Primeiras evidências sobre os determinantes da duração dos cursos de mestrado em economia no Brasil

The purpose ofthis paper is to determine, using duration models, which characteristics of Economics graduate students affec ttheir probability of concluding their courses. The Kaplan-Meyer estimator pointed out the graduate institution, the undergraduate institution, the entry year, and the relative grade as statistically significant. The Cox model and the parametric model showed that besides the entry year, the relative grade is important for the duration of the Master program. There is, therefore, some indication that it would be important to increase the demand for performance and decrease the length of the courses. It is necessary to observe that this paper constitutes a first at tempt to address the question. Many of the graduate institutions do not have organized data on their students, and this way could not be included in the sample. We hope, however, that the results obtained here stimulate these institutions to gather information on their students and that the estimations could be done again in the fixture using a more representative sample. A better understanding of the subject would allow the different graduate institutions to change their policies, reducing the duration of their courses without loosing quality. The ultimate result would be a better allocation of the resources that are mainly public

Primeiras evidências sobre os determinantes da duração dos cursos de mestrado em economia no Brasil

The purpose ofthis paper is to determine, using duration models, which characteristics of Economics graduate students affec ttheir probability of concluding their courses. The Kaplan-Meyer estimator pointed out the graduate institution, the undergraduate institution, the entry year, and the relative grade as statistically significant. The Cox model and the parametric model showed that besides the entry year, the relative grade is important for the duration of the Master program. There is, therefore, some indication that it would be important to increase the demand for performance and decrease the length of the courses. It is necessary to observe that this paper constitutes a first at tempt to address the question. Many of the graduate institutions do not have organized data on their students, and this way could not be included in the sample. We hope, however, that the results obtained here stimulate these institutions to gather information on their students and that the estimations could be done again in the fixture using a more representative sample. A better understanding of the subject would allow the different graduate institutions to change their policies, reducing the duration of their courses without loosing quality. The ultimate result would be a better allocation of the resources that are mainly public

Nicotinic acid induces antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in different experimental models

AbstractAlthough in vitro studies have shown that nicotinic acid inhibits some aspects of the inflammatory response, a reduced number of in vivo studies have investigated this activity. To the best of our knowledge, the effects induced by nicotinic acid in models of nociceptive and inflammatory pain are not known. Per os (p.o.) administration of nicotinic acid (250, 500 or 1000mg/kg, −1h) inhibited the first and the second phases of the nociceptive response induced by formalin in mice. Nicotinic acid (250 or 500mg/kg, −1 and 3h) also inhibited the mechanical allodynia induced by carrageenan in rats, a model of inflammatory pain. However, in a model of nociceptive pain, exposure of mice to a hot-plate, nicotinic acid was devoid of activity. In addition to inhibiting the nociceptive response in models of inflammatory pain, nicotinic acid (250 or 500mg/kg, p.o., −1 and 3h) inhibited paw edema induced by carrageenan in mice and rats. Picolinic acid (62.5 or 125mg/kg, p.o., −1h), a nicotinic acid isomer, inhibited both phases of the nociceptive response induced by formalin, but not paw edema induced by carrageenan in mice. The other nicotinic acid isomer, isonicotinic acid, was devoid of activity in these two models. In conclusion, our results represent the first demonstration of the activity of nicotinic acid in experimental models of nociceptive and inflammatory pain and also provide further support to its anti-inflammatory activity. It is unlikely that conversion to nicotinamide represents an important mechanism to explain the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of nicotinic acid. The demonstration of new activities of nicotinic acid, a drug that has already been approved for clinical use and presents a positive safety record, may contribute to raise the interest in conducting clinical trials to investigate its usefulness in the treatment of painful and inflammatory diseases

Prevalence, incidence and distribution of citrus variegated chlorosis in Bahia, Brazil

Citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) is one of the most important diseases for Brazilian citriculture. It is caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca, a xylem limited, cycadelid and budwood transmitted bacterium. In Bahia, the second most important citrus region in Brazil, CVC has been present since 1997. Our objectives were to characterize the regional spatial pattern of CVC and to establish a relationship between epidemiological variables and horticultural practices, as well as to evaluate whether control measures used so far have been effective and, based on that, to conceive suitable control measures. A series of surveys were performed in two regions of Bahia State (Recôncavo Baiano and Litoral Norte), along with a survey of horticultural and control practices associated with sampled groves. CVC was restricted to Litoral Norte region, especially to three municipalities along the border between Bahia and Sergipe States. The mean CVC incidence in these municipalities followed a gradient, higher in the countryside and decreasing along the coast. Presence and dissemination of CVC was related to poor nursery practices, a massive use of a susceptible orange variety, and an extreme concentration of orange groves in high incidence municipalities, as well as to the absence of specific CVC control. Considering that CVC was not found in Recôncavo Baiano, this region could be considered a "CVC free zone" by the local government. Copyright by the Brazilian Phytopathological Society.EC/ICA4-CT-2001-10005CNPqFAPES

Systems and Synthetic Biology Approaches to Engineer Fungi for Fine Chemical Production

Since the advent of systems and synthetic biology, many studies have sought to harness microbes as cell factories through genetic and metabolic engineering approaches. Yeast and filamentous fungi have been successfully harnessed to produce fine and high value-added chemical products. In this review, we present some of the most promising advances from recent years in the use of fungi for this purpose, focusing on the manipulation of fungal strains using systems and synthetic biology tools to improve metabolic flow and the flow of secondary metabolites by pathway redesign. We also review the roles of bioinformatics analysis and predictions in synthetic circuits, highlighting in silico systemic approaches to improve the efficiency of synthetic modules

Influência da variação da produtividade das usinas hidroelétricas no cálculo da energia firme

In the present work, the problem associated to the firm energy evaluation is treated as a non linear optimization model, which allows the representation of the productivity variation of the hydro plants. The proposed model takes into account the individualized representation of the plants and the historical series of flows since the month of January of 1931. The proposed optimization problem will be solved using the Primal-Dual Interior Point Method. A case study will be presented including the Brazilian Interconnected National System. The results obtained show that the proposed methodology is promising, since it presents an energy market value more realistic when compared with existing methodologies.No presente trabalho, o problema associado ao cálculo da energia firme é tratado como um modelo não linear de otimização, o que permite a representação da variação da produtividade das usinas. No modelo proposto é considerada a representação individualizada das usinas bem como a série histórica de vazões desde o mês de janeiro de 1931. O problema de otimização proposto é resolvido através do método primal-dual de pontos interiores. Adicionalmente, é apresentado um estudo de caso abrangendo o Sistema Interligado Nacional Brasileiro. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a metodologia proposta é promissora, tendo em vista que apresenta um valor de mercado de energia mais realista quando comparado com outras metodologias

Hepatitis C in Brazil: lessons learned with boceprevir and telaprevir

In 2012, the first-generation protease inhibitors telaprevir (TVR) and boceprevir (BOC) were introduced in the Brazilian health system for treatment of chronic hepatitis C, after their approval by the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation (CONITEC). However, these medicines were discontinued in 2015. The short period of use in therapy and their high cost require a discussion about the consequences for patients and for the health system of the early incorporation of new therapies. The article presents a qualitative analysis of the incorporation process of both medications in Brazil and the results of a multicenter study that included patients treated with BOC or TVR between January 2011 and December 2015 in five Brazilian cities. The study included 855 patients (BOC: n=247) and (TVR: n=608). The document analysis showed that CONITEC’s decision to incorporate BOC and TVR was based on results of phase III clinical trials that compared sustained virologic response (SVR) rates of patients treated with BOC and TVR with rates of those that received placebo. However, these studies included a low percentage of cirrhotic patients. The SVR rates observed in this multicenter study were worse than clinical trials pointed out (BOC: 45.6%; TVR: 51.8%), but similar to those achieved with previously adopted therapies. The discontinuation rate due to adverse events was (BOC: 15.4%; TVR: 12.7%). Based on these unsatisfactory results, the study brings a discussion that goes beyond the therapy outcomes, exploring the incorporation of these high-cost medicines and the related decision-making process, contributing to future decisions in medicine policies and in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C