Wittgenstein's Tractatus deranged : a metaphilosophical story

Taking off from some the more recent discussions regarding the puzzling character of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, this dissertation aims at four main points, mostly negative ones, all closely related when considered from a Wittgensteinian angle: an exegetical, a metaphilosophical, a linguistic, and an ethical point. [1] Serving as a background illuminating the remaining three, the exegetical point is concerned with the particular modes of philosophical criticism Wittgenstein’s works ask for, favouring the idea that it is impossible to expound them as something finished, and so than even the Tractatus shall prove more profitable when taken as a collection of remarks, not as a system. [2] Arguably as pivotal, the metaphilosophical point expounds a non-metaphysical view of philosophy, aware of its own mutable, given its contiguity with all our other activities, and practical character: philosophy, we hold, following Wittgenstein, is the art of (dis)solving intellectual puzzles, a contribution to understanding, not to knowledge. [3] The linguistic point is somewhat made manifest by the former: the ways of doing philosophy here adopted, relying as much on hinting (often through the deliberate employment of figurative modes of expression or even nonsense) as on argument, end up indirectly drawing attention to the untenability of the idea that language might be a somewhat self-sufficient and clearly defined structure, asking for definitive explanations of its workings. [4] As for the ethical point, a complaint against prevailing contemporary approaches to ethics and aesthetics, and alongside the more or less subtle hints already provided by the other three, silence has been the chosen method to intimate it. Though mostly focused on the Tractatus, the present dissertation, tendentially favourable to the spirit of the “New Wittgenstein”, is meant to serve as a kind of window, even if a tiny one, to the Philosophical Investigations as well.Partindo de algumas das mais recentes discussões em torno do carácter enigmático do Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus de Ludwig Wittgenstein, esta dissertação procura desenvolver quatro pontos principais (exegético, metafilosófico, linguístico e ético), maioritariamente negativos, e de estreita relação entre si quando considerados de um ponto de vista wittgensteiniano. [1] Funcionando como uma espécie de pano de fundo elucidativo dos restantes três, o ponto exegético visa as formas de crítica filosófica requeridas pela obra de Wittgenstein, privilegiando a ideia de que é impossível tratá-la como algo acabado, pelo que até o Tractatus se poderá revelar mais proveitoso quando tomado como um conjunto de observações, não como um sistema. [2] Não menos central, o ponto metafilosófico desenvolve uma visão não metafísica da filosofia, consciente da sua própria natureza mutável, dada a sua contiguidade com todas as nossas restantes actividades, e essencialmente prática: a filosofia, defendemos, na senda de Wittgenstein, é a arte de resolver (ou antes dissolver) enigmas do pensamento, uma contribuição para a compreensão, não para o conhecimento. [3] O ponto linguístico é de certa maneira tornado manifesto pelo anterior: recorrendo tanto a estratégias sugestivas (entre as quais o emprego deliberado de enunciados figurados ou até absurdos) como a argumentos, o modo de fazer filosofia aqui adoptado acaba por chamar indirectamente a atenção para a insustentabilidade da ideia de que a linguagem se trata de uma estrutura claramente definida e em larga medida auto-suficiente, cujo funcionamento seria passível de explicações definitivas. [4] Quanto ao ponto ético, uma queixa contra as abordagens à ética e à estética de maior prevalência nos nossos dias, e a par das pistas mais ou menos subtis já fornecidas pelos outros três pontos, optou-se pelo silêncio como forma de o insinuar. Embora centrada sobretudo no Tractatus, a presente dissertação, tendencialmente favorável ao “Novo Wittgenstein”, procura também funcionar como uma espécie de janela, ainda que estreita, para as Investigações Filosóficas

Otimização de sistema de absorção, com coletores solares, para refrigeração de espaços condicionados termicamente (a chiller)

Nos dias que correm questões ambientais e considerações energéticas obrigam a uma inovação constante na procura de soluções de baixo consumo energético e de impacto ambiental baixo, nomeadamente no que diz respeito aos sistemas de climatização e refrigeração. Têm vindo a ser criadas medidas, tanto a nível internacional como nacional, no sentido de reduzir as emissões nocivas para a atmosfera, consequência do excessivo consumo de combustíveis fósseis, e do aumento da rentabilidade da energia e maior utilização de energias renováveis. O presente estudo de dimensionamento de um sistema de absorção, a brometo de lítio/água, com coletores solares, tem por base o sistema de compressão existente num edifício de serviços no centro de Lisboa. Foi efetuada uma analise simplificada dos seus dados de consumo energético, de maneira a verificar a viabilidade económica da substituição do equipamento existente e instalação de um sistema de coletores solares. Concluiu-se que a substituição do equipamento e a instalação de coletores solar, não é atrativa do ponto de vista económico, nesta solução em particular. Contudo, verifica-se uma considerável redução do impacto ambiental do consumo energético do edifício.Nowadays environmental and energy considerations require the constant innovation in finding solutions for low power consumption and low environmental impact, particularly with regard to air conditioning and refrigeration systems. There have been created measures, both internationally and nationally, to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, consequence of excessive consumption of fossil fuels, and increasing the profitability of energy and increased use of renewable energy. This study of design of an absorption system, with lithium bromide/water, with solar collectors is based on the compression system that exists in a services building in central Lisbon. It was performed a simplified analysis of energy consumption data in order to verify the economic viability for substitution of the existing equipment and installation of an absorption system with solar collectors. It was concluded that the replacement of equipment and installation of solar collectors, is not attractive from an economic standpoint, for this particular solution. However, there is a considerable reduction of the environmental impact and energy consumption of the building

Gaguez e identidade : Uma perspectiva psicossomática

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto UniversitárioO presente estudo aborda a gaguez numa perspectiva psicossomática. Procurou-se analisar a existência de problemas de identidade nos indivíduos gagos, com especial ênfase na influência da relação mãe-criança nos primeiros tempos de vida, a linguagem, os afectos, os ritmos (corporais, relacionais e biológicos) e a organização espácio-temporal na construção da identidade. Utilizou-se como método o estudo exploratório de caso, tendo participado neste estudo dois jovens com um diagnóstico clínico de gaguez, um do sexo masculino (11 anos) e outro do sexo feminino (15 anos). Realizaram-se entrevistas com os sujeitos e uma entrevista com as mães de modo a recolher informação anamnéstica sobre os mesmos. Para perceber a dinâmica afectiva dos sujeitos e a sua capacidade de se imaginar e se identificar enquanto pessoa, utilizou-se a prova projectiva Rorschach. O teste de Piaget-Head e Prova de Ritmos foram utilizados para perceber a organização espácio-temporal dos sujeitos. Os resultados obtidos parecem revelar uma desorganização nos ritmos relacionais, corporais e biológicos dos sujeitos; fragilidades na constituição da imagem e esquema corporal que se reflectem em problemas na lateralidade; dificuldades no processo de separação-individuação na relação mãe-criança; dificuldades nas relações sociais e na expressão de afectos e uma perturbação a nível da aquisição e constituição de uma identidade própria e diferenciada.ABSTRACT: This paper aims to analyze the speech disorder “stuttering” from the Sami-Ali psychosomatic theory perspective, specifically, the existence of identity problems in stutterers. The motherchild earlier interactions, language, affection/emotions, rhythm structures (body, relational and biological) and space-time organization were analyzed as they may influence the identity construction process. This is a study case research. There were two participants, one male (11 y.) and one female (15 y.) with a clinical diagnosis of stuttering. A psychological assessment of the subjects was conducted. This assessment was constituted by: Clinical interviews (with the participants and their mothers separately), Rorschach projective test application, to assess individuals’ affective dynamics and Piaget-Head and Mira Stamback tests to assess timespace structures organization. Results revealed the existence of disorganized relational, body and biological rhythm structures, difficulties in body image and body schemata development, limitations on the process of separation/autonomy in mother-child relationship, social skills and affect/emotions expressiveness difficulties and disorders on the acquisition and development of one’s own and differentiated identity

Synthesis and luminescence properties of analogues of the green fluorescent protein chromophore

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) is extensively used as a biomarker for fluorescence biological imaging. The chromophore in GFP is only fluorescent when confined into the β–barrel of the protein. Similarly, synthetic analogues of the fluorophore of GFP are usually non-emissive in solution, due to free rotation around the aryl-alkene bond and (Z/E)-isomerization of the double bond. Here, the synthesis and characterization of three analogues of the fluorophore of GFP are reported. The introduction of more electron donating substituents induces a red-shift in the absorption and emission. The fluorophores are more emissive in the solid state than in solution, and a study of their crystal structure reveals that the (Z/E)-isomerization is efficiently blocked in the crystals.publishe

Optimization of Verapamil Drug Analysis by Excitation-Emission Fluorescence in Combination with Second-order Multivariate Calibration

Abstract Excitation emission fluorescence matrices (EEMs) of Verapamil drug were obtained by direct and by derivatization fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths were displaced to longer wavelengths and the fluorescence intensity was enhanced upon derivation with respect to the native fluorescence of the drug. The complete EEM of the native fluorescence of the drug and of the derivatization product were rapidly acquired by using a charged-coupled device detector (CCD), which is advantageous in terms of speed in the analysis, with respect to the use of a conventional photomultiplier detector. The EEMs were analyzed by several second-order multivariate calibration methods exploiting the second order advantage. The three-dimensional decomposition methods used, based in different assumptions about the trilinearity of the three way data structure under analysis, were parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), bilinear least squares (BLLS), parallel factor analysis 2 (PARAFAC2) and multivariate curve resolution—alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). The determination was performed by using the standard addition approach. The figures of merit of the PARAFAC and BLLS methods were calculated, obtaining a lower limit of detection with the derivatization procedure, when compared with the direct measurement of the fluorescence of the drug. In Verapamil drug the best estimations were found with the BLLS and the MCR-ALS models. In the quantification of Verapamil in a pharmaceutical formulation the best estimation, when compared with the result obtained by the US Pharmacopeia high performance liquid chromatography approach, was obtained by direct fluorescence spectroscopy with MCR-ALS and by derivatization fluorescence spectroscopy with the PARAFAC2 model

Using a humanoid robot as the promoter of interaction with children in the context of educational games

Society should care about those with special needs. Part of a proper care involves the development of new technologies and devices aiming at improving their quality of life. Research conducted at universities on this subject should be followed by the industrial development of commercial products and governmental institutions may play an important role by establishing conditions ensuring that the results are made available to those who need them. This paper presents the details of a system, still at the early stages of research level, aimed at helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It uses ZECA, a humanoid robot Zeno R-50, acting as the promoter of the interaction with children, by teaching colours and geometric figures in the context of two educational game scenarios: identification of five geometric figures and identification of five colours. So far, the system was tested in a school environment with typically developing children, in order to validate the experimental setup and the game design. The results obtained in these tests allowed optimizing the system before starting the work in elementary schools with children with ASD, which is the next step in the research.The authors also would like to express their acknowledgments to COMPETE: POCI-01-0145- FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013.This work is funded by CIEd – Research Centre on Education, projects UID/CED/1661/2013 and UID/CED/1661/2016, Institute of Education, University of Minho, through national funds of FCT/MCTES-PT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Carbon dots from tryptophan doped glucose for peroxynitrite sensing

Tryptophan doped carbon dots (Trp-CD) were microwave synthesized. The optimum conditions of synthesizing of the Trp-CD were established by response surface multivariate optimization methodologies and were the following: 2.5 g of glucose and 300 mg of tryptophan diluted in 15 mL of water exposed for 5 min to a microwave radiation of 700 W. Trp-CD have an average size of 20 nm, were fluorescent with a quantum yield of 12.4% and the presence of peroxynitrite anion (ONOO−) provokes quenching of the fluorescence. The evaluated analytical methodology for ONOO− detection shows a linear response range from 5 to 25 μM with a limit of detection of 1.5 μM and quantification of 4.9 μM. The capability of the ONOO− quantification was evaluated in standard solutions and in fortified serum samples

Valorization of lignin from sugarcane by-products: review

The valorization of sugarcane industry by-products is fundamental to increase competitiveness on a circular economy point of view. Straw and bagasse are by-products with huge potential as source of added value ingredients. Lignin is an abundant component found in these by-products with proved biological activity, particularly antimicrobial, antioxidant and UV protection. Additionally, recent applications on materials have been reported for lignin-based products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optimizing sealed transports of small ornamental fish

This is a report on multiple simulated long-term transports of small ornamental fish inside plastic bags. The species involved were Diplodus sargus, Gobius paganellus, Gobiusculus flavescens, Lepadogaster lepadogaster and Lipophrys pholis. The objective of such simulations was moving the maximum bioload possible while ensuring 100% survivorship, ultimately resulting in savings for the end-receiver. Transports were simulated over 24, 48 and 72 hours, with increasing animal bioloads per bag. Half of the trials were performed with “regular” saltwater while the other half involved seawater buffered with Amquel ®, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, with the objective of keeping ammonia low and pH similar to initial baseline values. At the end of each trial, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and ammonia were analized and the survival rate calculated and recorded. L. lepadogaster endured the highest bioloads at 100% survivorship (i.e. up to 30 g / L), which is not surprising given the intertidal nature of this species. D. sargus exhibited mortalities with bioloads as low as 3,23 g / L, which echoes its predominantly pelagic nature and relatively lesser ability to endure confinement. The three remaining species showed varying degrees of tolerance to increasing bioloads in transport: L. pholis , also an intertidal species, handled up to 20 g/L over 72 hours, while G. paganellus handled up to 7 g/L over 72 hours, and G. flavescens (a predominantly pelagic species) could deal with no more than 6 g/L up to 72 hours.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio