Development of a structured program for conversion to prenex normal form

The method of structured programming or program development using a top-down, stepwise refinement technique provides a systematic approach for the development of programs of considerable complexity. The aim of this paper is to present the philosophy of structured programming through a case study of a nonnumeric programming task. The problem of converting a well-formed formula in first-order logic into prenex normal form is considered. The program has been coded in the programming language PASCAL and implemented on a DEC-10 system. The program has about 500 lines of code and comprises 11 procedures.

Tiedostumaton nykytaiteessa : Katse, ääni ja aika vuosituhannen taitteen suomalaisessa nykytaiteessa

Leevi Haapala explores moving image works, sculptures and installations from a psychoanalytic perspective in his study The Unconscious in Contemporary Art. The Gaze, Voice and Time in Finnish Contemporary Art at the Turn of the Millennium . The artists included in the study are Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Hans-Christian Berg, Markus Copper, Liisa Lounila and Salla Tykkä. The theoretical framework includes different psychoanalytic readings of the concepts of the gaze, voice and temporality. The installations are based on spatiality and temporality, and their detailed reading emphasizes the medium-specific features of the works as well as their fragmentary nature, heterogeneity and affectivity. The study is cross-disciplinary in that it connects perspectives from the visual culture, new art history and theory to the interpretation of contemporary art. The most important concepts from psychoanalysis, affect theory and trauma discourse used in the study include affect, object a (objet petit a) as articulated by Jacques Lacan, Sigmund Freud s uncanny (das Unheimliche) and trauma. Das Unheimliche has been translated as uncanny in art history under the influence of Rosalind Krauss. The object of the study, the unconscious in contemporary art, is approached through these concepts. The study focuses on Lacan s additions to the list of partial drives: the gaze and voice as scopic and invocative drives and their interpretations in the studies of the moving image. The texts by the American film theorist and art historian Kaja Silverman are in crucial role. The study locates contemporary art as part of trauma culture, which has a tendency to define individual and historical experiences through trauma. Some of the art works point towards trauma, which may appear as a theoretic or fictitious construction. The study presents a comprehensive collection of different kinds of trauma discourse in the field of art research through the texts of Hal Foster, Cathy Caruth, Ruth Leys and Shoshana Felman. The study connects trauma theory with the theoretical analysis of the interference and discontinuity of the moving image in the readings by Susan Buck-Morss, Mary Ann Doane and Peter Osborn among others. The analysis emphasizes different ways of seeing and multisensoriality in the reception of contemporary art. With their reflections and inverse projections, the surprising mechanisms of Hans-Christian Berg s sculptures are connected with Lacan s views on the early mirroring and imitation attempts of the individual s body image. Salla Tykkä s film trilogy Cave invites one to contemplate the Lacanian theory of the gaze in relation to the experiences of being seen. The three oceanic sculpture installations by Markus Copper are studied through the vocality they create, often through an aggressive way of acting, as well as from the point of view of the functioning of an invocative drive. The study compares the work of fiction and Freud s texts on paranoia and psychosis to Eija-Liisa Ahtila s manuscripts and moving image installations about the same topic. The cinematic time in Liisa Lounila s time-slice video installations is approached through the theoretical study of the unconscious temporal structure. The viewer of the moving image is inside the work in an in-between state: in a space produced by the contents of the work and its technology. The installations of the moving image enable us to inhabit different kinds of virtual bodies or spaces, which do not correspond with our everyday experiences. Nevertheless, the works of art often try to deconstruct the identification to what has been shown on screen. This way, the viewer s attention can be fixed on his own unconscious experiences in parallel with the work s deconstructed nature as representation. The study shows that contemporary art is a central cultural practice, which allows us to discuss the unconscious in a meaningful way. The study suggests that the agency that is discursively diffuse and consists of several different praxes should be called the unconscious. The emergence of the unconscious can happen in two areas: in contemporary art through different senses and discursive elements, and in the study of contemporary art, which, being a linguistic activity is sensitive to the movements of the unconscious. One of the missions of art research is to build different kinds of articulated constructs and to open an interpretative space for the nature of art as an event.

Rhetoric and public speech in English republicanism, 1642-1681

The study analyses the ambivalent relationship republicanism, as a form of self-government free from domination, had with the ideal of participatory oratory and non-dominated speech on the one hand, and with the danger of unhindered demagogy and its possibly fatal consequences to that form of government on the other. Although previous scholarship has delved deeply into republicanism as well as into rhetoric and public speech, the interplay between those aspects has only gathered scattered interest, and there has been no systematic study considering the variety of republican approaches to rhetoric and public speech in 17th-century England. The rare attempts to do so have been studies in English literature, and they have not analysed the political philosophy of republicanism, as the focus has been on republicanism as a literary culture. This study connects the fields of political theory, political history as well as literature in order to make a multidisciplinary contribution to intellectual history. The study shows that, within the tradition of classical republicanism, individual authors could make different choices when addressing the problematic topics of public speech and rhetoric, and the variety of their conclusions often set the authors against each other, resulting in the development of their theories through internal debates within the republican tradition. The authors under study were chosen to reflect this variety and the connections between them: the similarities between James Harrington and John Streater, and between John Milton and John Hall of Durham are shown, as well the controversies between Harrington and Milton, and Streater and Hall, respectively. In addition, by analysing the writings of Marchamont Nedham the study will show that the choices were not limited to more, or less, democratic brands of republicanism. Most significantly, the study provides a thorough analysis of the political philosophies behind the various brands of republicanism, in addition to describing them. By means of this analysis, the study shows that previous attempts to assess the role of free speech and public debate, through the lenses of modern, rights-based liberal political theory have resulted in an inappropriate framework for understanding early modern English republicanism. By approaching the topics through concepts used by the republicans legitimate authority, leadership by oratory, and republican freedom and through the frames of reference available and familiar to them roles of education and institutions the study presents a thorough and systematic analysis of the role and function of rhetoric and public speech in English republicanism. The findings of this analysis have significant consequences to our current understanding of the history and development of republican political theory, and, more generally, of the connections between democratic theory and free speech.

Transient Flow of a Compressible Viscous Fluid Near an Infinite Disk

We have consider ed the transient motion of art electrically conducting viscous compressible fluid which is in contact with an insulated infinite disk. The initial motion is considered to be due to the uniform rotation of the disk in an otherwise stationary fluid or due to the uniform rigid rotation of the fluid over a stationary disk. Different cases of transient motion due to finite impulse imparted either to the disk or to the distant fluid have been investigated. Effects of the imposed axial magnetic field and the disk temperature on the transient flow are included. The nonlinear partial differential equations governing the motion are solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme along with the Newton's linearisation technique.

Using Correlated Parameters for Improved Ranking of Protein-Protein Docking Decoys

A successful protein-protein docking study culminates in identification of decoys at top ranks with near-native quaternary structures. However, this task remains enigmatic because no generalized scoring functions exist that effectively infer decoys according to the similarity to near-native quaternary structures. Difficulties arise because of the highly irregular nature of the protein surface and the significant variation of the nonbonding and solvation energies based on the chemical composition of the protein-protein interface. In this work, we describe a novel method combining an interface-size filter, a regression model for geometric compatibility (based on two correlated surface and packing parameters), and normalized interaction energy (calculated from correlated nonbonded and solvation energies), to effectively rank decoys from a set of 10,000 decoys. Tests on 30 unbound binary protein-protein complexes show that in 16 cases we can identify at least one decoy in top three ranks having <= 10 angstrom backbone root mean square deviation from true binding geometry. Comparisons with other state-of-art methods confirm the improved ranking power of our method without the use of any experiment-guided restraints, evolutionary information, statistical propensities, or modified interaction energy equations. Tests on 118 less-difficult bound binary protein-protein complexes with <= 35% sequence redundancy at the interface showed that in 77% cases, at least 1 in 10,000 decoys were identified with <= 5 angstrom backbone root mean square deviation from true geometry at first rank. The work will promote the use of new concepts where correlations among parameters provide more robust scoring models. It will facilitate studies involving molecular interactions, including modeling of large macromolecular assemblies and protein structure prediction. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 32: 787-796, 2011.

Generation of extended light-sheets for single and multi-photon fluorescence microscopy

We theoretically propose and computationally demonstrate the generation of extended light-sheet for fluorescence microscopy. This is made possible by the introduction of a specially designed double-window spatial filter that allows the light to pass through the periphery and center of a cylindrical lens. When illuminated with a plane wave, the proposed filter results in an extended depth-of-focus along with side-lobes which are due to other interferences in the transverse focal plane. Computational studies show a maximum extension of light-sheet by 3.38 times for single photon excitation and 3.68 times for multiphoton excitation as compared to state-of-art single plane illumination microscopy system. This technique may facilitate the study of large biological specimens (such as Zebrafish embryo and tissue) with high spatial resolution and reduced photobleaching. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Partial Integrated Guidance and Control of Interceptors for High-Speed Ballistic Targets

A new partial integrated guidance and control design approach is proposed in this paper, which combines the benefits of both integrated guidance and control as well as the conventional guidance and control design philosophies. The proposed technique essentially operates in a two-loop structure. In the outer loop, an optimal guidance problem is formulated considering the nonlinear six degrees-of-freedom equation of motion of the interceptor. From this loop, the required pitch and yaw rates are generated by solving a nonlinear suboptimal guidance formulation in a computationally efficient manner while simultaneously assuring roll stabilization. Next, the inner loop tracks these outer loop body rate commands. This manipulation of the six degrees-of-freedom dynamics in both loops preserves the inherent time scale separation property between the translational and rotational dynamics, while retaining the philosophy of integrated guidance and control design as well. Because of this, the tuning process is quite straightforward and nontedious as well. Extensive six degrees-of-freedom simulations studies have been carried out, considering three-dimensional engagement geometry, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed new design approach engaging high-speed ballistic targets. A variety of comparison studies have also been carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

ELLIPSE FITTING USING FINITE RATE OF INNOVATION PRINCIPLES

We address the problem of parameter estimation of an ellipse from a limited number of samples. We develop a new approach for solving the ellipse fitting problem by showing that the x and y coordinate functions of an ellipse are finite-rate-of-innovation (FRI) signals. Uniform samples of x and y coordinate functions of the ellipse are modeled as a sum of weighted complex exponentials, for which we propose an efficient annihilating filter technique to estimate the ellipse parameters from the samples. The FRI framework allows for estimating the ellipse parameters reliably from partial or incomplete measurements even in the presence of noise. The efficiency and robustness of the proposed method is compared with state-of-art direct method. The experimental results show that the estimated parameters have lesser bias compared with the direct method and the estimation error is reduced by 5-10 dB relative to the direct method.

Repositórios institucionais de acesso livre no Brasil : estudo Delfos

A filosofia do acesso livre ao conhecimento científico surgiu da dificuldade das bibliotecas universitárias de todo mundo em manter atualizadas as assinaturas das coleções de periódicos científicos. Os repositórios institucionais são uma das ferramentas que se mostram como alternativa para a comunicação da Ciência livre de barreiras de acesso. A pesquisa tem por objetivo verificar quais são as perspectivas futuras das atuais políticas de implementação de repositórios institucionais de acesso livre no Brasil na opinião de especialistas na área, tendo como base a análise do estado da arte das implementações de Repositórios Institucionais no Brasil. Neste trabalho, a pesquisa é dividida em três etapas: a primeira consiste na coleta de dados descritivos dos repositórios institucionais da Universidade de Brasília (RIUnB) e do Superior Tribunal de Justiça (BDJur-STJ); já na segunda etapa de pesquisa, procede-se à consulta aos especialistas indagando-os acerca da situação atual das implementações de repositórios institucionais no Brasil; e, por fim, na terceira etapa de pesquisa consultamos estes mesmos especialistas sobre os desdobramentos futuros destas políticas no País. Utilizamos da técnica Delfos de pesquisa, onde os especialistas são consultados através de questionários constituídos de perguntas abertas, possibilitando assim chegar a um consenso das opiniões no final da pesquisa. Como resultado da pesquisa, é elaborado um quadro com a tabulação das respostas dos especialistas consultados revelando o panorama das perspectivas futuras das implementações de repositórios institucionais no Brasil na opinião dos especialistas que fazem parte da nossa amostra de pesquisa.

Carmen e a concepção trágica de Nietzsche: o amor retraduzido em natureza

O objetivo desta dissertação de Mestrado consiste fazer uma leitura da ópera Carmen, de Georges Bizet, com a ótica do conceito de trágico de Nietzsche. Privilegiamos o conceito abordado nas obras da maturidade, a partir da publicação de Assim falou Zaratustra, quando a visão trágica é contextualizada na fisiologia da arte, a filosofia é feita com o corpo, o texto da realidade é lido pela ótica da vontade de poder e o amor fati é a mais elevada concepção de amor. Após a apresentação destes conceitos, foi necessário investigarmos o contexto da amizade de Nietzsche e Richard Wagner para entendermos não só as afinidades pessoais, como também o projeto mútuo de renovação da arte alemã através do resgate do espírito trágico, que considerava a união entre filosofia e arte musical. O comprometimento de Wagner com os ideais ascetas, sua conversão ao dogma cristão, a composição de sua última ópera, Parsifal, e o não cumprimento dos ideais reformadores da arte após a inauguração do Teatro de Bayreuth, tudo isso decepcionou Nietzsche, levando-o a romper definitivamente esta amizade a partir de 1876. Seus escritos da maturidade são críticas severas ao wagnerianismo, e é nesta fase que o filósofo descobre Carmen, elogiando-a em cartas e também em O Caso Wagner, um panfleto de 1888, um de seus últimos escritos, onde reúne diversas críticas contra o compositor alemão. Estes elogios exaltam a postura de afirmação da vida e também o fatalismo presentes na obra de Bizet, o que a coloca diametralmente oposta às composições românticas wagnerianas. Tais adjetivações nos motivaram a pesquisar a possibilidade de Carmen ser considerada uma legítima expressão do trágico na Europa finisecular.

O corpo como obra de arte e fundador da experiência estética em MerleauPonty

Este trabalho parte de uma leitura da filosofia de Merleau-Ponty centrada na noção de Corpo como Obra de arte, fundamentando-se no pressuposto de que se trata de um conceito fundamental da fenomenologia contemporânea e da estética. Este trabalho assume a tarefa de mostrar que, Merleau-Ponty discute a questão do corpo como obra de arte não com os pressupostos do intelectualismo, do empirismo, ou antes, da Psicologia Clássica, mas tomando como base o vivido, o corpo como aquele que percebe, que está situado num mundo e que portanto ele tem um corpo que é fundante. É neste sentido que o seu projeto filosófico se fundamenta, em primeiro lugar, na tentativa de estabelecer um retorno ao vivido e a tarefa da compreensão de que a verdadeira filosofia é reaprender a ver o mundo. Por conseguinte, justifica-se uma investigação que irá pensar o corpo como obra de arte e como tal, inacabada e ao mesmo tempo, ele se dá através de seus desdobramentos na medida em que o sentido só é acessível por um contato direto. Do mesmo modo, partindo de uma compreensão merleau-pontiana de corpo como obra de arte, por fim, este trabalho assume também a tarefa de se indagar acerca da repercussão desta mesma afirmação na relação do saber filosófico consigo mesmo, logo, no modo da própria filosofia entender a sua história, estando, pois, a importância desta incursão no ensejo de explicitar o que, para Merleau Ponty, seria um corpo comparado a obra de arte como um nó de significações vivas e não a lei de um certo número de termos co-variantes.

Presságios literários e herança plástica: Emerson e Thoreau; Richard Serra, Waltercio Caldas e outros

O presente estudo ambiciona examinar as escritas literárias de Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) e Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) considerando-as como uma forma de presságio de arte na América, ou seja, como uma escrita literária que parece ter sido herdada no ambiente artístico das obras plásticas contemporâneas de Richard Serra (1939-) e Waltercio Caldas (1946-), entre outras. Tal herança endossa a noção de linguagem ordinária, compreendida como o ponto de acolhimento, ou de uma inquietação, que se faz presente nas circunstâncias da contemporaneidade. Por sua vez, o gesto de endereçamento que envolve estas escrituras expressa a marca de uma indecibilidade acerca da continuidade ou descontinuidade da existência de categorias como literatura, filosofia e artes. Assim, a problematização dessas remissões ganha vulto no presente estudo, por meio de uma abordagem em perspectiva comparada entre Thoreau, Emerson, Waltercio, Serra e outros. E deste modo, a questão que se estabelece nesse panorama diz respeito aos problemas do pensamento, que em âmbito plástico parecem se estender para uma tradição crítica no Novo Mundo