The paper contains comment, clarification and criticism, even constructive criticism, of some theses that have been put forward by Laurence Bonjour in his In Defense of Pure Reason. It presents a concept of experience that deals with the relation between cognizer and object of experience that has a great similarity to that of Bonjour. Through analysis it is shown that the concept of a priori entails that Bonjour has two concepts of a priori, a narrow and a broad one. The narrow one is, in my own words: According to moderate rationalism a proposition p is a priori justified if and only if you apprehend that p must be true in every possible world. This doesn’t mean that Bonjour doesn’t believe in an epistemological, metaphysical and semantic realm. The broad one does not mention anything about possible worlds. Casullo in his A priori justification rejects Bonjour’s argument against Quine’s coherentism. A defense is put forward with the concept ‘an ideal of science for apparent rational insights’. The concept of axiomatic system and foundationalism is used. If we assume that the colour proposition ‘nothing can be red all over and green all over at the same time’ has the meaning that we, in this very moment, are representing a property in the world, thus we have an argument of superposition for the correctness of the proposition. The ground for this argumentation relies on the identification of colours with superposing electromagnetic waves.

This paper examines online fan fiction communities as spaces for identity formation, collaborative creativity, and fan empowerment. Drawing on case studies of a LiveJournal fan fiction community, fan-written essays, possible world theory, and postmodern theories of the hyperreal and simulacrum, this paper argues that writing fan fiction is a definitive, postmodern act that explores the mutable boundaries of reality and fiction. It concludes that fans are no longer passive consumers of popular media—rather, they are engaged, powerful participants in the creation of celebrity representation that can, ultimately, alter reality.

This thesis investigates problematic cases in AC substation grounding system design. Particularly, the grounding design for substations that are built on high resistivity soil is considered. Here, possible physical rectification schemes are introduced and compared for their effectiveness from safety and cost efficiency perspectives. For this comparison, the CYMGRD program (a finite element analysis tool for AC substation grounding) is used for detailed analysis of the various schemes. An additional computer program is developed to implement the formulations of the related AC substation standards (IEEE, IEE, and Turkish National Regulations). The output of this program is compared with the finite element analysis of the high-resistivity-soil rectification schemes to investigate the validity of the formulations in these standards.

Le risque contentieux est une incertitude prévisible. Il peut se définir comme la probabilité de survenance d’une cause contentieuse multipliée par l’ampleur des conséquences attachées à cette survenance. Le risque contentieux pèse d’abord sur le décideur public et les administrés. Son traitement s’effectue en deux phases. La première phase correspond au stade où le risque contentieux est éventuel, c’est-à-dire un risque connu mais non manifesté. Il s’agit alors de prévenir les causes contentieuses en sécurisant la décision publique. Pour y parvenir, la personne publique peut compter sur ses propres moyens ainsi que sur la compétence technique que les tiers peuvent lui apporter. Le risque contentieux devient probable au moment de l’introduction du recours contentieux. Il est alors un risque manifesté mais non encore concrétisé. Le procès est la phase où il convient de gérer le risque contentieux dans le contentieux, notamment par des actions curatives ou palliatives. Ces dernières ont pour objet d’éviter que le risque contentieux se réalise (par l’annulation d’un acte, une condamnation…) ou de limiter les conséquences contentieuses. Et le juge est loin d’être étranger à l’anticipation du risque contentieux. Il y est de plus en plus sensibilisé. Il prévient également les risques contentieux. In fine, ce risque conduit à faire supporter une charge sur la partie perdante et, corrélativement, à rétablir la partie adverse dans ses droits. / Litigation risk is a foreseeable uncertainty. It can be defined as the probability that a cause of action will occur, associated with the extent of the consequences attached to this occurrence. First, litigation risk hangs over policymakers and citizens. It is carried out in two-steps. The first step corresponds to stage when the litigation risk is potential. The risk is known but has not yet actualized. The issue is then to prevent litigation cause by securing public decision-making. To reach this goal, decision makers can, count on their own resources, but also on the expertise of third parties. When a court case is filed, litigation risk becomes probable. That is to say, litigation risk exists but it is not yet materialized. Secondly, the trial is the step in which litigation risk must be handled through remedial or mitigating actions. These actions aim at avoiding the realization of the litigation risk –quashing of an act, condemnation- or containing the consequences of the litigation. Furthermore, judges play a major role in the anticipation of litigation risk: not only are they increasingly aware of it, but also becoming more involved. Ultimately, the risk leads to burdening the losing party, and correlatively, to restoring the rights of the opposing party.

Les protéines sont des macromolécules participant à d’importants processus biophysiques de la vie des organismes. Or, il a été démontré que des variations de leur structure peuvent conduire à des changements de fonction en lien avec certaines maladies telles que celles associées à des processus neurodégénératifs. Ainsi, tant pour la communauté scientifique que pour l’industrie médicale, il est capital d’avoir une meilleure compréhension de la structure de ces protéines, ainsi que de leurs interactions avec d’autres molécules, ce en vue d’inventer et d’évaluer de nouveaux médicaments.Au cours de ces travaux de thèse, nous nous sommes particulièrement intéressés au développement de nouvelles méthodes de recherche de chemins biologiquement faisables entre deux états connus pour un système composé d’une protéine ou d’une protéine et d’un ligand. Au cours des dernières décennies, une grande quantité d’approches algorithmiques ont été proposées pour faire face à ce problème. Pourtant, les méthodes développées sont encore aujourd’hui confrontées à deux grands défis : d’une part la haute dimension des espaces de recherche, associée au grand nombre d’atomes impliqués, d’autre part la complexité des interactions entre ces atomes.Cette dissertation propose deux nouvelles méthodes pour obtenir de manière efficace des chemins pertinents pour des systèmes moléculaires. Ces méthodes sont rapides et génèrent des solutions qui peuvent ensuite être analysées ou améliorées à l’aide de méthodes d’avantage spécialisées. La première approche proposée produit des chemins d’interpolation pour systèmes biomoléculaires, à l’aide des approches dites aussi-rigides-que-possible, (ARAP) utilisées en animation graphique. Cette méthode est robuste et génère des solutions préservant au mieux la rigidité du système d’origine. Une extension de cette méthode basée sur des critères énergétiques a également été proposée et s’est avérée capable d’améliorer de manière significative les chemins solution. Cependant, pour les scénarios nécessitant de complexes déformations, cette approche géométrique peut conduire à des chemins solution non naturels. Nous avons donc proposé une seconde méthode appelée ART-RRT, qui utilise l’approche ARAP pour réduire la dimensionalité de l’espace et la combine avec les arbres d’exploration RRT (Rapidely-exploring Random Tree) issus de la Robotique, afin d’explorer efficacement les chemins possibles de l’espace.En plus de fournir une variété de solutions en temps raisonnable, cette ART-RRT produit des chemins de faible énergie, sans collision et dont la rigidité est préservée autant que possible. Des versions monodirectionnelles de bidirectionelles de cette méthode ont été proposées et appliquées respectivement à la recherche de chemin d’extraction d’un ligand hors du site actif d’une protéine, ainsi qu’a la recherche de chemin de transition conformationnelle pour protéine seule. Les solutions trouvées se sont avérées être en accord avec les données expérimentales ainsi qu’avec les solutions issues de l’état de l’art. / Proteins are macromolecules participating in important biophysical processes of living organisms. It has been shown that changes in protein structures can lead to changes in their functions and are found linked to some diseases such as those related to neurodegenerative processes. Hence, an understanding of their structures and interactions with other molecules such as ligands is of major concern for the scientific community and the medical industry for inventing and assessing new drugs.In this dissertation, we are particularly interested in developing new methods to find for a system made of a single protein or a protein and a ligand, the pathways that allow changing from one state to another. During past decade, a vast amount of computational methods has been proposed to address this problem. However, these methods still have to face two challenges: the high dimensionality of the representation space, associated to the large number of atoms in these systems, and the complexity of the interactions between these atoms.This dissertation proposes two novel methods to efficiently find relevant pathways for such biomolecular systems. The methods are fast and their solutions can be used, analyzed or improved with more specialized methods. The first proposed method generates interpolation pathways for biomolecular systems using the As-Rigid-As-Possible (ARAP) principle from Computer Graphics. The method is robust and the generated solutions preserve at best the local rigidity of the original system. An energy-based extension of the method is also proposed, which significantly improves the solution paths. However, in scenarios requiring complex deformations, this geometric approach may still generate unnatural paths. Therefore, we propose a second method called ART-RRT, which combines the ARAP principle for reducing the dimensionality, with the Rapidly-exploring Random Trees from Robotics for efficiently exploring possible pathways. This method not only gives a variety of pathways in reasonable time but the pathways are also low-energy and clash-free, with the local rigidity preserved as much as possible. The mono-directional and bi-directional versions of the ART-RRT method were applied for finding ligand-unbinding and protein conformational transition pathways, respectively. The results are found to be in good agreement with experimental data and other state-of-the-art solutions.

A proposta desta pesquisa foi a de conhecer como o cotidiano de mulheres em situação de confinamento se (re)configura a partir da mediação da telenovela nesse novo ambiente de socialização. De que modo o ver telenovela nesse ambiente bem como suas memórias de recepção do gênero e sua matriz cultural articulam mundos possíveis na prisão. Busca, ainda, compreender como as memórias da telenovela se articulam às memórias pessoais e qual a importância dessa narrativa em seu dia a dia. A partir das proposições da “Metodologia dos mundos possíveis” de Luis Jesus Galindo Cáceres e das mediações de Jesus Martín-Barbero buscou-se compreender como a telenovela medeia seu cotidiano, como articula outros mundos que vão além dos limites impostos pelas grades e como estes mundos se relacionam com as temporalidades da prisão, bem como de suas memórias. Discute também como esse cotidiano medeia a relação com a telenovela, sobretudo a partir de suas memórias e relatos de vida, mas também da observação desse cotidiano e dos relatos sobre o momento vivido, de modo a correlacionar suas memórias (antes do ingresso na prisão) e as expectativas futuras. O estudo foi realizado no Presídio Regional de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, para o qual foram entrevistadas oito mulheres de diferentes faixas etárias, regimes e tempo de cumprimento de pena. A principal técnica adotada foi a história de vida em consonância com a proposição da metodologia dos mundos possíveis. Estes relatos foram tensionados na correlação entre memória, tempo presente e futuros contingentes e de que modo a telenovela participa desse processo de construção e reconstrução do cotidiano e de mundos possíveis. Os resultados apontam para uma “memória do melodrama” e um processo de construção de mundos possíveis a partir da identificação e projeção de suas trajetórias nas trajetórias das personagens da telenovela, sobretudo no que se refere às memórias e práticas relacionadas à família. / The purpose of this research was to know how the everyday of incarcerated women (re)configures itself from the telenovela mediation in this new environment of socialization. How the action of watching telenovelas in this environment and how their memories of reception of this genre and its cultural matrix articulates possible worlds in prison. Seeks to understand yet how the memories of the telenovelas articulate to the personal memories and which the importance of this narrative in their everyday lives is. From the propositions of the “Possible Worlds Methodology”, from Luis Jesus Galindo Cáceres, and Mediations Theory, from Jesus Martín-Barbero, seeks to understand how the telenovela mediates their daily routine, how it articulates others worlds beyond the limits imposed by the time slots and how these worlds relate to the temporalities of prison, and their memories. It also discusses how this everyday mediates the relationship with the telenovela, especially from the memories and life stories, but also from the observation of this everyday life and the stories about the moment lived, in order to correlate their memories (before being sent to prison) and the futures expectations. The research was done at Presídio Regional de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, for which eight women of different ages, regimes, and time of imprisonment were interviewed. The main technique adopted was the Life Story in line with the proposition of possible worlds methodology. These stories were tensioned in the correlation between memory, present time and future contingent and how the telenovela participates of the construction and reconstruction of the everyday life and possible worlds process. The results points to a “melodrama memory” and to a possible world construction process from the identification and projection of their trajectories in the characters’ trajectories in the telenovela, especially as regards to memories and related family practices.

The theoretical part focuses on the description of the development and the importance of the strategic management. The pracitcal part focuses on the analyses of the particular agricultural company called AGRO Vodňany a.s., using the methods of the strategic management. Consequently I suppose the evaluation of the possible strategies for this particular company. The last part of my dissertation focuses on the possibilities of the imrovement of the economical state of the company and as a solution I suppose the reconstruction and renovation of the pig breeding barn.

A proposta desta pesquisa foi a de conhecer como o cotidiano de mulheres em situação de confinamento se (re)configura a partir da mediação da telenovela nesse novo ambiente de socialização. De que modo o ver telenovela nesse ambiente bem como suas memórias de recepção do gênero e sua matriz cultural articulam mundos possíveis na prisão. Busca, ainda, compreender como as memórias da telenovela se articulam às memórias pessoais e qual a importância dessa narrativa em seu dia a dia. A partir das proposições da “Metodologia dos mundos possíveis” de Luis Jesus Galindo Cáceres e das mediações de Jesus Martín-Barbero buscou-se compreender como a telenovela medeia seu cotidiano, como articula outros mundos que vão além dos limites impostos pelas grades e como estes mundos se relacionam com as temporalidades da prisão, bem como de suas memórias. Discute também como esse cotidiano medeia a relação com a telenovela, sobretudo a partir de suas memórias e relatos de vida, mas também da observação desse cotidiano e dos relatos sobre o momento vivido, de modo a correlacionar suas memórias (antes do ingresso na prisão) e as expectativas futuras. O estudo foi realizado no Presídio Regional de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, para o qual foram entrevistadas oito mulheres de diferentes faixas etárias, regimes e tempo de cumprimento de pena. A principal técnica adotada foi a história de vida em consonância com a proposição da metodologia dos mundos possíveis. Estes relatos foram tensionados na correlação entre memória, tempo presente e futuros contingentes e de que modo a telenovela participa desse processo de construção e reconstrução do cotidiano e de mundos possíveis. Os resultados apontam para uma “memória do melodrama” e um processo de construção de mundos possíveis a partir da identificação e projeção de suas trajetórias nas trajetórias das personagens da telenovela, sobretudo no que se refere às memórias e práticas relacionadas à família. / The purpose of this research was to know how the everyday of incarcerated women (re)configures itself from the telenovela mediation in this new environment of socialization. How the action of watching telenovelas in this environment and how their memories of reception of this genre and its cultural matrix articulates possible worlds in prison. Seeks to understand yet how the memories of the telenovelas articulate to the personal memories and which the importance of this narrative in their everyday lives is. From the propositions of the “Possible Worlds Methodology”, from Luis Jesus Galindo Cáceres, and Mediations Theory, from Jesus Martín-Barbero, seeks to understand how the telenovela mediates their daily routine, how it articulates others worlds beyond the limits imposed by the time slots and how these worlds relate to the temporalities of prison, and their memories. It also discusses how this everyday mediates the relationship with the telenovela, especially from the memories and life stories, but also from the observation of this everyday life and the stories about the moment lived, in order to correlate their memories (before being sent to prison) and the futures expectations. The research was done at Presídio Regional de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, for which eight women of different ages, regimes, and time of imprisonment were interviewed. The main technique adopted was the Life Story in line with the proposition of possible worlds methodology. These stories were tensioned in the correlation between memory, present time and future contingent and how the telenovela participates of the construction and reconstruction of the everyday life and possible worlds process. The results points to a “melodrama memory” and to a possible world construction process from the identification and projection of their trajectories in the characters’ trajectories in the telenovela, especially as regards to memories and related family practices.

A proposta desta pesquisa foi a de conhecer como o cotidiano de mulheres em situação de confinamento se (re)configura a partir da mediação da telenovela nesse novo ambiente de socialização. De que modo o ver telenovela nesse ambiente bem como suas memórias de recepção do gênero e sua matriz cultural articulam mundos possíveis na prisão. Busca, ainda, compreender como as memórias da telenovela se articulam às memórias pessoais e qual a importância dessa narrativa em seu dia a dia. A partir das proposições da “Metodologia dos mundos possíveis” de Luis Jesus Galindo Cáceres e das mediações de Jesus Martín-Barbero buscou-se compreender como a telenovela medeia seu cotidiano, como articula outros mundos que vão além dos limites impostos pelas grades e como estes mundos se relacionam com as temporalidades da prisão, bem como de suas memórias. Discute também como esse cotidiano medeia a relação com a telenovela, sobretudo a partir de suas memórias e relatos de vida, mas também da observação desse cotidiano e dos relatos sobre o momento vivido, de modo a correlacionar suas memórias (antes do ingresso na prisão) e as expectativas futuras. O estudo foi realizado no Presídio Regional de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, para o qual foram entrevistadas oito mulheres de diferentes faixas etárias, regimes e tempo de cumprimento de pena. A principal técnica adotada foi a história de vida em consonância com a proposição da metodologia dos mundos possíveis. Estes relatos foram tensionados na correlação entre memória, tempo presente e futuros contingentes e de que modo a telenovela participa desse processo de construção e reconstrução do cotidiano e de mundos possíveis. Os resultados apontam para uma “memória do melodrama” e um processo de construção de mundos possíveis a partir da identificação e projeção de suas trajetórias nas trajetórias das personagens da telenovela, sobretudo no que se refere às memórias e práticas relacionadas à família. / The purpose of this research was to know how the everyday of incarcerated women (re)configures itself from the telenovela mediation in this new environment of socialization. How the action of watching telenovelas in this environment and how their memories of reception of this genre and its cultural matrix articulates possible worlds in prison. Seeks to understand yet how the memories of the telenovelas articulate to the personal memories and which the importance of this narrative in their everyday lives is. From the propositions of the “Possible Worlds Methodology”, from Luis Jesus Galindo Cáceres, and Mediations Theory, from Jesus Martín-Barbero, seeks to understand how the telenovela mediates their daily routine, how it articulates others worlds beyond the limits imposed by the time slots and how these worlds relate to the temporalities of prison, and their memories. It also discusses how this everyday mediates the relationship with the telenovela, especially from the memories and life stories, but also from the observation of this everyday life and the stories about the moment lived, in order to correlate their memories (before being sent to prison) and the futures expectations. The research was done at Presídio Regional de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, for which eight women of different ages, regimes, and time of imprisonment were interviewed. The main technique adopted was the Life Story in line with the proposition of possible worlds methodology. These stories were tensioned in the correlation between memory, present time and future contingent and how the telenovela participates of the construction and reconstruction of the everyday life and possible worlds process. The results points to a “melodrama memory” and to a possible world construction process from the identification and projection of their trajectories in the characters’ trajectories in the telenovela, especially as regards to memories and related family practices.

The goal of the disertation is valuation of economic effectiveness of the project of building and operation of data centre (telehouse centre). The theoretical part contains basic principles and methods of risk analysis of investment project (break event point, sensitivity analysis), the description of preparation and realisation of investment project, planning of cash flow, determination of discount rate, the possible ways of finance of investment project, the methods of valuation of effectiveness investments. The practical part contains the analysis of telecommunication market, Porters model of competitive powers in the sphere of telecommunication firm, specification of the costs of the project, price statement of Serverhousing, the plan of costs, plan of profit and lost statement, the determination of net present value.