A política de inovação e a formação do químico

In December 2004, Brazil's President signed Law number 10.973, which provides for incentives toward innovation, scientific and technological research in the production environment and other measures, also known as the Law of Innovation. Although Brazil has advanced greatly in the number of scientific articles published, currently accounting for about 3% of world scientific output, this progress has not been replicated in the production of patents. This article presents a discussion on the importance of introducing patent issues into national undergraduate courses.

Inovação & propriedade industrial & indústria química

ABSTRACT The main aim of this paper was to contribute to reflections in Brazil on the need to transfer knowledge held at universities and R&D institutions over to companies, i.e. to transfer scientific knowledge of chemistry to technology. It discusses how the competitiveness of countries is increasingly dependent on their technological capacity. The chemicals industry is a fundamental driver of social, environmental, economic and industrial indicators of sustainable development. In Brazil, the chemicals industry's deficit has grown over the last three decades. Patents are important sources of information because patent documents contain 75% of all technological information available. The National Institute of Industrial Property in Brazil has created a Technology Observatory with the purpose of identifying and analyzing technological information contained in patent documents within the ambit of partnerships with government entities or business associations, in order to support their technology-related decision-making processes. The paper gives examples of ethanol and biotechnology patent documents, including pharmaceuticals, of which there are very few in Brazil. However, a few of the patent applications identified are filed in Brazil, giving the country the opportunity to transform this scientific knowledge into technology by means of partnership agreements with companies. Finally, the paper presents information on the patent applications filed by the world's leading chemicals companies as measured by their revenues, and the respective numbers of patent applications in the last five years in organic chemistry and polymers, sectors in which Brazil is currently dependent on imports for over 50% of its needs. The patent assignees in these sectors in Brazil are also identified, and the paper concludes that Brazil needs to invest in the development of professionals, providing clearly-defined career paths in technology innovation teams at R&D institutions, and to foster more initiatives such as the creation of a new research and innovation entity, EMBRAPII, since investing in science and technology is a prerequisite for knowledge production, industrial property, economic development and, consequently, the competitiveness of the country.

Panorama de propriedade intelectual, transferência de tecnologia e inovação da química brasileira e a comparação com os países do BRIC

Based on Science, Technology & Innovation (ST&I) indicators, Brazil is a competitive and interesting country from the point of view of technological foreign investment. However, it is still incipient with regard to national investments, production of technological knowledge, inbound mobility of scientists and technology transfer to the productive sector. Among many other factors, global patent production is considered as an important indicator of innovation. Likewise, the balance between revenue and expenses obtained through royalties and licensing fees of technologies is also critical in mapping the diffusion and absorption of knowledge. The understanding of intellectual property and its strategic management brings a significant advantage to the economic and technological development of nations, especially in the field of chemistry, which greatly contributes to biotechnology, new materials and microelectronics - three fundamental areas for innovation in developed countries. Therefore, this article aims to map out competencies in chemistry in Brazil and evaluate science, technology and innovation indicators in the country, comparing this dynamic to the one of other BRIC members (Russia, India and China). Chemistry is the fourth biggest field of interest in Brazil based on the number of researchers registered at the governmental platform for researchers, Plataforma Lattes/CNPq, and is preceded by education, medicine and agronomy. The majority of research groups are registered in the area of materials, followed by macromolecules and polymers, pharmaceutical products and basic materials chemistry. These groups represent approximately 77% of research groups analyzed, therefore, indicating a tendency in the country. The analyses of patents in different sub-areas of chemistry reveal that non-residents file most deposits in the country, a probable reflection of the low internal intellectual property culture. Pharmaceutics and Fine Chemistry are prominent areas in the country, in line with the global trend. Among BRIC countries, China has the highest number of patents and of requests for protection in international offices. On the other hand, Brazil has the lowest number of chemical patents published at USPTO, EPO and JPO. An analysis of the transfer of technology data indicates an increase in this activity in various sub-areas of chemistry in the country. Despite the great efforts made by the country to consolidate its national innovation system, more needs to be done to put Brazil in a competitive position. In a globalized world dominated by large players, Brazil needs a lot of progress on ownership and generation of chemistry technologies to strengthen its national sovereignty. It is essential to strengthen chemical research at all levels, from elementary school to university, as an inexhaustible source of knowledge and technology that, when properly protected, may generate real public achievement and social return.

BUSCAS DE INFORMAÇÕES TECNOLÓGICAS COM BASE EM DADOS DE PATENTES: ESTUDO DE CASO DOS LÍQUIDOS IÔNICOS NO BRASIL

This study describes the application of the Art of Scientific and Technological Search to strategically analyze areas of technological and industrial development. Application of scientific search strategies such as the creation of Patent Landscape has been shown to be useful for writing research projects, earning grants, publishing papers, drafting patent applications, and analyzing the market and economic potentials of a previous determined subject. The Patent Landscape regards a simplified analysis of technologies concerning ionic liquids patents applied in Brazil and published by Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial(INPI). A total of 93 patent applications using the keywords "ionic liquids" were found in the INPI database. Among these, 75% were nonresident applications and 25% were Brazilian resident applications. Interestingly, BASF, Chevron Industries, and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) were discovered as higher patent applicant assignees. Differences in the patent application areas were also observed between these applicants, with new solvents and petrochemical applications as the areas of focus for the industrial applications (BASF and Chevron Industries), and energy production, catalysis, and chemical reaction media as the focus for the university applications.

PERFIL DOS BOLSISTAS DE PRODUTIVIDADE EM PESQUISA NAS SUBÁREAS DA QUÍMICA DO CNPq

The profile analysis of CNPq Research Productivity Fellows (PQ) in the four subfields of chemistry and in their respective specialties highlighted particularities with regard to the indicators related to the judging criteria established by the Chemistry Advisory Committee. The curricula of all 727 PQ fellows with active grants in 15/03/2013 were analyzed spanning the past10 years (2003-2013). Out of all PQ-1 fellows, researchers in the subfield of Organic Chemistry had the highest median number of articles published per year. The subfield of Analytical Chemistry qualifies a higher number of postgraduate level students in comparison to other Chemistry subfields. Furthermore, this subfield had the highest average Hirsch index among PQ-1A and PQ-1B fellows. On the other hand, Inorganic Chemistry had the highest average number of patent applications per researcher, while Physical Chemistry had the specialties with the highest citation rates per paper and the highest average impact factors per journal. In all subfields, women made up a low proportion, especially at the highest levels of PQ fellowships. Although quantitative differences in scientific output were observed among the subfields, qualitative evaluation of science output was not carried out.

Escaping the flybottle: solipsism and method in Wittgenstein's Philosophical Remarks

The paper supports a dialectical interpretation of Wittgenstein's method focusing on the analysis of the conditions of experience presented in his Philosophical Remarks. By means of a close reading of some key passages dealing with solipsism I will try to lay bare their self-subverting character: the fact that they amount to miniature dialectical exercises offering specific directions to pass from particular pieces of disguised nonsense to corresponding pieces of patent nonsense. Yet, in order to follow those directions one needs to allow oneself to become simultaneously tempted by and suspicious of their all-too-evident "metaphysical tone" - a tone which, as we shall see, is particularly manifest in those claims purporting to state what can or cannot be the case, and, still more particularly, those purporting to state what can or cannot be done in language or thought, thus leading to the view that there are some (determinate) things which are ineffable or unthinkable. I conclude by suggesting that in writing those remarks Wittgenstein was still moved by an ethical project, which gets conspicuously displayed in these reiterations of his attempts to cure the readers (and himself) from some of the temptations expressed by solipsism.

Síndrome de Prune Belly

Prune Belly Syndrome is a fetal uropathy of unknown etiology with incidence of 1/35000 to 1/50000 alive been born, characterized by a classical triad: abdominal musculature congenital deficiency, bilateral criptorquidia and urinary tract malformations. The authors present a case of this rare pathology associated with a patent urachus. After complementary exams confirmed urinary tract alterations (bilateral ureterohidronefrosis and vesicoureteral reflux degree 5, besides urinary infection), the surgical approach was vesicostomy to decrease urinary infections and sepsis. Definitve surgery should be accomplished around the 12th month of life. Nowadays, the child is asymptomatic , with follow-up every two months, with return consultation bimonthly.

Aspectos médico-legais da cirurgia para hérnia inguinal

Professional responsibility is an inherent factor to the medical activity. Therefore, the adoption of a healthy conduct based on good relationship between the physician and the patient, as well as the understanding of this professional of the several aspects involved in the inguinal hernia repairs, are considered the better means to protect himself against possible litigations with its patients. This issue provides a complete evaluation of medical and legal problems related to the inguinal hernia surgery, and discusses the care that surgeon must exercise during preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods. That authors also comment about medical error and its conception from the point of the new Civil Code.

Corpos estranhos provenientes de acessos cirúrgicos à cavidade abdominal: aspectos fisiopatológicos e implicações médico legais

There is no large series about retained foreign bodies in abdominal cavity. In fact data are underestimated because of the lack of reports considering its serious medicolegal implications. An inflammatory fibrotic process inside the peritoneal cavity, a virtual discharge of inorganic material through the surgical incision and also a slow process of transmural migration into the intestinal lumen are the most frequent pathophysiologic situations. It is not uncommon the incidental diagnosis of foreign body and radiographic studies may be particularly helpful to elucidate the etiology. An early recognition minimizes the surgical risks and contributes to avoid severe complications. The best approach is to adopt preventive measures. Careful peroperative materials vigilance and instrumentation and also a meticulous check at the end of operations are essential to avoid such legal responsibility.

Excisão laparoscópica de úraco remanescente em um adulto

Abnormalities of the urachus in adults are uncommon. Urachal tract remnants, which abnormally remain patent, may be responsible for abdominal pain and infection. The persistence of the urachus can lead to several abnormalities; and the patent urachus is one of the less frequent. A 25-year-old man presented a fluid secretion from the umbilicus that bled once and had three previous episodes of abdominal pain. Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed a patent urachus, which was confirmed by anatomopathological examination. The goal of this article is to report an urachal excision in a young adult with persistence of a patent urachus fully performed laparoscopically.

Endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysm. Early and midterm results

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular repair of popliteal artery aneurysms on maintaining patency of the stent in the short and medium term. METHODS: this was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study, conducted at the Integrated Vascular Surgery Service at the Hospital da Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo. We followed-up 15 patients with popliteal aneurysm, totaling 18 limbs, treated with stent from May 2008 to December 2012. RESULTS: the mean follow-up was 14.8 months. During this period, 61.1% of the stents were patent. The average aneurysm diameter was 2.5cm, ranging from 1.1 to 4.5cm. The average length was 5cm, ranging from 1.5 to 10 cm. In eight cases (47.1%), the lesion crossed the joint line, and in four of these occlusion of the prosthesis occurred. In 66.7% of cases, treatment was elective and only 33.3% were symptomatic patients treated on an emergency basis. The stents used were Viabahn (Gore) in 12 cases (66.7%), Fluency (Bard) in three cases (16.7%), Multilayer (Cardiatis) in two cases (11.1%) and Hemobahn (Gore) in one case (5.6%). In three cases, there was early occlusion (16.6%). During follow-up, 88.2% of patients maintained antiplatelet therapy. There was no leakage at ultrasound (endoleak). No fracture was observed in the stents. CONCLUSION: the results of this study are similar to other published series. Probably, with the development of new devices that support the mechanical characteristics found on the thighs, there will be improved performance and prognosis of endovascular restoration.

Natural infection of calves by Anaplasma marginale in dairy herds of the Metalúrgica Region, Minas Gerais

The dynamic of natural infections by Anaplasma marginale in calves was evaluated during a period of one year on two farms located in the Metalúrgica Region, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood samples were collected weekly for rickettsemia and packed cell volume (PCV) determination. The animals born from March to July suffered the infection in October and November, independently of their age, whilst calves born from September to December acquired the infection during the first days of life. These animals presented patent rickettsemia from 30 days of life. During the patent period PCV decreased after one week of infection, ranging from 20 to 23%. It was concluded, that in the region studied, the transmission of A. marginale is influenced by climatic conditions, and that calves born during the dry season are more likely to acquire the infection when they are exposed to high transmission levels during the subsequent raining season.

Uterine lymphangiography: comparison of two methods for locating the medial iliac lymph node

Different methods for lymphatic mapping in dogs, such as infusing tissues with vital dyes or radioactive substances, have been studied, aiming at the early detection of lymph node metastasis. Thus, one could anticipate therapeutic measures and, consequently, prolong the survival and improve the quality of life of the patients. The objectives of this experiment were to locate the nodes responsible for draining the uterine body and horns and to try to establish the relationship between the uterus and the medial iliac lymph nodes to contribute to the early diagnosis and prognosis of uterine disorders. We studied 15 female dogs divided into two groups (5 dead and 10 intraoperative ovariohysterectomy bitches). The dye used was patent blue V (Patent Bleu V®). It was observed that the iliac lymph node chain receives much of the uterine (horns) drainage. This method should be considered for safer studies of uterine sanity. This information suggests that evaluating these lymph nodes will allow correlating changes in their physiological status with uterine pathologies.

The Brazilian investment in science and technology

An analysis of Brazilian federal expenditures in science and technology is presented is this study. The 1990-1999 data were compiled from records provided by two federal agencies (MCT and CNPq) responsible for managing most of the national budget related to these activities. The results indicate that the federal investments in Brazilian science and technology stagnated during the last decade (US$ 2.32 billion in 1990, US$ 2.39 billion in 1996, and US$ 2.36 billion in 1999). In contrast, a great increase in private investments in research was acknowledged both by industry and by the government during the same period, from US$ 2.12 to US$ 4.64 billion. However, this investment did not result in an increase in invention patents granted to residents (492 in 1990 and only 232 in 1997) or in a reduction of patent costs. Despite this unfavorable scenario, the number of graduate programs in the country has increased two-fold in the last decade and the contribution of Brazilians to the database of the Institute for Scientific Information has increased 4.7-fold from 1990 (2,725 scientific publications) to 2000 (12,686 scientific publications). Unstable federal resources for science, together with the poor returns of private resources in terms of developing new technologies, may jeopardize the future of Brazilian technological development.

Thr(118)Met amino acid substitution in the peripheral myelin protein 22 does not influence the clinical phenotype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A due to the 17p11.2-p12 duplication

The Thr(118)Met substitution in the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene has been detected in a number of families with demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT1) neuropathy or with the hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy, but in none of them has it consistently segregated with the peripheral neuropathy. We describe here a CMT1 family (a 63-year-old man, his brother and his niece) in which two mutations on different chromosomes were found in the PMP22 gene, the 17p duplication, detected by fluorescent semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of microsatellite markers localized within the duplicated region on chromosome 17p11.2-p12, and the Thr(118)Met substitution, detected by direct sequencing the four coding exons of the PMP22 gene. A genotype/phenotype correlation study showed that the neuropathy segregates with the duplication and that the amino acid substitution does not seem to modify the clinical characteristics or the severity of the peripheral neuropathy. We did not find any evidence to characterize this substitution as a polymorphism in the population studied and we propose that the high frequency reported for this point mutation in the literature suggests that the Thr(118)Met substitution may be a hotspot for mutations in the PMP22 gene.