Urban vulnerability in lowland areas : the example of Belém, the Amazon region

International Issue 2012Belém is the capital of the Brazilian Federal State Pará. It is located in the Amazonas river delta estuary at the mouth of Guamá River close to the Guajará Bay. Geomorphologically, it is an alluvial plain less than four meters above sea level, suffering the effects of tides and creating difficulties to the urban drainage. Traditionally the occupation process took place in low areas close to the river and therefore highly vulnerable to floods, so called ”ribeirinha”, the typical small village structure close to rivers in the Amazonas region. This work is aimed to analyze the urban structure of Belém in order to propose flood control and mitigation strategies

Determinantes dos novos contratos de fomento florestal na mesorregião do Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais Determining factors for new private woodlot contracts in the Vale do Rio Doce meso regionin Minas Gerais

O setor florestal tem exercido importante papel no desenvolvimento socioeconômico das regiões produtoras de madeira. Os benefícios são atribuídos à geração de renda (alternativa para pequenos e médios produtores rurais), impostos, divisas e incremento no PIB. As novas exigências do mercado, em termos de competitividade, levaram as empresas a criarem os programas de fomento florestal como forma de expandir a oferta de madeira e garantir sua base produtiva. Nesse contexto, surge a necessidade de se identificarem os fatores que determinam a realização de novos contratos de fomento florestal. A amostra estudada foi composta pelos produtores rurais da mesorregião do Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, que realizaram pelo menos um contrato de fomento entre os anos de 1995 e 2006. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários semiestruturados no ano de 2006. Para identificar os fatores, utilizou-se a Análise Estatística Multivariada, especificamente a técnica de análise de discriminante. Os resultados apontaram que o sistema de medição da madeira (SISMED), a área contratada (ACONTRAT) e o tamanho da propriedade (TAMPROP) foram, nessa ordem, os principais determinantes para a realização de novos contratos. Desse modo, sugere-se que as empresas florestais desenvolvam programas de acompanhamento técnico e formação dos produtores fomentados, no intuito de reduzir as desconfianças no SISMED e aumentar o volume de áreas plantadas por meio do fomento.<br>The forestry sector has played an important role in the socio-economic development of wood-producing regions. Benefits include private income (an alternative for small and medium-sized rural producers), government tax income, balance of payment advantages, and increasing GNP. New market demands in terms of competitiveness have led cellulose companies to create private woodlot programs as a way to expand timber supplies and guarantee a productive basis. Within this context, arises the need to identify determinant factors for signing new private woodlot contracts. The sample studied is composed of rural producers who signed at least one contract in the Vale do Rio Doce meso region in Minas Gerais in 1995-2006.Data were collected in 2006 using a semi-structured questionnaire. Factors were identified using a multivariate statistical analysis, specifically applying a discriminate analysis technique. Results indicate that the system used by the company to measure timber (SISMED), contracted area size (ACONTRAT) and property size (TAMPROP) are, in this order, the principal determinants for assuming new contracts. Based on the study results, it is suggested that forestry companies further develop technical monitoring and training for woodlot producers. These programs could reduce the present lack of confidence indicated for the SISMED factor and help increase the amount of areas planted

Hexane extract from Spondias tuberosa (Anacardiaceae) leaves has antioxidant activity and is an anti-Candida agent by causing mitochondrial and lysosomal damages

Abstract Background Spondias tuberosa is a plant that produces a fruit crop with high economic relevance at Brazilian Caatinga. Its roots and leaves are used in folk medicine. Methods Chemical composition of a hexane extract from S. tuberosa leaves was evaluated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Antioxidant potential was investigated by DPPH and ABTS assays. Antifungal action on Candida species was evaluated determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC50) and putative mechanisms were determined by flow cytometry analysis. In addition, hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes was assessed and the concentration required to promote 50% hemolysis (EC50) was determined. Results Phytochemical analysis by TLC showed the presence of flavonoids, hydrolysable tannins, saponins and terpenes. The HPLC profile of the extract suggested the presence of gallic acid (0.28 ± 0.01 g%) and hyperoside (1.27 ± 0.01 g%). The representative 1H NMR spectrum showed saturated and unsaturated fatty acids among the main components. The extract showed weak and moderate antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC50: 234.00 μg/mL) and ABTS (IC50: 123.33 μg/mL) assays, respectively. It was able to inhibit the growth of C. albicans and C. glabrata with MIC50 of 2.0 and 0.078 mg/mL, respectively. The treatment of C. glabrata cells with the extract increased levels of mitochondrial superoxide anion, caused hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane, and compromised the lysosomal membrane. Weak hemolytic activity (EC50: 740.8 μg/mL) was detected. Conclusion The results demonstrate the pharmacological potential of the extract as antioxidant and antifungal agent, aggregating biotechnological value to this plant and stimulating its conservation

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2014: volume 1: processos de ensino e de aprendizagem dos conteúdos escolares

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científco e Tecnológico (CNPq

Bioenergia: desenvolvimento, pesquisa e inovação

Com 27 trabalhos produzidos por pesquisadores do Instituto de Pesquisa em Bioenergia (Bioen), da Unesp, este livro oferece uma ampla visão sobre as áreas que compõem o segmento. Seu principal objetivo é contribuir para melhorar a compreensão dos vários aspectos da bioenergia, em especial no Brasil, que figura entre os países com maior nível de desenvolvimento tecnológico no setor. Os artigos abordam uma série abrangente de questões relacionadas à bioenergia, como a construção genética das plantas de cana-de-açúcar visando ao aumento de produtividade, a disseminação de sementes para estimular a propagação de espécies com potencial energético, etapas de produção de bioenergia, usos do combustível e seus efeitos nos diversos tipos de motores. Agrupados por assunto, os textos estão distribuídos em cinco partes: Biomassa para bioenergia; Produção de biocombustíveis; Utilização de bioenergia; Biorrefinaria, alcoolquímica e oleoquímica e Sustentabilidade dos biocombustíveis