Expectational Stability in Multivariate Models

This paper shows that the concept of Expectational stability (E-stability) in a multivariate framework is inherently model-dependent. Whereas a Rational Expectations equilibrium (REE) is subject to model-specific parameter restrictions from the economic model at hand, a perceived law of motion (PLM) is postulated without such restrictions because economic agents are not likely to know the restrictions a priori. Therefore, an unrestricted PLM is in general overparameterized relative to an REE of interest in multivariate models even when the functional form is the same as the REE. Since E-stability necessarily involves model-specific extents of overparameterization, it is model-dependent in general. An immediate implication is that E-stability in a multivariate framework is not directly comparable across models and, in particular, across different representations of a given model. This implies that one may draw different conclusions on E-stability of an REE to one model under alternative representations of the model and the REE. We discuss a potential direction to develop a model-independent concept of E-stability.E-stability; Rational Expectations Equilibrium; Overparameterization; Multivariate model

A Note on the Hybrid Equilibrium in the Besley-Smart Model

This note shows that there is always a non-empty set of parameter values for which the hybrid equilibrium in the Besley and Smart(2003) model is unstable in the sense of Cho and Kreps. This set may include all the parameter values for which a hybrid equilibrium exists. For these parameter values, it is shown that a fully separating equilibrium always exists, which is Cho-Kreps stable. In this equilibrium, the good incumbent distorts ?scal policy to signal his type. An implication is that equilibrium in their model is not (generically) unique.

Assessment of metal exposure (uranium and copper) in fatty acids and carbohydrates profiles of Calamoceras marsupus larvae (Trichoptera) and Alnus glutinosa

Physiological changes were explored in fatty acids (FA) and carbohydrate (CHO) composition in the shredder Calamoceras marsupus larvae (Trichoptera) and leaf litter (C. marsupus food) exposed to copper and uranium under natural and experimental conditions. We measured FA and CHO content in leaf litter and larvae specimens from reference and impacted streams, and exposed for 5 weeks to four realistic environmental concentrations of copper (35 μg L−1 and 70 μg L−1) and uranium (25 μg L−1 and 50 μg L−1). Regarding FA, (1) leaf litter had a reduced polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) content in metal treatments, s (14 to 33% of total FA), compared to natural conditions (≥39% of total FA). Leaf litter exposed to uranium also differed in saturated FA (SFA) composition, with lower values in natural conditions and higher values under low uranium concentrations. (2) C. marsupus had/showed low PUFA content under Cu and U exposure, particularly in high uranium concentrations. Detritivores also decreased in PUFA under exposure to both metals, particularly in high uranium concentrations. On the other hand, (1) microorganisms of the biofilm colonizing leaf litter differed in CHO composition between natural (impacted and reference) and experimental conditions, with glucose and galactose being consistently the most abundant sugars, found in different amounts under copper or uranium exposure; (2) CHO of detritivores showed similar high galactose and fucose concentrations in contaminated streams and high copper treatments, whereas low copper treatment showed distinct CHO profiles, with higher mannose, glucose, arabinose, and fucose concentrations. Our study provides evidence of metal exposure effects on FA and CHO contents at different trophic levels, which might alter the quality of food flow in trophic websFil: Tagliaferro, Marina Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Rocha, Carolina. Universidad de Coimbra. Facultad de Ciencias E Tecnología. Departamento de Ciencias Da Vida; PortugalFil: Marques, Joao Carlos. Universidad de Coimbra. Facultad de Ciencias E Tecnología. Departamento de Ciencias Da Vida; Portugal. Marine And Environmental Sciences Centre; PortugalFil: Goncalves, Ana Marta. Universidad de Coimbra. Facultad de Ciencias E Tecnología. Departamento de Ciencias Da Vida; Portugal. Marine And Environmental Sciences Centre; PortugalVIII Congreso Argentino de la Sociedad de Toxicología y Química AmbientalMar del PlataArgentinaSociedad de Toxicología y Química Ambienta

Dietary protein and energy interactions in African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

In order to investigate the interactions of dietary protein and energy and their utilisation by African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (12.43 ± 0.05 g), a series of four nutritional experiments (triplicate groups of 20 fish per 30-L tank at 28 ± 1°C, for 8 weeks) were carried out using fish meal based diets. Optimum dietary protein to energy ratio (P/E ratio) and optimum lipid to carbohydrate ratio (L/CHO ratio) were investigated. Based on optimised dietary P/E ratio and L/CHO ratio, optimum feeding regime and compensatory growth were also investigated in this species. In the experiments to optimise P/E ratio and L/CHO ratio fish were offered each diet at 5% of their body weight per day adjusted fortnightly. In the optimum feeding regime experiments, fish were offered each diet to appetite or to a restricted level. The restricted regimes were achieved by offering fish decreasing fixed feeding rates with increasing dietary protein level. Studies on compensatory growth were conducted in two phases each of 4 weeks. In the first phase, triplicate groups of 30 fish and in the second phase triplicate groups of 20 fish (per 30-L tank) were offered the diet in six mixed feeding schedules at two feeding regimes i.e. appetite and restricted. The restricted regime was achieved by offering fish 1% (maintenance ration) of their body weight per day adjusted after fortnightly weighing. Optimum dietary P/E and L/CHO ratios were 20.54-mg protein/kJ of GE and 0.40 g/g respectively, with a crude protein level over 40% and gross energy of more than 20 kJ/g GE. The results of investigating feeding regimes suggest that dietary protein level could be reduced from over 40% to 35% by feeding to appetite based on the above optimised dietary P/E and L/CHO ratios. Addition of dietary energy as lipid at varying protein levels resulted in increased growth, protein and energy utilisation in C. gariepinus. Based on optimised dietary P/E ratio, dietary carbohydrate levels were increased (with concomitant reduction in dietary lipid levels) resulting in a trend towards higher growth performance, protein and energy utilisation. Protein and energy utilisation did not vary (P 0.05) with feeding regime or dietary protein level. C. gariepinus showed partial compensatory growth under alternating periods of feeding a restricted (maintenance requirements) and appetite ration and also showed higher feed, protein, lipid and energy utilisation efficiencies in comparison to appetite feeding.Increase in dietary lipid produced an increment in carcass lipid deposition, both in whole body and liver in all studies. Fish in all treatments did not show significant differences (P 0.05) in body protein content. Optimum P/E ratio studies, with varying dietary protein and energy level, produced higher liver glycogen, plasma glucose and plasma triglycerides at higher dietary carbohydrate level with lower protein diets. In the studies to optimise lipid to CHO ratio comparatively lower (P 0.05) plasma glucose and plasma cholesterol deposition were observed while no consistent trends were found in liver glycogen deposition in fish fed higher dietary lipid with concomitant lower CHO levels. Studies on optimising feeding regime, with varying protein levels, did not show any significant differences (P 0.05) in liver glycogen, plasma glucose, plasma triglycerides and plasma cholesterol in response to dietary treatment. In all studies fish fed the experimental diets showed insignificant differences (P 0.05) in plasma amino acid levels and digestive enzyme activities (protease and lipase) while intestinal -amylase activity increased with increasing dietary carbohydrate level. Histological examination of intestine & liver in all studies showed no abnormalities. In conclusion, these studies suggest that manipulation and optimisation of dietary protein and energy intakes plays a very significant role in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus nutrition

Fermentation parameters of silages of six maize varieties recommended for the Brazilian semi-arid region

Avaliaram-se as características fermentativas e a qualidade das silagens de seis variedades de milho, de ciclos precoce e superprecoce - BRS Caatingueiro, BRS Assum Preto, BR 5033 Asa Branca, BR 5028 São Francisco, Gurutuba e BRS 4103 - indicadas para a região semiárida brasileira. Foram utilizados silos experimentais, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com seis tratamentos (variedades) e quatro repetições. Avaliaram-se: matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos totais (CHO), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF), pH, nitrogênio amoniacal como parte do nitrogênio total (N-NH3/NT), ácidos orgânicos e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) das silagens. Os valores médios encontrados para a silagem foram: MS= 28,7%; MO= 94,9%; PB= 8,3%; FDN= 49,9%; FDA= 27,5%; EE= 3,8%; CHO= 82,7%; CNF= 32,8%; pH= 3,8; N-NH3/NT= 2,9%/NT; ácido láctico = 7,6%; ácido acético = 0,6%; ácido butírico = 0,3% e DIVMS= 57,9%. As variedades BR 5028 - São Francisco e Gurutuba destacaram-se das demais em relação ao teor de matéria seca. A variedade BRS Caatingueiro apresentou maior teor de carboidratos não fibrosos em relação às demais. As silagens de todas as variedades foram classificadas como de excelente qualidade, por apresentarem potencial para ensilagem no semiárido brasileiroThe fermentation characteristics and silage quality of six maize varieties of early and super early cycles were evaluated. They are recommended for the Brazilian semi-arid region (BRS Caatingueiro, BRS Assum Preto, BR 5033 - Asa Branca, BR 5028 - São Francisco, Gurutuba and BRS 4103). Experimental silos were used, in a completely randomized design, with six treatments (varieties) and four replicaties. The evaluated parameters were: dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (CHO), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), pH, ammoniacal nitrogen as part of the total nitrogen (N-NH3/TN), organic acids, and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the silages. The mean values found for silage were: DM= 29.6%; OM= 94.9%; CP= 8.2%; NDF= 49.9%; ADF= 27.5%; EE= 3.8%; CHO= 82.7%; NFC= 32.8%; pH= 3.8; N-NH3/TN= 2.9%/TN; lactic acid = 7.6%; acetic acid = 0.6%; butyric acid = 0.3%; and IVDMD = 57.9%. Varieties BR 5028 - São Francisco and Gurutuba stood out (P<0.05) from others in relation to dry matter. The BRS Caatingueiro showed higher (P<0.05) level of non-fiber carbohydrates in relation to the others. The silages from all the varieties were considered of excellent quality, with potential to be conserved as silage in the Brazilian semi-ari

FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KINERJA COMPLAINT HANDLING OFFICER (CHO) DI UNIT KERJA CALL CENTER TELKOMSEL MAKASSAR

&nbsp; Abstract Complaint Handling Officer (CHO) must perform according to the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) set by the company and to this day the Telkomsel Makassar Call Center CHO can successfully achieve the set targets. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the performance of the Complaint Handling Officer in the Telkomsel Call Center work unit. The research method used is quantitative associative method. This method is used to test whether there is influence fromPersonal Factor, Leadership Factor, Team Factor, System Factor, Contextual / &nbsp;Situational Factor to Performance Complaint Handling Officer at Call Center Unit Telkomsel Makassar. Methods of data analysis of this study are applying normality test, regression analysis, and hypothesis test with the help of SPSS version 21. Partial research results, the relationship of personal factors have no positive and significant effect on the performance of CHO with probability value is 0.592. leadership factors do not have a positive and significant effect on the performance of CHO with a probability value of 0.910. there is a positive and significant influence of team factor on CHO performance with probability value is 0,014. system factor has no positive and significant effect on performance with probability value that is 0,650. there is no positive and significant influence of environmental factor on CHO performance with probability value is 0,878. Simultaneously (F test) all independent variables are personal, leadership, team, system, contextual / situational no significant and significant to CHO performance, with probabiltas value (sign) 0.052. It can be said that personal, leadership, team, system and contextual / situational factors together do not affect CHO performance. &nbsp;Abstrak Petugas Complaint Handling Officer (CHO) harus memiliki kinerja sesuai&nbsp; Key Performance Indicator (KPI) yang telah ditetapkan oleh perusahaan dan sampai saat ini CHO Call Center Telkomsel Makassar bisa berhasil mencapai target - target yang telah ditetapkan tersebut. Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi Kinerja Complaint Handling Officer pada Unit kerja Call Center Telkomsel Makassar. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah&nbsp; metode kuantitatif assosiatif, metode ini digunakan untuk menguji ada tidaknya pengaruh dari &nbsp;personal factor, leadership&nbsp; factor, team factor, system factor, contextual/situasional factor&nbsp; terhadap kinerja complaint handling officer pada unit kerja Call Center Telkomsel Makassar. Metode analisis data penelitian ini menggunakan uji normalitas, analisis regresi, dan uji hipotesis dengan bantuan SPSS versi 21. Hasil penelitian secara parsial, hubungan faktor personal tidak memiliki pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja CHO dengan nilai probabilitasnya yaitu 0,592. Faktor kepemimpinan tidak berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja CHO dengan nilai probabilitas yaitu 0,910. ada pengaruh positif dan signifikan dari faktor team terhadap kinerja CHO dengan nilai probabilitasnya yaitu 0,014. Faktor sistem tidak berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja dengan nilai probabilitasnya yaitu 0,650. Tidak ada pengaruh positif dan signifikan dari faktor lingkungan&nbsp; terhadap kinerja CHO dengan nilai probabilitasnya yaitu 0,878. Secara simultan (uji F) semua variabel bebas yaitu personal, leadership, team, system, kontextual/situasional tidak berpengaruh dan signifikan terhadap kinerja CHO,&nbsp; dengan nilai probabiltas (sign) 0,052. Dapat dikatakan bahwa faktor personal, leadership, team system dan contextual/situasional secara bersama – sama tidak berpengaruh terhadap kinerja CHO. &nbsp

A CONTAÇÃO DE HISTÓRIAS COMO FERRAMENTA DE LETRAMENTO PARA PESSOAS AUTISTAS

Abstract: This article appears as the final task the course “Storytelling”, taught by Dra, Professor Rosemary Lapa, and brings the results of a research based on the review of scientific articles on storytelling for children and people with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). The data collected were collected on the Google Scholl Plataforma, observing the frame of publication of the of the articles from 2020 onwards. The general objective is to think about how to work with storytelling for people with ASD. And as a specific objective, it is intended to identify ways and means of working storytelling for people with ASD and to develop techniques to work storytelling for people with ASD. The preliminary results of this research lead us to realize the didactic advantages and the different possibilities of working on storytelling with children and people with ASD as a way to foster communication, in addition to vocabulary acquisition.Este artigo consta como tarefa final do curso “Contação de Histórias”, ministrado pela professora Doutora Rosemary Lapa, e traz os resultados de uma pesquisa baseada na revisão de artigos científicos sobre a contação de histórias para crianças e pessoas com TEA (Transtorno do Espectro Autista).  Os dados levantados foram coletados na plataforma do Google Acadêmico, observando o espaço temporal de publicação dos artigos a partir de 2020. O objetivo geral é pensar como trabalhar a contação de histórias para pessoas com TEA. E como objetivo especifico pretende-se identificar maneiras e formas de se trabalhar a contação de histórias para pessoas com TEA e desenvolver técnicas para trabalhar a contação de histórias para pessoas com TEA. Os resultados preliminares desta pesquisa nos levam a perceber as vantagens didáticas e as diversas possibilidades de se trabalhar a contação de histórias com crianças e pessoas com TEA como forma de fomentar a comunicação, além de aquisição de vocabulário

Development and application of a bioassay for follicle-stimulating hormone : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiology at Massey University

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is involved in the regulation and maintenance of vital reproductive processes, such as gametogenesis, follicular development and ovulation. Produced in the anterior pituitary, FSH is a glycoprotein hormone that exists as a family of isohormones. Follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations have traditionally been measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). However, results generated using RIA are a determination of the immunological activity of FSH. The potential of FSH to generate a biological response cannot be measured by RIA. Therefore, the identification of physiologically significant differences in the activity of these isoforms requires the use of assay systems that can differentiate between the biological activity of the FSH isoforms. Commonly used assays for measuring the biological activity of FSH are based on the measurement of aromatase activity in cultured rat Sertoli cells following stimulation with FSH. However, these assays have an inherently high ethical cost involved due to the use of primary tissue culture. In addition, the variation in these assays associated with differences between animals is difficult to eliminate. Recently a bioassay for human FSH has been described based on FSH stimulation of cyclic AMP production by a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line stably expressing the human FSH receptor (FSH-R). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential usefulness of this CHO FSH-R cell line expressing the human receptor for FSH to be used as a bioassay to measure the biological activity of ovine FSH. The receptor cell line bioassay described in this study is based on the ability of FSH to stimulate cAMP production by cultured CHO FSH-R cells. Optimisation of the culture system to enable the bioactivity of ovine FSH to be measured by bioassay was undertaken. This involved optimising the density of cultured cells, the time in culture and time exposed to FSH and the most suitable dose range for FSH. The influence of matrix effects, such as those exerted by serum was also investigated. The specificity of the assay towards FSH was also determined as was the sensitivity, accuracy and precision of the assay. No stimulation of cAMP production was seen in CHO FSH-R cells following treatment with α-FSH, β-FSH, LH, TSH, GH, prolactin or vasopressin at concentrations up to 10 μg/ml. Although the methodology used differed slightly depending on the presence or absence of serum, all assayed were performed using the following methods and materials. Freshly thawed FSH-R cells were bulked up in culture, and aliquots of 1 x 105 to 5 x 105 cells/well dispensed into 48 well culture dishes and incubated overnight at 37°C. The assay culture media was then replaced with 0.25 ml fresh media (α-MEM + 0.1% BSA + 0.25 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine) containing varying doses of NIH-FSH-RP2 (RP2) FSH preparations or FSH containing samples, and the cells incubated for 4 hours at 37°C. The assay culture media was then removed and stored frozen at -20°C until assayed for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) by RIA. Once optimal assay conditions were determined, the CHO FSH-R cell bioassay was used to measure FSH concentrations in ovine serum, pituitary extracts and medium from cultures of ovine pituitary cells. It was found that the concentrations of FSH in serum from intact sheep was close to the detection limit of the assay. Thus, while FSH concentrations could be measured in serum from some sheep, other animals had concentrations that were too low to be accurately measured by the bioassay in its present form. The assay was, however, well suited to measuring FSH concentrations in serum from sheep that had elevated concentrations of FSH. In one study, FSH concentrations measured by the bioassay were compared to those measured by RIA in sheep that had been ovariectomised and then hypophysectomised. It was found that the profile of FSH concentrations following hypophysectomy was similar whether measured by RIA or by bioassay (R2=0.7513), though absolute concentrations sometimes differed. This suggested that the immunoassay and bioassay were not always measuring the same characteristics of FSH. The assay was also used to measure FSH concentrations in samples of ovine hypophyseal venous blood. However, the results obtained for these samples indicated a poor correlation between FSH concentrations obtained by bioassay and RIA. Levels of bioactive FSH in hypophyseal venous blood fluctuated markedly and were up to 10-fold higher than the associated RIA concentrations. The CHO-cell bioassay was also found to be very suitable for measuring pituitary concentrations of FSH. In one study, pituitary extracts underwent chromatography and the separated isoforms of FSH were analysed by bioassay and RIA. Again, there was excellent correlation (R2=0.9328) between the concentrations of FSH measured both assay types. However, some differences were apparent suggesting a discrepancy in the biological and immunological characteristics of different FSH isoforms. The bioassay was also used to measure FSH concentrations in media from pituitary cells in tissue culture where serially diluted samples displayed good parallelism with the RP2 FSH standard curve. Results of this study demonstrate that the CHO FSH-R cell bioassay is suitable for measuring the biological activity of ovine FSH in a variety of biological fluids. The use of a permanent cell line eliminates the high ethical cost associated with primary tissue culture that other bioassay systems have. The inherent variation associated with culture systems utilising tissue from different sources is also avoided. The sensitivity of the bioassay is suitable for measuring FSH in surgically altered sheep or hypophyseal blood concentrations where FSH levels are generally higher than those in the peripheral circulation. In addition to blood samples, the bioassay is also excellent for monitoring FSH activity in pituitary extracts and in media from tissue culture. However, the sensitivity of the bioassay currently does not always allow measurement of bioactive FSH concentrations in serum samples with low FSH levels. In summary, the CHO FSH-R cell bioassay described in this study offers a useful alternative to RIA and other bioassays for monitoring the biological activity of ovine FSH and its isoforms in various biological fluids. It is concluded that this convenient and robust bioassay may have considerable application in future investigations of ovine FSH bioactivity