SIGMA THEORY AND TWISTED CONJUGACY CLASSES

Using Sigma theory we show that for large classes of groups G there is a subgroup H of finite index in Aut(G) such that for phi is an element of H the Reidemeister number R(phi) is infinite. This includes all finitely generated nonpolycyclic groups G that fall into one of the following classes: nilpotent-by-abelian groups of type FP(infinity); groups G/G `` of finite Prufer rank; groups G of type FP(2) without free nonabelian subgroups and with nonpolycyclic maximal metabelian quotient; some direct products of groups; or the pure symmetric automorphism group. Using a different argument we show that the result also holds for 1-ended nonabelian nonsurface limit groups. In some cases, such as with the generalized Thompson`s groups F(n,0) and their finite direct products, H = Aut(G).

On Groups Whose Maximal Cyclic Subgroups Are Maximal

We consider the problem of classifying those groups whose maximal cyclic subgroups are maximal. We give a complete classification of those groups with this property and which are either soluble or residually finite.

Pseudo Focal Points Along Lorentzian Geodesics and Morse Index

Given a Lorentzian manifold (M,g), a geodesic gamma in M and a timelike Jacobi field Y along gamma, we introduce a special class of instants along gamma that we call Y-pseudo conjugate (or focal relatively to some initial orthogonal submanifold). We prove that the Y-pseudo conjugate instants form a finite set, and their number equals the Morse index of (a suitable restriction of) the index form. This gives a Riemannian-like Morse index theorem. As special cases of the theory, we will consider geodesics in stationary and static Lorentzian manifolds, where the Jacobi field Y is obtained as the restriction of a globally defined timelike Killing vector field.

UNIFORM APPROXIMATION ON IDEALS OF MULTILINEAR MAPPINGS

For each ideal of multilinear mappings M we explicitly construct a corresponding ideal (a)M such that multilinear forms in (a)M are exactly those which can be approximated, in the uniform norm, by multilinear forms in M. This construction is then applied to finite type, compact, weakly compact and absolutely summing multilinear mappings. It is also proved that the correspondence M bar right arrow (a)M. IS Aron-Berner stability preserving.

A FREE BOUNDARY ISOPERIMETRIC PROBLEM IN HYPERBOLIC 3-SPACE BETWEEN PARALLEL HOROSPHERES

We investigate the isoperimetric problem of finding the regions of prescribed volume with minimal boundary area between two parallel horospheres in hyperbolic 3-space (the part of the boundary contained in the horospheres is not included). We reduce the problem to the study of rotationally invariant regions and obtain the possible isoperimetric solutions by studying the behavior of the profile curves of the rotational surfaces with constant mean curvature in hyperbolic 3-space. We also classify all the connected compact rotational surfaces M of constant mean curvature that are contained in the region between two horospheres, have boundary partial derivative M either empty or lying on the horospheres, and meet the horospheres perpendicularly along their boundary.

On the Multiplicity of Orthogonal Geodesics in Riemannian Manifold With Concave Boundary. Applications to Brake Orbits and Homoclinics

Let (M, g) be a complete Riemannian Manifold, Omega subset of M an open subset whose closure is diffeomorphic to an annulus. If partial derivative Omega is smooth and it satisfies a strong concavity assumption, then it is possible to prove that there are at least two geometrically distinct geodesics in (Omega) over bar = Omega boolean OR partial derivative Omega starting orthogonally to one connected component of partial derivative Omega and arriving orthogonally onto the other one. The results given in [6] allow to obtain a proof of the existence of two distinct homoclinic orbits for an autonomous Lagrangian system emanating from a nondegenerate maximum point of the potential energy, and a proof of the existence of two distinct brake orbits for a. class of Hamiltonian systems. Under a further symmetry assumption, it is possible to show the existence of at least dim(M) pairs of geometrically distinct geodesics as above, brake orbits and homoclinics.

COMPARISON RESULTS FOR CONJUGATE AND FOCAL POINTS IN SEMI-RIEMANNIAN GEOMETRY VIA MASLOV INDEX

We prove an estimate on the difference of Maslov indices relative to the choice of two distinct reference Lagrangians of a continuous path in the Lagrangian Grassmannian of a symplectic space. We discuss some applications to the study of conjugate and focal points along a geodesic in a semi-Riemannian manifold.

NATURAL TOPOLOGIES ON COLOMBEAU ALGEBRAS

We define intrinsic, natural and metrizable topologies T(Omega), T, T(s,Omega) and T(s) in G(Omega), (K) over bar, G(s)(Omega) and (K) over bar (s) respectively. The topology T(Omega) induces T, T(s,Omega) and T(s). The topologies T(s,Omega) and T(s) coincide with the Scarpalezos sharp topologies.

DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF LOCAL INFLUENCE IN SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF SOYBEAN YIELD

Modeling of spatial dependence structure, concerning geoestatistics approach, is an indispensable tool for fixing parameters that define this structure, applied on interpolation of values in places that are not sampled, by kriging techniques. However, the estimation of parameters can be greatly affected by the presence of atypical observations on sampled data. Thus, this trial aimed at using diagnostics techniques of local influence in spatial linear Gaussians models, applied at geoestatistics in order to evaluate sensitivity of maximum likelihood estimators and restrict maximum likelihood to small perturbations in these data. So, studies with simulated and experimental data were performed. Those results, obtained from the study of real data, allowed us to conclude that the presence of atypical values among the sampled data can have a strong influence on thematic maps, changing, therefore, the spatial dependence. The application of diagnostics techniques of local influence should be part of any geoestatistic analysis, ensuring that the information from thematic maps has better quality and can be used with greater security by farmers.

GENERICITY OF NONDEGENERATE GEODESICS WITH GENERAL BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Let M be a possibly noncompact manifold. We prove, generically in the C(k)-topology (2 <= k <= infinity), that semi-Riemannian metrics of a given index on M do not possess any degenerate geodesics satisfying suitable boundary conditions. This extends a result of L. Biliotti, M. A. Javaloyes and P. Piccione [6] for geodesics with fixed endpoints to the case where endpoints lie on a compact submanifold P subset of M x M that satisfies an admissibility condition. Such condition holds, for example, when P is transversal to the diagonal Delta subset of M x M. Further aspects of these boundary conditions are discussed and general conditions under which metrics without degenerate geodesics are C(k)-generic are given.

Comparison for three Classification Techniques

In this paper we show the results of a comparison simulation study for three classification techniques: Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR), No Metric Discriminant Analysis (NDA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The measure used to compare the performance of the three techniques was the Error Classification Rate (ECR). We found that MLR and LDA techniques have similar performance and that they are better than DNA when the population multivariate distribution is Normal or Logit-Normal. For the case of log-normal and Sinh(-1)-normal multivariate distributions we found that MLR had the better performance.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL: IS HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE A PREDICTOR OF SURVIVAL FOR THESE PATIENTS?

Objective: To identify social, demographic and clinical characteristics that influence survival of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Sixty-three patients with a diagnosis of SLE were studied at our medical services in 1999 and then reviewed in 2005. We utilized a protocol to obtain demographic and clinical traits, activity and damage indices, and health-related quality of life via the SF-36. All statistical tests were performed using a significance level of 5%. Results: Out of the 63 patients examined in 1999, six died, four were lost for the follow-up and the previous protocol was applied to the remaining 53 patients. The six patients who died presented the worst recorded health-related quality of fife, in all aspects. The most important observed predictor of death was a mean lower score in the Role-Emotional Domain of the mental health component of the SF-36 (p<0.01). Conclusion: Health-related quality of life may be used as possible predictive factor of mortality among patients with SLE.

Comparative bioavailability of three ibuprofen formulations in healthy human volunteers

Objective: To assess the bioequivalence of three ibuprofen formulations (Test formulation: ibuprofen (400 mg capsule) manufactured by Cardinal Health Brasil 402 Ltda. (Sorocaba, Brazil) and licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim do Brasil Quim. e Farm. Ltda. (Sao Paulo, Brazil); Reference formulation (1): ibuprofen (Advil (R); 2 x 200 mg coated tablet) from Wyeth-Whitehall Ltda. (Itapevi, Brazil); Reference formulation (2): ibuprofen (Alivium (R); 8 ml x 50 mg/ml solution) from Schering Plough S.A. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)) in 24 healthy volunteers of both sexes. Methods: The study was conducted using an open, randomized, three-period crossover design with at least 5-day washout interval. Plasma samples were obtained over a 24-h period. Plasma ibuprofen concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with negative ion electrospray ionization using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from the ibuprofen plasma concentration vs. time curves: AUC(last), AUC(trunctmax) AUC(inf) and C-max. Results: The limit of quantification for ibuprofen was 0.1 mu g x ml(-1). The geometric mean with corresponding 90% confidence interval (CI) for Test/Reference (1) percent ratios were 114.24% (90% CI = 105.67, 123.50%) for C-max, 98.97% (90% CI = 94.69, 103.44%) for AUC(last) and 99.40% (90% CI = 95.21, 103.78%) for AUCinf. The geometric mean and respective 90% confidence interval (CI) for Test/Reference (2) percent ratios were 108.38% (90% Cl = 100.195, 117.25%) for C-max, 100.79% (90% CI = 96.39, 105.40%) for AUC(last) and 101.26% (90% CI = 96.94, 105.77%) for AUC(inf); t(max) for the 400 mg Test capsule was shorter than that for the 2 x 200 mg Reference (1) tablets (p < 0.002). Conclusion: Since the 90% CI for AUC(last), AUC(inf) and C-max ratios were within the 80 - 125% interval proposed by the US FDA, it was concluded that ibuprofen formulation manufactured by Cardinal Health Brasil 402 Ltda. and licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim do Brasil Quim. e Farm. Ltda. is bioequivalent to the Advil (R) and Alivium (R) formulations with regard to both the rate and the extent of absorption.

Cwc24p, a novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear ring finger protein, affects pre-snoRNA U3 splicing

U3 snoRNA is transcribed from two intron-containing genes in yeast, snR17A and snR17B. Although the assembly of the U3 snoRNP has not been precisely determined, at least some of the core box C/D proteins are known to bind pre-U3 co-transcriptionally, thereby affecting splicing and 3 `-end processing of this snoRNA. We identified the interaction between the box C/D assembly factor Nop17p and Cwc24p, a novel yeast RING finger protein that had been previously isolated in a complex with the splicing factor Cef1p. Here we show that, consistent with the protein interaction data, Cwc24p localizes to the cell nucleus, and its depletion leads to the accumulation of both U3 pre-snoRNAs. U3 snoRNA is involved in the early cleavages of 35 S pre-rRNA, and the defective splicing of pre-U3 detected in cells depleted of Cwc24p causes the accumulation of the 35 S precursor rRNA. These results led us to the conclusion that Cwc 24p is involved in pre-U3 snoRNA splicing, indirectly affecting pre-rRNA processing.

Base Excision Repair Activities Differ in Human Lung Cancer Cells and Corresponding Normal Controls

Oxidative damage to DNA is thought to play a role in carcinogenesis by causing Mutations, and indeed accumulation of oxidized DNA bases has been observed in samples obtained from tumors but not from surrounding tissue within the same patient. Base excision repair (BER) is the main pathway for the repair of oxidized modifications both in nuclear and mitochondrial, DNA. In order to ascertain whether diminished BER capacity might account for increased levels of oxidative DNA damage in cancer cells, the activities of BER enzymes in three different lung cancer cell lines and their non-cancerous counterparts were measured using oligonucleotide substrates with single DNA lesions to assess specific BER enzymes. The activities of four BER enzymes, OGG1, NTH1, UDG and APE1, were compared in mitochondrial and nuclear extracts. For each specific lesion, the repair activities were similar among the three cell lines used. However, the specific activities and cancer versus control comparison differed significantly between the nuclear and mitochondrial compartments. OGG1 activity, as measured by 8-oxodA incision, was upregulated in cancer cell mitochondria but down-regulated in the nucleus when compared to control cells. Similarly, NTH1 activity was also up-regulated in mitochondrial extracts from cancer cells but did not change significantly in the nucleus. Together, these results support the idea that alterations in BER capacity are associated with carcinogenesis.