Recensao de: I. K. Healy, Social Work Practices: Contemporary Perspectives on Change, London, Sage, 2000.

Revista Lus��fona de Ci��ncias Sociais

Um tabuleiro de duas faces: o l��dico e o aleat��rio na fic����o cient��fica de Philip K. Dick

Embora apenas quatro t��tulos da obra de Philip K. Dick abordem o tema do acaso ��� Solar Lottery (escrito em 1954), The Man in the High Castle (1961), The Game Players of Titan (1963) e A Maze of Death (1968) ���, este surge contudo associado, e de forma bastante coerente, a outros, como a oposi����o humano/inumano ou a dial��ctica entre a percep����o e a realidade, que s��o mais comummente referidos como dominantes no autor. A estrat��gia seguida neste artigo consiste, ap��s uma sum��ria passagem pelas novelas acima referidas, na demonstra����o de como uma aparente dualidade no tratamento do acaso pode ser resolvida a partir do momento em que se assume uma perspectiva mais alargada do universo tem��tico de Philip K. Dick.

Monetary channels of social inclusion: a case study of basic income and the Caixa Econ��mica Federal in Brazil

This article reports evidence of new monetary channels for social inclusion involving basic income policies and the Caixa Econ��mica Federal, a Brazilian government savings bank. Since the Plano Real (Brazilian currency) and the liberalization of banking in the 1990s, the realization of competitive advantages by the Caixa as social policy agent and the importance of citizenship cards differ from existing theories of bank change, financial inclusion and monetary policy. Multi-method research reveals the importance of 1) political theories of basic income, 2) conceptions of citizenship and social justice, and 3) a back to the future modernization of government banking. This provides alternatives to contemporary market-based banking theory, neo-liberal policies, private and non-governmental microfinance strategies, and theories in political economy about fiscal constraints to social policies. New monetary channels of change also suggest that zero sum theories about politics, monetary authority and social inclusion are amiss.

Ampicilina K em dose ��nica, por via oral, no tratamento da gonorr��ia

Foram tratados 70 pacientes do sexo masculino portadores de uretrite gonoc��cica aguda com 3,0 g de Ampicilina K por via oral, em dose ��nica. Em 87,1% dos casos houve desaparecimento da secre����o uretral; na grande maioria dos casos entre 24 e 72 horas. Considerados mais 3 casos em que houve persist��ncia da secre����o p��s tratamento, mas com aus��ncia de gonococos aos exames bacteriol��gicos (cura bacteriol��gica) o sucesso terap��utico pode ser elevado para 91,4%.

Biologia de Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai H., D. & K., 1913 (Diptera: Culicidae) en la costa Pac��fica de Colombia: I. Fluctuaci��n de la poblaci��n larval y caracter��sticas de sus criaderos

En Charambir��, localidad del munic��pio de Istmina (Choc��) en la costa Pac��fica de Colombia, donde existe un problema de malaria end��mica, se estudi�� la fluctuaci��n de la poblaci��n larval y las caracter��sticas de los criaderos de Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai, especie considerada como posible vectora de malaria en esa regi��n del pa��s. La vegetaci��n circundante fue dividida en tres estratos de acuerdo al grado de cobertura foliar. Se demarcaron cuadrantes de 100 m&#178 en cada estrato para el muestreo de plantas ep��fitas de la fam��lia Bromeliaceae, en las cuales se acumula agua que sirve como criadero para esta especie de anofelino. Se tomaron datos de temperatura, pH y volumen del agua contenida en cada bromelia. El mayor n��mero de larvas se detect�� en el estrato 1 (manglar) a una altitud inferior a 4 m, pero no se encontr�� evidencia significativa de estratificaci��n vertical de la poblaci��n larval de A. neivai hasta los 8 m. Se evidenci�� una correlaci��n lineal positiva entre el n��mero de larvas y el volumen de agua contenida en cada bromelia; por otra parte se observ�� tambi��n una correlaci��n directa entre la precipitaci��n mensual acumulada y la fluctuaci��n poblacional de esta especie. Los ��ndices larvales mas altos se observaron entre los meses de marzo a abril y de julio a agosto. La mortalidad larval fue alta en el primer estad��o (43,5%) y solo un 23,7% sobrevivi�� hasta el cuarto.

Biologia de Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai H., D. & K., 1913 (Diptera: Culicidae) en la costa Pac��fica de Colombia: II. Fluctuaci��n de la poblaci��n adulta

En la localidad de Charambir��, situada en el munic��pio de Istmina (Choc��) en la costa Pac��fica de Colombia, se presenta un problema de malaria end��mica asociada con grandes poblaciones de mosquitos Anopheles del subg��nero Kerteszia (A. neivai). Estos se cr��an en las colecciones de agua formadas por plantas ep��fitas de la fam��lia Bromeliaceae, que son muy abundantes en los ��rboles de mangle. En esa localidad se estudiaron: fluctuaci��n poblacional y algunos aspectos ecol��gicos y etol��gicos de los adultos de esa especie de mosquito, con el objetivo de determinar su papel en la transmisi��n de malaria. Todos los mosquitos fueron colectados por cebos humanos. Los picos m��ximos de actividad ocurrieron en las horas crepusculares de la ma��ana y de la tarde (5:30 a 6:30 y 18:00 a 19:00 horas). En el per��odo nocturno la actividad intradomiciliar fue baja y no hubo ninguna durante el d��a. El estado gonadotr��fico de las hembras colectadas durante nos picos de actividad, mostr�� la existencia de dos poblaciones de mosquitos: una, en su mayor��a individuos j��venes que buscan su alimento en las horas de la tarde y la otra compuesta por individuos mas longevos, que buscan su alimento en la ma��ana. El estudio de la variaci��n estacional mostr�� que las poblaciones son bajas en los meses de poca precipitaci��n, pero a medida que aumenta el ��ndice pluviom��trico, aumenta el n��mero de mosquitos. Se discute la relaci��n que existe entre la presencia de los mosquitos y la prevalencia de malaria humana; se sugiere que A. neivai puede ser el responsable de la transmisi��n de malaria en la zona estudiada.

Biologia de Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai H., D. & K., 1913 (Diptera: Culicidae) en la Costa Pac��fica de Colombia: III. Medidas de luminosidad y el comportamiento de picadura

El estudio del comportamiento de picadura de mosquitos capturados picando humanos en un ��rea despejada del poblado de Charambir��, Choc��, en la costa Pac��fica de Colombia, indico que cambios en la intensidad de la luz, influenciaban el in��cio y el fin de la actividad de vuelo de Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai, especie con marcados h��bitos crepusculares. Esta especie est�� considerada como vectora de esa enfermedad, malaria, en la costa pac��fica colombiana.

Biolog��a de Anopheles (Kerteszia) neivai H., D. & K., 1913 (Diptera: Culicidae) en la Costa Pacifica de Colombia: IV - Estructura et��rea y transmisi��n de malaria

Con el fin de determinar la dinamica de transmisi��n de malaria en el poblado de Charambir�� (Choc��), Colombia, se estudi�� la estructura et��rea de Anopheles neivai (reconocido vector en la Costa Pac��fica) con base en su estado gonadotr��fico. Se recolectaron mosquitos intradomiciliarmente durante el crep��sculo vespertino con cebos humanos y aspiradores bucales. Los mosquitos recolectados se mantuvieron en cajas cil��ndricas de cart��n con papel humedecido y dispensadores alimenticios hasta su disecci��n al d��a siguiente. De los 200 mosquitos disecados entre septiembre y octubre de 1986,68 (34%) presentaban huellas de menos de tres oviposturas y los restantes (66%) hab��an efectuado al menos tres oviposturas. La diferencia entre el primer grupo considerado como mosquitos "no infectivos" y el segundo considerado como los "potencialmente infectivos" fue altamente significativa (X�� = 10,68; P = 0,001). El 1,5% de A. neivai estudiados presentaban huellas correspondientes a 10 oviposturas mostrando una marcada longevidad y m��ltiples alimentaciones sangu��neas. Los resultados sugieren que existe un alto riesgo de contraer malaria en Charambir�� durante el crep��sculo vespertino.

Enthalpies of Solution of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate in 15 Solvents at 298.15 K

Enthalpies of solution of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetra fluoroborate, [BMIm]BF4, are reported at 298.15 K in a set of 15 hydrogen bond donor and hydrogen bond acceptor solvents, chosen by their diversity, namely, water, methanol, ethanol, 1,2-ethanediol, 2-choroethanol, 2-methoxyethanol, formamide, propylene carbonate, nitromethane, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and aniline. These values are shown to be largely independent of [BMIm]BF4 concentration. The obtained enthalpies of solution vary from very endothermic to quite exothermic, thus showing a very high sensitivity of the enthalpies of solution of [BMIm]BF4 to solvent properties. Solvent effects on the solution process of this IL are analyzed by a quantitative structure-property relationship methodology, using the TAKA equation and a modified equation, which significantly improves the model's predictive ability. The observed differences in the enthalpies of solution are rationalized in terms of the solvent properties found to be relevant, that is, pi* and E-T(N).

Classifica����o sem��ntica de imagens com k-NN e RN

Um dos maiores desafios tecnol��gicos no presente �� o de se conseguir gerar e manter, de uma maneira eficiente e consistente, uma base de dados de objectos multim��dia, em particular, de imagens. A necessidade de desenvolver m��todos de pesquisa autom��ticos baseados no conte��do sem��ntico das imagens tornou-se de m��xima import��ncia. MPEG-7 �� um standard que descreve o contudo dos dados multim��dia que suportam estes requisitos operacionais. Adiciona um conjunto de descritores audiovisuais de baixo n��vel. O histograma �� a caracter��stica mais utilizada para representar as caracter��sticas globais de uma imagem. Neste trabalho �� usado o ���Edge Histogram Descriptor��� (EHD), que resulta numa representa����o de baixo n��vel que permite a computa����o da similaridade entre imagens. Neste trabalho, �� obtida uma caracteriza����o sem��ntica da imagem baseada neste descritor usando dois m��todos da classifica����o: o algoritmo k Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) e uma Rede Neuronal (RN) de retro propaga����o. No algoritmo k-NN �� usada a dist��ncia Euclidiana entre os descritores de duas imagens para calcular a similaridade entre imagens diferentes. A RN requer um processo de aprendizagem pr��via, que inclui responder correctamente ��s amostras do treino e ��s amostras de teste. No fim deste trabalho, ser�� apresentado um estudo sobre os resultados dos dois m��todos da classifica����o.

Bioconversion of D-glucose into D-glucosone by Glucose 2-oxidase from Coriolus versicolor at Moderate Pressures

Glucose 2-oxidase (pyranose oxidase, pyranose: oxygen-2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.10) from Coriolus versicolor catalyses the oxidation of D-glucose at carbon 2 in the presence of molecular O(2) producing D-glucosone (2-keto-glucose and D-arabino-2-hexosulose) and H(2)O(2). It was used to convert D-glucose into D-glucosone at moderate pressures (i.e. up to 150 bar) with compressed air in a modified commercial batch reactor. Several parameters affecting biocatalysis at moderate pressures were investigated as follows: pressure, [enzyme], [glucose], pH, temperature, nature of fluid and the presence of catalase. Glucose 2-oxidase was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography on epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B-IDA-Cu(II) column at pH 6.0. The rate of bioconversion of D-glucose increased with the pressure since an increase in the pressure with compressed air resulted in higher rates of conversion. On the other hand, the presence of catalase increased the rate of reaction which strongly suggests that H(2)O(2) acted as inhibitor for this reaction. The rate of bioconversion of D-glucose by glucose 2-oxidase in the presence of either nitrogen or supercritical CO(2) at 110 bar was very low compared with the use of compressed air at the same pressure. The optimum temperature (55 degrees C) and pH (5.0) of D-glucose bioconversion as well as kinetic parameters for this enzyme were determined under moderate pressure. The activation energy (E(a)) was 32.08 kJmol(-1) and kinetic parameters (V(max), K(m), K(cat) and K(cat)/K(m)) for this bioconversion were 8.8 Umg(-1) protein, 2.95 mM, 30.81 s(-1) and 10,444.06 s(-1)M(-1), respectively. The biomass of C. versicolor as well as the cell-free extract containing glucose 2-oxidase activity were also useful for bioconversion of D-glucose at moderate pressures. The enzyme was apparently stable at moderate pressures since such pressures did not affect significantly the enzyme activity.

Bioconversion of D-glucose into D-glucosone by immobilized glucose 2-oxidase from Coriolus versicolorat moderate pressures

The immobilized glucose 2-oxidase (pyranose oxidase, pyranose:oxygen-2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.10) from Coriolus versicolor was used to convert D-glucose into D-glucosone at moderate pressures, up to 150 bar, with compressed air in a modified commercial batch reactor. Several parameters affecting biocatalysis at moderate pressures were investigated as follows: pressure, different forms of immobilized biocatalysts, glucose concentration, pH, temperature and the presence of catalase. Glucose 2-oxidase (GOX2) was purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography on epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B-IDA-Cu(II) column at pH 6.0. Purified enzyme and catalase were immobilized into a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane in the presence of glutaraldehyde and gelatin. Enhancement of the bioconversion of D-glucose was done by the pressure since an increase in the pressure with compressed air increases the conversion rates. The optimum temperature and pH for bioconversion of D-glucose were found to be 62 degrees C and pH 6.0, respectively and the activation energy (E(a)) was 28.01 kJ mol(-1). The apparent kinetic constants (V(max)' K(m)', K(cat)' and K(cat)/K(m)') for this bioconversion were 2.27 U mg(-1) protein, 11.15 mM, 8.33 s(-1) and 747.38 s(-1) M(-1), respectively. The immobilized biomass of C. versicolor as well as crude extract containing GOX2 activity were also useful for bioconversion of D-glucose at 65 bar with a yield of 69.9 +/- 3.8% and 91.3 +/- 1.2%, respectively. The immobilized enzyme was apparently stable for several months without any significant loss of enzyme activity. On the other hand, this immobilized enzyme was also stable at moderate pressures, since such pressures did not affect significantly the enzyme activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Symbolic dynamics and renormalization of non-autonomous k periodic dynamical systems

The purpose of this paper was to introduce the symbolic formalism based on kneading theory, which allows us to study the renormalization of non-autonomous periodic dynamical systems.

Optoelectronic Digital Capture Device Based on Si/C Multilayer Heterostructures

Combined tunable WDM converters based on SiC multilayer photonic active filters are analyzed. The operation combines the properties of active long-pass and short-pass wavelength filter sections into a capacitive active band-pass filter. The sensor element is a multilayered heterostructure produced by PE-CVD. The configuration includes two stacked SiC p-i-n structures sandwiched between two transparent contacts. Transfer function characteristics are studied both theoretically and experimentally. Results show that optical bias activated photonic device combines the demultiplexing operation with the simultaneous photodetection and self amplification of an optical signal acting the device as an integrated photonic filter in the visible range. Depending on the wavelength of the external background and irradiation side, the device acts either as a short- or a long-pass band filter or as a band-stop filter. The output waveform presents a nonlinear amplitude-dependent response to the wavelengths of the input channels. A numerical simulation and two building-blocks active circuit is presented and gives insight into the physics of the device.

SiC Multilayer Structures as Light Controlled Photonic Active Filters

Tunable wavelength division multiplexing converters based on amorphous SiC multilayer photonic active filters are analyzed. The configuration includes two stacked p-i-n structures (p(a-SiC:H)-i'(a-SiC:H)-n(a-SiC:H)-p(a-SiC:H)-i(a-Si:H)-n(a-Si:H)) sandwiched between two transparent contacts. The manipulation of the magnitude is achieved through appropriated front and back backgrounds. Transfer function characteristics are studied both theoretically and experimentally. An algorithm to decode the multiplex signal is established. An optoelectronic model supports the optoelectronic logic architecture. Results show that the light-activated device combines the demultiplexing operation with the simultaneous photodetection and self-amplification of an optical signal. The output waveform presents a nonlinear amplitude-dependent response to the wavelengths of the input channels. Depending on the wavelength of the external background and irradiation side, it acts either as a short- or a long-pass band filter or as a band-stop filter. A two-stage active circuit is presented and gives insight into the physics of the device.