Economic stagnation and alternative development strategies

The focus of my paper is the presentation of some thoughts on overcoming economic stagnation, with reference to the case of Mexico. In Section 2, I will describe the reasons why the policies of financial opening based on the Washington Consensus create endogenous tendencies toward economic stagnation and overvaluation of currencies. Section 3 offers a concise outline of a possible alternative development project for Mexico. Section 4 presents some proposals regarding monetary, foreign exchange, and fiscal policy oriented toward reviving economic growth. Finally, in Section 5, I present some conclusions.

Secular dynamics and family identification among highly inclined asteroids in the Euphrosyne region

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

Possible effects of secular resonances in Phobos and Triton

Due to the tides, the orbits of Phobos and Triton are contracting. While their semi major axes are decreasing, several possibilities of secular resonances involving node, argument of the pericenter and mean motion of the Sun will take place. In the case of Mars, if the obliquity (epsilon), during the passage through some resonances, is not so small, very significant variations of the inclination will appear. In one case, capture is almost certain provided that epsilon greater than or equal to 20degrees. For Triton there are also similar situations, but capture seems to be not possible, mainly because in S-1 state, Triton's orbit is sufficiently inclined (far) with respect to the Neptune's equator. Following Chyba et al. (Astron. Astrophys. 219 (1989) 123), a simplified equation that gives the evolution of the inclination versus the semi major axis, is derived. The time needed for Triton crash onto Neptune is longer than that one obtained by these authors, but the main difference is due to the new data used here. In general, even in the case of non-capture passages, some significant jumps in inclination and in eccentricities are possible. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cartilha de alfabetização e cultura escolar: um pacto secular

No Brasil, a partir da última década do século XIX, com a organização republicana da instrução pública, observa-se o início de um movimento de escolarização das práticas de leitura e escrita e de identificação entre o processo de ensino inicial dessas práticas e a questão dos métodos. A partir de então, a cartilha vai-se consolidando como um imprescindível instrumento de concretização dos métodos propostos e, em decorrência, de configuração de determinado conteúdo de ensino, assim como de certas silenciosas, mas operantes, concepções de alfabetização, leitura, escrita e texto, cuja finalidade e utilidade se encerram nos limites da própria escola e cuja permanência se pode observar até os dias atuais. O objetivo deste artigo é, mediante análise dessas questões, problematizar a relação entre cartilha de alfabetização e cultura escolar e seus desdobramentos na história da educação e da alfabetização em nosso país.

Dinâmica secular rotacional de corpos tri-axiais: expansão de V em ressonâncias de primeira ordem

Consider a finite body of mass m (C1) with moments of inertia A, B and C. This body orbits another one of mass much larger M (C2), which at first will be taken as a point, even if it is not completely spherical. The body C1, when orbit C2, performs a translational motion near a Keplerian. It will not be a Keplerian due to external disturbances. We will use two axes systems: fixed in the center of mass of C1 and other inertial. The C1 attitude, that is, the dynamic rotation of this body is know if we know how to situate mobile system according to inertial axes system. The strong influence exerted by C2 on C1, which is a flattened body, generates torques on C1, what affects its dynamics of rotation. We will obtain the mathematical formulation of this problem assuming C1 as a planet and C2 as the sun. Also applies to case of satellite and planet. In the case of Mercury-Sun system, the disturbing potential that governs rotation dynamics, for theoretical studies, necessarily have to be developed by powers of the eccentricity. As is known, such expansions are delicate because of the convergence issue. Thus, we intend to make a development until the third order (superior orders are not always achievable because of the volume of terms generated in cases of first-order resonances). By defining a modern set of canonical variables (Andoyer), we will assemble a disturbed Hamiltonian problem. The Andoyer's Variables allow to define averages, which enable us to discard short-term effects. Our results for the resonant angle variation of Mercury are in full agreement with those obtained by D'Hoedt & Lemaître (2004) and Rambaux & Bois (2004)

Do sagrado ao secular: a contribuição do saber médico para a construção dos cemitérios oitocentistas

Pós-graduação em História - FCHS

Deciphering petrological signatures of reactive melt stagnation and cooling in the oceanic mantle underneath ultraslow-spreading ridges

The global mid-ocean ridge system creates oceanic crust and lithosphere that covers more than two-thirds of the Earth. Basalts are volumetrically the most important rock type sampled at mid-ocean ridges. For this reason, our present understanding of upper mantle dynamics and the chemical evolution of the earth is strongly influenced by the study of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). However, MORB are aggregates of polybarically generated small melt increments that can undergo a variety of physical and chemical processes during their ascent and consequently affect their derivative geochemical composition. Therefore, MORB do not represent “direct” windows to the underlying upper mantle. Abyssal peridotites, upper mantle rocks recovered from the ocean floor, are the residual complement to MORB melting and provide essential information on melt extraction from the upper mantle. In this study, abyssal peridotites are examined to address these overarching questions posed by previous studies of MORB: How are basaltic melts formed in the mantle, how are they extracted from the mantle and what physical and chemical processes control mantle melting? The number of studies on abyssal peridotites is small compared to those on basalts, in part because seafloor exposures of abyssal peridotites are relatively rare. For this reason, abyssal peridotite characteristics need to be considered in the context of subaerially exposed peridotites associated with ophiolites, orogenic peridotite bodies and basalt-hosted xenoliths. However, orogenic peridotite bodies are mainly associated with passive continental margins, most ophiolites are formed in supra-subduction zone settings, and peridotite xenoliths are often contaminated by their host magma. Therefore, studies of abyssal peridotites are essential to understanding the primary characteristics of the oceanic upper mantle free from the influence of continental rifting, subduction and tectonic emplacement processes. Nevertheless, numerous processes such as melt stagnation and cooling-induced, inter-mineral exchange can affect residual abyssal peridotite compositions after the cessation of melting. The aim of this study is to address these post-melting modifications of abyssal peridotites from a petrological-geochemical perspective. The samples in this study were dredged along the axis of the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean within the “Sparsely Magmatic Zone”, a 100 km ridge section where only mantle rocks are exposed. During two expeditions (ARK XVII-2 in 2001 and ARK XX-2 in 2004), exceptionally fresh peridotites were recovered. The boulders and cobbles collected cover a range of mantle rock compositions, with most characterized as plagioclase-free spinel peridotites or plagioclase- spinel peridotites. This thesis investigates melt stagnation and cooling processes in the upper mantle and is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on processes in the stability field of spinel peridotites (>10 kb) such as melt refertilization and cooling related trace element exchange, while the second part investigates processes in the stability field of plagioclase peridotites (< 10 kb) such as reactive melt migration and melt stagnation. The dissertation chapters are organized to follow the theoretical ascent of a mantle parcel upwelling beneath the location where the samples were collected.

Epidemiology of candidemia in Swiss tertiary care hospitals: secular trends, 1991-2000

Candida species are among the most common bloodstream pathogens in the United States, where the emergence of azole-resistant Candida glabrata and Candida krusei are major concerns. Recent comprehensive longitudinal data from Europe are lacking. We conducted a nationwide survey of candidemia during 1991-2000 in 17 university and university-affiliated hospitals representing 79% of all tertiary care hospital beds in Switzerland. The number of transplantations and bloodstream infections increased significantly (P<.001). A total of 1137 episodes of candidemia were observed: Candida species ranked seventh among etiologic agents (2.9% of all bloodstream isolates). The incidence of candidemia was stable over a 10-year period. C. albicans remained the predominant Candida species recovered (66%), followed by C. glabrata (15%). Candida tropicalis emerged (9%), the incidence of Candida parapsilosis decreased (1%), and recovery of C. krusei remained rare (2%). Fluconazole consumption increased significantly (P<.001). Despite increasing high-risk activities, the incidence of candidemia remained unchanged, and no shift to resistant species occurred.