The Brexit game: uncertainty and location decision

This paper aims to analyse firms' location decisions when faced with Brexit. We combine evolutionary game theory and spatial agent-based simulation approaches with input–output analysis to evaluate two different sectors: (i) crop and animal production; (ii) financial service activities. We separate the European Union in manifold regions and consider the following factors in the decision making: (i) market potential; (ii) productive integration; (iii) labour costs and (iv) displacement cost. Firms assign weights to each of these factors. Our results suggest that in traditional sectors firms tend to seek unsaturated markets. In sectors related to services, the greater the uncertainty, the greater the likelihood that firms will move.     

Microbiological quality of organic and conventional vegetables sold in Brazil

While searching for healthier diets, people became more attentive to organic produce. Yet, organic foods may be more susceptible to microbiological contamination because of the use of organic fertilizers, a possible source of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, 130 samples of different organic and conventional vegetable varieties sold in Brazil were analyzed for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, total coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Most of the mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts in organic and conventional vegetables ranged from 6 to 7 log10 CFU/g; most of the yeasts and molds counts ranged from 5 to 6 log10 CFU/g and most of the total coliforms counts ranged from 4 to 5 log10 CFU/g. E. coli was found in 41.5% of the organic and 40.0% of the conventional vegetables, and most samples had counts ranging from 1 to 2 log10 CFU/g. Salmonella spp. was not found in any sample. Comparative analyses of the microbial counts of organic and conventional vegetables showed that some organic varieties have greater counts. However, the global results show that this is not a trend. These results indicate the need of good farming practices, and proper sanitization before consumption, to ensure food quality and safety.     

Timed artificial insemination programs during the summer in lactating dairy cows: Comparison of the 5-d Cosynch protocol with an estrogen/progesterone-based protocol

The objective of this study was to compare a GnRH-based to an estrogen/progesterone (E2/P4)-based protocol for estrous cycle synchronization and fixed timed artificial insemination (TAI), both designed for synchronization of ovulation and to reduce the period from follicular emergence until ovulation in cows with a synchronized follicular wave. A total of 1,190 lactating Holstein cows (primiparous: n = 685 and multiparous: n = 505) yielding 26.5 ± 0.30 kg of milk/d at 177 ± 5.02 d in milk were randomly assigned to receive one of the following programs: 5-d Cosynch protocol [d −8: controlled internal drug release (CIDR) + GnRH; d −3: CIDR removal + PGF_2α; d −2: PGF_2α; d 0: TAI + GnRH] or E2/P4 protocol (d −10: CIDR + estradiol benzoate; d −3: PGF_2α; d −2: CIDR removal + estradiol cypionate; d 0: TAI). Rectal temperature and circulating progesterone (P4) were measured on d −3, −2, 0 (TAI), and 7. The estrous cycle was considered to be synchronized when P4 was ≥1.0 ng/mL on d 7 in cows that had luteolysis (P4 ≤0.4 ng/mL on d 0). To evaluate the effects of heat stress, cows were classified by number of heat stress events: 0, 1, and 2-or-more measurements of elevated body temperature (≥39.1°C). Pregnancy success (pregnancy per artificial insemination, P/AI) was determined at d 32 and 60 after TAI. The cows in the 5-d Cosynch protocol had increased circulating P4 at the time of PGF_2α injection (2.66 ± 0.13 vs. 1.66 ± 0.13 ng/mL). The cows in the E2/P4 protocol were more likely to be detected in estrus (62.8 vs. 43.4%) compared with the cows in the 5-d Cosynch protocol, and expression of estrus improved P/AI in both treatments. The cows in the 5-d Cosynch protocol had greater percentage of synchronized estrous cycle (78.2%), compared with cows in the E2/P4 protocol (70.7%). On d 60, the E2/P4 protocol tended to improve P/AI (20.7 vs. 16.7%) and reduced pregnancy loss from 32 to 60 d (11.0 vs. 19.6%), compared with the 5-d Cosynch protocol. In cows withtheir estrous cycle synchronized, the E2/P4 protocol had greater P/AI (25.6 vs. 17.7%) on d 60 and lower pregnancy loss from 32 to 60 d (6.7 vs. 21.7%) compared with cows in the 5-d Cosynch protocol. Follicle diameter affected pregnancy loss from 32 to 60 d only in the cows in the 5-d Cosynch protocol, with smaller follicles resulting in greater pregnancy loss. Pregnancy per AI at d 60 was different between protocols in the cows with 2 or more measurements of heat stress (5-d Cosynch = 12.2% vs. E2/P4 = 22.8%), but not in the cows without or with 1 heat stress measurement. In conclusion, the 5-d Cosynch protocol apparently produced better estrous cycle synchronization than the E2/P4 protocol but did not improve P/AI. The potential explanation for these results is that increased E2 concentrations during the periovulatory period can improve pregnancy success and pregnancy maintenance, and this effect appears to be greatest in heat-stressed cows when circulating E2 may be reduced.     

Determination of ecological efficiency in internal combustion engines: The use of biodiesel

This paper evaluates and quantifies the environmental impact from the use of some renewable fuels and fossils fuels in internal combustion engines. The following fuels are evaluated: gasoline blended with anhydrous ethyl alcohol (anhydrous ethanol), conventional diesel fuel, biodiesel in pure form and blended with diesel fuel, and natural gas. For the case of biodiesel, its complete life cycle and the closed carbon cycle (photosynthesis) were considered. The ecological efficiency concept depends on the environmental impact caused by CO₂, SO₂, NO_x and particulate material (PM) emissions. The exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, in the case of the gasoline (blended with alcohol), biodiesel and biodiesel blended with conventional diesel, are the less polluting; on the other hand, the most polluting are those related to conventional diesel. They can cause serious problems to the environment because of their dangerous components for the human, animal and vegetable life. The resultant pollution of each one of the mentioned fuels are analyzed, considering separately CO₂, SO₂, NO_x and particulate material (PM) emissions. As conclusion, it is possible to calculate an environmental factor that represents, qualitatively and quantitative, the emissions in internal combustion engines that are mostly used in urban transport. Biodiesel in pure form (B100) and blended with conventional diesel as fuel for engines pollute less than conventional diesel fuel. The ecological efficiency for pure biodiesel (B100) is 86.75%; for biodiesel blended with conventional diesel fuel (B20, 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel), it is 78.79%. Finally, the ecological efficiency for conventional diesel, when used in engines, is 77.34%; for gasoline, it is 82.52%, and for natural gas, it is 91.95%. All these figures considered a thermal efficiency of 30% for the internal combustion engine.     

Characterization of expanded polystyrene and its composites by supercritical carbon dioxide foaming approach

Journal of Porous Materials - Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) has been used as a physical blowing agent to produce polymer expanded materials. Firstly, a statistic study was performed to...     

Titanium composite materials for transportation applications

Discontinuously reinforced titanium alloys containing in-situ formed TiB needles are emerging as candidate materials for advanced applications. This new family of titanium composites presents technical advantages, and it can be less expensive and easily amenable for net-shape manufacturing relative to titanium metal-matrix composites developed to date. The production of a master compound by a novel and cost-effective process called self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) has been studied. This master compound could be subsequently used in an investment casting process to obtain TiB-reinforced net-shape titanium-matrix composites. The SHS technique and its features were investigated in depth before a suitable master compound was defined and produced. Cast samples obtained from the addition of the master compound have been produced and the most important issues concerning the processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties are highlighted in this paper.     

A new CITEL fosters telecommunications in the Americas

The Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) is an entity of the Organization of American States (OAS). Prior to 1993, CITEL was a series of conferences that existed in various forms over the years since 1889. The CITEL Assembly in 1993 organized CITEL into four permanent committees: a Permanent Executive Committee (COM/CITEL) and three Permanent Consultative Committees (PCCs) to carry out the work program of the Commission. There are a number of factors regarding the organization and operation of CITEL that are rather obvious. Probably the most important of these is the fact that CITEL must confront the future in partnership with the private sector in order to position itself to be of assistance to member states. With the increased participation of the private sector, it is anticipated that the scope of activities CITEL will be addressing in the future will also broaden. This is already taking place, especially in support of the establishment of a free trade zone in the Americas. One obvious step in this direction would be the expansion of the standards coordination activities into the area of information technology standards, which not only supports the trade negotiations but also the implementation of the global information infrastructure