Interaction between Central Asia and the Achaemenid Empire

THis paper studies the relations between the Achaemenid Persian Empire and its northern Central Asian borderlands

Reconciling Engineers and Economists: the Case of a Cost Function for the Distribution of Gas

The analysis of cost functions is an important topic in econometrics both for scientific studies and for industrial applications. The object of interest may be the cost of a firm or the cost of a specific production, in particular in case of a proposal to a procurement. Engineer methods evaluate the technical cost given the main characteristics of the output using the decomposition of the production process in elementary tasks and are based on physical laws. The error terms in these models may be viewed as idiosyncratic chocs. The economist usually observes ex post the cost and the characteristics of the product. The difference between theoretical cost and the observed one may be modeled by the inefficiency of the production process. In this case, econometric models are cost frontier models. In this paper we propose to take advantage of the situation where we have information from both approaches. We consider a system of two equations, one being a standard regression model (for the technical cost function) and one being a stochastic frontier model for the economic cost function where inefficiencies are explicitly introduced. We derive estimators of this joint model and derive its asymptotic properties. The models are presented in classical parametric approach, with few assumptions on the stochastic properties of the joint error terms. We suggest also a way to extend the model to a nonparametric approach, the latter provides an original way to model and estimate nonparametric stochastic frontier models. The techniques are illustrated in the case of the cost function for the distribution of gas in France

Scholars and Literati at the University of Salerno (1231–1800)

This note is a summary of our research into the group of scholars and literati who were at the University of Salerno until 1800, or were connected with it

Experimental and numerical kinetic study of OME2 and OME3 combustion in low-pressure laminar flames

The urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has motivated extensive research into renewable energy sources, particularly the studies on e-fuels, the liquid and gaseous fuels synthesized from electricity. Oxymethylene ethers (OMEs) have garnered significant attention as promising e-fuels within the context of the transition to sustainable energy systems, especially for the scenario of long-range transportation and extended storage. Understanding the oxidation kinetics of OMEs remains a prerequisite to optimizing their combustion. This study aims to elucidate the combustion chemistry and oxidation kinetics of longer-chain OMEs, namely OME2 and OME3. The premixed laminar stoichiometric flames of OME2 and OME3 are stabilized at 50 mbar and measured by molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) in terms of speciation profiles. By following the reaction classes, a detailed mechanism including OME2 is developed on the basis of our previous studies, which shows a good agreement with the experimental results of main species as well as important intermediates from OME2 flames. It is observed that OME1 chemistry plays a crucial role in the combustion of long-chain-length OMEs, and the species pool and reaction pathway of fuel oxidation is nearly independent of the chain length of OMEs

The paradoxical nature of passion among sport employees: exploring the intersection of harmony and obsession in the sport industry

This study is focused on passion among sport employees and asks the research question, ‘How do harmonious and obsessive passion interact to influence sport employees’ motivation to work?’ The study uses Self-Determination Theory and qualitative data to offer a deeper understanding of sport employee work passion

Conjoint et aidant : le vécu du processus d’identification au rôle d’aidant et ses implications pour les conjoints-aidants

Informal caregivers provide care to a close one experiencing impairments, such as loss of autonomy due to aging or chronic illnesses such as dementia or cancer. Their support can range from offering emotional support to performing minor medical tasks. However, many caregivers do not identify with the label “caregiver”. This can prevent them to seek for assistance, due to a lack of recognition in this label and negatively affect their physical and mental health. This impact on health is seems especially pronounced when the care-recipient is (1) a spouse and (2) suffering from dementia. To gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon, it is essential to explore how the term “caregiver” is conceptualized in both psychological literature and legal frameworks. This thesis used both qualitative and quantitative research, to examine factors influencing identification with the caregiving role and its implications for spouse caregivers’ health and well-being. Overall, the findings highlight the significant role of caregiving experiences in shaping caregivers’ self-perception, positioning caregiver identity as an integral part of the caregiving experience rather than a protective or risk factor. This work thus broadens our understanding of spouse caregiving and offers valuable insights for developing better support systems for spouse caregivers.(PSYE - Sciences psychologiques et de l'éducation) -- UCL, 202

Le budget de l'Union européenne à l'épreuve des élargissements

Le budget de l'Union européenne a toujours eu une fonction facilitatrice, de nature à favoriser l'acceptabilité, par les Etats membres comme par les citoyens, de nouvelles avancées de la construction européenne, en particulier les élargissements. Alors que le cadre financier pluriannuel de l'Union européenne pour la période 2021-2027 a été poussé à ses limites, notamment par la guerre d'agression de la Russie contre l'Ukraine, les ingrédients semblent aujourd'hui réunis pour un changement de paradigme: une situation de polycrises, la nécessité d'investir massivement pour ne pas mettre en péril la sécurité, la stabilité et la compétitivité de l'Union européenne, ainsi que l'ombre portée de futurs élargissements. Les décisions relatives à l'élargissement sont prises en fonction des mérites propres des pays candidats. En aucun cas les discussions à venir sur le cadre financier pluriannuel ne peuvent préjuger de ces décisions. Tout au plus devront-elles accompagner de manière crédible les pays candidats et assurer à l'Ukraine le soutien que l'Union européenne s'est engagée à lui apporter dans la durée. En revanche, les négociations budgétaires à venir seront naturellement influencées par les perspectives d'élargissement, et l'appétit de certains Etats membres à réformer les grandes politiques communes européennes sera d'autant plus important que les perspectives d'élargissement gagneront en crédibilité

Renouer avec le sens commun pour faire face à l’accaparement des terres par l’industrie portuaire

Dans cette communication, il s'agit de réévaluer les dires et les actions entreprises par les habitant·e·s impacté·e·s par l'expansion du port d'Anvers depuis les années 1950. Pour ce faire, je me suis appuyée sur les derniers travaux menés par Isabelle Stengers sur la défaite et la réactivation possible du sens commun, notamment par les sciences sociales (qui pour la plupart se sont construites sur la disqualification du sens commun). La réévaluation m'a finalement amenée à intégrer la perspective des habitant·e·s dans la définition même de l'environnementaliste anversois

La fonction symbolique dans la philosophie d'Edmond Ortigues : émergence et évolution

The impressive array of disciplines mastered and explored extensively by Edmond Ortigues (1917-2005), as well as the diversity of the themes addressed (the relationship between historical criticism and theology, the relationship between form and meaning, the universality of the Oedipus complex, etc.), make accessing his intellectual journey a real challenge. I therefore needed to find a key to open these many doors and attempt to gain some insight into the tangle of texts he left us. This key was provided to me by one of Ortigues's earliest texts, Historical Critique and the Word of God, in 1945. It is the concept of symbol, a concept that permeated his work until the early 2000s. I trace the genealogy of this concept and demonstrate its progressive semantic development, as well as its major role in Ortigues's intellectual process. From the dual fusion with the mother to the posture of a human in a human community, from the initial impulse to the concept, the symbol accompanies this process which makes us lose immediate contact with the world but allows us to enter into a common system of reference in which each person is invited to exist for themselves within a common culture.(FILO - Philosophie) -- UCL, 202