Regional Contagion and the Globalization of Securities Markets

This paper argues that the globalization of securities markets may promote contagion among investors by weakening incentives for gathering costly country-specific information and by strengthening incentives for imitating arbitrary market portfolios. In the presence of short-selling constraints, the utility gain of gathering information at a fixed cost converges to a constant level and may diminish as securities markets grow. Moreover, if a portfolio manager's marginal cost for yielding below-market returns exceeds the marginal gain for above-market returns, there is a range of optimal portfolios in which all investors imitate arbitrary market portfolios and this range widens as the market grows. Numerical simulations suggest that these frictions can have significant quantitative implications and they may induce large capital flows in emerging markets.

Sexual Dimorphism in the Dorsal Fins of Ollentodon and Skiffia, Mexican Goodeid Teleosts

The dorsal fins of males of Ollentodon multipunctatus, Skifiia lemae and Skifiia variegata differ from the dorsal fins of the females. The first 4-5 rays of the male dorsal fins have a spine-like appearance and are separated from each other by a deep notching at the periphery of the fin membrane. The female fin is undifferentiated. The male dorsal is generally higher and longer at the base than the female fin. Similarly, the rays in the male fin are thicker than those in the female. Whereas most rays in the fin are bifurcated twice to form three or four terminal branches, the first five rays in both sexes are primarily single (nonsplit) or bifurcated once. There is no structural difference in the first five rays of the two sexes. The fins of the two genera are alike in structure although the dorsal fin of the male Ollentodon is higher or larger, proportionately, than that of Skiffia

Exploring the interface between community-based forest management and systems modelling

Participatory modes of development, in general and community-based forest management in particular, have been widely accepted as a better alternative to traditional management paradigms, which have been discredited for being too expert-driven, centrally planned, and essentially top-down with strong adherence to principles of rationality. Recently however, participatory approaches have also received some criticism for their lack of rigour and highly empiricist orientation. Traditional modelling approaches have often been associated with traditional management paradigms in part because they are highly structured and systematic in their approach. Despite their perceived limitations, participatory approaches and modelling offer a number of desirable properties and strengths that can enhance both the practice and theory of community-based management. This paper explores alternative ways by which systems modelling can be adopted in a participatory framework. Combining these two approaches offers the flexibility, inclusivity and practicality of participatory methods, and the systemic, systematic and analytical capabilities of systems modelling. Examples of models that adhere to this hybrid approach are described in this paper

Structural changes and inequalities in the central region of Mexico

Este trabajo presenta una reflexión sobre el cambio de la estructura económica que viene ocurriendo en las principales zonas metropolitanas de la región central de México y su impacto sobre la desigualdad. Se analizan los componentes del cambio en las estructuras económicas y su relación con las estructuras ocupacionales en las zonas metropolitanas de la región. Se considera que entre las ciudades de la región no hay convergencia ni similitud sino que tienden a desarrollarse de manera diferente y desigual. Esto, a la larga, afecta también las condiciones de empleo y bienestar de la mayoría de la población de cada ciudad.This paper presents a reflection on the change in the economic structure that is occurring in the main metropolitan areas of the central region of Mexico and its impact on inequality. This paper analyzes the components of the change in economic structures and their relationship with the occupational structures in the metropolitan areas of the region. It is considered that among the cities of the region there is no convergence or similarity but that they tend to develop differently and unevenly. This, in the long run, also affects the conditions of employment and welfare conditions of the majority of the population of each city.Fil: Ejea Mendoza, Guillermo. México. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Unidad Azcapotzalc

Brasil: La constitución de 1988 y las reformas a los sistemas de pensiones

ResumenEl objetivo de este trabajo es el de explorar el papel de la Constitución brasileña de 1988, particularmente en lo que se refiere a los principios que rigen los derechos sociales, en el tipo de reformas previsionales realizadas en ese país durante los gobiernos de F. H. Cardoso y Lula. A través del procedimiento de las enmiendas constitucionales se realizaron reformas paramétricas que han mantenido el sistema previsional de reparto, pero con reglas que establecen una mayor vinculación entre contribuciones y beneficios.AbstractThe article pretends to approach the role of the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, in the field of the principles that shape social rights, on the social insurance reforms undertaken by the F.H. Cardoso and Lula governments. Through the procedure of Constitutional Amendments, there had been reforms which have maintained the provisional payment system, but with rules and procedures that establish a closer vinculation between contributions and benefits

Examining Teachers\u27 Referral and Placement Decisions of Hispanic Children for Gifted and Talented Programs

This quantitative survey design study examined whether children’s ethnicity makes a difference in teachers’ referral and placement decisions in gifted and talented (G/T) programs. A total of 524 teachers from all over the United States who have taught or currently teach pre-kindergarten through 5th grade participated. The participants were randomly given one of six vignettes adapted from a previous similar study (Elhoweris et al., 2005). Participants answered whether the child described should be referred and placed into gifted and talented programs. All six vignettes described gifted and talented characteristics; the only differences were the children\u27s ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Data was collected via an online survey powered by Qualtrics® XM distributed via social media sites. A nonparametric test was conducted. Results showed no significant difference in preK-5th grade teachers’ referral and placement decisions for G/T educational programs based on children’s ethnicity. Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U tests were computed among the dependent variables and teachers’ school SES, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, specialization, years of experience, and highest level of education. Teachers’ level of education, years of experience, and their schools’ SES were found to be significant. Findings are discussed in terms of limitations, future research, and application to the gifted and talented field

Exploring Gesturing as a Natural Approach to Impact Stages of Second Language Development: A Multiple Baseline, Single Case Study of a Head Start Child

There is an increase in Hispanic English Language Learners (ELL). Poverty levels and lack of teacher training can also be stacked against the ELL population. Gesturing is a teaching technique that is used in successful methods such as The Natural Approach (NA) and Total Physical Response (TPR) in helping ELL students in English comprehension and output. This study examined the effects that increased teacher gestures have on the number of words spoken by the child in multiple settings. Data were collected in the context of a multiple baseline design across three settings. The results indicate that there was an effect on the amount of words spoken in two out of three settings. Suggestions are presented to expand on this effect

Nanocomposites with shape memory behavior based on a segmented polyurethane and magnetic nanostructures

Shape-memory composites based on a commercial segmented polyurethane and magnetite (Fe⁠3O⁠4) nanoparticles(NPs) were prepared by a simple suspension casting method. The properties of the resulting nanocomposites,containing 1 to 10 nominal wt.% magnetic particles, were evaluated by thermogravimetric tests, contact anglemeasurements, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared and X-ray spectroscopy, static and thermal cyclic tensiletests, dynamic mechanical analysis and experiments of alternating-magnetic-field heating. It was found thatmost of the suspended NPs could be successfully incorporated into the polyurethane matrix, and thus compositesamples with up to 7 wt.% actual concentration were obtained. On the other hand, the incorporation of magnetitenanoparticles to the shape memory polyurethane did not significantly affect most of the matrix properties,including its shape memory behavior, while added magnetic response to the nanocomposites. Thus, nanocompositeswere able to increase their temperature when exposed to an alternating magnetic field, which allowedthem to recover their original shape quickly by an indirect triggering method.Fil: Soto, Guillermo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Meiorin, Cintia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Actis, Daniel Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Mendoza Zélis, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Mosiewicki, Mirna Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Marcovich, Norma Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; Argentin