Systematic structural studies of iron superoxide dismutases from human parasites and a statistical coupling analysis of metal binding specificity

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are a crucial class of enzymes in the combat against intracellular free radical damage. They eliminate superoxide radicals by converting them into hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. In spite of their very different life cycles and infection strategies, the human parasites Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei are known to be sensitive to oxidative stress. Thus the parasite Fe-SODs have become attractive targets for novel drug development. Here we report the crystal structures of FeSODs from the trypanosomes T. brucei at 2.0 angstrom and T. cruzi at 1.9 angstrom resolution, and that from P. falciparum at a higher resolution (2.0 angstrom) to that previously reported. The homodimeric enzymes are compared to the related human MnSOD with particular attention to structural aspects which are relevant for drug design. Although the structures possess a very similar overall fold, differences between the enzymes at the entrance to the channel which leads to the active site could be identified. These lead to a slightly broader and more positively charged cavity in the parasite enzymes. Furthermore, a statistical coupling analysis (SCA) for the whole Fe/MnSOD family reveals different patterns of residue coupling for Mn and Fe SODs, as well as for the dimeric and tetrameric states. In both cases, the statistically coupled residues lie adjacent to the conserved core surrounding the metal center and may be expected to be responsible for its fine tuning, leading to metal ion specificity.

MODELLING AND FORECASTING INFLATION RATES IN GHANA: AN APPLICATION OF SARIMA MODELS

Ghana faces a macroeconomic problem of inflation for a long period of time. The problem in somehow slows the economic growth in this country. As we all know, inflation is one of the major economic challenges facing most countries in the world especially those in African including Ghana. Therefore, forecasting inflation rates in Ghana becomes very important for its government to design economic strategies or effective monetary policies to combat any unexpected high inflation in this country. This paper studies seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model to forecast inflation rates in Ghana. Using monthly inflation data from July 1991 to December 2009, we find that ARIMA (1,1,1)(0,0,1)12 can represent the data behavior of inflation rate in Ghana well. Based on the selected model, we forecast seven (7) months inflation rates of Ghana outside the sample period (i.e. from January 2010 to July 2010). The observed inflation rate from January to April which was published by Ghana Statistical Service Department fall within the 95% confidence interval obtained from the designed model. The forecasted results show a decreasing pattern and a turning point of Ghana inflation in the month of July.

Gender Equality a case study of Sweden : Gender Equality Gender Equity and policies of combating inequality at workplace to make the society equal.

The paper analyses Gender Equality, Gender Equity and policies of combating inequality at workplace to make the society equal as a case study of Sweden. The aim of paper is see the gender equality, gender equity, discrimination against women at workplace and to describe the policies combating inequality in the welfare state of Sweden. This work highlights the gender equality in terms of institutionalizing gender equality, gender equity, gender and pay gap, parental leave, gender and the pension system and sexual behavior directed towards women and policies combating inequality to bring equality in society. For my research I used the secondary data the fact sheets, scientific literature, statistics from eurostate of Sweden and case studies about Swedish society and the theoretical explanation to explain the phenomena. To achieve my aim I used the combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. I showed the empirical evidences of these phenomena from the Swedish society and theoretical analysis about equality and equity of gender in different wakes of life. I found an interesting conclusion that there are good policies and legislation to combat inequality to bring society but there are no policies to change the perception of society about male and female role.

Le Réalisme dans le roman policier : Une Analyse du réalisme des décors, des personnages et de l'enquête dans deux romans policiers

Ce mémoire a pour but de comparer deux romans policiers contemporains et ayant eu un grand succès, l’un écrit par Henning Mankell dont la traduction française a paru sous le titre Les Morts de la Saint-Jean et le second est Pars vite et reviens tard de Fred Vargas. L’objectif de la candidate est d’essayer de trouver les éléments réalistes dans le décor, les personnages et l’enquête. Pour ce qui est du premier paramètre, la candidate montre que Mankell n’essaie jamais de cacher la vérité derrière une surface idéale ; il en va de même pour Vargas qui accentue les points de vue divergents des Français sur la réalité de leur pays. En ce qui a trait aux personnages, on distingue dans le portrait qu’en fait Mankell un combat compliqué et non manichéen, proche de la réalité psychologique; idem pour ceux de Vargas, mais le réalisme est quelque peu atténué par un recours au mystère. Enfin, l’enquête menée par Wallander aboutit un peu par hasard grâce à son intuition alors qu’Adamsberg résout l’énigme grâce à sa faculté de voir, de s’imaginer et d’aller au-delà de la capacité des autres. La conclusion générale du mémoire est que ces deux œuvres sont tout à fait réalistes, mais à un degré un peu différent. Le roman de Mankell l’est sans doute davantage dans la mesure où le recours au mystère est écarté et que l’enquête est menée de façon logique alors que le roman de Vargas, tout en suivant les règles de la logique, a tendance à faire appel au merveilleux. En tout état de cause, il s’agit de deux œuvres réalistes comportant un côté romantique plus ou moins bien exprimé.

Skolkuratorns roll i arbetet mot mobbning : En kvalitativ studie

Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur skolkuratorerna upplever sitt arbete mot mobbning och hur de praktiskt arbetar mot mobbning. Metoden var kvalitativ och intervjuer genomfördes med sju skolkuratorer på olika skolor i två mindre kommuner. Studien visade att skolkuratorerna vill arbeta mer med det förebyggande arbetet mot mobbningen än det finns tid till. Deras arbete handlar mycket om att gå in och hjälpa där behovet och mobbningsproblematiken redan finns. I de metoder och program som finns att tillgå i arbetet mot mobbningen är det inget som rekommenderas utan det är upp till skolkuratorerna att själva utforma en metod som ska passa den individuella eleven. Det finns ett behov av att utveckla ett program- och metodkoncept som motsvarar dagens problematik.

Soft computing in biometrics : a pragmatic appraisal

The ever increasing spurt in digital crimes such as image manipulation, image tampering, signature forgery, image forgery, illegal transaction, etc. have hard pressed the demand to combat these forms of criminal activities. In this direction, biometrics - the computer-based validation of a persons' identity is becoming more and more essential particularly for high security systems. The essence of biometrics is the measurement of person’s physiological or behavioral characteristics, it enables authentication of a person’s identity. Biometric-based authentication is also becoming increasingly important in computer-based applications because the amount of sensitive data stored in such systems is growing. The new demands of biometric systems are robustness, high recognition rates, capability to handle imprecision, uncertainties of non-statistical kind and magnanimous flexibility. It is exactly here that, the role of soft computing techniques comes to play. The main aim of this write-up is to present a pragmatic view on applications of soft computing techniques in biometrics and to analyze its impact. It is found that soft computing has already made inroads in terms of individual methods or in combination. Applications of varieties of neural networks top the list followed by fuzzy logic and evolutionary algorithms. In a nutshell, the soft computing paradigms are used for biometric tasks such as feature extraction, dimensionality reduction, pattern identification, pattern mapping and the like.

Social Media, Privacy, and the Academic Classroom

We live in a world full of social media and portable technology that allows for the effortless access to, and sharing of, information. While this constant connection can be viewed as a benefit by some, there have been recent, sometimes embarrassing, instances throughout the world that show just how quickly any expectation of privacy can be destroyed. From pictures of poorly dressed shoppers at a grocery store to customers recording interactions with their servers at restaurants, the internet is full of media (all with the potential to go viral) created and posted without consent of all parties captured. This risk to privacy is not just limited to retail and restaurants, as being in any situation amongst people puts you at risk, including being in an academic classroom. Anyone providing in-class instruction, be they professor or librarian, can be at risk for this type of violation of privacy. In addition, the students in the class are also at risk for being unwittingly captured by their classmates. To combat this, colleges and universities are providing recommendations to faculty regarding this issue, such as including suggested syllabus statements about classroom recording by students. In some instances, colleges and universities have instituted formal policies with strict penalties for violators. An overview of current privacy law as it relates to an academic setting is discussed as well as recent, newsworthy instances of student recording in the classroom and the resulting controversies. Additionally, there is a discussion highlighting various recommendations and formal policies that have been issued and adopted by colleges and universities around the country. Finally, advice is offered about what librarians can do to educate students, faculty, and staff about the privacy rights of others and the potential harm that could come from posting to social media and the open web images and video of others without their consent.

Creating High-Impact Workforce Development Programs

As communities across the nation continue to face persistent unemployment, many states are turning to community college workforce development programs to combat joblessness. However, state governments and community colleges alike are often unable to devote significant resources to building new workforce initiatives. This brief examines how community colleges in four states have worked with state governments and other partners to overcome budget constraints and create effective workforce development programs, highlighting funding models and innovative practices to make efficient use of limited resources.

Terrorismo: aspectos gerais, prevenção e repressão

Este resumo tem como objetivo estudar o terrorismo e como combatê-lo no Brasil, bem como analisar o que a legislação brasileira e internacional tratam o tema. O terrorismo é um mal atual em todo o mundo e o Brasil não está isento de ataques terroristas, sendo de extrema importância o estudo, uma vez que a legislação atual não tem o tipo penal, nem medidas espec~ificas para prevenção e repressão no âmbito legislativo.

Uma nova versão para a política monetária do Plano de Ação Econômica do Governo (Paeg)

Existem divergências entre Lara Resende (1982) e Cysne (1993) sobre o que determinou o descumprimento das metas monetárias que serviram como um dos instrumentos de combate a inflação no PAEG. Para se entender o que de fato ocorreu, reconstruímos a oferta de moeda a partir das variáveis descritas por estes autores como relevantes na sua argumentação. Pelo descrito, tudo indicava uma mudança estrutural, mas, usando a técnica de Chow, ficou evidente que a mesma ocorreu com o advento do Plano Trienal, não com o PAEG. Para percebermos isto, trabalhamos com um período superior a implantação e execução do PAEG (1960:01 a 1968:12). Esta investigação demonstrou duas coisas: erros na utilização analítica (este é o caso do papel das reservas internacionais e mudança estrutural) e peso de argumentação desmedida (este é o caso do papel dado ao crédito concedido pela Autoridade Monetária via Banco do Brasil ao setor privado). Afora isto, o que se tem de concreto, é que a oferta de moeda não foi resultado de uma variável isolada, mas de um conjunto bem articulado que, apesar das suas diferenças de influência, produziram no período específico em que se tem o PAEG (não pelo PAEG), uma oferta de moeda cadente e fora das metas monetárias previstas.

Financial regulation and international criminal policy: the anti-money laundering system in Brazil and Argentina

The objective of this paper is to present and compare the process and the results of the implementation of the anti-money laundering system in Brazil and Argentina. Considering that the internal transformations cannot be discussed without a clear understanding of the international apparatus, attention will be given to the description of the “international policy” designed and conducted by FATF. Therefore, its incorporation into two different national realities, the Brazilian and the Argentinean ones, will shed light not only on the transnational transformations both States underwent but also on the anti-money laundering regime itself. The paper is divided into five parts. The first one presents a brief introduction on the emergence and development of the relationship between financial regulation and criminal policy. The two following sections are designed to present an overview of the anti money laundering system in Brazil and Argentina and of the role of FATF in their implementation process. The fourth section presents two Brazilian examples of situations in which full advantage of the FATF regime was taken: the National Strategy to Combat Corruption and Money Laundering and the BacenJud, a communication channel between the financial system and the judicial power. To conclude, final comments will be presented in connection with the central questions of the project this paper is part of .

O exército brasileiro na segurança pública

Este estudo descritivo-explicativo teve como finalidade demonstrar as principais dificuldades enfrentadas pelo atual Sistema Brasileiro de Segurança Pública, em conseqüência, pelos órgãos de segurança pública, para diminuir os índices de criminalidade e violência praticados no país. Para isso, enfoca o Exército Brasileiro como possível subsistema do sistema de segurança pública, abordando aspectos da estrutura funcional e operacional da Força Terrestre que poderiam ser empregados, em apoio aos órgãos policiais, no combate à criminal idade. Conclui apresentando possíveis setores em que o Exército Brasileiro poderia atuar na área da segurança pública, sem prejudicar suas missões constitucionais.

Mecanismos para elaboração de uma política pública visando à erradicação da exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes no chamado turismo sexual na cidade do Rio de Janeiro

Esta dissertação tem por objetivo principal propor mecanismos para elaboração de uma política pública visando à erradicação da exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes no chamado turismo sexual na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Para tanto, faz-se reflexões teóricas sobre o tema, considerando a situação de vulnerabilidade social na qual se encontra grande parte da população. Além disso, define-se o significado de políticas públicas a fim de compreender como estas podem auxiliar na solução do problema proposto. Como procedimentos de coleta das informações, foram feitas entrevistas presenciais baseadas em roteiros não estruturados, que possibilitaram a construção de uma relação entre a revisão bibliográfica realizada e a percepção in loco das profissionais do sexo sobre o assunto. A partir disso, foi possível atingir ao objetivo final e propor temas para estudos futuros.

O usuário e os sistemas de informatização: a utilização do sistema de controle de operações da delegacia legal pelos policiais civis do Estado do Rio De Janeiro.

Organizar racionalmente as informações e sistematizá-las tem sido essencial para o sucesso de diversas empresas. Quando estudamos as instituições destinadas à segurança pública percebemos que o uso de tecnologia e de sistemas de informação são comuns nos exemplos bem sucedidos de combate às práticas criminosas. O Programa Delegacia Legal, inaugurado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro em 1999, acompanha essa tendência e tem como um dos seus pilares a importância ao tratamento da informação. Os policiais que fazem os registros das ocorrências nas delegacias utilizando-se do Sistema de informação (SCO) têm então um papel fundamental porque através desses registros são investigadas as infrações, assim como é alimentado um banco de dados mais completo para ser aliado na elaboração de estatísticas e na aplicação de ações estratégicas. Considerando que esse tipo de registro, utilizando sistemas de informação, alterou a rotina institucional, o presente estudo verifica se existe ou não resistência ao uso do Sistema – SCO, fazendo uma abordagem sobre o sistema de informação, o Programa Delegacia Legal, a cultura organizacional e a opinião dos policiais.

O processo decisório no município de Macaé

This research had as objective to identify as if it gives to the process of decisions in the City of Macaé. It was a case study, therefore to make possible this analysis, the used ways had been the research of field, bibliographical and documentary. The bibliographical survey was made in books, specialized periodicals, thesis, dissertations, monographs, sites and the pertinent legislation to the case, generating an analytical base of the subject considered for study. The research also was documentary, since internal document use of the City Hall of Macaé became. In the field, the public decision-making of Macaé, the previous management, had been interviewed, so that it was understood of that it forms if gives the process of taking of decisions in this city. Moreover, the interviewed ones had been encouraged to display its beliefs and feelings, to tell to experiences and personal characteristics. With this, one searched to better understand the universe lived for the respondents and, simultaneously, to compare the speeches and the reality. The data had suffered analysis of content based on the studies from Bardin (1979), Laville and Dione (1999) and Vergara (2005). The study it approaches the City of Macaé, and, in accordance with Yin (2001), studies of cases allow to work with an immense variety of evidences, as documents, devices, interviews and comments. The research bibliographical, documentary, of field, in the case study had been complementary and with its confrontation it searched to get a general vision of form to give to reply to the final question proposal. One concludes that the process of decisions politics and its implementation in the City of Macaé if gave by means of the awareness of the executive former-managers of the City Hall, in assuming roles of true entrepreneurs, the good relationship with the Common Council, in the search of chances and the combat to the problems and the establishment of public politics, focused in the access and the improvement of the quality of the public rendering of services, in the incentive the economic development and in the promotion of the citizenship for the population place.