Elementos constitutivos do humor em sitcoms: uma análise à luz dos estudos da tradução baseados em corpus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Satellite-Derived Variability in Chlorophyll, Wind Stress, Sea Surface Height, and Temperature in the Northern California Current System

Satellite-derived data provide the temporal means and seasonal and nonseasonal variability of four physical and biological parameters off Oregon and Washington ( 41 degrees - 48.5 degrees N). Eight years of data ( 1998 - 2005) are available for surface chlorophyll concentrations, sea surface temperature ( SST), and sea surface height, while six years of data ( 2000 - 2005) are available for surface wind stress. Strong cross-shelf and alongshore variability is apparent in the temporal mean and seasonal climatology of all four variables. Two latitudinal regions are identified and separated at 44 degrees - 46 degrees N, where the coastal ocean experiences a change in the direction of the mean alongshore wind stress, is influenced by topographic features, and has differing exposure to the Columbia River Plume. All these factors may play a part in defining the distinct regimes in the northern and southern regions. Nonseasonal signals account for similar to 60 - 75% of the dynamical variables. An empirical orthogonal function analysis shows stronger intra-annual variability for alongshore wind, coastal SST, and surface chlorophyll, with stronger interannual variability for surface height. Interannual variability can be caused by distant forcing from equatorial and basin-scale changes in circulation, or by more localized changes in regional winds, all of which can be found in the time series. Correlations are mostly as expected for upwelling systems on intra-annual timescales. Correlations of the interannual timescales are complicated by residual quasi-annual signals created by changes in the timing and strength of the seasonal cycles. Examination of the interannual time series, however, provides a convincing picture of the covariability of chlorophyll, surface temperature, and surface height, with some evidence of regional wind forcing.

Urinary diversion: how experts divert

OBJECTIVE To determine the rates of the available urinary diversion options for patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer in different settings (pioneering institutions, leading urologic oncology centers, and population based). METHODS Population-based data from the literature included all patients (n = 7608) treated in Sweden during the period 1964-2008, from Germany (n = 14,200) for the years 2008 and 2011, US patients (identified from National Inpatient Sample during 1998-2005, 35,370 patients and 2001-2008, 55,187 patients), and from Medicare (n = 22,600) for the years 1992, 1995, 1998, and 2001. After the International Consultation on Urologic Diseases-European Association of Urology International Consultation on Bladder Cancer 2012, the urinary diversion committee members disclosed data from their home institutions (n = 15,867), including the pioneering institutions and the leading urologic oncology centers. They are the coauthors of this report. RESULTS The receipt of continent urinary diversion in Sweden and the United States is <15%, whereas in the German high-volume setting, 30% of patients receive a neobladder. At leading urologic oncology centers, this rate is also 30%. At pioneering institutions up to 75% of patients receive an orthotopic reconstruction. Anal diversion is <1%. Continent cutaneous diversion is the second choice. CONCLUSION Enormous variations in urinary diversion exist for >2 decades. Increased attention in expanding the use of continent reconstruction may help to reduce these disparities for patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Continent reconstruction should not be the exclusive domain of cystectomy centers. Efforts to increase rates of this complex reconstruction must concentrate on better definition of the quality-of-life impact, technique dissemination, and the centralization of radical cystectomy.

Interannual Variability in Timing of Bloom Initiation in the California Current System

In the California Current System the spring transition from poleward to equatorward alongshore wind stress heralds the beginning of upwelling-favorable conditions. The phytoplankton response to this transition is investigated using 8 years ( 1998-2005) of daily, 4-km resolution, Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor ( SeaWiFS) chlorophyll a concentration data. Cluster analysis of the chlorophyll a time series at each location is used to separate the inshore upwelling region from offshore and oligotrophic areas. An objective method for estimating the timing of bloom initiation is used to construct a map of the mean bloom start date. Interannual variability in bloom timing and magnitude is investigated in four regions: 45 degrees N - 50 degrees N, 40 degrees N - 45 degrees N, 35 degrees N - 40 degrees N and 20 degrees N - 35 degrees N. Daily satellite derived wind data ( QuikSCAT) allow the timing of the first episode of persistently upwelling favorable winds to be estimated. Bloom initiation generally coincides with the onset of upwelling winds ( +/- 15 days). South of similar to 35 degrees N, where winds are southward year-round, the timing of increased chlorophyll concentration corresponds closely to timing of the seasonal increase in upwelling intensity. A 1-D model and satellite derived photosynthetically available radiation data are used to estimate time series of depth- averaged irradiance. In the far north of the region (> 46 degrees N) light is shown to limit phytoplankton growth in early spring. In 2005 the spring bloom in the northern regions (> 35 degrees N) had a "false start''. A sharp increase in chl a in February quickly receded, and a sustained increase in biomass was delayed until July. We hypothesize that this resulted in a mismatch in timing of food availability to higher trophic levels.

Ingeniería de presas escolleras

La construcción de la Presa Potrerillos en el río Mendoza, durante una época muy especial de la ingeniería de grandes presas (1998-2005), caracterizada por la diversidad de las corrientes de opinión acerca del desarrollo del aprovechamiento de los recursos hidráulicos de regiones y países, la elaboración y difusión de criterios del informe final de la Comisión Mundial de Presas (World Commission on Dams) junto con la publicación del mismo y la vigencia en la Provincia de Mendoza de la Ley provincial nº 5961 de preservación del Medio Ambiente, ha sido acompañada por los sectores técnicos de la sociedad según modos muy diversos, entroncados con el nivel de las culturas particulares de sus integrantes y del estado de la práctica local. Hubo voces favorables y otras desalentadoras que, como en el caso de la presa de Aswan, jamás callarán, a pesar del balance de beneficios y perjuicios, el cual demuestra lo acertado en la decisión de llevarla a cabo, a pesar de los inconvenientes que debieron ser superados.

(Table 1) Contents of chlorophyll a over the Northern Sea Route according to data of field measurements and estimated from MODIS data on measurement days

New maps of mean monthly distribution of chlorophyll and primary production in the Kara Sea were compiled using joint processing of CZCS (1978-1986), SeaWiFS (1998-2005), and MODIS (2002-2006) satellite data and field measurements. The annual primary production of phytoplankton is estimated at 22.3 x 10**6 t C per year or 70 mg C/m**2 per day. Results of calculations of the organic carbon budget in the Kara Sea are presented.

El léxico del videojuego: Análisis contextual en un género periodístico

Esta tesis doctoral, objetivo final y resultado de mis estudios de doctorado, realizados dentro del programa perteneciente al Departamento de Lingüística Aplicada a la Ciencia y a la Tecnología de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, aborda el análisis del léxico del videojuego en español en un corpus de reseñas periodísticas y plantea la hipótesis de su pertenencia a un dominio léxico propio. El estudio se centra en el establecimiento y la descripción de dicho dominio léxico del videojuego como parte integrante del correspondiente a las nuevas tecnologías e Internet. En ese marco, el videojuego ha adquirido en los últimos años gran relevancia debido a su indudable y creciente impacto social, que ha merecido la atención tanto de estudiosos como de profesionales de procedencia diversa. Así, el desarrollo de una teoría del videojuego se ha basado en los últimos años en aspectos muy variados, desde el análisis crítico de los elementos técnicos y artísticos de lo que muchos autores consideran ya como nueva disciplina académica, hasta su influencia en el proceso de aprendizaje y en la divulgación informativa. Además, el videojuego, como medio de expresión artística y cultural ya comparable a otros de gran arraigo como el cine, tiene también su reflejo en la prensa, y no solo en la especializada, sino también en los periódicos generalistas, que han añadido, en sus ediciones impresas y digitales, información y reseñas críticas de videojuegos. Es precisamente en estas reseñas, que cumplen una función periodística similar a las críticas de cine, puesto que despiertan el interés tanto de aficionados a los videojuegos como de compradores ocasionales, donde tiene su origen esta tesis. Al aparecer publicadas en una sección del periódico dedicada a las nuevas tecnologías e Internet, el lector que se acerca a ellas por primera vez se ve sorprendido por el léxico que utilizan sus autores: los artículos de crítica de videojuegos se llenan de creadores, de personajes y de historias, de misiones, enemigos, aventuras y avatares; de puntuaciones y de códigos secretos, pero también de motores de juego, de polígonos y de gráficos. Esta mezcla de elementos narrativos, artísticos, industriales y técnicos convierten al vocabulario propio del videojuego en un ámbito léxico digno del interés académico. Precisamente, un elemento innovador que ofrece esta tesis es el ámbito temático del estudio, ya que, a pesar de que el videojuego comienza a ser objeto de investigación y análisis crítico desde distintos puntos de vista (Bogost, 2006) (Juul, 1998, 2005) (Gee, 2007), no constan estudios de índole lingüística que establezcan y describan su léxico en español fuera del ámbito especializado. Así, se parte de una visión del léxico del videojuego no solo como terminología especializada, y por tanto orientada únicamente a especialistas, sino como léxico que ha superado el campo de especialidad para ser adoptado por los hablantes de español.

Corteza y gravedad: el plano del suelo como estrategia en la arquitectura contemporánea

Es, en el encuentro de los edificios con el terreno, donde el suelo como realidad se transforma en cualidad arquitectónica. La presente tesis aborda el estudio del plano del suelo, haciendo una revisión crítica de la arquitectura como mecanismo de pensamiento proyectual. Este análisis se enmarca a partir de los años sesenta, por considerar que es cuando comienza a evidenciarse la ruptura respecto a la herencia del Movimiento Moderno. Es entonces cuando la arquitectura marca un punto de inflexión, y empiezan a surgir diferentes actitudes metodológicas respecto al suelo, totalmente nuevas. Las clásicas acciones de encuentro como posar, elevar o enterrar fueron poco a poco sustituidas por otras más complejas como plegar, inclinar o esponjar. Utilizando como marco de restricción los encuentros o desencuentros del objeto arquitectónico con el terreno, se analiza el suelo como estrategia arquitectónica tratando de demostrar como su manipulación puede ser una eficaz herramienta con la que establecer relaciones específicas con el lugar. La capacidad que presenta el suelo, como elemento arquitectónico, de explorar y modificar las características de cada entorno, hacen de esta superficie una eficiente forma de contextualización. Por tanto, la manipulación del suelo que aquí se plantea, opera transcodificando los elementos específicos de cada lugar y actúa como estrategia arquitectónica que pone en relación al edificio con el contexto, modificando las particularidades formales de dicho plano. Frente a la tendencia que reduce la expresión arquitectónica a una simple apariencia formal autónoma, se plantea la manipulación del plano del suelo como mecanismo de enraizamiento con el lugar, enfatizando para ello la condición terrestre de la arquitectura. El plano del suelo es el que ata al edificio mediante la gravedad a la corteza terrestre. En realidad se trata de realzar el carácter mediador del suelo en la arquitectura, definiendo para ello el establecimiento de elementos comunes entre realidades distintas, potenciando el valor del suelo como herramienta que puede transcodificar el entorno, trasformando su datos en elementos arquitectónicos concretos. En este proceso de traducción de información, el suelo pasa de ser un objeto pasivo a ser uno operativo, convirtiéndose en parte activa de las acciones que sobre él se ejercen. La tesis tiene también como propósito demostrar cómo, la clave de la rápida evolución que el suelo como estrategia arquitectónica ha sufrido en los últimos años, mucho debe a la expansión del suelo en otras artes como en la escultura, y mas concretamente en el landart. Surgen entonces nuevas disciplinas, en las que se propone la comprensión del lugar en los proyectos desarrollando una visión integral del mundo natural, convirtiéndolo en un tejido viviente y conector que pone en relación las actividades que sustenta. También encontramos en Utzon, y sus plataformas geológicas, al precursor de la importancia que más tarde se le daría al plano del suelo en la arquitectura, ya que inicia cierta actitud crítica, que hizo avanzar hacia una arquitectura más expresiva que requería nuevos mecanismos que la relacionasen con el suelo que los soportaba, proponiendo con sus plataformas una transformación infraestructural del suelo. Con su interpretación transcultural de las estructuras espaciales arquetípicas mayas, chinas y japonesas, irá enriqueciendo el panorama arquitectónico, adquiriendo de este modo más valor el contexto que acabará por ser entendido de forma más compleja. Los proyectos de arquitectura en muchas ocasiones se han convertido en territorios propicios de especulación donde construir teoría arquitectónica. Desde este contexto se analizan cuatro estrategias de suelo a través del estudio de cuatro posiciones arquitectónicas muy significativas desde el punto de vista de la manipulación del plano del suelo, que construyen una interesante metodología proyectual con la que operar. Los casos de estudio, propuestos son; la Terminal Pasajeros (1996-2002) en Yokohama del estudio FOA, la Casa de la Música (1999-2005) de OMA en Oporto, el Memorial Judío (1998-2005) de Berlín de Peter Eisenman, y por último el Museo MAXXI (1998-2009) de Zaha Hadid en Roma. Descubrir las reglas, referencias y metodologías que cada uno nos propone, nos permite descubrir cuáles son los principales posicionamientos en relación al proyecto y su relación con el lugar. Las propuestas aquí expuestas abordan una nueva forma de entender el suelo, que hizo avanzar a la arquitectura hacia nuevos modos de encuentro con el terreno. Nos permite también establecer cuáles son las principales aportaciones arquitectónicas del suelo, como estrategia arquitectónica, que han derivado en su reformulación. Dichas contribuciones abren nuevas formas de abordar la arquitectura basadas en el movimiento y en la flexibilidad funcional, o en la superposición de flujos de información y circulación. También plantean nuevas vías desdibujando la figura contra el fondo, y refuerzan la idea del suelo como plataforma infraestructural que ya había sido enunciada por Utzon. Se trata en definitiva de proponer la exploración de la superficie del suelo como el elemento más revelador de las formas emergentes del espacio. ABSTRACT Where the building hits the ground, it is where the latter as reality becomes architectural quality. This thesis presents the study of the ground plane, making a critical review of architecture as a mechanism of projectual thought. This analysis starts from the sixties, because it is when the break begins to be demonstrated with regard to the inheritance of the Modern Movement. It is then when architecture marks a point of inflexion, and different, completely new methodological attitudes to the ground start to emerge. The classic meeting action like place, raise or bury are gradually replaced by more complex operations such as fold, bend or fluff up. Framing it within the meetings or disagreements between architectural object and ground, we analyzed it as architectural strategy trying to show how handling can be an effective tool to establish a specific relationship with the place. The capacity ground has, as an architectural element, to explore and modify the characteristics of each environment, makes this area an efficient tool for contextualization. Therefore, the manipulation of ground that is analyzed here, operates transcoding the specifics of each place and acts as architectural strategy that relates to the building with the context, modifying the structural peculiarities of such plane. Opposite to the reductive tendency of the architectural expression to a simple formal autonomous appearance, the manipulation of the ground plane is considered as a rooting mechanism place that emphasises the earthly condition of architecture. The ground plane is the one that binds the building by gravity to the earth’s crust. In fact, it tries to study the mediating character of the ground in architecture, defining for it to establish commonalities among different realities, enhancing the value of the ground as a tool that can transcode the environment, transforming its data into specific architectural elements. In this process of translating information, the ground goes from being a liability, to become active part of the actions exerted on the object. The thesis also tries to demonstrate how the key of the rapid evolution that the ground likes architectural strategy has gone through recently, much due to its use expansion in other arts such as sculpture. New disciplines arise then, in which one proposes the local understanding in the projects, developing an integral vision of the natural world and turning it into an element linking the activities it supports. We also find in Utzon, and his geological platforms, the precursor of the importance that later would be given to the ground plane in architecture, since it initiates a certain critical attitude, which advances towards a more expressive architecture, with new mechanisms that relate to the ground that it sits in, proposing with its platforms an infrastructural transformation of the ground. With his transcultural interpretation of the spatial archetypal structures, he will enrich the architectural discourse, making the context become understood in more complex ways. Architectural projects in many cases have become territories prone to architectural theory speculation. Within this context, four strategies are analyzed through the study of four very significant architectural positions, from the point of view of handling the ground plane, and the project methodology within which to operate. The case studies analyzed are; Passenger Terminal (1996-2002) in Yokohama from FOA, The House of the music (1999-2005) the OMA in Oporto, The Jew monument (1998-2005) in Berlin the Peter Eisenman, and finally the MAXXI Museum (1998-2009) the Zaha Hadid in Rome. Discovering the rules, references and methodologies that each of those offer, it allows to discover what the main positions are regarding the building and its relationship with the place where it is located. The proposals exposed here try to shed a different light on the ground, which architecture advancing in new ways on how meet it. The crossing of the different studied positions, allows us to establish what the main contributions of ground as architectural strategy are. Such contributions open up new approaches to architecture based on movement and functional flexibility, overlapping information flow and circulation, consider new ways that blur the figure against the background, and reinforce the idea of ground as infrastructural platform, already raised by Utzon. Summarizing, it tries to propose the exploration of the ground plane as the most revealing form of spatial exploration.

Exports and Firm Productivity: The effect of US steel safeguards. Bruges European Economic Research (BEER) Papers 19/January 2011

This paper investigates possible negative effects of the 2002 US steel safeguards on productivity of Eurozone steel companies. The analysis is based on an extensive literature which predicts that exporting firms not only are bigger and more productive, but also that exporting itself has positive effects, improving efficiency and leading to better utilization of firm resources. The paper investigates a large sample of EU-13 steel producing firms, in the 1998 - 2005 period. Using three methods of Total Factor Productivity (TFP) estimation among which the Olley-Pakes semiparametric estimator, we first calculate the productivity levels of companies, and then check for any unusual fluctuation in this performance variable. We find that in 2002 there has been a significant drop in TFP. The paper is an invitation for further research in this field, given the possible important effects of safeguard measures on exporters.

Characteristics of soil profiles from the Ouémé Upper Catchment (HVO), Térou, Benin

Soil degradation threatens agricultural production and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the coming decades, soil degradation, in particular soil erosion, will become worse through the expansion of agriculture into savannah and forest and changes in climate. This study aims to improve the understanding of how land use and climate change affect the hydrological cycle and soil erosion rates at the catchment scale. We used the semi-distributed, time-continuous erosion model SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) to quantify runoff processes and sheet and rill erosion in the Upper Ouémé River catchment (14500 km**2, Central Benin) for the period 1998-2005. We could then evaluate a range of land use and climate change scenarios with the SWAT model for the period 2001-2050 using spatial data from the land use model CLUE-S and the regional climate model REMO. Field investigations were performed to parameterise a soil map, to measure suspended sediment concentrations for model calibration and validation and to characterise erosion forms, degraded agricultural fields and soil conservation practices. Modelling results reveal current "hotspots" of soil erosion in the north-western, eastern and north-eastern parts of the Upper Ouémé catchment. As a consequence of rapid expansion of agricultural areas triggered by high population growth (partially caused by migration) and resulting increases in surface runoff and topsoil erosion, the mean sediment yield in the Upper Ouémé River outlet is expected to increase by 42 to 95% by 2025, depending on the land use scenario. In contrast, changes in climate variables led to decreases in sediment yield of 5 to 14% in 2001-2025 and 17 to 24% in 2026-2050. Combined scenarios showed the dominance of land use change leading to changes in mean sediment yield of -2 to +31% in 2001-2025. Scenario results vary considerably within the catchment. Current "hotspots" of soil erosion will aggravate, and a new "hotspot" will appear in the southern part of the catchment. Although only small parts of the Upper Ouémé catchment belong to the most degraded zones in the country, sustainable soil and plant management practices should be promoted in the entire catchment. The results of this study can support planning of soil conservation activities in Benin.

Source of finance, growth and firm size:evidence from China

Using a comprehensive firm-level dataset spanning the period 1998-2005, this paper provides a thorough investigation of the relationship between firm size, total factor productivity growth and financial structure in China, controlling for the endogeneity of the latter. Generally, it finds financing source matters for firms of different size, and the extent to which financing source matters for firm growth is greater for small firms than big firms. Self-raised finance appears to be most effective in promoting small firms to grow, and bank loan seems to be more supportive to big firms. The relationship between size, finance and growth also depends on ownership. In addition, there exist strong complementarities between formal and informal finance, as well as between indigenous and foreign finance.

Shadow economy and entrepreneurial entry

We analyze theoretically and empirically the impact of the shadow economy on entrepreneurial entry, utilising 1998-2005 individual-level Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data merged with macro level variables. A simple correlation coefficient suggests a positive linear link between the size of the shadow economy and entrepreneurial entry. However, this masks more complex relationships. With appropriate controls and instrumenting for potential endogeneity where required, the impact of the shadow economy on entry is found to be negative, based on a linear specification. Moreover, there is also evidence of nonlinearity: entrepreneurial entry is least likely when the shadow economy is of medium size. We attribute the negative effects of shadow economy on entry to perceived strong competition faced by new entrants when the shadow economy is widespread. At the individual level, an extensive shadow economy has a more negative impact on respondents who are risk averse. In addition, in the economies where property rights are strong, the negative impact of the shadow economy is weaker.

Better means more:property rights and high-growth aspiration entrepreneurship

This paper contrasts the determinants of entrepreneurial entry and high-growth aspiration entrepreneurship. Using the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) surveys for 42 countries over the period 1998-2005, we analyse how institutional environment and entrepreneurial characteristics affect individual decisions to become entrepreneurs and aspirations to set up high-growth ventures. We find that institutions exert different effects on entrepreneurial entry and on the individual choice to launch high-growth aspiration projects. In particular, a strong property rights system is important for high-growth aspiration entrepreneurship, but has less pronounced effects for entrepreneurial entry. The availability of finance and the fiscal burden matter for both.

Shadow economy and entrepreneurial entry

The impact of the shadow economy on entrepreneurial entry across countries is analyzed utilising 1998-2005 individual-level Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data and national macro-economic variables. A simple correlation coefficient suggests a positive relationship between the size of the shadow economy and the likelihood of entrepreneurial entry. However, this masks more complex relationships, if, as argued, the shadow economy is an embedded social phenomenon. With appropriate controls and instrumenting for potential endogeneity, the impact of the shadow economy on entry in a linear specification is found to be negative. Further, there is evidence of a U-shaped relationship: entrepreneurial entry is least likely when the shadow economy amounts to about a quarter of gross domestic product (GDP). At the individual level, an extensive shadow economy has a more negative impact on respondents who are risk averse. In addition, in the economies where property rights are stronger, the negative impact of the shadow economy is weaker. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Global efficiency of innovative rotational mold directly heated by thermal fluid

The article is focused on analysis of global efficiency of new mold for rotational molding of plastic parts, being directly heated by thermal fluid. The overall efficiency is based on several items such as reduction of cycle time, better uniformity of heating-cooling and low energy consumption. The new tool takes advantage of additive fabrication and electroforming for making the optimal manifold and cavity shell of the mold. Experimental test of a prototype mold was carried out on an experimental rotational molding machine, developed for this purpose, measuring wall temperature, and internal air temperature, with and without plastic material inside. Results were compared with conventional mold heated into an oven and to theoretical simulations done by Computational Fluid Dynamic software (CFD). The analysis represents considerable improvement of cycle time related to conventional methods (heated by oven) and better thermal uniformity to conventional procedures by direct heating of oil with external channels. In addition to thermal analysis an energetic efficiency study was done. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 52:1998-2005, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers Copyright © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers.