Gestão ambiental em cadeias produtivas agroindustriais: um estudo em um aglomerado produtivo da caprinovinocultura no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte

This thesis aims to investigate the perception and behavior of goat and sheep rural producers from Central Cabugi Region of Rio Grande do Norte state, in terms of the sector competitiveness, the cooperation mechanisms, information and environmental practices integration in the supply chain, including their customers, and also among the local producers and other institutions that support this agribusiness cluster. The research problem is related to the environmental impacts from goat and sheep breeding. This problem can also be intensified by the organization of producers in a cluster. Then, it is important to examine how the environmental issues are considered by the rural producers and their perception of their suppliers, customers and the institutions that support this activity. The methodology used in this work involved literature review of the topics of supply chain management, green supply chain, clusters development and sustainable livestock. An exploratory survey research was also conducted by personal interviews using questionnaires. Three statistic techniques were used to compile the gathered data: descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and Chi-square tests. Two clusters were found in this study, however, the entire sample believes the sector of goat and sheep breeding is a medium competitive activity. On the other hand, for the variables of the importance of environmental practices for competitiveness , perception of environmental impacts and environmental benefits from farm vegetation management , the research found 2 distinct groups of individuals when those variables were analyzed together the green supply chain management group of variables in the cluster analysis. Beyond competitiveness perception, no degree of difference was found for the use of insecticides too. The chi-square tests present that producers having at least elementary education, lands bigger 100 hectares and located in the cities of Angicos or Lajes tend to have a higher perception to supply chain management and environmental awareness issues than those with no or incomplete first-level education, producing in lands smaller than 100 hectares and located in the cities of Afonso Bezerra or Pedro Avelino. The chi-square tests also show the amount of milk produced, family s income and associational condition are not related with the variables used in the clusters composition. In this context, this work contributes to planning clusters development strategies and enhancing the production chain sustainability. This Master of Science Thesis can also help to introduce the environmental variable in the project, assessment and monitoring of development policies as well

Análise e otimização de superfícies seletivas de Frequência utilizando redes neurais artificiais e algoritmos de otimização natural

The bidimensional periodic structures called frequency selective surfaces have been well investigated because of their filtering properties. Similar to the filters that work at the traditional radiofrequency band, such structures can behave as band-stop or pass-band filters, depending on the elements of the array (patch or aperture, respectively) and can be used for a variety of applications, such as: radomes, dichroic reflectors, waveguide filters, artificial magnetic conductors, microwave absorbers etc. To provide high-performance filtering properties at microwave bands, electromagnetic engineers have investigated various types of periodic structures: reconfigurable frequency selective screens, multilayered selective filters, as well as periodic arrays printed on anisotropic dielectric substrates and composed by fractal elements. In general, there is no closed form solution directly from a given desired frequency response to a corresponding device; thus, the analysis of its scattering characteristics requires the application of rigorous full-wave techniques. Besides that, due to the computational complexity of using a full-wave simulator to evaluate the frequency selective surface scattering variables, many electromagnetic engineers still use trial-and-error process until to achieve a given design criterion. As this procedure is very laborious and human dependent, optimization techniques are required to design practical periodic structures with desired filter specifications. Some authors have been employed neural networks and natural optimization algorithms, such as the genetic algorithms and the particle swarm optimization for the frequency selective surface design and optimization. This work has as objective the accomplishment of a rigorous study about the electromagnetic behavior of the periodic structures, enabling the design of efficient devices applied to microwave band. For this, artificial neural networks are used together with natural optimization techniques, allowing the accurate and efficient investigation of various types of frequency selective surfaces, in a simple and fast manner, becoming a powerful tool for the design and optimization of such structures

Materiais supercondutores HTS para arranjos de antenas e aplicação de PBG para micro-ondas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Aplicação de superfícies seletivas em frequência para melhoria de resposta de arranjos de antenas planares

This work aims to show how the application of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) in planar antenna arrays become an alternative to obtain desired radiation characteristics from changes in radiation parameters of the arrays, such as bandwidth, gain and directivity. In addition to analyzing these parameters is also made a study of the mutual coupling between the elements of the array. To accomplish this study, were designed a microstrip antenna array with two patch elements, fed by a network feed. Another change made in the array was the use of the truncated ground plane, with the objective of increasing the bandwidth and miniaturize the elements of the array. In order to study the behavior of frequency selective surfaces applied in antenna arrays, three different layouts were proposed. The first layout uses the FSS as a superstrate (above the array). The second layout uses the FSS as reflector element (below the array). The third layout is placed between two FSS. Numerical and experimental results for each of the proposed configurations are presented in order to validate the research

Estudo do efeito de dipolos em arranjos de antenas adaptativas de sistemas de comunicação DS-CDMA

This master dissertation introduces a study about some aspects that determine the aplication of adaptative arrays in DS-CDMA cellular systems. Some basics concepts and your evolution in the time about celular systems was detailed here, meanly the CDMA tecnique, specialy about spread-codes and funtionaly principies. Since this, the mobile radio enviroment, with your own caracteristcs, and the basics concepts about adaptive arrays, as powerfull spacial filter was aborded. Some adaptative algorithms was introduced too, these are integrants of the signals processing, and are answerable for weights update that influency directly in the radiation pattern of array. This study is based in a numerical analysis of adaptative array system behaviors related to the used antenna and array geometry types. All the simulations was done by Mathematica 4.0 software. The results for weights convergency, square mean error, gain, array pattern and supression capacity based the analisis made here, using RLS (supervisioned) and LSDRMTA (blind) algorithms

Síntese de superfícies seletivas de frequência atráves de técnicas de computação natural

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Uma nova proposta de antenas Quasi-Yagi banda larga para comunicação sem fio

ln this work, planar quasi- Y agi antennas are investigated based on the concept of the classic Y agi_Uda antennas. These antennas represent improvements on the topologies of the antennas existing printed because they present characteristics of broad bandwidth, excellent radiation diagrams and simple construction. New configurations are adapted for the driver of the antennas, introducing patches elements into the driver. These new configurations are named Patches Elements Anteonas (PEA). This adaptation is obtained from simulations that are executed usiog the software C8T Microwave 8tudio 5. After doing the optimizations, procedures for construction and measurement ofthe prototypes are executed in order to improve the performance of the antennas in such way that they could be used in wireless communication applications, such as Bluetooth, WLAN' s and Wi-Fi. Next, the quasi- Y agi antennas are studied in order to implement them in arrangements. The arrangements construction is based 00 the best driver configuration of the antenna developed in this work. First, a linear arrangement composed by two elements of quasi¬Yagi antennas is constructed in such way that the radiation characteristics and the mutual coupling effects could be analyzed. After that, a 90° angle arrangement composed by two elements is studied to observe the effect of circular polarization. Experiments are executed in order to evaluate the arrangements performance. The experimental results show that the analysis made in this work is efficient and accurate. The numerical values obtained for the analyzed parameters of each structure developed are compared with the experimental values. 80, it is possible to observe a good concordance between them. Finally, some future works proposals are presented

Arranjos Log-Periódicos Compactos em Microfita com Elementos Fractais de Koch

This work aims to present how the application of fractal geometry to the elements of a log-periodic array can become a good alternative when one wants to reduce the size of the array. Two types of log-periodic arrays were proposed: one with fed by microstrip line and other fed by electromagnetic coupling. To the elements of these arrays were applied fractal Koch contours, at two levels. In order to validate the results obtained some prototypes were built, which were measured on a vector network analyzer and simulated in a software, for comparison. The results presented reductions of 60% in the total area of the arrays, for both types. By analyzing the graphs of return loss, it was observed that the application of fractal contours made different resonant frequencies appear in the arrays. Furthermore, a good agreement was observed between simulated and measured results. The array with feeding by electromagnetic coupling presented, after application of fractal contours, radiation pattern with more smooth forms than the array with feeding by microstrip line

Antenas de microfita com patch supercondutor a 212 K

This work has as main objective to study the application of microstrip antennas with patch and use of superconducting arrays of planar and linear phase. Was presented a study of the main theories that explain clearly the superconductivity. The BCS theory, Equations of London and the Two Fluid Model are theories that supported the implementation of the superconducting microstrip antennas. Arrangements phase was analyzed in linear and planar configuration of its antennas are reported factors such arrays to settings and criteria of phase and the spacing between the elements that make the arrayst was reviewed in order to minimize losses due to secondary lobes. The antenna used has a rectangular patch Sn5InCa2Ba4Cu10Oy the superconducting material was analyzed by the method of Transverse Transmission Line (TTL) applied in the field of Fourier transform (FTD). The TTL is a full-wave method, which has committed to obtaining the electromagnetic fields in terms of cross-cutting components of the structure. The inclusion of superconducting patch is made using the boundary condition, complex resistive. Are obtained when the resonant frequency depending on the parameters of the antenna, radiation pattern of E-Plan and H-Plan for the M-phase arrangements of antennas in the linear and planar configurations for different values of phase and spacing between the elements.

Otimização do controle eletrônico do diagrama de radiação de arranjos de antenas usando algoritmos genéticos com codificação real

Antenna arrays are able to provide high and controlled directivity, which are suitable for radiobase stations, radar systems, and point-to-point or satellite links. The optimization of an array design is usually a hard task because of the non-linear characteristic of multiobjective, requiring the application of numerical techniques, such as genetic algorithms. Therefore, in order to optimize the electronic control of the antenna array radiation pattem through genetic algorithms in real codification, it was developed a numerical tool which is able to positioning the array major lobe, reducing the side lobe levels, canceling interference signals in specific directions of arrival, and improving the antenna radiation performance. This was accomplished by using antenna theory concepts and optimization methods, mainly genetic algorithms ones, allowing to develop a numerical tool with creative genes codification and crossover rules, which is one of the most important contribution of this work. The efficiency of the developed genetic algorithm tool is tested and validated in several antenna and propagation applications. 11 was observed that the numerical results attend the specific requirements, showing the developed tool ability and capacity to handle the considered problems, as well as a great perspective for application in future works.

Análise espectral de reflectarrays com substratos de duas camadas dielétricas anisotrópicas uniaxiais

Recently, an amazing development has been observed in telecommunication systems. Two good examples of this development are observed in mobile communication and aerospace systems. This impressive development is related to the increasing need for receiving and transmitting communication signals. Particularly, this development has required the study of new antennas and filters. This work presents a fullwave analysis of reflectarrays. The considered structures are composed by arrays of rectangular conducting patches printed on multilayer dieletric substrates, that are mounted on a ground plane. The analysis is developed in the spectral domain, using an equivalent transmission line method in combination with Galerkin method. Results for the reflection coefficient of these structures are presented and compared to those available in the literature. A good agreement was observed. Particularly, the developed analysis uses the transmission lines theory in combination with the incident potentials and the field continuity equations, at the structures interfaces, for obtaining the scattered field components expressions as function of the patch surface currents and of the incident field. Galerkin method is used to determine the unknown coefficients in the boundary value problem. Curves for the reflection coefficient of several reflectarray geometries are presented as function of frequency and of the structural parameters

Estudo do efeito de dipolos em arranjos de antenas adaptativas de sistemas de comunicação DS-CDMA

This master dissertation introduces a study about some aspects that determine the aplication of adaptative arrays in DS-CDMA cellular systems. Some basics concepts and your evolution in the time about celular systems was detailed here, meanly the CDMA tecnique, specialy about spread-codes and funtionaly principies. Since this, the mobile radio enviroment, with your own caracteristcs, and the basics concepts about adaptive arrays, as powerfull spacial filter was aborded. Some adaptative algorithms was introduced too, these are integrants of the signals processing, and are answerable for weights update that influency directly in the radiation pattern of array. This study is based in a numerical analysis of adaptative array system behaviors related to the used antenna and array geometry types. All the simulations was done by Mathematica 4.0 software. The results for weights convergency, square mean error, gain, array pattern and supression capacity based the analisis made here, using RLS (supervisioned) and LSDRMTA (blind) algorithms.

Sistema inteligente para determinação das direções de chegada de múltiplos sinais em arranjos de antenas

This dissertation presents a new proposal for the Direction of Arrival (DOA) detection problem for more than one signal inciding simultaneously on an antennas array with linear or planar geometry by using intelligent algorithms. The DOA estimator is developed by using techniques of Conventional Beam-forming (CBF), Blind Source Separation (BSS), and the neural estimator MRBF (Modular Structure of Radial Basis Functions). The developed MRBF estimator has its capacity extended due to the interaction with the BSS technique. The BSS makes an estimation of the steering vectors of the multiple plane waves that reach the array in the same frequency, that means, obtains to separate mixed signals without information a priori. The technique developed in this work makes possible to identify the multiple sources directions and to identify and to exclude interference sources

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

Medição da densidade óssea através de ondas eletromagnéticas e classificação por MVS

This work holds the purpose of presenting an auxiliary way of bone density measurement through the attenuation of electromagnetic waves. In order to do so, an arrangement of two microstrip antennas with rectangular configuration has been used, operating in a frequency of 2,49 GHz, and fed by a microstrip line on a substrate of fiberglass with permissiveness of 4.4 and height of 0,9 cm. Simulations were done with silica, bone meal, silica and gypsum blocks samples to prove the variation on the attenuation level of different combinations. Because of their good reproduction of the human beings anomaly aspects, samples of bovine bone were used. They were subjected to weighing, measurement and microwave radiation. The samples had their masses altered after mischaracterization and the process was repeated. The obtained data were inserted in a neural network and its training was proceeded with the best results gathered by correct classification on 100% of the samples. It comes to the conclusion that through only one non-ionizing wave in the 2,49 GHz zone it is possible to evaluate the attenuation level in the bone tissue, and that with the appliance of neural network fed with obtained characteristics in the experiment it is possible to classify a sample as having low or high bone density