Effects of compound messages on global characteristics of Galileo spaces

The present article investigates the effect of messages compounded of many assertions on the overall size of a Galileo space. A Galileo space is a space within which objects and attributes are arrayed in such a way that the differences in meaning between any two objects in the space is given by the distances between those objects. Thus attributes that seem to be similar are located close to each other, and objects which are seen to embody a given attribute are located close to that attributes. Similarly, objects thought to be similar to each other are located close to each other. Results show that, following approximately a ten hour latency period, the space shows a substantial increase in size, followed by a return to its original dimensions. There is some indication that the expansion of the space may be periodic, which gives rise to the possibility that human beliefs and attitudes may be modelled as a damped oscillating system. Should this be the case, human cognitive processes, such as attitude and belief changes, might be modelled by the equations for dampled oscillations.     

Global peace as a professional concern,III

This paper proposes that global peace should be a professional concern because the issues are complex and require critical and creative thinking, and because professionals have status enabling them to convey information to empower others. Professionals must examine priorities in society's needs for application of their particular knowledge areas, and must each make their own unique contribution towards a more peaceful, less threatened planet.Dr. Joanna Santa Barbara is a child psychiatrist practising in Hamilton, Ontario and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University. She is a member of Canadian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Harvard Center for Psychological Studies in the Nuclear Age. She teaches an undergraduate course in Introductory Peace Studies at McMaster University.The articles by Thomas L. Perry, Gilles D. Hurteau, and Joanna Santa Barbara are the result of a three-person panel presentation and therefore appear under the same title. At the publisher's discretion, roman numerals have been included to distinguish these articles.     

Cost analysis of a food insurance scheme for developing countries

The authors describe a proposed tool to alleviate the food insecurity problems of developing countries: an international food insurance scheme. Their discussion includes details on the mechanics of the scheme, consideration of whether to include a buffer stock, funding possibilities, and cost projections.     

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Short note for paper published in Issue 2, Volume 9: ‘Characteristics and risk factors for accidental injury in Canada 1986-1996 …’

This paper addresses two observational studies, of the use of a blender and a chip pan, and a study of the accident statistics regarding these two types of products. The aim is to understand risk in product use and the process of risk perception as displayed by product users. Consideration is given to the way information from both observational studies and accident statistics can support design in order to improve the safety of product users.     

Migrant Networks: Empirical Implications for the Italian Bilateral Trade

A significant number of empirical studies, focusing on different countries, have found a positive link between migration and trade. This paper studies the relationship between emigration, immigration and trade using Italian data. The sample regards 51 foreign trading partners and spans from 1990 to 2005. The results suggest that networks of Italian emigrants in foreign countries boost bilateral trade. The effects of immigrants are weak on exports and negative on imports. Results do not change when cultural and institutional dissimilarities between countries are considered.     

Diversity and the disinterest in trade liberalization: on the prospects of self-enforcing cooperation

International economic order, including the rules of the game for trade, usually suffers from enforcement problems. We examine the prospects of self-enforcing cooperation as trade relationships evolve. It turns out that factor differentials and specificities are of utmost importance. In fact, prospects of self-enforcing cooperation are the lower the more diverse the countries are on that score. Differences may even result in countries showing an outright disinterest in trade liberalization. Notably, this result also holds in a recurrent, that is, in an evolutionary setting that otherwise induces cooperation in trade liberalization with self-enforcing properties.