This thesis explores an experimental music approach to writing autobiography. As a composition, Pilgrim Carnival took place as a travelling series of events. The central event was a sound installation for a blindfolded audience. This essay is a description of that series of events as well as a discussion of similar precedents in interdisciplinary art. Beginning with Luigi Russolo and Marcel Duchamp, aspects of autobiography are examined in both noise music and the concept of the ready-made artwork. Body Art of the 1970s, particularly the work of Marina Abramovic, is also tied into the idea of the ready-made artwork as an explicitly autobiographical example. The hybrid form of Pilgrim Carnival and the concept of ready-made autobiographical music create ongoing potential for new work.

In 1988, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved an amendment that allowed the use of best-estimate methods. This led to an increased development, and application of Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) safety analyses. However, a greater burden was placed on the licensee to justify all uncertainty estimates. A review of the current state of the BEPU methods indicate that there exists a number of significant criticisms, which limits the BEPU methods from reaching its full potential as a comprehensive licensing basis. The most significant criticism relates to the lack of a formal framework for distinguishing between aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. This has led to a prevalent belief that such separation of uncertainties is for convenience, rather than one out of necessity. In this thesis, we address the above concerns by developing a statistically rigorous framework to characterize the different uncertainty types. This framework is grounded on the philosophical concepts of knowledge. Considering the Plato problem, we explore the use of probability as a means to gain knowledge, which allows us to relate the inherent distinctness in knowledge with the different uncertaintytypesforanycomplexphysicalsystem. Thisframeworkis demonstrated using nuclear analysis problems, and we show through the use of structural models that the separation of these uncertainties leads to more accurate tolerance limits relative to existing BEPU methods. In existing BEPU methods, where such a distinction is not applied, the total uncertainty is essentially treated as the aleatory uncertainty. Thus, the resulting estimated percentile is much larger than the actual (true) percentile of the system's response. Our results support the premise that the separation of these two distinct uncertainty types is necessary and leads to more accurate estimates of the reactor safety margins. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Infrastructures are the most fundamental facilities and systems serving the society. Due to the existence of infrastructures in economic, social, and environmental contexts, all lifecycle phases of such fundamental facilities should maximize utility for the designers, occupants, and the society. With respect to the nature of the decision problem, two main types of uncertainties may exist: 1) the aleatory uncertainty associated with the nature of the built environment (i.e., the economic, social, and environmental impacts of infrastructures must be described as probabilistic); and 2) the epistemic uncertainty associated with the lack of knowledge of decision maker utilities. Although a number of decision analysis models exist that consider the uncertainty associated with the nature of the built environment, they do not provide a systematic framework for including aleatory and epistemic uncertainties, and decision maker utilities in the decision analysis process. In order to address the identified knowledge gap, a three-phase modular decision analysis methodology is proposed. Module one uses a formal preference assessment methodology (i.e., utility function/indifference curve) for assessing decision maker utility functions with respect to a range of alternative design configurations. Module two utilizes the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) in a systems reliability approach for assessing the reliability of alternative infrastructure design configurations with respect to the probabilistic decision criteria and decision maker defined utility functions (indifference curves), and provides a meaningful feedback loop for improving the reliability of the alternative design configurations. Module three provides a systematic framework to incorporate both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties in the decision analysis methodology (i.e., uncertain utility functions and group decision making). The multi-criteria, probabilistic decision analysis framework is tested on a nine-story office building in a seismic zone with the probabilistic decision criteria of: building damage and business interruption costs, casualty costs, and CO2 emission costs. Twelve alternative design configurations and four decision maker utility functions under aleatory and epistemic uncertainties are utilized. The results of the decision analysis methodology revealed that the high-performing design configurations with an initial cost of up to $3.2M (in a cost range between $1.7M and $3.2M), a building damage and business interruption cost as low as $303K (in a cost range between $303K and $6.2M), a casualty cost as low as $43K (in a cost range between $43K and $1.2M), and a CO2 emission as low as $146K (in a cost range between $133K to $150K) can be identified by having a higher probability (i.e., up to 80%) of meeting the decision makers' preferences. The modular, holistic, decision analysis framework allows decision makers to make more informed performance-based design decisions—and allows designers to better incorporate the preferences of the decision makers—during the early design process. / PHD / Infrastructures, including buildings, roads, and bridges, are the most fundamental facilities and systems serving the society. Because infrastructures exist in economic, social, and environmental contexts, the design, construction, operations, and maintenance phases of such fundamental facilities should maximize value and usability for the designers, occupants, and the society. Identifying infrastructure configurations that maximize value and usability is challenged by two sources of uncertainty: 1) the nature of the built environment is variable (i.e., whether or not a natural hazard will occur during the infrastructure lifetime, or how costs might change over time); and 2) there is lack of knowledge of decision maker preferences and values (e.g., design cost versus social impact tradeoffs). Although a number of decision analysis models exist that consider the uncertainty associated with the nature of the built environment (e.g., natural hazard events), they do not provide a systematic framework for including the uncertainties associated with the decision analysis process (e.g., lack of knowledge about decision maker preferences), and decision maker requirements in the decision analysis process. In order to address the identified knowledge gap, a three-phase modular decision analysis methodology is proposed. Module one uses a formal preference assessment methodology for assessing decision maker values with respect to a range of alternative design configurations. Module two utilizes an algorithm for assessing the reliability of alternative infrastructure design configurations with respect to the probabilistic decision criteria and decision maker requirements, and provides a meaningful feedback loop for understanding the decision analysis results (i.e., improving the value and usability of the alternative design configurations). Module three provides a systematic framework to incorporate both the random uncertainty associated with the built environment and the knowledge uncertainty associated with lack of knowledge of decision maker preferences, and tests the reliability of the decision analysis results under random and knowledge uncertainties (i.e., uncertain decision maker preferences and group decision making). The holistic decision analysis framework is tested on a nine-story office building in a seismic zone with the probabilistic decision criteria of: building damage and business interruption costs, casualty costs, and CO2 emission costs. Twelve alternative design configurations, four decision makers, and random and knowledge sources of uncertainty are considered in the decision analysis methodology. Results indicate that the modular, holistic, decision analysis framework allows decision makers to make more informed design decisions—and allows designers to better incorporate the preferences of the decision makers—during the early design process.

L’aléa, véritable « cœur » du contrat d’assurance, ne finit pas de susciter les interrogations lorsqu’il s’agit de préciser plus techniquement son rôle, tout comme sa raison d’être. En première ligne se situe naturellement le débat relatif à la qualification des formes contemporaines d’assurance vie : ce dernier, haut lieu de controverse doctrinale depuis des années, ne s’est toujours pas apaisé malgré l’impressionnant nombre d’études consacrées au sujet. En parallèle, le thème de l’aléa dans les contrats fait également l’objet d’un vif regain d’intérêt, s’invitant dans les colloques et les ouvrages les plus récents. Plus que jamais, les notions de contrat d’assurance et de contrat aléatoire se retrouvent donc au cœur de la polémique. Et cette dernière peut aller bon train, tant le débat reste enfermé dans cette idée courante qu’un contrat est un acte nécessairement créateur d’obligations. Ainsi, l’on s’attache bien souvent à mettre en évidence le déséquilibre des obligations des parties (caractéristique des contrats aléatoires) avant de s’interroger sur son existence dans le contrat d’assurance. Mais cette approche obligationnelle de la structure contractuelle est-elle véritablement pertinente ? Ne devrait-on pas, au contraire, concevoir plus largement les effets de l’acte juridique, et consacrer juridiquement une idée somme toute assez commune dans le langage courant des praticiens : celle d’un transfert de risque ? A l’approche obligationnelle classique, exclusivement focalisée sur l’analyse des prestations des parties (paiement de la prime par le souscripteur ; règlement du sinistre voire couverture du risque par l’assureur), se substituerait ainsi une approche réelle, davantage axée sur le transfert de risque opéré entre les parties. Cette approche réelle, à bien des égards séduisante par rapport à l’approche obligationnelle, permettrait ainsi de porter – entre autres – un regard différent sur la problématique inhérente aux formes contemporaines d’assurance vie. / Hazard is well known for being at the heart of the insurance contract. Nonetheless, it does not stop raising questions about its precise role and raison d’être. Firstly, the debate deals with the qualification of contemporary forms of life insurance; Mecca of doctrinal controversy for years, it still remains topical in spite of the impressive number of studies. Meanwhile, contingency is of intense interest in civil contract law, as well as subject to recent seminars and latest books. More than ever, the notions of insurance contract and of aleatory contract appear as being the “core” issues of a controversy which keeps going well, because the debate may be limited by the idea that a contract is necessarily an act that creates obligations. Thus, the imbalance between the parties’ obligations - characteristic of aleatory contracts – is often highlighted before questioning its existence in the insurance contract. However, it may be wondered as whether to know if such an “obligational” approach of the contract is truly relevant. On the contrary, shouldn’t we consider the effects of the contract through a wider point of view, in order to admit – legally – a quite common idea in everyday language: the transfer of risk? Unlike the obligational approach which is solely focused on the performances of both parties (premium paid by the taker; compensation paid out of the claim or even risk covered by the insurer), that “real” approach would be more focused on the risk that is transferred between the contracting parties. Such a real approach, which seems to be highly more attractive than the obligational one, would offer - among others - a different perspective within the debate that is inherent to the contemporary forms of life insurance.

Neste estudo são apresentados os resultados do trabalho sobre simulações de redes de conexões complexas. Foram simuladas redes regulares, intermediárias e aleatórias com o número de nós e de conexões variando entre 103 e 5x103 e entre 2x104 e 105, respectivamente, e com probabilidade variando de 0 a 1 com passo de 0.1, com o enfoque na Teoria Espectral. Utilizando a linguagem C e o software Matlab, as redes são representadas pela sua matriz adjacência, com o objetivo de observar-se o comportamento de seus autovalores através de histogramas. A finalidade é a caracterização de redes complexas. Observa-se que a distribuição dos autovalores segue a lei semicircular de Wigner. / This study presents the results of the work about simulations of networks of complex connections. They were simulate regular networks, middlemen and aleatory with the number of nodes and of connections varying between 103 and 5x104 and between 2x104 and 105, respectively, and with probability varying from 0 to 1 with step of 0.1, with the focus in the Spectral Theory. Using the language C and the software Matlab, the networks are represented by its adjacency matrix, with the objective of observing the behavior of its eigenvalues through histograms. The purpose is the characterization of complex networks. Its observed that the eigenvalues distribution follows the Wigners semicircular law.

Neste estudo são apresentados os resultados do trabalho sobre simulações de redes de conexões complexas. Foram simuladas redes regulares, intermediárias e aleatórias com o número de nós e de conexões variando entre 103 e 5x103 e entre 2x104 e 105, respectivamente, e com probabilidade variando de 0 a 1 com passo de 0.1, com o enfoque na Teoria Espectral. Utilizando a linguagem C e o software Matlab, as redes são representadas pela sua matriz adjacência, com o objetivo de observar-se o comportamento de seus autovalores através de histogramas. A finalidade é a caracterização de redes complexas. Observa-se que a distribuição dos autovalores segue a lei semicircular de Wigner. / This study presents the results of the work about simulations of networks of complex connections. They were simulate regular networks, middlemen and aleatory with the number of nodes and of connections varying between 103 and 5x104 and between 2x104 and 105, respectively, and with probability varying from 0 to 1 with step of 0.1, with the focus in the Spectral Theory. Using the language C and the software Matlab, the networks are represented by its adjacency matrix, with the objective of observing the behavior of its eigenvalues through histograms. The purpose is the characterization of complex networks. Its observed that the eigenvalues distribution follows the Wigners semicircular law.

Discusses the creation and performance at a concert on Feb. 12, 1990, in the Merrill Ellis Intermedia Theater at the University of North Texas of three computer music-intermedia compositions: Shakespeare quartet for 4 acoustic guitars; A noite, porem, rangeu e quebrou, for instrument of low pitch range, tape and computer; and Help me remember, for performer, Synclavier, interactive MIDI computer music system and slides.

Afin d'obtenir des simulations plus prédictives et plus précises du comportement mécanique des structures, des modèles matériau de plus en plus complexes ont été développés. Aujourd'hui, la caractérisation des propriétés des matériaux est donc un objectif prioritaire. Elle exige des méthodes et des tests d'identification dédiés dans des conditions les plus proches possible des cas de service. Cette thèse vise à développer une méthodologie d'identification efficace pour trouver les paramètres des propriétés matériau, en tenant compte de toutes les informations disponibles. L'information utilisée pour l'identification est à la fois théorique, expérimentale et empirique : l'information théorique est liée aux modèles mécaniques dont l'incertitude est épistémique; l'information expérimentale provient ici de la mesure de champs cinématiques obtenues pendant l'essai ct dont l'incertitude est aléatoire; l'information empirique est liée à l'information à priori associée à une incertitude épistémique ainsi. La difficulté principale est que l'information disponible n'est pas toujours fiable et que les incertitudes correspondantes sont hétérogènes. Cette difficulté est surmontée par l'utilisation de la théorie des fonctions de croyance. En offrant un cadre général pour représenter et quantifier les incertitudes hétérogènes, la performance de l'identification est améliorée. Une stratégie basée sur la théorie des fonctions de croyance est proposée pour identifier les propriétés élastiques macro et micro des matériaux multi-structures. Dans cette stratégie, les incertitudes liées aux modèles et aux mesures sont analysées et quantifiées. Cette stratégie est ensuite étendue pour prendre en compte l'information à priori et quantifier l'incertitude associée. / In order to obtain more predictive and accurate simulations of mechanical behaviour in the practical environment, more and more complex material models have been developed. Nowadays, the characterization of material properties remains a top-priority objective. It requires dedicated identification methods and tests in conditions as close as possible to the real ones. This thesis aims at developing an effective identification methodology to find the material property parameters, taking advantages of all available information. The information used for the identification is theoretical, experimental, and empirical: the theoretical information is linked to the mechanical models whose uncertainty is epistemic; the experimental information consists in the full-field measurement whose uncertainty is aleatory; the empirical information is related to the prior information with epistemic uncertainty as well. The main difficulty is that the available information is not always reliable and its corresponding uncertainty is heterogeneous. This difficulty is overcome by the introduction of the theory of belief functions. By offering a general framework to represent and quantify the heterogeneous uncertainties, the performance of the identification is improved. The strategy based on the belief function is proposed to identify macro and micro elastic properties of multi-structure materials. In this strategy, model and measurement uncertainties arc analysed and quantified. This strategy is subsequently developed to take prior information into consideration and quantify its corresponding uncertainty.

Alienation of inheritance - Abstract This diploma thesis deals as first only with issues of alienation of inheritance under § 1714 - 1720 of Civil Code. The diploma is about reintroduced institute standing in the boundary of obligational and inheritance law, which is related to aleatory contracts such as insurance, bet, game and lottery, and which was known by the law of First republic, and which roots are dated to the old Rome age, but which is by the present professional publick almost undiscovered. The objective of this diploma thesis was describe to professional and laical publick rules, principles of workings of this law institute. The diploma thesis in great details analyses present legislation and pays attention to all variants of aplication of this law institute in praxis. The diploma thesis further compares present legislation with her precursor, which was originated to the beginning of the 19th century together with Austrian ABGB, and as well describes judicature of Supreme Court based on this theme. Author of this diploma submits on hypothetical scenarios possible variations of use of this law institute and all of its variable verzions consisting primarly on aleatory or not aleatory of concluded contratc, further finds weak points of present legislation and proposes its novelization to level up...