Introdução: As doenças articulares, frequentes entre idosos, estão relacionadas ao comprometimento funcional. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da doença articular referida no comprometimento funcional em idosos residentes na área urbana do município de São Paulo no período entre 2000 e 2006. Métodos: Este trabalho é parte do Estudo Saúde, Bem-Estar Envelhecimento (SABE). Foram estudados 336 idosos residentes na zona urbana do município de São de Paulo, entrevistados em 2000 e em 2006, representando 162.913 idosos do município. A variável dependente do estudo foi o desenvolvimento de comprometimento funcional e a variável independente foi a doença articular referida entre 2000 e 2006, adicionalmente com as covariáveis sociodemográficas e de saúde. A relação entre as variáveis foi analisada pelo teste de Rao Scot, seguida pelo modelo de regressão logística multinomial e os cálculos do risco atribuível. Considerou-se nível de significância de 5 por cento e intervalos de confiança de 95 por cento . Resultados: No período de 6 anos, observou-se uma incidência de 47,8 por cento de dificuldade de mobilidade e 7,3 por cento de desempenhar atividades de vida diária (AVDs). A doença articular não foi associada ao comprometimento funcional. O sexo feminino foi associado à dificuldade de mobilidade e a idade avançada (70 anos ou mais) e a baixa escolaridade (até 3 anos de estudo) foram associados à dificuldade de desempenho das AVDs. Na população, 9,2 por cento do comprometimento funcional foi atribuído à doença articular. Ainda, entre os idosos que relataram a doença articular, 30,1 por cento do comprometimento funcional foi atribuído a ela. Conclusões: Apesar do impacto da doença articular no comprometimento funcional da população ser representativo, a doença articular não foi associada à incidência de comprometimento funcional nesse estudo / Introduction: The joint disease, common among the elderly, are related to functional impairment. Objective: To evaluate the impact of referred joint disease to functional impairment among elderly living in the urban area of São Paulo between 2000 and 2006. Methods: This study is part of Health Well Being Aging Study (SABE study). We studied 336 elderly residents in the urban area of São Paulo, who were interviewed in 2000 and 2006, representing 162,913 seniors. The dependent variable was functional impairment and the independent variable was joint disease development between 2000 and 2006, in addition to the sociodemographic and health covariates. The association between variables was analyzed using Rao Scot test, followed by multinomial logistic regression model and attributable risk calculations. It was considered a significance level of 5 per cent and confidence interval of 95 per cent . Results: During the 6-year-period, the incidence of mobility impairment was 47.8 per cent and incidence of activities of daily living (ADLs) disability was 7.3 per cent . The joint disease was not associated with functional impairment. Being female was associated with difficulty in mobility difficulties and advanced age (up to 70 years old) and lower education (up to 3 years) were associated with difficulty in performing ADLs. Among population, 9.2 per cent of functional impairment was attributed to joint disease. Still, among the elderly who reported joint disease, 30.1 per cent of functional impairment was attributed to it. Conclusions: despite the expressive impact of joint disease on functional impairment, it was not associated with incidence of disability in this study.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-02-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:19:49Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 fermino_fs_dr_rcla.pdf: 1579925 bytes, checksum: 9575963e41a7425b9936cc27d8075a47 (MD5) / O estudo visou (a) identificar o nutriente limitante ao desenvolvimento do perifiton em escala sazonal no Lago das Ninfeias, (b) avaliar os principais atributos da comunidade indicadores desta limitacao, (c) caracterizar as principais alteracoes estruturais da comunidade de algas perifiticas frente ao enriquecimento artificial por nitrogenio e/ou fosforo e hierarquizar os fatores direcionadores dessas modificacoes. Foram realizados enriquecimentos isolados e combinado por N e P em represa rasa mesotrofica em quatro epocas do ano (primavera, verao, outono e inverno). Quatro tratamentos foram delineados utilizando substrato difusor de nutrientes (copos de poliestireno, preenchidos com solucao Agar e nutrientes . controle: sem adicao de nutrientes; N+: 0,75 M; P+: 0,05 M; NP+: adicao combinada dos dois sais, razao molar N:P = 15). A abertura dos copos foi revestida com malha de 20 um como substrato para o perifiton. Coletas foram realizadas aos 15o, 20o, 25o e 30o dias de colonizacao. A maior variabilidade dos dados limnologicos abioticos foi atribuida ao tipo de tratamento, seguida pela escala anual. A ACP indicou forte associacao entre a adicao de fosforo e, principalmente, adicao combinada com as maiores densidades de algas, clorofila-a e conteudo de fosforo do perifiton. O fosforo foi o nutriente limitante ao longo do ano e, dependendo do atributo, foi considerado como nutriente limitante, limitante primario ou co-limitado pelo nitrogenio. Exceto a massa organica, os demais atributos do perifiton foram bons indicadores da limitacao e a composicao quimica do perifiton foi decisiva na definicao desta limitacao. Foram encontrados 203 taxons, com maior representacao da classe Chlorophyceae. A riqueza especifica variou de 33 a 66 e sofreu maior influencia da epoca do ano. / Study aimed at (a) identifying the nutrient limitation to the development of algal periphyton in a seasonal scale at the Ninfeias Reservoir; (b) evaluating the main indicator community attributes of nutrient limitation; and (c) characterizing the main structural modifications underwent by the algal periphytic community caused by the artificial enrichment by nitrogen and/or phosphorus, as well as ranking the driven factors responsible for such modifications. Isolate and combined enrichments were carried out in a shallow, mesotrophic reservoir during four occasions (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Four treatments were designed using diffusing substrate (polystyrene vials filled with agar solution and nutrients . control: no nutrient addition; N+: 0.75 M; P+: 0.05 M; NP+: combined addition of N and P, molar ratio N:P = 15). Vial mouth was covered with a 20 um mesh cloth for periphyton colonization. Samplings were performed on the 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th colonization days. The greatest abiotic limnological data variation was related to the kind of treatment, followed by the annual scale. PCA indicated a strong association between P and mainly combined P and N addition with the highest algal densities, chlorophyll a, and the P periphyton contents. Phosphorus was the limiting nutrient over the year, and depending on the periphyton attribute, it was either the only limiting nutrient, the primary limiting one, or colimited with N. Except for the organic mass, the remaining periphyton attributes were good nutrient limitation indicators, and periphyton chemical composition was conclusive in defining limitation. Two hundred and three taxa were identified, Chlorophyceae being the dominant algal class. Species richness varied from 33 to 66, being influenced mostly by the time of the year.

Unjust enrichment under business law The aim of this work is to analyze the unjust enrichment with its overlap to commercial law. The introduction of the text summarizes the historical development of unjust enrichment from ancient Roman law provisions, including the Austrian General Civil Code and the Civil Code from 1950 up to the history of the currently effective codex published under no. 40/1964 Coll. This historical analysis points out certain analogies with the current regulation and the development of elements that are the foundation of today's unjust enrichment legislation. The following part of the work contains analysis of the current de lege lata legislation of unjust enrichment in the commercial law, the subsequent part constitutes the crucial part of this work that is concerned directly with unjust enrichment in the commercial law. First, it analyses the term of business contractual obligations, then it analyses the relationship between the Civil Code and the Commercial Code and finally it sums up the expert discussion relating to the unjust enrichment in the commercial law and subsequently the author presents his personal view of the problem and the effects of the unjust enrichment, especially on the question of limitation period, are considered briefly. The final chapter consists...

This study is an examination of how English courts have approached, or are likely to approach - and therefore, the effectiveness of - attempts by the parties to oil and gas contracts to allocate risks arising from the activities which form the subject matter of their respective contracts inter se. The study utilises petroleum industry standard form offshore drilling contracts in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America as the context for this analysis, and examines the risks associated with drilling and other incidental operations, in the light of catastrophic events such as the Macondo disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the Montara disaster in the Timor Sea. Drawing from the Economic Theory of Law espoused by Richard Posner, which correlates market behaviour, resource allocation and the legal system, and so conceptualises risk from a cost and utility perspective, the study will show that it is actually the economic consequences of the occurrence of an event that are being allocated, and that the entire notion of risk allocation is a determination of how the economic cost of the occurrence of the particular consequence will be borne by the parties to the contract. The study will conclude with a comparative analysis of risk allocation in the different model contracts, and an opinion on the success/effectiveness of the model contracts, as tools used by parties for risk allocation inter se, in response to the challenges created by legislative and judicial intervention. Justification for this opinion will be given, with reference to relevant case law and statutes in the different jurisdictions. Recommendations will be made on how the risk allocation structure can be improved, either by reference to other approaches the parties could adopt, or by clarifying ambiguities in the current approach (where applicable), and proposing a balance in the instances in which, from the study's perspective, the allocation formula is skewed, either due to the imbalance of power between the parties or by the interference of external forces such as the courts and legislature.

Introdução: Devido à transição sócio-demográfica o Brasil vem passando por um processo natural de envelhecimento populacional. Essa transição demográfica gera contrastes à medida que o progresso e a qualidade de vida não atingem, igualmente, todos os níveis socioeconômicos. Nesse cenário, os idosos de baixo nível socioeconômico estão mais vulneráveis, as limitações próprias do envelhecimento, doenças crônico-degenerativas e acesso aos serviços de saúde. Esse conjunto de variáveis sócio-demográficas e de hábitos de vida pode corroborar, conseqüentemente, para limitação ou deterioração da capacidade funcional dos idosos. Objetivos: Analisar a influência de fatores sócio-demográficos, de hábitos de vida e relacionados ao acesso aos serviços de saúde sobre a capacidade funcional, através do teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) traçando um perfil dos fatores que influenciam de forma mais relevante uma população de idosos de baixo nível moradores da periferia da cidade de Santos, São Paulo. Metodologia: Trata-se de estudo epidemiológico do tipo transversal, realizado entre de fevereiro de 2006 a julho de 2007, em 168 indivíduos com 60 ou mais anos de idade, moradores do Dique da Vila Gilda em Santos, São Paulo. Dados sócio-demográficos, condições de saúde, uso de medicamentos e procura por serviços de saúde, atividades de vida diária, hábitos de vida, sociais e lazer foram coletados através do Brazilian Older Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ), estado cognitivo pelo Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), transtorno mental comum pelo Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), consumo de álcool pelo Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), atividade física pelo International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Foram mensuradas pressão arterial e o índice de massa corpórea (IMC). Para a avaliação da capacidade física aplicamos o teste TUG dicotomizado (< 10 segundos boa capacidade funcional / 10 segundos - limitação ou incapacidade funcional). Através do teste do qui-quadrado as variáveis independentes foram analisadas por sexo e pelo desempenho do teste TUG. Assim como as contínuas, também foram avaliadas através do teste t student ou ANOVA. Modelos de regressão logística univariada e multivariada foram também realizadas, a fim de se testarem a influência das variáveis explanatórias sobre a capacidade funcional da amostra estudada. O programa utilizado foi o PASW versão 18.0. Resultados: Na amostra de 168 indivíduos avaliados havia uma proporção maior de idosas 109 (64,8%), a média da idade foi 68,4 anos (±6,7), a maior parte foi classificada possuía quatro anos de estudo formal, 128 (76,2%) não trabalhavam e 13 (7,7%) realizavam trabalhos informais, 63 (37,5%) eram casados ou possuíam companheiro. Foi verificada freqüência de doenças crônicas (hipertensão arterial, diabetes, osteodegenerativas) semelhantes a encontradas em outros estudos, baixo consumo de álcool e tabaco. Apesar da grande procura por serviços de saúde e uso de medicamentos, dificuldades nas atividades de vida diária, poucas atividades de lazer, os idosos dessa amostra apresentaram bom convívio social e eram fisicamente ativos, segundo a classificação do IPAQ com 150 ou mais minutos de atividades moderadas e vigorosas por semana. A maioria, 125 (74,4%) dos idosos apresentou um estado cognitivo alterado Finalmente, em relação ao desempenho físico, 122 (72,6%) idosos apresentaram um TUG maior ou igual a 10 segundos. Na regressão logística o estado cognitivo e a presença de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) influenciaram no pior desempenho no teste. Entretanto, o AVC prévio permaneceu estatisticamente significativo após ajuste por idade, sexo, escolaridade, ocupação, situação conjugal, presença de quedas e estado cognitivo (razão de chances: 4,8 _ 1,43-15,27_ IC95%, p=0,01). Conclusões: A variável sócio-demográfica desemprego teve influência sobre o grau de funcionalidade dos idosos residentes nesta comunidade. Idosos com pior estado cognitivo e, sobretudo com antecedentes de AVC, apresentaram risco aumentado de apresentar um pior desempenho físico / Introduction: Due to partner-demographic transition Brazil comes passing for a natural process of population aging. This demographic transition generates contrasts to the measure that the progress and the quality of life do not reach, equally, all the socioeconomics levels. In this scene, aged the low-level socioeconomic is more vulnerable, the proper limitations of the aging, chronicdegenerative illnesses and access to the health services. This set of partnerdemographic 0 variable and habits of life can corroborate, consequently, for limitation or deterioration of the functional capacity of the aged ones. Objectives: To analyze the influence of partner-demographic, habits of life and related factors to the access to the health services on the functional capacity, through the test Timed Up and Go (TUG) tracing a profile of the factors that influence of aged more excellent form a population of low-level inhabitants of the periphery of the city of Santos, São Paulo. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, carried through enters of february of 2006 the july of 2007, in 168 individuals with 60 or more years of age, inhabitants of the Dique da Vila Gilda in Santos, São Paulo. Partner-demographic data, conditions of health, medicine use and look for health services, activities of daily life, habits of life, social and leisure had been collected through Brazilian Older Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (BOMFAQ), cognitive state for Mini-Examination of Estado Mental (MEEM), common mental disorders for Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), alcohol consumption for Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), physical activity for International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). They had been mensurad arterial pressure and the index of corporal mass (IMC). For the evaluation of the functional capacity we apply dichotomized test TUG (< 10 seconds - good functional capacity/ 10 seconds - limitation or functional incapacity). Through the test of the qui-square the independent variable had been analyzed by sex and the performance of test TUG. As well as the continuous ones, had been also evaluated through test t student or ANOVA. Models of unvaried and multivariate logistic regression also had been carried through, in order to test the influence of the explanatory variable on the functional capacity of the studied sample. The used program was the PASW version 18.0. Results: In the sample of 168 aged evaluated individuals it had a bigger ratio of 109 (64.8%), the average of the age was 68,4 years (±6,7), most was classified posse four years of formal study, 128 (76.2%) did not work and 13 (7.7%) carried through informal works, 63 (37.5%) were married or had accompanying. Frequency of chronic illnesses was verified (arterial hypertension, diabetes, osteodegenerative) similar the found ones in other studies, low alcohol consumption and tobacco. Although the great search for health services and medicine use, difficulties in the activities of daily life, few activities of leisure, the aged ones of this sample had presented good social conviviality and were physically active, according to classification of the IPAQ with 150 or more minutes of moderate and vigorous activities per week. The majority, 125 (74.4%) of the aged ones presented a modified cognitive state finally, in relation to the physical performance, 122 (72.6%) aged ones had presented a bigger or equal TUG the 10 seconds. In the logistic regression the cognitive state and the presence of cerebral vascular accident (AVC) had influenced in the worse performance in the test. However, the previous AVC remained significant statistical after adjustment for age, sex, education, occupation, conjugal situation, presence of falls and cognitive state (reason of possibilities: 4, 8 _ 1, 43-15, 27_ IC95%, p=0, 01). Conclusions: The partnerdemographic 0 variable unemployment had influence on the degree of functionality of the aged residents in this community. Aged with worse been cognitive e, over all with antecedents of AVC, they had presented increased risk to present one worse physical performance

Orientador: Denise de Campos Bicudo / Banca: Andréa Tucci / Banca: Liliana Rodrigues / Banca: Raoul Henry / Banca: Orlando Necchi Junior / Resumo: O estudo visou (a) identificar o nutriente limitante ao desenvolvimento do perifiton em escala sazonal no Lago das Ninfeias, (b) avaliar os principais atributos da comunidade indicadores desta limitacao, (c) caracterizar as principais alteracoes estruturais da comunidade de algas perifiticas frente ao enriquecimento artificial por nitrogenio e/ou fosforo e hierarquizar os fatores direcionadores dessas modificacoes. Foram realizados enriquecimentos isolados e combinado por N e P em represa rasa mesotrofica em quatro epocas do ano (primavera, verao, outono e inverno). Quatro tratamentos foram delineados utilizando substrato difusor de nutrientes (copos de poliestireno, preenchidos com solucao Agar e nutrientes . controle: sem adicao de nutrientes; N+: 0,75 M; P+: 0,05 M; NP+: adicao combinada dos dois sais, razao molar N:P = 15). A abertura dos copos foi revestida com malha de 20 um como substrato para o perifiton. Coletas foram realizadas aos 15o, 20o, 25o e 30o dias de colonizacao. A maior variabilidade dos dados limnologicos abioticos foi atribuida ao tipo de tratamento, seguida pela escala anual. A ACP indicou forte associacao entre a adicao de fosforo e, principalmente, adicao combinada com as maiores densidades de algas, clorofila-a e conteudo de fosforo do perifiton. O fosforo foi o nutriente limitante ao longo do ano e, dependendo do atributo, foi considerado como nutriente limitante, limitante primario ou co-limitado pelo nitrogenio. Exceto a massa organica, os demais atributos do perifiton foram bons indicadores da limitacao e a composicao quimica do perifiton foi decisiva na definicao desta limitacao. Foram encontrados 203 taxons, com maior representacao da classe Chlorophyceae. A riqueza especifica variou de 33 a 66 e sofreu maior influencia da epoca do ano / Abstract: Study aimed at (a) identifying the nutrient limitation to the development of algal periphyton in a seasonal scale at the Ninfeias Reservoir; (b) evaluating the main indicator community attributes of nutrient limitation; and (c) characterizing the main structural modifications underwent by the algal periphytic community caused by the artificial enrichment by nitrogen and/or phosphorus, as well as ranking the driven factors responsible for such modifications. Isolate and combined enrichments were carried out in a shallow, mesotrophic reservoir during four occasions (spring, summer, fall, and winter). Four treatments were designed using diffusing substrate (polystyrene vials filled with agar solution and nutrients . control: no nutrient addition; N+: 0.75 M; P+: 0.05 M; NP+: combined addition of N and P, molar ratio N:P = 15). Vial mouth was covered with a 20 um mesh cloth for periphyton colonization. Samplings were performed on the 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th colonization days. The greatest abiotic limnological data variation was related to the kind of treatment, followed by the annual scale. PCA indicated a strong association between P and mainly combined P and N addition with the highest algal densities, chlorophyll a, and the P periphyton contents. Phosphorus was the limiting nutrient over the year, and depending on the periphyton attribute, it was either the only limiting nutrient, the primary limiting one, or colimited with N. Except for the organic mass, the remaining periphyton attributes were good nutrient limitation indicators, and periphyton chemical composition was conclusive in defining limitation. Two hundred and three taxa were identified, Chlorophyceae being the dominant algal class. Species richness varied from 33 to 66, being influenced mostly by the time of the year / Doutor

Conserving avian populations requires understanding how they are limited by density-independent factors and regulated by density-dependent processes. To better understand the relative importance of limiting factors and regulatory processes in wintering American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla), I carried out two related studies. First, to determine how food availability affects space use, body composition, and migration timing, I experimentally decreased food availability in high-quality mangrove habitat. Using an insecticide, I reduced food by ~80%, which mimicked natural losses in nearby scrub habitats. I found that food-reduced redstarts deposited fat and lost muscle compared to control birds. Subsequently, food-reduced redstarts experienced on average a one-week delay in departure on spring migration. Previous work has demonstrated that for each day delayed after the first male arrival on the breeding grounds, redstarts experience an 11% decrease in the chance of successfully reproducing. Thus, my results demonstrate experimentally, for the first time, that fluctuations in winter food-availability can lead to fitness costs for migratory birds, and that the mechanism involves a fat-muscle trade-off. Second, to understand how limiting factors and density-dependence interact to drive population dynamics, I used four years of data on redstarts wintering in Jamaican scrub and mangrove forests. In a dry and food-limiting year in scrub, I found that individuals on territories surrounded by a high density of conspecifics experienced large losses in food availability, suggesting a density-dependent depletion of resources. These losses in food were correlated with poor body condition, and individuals on high -density territories delayed departure on spring migration. In two wetter and less food-limiting years in scrub, and in all years in high-quality mangrove habitat, no effects of neighbor density were evident and density-independent factors alone appeared to determine body condition and departure date. Previous research has shown that poor body condition reduces annual survival and that delayed departure has carry-over effects into the breeding season, resulting in lower fecundity. Thus, both food limitation and neighbor density appear to drive population dynamics, but density-independent factors may override the negative effects of density when weather conditions are favorable. / acase@tulane.edu

Trata-se de estudo acerca da admissibilidade dos pactos de limitação da responsabilidade contratual no Direito Brasileiro e, em especial, nos contratos de transporte de carga. O primeiro capítulo trata da definição jurídica da cláusula de limitação de responsabilidade e de sua função econômica. O segundo capítulo aponta as diferentes manifestações de cláusulas de limitação de responsabilidades na prática contratual e as distingue de figuras próximas, tais quais a transação e as cláusulas de redução de garantias. O terceiro capítulo trata da admissibilidade a priori das cláusulas de limitação de responsabilidade no Direito Brasileiro. Nesse terceiro capítulo, são enfrentadas as principais objeções à validade da cláusula de limitação de responsabilidade, tanto sob a perspectiva da dogmática jurídica quanto sob a perspectiva das consequências sociais produzidas pela cláusula. A conclusão do terceiro capítulo é que, a princípio, as cláusulas de limitação de responsabilidade são admitidas no Direito Brasileiro. No quarto capítulo, são enfrentadas as questões dogmáticas específicas acerca da validade da cláusula de limitação. Identificam-se, nesse capítulo, os requisitos de validade da cláusula de limitação de responsabilidade no que diz respeito (i) aos atos que deram causa ao inadimplemento; (ii) aos tipos de obrigações violadas; e (iii) aos efeitos da cláusula sobre o equilíbrio contratual. São analisados, ainda, os requisitos de validade da cláusula nos contratos por adesão. O quinto capítulo trata da cláusula de limitação de responsabilidade no contrato de transporte de carga. No quinto capítulo se demonstrará que as limitações de responsabilidade do transportador previstas em leis e convenções internacionais acerca dos diferentes modais de transporte, em verdade, têm natureza contratual: consistem em cláusulas de limitação implícitas. As cláusulas de limitação de responsabilidade, tanto implícitas, quanto explícitas, inseridas em conhecimentos de transporte estão sujeitas aos requisitos de validade das cláusulas de limitação de responsabilidade em contratos por adesão. O quinto capítulo ainda enfrenta questões dogmáticas relativas à interpretação e eficácia das cláusulas de limitação de responsabilidade. / The purpose of this thesis is to further understand the admissibility of agreements to limit contractual liability in Brazilian Law, especially in what concerns contracts for carriage of goods. The first chapter is focused on the legal definition on the liability limitation cause and the economic function thereof. In turn, the second chapter refers to the different kinds of liability limitation clauses in contractual praxis, distinguishing such clauses from similar legal concepts, such as settlement clauses and clauses to reduce warranties. The purpose of the third chapter is to discuss the a priori admissibility of liability limitation clauses in Brazilian law, with respect to the main objections to the validity thereof, both in relation to the jurists opinion on the matter and from the perspective of the social consequences brought forth by said clauses. The conclusion drawn in the third chapter is that liability limitation clauses are, in a first glance, valid under Brazilian law. The fourth chapter addresses the specific issues of the doctrine relative to the validity of limitation clauses, thereby identifying the validity requirements of the liability limitation clause in what concerns (i) the acts that gave rise to the nonperformance, (ii) the types of non-performed obligations, and (iii) the effects of the clause on contractual balance. In addition, the validity requirements of the clause are assessed in standard form contracts. The fifth chapter focuses on the liability limitation clauses within contracts for carriage of goods, whereby it will be demonstrated that the limitations of the carriers liability provided for by laws and international conventions on different transportation modes are in fact of a contractual nature, for they are implied limitation clauses. Both explicit and implied liability limitation clauses included in bills of lading are subject to the validity requirements of liability limitation clauses set forth in standard form contracts. The fifth chapter furthermore addresses some controversial issues related to the interpretation and effectiveness of liability limitation clauses in contracts for carriage of goods.

Nous sommes partis d'une analogie inédite entre la configuration de certaines feuilles dans le bourgeon et les ribambelles de papier. Quand on plie du papier et qu'on le coupe avec des ciseaux, à chaque pli va correspondre une pointe ou un creux de la ribambelle déployée. De nombreuses feuilles adoptent la même géométrie dans le bourgeon. Le bord de la feuille est replié sur un plan comme si il avait été découpé avec des ciseaux. Pour cette raison purement géométrique, les lobes et creux de la feuille déployée correspondront exactement aux plis initiaux. Nous avons nommé ces feuilles « kirigami », ce qui veut dire couper-papier en japonais. La première partie de cette thèse, purement géométrique, montre à quel point les géométries des feuilles sont contraintes par leur développement plié. Nous montrons aussi que la richesse des géométries que permet le kirigami se retrouve au sein des feuilles. La deuxième partie, plus biologique, propose à la fois un mécanisme pour le développement des plis et un candidat pour les mystérieux ciseaux. Nous concluons sur l'intérêt évolutif d'une telle organisation des feuilles dans le bourgeon.

Dans les communautés de forêt tropicale humide, la compétition interspécifique et la limitation du recrutement par la dispersion ont généralement invoquées pour expliquer la coexistence de nombreuses espèces d'arbres. Le rôle de ces mécanismes dans la régénération reste peu connu, bien que leur compréhension soit essentielle pour la gestion des forêts exploitées. Dans ce travail, les conditions du milieu et les relations intraspécifiques ont été prises en compte dans l'analyse des distributions de juvéniles. Quinze espèces non pionnières ont été sélectionnées selon un gradient de tolérance à l'ombre et des modes de dispersion variés. La modélisation statistique de la densité locale a permis de relier le succès d'installation des juvéniles aux conditions du milieu et aux distances aux arbres adultes simultanément. Les prédictions des<br />modèles confirment le gradient de tolérance parmi les espèces étudiées et révèlent des courbes d'installation différentes selon le mode de dispersion.