Institutional arrangements in the emerging biodiesel industry: Case studies from Minas Gerais-Brazil

Connecting (small) family farmers to the emerging biodiesel industry requires careful design of the institutional arrangements between the producers of oil crops and the processing companies. According to institutional economics theory, the design of effective and efficient arrangements depends on production and transaction characteristics, the institutional environment, and the organizational environment supporting the transaction between producers and the industry. This paper presents a comparative study on two cases in the feedstock-for-biodiesel industry in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The two case studies represent the production and transaction system of soybeans (Glycine max L Merrill) and castor beans (Ricinus communis L). Important elements of effective and efficient institutional arrangements are farmer collective action, availability of technical and financial support, and farmer experience with particular crops. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of obesity and handgrip strength in the static postural balance of active older women

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the obesity and handgrip strength on the static balance of active older women in the opened and closed eyes conditions. Thirty one women aged from 65 to 75 years (16 eutrophic and 15 obese) were evaluated. Mean age and BMI of the eutrophic women were, respectively, 68.3 +/- 2.7 years and 23.4 +/- 1.6kg/m(2), and of the obese women were 69.1 +/- 2.7 years and 33.5 +/- 3kg/m(2). Handgrip strength was evaluated using a dynamometer (JAMAR). A tridimensional sensors system was used to evaluate the static postural balance. The tests were performed for 90 seconds, with eyes opened and closed. The mean handgrip strength of the eutrophic women was 25.1 +/- 4.6kgf and of the obese women was 24.8 +/- 5.2kgf, (p>0,05). Significant differences between groups were only observed in the maximum displacement with opened eyes (p=0,04) and closed eyes(p<0,01). There was no correlation between the maximum displacement neither with the BMI or the handgrip strength. The present study showed smaller a-p displacement in obese than in eutrophic women, with major statistic difference in the eyes closed condition. In the present study, the handgrip strength did not influence the static balance, however the obesity was a determinant factor for the smaller a-p displacement of the active older women.

Stress urinary incontinence in climacteric women in a northeastern Brazilian municipality: a household survey

Low socioeconomic factors may influence the development of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Thus far, there is little research available on SUI in developing countries. We aimed to determine whether the prevalence of SUI in a northeastern Brazilian municipality was higher or lower than in the general female population. Cross-sectional household cluster study of 1,180 climacteric women in the So Luis municipality (Maranho state, Brazil) was conducted using a standardized questionnaire that was previously tested in a pilot study and administered by interviewers to obtain socioeconomic and cultural information, climacteric aspects, and life habits related to SUI. From this population, 15.34% (n = 181) had SUI; this prevalence did not change with age. More than half (57.92%) of the patients replied that they had not consulted a physician for their SUI. The presence of SUI was not associated with any socioeconomic or gynecological variables after multivariate analysis. The prevalence of SUI in So Luis was similar to the rates observed in the general global female population. Socioeconomic and gynecological variables were not associated with SUI.

SELF-REPORTED URINARY INCONTINENCE IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD: CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to characterize the manifestations of self-reported urinary incontinence in the postpartum period. We interviewed 288 women who were clients of a teaching health center in Sao Paulo, between the months of January and August of 2009. The data showed that among the 71 incontinent women (24.6%), 44 (62%) reported stress urinary incontinence, 65 (91.5%) were aware of urine leakage, 33 women (46.5%) experienced urine loss more than once a week, and 24 (33.8%) reported persistent urinary incontinence at the time of interview. The severity classified as moderate urinary incontinence was identified in 53 women (74.7%). The findings highlight the importance of studies on urinary incontinence in the postpartum period, as well as approaching this issue in education and health care interventions with women in the reproductive stage.