Background: Multidirectional interactions in social networks can have a profound effect on mate choice behavior; e.g., Poecilia mexicana males show weaker expression of mating preferences when being observed by a rival. This may be an adaptation to reduce sperm competition risk, which arises because commonly preferred female phenotypes will receive attention also from surrounding males, and/or because other males can copy the focal male's mate choice. Do P. mexicana males indeed respond to perceived sperm competition risk? We gave males a choice between two females and repeated the tests under one of the following conditions: (1) an empty transparent cylinder was presented (control); (2) another ("audience") male inside the cylinder observed the focal male throughout the 2nd part, or (3) the audience male was presented only before the tests, but could not eavesdrop during the actual choice tests (non-specific sperm competition risk treatments); (4) the focal male could see a rival male interact sexually with the previously preferred, or (5) with the non-preferred female before the 2nd part of the tests (specific sperm competition risk treatments). Results: The strength of individual male preferences declined slightly also during the control treatment (1). However, this decrease was more than two-fold stronger in audience treatment (2), i.e., with non-specific sperm competition risk including the possibility for visual eavesdropping by the audience male. No audience effect was found in treatments (3) and (5), but a weak effect was also observed when the focal male had seen the previously preferred female sexually interact with a rival male (treatment 4; specific sperm competition risk). Conclusion: When comparing the two 'non-specific sperm competition risk' treatments, a very strong effect was found only when the audience male could actually observe the focal male during mate choice [treatment (2)]. This suggests that focal males indeed attempt to conceal their mating preferences so as to prevent surrounding males from copying their mate choice. When there is no potential for eavesdropping [treatment (3)], non-specific specific sperm competition risk seems to play a minor or no role. Our results also show that P. mexicana males tend to share their mating effort more equally among females when the resource value of their previously preferred mate decreases after mating with a rival male (perceived specific sperm competition risk), but this effect is comparatively weak.

This study deals with market reaction to public information. The sample studied concerns six different famous European football clubs that are regularly involved in European competitions. These clubs are AS Roma from the Italian championship Calcio Serie A, FC Porto from the Portuguese championship Super Liga, Ajax Amsterdam from the Dutch championship Holland Casino Eredivisie, Galatasaray and Besiktas Istanbul from the Turkish championship Super Lig, and Celtic Glasgow from the Scottish championship Premier League.               Palomino et al. (2009) is the main source of inspiration for this study. Most of the findings are in lines with their results. There are two main contributions in this research. Firstly, our sample is composed by clubs from 5 different European countries: Italy, Scotland, Turkey, Portugal and Netherlands. Secondly, the ten years period of the study includes the financial crisis period. The results obtained for the financial crisis period have contaminated most of our results, justifying the choice to focus mainly on the results of the period 2002-2012 without the 2007-2009 period, which is the period associated to the financial crisis.               This research is divided into four parts. We firstly find evidence that the release of public information during the on-season has more influence than the one of the off-season. Indeed, the abnormal volumes calculated during the on-season are greater than the abnormal volumes computed during the off season. Likewise, we observed similar results as for the volatility. Secondly, this study demonstrates that the games’ results have a positive or a negative impact on the shares’ clubs returns depending on the game outcome. Indeed, the abnormal returns’ results are negative for losses and positive for wins. Moreover, we demonstrate that the stock market absorbs negative events (e.g. defeats) faster than the positive events (e.g. victories). Thirdly, we found that the losses that occur at the end of the season have more impact in terms of magnitude on the abnormal returns. On the contrary, the investors do not seem to react differently regarding the wins. Then, we were unable to find relevant findings regarding the unexpected results’ impact on the clubs’ share price. Surprisingly, we found that there is a surprise effect concerning victories whereas there is no surprise effect regarding the defeats.               Most of the findings of the study prove that public information concerning game results does influence investors’ behavior and thus have a significant impact on the share price of the famous European clubs.

Efektyvus vertybinių popierių rinkos funkcionavimas yra grindžiamas sąžininga prekyba, savalaikiu ir pilnu informacijos atskleidimu bei investuotojų teisių apsaugos garantija. Rinkos funkcionavimo efektyvumas gali būti pasiektas tik tuo atveju, jeigu yra sėkmingai įgyvendinama piktnaudžiavimo vertybinių popierių rinka identifikavimo ir prevencijos sistema. Piktnaudžiavimus vertybinių popierių rinka galima būtų išskirti į dvi pagrindines grupes: manipuliavimą vertybinių popierių kaina ir pasinaudojimą viešai neatskleista informacija. / This paper examines the problem of market abuse. The guidance and accompanying examples are presented to help the development of a common understanding of what constitutes market abuse. The types of market manipulations are provided, as well as, the prohibitions on such practices. The definition of non-public information is concretized and its main aspects are detailed. Furthermore, diagnostic flags and signals of possible market abuse that could be monitored by competent authorities and by market participants within the limits of their sphere of activity are proposed. The specified diagnostic flags and signals could be used to identify and prosecute market manipulation and insider trading.

Introduction. Theme of modern biotechnologies is an especially topical question, because there is no simple answer about possible harm to nature and human health done by Genetically Modified Organisms (hereinafter referred to as GMO) until now. On the other side, biotechnology industry is a future industry, which provides great possibilities to improve the welfare of whole nations. Survey of Lithuanian public opinion shows that society thinks of GMO not very favorably and inhabitants treat those new products not well enough; with a great care and do not trust in their safety. Public institutions do not pay much attention for public information campaigns. Paper objective. Research and estimation of society knowledge and information distribution concerning GMO and GMP and their possible impact on human health. Tasks. 1. To examine public knowledge related to GMO and GMP. 2. To explore public knowledge related to a possible risk of GMP for a human health. 3. To evaluate effectiveness of public information distribution structures while familiarizing the society with GMO and GMP and their influence on human health. 4. To suggest measures and ways for improvement of the distribution of public information concerning GMO and GMP. Research methods. Paper objective was to explore public knowledge on GMO, GMP and its impact on human health. Research has been carried out using methods of data analysis, comparison, generalization and questionnaire interview. The statistical data... [to full text]

Little is known about the role of public health public information officers (PIOs) during public health emergencies. This study uses interpretative methods to learn about the organizational structures that facilitate and constrain emergency risk communication efforts during public health emergencies. Interpretive thematic comparative analysis of PIOs experiences and reflections about their involvement in the 2009-2010 H1N1 response will be used to illustrate how social interactions between and among PIOs, public health staff, and representatives from other agencies create implicit and explicit structures that facilitate and constrain emergency risk communication. The application of three specific concepts from structuration theory, namely, agent, duality of structure and institutionalized processes will be key in the exploration of the role of the PIO within the context of emergency planning and response. Participants in this study were individuals from Kentucky, North Dakota, New Jersey and California who served as a PIO during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic influenza response. The study’s findings suggest that social interactions between organizational members, in addition to the organization of public health systems in each state, contribute to the similarities and differences in the enactment of the PIO role. Further, this study also suggests that the permeability of emergency response plans, another type of organizational structure, facilitate and constrain PIOs’ emergency risk communication efforts. Finally, this study also suggests that the involvement of PIOs in emergency planning and exercises impacts the types of relationships that are created and maintained before and during emergency responses.

By describing investors' decision-making processes and actions, this thesis provides a background to the share prices that millions of people follow closely everyday. It focuses on the reasons for institutional investors' investment actions on the stock market, and in particular the role of financial information about the quoted companies. Interviews and document studies linked to a large number of actual investment actions in eight large Swedish institutional investor organisations constitute the empirical basis of the thesis. Important empirical results concern how action based on fundamental opinions about investment objects is restricted or reinforced by investor contexts and market premises, the role of valuation models and quantitative analysis in comparison with qualitative judgements, and how uncertainty is dealt with during investment decision-making processes. Non-public information played an essential role in forming the fundamental opinions about companies/equities. In addition, this information could help trigger equity investment actions. Several factors, some of them organisational, contributed to time lags between the first impulse and the completed investment transaction.The results also suggest that the institutional investors in this study did not take action independently of other investors. Furthermore, they did not develop their fundamental opinions about investment objects independently of other market participants - to varying extents they adjusted to other market participants' expectations, equity valuation methods and ways of using accounting figures. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk.

Thesis--Madrid. / Publicaciones del Departamento de Sociologia de la Universidad de Madrid. Estudios y monografías. Includes bibliographical references.

Analisa as funções do arquivo como esfera pública informacional, tendo como fundamento teórico a Teoria da Ação Comunicativa, de Jurgen Habermas. Destaca a importância do direito à informação e acesso às informações arquivísticas na construção da cidadania. Reflete sobre a função social dos arquivos na gestão da informação, e seu papel de mediador das informações públicas, garantindo a transparência das ações do Estado, na consolidação da democracia. A partir do estudo das correspondências remetidas pelos cidadãos, para o Prefeito de Porto Alegre, Olívio Dutra, entre os anos de 1988 e 1990, analisa os conteúdos informacionais e as estratégias de comunicação utilizadas pelos cidadãos como forma de participação e de controle sobre ações governamentais. As cartas são tratadas como narrativas dos cidadãos, pois elas são uma forma de comunicação com o governo municipal, além de darem visibilidade aos problemas do cotidiano da cidade e outros temas de interesse coletivo. Conclui que os arquivos públicos como fontes de informações são elementos essenciais para garantir o acesso às informações públicas e auxiliar na ampliação da cidadania, pois subsidiam os cidadãos para a participação no debate público sobre os temas de interesse da sociedade. / This work examines the role played by archives as an informational public sphere, based on Jurgen Habermas’s concept of Public Sphere. It stresses the importance of the right to information and access to archivistic information on construction of citizenship. It reflects upon the social role played by archives on information management and as mediator of public information, guaranteeing the transparency of the actions taken by the State in consolidating democracy. Based on the study of letters sent by citizens to Porto Alegre Mayor Olívio Dutra in 1988, 1989 and 1990, the work examines the informational content and communication strategies they use as a way of participation and control government actions. Letters are seen as citizen’s narratives, since they are a way to communicate with the Municipal Government, besides pointing out everyday problems in the city as well as other issues of collective interest. It concludes that public archives as sources of information are essential elements to guarantee access to public information and help to broaden citizenship, since they assist citizens in their participation in the public debate on issues of interest for society, configuring an informational public sphere.

Analisa as funções do arquivo como esfera pública informacional, tendo como fundamento teórico a Teoria da Ação Comunicativa, de Jurgen Habermas. Destaca a importância do direito à informação e acesso às informações arquivísticas na construção da cidadania. Reflete sobre a função social dos arquivos na gestão da informação, e seu papel de mediador das informações públicas, garantindo a transparência das ações do Estado, na consolidação da democracia. A partir do estudo das correspondências remetidas pelos cidadãos, para o Prefeito de Porto Alegre, Olívio Dutra, entre os anos de 1988 e 1990, analisa os conteúdos informacionais e as estratégias de comunicação utilizadas pelos cidadãos como forma de participação e de controle sobre ações governamentais. As cartas são tratadas como narrativas dos cidadãos, pois elas são uma forma de comunicação com o governo municipal, além de darem visibilidade aos problemas do cotidiano da cidade e outros temas de interesse coletivo. Conclui que os arquivos públicos como fontes de informações são elementos essenciais para garantir o acesso às informações públicas e auxiliar na ampliação da cidadania, pois subsidiam os cidadãos para a participação no debate público sobre os temas de interesse da sociedade. / This work examines the role played by archives as an informational public sphere, based on Jurgen Habermas’s concept of Public Sphere. It stresses the importance of the right to information and access to archivistic information on construction of citizenship. It reflects upon the social role played by archives on information management and as mediator of public information, guaranteeing the transparency of the actions taken by the State in consolidating democracy. Based on the study of letters sent by citizens to Porto Alegre Mayor Olívio Dutra in 1988, 1989 and 1990, the work examines the informational content and communication strategies they use as a way of participation and control government actions. Letters are seen as citizen’s narratives, since they are a way to communicate with the Municipal Government, besides pointing out everyday problems in the city as well as other issues of collective interest. It concludes that public archives as sources of information are essential elements to guarantee access to public information and help to broaden citizenship, since they assist citizens in their participation in the public debate on issues of interest for society, configuring an informational public sphere.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:34:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:00:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP