The Eclipse,the Astronomer and his Audience: Frederico Oom and the Total Solar Eclipse of 28 May 1900 in Portugal

This study offers a detailed analysis of an episode of the popularization of astronomy which took place in Portugal, a peripheral country of Europe, and occurring in the early twentieth century. The episode was driven by the 28 May 1900 total solar eclipse which was seen on the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain). Instead of focusing on one of the ends of the popularization process, we analyze the circulation of knowledge among scientists and the public, contrast the aims of the various expeditions, professional and amateur, which took place on Portuguese soil, analyze their repercussions in the Portuguese astronomical landscape, and the different ways used by the Portuguese political elite and astronomical community to successfully appropriate this astronomical event to serve their varied agendas, political, social and scientific. In this episode of public enthusiasm for science, a central figure emerged in the network of the official commission, professional and amateur communities and the ‘general public’: Frederico Tomás Oom (1864–1930), an astronomer of the Lisbon Astronomical Observatory. This paper aims to illustrate the different layers of the circulation process, and at proving that the popularization of science was not a unidirectional process from scientists to lay people nor did it serve only a particular agenda, be it political, social or scientific.     

Necrophagous or predators? The role of Pheidole radoszkowskii Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) carcasses (Rodentia: Muridae)

This study aimed to identify the feeding habit of Pheidole radoszkowskii Mayr on Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) carcasses, as well as whether its presence limits the occurrence of flies. Pheidole radoszkowskii exhibited more necrophagous than predatory behaviour. Its abundance was inversely proportional to that of flies, confirming that this ant species may cause lesions in carcasses and its presence limits the occurrence of flies. This work clarifies the behaviour of an ant species often encountered on carcasses.     

The synovial fluid hyaluronic acid in rheumatoid arthritis

Summary The intrinsic viscosity of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid decreases significatively in mild and severe arthritis (24% and 37% respectively). Variation in hyaluronic acid concentration parallels the above results. Chondroitin-6-sulfate can be detected in about 30% of the arthritic fluids.This work was partially supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.     

Negotiation,Management, and Systems Thinking

The mutual apartness of negotiation, management, and systems thinking and practice is highlighted, and a reflection on a systemic view of negotiation is presented. An overview of negotiation studies is given, as well as practical comments on the pursuit of win-win to achieve the general satisfaction of the parties and lasting relationships; the importance of everybody's participation; different views and facets of negotiation and of conflict; the basic variables of power, time, and information; and the basic points for a methodic negotiation process. Some aspects of negotiation have been selected from the management literature. Systems approaches that could contribute to negotiation and benefit from its findings are recalled, integrated into TSI/ LSI, which seems to offer a conceptual and procedural guide to a systemic view of negotiation as a wheel for management, as suggested in the final section.