A classification of special 2-fold coverings

Starting with an O(2)-principal fibration over a closed oriented surface F_g, g>=1, a 2-fold covering of the total space is said to be special when the monodromy sends the fiber SO(2) = S^1 to the nontrivial element of Z_2. Adapting D Jonhson's method [Spin structures and quadratic forms on surfaces, J London Math Soc, 22 (1980) 365-373] we define an action of Sp(Z_2,2g), the group of symplectic isomorphisms of (H_1(F_g;Z_2),.), on the set of special 2-fold coverings which has two orbits, one with 2^{g-1}(2^g+1) elements and one with 2^{g-1}(2^g-1) elements. These two orbits are obtained by considering Arf-invariants and some congruence of the derived matrices coming from Fox Calculus. Sp(Z_2,2g) is described as the union of conjugacy classes of two subgroups, each of them fixing a special 2-fold covering. Generators of these two subgroups are made explicit.Comment: This is the version published by Geometry & Topology Monographs on 29 April 200

Mother's perception of their children's nutritional status

Este estudo tem por objetivos caracterizar a percepção das mães sobre o estado nutricional de seus filhos e destacar os fatores que interferem nessa percepção, a partir de uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Para a seleção dos artigos foram utilizadas as bases de dados Lilacs e Medline, e a amostra final foi constituída de 17 artigos analisados na íntegra. Os aspectos que emergiram das produções selecionadas são apresentados configurando uma análise descritiva por categorização. Os achados referem-se ao estado nutricional da mãe relacionado ao estado nutricional da criança; aos padrões socioculturais e à percepção do peso da criança; à utilização de gráficos de crescimento por profissionais de saúde e à visão das mães. As mães apresentam dificuldade para reconhecer o peso do seu filho e os fatores que podem influenciar na percepção do peso são: idade da criança, sexo, peso, padrões sociais e culturais e escolaridade materna.This study aims to characterize mother's perception of their children's nutritional status and highlight factors interfering in this perception, based on a systematic literature review. To select the articles, the databases Lilacs and Medline were used, and the final sample consisted of 17 articles whose full version was analyzed. The aspects that emerged from the selected articles are presented, configuring a descriptive analysis by categorization. The findings refer to the mother's nutritional status related to the child's nutritional status; sociocultural standards and perception of the child's weight; use of growth graphs by health professionals and the mothers' view. It is difficult for the mothers to recognize their child's weight and the factors that can influence weight perception are: child's age, gender, weight, social and cultural standards and mother's education level

SHORT - COURSE: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY APPLIED TO CLINICAL ANALYZES

 In recent years, genetics, cellular biology, genome sequencing of pathogens, among other resources, have significantly changed the opportunities for epidemiological investigations, pathogenesis studies, diagnosis and control of microbial diseases. The PCR technique has expanded the possibilities of DNA analysis and has made molecular biology find new applications even in areas outside its traditional field, such as medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. PCR presents a wide range of applications in various branches of scientific research. This reaction allows a particular region of the genome of any organism to be multiplied in millions of copies, which facilitates genetic analysis and allows the development of diagnostic techniques, much more sensitive and more specific than those traditionally used. The mini-course will have a brief presentation on molecular techniques and after the practical part with the following steps: Extraction of bacterial DNA, Quantification of DNA by the absorption spectrum of nucleic acids, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) associated with length polymorphism DNA fragments (PCR_RFLP / ARDRA) terminating with Sample Analysis using the technique of Agarose Gel Electrophoresis.Keywords: Genetics. Epidemiological. Polymerase Chain Reaction

Physical, chemical and biomechanical bone response of female ovariectomized rats to various intakes of supplemental fluorine

OBJETIVO: Este estudo investiga os efeitos do flúor suplementar sobre as características dos ossos de ratas ovariectomizadas (castradas), utilizadas como modelo de osteoporose experimental, por meio da correlação entre os parâmetros biomecânicos e as propriedades físicas e químicas desses ossos. MÉTODOS: No início do experimento, 78 ratas Wistar, com quatro meses de idade, foram divididas em oito grupos: grupo basal, que gerou os parâmetros iniciais do experimento; grupo 1, formado por ratas não ovariectomizadas; e os grupos 2 a 7, constituídos por ratas ovariectomizadas submetidas a dosagens de fluoreto de sódio (NaF) de 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100mg/L em solução, respectivamente, durante dois meses. RESULTADOS: A ovariectomia promoveu osteopenia, observada pelos parâmetros morfométricos, físicos e químicos, provocando menor resistência biomecânica dos fêmures submetidos ao ensaio de flexão. Os ossos das ratas que ingeriram 40mg de flúor demonstraram melhores características físicas, bioquímicas e biomecânicas do que os das ratas ovariectomizadas sem tratamento e os das não ovariectomizadas. CONCLUSÃO: Além de promover uma proteção contra a perda óssea induzida pela deficiência de estrógenos causada pela castração, o flúor melhorou a qualidade óssea, demonstrada pelos resultados biomecânicos aumentados em relação ao grupo não ovariectomizado. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of supplemental fluorine on the bone characteristics of ovariectomized (castrated) female rats, used as a model for experimental osteoporosis, evaluating the correlation between biomechanical parameters and the physical and chemical bone properties. METHODS: Seventy-eight female, 4-month-old Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups: the basal group, generating the initial values for the parameters; group 1, consisting of non-ovariectomized rats; and groups 2 to 7, consisting of ovariectomized rats that ingested increasing concentrations of supplemental sodium fluoride solutions (NaF): 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100mg/L, respectively, for two months. RASULTS: Ovariectomy promoted osteopenia, determined from the morphometric, physical and chemical parameters and causing lower biomechanical resistance of the femurs submitted to flexion trials. The bones of the rats that ingested the 40mg/L fluorine solution demonstrated better physical, biochemical and biomechanical conditions than those of the non-treated ovariectomized and intact control rats. CONCLUSION: Besides promoting protection against the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency, fluorine improved bone quality, which was demonstrated by the enhanced biomechanical results as compared to the intact group

On the identity of Lepidodexia (Orosarcophaga) ornata (Townsend, 1927) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and a new generic synonym

The revision of the sarcophagid species Lepidodexia (Orosarcophaga) ornata (Townsend, 1927) reveals its identity and a generic synonym. The male terminalia of this species was studied in detail for the first time and revealed its congeneric affinities with Oxyvinia Dodge, 1966. Consequently, the generic status of Orosarcophaga Townsend, 1927 was revalidated, including Oxyvinia Dodge, 1966 as its junior synonym, and O. ornata was corroborated as a valid species and name. Moreover, we provide an updated generic diagnosis of Orosarcophaga, a list of the eleven species of the genus with their distribution, and a detailed diagnosis of O. ornata

Real‐Time Reconfiguration of Distribution Network with Distributed Generation

This chapter shows a methodology to accomplish the real‐time reconfiguration of distribution networks considering distributed generation in normal operating conditions. The availability of the wind power generation, solar photovoltaic power generation, and hydroelectric power generation is considered in the reconfiguration procedure. The real‐time reconfiguration methodology is based on the branch‐exchange technique and assumes that only remote‐controlled switches are considered in the analysis. The multicriteria analysis, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, is used to determine the best switching sequence. The developed algorithms are integrated into a supervisory system, which allows real‐time communication with the network equipment. The methodology is verified in a real network of a power utility in Brazil with different typical daily demand curves and distributed generation scenarios

Weak topological conjugacy via character of recurrence on impulsive dynamical systems

In the present paper, we define the concept of weak topological conjugacy and we establish sufficient conditions to obtain this kind of topological conjugacy between two limit sets. We use the character of recurrence to obtain the results

As crônicas dos pobres amantes: o amor e a escravidão nos processos criminais fluminenses (1820-1850)

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo reconstruir histórias adormecidas nas fontes criminais da justiça Imperial brasileira do século XIX. O protagonismo está representado na figura de indivíduos escravizados, os quais embora apresentassem a condição de propriedade, foram incluídos sob o mesmo Código Criminal encaminhado à população livre na década de 1830. No entanto, o fio condutor para a restauração de tais histórias, é o amor. Fonte de inspiração de ávidos romances e memórias do século XIX, suas implicações surtiam efeitos desde a Casa-Grande a senzala, sendo o elemento catalisador de diferentes ocorrências criminais. Amor e tragédia aglutinam-se, compondo narrativas que ultrapassam as memórias da escravidão e fundamentam-se em meio aos sistemas de funcionamento das relações humanas universais. Construir tais narrativas envolve um mapeamento de diversos cenários e personagens em suas atividades e perspectivas individuais e em comunidade. É, além disto, percorrer diferentes espaços de um Rio de Janeiro escravista e geograficamente díspar, traçando distintos quadros e, consequentemente, circunstâncias criminais diversas. A proposta é buscar os laços que cercavam o cativeiro, no qual buscar-se-á reconstruir as relações de afinidade e a referente influência do cativeiro sobre elas