Semantics and Ontology:\ud On the Modal Structure of an Epistemic Theory of Meaning

In this paper I shall confront three basic questions.\ud First, the relevance of epistemic structures, as formalized\ud and dealt with by current epistemic logics, for a\ud general Theory of meaning. Here I acknowledge M. Dummett"s\ud idea that a systematic account of what is meaning of\ud an arbitrary language subsystem must especially take into\ud account the inferential components of meaning itself. That\ud is, an analysis of meaning comprehension processes,\ud given in terms of epistemic logics and semantics for epistemic\ud notions.\ud The second and third questions relate to the ontological\ud and epistemological framework for this approach.\ud Concerning the epistemological aspects of an epistemic\ud theory of meaning, the question is: how epistemic logics\ud can eventually account for the informative character of\ud meaning comprehension processes. "Information� seems\ud to be built in the very formal structure of epistemic processes,\ud and should be exhibited in modal and possibleworld\ud semantics for propositional knowledge and belief.\ud However, it is not yet clear what is e.g. a possible world.\ud That is: how it can be defined semantically, other than by\ud accessibility rules which merely define it by considering its\ud set-theoretic relations with other sets-possible worlds.\ud Therefore, it is not clear which is the epistemological status\ud of propositional information contained in the structural\ud aspects of possible world semantics. The problem here\ud seems to be what kind of meaning one attributes to the\ud modal notion of possibility, thus allowing semantical and\ud synctactical selectors for possibilities. This is a typically\ud Dummett-style problem.\ud The third question is linked with this epistemological\ud problem, since it is its ontological counterpart. It concerns\ud the limits of the logical space and of logical semantics for a\ud of meaning. That is, it is concerned with the kind of\ud structure described by inferential processes, thought, in a\ud fregean perspective, as pre-conditions of estentional\ud treatment of meaning itself. The second and third questions\ud relate to some observations in Wittgenstein"s Tractatus.\ud I shall also try to show how their behaviour limits the\ud explicative power of some semantics for epistemic logics\ud (Konolige"s and Levesque"s for knowledge and belief)

Normativity, Autonomy and Pluralism. Wittgenstein and the Pragmatic Turn in German Philosophy

Habermas and Apel share with the wittgensteinian linguistic turn the main issue which is at stake in the latter. That is: they rely on the linguisticalpragmatic substitution of the traditional Cartesian (and Kantian) subject of representation, thought as the nonempirical and non-objective pre-condition of the possibility of the objective world, with the function of linguistic and communicative interaction as a means of subjective and intersubjective world-disclosure (H. Sluga 1996; Wittgenstein, Tlp, § 5.54- 5.55). The issue basically concerns the way we think about language as a system and a means of representation. What is here at stake is actually the source of its normativity, and the way in which this normativity can be rationally founded

Large time behavior of solutions of viscous Hamilton-Jacobi Equations with superquadratic Hamiltonian

We study the long-time behavior of the unique viscosity solution $u$ of the viscous Hamilton-Jacobi Equation $u_t-\Delta u + |Du|^m = f\hbox{in }\Omega\times (0,+\infty)$ with inhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions, where $\Omega$ is a bounded domain of $\mathbb{R}^N$. We mainly focus on the superquadratic case ($m>2$) and consider the Dirichlet conditions in the generalized viscosity sense. Under rather natural assumptions on $f,$ the initial and boundary data, we connect the problem studied to its associated stationary generalized Dirichlet problem on one hand and to a stationary problem with a state constraint boundary condition on the other hand

Mental Health Technology During the Era of COVID-19

Mental health symptoms - especially those of depression and anxiety - have become more prevalent during the COVID pandemic. As seen in previous years, direct and indirect costs of depression can be staggering. Apps exist on smart devices that are based in evidence-based practices that can be therapeutic for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. A simple handout with some suggested popular mental health apps and accompanying descriptions was created to be used in the CVPH Family Medicine clinic to increase awareness of these apps among patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and insomnia.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1732/thumbnail.jp

Butch Orientations: Locating Queerness in Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead

American post-apocalyptic horror series The Walking Dead (2010-2022) has been accused of both killing off out queer characters and explicitly explores a world that recreates fascist masculinity (Gencarella, 2016) and heteropatriarchal gender roles (Sugg, 2015). However, the fan favorite Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) presents an opportunity for queer spatiality which disrupts the dichotomy of queer/heterosexual. Dixon follows a queer narrative trajectory, largely outside of heterosexual relationships and estranged from his family of origin. The show’s treatment of the character reflects queer masculinities which develop outside of heteropatriarchy, based in a queer process of becoming, frequently seen among AFAB butch lesbians, non-binary, and transmasculine folx. Through his proximity to out queer characters on screen and role as the protector of the group, Daryl is spatially oriented (Bradbury-Rance, 2019;Ahmed, 2006) both within the group and his own body in varying degrees of distancing.  Dixon’s role outside of a dominant gendered framework as well as his tendency to distrust models of collectivist structures which replicate American capitalist society give primacy to a queer anti-establishment positionality. The privacy to which Dixon’s sex life has been shielded from view highlights the ways queer readings have influenced the show and present Dixon with queerer affect. For example, the fandom around Dixon representing an asexual or gay character caused the writers to avoid showing Daryl kiss character Leah on screen in season 10 (Stone, 2021), instead foregrounding looks and close up shots by a fireplace which are typically reserved for reading lesbian desire on screen (Bradbury-Rance, 2019).&nbsp

Household labour supply in Great Britain: can policy-makers rely on neoclassical models?

This thesis empirically examines whether the neoclassical economic model provides an adequate framework to analyse a couple’s labour supply behaviour in Britain using recent data from the British Household Panel Survey. The thesis comprises three empirical chapters. The first chapter uses the instrumental variable (IV) estimation procedure to model the hours of work of married couples. This approach allows us to test whether some of the assumptions of the neoclassical model (e.g., income pooling and Slutsky properties) are satisfied by the data. In addition, further variables that have been identified as distribution factors in the literature are introduced to the empirical model to assess whether they play a role in explaining a couple’s hours of work. The first chapter only considers couples in which both spouses work. In the second chapter, the sample is amended to include all couples (i.e., those that work and those that do not) and the analysis conducted models a couple’s labour market participation decisions rather than their hours of work. After testing for income pooling and the impact of distribution factors, a further variable, the wife’s mother-in-law work status when the male spouse was aged 14, is introduced into the model. This is done to determine the effect of 'cultural' variables on labour market decisions. In the last chapter, this issue is explored further by explicitly modelling attitudes to a woman’s role in the labour market. This approach uses a bivariate ordered probit model given the ordinal nature of responses to the attitudinal questions and again restricts the analysis to couples only. Finally, gender-role attitudes are introduced to the labour supply framework used in the second chapter in order to evaluate whether beliefs regarding women’s role impact on a couple’s labour market decisions

Development of an Installation to Emulate Altitude, Ambient Temperature, and Ambient Humidity on Thermal Engines. Application to the Study of the Impact over E6 Engine Performance

[ES] Las normativas cada vez más restrictivas sobre las emisiones contaminantes de los vehículos de motor impuestas por la Unión Europea han obligado a los fabricantes de equipos originales (OEM) a proporcionar a los centros de investigación herramientas e instalaciones que pueden reproducir de forma precisa y repetida diferentes condiciones atmosféricas durante las primeras etapas del desarrollo del motor. En la actualidad la legislación europea incluye pruebas de emisiones reales en conducción (RDE) en diferentes condiciones atmosféricas, con altitudes de hasta 1300 metros sobre el nivel del mar y temperaturas que alcanzan los -7 ºC. Esto se ha hecho típicamente utilizando cámaras climáticas y altimétricas que permiten la reproducción de las condiciones atmosféricas en toda la celda de prueba, y más recientemente conectando a motor simuladores de altitud acoplados con unidades de tratamiento de aire (AHU). En esta Tesis Doctoral, se presenta la mejora del simulador de altitud comercializado por la empresa HORIBA denominado MEDAS, utilizando procedimientos tanto inductivos como deductivos, con el objetivo de ampliar el rango de prestaciones de la instalación, así como mejorar la precisión del control de la presión del aire comburente y reducir el consumo energético global. Además, durante esta fase, se lleva a cabo el desarrollo de un modelo 1D del simulador de altitud, con el que es posible obtener resultados precisos sobre el desempeño de la instalación para diferentes condiciones de contorno, como puede ser el punto operativo del motor, la presión de la sala o la temperatura del agua de refrigeración. A continuación, se han desarrollado dos nuevos equipos: el Módulo de Temperatura del MEDAS (MTM) y el Módulo de Humedad del MEDAS (MHM); mejorando las estrategias de control y algunos componentes clave (por ejemplo, la columna de agua de burbujas) para controlar con precisión la temperatura y la humedad del aire de combustión. Estos dos junto con el MEDAS crean un simulador de atmósfera completo, que permite el control independiente de las tres variables psicrométricas del aire de combustión del motor: presión, temperatura y humedad. Por último, el simulador de atmósfera desarrollado se utiliza para estudiar el efecto que las tres variables psicométricas del aire ambiente tienen sobre el rendimiento y las emisiones contaminantes de un motor Diesel Euro 6 turboalimentado, demostrando el gran efecto que tiene la humedad ambiental sobre las emisiones contaminantes de los motores Diesel y la necesidad de considerar este parámetro en las estrategias de calibración. Algunos resultados obtenidos podrían ser la reducción de potencia que el motor sufre al operar en condiciones de altitud, los cambios que la temperatura ambiente causa en el punto de operación del turbo grupo o como las emisiones de NOx se reducen cuando la humedad ambiente aumenta.[CA] Les normatives cada vegada més restrictives sobre les emissions contaminants dels vehicles de motor imposades per la Unió Europea han obligat als fabricants d'equips originals (OEM) a proporcionar als centres d'investigació eines i instal·lacions que poden reproduir de manera precisa i repetida diferents condicions atmosfèriques durant les primeres etapes del desenvolupament del motor. En l'actualitat la legislació europea inclou proves d'emissions reals en conducció (RDE) en diferents condicions atmosfèriques, amb altituds de fins a 1300 metres sobre el nivell de la mar i temperatures que aconsegueixen els -7 °C. Això s'ha fet típicament utilitzant cambres climàtiques i altimètriques que permeten la reproducció de les condicions atmosfèriques en tota la cel·la de prova, i més recentment connectant a motor simuladors d'altitud acoblats amb unitats de tractament d'aire (AHU). En aquesta Tesi Doctoral, es presenta la millora del simulador d'altitud comercialitzat per l'empresa HORIBA denominat MEDAS, utilitzant procediments tant inductius com deductius, amb l'objectiu d'ampliar el rang de prestacions de la instal·lació així com millorar la precisió del control de pressió de l'aire de combustió i reduir el consum energètic global. A més, durant aquesta fase, es du a terme el desenvolupament d'un model 1D del simulador d'altitud, amb el qual és possible obtindre resultats precisos sobre l'acompliment de la instal·lació per a diferents condicions de contorn, com pot ser el punt d'operació del motor, l'altitud d'instal·lació o la temperatura de l'aigua de refrigeració. A continuació, s'han desenvolupat dos nous equips: el Mòdul de Temperatura del MEDAS (MTM) i el Mòdul d'Humitat del MEDAS (MHM); millorant les estratègies de control i alguns components clau (per exemple, la columna d'aigua de bambolles) per a controlar amb precisió la temperatura i la humitat de l'aire de combustió. Aquests dos juntament amb el MEDAS creen un simulador d'atmosfera complet, que permet el control independent de les tres variables psicromètriques de l'aire de combustió del motor: pressió, temperatura i humitat. Finalment, el simulador d'atmosfera desenvolupat s'utilitza per a estudiar l'efecte que les tres variables psicomètriques de l'aire ambient tenen sobre el rendiment i les emissions contaminants d'un motor Dièsel Euro 6 *turboalimentado, demostrant el gran efecte que té la humitat ambiental sobre les emissions contaminants dels motors Dièsel i la necessitat de considerar aquest paràmetre en les estratègies de calibratge. Alguns resultats obtinguts podrien ser la reducció de potència que el motor pateix en operar en condicions d'altitud, els canvis que la temperatura ambient causa en el punt d'operació del turbo grup o com les emissions de NOx es redueixen quan la humitat ambiente augmenta.[EN] Increasingly restrictive regulations on pollutant emissions for motor vehicles imposed by the European Union have forced original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide research centers with tools and facilities that can accurately and repeatedly reproduce different atmospheric conditions during the early stages of engine development. Nowadays, the European legislation includes real driving emissions (RDE) tests at different atmospheric conditions, with altitudes up to 1300 meters above sea level and temperatures reaching -7 ºC. This has been done typically using altimetric and climatic chambers, which allow the reproduction of the atmospheric conditions in the whole test cell. More recently, connecting to the engine altitude simulators coupled with air handling units (AHU). In this Ph.D. Thesis, the improvement of the altitude simulator commercialized by the company HORIBA called MEDAS, carried out by inductive and deductive procedures, is presented to extend the installation's performance range, improve the combustion air pressure control accuracy, and reduce the installation global energy consumption. Furthermore, during this phase, the development of a 1D model of the altitude simulator is carried out, with which it is possible to obtain accurate results about the performance of the installation for different boundary conditions such as the engine operation point, the room pressure, or the cooling water temperature. Following, two new pieces of equipment have been developed: MEDAS Temperature Module (MTM) and MEDAS Humidity Module (MHM), improving the control strategies and some key components (i.e., the bubbles water-column) to increase the accuracy of the combustion air temperature and humidity control. Together with the MEDAS, these two create a complete atmosphere simulator, which allows the independent control of the three psychrometric variables of the engine combustion air: pressure, temperature, and humidity. Lastly, the atmosphere simulator developed is used to study the effect that the three psychometric variables of the ambient air have on the performance and the pollutant emissions of a Euro 6 turbocharged diesel engine, proving the significant effect that the ambient humidity has on the diesel engines pollutant emissions and the necessity of considering this parameter in the calibration strategies. Some results could be the reduction in power that the engine suffers when operating in altitude conditions, the changes that the ambient temperature causes at the turbocharger operative point, or the decrease in NOx emissions that happen when the ambient humidity increases.Tabet Aleixandre, R. (2022). Development of an Installation to Emulate Altitude, Ambient Temperature, and Ambient Humidity on Thermal Engines. Application to the Study of the Impact over E6 Engine Performance [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/183753TESI