Control of Energy Transfer Between Pyrene‐ and Perylene‐Nucleosides by the Sequence of DNA‐Templated Supramolecular Assemblies

DNA was used as supramolecular scaffold to order chromophores and control their optical properties. Ethynylpyrene as energy donor was attached to 2′‐desoxy‐2‐aminoadenosine that binds selectively to thymidines (T) in the template. Ethynylperylene as acceptor was attached to 2′‐desoxyuridine that is complementary to 2′‐desoxyadenosine (A). This donor‐acceptor pair was assembled along single‐stranded DNA templates of different A−T sequences to investigate the sequence control of the energy transfer between the chromophores. The fluorescence intensities increase in the mixed assemblies along the DNA templates from A10T10 over (AATT)5 to (AT)10, although these templates provide equal numbers of potential binding sites for the two different nucleoside chromophore conjugates and exhibit similar absorbances. This shows that the sequence selective assembly of the two building blocks along DNA templates is programmable and alters the fluorescence readout. Such sequence‐controlled supramolecular chemistry represents the key element for future functional π‐systems in materials for light harvesting of solar energy

Growing issue of tax return fraud: What are the causes and what can be done

The aim of this thesis is to detail the current tax return fraud problem and provide proposed solutions.The paper begins by describing the tax filing process. This process includes ways in which the taxpayer can file a tax return, current security measures of this process, and the percentages of individuals who file their return in the different ways. I then describe how a taxpayer receives a refund, the options the taxpayer has for methods of receiving a refund, and the percentage of people who receive a refund through direct deposit. This discussion also includes when forms are due and what the government agencies do when they receive the forms.Next, I detail the problems associated with fraudulent federal tax returns. This relates primarily to the problem of identity theft and how it pertains to tax return fraud. I list several ways identity theft is a factor in this issue, including stolen identity information and the previously hacked IRS "Get Transcript" site. I also list and describe several ways taxpayers can deal with their identity being stolen after the fact.I then propose five solutions to the proposed problem. The first is the authentication of information required by the IRS to file a tax return. The current authentication standards have proven to be weak, so I suggest less accessible security questions and alternate forms of identification such as a driver's license or state issued ID number.Another proposed solution is increased controls at the IRS. This includes a more advanced computer system that can readily red-flag suspicious items. Additionally, I propose that the IRS should have access to the W-2 and 1099 forms at the same date they are sent to the individuals. Upon receipt of the W-2 and 1099 forms, the IRS should implement an automated system where the forms are scanned in and compared to the individuals' tax returns before a refund is remitted.I then discuss the PINs currently implemented by the IRS available to the taxpayers, current issues with those PINs, and potential ways to resolve the issues relating to them. Problems discussed include accessibility and solutions include increased security and other ways to access these PINs.Finally, I discuss what precautionary measures individuals can take and ways new companies are emerging to offer remedies. Individuals can aid in the solution to this problem by filing their tax return as soon as possible, being aware of any fraudulent activity, and notifying government agencies as soon as they are alerted of any fraudulent activity. Identity theft protection service companies are now developing to help individuals to be aware of fraudulent activity and to help remedy the problem after the crime has occurred.The paper is concluded with a discussion of the monetary aspect of the tax return fraud problem, and how it compares to overall tax deficits. I also summarize the proposed problems and solutions, and suggest that a combination of evolving solutions be implemented to address the issue

O “Inferno Verde” na ditadura: os usos do conceito nas páginas de O Cruzeiro e Manchete (1965-1975)

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas. HistóriaO objetivo deste trabalho é analisar como se deram os usos e desusos do conceito Inferno Verde a partir do discurso e projetos relativos à Amazônia durante a primeira década da ditadura civil-militar (1965-1975) presentes nas revistas Manchete e O Cruzeiro. Para isso contextualiza-se o surgimento do conceito em Alberto Rangel e Euclides da Cunha, e sua popularização, através da análise dos carnavais na primeira metade do século XX. Através do referencial teórico da história ambiental são analisados os projetos desenvolvimentistas militares para a região Amazônica, como a construção de rodovias, destacando a Transamazônica, os projetos de colonização e o contexto da Revolução Verde. A análise das revistas, juntamente com outras fontes complementares, alinhada à bibliografia permite visualizar de que modo o Inferno Verde foi mobilizado dentro desses projetos. É também investigado de que forma o surgimento do ambientalismo nesse contexto contribui para o abandono do uso de Inferno Verde como denominação da Floresta Amazônica

Implantação e primeiros anos do Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar (PRONAF) em Santa Catarina

A produção agrícola baseada no trabalho e gestão familiar é um debate que só recentemente vem ganhando alguma notoriedade, até então ficava relegada a marginalidade tanto no campo acadêmico quanto no das políticas públicas. A década de 1990 traz um marco nesse segundo campo através da criação do Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar, o PRONAF, como o primeiro programa de crédito de abrangência nacional voltado para as necessidades específicas da agricultura familiar torna-a um modelo possível de desenvolvimento. Essa dinâmica demonstra uma significativa mudança da ideia que vinha regendo as políticas concernentes a agricultura brasileira, principalmente durante as décadas de 1960 e 1970, anos da chamada “modernização conservadora”. Esse trabalho busca entender como esse processo se desenrolou no estado de Santa Catarina

Analyzing The Impact Of Social Factors On Homelessness: A Fuzzy Cognitive Map Approach

Background The forces which affect homelessness are complex and often interactive in nature. Social forces such as addictions, family breakdown, and mental illness are compounded by structural forces such as lack of available low-cost housing, poor economic conditions, and insufficient mental health services. Together these factors impact levels of homelessness through their dynamic relations. Historic models, which are static in nature, have only been marginally successful in capturing these relationships. Methods Fuzzy Logic (FL) and fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) are particularly suited to the modeling of complex social problems, such as homelessness, due to their inherent ability to model intricate, interactive systems often described in vague conceptual terms and then organize them into a specific, concrete form (i.e., the FCM) which can be readily understood by social scientists and others. Using FL we converted information, taken from recently published, peer reviewed articles, for a select group of factors related to homelessness and then calculated the strength of influence (weights) for pairs of factors. We then used these weighted relationships in a FCM to test the effects of increasing or decreasing individual or groups of factors. Results of these trials were explainable according to current empirical knowledge related to homelessness. Results Prior graphic maps of homelessness have been of limited use due to the dynamic nature of the concepts related to homelessness. The FCM technique captures greater degrees of dynamism and complexity than static models, allowing relevant concepts to be manipulated and interacted. This, in turn, allows for a much more realistic picture of homelessness. Through network analysis of the FCM we determined that Education exerts the greatest force in the model and hence impacts the dynamism and complexity of a social problem such as homelessness. Conclusions The FCM built to model the complex social system of homelessness reasonably represented reality for the sample scenarios created. This confirmed that the model worked and that a search of peer reviewed, academic literature is a reasonable foundation upon which to build the model. Further, it was determined that the direction and strengths of relationships between concepts included in this map are a reasonable approximation of their action in reality. However, dynamic models are not without their limitations and must be acknowledged as inherently exploratory

A scoping review and narrative synthesis comparing the constructs of social determinants of health and social determinants of mental health: Matryoshka or two independent constructs?

Background: Many health research policies invoke the construct of Social Determinants of Health, and more recently the construct of Social Determinants of Mental Health. While frequently referred to in the literature, it is unclear how these constructs relate to each other. Some commentators conceptualise the Determinants of Mental Health as a subgroup of the Determinants of general Health and others describe the Determinants of Mental Health as an autonomous construct. The current review investigates the relationship between both constructs. Methods: Comprehensive literature searches were conducted for both constructs separately within seven electronic databases. A template analysis was conducted to compare the conceptualisations of the Social Determinants of Health and the Social Determinants of Mental Health. Results: Of 4250 search results, 50 papers (25 for each construct) fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were incorporated into a narrative synthesis. Discussions of the Social Determinants of both general and Mental Health listed the same determinants. Both constructs were conceptualised on multiple levels and factors. Stress and health behaviour were also described as mediators for both constructs. The constructs differed, however, with respect to two components of their aetiologies and epistemologies. First, the causal mechanisms invoked for the Determinants of general Health followed predominantly direct pathways, in contrast to indirect pathways for the Social Determinants of Mental Health. Second, the Social Determinants of Mental Health were reported to influence mental health mediated through individuals’ perceptions and appraisal processes. Appraisal processes were considered of far less relevance in the construct of Social Determinants of Health. Conclusion: The constructs of Social Determinants of Health and Social Determinants of Mental Health align in many respects but differ on important aetiological and epistemological grounds. Similar social factors are considered important, but whereas physical health conditions are primarily conceptualised to be driven by objective realities, mental health is explained mainly in terms of perception of these realities. This differentiation between physical and mental health is in line with a modern understanding of mind-body-dualism, the naturalistic dualism after Chalmers. Differentiating the Social Determinants of Mental Health from the Social Determinants of Health might bear relevance for policy making and research

Tracer Survey in the Cape Verde Region Traceraufnahme in der Kapverdenregion Cruise No. 10, Leg 1 October 31 – December 06, 2008 Ponta Delgada (Portugal) – Mindelo (Cape Verde Islands)

The research cruise MSM10/1 was extremely successful. All programs were able to collect high quality data and the anticipated goals of the expedition were fully met. We have been able to carry out the first comprehensive survey of a tracer release in the Guinea Upwelling region (GUTRE) roughly seven month after the tracer was released at 8°N 23°W in April 2008. We have estimated that a total of 40% of the tracer was found during this cruise. While the horizontal spreading and mixing was larger than anticipated, the vertical extent of the tracer found was small. The low vertical tracer spreading rate estimates are supported by the micro structure profile data. The extensive survey of the upper 1000m of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) allowed comparing our sections with several previous surveys. We found that the lowest oxygen values in the core of the OMZ have dropped at record low values below 40 μmol/kg. The preliminary findings from the trace metal work focused on Fe ligand measurements shows a slight higher excess ligand concentration in the surface (50m) for three stations. The two other stations show a slight decrease at this depth. A large number of biochemical samples were taken and were analyzed in Kiel for DNA and RNA diversity. The tracer release experiment provided an ideal environment for repeated biochemical sampling in the same water mass

Um Olhar Atento à Paisagem: Entrevista com Dora Shellard Corrêa

Interview with Dora Shellard Corrêa, adjunct professor in the History course at the State University of Londrina, has been building a work of unavoidable reference when the subject is the historical analysis of landscapes. Since his doctoral thesis, published in a book entitled Paisagens sobrepostas: Índios, posseiros e fazendeiros nas matas de Itapeva (1923-1930), landscape has been her privileged research topic.  Entrevista com Dora Shellard Corrêa, professora adjunta do curso de História da Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), que vê a construção de uma obra de referência incontroversa quando o assunto é análise histórica de paisagens. Desde sua tese de doutorado, publicada no livro sob o título Paisagens sobrepostas: Índios, posseiros e fazendeiros nas matas de Itapeva (1923-1930), a paisagem  tem sido seu objeto privilegiado de pesquisa. Entrevista realizada com Dora Shellard Corrêa, professora adjunta do curso de História da Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), que vê a construção de uma obra de referência incontroversa quando o assunto é análise histórica de paisagens. Desde sua tese de doutorado, publicada em livro sob o título Paisagens sobrepostas: Índios, posseiros e fazendeiros nas matas de Itapeva (1923-1930), a paisagem  tem sido seu objeto privilegiado de pesquisa.