Abuse of the Dominant Position by Prohibited Pricing Activities Abstract This thesis analyzes selected pricing practices of dominant undertakings namely predatory pricing, margin squeeze and excessive pricing. These practices may, under certain circumstances, constitute an abuse of the dominant position. The aim of the thesis is to focus on problematic aspects of each of these practices, on explanation of various legal and economic tests used to prove that certain pricing policy constitutes an abuse of dominant position and on the description of conditions that have to be met in order to consider such practice contrary to the competition law of the Czech Republic and the European Union. The thesis is composed of four chapters. In Chapter One a brief introduction to the competition law itself and to the analyzed matter is given. Chapter Two describes basic terminology used when dealing with cases of abuse of a dominant position such as basic legal concept of the abuse itself, definition of an undertaking and a competitor according to the EU law and the Czech law respectively, delimitation of a relevant market and finally definition of a dominant position. Chapter Three is oriented on the selected pricing practices of dominant undertakings. This Chapter is subdivided into three parts each of which is dealing...

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka om det finns något sammanband mellan hållbarhetsarbete och lönsamheten hos de företag som är noterade på Nasdaq OMX Stockholm.    Metod: För att uppnå syftet med studien har en kvantitativ metod använts. En tvärsnittsdesign har varit grunden för de statistiska undersökningarna. Den empiriska data som har samlats in är av sekundär art där hållbarhetsarbetet har operationaliserats med hjälp av Folksam index för året 2013. Måtten på företagens lönsamhet består av nyckeltalen avkastning på eget kapital, avkastning på sysselsatt kapital och vinstmarginal. Dessa mått är inhämtade från företagens årsredovisningar från räkenskapsåret 2015. Vidare har den insamlade data analyserats med hjälp av deskriptiv statistik, Pearsons korrelationstest och linjära regressioner. Resultat & slutsats: Studiens resultat visar hur ett positivt samband finns mellan samtliga nyckeltal som berör den finansiella lönsamheten i företagen och dess redovisade hållbarhetsdata. Avkastningen på eget kapital har ett svagt positivt samband med en signifikansnivå på 0,05. Avkastning på sysselsatt kapital har ett svagt positivt samband där signifikansnivån 0,1 analyserades. Vinstmarginalen har det starkaste sambandet med en förklaringsgrad på 52,1 procent och en signifikansnivå på 0,01. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Ett förslag till vidare forskning är att göra en studie under en längre period, men även att jämföra hållbarhetsarbete inom Europa. Den nya lagen som träder i kraft under 2017 är även en intressant ståndpunkt. Detta för att se hur det kan påverka sambandet mellan hållbarhetsarbete och lönsamhet.   Uppsatsens bidrag: Denna studies praktiska bidrag visar hur sambandet mellan noterade företag hållbarhetsarbete och lönsamhet ser ut. År 2013 var de ungefär 226 företag som redovisade sitt hållbarhetsarbete vilket även utformar studiens population. Det teoretiska bidraget i denna studie är att se vilket samband hållbarhetsarbete och lönsamhet verkligen har och studien berör tre olika mått på företagens finansiella prestation. Samt om det förekom ett positivt, negativt eller neutralt samband mellan den beroende och oberoende variabeln. / Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a relationship between sustainability performance and profitability of the companies listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. Method: In order to achieve the aim of the study a quantitative method used. A cross-sectional design has been the basis of the analyses. The empirical data that have been collected from the secondary nature in which sustainability work has been operationalized with the help of Folksam Index for the year 2013. The dimensions of financial performance consist the keywords, return on equity, return on capital employed and profit margin. These measurements are obtained from annual reports from the year of 2015. Furthermore, the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test and linear regressions. Results & Conclusions: Our results demonstrate how a positive correlation exists between all the key figures relating to the financial profitability of businesses and its reported sustainability data. Return on equity has a weak positive correlation with a significance level of 0.05. After the analyze return on capital employed has a weak positive correlation with significance level of 0.1. The profit margin has the strongest relationship with an explanation rate of 52.1 percent and a significant correlation at a significance level of 0.01. Suggestions for future research: A proposal for further research is to make a study for a longer period, but also to compare the different European countries CSR. The new law that takes effect in 2017 is also an interesting position to see how it affects the relationship between CSR and corporate profitability during a specific timeline. Contribution of the thesis: This study practical contribution shows how the relationship between listed companies' sustainability performance and profitability looks. In 2013 it was approximately 226 companies that reported its sustainability work and these companies are the population in this study. The theoretical contribution of this study was to see what connection work on sustainability and profitability, indeed, and the study involves three different measures of corporate financial performances. If there was a positive, negative or neutral relationship between the dependent and independent variable.

La marge algérienne borde le bassin algérien, formé en position de bassin arrière-arc de la subduction Téthysienne. L'importance de l'étude du segment de marge qui s'étend de Ténès à Mostaganem sur environ 250 km, réside dans sa position charnière entre le domaine continental d'Alborán à l'Ouest et le bassin océanique algérien à l'Est. Dans ce travail nous avons déterminé pour la première fois, la structure et la nature de la croûte de ce segment, à partir de l'inversion tomographique des données de sismique grand-angle d'un profil N-S perpendiculaire à la marge. Grâce aux traitements des données de sismique réflexion multitrace acquises pendant la campagne SPIRAL et aux données industrielles, nous avons pu proposer un schéma tectonique régional et une cartographie de l'extension possible du socle Kabyle en mer. Les résultats révèlent une marge caractérisée par la juxtaposition d'une croûte océanique peu épaisse au nord et d'une croûte continentale amincie au sud de part et d'autre d'un accident vertical. L'ouverture du bassin océanique résulterait de la réponse à la déchirure du panneau lithosphérique en subduction sous Gibraltar, accompagné par la migration du bloc Alborán vers l'Ouest. La propagation de cette déchirure (STEP) a généré une zone de cisaillement qui se focalise dans zone de transition océan-continent. L'inversion tectonique qui affecte plus à l'Est la marge semble s'arrêter à la latitude de Ténès. Cette absence de déformation en mer coïncide avec une lacune de sismicité liée à la résistance mécanique de la marge. Par comparaison à d'autres régions du monde, seules les zones situées sur la croûte continentale pourraient présenter un potentiel pétrolier. / Located in North Africa, the Algerian margin is bordering the Algerian basin, formed in the back of the Tethyan subduction. The importance of the study of the segment extending from Tenes to Mostaganem over 250 km, lies in its pivotal position between the continental Alborán domain to the West and the Algerian Basin to the East. In this work, we determined for the first time, the structure and the crustal nature of this segment using the tomographic inversion of the seismic data recorded along a N-S wide-angle seismic profile shot perpendicular to the margin. Thanks to the multichannel reflection seismic data acquired during SPIRAL (2009), and to industrial data, we have proposed a regional tectonic pattern and the possible offshore extension of the kabylian basement The results reveal a margin characterized by the juxtaposition of a thin oceanic crust to the North and a slightly thinned continental crust to the South on either side of a major vertical accident. This suggests that the margin is formed in a strike-slip context. The opening of the oceanic basin should result from the response to the retreat and to the tear of the lithospheric slab beneath the Gibraltar subduction, accompanied by the westward migration of the Alborán block. The propagation of this lithospheric tearing (STEP) generated a zone of strike-slip along the narrow ocean-continent transition. The offshore absence of seismicity along our segment is connected to the mechanical resistance of the margin due to rapid change of crust nature. Owing the results and compared with other regions of the world, the areas which can likely present oil potential are the ones located on the continental crust.

Cette thèse questionne les liens entre les territoires urbains et la valorisation non institutionnelle des déchets dans deux capitales africaines, Dakar au Sénégal et Addis Abäba en Éthiopie. Ces relations sont interrogées à l’aune du contexte actuel de modernisation de ces agglomérations, qui ont fait du « vert » et surtout du « propre », de nouveaux paradigmes de leur développement. Tandis que la plupart des études portent sur les carences ou les défaillances de la gestion officielle des services urbains, cette recherche se focalise sur la valorisation des déchets, qui considère ces derniers comme une ressource. Celle-ci, de plus en plus mise en avant au Nord, est une forme de traitement qui redonne de la valeur aux ordures. Au Sud, et dans les deux capitales étudiées, elle est aux mains du secteur informel et des ménages. Dans ce cadre, cette thèse a pour ambition de comprendre, à travers leur valorisation non institutionnelle, comment les déchets participent à la construction de territoires et influent sur les évolutions urbaines actuelles à Dakar et Addis Abäba. La dimension spatiale du processus est étudiée à travers l’analyse et la mise en relation de ce que nous appelons les « lieux de l’ordure » (décharges, marchés des déchets, etc.) perçus comme marginaux. La comparaison et les enquêtes de terrains qualitatives (questionnaires et entretiens) donnent à voir les modalités du développement de la valorisation, ses spécificités et les dynamiques territoriales qu’elle produit. Cette thèse montre que ces dernières peinent à s’insérer dans les nouvelles donnes urbaines, voire interfèrent négativement avec les tentatives de régulation en cours. En revisitant la thématique de l’informel, ce travail questionne les possibilités de développement pour ‐ et les risques encourus par ‐ un processus fondamental pour faire des déchets une ressource urbaine en Afrique. / This thesis examines the links between urban areas and non-institutional recycling in two African capitals : Dakar, Senegal and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. These connections are studied regarding the current state of modernisation of these metropolises, which have been going green and above all keeping it clean and became models of development. Most of the studies are about the lacks and the flaws of the bureaucratic management of the urban transit. This research focuses on recycling, which they see as resource. The latter, more and more promoted in the North, is a way of handling the rubbish that puts more value into it. As for the South and in those two capitals in particular, recycling is the hands of the informal sector and households. In this case, this thesis aims to understand through informal recycling how rubbish plays a part in the creation of territories and the current expansions of Dakar and Addis Ababa. The spatial dimension of the procedure is studied through the analysis and the links of what we call “rubbish spots” (rubbish tips, the waste market) are considered marginal. The comparison and qualitative field surveys (questionnaires and interviews) sho how recycling is developed, its specific features and the regional dynamism coming out of it. This thesis shows that the latter can barely be part of the new urban deal and that they have negative interference with the current regulations attempt. By revisiting the platform of the informal, this job questions the possible developments for – and the risks taken – for a fundamental process to trun rubbish into an urban resource on the African continent.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine how changes in long and short interest rates as well as in the slope of the yield curve affect the stock returns of the four major Swedish banks; Svenska Handelsbanken, Nordea Bank, Swedbank, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken. Further, the aim of the research is to compare these findings to how the banks perceive that such changes affect their stock returns. The objective is thereof to detect differences and similarities between regressions and interviews, in order to contribute with insights to how the banks can handle their exposure to interest rate risk. Theoretical Framework: Previous research show that banks’ stock returns are affected by many factors, including cash flow news, interest rates, size of the business, and the macroeconomy as a whole. However, banks’ interest rate margins are set to market rates so these are more exposed to and affected by changes in interest rates, especially short ones, than are non-financial institutions. Furthermore, the low interest rate levels and forecasting errors that have been seen lately have contributed to greater uncertainty and higher risk exposures, making banks’ sensitivity increase. Methodology: A mixture of a qualitative and a quantitative methodology is used, where the former consists of interviewing the banks and the latter of regressions through secondary data from Thomson Reuters Eikon and the Riksbank. Conclusion: The major Swedish banks’ stock returns are generally affected by changes in short interest rates but not by changes in long interest rates, with the exception of Handelsbanken being impervious to all such changes. Swedbank’s stock returns are most sensitive than the other banks’ stock returns and it is the only bank affected by changes in the yield curve slope. However, the banks seem to perceive no crucial difference in how their stock returns are affected by changes in short interest rates and long interest rates, concluding that their perceptions of long interest rates are not as in line with our results as are their perceptions of short interest rates. However, it tends to be a more diffuse relationship between changes in long interest rates and stock returns than between changes in short interest rates and stock returns.

Ce manuscrit étudie dans un premier temps la dépendance de la distorsion, ou erreur en quantification, du quantificateur construit à partir d'un n-échantillon d'une distribution de probabilité via l'algorithme des k-means. Plus précisément, l'objectif de ce travail est de donner des bornes en probabilité sur l'écart entre la distorsion de ce quantificateur et la plus petite distorsion atteignable parmi les quantificateurs, à nombre d'images k fixé, décrivant l'influence des divers paramètres de ce problème: support de la distribution de probabilité à quantifier, nombre d'images k, dimension de l'espace vectoriel sous-jacent, et taille de l'échantillon servant à construire le quantificateur k-mean. Après un bref rappel des résultats précédents, cette étude établit l'équivalence des diverses conditions existantes pour établir une vitesse de convergence rapide en la taille de l'échantillon de l'écart de distorsion considéré, dans le cas des distributions à densité, à une condition technique ressemblant aux conditions requises en classification supervisée pour l'obtention de vitesses rapides de convergence. Il est ensuite prouvé que, sous cette condition technique, une vitesse de convergence de l'ordre de 1/n pouvait être atteinte en espérance. Ensuite, cette thèse énonce une condition facilement interprétable, appelée condition de marge, suffisante à la satisfaction de la condition technique établie précédemment. Plusieurs exemples classiques de distributions satisfaisant cette condition sont donnés, tels les mélanges gaussiens. Si cette condition de marge se trouve satisfaite, une description précise de la dépendance de l'écart de distorsion étudié peut être donné via une borne en espérance: la taille de l'échantillon intervient via un facteur 1/n, le nombre d'images k intervient via différentes quantités géométriques associées à la distribution à quantifier, et de manière étonnante la dimension de l'espace sous-jacent semble ne jouer aucun rôle. Ce dernier point nous a permis d'étendre nos résultats au cadre des espaces de Hilbert, propice à la quantification des courbes. Néanmoins, la quantification effective en grande dimension nécessite souvent en pratique une étape de réduction du nombre de variables, ce qui nous a conduit dans un deuxième temps à étudier une procédure de sélection de variables associée à la quantification. Plus précisément, nous nous sommes intéressés à une procédure de type Lasso adaptée au cadre de la quantification vectorielle, où la pénalité Lasso porte sur l'ensemble des points images du quantificateur, dans le but d'obtenir des points images parcimonieux. Si la condition de marge introduite précédemment est satisfaite, plusieurs garanties théoriques sont établies concernant le quantificateur issu d'une telle procédure, appelé quantificateur Lasso k-means, à savoir que les points images de ce quantificateur sont proches des points images d'un quantificateur naturellement parcimonieux, réalisant un compromis entre erreur en quantification et taille du support des points images, et que l'écart en distorsion du quantificateur Lasso k-means est de l'ordre de 1/n^(1/2) en la taille de l'échantillon. Par ailleurs la dépendance de cette distorsion en les différents autres paramètres de ce problème est donnée explicitement. Ces prédictions théoriques sont illustrées par des simulations numériques confirmant globalement les propriétés attendues d'un tel quantificateur parcimonieux, mais soulignant néanmoins quelques inconvénients liés à l'implémentation effective de cette procédure. / The distortion of the quantizer built from a n-sample of a probability distribution over a vector space with the famous k-means algorithm is firstly studied in this thesis report. To be more precise, this report aims to give oracle inequalities on the difference between the distortion of the k-means quantizer and the minimum distortion achievable by a k-point quantizer, where the influence of the natural parameters of the quantization issue should be precisely described. For instance, some natural parameters are the distribution support, the size k of the quantizer set of images, the dimension of the underlying Euclidean space, and the sample size n. After a brief summary of the previous works on this topic, an equivalence between the conditions previously stated for the excess distortion to decrease fast with respect to the sample size and a technical condition is stated, in the continuous density case. Interestingly, this condition looks like a technical condition required in statistical learning to achieve fast rates of convergence. Then, it is proved that the excess distortion achieves a fast convergence rate of 1/n in expectation, provided that this technical condition is satisfied. Next, a so-called margin condition is introduced, which is easier to understand, and it is established that this margin condition implies the technical condition mentioned above. Some examples of distributions satisfying this margin condition are exposed, such as the Gaussian mixtures, which are classical distributions in the clustering framework. Then, provided that this margin condition is satisfied, an oracle inequality on the excess distortion of the k-means quantizer is given. This convergence result shows that the excess distortion decreases with a rate 1/n and depends on natural geometric properties of the probability distribution with respect to the size of the set of images k. Suprisingly the dimension of the underlying Euclidean space seems to play no role in the convergence rate of the distortion. Following the latter point, the results are directly extended to the case where the underlying space is a Hilbert space, which is the adapted framework when dealing with curve quantization. However, high-dimensional quantization often needs in practical a dimension reduction step, before proceeding to a quantization algorithm. This motivates the following study of a variable selection procedure adapted to the quantization issue. To be more precise, a Lasso type procedure adapted to the quantization framework is studied. The Lasso type penalty applies to the set of image points of the quantizer, in order to obtain sparse image points. The outcome of this procedure is called the Lasso k-means quantizer, and some theoretical results on this quantizer are established, under the margin condition introduced above. First it is proved that the image points of such a quantizer are close to the image points of a sparse quantizer, achieving a kind of tradeoff between excess distortion and size of the support of image points. Then an oracle inequality on the excess distortion of the Lasso k-means quantizer is given, providing a convergence rate of 1/n^(1/2) in expectation. Moreover, the dependency of this convergence rate on different other parameters is precisely described. These theoretical predictions are illustrated with numerical experimentations, showing that the Lasso k-means procedure mainly behaves as expected. However, the numerical experimentations also shed light on some drawbacks concerning the practical implementation of such an algorithm.

Análises microfaunísticas, sedimentológicas e geoquímicas realizadas em testemunho coletado na plataforma interna ao largo de Itajaí, SC, (26°5916,8S -048°0433,6W) permitiram reconhecer nos últimos 7.600 anos, três fases com distintas condições de fluxos de matéria orgânica e hidrodinâmicas. A primeira fase (7.600 5.000 anos cal. A.P.) é caracterizada por baixa produtividade, constatada pelos baixos valores dos indicadores de produtividade (Corg, CaCO3 e índice Benthic Foraminífera High Productivity - BFHP), condições hidrodinâmicas mais intensas (predomínio de areia e alta frequência de Globocassidulina subglobosa) e águas mais oxigenadas (valores elevados do índice Benthic Foraminífera Oxic Index BFOI e porcentagens relativamente altas de espécies epifaunais). O clima nesse período era relativamente mais seco e o nível médio do mar estava aproximadamente 3 m acima do atual. A segunda fase (5.000 3.000 anos cal. A.P.) é marcada pelo relativo incremento na paleoprodutividade (aumento de Corg, CaCO3 e índice BFHP), condições hidrodinâmicas menos intensas (baixa frequência de G. subglobosa e aumento no conteúdo de lama) e diminuição na disponibilidade de oxigênio nas águas de fundo (valores relativamente baixos do índice BFOI). O clima aparentemente torna-se progressivamente mais úmido e há diminuição progressiva do nível relativo do mar. A terceira fase (3.000 900 anos cal. A.P.) é caracterizada por aumento expressivo na produtividade (maiores porcentagens de Corg, CaCO3 e do índice BFHP e altas frequências de espécies infaunais e detritívoras), provavelmente as correntes de fundo são menos intensas (predomínio de sedimentos lamosos e baixa frequência de G. subglobosa) e com conteúdo de oxigênio mais restritivo (valores relativamente baixos do índice BFOI). Nesse período, há aumento significativo no aporte de material terrígeno, evidenciado por acentuado incremento na frequência de Buliminella elegantissima e das razões Fe/Ca e Ti/Ca. O aumento na produtividade poderia estar relacionado ao aumento da umidade ao longo do Holoceno, devido à intensificação do Sistema de Monções da América do Sul (SMAS) ocasionada por variações no ciclo de precessão e possivelmente aumento na frequência de El Niño, que corroboram para o aumento de chuvas no sul do Brasil. O clima mais úmido e o fortalecimento de frentes frias (ventos de S/SW) poderiam ter favorecido à penetração de águas frias e ricas em nutrientes vindas do sul, relacionada à descarga do Rio da Prata / Microfaunal, sedimentological and geochemical analyses from a core collected on the inner shelf off Itajaí, SC, allowed us to recognized , in the last 7,600 years, three phases with different organic matter fluxes and hydrodynamic conditions. The rst phase (7,600 5,000 years cal. B.P.) is characterized by low productivity, evidenced by low values of productivity proxies (organic carbon (Corg), calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and Benthic Foraminífera High Productivity index - BFHP), more intense hydrodynamic regime (dominance of coarser sediments and higher frequencies of Globocassidulina subglobosa) and waters with more oxygen availability (higher values of the Benthic Foraminífera Oxic Index BFOI and relatively high percentages of epifaunal species). The climate during this period was relatively dry and sea-level was approximately 3 m above the present. The second phase (5,000 3,000 years cal. B.P.) is marked by a relative increase in productivity (increase of Corg, CaCO3 and BFHP), hydrodynamical conditions were probably less intense (lower frequencies of G. subglobosa and muddy sediments), and oxygen availability decreased (lower BFOI index values). The climate apparently became progressively more humid and a progressive decline of the sea-level occurred. The third phase (3,000 900 years cal. B.P.) is characterized by a significant increase of productivity (higher percentages of Corg, CaCO3, infaunal and detritivores species, and increase of BFHP index values), probably bottom currents were less intense (muddy sediments and lower frequencies of G. subglobosa) and oxygen contents more restrictive (lower BFOI values). A significant increase in the input of continental material occurs during this period, as highlighted by an increase of Buliminella elegantissima frequencies and increase of the Fe/Ca and Ti/Ca ratios. The increase of productivity could be related to moisture increase throughout the Holocene, due to the intensification of the South American Monsoon system (SAMS) caused by variations in the precession cycle and possibly increased El Niño frequency, which corroborates the increase in rainfall in southern Brazil. The wetter climate and strengthening cold front may have favored the penetration of cold water rich in nutrients from the south, related to the discharge of the Rio de La Plata

O presente estudo compreende a análise de distribuição dos foraminíferos bentônicos vivos no talude continental da Bacia de Campos e Platô de São Paulo, procurando compreender os fatores ambientais condicionantes dessa distribuição. Amostras de sedimento foram coletadas, entre 400 e 3000 m de profundidade, no outono/inverno de 2008, e verão de 2009. Dados sedimentológicos, geoquímicos e microfaunísticos permitiram identificar dois setores na área de estudo. O Setor I inclui amostras do talude superior e médio (400-1300 m de profundidade), e é caracterizado por valores altos de densidade, diversidade, densidade das espécies de foraminíferos bentônicos indicadoras de produtividade (BFHP), de carbono orgânico, e pela presença de espécies como Adercotryma wrighti, Globocassidulina subglobosa e Pullenia bulloides, refletindo maior disponibilidade de alimento, com fluxos episódicos de fitodetritos. O setor II, constituído de amostras do talude inferior e Platô de São Paulo (1300-3000 m de profundidade), é caracterizado por baixos valores de densidade, diversidade, BFHP e de carbono orgânico, com predomínio de espécies epifaunais, indicando condições mais oligotróficas. O oxigênio não se mostrou um fator restritivo à distribuição da microfauna, entretanto, constatou-se que os processos hidro-sedimentares (p.e ação da CB junto ao fundo) e a morfologia de fundo são fatores controladores das condições tróficas no ambiente, determinando assim variações latitudinais e temporais da microfauna de foraminíferos bentônicos vivos na Bacia de Campos. / The present study comprise the analysis of the distribution of living benthic foraminifera on the continental slope of Campos Basin and Plateau of São Paulo to understand the environmental factors determining this distribution. Sediment samples were collected between 400 m and 3000 m water depth, in the austral autumn/winter of 2008, and summer of 2009. Sedimentological, geochemical and microfauna data indicated the existence of two sectors in the study area. Sector I includes samples from the upper and middle slope (400-1300 m water depth), and is characterized by high levels of density, diversity, Benthic Foraminifera High Productivity (BFHP), organic carbon and the presence of species such as Adercotryma wrighti, Pullenia bulloides and Globocassidulina subglobosa, reflecting greater availability of food, with episodic phytodetritus fluxes. Sector II, consisting of samples of the lower slope and Plateau of São Paulo (1300-3000 m water depth), is characterized by low values of density, diversity, BFHP and organic carbon, with species predominant epifaunal, indicating more oligotrophic conditions. Oxygen was not a limiting factor to the distribution of the microfauna, however the hydro-sedimentary (BC influence in the sea floor) and morphology processes are background factors controlling trophic conditions of the environment, determining the temporal and latitudinal variations of the microfauna of living benthic foraminifera in Campos Basin.

Engagée en Afghanistan depuis plus de dix ans, l'intervention internationale a fondé son argumentaire sur la reconstruction d'institutions à modèle démocratique, selon des concepts généralisés en Occident depuis le 18ème siècle et parmi eux le principe d'égalité. Ce modèle avait présidé aux évolutions socio-politiques voulues par les Emirs tout au long du 20ème siècle, mais abouti au chaos dans trois décennies d'un conflit en cours depuis les années 1970 avec des adversaires toujours renouvelés. Tribalisme et modernité - en tant qu'idéologie, dans leurs manifestations en Afghanistan, mettent en oeuvre la prévalence d'un mode social d'opposition, dont la domination sur une société provoque la parcellisation ou la destruction et répond aux revendications d'égalité par l'honneur des groupes. Leur conséquence est le traditionalisme prégnant dans les communautés, contraintes par le sentiment d'insécurité à l'uniformisation dans l'égale insignifiance de l'individu. Cependant, l'hospitalité et la recherche de réparation sont des normes sociales visant au dépassement du sentiment d'insécurité ; elles sont la réponse afghane à la recherche d'égale dignité au bénéfice de tous. Pour peu que les conditions de sécurité en permettent la primauté comme mode social dominant, l'honneur d'être humain est le composant fondamental d'une société ouverte et évolutive. L'emphase sécuritaire et dogmatique des programmes internationaux tend néanmoins à conforter les réflexes tribalo-traditionalistes, dans un engrenage de violence qui recherche un équilibre des groupes plutôt que l'expression d'initiatives créatives et originales - comme la mise en place de systèmes de solidarité universels qui libèreraient les individus de leurs allégeances aux groupes. Seuls de tels maximins pourraient dépasser les blocages inégalitaires inscrits dans la position géo-stratégique du pays sur une faille du système-monde. / The international intervention in Afghanistan started more than ten years ago. It built on new institutions according to the democratic model, complete with concepts generalized in the Western world since the 18th century, and among them the principle of equality. This model had founded the Amirs’ wished socio-political changes all along the 20th century, but ended in an on-going 30-year chaos with ever-renewed adversaries since the 1970’s. As operated in Afghanistan, tribalism and modernity – meant as an ideology, result in opposition prevaling as a social behaviour, which produces fragmentation or destruction and deals with equality demands through group honor. Consequently, traditionalism prevails in communities constrained by a feeling of insecurity and results in an equalizing insignificance of individuals. However, hospitality and reparation are social precepts meant to overtake the feeling of insecurity; they are the Afghan way for a social praxis enhancing equal dignity as a benefit for all. For as much as security permits its social prevalence, the honor of being human is the basic component for an open and evolutive society. An emphasis on security, as well as dogmatism in international programs are however comforting tribal-traditionalist behaviours, gearing up in violence that can only be checked by group balance rather than enabling original and creative ideas – such as starting a universal social protection system that would free individuals from their group allegiances. Implementing such a maximin only could overcome the inequality walls that are built on the country’s geo-strategic location, a fault in the world-system.

Die adhäsive Befestigung von keramischen Inlays erfordert viele mühsa-me und zeitintensive Arbeitsschritte. Zudem werden die Dentin-Bonding-Materialien nicht nach den Herstellerangaben verarbeitet, was unter Um-ständen einen negativen Einfluss auf die Randqualität von keramischen Inlays deren Ränder sich im Dentin befinden können, haben kann. Ziel der Untersuchung: In dieser Studie wurde der Einfluss einer verein-fachten Applikationstechnik auf die Randqualität keramischer Inlays un-tersucht. Material und Methode: MOD-Inlaykavitäten mit Präparationsgrenze im Dentin wurden in 32 humane kariesfreie Prämolaren präpariert. Die Prä-molaren wurden zufällig in vier Gruppen geteilt (n=8). In dem Ver-suchsaufbau war ein Untersuchungsparameter das Inlaymaterial (Empress/Cerec) und der andere die Polymerisation des Dentin-Bonding-Materials vor Insertion des Inlays (P+) und nach Insertion des Inlays (P). Alle Inlays wurden mit einem Dualzement (Variolink II) in Kombination mit einem schmelz- und dentinkonditionierenden Universal-Bonding-Material (Etch & Prime 3.0) eingegliedert. Drei Parameter wurden verwandt, um die Qualität der Versorgung zu bestimmen: 1. Die Passung, gemessen durch die Differenz der Einsenktiefe in die Kavität zwischen der Anprobe und nach dem Zementieren, 2. die Randqualität, die mittels quantitativer Randanalyse im SEM bei einer 200fachen Vergrößerung vor und nach Temperaturlastwechsel (2000 mal zwischen 5° und 55° C) durch Replikas aus Epoxydharz bestimmt wurde und 3. die Randdichtheit, überprüft mit einem Farbstoffpenetrationstest (0,5% wässrige Lösung von basischem Fuchsin). Ergebnisse: Die statistische Analyse (ANOVA) ergab: In allen vier Gruppen waren die Inlays nach der Eingliederung > 5µm tiefer in der Kavität, als bei der Anprobe. Das Ergebnis war für die Gruppe Cerec-Inlays bei denen das Dentin-Bonding vor dem Eingliedern nicht polymerisiert wurde signifikant größer. Die statistische Auswertung der Randanalyse nach dem Friedman und Wilcoxon Test ergab für die zervikalen Bereiche für beide getesteten Kriterien keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede (p< 0,01). Die Median-werte für alle Gruppen zeigten 100 Prozent klinisch akzeptable Ränder und keine Randspalten. Der Farbstoffpenetrationstest ergab 71 Prozent dichte Ränder im Schmelz und 38 Prozent dichte Ränder im Dentin. Schlussfolgerung: Bei der Verwendung des universal Bonding-Materials ist es möglich, hohe Randqualitäten mit keramischen Inlays im Schmelz und Dentin selbst mit einer vereinfachten Applikationstechnik, zu erzielen. / The adhesive luting technique for ceramic inlays requires a sequence of multiple steps that are cumbersome and time consuming. Furthermore, modifications of dentin bonding procedures may negatively influence the margin quality of ce-ramic inlays with cervical dentin finishing lines. Purpose: The objective of this study was to test the effect of a new, sim-plified procedure for dentin bonding on the margin quality of ceramic inlays. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two MOD inlay cavities with cervical finish-ing lines in dentin were prepared into premolars. They were randomly di-vided into four groups (n = 8): In the balanced design, one parameter was the inlay material (Empress/Cerec) and the other the polymerization of the dentin bonding agent, before insertion of the inlay (P+) and after in-sertion of the inlay (P-). All inlays were inserted with dual cured cement (Variolink II) in combination with an enamel and dentin conditioning uni-versal bonding agent (Etch & Prime 3.0). Three parameters were used to determine the inlay margin quality: (1) the fit, measured by the difference of the insertion depth into the cavity between try-in and cementation, (2) a quantitative margin analysis in the SEM at a magnification of 200xs, be-fore and after thermocycling (2000 times between 5 and 55 degrees cen-tigrade), using epoxy replicas and (3) dye penetration. Results: Statistical analysis using the ANOVA test showed in all four groups the inlays were >5 µm deeper in the cavities than at the try-in ses-sion. This is explained by the substance loss from the etching. The measured difference for Cerec inlays inserted in cavities, where the bond-ing agent was not polymerized prior to insertion, was significantly larger. Statistical interpretation of the margin analysis of the cervical segment using the Friedman and Wilcoxon Test revealed no statistical differences (p< 0.01) for both criteria tested. The median values for all groups were 100% for clinical acceptable margin and 0% for marginal opening. The dye penetration test resulted in 71% of the enamel margins and 38% of the dentin margins. Conclusion: By using the universal bonding agent, high margin qualities on dentin and enamel are obtained with ceramic inlays even with the sim-plified approach.