Contributions of the old urban homegardens for food production and consumption in Rio Claro, Southeastern Brazil

Urban homegardens are green areas of households within the city limits and they have the potential to provide families with a cheap alternative for diet improvement, and to complement the income of the families who sell cultivated products. This research analyzes the contributions of old urban homegardens on food consumption and household economy. Data related to homegardens composition were collected by interviews and by collecting cultivated plants. Diets were assessed through a retrospective method (last 24 hours food recall) and administered every two months, during a year, to include seasonal variations. The diet of the sampled population was found to be dependent on certain foods, indicating a narrow food niche (Levins index = 25.9; Levins standardized index = 0.23). Variations in interviewees' diet are related to the consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are partly supplied by homegardens. Spices and teas consumed were obtained from homegardens, revealing its importance in food consumption and health. Among the 98 species found in homegardens, only 38% appeared in the interviewees' diet, indicating an under-exploitation of these homegardens. Our study found that the main role of homegardens is to supply variation in the diet, contributing to the consumption of different types of products.

Plantas ornamentais em quintais urbanos de Rio Branco, Brasil

Ornamental plants are important in the culture and welfare of city dwellers in the Amazon. This study aimed to perform a characterization of species of ornamental use in urban backyards of Rio Branco and relation with social aspects of the respondents. Semi-structured interviews featuring ornamental species along with analysis of social aspects of urban respondents of the 132 backyards in Rio Branco, Acre, Amazon between 2009 and 2011. Selected for this study were neighborhoods Aeroporto Velho, Placas and Novo Horizonte, located on the periphery of the municipality. Were detected 140 ornamental species belonging to 49 different botanical families, especially Euphorbiaceae (7%), Arecaceae (6.4%) and Araceae (5%). Ornamental species recorded, 57.5% are exotic, 16% have medicinal use and 44% herbaceous. Regression analysis of data across the diversity of species, area and social parameters of the respondents was not significant. The cultivation of ornamental plants in urban backyards Rio Branco assists in the ambience of the residence, landscape improvement, generates welfare for residents at leisure space beyond the conservation of genetic resources.

Televisão e mídias digitais na América Latina: um cenário em construção

The text is the initial result of a project called Global iTV, Interactive and systems Hybrid TV: a new advanced scheme for future services and applications in a global environment, contemplated by Call MCTI / CNPq 13/2012 – EUBrazil Cooperation Program in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) which has as its central theme the development of a standard that enables interoperability between the various digital TV systems operating jointly, exchanging and using information. Thus, using bibliographical and documentary research, the article goes on to demonstrate how this perspective panorama is drawing from the advent of digital television and the use of technology in Latin America, seeking to identify similarities, differences, problems and solutions arising from the use and consumption of digitizing television signal in the region. The results demonstrate the importance of media convergence, but point out that there are still large sections of the population on the margin of the Digital Society and the benefits provided by digital networks and that poverty and poor education are important contributions to this scenario.

Bioarte: inferências e aplicabilidades nos campos da arte e suas intersecções biotecnológicas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)