Nos últimos anos, váarios pesquisadores tais como: A. Bodin, A. Dimca, A. Durfee, A. Jacquemard, A. Menegon Neto, A. Némethi, A. Pichon, A. Verjovsky, A. Zaharia, D. Siersma, H. A. Hamm, D. Massey, H. Aguilar-Cabrera, H. H. Vui, J. Cisneros, J. Seade, J. Snoussi, L. D. Tráng, L. Paunescu, L. R. Dias, M. A. S. Ruas, M. Oka, M. Tibar, N. Dutertre, R. N. Araújo dos Santos, S. A. Broughton, T. Gaffney, Y. Chen, entre outros, têm apresentado generalizações dos Teoremas de fibrações de Milnor no ambiente real e complexo (e do Teorema de Kurdyka-Orro-Simon, ver por exemplo [Di, KOS]), visando um melhor entendimento de propriedades topológicas locais e globais das singularidades. Nesta direção de pesquisa esses autores tem utilizado várias ferramentas e técnicas de diversas áreas da matemática. O que mostra a riqueza e a complexidade destes estudos e acrescenta, em nossa modesta opinião, um aspecto que é ao mesmo tempo interessante e desafiador. Neste trabalho, mostraremos como estender as fibrações de Milnor em esferas no caso local e global, real e complexo, para uma aplicação C2-semi-algébrica F = (f1, . . . , fp) : RN → Rp e uma variedade W ⊂ RN semi-algébrica com possível singularidade. Com tal objetivo, introduziremos as condições de Milnor (a) e (b) generalizadas\" e mostraremos como adaptar a técnica da decomposição open book superior com binding singular, introduzida em [AT, ACT1]. Nossos resultados sugerem que tal estrutura de fibração pode ser um caso particular de algum Teorema estrutural mais geral. Além do mais, considerando π : Rp → Rp-1 a projeção canônica na meta, mostraremos que se F satisfaz tais condições, então G = π o F : RN → Rp-1 também satisfaz e, consequentemente, G também induz em W uma fibração suave localmente trivial. Concluiremos mostrando que após as projeções as fibras destes fibrados são homotopicamente equivalentes e, em seguida, apresentando algumas fórmulas que relacionam a característica de Euler do \"link relativo\" W ∩ F-1 (0) com a característica de Euler das fibras. / In the last years, several researchers such as: A. Bodin, A. Dimca, A. Durfee, A. Jacquemard, A. Menegon Neto, A. Némethi, A. Pichon, A. Verjovsky, A. Zaharia, D. Siersma, H. A. Hamm, D. Massey, H. Aguilar-Cabrera, H. H. Vui, J. Cisneros, J. Seade, J. Snoussi, L. D. Trang, L. Paunescu, L. R. Dias, M. A. S. Ruas, M. Oka, M. Tibar, N. Dutertre, R. N. Araújo dos Santos, S. A. Broughton, T. Gaffney, Y. Chen, and others, have proven generalizations of Milnor fibrationss Theorems in the real and complex settings (and Kurdyka-Orro-Simons Theorem, see e.g. [Di, KOS]), aiming a better understanding of the local and global topological properties of singularity. In this research branch, these authors have used many different tools and techniques from several areas of Mathematics. This shows the richness and complexities of these studies and adds, in our modest opinion, an aspect that is simultaneously interesting and challenging. In this work, we introduce the generalized Milnors conditions (a) and (b) to show an extension of the Milnor fibration Theorems on spheres in the local and global cases, in the real and complex setting. For this, we consider a C2-semi-algebraic mapping F = (f1, . . . , fp) : RN → Rp , a possible singular semi-algebraic variety W ⊂ RN, and we show how to adapt the technique of Higher open book decomposition with singular binding, introduced by [AT, ACT1], to prove such extension. Our results suggest that such fibration structure may be a particular case of a more general fibration structure. Furthermore, considering : Rp Rp-1 the canonical projection on the target space, we show that if F satisfies the generalized Milnors conditions (a) and (b), then G = π o F : RN → Rp-1 also satisfies these conditions and, hence G also induces on W a smooth locally trivial fibration. Finally, we show that after the projections on the target space, the fibers of these fiber bundles are homotopically equivalent. We conclude by proving some formulae connecting the Euler characteristic of \"relative link\" W ∩ F-1 (0) with the Euler characteristic of the fibers. Key words and phrases: generalized open book decomposition, fibration structure on semi-algebraic sets, topology of singularity, real and complex Milnors fibrations and, local and global fibration.

Nos últimos anos, váarios pesquisadores tais como: A. Bodin, A. Dimca, A. Durfee, A. Jacquemard, A. Menegon Neto, A. Némethi, A. Pichon, A. Verjovsky, A. Zaharia, D. Siersma, H. A. Hamm, D. Massey, H. Aguilar-Cabrera, H. H. Vui, J. Cisneros, J. Seade, J. Snoussi, L. D. Tráng, L. Paunescu, L. R. Dias, M. A. S. Ruas, M. Oka, M. Tibar, N. Dutertre, R. N. Araújo dos Santos, S. A. Broughton, T. Gaffney, Y. Chen, entre outros, têm apresentado generalizações dos Teoremas de fibrações de Milnor no ambiente real e complexo (e do Teorema de Kurdyka-Orro-Simon, ver por exemplo [Di, KOS]), visando um melhor entendimento de propriedades topológicas locais e globais das singularidades. Nesta direção de pesquisa esses autores tem utilizado várias ferramentas e técnicas de diversas áreas da matemática. O que mostra a riqueza e a complexidade destes estudos e acrescenta, em nossa modesta opinião, um aspecto que é ao mesmo tempo interessante e desafiador. Neste trabalho, mostraremos como estender as fibrações de Milnor em esferas no caso local e global, real e complexo, para uma aplicação C2-semi-algébrica F = (f1, . . . , fp) : RN → Rp e uma variedade W ⊂ RN semi-algébrica com possível singularidade. Com tal objetivo, introduziremos as condições de Milnor (a) e (b) generalizadas\" e mostraremos como adaptar a técnica da decomposição open book superior com binding singular, introduzida em [AT, ACT1]. Nossos resultados sugerem que tal estrutura de fibração pode ser um caso particular de algum Teorema estrutural mais geral. Além do mais, considerando π : Rp → Rp-1 a projeção canônica na meta, mostraremos que se F satisfaz tais condições, então G = π o F : RN → Rp-1 também satisfaz e, consequentemente, G também induz em W uma fibração suave localmente trivial. Concluiremos mostrando que após as projeções as fibras destes fibrados são homotopicamente equivalentes e, em seguida, apresentando algumas fórmulas que relacionam a característica de Euler do \"link relativo\" W ∩ F-1 (0) com a característica de Euler das fibras. / In the last years, several researchers such as: A. Bodin, A. Dimca, A. Durfee, A. Jacquemard, A. Menegon Neto, A. Némethi, A. Pichon, A. Verjovsky, A. Zaharia, D. Siersma, H. A. Hamm, D. Massey, H. Aguilar-Cabrera, H. H. Vui, J. Cisneros, J. Seade, J. Snoussi, L. D. Trang, L. Paunescu, L. R. Dias, M. A. S. Ruas, M. Oka, M. Tibar, N. Dutertre, R. N. Araújo dos Santos, S. A. Broughton, T. Gaffney, Y. Chen, and others, have proven generalizations of Milnor fibrationss Theorems in the real and complex settings (and Kurdyka-Orro-Simons Theorem, see e.g. [Di, KOS]), aiming a better understanding of the local and global topological properties of singularity. In this research branch, these authors have used many different tools and techniques from several areas of Mathematics. This shows the richness and complexities of these studies and adds, in our modest opinion, an aspect that is simultaneously interesting and challenging. In this work, we introduce the generalized Milnors conditions (a) and (b) to show an extension of the Milnor fibration Theorems on spheres in the local and global cases, in the real and complex setting. For this, we consider a C2-semi-algebraic mapping F = (f1, . . . , fp) : RN → Rp , a possible singular semi-algebraic variety W ⊂ RN, and we show how to adapt the technique of Higher open book decomposition with singular binding, introduced by [AT, ACT1], to prove such extension. Our results suggest that such fibration structure may be a particular case of a more general fibration structure. Furthermore, considering : Rp Rp-1 the canonical projection on the target space, we show that if F satisfies the generalized Milnors conditions (a) and (b), then G = π o F : RN → Rp-1 also satisfies these conditions and, hence G also induces on W a smooth locally trivial fibration. Finally, we show that after the projections on the target space, the fibers of these fiber bundles are homotopically equivalent. We conclude by proving some formulae connecting the Euler characteristic of \"relative link\" W ∩ F-1 (0) with the Euler characteristic of the fibers. Key words and phrases: generalized open book decomposition, fibration structure on semi-algebraic sets, topology of singularity, real and complex Milnors fibrations and, local and global fibration.

Expert labeling, tagging, and assessment are far more costly than the processes of collecting raw data. Generative modeling is a very powerful tool to tackle this real-world problem. It is shown here how these models can be used to allow for semi-supervised learning that performs very well in label-deficient conditions. The foundation for the work in this dissertation is built upon visualizing generative models' latent spaces to gain deeper understanding of data, analyze faults, and propose solutions. A number of novel ideas and approaches are presented to improve single-label classification. This dissertation's main focus is on extending semi-supervised Deep Generative Models for solving the multi-label problem by proposing unique mathematical and programming concepts and organization. In all naive mixtures, using multiple labels is detrimental and causes each label's predictions to be worse than models that utilize only a single label. Examining latent spaces reveals that in many cases, large regions in the models generate meaningless results. Enforcing a priori independence is essential, and only when applied can multi-label models outperform the best single-label models. Finally, a novel learning technique called open-book learning is described that is capable of surpassing the state-of-the-art classification performance of generative models for multi-labeled, semi-supervised data sets.

Nos últimos anos, váarios pesquisadores tais como: A. Bodin, A. Dimca, A. Durfee, A. Jacquemard, A. Menegon Neto, A. Némethi, A. Pichon, A. Verjovsky, A. Zaharia, D. Siersma, H. A. Hamm, D. Massey, H. Aguilar-Cabrera, H. H. Vui, J. Cisneros, J. Seade, J. Snoussi, L. D. Tráng, L. Paunescu, L. R. Dias, M. A. S. Ruas, M. Oka, M. Tibar, N. Dutertre, R. N. Araújo dos Santos, S. A. Broughton, T. Gaffney, Y. Chen, entre outros, têm apresentado generalizações dos Teoremas de fibrações de Milnor no ambiente real e complexo (e do Teorema de Kurdyka-Orro-Simon, ver por exemplo [Di, KOS]), visando um melhor entendimento de propriedades topológicas locais e globais das singularidades. Nesta direção de pesquisa esses autores tem utilizado várias ferramentas e técnicas de diversas áreas da matemática. O que mostra a riqueza e a complexidade destes estudos e acrescenta, em nossa modesta opinião, um aspecto que é ao mesmo tempo interessante e desafiador. Neste trabalho, mostraremos como estender as fibrações de Milnor em esferas no caso local e global, real e complexo, para uma aplicação C2-semi-algébrica F = (f1, . . . , fp) : RN → Rp e uma variedade W ⊂ RN semi-algébrica com possível singularidade. Com tal objetivo, introduziremos as condições de Milnor (a) e (b) generalizadas" e mostraremos como adaptar a técnica da decomposição open book superior com binding singular, introduzida em [AT, ACT1]. Nossos resultados sugerem que tal estrutura de fibração pode ser um caso particular de algum Teorema estrutural mais geral. Além do mais, considerando π : Rp → Rp-1 a projeção canônica na meta, mostraremos que se F satisfaz tais condições, então G = π o F : RN → Rp-1 também satisfaz e, consequentemente, G também induz em W uma fibração suave localmente trivial. Concluiremos mostrando que após as projeções as fibras destes fibrados são homotopicamente equivalentes e, em seguida, apresentando algumas fórmulas que relacionam a característica de Euler do "link relativo" W ∩ F-1 (0) com a característica de Euler das fibras. / In the last years, several researchers such as: A. Bodin, A. Dimca, A. Durfee, A. Jacquemard, A. Menegon Neto, A. Némethi, A. Pichon, A. Verjovsky, A. Zaharia, D. Siersma, H. A. Hamm, D. Massey, H. Aguilar-Cabrera, H. H. Vui, J. Cisneros, J. Seade, J. Snoussi, L. D. Trang, L. Paunescu, L. R. Dias, M. A. S. Ruas, M. Oka, M. Tibar, N. Dutertre, R. N. Araújo dos Santos, S. A. Broughton, T. Gaffney, Y. Chen, and others, have proven generalizations of Milnor fibrationss Theorems in the real and complex settings (and Kurdyka-Orro-Simons Theorem, see e.g. [Di, KOS]), aiming a better understanding of the local and global topological properties of singularity. In this research branch, these authors have used many different tools and techniques from several areas of Mathematics. This shows the richness and complexities of these studies and adds, in our modest opinion, an aspect that is simultaneously interesting and challenging. In this work, we introduce the generalized Milnors conditions (a) and (b) to show an extension of the Milnor fibration Theorems on spheres in the local and global cases, in the real and complex setting. For this, we consider a C2-semi-algebraic mapping F = (f1, . . . , fp) : RN → Rp , a possible singular semi-algebraic variety W ⊂ RN, and we show how to adapt the technique of Higher open book decomposition with singular binding, introduced by [AT, ACT1], to prove such extension. Our results suggest that such fibration structure may be a particular case of a more general fibration structure. Furthermore, considering : Rp Rp-1 the canonical projection on the target space, we show that if F satisfies the generalized Milnors conditions (a) and (b), then G = π o F : RN → Rp-1 also satisfies these conditions and, hence G also induces on W a smooth locally trivial fibration. Finally, we show that after the projections on the target space, the fibers of these fiber bundles are homotopically equivalent. We conclude by proving some formulae connecting the Euler characteristic of "relative link" W ∩ F-1 (0) with the Euler characteristic of the fibers. Key words and phrases: generalized open book decomposition, fibration structure on semi-algebraic sets, topology of singularity, real and complex Milnors fibrations and, local and global fibration.

The global financial environment is constantly and rapidly shifting. This has resulted in changes to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In support of the developments in the global business environment and the swift changes in IFRS, the local financial regulators have had to follow with supporting changes in national regulations. Taking the above factors into consideration, the auditing and accounting professions all over the world face various challenges, and South Africa (SA) is no exception. Thus, it was imperative for these professions in SA to make the same radical alterations. One of the areas demanding attention was the process of becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA). Inter alia, one focus area was the final examination in the qualifying process. The Chartered Accountant Qualifying Examination Part One (QE Part 1) has been changed from a closed-book assessment to an open-book assessment. This change is relevant because of the importance of the examination itself and the apparent lack of intensive research on students’ perceptions of this type of assessment. In my research I explored the perceptions of taxation students on open-book assessment in the QE Part 1. My study commenced with a focus group (consisting of students that had no previous open-book assessment exposure). I used Interactive qualitative analysis (IQA) as qualitative research method. During this focus group, the students identified ten perceptions (also referred to as affinities) on open-book assessment. For each affinity the focus group provided a descriptive name and an explanatory definition. These affinities were: good preparation, back-up, encourage, general advantages, improve quality of answers, negative symptoms, negative environment, personal experience and hindrance, different approach and time management. This group of students also identified relationships between these different affinities. These relationships were summarized and reflected in a system interrelationship diagram (SID). Findings from this SID indicated that students perceive good preparation as the strongest driver for successful completion of an open-book assessment. The SID indicates three primary outcomes namely negative symptoms, a different approach and time management. The affinities as identified by the focus group were then used during the interviews (conducted with students who had previous open-book assessment exposure). During the IQA interviews, the students were asked to comment on the posed affinities and the possible relationships between them. These findings were summarized and reflected in an interview SID. This SID indicated that these students perceived the primary driver in the system to be a different approach with two primary outcomes - negative environment and improvement in quality of answers. The IQA method is in essence a theory–generating tool that assisted me in my understanding of a group and individual students’ perceptions, before and after exposure to an open-book assessment. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Taxation / unrestricted

Submitted by Nara Lays Domingues Viana Oliveira (naradv) on 2015-06-17T13:27:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ScheilaAparecidaSantosdaCosta.pdf: 1088682 bytes, checksum: 314ed9213290e28890b283ce7c0a5eeb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-17T13:27:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ScheilaAparecidaSantosdaCosta.pdf: 1088682 bytes, checksum: 314ed9213290e28890b283ce7c0a5eeb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-14 / Nenhuma / Este estudo investiga as práticas de gestão externa de custos mais utilizadas por empresas brasileiras. A motivação do estudo está no reconhecimento de que isoladamente a gestão interna de custos não é suficiente para o sucesso dos negócios. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo descritivo, utilizando-se como procedimento técnico de coleta de dados uma survey, por meio de questionário, elaborado com base nas práticas de Gestão Externa de Custos - GEXC identificadas na literatura. Este questionário foi enviado pela internet para 250 das 500 maiores empresas constantes na Revista Exame Melhores & Maiores de 2008, das quais, 44 o responderam. Para analisar as informações obtidas por meio da aplicação desse questionário, realizou-se análise descritiva dos dados. Nesta análise foram utilizados gráficos com o objetivo de mostrar detalhadamente as respostas de cada afirmação. Utilizou-se também o ranking médio - RM para as afirmações que compõem o instrumento de coleta de dados utilizando-se a escala likert de 6 pontos. Na sequência, foi realizada a análise fatorial e análise de veriância, com a utilização do software statistical package for the social science (SPSS). Por meio dessas análises foi possível verificar que as empresas da amostra não adotam as práticas de GEXC com a mesma abrangência e profundidade que são tratadas na literatura, a qual descreve a sua relevância na gestão estratégica adotada pelas empresas. Além disso, verificou-se que poucos profissionais possuem experiência em GEXC. No caso da amostra pesquisada, apenas 25% deles afirmou ter experiência nessa área, ou seja, esses resultados sugerem que, no Brasil, a GEXC ainda está dando os primeiros passos. Foi possível ainda identificar, com relação à adoção de práticas de GEXC, que as ações mais amplamente utilizadas pelas empresas são: a) controle de estoque e entrega de determinados materiais diretamente nas linhas de produção do cliente; b) estabelecimento de metas de redução de custos para clientes; c) informações sobre o preço de venda do concorrente. / This study investigates the practices of external management costs most used by Brazilian Companies. The study is motivated by the recognition that, by itself, external management costs is not enough for business success. The technical procedure used for data collection was a survey through questionnaires based on the practices of external management costs, identified on the literature. This survey was send through the internet to 250 of the 500 biggest companies from Revista Exame Melhores & Maiores de 2008, in which, 44 answered it. To analyze the information from the questionnaires, a descriptive analysis of these data was made. In this analysis, graphics were used to demonstrate with details the answers of each assertion. Also the average ranking was used to the affirmations that compose the instrument to collect data using the Likert scale of 6 points. After, it was made a factorial analysis using the statistical software package for the social science (SPSS). Through these analyses it was possible to verify that Brazilian Companies do not adopt the practice of external management costs with the same rage and deepness as said on the literature which describes the relevance of these practices on the company´s strategic management. Besides that, it was verified that few professionals have experience with external management costs. Just 25% of the research sample confirmed to have experience in this field In other words, these results suggest that external management costs is giving the firsts steps in Brazil. It was also possible to identify that the practices most used by companies related to external management costs are: a) stock control and delivering of certain materials directly to client’s assembly line; b) setting cost reduction goals for clients; c) information about competitors’ sales prices.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2015-10-19T12:10:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ALEXANDRE XAVIER VIEIRA BRAGA_.pdf: 1455154 bytes, checksum: e0ea785c5884f34e662fc1ee802dc095 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-19T12:10:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ALEXANDRE XAVIER VIEIRA BRAGA_.pdf: 1455154 bytes, checksum: e0ea785c5884f34e662fc1ee802dc095 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-22 / Nenhuma / Embora existam investigações teóricas e empíricas sobre consórcio modular, estudos sobre as relações entre os modulistas, o fluxo de informações e a Gestão Interorganizacional de Custos (GIC) em arranjos de consórcio modular são embrionários. O consórcio modular e a GIC induzem as empresas a ultrapassar as fronteiras organizacionais, no intuito de permitir que toda a cadeia de valor se torne mais eficiente. A presente tese, configurada com um Estudo de Caso com Objetos Incorporados, defende a possibilidade de aceitação que a associação entre consórcio modular e GIC promove mútuo aprendizado e maior redução dos custos globais de operações na cadeia de valor automobilística, do que adotadas isoladamente. Entende-se que as abordagens adotadas pelo consórcio modular de Resende (modularização e GIC) são complementares e incluem diversos fatores comuns, tal como a partilha de projetos de P&D, entrosamento de seus funcionários em outras empresas, sistemas integrados de informações, transferência de conhecimento, bem como a necessidade de desenvolvimento de uma gestão interorganizacional mais eficiente. Neste contexto, o consórcio modular constitui-se em um elemento facilitador do processo de GIC, pois o custo admissível dos componentes é definido por equipes interorganizacionais de trabalho, que incluem design de produto, engenharia, compras e engenharia de produção. Assim, as empresas demonstram possuir uma relação de alta interdependência. Porém resta evidente que, nem sempre, os benefícios são compartilhados entre todos os atores envolvidos, em função da assimetria de poder entre a MAN e os modulistas. No que tange à troca de informações de custos os achados indicam forte ocorrência desta iniciativa, porém somente dos modulistas para a MAN. As evidências empíricas obtidas no presente estudo denotam o uso de poder pela MAN aos seus modulistas. O uso do poder pode favorecer a divulgação de dados de custos pelos modulistas, mas isso não garante o êxito da GIC em toda sua plenitude. Essa é uma limitação para a aplicabilidade da GIC através do open book accounting. / Although there are theoretical and empirical research on modular consortium, studies on the relationship between modulists, the flow of information and the Interorganizational Cost Management (IOCM) in modular consortium arrangements are embryonic. The modular consortium and IOCM induce companies to overcome organizational boundaries in order to allow the entire value chain becomes more efficient. This thesis, configured how a Case Study with Embedded Objects, defends the possibility of accepting that the association between modular consortium and IOCM promotes mutual learning and further reducing overall operating costs in the automotive value chain, rather than taken alone. It is understood that the approaches adopted by the modular consortium in Resende (modularization and IOCM) are complementary and include several common factors, such as the sharing of R&D projects, meshing of its employees in other companies, integrated information systems, knowledge transfer as well as the need to develop a more efficient inter management. In this context, modular consortium is on a facilitator of the IOCM process because the allowable cost of the components is defined by inter-working teams, which include product design, engineering, procurement and production engineering. Thus, companies have shown a high interdependent relationship. But it is evident that not always, the benefits are shared between all the actors involved, due to the asymmetry of power between MAN and modulists. Regarding the exchange of the findings indicate a strong occurrence cost information of this initiative, but only the modulists for MAN. The empirical evidence obtained in this study denote the use of power by MAN to its modulists. The use of power may favor disclosure by modulists cost data, but this does not guarantee the success of IOCM in all its fullness. This is a limitation to the applicability of IOCM through open book accounting.

The Old Testament, which is one of the first books in the Malagasy language, plays an important role in the religious and cultural life of most people in Madagascar, for instance in an increasing tendency to use Old Testament texts in Malagasy religious contexts, which is noticeable both within and outside mainstream Christianity. The first such case illustrating this trend within the Church is the Malagasy Roman Catholic Church's (MRCC's) application of certain texts in the famadihana (turning of the dead), a custom reflecting traditional Malagasy practices in their strongest form. Almost all the Malagasy churches from their beginning have unsuccessfully attempted to abolish it. Therefore, the MRCC decided to base it on biblical texts and incorporated it in her liturgy in order to make it a Christian celebration. Among the texts used here are: Genesis 49: 33-50: 13; Exodus 13: 19 and Exodus 20: 12. The second case is the Malagasy Lutheran Church's (MLC's) employment of Old Testament texts to create certain items for Nenilava (Tall mother), the founder of the revival movement of Ankaramalaza, who was acknowledged by this Church and the members of this movement as a prophetess and priestess. To demonstrate these roles, and at the same time to confirm her consecration, the MLC and the `children of Ankaramalaza' made for her a priestly robe modelled on the high priest's garments described in Exodus 28 and a silver crown related to Deuteronomy 28. The use of the Old Testament outside the Church is illustrated by the third case, investigating traditio-practitioners' applications of Old Testament texts in their religious practices. Examples include: 1) Exodus 3:1-3; Leviticus 14: 1-8; Jeremiah 8: 22, used in traditional healing; 2) Exodus 3: 5b; Job 33: 6a; Psalm 121: 8a, employed as religious slogans; 3) Leviticus 1-6, applied in traditional sacrifices and offerings; and 4) Psalm 113: 5-6; Genesis 2: 18, 22, employed as references for morality. This project, which describes and analyses how and why the Old Testament is used by different people, Christian and traditionalist, in Malagasy religious contexts, is aimed at developing an interpretive model based on these three cases. More specifically, it seeks to show how the Old Testament can be interpreted and used in contemporary Madagascar/Africa. / Biblical and Ancient studies / D. Th (Old Testament)

The Old Testament, which is one of the first books in the Malagasy language, plays an important role in the religious and cultural life of most people in Madagascar, for instance in an increasing tendency to use Old Testament texts in Malagasy religious contexts, which is noticeable both within and outside mainstream Christianity. The first such case illustrating this trend within the Church is the Malagasy Roman Catholic Church's (MRCC's) application of certain texts in the famadihana (turning of the dead), a custom reflecting traditional Malagasy practices in their strongest form. Almost all the Malagasy churches from their beginning have unsuccessfully attempted to abolish it. Therefore, the MRCC decided to base it on biblical texts and incorporated it in her liturgy in order to make it a Christian celebration. Among the texts used here are: Genesis 49: 33-50: 13; Exodus 13: 19 and Exodus 20: 12. The second case is the Malagasy Lutheran Church's (MLC's) employment of Old Testament texts to create certain items for Nenilava (Tall mother), the founder of the revival movement of Ankaramalaza, who was acknowledged by this Church and the members of this movement as a prophetess and priestess. To demonstrate these roles, and at the same time to confirm her consecration, the MLC and the `children of Ankaramalaza' made for her a priestly robe modelled on the high priest's garments described in Exodus 28 and a silver crown related to Deuteronomy 28. The use of the Old Testament outside the Church is illustrated by the third case, investigating traditio-practitioners' applications of Old Testament texts in their religious practices. Examples include: 1) Exodus 3:1-3; Leviticus 14: 1-8; Jeremiah 8: 22, used in traditional healing; 2) Exodus 3: 5b; Job 33: 6a; Psalm 121: 8a, employed as religious slogans; 3) Leviticus 1-6, applied in traditional sacrifices and offerings; and 4) Psalm 113: 5-6; Genesis 2: 18, 22, employed as references for morality. This project, which describes and analyses how and why the Old Testament is used by different people, Christian and traditionalist, in Malagasy religious contexts, is aimed at developing an interpretive model based on these three cases. More specifically, it seeks to show how the Old Testament can be interpreted and used in contemporary Madagascar/Africa. / Biblical and Ancient studies / D. Th (Old Testament)