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Planned actions can be triggered involuntarily by a startling acoustic stimulus (SAS), resulting in very short reaction times (RT). This phenomenon, known as the StartReact effect, is thought to result from the startle-related activation of reticular structures. However, other sensory modalities also can elicit a reflexive startle response. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of an intense startling electric stimulus (SES) in eliciting the StartReact effect as compared to a SAS. We tested SES intensities at 15 and 25 times the perceptual threshold of each participant, as well as SAS intensities of 114 dB and 120 dB. The electrical stimulation electrodes were placed over short head of the biceps brachii on the arm not involved in the task. Intense electric and acoustic stimuli were presented on 20% of the trials in a simple RT paradigm requiring a targeted ballistic wrist extension movement. The proportion of trials showing short latency (≤ 120 ms) startle reflex-related activation in sternocleidomastoid was significantly lower on intense electrical stimulus trials compared to intense acoustic trials, and the startle response onset occurred significantly later on SES trials compared to SAS. However, when a startle reflex was observed, RTs related to the prepared movement were facilitated to a similar extent for both SES and SAS conditions, suggesting that the accelerated response latency associated with the StartReact effect is independent of stimulus type.

In a context of scarcity and increased need for rationality in the use of municipal finances, there is increased relevance for school productivity and spending efficiency. This article seeks to assess the evolution of productivity in public spending on education in the municipalities of Goiás in the years 2005, 2007 and 2009, using the Malmquist Productivity Index combined with the method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Markov Chains technique. The results reveal the improvement in productivity levels and its causes: changes in productive efficiency and technology. The results also show that if school systems maintain the dynamics presented in the analyzed period, the initial number of efficiency states (nine) must also be maintained. This tendency does not form closed classes, as all states are accessible and communicate with each other. However, the most efficient state is only one that grew over the long term. This occurs due to municipalities reducing their participation in other states. This should be a reflection of the productivity gain and rejects hypothesis of divergence trends in the evolution of efficiency. The results showed that the method can be an interesting alternative to evaluate the dynamic performance of public finances and decision-making support.

Cells can switch between Rac1, lamellipodia-based and RhoA, blebbing-based migration modes but the molecular mechanisms regulating this choice are not fully understood. Diacylglycerol kinase ζ (DGKζ), which phosphorylates diacylglycerol to yield phosphatidic acid, forms independent complexes with Rac1 and RhoA, selectively dissociating each from RhoGDI. DGKζ catalytic activity is required for Rac1 dissociation but is dispensable for RhoA dissociation. Instead, DGKζ functions as a scaffold that stimulates RhoA release by enhancing RhoGDI phosphorylation by protein kinase Cα (PKCα). Here, PKCα-mediated phosphorylation of the DGKζ MARCKS domain increased DGKζ association with RhoA and decreased its interaction with Rac1. The same modification increased binding of the DGKζ C-terminus to the α1-syntrophin PDZ domain. Expression of a phosphomimetic DGKζ mutant stimulated membrane blebbing in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and C2C12 myoblasts, which was augmented by inhibition of endogenous Rac1. DGKζ expression in differentiated C2 myotubes, which have low endogenous Rac1 levels, also induced substantial membrane blebbing via the Rho-ROCK pathway. These events were independent of DGKζ catalytic activity, but dependent upon a functional C-terminal PDZ-binding motif. Rescue of RhoA activity in DGKζ-null cells required the PDZ-binding motif, suggesting syntrophin interaction is necessary for optimal RhoA activation. Collectively, our results define a switch-like mechanism involving DGKζ phosphorylation by PKCα that favours RhoA-driven blebbing over Rac1-driven lamellipodia formation and macropinocytosis. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the effect of PKCα signaling on Rho GTPase activity and suggest PKCα activity plays a role in the interconversion between Rac1 and RhoA signaling that underlies different migration modes.

Em um contexto de escassez e maior necessidade de racionalidade na utilização das finanças municipais, ganha relevância o tema da produtividade dos gastos e da eficiência escolar. Este artigo busca avaliar a evolução da produtividade e da eficiência dos gastos com ensino feitos pelos municípios goianos, nos anos de 2005, 2007 e 2009, por meio do Índice de Produtividade de Malmquist combinado com o método Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA) e da técnica de Cadeias de Markov. Os resultados revelam o progresso nos níveis de produtividade e suas causas: variação da eficiência produtiva e das mudanças tecnológicas. Mostram também que, se as redes de ensino mantiverem a dinâmica apresentada no período analisado, o número inicial de estados de eficiência (nove) deve ser mantido. A tendência não forma classes fechadas, todos os estados são acessíveis e se comunicam. Porém, o estado mais eficiente é o único que cresceu no longo prazo e isso se dá em razão da redução da participação dos municípios nos outros estados. Esse fato deve estar refletindo o ganho de produtividade evidenciado e rejeitando as hipóteses de tendências de divergência na evolução da eficiência. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o método utilizado pode ser uma interessante alternativa para a avaliação da dinâmica de desempenho das finanças públicas e no apoio à decisão.

In a context of scarcity and increased need for rationality in the use of municipal finances, there is increased relevance for school productivity and spending efficiency. This article seeks to assess the evolution of productivity in public spending on education in the municipalities of Goiás in the years 2005, 2007 and 2009, using the Malmquist Productivity Index combined with the method Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Markov Chains technique. The results reveal the improvement in productivity levels and its causes: changes in productive efficiency and technology. The results also show that if school systems maintain the dynamics presented in the analyzed period, the initial number of efficiency states (nine) must also be maintained. This tendency does not form closed classes, as all states are accessible and communicate with each other. However, the most efficient state is only one that grew over the long term. This occurs due to municipalities reducing their participation in other states. This should be a reflection of the productivity gain and rejects hypothesis of divergence trends in the evolution of efficiency. The results showed that the method can be an interesting alternative to evaluate the dynamic performance of public finances and decision-making support. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

A bloc of traditional politicians, mislabelled by the media as anti-Syrian, has won the majority of seats in the Lebanese parliament. The alliance of Saad Hariri and Walid Joumblat, two major former pro-Syrians who primarily oppose the current pro- Syrian president, Emile Lahoud, and not Syria itself, have been able to secure a majority by aligning themselves with the Hezbollah and Amal pro-Syrian movements in an attempt to isolate a reformist politician, Michel Aoun. He enjoys wide credibility among the Lebanese through his long-standing opposition to Syrian hegemony.

The Lebanese uprising will not stop until the government meets the demands of the opposition. The whole Arab world is watching with a mixture of admiration and fear. Admiration for the courage to defy ruthless security agents, but fear about what might happen if other Arab populations follow suit.

O artigo documenta resultados de testes empíricos que envolvem dois modelos aplicados a estruturas de capital de empresas brasileiras. Os modelos testados foram desenvolvidos sob as duas principais teorias que competem entre si na literatura acadêmica pela determinação da estrutura de capital das empresas: a Static Tradeoff e a Pecking Order. A metodologia envolve a utilização de técnicas econométricas com dados em painel (panel data), buscando estabelecer qual das duas teorias possui maior poder explanatório para a amostra de empresas brasileiras. A análise utilizou três tipos de modelos: coeficientes comuns, efeitos fixos e efeitos aleatórios. Foram utilizados ainda diversos testes estatísticos para confirmar a robustez dos resultados. A amostra utilizada compreende empresas não-financeiras listadas nas bolsas de valores de São Paulo (BOVESPA e SOMA) no período de 1995 a 2002. A análise dos resultados encontrados levou à conclusão de que a chamada teoria Pecking Order, em sua forma semiforte, é a que melhor explicou a determinação da estrutura de capital das empresas brasileiras.

The paper documents results of empírical tests involving two models applied to the capital structure of Brasilian firms. The models tested were developed under the two theories competing for the determination of the capital structure of firms in the academic literature: the Static TradeoffTheory and the Pecking Order Theory. The methodology involves the utilization of panel-data econometric techniques, aiming to establish which of the two theories has higher explanatory power for the Brazilian firms. The analisis utilized three types of models: common coeficients, fixed effects, and random effects. Additional statistical tests were also employed to confirm the robustness of results. The sample consists of non-financial firms listed in the Sao Paulo stock exchanges (BOVESPA and SOMA) from 1995 to 2002. The analysis of the results obtained led to the conclusion that the Pecking Order Theory in its semi-strong form provides the best explanation for the capital structure of Brazilian firms. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) linked to atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is primarily caused by the accumulation of oxidized forms of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in macrophages (MΦs) in the subendothelial layer of arteries leading to foam cell and fatty streak formation. Many studies suggest that LDL that is modified by myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a key player in the development of atherosclerosis. MΦs can adopt a variety of functional phenotypes that include mainly the proinflammatory M1 and the anti-inflammatory M2 MΦ phenotypes which are both implicated in the process of atherogenesis. In fact, MΦs that reside in atherosclerostic lesions were shown to express a variety of phenotypes ranging between the M1- and M2 MΦ types. Recently, we pointed out the involvement of MPO oxidized-LDL (Mox-LDL) in increasing inflammation in MΦs by reducing their secretion of IL-10. Since little is known about Mox-LDL-mediated pro-atherosclerostic responses in MΦs, our study aimed at analyzing the in vitro effects of Mox-LDL at this level through making use of the well-established model of human THP-1-derived Mφs. Our results demonstrate that Mox-LDL has no effect on apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell death in our cell model; yet, interestingly, our results show that Mox-LDL is significantly engulfed at a higher rate in the different MΦ subtypes supporting its key role in foam cell formation during the progression of the disease as well as previous data that were generated using another primary MΦ cell model of atherosclerosis.