New approach addressing sustainability in urban areas using sustainable city models

A brief analysis of the environmental, social and economic paradigm of nowadays cities, allows reaching a simple conclusion: current cities are not sustainable. Considering this, it is very important to study the causes of cities problems and to develop city models implementing sustainability practices. There are a limited number of studies developing sustainable city models, but the scientific community lacks even more studies about the rehabilitation of current cities to implement these models. This work emerges with the objective of analysing how it is possible to implement sustainability practices in cities through the development of a sustainable city model and an urban rehabilitation plan. The development of sustainable city models is a very complex topic and the analysis of the literature shows that it is necessary to consider the relation between environmental and social aspects in the development of sustainable cities, while taking special concerns when considering the economic issues. It was also concluded that sustainable city models and rehabilitation plans should be subject to sustainability assessments and should consider the active participation of its inhabitants. In fact, a city can only be sustainable if its population is in harmony with the city model and we can only assess results by predicting and measuring performance levels.(undefined

Prevalência de enteroparasitoses em crianças de creches públicas da cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

The objective of this study was to verify the occurrence of intestinal parasites in 3 to 6-year-old children from daycare centers maintained by the municipal government of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Coproparasitological tests performed in 472 children have shown that 24.6% of them had some type of parasites, 6.6% of the children having more than one type. Among protozoa, Entamoeba coli (14.0%) and G. duodenalis (9.5%) were the most prevalent, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides (3.0%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.1%) were the most frequent among the helminths. Thus, we can observe that intestinal parasites still represent a serious public health problem in Belo Horizonte, especially among children and in areas where the socioeconomic conditions are less favorable.O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a ocorrência de parasitos intestinais em crianças de 3 a 6 anos de idade, oriundas de creches mantidas pela Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Exames coproparasitológicos realizados em 472 crianças demonstraram que 24,6% apresentavam algum tipo de parasitose, sendo que 6,6% apresentavam mais de um parasito. Entre os protozoários, Entamoeba coli (14,0%) e G. duodenalis (9,5%) foram os mais prevalentes, enquanto Ascaris lumbricoides (3,0%) e Trichuris trichiura (1,1%) foram os mais encontrados entre os helmintos. Desta forma, observa-se que as parasitoses intestinais ainda são um problema de saúde pública em Belo Horizonte, principalmente entre a população infantil e em áreas onde as condições sócio-econômicas são menos favoráveis

Oferta alimentar de menus infantis em restaurantes de centros comerciais portugueses: estudo qualitativo

Introdução: O consumo de alimentos fora de casa aumentou e as famílias usam habitualmente os centros comerciais para realizar estas refeições. Os menus infantis disponíveis nos restaurantes são caracterizados por conterem alimentos com elevada densidade energética, ricos em gordura, gordura saturada, ácidos gordos trans e sódio e por uma oferta reduzida de hortícolas e fruta e de alimentos fornecedores de hidratos de carbono complexos, fontes alimentares de fibra e de vários micronutrientes. Objetivos: Caracterizar a disponibilidade e a qualidade dos menus infantis nos restaurantes de centros comerciais em Portugal. metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo observacional de desenho transversal realizado em todos os centros comerciais de 6 cidades de Portugal. Para dar resposta aos objetivos propostos foi elaborada uma ferramenta de recolha de dados que incluiu três seções: A: Identificação do restaurante, B: Características do restaurante e C: Características do menu infantil. Resultados: Dos 184 restaurantes diferentes avaliados, apenas 44 disponibilizam menu infantil e, destes, 6 oferecem brindes associados ao mesmo. Os itens mais destacados nos menus são frango assado ou frito (25%), hambúrgueres grelhados ou fritos (25%), nuggets (18%) e pizza (18%). As batatas fritas são as opções mais frequentes de acompanhamento (41%). Apenas 6 restaurantes disponibilizam sopa ou hortícolas adicionados à refeição. Embora a água estivesse disponível, refrigerantes e sumos de frutas açucarados também são opções disponibilizadas. A sobremesa doce é frequentemente disponibilizada no menu. Conclusões: As opções do menu infantil analisadas oferecem alimentos nutricionalmente desadequados e baixa disponibilidade de hortícolas e frutas. Propostas de alterações aos alimentos oferecidos nos menus infantis revela-se uma estratégia importante na promoção de hábitos alimentares mais saudáveis nas crianças.ABSTRACT Introduction: Out-of-home food consumption has increased and families eating out frequently use shopping centres. KidŽs menus available at restaurants are characterized by contain foods with excessive energy, fat, saturated fat, -trans-fatty acids and salt and low vegetables, complex carbohydrate foods, ï¬ bre, and various micronutrients. Objectives: Characterize the availability and quality of kidŽs menus in shopping centre restaurants in Portugal. METHODOLOGY: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in all shopping centres of 6 cities in Portugal. To answer the purposed aims a data collection tool was developed with three-section parts A: Identiï¬ cation of the restaurant, B: Characteristics of the restaurant and C: Characteristics of the kid's menu. Results: From 184 different restaurants evaluated, only 44 provide a kids menu and from these 6 restaurants offer gifts associated with it. The most frequently featured items on the menu are roast or fried chicken (25%), hamburgers grilled or fried (25%), nuggets (18%) and pizza (18%). Potato chips are the most frequent side dish options (41%). Only 6 restaurants offered vegetable soup or vegetables added to the meal. Although the water was available, soft drinks and sugary fruit juices are also options. Sweet dessert is a common part of the menu. Conclusions: Kids' menu options had poor quality with low availability of fruits and vegetables. Shifting foods offered to children in restaurants have the potential to improve diet quality, reduce excess energy intake and promote healthy eating habits

Tuberculosis determined by Mycobacterium bovis in captive waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) in São Paulo, Brazil

Two waterbucks from São Paulo Zoo Foundation exhibited respiratory symptoms in July 2004. After euthanasia, granulommas in lungs and mediastinic lymph nodes were observed. Acid-fast bacilli isolated were identified as Mycobacterium bovis spoligotype SB0121 by PRA and spoligotyping. They were born and kept in the same enclosure with the same group, without any contact to other species housed in the zoo. This is the first detailed description of M. bovis infection in Kobus ellipsiprymnus.FAPES