The Expansion of the Brazilian Winter Corn Crop and Its Impact on Price Transmission

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the growth of the Brazilian winter corn crop on the dynamics between domestic Brazilian prices and international prices as well as spot and futures prices in Brazil. Econometric time-series methods tests were applied using Brazilian spot and futures prices and U.S. futures prices. The statistical analysis found evidence that a long-run relationship between Brazilian and U.S. prices had developed, and the Brazilian futures market developed a more dominant role in the relationship between spot and futures prices domestically. These findings were particularly noticeable after 2002, when expanding corn production in Brazil was leading to greater participation in the international market (exports) and increasing trading in the Brazilian futures market

The expansion of the brazilian winter corn crop and Its impact on price transmission

sem informaçãoThe purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the growth of the Brazilian winter corn crop on the dynamics between domestic Brazilian prices and international prices as well as spot and futures prices in Brazil. Econometric time-series methods tes62117sem informaçãosem informaçãosem informaçã

Responsabilidade social corporativa, princípio da solidariedade e a (in)observância à dignidade da pessoa humana na ótica empresarial

O escopo deste ensaio é a análise sobre Responsabilidade Social Corporativa (RSC) e a Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho (QVT), na relação com os direitos humanos, especificamente a (in)observância à dignidade da pessoa humana no cenário laboral hodierno junto às corporações e bancas jurídicas, analisando-se o exercício da atividade empresarial – pautada de maneira preponderante em objetivos materiais –, em detrimento à qualidade de vida de seus funcionários, afrontando, em última análise, os basilares preceitos constitucionais assecuratórios, como o princípio da solidariedade. Ademais, busca-se cotejar através da presente abordagem acerca da responsabilização em âmbito privado sobre o resguardo e observância aos princípios em voga, fomentando, através de sua responsabilidade social, mais ações propositivas na ótica corporativa, em prol do bem-estar coletivo

Malachi

O arquivo encaminhando contém uma resenha do comentário de S. D. (Fanie) Snyman ao profeta Malaquias, publicado em 2015

Could cattle ranching and soybean cultivation be sustainable? A systematic review and a meta-analysis for the Amazon

Tropical forests are being destroyed to make space for agricultural activities with the assumption that they are required to feed the growing global population. Consequently, more sustainable practices are needed to guarantee food security and environmental protection of highly threatened natural biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon rainforest. Cattle ranching and soybean cultivation are by far the greater drivers of land use change and deforestation in the Amazon region. We performed a systematic review of papers related to these two main drivers and a meta-analysis on the effects of sustainable practices on different ecosystem services. The results of the review highlight a large concern about the negative impacts of cattle ranching and soybean crops on the ecosystem dynamics and functionality of the Amazon biome, in addition to the clear relationship with deforestation. Another relevant finding is the large gap in empirical research concerning the effects of sustainable practices on different ecosystem services. Such a gap is evident since only 13 studies from the initial database met the requirements for a meta-analysis. Of the 171 comparisons between the ecosystem services provided in conventional land-uses and those adopting sustainable practices, the overall model indicated a non-significant effect, although the results were heterogeneous. Crop yield and herbage biomass were negatively affected, while livestock productivity, soil organic carbon, soil fertility and woody biomass were positively affected. Also, the six sustainable practices evaluated showed different outcomes, from a predominance of positive effects in silvopastoral systems, to a predominance of negative effects on agrosilvicultural systems. Our systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that cattle ranching and soybean cultivation can indeed be conducted in a more sustainable way, enhancing the provision of ecosystem services while avoiding deforestation. In turn, our results also highlight the lack of empirical data and the need to standardize the methodologies used to deeply assess the effects of such practices. In conclusion, we suggest a way to advance research into the real effects of sustainable practices aimed at reducing the negative impacts of cattle ranching and soybean crops in the Amazon

Motivating and assisting physical exercise in independently living older adults: A pilot study

Background: With age reaction time, coordination and cognition tend to deteriorate, which may lead to gait impairments, falls and injuries. To reduce this problem in elderly and to improve health, well-being and independence, regular balance and strength exercises are recommended. However, elderly face strong barriers to exercise. Objective: We developed Active Lifestyle, an IT-based system for active and healthy aging aiming at improving elderly's balance and strength. Active Lifestyle is a proactive training application, running on a tablet, which assists, monitors and motivates elderly to follow personalized training plans autonomously at home, while integrating them socially. The objective is to run a pilot study to investigate: (i) the feasibility of assisting the autonomous, physical training of independently living elderly with the Active Lifestyle system, (ii) the adherence of the participants to the training plans, and (iii) the effectiveness of the motivation instruments built into the system. Methods: After three introductory meetings, 13 elderly adults followed personalized two-weeks strength and balance training plans using the Active Lifestyle app autonomously at home. Questionnaires were used to assess the technological familiarity of the participants, the feasibility aspects of the physical intervention, and the effectiveness of the motivation instruments. Adherence to the exercise plan was evaluated using the performance data collected by the app during the study. Results: A total of 13 participants were enrolled, of whom 11 (85%) completed the study (mean age 77. ±. 7 years); predominantly females (55%), vocational educated (64%), and their past profession requiring moderate physical activity (64%). The Active Lifestyle app facilitated autonomous physical training at home (median. =. 7 on a 7-point Likert scale), and participants expressed a high intention to use the app also after the end of the study (median. =. 7). Adherence with the training plans was 73% (89% on the balance exercises and 60% on the strength exercises). The outcome from our questionnaires showed that without the app the participants did not feel motivated to perform exercises; with the support of the app they felt more motivated (median. =. 6). Participants were especially motivated by being part of a virtual exercise group and by the capability to automatically monitor their performance (median. =. 6 for both). Conclusions: This study shows that the Active Lifestyle app prototype has valuable potential to support physical exercise practice at home and it is worthwhile to further develop it into a more mature system. Furthermore, the results add to the knowledge base into mobile-based applications for elderly, in that it shows that elderly users can learn to work with mobile-based systems. The Active Lifestyle app proved viable to support and motivate independently living elderly to autonomously perform balance and strength exercises. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd