In search of the ultimate ionosonde deduced equator

A further progress has been made in defining the ionosonde deduced equator (IDE) which characterises a latitudinal transition from the northern to southern hemisphere. It is now possible to define the global IDE location as the locus of the average position between geographic and geomagnetic equators. A more complete insight to the phenomenon of the third equator (i.e. after geographic and geomagnetic equators) was made possible due to availability of ionospheric height (h'F) data from three stations positioned close to the IDE in the American and the far-east sectors. The IDE ionospheric signature (or E-type signature), detected at these stations, consists of bi-annual h'F height increases. This signature however is not consistently observed during solar cycle and at times, particularly at sunspot minimum, a weak hemispheric signature is observed (i.e. the northern or southern hemisphere signature). In general, the height increase at the IDE are considerably smaller (by a factor of 4) than at other equatorial locations, indicating that the ionosphere at the IDE location becomes less disturbed. It is suggested that the equatorial longitudinal regions which can be associated with more consistent E-type signature are located in the central Pacific and at the east coast of America, close to the intersection points of the geographic and geomagnetic equators. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reforma judici??ria e democratiza????o na Am??rica Latina

Este texto reflete a necessidade de uma reforma profunda nos sistemas judici??rios nos pa??ses da Am??rica Latina. O autor enumera os mais consider??veis eventos pol??ticos ocorridos na regi??o ap??s a d??cada de 60, principalmente durante o per??odo dos governos militares, com ??nfase nos modelos judici??rios prevalecentes ??? comumente dependentes, manipulados e fr??geis ??? bem como nos problemas enfrentados pelos ju??zes e serventu??rios da justi??a em muitos pa??ses. Ele tamb??m descreve v??rios movimentos pela reforma legal observados em dois diferentes momentos ??? do fim da d??cada de 60 e come??o da de 70, e depois, durante a d??cada de 80, comparando seus sucessos e fracassos e enumerando uma quantidade de seguidores nacionais e internacionais. Finalmente, o leitor deparar-se-?? com uma an??lise das mudan??as econ??micas e pol??ticas que t??m incentivado esta nova preocupa????o por justi??a e pela reforma das institui????es legais, dentre outras, na Am??rica Latina, assim como as dificuldades que esse movimento deve enfrentar no sentido de alcan??ar um Estado descentralizado, eficiente e democr??tico.

Representações e práticas educativas de mães referentes a filhos atendidos pelo Conselho Tutelar

Apoio CNPq/Capes-Procad.

Estudo de casos de pacientes portadores de onicomicose tratados com laser Nd : YAG 1.064 nm

Onicomicose é a doença ungueal mais frequente, com prevalência estimada entre 2 e 8% da população. As estratégias de tratamentos atuais incluem uso de antifúngicos tópicos e orais, ambos geralmente com baixos índices de cura. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a resposta terapêutica ao laser Nd:YAG 1.064 nm no tratamento da onicomicose, bem como o método de avaliação clínica dessa terapia e os possíveis efeitos colaterais de seu uso. Foram revisados prontuários de 20 pacientes submetidos à laserterapia. Ao todo, 34 unhas afetadas foram avaliadas de acordo com o Índice de Severidade de Onicomicose (ISO). Esse índice analisa a área de envolvimento da unha, a proximidade da doença com a matriz ungueal, a ocorrência de dermatofitoma e a presença de hiperqueratose subungueal > 2 mm, gerando uma pontuação que classifica a onicomicose como leve, moderada ou grave. A determinação do ISO foi realizada antes do tratamento e após um período de acompanhamento, em média, de oito meses. A comparação entre o ISO Inicial e o ISO Final nas 34 unhas submetidas à laserterapia mostrou diferença significativa, porém, com baixa associação entre essas variáveis. Com relação à área de envolvimento e à pontuação numérica referente ao ISO, houve, no geral, uma redução dessas medidas. Esses dados apontam para uma tendência à melhora da onicomicose por meio do tratamento com o laser Nd:YAG 1.064 nm. O ISO permitiu uma análise clínica adequada da resposta à laserterapia. Os efeitos colaterais locais apresentados durante a aplicação do laser não causaram desconforto acentuado na maioria dos pacientes, demonstrando que o procedimento é bem tolerado.

Integrating environmental and economic life cycle analysis in product development: a material selection case study

Purpose Achieving sustainability by rethinking products, services and strategies is an enormous challenge currently laid upon the economic sector, in which materials selection plays a critical role. In this context, the present work describes an environmental and economic life cycle analysis of a structural product, comparing two possible material alternatives. The product chosen is a storage tank, presently manufactured in stainless steel (SST) or in a glass fibre reinforced polymer composite (CST). The overall goal of the study is to identify environmental and economic strong and weak points related to the life cycle of the two material alternatives. The consequential win-win or trade-off situations will be identified via a Life Cycle Assessment/Life Cycle Costing (LCA/LCC) integrated model. Methods The LCA/LCC integrated model used consists in applying the LCA methodology to the product system, incorporating, in parallel, its results into the LCC study, namely those of the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) and the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA). Results In both the SST and CST systems the most significant life cycle phase is the raw materials production, in which the most significant environmental burdens correspond to the Fossil fuels and Respiratory inorganics categories. The LCA/LCC integrated analysis shows that the CST has globally a preferable environmental and economic profile, as its impacts are lower than those of the SST in all life cycle stages. Both the internal and external costs are lower, the former resulting mainly from the composite material being significantly less expensive than stainless steel. This therefore represents a full win-win situation. As a consequence, the study clearly indicates that using a thermoset composite material to manufacture storage tanks is environmentally and economically desirable. However, it was also evident that the environmental performance of the CST could be improved by altering its End-of-Life stage. Conclusions The results of the present work provide enlightening insights into the synergies between the environmental and the economic performance of a structural product made with alternative materials. Further, they provide conclusive evidence to support the integration of environmental and economic life cycle analysis in the product development processes of a manufacturing company, or in some cases even in its procurement practices.

On the origin of the electrical response of vapor grown carbon nanofiber + epoxy composites

The origin of the electrical response of vapor grown carbon nanofiber (VGCNF) + epoxy composites is investigated by studying the electrical behavior of VGCNF with resin, VGCNF with hardener and cured composites, separately. It is demonstrated that the onset of the conductivity is associated to the emergence of a weak disorder regime. It is also shown that the weak disorder regime is related to a hopping depending on the physical properties of the polymer matrix.

The role of disorder on the AC and DC electrical conductivity of vapour grown carbon nanofibre/epoxy composites

Four dispersion methods were used for the preparation of vapour grown carbon nanofibre (VGCNF)/epoxy composites. It is shown that each method induces certain levels of VGCNF dispersion and distribution within the matrix, and that these have a strong influence on the composite electrical properties. A homogenous VGCNF dispersion does not necessarily imply higher electrical conductivity. In fact, it is concluded that the presence of well distributed clusters, rather than a fine dispersion, is more important for achieving larger conductivities for a given VGCNF concentration. It is also found that the conductivity can be described by a weak disorder regime.

Modeling Carbon Nanotube Electrical Properties in CNT/Polymer Composites

In this work it is demonstrated that the capacitance between two cylinders increases with the rotation angle and it has a fundamental influence on the composite dielectric constant. The dielectric constant is lower for nematic materials than for isotropic ones and this can be attributed to the effect of the filler alignment in the capacitance. The effect of aspect ratio in the conductivity is also studied in this work. Finally, based on previous work and by comparing to results from the literature it is found that the electrical conductivity in this type of composites is due to hopping between nearest fillers resulting in a weak disorder regime that is similar to the single junction expression.

Effect of fiber alignment in gelled electrospun membranes based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) for battery applications

Battery separators based on electrospun membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been prepared in order to study the effect of fiber alignment on the performance and characteristics of the membrane. The prepared membranes show an average fiber diameter of 272 nm and a degree of porosity of 87 %. The gel polymer electrolytes are prepared by soaking the membranes in the electrolyte solution. The alignment of the fibers improves the mechanical properties for the electrospun membranes. Further, the microstructure of the membrane also plays an important role in the ionic conductivity, being higher for the random electrospun membrane due to the lower tortuosity value. Independently of the microstructure, both membranes show good electrochemical stability up to 5.0 V versus Li/Li+. These results show that electrospun membranes based on PVDF are appropriate for battery separators in lithium-ion battery applications, the random membranes showing a better overall performance.

Effect of fiber orientation in gelled poly (vinylience fluoride) electrospun membranes for Li-ion battery applications

Battery separators based on electrospun membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been prepared in order to study the effect of fiber alignment on the performance and characteristics of the membrane. The prepared membranes show an average fiber diameter of ~272 nm and a degree of porosity of ~87 %. The gel polymer electrolytes are prepared by soaking the membranes in the electrolyte solution. The alignment of the fibers improves the mechanical properties for the electrospun membranes. Further, the microstructure of the membrane also plays an important role in the ionic conductivity, being higher for the random electrospun membrane due to the lower tortuosity value. Independently of the microstructure, both membranes show good electrochemical stability up to 5.0 V versus Li/Li+. These results show that electrospun membranes based on PVDF are appropriate for battery separators in lithium-ion battery applications, the random membranes showing a better overall performance.

Selection of common bean lines with high grain yield and high grain calcium and iron concentrations

Genetic improvement of common bean nutritional quality has advantages in marketing and can contribute to society as a food source. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability for grain yield, calcium and iron concentrations in grains of inbred common bean lines obtained by different breeding methods. For this, 136 F7 inbred lines were obtained using the Pedigree method and 136 F7 inbred lines were obtained using the Single-Seed Descent (SSD) method. The lines showed genetic variability for grain yield, and concentrations of calcium and iron independently of the method of advancing segregating populations. The Pedigree method allows obtaining a greater number of lines with high grain yield. Selection using the SSD method allows the identification of a larger number of lines with high concentrations of calcium and iron in grains. Weak negative correlations were found between grain yield and calcium concentration (r = -0.0994) and grain yield and iron concentration (r = -0.3926). Several lines show genetic superiority for grain yield and concentrations of calcium and iron in grains and their selection can result in new common bean cultivars with high nutritional quality.

Kinetics of solute leachate from imbibing Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood) seeds

The electrical conductivity of leachates from imbibing seeds has been used as a vigor test for several species. The adaptation of this methodology to different species requires knowledge on the leaching kinetics of electrolytes. For Brazilwood seeds, the classic method was not satisfactory and rapid tests are essential because they have low storage capacity at room temperature. Leaching kinetics during seed imbibition is a function of physiological quality, presence or absence of seed coat, imbibing temperature and the initial moisture content of seed. In this study, the electrolyte leaching rate of six different categories of seeds, from two regions, was evaluated in seeds with and without seed coat and incubated with different moisture contents and at different temperatures. The results showed that the electrolyte leaching rate in Brazilwood seeds is independent of the physiological quality, the presence or absence of seed coat and imbibition temperature, but these factors changed the total amount of electrolytes leached. The leaching rate increased in the first few minutes of imbibition, suggesting that the adjustment of the methodology must consider the reduction in imbibition time, reduction in temperature, use of a controlled and slower pre-imbibition, and replacement of the imbibition solution after the first few minutes.

Porque Sá Carneiro queria integrar o PSD na Internacional Socialista?

Tal como na ascensão do nazismo, não será que a social-democracia portuguesa e europeia estará a subestimar agora de novo a presente ascensão da “social” extrema-direita racista europeia ao desprezar os mais fracos, sejam estes países ou pessoas? Bem tinha razão, Francisco Sá Carneiro!; § Abstract:As the rise of Nazism, is not that the Portuguese and European social democracy is to underestimate now again this rise of "social" racist European extreme right to despise the weak, be they countries or people? Well he was right, Francisco Sá Carneiro!

Contemporary issues in the government and administration of Latin American megacities

This paper is the first to systematically analyze and compare the structures of city governance and administration for seven major cities in Latin America, four of which are megacities (population of over 10 million), and three others are large national capitals. U.S. and U. K. models of city administration are reviewed as baseline models against which differences in Latin American may be explored. Structures of Government in Latin America show several important features and trends: 1) the lack of metropolitan (cross jurisdictional) authority; 2) the existence of strong mayors and weak councils"; 3) high levels of partisanship; 4) overlapping rather than interlocking bureaucracies; 5) pressures towards the privatization of city services, but continuing tension over the desirability of public versus private control; 6) greater fiscal responsibility and autonomy; and 7), a continuing marginalization of public participation in megacity governance.In spite of these features, many cities throughout the region (regardless of whether they are megacity size or national capitals), are actively intensifying their efforts to develop more effective, accountable and democratic governance structures.

ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN BRAZILIAN LOWER-MIDDLE-CLASS

Through two complementary and exploratory studies – one qualitative and one quantitative – this research aims to understand the ways in which lower-middle-class families in Brazil manage their household finances. The study proposes an integrated framework that brings together various previously disconnected theoretical fragments. Based on a survey with a sample of 165 lower-middle-class female consumers of a retail company in São Paulo, we explored and tested, via a quantitative study, how antecedents such as personal characteristics affect the financial management process, as well as its consequences, either negatively as defaults or positively as savings. The model calibration and analysis were derived from a series of regression analyses. The results revealed the mediator role that financial management plays in the relationship between personal characteristics and defaults and savings. Compared to previous studies with consumers of more affluent countries, we identified peculiar findings among Brazilian lower-middle-class consumers: inadequate attention to control, weak or no focus on short- or long-range planning, widespread absence of budget surplus, and influence of critical events on episodes of default.