Morphology and histology of the digestive gland of Oxychilus (Drouetia) atlanticus (Morelet & Drouët) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata).

Little information exists on the histology of Zonitidae digestive system. This study deals with a detailed characterization of the different types of cells comprising epithelium lining the digestive gland of 0xychilus atlanticus. From light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies, three types of differentiated cells can be identified in the digestive gland: digestive cells, excretory cells and calcium cells. Digestive cells are the most numerous, and are present in two forms, one believed to be absorbing food material and the other secreting material. Excretory cells are distinguished by having a large central vacuole, containing excretory granules. Calcium cells contain spherules of calcium salts, which have a characteristic birefringence

CASH FLOW PLANNING AND OPTIMIZATION THROUGH GENETIC ALGRORITMS

This article describes an intelligent system for financial planning and cashflow optimization named ICF: Intelligent Cash Flow. ICF is a computational tool for decision support which provides short-term and long-term financial managing strategies, considering financial products of the market. The ICF system makes use of Genetic Algorithms to elaborate cash flow projections which improve the company's profit for a specific period. ICF helps to deal with the complex aspects of cash flow planning: the large number of alternatives to consider, i. e. the mix of investments which offer the higher profit rates over a period; the intensive numerical processing involved; the dynamic changes in the Financial Market (e.g. rates, terms and tax regulations); and the changes in the company's daily financial position. The ICF system integrates two models: the financial and the genetic models. The financial model is used to calculate the cash flow profitability, based on the IDC (Interbank Deposit Certificate), by projecting profits and taxes for each kind of investment, for any term in the considered period. The genetic model, on the other hand, is used to search for cash flow plannings which promote profitability and liquidity. The chromosome of the ICF genetic model consists of n genes. Each gene stands for a day in the considered period and has four fields. The first two identify an investment option and its term; the last two identify a resource taking option and its term. For each analyzed day, only two of these fields are used, which depends whether the operational balance is positive or negative that day.According to the Evolutionary Computation theory, problems such as the optimization of the cash flow are highly epistatic, which means that there is a strong interdependency between genes of the respective representation (for example, the investment on day d depends on the availability of financial resources that day, which can be due to the redemption made on day d-n). Such genes consist of genetic patterns that can be set apart by the crossover operator. In order to deal with the epistasy in this problem, the chromosome has been adapted in way that each gene is represented by its allele and by its locus (position in the chromosome). This kind of representation has the objective to relax the positional rigidity of the genes, increasing the chances of distant interdependent genes to come closer to each other. Thus, genetic patterns with high fitness have more chances to proliferate in forthcoming generations. To manipulate this chromosome structure we have employed an extension of the partially-mapped crossover (PMX) operator proposed by Goldberg, which explores important similarities of value and order simultaneously. The mutation operator applied in the ICF implements a random choice of a gene (day) and the random assignment of a new term and a new type of financial application (investment or loan). The fitness function calculates the liquid returns (profit or tax) of each suggested application/loan for each day in the considered period, projected to the last day of the same. A more satisfactory planning is obtained by finding the maximum return value to this function.ICF has been tested and is currently in use by a Brazilian company. The model manages to find cash flow plannings which present profits, in average, 38% higher during evolution, making evident the importance of a such decision-supporting system. Comparing to the random search, the ICF in average leads to profits 50% higher. Many experiments were made for different periods of the year. The results show that the profitability is obviously affected by the company's operational balance, but it is also strongly influenced by the planning strategy. In this point, the ICF was capable of identifying strategies, with matched operations of application and redemption, which increased the cashbox in days of the flow, in which there was the option of highly profitable investments.

Importance of Tests for the Complete Lorentz Structure of the t --> W+ b vertex at Hadron Colliders

The most general Lorentz-invariant decay-density-matrix for $t\to W^{+}b\to (l^{+}\nu)b$, or for $t\to W^{+}b\to (j_{\bar d}j_u)b$, is expressed in terms of eight helicity parameters. The parameters are physically defined in terms of partial-width-intensities for polarized-final-states in $t\to W^{+}b$ decay. The parameters are the partial width, the $b$ quark's chirality parameter $\xi$, the $W^+$ polarimetry parameter $\sigma$, a "pre-SSB" test parameter $\zeta$, and four $W_{L}$-$W_{T}$ interference parameters $\eta$, $\eta^{'}$, $\omega$, $\omega^{'}$ which test for $\tilde T_{FS}$ violation. They can be used to test for non-CKM-type CP violation, anomalous $\Gamma_{L,T}$'s, top weak magnetism, weak electricity, and second-class currents. By stage-two spin-correlation techniques, percent level statistical uncertainites are typical for measurements at the Tevatron, and several mill level uncertainites are typical at the LHC.Comment: Minor clarifications. Expression for r_{+-} corrected. 19 pages LaTex + Tables + 1 Figur

Avaliação da produção primária líquida em povoamentos puros e mistos de Quercus pyrenaica Willd. e Pinus pinaster L. no Distrito de Vila Real

Com este trabalho procurou-se quantificar a Produção Primária Líquida (PPL) de povoamentos puros e mistos de Pinus pinaster e de Quercus pyrenaica. A quantificação baseou-se em parcelas de amostragem do último Inventário Florestal Nacional (IFN) localizadas exclusivamente no Distrito de Vila Real. Deste trabalho resultou, pela primeira vez, a avaliação de valores de PPL, logo a possibilidade de quantificar a capacidade que estes ecossistemas têm em fixar carbono. Procedeu-se à comparação entre a performance dos povoamentos puros e mistos. Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma maior potencialidade produtiva dos povoamentos mistos, comparativamente aos povoamentos puros, ainda que não estatisticamente significativa

A prototype to integrate a wireless sensor network with civil protection grid applications

The present work was performed in the context of the CYCLOPS project, which aimed to exploit the Grid capabilities for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) applications. The scenario exploited in the present work was the existence of remote wireless sensor networks, which could monitor and transmit real-time data from remote places, in order to prevent or react more accurately to situations of natural disasters. Considering a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) as an instrument, we used the DORII middleware to integrate this instrument with gLite-based Grid computing and storage, allowing an effective and user friendly access to the instrument, as it is required by Civil Protection applications. The mentioned goal was achieved by (i) implementing an Instrument Element and several Instrument Managers, which virtualize the WSN; (ii) developing a Custom Java Interface to connect the Instrument Managers with sensors, performing the translation of the commands/data exchanged between them; (iii) implementing additional modules to permit a long duration (or offline) monitoring, saving the observed data in a database; (iv) implementing a Sensor Observation Service, following the OGC standards, providing the users with access to the database

Acute effects of mechanical ventilation with hyperoxia on the morphometry of the rat diaphragm

BACKGROUND: Prolonged mechanical ventilatory support (MVS) combined with high oxygen concentrations has a negative impact on diaphragm function. However, the acute effects of MVS with hyperoxia have not been elucidated. Objective: To analyze the acute effects of mechanical ventilation with hyperoxia on the morphometry of the rat diaphragm. METHODS: An experimental, prospective study was conducted with Wistar rats (weight: 400±20 g), which were randomly allocated to two groups. The control group (n=4) was anesthetized, tracheostomized and kept spontaneously breathing room air for 90 minutes. The experimental group (n=5) was also anesthetized, curarized, tracheostomized and kept in controlled mechanical ventilation for the same amount of time. Both groups were submitted to median thoracotomy for sample collection of costal fibers from the diaphragm muscle, which were sectioned every 5 μm and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for the morphometric study. Independent Student's t tests were employed to investigate differences between groups, with a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: There were no signs of acute muscle lesions, however the blood capillaries became dilated in the experimental group. The mean morphometric data related to the maximum cross-sectional diameter of the diaphragm costal fibers were 61.78 ±17.79 µm and 70.75±9.93 µm (p=0.045) for the control and experimental groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term mechanical ventilation with hyperoxia led to significant microvascular and muscle changes, which may reflect the onset of an inflammatory process.CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A asssistência ventilória mecânica (AVM) prolongada associada a altas frações de oxigênio produz impacto negativo na função diafragmática. No entanto, não são claros os efeitos agudos da AVM associada a altas frações de oxigênio em pulmões aparentemente sadios. OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos agudos da ventilação mecânica com hiperóxia na morfometria do diafragma de ratos. Métodos: Estudo experimental prospectivo, com nove ratos Wistar, com peso de 400±20 g, randomizados em dois grupos: controle (n=4), anestesiados, traqueostomizados e mantidos em respiração espontânea em ar ambiente por 90 minutos e experimental (n=5), também anestesiados, curarizados, traqueostomizados e mantidos em ventilação mecânica controlada pelo mesmo tempo. Foram submetidos à toracotomia mediana para coleta da amostra das fibras costais do diafragma que foram seccionadas a cada 5 μm e coradas pela hematoxilina e eosina para o estudo morfométrico. Para a análise estatística, foi utilizado o teste t de Student não pareado, com nível de significância de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontrados sinais indicativos de lesão muscular aguda, porém observou-se dilatação dos capilares sanguíneos no grupo experimental. Os dados morfométricos do diâmetro transverso máximo da fibra muscular costal foram em média de 61,78±17,79 µm e de 70,75±9,93 µm (p=0,045) nos grupos controle e experimental respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A ventilação mecânica de curta duração com elevada concentração de O2 produziu marcantes alterações microvasculares e musculares, podendo refletir o início do processo inflamatório.Universidade Federal de UberlândiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de HistologiaUNIFESP Departamento de AnatomiaUniversidade Federal do Triângulo MineiroUNIFESP, Depto. de HistologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de AnatomiaSciEL

Freshwater molluscs from volcanic areas as model organisms to assess adaptation to metal chronic pollution

Copyright © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Cellular biomarkers of exposure and biological effects were measured in digestive gland of snails (Physa acuta) sampled in sites with 12 andwithout active volcanismin SãoMiguel Island (Azores).Metal content in digestive cell lysosomeswas determined by image analysis 13 after autometallography (AMG) as volume density of autometallographed black silver deposits (VvBSD). Lysosomal structural changes 14 (lysosomal volume, surface and numerical densities – VvLYS, SvLYS and NvLYS−, and surface-to-volume ratio – S/VLYS−) were 15 quantified by image analysis, after demonstration of β-glucuronidase activity, on digestive gland cryotome sections. Additional chemical 16 analyses (atomic absorption spectrophotometry) were done in the digestive gland of snails. The highestmetal concentrations were found 17 in snails from the active volcanic site, which agreed with high intralysomal VvBSD. Digestive cell lysosomes in snails inhabiting sites 18 with active volcanismresembled a typical stress situation (enlarged and less numerous lysosomes). In conclusion, the biomarkers used in 19 this work can be applied to detect changes in metal bioavailability due to chronic exposure to metals (volcanism), in combination with 20 chemical analyses.Centro de Investigação de Re- 430 cursos Naturais (CIRN, University of the Azores) and 431 Direcção Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia (Government 432 of the Azores) and by the Basque Government (ETOR- 433 TEK

Voluntary disclosure of Value Chain in Financial Reports of Companies Brazilian Capital Open

Managing the value chain with the aim to achieve competitive advantage in relation to their competitors and in order to reduce costs has become increasingly important for business organizations. The aim of this paper is to analyse whether Brazilian organisations listed on Sao Paulo´s Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) publish information relating to value chain management in their financial reports. In addition, this research aims to investigate the potential relationtionship between evidentiation of this information and two independent variables, gross margin and number of pages. Content Analysis was adopted in the management report and report notes of the year 2011. The analysis was based on the strategic cost management framework developed by Wrubel et al. (2010). The sample selected includes the ten largest non financial organizations, according to their total assets. Despite the fact that publishing the value chain management is not compulsory, it was observed that the businesses studied present on average 30 sentences regarding the topic in their reports. The category internal and external value chain activities represents 54.58% of the total sentences found. It has been found that there is a significant positive correlation between the amount of sentences disclosed and page number of reports, however, it was found that the same does not occur when attempted to correlate the gross margin. As a consequence, the hypothesis that gross margin could be a motivation for higher volume of information regarding value chain was not confirmed

Viscous-Inviscid Interactions in a Boundary-Layer Flow Induced by a Vortex Array

In this paper we investigate the asymptotic validity of boundary layer theory. For a flow induced by a periodic row of point-vortices, we compare Prandtl's solution to Navier-Stokes solutions at different $Re$ numbers. We show how Prandtl's solution develops a finite time separation singularity. On the other hand Navier-Stokes solution is characterized by the presence of two kinds of viscous-inviscid interactions between the boundary layer and the outer flow. These interactions can be detected by the analysis of the enstrophy and of the pressure gradient on the wall. Moreover we apply the complex singularity tracking method to Prandtl and Navier-Stokes solutions and analyze the previous interactions from a different perspective

The effects of a program of teaching games in psychobiological aspects of elderly women

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of a program of teaching games (TG) in psychobiological aspects of elderly women.METHODS:53 female elderly volunteers were distributed in two groups: Active group (n=27) participating of a TG program composed by adapted sporting activities for six months, three times a week, for one hour; Control group (n=26) was told not to change their routine and not to start any physical exercise regular program. The mean (±standard-deviation) of height, weight, BMI were: 67.91±6.11years; 1.55±0.06cm; 80.68±8.45kg; and 33.41±2.62kg/m2, respectively. Before and after of program proposed, the volunteers answered a psychobiology battery composed by: mini-mental state examination; Epworth sleepiness scale; Pittsburgh sleep quality index; SF-36; geriatric depression scale; STAI-trait/state; Brunel mood scale; habitual physical activity; and body shape questionnaire.RESULTS:After the intervention period, the Active group showed better human psychobiological answers, represented by lower scores of anxiety and depression, better quality of life with increased functional capacity and vitality, and improved body image, when compared to the Control group.CONCLUSION:These results suggest that a 6-month TG program improves psychobiological aspects of elderly women.OBJETIVO:Investigar o efeito de um programa de jogos pré-desportivos (JPD) nos aspectos psicobiológicos de idosas.MÉTODOS:53 voluntárias idosas foram distribuídas em dois grupos: grupo Ativo (n=27) - submetido a um programa de JPD composto por atividades esportivas adaptadas, por seis meses, três vezes semanais, por uma hora; grupo Controle (n=26) - orientado a não modificar sua rotina, não se engajando em nenhum programa de atividade física sistematizada. A média (±desvio-padrão) da idade, estatura, massa corporal, índice de massa corpórea foram: 67,91±6,11anos; 1,55±0,06cm; 80,68±8,45kg; e 33,41±2,62kg/m2, respectivamente. Antes e após o início do programa proposto, as voluntárias responderam a uma bateria psicobiológica composta por: miniexame do estado mental; escala de sonolência de Epworth; índice de qualidade de sono de Pittsburgh; SF-36; escala geriátrica de depressão; IDATE-Traço/Estado; escala de humor de Brunel; nível de atividade física habitual; e questionário de imagem corporal.RESULTADOS : Após o término do período experimental, o grupo Ativo apresentou melhores respostas psicobiológicas de humor, representadas por menores escores de ansiedade, menores escores de depressão, melhor qualidade de vida com aumento da capacidade funcional e da vitalidade, além de melhora da imagem corporal, quando comparado ao grupo Controle.CONCLUSÃO:Os resultados sugerem que um programa de seis meses de JPD produz impacto positivo nos aspectos psicobiológicos de idosas.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercicio Departamento de PsicobiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciencias do Movimento HumanoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Laboratorio de Treinamento Fisico Experimental Departamento de BiocienciasUNIFESP, Centro de Estudos em Psicobiologia e Exercicio Depto. de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ciencias do Movimento HumanoUNIFESP, Laboratorio de Treinamento Fisico Experimental Depto. de BiocienciasSciEL