Female sex steroids can affect the motor system, modulating motor cortex excitability as well as performance in dexterity and coordination tasks. However, it has not yet been explored whether FSS affects the cognitive components of motor behavior. Mu is a sensorimotor rhythm observed by electroencephalography in alpha and beta frequency bands in practices such as motor imagery and action observation. This rhythm represents a window for studying the activity of neural circuits involved in motor cognition. Herein we investigated whether the (...) alpha-mu and beta-mu power in the sensorimotor region and the alpha and beta power over frontal, parietal, and occipital regions are modulated differently in the menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases of menstrual cycles in right-handed dominant women. To do so, these women underwent MI and AO in the three menstrual cycle phases. The spectral activity of the cortical regions for the alpha and beta bands were compared between phases of the menstrual cycle and a correlation analysis was also performed in relation to estrogen and progesterone levels. For the hypothesis-based approach, beta-mu event-related desynchronization was significantly stronger in the C3 channel in the follicular phase than in the menstrual and luteal phases. For the data-driven approach, beta ERD during MI was higher in the follicular phase than in the menstrual and luteal phases in the frontal region. These findings suggest the effect of FSS on executive movement control. No effect of menstrual cycle phases was observed in cortical areas investigated during OA, but alpha and beta bands correlated positively with the follicular phase plasma estradiol level. Thus, the attenuation of alpha and beta bands referring to mirror neuron activities appears to be associated with inhibition of cortical activity when estradiol levels are lower, improving cognitive processing of motor action. (shrink)

RESUMO No segundo capítulo de "Word and Object", Quine procura mostrar o quanto da linguagem pode ser esclarecida em termos estimulantes, bem como a limitação da tradução a partir de diferentes esquemas conceituais. O autor apresenta a tese de indeterminação da tradução por meio de uma situação de tradução radical. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar de que modo Quine desenvolve a tradução radical e destacar os conceitos de informações colaterais, significado estimulativo e esquema conceitual. Em seguida, procuraremos mostrar que (...) a teoria do significado de Jakob Von Uexküll é um caso exemplar da tese de indeterminação da tradução: os processos de significação entre diferentes organismos vivos correspondem a um processo de tradução radical que se depara com dificuldades semelhantes àquelas que levam à indeterminação da tradução segundo Quine. ABSTRACT In the second chapter of "Word and Object", Quine seeks to show how much of language can be elucidated in stimulatory terms as well as the limitation of translating from different conceptual schemas. He introduces the thesis of indeterminacy of translation by means of a radical translation situation. This paper aims to present the way in which Quine develops the radical translation and to point out the concepts of collateral information, stimulus meaning and conceptual schema. Following that, we will seek to show that Jakob von Uexküll's theory of meaning is an exemplary case of the thesis of indeterminacy of translation: the processes of meaning by different living organisms correspond to a radical translation process that faces the difficulties similar to those that lead to the indeterminacy of the translation, according to Quine. (shrink)

Resenha do livro LUY, David; LEVERING, Matthew; KALANTZIS, George (orgs.). Evil and Creation: historical and Constructive Essays in Christian Dogmatics. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020. 336 p. (Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology) ISBN 9781683594345.

[…] O objetivo deste é interrogar sobre os fundamentos filosóficos da Escola Nova, movimento educacional cujas origens remontam ao fim do século XIX. A questão fundamental que se pretende examinar é a relação da Escola Nova com o racionalismo e com o empirismo, correntes filosóficas emergentes nos séculos XVII e XVIII, as quais embasam uma das mais significativas visões de mundo contemporâneas, o liberalismo. Afirma-se que o ideário escolanovista não é mais "modismo" educacional. Apesar disso, este estudo pretende contribuir para (...) o aprofundamento do sentido da crítica ao Escolanovismo, particularmente no Brasil em nossos dias. […] Palavras-chave: Educação nova; Fundamentos filosóficos; Racionalismo; Empirismo; Liberalismo. (shrink)

O presente GT se constituiu a partir de convite recebido pelo atual coordenador do GT para participar de um Seminário do Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas "História, Educação e Sociedade no Brasil" em setembro de 1991. Desde então, reuniu um grupo de professores, que vem trabalhando no levantamento e catalogação de fontes primárias e secundárias na região do Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba de interesse para a história da educação brasileira. [...] Palavras-chave: educação; história; fontes histórico-educacionais.

O Transpassando é um coletivo de combate à transfobia e demais preconceitos que atua na Universidade Estadual do Ceará – UECE como um programa de extensão horizontal e autogerido. Sua forma e seu conteúdo é diferenciado, pois o Programa existe enquanto uma ação direta de combate às opressões e violências realizadas contra vários grupos sociais marginalizados. Este texto que se apresenta como relato de experiência tem por objetivo apresentar o Transpassando em sua história de surgimento, seu caráter político, estético, teórico (...) e prático de subversão e de confronto com a lógica colonial. Para tanto, a exposição seguirá um percurso de registro narrativo de fatos e impressões vivenciados no contexto de criação e ampliação do Transpassando enquanto Programa de Extensão e Projeto Pré-Vestibular, onde a disciplina de Filosofia é ofertada junto com as demais. Mas, vale destacar que o Ensino de Filosofia no Transpassando, pela sua metodologia transdisciplinar/encruzilhada de atuação, atravessa os outros projetos que compõem o Programa de Extensão junto com o Pré-Vestibular: o projeto Surdez e Gênero, o projeto Gestão Administrativa e Produção Cultural e o Projeto Cinetrans. (shrink)

Neste artigo buscamos refletir acerca de uma ontologia da relação no pensamento de Karl Marx. Tomamos como ponto de partida a obra A Ideologia Alemã. Na filosofia marxiana, a ontologia nasce do pensamento cotidiano, isto é, o sujeito com suas relações passa a primeiro plano na história. Aqui o homem é visto como atividade sensível, e isso significa vê-lo como mescla de teoria e práxis, tendo a vida real, ou a prática, como fundamento constitutivo da teoria, e não o inverso.

Purpose: To analyze how individual characteristics and the social context are associated with mental distress symptoms in the Brazilian population.Method: A multilevel cross-sectional study with data from the 2013 National Health Survey. There were two dependent variables: decreased vital energy and somatic symptoms, the presence of depressive thoughts. The independent variables were biological characteristics, education and income, habits and lifestyle, and context variables. Bivariate analysis was performed, and Prevalence Ratios calculated in a Poisson Regression. A multilevel Poisson Regression was performed (...) to verify the effect of individual and contextual variables.Results: Regarding depressive thoughts, young and middle-aged individuals, low education, women, absence of partner, smokers or former smokers, and absence of health insurance were the categories at highest risk; belonging to classes D-E and living in states with lower expected years of schooling proved to be protective factors. Similar results were found for the second outcome.Conclusions: Symptoms of mental distress were associated with the individual characteristics and contextual aspects of the federation unit. These findings indicate the importance of strengthening psychosocial care aimed at vulnerable groups. (shrink)

An increase in the number of older people with dementia is currently a trend around the world. In low and middle countries, effective public health services are not yet well‐developed, and family care‐givers may be overwhelmed by the requirements of care. This paper has two purposes: to share findings from an ethnographic study about family dementia care practices in Brazil and to draw attention to the significance of the materiality of care practices in the family context. The study was conducted (...) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. We describe the care trajectory of one family and, analysing data using the insights of Actor Network Theory, show the significance of objects in a networked relation of care. In particular, we show how incontinence products such as adult diapers assume different positions in the network, acting as either mediator or intermediary of care in relation to other elements of the network composed of family members and their living situation, the person with dementia herself, the doctor, and Brazilian health policies. Although the diaper is often seen as an ordinary object for care providers, its participation in a care network shapes relations, activating conflict, financial constraint, and disciplining the body of the person with dementia. (shrink)

Este artigo objetivou adaptar a Escala de Altruismo Autoinformado (EAA), reunindo evidencias de sua validade de construto. Realizaram-se dois estudos em Joao Pessoa (PB), nos quais os participantes responderam a EAA e perguntas demograficas. No Estudo 1 participaram 331estudantes universitarios com ..

O artigo busca refletir sobre a trajetória do filósofo francês Jean-Paul Sartre e sobre os elementos encontrados em suas reflexões que podem inspirar um fazer para a psicologia clínica no contemporâneo. Neste esforço, partiremos de um olhar para a biografia de Sartre desde seus primeiros anos até a compreensão da inexorável conexão entre existente e mundo. Olhando para a noção de engajamento defendida por Sartre, apontaremos para algumas questões políticas e sociais as quais ele correspondeu em seu tempo. Em seguida, (...) olharemos para questões contemporâneas que suas proposições nos auxiliam a pensar e em como sua filosofia nos acena para caminhos possíveis para um fazer clínico que seja engajado no horizonte histórico que é o nosso. (shrink)

BackgroundThe ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines are widely endorsed but compliance is limited. We sought to determine whether journal-requested completion of an ARRIVE checklist improves full compliance with the guidelines.MethodsIn a randomised controlled trial, manuscripts reporting in vivo animal research submitted to PLOS ONE (March–June 2015) were randomly allocated to either requested completion of an ARRIVE checklist or current standard practice. Authors, academic editors, and peer reviewers were blinded to group allocation. Trained reviewers performed outcome adjudication (...) in duplicate by assessing manuscripts against an operationalised version of the ARRIVE guidelines that consists 108 items. Our primary outcome was the between-group differences in the proportion of manuscripts meeting all ARRIVE guideline checklist subitems.ResultsWe randomised 1689 manuscripts (control: n = 844, intervention: n = 845), of which 1269 were sent for peer review and 762 (control: n = 340; intervention: n = 332) accepted for publication. No manuscript in either group achieved full compliance with the ARRIVE checklist. Details of animal husbandry (ARRIVE subitem 9b) was the only subitem to show improvements in reporting, with the proportion of compliant manuscripts rising from 52.1 to 74.1% (X2 = 34.0, df = 1, p = 2.1 × 10−7) in the control and intervention groups, respectively.ConclusionsThese results suggest that altering the editorial process to include requests for a completed ARRIVE checklist is not enough to improve compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines. Other approaches, such as more stringent editorial policies or a targeted approach on key quality items, may promote improvements in reporting. (shrink)

One of the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic is that low-income countries were pushed further into extreme poverty, exacerbating social inequalities and increasing susceptibility to drug use/abuse in people of all ages. The risks of drug abuse may not be fully understood by all members of society, partly because of the taboo nature of the subject, and partly because of the considerable gap between scientific production/understanding and communication of such knowledge to the public at large. Drug use is a (...) major challenge to social development and a leading cause of school dropout rates worldwide. Some public policies adopted in several countries in recent decades failed to prevent drug use, especially because they focused on imposing combative or coercive measures, investing little or nothing in education and prevention. Here we highlight the role of neuroscience education as a valid approach in drug use education and prevention. We propose building a bridge between schools and scientists by promoting information, student engagement and honest dialogue, and show evidence that public policy regulators should be persuaded to support such science-based education programs in their efforts to effect important positive changes in society. (shrink)

A presente pesquisa tem como escopo analisar como as denominadas “razões de segurança” enquanto justificadoras de medidas excepcionais e a existência de uma peste são visualizadas por Giorgio Agamben enquanto paradigmas de governo. O objetivo é demonstrar como esses dois fatores, com a pandemia do coronavírus, se uniram e se transformaram no que o filósofo italiano denomina biossegurança. Para tanto, tratando-se de pesquisa essencialmente bibliográfica, de abordagem qualitativa, serão exploradas obras de Agamben sobre seu método, textos anteriores ao COVID-19 e (...) seus alertas acerca dos dispositivos de controle adotados no combate ao vírus. A partir disso, conclui-se pela importância da tarefa do filósofo em lançar constantemente seu olhar crítico sobre os fenômenos atuais, momentos de seu tempo e história, enquanto esta ainda está em curso. (shrink)

Diante de uma crise sanitária mundial, a pandemia do COVID-19, iniciada em 2020, fez com a humanidade se reorganizasse, entrando em uma nova era. Os órgãos de saúde competentes, juntamente com as nações, expuseram suas preocupações, editando decretos e normativas a serem seguidas, com medidas rigorosas de isolamento social. E a Educação foi uma das áreas mais afetadas, por ser um dos pilares mais importante na sociedade moderna. A rotina que antes era totalmente presencial, passou a ser a distância, novas (...) ferramentas foram ganhando palco, as tecnologias entraram em cena, as mídias sociais passam a ser recursos, estratégias para novas abordagens, metodologias passaram a ser repensadas, reorganizadas, para oferecer uma educação de qualidade, mesmo em tempos de crise. E partindo dessa ideia, o presente trabalho visa discutir e compreender se toda essa mudança, essa troca de cenário de forma abrupta, e as estratégias conseguiram alcançar os objetivos propostos no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. A análise ocorreu em uma escola pública municipal da região norte de Cuiabá- MT, no período letivo de 2020 e 2021, sendo observadas o curso das disciplinas Arte e Educação Física, com um público de alunos variados, da pré-escola ao 3° ano do Ensino Fundamental I. (shrink)

The future of awake bruxism assessment will incorporate physiological data, possibly electromyography of the temporal muscles. But up to now, temporal muscle contraction patterns in awake bruxism have not been characterized to demonstrate clinical utility. The present study aimed to perform surface EMG evaluations of people assessed for awake bruxism to identify possible different subtypes. A 2-year active search for people with awake bruxism in three regions of the country resulted in a total of 303 participants. Their inclusion was confirmed (...) through non-instrumental approaches for awake bruxism: self-reported questionnaire and clinical exam, performed by three experienced and calibrated dentists. Also, 77 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Temporalis surface EMG was performed with a portable device. EMG signals were sent to a computer via Bluetooth 4.0 at a sampling rate of 1,000 Hz. Digital signal processing was performed using the commercial neuroUP software, transformed in RMS and then normalized for peak detection, in a 10 min session. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct subtypes of awake bruxism: phasic, tonic, and intermediate. Individuals with a predominance of EMG peaks/min were classified as the “phasic” subtype. Those with the highest EMG rest power were classified as the “tonic” subtype. There was also an “intermediate” subtype, when both variables remained low. Characterization of awake bruxism physiology is important for future establishment of instrumental assessment protocols and treatment strategies. (shrink)

ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze sociohistorically how the normative patterns of hegemonic masculinity produced impacts on men’s health/mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA qualitative study from a socio-historical perspective was conducted with 50 men based on an online survey. A semistructured form was applied. The data were analyzed by the Collective Subject Discourse method, interpreted in the light of the context of epidemic disease and hegemonic masculinity.ResultsThe experience of the pandemic exposed the normative patterns of masculinities from (...) the consummation of acts representative of the pandemic context, which incited men to deny the existence of COVID-19 disease and to delay the understanding and adoption of measures to protect and control COVID-19. As a repercussion, men presented conflicts in the regulation of emotions; presented emotional suppression; were more reactive; felt threatened regarding the loss of the role of family provider, virility; and revealed a sense of invulnerability, added to the weakening of self-care.ConclusionThe discourse revealed that the men’s behaviors are consistent with the characteristics of hegemonic masculinity, but express signs of recognition that this behavior causes harm to themselves and their health. (shrink)

A coletânea apresenta, sob a forma de artigos, problemas e soluções associados ao conceito e substância ao longo da história da filosofia. Sem pretender exaurir esse percurso, a coletânea contém 29 artigos redigidos por diversos especialistas brasileiros em Filosofia. Sua proposta é oferecer uma visão clara, acessível, precisa e atualizada desse recorte da história do conceito de filosofia, na expectativa de contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento do ensino e debate de filosofia no país. -/- The anthology presents, through a series of (...) articles, the intricacies of problems and solutions intertwined with the concept of substance across the annals of philosophical history. While not seeking to comprehensively cover this vast terrain, the collection comprises 29 articles penned by a diverse array of Brazilian specialists in Philosophy. Its overarching aim is to furnish a lucid, accessible, precise, and contemporaneous perspective on this facet of philosophical inquiry, with the aspiration of enriching the landscape of philosophical education and discourse in Brazil. (shrink)

Book ARAÚJO, João Pedro Gonçalves. Histórias, tradições e pensamentos batistas. São Paulo: Fonte Editorial, 2015. 208p. ISBN 978-85-6825-209-3.

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to identify the verbal-ideological conditions in which Judeo-Christin values in tension in the conceptualization of hell are installed as Western collective memory even out of the religious segment and, this way, frame a cosmovision. Theoretically, the discussion is preponderantly based on a dialogic reading (BMV Circle) of the Halbwachian notion of collective memory and on a socio-cognitivist approach to polysemy. Methodologically, apocrificity is used as a resource to trace de conceptual path constituting the (...) semiosis of hell in dialog with canonical texts. The paper demonstrates that hell, by compressing the transit between cultures and by permeating Christian values in other fields of ideological creation, activates a moral-causal domain that, at the same time, defers to these values and denies their religious principles, making the sacred and sublime also prosaic. The sacred/prosaic ambivalence that occurs not alternatively, but simultaneously, as typical of the dialogic tension, frames a collective structure of memory. (shrink)

After discussing de Sousa's view of emotion in akrasia, I suggest that emotions be viewed as nonconceptual perceptions of value (see Tappolet 2000). It follows that they can render intelligible actions which are contrary to one's better judgment. An emotion can make one's action intelligible even when that action is opposed by one's all-things-considered judgment. Moreover, an akratic action prompted by an emotion may be more rational than following one's better judgement, for it may be the judgement and not the (...) perception which is in error. By contrast, "cool" akrasia is genuinely puzzling; it is not clear whether it exists. (shrink)

Emotional intelligence is a psychological skill that aids athletes in the control of emotions and optimization of sports performance. The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test in 508 Brazilian youth and adult athletes. Data analysis was conducted through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability and Pearson’s Correlation. EFA revealed the one-factor model with 26 items with the best adjustment. CFA confirmed the one-factor model with 26 items with best greater fit. No (...) evidence of invariance was found, suggesting that the SSEIT must be used with caution when comparing gender and age groups. The external validity was found in the correlation of EI and cognitive anxiety and self-confidence. It is concluded that the Brazilian version of SSEIT for the sports context presented acceptable psychometric properties, however, showed limitations that should be explored in the future. (shrink)

Cet article se propose d'analyser les relations entre l'anthropologie et l'indigénisme au Brésil. Pour cela, il retrace le processus de migration des savoirs indigénistes depuis leur contexte d'origine au Mexique jusqu'au Brésil, et les transformations qu'ils connaissent au cours de leur trajectoire jusqu'à aujourd'hui, en s'appuyant sur la notion de « traditions de savoirs » pour la gestion des populations qui se sont développées à partir de l'époque coloniale. Cette approche participe d'une anthropologie du colonialisme, en ce qu'elle étudie les (...) conceptions de la diversité culturelle des populations dans les administrations publiques brésiliennes et les façons de gouverner celles-ci. (shrink)

1a pt. Socrática. t. 1. Cármides ; Lisis ; Eutifron ; Apología; Critón ; Fedón ; Menón -- t. 5. Eutidemo ; Gorgias -- t. 7-8. República.

Neste trabalho, trataremos primeiramente sobre o ensino de filosofia no novo ensino médio. Iremos abordar algumas das competências e habilidades presentes na nova BNCC e apontar como elas apresentam um cunho filosófico. Além disto, falaremos também um pouco sobre as novas metodologias, principalmente a partir da perspectiva de Silvio Gallo, e pensaremos novas maneiras de adotar estas metodologias dentro do ensino de filosofia do novo ensino médio a partir da perspectiva do uso da cinematografia no ensino de Filosofia. O objetivo (...) deste trabalho é propor um ensino de filosofia através da cinematografia. Após análises feitas sobre o novo ensino médio e levando em conta a nova BNCC, refletimos sobre a relação entre cinema e filosofia, apresentando como e quais pensadores já a reconheceram, dando um maior enfoque no pensamento de Julio Cabrera e em sua perspectiva sobre como se fazer filosofia através do cinema. Pensamos também em como a filosofia, desde o início de sua história, usou recursos imagéticos para a apresentação e representação de teorias e conceitos importantes dentro do pensamento filosófico. Tampouco o uso de filmes no ensino é novidade. Porém, aqui pretendemos explorar o uso da cinematografia no que se refere ao ensino de filosofia, previsto dentro da nova base. (shrink)

In spite of strengthened financial regulation, ethical concern continues about the promotion and distribution of financial services in Britain, including savings and investment products. Greater ethical attention needs to be paid to products, price, promotion and distribution. The authors are all faculty members of the School of Management and Finance, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Correspondence should be addressed to Dr Ennew. Alison McGregor gratefully acknowledges funding provided by the Association of British Insurers.

Content skepticism about practical reason is doubt about the bearing of rational considerations on the activities of deliberation and choice. Motivational skepticism is doubt about the scope of reason as a motive. Some people think that motivational considerations alone provide grounds for skepticism about the project of founding ethics on practical reason. I will argue, against this view, that motivational skepticism must always be based on content skepticism. I will not address the question of whether or not content skepticism is (...) justified. I want only to establish the fact that motivational skepticism has no independent force. (shrink)

Hablar de conflictos y negociación en medio de la guerra no es fácil. Los ánimos exacerbados nunca han sido buenos consejeros para la toma prudente de decisiones, de allí que el ejercicio por tratar de entender estos temas es de la mayor importancia en momentos de incertidumbre como los que vivimos actualmente los colombianos.

Este estudo busca investigar o movimento constitutivo das articulações entre razão e emoção e a sua influência na educação contemporânea. Para tanto, busca situar novas contribuições a partir das pesquisas de Antonio Damásio para quem as emoções e os sentimentos, são considerados indispensáveis para a vida racional nos diferenciando uns dos outros, nos tornando únicos e nos capacitando a um repertório de respostas emocionais criadas a partir da interação entre o corpo e a mente. Também são utilizadas as reflexões do (...) filósofo seiscentista Baruch Espinosa, cuja contribuição para este estudo reside nos seus conceitos de afeto, liberdade e servidão. Assim, propõe-se uma movimentação no sentido de contextualizar o entendimento dos conceitos de emoção e sentimentos, culminando no desvelamento das suas reais influências no agir humano e na transcendência da visão construída a partir do paradigma epistemológico moderno. Para tanto, pontua-se, as perspectivas filosóficas entre a razão e a emoção que foram sendo produzidas ao longo do tempo e, no segundo momento, procura-se compreender as articulações entre emoções, sentimentos e consciência. Esses apontamentos resultarão nos elementos em favor da dignidade, da reverência pela vida e da liberdade de pensamento como valores a serem assegurados e defendidos na educação. E, dessa forma, provocam os seus atores a rediscutir o papel das emoções e sentimentos, reavaliando a pauta das suas ações. (shrink)

This article presents and discusses two contributions by Lélia Gonzales to the consolidation of an Afro-Latin-American feminism truly commited to breaking colonial oppression mechanisms and interested in the liberation of all human beings subjugated by the European colonization process. The first contribution pertains to the importance of understanding the formation of Brazilian society from a decolonial perspective. The second one concerns the need for feminist movements to include racial issues on their agendas in order to engage in the antiracist struggle.

"First Published in 1998, Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.".

Aristotle believes that an agent lacks virtue unless she enjoys the performance of virtuous actions, while Kant claims that the person who does her duty despite contrary inclinations exhibits a moral worth that the person who acts from inclination lacks. Despite these differences, this chapter argues that Aristotle and Kant share a distinctive view of the object of human choice and locus of moral value: that what we choose, and what has moral value, are not mere acts, but actions: acts (...) done for the sake of ends. Morally good actions embody a kind of intrinsic value that inspires us to do them from duty (in Kant) or for the sake of the noble (in Aristotle). The chapter traces the difference in their attitudes about doing one's duty with pleasure to a difference in their attitudes towards pleasure itself: Aristotle sees it as a perception of the good, while Kant thinks of it as mere feeling. (shrink)

Feminism and Ecological Communities presents a bold and passionate rethinking of teh ecofeminist movement. It is one of the first books to acknowledge the importance of postmodern feminist arguments against ecofeminism whilst persuasively preseenting a strong new case for econolocal feminism. Chris J.Cuomo first traces the emergence of ecofeminism from the ecological and feminist movements before clearly discussing the weaknesses of some ecofeminist positions. Exploring the dualisms of nature/culture and masculing/feminine that are the bulwark of many contemporary ecofeminist positions and (...) questioning traditional traditional feminist analyses of gender and caring, Feminism and Ecological Communities asks whether women are essentially closer to nature than men and how we ought to link the oppression of women, people of colour, and other subjugated groups to the degradation of nature. Chris J.Cuomo addresses these key issues by drawing on recent work in feminist ethics as well as teh work of diverse figures such as Aristotle, John Dewey, Donna Haraway adn Maria Lugones. A fascinating feature of the book is the use of the metaphor of the cyborg to highlight the fluidity of the nature/culture distinction and how this can enrich econfeminist ethics and politics. An outstanding new argument for an ecological feminism that links both theory and practice, Feminism and Ecological Communities bravely redraws the ecofeminist map. It will be essential reading for all those interested in gender studies, environmental studies and philosophy. (shrink)

… our faults do not allow our qualities to show themselves to best effect. That is why, at the moment, Brazilians are a people of intermittent qualities and permanent faults.Mário de Andrade, Essai sur la musique brésilienne, 1928This paper sets out to discuss the use and power of music in representing social identities, concentrating on the more specific case of the Brazilian nation, which has made itself a complex and all-embracing socio-political unit in spite of the great diversity and the (...) great inequalities to be found within its borders. It is well known that what appears to be its most uniform feature, the use of a dominant language, is actually quite fragmented, due to the influence of various co-existing systems of production, cultural models and social hierarchies, which change on a daily basis. Although this diversity seems to be underwritten by daily practice and independent of debate and official encouragement, the same cannot be said of the search for national unity. It is obvious in the case of most of the action undertaken with this end in mind, that questions such as exclusion and the imbalance and arbitrariness of power have been eliminated. Besides, certain alert individuals are wary of this insistence on the construction of a nation, since the role of the old national states throughout the world seems to be disintegrating in the face of the proliferation and growing importance of social, economic and cultural relations at a supranational level. It is therefore hardly surprising that the twentieth century is considered to be a milestone in both the rise and fall of efforts to achieve Brazilian national unity. Amongst these efforts, music has played a prominent role, as I shall endeavour to show. (shrink)

This paper has two main objectives. The first one is to reflect on the validity of data in analysis and projections that underpin the engineering asset management of organizations, considering, on the one hand, a certain resistance or even inadequate use of data and information of a subjective nature and; on the other hand, a consolidated reliance on quantitative approaches and decisions based on data series. The second objective is to contextualize the applicability of combining qualitative data based on experts’ (...) experience and on the tacit knowledge built in organizations, with approaches based essentially on quantitative data, according to the data availability and the decision scenario over the asset life cycle. We present two application of an approach combining quali and quanti data. One example interrelates Statistics with Psychology and the other combines elicitated data about asset indicators with parameters deterministically calculated. Both applications aiming at providing more realistic indicators and supporting the Asset Management process to make more assertive decisions. (shrink)