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Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Historia is the property of Associacao Nacional dos Professores Universitarios de Historia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Algorithms in information technology influence changes in contemporary organizations. They monitor business processes, support decision-making, and help to increase efficiency. The literature has described extensively the applications of algorithmic technology in new models of organizations but few studies have addressed the relationship between algorithms and organizational culture. This paper fills that niche by concentrating on black boxing to address the technological transparency in the algorithmic workplace. This paper uses the case study of the Amazon POZ 1 warehouse near Poznań, Poland. The findings show that algorithmic culture has a profound effect on how employees interact, how they see themselves at work, and how they perform their job responsibilities. As we show, algorithmic transparency influences not only employees' worklife but also the general positionality of the workforce in the wider political economy. We conclude by arguing in favor of greater algorithmic regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature usability is presented as an objective standard to which firms aspire to assist in the consumer decision-making process. In this paper, we introduce the concept of strategic usability, which we define as the variation of usability components to influence mindset formation and response that are most desired by the firm. We further illustrate how laws of UX design identified in the literature can impact usability components in different ways to influence response. A strategic usability framework is then presented and examined using preliminary data collected from Amazon.com. Results suggest that firms can indeed implement strategic usability to heighten motivation and response to the offers most desired by the firm and minimize response and interactions towards those less desired. However, such a strategy can pose risks for the firm. Implications for consumer welfare and accessibility are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

News coverage of noteworthy environmental events is often fleeting, moving from one spectacle to another and rarely retaining global attention. But in August 2019, news of Amazon rainforest fires spread seemingly as quickly as the fires themselves, with sustained global coverage and funding pouring into environmental organizations. Yet Amazon fires regularly occur and fires were simultaneously burning in other important Brazilian biomes, with some causing worse damage. What was it about the 2019 Amazon fires that elicited such a strong and persistent global response? In this paper, we draw on distinctions between slow/immediate (Nixon, 2011) and structural/direct violence (Galtung, 1969) to answer this question. We argue that the Amazon's reputation as a global treasure and its association with climate change and biodiversity through 'giantness' (Slater, 2002) meant that the fires' local spectacular violence became felt as an instant global threat, shifting perceptions of violence from slow to immediate. Moreover, as the identified instigator of the violence, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro became a sort of 'bridge' between structural and direct dimensions of violence, thus making the violence personal. These three dynamics combined to enhance visibility of the Amazon's destruction and its connection to planetary stability, thereby inspiring the 2019 fires' extraordinary reactions. Through this analysis, the paper contributes to psychological literature on perceptions of ecological crises and to discussions in political ecology/geography concerning violent environments by demonstrating how and why both the slow and structural violence of the global climate and biodiversity crises can be rendered more visible via localized effects. • Significant environmental events rarely receive sustained global news coverage. • In 2019, the Amazon fires stood out for their extended global news coverage. • The fires shifted the violence of environmental crises from slow to immediate. • Bolsonaro shifted the violence of environmental crises from structural to personal. • These dynamics made the violence of the climate and biodiversity crises more visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Historia is the property of Associacao Nacional dos Professores Universitarios de Historia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Relações Internacionais is the property of Relacoes Internacionais and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Informe Gepec is the property of Informe Gepec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Because many environmental threats span national boundaries, transboundary networks have emerged as a form of multi-stakeholder platform to support environmental governance (EG). There are transboundary networks in various ecologically important regions of the world such as the Amazon. However, there remains a need for systematic analyses to adequately evaluate the contributions of transboundary networks to EG. This paper takes up the case of the "MAP Initiative", a transboundary network in the tri-national frontier of the southwestern Amazon that sought to support EG. We examine three key questions: 1) how do transboundary networks motivate participants to engage in collaboration across boundaries for EG, 2) how do transboundary networks evolve structurally as well as strategically to increase their impact on EG, and 3) can transboundary networks generate outcomes beyond information sharing for EG? The analysis draws on historical documents, participant observation, and key informant interviews about the MAP Initiative. The findings confirm that transboundary networks motivate cross-border exchanges in multiple ways, they evolve structurally in multiple ways that increase their capacity, and that evolution supports multiple forms of activities and outcomes that support EG. We conclude with a discussion of the contributions and challenges of transboundary networks regarding EG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper elucidates the inside of the black box of Amazon's unique research and development (R&D) dynamism that made it the world's top R&D leader by transforming "routine or periodic alterations" into "significant improvement" during the R&D process. This dynamism also succeeded in transforming the COVID-19 pandemic period into a springboard for new innovation, leading to Amazon's notable growth notwithstanding the pandemic. An empirical analysis using a techno-economic approach focusing on Amazon's endeavor to develop a series of advanced digital fashions (ADFs) and online-based luxury brands (neo-luxury) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted. Amazon became a global apparel leader based on learning orchestration externality through developing a series of ADFs that emerged co-evolution with neo-luxury corresponding to the cultural shift to a new age of meaning. The focal driver of design-driven innovation is meaning, and meaning-seeking innovation emerges as a self-propagating generative function. Amazon has been advancing Amazon Web Services (AWS) as an innovative, advanced composite cloud infrastructure. This infrastructure incorporates a generative function and develops a cloud-based fashion platform by integrating all stakeholders in one place. Given the common key function, the self-propagating generative function, AWS, and neo-luxury resonate and induce co-evolution between them. This co-evolution emerges as growing seamless switching. Thus, a new perspective of innovation toward a non-contact society can be explored. This paper aims to reveal a theoretical and empirical demonstration of this dynamism, which gives rise to insights for pioneering a new frontier beyond current business models toward a non-contact society after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. • A new perspective of innovation toward a non-contact society was envisioned. • Elucidation of the inside the black box of Amazon's unique R&D dynamism was attempted. • Development trajectories of Amazon's advanced digital fashions and neo-luxury were analyzed. • Meaning as a driving force of innovation that corresponds to luxury brands was highlighted. • Amazon's initiative in pioneering growing seamless switching was postulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amazonian wildfires are an increasing hazard to ecosystem services and the regional population. Wildfires can turn into transboundary disasters primarily due to the effects of smoke that cross boundaries, compromising human health, disrupting transport, and affecting the regional economy. Wildfires are an increasing hazard at the southwestern amazonian tri-national frontier, which is composed of M adre de Dios (Peru), A cre (Brazil), and P ando (Bolivia), known as the MAP region. The understanding of wildfire governance is key for disaster risk reduction strategies. This paper analyses the perceptions about vulnerabilities and capacities in the wildfire governance in the MAP region, looking at four axes: i) risk knowledge; ii) monitoring; iii) education and communication; and iv) disaster prevention and response. The online survey (conducted between 2020 and 2021) had 111 regional stakeholders (practitioners, policy makers, NGO representatives and scientists). Approximately 60% of the participants considered deforestation the main driver contributing to wildfires, followed by fire use in agricultural management (58%) and droughts (39%). The main vulnerabilities in governance were organizational and sociocultural. The organizational vulnerability was associated with reduced employees and limited financial resources. In terms of political capacities, participants indicated strong articulation involving academia and NGOs. We conclude that the MAP region exhibits multiple vulnerabilities, such as weak organizations, reduced dialogue between governments and society, advancement of the agricultural frontier and increasing climatic extremes. It is key to prioritize strengthening organizational capacities, community involvement in wildfire governance, and greater integration between organizations and institutions, including seeking to formalize informal cooperation networks. • Wildfires can become transboundary disasters. • In southwestern Amazonia, organizational weaknesses are the main vulnerability in wildfire governance. • Lack of human and financial resources, and political influence are the main sources of organizational vulnerability. • Informal cooperation networks are essential to governance, especially when organizations lack human or financial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The way vegetation is officially named, classified, and identified has critical implications for ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. Yet little attention is given to how such issues hinder the efficacy of laws mandating environmental conservation on private land. In the Brazilian Amazon where half of the land is now already under private tenure or is available for future land-uses, differences in vegetation mapping and interpretation directly affect the level of protection in private rural properties, especially in transition areas where forest and savanna areas intermingle. Since Brazil's Native Vegetation Protection Law (NVPL) attaches a higher percentage of protection to forest-located properties, landowners may be tempted to use conflicting mappings and different vegetation classifications to claim their properties are located in areas other than forests to reduce their conservation requirements. In this paper, we compare three official vegetation databases and examine different law interpretation scenarios to assess the extent to which the level of private conservation may fluctuate. We found a difference of up to 430,000 km2 of protected vegetation (an area the size of Iraq) according to the database and vegetation characteristics chosen. This technical ambiguity may lead to make additional deforestation legal or reduce sharply the amount of vegetation to be restored for these areas, if left unaddressed. Clarifying the database and criteria used to define forest is critical, especially as Brazilian states may make different choices in that regard, and cases in which loopholes are exploited occurred in the recent past. Given the importance of this region for global biodiversity conservation and climate, we highlight the urgent need to: (1) support additional research to clarify vegetation characteristics and location; (2) agree on a harmonized methodology to determine forests for NVPL implementation, and (3) explore alternative criteria for defining forests when databases conflict. • Accurate native vegetation mapping is key to private forest conservation. • Uncertain vegetation classification weakens compliance with Brazil's forest law. • Study provides scenarios exploring the implications of multiple vegetation databases. • 430,000 square kilometers of the Brazilian Amazon are at risk of reduced protection. • Both deforestation and native vegetation restoration are affected by this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]