The Experience of Fiction

This dissertation focuses on some of the philosophical puzzles that are associated with the experience of engaging in fictions. Some of these puzzles are longstanding in the philosophical tradition, viz., the paradox of fiction, the paradox of tragedy, and the phenomenon of imaginative resistance. Another has received surprisingly little philosophical attention: the puzzle of why we engage with fictions at all. I argue against what I will call the Simple Story of fictional engagement. Previous discussions have (to greater or lesser degrees) described engaging in fictions as a matter of entertaining the events described at a fictional world. In the Simple Story, the content of the fiction is decisively determinative of our motivations to engage in fiction and responses to fictions. That is not, however, our experience of fiction. I de-emphasize the role of the content of the fiction in our motivations and responses to fictions. Too little attention has been paid to the role of factors extrinsic to the fiction in explaining the nature of our experiences of and responses to fictions. In general, I stress that the role of the content of the fiction as determinative of our responses is far less important than has been assumed. Some aestheticians have long been interested in psychological data and I am, too. Many, however, are wary of in evolutionary psychology. They are rightfully worried that to explain the beauty of Anna Karenina in terms of hunting on the savannah would be to miss something deep. There is, however, a useful role for evolutionary psychology to play in explaining why we might have motivations and emotional responses to fictions. I explore this idea

EVALUACIÓN DE DATOS OBTENIDOS EN UN PROGRAMA DE ESTERILIZACIÓN QUIRÚRGICA DE GATOS EN ARAÇATUBA-SP EN EL PERIODO DE 1996 A 2010

Os gatos estão ocupando espaço cada vez maior como animais de companhia. Esta preferência decorre da facilidade de manutenção de felinos no ambiente urbano. Mas os gatos são muito prolíferos e a esterilização cirúrgica torna-se necessária. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os dados obtidos durante 15 anos de atuação de projeto de extensão universitária que oferece gratuitamente cirurgias de esterilização de gatos. Foi realizada a análise estatística das informações contidas nas fichas dos animais atendidos. Foram esterilizados 647 animais, 409 fêmeas (63%) e 238 machos (37%). Nove gatos (3,8%) eram criptorquídicos unilaterais; 40 gatas (10%) estavam gestantes e o uso de anticoncepcional foi relatado em 67 gatas (16,4%). Ocorreu um óbito durante recuperação anestésica e 2 gatas foram eutanasiadas por infecção da ferida operatória, totalizando 0,5% de complicações graves. De 1996 a 2004, foram castradas 212 gatas, 122 adultas e 90 impúberes. Neste período, comparou-se a ovário-salpingo-histerectomia (OSH) por dois acessos diferentes: laparotomia pelo flanco e celiotomia mediana ventral. A laparotomia pelo flanco foi utilizada em apenas 46 gatas (21,7%), pois algumas desvantagens foram observadas: necessidade de uma incisão em cada flanco em animais impúberes ou nulíparos e maior dificuldade ou impossibilidade de retirada completa dos cornos uterinos. No mesmo período, 105 machos, 49 adultos e 56 impúberes, foram submetidos à orquiectomia aberta mediante ligadura do funículo espermático com fio de nylon. De 2005 a 2010, foram castradas 197 gatas, 106 adultas e 91 impúberes. Neste período, adotou-se a técnica de OSH por mini-laparotomia, realizada em 139 gatas (70,6%). Neste procedimento, os ovários e útero são exteriorizados com o uso de um gancho através de uma pequena incisão mediana ventral. A técnica clássica de OSH, na qual o acesso é feito mediante celiotomia mediana ventral de comprimento suficiente para visualização direta de ovários, tubas uterinas e útero, teve que ser realizada em 58 gatas (29,4%) devido a: gestação avançada; vesícula urinária muito cheia no trans-operatório; ou obesidade. Nos últimos seis anos, foi adotada a técnica de orquiectomia aberta com nó do funículo espermático para a castração de 133 machos (48 adultos e 85 impúberes). A demanda por cirurgias no projeto demonstrou conscientização das pessoas ligadas ao bem estar animal e proprietários em relação a importância da esterilização no enfrentamento do problema de superpopulação e abandono de gatos.Cats are gradually occupying a more important position as pets and this preference is a result of how easy cat maintenance in an urban environment is, even though they are very prolific and need surgical sterilization. This paper aims at evaluating obtained data within 15 years of research in a university service program that offers free cats sterilization surgery. We carried out a statistical analysis of data shown in the records of animals treated by the program. Surgical sterilization was performed on 647 animals (409 females – 63% and 238 males – 37%). Unilateral cryptorchidism was observed in 9 (3.8%) male cats. Forty (10%) female cats were pregnant at the time of the surgery and the treatment with contraceptives was observed in 67 (16.4%) female cats. One death occurred during anesthesia recovery and 2 cats were euthanized because of wound infection, totalizing an amount of 0.5% of severe complications. From 1996 to 2004, 212 female cats were spayed (122 adults and 90 prepubertal) and during that time two different approaches for ovariohysterectomy were compared: flank laparotomy and ventral midline celiotomy. The flank laparotomy approach was used in only 46 female cats (21.7%) due to some disadvantages observed – the need of an incision on each flank in prepubertal or nulliparous animals and the difficulty or impossibility of total uterus removal. In the same period, 105 male cats underwent orchiectomy via an open technique in which the spermatic cord was linked with nylon thread. From 2005 to 2010, 197 females (106 adults and 91 prepubertal) were spayed. The minilaparotomy technique was used to perform ovariohysterectomy on 139 female cats (70.6%). In this procedure, ovaries and uterus were exteriorized in a blind fashion with a hook through a small midline incision. The traditional midline ovariohysterectomy, which incision length permits direct visualization of the ovaries and uterus, had to be performed in 58 (29.4%) female cats due to advanced pregnancy, full urinary bladder during surgery or obesity. Over the past 6 years, 133 male cats (48 adults and 85 prepubertal) were castrated by means of an open technique in which the spermatic cord was tied to itself. The demand for surgeries during the project demonstrated that people are becoming aware concerning the importance of sterilization when facing cat overpopulation and abandonment.Los gatos ocupan un espacio cada vez mayor como mascotas. Esa preferencia resulta de la facilidad de mantenimiento de felinos en el entorno urbano. Pero los gatos son muy prolíficos y la esterilización quirúrgica se hace necesaria. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los datos obtenidos a lo largo de 15 años de realización del proyecto de extensión universitaria que ofrece cirugías gratuitas de esterilización de gatos. Se realizó análisis estadístico de las informaciones de los registros de los animales atendidos. Se esterilizaron 647 animales, 409 hembras (63%) y 238 machos (37%). Nueve gatos (3,8%) eran criptorquideos unilaterales; 40 gatas (10%) eran gestantes y el uso de anticonceptivo se relató en 67 gatas (16,4%). Hubo un óbito durante la recuperación anestésica y 2 gatas fueron sacrificadas debido a infección de la herida quirúrgica, en un total de 0,5% de complicaciones graves. Entre 1996 y 2004, se esterilizaron 212 gatas, 122 adultas y 90 gatas impúberes. En ese período, se comparó la ovariohisterectomía (OVH) por dos accesos diferentes: flancotomía y laparotomía mediana. La flancotomía se utilizó sólo en 46 gatas (21,7%), pues se observaron algunas desventajas: necesidad de una incisión en cada flanco en animales impúberes o nulíparos y mayor dificultad o imposibilidad de proceder a la retirada completa de los cuernos uterinos. En el mismo periodo, se sometieron 105 machos, 49 adultos y 56 impúberes, a la orquiectomía abierta por ligadura del cordón espermático con hilo de nailon. De 2005 a 2010, se castraron 197 gatas, 106 adultas y 91 impúberes. En ese periodo, se usó la técnica de OVH por mini-laparotomía en 139 gatas. En ese procedimiento, se exteriorizan los ovarios y el útero con el uso de un gancho a través de una pequeña incisión mediana ventral. La técnica quirúrgica clásica de ovariohisterectomía es la laparotomía mediana con longitud suficiente para la visualización directa de los ovarios, las trompas uterinas y el útero. Se utilizó esa técnica en 58 gatas (29,4%) debido a: gestación adelantada, vejiga urinaria muy llena durante la cirugía, u obesidad. En los últimos seis años, se usó la técnica de orquiectomía abierta con nudo en el cordón espermático en 133 machos (48 adultos y 85 impúberes). La demanda por cirugías en el proyecto demostró la conciencia de las personas vinculadas con el bienestar animal, así como la preocupación acerca de la importancia de la esterilización en el enfrentamiento del problema de la superpoblación y abandono de gatos

EVALUACIÓN DE DATOS OBTENIDOS EN UN PROGRAMA DE ESTERILIZACIÓN QUIRÚRGICA DE GATOS EN ARAÇATUBA-SP EN EL PERIODO DE 1996 A 2010

Os gatos estão ocupando espaço cada vez maior como animais de companhia. Esta preferência decorre da facilidade de manutenção de felinos no ambiente urbano. Mas os gatos são muito prolíferos e a esterilização cirúrgica torna-se necessária. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os dados obtidos durante 15 anos de atuação de projeto de extensão universitária que oferece gratuitamente cirurgias de esterilização de gatos. Foi realizada a análise estatística das informações contidas nas fichas dos animais atendidos. Foram esterilizados 647 animais, 409 fêmeas (63%) e 238 machos (37%). Nove gatos (3,8%) eram criptorquídicos unilaterais; 40 gatas (10%) estavam gestantes e o uso de anticoncepcional foi relatado em 67 gatas (16,4%). Ocorreu um óbito durante recuperação anestésica e 2 gatas foram eutanasiadas por infecção da ferida operatória, totalizando 0,5% de complicações graves. De 1996 a 2004, foram castradas 212 gatas, 122 adultas e 90 impúberes. Neste período, comparou-se a ovário-salpingo-histerectomia (OSH) por dois acessos diferentes: laparotomia pelo flanco e celiotomia mediana ventral. A laparotomia pelo flanco foi utilizada em apenas 46 gatas (21,7%), pois algumas desvantagens foram observadas: necessidade de uma incisão em cada flanco em animais impúberes ou nulíparos e maior dificuldade ou impossibilidade de retirada completa dos cornos uterinos. No mesmo período, 105 machos, 49 adultos e 56 impúberes, foram submetidos à orquiectomia aberta mediante ligadura do funículo espermático com fio de nylon. De 2005 a 2010, foram castradas 197 gatas, 106 adultas e 91 impúberes. Neste período, adotou-se a técnica de OSH por mini-laparotomia, realizada em 139 gatas (70,6%). Neste procedimento, os ovários e útero são exteriorizados com o uso de um gancho através de uma pequena incisão mediana ventral. A técnica clássica de OSH, na qual o acesso é feito mediante celiotomia mediana ventral de comprimento suficiente para visualização direta de ovários, tubas uterinas e útero, teve que ser realizada em 58 gatas (29,4%) devido a: gestação avançada; vesícula urinária muito cheia no trans-operatório; ou obesidade. Nos últimos seis anos, foi adotada a técnica de orquiectomia aberta com nó do funículo espermático para a castração de 133 machos (48 adultos e 85 impúberes). A demanda por cirurgias no projeto demonstrou conscientização das pessoas ligadas ao bem estar animal e proprietários em relação a importância da esterilização no enfrentamento do problema de superpopulação e abandono de gatos.Cats are gradually occupying a more important position as pets and this preference is a result of how easy cat maintenance in an urban environment is, even though they are very prolific and need surgical sterilization. This paper aims at evaluating obtained data within 15 years of research in a university service program that offers free cats sterilization surgery. We carried out a statistical analysis of data shown in the records of animals treated by the program. Surgical sterilization was performed on 647 animals (409 females – 63% and 238 males – 37%). Unilateral cryptorchidism was observed in 9 (3.8%) male cats. Forty (10%) female cats were pregnant at the time of the surgery and the treatment with contraceptives was observed in 67 (16.4%) female cats. One death occurred during anesthesia recovery and 2 cats were euthanized because of wound infection, totalizing an amount of 0.5% of severe complications. From 1996 to 2004, 212 female cats were spayed (122 adults and 90 prepubertal) and during that time two different approaches for ovariohysterectomy were compared: flank laparotomy and ventral midline celiotomy. The flank laparotomy approach was used in only 46 female cats (21.7%) due to some disadvantages observed – the need of an incision on each flank in prepubertal or nulliparous animals and the difficulty or impossibility of total uterus removal. In the same period, 105 male cats underwent orchiectomy via an open technique in which the spermatic cord was linked with nylon thread. From 2005 to 2010, 197 females (106 adults and 91 prepubertal) were spayed. The minilaparotomy technique was used to perform ovariohysterectomy on 139 female cats (70.6%). In this procedure, ovaries and uterus were exteriorized in a blind fashion with a hook through a small midline incision. The traditional midline ovariohysterectomy, which incision length permits direct visualization of the ovaries and uterus, had to be performed in 58 (29.4%) female cats due to advanced pregnancy, full urinary bladder during surgery or obesity. Over the past 6 years, 133 male cats (48 adults and 85 prepubertal) were castrated by means of an open technique in which the spermatic cord was tied to itself. The demand for surgeries during the project demonstrated that people are becoming aware concerning the importance of sterilization when facing cat overpopulation and abandonment.Los gatos ocupan un espacio cada vez mayor como mascotas. Esa preferencia resulta de la facilidad de mantenimiento de felinos en el entorno urbano. Pero los gatos son muy prolíficos y la esterilización quirúrgica se hace necesaria. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los datos obtenidos a lo largo de 15 años de realización del proyecto de extensión universitaria que ofrece cirugías gratuitas de esterilización de gatos. Se realizó análisis estadístico de las informaciones de los registros de los animales atendidos. Se esterilizaron 647 animales, 409 hembras (63%) y 238 machos (37%). Nueve gatos (3,8%) eran criptorquideos unilaterales; 40 gatas (10%) eran gestantes y el uso de anticonceptivo se relató en 67 gatas (16,4%). Hubo un óbito durante la recuperación anestésica y 2 gatas fueron sacrificadas debido a infección de la herida quirúrgica, en un total de 0,5% de complicaciones graves. Entre 1996 y 2004, se esterilizaron 212 gatas, 122 adultas y 90 gatas impúberes. En ese período, se comparó la ovariohisterectomía (OVH) por dos accesos diferentes: flancotomía y laparotomía mediana. La flancotomía se utilizó sólo en 46 gatas (21,7%), pues se observaron algunas desventajas: necesidad de una incisión en cada flanco en animales impúberes o nulíparos y mayor dificultad o imposibilidad de proceder a la retirada completa de los cuernos uterinos. En el mismo periodo, se sometieron 105 machos, 49 adultos y 56 impúberes, a la orquiectomía abierta por ligadura del cordón espermático con hilo de nailon. De 2005 a 2010, se castraron 197 gatas, 106 adultas y 91 impúberes. En ese periodo, se usó la técnica de OVH por mini-laparotomía en 139 gatas. En ese procedimiento, se exteriorizan los ovarios y el útero con el uso de un gancho a través de una pequeña incisión mediana ventral. La técnica quirúrgica clásica de ovariohisterectomía es la laparotomía mediana con longitud suficiente para la visualización directa de los ovarios, las trompas uterinas y el útero. Se utilizó esa técnica en 58 gatas (29,4%) debido a: gestación adelantada, vejiga urinaria muy llena durante la cirugía, u obesidad. En los últimos seis años, se usó la técnica de orquiectomía abierta con nudo en el cordón espermático en 133 machos (48 adultos y 85 impúberes). La demanda por cirugías en el proyecto demostró la conciencia de las personas vinculadas con el bienestar animal, así como la preocupación acerca de la importancia de la esterilización en el enfrentamiento del problema de la superpoblación y abandono de gatos

Delivery of stable ultra-thin liquid sheets in vacuum for biochemical spectroscopy

The development of ultra-thin flat liquid sheets capable of running in vacuum has provided an exciting new target for X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the liquid and solution phases. Several methods have become available for delivering in-vacuum sheet jets using different nozzle designs. We compare the sheets produced by two different types of nozzle; a commercially available borosillicate glass chip using microfluidic channels to deliver colliding jets, and an in-house fabricated fan spray nozzle which compresses the liquid on an axis out of a slit to achieve collision conditions. We find in our tests that both nozzles are suitable for use in X-ray absorption spectroscopy with the fan spray nozzle producing thicker but more stable jets than the commercial nozzle. We also provide practical details of how to run these nozzles in vacuum

A MODEL FOR COLOMBIA'S POST-CONFLICT SECURITY SECTOR

This thesis examines key characteristics of successful security sector reform. It builds on current theories regarding the critical elements of reform, analyzing how those principles could be applied to the Colombian case. Furthermore, this thesis uses the case studies of El Salvador and Sri Lanka to examine which aspects of their post-conflict security sector reform plans were successful and which could be modified to increase the chance of long-term stability in Colombia. While Colombia shifts its focus from civil conflict and internal criminal investigations to a more strategic outlook with long-term goals of addressing human rights violations, providing oversight of the security sector, and maintaining peace, the intelligence, military, and police sectors all need to undergo reform. As the FARC disarms and right-wing paramilitary organizations disband, the Colombian security sector can develop ways to re-integrate the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), into society, rebuild trust with the population that suffered various human rights violations throughout the civil conflict, and modify the security sector’s mission set to address new regional concerns. Using the comparative analysis from the case studies, this thesis develops a model for Colombia’s post-conflict security sector transformation.http://archive.org/details/amodelforcolombi1094564047Captain, United States Air ForceApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Addressing Higher-Order Misrepresentation with Quotational Thought

In this paper it is argued that existing ‘self-representational’ theories of phenomenal consciousness do not adequately address the problem of higher-order misrepresentation. Drawing a page from the phenomenal concepts literature, a novel self-representational account is introduced that does. This is the quotational theory of phenomenal consciousness, according to which the higher-order component of a conscious state is constituted by the quotational component of a quotational phenomenal concept. According to the quotational theory of consciousness, phenomenal concepts help to account for the very nature of phenomenally conscious states. Thus, the paper integrates two largely distinct explanatory projects in the field of consciousness studies: (i) the project of explaining how we think about our phenomenally conscious states, and (ii) the project of explaining what phenomenally conscious states are in the first place

Why Have Religious Zionists Perpetrated Acts of Violence in Hebron Post-2005?

Why have Religious Zionists perpetrated acts of violence in Hebron post-2005? Israel’s disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank settlements in 2005 caused the Religious Zionist settler movement to rethink the status of their struggle, leading to increased settler conflict throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the ongoing, multi-generational persistence of Religious Zionist theology in vibrant segments of the Israeli settler community. Particularly in Hebron, the fallout from Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza aroused a strong sense of betrayal and distrust among Religious Zionists in the region who evidently believed strategic realignment was imperative at a time when the ongoing project of Religious Zionism was challenged on the basis of its founding principle – that is, Jewish biblical right to total settlement throughout the Occupied Territories. Disengagement thus symbolized the direct opposite of everything the original Religious Zionist movement had set out to achieve vis-à-vis the continual expansion of Zionist control throughout the Occupied Territories through the agency of actions such as settlement. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in the summer of 2005, by this logic, represents a failure – an antithesis – of what they believed to be the true path of Religious Zionism, or a deep-rooted conviction that settlers were carrying out the divine will of the Holy Land. In short, I attempt to describe and interpret why the consequences of this approach were particularly acute in Hebron, where settler conflict increased dramatically in the post-2005 period

Why Have Religious Zionists Perpetrated Acts of Violence in Hebron Post-2005?

Why have Religious Zionists perpetrated acts of violence in Hebron post-2005? Israel’s disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank settlements in 2005 caused the Religious Zionist settler movement to rethink the status of their struggle, leading to increased settler conflict throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the ongoing, multi-generational persistence of Religious Zionist theology in vibrant segments of the Israeli settler community. Particularly in Hebron, the fallout from Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza aroused a strong sense of betrayal and distrust among Religious Zionists in the region who evidently believed strategic realignment was imperative at a time when the ongoing project of Religious Zionism was challenged on the basis of its founding principle – that is, Jewish biblical right to total settlement throughout the Occupied Territories. Disengagement thus symbolized the direct opposite of everything the original Religious Zionist movement had set out to achieve vis-à-vis the continual expansion of Zionist control throughout the Occupied Territories through the agency of actions such as settlement. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in the summer of 2005, by this logic, represents a failure – an antithesis – of what they believed to be the true path of Religious Zionism, or a deep-rooted conviction that settlers were carrying out the divine will of the Holy Land. In short, I attempt to describe and interpret why the consequences of this approach were particularly acute in Hebron, where settler conflict increased dramatically in the post-2005 period