Previdência Social na zona rural do Nordeste brasileiro- análise do seu impacto sobre a pobreza e a distribuição de renda em 1991 e 2000

"O objetivo é avaliar o impacto do sistema previdenciário sobre o nível de concentração de renda e sobre a pobreza na zona rural do Nordeste do Brasil em 1991 e 2000. A concentração de renda e a pobreza são conseqüências das falhas de mercado, portanto é necessário a intervenção do governo para aplicar um processo redistributivo de renda e ou riqueza, através de políticas sociais, podendo, assim, serem caracterizadas como políticas de transferências. A política de transferência de renda através da previdência social ganhou destaque, nos últimos anos, após as modificações na Constituição Federal de 1988 através das Leis no 8.212 no 8.213 que instituíram o princípio da universalização e, com ele, ocorreram mudanças significativas no sistema previdenciário. No caso da previdência rural, pode-se citar como as principais mudanças- a criação da figura do segurado especial, que incorpora à previdência social o amplo universo de agricultores familiares, autônomos e seus auxiliares familiares, a criação de um piso mínimo para os benefícios, garantindo recebimento de pelo menos um salário mínimo, a alteração na exigência da idade mínima para se aposentar (55 anos para mulheres e 60 anos para os homens), e a igualdade de direitos entre os sexos dos trabalhadores rurais, deixando de excluir as mulheres casadas ou com vida marital ao acesso dos benefícios. Assim, a equivalência e uniformização das condições de acesso para os trabalhadores rurais ou urbanos, bem como a equiparação entre homens e mulheres geraram de fato a igualdade na concessão dos benefícios. Após essas mudanças houve um grande aumento do número de aposentados na zona rural. As aposentadorias trouxeram melhorias para o meio rural, principalmente por meio do aumento monetário da renda familiar. Diante disso, pode-se fazer uma relação direta entre a concessão de aposentadorias e o aumento da qualidade de vida dos domicílios rural, melhorando, assim, suas condições de moradia, ou aumentando o acesso aos bens de consumo duráveis. O trabalho mostra que com a presença dos aposentados e ou pensionistas nos domicílios, havia um maior acesso aos serviços prestados e um maior número de bens de consumo duráveis dentro do domicílio. Sobre o impacto da previdência social na distribuição de renda, pode-se dizer que contribuiu para diminuir a concentração entre os períodos, ou seja, houve melhora na distribuição na renda de 1991 para 2000. Com efeito, verificou-se uma redução do índice de Gini com a presença do aposentado e ou pensionista na família, podendo ser explicado pela essencialidade do rendimento da aposentadoria e pensão na família para a formação da renda familiar. Quanto à pobreza, constatou-se uma forte redução no número de domicílios com renda per capita média inferior a meio salário mínimo, quando se observa o conjunto dos domicílios com a presença dos beneficiários da previdência social. Houve uma diminuição de 96,49% no número de domicílios com aposentados abaixo da linha de pobreza, entre 1991 e 2000."

Efficient Identification of HIV Serodiscordant Couples by Existing HIV Testing Programs in South Brazil.

ObjectiveTo examine the feasibility of identifying HIV negative at risk individuals in HIV serodiscordant couples, during voluntary HIV testing in South Brazil.MethodsWe surveyed HIV testers at 4 public testing sites in Rio Grande do Sul. We obtained information on risk behaviors and sexual partnerships. HIV testing and testing for recent infection were performed; HIV prevalence and risk behaviors were assessed among subjects who reported having a steady partner who was HIV positive (serodiscordant group) and compared with the general testing population.ResultsAmong 3100 patients, 490 (15.8%) reported being in a steady relationship with an HIV positive partner. New HIV infections were diagnosed in 23% of the serodiscordant group (vs. 13% in the general population, p = 0.01); among newly positive subjects, recent HIV infections were more frequent (23/86, 26.7%) among testers with positive partners than among the general testing group (52/334; 15.6%; p = 0.016). Less than half of the serodiscordant testers reported having used a condom during the last sexual intercourse with their HIV-positive partner. Participants with inconsistent condom use with steady partner were four times more likely to test positive for HIV compared to those who reported always using condoms with the steady partner (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 2.3 to 7.5).ConclusionIt is highly feasible to identify large numbers of HIV susceptible individuals who are in HIV serodiscordant relationships in South Brazil testing sites. Condom use within HIV serodiscordant couples is low in this setting, suggesting urgent need for biomedical prevention strategies to reduce HIV transmission

MODELAGEM MATEMÁTICA: UMA OPORTUNIDADE PARA O EXERCÍCIO DA REFLEXIVIDADE DO PROFESSOR DE MATEMÁTICA

The present article shows a discussion around the data achieved in a survey implemented in a group of Mathematics teachers of elementary and secondary school. The aim of this investigation was to point out the Mathematical Modelling potentialities addressed to the exercise of the teacher reflexivity. To the explanations of this research, we based on the orientations of the curriculum directives as to an education that promotes the formation of professionals capable of making decisions and the formation of analytical citizens. Thus, we understood that the Mathematical Modelling, by its peculiar characteristics, promotes the development of pedagogical practices that support a greater interaction between student and teacher, allowing a reflective practice to the teacher. This study was developed in three steps which contemplated: the observation of the involved teachers' lessons in their regular schedule, the development of the teachers continuing formation course with emphasis on Mathematical Modelling, and the observation of these teachers when they were developing Modelling activities along with their students. The Data were analyzed according to a characterization of reflective teacher built by means of Dewey (1933, 1979), Schön (1992, 2000), Zeichner (1993) e Alarcão (2010) texts.From the results achieved we highlighted that the Mathematical Modelling activity actions raise situations that encourage teachers to reflect on their own practices.  Apresentamos neste artigo uma discussão acerca dos resultados obtidos por meio de uma pesquisa, realizada com um grupo de professores de Matemática do ensino fundamental e médio, cujo objetivo era apontar as potencialidades da Modelagem Matemática para o exercício da reflexividade do professor. Dentre as justificativas desta pesquisa, pautamo-nos nas orientações das diretrizes curriculares quanto a um ensino que favoreça a formação de profissionais capazes de tomar decisões e formar cidadãos críticos. Neste sentido, consideramos que a Modelagem Matemática, por suas características peculiares, promove o desenvolvimento de práticas pedagógicas que favorecem uma maior interação entre aluno e professor, possibilitando ao docente uma prática reflexiva. O estudo se desenvolveu em três fases, que contemplaram a observação das aulas dos professores envolvidos em seu horário regular, a realização de um curso de formação continuada de professores com ênfase em Modelagem Matemática, e a observação da aula, desses professores, ao desenvolverem com seus alunos atividades de Modelagem. Os dados foram analisados segundo uma caracterização de professor reflexivo construída a partir dos textos Dewey (1933, 1979), Schön (1992, 2000), Zeichner (1993) e Alarcão (2010). Dentre os resultados obtidos destacamos que as ações peculiares da atividade de Modelagem Matemática, suscitam situações que estimulam os professores à refletirem sobre sua prática. &nbsp

An Analytical Framework for Miles and Snow Typology and Dynamic Capabilities

The literature on dynamic capabilities is confusing, full of overlapping definitions, and contradictions. The theoretical and practical importance of developing and applying dynamic capabilities to sustain competitive advantage in complex external environment is central in studies about strategy nowadays. In this paper, we offer a definition of dynamic capabilities under two aspects: first, it refers to the shifting character of the environment; second, it emphasizes the key role of strategic management in appropriately adapting, integrating, and re-configuring internal and external organizational skills, resources, and functional competences towards a changing environment. This paper aims to clarify the concept of dynamic capabilities, propose an analytical framework that connects this “new” concept to a well known and recognized generic strategic model (Miles and Snow, 1978) and to the concept of sustainable competitive advantage and evolutionary fit. DOI:10.5585/riae.v13i1.193

Strategic Choice and Relational Dynamic Capabilities in a Brazilian Hotel Chain

The aim of this paper was to propose integration between two concepts: strategic choice and relational dynamic capability. For this purpose, the context of hotel business sector was chosen, due to its intensity and a need for formal and informal relationships. The research was divided in two stages: a survey, with a sample of 117 hotels in the State of Paraná and a case study. According to the findings, strategic typology determines a set of choices and behaviors resulting in different relationships. The aim of this paper was to propose integration between two concepts: strategic choice and relational dynamic capability. For this purpose, the context of hotel business sector was chosen, due to its intensity and a need for formal and informal relationships. The research was divided in two stages: a survey, with a sample of 117 hotels in the State of Paraná and a case study. According to the findings, strategic typology determines a set of choices and behaviors resulting in different relationships

Neutralizing antibody response during acute and chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Little is known about the role of Abs in determining the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. By using infectious retroviral pseudotypes bearing HCV glycoproteins, we measured neutralizing Ab (nAb) responses during acute and chronic HCV infection. In seven acutely infected health care workers, only two developed a nAb response that failed to associate with viral clearance. In contrast, the majority of chronically infected patients had nAbs. To determine the kinetics of strain-specific and crossreactive nAb emergence, we studied patient H, the source of the prototype genotype 1a H77 HCV strain. An early weak nAb response, specific for the autologous virus, was detected at seroconversion. However, neutralization of heterologous viruses was detected only between 33 and 111 weeks of infection. We also examined the development of nAbs in 10 chimpanzees infected with H77 clonal virus. No nAb responses were detected in three animals that cleared virus, whereas strain-specific nAbs were detected in six of the seven chronically infected animals after approximately 50 weeks of infection. The delayed appearance of high titer crossreactive nAbs in chronically infected patients suggests that selective mechanism(s) may operate to prevent the appearance of these Abs during acute infection. The long-term persistence of these nAbs in chronically infected patients may regulate viral replication

Entanglement properties of bound and resonant few-body states

Studying the physics of quantum correlations has gained new interest after it has become possible to measure entanglement entropies of few body systems in experiments with ultracold atomic gases. Apart from investigating trapped atom systems, research on correlation effects in other artificially fabricated few-body systems, such as quantum dots or electromagnetically trapped ions, is currently underway or in planning. Generally, the systems studied in these experiments may be considered as composed of a small number of interacting elements with controllable and highly tunable parameters, effectively described by Schr\"odinger equation. In this way, parallel theoretical and experimental studies of few-body models become possible, which may provide a deeper understanding of correlation effects and give hints for designing and controlling new experiments. Of particular interest is to explore the physics in the strongly correlated regime and in the neighborhood of critical points. Particle correlations in nanostructures may be characterized by their entanglement spectrum, i.e. the eigenvalues of the reduced density matrix of the system partitioned into two subsystems. We will discuss how to determine the entropy of entanglement spectrum of few-body systems in bound and resonant states within the same formalism. The linear entropy will be calculated for a model of quasi-one dimensional Gaussian quantum dot in the lowest energy states. We will study how the entanglement depends on the parameters of the system, paying particular attention to the behavior on the border between the regimes of bound and resonant states.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

Group B Streptococcus detection in pregnant women via culture and PCR methods

INTRODUCTION: Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a source of neonatal infection, colonizes the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts of pregnant women. Routine screening for maternal GBS in late pregnancy and consequent intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis have reduced the incidence of early-onset GBS neonatal infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of PCR, compared to culture (gold standard), in GBS colonization screening of pregnant women, and to establish the prevalence of GBS colonization among this population. METHODS: Vaginal introitus and perianal samples were collected from 204 pregnant women, between the 35th and 37th weeks of pregnancy, at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of the University of Caxias do Sul General Hospital between June 2008 and September 2009. All samples were cultured after enrichment in a selective medium and then assayed by culture and PCR methods. RESULTS: The culture and PCR methods yielded detection rates of vaginal/perianal GBS colonization of 22.5% and 26%, respectively (sensitivity 100%; specificity 95.6%; positive and negative predictive values 86.8% and 100%, respectively). A higher prevalence of GBS colonization was detected in the combined vaginal and perianal samples by both culture and PCR assay analyses. CONCLUSIONS: PCR is a faster and more efficient method for GBS screening, allowing for optimal identification of women who should receive intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent newborn infection