Vigilancia tecnológica de los tres principales productos agrícolas base de alimentación y cultivados en Brasil y Argentina

La seguridad agroalimentaria debe ser prioridad para los gobiernos de Brasil y Argentina, debido a que deben garantizar la producción y el abastecimiento de los alimentos básicos para las futuras generaciones, entendido como alimentos básicos aquellos que más se consumen, ya sea en su forma original o por medio de sus subproductos, estos productos son el trigo, el maíz y el arroz. El garantizar la producción y el abastecimiento de estos productos en el corto y largo plazo, implica entender cuáles de los procesos productivos aplicados en la realización de los productos base de alimentación no son compatibles con el medio ambiente, generando impactos negativos sobre este. Estos impactos ambientales generados a partir de la agricultura, son identificados como el uso excesivo de recursos naturales entre ellos el agua, así como su contaminación por agentes toxico como los agroquímicos y fertilizantes. Asimismo, el uso de estos agentes tóxicos, genera la infertilidad de los suelos afectando directamente la producción en el largo plazo. Entender los impactos ambientales, implica desarrollar estrategias transversales que le permitan a los garantizar un desarrollo sostenible a lo largo de todo el ciclo del producto; estas estrategias deben estar acompañadas por un rendimiento y eficiencia de los cultivos, de nada sirve implementar estrategias compatibles con el medio ambiente si no se cumple con el principal objetivo de la producción de estos producto, que es garantizar el abastecimiento y alimentación para las generaciones presentes y futuras.

Propuesta de mejoramiento del sistema de inventarios para Diageo Colombia en la categoría vinos

La gestión de inventarios es uno de los grandes retos que afrontan las empresas hoy en día, especialmente aquellas que manipulan productos con altas probabilidades de daños y averías, razón por la cual definir políticas o un sistema de gestión de inventarios garantizaría una perdurabilidad y sostenibilidad en el mercado más prolongada. Es por ello que el proyecto planteado a continuación desarrollado en la empresa Diageo, multinacional de consumo masivo del sector licores, está inscrito en la línea de investigación de Gerencia de la Universidad del Rosario. De esta manera, bajo el programa de Áreas funcionales para la dirección que cuenta con un enfoque en perdurabilidad empresarial, la línea de investigación en Gerencia busca generar conocimientos sobre finanzas, mercadeo, operaciones y gestión humana. Por lo anterior, partiendo de la premisa de que una empresa perdurable es aquella que “adecúa su manejo a la intensidad de las condiciones del entorno sectorial y las fuerzas del mercado” (Leal, Guerrero, Rojas, & Rivera, 2011), se hace necesario orientar los recursos y esfuerzos de la empresa hacia una nueva política de inventarios en el portafolio de vinos, de modo que al incrementar el nivel de servicio se afecten positivamente indicadores de rentabilidad y liquidez.

Elaboração do Plano de Classificação de fotografia para a divisão do Arquivo Municipal e Gestão Documental da Câmara Municipal de Sesimbra

Elaboração do plano de classificação do Arquivo Fotográfico da Divisão do Arquivo Municipal e Gestão Documental. Para a elaboração da morosa tarefa arquivística procedeu-se, primeiramente, à caracterização da estrutura orgânica e funcional do Arquivo Municipal de Sesimbra, quer no sistema de gestão documental, quer no plano de classificação do arquivo corrente. Atende-se, ainda, à classificação de clientes (quantificação e qualificação). Numa segundo fase, reconsideramos a fotografia como objeto direto da arquivística – a fotografia como documento de arquivo; a fotografia nos arquivos portugueses; as normas de classificação de fotografias, nacionais e internacionais e, finalmente, tomamos contato com as espécies fotográficas de Américo Ribeiro e Idaleciano Cabecinha, fotografias que representam aspetos singulares da vila piscatória de Sesimbra e suas gentes. Apresenta-se, no terminus desta investigação, o plano de classificação da Divisão do Arquivo Municipal e Gestão Documental. São descritos, por conseguinte, (i) objetivos, (ii) sistema e estrutura de classificação, (iii) descrição analítica codificada e, (iv) os elementos constitutivos do referido plano de classificação. Apresentamos, finalmente, um estudo arquivométrico de um dos acervos fotográficos – Fundo Doação Valdemar – do fotógrafo Idaleciano Cabecinha. Determinamos, assim, quais os temas e subtemas mais representativos da estética mimética de Cabecinha.

Planeamento estratégico de sistemas de informação em empresa de construção

Os Sistemas de Informação têm influenciado a vida quotidiana a um ritmo inesperado e com mudanças significativas na setor da construção, cuja importância é crucial para a economia de qualquer país. Sendo Angola, um país de economia emergente, caracterizado por um mercado em expansão e reestruturação, onde as decisões de Sistema Informação ainda são tomadas de forma isolada, e cada vez mais investidores estão a atuar no país, impulsionando o crescimento, é imperioso para o sector a identificação e exploração de Sistemas de Informação flexíveis e adaptáveis para fazer face as forças competitivas do setor. Partindo desta envolvente a presente dissertação visa ressaltar o reconhecimento da importância do Planeamento Estratégico de Sistemas de Informação-PESI para as organizações atuais. Neste contexto realizou-se o estudo de PESI em torno de um caso concreto numa Pequena Media Empresa, Angolana, a Terponte,SA, cujo objectivo é fornecer a construtora um plano em termos de SI para futuro. Os dados foram recolhidos através da utilização dos métodos qualitativos e quantitativos, sendo os mais pertinentes a análise documental, observação direta, entrevistas, questionários aos órgãos da empresa em estudo e demais intuições. A análise dos dados demonstrou uma deficiente gestão da informação, bem como inexistência de integração aplicacional. A presente dissertação pretende contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento científico no domínio do Planeamento Estratégico dos Sistemas de Informação e para a resolução de problemas específicos nomeadamente nas empresas do setor da construção civil.

The UK-Canada Agreement on mutual support of missions abroad: loyalty compromised? CEPS Commentary, 18 October 2012

The UK and Canada recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at allowing the two countries to optimise their respective diplomatic resources by sharing embassy and consulate sites, the joint acquisition, supply and use of services, as well as collaboration on crisis response, consular services, security, diplomatic mail, information management and IT. This CEPS Commentary argues that the MoU on Mutual Support of Missions Abroad runs counter to the spirit of loyal cooperation, in particular in the realm of EU foreign policy. It also raises challenges to coherence, consistency and effectiveness of EU action in policy areas concerning visas, trade and consular protection. Moreover, the agreement may throw a spanner in the works of EU solidarity and the creation of a stronger EU identity, both internally and externally

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) Territory Placement Near Seismic Lines is Influenced by Forest Regeneration and Conspecific Density

The boreal forest of western Canada is being dissected by seismic lines used for oil and gas exploration. The vast amount of edge being created is leading to concerns that core habitat will be reduced for forest interior species for extended periods of time. The Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) is a boreal songbird known to be sensitive to newly created seismic lines because it does not include newly cut lines within its territory. We examined multiple hypotheses to explain potential mechanisms causing this behavior by mapping Ovenbird territories near lines with varying states of vegetation regeneration. The best model to explain line exclusion behavior included the number of neighboring conspecifics, the amount of bare ground, leaf-litter depth, and canopy closure. Ovenbirds exclude recently cut seismic lines from their territories because of lack of protective cover (lower tree and shrub cover) and because of reduced food resources due to large areas of bare ground. Food reduction and perceived predation risk effects seem to be mitigated once leaf litter (depth and extent of cover) and woody vegetation cover are restored to forest interior levels. However, as conspecific density increases, lines are more likely to be used as landmarks to demarcate territorial boundaries, even when woody vegetation cover and leaf litter are restored. This behavior can reduce territory density near seismic lines by changing the spatial distribution of territories. Landmark effects are longer lasting than the effects from reduced food or perceived predation risk because canopy height and tree density take >40 years to recover to forest interior levels. Mitigation of seismic line impacts on Ovenbirds should focus on restoring forest cover as quickly as possible after line cutting.

Palaeohydrology of the Fazzan Basin and surrounding regions: The last 7 million years

We have integrated information on topography, geology and geomorphology with the results of targeted fieldwork in order to develop a chronology for the development of Lake Megafazzan, a giant lake that has periodically existed in the Fazzan Basin since the late Miocene. The development of the basin can be best understood by considering the main geological and geomorphological events that occurred thought Libya during this period and thus an overview of the palaeohydrology of all Libya is also presented. The origin of the Fazzan Basin appears to lie in the Late Miocene. At this time Libya was dominated by two large rivers systems that flowed into the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahabi River draining central and eastern Libya and the Wadi Nashu River draining much of western Libya. As the Miocene progressed the region become increasingly affected by volcanic activity on its northern and eastern margin that appears to have blocked the River Nashu in Late Miocene or early Messinian times forming a sizeable closed basin in the Fazzan within which proto-Lake Megafazzan would have developed during humid periods. The fall in base level associated with the Messinian desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea promoted down-cutting and extension of river systems throughout much of Libya. To the south of the proto Fazzan Basin the Sahabi River tributary know as Wadi Barjuj appears to have expanded its headwaters westwards. The channel now terminates at Al Haruj al Aswad. We interpret this as a suggestion that Wadi Barjuj was blocked by the progressive development of Al Haruj al Aswad. K/Ar dating of lava flows suggests that this occurred between 4 and 2 Ma. This event would have increased the size of the closed basin in the Fazzan by about half, producing a catchment close to its current size (-350,000 km(2)). The Fazzan Basin contains a wealth of Pleistocene to recent palaeolake sediment outcrops and shorelines. Dating of these features demonstrates evidence of lacustrine conditions during numerous interglacials spanning a period greater than 420 ka. The middle to late Pleistocene interglacials were humid enough to produce a giant lake of about 135,000 km(2) that we have called Lake Megafazzan. Later lake phases were smaller, the interglacials less humid, developing lakes of a few thousand square kilometres. In parallel with these palaeohydrological developments in the Fazzan Basin, change was occurring in other parts of Libya. The Lower Pliocene sea level rise caused sediments to infill much of the Messinian channel system. As this was occurring, subsidence in the Al Kufrah Basin caused expansion of the Al Kufrah River system at the expense of the River Sahabi. By the Pleistocene, the Al Kufrah River dominated the palaeohydrology of eastern Libya and had developed a very large inland delta in its northern reaches that exhibited a complex distributary channel network which at times fed substantial lakes in the Sirt Basin. At this time Libya was a veritable lake district during humid periods with about 10% of the country underwater. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The roles of olfaction and vision in host-plant finding by the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

The relative roles of olfaction and vision in the crepuscular host-finding process of a major lepidopteran pest of cruciferous crops, the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella are investigated in a series of laboratory and semi-field experiments. Flying female moths use volatile plant chemical cues to locate and to promote landing on their host, even in complex mixed-crop environments in large cages. Multiple regression analysis shows that both the plant position (front, middle or back rows) and the type of plant (host plant, nonhost plant) are needed to explain the distribution of insects in such a mixed-crop situation. This strong plant position effect indicates that, when host plants are present in a mixture, foraging P. xylostella are more likely to alight on the first row of the plants. The findings are discussed with regard to current theories of host-plant location by phytophagous insects and the possible implications for integrated pest management.

Establishment of a Cross-European Field Site Network in the ALARM Project for Assessing Large-Scale Changes in Biodiversity

The field site network (FSN) plays a central role in conducting joint research within all Assessing Large-scale Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods (ALARM) modules and provides a mechanism for integrating research on different topics in ALARM on the same site for measuring multiple impacts on biodiversity. The network covers most European climates and biogeographic regions, from Mediterranean through central European and boreal to subarctic. The project links databases with the European-wide field site network FSN, including geographic information system (GIS)-based information to characterise the test location for ALARM researchers for joint on-site research. Maps are provided in a standardised way and merged with other site-specific information. The application of GIS for these field sites and the information management promotes the use of the FSN for research and to disseminate the results. We conclude that ALARM FSN sites together with other research sites in Europe jointly could be used as a future backbone for research proposals