Generalised Thurston-Bennequin invariants for real algebraic surface singularities

A generalised Thurston-Bennequin invariant for a Q-singularity of a real algebraic variety is defined as a linking form on the homologies of the real link of the singularity. The main goal of this paper is to present a method to calculate the linking form in terms of the very good resolution graph of a real normal unibranch surface singularity. For such singularities, the value of the linking form is the Thurston-Bennequin number of the real link of the singularity. As a special case of unibranch surface singularities, the behaviour of the linking form is investigated on the Brieskorn double points x^m+y^n\pm z^2=0.Comment: 22 pages, TeX, 12 figure

The Greek suffix -ινδα within the Micro-Asiatic multilingual context

The Greek suffix -\u3b9\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1, which characterises adverbs denoting games (such as \u3b2\u3b1\u3c3\u3b9\u3bb\u3af\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1 \u201cking of the castle\u201d, \u3ba\u3c1\u3c5\u3c0\u3c4\u3af\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1 \u201chide and seek\u201d, on these adverbs see Ded\ue8 2016), has a phonological shape difficult to explain within Greek and Indo-European phonology, as already observed by Pierre Chantraine (1933:277): \u201cl\u2019origine de ces adverbes est claire, mais le suffixe qui s\u2019y trouve impliqu\ue9 presente une structure singuli\ue8re. Aucune analyse ne permet d\u2019expliquer le groupe -\u3bd\u3b4-\u201d. In the same context Chantraine, also quoting a statement by Herodotus, suggested that the suffix has its ultimate origin in Asia Minor, particularly in Lydia. A fact which deserves consideration, although it is in itself not enough to demonstrate the Asiatic origin of the suffix, is the presence in the area of several place names ending in -\u3b9\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1 (e.g. \u3a0\u3b9\u3b3\u3af\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1 in Caria, \u3a3\u3af\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1 in Pisidia). Another element, which encourages to elaborate on this perspective is the hypothesis \u2013 in our view correct \u2013 recently put forth by Paola Dardano (2011), according to which the suffix -\u3af\u3b4\u1fb1\u3c2, which in the Homeric poems forms patronymics and is later refunctionalised as a suffix for deriving proper names, would have entered Greek via the Lydian language. In my talk I will take into account and discuss the hypothesis of a Micro-Asiatic origin of the suffix -\u3b9\u3bd\u3b4\u3b1, evaluating its position within the context of linguistic contact between Greek and the languages of Asia Minor

Singing for identity, relationship, wellbeing and strength : three francophone girls negotiate adolescence, gender, and minority identity

This study investigated three francophone adolescent girls� experiences with singing. A qualitative, narrative research approach (Bogdan & Biklen, 2003; Murray, 2003) was used to increase understanding about the benefits of singing, with a particular interest in exploring singing as a potentially positive means for adolescent minority-culture girls to successfully negotiate multiple aspects of identity, that is, adolescence, gender, and culture. Semi-structured interviews provided an opportunity for the participants to share their experiences, and describe what it is like for them to sing. Data were analyzed with The Listening Guide (Gilligan, Spencer, Weinberg, & Bertsch, 2003), a relational analysis responsive to the narrative and authentic voices of participants, and used to generate �I� poems and identify themes. Three ways of singing were identified � private informal, social informal, public formal � as well as three themes, evoked with the metaphors of: Rhythm (singing and experiences of identity), Harmony (singing and relationships), and Melody (singing, wellbeing, and strength). Findings confirm and extend the small but growing research literature on the psychology of singing, and have implications for those interested in working with youth using a strength-based perspective focused on positive youth development (Larson, 2000)

Corporate Tax Policy, Entrepreneurship and Incorporation in the EU

In Europe, declining corporate tax rates have come along with rising tax-to-GDP ratios. This paper explores to what extent income shifting from the personal to the corporate tax base can explain these diverging developments. We exploit a panel of European data on firm births and legal form of business to analyze income shifting via increased entrepreneurship and incorporation. The results suggest that lower corporate taxes exert an ambiguous effect on entrepreneurship. The effect on incorporation is significant and large. It implies that the revenue effects of lower corporate tax rates – possibly induced by tax competition -- partly show up in lower personal tax revenues rather than lower corporate tax revenues. Simulations suggest that between 10% and 17% of corporate tax revenue can be attributed to income shifting. Income shifting is found to have raised the corporate tax-to-GDP ratio by some 0.2%-points since the early 1990s