Brazilian Angiostrongylus cantonensis haplotypes, ac8 and ac9, have two different biological and morphological profiles

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the etiologic agent of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. Cases have been recorded in many parts of the world, including Brazil. The aim of this study was to compare the differences in the biology and morphology of two different Brazilian haplotypes of A. : ac8 and ac9. A significantly larger number of L1 larvae eliminated in the faeces of rodents at the beginning of the patent period was observed for ac9 haplotype and compared to the total of L1 larvae eliminated, there was a significant difference between the two haplotypes. The ac9 haplotype showed a significant difference in the proportion of female and male specimens (0.6:1), but the same was not observed for ac8 (1.2:1). The morphometric analysis showed that male and female specimens isolated from ac8 haplotype were significantly larger with respect to body length, oesophagus length, spicule length (male) and distance from the anus to the rear end (female) compared to specimens from ac9. The morphological analysis by light microscopy showed little variation in the level of bifurcations at the lateral rays in the right lobe of the copulatory bursa between the two haplotypes. The biological, morphological and morphometric variations observed between the two haplotypes agree with the observed variation at the molecular level using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I marker and reinforce the possible influence of geographical isolation on the development of these haplotypes.

O perfil Brasileiro de propriedade intelectual em radiologia e diagnóstico por imagem em um contexto internacional, nos anos 2000-2009

OBJETIVO: Analisar a inovação tecnológica brasileira na área de radiologia e diagnóstico por imagem, em termos de indicadores de patentes. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo analítico-exploratório de informações recuperadas por meio de consultas cruzadas nas bases de dados dos escritórios de propriedade intelectual do Brasil (Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial - INPI), dos Estados Unidos (United States Patent and Trademark Office - USPTO) e da Europa (European Patent Office - EPO). RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas 277.057 patentes. Desse total, 7.800 foram registradas no INPI (3%), 65.428 (24%) registradas no EPO e 203.829 (73%) emitidas no USPTO. O Brasil é o país signatário em 1.732 patentes publicadas no INPI, 80 no EPO e 26 no escritório USPTO. Globalmente, 219.993 (79%) patentes referiam-se a dispositivos eletrônicos ligados a informática em saúde, ultrassonografia, ressonância magnética, tomografia computadorizada e procedimentos de geração, comunicação e arquivamento de imagens, e 57.064 (21%) das patentes tratavam das tecnologias relacionadas a radioproteção e dosimetria, física nuclear, eletroterapia, terapia magnética e radioterapia. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos apontam para a fragilidade da produção nacional de inovação tecnológica registrada em patentes, no campo de radiologia e diagnóstico por Imagem.

A nova lei de patentes, a indústria química e a universidade

This paper aims to present some features of the Industrial Property Law now in force in Brazil, as far as they could be regarded to the activities of research and development in the field of Chemistry and related areas, not only in the chemical industry but also in the university. By means of analysis of the main articles and paragraphs, which could deal with the mentioned activities, the author points out the scope and limitations of that law and explains the meaning of common technical terms usually found in patent concerns. Ultimately, a brief discussion on the actual and the potential role of the Brazilian university in the sphere of the Industrial Property is made.

Informação de patentes: ferramenta indispensável para a pesquisa e o desenvolvimento tecnológico

As technological information is published mainly as a patent, it is fundamental for the country development to know the patent system. In this article it is presented basic information on intellectual property, in special on patent. It is showed the structure of the patent documents, and it is given notions on International Classification and patent data banks.

Mercury in soils and sediments from gold mining liabilities in Southern Amazonia

The 1980-1990 Amazonian gold rush left an enormous liability that increasingly has been substituted by developing fish aquaculture. This work aimed at the identification of the mercury levels in the environment, associated with fish farms located in the North of Mato Grosso State, Southern Amazon. Sediment and soil samples were analyzed for total organic carbon and total mercury. Results indicate that the chemical characteristics of the sediment largely depend on the management procedures of the fish pond (liming, fish food used and fish population). The soils presented relatively low concentrations when compared with other data from the literature.

70º aniversário do biodiesel em 2007: evolução histórica e situação atual no brasil

Periodically, during petroleum shortages, vegetable oils and their derivatives have been proposed as alternatives to petroleum diesel fuel. Different approaches have been proposed, including the use of pure vegetable oils (or blends) or their derivatives. Indeed, the use of fatty-acid methyl or ethyl esters (usually known as "biodiesel") produced by alcoholysis of triacylglycerides or esterification of fatty acids was initially proposed in Belgium 70 years ago, when the first world patent was deposited. Recently, foreign dependence on diesel fuel and the petroleum crisis have increased the discussion in Brazil on starting to use alternatives to diesel fuel, being biodiesel the alternative of choice for a large petroleum diesel substitution program.

Gestão das inovações incrementais, o caso Omeprazola

Our report shows the strategies adopted by pharmaceutical industry in the development of incremental innovations, through the development carried out after the launch of omeprazole. Some improvements are really necessary and others are used only as a market strategy and evergreening.

Como pesquisar o perfil patentário de um fármaco: o caso Efavirenz

The importance of the patent system for researchers, especially in chemistry and related areas, is undeniable. In this context, this work aims at guiding the search in major search engines of patents, in order to map the patents related to a specific chemical compound and identify the material that each patent document protects. In this case study, it was performed a search for the drug efavirenz to demonstrate how to conduct a literature search in patents databases and to map patent applications at national and international levels.

Controvérsias sobre a proteção patentária de segundo uso médico de compostos químicos conhecidos

The present work provides an overview of patent protection for second medical use of known chemical compounds, in Brazil and other countries, through the approach of the main controversies related to this theme. That issues encompass aspects related to the legality of the protection granted by the patent, the general requirements of patenteability, the ethic and social concepts and the politic and economic factors involved. This work also introduces the diverging views of the two Brazilian government agencies involved in the procedure for granting patent in the pharmaceutical area, INPI and ANVISA.

Processo de transferência de tecnologia da universidade para a indústria: estudo de caso envolvendo a conversão de glicerol

Currently, public policy has encouraged innovation in universities and also transference of technology to the industry. Another important stage to be considered would be the registration or filing of a patent and the economical viability study. Government programs, such as the innovation incentive program, among others, should facilitate popularization and promote interest by industry. In this work we described the steps, from the conception of the idea to the scale up going through its interest by the industry. The case study is about the glycerol conversion utilizing modified niobia as catalysts.

De aromas e perfumes, o mercado da indústria do "cheiro"

Several flavors and fragrances (F&F) companies hold the economic leadership in the market, although not always have also the leadership in patent applications. The ranking of technological production in the fragrance area still remains with industries while scientific knowledge is equally shared between industries and academia. Contextualizing Brazil in this scene, despite all scientific expertise gained over the years, brazilian technological park is still at the beginning of the production of technologies applied directly to the F&F industries. The dependence on foreign technologies is remarkable as indicated by the great trade deficit in this sector.

Desmistificando a proteção por patentes nas universidades

Brazilian universities and research institutions still fail to protect the knowledge and technology produced by their community of students, staff and professors while Intellectual Property (IP) issues along with the role of patents and their strategic management in educational and research institutions remain taboo or misunderstood. The focus of this work was to demystify these subjects, including IP, patents and their requirements, the decision to patent as well as tips for successful patenting. Any student, professor or researcher of an educational or research institution can invent and protect their technology. This paper shows how to make such a patent application.

Absorção de bário por plantas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) e mobilidade em solo tratado com baritina sob diferentes condições de potencial redox

Two parallel tests were carried out to evaluate barium solubility in soils treated with barite under reducing conditions: one in leaching columns and another with potted plants cultivated with rice. Soils were treated with three doses of barite and kept at two humidity levels. The reduction (-200 mV) condition promoted an increase in barium in the geochemical fraction of higher liability, higher concentrations of barium in the leached extracts, and higher absorption by rice plants. As a result of increased uptake and accumulation of barium, the plants showed stunted growth

Patenteamento em nanotecnologia no Brasil: desenvolvimento, potencialidades e reflexões para o meio ambiente e a saúde humana

Nanotechnology developments continue to be produced at exponential rates for a wide and diverse range of applications. In this paper was done a study of technological forecasting in nanotechnology applied to health, based on information drawn in Brazil from 1991 to 2010. The longitudinal evolutions of the number of patent applications, their topics, and their respective patent families have been evaluated for the total global activity. There were obtained 1352 patent applications in this period. It were analyzed the legal nature of the depositors, the year of deposit, depositors' home countries and processes. It has been a goal subsidizes the policy-makers to adapt and modernize the regulatory framework on nanotechnology and risks involving health as a strategic area in the politics of Science.

Patentes depositadas em âmbito nacional como indicador de desenvolvimento das tecnologias de produção de hidrogênio

Brazil is considered a major player in relation to renewable energy sources. Since 2005, the MME have encouraged scientific and technological development to advance the hydrogen economy in the country. In this work we identified the patents based on hydrogen production filed by the INPI by evaluating the energy production in Brazil in conjunction with data held in the BNE and the prediction of hydrogen production made by the CGEE. It can be observed that the country needs substantial technological stimulation, but shows promise for producing renewable energy sources.