ABSTRACT Dyslipidemias are associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hepatic steatosis, being the cause of morbidity and mortality. This study investigated the effects of lychee peel flour (PF) on serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), triacylglycerols (TAG) and various parameters related to obesity, in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. Therefore, 20 male rats were used. In the first 21 days, the animals were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet, except for control group. In the following 21 days, their diets were modified, and they received a standard diet (Control); hypercholesterolemic (Hyper); hypercholesterolemic + 5% PF (PF5) and hypercholesterolemic + 10% PF (PF10). The results revealed that PF intake attenuated weight gain, reduced body mass index, glucose and the levels of TAG, TC, LDL-c, hepatic enzymes and leptin, besides the percentage of hepatic lipids, liver lipid peroxidation and frequency of severe steatosis. Histological studies of the aorta did not show the formation of the atheromatous plaque. These results reinforce its potential to reduce the risk of diseases associated with obesity.

Thirty-six castrated male pigs were used to determine the influence of thermal environment and reduction of consumption on performance and carcass composition. Animals were housed in two climate chambers. In one, animals were in thermal comfort (TN) (22 °C), and in the other, pigs were under heat stress (HS) (34 °C). Animals were distributed in a randomized block design, making three treatments (TN, HS and animals in thermal comfort with food consumption paired with that observed in HS (PFTN)), with six replicates and two animals per experimental unit. Data were obtained on performance and carcass composition. The weight gains of HS and PFTN animals were reduced by 40.5% and 34.7%, respectively, reflecting a reduction of 13.2% in the final weight of PFTN animals. Triiodothyronine concentration was not affected by heat, but there was an increase in lymphocyte numbers in PFTN animals. The HS and PFTN animals showed lower hot carcass weight. However, there were no effects on hot carcass yield and relative weights of heart, lung and spleen. Heat stress compromised performance. The negative effects of high temperature on pigs include reduction in feed intake and changes in physiology.

In this article, we report on recent advances in a spectral nodal method for the numerical solution of multislab atmospheric radiation problems. Here, we derive a set of periodic relations for the coefficients of the bidirectional functions of our method, and we use these periodic relations to improve a recently developed computational scheme for solving a set of multislab atmospheric radiation problems with an arbitrary number and type of optically stationary layers. We present numerical results for a set of prototype problems that show the effect of stratospheric ozone depletion on the amount of ultraviolet-B radiation that reaches the Earth's surface.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho é apresentar a concepção e o desenvolvimento de um curso de Mestrado Profissional (MP) sob a ótica da teoria e das técnicas do gerenciamento de projetos, baseado na experiência da Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). A relevância de tal estudo se pauta na utilização dos conceitos da gestão de projetos para o desenvolvimento de um projeto de curso de mestrado, com critérios estruturantes, especificidades e fatores críticos, incluindo o credenciamento pela Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso único e a relevância se dá por apresentar o desenvolvimento de um MP em Administração em Gestão de Projetos, temática que até então só abordada nos cursos de especialização. O desenvolvimento do projeto foi estruturado por meio das etapas clássicas de gestão de projetos: iniciação; desenho e planejamento; execução; monitoramento e controle; e encerramento.

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to present the design and development of a masters course (MBA) from the perspective of theories and techniques of project management, based on the findings of our experience at the Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE. The relevance of this study is guided by the use of the concepts of project management for the development of a project masters degree, with its structural criteria, characteristics and critical factors, including CAPES accreditation (Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior). The research method used was a single case study of a masters course in Project Management, up to now it has only been dealt with specialized courses. We used the Project Management classical steps in the development of this MBA course: initiation, planning and design, executing, monitoring controlling and closing.

RESUMEN Este trabajo tiene la finalidad de presentar la creación y el desarrollo de un curso de Magister Profesional - M.P. desde la perspectiva de la teoría y técnica de gestión de proyectos, fundamentado en la experiencia de la Universidad Nove de Julho - UNINOVE. La importancia de este estudio radica en el uso de los conceptos de gestión de proyectos, para desarrollar el proyecto de un curso de magister con criterios estructurados, especificidad y factores críticos, incluso la acreditación en la Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES. Como método de investigación se utilizó estudio de caso único, que es relevante porque presenta el desarrollo de una M.P. en Administración en Gestión de Proyectos, temática que hasta entonces sólo se estudiaba en los cursos de especialización. La estructuración del proyecto siguió las etapas clásicas de la gestión de proyectos: inicio, diseño y planificación, ejecución, monitorización y control, y finalización.

The aim of this article is to describe a mathematical model and an associated numerical method for the basic problem of evaluating the void fraction of a slab material from the responses of a typical source-detector system for backscattered neutrons. The mathematical model and void fraction evaluation method reported herein: i) enable us to treat explicitly and exactly a mixed neutron beam, i.e. a neutron beam consisting of a monodirectional component with normal incidence upon the slab material and a component that is a smooth function of the angular variable and ii) allow for an arbitrary order of anisotropy of the neutron scattering phase function. In addition, the associated void fraction evaluation method is free from computer overflow exceptions, even for the challenging problems where the angular quadrature set is of high order and/or the slab material is exceedingly thick. We perform a numerical experiment to illustrate the positive features of both the mathematical model and evaluation method reported here, and we conclude this article with a discussion and directions for future work.