The umbilical cord of finite model theory

Model theory was born and developed as a part of mathematical logic. It has various application domains but is not beholden to any of them. A priori, the research area known as finite model theory would be just a part of model theory but didn't turn out that way. There is one application domain -- relational database management -- that finite model theory had been beholden to during a substantial early period when databases provided the motivation and were the main application target for finite model theory. Arguably, finite model theory was motivated even more by complexity theory. But the subject of this paper is how relational database theory influenced finite model theory. This is NOT a scholarly history of the subject with proper credits to all participants. My original intent was to cover just the developments that I witnessed or participated in. The need to make the story coherent forced me to cover some additional developments.Comment: To be published in the Logic in Computer Science column of the February 2023 issue of the Bulletin of the European Association for Theoretical Computer Scienc

Kolmogorov Complexity in perspective. Part II: Classification, Information Processing and Duality

We survey diverse approaches to the notion of information: from Shannon entropy to Kolmogorov complexity. Two of the main applications of Kolmogorov complexity are presented: randomness and classification. The survey is divided in two parts published in a same volume. Part II is dedicated to the relation between logic and information system, within the scope of Kolmogorov algorithmic information theory. We present a recent application of Kolmogorov complexity: classification using compression, an idea with provocative implementation by authors such as Bennett, Vitanyi and Cilibrasi. This stresses how Kolmogorov complexity, besides being a foundation to randomness, is also related to classification. Another approach to classification is also considered: the so-called "Google classification". It uses another original and attractive idea which is connected to the classification using compression and to Kolmogorov complexity from a conceptual point of view. We present and unify these different approaches to classification in terms of Bottom-Up versus Top-Down operational modes, of which we point the fundamental principles and the underlying duality. We look at the way these two dual modes are used in different approaches to information system, particularly the relational model for database introduced by Codd in the 70's. This allows to point out diverse forms of a fundamental duality. These operational modes are also reinterpreted in the context of the comprehension schema of axiomatic set theory ZF. This leads us to develop how Kolmogorov's complexity is linked to intensionality, abstraction, classification and information system.Comment: 43 page

The Visibility of Ukrainian Economists 1969-2005

This article studies the visibility of Ukrainian economists. It shows that the number of Ukrainians trained at Western universities is increasing fast and that these economists now start publishing in international journals. At the same time, Ukrainian economists residing and educated in Ukraine still rarely publish in international economics journals. An explanation for both findings is offered.ranking, Ukraine, economists

The energy-economic growth nexus : empirical evidence for New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Economics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

This study addresses the energy consumption and energy price-economic growth nexus for the case of New Zealand. Several hypotheses concerning the impacts of energy consumption and oil price shocks on economic growth are empirically examined, as these issues have important policy implications that have received little attention in New Zealand. Utilising the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach to cointegration, the energy consumption-economic growth relationship is analysed over the period 1960-2004. Two key approaches are followed in terms of a cointegration and causality framework to answer whether energy consumption is a stimulus for economic growth or if economic growth leads to energy consumption. The energy consumption-growth nexus are examined based on the theoretical arguments of the trivariate demand model, trivariate supply model and multivariate supply model. The results indicate that long run relationships exist between various sets of variables, i.e. energy consumption, energy prices, labour and capital. Given the central role of energy to New Zealand's domestic growth agenda as well as international climate change commitments, the estimated results provide a basis for policy prescriptions to deal with these issues for the short run and long run. The related issue of oil price shock impacts on economic growth is considered for the period 1989-2006 using the Vector Autoregressive methodology based on quarterly data. Three oil price measures are considered, given the various theoretical implications that oil price shocks have on economic growth. The estimated results are based on the concept of 'net oil price shocks', and indicate that such shocks impact significantly on several key macroeconomic variables in a manner that is consistent with the economic theory. The findings of this study provide policy implications based on the key elements of New Zealand's energy-growth relationships and energy policies, in light of energy scarcity, climate change issues, and the related policy responses

Boston University Percussion Ensemble, November 7, 2016

This is the concert program of the Boston University Percussion Ensemble performance on Monday, November 7, 2016 at 8:00 p.m., at the Concert Hall, 855 Commonwealth Avenue. Works performed were December 1952 by Earle Brown, Jam Karet by Jay Alan Yim, Treatise, Pages 29, 41, and 4 by Cornelius Cardew, Keep Warm by Greg Spears, Treatise, Pages 3, 23, and 183 by C. Cardew, Tian (heaven) and Di (earth) from Garden 8 by Lei Liang, Lakescape II by L. Liang, and Field Studies from Demarest/Lloyd by Josiah Oberholtzer. Digitization for Boston University Concert Programs was supported by the Boston University Humanities Library Endowed Fund

Russian Federation\u27s Law No. 87- &#1092 3: Political Machination or Procedural Reform?

Law 87- ф 3 was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin six months prior to the December 2007 presidential election. Law 87- ф 3 rearranged the division of functions between the investigator and the procurator during the preliminary investigation. It also saw the creation of the investigative committee within the procuracy, which would have exclusive supervision of all investigations within that branch. Because of the Committee’s personal jurisdiction over investigations involving individuals with official immunity and agents of Russia’s power structures, both Russian media and Western academia saw the law as being politically motivated by the upcoming transfer of power. The new law is seen as a further step in Russia’s transition away from a Soviet procurator-centered criminal procedure system and toward a judicial oversight model consistent with adversarial principles. This paper examines the political rationalizations for law 87- ф 3 reforms and points out the flaws. While not denying the validity of these justifications, this paper posits that such explanations are unverifiable. The paper concludes by providing procedural justifications for law 87- ф 3