Broadband transmission properties of multilayered structures

The formalism of the scattering matrix is applied to describe the transmission properties of multilayered structures with deep variations of the refractive index and arbitrary arrangements of the layers. We show that there is an exact analytical formula for the transmission spectrum, which is valid for the full spectral range and which contains only a limited number of parameters for structures satisfying the quarter-wave condition. These parameters are related to the poles of the scattering matrix, and we present an efficient algorithm to find them, which is based on considering the ray propagation inside the structure and subsequent application of the harmonic inversion technique. These results are significant to analyze the reshaping of ultrashort pulses in multilayered structures.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

The globalization of clinical drug development

Thesis (S.M.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (p. 54-58).Industry-sponsored clinical research of investigational drugs (also called clinical development) has traditionally been carried out in relatively developed countries in the North American, Western European, and Pacific regions. However, lately it has been widely reported that clinical trials starting now are becoming increasingly diffused globally, with significant growth of activity in so-called emerging economies in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. This change in location of clinical development activities has numerous implications for patients, health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies and governments around the globe. Even though there is much debate about the topic, a public systematic quantitative assessment of the current status of the globalization of clinical drug development phenomenon is lacking. The objective of this thesis research is to provide such objective quantification while addressing some issues that are currently in active discussion. This thesis documents that the participation of emerging countries is still relatively small (13%) and they most commonly participate in very large (involving more than five countries) phase Ilb or III trials.(cont.) Albeit perceived as small, this participation is growing at a rapid pace (23% average annual growth rate) and the number of clinical sites of global clinical trials located in all emerging countries (11,038) is comparable with the sum of Germany, France, U.K., and Italy (11,061). Eastern European and Latin American countries have the greatest participation in clinical trials among emerging countries, but Southeast Asia is the region that is experiencing fastest growth. Meanwhile, Western Europe has experienced negative average annual growth of -8%, and North America has seemingly been stable. This thesis discusses findings and key drivers behind the globalization process. I also consider the argument that the sustainability of this model will depend on stringent protection of patients in these emerging countries and continued development of these nations, with eventual creation of an attractive market for pharmaceutical products. The extension of this process of globalization of clinical trials, if coupled with substantial improvements in health care delivery and research capacity in these emerging economies, has the potential of revolutionizing medical product development within the next two decades.by Fabio Albuquerque Thiers.S.M

The outer spiral network and its innervation by the olivocochlear system

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-135).Outer hair cells (OHCs) are key elements of the mammalian hearing system, which amplify sound-evoked signals transmitted into the inner ear. OHCs are innervated by peripheral projections of olivocochlear (OC) and type-II spiral ganglion neurons. Type-II neurons innervate up to 100 OHCs, but their function is unknown. It has been suggested that type-II neurons interconnect neighboring OHCs through reciprocal synapses, which are bi-directional (afferent and efferent) synaptic interactions (Nadol, 1981). Since reciprocal synapses on the OHCs have been shown to be prevalent only in aged primates, they were thought to be a pathological finding. In addition to their interactions with OHCs, type-II neurons are also innervated by OC neurons. Synapses between OC and type-II neurons (OC/type-II synapses) have been described (Smith and Rasmussen, 1963), but these interactions have not been characterized in detail. Serial and semi-serial section transmission electron microscopy were used to study the synaptic interactions of type-II neurons with OHCs and OC neurons in a young human and in adult cats. A high prevalence of nerve terminals with reciprocal synapses was observed in the young human and in adult cats. These reciprocal terminals were processes of type-IIs, and not of OC neurons. Reciprocal type-II terminals were found in all frequency regions studied in cats, but were most prevalent below 4,000Hz. All the type-II fibers traced to more than one OHC in an adult cat had reciprocal interactions with OHCs. Type-II fibers/terminals were heavily innervated by OC neurons, which preferentially targeted terminals with reciprocal synapses that were predominantly afferent in an adult cat.(cont.) The innervation patterns of type-IIs and OC neurons in the cat were similar to that found in comparable frequency regions of primates. Type-II neurons have reciprocal synaptic interactions with OHCs and form an "outer spiral network", which may functionally integrate the OHCs. The OC system may modulate this network through OC/type-II synapses. The outer spiral network and its innervation by the OC system seem to be relevant to OHC function, and further research is needed to determine their role in hearing.by Fabio Albuquerque Theirs.Ph.D

DIREITO FINANCEIRO ESTRATÉGICO DE FABRÍCIO DANTAS. EDITORA D’PLÁCIDO, SÃO PAULO, 2022, 452PP. ISBN 978-65-5589-509-4.

This paper aims to present a critical review of the book "Strategic Financial Law", by Fabrício Dantas, published by Editora D'Plácido, São Paulo, 2022, 452pp. The methodology follows the deductive method, describing the main categories of the work and then comparing it to the literature. Thus, to this end, topic 1 introduces the work and its author. Topic 2 describes Fabrício Dantas' strategic financial law thesis, considering its interdisciplinarity with Parsons’ sociological theory, game theory and political science theories. Topic 3 presents the main ideas in each chapter of the book. Topic 4 analyses the book's main thesis, aiming to find convergences, divergences or gaps in relation to the literature. Lastly, the article concludes with final considerations on the relevance and contributions of the book reviewed to the scientific community.Este artigo objetiva resenhar criticamente a obra “Direito Financeiro Estratégico”, de Fabrício Dantas, publicada pela Editora D’Plácido, São Paulo, 2022, 452pp. A análise segue uma abordagem sob o método dedutivo, descrevendo as principais categorias da obra, para, após isto, fazer a crítica do livro. Para tanto, no tópico 1, o artigo apresenta a obra, recentemente publicada, bem como o seu autor. No tópico 2, contextualiza-se a tese do direito financeiro estratégico de Fabrício Dantas, baseada em uma interdisciplinaridade com a teoria sociológica dos sistemas de Talcott Parsons, a teoria dos jogos e Ciência Política. No tópico 3, descrevem-se as ideias principais contidas nos capítulos do livro. No tópico 4, tecem-se críticas à tese do autor, visando encontrar convergências, divergências ou lacunas no livro resenhado, em relação à literatura. Por fim, o artigo traz as considerações finais acerca da relevância e contribuições da obra resenhada para a comunidade científica

Electrode Impact on the Electrical Breakdown of Dielectric Elastomer Thin Films

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) enable the realization of energy-efficient and compact actuator systems. DEAs operate at the kilovolt range with typically microampere-level currents and hence minimize thermal losses in comparison to low voltage/high current actuators such as shape memory alloys or solenoids. The main limiting factor for reaching high energy density in high voltage applications is dielectric breakdown. In previous investigations on silicone-based thin films, we reported that not only do environmental conditions and film parameters such as pre-stretch play an important role but that electrode composition also has a significant impact on the breakdown behavior. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of electrical breakdown on thin silicone films coated with electrodes manufactured by five different methods: screen printing, inkjet printing, pad printing, gold sputtering, and nickel sputtering. For each method, breakdown was studied under environmental conditions ranging from 1 ◦C to 80 ◦C and 10% to 90% relative humidity. The effect of different manufacturing methods was analyzed as was the influence of parameters such as solvents, silicone content, and the particle processing method. The breakdown field increases with increasing temperature and decreases with increasing humidity for all electrode types. The stiffer metal electrodes have a higher breakdown field than the carbon-based electrodes, for which particle size also plays a large role

A pluralidade cultural das lutas indígenas na escola

Anais do II Seminário Seminário Estadual PIBID do Paraná: tecendo saberes / organizado por Dulcyene Maria Ribeiro e Catarina Costa Fernandes — Foz do Iguaçu: Unioeste; Unila, 2014Nosso relato de experência foi um trabalho desenvolvido em uma escola pública de Curitiba, com duas turmas de 9o ano do ensino fundamental II através do Projeto de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID), onde oportunizou o conhecimento e a prática das Lutas Indígenas pelos alunos. O objetivo foi o desenvolvimento da pluralidade cultural pelo resgate da cultura indígena. Realizamos um trabalho interdisciplinar entre educação física, artes e históri

Reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior com duplo feixe versus feixe único: estudo experimental

OBJECTIVE: To test an intra-articular reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in 10 human cadavers by replacing 2 anterior cruciate ligament bundles, with the purpose of producing a surrogate that would be structurally more similar to the anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament and would provide the knee with more stability. METHODS: We reconstructed the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles using a quadriceps muscle tendon graft that included a patellar bone segment. The anteromedial bundle was replaced in 10 knees (5 right and 5 left knees from different cadavers) by a quadriceps-bone tendon graft, and the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles were replaced in the matching pairs of these knees. In the latter, the bone segment was fixed to the tibia, and the tendinous portion of the graft was divided longitudinally creating two 5-mm wide bundles that were inserted individually into the femur through 2 independent bone tunnels. Then, the knees were tested mechanically to evaluate the tibial anterior dislocation in relation to the femur, as well as the rigidity of the graft. The control group was formed by the knees with intact anterior cruciate ligaments, before being resected to be reconstructed. RESULTS: The results obtained did not show superiority of double-bundle reconstruction over single-bundle reconstruction, and neither technique provided the knee with the same stability and rigidity of the intact anterior cruciate ligament. CONCLUSION: Our hypothesis, based on the anatomy and biomechanics of the knee, that reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using 2 bundles would result in a more anatomic reconstruction and provide better containment of the anterior tibial translation was not supported by the results of this study.OBJETIVO: Testar uma técnica de reconstrução intra-articular do ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho em 10 cadáveres humanos com substituição de dois feixes do ligamento cruzado anterior, com objetivo de produzir um substituto estruturalmente mais semelhante à anatomia do ligamento cruzado anterior e que conferisse maior estabilidade ao joelho. MÉTODOS: Os feixes ântero-medial e póstero-lateral foram reconstruídos com um enxerto de tendão do músculo quadríceps da coxa, incluindo um segmento ósseo patelar. Dez joelhos (cinco direitos e cinco esquerdos de cadáveres diferentes) tiveram o feixe ântero-medial substituído por um enxerto de tendão quadricipital-osso e, nos pares desses joelhos, foram substituídos o feixe ântero-medial e o póstero-lateral. Nestes últimos, o segmento ósseo foi fixado na tíbia e a parte tendinosa do enxerto foi dividida longitudinalmente, dando origem a dois feixes de 5 mm de largura, que foram inseridos separadamente no fêmur através de dois túneis ósseos independentes. Os joelhos foram então submetidos a ensaios mecânicos, nos quais avaliamos o deslocamento anterior da tíbia em relação ao fêmur e a rigidez do enxerto. Os joelhos com ligamento cruzado anterior íntegro, antes de sua ressecção para a realização das reconstruções, formaram o grupo controle. RESULTADOS: Os resultados obtidos não mostraram superioridade da reconstrução com duplo feixe sobre a reconstrução com feixe único e nenhuma delas conferiu ao joelho a mesma estabilidade e rigidez do ligamento cruzado anterior íntegro. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de encontrarmos na anatomia e na biomecânica do joelho razões para procurarmos reconstruir o ligamento cruzado anterior com dois feixes, no intuito de tornar a sua reconstrução mais anatômica, proporcionando uma melhor contenção da translação anterior da tíbia, não conseguimos, com os nossos resultados, justificar a utilização da técnica estudada

Políticas Públicas de Agricultura Urbana: Estudo de Caso das Hortas Comunitárias na Região Oeste do Paraná

A Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana (AUP), em seus mais variados formatos, faz parte da estratégia de combate à fome e de garantia a segurança alimentar. O município de Cascavel vem se destacando no desenvolvimento de políticas públicas em especial para os programas de hortas comunitárias. No entanto ainda não existem estudos que monitorem na percepção dos envolvidos se as ações do poder público têm sido efetivas. Nesse contexto, a pesquisa busca diagnosticar a atual situação das hortas comunitárias existentes e se as políticas públicas de Agricultura Urbana e Periurbana e das hortas comunitárias da cidade de Cascavel tem sido eficiente. Foi realizado pesquisa exploratória descritiva em 2023 junto a 14 agricultores urbanos que atuam hortas comunitárias. O estudo revelou que a idade média dos participantes superior a 50 anos, e no que tange a cor ou raça 57% dos participantes declaram-se pardos. 29% brancos e 14% pretos, que obtinham renda mensal de até um salário mínimo. A pesquisa revelou que entre os fatores que potencializavam a AUP foi destacado a qualidade das hortaliças produzidas, a variedade de produtos ofertados e o fato de a produção ser orgânica, no entanto a falta de gestão interna entre os agricultores, a falta de planejamento em contexto geral resultavam em baixo poder de barganha do grupo junto ao poder público executivo e se constituíam as maiores barreiras no desenvolvimento da AUP na região. A reversão deste ciclo com base na organização coletiva pode possibilitar elevar o poder de barganha junto as várias esferas do poder público resultando em ações organizadas que possam vir de encontro as necessidades desse grupo de pessoas praticantes da agricultura urbana e periurbana.

Comparative Study on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Determination of Isometric Points with and Without Navigation

OBJECTIVES: To compare the accuracy of tunnel placement and graft isometry for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction performed using a computer-assisted navigation system (Orthopilot) and using traditional instruments. METHODS: The anterior cruciate ligament was removed intact from 36 pairs of human cadaver knees. From each pair, one knee was randomized to Group 1 (conventional) and the other to Group 2 (Orthopilot). An inelastic suture was then passed through the central points of the tibial and femoral tunnels. Neither of the tunnels was drilled. All knees were then dissected, and six parameters were obtained: distances from the tibial tunnel center to the 1) posterior cruciate ligament, 2) anterior horn of the lateral meniscus and 3) medial tibial spine; 4) distance from the femoral tunnel center to the posterior femoral cortex; 5) femoral tunnel coronal angle; and 6) variation of the distance from the femoral to the tibial tunnel with the knee extended and at 90 degrees of flexion. RESULTS: The variation of the distance from the femoral to the tibial tunnel during flexion and extension was smaller in the Orthopilot group (better isometry) compared to the conventional group. There were no statistical differences in any other parameters between the groups, and all tunnels were considered to be in satisfactory positions. DISCUSSION: The results obtained for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction depend on precise isometric point positioning, and a navigation system is a precision tool that can assist surgeons in tunnel positioning. CONCLUSION: No differences in tunnel position were observed between the groups. Nonetheless, better isometry was achieved in the Orthopilot group than with conventional instruments