André Nunes

The association of genetic markers and malaria infection in the Brazilian Western Amazonian region

Almost all individuals (182) belonging to an Amazonian riverine population (Portuchuelo, RO, Brazil) were investigated for ascertaining data on epidemiological aspects of malaria. Thirteen genetic blood polymorphisms were investigated (ABO, MNSs, Rh, Kell, and Duffy systems, haptoglobins, hemoglobins, and the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glyoxalase, phosphoglucomutase, carbonic anhydrase, red cell acid phosphatase, and esterase D). The results indicated that the Duffy system is associated with susceptibility to malaria, as observed in other endemic areas. Moreover, suggestions also arose indicating that the EsD and Rh loci may be significantly associated with resistance to malaria. If statistical type II errors and sample stratification could be ruled out, hypotheses on the existence of a causal mechanism or an unknown closely linked locus involved in susceptibility to malaria infection may explain the present findings.

The effects of Constitutional Amendment 29 on the regional allocation of public funds for the National Health Service in Brazil.

This article analyzes the effects of Constitutional Amendment 29 in financing the Brazilian National Health Service, SUS, between 2000 and 2010. The aim was to analyze how the resources that were allocated by the three spheres of government were used on a general basis and in specific regions. Analysis was also conducted on the possible repercussions of the Amendment in the allocation of finances for SUS. The results showed: an important increase in the designated resources that were used by the three spheres of government during the aforementioned period. There was an increase in real terms of 112% in consolidated spending and an 89% increase in spending per capita by the three spheres. There was also more participation from the States, the Federal District and the Municipalities in financing the system. However, in spite of the increase in the use of financial resources, regional inequalities, in relation to spending per capita, remained practically unchanged.

Determinantes da qualidade dos estudos de impacto ambiental

In Brazil, the execution of an activity that causes significant environmental impact requires an environmental license. The obtainment of this license is tied to submission of the Environmental Impact Report - EIR. The problem is that these studies have shown a low quality, contributing to make the licensing process less effective. The objective of the study is to analyze the determinants of the quality of Environmental Impact Report. To do so, from the responses of 74 questionnaires by IBAMA environmental analyst a multiple regression model was developed. The model considered the perceived quality of EIR as dependent variable and the deficiencies that affect the quality of the studies as explanatory variables. The determinants of the EIR quality were related to lack of competence in the coordination of the studies and especially the low quality of their technical analysis. Moreover, analysts noted a direct relationship between the complexities of the studies with their quality.

ORÇAMENTO-PROGRAMA NO CONTEXTO DA GESTÃO PÚBLICA

O artigo analisa a capacidade do orcamento-programa ser efetivamente empregado como ferramenta a servico de uma gestao publica eficiente e/ou eficaz, considerando as limitacoes institucionais presentes na Administracao Publica no Brasil. Dessa forma, busca compreender se o orcamento-programa esta integrado ao planejamento governamental - Plano Plurianual (PPA), Lei de Diretrizes Orcamentarias (LDO) e a Lei Orcamentaria Anual (LOA) – ou se e apenas uma peca contabil e financeira, em vez de um instrumento de gestao. Para viabilizar a analise, buscou-se conhecer, por meio de revisao bibliografica, a pratica da gestao publica, o orcamento publico e a relacao entre estes no contexto da administracao publica e orcamentaria no Brasil.

Liberalização Comercial, Déficit em Transações Correntes e Âncora Cambial nos anos 90 - doi:10.5102/uri.v8i1.1171

The article analyzes the importance of the Brazilian trade liberalization in the early nineties and its interrelations with the exchange policy and with the anchor exchange adopted in the implementation of the Real Plan. It is observed that during the period analyzed the interrelations between trade and exchange policy occur in two phases. At first, trade policy determined the exchange rate policy what caused currency depreciation, describing the classical motion of exchange rates in an environment of trade liberalization. In the second phase, from the Real Plan, the exchange policy started to be used as an anchor for stabilization the prices level, exacerbating the volume of imports and expanding the effects of open exchange.