Resumo O presente estudo procura analisar o efeito da corrupção sobre o nível de gastos das empresas estatais (State-Owned Enterprises - SOEs) e como essas práticas podem ser prejudiciais para a economia, a despeito do que propõe a hipótese grease on the wheels. Para atender à proposta do estudo, foi utilizada uma base de dados construída a partir de outras três bases que continham apenas empresas listadas no mercado de ações. Após o tratamento dos dados, restaram 96.379 observações de empresas de 41 países entre 2002 e 2011. Para a consecução dos resultados, a pesquisa fez uso da técnica Difference-in-Differences para mensurar o efeito da influência política sobre os gastos das SOEs após a crise financeira de 2008. Os resultados confirmaram a hipótese do estudo, demonstrando que em ambientes com elevada corrupção os políticos usam sua influência com o objetivo de obter ganhos políticos/privados.

Abstract This study aims to analyze the effect of corruption on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and how this practice could be harmful to the economy, despite what the grease on the wheels hypothesis suggests. A database built from three other databases was used. It contained only stock market listed enterprises. After the data treatment process, only 96,379 observations remained, from companies from 41 countries between 2002 and 2011. To achieve the expected results this study used the Difference-in-Differences technique in order to measure the effect of political influence on SOEs spending after the 2008 financial crisis. The results confirmed the hypothesis of the study, demonstrating that within environments with high levels of corruption, politicians use their influence for political/private gain purposes.

Resumen Este trabajo busca analizar el efecto de la corrupción sobre el nivel de gasto de las empresas estatales (State-Owned Enterprises - SOEs) y como estas prácticas pueden ser perjudiciales para la economía, a pesar de lo que propone la hipótesis grease on the wheels. Para este propósito el estudio utiliza una base de datos construida a partir de otras tres bases conteniendo informaciones solo de empresas listadas em el mercado de acciones. Después del tratamiento de los datos, quedaron 96.379 observaciones de empresas de 41 países entre 2002 y 2011. Mediante el uso de la técnica Difference-in-Differences, se midió el efecto de la influencia política sobre los gasto de las SOEs, después de la crisis financiera de 2008. Los resultados confirmaron la hipótesis del estudio, demostrando que en ambientes con elevada corrupción, los políticos usan su influencia con el objetivo de obtener ganancias políticas/privadas.

Resumo:O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar a coevolução das políticas públicas/instituições e das capacidades tecnológicas da Petrobras Biocombustível (PBio). Para tanto, o estudo considerou uma abordagem teórica associada à corrente neoshumpteriana, analisando sua evolução no período de 2004 até 2012. A análise demonstrou que: i) a PBio/Petrobras alcançou maiores níveis de capacidades tecnológicas em suas rotas industriais se comparadas às tecnologias agrícolas que induziu; e ii) as políticas/instituições do setor evoluíram, principalmente em relação à política industrial de financiamento e à política de estímulo à demanda. Entretanto, os níveis das políticas/instituições, embora elevados no setor, não estabeleceram níveis tecnológicos de fronteira internacional, indicando que esse salto se dará por meio de mais esforços internos.

Abstract:The main objective of this paper was to analyze the coevolution of the public policies/institutions and technological capabilities of Petrobras Biocombustível (PBio). To do so, the study considered a theoretical approach related to the neoshumpterian view, analyzing the evolution process from 2004 to 2012. The main findings were: i) PBio/Petrobras reached higher levels of technological capabilities in their industrial paths when compared to induced agricultural technologies; and, ii) the policies/institutions of this sector have evolved, especially regarding the financing industrial policy and the demand raising policy. However, although the levels of policies/institutions were high in the sector, they do not established technological patterns of international frontier, indicating that this catching up will be reached through additional internal efforts.

Resumen:Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la coevolución de las políticas públicas/ instituciones y las capacidades tecnológicas de Petrobras Biocombustível (PBio). Para eso, el estudio consideró un enfoque teórico asociado con la corriente neoshumpteriana, analizando su evolución desde 2004 a 2012. El análisis mostró que: i) PBio/Petrobras alcanzó niveles más altos de las capacidades tecnológicas en sus rutas industriales en comparación con las tecnologías agrícolas que indujo; y ii) las políticas/instituciones del sector evolucionaron, principalmente con relación a la política industrial de la financiación y la política de estímulo a la demanda. Sin embargo, los niveles de políticas/instituciones, aunque alto en el sector, no establecieron niveles tecnológicos de frontera internacional, lo que indica que este salto será mediante más esfuerzos internos.

ABSTRACT In 2010, the Federal Telecommunications Commission completed auctions 20 (30 MHz in the band of 1.9GHz) and 21 (90 MHz in the band of 1.7-2. 1 GHz) with the goal of positively impacting the coverage, quality, competition and investment in the sector. These processes were implemented simultaneously by a procedure of comparative hearings, followed by an auction of upward price, with accumulation of spectrum caps. The benefits were i) increase of 55.0% in the average tenure of spectrum; ii) reduction of 14.3% in the asymmetries between operators by region; iii) the total paid in the auction plus future payment obligations accounted for 28 871 million pesos (USD 2 309 million); iv) for each peso that State gets, it is generated a gain of 8.8 pesos in consumer surplus. Finally, if the decision is reversed, it is generated a social welfare loss from 24 170 to 35 001 million pesos.

RESUMEN En 2010 la Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones realizó las Licitaciones 20 (30MHz en la banda de 1.9GHz) y 21 (90MHz en la banda de 1.7-2.1GHz) con el objetivo de afectar positivamente la cobertura, la calidad, la competencia y la inversión en el sector. Estas licitaciones se instrumentaron simultáneamente mediante el inicio de un procedimiento de audiencias comparadas, seguidas por una subasta de precio ascendente, con topes de acumulación de espectro. Las ganancias fueron i) incremento de 55.0% en el promedio de tenencia de espectro; ii) reducción de 14.3% en las asimetrías entre operadores por región; iii) el total pagado en la subasta más las obligaciones de pagos futuros asciende a 28 871 millones de pesos (2 309 millones de dólares), y iv) por cada peso que ingresa al Estado se genera una ganancia de 8.8 pesos en excedente del consumidor. Finalmente, si se revierte la decisión, se genera una pérdida en bienestar entre 24 170 y 35 001 millones de pesos.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of (CA)n repeats in the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and a variable number of tandem repeats of the insulin gene on birth size in children who are small or adequate-sized for gestational age and to correlate these polymorphisms with serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and insulin sensitivity in children who are small for gestational age, with and without catch-up growth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 439 infants: 297 that were adequate-sized for gestational age and 142 that were small for gestational age (66 with and 76 without catch-up). The number of (CA)n repeat in the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and a variable number of tandem repeats in the insulin gene were analyzed using GENESCAN software and polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion, respectively. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from all patients. RESULTS: The height, body mass index, paternal height, target height and insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels were higher in children who were small for gestational age with catch-up. There was no difference in the allelic and genotypic distributions of both polymorphisms between the adequate-sized and small infants or among small infants with and without catch-up. Similarly, the polymorphisms were not associated with clinical or laboratory variables. CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms of the (CA)n repeats of the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and a variable number of tandem repeats of the insulin gene, separately or in combination, did not influence pre- or postnatal growth, insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels or insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVES: Noonan and Noonan-related syndromes are common autosomal dominant disorders with neuro-cardio-facial-cutaneous and developmental involvement. The objective of this article is to describe the most relevant tegumentary findings in a cohort of 41 patients with Noonan or Noonan-related syndromes and to detail certain aspects of the molecular mechanisms underlying ectodermal involvement. METHODS: A standard questionnaire was administered. A focused physical examination and a systematic review of clinical records was performed on all patients to verify the presence of tegumentary alterations. The molecular analysis of this cohort included sequencing of the following genes in all patients: PTPN1, SOS1, RAF1, KRAS, SHOC2 and BRAF. RESULTS: The most frequent tegumentary alterations were xeroderma (46%), photosensitivity (29%), excessive hair loss (24%), recurrent oral ulcers (22%), curly hair (20%), nevi (17%), markedly increased palmar and plantar creases (12%), follicular hyperkeratosis (12%), palmoplantar hyperkeratosis (10%), café-au-lait spots (10%) and sparse eyebrows (7%). Patients with mutations in PTPN11 had lower frequencies of palmar and plantar creases and palmar/plantar hyperkeratosis compared with the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that patients with mutations in genes directly involved in cell proliferation kinase cascades (SOS1, BRAF, KRAS and RAF1) had a higher frequency of hyperkeratotic lesions compared with patients with mutations in genes that have a more complex interaction with and modulation of cell proliferation kinase cascades (PTPN11).

A síndrome de Noonan (SN) é uma doença gênica autossômica dominante, com expressão clínica variável, caracterizada por baixa estatura, dismorfismos faciais e cardiopatia. Diferentes genes da via de sinalização RAS/MAPK são responsáveis pela síndrome, sendo as mais frequentes: PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1 e KRAS. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar um paciente com SN que apresenta mutações em dois genes da via RAS/MAPK a fim de estabelecer se essas mutações levam a uma expressão mais grave do fenótipo. Utilizou-se sequenciamento direto dos genes PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1 e KRAS. Foram identificadas duas mutações em heterozigose previamente descritas: p.N308D e p.R552G nos genes PTPN11 e SOS1, respectivamente. A paciente apresenta quadro clínico típico semelhante ao dos pacientes com SN e mutação em um único gene, mesmo naqueles com a mesma mutação identificada na paciente. Não foi observado um fenótipo mais grave ou atípico na paciente, sugerindo que as mutações não apresentam um efeito aditivo.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder, with variable phenotypic expression, characterized by short stature, facial dysmorphisms and heart disease. Different genes of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway are responsible for the syndrome, the most common are: PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, and KRAS. The objective of this study was to report a patient with Noonan syndrome presenting mutations in two genes of RAS/MAPK pathway in order to establish whether these mutations lead to a more severe expression of the phenotype. We used direct sequencing of the PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, and KRAS genes. We have identified two described mutations in heterozygosity: p.N308D and p.R552G in the genes PTPN11 and SOS1, respectively. The patient has typical clinical features similar to the ones with NS and mutation in only one gene, even those with the same mutation identified in this patient. A more severe or atypical phenotype was not observed, suggesting that these mutations do not exhibit an additive effect.

Resumo: A escolha pela carreira médica é determinada por vários fatores e vem sendo pesquisada e discutida em muitas escolas médicas. Já em 1951, iniciou-se a abordagem sobre vocação médica e até hoje são diversas e controversas as opiniões dos estudiosos. Ana Mercês Bock afirma que a ideia de vocação é exatamente não ter vocação nenhuma. Entretanto, o jornalista Alexandre Garcia descreve que a carreira médica é uma vocação para super-homem. “Quem tiver vocação para super-homem, vira médico”. Existem fatores determinantes antes de ingressar na faculdade e os fatores que orientam o estudante durante o curso médico a decidir-se por ser médico. Assim, uma família de médicos; círculo de amizades; matérias preferenciais no colégio, como biologia; fatores psicológicos, por exemplo, ter enfrentado problemas e situações infantis. Direcionam o adolescente pela escolha da Medicina.

Abstract: Ther choice of the medical creer is determined by diferente factors being ivestigated and discussed in many medical schools. The issue medical vocation was first approached as early as in 1951, scholars’ opinions to this respect however remain divergente and controversial up to the presente days. Ana Mercês Bock affirms that the idea of vocation is exactly not to have a vocation at all. The journalist Alexander Garcia, on the other hand, classifies the medical career as a vocation for Superman. “Who has a vocation for superman becomes a doctor”. A number of determinative factors can lead the students before entering the college and during the medical course to decide for being a physician. Coming from a Family of doctors for example, the circle of friendship, preferred subjects at school such as biology, psychological factors like having faced problems during chilhood can influence the adolecent to choose Medicine.