Federal Entities Research Articles

The High Cost of the Legal Route in Public Health: The Impact of the Judicialization of Medicines in the Municipal Unified Health System in Campinas

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the costs and factors associated with the judicialization of medicines for the municipal Unified Health System in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2017 to 2021. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data provided by the Municipal Health Department of Campinas and the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo. ResultsThe sample comprised 506 medicines (322 active substances) and 493 legal cases. Of the US$9.270 million disbursed, 67.3% were allocated to purchase medicines. On average, 28.8% of the pharmaceuticals were listed on the National List of Essential Medicines (Rename), of which 52.3% were listed in the specialized component. Expenditures on nonincorporated and oncological medicines accounted for 76% of the total value. Acquisition of brand-specific medicines was predominant (53.7%), of which 75.5% had therapeutic equivalents. ABC curve shows that only 28 active substances corresponded to 79.8% of the expenses incurred to serve 573 plaintiffs. Four factors, when present in legal actions, prevented the rational use of public resources: assumption of responsibilities of other federative entities, acquisition of medicines not incorporated in Rename and oncological drugs, trademark determination, and the requirement to supply the medicine for an indefinite period. Costs associated with these factors caused an increase in expenditure, even with a decrease in legal demands filed against the municipality. ConclusionsJudicialization of medicines in Campinas from 2017 to 2021 required an allocation of US$6.2 million, aimed at treating only 0.068% of the population. Associated factors include legal requirements and internal management challenges that have increased costs.

Factors Influencing the Faunal Recolonization of Restored Thornscrub Forest Habitats

Tamaulipan thornscrub forests (thornforests) have high ecological and economic values, yet over 90% of these forests have been lost, and they remain threatened, making them a conservation hotspot. For decades, federal, state, NGO, and corporate entities have been acquiring land and actively or passively restoring these forests, but results have been mixed and seldom monitored. This study characterized and quantified faunal communities of restored thornforest habitats in south Texas and examined the relationships between restored faunal communities and key site characteristics and environmental factors. We surveyed and analyzed mammal, bird, Lepidoptera, and herptile communities within 12 restored sites in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas, USA. The site and environmental factors that influenced animal community composition, richness, diversity, and abundance varied widely among taxa. Time since restoration began and method of restoration influenced many community metrics, whereas patch size and extent of isolation influenced few. Several aspects of restored plant communities were influential, especially ground layer diversity, and high invasive plant cover negatively impacted many animal community metrics. If actively restoring a site, efforts to control invasive plants, foster native plant diversity, and provide a nearby water source are likely the most effective ways to promote faunal recolonization.

Health Insurance Type and Access to the Indian Health Service Before, During, and After Childbirth Among American Indian and Alaska Native People in the United States

BackgroundAmerican Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in the United States face elevated childbirth-related risks when compared with non-Hispanic white people. Access to health care is a treaty right of many AI/AN people, often facilitated through the Indian Health Service (IHS), but many AI/AN people do not qualify for or cannot access IHS care and rely on health insurance coverage to access care in other facilities. Our goal was to describe health insurance coverage and access to IHS care before, during, and after childbirth for AI/AN birthing people in the United States. MethodsWe analyzed 2016 ton 2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data (44 states and 2 other jurisdictions) for 102,860 postpartum individuals (12,920 AI/AN and 89,940 non-Hispanic white). We calculated weighted percentages, adjusted predicted probabilities, and percentage point differences for health care coverage (insurance type and IHS care) before, during, and after childbirth. ResultsApproximately 75% of AI/AN birthing people did not have IHS care around the time of childbirth. AI/AN people had greater variability in insurance coverage and more insurance churn (changes in type of insurance, including between coverage and no coverage) during the perinatal period, compared with non-Hispanic white people. Health care coverage differed for rural and urban AI/AN people, with rural AI/AN residents having the lowest prevalence of continuous insurance (60%). ConclusionAI/AN birthing people experience insurance churning and limited access to IHS care during the perinatal period. Efforts to improve care for AI/AN birthing people should engage federal, state, and tribal entities to ensure fulfillment of the trust responsibility of the United States and to address health inequities.

BRAZILIAN MUNICIPALITIES

This article aims to address the issue of federalism and its consequences in conceptual terms allowing some historical setbacks that contributed to the construction of the current model in the country. The focus is on the municipality as a federated entity, the result of the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution and its consequences emphasizing the municipality as a federated entity and its current constitutional incumbers. In this reflection I intend to point and make reflections on weaknesses, challenges and achievements derived from the performance of this federative entity, with emphasis on the educational sector, when I present elements gathered from a survey of studies with the purpose of identifying political-institutional, economic and cultural factors that imply its performance.

A Descriptive Analysis of DCAT-Compliant Data Catalogs: Characteristics and Themes Across Federal, State, County, City, and Territorial Entities in the United States

A Descriptive Analysis of DCAT-Compliant Data Catalogs: Characteristics and Themes Across Federal, State, County, City, and Territorial Entities in the United States

Formation of patriotic values as a predictor of psychological and moral stability of young men of conscription age

Introduction. In the conditions of confronting external threats and the need to respond to numerous challenges of modernity, the problem of identifying the predictors of psychological and moral stability of an individual is characterised by special relevance and significance. The aim of the research is to study the extent of formation of patriotic values as a predictor of psychological and moral stability in young people of conscription age. Materials and methods. The research was carried out in four Russian Federation entities: Arkhangelsk-, Kaliningrad-, Murmansk- and Leningrad regions. The total number of respondents was 1,050 – young men aged 16 to 20 (conscription age). The following techniques were used in the research: theoretical methods (analysis of the research subject through investigating statutory documents, psychological and pedagogical literature; synthesis, generalisation, comparison and systematisation of the obtained data), and empirical methods (questioning, testing and interviewing). To achieve the set targets, the following diagnostic tools were used: the Constructive patriotism questionnaire; the Values materialism questionnaire; the Scale of psychological well-being by C. Ryff; the “Behaviour self-regulation style – SSP-98” questionnaire by V.I. Morosanova. Results. It was found that the number of respondents with the formed constructive patriotism prevails twice as much among young people of conscription age. At the same time, it is worth noting that in fact, one in three young men of conscription age who took part in the survey (31.8%) have formed blind patriotism (pseudo-patriotism, patriotism of obedience, ignorance and intolerance). Young people of conscription age with pronounced constructive patriotism, compared to the group of young people with blind patriotism, have more expressed significant basic values: “Independence”; “Power”; “Achievements”; “Traditions”; “Safety”; “Universalism”; “Benevolence”. Meanwhile, the group of young people of conscription age with pronounced blind patriotism demonstrate mostly two basic values: “Stimulation”; “Conformism”. Young people of conscription age with expressed constructive patriotism have statistically significant differences on the scale “Personal growth”. It was also revealed that they have a significantly higher overall level of self-regulation and the levels of individual self-control of various regulatory processes and personal regulation properties according to five indicators (“Modelling”, “Programming”, “Evaluation of results”, “Flexibility”, “Independence”), compared to the group of respondents with the formed blind patriotism. Conclusion. The study provides important data on the extent of the formation of patriotic values serving as a predictor of psychological and moral stability in young people of conscription age. The obtained results are in demand, being relevant since they make it possible to design the personality education and development processes with regard for the bilateral nature of interconditionality of patriotism relative to a person’s psychological and moral stability

“THE HERCULES PROJECT”: THE HISTORY OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT'S RECOGNITION OF UFOLOGIST AS AN OCCUPATION

On the night of May 30, 2024, in an emotional virtual meeting organized by the Latin American Academy of Scientific Ufology (LAASU), several ufologists from Brazil and other continents met with the aim of celebrating the recognition by the Brazilian government of the profession of ufologist as an occupation after a long process of technical evaluation. The intensification of activities and research by scientific entities such as LAASU, local and federal government entities in Brazil, the U.S. government through the Pentagon, Congress, NASA, and some media, all contributed to create an environment conducive to this heroic feat. The "Hercules Project" is described herein, which was conceived inside the LAASU with the objective of the Brazilian government's recognition of the profession of ufologist as an occupation with social, economic and scientific value and ended in a total success. Although this process was an initiative of LAASU, the merit belongs to scientific Ufology worldwide and especially in Brazil, which has contributed with studies, researches and publications over several years. This article aims to discuss the rational basis supporting that Ufology can be considered a profession. Additionally, this article aims to describe the history of the recognition by the Brazilian government through the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the profession of ufologist as a legitimate occupation. The struggle for the recognition of the ufologist as an occupation is an epic story of faith, struggle, and overcoming obstacles, that ended in May 2024

Dynamic Interrelation between Aggregated Revenues and Expenditures of Regional-Level Budgets of Federal States: A Time-Frequency Approach to Analysis

Objective: The article analyzes the dynamic (time-frequency) relationship between aggregate budget expenditures and revenues of the federal constituent entities, considering four competing theoretical hypotheses: “expenditures-revenues”; “revenues-expenditures”; “fiscal synchronization”; and “fiscal neutrality”, over time (2013:12÷2023:03). Method: The study was conducted using wavelet coherence analysis, which made it possible to separate short-term, medium-term and long-term effects in the dynamic dependence of the analyzed variables, and identify the direction and intensity of this relationship. Finding: The research results indicate the existence of all four relationships between aggregated budget revenues and expenditures of the federal constituent entities for various time periods, on different time scales, throughout the entire observation time interval (2013:12÷2023:03). These findings demonstrate that, to a greater extent, the budgets of the federal constituent entities are characterized by the presence of a dynamic relationship between aggregated revenues and expenditures in the following modes: “revenues-expenditures” (when revenues are ahead of expenditures) and “expenditures-revenues” (when expenditures are ahead of revenues). In addition, the time scale and time range of the emergence of the “fiscal synchronization” and “fiscal neutrality” modes in the relationship between aggregated revenues and expenditures of the federal constituent entities are determined. Implication: The results obtained provide a possible explanation for the contradictory results of numerous studies based on traditional methods and empirical observations over different historical periods, since each of these methods only partially explains a particular mode of the dynamic relationship between revenues and expenditures. The theoretical significance of the study lies in the substantiation that continuous wavelet analysis is a powerful tool for studying the nonlinear relationship between revenues and expenditures, since understanding the causalities between revenues and expenditures on various time scales is significant for choosing measures aimed at maintaining the budget sustainability of the federal constituent entities. The practical significance of the research results is determined by the fact that they can be an essential starting point for determining the necessary fiscal policy measures aimed at increasing the budget sustainability of the federal constituent entities.

Intermunicipal health consortiums as an institutional arrangement of cooperation and federative coordination for the promotion of health policies in municipalities

This paper analyzes the joint responsibility of federation entities for the promotion of health services, through structuring public policies that allow the reduction of disease risks, universal and equal access by citizens to health protection and recovery actions and services. Health services depend directly on the financial capacity of municipalities. At this point, the intermunicipal health consortia allows to the management carrying out results – efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness, aiming to deliver better quality services to people in the interested community. This work addressed doctrinal elements and positions through the dialectical interpretation method, with a deductive method approach. The aim is to show managers that there is the possibility of exponential gains in the provision of public services, with rational processes and expenses, and the implementation of projects considered unfeasible when carried out in isolation by the municipal entity. The consortium presents itself as an option to underfunding and a government tool for promoting structuring public policies in the health sector.

Electronic Surveillance in Immigration Court: Evidence from the CalGang Database

Through a mixed-methods approach that draws on over 4000 pages of organizational documents and two quantitative data sets from federal and state entities, the authors ask, has the growth of electronic surveillance by local criminal justice agencies, with corresponding database interoperability and information sharing, changed how federal agencies—specifically immigration agencies—operate? We focus on the CalGang Database, California’s statewide gang intelligence database, to document how, since its inception in 1998, CalGang has grown both in the number of individuals under surveillance and the number of what we call adjacent users, which we define as people who can access CalGang data but were not initially intended as users and who, in pre-digital surveillance eras, would have a much more difficult time obtaining the information. In this paper we focus specifically on adjacent users in the immigration system who determine the detention and deportation of noncitizens by leveraging an information sharing agreement that gave U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to Calgang between January 2006 and October 2016. Using a two-way “difference in differences” approach, we estimate the impact of CalGang interoperability on federal adjacent users by comparing outcomes across immigration cases that began before or after the data sharing agreement ended. Our qualitative and quantitative analyses both demonstrate that immigration adjudicators’ access to local electronic surveillance information is associated with an increase in the number of immigrants facing criminal immigration charges that do not necessarily require a formal criminal conviction in state court, and that deportation rates are higher when ICE has access to local electronic surveillance.

Consumption‐Based Carbon Emissions of 85 Federal Entities in Russia

AbstractAs the fourth largest CO2 emitter, Russia's constituent entities collectively contribute with vast territory and regional heterogeneity. Existing studies only present production‐based inventories; state‐level consumption‐based emissions patterns and driving forces remain rare. Here, we built the Russia state‐level Multi‐regional input‐output table to ascertain heterogeneity in consumption‐based emissions and track carbon flows in the inter‐state. We found that 60% of consumption‐based emissions coming from affluent areas (top 20% of the GRP), including Moscow (139.1 Mt) and St. Petersburg (50.5 Mt). Energy‐intensive regions also had huge consumption‐based emissions (31.6 Mt in Khanty‐Mansi Autonomous Okrug and 29.4 Mt in Republic of Tatarstan). Household consumption emissions accounted for 41%–73% of consumption‐based emissions in the 83 regions, except for Tula and Lipetsk, where fixed capital formation dominated. In addition, the major contributor of embodied emissions in households were power and services sectors, which contributed about 8%–61% (0.03 Mt–12.7 Mt) and 12%–40% (0.1 Mt–20.1 Mt). In Russia's low carbon transition, policymakers should not only focus on a local mitigation policy in developed states (such as Moscow and St. Petersburg), but on key sectors to curb the consumption. Regions with high carbon intensity should switch to renewable energy and implement cleaner production techniques in high‐emission industries.

Ethics, transparency and finances in state public universities in Mexico

The UPE in Mexico are entities that financially operate by means of subsidies granted by the federation and the federal entities, which are used to fulfill their substantive and administrative functions; the subsidies are public resources subject to auditing according to various federal provisions; This article highlights the importance of ethics, transparency and accountability in state public universities in Mexico, by means of a non-experimental analysis of quantitative and correlational type and having as results those issued by the Superior Audit Office of the Federation (ASF) in the fiscal year 2020 where it made an average of 20 observations for each UPE of which 3. In addition, there is a moderate correlation between observations made and observations not solved, concluding that ethics, transparency and accountability are determining factors in the efficient use of financial resources in the UPE in Mexico.

Considerations and challenges in support of science and communication of fish consumption advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Federal, state, tribal, or local entities in the United States issue fish consumption advisories (FCAs) as guidance for safer consumption of locally caught fish containing contaminants. Fish consumption advisories have been developed for commonly detected compounds such as mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. The existing national guidance does not specifically address the unique challenges associated with bioaccumulation and consumption risk related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As a result, several states have derived their own PFAS-related consumption guidelines, many of which focus on one frequently detected PFAS, known as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). However, there can be significant variation between tissue concentrations or trigger concentrations (TCs) of PFOS that support the individual state-issued FCAs. This variation in TCs can create challenges for risk assessors and risk communicators in their efforts to protect public health. The objective of this article is to review existing challenges, knowledge gaps, and needs related to issuing PFAS-related FCAs and to provide key considerations for the development of protective fish consumption guidance. The current state of the science and variability in FCA derivation, considerations for sampling and analytical methodologies, risk management, risk communication, and policy challenges are discussed. How to best address PFAS mixtures in the development of FCAs, in risk assessment, and establishment of effect thresholds remains a major challenge, as well as a source of uncertainty and scrutiny. This includes developments better elucidating toxicity factors, exposures to PFAS mixtures, community fish consumption behaviors, and evolving technology and analytical instrumentation, methods, and the associated detection limits. Given the evolving science and public interests informing PFAS-related FCAs, continued review and revision of FCA approaches and best practices are vital. Nonetheless, consistent, widely applicable, PFAS-specific approaches informing methods, critical concentration thresholds, and priority compounds may assist practitioners in PFAS-related FCA development and possibly reduce variability between states and jurisdictions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1839-1858. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

A Ouvidoria como Manifestação da Transparência Passiva nos Regimes Próprios de Previdência dos Municípios Fluminenses

We identify how the Special Social Security Regime (RPPS) Ombudsman of municipalities of Rio de Janeiro State falls under the level I certification of the RPPS Pro-Management Program, in the indicator related to the Ombudsman; a tool to promote the democratic participation of citizens through passive transparency. The relevance of this study stems from the fact that the RPPS are in charge of managing a substantial number of resources, having managed around 157 billion Reais in investments for their respective insureds in 2020 (SPREV, 2021). Through documental analysis performed on the websites of the Rio de Janeiro RPPS and their respective federative entities, we concluded that among the 92 municipalities in the State, only 79 have RPPS. Furthermore, 54.4% of municipalities have a communication channel in the RPPS, while 43.1% have it available through the Federal Entity to which they are linked, and 2.5% have no such communication channel. Thus, we state that most RPPS has given due importance to the RPPS Pro-Management Manual, specifically regarding the accomplishment of the goal of providing more transparency to the relationship between the insured and society.

Right to digital integrity as a new fundamental human right? Pro et contra

The new technological order as well as digitalization (digital transformation) of social life are increasingly influencing the regulatory instruments thereof, giving rise to the emergence of technological (digital) branches of law and legislation («digital law» etc.). Until recently, these changes have left almost unaffected the institution of fundamental human and citizen’s rights and freedoms considered as «technologically neutral», i.e. applicable in every kind of environment, including the digital one. Nevertheless, the things here also changing, as evidenced by introduction into the Constitution of Geneva of a new kind of fundamental right entitled - the «right to digital integrity». The article explores and appraises the arguments for and against (pro et contra) the separate consecration of fundamental digital rights and corresponding fundamental digital duties of the State. The research derives from the combination of common scientific and legal exploratory methods together with an interdisciplinary approach (assessment of relevance of digital constitutionalism). The article provides an overview of global constitutional experience of countries of different continents, where the constitutional provisions containing digital rights (DR) have been proposed or are already in force. Taking as a starting point the Swiss legal provisions, the article presents the right to digital integrity and evaluates the positive and negative consequences of its constitutionalisation. Given, the uncertainty of the effects of the abovementioned constitutional innovation the author points out that it is preferable to consecrate the right to digital integrity in federal States initially at the level of federal entities and only later at the national level, as Switzerland did. The author's special contribution to the research of the topic consists in the identification and comparison of conflicting legal arguments supporting and criticizing the specific consecration of digital rights.

Biosecurity Insights from the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan: Analyzing Data to Enhance Industry Practices.

Biosecurity practices aim to reduce the frequency of disease outbreaks in a farm, region, or country and play a pivotal role in fortifying the country's pork industry against emerging threats, particularly foreign animal diseases (FADs). This article addresses the current biosecurity landscape of the US swine industry by summarizing the biosecurity practices reported by the producers through the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) enrollment surveys, and it provides a general assessment of practices implemented. US SHIP is a voluntary, collaborative effort between industry, state, and federal entities regarding health certification programs for the swine industry. With 12,195 sites surveyed across 31 states, the study provides a comprehensive snapshot of current biosecurity practices. Key findings include variability by site types that have completed Secure Pork Supply plans, variability in outdoor access and presence of perimeter fencing, and diverse farm entry protocols for visitors. The data also reflect the industry's response to the threat of FADs, exemplified by the implementation of the US SHIP in 2020. As the US SHIP program advances, these insights will guide industry stakeholders in refining biosecurity practices, fostering endemic re-emerging and FAD preparedness, and ensuring the sustainability of the swine industry in the face of evolving challenges.

Epidemiological Situation on Tick-Borne Encephalitis in the Russian Federation in 2014–2023 and Short-Term Forecast of the Incidence for 2024

The aim of the review was to conduct a comparative analysis of the epidemiological situation on tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) over 2014–2023 in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation located in the European and Asian parts of the country and to give a forecast of incidence for 2024. The incidence of TBE in 2023 only marginally decreased as compared to the peak values in 2022, which leveled down the ten-year trend towards reduction. Grouping of the entities of the Russian Federation according to the average incidence of TBE over a decade made it possible to classify 17 of them as regions of low, 15 – of medium, and 17 – of high epidemiological risk. In general, the epidemiological situation regarding TBE is more unfavorable in the Asian part of the country. A list of species of Ixodidae ticks, the main vectors of the tick-borne encephalitis virus, is provided, as well as subtypes and genetic variants of the latter, identified in the European and Asian parts of the country. The peculiarities of the epidemiological situation on TBE and the scope of preventive measures undertaken in Russia in 2023 are considered. It is shown that there are no clearly outlined trends in the nature of changes in the incidence of TBE in endemic federal districts and entities of the country, and the expected incidence rates in 2024 will remain at the long-term average level.

Triple bottom line, environmental, social and governance and net zero in commercial real estate

Climate and sustainability are at the forefront of dialogue within corporate real estate (CRE) organisations. Nearly 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions come from the real estate sector. Of these emissions, approximately 70 per cent are produced by building operations, while the remaining 30 per cent comes from construction.1 A common language and aligned path is essential in making progress if we, as an industry, are to meet the goals we are setting. Sustainability, when referring to the triple bottom line, is a concept that refers to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of an organisation and measures three areas of impact: people, planet, profit. This paper explores how sustainability takes into account the needs of an organisation’s stakeholders (including the community, general public and its employees) along with its own interests. This results in stronger relationships with these groups. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is a federal government entity with a mission to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition and technology services to the government and the American people. One of GSA’s strategic goals is to provide financially and environmentally sustainable, accessible and responsive real estate solutions that enable a productive federal workforce. This paper provides highlights of how GSA is driven by three guiding principles: buy clean, build clean; net zero operations by 2045; and design for people, design for impact. The challenge of finding appropriate solutions to meet the demands of today are presented in actionable ways in examples from GSA as it continues to partner with industry, other organisations and communities to develop innovative solutions that support customer missions, enable community development and protect the environment, while providing effective stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Migrar sin salir de casa en Michoacán

Michoacán is one of the federal entities that has historically presented high migratory intensity and consequently is located in the first places regarding the attraction of remittances that enter the country annually. There is a close vertical link between localities in Michoacán and those North American cities where Mexican immigrants are concentrated; even more intense than with those cities in its immediate surroundings. The hypothesis supported in this article is that the exchange is such that, for many inhabitants, it is possible to experience a cultural dynamic strongly conditioned by the migratory dynamic, without having crossed to the other side.

Application of the performance of machine learning techniques as support in the prediction of school dropout

This article presents a study, intending to design a model with 90% reliability, which helps in the prediction of school dropouts in higher and secondary education institutions, implementing machine learning techniques. The collection of information was carried out with open data from the 2015 Intercensal Survey and the 2010 and 2020 Population and Housing censuses carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, which contain information about the inhabitants and homes. in the 32 federal entities of Mexico. The data were homologated and twenty variables were selected, based on the correlation. After cleaning the data, there was a sample of 1,080,782 records in total. Supervised learning was used to create the model, automating data processing with training and testing, applying the following techniques, Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, Linear Ridge and Lasso Regression, Bayesian Optimization, Random Forest, the first two with a reliability greater than 99% and the last with 91%.