A presente dissertação investiga a possibilidade jurídica e as limitações da utilização de meios consensuais para resolução de conflitos que tenham a Administração Pública como parte. Mais especificamente, a dissertação tratará da escolha entre valer-se de meios consensuais para a solução do conflito ou de relegá-lo a um meio adjudicatório, especialmente o processo judicial. No primeiro capítulo, o trabalho situa a adoção dos meios consensuais pela Administração Pública no contexto de desenvolvimento das ADRs no Brasil, com influência da experiência norte-americana. No segundo, trata de revisitar alguns dogmas do Direito Administrativo que possam configurar óbices à adoção dos meios consensuais, como a legalidade estrita e a supremacia do interesse público, bem como situar novamente o tema no contexto de expansão da atuação administrativa consensual. O terceiro capítulo apresenta conceitos importantes para compreender a questão como: interesse público e indisponibilidade; meios adjudicatórios de solução de conflitos; meios consensuais de solução de conflitos (negociação, mediação e conciliação). No quarto capítulo, serão abordadas as limitações que o regime de direito público impõe à adoção de meios consensuais pela Administração Pública. O quinto capítulo traz um contraponto aos meios consensuais, relatando algumas críticas e riscos de sua adoção. Por fim, o sexto capítulo relata pesquisa empírica realizada na Procuradoria-Geral do Município de São Paulo com a finalidade de revelar experiências e óbices práticos à adoção de meios consensuais. / This essay investigates the legal possibility and limitations of the use of consensual mechanisms of dispute resolution by Public Administration as one of the parties. More specifically, the essay addresses the choice between using consensual mechanisms to resolve the dispute or relegate it to adjudication, especially the judicial process. In the first chapter, the essay poses the use of consensual mechanisms by Public Administration in the context of ADRs development in Brazil, influenced by north american experience. In the second chapter, the essay revisits some tenets of Administrative Law that may constitute obstacles to the adoption of consensual mechanisms, such as strict legality and the supremacy of the public interest, and also poses the issue in the context of the expansion of consensual administrative action. The third chapter presents important concepts to understand the issue, such as: public interest and availability; adjudicatory mechanisms of dispute resolution; consensual mechanisms of dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation and conciliation). The fourth chapter adresses the limitations imposed by Public Law to the adoption of consensual mechanisms by Public Administration. The fifth chapter provides a counterpoint to consensual mechanisms, reporting some criticism and risks of its adoption. Finally, the sixth chapter reports empirical research conducted at São Paulo Citys Attorney General Office in order to reveal experiences and practical obstacles to the adoption of consensual mechanisms.

A presente dissertação investiga a possibilidade jurídica e as limitações da utilização de meios consensuais para resolução de conflitos que tenham a Administração Pública como parte. Mais especificamente, a dissertação tratará da escolha entre valer-se de meios consensuais para a solução do conflito ou de relegá-lo a um meio adjudicatório, especialmente o processo judicial. No primeiro capítulo, o trabalho situa a adoção dos meios consensuais pela Administração Pública no contexto de desenvolvimento das ADRs no Brasil, com influência da experiência norte-americana. No segundo, trata de revisitar alguns dogmas do Direito Administrativo que possam configurar óbices à adoção dos meios consensuais, como a legalidade estrita e a supremacia do interesse público, bem como situar novamente o tema no contexto de expansão da atuação administrativa consensual. O terceiro capítulo apresenta conceitos importantes para compreender a questão como: interesse público e indisponibilidade; meios adjudicatórios de solução de conflitos; meios consensuais de solução de conflitos (negociação, mediação e conciliação). No quarto capítulo, serão abordadas as limitações que o regime de direito público impõe à adoção de meios consensuais pela Administração Pública. O quinto capítulo traz um contraponto aos meios consensuais, relatando algumas críticas e riscos de sua adoção. Por fim, o sexto capítulo relata pesquisa empírica realizada na Procuradoria-Geral do Município de São Paulo com a finalidade de revelar experiências e óbices práticos à adoção de meios consensuais. / This essay investigates the legal possibility and limitations of the use of consensual mechanisms of dispute resolution by Public Administration as one of the parties. More specifically, the essay addresses the choice between using consensual mechanisms to resolve the dispute or relegate it to adjudication, especially the judicial process. In the first chapter, the essay poses the use of consensual mechanisms by Public Administration in the context of ADRs development in Brazil, influenced by north american experience. In the second chapter, the essay revisits some tenets of Administrative Law that may constitute obstacles to the adoption of consensual mechanisms, such as strict legality and the supremacy of the public interest, and also poses the issue in the context of the expansion of consensual administrative action. The third chapter presents important concepts to understand the issue, such as: public interest and availability; adjudicatory mechanisms of dispute resolution; consensual mechanisms of dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation and conciliation). The fourth chapter adresses the limitations imposed by Public Law to the adoption of consensual mechanisms by Public Administration. The fifth chapter provides a counterpoint to consensual mechanisms, reporting some criticism and risks of its adoption. Finally, the sixth chapter reports empirical research conducted at São Paulo Citys Attorney General Office in order to reveal experiences and practical obstacles to the adoption of consensual mechanisms.

Amyloidogenic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are an important health issue. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease-related protein aggregates, that are present in humans, are only understood partially. I have used and developed biophysical methods to study the structural and biological properties of individual aggregates of Amyloid β peptide and α-Synuclein, proteins whose aggregation is associated with the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease respectively. I expanded the single aggregate visualisation through enhancement (SAVE) technique, which is a method based on the fluorescent dye Thioflavin T (ThT) that reversibly bind to the aggregates and whose fluorescence increases upon binding. I firstly explored the use of other dyes for these experiments and found that a ThT dimer has higher affinity to α-Synuclein aggregates in vitro. I then applied the SAVE method to the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of a cohort of AD patients and control CSF and observed no clear difference in aggregate number. However, these experiments provided insights into how antibodies bind the aggregates in human CSF. I could show, that despite altering the Ca2+ influx into both cells and vesicles, the antibody did not measurably affect the aggregate structure. To study the size specific effects of the Amyloid β 42 (Aβ42) peptide in more detail, I used and optimised gradient ultracentrifugation combined with single aggregate imaging to study the structural properties of the isolated aggregates. This aggregation kinetic independent method allowed me to compare the properties of fluorescently labelled and unlabelled Aβ42 and characterize the size dependent properties of aggregates in a single experiment. Since I could measure the relative concentration of different size aggregates it was also possible to compare the properties of single aggregates of different sizes. I then used biological assays to examine the ability of aggregates to permeabilise membranes resulting in the entry of calcium ions, and their ability to induce TNFα production in microglia cells. Both processes are thought to play key roles in the development of AD. I found that small soluble oligomers are most potent at inducing Ca2+ influx, whereas longer protofilaments are the most potent inducers of TNFα production. My results suggest that the mechanism by which aggregates damage cells changes as aggregation proceeds, as longer aggregates with different structures are formed. Protofilaments with a diameter of 1 nm or less have a structure that could make them particularly potent at causing the signalling of toll-like receptors, providing a molecular basis for their ability to induce TNFα production.

Esta tese trata da resolução online de controvérsias. Parte-se da hipótese de que sua expansão para múltiplas jurisdições e vários tipos de conflitos, incluindo os complexos e de alto valor, provocará mudanças significativas no direito. São analisados, das perspectivas jurídica e econômica, as condições para a resolução extrajudicial de disputas, por meios alternativos (adequados), inclusive online, com atenção para o design orientado à prevenção e à resolução massificada de conflitos e para o emprego de tecnologias persuasivas com esta finalidade. Examinam-se os desafios conexos a tecnologias de informação e comunicação, os conflitos deles derivados e as instituições e partes envolvidas em sua resolução. Descreve-se o potencial dos mecanismos de resolução online de controvérsias a partir de três estudos de caso eBay, prefeitura de Nova York e Wikipedia. Investigam-se as consequências jurídicas da disseminação de mecanismos de resolução online de controvérsias à luz das experiências públicas e privadas e projetos existentes. Por fim, os impactos destas novas formas de dirimir conflitos são analisados nos planos nacional em relação a devido processo legal, direitos de terceiros e ordem pública e internacional, com destaque para as alternativas que se apresentam a Estados e organizações internacionais. Conclui-se apontando, por um lado, as preocupações relativas ao controle jurisdicional sobre a resolução online de controvérsias; por outro, as promessas desta decorrentes, traduzidas em especial em eficiência e acesso à justiça. / This dissertation discusses online dispute resolution. Its hypothesis is that the expansion of this form of dispute resolution across jurisdictions and towards many types of conflict, including complex and high-value ones, will promote substantive legal changes. The conditions for outof-court dispute resolution are analyzed, from the normative and economic perspectives, covering alternative (adequate) and online dispute resolution, with attention to its design focused on the scalable resolution of controversies and to the use of persuasive technologies to that end. The challenges connected to information and communication technologies, the conflicts deriving from them and the institutions and parties involved in their resolution are examined. The potential for online dispute resolution is described through three case studies eBay, New York City and Wikipedia. The legal consequences of the dissemination of online dispute resolution are studied in light of the existing public and private experiences and projects. Finally, the impacts of these new forms of solving conflicts are analyzed at the national with respect to due process, third party rights and public policy and international levels, highlighting the alternatives available to states and international organizations. The dissertation concludes by noting the concerns related to jurisdictional control over online dispute resolution and the prospects arising out of it, especially prominent in terms of efficiency and access to justice.

Les problèmes d’optimisation discrète sont pour beaucoup difficiles à résoudre, depar leur nature combinatoire. Citons par exemple les problèmes de programmationlinéaire en nombres entiers. Une approche couramment employée pour les résoudreexactement est l’approche de Séparation et Évaluation Progressive. Une approchedifférente appelée « Resolution Search » a été proposée par Chvátal en 1997 pourrésoudre exactement des problèmes d’optimisation à variables 0-1, mais elle restemal connue et n’a été que peu appliquée depuis.Cette thèse tente de remédier à cela, avec un succès partiel. Une première contributionconsiste en la généralisation de Resolution Search à tout problème d’optimisationdiscrète, tout en introduisant de nouveaux concepts et définitions. Ensuite,afin de confirmer l’intérêt de cette approche, nous avons essayé de l’appliquer enpratique pour résoudre efficacement des problèmes bien connus. Bien que notrerecherche n’ait pas abouti sur ce point, elle nous a amené à de nouvelles méthodespour résoudre exactement les problèmes d’affectation généralisée et de localisationsimple. Après avoir présenté ces méthodes, la thèse conclut avec un bilan et desperspectives sur l’application pratique de Resolution Search. / The combinatorial nature of discrete optimization problems often makes them difficultto solve. Consider for instance integer linear programming problems, which arecommonly solved using a Branch-and-Bound approach. An alternative approach,Resolution Search, was proposed by Chvátal in 1997 for solving 0-1 optimizationproblems, but remains little known to this day and as such has seen few practicalapplications.This thesis attempts to remedy this state of affairs, with partial success. Itsfirst contribution consists in the generalization of Resolution Search to any discreteoptimization problem, while introducing new definitions and concepts. Next, wetried to validate this approach by attempting to solve well-known problems efficientlywith it. Although our research did not succeed in this respect, it lead usto new methods for solving the generalized assignment and uncapacitated facilitylocation problems. After presenting these methods, this thesis concludes with asummary of our attempts at practical application of Resolution Search, along withfurther perspectives on this matter.

The ability to perceive speech is related to the listener's ability to differentiate among frequencies (i.e. spectral resolution). Cochlear implant users exhibit variable speech perception and spectral resolution abilities, which can be attributed at least in part to electrode interactions at the periphery (i.e. spatial resolution). However, electrophysiological measures of peripheral spatial resolution have not been found to correlate with speech perception. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate auditory processing from the periphery to the cortex using both simple and spectrally complex stimuli in order to better understanding the underlying processes affecting spatial and spectral resolution and speech perception. Eleven adult cochlear implant users participated in this study. Peripheral spatial resolution was assessed using the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) to measure channel interaction functions for thirteen probe electrodes. We evaluated central processing using the auditory change complex (ACC), a cortical response, elicited with both spatial (electrode pairs) and spectral (rippled noise) stimulus changes. Speech perception included a vowel-discrimination task and the BKB-SIN test of keyword recognition in noise. We varied the likelihood of electrode interactions within each participant by creating three experimental programs, or MAPs, using a subset of seven electrodes and varying the spacing between activated electrodes. Linear mixed model analysis was used to account for repeated measures within an individual, allowing for a within-subject interpretation. We also performed regression analysis to evaluate the relationships across participants. Both peripheral and central processing abilities contributed to the variability in performance observed across CI users. The spectral ACC was the strongest predictor of speech perception abilities across participants. When spatial resolution was varied within a person, all electrophysiological measures were significantly correlated with each other and with speech perception. However, the ECAP measures were the best single predictor of speech perception for the within-subject analysis, followed by the spectral ACC. Our results indicate that electrophysiological measures of spatial and spectral resolution can provide valuable information about perception. All three of the electrophysiological measures used in this study, including the ECAP channel interaction functions, demonstrated potential for clinical utility.

Le contentieux contractuel éclate lorsque l'une des parties n'exécute plus ou pas ses obligations. La préoccupation essentielle en matière contractuelle, consiste à lutter contre une rupture abusive et arbitraire du contrat. La particularité du droit civil français en matière de rupture du contrat, est la place très importante qu'occupe le juge judiciaire. L'assurance de la protection des intérêts des parties et la garantie d'une sanction juste et équitable, reposent en effet, sur les épaules du juge. Il est par conséquent inconcevable que le juge soit écarté du jeu de la rupture contractuelle. L'orientation traditionnelle a toujours fait du juge un pilier dans le domaine de la séparation contractuelle, mais cette tendance commence quelque peu à se dissiper. Le juge doit toujours jouer un rôle très important en droit des contrats en général et dans sa rupture en particulier. Une protection efficace des parties donnerait à l'intervention du juge une utilité plus importante. Il est primordial, que le juge soit un acteur, en matière de rupture contractuelle, dont le rôle serait la garantie du respect des lois et la protection complète des parties ; le cas contraire, pourrait réduire alors la portée du code civil actuel à un simple catalogue de lois régissant l'anéantissement du contrat. / Contractual litigation arises when one of the parties fails to fulfill its obligations. Its main concern is to fight against abusive and arbitrary breach of contracts. In the French civil law, the judge occupies a very important place when debating breach of contracts. It is impossible to alienate the judge when it comes down to contract breaches. In fact, he insures that the interests of every concerned party are protected. He also guarantees that fair and equitable sanctions will be applied. Traditionally, the judge was very important when discussing breach of contracts. However, this trend is beginning to dissipate. In general, the judge plays a very important role in contract law, but his role is primordial when disputing contract termination. Effective protection of the parties would give the intervention of the judge a greater utility. It is essential that the judge remains an important actor when it comes to breach of contract as his role is to guarantee that the law is respected and that every party is adequately protected. On the contrary, it could reduce the importance of the current Civil Code to a mere catalog of laws governing the annulment contracts

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Passau, 2006. / "Zivilrecht"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-290).

<p>Den här uppsatsens syfte var att, ur ett genusperspektiv, undersöka vilka möjligheter MOT i Afghanistan har för att arbeta mot målet i FN:s resolution 1325. Min fråga var hur arbetet påverkades om teamen bestod av endast män, endast kvinnor respektive både män och kvinnor.</p><p>Uppsatsen är indelad i tre delar. I den första delen förklaras centrala begrepp för att ge en förståelse för kommande text. I den andra delen diskuteras hur MOT under FS11 i Afghanistan arbetade med resolutionen och i den tredje delen ges förslag på hur kvinnliga och manliga soldater i ett MOT borde arbeta för att, på bästa sätt, uppnå målet i resolution 1325. Undersökningen är baserad på litteratur, rapporter och intervjuer.</p><p>Resultatet av undersökningen visar att både kvinnliga och manliga soldater kunde arbeta enligt resolutionen men med olika resultat. Det var enklare för kvinnliga soldater att nå ut till de lokala kvinnorna samtidigt som de enbart genom sin närvaro gav missionen en kvinnlig infallsvinkel. Manliga soldater hade svårare att skapa lika starka kontakter med de lokala kvinnorna och avsaknaden av kvinnor i teamet gav ett hårdare intryck.</p><p>Min slutsats är att MOT innehållande både manliga och kvinnliga soldater är de mest effektiva. Ett blandat team ökar möjligheterna att inhämta och sprida information, visar lokalbefolkningen att män och kvinnor kan arbeta tillsammans och ger chefen möjlighet att lösa uppgifter i ett bredare spektrum. MOT med endast män eller endast kvinnor kan också arbeta enligt resolutionen men uppnår ett sämre resultat.</p> / <p>The purpose of this essay was to examine what chances the MOTs´ in Afghanistan had in working towards the objective in the UN resolution 1325. My question was how the work was affected when the teams consisted of only men, only women and a mix of men and women.</p><p>The essay is divided in three parts. The first part explains and defines the concept of the UN resolution 1325. The second part examines the MOTs´ work according to the resolution and the third part suggests how male and female soldiers can work in order to achieve the objective stated in the resolution. The examination is based on literature, reports and interviews.</p><p>The result of the examination shows that both male and female soldiers were able to work according to the resolution but with different results. It was easier for female soldiers to reach the local women and the female soldiers´ presence gave the mission a female approach. For male soldiers it was more difficult to establish a contact with the local women and the lack of women in the team made the team seem harsher.</p><p>My conclusion is that MOTs´s with both male and female soldiers are the most efficient ones. A mixed team increases the opportunities to gather and spread information, shows the local population that men and women can work together and gives the commander an opportunity to perform his tasks in a wider spectrum.</p>

One trend in the ‘omics’ sciences is the generation of increasing amounts of data, describing complex biological samples. To cope with this and facilitate progress towards reliable diagnostic tools, it is crucial to develop methods for extracting representative and predictive information. In global metabolite analysis (metabolomics and metabonomics) NMR, GC/MS and LC/MS are the main platforms for data generation. Multivariate projection methods (e.g. PCA, PLS and O-PLS) have been recognized as efficient tools for data analysis within subjects such as biology and chemistry due to their ability to provide interpretable models based on many, correlated variables. In global metabolite analysis, these methods have been successfully applied in areas such as toxicology, disease diagnosis and plant functional genomics. This thesis describes the development of processing methods for the unbiased extraction of representative and predictive information from metabolic GC/MS and LC/MS data characterizing biofluids, e.g. plant extracts, urine and blood plasma. In order to allow the multivariate projections to detect and highlight differences between samples, one requirement of the processing methods is that they must extract a common set of descriptors from all samples and still retain the metabolically relevant information in the data. In Papers I and II this was done by applying a hierarchical multivariate compression approach to both GC/MS and LC/MS data. In the study described in Paper III a hierarchical multivariate curve resolution strategy (H-MCR) was developed for simultaneously resolving multiple GC/MS samples into pure profiles. In Paper IV the H-MCR method was applied to a drug toxicity study in rats, where the method’s potential for biomarker detection and identification was exemplified. Finally, the H-MCR method was extended, as described in Paper V, allowing independent samples to be processed and predicted using a model based on an existing set of representative samples. The fact that these processing methods proved to be valid for predicting the properties of new independent samples indicates that it is now possible for global metabolite analysis to be extended beyond isolated studies. In addition, the results facilitate high through-put analysis, because predicting the nature of samples is rapid compared to the actual processing. In summary this research highlights the possibilities for using global metabolite analysis in diagnosis.