcXTH1) and beta-galactosidase (HcBGAL1), both related to xyloglucan degradation, and two other genes related to sucrose metabolism [alkaline invertase (HcAlkIN1) and sucrose synthase (HcSUS1)], were isolated. The partial sequences were characterized by comparison with sequences available in the literature, and phylogenetic trees were assembled. Gene expression was evaluated at intervals of 6 h during 24 h in cotyledons, hypocotyl, roots, and leaves, using 45-d-old plantlets. HcXTH1 and HcBGAL1 were correlated to xyloglucan degradation and responded to auxin and light, being down-regulated when transport of auxin was prevented by N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) and stimulated by constant light. Genes related to sucrose metabolism, HcAlkIN1 and HcSUS1, responded to inhibition of auxin transport in consonance with storage mobilization in the cotyledons. A model is proposed suggesting that auxin and light are involved in the control of the expression of genes related to storage xyloglucan mobilization in seedlings of H. courbaril. It is concluded that gene expression plays a role in the control of the intercommunication system of the source-sink relationship during seeding growth, favouring its establishment in the shaded environment of the rain forest understorey.

Toward a resolution of Campanulid phylogeny, with special reference to the placement of Dipsacales

Broad-scale phylogenetic analyses of the angiosperms and of the Asteridae have failed to confidently resolve relationships among the major lineages of the campanulid Asteridae (i.e., the euasterid II of APG II, 2003). To address this problem we assembled presently available sequences for a core set of 50 taxa, representing the diversity of the four largest lineages (Apiales, Aquifoliales, Asterales, Dipsacales) as well as the smaller ""unplaced"" groups (e.g., Bruniaceae, Paracryphiaceae, Columelliaceae). We constructed four data matrices for phylogenetic analysis: a chloroplast coding matrix (atpB, matK, ndhF, rbcL), a chloroplast non-coding matrix (rps16 intron, trnT-F region, trnV-atpE IGS), a combined chloroplast dataset (all seven chloroplast regions), and a combined genome matrix (seven chloroplast regions plus 18S and 26S rDNA). Bayesian analyses of these datasets using mixed substitution models produced often well-resolved and supported trees. Consistent with more weakly supported results from previous studies, our analyses support the monophyly of the four major clades and the relationships among them. Most importantly, Asterales are inferred to be sister to a clade containing Apiales and Dipsacales. Paracryphiaceae is consistently placed sister to the Dipsacales. However, the exact relationships of Bruniaceae, Columelliaceae, and an Escallonia clade depended upon the dataset. Areas of poor resolution in combined analyses may be partly explained by conflict between the coding and non-coding data partitions. We discuss the implications of these results for our understanding of campanulid phylogeny and evolution, paying special attention to how our findings bear on character evolution and biogeography in Dipsacales.

Oscheius tipulae as an example of eEF1A gene diversity in nematodes

We characterized four eEF1A genes in the alternative rhabditid nematode model organism Oscheius tipulae. This is twice the copy number of eEF1A genes in C. elegans, C. briggsae, and, probably, many other free-living and parasitic nematodes. The introns show features remarkably different from those of other metazoan eEF1A genes. Most of the introns in the eEF1A genes are specific to O. tipulae and are not shared with any of the other genes described in metazoans. Most of the introns are phase 0 (inserted between two codons), and few are inserted in protosplice sites (introns inserted between the nucleotide sequence A/CAG and G/A). Two of these phase 0 introns are conserved in sequence in two or more of the four eEF1A gene copies, and are inserted in the same position in the genes. Neither of these characteristics has been detected in any of the nematode eEF1A genes characterized to date. The coding sequences were also compared with other eEF1A cDNAs from 11 different nematodes to determine the variability of these genes within the phylum Nematoda. Parsimony and distance trees yielded similar topologies, which were similar to those created using other molecular markers. The presence of more than one copy of the eEF1A gene with nearly identical coding regions makes it difficult to define the orthologous cDNAs. As shown by our data on O. tipulae, careful and extensive examination of intron positions in the eEF1A gene across the phylum is necessary to define their potential for use as valid phylogenetic markers.

Mixture of changing uniaxial micellar forms in lyotropic biaxial nematics

Lyotropic nematics consisting of surfactant-cosurfactant water solutions may present a biaxial phase or direct U(+) <-> U(-) transitions, in different regions of the temperature-relative concentration phase diagram, for different systems and compositions. We propose that these may be related to changes of uniaxial micellar form, which may occur either smoothly or abruptly. Smooth change of cylinder-like into disc-like shapes requires a distribution of Maier-Saupe interaction constants and we consider two limiting cases for the distribution of forms: a single Gaussian and a double Gaussian. Alternatively, an abrupt change of form is described by a discontinuous distribution of interaction constants. Our results show that the dispersive distributions yield a biaxial phase, while an abrupt change of shape leads to coexistence of uniaxial phases. Fitting the theory to the experiment for the ternary system KL/decanol/D2O leads to transition lines in very good agreement with experimental results. In order to rationalise the results of the comparison, we analyse temperature and concentration form dependence, which connects micellar and experimental macroscopic parameters. Physically consistent variations of micellar asymmetry, amphiphile partitioning and volume are obtained. To the best of the authors` knowledge, this is the first truly statistical microscopic approach that is able to model experimentally observed lyotropic biaxial nematic phases.

A chemometric study of the 5-HT1A receptor affinities presented by arylpiperazine compounds

Arylpiperazine compounds are promising 5-HT1A receptor ligands that can contribute for accelerating the onset of therapeutic effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. In the present work, the chemometric methods HCA, PCA, KNN, SIMCA and PLS were employed in order to obtain SAR and QSAR models relating the structures of arylpiperazine compounds to their 5-HT1A receptor affinities. A training set of 52 compounds was used to construct the models and the best ones were obtained with nine topological descriptors. The classification and regression models were externally validated by means of predictions for a test set of 14 compounds and have presented good quality, as verified by the correctness of classifications, in the case of pattern recognition studies, and b, the high correlation coefficients (q(2) = 0.76, r(2) = 0.83) and small prediction errors for the PLS regression. Since the results are in good agreement with previous SAR studies, we can suggest that these findings can help in the search for 5-HT1A receptor ligands that are able to improve antidepressant treatment. (c) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Långa toppar - metod för uttag av skogsbränsle i slutavverkningar : Slutrapport (STEM-projekt 21937-1)

SammanfattningHögskolan Dalarna har i samarbete med Skogsägarna Mellanskog, Naturbränsle i Mellan¬sverige AB och GDE-Net genomfört studier på en ny metod för uttag av skogsbränsle från slutavverkningar. Metoden går ut på att timmer tas ut som enda rundvirkessortiment. Resten av trädet, samt klenare träd som inte håller timmerdimension, tas ut som ett bränslesortiment. Metoden har jämförts med en konventionell slutavverkning med uttag av timmer, massaved och GROT-flis.Enligt genomförda försök skulle en avverkning enligt den nya metoden (långa toppar) ge ett högre drivningsnetto och drygt dubbelt så mycket bränsleflis som en konventionell avverk¬ning. En anledning till det högre drivningsnettot är att kostnaden för flisning blir lägre än vid flisning av GROT och att flisen betalas bättre än GROT-flis. Resultaten är beroende av de faktiska beståndsförutsättningarna och gällande prisrelationer mellan massaved och bränsle¬flis.Faktorer som har en positiv inverkan på drivningsnettot vid uttag av ”långa toppar” är t.ex. stora uttagsvolymer och korta terrängtransportavstånd samt bestånd med en hög andel virke av låg kvalitet eller udda sortiment som betalas dåligt på rundvirkesmarknaden.SummaryIn Sweden forest energy from final felling is traditionally harvested as logging residues after harvesting of timber (saw logs) and pulpwood, but depending on the market situation other methods with higher yield of forest energy might be of interest. Dalarna University has study a new method called “Undelimbed long tops” where only saw timber was taken out as an industrial assortment. The rest of the trees and smaller trees that don’t hold timber dimensions was left intact on the clear-felled area and been chipped later on. The study was done in different stands with some different conditions. The results have been compared with the traditional method for final felling. The surplus (forest owners net income) was higher in almost all stands when the method with “undelimbed long tops” was used, compared to the traditional method for taking out forest energy, and the volume of chips was more than doubled. A reason for the higher income from long tops is that the costs for chipping is lower and the prize of chips is higher compared to chips from logging residues. Other reason is that forest owners will not be paid for wasted pulpwood, but will be fully paid for the chips from such pulpwood. Factors that will have a positive influence on the ULT-method are for example large logging volumes and short distance between the logging area and the landing, different kinds of price reductions on pulpwood and large volumes of rotten wood or low paid industrial assortments.

Speed prediction for triggering vehicle activated signs

Accurate speed prediction is a crucial step in the development of a dynamic vehcile activated sign (VAS). A previous study showed that the optimal trigger speed of such signs will need to be pre-determined according to the nature of the site and to the traffic conditions. The objective of this paper is to find an accurate predictive model based on historical traffic speed data to derive the optimal trigger speed for such signs. Adaptive neuro fuzzy (ANFIS), classification and regression tree (CART) and random forest (RF) were developed to predict one step ahead speed during all times of the day. The developed models were evaluated and compared to the results obtained from artificial neural network (ANN), multiple linear regression (MLR) and naïve prediction using traffic speed data collected at four sites located in Sweden. The data were aggregated into two periods, a short term period (5-min) and a long term period (1-hour). The results of this study showed that using RF is a promising method for predicting mean speed in the two proposed periods.. It is concluded that in terms of performance and computational complexity, a simplistic input features to the predicitive model gave a marked increase in the response time of the model whilse still delivering a low prediction error.

Estudo do impacto da variabilidade de resinas alquídicas nas propriedades de tintas

Este trabalho de conclusão tem como tema a relação entre as especificações de resinas alquídicas e de tintas preparadas com estas resinas, com foco nas características de teor de sólidos e viscosidade, fazendo uso das técnicas projeto de experimentos, superfície de resposta e análise de regressão. O objetivo principal é o estudo dos limites de especificação ideais para a resina alquídica, de forma que os lotes de tinta apresentem propriedades dentro da especificação já ao final do processamento, reduzindo a incidência de lotes fabris com necessidade de ajuste. Como conseqüência, temos redução de retrabalho e lead time fabril, adequação de custo de produtos, maior qualidade intrínseca e maior confiança na sistemática de desenvolvimento, produção e controle de qualidade. Inicialmente, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a tecnologia de tintas e resinas alquídicas, conceitos de controle de qualidade, planejamento de experimentos, análise por superfície de resposta e análise de regressão. Na seqüência, foi conduzido o estudo de caso, realizado na empresa Killing S.A. Tintas e Adesivos, planta localizada na cidade de Novo Hamburgo. Os resultados experimentais indicaram modelos de regressão polinomial válidos para as propriedades avaliadas. Foram tomadas as propriedades teor de sólidos e viscosidade Copo Ford #2 da mistura A+B como parâmetros para análise dos limites de especificação da resina alquídica, onde se comprovou que a variabilidade atualmente permitida é excessiva. A aplicação dos modelos de regressão indicou novos limites de especificação para a resina alquídica, mais estreitos, viabilizando a obtenção de tintas com propriedades especificadas.

Relacionando o comprometimento organizacional e a responsabilidade social corporativa

A competitividade e a responsabilidade social têm sido temas de constante discussão nos meios acadêmicos e econômicos. De um lado, as empresas buscam a competitividade através da eficiência, da excelência e da melhora constante de desempenho. Este desempenho, conforme já colocado por Bateman e Strasser (1984), encontra entre suas bases o comprometimento dos empregados com a sua organização. De outro lado, a sociedade, e todos os grupos nela atuantes, cobram de maneira cada vez mais forte e ampla que as empresas ajam de forma socialmente responsável. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho buscou analisar um modelo de comprometimento organizacional e um de responsabilidade social corporativa que fornecessem as bases para a compreensão desses dois construtos e as possíveis relações entre eles. A partir dos modelos estudados, obtiveram-se quatro grupos de interesse para os quais as atividades de responsabilidade social corporativa podem ser direcionadas – stakeholders sociais e não sociais, empregados, consumidores e governo – e três dimensões do comprometimento organizacional – afetiva, normativa e instrumental. Através de análises de correlação e de regressão linear simples e algumas ponderações teóricas, concluiu-se que, para a amostra obtida, as atividades de responsabilidade social corporativa voltadas aos empregados e aos consumidores possuem relação positiva com os comprometimentos afetivo e normativo, enquanto que as ações de responsabilidade social corporativa voltadas a stakeholders sociais e não sociais e ao governo possuem relação direta apenas com o comprometimento afetivo. As demais relações entre a variável dependente e independente se mostraram inexistentes. Desta forma, este trabalho propõe que os gestores das organizações, conhecedores dos possíveis efeitos benéficos sobre o comprometimento organizacional de seus empregados e, conseqüentemente, seus resultados e desempenho, atuem no sentido de esclarecer e melhorar a percepção de seus empregados sobre as atividades de responsabilidade social corporativa. Além de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre as causas e antecedentes do comprometimento organizacional, acredita-se que os resultados demonstrados possam direcionar as organizações em suas ações de conscientização sobre responsabilidade social corporativa de forma mais efetiva.

The effects of tax incentives for small firms on employment levels

This paper will examine the effects of tax incentives for small businesses on employment level evaluating a program with this purpose implemented in Brazil in the 1990s. We first develop a theoretical framework which guides both the de nition of the parameters of interest and their identi cation. Selection problems both into the treatment group and into the data sample are tackled by combining fixed effects methods and regression discontinuity design on alternative sub-samples of a longitudinal database of manufacturing firms. The results show that on the one hand the size composition of the treated fi rms may be changed due to the survival of some smaller firms that would have exited had it not been eligible to the program. On the other hand, the treated firms who do not depend on the program to survive do employ more workers.

Características de personalidade e preferências de aprendizagens: um estudo exploratório

O presente trabalho descreve um estudo exploratório de características de personalidade e preferências de aprendizagem em estudantes universitários de quatro cursos da área da Saúde: Medicina, Odontologia, Enfermagem e Nutrição. Para este estudo utilizou-se como fonte de dados dois instrumentos de medida, as Escalas de personalidade de Comrey e o Inventário de Pre2erências de Aprendizagem. O tratamento dos dados foi feito através das estatísticas distribuição de frequência, correlação e análise da regressão. Os resultados do tratamento estatístico não nos possibilitou. alcançar nenhuma conclusão objetiva das relações entre as variáveis de personalidade e preferências de aprendizagem, no entanto, forneceu-nos dados para posteriores estudos.

Ceticismo ou reputação nas recompras de ações?

Este trabalho investiga as recompras de ações no Brasil pelo prisma da reputação das empresas anunciadoras. Por meio de uma base de dados ainda inexplorada, o formulário de referência anual, que possibilita a diferenciação dos anúncios de recompras pelas quantidades efetivamente compradas. Com metodologia de estudo de evento e regressão, foram analisados os anúncios de recompras de ações da própria companhia em mercado aberto para o período compreendido entre os anos de 2007 a 2014. Os principais resultados encontrados foram à existência de reputação para empresas que apresentam uma taxa efetiva de recompra mais elevada e uma penalização para as empresas que apresentam baixas taxas efetivas de recompra em anúncios anteriores, quanto mais próximo de zero a taxa efetiva de recompra do anuncio anterior, menor é o efeito de um novo anúncio. Por fim, foi encontrado retorno anormal acumulado significativo no mercado acionário brasileiro para empresas que anunciam recompra de ações próprias no mercado aberto de 1,12% no primeiro dia, 1,56% no quinto dia e 1,97% ao final do primeiro mês. Para eventos com histórico, foi de 0,98% no primeiro dia, 1,33% no quinto dia e 1,38% ao final do primeiro mês. Já para o caso nos quais os eventos foram antecedidos imediatamente por anúncios de recompra com taxas efetivas de recompras de no mínimo 70%, foi de 1,42% no primeiro dia, 2,70% no quinto dia e 5,09% ao final do primeiro mês.

Transparência subnacional: um estudo das variáveis determinantes para o atendimento da lei de acesso à informação nos municípios brasileiros

O fortalecimento da democracia passa necessariamente pelo acesso a informação. Esta vem sendo regulada por marcos legais ao longo das últimas décadas. Entretanto sabemos que a prática por vezes não corresponde à teoria. Verificar como os municípios brasileiros vêm implementando suas obrigações em face da LAI passa, além de avaliar seu cumprimento pela investigação das causas de eventuais desníveis em tal atendimento. Mais que isto, tentar identificar variáveis que impactem mais decisivamente tal implementação. A partir desta premissa, buscamos identificar tais fatores e quantificar o impacto de cada um deles no resultado de avaliação de um dos índices de transparência criados recentemente – o Escala Brasil Transparente (EBT). Cumpriu-se essa tarefa por meio das seguintes ações: (i) realização de pesquisa bibliográfica a partir da produção acadêmica; (ii) catalogação e análise dos instrumentos legais para transparência; (iii) levantamento das variáveis determinantes para a transparência; (iv) estabelecimento de relação entre tais variáveis e os índices de transparência encontrados, por meio de técnicas estatísticas, especialmente correlação e regressão. As pesquisas feitas constataram que a produção acadêmica da área de Administração Pública sobre o tema ainda é virtualmente inexistente e que as investigações da causalidade da transparência se faz necessária; que, dada a correlação encontrada entre as variáveis selecionadas e a transparência, as conclusões são por hipóteses promissoras que merecem estudos mais detalhados, com técnicas qualitativas a fim de uma determinação mais precisa de causa-efeito.

Mobilização de reservas e partição de metabólitos durante a germinação da semente e o estabelecimento da plântula em moringa

Seed germination and seedling establishment are critical processes for commercial plantation and depend directly on reserve mobilization as a source of cellular fuels and biosynthetic precursors. In this way, we investigated the coordination among reserve mobilization, metabolite partitioning, and mobilizing enzyme activities in Moringa oleifera Lam (moringa) an oil-seeded species employed in biofuel production. Seeds were germinated under controlled conditions and seedlings were grown hydroponically at a greenhouse. Samples were harvested at 0, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 days after imbibition (DAI). The contents of dry mass (DM), neutral lipids (NL), soluble proteins (SP), starch, total soluble sugars (TSS), non-reducing sugars (NRS), and total free amino acids (TFAA) as the activity of isocitrate lyase (ICL), acid proteases, and amylases were determined. The mobilization of storage proteins was initiated during seed germination whereas the mobilization of storage lipids and starch was triggered throughout seedling establishment although all reserves have been depleted until 20 DAI. The partitioning of DM and metabolites to the roots and the shoots was uneven during seedling establishment. Low shoot/root ratio on the basis of DM could be related to the natural occurrence of moringa in drought climates. In the roots, TSS, NRS, and TFAA were accumulated from 12 to 16 DAI and then were consumed until the end of the experiment. In the shoots, TSS and TFAA were consumed in parallel with NRS accumulation from 12 to 20 DAI. The activity of ICL, acid proteases, and amylases was coordinated with the mobilization of lipids, proteins and starch respectively. Thus, we propose that the patterns of reserve mobilization and metabolite partitioning verified in moringa seem distinct from those found to other tree species and may be involved in metabolic strategies to enable environment colonization

Avanços e retrocessos na articulação de um pacto territorial: a experiência do PRONAF Infra-Estrutura

Since minetics The economics and political promotion along the necessity of flexibility in states actions admited actors partipction and social controlo on process of construction in local development. The Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento à Agricultura Familiar (PRONAF) by this framework consists suprass the specific points about contry world in order to embrace territorial dimension of development, focalizing actions that estimulate co-operative pratices among local agents. This work proposal intends to identify advances and regression of PRONAF Infra-estrutura (Framework) by one territorial pact organization considering its administration about mechamisms on advantage conmflicts between distinct actor and their ables to atimulates a construction of new relationships between governors and population. Undderstanding PRONAF action like a process that come from its instrumental proportion surpass looking for substantial elements constructionm on intervention of local development considering administration mechamisms in São Paulo do Potengi (RN) city-council-starting by Conselho Municipal de Desenvolvimento Rural as well changes of institutional arrangement with território da Borborema erection. Throngh documental studies, bibliography researches and interviews we indenttfy an articulante power of Territorial pact partnerships like one of these political process and its sector character as their limits