From dispersed to monopolized violence: expansion and consolidation of the Primeiro Comando da Capital's hegemony in São Paulo's prisons

The present work aims to understand the process of expansion and consolidation of the organized criminal group the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) in São Paulo’s prison system over the past 20 years, and the social configuration that has formed as a result of the PCCs monopolization of opportunities of power. To this end, the work of Norbert Elias is utilized to analyze empirical data collected from various sources. The article consists of two lines of analysis. First, the PCC phenomenon is approached from a macro-sociological point of view, focusing on the social, political and administrative problems that are directly or indirectly linked to the PCCs social development. Second, a figurational analysis is used to explore the social dynamics produced from this process. In comparison to the “pre-PCC” situation, it is shown that the new social configuration produced from the hegemony of the PCC consists of a complexity of interdependencies, including greater functional division and social integration. Given this intensification of mutual dependencies, the social controls on individual behavior have been expanded and centralized. Here, the structure and organization of the PCC, its political dynamics, and individual self-control are central issues. The article concludes by calling into question the view that the most significant effect of the PCCs consolidation has been social pacification of São Paulo’s prison system. Fragilities in the power of the PCC are explored, principally the precarious nature of the relationship between the PCC and state authorities, and the extent to which the PCC’s authority is imposed.

Modelling group decision simulation through argumentation

Group decision making plays an important role in today’s organisations. The impact of decision making is so high and complex, that rarely the decision making process is made individually. In Group Decision Argumentation, there is a set of participants, with different profiles and expertise levels, that exchange ideas or engage in a process of argumentation and counter-argumentation, negotiate, cooperate, collaborate or even discuss techniques and/or methodologies for problem solving. In this paper, it is proposed a Multi-Agent simulator for the behaviour representation of group members in a decision making process. Agents behave depending on rational and emotional intelligence and use persuasive argumentation to convince and make alternative choices.

Crianças mais autónomas são crianças mais felizes: O Educador de Infância na promoção de autonomia

Relatório da Prática Profissional Supervisionada Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar

Comunicação com os colaboradores num grupo de comunicação social: estudo de caso

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Comunicação Social como parte dos requisitos para obtenção de grau de mestre em Gestão Estratégica das Relações Públicas.

São diferentes porque a menina tem saia e o menino tem calças: as questões de género no jardim de infância

Relatório da Prática Profissional Supervisionada Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar

Key performance indicators and the balanced scorecard at the Luxury Brand Hotels of Pestana Group

Traditional approaches to evaluate performance in hotels, have mainly used financial measures. Building on Speckbacher et al. (2003), this Work Project aims to design and propose a Balanced Scorecard Type II as a performance measurement/management system for the hospitality industry based on data collected at the Luxury Brand Hotels of Pestana Group. The main contribution is to better align the vision, strategy and financial and non-financial performance measures in this category of hotels, in particular those of Pestana Group, and by doing so, lead their managers to focus on what is really critical and, consequently improve the overall performance.

Rapport à la nature et stratégies intégrées de conservation et développement : le cas de São Tomé et Principe

Depuis les années 90, les Projets Intégrés de Conservation et Développement ont été présentés comme des modèles fonctionnels de développement durable pour un site spécifique dans une perspective de réalisation. Le but est d’intégrer les objectifs biologiques de la conservation aux objectifs sociaux et économiques du développement. Ces projets, qui répondent à de multiples dénominations et stratégies, sont implantés dans des contextes naturellement hétérogènes et dynamiques, où l’aménagement du territoire ne doit pas être un outil de planification étatique, désigné et imposé dans une logique conservationniste. Les aires protégées représentent une certaine vision du rapport entre l’être humain et la nature, apparue dans le contexte nord-américain avec la création des premiers grands parcs nationaux en 1870. Aujourd'hui, la forte volonté d'impliquer la population se heurte avec la difficulté de concilier la gestion de ces espaces avec les pratiques, les nécessités et les intérêts locaux. Le parc naturel Obô, qui occupe 30% du territoire de São Tomé et Principe, doit affronter la difficile intégration entre les représentations de la nature et les usages locaux avec les objectifs globaux des politiques conservationnistes, ainsi qu’avec les intérêts touristiques et économiques des investisseurs locaux et étrangers. Les représentations sociales de la nature, établissant une forme de connaissance pratique, déterminent la vision du monde et la relation qu'un certain groupe social peut avoir avec le territoire. Ainsi, chaque communauté possède ses propres mécanismes d'adaptation au milieu basés sur ce système représentationnel. Dans le cas des communautés sãotoméennes, la nature présente un caractère spirituel (associé à des croyances, des rites et des pratiques médicales traditionnelles) et utilitaire (la nature, à travers l'agriculture, la récolte ou la chasse, répond au besoin de subsistance). L’objectif de ce projet de thèse est donc de mieux comprendre la synergie existante entre savoir endogène et gestion de la biodiversité pour adapter l’aménagement du territoire à la réalité des populations qui y vivent.

Ferrocene-Based Pyridylphosphine Ligands – Coordination Chemistry of Group 10, 11 and 12 Metals

English: The present thesis describes the synthesis of 1,1’-ferrocendiyl-based pyridylphosphine ligands, the exploration of their fundamental coordination chemistry and preliminary experiments with selected complexes aimed at potential applications. One main aspect is the synthesis of the bidentate ferrocene-based pyridylphosphine ligands 1-(Pyrid-2-yl)-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene, 1-(Pyrid-3-yl)-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene and 1-[(Pyrid-2-yl)methyl]-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene. A specific feature of these ligands is the ball-bearing like flexibility of the ferrocenebased backbone. An additional flexibility element is the rotation around the C–C single bonds. Consequently, the donor atoms can realise a wide range of positions with respect to each other and are therefore able to adapt to the coordination requirements of different metal centres. The flexibility of the ligand also plays a role in another key aspect of this work, which concerns the coordination mode, i. e. bridging vs. chelating. In addition to the flexibility, also the position of the donor atoms to each other is important. This is largely affected by the position of the pyridyl nitrogen (pyrid-2-yl vs. pyrid-3-yl) and the methylen group in 1-[(Pyrid-2-yl)methyl]-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene. Another interesting point is the combination of a soft phosphorus donor atom with a harder nitrogen donor atom, according to the HSAB principle. This combination generates a unique binding profile, since the pi-acceptor character of the P site is able to stabilise a metal centre in a low oxidation state, while the nitrogen sigma-donor ability can make the metal more susceptible to oxidative addition reactions. A P,N-donor combination can afford hemilabile binding profiles, which would be ideal for catalysis. Beyond 1,2-substituted ferrocene derivatives, which are quite successful in catalytic applications, 1,1’-derivatives are rather underrepresented. While a low-yield synthetic pathway to 1-(Pyrid-2-yl)-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene was already described in the literature [I. R. Butler, Organometallics 1992, 11, 74.], it was possible to find a new, improved and simplified synthetic pathway. Both other ligands were unknown prior to this work. Satisfactory results in the synthesis of 1-(Pyrid-3-yl)-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene could be achieved by working in analogy to the new synthetic procedure for 1-(Pyrid-2-yl)-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene. The synthesis of 1-[(Pyrid-2-yl)methyl]-1’-diphenylphosphinoferrocene has been handled by the group of Prof. Petr Stepnicka from Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. The synthesis of tridentate ligands with an analogous heterodentate arrangement, was investigated briefly as a sideline of this study. The major part of this thesis deals with the fundamental coordination chemistry towards transition metals of the groups 10, 11 and 12. Due to the well-established catalytic properties of analogous palladium complexes, the coordination chemistry towards palladium (group 10) is of particular interest. The metals zinc and cadmium (group 12) are also of substantial importance because they are redox-inert in their divalent state. This is relevant in view of electrochemical investigations concerning the utilisation of the ligands as molecular redox sensors. Also mercury and the monovalent metals silver and gold (group 11) are included because of their rich coordination chemistry. It is essential to answer questions concerning aspects of the ligands’ coordination mode bearing in mind the HSAB principle.

Searching for consensus in ahp-group decision making. A bayesian perspective

This paper sets out to identify the initial positions of the different decision makers who intervene in a group decision making process with a reduced number of actors, and to establish possible consensus paths between these actors. As a methodological support, it employs one of the most widely-known multicriteria decision techniques, namely, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Assuming that the judgements elicited by the decision makers follow the so-called multiplicative model (Crawford and Williams, 1985; Altuzarra et al., 1997; Laininen and Hämäläinen, 2003) with log-normal errors and unknown variance, a Bayesian approach is used in the estimation of the relative priorities of the alternatives being compared. These priorities, estimated by way of the median of the posterior distribution and normalised in a distributive manner (priorities add up to one), are a clear example of compositional data that will be used in the search for consensus between the actors involved in the resolution of the problem through the use of Multidimensional Scaling tools

W3233 -- Networks and Complexity in Social Systems (Collective Dynamics Group ISERP -- Columbia University) Course Syllabus

The Networks and Complexity in Social Systems course commences with an overview of the nascent field of complex networks, dividing it into three related but distinct strands: Statistical description of large scale networks, viewed as static objects; the dynamic evolution of networks, where now the structure of the network is understood in terms of a growth process; and dynamical processes that take place on fixed networks; that is, "networked dynamical systems". (A fourth area of potential research ties all the previous three strands together under the rubric of co-evolution of networks and dynamics, but very little research has been done in this vein and so it is omitted.) The remainder of the course treats each of the three strands in greater detail, introducing technical knowledge as required, summarizing the research papers that have introduced the principal ideas, and pointing out directions for future development. With regard to networked dynamical systems, the course treats in detail the more specific topic of information propagation in networks, in part because this topic is of great relevance to social science, and in part because it has received the most attention in the literature to date.

INFO2009 2012-13 Resource Group 1 video Digital Futures

Our country is heading for a crisis. IT and computing are growing larger every day. With this comes an increasing skills shortage, so we need you to be the future of IT. Look ahead of you is an educational video, designed to teach you about the future of computing and why you should be a part of it.

Mosteiro de São Salvador de Palme : contributo Para A História e Reabilitação

Este estudo pretende ser um contributo para a valorização histórica e reabilitação do mosteiro de S. Salvador de Palme. Está dividido em duas partes, uma parte histórica e outra em ordem à reabilitação do edifício. No aspecto histórico procurou-se retratar, desde a sua construção, até aos nossos dias os factos mais relevantes ligados à vida do mosteiro. Este mosteiro foi construído cerca do ano de 1.028 por um nobre chamado Lovezendo, e após alguns anos foi entregue aos monges de S. Bento. Ao longo dos séculos a vida neste mosteiro nem sempre foi pacífica, conforme se documenta no desenvolvimento do trabalho. Em 1834, por decreto-lei o mosteiro é extinto e vendido em hasta pública à família Fonseca Moniz. Daí em diante o mosteiro foi praticamente só utilizado para fins habitacionais da família. Dado o estado de degradação em que se encontra o mosteiro, procurou-se dar um contributo no sentido de serem reabilitados os revestimentos exteriores do edifício, visto ser aí onde se encontra o maior número de patologias. Para isso fez-se o levantamento dessas patologias e apresentam-se metodologias e soluções.

Formação em contexto, revitalizadora de aprendizagens pessoais, profissionais e organizacionais

Muito se tem teorizado sobre a formação contínua dos professores e a sua implicação no desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional dos docentes, tendo sempre presente as necessárias melhorias no sistema educativo. Entre a dimensão teórica que nos reconforta pela quantidade de saberes acumulados ao longo dos anos e a dimensão prática que se esvanece frequentemente na inércia e rotinas diárias dos professores fica a ausência de uma formação contínua adequada às verdadeiras necessidades dos seus profissionais. Falta proporcionar o encontro mais sistemático entre teoria e prática em contexto, ou vice-versa, numa simbiose perfeita de sentidos para que a formação se torne essencial e determinante na prática diária do professor. A reflexão e o profundo questionamento sobre esta temática colocaram-nos diante de uma questão extremamente pertinente: que formação contínua em contexto proporcionar aos docentes, promotora de aprendizagens (pessoais, profissionais, organizacionais) e da melhoria dos resultados escolares num Agrupamento de Escolas? As respostas estão implícitas na formulação do tema do presente trabalho: (i) a formação em contexto permite revitalizar aprendizagens pessoais, profissionais e organizacionais; (ii) (re)pensar e (re)dinamizar as dinâmicas de trabalho entre professores, bem como criar novas dinâmicas organizacionais, procurando desenvolver saberes e competências individuais que devidamente aproveitados farão da escola um espaço de trabalho agradável, onde a partilha, o trabalho colaborativo e reflexivo melhorarão naturalmente as práticas do quotidiano escolar. Efetuou-se um levantamento das ações realizadas pelos docentes do agrupamento e verificou-se que maioritariamente se faziam fora do âmbito disciplinar, constrangimento apontado pela falta de formações específicas nas áreas disciplinares. Esta e outras questões foram validadas a partir das entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas a docentes do agrupamento que confirmaram existir no contexto escolar oportunidades de aprendizagem desaproveitadas. Partindo das fundamentações necessárias, quer a partir dos dados, quer a partir de um quadro concetual teórico, quer ainda da opinião muito favorável das professoras entrevistadas, propomos um projeto de formação pró-ativo concebido para um agrupamento de escolas que contribua para a melhoria das práticas letivas.

The influence of age and gender on food choice: a focus group exploration

With 25% of the UK population predicted to be obese by 2010, the costs to individuals and society are set to rise. Due to the extra economic and social pressures obesity causes, there is an increasing need to understand what motivates and prevents consumers from eating a healthy diet so as to be able to tailor policy interventions to specific groups in society. In so doing, it is important to explore potential variations in attitudes, motivation and behaviour as a function of age and gender. Both demographic factors are easily distinguished within society and a future intervention study which targets either, or both, of these would likely be both feasible and cost-effective for policy makers. As part of a preliminary study, six focus groups (total n = 43) were conducted at the University of Reading in November 2006, with groups segmented on the basis of age and gender. In order to gather more sensitive information, participants were also asked to fill out a short anonymous questionnaire before each focus group began, relating to healthy eating, alcohol consumption and body dissatisfaction. Making use of thematic content analysis, results suggested that most participants were aware of the type of foods that contribute to a healthy diet and the importance of achieving a healthy balance within a diet. However, they believed that healthy eating messages were often conflicting, and were uncertain about where to find information on the topic. Participants believed that the family has an important role in educating children about eating habits. Despite these similarities, there were a number of key differences among the groups in terms of their reasons for making food choices. Older participants (60+ years old) were more likely to make food choices based on health considerations. Participants between the ages of 18–30 were less concerned with this link, and instead focused on issues of food preparation and knowledge, prices and time. Younger female participants said they had more energy when they ate healthier diets; however, very often their food choices related to concern with their appearance. Older female participants also expressed this concern within the questionnaire, rather than in the group discussions. Overall, these results suggest that consumer motivations for healthy eating are diverse and that this must be considered by government, retailers and food producers.

An adaptive group sequential design for phase II/III clinical trials that select a single treatment from several

There is increasing interest in combining Phases II and III of clinical development into a single trial in which one of a small number of competing experimental treatments is ultimately selected and where a valid comparison is made between this treatment and the control treatment. Such a trial usually proceeds in stages, with the least promising experimental treatments dropped as soon as possible. In this paper we present a highly flexible design that uses adaptive group sequential methodology to monitor an order statistic. By using this approach, it is possible to design a trial which can have any number of stages, begins with any number of experimental treatments, and permits any number of these to continue at any stage. The test statistic used is based upon efficient scores, so the method can be easily applied to binary, ordinal, failure time, or normally distributed outcomes. The method is illustrated with an example, and simulations are conducted to investigate its type I error rate and power under a range of scenarios.