The Mathematics in a Dramatic Text – A Disappearing Number by Complicite

A Disappearing Number gives vent to Simon McBurney’s fascination with science, in this case with mathematics. The story of the mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan constituted the groundwork for the collective theatrical production whose literary “translation” was published by Oberon Books in 2007. This article investigates the ways in which the text de-automatises dramatic conventions. On the one hand, the text, as a literary record of the theatrical production, seems to be an intersemiotic translation of the “original,” which suggests its secondary, derivative character, but, on the other hand, because of its status as a dramatic text, A Disappearing Number enters the sphere of literature which is intrinsically subordinated to the powers of imagination. In this way, it is argued, Complicite associates mathematics with art (literature): these are the spheres where imagination is of the greatest importance. This is made explicitly apparent in the characters’ utterances and in various textual strategies. A Disappearing Number begins, for example, with an explanation of a mathematical concept provided by Ruth, a lecturer, in a “university lecture hall.” The explanation is followed by a strictly meta-theatrical greeting of the audience. The illusion of the stage is emphasised as much as the immutable nature of mathematical reality at this point. The function of mathematics is not restricted to the thematic dimension of the play; mathematical principles are also decisive for the construction of the model of the world. Simultaneity of action, for instance, reflects the complicated nature of certain equations, the Great War is associated with the number of its victims, Ramanujan’s death is shown on stage through a metaphorical subtraction and the passing of the number zero, and even the title suggests some equivalence between a number and a life of a human being.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00

Sovereign Wealth Funds in Central and Eastern Europe: Scope and Methods of Financial Penetration

The Central and Eastern European (CEE) capital markets (of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine and, to a limited extent, Belarus) are gradually evolving towards increased breadth (diversity) and depth (liquidity), however, they are still exposed to considerable cross-country volatility and interdependence spill-overs – especially in times of capital flight to more established asset classes (“safe havens”). Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) have widely been censured for their undesirable political interference and chronic operational opacity. This paper demonstrates that in CEE, contrary to widespread perceptions attributable to developed markets, SWFs can act as natural and powerful risk mitigators (contributing to a more stable capital base and reduced systemic volatility). Such a proposition is premised on several factors specific to SWFs oriented to CEE. They comprise: strategic long-termism and patience in overcoming interim pricing deficiencies, commitments to elements of a broadly interpreted infrastructure, and absence of overt conflicts of interest with the CEE host economies. The paper, besides reviewing the utilitarianism of SWFs in the CEE’s risk mitigation context, highlights regulatory and technical barriers to more SWF funding for CEE. It also recommends policy measures to the CEE economies aimed at luring more host-friendly SWF investment into the region

Threats to the safety of navigation resulting from the tsunami

The tsunami traveling times were examined in connection to the earthquake that took place on 26 December 2004 in the Indian Ocean, changing the sea level as far as the Atlantic. For 17 ports located on the coasts of the two oceans theoretical times of wave arrival at the ports were calculated and compared with the real data recorded bymareographs. It has been found that the theoretical and real times differed, which can be explained by the effect of shallow water. Furthermore, as regards to the earthquake itself, instead of a single point epicenter as it was reported, it should have been considered as a zone of continental plates subduction extending 1200 km. The tsunami speed averaged for 17 ports amounted to 682 km/h, which necessitates an alteration of the coefficient in the formula (2) from the existing 5.0 to 4.38

Long-term, seasonal and short-term fluctuations in the water level of the Southern Baltic Sea

Aim of this work are analyses of oscillations sea levels in the Southern Baltic on a scale of short-term changes, seasonal and long-term (age). The study was based on observational data in different periods time for tide gauges station of the Polish coast. On the example of some storm situations presents the part of the baric wave and the wind in the formation of extreme sea levels. The primary cause of the annual variability of sea levels was the characteristics of the annual and semi-annual oscillations (the annual and semi-annual solar tide). In the work also determined the rate of long-term sea-level rise for the Polish coast

A system for proper multiple-conclusion entailment

The concept of proper multiple-conclusion entailment is introduced. For any sets X, Y of formulas, we say that Y is properly mc-entailed by X iff Y is mc-entailed by X, but no A ∈ Y is single-conclusion entailed by X. The concept has a natural interpretation in terms of question evocation. A sound and complete axiom system for the propositional case of proper mc-entailment is presented

River valleys as ecological corridors – structure, function and importance in the conservation of natural resources

The paper presents the concept of an ecological corridor system developed for spatial planning based on the case of the Pomerania Province. More attention was paid to the corridors along watercourses and river valleys. The study included e.g. spatial relationships between the proposed network of regional eco-corridors and the national network as well as areas of protected nature areas, including Natura 2000 sites. The main threats to the valley corridors in the area were identified. Depending on the level of impact and the geographical range, three different land corridors were distinguished: supraregional, regional and subregional. Due to the landscape and nature diversity, spatial distribution of physico-geographical units, terrain and river valleys, almost all communes and districts of the Pomerania Province have appropriate conditions to perform the functions of ecological corridors of various ranks. In some communes, they account for more than 50% of the total area and 28% of the province’s area, and a significant part of them are valley ecosystems. The aim of the paper is to document the role of river valleys in shaping the conditions of spatial connectivity of ecosystems and to indicate their significance for spatial planning processes

Simulation study of inventory management in supply chains

Well-organized management of the supply chain involves control of inventory levels and fast response to the changing customer demands. The enterprises can not cope with this problem which contributes to the growing stock levels and therefore increases costs. Thus, the main focus of this paper lies on the use of computer simulation techniques in order to emulate the supply chain system and its stochastic behaviour. The procedure for the usage of simulation modeling was described with a case study containing an analysis of online store. The simulation results are presented using statistical parameters, which means that the managers can get not only information concerning the expected value of the parameter looking decision-making, but also statistics to the characteristics of the risk associated with the decision associated with possible uncertainty

Coetzee / Beckett

This article presents an analysis of relations between works of J. M. Coetzee and Samuel Beckett. The primary research material covers novels and essays written by the former, and particular attention is given to those essays by Coetzee which deal with writings of Beckett (e.g. “Eight Ways of Looking at Samuel Beckett”). Because Coetzee’s professional interest in Beckett has lasted for over forty years, it enables us to talk about certain shifts in his literary attitudes and evolution of his professional stance. It seems that among the key features which put these two writers together are the following: their profound belief in the integrity of form (style) and content, their fascination with philosophical dualism and existential homelessness, and, finally, their skeptical attitude towards the academic world