Private Provision of Water Service in Brazil: Impacts on Access and Affordability

Brazil has been experimenting with Private Sector Participation (PSP) in the water and sanitation sector in various forms since the mid-nineties, one of the most common being concession contracts. Currently, 25% of the population is served by companies with private sector participation and this figure could grow to 36% within 10 years. This paper studies past and ongoing experiences with private provision of water services in Brazil and assesses their impact on access and affordability indicators. It also discusses the social policies in place to improve those indicators, especially those targeting the poor. It uses different estimation methods and datasets to determine whether or not there is any difference in access to water supply and ability to pay water bills between municipalities that opted to entrust the provision of water services with private operators and those that kept them public. Moreover, whenever possible, the analysis is broken down by income (GDP) deciles in an attempt to evaluate the impact of private provision on lower income families. The results obtained entail the conclusion that PSP in Brazil has delivered higher access to water services, benefiting mostly the poor. They are inconclusive regarding affordability of water services though.Water services, access, affordability, panel data, private sector participation

Private Provision of Water Service in Brazil: Impacts on Access and Affordability

Brazil has been experimenting with Private Sector Participation (PSP) in the water and sanitation sector in various forms since the mid-nineties, one of the most common being concession contracts. Currently, 25% of the population is served by companies with private sector participation and this figure could grow to 36% within 10 years. This paper studies past and ongoing experiences with private provision of water services in Brazil and assesses their impact on access and affordability indicators. It also discusses the social policies in place to improve those indicators, especially those targeting the poor. It uses different estimation methods and datasets to determine whether or not there is any difference in access to water supply and ability to pay water bills between municipalities that opted to entrust the provision of water services with private operators and those that kept them public. Moreover, whenever possible, the analysis is broken down by income (GDP) deciles in an attempt to evaluate the impact of private provision on lower income families. The results obtained entail the conclusion that PSP in Brazil has delivered higher access to water services, benefiting mostly the poor. They are inconclusive regarding affordability of water services though

Private Provision of Water Service in Brazil: Impacts on Access and Affordability

Brazil has been experimenting with Private Sector Participation (PSP) in the water and sanitation sector in various forms since the mid-nineties, one of the most common being concession contracts. Currently, 25% of the population is served by companies with private sector participation and this figure could grow to 36% within 10 years. This paper studies past and ongoing experiences with private provision of water services in Brazil and assesses their impact on access and affordability indicators. It also discusses the social policies in place to improve those indicators, especially those targeting the poor. It uses different estimation methods and datasets to determine whether or not there is any difference in access to water supply and ability to pay water bills between municipalities that opted to entrust the provision of water services with private operators and those that kept them public. Moreover, whenever possible, the analysis is broken down by income (GDP) deciles in an attempt to evaluate the impact of private provision on lower income families. The results obtained entail the conclusion that PSP in Brazil has delivered higher access to water services, benefiting mostly the poor. They are inconclusive regarding affordability of water services though

Low expression of MSH2 DNA repair protein is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression of the MSH2 DNA repair protein in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in order to analyze its association with clinicopathologic factors and overall survival of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical data and primary lesions of HNSSC were collected from 55 patients who underwent surgical resection with postoperative radiotherapy in Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2000 and 2008. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed to analyze MSH2 protein expression. RESULTS: Bivariate analysis showed no significant correlation or association between MSH2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Patients with locoregional metastatic disease (OR=4.949,

Outcomes of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi infections on health of Southern coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Brazilian Pantanal.

The occurrence of Trypanosoma spp. in wild carnivore populations has been intensively investigated during the last decades. However, the impact of these parasites on the health of free-living infected animals has been largely neglected. The Pantanal biome is the world's largest seasonal wetland, harboring a great diversity of species and habitats. This includes 174 species of mammals, of which 20 belong to the order Carnivora. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma cruzi infections and coinfections on the health of the most abundant carnivores in the Pantanal: coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). We captured 39 coatis, 48 crab-eating foxes, and 19 ocelots. Diagnostic tests showed T. cruzi infection in 7 crab-eating foxes and 5 coatis. Additionally, 7 crab-eating foxes, 10 coatis, and 12 ocelots were positive for T. evansi. We observed coinfections in 9 crab-eating foxes, 8 coatis, and 2 ocelots. This is the first report of T. evansi and T. cruzi infection on the health of free-living ocelots and crab-eating foxes. We showed that single T. evansi or T. cruzi infection, as well as coinfection, caused some degree of anemia in all animals, as well as an indirect negative effect on body condition in coatis and crab-eating foxes via anemia indicators and immune investment, respectively. Furthermore, the vigorous immune investment observed in sampled coatis, crab-eating foxes and ocelots infected by T. evansi, T. cruzi and coinfected can be highly harmful to their health. Overall, our results indicate that single and combined infection with T. evansi and T. cruzi represent a severe risk to the health of wild carnivores in the Pantanal region

Plant traits controlling growth change in response to a drier climate

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordPlant traits are increasingly being used to improve prediction of plant function, including plant demography. However, the capability of plant traits to predict demographic rates remains uncertain, particularly in the context of trees experiencing a changing climate. Here we present data combining 17 plant traits associated with plant structure, metabolism and hydraulic status, with measurements of long-term mean, maximum and relative growth rates for 176 trees from the world’s longest running tropical forest drought experiment. We demonstrate that plant traits can predict mean annual tree growth rates with moderate explanatory power. However, only combinations of traits associated more directly with plant functional processes, rather than more commonly employed traits like wood density or leaf mass per area, yield the power to predict growth. Critically, we observe a shift from growth being controlled by traits related to carbon cycling (assimilation and respiration) in well-watered trees, to traits relating to plant hydraulic stress in drought-stressed trees. We also demonstrate that even with a very comprehensive set of plant traits and growth data on large numbers of tropical trees, considerable uncertainty remains in directly interpreting the mechanisms through which traits influence performance in tropical forests.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)Australian Research Council (ARC)European Union FP7Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paul

Antiparasitic Activity of Natural and Semi-Synthetic Tirucallane Triterpenoids from Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae): Structure/Activity Relationships

Leishmaniasis and Chagas are diseases caused by parasitic protozoans that affect the poorest population in the World, causing a high mortality and morbidity. As a result of highly toxic and long-term treatments, the discovery of novel, safe and more efficacious drugs is essential. in this work, the in vitro antiparasitic activity and mammalian cytotoxicity of three natural tirucallane triterpenoids, isolated from leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae), and nine semi-synthetic derivatives were investigated against Leishmania (L.) infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi. Trypomastigotes of T. cruzi were the most susceptible parasites and seven compounds demonstrated a trypanocidal activity with IC50 values in the range between 15 and 58 mu g/mL. Four compounds demonstrated selectivity towards the intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania, with IC50 values in the range between 28 and 97 mu g/mL. the complete characterization of triterpenoids was afforded after thorough analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data as well as electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Additionally, structure-activity relationships were performed using Decision Trees.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilAdolfo Lutz Inst, Ctr Parasitol, BR-01246902 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Paraiba, Ctr Ciencias Aplicadas & Educ, BR-58297000 Rio Tinto, BrazilUniv Fed Uberlandia, Inst Quim, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilCNPq: 300546/2012-2CNPq: 471458/2012-0FAPESP: 2011/51739-0FAPESP: 2012/18756-1FAPESP: 2013/16320-4Web of Scienc

Efferent Pathways in Sodium Overload-Induced Renal Vasodilation in Rats

Hypernatremia stimulates the secretion of oxytocin (OT), but the physiological role of OT remains unclear. the present study sought to determine the involvement of OT and renal nerves in the renal responses to an intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline. Male Wistar rats (280-350 g) were anesthetized with sodium thiopental (40 mg. kg(-1), i.v.). A bladder cannula was implanted for collection of urine. Animals were also instrumented for measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal blood flow (RBF). Renal vascular conductance (RVC) was calculated as the ratio of RBF by MAP. in anesthetized rats (n = 6), OT infusion (0.03 mu g . kg(-1), i.v.) induced renal vasodilation. Consistent with this result, ex vivo experiments demonstrated that OT caused renal artery relaxation. Blockade of OT receptors (OXTR) reduced these responses to OT, indicating a direct effect of this peptide on OXTR on this artery. Hypertonic saline (3 M NaCl, 1.8 ml . kg(-1) b.wt., i.v.) was infused over 60 s. in sham rats (n = 6), hypertonic saline induced renal vasodilation. the OXTR antagonist (AT; atosiban, 40 mu g . kg(-1) . h(-1), i.v.; n = 7) and renal denervation (RX) reduced the renal vasodilation induced by hypernatremia. the combination of atosiban and renal denervation (RX+AT; n = 7) completely abolished the renal vasodilation induced by sodium overload. Intact rats excreted 51% of the injected sodium within 90 min. Natriuresis was slightly blunted by atosiban and renal denervation (42% and 39% of load, respectively), whereas atosiban with renal denervation reduced sodium excretion to 16% of the load. These results suggest that OT and renal nerves are involved in renal vasodilation and natriuresis induced by acute plasma hypernatremia.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Goias (FAPEG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Goias, Ctr Neurosci & Cardiovasc Physiol, Inst Biol Sci, Dept Physiol Sci, Goiania, Go, BrazilUniv Fed Uberlandia, Fac Phys Educ, Inst Biol Sci, BR-38400 Uberlandia, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Goias, Inst Biol Sci, Mol Biol Lab, Goiania, Go, BrazilUniv Fed Goias, Inst Biol Sci, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, Goiania, Go, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, São Paulo, BrazilFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Goias (FAPEG): 2012/0055431086Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Goias (FAPEG): 2009/10267000352CNPq: 477832/2010-5CNPq: 483411/2012-4Web of Scienc

Mass production of genetically modified Aedes aegypti for field releases in Brazil

New techniques and methods are being sought to try to win the battle against mosquitoes. Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to the development of new and innovative methods of mosquito control based around the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)(1-3). A control method known as RIDL (Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal)(4), is based around SIT, but uses genetic methods to remove the need for radiation-sterilization(5-8). A RIDL strain of Ae. aegypti was successfully tested in the field in Grand Cayman(9,10); further field use is planned or in progress in other countries around the world. Mass rearing of insects has been established in several insect species and to levels of billions a week. However, in mosquitoes, rearing has generally been performed on a much smaller scale, with most large scale rearing being performed in the 1970s and 80s. For a RIDL program it is desirable to release as few females as possible as they bite and transmit disease. In a mass rearing program there are several stages to produce the males to be released: egg production, rearing eggs until pupation, and then sorting males from females before release. These males are then used for a RIDL control program, released as either pupae or adults(11,12). To suppress a mosquito population using RIDL a large number of high quality male adults need to be reared(13,14). The following describes the methods for the mass rearing of OX513A, a RIDL strain of Ae. aegypti (8), for release and covers the techniques required for the production of eggs and mass rearing RIDL males for a control program.Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnologia (CNPq

Practical Science and Environmental Education Workshop in Manaus, Brazil

It is an unequivocal fact that Amazonian tropical forest is the largest remaining primary forest in the world. The ecosystem in the region is e tremely comple with high biodiversity (Peres et al. 2010). Conservation and protection of the dynamic forest and river regions is e tremely important not only for the natural environments, but also for the economy and social dependence of benefits from such abundant natural environments. Important natural parameters that affect status of the natural environments include light (natural sunlight), soil, and water, which abundantly e ist in the Amazon region. Solar energy is the primary energy source for the majority of living organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and drives the diurnal and seasonal cycles of biogeochemical processes (Monteith & Unsworth 2013). In particular, in situ light data remains one of the most underappreciated data measurements although having a significant impact on the physical, chemical and biological processes in the ecosystem (Johnsen 2012). Soil provides the fundamental basis for all terrestrial living organisms including the Amazonian forests as well as life-sustaining infrastructure for human society. Water is the most essential single entity to constitute all organisms from a single cell to the earth. Understanding of importance and roles of each factor and interaction of such comple dynamics in the natural environments can serve as fundamental platform for natural scientists, particularly for young scientists such as university students. The objective of this workshop was to provide hand- on scientific and environmental education for university students in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil through practical field measurements using the three most important parameters in the natural ecosystem composed of natural sunlight, soil, and water. The workshop was divided into a series of lectures, in situ field sampling, and data processing, analysis and interpretation with the ultimate goal of empowering the undergraduate students with research-centered environmental education and e perience of developing international collaboration.departmental bulletin pape