A semiótica greimasiana possibilitou a análise da narratividade de forma decisiva com a proposição do percurso gerativo do sentido e os estudos da enunciação. Entretanto, quando nos deparamos com textos pouco ou quase nada narrativos surge a questão de como analisá-­los, de que maneira a teoria semiótica poderia dar conta destes objetos. O desdobramento tensivo da teoria se mostra um caminho favorável e o conceito de ritmo fortalece a hipótese de uma possível leitura rítmica de textos pouco narrativos. Desse modo, a pesquisa aqui apresentada possui dois objetivos principais: o primeiro consiste em investigar de que modo o conceito de ritmo foi trabalhado pelos diversos autores da semiótica de linha francesa. Para tanto, estabelecemos três diferentes vertentes para o pensamento rítmico: (i) o ritmo como Gestalt, (ii) o ritmo como esquema, (iii) o ritmo como tensividade. A partir desse estudo teórico, desenvolvemos um modelo de análise rítmica que pudesse dar conta de textos pouco narrativos, nosso segundo objetivo. Nosso modelo se baseia principalmente na vertente tensiva, comportando porém uma dimensão esquemática e uma dimensão tensiva. Com esse modelo, passamos para a análise de dois textos de gêneros diferentes: o romance Catatau, de Paulo Leminski, e sua adaptação fílmica Ex-­Isto, dirigida por Cao Guimarães. Intencionamos fornecer uma leitura possível capaz de mostrar que experimentalismo não significa automaticamente falta de sentido, non-­sense. Trata-­se de textos que funcionam por uma lógica rítmica, e não uma lógica narrativa, como é mais tradicional tanto para romances quanto para filmes. Narrativa ou ritmo, as obras significam, e a construção de seu sentido pode ser explicitada pela teoria semiótica. / Greimasian semiotics made possible the analysis of narrativity given the proposition of the generative trajectory of meaning and the studies on enunciation. However, whenever faced with texts containing little or no narrative one might question how to analyze them and how the semiotic theory could approach these objects. The theory\'s tensive developments prove to be favorable and the concept of rhythm strengthens the hypothesis of a possible rhythmic reading of slightly narrative texts. Thus, the research presented here has two main objectives: the first is to investigate how the concept of rhythm has been developed by several authors from the French branch of semioticians. Therefore, we have established three different strands to the rhythmic thought: (i) rhythm as Gestalt, (ii) rhythm as schemas, (iii) rhythm as tensivity. From this theoretical study, we have developed a rhythmic analysis model that could be applied to slightly narrative texts, our second goal. Our model is primarily based on the tensive one, yet considering both a schematic and a tensive dimensions. Provided with this model, we move on to the analysis of two texts from different genres: Paulo Leminski\'s novel Catatau and its film adaptation Ex-­Isto, directed by Cao Guimarães. Our intention is to provide a possible reading to make clear that experimentation does not automatically mean meaninglessness and nonsense. Such texts follow a rhythmic logic instead of a narrative one, as opposed to most novels and movies. Whether ruled by rhythm or narrative, the works are imbued of meaning, and the construction of such meaning can be explained by semiotic theory.

A semiótica greimasiana possibilitou a análise da narratividade de forma decisiva com a proposição do percurso gerativo do sentido e os estudos da enunciação. Entretanto, quando nos deparamos com textos pouco ou quase nada narrativos surge a questão de como analisá-­los, de que maneira a teoria semiótica poderia dar conta destes objetos. O desdobramento tensivo da teoria se mostra um caminho favorável e o conceito de ritmo fortalece a hipótese de uma possível leitura rítmica de textos pouco narrativos. Desse modo, a pesquisa aqui apresentada possui dois objetivos principais: o primeiro consiste em investigar de que modo o conceito de ritmo foi trabalhado pelos diversos autores da semiótica de linha francesa. Para tanto, estabelecemos três diferentes vertentes para o pensamento rítmico: (i) o ritmo como Gestalt, (ii) o ritmo como esquema, (iii) o ritmo como tensividade. A partir desse estudo teórico, desenvolvemos um modelo de análise rítmica que pudesse dar conta de textos pouco narrativos, nosso segundo objetivo. Nosso modelo se baseia principalmente na vertente tensiva, comportando porém uma dimensão esquemática e uma dimensão tensiva. Com esse modelo, passamos para a análise de dois textos de gêneros diferentes: o romance Catatau, de Paulo Leminski, e sua adaptação fílmica Ex-­Isto, dirigida por Cao Guimarães. Intencionamos fornecer uma leitura possível capaz de mostrar que experimentalismo não significa automaticamente falta de sentido, non-­sense. Trata-­se de textos que funcionam por uma lógica rítmica, e não uma lógica narrativa, como é mais tradicional tanto para romances quanto para filmes. Narrativa ou ritmo, as obras significam, e a construção de seu sentido pode ser explicitada pela teoria semiótica. / Greimasian semiotics made possible the analysis of narrativity given the proposition of the generative trajectory of meaning and the studies on enunciation. However, whenever faced with texts containing little or no narrative one might question how to analyze them and how the semiotic theory could approach these objects. The theory\'s tensive developments prove to be favorable and the concept of rhythm strengthens the hypothesis of a possible rhythmic reading of slightly narrative texts. Thus, the research presented here has two main objectives: the first is to investigate how the concept of rhythm has been developed by several authors from the French branch of semioticians. Therefore, we have established three different strands to the rhythmic thought: (i) rhythm as Gestalt, (ii) rhythm as schemas, (iii) rhythm as tensivity. From this theoretical study, we have developed a rhythmic analysis model that could be applied to slightly narrative texts, our second goal. Our model is primarily based on the tensive one, yet considering both a schematic and a tensive dimensions. Provided with this model, we move on to the analysis of two texts from different genres: Paulo Leminski\'s novel Catatau and its film adaptation Ex-­Isto, directed by Cao Guimarães. Our intention is to provide a possible reading to make clear that experimentation does not automatically mean meaninglessness and nonsense. Such texts follow a rhythmic logic instead of a narrative one, as opposed to most novels and movies. Whether ruled by rhythm or narrative, the works are imbued of meaning, and the construction of such meaning can be explained by semiotic theory.

This research investigates and documents the nature of the challenges faced by men upon their release from federal incarceration in the Province of Saskatchewan. Due to the high number of Aboriginal peoples incarcerated in Saskatchewan, this research necessarily investigates the differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ex-prisoners. A qualitative approach is employed in order to understand post-incarceration from the perspectives of those who have experienced what it is like to return to the community after prison and those who work with men making this transition. This thesis fastidiously describes parole board hearings, the difficulties related to integrating into society as perceived by ex-prisoners, and the role of the service providers and agencies in Saskatoon that assist former inmates. It is shown that there are certain difficulties common among ex-prisoners, such as finding employment and housing and accessing appropriate support resources. The particular difficulties of Aboriginal ex-prisoners are highlighted, revealing that the difficulties experienced by all ex-prisoners appear to be amplified for Aboriginal ex-prisoners. Racism and the overall disadvantaged position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada are identified as significant barriers to Aboriginal ex-prisoners attempting to integrate into the community.

This research investigates and documents the nature of the challenges faced by men upon their release from federal incarceration in the Province of Saskatchewan. Due to the high number of Aboriginal peoples incarcerated in Saskatchewan, this research necessarily investigates the differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ex-prisoners. A qualitative approach is employed in order to understand post-incarceration from the perspectives of those who have experienced what it is like to return to the community after prison and those who work with men making this transition. This thesis fastidiously describes parole board hearings, the difficulties related to integrating into society as perceived by ex-prisoners, and the role of the service providers and agencies in Saskatoon that assist former inmates. It is shown that there are certain difficulties common among ex-prisoners, such as finding employment and housing and accessing appropriate support resources. The particular difficulties of Aboriginal ex-prisoners are highlighted, revealing that the difficulties experienced by all ex-prisoners appear to be amplified for Aboriginal ex-prisoners. Racism and the overall disadvantaged position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada are identified as significant barriers to Aboriginal ex-prisoners attempting to integrate into the community.

Recent World Animal Health Organization (OIE) reports on Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks in Asia, Europe and Canada suggest that there is a nonzero probability that an outbreak may occur anywhere in the world, including the US. To help evaluate possible policy in the face of such an event, this dissertation does an economic evaluation of the implications of using two mitigation strategies: one corresponding to the currently response strategy; and the other an OIE recommended one utilizing vaccination. To do this, the dissertation develops and uses an integrated economic-epidemic model. In this effort, I first estimate the cost of an AI outbreak under a deterministic disease spread assumption where a new vaccination strategy and the current strategy are compared. Subsequently, I introduce risk in the model and construct 95 percent confidence intervals for the outbreak costs, and I rank the outcomes of the alternative strategies using stochastic dominance criteria. In addition, during both phases, I develop and estimate the breakeven probability for an event where ex-ante fixed costs of vaccine stockpiling are justified by the reduction in disease event damages. Results under deterministic disease spread assumption suggest that the vaccination strategy lowers the cost of outbreaks as opposed to the current strategy. This happens because vaccination reduces the number of culled and quarantined flocks. The study is conducted in three locations, yielding the finding that the costs of an outbreak vary depending on the densities of poultry flocks. I also find that when consumer demand shifts due to the outbreak, the costs are much larger. Finally, I find that ex-ante vaccine stockpiling is justified for all the sub-regions if the probability of outbreak exceeds 0.07. The stochastic disease spread assumption results also show that the vaccination strategy dominates in first degree stochastic dominance sense. Consistent with stochastic dominance results, the 95 percent confidence intervals have narrower ranges under the vaccination strategy than without it. Finally, the distribution of the breakeven probability for vaccine stocking has a mode of 0.07 and that the probability is accurate with 82 percent likelihood. However, the threshold varies with the disease transmission parameters and could reach up to 0.32.

This study is to examine the phenomenon of stock prices drop around the ex-dividend day in Taiwan. Investors purchasing the security before the ex-dividend date will receive the current dividend, whereas investors purchasing the security on or after this date will not receive the dividend. Consequently, the stock price should fall on the ex-dividend date. In a perfect market, the stock price is expected to fall by the amount of the dividend. I show that share prices do not fall by the full amount of dividend, on average. I focus on falling ratio of stock prices, along with stock return. I also study the factors which may influence stock price behavior and find that the drop of stock price is smaller than the amount of the dividend. That is, the stock price tends to rise on the ex-dividend day. The price drop ratio on the ex-dividend day is higher for firms with greater financial leverage, higher dividend pay out ratio and higher dividend yield. Finally, I also observe that stock return and trading volume increase around the ex-dividend day.

The author used Put-Call-Futures Parity, Arbitrage-Free, Ex-ante Tests and Ex-post Tests to examine the arbitrage opportunity and market efficiency of the TAIEX index futures (TX) and the TAIEX index options (TXO) in this paper, during the period of December 24th, 2001 to December 31st, 2002. The author first, used daily closing prices to test for the existence of possible arbitrage opportunities. Second, she used ex-ante tests and arbitrage strategy to examine the arbitrage opportunity whether it exists or not with a time lag. Furthermore, The author classified the samples which exist ex-post arbitrage profit into five sub-samples according to call options positions belonging to near-the-money and far-from-the-money, futures positions belonging to positive basis and negative basis, markets belonging to bull markets and bear markets, and different margin requirement. She used ex-post and ex-ante tests to compare the results of over-all markets samples with the sub-samples, then, she also examined the results of included transaction cost or not. The major findings are as follows: 1. Whether taking into transaction cost or not, the TAIEX index futures and the TAIEX index options markets have arbitrage opportunity¡Aand so the markets unefficient. 2. The results of ex-ante tests and the average of arbitrage profit are positive for time to increase. 3. The long arbitrage strategy generates a higher arbitrage profit than the short arbitrage strategy. 4. The investors could proceed arbitrage profit during markets belonging to positive basis and bear market and low margin requirement.

Dissertation--Bayreuth--Universität, 2004. / Bibliogr. p. XXVII-XC.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: Cynthia Robbins, Dept. of Sociology & Criminal Justice. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-140).