Sentimentos morais e o conceito de justiça na filosofia moral de David Hume

Esta dissertação objetiva descrever e analisar criticamente o conceito de justiça no contexto da filosofia moral de David Hume. Com o propósito de fornecer uma explicação completa e consistente de sua teoria da justiça, pretende-se, em primeiro lugar, apresentar a teoria moral sentimentalista de Hume e explicar de que forma sua concepção de justiça se associa com os princípios fundamentais da moralidade. O primeiro capítulo da dissertação consiste, primeiramente, em uma breve exposição do problema do livre-arbítrio e do determinismo e, em segundo lugar, na apresentação da alternativa compatibilista de Hume. Conforme se pretende demonstrar ao longo deste capítulo, a estratégia da solução compatibilista de Hume deve necessariamente envolver a noção de sentimento moral, cujo conceito é central em seu sistema moral. Em seguida, no segundo capítulo, será examinada a teoria moral de Hume, a qual se estrutura em duas hipóteses principais: a tese negativa que contesta a ideia de que o fundamento da moralidade se baseie exclusivamente nas operações da razão (relações de ideias e questões de fato); e a tese positiva que afirma que a fonte da moralidade reside em nossas paixões, sentimentos e afetos de prazer e dor ao contemplarmos caracteres virtuosos e viciosos. O terceiro capítulo visa apresentar a teoria da justiça de Hume, objeto principal desta dissertação. A hipótese central que Hume sugere é que a virtude da justiça não é instintiva ou natural nos seres humanos. Ela é possível unicamente por intermédio de acordos, convenções e artifícios humanos motivados pelo auto-interesse. A tese de Hume é exatamente que a origem da justiça, enquanto uma convenção social, só pode ser explicada com base em dois fatores: a atuação dos sentimentos de nossa disposição interna e a circunstância externa caracterizada pela escassez relativa de bens materiais. Finalmente, o último capítulo desta dissertação visa discutir a teoria política de Hume com o propósito de complementar sua teoria da justiça. Hume defende que a justificação da instituição da autoridade soberana e dos deveres civis se funda nos mesmos princípios da convenção de justiça: eles também são artifícios criados exclusivamente para servir ao nosso próprio interesse.

O pragmatismo antiteórico de Richard A. Posner e as respostas da teoria moral para a decisão judicial

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise crítica à forma de se abordar casos jurídicos e proferir decisões judiciais denominada abordagem judicial pragmática, disseminada pelo magistrado e professor norte-americano Richard A. Posner. O objetivo é explicitar suas principais características e contornos, bem como sua repulsa pela teorização abstrata e pelos debates e argumentos morais na decisão judicial. A partir disso, pretende-se refutar parte dessa abordagem pragmática, por meio de argumentos levantados por filósofos morais e profissionais do direito a saber: Ronald Dworkin, Charles Fried, Anthony Kronman, John T. Noonan Jr e Martha C. Nussbaum - em defesa de uma abordagem que prega a inevitável utilização do raciocínio teórico, assim como a argumentação e reflexão moral na resolução de casos difíceis relacionados ao direito. Também será destacado como a repulsa pragmática pela teoria moral e abstrata é incompatível com a conjuntura justeórica contemporânea e como a análise de alguns casos difíceis expõe a falibilidade, ainda que parcial, desse estilo de abordagem pregado por Posner.

Spectral measurement of diode lasers with a single-mode birefringent fibre

A new, and very simple spectrometer based on birefringent fiber is described. A resolution of 0.02 angstrom has been achieved, and the system has been used to measure diode laser chirp. A length of 10km of fiber would be sufficient to resolve single mode line widths.

PCR-based assay for detection of four coral pathogens

Several microorganisms have been identified as pathogenic agents responsible for various outbreaks of coral disease. Little has been learned about the exclusivity of a pathogen to given disease signs. Most pathogens have only been implicated within a subset of corals, leaving gaps in our knowledge of the host range and geographic extent of a given pathogen. PCR-based assays provide a rapid and inexpensive route for detection of pathogens. Pathogen-specific 16S rDNA primer sets were designed to target four identified coral pathogens: Aurantimonas coralicida, Serratia marcescens, Vibrio shilonii, and Vibrio coralliilyticus. Assays detected the presence of targets at concentrations of less than one cell per microliter. The assay was applied to 142 coral samples from the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands as an in situ specificity test. Assays displayed a high-level of specificity, seemingly limited only by the resolution of the 16S rDNA.

Application of electron beams in thermal processing of semiconductor materials and devices

Rapid and effective thermal processing methods using electron beams are described in this paper. Heating times ranging from a fraction of a second to several seconds and temperatures up to 1400°C are attainable. Applications such as the annealing of ion implanted material, both without significant dopant diffusion and with highly controlled diffusion of impurities, are described. The technique has been used successfully to activate source/drain regions for fine geometry NMOS transistors. It is shown that electron beams can produce localised heating of semiconductor substrates and a resolution of approximately 1 μm has been achieved. Electron beam heating has been applied to improving the crystalline quality of silicon-on sapphire used in CMOS device fabrication. Silicon layers with defect levels approaching bulk material have been obtained. Finally, the combination of isothermal and selective annealing is shown to have application in recrystallisation of polysilicon films on an insulating layer. The approach provides the opportunity of producing a silicon-on-insulator substrate with improved crystalline quality compared to silicon-on-sapphire at a potentially lower cost. It is suggested that rapid heating methods are expected to provide a real alternative to conventional furnace processing of semiconductor devices in the development of fabrication technology. © 1984 Benn electronics Publications Ltd, Luton.

TIME RESOLVED REFLECTIVITY MEASUREMENTS APPLIED TO RAPID ISOTHERMAL ANNEALING OF ION IMPLANTED SILICON.

The annealing of ion implantation damage in silicon by rapid isothermal heating has been monitored by the time resolved reflectivity (TRR) method. This technique was applied simultaneously at a wavelength of 632. 8nm and also at 1152nm, where the optical absorption coefficient of silicon is less. The two wavelength method simplifies the interpretation of TRR results, extends the measurement depth and allows good resolution of the position of the interface between amorphous and crystalline silicon. The regrowth of amorphous layers in silicon, created by self implantation and implanted with electrically active impurities, was observed. Regrowth in rapid isothermal annealing occurs during the heating up stage of typical thermal cycles. Impurities such as B, P, and As increase the regrowth rate in a manner consistent with a vacancy model for regrowth. The maximum regrowth rate in boron implanted silicon is limited by the solid solubility.

Time-frequency spectral estimation of speech

In recent years there has been a growing interest amongst the speech research community into the use of spectral estimators which circumvent the traditional quasi-stationary assumption and provide greater time-frequency (t-f) resolution than conventional spectral estimators, such as the short time Fourier power spectrum (STFPS). One distribution in particular, the Wigner distribution (WD), has attracted considerable interest. However, experimental studies have indicated that, despite its improved t-f resolution, employing the WD as the front end of speech recognition system actually reduces recognition performance; only by explicitly re-introducing t-f smoothing into the WD are recognition rates improved. In this paper we provide an explanation for these findings. By treating the spectral estimation problem as one of optimization of a bias variance trade off, we show why additional t-f smoothing improves recognition rates, despite reducing the t-f resolution of the spectral estimator. A practical adaptive smoothing algorithm is presented, whicy attempts to match the degree of smoothing introduced into the WD with the time varying quasi-stationary regions within the speech waveform. The recognition performance of the resulting adaptively smoothed estimator is found to be comparable to that of conventional filterbank estimators, yet the average temporal sampling rate of the resulting spectral vectors is reduced by around a factor of 10. © 1992.

The unsteady development of a turbulent wake through a downstream low-pressure turbine blade passage

This paper presents two-dimensional LDA measurements of the convection of a wake through a low-pressure (LP) turbine cascade. Previous studies have shown the wake convection to be kinematic but have not provided details of the turbulent field. The spatial resolution of these measurements has facilitated the calculation of the production of turbulent kinetic energy and this has revealed a mechanism for turbulence production as the wake converts through the bladerow. The measured ensemble-averaged velocity field confirmed the previously reported kinematics of wake convection while the measurements of the turbulence quantities showed the wake fluid to be characterised by elevated levels of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and to have an anisotropic structure. Based on the measured mean and turbulence quantities, the production of turbulent kinetic energy was calculated. This highlighted a TKE production mechanism that resulted in increased levels of turbulence over the rear suction surface where boundary layer transition occurs. The turbulence production mechanism within the bladerow was also observed to produce more nearly isotropic turbulence. Production occurs when the principal stresses within the wake are aligned with the mean strains. This coincides with the maximum distortion of the wake within the blade passage and provides a mechanism for the production of turbulence outside of the boundary layer.

Salinity measurements and use of the Practical Salinity Scale (PSS)

Salinity, temperature and pressure are parameters which govern the oceanographic state of a marine water body and together they make up density of seawater. In this contribution we will focus our interest on one of these parameters, the salinity: accuracy in relation to different purposes as well as observation technique and instrumentation. We will also discuss the definition of salinity. For example most of the Indian Ocean waters are within the salinity range from 34.60-34.80, which emphasize the importance of careful observations and clear definitions of salinity, in such a way that it is possible to define water masses and predict their movements. In coastal waters the salinity usually features much larger variation in time and space and thus less accuracy is sometimes needed. Salinity has been measured and defined in several ways over the past century. While early measurements were based on the amount of salt in a sea water sample, today the salinity of seawater is most often determined from its conductivity. As conductivity is a function of salinity and temperature, determination involves also measurement of the density of seawater is now more precisely estimated and thus the temperature. As a result of this method the Practical Salinity Scale (PSS) was developed. The best determination of salinity from conductivity and the temperature measurements gives salinity with resolution of 0.001 psu, while the accuracy of titration method was about ± 0.02‰. Because of that, even calculation of movements in the ocean is also improved.

Occurrence of whale sharks in coastal waters in the Indian Ocean: an interesting coincidence

Salinity, temperature and pressure are parameters which govern the oceanographic state of a marine water body and together they make up density of seawater. In this contribution we will focus our interest on one of these parameters, the salinity: accuracy in relation to different purposes as well as observation technique and instrumentation. We will also discuss the definition of salinity. For example most of the Indian Ocean waters are within the salinity range from 34.60-34.80, which emphasize the importance of careful observations and clear definitions of salinity, in such a way that it is possible to define water masses and predict their movements. In coastal waters the salinity usually features much larger variation in time and space and thus less accuracy is sometimes needed. Salinity has been measured and defined in several ways over the past century. While early measurements were based on the amount of salt in a sea water sample, today the salinity of seawater is most often determined from its conductivity. As conductivity is a function of salinity and temperature, determination involves also measurement of the density of seawater is now more precisely estimated and thus the temperature. As a result of this method the Practical Salinity Scale (PSS) was developed. The best determination of salinity from conductivity and the temperature measurements gives salinity with resolution of 0.001 psu, while the accuracy of titration method was about ± 0.02‰. Because of that, even calculation of movements in the ocean is also improved.

Phylogenetic studies of pantherine cats (Felidae) based on multiple genes, with novel application of nuclear beta-fibrinogen intron 7 to carnivores

The pantherine lineage of the cat family Felidae (order: Carnivora) includes five big cats of genus Panthera and a great many midsized cats known worldwide. Presumably because of their recent and rapid radiation, the evolutionary relationship among pantherines remains ambiguous. We provide an independent assessment of the evolutionary history of pantherine lineage using two complete mitochondrial (mt) genes (ND2 and ND4) and the nuclear beta-fibrmogen intron 7 gene, whose utility in carnivoran phylogeny was first explored. The available four mt (ND5, cytb, 12S, and 16SrRNA) and two nuclear (IRBP and TTR) sequence loci were also combined to reconstruct phylogeny of 14 closely related cat species. Our analyses of combined mt data (six genes; approximate to 3750 bp) and combined mt and nuclear data (nine genes; approximate to 6500 bp) obtained identical tree topologies, which were well-resolved and strongly supported for almost all nodes. Monophyly of Panthera genus in pantherine lineage was confirmed and interspecific affinities within this genus revealed a novel branching pattern, with P. tigris diverging first in Panthera genus, followed by P. onca, P. leo, and last two sister species P. pardus and P. uncia. In addition, close association of Neofelis nebulosa to Panthera, the phylogenetic redefinition of Otocolobus manil within the domestic cat group, and the relatedness of Acinonyx jubatus and Puma concolor were all important findings in the resulting phylogenies. The potential utilities of nine different genes for phylogenetic resolution of closely related pantherine species were also evaluated, with special interest in that of the novel nuclear beta-fibrinogen intron 7. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Studies on iced storage of cultured rohu (Labeo rohita)

The biochemical, bacteriological and organoleptic changes in cultured rohu (Labeo rohita) during iced storage have been studied. Non-protein nitrogen decreased and water soluble nitrogen remained almost same during storage in ice. Initially, when the fish was in pre-rigor and rigor conditions, the extractability of protein was low (45 to 50%) which increased after the resolution of the rigor and the decrease in extractability towards the end of storage was insignificant. The total volatile base nitrogen remained steady up to 7 days in ice and showed slight decrease on further storage. During iced storage the bacterial count increased from 10^3/g to 10^5/g by the 11th day of storage. Nearly 80-90% of the total bacterial population in fresh fish was constituted by mesophiles which decreased gradually (decreased to 1% by 13th day of iced storage). Organoleptically the fish was acceptable up to 15 days in ice.

Survey of biosystematic and sexual reproductive physiology in Holothuroidea on Hormozgan Province

Sea cucumbers belong to phylum Echinodermata, order Holothuroidea are an abundant and diverse group of Invertebrates, with over 1400 species occuring from the intertidal to the deepest oceanic trenches. Sea cucumbers are important components of the food chain in temperate and coral reef ecosystems and they play an important role as deposite feeders and suspension feeders. Rapid decline in populations may have serious consequences for the survival of other species that are part of the same complex food web,as the eggs, larve and juveniles constitute an important food source for the other marine species including crustaceans, fish and mollusks. In addition sea cucumbers are often called the earthworms of the sea, because they are responsible for the extensive shifting and mixing of the substrate, and recycling of detrital matter. Sea cucumbers consume and grind sediment and organic material into finer particles , turning over the top layers of sediment in lagoons , reefs and other habitats and allowing the penetration of oxygen. While the taxonomy of the holothurian families is generally well known , the distinction of similar species is difficult. There are relatively few holothurian taxonomist.Most sea cucumber species can be identified by Holothurin taxonomists by using the calcareous skeletal ossicles found in the body wall. In this study , at first a sea cucumber from Kish island in Persian gulf has recognized. Individuals collected from west and east extend far away into north and south of coral reefs by diving. I have checked them morphologically and anatomically.Then with key to the orders of the Holothuroidea, They belong to the Aspidochirotida with key to the families of Aspidochirotida, they were in Stichopodidae families and with key to the genus of Stchopodidae, they were Stichopus. Then ossicles were extracted at National Museum of Natural History, by Dr David Pawson. The ossicles were measured on a transect across a slide prepared from the mid-dorsal region of each specimen.The one we have in the shallow waters of Kish island, is Stichopus hermanni, a massive holothurian, body broad, considerably flattened ventraly ,the dorsal side slightly arched and the lateral sides almost vertical; body wall fairy thick and soft ; mouth subterminal; anus central; tentacles usually 20 in number of length and leaf shaped. Numerous ossicles consisting of table with large discs having usually 7 to 15 peripheral holes, but often irregular or incomplete and spire of moderate height ending in a group of spinelets, rosettes of variable development, and c-shaped rods. Color (exept papillae)partly remained after preservation in alcohol which is found at the depth of 4 to 8 meters, on coral reef. Furthermore, the sexual reproductive cycle was described using standard methods. Gonads were removed and transferred to Bouin's fixative for four weeks and then processed according to standard embedding technique. To prevent the loss of tubule contents during embedding, the tubule sections, were cut well beyond the segment selected for sectioning. For each individual, six sections, each section with 5µm diameter by microtome were cut from tubules. These sections were first placed on gelatin coated slides (the gelatin was heated to 42°c) and then transferred to the oven at 37°c for one hour. This technique usually prevents the fragil tubules from breaking and the loss of gametes. The slides were stained with Eosin and Hematoxylin, and good resolution of the various cell types achieved.A second series of slides was stained with the Periodic Acid Schiff(PAS) to identify polysaccharides(glycogen). Monthly sampling was occurred.The sexual reproductive cycle was defined through the combined use of these criteria: Monthly percentages of the gonad stages for each sex, the monthly gonad index (GI) , given as the ratio of the wet gonad weight (G) to the dray weight (DW)and the monthly percentage of individuals that undetermined sex. The gonad consists of two tufts of tubules on which saccules develop. Gonadal development was classified into five stages: post spawning, recovery, growth, advanced growth, and mature stage that were adapted from the earlier studies of holothurians. Histological preparations showed that the sex of larger individuals could be identified by the presence of oogonia and young oocytes in females, and spermatogonic stages in males.The mean diameter of the tubules and gonadal mass follow annual cycles, increasing from late winter through spring, and dropping abruptly after spawning in the summer. Gametogenesis is generally a prolongate process and begins in March. By summer the ovarian tubules contain oocytes with diameter of 120-240 pm and the testicular tubules contain an abundance of spermatozoa (diameter 5-6 gm ).Following spawning the predominant activity within the spent tubules is phagocytosis of the residual gamets.The active phase of gametogenesis (March to July), coincides with an increasing photoperiod regim, and an accelerated gametogenesis occurs in July when temperature is high. Throughout the year, the gonad of Stichopus hermanni is larger in males than in females, and this is due to the number of tubules in the testis rather than to tubules length or diameter.

Efficient Implementation of Spatially-Varying 3-D Ultrasound Deconvolution

Abstract—There are sometimes occasions when ultrasound beamforming is performed with only a subset of the total data that will eventually be available. The most obvious example is a mechanically-swept (wobbler) probe in which the three-dimensional data block is formed from a set of individual B-scans. In these circumstances, non-blind deconvolution can be used to improve the resolution of the data. Unfortunately, most of these situations involve large blocks of three-dimensional data. Furthermore, the ultrasound blur function varies spatially with distance from the transducer. These two facts make the deconvolution process time-consuming to implement. This paper is about ways to address this problem and produce spatially-varying deconvolution of large blocks of three-dimensional data in a matter of seconds. We present two approaches, one based on hardware and the other based on software. We compare the time they each take to achieve similar results and discuss the computational resources and form of blur model that each requires.

Automated Computation of the Fundamental Matrix for Vision-Based Construction Site Applications

Estimating the fundamental matrix (F), to determine the epipolar geometry between a pair of images or video frames, is a basic step for a wide variety of vision-based functions used in construction operations, such as camera-pair calibration, automatic progress monitoring, and 3D reconstruction. Currently, robust methods (e.g., SIFT + normalized eight-point algorithm + RANSAC) are widely used in the construction community for this purpose. Although they can provide acceptable accuracy, the significant amount of required computational time impedes their adoption in real-time applications, especially video data analysis with many frames per second. Aiming to overcome this limitation, this paper presents and evaluates the accuracy of a solution to find F by combining the use of two speedy and consistent methods: SURF for the selection of a robust set of point correspondences and the normalized eight-point algorithm. This solution is tested extensively on construction site image pairs including changes in viewpoint, scale, illumination, rotation, and moving objects. The results demonstrate that this method can be used for real-time applications (5 image pairs per second with the resolution of 640 × 480) involving scenes of the built environment.