This paper is an artistic reflection and business plan for my album Somewhere Wild.

Die abgeschlossenen Erweiterungen der sogenannten geometrischen Operatoren (Spin-Dirac, Gauß-Bonnet und Signatur-Operator) auf Mannigfaltigkeiten mit metrischen Hörnern sind Fredholm-Operatoren und ihr Index wurde von Matthias Lesch, Norbert Peyerimhoff und Jochen Brüning berechnet. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Einschränkungen dieser drei Operatoren auf eine punktierte Umgebung des singulären Punkts unitär äquivalent zu irregulär singulären Operator-wertigen Differentialoperatoren erster Ordnung sind. Die Lösungsoperatoren der dazugehörigen Differentialgleichungen definierten eine Parametrix, mit deren Hilfe die Fredholmeigenschaft bewiesen wurde. In der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit wird eine Klasse von irregulären singulären Differentialoperatoren erster Ordnung, genannt Horn-Operatoren, eingeführt, die die obigen Beispiele verallgemeinern. Es wird bewiesen, dass ein elliptischer Differentialoperator erster Ordnung, dessen Einschränkung auf eine punktierte Umgebung des singulären Punkts unitär äquivalent zu einem Horn-Operator ist, Fredholm ist, und sein Index wird berechnet. Schließlich wird dieser abstrakte Index-Satz auf geometrische Operatoren auf Mannigfaltigkeiten mit "multiply warped product"-Singularitäten angewendet, welche eine wesentliche Verallgemeinerung der metrischen Hörner darstellen. / The closed extensions of geometric operators (Spin-Dirac, Gauss-Bonnet and Signature operator) on a manifold with metric horns are Fredholm operators, and their indices were computed by Matthias Lesch, Norbert Peyerimhoff and Jochen Brüning. It was shown that the restrictions of all three operators to a punctured neighbourhood of the singular point are unitary equivalent to a class of irregular singular operator-valued differential operators of first order. The solution operators of the corresponding differential equations defined a parametrix which was applied to prove the Fredholm property. In this thesis a class of irregular singular differential operators of first order - called horn operators - is introduced that extends the examples mentioned above. It is proved that an elliptic differential operator of first order whose restriction to the neighbourhood of the singular point is unitary equivalent to a horn operator is Fredholm and its index is computed. Finally, this abstract index theorem is applied to compute the indices of geometric operators on manifolds with multiply warped product singularities that extend the notion of metric horns considerably.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:48:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gerson Alves de Freitas Jr.pdf: 815407 bytes, checksum: 56e12a88b678dd692f6fae8381118ad9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-01 / The aim of this work is to revisit the debate surrounding the role of natural resources in economic development. This is an exploratory essay, which examines theses and stylized facts on the topic especially those that establish a negative relationship between natural resource endowment and economic growth in light of structural changes in the global economy and the rise in international primary product prices in the last decade. Its first conclusion is that there isn t any conclusive literary evidence of the so-called "resource curse," although some of the assumptions associated with it, such as the existence of a secular trend of decline in terms of the primary goods trade, have been proven true in the past century although, perhaps, not in the 21st century so far. The technical and economic characteristics of the current globalization process suggest, on the other hand, an increasing trend of dynamic natural resource markets, which may represent a window of opportunity for commodity-rich economies / O objetivo desse trabalho é revisitar o debate sobre o papel dos recursos naturais no desenvolvimento econômico. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, de caráter ensaístico, que analisa teses e fatos estilizados sobre o tema sobretudo aqueles que estabelecem uma relação negativa entre a dotação de recursos naturais e o crescimento econômico à luz das mudanças estruturais na economia mundial e à alta nos preços internacionais dos produtos primários na última década. Sua primeira conclusão é que não há, na literatura, trabalhos capazes de atestar de maneira conclusiva a maldição dos recursos naturais , embora alguns dos pressupostos a ela associados, tal como a existência de uma tendência secular de queda nos termos de troca dos produtos primários, tenham se mostrado verdadeiras no século passado ainda que não o sejam nesse curto começo do século 21. As características técnicas e econômicas do atual processo de globalização sugerem, pelo contrário, uma tendência crescente de dinamização dos mercados de recursos naturais, o que pode representar uma janela de oportunidades para economias ricas em produtos primários

Cette thèse de doctorat analyse un objet culturel spécifique, la chanson d’auteur en Italie, entre 1958 et 1980. L’approche méthodologique choisie, la cantologie, consiste à croiser des analyses de texte, de musique et d’interprétation. L’étude s’intéresse également aux liens entre les chansons et le contexte culturel et social italien, ainsi qu’aux influences d’autres cultures, à travers les chansons francophones et anglophones.La première partie apporte une série de repères. Retracer l’émergence du néologisme « cantautore » et de l’expression « chanson d’auteur » permet de définir précisément le champ de l’étude. Une mise en perspective historique est complétée par des éléments géographiques et biographiques sur les auteurs du corpus. La deuxième partie rassemble des réflexions d’ordre méthodologique et esthétique, en proposant une synthèse d’approches innovantes et pluridisciplinaires qui permettent de ne pas réduire l’étude de la chanson à celle de son texte, et d’éviter ainsi l’assimilation encore trop fréquente avec la poésie. Une analyse comparée de traductions chantables et non-chantables démontre que l’écriture musicale conditionne profondément l’écriture textuelle. La troisième partie analyse les principales innovations introduites par les cantautori : l’évolution des contenus thématiques est d’abord mise au regard des évolutions législatives italiennes, pour aller ensuite vers une focalisation sur l’intérieur de la forme chanson, complétée par une étude de l’agencement des chansons entre elles. Ce cheminement débouche sur l’analyse d’interactions du genre chanson avec d’autres langages, à travers des formes incluant l’image, comme le cinéma ou l’opéra rock. / This doctoral thesis analyzes a specific cultural object, the songs by singer-songwriters in Italy, between 1958 and 1980. The chosen methodological approach, cantology, consists in crossing analysis of text, music and interpretation. The study also looks at links between songs and Italian cultural and social context in which they were created, as well as and influences from other cultures, with francophone and anglophone songs.The first part provides a series of benchmarks to seize this object. Redrawing emergence of the neologism "cantautore" and expression "canzone d’autore" allows to precisely define the field. Historical perspective is given, as well as geographical and biographical elements regarding the authors of the corpus. The second part gathers methodological and aesthetic reflections, by offering a synthesis of innovative and multidisciplinary approaches which allow not to reduce the study of the song to that of its text, thus avoiding yet too frequent assimilation with poetry. An analysis comparing singable and non-singable translations shows how writing music deeply affects writing texts. The third part analyzes the major innovations introduced in the song in these two decades : at first considering thematic content changes with regard to the Italian legislative changes, then focusing inside of the song, and finally studying the layout of these songs. This path leads to the study of song genre interactions with other languages, through forms including image, such as film or rock opera.

[pt] O teorema de Benedicks e Carleson afirma que para a família quadrática existe um conjunto de parâmetros, com medida positiva, para os quais o expoente de Lyapunov é positivo no ponto crítico. Nesta dissertação apresentamos uma demonstração rigorosa e detalhada desse célebre resultado. Uma parte importante da demonstração é o estudo do comportamento quase periódico de um conjunto de órbitas. Além disso, um argumento de grandes desvios é utilizado para mostrar que os parâmetros que não satisfazem a propriedade desejada formam um conjunto pequeno. Tais técnicas apresentam um interesse intrínseco, já que têm se mostrado muito proveitosas para o estudo de outros problemas em sistemas dinâmicos. Combinando o teorema de Benedicks e Carleson ao teorema de Singer, conclui-se que para um conjunto de parâmetros com medida positiva, a função quadrática correspondente não admite atratores periódicos, indicando um comportamento caótico. Neste trabalho, também são estudados critérios para a positividade do expoente de Lyapunov de cociclos quase periódicos de Schrodinger, como o teorema de Herman. O estudo de cociclos de Schrodinger representa um importante tópico na área de física matemática. Mais ainda, algumas das generalizações de tais critérios utilizam as técnicas de Benedicks-Carleson. / [en] The Benedicks and Carleson theorem states that for the quadratic family there exists a set of parameters, with positive measure, for which the Lyapunov exponent is positive at the critical point. In this dissertation we present a rigorous and detailed proof of this famous result. An important part of the proof is the study of the quasi periodic behavior of a set of orbits. In addition, a large deviation argument is used to show that parameters which do not satisfy the desired property form a small set. Such techniques have an intrinsic interest, as they have proven fruitful in the study of other problems in dynamical systems. Combining Benedicks-Carlesons theorem with Singers theorem, we conclude that for a set of parameters with positive measure, the corresponding quadratic function does not admit periodic attractors, indicating its chaotic behavior. In this work we also study criteria for the positivity of the Lyapunov exponent of quasi-periodic Schrodinger cocycles, such as Hermans theorem. The study of the Schrodinger cocycles represents an important topic in mathematical physics. Moreover, some of the generalizations of such criteria use the techniques of Benedicks-Carleson.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:12:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnselmoCO_DISSERT.pdf: 1468756 bytes, checksum: 13c794c8c2ed091a0986d24349272b48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-11 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This research aims to reconstruct and explain the argument proposed by Peter Singer to justify the principle of equal consideration of interests (PECI). The PECI is the basic normative principle according to people should consider the interests of all sentient beings affected when somebody taking a moral decision. It is the join that Singer proposes between universalizability and the principle of equal consideration of interests that constitutes a compelling reason to justify it. The universalizability requires to disregard the numerical differences, putting yourself in other people s shoes, and to consider preferences, interests, desires and ideals of those affected. Singer joins universalizability to normative principle and molds the form and content of his theory. The first chapter introduces the discussion will be developed in this essay. The second chapter deals the historical and philosophical viewpoint from which Singer starts his studies. The third chapter is about the Singer s critiques of naturalism, intuitionism, relativism, simple subjectivism and emotivism. The fourth chapter exposes the design of universal prescriptivism proposed by R. M. Hare. The universal prescriptivism indicates, in the Singer s viewpoint, a consistent way to create the join between the universalizability and PECI. It highlights also the criticism designed by J. L. Mackie and Singer himself to universal prescriptivism. The second part of this chapter shows briefly some of the main points of the classical conception of utilitarianism and its possible relationship with the theory of Singer. The fifth chapter introduces the Singer s thesis about the origin of ethics and the universalizability as a feature necessary to the point of view of ethic, and the way which this argument is developed to form the PECI. The sixth chapter exposes the main distinctions that characterize the PECI. Finally the seventh chapter provides a discussion about the reasons highlighted by Singer for one who wants orient his life according to the standpoint of ethics. This structure allows explaining the main ideas of the author concerning the theoretical foundations of his moral philosophy / Esta investiga??o tem como objetivo reconstruir e explicitar o argumento proposto por Peter Singer para justificar o princ?pio de igual considera??o de interesses (PICI). O PICI ? o princ?pio normativo b?sico segundo o qual as pessoas devem considerar igualmente os interesses de todos os seres sencientes afetados ao tomarem uma decis?o moral. ? o v?nculo que Singer estabelece entre a universalizabilidade e o princ?pio de igual considera??o de interesses que se constitui em uma raz?o convincente para justific?-lo. A universalizabilidade consiste na exig?ncia de desconsiderar as diferen?as num?ricas, de colocar-se no lugar do outro e de considera??o igual pelas prefer?ncias, interesses, desejos e ideais dos afetados. Singer ao vincular a universalizabilidade e o princ?pio normativo estabelece a forma e o conte?do da sua teoria. No primeiro cap?tulo, introduzimos a discuss?o que ser? desenvolvida nesta disserta??o. No segundo cap?tulo, apresentamos o panorama hist?rico-filos?fico no qual Singer inicia suas investiga??es. No terceiro cap?tulo, apresentamos a sua cr?tica ao naturalismo, intuicionismo, relativismo e subjetivismo simples e, por fim, ao emotivismo. No quarto cap?tulo, expomos a concep??o do prescritivismo universal proposta por R. M. Hare. O prescritivismo universal indica, para Singer, uma forma consistente para estabelecer o v?nculo entre a universalizabilidade e o PICI. Apontamos, tamb?m, as cr?ticas feitas por J. L. Mackie e pelo pr?prio Singer ao prescritivismo universal. Na segunda parte do cap?tulo, apresentamos resumidamente alguns pontos centrais da concep??o cl?ssica do utilitarismo e uma poss?vel rela??o com a teoria de Singer. No quinto cap?tulo, apresentamos a tese de Singer sobre a origem da ?tica e sobre a universalizabilidade como uma caracter?stica necess?ria do ponto de vista da ?tica, bem como o argumento que ? desenvolvido para estabelecer o PICI. No sexto cap?tulo, expomos as principais distin??es que caracterizam o PICI. Encerramos no s?timo cap?tulo com uma discuss?o sobre as raz?es apresentadas por Singer para que uma pessoa oriente a sua vida de acordo com o ponto de vista da ?tica. Essa estrutura permite-nos explicitar as principais ideias do autor naquilo que concerne aos fundamentos te?ricos da sua filosofia moral

Cette étude vise à démontrer les différents aspects de la civilisation juive d’Europe de l’Est que conteste, dans ses écrits, l’auteur yiddishophone Isaac Bashevis Singer. Dans ses nouvelles, il met en scène des personnages féminins déchirés entre le monde du shtetl et la modernité convoitée. Ce mémoire explore cinq nouvelles, Yentl, l’étudiant de Yeshiva, Taibele et son démon, Zeitl et Rickel, Yanda et La sorcière, qui problématisent toutes la représentation féminine. À la lumière des écrits théoriques de Vincent Jouve et de Philippe Hamon, ce mémoire analyse thématiquement les diverses composantes de l’identité et de l’univers féminin afin de démontrer les éléments contredits par Singer.

Analytic ethics often neglects the exploration and appreciation of morality as it is actually practised on a day-to-day basis. But by looking at how, in a practical sense, we are able to interact with others in a morally appropriate way we can construct a compelling picture of what some of our most pervasive obligations are. This thesis takes such an approach through the concept of understanding – understanding essentially taken here to involve those processes involved in detecting and correctly responding to beings typically possessing inherent moral significance. In the first two chapters ‘understanding' and the understanding approach are themselves explicated, and placed in the context of several other related approaches in the English-speaking tradition – Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments, Nel Noddings' ethics of care and Richard Hare's preference utilitarianism. This approach is then used to provide us with an alternative idea about what our moral reasoning suggests to be of fundamental ethical significance, and of what kinds of activity morality recommends to us. The activity explored in most detail here is that of engaging with fiction – or more broadly, fictive imaginings. While understanding shows us that fictional characters and events themselves cannot have an inherent moral valence or significance, it also shows us when and how it is possible and appropriate to ethically assess fictive engagement, be it as creator or consumer. This is seen after exploring how and in what ways our moral understanding can be appropriately applied to and exercised by fictions at all, and why fiction should be of particular interest to the understanding agent, looking at the work of Martha Nussbaum, Jenefer Robinson, Peter Lamarque and others on aesthetic cognitivism. Ultimately this leads us to discern a minimal ethical constraint on our interpretation of fiction and art in general, further proving understanding's usefulness.

Theories of global justice are often criticised for being ineffective or unrealisable. The aim of this interdisciplinary thesis is to examine whether this motivational criticism holds regarding Singer’s Principle and Pogge’s theory of global egalitarian justice. First, I will show that the effectiveness argument is unconvincing: the underlying effectiveness criterion is either incoherent or not defined, and existing effectiveness predictions are empirically unsatisfactory. Second, I will analyse whether Singer’s interactional Principle satisfies the ‘ought implies can’ (OIC) criterion, which holds that obligations must be within the capacities of individuals. Having discussed the rationale and standard of the OIC criterion, I will show that the philosophical literature does not offer a convincing empirical justification of possibility evaluations. Drawing on psychological explanations of moral heroism, I will conclude that compliance with Singer’s Principle is possible for ordinary persons, i.e. that ‘every person is a hero in waiting’. Third, turning to the feasibility of Pogge’s theory of global egalitarian justice, I will discuss how the standard, time-frame, weight and rationale of the feasibility criterion should be defined. Based on psychological and sociological explanations about moral behaviour, social norms and identity, I will evaluate the empirical arguments advanced in the philosophical literature. In addition, I will consider how the long-term trends of globalisation are likely to influence the role of nationality, identity and global institutions. I will conclude that Pogge’s theory of egalitarian global justice is conditionally feasible, i.e. if we assume that domestic egalitarian justice is feasible. This implies that nationalism will not necessarily play a dominant role during the centuries to come. Overall, possibility and feasibility evaluations remain uncertain and partly subjective. I will thus argue that a burden of proof should be established to limit the negative effects of false evaluations.

Safe driving is a topic of multiple factors where the road surface condition is one. Knowledge about the road status can for instance indicate whether it is risk for low friction and thereby help increase the safety in traffic. The ambient temperature is an important factor when determining the road surface condition and is therefore in focus. This work evaluates different methods of data fusion to estimate the ambient temperature at road segments. Data from vehicles are used during the temperature estimation process while measurements from weather stations are used for evaluation. Both temporal and spatial dependencies are examined through different models to predict how the temperature will evolve over time. The proposed Kalman filters are able to both interpolate in road segments where many observations are available and to extrapolate to road segments with no or only a few observations. The results show that interpolation leads to an average error of 0.5 degrees during winter when the temperature varies around five degrees day to night. Furthermore, the average error increases to two degrees during springtime when the temperature instead varies about fifteen degrees per day. It is shown that the risk of large estimation error is high when there are no observations from vehicles. As a separate result, it has been noted that the weather stations have a bias compared to the measurements from the cars.