Brazilian Program Research Articles

“Antarctic on fire”: Paleo-wildfire events associated with volcanic deposits in the Antarctic Peninsula during the Late Cretaceous

The occurrence of paleo-wildfire events during the Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous is demonstrated in this study for the first time with deposits from the King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula. With the aim of providing information that fills important paleoenvironmental and paleobiogeographic gaps about the end of the Cretaceous for the Gondwana, samples of macroscopic charcoal were collected at two different volcanic levels of the Price Point outcrop, King George Island, during the expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula by the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR). The samples of charcoal were treated and later analyzed under a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope. The analysis allowed the identification of morphoanatomical structures with potential taxonomic affinity with Podocarpaceae. These conifers were important in temperate forests of high-latitude environments during the Late Cretaceous, and this is in accordance with previous palaeobotanical records from Price Point. The analysis also showed that southern paleofloras were subject to the occurrence of paleo-wildfires much more frequently than previously thought. This indicates that fire and active volcanism were significant modifiers of the ecological niches of austral floras, because even in distal areas, the source of ignition for forest fires often came from contact with a hot volcanic ash cloud, where the vegetation was either totally or partially consumed by fire.

A multiple criteria decision analysis to benchmark projects in low-income communities by the Brazilian energy efficiency program

This paper presents a methodology for evaluating energy efficiency projects carried out in low-income communities in the scope of the largest Brazilian Energy Efficiency Program, known as PEE. The methodology is based on a Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis, which considers six energy efficiency indicators to establish a scoring system to rank projects performance in economic, technical, social and environmental fields. The methodology is applied to evaluate 101 projects realized between 2008 and 2013 by electric utilities and the results show that less than 10% are rated as excellent, which reveals much room for program improvement. This evaluation could be implemented annually by the Brazilian Regulatory Agency, helping to monitor the program progress and its improvement.

Characterization and analysis of the supply network of the Brazilian national school feeding programme

IMPACT The Brazilian national school feeding programme (PNAE) is a tested model providing food security. The federal government designed it, but municipal and state governments deliver it. This article provides information on PNAE suppliers. It shows that it is possible to promote food security together with the local economy. However, a concern is that local managers sometimes find it easier to procure from just one or a few large, specialized companies. The authors explain how this problem can be dealt with.

Must Nuclear Energy be Increased on Brazilian Energy Mix in a Post-COVID-19 World?

This paper aims to discuss the convenience and feasibility of increasing the nuclear energy participation on the Brazilian energy mix, amid a national context of climate change, scarcity of natural resources necessary to baseload energy generation, particularly hydropower, discussions on a possible restart and expansion of Brazilian nuclear program, whilst the population still suffers socioeconomic impacts resulting from COVID-19 pandemic as well as the pre-pandemic economic crisis. The work proposes four analysis axes: environmental factors, economic, safety/legislation and technological aspects, and through bibliographic research in scientific articles published in journals, theses, dissertations, laws, regulations and international recommendations, it was possible, as a result of the research, to draw an optimistic overview of a possible future expansion of the Brazilian nuclear program, considering the advantages and challenges of using the nuclear alternative when compared to other energy sources.

Coverage of the Brazilian Income Transfer Program and factors associated with the performance of dental procedures in Brazil, from 2007 to 2011: an ecological study

In Brazil, there has been an expansion of the coverage of dental services in primary health care (PHC), and the focus of the services has changed to include more efforts in prevention and diagnosis. However, little is known about the influence of the coverage of the Brazilian Income Transfer program on the use of dental services. Our study evaluates the association between municipal coverage of the Brazilian Income Transfer Program and the use of dental services. This ecological study conducted with data from the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities estimates, via logistic regressions, the impact of the coverage of the Brazilian Income Transfer program, the Family Health Strategies (FHS), and the oral health teams on the number of restoration, colective, prevention, and dental extraction procedures performed by the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) between the periods 2007/2008 and 2010/2011. The percentage of municipalities that increased the rates of prevention, colective, restoration, and extraction procedures was 46%, 59.8%, 52.5%, and 44.2%, respectively. In the adjusted model, municipalities with increased coverage of Brazilian Income Transfer program were less likely to increase colective (OR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.79-1.04) and prevention (OR = 0.92; 95%CI: 0.80-1.05) procedures, and they were more likely to increase rates of restoration (OR = 1.11; 95%CI: 0.97-1.28) and dental extraction (OR = 1,10; 95%CI: 0.95-1.27) procedures. The increase in the coverage rate of the oral health teams was significantly associated with a higher chance of an increase in prevention, restoration, and extraction procedures. We conclude that the coverage of oral health teams was the main variable associated with the increase in dental procedures performed in the public service.

From the Brazilian Income Transfer Program to Brazil Assistance: challenges and achievements according to a theory-driven evaluation research on the program.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has led many countries to adopt emergency cash transfer policies as a way to contain the economic and humanitarian crisis. Such initiatives were developed in a context of exacerbated gender, race, ethnicity and class inequalities resulting from physical and social distancing measures. The article analyzes, by means of an exploratory study and the so-called theory-driven evaluation of the program, the theoretical premises of the Brazilian Income Transfer Program (2003), Brazilian Emergency Assistance (2020) and Brazil Assistance (2021) programs, and their corresponding implementation dynamics. As cash transfer programs are given centrality in the contemporary public agenda, the conclusion is that evaluating their limits and advances - as to theoretical conception and mechanisms triggered in each context - contributes to trace evidence about their effectiveness in addressing long-term inequalities and those inequalities that arise in health emergency contexts.

Do Bolsa Família ao Auxílio Brasil: desafios e alcances a partir de uma pesquisa avaliativa baseada na teoria do programa

Abstract: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has led many countries to adopt emergency cash transfer policies as a way to contain the economic and humanitarian crisis. Such initiatives were developed in a context of exacerbated gender, race, ethnicity and class inequalities resulting from physical and social distancing measures. The article analyzes, by means of an exploratory study and the so-called theory-driven evaluation of the program, the theoretical premises of the Brazilian Income Transfer Program (2003), Brazilian Emergency Assistance (2020) and Brazil Assistance (2021) programs, and their corresponding implementation dynamics. As cash transfer programs are given centrality in the contemporary public agenda, the conclusion is that evaluating their limits and advances - as to theoretical conception and mechanisms triggered in each context - contributes to trace evidence about their effectiveness in addressing long-term inequalities and those inequalities that arise in health emergency contexts.

Statistical training in Brazilian graduate programs: an analysis of the courses offered

Resumo A estatística é uma das bases da ciência e seu ensino em programas de pós-graduação tem influência direta na formação da próxima geração de pesquisadores. Este trabalho traz um panorama geral das disciplinas relacionadas à estatística na pós-graduação stricto sensu no Brasil, a partir da análise das ementas das 176.823 disciplinas, sendo 12.552 com conteúdos relacionados à estatística. Dentre os fatos encontrados temos que poucos programas possuem disciplinas obrigatórias relacionadas à estatística. Quanto maior o conceito da pós-graduação na Capes, maior a quantidade média de disciplinas relacionadas à estatística ofertadas. Entretanto, essa relação não está presente nas disciplinas obrigatórias. Com relação ao conteúdo das disciplinas, elas se dividem em dois grandes grupos. Um grupo com base teórica em probabilidade e estatística, outro com foco em aplicações e utilização de ferramentas. Existe um pequeno terceiro grupo de disciplinas, ofertadas na língua inglesa. Por fim, a oferta de disciplinas relacionadas a técnicas avançadas (Machine Learning) é, se comparada à oferta das disciplinas relacionadas à estatística, muito pequena e se concentra, principalmente, nos programas de Engenharia e Ciências Exatas e da Terra.

Salmonella Serovars Isolated from Poultry Breeding Flocks under the Brazilian Official Control Programme Between 2016 and 2018

The control of Salmonella in the poultry production chain combined with biosecurity measures is an important tool to maintain and guarantee the sanitary status of Brazilian flocks. The aim of this work was to compare official laboratory data on molecular typification of Salmonella isolates from poultry breeding flocks in different Brazilian states between 2016 and 2018 and identify the production category with the most positive flocks, in light of current legislation. Surveillance data of positive samples from the official Brazilian Salmonella Control Programme sent to Federal Agricultural Defence Laboratory of São Paulo (LFDA-SP) after molecular characterization were analysed. These data were subject to an exploratory study, undergoing a descriptive statistical analysis followed by the use of frequency and non-parametric hypothesis tests. Overall, 49 serovars were detected in poultry broiler-breeder and layer-breeder flocks. Salmonella ser. Heidelberg, Salmonella ser. Anatum, Salmonella ser. Newport, Salmonella ser. Schwarzengrund and Salmonella ser. Mbandaka were the five most common isolated serovars. The data shows that there is an opportunity to improve biosecurity measures in parent breeder flocks. A total of 16 serovars were identified in turkey-breeders. Salmonella ser. Anatum, Salmonella ser. Newport, Salmonella ser. Brandenburg, Salmonella ser. Litchfield, and Salmonella ser. Livingstone were the most common ones. The four official controlled serovars represented a small part of the isolated strains. These data demonstrate the importance of an official program in Brazil for Salmonella surveillance in breeder flocks combined with biosecurity measures.

A internacionalização da pós-graduação no Brasil: a experiência do doutorado pleno e doutorado sanduíche no exterior

Abstract This paper systematically reviews two distinct types of PhD research grants in Brazil: Overseas PhD and PhD Exchange Research Grants. The research method employed is a historical analysis. The former enables students to pursue their entire PhD studies abroad, while the latter necessitates students to be enrolled in a Brazilian graduate program and spend a portion of their PhD course overseas for research purposes. The paper begins with a historical overview of graduate programs in Brazil and subsequently delves into a comprehensive examination of the two grant types. This examination includes a historical perspective on their development as well as an exploration of current discussions surrounding them. The paper concludes that the lack of data systematization and discourse on these research grants hinders the analysis of their impact on the field of national science.

Minimum dietary diversity and consumption of ultra-processed foods among Brazilian children 6-23 months of age.

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and consumption of ultra-processed foods in children 6-23 months of age according to sociodemographic variables. Three indicators of complementary feeding of 4,354 children from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were built based on a questionnaire about food consumption on the day before the interview: MDD, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and MDD without the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The prevalence and 95%CI were calculated, stratified by macroregion; race/skin color, education and work status of the mother or caregiver; enrollment in the Brazilian Income Transfer Program; household food security; sanitation; and child enrollment in daycare/school. The overall prevalence of MDD was 63.4%, with lower prevalences among children who lived in the North Region (54.8%), whose mothers or caregivers had 0-7 years of education (50.6%), and lived under moderate or severe food insecurity (52.6%). Ultra-processed foods were consumed by 80.5% of the children, with the highest prevalence in the North Region (84.5%). The prevalence of MDD without ultra-processed foods was 8.4% and less prevalent among children with black mothers or caregivers (3.6%) and among those whose mother or caregiver had 8-10 years of education (3.6%). The most frequently consumed food groups from the MDD indicator were grains, roots and tubers (90.2%), dairy products (81%) and those from ultra-processed food were sweet or salty cookies/crackers (51.3%) and instant flours (41.4%). The ubiquitous presence of ultra-processed foods in the diets of Brazilian children and the low frequency of diversified foods, especially among the most vulnerable populations, indicate the need to strengthen policies and programs to ensure adequate and healthy infant nutrition.

From the Brazilian Income Transfer Program to the Fiscal Framework: perspectives on the social agenda of Lula’s third Government

From the Brazilian Income Transfer Program to the Fiscal Framework: perspectives on the social agenda of Lula’s third Government

Scientific production in biodiversity: the gender gap continues in Brazilian universities.

Scientometrics enables us to comprehend the interests and trends in scientific knowledge production and dissemination. In this study, we evaluate the effects of gender, academic experience, location of residence, and graduate program score on the quantity of published articles, the number of citations and the H-index of researchers belonging to Brazilian graduate programs in Biodiversity. Variables related to the researchers were measured, and the relevance in explaining scientific production was examined using hierarchical models. In graduate programs, there were more men than females. The number of articles as first author and the H-index increase progressively through the researchers' career, while the number of citations increases at the beginning of their careers, stabilizing between 10 and 20 years, and increasing again after 30 years of career. We concluded that gender, academic experience, and graduate program score were the most important variables in explaining the scientific production of graduate programs in Biodiversity in Brazil.

The impact of unemployment insurance on reinsertion wages in 2015 in the rural environment of Brazil

Abstract: This work sought to provide new evidence on the impact of the Brazilian Unemployment Insurance Program (Programa Seguro-Desemprego) on the reinsertion wages of its beneficiaries, considering the Brazilian rural environment. Datafrom the National Household Sample Survey (Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios- PNAD) of 2015 was used, as well as the Sharp model discontinuity regression method. The results showed a positive effect on the reinsertion wages of individuals who participated in the Unemployment Insurance Program in rural Brazil. When disaggregating by Brazilian regions, the Southeast region had a greater positive effect on reinsertion wages, while the Midwest region has a negative effect on workers who participated in the Unemployment Insurance Program. Among the main conclusions, it is a fact that the Unemployment Insurance program had a positive effect for Brazilian formal rural workers residing in the Southeast of the country, but a negative effect for those residing in the Center-West region of Brazil.

The Contributions of Nina Fedorovna Talyzina to Research Developed in Brazilian Postgraduate Programs.

Nina Fedorovna Talyzina was a Russian psychologist, whose theories have been applied in educational research in many countries around the world, including Brazil. Her name is mainly connected to the Activity Theory of Learning (ATL), which has been dubbed the Galperin-Talyzina system of developmental didactics. Investigate how N.F. Talyzina's ideas are applied in dissertations and theses developed in postgraduate programs in Brazil. Our research was a bibliographic review which used the state of the question method to examine how Talyzina's ideas are applied in Brazilian academic publications. Data were gathered from three responsible databases - the Brazilian Digital Library, the CAPES Catalogue, and the Institutional Repositories (1987-2022). The method of content analysis was used for data analysis, according to pre-determined categories. We found a prevalence of research based on the methodology of formative experiments carried out at different educational levels. Skills, scientific concept- formation, and problem-solving were the objects of investigation in most of the studies. The ideas proposed by L.S. Vygotsky, A.N. Leontiev, P.Ya. Galperin, and V.V. Davidov were expressed through references to Talyzina's work as the theoretical basis of many studies, thus evidencing a crucial dialogue with the Cultural-Historical School (CHS). Our study points out the growing interest in Talyzina's ideas, specifically her Activity Theory of Learning, which can be attributed to comprehensive dialogues with the ideas of L.S. Vygotsky and A.N. Leontiev which predominate in Brazilian research.

The National Wealth Score in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019).

The National Wealth Score (IEN) is a synthetic household index that assesses socioeconomic conditions. This study aims to present the methods used to update the IEN using data from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019). The following items were included: the education level of the mother or caregiver of the child; the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, TV sets, and cars in the household; and the presence of a radio, refrigerator or freezer, washing machine, microwave oven, telephone line, computers, air conditioner, media player devices, cable or satellite TV, cell phone ownership and type of service, cell phone internet, and internet at the household. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to estimate the IEN with and without incorporating the complex sampling design (CSD). Thus, the IEN validation considered proxy indicators of socioeconomic status and living conditions. The first component of the PCA explained 31% and 71% of the variation with and without incorporating the CSD, respectively. The coefficients of variation of the IEN were 53.4% and 2.6% with and without incorporating the CSD, respectively. The mean IEN score was lower in households without access to a sewage system, those that received benefits from Brazilian Income Transfer Program, those with some degree of food insecurity, and those with stunted children. Adding ENANI-2019 items to the calculation of IEN to capture technological advances resulted in a better fit of the model. Incorporating the CSD increased PCA performance and the IEN precision. The new IEN has an adequate performance in determining the socioeconomic status of households with children aged under five years.

Accuracy of the urine point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen assay for diagnosing Schistosomiasis mansoni infection in Brazil: A multicenter study.

The World Health Organization recommends a market-ready, urine-based point-of-care diagnostic test for circulating cathodic antigens (CCA) to determine the prevalence of S. mansoni. This study evaluated the performance of the URINE CCA (SCHISTO) ECO TESTE® (POC-ECO), which is currently available in Brazil. Residents from eight sites with different prevalence estimates provided one urine sample for POC-ECO and one stool sample for Kato-Katz (KK) and Helmintex® (HTX) testing as an egg-detecting reference for infection status. None of the study sites had significantly higher POC-ECO accuracy than KK. POC-ECO is not currently recommended in Brazilian schistosomiasis elimination programs.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics and the Impact of Hydroxyurea on Laboratory Profile and Healthcare Resource Utilization of Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Observational and Retrospective Study of 5 Years of Follow-Up in a Reference Center in Brazil

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe inherited and multisystem blood disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, vasoocclusive crises (VOCs), progressive multiorgan damage, and increased mortality. SCD is the most common inherited disorder worldwide, with well over 300,000 children born with SCD yearly, 75% of whom are born in Africa. Based on the Brazilian neonatal screening program, the annual average of new cases of children diagnosed with SCD was 1,087, with an incidence of 3.78 per 10,000 live births and an estimated number of 60,000 to 100,000 individuals living with SCD in Brazil. Our objectives were to describe the sociodemographic and genotype characteristics and clinical complications of patients with SCD and compare the laboratory profile and the impact of healthcare resource utilization between patients with and without hydroxyurea during five years of observation. Objectives: To describe the sociodemographic and clinical complications, compare the laboratory profile and the impact of healthcare resources utilization between patients with and without hydroxyurea of SCD patients during five years of observation. Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at one Brazilian reference center on SCD - Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, in Sao Paulo (Southeast region of Brazil) during a 5-year observation period (2016-2020).

Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic test for measles IgM detection; accuracy and the reliability of visual reading using sera from the measles surveillance programme in Brazil, 2015.

Laboratory-based case confirmation is an integral part of measles surveillance programmes; however, logistical constraints can delay response. Use of RDTs during initial patient contact could enhance surveillance by real-time case confirmation and accelerating public health response. Here, we evaluate performance of a novel measles IgM RDT and assess accuracy of visual interpretation using a representative collection of 125 sera from the Brazilian measles surveillance programme. RDT results were interpreted visually by a panel of six independent observers, the consensus of three observers and by relative reflectance measurements using an ESEQuant Reader. Compared to the Siemens anti-measles IgM EIA, sensitivity and specificity of the RDT were 94.9% (74/78, 87.4-98.6%) and 95.7% (45/47, 85.5-99.5%) for consensus visual results, and 93.6% (73/78, 85.7-97.9%) and 95.7% (45/47, 85.5-99.5%), for ESEQuant measurement, respectively. Observer agreement, determined by comparison between individuals and visual consensus results, and between individuals and ESEQuant measurements, achieved average kappa scores of 0.97 and 0.93 respectively. The RDT has the sensitivity and specificity required of a field-based test for measles diagnosis, and high kappa scores indicate this can be accomplished accurately by visual interpretation alone. Detailed studies are needed to establish its role within the global measles control programme.

Selecting tropical wheat genotypes through combining ability analysis.

The selection of parents to originate promising base populations, as well as the knowledge of the gene effects controlling agronomic traits by means of diallel, are useful to drive genetic gains in Brazilian tropical wheat breeding programs. The goals of this study were to select tropical wheat parents with a high frequency of favorable alleles and segregating populations with high potential to originate superior progenies through partial diallel analysis. Thus, 14 parents were divided in two groups and crossed in a 7 × 7 partial diallel scheme to originate 49 F1 combinations. After obtaining F2 generation, the populations and the parents were evaluated in the field in the summer of 2021. Days for heading, plant height, rust and yellow spot resistance, and grain yield were evaluated. The data were subjected to partial diallel analysis. There were significant effects of general combining ability for all traits. The specific combining ability effect was significant for days for heading and plant height. The additive gene effects were predominant over the non-additive ones. The parents with the highest frequency of favorable alleles for the traits evaluated were selected in each group. Four populations with high genetic potential to originate superior progenies were selected.