Joint hypothesis tests for multidimensional inequality indices

Acknowledgments This work has been undertaken with the support of the A*MIDEX project (n ∘ ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02) funded by the “Investissements d’Avenir” French Government program, managed by the French National Research Agency (ANR). We are grateful to Julian Williams, Editor Badi H. Baltagi and an anonymous referee for helpful comments. We are responsible for any errors.

SENSORIMOTOR WORKING MEMORY CAPACITY LIMITS

Two novel studies examining the capacity and characteristics of working memory for object weights, experienced through lifting, were completed. Both studies employed visually identical objects of varying weight and focused on memories linking object locations and weights. Whereas numerous studies have examined the capacity of visual working memory, the capacity of sensorimotor memory involved in motor control and object manipulation has not yet been explored. In addition to assessing working memory for object weights using an explicit perceptual test, we also assessed memory for weight using an implicit measure based on motor performance. The vertical lifting or LF and the horizontal GF applied during lifts, measured from force sensors embedded in the object handles, were used to assess participants’ ability to predict object weights. In Experiment 1, participants were presented with sets of 3, 4, 5, 7 or 9 objects. They lifted each object in the set and then repeated this procedure 10 times with the objects lifted either in a fixed or random order. Sensorimotor memory was examined by assessing, as a function of object set size, how lifting forces changed across successive lifts of a given object. The results indicated that force scaling for weight improved across the repetitions of lifts, and was better for smaller set sizes when compared to the larger set sizes, with the latter effect being clearest when objects were lifting in a random order. However, in general the observed force scaling was poorly scaled. In Experiment 2, working memory was examined in two ways: by determining participants’ ability to detect a change in the weight of one of 3 to 6 objects lifted twice, and by simultaneously measuring the fingertip forces applied when lifting the objects. The results showed that, even when presented with 6 objects, participants were extremely accurate in explicitly detecting which object changed weight. In addition, force scaling for object weight, which was generally quite weak, was similar across set sizes. Thus, a capacity limit less than 6 was not found for either the explicit or implicit measures collected.

Estudiantes de primera generación en Chile: una aproximación cualitativa a la experiencia universitaria

El propósito de este artículo es analizar la experiencia universitaria de un grupo de estudiantes de primera generación de tres universidades ubicadas en Concepción, Chile. En un contexto de fuerte masificación de la educación superior, la experiencia de los estudiantes cuyos padres completaron como máximo la educación secundaria, se ha transformado en un ámbito de incipiente interés. En función de los objetivos, la investigación fue abordada desde el paradigma constructivista y diseñada de acuerdo al método biográfico, cuya principal técnica de recolección de datos fueron las entrevistas semi-estructuradas. Los resultados de esta investigación, de carácter exploratorio, revelan que la construcción de un proyecto de estudios universitarios se encuentra notablemente influenciado por los padres, quienes se transforman en una fuente fundamental de apoyo. Asimismo, los estudiantes configuran tres significaciones a su experiencia universitaria: la movilidad social ascendente, la vocación y la retribución a los padres. Finalmente, se discuten los resultados a partir de los cuales se proponen nuevos interrogantes.

Memory Bias for Anxiety Prior to Academic Achievement Situations: Influences of Time, Mood, Personality and Post-Event-Processing

The current thesis examines memory bias for state anxiety prior to academic achievement situations like writing an exam and giving a speech. The thesis relies on the reconstruction principle, which assumes that memories for past emotions are reconstructed rather than stored permanently and accurately. This makes them prone to memory bias, which is af-fected by several influencing factors. A major aim is to include four important influencing factors simultaneously. Early research on mood and emotional autobiographical memory found evidence for the existence of a propositional associative network (Bower, 1981; Col-lins & Loftus, 1975), leading to mood congruent recall. But empirical findings gave also strong evidence for the existence of mood incongruent recall for one’s own emotions, which was for example linked to mood regulation via mood repair (e.g. Clark & Isen, 1982), which seems to be associated to the personality traits extraversion and neuroticism (Lischetzke & Eid, 2006; Ng & Diener, 2009). Moreover, neuroticism and trait anxiety are related to rumination, which is seen as negative post-event-processing (e.g. Wells & Clark, 1997). Overall, the elapsed time since the emotional event happened should have an impact on recall of emotions. Following the affect infusion model by Robinson and Clore (2002a), the influence of personality on memory bias should increase over time. Therefore, three longitudinal studies were realized, using naturally occurring as well as laboratory settings. The used paradigm was equivalent in all studies. Subjects were asked about their actual state anxiety prior to an academic achievement situation. Directly after the situation, cur-rent mood and recall of former anxiety were assessed. The same procedure was repeated a few weeks later. Personality traits and post-event-processing were also assessed. The results suggest a need to have a differentiated view on predicting memory bias. Study 1 (N = 131) as well as study 3 (N = 53) found evidence for mood incongruent memory in the sense of mood repair and downward regulation as a function of personality. Rumination was found to cause stable overestimation of pre-event anxiety in study 2 (N = 141) as well as in study 3. Although the relevance of the influencing factors changed over time, an increasing relevance of personality could not consistently be observed. The tremendously different effects of the laboratory study 2 indicated that such settings are not appropriate to study current issues. Theoretical and psychotherapeutically relevant conclusions are drawn and several limitations are discussed.

Dietary exposure assessments for children in Europe (the EXPOCHI project): rationale, methods and design

[EN]The number of dietary exposure assessment studies focussing on children is very limited. Children are however a vulnerable group due to their higher food consumption level per kg body weight. Therefore, the EXPOCHI project aims [1] to create a relational network of individual food consumption databases in children, covering different geographical areas within Europe, and [2] to use these data to assess the usual intake of lead, chromium, selenium and food colours.

Mechanisms underlying activation of neural stem cells in the adult central nervous system

À la fin du 19e siècle, Dr. Ramón y Cajal, un pionnier scientifique, a découvert les éléments cellulaires individuels, appelés neurones, composant le système nerveux. Il a également remarqué la complexité de ce système et a mentionné l’impossibilité de ces nouveaux neurones à être intégrés dans le système nerveux adulte. Une de ses citations reconnues : “Dans les centres adultes, les chemins nerveux sont fixes, terminés, immuables. Tout doit mourir, rien ne peut être régénérer” est représentative du dogme de l’époque (Ramón y Cajal 1928). D’importantes études effectuées dans les années 1960-1970 suggèrent un point de vue différent. Il a été démontré que les nouveaux neurones peuvent être générés à l’âge adulte, mais cette découverte a créé un scepticisme omniprésent au sein de la communauté scientifique. Il a fallu 30 ans pour que le concept de neurogenèse adulte soit largement accepté. Cette découverte, en plus de nombreuses avancées techniques, a ouvert la porte à de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques potentielles pour les maladies neurodégénératives. Les cellules souches neurales (CSNs) adultes résident principalement dans deux niches du cerveau : la zone sous-ventriculaire des ventricules latéraux et le gyrus dentelé de l’hippocampe. En condition physiologique, le niveau de neurogenèse est relativement élevé dans la zone sous-ventriculaire contrairement à l’hippocampe où certaines étapes sont limitantes. En revanche, la moelle épinière est plutôt définie comme un environnement en quiescence. Une des principales questions qui a été soulevée suite à ces découvertes est : comment peut-on activer les CSNs adultes afin d’augmenter les niveaux de neurogenèse ? Dans l’hippocampe, la capacité de l’environnement enrichi (incluant la stimulation cognitive, l’exercice et les interactions sociales) à promouvoir la neurogenèse hippocampale a déjà été démontrée. La plasticité de cette région est importante, car elle peut jouer un rôle clé dans la récupération de déficits au niveau de la mémoire et l’apprentissage. Dans la moelle épinière, des études effectuées in vitro ont démontré que les cellules épendymaires situées autour du canal central ont des capacités d’auto-renouvellement et de multipotence (neurones, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes). Il est intéressant de noter qu’in vivo, suite à une lésion de la moelle épinière, les cellules épendymaires sont activées, peuvent s’auto-renouveller, mais peuvent seulement ii donner naissance à des cellules de type gliale (astrocytes et oligodendrocytes). Cette nouvelle fonction post-lésion démontre que la plasticité est encore possible dans un environnement en quiescence et peut être exploité afin de développer des stratégies de réparation endogènes dans la moelle épinière. Les CSNs adultes jouent un rôle important dans le maintien des fonctions physiologiques du cerveau sain et dans la réparation neuronale suite à une lésion. Cependant, il y a peu de données sur les mécanismes qui permettent l'activation des CSNs en quiescence permettant de maintenir ces fonctions. L'objectif général est d'élucider les mécanismes sous-jacents à l'activation des CSNs dans le système nerveux central adulte. Pour répondre à cet objectif, nous avons mis en place deux approches complémentaires chez les souris adultes : 1) L'activation des CSNs hippocampales par l'environnement enrichi (EE) et 2) l'activation des CSNs de la moelle épinière par la neuroinflammation suite à une lésion. De plus, 3) afin d’obtenir plus d’information sur les mécanismes moléculaires de ces modèles, nous utiliserons des approches transcriptomiques afin d’ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives. Le premier projet consiste à établir de nouveaux mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires à travers lesquels l’environnement enrichi module la plasticité du cerveau adulte. Nous avons tout d’abord évalué la contribution de chacune des composantes de l’environnement enrichi à la neurogenèse hippocampale (Chapitre II). L’exercice volontaire promeut la neurogenèse, tandis que le contexte social augmente l’activation neuronale. Par la suite, nous avons déterminé l’effet de ces composantes sur les performances comportementales et sur le transcriptome à l’aide d’un labyrinthe radial à huit bras afin d’évaluer la mémoire spatiale et un test de reconnaissante d’objets nouveaux ainsi qu’un RNA-Seq, respectivement (Chapitre III). Les coureurs ont démontré une mémoire spatiale de rappel à court-terme plus forte, tandis que les souris exposées aux interactions sociales ont eu une plus grande flexibilité cognitive à abandonner leurs anciens souvenirs. Étonnamment, l’analyse du RNA-Seq a permis d’identifier des différences claires dans l’expression des transcripts entre les coureurs de courte et longue distance, en plus des souris sociales (dans l’environnement complexe). iii Le second projet consiste à découvrir comment les cellules épendymaires acquièrent les propriétés des CSNs in vitro ou la multipotence suite aux lésions in vivo (Chapitre IV). Une analyse du RNA-Seq a révélé que le transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) agit comme un régulateur, en amont des changements significatifs suite à une lésion de la moelle épinière. Nous avons alors confirmé la présence de cette cytokine suite à la lésion et caractérisé son rôle sur la prolifération, différentiation, et survie des cellules initiatrices de neurosphères de la moelle épinière. Nos résultats suggèrent que TGF-β1 régule l’acquisition et l’expression des propriétés de cellules souches sur les cellules épendymaires provenant de la moelle épinière.

Persistent identifier Studies

The studies have aimed to overcome the confusing variety of existing persistent identifier systems, by; analysing the current national URN:NBN and other identifier initiatives providing guidelines for an international harmonized persistent identifier framework that serves the long-term preservation needs of the research and cultural heritage communities advising these communities about a roadmap to gain the potential benefits. This roadmap also includes a blueprint for an organisation for the distribution and maintenance of the Persistent Identifier infrastructure. These studies are connected to the broader PersId project with DEFF, SURF, DANS, the national libraries of Germany, Finland and Sweden and CNR and FDR from Italy. A number of organisations have been involved in the process: Europeana, the British library, the Dutch Royal Library, the National library of Norway and the Ministry of Education, Flanders, Belgium. PersID - III: Current State and State of the Art (IIIa) & User Requirements (IIIb) (Persistent Identifier: urn:nbn:nl:ui:13-9g4-i1s) PersID - IV: Prototype for a Meta Resolver System/ Work on Standards (Persistent Identifier: urn:nbn:nl:ui:13-wt1-6n9) PersID - V: Sustainability (Persistent Identifier: urn:nbn:nl:ui:13-o4p-8py) Please note that there are also two broader reports on the project as a whole: PersID - I: Project report and II:Communication. For further information please visit the website of the Persistent Identifier project: www.persid.org

Aquatic ecology monitoring: water quality, fish, fish catch, sanitation and disease vectors: monitoring No.9, 9th – 12th September 2011

The results reported on were from a monitoring survey No. 9 undertaken between 9th and 12th September 2011 during construction period of the Bujagali Hydropower Project (BHPP). Two pre-construction, baseline surveys in April 2000 and April 2006 were conducted and so far, during construction phase of the project, eight monitoring surveys have been undertaken i.e. in September 2007, April 2008, April 2009, October 2009, April 2010, September 2010, April 2011 and the present one, in September 2011. Since 2009 biannual monitoring surveys have been conducted at an upstream and a downstream transect of the BHPP with emphasis on the following aspects: water quality determinants biology and ecology of fishes and food webs fish stock and fish catch including economic aspects of catch and sanitation/vector studies (bilharzias and river blindness)in addition to the above mentioned studies, a soil pH survey was undertaken on 15th October 2011 in the area behind the reservoir whose filling started a week earlier. The findings of pH status in the catchment of the dam are also contained in this report.

Colour in English: from metonymy to metaphor

Colour words abound with figurative meanings, expressing much more than visual signals. Some of these figurative properties are well known; in English, for example, black is associated with EVIL and blue with DEPRESSION. Colours themselves are also described in metaphorical terms using lexis from other domains of experience, such as when we talk of deep blue, drawing on the domain of spatial position. Both metaphor and colour are of central concern to semantic theory; moreover, colour is recognised as a highly productive metaphoric field. Despite this, comparatively few works have dealt with these topics in unison, and even those few have tended to focus on Basic Colour Terms (BCTs) rather than including non-BCTs. This thesis addresses the need for an integrated study of both BCTs and non-BCTs, and provides an overview of metaphor and metonymy within the semantic area of colour. Conducted as part of the Mapping Metaphor project, this research uses the unique data source of the Historical Thesaurus of English (HT) to identify areas of meaning that share vocabulary with colour and thus point to figurative uses. The lexicographic evidence is then compared to current language use, found in the British National Corpus (BNC) and the Corpus of Contemporary American (COCA), to test for currency and further developments or changes in meaning. First, terms for saturation, tone and brightness are discussed. This lexis often functions as hue modifiers and is found to transfer into COLOUR from areas such as LIFE, EMOTION, TRUTH and MORALITY. The evidence for cross-modal links between COLOUR with SOUND, TOUCH and DIMENSION is then presented. Each BCT is discussed in turn, along with a selection of non-BCTs, where it is revealed how frequently hue terms engage in figurative meanings. This includes the secondary BCTs, with the only exception being orange, and a number of non-BCTs. All of the evidence discussed confirms that figurative uses of colour originate through a process of metonymy, although these are often extended into metaphor.

Development Begins at Home: Women and the Domestic Economy in Brazil, 1945-1975

A number of historians of twentieth-century Latin America have identified ways that national labor laws, civil codes, social welfare programs, and business practices contributed to a gendered division of society that subordinated women to men in national economic development, household management, and familial relations. Few scholars, however, have critically explored women's roles as consumers and housewives in these intertwined realms. This work examines the Brazilian case after the Second World War, arguing that economic policies and business practices associated with “developmentalism” [Portuguese: desenvolvimentismo] created openings for women to engage in debates about national progress and transnational standards of modernity. While acknowledging that an asymmetry of gender relations persisted, the study demonstrates that urban women expanded their agency in this period, especially over areas of economic and family life deemed "domestic." This dissertation examines periodicals, consumer research statistics, public opinion surveys, personal interviews, corporate archives, the archives of key women’s organizations, and government officials’ records to identify the role that women and household economies played in Brazilian developmentalism between 1945 and 1975. Its principal argument is that business and political elites attempted to define gender roles for adult urban women as housewives and mothers, linking their management of the household to familial well-being and national modernization. In turn, Brazilian women deployed these idealized roles in public to advance their own economic interests, especially in the management of household finances and consumption, as well as to expand legal rights for married women, and increase women’s participation in the workforce. As the market for women's labor expanded with continued industrialization, these efforts defined a more active role for women in the economy and in debates about the trajectory of national development policies.

CONSTRUCCIÓN DE ESPACIOS DE INFORMACIÓN PARA GARANTIZAR EL ACCESO AL CONOCIMIENTO EN LAS POBLACIONES INDÍGENAS: EL CASO DE COSTA RICA

Esta ponencia se basa en el proyecto CENTRO DE CONOCIMIENTO PARA GRUPOS INDÍGENAS CENTROAMERICANOS (GEIC), coordinado por la Escuela de Bibliotecología, Documentación e Información (EBDI) de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, (UNA), su objetivo es “proponer la construcción de espacios de información para la población indígena, a partir del proyecto CENTRO DE CONOCIMIENTO PARA GRUPOS INDÍGENAS CENTROAMERICANOS y con esta ponencia se pretende presentar las lecciones aprendidas durante 2003-2007, años de recolección y análisis de datos, de establecimiento de relaciones, de coordinar actividades y ejecutar acciones tendientes a garantizar el cumplimiento al derecho de acceso a la información de las poblaciones indígenas costarricenses.El objetivo de GEIC fue crear un Centro de Conocimiento sobre/de Grupos Étnicos Indígenas Centroamericanos que sirviera de eje central para la consolidación del desarrollo de procesos tendientes a fortalecer la temática y el desarrollo de los grupos étnicos indígenas centroamericanos.El proyecto inició en el 2003, pero al no contar con personal permanente, se interrumpe su proceso hasta enero de 2004, con el desarrollo de la primera etapa, que comprende implementar cinco objetivos en Costa Rica. En posteriores etapas se espera integrar a los demás países centroamericanos.La población indígena costarricense corresponde a 63,876 personas, representando el 1.6% de la población nacional; existen ocho grupos socioculturales indígenas distintos, Cabécares, Bribris, Ngäbe, Térrabas, Borucas, Huetares, Malekus y Chorotegas, habitan en 24 territorios y hablan en 6 idiomas indígenas. A ellos se deben sumar poblaciones indígenas migratorias como los Miskitos de Nicaragua y Ngäbes de Panamá que trabajan en la producción agrícola en distintas zonas del país. El Proyecto GEIC, buscó la ejecución de la propuesta de creación de una unidad de información especializada en asuntos indígenas, en Shiroles Talamanca, para esto se realizó una investigación diagnóstica en la zona, determinando los recursos disponibles: tecnológicos, humanos, económicos y educacionales. En la actualidad se está gestionando y buscando financiamiento en instituciones locales, nacionales, e internacionales para cubrir los costos, aspecto que resulta un poco difícil por la falta de valoración de la importancia de la información en las comunidades indígenas.Otra actividad paralela a ésta es la construcción de un portal disponible en la dirección: http://www.una.ac.cr/bibliotecología/proyectogeic, y que fue avalado por las comunidades indígenas, con la participación de los y las protagonistas. En esa oportunidad se les explicó cada sección del mismo y se les solicitó sus observaciones y comentarios al respecto para involucrarlos(as) y se sintieran apropiados(as) de la misma.

O controlo do circuito, da tramitação, da recuperação dos documentos e a legislação nos arquivos municipais de Moçambique

Este estudo tem como objectivo conciliar aspectos da Arquivística à Boa Administração através da gestão dos documentos com efoque no controlo do circuito, da tramitação, da recuperação dos documentos e a legislação nos arquivos municipais em Moçambique no período 1933-2007. O estudo realizado em três universos: municípios de Maputo, da Beira e de Quelimane, em que se confirma que os instrumentos de controlo utilizados na circulação e recuperação dos documentos contribuem para uma boa governação, garantindo a transparência dos actos administrativos e a salvaguarda dos direitos dos cidadãos. Mostra-se que nunca se deve prescindir quer das actividades que delineiam os macro e micro processos nas instituições quer da definição prévia dos percursos documentais, da regulamentação dos procedimentos, da utilização de técnicas que permitam a recuperação dos documentos e da informação: Mostra-se a importância da formação e do conhecimento dos procedimentos pelos funcionários dos escalões autorizados a realizar, pareceres e despachos, da determinação das formas do controlo documental e da garantia no cumprimento dos prazos estabelecidos para cada percurso e, finalmente, a necessária observância prática da legislação criada para esse efeito. ABSTRACT; This case study has as a main objective the reconciliation of the filing aspects with a good Administration though the management of documents and its network, specially in the restoring of files and its legislation into the Municipal Archives of Mozambique during the period of 1933-2007. The study was based on three cities where municipal councils were created, namely: Maputo, Beira and Quelimane. Record's contrail tools used either for registering record transactions or for the access of information contained in them, ensure good governance, transparency and protection of citizen rights. We show the necessity of the activities which lead to macro and micro processes within the organization. This requires that records procedures on transactions must be established and so the guidelines for records' contrail, registration and tools for the information retrieval. We indicate procedures to be followed by authorized civil servants, the importance of their practical training and we define types of records' contrail to ensure their preservation and use in order to accomplish the national legislation.

Definição da identidade da marca para o medronho

Numa economia global sujeita a mudanças nas dinâmicas de mercado e a uma concorrência crescente, o papel das marcas nunca foi tão importante como agora. As marcas servem de mapa orientador para comportamento de compra e, quando geridas de forma correta, resultam geralmente num valor significativo para os seus detentores. Pretende-se com este trabalho desenvolver uma marca para o medronho, fruto nacional ainda pouco comercializado em fresco. Procurou criar-se uma identidade de marca forte, tendo em atenção os vários elementos de marca de modo a contribuir positivamente para a construção de capital de marca (brand equity). Na metodologia privilegia-se a análise qualitativa, com a realização de uma entrevista e um questionário, com o intuito de aprofundar respetivamente o conhecimento da empresa e a perceção dos consumidores em relação ao fruto. Neste sentido, e depois de uma análise cuidada da literatura, este projeto reflete a aplicação dos modelos de construção de marcas e dos critérios para a escolha dos elementos da marca definidos por Keller (2005). Deste trabalho resulta uma proposta de construção dos elementos da marca, a ser utilizada pelo centro de excelência para a valorização dos recursos mediterrâneos (CEVRM); Definition of the Brand Identity for the arbutus Abstract: In a global economy subject to changes in market dynamics and increasing competition, the role of brands has never been as important as now. Trademarks serve advisor map to buying behavior and, when managed correctly, often result in significant value for its owners. The aim of this work is to develop a brand for the arbutus, national fruit poorly marketed fresh. Sought to create is a strong brand identity, taking into account the various mode brand elements to contribute positively to building brand equity (brand equity). The methodology emphasizes the qualitative analysis, conducting an interview and a questionnaire, in order to deepen respectively the company's knowledge and perception of consumers in relation to the fruit. In this sense, and after a careful analysis of the literature, this project reflects the application of model building brands and criteria for the choice of brand elements defined by Keller. This work results in a proposal to build the brand elements to be used by the CEVRM.

GUÍA DE LA INFORMACIÓN QUE CUSTODIA EL ARCHIVO NACIONAL DE COSTA RICA

En la medida en que esta sociedad de información y comunicación crece, también experimenta crecimiento las fuentes de información en sus diferentes soportes. Vivimos en una sociedad marcada por la tecnología, por esto surge la necesidad de crear instrumentos que permiten un mejor aprovechamiento de la información.   Dada la justificación del caso y considerando, la importancia que reviste valorar y conocer la cantidad y calidad de la información que alberga el Archivo Nacional de Costa Rica, el objetivo general de este trabajo de investigación es, realizar una obra de referencia impresa, de los tres archivos que brindan información al público, Archivo Histórico, Archivo Intermedio y Archivo Notarial. Con el fin de facilitar el acceso a la información y de reforzar la labor de divulgación que ha venido haciendo el Archivo Nacional mediante sus publicaciones, exposiciones y demás actividades afines, para dar a conocer sus fondos.