RHC and RHc genotyping in different ethnic groups.

BACKGROUND: RH genotyping assays are mainly based on research in whites. These assays may not be reliable in a multiracial society because of the genetic variation in RH among ethnic groups. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Five groups from different ethnic backgrounds were serologically typed for C and c and were genotyped on nucleotide C48 and intron 2 for RHC and RHc on nucleotides C178 and C307. RESULTS: RHc genotyping with both methods proved to be reliable. RHC genotyping on C48 is not reliable because of a 48G>C mutation in the RHce allele (false-positive prediction of C). This mutation was found in every ethnic group and does not affect c or e expression. RHC genotyping on intron 2 is unreliable because of r's (Cdes) alleles (a false-negative prediction of C). This allele was found in whites and blacks from Curaçao and South Africa. Reactions of r's cells with anti-C are weaker, but no negative reactions with various MoAbs were found. A new method (RHC/c/hex3-intron 4/exon 7 multiplex PCRs) was developed based on intron 2 and r's hybrid exon 3 characteristics (RHC) and C307 (RHc). CONCLUSIONS: Reliable RHC and RHc genotyping is possible in different ethnic groups with the RHC/c/hex3-intron 4/exon 7 multiplex PCR approach.

Growth and distribution of the Brazilian population: recent trends.

"The object of this paper is to summarise the leading demographic tendencies of the past decades [in Brazil], focusing mainly on the 1970-80 period.... This paper is divided into two parts: the analysis [of] population growth and of redistribution patterns. This is followed by a reflection on the implications [of] these trends for population policy."

[Population and environment: lessons from the Latin American experience]. / Poblacion y medio ambiente: lecciones de la experiencia latinoamericana.

PIP: Consideration of population and the environment in Latin America, rather than focusing on population size and growth rate, should be centered on the processes of urbanization in the context of specific historical factors and economic forces at work in the region and their impact on the environment. The existing polemic on population and the environment is characterized by a level of generality, abstraction, and ideological content that prevent impartial examination and impede creation of more constructive and useful policy. From the perspective of population size and growth, Latin America is relatively small and advanced in the fertility transition, and does not represent a global population threat. The urban profiles of Latin America are more comparable to those of the industrial countries than those of Africa and Asia. Nearly three-fourths of Latin Americans already live in urban zones, and there are no prospects of future massive rural-urban migration except in the smallest and poorest countries. Given the close relations between population distribution, economic development efforts, and environmental deterioration, it appears evident that in most of Latin America the configuration of economic growth, the solution of social problems, the definition of environmental themes, and the results of demographic processes will be found in the large cities. The principal population and environmental concern in the region is with spatial distribution, not population growth. Most of the crucial ecological issues in the cities remain to be resolved. Interdisciplinary cooperation and long-range planning must be intensified. The relations between increased competition for international resources, ecological awareness, government regulation, and nature of economic activity are critical issues, with implications for population redistribution and socioenvironmental welfare. It is probable that none of the themes related to sustainability can be resolved without reformulation of the model of economic growth predominating in the developed countries.^ieng

Impacts of social research on policy formulation: lessons from the Brazilian experience in the population field.

PIP: Numerous changes in population growth and distribution patterns and significant social transformations have occurred in Brazil and 20 years of impressive population research have analyzed these changes. Quality demographic data have existed since 1940, and, since the early 1970s, the data base has expanded greatly. Yet Brazil has never set a distinct population policy nor employed population specialists to formulate the nation's views in population policy. This intimates that the interests and peculiarities of the predominant styles of development and of the dominant interest groups in any given time period filters any influence of population research. Hence, contrary to popular belief, Brazilian government planners determining programs and projects do not necessarily incorporate the results of demographic research into their decision making. Therefore, it is wrong to judge the quality of any population research, or of any social research, based on its confirmed influence, or lack of influence, on social policies and on planning in general. In addition, population researchers have different methodological outlooks, value orientations, and /or ideological commitments so the definition of scientific growth cannot be universally recognized. Nevertheless, in the long run, major advances in population policy can be attributed to a true increase in academic interest in population, and different interest groups have access to an improved data base and to the large amount of information available on demographic trends with which to discuss population problems and make adequate appraisals. In the short run, however, population research does not make a significant impact on population policy.^ieng

[The evolution of employment in agriculture--second part]. / A evolucao do emprego no campo--2.a parte.

PIP: This is the second part of a study evaluating Brazil's demographic and agricultural censuses and their divergent representations of change in agricultural employment. Consideration is given to occupational status, economic activity, regional variations, and residence characteristics of agricultural workers. The effect of censal differences on the measurement of seasonal fluctuations in employment and the labor force participation of women and children is noted. (SUMMARY IN ENG)^ieng

[The evolution of employment in agriculture]. / A evolucao do emprego no campo.

Data collected from population and agricultural censuses concerning agricultural employment in Brazil are compared. "This study aims at analyzing the origin, the form and the significance of the differences between the two censuses. In this first part a detailed comparison is made between their respective concepts, their methodologies, their limitations and their outcomes. The comparison goes back even to the first modern censuses in order to evaluate the evolution of censal instruments and its importance for the...understanding of employment in agriculture." Other data sources are also considered. (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[The growth and distribution of the Brazilian population: some recent trends]. / Crescimento e distribuicao da populacao brasileira: tendencias recentes

PIP: Recent population trends in Brazil are reviewed. The authors note a decline in the rate of growth starting in the 1970s, which is attributable primarily to a decline in fertility that occurred in all regions and in both rural and urban areas. An analysis of changes in spatial distribution is also included. The authors note that the population is becoming increasingly concentrated in densely populated areas of intense economic activity. (summary in ENG)^ieng

[The growth and distribution of the population of Brazil: recent trends]. / Crescimento e distribuicao da populacao brasileira: tendencias recentes.

PIP: Population trends underwent profound changes in Brazil during the last few decades. An important decrease in the rate of population growth was registered in the 1970s. This decrease is attributable to a decline in the level of fertility, which was observed in all regions and in both urban and rural areas. In order to explain this decline, it is necessary to analyze both structural and circumstantial factors related to the political, economic, and social context of the times. Main trends in population redistribution during the 1970s can be regrouped in terms of interregional exchanges and rural-urban migration. A growing convergence between these 2 types of patterns is observed in that population is increasingly being concentrated in densely populated areas of intense economic activities. The implications of these trends for public action are analyzed in the final section.^ieng

[Internal migrations: why investigate?]. / Migraciones internas: investigacion para que?

PIP: The problem of internal migration has become during the last 15 years of paramount importance for many countries. In Brazil, for example, in 1970 almost 1/3 of the population was defined as migrant; if this trend continues there will be 40 million migrants in 1980, and 60 millions in the year 2000. The phenomenon of migration, wherever it occurs, is always related to the economic system and to the social organization of some particular areas, as well as to the age and education of the migration population itself. Solutions to the problem must reflect a concentrated effort from the areas of social policy, urban planning and industrialization development. The formulation of internal migration policy belongs to the governments, as is the special distribution of national resources. The article also reviews recent studies on the problem, analyzes areas of possible government intervention, and supplies topics for relevant research which could prove useful and provide orientation to migration policy planners.^ieng

Adaptation of migrants or survival of the fittest? A Brazilian case.

The author attempts "to interpret the evolution of socioeconomic characteristics among internal migrants in Brazil with increasing duration of residence in destination areas." The relationship between the observed improvement in the socioeconomic conditions of migrants with increasing length of residence and return migration of the poorer, less successful migrants is examined

Volume, characteristics and consequences of internal migration in Colombia.

More than one-third of the Colombian population can be classified as migrants. The prevailing direction of movements is urbanwards, yet it is significant that better than a third of all movements are to rural destinations. Nationwide comparisons of migrants and residents on demographic characteristics would indicate that all streams are selective of the younger and unmarried population, with women predominating in urbanwards movements and men in those to rural areas. However, when compared in terms of socioeconomic characteristics, migrants are more sharply differentiated among themselves than they are from the resident population at each of their respective destinations. Within the migrant population, a natural funneling of the more able migrants to the largest centers suggests itself. Migrants have consistently higher activity rates than the remainder of the population and, in the case of men at least, appear capable of competing for jobs on an equal basis with residents at their respective destinations. Female migrants, however, are consistently overrepresented in lower-status activities, particularly in domestic services.