Neste trabalho são analisadas a conspicuidade (impacto visual), a estética e a harmonia com o meio ambiente dos principais sinais verticais de trânsito na área urbana. A análise é realizada com base nas respostas de questionários aplicados a grupos de pessoas (sujeitos), utilizando o método de comparação aos pares, da psicofísica. A pesquisa se concentrou nos seguintes sinais de regulamentação: sinal vertical de parada obrigatória, sinal vertical de sentido de circulação de via, sinal vertical de lombada, e no sinal de orientação de indicação de lugares. No caso dos sinais de regulamentação foram investigadas as seguintes características: tamanho da placa, largura do suporte e cor do suporte. No sinal de indicação de lugares, foram investigadas a cor do fundo da placa e a cor da estrutura de sustentação. No que concerne ao sinal de parada obrigatória, a pesquisa aponta como mais indicados uma largura da placa de 80 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor vermelha ou branca. Quanto ao sinal de sentido de circulação de via, as características mais indicadas são: largura da placa entre 60 e 70 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor vermelha. Em relação a placa de lombada, as características mais indicadas são: largura da placa de 80 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor preta. No que diz respeito de indicação de lugares, a pesquisa aponta como mais indicadas as seguintes características: cor da placa azul (distinta da cor verde regulamentada pelo Código de Trânsito Brasileiro) e suporte de sustentação da placa de cor verde (cor regulamentada pelo código do país) na cor preta ou verde. A comparação de alguns dos resultados encontrados no trabalho com aqueles obtidos em outras pesquisas mostram grande conformidade. Cabe ressaltar, contudo, que os resultados obtidos no trabalho devem ser vistos como tendências, pois o tamanho e a estratificação das amostras não satisfazem os requisitos para que os resultados tenham confiabilidade estatística. / In this work the conspicuity (visual impact), aesthetic and the environment harmony of the main traffic signs in the urban area are analyzed. The analysis is performed based on questionnaires answers applyed the groups of people (subjects), using the psychophysics method of comparison in pairs. The research is focus in the following traffic signs: regulatory signs - stop sign, one way sign - , speed bump warning sign and guide signs. In the case of the regulatory and warning signs the next attributes had been investigated: size of the sign, width and color of the support. In guide sings, the ground color sign and structure color had been investigated. About stop sign, the research points as more indicated a sign width of 80 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and red or white color. Concerning on one way sign, the pointed out characteristics are: sign width between 60 and 70 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and red color. In relation the speed bump warning sign, the more indicated characteristics: sign width of 80 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and black color. About guide sings, the research indicates as more indicated the following featuress: blue color to the sign ground (distinct of the green sing regulated by the brazilian traffic code) and black or green color to sustentation structure of the green color sign (color regulated by country laws). The comparison of some results found in the work with those gotten in other early research shows a great conformity. Its important to highlightes, however, that the results gotten in the work must be seen as tendencies, because the sample size and stratification does not satisfy the requirements to the trustworthiness statistics results.

O objeto desta pesquisa são as relações entre os conceitos de interpretação conforme a Constituição e os limites à utilização, segundo a doutrina brasileira. O propósito é verificar se e como os diferentes conceitos de interpretação conforme a Constituição empregados pelos autores influenciam seus argumentos em torno dos limites à utilização desse instrumento. Parte-se de um referencial teórico de análise conceitual, ancorado sobretudo nos trabalhos de Brian Bix e Andrew Halpin, para estruturar-se a identificação e a análise dos diferentes conceitos presentes na literatura. Opta-se pela apresentação das ideias dos autores mais influentes na doutrina nacional, selecionados a partir de um critério de número de citações e especialidade da obra. Ao final, conclui-se que: (a) os autores utilizam ao menos nove conceitos diferentes: (i) como interpretação orientada pela Constituição, (ii) integração conforme a Constituição, critério normativo (iii) com e (iv) sem declaração de inconstitucionalidade, (v) interpretação extensiva ou restritiva de acordo com a Constituição, (vi) declaração de inconstitucionalidade da interpretação em concreto, (vii) um tipo de decisão com estrutura específica e (viii) um tipo de dispositivo decisório específico; (ix) um argumento retórico; (b) que os autores geralmente mencionam os mesmos limites, independentemente do conceito que adotam; (c) que, no entanto, os limites não se adequam da mesma forma a todos os conceitos empregados. Sustenta-se que o esclarecimento dessas relações é capaz de aumentar a compreensão sobre o tema, inclusive para os fins de análise da jurisprudência. / The main purpose of this research is to establish a relationship between the concept of interpretation in harmony with the Constitution and the limits of its usage, according to the Brazilian legal doctrine. The analysis aims to verify the influence of the different concepts of interpretation in harmony with the Constitution on the motivation adopted by authors to justify the limits of its usage. The starting point is a theoretical framework of conceptual analysis, mainly based on the work of Brian Bix and Andrew Halpin, in order to organize the different existing concepts. The methodology was to examine the ideas of several authors, so the criteria to choose among the most prominent authors in the national legal doctrine were the number of times one was quoted and the specificity of ones work. Finally, the research concludes that: (a) the authors adopt at least nine different concepts such as: (i) constitutional guided interpretation, (ii) constitutional based integration, normative standard (iii) with and (iv) without the declaration of unconstitutionality, (v) extensive or restrictive statutory interpretation based on the Constitution, (vi) the declaration of unconstitutionality of a particular interpretation, (vii) a decision with a specific type of structure, (viii) a particular type of decision-making device and (ix) a rethorical argument; (b) the authors often mention the same limits, regardless of the concept that they adopt; (c) the limits do not apply the same way to all the existing concepts. It is argued that the clarification of these relationships is able to increase the understanding of the topic, especially for the purpose of analysis of the jurisprudence.

L’association de la bière avec les mets apparaît comme une nouvelle tendance en France. Il est donc nécessaire pour les promoteurs de bière et les professionnels de la gastronomie de fournir à leurs clients des conseils de qualité en terme d’accord bière et mets. Au vu de ce contexte, l’objectif de la thèse était d’identifier les principes d’association et de mieux comprendre les mécanismes perceptuels qui les sous-tendent. Les déterminants des accords mets et boissons ont, dans un premier temps, été identifiés à partir du discours d’experts. Les résultats ont montrés que les associations mets et boissons sont régies par des caractéristiques perceptuelles, conceptuelles et affectives, liées à des mécanismes physico-chimiques, perceptuels et cognitifs. Les experts ont souvent mentionné la «similarité aromatique» comme l'un des principaux principes d'association. Ce principe consiste à associer deux produits partageant des arômes similaires. Les mécanismes perceptuels sous-jacents à ce principe ont été investigués. Les résultats ont montrés qu’une similarité aromatique entre un mets et une boisson augmente le niveau d’harmonie et d’homogénéité de leur association et diminue sa complexité. Ces effets peuvent être renforcés en orientant l’attention du dégustateur sur l’arôme partagé. D’un point de vue théorique, cette thèse conclut que l’association bières et mets inclut des dimensions sensorielles avec une recherche d’harmonie, mais aussi des dimensions symboliques et contextuelles. D’un point de vue plus appliqué, cette thèse fournit aux professionnels de la gastronomie, de nouvelles informations concernant les mécanismes perceptifs sous-tendant les principes d’associations. / Pairing between beer and dishes emerges as a new trend in France. Beer promoters or gastronomy professionals need to offer high-quality advices in terms of beer and food pairing to their customers. Within this context, the objective of the research was to identify pairing principles and to better understand the underlying perceptual mechanisms. Determinants of food and beverage pairing were first analysed from experts’ discourses. Results showed that food and beverage pairings are governed by perceptual, conceptual and affective features, related to physio-chemical, perceptual and cognitive processes. Experts often mentioned “Aromatic Similarity” as one of the main pairing principles. This “Aromatic similarity” principle consists in matching two products sharing similar aromas. Underlying perceptual mechanisms were then investigated. Results showed that aromatic similarity in food and beverage generally increases harmony and homogeneity and decreases complexity of the match. These effects can be reinforced by orientating the attentional focus on the shared aroma. From a theoretical point of view, this work concludes that beer and food pairing includes sensory dimensions with the search for harmony, as well as symbolic and contextual dimensions. From an applied point of view, this work provides useful information to gastronomy professionals with recent knowledge on perceptual mechanisms underlying food and beverage pairing principles.

O objeto desta pesquisa são as relações entre os conceitos de interpretação conforme a Constituição e os limites à utilização, segundo a doutrina brasileira. O propósito é verificar se e como os diferentes conceitos de interpretação conforme a Constituição empregados pelos autores influenciam seus argumentos em torno dos limites à utilização desse instrumento. Parte-se de um referencial teórico de análise conceitual, ancorado sobretudo nos trabalhos de Brian Bix e Andrew Halpin, para estruturar-se a identificação e a análise dos diferentes conceitos presentes na literatura. Opta-se pela apresentação das ideias dos autores mais influentes na doutrina nacional, selecionados a partir de um critério de número de citações e especialidade da obra. Ao final, conclui-se que: (a) os autores utilizam ao menos nove conceitos diferentes: (i) como interpretação orientada pela Constituição, (ii) integração conforme a Constituição, critério normativo (iii) com e (iv) sem declaração de inconstitucionalidade, (v) interpretação extensiva ou restritiva de acordo com a Constituição, (vi) declaração de inconstitucionalidade da interpretação em concreto, (vii) um tipo de decisão com estrutura específica e (viii) um tipo de dispositivo decisório específico; (ix) um argumento retórico; (b) que os autores geralmente mencionam os mesmos limites, independentemente do conceito que adotam; (c) que, no entanto, os limites não se adequam da mesma forma a todos os conceitos empregados. Sustenta-se que o esclarecimento dessas relações é capaz de aumentar a compreensão sobre o tema, inclusive para os fins de análise da jurisprudência. / The main purpose of this research is to establish a relationship between the concept of interpretation in harmony with the Constitution and the limits of its usage, according to the Brazilian legal doctrine. The analysis aims to verify the influence of the different concepts of interpretation in harmony with the Constitution on the motivation adopted by authors to justify the limits of its usage. The starting point is a theoretical framework of conceptual analysis, mainly based on the work of Brian Bix and Andrew Halpin, in order to organize the different existing concepts. The methodology was to examine the ideas of several authors, so the criteria to choose among the most prominent authors in the national legal doctrine were the number of times one was quoted and the specificity of ones work. Finally, the research concludes that: (a) the authors adopt at least nine different concepts such as: (i) constitutional guided interpretation, (ii) constitutional based integration, normative standard (iii) with and (iv) without the declaration of unconstitutionality, (v) extensive or restrictive statutory interpretation based on the Constitution, (vi) the declaration of unconstitutionality of a particular interpretation, (vii) a decision with a specific type of structure, (viii) a particular type of decision-making device and (ix) a rethorical argument; (b) the authors often mention the same limits, regardless of the concept that they adopt; (c) the limits do not apply the same way to all the existing concepts. It is argued that the clarification of these relationships is able to increase the understanding of the topic, especially for the purpose of analysis of the jurisprudence.

Neste trabalho são analisadas a conspicuidade (impacto visual), a estética e a harmonia com o meio ambiente dos principais sinais verticais de trânsito na área urbana. A análise é realizada com base nas respostas de questionários aplicados a grupos de pessoas (sujeitos), utilizando o método de comparação aos pares, da psicofísica. A pesquisa se concentrou nos seguintes sinais de regulamentação: sinal vertical de parada obrigatória, sinal vertical de sentido de circulação de via, sinal vertical de lombada, e no sinal de orientação de indicação de lugares. No caso dos sinais de regulamentação foram investigadas as seguintes características: tamanho da placa, largura do suporte e cor do suporte. No sinal de indicação de lugares, foram investigadas a cor do fundo da placa e a cor da estrutura de sustentação. No que concerne ao sinal de parada obrigatória, a pesquisa aponta como mais indicados uma largura da placa de 80 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor vermelha ou branca. Quanto ao sinal de sentido de circulação de via, as características mais indicadas são: largura da placa entre 60 e 70 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor vermelha. Em relação a placa de lombada, as características mais indicadas são: largura da placa de 80 cm, suporte com largura de 12,5 cm e cor preta. No que diz respeito de indicação de lugares, a pesquisa aponta como mais indicadas as seguintes características: cor da placa azul (distinta da cor verde regulamentada pelo Código de Trânsito Brasileiro) e suporte de sustentação da placa de cor verde (cor regulamentada pelo código do país) na cor preta ou verde. A comparação de alguns dos resultados encontrados no trabalho com aqueles obtidos em outras pesquisas mostram grande conformidade. Cabe ressaltar, contudo, que os resultados obtidos no trabalho devem ser vistos como tendências, pois o tamanho e a estratificação das amostras não satisfazem os requisitos para que os resultados tenham confiabilidade estatística. / In this work the conspicuity (visual impact), aesthetic and the environment harmony of the main traffic signs in the urban area are analyzed. The analysis is performed based on questionnaires answers applyed the groups of people (subjects), using the psychophysics method of comparison in pairs. The research is focus in the following traffic signs: regulatory signs - stop sign, one way sign - , speed bump warning sign and guide signs. In the case of the regulatory and warning signs the next attributes had been investigated: size of the sign, width and color of the support. In guide sings, the ground color sign and structure color had been investigated. About stop sign, the research points as more indicated a sign width of 80 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and red or white color. Concerning on one way sign, the pointed out characteristics are: sign width between 60 and 70 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and red color. In relation the speed bump warning sign, the more indicated characteristics: sign width of 80 cm, support width of 12,5 cm and black color. About guide sings, the research indicates as more indicated the following featuress: blue color to the sign ground (distinct of the green sing regulated by the brazilian traffic code) and black or green color to sustentation structure of the green color sign (color regulated by country laws). The comparison of some results found in the work with those gotten in other early research shows a great conformity. Its important to highlightes, however, that the results gotten in the work must be seen as tendencies, because the sample size and stratification does not satisfy the requirements to the trustworthiness statistics results.

The return to body awareness, or embodiment, is necessary for individual and communal harmony. A reflection on the use of dance in tribal societies suggests their importance in creating community and identifies how they were prohibited during colonization and thereafter. Subsequently, an investigation into current American culture in the 21st century finds a disembodied culture, as defined by the lack of awareness to the body as a living entity. Embodiment practices are suggested for a return to individual harmony and communal dancing as the solution for community harmony. Lastly, a personal exploration into the making and creating of danced rituals suggests the power of dance to heal, transform, and unite humanity.

In this thesis, the optimum design algorithm is presented for reinforced concrete special moment frames. The objective function is considered as the total cost of reinforced concrete frame which includes the cost of concrete, formwork and reinforcing steel bars. The cost of any component is inclusive of material, fabrication and labor. The design variables in beams are selected as the width and the depth of beams in each span, the diameter and the number of longitudinal reinforcement bars along the span and supports. In columns the width and the depth of the column section, the number and the diameter of bars in x and y directions are selected as design variables. The column section database is prepared which includes the width and height of column section, the diameter and the number of reinforcing bars in the column section is constructed. This database is used by the design algorithm to select appropriate sections for the columns of the frame under consideration. The design constraints are implemented from ACI 318-05 which covers the flexural and shear strength, serviceability, the minimum and maximum steel percentage for flexural and shear reinforcement, the spacing requirements for the reinforcing bars and the upper and lower bound requirements for the concrete sections. The optimum design problem formulated according to ACI 318-05 provisions with the design variables mentioned above turns out to be a combinatorial optimization problem. The solution of the design problem is obtained by using the harmony search algorithm (HS) which is one of the recent additions to meta-heuristic optimization techniques which are widely used in obtaining the solution of combinatorial optimization problems. The HS algorithm is quite simple and has few parameters to initialize and consists of simple steps which make it easy to implement. Number of design examples is presented to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the optimum design algorithm developed.

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the life of Wordsworth as presented in The Prelude through the approach of Ch¡¦an (Zen) Buddhism. Three other topics will be touched on in addition to an introduction to Ch¡¦an: language, I and nature. Basic notions of Ch¡¦an are introduced to form a basis for the understanding of and interpretation of later chapters. The language of Wordsworth is analyzed to show two key points: the empty essence of language and Wordsworth¡¦s attachment to abstractions. The emptiness of abstractions in this chapter also serves as a basis for the discussions of nature in chapter four. The notion of self in The Prelude is examined in the episodes of Wordsworth¡¦s life to see his attachments and detachments; joy and sadness. Nature is then analyzed and divided into ¡§nature as it is¡¨ and ¡§nature as is meant¡¨ through the examination of The Prelude. The research finds that Wordsworth¡¦s early exposure to nature helps cultivate a much selfless ¡§I,¡¨ which explains his devotion to the French Revolution as he pursues it for the welfare of the public. His experiences of oneness with nature helps him experience rare cases of beauty, sublimity, develop imagination, and are later used as a powerful momentum to fight the conflict and pain in life. Yet as his experiences of one with nature gradually fade away from his memories under the constant conflict of his later grown-up life, he is more and more sucked into the gyration of differentiation. The mistakening of empty abstractions for his life¡¦s ideal gets him into the web of transcendental signifiers without any real solace. Attaching to abstractions only makes him stay away from the real and trap in the world of distinction and illusion. Only when he is back in nature and reality can he regain his pleasantness and joy.

This study examines the relativistic aspects of Arnold Schoenberg's harmonic and aesthetic theories in the light of a framework of ideas presented in the early writings of Ludwig Wittgenstein, the logician, philosopher of language, and Schoenberg's contemporary and Austrian compatriot. The author has identified correspondences between the writings of Schoenberg, the early Wittgenstein (the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, in particular), and the Vienna Circle of philosophers, on a wide range of topics and themes. Issues discussed include the nature and limits of language, musical universals, theoretical conventionalism, word-to-world correspondence in language, the need for a fact- and comparison-based approach to art criticism, and the nature of music-theoretical formalism and mathematical modeling. Schoenberg and Wittgenstein are shown to have shared a vision that is remarkable for its uniformity and balance, one that points toward the reconciliation of the positivist-relativist dualism that has dominated recent discourse in music theory. Contrary to earlier accounts of Schoenberg's harmonic and aesthetic relativism, this study identifies a solid epistemological core underlying his thought, a view that was very much in step with Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle, and thereby with the most vigorous and forward-looking stream in early twentieth century intellectual history.

Thesis--Boston University. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 646-668.