Public policies for enhancing diffusion of technology: a network analysis for a dairy farmer community in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The objective of this study is to apply Social Network Analysis (SNA) approach to improve the understanding of how to shape effective information diffusion policies among small-scale dairy farmers in rural communities of Brazil, for whom milk production is an important source of income. We interviewed 24 dairy farmers representing all participants of a dairy farmer association in a small-scale production community in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two sociograms were built by means of an adjacency matrix representing the two internal networks, friendship (F) and advising (A). The beta-centrality and betweenness centrality measures were calculated to identify central farmers and correlate with efficiency indicators in each network (F and A) using a quadratic assignment procedure (QAP). The two internal networks structures and individual thresholds of adoption were represented in an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the spread of the information among farmers. Our simulations indicate that the assortativity degree of social networks affects the information diffusion among farmers, highlighting the importance of opinion leaders versus convincing a critical mass to implement innovation strategies. Our analysis suggests that vertical policies focused on local opinion leaders will be more effective for enhancing the adoption of techniques that involve investments in private goods such as the adoption of artificial insemination, whereas horizontal policies, such as broadcasting information, will be more effective in encouraging investments in public and semi-public goods, such as the purchase of community cooling tanks and techniques for enhancing milk quality.(AU)

Structural Attributes Dynamics of the Brazilian Broiler Production Chain

ABSTRACT Brazil is one of the worlds largest broiler meat exporters. Broiler meat is one of the most consumed meats worldwide. The most significant challenge for strategic business management when optimizing the financial returnis knowing exactly where to invest. The same happens in the broiler production chain. The present research aimed to investigate which were the most central actors in the broiler supply chain and the dynamics of the chain. The current study was done based on the poultry chain business relations, from 2000 to 2015, of the leading actors of the Brazilian broiler production chain. The centrality indicator was established through social network analysis (SNA) approach, to determine their positions in the chain as a whole. The most used indicators within network analysis are those designed to identify the extent to which one actor occupies a more central position than another. The Gephi® software was applied to calculate the structural attributes and indicators of the network. Results were estimated using the RapidMiner® software. A model was presented that shows one infrastructure indicator as an explanatory variable. The findings indicate that the centrality indicator was weakly influenced when compared to the other variables, such as market demand, wide variations on the scenario, and mergers or acquisitions.

Structural Attributes Dynamics of the Brazilian Broiler Production Chain

Brazil is one of the worlds largest broiler meat exporters. Broiler meat is one of the most consumed meats worldwide. The most significant challenge for strategic business management when optimizing the financial returnis knowing exactly where to invest. The same happens in the broiler production chain. The present research aimed to investigate which were the most central actors in the broiler supply chain and the dynamics of the chain. The current study was done based on the poultry chain business relations, from 2000 to 2015, of the leading actors of the Brazilian broiler production chain. The centrality indicator was established through social network analysis (SNA) approach, to determine their positions in the chain as a whole. The most used indicators within network analysis are those designed to identify the extent to which one actor occupies a more central position than another. The Gephi® software was applied to calculate the structural attributes and indicators of the network. Results were estimated using the RapidMiner® software. A model was presented that shows one infrastructure indicator as an explanatory variable. The findings indicate that the centrality indicator was weakly influenced when compared to the other variables, such as market demand, wide variations on the scenario, and mergers or acquisitions.(AU)

Structural Attributes Dynamics of the Brazilian Broiler Production Chain

Brazil is one of the worlds largest broiler meat exporters. Broiler meat is one of the most consumed meats worldwide. The most significant challenge for strategic business management when optimizing the financial returnis knowing exactly where to invest. The same happens in the broiler production chain. The present research aimed to investigate which were the most central actors in the broiler supply chain and the dynamics of the chain. The current study was done based on the poultry chain business relations, from 2000 to 2015, of the leading actors of the Brazilian broiler production chain. The centrality indicator was established through social network analysis (SNA) approach, to determine their positions in the chain as a whole. The most used indicators within network analysis are those designed to identify the extent to which one actor occupies a more central position than another. The Gephi® software was applied to calculate the structural attributes and indicators of the network. Results were estimated using the RapidMiner® software. A model was presented that shows one infrastructure indicator as an explanatory variable. The findings indicate that the centrality indicator was weakly influenced when compared to the other variables, such as market demand, wide variations on the scenario, and mergers or acquisitions.

Brazilian chicken meat production chain: a 10-year overview

Brazil is the world's largest broiler meat exporter. Health control, knowledge and technology, as well as the natural aspects of the country are pointed out as the keys for the success of that product in the market. Brazilian broiler production grew significantly in the last decade; it creates jobs and has a significant social role in Brazilian economy. This study aimed at evaluating the Brazilian broiler meat supply chain from 2000 to 2010 using the social network analysis (SNA). Data from governmental and private sources were organized and analyzed. The focus of this study was the broiler production supply chain segment involving the hatchery, the broiler farm, the feed mill, the processing plant, and the government. The inputs considered were one-day-old chicks, pullet, feedstuff, and the infrastructure; and the outputs were broiler meat and taxes paid. The software UCINET was applied for calculating the structural attributes and indicators of the network. Results showed a relatively disorganized network in 2000 with the strongest tie between the farmer and the processing plant. The structural organization of the network improved until 2010. The density of the ties in the broiler meat production network increased steadily from 2000 to 2010 within a vertical cohesive supply chain structure. The success of Brazilian broiler meat production is attributed to the abundance of land, fertile soil, favorable climate, and the effort and investments in research and development by innovative companies in the last few years. The results of the present study showed that Brazilian broiler production evolved positively in the last ten years, and it was weakly influenced by international challenges.

Brazilian chicken meat production chain: a 10-year overview

Brazil is the world's largest broiler meat exporter. Health control, knowledge and technology, as well as the natural aspects of the country are pointed out as the keys for the success of that product in the market. Brazilian broiler production grew significantly in the last decade; it creates jobs and has a significant social role in Brazilian economy. This study aimed at evaluating the Brazilian broiler meat supply chain from 2000 to 2010 using the social network analysis (SNA). Data from governmental and private sources were organized and analyzed. The focus of this study was the broiler production supply chain segment involving the hatchery, the broiler farm, the feed mill, the processing plant, and the government. The inputs considered were one-day-old chicks, pullet, feedstuff, and the infrastructure; and the outputs were broiler meat and taxes paid. The software UCINET was applied for calculating the structural attributes and indicators of the network. Results showed a relatively disorganized network in 2000 with the strongest tie between the farmer and the processing plant. The structural organization of the network improved until 2010. The density of the ties in the broiler meat production network increased steadily from 2000 to 2010 within a vertical cohesive supply chain structure. The success of Brazilian broiler meat production is attributed to the abundance of land, fertile soil, favorable climate, and the effort and investments in research and development by innovative companies in the last few years. The results of the present study showed that Brazilian broiler production evolved positively in the last ten years, and it was weakly influenced by international challenges.(AU)

História Natural e comportamento social de bugios-ruivos (Alouatta clamitans, Primates: Atelidae) em um dos maiores fragmentos de Mata Atlântica do mundo

Resumo: O desmatamento e a destruição contínua das florestas, a caça e a introdução espécies invasoras têm diminuindo áreas pristinas, levando à redução nas populações selvagens e impossibilitando cada vez mais que estudos sejam conduzidos em vida livre. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a sinergia entre comportamento e história natural de bugios-ruivos em um ambiente pristino. Especificamente, visou-se descrever e testar a influência de variáveis bióticas e abióticas nos parâmetros ecológicos; apresentar o sistema social dos grupos estudados; identificar e diferenciar padrões individuais de cuidado materno; e apresentar protocolos de dosagens hormonais de ocitocina urinária por enzimaimunoensaio e o ensaio multiesteroide por LC-MS. O estudo foi realizado no Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho, São Paulo. Seis grupos de bugios vizinhos foram registrados, porém dois grupos foram acompanhados assiduamente entre novembro de 2017 e setembro de 2019. A coleta de dados foi realizada por cerca de 15 dias por mês, sendo uma semana para cada grupo. Durante esse período, dados comportamentais foram coletados por três métodos complementares, sendo eles o de todas as ocorrências, o scan e o focal. Concomitantemente, foram também coletadas amostras fecais diárias, urinárias mensais, e também o posicionamento por GPS. O uso espaço-temporal não diferiu demasiadamente de outros estudos com o gênero Alouatta, embora tenham sido detectadas diferenças quanto à competitividade com outros grupos. Já o sistema social mostrou uma composição de grupo quase categórica e taxas de interação bastante altas para o gênero, embora padrões distintos de redes sociais entre os grupos tenham sido detectados. A variação individual no cuidado materno foi mais bem explicada pela associação espacial, embora também tenha havido diferenças em outras categorias comportamentais, sendo possível categorizar as fêmeas de acordo com os estilos maternos. Finalmente, os métodos de ensaios hormonais aqui testados proveram informações valiosas de validação que servirão para estudos futuros. Como registros episódicos e não-sistemáticos, têm-se o fato de nenhum indivíduo ter sido visto deslocando-se pelo solo; um possível evento de alolactação e um encontro interespecífico com muriqui-do-sul que escalonou para agressão física. O tamanho do fragmento do presente estudo não se traduziu em distintos parâmetros socioecológicos e orçamento de atividades para essa população, porém as interações sociais variaram amplamente do relatado na literatura, sendo mais altas, com maiores taxas de catação e menor competitividade entre os membros, entre grupos vizinhos e entre espécies sintópicas. Também foram registrados comportamentos possivelmente inéditos. Essa tese tem o potencial de servir como base de comparação sobre como os animais se portam em ambientes protegidos e conectados, auxiliando em planos de manejo in situ e ex situ, projetos de translocação, de reintrodução e de reprodução assistida. No contexto atual de perda e destruição de habitat pelas atividades humanas, esse conhecimento é um ponto de partida primordial para delinear as consequências na história natural e comportamento dos bugios. Será possível, por exemplo, entender como as populações se mantêm na natureza ou se recuperam frente a desastres ecológicos (ex. surto de febre amarela).

Abstract: Deforestation, hunting and the introduction of invasive species have reduced pristine areas, leading to a reduction in wild populations and leading to the increase lack of possibility to conduct studies in free-living animals. In this sense, the present work aimed to investigate the synergy between behavior and natural history of howler monkeys in a pristine environment. Specifically, the aim was to describe and test the influence of biotic and abiotic variables on ecological parameters; to present the social system of the studied groups; to identify and differentiate individual differences in maternal care; and present protocols for urinary oxytocin immunoassay and the multi-steroid assay by LC-MS. The study was carried out at Carlos Botelho State Park, São Paulo. Six neighboring groups of howler monkeys were registered, but two groups were monitored assiduously between November 2017 and September 2019. Data collection was performed for about 15 days per month, one week per group. During this period, behavioral data were collected by three complementary methods, all occurrence, scan and focal. Concomitantly, daily fecal samples, monthly urinary samples, and GPS positioning were also collected. The spatio-temporal use did not differ much from other studies with the Alouatta genus, although differences were detected in terms of competitiveness with other groups. The social system, on the other hand, showed an almost categorical group composition and very high interaction rates for the genus, despite the wide social network variation between groups. Individual variation in maternal care was best explained by the spatial association, although there were also differences in other behavioral categories, and allocation to specific maternal styles was possible. Finally, the assay methods employed here provided valuable validation information that will serve for future studies. As episodic and non-systematic records, there is the fact that no individual was seen using the ground; a possible allonursing event was witnessed and an interspecific encounter with southern muriqui that escalated to physical aggression. The size of the fragment in the present study did not translate into different socioecological parameters and activity budgets for this population, but social interactions varied widely from what was reported in the literature, being higher, with higher rates of picking and less competition between members, among neighboring groups and between syntopic species. Possibly new behaviors were also recorded. This thesis has the potential to serve as a basis for comparison on how animals behave in protected and connected environments, helping with in situ and ex situ management plans, translocation, reintroduction and assisted reproduction projects. In the current context of habitat loss and destruction by human activities, this knowledge is an essential starting point for delineating the consequences on the natural history and behavior of howler monkeys. It will be possible, for example, to understand how populations remain in nature or recover in the face of ecological disasters (eg yellow fever outbreak).

O "discurso do ódio", meio ambiente digital e a saúde ambiental / The "hate speech", digital environment and environmental health

This work seeks to ascertain the role and reach of internet and social networks in information society as diffusers of hate speech and its mediations, such as new interpretations, philosophical points of view and legal analyzes. The expansion of the world wide web and subsequently the social networks formed in this virtual medium, impressively potentiated the offense to peoples honor and many kinds of intolerance. The enhancement of hate speech was intensified as quickly as Internet and social networks have settled in our society. Opinions, ideas and feelings are easily manifested in a pace as never before imagined. However, it is important to point out that hate speech is closely related to minorities and social exclusion, being used today as a strong aspect and condition of this context and concept. Considering the digital environment as a result of the artificial environment created by man, hate speech degrades this type of environment, turning against the respect toward individual and collective dignity, values ensured by the constitution. The degradation of the environment affects its health.

O presente artigo pretende verificar qual o papel e alcance da internet e das redes sociais na chamada sociedade da informação, como meio difusor do discurso do ódio e suas mediações. O advento da expansão da rede mundial de computadores (internet) e, posteriormente, das redes sociais que se formaram nesse meio virtual potencializaram, de forma impressionante, a ofensa à honra das pessoas e a intolerância de toda ordem. A ampliação do discurso do ódio foi intensificada pela mesma rapidez em que a internet e as redes sociais se fixaram em nossa sociedade. A velocidade em que se manifestam opiniões, ideias e sentimentos ocorrem numa facilidade nunca antes imaginada. Não há como deixar de apontar, entretanto, que o discurso do ódio está intimamente ligado a questão da exclusão social sendo hoje acionado como forte aspecto e condição destes próprios contextos e conceitos. Considerando o meio ambiente digital como fruto do meio ambiente artificial criado pelo homem, tem-se que o discurso do ódio constitui degradação deste meio ambiente, voltando-se contra a garantia do respeito à dignidade de pessoa humana individual e coletivamente considerada, conforme assegurado pelo ordenamento jurídico constitucional. A degradação do meio ambiente, por sua vez, atinge a saúde ambiental.

O "discurso do ódio", meio ambiente digital e a saúde ambiental / The "hate speech", digital environment and environmental health

This work seeks to ascertain the role and reach of internet and social networks in information society as diffusers of hate speech and its mediations, such as new interpretations, philosophical points of view and legal analyzes. The expansion of the world wide web and subsequently the social networks formed in this virtual medium, impressively potentiated the offense to peoples honor and many kinds of intolerance. The enhancement of hate speech was intensified as quickly as Internet and social networks have settled in our society. Opinions, ideas and feelings are easily manifested in a pace as never before imagined. However, it is important to point out that hate speech is closely related to minorities and social exclusion, being used today as a strong aspect and condition of this context and concept. Considering the digital environment as a result of the artificial environment created by man, hate speech degrades this type of environment, turning against the respect toward individual and collective dignity, values ensured by the constitution. The degradation of the environment affects its health.(AU)

O presente artigo pretende verificar qual o papel e alcance da internet e das redes sociais na chamada sociedade da informação, como meio difusor do discurso do ódio e suas mediações. O advento da expansão da rede mundial de computadores (internet) e, posteriormente, das redes sociais que se formaram nesse meio virtual potencializaram, de forma impressionante, a ofensa à honra das pessoas e a intolerância de toda ordem. A ampliação do discurso do ódio foi intensificada pela mesma rapidez em que a internet e as redes sociais se fixaram em nossa sociedade. A velocidade em que se manifestam opiniões, ideias e sentimentos ocorrem numa facilidade nunca antes imaginada. Não há como deixar de apontar, entretanto, que o discurso do ódio está intimamente ligado a questão da exclusão social sendo hoje acionado como forte aspecto e condição destes próprios contextos e conceitos. Considerando o meio ambiente digital como fruto do meio ambiente artificial criado pelo homem, tem-se que o discurso do ódio constitui degradação deste meio ambiente, voltando-se contra a garantia do respeito à dignidade de pessoa humana individual e coletivamente considerada, conforme assegurado pelo ordenamento jurídico constitucional. A degradação do meio ambiente, por sua vez, atinge a saúde ambiental.(AU)

Trânsito de bovinos nos estados do Mato Grosso e Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil / Movement of cattle in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Compreender a dinâmica de atuação dos frigoríficos contribui para a definição de prioridades e para o estabelecimento de barreiras sanitárias, em caso de uma possível emergência sanitária, ou para a busca de estratégias para a erradicação de enfermidades bovinas. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar e descrever as áreas de abrangência dos principais municípios que possuem frigoríficos de abate de bovinos com serviço de inspeção federal nos estados do Mato Grosso e Mato Grosso do Sul, revelando as peculiaridades do trânsito bovino. Os dados para execução do estudo, fornecidos pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, foram trabalhados espacialmente e por meio de redes de fluxo.As técnicas de geoprocessamento revelaram as regiões de atuação dos frigoríficos dos principais municípios de destino dos dois estados, no entanto no Mato Grosso a segmentação é mais fácil de ser notada do que no Mato Grosso do Sul. Os resultados sugerem maior regionalização dos polos de abate do Mato Grosso, com regiões de atuação dos frigoríficos bem definidas, e menor comunicação entre os polos de abate. Já no Mato Grosso do Sul, o fluxo, muito intenso, está direcionado para a região central do estado, favorecendo a interação maior entre os municípios.(AU)

Understand the operation dynamic among slaughterhouses helps to set up priorities and establish sanitary barriers in event of a possible animal health emergency or the search for strategies of diseases eradication in cattle. The objective of this study was to analyze and describe the acting areas of major cities that have slaughterhouses with federal inspection in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, revealing the peculiarities of animal movement. The data for implementation of the study was provided by the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, and data was worked up spatially and through social networks. GIS techniques have revealed the regions of operation of the slaughterhouses of the major cities of the states, but in Mato Grosso targeting is easier to notice than in Mato Grosso do Sul. The results suggest a greater regionalization of the slaughter poles of Mato Grosso, with regions where the operation of the slaughterhouses is well defined, and there is less communication between the slaughter poles. In Mato Grosso do Sul there is a very strong flow directed to the central region of the state, encouraging greater interaction between the municipalities.(AU)