Political Parties And Participatory Democracy: Political Status And Associative Profile In Participatory Budgeting Of Brazil

The article explores the relationships between the political status of coordinating structures of participatory budgeting (PB) and the associative profile of civil society representatives in four Brazilian experiences. Our focus is to take into consideration the location of the coordination office of PB within the municipal government, the characteristics of the PB Council and the party affiliation of civil society councilors. The results show that the higher political status of PB at local government the more the council will be fought over and occupied by representatives affiliated to the incumbent political party. That is to say, a conflict occurs where the most organized groups channel their strategies to occupy the political space towards the PB.42699

Neutrino mixing with revamped A(4) flavor symmetry

We suggest a minimal extension of the simplest A(4) flavor model that can induce a nonzero theta(13) value, as required by recent neutrino oscillation data from reactors and accelerators. The predicted correlation between the atmospheric mixing angle theta(23) and the magnitude of theta(13) leads to an allowed region substantially smaller than indicated by neutrino-oscillation global fits. Moreover, the scheme correlates CP violation in neutrino oscillations with the octant of the atmospheric mixing parameter theta(23) in such a way that, for example, maximal mixing necessarily violates CP. We briefly comment on other phenomenological features of the model

Primordial nucleosynthesis, majorons and heavy tau neutrinos

We determine the restrictions imposed by primordial nucleosynthesis upon a heavy tau neutrino, in the presence of nu-tau annihilations into Majorons, as expected in a wide class of particle physics models of neutrino mass. We determine the equivalent number of light neutrino species Neq as a function of nu-tau mass and the nu-tau-Majoron coupling g. We show that for theoretically plausible g values \gsim 10^{-4} present nucleosynthesis observations can not rule out nu-tau masses in the MeV range. Moreover, these models give Neq≤3 in the nu-tau mass region 1-10 MeV, for very reasonable values of g≥3×10−4. The evasion of the cosmological limits brings new interest to the improvement of the present laboratory limit on the nu-tau mass which can be achieved at a tau-charm factory

Patterns, receptors and signals:regulation of phagosome maturation

Recognition of microbial pathogens and dead cells and their phagocytic uptake by specialized immune cells are essential to maintain host homeostasis. Phagosomes undergo fusion and fission events with endosomal and lysosomal compartments, a process called 'phagosome maturation', which leads to the degradation of the phagosomal content. However, many phagocytic cells also act as antigen-presenting cells and must balance degradation and peptide preservation. Emerging evidence indicates that receptor engagement by phagosomal cargo, as well as inflammatory mediators and cellular activation affect many aspects of phagosome maturation. Unsurprisingly, pathogens have developed strategies to hijack this machinery, thereby interfering with host immunity. Here, we highlight progress in this field, summarize findings on the impact of immune signals, and discuss consequences for pathogen elimination

The Hunt for New Physics at the Large Hadron Collider

The Large Hadron Collider presents an unprecedented opportunity to probe the realm of new physics in the TeV region and shed light on some of the core unresolved issues of particle physics. These include the nature of electroweak symmetry breaking, the origin of mass, the possible constituent of cold dark matter, new sources of CP violation needed to explain the baryon excess in the universe, the possible existence of extra gauge groups and extra matter, and importantly the path Nature chooses to resolve the hierarchy problem - is it supersymmetry or extra dimensions. Many models of new physics beyond the standard model contain a hidden sector which can be probed at the LHC. Additionally, the LHC will be a top factory and accurate measurements of the properties of the top and its rare decays will provide a window to new physics. Further, the LHC could shed light on the origin of neutralino masses if the new physics associated with their generation lies in the TeV region. Finally, the LHC is also a laboratory to test the hypothesis of TeV scale strings and D-brane models. An overview of these possibilities is presented in the spirit that it will serve as a companion to the Technical Design Reports (TDRs) by the particle detector groups ATLAS and CMS to facilitate the test of the new theoretical ideas at the LHC. Which of these ideas stands the test of the LHC data will govern the course of particle physics in the subsequent decades

Participação, representação e cidadania política na América Latina

This introductory text to the 40th Issue of "Pensamiento Propio" refers to the diversity in the search to expand and deepen democracy in the continent. Even after a decade of left-wing parties who prioritized implementing high-impact policies on social inequality which characterizes Latin America, the democratic deficit persists, both in the context of local and national governments and of the multilateral organizations of the hemisphere. Reflecting on the participation of civil society in the control of governments and the State in the past few decades is an absolute necessity for those who acknowledge the need to strengthen our political citizenship.Este texto introductorio al número 40 de Pensamiento Propio se refiere a la diversidad de la búsqueda por la ampliación y profundización de la democracia en el continente. Aún después de una década de gobiernos a la izquierda, que priorizaron establecer políticas de impacto sobre la desigualdad social que caracteriza América Latina, todavía persiste el déficit democrático, sea en el contexto de los gobiernos locales y nacionales, sea en las organizaciones multilaterales del hemisferio. Reflexionar sobre la participación de la sociedad civil en el control de los gobiernos y del Estado, en las últimas décadas, es una tarea imperiosa para aquellos que reconocen la necesidad de fortalecer nuestra ciudadanía política.Este texto introdutório ao número 40 de Pensamiento Propio se refere à diversidade da busca pela ampliação e aprofundamento da democracia no continente. Mesmo depois de uma década de governos à esquerda e que primaram por estabelecer políticas de impacto sobre a desigualdade social que caracteriza a América Latina, persiste o déficit democrático, seja no contexto dos governos locais e nacionais, seja nas organizações multilaterais do hemisfério. Buscar refletir sobre a participação da sociedade civil no controle dos governos e do Estado, nas últimas décadas, é tarefa imperiosa àqueles que reconhecem a necessidade de um reforço à cidadania política entre nós

#naovaitercopa: manifestações, Copa do Mundo e as eleições de 2014

The article aims to recover the manifestations process of June 2013, in an attempt to understand the elements, which characterized it. It is intended to indicate how and why the main political consequences generated by the manifestations became its own possibility of a rematch in June 2014, during the hosting of the World Cup, organized by FIFA and the Brazilian government. It is suggested which may be the nature and extent of its impacts over the general election in this year. It is argued that the key issue is the ability of the State, the governments and their police in dealing with manifestations that have, relatively, new, persuasive, and violent ideas.O artigo busca recuperar o processo das manifestações de junho de 2013, na tentativa de compreender os elementos que a caracterizaram. Pretende-se indicar como e porque a principal consequência política gerada pelas manifestações tornou-se a própria possibilidade de sua reedição, em junho de 2014, durante a realização da Copa do Mundo de Futebol, organizada pela FIFA e pelo governo brasileiro. Indica-se qual poderá ser a natureza e amplitude dos impactos de uma eventual nova onda de manifestações sobre as eleições gerais nesse ano. Defende-se que o elemento chave da questão está na capacidade do Estado, dos governos e de sua polícia em lidar com manifestações com repertórios relativamente novos e mais incisivos e violentos