Pterosagitta besnardi Van. & Hosoe 1952 synonym of P. draco (Krohn 1853)

Tendo sido encontrado na região de Fernando de Noronha abundante material morfológicamente intermediario entre Pterosagitta draco e P. besnardi, proveniente esta última da região da Ilha da Trindade, os caracteres anteriormente considerados como disjuntivos foram reestudados em material proveniente de ambas as zonas. As conclusões a que se chegou são: P. besnardi é sinonimo de P. draco. 2.º - P. draco é muito provavelmente uma espécie politípica. 3.º - Provavelmente existe um gradiante morfológico no Atlântico, representando o material da Trindade o extremo sul da área de dispersão da espécie

Welfare and Equity Impacts of Cross-Border Factor Mobility in Bangladesh: A General Equilibrium Analysis

Bangladesh is one of the top remittance recipient countries in the world and it is the second largest source of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. However, in recent years, remittance inflows into Bangladesh have declined steadily because of real income reductions of migrants. This trend in income has increased the number of returning migrants, making domestic employment less secure. To address this issue, we develop a recursive dynamic CGE model for Bangladesh that describes the allocation of employment between domestic and foreign labor markets in response to a foreign wage premium, competition between local firms and multinational enterprises in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, and distributional impacts of factor mobility on different household groups. Our simulation results show that returning migrants reduce household welfare by lowering wages and increasing unemployment, particularly for unskilled workers in the domestic labor market. Using counteractive policy options, we examine the impacts of FDI promotion in the RMG sector and of a human-capital development program. Based on our results, we conclude that the former policy minimizes the negative impacts of foreign labor market shocks, while a combination of both policies is more equitable.JEL Classification Codes: C68, F21, F22, O15It is gratefully acknowledged that this study was supported by the JSPS KAKENHI Grants (18J11669 and 16K03613).http://www.grips.ac.jp/list/jp/facultyinfo/hosoe_nobuhiro

Notas biológicas: II. sobre Embletonia mediterranea (Costa), nudibranquio da região lagunar de Cananéia

A rich colony of the cladohepatic nudibranchiate mollusk Embletonia mediterranea was studied from the lagoon region of Cananéia, from March to July (end of summer through winter). To the author's knowledge this species is here redescribed for the first time since its description by Costa (1866), fulfilling some omissions present in the original paper. A comparison is here made with 4 out of the remaining 8 species of the genus. All the species are closely allied, two of the species which were not compared for lack of the necessary bibliography, are probably only a variety of E. pallida which is known to the authors. These are: E. juscata and E. remigata. E. minuta, also not compared, may be a synonim of E. pulchra. The fourth uncompared species: E. pygmex is the only one totally unknown to the authors. The colony became well established in aquaria in S. Paulo where the animals reproduced freely. The whole individual cycle was observed from spawning of a generation to spawning of the following one. The egg masses are lump-shaped, they contain an average of 11 eggs; each full-size animal lays about 16 to 17 eggs in 24 hours. Spawning begins in animals about one third full length. The whole development, from spawning to hatching takes from 48 h to 60 h in temperatures from 20º C to 25º C. Few days after hatching the veligers settle to the bottom and after 24 h to 48 h the young ones abandon the nautiloid shell yet with no cerata neither rhinophores and with reduced cephalic expansions. A comparison is made with the development of E. pallida, described and wonderfully portrayed by Rasmussen (1944). This species is closely associated to Bougainvillia on which were always found numerous egg-masses and adults and on which the animals feed. On the athecate hydroid, are usually found several cauli of Obelia bidentata. Animals reared out of reach of living hydroids had cerata entirely devoid of cnidocysts. In spite of its natural association to the mentioned hydroids, the species is euryphagous since it thrives well in captivity feeding on detritus and perhaps diatoms, small ciliates and suctorians. There is no annual cycle, the species having been found active continuously from summer through the coldest months. No migrations have been recorded and the population seems to be stationary the year round. Finally it was pointed out that this species seems to be a suitable material to study the problems of the relation between the internal medium and the external osmotic pressure.1) - Foram estabelecidas em S. Paulo algumas colónias de E. mediterranea proveniente das águas salobras da região de Cananéia afim de completar as observações realisadas in loco. 2) - São apresentadas tanto a descrição como a classificação, incluindo uma rápida comparação com quase todas as outras espécies desse gênero que foram até hoje descritas. 3) - Descreve-se o ciclo completo desde a desova até a postura da geração seguinte. Não foi feito o estudo embriológico detalhado. 4) - Foram anotados o habitat e a alimentação, e verificada a ausência de cnidocistos em animais não alimentados com hidrozoários. 5) - Foram estabelecidas as temperaturas letais e a duração das principais fases do desenvolvimento em temperaturas diferentes. 6) - Foi feita a comparação com o ciclo de E. pallida, otimamente descrito e figurado por Rasmussen (1944). 7) - Foi verificada in loco a ausência de migrações. 8) - Considera-se essa espécie, sem dúvida eurihalina, um ótimo material para o estudo das relações entre o meio interno e a pressão osmótica externa

Resultados científicos do cruzeiro do "Baependi" e do "Vega" à Ilha da Trindade: Chaetognatha

This paper presents the taxonomic results regarding the Chaetognatha collected during a voyage to the oceanic island of Trindade made in 1950. Collects were done at different stations around the island and in the waters above banks between the island and the continent. Seven different species were collected, 5 of which belong to the genus Sagitta: 8. bipunctata, 8. enflata, 8. friderici, 8. hexaptera, 8. serratodentata, one is recognized as a new species of the genus Pterosagitta: Pt. besnardi, and finally the last is Krohnitta subtilis. Descriptions and drawings are presented of the species, as well as records of what is known of their habits and of the environments which they select. The new species, Pterosagitta besnardi, the second known of this genus, is as a whole similar to its elder: Pt. draco; but differs from it in some essential points. Pt. besnardi is shorter, its caudal segment is proportionately shorter, it has a smaller number of teeth and hooks, the hook's sheath has no crest, it has intestinal diverticula, its receptacula are extremely large and have a clavate shape and, finally its vesiculae are short and oval. This work was done aiming at a better knowledge of the Chaetognathous fauna of the western south Atlantic and for this purpose more work is being prepared dealing with the coastal species. Random informations are being pieced together in the hope of gathering in the near future enough material to establish some useful indicator among the species of this group that might be efficiently used for practical purposes

Optimality Principles and Motion Planning of Human-Like Reaching Movements

The paper deals with modeling of human-like reaching movements. Several issues are under study. First, we consider a model of unconstrained reaching movements that corresponds to the minimization of control effort. It is shown that this model can be represented by the wellknown Beta function. The representation can be used for the construction of fractional order models and also for modeling of asymmetric velocity proï¬les. Next, we address the formation of boundary conditions in a natural way. From the mathematical point of view, the structure of the optimal solution is deï¬ned not only by the form of the optimality criterion but also by the boundary conditions of the optimization task. The natural boundary conditions, deï¬ned in this part of the paper, can also be used in modeling asymmetric velocity proï¬les. Finally, addressing the modeling of reaching movements with bounded control actions, we consider the minimum time formulation of the optimization problem and (for the n-th order integrator) ï¬nd its analytical solution

One time a day mometasone/indacaterol fixed-dose combination versus two times a day fluticasone/salmeterol in patients with inadequately controlled asthma:pooled analysis from PALLADIUM and IRIDIUM studies

BACKGROUND: Despite currently available standard-of-care inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β(2)-agonist therapies, a substantial proportion of patients with asthma remain inadequately controlled. This pooled analysis evaluated efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate/indacaterol acetate (MF/IND) versus fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate (FLU/SAL) in patients with inadequately controlled asthma. METHODS: This analysis included patients from PALLADIUM (NCT02554786) and IRIDIUM (NCT02571777) studies who received high-dose MF/IND (320/150 µg) or medium-dose MF/IND (160/150 µg) one time a day or high-dose FLU/SAL (500/50 µg) two times a day for 52 weeks. Reduction in asthma exacerbations, improvement in lung function, asthma control, and safety were evaluated for 52 weeks. RESULTS: In total, 3154 patients (high-dose MF/IND, n=1054; medium-dose MF/IND, n=1044; high-dose FLU/SAL, n=1056) were included. High-dose MF/IND showed 26%, 22% and 19% reductions in rate of severe, moderate or severe, and all (mild, moderate and severe) exacerbations versus high-dose FLU/SAL, respectively, over 52 weeks (all, p<0.05). High-dose MF/IND improved trough FEV(1) versus high-dose FLU/SAL at weeks 26 (Δ, 43 mL, p=0.001) and 52 (Δ, 51 mL, p<0.001). Reductions in asthma exacerbation rate and improvement in trough FEV(1) with medium-dose MF/IND were comparable with high-dose FLU/SAL over 52 weeks. All treatments improved Asthma Control Questionnaire-7 score from baseline to 52 weeks with no difference between treatments. Safety was comparable between high-dose MF/IND and high-dose FLU/SAL. CONCLUSIONS: One time a day, single-inhaler, high-dose MF/IND reduced asthma exacerbations and improved lung function versus two times a day, high-dose FLU/SAL in patients with inadequately controlled asthma. Similarly, improved outcomes were seen with one time a day, medium-dose MF/IND and two times a day, high-dose FLU/SAL, but at a lower ICS dose

Welfare and Equity Impacts of Cross-Border Factor Mobility in Bangladesh: A General Equilibrium Analysis

Bangladesh is one of the top remittance recipient countries in the world and it is the second largest source of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. However, in recent years, remittance inflows into Bangladesh have declined steadily because of real income reductions of migrants. This trend in income has increased the number of returning migrants, making domestic employment less secure. To address this issue, we develop a recursive dynamic CGE model for Bangladesh that describes the allocation of employment between domestic and foreign labor markets in response to a foreign wage premium, competition between local firms and multinational enterprises in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, and distributional impacts of factor mobility on different household groups. Our simulation results show that returning migrants reduce household welfare by lowering wages and increasing unemployment, particularly for unskilled workers in the domestic labor market. Using counteractive policy options, we examine the impacts of FDI promotion in the RMG sector and of a human-capital development program. Based on our results, we conclude that the former policy minimizes the negative impacts of foreign labor market shocks, while a combination of both policies is more equitable.JEL Classification Codes: C68, F21, F22, O15It is gratefully acknowledged that this study was supported by the JSPS KAKENHI Grants (18J11669 and 16K03613).http://www.grips.ac.jp/list/jp/facultyinfo/hosoe_nobuhiro

Maturation and fertilisation of sheep oocytes cultured in serum-free medium containing silk protein sericin

Sericin is a water-soluble component of silk and has been used as a biomaterial due to its antibacterial and ultraviolet radiation-resistant properties. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of sericin supplementation in a maturation medium on the meiotic competence and fertilisability of sheep oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in TCM199 supplemented with sericin at various concentrations of 0 (control), 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5%, either with or without bovine serum albumin (BSA). When the COCs were matured without BSA, the supplementation of 0.1% sericin significantly increased the rates of maturation to metaphase II and the total fertilisation of oocytes compared with the other concentrations of sericin. When the COCs were matured with BSA, the beneficial effects of 0.1% sericin supplementation on the maturation and fertilisation of oocytes were not observed. Our findings indicate that supplementation with 0.1% sericin during maturation culture may improve the nuclear maturation and fertilisability of sheep oocytes. Moreover, it may be possible to replace BSA with sericin in chemically defined media without the risk of disease transmission

Foreign Direct Investment in the Ready-Made Garments Sector of Bangladesh: Macro and Distributional Implications

Bangladesh, being a labor-abundant country, benefits from foreign direct investment (FDI) as it is considered as a supplement to domestic investment for this capital-scarce economy. We examine how the benefits of increased FDI in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector are transmitted and shared among households with different characteristics, and the appropriate government policies to mitigate adverse distributional problems, if any, created from the increased FDI. To address these issues, we develop a computable general equilibrium model for Bangladesh that describes competition between local firms and multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the RMG sector and the distributional impacts of FDI among households. Our simulation results demonstrate that an increase in FDI promotes both output and exports in the RMG sector. However, because of the competition between MNEs and domestic firms, the output of domestic firms would fall slightly. Scrutinizing the welfare effects among household groups, we find that the benefits of FDI-induced growth would affect all household groups unevenly. We also demonstrate that the benefits could be shared equitably among household groups with skill development programs targeted at the adversely affected household groups.JEL Classification Codes: C68, F21, F23, O15It is gratefully acknowledged that this study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant (16K03613).http://www.grips.ac.jp/list/jp/facultyinfo/hosoe_nobuhiro

Immunohistochemical analysis of Bcl-2 protein in early squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus treated with photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in early squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus has been shown to result in complete response (CR) and cure. However, local recurrence after PDT develops frequently even after complete remission. Because the effect of PDT had been reported to depend on apoptosis, and apoptosis is inhibited by bcl-2 protein, the relationship between the expression of bcl-2 protein and local recurrence after PDT was examined immunohistochemically. From 1983 to 1997, 50 patients with 59 early squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus received PDT, and a CR was obtained in 43 lesions (72.8%). As there was no recurrence among tumours that were disease-free for more than 2 years, in this study the tumours were defined as cured when recurrence did not occur 2 years subsequent to the receiving of PDT. Of these CR lesions, 31 carcinomas (53.4%) resulted in a cure. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was detected in 23 tumours (46.9%) and p53 immunoreactivity was detected in 22 tumours (44.9%). When all tumours were divided into either a large tumour with a longitudinal tumour length of 10 mm or more, or a small tumour with a length of less than 10 mm, the large tumour expressed more bcl-2 protein than the small tumour (P = 0.0155). The degree of bcl-2 expression was significantly related with tumour size (P = 0.0155). The expression of bcl-2 and p53 protein was not associated with the cure rate due to PDT. Tumour length and T status in TNM staging were significantly related to the cure by univariate analysis. T status was the only predictor of the cure according to mutivariate analysis. Of 42 CR lesions, the expression of neither bcl-2 nor p53 protein was associated with local recurrence; only T status was significantly associated (P = 0.008). The relationship between the expression of oncoprotein and local recurrence after PDT was not documented in this study. The success of PDT may depend on the exact assessment of tumour size under optimized PDT illumination. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig