The cost of hunger: Social and economic impact of child undernutrition in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) jointly with the World Program of Food (WFP) and recognized experts of the region developed a methodology that, using secondary information, estimate the opportunity cost derived from undernutrition. This methodology has been successfully applied in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic, where the cost of undernutrition was estimated at 6.7 billion dollars in 2004. The present study covers four countries in South America: Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru. The results indicate that the cost of the malnutrition in these countries reached 4.3 billion dollars in 2005, which is equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the GDP of these countries. The results strongly point out that child undernutrition is not only a problem of health or an unacceptable situation ethically, but it is a national problem, given the enormous social costs and the loss of opportunities that it imposes on the national economy.

Ageing in the Caribbean and the human rights of older persons: Twin imperatives for action

This study addresses the ageing of the Caribbean population and the situation with respect to the human rights of older persons. It considers the implications for public policy of these ‘twin imperatives for action’. The first chapter describes and explains the changing age structure of the Caribbean population. Important features of the ageing dynamic, such as differential regional and national trends and the growing number of ‘older old’ persons, are also analysed. The study then describes the progress that has been made in advancing and clarifying the human rights of older persons in international law. The core of the study then consists of an assessment of the current situation of older persons in the Caribbean and the extent to which their human rights are realised in practice. The thematic areas of economic security, health, and enabling environments – which roughly correspond to the three priority areas of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing – are each addressed in individual chapters. These chapters evaluate national policies and programmes for older persons and make public policy recommendations intended to protect and fulfil the human rights of older persons. The report concludes by summarising the priorities for future action both through the establishment of new international human rights instruments as well as national policies and programmes.

Seasonal changes in the gonadossomatic index, allometric condition factor and sex ratio of an auchenipterid catfish from eastern Amazonia

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar alterações sazonais no índice gonadossomático (IGS%), fator de condição (K) e proporção sexual, a fim de determinar o período de atividade reprodutiva do bagre Auchenipterichthys longimanus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae), a partir da análise de exemplares coletados em igarapés da Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará, Brasil. Através de coletas bimestrais entre julho de 2008 e julho de 2009, foram capturados 589 exemplares de A. longimanus, sendo 251 machos e 338 fêmeas. Dentre os machos, 171 exemplares foram classificados como adultos e 80 foram jovens, e dentre as fêmeas, 249 eram adultas e 89 jovens. Por meio do estabelecimento de uma equação senoidal, a análise do IGS% evidenciou uma assincronia reprodutiva entre os sexos, pois os machos obtiveram maiores valores de IGS% em janeiro e as fêmeas apresentaram seu pico em março. Para os valores de IGS% de machos, a equação senoide mostrou-se significante somente para os valores brutos (P=0,001), sendo não identificada uma tendência com os valores médios do IGS% (P=0,136). Para as fêmeas, os valores de significância da equação senoide para o IGS% foram obtidos tanto para os dados brutos (P=0,012) quanto para os dados médios (P=0,026). Para o Fator de Condição, a equação senoide demonstrou variação nos valores brutos e médios de machos adultos (P=0,02 e P=0,00, respectivamente) e nos valores brutos de fêmeas (P=0,04), refletindo diferenças nos padrões de investimento energético entre os sexos. Em relação à proporção sexual, foi observada uma maior frequência de capturas de fêmeas reprodutivas em relação aos machos nos meses de Janeiro e Março de 2009, sugerindo um padrão de segregação sexual com fins reprodutivos. Esses parâmetros são fundamentais na avaliação, conservação e manejo dos estoques naturais de peixes, assim como para subsidiar estratégias e procedimentos para a preservação e conservação da ictiofauna.

Os estilistas e a produção de moda

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo do comportamento de discos abrasivos, em operações do tipo Cut-off por mergulho basculante, submetidos à diversas condições de corte sem lubrificação

O corte de aços por disco abrasivo é um dos processos que apresentam as melhores características de economia, eficiência e rapidez, e ainda hoje é muito utilizado no meio industrial se comparado a outros processos tradicionais de corte como o cisalhamento (tesourão), torneamento (sangramento), serragem com serras metálicas, serragem por atrito com lâminas circulares sem dentes e chama oxi-acetileno. Da literatura formal mais recente, nota-se que durante os últimos anos as máquinas para a realização dos cortes foram inovadas. Entretanto, esta atenção não foi dada à ferramenta de corte abrasiva. A falta de literatura técnica dificulta a escolha das condições de corte e da sua otimização no meio industrial. Este fato é agravado pela grande diversidade de discos abrasivos disponíveis no mercado, com diferentes qualidades e preço. As decisões sobre as condições de corte são baseadas em experiências pessoais, sem critério definido, e freqüentemente desprezam os aspectos de segurança inerentes ao processo. A concorrência estrangeira, através da globalização da economia, está obrigando as indústrias nacionais a atenderem os padrões internacionais de qualidade e desempenho. Uma forma das indústrias nacionais tornarem-se mais competitivas é através do conhecimento detalhado das operações de corte com discos abrasivos. Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo sobre o comportamento de discos abrasivos, submetidos a diversas condições de corte. Os resultados são discutidos em função da análise da velocidade de corte, velocidade de mergulho do disco abrasivo na peça, força tangencial de corte média, tempo de corte e relação G.

Lixamento do Pinus elliotti com carbeto de silício e óxido de aluminio

The Sanding is a complex process involving many variables that affect the quality of the part produced, working mainly in the timber industry in the production of panels (MDF, MDP, HDF, etc...) and furniture. However, these industries use the sanding process empirically, not optimizing it. The aim of this study was to compare the behavior of sandpaper white aluminum oxide (OA-white) and Black silicon carbide (SiC-black), analyzing variables in the process as: strength, power, emission, vibration, wear particle size of sanding, and its consequences on the surface finish of the workpiece. Made the process of plane grinding samples of Pinus elliottii, processed in parallel to the fibers, which were sanded with sandpaper grain OA white and black 3-SiC abrasive conditions (new, moderately eroded and severely eroded) grain sizes in 3 (80, 100, and 120 mesh). 6 replicates was performed for each condition tested. Each trial was captured output variables of the sanding process: strength, power, emission and vibration. With two stages totaling 108 trials. After the sanded samples, it has the same surface quality by raising the surface roughness Ra. Through experiment, it can be concluded that abrasives OA-white tended to have higher strength, power, emissions and less vibration in the sanding process, compared to the SiC-black. However, surface finish exhibited similar to the particle size of 80 to 100 mesh, worn abrasive conditions. However, the particle size of 120 mesh, obtained by the roughness of sandpaper OA-bank was higher compared to SiC-black to all conditions of sandpaper due to its toughness

A indústria farmacêutica no Brasil: um estudo do impacto socioeconômico dos medicamentos genéricos

Recently, some countries outside the Triad (Japan, Europe and the United States) have assumed an important role in the pharmaceutical scenario, as large producers, among them stand out Brazil. In the 90s, there were major institutional transformations and the pharmaceutical industry has undergone a reverse specialization process, because liberalization has discouraged production of pharmaceutical chemicals and dependence of imports increased. The law of generics medicines in 1999 emerged as an attempt to increase the population's access to medicines equivalent to ones with brand, with more affordable prices. As a result of this law there was a strengthening of the national capital and a major attraction for foreign companies to brazilian market. This study aims to assess the development trajectory of the country, showing how path-dependence has culminated in greater empowerment of national pharmaceutical industries after the Generics Law in 1999

Construction of the dispositions of institutional habitus in the academic field

This paper describes the main phases of development of an Institute of Chemistry in relation with national policy from the academic field. Its history begins with a proposal to meet the demand for chemistry teacher education and goes on to become a major center for research, education and extension. Throughout its 50 years of history, the Institution has faced numerous challenges by adopting strategies that have established and revealed its institutional habitus. To this end, we use some of René Kaës’s concepts about the development of groups and institutions, highlighting mainly the origins, expectations and covenants that underpinned its foundation, and the entire process of its expansion and institutionalization. Our main focus, also interpreted based on the theory of Pierre Bourdieu and followers, is the establishment of its institutional habitus, i.e., how it interprets and organizes its institutional teaching, research and extension activities within the context of the academic field. The peculiarity of the process has been the mismatch between internal and external pressures. Even though presenting the results of a case study, in general, our methodology can improve the understanding of institution’s development in relation with educational policy.

Samba em fascículos: vertentes do gênero na coleção História da Música Popular Brasileira em tempos de consolidação da indústria cultural brasileira

Pós-graduação em História - FCLAS

Caracterização mineralógica e química das fontes de poeira e sua influência na atmosfera da região do polo cerâmico de Santa Gertrudes (SP)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Review of This Land: A Guide to Central National Forests by Robert H. Mohlenbrock

Robert Mohlenbrock's guide to the national forests of the central U.S. provides the traveling naturalist with a wealth of information on the wide array of national forest lands in the heart of the country. Part of a three-volume series of field guides, this volume covers the states of Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. While most of the forests are along the western and eastern borders of the Great Plains, readers will find a detailed travelog for a National Forest within a day's drive of most areas within the region. While not the focus of this volume, a brief mention of the National Grasslands of the Great Plains would have made it more comprehensive for the traveling naturalist.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE 1992-1993 EL NINO ON THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF Scomber japonicus peruanus (JORDAN & HUBB, 1925)

The influence of the 1992-1993 El Nino events on the reproductive behavior of the Scomber japonicus peruanus (Chub mackerel) was studied from samples collected monthly, along the Peruvian coast (3 degrees 23`S-14 degrees 00`S), from January 1990 to December 1993. The monthly variation of the gonadosomatic index and the frequency of the periods of gonad maturation evidenced that the spawning of the species occurred all year long, being more intense in summer. The values of the gonadosomatic index were higher during the occurrence of the 1992-1993 El Nino, while the body weight and gonad weight decreased. Regarding the condition factor, its values decreased in females over 35 cm in fork length.

Growth parameters and mortality rate of the Scomber japonicus peruanus (Jordan & Hubb, 1925) along the Peruvian coast, South Pacific

The growth parameters and the mortality rates of the Scomber japonicus peruanus (Chub mackerel) were studied based on monthly data of frequency of fork length classes obtained from commercial landings off the Peruvian coast from 1996 to 1998. The asymptotic body length and growth rate values obtained by the ELEFAN I (Electronic Length Frequency Analysis) ranged from 40.20 cm to 42.20 cm and from 0.38 to 0.39, respectively. The oscillation amplitude was 0.60; the Winter point values varied from 0.50 to 0.60 and the performance index from 2.79 to 2.84. The total mortality rate of the Chub mackerel obtained by the linearized catch curve oscillated between 1.68 and 3.35. The rate of fishing mortality varied from 1.16 to 2.78 and the exploitation rate from 0.68 to 0.84. The annual rate of natural mortality estimated by the Pauly`s method ranged from 0.52 to 0.53. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the longevity of the Chub mackerel was slightly over seven years.

A new population of the Cone-billed Tanager Conothraupis mesoleuca, with information on the biology, behaviour and type locality of the species

The `Critically Endangered` Cone-billed Tanager Conothraupis mesoleuca was described in 71 93 9, based on a single specimen collected in the state of Mato Grosso, western Brazil. Not seen again in the wild until 2003, this poorly-known species was rediscovered in Emas National Park, in the Brazilian state of Goias. We describe here the discovery of a new population of Cone-billed Tanager in Chapada dos Parecis, along the upper Juruena River basin, in the state of Mato Grosso. The birds were always detected in (or near) flooded habitats along rivers. At least 40 individuals were found, but the population may be larger since areas of potential habitat are available in the upper Juruena basin and these have not yet been surveyed. We also provide here the first information on the biology and behaviour of the species based on observations in Juruena and Emas, as well as a first description of the female. Historical documents and our records support our suggestion that ""Juruena"", i.e. the type locality of the Cone-billed Tanager, refers to the Juruena telegraph station (12 degrees 50`S, 58 degrees 55`W). Considering that the range of the species is being settled, research on different aspects of its biology are urgent.

Decentralization and regionalization: dynamics and conditioning factors for the implementation of the Health Pact in Brazil

Decentralization and regionalization represent constitutional guidelines for the organization of the Unified Health System, which in the last 20 years has required the adoption of mechanisms to coordinate and accommodate federative tensions in Brazil's healthcare sector. This paper analyzes the national implementation of the Health Pact between 2006 and 2010 involving a strategy that reconfigures intergovernmental relations in the sector. The study involved the analysis of documents, official data and interviews with federal, state and municipal managers in the Brazilian states. The content of the national proposal is initially discussed, including its implications for health policy. The different rhythms and degrees of implementation of the Health Pact are then reviewed, with respect to adherence by states and municipalities and the formation of Regional Management Boards. Lastly, the conditioning factors for the multiplicity of experiences observed in the country are identified and the challenges facing progress toward a decentralized and regionalized health system in Brazil are discussed.