Fossils belonging to the genus Homo, dating as far back as two million years ago, exhibit uniquely efficient features suggesting that early humans had evolved to become exceptional endurance runners. Although they did not have the cushion or stability-control features provided in our modern day running shoes, our early human ancestors experienced far less of the running-related injuries we experience today. The injury rate has been estimated as high as 90% annually for Americans training for a marathon and as high as 79% annually for all American endurance runners. There is an injury epidemic in conventionally shod populations that does not exist in the habitually unshod or minimally shod populations around the world. This has led many to conclude that the recent advent of highly technological shoes might be the problem. Although current literature has been inconclusive, there are two main limitations in virtually all of the studies: 1) transition phases of less than three months and 2) transition phases without rehabilitation exercises. These two aspects are key to the treatment of the structural consequences on the muscles and tendons of the foot and calf that habitually shod individuals have faced. This study includes a discussion of the cumulative consequences that lifelong shoe usage has on the development of the feet and lower legs. I propose a 78-week study that addresses the limitations of past studies by implementing a gradual, 32-week, multi-shoe transition complemented by an evidence-based rehabilitation program. I believe that this approach will restore strength and elasticity to muscles and tendons that have been inhibited by lifelong usage of overconstructed shoes and adequately prepare runners for the increased demand brought on by a­­­­­ changing running mechanic. This comprehensive, multifaceted transition plan to a fully minimalist shoe will provide novel insight into the ongoing barefoot debate. Can this approach finally demonstrate the proposed benefits of losing the shoes?

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Esse trabalho possui um recorte teÃrico-metodolÃgico que se decompÃe em dois domÃnios complementares: o LinguÃstico e o Computacional/Implementacional. Pelo seu cunho computacional, o escopo primeiro desse trabalho està diretamente ligado ao processamento de lÃngua natural (PLN). Desse modo, implementa-se uma anÃlise sintÃtica automÃtica (parsing) de expressÃes de lÃngua portuguesa em programas da biblioteca em Python do NLTK, cujas anÃlises sÃo representadas em forma de configuraÃÃes arbÃreas que demonstram categorias vazias de sentenÃas finitas do portuguÃs. Ainda pelo cunho computacional, esse trabalho elabora um fragmento de gramÃtica, modelado para capturar traÃos especÃficos da estrutura linguÃstica do portuguÃs, com base no modelo formal de descriÃÃo linguÃstica conhecido como GramÃtica Livre de Contexto (CFG) Baseada em TraÃos, com a finalidade de demonstrar como a biblioteca de programas do NLTK dà suporte à realizaÃÃo dos analisadores sintÃticos na anÃlise da estrutura de traÃos. Pelo seu cunho lingÃÃstico, analisa-se, de acordo com a Teoria X-barra e o Programa Minimalista, frases nas variantes europeia e brasileira da lÃngua portuguesa, obtidas de pesquisas em corpora eletrÃnicos disponÃveis na web. E ainda nesse trabalho, descreve-se e discute-se a categoria IP (sintagma flexional) dentro da sua estrutura hierÃrquica de constituintes, de acordo com a hipÃtese da operaÃÃo sintÃtica de movimento visÃvel e nÃo visÃvel dos elementos linguÃsticos, especificamente o movimento do verbo / This work has a theoretical and methodological framework that is divided into two complementary areas: the Language and Computational/Implementacional. For its computational stamp, the first scope of this work is directly linked to the processing of natural language (PNL). Thus, it implements an automatic syntactic analysis (parsing) of expressions of Portuguese in a computational program from the Python library of NLTK, whose tests are represented in tree configurations that show slash categories of finite sentences of Portuguese. Although the stamp computing, this research elaborates a grammar fragment, modeled to capture specific features of linguistic structure of Portuguese, based on the formal model of description linguistic known as Context Free Grammar (CFG) Based on Features, with the purpose of demonstrate how the library of NLTK programs supports the implementation of parsers for analyzing the feature structure. For its stamp of language, it analyzes, according to X-bar Theory and the Minimalist Program, sentences in European and Brazilian variants of Portuguese, obtained from surveys in electronic corpora available on the web. And this work describes and discusses the category IP (inflectional phrase) within the hierarchical structure of constituents, according to the hypothesis of syntactic operation of visible and invisible movement of elements of language, specifically the movement of the verb

The nature of the bilingual mental lexicon and how the L1 and the L2 interact in language production and processing has been the focus of decades of research from linguistic, psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic perspectives. In spite of this significant body of evidence, the degree to which the L1 influences L2 production and processing remains an area of debate, especially with respect to formal features such as grammatical gender. While it is clear that non-nativelike production and processing of L2 grammatical gender persist even in highly-proficient adult bilinguals, the underlying representation of the L1 and L2 gender features and how this representation affects the use of gender in the L2 is currently unclear. Furthermore, there is no evidence at present regarding the nature of the L1-L2 grammatical gender system when the L1 and the L2 have asymmetric gender systems (in other words, differ in number of gender values), as is the case with German, which bears three gender values (masculine, feminine and neuter), and Spanish and French, which each display two gender values (masculine and feminine). This dissertation investigates the representation of and interactions between the L1 and the L2 at the level of the formal gender feature, with a particular focus on language pairings with asymmetric gender systems. Through complementary data from L2 production and processing, I examine the representation of the asymmetric grammatical gender systems in the mental lexicon of L1 Spanish-L2 German and L1 French-L2 German bilinguals and the consequences this asymmetry between the L1 and L2 gender systems has on gender use strategies in the L2. From the perspective of bilingual lexical access, this research contributes new evidence to inform existing psycholinguistic theories of L1-L2 gender interactions and also proposes the Asymmetric gender representation hypothesis, a new model to account for the unique integrated nature of the gender system in bilinguals with L1-L2 asymmetric gender systems. From a language acquisition perspective, the present study provides new data on L2 gender use strategies with asymmetric gender systems, formulating the L1 transfer continuum, which extends existing proposals to include the degree of (a)symmetry between the L1 and the L2. This research also connects theoretical proposals regarding gender agreement in functional-lexical code-switches (specifically, switches within the Determiner Phrase such as dieGER-F mesaSPA-F or elSPA-M TischGER-M) to bilinguals’ preferences in code-switching between two languages that display formal gender. Taken together, all of these complementary perspectives addressed in this dissertation offer a well-rounded perspective of grammatical gender in asymmetric gender systems specifically, and contribute novel evidence regarding the interactions between the L1 and the L2 in the bilingual mental lexicon in general.

The theme of the development of the existing sports grounds was dealt with Based on a number of analyzes, visits to the site and communication with the community management, the theme of the development of the existing sports grounds was dealt with. The whole territory is up to a football field in a very maintained conditions. There are two smaller accommodation facilities, which are seasonally used mainly by schools in nature and other students, but their condition is quite unsatisfactory. The soccer field, which is the only one maintained, belongs to the existing base of soccer players - the dressing room with the clubhouse. Their condition is also somewhat aggravated. In the current spatial plan, the whole proposed area is at the interface of two areas, the first is the area of sport and individual recreation and the second is the area to be examined. Urban design is based on the location of the existing soccer field and the preservation or improvement of existing links to the surrounding area. Most of the paved areas will be overtaken. Part of the design of the development of sports activities in the village was also to find a possible solution for parking for tourists, for which there is no free space in the village. The chosen location is advantageous in that, when a parking lot will be created, it will be created near the main entrance to the village on road II. Cl. No. 420 from Hustopeče through the village. Architectonically, but also conceptually, the construction is based on the economic possibilities of the municipality, the possibilities of variability of the solution and especially of the possibilities of staging construction. The result are two buildings. One main, replacing the background of spccer players, creates the conditions for year-round training in the new gym, for going to fitness, while part of the building is a platform for the soccer field. The second building is an accommodation that replaces the existing unsatisfactory buildings. Architecturally, they are masses that are greatly affected by the modules. The building structure and the facilities of the sports hall are structurally designed from standardized modular systems, steel containers that are interconnected to create an unusual spectacle. The area of the gym is defined by a reinforced concrete skeleton. Both buildings are covered with gold anodized sheet metal, which is profiled similarly to the peripheral walls of the containers. At the same time, the object was to create year-round sports grounds that are accessible to the general public and youth.

The object of this study is good governance, the context for its consideration is the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the disciplinary perspective from which it is considered is Public Administration. Good governance is a conceptual problematique. It is multi-dimensional, value-laden, trans-contextual and nebulous. The question of what good governance means is a subject of contestation. Good governance is used in NEPAD as a principle without the attempt to clarify its meaning at the conceptual level. Much of the existing body of scholarship on NEPAD also considers good governance largely as a principle rather than a concept. This erroneously presupposes unanimity on its meaning. The African leadership is divided on what good governance means in the context of NEPAD. In this regard scholarship largely fails to provide an intellectual solution. The extent of complexity of the concept in the study lies in the fact that the context of its consideration [NEPAD] is itself a subject of contestation whereas the disciplinary perspective [Public Administration] from which it is considered has not yet reached a consensus with itself about its theoretical base. Against this background the question that the study asks is, what does the concept good governance in the context of NEPAD mean for Public Administration? The study examines this question to make a contribution towards a better insight into, and broadening of, the body of scientific knowledge by engaging in conceptual, theoretical and philosophical studies to understand good governance in the context of NEPAD and determine its meaning for Public Administration. The study finds that the paradigm of engagement in the existing body of literature is framed in the binary logic, which is rooted in realist epistemology or positivism. This approach to scientific discourse is limited in dealing with complex conceptual, theoretical and philosophical questions. The study develops, as a contribution to science, an alternative epistemological framework from which good governance in the context of NEPAD could be understood. Such epistemological framework is, for the purpose of this study, termed the contingent co-existence of opposites. It is used to conceptualise good governance in the context of NEPAD and determine its meaning for Public Administration. / Public Administration / D.Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

The object of this study is good governance, the context for its consideration is the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the disciplinary perspective from which it is considered is Public Administration. Good governance is a conceptual problematique. It is multi-dimensional, value-laden, trans-contextual and nebulous. The question of what good governance means is a subject of contestation. Good governance is used in NEPAD as a principle without the attempt to clarify its meaning at the conceptual level. Much of the existing body of scholarship on NEPAD also considers good governance largely as a principle rather than a concept. This erroneously presupposes unanimity on its meaning. The African leadership is divided on what good governance means in the context of NEPAD. In this regard scholarship largely fails to provide an intellectual solution. The extent of complexity of the concept in the study lies in the fact that the context of its consideration [NEPAD] is itself a subject of contestation whereas the disciplinary perspective [Public Administration] from which it is considered has not yet reached a consensus with itself about its theoretical base. Against this background the question that the study asks is, what does the concept good governance in the context of NEPAD mean for Public Administration? The study examines this question to make a contribution towards a better insight into, and broadening of, the body of scientific knowledge by engaging in conceptual, theoretical and philosophical studies to understand good governance in the context of NEPAD and determine its meaning for Public Administration. The study finds that the paradigm of engagement in the existing body of literature is framed in the binary logic, which is rooted in realist epistemology or positivism. This approach to scientific discourse is limited in dealing with complex conceptual, theoretical and philosophical questions. The study develops, as a contribution to science, an alternative epistemological framework from which good governance in the context of NEPAD could be understood. Such epistemological framework is, for the purpose of this study, termed the contingent co-existence of opposites. It is used to conceptualise good governance in the context of NEPAD and determine its meaning for Public Administration. / Public Administration and Management / D.Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

Diese Dissertation untersucht die Syntax nichtkanonischer Subjekte und Subjektpositionen - insbesondere zwei Phänomene: Lokativinversion (LI) in Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch und Hebräisch; und Verbdrittverletzungen der Verbzweitregel (V2) in Kiezdeutsch - eine urbane Kontaktvarietät des Deutschen. In LI besetzt eine Lokativ-XP die präverbale Stelle, aber das kanonische DP-Subjekt in Nominativ taucht postverbal auf. Sprachübergreifend vergleiche ich a) die Verteilung unterschiedlicher Null- und overten Argumente in LI und b) die Verfügbarkeit von LI in Matrix- und Nebensätzen. Die zweite Fallstudie befasst sich mit kiezdeutschen V2-Verletzungen, denn sie folgen einer regelmäßigen Reihenfolge: [Rahmensetzer > Subjekt > finites Verb]; dies ist bemerkenswert aufgrund der Verletzung der ansonsten strengen Verbzweitregel und auch, weil es auf die Innovation einer Art Subjektposition hindeutet, die im Standarddeutschen fehlt. Anhand einer Korpusstudie komme ich zu der Erkenntnis, dass die scheinbare Subjektvoraussetzung auch für resumptive V3-Dislozierungsphänomene gilt. Dennoch wird gezeigt, dass die Subjektvoraussetzung mit dem nominativischen DP-Subjekten verbundenen EPP nicht ganz übereinstimmt. Ich entwickele eine Theorie von Subjektvoraussetzungen, die sowohl die Breite der untersuchten Variation in LI als auch die An/Abwesenheit von Subjektvorausetzungen im Vorfeld bei V3-Sätzen im Standarddeutschen und Kiezdeutschen erklären kann. Schließlich lassen sich diese Phänomene durch unterschiedliche Verteilungen und Vererbungsoperationen von D-, ϕ- und informationsstrukturellen δ-Merkmalen (cf. Miyagawa 2017) zwischen dem Phasenkopf C und T erklären. Die Anwesenheit nichtkanonischer Subjekte in LI und kanonischer Subjekte in einer nichtkanonischen Subjektposition im Kiezdeutschen werden durch Variation in der Verteilung eines für das Prädikatssubjekt spezifizierten δ-Merkmal abgeleitet. Dieses Merkmal ist aber unabhänging von den üblichen EPP-Voraussetzungen. / This dissertation addresses syntactic structures involving non-canonical subjects and non-canonical subject positions, investigating two phenomena: Locative Inversion (LI) in English, French, Italian, and Hebrew; and verb-third violations of the verb-second (V2) rule in Kiezdeutsch, an urban contact variety of German. In LI a spatio-deictic XP appears in the preverbal canonical subject position, while the canonical nominative subject DP surfaces postverbally. I compare the distribution of different covert and overt arguments participating in LI and the availability of LI in embedded and matrix contexts crosslinguistically. The second case study concentrates on Kiezdeutsch V2 violations, as they follow a regular order of [frame-setting adverb > Subject > finite verb]; this is remarkable because it both violates an otherwise strict V2 requirement and also indicates the innovation of a subject position lacking in Standard German. I carry out a corpus study and find that an apparent subject requirement extends to other verb-third resumptive-dislocation phenomena, yet we cannot understand this requirement in the sense of an EPP position associated with nominative DP subjects. From a theoretical perspective, this dissertation develops a theory of subject requirements capable of accounting for the breadth of investigated crosslinguistic variation in LI and the presence or absence of a high clausal subject requirement in Kiezdeutsch V2-violations and more standard varieties of German. Ultimately, I make use of finite differences across C and T in the distribution of D, ϕ, and discourse-related δ-features (cf. Miyagawa 2017) via different inheritance options from the phase head. The presence of non-canonical subjects in LI and the presence of canonical subjects in a seemingly non-canonical subject position in Kiezdeutsch are both derivable via variation in the placement of a δ-feature with a specification for Subject of Predication orthogonal to typical EPP requirements.