La modulación de los efectos en el tiempo de las sentencias de nulidad de los actos administrativos en Colombia

El presente trabajo realiza un análisis sobre los diferentes fundamentos que ante la falta de regulación legal, nuestra jurisprudencia ha invocado para atribuirle efectos retroactivos –ex tunc- o efectos a futuro –ex nunc- a las sentencias de nulidad de los actos administrativos, los cuales van desde la asimilación de éste con el acto jurídico civil, hasta la pretendida identidad del acto administrativo general con la ley, todo enmarcado dentro de lo que se ha entendido por situaciones jurídicas consolidadas. Este estudio demuestra que la retroactividad o no retroactividad, no es una condición necesaria o automática de las sentencias de nulidad de los actos administrativos, porque tal idea anula reflexiones importantes que tienen que ver con la ponderación de principios básicos como la garantía de eficacia de los derechos fundamentales, la seguridad jurídica, la justicia material, la confianza legítima y la igualdad. Se impone así entender que los efectos temporales de las sentencias no se derivan de alguna formalidad del proceso, ni de la naturaleza del acto administrativo, ni del tipo de sentencia; estos son más bien una de las herramientas para que el juez a través de la modulación en cada caso, pueda darle eficacia a su sentencia y cumplir con las obligaciones que le impone la Constitución y la ley, que no son otras que garantizar la protección de derechos fundamentales y preservar el orden jurídico.

O argumento pragmático ou consequencialista de cunho econômico e a modulação temporal dos efeitos das decisões do Supremo Tribunal Federal em matéria tributária

A tese analisa a relação íntima que há entre o pragmatismo ou o conseqüencialismo e a modulação temporal dos efeitos das decisões judiciais. Nesta relação, interessa ressaltar o ponto de interseção que certamente sobressai em várias ocasiões: o argumento de cunho econômico. Tal tipo de argumento pode assumir especial relevo quando do exame da oportunidade e conveniência na tomada das decisões eminentemente políticas. No âmbito jurisdicional, no entanto, o argumento pragmático ou consequencialista de cunho econômico não deve prevalecer como fundamento das decisões judiciais, especialmente cuidando-se de matéria tributária. Os problemas que centralizam o estudo podem ser colocados através das seguintes indagações: é possível que o Supremo Tribunal Federal compute, no julgamento de certa matéria tributária, argumento como o eventual rombo de X bilhões de reais que a decisão contrária ao Fisco possa acarretar para os cofres públicos? A fundamentação de eventual decisão judicial calcada exclusiva ou predominantemente em tal argumento é legítima ou ilegítima? Que importância pode ter na tomada de decisão judicial? Quando aplicada, há parâmetros a serem seguidos? Quais? Demonstramos que a prevalência de tal argumento é inadequada na seara judicial, ou seja, deve ter peso reduzido ou periférico, servindo para corroborar ou reforçar os argumentos jurídicos que centralizam o debate submetido ao exame do Poder Judiciário de modo geral, e do Supremo Tribunal Federal, de maneira particular. Em busca de esclarecer quais os principais limites e possibilidades de tal argumento, especialmente relacionando-o à modulação temporal dos efeitos da decisão judicial, explicitamos algumas regras necessárias para a sua adequada utilização, sob pena de inconcebível subversão de variados princípios e direitos fundamentais assegurados em sede constitucional. No exame das questões submetidas à apreciação da Corte Suprema em matéria tributária, o seu parâmetro consiste na maior efetividade e concretude ao texto constitucional. A modulação temporal dos efeitos se aplica a uma decisão que, declarando a inconstitucionalidade do ato normativo, se afastaria ainda mais da vontade constitucional, caso fosse aplicado o tradicional efeito ex tunc (retroativo até o nascimento da lei). Nestas situações específicas e excepcionais se justifica aplicar a modulação, com vistas a dar maior concretude e emprestar maior eficácia à Constituição. A tese proposta, ao final, consiste na reunião das regras explicitadas no trabalho e em proposta legislativa.

Processo de controle de constitucionalidade : revisitando a inconstitucionalidade da norma

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo uma adequada compreensão da decisão judicial acerca da inconstitucionalidade da norma no ordenamento jurídico erigido sob a Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988, especialmente no que diz respeito às conseqüências da inconstitucionalidade da norma e à eficácia da decisão de inconstitucionalidade. A pesquisa desenvolvida é exploratória quanto a sua técnica e explicativa quanto a seu objetivo. É exploratória, porque busca no ordenamento jurídico, na jurisprudência e na doutrina instrumentos que permitam compreender o problema da norma inconstitucional e do controle jurisdicional da constitucionalidade das normas; é explicativa quanto a seu objetivo, pois busca compreender os fenômenos jurídicos envolvidos na decisão de inconstitucionalidade, identificando os fatores que determinam ou contribuem para a inconstitucionalidade da norma e para a definição das conseqüências desta inconstitucionalidade, buscando explicar adequadamente o fenômeno da inconstitucionalidade da norma, a fim de definir como esta inconstitucionalidade se reflete na própria norma e na decisão jurisdicional que a reconhece. Deste estudo, resulta que a jurisprudência e a doutrina afirmam, de forma predominante, a nulidade da norma inconstitucional e a eficácia declaratória e ex tunc da decisão de inconstitucionalidade, indicando, contudo, que, em determinados casos, é necessário mitigar essa concepção ou abrir exceções, a fim de preservar os efeitos jurídicos ou a eficácia da norma inconstitucional. Resulta, ainda, que o ordenamento jurídico erigido sob a Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988, na medida em que consagra a supremacia e a rigidez da Constituição e se caracteriza por sua unidade e coerência, exige que a inconstitucionalidade da norma tenha como conseqüências sua invalidade — ipso jure e a partir do momento em que se verifica a inconstitucionalidade —, sua inexistência enquanto norma jurídica e sua ineficácia ― identificada esta com a incapacidade de incidir sobre os fatos e atribuir-lhes efeitos jurídicos ―, conduzindo determinando, ademais, à eficácia declaratória e ex tunc da decisão de inconstitucionalidade. Resulta, por fim, que as perplexidades apontadas por aqueles que se insurgem contra a concepção acerca da invalidade da norma inconstitucional são meramente aparentes e o próprio ordenamento jurídico possui meios para solucioná-las, sem que, para tanto, seja necessário atenuar ou abrir qualquer exceção em relação à invalidade da norma inconstitucional. O trabalho conduz, então, à conclusão de que, no ordenamento jurídico erigido sob a Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil de 1988, a norma inconstitucional padece de invalidade, inexistência e ineficácia, características que se congregam na concepção acerca da nulidade da norma inconstitucional, e que a decisão de inconstitucionalidade possui eficácia declaratória e ex tunc, sendo que essa concepção pode ser aplicada em todo e qualquer caso, sem que seja necessário mitigá-la ou excepcioná-la.

Développement de modulateurs allostériques peptidiques inhibiteurs de l’activité des récepteurs de l’interleukine 1 et de la vasopressine

L’approche Module X a été créée dans le but de concevoir de petits peptides modulateurs ayant des propriétés allostériques. Module X reproduit de petites parties des portions extracellulaires flexibles des récepteurs. Ces petits peptides vont interagir en s’interposant entre deux sous unités ou entre deux régions de la même sous-unité qui interagissent par des liens hydrogènes, des ponts salins ou des liens disulfure. Ces régions sont spécialement choisies à l’extérieur du domaine de liaison du ligand orthostérique et sont situées dans les régions inter domaines, la portion juxta membranaire ou dans les boucles. Étant donné que les boucles sont exposées durant les changements de conformation, une séquence peptidique reproduisant certaines régions de ces boucles pourrait s’insérer à un endroit approprié dans la structure où se lier à son partenaire de signalisation dans le complexe protéique, ce qui aurait comme effet de déplacer l’équilibre de l’ensemble vers un état particulier et modulerait ainsi la signalisation. De cette façon, certaines voies de signalisation pourraient être partiellement inhibées tandis que d’autres voies ne seraient pas touchées puisque le ligand orthostérique pourrait toujours se lier au récepteur. Dans une première étude, nous avons conçu des peptides inhibiteurs du récepteur de l’interleukine 1 (IL-1R/IL-1RAcP) plus précisément en reproduisant des régions flexibles de la protéine accessoire, sous-unité signalisatrice du récepteur. IL-1 est un médiateur majeur de l’inflammation, mais le seul antagoniste disponible est l’analogue naturel de IL-1, IL-1Ra qui compétitionne avec IL-1 pour le site de liaison sur le récepteur. Nous avons conçu plusieurs peptides à partir des boucles de la protéine accessoire. Un de ces peptides, rytvela (101.10) a démontré des propriétés de non-compétitivité et de sélectivité fonctionnelle caractéristiques des modulateurs allostériques. 101.10 bloque la prolifération des thymocytes et la synthèse de PGE2 avec un IC50 de 1 nM mais une efficacité de 100 % et 45 % respectivement et ne déplace pas IL-1 radioactif dans des essais de radioliaisons. De plus, 101.10 n’a qu’un effet minime sur l’affinité de IL-1 pour son récepteur. 101.10 démontre, de plus, une activité inhibitrice in vivo dans des modèles d’inflammation de l’intestin chez le rat (efficacité supérieure aux corticostéroïdes et à IL-1Ra) et de dermatite chez la souris de même que dans un modèle d’hyperthermie induite par IL-1. La deuxième étude démontre que Module X peut être utilisé pour concevoir des inhibiteurs pour une autre grande famille de récepteurs : les récepteurs couplés aux protéines G. La vasopressine joue un rôle important dans l’équilibre hydro-osmotique et un moindre rôle dans la vasomotricité. Six peptides ont été conçus à partir de régions juxta membranaires du récepteur de la vasopressine V2R. Le peptide le plus actif, VRQ397 (IC50 = 0,69 nM dans un modèle de vasorelaxation du crémastère), a démontré de la sélectivité fonctionnelle en inhibant la synthèse de prostacycline mais sans inhiber l’activation de la protéine Gs et la génération d’ AMP cyclique. Le peptide VRQ397 ne pouvait déplacer le ligand naturel AVP marqué radioactivement; de même VRQ397 radioactif ne se liait que sur V2R et non pas sur d’autres récepteurs de la même famille tel que V1R (récepteur de la vasopressine de type I). Ces études décrivent la caractérisation de petits peptides modulateurs de la signalisation de IL-1R et V2R et présentant des propriétés de modulateurs allostériques.

Corporate restructuring: empirical evidence from the UK

Corporate restructuring is perceived as a challenge to research. Prior studies do not provide conclusive evidence regarding the effects of restructuring. Since there are discernible findings, this research attempts to examine the effects of restructuring events amongst the UK listed firms. The sample firms are listed in the LSE and London AIM stock exchange. Only completed restructuring transactions are included in the study. The time horizon extends from year 1999 to 2003. A three-year floating window is assigned to examine the sample firms. The key enquiry is to scrutinise the ex post effects of restructuring on performance and value measures of firms with contrast to a matched criteria non-restructured sample. A cross sectional study employing logit estimate is undertaken to examine firm characteristics of restructuring samples. Further, additional parameters, i.e. Conditional Volatility and Asymmetry are generated under the GJR-GARCH estimate and reiterated in logit models to capture time-varying heteroscedasticity of the samples. This research incorporates most forms of restructurings, while prior studies have examined certain forms of restructuring. Particularly, these studies have made limited attempts to examine different restructuring events simultaneously. In addition to logit analysis, an event study is adopted to evaluate the announcement effect of restructuring under both the OLS and GJR-GARCH estimate supplementing our prior results. By engaging a composite empirical framework, our estimation method validates a full appreciation of restructuring effect. The study provides evidence that restructurings indicate non-trivial significant positive effect. There are some evidences that the response differs because of the types of restructuring, particularly while event study is applied. The results establish that performance measures, i.e. Operating Profit Margin, Return on Equity, Return on Assets, Growth, Size, Profit Margin and Shareholders' Ownership indicate consistent and significant increase. However, Leverage and Asset Turn Over suggest reasonable influence on restructuring across the sample period. Similarly, value measures, i.e. Abnormal Returns, Return on Equity and Cash Flow Margin suggest sizeable improvement. A notable characteristic seen coherently throughout the analysis is the decreasing proportion of Systematic Risk. Consistent with these findings, Conditional Volatility and Asymmetry exhibit similar trend. The event study analysis suggests that on an average market perceives restructuring favourably and shareholders experience significant and systematic positive gain.

The effects of hexetidine (Oraldene (TM)) on the adherence of Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells in vitro and ex vivo and on in vitro morphogenesis

Purpose. This study reports the effects of hexetidine (Oraldene(TM)) on two virulence attributes of Candida albicans, namely, in vitro and ex vivo adherence of yeast cells to buccal epithelial cells (BEG) and in vitro morphogenesis.

Therapeutic Effects of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ex Vivo Human Lungs Injured with Live Bacteria

Rationale: Mesenchymal stem cells secrete paracrine factors that can regulate lung permeability and decrease inflammation, making it a potentially attractive therapy for acute lung injury. However, concerns exist whether mesenchymal stem cells' immunomodulatory properties may have detrimental effects if targeted toward infectious causes of lung injury. Objectives: Therefore, we tested the effect of mesenchymal stem cells on lung fluid balance, acute inflammation, and bacterial clearance. Methods: We developed an Escherichia coli pneumonia model in our ex vivo perfused human lung to test the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells on bacterial-induced acute lung injury. Measurements and Main Results: Clinical-grade human mesenchymal stem cells restored alveolar fluid clearance to a normal level, decreased inflammation, and were associated with increased bacterial killing and reduced bacteremia, in part through increased alveolar macrophage phagocytosis and secretion of antimicrobial factors. Keratinocyte growth factor, a soluble factor secreted by mesenchymal stem cells, duplicated most of the antimicrobial effects. In subsequent in vitro studies, we discovered that human monocytes expressed the keratinocyte growth factor receptor, and that keratinocyte growth factor decreased apoptosis of human monocytes through AKT phosphorylation, an effect that increased bacterial clearance. Inhibition of keratinocyte growth factor by a neutralizing antibody reduced the antimicrobial effects of mesenchymal stem cells in the ex vivo perfused human lung and monocytes grown in vitro injured with E. coli bacteria. Conclusions: In E. coli-injured human lungs, mesenchymal stem cells restored alveolar fluid clearance, reduced inflammation, and exerted antimicrobial activity, in part through keratinocyte growth factor secretion.

Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne: A Brazilian medicinal plant with gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer and antidiarrheal effects in experimental rodent models

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Bactericidal effects of two parameters of Er:YAG laser intracanal irradiation: ex-vivo study

The success of endodontic treatment depends on the complete elimination of microorganisms from the root canal system, thus the search for new procedures to eliminate them is justified. The aim of this study was to assess bacterial reduction after intracanal irradiation with the Er:YAG laser. The canals of 70 extracted human maxillary canines were prepared up to file #40 using 1% NaOCl, irrigated with 17% EDTA, and then washed with physiological solution activated by ultrasound. The roots were sterilized by autoclaving, inoculated with 10 mu l of a suspension containing 1.5 x 10(8) CFU/ml of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and incubated at 37A degrees C for 72 h. The canals were irradiated with the Er:YAG laser using two energy settings: 60 mJ and 15 Hz, and 100 mJ and 10 Hz. The remaining bacteria were counted immediately and 48 h after laser irradiation. The results showed a high bacterial reduction at both time points. With 60 mJ and 15 Hz there was an immediate reduction of 99.73% and the reduction was 77.02% after 48 h, and with 100 mJ and 10 Hz there was an immediate reduction of 99.95% and the reduction was 84.52% after 48 h. Although the best results were observed with 100 mJ of energy, the difference between the two settings was not statistically significant. The count performed 48 h after irradiation showed that E. faecalis were able to survive, and can grow even from small numbers.

Ex-post evaluation of the employment effects of a preferential trade agreement: methodological issues, illustrated with a reference to Chile

Includes bibliography

Genetic gain in the selection by multi-effects index in open-pollinated progenies of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden

In Brazil, Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden is widely used for commercial reforestation, especially for production of pulp, paper and energy. Its genetic variability is being explored in tree improvement programs for over 30 years. The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters and compare genetic gains by multi-effects index in a breeding population of E. grandis. Progeny tests were established using open-pollinated seeds from ten provenances ranging from 153 to 160 progenies established in a completely randomized block design in four sites of Sao Paulo State (Anhembi, Avere Itarare e Pratania). At 24 months of age the traits diameter at breast height (DBH), height (ALT) and volume (VOL) were measured. The individual site analyses indicated significant genetic differences among progenies, height genetic variability and the mean progeny heritability (> 0.70). For joint analyses of sites, significant differences in genotype x environmental interaction effects were detected, showing differences of performance of the progenies in different sites. The Itarare site gave high genetic gains, effective size and genetic diversity. The genetic diversity and low effective size are unviable factors; considering that the progeny tests studied should retain adequate levels of genetic variability in order to be transformed in future seedling seed orchards.

Bactericidal effects of two parameters of Er:YAG laser intracanal irradiation: ex-vivo study

The success of endodontic treatment depends on the complete elimination of microorganisms from the root canal system, thus the search for new procedures to eliminate them is justified. The aim of this study was to assess bacterial reduction after intracanal irradiation with the Er:YAG laser. The canals of 70 extracted human maxillary canines were prepared up to file #40 using 1% NaOCl, irrigated with 17% EDTA, and then washed with physiological solution activated by ultrasound. The roots were sterilized by autoclaving, inoculated with 10 mu l of a suspension containing 1.5 x 10(8) CFU/ml of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and incubated at 37A degrees C for 72 h. The canals were irradiated with the Er:YAG laser using two energy settings: 60 mJ and 15 Hz, and 100 mJ and 10 Hz. The remaining bacteria were counted immediately and 48 h after laser irradiation. The results showed a high bacterial reduction at both time points. With 60 mJ and 15 Hz there was an immediate reduction of 99.73% and the reduction was 77.02% after 48 h, and with 100 mJ and 10 Hz there was an immediate reduction of 99.95% and the reduction was 84.52% after 48 h. Although the best results were observed with 100 mJ of energy, the difference between the two settings was not statistically significant. The count performed 48 h after irradiation showed that E. faecalis were able to survive, and can grow even from small numbers.