A flexible multicriteria decision-making methodology to support the strategic management of Science,Technology and Innovation research funding programs

Research funding programs are a policy instrument utilized by governments to influence the innovation process. They are usually elaborated, launched and managed by research funding agencies. In order to select the most adequate research projects, agencies often rely on the peer review process.This paper introduces a methodology to support funding decisions based on the peer review process. The methodology involves the use of a multicriteria decision model to support the assessment, evaluation, prioritization and selection of applications, under a multi-step decision-making process, which fits into a strategic management cycle within the agency. The Multiattribute Value Theory, being considered under a Value Focused Thinking approach, provides a basis for the construction of the multicriteria decision model. The good practices in peer review and also a logical framework for program management are considered by the methodology.A pilot study, presented in the paper, involved a retrospective implementation of a peer review process in the context of a program launched by the Ministry for Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications and the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development, in Brazil. The methodology allowed a clear distinction of roles. The agency staff in the role of decision-makers was responsible for making value judgments on behalf of the agency. The experts, in the role of committee members and ad hoc reviewers, contributed with their expertise by providing objective assessments. Such assessments served as a basis for evaluating the applications, characterizing the possible portfolios, and can be considered as data in future program evaluation studies.     

Spectral studies of semicarbazones derived from 3- and 4-formylpyridine and 3- and 4-acetylpyridine: crystal and molecular structure of 3-formylpyridine semicarbazone

Semicarbazones derived from 3- and 4-formylpyridine (H3FoPyS, H4FoPyS) and 3- and 4-acetylpyridine (H3AcPyS, H4AcPyS) were prepared and studied spectroscopically. Complete NMR assignments for these semicarbazones were made using DEPT135, as well as HMQC and HMBC heteronuclear correlation techniques. The crystal and molecular structures of H3FoPyS were determined.     

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes of N(4′) substituted 3- and 4-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones

Co^II and Ni^II complexes of N(4)-methyl and N(4)-ethyl thiosemicarbazones derived from 3- and 4-acetylpyridine have been prepared and characterized by microanalyses, magnetic susceptibility and molar conductivity measurements and by their electronic, i.r. and n.m.r. (in the case of Ni^II complexes) spectra.     

Simulation and Analysis of a New Mobility Model for Mobile Communication Networks

The traffic generation models, which describe how the clients use the network services, as well as the mobility models, which describe how clients move within the service area covered by the network, are essential tools for QoS analysis in these environments. In this paper we present the simulation of a new mobility model implemented for the analysis of QoS parameters of a mobile network, such as channel occupation time, handoff and new call blocking probabilities.     

HPLC-ESI-MS/MS of imidazole alkaloids in Pilocarpus microphyllus

Pilocarpine, an important imidazole alkaloid, is extracted from the leaves of Pilocarpus microphyllus (Rutaceae), known in Brazil as jaborandi and used mainly for the treatment of glaucoma. Jaborandi leaves also contain other imidazole alkaloids, whose pharmacological and physiological properties are unknown, and whose biosynthetic pathways are under investigation. In the present study, a HPLC method coupled with ESI-MS(n) was developed for their qualitative and quantitative analysis. This method permits the chromatographic separation of the imidazole alkaloids found in extracts of jaborandi, as well as the MS/MS analysis of the individual compounds. Thus two samples: leaves of P. microphyllus and a paste that is left over after the industrial extraction of pilocarpine; were compared. The paste was found to contain significant amounts of pilocarpine and other imidazole alkaloids, but had a slightly different alkaloid profile than the leaf extract. The method is suitable for the routine analysis of samples containing these alkaloids, as well as for the separation and identification of known and novel alkaloids from this family, and may be applied to further studies of the biosynthetic pathway of pilocarpine in P. microphyllus.