Style and the “Idea” of the sophist after Plato : the impact of form typology on sophistic teaching and writing on interdisciplinary scholarly work

Resumen: Después de la primera sofística, los sofistas actuaron entre el resto de los pensadores del Mediterráneo como un grupo definido. Dado que hay muchos ejemplos que muestran que los sofistas ejercían sus prácticas y que también eran personas comprometidas en otras actividades, vamos a examinar aquí diversos casos de semejanzas y diferencias entre ellos y otros grupos de pensadores. Nuestras tres preguntas fundamentales son: qué, cómo y por qué los sofistas escribían y enseñaban. Intentaremos responder haciendo un análisis diacrónico de las principales formas y géneros de escritura que produjeron (qué). El cómo lo responderemos en su desenvolvimiento como una actividad comunicativa más allá de las fronteras de las disciplinas de la época. El por qué tendrá su respuesta al enfatizar la necesidad de la actividad de los sofistas en la socialización de la época y en la educación de la antigüedad. Al aseverar que el estilo era la idea de los sofistas, ponemos la noción de idea en Platón en el contexto de idea derivado de los sofistas contemporáneos a él y de los sofistas posteriores (segunda sofística) y centramos el foco en la función de visualidad expresada en su concepto de idea desde las obras sofísticas más tempranas en la época de Platón hasta las contribuciones posteriores.

Uplift resistance of buried pipelines at low cover-diameter ratios

Reliable estimates for the maximum available uplift resistance from the backfill soil are essential to prevent upheaval buckling of buried pipelines. The current design code DNV RP F110 does not offer guidance on how to predict the uplift resistance when the cover:pipe diameter (H/D) ratio is less than 2. Hence the current industry practice is to discount the shear contribution from uplift resitance for design scenarios with H/D ratios less than 1. The necessity of this extra conservatism is assessed through a series of full-scale and centrifuge tests, 21 in total, at the Schofield Centre, University of Cambridge. Backfill types include saturated loose sand, saturated dense sand and dry gravel. Data revealed that the Vertical Slip Surface Model remains applicable for design scenarios in loose sand, dense sand and gravel with H/D ratios less than 1, and that there is no evidence that the contribution from shear should be ignored at these low H/D ratios. For uplift events in gravel, the shear component seems reliable if the cover is more than 1-2 times the average particle size (D50), and more research effort is currenty being carried out to verify this conclusion. Strain analysis from the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique proves that the Vertical Slip Surface Model is a good representation of the true uplift deformation mechanism in loose sand at H/D ratios between 0.5 and 3.5. At very low H/D ratios (H/D < 0.5), the deformation mechanism is more wedge-like, but the increased contribution from soil weight is likely to be compensated by the reduced shear contributions. Hence the design equation based on the Vertical Slip Surface Model still produces good estimates for the maximum available uplift resistance. The evolution of shear strain field from PIV analysis provides useful insight into how uplift resistance is mobilized as the uplift event progresses. Copyright 2010, Offshore Technology Conference.

La confesión en el Salmo 106 (107) de la traducción jerónima iuxta Hebraeos

Resumen: El salmo 106 (107) es una confesión de la misericordia de Dios que hace desvanecer las necesidades y angustias de quien clama a Él en distintas instancias de su camino de purificación y perfección. A la vez que confiesa, exhorta a la confesión. Esta confesión está estrechamente unida a la confianza y al abandono en Dios a las que, a su vez, se dirige dicha purificación. En la traducción jerónima iuxta Hebraeos hay marcas lingüísticas que indican el sentido de esta confesión, especialmente mediante la estructura confiteor + dativo.

Le sens un peu oublié de la première entrée de Ricoeur en herméneutique

Resumen: Dans les textes rétrospectifs où il s’est expliqué sur son «tournant herméneutique », Paul Ricoeur a fait valoir qu’il avait été dicté par l’impossibilité de se connaître directement soi-même et la nécessité d’emprunter le détour de l’interprétation dans la connaissance de soi. En se penchant sur la première apparition de l’herméneutique chez Ricoeur en 1960, dans Finitude et culpabilité, ce texte aimerait rappeler que d’autres motifs, oubliés plus tard, ont aussi été opérants, voire plus déterminants, notamment le souci de surmonter la modernité et de la guérir de son oubli du sacré.

Sobre el uso terapéutico de células estaminales de origen adulto

Resumen: Muy pocas ciencias avanzaron con la celeridad que muestran las ciencias biológicas. Hoy se abren líneas de investigación que, en poco tiempo, se aplican a los pacientes, mejorando notablemente -en la mayoría de los casos- la calidad de vida. Las terapias con células estaminales son un claro ejemplo de ello. Hoy el tema se ha instalado en la sociedad como parte de la agenda pública. Esta exposición ha llevado a la sociedad a una recepción con un lamentable doble riesgo: perder rigor científico y generar falsas expectativas en muchos pacientes. Dicha polémica también afecta las relaciones entre diversos grupos de investigadores y genera desconfianza en la comunidad científica. Desde la última mitad del siglo XX se ha instalado en las ciencias la necesidad de no escindir el campo de la investigación de las consecuencias éticas que siguen de esa praxis. La causa es evidente: la celeridad de los descubrimientos y su rápida aplicación hacen que, así como los efectos positivos alcanzan a una gran cantidad de personas, en caso de surgir efectos negativos imprevistos, el daño pueda ser igualmente multiplicado. La bioética surge así como un reclamo de los mismos investigadores que decidieron dar un cauce ético a su acción.

Modernización del estado e indicadores de desempeño del sector público

Resumen: Desde mediados de los años 80 numerosos países han introducido indicadores de desempeño para evaluar la gestión en las instituciones públicas y los resultados de la acción del sector público. Esto responde a una necesidad de mejorar la eficiencia y calidad de los servicios que presta el Estado y de aumentar su transparencia frente a la sociedad. En este trabajo se examina la situación actual en este campo de los países de la OECD y se analiza en detalle la experiencia de Chile, que es el país de América Latina que más ha avanzado en introducir los indicadores de desempeño y mejorar la gestión del Estado. Además se explican los diversos ámbitos de control y características de los indicadores, presentándose una lista de indicadores que podrían ser útiles en impulsar la modernización del Estado.

Evaluation of influence of multiple scattering effect in light-scattering-based applications

The extinction cross sections of a system containing two particles are calculated by the T-matrix method, and the results are compared with those of two single particles with single-scattering approximation. The necessity of the correction of the refractive indices of water and polystyrene for different incident wavelengths is particularly addressed in the calculation. By this means, the volume fractions allowed for certain accuracy requirements of single-scattering approximation in the light scattering experiment can be evaluated. The volume fractions calculated with corrected refractive indices are compared with those obtained with fixed refractive indices which have been rather commonly used, showing that fixed refractive indices may cause significant error in evaluating multiple scattering effect. The results also give a simple criterion for selecting the incident wavelength and particle size to avoid the 'blind zone' in the turbidity measurement, where the turbidity change is insensitive to aggregation of two particles.

La evolución de la intensidad energética de la industria vasca entre 1982-2001: Un análisis de descomposición

In this article an index decomposition methodology is used to estimate the effect of intersectorial and intrasectorial changes in explaining the 38% reduction in industrial energy intensity in the Basque Autonomous Community from 1982 to 2001. Period-wise additive decomposition results show that (1) the decline is fully explained by intrasectorial changes and that (2) intersectorial changes have not contributed to reduce but to increase the energy intensity of the Basque industrial sector. However, timeseries decomposition analysis shows that (1) four different phases can be distinguished in the evolution of energy intensity of the Basque industry from 1982 to 2001 and (2) that the evolution of the “Iron and Steel” sector is determinant when explaining those phases. Moreover, the analysis stresses the necessity to disaggregate the “Iron and Steel” sector in order to be able to distinguish purely technological effects from the rest of intrasectorial changes.

O poder coercitivo do Conselho de Ética e Decoro Parlamentar da Câmara dos Deputados

Propõe reflexão sobre a atuação do Conselho de Ética e Decoro Parlamentar da Câmara dos Deputados, instituído pela Resolução nº 25 de 2001. São enumeradas e caracterizadas algumas de suas deficiências operacionais, especialmente a ausência de poder coercitivo específico para convocar testemunhas. São apresentados os conceitos de ética, moral e decoro, tanto no sentido que se aplica às relações pessoais de indivíduos em sociedade, como nas implicações inerentes à atividade política, no interior do Parlamento. São focalizados os episódios recentes da política brasileira que demandaram a primeira grande atuação do Conselho de Ética, como órgão recém-instituído no âmbito do Poder Legislativo. Como problema específico de pesquisa, destaca-se o poder testemunhal nos processos judiciais para ressaltar a importância da testemunha no processo de julgamento político, conduzido pelo Conselho de Ética. Discutem-se, finalmente, a necessidade e algumas possibilidades de aprimoramento da estrutura normativa que forma a base para o funcionamento do Conselho de Ética e Decoro Parlamentar da Câmara dos Deputados.

A atuação organizada do setor bancário e a regulamentação das tarifas bancárias

Analisa a questão do pressuposto da necessidade de regulação do sistema bancário e o lobby, como parte legítima do processo decisório político. Estas variáveis são fundamentais para a compreensão do estudo da atuação dos grupos de interesse envolvidos no processo de aprovação, pelo Conselho Monetário Nacional, da Resolução 3.518, de 06/12/07, que trata da tarifa bancária. A análise da regulamentação do setor bancário procura evidenciar os fatores que influenciam a escolha, por parte do órgão regulador, do grau de controle a ser exercido sobre as instituições financeiras, podendo ser enfatizado o caráter prudencial, fiscalizador ou liberal das normas bancárias, conforme política posta em prática pelo Banco Central. A abordagem acerca do lobbying evidencia a legitimidade de sua prática junto aos órgãos públicos, como também a possibilidade de sua regulamentação no Brasil. Em seguida, é analisado o comportamento da tarifa bancária antes, durante e depois da publicação da Resolução em questão, assim como as audiências públicas que a antecederam, a fim de investigar seus possíveis resultados, pois a partir deles, como também por intermédio das entrevistas concedidas, pode-se depreender a atuação dos grupos de influência na consecução de seus interesses.

Medida provisória na Constituição de 1988 e a necessidade de sua limitação

As medidas provisórias passaram a integrar o processo legislativo brasileiro com o advento da Constituição de 1988. A previsão inicial das medidas provisórias no art. 62 da Constituição Federal foi se tornando insatisfatória por deficiências oriundas dos pressupostos de relevância e urgência, em razão dos mesmos terem sido aferidos como muito genéricos ou subjetivos, o que acarretou sua demasiada edição. Com o intuito de restringir o poder do chefe do Executivo, foi aprovada, a Emenda Constitucional n. 32/2002, regulamentada pela Resolução 01/2002 do Congresso Nacional. Há consenso geral sobre a afronta estabelecida ao processo legislativo em função da perda de competência do Congresso derivada da excessiva edição de medidas provisórias, sendo necessário limitar essa prejudicial atuação executiva que tem estabelecido o trancamento de pauta constante nas votações no Parlamento.

Contribution of Resource-Based View and Entrepreneurial Orientation on Small Firm Growth

[EN] This research provides a useful framework for identifying a small firms’ propensity to engage in entrepreneurial orientation. We examine the impact of the Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) as a main resource and capability on small firm’ growth. The growth seems to come out as an important demonstration of the entrepreneurial orientation of small firms (Davidsson, 1989; Green and Brown, 1997; Janney and Gregory, 2006). Thus, this research builds on prior conceptual research that suggests a positive integration between entrepreneurial orientation and resource-based view. In the first instance, the research will focus on reviewing literature in the emerging area of entrepreneurial orientation as it applies to growth oriented small firms and resource-based view of the firm. Secondly, an empirical study was developed based on a stratified sample of small firms of manufacturing industry. Data were submitted to a multivariate statistical analysis and a linear regression model was performed in order to predict the influence of the resources and capabilities on small firms’ growth. In this sense, we consider the construct growth as a dependent variable and the ones relates with resources and capabilities (entrepreneur resources, firm resources, networks and EO) as independent variables. The research results suggest a set of resources and capabilities that promote the growth of the small firms. Also, the EO seems to have a predictive value on growth. Explaining variables related with resources and capabilities and EO were identified as essential in growth oriented small firms. It was still possible to conclude that the entrepreneurial firms which grew seem to have resources and develop more capabilities and take advantage in the search for those competences. This attitude reflects on the EO of the firm. This study has important implication for both researchers and practitioners. It highlights the necessity of firms to develop superior EO of all their members and also to invest on better resources and consequently superior capabilities as a way of reaching higher levels of growth. While previous authors have attempted to analyse certain aspects of this process (linkage between entrepreneurial orientation and growth), this research developed a framework that combines these and others factors (resource-based view) pertinent to growth oriented small firms. The results support the necessity to identify explicative variables of multiple levels to explain the growth of small firms. The adoption of an entrepreneurial orientation as an indispensable variable to the growth oriented small firms seems pertinent.

Una iniciativa social en la recuperación textil que genera empleo: Berohi S. Coop.

[ES] El incremento del consumo de ropa provoca que año a año aumente el volumen de ropa desechada, y con éste, la conciencia sobre la necesidad de reutilizar dicho recurso. Berohi S. Coop. es una de las empresas dedicadas a la recuperación y reciclaje del textil usado, con origen en Bizkaia. La concepción inicial y desarrollo del proyecto empresarial Berohi S. Coop. constituyen el eje central del caso.

Information Preservation (IP) Method in Simulation

This paper reviews firstly methods for treating low speed rarefied gas flows: the linearised Boltzmann equation, the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), the Navier-Stokes equation plus slip boundary conditions and the DSMC method, and discusses the difficulties in simulating low speed transitional MEMS flows, especially the internal flows. In particular, the present version of the LBM is shown unfeasible for simulation of MEMS flow in transitional regime. The information preservation (IP) method overcomes the difficulty of the statistical simulation caused by the small information to noise ratio for low speed flows by preserving the average information of the enormous number of molecules a simulated molecule represents. A kind of validation of the method is given in this paper. The specificities of the internal flows in MEMS, i.e. the low speed and the large length to width ratio, result in the problem of elliptic nature of the necessity to regulate the inlet and outlet boundary conditions that influence each other. Through the example of the IP calculation of the microchannel (thousands long) flow it is shown that the adoption of the conservative scheme of the mass conservation equation and the super relaxation method resolves this problem successfully. With employment of the same measures the IP method solves the thin film air bearing problem in transitional regime for authentic hard disc write/read head length ( ) and provides pressure distribution in full agreement with the generalized Reynolds equation, while before this the DSMC check of the validity of the Reynolds equation was done only for short ( ) drive head. The author suggests degenerate the Reynolds equation to solve the microchannel flow problem in transitional regime, thus provides a means with merit of strict kinetic theory for testing various methods intending to treat the internal MEMS flows.

Information preservation (IP) method in simulation of internal rarefied gas flows in MEMS

This paper reviews firstly methods for treating low speed rarefied gas flows: the linearised Boltzmann equation, the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), the Navier-Stokes equation plus slip boundary conditions and the DSMC method, and discusses the difficulties in simulating low speed transitional MEMS flows, especially the internal flows. In particular, the present version of the LBM is shown unfeasible for simulation of MEMS flow in transitional regime. The information preservation (IP) method overcomes the difficulty of the statistical simulation caused by the small information to noise ratio for low speed flows by preserving the average information of the enormous number of molecules a simulated molecule represents. A kind of validation of the method is given in this paper. The specificities of the internal flows in MEMS, i.e. the low speed and the large length to width ratio, result in the problem of elliptic nature of the necessity to regulate the inlet and outlet boundary conditions that influence each other. Through the example of the IP calculation of the microchannel (thousands m ? long) flow it is shown that the adoption of the conservative scheme of the mass conservation equation and the super relaxation method resolves this problem successfully. With employment of the same measures the IP method solves the thin film air bearing problem in transitional regime for authentic hard disc write/read head length ( 1000 L m ? = ) and provides pressure distribution in full agreement with the generalized Reynolds equation, while before this the DSMC check of the validity of the Reynolds equation was done only for short ( 5 L m ? = ) drive head. The author suggests degenerate the Reynolds equation to solve the microchannel flow problem in transitional regime, thus provides a means with merit of strict kinetic theory for testing various methods intending to treat the internal MEMS flows.