SDG9 and the competitiveness: Employing mixed methods to understand how countries can use science to compete

Policymakers seek the best ways to promote the development of their countries. With Agenda 2030 at the top of the conversation, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between SDG9 and GCI. The study uses two methodologies, the first of which uses panel data to explain how variables that make up SDG9 explain competitiveness across countries in the Eurozone from 2010 to 2019. A second approach is through qualitative methodology (fsQCA) to verify the differences in the possible combinations of variables for the same outcome – higher values of competitiveness. The findings suggest that R&D and patents are two factors that increase competitiveness. Additionally, the number of patents filed in each country is also considered a necessary condition for high GCI values, reinforcing the need for countries to protect their innovations. In conclusion, the variables of SDG9 show significant relationships to achieve high values of competitiveness and that there is not only one solution to achieve the outcome but several, and it is up to policymakers to define which strategy best fits their reality. The originality of the article lies in the way different methods are combined and the increased capacity to understand the reality that these different methods allow.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of IFRS adoption on the business climate: A country perspective

Based on the ten areas that are measured by the ease of doing business (EDB) and based on the getting credit (GC) indicator, this study seeks to analyze factors that lead to a more favorable business climate in different countries. The methodology of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to determine the paths taken by configurations or conditions in which variables affect an outcome. The results showed that high EDB and GC scores may be obtained under specified levels of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) adoption degree and user experience requirements. Therefore, the adoption of IFRS could result in a better business climate in a nation since it would increase the comparability of financial statements, which will lower costs for investors, draw in foreign investors, and boost trust. Finally, the findings indicated that, depending on the presence of specific levels of GDP per capita, entrepreneurship, income group, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, low or high values of IFRS adoption and high experience in applying IFRS are necessary to achieve high GC scores.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower buds on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Banisteriopsis malifolia (Malpighiaceae)

In the Brazilian savanna, myrmecophilous lycaenids are often found in many shrubs feeding on plant reproductive structures while are tended by ants, but only recently the role of both ants and food on the occurrence of lycaenids have received attention. In this study, we investigated the influence of Camponotus blandus (Formicinae) and flower bud abundance on the occurrence of Parrhasius polibetes, a florivorous lycaenid species that occurs in Banisteriopsis malifolia(Malpighiaceae). We also examined to what extent larval florivory was deleterious to plant reproductive outputs. Ant-exclusion experiments revealed that most P. polibetes individuals were found on branches with free C. blandus access. Nonetheless, the occurrence of larvae was not related to the abundance of these ants and flower buds, indicating that the presence, rather than the abundance of mutualistic ants and food, influenced the occurrence of P. polibetes. Larvae were attended by C. blandus, which antennated frequently the dorsal nectary organ of larvae. Larval florivory was not deleterious to the plant. Banisteriopsis malifolia produces thousands of buds simultaneously and larvae feed only on a small portion of flower buds. The occurrence of P. polibetes inB. malifolia is advantageous for the larvae, since this plant supports mutualistic ants and plenty of food resources

Artificial Intelligence Decision Support System Based on Artificial Neural Networks to Predict the Commercialization Time by the Evolution of Peach Quality

Climacteric fruit such as peaches are stored in cold chambers after harvest and usually are maintained there until the desired ripening is reached to direct these fruit to market. Producers, food industries and or traders have difficulties in defining the period when fruit are at the highest level of quality desired by consumers in terms of the physical‐chemical parameters (hardness –H–, soluble solids content –SSC–, and acidity –Ac–). The evolution of peach quality in terms of these parameters depends directly on storage temperature –T– and relative humidity –RH–, as well on the storage duration –t–. This paper describes an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Decision Support Sys‐ tem (DSS) designed to predict the evolution of the quality of peaches, namely the storage time re‐ quired before commercialization as well as the late commercialization time. The peaches quality is stated in terms of the values of SSC, H and Ac that consumers most like for the storage T and RH. An Artificial neuronal network (ANN) is proposed to provide this prediction. The training and val‐ idation of the ANN were conducted with experimental data acquired in three different farmers’ cold storage facilities. A user interface was developed to provide an expedited and simple predic‐ tion of the marketable time of peaches, considering the storage temperature, relative humidity, and initial physical and chemical parameters. This AI DSS may help the vegetable sector (logistics and retailers), especially smaller neighborhood grocery stores, define the marketable period of fruit. It will contribute with advantages and benefits for all parties—producers, traders, retailers, and con‐ sumers—by being able to provide fruit at the highest quality and reducing waste in the process. In this sense, the ANN DSS proposed in this study contributes to new AI‐based solutions for smart cities.This study is within the activities of project PrunusPós—Otimização de processos de ar‐ mazenamento, conservação em frio, embalamento ativo e/ou inteligente, e rastreabilidade da qual‐ idade alimentar no póscolheita de produtos frutícolas (Optimization of processes of storage, cold conservation, active and/or intelligent packaging, and traceability of food quality in the postharvest of fruit products), Operation n.º PDR2020‐101‐031695 (Partner), Consortium n.º 87, Initiative n.º 175 promoted by PDR2020 and co‐financed by FEADER under the Portugal 2020 initiative.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impactos da substituição de importações de produtos agrícolas e agroindustriais na economia brasileira

Due to its natural resources, the Brazilian economy has been able, at the same time, to provide the needs of the internal market of agricultural an agroindustrial products as well as of playing a major role in the international market for some agricultural and agroindustrial products. However, it can be observed a negative surplus in the trade balance of some agricultural products. This paper evaluates the impacts that a supposed process of import substitution of agricultural and agroindustrials products would have in the Brazilian economy. To do so, it is made use of the input-output theory, where the imports of the above products are now being considered as domestic products. In this procedure, it was implicitly assumed that there would be some kind of compensatory policy to allow for the domestic sectors to supply the imported products at the same price level as in the international market and that there would not be retaliations in the international market. The impacts are measured by applying different kinds approaches, e.g., multipliers, forward and backward linkages, and field-of-influence, to the observed and modified input-output systems. The results show gains for the economy as a whole, without significant changes in the productive structure. The Textile sector would be the one to respond more positively to the policy being proposed here

Impactos da substituição de importações de produtos agrícolas e agroindustriais na economia brasileira

Due to its natural resources, the Brazilian economy has been able, at the same time, to provide the needs of the internal market of agricultural an agroindustrial products as well as of playing a major role in the international market for some agricultural and agroindustrial products. However, it can be observed a negative surplus in the trade balance of some agricultural products. This paper evaluates the impacts that a supposed process of import substitution of agricultural and agroindustrials products would have in the Brazilian economy. To do so, it is made use of the input-output theory, where the imports of the above products are now being considered as domestic products. In this procedure, it was implicitly assumed that there would be some kind of compensatory policy to allow for the domestic sectors to supply the imported products at the same price level as in the international market and that there would not be retaliations in the international market. The impacts are measured by applying different kinds approaches, e.g., multipliers, forward and backward linkages, and field-of-influence, to the observed and modified input-output systems. The results show gains for the economy as a whole, without significant changes in the productive structure. The Textile sector would be the one to respond more positively to the policy being proposed here

Transferência de tecnologias, comunicação e negócios na Embrapa Gado de Leite: março de 2004 a maio de 2008.

bitstream/item/82011/1/Transferencia-de-tecnologias.pd

Optimal control of the COVID-19 pandemic: controlled sanitary deconfinement in Portugal

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced policy makers to decree urgent confinements to stop a rapid and massive contagion. However, after that stage, societies are being forced to find an equilibrium between the need to reduce contagion rates and the need to reopen their economies. The experience hitherto lived has provided data on the evolution of the pandemic, in particular the population dynamics as a result of the public health measures enacted. This allows the formulation of forecasting mathematical models to anticipate the consequences of political decisions. Here we propose a model to do so and apply it to the case of Portugal. With a mathematical deterministic model, described by a system of ordinary differential equations, we fit the real evolution of COVID-19 in this country. After identification of the population readiness to follow social restrictions, by analyzing the social media, we incorporate this effect in a version of the model that allow us to check different scenarios. This is realized by considering a Monte Carlo discrete version of the previous model coupled via a complex network. Then, we apply optimal control theory to maximize the number of people returning to "normal life" and minimizing the number of active infected individuals with minimal economical costs while warranting a low level of hospitalizations. This work allows testing various scenarios of pandemic management (closure of sectors of the economy, partial/total compliance with protection measures by citizens, number of beds in intensive care units, etc.), ensuring the responsiveness of the health system, thus being a public health decision support tool.publishe