Eating ethically: Emmanuel Levinas and Simone Weil (Exploring the ethical realms of anorexia and so-called states of grace)

Emmanuel Levinas's work on the ethical responsibility of the face-to-face relation offers an illuminating context or clearing within which we might better appreciate the work of Simone Weil. Levinas's subjectivity of the hostage, the one who is responsible for the other before being responsible for the self, provides us with a way of re-encountering the categories of gravity and grace invoked in Weil's original account. In this paper I explore the terrain between these thinkers by raising the question of eating as, in part, an ethical act. Weil's conception of grace refers to the state of decreation in which the utter humility of the self moves toward a kind of disintegration and weightlessness. this weightlessness, which Weil contrasts to the gravity of terrestrial weight, might be thought of in terms of the subject's fundamental responsibility for the other, especially in terms of the injunction Thou shalt neither kill nor take the food of thy neighbour. Taking the place of the other, taking the food from the mouth of the other, is the ethical dilemma facing the subject as hostage and an elaboration of this situation may provide us with steps toward a radical questioning of anorexia as - at least in part - an ethical rather than purely medical condition.

Public policy and the prevention of substance-use disorders

Drug prevention has traditionally focused on influencing individual attitudes and behaviours. In particular, efforts have been directed towards adolescents in the school setting. However, evaluations of school-based drug education have identified limited success. There is increasing recognition that drug abuse is one of a number of risk behaviours, including truancy, delinquency and mental health problems, which share common antecedents that begin in the early years of childhood. Furthermore, these behaviours are shaped by macroenvironmental influences including the economic, social, cultural, and physical environment. Drug prevention needs to adopt a broader perspective: with greater collaboration in related programmes such as crime prevention and suicide prevention; with greater attention to the macroenvironmental influences on problem behaviours; and with greater attention to healthy development in the first years of childhood. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

Laws of nature and laws of ecology

We address the question of whether there are laws in ecology. Although there has been a great deal of recent interest in this topic, much of the relevant debate has been conducted under some common misconceptions about what laws of nature are. Once these misconceptions are cleared up, the case for ecology having laws is much stronger. Indeed, we suggest that the case for laws in ecology is no better or worse than the case for laws in physics.

O paradigma sistêmico na Ciência Econômica : convergências entre Veblen, estruturas dissipativas e autopoiese

O debate entre os paradigmas da mecânica e o sistêmico tem causado importantes revoluções nos mais diversos campos de conhecimento, principalmente na física, química e biologia. Sendo assim, esta dissertação tem o objetivo de analisar como as teorias sistêmicas mais recentes desenvolvidas na química, a partir de Prigogine, e na biologia, conforme Maturana e Varela, podem contribuir para a abordagem institucionalista de Veblen. Para isso, apoiar-se-á na hipótese fornecida pela Teoria Geral dos Sistemas, de Bertalanffy (2006), no qual se refere que os princípios que regem um determinado sistema independem das particularidades de seus componentes mas do modo como estes se inter-relacionam. Assim, a convergência entre estas três teorias passa a ser válida uma vez que o tipo de sistema tratado em todas seja caracterizado por: 1) irreversibilidade da trajetória de suas mudanças, 2) com oposição à ideia de equilíbrio e 3) a introdução de uma abordagem evolucionária e com tempo histórico. Este trabalho se inicia a partir da introdução ao debate entre os paradigmas da mecânica e sistêmico surgido no ramo da física. Na sequência apresenta os referenciais teóricos do institucionalismo de Veblen e da teoria das estruturas dissipativas e autopoiese. Em seguida é feito a análise de convergência entre os arcabouços teóricos vistos, e verificado como as abordagens de Prigogine juntamente com a de Maturana e Varela podem contribuir para o estudo das instituições. Por fim é mostrado como a abordagem desenvolvida neste trabalho pode auxiliar no tratamento de questões relacionadas à economia, com ênfase dada especificamente no que tange a economia monetária.

Neoinstitutionalism and the appropriation of bourdieu's work: a critical assessment

Despite the still present hegemony of the structural-functionalist orthodoxy, the mid 1980's witnesses the insurgence of new philosophical approaches. This body of work had become a vital intellectual and ideological resource for those who wanted to confront the functionalist dominance in organization studies, such as structuration theory, labour process theory and neoinstitutionalist theory. The purpose of this paper is to review the incorporation of Bourdieu's work into neoinstitutionalism. I argue that this appropriation has resulted in a significant loss of theoretical strength. By giving place to the cognitivist metaphors of mental models, "scripts" and "schemas", instead of adopting the notion of habitus, neoinstitutionalism reinforces some of the ever-present dichotomies in social sciences, especially those of agency/structure and individual/society. While neoinstitutionalism was refining the cognitive approach in the 1990's, Bourdieu was moving towards psychoanalysis. Some indications for future research are provided in the concluding notes.

Relatório de estágio

Relatório de Estágio apresentado ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade para a obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Auditoria Orientada por Dr. Rodrigo Mário de Oliveira Carvalho e Dr. Álvaro Manuel de Sousa Carvalho

Difficulties in access and estimates of public beds in intensive care units in the state of Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the required number of public beds for adults in intensive care units in the state of Rio de Janeiro to meet the existing demand and compare results with recommendations by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS The study uses a hybrid model combining time series and queuing theory to predict the demand and estimate the number of required beds. Four patient flow scenarios were considered according to bed requests, percentage of abandonments and average length of stay in intensive care unit beds. The results were plotted against Ministry of Health parameters. Data were obtained from the State Regulation Center from 2010 to 2011. RESULTS There were 33,101 medical requests for 268 regulated intensive care unit beds in Rio de Janeiro. With an average length of stay in regulated ICUs of 11.3 days, there would be a need for 595 active beds to ensure system stability and 628 beds to ensure a maximum waiting time of six hours. Deducting current abandonment rates due to clinical improvement (25.8%), these figures fall to 441 and 417. With an average length of stay of 6.5 days, the number of required beds would be 342 and 366, respectively; deducting abandonment rates, 254 and 275. The Brazilian Ministry of Health establishes a parameter of 118 to 353 beds. Although the number of regulated beds is within the recommended range, an increase in beds of 122.0% is required to guarantee system stability and of 134.0% for a maximum waiting time of six hours. CONCLUSIONS Adequate bed estimation must consider reasons for limited timely access and patient flow management in a scenario that associates prioritization of requests with the lowest average length of stay.

Symbolic dynamics and big bang bifurcation in Weibull-Gompertz-Fréchet's growth models

In this paper, motivated by the interest and relevance of the study of tumor growth models, a central point of our investigation is the study of the chaotic dynamics and the bifurcation structure of Weibull-Gompertz-Fréchet's functions: a class of continuousdefined one-dimensional maps. Using symbolic dynamics techniques and iteration theory, we established that depending on the properties of this class of functions in a neighborhood of a bifurcation point PBB, in a two-dimensional parameter space, there exists an order regarding how the infinite number of periodic orbits are born: the Sharkovsky ordering. Consequently, the corresponding symbolic sequences follow the usual unimodal kneading sequences in the topological ordered tree. We verified that under some sufficient conditions, Weibull-Gompertz-Fréchet's functions have a particular bifurcation structure: a big bang bifurcation point PBB. This fractal bifurcations structure is of the so-called "box-within-a-box" type, associated to a boxe ω1, where an infinite number of bifurcation curves issues from. This analysis is done making use of fold and flip bifurcation curves and symbolic dynamics techniques. The present paper is an original contribution in the framework of the big bang bifurcation analysis for continuous maps.

Tendências de recompensas em empresas portuguesas

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo central conhecer os sistemas de recompensas em empresas portuguesas. Primeiramente é realizada uma abordagem aos conceitos subjacentes ao sistema de recompensas e, simultaneamente é exposta teoria sobre o tipo de recompensas mais utilizadas e como estas diferem consoante o cargo/função. Foi aplicado um inquérito por questionário a uma amostra de 144 empresas localizadas por todo o país. Foram testadas hipóteses de estudo capazes de permitir caraterizar o sistema de recompensas desenvolvido nas empresas em estudo. Os resultados do estudo permitem concluir que: 1) os sistemas de recompensas baseados na antiguidade estão atualmente em desuso, ao contrário dos sistemas de recompensas baseados na função/cargo, no desempenho e nas competências; 2) o principal objetivo do sistema de recompensas das empresas do estudo é a motivação dos colaboradores; 3) a conjugação das recompensas monetárias e não monetárias são as mais valorizadas pelas empresas; 4) predomina a compensação variável nos sistemas de recompensas das empresas bem como os incentivos mistos (individuais e de grupo); 5) predominam os incentivos de curto-prazo no sistema de recompensas; 6) o bónus anual é o incentivo mais utilizado; 7) os benefícios e alguns dos incentivos tendem a ser maiores à medida que se sobe na hierarquia funcional da empresa; 8) o benefício predominante é a atribuição de telemóvel e o seguro de saúde; 9) as formas de reconhecimento mais comuns são os prémios de desempenho, o feedback contínuo, as promoções e as placas comemorativas; 10) a maioria dos inquiridos acredita que as oportunidades de desenvolvimento de carreira é uma importante medida para a retenção dos colaboradores; 11) as oportunidades de desenvolvimento são mais utilizadas pelas empresas de maior dimensão e; 12) os benefícios sociais são considerados a componente mais importante para garantir a retenção dos colaboradores. Com base nestes resultados, na parte final da dissertação são apresentadas algumas implicações teóricas e práticas, algumas limitações do estudo, bem como pistas para investigações futuras.

Government bond yield spreads in EMU countries: The story of an ephemeral convergence

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Fiscal multipliers in Portugal using a threshold approach

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Macroeconomic impacts of politics and policy: Applications to financial and real markets

A PhD Dissertation, presented as part of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the NOVA - School of Business and Economics

Absorption in human capital and r&d effects in an endogenous growth model

Until now, in models of endogenous growth with physical capital, human capital and R&D such as in Arnold [Journal of Macroeconomics 20 (1998)] and followers, steady-state growth is independent of innovation activities. We introduce absorption in human capital accumulation and describe the steady-state and transition of the model. We show that this new feature provides an effect of R&D in growth, consumption and welfare. We compare the quantitative effects of R&D productivity with the quantitative effects of Human Capital productivity in wealth and welfare.

O serviço fiscal aduaneiro criminal e contraordenacional da GNR

At a time of global economic instability, to which Portugal is not oblivious, and aware that the main source of Portuguese State revenue relies on the collection of tribute, the National Republican Guard holds within its mission relevant assignments to the protection of the financial interests of the country, in particular, fiscal and customs. These assignments were inherited from the century - old institution Guarda Fiscal - with evidence given in this domain, which was integrated into the National Republican Guard in 1993, to adopt, a 1St model, that held a specialized unit – Brigada Fiscal, with surveillance and patrolling missions of costa and fiscal and customs supervision, throughout the national territory and maritime zone of respect. In 2009, the result of political decisions, reorganization the State's central administration, appears de 2Nd model, because the Brigada Fiscal assignments were divided by two specialized units - UAF with investigation skills, and UCC for patrolling and surveillance of the coast. Analyzed the legal spectrum of special legislation leading the criminal and transgression sector punitive (RGIT), in essence, is in the UAF that resides the role assignments from the scope of the investigation and supervision of goods in the national territory on a par with the tax authority. Tax inspection assignments, fiscal and customs of the National Republican Guard, are unmatched in the National Tribute System, constituting itself as a potentiality of this special body, in similarity of their counterparts - Spain and Italy; however, have some constraints, that urge to clarify and repair. Foreseeing the future, face the announced news of a new restructuring, on behalf of the interests of the country, and in order to raise the quality of performance of the tax inspection, fiscal and customs, the National Republican Guard shall maintain a model based on the experience already accumulated, obviously adapted to the new demands of a changing society. Despite the current model gain in efficiency, loses in effectiveness. However, the efficiency of a model, without the necessary resources, can never bring “the letter to Garcia” against any kind of infringements, criminal or transgressions. Unless better opinion, both tax structures of the National Republican Guard are valid as an instrument for the prevention and combat of these illegal types. Because they are strategic in pursuing the public interest, given the scarce resources of the country and be the National Republican Guard, the force with the means and know-how of this nature. The political power has the final word.

Impact of taxes on competition: the legal status quo in the European Union

Dissertação de mestrado em Direito dos Negócios, Europeu e Transnacional