Acidovorax citruli: genetic analyses and protocol for its detection in seeds

Bacterial fruit blotch of cucurbits (BFB), caused by the seed borne Gramnegative bacterium Acidovorax citrulli is a serious threat to cucurbit industry worldwide. Since late 1980`s after devastating outbreaks in watermelon fields in southern United States, BFB has spread worldwide and has been reported in other cucurbit crops such as melon, pumpkin, cucumber and squash. To date, there is evidence for the existence of at least two genetically and pathogenically distinct populations of A. citrulli. In Brazil, the first report of BFB was in 1991, in a watermelon field in São Paulo. Although widespread in the country, BFB has been a major problem to melon production. More precisely, BFB has caused significant yield losses to melon production in northeastern Brazil, which concentrates > 90% of the country`s melon production. Despite the management efforts and the recent advances in A. citrulli research, BFB is still a continuous threat to the cucurbit industry, including seed producers, growers and transplant nurseries. To better understand the population structure of A. citrulli strains in Brazil, and to provide a basis for the integrated management of BFB, we used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of housekeeping and virulence-associated genes and pathogenicity tests on different cucurbit seedlings to characterize a Brazilian population of A. citrulli strains from different hosts and regions. Additionally, we conducted for the first time a comparative analysis of the A. citrulli group I and II population at genomic level and showed that these two groups differ on their genome sizes due to the presence of eight DNA segments, which are present in group II and absent in group I genomes. We also provide the first evidence to suggest that temperature might be a driver in the ecological adaptation of A. citrulli populations under nutrient-rich or -depleted conditions. Finally, in order to improve the routine detection of A. citrulli on melon seedlots, we designed a new primer set that is able to detect the different Brazilian haplotypes, thus minimizing the risk of false-negatives on PCR-based seed health testing.

report of the workshop on boosting SME development and competitiveness in the Caribbean

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, in collaboration with the Division of Production, Productivity and Management at ECLAC Headquarters in Chile, convened a one-day workshop on “Boosting SME Development and Competitiveness in the Caribbean”, at the Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean in Port of Spain on 14 May 2009. The workshop was the culmination of country studies that were carried out under an Italian Government-funded project to assess the policies, institutions and instruments for dynamic Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development and competitiveness in Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The aim was to use the lessons learned from the three country studies to inform policy and practice in the other member countries of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC). The main objectives of the workshop were to: (a) share and discuss the findings of the country studies and lessons learned; (b) provide a forum for high quality discussion of the policy environment, instruments, business development and support services required for successful SME development in the Caribbean; and (c) map out a strategy for moving from analysis and recommendation to policy implementation and business changes in order to promote a dynamic and competitive SME sector. The workshop aimed to arrive at practical solutions to major constraints and a weighting of key actions in order of priority of implementation, by adopting a problem-solving approach. Participants at the workshop included representatives of key SME support institutions in the region, actual SMEs and academic researchers. The list of participants and provisional programme are annexed to this report.

Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2016

The 2016 version of Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean is the most recent edition of an annual series published by the Unit on Investment and Corporate Strategies of the Division of Production, Productivity and Management of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Utilização de procedimentos multivariados na produtividade agrícola e climatica na região sudeste do Estado de Mato Grosso

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A produção enxuta em um sistema de fabricação contínuo: aplicação da simulação discreta estocástica na indústria de condutores elétricos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlações de Pearson e geoestatísticas entre a produtividade de cana-de-açúcar, estabelecida em dois métodos de colheita, e atributos físico-químicos do solo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sequenciamento de linhas de montagem múltiplas em ambiente de produção enxuta utilizando simulação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Contribuições da teoria das restrições para gestão da mudança

Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Produção - FEB

Arranjo fisico na montagem com fluxo continuo nas superficies de comando composto

Based on the fierce competitiveness of manufacturing companies and the planning problems arising from the lack of flexibility and forecasting demand, companies are increasingly looking to reflect on the most appropriate methods to manage its manufacture. Today it is possible to obtain higher gains and lower costs through very efficient tools, this paper uses action-research to model and implement the physical layout of a manufacturing cell, with strong theoretical basement returned to Lean Production System and acting systematically in flexibility in mounting. Through observation and joint action of the observer and staff can report problems that occurred during the phases of planning and implementation of improvements. With the improvement of the physical arrangement in the assembly was possible to obtain significant gains by reducing the production cycle, the manpower required, spending of non-compliance and increasing productivity, final product quality and health in the workplace

Por trás da qualidade: inter-relações das Relações Públicas e os sistemas de gestão de qualidade

This study examines some characteristics of the contemporary reality and its influence on the dynamics of the organizational activities, in particular, related to the quality management. Discusses capitalist logic of maximization of profits that has been sophisticated in face of new scenarios that arise with society evolution. It also proposes a reflection on the philosophies and formats of management that fits with the desire to meet the needs of society through the expansion of quality - now a reference for the production processes and management systems. The work highlights the relations between communication and quality, pointing them as fundamental to the use of fissures on the evolution of the capitalist system in developing programs, philosophies and management systems. The intention is to turn able ways to contemplate the needs and interests of the largest number of public and variables in a different relation than the usual, in which a few wins and many lose

Photostimulation of japanese quail

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Green product development and performance of Brazilian firms: measuring the role of human and technical aspects

The goal of this study is to present and test a conceptual framework that describes the technical aspects (TA), human/organizational aspects (HOA) of the adoption of green product development (GPD) practices and the effect of these practices on firms'environmental (EP), operational (OP) and market performance (MP). To this end, after reviewing the literature on these themes, a conceptual framework with 5 hypotheses is proposed. These hypotheses were tested on 62 Brazilian companies through structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 2.0M3. The main results of this study are as follows: (a) in general, the proposed framework obtained adequate goodness of fit statistics (GoF); (b) technological factors are shown to have an influence on the adoption of GPD practices, and those practices are related to company EP, OP and MP, thus confirming 4 hypotheses of the study; and (c) one of the study's hypotheses is not validated, indicating that the relationship of human/organizational aspects to GPD must be further analyzed. This work extends the literature because: (a) the conceptual framework tested in this study establishes several concepts that have been only partially tested in the previous literature; (b) this work presents evidence about Brazil, where the themes addressed herein have not been yet been thoroughly investigated; and (c) the non-validation of the hypothesis regarding the relationship between human/ organizational aspects with respect to the adoption of product-related environmental practices requires attention. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distribuição dos desembolsos do BNDES no setor sucroenergético no Brasil

The organization and dynamics of the energetic-sugarcane sector in Brazil have suffered the impacts of the “deregulation” process that took place in the 1990s, since when it is no longer monitored by the State. In this scenario, the agribusiness enterprises, in order to survive, act over production, marketing and management of their activities, among others areas, demanding financial investments. The credit lines offered by BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) are one of the factors that enable the implementation of these actions. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess the connections between BNDES's outlays for the sugarcane sector in Brazil from 2001 to 2008, and the activities of this sector, according to the federation unity and the region in the country. The work is based on: i) literature review and ii) secondary selected data collection aimed at the composition of data series. The organization and analysis of data indicates that the largest amount of money is destined to the south-central region, specifically the state of São Paulo. This is the only state that receives almost all types of financings, an equivalent to 68% of the receptions in the period. The concentration of BNDES's outlays in the south-central region may be linked to the dominance of the sector in this region, either in terms of harvested area, amount of production, employment contracts or number of enterprises.

Influência dos fatores organizacionais no sucesso de projetos no setor automotivo

Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Produção - FEB

Relações Públicas e o processo de análise de cenários

This paper, result of a bibliographic review, documentary research and interview with a professional of public relations area (PR), presents a scenario analysis tool and the way how the public relations professional can use it. Are pointed some abilities and strategic skills of this professional that can actually enable him to the prospection, building and analyze of scenarios, from the perspective of relationship with the organization publics. The scenario analysis tool is a strategic way to make some decisions, being used to the analysis of junctures, that can back up organizations' actions and activities, considering possible future results, in other words, the consequences and the developments caused by certain organization attitude or stance. On the end of this paper, we present a propose of strategic plan to Public Relations, using a suggested use for the tool