This study focuses on the notions of deontic and dynamic modality in Spanish and how they are expressed through the modal verbs deber ‘must’ and tener que ‘have to’. The analysis is based on a corpus of political debates from the European Parliament, conducted 2010‒2011 by Spanish MEPs. In total, 578 occurrences of deber and 334 occurrences of tener que have been studied in detail, in order to understand their semantic and pragmatic behavior. Out of the 912 cases, 860 were classified as deontic necessity and 52 as dynamic necessity. When separating the deontic readings from the dynamic ones, the notions of volitivity and factuality proved to be crucial: whereas deontic cases are volitive and non-factual, dynamic cases can be described as non-volitive and, to a high extent, factual. In order to further examine the deontic uses, four classificatory variables were taken into account, namely, grammatical person, degree of agentivity, tense and source of the necessity. The distributions of deber and tener que were analyzed using Chi-square tests. Statistically significant differences were found for all four variables. The results show that deber is highly preferred in the third person, whereas tener que occurs equally often in the first and third person. Moreover, deber occurs more frequently in contexts which obscure the responsible agent, such as the impersonal se construction and inanimate subjects. As far as tense is concerned, the major difference between deber and tener que is found in the conditional tense, where tener que barely occurs, while deber is fairly frequent. A final difference between the two verbs is that the speaker usually is the source of the necessity when tener que is used, whereas deber is the first option when the speaker refers to another source or authority. In conclusion, it is argued, firstly, that there is a clear difference between deontic and dynamic modality in Spanish, and secondly, that deber and tener que display different semantic and pragmatic functions in deontic contexts, pointing towards an intersubjective use of deber and a subjective use of tener que.

A presente pesquisa tem o objetivo de estudar os princípios de investigação dos seres vivos tendo como parâmetro a concepção hilemórfica dos entes naturais em Aristóteles. Para tanto, em primeiro lugar, analisaremos o hilemorfismo tal como exposto no Livro II da Física, a fim de investigarmos a doutrina da matéria e forma, no contexto em que ela desempenha um papel fundamental para a elaboração de uma concepção que é capaz de mostrar os modos pelos quais os entes se constituem na natureza. Em segundo lugar, examinaremos os princípios de investigação dos seres vivos no Livro I das Partes dos Animais, de modo a identificar os fundamentos conceituais nos quais ele se sustenta. Assim, veremos em que medida a doutrina da matéria e forma desempenha uma função determinante na análise relativa aos organismos vivos. / The present research aims to study the principles of investigation of living beings, from hylemorphic conception as a parameter of explanation of natural beings in Aristotle. To do so, first, well analyze the hylemorphism as set out in Book II of Physics in order to investigate the doctrine of matter and form, in which it plays a key role in the development of a conception that is able to show the ways in which beings are formed in nature. Second, well examine the principles of living beings in Book I of the Part of Animals, in order to identify the conceptual foundations on which it holds. So we\'ll see how far the doctrine of matter and form plays a decisive role in the analysis relating to living organisms.

O projeto Classificação Internacional das Práticas de Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva - CIPESC® , embasado nos princípios do SUS e da Saúde Coletiva, foi desenvolvido pela Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem, como contribuição brasileira à CIPE? – Classificação Internacional para as Práticas de Enfermagem. A Secretaria Municipal da Saúde de Curitiba adotou a CIPESC®, num sistema operacional informatizado, para registro da consulta de Enfermagem. O presente estudo interroga as potencialidades e os limites dos instrumentos de trabalho da Enfermagem em saúde coletiva para a captura da face coletiva dos indivíduos. Teve como objetivo geral formular as bases para a construção de uma ferramenta re-leitora do Processo Saúde-doença, com privilégio para a face coletiva, por meio da relação dialógica entre as categorias sociais e as variáveis funcionais contidas no sistema CIPESC® – Curitiba. Os objetivos específicos foram: reinterpretar a realidade objetiva da implantação do sistema; descrever o processo de implantação no município; levantar as variáveis funcionalistas do prontuário eletrônico e estabelecer relação dialógica entre variáveis e categorias sociais do Processo Saúde-doença. A Metodologia foi ancorada na Teoria da Intervenção Práxica da Enfermagem em Saúde Coletiva (Egry, 1996) e na hermenêutica dialética. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelos Comitês de Ética da Escola de Enfermagem, da Universidade de São Paulo e da Secretaria Municipal da Saúde de Curitiba. As categorias interpretativas foram: Necessidade, Classe social, Gênero e Etnia. A ferramenta propõe um modelo analítico de apoio a tomada de decisão, permitindo que ao atender o indivíduo, o sistema desvele sua face coletiva, por meio da interligação de dados num banco denominado “data warehouse". Para captar a face coletiva, o banco deve integrar dados das subcategorias: perfil saúde-doença, fração de classes sociais, sexo, faixa etária e raça. As subcategorias, quando associadas, formam diferentes grupos homogêneos na constituição interna, e heterogêneos em relação à vulnerabilidade. Visualizam-se quatro graus de vulnerabilidade: nula, baixa, média e alta, de acordo com a qualificação dada por onze marcadores, que se diferenciam conforme a localização do indivíduo em condições de vulnerabilidade distintas. Há marcadores que sozinhos podem localizar o grau de vulnerabilidade alta como: morar em área de risco, estar desempregado e não ter renda. Outros marcadores, se encontrados em conjunto com as outras condições, elevam o grau de vulnerabilidade, como ser adolescente ou negro. Conclui-se que o prontuário eletrônico do paciente é capaz de levantar características do espaço singular e, ao captá-las, relacionando-as às categorias, desvelar a face social e atribuir vulnerabilidade aos grupos sociais homogêneos. Apesar de existirem lacunas para contemplar a totalidade das categorias sociais, os instrumentos de base funcional, utilizados pela CIPESC, em Curitiba, permitem a reorganização de dados para indicar a face coletiva de indivíduos, famílias e grupos homogêneos. Um modelo teórico-informacional é apresentado para esta reorganização, constituindo-se, portanto na ferramenta re-leitora da face individual, com a finalidade de explicitar a face coletiva dos processos de saúde-doença da população / The ICNPCH – International Classification of the Nursing Practice in Collective Health, according to the principles of the public and collective health, was developed by the Brazilian Nursing Association, as a Brazilian contribution for the ICNP – International Classification to the Nursing Practices. The Municipal Health Secretary in Curitiba adopted the ICNPCH, in a computerized operational system, for the nursing visit records. The present study aims to question the potentialities and the limits of the tools for the nursing work in collective health to register the individual’s collective side. It aimed to formulate the bases for the construction of a re-reading tool of the health-disease process, granting privilege for the collective side, by means of the dialogical relationship among the social categories and the functional varieties that were in the ICNPCH system – Curitiba. The specific goals were: reinterpret the objective reality of the system implantation; describe the process of the implantation in the borough; establish the functional variables of the electronic records and establish the dialogical relationship among the variables and social categories in the health-disease process. The methodology was based on the Practical Nursing Intervention in the Collective Health Theory (Egry,1996) and on the hermeneutic dialectic. The research was approved by the Nursing School Ethics Committee from the University in São Paulo and by the Municipal Health Secretary in Curitiba. The Interpretative categories were: Necessity, Social Class, Gender and Ethnics. The tool proposes an analytic model to support the decision making, allowing the system to show its collective side, at the time of the practice, by linking the data in a database called “data warehouse" . In order to get the collective side, the database must have data from the subcategories: health-disease profile, social class fraction, sex, age and ethnics. The subcategories, when they are associated, make different homogeneous groups in the internal constitution, and heterogeneous according to the vulnerability. Four levels of vulnerability are considered: null, low, average and high, according to the qualification of the eleven indicators that are different according to the localization in distinct vulnerability conditions. There are some indicators that alone are able to localize the high vulnerability level such as: living in a risk area, being unemployed and without income. Other indicators, if they are found together with other conditions, increase the vulnerability level, as being a teenager or Afro-Brazilian. It was concluded that the patient’s electronic record is able to show characteristics of the singular space, so, according to the categories, it captures and reveals the social side and give vulnerability to the homogeneous social groups. Besides having gaps to consider the totality of the social categories, the functional base tools, used by the ICNPCH, in Curitiba, allow the reorganization of data to show the collective side of individuals, families and homogeneous groups. A Theoretical-informative model is shown to this reorganization, comprising the re-reading tool of the individual side, aiming to clarify the collective side in the health-disease processes of the population

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:37:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo de Azevedo Noronha.pdf: 393593 bytes, checksum: c79b506e893fc8f9cf4638ff2f36c6e0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-14 / This study discusses the participation of the body in the cognitive process in a regular school, more specifically about classes for children of seven and eight year old, age group that the author has specialized with its entitled Body Classes. The text contrasts the content contained in the Brazilian National Curriculum Standards offered by the Ministry of Culture and Education to the content involved in this Body Classes. Then it discusses the multiplicity of meanings that involve the word body and how they can be interwoven with education in the formatting of a student to serve the dominant interests. The study goes on to ask questions and suggest new possibilities of ideas about the body in class, stressing the importance of emotions and feelings in the cognitive process. It is based on recent neurobiological findings, specifically with Humberto Maturana and Antonio Damásio, who put the live - body in the genesis of thought. These studies question the extent of rationality of the Cartesian thinking when they suggest not a separation (substance dualism), but an inevitable interaction between mind and body. This study is also in the thoughts of Edgar Morin and his pedagogy for the future that contrasts the Complex to the Cartesian thought and also discusses the pedagogical function of formatting of the student in schools that invest in a mentalist and competitive education. Finally, the study presents its own fragility / O presente estudo pretende discorrer sobre a participação do corpo no processo cognitivo em uma escola regular, mais especificamente sobre aulas para crianças de sete e oito anos, faixa etária que o autor tem se especializado com a sua intitulada Aula do Corpo. O texto contrapõe os conteúdos contidos nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais oferecidos pelo Ministério da Cultura e Educação aos conteúdos envolvidos nesta Aula do Corpo. Discorre sobre a multiplicidade de significados que envolvem a palavra corpo e de como estas podem estar entrelaçadas com a educação na formatação de um corpo para servir aos interesses dominantes. O estudo passa então a questionar e sugerir novas possibilidades de olhares sobre o corpo, realçando a importância das emoções e sentimentos no processo cognitivo. Fundamenta-se em recentes descobertas neurobiológicas, mais especificamente com Humberto Maturana e Antonio Damásio, que colocam o corpo - vivo na gênese do pensamento. Estas pesquisas questionam o alcance da racionalidade do pensamento cartesiano quando sugerem não uma separação (dualismo de substância), mas uma interação inexorável entre mente e corpo. Este estudo fundamenta-se também nos pensamentos de Edgard Morin e sua pedagogia para o futuro que contrapõe o pensamento complexo ao pensamento cartesiano e que também problematiza a função pedagógica de formatação do indivíduo nas escolas que privilegiam uma educação mentalista e competitiva. Para finalizar, o estudo expõe sua própria fragilidade

A dissertação propõe um questionamento quanto à legitimidade da criminalização da propaganda eleitoral falsa. Para tanto, analisa o papel das eleições na Democracia e o papel da Justiça Eleitoral, no Brasil, como instituição incumbida de sua organização, realização e regulação. Em seguida, identifica a propaganda política como meio de que se valem as campanhas eleitorais para o convencimento dos eleitores, estudando sua evolução histórica até o desenvolvimento do marketing eleitoral, suas características e os limites, formais e materiais, que lhe são impostos normativamente no Brasil. A partir destes elementos, a pesquisa foca-se no crime de divulgação de fatos inverídicos na propaganda eleitoral, previsto no artigo 323 do Código Eleitoral. São averiguadas a legitimidade e necessidade da criminalização, perquirindo quanto ao bem jurídico tutelado e ao risco no qual este é colocado pela conduta proibida, especialmente quanto ao efeito que a propaganda eleitoral falsa tem na formação do voto do eleitor. Por fim, sob o enfoque da política criminal, são questionadas a viabilidade do controle de conteúdo da propaganda eleitoral, conduzido pela Justiça Eleitoral, e sua oportunidade, à luz das consequências que traz à sociedade. / The dissertation proposes a questioning of the legitimacy of criminalizing false electoral propaganda. It analyzes the role of elections in democracy and of the Electoral Justice in Brazil, as an institution responsible for its organization, development and regulation. Then identifies political propaganda as a means of which election campaigns use to convince voters, studying its historical evolution up to the development of the electoral marketing; its characteristics and limits, formal and material that are normatively imposed in Brazil. From these elements, the research focuses on the crime of disseminating untrue facts on electoral propaganda under article 323 of the Electoral Code. The legitimacy and necessity of criminalization are investigated, inquiring as to the protected legal interest and the risk in which it is placed by the prohibited conduct, especially as to the effect that false electoral propaganda has on the formation of the voter\'s choice. Finally, with a focus on criminal policy are questioned the feasibility of the content control conducted by the Electoral Justice, and its opportunity, in light of the consequences it brings to society.

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-07-08T18:35:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Vitória Vieira Mattiello da Silva.pdf: 1094020 bytes, checksum: 451e9bee4567bc8a559de6f34ecfff4d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-08T18:35:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Vitória Vieira Mattiello da Silva.pdf: 1094020 bytes, checksum: 451e9bee4567bc8a559de6f34ecfff4d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-01-31 / Nenhuma / O presente trabalho objetiva identificar a avaliação dos empreendedores individuais do Estado de Mato Grosso, quanto aos benefícios da formalização do seu negócio, amparados na Lei Complementar n. 128/2008. A pesquisa foi conduzida por meio de levantamento (survey), caracteriza-se quanto aos seus objetivos como exploratória e descritiva e quanto à abordagem do problema, predominantemente, quantitativa. A população deste estudo é formada pelos microempreendedores individuais formalizados do Estado de Mato Grosso. Considerou-se as 12 regiões do Estado para esse estudo. A amostra foi encontrada mediante a aplicação da fórmula citada por Sampieri (2006), em um total de 607 empreendedores individuais. Utilizou-se para a coleta de dados, a entrevista por telefone, com questionário, previamente, formulado, aplicado aos empreendedores individuais da amostra, conforme banco de dados repassado à pesquisadora pelo SEBRAE/MT. Para análise dos dados da pesquisa, foi realizada a estatística descritiva, a conjoint analysis, o teste de mann-whitney e o teste de kruskal-wallis. Os resultados encontrados revelam que a maioria dos EIs de MT são do sexo masculino, jovens entre 30 a 39 anos e com baixo nível de instrução. Os principais motivos que estimularam os EIs de MT à adesão para a formalização de seus empreendimentos foram: ter uma empresa formal, trabalhar por conta própria, benefícios previdenciários e segurança jurídica. Quanto à satisfação dos EIs de MT, em relação à formalização, pode-se afirmar que eles estão satisfeitos pela formalização; o fato é que a satisfação com a formalização é muito superior que a percepção de melhoria em benefícios individuais, ou seja, mais importante que um único benefício isolado é o conjunto de transformações que a formalização proporcionou. Detectou-se diferenças entre as regiões, isso em decorrência da análise das respostas e pela percepção dos respondentes quanto à formalização do seu negócio. Acredita-se por esse estudo que a Lei Complementar n. 128/08 alcançou seus objetivos. / The aim of this dissertation is identify the evaluation of individual entrepreneurs concerning the formalization of their business, supported by the Complementary Law nº. 128/2008, of the State of Mato Grosso. The research was made through survey, it is characterized, concerning to its goals, as exploratory and descriptive, and concerning the approach of the problem, as predominantly quantitative. For this study, the 12 areas of the State were considered. The sample was found through the formula mentioned by Sampieri (2006), in a total of 607 individual entrepreneurs. As for the collecting of data, it was used the telephone interview, with questionnaire, previously, formulated, applied to the individual entrepreneurs of the State of Mato Grosso, according to the database granted to the researcher by SEBRAE/MT. As for the analysis of research data, the descriptive statistics was done, the conjoint analysis, the test of mann-whitney and the test of kruskal-wallis. The found results reveal that most of the individual entrepreneurs (EIs) of MT are men, young people, aged between 30 and 39 and with low instruction level. The main reasons that stimulated the EIs of MT to the adhesion for the formalization of their business were: to have a formal company, to work independently, pension benefits and juridical safety. As it concerns the satisfaction of the EIs of MT, with regard to formalization under the Law no. 128/08, it can be affirmed that they are satisfied by the formalization, the fact is that the satisfaction with the formalization is very superior than the improvement perception on individual benefits, in other words, more important than an unique isolated benefit is the set of transformations that the formalization provided. The areas that presented most differences were: area 2, area 3, area 6, area 7 and area 9. It can be realized that there is a strong presence of entrepreneurs in the areas 3 and 7 by necessity, that due to the analysis of the answers and by the perception of the respondents with regard to the formalization of their business. As for its turn, the area 6, it is realized that the Complementary Law nº. 128/08 solved an immediate problem for the EIs who were on the informality, because they took the benefits to benefit themselves, and were differed by the benefit “exemption of taxation for registration of the company” " and “fiscal security”, and for they already are informal, they can be characterized as entrepreneurs by necessity. However, in the areas 2 and 9 it can be realized a strong presence of the entrepreneurs by opportunity. This perception is due to the EIs, as for the course of their business post-formalization. It is believed that the Complementary Law nº. 128/08 has met its goals. Complementary Law nº. 128/08 achieved its objectives.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:27:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariana Battistini Dalmolin.pdf: 713395 bytes, checksum: 70d562c24a86d270ac99faa7f6717490 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work is a study on the theory of laws of nature proposed by the Australian philosopher D. M. Armstrong in his work What is a Law of Nature?, published in 1983. In that text, Armstrong shows the insufficiency of the regularty theory and, then, proceeds to develop his own theory, which is able to answer to several of the regularity theory's outstanding issues. In the first chapter of this work, we present (1.1) the naive regularity theory, as well as the critiques that it received from Armstrong and other authors. Afterwards (1.2), we present three suggestions to sophisticate that theory, which are not successful to address the difficulties found in its naive version. Therefore, the regularity theory is refuted, and a new theory of laws is needed. In the second chapter, we present, firstly (2.1), an assumption of Armstrong's theory of laws his realism about universals , and we see how it can be applied to a theory of laws. Afterwards (2.2), we present Armstrong's fundamental thesis: a law is a relation between universals and simultaneously an universal in itself, which regulates the behavior of particulars and generates uniformities in nature in virtue of the instaniation relation. We also show (2.3) how such theory makes it possible to deal with the difficulties faced by the regularity theory. In the third chapter, we evaluate the role of the concept of necessity in Armstrong's theory. Firstly (3.1), we deepen our understanding of the necessitation relation N, and, afterwards (3.2), we show that Armstrong rejects the thesis according to which laws are metaphisically necessary and advocates for their contingency. Therefore, the understanding of his theory is centered in the distinction between the nomic necessity asserted in his conception of laws, on one hand, and the metaphysic necessity of laws, which Armstrong denies, on the other / Este trabalho é um estudo sobre a teoria de leis da natureza proposta pelo filósofo australiano D. M. Armstrong em sua obra What is a Law of Nature?, publicada em 1983. Neste texto, Armstrong mostra a insuficiência da teoria regularista de leis e procede, então, a desenvolver sua própria teoria, que se mostra capaz de resolver diversos problemas que a teoria regularista deixava em aberto. No primeiro capítulo deste trabalho, apresentamos (1.1) a teoria regularista ingênua, bem como as críticas que ela recebeu de Armstrong e de outros autores. Em seguida (1.2), mostramos que três propostas de sofisticação da teoria não são bem-sucedidas para resolver as dificuldades encontradas na versão ingênua. A teoria regularista fica, assim, refutada, e uma nova teoria sobre leis é necessária. No segundo capítulo, apresentamos, primeiramente (2.1), um pressuposto à teoria de leis de Armstrong seu realismo sobre universais , e vemos como este pode ser aplicado a uma teoria de leis. A seguir (2.2), apresentamos a tese fundamental de Armstrong: uma lei é uma relação entre universais e, simultaneamente, um universal em si mesma que, devido à relação de instanciação, regula o comportamento de particulares e gera uniformidades na natureza. Mostramos, também, (2.3) como tal teoria permite dar conta das dificuldades enfrentadas pela teoria regularista. No terceiro capítulo, avaliamos o papel do conceito de necessidade na teoria de Armstrong. Em primeiro lugar (3.1), aprofundamos nosso entendimento da relação de necessitação N, que tem um papel central na teoria apresentada, e, a seguir (3.2), mostramos que Armstrong rejeita a tese de que leis são metafisicamente necessárias, defendendo sua contingência. O entendimento de sua teoria está centrado, portanto, na distinção entre a necessidade nômica afirmada em sua concepção de leis, por um lado, e a necessidade metafísica das leis, que Armstrong rejeita

The writer has attempted to discuss the distinction between the necessary and the contingent. It begins with a criticism against the possibility for a so-called ‘a possible worlds realism’ to give a “philosophical explanation” of this distinction. The writer argues that this is impossible, since it requires that a notion of this distinction be already accepted (more precisely that the necessity of such a theory is already accepted). After this specific criticism, the writer intends to show that this is a more general problem that follows any explanation of the contingent/necessary distinction. The writer then discusses the counter-argument that the requirements placed on these explanations are set to high, therefore the writer shows in theory the problem can be solved and sketches a more specific way how to explain and show the basis for this distinction. / Författaren har avsett att diskutera distinktionen mellan det nödvändiga och det kontingent. Det börjar med en kritik mot möjligheten för en så kallad ’möjliga världars realism’ att ge en ”filosofisk förklaring” av denna distinktion. Författaren argumenterar för att detta är omöjligt, eftersom det kräver att en sådan distinktion redan är accepterad (mer specifikt att nödvändigheten av en sådan teori redan är accepterad). Efter denna specifika kriticism, så avser författaren visa att detta problem är generellt och att det följer alla försök att förklara den kontingenta/nödvändiga distinktionen. Författaren diskuterar sedan motargumentet att de krav som ställts på dessa förklaringar är för högt ställda, därför visar författaren hur problemet kan lösas i teorin och visar också en förenklad modell av en lösningsmetod.

The aim of this study is to present an examination of the philosophies of Aristotle, Karl Marx and Herbert Marcuse concerning labor and leisure in the context of freedom. These philosophers have paid attention to the concepts labor and leisure / their view of freedom is dependent on the relationship they have established between labor and leisure. To this end, I firstly give a general overview of the concepts labor, leisure and freedom / afterwards, I try to show how these concepts have been considered in the history of thought. I examine the concepts labor and leisure in Aristotle&rsquo / s political and ethical thought. I discuss the connection between Aristotle&rsquo / s perfect state and his view of ethics in the context of labor and leisure, and the relation between best way of life and freedom in Aristotle is presented. Next, I analyze Karl Marx&rsquo / s view of human nature and his theory of estrangement. I investigate the condition of labor and leisure in the capitalist society from Marx&rsquo / s point of view / and consider Marxian conceptions &ldquo / the realm of freedom&rdquo / and &ldquo / the realm of necessity&rdquo / is considered in context of labor and leisure. Lastly, I analyze Herbert Marcuse&rsquo / s critique of the advanced industrial society and the thoughts on &ldquo / one dimensional man&rdquo / it creates. I dwelled on the possibilities of technological developments, and the changes they bring about concerning labor and leisure, both as means of servitude and freedom. In the conclusion, I give a brief summary, and consider the similarities and differences among the views of Aristotle, Karl Marx and Herbert Marcuse concerning labor, leisure and freedom.

The philosophical problem of the tension between liberty and order has dominated the agenda of western philosophy and science since the beginning of the history of thought, and it is a leading issue nowadays, too. The problem of the act of decision is particularly one of the significant themes of contemporary political thought. Instead of the classical poles of both voluntarism and determinism prioritising either the subject or the structure, what should be employed is a much deeper analysis of the relation between undecidability and the act of decision. In this respect, the discussion between Ernesto Laclau and Slavoj &amp / #381 / i&amp / #382 / ek is considerably illuminating. But there are also theoretical shortcomings shared by these thinkers. That is, despite the informativeness of this debate, there is an overwhelming necessity to critically assess this dialogue with a particular emphasis on the conceptual issues. In this regard, an overall scrutiny and critical assessment of this debate constitute the main body of this thesis.