Fairness quality: the role of fairness in a social and ethically oriented marketing landscape

Research into the dark side of customer management and marketing is progressively growing. The marketing landscape today is dominated with suspicion and distrust as a result of practices that include hidden fees, deception and information mishandling. In such a pessimistic economy, marketers must reconceptualise the notion of fairness in marketing and customer management, so that the progress of sophisticated customisation schemes and advancements in marketing can flourish, avoiding further control and imposed regulation. In this article, emerging research is drawn to suggest that existing quality measures of marketing activities, including service, relationships and experiences may not be comprehensive in measuring the relevant things in the social and ethically oriented marketing landscape, and on that basis does not measure the fairness which truly is important in such an economy. The paper puts forward the concept of Fairness Quality (FAIRQUAL), which includes as well as extends on existing thinking behind relationship building, experience creation and other types of customer management practices that are believed to predict consumer intentions. It is proposed that a fairness quality measure will aid marketers in this challenging landscape and economy.

Physiological and behavioral patterns of corruption

We study the behavior and emotional arousal of the participants in an experimental auction, leading to an asymmetric social dilemma involving an auctioneer and two bidders. An antisocial transfer (bribe) which is beneficial for the auctioneer (official) is paid, if promised, by the winner of the auction. Some pro-social behavior on both the auctioneers' and the bidders' sides is observed even in the absence of any punishment mechanism (Baseline, Treatment 0). However, pro-social behavior is adopted by the vast majority of subjects when the loser of the auction can inspect the transaction between the winner and the auctioneer (Inspection, Treatment 1). The inspection and punishment mechanism is such that, if a bribe is (not) revealed, both corrupt agents (the denouncing bidder) lose(s) this period's payoffs. This renders the inspection option unprofitable for the loser and is rarely used, especially towards the end of the session, when pro-social behavior becomes pervasive. Subjects' emotional arousal was obtained through skin conductance responses. Generally speaking, our findings suggest that stronger emotions are associated with decisions deviating from pure monetary reward maximization, rather than with (un)ethical behavior per se. In fact, using response times as a measure of the subject's reflection during the decision-making process, we can associate emotional arousal with the conflict between primary or instinctive and secondary or contemplative motivations and, more specifically, with deviations from the subject's pure monetary interest.

Property rights as a public policy tool: an empirical analysis of the social and economic effects

Secure property rights are considered a key determinant of economic development. However, the evaluation of the causal effects of land titling is a difficult task. The Brazilian government through a program called "Papel Passado" has issued titles, since 2004, to over 85,000 families and has the goal to reach 750,000. Furthermore, another topic in Public Policy that is crucial to developing economies is income generation and child labor force participation. Particularly, in Brazil, about 5.4 million children and teenagers between 5 and 17 years old are still working. This thesis examines the direct impact of securing a property title on income and child labor force participation. In order to isolate the causal role of ownership security, this study uses a comparison between two close and very similar communities in the City of Osasco case (a town with 650,000 people in the São Paulo metropolitan area). One of them, Jardim Canaã, was fortunated to receive the titles in 2007, the other, Jardim DR, given fiscal constraints, only will be part of the program schedule in 2012, and for that reason became the control group. Also, this thesis also aims to test if there is any relationship between land title and happiness. The estimates suggest that titling results in a substantial decrease of child labor force participation, increase of income and happiness for the families that received the title compared to the others.

Exploring attitudes and behavioral intention of brazilian consumers towards fair trade and fair trade products

As vendas globais de produtos FT cresceram de forma consistente nos últimos anos. De acordo com a FLO, as vendas cresceram de menos de € 1 bilhão em 2004 para cerca de € 5,5 bilhões em 2013. Apesar do movimento ainda estar engatinhando no Brasil, alguns esforços visando a institucionalização da FT estão sendo tomados. Por exemplo, o Schneider (2012) mostrou que existe um mercado potencial para os produtos FT no Brasil. Entretanto, ele ainda não é bem desenvolvido. Portanto, há uma necessidade de compreender melhor as variáveis que afetam a intenção de compra destes produtos. Estudos anteriores identificaram fatores que são considerados previsores de intenção de comprar produtos FT. Considerando esses fatores, o presente estudo tem como objetivo determinar as variáveis que estão mais relacionadas com a intenção de compra e disposição para pagar por produtos FT no Brasil. Com base nas respostas de 124 entrevistados, os resultados mostram que a intenção de compra de produtos FT no Brasil está ligada a atitudes de consumo éticas dos consumidores, o interesse e qualidade dos produtos, baixo ceticismo e percepção de relevância acerca do conceito FT. Os resultados também mostraram dois grupos antagônicos de consumidores a respeito de suas atitudes. O grupo dos "ativistas" tem atitudes positivas, de alta intenção de compra e disposição a pagar mais. Por outro lado, os "incrédulos" têm atitudes negativas, baixa intenção de compra e não estão dispostos a pagar mais. Com base nos resultados deste estudo, organizações e indivíduos que visam fomentar o mercado FT no Brasil podem entender melhor o consumidor e tomar decisões de marketing mais assertivas, considerando a relevância dos fatores que afetam a intenção de comprar, como também as diferenças entre os consumidores.

Reproductive and behavioral aspects of red-winged tinamous (Rhynchotus rufescens) in groups with different sex ratios

The aim of this research study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of tinamous submitted to five different male:female ratios. The study was carried out with 72 birds in a randomized experimental design with 4 replications. Tinamous were housed in cages, using the ratios of one (1:1), two (2:1), three (3:1) and four (4:1) females per male, and also one male was housed with three females individually (3R:1), in a rotational system. Reproductive records of the breeding season from September 2004 to March 2005 were used. The reproductive traits studied were: number of eggs laid, fertility, and percentage of eggs damaged and cracked by pecking. Nonparametric analyses of these traits were performed using Kruskal-Wallis test. Two replications of treatments 1:1 and 4:1, and one of treatment 2:1 were video-taped for three days, 12 hours/day. The videotapes were sampled according to the scan method to fit an ethogram. Birds were also watched for one hour per day to study dominance and agonistic behavior. None of the reproductive traits was affected by mating sex ratio (p<0.05). Female dominance could be related to displacement behavior (r=1.00), and male sitting in immobility plus sitting in activity behaviors were related to lower number of damaged eggs (r=-0.90). Social dominance was indirectly determined by displacement behavior in the study situation. A large number of damaged eggs occurred in all treatments, thereby not allowing a clear conclusion on the best male:female ratio.

Non invasive methods for genetic analysis applied to ecological and behavioral studies in Latino-America

Documenting the presence and abundance of the neotropical mammals is the first step for understanding their population ecology, behavior and genetic dynamics in designing conservation plans. The combination of field research with molecular genetics techniques are new tools that provide valuable biological information avoiding the disturbance in the ecosystems, trying to minimize the human impact in the process to gather biological information. The objective of this paper is to review the available non invasive sampling techniques that have been used in Neotropical mammal studies to apply to determine the presence and abundance, population structure, sex ratio, taxonomic diagnostic using mitochondrial markers, and assessing genetic variability using nuclear markers. There are a wide range of non invasive sampling techniques used to determine the species identification that inhabit an area such as searching for tracks, feces, and carcasses. Other useful equipment is the camera traps that can generate an image bank that can be valuable to assess species presence and abundance by morphology. With recent advances in molecular biology, it is now possible to use the trace amounts of DNA in feces and amplify it to analyze the species diversity in an area, and the genetic variability at intraspecific level. This is particularly helpful in cases of sympatric and cryptic species in which morphology failed to diagnose the taxonomic status of several species of brocket deer of the genus Mazama.

Caries experience associated to social and preventive factors in children of a pastoral community from Limeira-SP

Aim: To evaluate caries experience and prevalence associated to social and preventive factors in 3-6-year-old children of a Pastoral Community from Limeira, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out through an epidemiologic research about the oral conditions of 110 children registered at the Children's Pastoral Community from the city of Limeira, SP, Brazil. Intraoral examination was performed by a trained dentist and the parents/caregivers filled out a questionnaire in order to outline the children's profile with respect to gender, parental education and oral health. Results: Differences related to gender were not detected (p= 0.3404). The most frequent periods of breastfeeding were 0 to 2 months (36.36%) and 2 to 6 months (35.45%), corresponding to 71.81% of the cases. The time bottle feeding pointed to two most frequent categories: 1) more than 12 months (35.45%) and 2) between 2 and 6 months (22.63%). Regarding parental education, the majority of the sample has not completed primary school (38.32%). It was observed a larger number of decayed teeth in male children (63.39%). Caries experience was significantly higher in children who were breastfed for only 2 months of life (41.96%). Children that did not use baby bottle or did not use a baby bottle for more than 1 year presented a smaller dmft, corresponding to 29.17% and 28.33%, respectively. Time of use of bottle and pacifier presented a significant association (p<0.05). Conclusions: The implementation of adequate strategies and actions is needed to reinforce oral health conditions in risk groups.

Paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus glutamate neurotransmission modulates autonomic, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to acute restraint stress in rats

In the present study, the involvement of paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) glutamate receptors in the modulation of autonomic (arterial blood pressure, heart rate and tail skin temperature) and neuroendocrine (plasma corticosterone) responses and behavioral consequences evoked by the acute restraint stress in rats was investigated. The bilateral microinjection of the selective non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist NBQX (2 nmol/ 100 nL) into the PVN reduced the arterial pressure increase as well as the fall in the tail cutaneous temperature induced by the restraint stress, without affecting the stress-induced tachycardiac response. On the other hand, the pretreatment of the PVN with the selective NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist LY235959 (2 nmol/100 nL) was able to increase the stress-evoked pressor and tachycardiac response, without affecting the fall in the cutaneous tail temperature. The treatment of the PVN with LY235959 also reduced the increase in plasma corticosterone levels during stress and inhibited the anxiogenic-like effect observed in the elevated plus-maze 24 h after the restraint session. The present results show that NMDA and non-NMDA receptors in the PVN differently modulate responses associated to stress. The PVN glutamate neurotransmission, via non-NMDA receptors, has a facilitatory influence on stress-evoked autonomic responses. On the other hand, the present data point to an inhibitory role of PVN NMDA receptors on the cardiovascular responses to stress. Moreover, our findings also indicate an involvement of PVN NMDA glutamate receptors in the mediation of the plasma corticosterone response as well as in the delayed emotional consequences induced by the restraint stress. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP.

Social and economic problems in Cuba during the crisis and subsequent recovery

Includes bibliography

Social and environmental indexes to determine the impacts of closed neighbourhoods in Brazil

São Paulo State, in Brazil, is getting increasingly crowded, like in other third world countries around the world, so should give great importance to city development. This work considered the phenomenon of closed neighbourhoods (CN) as an important factor to city planning, papers report many impacts of this model of neighbourhoods in other countries, but in Brazil its impacts are not yet well listed in the literature. The aim of this work was to determine indicators to achieve the social and environmental performances and verify their applicability on three different closed neighbourhoods in São Paulo state, Brazil. The indicators were condensed on indexes: water management, waste management, energy and emissions, legal compliance, environment and buildings, risk management, health and education and governance. The preliminary results indicated several social and environmental problems in all indexes. © 2013 WIT Press.

FIPRONIL promotes motor and behavioral changes in honey bees (APIS Mellifera) and affects the development of colonies exposed to sublethal doses

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: 2000 Annual Report

Foreword, 2000 John A . Schmitz. Professor and Department Head Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Personnel Faculty Profiles Teaching program Research program Extension Program Nebraska Veterinary and Diagnostic Laboratory Systems Grants and Contracts Funded or Active in 2000 Patents by VBMS Faculty in 2000 Publications by VBMS Faculty in 2000 Presentations by VBMS Faculty in 2000 Articles Regarding the Department in 2000 Selected Committees, Editorial and Other Appointments of VBMS Faculty Departmental Budget Summaries Nebraska Agricultural Statistics 1999

Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences 2004 Annual Report

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Personnel VBMS Teaching Program VBMS Research Program International Activities, 2004 Veterinary Extension Program. 2004 VBMS Grants and Contracts Program. 2004 Refereed Publications by VBMS Faculty in 2004 Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Selected Committees, Editorial and Other Appointments. 2004 Articles Regarding the Department in 2004 Departmental Budget Summaries. 2004 Nebraska Agricultural Statistics. 2003/2004

Neuropathology and behavioral impairments after three types of global ischemia surgery in Meriones unguiculatus: Evidence in motor cortex, hippocampal CA1 region and the neostriatum

The effects of three types of global ischemia by occlusion of carotid artery on motor and exploratory behaviors of Gerbils were evaluated by the Activity Cage and Rota rod tests. Animals were divided based on two surgical criteria: unilateral (UNI) or bilateral (BIL) carotid occlusion, with (REP) or without (OCL) reperfusion; and their behavior was evaluated on the fourth (4) or sixth (6) day. There was reduction of cell number in striatum, motor cortex M1 area, and hippocampal CA1 area in all groups in comparison to control animals. For M1 area and striatum, the largest reduction was observed in UNI6, UNI4, and BIL4 groups. Neuronal loss was also observed in CA1 area of BIL4 rodents. There was a decrease in crossings and rearings in all groups in activity cage test, compared to control. Reperfusion, unilateral and bilateral occlusion groups showed decrease in crossings. Only the BIL4 showed a decrease of rearing. In the Rota rod test, except the UNIOCL6, the groups showed a decrease in the balance in comparison to control. Both groups with REP4 showed a major decrease in balance. These findings suggest that both unilateral and bilateral carotid occlusions with reperfusion produce impairments of motor and exploratory behavior. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.