This dissertation is on the semantics of modal expressions and attitude verbs like English ‘must,’ ‘may,’ ‘ought,’ and ‘want’ — expressions that allow us to discuss socially important modal facts like obligations, permissions, and desires. When discussing them, we rarely spell out the modal facts with complete specificity. For example, I may say, ‘I want ice cream,’ without specifying that what I desire, in particular, is unmelted, non-toxic, chocolate ice cream. If, in response, someone were to give me melted, toxic, vanilla ice cream, it would be fair for me to reply that what I have been given is not what I wanted. Similarly, I can truly say ‘you must wash the dishes,’ or ‘you may have some wine,’ without specifying that there are exceptions, that is, specific ways of washing the dishes, or of having wine, that are not ways of doing what you must or are allowed. I call modal claims that have such exceptions underspecific. Since avoiding underspecificity may require explicitly ruling out an infinite number of exceptions, most of our ordinary modal claims are underspecific. Our reliance on them is thus crucial to our very capacity to communicate about the modal facts. I argue that modal claims can be true and underspecific by virtue of the meanings of the modal expressions that figure in them, and I defend a general semantic framework for modals that explains how. In the simplest cases, my framework predicts that speakers may describe the contents of desires, permissions, and obligations using conditions that are merely necessary for their fulfillment. Since getting unmelted, non-toxic chocolate ice cream necessitates getting ice cream simpliciter, this explains how I may truly state ‘I want ice cream’ even if the content of my desire is more specific. Generalizing this account, however, poses significant challenges. Indeed, many philosophers and linguists have rejected semantic theories of modals that allow for true, underspecific modal claims for two main reasons. One is that previous accounts give rise to several well-known logical puzzles, including the puzzle of free choice permission, Ross’s puzzle, and the Samaritan paradox. A second reason is that existing accounts generate the wrong truth value judgments in examples involving complex preferences and forms of uncertainty. In response, theorists have offered semantics for modals like ‘ought’ and ‘want’ that rely on the theory of rational choice and the notion of expected utility. Straightforward expected utility analyses succeed in generating the desired truth value judgments, but at the cost of giving up the possibility of underspecifying the modal facts in the ways that we manifestly do. I argue that we can meet both of these challenges, while still allowing for true, underspecific modal claims. In order to do so, I develop new solutions to the puzzle of free choice permission, Ross’s Puzzle, and the Samaritan paradox that improve on the empirical predictions of existing solutions. My framework also generates a methodologically desirable degree of independence between the proper semantics of modal expressions, on the one hand, and the proper analyses of desire or obligation in terms of rational choice, on the other. As a result, the semantic framework I develop in this dissertation can succeed where theorists who have turned to decision-theoretic semantics for ‘want’ and ‘ought’ have thought that existing theories fail. Besides the advantages that my semantic framework gains with respect to these problems in particular, it more generally provides new insights into the rich linguistic capacities and conventions that speakers leverage in order to communicate about the modal facts.

This paper examines the mathematical properties of Sudoku puzzles defined on a Torus. We seek to answer the questions for these variants that have been explored for the traditional Sudoku. We do this process with two such embeddings. The end result of this paper is a deeper mathematical understanding of logic puzzles of this type, as well as a fun new puzzle which could be played.

Testam-se quatro utilidades com o formato S das curvas de saturação - gama, logística, Cauchy e Cauchy modificada - no modelo básico de apreçamento de ativos de Lucas, com séries temporais do mercado americano. Estabelecendo-se um parâmetro que acompanha o nível de consumo per capita , constata-se que todas resolvem o chamado riskfree puzzle. A gama e a Cauchy modificada saem-se melhor no apreçamento dos 25 ativos do portfolio de Fama e French e esta última é eleita a vencedora, pelas suas propriedades assintóticas e por apresentar coeficiente médio (no sentido cross-section) de aversão relativa ao risco na faixa considerada normal (entre 0 e 5). A Cauchy modificada regulariza a utilidade de Constantinides-Cochrane-Campbel, de formação de hábito, permitindo que o trecho abaixo do consumo habitual seja usado, com isso dispensando o uso de truques para impedir que o consumo suavizado ultrapasse o real. Constatou-se a manutenção daquele coeficiente médio dentro da faixa normal, em um nível pouco abaixo do americano, no caso do mercado brasileiro. Nesse sentido de média crosssection, poderia-se dizer que a utilidade aqui proposta resolve o chamado equity premium puzzle. / Four S-shaped utility functions are tested - gamma, logistic, Cauchy and modified Cauchy - on Lucas asset pricing model with American market time series. Establishing a parameter that follows the level of the per capita consumption, it is shown that all of them solve the so called risk free puzzle. The gamma utility and the modified Cauchy are the ones with better pricing power with respect to Fama and French\'s 25 book-to-market portfolio and the last one is elected the winner, for its asymptotic properties and for exhibiting mean (in the cross-section sense) relative risk aversion coefficient inside the accepted normal range (between 0 and 5). The modified Cauchy utility regularizes the habit-formation Constantinides-Cochrane-Campbel utility function, allowing the usage of the stretch below the habit consumption level, thus doing without the need of tricks to forbid the smoothed consumption series from outgrowing the real one. In the Brazilian market, the mean relative risk aversion coefficient also remains inside the acceptable region, on a slightly lower level. In this mean cross-section sense, it might be possible to state that the utility here proposed solves the equity premium puzzle.

Testam-se quatro utilidades com o formato S das curvas de saturação - gama, logística, Cauchy e Cauchy modificada - no modelo básico de apreçamento de ativos de Lucas, com séries temporais do mercado americano. Estabelecendo-se um parâmetro que acompanha o nível de consumo per capita , constata-se que todas resolvem o chamado riskfree puzzle. A gama e a Cauchy modificada saem-se melhor no apreçamento dos 25 ativos do portfolio de Fama e French e esta última é eleita a vencedora, pelas suas propriedades assintóticas e por apresentar coeficiente médio (no sentido cross-section) de aversão relativa ao risco na faixa considerada normal (entre 0 e 5). A Cauchy modificada regulariza a utilidade de Constantinides-Cochrane-Campbel, de formação de hábito, permitindo que o trecho abaixo do consumo habitual seja usado, com isso dispensando o uso de truques para impedir que o consumo suavizado ultrapasse o real. Constatou-se a manutenção daquele coeficiente médio dentro da faixa normal, em um nível pouco abaixo do americano, no caso do mercado brasileiro. Nesse sentido de média crosssection, poderia-se dizer que a utilidade aqui proposta resolve o chamado equity premium puzzle. / Four S-shaped utility functions are tested - gamma, logistic, Cauchy and modified Cauchy - on Lucas asset pricing model with American market time series. Establishing a parameter that follows the level of the per capita consumption, it is shown that all of them solve the so called risk free puzzle. The gamma utility and the modified Cauchy are the ones with better pricing power with respect to Fama and French\'s 25 book-to-market portfolio and the last one is elected the winner, for its asymptotic properties and for exhibiting mean (in the cross-section sense) relative risk aversion coefficient inside the accepted normal range (between 0 and 5). The modified Cauchy utility regularizes the habit-formation Constantinides-Cochrane-Campbel utility function, allowing the usage of the stretch below the habit consumption level, thus doing without the need of tricks to forbid the smoothed consumption series from outgrowing the real one. In the Brazilian market, the mean relative risk aversion coefficient also remains inside the acceptable region, on a slightly lower level. In this mean cross-section sense, it might be possible to state that the utility here proposed solves the equity premium puzzle.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alexandra Nakano de Almeida.pdf: 1298881 bytes, checksum: 6ed6b2d34093bf140942e9de85595f0a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-11-06 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This paper aims to investigate some of the first relationships that psychoanalysis had with arts. To do so, a dialogue with the thinking of Thomas Kuhn is established considering that the subject conceived by Sigmund Freud operated a disruption to the field of knowledge regarding psychic phenomena. Considering some of the concepts minted by the American science historian, the role of Freud references to arts in the context of psychoanalysis formation is reflected. Therefore references to artwork, as well as, analogies made between psychic and artistic processes - which can be found in Freud´s theoretical construction of the paradigmatic book The Interpretation of Dreams " (1900), are examined. Some drafts from Vienna´s Psychoanalytic Society sessions are also examined, thereby investigating the role that the references to arts played in the beginning of the process of psychoanalysis institutionalization, or in other words, the sociological dimension of its formation. Lastly, it is examined two of Freud´s early work, where art is somehow subjected to psychoanalytic investigation: "Delusions and Dreams in Jensen's Gradiva (1907) and "Leonardo da Vinci and a Memory of his Childhood "(1910). Considering them as attempts to puzzle solving activities in the sense proposed by Kuhn, it is analyzed the psychoanalytic assumptions and purposes that underlie these works. Thus, it is tried to support the idea which the first relationships established between psychoanalysis and the field of arts helped with setting up and developing psychoanalysis, which Freud aspired to be considered a natural science / Este trabalho pretende investigar algumas das primeiras relações que a psicanálise manteve com o campo das artes. Para tanto, estabelece-se uma interlocução com o pensamento de Thomas Kuhn considerando que a disciplina criada por Sigmund Freud operou uma ruptura com o campo do conhecimento dos fenômenos psíquicos. À luz de alguns conceitos cunhados pelo historiador das ciências norte-americano, reflete-se sobre o papel das referências que Freud faz às artes no contexto da constituição da psicanálise. Examinam-se, pois, referências a obras de arte, bem como analogias estabelecidas entre procedimentos psíquicos e procedimentos artísticos que comparecem na construção teórica freudiana da obra paradigmática A interpretação dos sonhos (1900). Examinam-se, ainda, algumas minutas das sessões da Sociedade Psicanalítica de Viena, investigando deste modo, o papel que as referências às artes desempenharam no início do processo de institucionalização da psicanálise, ou, em outros termos, na dimensão sociológica da sua constituição. Examinam-se por fim, dois dos primeiros trabalhos de Freud em que a arte é de alguma forma submetida à investigação psicanalítica: Delírios e sonhos na Gradiva de Jensen (1907) e Leonardo da Vinci e uma lembrança de sua infância (1910). Considerando-os como tentativas de resoluções de quebra-cabeças no sentido proposto por Kuhn, investigam-se os pressupostos psicanalíticos e propósitos que subjazem a estes trabalhos. Procura-se, pois, sustentar que as primeiras relações estabelecidas entre a psicanálise e o campo das artes estiveram a serviço da constituição e do desenvolvimento da psicanálise, para a qual Freud aspirava a condição de ciência natural

Purchasing Power Party (PPP) has long been intensively studied in empirical researches. However, a unanimous conclusion has not been reached. As an alternative to a narrative literature review, this paper conducts a meta-regression analysis of a collection of thirty-three studies, in order to uncover the sources of variation in the empirical findings relating to PPP. We also test the validities of suggestions made by the narrative literature reviewers that the use of more years of data, more countries, more powerful tests, more general model specifications, and an allowance for non-linearity might mitigate the issue of PPP puzzle. We find that the proposition is true and that whether PPP holds in the long run mainly depends on the methodology employed, the regimes the data are sampled from, and the length of the sample of data that is used. When addressing the persistence of the deviations from PPP, it mostly depends on the methodologies adopted.

This Thesis explores the application of Tangible User Interfaces to Education. For this, a research study was conducted by building and testing an interactive game called Tangram Bridge. This Tangram based game was designed to teach players about basic physics principles such as balance, friction and motion on inclined planes. The focus of this Tangram Bridge is middle school physics, and therefore concerns children aged 11 years and up, their instructors and care givers. This research also lays a lot of emphasis on constructive play amongst children. Tangram Bridge is a versatile platform that can be scaled for younger or older populations A comparative study of existing Tangible User Interfaces ( TUIs) revealed opportunity spaces for this project. Through a compilation of related research in the fields of education, hands on learning, Tangible interaction and understanding play and learning amongst children, the constructionist views on learning are explored as guidelines for the design of this study. Through the analysis of comparative research studies, trends on TUI with relation to education emerged, informing the design process for Tangram Bridge. This research study discusses the application of Tangible user interfaces to education. It combines the research data collected through market research, user testing and literature reviews to explore the efficacy of TUI as teaching tool for abstract concepts that require imagination and experimentation.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 85).

Submitted by Fabiana Chiericci Lima (fachilima@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-18T02:23:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_ versão REPOSITÓRIO.pdf: 5705378 bytes, checksum: c7d55056a7d422eb3569626f90d0b30e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Minervina Teixeira Lopes null (vina_lopes@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-04-18T14:56:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lima_fc_me_bauru.pdf: 5638301 bytes, checksum: b47feaf9e263d4ef626f01b4ee37d45c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-18T14:56:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lima_fc_me_bauru.pdf: 5638301 bytes, checksum: b47feaf9e263d4ef626f01b4ee37d45c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-23 / A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo investigar o desenvolvimento de atitudes positivas e de autoconfiança, em relação à Matemática, em alunos do ensino fundamental I, 4º e 5º anos, por meio do uso de problemas não estruturados. Para solucionar esses problemas, que têm um perfil de enigma, os alunos em questão eram instigados a utilizar seus conhecimentos prévios, formulando questões e construindo a resolução em grupo, como um quebra-cabeça verbal. O fato de não possuir algoritmos prontos e acabados, faz com que esses problemas tragam um novo olhar do aluno para a disciplina de Matemática. E ainda, despertam a autoconfiança e as atitudes positivas por conseguirem solucionar problemas utilizando-se dos conhecimentos prévios adquiridos, ou seja, por encontrarem sentido nos conceitos matemáticos aprendidos. Essa pesquisa é de cunho quali-quantitativo que tem como eixo norteador o levantamento de dados, a compreensão de comportamentos, opiniões e expectativas e a análise da Escala de Atitudes da amostra utilizada. Através desta escala, foi possível considerar as atitudes positivas ou negativas de 16 alunos de uma escola pública estadual de ensino fundamental I da cidade de São Carlos em relação à disciplina. Considerando que o tempo foi breve e que cada indivíduo tem um tempo para ter seu insight, pode-se contemplar um resultado positivo, no qual constatamos um aumento de 31% para 75% dos alunos que passaram a ter atitudes positivas em relação à Matemática. Portanto, consideramos que há a necessidade de despertar no aluno sua autoconfiança e a atitudes positivas, o que pode contribuir para que tenham um melhor desempenho na disciplina. / The present research has as its main goal to assess the development of positive attitudes and self-reliance toward Mathematics, in students from elementary school I, 4th and 5th grades, with the use of non-structured problems. This research has a quali-quantitative status which owns a northern axis facing data collection, comprehension of behavior, opinions, and expectations, and also the Attitudes Range analysis from the sample used. Through the use of this one, it was possible to consider the positive or negative attitudes from 16 students of a public state school, from elementary school I in São Carlos. With the use of non-structured problems - with a puzzle profile - the students were instigated to search in their previous knowledge the solution to the problems that did not have concluded and ready-to-use algorithms. Considering the short time, and the fact that each individual has their own timing for insight, it is possible to reach a positive outcome, in which it was possible to identify a raise from 31% to 75% from students that started having positive attitudes toward Mathematics. In conclusion, we consider that there is a necessity for waking students up for self-reliance and positive attitudes which can bring a better performance at the subject.

Dissertation abstract The present thesis is devoted to the study of recreational mathematics, with a particular emphasis on its history, its relation to serious mathematics and its educational benefits. The thesis consists of five papers. In the first one we investigate the history of recreational mathematics. We focus on the development of mathematical problems throughout history, and we try to point out the people who had an important influence on the progress of recreational mathematics. The second article is dedicated to Edwin Abbott Abbott and his book called Flatland. It is one of the first popularizing books on geometry. In the third article we review one of the prominent personalities of recreational mathematics, Martin Gardner. The fourth article is in some sense a sequel to the third one. It deals with treachery of mathematical intuition and mathematical April Fool's hoaxes. The last article is devoted to the implementation recreational mathematics to education of students. 1