Abstract​: Brown et al. (2011) proposed a fundamental similarity between organisms and the economies of nation­states based on the distribution networks necessary for the functioning of the metabolism / economics and limitations arising from them according to the Metabolic theory of ecology. This work is primarily intended to investigate whether these limitations figure even within individual sectors of the economy and their relation to some other macroeconomic and demographic indicators. Key words​: ecology, macroecology, metabolic theory of ecology, economy, energy

Os fragmentos que compõem a obra que, hoje, conhecemos como Pensées, são notas preparatórias de uma apologia da religião cristã que Blaise Pascal pretendia escrever. Ao nos debruçarmos sobre as anotações do filósofo francês, chama-nos a atenção o fato de o autor, em nenhum momento, propor qualquer demonstração metafísica da existência de Deus ou mesmo pretender provar, de modo inquestionável, algum dos dogmas católicos. A total ausência de demonstrações que se pretendam perfeitamente probantes explica-se, a nosso ver, pelo fato de Blaise Pascal ser um filósofo cético, ou seja, pelo fato de Pascal não crer que a razão humana é um instrumento capaz de apreender a Verdade. Assim, trata-se, aqui, de, primeiramente, estipular a plausibilidade da hipótese de leitura segundo a qual Pascal pode, com justiça, ser considerado um pensador cético. Isto feito, tratar-se-á de analisar os motivos que levaram nosso filósofo a não se utilizar de nenhuma das tradicionais provas da existência de Deus e a não considerar como plenamente probantes os raciocínios por ele elaborados em prol da religião cristã fatos que caracterizamos como limites epistemológicos da apologética de Blaise Pascal. / The fragments that compose the book that today we know as Pensées are preparatory notes of an apologetics of the Christian religion that Blaise Pascal intended to write. When examining the annotations on the French philosopher, our attention is attracted by the fact that the author never proposes any metaphysical demonstration of God\'s existence, neither intends to prove, unquestionably, some of the Catholic dogmas. The total absence of demonstrations presented as definitive is explained, in our point of view, by the fact that Blaise Pascal is a skeptical philosopher, ie, because Pascal does not believe that human reason is an instrument capable of grasping the Truth. Thus, it is here to, first, establish the plausibility of the hypothesis of the interpretation according to which Pascal may justly be regarded as a skeptical thinker. This done, well analyze the reasons why our philosopher did not use any of the traditional proofs of God\'s existence and did not consider as fully demonstrative the reasonings he elaborated himself in favor of the Christian religion - facts that we consider as epistemological limits of the apologetics of Blaise Pascal.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo discorrer sobre os limites objetivos da coisa julgada e sobre sua eficácia preclusiva de forma crítica. Vive-se um momento de desconforto com relação ao instituto da coisa julgada material, na medida em que a estreiteza de seus limites objetivos permite o surgimento de decisões incompatíveis do ponto de vista lógico, e a eternização de determinado conflito de interesses, por meio do fracionamento da lide em diversos processos. O ordenamento jurídico brasileiro define os limites objetivos da coisa julgada com referência ao objeto da sentença e, indiretamente, ao objeto litigioso do processo. Essa opção denota que o sistema, em última análise, atribui às partes o poder de definir os contornos da coisa julgada, a despeito do forte interesse público que norteia o instituto. Com base nessas razões, alguns países europeus, cujos sistemas processuais foram construídos sob a tradição romano-germânica, têm, recentemente, procurado revisitar e redimensionar os limites objetivos da coisa julgada. Assim, este trabalho se debruça sobre possíveis alterações do sistema brasileiro, tanto para que a coisa julgada estenda-se aos fundamentos necessários da decisão, bem como para que a eficácia preclusiva da coisa julgada seja ampliada para abranger as causas de pedir que poderiam ter sido deduzidas na petição inicial e, no entanto, foram omitidas pelo autor. Tais mudanças são analisadas em prestígio à segurança jurídica e à economia processual, mas sem olvidar das discussões pretéritas, travadas desde o século XIX a respeito do tema. Algumas propostas de mudança dos limites objetivos e da eficácia preclusiva da coisa julgada, apesar de visarem a aumentar a segurança jurídica, paradoxalmente, podem ter efeito oposto, gerando ainda mais insegurança. Considera-se também a possibilidade de eventual mudança incrementar demasiadamente a complexidade dos litígios em que se discuta a existência de coisa julgada em seu sentido positivo e negativo. Esses inconvenientes de ordem teórica e prática são considerados nesta dissertação, bem como os impactos de eventual mudança sobre institutos correlatos à coisa julgada, especialmente o objeto do processo. / The purpose of this paper is to critically discuss the objective limits of res judicata and its preclusive efficacy. We are living a time of discomfort in relation to the legal procedure of res judicata, to the extent that the narrowness of its objective limits enables the appearance of judgments that are incompatible from the logical viewpoint and the perpetuation of a certain conflict of interests, by means of the fractioning of the case in several proceedings. The Brazilian legal system defines the objective limits of the matter adjudged in relation to the judgment purpose and, indirectly to the litigation purpose of the proceeding. This option means that the system ultimately attributes to the parties the power to define the outlines of res judicata, despite the strong public interest that guides the legal procedure. Based on those reasons, some European countries the procedural system of which was built under the Roman-Germanic tradition have recently sought to revisit and reshape the objective limits of the matter adjudged. Accordingly, this work looks at some possible changes to the Brazilian system so that the matter adjudged is extended to the necessary grounds of the judgment, as well as to enable the preclusive efficacy of the matter adjudged to be expanded in order to reach the causes of action that could have been stated in the complaint but were omitted by the plaintiff. Such changes are analyzed with consideration for the legal certainty and procedural enhancement but without forgetting the past discussions conducted in the 19th century about the matter. Some proposals for change of the objective limits and of the preclusive efficacy of res judicata, although aiming at increasing legal certainty, paradoxically may have the opposed effect, generating even more uncertainty. It is also considered that an occasional change may excessively increase the complexity of those litigations where the existence of the res judicata is discussed in its positive and negative meanings. Those theoretical and practice inconveniences are taken into account in this paper, as well as the impacts of any change to the legal procedures related to the res judicata, especially the purpose of the proceeding.

Nesse trabalho introduzimos o Processo K em árvores de profundidade infinita. Estes são processos estocásticos em tempo contínuo que têm $\\widebar{\\sN}_*^{\\sN_*}$ como espaço de estados. O principal resultado desse trabalho consiste em mostrar que, sob condições adequadas, o processo título pode ser obtido como limite de Processos K em árvores de profundidade finita, estudados em Fontes et at. (2014), quando a profundidade delas cresce para o infinito. / We introduce the K-Process on trees with infinite depth. These are stochastic processes in continuous time, having state space $\\widebar{\\sN}_*^{\\sN_*}$. As the main result from this thesis, we prove that, under adequate assumptions, the title process can be obtained as the limit of K-Process on trees with finite depth, studied in Fontes et al. (2014), as the depth of the tree grows to infinity.

Nesse trabalho introduzimos o Processo K em árvores de profundidade infinita. Estes são processos estocásticos em tempo contínuo que têm $\\widebar{\\sN}_*^{\\sN_*}$ como espaço de estados. O principal resultado desse trabalho consiste em mostrar que, sob condições adequadas, o processo título pode ser obtido como limite de Processos K em árvores de profundidade finita, estudados em Fontes et at. (2014), quando a profundidade delas cresce para o infinito. / We introduce the K-Process on trees with infinite depth. These are stochastic processes in continuous time, having state space $\\widebar{\\sN}_*^{\\sN_*}$. As the main result from this thesis, we prove that, under adequate assumptions, the title process can be obtained as the limit of K-Process on trees with finite depth, studied in Fontes et al. (2014), as the depth of the tree grows to infinity.

Variable Speed Limit Sign (VSLS) systems enable transportation managers to dynamically change the posted speed limit in response to prevailing traffic and/or weather conditions. VSLS are thought to improve safety and reduce driver stress while improving traffic flow and travel times. Although VSLS have been implemented in a limited number of jurisdictions throughout the world, there is currently very limited documentation describing the quantitative safety and operational impacts. The impacts that have been reported are primarily from systems in Europe, and may not be directly transferable to other jurisdictions, such as North America. Furthermore, although a number of modelling studies have been performed to date that quantify the impacts of VSLS, the VSLS control strategies are often too complex or based on unrealistic assumptions and therefore cannot be directly applied for practical applications. Consequently, a need exists for an evaluation framework that quantifies the safety and traffic performance impacts of comprehensive VSLS control strategies suitable for practical applications in North America. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of a candidate VSLS system for an urban freeway in Toronto, Canada. The evaluation was conducted using a microscopic simulation model (i. e. a model that predicts individual vehicle movements) combined with a categorical crash potential model for estimating safety impacts. <br /><br /> The objectives of this thesis are: 1) to validate a real-time crash prediction model for a candidate section of freeway; 2) to develop a candidate VSLS control algorithm with potential for practical applications; 3) to evaluate the performance of the VSLS control strategy for a range of traffic conditions in terms of safety and travel time; and 4) to test the sensitivity of the VSLS impact results to modifications of the control algorithm. <br /><br /> The analysis of the VSLS impacts under varying levels of traffic congestion indicated that the candidate control strategy was able to provide large safety benefits without a significant travel time penalty, but only for a limited range of traffic conditions. The tested algorithm was found to be insufficiently robust to operate effectively over a wide range of traffic conditions. However, by modifying parameters of the control algorithm, preliminary analysis identified potential improvements in the performance of the VSLS. The modified control strategy resulted in less overall travel time penalty without an adverse impact on the safety benefits. It is anticipated that further modifications to the VSLS control strategy could result in a VSLS that is able to operate over a wide range of traffic conditions and provide more consistent safety and travel time benefits, and it is recommended that the framework used in this study is an effective tool for optimizing the algorithm structure and parameter values.

This study explored the development of student’s conceptual understanding of limit and derivative when specific computational tools were utilized. Fourteen students from a secondary Advanced Placement Calculus AB course explored the limit and derivative concepts from calculus using computational tools in the Maple computer algebra system. Students worked in pairs utilizing the pair-programming collaborative model. Four groups of student pairs constructed computational tools and used them to explore the limit and derivative concepts. The remaining four student pairs were provided similar tools and asked to perform identical explorations. A multiple embedded case design was utilized to explore ways students in two classes, a programming class P and a non-programming class N, constructed understandings focusing upon their interactions with each other and with the computational tools. The Action-Process-Object-Schema (APOS) conceptual model and Constructionist framework guided design and construction of the tools, outlined developmental goals and milestones, and provided interpretive context for analysis. Results provided insights into the effective design and use of computational tools in fostering conceptual understanding. The study found the additional burden of programming redirected students’ attention away from the intended conceptual understandings. The study additionally found, however, that pre-constructed tools effectively promote conceptual understanding of the limit concept when coupled with a mature conceptual model of development. Four themes influencing development of these understandings emerged: An instructional focus on skills over concepts, the instructional sequence, the willingness and ability of students to adopt and utilize computational tools, and the ways cognitive conflict was mediated.

Variable Speed Limit Sign (VSLS) systems enable transportation managers to dynamically change the posted speed limit in response to prevailing traffic and/or weather conditions. VSLS are thought to improve safety and reduce driver stress while improving traffic flow and travel times. Although VSLS have been implemented in a limited number of jurisdictions throughout the world, there is currently very limited documentation describing the quantitative safety and operational impacts. The impacts that have been reported are primarily from systems in Europe, and may not be directly transferable to other jurisdictions, such as North America. Furthermore, although a number of modelling studies have been performed to date that quantify the impacts of VSLS, the VSLS control strategies are often too complex or based on unrealistic assumptions and therefore cannot be directly applied for practical applications. Consequently, a need exists for an evaluation framework that quantifies the safety and traffic performance impacts of comprehensive VSLS control strategies suitable for practical applications in North America. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of a candidate VSLS system for an urban freeway in Toronto, Canada. The evaluation was conducted using a microscopic simulation model (i. e. a model that predicts individual vehicle movements) combined with a categorical crash potential model for estimating safety impacts. <br /><br /> The objectives of this thesis are: 1) to validate a real-time crash prediction model for a candidate section of freeway; 2) to develop a candidate VSLS control algorithm with potential for practical applications; 3) to evaluate the performance of the VSLS control strategy for a range of traffic conditions in terms of safety and travel time; and 4) to test the sensitivity of the VSLS impact results to modifications of the control algorithm. <br /><br /> The analysis of the VSLS impacts under varying levels of traffic congestion indicated that the candidate control strategy was able to provide large safety benefits without a significant travel time penalty, but only for a limited range of traffic conditions. The tested algorithm was found to be insufficiently robust to operate effectively over a wide range of traffic conditions. However, by modifying parameters of the control algorithm, preliminary analysis identified potential improvements in the performance of the VSLS. The modified control strategy resulted in less overall travel time penalty without an adverse impact on the safety benefits. It is anticipated that further modifications to the VSLS control strategy could result in a VSLS that is able to operate over a wide range of traffic conditions and provide more consistent safety and travel time benefits, and it is recommended that the framework used in this study is an effective tool for optimizing the algorithm structure and parameter values.

The increasing demand for high density storage devices has led to innovative data recording paradigms like optical holographic memories that record and read data in a two-dimensional page-oriented manner. In order to overcome the effects of inter-symbol-interference and noise in holographic channels, sophisticated constrained modulation codes and error correction codes are needed in these systems. This dissertation deals with the information-theoretic and signal processing aspects of holographic storage. On the information-theoretic front, the capacity of two-dimensional runlength-limited channels is analyzed. The construction of two-dimensional runlength-limited codes achieving the capacity lower bounds is discussed. This is a theoretical study on one of the open problems in symbolic dynamics and mathematical physics. The analysis of achievable storage density in holographic channels is useful for building practical systems. In this work, fundamental limits for the achievable volumetric storage density in holographic channels dominated by optical scattering are analyzed for two different recording mechanisms, namely angle multiplexed holography and localized recording. Pixel misregistration is an important signal processing problem in holographic systems. In this dissertation, algorithms for compensating two-dimensional translation and rotational misalignments are discussed and analyzed for Nyquist size apertures with low fill factors. These techniques are applicable for general optical imaging systems

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Renatus N. Mussa, Florida State University, Dept. of Civil Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Mar. 8, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.