FROM TRISECTIONS IN MODULE CATEGORIES TO QUASI-DIRECTED COMPONENTS

In this paper, we define and study a special type of trisections in a module category, namely the compact trisections which characterize quasi-directed components. We apply this notion to the study of laura algebras and we use it to define a class of algebras with predictable Auslander-Reiten components.

Thymine hydroperoxide as a potential source of singlet molecular oxygen in DNA

The decomposition of organic hydroperoxides into peroxyl radicals is a potential source of singlet molecular oxygen [O(2) ((1)Delta(g))] in biological systems. This study shows that 5-(hydroperoxymethyl)uracil (5-HPMU), a thymine hydroperoxide within DNA, reacts with metal ions or HOCl, generating O(2) ((1)Delta(g)). Spectroscopic evidence for generation of O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) was obtained by measuring (i) the bimolecular decay, (ii) the monomolecular decay, and (iii) the observation of D(2)O enhancement of O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) production and the quenching effect of NaN(3). Moreover, the presence of O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) was unequivocally demonstrated by the direct characterization of the near-infrared light emission. For the sake of comparison, O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) derived from the H(2)O(2)/HOCl system and from the thermolysis of the N,N`-di(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-1,4-naphthalenedipropanamide endoperoxide was also monitored. More evidence of O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) generation was obtained by chemical trapping of O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) with anthracene-9,10-divinylsulfonate (AVS) and detection of the specific AVS endoperoxide by HPLC/MS/MS. The detection by HPLC/MS of 5-(hydroxymethyl)uracil and 5-formyluracil, two thymine oxidation products generated from the reaction of 5-HPMU and Ce(4+) ions, supports the Russell mechanism. These photoemission properties and chemical trapping clearly demonstrate that the decomposition of 5-HPMU generates O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) by the Russell mechanism and point to the involvement of O(2) ((1)Delta(g)) in thymidine hydroperoxide cytotoxicity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Salinity influences glutathione S-transferase activity and lipid peroxidation responses in the Crassostrea gigas oyster exposed to diesel oil

Biochemical responses in bivalve mollusks are commonly employed in environmental studies as biomarkers of aquatic contamination. The present study evaluated the possible influence of salinity (35, 25,15 and 9 ppt) in the biomarker responses of Crassostrea gigas oysters exposed to diesel at different nominal concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mLL(-1)) using a semi-static exposure system. Salinity alone did not resulted in major changes in the gill`s catalase activity (CAT), glutathione S-transferase activity (GST) and lipid peroxidation levels (measured as malondialdehyde. MDA), but influenced diesel related responses. At 25 ppt salinity, but not at the other salinity levels, oysters exposed to diesel showed a strikingly positive concentration-dependent GST response. At 25 ppt and 1 mLL(-1) diesel, the GST activity in the gills remained elevated, even after one week of depuration in clean water. The increased MDA levels in the oysters exposed to diesel comparing to control groups at 9, 15 and 35 ppt salinities suggest the occurrence of lipid peroxidation in those salinities, but not at 25 ppt salinity. The MDA quickly returned to basal levels after 24 h of depuration. CAT activity was unaltered by the treatments employed. High toxicity for 1 mLL(-1) diesel was observed only at 35 ppt salinity, but not in the other salinities. Results from this study strongly suggest that salinity influences the diesel related biomarker responses and toxicity in C. gigas, and that some of those responses remain altered even after depuration. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electronic Structure and Chemical Bonding in the Ground and Low-Lying Electronic States of Ta(2)

The electronic structure and chemical bonding of the ground and low-lying Lambda - S and Omega states of Ta(2) were investigated at the multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory (CASSCF//CASPT2) level. The ground state of Ta(2) is computed to be a X(3)Sigma(-)(g) state (R(e) = 2.120 angstrom, omega(e) = 323 cm(-1), and D(e) = 4.65 eV), with two low-lying singlet states close to it (a(1) Sigma(+)(g) : T(e) = 409 cm(-1), R(e) = 2.131 angstrom, and omega(e) = 313 cm(-1); b(1) Gamma(g): T(e) = 1, 038 cm(-1), R(e) = 2.127 angstrom, and omega(e) = 316 cm(-1)). These electronic states are derived from the same electronic configuration: vertical bar 13 sigma(2)(g)14 sigma(2)(g)7 delta(2)(g)13 pi(4)(u)>. The effective bond order of the X(3) Sigma(-)(g) state is 4.52, which indicates that the Ta atoms are bound by a quintuple chemical bond. The a(1) Sigma(+)(g) state interacts strongly with the X(3)Sigma(-)(g) g ground state by a second-order spin-orbit interaction, giving rise to the (1)0(g)(+) (ground state) (dominated by the X(3)Sigma(-)(g) Lambda - S ground state) and (9)0(g)(+) (dominated by the a(1) Sigma(+)(g) Lambda - S state) Omega states. These results are in line with those reported for the group 5B homonuclear transition metal diatomics. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 111: 1306-1315, 2011

Nanogravimetric study of the complex voltammetric response in the electro-oxidation of methanol on platinum

Instead of a time-invariant voltammetric profile, many electrochemical systems display a cycle-dependent current-potential response. This phenomenon has been referred to as complex voltammetric response and it has been observed during the electro-oxidation of several molecules such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and hydrogen. There are currently two explanations for the surface mechanism underlying this behavior. In one scenario, the complex voltammogram would result from the specific kinetic pathway taken during the forward sweep. In the other explanation, the phenomenon is discussed in terms of the interplay among the surface roughening and subsequent relaxation, and the ohmic drop coupled to a negative differential resistance. We report in this paper a nanogravimetric investigation of the complex voltammetric response in the electro-oxidation of methanol on platinum electrode in both acidic and alkaline media. Different periodic patterns composed of intercalated small and large hysteresis cycles were observed as a function of the applied voltage and the series resistance between the working electrode and the potentiostat. Independently, nanogravimetric results indicated no detectable difference in the delta-frequency versus voltage profile between small and large hysteresis cycles. These findings were interpreted as experimental evidence of the secondary, if any, role played by the very electrochemical reaction on the emergence of complex voltammetric response. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

GIS-portal - Utredning och design av GIS-portal ochingående tjänst åt Vägverket

Denna rapport presenterar ett examensarbete på D-nivå där uppdragsgivaren har varit WM-data Consulting och kunden Vägverket Produktion.Vägverket har ett antal olika applikationer för geografisk information som ligger utspridda på företagets hemsida . För att samla alla applikationer på ett och samma ställe fick vi i uppdrag att göra en grundläggande utredning av en GIS-portal. Denna portal ska fungera som en enhetlig ingång där kartdata samkörs och visualiseras. Ytterligare en del i uppdraget var att utreda vad som borde förändras och förbättras i den redan existerande tjänsten Beläggning på vägarna. Denna tjänst kommer att fungera som en testapplikation för GIS-portalen.Målen med examensarbetet var att utreda vilka krav som finns på en GIS-portal och applikationen Beläggning på vägarna samt att beskriva de önskemål som finns på dessa. Ett designförslag och en funktionsbeskrivning arbetades fram för både tjänsten Beläggning på vägarna och för GIS-portalen. Utredningen kommer att ligga till grund för utveckling av en GIS-portal samt fortsatt utveckling och förbättringar av tjänsten Beläggning på vägarna.För att komma fram till ett resultat har vi använt oss av ett antal teorier om IT-tjänster, systemarkitektur och användbarhet. Förutom dessa teorier har även de intervjuer som utförts spelat en stor roll för vårt arbete. Vi har lagt en bra grund för Vägverket att fortsätta arbetet med utveckling av en GIS-portal och tjänsten Beläggning på vägarna.

Hiperinflação: um arcabouço teórico

Este trabalho apresenta uma teoria da hiperinflação na qual não há necessidade de apelar-se para hipóteses casuísticas, como expectativas adaptativas, ajustamento parcial no mercado monetário ou profecias que se autorealizam. O modelo tem um agente representativo com vida infinita que aloca seus recursos de sorte a maximizar o bem estar, todos os mercados estão em equilíbrio, o banco central financia o déficit público e a moeda é essencial. A hiperinflação ocorre porque a restrição intertemporal do governo não é satisfeita. O arcabouço teórico produz algumas conclusões sobre a duração da hiperinflação, e sobre outras características deste processo, nem sempre em concordância com a sabedoria convencional. O artigo também analisa como o fenômeno da substituição da moeda, um fato estilizado das experiências hiperinflacionárias, pode afetar a essencialidade da moeda, um ingrediente básico do modelo.

Identificação de fatores chaves para avaliação da excelência em gestão no Brasil : um ensaio do modelo PNQ

Esta dissertação avalia o Prêmio Nacional da Qualidade (PNQ), cujo papel, segundo a entidade mantenedora, é nortear a Excelência em Gestão no Brasil. O estudo utiliza os textos do modelo de excelência PNQ 2011, que, aliado à revisão de literatura acadêmica sobre o tema, deu suporte ao estudo empírico aqui apresentado. Esta pesquisa baseia-se em tema, perspectiva e metodologia diferentes de estudos prévios encontrados na literatura científica, e contribui para a identificação de fatores chaves para a avaliação da excelência em gestão, um trabalho que exercita o Prêmio Nacional da Qualidade (PNQ), em uma abordagem estatística multivariada, com sugestão de novos conhecimentos acadêmico e executivo. Para as 409 organizações respondentes, entre outubro e novembro de 2011 e janeiro de 2012, 262 apresentaram questionários válidos. A amostra é semelhante à realidade econômica do Brasil em 2011, composta por: 30% do setor Industrial e 70% do setor de Serviços, igual à composição do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB), segundo o IBGE, além de contar com representantes dos 21 segmentos de atuação, conforme classificação da revista Exame. Como principal resultado, 67,5%% da avaliação da excelência em gestão no Brasil se aplica à seis fatores chaves: 1) indicadores de desempenho, 2) resposta ágil aos clientes, 3) estímulos internos para resultado e excelência, 4) mitigação de impactos negativos à sociedade, 5) equidade social da força de trabalho e 6) participação de mercado, baseado no PNQ 2011, avaliado pela análise fatorial exploratória.

Estado, estado-nação e formas de intermediação social

This paper, first, situates the nation-state historically, as a product of the capitalist revolution. Second, it distinguishes the state (the law system and the organization that guarantees it) from the nation-state or country (the territorial political unit formed by a nation, a state and a territory). Third, it defines nation, civil society and class coalitions, understanding that they are forms of society politically organized, which role is to act as intermediary between society and the state. Fourth, it uses these concepts plus the ones of relative autonomy and of anteriority to understand the ever changing relation between the state and society, where in early moments the state or its elites assumed the lead, and later, as democratization takes place, the protagonist role changed gradually to the people. The paper emphasizes the class coalitions, and argues that behind the two basic forms or economic and political organization of capitalism – developmentalism and economic liberalism – there are the correspondent class coalitions