In this thesis I explore the social construction of sexuality and sexual dysfunction. Interviews were undertaken with 20 sex therapists practising in Aotearoa/New Zealand in order to elicit accounts of contemporary sex therapy practice in the local context. Using a feminist poststructuralist lens, I explicate and critically examine the dominant discourses informing the construction of sex therapy, and heterosexual sexual relations, and what these discourses enable and constrain. I draw attention to some of the assumptions embedded in the construction of the sexual dysfunctions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, APA, 2000), and in accounts of sex therapy practice, examining the ways in which these are based on taken-for-granted norms of (hetero)sexuality and highlighting the differently enabled gendered sexual subjectivities they (re)produce. Although there are nine sexual dysfunctions identified in the DSM-IV-TR, all of which I briefly outline in Chapter Four, I restrict my focus in the analytical chapters to the conceptualisation and treatment of vaginismus, orgasm difficulties in women, discrepancies in desire and, relatedly, the gendering of desire through powerful sociocultural discourses and representations. I pay particular attention to the implications of these for heterosexual women’s sexuality. I also explore some of the generic concepts that dominate the construction of therapy at a broader level than that of sex therapy alone, arguing that while these offer some useful ways of framing therapy they also constrain therapy practice in important ways. Through a critical review of the sex therapy literature and accounts of practice from those interviewed, I contend that contemporary sex therapy tends to reify dominant cultural and sexological norms rather than challenge them. My analyses show that the dominant discourses informing constructions of sex therapy and heterosexual sexual relations produce particular types of sex as normal whilst marginalizing sexual acts or practices that fall outside of such restrictive parameters. In particular, I argue that the genital-coital-orgasm construct that is hegemonic within sex therapy restricts possibilities for alternative erotic pleasures and possibilities amongst heterosexuals whilst contributing to the invisibilization of sexual identities other than heterosexual. Accounts of sex therapy practice that were able to contest such framings are also highlighted. Because these came from sex therapists drawing on radical feminist or feminist poststructuralist discourses, I suggest that these discourses offer important possibilities for a deconstructive (sex) therapy practice that is able to challenge an often inequitable sexual status quo. Attention is also drawn to the significant constraints which act to restrict clients’ choices and possibilities for sex therapists to practise in more critically questioning ways. I conclude this thesis with an ‘invitation to reflection’ where I briefly discuss some deconstructive approaches that I have found useful for developing ongoing reflexive analysis of my own taken-for-granted assumptions in the area of sexuality, and for aiding my thinking about therapeutic practices that support my political and theoretical commitments and that attend to some of the issues outlined in this thesis. / Whole document restricted, but available by request, use the feedback form to request access.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their level of subjective well-being. Demographic factors were considered to identify life domains that may affect cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being respectively. The Spousal Adjustment Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing scale were used in the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a purposive sample which consisted of expatriate spouses currently residing in Germany was approached (N=156). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being of expatriate spouses and indicated statistically significant differences between demographic groups including language proficiency, dependents, time spent in host country, nationality, career sacrifice, and support network. It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their well-being and that various demographic factors can influence both constructs. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Silas Pereira Trindade - 2015.pdf: 6316279 bytes, checksum: 32da20157e5e99192704f93bc4a03beb (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / During the last 40 years, Cerrado in Goiás crossed to big changes of land use associated with the Green Revolution and the Agriculture Modernization. These modifications were based on grains production, cattle raising, in minor scale, sugar cane production. Goiás Sowth-west Planning Region (RPSG) was a great notability in this scenery that, since 1980 decade, because your elevated agricultural aptness, turned great objective of Agroindustrial complexes, grains and meat and, more recently, of sugar cane. Recently, the sugar cane sector retakes your expansion starting a new phase in 2004, extending from the same anterior surface from east, where more able soils dominated. Since this, a strong and fast expansion has been realized in this route, reaching the RPSG extreme west in 2008. The present thesis objective to recognize the special standard in these two sugar cane expansion phases in RPSG, between 1985 and 2013 and identify your relations with the lands use changes and with the agricultural aptness classes, for presenting the particular spatial standards of sugar cane expansion and having uses conflicts discrepancy indicators. It was used remote sensing and geoprocessing techniques, specially SIG, for the mapping of environmental characteristics, agricultural aptness and uses and soil uses conflicts, in historic succession of representative five years of use changes and sugar cane expansion; they were 1985 and 1995 in the first phase, and 2005, 2010 and 2013 in the second phase. The cartography results were submitted on statistic analyze ANOVA Fatorial and Principal Component Analyses (PCA). The results showed that the recent sugar cane expansion presented two spatial standards: the first, until 2005, in surfaces with more agricultural aptness, before with grains culture; the second, since 2005, in moderately or very fragile soils zones, able for natural pastures or recommended for flora e fauna conservation. It still revealed that sugar cane expansion reprises the agroexporting model, this time including the national market of ethanol consumption, however, in two successive itineraries: the first, that represents the itinerary resulting of spatial selectivity irradiated type, also practiced in Agricultural Frontier expansion (1970-80), looking for more able soils to cultivates with high technology level and taking advantage of structure, specially the logistic. The second, after 2005, that runs away this standard and goes to the extreme west of region, upon less able soils, in general sandy soils, with elevated erodibility, little fertility and cohesion, named fragile soils, with pasture and Cerrado’s reminders. It discusses that this process caused direct and indirect impacts in successions of covering/cane and pasture/cane, respectively, in consequence of deforestation, upon areas with moderated or elevated use discrepancy in respect to agricultural aptness. It concludes that the sugar cane expansion is occurring in RPSG for spatial irradiated selectivity, expanding upon the best lands (1960-80 in the east) and, before, 2005, for diffusion, in dispersed spots on direction to extreme west upon less able lands with fragile soils. In the first, the impacts were directs, by reconversion grains/cane; in the second, it were directs (like the first, added for pasture/cane and remaining/cane) and indirects (grains/pasture, remaining/pasture) also associated to the remaining deforestation. It was noted that the privation/insufficiency of regulatory marks for sugar cane expansion and planning and environmental govern in levels of state and region, favoring pressure upon natural resources and the installation of environmental (un)sustentability sceneries. / Durante os últimos 40 anos, o Cerrado Goiano passou por grandes mudanças de uso do solo associadas à Revolução Verde e à Modernização da Agricultura. Estas alterações foram baseadas na produção de grãos, pecuária de corte e, em menor escala, produção sucroalcooleira. Grande destaque deste cenário foi a Região de Planejamento do Sudoeste Goiano (RPSG) que, a partir da década de 1980, devido a sua elevada aptidão agrícola, tornou-se alvo grande dos Complexos Agroindustriais, de grãos e de carne e, mais recentemente, da cana-de-açúcar. Recentemente, o Setor Sucroalcooleiro retoma sua expansão iniciando uma nova fase em 2004, se estendendo a partir da mesma área anterior a leste, onde dominam solos mais aptos. Desde então vem implementando uma forte e rápida expansão nesse rumo atingindo o extremo oeste da RPSG em 2008. A presente tese objetiva reconhecer o padrão espacial dessas duas fases da expansão da cana-de-açúcar na RPSG, entre 1985 a 2013, e identificar suas relações com as mudanças de usos dos solos e as classes de aptidão agrícola, de modo a apresentar os padrões espaciais específicos da expansão canavieira e obter indicadores de discrepância e conflitos de usos. Utilizou-se técnicas de sensoriamento remoto e geoprocessamento, sobretudo SIG para o mapeamento do meio físico, da aptidão agrícola e dos usos e conflitos de uso do solo, em sucessão histórica de cinco anos representativos das mudanças de uso e da expansão da cana, sendo 1985 e 1995 da primeira fase e 2005, 2010 e 2013 da segunda. Os resultados cartográficos foram submetidos à análise estatística ANOVA Fatorial e Análise das Componentes Principais (PCA). Os resultados revelaram que a recente expansão da cana apresentou dois padrões espaciais: o primeiro (até 2005), nas áreas de maior aptidão agrícola, antes com cultivo de grãos; o segundo, desde 2005, nas áreas de solos moderadamente e muito frágeis, aptas para pastagens naturais e, ou conservação de flora e fauna. Ainda revelaram que a expansão canavieira reprisa o modelo agroexportador, desta vez incluindo o mercado nacional de consumo do etanol, porém em dois itinerários sucessivos: o primeiro representa o itinerário resultante de seletividade espacial do tipo irradiado, também praticado na expansão da Fronteira Agrícola (1970-80), buscando solos mais aptos às lavouras altamente tecnificadas, aproveitando a infraestrutura e, principalmente a logística da região. O segundo, de 2005 em diante, que foge desse padrão e segue rumo ao extremo oeste da região, sobre solos menos aptos, em geral arenosos, de elevada erodibilidade, baixa fertilidade e coesão, ditos frágeis, com pastagens e remanescentes de Cerrado. Discute-se que esse processo causa impactos diretos e indiretos nas sucessões de cobertura/cana e pastagem/cana, respectivamente, em consequência de desmatamento, sobre áreas de moderada a elevada discrepância de uso em relação à aptidão agrícola. Conclui-se que a expansão canavieira na RPSG vem ocorrendo por seletividade espacial de padrão irradiado, expandindo-se sobre as melhores terras (1960-80 no leste em 2004) e, após 2005, por difusão, em manchas dispersas em direção ao extremo oeste sobre terras menos aptas com solos frágeis. Nas primeiras os impactos foram diretos, por reconversão grãos/cana, nos segundos foram diretos (idem mais pastagens/cana e remanescentes/cana) e indiretos (grãos/pastagens, remanescentes/pastagens) associados também ao desmatamento de remanescentes. Nota-se a falta/insuficiência de marcos regulatórios para a expansão canavieira e de planejamento e governança ambiental nos níveis estadual e regional, favorecendo pressão sobre os recursos naturais e a instalação de cenários de insustentabilidade ambiental.

The NP-complete k-SAT problem - decide wether a given formula is satisfiable - is of fundamental importance in theoretical computer science. In this dissertation we study random 4-SAT formulas with > 116 n^2 clauses. These formulas are almost surly unsatisfiable. Here we show the existence of a polynomial time algorithm that certifies the unsatisfiability. Therefore we study the discrepancy of hypergraphs and multigraphs. We also combine spectral techniques with approximation algorithms to achieve the new result. Our new algorithm is adaptable for Not-All-Equal-4-SAT and the 2-colouring of 4-uniform hypergraphs. We also extends the Hajos construction of non k-colourable graphs to non k-colourable uniform hypergraphs. / Das NP-vollständige Problem k-SAT ist von zentraler Bedeutung in der theoretischen Informatik. In der Dissertation werden zufällige 4-SAT-Formeln mit > n^2 vielen Klauseln studiert. Diese Formeln sind mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit unerfüllbar. Hier wird erstmalig die Existenz eines Algorithmus gezeigt, der diese Unerfüllbarkeit effizient verifiziert. Hierfür wird die geringe Diskrepanz von Hypergrpahen und Multigraphen betrachtet. Der Schlüssel zu diesem Algorithmus liegt in der Kombination von spektralen Techniken mit Approximationsalgorithmen der klassischen kombinatorischen Optimierung. Der vorgestellte Algorithmus kann auf den effizienten Nachweis der Unerfüllbarkeit von Not-All-Equal-4-SAT-Formeln und die Nicht-2-Färbbarkeit von 4-uniformen Hypergraphen erweitert werden. Es wird ebenfalls eine Erweiterung der Hajos-Konstruktion nicht k-färbbarer Graphen auf nicht k-färbbare uniforme Hypergraphen angegeben.

Tikhonov-type regularization of linear and nonlinear ill-posed problems in abstract spaces under sparsity constraints gained relevant attention in the past years. Since under some weak assumptions all regularized solutions are sparse if the l1-norm is used as penalty term, the l1-regularization was studied by numerous authors although the non-reflexivity of the Banach space l1 and the fact that such penalty functional is not strictly convex lead to serious difficulties. We consider the case that the sparsity assumption is narrowly missed. This means that the solutions may have an infinite number of nonzero but fast decaying components. For that case we formulate and prove convergence rates results for the l1-regularization of nonlinear operator equations. In this context, we outline the situations of Hölder rates and of an exponential decay of the solution components.

Wir betrachten die lineare inverse Probleme mit gestörter rechter Seite und gestörtem Operator in Hilberträumen, die inkorrekt sind. Um die Auswirkung der Inkorrektheit zu verringen, müssen spezielle Lösungsmethode angewendet werden, hier nutzen wir die sogenannte Tikhonov Regularisierungsmethode. Die Regularisierungsparameter wählen wir aus das verallgemeinerte Defektprinzip. Eine typische numerische Methode zur Lösen der nichtlinearen äquivalenten Defektgleichung ist Newtonverfahren. Wir schreiben einen Algorithmus, die global und monoton konvergent für beliebige Startwerte garantiert. Um die Stabilität zu garantieren, benutzen wir die Glattheit der Lösung, dann erhalten wir eine sogenannte bedingte Stabilität. Wir demonstrieren die sogenannte Interpolationsmethode zur Herleitung von bedingten Stabilitätsabschätzungen bei inversen Problemen für partielle Differentialgleichungen.

Wir betrachten die lineare inverse Probleme mit gestörter rechter Seite und gestörtem Operator in Hilberträumen, die inkorrekt sind. Um die Auswirkung der Inkorrektheit zu verringen, müssen spezielle Lösungsmethode angewendet werden, hier nutzen wir die sogenannte Tikhonov Regularisierungsmethode. Die Regularisierungsparameter wählen wir aus das verallgemeinerte Defektprinzip. Eine typische numerische Methode zur Lösen der nichtlinearen äquivalenten Defektgleichung ist Newtonverfahren. Wir schreiben einen Algorithmus, die global und monoton konvergent für beliebige Startwerte garantiert. Um die Stabilität zu garantieren, benutzen wir die Glattheit der Lösung, dann erhalten wir eine sogenannte bedingte Stabilität. Wir demonstrieren die sogenannte Interpolationsmethode zur Herleitung von bedingten Stabilitätsabschätzungen bei inversen Problemen für partielle Differentialgleichungen.

Regression is a central problem in statistics and machine learning with applications everywhere in science and technology. In probabilistic regression the relationship between a set of features and a real-valued target variable is modelled as a conditional probability distribution. There are cases where this distribution is very complex and not properly captured by simple approximations, such as assuming a normal distribution. This thesis investigates how conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can be used to properly capture more complex conditional distributions. GANs have seen great success in generating complex high-dimensional data, but less work has been done on their use for regression problems. This thesis presents experiments to better understand how conditional GANs can be used in probabilistic regression. Different versions of GANs are extended to the conditional case and evaluated on synthetic and real datasets. It is shown that conditional GANs can learn to estimate a wide range of different distributions and be competitive with existing probabilistic regression models.

This thesis deals with regularization parameter selection methods in the context of Tikhonov-type regularization with Poisson distributed data, in particular the reconstruction of images, as well as with the identification of the volatility surface from observed option prices. In Part I we examine the choice of the regularization parameter when reconstructing an image, which is disturbed by Poisson noise, with Tikhonov-type regularization. This type of regularization is a generalization of the classical Tikhonov regularization in the Banach space setting and often called variational regularization. After a general consideration of Tikhonov-type regularization for data corrupted by Poisson noise, we examine the methods for choosing the regularization parameter numerically on the basis of two test images and real PET data. In Part II we consider the estimation of the volatility function from observed call option prices with the explicit formula which has been derived by Dupire using the Black-Scholes partial differential equation. The option prices are only available as discrete noisy observations so that the main difficulty is the ill-posedness of the numerical differentiation. Finite difference schemes, as regularization by discretization of the inverse and ill-posed problem, do not overcome these difficulties when they are used to evaluate the partial derivatives. Therefore we construct an alternative algorithm based on the weak formulation of the dual Black-Scholes partial differential equation and evaluate the performance of the finite difference schemes and the new algorithm for synthetic and real option prices.

A utilização correta da jurisprudência conduzirá a sociedade brasileira a uma maior estabilidade jurisprudencial, com respeito ao princípio da isonomia, não somente diante da norma legislada como também perante a norma judicada. Deve-se afastar a discrepância de decisões judiciais relativas ao mesmo tema, que tratam desigualmente os iguais, evitando assim o longo percurso das vias recursais para se obter um julgamento isonômico em situações idênticas. O princípio da isonomia visa garantir que todos recebam tratamento igualitário da lei e, de outro lado, oferece a certeza de que todos os juízes devem decidir de modo análogo quando se depararem diante de situações semelhantes. A jurisprudência, uma vez que traduz a interpretação da norma, deve ser estável e previsível, com o fito de pautar as condutas dos jurisdicionados em virtude de se conhecer o entendimento da Corte máxima a respeito de uma determinada matéria. Um direito instável e imprevisível não gera a segurança jurídica, nem a pacificação social que razoavelmente se espera. A aplicação da jurisprudência no tempo, através da modulação, ganha novos contornos em virtude de sua previsão legal no projeto do Código de Processo Civil. A mudança de entendimento sedimentado observará a necessidade de fundamentação adequada e específica, considerando o imperativo de estabilidade das relações jurídicas (art. 847, 1 do projeto concluído no Senado Federal). Privilegia-se, além do princípio da segurança jurídica, o princípio da confiança que deve ter como uma das suas consequências que a expectativa legítima do jurisdicionado seja respeitada mediante a aplicação da jurisprudência dominante antiga e mais benéfica para o jurisdicionado. Neste contexto, em se pensando em uma reforma processual efetiva, deve-se ter como objetivo a ser seguido, além da celeridade processual e eficiência dos atos jurisdicionais, a uniformização da jurisprudência, eis que a necessidade de formação de uma só pauta de conduta para o jurisdicionado deve ser o objetivo almejado. E este objetivo só será alcançado quando houver uma uniformização e aplicação da jurisprudência dominante. Os instrumentos processuais inseridos no Código de Processo Civil devem ser reavaliados e novos elaborados, já que até agora serviram para dirimir conflitos intersubjetivos e não mais respondem satisfatoriamente às novas situações, que são as necessidades e valores de uma sociedade globalizada, massificada. / The correct use of case law will lead Brazilian society to a greater judicial stability that complies with the principle of equality, not only before legal rules as well as before judicial norms.It should be avoided the discrepancy of judgments related to the same matter, which unequally treat the ones in the same circumstances, thus avoiding the long judicial journey in order to obtain a uniform judgment for similar situations. The principle of equality aims to ensure that everyone receives equal law treatment and on the other hand, assures that all judges should decide in the same way when they come across similar situations. The jurisprudence as it reflects the interpretation of the rule, should be stable and predictable, in order to guide the conduct of citizens as it states the highest Court understanding on a particular matter. An unstable and unpredictable rule does not create lawl certainty nor the social peace that one can reasonably expect. The application of case law in time, by means of its modulation, earns new contours due its legal provision in the Civil Procedure Code Project. The change of a settled understanding claims for an adequate and specific reasoning, considering the need for stability of legal relations (art. 847, 1 of the completed project in the Senate). This increases the value of the legal certainty principle and of legitimate expectations principle that should have as one of their consequences that the legitimate expectation of the claimer is respected by applying him the old and more beneficial ruling jurisprudence. In this context, the aim for an effective procedural reform should be pursued, besides the procedural celerity and the efficiency of judicial acts, and also the standardization of jurisprudence. An unique agenda of conduct for the claimants should be desired as a goal. And this can only be achieved when there is a standardization and application of prevailing jurisprudence.