Issue # 274 _ December 2018

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Cover

Architecture of the Constitution: Three decades after its ratification, a scientific study reveals the uniqueness of the federal Constitution's construction and evidence of pioneering spirit in its codification of citizens' rights
The challenges of universalizing healthcare
Funding for scientific research

S&T Policy

FUNDING

Out of the comfort zone

IPEA study finds tax incentives have failed to boost private R&D investment in Brazil in recent years

OUTREACH

Support for innovative research in Ceará

State creates mechanisms for funding corporate projects, despite the economic crisis

Interview

Magdalena Skipper : In the editor’s office

New editor in chief of Nature talks about the challenge of overcoming the reproducibility crisis and the rise of open access

Science

Tropical diseases

A center for safeguarding health in the Amazon

Founded in 1936, the Evandro Chagas Institute produces world-leading research on infectious and parasitic diseases and environmental issues

Oncology

Doubling the effort against cancer

Hospitals such as ICESP and A.C.Camargo combine basic research with applied research in the search for better treatments for tumors

Medicine

Searching for rare diseases

Number of Brazilians diagnosed with uncommon genetic pathologies increases 150% in four years

Ecology

The fragile DNA of sharks

Overfishing could further decrease the naturally low genetic diversity of some commercially valuable species

Biochemistry

Green, yellow, or red

Bioluminescence research sheds new light on the mechanisms behind firefly colors

Oceanography

The progressive destruction of Brazilian beaches

Loss or accumulation of sand and mud has altered 60% of the Brazilian coastline

Astronomy

Unusual Stars

Researchers puzzled by recent discoveries of stars with variable brightness

Technology

Biometrics

Brazilian technology at the Pentagon

Brazilian identification systems company Griaule has won two contracts in the United States worth a total of US$82.5 million—one with the Department of Defense

Biometrics

A face in the crowd

Facial recognition systems are becoming increasingly popular in Brazil and are already in use to prevent fraud, identify university exam participants, monitor travelers, and check in air passengers

Naval Engineering

Renewing the fleet

The Navy launches the Riachuelo, the first of five submarines that will set a new technological benchmark for the Brazilian naval industry

INTERVIEW

Fabrício Bloisi: Local with global mindset

The president of Movile speaks about the future of iFood, which received funding of US$500 million, and encourages internationalization of innovative companies

Humanities

HISTORY

Secrets of the forest

Using a multidisciplinary approach, book recovers legends and records of naturalists to reveal little known aspects of the Amazon

SOCIOLOGY OF FOOD

From cassava to corn, from indigenous to caipira

Studies revisit the history of one of Brazil’s most important culinary traditions