Regional planning in the land reform literature: a gap to be bridged

This work reviews recent research efforts in the area of land reform in the developing world and comparatively evaluates different planning approaches per country. The historical antecedents, socio-economic circumstances, legal framework and different degrees of governmental intervention influencing the access to land in the countryside are covered. A snapshot of empirical findings in a group of developing countries highlights the need to systematically adopt regional planning strategies that are able to maximise the positive socio-economic impacts of the schemes. It is also concluded that a combination of market and non-market approaches to land reform could be beneficial for developmental purposes

Game development as a pedagogical mechanism: a report on an experiment in public schools aimed at sustainability and the protection of the environment .

Educational games have been designed in this study with the aim ofarousing an interest in environmental education among 5th grade student , whichinvolve making sustainable use of the river that flows through the municipality ofInhangapi, located in the North-East of Para State´. The students’ gain inknowledge regarding the subjects covered in class was assessed at the end of thestudents´ game activities that involved the subjects taught. The results showed thatthe use of game construction contributed to the teaching and learning process withregard to the concepts of Computing and environmental education because almost60 % of the students correctly applied what they had been taught about gameconstruction

Modulatory antimicrobial activity of Piper arboretum extracts (Zingiberaceae)

The side effects of certain antibiotics have been a recent dilemma in the medical arena. Due this fact, the necessity of natural product discovery could provide important indications against several pharmacological targets and combat many infectious agents. Piper arboreum Aub. (Piperaceae) has been used by Brazilian traditional communities against several illnesses including rheumatism, bronchitis, sexually transmitted diseases and complaints of the urinary tract. Medicinal plants are a source of several remedies used in clinical practice to combat microbial infections. In this study, ethanol extract and fractions of Piper arboreum leaves were used to assay antimicrobial and modulatory activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using microdilution method of ethanol extract and fractions from the leaves of P. arboreum ranging between 8 and 1024 mgmL–1. The capacity of these natural products to enhance the activity of antibiotic and antifungal drugs was also assayed. In these tests, natural products were combined with drugs. The natural products assayed did not demonstrate any clinically relevant antimicrobial activity (MIC ³ 1024 mg mL–1). However, the modulation of antibiotic activity assay observed a synergistic activity of natural products combined with antifungal (such as nystatin and amphotericin B) and antibiotic drugs (such as amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin). According to these results, these natural products can be an interesting alternative not only to combat infectious diseases caused by bacteria or fungi, but also to combat enhanced resistance of microorganisms to antibiotic and antifungal drugs

Tratamento de esgoto de uma unidade de ensino superior por meio de um sistema de zona de raízes

O uso de plantas no tratamento de águas residuais é uma alternativa eficiente, sustentável e de baixo custo em comparação ao tratamento convencional. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência do sistema de zona de raiz em um tratamento de esgoto sanitário, para as condições climáticas de Goiânia-GO, Brasil. Para isso, foi construída uma estação de tratamento experimental na Escola de Engenharia Civil, da Universidade Federal de Goiás (EEC / UFG), consistindo de uma fossa séptica, filtro anaeróbio e três camaras biológica de zona de raiz, em paralelo, usando areia e brita zero e brita número um, respectivamente, como substrato. O sistema foi eficiente na remoção de DBO (98,5%), DQO (95,8%) e coliformes termotolerantes (99,99%)