Origins and Popularization of Traditional Chinese Therapies in Argentina at the End of 20th Century: the Case of Daniel Alegre

Various resources of the so-called traditional Chinese medicine, such as taijiquan, massage, diets, or acupuncture, have become widely available in the everyday therapeutic culture of contemporary Argentina. While these resources can be found in the first half of the 20th century, it is evident that from the 1960s onward their presence is more evident, with a strong emphasis from the 1980s on. This article aims to describe the reception and popularization of body and therapeutic techniques of traditional Chinese medicine in Argentina in the 1980s through the case of Daniel Alegre, a key figure in the dissemination of Chinese therapeutic techniques. To do so, it focuses on certain key mediators in the popularization of techniques such as taijiquan and Chinese massage: teachers, promoters, and specialized magazines. All these mediators are key artifacts in the processes of massification and dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine in a broader emerging horizon associated with two simultaneous processes, the Chinese cultural transnationalization and the boom of new forms of holistic management of personal well-being.

Postcolonialism and the Feminine in Paulina Chiziane＇s O alegre canto da perdiz

In this study we present the novel O alegre canto da perdiz （2008）, by Paulina Chiziane, focusing on the path of the characters Delfina and Maria das Dores, pointing to the construction of a female speech denouncing the state to which the Mozambican woman was subjected, especially during colonization, a trauma still present in Africa. By telling the saga of these two women （mother and daughter）, the novel also makes a reinterpretation of the origin and history of the peoples of Africa. Beyond the issues that mark the secular submission of women to the world of man in certain African societies, Paulina Chiziane also leads us to confront the issue of reductionism practiced by those who look from outside Africa and seeks to present its history and its literature as if the African continent were a single country, as reported by the Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie in her speech against ＂the danger of listening and repeating a single story, the winners＇ story＂ （Adichie, 2009）. We aim to identify aspects of the unique feminine of Paulina Chiziane by rescuing legends of matriarchy in the course of the characters. We will also do a reading of colonialism and post-colonialism objectifying the female of writing Paulina Chiziane. The critical placement of the text allows us to analyze it with the contribution of Spivak （2010）, Said （1978）, Bonnici （2000）, among others.

Forest fire risk indices and zoning of hazardous areas in Sorocaba,Sao Paulo state,Brazil

This study compares the performance of three fire risk indices for accuracy in predicting fires in semideciduous forest fragments,creates a fire risk map by integrating historical fire occurrences in a probabilistic density surface using the Kernel density estimator(KDE)in the municipality of Sorocaba,Sao Paulo state,Brazil.The logarithmic Telicyn index,Monte Alegre formula(MAF)and enhanced Monte Alegre formula(MAF+)were employed using data for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2016.Meteorological data and numbers of fire occurrences were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology(INMET)and the Institute for Space Research(INPE),respectively.Two performance measures were calculated:Heidke skill score(SS)and success rate(SR).The MAF+index was the most accurate,with values of SS and SR of 0.611%and 62.8%,respectively.The fire risk map revealed two most susceptible areas with high(63 km^2)and very high(47 km^2)risk of fires in the municipality.Identification of the best risk index and the generation of fire risk maps can contribute to better planning and cost reduction in preventing and fighting forest fires.