Economic Loss to the Brazilian Regions Due to the Doha Round Failure

We build a database and model to develop general equilibrium analysis of the Brazilian economy at the level of the five macro regions. The model is multiregional at global level as also at the Brazilian level. The project is coupled to the GTAP model through disaggregation of the original Brazilian input-output matrix and trade flows and follows the GTAPinGAMS structure and syntax to generate the General Equilibrium Analysis Project for the Brazilian Economy (PAEG). The regional database is that of the GTAP version 6 and represent the 2001 world economy. We aggregate the data in seven regions plus the five Brazilian sub-regions and nineteen commodities/sectors to apply the scenario Doha Round to determine the probable losses to the Brazilian regions from the failure of the Doha round of negotiations. It is analyzed cuts in the agricultural and manufactures (NAMA proposal) import tariffs via the application of the Swiss formula, reduction in the agricultural production subsidies and elimination of agricultural export subsidies. The results show that although the regions are affected in different ways, the Doha Round failure generates losses for all Brazilian regions. The losses are greater for the Midwest and South regions, the most important for the Brazilian agricultural production.Brazilian regions, General equilibrium, Agribusiness, Trade liberalization, International Development, International Relations/Trade, F13, F15, Q17,

As fintechs e a concorrência bancária no Brasil: uma análise dos bancos digitais

A emergência de organizações exponenciais tem o potencial de modificar a estrutura e a competitividade no setor em que atuam. Essas organizações são construídas com base nas tecnologias de informação, e no mercado bancário são conhecidas como fintechs. O objetivo central deste estudo é analisar a atuação das fintechs no setor bancário brasileiro, entre os anos de 2004 e 2018, relacionando suas operações com a estrutura concorrencial do setor. Em termos metodológicos, utilizou-se quatro indicadores para verificação da concentração de mercado: a Razão de Concentração (CR), o índice Hirschman-Herfindahl (IHH), o índice de Hause (Hm) e o índice de Hannah e Kay (HKI). Em síntese, a concentração do setor bancário tradicional foi maior do que o segmento de instituições não bancárias (bancos digitais). Para o setor bancário tradicional, verificou-se uma importante concentração de mercado entre os anos de 2007 e 2008. Porém, no segmento de bancos digitais, houve um aumento da concorrência entre os anos de 2007 e 2016, apresentando níveis de concentração similares aos níveis de concentração dos bancos tradicionais, antes da crise financeira. Enfim, conclui-se que o ingresso das fintechs no mercado bancário, apesar de ser um evento recente, contribuiu para promover a competitividade e otimizar a oferta de serviços no setor bancário

1974 e o rock progressivo paulistano

No cenário cultural paulistano da década de 1970 – período de intensa atividade e transformações das expressões juvenis, da indústria cultural e da própria cidade – o ano de 1974 se apresenta como particularmente interessante dentro do campo do rock. É nesse momento que três influentes bandas do chamado rock progressivo se destacaram regionalmente, além de produzirem e/ou divulgarem discos marcantes: Snegs, de O Som Nosso de Cada Dia, Tudo foi feito pelo sol, dos Mutantes, e Criaturas da noite, de O Terço. Este artigo pretende, justamente, aproximar-se do referido universo musical tendo como eixo central o estudo das três bandas, objetivando compreender como se estabeleceu o circuito do rock progressivo em São Paulo na década de 1970 e o seu lugar no contexto de efervescência contracultural vivenciado pela capital paulista do período

Anxiolytic and anti-stress effects of acute administration of acetyl-L-carnitine in zebrafish

Studies have suggested that oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of mental disorders. In this context, molecules with antioxidant activity may be promising agents in the treatment of these deleterious conditions. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is a multi-target molecule that modulates the uptake of acetyl-CoA into the mitochondria during fatty acid oxidation, acetylcholine production, protein, and membrane phospholipid synthesis, capable of promoting neurogenesis in case of neuronal death. Moreover, neurochemical effects of ALC include modulation of brain energy and synaptic transmission of multiple neurotransmitters, including expression of type 2 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu2) receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALC in zebrafish by examining behavioral and biochemical parameters relevant to anxiety and mood disorders in zebrafish. ALC presented anxiolytic effects in both novel tank and light/dark tests and prevented the anxietylike behavior induced by an acute stressor (net chasing). Furthermore, ALC was able to prevent the lipid peroxidation induced by acute stress in the zebrafish brain. The data presented here warrant further investigation of ALC as a potential agent in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Its good tolerability also subsidizes the additional studies necessary to assess its therapeutic potential in clinical settings

Enriched environment prevents oxidative stress in zebrafish submitted to unpredictable chronic stress

Background. The enriched environment (EE) is a laboratory housing model that emerged from efforts to minimize the impact of environmental conditions on laboratory animals. Recently, we showed that EE promoted positive effects on behavior and cortisol levels in zebrafish submitted to the unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) protocol. Here, we expanded the characterization of the effects of UCS protocol by assessing parameters of oxidative status in the zebrafish brain and reveal that EE protects against the oxidative stress induced by chronic stress. Methods. Zebrafish were exposed to EE (21 or 28 days) or standard housing conditions and subjected to the UCS protocol for seven days. Oxidative stress parameters (lipid peroxidation (TBARS), reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, non-protein thiol (NPSH) and total thiol (SH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured in brain homogenate. Results. Our results revealed that UCS increased lipid peroxidation and ROS levels, while decreased NPSH levels and SOD activity, suggesting oxidative damage. EE for 28 days prevented all changes induced by the UCS protocol, and EE for 21 days prevented the alterations on NPSH levels, lipid peroxidation and ROS levels. Both EE for 21 or 28 days increased CAT activity. Discussion. Our findings reinforce the idea that EE exerts neuromodulatory effects in the zebrafish brain. EE promoted positive effects as it helped maintain the redox homeostasis, which may reduce the susceptibility to stress and its oxidative impact

Análise da oscilação lumbo-pélvica durante a marcha em esteira ergométrica

The purpose of this study was to describe the lumbo-pelvic sway behavior on treadmill gait at both 1.2 m/s and 1.4 m/s speed conditions. Seven healthy subjects (four males and three females), mean age 26.2 (± 3.7) years old participated in this study. Following an adaptation period (3 minutes at self-selected speed), the treadmill speed was fitted to one of the speed conditions and the data acquisition started. For each speed condition, three acquisitions of 10 seconds duration each were made. Ten gait cycles were selected from each speed in order to analyze the data. The results showed that increasing gait speed increased the lumbo-pelvic sway and the lateral lumbar flexion. Also, the gait speed affected the pelvic rotation stability as indicated by the coefficient of variation.O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o comportamento oscilatório lumbo-pélvico durante a marcha em esteira nas velocidades 1,2 m/s e 1,4m/s. Participaram do estudo sete sujeitos sadios (quatro homens e três mulheres) com idade média de 26,2 (± 3,7) anos de idade. Após um período de adaptação (3 minutos em velocidade auto-selecionada), a velocidade da esteira foi ajustada para uma das velocidades de teste e a coleta de dados foi iniciada. Para cada condição foram realizadas três coletas com duração de 10 segundos cada. Dessas coletas, dez ciclos de marcha em cada velocidade foram selecionados para análise dos dados. Os resultados demonstraram que o incremento da velocidade de marcha aumentou a oscilação de obliqüidade pélvica e de flexão lateral lombar. Além disso, a velocidade de marcha afetou a estabilidade da rotação pélvica como indicado pelo coeficiente de variação (CV)

Anxiolytic and anti-stress effects of acute administration of acetyl-L-carnitine in zebrafish

Studies have suggested that oxidative stress may contribute to the pathogenesis of mental disorders. In this context, molecules with antioxidant activity may be promising agents in the treatment of these deleterious conditions. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is a multi-target molecule that modulates the uptake of acetyl-CoA into the mitochondria during fatty acid oxidation, acetylcholine production, protein, and membrane phospholipid synthesis, capable of promoting neurogenesis in case of neuronal death. Moreover, neurochemical effects of ALC include modulation of brain energy and synaptic transmission of multiple neurotransmitters, including expression of type 2 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu2) receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALC in zebrafish by examining behavioral and biochemical parameters relevant to anxiety and mood disorders in zebrafish. ALC presented anxiolytic effects in both novel tank and light/dark tests and prevented the anxiety-like behavior induced by an acute stressor (net chasing). Furthermore, ALC was able to prevent the lipid peroxidation induced by acute stress in the zebrafish brain. The data presented here warrant further investigation of ALC as a potential agent in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Its good tolerability also subsidizes the additional studies necessary to assess its therapeutic potential in clinical settings

ESTUDO DA INTERAÇÃO DE METAIS (Pb E Cd) COM SUBSTÂNCIAS HÚMICAS DE TURFA

Dentre os poluentes indicadores de contaminação ambiental, os metais Cádmio (Cd) e Chumbo (Pb) são preocupantes. A interação desses metais com as substâncias húmicas (principais constituintes da matéria orgânica natural) resulta em reações de complexação e/ou redução. O propósito deste trabalho foi estudar a interação existente entre substâncias húmicas de turfa e diferentes metais (Cd) e (Pb) potencialmente tóxicos. Os resultados desse trabalho mostraram que a matéria orgânica está exercendo uma importante função, complexando os íons metálicos e agindo como uma barreira de proteção natural. Conclui-se que os riscos do descarte indiscriminado de resíduos contendo metais potencialmente tóxicos ao solo, estão associados principalmente ao transporte e destinação desses poluentes no ambiente e a natureza estrutural das substâncias húmicas em estudo favoreceu a complexação dos íons metálicos introduzidos antropicamente no ambiente