The role of information systems in achieving the sustainable development goals : an overview of established and emerging technologies for development

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceThe Sustainable Development Goals initiative is one of the most significant Global Development programs created by the United Nations for the future. It is both the result and the continuation of a successful anti-poverty movement called Millennium Development Goals, implemented in the year 2000. At a time of transition marked by the post-2015 agenda for Development, new questions and problems have arisen and new challenges have been set in order to keep track of Sustainable Development. Information Systems and technology are among the key elements behind these Global Agenda Programmes, since they are rightly seen as enablers of Sustainable Development. The aim of this study was to understand what the role of technology might be in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals according to literature and field experts, providing a framework that can be used for discussion in a 2015 post-agenda context

Nonius software: venture capital harvesting. case study and teaching note

This case study discusses the initial opportunity, strategic decisions and financing options of Nonius Software, a Portuguese company providing hospitality technology. The case is particularly focused on the founders’ available alternatives when venture capital investors, that provided growth funding to the company, decide to harvest their investments. António Silva, the company CEO, must decide between an IPO, a trade sale, new venture capital or private equity investors or a MBO. He evaluates the implications of each option on providing an exit to the departing investors, while trying to regain decision power and fund future growth

O PADRÃO DE RECRUTAMENTO DE Macrobrachium amazonicum (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, PALAEMONIDAE) EM DUAS ÁREA DA FOZ DO RIO AMAZONAS, AMAPÁ, BRASIL

Macrobrachium amazonicum is an indigenous prawn vastly distributed in basins of South America, widely exploited by artisanal fisheries in northern and northeastern Brazil and, with great potential for aquaculture. The recruitment pattern of Macrobrachium amazonicum at the Amazon River mouth, State of Amapá was studied for a period of twelve months from January to December of 2009. In this work, 5092 specimens were captured at the two selected sites. The sex ratios obtained in both sites were similar with 1 male to 1.46 females and 1 male to 1.31 females, respectively. The smallest captured specimens measured 10.07 mm. About 91% of juveniles, between 23.00 mm and 33.00 mm of standard length, integrated for the first time the exploitable stock. Ovigerous females of M. amazonicum were found during the entire year; however, the peak reproductive period was December to April when 18 to 34% of the females were ovigerous, coinciding with higher rainfall. The presence of ovigerous females and juvenile shrimps throughout the year observed in the Amazon River suggests that recruitment of M. amazonicum was continuous and that breeding activity is all year round. The recruitment pattern of M. amazonicum occurred throughout the year, showing a major peak in the month of July. The growth parameters obtained for the recruited prawns were L∞ = 95 mm of standard length, K = 0.83 cm.month-1, C = 1.0, WP = 0.6 and t0 = 0. The size and number of juvenile shrimps caught in this study indicates that the traps in use has very closed cracks and can be affecting the local structure of M. amazonicum populations, given the considerably decreased volume and size of shrimps caught reported by local fishermen. The size at first maturity and number of juvenile prawns caught for M. amazonicum in the present study, suggested that the minimum size of capture is is between 60.0 and 70.0 mm.Keywords: Amazon Region; prawns fishing; reproduction; juvenile prawns.Macrobrachium amazonicum é uma espécie nativa vastamente distribuída nas bacias da América do Sul, sendo largamente explorada por pescadores artesanais no Norte e Nordeste do Brasil e com grande potencial para aquicultura. O padrão de recrutamento de Macrobrachium amazonicum da foz do rio Amazonas, estado do Amapá foi estudado entre janeiro e dezembro de 2009. Foram capturados e examinados 5.092 exemplares. As proporções sexuais foram similares entre as duas áreas estudas com 1 macho: 1,46 fêmeas e 1 macho: 1.31 fêmeas, respectivamente. Os menores camarões capturados mediram 10.07 mm. Cerca de 91% dos juvenis, que integram pela primeira vez o estoque pesqueiro explorado, apresentam-se entre 23,00 mm e 33,00 mm de comprimento padrão. Fêmeas ovígeras de M. amazonicum foram encontradas durante todo o ano inteiro, contudo, o pico de reprodução foi observado entre dezembro e abril, quando 18 a 34% das fêmeas estavam ovígeras, coincidindo com o período chuvoso. A presença de fêmeas ovígeras e camarões juvenis foi observada ao longo do ano no Rio Amazonas sugerindo que o recrutamento de M. amazonicum seja contínuo e a atividade povoamento ocorra o ano inteiro. O recrutamento de M. amazonicum foi observado o ano inteiro, com um grande pico em julho. Os parâmetros de crescimento obtidos para o recrutamento dos camarões foi L∞ = 95 mm de comprimento padrão, K = 0.83 cm.mês-1, C = 1.0, WP = 0.6 e t0 = 0. O tamanho e o número de camarões juvenis capturados neste estudo indicam que os matapis em uso tem frestas muito fechadas e podem estar afetando a estrutura populacional de M. amazonicum, dada a diminuição considerável do volume e tamanho dos camarões capturados relatados pelos pescadores locais. O tamanho da primeira maturação e número de camarões juvenis reportados no presente estudo, sugerem que o tamanho mínimo de captura para o camarão-da-Amazônia esteja entre 60,0 e 70,0 mm.Palavras-chave: Região Amazônica, pesca de camarões, reprodução, camarões juvenis

Effect of physical activity on anxiety and depression

Key points: The advantages of physical activity are widely recognised from both a physiological and a psychological perspective. Evidence seems to demonstrate that physical activity is associated with decreases in depression and anxiety in clinical and non-clinical populations. There are a number of physiological, biochemical and psychological explanations which should be considered to understand the psychological effects of exercise. Physical activity may be considered as an adjunct to psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments of depression and anxiety. Physical activity appears to be a non-specific form of treatment with psychotherapeutic potential that should not be ignored

ESTRUTURA POPULACIONAL E CRESCIMENTO RELATIVO DO CAMARÃO DE ÁGUA DOCE Macrobrachium amazonicum (HELLER, 1862) (CRUSTACEA, DECAPODA, PALAEMONIDAE) EM DUAS REGIÕES DO ESTADO DO AMAPÁ, FOZ DO RIO AMAZONAS, BRASIL

Macrobrachium amazonicum é um camarão nativo vastamente distribuído em bacias da América do Sul, largamente explorada por pescadores artesanais no Norte e Nordeste do Brasil e com grande potencial para aquicultura. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a biologia da população, com ênfase na razão sexual, distribuição de frequência de tamanho e descrever as equações matemáticas referentes ao crescimento relativo. Os espécimes foram analisados em termos de estrutura da população, razão sexual, distribuição de freqüência de tamanho, recrutamento e o crescimento relativo sendo comparado por sexo e estações. Um número de 5.179 (2,977 femeas e 2.192 machos) foram coletados mensalmente, utilizando 20 matapis. A proporção entre os sexos em ambas as áreas foi favorável às fêmeas com 1:1,36 na Ilha de Santana e 1:1,41 em mazagão Velho. A distribuição mensal de frequência absoluta de juvenis, machos e fêmeas adultas variou de acordo com a estação nas duas áreas estudadas. As fêmeas adultas foram mais abundantes no período mais chuvoso; enquanto na estação menos chuvosa os machos e fêmeas adultas foram igualmente abundantes. Na Ilha de Santana, as fêmeas foram significativamente maiores que os machos, enquanto em Mazagão Velho os tamanhos foram semelhantes entre os sexos. As equações de regressão aplicada aos dados demonstram alometria positiva em todas as relações, com r² mais de 0,94 em ambos os sexos e locais.Palavras-chave: Relações morfométricas, razão sexual, matapi.Macrobrachium amazonicum is an indigenous prawn vastly distributed in basins of South America, widely exploited by artisanal fisheries in northern and northeastern Brazil and, with great potential for aquaculture. This study aimed at examining the population biology with emphasis on the sex ratio and size frequency distribution. The specimens were analyzed in terms of population structure, sexual ratio, size frequency distribution, recruitment and the relative growth was compared by sex and seasons. A number of 5,179 (2,977 females and 2,192 males) were collected monthly using 20 matapis. The sex ratio in both areas was favorable to females with 1:1.36 in Santana Island and 1:1.41 in Mazagão Velho. The monthly distribution of absolute frequency of juveniles, adult males and females varied according to the season in the two areas studied. Adult females were more abundant in the rainier period; while the adult males and females were similarly abundant in the less rainy period. In Santana Island, females were significantly larger than males, while the sizes were similar between sexes in Mazagão Velho. The regression equations applied to the data shown positive allometry in all relations, with r² more than 0.94 in both sex and sites.Keywords: Morphometric relationships; sex ratio; matapi

The intensity of non-target site mechanisms influences the level of resistance of sourgrass to glyphosate

Non-target site mechanisms are involved in the resistance of sourgrass (Digitaria insularis) to glyphosate. Studies on the 14C-glyphosate absorption and translocation as well as the detection of glyphosate and its metabolites in sourgrass plants were carried out under controlled conditions to investigate if the differential response of resistant sourgrass biotypes (R1 and R2) is derived from the intensity of non-target site mechanisms involved in the resistance to glyphosate. Different pattern of absorption was observed between S (susceptible) and R2 from 12 up to 48 hours after treatment with glyphosate (HAT), and between S and R1 just at 12 HAT. The initial difference in glyphosate absorption among the biotypes did not maintained at 96 HAT and afterwards. Smaller amount of herbicide left the treated leaf into the rest of shoot and roots in R2 (25%) than in S (58%) and R1 (52%). In addition, slight difference in glyphosate translocation was observed between S and R1. We found high percentage (81%) of glyphosate in the S biotype up to 168 HAT, while just 44% and 2% of glyphosate was recovered from R1 and R2 plant tissues. In addition, high percentage of glyphosate metabolites was found in R2 (98%) and R1 (56%) biotypes, while a very low percentage (11%) was found in the S biotype. As previous studies indicated resistant factors of 3.5 and 5.6 for R1 and R2, respectively, we conclude that the differential response of sourgrass biotypes is derived from the intensity of the non-target site mechanisms involved in the resistance to glyphosate