Academic literature on the topic 'Tendai (Sect)'

Shugendo, which prospered during Japan’s Middle Ages, valued ascetic practices and fused mountain worship with Taoism, Shinto, Buddhism, Animism, astronomy, and medicine. However, since it was transmitted via oral tradition from one generation to the next, limited evidence can be found. Therefore, this essay analyzes 3D imaging data of stone reliefs found at Mt. Hiko, located in the Kyushu region of Japan, to discern whether the carvings depict certain deities and how the Sanskrit characters found in the moon circles represent Shugendo thinking. In addition, it examines how the influence of Shugendo art spread throughout the Kyushu region, Kiyomizu (Kagoshima Prefecture), and Aoki (Kumamoto Prefecture) as well as reassesses its cultural significance. With regard to the former, the results show that a relief of a seated Amitabha was engraved between two other deities: the Mahaasthaamapraapta and Avalokiteśvara. Concerning the latter, the findings reveal that these were the locations of Amitabha worship by the esoteric Tendai sect, which revered “the water” (rivers) and represented an association among Mt. Hiko, Kumano, and Aoki.

Abstract Can literature re-imagine universality in a way that would not be an expression of an underlying urge toward homogeneity and totality? Beginning with the remarks from Olga Tokarczuk’s Nobel Lecture “The Tender Narrator” where she calls for literature to “universalize our experience” that involves—somewhat counterintuitively—a tender attunement to the fragment, this article discusses a new, paradoxical, feminine formulation of universality in Tokarczuk’s bestseller Flights. By analyzing mobilizations of flight in the novel, the article suggests its universal is woven out of “the shadows of consciousness,” untranslatable idioms of language, pagan Slavic mythologies, old Slavic sect of Bieguni that is virtually unknown in Eastern Europe, and forgotten historical figures and incidents that the narrator “tenderly” narrates. It proposes that universality in Flights emerges as an ethical and political question of reading, translating, and writing across not only national, social, historical languages and contexts, but also across itinerant and fractured subjectivities, languages, myths, and temporalities embedded within the fabrics of Tokarczuk’s novel. This universal is also structured of ambivalent capitalist presents and socialist pasts—though not explicitly addressed, post-socialist transition surfaces here as the unresolvable political, temporal, and subjective liminality. Finally, the article proposes that Tokarczuk’s unique formulation of universality in terms of attention to the fragmentary, forgotten, and fleeting informs recent decolonial, emancipatory attempts in Eastern European feminist scholarship and offers a way out of a certain deadlock created by the frequent dismissal of universality due to its association with the patriarchal status quo and the repression of difference.

<p>La maloclusión se presenta con tasas de preva-lencia considerablemente altas. Más del 60% de la población es afectada por esta anomalía, con diferencias de acuerdo al grupo etario, étnico y método de registro. Según la Organización Mun-dial de la Salud (OMS), en el mundo ocupa el tercer lugar en problemas de salud bucal, junto con otras dificultades relacionadas con la oclu-sión y el dolor producido por estas. La mayoría de las alteraciones bucales, y en particular las ma-loclusiones, no son de riesgo de vida pero, por su prevalencia e incidencia, son consideradas un problema de salud pública. Sin embargo, su im-portancia se establece no sólo por el número de personas que la presentan, sino además, por los efectos nocivos que pueden generar en la cavi-dad oral, los cuales varían de una a otra persona según sea su intensidad y gravedad.Se deben valorar y medir de manera adecuada las anomalías de oclusión, para ello es necesario recurrir al uso de índices oclusales. El más uti-lizado y recomendado por la OMS es el Índice Estético Dental (DAI), que desde su desarrollo ha demostrado ser confiable y válido, así como sencillo y fácil de aplicar. El DAI evalúa los com-ponentes estéticos y anatómicos, otorga a cada una de las características de maloclusión una puntuación determinada, en función de la contri-bución relativa que dicha característica tiene a la gravedad del conjunto de la maloclusión, lo que permite además el análisis de cada componente o rasgo oclusal en forma independiente en base a las características clínicas de cada paciente. Brin-da información de los aspectos morfológicos, funcionales y estéticos de la maloclusión catego-rizada en grados de severidad, determinando así la necesidad de tratamiento ortodóncico.El conocimiento de la prevalencia de maloclu-sión en función a su grado de severidad y nece-sidad real de tratamiento, es un factor esencial a la hora de prever la demanda según tipo de asis-tencia y planificar la asignación de los recursos disponibles de una forma apropiada, debido a que los servicios de ortodoncia no son fácilmen-te disponibles y accesibles a la población general, buscando promover la oferta de servicios orto-dóncicos para la implementación de programas que contemplen acciones preventivas, intercep-tivas y de tratamiento, teniendo presente que la maloclusión es un problema importante en la salud bucal, estableciendo prioridades de acceso a los recursos asistenciales en la comunidad.El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia, severidad de maloclusión y necesi-dad de tratamiento ortodóncico de acuerdo al Índice Estético Dental (DAI) y validar la sonda milimetrada William-Fox (Hu-Friedy), como ins-trumento de medida utilizado por el índice.Se realizó un estudio observacional, descripti-vo de corte transversal, mediante una muestra conformada por 154 pacientes que concurrie-ron para su atención integral al Hospital Univer-sitario Odontológico de la Facultad de Odon-tología de la Universidad Nacional de Nordeste (UNNE), seleccionados mediante un Muestreo al Azar Sistemático, en intervalos de 1 en 10, quedando establecida una muestra del 10% de la población en estudio. Los pacientes fueron cate-gorizados en dos grupos etarios que cubren el intervalo de edad, de 18 a 35 años denominados adultos jóvenes y de 36 a 65 años denomina-dos adultos maduros. La recolección de datos se realizó a través de un examen clínico, me-diante el análisis del DAI, todos los registros clínicos fueron efectuados por un único exami-nador, entrenado a tal efecto. Para la validación del instrumento de medida se seleccionaron al azar 50 pacientes aplicando el DAI con sonda milimetrada William-Fox (Hu-Friedy) siendo el instrumento utilizado por el índice y con com-pás de punta seca empleado como instrumento gold standard. Se observó que el 70% de los pacientes estu-diados presentó necesidad de tratamiento or-todóncico en diferentes grados de severidad de maloclusión, en el 43% de los casos el tratamien-to es obligatorio. Esta alta prevalencia de malo-clusión, se mostró reflejada por las anomalías que se presentaron con mayor frecuencia, como ausencia de piezas dentarias visibles (47%), apiña-miento dentario en una o ambas arcadas (44%) y la relación molar con deslizamiento anteropos-terior de ½ cúspide o cúspide completa (49%).En el sexo femenino se presentó oclusión nor-mal en el 31% de los pacientes y en el masculino 28%. La maloclusión muy severa o discapacitan-te que requiere de tratamiento obligatorio, se presentó en un 35% de los pacientes de sexo femenino y en un 54% en el masculino. En el gru-po de adultos maduros prevaleció, en un 59%, la maloclusión muy severa, siendo en estos casos el tratamiento obligatorio.Se observó una alta correlación entre los valo-res obtenidos con la sonda milimetrada y con el compás de punta seca, se corrobora con un r= 0,999, p valor= 0,000. En conclusión existe una alta prevalencia de maloclusión en diferentes grados de severidad y necesidad de tratamiento ortodóncico en los pa-cientes del Hospital Universitario Odontológico de la Facultad de Odontología de la UNNE, sien-do mayor la necesidad de tratamiento en adultos maduros de sexo masculino.Las variaciones entre las medidas registradas con la sonda milimetrada y con el compás de punta seca son mínimas y no influyen en la pun-tuación final del Índice, lo que valida a la sonda milimetrada como instrumento de medida del Índice Estético Dental.</p>

La scène bloghouse n’aura finalement duré que quelques années entre la fin des années 2000 et le début des années 2010. Elle a pour moi un statut un peu particulier : comme membre du blog et collectif fluokids, je l’ai bien connue. Si bien que j’appréhende avec une certaine anxiété ce moment où l’on commence à en écrire l’histoire. Se présentent en effet tous les risques habituels d’écrasement des expériences du passé, contre lesquels cette revue a l’habitude de lutter. Le risque principal tient au fait de considérer, à cause de ce nom de “bloghouse” qui a fini par s’imposer, que c’est un genre musical plutôt homogène — un son maximal, compressé et lo-fi, celui des bangers / turbines — et représenté par quelques labels et artistes stars (Ed Banger, Kitsuné, Simian Mobile Disco, Justice, etc.). Or avant que ne se dégagent ces repères fédérateurs, il s’agissait aussi et peut-être surtout d’un réseau de blogger·euses notamment suédois·es, français·es, américain·es et australien·nes (un temps fédéré·es par la mailing-list secrète Grindin ). Son centre de gravité tenait moins à un son particulier qu’à la fusion accélérée de styles multiples à travers des DJ sets décomplexés, la publication d’une avalanche de remixes — dont sortaient inévitablement les meilleurs tubes — et bien sûr des billets de blogs, des posts sur les réseaux sociaux et des playlists web, qui devenaient soudain des formats musicaux à part entière. Nous partagions un certain état d’esprit post-adolescent et un goût pour la fête comme espace de jeu. Nous mettions en commun nos différents avantages comparatifs locaux et nationaux tout en entretenant une certaine curiosité à l’endroit de ceux des autres — l’electro-pop et l’electro-house scandinave et australienne, le thrash punk de Los Angeles, le nu-disco d’un peu partout, et bien sûr les suites de la french touch dans ses différents aspects — arrangements chics et (hard) house filtrée. Qui se souvient aujourd’hui du remix de Switch pour le «Divine Gosa» de Radioclit, de son synthé irisé et plus délicieusement crispant que la pire des montées acid , et de ses tunnels de reverbs en forme d’impasses ? On pouvait lui enchaîner sans difficulté le remix d’Erol Alkan pour «Move My Body» de Tiga, qui faisait la jonction avec l’electroclash, cet autre genre tributaire d’une fascination un peu malsaine pour la combinaison de la fête et des médias ; mais aussi l’interrompre sans ménagement pour passer à une bluette techno minimale de Gui Boratto, à une ballade folk-pop de Gotye, ou un anthem de Juelz Santana. La façon dont nous rassemblions tous ces morceaux dans les mêmes mixes et playlists ressemble à ce qu’incarne l’hyperpop aujourd’hui : centralité des playlists, bastardisation des genres, glitch et mélodies 8bit, rencontres entre sensibilités emo, punk et électronique, entre pure dépense et mièvrerie… Même si elle aborde assez peu ces questions d’esthétique sonore, et qu’elle survalorise peut-être l’indépendance des espaces numériques, il me semble que la journaliste Lina Abascal, dans son récent livre Never be alone again , rend assez bien justice à cette scène — c’est que comme en témoignent les interludes du livre en forme de journal intime, elle aussi l’a vécue de l’intérieur. Le chapitre dont vous allez lire la traduction a en tout cas l’intérêt de faire ressortir une certaine candeur de la part de celles et ceux qui se retrouvaient alors propulsés dans les débuts de la célébrité en ligne. Il éclaire aussi au mieux la fin de l’ère bloghouse : la montée de plateformes marginalisant le partage de fichiers comme l’écrit et la promotion des identités d’« influenceurs » et de « créateurs » sont allées de pair avec la désaffection d’une bonne partie de celles et ceux qui y avaient cru y trouver, l’espace d’un instant, une manière de vivre sans jamais avoir à regarder derrière soi. GH.

Le poids economique de la panification a oriente la selection des varietes de ble tendre francaises vers des caracteristiques technologiques de moins en moins adaptees a la biscuiterie. L'objectif de cette these est d'identifier les caracteristiques biochimiques et technologiques des farines qui soient discriminantes pour la qualite biscuitiere, afin de developper des programmes de selection de varietes adaptees a la biscuiterie. Un biscuit sec de type lamine decoupe, similaire au gouter fabrique par le test du ctuc (qui est utilise pour l'inscription des varietes biscuitieres par le ctps), a ete choisi pour ce travail. Une population de 39 varietes de ble a permis la recherche des caracteristiques biochimiques et technologiques associees aux variations de reponse des farines au test biscuitier. Il apparait que la durete du grain (gh) est la variable la plus explicative de la qualite biscuitiere, suivie par la mesure de viscosite des extraits aqueux de farine, av (qui correspond approximativement a la viscosite des arabinoxylanes hydrosolubles). Les quantites de sous-unites de glutenines de haut poids moleculaire et de proteines totales sont egalement retrouvees dans l'explication des variables du test biscuitier. De faibles valeurs, a la fois pour gh et av, semblent associees a une meilleure qualite biscuitiere. Une etude sur 50 lignees issues d'un croisement entre deux varietes (floreal et capitole), de durete et de viscosite faibles, confirme ces resultats. Un lot de 19 varietes, experimentees sur trois lieux differents, a permis d'apprecier l'heritabilite des parametres du test biscuitier et celle de variables associees a la qualite. De fortes valeurs d'heritabilite ont ete obtenues pour plusieurs variables associees a la qualite biscuitiere (gh et av) et pour certains parametres du test biscuitier. Une etude genetique, a partir de deux croisements cartographies issus de varietes parentales d'origine tres diverse, a permis de confirmer le qtl majeur sur le chromosome 5ds pour gh et de reveler un qtl majeur, localise sur le chromosome 1bl, pour av. Ces resultats sont encourageants pour la selection de varietes de ble tendre adaptees a la biscuiterie de type biscuit sec. Les resultats de biologie moleculaire pourraient permettre d'envisager des programmes de selection assistee par marqueurs moleculaires.

This research develops a Fuzzy Multi-Attribute Analysis (FMAA) model to select the most appropriate contractors for Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) projects. It will enable EPC project owners to eliminate the over-reliance on subjective contractor selection and risks associated with incomplete information, imprecise data and vagueness in human decision making. With the combination of fuzzy set theory and multi-attribute analysis, this model addresses the fuzzy nature in human decision making and helps EPC clients achieve the best value of the contract.

Cable-actuated manipulators (or 'cable robots') constitute a relatively new classification of robots which use motors, located at fixed remote locations, to manipulate an end-effector by extending or retracting cables. These manipulators possess a number of unique properties which make them proficient with tasks involving high payloads, large workspaces, and dangerous or contaminated environments. However, a number of challenges exist which have limited the mainstream emergence of cable robots. This thesis addresses two of the most important of these issues-- workspace analysis and disturbance compensation. Workspace issues are particularly important, as many large-scale applications require the end-effector to operate in regions of a particular shape, and to exert certain minimum forces throughout those regions. The 'Force-Feasible Workspace' represents the set of end-effector positions, for a given robot design, for which the robot can exert a set of required forces on its environment. This can be considered as the robot's 'usable' workspace, and an analysis of this workspace shape for point-mass cable robots is therefore presented to facilitate optimal cable robot design. Numerical simulation results are also presented to validate the analytical results, and to aid visualization of certain complex workspace shapes. Some cable robot applications may require mounting motors to moving bases (i.e. mobile robots) or other surfaces which are subject to disturbances (i.e. helicopters or crane arms). Such disturbances can propagate to the end-effector and cause undesired motion, so the rejection of motor mount disturbances is also of interest. This thesis presents a strategy for measuring these disturbances and compensating for them. General approaches and implementation issues are explored qualitatively with a simple one-degree-of-freedom prototype (including a strategy for mitigating accelerometer drift), and quantitative simulation results are presented as a proof of concept.

CAPITULO 1 â Perfil dos carpinteiros artesanais de embarcaÃÃes a vela do litoral do estado do Cearà No contexto mundial, durante o sÃculo XV, a construÃÃo naval das embarcaÃÃes veleiras passaram por evoluÃÃes que propiciaram o empreendimento de grandes viagens. Chegando ao Brasil iniciou-se um longo processo de interaÃÃo construtiva das embarcaÃÃes locais com o conhecimento europeu. As jangadas inicialmente construÃdas sem velas evoluÃram e se propagaram por todo o nordeste e, principalmente no Cearà como embarcaÃÃo de pesca artesanal, evoluindo das jangadas de troncos Ãs atuais de tÃbuas, assim como ocorreu evoluÃÃo construtiva artesanal das canoas e botes. O litoral cearense foi percorrido no perÃodo de setembro de 2010 a maio de 2012, identificando-se in loco os tipos de embarcaÃÃes construÃdas, e localizando e entrevistando construtores artesanais de embarcaÃÃes a vela, foco principal deste trabalho. Foram entrevistados 36 carpinteiros de comprovado reconhecimento local, que responderam questionÃrio estruturado com perguntas direcionadas diretamente à identificaÃÃo do construtor artesanal, seu perfil profissional e da sua arte construtiva, permitindo registros fotogrÃficos, filmagens e gravaÃÃes. Os dados de cada questionÃrio foram transcritos para planilhas eletrÃnicas e analisadas, combinando com as gravaÃÃes de entrevistas transcritas e das filmagens. A pesquisa constatou a baixa escolaridade dos carpinteiros artesanais entrevistados, com 44% de alfabetizados e 42% de analfabetos; a inexistÃncia de qualquer registro construtivo empregado; mÃdia de idade; media de tempo de trabalho e frequÃncia da distribuiÃÃo do tempo de trabalho entre os carpinteiros entrevistados; influÃncia e origem do aprendizado e ausÃncia de enquadramento funcional destes jà que nÃo se aposentam como construtores artesanais. Resultados importantes foram obtidos sobre o perfil do carpinteiro artesanal cearense, considerados importantes para a manutenÃÃo da tradiÃÃo cultural de suas tÃcnicas aplicadas à construÃÃo de embarcaÃÃes a vela, e que compÃem o patrimÃnio histÃrico e socioeconÃmico do estado. CAPITULO 2 â A construÃÃo dos diferentes tipos de embarcaÃÃes a vela do litoral do estado do Cearà As embarcaÃÃes a vela sÃo usadas na pesca desde a Idade MÃdia e foram introduzidas no Brasil no inÃcio do descobrimento. No CearÃ, a frota veleira à constituÃda por jangadas, paquetes, canoas e botes, e este estudo objetivou descrever os aspectos e processo construtivos destas embarcaÃÃes, e verificar a existÃncia de diferenciaÃÃo entre localidades quanto aos custos, tempo de construÃÃo, materiais, ferramentas manuais, posicionamento dos mastros com os tipos e tamanhos de vela e elaboraÃÃo de planos de linhas. A metodologia constou de levantamentos de dados in loco, no perÃodo de maio 2010 a dezembro de 2012, com entrevistas com 36 carpinteiros artesanais em 25 localidades de praia de dezoito municÃpios, e aplicaÃÃo de questionÃrios e registros por gravaÃÃo, fotografia e filmagem. O mÃtodo construtivo adotado pelos construtores à o do âesqueleto primeiroâ, ao qual os diversos componentes sÃo acrescentados. O principio para a construÃÃo dos botes triÃngulo e bastardo à o mesmo adotado por toda a forÃa de trabalho, que sÃo idÃnticos no aspecto construtivo e de estrutura de casco, diferem no tipo de mastro e vela, tendo o bastardo um mastro fixo com vela latina bastarda e o bote triÃngulo vela latina triangular. Os custos de construÃÃo variam em ordem decrescente para botes, jangadas, canoas e paquetes, determinados pelo comprimento da embarcaÃÃo e tipo de madeira. Pontualmente, registrou-se em Bitupità a existÃncia da vela quadrangular latina, denominada de âvela quatro punhosâ, envergada em mastro bastardo nas canoas de curral. CAPITULO 3 â A navegaÃÃo praticada por mestres marcadores nas embarcaÃÃes a vela no estado do Cearà A orientaÃÃo praticada a bordo de embarcaÃÃes veleiras para navegaÃÃo e pesca utiliza referÃncias de terra para compor as linhas de posiÃÃo denominadas caminho e assento que, ao se cruzarem, determinam o local desejado. Esta atividade vem acontecendo desde a existÃncia da jangada de piÃba e se perpetua por transmissÃo entre geraÃÃes. O estudo foi desenvolvido com mestres marcadores de trÃs localidades, Baleia, Fortaleza e Redonda, onde predominam canoas, jangadas e botes, respectivamente. A prÃtica desta modalidade de navegaÃÃo à idÃntica para os diferentes tipos de embarcaÃÃo e diferem pouco entre as localidades estudadas. O exercÃcio da orientaÃÃo exige que o mestre marcador tenha boa visÃo e memÃria para encontrar caminho e assento, alÃm de sofrer restriÃÃes na ausÃncia da luz solar. Essa atividade à iniciada pelos marcadores ainda na juventude, e esses conhecimentos sÃo adquiridos independentes do grau de instruÃÃo e se consolidam tanto pelo exercÃcio da pesca quando pela experiÃncia adquirida. A observaÃÃo de estrelas e planetas revela a direÃÃo do caminho de volta ao porto de origem tendo a estrela do porto vÃrias denominaÃÃes no litoral cearense. A falta de visibilidade do litoral, ocasionada por chuva, cerraÃÃo ou outros fatores, interfere negativamente na identificaÃÃo de pontos de referÃncia existentes no litoral. A marcaÃÃo terrestre vem sendo gradativamente substituÃda pelo uso do GPS na localizaÃÃo dos pesqueiros mais produtivos, com grande aceitaÃÃo pelos mais jovens. O baixo preÃo e eficiÃncia comprovada desse equipamento tÃm justificado sua difusÃo ao longo de todo o litoral do CearÃ. CAPITULO 4 â EmbarcaÃÃes a vela do litoral do estado do CearÃ, distribuiÃÃo espacial da frota e da produÃÃo pesqueira O Cearà possui 573 km de litoral, distribuÃdo por 20 municÃpios costeiros e conta com 113 localidades de pesca estuarina e marinha. Este estudo se baseia nos seguintes dados estatÃsticos do Programa ESTATPESCA a- composiÃÃo da frota por tipo de barco e municÃpio; b- produÃÃo de pescado por tipo de barco e municÃpio; c- produÃÃo das principais espÃcies de peixe por tipo de embarcaÃÃo. Foi feita a descriÃÃo das caracterÃsticas das embarcaÃÃes a vela do Cearà de uma forma mais detalhada que as dividiu em jangadas ocada e de isopor; paquetes ocado e de isopor; canoa de Paracuru; canoa de Moitas-Baleia; canoa de Camocim (bianas); Canoa de Acarau-PreÃ-BitupitÃ; canoas de currais de BitupitÃ; canoa-paquete de Fleixeiras-Guagiru e botes triangulo e bastardo. Os resultados mostram que os paquetes sÃo maioria numÃrica e com maior distribuiÃÃo geogrÃfica, destacam-se pela versatilidade, por serem leves para encalhe e movimentaÃÃo na faixa de praia, pela necessidade de pequena tripulaÃÃo e baixo custo de construÃÃo e manutenÃÃo. Os botes tÃm a menor abrangÃncia territorial, com o bastardo bem concentrados em Camocim e o triÃngulo com maior concentraÃÃo em IcapuÃ. A canoa tem predominÃncia exclusiva no litoral oeste e a jangada, no litoral leste. Em termos relativos, as embarcaÃÃes participaram da captura nas seguintes proporÃÃes: canoas = 45,3 %; paquete = 22,3 %; botes = 22,4%, destacando-se os municÃpios de Camocim, Itarema, Icapuà e AcaraÃ. Estes tÃm produÃÃo mais seleta, capturando espÃcies de maior valor comercial, a saber guaiÃba, cavala, pargo, sirigado, carapitanga e dourado. As jangadas vÃm perdendo importÃncia relativa na captura do pescado, mas ainda com destaque para os municÃpios de Fortaleza, Aquiraz, Beberibe Cascavel e Aracati.<br>CHAPTER 1 â Profile of the artisanal carpenters of sail crafts in Cearà State In a worldwide scenario, during the XV Century, the naval building of sail craft underwent an evolutionary development that enabled the undertaking of long-length voyages across the oceans. By arriving at Brazil, an intensive interaction process between local sail boat construction and that of European-derived knowledge. The sail rafts, at first built without sail, were deployed over the whole Brazilian northeast, mainly in Cearà State, as artisanal crafts, evolving from simple dugouts to the actual wooden ones as well as canoes and rowboats. For this research work, the Cearà Stateâs coast was surveyed from September, 2010 to May, 2012, taking in situ stock of all types of constructed crafts, and pinpointing and interviewing artisanal builders of sailboats, who are than main target population of this survey. To this aim, 36 accomplished carpenters, locally recognized as such, were required to answer a number of questionnaires directed toward a full appraisal of the artisanal naval builders, its professional profile and handicraft, for which photographic records, pictures and sound recordings were obtained. The derived data were transferred to electronic spreadsheets and then analyzed by crosschecking the recorded interviews and the movie pictures. This survey led to the following results: occurrence of low reading ability by the artisanal carpenters so that 44 per cent were found to be illiterate; non-existence of any kind of professional registration by the competent public offices; mean age of 22.1 years; high mean working time and frequency of distribution among the sampled population; factors of influence and origin of learning techniques and absence of functional framing, since they to do not retire as naval builders. Significant results were got as to the artisanal carpentersâs profile in Cearà State, which were deemed quite relevant for the maintenance of the folklore of their techniques applied to the construction of sail crafts, and round up the historic and socioeconomic heritage of the Cearà Stateâs coastline . CHAPTER 2 â Construction of different types of sail craft along Cearà Stateâs coastline The sailboats are used in fisheries since the middle ages and were introduced in Brazil at the beginning of its discovery. The Cearà Stateâs fleet is made up of rafts, canoes and boats whose study was meant for describing aspects of the building process and for ascertaining the existence of differentiation among fishing communities as to costs, construction time, basic materials, hand tools and positioning of masts according to boat size, sail types and setting of lining patterns. The methodology consisted of data surveys carried out locally, in the period from May, 2010 through December, 2012, by means of interviews with 36 artisanal carpenters in 25 fishing sites of 18 costal counties, by applying questionnaires and data gathering by recording, photography and movie pictures. The constructive technique consists of mounting a âprimary skeletonâ to which all other component parts are attached. The building principle of the triangle and bastard boats is the same as adopted by the whole of the labor force, which are identical as to their constructive pattern and hull framework, but differ as to the types of masts ands sails, namely the bastard one having a fixed mast and a storm jib, and the triangle one having a triangular storm jib. The construction costs vary in a decreasing order for boats, rafts and canoes, as determined by the craft length and kind of timber. Somewhat exceptionally there was identified in BitupitÃ, Barroquinha county, the existence of a square storm jib named âfour-fist sailâ, bent up as a bastard mast in the fish-weir canoes. CHAPTER 3 â The navigation practiced by master position markers on board sail boats in Cearà State The orientation carried out on board sailboats for navigation and fishing makes use of landmarks in order to compose the position lines named pathway and outpost that, while intercrossing, determine the sought after site. This activity has been taking place since the very early existence of the sail raft and it endures itself from generation to generation. This study was undertaken by master markers in some fishing localities, namely Baleia, Fortaleza and Redonda where canoes, sail rafts and boats are respectively predominant. The practice of this kind of navigation is similar for the various types of boats and diverges from one another very little among the studied landing points. The exercise of orientation requires that the master marker has got good eyesight and memory in order to find out the pathway and the outpost, besides undergoing setbacks from the absence of sunlight. That activity is started when the fisherman is still young, and his long-lived expertise is acquired independently of the educational degree as it is derived from both the fishing chores and the accumulated experience. The observation of stars and planets reveals the way back to the home port whose identifying star receives many nominations along Cearà Stateâs coastline. The lack of visibility brought about by rain, clouding, and other factors meddle with the identification of conspicuous landmarks. This age- old technique has been gradually replaced by the use of GPS devices for pinpointing the most productive fishing grounds, with a high degree of acceptance by the young generation. The low purchase price and the proved efficiency of that equipment has accounted for the diffusion of their advantages among the fishing communities of Cearà State. CHAPTER 4 â Sail crafts in Cearà Stateâs coastline: fleet and fishing production spatial distribution The Cearà Stateâs coastline spreads over 573 km distributed by 20 coastal counties, and 113 estuarine and marine fishing communities. This study is based on the following statistical data gathered through the ESTATPESCA Program: fleet composition by types of boat and county; fish production by type of boat and county; catch composition of the main fish species by type of boat. A detailed description of the sailboats in Cearà was presented in order to provide information on a number of variants of their main types, namely hollow raft, styrofoam-fulled rafts, canoe from Paracuru, canoe from Moitas-Baleia; canoe from Camocim; canoe from AcaraÃ-PreÃ-BitupitÃ; canoe from Bitupità fish-weirs, canoe-raft from Fleixeiras-Guagiru, triangle boat and bastard boat. The results show the small raft holds a numeric majority and a wider geographic distribution, standing out by being lighter to anchor on the beach sand, requiring fewer crew, and entailing lower construction and maintenance costs. The boats show a narrower territorial range, with the bastard ones being concentrated in Camocim county and the triangle ones more frequent in Icapuà county. The canoe and the large-sized raft hold an outstanding predominance on the western and the eastern sides of Cearà Stateâs coastline, respectively. In relative terms, the main types of fishing craft took part in the caches according to the following proportions: canoes = 45.3 per cent; small raft = 22.3 per cent; boats = 22.4 per cent. Among their home counties stand out Camocim, Itarema, Icapuà and AcaraÃ, the ones that boast a more exclusive fish production made out of such species as yellowtail snapper, king mackerel, Caribbean red snapper, black grouper, dog snapper and dolphin. The large-sized rafts have shown of late a tendency for playing a lesser part in fish catching, but they are still relevant in such Cearà Stateâs counties as Fortaleza, Aquiraz, Beberibe Cascavel and Aracati.

本文以晚明天台宗的發展為主題，并試圖通過浙江這一個案的研究來探究晚明時期中國佛教發展的特點。<br>晚明佛教的復興運動是一個各種佛教發展"模式"競爭的場所。在這裡，不同的人物或派別基於他們所理解的時代需要而有意識的"修剪菩提樹"，由此而產生各種風格迥異的佛教發展模式。晚明天台宗的復興運動也正是當時各種佛教發展模式中重要的一環。<br>本文首先通過考證得出正統譜系中晚明以來的這些天台宗祖師是由幾系以不同寺院為基礎的僧團編輯而成，并在四份傳承譜系的比較中，得出晚明天台宗在幽溪傳燈之後，由高明寺發展至浙江一帶不同地域的數系傳承，而智旭的靈峰寺僧團在明末清初一直秉承"不自立宗"的宗旨，兩者並非是"念珠式"一襲相承。要理解明清以來天台宗發展的走向，須要首先理解高明寺一系百松真覺、幽溪傳燈所領導的晚明天台宗的"中興"。<br>從百松真覺的續弘台宗，到幽溪傳燈時期的鼎盛，天台宗已成為東南浙江一帶頗具影響的派別。晚明天台在發展的模式的探索上，以幽溪傳燈的思想最為代表，他認為天台宗所傳的教法是最契合如來本心的，故而在其理論構建中，處處發明天台教旨，將其置於理論建構中的最高地位。<br>由於智旭思想中多有涉及天台教學，故而他和天台宗之間的關係歷來多有爭訟。本文則通過智旭與天台一系僧團的交流，特別是在他思想探索時期與幽溪傳燈的弟子的"共締千古盟"，來說明他爲什麽會如此注重天台教學。至於爲什麽他會被塑造為天台祖師，本文則通過明清天台譜系的研究來考證智旭的靈峰寺僧團在清中前期與幽溪傳燈一系傳承的交往以及逐漸演化為天台法脈的過程，并試圖通過明清佛教的組織形式來探討這種轉變的原因。<br>智旭與幽溪傳燈在模式上諸宗融合與宗派爭鳴兩種意見的分歧也促使我們對晚明佛教的融合論作進一步的反思。由於"佛教"這一術語的模糊性，每種發展模式的僧人都將自己所認同的教學模式認為是佛教的正統代表，因而，在他們判別各宗派佛法高低以及融合他宗時，不可避免的將自身所認同的佛法置於最高或最核心的地位，於是所謂的融合也就不可避免的變為伸張一家教旨的論斷，各種模式之間，甚至各種主張融合的模式之間的矛盾和爭訟也因此不可避免。<br>In this thesis, I aim to discuss the development of T’ien-t’ai school in Late Ming and try to explore, through this case study, the characteristics of Chinese Buddhism in this period.<br>The Late Ming Buddhist revival is like a site of contestation by different Buddhist development "models", each kind of which intentionally "prunes the bodhi tree" according to its own understanding of Buddhism and the needs of their time.<br>From the time of Baisong Zhenjue (百松真覺) to Youxi Chuandeng (幽溪傳燈), the T’ien-t’ai School has become an influential faction of Buddhism in southeast China. The characteristic of their model is to highlight their sectarian identity, they put their teaching of T’ien-t’ai as the hightest in their scheme of classification of doctiones and as most conforming to the heart of the teachings of Buddha.<br>In the study of late Ming Buddhism, there has been much dispute on the relationship between Ouyi Zhixu (蕅益智旭) and the T’ien-t’ai School. In this thesis, I try to reveal Ouyi Zhixu’s communication with the disciples of Youxi Chuandeng to illustrate why he paid so much attention to the T’ien-t’ai teaching. As for why Ouyi Zhixu is presented as the patriarch of T’ien-t’ai School, I will show, through the textual research of T’ien-t’ai lineage recrods during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, how the lineage of the Lingfeng Temple (靈峰寺) sangha in early and mid Qing was transformed to become one of the T’ien-t’ai lineages.<br>The different understanding of Ouyi Zhixu and Youxi Chuandeng on syncretism or sectarian identity prompts us to rethink the syncretism of Late Ming Buddhism. Because of the ambiguity of the term "Buddhism", all different development models claims that they are the orthodox representation of Buddhism. In different scheme of doctrinal classification (判教), all factions will inevitably put their own theory as the highest or the core teaching of Buddhism.<br>The ambiguity of the term "Buddhism" also applies to the understanding of Buddhism by the gentry from Confucianism. What they are dealing with is different models of Buddhism, but not Buddhism as a whole. Therefore, the so-called syncretism of Confucianism and Buddhism or the unity of the three teachings (三教合一), actually refers to the relationship between the gentry and the kind of Buddhism that they identitied with. Moreover, the syncretism of Confucianism and Buddhism were with complicated social and historical background.<br>Detailed summary in vernacular field only.<br>Detailed summary in vernacular field only.<br>Detailed summary in vernacular field only.<br>Detailed summary in vernacular field only.<br>Detailed summary in vernacular field only.<br>Detailed summary in vernacular field only.<br>馬炳濤.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2015.<br>Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-147).<br>Abstracts also in English.<br>Ma Bingtao.

碩士<br>大葉大學<br>資訊管理學系碩士班<br>92<br>Along with global free competition, the “Government Owned, Contract Operated (GOCO)” is a new prevalent business model. “The Most Advantageous Tender” is the main method for government to select their agency. The ideal of “the Most Advantageous Tender” is to avoid disadvantage of price-oriented approach. For facilitating an advantageous Tender selected, a lot of criteria such as Tenders’ technique skills, quality, functions, and trade terms are involved in the criteria for agency selection. Due to the ill-defined and ambiguous criteria, which exist with agency assessment, most measures are described subjectively by linguistic terms, and the conventional assessment approaches cannot suitably nor effectively handle. However, fuzzy-logic provides a useful tool for dealing with decisions in which the phenomena are imprecise and vague. To assist manager in making better agency-selection, a method using fuzzy logic is proposed to help managers make better evaluation. Furthermore, an example is given to illustrate the performance evaluation process which evidences the method can provide the analyst more informative and reliable results.

AbstractThis chapter discusses the second phase of MLFT, namely layering. Layering is the process of concealing the origins of the funds before integrating them into the legal economy. As stated in the introduction it is not possible to draw clear lines between the phases. Layering is conducted through a combination of anonymous wallets and unregulated currencies. The previous chapter has focused on virtual wallets, this chapter will therefore focus on the currencies themselves. Currencies used in the Metaverse form an alternative to the regulated banking industry. There is therefore the risk that these currencies are not or underregulated. This chapter therefore starts in Sect. 6.2 by discussing cryptocurrencies. This section also includes a discussion on mixing services and decentralized cryptoexchanges (DEX). Section 6.3 continues by discussing the centralized currencies without the status of legal tender. These currencies include gaming currencies and currencies provided by platforms. Section 6.4 then continues by analyzing the currencies with the status of legal tender. These include the central bank digital currencies and cryptocurrencies that are recognized as legal tender such as Bitcoin. The chapter finishes in Sect. 6.5 with the conclusions and recommendations.

Four patterns describe how bilingualism affects the functional connectivity of the brain. First, a general observation across most of the studies I surveyed was that bilinguals tended to have higher functional connectivity when compared to monolinguals. Second, increased connectivity with the salience network, a set of regions including the anterior cingulate cortex, the bilateral insula, and subcortical regions is often associated with language training or language diversity where proactive attention to content is paramount. Third, to the degree that individuals have greater exposure or mastery of a second language, (greater proficiency and an earlier or simultaneous age of acquisition) and can rely more on reactive control, studies often show greater bilateral connectivity between the inferior frontal gyri. This is also sometimes associated with decreased activation of frontal regions implying distributed load and greater neural efficiency. The distributed neural pattern in young adulthood may also explain how bilingual older adults are able to sustain their cognition at levels of neuropathology most monolinguals cannot endure. Fourth, in studies that examined anticorrelations between task and rest networks, bilinguals tended to have more distinct (e.g., modular organization), and more strongly anticorrelated task-positive and default-mode networks, and this was often correlated with cognitive control.

AbstractA Q-analysis generally favors large inter-group differences, whereas consensual statements that are shared by most participants tend to receive less attention, as do unusual views, which characterize small groups of participants. In this chapter, we start by exploring consensus statements and offer some thoughts on their meaning. We then consider views that are outside of the individual horizons of most participants. We identified these views through statements towards which most of the samples tended to be indifferent or neutral.Against the backdrop of these transnational statement preferences, we proceed to discuss irrelevant statements through the lens of “religious outliers”; individuals for whom the statements in question were, in fact, highly relevant and important. We then attempt to characterize these “types” through sets of statements, which were not part of any national prototype, and analyze the subjectivities of those who endorse them, by presenting holistic analyses of their interview narratives. Jointly, these analyses help us assess to what extent we can set aside the idea of national-cultural boundaries in favor of other levels of FQS statement analysis – the transnational and the idiosyncratic.

Abstract In medieval Japan, when the warrior was dominant in both the political and cultural life and when Zen was in its heyday as the warrior religion, no questions were raised about its involvement as a Buddhist sect in maximizing the warrior’s combat skills. Just as the earlier Buddhist sects, Tendai and Shingon, had perceived their roles to be protection of the country and its rulers from human and superhuman dangers, so latecomer Zen fitted into the same mold without protest or resistance. And both because of its coming into prominence just as the warrior Hōjō regency took over political power in Japan in the early thirteenth century and because of its peculiar fitness for dealing with the warrior mind described in Chapter 7, Zen became the religion of the warrior class par excellence. Its militancy was not “forced” on it by circumstances, by the large estates donated to its temples (as in the case of Shingon and Tendai), or by political ambitions such as those cherished by Pure Land Ikkō. It was simply that its approach to life was so adaptable to the character and aims of the dominant warrior class that the two became close Partners in action, with no embarrassing questions asked on either side about nonviolent Buddhism teaming up with the samurai as his enabler.

SET (Samsung Enhanced hull for Tendon) TLP (Tension Leg Platform) has been designed as an innovative TLP hull form with optimized number of tendons compared to conventional TLP design. SHI (Samsung Heavy Industries) designed the SET TLP to have the minimized hull weight with narrow and thin pontoon which results in the less number of tendons without any outboard extension of column or pontoon. The SET TLP has 8 tendons which are evenly attached along with the octagonal shaped-ring pontoon. The unique shape of octagonal ring pontoon distributes the wave load and concentrated tendon loads in larger areas, which can minimize the structural reinforcement. To verify the feasibility of the proposed hull concept with regard to the hydrostatic/hydrodynamic characteristics and tendon design, the numerical analyses for the hydrostatic stability and global performance are carried out. Hydrostatic stability is investigated for all the possible loading cases such as float-off, wet transit, tendon installation and operational conditions, and the proper tank compartments are achieved for all the scenarios without using any temporary stability module. The global performance is validated for all the possible combinations of wave, swell, wind, current and/or squall for a site in Western Africa. Through the frequency-domain analysis and nonlinear time-domain analysis as well, the essential items such as the maximum offset/set-down/top tendon tension, minimum bottom tendon tension are examined and confirms that the certain design criteria of TLP operation are satisfied.

Abstract Given a set of desired joint torques in an n-DOF tendon-driven manipulator with n + 1 control tendons, the determination of tendon forces is an indeterminate problem. Usually, the pseudo-inverse technique is used to solve for such a problem. In this paper, rather than using the pseudo-inverse technique, an efficient methodology for transforming joint torques (n elements) to motor torques (n + 1 elements) has been developed. This technique, called “torque resolver”, utilizes two circuit-like operators to transform torques between the two different vector spaces. It can be easily programmed on a digital computer or implemented into an analog-circuit system. It is hoped that this technique will make real-time computed-torque control feasible. The technique has been demonstrated through the dynamic simulation of a three-DOF manipulator.

Este artigo analisa se a propensão à síndrome de Burnout pode afetar o comprometimento organizacional de bombeiros do Primeiro Batalhão de Minas Gerais, tendo em vista as operações que executaram de busca e salvamento no rompimento da barragem de minério em Brumadinho. A pesquisa é descritiva, de abordagem qualitativa e o método é o estudo de caso. Realizaram-se entrevistas com 15 bombeiros (atuantes no evento), contendo questões sobre as dimensões da Síndrome de Burnout e o Comprometimento Organizacional. Durante as operações realizadas os bombeiros enfrentaram uma série de desafios e dificuldades. Houve dois momentos no local, inicialmente o terreno lamacento e depois seco. Acredita-se as adversidades tenham predispostos os bombeiros à exaustão no trabalho, todavia ficou denotado o intenso envolvimento dos profissionais em continuar o trabalho para salvar às vítimas e reconfortar as famílias e as pessoas da localidade que sofriam o desenrolar das operações. Notou-se mais a identificação que manifestam com a profissão do que com a corporação.

The Single Edge Notched Tension (SENT) specimen is a common tool for the determination of tearing resistance in pipeline steels and welds. However, it assumes pure mode I crack tip loading, which is unrepresentative for the evaluation of spiral seam weld flaws. To this purpose, the authors have performed SENT tests using specimens with a tilted notch. This paper evaluates experimental techniques to obtain the tearing resistance of such specimens. Mixed-mode crack opening displacement and ductile tearing are successfully measured using digital image correlation and direct current potential drop, respectively. The latter technique involves a calibration on the basis of a thermo-electric finite element model. Tearing resistance tends to increase with increasing notch tilt angle. Based on the limited number of tests performed, tilted notch SENT testing appears to be a promising tool for the assessment of spiral seam weld flaws.

Complex design problems are typically decomposed into smaller design problems that are solved by domain-specific experts who must then coordinate their solutions into a satisfactory system-wide solution. In set-based collaborative design, collaborating engineers coordinate themselves by communicating multiple design alternatives at each step of the design process. The goal in set-based collaborative design is to spend additional resources exploring multiple options in the early stages of the design process, in exchange for less iteration in the latter stages, when iterative rework tends to be most expensive. Several methods have been proposed for representing sets of designs, including intervals, surrogate models, fuzzy membership functions, and probability distributions. In this paper, we introduce the use of Bayesian networks for capturing sets of promising designs, thereby classifying the design space into satisfactory and unsatisfactory regions. The method is compared to intervals in terms of its capacity to accurately classify satisfactory design regions as a function of the number of available data points. A simplified, multilevel design problem for an unmanned aerial vehicle is presented as the motivating example.

Abstract This paper demonstrates another success story on delivering a new Best-In-Class Tendered Assisted Drilling (TAD) Wellhead Platform. A clear target/goal to achieve project value driver, ie. reduce CAPEX and accelerate project maturation speed. With demonstration of good front-end development work and project delivery strategies set from the beginning of the project, a series of strategic approach to deliver competitive scoping and requirement with the intent of achieving cost saving and minimize fabrication duration by meeting targeted weight reduction for both Topside and Substructures. The ultimate purpose of all these strategic approaches is to develop a set of standard template design and efficient project execution strategy for new TAD Wellhead platform that is replicable in Shell. Civil, Structural and Offshore Engineering discipline in Shell has leveraging past project good practices, lesson learnt and benchmarking against internal and external project to develop a fit-for-purpose design. Initial findings from the benchmarking study indicated at water depth of 143m in Sarawak water, jackets are launch-installed, typically. The continuous improvement exercises aimed to reduce both Topsides and Substructure weight, which eventually creates opportunity for jacket to convert from launch-installed in the initially concept to lift-installed jacket. Some of key successes from this improvement journey includes topside deck level/footprint optimization, optimized topside structural framing and deck leg spacing to have a small work-points from top, elimination of jacket dummy leg thus reduce overall jacket footprint/weight, lean foundation design, e.g. 1 skirt pile per leg etc. However, the key challenge to the lift-installed jacket concept at the water region of 140m remains at jacket lift weight that is limited by the typical heavy lift vessel crane capacity and it requires a stringent weather window limit. Hence, weight management, i.e. set NTE weight on the jacket lift weight is paramount and it needs to be managed from engineering phase all the way to offshore installation. The outcome of the continuous improvement journey showed tremendous satisfying result to save project cost and schedule. With massive reduction of jacket weight (&amp;gt;50%) thus it reduces fabrication schedule, and unlocks provision of yard flexibility that invites more competitive bidding from EPC contractors (especially small fabricator) thus potentially reduce overall EPC cost. The significant improvement in steel quantity reducing overall jacket steel material procurement cost and fabrication cost. Elimination of jacket loadout via skidding facility (for launch type jacket) that further reduces fabrication cost. This is the first lift-installed jacket in Shell Malaysia at this water region. Leveraging on project knowledge and learning, specific technical specifications for L2 TAD Wellhead Platform design and installation aids have been developed in shell, with the intent to standardize and simplify technical requirements.

This work proposes a set of simulation and experimental measurements to estimate muscle biomechanical parameter during human quiet standing. Understanding the mechanisms involved in postural stability is indispensable to improve the knowledge of how humans can regain balance against possible disturbances. Postural stability requires the ability to compensate the movement of the body’s center of gravity caused by external or internal perturbations. This paper describes the implementation of a hybrid parameter-estimation approach to infer the features of the human neuro-mechanical system during quiet standing and the recovery from a fall. The estimation techniques combines a genetic algorithm with the State-Augmented Extended Kalman Filter. These two algorithms running sequentially are utilized to estimate the musculo-skeletal parameters. This paper shows results of the approach when representing human standing as either a second-order or third order mechanical model. Experimental validation on a human subject is also presented.

The construction industry is often criticised for not meeting project constraints relating to the iron triangle (costs, time and quality). Available literature gives a number of reasons why deviations from the initial plan occur. This paper deals with a specific issue: technical conditions of tender documentation for construction works. The objective is to identify errors relating to these technical conditions within the Czech construction industry. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with experts in the field and compared with the information included in the analysed set of publications. The results obtained include a list containing varied ranges of individual errors relating to project documentation and the list of works, supplies and services. This list could potentially be used in consequent research as a base for creating methodological recommendations that would help to reduce the negative impact of these errors on projects and thus contribute to better processing of technical conditions of tender documentation for construction works in practice.

This paper examines how financial fluctuations and macroeconomic stability interact in the case of Venezuela, acknowledging that financial conditions deteriorating the macroeconomic environment can arise with both good and bad macroeconomic performance. An empirical methodology is provided that constructs two indexes, which are fully interpretable and are constructed with a minimum set of assumptions applied to a large number of financial time series. Structural interpretation of indexes is pursued using a structural VAR (SVAR) that associates macroeconomic stability with financial indexes. For Venezuela, a deterioration of procyclical financial conditions relates to financial margin reductions and expansions in banks’ balance sheets, which are mostly triggered by unexpected increases in net primary money creation. Such expansions tend to appear in situations of declining macroeconomic stability. Worse countercyclical financial conditions are instead associated with situations of rising bank profitability, deleveraging and increased banking instability. In this case, fragility tends to materialize in periods of ameliorated macroeconomic stability.

It is readily apparent to everyone that there are multiple and serious concerns that face Muslim societies today. Terrorism, civil strife, poverty, illiteracy, factionalism, gender injustices and poor healthcare are just a few of the challenges to governance across the Muslim world. These are core issues for governance and public administration in any form of government. However, before we can engage with good governance within the context of Islam, we need to be clear what mean by good governance itself. A simple definition of good governance is that of an institutionalised competency of administration and institution leading to efficient resource allocation and management[1]. Another way of looking at it is as a system which is defined by the existence of efficient and accountable institutions[2]. Civil society now tends to look at good governance by way of impact measurement and how a certain set of processes result in a set of measurable and desirable outcomes.

Whilst there is an interest in recent surveys in understanding the impact of disruptive technologies on employment and the way in which skills might be a constraint on their take-up, this tends to be at an aggregate level with little consideration given to the types of job that may be affected or the specific skill needs that may arise. This report develops a set of suite of questions about: (i) how specific disruptive technologies may affect the demand of skills, occupations and employees; and, (ii) how the on-demand labour, crowd sourcing and other flexible forms of labour is undertaken. The resulting questionnaires serve as reference to the IDB’s Skills at Work in LAC survey.

This paper analyzes the behavior of a long list of economic variables during episodes of recovery from an economic collapse. A set of stylized facts is proposed so as to depict what in this work is called \saygrowth recoveries. Through different estimation techniques, it is inferred under which conditions and policies the likelihood of experiencing a growth recovery increases. The results of the paper indicate that collapses tend to occur in countries with high dependence on natural resource rents, macroeconomic mismanagement, low levels of democratic accountability and rule of law and high levels of conflict. Recoveries, on the other hand, tend to be longer than collapses and are more likely to occur in contexts of: improved external conditions, less natural resource rents, balanced fiscal accounts, where the exchange rate corrects but within a more fixed exchange rate regime and a more restricted financial account, and where there are: rebounds in private consumption, increases in international trade and improvements on property rights.

Ground movement may occur due to landslides, seismic activity, adjacent earth works, thaw settlement of permafrost, frost heave, or a variety of other causes. When soil moves relative to a pipeline, loads are imposed on the pipeline that will tend to stress it. Portions of the pipeline are anchored or loaded by the moving soil mass, while adjacent portions are anchored in the intact soil and tend to restrain the pipeline. These soil movements and restraints set up stresses within the pipeline that, depending upon the magnitude of the stresses and the nature of the pipeline, may cause damage or failure of the line. The objectives of this project were to evaluate and, where appropriate, enhance the ability of satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and airborne laser range-finding to delineate and monitor slope movements along pipeline right-of-ways. Particular emphasis was placed on operational issues, and especially the problems associated with applying these technologies in areas where natural vegetation precludes a straightforward analysis.

During the production and assessment of high-quality research, it is important to be open about how that research was produced and what can be concluded from it. The FSA set out to develop a ‘good science’ Quality Assurance Toolkit (QAT) to support its members to produce, assess and procure high-quality research. The FSA QAT was developed between February and August 2022 through a process of co-creation. A series of focus groups were held with FSA staff in March 2022. This was followed by a scoping review of internal and external guidance to help populate the QAT. The QAT was iteratively developed through multiple rounds of feedback from the FSA Advisory Committee for Social Science and was piloted on several study protocols, research reports, and tender specifications. The resulting QAT is intended to be easy to use whilst also supporting transparency in how scientific evidence is produced, assessed, and procured, to ensure that quality assurance is consistently applied across research projects and FSA staff.

In current policy and planning discourse, there is great interest in reimagining and redesigning cities as more cycling-friendly spaces. Research shows that good cycling infrastructure is the first step to increasing cycling rates. However, social and cultural factors are also important for understanding the attractions of cycling and barriers to cycling but these tend to be under-explored in transport policy and research. In partnership with the Cork Environmental Forum and the Cork Cycling Campaign, this study set out to develop social scientific knowledge about cycling as a social practice, focusing on Cork as a case study of an Irish regional city, with a view to informing pro-cycling policy.

This report refers to the activities performed in the frame of PRCI project on the refinement of the dynamic DC stray current corrosion criteria by applying an advanced DC corrosion prediction model. In order to find realistic stray current interference conditions, an industry survey was performed to retrieve dynamic DC interference signals on real-world pipelines. After analysis of the cases, a simulation matrix was proposed that covers a wide variety of interference conditions. The simulated signals were simplified as squared pulses. The European Standard EN 50162 Protection against corrosion stray current from direct current systems was used a reference for validation. Some other criteria that are currently under investigation have been considered as well. The criteria were validated against simulated corrosion rates. The final goal is achieving a further refinement of the dynamic DC stray current criteria. The simulations demonstrate that current criteria are either not valid, either too conservative when steel tends to passivate under anodic excursions in high pH soil due to the development of a Fe3O4 film. The lowest pH value at which the passive film developed was 10.34 with relatively short cathodic duration (30 sec) and long (50 sec) and strong (-200 mVcse) anodic potential. There is a related webinar.

Between 2005 and 2018, 41 countries had at least one riot directly associated with popular demand for fuel. We make use of a new international data set on fuel riots to explore the effects of fuel prices and price regimes on fuel riots. In line with prior expectations, we find that large domestic fuel price shocks – often linked to international price shocks – are a key driver of riots. In addition, we report a novel result: fuel riots are closely associated with domestic price regimes. Countries that maintain fixed price regimes – notably net energy exporters – tend to have large fuel subsidies. When such subsidies become unsustainable, domestic price adjustments are large, often leading to riots.

This paper develops and applies a new approach to the estimation of the impact of economy-wide reforms on wage differentials, using a new high-quality data set on wage differentials by schooling level for 18 Latin American countries for the period 1980-1998. The results indicate that reform overall has had a short-run disequalizing effect of expanding wage differentials, although this effect tends to fade over time. This disequalizing effect is due to the strong impact of domestic financial market reform, capital account liberalization and tax reform. On the other hand, privatization contributed to narrowing wage differentials, and trade openness had no effect on wage differentials. Technological progress, rather than trade flows, appears to be a channel through which reforms are affecting inequality. The paper also explores the effects of reforms on wage levels; tentative results suggest that reforms have had a positive effect on real average wages, but a negative effect on the wages of less-schooled workers. Keywords: reform, inequality, wages, trade, distribution