Model For Identification Of Management Degree In Brazilian Coffee Production

In Brazil, coffee is one of the most important crops, particularly regarding job creation and foreign exchange. Since its introduction in the country in 1727, in the North region, the coffee cultivation is spread over much of the Brazilian territory. Over nearly 300 years, coffee production has developed with different costs and competitiveness, resulting mainly from soil and climatic conditions and different levels of technology, international competition and pricing, government incentives, investments in scientific and technological development, as well as different levels of entrepreneurship, which are reflected in the degree of agribusiness management and are extremely important to increase their competitiveness and survival. Cooperatives and the coffee industry consultants have developed systems to assist the farmer in company management, particularly with respect to the systematization of production costs and planning activities for the agricultural year. But the methods developed do not provide information about the level of company management, particularly regarding quality. To overcome this deficiency, this study aims to develop a simple, easy to use and inexpensive method to analyze the points to be improved regarding the management of the property, even if it is not exhaustive. Thus, farmers may adopt foundations, criteria and quality management practices that result in the organization of their companies and contribute to local and regional rural development. This study is centred on rural production, for reflections of the implementation of concepts and practices of agribusiness management, aiming at the obtaining of high quality products, permeate the sector as a whole. This method, named Method of Identification of Management Degree (MIMG), consists of a questionnaire, originally developed for application in cut flowers sector. Later it was used in the production of flowers in pots and hydroponics and after that, adapted to coffee production. A questionnaire was compiled using specific methodologies to collect primary and secondary data, plus the Delphi technique, which was employed to establish priorities and hierarchy of parameters of the management of an agricultural enterprise. This questionnaire was distributed to experts of the coffee sector to rank the parameters, which were transformed into objective questions used to construct a second questionnaire to be filled in by the organizations directly involved in the activity. This questionnaire, associated to a score table, indicates the managerial maturity degree of the organizations and points out the opportunities for process improvements

Introduction : nation branding and competitive identity in world politics

To date (critical) geopolitics has had little to say about contemporary competitive identity practices of nation branding in global politics, while existing analyses of nation branding in other disciplines have tended to overlook its geopolitical dimensions. This expanded Introduction (and the special issue as a whole) therefore seeks to explore some of the implications of nation branding for geopolitics, while simultaneously utilizing the insights of critical geopolitics to shed light on nation branding practices. The Introduction makes the case for a broad conception of nation branding that challenges claims it is immutably linked to capitalist logics in an era of globalization. It subsequently explores claims that nation branding is simply an updated form of nation building and that it is also an inherently benign and peace promoting activity. The Introduction ends by highlighting how, despite claims that the contemporary prevalence of nation branding practices is indicative of a categorical shift from a geopolitical to a geoeconomic world, nation branding practices frequently remain deeply infused with rather traditional geopolitical scripts

UNIVERSITY–INDUSTRY INTERACTION IN SANTA CATARINA: EVOLUTIONARY PHASES, FORMS OF INTERACTION, BENEFITS, AND BARRIERS

University–industry interaction (U–I) acquires relevance to countries to the extent that they identify how scientific knowledge produced within universities enhances technological development in firms and facilitates innovations. Universities are invigorated by the possibility of new scientific investigations that these relationships provide. The objective of this article is to analyze the establishment and development of U–I interactions in Santa Catarina, Brazil, of four universities through evolutionary phases, forms of interaction, benefits, and barriers. A total of 38 in-depth interviews were conducted during the data collection stage. To support the analysis and presentation of results, the qualitative data analysis software Atlas/ti, version 7.1.3 was used. The results pointed to non-linearity in the evolution of U–I interaction and demonstrate that most of the relationships between universities and firms are concentrated in traditional and services channels. Moreover, their interaction intensity is evident in the short term with the flow of knowledge being directed from universities to firms. With regard to benefits and barriers, the research results expand on the avenues outlined in the literature, which reflects some characteristics of this interaction type in Brazil, whose relationships are still new and do not yet have a solid trajectory

Proposal for a method for business model performance assessment : toward an experimentation tool for business model innovation

The representation of business models has been recently widespread, especially in the pursuit of innovation. However, defining a company’s business model is sometimes limited to discussion and debates. This study observes the need for performance measurement so that business models can be data-driven. To meet this goal, the work proposed as a hypothesis the creation of a method that combines the practices of the Balanced Scorecard with a method of business models representation – the Business Model Canvas. Such a combination was based on study of conceptual adaptation, resulting in an application roadmap. A case study application was performed to check the functionality of the proposition, focusing on startup organizations. It was concluded that based on the performance assessment of the business model it is possible to propose the search for change through experimentation, a path that can lead to business model innovation121617

Propriedades mecânicas dos grãos de mamona submetidos a diferentes temperaturas de secagem a visando a ruptura do tegumento

In castor oil extraction process, the bean coat is abrasive to the equipment and releases substances that modify the oil color, reducing its quality. A potential solution would be to run the extraction by compressing only the endosperm. Due to lack of information, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of forced air drying at 40, 60, 80 and 100 ºC and farmyard drying, in the mechanical properties of the beans, aiming to break the bean coat. Castor beans were subjected to compression tests, in two perpendicular directions, at a strain rate of 0.6 mm.s-1. Average values of force, deformation energy, strain, all at rupture, and stiffness were used to evaluate the effects of dehydration. It was observed that the heat treatments did not alter the mechanical properties of castor beans, the strain and stiffness values discriminate the differences between the directions and had the lowest coefficients of variation. It was concluded that forced air drying, more costly than farmyard drying, does not bring benefits to the decortication. However, regardless the heat treatment used, the mechanical stress lengthwise is the most suitable to promote decortication.No processo de extração do óleo de mamona, o tegumento libera substâncias que modificam a coloração do óleo, reduzindo a qualidade, e causa abrasão nos equipamentos. Potencialmente, uma solução para esse problema seria executar a extração prensando somente o endosperma. Devido à carência de informações, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da secagem com ar forçado a 40; 60; 80 e 100 ºC e secagem em terreiro, nas propriedades mecânicas dos grãos, visando ruptura do tegumento. Grãos de mamona foram submetidos a ensaios de compressão, em duas direções perpendiculares, com taxa de deformação de 0,6 mm.s-1. Valores médios da força, energia de deformação, deformação específica, todos na ruptura, e rigidez foram utilizados para a avaliação dos efeitos da secagem. Observou-se que, nas condições consideradas, os tratamentos térmicos não alteraram as propriedades mecânicas dos grãos de mamona e que os valores de deformação específica e rigidez discriminaram as diferenças entre as direções e apresentaram os menores coeficientes de variação. Concluiu-se que a secagem com ar forçado, mais oneroso que a secagem no terreiro, não traz benefícios à decorticação. No entanto, independentemente do tratamento térmico, a solicitação mecânica do grão na direção longitudinal é a mais indicada para promover a decorticação.93101Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

The cost of type 2 diabetes in Brazil: evaluation of a diabetes care center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Background: the worldwide increase of diabetes, a long duration, slow progression disease, impacts health care costs. the aim of this study was to estimate, from the society's perspective, the annual cost per patient with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) at a specialized, outpatient center in the city of São Paulo, capital of São Paulo state, Brazil.Methods: Data from 209 patients were collected during the years 2009 and 2010 in a São Paulo diabetes care center which is part of the tertiary sector of SUS, Brazil's National Health Care System. Data were collected by means of interviews and reviews of medical charts, and the quality of life was appraised using the SF36-v2 questionnaire. Direct medical costs were divided in five categories: 1) medication; 2) laboratory tests; 3) hospitalizations and procedures; 4) reactive strips for capillary blood glucose monitoring; and 5) medical consultations. Direct non-medical costs referred to transportation of patient and companion for treatment. Indirect costs included early retirements, sick leave and absenteeism in the workplace. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by the SPSS software, version 17.0.Results: Our sample comprised 122 women (58%) and 87 men (42%), with mean age of 63 years and average diabetes duration of 13 years. the mean annual cost was US$1,844 per patient, out of which US$ 1,012 corresponded to direct costs (55%) and US$831 to indirect costs (45$ 466 in 2010 (World Health Statistics 2013 96-104 2013). Taking into account the high prevalence of the disease (IDF Diabetes Atlas. 5th edition. 29-48 2012), this survey recommends the enforcement of policies for the prevention of diabetes and its complications, and urges for better allocation of healthcare resources.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Ctr Diabet, BR-04022001 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ctr Diabet, BR-04022001 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Disciplina jurídica do turismo

Identificação dos princípios comuns a regras de natureza diversa, encontrados em todo processo de planejamento econômico e social, situando o turismo no direito positivo brasileiro, e fazendo um retrospecto histórico. Análise da posição atual e perspectivas.Identification of the principies common to rules of different kind, which are found in every economic and social planning process by placing tourism in the Brazilian positive law, and by making an historic retrospect, an analysis of the actual position and prospects

Proteção jurídica do patrimônio turístico no Brasil

The law system of the tourism patrimony is fundamental to the planned development of the sector. This law system involves, mainly, to discipline the use and occupation of areas with touristic interest. This kind of discipline is also due to the States. This article indicates concepts, antecedents, juridical principles and a view of the States action on the matter.A ordenação do patrimônio turístico é fundamental para o desenvolvimento planejado do setor. Essa ordenação implica, principalmente, disciplinar o uso e ocupação do solo de interesse turístico. Disciplina da espécie compete, também, aos Estados. Este artigo indica conceitos, antecedentes, fundamentos jurídicos e cenário da atuação dos Estados na matéria