2,900 research outputs found
Length-weight relationships of marine fishes from the central Brazilian coast
Parameters of the length-weight relationship are presented for 85 fish species from the marine and estuarine regions of the central Brazilian coast (latitude 13° to 23° S). Three different methods were used. A non-linear iterative process using the quasi-Newton algorithm yielded a better fit for all data sets analyzed. The length-weight allometry coefficient b estimated from standard length data tended to be lower than from total length data. The difference between these estimates was significant for some species
What type of firm forges closer innovation linkages with Portuguese Universities?
Using large-scale survey data for (1538) firms located in Portugal, we analyze which firm characteristics are conducive to establishing contacts with universities. Although almost half of the firms surveyed stated they had established some contacts with universities in the period 2001-2003, only a few (21.5%) consider universities an important source of knowledge and information for their innovation activities. A more disturbing finding is that 61% of the total firms claimed they had no intentions of establishing future contacts with universities and 38% would only be moderately interested in doing so (âif requestedâ). The Universities of Minho, Porto and Aveiro are the ones that cover a higher percentage of contacts from firms. Furthermore, in terms of the most demanding type of contacts (protocols, partnerships and projects), the TĂ©cnica de Lisboa (Lisbon Technical), Aveiro and Porto are the best-ranked universities. Our analysis indicates that the firmsâ propensity to draw on each of the Portuguese universities is explained by the characteristics of the different firms and their regional and industrial patterns. For instance, firms that have established contacts with the Aveiro, Coimbra, Ăvora, Lisboa, and the Nova (Lisbon) universities tend to be relatively R&D-intensive, whereas those that contact the CatĂłlica (Porto) and Porto universities are relatively large and export-intensive. If we exclude the Algarve and Beira Interior universities, firms that contact all the other universities tend to be relatively human capital-intensive. Firms belonging to âR&D and Engineering servicesâ show a relatively high propensity to draw on universities in general, and the Aveiro, Beira Interior, CatĂłlica (Porto), Porto and TĂ©cnica de Lisboa universities, in particular. âTextiles and leatherâ firms establish more contacts with the Beira Interior and Minho universities, thus reflecting to some extent the specialization pattern of the corresponding region. An unambiguous and statistically robust finding is that proximity matters highly in firms-universities linkages - our estimations reveal that firms are more likely to contacts universities located nearby.University, Firm, linkages
Length-weight relationships of marine fishes from the central Brazilian coast
Parameters of the length-weight relationship are presented for 85 fish species from the marine and estuarine regions of the central Brazilian coast (latitude 13° to 23° S). Three different methods were used. A non-linear iterative process using the quasi-Newton algorithm yielded a better fit for all data sets analyzed. The length-weight allometry coefficient b estimated from standard length data tended to be lower than from total length data. The difference between these estimates was significant for some species.Length-weight relationships, Marine fish, Stock assessment, Brazil,
Human capital and corruption: a microeconomic model of the bribes market with democratic contestability
To overcome market failures society creates common laws that stimulate or penalize individual actions, the enforcement of which depends on the actions of public authorities who may be susceptible to corruption. Thus, a new market emerges where âinfluencesâ are traded. Legislators have incentives to deviate from the goal of efficiency and produce laws that maximize the gains that can be expected from bribes. We model this behaviour for an autocracy versus a democracy, using a microeconomic framework. We assume that in an autocracy rulers have a monopoly over the bribes market, whereas in a democracy conflicting groups compete in the bribes market. In order to bring about the downfall of the incumbent rulers, these groups inform voters of the rulers' deviant actions so that, by a stochastic process, they convince voters of the existence of bribes and therefore gain their votes. The models constructed produce results that are compatible with the well-known stylized facts, namely that (1) in a democracy the level of corruption is lower than in an autocracy, although still positive, that (2) in environments where the level of human capital is higher (the proxy for the votersâ receptivity to the efforts of the opposition), regimes are closer to democracies and the level of corruption is lower, and that (3) the level of corruption is higher in more regulated economies.Human capital; corruption; democracy; computational models
Physics of behavior across scales:A dynamical systems approach to the representation and understanding of animal movement
Microcassiope minor (Dana, 1852): a description of the first stage zoea (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae)
The first stage zoea of Microcassiope minor (Dana, 1852) is described, illustrated and compared with thirteen other known Xanthinae. This comparison suggests that M. minor is closely related to another Atlantic Ocean xanthid, Nanocassiope melanodactyla (A. Milne-Edwards, 1867). Such an affinity may indicate that the genus Nanocassiope Guinot, 1967) is not a homogenous taxon
An approach to cork oak forest management planning: a case study in southwestern Portugal
This paper presents results of research aiming
at the development of tools that may enhance cork oak
(Quercus suber L.) forest management planning. Specifically,
it proposes an hierarchical approach that encompasses
the spatial classification of a cork oak forest and the
temporal scheduling of cork harvests. The use of both
geographical information systems and operations research
techniques is addressed. Emphasis is on the achievement of
cork even flow objectives. Results from an application to a
case study in the Charneca PlioceÂŽnica of Ribatejo in
southern Portugal encompassing a cork oak forest extending
over 4.8 thousand ha are discussed. They suggest that
the proposed approach is capable of effective spatial classification
of cork oak management units. They further
suggest that it may be used to select optimal cork even flow
scheduling strategies. Results also show that the proposed
approach may lead to a substantial increase in net present
value when compared to traditional approaches to cork oak
forest management planning
Uma experiĂȘncia com mapas conceituais na formacĂŁo inicial de professores de ciĂȘncias: a argumentaçao como temĂĄtica
O objetivo deste estudo Ă© apresentar consideraçÔes sobre a potencialidade do uso do Mapa Conceitual como instrumento fornecedor de evidĂȘncias da aprendizagem de licenciandos em CiĂȘncias Exatas, no que concerne Ă temĂĄtica argumentação em aulas de CiĂȘncias. Fizeram parte deste estudo cinco licenciandos que individualmente confeccionaram um mapa sobre aspectos fundamentais para se criar um ambiente argumentativo em sala de aula. Foi possĂvel identificar pelo mapa os conceitos representativos dos conteĂșdos sobre a argumentação abordados pelos licenciandos e como estes os relacionavam entre si, indicando o grau de entendimento do conteĂșdo de cada um. AlĂ©m disso, considera-se que o mapa tambĂ©m contribuiu para a aprendizagem dos licenciandos uma vez que tiveram que organizar de forma interligada os diversos conceitos
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