LEGAL LIABILITY: THEORETICAL AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PURE ECONOMIC LOSS The purpose of my thesis is to introduce the concept of pure economic loss and its setting in the jurisdictions of France, England, Germany and the Czech Republic. The comparative study of pure economic loss reveals that granting compensation for economic loss frequently interferes with the economic loss rule (or exclusionary rule), which states that a plaintiff can not recover damages for a pure financial loss. Legal doctrines provide little insight as to why liability should, or should not, be denied. On the other hand, economic models of liability provide some valuable guidance for classifying various categories of economic loss, and identifying cases in which denial of recovery for economic loss would lead to inefficient outcomes. A law and economics analysis shows that a key factor in determining the optimal scope of the economic loss rule is in the relationship between pure economic loss and social loss. Economic loss should be compensable in torts only to the extent that it corresponds to socially relevant loss. A plaintiff cannot recover damages for a purely private economic loss. Our hypothesis is that, although not formally adopting this economic criterion, European courts are attentive to efficiency...

Electronic commerce is the selected field to investigate for this thesis, particularly pure player apparel brands. This has been of interest as consumers struggle when shopping online for apparel since they cannot test the product before purchasing with pure players, therefore, there is information asymmetry. Moreover, when consumers lack trust, they may be more hesitant to purchase online due to the perceived risk, therefore, companies should attempt to relieve their doubts. It has been recognized in previous research that electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) could provide guidance and develop confidence during the purchasing process. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding on how consumers perceive online reviews to assure that they will be satisfied with the order. Moreover, there were several factors identified in previous research that could influence the use of online reviews, therefore, those factors were recognized and analyzed in the context of pure players for this study. In addition, the study revealed two factors that influenced the use of online reviews. A qualitative method was utilized, to gain a deeper understanding on consumers’ opinions on the topic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to provide the opportunity for individuals to further develop their responses. The results suggested that pure player apparel brands should include online reviews. They could improve the mechanism by considering the factors that were identified in this study.

O principal problema desta tese é a aplicação da teoria psicoacústica sobre percepção de dissonância em novas ferramentas de computação musical em tempo real. Os objetivos e contribuições incluem: Prover uma revisão critica do Estado da Arte em teoria psicoacústica de modelos de dissonância, projetar trabalhos futuros; Explorar um potencial criativo negligenciado de modelos psicoacústicos de dissonância em Eletrônica ao Vivo; Desenvolver novas ferramentas computacionais baseadas na teoria; Investigar o potencial e limitações da teoria e técnicas. Discutir sua pertinência e impacto; Tornar a teoria e técnicas mais acessíveis a músicos por meio deste texto e as ferramentas desenvolvidas. A percepção de Dissonância é um fenômeno complexo em que a abordagem psicoacústica cobre apenas uma porção. Além disso, ainda há muito debate na área da psicoacústica sobre o desenvolvimento de modelos de dissonância. Portanto, a tese apresenta uma revisão crítica do Estado da Arte da teoria psicoacústica, apontando pontos fracos e fortes do atual conhecimento, e futuros desenvolvimentos no campo. Um teste perceptivo também foi elaborado para gerar ponderações relevantes. Os modelos foram implementados em Pure Data, e uma série de patches foi desenvolvida para testar o potencial criativo em eletrônica ao vivo. Esse processo culminou em um sistema desenvolvido em Pure Data que agrega diversas das técnicas baseadas nos modelos psicoacústicos. Suas possibilidades incluem, por exemplo, encontrar intervalos consonantes de acordo com um espectro, ou alterar componentes espectrais para que estejam de acordo com uma escala musical ou afinação particular. Essas ferramentas foram empregadas em um duo de improvisação livre com o autor e um saxofonista. O autor também compôs uma peça orquestral que utilizou o sistema desenvolvido na parte de eletrônica ao vivo. / The problem of this research is to apply the state of the art in psychoacoustic theories about dissonance perception in the development of novel creative computer music tools for composition and live electronics. Goals and contributions include: To provide a critical review of the State of the Art in Psychoacoustic theory regarding dissonance modeling, project further work; To explore neglected creative potential of psychoacoustic dissonance models in Live Electronics; To develop novel computer music tools based on the theory; To investigate the potential and limitations of the theory and techniques; To discuss its creative musical impact and pertinence; To make the theory and techniques more accessible to musicians through the text and the free developed tools. The perception of Dissonance is a complex phenomenon in which the psychoacoustical approach covers just a portion thereof. Not only that, but psychoacoustic theory is still in debate about the development of dissonance models. Therefore, the thesis provides a critical review of the state of the art in psychoacoustic theory, pointing out weaknesses and strong points of the current knowledge, and future developments in the field. A perceptual test was also designed to generate data for relevant insights. Apart from the theoretical review, the models were implemented in Pure Data, and a series of patches was developed in order to test their creative potential in Live Electronics. This culminated in a system developed as a Pure Data Patch that aggregates several techniques based on the psychoacoustic models. Their possibilities include, for example, finding consonant intervals according to a spectrum, or altering spectral components so they are in accordance to musical intervals and particular tunings. These tools were used in a Free Improvisation duo with the author and a sax player, and the author also composed an orchestral piece that applied the developed system in the Live Electronics section.

The principal focus of the research effort was the management of information systems development to support the increased information needs arising from the radical health reforms of 1989. This was undertaken in collaboration with a purchaser and a provider within the health service. An action research approach was adopted wherein the researcher was actively involved in the development and successful implementation of an information system. Initial findings revealed a variety of factors hindering the purchaser and the provider from successfully developing the intended information systems to support the contracting process required in the reforms. A disparity in relative strengths between the purchaser and provider was considered a major constraint hindering the purchaser from developing the intended information system and performing their designated role in the new internal market system of the NHS. Through the rapid development of a computer-based information system the immediate needs of the purchaser and the provider were satisfied, and development of the individuals and the organisation took place. Subsequent to the development, a reflective post-intervention evaluation was carried out using a conceptual problem solving framework. Three important findings emerged from the systems development effort: [1] The employment of prototyping in the evolutionary development of the intended information system is considered to be particularly pertinent and responsive to the uncertain requirements of organisations undergoing change. [2] The embracing of a flexible blend of expert intervention and facilitation is an important element in the information systems development process. {3) The development of the individuals and the organisation is an intrinsic part of developing information systems. Using the NIMSAD framework for post-intervention evaluation of the development effort, various additional findings were abstracted from the critical evaluation and reflection on the adopted approach. The systems development process was evaluated against three identified elements - the problem situation, the problem solving process and the problem solver. Results of the evaluation and reflection revealed deficiencies in the research, which indicate that: [1] The appreciation of the context and content of the problem situation increases the level of understanding of the 'problems' leading to the adoption of appropriate methodologies for conducting the problem solving process. [2] The effectiveness of the adopted problem solving process can be enhanced by the validation of the client's definition of the problem, the facilitation of involvement from participants, the innovative use of prototyping and the need for evaluation of the process. [3] The personal characteristics of the problem solver significantly influence the possible solutions to the identified problems. Contributions from the evaluation of the research effort can be seen in: [1] The suggested reflexive model for action research, with emphasis on evaluation of the actions of the researcher as a problem solver. [2] The need to maintain close links with the client and communicate disparate perceptions of the problem and problem situation. [3] The employment of a flexible blend of expert intervention and facilitation (a hybrid approach enables the resolution of the problem from a multidisciplinary perspective). [4] Suggestion for further research into the personal characteristics of an effective problem solver.

In this thesis, we will study a class of divisor functions: the prime symmetric functions. These are polynomials over Q in the so-called elementary prime symmetric functions, whose values lie in Z. The latter are defined on the nonnegative integers and take the values of the elementary symmetric functions applied to the multi-set of prime factors (with repetition) of an integer n. Initially we look at basic properties of prime symmetric functions, and consider analogues of questions posed for the usual sum of proper divisors function, such as those concerning perfect numbers or Aliquot sequences. We consider the inverse question of when, and in how many ways a number $n$ can be expressed as f(m) for certain prime symmetric functions f. Then we look at asymptotic formulae for the average orders of certain fundamental prime symmetric functions, such as the arithmetic function whose value at n is the sum of k-th powers of the prime divisors (with repetition) of n. For these last functions in particular, we also look at statistical results by comparing their distribution of values with the distribution of the largest prime factor dividing n. In addition to average orders, we look at the modular distribution of prime symmetric functions, and show that for a fundamental class, they are uniformly distributed over any fixed modulus. Then our focus shifts to the related area of partitions into prime powers. We compute the appropriate asymptotic formulae, and demonstrate important monotonicity properties. We conclude by looking at iteration problems for some of the simpler prime symmetric functions. In doing so, we consider the empirical basis for certain conjectures, and are left with many open problems. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of this work was to investigate a general synthetic route to 1-Methyl-4-Isopropyl-Hydroxy Bicyclo (3.1.0) Hexane.

This thesis deals with creating a software guitar looper in a visual programming language called Pure Data and also building a specific remote controller for it. The remote cont- roller will be based on a MIDI protocol. As a part of the software, there will be a special aligning algorithm, that will take care of precise alignment of the created loop on beat in the way that no other intrusive rhythmical or tempo related elements are present.

<div>In the first part of the present work, we will study the harmonic maps onto Teichm\"uller space. We will formulate a general Bochner type formula for harmonic maps into Teichm\"uller space. We will also prove the existence theorem of equivariant harmonic maps from a symmetric space with finite volume into its Weil-Petersson completion $\overline{\mathcal{T}}$, by deforming an almost finite energy map in the sense of Saper into a finite energy map.</div><div><br></div><div>In the second part of the work, we discuss the superrigidity of mapping class group. We will provide a geometric proof of both the high rank and the rank one superrigidity of mapping class groups due to Farb-Masur and Yeung. </div>

<div>Let <i>K₀</i>(Var<i>_k</i>) be the Grothendieck group of varieties over a field <i>k</i>. We construct an exact category, denoted Add(Var_<i>k</i>)_<i>S</i>, such that there is a surjection <i>K₀</i>(Var<i>k</i>)→<i>K₀</i>(Add(Var<i>_k</i>)_<i>S</i>).If we consider only zero dimensional varieties, then this surjection is an isomorphism. Like <i>K₀</i>(Var<i>_k</i>), the group K_<i>0</i>(Add(Var_<i>k</i>)<i>_S</i>) is also generated by isomorphism classes of varieties,and we construct motivic measures on <i>K₀</i>(Add(Var<i>_k</i>)<i>_S</i>) including the Euler characteristic if <i>k</i>=<i>C</i>, and point counting measures and the zeta function if <i>k</i> is finite.<br></div>

To any Frobenius superalgebra A we associate an oriented Frobenius Brauer category and an affine oriented Frobenius Brauer categeory. We define natural actions of these categories on categories of supermodules for general linear Lie superalgebras gl_m|n(A) with entries in A. These actions generalize those on module categories for general linear Lie superalgebras and queer Lie superalgebras, which correspond to the cases where A is the ground field and the two-dimensional Clifford superalgebra, respectively. We include background on monoidal supercategories and Frobenius superalgebras and discuss some possible further directions.