Algoritmos genéricos para otimização de uma arquitetura de controle inteligente híerárquico

A hierarchical fuzzy control scheme is applied to improve vibration suppression by using an electro-mechanical system based on the lever principle. The hierarchical intelligent controller consists of a hierarchical fuzzy supervisor, one fuzzy controller and one robust controller. The supervisor combines controllers output signal to generate the control signal that will be applied on the plant. The objective is to improve the performance of the electromechanical system, considering that the supervisor could take advantage of the different techniques based controllers. The robust controller design is based on a linear mathematical model. Genetic algorithms are used on the fuzzy controller and the supervisor tuning, which are based on non-linear mathematical model. In order to attest the efficiency of the hierarchical fuzzy control scheme, digital simulations were employed. Some comparisons involving the optimized hierarchical controller and the non-optimized hierarchical controller will be made to prove the efficiency of the genetic algorithms and the advantages of its use

Estudo de Superfícies Seletivas de Frequência com o Uso de Inteligência Computacional

The main objective of this work is to optimize the performance of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) composed of crossed dipole conducting patches. The optimization process is performed by determining proper values for the width of the crossed dipoles and for the FSS array periodicity, while the length of the crossed dipoles is kept constant. Particularly, the objective is to determine values that provide wide bandwidth using a search algorithm with representation in bioinspired real numbers. Typically FSS structures composed of patch elements are used for band rejection filtering applications. The FSS structures primarily act like filters depending on the type of element chosen. The region of the electromagnetic spectrum chosen for this study is the one that goes from 7 GHz to 12 GHz, which includes mostly the X-band. This frequency band was chosen to allow the use of two X-band horn antennas, in the FSS measurement setup. The design of the FSS using the developed genetic algorithm allowed increasing the structure bandwidth

A difícil aceitação dos números negativos: um estudo da teoria dos números de Peter Barlow (1776-1862)

The present study seeks to present a historico-epistemological analysis of the development of the mathematical concept of negative number. In order to do so, we analyzed the different forms and conditions of the construction of mathematical knowledge in different mathematical communities and, thus, identified the characteristics in the establishment of this concept. By understanding the historically constructed barriers, especially, the ones having ontologicas significant, that made the concept of negative number incompatible with that of natural number, thereby hindering the development of the concept of negative, we were able to sketch the reasons for the rejection of negative numbers by the English author Peter Barlow (1776 -1862) in his An Elementary Investigation of the Theory of Numbers, published in 1811. We also show the continuity of his difficulties with the treatment of negative numbers in the middle of the nineteenth century

Um olho torto na literatura de Graciliano Ramos

This dissertation analyses, within a psychoanalytical e literary perspective, the enigma of blindness in Graciliano Ramos s work. The approach takes into account, mainly, the narratives of Histórias de Alexandre (Alexandre s tales) and Infância (Childhood memories) as both books speak of the same theme: the injured eye. The writer s work is scourged so that a broaden symbolism regarding the hurt eye can be found. The subject is discussed from three significant elements: fragmentation, helplessness and melancholy; all these form the creative aesthetic of Graciliano, merging into a single object. Fragmentation representing the internal shattered world of his characters, which is reflected in the environment; helplessness, directly related to feelings of rejection; and melancholy, characterized by a strong feeling of emptiness. The theme of isolation and loss is discussed based on Mourning and melancholy, by Freud, and other theorizers. There is also a brief dialogue with the Romantic and philosophical theories, which tries to explain the melancholic condition in the individual before moments of distress. Such theories are the support for the understanding of the helplessness of the hero in Graciliano Ramos´s literature and for the assumption that the blindness in the mistreated boy of the book Infância could be the language of the traumatic aspect that colors the entire text of the writer. As matter of fact, it constitutes in the lost object represented in the anguish of the author s characters

Influência da fadiga no comportamento neuromuscular do quadríceps femoral, após reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior

Muscle fatigue is a phenomenon that promotes physiological and biomechanical disorders and their changes in healthy subjects have been widely studied and have significant importance for care in preventing injuries, but we do not have many information about its effects in patients after ACL reconstruction. Thus, this study is to analyze the effects of fatigue on neuromuscular behavior of quadriceps after ACL reconstruction. To reach this objective, participants were forty men, twenty healthy (26,90 ± 6,29 years) and twenty after ACL reconstruction (29,75 ± 7,01 years) with a graft of semitendinosus and gracilis tendons, between four to six months after surgery. At first, there was an assessment of joint position sense (JPS) at the isokinetic dynamometer at a speed of 5°/s and target angle of 45° to analyze the absolute error of JPS. Next, we applied the a muscle fatigue protocol, running 100 repetitions of isokinetic knee flexion-extension at 90°/s. Concurrently with this protocol, there was the assessment of muscle performance, as the peak torque (PT) and fatigue index, and electromyographic activity (RMS and median frequency). Finally, we repeated the assessment of JPS. The statistical analysis showed that patients after ACL reconstruction have, even under normal conditions, the amended JPS compared with healthy subjects and that after fatigue, both have disturbances in the JPS, but this alteration is significantly exacerbated in patients after ACL reconstruction. About muscle performance, we could notice that these patients have a lower PT, although there are no differences between the dynamometric and EMG fatigue index. These findings show the necessity about the cares of pacients with ACL reconstruction in respect of the risks of articulate instability and overload in ligamentar graft

Avaliação de alterações orais em pacientes submetidos a transplante de medula óssea

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is currently the best therapeutic option for patients with hematologic diseases, solid tumors or autoimmune disorders. It is characterized by intravenous infusion of hematopoietic stem cells in order to restore marrow function. However, this procedure requires concomitant immunosuppression treatment, which favors the development of certain complications, often manifested in the oral cavity. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of oral changes in patients undergoing BMT and to correlate these results with clinical aspects related to the patients and the transplants performed. This is a prevalence study, with cross-sectional design, carried out in a BMT service at the Institute of Onco-Hematology of Natal (ION) and Natal Hospital Center. Data collection was based on questionnaires, clinical examination of the oral cavity and consultation in the medical records. The sample consisted of 51 patients undergoing BMT. After the analysis, was found a general status with good health conditions and presence of oral changes in about half of patients who composed the sample. The manifestations observed were, in decreasing order of frequency: mucositis; gingival alteration and thrombocytopenic purpura; mucosal pigmentation; lichenoid reaction and candidiasis. The oral changes were observed more frequently in cases of allogeneic TMO, in different periods post-transplant, without significant differences related to the source of cells. It was found statistically significant association between the presence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and oral changes (p < 0,001). Therefore, it is concluded that there is a relatively high incidence of changes in oral cavity of patients receiving bone marrow transplantation, a fact which confirms the need to consider this site for examination, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of possible complications of BMT

Implicações socioambientais da construção de um parque eólico no município de Rio de Fogo-RN

The purpose of this study was to investigate the social-environmental implications of the first large scale wind farm recently built in Brazil (2006), Parque Eólico de Rio do Fogo (PERF), to the nearby communities. The research was base on the adjustment of the DIS/BCN tool to analyze social impact and it was linked to the multi-method approach. Applying the autophotography strategy, cameras were given to five children from the district of Zumbi, the nearest location to PERF, and they were asked to individually photograph the six places they liked the most and the six places they liked the least in their community. Then, these children were interviewed individually and collectively about the photographs. Adult locals in Zumbi, residents of Zumbi/Rio do Fogo settlement, members of the State and Municipal government and representatives of the PERF were also interviewed with the aid of some of the pictures taken by the children and others that might trigger something to say, as a strategy called sample function. The five children presented positive image towards PERF; all of them chose to photograph it as one of places they liked. Adult population of Zumbi presented positive visual evaluation towards PERF. A small number of the interviewees were aware of the environmental and social benefits of wind energy production. Residents did not participate of the decision making process regarding PERF. They approved the project, especially because of the jobs provided during construction. Nowadays, PERF is something apart from their lives because it no longer provides jobs or any other interaction between the facility and the locals. Residents relate to the land, not with the facility. However, there is no evidence of rejection towards PERF, it is simply seen as something neutral to their lives. The low levels of education, traditional lack of social commitment and citizenship, and the experience accumulated by PERF´s planners and builders in other countries, may be contributing points to the fact that Zumbi residents did not oppose to PERF. It is clear that the country needs a legislation which seriously considers the psycho-social dimension involved in the implementation of wind farms

Estudo das propriedades psicométricas do inventário de estilos parentais de young no Brasil

Parenting styles concern overall interaction characteristics between parents and children. To assess them, it is important to build and adapt valid and reliable instruments. The main objectives of this dissertation were to translate, adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Young Parenting Inventory (YPI) for the Brazilian context, as seek associations between the YPI and Familiogram Test (FG). In current study, YPI was adapted to Portuguese by backtranslation method. Content analyses were made by five judges. 920 high school and college students (543 females), whose ages were between 14 and 69 years (M = 21.3, SD = 6.1), filled out the research instruments. Data were collected in Natal, Petrolina and Brasilia cities and Porto Alegre metropolitan region. The results confirmed the existence of five factors. Final version of the YPI was composed by 49 items. Exploratory factorial analysis (principal components) were conducted using oblimin rotation. Five factors extracted explained 45.12% of the maternal scale variance and 47.59% of paternal scale. Each factor explained, at least, 3% of the variance and showed Eigenvalue over than 1.5. All items have factorial loadings values above 0.3. The confirmatory factorial analysis has showed fit statistics reasonably adequate: for maternal scale,  ² [1114] = 4636.38, p < 0.001,  ² / df = 4.16, with GFI = 0.83, AGFI = 0.81 and RMSEA = 0.06; for paternal scale,  ² [1114] = 5133.69 p < 0.001,  ² / df = 4.61, with GFI = 0.81, AGFI = 0.79 and RMSEA = 0,06. Thus, final instrument was composed by the following factors: (I) Disconnection and Rejection ( = 0.89 and 0.90), (II) Affectivity and Emotional Stability ( = 0.85 and 0.88); (III) Overvigilance and Other Directedness ( = 0.83 and 0.85), (IV) Overprotection and Impaired Autonomy ( = 0.78 and 0.79) and (V) Impaired Limits ( = 0.66 and 0.71). Finally, relations between the YPI and FG were assessed. Pearson's correlations between the YPI and FG showed moderated associations, particularly between the factors Affectivity (YPI) and Affection (FG) (r = 0.69 and 0.7 for maternal and paternal scale, respectively); and the factors Disconnection and Rejection (YPI) and Conflict (FG) (r = 0.59 and 0.58). The regression models indicated that over than 40% of variance of factors of FG can be predicted by factors of YPI. Beta coefficients for Affection-Affectivity relation were 0.67 (maternal scale) and 0.53 (paternal scale); for Disconnection-Conflict relation were 0.31 (maternal scale) and 0.44 (paternal scale). We conclude the YPI has adequate psychometric parameters and can be used in future research in this area. However, adjustments in the structure of the YPI were made. Moreover, it is suggested further studies to consider other samples and variables, increasing the knowing of parenting styles and the Young‟s theory in the Brazilian context

Percepção de riscos ambientais de populações vulneráveis a inundações e deslizamentos de dunas em Natal-RN

In urban, flooding and landslides are among the troubles that most bring human and material loss. Therefore, this study objected to perform an analysis on the risk perception on the population living in social environmental vulnerable places in order to understand what is the way this population realize the risks they are exposed to and what are the outbrave strategies the develop. The first analyzed area was Complexo Passo da Pátria for the flooding risk problematic and then the Cidade Nova neighborhood threatened by the dunes slides. The areas locate, respectively, in the West and East zones of Natal-RN. Using an interview screenplay adapted from risk perception researches from different brazilian cities, it was collected primarily data on the variables: perception, evaluation and choice, safety threshold, adjustment, decision and participation. Due to the studied areas characteristics the qualitative approach adjusted itself to the difficulties for accessing the areas. The studied places characterize for its insecure situation like selling/using drugs, robbery and murder among others. Due to this situation the interviewed individuals were the ones that could be found more accessibly and available in the moment and the interviews were made in the community leader presence of each area. Through the discourse of the respondents analysis it was able to conclude that the interviewed population is exposed to a high vulnerability grade and risks. However it was identified substantial differences between the perception and risks of Complexo Passo da Pátria and bairro Cidade Nova, because in the first area the intervied ones can recognize the high risk they are exposed to in a more emphatic way to the interviewed ones for the Cidade Nova neighborhood. Furthermore, there is a heavy dissatisfaction for the population of the two places about the city hall positions relating to the present problems in the studied areas. It was also identified the strategy development of acquaintanceship with the risk in the research places beyond a feeling of belonging and affection between the dwellers and the places, yet it was more evident for Complexo Passo da Pátria. Though this analysis it was possible to understand and perceptions and the behavior of the individuals or social groups facing the risks as acceptance and rejection of determined risks beyond adaptation measures of living together with the persistence presence of risks. Therefore, qualitative nature researches emphasizing the perception approach are in the fundamental importance in the studies about risks making it possible to offer aids to the urban planning and management in the implement of effective preventive measures and compatible with the population aims

A fazenda pública em juízo: a anulação de decisão administrativa definitiva a favorável ao contribuinte

El tema elegido para este estudio la materia disertación sobre la viabilidad de la Tesorería a buscar refugio a la corte anuló la decisión administrativa firme, dictada en lugar del procedimiento administrativo, fiscal, cuando tal decisión no es favorable a la Administración Pública Fiscal, o favorable para el contribuyente . El cálculo de la cuota a pagar se debe a las actividades administrativas relacionadas jurisdicción de la Administración Pública de la finca conocida como la evaluación de impuestos. En este sentido, la puesta en marcha, analizados desde la perspectiva del derecho administrativo, puede calificarse de acto jurídico administrativo. Para la constitución de la puesta en marcha es posible realizar tres pasos: a) un acto en la preparación para el tema de los impuestos - la revisión y evaluación, b) el acto administrativo de la liquidación del impuesto en sí o la aplicación de sanciones administrativas, el procedimiento c) el impuesto administrativo. Realizó la inspección y la investigación se ha iniciado para formalizar el acto administrativo del propio lanzamiento. Después de la puesta en marcha, con el homenaje que se está abierto a los contribuyentes dentro de la composición del tributo rechazo en libertad, que ofrecerá desafío para lanzar. Este paso es iniciar el "procedimiento administrativo tributario." La etapa procesal se caracteriza por ser un procedimiento de investigación o control de la legalidad de los actos administrativos en los que el contribuyente para mostrar su descontento con el lanzamiento de lo ya realizado. La evolución de los actos que lleva a cuestiones de procedimiento de especial importancia para esta tesis es que la decisión final sobre el procedimiento administrativo de impuestos o el control de la legalidad del acto administrativo de la liberación. Idea que se debe tener es que la decisión final es poner fin a fin o destino del impuesto procedimiento administrativo. Aquí están las preguntas de la tesis doctoral, por ejemplo, usted puede cancelar la corte real hacienda de la decisión administrativa dictada por el Consejo Administrativo de Apelación Reder, cuando decisum que conduzca a la privada? ¿Cuáles son los efectos de la decisión final? Con fuerza de cosa juzgada o impedimento administrativo? Se opone a la revisión por el poder judicial? La decisión administrativa es un acto administrativo? Puede ser cancelada o revocada por el Poder Judicial? Dada la divergencia en la doctrina y la jurisprudencia trata de resolver el problema que lo llevan a la solución definitiva al respecto. El autor llega a la conclusión de la imposibilidad, por regla general, y la oportunidad, como excepción a la Tesorería para solicitar la anulación del impuesto de la decisión administrativa final ante el Poder Judicial