THE IMPACTS OF LIBERALISATION ON A BRAZILIAN AIR SHUTTLE MARKET

This paper aims at assessing the impacts of recent economic liberalisation on an important subset of the Brazilian airline industry: the air shuttle market on the route Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo, a pioneer service created in 1959. In order to estimate structural relationships of the competition model, a product differentiated setting with conduct parameter was designed. Results permitted inferring about a rupture in the degree of firms' heterogeneity and in the extent of the deviation from Nash behaviour due to regulatory reform, as well as estimation of pertinent route-level cost information.air shuttle ; airline industry ; competition ; deregulation ; product differentiation

Predation On Native Anurans By Invasive Vertebrates In The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)203 Specia lissue7074161812/2011-2, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico303776/ 2015-3, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico3855/13-9, CAPES, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Effects of Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. fruit on metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction induced by high refined carbohydrate-containing-diet in mice

AbstractObesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which has been shown to be involved in the development of various comorbidities such as insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and liver damage. Phytochemicals found in some spices could modulate inflammation and improve health problems associated with the excess of adiposity. The extract of the Brazilian pepper Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (CEXA) showed positive effects in the lower dose on oral glucose tolerance, hepatic steatosis and liver inflammation. The higher dose of CEXA also showed improvement on insulin sensitivity and release of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-13 and IL-4 on adipose tissue and liver. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids in CEXA. This study suggests the potential of the Brazilian pepper to attenuate mice glucose resistance and liver inflammation, health problems commonly associated with obesity

Comparing Air Transport Policies for Small Remote Communities: U.S.A., Canada, Portugal, Spain and Brazil

This paper examines the regulatory status in the aviation industry, and the efforts of the U.S.A., Canada, Portugal, Spain and Brazil to adopt air transport policies and mechanisms to provide their populations with universal accessibility. A systems engineering grounded theory approach and a cross-national case-based comparison framework are used to look at the impacts of different policies and mechanisms on the air service to small remote communities. It is found that the success of a policy design critically depends on five factors: 1) the joint support of infrastructure investment, maintenance and operations and air services; 2) governments’ ability to promote competition and protect passengers in markets where competition does not exist; 3) the operating carrier’s choice of business model, technology for thin routes, and network; 4) political interest; and 5) local participation. Based on the evaluation of policy designs and assessment of policies in five substantially different national contexts and interviews with several stakeholders, the authors provide insights and suggest recommendations in small remote air transport policy for policy makers and practitioners. The recommendations are applicable to other countries reforming their aviation industries

Influence Of Backing And Matching Layers In Ultrasound Transducers Performance

In this work we have investigated the influence of the backing layer composition and the matching layer thickness in the performance of ultrasound transducers constructed with piezoelectric ceramic discs. We have constructed transducers with backing layers of different compositions, using mixtures of epoxy with alumina powder and/or Tungsten powder and with λ/4 or 3λ/4 thickness epoxy matching layers. The evaluation tests were performed in pulse-echo mode, with a flat target, and in transmission/reception mode, with a calibrated PVDF hydrophone. The acoustical field emitted by each transducer was mapped in order to measure the on-axis and transverse field profiles, the aperture size and the beam spreading. The bandwidths of the transducers were determined in pulse-echo mode. Comparing the evaluation tests results of two transducers constructed with the same backing layer, the one constructed with λ/4 thickness epoxy matching layer showed better performance. The results showed that the transducers constructed with epoxy, alumina and Tungsten powders backing layers have larger bandwidth. The larger depth of field was measured for transducers constructed with epoxy and Tungsten powder backing layers. These transducers and those constructed with epoxy, Tungsten and alumina powders backing layers showed the larger field intensities in the measured transverse profiles.50358696(1999) Standard Guide for Evaluating Characteristics of Ultrasonic Search Units, , ASTM E-1065 1999Desilets, C.S., Fraser, J.D., Kino, G.S., The design of efficient broad-band piezoelectric transducers (1978) IEEE Transactions on Sonics and Ultrasonics, SU-25 (3), pp. 115-125(1996) Ultrasonics Real Time Pulse-echo Systems: Test Procedures to Determine Performance Specification, , IEC-1390(1989) IEEE Guide for Medical Ultrasound Field Parameter Measurements, , IEEE American National Standard Std 790(1978) IEEE Standard on Piezoelectricity, , IEEE American National Standard Std 176Inoue, T., Ohta, M., Takahashi, S., Design of ultrasonic transducers with multiple acoustic matching layers for medical applications (1987) IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 34 (1)Lockwood, G.R., Turnbull, D.H., Foster, F.S., Fabrication of high frequency spherically shaped ceramic transducers (1994) IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 41 (2)Mitra, R., Saksena, T.K., Study on the vibrational characteristics of ultrasonic transducers using tapered piezoelectric ceramic elements (1995) Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 58 (2)Sayers, C.M., Tait, C.E., Ultrasonic properties of transducer backing (1984) Ultrasonics, 22 (2

The oxygen uptake slow component at submaximal intensities in breaststroke swimming

The present work proposed to study the oxygen uptake slow component (VO2 SC) of breaststroke swimmers at four different intensities of submaximal exercise, via mathematical modeling of a multi-exponential function. The slow component (SC) was also assessed with two different fixed interval methods and the three methods were compared. Twelve male swimmers performed a test comprising four submaximal 300 m bouts at different intensities where all expired gases were collected breath by breath. Multi-exponential modeling showed values above 450 ml·min-1 of the SC in the two last bouts of exercise (those with intensities above the lactate threshold). A significant effect of the method that was used to calculate the VO2 SC was revealed. Higher mean values were observed when using mathematical modeling compared with the fixed interval 3rd min method (F=7.111; p=0.012; η2=0.587); furthermore, differences were detected among the two fixed interval methods. No significant relationship was found between the SC determined by any method and the blood lactate measured at each of the four exercise intensities. In addition, no significant association between the SC and peak oxygen uptake was found. It was concluded that in trained breaststroke swimmers, the presence of the VO2 SC may be observed at intensities above that corresponding to the 3.5 mM-1 threshold. Moreover, mathematical modeling of the oxygen uptake on-kinetics tended to show a higher slow component as compared to fixed interval methods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Kinetic insights on wet peroxide oxidation of caffeine using EDTA-functionalized low-cost catalysts prepared from compost generated in municipal solid waste treatment facilities

Nowadays, sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste is typically treated by anaerobic digestion processes, resulting therein a solid stream, further processed to obtain compost, whose production is higher than the existing demand as fertilizer. The current work proposes an alternative strategy for the recovering of compost through the production of low-cost catalysts by calcination (1073 K) and sulfuric acid treatments, followed by sequential functionalization with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Activity and stability of the catalysts are assessed in the wet peroxide oxidation of synthetic wastewater effluents contaminated with caffeine, a model micro-pollutant, achieving its complete removal after 6 h at 353– 383 K and catalyst loads of 0.5–2.5 g L−1. The increase of the catalytic activity of the materials upon functionalization with TEOS and EDTA is demonstrated and a kinetic modeling of caffeine degradation and hydrogen peroxide consumption with the best catalyst is assessed by pseudo-first power-law rate equations.This work was financially supported by project ‘‘VALORCOMP - Valorización de compost y otros desechos procedentes de la fracción orgánica de los residuos municipales’’, 0119_VALORCOMP_2_P, through FEDER under Program INTERREG; and CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) through FEDER under Program PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Salvado de harina y salvado de fécula de mandioca como potenciales excipientes para comprimidos

Acknowledgements: Fundação Dom Aguirre, for finantial support to Valéria Campos Orsi. Project funding by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, São Paulo, Brazil) (FAPESP Ref. No. 2018/05522-9 (Project PsaPhageKill)) in the form of a BPE fellowship granted to Victor M. Balcão is hereby gratefully acknowledged. This work also received support from CNPq, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development Brazil, in the form of Research Productivity (PQ) fellowships granted to Victor M. Balcão (Refs. No. 306113/2014-7 and 308208/2017-0).Objectives: The physicochemical characteristics of bran of cassava starch flour and bran of cassava flour (viz. organoleptic characteristics, pH value, moisture content, total ashes, lipid, protein, starch and fiber contents) and biopharmacotechnical parameters (viz. granulometry, flow capacity, angle at rest, outflow time and apparent density) were evaluated aiming at assessing their potential use as tablet excipients. Methodos: Three tablet formulations of venlafaxine hydrochloride were proposed, having as excipients bran of cassava flour, bran of cassava starch flour and Starch 1500®. The tablets were produced using two different pressures (98±5 MPa and 32±6 Mpa) and their mechanical (hardness and friability) and dissolubility characteristics were evaluated. Results and Conclusions: The tablets produced with both cassava flours, using higher pressures, presented similar physicochemical characteristics to those obtained with the excipient Starch1500®, thus indicating that cassava flours possess the potential to be used as disintegrating agents in tablets.Objetivos: Se evaluaron características físico-químicas del salvado de harina y del salvado de la fécula de mandioca (características organolépticas, pH, humedad, cenizas totales y contenido de lípidos, proteínas, almidones y fibras) y biofarmacotécnicas (granulometría, capacidad de flujo, ángulo en reposo, tiempo de salida y densidad aparente) con el objetivo de evaluar el uso de estos residuos como excipientes para comprimidos. Métodos: Se propusieron tres formulaciones en comprimidos de venlafaxina teniendo como excipientes salvado de harina de mandioca, salvado de fécula de mandioca y Starch 1500 ®. Las pastillas se produjeron utilizando dos presiones diferentes (98 ± 5 MPa y 32 ± 6 Mpa). Las características mecánicas (dureza y friabilidad) y de disolución de los comprimidos se evaluaron. Resultados y Conclusiones: Los comprimidos producidos con ambos salvados de mandioca, utilizando las presiones más elevadas, presentaron características físico-químicas similares a las obtenidas con el excipiente Starch1500®, indicando que las harinas de mandioca poseen potencial para ser utilizadas como agentes desintegrantes en comprimidos

Temperature-responsive nanomagnetic logic gates for cellular hyperthermia

While a continuous monitoring of temperature at the micro- and nano-scales is clearly of interest in many contexts, in many others a yes or no answer to the question "did the system locally exceed a certain temperature threshold?" can be more accurate and useful. This is the case of hard-to-detect events, such as those where temperature fluctuations above a defined threshold are shorter than the typical integration time of micro/nanothermometers and systems where fluctuations are rare events in a wide time frame. Herein we present the synthesis of iron selenide magnetic nanoplatelets and their use as non-volatile logic gates recording the near infrared (NIR) dose that triggers a temperature increase above a critical temperature around 42 °C in prostate cancer cell cultures. This use is based on the bistable behavior shown by the nanoplatelets below a magnetic phase transition at a tunable temperature T C and on their photothermal response under NIR light. The obtained results indicate that the synthesized nanomagnets may be employed in the future as both local heaters and temperature monitoring tools in a wide range of contexts involving systems which, as cells, are temperature-sensitive around the tunable T C

Distribution of Glycated Haemoglobin According to Early-Life and Contemporary Characteristics in Adolescents and Adults without Diabetes:The 1982 and 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohorts

AIM:Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker of glucose control in individuals with diabetes mellitus, is also related with the incidence of cardiometabolic risk in populations free of disease. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of HbA1c levels according to early-life and contemporary factors in adolescents and adults without diabetes mellitus. METHODS:HbA1c was measured in adults aged 30 years and adolescents aged 18 years who are participants in the 1982 and 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohorts, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to describe the HbA1c mean values according to early-life and contemporary characteristics collected prospectively since birth. RESULTS:The distribution of the HbA1c was approximately normal in both cohorts, with a mean (SD) 5.10% (0.43) in the 1982 cohort, and 4.89% (0.50) in the 1993 cohort. HbA1c mean levels were significantly higher in individuals self-reported as black/brown skin color compared to those self-reported as white in both cohorts. Parental history of diabetes was associated with higher HbA1c mean in adults, while stunting at one year old presented an inverse relation with the outcome in adolescents. No other early and contemporary factors were associated with HbA1c levels in adults or adolescents. CONCLUSIONS:We found a consistent relationship between HbA1c and skin color in both cohorts. Further research is needed to understand the role of genomic ancestry on levels of HbA1c concentrations which may inform policies and preventive actions for diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic risk