(Virtual) Agents for running electricity markets

This paper describes a multi-agent based simulation (MABS) framework to construct an artificial electric power market populated with learning agents. The artificial market, named TEMMAS (The Electricity Market Multi-Agent Simulator), explores the integration of two design constructs: (i) the specification of the environmental physical market properties and (ii) the specification of the decision-making (deliberative) and reactive agents. TEMMAS is materialized in an experimental setup involving distinct power generator companies that operate in the market and search for the trading strategies that best exploit their generating units' resources. The experimental results show a coherent market behavior that emerges from the overall simulated environment.

Det planlagda och det som visar sig : klasslärarstuderandes syn på undervisning i teknisk slöjd

Sloyd as an activity concretizes man’s ability to, with the help of mind and body, reshape materials into objects and change her conditions for survival. The sloyd actor outside school works when the spirit moves her, while the pupil in school is expected to sloyd regardless of motivation. Subject teachers become experts on sloyd in educational settings, while the qualification requirements may set the class teachers’ voluntariness within parenthesis. All class teachers qualify to teach all core subjects of the national curriculum in Finland from preschool to grade six. The aim of the current thesis is to deepen the knowledge on how the science of sloyd education can support class teacher students’ future teaching in sloyd. In the empirical part of the study, Swedish-speaking Finnish class teacher students’ views on technical sloyd as one of their future subjects for teaching are examined. The class teacher’s qualifying skills in teaching technical sloyd are expected to take shape during only a few ECTS study points. The teacher students’ experience of the subject from the pupil’s perspective is supposed to move into a budding teacher subject. In a research-based teacher education, self-reflection and reflection as a dialogue are extended aided by research results. Intuitive thinking interplays with rational thinking during this time. The teacher student’s approach to make use of the autonomous free space in teaching is, in the current thesis, as considerations where the individual weighs the pros and cons in relation to various phenomena in sloyd and the school overall. The basis for an individual autonomy is shaped and is expected to interplay on the common arena of autonomy. In the exercise of their profession, the class teacher teaching sloyd is expected to oscillate between the sloyd educational practice and theory. The first step in this movement within the teacher education is the coverage of a selection of theories during the studies. The empirical part of the study is carried out at two separate occasions with directed open-ended interviews with fifteen class teacher students in the beginning and end of their first year of study. The data was analysed with a hermeneutic approach and a qualitatively oriented approach to content analysis. The results are mirrored against theory within the science of sloyd education. The results show that class teacher students have a versatile view of educational sloyd. The overall results overthrow parts of the researcher’s pre-understanding. The viewpoint of the students seems to broaden from a merely manual activity to seeing sloyd as an educational activity. In order for the results to gain significance in the teacher education of the future, a line of reasoning is conducted in order to recommend an extended dialogue and thirteen possible themes for enriching discussions are put forth as a result of the present study. The extended dialogue focuses on that teacher education should make conscious ventures to create opportunities for the students to take part in effective discussions on the subject of sloyd, complementing the existing dialogue between the teacher educator and the students. This thesis lends support to reflections on the following aspects of educational sloyd in these dialogues: the reasons for why the sloyd subject exists, the ambitions of the subject, the content and organization of the subject for students as well as for the teacher educators.

The duality of tactical thought : a study of how Swedish land forces' commanders view tactics in irregular warfare

This is a sociological study of the views of officers in the Swedish Army and its Amphibious Forces on tactics in Irregular Warfare (IW), in particular, Counterinsurgency (COIN). IW comprises struggles, where the military weaker part uses an indirect approach with smaller units and integrates the civilian and military dimensions in a violence spectrum including subversion, terrorism, Guerrilla Warfare and infantry actions. IW is the main armed warfare style in insurgencies. COIN is the combined political, military, economic, social and legal actions in counter insurgencies. Data has been collected by means of interviews with almost all (n =43) officers, who were either commanding battalions or rifle and manoeuvre companies while undergoing training for general warfare and international operations. The main theoretical and methodological inspiration is the traditional one for research on social fields, inaugurated by the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. The statistical technique used is Multiple Correspondence Analysis. As a background and context base, an inquiry inspired by the Begriffsgechichte (Conceptual History) tradition explores the genesis and development of understandings of the term Irregular Warfare. The research question is outlined as; “how can contemporary Swedish military thought on tactics in Irregular Warfare be characterized using descriptive patterns, mapped in relation to background factors and normative standards? The most significant findings are that there are two main opposing notions separating the officers’ views on tactics in Irregular Warfare: (1) a focus on larger, combat oriented and collectively operating military units versus smaller and larger, more intelligence oriented and dispersed operating units, and (2) a focus on military tasks and kinetic effects versus military and civilian tasks as well as “soft” effects. The distribution of these views can be presented as a two-dimensional space structured by the two axes. This space represents four categories of tactics, partly diverging from normative military standards for Counterinsurgency. This social space of standpoints shows different structural tendencies for background factors of social and cultural character, particularly dominant concerning military backgrounds, international mission experiences and civilian education. Compared to military standards for Counterinsurgency, the two tactical types characterized by a Regular Warfare mind-set stands out as counter-normative. Signs of creative thought on military practice and theory, as well as a still persistent Regular Warfare doxa are apparent. Power struggles might thus develop, effecting the transformation to a broadened warfare culture with an enhanced focus also on Irregular Warfare. The result does not support research results arguing for a convergence of military thought in the European transformation of Armed Forces. The main argument goes beyond tactics and suggests sociological analysis on reciprocal effects regarding strategy, operational art, tactics as well as leadership, concerning the mind-set and preferences for Regular, Irregular and Hybrid Warfare.

Dispositifs architecturaux et expérience spatiale de la ville: le cas de l'installation architecturale

L’installation architecturale, l’objet de recherche central de cette thèse, est un type d’intervention architecturale qui échappe autant au discours professionnel qu’à celui des chercheurs en architecture lorsqu’il s’agit de définir les limites de la profession et celles de la discipline. Prenant ses distances avec le déterminisme fonctionnaliste qui domine la pensée et la pratique courantes de l’architecture, la recherche a pour but de montrer que l’installation architecturale s’inscrit dans une tradition classique bien ancrée dans la pratique et dans la théorie de l’architecture et que son rôle dans la pensée sur le projet architectural et urbain de la ville contemporaine a occupé et occupe encore une place importante. C’est pour ces raisons que la recherche se présente essentiellement comme une exploration guidée avant tout par le souci de contribuer à la reconnaissance de cette pratique particulière de l’architecture. Avant de poser l’hypothèse de recherche, nous avons présumé que l’installation architecturale agit comme une construction active dans l’espace public, qu’elle comble certains manques quant à la définition des enjeux urbains de la ville contemporaine, particulièrement dans un contexte où les libertés de choix, de mouvances et d’opportunités sont largement accompagnés par des stratégies d’organisation, de contrôle public et de constructions technologiques, d’efficacité énergétique et fonctionnelle. La recherche a également supposé que cette valeur d’agitation sociale et culturelle est liée à certaines caractéristiques inhérentes à l’architecture, à la ville et à l’individu et qu’elle représente, par le fait même, un objet de recherche important tout en offrant une porte d’entrée dans les questions plus larges qui traversent la discipline. Parmi celles-ci sont particulièrement étudiés des pratiques et des discours qui échappent aux définitions usuelles et qui offrent un regard critique quant aux limites de la discipline, des pratiques qui mettent en lumière des idées telles que l’instable et l’événement, des notions d’intervention et d’éthique, d’action et d’exploration. Cette thèse cherche ainsi à éclairer la contribution potentielle de l’installation architecturale dans les problématiques urbaines et architecturales et de montrer comment l’expérience de la ville à travers le dispositif architectural peut transformer nos manières d’aborder l’espace construit.

De la pratique à la théorie : analyse de la traduction de El juguete rabioso de Roberto Arlt par Antoine Berman

« Il va sans dire que c’est l’expérience du traduire qui constitue le centre de gravité de mon rapport général à la traduction. Je ne suis traductologue que parce que je suis, primordialement, traducteur » (Berman 2001, p. 16). La théorie de la traduction d’Antoine Berman serait donc enracinée dans sa pratique. Bien que son nom soit devenu incontournable en traductologie et que ses idées aient suscité de nombreux débats, peu de chercheurs ont étudié le lien entre la théorie et la pratique de ce traductologue. Le présent mémoire tente de combler cette lacune. Au moyen d’une analyse de la traduction de El juguete rabioso de Roberto Arlt faite par les époux Berman, il explore comment la pratique et la théorie de la traduction d’Antoine Berman se sont nourries l’une de l’autre. Le premier chapitre retrace le parcours d’Antoine Berman : son travail de traducteur, ses influences, sa théorie de la traduction, l’impact de celle-ci et les critiques qui lui ont été adressées. Dans le chapitre deux, nous découvrons Roberto Arlt et son œuvre afin de bien cerner les enjeux de sa traduction. Le chapitre trois analyse, selon la méthode bermanienne, la traduction française de ce roman publiée pour la première fois en 1984. Deux éléments du texte sont mis en relief : la diversité de registres discursifs, dont les sociolectes argentins, et la richesse lexicale qui en découle. En conclusion, l’étude montre que Le jouet enragé est marqué par une certaine inhibition et une rigidité sans doute inhérentes à toute traduction-introduction. Trop attachée aux normes, cette première version restitue timidement la diversité narrative de l’original. Ainsi, on peut supposer que les préceptes de Berman, et plus exactement sa liste de « tendances déformantes » (Berman 1999) reflètent, en partie, et avant tout, les limites et les difficultés qu’il a pu rencontrer dans l’exercice de sa pratique.

La sinergia institucional en la gerencia de la explotación minera en Colombia

El interés de este trabajo de grado es analizar el concepto de coordinación inter-agencial y trasladarlo a la práctica, para entender el funcionamiento de dos grandes agencias que gerencian el tema minero en el país: la Agencia Nacional de Minería y la Agencia Nacional de Licencias Ambientales. A partir de lo anterior, se demostrará que la falta de sinergia entre estas agencias es producto de la improvisación en la creación institucional; de la inestabilidad de las normas que las regulan y su falta de cumplimiento; de problemas estructurales al interior de cada una y de la ausencia de una mirada integral, en la que todos los elementos se relacionan y tienen efectos sobre sí. El diseño metodológico es cualitativo-descriptivo y el enfoque es el jurídico-institucional, ya que el propósito fue describir el funcionamiento de estas dos agencias, teniendo como fundamento el rol del Estado, el papel de las instituciones y el derecho que las regula.

Reflective teaching of History 11-18.

Es una guía práctica para todos aquellos que son nuevos en la profesión de la enseñanza de la historia, pues abarca todos los aspectos de su trabajo, desde la planificación hasta la enseñanza y la evaluación. El texto muestra dos preocupaciones principales: la práctica docente y cómo utilizar la teoría y los resultados de la investigación para mejorar esa práctica.

Reflective teaching of Science 11-18.

Abarca todos los aspectos de la práctica docente, desde la planificación hasta la enseñanza y la evaluación. También, proporciona detallada información sobre las actividades que se realizan en la etapa 3 (key stage 3) de la estrategia nacional en ciencias (National Sciences Strategy), que se corresponde con el nivel de secundaria.

Reflective teaching of Geography 11-18.

Este texto se mueve en torno a dos preocupaciones, la práctica de la enseñanza y cómo utilizar la teoría y los resultados de las investigaciones para mejorar esa práctica, y al mismo tiempo cumplir con las normas sobre formación del profesorado, Teacher Training Agency (TTA). Así, uno de los principales propósitos de este libro es inculcar a los profesores principiantes la idea de que la educación es, en esencia, una profesión académica y de investigación. Por lo que, los profesores, de geografía en este caso, en cualquier etapa de su carrera profesional, necesitan periódicamente reconsiderar su forma de pensar sobre la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en su asignatura, y necesitan tener acceso a las investigaciones actuales sobre la docencia en su especialidad. Por tanto, es evidente que la investigación educativa afecta a la práctica dentro de los centros escolares, y también influye en la manera de formarse profesionalmente los maestros.

The glacial question, unsolved: a specimen commentary on lines 1-31

A commentary on J.H. Prynne's poem 'The Glacial Question, Unsolved', from The White Stones (1969)

Marcas, passagens e condensações : (des)encaminhamentos de um processo de gravura

Marcas, passagens e condensações: (des) encaminhamentos de um processo de gravura é uma pesquisa em Poéticas Visuais que articula questões provenientes de uma prática artística com base na gravura e uma produção textual. Investigam-se as possibilidades de potencializar o vazio e o cheio através da gravação de matrizes com instrumentos de corte e da gravação com fogo. Os procedimentos operatórios de cortar, queimar e condensar originaram a impressão das matrizes sobre suportes de papéis e de parafina. As imagens dessa produção gráfica resultaram em uma série de obras denominadas de Carbonizados, Sílex e Luas Negras, cujas ações instauradoras propiciaram diferentes etapas de gravação e impressão: marcas, passagens e condensações que foram analisadas a partir dos conceitos operatórios identificados no processo de criação. O estudo conduz a aproximações com obras de artistas contemporâneos e articula referenciais na História da Arte e na fenomenologia, propiciando o inter-relacionamento da prática com a teoria e vice-versa.

Observatório de gestão: investigação sobre práticas gerenciais em empresas brasileiras e sua relação com o desempenho

A relação entre as práticas gerenciais, a competitividade e o desempenho da empresa é um tema de grande interesse para pesquisadores dos campos de estratégia, gestão de operações, gestão de pessoas e estudos organizacionais. Esta pesquisa analisou a aplicação das práticas gerenciais nas empresas manufatureiras de pequeno e médio porte do Brasil. Ela foi desenvolvida a partir de um modelo de investigação desenvolvido por Bloom e Van Reenen (2007), e aplicado em diversos países. Foi utilizado um questionário semi-estruturado em entrevistas telefônicas com diretores de produção de uma amostra de empresas selecionadas a partir de critérios estatísticos. Esta pesquisa apresenta contribuições de natureza gerencial e acadêmica. Como contribuição gerencial, a pesquisa identifica diferenças entre as empresas brasileiras e as de empresas de países desenvolvidos, indicando trilhas para aperfeiçoamento das práticas administrativas. Como contribuição acadêmica, a pesquisa apresenta a aplicação no Brasil de metodologia de investigação mista, que combina métodos qualitativos e quantitativos. Além disso, o trabalho criou uma base de dados para futuras investigações sobre a relação entre as práticas gerenciais e o desempenho.

Gramsci e a educação do educador

Com a fundação, em 1919, da revista L'Ordine Nuovo - que atravessou fases diversas -, Gramsci tratou de desenvolver uma teoria e uma prática política que tinham no problema de educação um elemento constitutivo essencial. Até a sua prisão, em 1926, Gramsci passou por três diferentes momentos de elaboração dessa questão. Um primeiro momento no qual ele dá prioridade à cisão, ao antagonismo e à auto-atividade dos trabalhadores diante do capital, no próprio cerne do processo produtivo capitalista. Educação, então, confunde-se com auto-educação. O momento que se segue é o da necessidade de se educar o Partido Comunista, recém-fundado, particularmente a sua direção. O terceiro momento é pensado como necessidade de se educar o educador das massas, reflexão que aparece no seu papel de dirigente principal do Partido Comunista Italiano (PCI).

Aprendizagem baseada em problemas na Faculdade de Medicina de Marília: sensibilizando o olhar para o idoso

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

A representação da informação Arquivística: Uma Análise do discurso teórico e institucional a partir dos contextos Espanhol, Canadense e Brasileiro

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)