Brazilian Environment Research Articles

O PROBLEMA DA POLUIÇÃO POR ÓLEO ORIUNDO DE NAVIOS NAS ÁGUAS DE JURISDIÇÃO NACIONAL: COMPREENSÃO DAS CAUSAS-RAIZ DOS ACIDENTES QUE PROVOCAM DERRAMAMENTO DE PETRÓLEO NO MAR

The present study has as a research theme the pollution of the national maritime waters caused by the operations of extraction, storage and transport of oil and its derivatives. Its general objective is to analyze how the understanding of the causes of pollution arising from the extraction, storage and transportation of oil and its derivatives helps to reduce the contamination of the Brazilian maritime waters, thus contributing to the improvement of the quality of these waters. It is the result of a bibliographical research based on the works of Eliane M. Octaviano Martins 2007 and 2009. Thus, the first chapter showed that accidents with oil spills are considered to be more harmful to the environment compared to other types of pollution in the sea. In addition, human error was highlighted as the most important error in maritime accidents and was related to the poor training of the professionals involved in the operation. The study facilitates understanding of the major flaws in the prevention of marine pollution from oil spills and shows the importance of risk management. It addresses the Brazilian position regarding international maritime safety standards and prevention of the marine environment. It evidences the importance of controlling the damage caused by an oil spill accident through efficient response in a timely manner to the distress. It exposes the condition of Brazil in the IMO, some Brazilian legislation and IMO codes and conventions. It shows how many standards are developed for the purpose of responding to major accidents both nationally and internationally. It demonstrates the harm caused by the lack of speed in enacting laws and enforcing standards. It presents some unilateral measures, some regional agreements and their effects. The overall goal is achieved through specific objectives. The paper concludes that oil production has sufficient economic and social relevance to assume its risks and that prevention of pollution is the best way to improve the quality of the Brazilian marine environment.

A CORRUPÇÃO E SEUS EFEITOS NO MERCADO DE ALIMENTOS: O CASO DA OPERAÇÃO “CARNE FRACA”

This article aims to analyze the contribution of contracts with incentives to improve the functioning of the Brazilian food market, in a context of corruption. To do so, we used a Principal-Agent model in a sequential game to design an ideal contract to mitigate corruption in the aforementioned market. Such experiment was based on the “Carne Fraca Operation”, investigated by the Federal Police. The results indicate that the proposed incentives were able to align the interests of Agent and Principal, which reduced the chances of corruption and improved the functioning of that market. Nonetheless, the Brazilian institutional environment encourages the Agent to be corrupt, as the penalties are not harsh and the probability of a corrupt Agent be punished is just 25 percent.

Construction of a sustainability indicators system for offshore oil and gas production units

Production units located in the Brazilian marine environment are responsible for the production of 95.7% of oil and 78.8% of natural gas of Brazil causing economic, environmental, and social impacts motivating us to construct a system of indicators as a tool aimed to improve the sustainable management practice of these production units. To date, one of the tools most used by the oil industry is the sustainability report, oriented by guidelines from international organizations. However, these reports have a corporate character being unable to help the sustainability management of production units’ activities. The indicators were selected based on a systemic approach, using current knowledge on sustainability indicators, together with the survey of aspects relevant to the operation and management of offshore oil and gas production units. This paper describes the proposed indicators and presents the hierarchical structure of the system, built on the economic, environmental, social, and operational dimensions. The application of the proposed system of indicators, based on multicriterial and multiple decision-making analyses, validates a complex decision process, providing improved sustainable management of offshore production units by identifying points for which the necessary measures and actions can be implemented. Keywords: offshore oil and gas production; sustainability indicators; multicriteria and multiple decision-making analyses.

A Influência da Reputação Corporativa no Custo de Capital

This research verifies if there is a relation between the cost of capital and the reputation of the companies measured by the Corporate Monitor of Corporate Reputation (MERCO) ranking . It contributes to the literature, bringing a new proxy for measuring the reputation of companies (MERCO ranking ). In addition, no other study was found in the Brazilian environment that directly relates corporate reputation to the cost of capital. The contribution of this study takes place in a context in which, due to the scarce and costly sources of financing, knowing the cost of capital and exercising an effective management of the available resources, are preponderant factors for the survival of companies in a competitive market .The research used the multiple linear regression method estimated by Fixed Effects with robust errors. The sample is made up of B3 listed companies in the periods of 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, with the final number of observations equal to 897. The year 2015 was out of the sample because this year the MERCO ranking was not published. The results indicate that companies listed on B3 ranked by MERCO have a lower cost of capital than the others, regardless of the position in which the company is in the MERCO ranking .

Emerging contaminants in Brazilian aquatic environment: identifying targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk.

Although studies have shown the presence of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in the Brazilian environment in recent decades, several biological effects on the aquatic ecosystem are unknown. Brazil is the fifth largest country in extension in the world, and its wide territory presents geographic regions with diverse demographic and economic characteristics. In order to identify targets of potential concern based on occurrence and ecological risk, available data from previous studies were examined to conduct environmental risk analysis and provide a ranking of CECs in Brazilian aquatic environment based on environmental concentration measured in the last 10 years. The results indicate that 17α-ethynylestradiol, 17ß-estradiol, acetaminophen, Bisphenol A, caffeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, methylparaben, sulfamethoxazole and triclosan are the CECs that represent the greatest threats to the Brazilian environment. Therefore, these contaminants should be considered as a priority in future monitoring studies. Besides, identification of target monitoring compounds can facilitate the selection of pollutant candidates in future legislations.

Solidarity economy enterprises, social technologies, and institutional environment

The present study aimed at analyzing the positioning, contribution, or limitation of the formal Brazilian institutional environment regarding the creation, promotion, and implementation of Solidary Economic Enterprises and Social Technologies. The path used to carry out this research was the triangulation among documentary research, literature review, and former empirical research results. We found that the formal Brazilian institutional environment has not provided the necessary elements for the strengthening of Solidary Economic Enterprises and Social Technologies. It, therefore, constitutes a space that is not very developed in the face of the existence of such organizations.

Spatial distribution of genetic values of Nelore breed in Brazil

This aim of this study was to analyze the influence of socieoconomic, environmental and farm variables on the existing genetic values (Expected Progeny Differences - EPDs) of the different clusters of Nelore animals in Brazil. The data evaluated included EPDs of 1,462,485 animals, males and females born between 2000 to 2011, same period of the compiled variables used (socieoconomic, environmental and farm), distributed in 171 municipality from 15 Brazilian states by GENEPLUS (Genotype Breeding Program of Embrapa Beef Cattle). The municipality averages of sixteen variables were used for weight traits (maternal and direct genetic effects for weight at 120 days, maternal and direct genetic effects at birth and weaning weight, post-yearling weight and average daily gain post-weaning), carcass quality (carcass conformation at weaning, carcass conformation at post-yearling, eye muscle area, subcutaneous fat thickness and marbling) and reproductive traits (scrotal perimeter at weaning, scrotal perimeter at post-yearling, age at first calving and cow weight at weaning) as well as their respective accuracies. The data were spatialized in the ArcGIS program along with environmental factors and human development indicators. The statistics included clustering, discriminant and canonical analyzes using the SAS® program. Three clusters for weight traits, five for carcass quality, four for reproductive traits and five for accuracy were formed. The clusters showed good distribution across the country, highlighting the clusters with highest genetic values for each trait type. Discrimination was seen among environments for beef cattle at pasture, depending on climatic conditions. The spatial distribution of the Nelore cattle breed may provide a better understanding of the real situation of the breed in different Brazilian climates and environments. The results of this study can be used to correct possible errors of genetic selection programs that use the same breeders and females for different environments.

Entre a longa tradição intelectual e os novos vocabulários teórico-práticos, o lugar da Opção decolonial

Latin American intellectuals from different institutions, mostly from Hispanic-American countries, gathered at the end of the 1990s to form the Modernity/Coloniality group. Since the previous decades, their work had as a common point the concern to update the Latin American critical tradition, in the light of postcolonial studies. The publication "La colonialidad del saber: eurocentrismo y ciencias sociales", organized by Edgard Lander in 2000, by the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), presented the group’s ideas to the academic debate. The Portuguese version of this collection was made available by the CLACSO virtual library in 2005. This perhaps explains a certain mismatch in the use of “decolonial” terminology in the Brazilian academic environment, which has been observed more clearly in recent years.

Knowledge Production for Marine Spatial Planning in a Brazilian Inclusive Governance Context

Coastal and marine spaces all around the world are committed to a current global sustainability agendas, in the seas and coasts, as well as their public policies and territorial governance agendas have received a special role in international discussions on the directions of development and conservation. In this context, the establishment of the Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030 (Agenda 2030) by the United Nations (UN) stands out which incorporated Objective 14, seeking to establish a science-political-society interface and strengthening the management of oceans and coastal zones for the benefit of humankind. In this scenario, in line with the global agendas and in order to identify and fill gaps in the interface between produced science and public policies for Brazilian marine-coastal environments, the initiative “Programa Horizonte Oceânico Brasileiro (HOB)” was created. The theme “Marine Space Planning (MSP)” is extremely relevant in the scope of the HOB, given its proposal for innovation through an ecosystem approach. Furthermore, MSP has been adopted as a mechanism for environmental policies in the international intergovernmental sector in countries with different levels of development, as a public policy and operational platform in planning and management of uses in the marine-coastal space. In this context, the activities of the Marine Space Planning Team (Team PEM) were established, which has been producing knowledge to strengthen the MSP in the path of collective inter-network learning and disseminating information that can assist future research, management and ordering actions in Brazilian seas and coasts, such as the publication of the.“I Volume Horizonte Oceânico Brasileiro” (Chapter 5 - Planejamento Espacial Marinho: Desafios e Oportunidades para Inserção Inter-Redes no Pré Planejamento Espacial Marinho Brasileiro) and the “Síntese para Tomadores de Decisão – I VOLUME HOB” (Planejamento Espacial Marinho: Desafios e Caminhos para sua Implementação) and the webinar of Marine Spatial Planning. This article aims to present the production of general knowledge about MSP by this group and its potential interaction with different systems (social, economic and political), looking to contribute and improving the information base of Brazilian coastal governance and also to subsidize possible initiatives related to the theme.

Sindrome de burnout e suas repercussões na qualidade de vida de professores e alunos no Brasil

Professional exhaustion promotes clinical signs and symptoms that characterize Burnout Syndrome. This situation is a consequence of an experience of chronic stress, promoting reduced quality of life, lower functionality and physical and psychological illness. The aim of this study was to identify sociodemographic, work and psychosocial factors related to the development of Burnout syndrome and impaired quality of life of students and teachers in Brazil. This is an integrative literature review, using the PICO strategy, in the databases: PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online - SCIELO and Latin American Literature on Health Sciences - LILACS. The following Health Sciences (DeCS) Descriptors were used: "Burnout, Psychological"; "Quality of Life" and "Brazil". The results included in the results were 25 studies for analysis. The sample consisted of medical students (40%), students from other areas of knowledge (16%), university professors (8%) and teachers from elementary or high schools (36%). The prevalence of Burnout syndrome in the Brazilian academic environment ranged from 0 to 60%. The specific percentages for different groups were: 12 to 44% for medical students; 0 to 10.89% among students from other areas; 30.6 to 60% for university professors; and 17.6 to 31% among elementary or high school teachers. In view of the results found, burnout syndrome has a great impact on the various actors in the student context.

Biodiversity and technological features of Weissella isolates obtained from Brazilian artisanal cheese-producing regions

Weissella spp. strains (n = 57) were isolated from different Brazilian food-related environments and characterized based on their genetic profiles and technological potential. PFGE and Rep-PCR revealed the high level of biodiversity among isolates: PFGE grouped the isolates in three major profiles (similarity from 60 to 80%), while rep-PCR characterized the isolates as belonging to a single profile. Based on PFGE, isolates with identical pulsotypes were found within a same geographical region (Campo das Vertentes, Minas Gerais state). Based on these profiles, 26 isolates were selected and characterized based on their inhibitory and bacteriocinogenic activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus ATCC 6538, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium ATCC 14028 and Escherichia coli ATCC 11229. Most isolates (n = 20) were able to inhibit the targets through organic acids. Most of the isolates (n = 12) were able to produce diacetyl, proteases, and/or coagulating milk, but none were able to produce exopolysaccharides. Isolate 16, in particular, was characterized as possessing high acidification ability, diacetyl and protease production, with promising technological potential in the dairy industry. The obtained results allowed the understanding of the Weissella spp. strains role as starter cultures in the dairy industry.

A new record of Betta splendens (Anabantiformes: Osphronemidae) for the northeastern Brazil

The introduction of exotic species, although harmful to the natural environment, still occurs accidentally, intentionally or as a strategy of biological control. In this work, a specimen of Betta splendens was collected and recorded for Northeastern Brazil, a fish of the family Osphronemidae, originally from Asia. This species has the potential to compete with the native species, causing alterations in the natural community. The record of this species in Brazilian environments and the lack of diagnostic works on this region makes this work of special importance and as an incentive for future investigations.

Economic Impacts of Possible Corrections to Withholding Income Tax Rates in the Brazilian Internal Environment

The central theme addressed is the economic analysis caused by the absence of adequate corrections in the IRRF rates (income tax) between the period 2007 to 2017, through the IPCA index (consumer price index), to maintain or increase social well-being, the population's disposable income. taxpayer and consumer purchasing parity. From the data collection and applicability of the research methods, it was found that the contributing families collected 180 billion reais more in taxes. Through econometric models, with statistical significance of 1% and at most 5% in the variables, the Breusch and Pagan tests were used, and the adoption of the Pooling method for data extraction. After the analyzes, the models demonstrate in a crystalline way the reduction of disposable income by 0.0728%, of national savings by 0.0862% and in consumption by 0.0532% for each 1% increase in the new amount collected from taxes. Leading to a minimization of the declarants' well-being and how this value, if entered in the productive means, would contribute to the increase of economic indicators, however, according to the research purpose, the current IRRF table that should be in force is presented.

Metal concentrations in marine sediments of the Rio de Janeiro Coast (Brazil): A proposal to establish new acceptable levels of contamination

This work aims to propose new standards to assess the degree of sediment contamination in saline and brackish environments, since the legislation currently used in Brazil is based on Canadian/American regulations, which do not comply with the conditions in Brazil. This study is based on geochemical analyses of 340 surface sediment samples collected in the Green Coast region (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), including Mangaratiba, Angra dos Reis and Ribeira coves and Ilha Grande and Sepetiba bays. This region is influenced by industrial, harbor, urban and tourist activities and was affected by a dam rupture episode that released contaminated material. The results show heterogeneity in the distribution and range of metal concentrations in the study area depending on the supply of metals from natural and anthropogenic sources. Environmental characteristics such as coastal and tidal currents, water temperature and salinity, local depth, sediment grain size, sedimentary dynamics and biogeochemical processes influence the dispersion or retention of metals. The pollution load index (PLI) suggests that Sepetiba Bay is the region with the most environmental degradation due to anthropogenic contamination. In this context, we propose the establishment of new levels of contamination according to the Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn concentrations in sediments of salt and brackish waters, considering I) background level; II) level 1 - with anthropogenic influence; and III) level 2 - contaminated. The results of this work also suggest that, except for zinc, the range of metal concentrations admitted by Brazilian legislation are quite permissive and not adequate for Brazilian coastal environments.

Liming, fertilization, and rhizobia inoculation on cowpea yield in a Brazilian Amazon upland forest environment

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of the BRS Tumucumaque cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) cultivar to liming and to phosphorus and potassium fertilization in the absence of inoculation or nitrogen fertilization, as well as to inoculation with selected Bradyrhizobium strains, in an upland forest area in the state of Amapá, eastern Amazon, Brazil. Seven experiments were conducted in field conditions, in order to evaluate six limestone, four phosphorus, and four potassium rates, besides the inoculation with four Bradyrhizobium strains. Leaf nitrogen concentrations, pod and grain dry mass per plant, grain yield, and soil pH, Al+3, and Ca+2 + Mg+2 were evaluated. The obtained data were subjected to the analysis of variance, to the regression analysis, or to test to compare means. The soil presented a high buffer power, but liming reduced its chemical limitations. Leaf nitrogen concentrations were correlated to cowpea grain yield. However, there is no effect of the interaction between potassium and phosphorus rates on grain yield. In addition, grain yield is not influenced by liming and potassium fertilization, but is increased by phosphorus fertilization. Inoculation with the UFLA 3-84 and INPA 03-11B strains promotes a greater grain yield than that with BR 3262 and BR 3267, as well as a similar grain yield to that of the control without inoculation.

POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS E DESENVOLVIMENTO RURAL: ANÁLISE DOS IMPACTOS DO PRONAF NA BAHIA

The debate on the evaluation of public policies constitutes a fundamental theme for the understanding of the actions and the role of the State in capitalist society and for the consolidation of democratic societies. The importance of evaluating public policies is a strategic element when considering aspects of effectiveness and efficiency, in addition to contributing to the search for equity in governmental responses to social demands. Given this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the impacts of Pronaf in the municipalities of Bahia, through the analysis of the effects of the policy on the economic, productive, demographic, social and tax dimensions from a comparative analysis of the municipalities in Bahia that are borrowers of the Pronaf in the years 2000 and 2012. Bearing in mind that, Pronaf is one of the main public policies that affect the Brazilian rural environment. The results found indicate that the financial resources of Pronaf exert significant influence, mainly, on the variables of the productive and demographic dimension.

ERRATA: Liming, fertilization, and rhizobia inoculation on cowpea yield in a Brazilian Amazon upland forest environment

ERRATA: Liming, fertilization, and rhizobia inoculation on cowpea yield in a Brazilian Amazon upland forest environment

Limnoperna fortunei - Updating the geographic distribution in the Brazilian watersheds and mapping the regional occurrence in the Upper Uruguay River basin

Abstract: Limnoperna fortunei is an invasive alien species (IAS) that cause serious ecological and economic problems in Brazilian freshwater environments. Due to its high dispersion capacity and the lack of new records in peer-reviewed journals we carried out an extensive survey to update the distribution of L. fortunei in the Brazilian hydrographic basins. We also performed a detailed investigation of its distribution in the Upper Uruguay River basin using a molecular method. We presented new records, showing the invasion in new basins and a wide distribution in the basins previously infested. Additionally, we confirmed that the Upper Uruguay River is fully colonized by the golden mussel, being distributed in the lentic, lotic, and transitional lotic/lentic environments presented in this region. This update is an important tool for the implementation of guidelines and the development of safety protocols and sanitary barriers to avoid the dispersion of this IAS to new environments..

Design as a positive stimulus in a Brazilian hospital environment

The new coronavirus pandemic has put healthcare professionals, patients and family members under pressure and stress, causing mental health issues especially in the healthcare community. Studies show that a positive environment plays an important role in the well-being of individuals, impacting physical and psychological security of people. This article presents a project developed for the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, that through graphic interventions softened the effects of combating COVID-19 for the healthcare staff and patients throughout the pandemic. The project is detailed and the discussion presents the main points considered in the process of decision making. Results show how design can play an important role in helping, not only the Covid-2019 pandemic, but also in making hospitals more hospitable places.

Genotype by environment interaction for Holstein cattle populations using autoregressive and within- and across-country multi-trait reaction norms test-day models

The progenies of international bulls in diverse climatic conditions and management levels may lead to different expressions of their genetic potential resulting in a re-ranking of these bulls. Therefore, evaluate the presence of genotype by environment interaction (G×E) within and across countries is important to guide the decision-making on alternative selection strategies. Thus, a two-step reaction norm (RN) approach was used to investigate the presence of G×E in Portuguese and Brazilian Holstein cattle. In step 1, we performed a within-country genetic evaluation using an autoregressive model to obtain precorrected phenotypes and environmental gradients (herd test-day solutions, HTD levels). In step 2, the precorrected phenotypes were considered as two distinct traits in a bi-trait RN model to estimate variance components across HTD levels, genetic correlation between HTD levels in Portugal and Brazil, and RN of the estimated breeding values. Additionally, the genetic correlation between countries using a bi-trait random regression (RR) sire model was obtained. In step 1, genetic additive variance for milk yield (MY) in Portugal was 14.1% higher than in Brazil. For somatic cell score (SCS), the genetic additive variance in Portugal was 12.7% lower than in Brazil. Although similar heritability estimates for SCS were observed in both countries, MY heritabilities were 0.31 for Portugal and 0.23 for Brazil. Genetic correlations (SD) between both countries obtained using RR sire model were 0.78 (0.051) for MY and 0.75 (0.062) for SCS. In step 2, MY genetic correlations among HTD levels within countries were higher than 0.94 for Portugal and 0.98 for Brazil. Somatic cell score genetic correlations among HTD levels ranged from 0.70 to 0.99 for Portugal and from 0.84 to 0.99 for Brazil. The average (SD) of genetic correlation estimates between Portuguese and Brazilian HTD levels were 0.74 (0.009) for MY and 0.57 (0.060) for SCS. These results suggest the presence of G×E for MY and SCS of Holstein cattle between both countries. Although there was no indication of G×E between Brazilian herd environments, the low genetic correlation for SCS indicates potential re-ranking of bulls between extreme environmental gradient in Portugal. Overall, the results of this study evidence the importance of national and international genetic evaluation systems to assist dairy farmers in the selection of the best genotypes to obtain the expected returns from investments in imported semen and to realize genetic progress in dairy populations under local environmental conditions.