How to comply with environmental regulations? The role of information

The effectiveness of environmental regulation can be viewed as conditioned by the action of at least two main agents: the regulated firms and the public agency (the regulator). The agency’s role is, on one hand, to enact environmental regulations and, on the other, to monitor firms’ environmental behavior and enforce environmental regulations. The regulated firms, on the other hand, must be informed about the legal limits imposed on them and subsequently they must be able to comply with those limits. Using a questionnaire on the pulp and paper industry in Portugal we found that firms decision to comply with environmental regulations is strongly influenced by firms’ information on its legal obligations and that this effect is stronger for smaller firms. Moreover larger and younger firms are less likely to comply with environmental regulations than smaller and older firms. With respect to the public agency’s behavior, we found that greater monitoring efforts are directed towards larger and younger firms, as well as towards those firms most likely to cause higher pollution levels.

How to comply with environmental regulations? The role of information

The effectiveness of environmental regulation can be viewed as conditioned by the action of at least two main agents: the regulated firms and the public agency (the regulator). The agency’s role is, on one hand, to enact environmental regulations and, on the other, to monitor firms’ environmental behavior and enforce environmental regulations. The regulated firms, on the other hand, must be informed about the legal limits imposed on them and subsequently they must be able to comply with those limits. Using a questionnaire on the pulp and paper industry in Portugal we found that firms decision to comply with environmental regulations is strongly influenced by firms’ information on its legal obligations and that this effect is stronger for smaller firms. Moreover larger and younger firms are less likely to comply with environmental regulations than smaller and older firms. With respect to the public agency’s behavior, we found that greater monitoring efforts are directed towards larger and younger firms, as well as towards those firms most likely to cause higher pollution levels.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Imagens ecográficas de lesões granulomatosas de tuberculose em caprino

A ecografia não é um método de diagnóstico habitual em patologia respiratória em caprinos. No entanto, poderá constituir uma ferramenta relativamente simples e útil para detetar determinadas doenças e mais rapidamente se instituírem medidas terapêuticas e profiláticas adequadas. Nos pequenos ruminantes o exame ecográfico ao tórax é útil para demonstrar hidro ou piotórax, abcessos pulmonares com extensão à pleura e consolidação pulmonar associada a pneumonias víricas ou bacterianas. Foi examinado clinicamente uma fêmea adulta com um quadro de tosse crónica e emaciação progressiva e sujeita a exame ecográfico com um equipamento Aloka Echo – Camara SSD% 500 e uma sonda de 5 MHz segundo os procedimentos previamente descritos. Ao exame ecográfico visualizaramEse pequenas estruturas hiperecogenicas com aproximadamente 1 mm de diâmetro difusas por todo o parênquima pulmonar e hepático. ProcedeuEse à eutanásia do animal e posterior necropsia onde se visualizaram granulomas miliares no parênquima pulmonar e hepático. Foram recolhidas amostras para exame microbiológico (congeladas a E20oC) e histológico (fixadas em formol a 10%). Para o exame microbiológico, as amostras de pulmão e fígado foram enviadas para o LNIV E Lisboa, onde foram processados de acordo com as recomendações da OIE (2008). A identificação das espécies de micobactérias isoladas foi baseada em PCREREA. Foi isolado Mycobacterium caprae. spoligotipo SB0157. O exame histológico revelou a presença de uma pneumonia granulomatosa, tendoEse visualizado bacilos álcoolEácido resistentes. Neste trabalho, os autores utilizam, pela primeira vez, a ecografia no diagnóstico ante morte de tuberculose num caprino, associada aos métodos convencionais de diagnóstico pós morte. Os resultados demonstram a utilidade do exame ecográfico como primeiro método de diagnóstico de lesões granulomatosas, compatíveis com tuberculose. Por outro lado, sendo um método rápido, poderá conduzir a medidas sanitárias precoces, o que poderá ser decisivo na luta contra a tuberculose.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Science image in Portugal: studying high school students

In the development of activities for the dissemination of science and scientific work there are difficulties and challenges. People get in touch with science in different contexts, as in their workplace or their social life. However, it is in school that the largest number of interaction activities occurs, through communication and education practices. And high school is probably a key context to the promotion of science among young people. We have conducted an exploratory study on the image of science within Portuguese high school students, in order to collect useful data for communicating and attracting them to higher education. For this purpose, we have gathered a research team that includes two researchers of Basic Sciences (responsible for bringing to the project their vision and experience on science communication activities over the years) and two researchers of Communication Sciences (in charge of designing the study and its conceptual framework). This interdisciplinary team has been crossing experiences and knowledges gathered from their contact with communication science practices and their research in strategic communication. Within this context, we have developed a pilot survey that analyses the image of science and scientists hold by high school students within University of Minho’s area of influence (north of Portugal).(undefined

O mercado internacional de biocombustíveis: etanol e biodiesel.

O presente estudo tem por objetivo conhecer as caraterísticas atuais do mercado internacional dos biocombustíveis: etanol e biodiesel. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória que visa determinar a importância do mercado institucional dos países envolvidos na produção, consumo e comércio dos biocombustíveis. ----------------------The objective of this article is to know the current characteristics of international market of biofuels: ethanol and biodiesel. This is an explorative research to verify the importance of the institutional markets in the countries involved with biofuels production, consumption and trade.etanol, biodiesel, mercado institucional, International Relations/Trade, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

A duration analysis of on-farm agrobiodiversity conservation: Evidence from portuguese fruit growers

We investigate the factors that influence farmers’ adoption of agrobiodiversity measures using survey data collected at a geographically relevant scale. The current economic theory of technology adoption is used to guide our thinking. While, to date, studies in this area have frequently employed standard probit/logit techniques, we adopt an econometric technique that addresses simultaneously the issue of sample censoring, temporal dependence and the joint determination of the occurrence and timing of adoptions. The use of more appropriate techniques to the analysis of adoption data uncover a sizably higher effect of information on farmers’ decisions than that obtained by standard discrete-choice approaches. The result is an affirmation that good extension services providing reliable and accessible information, as well as technical guidance adapted to local conditions, are fundamental components to effect the adoption of resource-conserving measures.agrobiodiversity, duration analysis, adoption models

Consumers’ valuation of national versus foreign varieties of tomatoes : results of a contingent valuation study in Portugal

The identification and characterization of consumers’ preferences for agricultural products may constitute a valuable tool for producers in identifying market niches for their current production and to plan activity choice for the future. Traditional varieties of fruits and vegetables have been subject to some scrutiny in this respect. However, but for a few studies, consumers’ preferences for tomatoes have rarely been studied. Using the contingent valuation methodology applied to a panel of six different varieties of tomatoes (three national varieties, and three foreign varieties), the present paper provides evidence concerning the most relevant determinants of consumers’ willingness to pay, controlling for place and mode of production of the tomatoes’ varieties. In addition, the study elicits consumers’ rating of these varieties with respect to appearance, taste, smell and texture. Based on our multivariate results, the estimated market price premium for national varieties of tomatoes is 35% relatively to foreign varieties.Support from the project PTDC/EGE-ECO/114091/2009), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Origin or organoleptic characteristics of Pears : which is more valued in the market?

Consumers’ decision when buying fruit and vegetables is determined by tangible and intangible attributes. In general, intangible attributes, such as the origin of the variety, are not perceived by consumers before or after purchase; thus, information on these characteristics of products must be provided. The origin of the variety is a particularly important intangible attribute in the case of fruit and vegetables. Its relevance is due to the role that traditional varieties may play in the conservation of biodiversity, and also in the local economy. In many instances, however, the higher production costs and lower profitability associated with traditional varieties discourage the continuation of this activity. Arguably, the farmers shall then be compensated by the market (through a price premium) to ensure the maintenance of local traditional varieties. The purpose of the present study is to enhance information about the relative importance of several attributes or characteristics of the product Pears, and to assess consumers’ willingness to pay for the specific attribute Origin of Variety, detecting and quantifying the potential existence of a price premium.Support from the project PTDC/EGE-ECO/114091/2009 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

Accessibility adaptation of a building in a historical city centre

This paper will discuss the accessibility adaptation of an old building located in the historical centre of Guimarães, Portugal. The city of Guimarães is located in the region of Minho, in the northwest of Portugal. The history of Guimarães is close related with the foundation of the Portuguese nationality. The city old centre has a unique atmosphere of old buildings, narrow streets and squares giving a meaning to the cultural heritage, which is the everyday reality for the local population. In 2001 the historical centre received the UNESCO World Heritage award. Having in mind transforming this old and historical building in a place more convenient to receive and provide support for handicapped persons, a study was performed in order to verify the possibilities of changing its accessibility. To carry out that study, an inquiry of the needs and expectations of the users was done. Several accessibility technologies and technics were checked in order to verify their adequacy with the regulations and space possibilities for their adoption. The architectural integration of the technically adequate solutions was considered and thus the range of usable solutions was even more restricted. Finally, the remaining two possible solutions were detailed studied in terms of project design and financial costs. The selected solution was not the less expensive but the one that can be implemented quicker and with less interference with the architecture

Alteração do uso do solo em espaços urbanos: o caso de estudo do plano de urbanização da zona ribeirinha oriental

A presente dissertação versa sobre a alteração dos usos do solo em meio urbano e centra-se na análise do caso de estudo do Plano de Urbanização da Zona Ribeirinha Oriental, em Lisboa, desenvolvido entre 2000 e 2005. Pelas características de localização e de ocupação, este caso de estudo enquadra-se nos casos de requalificação de áreas urbanas localizadas em frentes de água com ocupação industrial obsoleta. Neste âmbito, é realizada a análise do conteúdo da proposta do PUZRO, da sua coerência com os objectivos traçados pelos instrumentos de gestão territorial de hierarquia superior para a área em análise e ainda relativamente aos objectivos traçados no âmbito do próprio Plano. Paralelamente, são sucintamente descritos e analisados outros três casos de estudo, com características de localização e ocupação semelhantes: o projecto 22@, localizado no bairro de Poblenou, em Barcelona, o projecto do Parque das Nações, localizado em Lisboa e o estudo prévio da Quimiparque, localizado no Barreiro - nas suas componentes qualitativas e quantitativas, com vista à extracção de indicadores sobre as tendências observadas neste tipo de projectos. Conclui-se apontando os factores comuns e de sucesso neste tipo de intervenções de requalificação e reconversão do uso do solo em meio urbano