Testing of combined heating systems for small houses: Improved procedures for whole system test methods : Deliverable 2.3

Dynamic system test methods for heating systems were developed and applied by the institutes SERC and SP from Sweden, INES from France and SPF from Switzerland already before the MacSheep project started. These test methods followed the same principle: a complete heating system – including heat generators, storage, control etc., is installed on the test rig; the test rig software and hardware simulates and emulates the heat load for space heating and domestic hot water of a single family house, while the unit under test has to act autonomously to cover the heat demand during a representative test cycle. Within the work package 2 of the MacSheep project these similar – but different – test methods were harmonized and improved. The work undertaken includes:  • Harmonization of the physical boundaries of the unit under test. • Harmonization of the boundary conditions of climate and load. • Definition of an approach to reach identical space heat load in combination with an autonomous control of the space heat distribution by the unit under test. • Derivation and validation of new six day and a twelve day test profiles for direct extrapolation of test results.   The new harmonized test method combines the advantages of the different methods that existed before the MacSheep project. The new method is a benchmark test, which means that the load for space heating and domestic hot water preparation will be identical for all tested systems, and that the result is representative for the performance of the system over a whole year. Thus, no modelling and simulation of the tested system is needed in order to obtain the benchmark results for a yearly cycle. The method is thus also applicable to products for which simulation models are not available yet. Some of the advantages of the new whole system test method and performance rating compared to the testing and energy rating of single components are:  • Interaction between the different components of a heating system, e.g. storage, solar collector circuit, heat pump, control, etc. are included and evaluated in this test. • Dynamic effects are included and influence the result just as they influence the annual performance in the field. • Heat losses are influencing the results in a more realistic way, since they are evaluated under "real installed" and representative part-load conditions rather than under single component steady state conditions.   The described method is also suited for the development process of new systems, where it replaces time-consuming and costly field testing with the advantage of a higher accuracy of the measured data (compared to the typically used measurement equipment in field tests) and identical, thus comparable boundary conditions. Thus, the method can be used for system optimization in the test bench under realistic operative conditions, i.e. under relevant operating environment in the lab.   This report describes the physical boundaries of the tested systems, as well as the test procedures and the requirements for both the unit under test and the test facility. The new six day and twelve day test profiles are also described as are the validation results.

On Real-Time Monitoring And Control For Efficient Management Of Drinking Water Networks: Barcelona Case Study

Drinking water utilities in urban areas are focused on finding smart solutions facing new challenges in their real-time operation because of limited water resources, intensive energy requirements, a growing population, a costly and ageing infrastructure, increasingly stringent regulations, and increased attention towards the environmental impact of water use. Such challenges force water managers to monitor and control not only water supply and distribution, but also consumer demand. This paper presents and discusses novel methodologies and procedures towards an integrated water resource management system based on advanced ICT technologies of automation and telecommunications for largely improving the efficiency of drinking water networks (DWN) in terms of water use, energy consumption, water loss minimization, and water quality guarantees. In particular, the paper addresses the first results of the European project EFFINET (FP7-ICT2011-8-318556) devoted to the monitoring and control of the DWN in Barcelona (Spain). Results are split in two levels according to different management objectives: (i) the monitoring level is concerned with all the aspects involved in the observation of the current state of a system and the detection/diagnosis of abnormal situations. It is achieved through sensors and communications technology, together with mathematical models; (ii) the control level is concerned with computing the best suitable and admissible control strategies for network actuators as to optimize a given set of operational goals related to the performance of the overall system. This level covers the network control (optimal management of water and energy) and the demand management (smart metering, efficient supply). The consideration of the Barcelona DWN as the case study will allow to prove the general applicability of the proposed integrated ICT solutions and their effectiveness in the management of DWN, with considerable savings of electricity costs and reduced water loss while ensuring the high European standards of water quality to citizens.

Allocation of authority in franchise chains

This article investigates the level of delegation in franchise chains, distinguishing the two most relevant franchising models: Business Format Franchising and Learning Network Franchising. The two models basically differ on the level of real authority (effective control over decisions) exercised by the franchisors. Differences in business features, such as the required standardization, monitoring costs and consumer sensitivity to variations in product attributes (consumer measurement costs), explain the adoption of the different models of franchising. These variables affect the trade-off between the risk of brand name loss and the gains in knowledge sharing and learning within the network. The higher the need for standardization, the higher is the risk of brand name loss, and, consequently, the more likely the franchisor will adopt an organizational design that confers more control over franchisees’ decisions, such as business format franchising. This paper presents two case studies with Brazilian food franchise chains that illustrate the main argument and suggest additional propositions. Moreover, an empirical analysis of 223 franchise chains provides additional support to the hypothesis of a negative the effect of required standardization on the level of delegation.

Diretrizes para a elaboração de um novo manual do liquidante da SUSEP

As intervenções do Poder Público em entidades privadas são necessárias em certas circunstâncias. Independentemente do tipo de intervenção, os agentes intervenientes devem zelar pelo interesse público e esforçar-se para que a intervenção ocorra na medida necessária, com qualidade e com eficiência. Será abordado assunto relacionado à intervenção do Poder Público, na figura da Superintendência de Seguros Privados (Susep), autoridade que recebeu do Ministério da Fazenda competências de controlar, regular e fiscalizar importantes instituições: seguradoras, resseguradores locais, entidades abertas de previdência complementar e entidades de capitalização. Nesse contexto, os estudos se restringirão à Liquidação Extrajudicial, intervenção que ocorre quando há indícios de crises econômicofinanceiras, de insolvência ou de gestão, dentre outras circunstâncias. A Susep nomeia um liquidante para executar os procedimentos e acompanha a respectiva gestão, cujo foco principal deve ser a quitação das dívidas com os credores. Tem sido observada baixa eficiência na gestão das entidades em Liquidação Extrajudicial, o que pode em parte relevante ser decorrente da falta de diretrizes para a elaboração de um Manual do Liquidante que induza a práticas eficientes de gestão. É, pois, objetivo desse trabalho propor diretrizes para a elaboração desse Manual. A metodologia de pesquisa será a revisão bibliográfica, pesquisa documental e a coleta da opinião de liquidantes e de especialistas em Liquidação Extrajudicial. Será pesquisado como algumas autoridades nacionais ou internacionais lidam com a Liquidação Extrajudicial. Acreditamos que o assunto aqui tratado é de grande relevância social, pois ineficiências na execução dessas Liquidações Extrajudiciais podem prejudicar credores, acionistas e gerar desperdícios de tempo e de recursos do Poder Público quando do acompanhamento do regime liquidatário. No final do trabalho encontramos o resultado da pesquisa: as diretrizes propostas para a elaboração do novo Manual do Liquidante da Susep.

Acordos internacionais sobre a produção compartilhada de recursos naturais: a unitização interestatal na área do petróleo e gás sob o enfoque constitucional brasileiro

The apportionment of natural resources between sovereign States is a subject that relates many aspects of International law, as long as Constitutional Law, at the execution and application phases of international treaties that regulates the exploration of common goods. In this sense, because of their natural characteristics that creates an environment of constant migration and fixation in transboundary regions, terrestrial or maritime, the petroleum and the natural gas bound a complex juridical apparatus that can control the sovereign rights involved. This research is aim at accomplishing a study concerning the international agreements that enable the non-unilateral action, specifically the unitization treaties between sovereign States, as a manner to resolve situations related to the individualization of oil and/or gas reservoirs that go across their national borders. These agreements will be analyzed considering the international public law sources theory, bearing in mind yet the already existed experiences in this sense, not disregarding the way that this fact could affect Brazil. It will begin with an historical incursion over the unitization institute, covering its main characteristics and its formation and execution procedures, and finally it will address the Brazilian legal system and the comparative law threats the institute. The clauses of these relevant agreements will be analyzed in details, concerning its particularities and its contents. Because these agreements are international obligatory rules of law, it is indispensable that they are considered under the auspices of the international law system, focusing their nature and the subjects of international law and establishing them as sources of the international law, analyzing them, then, as international rules and the applicable law to these juridical relations, the conventional established, the consolidated international custom and the applicable International Law principles, appearing the State s responsibility as an important subject for the verification of the acts lawful practiced by States. The analysis of the apportionment of these natural resources ends with the individualization of possible exploitable marine oil fields located between the exclusive economic zone and the continental platform ends and the region administrated by the International Seabed Authority. At last, the Brazilian constitutional system appears as the mechanism of integration, application and execution of the international unitization agreements in Brazil, detaching the format and the proceedings that the international treaties take to acquire validity at the national legal system, passing through the treaties interpretation and the applicable constitutional principles, coming to its application in Brazil, considering the existing constitutional peculiarities and the role played by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and bio-fuel ANP

The effects of macromolecular and serum supplements and oxygen tension during bovine in vitro procedures on kinetics of oocyte maturation and embryo development

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efficiency of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of eggs and larvae of the horn fly Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antipanic procedures reduce the strychnine-facilitated wild running of rats

Wild running (WR) behavior of rats seen in response to intense acoustic stimulation of audiogenic seizure-paradigm is very similar to the panic flight and can be facilitated by subconvulsive doses of strychnine. The present work aimed to test whether antipanic procedures, such as dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) lesion and imipramine treatments, affect the strychnine-facilitated WR. In study 1, six Wistar male adult rats with electrolytic lesion of dPAG had their WR completely blocked, whereas it was facilitated in 50% of sham-lesioned control rats by a dose of 0.5 mg/kg of strychnine administered intraperitoneal. This effect was not reproduced with a higher strychnine dose (1.0 mg/kg). In study 2, the effects of imipramine were investigated by testing 36 rats under a dose of strychnine that induces WR in 50% of subjects. They were assigned into three experimental groups: imipramine treatments of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, and infusions of saline. All these treatments were subchronical with three intraperitoneal injections within 24h. Imipramine (10.0mg/kg) reduced the incidence of WR in comparison to the saline results. It is concluded that strychnine-facilitated WR is reduced by antipanic procedures and, therefore, can be viewed as a manifestation closely related to panic. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Reactive Control for Transmission Overload Relief Based on Sensitivity Analysis and Cooperative Game Theory

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Application of wavelets to the evaluation of phantom images for mammography quality control

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of long-term disinfection procedures on hardness property of resin denture teeth

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

HARDNESS and SURFACE ROUGHNESS of RELINE and DENTURE BASE ACRYLIC RESINS AFTER REPEATED DISINFECTION PROCEDURES

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparative procedures for the sample decomposition of rocks used in organic agriculture and the determination of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn by FAAS

The aim of this work was to develop an appropriate sample preparation procedure for the flame atomic absorption spectrometry determination of Cu, Fe, Mn, and, Zn in rocks used in organic agriculture as a source of macro- and micronutrients.Six different procedures were evaluated and are classified into three groups: (a) pressure digestion system with Teflon bombs, (b) conventional wet digestion in a digester heating block, and (c) closed microwave system with pressure and temperature control.Two standard reference materials and two commercial samples were analyzed. It was found that the closed microwave system required low reagent consumption, less time, and resulted in low contamination.

An infection control protocol: effectiveness of immersion solutions to reduce the microbial growth on dental prostheses

This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of an infection control protocol for cleansing and disinfecting removable dental prostheses. Sixty-four dentures were rubbed with sterile cotton swab immediately after they had been taken from patients' mouths. Samples were individually placed in the culture medium and immediately incubated at 37 +/- 2 degreesC. The dentures were scrubbed for 1 min with 4% chlorhexidine, rinsed for 1 min in sterile water and placed for 10 min in one of the following immersion solutions: 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, 1% sodium hypochlorite, Biocide (iodophors) and Amosan (alkaline peroxide). After the disinfection procedures, the dentures were immersed in sterile water for 3 min, reswabbed and the samples were incubated. All samples obtained in the initial culture were contaminated with micro-organisms. All the lower dentures immersed in Biocide showed positive growth, and the upper dentures were positive for growth in six of eight dentures. The 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, 1% sodium hypochlorite and Amosan solutions have been proved effective to reduce the growth of the micro-organisms in the 10 min immersion period. The protocol evaluated in this study seems to be a viable method to prevent cross-contamination between dental personnel and patients.

Simplified architecture of a neurofuzzy controller applied on industrial systems for fluid flow control

This work presents a simplified architecture of a neurofuzzy controller for general purpose applications that tries to minimize the processing used in the several stages of hazy modeling of systems. The basic procedures of fuzzification and defuzzification are simplified to the maximum while the inference procedures are computed in a private way. The simplified architecture allows a fast and easy configuration of the neurofuzzy controller and the structuring rules that define the control actions is automatic. Th controller's Limits and performance are standardized and the control actions are previously calculated. For application, the industrial systems of fluid flow control will be considered.