Rules of origin: new implications

Includes bibliography

The influence of capital origin on Brazilian foreign trade patterns

Includes bibliography

From cytoplasm to environment: The inorganic ingredients for the origin of life

Early in its history, Earth's surface developed from an uninhabitable magma ocean to a place where life could emerge. The first organisms, lacking ion transporters, fixed the composition of their cradle environment in their intracellular fluid. Later, though life adapted and spread, it preserved some qualities of its initial environment within. Modern prokaryotes could thus provide insights into the conditions of early Earth and the requirements for the emergence of life. In this work, we constrain Earth's life-forming environment through detailed analysis of prokaryotic intracellular fluid. Rigorous assessment of the constraints placed on the early Earth environment by intracellular liquid will provide insight into the conditions of abiogenesis, with implications not only for our understanding of early Earth but also the formation of life elsewhere in the Universe. Copyright © 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2013.

The origin and magnitude of the recessionary adjustment in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Mining development and the origin of capital

Includes bibliography

Origin and impact of the oldest metazoan bioclastic sediments

The emergence of soft-bodied metazoans and the radiation of the earliest skeletal organisms substantially changed the ecological dynamics of Ediacaran environments, leading to the genesis of biogenic hard-part deposits for the fi rst time in Earth's history. The impact of bioclast origin on sedimentary processes is analyzed herein, focusing on the sedimentology and taphonomy of shell concentrations dominated by the Ediacaran index fossil Cloudina from the Itapucumí Group, Paraguay. Skeletal concentrations include both dense accumulations of parautochthonous, disarticulated specimens (Type 1 deposits) and in situ specimens preserved as loosely packed assemblages (Type 2 deposits). At that time, Cloudina was the critical source of durable biomineralized hard parts in an environment nearly free of other bioclasts. The simple fabric and geometry of these accumulations are typical of Cambrian-style shell beds. Despite their Precambrian age, these deposits indicate that the establishment of the Phanerozoic style of marine substrates and preservation in early shell beds was determined more by the acquisition of hard parts than by environmental changes. © 2013 Geological Society of America.

No changes in seedling recruitment when terrestrial mammals are excluded in a partially defaunated Atlantic rainforest

One of the most intriguing questions in ecology is how to identify which and how many species will be able to inhabit human-modified landscapes. Large-bodied mammals structure plant communities by trampling, herbivory, seed dispersal and predation, and their local extinction may have pervasive consequences in plant communities due to the breakdown of key interactions. Although much attention has been given to understanding the effects of defaunation on plant communities, information on the potential impacts on plant functional groups (seed dispersal, seed size and seedling leaves defense) inhabiting continuous forests after defaunation is scarce. We conducted mammal surveys (line transects and camera trapping) to determine the defaunation status of a continuous Atlantic forest in Brazil. Then, we evaluated the effects of defaunation on seedling diversity, richness and abundance of functional groups using 15 plot-pairs (each pair with one open and one exclusion plot) monitored over 36. months. We found that the studied area is partially defaunated because it exhibits high abundance of primates, while terrestrial mammals, such as large rodents and ungulates, are rare. We found no significant changes in either seedling richness and diversity or in the seedling composition of plant functional groups in response to mammal exclosure. Seedling mortality and recruitment were similar between plot types. Our findings suggest that at semi-defaunated areas, where arboreal species are still present, terrestrial mammals have low impacts on the plant community reassembly. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Sustainable production of biologically active molecules of marine based origin

The marine environment offers both economic and scientific potential which are relatively untapped from a biotechnological point of view. These environments whilst harsh are ironically fragile and dependent on a harmonious life form balance. Exploitation of natural resources by exhaustive wild harvesting has obvious negative environmental consequences. From a European industry perspective marine organisms are a largely underutilised resource. This is not due to lack of interest but due to a lack of choice the industry faces for cost competitive, sustainable and environmentally conscientious product alternatives. Knowledge of the biotechnological potential of marine organisms together with the development of sustainable systems for their cultivation, processing and utilisation are essential. In 2010, the European Commission recognised this need and funded a collaborative RTD/SME project under the Framework 7-Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) Theme 2 Programme 'Sustainable culture of marine microorganisms, algae and/or invertebrates for high value added products'. The scope of that project entitled 'Sustainable Production of Biologically Active Molecules of Marine Based Origin' (BAMMBO) is outlined. Although the Union is a global leader in many technologies, it faces increasing competition from traditional rivals and emerging economies alike and must therefore improve its innovation performance. For this reason innovation is placed at the heart of a European Horizon 2020 Strategy wherein the challenge is to connect economic performance to eco performance. This article provides a synopsis of the research activities of the BAMMBO project as they fit within the wider scope of sustainable environmentally conscientious marine resource exploitation for high-value biomolecules. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Origin, fate and effects of oil pollution in the marine environment

Includes bibliography

Verification of Certificates of Origin in Economic Integration Agreements Signed by Latin American Countries

As explained in issue No. 236 of the FAL Bulletin in April 2006, the origin procedures in economic integration agreements (EIAs) signed by Latin American countries pertain to the issuance of certificates of origin and to the verification of origin when a product is imported. While that issue focused exclusively on the issuance of certificates of origin, the present edition concludes the cycle by dealing with the verification of that origin. Both subjects are related to the document entitled "Emisión y verificación de origen en acuerdos de integración económica suscritos por países de América Latina: debilidades y fortalezas".

Rules of origin in economic integration agreements signed by countries belonging to the Latin American Integration Association

This article refers to rules of origin included in the main Economic Integration Agreements signed by members of the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA). Issues relating to trade facilitation and reduction of transaction costs of international trade in goods are also discussed.The author is on the staff of the International Trade and Integration Division of ECLAC.

Rules of origin and trade facilitation

The contents of this article complement those of the recently published FAL Bulletin No. 201, which referred to the rules of origin included in economic integration agreements signed by members of the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA). On this occasion the relationship between rules of origin and facilitation of international trade in goods is examined. The contents of both this issue and of FAL Bulletin No. 201 have been taken from a more extensive document written by the same author, which is publication No. 28 of the ECLAC Comercio Internacional Series, Normas de origen y procedimientos para su administración en América Latina, of May 2003.

Issuing of certificates of origin in some economic integration agreements signed by Latin American countries

In the context of an economic integration agreement (EIA), the issuing and verification of certificates of origin are carried out in accordance with procedures which ensure compliance with the rules of origin. Each EIA has its own system of rules of origin with their corresponding procedures. The purpose of the rules is to define clearly the geographical provenance of a good which may benefit from preferential tariffs in the importing country. The main purpose of the rules of origin is to avoid the diversion of trade, so that preferential tariff treatment is applied only to those products negotiated between the parties. The rules of origin of an EIA are more important than the actual process of tariff reduction, as that process is concluded at some point in time, whereas the rules of origin remain applicable indefinitely.

Verification of Certificates of Origin in Chile

Origin procedures concern both the issuance and verification of certificates of origin. Certification of origin consists of demonstrating that a product complies with standards of origin that qualify a good for access to the corresponding tariff preferences in a destination market, and that no triangulation has occurred in this process. Verification of origin means not only formally checking the validity of the certificate of origin, but also ensuring that the merchandise covered by the certificate genuinely qualifies as originating. All trade agreements carry rules on origin procedures, which continue to apply after the corresponding tariff reduction programmes have concluded.  This edition of the bulletin examines the case of Chile, because of the large number of trade agreements the country has signed.