Gender gaps in policy making: Evidence from direct democracy in Switzerland

In spite of increasing representation of women in politics, little is known about their impact onpolicies. Comparing outcomes of parliaments with different shares of female members does not identifytheir causal impact because of possible differences in the underlying electorate. This paper usesa unique data set on voting decisions to sheds new light on gender gaps in policy making. Ouranalysis focuses on Switzerland, where all citizens can directly decide on a broad range of policiesin referendums and initiatives. We show that there are large gender gaps in the areas of health,environmental protection, defense spending and welfare policy which typically persist even conditionalon socio-economic characteristics. We also find that female policy makers have a substantial effect onthe composition of public spending, but a small effect on the overall size of government.

Does foreign direct investment crowd out domestic entrepreneurship?

In analyzing firm entry and exit across Belgian manufacturing industries,this paper presents evidence that import competition and foreign directinvestment discourage entry and stimulate exit of domestic entrepreneurs.These results are in line with theoretical occupational choice modelsthat predict foreign direct investment would crowd out domesticentrepreneurs through their selections in product and labor markets.However, the empirical results also suggest that this crowding out effectmay be moderated or even reversed in the long-run due to the long termpositive effects of FDI on domestic entrpreneurship as a result oflearning, demonstration, networking and linkage effects between foreignand domestic firms.

Twitch and M-wave potentiation induced by intermittent maximal voluntary quadriceps contractions: Differences between direct quadriceps and femoral nerve stimulation.

Introduction: To investigate differences in twitch and M-wave potentiation in the quadriceps femoris when electrical stimulation is applied over the quadriceps muscle belly versus the femoral nerve trunk. Methods: M-waves and mechanical twitches were evoked using direct quadriceps muscle and femoral nerve stimulation between 48 successive isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) from 10 young, healthy subjects. Potentiation was investigated by analyzing the changes in M-wave amplitude recorded from the vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles and in quadriceps peak twitch force. Results: Potentiation of twitch, VM M-wave, and VL M-wave were greater for femoral nerve than for direct quadriceps stimulation (P<0.05). Despite a 50% decrease in MVC force, the amplitude of the M-waves increased significantly during exercise. Conclusions: In addition to enhanced electrogenic Na(+) -K(+) pumping, other factors (such as synchronization in activation of muscle fibers and muscle architectural properties) might significantly influence the magnitude of M-wave enlargement. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Audit report on the Iowa Turkey Marketing Council for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006

Audit report on the Iowa Turkey Marketing Council for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006

Angiotensin II receptor blockade in normotensive subjects: A direct comparison of three AT1 receptor antagonists.

Use of angiotensin (Ang) II AT1 receptor antagonists for treatment of hypertension is rapidly increasing, yet direct comparisons of the relative efficacy of antagonists to block the renin-angiotensin system in humans are lacking. In this study, the Ang II receptor blockade induced by the recommended starting dose of 3 antagonists was evaluated in normotensive subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, 4-way crossover study. At 1-week intervals, 12 subjects received a single dose of losartan (50 mg), valsartan (80 mg), irbesartan (150 mg), or placebo. Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system was assessed before and 4, 24, and 30 hours after drug intake by 3 independent methods: inhibition of the blood pressure response to exogenous Ang II, in vitro Ang II receptor assay, and reactive changes in plasma Ang II levels. At 4 hours, losartan blocked 43% of the Ang II-induced systolic blood pressure increase; valsartan, 51%; and irbesartan, 88% (P<0.01 between drugs). The effect of each drug declined with time. At 24 hours, a residual effect was found with all 3 drugs, but at 30 hours, only irbesartan induced a marked, significant blockade versus placebo. Similar results were obtained when Ang II receptor blockade was assessed with an in vitro receptor assay and by the reactive rise in plasma Ang II levels. This study thus demonstrates that the first administration of the recommended starting dose of irbesartan induces a greater and longer lasting Ang II receptor blockade than that of valsartan and losartan in normotensive subjects.

Impacto do marketing nas decisões de compras dos consumidores: caso São Vicente

A qualidade na prestação de serviços tem um papel fundamental no dia-a-dia das organizações, poisa competitividade instalada entre as mesmas é uma realidade cada vez mais presente. Produzir bens e serviços, que satisfaçam as necessidades e expectativas dos consumidores deve ser o foco das atenções de qualquer organização que se queira manter rentável e saudável perante a comunidade onde está inserida. O presente estudo, procura identificar e analisar a influência que o marketing tem sobre os consumidores e como é que estes reagem à esta influência. Também este trabalho apresenta vários temas que são tratados pelo marketing. Neste trabalho far-se-á pesquisa bibliográfica, consultas de sites e um estudo de campo onde será aplicado um questionário no mercado alvo do estudo, ilha de São Vicente. A formulação do problema tem como base as questões do questionário, das quais pretende-se averiguar o impacto que o marketing tem na hora da aquisição de produtos e serviços.

Marketing e Empreendedorismo na Promoção Turística de Cabo Verde – Estudo de Caso: Plano de Negócio de um Passaporte Turístico

O presente trabalho teve por objectivo principal a elaboração de um plano de negócios para a implementação de um projecto de passaporte turístico visando a promoção turística de Cabo Verde. A primeira etapa deste trabalho baseou-se na análise dos conceitos, evolução histórica e a importância dos três principais ramos ligados ao tema, neste caso o turismo, marketing e empreendedorismo enquadrados sempre no contexto cabo-verdiano, bem como a ligação que existe entre eles. Para o desenvolvimento deste plano foram feitos levantamentos e recolha de dados sobre a implementação e desenvolvimento do processo de Marketing e promoção turística de e em Cabo Verde. Nesta sequência debruçou-se também sobre o tema Empreendedorismo, que actualmente é uma das áreas em crescimento em Cabo verde, para que a ideia tivesse um enquadramento lógico, capaz de o tornar um projecto exequível, que futuramente poderá contribuir para melhorar as estratégias de Marketing e promoção turística bem como impulsionar o espírito empreendedor no país. A estrutura do plano baseou-se no modelo utilizado pela ADEI (Agência de Desenvolvimento Empresarial e Inovação) como instrumento de orientação e capacitação ao empreendedorismo em Cabo Verde.

Direct Care Entities in Iowa, 2008

A directory of Direct Care Entities in Iowa, by type of service, number of facilities and number of beds available.

The timing of foreign direct investment under uncertainty: Evidence from the Spanish banking sector

This paper investigates the timing of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the banking sector. The importance of this issue would arise from the existence of differential benefits associated to be the first entrant in a foreign location. Nevertheless, when uncertainty is considered, the existence of some Ownership-Location-Internalization (OLI) advantages can make FDI less reversible and/or more delayable and therefore it may be optimal for the firm to delay the investment until the uncertainty is resolved. In this paper, the nature of OLI advantages in the banking sector has been examined in order to propose a prognostic model of the timing of foreign direct investment. The model is then tested for the Spanish case using duration analysis.

O plano de marketing como uma estratégia competitiva Estudo de caso – Oásis Praiamar Hotel

O serviço é um dos sectores que tem contribuído para o crescimento da economia mundial. Em grande parte dos países, tanto nos desenvolvidos como nos em vias de desenvolvimento, o sector de serviços gera um grande número de empregos e tem uma participação maior no PIB1 em relação aos outros sectores da economia. E dentro deste sector destaca-se o turismo, que tem registado um crescimento considerável devido ás grandes transformações a nível tecnológico, tanto no que concerne ao processamento de informação, como no desenvolvimento a nível dos transportes, estabelecendo uma ligação directa entre os pontos do universo, influenciando o comportamento dos mercados, o que faz com que os prestadores de serviços sejam mais ágeis, adaptáveis e mais competitivos.

Report on a special investigation of the Engineering Communications and Marketing Department (ECM) of Iowa State University of Science and Technology for the period January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2007

Report on a special investigation of the Engineering Communications and Marketing Department (ECM) of Iowa State University of Science and Technology for the period January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2007

Foreign direct investments and spillovers through workers' mobility

We analyze a model where a multinational firm can use its superiortechnology in a foreign subsidiary only after appropriate trainingof local managers. Technological spillovers from foreign directinvestment arise when such managers are later hired by a localfirm. Benefits for the host economy may also take the form of therent that trained managers receive by the foreign affiliate toprevent them from moving to local competitors. We study conditionsunder which technological spillovers occur. We also show that undercertain circumstances the multinational firm might find it optimalto resort to export instead of foreign direct investment, to avoiddissipation of its intangible assets.