Exogenous shocks and misattribution of responsibility for economic performance: results from survey experiments

Recent models of economic voting assume that citizens can discount exogenous factors when assessing government's economic performance. Yet there is evidence that Latin American voters do not behave in such way, and attribute to presidents outcomes that are beyond their control. This paper presents three survey experiments designed to explore mechanisms that could potentially correct such misattribution, and therefore contribute to debiasing individual behavior towards government evaluation. Our results provide individual-level evidence of the misattribution found in aggregate studies of electorate behavior, and reinforce psychologist's skepticism towards prospects of mental decontamination, as we found very scant evidence that providing information, raising awareness, or increasing motivation to correct biases infuenced individual's evaluation of president's performance.

Exogenous Administration of 15d-PGJ(2)-Loaded Nanocapsules Inhibits Bone Resorption in a Mouse Periodontitis Model

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

Lysossomal membrane stability of the brown mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus) (Mollusca, Bivalvia) exposed to the anionic surfactant Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS).

The effects of the Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS) were evaluated on the mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758), using a cellular level biomarker. The Neutral Red Retention Time (NRRT) assay was used to estimate effects at cellular levels. Significant effects were observed for the NRRT assay, even in low concentrations. The effects at cellular level were progressive, suggesting that the organisms are not capable to recover of such increasing effects. Additionally, the results show that the levels of LAS observed for Brazilian coastal waters may chronically affect the biota.

Physiological responses of the brown mussel Perna perna (Mollusca, Bivalvia) exposed to the anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS).

The effects of the Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS) were evaluated on the mussel Perna perna, using physiological and genotoxic biomarkers. The Micronuclei (MN) assay was used to estimate effects at nuclear level, whereas the physiological effects were evaluated by measuring the oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion rates. Significant effects were observed for the MN assay and the ammonia excretion rate, even in low concentrations. The oxygen consumption was not affected in the tested concentrations. For MN and ammonia excretion, the animals exposed to intermediate concentrations were not affected, but responded to the higher concentrations, indicating the existence of compensatory mechanisms at physiological level. However, parallel to this study other authors indicate the presence of progressive effects at the cellular level, suggesting that the organisms are not capable to recover of such increasing effects. Additionally, the results show that the levels of LAS observed for Brazilian coastal waters may chronically affect the biota.

The administration of exogenous prostaglandin may improve ovulation in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Selection of surfactant compounds to enhance the dispersion of Beauveria bassiana

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Corn and soybean meal metabolizable energy with the addition of exogenous enzymes for poultry

Two metabolism assays were carried out to determine corn and soybean meal metabolizable energy when enzymes were added. In the first trial, 35 cockerels per studied feedstuff (corn and soybean meal) were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments of seven replicates of one bird each. The evaluated treatments were: ingredient (corn and soybean meal) with no enzyme addition, with the addition of an enzyme complex (xylanase, amylase, protease - XAP), xylanase, or phytase. Precise feeding method was used to determine true metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (TMEn). The use of enzymes did not result in any differences (p>0.05) in soybean meal TMEn, but phytase improved corn TMEn in 2.3% (p=0.004). In the second trial, 280 seven-day-old broiler chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with seven treatments of five replicates of eight birds each. Treatments consisted of corn with no enzyme addition or with the addition of amylase, xylanase, phytase, XAP complex, XAP+phytase combination, or xylanase/ pectinase/β-glucanase complex (XPBG). Corn was supplemented with macro and trace minerals. Total excreta collection was used to determine apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn). Differences were observed (p=0.08) in AMEn and dry matter metabolizability coefficient (p=0.03). The combination of the XAP complex with phytase promoted a 2.11% increase in corn AMEn values, and the remaining enzymes allowed increased between 0.86% and 1.66%.

Effects of Aspergillus spp. exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on in vitro fermentation of tropical forages

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

Enhanced stabilization of aerosol-OT surfactant monolayer upon interaction with small amounts of bovine serum albumin at the air-water interface

An investigation is made of the influence from small amounts of the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the lateral organization of low molecular weight surfactant sodium bis-2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate (AOT) at the air-water interface. Surface pressure (pi - A), surface potential (DeltaV - A) and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) experiments were carried out, with particular emphasis on the monolayer stability under successive compression-expansion cycles. AOT monolayer is not stable at the air-water interface, which means that the majority of AOT molecules go into the aqueous subphase as monomers and/or normal micelles. When a waiting time elapses between spreading and compression, the surfactant monolayer tends to reorganize partially at the air-water interface, with a monolayer expansion being observed for waiting times as large as 12 h. The incorporation of very small amount of BSA (10(-9) M) at the interface, also inferred from BAM, increases the monolayer stability as revealed by pi - A and DeltaV - A results. For a waiting time of circa 3 h, the mixed monolayer reaches its maximum stability. This must be related to protein (and/or protein-surfactant complexes) adsorbed onto the AOT monolayer, thus altering the BSA conformation to accommodate its hydrophobic/hydrophilic residues. Furthermore, the effects from such small amounts of BSA in the monolayer formation and stabilization mean that the AOT monolayer responds cooperatively to BSA. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rheological, Mechanical and Adhesive Properties of Surfactant-Containing Systems Designed as a Potential Platform for Topical Drug Delivery

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

Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Surfactant Systems for Controlled Release of Zidovudine

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Surfactant systems for nasal zidovudine delivery: structural, rheological and mucoadhesive properties

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Progesterone concentrations, exogenous equine chorionic gonadotropin, and timing of prostaglandin F-2 alpha treatment affect fertility in postpuberal Nelore heifers

Two experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that elevated progesterone concentrations impair pregnancy rate to timed artificial insemination (TAI) in postpuberal Nelore heifers. In Experiment 1, postpuberal Nelore heifers (n = 398) received 2 mg estradiol benzoate (EB) and either a new progesterone-releasing intravaginal device containing 1.9 g of progesterone (CIDR) (first use) or a CIDR previously used for 9 d (second use) or for 18 d (third use) on Day 0, 12.5 mg prostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGF(2 alpha)) on Day 7, 0.5 mg estradiol cypionate (ECP) and CIDR withdrawal on Day 9, and TAI on Day 11. Largest ovarian follicle diameter was determined on Day 11. The third-use CIDR treatment increased largest ovarian follicle diameter and pregnancy rate. Conception to TAI was reduced in heifers with smaller follicles in the first- and second-use CIDR treatments, but not in the third-use CID treatment. In Experiment 2, postpuberal Nelore heifers received the synchronization treatment described in Experiment 1 or received 12.5 mg PGF2. on Day 9 rather than Day 7. In addition, 50% of heifers received 300 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on Day 9. Heifers were either TAI (Experiment 2a; n = 199) or Al after detection of estrus (Experiment 2b; n = 125 of 202). In Experiment 2a, treatment with cCG increased pregnancy rate to TAI in heifers that received PGF2. on Day 9 but not on Day 7 and in heifers that received a first-use CIDR but not in heifers that received a third-use CIDR. Treatments did not influence reproductive performance in Experiment 2b. In summary, pregnancy rate to TAI in postpuberal Nelore heifers was optimized when lower concentrations of cxogcnous progesterone were administered, and eCG treatment was beneficial in heifers expected to have greater progesterone concentrations. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Plasma progesterone concentration in beef heifers receiving exogenous glucose, insulin, or bovine somatotropin

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, IGF-I, and progesterone (P4) in pubertal beef heifers receiving exogenous glucose, insulin, or sometribove zinc. All heifers used had no luteal P4 synthesis but received a controlled internal drug-releasing device containing 1.38 g of P4 to estimate treatment effects on hepatic P4 degradation. In Exp. 1, 8 pubertal, nulliparous Angus x Hereford heifers (initial BW = 442 +/- 14 kg; initial age = 656 +/- 7 d) were randomly assigned to receive, in a crossover design containing 2 periods of 10 h, intravenous (i.v.) infusions (10 mL) of insulin (1 mu g/kg of BW; INS) or saline (0.9%; SAL). Treatments were administered via jugular venipuncture in 7 applications (0.15 mu g insulin/kg BW per application) 45 min apart (from 0 to 270 min). Blood samples were collected immediately before each infusion as well as at -120, -60, 330, 390, and 450 min relative to the first infusion. Heifers receiving INS had greater (P < 0.01) plasma insulin, reduced (P <= 0.04) plasma glucose and IGF-I, and similar (P = 0.62) plasma P4 concentrations compared with SAL heifers. In Exp. 2, the same heifers were assigned to receive, in a similar experimental design as Exp. 1, i.v. infusions (10 mL) of 1) insulin (1 mu g/kg BW) and glucose (0.5 g/kg BW; INS+G) or 2) SAL. Heifers receiving INS+G had greater (P <= 0.02) plasma insulin, glucose, and P4 but reduced (P = 0.01) plasma IGF-I concentrations compared with SAL heifers. In Exp. 3, the same heifers were assigned to receive, in a crossover design containing 2 periods of 14 d, subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of 1) 250 mg of sometribove zinc (BST) or 2) SAL. Blood samples were collected 3 h apart (0900, 1200, 1500, and 1800 h) from heifers on d 6, 8, and 10 relative to treatment administration (d 1). Heifers receiving BST had greater (P < 0.01) plasma glucose and IGF-I and similar (P >= 0.67) plasma insulin and P4 concentrations compared with SAL heifers. Results from this series of experiments suggested that concurrent increases in glucose and insulin are required to reduce hepatic catabolism and increase plasma concentrations of P4 in bovine females.

Long-Term Exogenous Melatonin Treatment Modulates Overall Feed Efficiency and Protects Ovarian Tissue Against Injuries Caused by Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Stress in Adult UChB Rats

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