Effects of reversible inactivation of the dorsomedial hypothalamus on panic- and anxiety-related responses in rats

The medial hypothalamus is part of a neurobiological substrate controlling defensive behavior. It has been shown that a hypothalamic nucleus, the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), is involved in the regulation of escape, a defensive behavior related to panic attacks. The role played by the DMH in the organization of conditioned fear responses, however, is less clear. In the present study, we investigated the effects of reversible inactivation of the DMH with the GABA A agonist muscimol on inhibitory avoidance acquisition and escape expression by male Wistar rats (approximately 280 g in weight) tested in the elevated T-maze (ETM). In the ETM, inhibitory avoidance, a conditioned defensive response, has been associated with generalized anxiety disorder. Results showed that intra-DMH administration of the GABA A receptor agonist muscimol inhibited escape performance, suggesting an antipanic-like effect (P < 0.05), without changing inhibitory avoidance acquisition. Although a higher dose of muscimol (1.0 nmol/0.2 µL; N = 7) also altered locomotor activity in an open field when compared to control animals (0.2 µL saline; N = 13) (P < 0.05), the lower dose (0.5 nmol/0.2 µL; N = 12) of muscimol did not cause any motor impairment. These data corroborate previous evidence suggesting that the DMH is specifically involved in the modulation of escape. Dysfunction of this regulatory mechanism may be relevant in the genesis/maintenance of panic disorder

Earnings management of brazilian firms in the IFRS era: The role of economic and institutional factors

This study investigates whether accounting quality – more specifically regarding the level of earnings management by accruals – is associated with a country’s economic and institutional factors that change over time in IFRS era. Based on a sample of 1,387 Brazilian firm-year observations and data regarding 2011 to 2018, econometric models are estimated considering the absolute amount of discretionary accruals as proxy for earnings management and different aspects related to economic and institutional factors of preeminent importance to an emerging economy. We show that in general, high inflation, stock market volatility, and policy uncertainty rates, as well as lower regulatory quality, on average, are associated with a higher level of earnings management in Brazil. This study contributes to the accounting literature in emerging economies discussing the role of economic and institutional factors on accounting quality in the IFRS era in one of the largest developing country in the world. Compared to developed countries or even to other developing economies, Brazil stands out as an emerging economy of considerable economic and political instability, making it a valuable setting for this analysisinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Does national ethical judgment matter for earnings management?

This study analyses the effect of ethical judgment at country-level on earnings management. While previous literature document the role of ethical issues at personal- and organizational-level on earnings management practices, usually theoretically and through qualitative ways, we investigate that association in a large sample at international level taken a sample of 81,408 firm-year observations regarding 10,306 firms from 39 countries. Based on data from an international questionnaire developed by the World Values Survey, we construct a comprehensive index of ethical judgment of each country. Our empirical findings suggest that the level of ethical judgment of the countries are negative associated with accruals-based earnings management, suggesting that the manipulation of accounting amounts is lower in countries where ethically suspect behaviours are less acceptable. Additionally, we also provide empirical evidences that this phenomenon is verified both in developed and emerging countries, and that ethical judgment at country-level seem to moderate the association between IFRS adoption and earnings management practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

A hermeneutical approach to the methodology of theoretical research in psychoanalysis

O artigo traz uma breve revisão das principais abordagens hermenêuticas envolvidas na interpretação de textos e discursos a fim de delimitar a incidência dessa problemática no campo da pesquisa teórica em psicanálise. Define as diferentes formas de pesquisa em psicanálise e indica como as mudanças na compreensão da hermenêutica incidem também sobre a compreensão do estatuto epistemológico do saber psicanalítico. Apresenta e discute as propostas de metodologia de investigação teórica de Laplanche e Figueiredo. Ao concluir, indica a aproximação do método psicanalítico aplicado a textos e discursos com as perspectivas contemporâneas da hermenêutica e propõe uma abordagem própria para pesquisas de cunho histórico-conceitual e epistemológico em psicanálise.This article aims to briefly review the major hermeneutic approaches involved with the interpretation of texts and speeches in order to establish the boundaries of the incidence of this subject on the field of psychoanalytical, theoretical research. It defines the different forms of psychoanalysis research and shows how developments in hermeneutics change the comprehension of the epistemological status of the psychoanalytical field of knowledge. It presents and discusses the methodological designs on theoretical research proposed by Laplanche and Figueiredo. Its conclusion demonstrates the approximation of the psychoanalytical method applied to texts and speeches with contemporary perspectives in hermeneutics. It also proposes a specific approach for historical-conceptual and epistemological research in the field of psychoanalysis

A nontwist field line mapping in a tokamak with ergodic magnetic limiter

For tokamaks with uniform magnetic shear, Martin and Taylor have proposed a symplectic map has been used to describe the magnetic field lines at the plasma edge perturbed by an ergodic magnetic limiter. We propose an analytical magnetic field line map, based on the Martin-Taylor map, for a tokamak with arbitrary safety factor profile. With the inclusion of a non-monotonic profile, we obtain a nontwist map which presents the characteristic properties of degenerate systems, as the twin islands scenario, the shearless curve and separatrix reconnection. We estimate the width of the islands and describe their changes of shape for large values of the limiter current. From our numerical simulations about the shearless curve, we show that its position and aspect depend on the control parameters

Ensino de Ciências: Atividade experimental de MHS no laboratório remoto da UFPA

This work aims to implement a remote laboratory of science and physics experiments in the Laboratory of Physics teaching of MNPEF of UFPA, which will result in an educational product, supporting the teaching of MHS. A attribute of the remote laboratories is the presence of an interface with which users interact, there is a concern in eliminating the lack of a physical laboratory providing users the perception of being present in a real laboratory using microcontroller, called ESP32, and the communication network of mobile devices, internet, enhancing the use of science and physics laboratories in basic and higher education, i.e., bringing the student closer to the physical laboratory through devices with internet access contributing to the scientific development, to the teaching - learning process optimization and to the social and technological inclusion. In view of the above it was developed a prototype of remote laboratory in which a pendulum is driven remotely by a device connected to the internet following in real time the execution of the experiment and obtaining the experimental results as if it were in loco.Este trabalho tem como objetivo implementar um laboratório remoto de experimentos de Ciências e de Física no Laboratório do MNPEF da UFPA, a fim de ser um produto educacional de suporte para o ensino do objeto do conhecimento de Física, especificamente MHS. Um dos atributos dos laboratórios remotos é a presença de uma interface com a qual os discentes interagem, havendo uma preocupação na eliminação dos entraves físicos e amenizando a carência de um laboratório físico na qual proporciona aos discentes a possibilidade de executarem medidas em um laboratório real através de um microcontrolador, chamado ESP32, e a rede comunicação de dispositivos móveis, internet, potencializando o uso de laboratórios de Ciências e de Física no ensino básico e superior, ou seja, aproximando o discente do laboratório físico por meio de dispositivos com acesso a internet contribuindo para o desenvolvimento científico, a otimização do processo de ensino -aprendizagem e a inclusão social e tecnológica. Diante do exposto foi desenvolvido um protótipo de laboratório remoto em que um pêndulo é acionado remotamente por um dispositivo conectado à internet acompanhando em tempo real a execução do experimento e obtendo os resultados experimentais como se estivesse in loco