Rights of Portugal, in reference to Great Britain and the question of the slave trade, or, the manifesto and protest of the weak, against the ingratitude, oppression, and violence of the strong ...

Enquanto os políticos e diplomatas polemizavam e agiam, Thomas Buxton publicava, depois de viajar ao Brasil e ao Caribe, o mais completo levantamento sobre o tráfico negreiro jamais feito até então.

L'Oyapoc et l'Amazone : question brésilienne et française

Joaquim Nabuco não teve êxito na defesa dos limites do Brasil com a a Guiana Inglesa, no juízo arbitral presidido pelo Rei da Itália. No entanto, o atlas com o qual ilustrou a sua argumentação é um importante trabalho da cartografia histórica, hoje muito raro.

The question of cultural transfer: Martial arts fiction in English translation

Santamaría, José Miguel; Pajares, Eterio; Olsen, Vickie; Merino, Raquel; Eguíluz, Federico (eds.)

Overfishing, uncertainty, and ocean governance: Lord Perry's question revisited

“Why does overfishing persist in the face of regulation?” The author argues that over fishing,a fundamental cause of the crisis facing our oceans, is the result of the failure of our fishing management agencies (ultimately our politicians and communities) to embrace a small suite of powerful tools (more correctly strategic approaches) which have been developed to account for uncertainty. Broad success in managing fisheries to achieve sustainability goals will only come if these tools are enthusiastically applied. This will not happen until organisational cultures within fishery management agencies undergo a major shift leading to an asset-based biodiversity conservation, rather than resource exploitation, to be placed at the centre of ocean governance.This thesis examines these issues in the context of case studies covering regional, national and provincial (State) fishery management agencies. With the exception of the case study of a regional fishery (the southern ocean krill fishery) all case studies are drawn from Australian experiences. The central recommendation of the thesis is that fishery management agencies, worldwide, should be replaced by biodiversity asset management agencies.

Earthquakes of the Nepal Himalaya : towards a physical model of the seismic cycle

Home to hundreds of millions of souls and land of excessiveness, the Himalaya is also the locus of a unique seismicity whose scope and peculiarities still remain to this day somewhat mysterious. Having claimed the lives of kings, or turned ancient timeworn cities into heaps of rubbles and ruins, earthquakes eerily inhabit Nepalese folk tales with the fatalistic message that nothing lasts forever. From a scientific point of view as much as from a human perspective, solving the mysteries of Himalayan seismicity thus represents a challenge of prime importance. Documenting geodetic strain across the Nepal Himalaya with various GPS and leveling data, we show that unlike other subduction zones that exhibit a heterogeneous and patchy coupling pattern along strike, the last hundred kilometers of the Main Himalayan Thrust fault, or MHT, appear to be uniformly locked, devoid of any of the “creeping barriers” that traditionally ward off the propagation of large events. The approximately 20 mm/yr of reckoned convergence across the Himalaya matching previously established estimates of the secular deformation at the front of the arc, the slip accumulated at depth has to somehow elastically propagate all the way to the surface at some point. And yet, neither large events from the past nor currently recorded microseismicity nearly compensate for the massive moment deficit that quietly builds up under the giant mountains. Along with this large unbalanced moment deficit, the uncommonly homogeneous coupling pattern on the MHT raises the question of whether or not the locked portion of the MHT can rupture all at once in a giant earthquake. Univocally answering this question appears contingent on the still elusive estimate of the magnitude of the largest possible earthquake in the Himalaya, and requires tight constraints on local fault properties. What makes the Himalaya enigmatic also makes it the potential source of an incredible wealth of information, and we exploit some of the oddities of Himalayan seismicity in an effort to improve the understanding of earthquake physics and cipher out the properties of the MHT. Thanks to the Himalaya, the Indo-Gangetic plain is deluged each year under a tremendous amount of water during the annual summer monsoon that collects and bears down on the Indian plate enough to pull it away from the Eurasian plate slightly, temporarily relieving a small portion of the stress mounting on the MHT. As the rainwater evaporates in the dry winter season, the plate rebounds and tension is increased back on the fault. Interestingly, the mild waggle of stress induced by the monsoon rains is about the same size as that from solid-Earth tides which gently tug at the planets solid layers, but whereas changes in earthquake frequency correspond with the annually occurring monsoon, there is no such correlation with Earth tides, which oscillate back-and-forth twice a day. We therefore investigate the general response of the creeping and seismogenic parts of MHT to periodic stresses in order to link these observations to physical parameters. First, the response of the creeping part of the MHT is analyzed with a simple spring-and-slider system bearing rate-strengthening rheology, and we show that at the transition with the locked zone, where the friction becomes near velocity neutral, the response of the slip rate may be amplified at some periods, which values are analytically related to the physical parameters of the problem. Such predictions therefore hold the potential of constraining fault properties on the MHT, but still await observational counterparts to be applied, as nothing indicates that the variations of seismicity rate on the locked part of the MHT are the direct expressions of variations of the slip rate on its creeping part, and no variations of the slip rate have been singled out from the GPS measurements to this day. When shifting to the locked seismogenic part of the MHT, spring-and-slider models with rate-weakening rheology are insufficient to explain the contrasted responses of the seismicity to the periodic loads that tides and monsoon both place on the MHT. Instead, we resort to numerical simulations using the Boundary Integral CYCLes of Earthquakes algorithm and examine the response of a 2D finite fault embedded with a rate-weakening patch to harmonic stress perturbations of various periods. We show that such simulations are able to reproduce results consistent with a gradual amplification of sensitivity as the perturbing period get larger, up to a critical period corresponding to the characteristic time of evolution of the seismicity in response to a step-like perturbation of stress. This increase of sensitivity was not reproduced by simple 1D-spring-slider systems, probably because of the complexity of the nucleation process, reproduced only by 2D-fault models. When the nucleation zone is close to its critical unstable size, its growth becomes highly sensitive to any external perturbations and the timings of produced events may therefore find themselves highly affected. A fully analytical framework has yet to be developed and further work is needed to fully describe the behavior of the fault in terms of physical parameters, which will likely provide the keys to deduce constitutive properties of the MHT from seismological observations.

High temperature transport properties of lead chalcogenides and their alloys

This thesis describes a series of experimental studies of lead chalcogenide thermoelectric semiconductors, mainly PbSe. Focusing on a well-studied semiconductor and reporting good but not extraordinary zT, this thesis distinguishes itself by answering the following questions that haven’t been answered: What represents the thermoelectric performance of PbSe? Where does the high zT come from? How (and how much) can we make it better? For the first question, samples were made with highest quality. Each transport property was carefully measured, cross-verified and compared with both historical and contemporary report to overturn commonly believed underestimation of zT. For n- and p-type PbSe zT at 850 K can be 1.1 and 1.0, respectively. For the second question, a systematic approach of quality factor B was used. In n-type PbSe zT is benefited from its high-quality conduction band that combines good degeneracy, low band mass and low deformation potential, whereas zT of p-type is boosted when two mediocre valence bands converge (in band edge energy). In both cases the thermal conductivity from PbSe lattice is inherently low. For the third question, the use of solid solution lead chalcogenide alloys was first evaluated. Simple criteria were proposed to help quickly evaluate the potential of improving zT by introducing atomic disorder. For both PbTe1-xSex and PbSe1-xSx, the impacts in electron and phonon transport compensate each other. Thus, zT in each case was roughly the average of two binary compounds. In p-type Pb1-xSrxSe alloys an improvement of zT from 1.1 to 1.5 at 900 K was achieved, due to the band engineering effect that moves the two valence bands closer in energy. To date, making n-type PbSe better hasn’t been accomplished, but possible strategy is discussed.

How far from Jerusalem? Tropical customs and the question of race in the Book of John Mandeville

The Book of John Mandeville, while ostensibly a pilgrimage guide documenting an English knight’s journey into the East, is an ideal text in which to study the developing concept of race in the European Middle Ages. The Mandeville-author’s sense of place and morality are inextricably linked to each other: Jerusalem is the center of his world, which necessarily forces Africa and Asia to occupy the spiritual periphery. Most inhabitants of Mandeville’s landscapes are not monsters in the physical sense, but at once startlingly human and irreconcilably alien in their customs. Their religious heresies, disordered sexual appetites, and monstrous acts of cannibalism label them as fallen state of the European Christian self. Mandeville’s monstrosities lie not in the fantastical, but the disturbingly familiar, coupling recognizable humans with a miscarriage of natural law. In using real people to illustrate the moral degeneracy of the tropics, Mandeville’s ethnography helps shed light on the missing link between medieval monsters and modern race theory.

La libertad de información y revelación de datos fiscales

[ES]Con el desarrollo de las nuevas tecnologías, se han facilitado las relaciones, acortado el tiempo de espera y agilizado los trámites con la Administración Pública. Estos adelantos, sin embargo, han propiciado que sea necesario proporcionar información de carácter personal de los ciudadanos, que en la mayoría de los casos es sensible. Es por esto que en los últimos años se han ido modificando e introduciendo nuevas leyes que permiten proteger estos datos de carácter personal. Cuando un contribuyente realiza sus obligaciones tributarias suministra datos de carácter personal a Hacienda, datos que están protegidos por la Ley Orgánica de Protección de Datos. El Sistema Tributario deber ser eficaz y transparente. Sin embargo, cabe preguntarse dónde se sitúa el límite a esa transparencia. Con el fin de que la transparencia sea máxima y de que la ciudadanía se conciencie de la importancia de cumplir con sus obligaciones tributarias el legislador se ha planteado la posibilidad de publicar una lista de deudores y las sentencias firmes condenatorias de grandes defraudadores. Esta publicación de las listas aparentemente vulneraría los derechos de los ciudadanos en lo referente a la protección de datos con opiniones encontradas. Tras informes de diferentes organismos se ha llegado al Proyecto de Ley de Modificación parcial de la Ley 58/2003, General Tributaria (Boletín Oficial de las Cortes Generales del 30 de abril de 2015), que permitiría publicar las listas con ciertos límites: publicación únicamente del nombre de la persona física o jurídica y DNI o NIF. Además, para permitir la publicación de las sentencias firmes de los defraudadores, recientemente se ha aprobado el Proyecto de reforma de la Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial.

O gozo no feminino

Esta pesquisa faz uma reflexão sobre a incidência do feminino e o gozo que lhe é próprio, na clínica psicanalítica e no social. A hipótese que sustenta o trabalho é a de que, na estrutura neurótica, quando o sujeito ocupa a posição feminina e experimenta o gozo Outro, pode vivenciar uma espécie de loucura, de sem-razão, que se expressa através de fenômenos aparentemente semelhantes aos de uma psicose. Freud deixou em aberto a questão do Dark Continent que habita as mulheres. Lacan partindo das elaborações freudianas pode avançar na questão ao separar feminino e mulher, utilizando-se das fórmulas da sexuação. O uso dessas fórmulas permitiu a Lacan conceituar o feminino como o que está fora da norma fálica e pode ser experimentado por qualquer um que se situe na posição do não-todo fálico. Esta pesquisa apresenta um estudo do gozo através da obra de Freud e Lacan para distinguir o gozo do Outro barrado, do gozo do Outro não barrado. Os casos clínicos aqui apresentados exemplificam alguns efeitos da experiência da alteridade: o gozo místico, a relação de devastação entre mãe e filha, e a experiência do gozo feminino no encontro com o Outro sexo.

Economía de la salud, modalidades de evaluación económica

La salud es un aspecto muy importante en la vida de cualquier persona, de forma que, al ocurrir cualquier contingencia que merma el estado de salud de un individuo o grupo de personas, se debe valorar estrictamente y en detalle las distintas alternativas destinadas a combatir la enfermedad. Esto se debe a que, la calidad de vida de los pacientes variará dependiendo de la alternativa elegida. La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) se entiende como el valor asignado a la duración de la vida, modificado por la oportunidad social, la percepción, el estado funcional y la disminución provocadas por una enfermedad, accidente, tratamiento o política (Sacristán et al, 1995). Para determinar el valor numérico asignado a la CVRS, ante una intervención, debemos beber de la teoría económica aplicada a las evaluaciones sanitarias para nuevas intervenciones. Entre los métodos de evaluación económica sanitaria, el método coste-utilidad emplea como utilidad, los años de vida ajustado por calidad (AVAC), que consiste, por un lado, tener en cuenta la calidad de vida ante una intervención médica, y por otro lado, los años estimados a vivir tras la intervención. Para determinar la calidad de vida, se emplea técnicas como el Juego Estándar, la Equivalencia Temporal y la Escala de Categoría. Estas técnicas nos proporcionan un valor numérico entre 0 y 1, siendo 0 el peor estado y 1 el estado perfecto de salud. Al entrevistar a un paciente a cerca de la utilidad en términos de salud, puede haber riesgo o incertidumbre en la pregunta planteada. En tal caso, se aplica el Juego Estándar con el fin de determinar el valor numérico de la utilidad o calidad de vida del paciente ante un tratamiento dado. Para obtener este valor, al paciente se le plantean dos escenarios: en primer lugar, un estado de salud con probabilidad de morir y de sobrevivir, y en segundo lugar, un estado de certeza. La utilidad se determina modificando la probabilidad de morir hasta llegar a la probabilidad que muestra la indiferencia del individuo entre el estado de riesgo y el estado de certeza. De forma similar, tenemos la equivalencia temporal, cuya aplicación resulta más fácil que el juego estándar ya que valora en un eje de ordenadas y abscisas, el valor de la salud y el tiempo a cumplir en esa situación ante un tratamiento sanitario, de forma que, se llega al valor correspondiente a la calidad de vida variando el tiempo hasta que el individuo se muestre indiferente entre las dos alternativas. En último lugar, si lo que se espera del paciente es una lista de estados de salud preferidos ante un tratamiento, empleamos la Escala de Categoría, que consiste en una línea horizontal de 10 centímetros con puntuaciones desde 0 a 100. La persona entrevistada coloca la lista de estados de salud según el orden de preferencia en la escala que después es normalizado a un intervalo entre 0 y 1. Los años de vida ajustado por calidad se obtienen multiplicando el valor de la calidad de vida por los años de vida estimados que vivirá el paciente. Sin embargo, ninguno de estas metodologías mencionadas consideran el factor edad, siendo necesario la inclusión de esta variable. Además, los pacientes pueden responder de manera subjetiva, situación en la que se requiere la opinión de un experto que determine el nivel de discapacidad del aquejado. De esta forma, se introduce el concepto de años de vida ajustado por discapacidad (AVAD) tal que el parámetro de utilidad de los AVAC será el complementario del parámetro de discapacidad de los AVAD Q^i=1-D^i. A pesar de que este último incorpora parámetros de ponderación de edad que no se contemplan en los AVAC. Además, bajo la suposición Q=1-D, podemos determinar la calidad de vida del individuo antes del tratamiento. Una vez obtenido los AVAC ganados, procedemos a la valoración monetaria de éstos. Para ello, partimos de la suposición de que la intervención sanitaria permite al individuo volver a realizar las labores que venía realizando. De modo que valoramos los salarios probables con una temporalidad igual a los AVAC ganados, teniendo en cuenta la limitación que supone la aplicación de este enfoque. Finalmente, analizamos los beneficios derivados del tratamiento (masa salarial probable) si empleamos la tabla GRF-95 (población femenina) y GRM-95 (población masculina).

Financial and Economic Report of a Specific Business Group

As a result of the natural evolution of the economy, ever-changing, unpredictable and cyclical, companies must adapt as far as possible to the changes that have taken place in order to continue with their normal operating activities. Likewise, they should also try to maintain a structure for long-term growth, trying at all times to generate the maximum value. The main objective of this project is to provide financial advisory services to a business group, trying to forward solutions and measures that according to the author can be effective. For this end, the situation of the group in question is analysed from early 2008 to the present day, examining its evolution, what steps have been taken together with their corresponding results and the economic-financial situation of the company at the end of last year. Contact with the company was kept throughout the process of analysis and assessment trying to take advantage of the feedback generated so that the appropriate measures can be adopted if the management considers it to be adequate.

Refletindo criticamente sobre as necessidades do aluno de inglês instrumental à luz da condição pós-método

O Inglês para Fins Específicos é a abordagem de ensino que ancora o trabalho feito no instituto federal no qual trabalho. Ele tem como premissa básica o ensino focado em uma análise de necessidades, ou seja, tudo o que é ensinado/aprendido está em alinhamento com o que os aprendizes necessitam em seu ambiente acadêmico e profissional. Por causa de mitos e dogmas enraizados ao longo das décadas, porém, a abordagem transformou-se exclusivamente no ensino de leitura e originou distorções na proposta original. O estudo parte da pergunta de pesquisa: O que o aluno participante desta pesquisa vê como prioridade em sua aprendizagem de inglês na escola? Outras perguntas surgiram após conversar com os dados coletados: Por que os alunos participantes querem um ensino e a escola propicia outro?; O que falta na sala de aula para amenizar essa lacuna entre o desejo dos alunos-participantes e a oferta da escola?; e, O que nós, professores, podemos fazer em relação às propostas pedagógicas para preencher esse espaço, à luz dos dados coletados e da revisão de literatura? Investigo então o posionamento de 65 aprendizes do 3 ano do ensino médio da escola na qual trabalho, através de questionários e entrevista nos moldes de um grupo focal com 5 participantes, sobre o que eles veem como prioridade na aprendizagem de inglês na escola e reflito sobre práticas pedagógicas que poderiam atender às necessidades apontadas pelos participantes. Dentro do espírito (in)disciplinar da Linguística Aplicada e dentro de um paradigma qualitativo, a análise das respostas pautou-se na recorrência de temas nas respostas às perguntas do questionário e participação no grupo focal. Temas que recorreram com frequência alta formaram categorias que serviram de base para a discussão. Selecionei duas perguntas do questionário para a análise: a pergunta (9) como você espera que seja o ensino de inglês no Ensino Médio? e a (10) quais habilidades vocês gostariam de desenvolver?, por sua relação direta com o objetivo da pesquisa. A categoria que emergiu das menções mais recorrentes nos proferimentos dos alunos foi comunicação oral, em um total de 62 menções. Outras oito categorias emergiram do corpus. Considerei frequência alta, e por isso categórica, a quantidade de 17 menções. A partir desses resultados, defendo neste trabalho que a voz do aluno (que grita urgência ao aprendizado da comunicação oral) seja ouvida nesse processo, e que uma nova pedagogia pós-metodológica seja implantada no ensino-aprendizagem de línguas no ensino médio e técnico

Answering engineers' questions using semantic annotations

0890-0604

Is epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) specific fungus of fishes a primary pathogen?: an opinion

Earlier findings on epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) and the present observation of the authors on transmission of EUS to snakehead (Channa sp.) without skin damage provide evidence to suggest that the invasive fungus associated with EUS is a primary pathogen.