21 research outputs found
Physical and numerical modelling of the erosion of a fluid mud layer due to entrainment
No full textThe subject of this master thesis is to present the processes taking place at the erosion of a fluid mud layer due to entrainment, to carry out experiments in an annular flume and compare the results of these experiments with a numerical model, which has been elaborated at the TU Delft. The report can be devided into five parts: physical and chemical proceedings occuring during the development of a fluid mud layer in still water, theoretical fundamentals and literature survey of erosion due to entrainment, presentation of two numerical entrainment models, description of the physical measurements including a presentation of the results and a comparison between these results and a numerical entrainment model.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
À la recherche de l’identité dans Alto solo d’Antoine Volodine
No full textLe roman Alto Solo (1991) d’Antoine Volodine provoque deux questions fondamentales : « Qui suis-je ? » et « Qui es-tu ? » Ce sont des questions qui explorent la notion du soi et de l’autre en mettant en relation le lieu habité, c’est-à-dire géographique, et le lieu psychologique ainsi que celui de l’énonciation. Ce sont des questions dont les réponses font référence aux signes distinctifs entre des individus d’une société, qui, dans Alto Solo, produisent une sensation d’étrangeté, d’anonymat et d’exil de l’un par rapport à l’autre. Ces réponses prononcées ou implicites produisent une sensation d’étrangeté et d’aliénation sociale qui est renforcée par une aliénation de l’identité personnelle, celle-ci n’étant, dans la plupart des cas, qu’une identité collective.Qui sont les citoyens de Chamrouche par rapport aux personnages aux noms bizarres ? Comment caractériser les personnages que nous rencontrons dans cette oeuvre de Volodine et auxquels l’auteur ne fait référence que dans un langage symbolique ? Il parle des voix, des oiseaux, des nègues et des hommes portant des imperméables, sans expliquer le choix de son vocabulaire. Cette absence d’information concrète confirme non seulement la notion d’étrangeté dans le texte de Volodine, mais elle provoque également la réitération des deux questions, « Qui suis-je ? » et « Qui es-tu ? ». Elle stimule notre recherche de l’identité dans Alto Solo.Antoine Volodine’s novel Alto Solo (1991) raises two fundamental questions : “Who am I ?” and “Who are you ?” These questions address the notion of the self and the other in relation to geographic and psychological place as well as that of speech. The answers to these questions are intrinsic to the distinct characteristics of individual, interacting members of society, which in Alto Solo stir feelings of otherness, anonymity, and even of exile among the fictional characters. The responses to these two questions, whether overt or implicit, yield an aura of social disjunction and alienation, and hence questions of the identity of the individual characters who seem largely remote, their identities more collective than personal.Who then are the citizens of Chamrouch, in relation to those with bizarre names ? How can we define the characters in Volodine’s novel when they are depicted only as symbols, their verbal expression in the form of voices, birds, nègues, and men wearing raincoats without the author ever explaining his choice of words ? The absence of concrete information not only reinforces the pervasive aura of otherness in Volodine’s text, but also summons a reiteration of the two questions, “Who am I ?” and “Who are you ?” Thus we are impelled in our search for identity in Alto Solo
Towards a dynamic learning perspective of entrepreneurship
No full textThis conceptual paper introduces a dynamic learning perspective of entrepreneurship that builds upon existing 'dominant' theoretical approaches to understanding entrepreneurial activity. As many aspects of entrepreneurial learning remain poorly understood, this paper presents key conclusions from in-depth empirical work and synthesises a broad range of contributory adult, management and individual learning literatures to develop a robust and integrated conceptualisation of entrepreneurial learning. Three interrelated elements of entrepreneurial learning are proposed - dynamic temporal phases, interrelated processes and overarching characteristics. The paper concludes by demonstrating how a 'learning lens' can be applied to create further avenues for research in entrepreneurship from a learning perspectiv
Taxonomy, allometry, sexual dimorphism, and conservation of the trans-Andean water-snake Helicops danieli Amaral 1937 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Hydropsini).
No full textThe extensive lack of knowledge on the morphological aspects of South American water-snakes, includes a poor understanding of phenotypic parameters, intraspecific variation, and conservation of the trans-Andean Helicops species, Helicops danieli Amaral, 1937. For the first time, we provide a multidisciplinary view using key features (e.g., morphology and niche modeling) to improve the taxonomic recognition of this species, as well as describing ontogenetic color changes, allometry, sexual dimorphism, and the conservation status of this poorly studied snake. First, we emended the morphological diagnosis of H. danieli with 23 characters and detected that juvenile tail length is positively related to allometric growth, and that juveniles differ from adults through the presence of the white nuchal collar. Females are larger than males for snout-vent length, whereas males showed proportionally longer tails and smaller head length growth. Suitable areas for H. danieli are restricted to the trans-Andean regions from the Magdalena drainage to the Caribbean coast, which also showed high values of anthropic impacts. Our multidisciplinary approach provided new insights into this South American water snake’s morphology, intraspecific variation, and distribution.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Market access spillovers: an empirical approach to the flagship firm effect
No full textThis paper intends to contribute to the knowledge on the externalities produced by a foreign industry within the host region of the investment. Particularly, this study focuses on the influence of internationalization strategies implemented by a foreign industry on the local territory when its workers install their own companies or are hired by local companies, and on the effect of imitation strategies within the local environment. This analysis reveals a positive correlation between the territorial strategy of the industry and the permeability of its organization, and also between the maturity of the investment, new market access strategies, and the local impact. On the other hand, the productive linkage established between local and foreign companies and the previous labor relationship of its owner or administrators influence the internationalization process
Variability in anuran advertisement call: a multi-level study with 15 species of monkey tree frogs (Anura, Phyllomedusidae)
No full textUnderstanding the variability of acoustic signals is a first important step for the comprehension of the evolutionary processes that led to current diversity. Herein, we evaluate the variability of the advertisement call of the phyllomedusid species from the genera Phyllomedusa Wagler, 1830 and Pithecopus Cope, 1866 at different levels: intra-individual, intra-population, inter-population, intra-species, and inter-specific. An analysis of coefficients of variation showed a continuum of variability between the acoustic parameters analyzed, from static to highly dynamic. The majority of the variation was attributed to the inter-specific level, while call parameters at the intra-individual level varied the least. However, each parameter behaved differently with call interval being the most variable across all levels. Most temporal acoustic parameters were affected by environmental temperature, while pulse rate and dominant frequency were strongly influenced by body size. Only pulse rate was correlated to the geographic distance between populations, while all parameters presented a significant phylogenetic signal. Based on these results, we discuss the possible importance of different evolutionary forces and the usage of vocalizations for taxonomic purposes.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Six Pillars of Social Policy: The State of Pensions and Health Care in Canada
No full textWilliam B.P. Robson, a co-author with David Slater of a series of papers on pension issues, has written an ambitious survey of the state of Canadian economic policy in the areas of pensions and health care. He argues that it is appropriate to tackle both issues in the same paper because they are both major spending programs strongly related to the life cycle of Canadians, and face challenges arising from the aging of the population. Robson notes that the pension debate uses the metaphor of three pillars to describe a comprehensive pension system: a safety net to guard against destitution in old age; a mandatory employment-related system to provide basic replacement income; and a voluntary system supported by provisions that reduce the double-taxation of saving. The main elements of public policy related to pensions in Canada cover these pillars. He recognizes that all three of the pillars cannot be directly applied to health care, but he argues that the three-pillar metaphor is still a fruitful perspective because it facilitates constructive responses to the pressures confronting Canada’s health system and illuminates interactions between the pension and health systems. Hence his title “six pillars of social policy”. Based on his examination of Canada’s pension and health-care systems, Robson makes a number of recommendations. First, he advocates more prefunding in both the pension and health areas to cover the future cost of the aging baby-boom cohort. Second, he recommends a gradual increase in the normal age of eligibility for pension benefits. Third, he recommends the creation of a second pillar, a mandatory contribution scheme in the health area as a way to avoid the development of a means-tested system that would exacerbate the disincentives to work and save. Fourth, he puts forward the idea of a new type of saving vehicle that provides tax-relief on distributions rather than on contributions so that Canadians can avoid the high marginal effective tax rates associated with means-tested programs.Health, Health Care, Health-care, Healthcare, Canada, Pensions, CPP, Retirement, Mandatory Contribution, Aging, Ageing
Marketing for Small Business: The Development of a Practical and Conceptual Contribution towards a new Paradigm 1986 to 2011
No full textThis thesis is about the role, nature and importance of marketing within small firms. The definition for small firms’ used here is organisations’ with up to 50 employees. This is the definition used by The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (2012). There are over four million of such commercial organisations in the UK and they account for over half of the UK’s GDP and over half of the UK’s employment (The Department for Business Innovation and Skills November 2011 /12). Most firms’ in the UK are small and yet the marketing for small firms’ seems to be a neglected area in the standard text books and in the mainstream business school curriculum. Why is this and what can be done to make the subject of marketing more relevant and more appropriate to the smaller enterprise? This doctorial submission is based on published work. There are 24 individual pieces of work making up the submission. All of the works submitted are related to the subject of marketing for small business. Throughout the works’ submitted the author addresses a fundamental question which has occupied his mind for many years. This question is highly pertinent to the developing subject of marketing within small firms’ (Gilmore and Coviello, 1999). The question is ‘is conventional marketing theory and practice from the ‘classical school’ applicable to all types of organisations no matter what their size’? The fundamental question this work addresses is do smaller firms need a different sort of marketing, more suited to their particular needs (Nyman, Berck, and Worsdorfer, 2006; Reynolds and Day, 2011; Hills and Hultman, 2011; Shaw, 2002; Gilmore, 2011; McAuley, 2011; Hills and LaForge, 1992)? The author can find no real evidence of any need for a totally new paradigm although some areas of the standard business school ‘model’ of marketing management might need some important adaptation to make it more suitable for the majority of smaller firms’. The key approach would seem to be standardisation as far as possible then necessary adaptation. The collection of papers and related materials making up this thesis submission conclude that in many cases the central core hub of marketing that has become known as the ‘classicist philosophy of strategic marketing management’ is appropriate in many areas (Drucker, 1954). It can often be employed to the smaller enterprise with beneficial commercial effects (see Reynolds, 2007; Brennan, Baines, and Garneau, 2003). The author has attempted to demonstrate that a body of work has developed and evolved over time in a purposeful manner and with a common theme. The material submitted here, placed into three separate but related categories, has been structured to have an overall thematic shape. The ‘grand theme’ interwoven into this account is marketing for small business. The author does not claim to have investigated every vestige of the subject but does feel that over the years he has made a contribution to the knowledge in this area. Each of the three sub - themes used in this work are related and can be integrated into a ‘grand narrative’ or ‘story line’. This ‘grand narrative’ is encapsulated in the title of this thesis which is; ‘Marketing for small business: The development of a practical and conceptual contribution towards a new paradigm 1986 to 2011’
Scinax rupestris Araujo-Vieira, Brandão & Faria, 2015, sp. nov.
No full textScinax rupestris sp. nov. (Figs. 1–3) Holotype. MZUSP 112877, adult male, from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, Brazil (about 14 °09' 30 '' S, 47 ° 36 ' 42 '' W, 1.200 m elevation), collected on January 6 th– 10 th, 1974 by the late Werner C.A. Bokermann. Paratopotypes. Adult males (26): MZUSP 112859 – 112876, 112878; CHUNB 72964–72965 collected on November 15 th, 2010; 73648–73652 collected on February 9 th, 2011. Adult females (2): MZUSP 112880; CHUNB 73653 collected on February 12 th, 2011. MZUSP specimens were collected together with the holotype. CHUNB specimens were collected in the type locality by the second author. Referred specimens. Adults (5): CFBH 38058–38062 collected on February 9 th, 2011. Juveniles (2): CHUNB 72704–72705 collected on February 12 th, 2011. All specimens were collected in the type locality by the second author. Diagnosis. Scinax rupestris sp. nov. is a member of the S. ruber clade for having the single morphological synapomorphy known for the group, the tadpole vent tube that does not reach the free margin of the lower fin. The new species can be diagnosed by the following set of characters: (1) moderate size (SVL in males 21.9–27.7 mm, females 26.7–31.7 mm); (2) snout acuminate in dorsal view, rounded in profile; (3) tympanum medium-sized (TD 61.1 –71.0% of ED); (4) vocal sac single, median, subgular, that does not reach the pectoral region, and externally evident by the loose skin on the sides of jaw; (5) iris iridescent yellow, with some thin, darker reticulations; (6) tadpoles with ventral oral disc; (7) regular P- 3, unmodified as a labial arm; (8) absence of keratinized and colored plates on the sides of the lower jaw-sheath; (9) presence of a keratinized and colored spur on each side behind the lower jaw-sheath; (10) dorsolateral eyes, invisible ventrally; and (11) advertisement call composed of 8–14 notes each with 4–18 pulses, and duration of 290–420 ms. FIGURE. 1. Scinax rupestris sp. nov., holotype (MZUSP 112877; SVL 25.2 mm). A: Dorsal view. B: Ventral view. Photos: M.R.C. Comparison with other species. The Scinax ruber clade includes 66 species, of which 55 are not included in the two monophyletic groups currently recognized: Scinax rostratus and Scinax uruguayus groups (Faivovich et al. 2005; Frost 2014). For this reason we present comparisons with all species. The structure for the comparison is based first on obvious size differences in adults (that is, no overlapping nor a minimal gap between size ranges), followed by more detailed comparisons with species that cannot be differentiated on the basis of size, or in case that there are conspicuous external morphological characters. Scinax rupestris sp. nov. differs from all species in the S. rostratus and S. uruguayus group for lacking the synapomorphies from external morphology of larvae and adults of these groups (see below; Faivovich 2002; Faivovich et al. 2005). The SVL in males (21.9–27.7) promptly distinguish the new species from Scinax acuminatus (39–45; Lutz 1973), S. baumgardneri (29.0–32.0; Rivero 1961), S. camposseabrai (28.9–33.5; Caramaschi & Cardoso 2006), S. castroviejoi (male holotype 45.0; De la Riva 1993), S. dolloi (male syntype 34.9), S. eurydice (44.0–52.0; Bokermann 1968), S. exiguus (18–20.8; Duellman 1986), S. funereus (29.8–36.9; Duellman & Wiens 1993), S. fuscovarius (41.0–44.0; Cei 1980), S. granulatus (32.0–38.0; Cei 1980), S. hayii (39.0–42.0; Lutz 1973), S. iquitorum (male paratype 35.0; Moravec et al. 2009), S. oreites (28.4–33.5; Duellman & Wiens 1993), S. perereca (34.0– 38.5; Pombal et al. 1995 b), S. quinquefasciatus (29.6 –34.0; Duellman 1972), S. ruber (29.4–41.2; Duellman & Wiens 1993), and S. sateremawe (35.2–36.7; Sturaro & Peloso 2014). The dorsal color pattern which consists of a background brown or creamy with some scattered small round and irregular dark blotches differentiates the new species from Scinax altae, S. cardosoi, S. fuscomarginatus, S. madeirae, S. squalirostris, S. staufferi, and S. villasboasi (dorsum with a variable number of dorsal and/or lateral stripes; Duellman 1970; Lutz 1973; Heyer et al. 1990; Carvalho-e-Silva & Peixoto 1991), S. alter, S. auratus, S. cretatus, S. crospedospilus, S. cuspidatus, S. imbegue, S. juncae, and S. tymbamirim (light or dark dorsal continuous or broken stripes, sometimes delimiting a central darker area; Bokermann 1969; Lutz 1973; Nunes & Pombal 2010, 2011; Nunes et al. 2012), S. blairi (few brown markings and blotches, or small scattered dark dots; Fouquette & Pyburn 1972), S. boesemani (dorsum with or without small white and brown dots; Lescure & Marty 2000), S. caldarum, S. curicica, and S. duartei (two irregular longitudinal stripes arising from an interocular marking; Pugliese et al. 2004), S. chiquitanus (small and scattered grayish dots and marks; De la Riva 1990), S. danae (small scattered dark brown dots), S. lindsayi (a few small scattered reddish brown dots and blotches), and S. maracaya and S. tigrinus (large dark blotches; Cardoso & Sazima 1980; Nunes et al. 2010). The new species differs from Scinax baumgardneri, S. exiguus, S. fuscomarginatus, S. madeirae, S. manriquei, S. villasboasi, and S. wandae for having a small vocal sac that does not reach the pectoral region (vocal sac large that reaches the anterior pectoral region; Barrio-Amorós et al. 2004); S. cruentommus for having an iridescent yellow iris, with some thin, darker reticulations (silvery bronze iris with a median horizontal red streak; Duellman 1972); and S. karenanneae for having white bones, a single vocal sac, and the flank color pattern, continuous with the dorsal pattern (green bones, bilobed vocal sac, and yellow or white flanks; Pyburn 1993). The name Scinax x-signatus Spix still has some complications (Pombal et al. 1995 b) as its type is considered destroyed, a neotype has still not been designated, and apparently there are several species to which this name could be applied in the state of Bahia, Brazil (its type locality, “Provinciae Bahiae”; Spix 1824). In the meantime, the absence of yellow flash coloration in the hidden surfaces of limbs and inguinal region in S. rupestris sp. nov., is here considered a character state that allows to differentiate this species from those to which the name S. x-signatus could potentially be applied in northeastern Brazil (Lutz 1973). The advertisement call of the new species, composed of 8–14 notes each with 4–18 pulses, and duration of 290–420 ms further differentiates it from Scinax blairi (single multi-pulsed note, 140–160 ms, 18–22 pulses; Fouquette & Pyburn 1972), S. boesemani (single multi-pulsed note, eight pulses; Lescure & Marty 2000), S. chiquitanus (single multi-pulsed note, 80–100 ms; Duellman & Wiens 1993), S. cruentommus (single multi-pulsed note, 350–370 ms; Duellman 1972), S. danae (single multi-pulsed note, 200–220 ms; Duellman 1986), S. elaeochrous (single multi-pulsed note, 170 ms; Duellman 1970), S. ictericus (single multi-pulsed note, 70–90 ms; Duellman & Wiens 1993), S. lindsayi (single note, 80–100 ms; Pyburn 1992), S. rogerioi (single multi-pulsed note, 6–12 pulses, 270–700 ms; Pugliese et al. 2009), and S. similis (single multi-pulsed note, 4–10 pulses, 185–225 ms, Bilate & Lack 2011). The new species further differs from Scinax rogerioi, the other species from Chapada dos Veadeiros, for having a dorsum brown or creamy with some scattered small round and irregular dark blotches (brown dorsal blotches extending as a pair of longitudinal irregular and interrupted blotches/stripes from head to inguinal region and inverted brown triangular interocular blotch; Pugliese et al. 2009), and the advertisement call (see comparison above). Scinax rupestris sp. nov. is most similar with S. cabralensis (see Figs. 1–3 in Drummond et al. 2007) from which it differs for having a wider nuptial pad that covers almost the complete dorsal surface of metacarpal II and obscures nearly half of the inner metacarpal tubercle (covers only the medial margin of metacarpal II, and obscures only the outer margin of the inner metacarpal tubercle), a stronger forearm, more developed webbing on feet (I 2 – – 2 II 2 – – 3 III 2 + – 3 – IV 2 + – 1 1 / 2 V), a tympanum medium-sized (TD = 1.2–1.4; Drummond et al. 2007), and a different dorsal color pattern (dorsum with small dark spot equally distributed; Drummond et al. 2007). The larval morphology of Scinax rupestris sp. nov. differentiates this species from most of those with known tadpole in the S. ruber clade. The P- 3 unmodified as a labial arm differentiates S. rupestris sp. nov. from S. alter, S. auratus, S. crospedospilus, S. cuspidatus, and S. juncae, plus all known tadpoles of the S. rostratus group (P 3 modified as a labial arm; Heyer et al. 1990; Alves & Carvalho-e-Silva 2002; Faivovich 2002; Alves et al. 2004; Mercês & Juncá 2012). The lack of colored keratinized plates on the sides of the lower jaw-sheath differentiates S. rupestris sp. nov. from known tadpoles in the S. uruguayus group (keratinized plates on the sides of the lower jawsheath present; Kolenc et al. “ 2003 ” [2004]). The presence of a colored keratinized spur on each side behind the lower jaw-sheath differentiates the new species from S. ictericus (spurs absent; Faivovich 2002). The ventral oral disc differentiates S. rupestris sp. nov. from most known tadpoles in the clade that have either a terminal oral disc (S. acuminatus and the S. rostratus group, see Faivovich 2002), or a subterminal disc (e.g. S. similis and S. elaeochrous; Alves & Carvalho-e-Silva 1999; Faivovich 2002). The only known exceptions are S. cruentommus and S. ictericus (Duellman & Wiens 1993; Faivovich 2002) where Faivovich (2002) considered that the position of the disc was polymorphic for ventral and subterminal positions. The dorsolateral eyes, invisible ventrally, are also mostly unique to S. rupestris sp. nov. in the S. ruber clade, with the only known exception being S. ictericus (Duellman & Wiens 1993; Faivovich 2002). FIGURE. 2. Scinax rupestris sp. nov., holotype (MZUSP 112877). A. Head in lateral view. B: Right hand in palmar view. C: Right foot in palmar view. Drawings by Agustín J. Elías Costa. Scale bars = 2 mm. Description of holotype. Body moderately robust, head rounded in profile, acuminated in dorsal view; head as large as wide, 37.7 % of SVL. Nostrils dorsolateral, elliptical, slightly protruded; distance between nostrils 64.3 % of IOD. Canthus rostralis evident and convex. Loreal region slightly concave. Eyes protuberant, ED 10.7 % larger than IOD, almost equal to END. Tympanum rounded, separated from eye by a distance almost half TD. TD 61.3 % of ED. Supratympanic fold barely evident, from the corner of the eye to the insertion of the arm. Vocal sac single, median, subgular, externally evident by the loose skin on the sides of jaw. Vocal slits present, located diagonally to the longitudinal body axis, originating laterally to the tongue and running towards the corner of the mouth. Tongue elliptical, free laterally and posteriorly notched. Vomerine teeth in two slightly convex series between and only just posterior the choanae, each bearing six teeth. Choanae oval. Axillary membrane absent. Upper arm slender, forearm moderately robust. Fingers slender, subarticular tubercles single, conical in fingers I and II; rounded on fingers III and IV. Subarticular tubercle in the third finger smaller than the others. Supernumerary tubercles absent. Relative finger length IA 2; A 2 with a very narrow gap in the medial portion; P 1, P 2, and P 3 similar in size; P 3 regular, not modified as a labial arm. In one individual, the P 1 is interrupted medially. Jaw sheaths densely pigmented, serrated; upper jaw-sheath archshaped, with medial projection and long lateral process; lower jaw-sheath V-shaped (Fig. 6 E). Behind the lower jaw-sheath, there is a colored keratinized spur on each side. Spiracle single, sinistral, short, located at the middle of the body, below the body midline, oriented posterodorsally, with inner wall fused to body wall, except for its posterior margin, and external wall shorter than inner wall; spiracle opening elliptical. Vent tube dextral, as large as wide, positioned above the margin of the ven
High growth entrepreneurs, public policies and economic growth
No full textThis paper investigates whether the presence of ambitious entrepreneurs is a more important determinant of national economic growth than entrepreneurial activity in general. We use data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor to test the extent to which high growth ambitions of entrepreneurs affect GDP growth for a sample of 36 countries. Our results suggest that ambitious entrepreneurship contributes more strongly to macro-economic growth than entrepreneurial activity in general. We find a particularly strong effect of highexpectation entrepreneurship for transition countries. These results are interpreted in light of the ongoing debate about public policies designed to stimulate high growth start-ups.
