Semiparametric generalized estimating equations for repeated measurements in cross-over designs.

A model for cross-over designs with repeated measures within each period was developed. It was obtained using an extension of generalized estimating equations that includes a parametric component to model treatment effects and a non-parametric component to model time and carry-over effects; the estimation approach for the non-parametric component is based on splines. A simulation study was carried out to explore the model properties. Thus, when there is a carry-over effect or a functional temporal effect, the proposed model presents better results than the standard models. Among the theoretical properties, the solution is found to be analogous to weighted least squares. Therefore, model diagnostics can be made by adapting the results from a multiple regression. The proposed methodology was implemented in the data sets of the cross-over experiments that motivated the approach of this work: systolic blood pressure and insulin in rabbits.

Increasing levels of calcium salts of palm fatty acids affect production responses during the immediate postpartum and carryover periods in dairy cows.

Our objective was to determine the dose-response effects of calcium salts of palm fatty acids (CSPF) on nutrient digestibility and production responses of early-lactation dairy cows grazing on tropical pastures and to evaluate carryover effects throughout mid and late lactation. Forty multiparous dairy cows (Jersey × Holstein) with (mean ± standard error of the mean) 20 ± 1.69 kg of milk/d and 20 ± 5.0 d in milk were used in a randomized complete block design. During the treatment period, all cows were kept in a grazing system. The treatments were offered for 90 d (treatment period) and consisted of 4 increasing levels of CSPF: 0 (0 kg/d), 0.2 (0.2 kg/d), 0.4 (0.4 kg/d), and 0.6 (0.6 kg/d). Each treatment had 10 animals. Increasing CSPF from 0 to 0.6 kg/d replaced an equivalent amount of a corn-based concentrate supplement offered at 10 kg/d on an as-fed basis (8.96 kg/d as a dry matter basis). All cows were housed and received a diet without fat inclusion fed as total mixed ration once a day from 91 to 258 d of the experiment (carryover period). During the treatment period, increasing CSPF linearly decreased dry matter intake (1.20 kg/d), linearly increased neutral detergent fiber digestibility (3.90 percentage units), and quadratically increased total fat digestibility (6.30 percentage units at 0.4 kg/d CSPF). Increasing CSPF linearly increased the yields of milk (4.10 kg/d), milk fat (0.11 kg/d), milk lactose (0.19 kg/d), energy-corrected milk (ECM; 3.30 kg/d), and feed efficiency (ECM/dry matter intake, 0.34 kg/kg), and linearly decreased milk protein content (0.38 g/100 g), body weight change (0.05 kg/d), and body condition score (0.37). We observed interactions between CSPF and time during the carryover period. Overall, CSPF supplementation linearly increased or tended to increase milk yield until 202 d of the experiment with a similar pattern observed for all the other yield variables. In conclusion, supplementing CSPF from 0 to 0.6 kg/d during 90 d increased neutral detergent fiber and total fat digestibility and the yields of milk, milk fat, and ECM in early-lactation dairy cows grazing on tropical pastures. Most production measurements linearly increased during the treatment period, indicating that 0.6 kg/d CSPF was the best dose. Also, supplementing CSPF from 0 to 0.6 kg/d for 90 d during early lactation had positive carryover effects across mid and late lactation.

Long-Term and Carryover Effects of Supplementation with Whole Oilseeds on Methane Emission, Milk Production and Milk Fatty Acid Profile of Grazing Dairy Cows.

Research is ongoing to find nutritional methane (CH4) mitigation strategies with persistent effects that can be applied to grazing ruminants. Lipid addition to dairy cow diets has shown potential as means to decrease CH4 emissions. This study evaluated the effects of oilseeds on CH4 emission and production performance of grazing lactating dairy cows. Sixty Holstein Friesian cows grazing pasture were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments (n = 15): supplemented with concentrate without oilseeds (CON), with whole cottonseed (CTS), rapeseed (RPS) or linseed (LNS). Oilseeds were supplemented during weeks 1-16 (spring period) and 17-22 (summer period), and the autumn period (wk 23-27) was used to evaluate treatment carryover effects. Cows fed CTS decreased CH4 yield by 14% compared to CON in spring, but these effects did not persist after 19 weeks of supplementation (summer). Compared to CON, RPS decreased milk yield and CTS increased milk fat concentration in both spring and summer. In summer, CTS also increased milk protein concentration but decreased milk yield, compared to CON. In spring, compared to CON, CTS decreased most milk medium-chain fatty acids (FA; 8:0, 12:0, 14:0 and 15:0) and increased stearic, linoleic and rumenic FA, and LNS increased CLA FA. There were no carry-over effects into the autumn period. In conclusion, supplementation of grazing dairy cows with whole oilseeds resulted in mild effects on methane emissions and animal performance. In particular, supplementing with CTS can decrease CH4 yield without affecting milk production, albeit with a mild and transient CH4 decrease effect. Long term studies conducted under grazing conditions are important to provide a comprehensive overview of how proposed nutritional CH4 mitigation strategies affect productivity, sustainability and consumer health aspects.

Relationship between over-crowding within egg capsules of the marine gastropod Acanthina monodon and prospects for juvenile success.

Encapsulated development with extraembryonic yolk may lead to competition for nutrients within egg capsules. In this research, different degrees of competition among embryos in subtidal egg capsules of Acanthina monodon resulted in considerable differences in hatching size. For newly hatched juveniles, individuals hatching from less crowded egg capsules showed better survival, larger SL, higher rates of oxygen consumption, and higher rates of food consumption. However, by 28 days after hatching, the largest surviving juveniles were the best-performing individuals, regardless of the initial embryo density within the capsules. In summary, more crowded egg capsules resulted in poorer survival. These findings may help to explain the variability seen in juvenile success in some field populations; much of that variation may reflect stressful experiences that the new recruits have had during the early stages of their encapsulated development.

Selectivity of metsulfuron applied to soybean before sowing in different intervals and soils.

This work aimed to evaluate the selectivity of the herbicide metsulfuron applied at different times on the development of soybeans grown in soils with different characteristics. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, in a factorial scheme (4 x 4), with four replicates. Factor A was application time (0, 15, 30, and 45 days before sowing, DBS) and factor B was soil type (Erechim, Itaqui, Piratini, and Santa Maria). Soybean plants cultivated in the Erechim soil showed moderate phytotoxicity, with greater damage to the leaf area and plant dry matter, mainly after application at 30 DBS. Those cultivated in Itaqui soil showed gradual phytotoxicity between 14 and 28 days after emergence (DAE). Soybean plants grown in the Piratini and Santa Maria soils showed the highest phytotoxicity and photosynthetic reduction, mainly at 15 and 0 DBS. Metsulfuron application at 45 DBS caused reduced plant growth by up to 40%, and reduced shoot development (30%) in soybean plants grown in Piratini and Santa Maria soils, respectively. There were gradual changes in phytotoxicity and the morphophysiological traits of soybean plants exposed to the residual effect of metsulfuron in different soils, which indicates that soybeans should be sown more than 45 days after the application of metsulfuron, regardless of soil characteristics.

Withdrawal period for seeding cotton after chemical control of cotton stalks

A very limited amount of information is available in relation both to the residual effect of herbicides destinated to the destruction of cotton stalks and to the time interval required to prevent that development and yield of the following crop be affected. This work aimed to identify the residual activity of herbicides intended to eliminate cotton stalks and to estimate the safety interval (SI) of time for the next cotton sowing. Two trails were simultaneously carried out, the first one for a single application and a second one for the two sequential applications of herbicide treatments, in a 15×5 factorial design organized in randomized complete blocks with four replications. Levels of first factor were constituted by herbicide treatments and the levels of the second factor were composed five periods of time for cotton sowing after herbicide application (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days). Herbicides were 2,4-D, glyphosate, saflufenacil, [imazapic + imazapyr], dicamba, fluroxypyr and sulfentrazone. Results provided an indication of residual activity of herbicide treatments in soil and indicated that a single application or two sequential applications of glyphosate + dicamba + saflufenacil have a considerable potential to affect cotton and a period exceeding 100 days for a single application and exceeding 120 days for two sequential applications was necessary. Treatments with 2,4-D and 2,4-D + glyphosate provided the shortest safe interval and may be used for cotton stalk destruction with no risks for the crop sowing after the withdrawal period.

Withdrawal period for seeding cotton after chemical control of cotton stalks

ABSTRACT A very limited amount of information is available in relation both to the residual effect of herbicides destinated to the destruction of cotton stalks and to the time interval required to prevent that development and yield of the following crop be affected. This work aimed to identify the residual activity of herbicides intended to eliminate cotton stalks and to estimate the safety interval (SI) of time for the next cotton sowing. Two trails were simultaneously carried out, the first one for a single application and a second one for the two sequential applications of herbicide treatments, in a 15×5 factorial design organized in randomized complete blocks with four replications. Levels of first factor were constituted by herbicide treatments and the levels of the second factor were composed five periods of time for cotton sowing after herbicide application (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days). Herbicides were 2,4-D, glyphosate, saflufenacil, [imazapic + imazapyr], dicamba, fluroxypyr and sulfentrazone. Results provided an indication of residual activity of herbicide treatments in soil and indicated that a single application or two sequential applications of glyphosate + dicamba + saflufenacil have a considerable potential to affect cotton and a period exceeding 100 days for a single application and exceeding 120 days for two sequential applications was necessary. Treatments with 2,4-D and 2,4-D + glyphosate provided the shortest safe interval and may be used for cotton stalk destruction with no risks for the crop sowing after the withdrawal period.

Exploring Processes in Day-to-Day Parent-Adolescent Conflict and Angry Mood: Evidence for Circular Causality.

Parent-adolescent conflict has been studied both as a precursor of long-term macrolevel developmental risks and as an outcome of microlevel, moment-to-moment interaction patterns. However, the family-level processes underlying the maintenance or regulation of conflict in daily life are largely overlooked. A meso-level understanding of parent-adolescent conflict offers important practical insights that have direct implications for interventions. The present study explores day-to-day reciprocal processes and carryover in parents' and adolescents' experiences of anger and conflict. Daily diary data provided by parent-adolescent dyads (N = 151) from two-caregiver households (adolescents: 61.59% female, mean age = 14.60 years) over 21 days were examined using a multivariate Poisson multilevel model to evaluate the circular causality principle in parents' and adolescents' daily conflict and anger. Findings offer empirical support for the theory, suggesting that parents' and adolescents' anger and conflict exist together in a feedback loop wherein conflict is both a consequence of past anger and also an antecedent of future anger, both within and across persons. Increased understanding of the daily interaction patterns and maintenance of parent-adolescent conflict can guide more informed, targeted, and well-timed interventions intended to ameliorate the consequences of problematic parent-adolescent conflict sequences.

El conflicto entre padres y adolescentes se ha estudiado como precursor de riesgos del desarrollo a nivel macro y a largo plazo y como resultado de los patrones de interacción a cada momento y a nivel micro. Sin embargo, los procesos a nivel familiar que subyacen al mantenimiento o a la regulación del conflicto en la vida diaria se pasan por alto en gran medida. Una comprensión a nivel meso del conflicto entre padres y adolescentes ofrece importantes conocimientos prácticos que tienen consecuencias directas para las intervenciones. El presente estudio analiza los procesos recíprocos diarios y residuales en las experiencias de enfado y conflicto de los padres y los adolescentes. Se analizaron los datos de los registros diarios proporcionados por las díadas padre-adolescente (N= 151) de dos hogares de cuidadores (adolescentes: 61.59 % sexo femenino, edad promedio= 14.60 años) durante 21 días utilizando un modelo multivariado y multinivel de Poisson para evaluar el principio de causalidad circular en el conflicto y el enfado diarios de los padres y los adolescentes. Los resultados ofrecen respaldo empírico para la teoría, ya que sugieren que el enfado y el conflicto de los padres y los adolescentes existen juntos en un círculo vicioso en el cual el conflicto es tanto una consecuencia del enfado anterior como un antecedente del enfado futuro, tanto dentro como entre las personas. Una mayor comprensión de los patrones de interacción diaria y del mantenimiento del conflicto entre padres y adolescentes puede guiar intervenciones más informadas, orientadas y oportunas destinadas a mejorar las consecuencias de las secuencias problemáticas de conflicto entre padres y adolescentes.

Sorption and desorption of ametryn in different types of soils / Sorção e dessorção do ametryn em diferentes tipos de solos

Knowledge of factors related to the dynamics of herbicides in the environment is of fundamental importance to predicting the behavior of herbicides in soils with different attributes, to select appropriate dosages, as well as to avoid harmful effects on the environment and subsequent crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the sorption and desorption of ametryn in seven soils with different attributes. Initially, the equilibrium time was determined by the "Batch Equilibrium". Then, it was performed the sorption test with different concentrations (0.5; 1; 2; 4; 8; 16; 24 and 32 mg L-1) of ametryn in 0.01 mol L-1CaCl2. 10 mL of these solutions were added to samples of 2.00 g of each soil, remaining under rotary shaking for 4 hours. After centrifugation and filtration, the ametryn concentration in the supernatant was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Desorption was evaluated using the tubes containing 16 mg L-1 prior to sorption testing. The results indicated that the sorption and desorption of ametryn depend on the physicochemical attributes of the soil. Sorption was higher in soils with high organic matter content and high ion exchange capacity, while desorption was inversely proportional to sorption.

O conhecimento dos fatores relacionados à dinâmica de herbicidas no ambiente é de fundamental importância para prever o comportamento de herbicidas em solos com diferentes atributos e para seleção de dosagens adequadas, bem como para evitar efeitos prejudiciais ao ambiente e às culturas subsequentes. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a sorção e dessorção do ametryn em sete solos com diferentes atributos. Inicialmente, foi determinado o tempo de equilíbrio pelo método "Batch Equilibrium". Em seguida foi realizado o ensaio de sorção com diferentes concentrações (0,5; 1; 2; 4; 8; 16; 24 e 32 mg L-1) de ametryn em CaCl2 0,01 mol L-1. Foram adicionadas 10 mL destas soluções a amostras de 2,00 g de cada solo, permanecendo sob agitação rotatória por 4 horas. Após centrifugação e filtração, a concentração do ametryn no sobrenadante foi determinada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. A dessorção foi avaliada utilizando os tubos que continham 16 mg L-1 antes do ensaio de sorção. Os resultados indicaram que a sorção e a dessorção do ametryn depende dos atributos físico-químicos do solo. A sorção foi maior em solos com alto teor matéria orgânica e alta capacidade de troca iônica, enquanto que a dessorção foi inversamente proporcional à sorção.

Quantification of aflatoxin M1 carry-over rate from feed to soft cheese.

From January to December 2016, samples of milk and feeds of dairy cattle were monthly collected. The concentration of mycotoxins in all matrices was determined using the enzymatic immunoassay technique. The average concentration of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) in feed was 3.01, 218.5 and 467 ug/kg, respectively. The average AFB1 carry-over rate was 0.84% with a variation between 0.05 to 5.93%. Particle size of the feed (P = 0.030) and individual milk production (P = 0.001) affected this rate. Mini-soft cheeses were produced using milk naturally contaminated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) as raw material to study its distribution both in whey and in cheese. The average level of AFM1 in milk was 0.014 µg/l. None of milk samples exceeded the maximum level accepted for AFB1 by the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) legislation (0.5 µg/l) and only 5.5% of samples exceeded the European Union (UE) regulations (0.05 µg/l). After the cheese elaboration, the concentration of AFM1 was determined in whey and in cheese. The greatest proportion (60%) was detected in whey while 40% AFM1 remained in the cheese. However, the concentration of AFM1 was higher in the cheese compared to the original milk.

Construction of the Design Matrix for Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models in the Context of Clinical Trials of Treatment Sequences.

The estimation of carry-over effects is a difficult problem in the design and analysis of clinical trials of treatment sequences including cross-over trials. Except for simple designs, carry-over effects are usually unidentifiable and therefore nonestimable. Solutions such as imposing parameter constraints are often unjustified and produce differing carry-over estimates depending on the constraint imposed. Generalized inverses or treatment-balancing often allow estimating main treatment effects, but the problem of estimating the carry-over contribution of a treatment sequence remains open in these approaches. Moreover, washout periods are not always feasible or ethical. A common feature of designs with unidentifiable parameters is that they do not have design matrices of full rank. Thus, we propose approaches to the construction of design matrices of full rank, without imposing artificial constraints on the carry-over effects. Our approaches are applicable within the framework of generalized linear mixed-effects models. We present a new model for the design and analysis of clinical trials of treatment sequences, called Antichronic System, and introduce some special sequences called Skip Sequences. We show that carry-over effects are identifiable only if appropriate Skip Sequences are used in the design and/or data analysis of the clinical trial. We explain how Skip Sequences can be implemented in practice, and present a method of computing the appropriate Skip Sequences. We show applications to the design of a cross-over study with 3 treatments and 3 periods, and to the data analysis of the STAR*D study of sequences of treatments for depression.

La estimación de los efectos de arrastre es un problema difícil en el diseño y análisis de ensayos clínicos de secuencias de tratamientos, incluyendo ensayos cruzados. Excepto por diseños simples, estos efectos son usualmente no identificables y, por lo tanto, no estimables. La imposición de restricciones a los parámetros es a menudo no justificada y produce diferentes estimativos de los efectos de arrastre dependiendo de la restricción impuesta. Las inversas generalizadas o el balance de tratamientos a menudo permiten estimar los efectos principales de tratamiento, pero no resuelven el problema de estimar la contribución de los efectos de arrastre de una sequencia de tratamiento. Además, los períodos de lavado no siempre son factibles o éticos. Los diseños con parámetros no identificables comúnmente tienen matrices de diseño que no son de rango completo. Por lo tanto, proponemos métodos para la construcción de matrices de rango completo, sin imponer restricciones artificiales en los efectos de arrastre. Nuestros métodos son aplicables en un contexto de modelos lineales mixtos generalizados. Presentamos un nuevo modelo para el diseño y análisis de ensayos clínicos de secuencias de tratamientos, llamado Sistema Anticrónico, e introducimos secuencias de tratamiento especiales llamadas Secuencias de Salto. Demostramos que los efectos de arrastre son identificables sólo si se usan Secuencias de Salto apropiadas. Explicamos como implementar en la práctica estas secuencias, y presentamos un método para calcular las secuencias apropiadas. Presentamos aplicaciones al diseño de un estudio cruzado con 3 tratamientos y 3 períodos, y al análisis del estudio STAR*D de secuencias de tratamientos para la depresión.

Effect of tembotrione herbicide on potato development / Efeito do herbicida tembotrione sobre o desenvolvimento da batata

Tembotrione herbicide residues from maize crops in the soil can affect the growth of sensitive crops in succession, such as potatoes. In this sense, this study sought to evaluate the residual effect of tembotrione on growth and development of potato plants. A field experiment with randomized blocks design with four replications was conducted. The treatments were incorporated to the soil one day before the planting of the Atlantic potato cultivar and consisted of four doses of tembotrione: 8.4; 16.8; 33.6 and 50.4 g ha-1; representing 8.4; 16.8; 33.6 and 50.0% of the recommended dose for maize, and a control treatment (without herbicide and weeding). Fresh matter mass of tuber (FMMT), number of stems (NS), number of tubers (NT) per plant and total dry matter mass (aerial parts and stem) (DMM) were evaluated at 60 and 90 days. FMMT, NT and DMM decreased with increasing doses of tembotrione. The largest reductions on both evaluated seasons were found for the 50.4 g ha-1 i.a. dose. The number of stems was not influenced by the tembotrione herbicide doses regardless of evaluated season. The results indicated that the presence of tembotrione in soil reduced growth and the number of tubers produced by potato plants.

Os resíduos do herbicida tembotrione no solo, proveniente de cultivos de milho, podem afetar o crescimento de culturas sensíveis, como a batata, em sucessão. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do herbicida tembotrione sobre o crescimento e o desenvolvimento da batateira. Realizou-se um experimento de campo em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram incorporados ao solo um dia antes do plantio da batata cultivar Atlantic e constituídos de quatro doses de tembotrione: 8,4; 16,8; 33,6 e 50,4 g ha-1, representando 8,4; 16,8; 33,6 e 50% da dose recomendada para a cultura do milho, e um tratamento controle (sem herbicida e capinada). Aos 60 e 90 dias após o plantio foram avaliadas a massa de matéria fresca de tubérculo (MMFT), o número de hastes (NH), o número de tubérculos (NT) por planta e a massa de matéria seca total (parte aérea + haste) (MMST). A MMFT, NT e MMST decresceram com o aumento das doses do tembotrione, sendo que as maiores reduções encontradas, nas duas épocas avaliadas, foram na dose de 50,4 g ha-1 i.a. O número de hastes não foi influenciado pelas doses do herbicida tembotrione independente da época avaliada. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a presença de tembotrione no solo reduziu o crescimento e a quantidade de tubérculos produzidos pela batateira.

Effect of tembotrione herbicide on potato development / Efeito do herbicida tembotrione sobre o desenvolvimento da batata

Tembotrione herbicide residues from maize crops in the soil can affect the growth of sensitive crops in succession, such as potatoes. In this sense, this study sought to evaluate the residual effect of tembotrione on growth and development of potato plants. A field experiment with randomized blocks design with four replications was conducted. The treatments were incorporated to the soil one day before the planting of the Atlantic potato cultivar and consisted of four doses of tembotrione: 8.4; 16.8; 33.6 and 50.4 g ha-1; representing 8.4; 16.8; 33.6 and 50.0% of the recommended dose for maize, and a control treatment (without herbicide and weeding). Fresh matter mass of tuber (FMMT), number of stems (NS), number of tubers (NT) per plant and total dry matter mass (aerial parts and stem) (DMM) were evaluated at 60 and 90 days. FMMT, NT and DMM decreased with increasing doses of tembotrione. The largest reductions on both evaluated seasons were found for the 50.4 g ha-1 i.a. dose. The number of stems was not influenced by the tembotrione herbicide doses regardless of evaluated season. The results indicated that the presence of tembotrione in soil reduced growth and the number of tubers produced by potato plants.(AU)

Os resíduos do herbicida tembotrione no solo, proveniente de cultivos de milho, podem afetar o crescimento de culturas sensíveis, como a batata, em sucessão. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do herbicida tembotrione sobre o crescimento e o desenvolvimento da batateira. Realizou-se um experimento de campo em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram incorporados ao solo um dia antes do plantio da batata cultivar Atlantic e constituídos de quatro doses de tembotrione: 8,4; 16,8; 33,6 e 50,4 g ha-1, representando 8,4; 16,8; 33,6 e 50% da dose recomendada para a cultura do milho, e um tratamento controle (sem herbicida e capinada). Aos 60 e 90 dias após o plantio foram avaliadas a massa de matéria fresca de tubérculo (MMFT), o número de hastes (NH), o número de tubérculos (NT) por planta e a massa de matéria seca total (parte aérea + haste) (MMST). A MMFT, NT e MMST decresceram com o aumento das doses do tembotrione, sendo que as maiores reduções encontradas, nas duas épocas avaliadas, foram na dose de 50,4 g ha-1 i.a. O número de hastes não foi influenciado pelas doses do herbicida tembotrione independente da época avaliada. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a presença de tembotrione no solo reduziu o crescimento e a quantidade de tubérculos produzidos pela batateira.(AU)

Restos a pagar e a perda da credibilidade orçamentária / Compromisos pendientes y la credibilidad del presupuesto público / Unpaid commitments and loss of budgetary credibility

Resumo O artigo discute o uso da inscrição em restos a pagar e seus impactos na credibilidade e na transparência do orçamento público. A partir de uma tipificação dos quatro tipos de carry-over existentes na regulação brasileira, articularam-se evidências do surgimento de um "orçamento paralelo" nos três níveis de governo com aspectos de regulamentação e controle externo. A evolução dos saldos e da inscrição de restos a pagar foi captada pelos saldos dessas contas no governo federal, nos governos de 26 estados e Distrito Federal, e em cerca de 4.100 municípios. Adicionalmente, observaram-se a interpretação dada pelos Tribunais de Contas para a inscrição em restos a pagar sem lastro financeiro, assim como o nível de transparência dada pelos governos com maiores saldos de restos a pagar. Os resultados indicam que, além do crescente endividamento, a fraca regulação sobretudo dos restos a pagar não processados está reduzindo seriamente a credibilidade e a transparência do orçamento em todos os níveis de governo.

Resumen El artículo debate el uso de la inscripción en restante a pagar y sus impactos en la credibilidad y en la transparencia del presupuesto público. A partir de una tipificación de los cuatro tipos de carry-over existentes en la reglamentación brasileña, se articularon evidencias del surgimiento de un "presupuesto paralelo" en los tres niveles del gobierno con aspectos de reglamentación y control externo. La evolución de los saldos y de la inscripción en restante a pagar fue captada de los saldos de tales cuentas en el gobierno federal, en los gobiernos de 26 estados y el Distrito Federal, y cerca de 4.100 municipios. Además, se observó la interpretación dada por los Tribunales de Cuentas para la inscripción en restante a pagar sin lastre financiero, así como el nivel de transparencia dada por los gobiernos con mayores saldos de restante a pagar. Los resultados indican que, además del creciente endeudamiento, la débil reglamentación, sobre todo de los restantes a pagar no-tramitados, está reduciendo seriamente la credibilidad y la transparencia del presupuesto en todos los niveles de gobierno.

Abstract This article discusses the use of unpaid commitments and its impacts on the credibility and transparency of public finances. Based on a typification of the four types of existing carry-over in current Brazilian regulation, the article shows evidence of the emergence of a "parallel budget" in the three levels of government with regulation and external control issues. The development of the balances and enrollment of the unpaid commitments was proxied by the sum of these accounts in the Federal Government balance sheet, as well as in 26 States and the Federal District, and for 4,100 cities. Additionally, the interpretation given by the Courts of Auditors for unpaid commitments usage by governments without financial ballast was observed as well as the level of transparency given by those governments with the larger amounts of unpaid commitments. The results indicate that, besides the growing debt, the weak regulation of unverified unpaid commitments is seriously reducing the credibility and transparency of the budget at all levels of government.

Conditions on the Mexican moulting grounds influence feather colour and carotenoids in Bullock's orioles (Icterus bullockii).

Carotenoid-based plumage coloration plays a critical role for both inter- and intrasexual communication. Habitat and diet during molt can have important consequences for the development of the ornamental signals used in these contexts. When molt occurs away from the breeding grounds (e.g., pre-alternate molt on the wintering grounds, or stopover molt), discerning the influence of habitat and diet can be particularly important, as these effects may result in important carryover effects that influence territory acquisition or mate choice in subsequent seasons. Several species of songbirds in western North America, including the Bullock's oriole (Icterus bullockii), migrate from the breeding grounds to undergo a complete prebasic (post-breeding) molt at a stopover site in the region affected by the Mexican monsoon climate pattern. This strategy appears to have evolved several times independently in response to the harsh, food-limited late-summer conditions in the arid West, which contrast strongly with the high productivity driven by heavy rains that is characteristic of the Mexican monsoon region. Within this region, individuals may be able to optimize plumage coloration by molting in favourable areas characterized by high resource abundance. We used stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N) to ask whether the diet and molt habitat/location of Bullock's orioles influenced their expression of carotenoid-based plumage coloration as well as plumage carotenoid content and composition. Bullock's orioles with lower feather δ15N values acquired more colorful plumage (orange-shifted hue) but had feathers with lower total carotenoid concentration, lower zeaxanthin concentration, and marginally lower canthaxanthin and lutein concentration. Examining factors occurring throughout the annual cycle are critical for understanding evolutionary and ecological processes. Here, we demonstrate that conditions experienced during a stopover molt, occurring hundreds to thousands of kilometers from the breeding grounds, influence the production of ornamental plumage coloration, which may carryover to influence inter- and intrasexual signaling in subsequent seasons.

Exposure Assessment of Infants to Aflatoxin M1 through Consumption of Breast Milk and Infant Powdered Milk in Brazil.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is an important biomarker that can be used to evaluate aflatoxin exposure in both humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure degree of infants to AFM1 through consumption of breast milk and infant powdered milk in Brazil. For this purpose, the estimated daily intake (EDI) for infants was calculated based on the AFM1 levels analyzed in 94 breast milk (BM) samples collected in Southern Brazil, and 16 infant powdered milk (IPM) samples commonly commercialized in Brazil. AFM1 was detected in 5.3% (n = 5) and 43.8% (n = 7) of BM and IPM samples, with mean levels of 0.003 ng/g and 0.011 ng/g, respectively. All the IPM samples showed AFM1 levels lower than those established by the Brazilian guidelines (5 ng/g), and in most of the samples (81.25%) levels were below the maximum limit tolerated by the European Commission (0.025 ng/g). The EDI of AFM1 for infants aged zero to 12 months old showed values from 0.018 to 0.069 ng/kg body weight/day for BM, and 0.078 to 0.306 ng/kg body weight/day for IPM. Hazard index (HI) values for BM and IPM were less than one, except for IPM intended for infants up to one month. In conclusion, the exposure of infants to AFM1 was low, but continuous monitoring of mycotoxin levels is essential to minimize infant health risk.

Residual tembotrione and atrazine in carrot.

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a vegetable crop that is grown throughout the year across various regions of Brazil in rotation or in succession to other cultures. Herbicide residual effect has emerged as a concern, because of the possibility of carryover. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tembotrione and atrazine residues - in mixture and isolated - on carrot planted in succession to corn. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with five replications. Treatments consisted of tembotrione (50.4 g ha(-1)), tembotrione (100.8 g ha(-1)), tembotrione + atrazine (50.4 g ha(-1)+ 2 L ha(-1)), tembotrione + atrazine (100.8 g ha(-1)+ 2 L ha(-1)), and atrazine (2.00 L ha(-1)) applied eight months before carrot seeding, plus a control treatment with no herbicide application. Investigated variables were shoot dry mass, productivity, and classification of carrot roots. The presence of atrazine and tembotrione decreased dry mass in the area, and only tembotrione reduced total root productivity. Thus, there is a carryover effect to tembotrione application that reduces the dry matter accumulation of shoot and total productivity, and an atrazine + tembotrione (100.8 g ha(-1)) mixture reduces the total productivity after application of these herbicides to soil.

Larval traits carry over to affect post-settlement behaviour in a common coral reef fish.

Most reef fishes begin life as planktonic larvae before settling to the reef, metamorphosing and entering the benthic adult population. Different selective forces determine survival in the planktonic and benthic life stages, but traits established in the larval stage may carry over to affect post-settlement performance. We tested the hypothesis that larval traits affect two key post-settlement fish behaviours: social group-joining and foraging. Certain larval traits of reef fishes are permanently recorded in the rings in their otoliths. In the bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum), prior work has shown that key larval traits recorded in otoliths (growth rate, energetic condition at settlement) carry over to affect post-settlement survival on the reef, with higher-larval-condition fish experiencing less post-settlement mortality. We hypothesized that this selective mortality is mediated by carry-over effects on post-settlement antipredator behaviours. We predicted that better-condition fish would forage less and be more likely to join groups, both behaviours that would reduce predation risk. We collected 550 recently settled bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) from three reef sites off St. Croix (USVI) and performed two analyses. First, we compared each settler's larval traits to the size of its social group to determine whether larval traits influenced group-joining behaviour. Secondly, we observed foraging behaviour in a subset of grouped and solitary fish (n = 14) for 1-4 days post-settlement. We then collected the fish and tested whether larval traits influenced the proportion of time spent foraging. Body length at settlement, but not condition, affected group-joining behaviour; smaller fish were more likely to remain solitary or in smaller groups. However, both greater length and better condition were associated with greater proportions of time spent foraging over four consecutive days post-settlement. Larval traits carry over to affect post-settlement behaviour, although not as we expected: higher quality larvae join groups more frequently (safer) but then forage more. Foraging is risky but may allow faster post-settlement growth, reducing mortality risk in the long run. This shows that behaviour likely serves as a mechanistic link connecting larval traits to post-settlement selective mortality.

Evaluación de los parámetros de desempeño de un contador hematológico / Evaluation of performance parameters of an automated hematology analyzer / Avaliação dos parâmetros de desempenho de um analisador da hematologia

El primer paso para obtener seguridad en los resultados emitidos por el laboratorio clínico es confirmar que los procedimientos de medida utilizados tienen un desempeño analítico aceptable. Para conseguirlo se verificó el contador hematológico Beckman Coulter LH 750 de acuerdo con las especificaciones del fabricante y con los requisitos de calidad de este laboratorio. Los parámetros de desempeño evaluados, tanto en modo manual como automático, fueron: porcentaje de arrastre, según protocolo CLSI H26-A2, precisión en condiciones de repetibilidad, precisión en condiciones de precisión intermedia y veracidad, según protocolo CLSI EP15-A2 utilizando controles BIO-RAD, intervalo de medición, según protocolo CLSI EP6-A, límite de cuantificación, según protocolo CLSI EP17-A2 e intervalos de referencia, según protocolo CLSI EP28-A3C. Los datos se analizaron mediante LinChecker y GraphPad 5. En los ensayos realizados se cumplió con las especificaciones estipuladas por el fabricante, como así también con el requisito de calidad de este laboratorio que es variabilidad biológica mínima. También se verificaron los intervalos de referencia para individuos adultos. De esta manera, se logró realizar la verificación del contador hematológico, evidenciando que los parámetros analíticos evaluados tienen un desempeño aceptable.

The first step for safety in the results issued by the clinical laboratory is to confirm that all analytical measurement procedures have shown an acceptable analytical performance. A quality performance evaluation of automated hematology analyzer Beckman Coulter LH 750 was performed according to the quality requirements of our laboratory and manufacturer's specifications. The performance parameters evaluated by both manual and automatic mode were: carryover according to CLSI H26-A2 protocol; repeatability, intermediate precision and trueness according to CLSI EP15-A2 protocol and using BIO-RAD controls; linearity according to CLSI EP6-A protocol; quantification limits according to CLSI EP17-A2 protocol; and reference intervals according to CLSI EP28-A3C protocol. Data were analyzed using LinChecker and GraphPad5 programs. The tests performed complied with the requirements stipulated by the manufacturer and the quality requirements of our laboratory like minimal biological variability. Reference intervals for adult individuals were also checked. Consequently, performance evaluation of the automated hematology analyzer showed that the assessed laboratory parameters have acceptable performance.

O primeiro passo para obter segurança nos resultados emitidos pelo laboratório clínico é confirmar que os processos de medição utilizados tenham um desempenho analítico aceitável. Para obtê-los foi verificado o analisador hematológico Beckman Coulter LH 750 de acordo com as especificações do fabricante e os requisitos de qualidade deste laboratório. Os parâmetros de desempenho avaliados, tanto em modo manual quanto automático, foram: percentual de arrastamento, de acordo com o protocolo CLSI H26-A2, em condições de repetitibidade, precisão em condições de precisão intermediária e veracidade, conforme o protocolo CLSI EP15-A2 usando controles Bio-Rad, intervalo de medição segundo o protocolo CLSI EP6-A, limite de quantificação, de acordo com CLSI EP- 17-A2 e intervalos de referência, de acordo com o protocolo CLSI EP28-A3C. Os dados foram analisados através de LinChecker e GraphPad 5. Nos ensaios realizados foram obsevadas as especificações estabelecidas pelo fabricante, bem como a exigência de qualidade deste laboratório que é variabilidade biológica mínima. Os intervalos de referência para indivíduos adultos também foram verificados. Desta forma, foi possível realizar a verificação do analisador hematológico, que demonstra que os parâmetros analíticos avaliados têm um desempenho aceitável.

Seasonal change in tropical habitat quality and body condition for a declining migratory songbird.

Many migratory songbirds spend their non-breeding season in tropical humid forests, where climate change is predicted to increase the severity and frequency of droughts and decrease rainfall. For conservation of these songbirds, it is critical to understand how resources during the non-breeding season are affected by seasonal patterns of drying, and thereby predict potential long-term effects of climate change. We studied habitat quality for a declining tropical forest-dwelling songbird, the wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), and tested the hypothesis that habitat moisture and arthropod abundance are drivers of body condition during the overwintering period. We examined habitat moisture, abundance of arthropods and fruit, and condition of individual birds (n = 418) in three habitat types--mature forest, mature forest with increased presence of human activity, and riparian scrub--from October to April. We found a strong pattern of habitat drying from October (wet season) to March (prior to spring migration) in all habitats, with concurrent declines in arthropod and fruit abundance. Body condition of birds also declined (estimated ~5 % decline over the wintering period), with no significant difference by habitat. Relatively poor condition (low body condition index, low fat and pectoral muscles scores) was equally apparent in all habitat types in March. Climate change is predicted to increase the severity of dry seasons in Central America, and our results suggest that this could negatively affect the condition of individual wood thrushes.