Resources In Brazil Research Articles

Distribuição da COVID-19 e dos recursos de saúde na Amazônia Legal: uma análise espacial

Abstract Spatial analysis can help measure the spatial accessibility of health services with a view to improving the allocation of health care resources. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution of COVID-19 detection rates and health care resources in Brazil’s Amazon region. We conducted an ecological study using data on COVID-19 cases and the availability of health care resources in 772 municipalities during two waves of the pandemic. Local and global Bayesian estimation were used to construct choropleth maps. Moran’s I was calculated to detect the presence of spatial dependence and Moran maps were used to identify disease clusters. In both periods, Moran’s I values indicate the presence of positive spatial autocorrelation in distributions and spatial dependence between municipalities, with only a slight difference between the two estimators. The findings also reveal that case rates were highest in the states of Amapá, Amazonas, and Roraima. The data suggest that health care resources were inefficiently allocated, with higher concentrations of ventilators and ICU beds being found in state capitals.

Perspectives for Expansion of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Generation Technologies in Brazil

The world is moving towards a low-carbon economy through renewable energy sources. In this context, concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies can exploit the rich solar resource in Brazil, diversifying the national electricity mix. The aim of this paper is to support the insertion of CSP generation in the Brazilian bottom-up model MATRIZ by analyzing the environmental performance of three CSP technologies: (i) solar tower power (STP) with a thermal storage system (TSS) of 7.5 h; (ii) solar thermal parabolic trough (STPT) with a TSS of 6 h; and (iii) STPT without TSS. From a life cycle perspective, their freshwater consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are addressed by employing the software SimaPro, the Ecoinvent database, and the ReCiPe 2016 method, as well as information from the system advisory model (SAM) and the literature. As a result, STP is the most environmentally sound CSP alternative, presenting lower GHG emissions and water consumption than the two STPT technologies. In general, CSP generation proves to be more environmentally attractive than some fossil-fired power plants and renewable energy sources. Moreover, moving the manufacturing of CSP technologies to Brazil has the potential to reduce GHG emissions from the upstream processes of their value chain.

Spatial modeling of indicators for groundwater use in Brazil

This study spatially characterizes the potential and pressure of the supply of groundwater resources in Brazil. Indicators obtained from ordinary kriging, kernel density estimation, and multivariate geovisualization techniques using the Brazilian Groundwater Information System (SIAGAS) were proposed. The cartographic results culminated in maps of the potential and pressure of groundwater use in Brazil and proved to be promising for the planning and management of water resources. Sedimentary basins had the highest specific yield (2.16 m3/h*m) and stabilization yield (11.19 m3/h), as well as the greatest total abstraction pressure (1054967 m3/h), although they had lower exploitation by aquifer area (0.54 m3/h*km2) than carbonate (1.91 m3/h*km2) and volcanic aquifers (0.80 m3/h*km2). Contrastingly, crystalline aquifers had the lowest specific yield (0.63 m3/h*m), and stabilization yield (5.71 m3/h). Specifically, it highlights the potential use of the Alter do Chão aquifer in northern Brazil and the western Guarani and Bauru-Caú aquifers, while they indicate a concern with the pressure of use on these last two aquifers, as well as on the Urucuia aquifer and on the metropolitan regions, especially of São Paulo.

Energy and economic study of using Pumped Hydropower Storage with renewable resources to recover the Furnas reservoir

Hydroelectric power plants have been losing competitiveness to renewable resources in Brazil, specifically wind and solar power resources, given the current water crisis in the country, which has left main reservoirs in the Brazilian hydroelectric power system depleted. However, other renewable energy resources show disadvantages in terms of intermittence and energy storage. Pumped Hydropower Storage (PHS) can help mitigate this problem, supplying energy with fewer variations. This paper studied using PHS concepts together with solar and/or wind renewable resources to recover water levels at the Furnas reservoir in terms of energy and economic performance. The energy studies were developed by sizing the PHS and identifying solar and wind resource potential for supplying energy for pumps in the hydropower plant. The economic analyses considered three different scenarios (I; II and III), and used the NPV (Net Present Value), and LCOE (Levelized Cost of Electricity) methods for a period of 30 years. Energy calculations showed that 1692 MWh/day of energy could be generated using PHS. However, 2729 MWh/day of energy would be needed to store generated energy, and a 1037 MWh negative energy balance will be compensated for by using daily wind and/or solar photovoltaic power production. This would allow the Furnas reservoir to regain 0.45 m of its water level per year. The economic studies showed economic viability for PHS scenarios I and III, with estimated NPV at 151.5 million dollars, and 64.5 million dollars for the last year of the project, respectively. Scenario II was unviable, giving rise to several strong discussions on this application within Brazil.

Landowners’ willingness to accept pesticide reduction in the Pipiripau River Basin (Brazil)

Brazil is the largest buyer of pesticides in the world and allows the use of chemicals that have long been banned in other countries. One in four Brazilian cities has water polluted by agrochemicals, and the poorest and most vulnerable suburban communities are considered to be suffering disproportionately from this exposure to pesticide contamination of drinking water. To increase the quantity and improve the quality of water, in 2012, the Pipiripau River Basin (PRB) was selected as the site of one of the main pilot studies in Brazil for the protection of water resources. However, the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) currently implemented in the Water Producer Programme (WPP) does not address pesticide use reduction as an environmental service. In this study, we report the result of a survey of land owners in the basin and in particular the results of a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) applied to estimate the potential Pipiripau Basin landowners’ Willingness-To-Accept (WTA), compensation for reducing the use of agrochemicals on their land. This study is the first to apply a dce to analyse policies for pesticide reduction and the protection of water resources in Brazil, and there are very few studies worldwide on the topic to date. We find that the contract characteristics are important determinants of the WTA. Furthermore, farm and landowner characteristics also impact the estimated WTA, including, for example, the farm type, the current use of pesticides, and who is involved in the decision-making. We also find clear evidence that profit considerations are not the only determinant of landowners’ decision to participate in a pesticide use reduction scheme.

Geomorphic responses due to the second-largest global producer of ceramic tiles in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Land use/land cover changes (LULCC) have modified the Earth’s surface. In especial, mining activities have been responsible for landscape changes over a range of temporal and spatial scales. The production of mineral commodities in Brazil represents almost 2 % of the country’s gross domestic product with non-metallic mining activities spread throughout the territory. The Santa Gertrudes Ceramic Polo (SGCP), located in the State of São Paulo, is the second-largest global producer of ceramic tiles and it is responsible for 70 % of the production of non-metallic mineral resources in Brazil. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess geomorphic responses in the SGCP, using land use changes and geomorphological mapping in two study areas, in different scenarios (1962, 1988, 2010). The sedimentation rates were measured to estimate changes in the depositional dynamic due to expansion of the SGCP. The expansion of SGCP generated several geomorphic responses, such as topographic changes, hydrologic alteration, construction of landfill with roads, and erosive/depositional processes adjustments. The expansion of open pit mining areas occurred in Riparian Forestry and pasture areas, creating slope breaks with a groundwater withdrawal and decreasing the length of the river channels. The landfill with roads increased the surface runoff and, consequently, the linear erosive processes and the mass wasting in the slopes. The land displacement within the open pit mining areas, and in the quarry dumps, promoted an increase in the alluvial plains from 1962 to 2010, changing the average sedimentation rates from 26.5 mm yr−1 to 33.0 mm yr−1. The geomorphic responses allowed to comprehend the influence of human-landscape system in the SGCP. Finally, this study highlights the importance of studies involving geomorphic responses in areas with non-metallic mining activities, which could be used in different areas in Brazil or elsewhere.

Prospective Water Balance Scenarios (2015–2035) for the Management of São Francisco River Basin, Eastern Brazil

The need for renewed and healthier water resources pushes human society to develop new management procedures that warrant provisions and that are compatible with the population and economic growth. The São Francisco River is one of the main surface water resources in Brazil and is facing environmental challenges that threaten its sustainability. In the scope of growing conflicts over water resources in the São Francisco River Basin, the present research applied surface and groundwater balances for the current situation and for three prospective water demand scenarios (a pessimistic, an optimistic and an equilibrated) referring to 2025 and 2035, considering the multiple uses of the basin. For the surface water balance, the AcquaNet Decision Support System was used, whereas for the groundwater balance, the relationship between the withdrawal flow for consumptive uses and the exploitable flow was applied. The results evidenced that there are scenarios in which the available surface water resources will not be sufficient to satisfy the demanded projections. The groundwater balance was characterized as more favourable; however, the lack of knowledge creates uncertainties about these resources. Beyond its limitations, research was able to define geographical water availability and balance, allowing the indication of precise management procedures.

Folk taxonomy and scientific nomenclature: Working together for conservation of fishery resources in Brazil

Folk taxonomies of fishers are important for understanding the dynamics and diversity of fishes throughout the world. This study analyzed the folk taxonomy of artisanal fishers of the coast of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Data were collected through free lists, semi-structured interviews and participant observations. A total of 308 local names were recorded, corresponding to 127 scientific taxa. The broad folk categories ‘pescada’ (croakers) and ‘cação’ (shark) were the most common. The Cognitive Salience Index (CSI) was used to assess which fishes the fishers knew best; the mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) had the highest CSI score. Four hierarchical levels of folk taxonomy (kingdom, life form, generic and specific) were recorded. The local ichthyofauna contained 16 species at risk at the national level and 34 at the global level. Our results suggest that fisher folk taxonomy can complement scientific knowledge, improve and update threatened species lists and in doing so benefit fisheries management and conservation actions.

Regulation for Hydraulic Fracturing in Unconventional Resources Exploration in Brazil

In Brazil, it is not yet possible to use hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to explore unconventional resources. Given (i) the attempt to bid unconventional areas in 2014; and (ii) the regulation of this exploration technique in the same period, discussions about the feasibility of this economic activity in the country emerged. National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuel promoted discussions with society on the subject. This article analyzed the regulatory processes of hydraulic fracturing in unconventional resources in Brazil to understand sensitive points to implement this practice in the country. By analyzing the processes and procedures adopted by the competent entities, especially the ANP, it was possible to understand how the regulatory process happened to glimpse improvements that may enable this activity in the future. The study result demonstrated that the first national implementation attempt preceded a specific norm to regulate the activity. However, the administrative processes that led to the 12th ANP Bidding Round and the preparation of ANP Resolution No. 21/2014 show that this was not even a sensitive point in employing these operations. The study concluded that, although there is room for regulatory improvement, the main obstacle to exploring this activity stems from the incipient geological data at the time of the 2014 bidding round.

Participatory assessment to define indicators for monitoring water-based payment of ecosystem services programs in Brazil

The cascade model is a commonly applied framework to evaluate ecosystem services provision, highlighting their benefits to society and assigning non-monetary and monetary values to these services. Adapting this model, we present a methodology to establish the most suitable indicators for monitoring Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs related to water resources in Brazil. Through a participatory process, a set of ecosystem functions indicators were assigned for each ecosystem service (ES) considered in the study. The indicators were then classified following these criteria: clarity, viability, sensitivity, and relevance. The indicators were organized by their final score according to each evaluated criterion. The results demonstrated that “clarity” and “relevance” criteria were those most important for the experts to choose an indicator. In general, we could also observe a preference for analytical and well-established indicators in the literature for all ES evaluated. The indicators list presented can support the PES program monitoring in Brazil. Additionally, the methodology developed can be easily applied in other areas and provide the definition of the most suitable indicators to monitor water-based PES in different Brazilian contexts.
 Keywords:cascade model, ecosystem functions, ecosystem service indicators, tropical areas.

FIRM RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION OF SMES FROM EMERGING COUNTRIES: A MULTIMETHOD STUDY

ABSTRACT Purpose: This article investigates and classifies firm resources for the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from emerging countries. Originality/value: SMEs from emerging countries in global markets evidence their more restricted access to resources for internationalization. The mainstream international business literature classifies firm’s resources identified in large companies from developed economies. This research classifies firms’ internationalization resources located in different emerging countries based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and interviews. This paper contributes to the theoretical development about the internationalization of SMEs from emerging countries, indicating the importance of organizational resources in this process. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents an exploratory research developed in two stages: a SLR on emerging countries and interviews with experts, institutions, and SMEs about the Brazilian context. Bibliographic research and an interview with semi-structured script were adopted as data collection techniques. Interviews were analyzed with NVivo software using content analysis technique and providing categorization of resources. Findings: Up to 2016, 15 works mentioned resources for the internationalization of SMEs from emerging countries and seven were done in Asia. We identified 72 resources in ten emerging countries. Organizational resources predominate. The use of financial resources in Brazil contradicts the trend in other emerging countries. More tangible resources seem less strategic for SMEs’ internationalization from emerging countries when compared to more intangible resources, as organizational ones.

Arsenic contamination in widely consumed Caribbean sharpnose sharks in southeastern Brazil: Baseline data and concerns regarding fisheries resources

Although shark meat is consumed worldwide, elevated arsenic (As) concentrations have been increasingly reported. The Caribbean sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon porosus) is a widely consumed fishing resource in Brazil, with scarce information on As burdens to date. Herein, commercial-sized juvenile Caribbean sharpnose sharks from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) were assessed in this regard, presenting significantly higher hepatic As concentrations in males (8.24 ± 1.20 mg kg-1 wet weight; n = 12) compared to females (6.59 ± 1.87 mg kg-1 w.w.; n = 8), and a positive correlation (r = 0.74) was noted between female muscle and liver As concentrations, indicating systemic inter-tissue transport not evidenced in males. Arsenic concentrations were over the maximum permissible As limit established in Brazilian legislation for seafood and calculated Target Hazard Quotients suggest consumption risks, although cancer risks were not evidenced. Therefore, Public Health concerns with regard to Caribbean sharpnose shark As burdens deserve careful attention.

Climate Change, Public Insecurity and Law: Conflicts Over Water Resources in the Brazilian Context

The article examines to what extent the adverse effects of climate change can be considered triggering factors of public insecurity. Against this background, it explores the growing environmental conflicts involving water resources in Brazil, including the Amazon region. In addition to the introduction and conclusion, the paper is structured around three topics. The first one outlines how the concept of public security has evolved to the present state, in which climate change is taken into account. Next, climate change is discussed as a factor that magnifies vulnerabilities, an argument supported by a discussion of historical events. The third topic highlights the main threats, vulnerabilities and conflicts involving water resources in Brazil, taking a scientific view of systemic risks and precaution. Finally, we propose rethinking the concept of public security in Brazil from a perspective of parameters involving regulations, principles and state initiative. The article suggests that the immediate and future effects of climate change do have a profound impact on social systems and on the environment, and may be a triggering factor of public insecurity. If institutions and governments do not address existing effects, and invest in adaptations to meet future scientific forecasts on climate change, social stability and the development of a culture of peace will be less likely in Brazil. A fundamental step in this process is the reformulation of the conventional concept of public security in the Brazilian legislation, in order to expressly incorporate the variable of climate security among its stated objectives. In addition, we point out a set of actions and principles with the potentital to promote not only adaptation and resilience, but also contribute to building peace. In terms of methodology, the study is descriptive, exploratory, legislative, bibliographical and documentary.

LOCAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (LEK) ON THE MANGROVE CRAB Ucides cordatus (LINNAEUS, 1763): FISHERY PROFILE OF MANGROVE AREAS IN ITANHAÉM (SOUTHEAST BRAZIL)

The mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) is a relevant fishery resource in Brazil, whose capture, transportation, and processing are regulated by specific laws. Information obtained from traditional crabbing communities are of significant importance, although they remain unacknowledged by the population of the Itanhaém River Estuary (São Paulo, Southeast Brazil). The present study shows the ethnozoological aspects related to the capture of U. cordatus, mapping the activity and providing subsidies for better fishery management. Crab catchers were recruited using the Snowball sampling technique and were submitted to a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were assessed quali-quantitatively through the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) method and underwent statistical analysis when possible. The population of crab catchers was exceedingly small, comprising a remnant of “caiçara” fishermen, 78% of whom did not have a valid license, thus rendering their professional activity illegal. Most of the crab catchers (56%) use the tangle-netting technique, which is prohibited by law, including during the fishing season (60%). Around 77.4% of the traditional knowledge of these fishermen was confirmed in the literature, evidencing the great deal of wisdom that is passed on by more experienced crab catchers. Important gaps could be filled regarding the knowledge on this species, including the regularization of this artisanal form of fishery, requiring a review and new alternatives to be properly managed.

Origin and population structure of Brazilian hair sheep breeds.

Brazilian hair sheep constitute a genetic diversity hotspot. These animals are found in the harsh environments of the Brazilian Northwest (semi-arid) region. Genotypes (50K SNP chip) from seven Brazilian sheep breeds (five hair and two coarse wool types) and 87 worldwide breeds were used to test for population structure, admixture and genetic diversity. Moreover, phylogenetic trees evaluating migration events between genetic groups were built. Brazilian Somali, a fat-tailed breed, had a close relationship with East African breeds and clustered distinctly from other Brazilian breeds. Brazilian Blackbelly and Barbados Blackbelly had a close relationship. The Morada Nova breed did not show close relationships with European or African breeds, revealing a single migration event from an Algerian hair breed. Brazilian Fat-tail and Morada Nova share a common ancestor, but the former showed introgressions from Brazilian Somali and Afrikaner breeds, explaining the fat-tail phenotype. The Santa Inês breed received a substantial contribution from Brazilian Bergamasca and showed an admixed origin with recent introgressions from other breeds, mainly from Suffolk. Furthermore, Brazilian Somali and Brazilian Fat-tail are the most endangered sheep genetic resources in Brazil and should be the focus for ex situ conservation programs. In conclusion, Brazilian hair sheep show an African origin and are characterized by diverse genetic composition, reinforcing the need for conservation of these genetic resources, and at the same time, this highly diverse group has variability that can be used in breeding programs.

Political parties and campaign resource allocation: Gender gaps in Brazilian elections

Political parties shape electoral outcomes by determining who stands for election and what campaign resources they have at their disposal. The introduction of gender quotas have led party leaders to nominate more women candidates, however, those women disproportionately lose. We contend that one of the reasons that women routinely lose is because party elites withhold the campaign resources necessary to mount an effective campaign. In this paper, we test this resource gatekeeping argument using data on the provision of campaign resources in Brazil. We analyze the distribution of three different types of party resources: candidate identification numbers, financial support, and television airtime. Our findings show that party elites provide female candidates less advantageous candidate identification numbers, less financial support, and less media access than they provide male candidates. Importantly, we do not find that gender gaps in campaign contributions are attributable to differences in candidate quality. This finding suggests that even when women are recruited to run for office, party elites may still undermine their electoral prospects.

Regulation of gene expression associated with LC‐PUFA metabolism in juvenile tambaqui ( Colossoma macropomum ) fed different dietary oil sources

Given the ecological unsustainability of using fish oil (FO) as the main source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), the investigation of alternative dietary LC-PUFA sources is crucial for aquaculture. Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a valuable economic aquaculture resource in Brazil, capable of endogenously elongating and desaturating linoleic (LA; 18:2n-6) and α-linolenic (ALA; 18:3n-3) acids to longer and physiologically vital LC-PUFA. Yet, it is unclear how this pathway is regulated by different oil sources in tambaqui. Thus, we designed an experiment with 2 different oil diets (fish oil—FO and vegetable oil—VO) at 2 different concentrations (5% or 10%) to investigate the molecular regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis in this species. We observed no differences in survival, body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio between the treatments. Gene expression analysis shows that fads2 and elovl5 are up-regulated in liver, while fads2 and elovl2 are up-regulated in brain of tambaqui fed with VO. The transcription factors pparβb and pparγ are also up-regulated in the brain by VO diet, when compared to FO diet. The VO diet also contributed to the biosynthesis of LC-PUFA in liver and specifically DHA in the brain. Overall, our approach shows that lipid metabolism-relevant genes are regulated by different dietary lipid sources.

Charging for the use of hydromineral and geothermal resources in Brazil as an instrument of rational use of groundwater

Mineral groundwaters in Brazil are managed centrally by the Federal Union, while other water resources are managed regionally by hydrographic basin. The charging method varies according to the usage and the management system, generating an unbalanced charge on mineral water for bottled water. This study presents a comparison of the charging systems for groundwaters using data for a period of 8 years. The analysis evaluates the efficiency of royalty-based charging of mineral groundwaters against charging over consumption volume for non-mineral groundwaters, taking into account the scale of the producers and their locations. The findings show that the royalty-based system depends on market conditions such as demand, supply and the willingness of the user to pay for bottled water, whilst the volume-based charging system depends mostly on the resource availability and the capacity of the producers to save water. The results demonstrated that the royalty-based charging system favors the production of returnable bottles, with lower environmental impact, as the charge for large returnable bottles is approximately 7 times lower than for disposable bottles. The conclusion is that an integrated management system is required, so proper priorities can be established in the use of groundwaters to benefit the population and to minimize environmental impacts. The successful implementation of integrated management and charging systems are likely to require monitoring and control measures such as automated remote systems for monitoring water consumption, official inspections on consumption and audits on water-saving systems.

Integration of georeferenced and genetic data for the management of biodiversity in sheep genetic resources in Brazil.

There are few animal germplasm/gene bank collections in Brazil, and basic studies are needed to attend the future internal and external demands from international partners. The aim of this work was to validate a "proof of concept" that integrates spatial (georeferenced data) and genetic data regarding the local of origin from 3518 DNA samples from 17 different genetic groups or breeds of sheep in the Brazilian Germplasm bank. Spatialisation shows that not all genetic groups have samples in the bank, and collection is concentrated in the conservation nuclei spread nationwide. Only 21% of states with a specific breed have samples in the gene bank. The mean number of animals sampled per collection was 32, while the mean distance travelled to collect samples was 262km from the conservation nuclei. For example, the Brazilian Somali were only collected in the conservation nucleus in Ceará State. No samples were collected to date for the Cariri breed, which is recognised by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. Only two farms and one breed in the bank are from the northern region. Of the 27 states, there are samples in the gene bank of sheep from 13, so several states have no samples, requiring collection from herds outside the official system of conservation to make sure that studies using this germplasm realised are not biased. Significant genetic differences are seen above 332km, which should guide future sampling efforts. Suggestions are given for improving the quantity, quality and diversity of samples in the gene bank.

Analysis of Brazilian public policies which aim to support participatory construction of the National Plan for Soil and Water Sustainable Management

AbstractThis study analyzes relevant federal public policies for soil and water conservation in Brazil. The Federal Court of Auditors reported that the lack of a national policy for soil and water conservation in the Country poses a considerable risk of degradation of soil and water resources, despite the existence of legal instruments. This study aims to outline and build upon previous experiences related to the participatory formulation of the new Brazilian National Plan for Soil and Water Sustainable Management (NP). We selected seven current public policies at the federal level involving conservation of soil and water resources in rural areas. We carried out content analysis for each of the selected policies using a qualitative‐interpretive treatment, starting from six analytical axes proposed for the NP. The six axes are Legislation, Prevention, Conservation, Recovery, Monitoring, and Integration. Five keywords were identified for each axis. The analysis produced a score to measure the adherence of keywords in the public policies. This manuscript shows: (a) the importance of all the policies analyzed as significant contributions for the construction of the new NP; (b) the gaps of these policies regarding the six strategic axes provided by the NP; (c) how to turn strengths and gaps of the policies into recommendations and opportunities for a more robust NP. There is need for greater commitment of relevant stakeholders in the construction of the policy and in the decision‐making process to improve the sustainable management of soil and water resources in Brazil.