Thesis (PhD) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates how the contextual frames of reference (CFRs) of the three extant Setswana Bibles – Moffat, Wookey and BSSA (Bible Society of South Africa) – could have impacted on their renderings of the book of Ruth. The fact that the Bibles were translated within contexts that differed from those of the Hebrew text of Ruth gives rise to the assumption that some of such contexts or frames could have had problematic influences on decision making during translation. Differing frames were assumed to have led to differences (i.e., translation shifts) between the translations and the Hebrew text. Such frames were hypothesised to have emanated from socio-cultural, textual, communication-situational and organisational circumstances pertaining to the making of the Hebrew text and the translations. Since contextual frames of various kinds presumably converged on the Setswana target texts (TTs), this study proposes an integrated multidisciplinary approach to frame analysis, namely, the cognitive CFR model. The framework, which is embedded in biblical interpretation, merges insights from other disciplines including translation studies, cognitive semantics and cultural studies. The translators‟ decisions are evaluated using the heuristic perspective of “an exegetically justifiable rendering.” The study identified indeed countless shifts in the three Setswana translations which resulted from hypothetical socio-cultural, organisational, communicational and textual factors. Moffat‟s shifts revealed a predomination of organisational CFRs throughout the book of Ruth. The organisational CFR also stood out occasionally for Wookey as well. BSSA did not show a predomination of any class of CFRs but manifested the least problematic CFRs. As far as the negative influences of CFRs were concerned, BSSA was the least affected, followed by Wookey and lastly Moffat. The study reveals that it could sometimes be simple, but other times also be difficult or impossible, depending on the pertinent CFR, to provide an exegetically justifiable rendering of an ST unit. Yet, it can be concluded from this study that an awareness of CFRs during translation or analysis of translations can contribute towards the improvement of existing translations or the reduction of problematic shifts in new Bible translation projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe die kontekstuele verwysingsraamwerke (KVRs) van die drie bestaande Setswana Bybels - Moffat, Wookey en BSA ( Bybelgenootskap van Suid-Afrika) – hulle weergawes van die boek Rut kon beïnvloed het. Die feit dat die Bybels vertaal is binne kontekste wat verskil van dié van die Hebreeuse teks van Rut, dra by tot die aanname dat van die kontekste of raamwerke moontlik ‟n problematiserende invloed op besluitneming tydens die vertalingsprosesse kon hê. Daar is aangeneem dat verskillende raamwerke lei tot verskille (byvoorbeeld: vertaalskuiwe) tussen die vertalings en die Hebreeuse teks. Daar is veronderstel dat sulke raamwerke spruit uit sosio-kulturele, tekstueel-kommunikatiewe en organisatoriese omstandighede van die vertaalproses asook die van die Hebreeuse teks. Aangesien verskillende soorte kontekstuele raamwerke vermoedelik ingespeel het op die Setswana teikentekste (TTs), fokus hierdie studie op 'n geïntegreerde multi-dissiplinêre benadering tot die raamwerk-analise, naamlik die kognitiewe KVR model. Die raamwerk, wat ingebed is in die veld van Bybelse interpretasie, kombineer insigte uit ander dissiplines, insluitend: vertaalkunde, kognitiewe semantiek en kulturele studies. Die vertaler se besluite word geëvalueer met behulp van die heuristiese perspektief van "'n eksegeties begrondbare vertaling." Die studie het inderdaad talle vertaalskuiwe in die drie Setswana vertalings geïdentifiseer wat teruggevoer kon word na hipotetiese sosio-kulturele, organisatoriese-, kommunikatiewe- en tekstuele faktore. Moffat se vertaalskuiwe vertoon ‟n dominansie van organisatoriese KVRs regdeur die boek Rut. Die invloed van organisatoriese KVR‟s is dikwels ook in Wookey geïdentifiseer. BSA vertoon egter nie „n oorheersing van enige klas van KVRs nie. Tewens, dit vertoon die minste problematiese KVRs. Sover die negatiewe invloede van KVRs betref, is BSA die minste geraak, gevolg deur Wookey en laastens Moffat. Die studie toon dat dit soms eenvoudig, maar ander kere ook moeilik of onmoontlik is, afhangend van die pertinente KVR, om 'n eksegeties-regverdigbare vertaling van 'n GT eenheid te bied. Tog, kan dit afgelei word uit hierdie studie dat 'n bewustheid van KVRs tydens vertaling of ontleding van vertalings kan bydra tot die verbetering van reeds bestaande vertalings of die vermindering van problematiese vertaalskuiwe in nuwe Bybelvertalingsprojekte.

The thesis provides an in-depth analysis of motion event descriptions of two Australian indigenous languages. Jaminjung is a highly endangered non Pama-Nyungan language with approximately 50 remaining speakers. Kriol, an English-lexified Creole, is spoken by about 20.000 people in different varieties across northern Australia. While the languages are typologically very different, occupancy of the same linguistic and cultural area provides an intriguing opportunity to examine the effects of culture and language contact on conceptual components and distribution patterns in discourse. This investigation also applies and tests a number of existing frameworks and typologies regarding the linguistic encoding of motion and space in general. The thesis first provides an overview of the encoding of motion event descriptions in Jaminjung and Kriol. It becomes clear that, concerning overt marking of case, ground-encodings follow a systematic semantic pattern with no or rare case-marking for deictic terms, optional marking for toponyms and mandatory marking for all other types of landmarks. Furthermore, the structure and semantics of the motion verb phrase is investigated. Particularly noteworthy here is a study of asymmetrical serial verb constructions in Kriol which revealed a number of previously undescribed types. Following this, various proposals for a typology of Frames of Reference are applied. The notion of ‘anchor’ is at the centre of the analysis. The investigation shows that contextual restrictions for the use of Jaminjung’s absolute terms can be accounted for by a restriction on egocentric anchoring and ‘Orientation’ settings only. Furthermore, absolute Frame of Reference is realised differently in Roper and Westside Kriol respectively, suggesting an ongoing influence of the traditional languages spoken by the respective communities rather than the lexifier English. Jaminjung and Kriol, additionally, prefer the use of absolute over relative Frame of Reference. The following chapter investigates how lexicalisation patterns influence the distribution of path and manner encodings in discourse. After concluding that Jaminjung might best be described as following an equipollently-framed pattern and Kriol as satellite-framed, path and manner salience is investigated in different types of discourse using a dataset of motion event encodings in a Frog Story collection and a general corpus of various discourse environments. It is concluded that while the two languages behave very differently with regards to frequency patterns of ground- and other path-encodings, they show remarkable similarities in distributing path and manner over larger chunks of discourse. These findings suggest that cultural influences may sometimes override structural typological constraints. Finally, motion event encodings in specific types of discourse are analysed. Regarding route descriptions, speakers show a clear preference for dynamic over static modes of presentation. This includes encoding ‘fictive motion’ events for which a figure- and ground-based distinction is introduced. Additionally, concerning the use of deictics in a comparative analysis of different types of corpora for both languages, it was shown that the distribution of absolute terms remains stable across discourse environments while deictic usage differs drastically. Lastly, the concept of ‘motion’ is abstracted and described as a kind of structuring device in narratives. It is shown that the ‘journey’ within the story world is used by speakers of both languages to bridge episodes sometimes even overriding a temporal in favour of a spatial order of events.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Higher grade steels are being rolled in South Africa by suppliers and results in structural members having an increased axial and bending moment capacity due to an increased yield stress. Structural elements used in designs are stronger and therefore lighter sections with sufficient axial and bending moment capacity are used. Displacements of structural elements are calculated using the stiffness and Young’s modulus of a profile. These values are not affected by the increased yield stress in higher steel grades and therefore have a negative effect on the displacements of the structure. The potential of these higher grade structural elements are not utilized through serviceability limit state criteria, since the displacement determination does not account for the increased capacities of higher grade steels, but only stiffness and elasticity of the members. Structural analysis of portal frames does not account for the real behaviour of steel connections and column bases. It is assumed that connections and bases are either fully rigid or perfectly pinned. This assumption is used in the analysis and design of the structure. Although it is assumed that connections and bases are either rigid or pinned, the real behaviour is in between these two extremes. Rigid connections exhibit a certain flexibility under loading whereas pinned bases provide a certain restraint under loading. The real behaviour of connections and bases are referred to as the moment-rotation behaviour of the connection. For a certain applied moment to the connection or base, the connection exhibits a certain rotation. The focus of this study is placed on the accuracy and feasibility of modelling the real behaviour of connections and bases in a structural analysis of a portal frame. A connection stiffness is determined from the connection’s moment-rotation behaviour, and is assigned to a rotational spring of zero length in a structural analysis. An experimental investigation was conducted to obtain the real displacement data of a portal frame subject to loads for two different support conditions, i.e. a perfect hinge and grouted-support. A perfect hinge support was used to isolate the moment-rotation response of the ridge and eaves connection. The experimental results were used to compared to the results obtained from a structural analysis to determine the accuracy of the numerical results. A real design case was investigated with load combinations imposed on the frame in accordance with SANS 10160:2011. Three methods of modelling connections and bases in an analysis were considered. Firstly modelling connections as rigid and bases as pinned, secondly modelling connections as linear rotational springs and bases as pinned. Lastly was to model connections as linear rotational springs and bases as non-linear rotational springs. The outcome of the research was that more accurate displacements of a portal frame could be obtained by modelling the real behaviour of rigid connections as rotational springs, but this is not the case with grouted column bases. It is thus not feasible to model the real behaviour of connections and bases in a structural analysis as the current method of modelling connections as rigid and bases as pinned provides reliable and accurate displacement results. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoë graad staal word tans in Suid Afrika gerol deur verskaffers en lei daartoe dat strukturele elemente oor ’n groter aksiale- en buigmomentkapasiteit het as gevolg van ’n groter vloeispanning. Strukturele elemente in ontwerpe is sterker en gevolglik het ligter elemente die benodigde aksiale- en buigmoment-kapasiteit. Verplasings van strukturele elemente word bepaal vanaf die styfheid en Young modulus van die element. Hierdie waardes word nie beïnvloed deur die groter vloeispanning van hoë graad staal nie, en het dus ’n negatiewe uitwerking op die verplasings van die struktuur. Die potensiaal van die gebruik van hoë graad staal word nie benut in die geval van voldoening aan diensbaarheids kriterium nie, aangesien verplasings bepaal word vanaf die styfheid en elastisiteit van die elemente, en nie vloeispanning nie. Strukturele analise van portaalrame neem nie die ware gedrag van konneksies en kolomvoetstukke in ag nie. Die aanname word gemaak in analises en ontwerpe dat konneksies en voetstukke óf rigied óf geskarnierd is. Hierdie is slegs ’n aanname en in die werklikheid lê die ware gedrag van konneksies en voetstukke tussen hierdie grense. Rigiede konneksies toon ’n sekere buigbaarheid tydens belasting en geskarnierde voetstukke toon ’n sekere beperking teen rotasies. Die ware gedrag van konneksies en voetstukke word gedefinieer as moment-rotasie gedrag. Vir ’n spesifieke aangewende moment, ondergaan die konneksie of voetstuk ’n sekere rotasie. Hierdie studie fokus op die akkuraatheid en uitvoerbaarheid van die modellering van die ware gedrag van konneksies en voetstukke in ’n strukturele analise van portaalrame. Die styfheid van ’n konneksie word bepaal vanaf sy unieke moment-rotasie gedrag, en word ingevoer as ’n styfheid van ’n rotasieveer in ’n strukturele analise. ’n Eksperimentele ondersoek was gedoen om verplasingswaardes van ’n portaalraam onder belastings te bepaal. Twee ondersteunings is ondersoek in die eksperimentele program, naamlik ’n geskarnierde ondersteuning asook ’n breivul ondersteuning. Die gebruik van die geskarnierde ondersteuning isoleer die moment-rotasie gedrag van die nok en dakrand konneksies. Die eksperimentele resultate was gebruik om die akkuraatheid van die resultate vanaf die strukturele analise te ondersoek. Laastens was ’n ontwerpsprobleem ondersoek deur laskombinasies, soos bepaal volgens die riglyne van SANS 10160:2011, op ’n portaalraam aan te wend. Drie gevalle van modellering van konneksies in ’n strukturele analise is ondersoek. Eerstens om konneksies as rigied en voetstukke as geskarnierd te beskou. Tweedens was die konneksies as linieêre rotasievere gemodelleer en voetstukke as geskarnierd te beskou. Laastens was om konneksies as linieêre rotasievere te modeleer en voetstukke as nie-linieêre rotasievere. Die navorsing het getoon dat meer akkurate verplasings van portaalrame bepaal kan word deur rigiede konneksies te modelleer as rotasievere, maar dit is nie die geval met breivul ondersteunings nie. Die gevolg is dat die uitvoerbaarheid van die modellering van konneksies en voetstukke as rotasievere nie effektief is nie, aangesien die huidige metode van die modellering van konneksies as rigied en voetstukke as geskarnierd akkurate en betroubare resultate lewer.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Certain regions within the Western Cape Province are at risk of a moderate intensity earthquake. It is therefore crucial that infrastructure in these areas be designed to resist its devastating effect. Numerous types of structural buildings exist in these seismic prone areas. The most common types are either reinforced concrete framed buildings with masonry infill or unreinforced masonry buildings. Many of these buildings predate the existence of the first loading code of 1989 which provided regulations for seismic design. The previous code was superseded in 2010 with a code dedicated to providing guidelines for seismic design of infrastructure. A concern was raised whether these buildings meet the requirements of the new code. A numerical investigation was performed on a representative reinforced concrete framed building with masonry infill to determine whether the building meets the new code’s requirements. The results from the investigation show that the stresses at critical points in the columns exceed the codified requirements, thus leading to local failure. After careful review it was discovered that these local failures in the columns will most likely lead to global failure of the building. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In sekere streke in die Wes-Kaap bestaan daar risiko van matige intensiteit aardbewings. Dit is dus noodsaaklik dat die infrastruktuur in hierdie gebiede ontwerp word om die vernietigende uitwerking te weerstaan. Gebous met verskillende tipes strukturele uitlegte kom in hierdie gebied voor. Die mees algemene struktuur tipe is gewapende beton-raam geboue met baksteen invol panele sowel as ongewapende baksteen geboue. Baie van hierdie geboue is gebou voor die eerste las-kode van 1989 wat regulasies vir seismiese ontwerp voorsien in gebruik geneem is. Die vorige kode is vervang in 2010 met ’n kode toegewy tot die verskaffing van riglyne vir seismiese ontwerp van infrastruktuur. Kommer het ontstaan of hierdie geboue voldoen aan die vereistes van die nuwe kode. ’n Numeriese ondersoek is uitgevoer op ’n verteenwoordigende gewapende beton geraamde gebou met baksteen panele om te bepaal of die gebou voldoen aan die nuwe kode vereistes rakende sismiese ontwerp. Die resultate van die ondersoek toon dat die spanning op kritieke punte in die kolomme die gekodifiseerde vereistes oorskry, wat tot plaaslike faling lei. Na verdere onderssoek is dit bepaal dat die plaaslike faling in die kolomme waarskynlik tot globale faling van die gebou sal lei.

Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται μία νέα βασισμένη στην επιτελεστικότητα μέθοδος αντισεισμικού σχεδιασμού χωρικών μεταλλικών κατασκευών, οι οποίες υπόκεινται σε σεισμικές διεγέρσεις μακρινού πεδίου. Η μέθοδος αυτή συνδυάζει τα πλεονεκτήματα της μεθόδου σχεδιασμού με βάση τις δυνάμεις και με βάση της μετατοπίσεις και γι’ αυτό ονομάζεται υβριδική δυνάμεων-μετατοπίσεων (ΥΔΜ) μέθοδος. Για τη δημιουργία της προτεινόμενης μεθόδου γίνεται παραμετρική σεισμική μελέτη κανονικών καμπτικών μεταλλικών κτιρίων με και χωρίς τυχηματικές εκκεντρότητες, καθώς και μεταλλικών κτιρίων τα οποία εμφανίζουν γεωμετρικές μη κανονικότητες λόγω ανομοιόμορφης καθ’ ύψος κατανομής μάζας και λόγω παρουσίας εσοχών. Αρχικά γίνεται μια βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση για τις ήδη υπάρχουσες μεθόδους, όσον αφορά στο σχεδιασμό και στην εκτίμηση της ανελαστικής σεισμικής απόκρισης επίπεδων και χωρικών κατασκευών. Στη συνέχεια περιγράφεται η επιλογή των παραμέτρων και η όλη διαδικασία που ακολουθήθηκε για τη δημιουργία μίας βάσης δεδομένων σεισμικής απόκρισης η οποία απαίτησε 43176 μη γραμμικές δυναμικές αναλύσεις. Με βάση την στατιστική επεξεργασία που έγινε προέκυψαν εμπειρικές σχέσεις αντισεισμικού σχεδιασμού, οι οποίες καθιστούν δυνατό τον έλεγχο της βλάβης κατά το σχεδιασμό νέων κατασκευών και οι οποίες λαμβάνουν υπόψη την επιρροή διαφόρων παραμέτρων, όπως ο αριθμός ανοιγμάτων, ο αριθμός ορόφων, η μορφή της κάτοψης, καθώς και η μη κανονικότητα της κατασκευής. Επιπλέον εξετάστηκε η επιρροή της φυσικής μονοαξονικής εκκεντρότητας, μεταξύ κέντρου μάζας και κέντρου δυσκαμψίας στην ανελαστική σεισμική απόκριση χωρικών κατασκευών με μεικτό σύστημα ανάληψης σεισμικών δυνάμεων. Ωστόσο, επειδή ο αριθμός των κτιρίων που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν μικρός, δεν έγινε προσπάθεια κατασκευής κάποιων εμπειρικών σχέσεων από τα αποτελέσματα που προέκυψαν για αυτήν την περίπτωση. Τα πλεονεκτήματα της νέας ΥΔΜ μεθόδου αντισεισμικού σχεδιασμού, παρουσιάζονται μέσω τριών παραδειγμάτων, όπου η προτεινόμενη μέθοδος συγκρίνεται με τη μέθοδο σχεδιασμού με βάση τις δυνάμεις στην οποία βασίζονται όλοι σχεδόν οι υπάρχοντες αντισεισμικοί κανονισμοί. Από τη σύγκριση που γίνεται προκύπτει ότι, σε αντίθεση με τη μέθοδο των δυνάμεων, η ΥΔΜ μέθοδος μπορεί να κάνει κατά το σχεδιασμό άμεσο έλεγχο της βλάβης. / This dissertation proposes a preliminary performance-based seismic design method for three-dimensional steel building frames under ordinary (i.e., without near fault effects) ground motions. This method combines the advantages of the well-known force-based and displacement-based seismic design methods in a hybrid force/displacement design scheme. The proposed method was developed based on the results of an extensive parametric study involving the inelastic seismic response of regular and irregular moment resisting frames (MRFs). The regular MRFs are structures with and without the presence of accidental eccentricities, whereas the irregular MRFs, are structures with vertical mass irregularities and structures with setbacks. In total 146 buildings have been studied. The results of 43176 nonlinear dynamic analyses were post-processed in order to create a databank with the response quantities of interest. The main parameters that affect the inelastic response of the examined structures were recognised after the statistical analysis of the created response. Based on regression analysis, a procedure in terms of simple formulae for estimating the maximum roof displacement, the maximum interstorey drift ratio and the maximum rotation ductility along the height of the frame was developed. In addition, the inelastic seismic response of 20 buildings with natural eccentricities has been studied, which combines MRFs with buckling restrained braces. However, the conclusions of this case cannot be generalized, because only few cases were investigated. Comparison of the proposed method with the procedures adopted in current seismic design codes demonstrated the efficiency of the former. The results revealed that the proposed procedure seems to be more rational and efficient than the procedures used in the current seismic design codes. Nonlinear time history analyses proved the consistency of the proposed method to accurately estimate inelastic deformation demands and the tendency of the current seismic design codes to overestimate the maximum roof displacement and underestimate the maximum interstorey drift ratio along the height of the frames.

The aim of this study is to examine the transformation of war into play in the context of the hobby called wargaming. The main focus is around Military Simulations (Milsims) using so called airsoft guns, and the miniature game-rules called Force on Force. It also studies how participants create a common understanding of the plays content, and how conceptions of modern conflicts, soldiers and the traumatizing effects of war are perceived and mirrored in wargaming. The investigation is based on interviews with airsoft and figure gamers, as well as an analysis of rulebooks and observations of said wargames. The theoretical frame is Gregory Batesons play frames (as used by Lotten Gustafsson), discourse theory and Actor-Network-theory, showing the importance of human and material interactions – articulations - within the context of playing. This investigation also relies heavily on the conclusions regarding Wargaming made by P.A.G. Sabin. Using meta-communication and performance, participants create the play frame where their conceptions of modern warfare are played out. Physical objects are an important part of the play frame, affecting the performance of the participants. The study also shows how common prejudices, like the portrait of an irrational and bloodthirsty Muslim, prevail. Women are welcomed to join these male dominated games, but are strongly feminized, making it difficult to enter on even terms. The study concludes that the articulations used to transfer war into game reflect the participants apprehensions of gender, culture, anti-heroes and the military; even though wargamers themselves see their play as being relatively distanced from the ”real” worlds opinions and conceptions.

Seismic-resistant steel eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) are designed so that that yielding during earthquake loading is restricted primarily to the ductile links. To achieve this behavior, all members other than the link are designed to be stronger than the link, i.e. to develop the capacity of the link. However, satisfying these capacity design requirements for the beam segment outside of the link can be difficult in the overall design process of an EBF. In some cases, it may be necessary to make significant changes to the configuration of the EBF in order to satisfy beam design requirements. If this discovery is made late in the design process, such changes can be costly. The overall goal of this research was to develop guidelines for preliminary design of EBFs that will result in configurations where the beam is likely to satisfy capacity design requirements. Simplified approximate equations were developed to predict the axial force and moment in the beam segment outside of the link when link ultimate strength is developed. These equations, although approximate, provided significant insight into variables that affect capacity design of the beam. These equations were then used to conduct an extensive series of parametric studies on a wide variety of EBF configurations. The results of these studies show that the most important variables affecting beam design are 1) the nondimensional link length, 2) the ratio of web area to total area for the wide flange section used for the beam and link, 3) the angle between the brace and the beam, and 4) the flexural stiffness of the brace relative to the beam. Recommendations are provided for selection of values for these variables in preliminary design. / text

In this thesis we present the Stone representation theorem, generally known as Stone duality in the point-free context. The proof is choice-free and, since we do not have to be concerned with points, it is by far simpler than the original. For each infinite cardinal κ we show that the counter- part of the κ-complete Boolean algebras is constituted by the κ-basically disconnected Stone frames. We also present a precise characterization of the morphisms which correspond to the κ-complete Boolean homomorphisms. Although Booleanization is not functorial in general, in the part of the dual- ity for extremally disconnected Stone frames it is, and constitutes an equiv- alence of categories. We finish the thesis by focusing on the De Morgan (or extremally disconnected) frames and present a new characterization of these by their superdense sublocales. We also show that in contrast with this phenomenon, a metrizable frame has no non-trivial superdense sublocale; in other words, a non-trivial Čech-Stone compactification of a metrizable frame is never metrizable. 1

Thesis is focused on construction of threat in newcast. The purpose of the quantitative content analysis is the construction of threat in Czech printed news in case of Russian federation. Thesis is based on presumption that with help of selective processes by journalists that implies usage of certain frames and granting of space for certain actors and themes, media are able to construct a threat that may not be even real. Czech news may be influencing our way of thinking towards Russia. The content of thesis is divided to four main parts. The first theoretical chapter links three crucial research areas: news, securitization theory and the concept of media framing. Next chapter describes bilateral relationship between Czech Republic and Russia that provides context for analysis outcomes. Methodological part is concentrated on selective processes, which are being held in news about Russia. It has been operated with four variables: actor, theme, news frames (conflict, attribution of responsibility, human interest, morality and economic) and securitization frame. Concerning securitization frame, the elements of diagnosis, prognosis or motivation to actively deal with a problem has been researched. Description of results and their graphical projection is integrated to the last chapter. The most...

This work has been motivated by the desire to enhance our knowledge about specific cognitive requirements of navigation in multiple reference frames environments and to understand the roles of the hippocampus and posterior parietal cortex in this behavior. The main conclusions of this thesis are: (a) We have developed a novel behavioral test called the Enemy Avoidance Task. The initial set of experiments has shown that laboratory rats are able to plan their movement with respect to a to-be-avoided moving object. Behavioral performance in the task may be quantitatively evaluated. (b) The aforementioned ability is crucially dependent on the functional integrity of the dorsal hippocampus. To the contrary, functional inactivation of the dorsal hippocampi by local infusion of tetrodotoxin did not cause any impairment in the ability of the animal to estimate its distance from a non-moving object. The finding suggests a specific role of the hippocampus in dynamic cognitive processes required for flexible navigation strategies such as continuous updating of information about the position of a moving stimulus. These results are at odds with the two major theories of hippocampal function (Cognitive map theory and Declarative memory theory) and therefore suggest that revision of the theories is necessary. (c)...