Aspectos e fatores da produtividade em pesquisa, desenvolvimento e inovação

Comparison of national budgets for R&D is often made but it should consider the relative productivity and their factors. In Brazil, inefficiency factors as well as their causes have been diagnosed since the late 60's and solutions have been proposed within various governmental organisms, from CNPq to the strategy think tanks. Problems that hinder R&D and innovation in Brazil are reviewed from a historical perspective together with the proposed solutions providing a detailed analysis of the difficulties that have to be overcome to achieve a more effective innovation environment, adequate for the present times, challenges and opportunities.

Aspectos terapêuticos de compostos da planta Cannabis sativa

Several cannabinoid compounds present therapeutic properties, but also have psychotropic effects, limiting their use as medicine. Nowadays, many important discoveries on the compounds extracted from the plant Cannabis sativa (cannabinoids) have contributed to understand the therapeutic properties of these compounds. The main discoveries in the last years on the cannabinoid compounds were: the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, the endogenous cannabinoids and the possible mechanisms of action involved in the interaction between cannabinoid compounds and the biological receptors. So, from the therapeutical aspects presented in this work, we intended to show the evolution of the Cannabis sativa research and the possible medicinal use of cannabinoid compounds.

Cloreto isocianúrico e cloreto cianúrico: aspectos gerais e aplicações em síntese orgânica

The aromatic six-membered heterocycles having three nitrogen atoms are denominated triazines. Among these heterocycles, isocyanuric chloride and cyanuric chloride are inexpensive and readily available 1,3,5-triazine derivatives, which have been attracting significant attention of organic chemists due to their different kinds of applications, which vary from pharmaceuticals to explosives. This short overview explores their uses in synthetic methods, as chlorinating and oxidating agents and some procedures for their preparation.

Aspectos físico-químicos e biológicos relacionados à ocorrência de Biomphalaria glabrata em focos litorâneos da esquistossomose em Pernambuco

This study analyzes the physico-chemical and biological parameters of freshwater aquatic environments in coastal areas of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, where snail vector foci and cases of schistosomiasis have been recorded. The tests were carried out using standard methods and sediments were analyzed using the X-ray fluorescence technique. The micro-algae were analyzed using conventional microscopy. The most abundant chemical elements in the sediments were Fe, Ca, Si and Al and there were high concentrations of electrolytes in comparison with data published in the literature. The mean values for salinity (7.7 g/L) and sulfate (489 mg/L) were much higher than normal for freshwater environments. The micro-algae identified are those that inhabit environments with higher levels of salinity. The snail Biomphalaria glabrata seems, therefore, to be more tolerant to salty environments and this constitutes a risk of spread of schistosomiasis.

Aspectos estruturais relacionados ao processo de troca iônica no niobato lamelar K4Nb6O17

The niobate with formula K4Nb6O17 has a layered structure formed by stacked negative sheets and exchangeable cations in the interlayer region. In this study we discuss some structural aspects related to the ion exchange in layered hexaniobate based on X-ray diffractometry and vibrational Raman spectroscopy data. Hexaniobate has two distinct interlayer regions and the potassium ions of one interlayer in particular are preferably exchanged by other cations, leading to an interstratified material.

Aspectos químicos, biológicos e etnofarmacológicos do gênero Cassia

Species of Cassia are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, and have been extensively investigated chemically and pharmacologically.They are known to be a rich source of phenolic derivatives, most of them with important biological and pharmacological properties. Some Asian, African and Indian tribes use these species as a laxative, purgative, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent. Among a number of other classes of secondary metabolites, such as anthracene derivatives, antraquinones, steroids and stilbenoids, biologically active piperidine alkaloids are an especially important bioactive class of compounds that showed to be restricted to a small group of Cassia species. In this paper we present an overview of the chemical, biological and ethnopharmacological data on Cassia piblished in the literature.

Espectroscopia optogalvânica: alguns aspectos relevantes

In this work we present the optogalvanic effect in ionized gases in an historical perspective. This effect was observed for the first time by Foote and Mohler in 1925, and explained by Penning in 1928 for mixtures (Ne-Ar) and pure gases (or vapours) in 1937. Also, we show some aspects of the contributions of Romenian authors for the development of optogalvanic spectroscopy, which was used as a new technique only after 1964.

Aspectos toxicológicos e químicos da Anatoxina-a e seus análogos

Anatoxin-a and its analogues are azabicyclic alkaloids that represent one of the most powerful nicotinic agonists known for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Because of this potent mechanism of action, anatoxin-a and its derivatives represent a target for the discovery of novel drugs. Their syntheses are useful for environmental monitoring and also for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and toxicological studies. Some strategies for the synthesis of anatoxin-a and analogous compounds are described herein, covering the period from 1996 to the present date. In this review, emphasis is given to the chemical and toxicological aspects of some variants of anatoxin-a, including homoanatoxin-a and anatoxin-a(s).

A síntese da amônia: alguns aspectos históricos

The ammonia synthesis from its elements plays an important role in the survival of humankind. A short historical development of discoveries of the nitrogen cycle, the nitrogen sources for agriculture and the ammonia synthesis (in laboratory and industry) are presented. Some brief aspects of nitrogen chemistry are described. Short biographies of Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, the main persons in this epopee, are also presented.

Biodiversidade flavonoídica e aspectos farmacológicos em espécies dos gêneros Ouratea e Luxemburgia (Ochnaceae)

This work describes the flavonoids and biflavonoids found in species of Ouratea and Luxemburgia as chemical markers that serve to detect the difference between these taxa according to the linkage between the flavonoidal units. A rational nomenclature is proposed and the pharmacological potencial is discussed.

Reações de acoplamento cruzado de organossilanos catalisadas por paládio: aspectos históricos, sintéticos e mecanísticos

The development of the palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions employing organosilicon compounds is described. Important synthetic methods utilized to prepare organosilicons and different types of cross-coupling reactions involving these compounds are presented. Mechanistic aspects are also discussed.

Avaliação da filtração e ozonização de efluente sanitário primário: aspectos de inativação microbiana e variáveis de ozonização

Ozonation tests with and without prior filtration by means of a 50 micron mesh cartridge filter were conducted with primary sanitary effluents. Filtration led to increased inactivation efficiencies with regard to total and thermotolerant coliforms but it did not seem to influence heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria inactivation efficiencies significantly. Application of the Chick-Watson model to experimental data obtained in the situation of constant inactivation showed that the ozone dosage was more important to bacterial inactivation than the contact time with regard to the cases of thermotolerant coliform inactivation in filtered samples and HPC bacteria and total coliform inactivation in non-filtered samples.

Malária: aspectos históricos e quimioterapia

Malaria is still a very serious worldwide public health problem affecting between 300 and 500 million people and causing from 1.0 to 2.5 million deaths annually. The major problems with this disease are the lack of efficient vaccines and the rapid emergence of chemotherapy resistant P. falciparum strains. In this work we present a synopsis and discussion on malaria to provide the readers with some information on the historical aspects and relevance of this disease as well as the chemotherapy in use today.

Aspectos podológicos en las alteraciones de longitud pie-pierna

Al iniciar la exposición de este trabajo, debo reseñar de que con él, no he pretendido aportar nada nuevo, sino hacer una recopilación de una serie de datos, que me han sido de gran utilidad en mi práctica diaria, frente a un problema que me parecía poco común y que al contrario, cada vez es más frecuente como en la alteración en la longitud pie-pierna o dismetrías.

Alginato bacteriano: aspectos tecnológicos, características e produção

Alginate is a biopolymer used for a variety of industrial applications, for example, in the textiles, cosmetics, foods, agricultural and biotechnological industries. This biopolymer is traditionally extracted from some brown seaweeds (Phaeophyceae) and can be produced by bacteria isolated from soil, as Azotobacter vinelandii, like capsular polysaccharide using glucose, sucrose, among others as carbon sources. The main difference between the alginate of seaweed and the bacterial ones, is the biggest degree of acetylation of this last one, with great influence in the gel force. These chemical characteristics and production of bacterial alginate are presented in this work.