The expansion of agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCELO FRAGOMENI SIMON ◽  
FERNANDO LUIS GARAGORRY
Keyword(s):  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
New Production ◽  
Forest Clearing ◽  
Spatial Changes ◽  
New Frontier ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Almost All

Recent increase in the rate of deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon has inflamed discussion about the causes of forest loss, with a special focus on agriculture. This paper studies the expansion of agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon from 1976 to 2001 based on the eight most important products (cattle, bananas, beans, cassava, coffee, maize, rice and soybeans). A biological delimitation of the Amazon based on a map of Brazil's biomes was adopted in order to avoid inclusion of non-forested areas in the analysis. Intense spatial changes in Brazilian agriculture have occurred, with the emergence of new production centres for soybeans and cattle. Several of these regions are located nearby or inside the Amazon's limits. Livestock and soybean cropping in Brazil are consistently moving north. The contribution of the Amazon to Brazilian agriculture rose significantly during the last decades, reaching 28.9% of cassava, 21.3% of banana, 14.2% of rice and 20.0% of cattle production in Brazil in 2001 (three-year average). Cropped area and production in the Amazon have grown at higher annual rates than in the rest of the country for almost all items analysed, supporting the view that the region is a new frontier of Brazilian agriculture. Most recent trends point to a vigorous demand for new land, which will consequently imply a predicted increase in forest clearing.

Nonwovens: Global Trends in World Economy, European Foreign Trade, and Selected Case Studies from Poland and Asian Brics Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Wysokińska ◽  
Tomasz Czajkowski ◽  
Katarzyna Grabowska
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
World Economy ◽  
World Market ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Textile Materials ◽  
Brics Countries ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Special Case

AbstractNonwovens are one of the most versatile textile materials and have become increasingly popular in almost all sectors of the economy due to their low manufacturing costs and unique properties. In the next few years, the world market of nonwovens is predicted to grow by 7%–8% annually (International Nonwovens & Disposables Association [INDA], European Disposables and Nonwovens Association [EDANA], and Markets and Markets). This article aims to analyze the most recent trends in the global export and import of nonwovens, to present two case studies of Polish companies that produce them, and to present one special case study of the market of nonwoven geotextiles in China and India, which are the Asian transition economies among the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

scholarly journals Soil Phosphorus Transformations Following Forest Clearing for Pasture in the Brazilian Amazon

2000 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 1792-1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana C. Garcia-Montiel ◽  
Christopher Neill ◽  
Jerry Melillo ◽  
Suzanne Thomas ◽  
Paul A. Steudler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Forest Clearing

scholarly journals German-Algerian Relations by the Early 2020s in the Context of the Germany’s Regional Policy: Political and Military Aspects

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-699
Author(s):  
Philipp O. Trunov
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Event Analysis ◽  
Noticeable Increase ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
Bilateral Cooperation ◽  
High Level ◽  
Almost All

Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a noticeable increase in German efforts to ensure security in the Mediterranean Sea. This is part of the growing activities to ensure a strong strategic position in North and West Africa, including the settlement of existing armed conflicts here as sources of threats to instability for Germany and its EU partners. Consequently, Germany found itself increasingly interested in finding reliable strategic partners, one of which is Algeria, which makes the topic of this article relevant. The purpose of the study is to examine bilateral security and defense relations with a special focus on the second half of the 2010s and early 2020s with the help of comparative and event-analysis. Having an applied character, this topic has not yet found detailed coverage in the works of both domestic and foreign, especially German, researchers. The historic background of the German-Algerian dialogue is presented. The growth of high-level contacts in the second half of the 2010s is shown, with Germany having to focus on negotiations with the frequently changing figure of the Algerian prime minister. The article also explores the constraints for the cooperation of German and Algerian armed forces on land and sea, as well as the dynamics of military-technical cooperation. The bilateral cooperation in the resolution of the armed conflict in Mali, first of all, in its northern region (Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu) is considered. The political and diplomatic cooperation on the Libyan track in the middle and second half of the 2010s, as well as shortly after the Berlin Conference on Libya in January 2020, is revealed. In the early 2020s, there was a sharp decline in the intensity and volume of bilateral cooperation in almost all areas. In addition to COVID-19, the importance of domestic political factors and the temporary decline in the practical value of the partnership in Libya and Mali for Germany are stressed. A forecast of the dynamics of bilateral relations is finally given.

Culture in Early Aboriginal Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Flood
Keyword(s):  
Special Focus ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Archaeological Evidence ◽  
Aboriginal Australia ◽  
Cognitive Archaeology ◽  
Australian Continent ◽  
The Dead ◽  
High Level ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Rock Shelters

On the basis of recent archaeological evidence it seems that humans first entered the Australian continent about 60,000 years ago. These first ocean-going mariners had a high level of technological and economic skill, and had spread right across Australia into a wide variety of environments by about 35,000 years ago. Pigment showing clear signs of use occurs in almost all Australia's oldest known occupation sites, and evidence of self-awareness such as necklaces and beads has been found in several Pleistocene rock shelters. Rituals were carried out in connection with disposal of the dead, for at Lake Mungo there is a 25,000-year-old cremation, and ochre was scattered onto the corpse in a 30,000-year-old inhumation. Complex symbolic behaviour is attested at least 40,000 years ago by petroglyphs in the Olary district, and other evidence suggests a similar antiquity for rock paintings. The special focus of this article is cognitive archaeology, the study of past ways of thought as derived from material remains, particularly the development of early Australian artistic systems.

Spatial changes of forests in a coastal and a remote mountainous area of Greece over a 65-year period

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 93-109
Author(s):  
Stavros KOLIOS ◽  
◽  
George NTOGAS ◽  
Efthimios ZERVAS ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Land Use Land Cover ◽  
Spatial Homogeneity ◽  
Spatial Changes ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Of Greece

The scope of the study is to detect spatial changes in the forested areas over six decades (1945 - 2010) of two completely different landscapes in Greece (pilot areas). The first pilot area is Kastoria which is a relatively remote and mountainous area located northwestern on the Greek peninsula, while the second one is Propontida which is a coastal area in the Chalkidiki peninsula (central Macedonia, Greece). High resolution orthorectified aerial images are used to detect the general types (classes) of land use/land cover (LULC) in these pilot areas. The results reveal that during the examined period, a notable spatial growth and thickening of the forest areas was found (10,51%) in the pilot area of Kastoria. The spatial homogeneity of the forested areas in Kastoria decreased only by 2,11%. Regarding Propontida, the forested areas decreased in total about 13,02% while the agricultural and arable land has increased by 12,10%.

The Israeli Study of Surgical Infections (ISSI): II. Initial Comparisons Among Hospitals with Special Focus on Hernia Operations

1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 241-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisheva Simchen ◽  
Yohanan Wax ◽  
Bella Pevsner
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Old Age ◽  
General Surgery ◽  
Logistic Model ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Surgical Infections ◽  
Surgical Teams ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Measurable Factors

AbstractIn a study of 5,571 patients from the general surgery departments of 11 Israeli hospitals, the crude overall wound infection rates showed interhospital heterogeneity. The rates ranged from 6.3% to 12.4% (P(X2) = 0.039). Controlling for the different distributions of procedures performed in the various institutions did not reduce this variability. None of the hospitals had either consistently high or consistently low infection rates. A hospital could have low rates for one procedure and high rates for another. Therefore, the decision was made to proceed with procedure-specific analyses. This article details results of the analysis of 1,487 hernia operations. Four variables (old age, infection at another site, incarceration, and introduction of drains) accounted for almost all the differences in infection rates among the institutions. Of the four, presence of drains had the strongest association with infection (P derived from the logistic model <0.001). The risk was consistent in all hospitals and was unconfounded by other measurable factors. In contrast, the pattern of using drains seemed arbitrary and inconsistent, ranging from 9% of patients in one hospital to 41% in another. These findings were used as a basis for discussion with the surgical teams and for the initiation of a randomized clinical trial on the use of drains in hernia operations.

scholarly journals Opportunities for further progress of sociological studies about doctors and medical students

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (44) ◽  
pp. 1738-1744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Molnár ◽  
Zsuzsa Győrffy
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Professional Success ◽  
Medical Career ◽  
Management Modes ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Sociological Studies

Introduction: The fundamental purpose of sociological studies is to explore social problems which should be also in focus when examining doctors and medical students. In addition to fact findings, published reports may raise awareness toward these issues. Aim: The authors formulate a possible change of the research approach exploring possibilities to move forward with special focus on the health status among doctors, the role-conflict among female doctors and the professional socialisation among medical students. Methods: Secondary analysis of published studies among health care professionals. Results: Almost all published papers convey the conflict of being a physician in some aspect, but they fail to explore issues related to professional success, protective factors, resources and conflict management modes. Conclusion: In addition to exploration of risk factors, future studies should promote medical identity, should call attention to existing positive examples and should provide hints to cope with challenging issues in order to achieve a successful medical career. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1738–1744.

Noun Phrase or Compound Noun? An Investigation of N + A and N + N Boundary Cases in Persian

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1687
Author(s):  
Shahram Peyman ◽  
Vali Rezai
Keyword(s):  
Noun Phrase ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Demarcation Criterion ◽  
Compound Nouns ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Demarcation Criteria

The present study seeks to investigate the demarcation between noun phrases (NPs) and compound nouns (CNs) in Persian at the syntax-morphology interface. This objective is accomplished through the examination of two most complex nominal patterns, viz. N + A, N + N, with special focus on boundary cases, i.e. the intermediate constructs which possess some properties of both NPs and CNs simultaneously and thus demonstrate contradictory reactions to the various NP-CN demarcation criteria. The results indicate that boundary cases ensue from partial syntactic erosion of NPs through pure lexicalization, whereby NPs turn into CNs without center-switching or category change. This study also shows that almost all boundary cases have no potential for syntactic modification of their elements. It is further demonstrated that N + A and N + N boundary cases are endocentric, head-initial constructs with optional or obligatory internal inflection as well as Ezafe. Syntactic modifiability is also introduced as the most efficient NP-CN demarcation criterion in Persian since it is the first property lost in NP lexicalization process.

scholarly journals Carbon emissions from deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon region predicted from satellite data and ecosystem modeling

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 3031-3061 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Potter ◽  
S. Klooster ◽  
V. Genovese
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Net Primary Production ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Co2 Flux ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Amazon Forest ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
Forested Areas

Abstract. A simulation model based on satellite observations of monthly vegetation cover from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) was used to estimate monthly carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems of Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado regions over the period 2000–2002. The NASA-CASA (Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach) model estimates of annual forest production were used as the basis to generate a prediction for the standing pool of carbon in above-ground biomass (AGB; g C m−2) for forested areas of the Brazilian Amazon region. Plot-level measurements of the residence time of carbon in wood in Amazon forest from Malhi et al. (2006) were interpolated by inverse distance weighting algorithms and used with CASA to generate a new regional map of AGB. Data from the Brazilian PRODES (Estimativa do Desflorestamento da Amazônia) project were used to map deforested areas. Results show that net primary production (NPP) sinks for carbon are highest across the eastern and northern Amazon areas, whereas deforestation sources of CO2 flux from decomposition of residual woody debris are more rapid and less seasonal in the central Amazon than in the eastern and southern areas. Increased woody debris from past deforestation events was predicted to alter the net ecosystem carbon balance of the Amazon region to generate annual CO2 source fluxes at least two times higher than previously predicted by CASA modeling studies. Variations in climate, land cover, and forest burning were predicted to release carbon at rates of 0.5 to 1 Pg C yr−1 from the Brazilian Amazon. When direct carbon emissions from forest burning of between 0.2 and 0.6−1 in the Legal Amazon are overlooked in regional budgets, the year-to-year variations in this net biome flux may appear to be large, whereas our model results implies net biome fluxes had actually been relatively consistent from year to year during the period 2000–2002.

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