Gender Inequalities in the Military Service: A Systematic Literature Review

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the literature regarding gender inequalities in the military service. In doing so, it discloses challenges and opportunities for women’s integration and finds new avenues for future research. Recent scientific research has evidenced that women still represent a growing minority in most Western militaries. Women’s integration deserves equal opportunities across all branches and levels of responsibility in the military, however, their expansion to ground combat roles is still a challenge to the military and policy-makers. Scholars have also reported about the decision to increase the number of women in combat roles, as it may potentiate adverse experiences, due to closer proximity to men in circumstances with little or no privacy. Conversely, scientific research has shown that more egalitarian women reported significantly less sexual harassment victimization. Furthermore, our insights suggest that it might be fruitful to integrate women in ground combat roles as special forces’ operators, with a view to induce a reduction of marginalization and sexual harassment, by gaining respect in a male-dominant culture. The presented idea should be interpreted with caution and needs to be supported by empirical research; although we are convinced that future research will be revealing and might represent a game-changing situation to women inequalities in the armed forces.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Obstacles Women Face in Gaining Access to Special Operations Forces

Theaimofthisarticleistoprovideexploratoryinsightsregardingwomen integration in the special operations forces. The methodological approach is qualita- tive and employs a case study research in the Portuguese Army. It includes multiple sources of data collection for corroboration purposes, namely semi-structured inter- views, direct observation and official documents. Although it has been considered a hot-topic in the Portuguese armed forces, and as the Portuguese Republic establishes the legal means to integrate women in all professional areas, reality shows that up to the present days no women have been part of the special operations forces. In light with the above, we evidence some obstacles that women are facing in gaining access to the Portuguese special operations forces, and we present Portugal in comparative perspective with two successful case studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Floor plan-free particle filter for indoor positioning of industrial vehicles

Industry 4.0 is triggering the rapid development of solutions for indoor localization of industrial ve- hicles in the factories of the future. Either to support indoor navigation or to improve the operations of the factory, the localization of industrial vehicles imposes demanding requirements such as high accuracy, coverage of the entire operating area, low convergence time and high reliability. Industrial vehicles can be located using Wi-Fi fingerprinting, although with large positioning errors. In addition, these vehicles may be tracked with motion sensors, however an initial position is necessary and these sensors often suffer from cumulative errors (e.g. drift in the heading). To overcome these problems, we propose an indoor positioning system (IPS) based on a particle filter that combines Wi-Fi fingerprinting with data from motion sensors (displacement and heading). Wi-Fi position estimates are obtained using a novel approach, which explores signal strength measurements from multiple Wi-Fi interfaces. This IPS is capable of locating a vehicle prototype without prior knowledge of the starting position and heading, without depending on the building’s floor plan. An average positioning error of 0.74 m was achieved in performed tests in a factory-like building.FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020, the PhD fellowship PD/BD/137401/2018 and the Technological Development in the scope of the projects in co-promotion no 002814/2015 (iFACTORY 2015-2018

Estudo da Faciologia Orgânica em Rochas Geradoras Marinhas Cretáceas do Grupo Villeta, Bacia do Valle Superior del Magdalena,Colômbia: Implicações Paleoambientais.

As rochas pelíticas do Cretáceo superior são asgeradoras da maior parte das reservas de petróleo naColômbia. A Bacia do Valle Superior Del Magdalena(VSM), possui afloramentos de boa qualidade e comníveis de evolução térmica, que variam desde oimaturo até o fim da “janela” de geração de óleo,tornando esta região como uma das mais propíciaspara o estudo dos processos de geração e migraçãoprimária do petróleo no Cretáceo superior. O objetivoprincipal consistiu no estudo de fácies orgânicaatravés da caracterização geoquímica e análisepalinofaciológica das rochas geradoras de petróleocretáceas do VSM numa seção aflorante (QuebradaBambuca), objetivando o entendimento do controleexercido pela evolução paleoambiental sobre opotencial gerador e as variações composicionaisda matéria orgânica a partir da integração dosdados geoquímicos e palinofaciológicos. Paratanto, foram utilizadas análises organogeoquímicas(Carbono Orgânico Total - COT e Pirólise Rock-Eval), cedidas pelo Instituto Colombiano doPetróleo ICP - ECOPETROL e palinofaciológicasem amostras das Formações Tetuan Bambuca e LaLuna, Grupo Villeta, Bacia do Valle Superior delMagdalena. As rochas dessa formação apresentamum elevado conteúdo orgânico, com valores deCOT de até 23%. As lâminas organopalinológicasforam analisadas através de técnicas de palinofácies(microscopia em luz branca transmitida e luz azul/ultravioleta incidente-fluorescência) realizando acontagem dos componentes orgânicos particuladosdos grupos do querogênio (fitoclasto, palinomorfoe matéria orgânica amorfa) e da determinação doÍndice de Coloração de Esporos (ICE). A analisemicroscópica revelou um predomínio de matériaorgânica amorfa. Os palinomorfos são representadospor dinoflagelados e esporomorfos, sendo osdinoflagelados os mais representativos. A matériaorgânica amorfa apresenta fluorescência amarelaa laranja. O material lenhoso representa a menorfração, inferior a 5%, composto predominantementepor fitoclastos opacos. As analises geoquímicasrevelaram uma Tmax inferior a 440°C, Índice deHidrogênio variando de 329 a 589 mg HC/g COT,Potencial de Geração acima de 6mg HC/g rochae um Índice de Produção inferior a 0,1. As rochascretáceas das formações Tetuan, Bambuca e La Luna,na seção Riacho Bambuca, foram caracterizadas,organofaciológicamente, como pertencentes a umambiente marinho, de plataforma distal óxica à baciadistal anóxica, apresentando excelentes qualidadee quantidade de matéria orgânica para a geraçãode petróleo, com querogênio tipo II predominante,determinando um alto potencial de geração, porémencontram-se termicamente imaturas

Fácies Orgânica da Formação La Luna, Bacia do Valle Superior del Magdalena, Colômbia:Implicações para a Geração de Petróleo e Caracterização Paleoambiental.

Upper Cretaceous pelitic rocks generate most of the oil reserves in Colombia. In Del Magdalena Upper Valley (MUV), the existenceof good quality outcrops and thermal evolution levels that vary from immaturity to the end of the oil generation “window” makes it one of themost appropriate regions for the study of primary migration and generation of oil in Upper Cretaceous. The main objectives of this work wereto study the organic facies of La Luna Formation in an outcrop section called Riacho Bambuca (Bambuca Creek), determine the oil generationpotential and characterize the paleoenvironment. For this research, 24 samples were used in palynofacies analysis (characterization ofthe kerogen components assembly) and in organic geochemistry analysis (Total Organic Carbon – TOC analysis and Rock-Eval pyrolysis,provided by Colombia Oil Institute – ECOPETROL). The palynofacies analysis included the use of microscopy techniques (transmitted whitelight and incident blue light). Furthermore, a Spore Coloration Index (SCI) analysis was made in order to determine the thermal maturationstage. The studied material was composed mainly of an amorphous organic substance, with its fluorescent coloration varying from yellow tobright orange. The palynomorph group is represented by spore morph and dinoflagellate cysts. The ligneous material are present in very lowpercentages; they are mainly opaque phytoclasts. The results of geochemical analysis showed TOC contents ranging from medium to high,excellent potential for the generation of hydrocarbons (PG > 4 mg HC/g of rock), hydrogen index ranging from 329 to 589 mg HC/g, andlow values of oxygen index, characterizing type II kerogen. The low degree of thermal maturation was determined by Spore Coloration Indexvalues ranging from 2,5 to 3,0, Tmax values below 440°C and Hydrocarbon Production Index inferior to 0,2. According to the organic faciesdata, La Luna Formation deposited in a marine environment with facies from disoxic-anoxic distal shelf and suboxic-oxic distal basin; therewas kerogen of excellent quality, and its quantity was adequate for the generation of oil.Keywords: Organic facies; La Luna Formation; Cretaceous; Colombi

The Portuguese Special Operations Forces as Instrument of Foreign Policy: The Case Study of Afghanistan

The aim of this paper is to provide an exploratory overview of the Por- tuguese special operations forces as instrument of foreign policy. In doing so, we disclose new dynamics that Portugal employing in fragile states and we discuss its implications for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The research methodolog- ical approach falls into a qualitative case study research, which includes more than one method of data collection for triangulation and corroboration purposes. We have found that Portugal is trying to intensify its international relations within the EU, UN and the NATO, while the Portuguese special operations forces have been playing an important role to strengthen its presence within these international institutions. The new dynamics that Portugal is seeking are based on the democratic values, the rule of law and the human rights, to dissociate itself from the colonial legacy and thereby find new avenues of influence. Further research should focus on the new strategic priorities for the Afghan Government and NATO, as these priorities are changed at a relatively fast pace.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Produtividade, incidência de tripes e perdas pós-colheita da cebola sob adubação orgânica e uso de biofertilizantes

The yield, health and quality of onion (Allium cepa L.) are influenced by plant nutrition mainly by nitrogen (N), which besides being required in large amounts, is easily leached from the soil. The experiment aimed to compare the system of fertilization and pest management to the conventional use of alternative methods on yield, thrips incidence, and conservation of onion bulbs post-harvest. For this purpose an experiment was conducted in 2010, in Cambisol, Ituporanga, SC. The treatments were conventional (mineral fertilizer and pesticides), organic fertilizer and fertigation of liquid biofertilizer (BF) the basis of turkey manure, organic fertilizer and irrigation with BF based manure EB), and organic fertilizer with spraying EB biofertilizer at 3%. The cultivar used was Epagri 352 Bola Precoce. Sowing, transplanting and harvesting were performed in 03/05, 12/07 and 06/12/2010, respectively. The conventional and organic management with biofertilizers did not reduce the damage caused by thrips, the use of biofertilizers not increased losses postharvest, the yield in the organic system (organic fertilization with biofertilizers) was reduced in 43% when compared to conventional.O rendimento, a sanidade e a qualidade de bulbos de cebola (Allium cepa L.) são influenciados pela nutrição das plantas, principalmente pelo nitrogênio (N), que além de ser requerido em grandes quantidades, é facilmente lixiviado do solo. O experimento teve por objetivo comparar o sistema manejo de adubação e fitossanitário convencional ao uso de métodos alternativos na produtividade, incidência de tripes e conservação de bulbos de cebola em pós-colheita. Com este propósito foi conduzido um experimento de campo, na safra 2010, num Cambissolo Háplico, em Ituporanga, SC. Foram estabelecidos quatro tratamentos: sistema de cultivo convencional (adubação mineral e agrotóxicos); adubação orgânica e fertirrigação de biofertilizante líquido (BF) a base de esterco de peru; adubação orgânica e fertirrigação com BF a base de esterco bovino (EB); e adubação orgânica e pulverização de BF a base de EB a 3%. Utilizou-se a cultivar Epagri 352 Bola Precoce. A semeadura, transplante e colheita foram realizados em 03/05, 12/07 e 06/12/2010, respectivamente. Conclui-se que independente do manejo adotado (orgânico ou convencional) não houve a redução dos danos causados por tripes; o uso de biofertilizantes não aumentou as perdas em pós-colheita; no sistema orgânico (adubação orgânica com o uso parcelado de biofertilizantes) houve a redução em 43% da produtividade em relação ao convencional

O valor nutracêutico da cebola

The onion is a major source of antioxidants between fruits and vegetables consumed in the Brazil. The nutraceutical importance of the onion is mainly due to the antioxidants such as quercetin and thiols. These substances have an effect in reducing inflammation, allergies, viral diseases, cancer prevention, cardiovascular diseases and cataracts. The cultivar of onion developed by Epagri, Bola Precoce, presented relatively high quercetin content in analysis conducted by CNPH, EMBRAPA. Epagri conducted analyzes of the mineral composition of onion bulbs produced in Ituporanga Experimental Station and by some farmers in the region of the Alto Vale do Itajaí, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The mineral nutrient content in the bulbs were higher than those presented in the Brazilian Table of Composition of Foods. Therefore, the quality of the onion produced in this region regarding the mineral aspects was satisfactory.Resumo: A cebola é uma das principais fontes de antioxidantes entre as frutas e hortaliças consumidas no Brasil. A importância nutracêutica da cebola, principalmente, às substâncias antioxidantes, como quercetina e tióis. Essas substâncias apresentam efeito na redução de inflamações, alergias e doenças virais e na prevenção de câncer, catarata e doenças cardiovasculares. O cultivar de cebola Bola Precoce, desenvolvido pela Epagri, apresentou teor de quercetina relativamente alto em análise realizada pelo CNPH, Embrapa. A Epagri realizou análises da composição mineral em bulbos de cebola produzidos na Estação Experimental de Ituporanga e por alguns agricultores da região do Alto Vale do Itajaí, SC. Os teores de nutrientes minerais nos bulbos foram superiores aos apresentados na Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos. Portanto, a qualidade da cebola produzida no alto Vale do Itajaí, em termos minerais, foi satisfatória.

Comportamento de híbridos de couve-flor em plantio direto sob manejo fitossanitário convencional e alternativo no cultivo de inverno/primavera em Santa Catarina

The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield of cauliflower hybrids cultivated under conventional and alternative phytosanitary management system. Two experiments were carried out at Ituporanga Experimental Station (Epagri/EEItu) in August 2018 and 2019. In each management a randomized block design with four replications was adopted, with plots of twenty plants of each cultivar, useful plot consisting of six central plants. The seedlings were planted over oat and vetch straw. Aspects related to agronomic yield, quality of inflorescences, damage caused by pests and plant diseases, especially bacterial and fungal rot, were evaluated. The cauliflower hybrids Alpina, Verona and Julia are the most suitable for sowing in winter/spring crops, in the Alto Vale do Itajaí region, SC. The control pests and diseases is possible with phytosanitary products of lower toxicity.O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o desempenho de híbridos de couve-flor em sistema de manejo fitossanitário convencional e alternativo. Dois experimentos foram realizados na Inserir local em agosto de 2018 e 2019. Em cada manejo foi adotado delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições, tendo como parcelas vinte plantas de cada cultivar, parcela útil constituída por seis plantas centrais. Os híbridos de couve-flor Alpina, Verona e Júlia são os mais indicados para a semeadura em cultivos de inverno/primavera, na região do Alto Vale do Itajaí, SC. O controle de pragas e doenças é possível com produtos fitossanitários de menor toxicidade