The Genome Sequence of Taurine Cattle: A Window to Ruminant Biology and Evolution

To understand the biology and evolution of ruminants, the cattle genome was sequenced to about sevenfold coverage. The cattle genome contains a minimum of 22,000 genes, with a core set of 14,345 orthologs shared among seven mammalian species of which 1217 are absent or undetected in noneutherian (marsupial or monotreme) genomes. Cattle-specific evolutionary breakpoint regions in chromosomes have a higher density of segmental duplications, enrichment of repetitive elements, and species-specific variations in genes associated with lactation and immune responsiveness. Genes involved in metabolism are generally highly conserved, although five metabolic genes are deleted or extensively diverged from their human orthologs. The cattle genome sequence thus provides a resource for understanding mammalian evolution and accelerating livestock genetic improvement for milk and meat production.

Implicit Taylor methods for stiff stochastic differential equations

In this paper we discuss implicit Taylor methods for stiff Ito stochastic differential equations. Based on the relationship between Ito stochastic integrals and backward stochastic integrals, we introduce three implicit Taylor methods: the implicit Euler-Taylor method with strong order 0.5, the implicit Milstein-Taylor method with strong order 1.0 and the implicit Taylor method with strong order 1.5. The mean-square stability properties of the implicit Euler-Taylor and Milstein-Taylor methods are much better than those of the corresponding semi-implicit Euler and Milstein methods and these two implicit methods can be used to solve stochastic differential equations which are stiff in both the deterministic and the stochastic components. Numerical results are reported to show the convergence properties and the stability properties of these three implicit Taylor methods. The stability analysis and numerical results show that the implicit Euler-Taylor and Milstein-Taylor methods are very promising methods for stiff stochastic differential equations.

A regra de Taylor e a política monetário brasileira : relações de longo e curto prazo

Tem sido publicado e discutido cada vez mais o papel dos Bancos Centrais no sentido de minimizarem os custos da inflação para o conjunto da sociedade. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar se o Banco Central do Brasil implementou no período Janeiro de 2005 a Julho de 2012 uma regra de política monetária consistente com a estabilidade de preços, a partir de uma literatura iniciada com o trabalho seminal de Taylor (1993). No primeiro Capítulo, será exposto o conceito de Regras de Política Monetária, iniciando pela Regra de Taylor original e chegando às suas versões atuais. No segundo, que será dividido em dois tópicos, será exibida a literatura empírica sobre o assunto: no primeiro tópico, serão apresentadas as evidências empíricas existentes para as experiências internacionais e, no segundo tópico, para a experiência brasileira. No terceiro Capítulo, por sua vez, será feita uma aplicação econométrica sobre a experiência brasileira recente, por meio de estimações de regressões de Mínimos Quadrados Ordinários (MQO) para a análise de curto prazo e de Cointegração na análise de longo prazo, através da abordagem de Johansen (1991). Além disto, os resultados encontrados serão interpretados à luz da teoria e comparados com as evidências existentes e apresentadas no Capítulo anterior. Grosso modo, os resultados empíricos apontam para o fato de que embora no curto prazo a Regra de Taylor expandida possa ser usada para interpretar as relações entre taxa Selic e inflação observada, no longo prazo há relações estruturais que só podem ser explicadas por elementos teóricos adicionais, tais como os presentes na Curva de Phillips, Curva IS e na abordagem da Paridade Descoberta da Taxa de Juros. Ademais, o trabalho encontra um grau de inércia da taxa Selic, no curto prazo, superior ao observado em trabalhos anteriores, sugerindo uma elevação do conservadorismo do BCB nos últimos anos.

Registro de Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) no Brasil: caramujo hospedeiro intermediário da angiostrongilíase

A introdução de Achatina fulica é assinalada em Itariri, SP, Brasil. Essa espécie de caramujo terrestre foi importada para cultivo, visando à comercialização para consumo humano como "escargot". O encontro de exemplares em vida livre mostra a dispersão de A. fulica e, conseqüentemente, o risco de transmissão de Angiostrongylus cantonensis, nematóide parasita do homem e de outros vertebrados. Além disso, o caramujo é uma praga importante da agricultura.

Os periódicos portugueses de emigração (1808-1822)

Esta dissertação analisa e compara os periódicos com uma componente de divulgação científica, editados por refugiados políticos em Londres e Paris, sendo o núcleo investigado composto por quatro títulos: o Correio Braziliense (1808-1822) e O Investigador Portuguez em Inglaterra (1811-1819), publicados em Londres, O Observador Lusitano em Pariz (1815) e os Annaes das Sciencias, das Artes, e das Letras (1818-1822), ambos com origem na capital francesa. Este estudo comporta uma discussão sobre questões historiográficas levantadas pelo estudo de periódicos de divulgação científica, nomeadamente num país com as particularidades de Portugal, a caracterização do período histórico em que decorreu a vida destas publicações, um panorama breve do estado das diversas ciências no plano internacional que nelas encontraram eco, seguidos da análise propriamente dita do núcleo de periódicos seleccionados. No âmbito desta última, deu-se particular destaque aos editores e ao seu percurso, ao lugar das ciências entre as matérias apresentadas por cada periódico, e aos temas e personalidades focadas. Foram identificadas as principais fontes citadas e analisou-se a participação dos leitores em cada periódico. Ressaltam como traços fundamentais destes periódicos o esforço desenvolvido pelos seus editores no sentido de sensibilizarem os governantes para a importância de alterarem práticas tradicionais e estruturas ultrapassadas, abrindo o país à informação proveniente do exterior e, em particular, ao desenvolvimento científico e económico.

Servidores de Deus e funcionários de César. O clero paroquial como "classe" socioprofissional (1882-1917)

TESE DE DOUTORAMENTO EM HISTÓRIA

Potentiality of Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822 (Mollusca: Gastropoda) as intermediate host of the Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera & Céspedes 1971

Samples of Achatina fulica were experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis larvae, etiological agent of abdominal angiostrongyliasis, showing that A. fulica is susceptible to the parasite. Achatina fulica may be a risk to urbanization of abdominal angiostrongyliasis presumably due to its high proliferation, continuous dispersion and remarkable adaptation in several Brazilian towns.

Prevention in underground construction with sequential excavation method

This paper aims to describe the Sequential Excavation Method, used for excava-tion in underground works, as well as the related risks and preventive measures. This method has characteristics that differentiate it from other tunnelling techniques: it uses a larger number of workers and equipment; it has a high concurrency of tasks with various workers and equip-ment quite exposed to hazards; and it uses many potentially aggressive chemicals. Firstly, it is given a broad overview of this issue. Afterwards, it will be presented the results of a survey to a sample of experienced technicians, aimed at gauging the relevance of a set of guidelines relat-ing to the design and work phases, applicable to the domestic market and prepared following technical visits to works abroad.

Possible uses of augmented reality as a tool for guidance of users of packages

Acioly, A. S. G., Soares, M. M., & Arezes, P. M. (2015). Possible uses of augmented reality as a tool for guidance of users of packages. Paper presented at the Occupational Safety and Hygiene III - Selected Extended and Revised Contributions from the International Symposium on Safety and Hygiene.

The impact of PBL on transferable skills development in management education

Attention to transferable skills is growing in higher education. Problem-based learning (PBL) is increasingly used in management education for its promising potential to, amongst others, promote transferable skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork skills. However, this relationship is seldom assessed. In this study, I use structural equation modelling to examine the effectiveness of PBL, measured through students’ perceptions of satisfaction and skills development. Results show the development of transferable skills is explained by interaction with tutors and a host company, and defining teamwork rules. Satisfaction is explained by skills development, assessment issues, defining teamwork rules and understanding how organisations work. I draw conclusions and recommendations.

The effect of secular trends in the classroom furniture mismatch: support for continuous update of school furniture standards

In order to create safer schools, the Chilean authorities published a Standard regarding school furniture dimensions. The aims of this study are twofold: to verify the existence of positive secular trend within the Chilean student population and to evaluate the potential mismatch between the anthropometric characteristics and the school furniture dimensions defined by the mentioned standard. The sample consists of 3078 subjects. Eight anthropometric measures were gathered, together with six furniture dimensions from the mentioned standard. There is an average increase for some dimensions within the Chilean student population over the past two decades. Accordingly, almost 18% of the students will find the seat height to be too high. Seat depth will be considered as being too shallow for 42.8% of the students. It can be concluded that the Chilean student population has increased in stature, which supports the need to revise and update the data from the mentioned Standard. Practitioner Summary: Positive secular trend resulted in high levels of mismatch if furniture is selected according to the current Chilean Standard which uses data collected more than 20 years ago. This study shows that school furniture standards need to be updated over time.

Risk acceptance in the furniture sector: Analysis of acceptance level and relevant influence factors

Risk acceptance has been broadly discussed in relation to hazardous risk activities and/or technologies. A better understanding of risk acceptance in occupational settings is also important; however, studies on this topic are scarce. It seems important to understand the level of risk that stakeholders consider sufficiently low, how stakeholders form their opinion about risk, and why they adopt a certain attitude toward risk. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to examine risk acceptance in regard to occupational accidents in furniture industries. The safety climate analysis was conducted through the application of the Safety Climate in Wood Industries questionnaire. Judgments about risk acceptance, trust, risk perception, benefit perception, emotions, and moral values were measured. Several models were tested to explain occupational risk acceptance. The results showed that the level of risk acceptance decreased as the risk level increased. High-risk and death scenarios were assessed as unacceptable. Risk perception, emotions, and trust had an important influence on risk acceptance. Safety climate was correlated with risk acceptance and other variables that influence risk acceptance. These results are important for the risk assessment process in terms of defining risk acceptance criteria and strategies to reduce risks.