This research aims to dispel the myth that export cartels should be prohibited because they restrain competition and, thus, holds back economic development. It also proposes the conditions under which export cartels promote economic development. In contrast to the myth, this research argues that, when it comes to economic development, competition is not always desirable and, therefore, that export cartels should be formed under certain conditions. In other words, the doctrine that maximum competition is optimal competition is not applicable when the objective is economic development. Moreover, as export cartels from developing countries do not possess market power in the global market, if they facilitate their firms, which are mainly SMEs, to be able to export, competition in the global market is increased, rather than decreased. We then propose the concept of competition relocation, which argues that cartelisation does not eliminate competition but relocate competition from the activity being cartelised into other activities. The concept rejects the conventional interpretation of competition as a unidimensional action, in which cartels always decrease competition. On the contrary, competition is multidimensional, i.e., firms compete across different activities. Therefore, cartelisation may not eliminate or decrease competition but simply relocates it across different activities and the overall degree of competition might even increase. Export cartels is simply a tool to relocate competition. Based on the concept of competition relocation, we argue further that, in order to promote economic development, we must make sure that whenever cartelisation promotes the long-term productive capabilities more than competition does, cartelisation should be promoted. To derive the conditions under which export cartels should be promoted, we used both history and game theory. We study the historical lessons of now-developed countries, including Germany, the US, and Japan and draw a game-theoretical model to derive the conditions under which export cartels promote economic development. In terms of game theory, we propose that the situation in which export cartels should be promoted resembles the stag-hunt game, where both cartelisation and competition are Nash equilibria. Even though it is more productive to hunt a stag together, each hunter has an incentive to deviate and catch a hare. The model shows that, whenever the benefit of sharing resources between firms is sufficiently large (in comparison with other parameters), export cartels are more productive than competition. Therefore, most export cartels have been promoted among SMEs. Moreover, it also shows that, even though each firm may be able to export (due to abundant exclusive resources), the environment, which supports the use of resources across firms, could still make export cartels more productive.

This report contains the influencing factors in high voltage overhead power lines and how these factors are controlled and calculated. A program has been produced so that a projector easily can insert the overhead line supports’ and lines’ parameters in the program. The program calculates and controls the distances required within the support and if the construction is requisite for the chosen system voltage and support site. The program controls for instance the distance between the phases, between phase line and top line, guy wires, cross arm and poles. The program creates a output file which is a summary of the support and warns if the required distances within the support is not fulfilled. The supports that are most exposed to forces are angular supports (where the overhead power line changes direction) and end supports (where the overhead line ends).

Due to the importance of a correct tree placement and the wear that occurs to equalizer bars inharvester heads, Komatsu Forest AB in Umeå was interested if the bar could be replaced with ahydraulic system. According to Komatsu, the problems were that the equalizer bars that are responsible forsynchronizing the delimbing knives and feeding mechanism add weight, take up space and have atendency to break before their life expectancy. Some harvester heads do not possess equalizer barsbut this complicates tree length and diameter measurements, risks increasing wear to parts of theharvester head not designed to be in contact with the trees and makes cutting the tree correctlymore difficult during certain actions. Thus, Komatsu saw a potential opportunity to increase thefeeding mechanisms performance and life span through a hydraulic solution. In this thesis, a literature study investigating practiced solutions to similar systems as well asa previous study by Komatsu in the subject are included. Furthermore, the product design process,implementation and verification of the solution are covered. The resulting solution included two Parker A2N0029D2H Series 3000 accumulators and fourParker DSH083NV valves, coupled in parallel pairs to create two arrangements of the final conceptsystem, “Half Control Remastered”; “regenerative coupling force distributor” and “shut off valveflow divider”. During the testing both the Regen and shut off function, mounted on a Komatsu C164harvester head, were observed to help during tree picking, grasping and feeding, but both functions,unfortunately, had disadvantages. The Regen function was unstable since hydraulic flow occurredfrom one cylinder to the other, and the Shut off function was imprecise because it became “choppy”with increased accuracy. While testing the system arranged with the Shut off function in the forest,it assisted during slow feeding as well as feeding while simultaneously forcing rotation, where theharvester head tended to drop trees. However, the system did little to no difference as soon thedelimbing knives were deployed. The results that are revealed in this thesis are difficult to evaluate, since Scandinavian forestharvester drivers do not challenge the harvester head in a way for the hydraulic equalizer barsystem to assist to its full potential. To conclude, the system shows promise to meet Komatsu’sperformance requirements but further testing and development is necessary for it to become refinedenough to implement in their mass produced harvester heads.

Americana Suite is a seven movement musical composition inspired by nineteenth and early twentieth century American master paintings. Representative artists from each of the major schools of American painting include Frederic Church, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, George Bellows, Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keeffe. Essentially pluralist in style, the suite is written for ensembles of varying size and genre, spanning from full orchestra and contemporary big band to intimate jazz chamber ensembles and electro-acoustic hybrids. Four of the seven movements are written for jazz ensembles and incorporate improvisation, while the other three orchestral movements explore romantic, impressionist and cinematic idioms. Historical summaries of each school, artist and painting are followed by detailed aesthetic and theoretical analyses of the respective movements. Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy performs as a special guest artist.

It is well known that some ungulates produce clicking sound by limbs, but often without more details. This study deals with the clicking sound in five cervid taxons, specifically in Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), Pere David´s Deer (Elaphurus davidianus), Western Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), Moose (Alces alces), Barbary stag (Cervus elaphus barbarus) in detail. Dominant frequency, 25% quartile, 50% quartile, 75% quartile were investigated for these species, with the particular attention to sex, age and limb position (forelimb, hind-limb) of studied individuals. Clicks sounds were recorded by solid state recorder Marantz PMD 620 with microphone and handset and analysed using program Avisoft-SAS Lab Pro Software, verze 5.0.01 (2010). Statistical analysis of obtained sound parameters were performed using program STATISTICA, version 12 (ANONYMUS 2012).Individuals within the species were compared using discriminant analysis and one-way ANOVA, species using discriminant analysis and nested ANOVA. Nested ANOVA was also used for testing of the sex and age influence on click parameters. Phylogenetic distribution of clicking was determined using the parsimony approach. Results suggest differences among within particular taxon, but differences among species depend on used methods (they are different using nested ANOVA, but they are not different except for Barbary stag in discriminant analysis). Click parameters were significantly associated with age, but not with sex of particular individuals. Ancestor of cervids seems to produce clicking, the evolution of this sound was associated later with its reduction in course of cervid evolution.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Chapter I - Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which infects a range of hosts, including about one-third of the world\'s human population. One of the most severe manifestations of this infection in humans corresponds to congenital toxoplasmosis, which occurs when there is placental transmission of the parasite to the fetus in cases of primary maternal infection during pregnancy. Congenital infection may cause abortions or fetal losses, as well as severe ocular and/or cerebral sequelae in newborns. The serological screening of pregnant women and newborns is mainly based on the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii and constitutes an important measure to be adopted in programs to control this infection, despite the limitations in the antibody detection and interpretation of results. Chapter II - A total of 173 pairs of serum samples from mothers with suspected primary toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and their newborns, obtained from the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology of Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC-UFU) from 2006 to June 2014, was analyzed by ELISA for the detection of IgG, IgM and IgA anti-T. gondii, and the results were correlated with clinical data obtained from research in the clinical records of each patient. It was concluded that (i) prenatal serological screening is very important for the identification of pregnant women exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy; (ii) maternal treatment reduces congenital transmission of T. gondii; (iii) neonatal serologic screening, associated with analysis of clinical parameters, allows the identification of vertically infected newborns, mainly through simultaneous detection of IgM and IgA antibodies; and (iv) serological follow-up of newborns is important in clarifying doubtful situations, especially in cases of asymptomatic newborns that present suggestive serology of congenital infection. Chapter III - Different antigenic fractions derived from soluble antigen of tachyzoites of T. gondii (STAg) were obtained from sequential precipitation with increasing concentrations of ammonium sulfate and used in immunoblotting technique to detect IgG antibodies and its subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4) present in paired serum samples from mothers with presumptive serology of recent toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and their newborns. It was concluded that the use of antigenic fractions obtained from STAg precipitation in the diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis proved to be interesting to detect IgG and its subclasses, allowing differentiation between positive and negative samples, but it was not a good alternative for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, presenting results considered inferior to the STAg, due to the lower frequency of recognized antigenic bands and the absence of differential recognition of antigens by sera of newborns. Chapter IV - The amino acid sequences of sixteen immunodominant antigens of T. gondii were used to perform B cell linear epitope prediction using a software-based approach. A total of 22 epitopes of antigens from surface (SRS), rhoptries (ROP), micronemes (MIC) and dense granules (GRA) of T. gondii were identified, and 15 residues from their amino acid sequences were used to synthesize peptides chemically linked to bovine serum albumin backbone, and the diagnostic performance of these synthetic peptides was evaluated in ELISA to detect specific IgG antibodies in sera of patients with suspected acute toxoplasmosis (G1) or chronic (G2). It was concluded that synthetic peptides designed from B cell linear epitope prediction constitute promising antigens in serological assays to diagnose toxoplasmosis and differentiate acute from chronic phases of toxoplasmosis, representing an alternative to the use of native or recombinant antigens. / Capítulo I - Toxoplasmose é uma zoonose causada pelo parasita intracelular Toxoplasma gondii, que infecta diferentes hospedeiros, incluindo cerca de um terço da população humana mundial. Uma das manifestações mais graves da infecção por este parasita em humanos corresponde à toxoplasmose congênita, quando há transmissão placentária do parasita para o feto durante infecção materna primária na gestação. A infecção congênita pode causar abortos ou perdas fetais, além de sequelas graves em recém-nascidos (RNs), principalmente oculares e/ou cerebrais. A triagem sorológica de gestantes e RNs, baseada principalmente na detecção de anticorpos IgG e IgM anti-T. gondii constitui-se em importante medida a ser adotada em programas de controle desta infecção, apesar das limitações na detecção dos anticorpos e na interpretação dos resultados. Capítulo II - Um total de 173 pares de amostras de soros de mães com suspeita de toxoplasmose primária na gestação e seus respectivos RNs, provenientes do Setor de Pediatria e Neonatologia do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (HC-UFU) no período de 2006 a junho de 2014, foi analisado por ELISA para a detecção de anticorpos IgG, IgM e IgA anti-T. gondii, e os resultados obtidos foram correlacionados com dados clínicos obtidos a partir de pesquisa nos prontuários clínicos de cada paciente. Concluiu-se que (i) a triagem sorológica pré-natal é de grande relevância na identificação de gestantes expostas à toxoplasmose durante a gestação; (ii) o tratamento materno reduz a transmissão congênita de T. gondii; (iii) a triagem sorológica neonatal, aliada à análise de parâmetros clínicos permite identificar RNs verticalmente infectados, principalmente por meio da detecção conjunta de anticorpos IgM e IgA; e (iv) o acompanhamento sorológico de RNs é importante no esclarecimento de situações duvidosas, principalmente em casos de RNs assintomáticos, mas com sorologia sugestiva de infecção congênita. Capítulo III - Diferentes frações antigênicas derivadas do antígeno solúvel de taquizoítas de T. gondii (STAg) foram obtidas a partir de precipitação sequencial em concentrações crescentes de sulfato de amônio e utilizadas na técnica de immunoblotting para a detecção de anticorpos IgG total e suas subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 e IgG4) presentes em amostras pareadas de soros de mães com sorologia presuntiva de toxoplasmose recente na gestação e seus respectivos RNs. Concluiu-se que a utilização destas frações antigênicas de STAg no diagnóstico da toxoplasmose humana se mostrou interessante na detecção de anticorpos IgG e suas subclasses, permitindo diferenciação entre amostras positivas e negativas, mas não se mostrou uma boa alternativa no diagnóstico da toxoplasmose congênita, com resultados inferiores aos do STAg, em função da menor frequência de bandas antigênicas reconhecidas e da ausência de reconhecimento diferencial de antígenos pelos soros dos RNs, em relação aos soros maternos. Capítulo IV - As sequências de aminoácidos de 16 antígenos imunodominantes de T. gondii foram usadas para a predição de epítopos lineares de células B usando ferramentas de bioinformática. Um total de 22 epítopos de antígenos de superfície (SRS), roptrias (ROP), micronemas (MIC) e grânulos densos (GRA) de T. gondii foram identificados e utilizados para a síntese de peptídeos com 15 resíduos de aminoácidos, os quais foram quimicamente conjugados ao esqueleto proteico da albumina sérica bovina (BSA), e o desempenho diagnóstico destes peptídeos sintéticos foi avaliado por ELISA para a detecção de anticorpos IgG em soros de pacientes com suspeita de toxoplasmose aguda (G1) ou crônica (G2). Concluiu-se que peptídeos sintéticos obtidos a partir da predição de epítopos lineares de células B constituem antígenos promissores em ensaios sorológicos para o diagnóstico da toxoplasmose e para a diferenciação das fases aguda e crônica da infecção, representando uma alternativa ao uso de antígenos nativos ou recombinantes. / Doutor em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas

The master thesis focuses on the study information systems used in Czech universities. The biggest part concerns the development of information system used in the University of Economics Prague. The goal of this thesis is to propose a way of a new development of this system, based on the analysis of other systems and to support it with the opinions of a representative sample of University of Economics students. The thesis itself is divided into 3 main parts. The first part shows the 4 most used study systems. Each system is analyzed from different viewpoints and its specifics are stressed. The analysis are made from interviews of the system developers and also web presentations of each subject. Each application solutions are compared with each other. The second part is devoted to the development of the information system of the University of Economics Prague. The author of this thesis expresses his opinion of the information system and proposes a recommendation concerning new functions and possibilities. The proposals are based on the experiences of other students of study information systems, or of the developer himself. All proposals are now in the third part introduced through the questionnaire to students of all other faculties of University of Economics Prague, where they themselves can express their opinions to proposed innovations or to the system in general. The results of the questionnaire are interpreted both in words and graphically.

Kommunikation entsteht, ohne dass hierfür notwendigerweise semantische oder syntaktische Regeln definiert werden müssen: Irgendwann haben unsere Vorfahren erlernt, miteinander zu kommunizieren, ohne dass ihnen jemand erklärte, wie das geht. In dieser Arbeit wird der philosophischen Frage nachgegangen, wie das möglich ist. Es soll geklärt werden, welche Bedingungen im Abstrakten dafür hinreichend sind, dass Wesen miteinander zu kommunizieren erlernen, und zwar insbesondere, ohne dass man ihnen hierfür eine konkrete Sprache vorgibt. Die Arbeit baut auf neuen Modellen und Erkenntnissen aus der Signalspieltheorie auf. Diese belegen, dass selbst einfache verstärkungsbasierte Lernverfahren in bestimmten Koordinierungsproblemen selbständig erlernen können, Information miteinander auszutauschen. Diese Erkenntnisse werden in dieser Arbeit mit Techniken aus dem maschinellen Lernen, insbesondere aus dem Bereich des deep reinforcement learning, kombiniert. Hiermit soll demonstriert werden, dass rudimentär intelligente Akteure selbstständig in relativ komplexen Sprachen miteinander kommunizieren können, wenn dies einer effizienteren Lösung nicht-trivialer Koordinierungsprobleme dient. Anders als in vergleichbaren Ansätzen, werden die lernfähigen Algorithmen, die in dieser Arbeit zum Einsatz kommen, weder dazu trainiert, real existierende Sprachen zu benutzen, noch werden sie dazu programmiert, künstliche Protokollsprachen zu verwenden. Vielmehr wird ihnen lediglich eine Menge von Signalen vorgegeben. Sowohl die syntaktischen Regeln, wie diese Signale aneinandergereiht werden dürfen, als auch die Semantik der Signale entstehen von alleine. / Communication emerges without the need for explicit definitions of semantic or syntactic rules: At some point, our ancestors learned to communicate with one another without anyone explaining to them how to do that. In this work, I'll try to answer the philosophical question of how that is possible. The goal is to find abstract conditions that are sufficient for the emergence of communication between creatures that do not have any predefined language available to them. This work builds on recent models and insights from the theory of signaling games. There, it is shown that simple reinforcement learning agents are able to learn to exchange meaningful information in suitable coordination problems autonomously. These insights will be combined with more powerful deep reinforcement learning techniques. Thus, it shall be demonstrated that moderately intelligent agents can learn to communicate in relatively complex languages, if this is useful to them in sufficiently non-trivial coordination problems. In contrast to existing work on communication based on artificial intelligence, the learning algorithms that will be applied here, will neither be trained to communicate in an existing natural language, nor will they be hard coded to use a predefined protocol. Instead, they will construct their messages freely from arbitrary sets of signals. The syntactic rules according to which these elementary signals can be chained together, as well as their semantics, will emerge autonomously.