A comparison of model laws as a starting point for the development of an enforceable international consumer protection regime

This article is concerned primarily with an examination and comparison of select aspects of the model international consumer protection laws proposed by the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), using the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Australia) as a basis for examination and comparison. As a secondary consideration, it also broadly examines the content of, and differences between, the model laws. The motive for this article is that any future enforceable international consumer protection regime (possibly in the form of an international treaty or convention) would need to take into account the UN, EU and OECD guidelines. A cross-comparison of those model laws, and a comparison of them with the consumer protection provisions of a well established national consumer protection law, should provide a useful starting point for the development of such a regime. The 'select aspects' of the model laws in question are the various provisions of those laws which could relate to situations involving the wrong delivery or non-delivery of goods.

Characterization of the surface stickiness of fructose-maltodextrin solutions during drying

A probe tack test has been used for the in situ characterization of the surface stickiness of hemispherical drops with an initial radius of 3.5 mm while drying. Surface stickiness of drops of fructose and maltodextrin solutions dried at 63degreesC and 95degreesC was determined. The effect of addition of maltodextrin on fructose solution-was studied with fructose/maltodextrin solid mass ratios of 4: 1, 1: 1, and 1:4. Pure fructose solutions remained completely sticky and failed cohesively even when their moisture approached zero. Shortly after the start of drying, the surface of the maltodextrin drops formed a skin, which rapidly grew in thickness. Subsequently the drop surface became completely nonsticky probably due to transformation of outer layers into a glassy material. Addition of malto,dextrin significantly altered the surface stickiness of drops of fructose solutions, demonstrating its use as an effective drying aid.

Effect of lifter design on drying performance in rotary dryers

Lifter use in dryers improves mass transfer by increasing the amount of surface area available for transfer and also by increasing the velocity of gas over the particle surface. An even cross-sectional distribution of particles in a dryer improves the efficiency of operation by ensuring that evaporation from falling particles is taking place for the maximum fraction of the rotation period of the drier. Studies on lifter design to improve the cross-sectional particle distribution were performed on angled lifters. A single lifter was used and the mass-transfer rate examined as a function of angular lifter displacement. Analysis of the mass transfer characteristics of single lifters allowed performance comparisons and recommendations for lifter design.

The effect of pretreatments on the drying rate and quality of dried bananas

The effects that four pretreatments (blanching, chilling, freezing, and combined blanching and freezing), used prior to drying, had on the drying rate and quality of bananas were investigated. An untreated sample was used as a control. The bananas were dried at 50 degreesC in a heat pump dehumidifier dryer, using an air velocity of 3.1 m s(-1), until a final moisture content of approximately 25% dry weight basis was attained. While the initial drying rate was highest for the blanched treatment, the two pretreatments involving freezing resulted in the shortest drying times. The blanched sample was most preferred in terms of colour while the frozen samples exhibited extensive browning. The texture and flavour was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in all samples that involved blanching and/or freezing.

Influence of shapes of selected vegetable materials on drying kinetics during fluidized bed drying

Three different particular geometrical shapes of parallelepiped, cylinder and sphere were taken from cut green beans (length:diameter = 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1) and potatoes (aspect ratio = 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1) and peas, respectively. Their drying behaviour in a fluidised bed was studied at three different drying temperatures of 30, 40 and 50 degreesC (RH = 15%). Drying curves were constructed using non-dimensional moisture ratio (MR) and time and their behaviour was modelled using exponential (MR = exp(-kt)) and Page (MR = exp(-kt(n))) models. The effective diffusion coefficient of moisture transfer was determined by Fickian method using uni- and three-dimensional moisture movements. The diffusion coefficient was least affected by the size when the moisture movement was considered three-dimensional, whereas the drying temperature had a significative effect on diffusivity as expected. The drying constant and diffusivity coefficients were on the descending order for potato, beans and peas. The Arrhenius activation energy for the peas was also highest, indicating a strong barrier to moisture movement in peas as compared to beans and skinless cut potato pieces. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A crise do transporte a??reo no Brasil: 2006-2007

Este estudo de caso aborda a crise vivida pelo setor de transporte a??reo brasileiro nos anos de 2006 e 2007. Deflagrada por um acidente de vulto, a crise teve como protagonistas os controladores de tr??fego a??reo, que, sob suspeita de falha funcional e comunica????o dif??cil com as autoridades do setor, reagiram por meio de uma estrat??gia de opera????o-padr??o (greve branca). Essa situa????o, somada ?? escassez de pessoal, provocou, de novembro de 2006 at?? meados de 2007, o descontrole operacional dos principais aeroportos do pa??s, com grandes preju??zos aos usu??rios. Um novo acidente a??reo, no decorrer da crise, agravou ainda mais a situa????o do setor, expondo defici??ncias estruturais e profissionais ?? opini??o p??blica brasileira, em uma ??rea at?? ent??o considerada segura. O caso relata as tentativas de equacionamento da crise por parte das autoridades respons??veis pela pol??tica de transporte a??reo, frente ao descontentamento e ??s reivindica????es dos controladores de tr??fego a??reo e ?? indigna????o da sociedade. O objetivo do estudo de caso ?? ilustrar uma situa????o de crise e de processo de negocia????o, tendo sido originalmente utilizado em uma oficina sobre negocia????es no setor p??blico. O caso pode ser utilizado como material de apoio em cursos que abordem, entre outros, os seguintes t??picos: negocia????o, gest??o de crises, comunica????o e planejamento estrat??gico

Texto para discuss??o 5: reforma administrativa e direito adquirido ao regime da fun????o p??blica

O direito adquirido tem sido argumento freq??entemente invocado pelos opositores da reforma constitucional do aparelho administrativo do Estado. Nesse debate, entretanto, este argumento ?? completamente destitu??do de validade t??cnica. Dizer que a reforma constitucional n??o pode alterar o regime jur??dico dos servidores p??blicos (o estatuto jur??dico da estabilidade, disponibilidade, remunera????o etc.) ?? incorrer em completo equ??voco. As raz??es dessa incompreens??o decorrem do desconhecimento de no m??nimo dois t??picos relevantes encartados no tema, a saber: a) a natureza do regime jur??dico que vincula o servidor p??blico civil ?? administra????o; e b) a distin????o entre efic??cia imediata e efic??cia retroativa das normas constitucionais

Semin??rio regime diferenciado de contrata????es p??blicas: RDC

O semin??rio teve como principais t??picos: o RDC e o futuro das contrata????es p??blicas; contrata????o integrada: etapas, cautelas, vantagens, limites e aditivos; contrata????o simult??nea, contrato de efici??ncia; negocia????o de condi????es vantajosas e remunera????o vari??vel no RDC; panorama do RDC: incid??ncia da Lei n?? 8666/93, unidade recursal, invers??o de fases, pr??-qualifica????o permanente, sigilo de or??amento, crit??rios de julgamento, disputa aberta, desempate, publicidade e formato eletr??nico

M??dulo 6 - regime de execu????o indireta: curso legisla????o aplicada ?? log??stica de suprimentos Lei 8.666/93, preg??o e registro de pre??os

Este documento trata de: aspectos conceituais da lei: finalidade, import??ncia e hierarquia da lei.; no????es gerais da lei de licita????es - Lei n?? 8.666/93; tipos de licita????o:menor pre??o, melhor t??cnica, t??cnica e pre??o e maior lance ou oferta; modalidades de licita????o: concorr??ncia, tomada de pre??os, convite, concurso e leil??o; exce????es ?? obrigatoriedade de licita????o: dispensa e inexigibilidade; regime de execu????o indireta; comiss??o de licita????o; etapas do processo licitat??rio: edital, procedimentos/documentos do certame, registro cadastral, habilita????o dos interessados, julgamento e encerramento; preg??o; registro de pre??os

A Rodada Doha, as mudanças no regime do comércio internacional e a política comercial brasileira

Este trabalho tem como objetivo discutir os atuais desafios do multilateralismo tradicional no comércio, visíveis nos impasses da Rodada Doha, diante das novas realidades do comércio internacional globalizado, caracterizado pela dispersão e fragmentação da produção sob a lógica das cadeias de valor globais (CVG). O artigo discute a forma em que essas transformações estão desafiando pressupostos tradicionais do sistema multilateral de comércio e as negociações da Rodada Doha. Tomando o caso do Brasil como exemplo, o artigo argumenta que o descompasso entre a agenda negociadora e as novas realidades do comércio internacional reside nos próprios países-membros da OMC que, em sua maioria, ainda não pautam suas políticas comerciais e suas estratégias de inserção internacional por essas novas dinâmicas do comércio internacional. Por fim, o trabalho mostra que a política comercial brasileira durante a última década esteve desalinhada com essa nova realidade ao dar demasiada ênfase às formas tradicionais de negociação comercial, deixando de considerar as modificações essenciais ocorridas nos padrões de comércio na esteira do processo de globalização.