Sustainable transportation in Argentina:Values, beliefs, norms and car use reduction

<p>Most Latin American countries face important environmental and societal problems associated with an increase in car traffic, and only recently, transport policies aimed at reducing these harmful consequences of car use have begun to be discussed and put on the public agenda of these countries. Surprisingly, little is known about the factors influencing the acceptability of transport policies and intentions to reduce car use in Latin America, as studies on acceptability of transport policies have typically been conducted in Europe. Previous evidence from European samples - where reducing car used had been widely discussed - showed that the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory of environmentalism was an adequate theoretical framework to predict the acceptability of a transport pricing policy, as well as the intention to reduce car use when this policy would be implemented. But can these results be generalised to non-European samples? In this paper, we report results of a questionnaire study among 160 participants from Buenos Aires, Argentina, aimed to test the VBN theory. We found that the VBN theory was indeed also successful in explaining policy acceptability and intention to reduce car use in Argentina. In addition, we found support for the causal structure of the variables in VBN theory. Interestingly, biospheric and hedonic values were also directly and significantly related to feelings of moral obligation when intermediate variables were controlled for. These results suggest that normative considerations, activated by values, indeed predict policy acceptability and the intention to reduce car use in Argentina and that these considerations should be taken into account to increase the acceptability of policies aimed at reducing car use. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p>

The Need for Selective Credit Policy Implementation: Case of Croatia

The aim of this paper is to explore the economic circumstances in which the selective credit policy, the least used instrument of four types of instruments on disposal to central banks, should be used. The most significant example includes the use of selective credit policies in response to the emergence of the global financial crisis by the FED. Specifics of the potential use of selective credit policies as the instigator of economic growth in Croatia, a small open economy, are determined by high euroization of financial system, fixed exchange rate and long-term trend growth of external debt that is related to the need to maintain high levels of foreign reserves. In such conditions, the classic forms of selective credit policies are unsuitable for the introduction. Several alternative approaches to implement selective credit policies are examined in this paper. Also, thorough analysis of distribution of selective monetary policy loans among economic sectors in Croatia is conducted in order to minimize the risk of investing funds and maximize the return, in order to influence the GDP growth

Fast computation of optimal damping parameters for linear vibrational systems

We formulate the quadratic eigenvalue problem underlying the mathematical model of a linear vibrational system as an eigenvalue problem of a diagonal-plus-low-rank matrix $A$. The eigenvector matrix of $A$ has a Cauchy-like structure. Optimal viscosities are those for which $trace(X)$ is minimal, where $X$ is the solution of the Lyapunov equation $AX+XA^{*}=GG^{*}$. Here $G$ is a low-rank matrix which depends on the eigenfrequencies that need to be damped. After initial eigenvalue decomposition of linearized problem which requires $O(n^3)$ operations, our algorithm computes optimal viscosities for each choice of external dampers in $O(n^2)$ operations, provided that the number of dampers is small. Hence, the subsequent optimization is order of magnitude faster than in the standard approach which solves Lyapunov equation in each step, thus requiring $O(n^3)$ operations. Our algorithm is based on $O(n^2)$ eigensolver for complex symmetric diagonal-plus-rank-one matrices and fast $O(n^2)$ multiplication of linked Cauchy-like matrices.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figur

Temperament traits of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris): Behavioural test

Los rasgos del temperamento se de!nen como tendencias conductuales estables entre situaciones similares y a lo largo del tiempo. En el presente trabajo se revisan las pruebas con- ductuales diseñadas para la evaluación de rasgos aislados del temperamento en los perros domésticos. Para cada dimensión se describen los estímulos empleados, las respuestas evalua- das y el correlato !siológico de las mismas. Los rasgos más estudiados fueron la temerosidad, la agresividad y la socia- bilidad. Sin embargo, sólo la primera cuenta con correlatos !siológicos bien establecidos. Finalmente, las evaluaciones conductuales resultan de suma importancia para la selección de los perros para las distintas funciones que cumplen en la sociedad humana: detección de drogas, compañía, guardia, rescate de personas, etc.A temperament trait is de!ned as a stable behavioral tendency along time and among similar situations. 'is study intends to analyze the behavioral tests designed for the evaluation of isolated temperamental traits of domestic dogs. 'e type of stimulus used, the behaviors evaluated and the physiological substrates are described for each dimension. Fearfulness, aggressiveness and sociability were the most studied traits. Nevertheless, only the !rst one has well established physiological bases. Finally, behavioral tests are of great relevance for selecting dogs for the di(erent roles that they perform in human society, such as drug detection, company, security, human rescue, etc.Fil: Jakovcevic, Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Bentosela, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

¿Existen asociaciones entre sociabilidad, aprendizaje y comunicación entre perros y personas?

Domestic dogs have a close bond with people; and some traits, such as sociability and learning rate, can modulate the communication between the two species. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the presence of correlations between sociability, gaze duration toward the human face when food is unavailable, and an inhibitory learning task consisting in inhibit a non-social behavior (approach a source of food) to deploy a social response (reply to the call from an unknown person). For this, the sociability test was previously validated, measuring the stability of the trait through a test-retest evaluation of the subjects. The results suggest the stability of sociability over time. Furthermore, significant correlations between sociability and gaze duration, but not with the inhibitory learning task, were observed. Both, sociability and gaze responses seem to be essential to the development of different kinds of training.Los perros mantienen un estrecho v&iacute;nculo con las personas; y algunos rasgos, como la sociabilidad y la velocidad de aprendizaje, podr&iacute;an modular la comunicaci&oacute;n entre ambas especies. El objetivo del presente estudio fue indagar la existencia de correlaciones entre la sociabilidad, durabilidad de la mirada espont&aacute;nea a la cara humana cuando la comida no esta disponible y una tarea de aprendizaje inhibitorio consistente en inhibir una conducta no social (acercarse a una fuente de comida) para desplegar una respuesta social (acudir al llamado de una persona desconocida). Para ello, previamente se valid&oacute; la prueba utilizada para medir sociabilidad, evaluando la estabilidad de dicho rasgo a trav&eacute;s de una evaluaci&oacute;n-reevaluaci&oacute;n de los sujetos. Los resultados sugieren la estabilidad de la sociabilidad a trav&eacute;s del tiempo. A su vez, se hallaron correlaciones significativas entre la sociabilidad y la mirada como respuesta comunicativa, pero no con la tarea de aprendizaje inhibitorio. Tanto la sociabilidad como la respuesta de mirada son fundamentales para el desarrollo de diversas clases de entrenamiento

Rasgos del temperamento de los perros domésticos (canis familiaris): evaluaciones conductuales

Los rasgos del temperamento se definen como tendencias conductuales estables entre situaciones similares y a lo largo del tiempo. En el presente trabajo se revisan las pruebas conductuales diseñadas para la evaluación de rasgos aislados del temperamento en los perros domésticos. Para cada dimensión se describen los estímulos empleados, las respuestas evaluadas y el correlato fisiológico de las mismas. Los rasgos más estudiados fueron la temerosidad, la agresividad y la sociabilidad. Sin embargo, sólo la primera cuenta con correlatos fisiológicos bien establecidos. Finalmente, las evaluaciones conductuales resultan de suma importancia para la selección de los perros para las distintas funciones que cumplen en la sociedad humana: detección de drogas, compañía, guardia, rescate de personas, etc

Uso da Teoria do Comportamento Planejado para explicar o uso da bicicleta

Latin American cities are facing crucial changes to become cycling cities. To develop effective policies in this regard, it is essential to understand the factors influencing bicycle commuting. The Theory of Planned Behavior —tpb— (Ajzen 1991) has provided a useful model to explain travel mode choice. The present study tested the tpb within the domain of bicycle mode choice with 172 participants from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Data was modeled using path analysis. The tpb model displayed an excellent fit. Results showed that intention predicted 53% of the variance in cycling to university. In addition, tpb variables (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) predicted 59% of the intention to use the bicycle to commute to university. The study also discusses the theoretical and practical implications for promoting bicycle use.Keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior, bicycling behavior, active transportation.Las ciudades latinoamericanas están realizando cambios importantes para propiciar el uso de bicicleta. Para desarrollar políticas en este sentido es importante conocer los factores que motivan el uso de bicicleta. La Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado (tcp, Ajzen, 1991) proporciona un modelo útil para comprender posibles motivos relacionados con la elección del modo de transporte. En este trabajo se aplicó la tcp para explicar el uso de bicicleta en viajes a la Universidad. Se trabajó con una muestra de 172 participantes de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Los datos fueron modelados mediante análisis de senderos (path analysis). La tcp mostró un excelente ajuste a los datos. Los resultados sugieren que la intención conductual explica el 53% de la varianza de la conducta de uso de bicicleta para viajar a la universidad. A su vez, el resto de los componentes de la tcp (actitud, norma subjetiva, y control conductual percibido) explican el 59% de la varianza en la intención de viajar en bicicleta. Se discuten las implicancias teóricas y prácticas para la promoción del uso de bicicleta como modo de transporte.Palabras clave: Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado, uso de bicicleta, transporte activo. As cidades latino-americanas estão enfrentando importantes mudanças em infraestrutura para se converter em cidades para ciclistas. Para gerar políticas efetivas de desenvolvimento sustentável de mobilidade, é essencial entender os fatores que influenciam o deslocamento em bicicleta. A Teoria do Comportamento Planejado —TCP— (Ajzen, 1991) tem proporcionado um modelo útil para explicar a eleição do modo de viagem, mas poucos estudos aplicam a tcp para explicar isto no comportamento do ciclista. O presente estudo analisou a TCP respeito à eleição do modo de viagem de 172 participantes de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Os resultados sugerem que a intenção explica o 53% da variância do comportamento de andar de bicicleta para ir à universidade. Adicionalmente, variáveis do tcp (atitude, norma subjetiva, percepção do controle comportamental) explicam o 59% da variância da eleição de andar de bicicleta à universidade. Discutem-se as implicações teóricas e práticas de promover o uso da bicicleta.Palavras-chave: Teoria do Comportamento Planificado, comportamento do ciclista, transporte ativo