A cronologia da descoberta dos transmissores da malária na Amazônia brasileira

In the Amazon Region of Brazil, during the first three decades of this century, anophelines of the subgenus Nyssorhynchus not precisely identified to species were regarded as the probable malaria vectors. In 1931 and 1933 Anopheles darlingi, and in 1942-1946 An. aquasalis were confirmed as carriers, the former in the interior, the latter along the coast, because of their habits and salivary gland infection. An. albitarsis and An. braziliensis seemed to be occasional, secondary vectors. Forty years later, through immunological tests, other species are being pointed as naturally infected: An. triannulatus, An. nuneztovari, An. oswaldoi, An. strodei, An. galvaoi and An. peryassui. The importance of all incriminated species except An. darlingi (the main vector wherever present) and An. aquasalis has yet to be measured.

Construção de curva de juros de debêntures no mercado brasileiro utilizando a parametrização de Nelson-Siegel

O objetivo nesse trabalho é a construção da Estrutura a Termo de Taxa de Juros (ETTJ) das debêntures que se encontram disponíveis no mercado brasileiro, usando o modelo Nelson-Siegel (1987). As curvas de juros são divididas de acordo com o tipo de indexador e com a classificação de risco atribuída às debêntures. Por fim, foi possível mensurar o spread que existe entre o mercado de títulos privados (debêntures) e os títulos públicos.

Conflitos vivenciados pelas adolescentes com a descoberta da gravidez

O estudo investigou os conflitos vivenciados pelas adolescentes com a descoberta da gravidez. A pesquisa descritiva com 12 adolescentes grávidas foi realizada em Jucás-Ceará. Os achados foram analisados após agrupamento em categorias temáticas emergidas das falas das entrevistadas ao responderem à indagação: Como tem vivenciado a gravidez na adolescência? Verificou-se que a gravidez era vista como um problema indesejado e que as adolescentes tinham medo de partilhar sua descoberta com a família ou o companheiro. Foram observadas reações dos pais ou responsáveis e o baixo nível socioeconômico como determinantes da não aceitação da gestação. Concluiu-se que a gravidez na adolescência constitui-se um problema de Saúde Pública, que deve ser visualizado amplamente, percebendo-se a adolescente e seus problemas cotidianos.

Aplicação da descoberta de conhecimento em textos para apoio à construção de indicadores infométricos para a área de C&T

Relata resultados de pesquisa aplicando a descoberta de conhecimento em texto (DCT) em conteúdos textuais, importantes fontes de informação para tomada de decisão. O objetivo central da pesquisa foi verificar a eficácia da DCT na descoberta de informações para apoio à construção de indicadores e definição de políticas públicas. O estudo de caso foi o Serviço Brasileiro de Respostas Técnicas (SBRT) e a técnica aplicada a de agrupamento de documentos a partir dos termos minerados na base de dados. Comprovou-se a aplicabilidade da DCT na extração de informações ocultas em documentos textuais para subsidiar a tomada de decisão e a construção de indicadores, informações essas que não poderiam ser visualizadas utilizando-se recursos tradicionais de recuperação da informação. Observou-se a preocupação com o meio ambiente nas demandas feitas pelos usuários do SBRT e a aplicabilidade da DCT para orientação de políticas internas à rede SBRT.

Estratégia de simplificação molecular no planejamento racional de fármacos: a descoberta de novo agente cardioativo

In this article are described examples of the successful use of molecular simplification strategy in the discovery of new drugs from bioactive natural products and synthetic compounds. The discovery of a new cardiotonic derivative (37, 2-thienylidene-3,4-methylenedioxybenzoylhydrazine; LASSBio-294), efficiently synthesized from Brazilian natural product and structurally designed by molecular simplification of active pyridazinone compounds reported in the literature, is described. A brief description of the pharmacological profile of this new cardiotonic lead-compound, belonging to the N-acylhydrazone (NAH) class, is also reported herein.

Biodiversidade: fonte potencial para a descoberta de fármacos

In economic terms, biodiversity transcends the boundaries usually given to conventional industries because it is a valuable source of biological and chemical data of great use to drug discovery. Certainly, the use of natural products has been the single most successful strategy in the discovery of novel medicines, and most of the medical breakthroughs are based on natural products. Half of the top 20 best-selling drugs are natural products, and their total sales amounted to US$ 16 billions shows the importance of natural products, which is evidenced by the new chemical entities (NCE) approved by regulatory authorities around the world in the past decade. Recently, the approval of the alkaloid galanthamine as a medicine to treat Alzheimer's disease shows that natural compounds from plants will continue to reach the market. The huge biological diversity of the Brazilian biomes, by its ability to generate new knowledge and technological innovation can be a fantastic alternative as raw material for drug discovery.

Derivados oleananos e ursanos e sua importância na descoberta de novos fármacos com atividade antitumoral, anti-inflamatória e antioxidante

Oleanolic and ursolic acids are triterpenes that exist abundantly in the plant kingdom. They show antitumor activity and their cytotoxic activity was already evaluated against a broad range of cell lines. The inhibition of enzymes involved in the metabolism of DNA and the induction of apoptosis are known events that have been related to the antitumour activity of these triterpenes. The antiinflamatory and antioxidant activities also seem to play an important role in their antitumour activity. In this review, it is presented an overview of the importance of the potential antitumour, antiinflamatory and antioxidant activities of these triterpenoid derivatives. Also, we propose a structural-activity relationship to triterpenes containing oleanane or ursane skeleton and their cytotoxic activity.

Antibióticos: importância terapêutica e perspectivas para a descoberta e desenvolvimento de novos agentes

There is a continuous need for antibiotics, mainly with new mechanisms of action, since infectious diseases represent the second major cause of death in the world and bacteria resistance levels are high. This review describes the contribution of microbial natural products for the development of the major antibiotic classes, the mechanisms of action of current antibiotics, some modern approaches involving genetic tools for the discovery and development of new antibiotics from microbial products and antibiotics in clinical trials.

Ações de divulgação de química na Casa da Descoberta - centro de divulgação de ciência da Universidade Federal Fluminense

This paper describes the main activities regarding scientific dissemination in the field of Chemistry at Casa da Descoberta (CD) - a Scientific Dissemination Center of the Fluminense Federal University. It presents a brief history of CD and discusses the difficulties concerning the dissemination of Chemistry at Scientific Dissemination Centers. This work also approaches some activities developed throughout the years: experiments performed in relation to the visitors' daily life, training of monitors to act as mediators in the non-formal teaching of Chemistry, production of dissemination materials, elaboration of books, as well as activities that relate formal to non-formal education.

Os nanomateriais e a descoberta de novos mundos na bancada do químico

In recent years there has been great progress in the field of nanotechnology largely driven by research into nanomaterials. Chemistry appears in this context for its relevant role in the synthesis and surface modification of nanomaterials. This review article discusses fundamental concepts related to the synthesis and properties of inorganic nanoparticles with diverse properties. Aspects related to unique size dependent optical and magnetic properties are discussed and the chemistry involved in the preparation of nanomaterials reviewed. Fundamental aspects of the chemical modification of nanoparticles envisaging potential applications for these materials are also addressed.