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The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the seasonal and spatial variations in the statistical descriptors of the Markov chain model as well as the expected values of the length of dry and wet days and to estimate the probability of dry and rainy sequences in the state of Santa Catarina.

Daily rainfall data from 1970 to 2013 of five rainfall stations in the state of Santa Catarina were used. To model the sequence of dry and wet days, the first order of the Markov chain was used. The statistical descriptors of the Markov model were evaluated, as well as the expected values of the length of dry and wet days and the number of dry and rainy days for each month. Along with geometric distribution, the probability of occurrence of sequences of dry and rainy days was determined. The adherence of the data to geometric distribution was evaluated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

The results showed that there is a seasonal and spatial variation in Markov model descriptors and also in the duration of the dry and rainy periods. These variations may be related to the mechanisms responsible for the formation and distribution of rainfall in the state, such as the air masses and relief. The Lages station, located in the Plateau of Santa Catarina, had the highest P₀₀ values, reflecting more stable conditions of the atmosphere. In autumn and winter, no marked differences were found between the coastal stations and west of the state. The geometric distribution was adequate for estimating the probability of dry and rainy days.

Although some work has already been carried out on the modeling of the Markov chain in the state of Santa Catarina, this study was found to be more complete with the use of various statistical descriptors of the model and its application in estimating the duration of the cycles of dry and wet periods and the number of rainy days in the period.

Unemployment has been a major economic, political and social problem in many countries over the past two decades, as it was also in the inter‐war years. One of the strengths of social and psychological research on unemployment in the 1930s was that findings became available from a range of countries throughout continental Europe as well as from English‐speaking countries, especially Britain and the United States. Evidence for this is contained in the well‐documented reviews by Eisenberg and Lazarsfeld (1938) and Garraty (1978).

The aim of this work is to explain the final negotiated prices for some of the most famous transfers of football players over the last twelve years (2007–2018).

The article analyses different values for forwards taken from the sports website Transfermarkt, developing a statistical model based on personal, performance, risk, environmental and popularity variables. From those values, the article finds an explanation for the final prices paid for 20 superstar players based on a combination of real option valuations, incorporating the players' life cycles and game theory.

The authors find that in a large percentage (70%) of the analysed cases, the price paid was higher than the intrinsic market value resulting from Transfermarkt, implying the existence of monopolistic rents, paid as “growth options” on prices from different negotiating conditions. On occasions, the final prices also exceed the value of the growth option, calculated under neutral bargaining conditions, highlighting the lack of economic viability of important transfers, leading to financial difficulties for the clubs involved.

The algorithm provides more flexibility and realism than previous proposals, based on the life cycle of football players, introducing the uncertainty and volatility of projections through Monte Carlo simulation, the capacity of clubs to bargain a price at any point of the contract and finally, the buyer's ability to transfer the player if his subsequent performance is not as expected.

Should the unemployed be viewed as an underclass at the bottom of the stratification heap in modern societies? In the 1930s, the answer given by social scientists was unambiguously negative. The unemployed could not be considered as a social class; they were “a mass numerically not socially” who showed no group or class consciousness (Zawadsky and Lazarsfeld, 1935, p.2). The people who were unemployed at any one point in time, the argument ran, were a mixed collection of individuals who did not necessarily share a common view of society. The attitudes of the unemployed varied according to previous experience at work (Bakke, 1933) and individual and family financial situation (Jahoda, Lazarsfeld and Zeisel, 1932: 45). Similar arguments have been presented more recently: the responses of the unemployed to their condition depend critically on their previous political socialisation, for example, argues Bergere (1990).

The purpose of this paper is to study the human resource management (HRM)–performance linkage by exploring alternative relationships between different HRM practices, categorised as either calculative or collaborative, and employee turnover and organisational and financial outcomes, in Uruguayan multinational companies (MNCs) and domestic companies, to better understand the implications of the Latin American context in this relationship.

The study is performed at the firm level, using data from a representative sample of 274 firms, including both multinationals and locally owned firms in Uruguay, collected through the Cranet 2009 survey. The authors tested the hypotheses of the proposed model using structural equation modelling (SEM) and hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Empirical results show that collaborative HRM practices are significantly related to lower employee turnover rates, whereas calculative HRM practices are significantly associated with higher organisational and financial outcomes. These findings show the importance of the Latin American context in the relationships between HRM practices and firms’ outcomes.

The use of survey data with single respondents might produce reliability problems. Additionally, the data used are cross-sectional, making it difficult to determine causality.

Managers in MNCs and local firms in the context of developing economies and Latin American cultures must be aware that different types of HRM practices will influence different outputs and impacts on overall outcomes.

The paper examines the extent to which HRM practices have a significant relationship with firm performance. In addition, it identifies the differential effects of calculative and collaborative HRM practices on performance, using data from a Latin American contextual setting rarely examined, in order to determine similarities and differences from results obtained in US and European contexts.

The purpose of this study is to delve into societal stigma surrounding severe mental disorders and intellectual disabilities, emphasizing gender differences and students’ proximity influence.

Involving 572 Spanish master’s students, this nonexperimental study categorizes participants based on contact frequency, using Goratu and CAEE questionnaires to measure stigma.

Gender-based stigma differences are absent; however, increased contact correlates with lower stigma levels. Notably, greater closeness is associated with more positive attitudes toward intellectual disability, resulting in diminished stigma toward severe mental disorders.

This research sheds light on the pervasive stigma faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities and severe mental disorders among postgraduate university students. Notably, the recognition of widespread stigma among individuals with higher education highlights a more significant societal problem. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, especially in higher education contexts, to enhance understanding and reduce societal bias.

By identifying factors influencing stigma and emphasizing the importance of contact in fostering empathy, the study lays the groundwork for informed socioeducational strategies. These strategies have the potential to promote inclusivity, challenge stereotypes and contribute to the well-being and social integration of those affected by intellectual disabilities and severe mental disorders.

The findings highlight the efficacy of direct contact in reducing stigma and underscore the necessity for nuanced understanding. The study suggests fostering positive attitudes through increased contact can combat prejudice and promote social inclusion. Nevertheless, further research is crucial to explore factors influencing stigma reduction and design comprehensive socioeducational interventions addressing diverse cultural proficiencies. This study contributes valuable insights for mitigating stigma, fostering inclusivity and informing future interventions.

The purpose of this paper is to explore varieties of capitalism (VoC) as a moderator of the effect of: the strategic HR function role; and the level of union presence on the adoption of different human resource management (HRM) practices categorized as either person-centered or performance-centered.

The authors use data on both multinationals and locally owned firms from 14 OECD countries, collected through the Cranet 2009 survey. The hypotheses of the proposed model were tested using hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Evidence shows that the strategic HR function is positively related to the adoption of both types of HRM practices, whereas higher levels of union presence inhibit the adoption of performance-centered practices and promote the adoption of person-centered practices. In addition, although VoC does not show any significant direct effects on HR practices, there is a moderating effect of VoC on the HR function role – HRM practices and union presence – HRM practices relationships.

The use of survey data with single respondents might produce reliability problems. Additionally, the data used are cross-sectional, which means that causality cannot be determined.

Managers in multinationals corporations and local firms must be aware of the distinct effects of the strategic HR function and trade union presence in different market economies. In particular, special attention must be paid when a firm expands globally, “outside the reach” of the national market economy or type of capitalism, and operates in different VoC.

The present paper contributes to better understanding the influence of VoC, not only on HRM practices, as in previous research, but also on the relationships between the HR function role and the level of union presence and the types of practices promoted.

This paper aims to present the results from a questionnaire distributed to a group of Spanish postgraduate teacher students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Secondary School Education. The aims of the administered questionnaire were to identify students’ perceptions of the development of sustainability competencies; to analyse the relationship between students’ perceived level of competence and the subject area, previous teaching experience and previous participation in sustainability projects; and to explore the strengths and limitations of the assessment tool used.

An ad hoc questionnaire of 18 items was designed to analyse students’ self-conception of the development of four sustainability competencies. A set of six units of competence were identified and three levels of acquisition for each unit Knowledge (referred to conceptual learning), Knowhow (related to practical skills) and Do (linked to the demonstration in action and its transferability to real-life situations). The sample included 183 postgraduate secondary teacher students from different disciplines and subject areas.

The findings of this study show that students positioned themselves for the four sustainability competencies in a medium level of competence. No statistical significant differences exist between the subject areas and the level of sustainability competence. A statistically significant difference was found between previous teaching experience and participation in sustainability projects in relation to their perceived level of sustainability competencies. Participation in sustainability projects is clearly shown as a differentiating factor in the levels of sustainability competencies.

An empirical study has been conducted to investigate preservice teachers’ perceptions on the self-development of four sustainability competencies, considering three levels of acquisition (Know, Knowhow and Do). This study provides insights into ESD teaching and learning approaches and the assessment of Education for Sustainable Development outcomes. It also points out the importance of conceptualising sustainability competencies and operationalising these competencies in assessment tools that can help measure sustainability competencies’ development.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the differential effects that institutions have on country IPO activity.

With a sample of 64 countries over a 15-year period (2000-2014), the authors test the variables rule of law, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity on subsamples of developed (27) and emerging (37) countries to explore their influence on domestic IPO activity level.

For developed countries, only uncertainty avoidance and masculinity are significant. Within emerging countries, it is uncertainty avoidance and rule of law that are significant.

Using different country classification frameworks could yield more detailed and focused results on the influence that country-level variables have on IPO activity.

Multinational firms could use these findings for decisions related to their potential subsidiary IPOs.

This is a novel empirical work relating institutions to IPO activity, using emerging and developed country subsamples. It also focuses on IPO activity instead of IPO underpricing/performance and contributes to extend the scope of the IPO literature to global non-Anglo contexts.

Analizar los efectos diferenciales que las instituciones tienen en OPIs (ofertas públicas iniciales) a nivel país.

En una muestra de 64 países en un periodo de 15 anos (2000-14) probamos las variables: estado de derecho, aversión a la incertidumbre y masculinidad en submuestras de países: desarrollados (27) y emergentes (37) para explorar su influencia en el número de OPIs a nivel país.

En países desarrollados la aversión a la incertidumbre y masculinidad son significativas. Dentro de países emergentes, la aversión a incertidumbre y estado de derecho son significativas.

Usar diferentes métodos para clasificar países podría resultar en resultados mas detallados y enfocadas para entender la influencia que variables a nivel país tienen en el nivel de OPIs.

Empresas multinacionales podrían usar estos resultados para decisiones relacionadas a sus subsidiarias potenciales.

Este es un trabajo novedoso que relaciona a las instituciones con la actividad OPI usando submuestras de países desarrollados y emergentes. También se enfoca en actividad OPI en lugar de subvaluación/desempeño OPI y contribuye a extender la literatura OPI a contextos no anglo sajones.

Este artículo se pudo hacer gracias al apoyo parcial de la Asociación Mexicana de Cultura A.C.

OPIs, Emergentes, Desarrollados, Instituciones and Cultura

Analisar os efeitos diferenciais que as instituições têm na atividade de IPO (Oferta pública inicial en inglés) dos países.

Em uma amostra de 64 países em um período de 15 anos (2000-14). Testamos as variáveis: estado de direito, evitação de incerteza e masculinidade em subamostras de países desenvolvidos (27) e, emergentes (37) para explorar sua influência no nível de atividade doméstico do IPO.

Para os países desenvolvidos, apenas a evitação de incertezas e a masculinidade são significativas. Nos países emergentes, a evitação de incertezas e o estado de direito são significativos.

O uso de diferentes estruturas de classificação de países poderia produzir resultados mais detalhados e focados na influência que as variáveis de nível de país têm na atividade de IPO.

As empresas multinacionais poderiam usar essas descobertas para decisões relacionadas a seus possíveis IPOs subsidiários.

Este é um novo trabalho empírico que relaciona instituições à atividade de IPO usando subamostras de países emergentes e desenvolvidos. Também se concentra na atividade de IPO, em vez da infravaloración/performance do IPO, e contribui para estender a literatura do âmbito IPO para os contextos globais não-anglo.

IPOs, Emergentes, Desenvolvidos, Instituições, Cultura

This paper aims to report an experimental study of how surface defects evolve in EP3D printing as more layers are accumulated and proposes a simulation model for the process.

A series of measurements on the surface roughness were taken layer-by-layer for two 30-layer samples. A model of the process was constructed based on dynamic system modeling, system identification techniques and the analysis of the measurements from the samples.

The transient response of the fuser has a significant impact on the surface of the print. The surface of the EP3D printed part depends heavily on the compliance of the interface. The model developed is able to approximate the behavior of the surface as more layers are deposited.

The model requires tuning multiple parameters, especially the compliance threshold for the interface; similar experiments/measurements are needed for any change in the system.

The simulation model provides a way to evaluate different process parameters and conditions that otherwise would be difficult and expensive to test.

This work provides better understanding into the limitations of EP3D printing process and provides a tool to find countermeasures to achieve successful EP3D prints.