EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: RETHINKING HIGHER EDUCATION IN CABO VERDE

O autor analisa as razões que justificam o atraso dos países da África Subsariana em relação aos países desenvolvidos.  Uma das razões prende-se com o facto de esses países terem sido submetidos a um processo longo de colonização. O autor parte do conceito de capital humano como déficit na trajetória pós-colonial. Evidências históricas e comparativas mostram que nenhuma sociedade moderna hoje conseguiu alcançar níveis sustentados de crescimento e melhores padrões de vida sem a dotação de capital humano necessária

Cape Verde and Its Diaspora: Economic Transnationalism and Homeland Development

This study examines the historical role of the diaspora in Cape Verde’s socioeconomic development. It analyzes the prospects and limitations of its diaspora as a transnational economic development resource. While it is policy oriented, the study offers a conceptual framework to analyze its diaspora engagement policies and efforts since 1975. Cape Verde has emerged as a success story. The diaspora’s contribution was one of the four essential factors behind this relative success: migration and remittances, overseas development assistance, large scale public investments, and reasonably sound policies and stewardship of public finances. Today Cape Verde confronts an adverse set of conditions that hamper growth and even threaten to undue development gains since 1975. An externally dependent micro state in the world economy, with exceedingly limited internal capacity to generate growth and employment, Cape Verde has few viable options in this new phase of development. Its biggest and most dynamic sector, tourism, is disconnected from the rest of the economy. Foreign aid and emigration opportunities are disappearing. This study argues, however, that Cape Verde’s reliance on its diaspora as an economic resource will only increase. However, a number of obstacles continue to hamper the country’s ability to harness the full potential of its diaspora for development

Development of a low-cost ground segment capable of receiving data from nanosatellites: a partnership between Brazil and Portugal

Two universities joined forces to develop a shared ground segment (Ground Stations and Mission Operation Centers) for satellite signals reception, capable of working together autonomously in a network to receive telemetry data and decode information. The main objective of this cooperation and network is to, firstly, give both universities an infrastructure capable of receiving signals in VHF and UHF. Secondly, and most importantly, it aims to create an exchange of experiences between students from these universities while also contributing to the regional development of each country in nanosatellite data reception technology. The ground segment itself provides mutual data collection on a private server, using two ground stations located in different hemispheres to expand global coverage and minimize revisit time, which also contributes to supplying the nanosatellite telemetries database, which is being built in Portugal. The server architecture allows both universities to schedule future passes of their chosen satellites, recording them in a log file that can be used in future studies, enabling research groups to gain experience in signal processing analysis. The modular system is developed entirely using Commercial Of-The-Shelf (COTS) components and 3D printed parts, including Antennas, Amplifiers, Filters and also SDRs (Software Defined Radio), leaving the door open to new integrations that can expand frequency coverage, or system performance improvements. The design supports a wide variety of missions, operating on amateur radio frequency in VHF (2 m band of 144-146 MHz) and UHF (70 cm band of 430-440 MHz), enabling remote access and remote control of the antennas and their recorded data. All the ground segment architecture, hardware, and software, as well as its operational procedures, are discussed in this paper and can be found in detail on our public repository in GitLab. As of March 21st, it has completed several observations for verification. The results are being processed on a low-cost computer (Raspberry Pi4) connected to an SDR which in turn connects to the antennas. The assembly of this interface intends to give a friendly user experience and, if desirable, an easy expansion of this system. The project developed can be easily replicated in other locations around the world, mainly because of its low price and ease of use

INFLUENCE OF Urochloa brizantha ON THE GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL ABSORPTION OF TREE SPECIES

Influence of Urochloa brizantha on the growth and nutritional absorption of tree species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of Urochloa brizantha var. Marandu on the growth and accumulation of macronutrients in the leaves of Cordia trichotoma and Guarea guidonia. Seedlings of tree species were transplanted to 18-liter pots and kept free of U. brizantha for three months. After that period, three treatments were adopted that consisted of the control (T0), two plants of U. brizantha per pot (T2) and four plants of U. brizantha per pot (T4). Growth and nutrient accumulation of tree species were evaluated after 84 days of coexistence with U. brizantha. The increment in diameter, of both tree species, leaf area and shoot dry matter of G. guidonia were significantly affected by the presence of U. brizantha, compared to the control. Significant differences were observed for the accumulation of potassium and magnesium in the leaves of C. trichotoma.

Evaluation Of The Mutagenicity And Antimutagenicity Of Ziziphus Joazeiro Mart. Bark In The Micronucleus Assay.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenicity (clastogenicity/aneugenicity) of a glycolic extract of Ziziphus joazeiro bark (GEZJ) by the micronucleus assay in mice bone marrow. Antimutagenic activity was also assessed using treatments associated with GEZJ and doxorubicin (DXR). Mice were evaluated 24-48 h after exposure to positive (N-nitroso-N-ethylurea, NEU - 50 mg.kg(-1) and DXR - 5 mg.kg(-1)) and negative (150 mM NaCl) controls, as well as treatment with GEZJ (0.5-2 g.kg(-1)), GEZJ (2 g.kg(-1)) + NEU and GEZJ (2 g.kg(-1)) + DXR. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice treated with GEJZ and GEJZ + DXR compared to the negative controls, indicating that GEZJ was not mutagenic. Analysis of the polychromatic:normochromatic erythrocyte ratio revealed significant differences in the responses to doses of 0.5 g.kg(-1) and 1-2 g.kg(-1) and the positive control (NEU). These results indicated no systemic toxicity and moderate toxicity at lower and higher doses of GEZJ. The lack of mutagenicity and systemic toxicity in the antimutagenic assays, especially for treatment with GEZJ + DXR, suggested that phytochemical compounds in Z. joazeiro bark attenuated DXR-induced mutagenicity and the moderate systemic toxicity of a high dose of Z. joazeiro bark (2 g.kg(-1)). Further studies on the genotoxicity of Z. joazeiro extracts are necessary to establish the possible health risk in humans and to determine the potential as a chemopreventive agent for therapeutic use.37428-3

Nongenotoxic effects and a reduction of the DXR-induced genotoxic effects of Helianthus annuus Linné (sunflower) seeds revealed by micronucleus assays in mouse bone marrow

BACKGROUND: This research evaluated the genotoxicity of oil and tincture of H. annuus L. seeds using the micronucleus assay in bone marrow of mice. The interaction between these preparations and the genotoxic effects of doxorubicin (DXR) was also analysed (antigenotoxicity test). METHODS: Experimental groups were evaluated at 24-48 h post treatment with N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea (positive control – NEU), DXR (chemotherapeutic), NaCl (negative control), a sunflower tincture (THALS) and two sources of sunflower oils (POHALS and FOHALS). Antigenotoxic assays were carried out using the sunflower tincture and oils separately and in combination with NUE or DXR. RESULTS: For THALS, analysis of the MNPCEs showed no significant differences between treatment doses (250–2,000 mg.Kg(-1)) and NaCl. A significant reduction in MNPCE was observed when THALS (2,000 mg.Kg(-1)) was administered in combination with DXR (5 mg.Kg(-1)). For POHALS or FOHALS, analysis of the MNPCEs also showed no significant differences between treatment doses (250–2,000 mg.Kg(-1)) and NaCl. However, the combination DXR + POHALS (2,000 mg.Kg(-1)) or DXR + FOHALS (2,000 mg.Kg(-1)) not contributed to the MNPCEs reduction. CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests absence of genotoxicity of THALS, dose-, time- and sex-independent, and its combination with DXR can reduce the genotoxic effects of DXR. POHALS and FOHALS also showed absence of genotoxicity, but their association with DXR showed no antigenotoxic effects

Growth and genetic parameters of progenies of Cordia trichotoma in the juvenile phase

Increasing the productive potential of native species is a challenge for forest genetic improvement. Progeny tests are efficient tools to determine the reproductive capacity of individuals and to assist with the selection of superior genotypes. Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) Arrab. ex Steud, is a native species of commercial interest due to its high potential for sawn wood. The performance of seedling production from different progenies was the objective of this work. Seeds were collected from 34 matrices selected phenotypically and georeferenced in the region of Lavras - MG. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 replications of 12 plants. Germination after 70 days of sowing, survival and height at 170 days after germination were evaluated. Height and genetic parameters were estimated according to mixed REML / BLUP models using the Selegen software model 82. Progeny 104 (70.8%) was superior in germination and progenies 86 (35.42%), 92 (35.42%) and 111 (43.75%) had the highest survival rates. Height shows high values for the individual additive genetic variation coefficient (49.18%) and genotypic variation coefficient between progenies (24.59%) and moderate values of heritability in the restricted individual sense (0.45) and heritability within progenies (0.38). Due to high values for the coefficient of genotypic variation and moderate values of heritability, there is a potential for height improvements. Progenies 104 stand out in the germination and the progenies 86, 92 and 111 in the seedlings survival). Regarding height, progeny 95 is the only one that stands out negatively

ENDOMETRITE SUBCLÍNICA APÓS O TRATAMENTO DE VACAS COM ENDOMETRITE CLÍNICA

A endometrite subclínica tem efeito negativo no desempenho reprodutivo pois reduz a taxa de prenhez e aumenta o intervalo parto-concepção. Diante disto, objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência de endometrite subclínica (ES) aos 42 dias pós-parto (dpp) em vacas que foram diagnosticadas com endometrite clínica entre 21 e 28 dpp e tratadas com infusão uterina de oxitetraciclina. Foram utilizadas 54 vacas mestiças leiteiras, divididas em dois grupos: o controle - GC (n=34), composto por vacas com parto e puerpério fisiológico de acordo com o exame clínico proposto e sem nenhum tratamento; e o grupo tratado - GT (n=20), vacas com endometrite clínica tratadas entre 21 e 28 dpp, com infusão uterina (4 g de oxitetraciclina) entre 21 e 28 dpp. Acompanhou-se no dia do parto, 7, 14, 21, 28 e 42 dpp. Realizou-se avaliação dos parâmetros vitais, escore de condição corporal, exame ginecológico e citologia endometrial através da técnica de cytobrush. Aos 42 dpp não houve diferença na porcentagem de muco vaginal limpo (P=0,69) e os dois grupos apresentaram a mesma evolução clínica. Aos 42 dpp houve diferença entre a ocorrência de ES (P<0.001) entre GC (14,8%) e o GT (80,0%), além de apresentar diferença na proporção de neutrófilos (3,3 ± 6,6; 54,6 ± 39,9 – p<0,001), células endometriais (95,9 ± 8,0; 39,6 ± 40 - p<0,001), macrófagos (0,1 ± 0,3; 1,1 ± 1,0 – p=0,016), linfócitos (0,6 ± 1,9; 3,9 ± 4,2 – p<0,001) e eosinófilos (0,1 ± 0,2; 0,8 ± 2,0 – p=0,113), respectivamente. Concluiu-se que, apesar das vacas com endometrite clínica apresentarem resposta ao tratamento com funções vitais, involução uterina e secreção vaginal semelhante às vacas com puerpério fisiológico, ainda persistem com uma alta incidência de endometrite subclínica (80%) que representa um efeito negativo no desempenho reprodutivo