Restricted stimulus control in stimulus control shaping with a capuchin monkey

Teaching the first instances of arbitrary matching-to-sample to nonhumans can prove difficult and time consuming. Stimulus control relations may develop that differ from those intended by the experimentereven when stimulus control shaping procedures are used. We present, in this study, efforts to identify sources of shaping program failure with a capuchin monkey. Procedures began with a baseline of identity matching. During subsequent shaping trials, compound comparison stimuli had two componentsone identical to and another different from the sample. The identical component was eliminated gradually by removing portions across trials (i.e., subtracting stimulus elements). The monkey performed accurately throughout shaping. At a late stage in the program, probe tests were conducted: (1) arbitrary matching trials that had all elements of the identical comparison removed and (2) other trials that included residual elements. During the test, the monkey performed at low levels on the former trials and higher levels on the latter. These results suggested that higher accuracy was due merely to continued control by the residual elements: the target arbitrary matching relations had not been learned. Thus, it appears that procedures that gradually transform identity matching baselines into arbitrary matching can fail by inadvertently shaping restricted control by residual elements. Subsequent probes at the end of the shaping series showed a successful transfer of stimulus control from identity to arbitrary matching after further programming steps apparently overcame the restricted stimulus control.

Objetivos normativos e resultados práticos: um estudo empírico da renúncia fiscal concedida a firmas da agroindústria de palmito no Pará

O trabalho analisa a consistência entre os objetivos normativos, expressos na legislação que possibilita a concessão de incentivos fiscais no estado do Pará, e os resultados da aplicação desta prática de exceção fiscal a firmas da agroindústria de palmito. Inicialmente, a partir da elaboração de indicadores, por meio de análise espacial de dados e da avaliação dos níveis de correlação estatística entre eles, o trabalho concluiu que não há evidências empíricas de que o crescimento da agroindústria do palmito se articule com os objetivos normativos da política de incentivos fiscais. Em seguida, foi feita uma avaliação microeconômica, por meio de 18 indicadores, dos efeitos do incentivo fiscal sobre o desempenho das firmas, que apontou melhoras em todos os indicadores. O trabalho conclui, adicionalmente, que as taxas de rentabilidade e as de retorno interno da agroindústria do palmito, mesmo antes da concessão de incentivo fiscal, eram superiores a outras possibilidades de alocação de capital, contrariando também justificativas normativas subjacentes à concessão de incentivos fiscais. Por fim, indica-se que a concessão de benefícios analisada não se coaduna com o que a literatura considera como uma política de incentivos fiscais, já que os resultados dela, nas firmas analisadas, aproximam-lhe de uma política de regularização fiscal.

Renúncia fiscal heterônoma de ICMS na exportação no estado do Pará

O presente trabalho faz análise, sob a égide do federalismo, da renúncia fiscal heterônoma do Imposto de Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços (ICMS) para exportação introduzida pela Lei Federal Complementar n.º 87 de 13 de Setembro de 1996, Lei Kandir, posteriormente posta pela Emenda à Constituição de n.º 42/2003. Aborda aspectos da autonomia federativa dos Estados Membros, detentores da competência tributária de ICMS, e procura esclarecer os conceitos de imunidade e isenção tributária, competência e autonomia para verificar a possibilidade de violação à autonomia dos Estado mediante usurpação de competência tributária, bem como verificar as perdas fiscais decorrentes da referida renúncia fiscal no Estado do Pará.

Digit Ratio (2D:4D), Aggression, and Testosterone in Men Exposed to an Aggressive Video Stimulus

The relative lengths of the 2nd and 4th digits (2D:4D) is a negative biomarker for prenatal testosterone, and low 2D:4D may be associated with aggression. However, the evidence for a 2D:4D-aggression association is mixed. Here we test the hypothesis that 2D:4D is robustly linked to aggression in challenge situations in which testosterone is increased. Participants were exposed to an aggressive video and a control video. Aggression was measured after each video and salivary free testosterone levels before and after each video. Compared to the control video, the aggressive video was associated with raised aggression responses and a marginally significant increase in testosterone. Left 2D:4D was negatively correlated with aggression after the aggressive video and the strength of the correlation was higher in those participants who showed the greatest increases in testosterone. Left 2D:4D was also negatively correlated to the difference between aggression scores in the aggressive and control conditions. The control video did not influence testosterone concentrations and there were no associations between 2D:4D and aggression. We conclude that 2D:4D moderates the impact of an aggressive stimulus on aggression, such that an increase in testosterone resulting from a challenge is associated with a negative correlation between 2D:4D and aggression.

Effect of progesterone concentrations, follicle diameter, timing of artificial insemination, and ovulatory stimulus on pregnancy rate to synchronized artificial insemination in postpubertal Nellore heifers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Coordination of construction behavior in the termite Procornitermes araujoi: structure is a stronger stimulus than volatile marking

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Electroencephalographic Responses to a Noxious Surgical Stimulus in Mules, Horses, and Ponies

The aim of this study was to investigate the electroencephalographic (EEG) response of equidae to a castration stimulus. Study 1 included 11 mules (2 1/2-8 years; 230-315 kg) and 11 horses (1 1/2-3 1/2 years; 315-480 kg); study 2 included four ponies (15-17 months; 176-229 kg). They were castrated under halothane anesthesia after acepromazine premedication (IV [study 1] and intramuscular [study 2]) and thiopental anesthetic induction. Animals were castrated using a semiclosed technique (study 1) and a closed technique (study 2). Raw EEG data were analyzed and the EEG variables, median frequency (F50), total power (Ptot), and spectral edge frequency (F95), were derived using standard techniques at skin incision (skin) and emasculation (emasc) time points. Baseline values of F50, Ptot, and F95 for each animal were used to calculate percentage change from baseline at skin incision and emasculation. Differences were observed in Ptot and F50 data between hemispheres in horses but not mules (study 1) and in one pony (study 2). A response to castration (>10% change relative to baseline) was observed in eight horses (73% of animals) and four mules (36% of animals) for F50 and nine horses (82%) and four mules (36%) for Ptot. No changes in F95 data were observed in any animal in study 1. Responses to castration were observed in three ponies (75% of animals) for F50, one pony (25%) for F95, and all ponies for Ptot Alteration of acepromazine administration and castration technique produced a protocol that identified changes in EEG frequency and power in response to castration. (c) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fragilizaçõa financeira dos estados e a crise federativa: uma análise a partir do ajuste fiscal dos estados de São Paulo e Rio Grande do Sul

O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a situação financeira dos estados de São Paulo e Rio Grande do Sul após a renegociação da dívida financeira com o governo federal. A renegociação da dívida foi efetivada mediante a aprovação de um Programa de Ajuste Fiscal com metas periodicamente reavaliadas. É realizada uma contextualização histórica da economia brasileira e da situação dos estados brasileiros. Em seguida, é estudado o Programa de Ajuste Fiscal do Estado de São Paulo, e o Programa de Ajuste Fiscal do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Por fim, são realizadas algumas considerações acerca dos Programas desenvolvidos e realizados pelos Estados

Da crise da dívida financeira à crise da dívida soberana: um debate sobre a Política Fiscal

The financial crisis of 2007 brought the discussion of fiscal policy. This was used as a way for governments to mitigate the potential social and economic impacts of the crisis, since only the monetary policy would not be effective. Historically, banking crises engender increases in public debt, not only for the relief operations, but also by the policies of government primary spending and/or, as in the recent crises, by the purchase of the “toxic” financial assets. The discretionary fiscal policy is then discussed, since it is essential, it is required well articulated and coordinated actions in order to mitigate their respective current and future crisis.

Política fiscal e dívida pública no Brasil: uma análise para o Período 1994 2008

The paper presents a study of fiscal policy and public debt in Brazil from 1994 to 2008. We assert that fiscal policy in Brazil was conducted in accordance with a new macroeconomic model, and that the measures adopted in that framework resulted in the construction of a new fiscal model. The fiscal policy in this new system has the main role of debt sustainability, with a suitable revenue and spending policy, conducted to achieve the goals of a positive public sector primary result.

Fiscal policy contradiction: a perspective on Brazil and Mexico

The aim of this paper is to discuss the quality of fiscal policy in Brazil and Mexico and investigate whether fiscal policy influence is favorable to reduce the unemployment rate. Public spending, which has a positive effect on the level of employment when results in additional aggregate demand, may cause a negative effect on employment, if its financing depends on persistent high interest rates. Brazil and Mexico have engaged in a long effort to control public spending and to reduce the public deficit to zero. Does this policy bring a positive result to the economic activity no matter how actual public deficit has been financed? We select variables related to public budget as public sector borrowing requirements, taxes, public debt and others to form a data base. The fiscal institutional arrangement and the data allow us to evaluate the fiscal policy as a who leand to discuss the importance of credibility and reputation of the government.

What is the stimulus for the excavation of fungus chamber in leaf-cutting ants?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Interaction between fiscal and monetary policy in a dynamic nonlinear model

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

EMERGENT CONDITIONAL RELATIONS IN A GO/NO-GO PROCEDURE: FIGURE-GROUND AND STIMULUS-POSITION COMPOUND RELATIONS

Past research has demonstrated emergent conditional relations using a go/no-go procedure with pairs of figures displayed side-by-side on a computer screen. The present Study sought to extend applications Of this procedure. In Experiment, 1, we evaluated whether emergent conditional relations Could be demonstrated when two-component stimuli were displayed in figure-ground relationships-abstract figures displayed on backgrounds of different colors. Five normal)), capable adults participated. During training, each two-component stimulus Was presented successively. Responses emitted in the presence of some Stimulus pairs (A1B1, A2B2, A3B3, B1C1, B2C2 and B3C3) were reinforced, whereas responses emitted in the presence of other pairs (A1B2, A1B3, A2B1, A2B3, A3B1, A3B2, B1C2, B1C3, B2C1, B2C3, B3C1 and B3C2) were not. During tests, new configurations (AC and CA) were presented, thus emulating structurally the matching-to-sample tests employed in typical equivalence Studies. All participants showed emergent relations consistent with stimulus equivalence during testing. In Experiment 2, we systematically replicated the procedures with Stimulus compounds consisting Of four figures (A1, A2, C1 and C2) and two locations (left - B1 and right - 132). A,11 6 normally capable adults exhibited emergent stimulus-stimulus relations. Together, these experiments show that the go/no-go procedure is a potentially useful alternative for Studying emergent. conditional relations when matching-to-sample is procedurally cumbersome or impossible to use.

OBSERVING BEHAVIOR AND ATYPICALLY RESTRICTED STIMULUS CONTROL

Restricted stimulus control refers to discrimination learning with atypical limitations in the range of controlling stimuli or stimulus features In the study reported here 4 normally capable individuals and 10 individuals with Intellectual disabilities (ID) performed two-sample delayed matching to sample Sample stimulus observing was recorded with an eye tracking apparatus High accuracy scores indicated stimulus control by both sample stimuli for the 4 nondisabled participants and 4 participants with ID and eye tracking data showed reliable observing of all stimuli Intermediate accuracy scores indicated restricted stimulus control for the remaining 6 participants Their eye tracking data showed that errors were related to failures to observe sample stimuli and relatively brief observing durations Five of these participants were then given interventions designed to improve observing behavior For 4 participants the interventions resulted initially in elimination of observing failures increased observing durations and Increased accuracy For 2 of these participants contingencies sufficient to maintain adequate observing were not always sufficient to maintain high accuracy subsequent procedure modifications restored It however For the 5th participant initial improvements in observing were not accompanied by improved accuracy in apparent Instance of observing without attending accuracy improved only after an additional intervention that imposed contingencies on observing behavior Thus interventions that control observing behavior seem necessary but may not always be sufficient for the remediation of restricted stimulus control