The essential objective of this study was to fill a bibliographic void of secondary source material concerning Russian California. This was accomplished by combining available translations and more specific studies on the subject into one extensive work. Introductory chapters provide: (1) a brief statement regarding Russia's massive eastward expansion through Siberia, to Kamchatka and Alaska; (2) an examination of the nature of the Russian-American Company; and (3) a detailed look at the programs instituted by the Company to provision Alaska and Kamchatka. The establishment of Fort Ross in 1811 is viewed as one of those programs. The settlement's primary function throughout its existence was to send foodstuffs to Russia's northern colonies. The main body of the paper describes fully the structure of the settlement and analyzes the various activities, undertaken by the Russians at Fort Ross, in order to provide grain to the Company. Those activities were sea otter hunting, manufacturing, and agriculture and animal husbandry. In closing, the paper focuses on the Native Californians of Fort Ross, detailing their culture and their relationship with imperialist powers in nineteenth-century California. The industries of Fort Ross--hunting, manufacturing, and husbandry--met with failure. Each endeavor proved to be either inadequate or untimely: The harvesting of pelts was quickly curtailed by the depletion of animal populations; a successful manufacturing enterprise was interrupted by foreign competition; and lack of labor and expertise hindered the Russians' effort to transform the Ross Counter into the Company’s “granary.” The research conducted for this study led to the conclusion that the Russians' decision to abandon their California settlement was finalized when another means to provision the northern colonies became available. A Study of Fort Ross necessarily demands an international historical perspective. A consideration of the Spanish colonial enterprise in Mexico and California, the British activities in the Pacific Northwest, and the increasing strength of the United States on the western coast of North America are essential in understanding the failure of the Russians at Fort Ross and in Alaska. A number of published, primary source materials were used exhaustively to complete this study. A complete selected bibliography is included. Several categories of material were of prime importance. Briefly, they are: (1) correspondence between the Chief Manager of the Russian-American Company colonies in Alaska and the Company’s Main Office in St. Petersburg. These documents are available on microfilm in the National Archives and in Vneshniaia Politika Rossii, Series I and II, edited by N. N. Bolkhovitinov. (2) Journals, kept by navigators who participated in Russian circumnavigations which made calls in the Russian America, are invaluable sources of information on the circumstances of the colonies. (3) Reports of Company employees, such as Kirill T. Klebnikov and Ferdinand P. Wrangell provide important statistical information on agricultural production, otter hunting, manufacturing, and the population of Russian California. As mentioned, secondary sources on Russian California are scarce. However, James R. Gibson's work, Imperial Russia in Frontier America, does offer a thorough treatment of Russian trade and husbandry in California.

The objective of this study is to investigate what the narrative of The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas (Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis), read in english translation by Herbert Musurillo, seeks to persuade its reader about, and how. The study takes a theoretical starting point in professor Ross S. Kraemer’s critical perspective on ancient narratives about women as sources not necessarily communicating historical truths and actualities of real women in the ancient world, but are more likely to be narratives consciously constructed by male authors using female characters as rhetorical tools to discuss or explore differing subjects such as gender and identity. Through the method of narrative criticism and reader-response criticism this study answers the following research questions: how are women being described in the narrative of The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas, and what function(s) do these descriptions of women have in the narrative of The Martyrdom of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas?  The study shows that women are described as either weak feminine mothers or, according to Greco-Roman antique conceptions of gender and sexuality, a masculine male, transformed from a former state of femininity and motherhood. The descriptions are closely tied to the bodies of the women and there is a clear hierarchy where the masculine martyr is ascribed a higher status with a point of view closely related to that of God’s. The descriptions of women have both ideological and theological functions as a way to discuss questions regarding power, motherhood and masculinity. The hierarchy between the characters functions as a rhetorical tool to exemplify what can stand in the way for christians to seek martyrdom, which in the perspective of the narrative is the way someone, through her body and masculine behaviour in the face of torture and sexual humiliation, can communicate the truth about God’s power to the assembled crowds of onlookers. Contrary to previous studies, this study shows that the text communicates ascetic tendencies towards its readers concerning motherhood and are not to be interpreted as a celebration of women or femininity. The descriptions of women functions as a way to demonise the empire - but not the empire's perspective on gender. This is also a contrast to previous feminist studies of the text. The masculine male transformed from a former phase of femininity and motherhood is the exception that proves the rule about the perception of female weakness and lower status in power. The text appropriates the gender power order and the Greco-Roman ancient construction of gender and sexuality to ascribe the martyrs and God the true power. The rhetoric of female weakness being transformed in to masculine strength, self-restraint and body control through the works of God, functions to convince readers about the narratives ideological perspective and message about the martyrs being the true rulers. The motive is that the antagonist, the empire, the main masculine power in the world, is defeated and proven to be false through submissive feminisation.

Trabalhos prévios mostram que a variabilidade do gelo marinho antártico em diversas escalas temporais está intimamente relacionada a mecanismos de teleconexões trópicos-extratrópicos. Com base nesta hipótese, este trabalho pretende estabelecer a resposta da passagem dos trens de ondas em latitudes médias, associados a fenômenos de escala intrasazonal (20-100 dias) como a Oscilação de Madden-Julian (Madden-Julian Oscillation ou MJO), nas camadas superiores do Oceano Austral (OA) e impactos no gelo marinho antártico. O período investigado neste estudo é 19892007, com ênfase no inverno e sobre o mar de Ross, localizado no setor Pacífico austral (região diretamente afetada pela passagem dos trens de ondas de latitudes médias). Composições com defasagens (lag composites) de anomalias intrasazonais da tensão de cisalhamento do vento (zonal e meridional) mostram que correntes oceânicas são geradas em resposta a essa forçante atmosférica sobre o oceano no setor Pacífico austral. O transporte zonal e meridional de massa na camada de Ekman oceânica indica que divergência de massa nessa camada precede os eventos extremos intrasazonais de retração do gelo marinho em Ross (EIR). Em contraste, convergência precede períodos de eventos extremos intrasazonais de expansão do gelo marinho em Ross (EIE). A divergência (convergência) de massa na camada de Ekman associada com anomalias intrasazonais do bombeamento de Ekman resulta em ressurgência (subsidência) que precede a ocorrência de EIR (EIE). Alguns trabalhos mostram que águas intermediárias antárticas, que são relativamente mais quentes no inverno em relação às águas superficiais que estão próximas ao ponto de congelamento (ou congeladas), são dirigidas para a superfície do oceano pelo bombeamento de Ekman e ocasionam o derretimento do gelo marinho. Anomalias do transporte meridional de calor na camada de Ekman oceânica mostram que durante os EIR (EIE), calor é transportado para dentro (fora) do mar de Ross entre 15 e 8 dias (12 e 8 dias) precedentes aos EIR (EIE). Anomalias intrasazonais do fluxo de calor na interface ar-mar mostram que precedendo o dia de observação dos EIR (EIE) o fluxo de calor é direcionado da atmosfera para o oceano (do oceano para a atmosfera), sendo essa configuração associada a um ganho (perda) de calor no oceano superior em Ross. Em todas as composições, observa-se a mudança de fase das anomalias nos dias posteriores (lags positivos) ao dia dos EIG e são consistentes com a propagação do modo conhecido como Pacific-South-American (PSA), identificado nesse trabalho por meio de anomalias intrasazonais da altura geopotencial em 200 hPa. Além disso, uma diferença notada em alguns casos nas lag-composities é que em períodos de MJO ativa, as anomalias parecem estar mais deslocadas para o sul do que em períodos de MJO inativa. Em períodos de MJO inativa foram observados 15 (13) eventos de EIR (EIE), enquanto que, em períodos de MJO ativa observou-se 25 (24) eventos de EIR (EIE). Observa-se ainda que há uma maior quantidade de ciclones quando a MJO está presente. Por exemplo, o número de ciclones com duração a partir de 12 horas para períodos sem MJO foi igual a 146 para os EIR e 130 para os EIE. Já o número de ciclones para períodos com MJO foi igual a 311 para os EIR e 278 para os EIE. Com isso, observa-se claramente o papel da MJO na circulação de latitudes média e possíveis associações com o gelo marinho, pois é sabido que a atividade ciclônica está relacionada à advecção de massas de ar sobre o gelo marinho, além da advecção do próprio gelo marinho. Para investigar em detalhes a interação oceano-atmosfera-gelo marinho foram examinados casos persistentes de EIR e EIE. Os casos mais persistentes de EIR (EIE) tiveram durações de 34 e 30 (26 e 25) dias, sendo esses os casos analisados. Mostra-se que as anomalias intrasazonais da circulação atmosférica em baixos níveis (em 850 hPa) estão associadas a advecções quentes (frias) na proporção de aproximadamente 0,5 1 (0,1 1) m.s-1 em períodos precedentes aos EIR (EIE). No geral, anomalias em latitudes médias da circulação atmosférica ciclônicas (anti-ciclônicas) e divergência (convergência) das correntes oceânicas superficiais aparecem relacionadas à ressurgência (subsidência) da ordem de 0,1 0,3 m2.s-1 em algumas pêntadas anteriores a pêntada que corresponde ao início dos supercasos de EIR (EIE). Os padrões mudam de fase com o tempo, o que sugere a propagação de um padrão de onda em escala intrasazonal. Estas anomalias mostram-se abrangendo dimensões espaciais que compreendem grande parte do setor Pacífico austral, incluindo o mar de Ross. Impactos associados a estas anomalias podem ser verificados diretamente no mar de Ross através das análises da concentração do gelo marinho em Ross. Anomalias intrasazonais negativas (positivas) da concentração do gelo marinho predominam sobre o campo do gelo marinho do mar de Ross nas primeiras pêntadas a partir daquela que indica o início dos casos persistentes de EIR (EIE). Durante os períodos de EIR, as anomalias intrasazonais negativas da concentração do gelo mostram-se da ordem de aproximadamente 5% a 10% no interior do mar de Ross e entre 15% a 30% nas bordas do gelo marinho de Ross. Já durante os períodos de EIE, as anomalias intrasazonais positivas da concentração do gelo marinho em Ross mostram-se da ordem de 10% a 30% nas bordas do gelo marinho do mar de Ross. Esse resultado mostra que a resposta do gelo marinho aos padrões atmosféricos e oceânicos em escala intrasazonal possui uma defasagem entre 5 e 1 pêntada(s). No geral, este trabalho cumpriu o objetivo de verificar as respostas do oceano às anomalias da circulação atmosférica e impactos associados no gelo marinho, em escala intrasazonal. / Previous works show that antarctic sea ice variability on several time-scales is close related to tropics-extratropics teleconections mechanisms. Based on this hyphotesis, this work intend to verify the responses in oceanic upper layers of Austral Ocean on intraseasonal time-scale (20-100 days) phenomenom and impacts on sea ice due to anomalous atmospheric circulation associated to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The period analysed in this study is from 1989 to 2007, with emphasis on winter season and on Ross Sea (located at austral Pacific sector). Lag composities of zonal and meridional intraseasonal wind stress anomalies show that oceanic currents are generated as a response of these atmospheric forcings on austral Pacific sector. Zonal and meridional mass transport on oceanic Ekman layer, which are perpendicular and to the left of wind stress at Southern Hemisphere (SH), indicate that Ekman mass divergence precedes intraseasonal Ross sea ice extreme retraction (EIR). In contrast, convergence precedes the periods of extreme intraseasonal Ross sea ice expantion (EIE). Divergence (convergence) on oceanic Ekman layer associated to intraseasonal Ekman pumping anomalies results in upwelling (downwelling) wich precedes the occurrence of EIR (EIE). Some works have already shown that intermediate antarctic waters, wich are relatively warmer in the wintertime when compared to superficial waters that are next to the freezing point (or freezed), are headed to ocean surface due to Ekman pumping, generating sea ice melt. Intraseasonal anomalies of sea-air heat flux show that days before EIR (EIE) occurrences, the flux is headed from atmosphere to the ocean (from ocean to the atmosphere), which configuration is associated to the earn (loss) of heat at Ross upper ocean. In all compositions, the change of anomalies phase on the days before EI occurrence (positive lags) is clearly noticed and is consistent to the propagations of the mode known as Pacific South American (PSA), revealed in intraseasonal anomalies of geopotencial height at 200 hPa. Furthermore, in some cases (as in the case of Ekman pumping and Sverdrup transport) the anomalies seem to be deplaced southward in active MJO periods than in inactive MJO periods. In inactive MJO periods were observed 15 (13) EIR (EIE) events, while in active MJO periods were observed 25 (24) EIR (EIE) events. Furthermore, the number of cyclones during EIR periods was bigger than during EIE periods. In addiction, more cyclones were observed when MJO is active. For example, the number of cyclones with duration of 6 (12) hours without MJO was equal to 174 (146) during EIR events and 169 (130) during EIE events. However, the number of cyclones with active MJO was equal to 393 (311) in EIR events and 364 (278) in EIE events. In order to investigate in details the interaction between ocean-atmosphere-sea ice, it was examinated persistents cases of EIR and EIE events. The cases more persistents of EIR (EIE) events had durations of 34 and 30 (26 and 25) days, which were the analised cases. It was observed that intraseasonal anomalies of atmospheric circulation at lower levels (in 850 hPa) and intraseasonal anomalies of superficial ocean currents were associates to hot (cold) advection during periods before EIR (EIR) events. In general, the medium latitude cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomalies of atmospheric circulation and divergence (convergence) of superficial ocean currents seem to be linked to upwelling (downwelling) in some pentads before the pentad which is correspondent to the beggining of EIR (EIE) supercases. The patterns observed change their phases along the time, suggesting the propagation of extratropical intraseasonal wave train pattern. Negatives (positives) intraseasonal anomalies of sea ice concentration were observed above Ross Sea in the first pentads after the beggining of EIR (EIE) persistents cases. This result shows that sea ice response to atmospheric and to oceanic patterns on intraseasonal time-scales has a lag between 5 and 1 pentad(s). In general, this work contributed to better understand the oceanic responses due to anomalies in atmospheric circulation and related impacts on sea ice, on intraseasonal time-scale.

Trabalhos prévios mostram que a variabilidade do gelo marinho antártico em diversas escalas temporais está intimamente relacionada a mecanismos de teleconexões trópicos-extratrópicos. Com base nesta hipótese, este trabalho pretende estabelecer a resposta da passagem dos trens de ondas em latitudes médias, associados a fenômenos de escala intrasazonal (20-100 dias) como a Oscilação de Madden-Julian (Madden-Julian Oscillation ou MJO), nas camadas superiores do Oceano Austral (OA) e impactos no gelo marinho antártico. O período investigado neste estudo é 19892007, com ênfase no inverno e sobre o mar de Ross, localizado no setor Pacífico austral (região diretamente afetada pela passagem dos trens de ondas de latitudes médias). Composições com defasagens (lag composites) de anomalias intrasazonais da tensão de cisalhamento do vento (zonal e meridional) mostram que correntes oceânicas são geradas em resposta a essa forçante atmosférica sobre o oceano no setor Pacífico austral. O transporte zonal e meridional de massa na camada de Ekman oceânica indica que divergência de massa nessa camada precede os eventos extremos intrasazonais de retração do gelo marinho em Ross (EIR). Em contraste, convergência precede períodos de eventos extremos intrasazonais de expansão do gelo marinho em Ross (EIE). A divergência (convergência) de massa na camada de Ekman associada com anomalias intrasazonais do bombeamento de Ekman resulta em ressurgência (subsidência) que precede a ocorrência de EIR (EIE). Alguns trabalhos mostram que águas intermediárias antárticas, que são relativamente mais quentes no inverno em relação às águas superficiais que estão próximas ao ponto de congelamento (ou congeladas), são dirigidas para a superfície do oceano pelo bombeamento de Ekman e ocasionam o derretimento do gelo marinho. Anomalias do transporte meridional de calor na camada de Ekman oceânica mostram que durante os EIR (EIE), calor é transportado para dentro (fora) do mar de Ross entre 15 e 8 dias (12 e 8 dias) precedentes aos EIR (EIE). Anomalias intrasazonais do fluxo de calor na interface ar-mar mostram que precedendo o dia de observação dos EIR (EIE) o fluxo de calor é direcionado da atmosfera para o oceano (do oceano para a atmosfera), sendo essa configuração associada a um ganho (perda) de calor no oceano superior em Ross. Em todas as composições, observa-se a mudança de fase das anomalias nos dias posteriores (lags positivos) ao dia dos EIG e são consistentes com a propagação do modo conhecido como Pacific-South-American (PSA), identificado nesse trabalho por meio de anomalias intrasazonais da altura geopotencial em 200 hPa. Além disso, uma diferença notada em alguns casos nas lag-composities é que em períodos de MJO ativa, as anomalias parecem estar mais deslocadas para o sul do que em períodos de MJO inativa. Em períodos de MJO inativa foram observados 15 (13) eventos de EIR (EIE), enquanto que, em períodos de MJO ativa observou-se 25 (24) eventos de EIR (EIE). Observa-se ainda que há uma maior quantidade de ciclones quando a MJO está presente. Por exemplo, o número de ciclones com duração a partir de 12 horas para períodos sem MJO foi igual a 146 para os EIR e 130 para os EIE. Já o número de ciclones para períodos com MJO foi igual a 311 para os EIR e 278 para os EIE. Com isso, observa-se claramente o papel da MJO na circulação de latitudes média e possíveis associações com o gelo marinho, pois é sabido que a atividade ciclônica está relacionada à advecção de massas de ar sobre o gelo marinho, além da advecção do próprio gelo marinho. Para investigar em detalhes a interação oceano-atmosfera-gelo marinho foram examinados casos persistentes de EIR e EIE. Os casos mais persistentes de EIR (EIE) tiveram durações de 34 e 30 (26 e 25) dias, sendo esses os casos analisados. Mostra-se que as anomalias intrasazonais da circulação atmosférica em baixos níveis (em 850 hPa) estão associadas a advecções quentes (frias) na proporção de aproximadamente 0,5 1 (0,1 1) m.s-1 em períodos precedentes aos EIR (EIE). No geral, anomalias em latitudes médias da circulação atmosférica ciclônicas (anti-ciclônicas) e divergência (convergência) das correntes oceânicas superficiais aparecem relacionadas à ressurgência (subsidência) da ordem de 0,1 0,3 m2.s-1 em algumas pêntadas anteriores a pêntada que corresponde ao início dos supercasos de EIR (EIE). Os padrões mudam de fase com o tempo, o que sugere a propagação de um padrão de onda em escala intrasazonal. Estas anomalias mostram-se abrangendo dimensões espaciais que compreendem grande parte do setor Pacífico austral, incluindo o mar de Ross. Impactos associados a estas anomalias podem ser verificados diretamente no mar de Ross através das análises da concentração do gelo marinho em Ross. Anomalias intrasazonais negativas (positivas) da concentração do gelo marinho predominam sobre o campo do gelo marinho do mar de Ross nas primeiras pêntadas a partir daquela que indica o início dos casos persistentes de EIR (EIE). Durante os períodos de EIR, as anomalias intrasazonais negativas da concentração do gelo mostram-se da ordem de aproximadamente 5% a 10% no interior do mar de Ross e entre 15% a 30% nas bordas do gelo marinho de Ross. Já durante os períodos de EIE, as anomalias intrasazonais positivas da concentração do gelo marinho em Ross mostram-se da ordem de 10% a 30% nas bordas do gelo marinho do mar de Ross. Esse resultado mostra que a resposta do gelo marinho aos padrões atmosféricos e oceânicos em escala intrasazonal possui uma defasagem entre 5 e 1 pêntada(s). No geral, este trabalho cumpriu o objetivo de verificar as respostas do oceano às anomalias da circulação atmosférica e impactos associados no gelo marinho, em escala intrasazonal. / Previous works show that antarctic sea ice variability on several time-scales is close related to tropics-extratropics teleconections mechanisms. Based on this hyphotesis, this work intend to verify the responses in oceanic upper layers of Austral Ocean on intraseasonal time-scale (20-100 days) phenomenom and impacts on sea ice due to anomalous atmospheric circulation associated to the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). The period analysed in this study is from 1989 to 2007, with emphasis on winter season and on Ross Sea (located at austral Pacific sector). Lag composities of zonal and meridional intraseasonal wind stress anomalies show that oceanic currents are generated as a response of these atmospheric forcings on austral Pacific sector. Zonal and meridional mass transport on oceanic Ekman layer, which are perpendicular and to the left of wind stress at Southern Hemisphere (SH), indicate that Ekman mass divergence precedes intraseasonal Ross sea ice extreme retraction (EIR). In contrast, convergence precedes the periods of extreme intraseasonal Ross sea ice expantion (EIE). Divergence (convergence) on oceanic Ekman layer associated to intraseasonal Ekman pumping anomalies results in upwelling (downwelling) wich precedes the occurrence of EIR (EIE). Some works have already shown that intermediate antarctic waters, wich are relatively warmer in the wintertime when compared to superficial waters that are next to the freezing point (or freezed), are headed to ocean surface due to Ekman pumping, generating sea ice melt. Intraseasonal anomalies of sea-air heat flux show that days before EIR (EIE) occurrences, the flux is headed from atmosphere to the ocean (from ocean to the atmosphere), which configuration is associated to the earn (loss) of heat at Ross upper ocean. In all compositions, the change of anomalies phase on the days before EI occurrence (positive lags) is clearly noticed and is consistent to the propagations of the mode known as Pacific South American (PSA), revealed in intraseasonal anomalies of geopotencial height at 200 hPa. Furthermore, in some cases (as in the case of Ekman pumping and Sverdrup transport) the anomalies seem to be deplaced southward in active MJO periods than in inactive MJO periods. In inactive MJO periods were observed 15 (13) EIR (EIE) events, while in active MJO periods were observed 25 (24) EIR (EIE) events. Furthermore, the number of cyclones during EIR periods was bigger than during EIE periods. In addiction, more cyclones were observed when MJO is active. For example, the number of cyclones with duration of 6 (12) hours without MJO was equal to 174 (146) during EIR events and 169 (130) during EIE events. However, the number of cyclones with active MJO was equal to 393 (311) in EIR events and 364 (278) in EIE events. In order to investigate in details the interaction between ocean-atmosphere-sea ice, it was examinated persistents cases of EIR and EIE events. The cases more persistents of EIR (EIE) events had durations of 34 and 30 (26 and 25) days, which were the analised cases. It was observed that intraseasonal anomalies of atmospheric circulation at lower levels (in 850 hPa) and intraseasonal anomalies of superficial ocean currents were associates to hot (cold) advection during periods before EIR (EIR) events. In general, the medium latitude cyclonic (anticyclonic) anomalies of atmospheric circulation and divergence (convergence) of superficial ocean currents seem to be linked to upwelling (downwelling) in some pentads before the pentad which is correspondent to the beggining of EIR (EIE) supercases. The patterns observed change their phases along the time, suggesting the propagation of extratropical intraseasonal wave train pattern. Negatives (positives) intraseasonal anomalies of sea ice concentration were observed above Ross Sea in the first pentads after the beggining of EIR (EIE) persistents cases. This result shows that sea ice response to atmospheric and to oceanic patterns on intraseasonal time-scales has a lag between 5 and 1 pentad(s). In general, this work contributed to better understand the oceanic responses due to anomalies in atmospheric circulation and related impacts on sea ice, on intraseasonal time-scale.

Eine belangvolle Transformation ist das zwölfte Buch (Lambda) der „Metaphysik“ des Aristoteles durch verschiedene Interpretationen im Laufe der Jahrhunderte widerfahren, sodass es als eine theologische Schrift bis heute überliefert ist (1. Kapitel). Dabei waren sowohl der ursprüngliche Sinn des Autors als auch die Struktur des Textes kaum erkennbar geworden. Die vorliegende Arbeit ist eine historische Rekonstruktion der verschiedenen Interpretationen des Textes seit den ersten peripatetischen Denkern bis zur Gegenwart, insbesondere die von Michael Frede (2. Kapitel), Lindsay Judson (3. Kapitel) und Stephen Menn (4. Kapitel). Frede behauptet, das Buch Lambda sei eine Untersuchung der Substanz (Ousiologie); Judson denkt, dass es die erste Philosophie vorlegt; Menn argumentiert, es sei eher eine Forschung der ersten Prinzipien (Archäologie). Hier wird eine weitere Meinung vertreten, nämlich, dass Lambda die Untersuchung der Prinzipien der Substanz ist und somit verkörpert es Aristoteles’ Verständnis der Sophia (5. Kapitel). Überdies löst diese neuartige Lesart des Textes das Problem der Stelle des zwölften Buches innerhalb der „Metaphysik“ dank der Abfassung einer Karte, die seine Struktur verdeutlicht (Anhänge). / The twelfth book (Lambda) of the “Metaphysics” of Aristotle has undergone a crucial transformation through the diverse interpretations over the centuries. Thus it has been transmitted up to today as a theological writing (chapter 1). But this made hardly recognizable both the original intention of the author and the structure of the text. The present work is a historical reconstruction of the various interpretations of the text since the first Peripatetic thinkers until today, especially those by Michael Frede (chapter 2), Lindsay Judson (chapter 3) and Stephen Menn (chapter 4). Frede states that the book Lambda is an inquiry into the substance (ousiology); Judson thinks that it presents the first philosophy; Menn argues that it is rather an investigation about the first principles (archaeology). A different opinion is set forth here, namely, that the book Lambda explores the principles of the substance, and in doing so it embodies Aristotle’s understanding of the sophia (chapter 5). Moreover, this new reading of the text solves the problem of the position of the twelfth book in the “Metaphysics” thanks to the composition of a map, which clarifies its structure (appendix).

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / U/Pb and (U-Th)/He (ZHe) dating of detrital zircons from glacial till samples in the Ross Embayment, Antarctica records cooling after the Ross/Pan-African orogeny (450-625 Ma) followed by a mid-Jurassic to mid-Cretaceous heating event in the Beacon basin. Zircons were extracted from till samples from heads of major outlet glaciers in East Antarctica, one sample at the mouth of Scott Glacier, and from beneath three West Antarctic ice streams. The Ross/Pan-African U/Pb population is ubiquitous in these Antarctic tills and many Beacon Supergroup sandstones, thus 83 grains were analyzed for ZHe to subdivide this population. Two ZHe age populations are evident in East Antarctic tills, with 64% of grains 115-200 Ma and 35% between 200-650 Ma. The older population is interpreted to be associated with the Ross/Pan-African orogeny including cooling of the Granite Harbour Intrusives and/or exhumation of the older basement rocks to form the Kukri Peneplain. The lag time between zircon U/Pb, ZHe and 40Ar/39Ar ages from K-bearing minerals show cooling over 200 My. Grains in East Antarctic tills with a ZHe age of 115-200 Ma likely reflects regional heating following the breakup of Gondwana from the Ferrar dolerite intrusions, subsidence within the rift basin, and a higher geothermal gradient. Subsequent cooling and/or exhumation of the Transantarctic Mountains brought grains below the closure temperature over a span of 80 My. This population may also provide a Beacon Supergroup signature as most of the tills with this age are adjacent to nunataks mapped as Beacon Supergroup and contain an abundance of vi Beacon pebbles within the moraine. Nine zircons grains from three Beacon Supergroup sandstones collected from moraines across the Transantarctic Mountains yield ages from 125-180 Ma. West Antarctic tills contain a range of ZHe ages from 75-450 Ma reflecting the diverse provenance of basin fill from East Antarctica and Marie Byrd Land. ZHe and U/Pb ages <105 Ma appear to be distinctive of West Antarctic tills. The combination of U/Pb, ZHe and 40Ar/39Ar analyses demonstrates that these techniques can be used to better constrain the tectonic evolution and cooling of the inaccessible subglacial source terrains beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet.

The main goal of this dissertation was to obtain an understanding as to the true economic nature of employee share options and the problems surrounding the accounting thereof. The main conclusion of this study is that employee share options should be expensed in the income statement as and when the employee's services are performed. The reason is that employee share options are valuable financial instruments which the employer has used to compensate the employee for his services. It was also concluded that exercise date accounting and classification of outstanding employee share options as liabilities on the balance sheet is the most appropriate accounting treatment. Such accounting treatment trues up the accounting of employee share options with that of cash-settled share appreciation rights, which are economically equivalent transactions. The measurement of employee share options should be based on their fair value using an option-pricing model adapted for the specific features of employee share options. / Accounting / Thesis (M. Com. (Accounting Science))

The aim of this research was to uncover and understand the experiences, and the coping strategies employed by African teenagers in coming to terms with the death of a loved one, the support needs in relation to this, and the need to provide guidelines on how they would like to be supported by social workers. A qualitative research approach was employed, following an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design. The study was conducted in Cullinan near Pretoria in Gauteng Province. Data were collected, using structured interviews with a purposively selected sample of African teenagers who met the criteria for inclusion in the study. The data were analysed, according to the framework provided by Tesch to ensure the trustworthiness of the qualitative data was to be employed for the data verification. The findings included seven identified themes, the sub-themes and categories of which were supported by the extracts from the interview transcripts, and the literature reviewed for this research. The research report, together with the conclusions and recommendations, based on the conclusion, were drawn from the research- thereby, showing how the goals of the study were achieved. / Social Work / M. Soc. Sc. (Mental Health)

This thesis presents several problems based on papers written jointly by the author and Dr. Christian-Oliver Ewald. Firstly, the author extends the model presented by Fershtman and Nitzan (1991), which studies a deterministic differential public good game. Two types of volatility are considered. In the first case the volatility of the diffusion term is dependent on the current level of public good, while in the second case the volatility is dependent on the current rate of public good provision by the agents. The result in the latter case is qualitatively different from the first one. These results are discussed in detail, along with numerical examples. Secondly, two existing lines of research in game theoretic studies of fisheries are combined and extended. The first line of research is the inclusion of the aspect of predation and the consideration of multi-species fisheries within classical game theoretic fishery models. The second line of research includes continuous time and uncertainty. This thesis considers a two species fishery game and compares the results of this with several cases. Thirdly, a model of a fishery is developed in which the dynamic of the unharvested fish population is given by the stochastic logistic growth equation and it is assumed that the fishery harvests the fish population following a constant effort strategy. Explicit formulas for optimal fishing effort are derived in problems considered and the effects of uncertainty, risk aversion and mean reversion speed on fishing efforts are investigated. Fourthly, a Dixit and Pindyck type irreversible investment problem in continuous time is solved, using the assumption that the project value follows a Cox-Ingersoll- Ross process. This solution differs from the two classical cases of geometric Brownian motion and geometric mean reversion and these differences are examined. The aim is to find the optimal stopping time, which can be applied to the problem of extracting resources.

The aim of this study is to compare the performance of the four interest rate models (Vasicek Model, Cox Ingersoll Ross Model, Ho Lee Model and Black Der- man Toy Model) that are commonly used in pricing zero coupon bond options. In this study, 1{5 years US Treasury Bond daily data between the dates June 1, 1976 and December 31, 2007 are used. By using the four interest rate models, estimated option prices are compared with the real observed prices for the begin- ing work days of each months of the years 2004 and 2005. The models are then evaluated according to the sum of squared errors. Option prices are found by constructing interest rate trees for the binomial models based on Ho Lee Model and Black Derman Toy Model and by estimating the parameters for the Vasicek and the Cox Ingersoll Ross Models.