Prestação de contas de convênios com recursos do FNDCT na FINEP: proposta de orientações aos convenentes

O objetivo desta pesquisa é fornecer informações que propiciem ao gestor de convênios, condição necessária para apresentar uma prestação de contas com maior probabilidade de aceitação por parte da FINEP. Foram pesquisadas as causas dos erros mais frequentes detectados na execução financeira dos projetos que impedem a aprovação da prestação de contas no momento da análise. A pesquisa foi realizada em duas etapas: pesquisa documental e tratamento dos dados. A primeira etapa foi qualitativa constando de coleta de dados e análise documental. O período analisado foi de 01/01/2013 a 30/11/2013, por serem as mais recentes, abrangendo convênios assinados entre 2001 e 2012. Nesta pesquisa foram considerados todos os convênios analisados no período acima referido, apoiados com recursos FNDCT para desenvolvimento de estudos e pesquisas, analisados pela FINEP, e com ao menos uma impropriedade. A pesquisa documental foi realizada no Departamento de Prestação de Contas de Convênio, Termos e Acordos de Cooperação - DPC1, responsável pelo acompanhamento da execução financeira dos convênios na FINEP. Cabe informar que foram analisados 2.476 convênios ao todo no ano de 2013, sendo 1.248 aprovados e 1.228 com alguma impropriedade. A segunda etapa da pesquisa foi quantitativa, e a técnica por saturação, utilizando estatística descritiva com análise exploratória dos dados. O tratamento dos dados foi realizado a partir da distribuição de frequência observada. Como resultado da pesquisa, observa-se que as dez impropriedades mais recorrentes correspondem a 90% de todas as impropriedades do período analisado. Diante disto, cabe a proposta de orientação ao convenente, através de um FAQ no site da FINEP, abordando assuntos afetos a convênios assinados com recursos FNDCT, de fácil entendimento e acesso.

Plasma Superoxide Dismutase-1 as a Surrogate Marker of Vivax Malaria Severity

Background: Severe outcomes have been described for both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infections. The identification of sensitive and reliable markers of disease severity is fundamental to improving patient care. An intense pro-inflammatory response with oxidative stress and production of reactive oxygen species is present in malaria. Inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and antioxidant agents such as superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) are likely candidate biomarkers for disease severity. Here we tested whether plasma levels of SOD-1 could serve as a biomarker of severe vivax malaria. Methodology/Principal Findings: Plasma samples were obtained from residents of the Brazilian Amazon with a high risk for P. vivax transmission. Malaria diagnosis was made by both microscopy and nested PCR. A total of 219 individuals were enrolled: non-infected volunteers (n = 90) and individuals with vivax malaria: asymptomatic (n = 60), mild (n = 50) and severe infection (n = 19). SOD-1 was directly associated with parasitaemia, plasma creatinine and alanine amino-transaminase levels, while TNF-alpha correlated only with the later enzyme. The predictive power of SOD-1 and TNF-alpha levels was compared. SOD-1 protein levels were more effective at predicting vivax malaria severity than TNF-alpha. For discrimination of mild infection, elevated SOD-1 levels showed greater sensitivity than TNF-alpha (76% vs. 30% respectively; p < 0.0001), with higher specificity (100% vs. 97%; p < 0.0001). In predicting severe vivax malaria, SOD-1 levels exhibited higher sensitivity than TNF-alpha (80% vs. 56%, respectively; p < 0.0001; likelihood ratio: 7.45 vs. 3.14; p, 0.0001). Neither SOD-1 nor TNF-alpha could discriminate P. vivax infections from those caused by P. falciparum. Conclusion: SOD-1 is a powerful predictor of disease severity in individuals with different clinical presentations of vivax malaria.

Anti-Anopheles darlingi saliva antibodies as marker of Plasmodium vivax infection and clinical immunity in the Brazilian Amazon

Background: Despite governmental and private efforts on providing malaria control, this disease continues to be a major health threat. Thus, innovative strategies are needed to reduce disease burden. The malaria vectors, through the injection of saliva into the host skin, play important role on disease transmission and may influence malaria morbidity. This study describes the humoral immune response against Anopheles (An.) darlingi saliva in volunteers from the Brazilian Amazon and addresses the association between levels of specific antibodies and clinical presentation of Plasmodium (P.) vivax infection. Methods: Adult volunteers from communities in the Rondonia State, Brazil, were screened in order to assess the presence of P. vivax infection by light microscopy and nested PCR. Non-infected volunteers and individuals with symptomatic or symptomless infection were randomly selected and plasma collected. An. darlingi salivary gland sonicates (SGS) were prepared and used to measure anti-saliva antibody levels. Plasma interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels were also estimated and correlated to anti-SGS levels. Results: Individuals infected with P. vivax presented higher levels of anti-SGS than non-infected individuals and antibody levels could discriminate infection. Furthermore, anti-saliva antibody measurement was also useful to distinguish asymptomatic infection from non-infection, with a high likelihood ratio. Interestingly, individuals with asymptomatic parasitaemia presented higher titers of anti-SGS and lower IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio than symptomatic ones. In P. vivax-infected asymptomatic individuals, the IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio was inversely correlated to anti-SGS titers, although not for while in symptomatic volunteers. Conclusion: The estimation of anti-An. darlingi antibody levels can indicate the probable P. vivax infection status and also could serve as a marker of disease severity in this region of Brazilian Amazon.

Hepatitis B Infection Is Associated with Asymptomatic Malaria in the Brazilian Amazon

Background: Areas that are endemic for malaria are also highly endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Nevertheless, it is unknown whether HBV infection modifies the clinical presentation of malaria. This study aimed to address this question. Methodology and Findings: An observational study of 636 individuals was performed in Rondonia, western Amazon, Brazil between 2006 and 2007. Active and passive case detections identified Plasmodium infection by field microscopy and nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). HBV infections were identified by serology and confirmed by real-time PCR. Epidemiological information and plasma cytokine profiles were studied. The data were analyzed using adjusted multinomial logistic regression. Plasmodium-infected individuals with active HBV infection were more likely to be asymptomatic (OR: 120.13, P < 0.0001), present with lower levels of parasitemia and demonstrate a decreased inflammatory cytokine profile. Nevertheless, co-infected individuals presented higher HBV viremia. Plasmodium parasitemia inversely correlated with plasma HBV DNA levels (r=-0.6; P=0.0003). Conclusion: HBV infection diminishes the intensity of malaria infection in individuals from this endemic area. This effect seems related to cytokine balance and control of inflammatory responses. These findings add important insights to the understanding of the factors affecting the clinical outcomes of malaria in endemic regions.

Estudo exploratório das dificuldades do desenvolvimento de pesquisas científicas financiadas com recursos não reembolsáveis na modalidade convênio, com foco na FINEP

O Objetivo desta pesquisa é conhecer, a partir da percepção de pesquisadores e de analistas da Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (Finep), os principais entraves que impactam o desenvolvimento de projetos de pesquisas científicas e tecnológicas financiados por recursos públicos não reembolsáveis no âmbito de convênios, com ênfase naqueles contratados junto a esta Financiadora. Este trabalho tem relevância a partir da constatação de que os recursos públicos para pesquisa e desenvolvimento vêm sofrendo redução de volume. O Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FNDCT), maior financiador público do país para Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, há alguns anos tem tido seu orçamento contingenciado e recentemente perdeu 40% do seu orçamento anual por conta da transferência de destinação dos recursos do Fundo Setorial de Petróleo e Gás Natural (CT-Petro). Neste contexto, a oferta de recursos públicos para pesquisas científicas e tecnológicas das universidades e outros centros de pesquisa ficou mais escassa. Esta circunstância exige que as instituições de pesquisa, por um lado elaborem projetos mais consistentes e bem estruturados, de forma a aumentar as chances de conquistar verbas junto às financiadoras públicas e, por outro lado, apliquem os recursos com eficiência para potencializar os resultados das pesquisas. A Finep, como secretaria executiva do FNDCT, tem papel destacado no apoio a projetos de pesquisa no país. Neste sentido, a proposição de um estudo para conhecer as dificuldades do desenvolvimento de pesquisas em projetos com a Finep assume destaque. A partir da discussão do tema, podem surgir novos caminhos e alternativas para melhoria da gestão dos projetos de pesquisa e com isso um melhor aproveitamento dos recursos em prol da Ciência.

Análise da evolução costeira do litoral setentrional do estado do rio grande do norte, região sob influência da indústria petrolífera

The northern coast of Rio Grande do Norte State is characterized by strong changes in coastal morphology, caused by various geological and climatic factors. In this region are installed the main socio-economic activities of the State, highlighting the oil industry, which exerts much of its activities in the coastal area studied. Erosion is a constant problem in this region because it affects the entire local populace to the destruction of houses and trade, rendering tourism, affecting the livelihood activities and industrial activities. The greatest risk is related to environmental damage that can be caused by the oil spill in this region. To understand what determines the changes in coastal morphology this Doctoral Thesis is proposed to identify the factors at local, regional and even global corroborate coastal dynamics to this coast in question. For this study, used several different products and tools for interpreting the conditions of the erosive effect that dominates the whole northern coast of the State, in an attempt to quantify and describe the causes and effects that affect the entire coastal zone monitored. The development of activities is built into the projects Rede 05 PETROMAR (CTPETRO-FINEP/PETROBRAS/CNPq), PETRORISCO, HIDROSEMA, PETROMAR e Rede 05/04 POTMAR (FNDCT/CTPETROFINEP/ CNPq), in the activities of multidisciplinary and inter-features in issues involving environmental monitoring and oil activity

Two new genera of Pteronemobiini crickets from the Brazilian Atlantic forest (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Trigonidiidae, Nemobiinae)

Two new genera and species of Pteronemobiini crickets (Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae: Nemobiinae) are described from southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Kevanemobius paulistorum gen. n. et sp. n., and Pepoyara jagoi gen. n. et sp. n. The position of these genera among other Pteronemobiini is briefly discussed.