Bárbara Françoise Cardoso

Using long-term data to predict fish abundance: the case of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae) in the intensely regulated upper Paraná River

in the upper Parana River floodplain, Brazil, over a 19-year period. Panel data analysis was applied to examine the structure of temporal and spatial abundance while controlling auto-regressive processes and spatial non-homogeneity variances that often obscure relationships. As sources of population variation, we considered predation, competition, selected abiotic variables, construction of a dam upstream of the study area, water level and flood intensity during the spawning period. We found that biological interactions (predation and competition) were not significantly related to variations in curimba abundance; specific conductance was a space indicator of abundance, apparently linked to the biology of the species; intensity of floods determined inter-annual variation in abundances; Porto Primavera Dam negatively impacted the abundances at sites in the floodplain directly affected by discharges from the dam. Panel data analysis was a powerful tool that identified the need for intense flooding to maintain high abundances of curimba in the upper Parana River. We believe our results apply to other species with similar life strategy.

A Comparison Between Ethanol and Biodiesel Production: The Brazilian and European Experiences

Industrialized countries’ dependence on fossil fuels has been distressing for a long time for countries that do not have self-sufficiency, whether for environmental, economic, geopolitical, or other reasons. In this context, it is understood that the burning of fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) increasing the risk of intensifying climatic disturbances that can deteriorate the processes of production, consumption, and welfare in the world. Therefore, the development of alternative energy sources can provide solutions for the gaps, since reducing exposure to the vulnerability of supply and price volatility, environmental issues, and even the development of new investment opportunities in these countries. This is due to the possibility of developing innovations in the production and processing industry, which would contribute to the economic activity. Thus, increasing the use of bioenergy is one of the existing ways to reconcile the need to expand the supply of energy with the slowdown in global warming, i.e., the most important and disseminated use would be the biomass power generated by the consumption of biofuels, once it reduces GGE emissions.

What is behind the Italian coffee import? Investigating the most relevant dynamics

After the US and Germany, Italy is the third world’s largest importer of green coffee, above all from Brazil, Vietnam and India, being also the second roasted coffee producer, exporter and consumer in EU, after Germany. Given the importance of coffee import in Italy, this paper applies the gravity model to investigate the influence of the main variables affecting the Italian coffee import. In particular, the aim of this paper is to identify the most influent factors determining the level of import flows between Italy and its 11 main coffee export partners. Our results show that the exporters’ GDP, their coffee production, the distance between the Italian capital town and those of the other partners, and finally the continental territorial boundary affect the Italian coffee import, as well as the tradition to drink coffee and the consumers’ demand for quality.

Comparing Italian and Brazilian consumers’ attitudes towards Short Food Supply Chains

According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, this work investigates consumers’ attitudes towards the intention to buy local food in Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs), carrying out a survey among university students in Italy and Brazil. Results show that sustainability and food safety mostly influence consumers’ behavior in both countries. However, the main differences emerged are related to the fact that Italian consumers recognized the SFSCs as a catalyst for new employment opportunities and local development, whereas the role of short chains on life quality and wellbeing is stressed by Brazilian ones.

Input-Output Analysis for agricultural and livestock sector in the Brazilian economy

This paper aims at assessing the behaviour’s evolution in the agricultural and livestock sectors in the Brazilian economy by domestic input-output matrix for 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2009. These matrices were used to calculate the forward and backward linkages indices as well as the production, employment and income generators, enabling the analysis of the relationship among the agricultural and livestock sector and other sectors. The results showed that the agricultural and livestock sector is gaining importance in the Brazilian economy, especially as input for other sectors. Furthermore, the production, employment and income generators corroborated the importance of this sector, especially the employment generator, which depicts that this sector is the major employment generator among the sectors.

Produção, Tratamento e Uso dos Dejetos Suínos no Brasil

O objetivo deste artigo e descrever os principais problemas ambientais que podem ser causados pelos dejetos suinos e as principais formas de tratamento destes dejetos, destacando as mais utilizadas no Brasil. A metodologia baseia-se na pesquisa bibliografica, sendo utilizados publicacoes, livros e monografias, bem como sites especializados. A pesquisa evidenciou que a contaminacao dos lencois freaticos e o principal problema ambiental causado pelo manejo inadequado dos dejetos suinos e que existem seis principais tipos de processos de tratamento destes dejetos no Brasil, quais sejam: lagoas de decantacao, esterqueiras, bioesterqueiras, biodigestores, compostagem e cama sobreposta. Todos estes tipos de tratamento buscam minimizar os impactos ambientais causados pelos dejetos, nao possuindo ordem de importância entre eles, uma vez que a escolha do processo se da pela quantidade de dejetos produzida, principalmente. No Brasil prevalece o uso de esterqueiras e lagoas de decantacao, contudo entre as propriedades integradas a grandes empresas do ramo alimenticio, destaca-se o uso de biodigestores. A compostagem e a cama sobreposta sao alternativas de tratamento menos utilizadas por serem de recente implantacao no Brasil.

Fatores determinantes do comportamento do consumidor em relação aos restaurantes vegetarianos e perspectiva de um restaurante indiano em Cascavel/PR

This paper aims to assess the consumer’s satisfaction with the existing vegetarian restaurants in the Cascavel city and the consumer’s behavior related to the insertion of an Indian restaurant in the city. In this sense, we analyze the strengths and weaknesses, the opportunities and threats in the context of vegetarian restaurants in Cascavel. To this end, a questionnaire was formulated, in which the application occurred randomly in vegetarian restaurants and on the streets. The results showed that the consumer from Cascavel is satisfied with the service of vegetarian restaurants in the city, with approval of 90% of respondents. With regard to consumer’s behavior in relation to the insertion of an Indian restaurant in the city, 66% of respondents were willing to meet Indian food; and 44% would be willing to pay between R

The Italian coffee import: a gravity model analysis

10.00 and R

Responsabilidade social empresarial da agroindústria canavieira e desenvolvimento local: estudo de caso em Umuarama/PR

15.00 for lunch and 47% would be willing to pay between R

The Growth and Development of the Municipalities of Microregion of Marechal Cândido Rondon in Paraná

25.00 and R