This study is intended to analyze the possible ways of using the SHERPA Ranger joint precision airdrop system, acquired by the Brazilian Army (EB), as well as its possible employment by the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) vectors. Historical aspects of development, acquisition and support of the joint precision airdrop system (JPADS) are here discussed. The study covers the use of SHERPA Ranger by the Brazilian Armed Forces (FFAA), based on the Military Defense Doctrine (2007) and the Doctrine of Joint Operations (2011). It is also investigated whether the inclusion of this equipment as Product of Defense (PRODE) can increase the projection of national military power

Osteoclasts, specialized bone resorbing cells of hematopoietic origin, become overactive in rheumatoid arthritis, leading to bone loss and joint destruction. Osteoclast progenitor cells (OCP) arise from myeloid precursors of monocyte/macrophage lineage and are found in the bone marrow and among circulatory monocytes. Under inflammatory conditions subpopulations of OCPs undergo through functional and phenotypic changes responsible for their increased migration to inflamed sites and osteoresorptive activity. In our study, we have been investigating frequencies of distinct OCP subsets and their expression of chemokine receptors in circulation and periarticular bone marrow (PBM) of C57BL/6 mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). We found that both hematopoietic lymphoid-negative CD11b+CD115+ and CD11b−/loCD115+ subsets possess osteoclastogenic activity and are enlarged in blood and PBM of affected joints in CIA. OCP subsets substantially expressed CCR2 and CX3CR1, but had low expression of CCR5, CCR9 and CXCR4, with no difference between control and CIA group. Concurrently CCL2 serum levels were significantly increased in CIA, whereas CX3CL1 levels were comparable to control. In an in vitro migration assay, peripheral blood leukocytes from CIA mice after M-CSF and RANKL stimulation increasingly migrated toward CCL2 and CCL5 chemotactic gradients. Intravascular in vivo staining demonstrated increased recirculation of CD45+CD11b+ cells through areas of PBM affected by arthritis. These results suggest that highly induced OCP subpopulations in CIA migrate to inflamed joints due to chemotaxis and therefore blocking of chemokine signals may reduce osteoclast activity in arthritis.

The growth mechanism and properties of the oxide films on aluminium and 8090 Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy were studied in simulated acid rain (pH 4.5) by electrochemical techniques, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The potentiodynamic formation of anodic oxide film on aluminium and 8090 Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy surfaces were described in terms of high field model. This is justified by the obtained values of kinetic parameters: the electric field strength (~10 6 V cm –1 ), ionic conductivity through the film (~10 –12 S cm –1 and 10 –13 S cm –1 ) and half jump distance (~0.150 nm). The impedance data shows that protective passive oxide film on aluminium and Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy can be formed spontaneously at the open circuit potential in the studied solution with a high resistance (119 k cm 2 for Al and 144 k cm 2 for Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy). Both electrochemical techniques revealed that the oxide film on Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy has better protective properties than pure aluminium. The concentration of the metallic ions released into solution from aluminium and Al-LiCu-Mg alloy and measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy was in accordance with the results obtained from the electrochemical techniques.

Circuit Breakers are one of the most important elements in the transmission and distribution of electrical energy, and assessing their condition is of the upmost importance regarding the health and safety of the transmission and distribution system. Numerous procedures and parameters exist that directly reflect the state of the circuit breaker, but this paper focuses on a relatively new procedure that measures and estimates the states of the arcing contacts of the circuit breaker. The state of the arcing contacts is in a direct correlation with the health of the circuit breaker and it is assessed by applying test called the Dynamic resistance measurement. The important parameters during this Dynamic Resistance test will be explained. The results obtained using developed algorithm are demonstrated in the field on a real circuit breaker, completing thus all necessary steps for the assessment of the arcing contacts.

This paper provides a microfoundation of the neoclassical growth theory. To rationalize a substantial share of labor in income despite ongoing automation of tasks, we present a simple model in which demand shifts toward goods of increasing sophistication along a vertically differentiated production structure. Automation of more advanced goods requires increasingly sophisticated capital which remains scarce along the growth path. This is why labor maintains a substantial share in income independent of core parameter assumptions. While our model features an entirely different mechanism, we show that its aggregate representation is the one of a neoclassical model with labor-augmenting technical change.