Brazilian Technology Research Articles

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean and corn in Brazil: past, present, and future

Glyphosate-Resistant Crops (GR crops) have caused considerable changes in weed management worldwide. In Brazil, GR cultivars of soybean and corn were officially introduced in the 2005/06 and 2011/12 crops, respectively. This technology has radically changed the weed management system, having an enormous impact on national agriculture. The objective of this review was to analyze the general aspects that led to the adoption of this technology in Brazil and present its future consequences and challenges. The adoption of GR soybean [...]

Configuring absorptive capacities through organizational practiced routines: evidence from Brazilian digital technology-based SMEs

Absorptive capacity (ACAP) is currently one of the most dynamic themes in the knowledge literature. This is confirmed by the growing number of references associated with the fields of innovation, organizational learning and strategic management. However, despite the efforts of researchers, the main processes, routines and practices associated with the notion of ACAP remain unclear. Underpinned by in-depth case studies carried out in 2 companies operating in the field of digital technology in Brazil, we analyze the processes that structure ACAP, in search of operational configurations allowing the absorption of knowledge. The study builds on the notion of meta-routines as higher-level routines that define the general and abstract purpose of ACAP routines. These meta-routines are expressed by practiced routines of ACAP, which are firm-specific, idiosyncratic and observable. Findings reveal the evidence of interdependencies between these practiced routines, suggesting the existence of complementarity attributes among their related meta-routines. Moreover, the proposed framework highlights the sequence of these practiced routines and their adequacy to ACAP sub-capacities. From a managerial point of view, these results provide new perspectives for building ACAP in organizations. Implications and suggestions for future studies are included.

Corporate memory dynamics in project-based organizations (PBOs): multiple case study in Brazilian engineering design firms and a framework proposal

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how the processes of memory acquisition, retention, retrieval and application occur in project-based organizations (PBOs). In this kind of organization, the nature of corporate memory is influenced by the transience, uniqueness and independence of the project portfolio. Such understanding may help practitioners to mitigate the effects of project transience and promote knowledge sharing among project teams.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical and qualitative study was carried out through a multiple case study approach conducted in three Brazilian Engineering Design Firms, which are organized by projects. Document analysis, direct observation and semi-structured interviews with engineers, project managers and executives were conducted.FindingsThe memory acquisition process takes place in five forms which have different sources and destinations when comparing PBOs with traditional organizational settings. Memory retention in PBOs crosses organizational boundaries and establishes a knowledge network of former employees and third parties. The PBOs project memory can be divided into volatile and perennial memory, where the former can be lost throughout project execution and the latter is internalized, becoming an inseparable part of the corporate memory. Memory retrieval in PBOs is also distinct since it has particular mechanisms depending on whether the knowledge is technical or administrative.Originality/valueThe research investigates the corporate memory processes within the volatile context of PBOs in a Latin-American developing country whose culture favors tacit knowledge exchange. The paper proposes a framework that unveils different patterns of knowledge acquisition, temporary and perennial retention structures, intensive usage of external knowledge in memory retrieval and particular memory applications in PBOs. The framework may guide scholars, project managers, engineers and practitioners in navigating through the uniqueness of organizational learning flows and structures in PBOs.

Public foment for innovation in artificial intelligence: an assessment based on technological data from patents

This paper aims to study the Brazilian public policy for fomenting innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), presenting the initial premise (hypothesis), to be inductively tested, that its greatest challenge is related to the endogenization or internalization of the processes of development and production of AI-related technologies in the country. To this end, we analyze data from the patenting of these technologies in Brazil, the most widely used indicator to measure national technological innovation, contrasting them with international data. Considering the diversity of formats that such public policies can take, this work reveals its importance, since it provides an accurate diagnosis of the reality in the AI segment in Brazil, a fundamental subsidy for the formulation of efficient planning.

Resistance status of lepidopteran soybean pests following large-scale use of MON\xa087701\u2009\xd7\u2009MON\xa089788 soybean in Brazil

Widespread adoption of MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean, expressing Cry1Ac Bt protein and glyphosate tolerance, has been observed in Brazil. A proactive program was implemented to phenotypically and genotypically monitor Cry1Ac resistance in Chrysodeixis includens (Walker). Recent cases of unexpected injury in MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean were investigated and a large-scale sampling of larvae on commercial soybean fields was performed to assess the efficacy of this technology and the distribution of lepidopteran pests in Brazil. No significant shift in C. includens susceptibility to Cry1Ac was observed eight years after commercial introduction of this technology in Brazil. F2 screen results confirmed that the frequency of Cry1Ac resistance alleles remains low and stable in C. includens. Unexpected injury caused by Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) and Crocidosema aporema (Walsingham) in MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean was detected during the 2020/21 season, and studies confirmed a genetically based alteration in their susceptibility to Cry1Ac. MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean remains effective against Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), C. includens, Chloridea virescents (Fabricius) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in Brazil. However, there is evidence of field-evolved resistance to MON 87701 × MON 89788 soybean by the secondary soybean pests R. nu and C. aporema.

Environmental awareness and public perception on carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Brazil

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is considered an important option to mitigate climate change. However, the success of the new technology does not only depend on engineering practices and techniques but also involves social, political, and economic factors, as well as public acceptance. The discussion about CCS in Brazil is recent and few papers addressing Brazilian public perception and engagement with CCS were found. In this sense, this paper aims to analyze the environmental awareness about climate change and the citizens’ perception of CCS technology. A public perception survey was conducted with 800 people in two Brazilian cities. Descriptive statistical techniques combined with hypothesis tests were performed to depict the results and to verify associations between different demographic groups to climate change issues and support for the development of CCS technology in Brazil. The results show that the public is aware of climate change and its consequences. However, despite public support for governmental development and investments in CCS technology, investments to mitigate climate change are not a priority for the population. Only 2% and 5% of interviewed citizens in the cities of São Mateus and Vitória, respectively, considered investments in climate change mitigation as a priority. More than 70% of respondents considered that other social elements, as health, public safety, and job creation, should be prioritized by the Brazilian government. The results suggest that the population needs more information about CCS technology and its impacts.

Application of area monitors and scintillating detectors in the development of CBRN defense reconnaissance vehicles

This study describes the use of ionizing radiation detectors in a Brazilian Army reconnaissance vehicle (RV), used in area monitoring actions based on the occurrence of a radiological event. Two scintillating detectors, NaI and LaBr3, were used to carry out field measurements of surveying for different distances from a simulated detector position in the vehicle, in order to compare the energy spectra obtained in each measurement system. The Brazilian Army Technological Center (Centro Tecnológico do Exército - CTEx) region was chosen to carry out the measurements. The meteorological information was annotated to verify the conditions into which the experimental apparatus would be submitted. The results suggest that both the NaI and LaBr3 scintillating detector could be used in radiological emergency response RV, offering satisfactory responses in the gamma radiation detection. However, the NaI detector was chosen considering the wide network of technical assistance and its low operational cost. The relevance of this investigation shows the importance of planning responses in emergency situations and the influence of efficient instrumentation in the measurement processes.

From play to pay: a multifunctional approach to the role of culture in post-merger integration

PurposeThe literature on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), cultural differences between organizations have frequently been identified as one of the main challenges in the process of post-merger integration (PMI). Existing research has explored a broad variety of cultural differences in perceptions, such as those relating to expectations, norms, values and beliefs within the respective organizations, and how these affect the process and success of PMI. However, less attention has been paid to the relevance of the macro-societal context to PMI. The ambition of this article is, therefore, to advance our understanding of how macro-level societal factors define organizational cultures and affect the success of PMI.Design/methodology/approachWe draw on social systems theory as devised by Niklas Luhmann, assuming that organizations are always embedded in the macro-level societal context of distinctive realms of social reality—such as the economy, politics, religion and the arts—that make up the so-called “function systems”. Looking at the case of the integration of a Brazilian technology start-up into a market-leading corporation, we analyze the dominant orientations towards these function systems, and the changes in these orientations over time.FindingsThe results suggest that differences in organizational culture in PMI can be partly explained by differences in orientations to the function systems. Moreover, forcing dramatic changes of orientations towards the function systems within a merged entity can severely damage its raison d'etre in the first place, potentially leading to, in some sense, an account of “culture murder”.Originality/valueThis article is unique in demonstrating that organizations are multifunctional systems whose culture is defined by the highly specific and potentially varying degrees of importance they place on individual function systems and that knowledge or neglect of these functional profiles may seriously affect the success of post-merger integration. Against this backdrop, the article presents a multifunctional profiling method that may easily translate into PMI management tools.

Waste-to-energy technology for the brazilian context

Waste-to-Energy Technologies (WtE) have been widely used in European countries, in Japan, in some US cities, and have been growing in China. Currently, in Brazil, there are no WtE power plants in operation, but there are studies on the feasibility of this technology. The Systematic Bibliographic Review (SBR) presented in this mini-review article appears as a result of a process of prospecting documents in the following databases: Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus. The purpose was to map the articles of the last five years on the applications of WtE technologies in Brazil. From the selection of articles relevant to the research, these documents were registered and cataloged, as well as their qualitative and quantitative analyses. During the systematization process, it was possible to raise hypotheses about which professionals have been working the most on this topic, the journals in which these researches are being published and the keywords most addressed for these case studies. In addition, it was possible to identify the characteristics of the publications related to the theme, the central axes of analysis of the studies and the primary techniques studied for the Brazilian reality. It was also considered part of the results of the present work, the systematization of the main definitions of WtE, the presentation of the main WtE technologies operations, and the exposition of the benefits and impacts of each of these technologies.

When the Big House Freaked Out: The Rise and Fall of Industrial Brazil in a Single Lifetime

When the Big House Freaked Out: The Rise and Fall of Industrial Brazil in a Single Lifetime

Teaching impact assessment: applying indicators of best practice principles to Brazil

ABSTRACT Teaching Impact Assessment (IA) is both important and challenging. In this context, international literature presents a set of Best Practice Principles for IA Teaching and Training. This paper proposes and applies a framework of 14 indicators to analyse the content of IA teaching. It focuses on the Brazilian Environmental Engineering Programs, and the methodological process involved examining the literature as well as content analysis. The framework application showed to be practical and objective. Results indicate that the capacity to incorporate the specifics of the IA system is a strength of IA teaching in Brazil. On the other hand, the results highlight many weaknesses, e.g. the focus on teaching only IA applied to projects (in spite of the many IA types present in IA literature and international practice), focus on impact assessment statement (instead of the whole IA process) and gaps related to study of alternatives, cumulative impacts and public participation. Suggestions to improve IA teaching in Brazil include presenting IA as a process.

Critical Examination Using Business Intelligence on the Gender Gap in Information Technology in Brazil

In the early 1990s, cyberfeminism emerged as an area of knowledge to discuss the connection between gender and technology. According to UNESCO, women are underrepresented in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and less than a third of women worldwide work in scientific research and development. However, this number has grown and this reality is constantly changing. In this context, using business intelligence techniques, this study analyzes data from the computer and information and communication technology market to characterize the impact of the performance of women in these areas. It is expected to show that this performance in the highlighted fields is still a challenge in Brazil. Based on this hypothesis, results indicates that public policies must be focused on the base, i.e., to encourage young women to work in STEM areas. This study could encourage policymakers to find solutions to the challenges presented in this research.

The Discrete Mathematics Discipline Curricular Statute in the Brazilian Systems Analysis and Development Technology

The Discrete Mathematics Discipline Curricular Statute in the Brazilian Systems Analysis and Development Technology

Condiciones de las redes interorganizativas para la innovación en áreas rurales

The objective is to investigate which are the drivers of the formation of inter-organizational cooperation networks that contribute to the achievement of innovation performance in rural areas. Regarding the methodological aspects, the research chose Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Content Analysis for research with the leaders of research, development and innovation networks of the most important agri-food technologies in Brazil and Spain. Our findings suggest that relevant reasons that influence the performance of the innovation are Legitimacy, Flexibility and Efficiency.

DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBMARINE MANEUVERING SIMULATOR

This work consisted of the implementation of a numerical model of a Submarine in the Numerical Offshore Tank of the University of São Paulo (TPN-USP) based on the concepts of maneuverability of vessels, thus creating the first Submarine Simulator with fully Brazilian technology.

Reforms of Mathematics Curriculum Guidelines for Middle Education in Brazil and Paraguay

The construction of the National Common Curricular Base (NCCB) for the area of Mathematics and its High School Technologies in Brazil and the last update of the Mathematics Program for High School in Paraguay are prescribed curriculum documents in force for the teaching of Mathematics in these countries. The construction of each one of them exposed intense political elements and has been a constant target of conflicts and tensions in these countries. The policy cycle approach, established by sociologist Stephen J. Ball and collaborators, has usually been applied by curriculum policy researchers, as well as from other sectors. Therefore, it has been configured in an important methodological bias for the understanding of the documents’ approval processes from the contexts of production and influence, as well as the standards that guided this construction and the ideological constraints that emanate from the involvement of multilateral organisms. In order to achieve this objective, this article presents a comparative analysis of documents in specific circumstances during the processes of the recent reforms of the prescribed documents for mathematical learning in Brazil and Paraguay. It starts from the methodological phases of Comparative Education, summarized by Pilz (2012), by which it reflected on the vertical models and the reductionism and emptying of the area, as well as the contents as instruments of management and performance to meet the varied demands of the globalized world. The theoretical hybridization carried out in the study also pointed to a greater number of specific competences prescribed for the teaching of Mathematics in Brazil, and in Paraguay, a curriculum that prioritizes more functional Mathematics.

Perceptions of Telediagnostics Technology in Brazil: A Case of Active Innovation Resistance?

Several articles have focused on the process of innovation acceptance and adoption. Fewer studies have focused on the elements that explain innovation resistance and barriers to technology adoption. This article applies a recent Innovation Resistance Model to measure the attitudes of Brazilian health professionals toward telediagnostics technology. Contrary to what we had expected following a recent backlash from an attempt to modernize telemedicine practices in Brazil by the Federal Council of Medicine, our sample was very receptive to this technology, even though some resistance remains, both in terms of certain functional barriers (complexity, co-dependence, and compatibility), and psychological barriers (social and personal risk, public image, and above all information asymmetries). As a theoretical result, we have validated a scale (based on the model) to measure innovation resistance using the Principal Component Analysis method.JEL Code: I110

Challenges and opportunities for social entrepreneurs in civil engineering in Brazil

PurposeThis paper aims to identify challenges and opportunities for social enterprises (SE) in civil engineering in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachStarting from the transformative social innovation theory and inspired by grounded theory principles, this paper conducts three-stage exploratory research. First, this paper mapped the Brazilian SE civil engineering ecosystem. Next, this paper classified the SE initiatives along with an organizing framework. Finally, this paper conducted 11 interviews with key ecosystem actors and analyzed data through iterative, parallel and interrelated content analysis procedures.FindingsThe 37 SE found were classified along “Sustainability,” “Housing,” “Transportation” and “Sanitation” pillars, which are aligned with the United Nations’ social development goals. This paper found 50 challenges and opportunities, which were aggregated along seven dimensions. Three elements are particularly relevant as opportunities: opportunities for SE with ecosystem supporters, specialized investors and partnership with major companies; while government and early investment are the most relevant challenges.Research limitations/implicationsResearch findings and conclusions cannot be extended to other sectors and countries. Usual limitations associated with exploratory qualitative research must also be highlighted.Practical implicationsThe government should offer financial and technical support for civil engineering in working in partnership with ecosystem supporters. Academy could use SE content and ecosystem for its students and should offer diverse resources for network creation.Originality/valueFocusing on civil engineering SE in Brazil, this study sheds light on a high-impact sector that has not been studied yet.

Addition of iron ore tailings to increase the efficiency of anaerobic digestion of pig manure: A technical and economic analysis

Anaerobic digestion (AD) stands out as an option for treating, transforming pig manure into renewable energy in the form of biogas and providing an organic substrate for agricultural use. However, methane variability and high operational expenses make it difficult to implement this technology in Brazil. This study analyses using iron ore tailings (IOTs) to optimize AD processes for generating biogas from pig manure. Mineralogical and toxicological analyses were carried out for the mining waste (MW) to assess its applicability in the process. The manure was anaerobically digested in sequential batch reactors with varied IOTs dosages, ranging between 0 kg m and 3, 1.56 kg m-3, 3.12 kg m-3, and 4.69 kg m-3. The influence these additives had on the process was analysed through examination of the reductions in organic constituents, as well as the biogas production and composition. Furthermore, an economic feasibility analysis was conducted for the entire process using uncertainty analysis. The results indicated that the elements Fe, K, Si, Al, Mg, Ca, Na, and P are present in the additive. Maximum production was measured at 8.41 × 10-2 m3 CH4 kg-1 in the substrate. Moreover, there were reductions of 77% and 81.40% in the organic load (COD and BOD5,20) for the maximum applied dosage. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) ranged from 80 US$ to 90 US$ MWh-1 for scenarios with 50,000- and 200,000-head operations. A total of 742 and 10,135 scenarios for 200,000-head operations resulted in a decrease of 23.24% and 12.28% in relation to the maximum market value.

Lean startup for opportunity exploitation: adoption constraints and strategies in technology new ventures

PurposeMost studies investigating the adoption of lean startup (LS) practices by technology new ventures focus on software startups in mature entrepreneurial ecosystems and disregard their applicability for opportunity exploitation in other technological backgrounds. This study contributes to this research stream by exploring how Brazilian technology new ventures (in different technological fields) tentatively adopt LS to exploit opportunities and whether LS is suitable to their emerging economy context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt an exploratory multiple-case study based on qualitative data collection and analysis of nine Brazilian biotechnology, engineering and software startups.FindingsThe study shows how technology new ventures tackle the activities of opportunity exploitation – namely, developing a product or service, acquiring human resources, gathering financial resources and setting up the organization – by leveraging LS tools and practices for business model validation; also, it identifies six contextual constraints hindering the systematic adoption of LS and reveals how technology new ventures cope with such constraints in their early stages by integrating LS with complementary strategies and practices. Furthermore, the study reveals that the systematic and comprehensive adoption of LS nurtures the development of an entrepreneurial experimental capability to explore opportunities in a quasi-scientific and hypothesis-driven fashion.Originality/valueThe study investigates how Brazilian engineering, biotechnology and software startups exploit opportunities and overcome constraints to business model validation through the combined adoption of LS and complementary strategies and practices and provides a set of propositions to guide future research.