Vertical relations and local competition : an empirical approach

The analysis of vertical industry relations forms an essential element in the field of industrial organization. This paper tests hypotheses derived from transaction cost theory and the principal-agent problem in Chile’s petrol market. It shows that local competition plays an important role in the choice of a disintegrated vertical structure, and that low levels of service investment have the same effect. Conversely, the number of own-brand outlets and a high level of investment in services reduce the probability of disintegration. The paper demonstrates that vertical disintegration has a null effect on wholesale petrol prices and a positive effect on retail petrol prices of between 1.6 and 7 per cent, depending on fuel type.

Emotions in International Politics. Beyond Mainstream International Relations

In recent years, social scientists have increasingly recognized the interconnectedness of thought on emotions. Nowhere is the role of passions more evident than international politics, where pride, anger, guilt, fear, empathy, and other feelings are routinely on display. But in the absence of an overarching theory of emotions, how can we understand their role at the international level? Emotions in International Politics fills the need for theoretical tools in the new and rapidly growing subfield of international relations. Eminent scholars from a range of disciplines consider how emotions can be investigated from an international perspective involving collective players, drawing evidence from such emotionally fraught events as the Rwandan genocide, World War II, the 9/11 attacks, and the Iranian nuclear standoff. The path-breaking research collected in Emotions in International Politics will be a valuable theoretical guide to understanding conflict and cooperation in international relations.

Análise do perfil dos egressos do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina (Radiologia) da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

OBJETIVO: Identificar o perfil dos alunos e as motivações que os levaram a cursar o Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina (Radiologia) da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, bem como avaliar a produção científica, quantitativa e qualitativamente. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi enviado questionário contendo perguntas abertas e fechadas a 183 ex-alunos. Responderam 148 egressos. Avaliaram-se expectativas, destino profissional e produção científica. RESULTADOS: O aprimoramento técnico-científico (39,08%) e a evolução na carreira docente (26,82%) foram os aspectos que mais motivaram os egressos a cursar a pós-graduação. As mudanças decorrentes da finalização do curso foram: melhor conhecimento técnico (33,33%) e maior confiança no desempenho de suas funções (17,83%). Verificou-se que 60,42% estão atuando em instituições de ensino superior e 39,58% não, e que 84,93% dos artigos científicos sobre os temas das teses/dissertações foram publicados. CONCLUSÃO: O curso tem cumprido os requisitos essenciais para a formação de pesquisadores e docentes. Identificou-se a necessidade de atuação mais efetiva dos docentes do programa e de modificações curriculares, inserindo-se uma disciplina dedicada à elaboração de trabalhos científicos.

Teaching cross-cultural competence and CLIL: a CLIL approach in International Relations University Courses

International relations professionals need cross-cultural competence and English language communication skills to function in the international arena (Graddol 1997). English language communication skills are necessary not only to communicate with foreign colleagues (Bocanegra-Valle 2014) but also to access the vast amount of knowledge transmitted in English over the internet (Ku, Zussman 2010). This work reports the use of CLIL and cross-cultural training in the University of Messina International Relations Advanced Degree Program as a method to raise students’ level of English as quickly as possible while giving them the essential intercultural skills for work in the international field. The researchbased course program combined cross-cultural communication training (Storti, 1997; Lewis, 1999; Gannon, 2004, Harris and Moran, 2007; U.S Peace Corps Training Handbook 2012,) and intercultural competence skill development (Bennett, 1998). Two objectives were proposed: 1) develop cross-cultural communication competence; 2) bring students up to a B2 level as fast as possible. The final exam demonstrated significant growth in the areas of cross-cultural competence as well as an increase in European Common Framework level ranging from .5 to 1.0 depending on the student. Students expressed their belief that what they had learned would be useful for their future career. Combining CLIL with intercultural competence building seems to be effective in meeting two objectives: increasing English language fluency and developing cross-cultural communication competence. More research is recommended to further document this method for increasing English communication proficiency while developing interculturally competent international professionals.

Des relations déraisonnables ? Marie Bonaparte, son chien Topsy, la biologie et la psychanalyse

Analysée par Sigmund Freud, Marie Bonaparte (1882-1962) devint son élève et eu un rôle capital dans le développement de la psychanalyse en France. Elle fut aussi une proche de Gustave Le Bon (1841-1931), passionnée comme lui par les sciences et fréquenta notamment les scientifiques de L'Institut Pasteur. Outre son oeuvre de psychanalyste, elle publia en 1937 un texte sur le cancer de sa chienne Topsy qui sera traduit en allemand par Freud et connaitra un réel succès éditorial. L'analyse de cet ouvrage met à jour non seulement les spécificités de son rapport à l'animal mais aussi celui qu'elle entretient avec la science.

Is Transnational Private Regulation Potentially an Effective Means of Promoting Collective Industrial Relations?

This paper asks whether collective industrial relations can be promoted by means other than seeking change in public policy. Recent research points to the increasing significance of transnational private regulation (TPR) in developing economies. There is an emerging consensus that market incentives to improve wages and conditions of work can have a modest positive effect on measurable outcomes like hours of work, and health and safety. However, it appears that TPR has little impact on the capacity of workers to pursue such improvements for themselves via collective action. The paper takes a closer look at the potential of TPR to enhance worker voice and participation. It argues that this potential cannot be properly evaluated without understanding how local actors mobilise the social and political resources that TPR provides. The case studies presented show how different TPR schemes have been used by unions in Africa as a means to pursue the interests of members. The authors found that the scale of the impact of TPR in all of the contexts studied depended almost entirely on the existing capacities and resources of the unions involved. TPR led to the creation of collective industrial relations processes, or helped unions to ensure that certain enterprises participated in existing industrial relations processes, but did virtually nothing to enhance the political and organisational capacity of the unions to influence the outcomes of those processes in terms of wages and conditions of employment. The paper concludes that the potential of TPR to promote the emergence of collective industrial relations systems is very low.

Solasodina em espécies de solanum do cerrado do distrito federal

An isolation method of the steroidal alkaloid solasodine was applied to the fruits of seven species of the Solanum genus from the Federal District. Two of these species show promising yields. The purity of the isolated alkaloid allows it to be transformed it into an intermediate for steroidal drugs production, 16-deshydropregnenolone, and to the lactone vespertiline.

Relato de uma experiência: recuperação e cadastramento de resíduos dos laboratórios de graduação do Instituto de Química da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

An experience aiming to promote a residue interchange and recovery between the teaching laboratories of the Chemistry Institute of this University is described. At the present, several residues interchange have already appeared as advantageous. To make the work easier, a software has been developed in order to keep a record of all the residues generated by the teaching laboratories. Standard labels have been developed for the residues in order to organize them. The software and the label design are described.

Garvey-Kelson relations for nuclear charge radii

The Garvey-Kelson relations (GKRs) are algebraic expressions originally developed to predict nuclear masses. In this letter we show that the GKRs provide a fruitful framework for the prediction of other physical observables that also display a slowly-varying dynamics. Based on this concept, we extend the GKRs to the study of nuclear charge radii. The GKRs are tested on 455 out of the approximately 800 nuclei whose charge radius is experimentally known. We find a rms deviation between the GK predictions and the experimental values of only 0.01 fm. This should be contrasted against some of the most successful microscopic models that yield rms deviations almost three times as large. Predictions -with reliable uncertainties- are provided for 116 nuclei whose charge radius is presently unknown.

Compositional data analysis of vote shares in the 2001 Australian Federal election

First application of compositional data analysis techniques to Australian election data