HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE and HUMAN CONSEQUENCES of AFRICANIZED BEE STINGS IN THE AMERICAS

In 1956, Africanized bees began to spread in the American continent from southern Brazil, where original African bees mated with European bees. A few years later, in 1990, these Africanized bees reached the United States and were found in Texas. Currently, these hybrid bees are found in several North American states and will probably reach the Canadian border in the future. Although the presence of Africanized bees had produced positive effects on Brazilian economy, including improvement in crop pollination and in honey production, turning Brazil into a major exporter, the negative impacts-such as swarming, aggressive behavior, and the ability to mass attack-resulted in serious and fatal envenomation with humans and animals. Victims of bee attacks usually develop a severe envenomation syndrome characterized by the release of a large amount of cytokines [interleukins (IL) IL-1, IL-6, IL-8], and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Subsequently, such cytokines produce an acute inflammatory response that triggers adverse effects on skeletal muscles; bone marrow; hepatic and renal functions; and cardiovascular, central nervous, and immune systems. Finally, the aim of the present review is to study historical characteristics and current status of Africanized bees' spread, the composition of their venom, the impact of the bees on the Brazilian economy and ecology, and clinical aspects of their stings including immune response, and to suggest a protocol for bee sting management since there is no safe and effective antivenom available.

HBT interferometry: historical perspective

I review the history of HBT interferometry, since its discovery in the mid 1950's, up to the recent developments and results from BNL/RHIC experiments. I focus the discussion on the contributions to the subject given by members of our Brazilian group.

Camponeses Brazil's Peasant Movement in Historical Perspective (1946-2004)

Comparison of the histories of three leading peasant organizations in the Pontal do Paranapanema region of Brazil-the Partido Comunista do Brasil (PCB) from 1945 to 1964, the Confederacao Nacional de Trabalhadores na Agricultura (CONTAG) from 1964 to 1984, and the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem-Terra (MST) from 1984 to 2004-suggests that continuity is as important as change in understanding Brazilian peasant movements. The MST has been considered a "new social movement" in that it has eschewed partisan politics, incorporated families as members rather than just male heads of household, had a national scope and a participatory decision-making structure, and been attuned to the international struggle over globalization. Placing it in historical perspective makes it clear, however, that this is not the first time that militants have organized around the concept of peasants as a political identity; that while the representation of peasants in the leadership of contemporary rural labor organizations may be greater than in the past, earlier peasant leaders also struggled on behalf of their class; that earlier peasant organizations had, if not a national presence, a substantial presence in the agricultural states of the time; and that attempts at international organization to unite peasant struggles around the globe are not entirely new. This is not to deny the innovative features of contemporary movements but to suggest that the investigation of past achievements will contribute to a fuller appreciation of these movements' conditions and prospects.

A fragilidade da condução política da defesa no Brasil

O presente artigo trata de avaliar em perspectiva histórica, algumas falhas na condução da política de Defesa no Brasil, fulcrais para se compreender a continuidade de um quadro de indevida participação militar e de ausência de controle civil na elaboração e implementação da mencionada pasta, incompatíveis com um contexto de governabilidade democrática. A despeito de algumas iniciativas no sentido de regulamentar os limites de atuação das Forças Armadas para que as mesmas não extrapolem suas funções e missões essenciais, e para que a política de Defesa seja revestida de um verniz público e civil - a exemplo da criação do Ministério da Defesa e da publicação da Estratégia Nacional de Defesa -, prevalece uma situação de fragilidade institucional e de vazio de poder público propícios para que a vontade militar permaneça conferindo o tom da Defesa nacional.

O cuidado de pessoas com transtornos mentais no cotidiano de seus familiares: investigando o papel da internação psiquiátrica

As atribuições da família no cuidado de seus membros portadores de transtornos mentais têm passado por profundas transformações nos últimos anos. A presente pesquisa investigou as modificações no cotidiano de familiares de pessoas que passaram por internação psiquiátrica e os significados implicados neste processo. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com cinco familiares, cujo conteúdo foi submetido à análise temática e interpretado em perspectiva sócio-histórica. Dentre outras questões, observa-se que: (1) a concepção de cura está relacionada à recuperação da capacidade produtiva, restrita a partir do surgimento dos sintomas; (2) os recursos informais são complementares, principalmente quando os recursos públicos não são suficientes ou satisfatórios; (3) a religiosidade está presente na compreensão metafísica das causas do sofrimento psíquico; (4) a igreja, na figura dos correligionários, consiste em um grupo de suporte para o usuário e para a sua família e (5) a insuficiência de políticas adequadas de atenção à família na rede substitutiva.

Imigração e teorias antropólogicas no Brasil (1910-1920)

Brazil takes pride in its alleged lack of racial discrimination. These idealized racial relations are a construction of enlightened elites. This article analyzes one of the main cultural publications in the country in order to establish how European anthropological theories were interpreted by Brazilian intelectuals. In the reappraisal of the country proposed in the journal, the ethnic question was intensely discussed. A whitening of the population was generally perceived as a sort of magic solution to the contradictions in a multiracial, heterogeneous and rigidly hierarchic society. This natural process might be accelerated by an inflow of European immigration. The many expectations and tensions surrounding immigration were expressed in the construction of categories of desirable and undesirable immigrants. Thereof an ideal white country emerged, far away from the myth of racial democracy, which has not materialized in Brazilian society today.

Origens da vida

We present a historical perspective about the ideas concerning the origin of life. After displaying the main topics necessary for understanding life's origin, the main characteristics of the present life forms and their relationships are shown, suggesting a common ancestor. The conditions for prebiotic chemistry in terrestrial or interplanetary environments are reviewed. We put in context the arguments about the early origin of replicators versus metabolism. The very narrow window for life settlement in the early Earth is stressed, pointing to the likelihood of life arising in other places in the Universe. Finally, we present the cornerstones of current search for life outside our planet.

Power electronics courses for the new paradigms of the electrical system

This paper presents a historical perspective of the Power Electronics education that has lead to the present situation in which such technology is indispensable for the exploitation of almost all type of clean energy primary sources. Some academic initiatives in Brazil are here discussed focusing the institutions grouped in a CAPES-Pró-Engenharia program. The curricula aspects and innovations are presented, emphasizing the multidisciplinary character of this field of Power Electronics application. © 2011 IEEE.

A música como recurso cênico de palhaços: Cia. Teatral Turma do Biribinha e Circo Amarillo

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Professores iniciantes: marcas de alteridade na constituição da profissionalidade docente

Pós-graduação em Educação - IBRC

O ensino de evolução biológica no nível médio: investigando concepções de professores de biologia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Os estudos de Avery, Macleod e Mccarty e a idéia do DNA como responsável pela hereditariedade: interpretações historiográficas e apontamentos para o ensino de biologia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Matemática no ensino primário: duas paisagens, uma história, muitas interrogações

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

O projeto de criação e a implantação da ANCINE - Agência Nacional de Cinema: caminhos da política para o fomento e a proteção dos audiovisuais no Brasil (2000-2006)

Pós-graduação em História - FCLAS

Dos pés à cabeça: a reestruturação produtiva e a atuação das mulheres nas indústrias no município de Franca/SP

Pós-graduação em Serviço Social - FCHS