An Optimal Control Framework for Resources Management in Agriculture

An optimal control framework to support the management and control of resources in a wide range of problems arising in agriculture is discussed. Lessons extracted from past research on the weed control problem and a survey of a vast body of pertinent literature led to the specification of key requirements to be met by a suitable optimization framework. The proposed layered control structure—including planning, coordination, and execution layers—relies on a set of nested optimization processes of which an “infinite horizon” Model Predictive Control scheme plays a key role in planning and coordination. Some challenges and recent results on the Pontryagin Maximum Principle for infinite horizon optimal control are also discussed.

Desafios ao Ensino da Tradução

This paper aims to examine some challenges to translation training,particularly in the context of the discipline of translation theory, starting withthe belief in its impossibility. Other topics focused are the Italian adage traduttori,traditori, the opposition between theory and practice, the notion that thetranslator should not interfere in his/her work and the sacralization of the original text.

Fadiga em compósitos 5HS carbono/epóxi processados via RTM: relação entre cargas axiais no plano e modos de delaminação

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Dossiê campo de públicas no Brasil: definição, movimento constitutivo e desafios atuais

This article introduces the Public’s Field, which brings together teachers and students of undergraduate courses in Public Administration, Public Management, Public Policy, Public Management and Social Policy in Brazil, around the republican and democratic ethos as values, and multidisciplinary approach as proposed construction of knowledge. Based on a literature review, documental analysis, and especially in participant observation of the authors as actors in the construction Field, the article is per se a dossier. It starts with the definition of the Field and describes - in detail - their constituent movement in the last 12 years, culminating in the approval of the National Curriculum Guidelines of Public Administration in 2013. The text shows the achievement and growth of Field in the country before the growing supply of undergraduate courses, stimulated by upgrading and expansion of the public sector. Finally, we list some challenges, concerning the process of institutionalization and identity.

Campo de públicas no Brasil: definição, movimento constitutivo e desafios atuais

This article introduces the Public’s Field, which brings together teachers and students of undergraduate courses in Public Administration, Public Management, Public Policy, Public Management and Social Policy in Brazil, around the republican and democratic ethos as values, and multidisciplinary approach as proposed construction of knowledge. Based on a literature review, documental analysis, and especially in participant observation of the authors as actors in the construction Field, the article is per se a dossier. It starts with the definition of the Field and describes - in detail - their constituent movement in the last 12 years, culminating in the approval of the National Curriculum Guidelines of Public Administration in 2013. The text shows the achievement and growth of Field in the country before the growing supply of undergraduate courses, stimulated by upgrading and expansion of the public sector. Finally, we list some challenges, concerning the process of institutionalization and identity.

A formação de professores e os desafios do ensino/aprendizagem em períodos de mudanças sociais

The objective of this paper is to present the relationship between higher education with other levels of education. In Brazil, some challenges were launched to fulfill improvement in teaching / learning covering a scientific development with the involvement of several bodies, among them the science and society. Therefore, according to the National Postgraduate-PNPG, the close relationship between science and society requires a scientific-cultural training that should start in higher education, teacher training, and that this knowledge can follow the company, traversing all levels of education prior to higher education. Thus, we analyze the formation of teachers as one of the pillars of our discussion, trying to understand that at different times, men have paid attention to the re/organization of society, to masters/teachers have the knowledge that enabled individuals to convey an apprenticeship favoring the theoretical reflection on practice. So, we have considered some classics, as Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, that dealt on the training of teachers (as) in different periods, expressing concern about the quality of teaching and documents dealing with the situation of education in Brazil

A política nacional de humanização na produção de inflexões no modelo hegemônico de cuidar e gerir no SUS: habitar um paradoxo

Pós-graduação em Psicologia - FCLAS

Saúde Mental e Morte: subsídios para implantação dos Cuidados Paliativos na Atenção Básica

The objective of this work was, from a bibliographical survey, to discuss the relationship between the subjects “Mental Health” and “Death”, in order to analyze possible contributions of the Psychiatric Reformation tied with the sphere of Palliative Cares. The characterization of madness as a social problem is related to the development of the capitalist mode of production. Unable to fulfill the requirements imposed by capital, insane persons are excluded from society and locked in psychiatric hospitals in order to be treated. In the same way, death is incompatible with the capitalist principles of accumulation of goods. Dying people are then transferred to the hospital in order to hide their invalidity, non-production and felt inexistence of wealth. Some principles for care in mental health that could be shared in the palliative cares are: deinstitutionalization; organization of assistance in a network; psychosocial assistance; interdisciplinarity and construction of the autonomy of family members and users. In this sense, some challenges are distinguished, between them, professional training.

Desenvolvimento de células solares de perovskita baseadas em filmes de óxidos nanoestruturados

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

Airport Bird Threat in North America from Large Flocking Birds (geese) (as Viewed by an Engine Manufacturer)--Part 1

In worldwide aviation operations, bird collisions with aircraft and ingestions into engine inlets present safety hazards and financial loss through equipment damage, loss of service and disruption to operations. The problem is encountered by all types of aircraft, both military and commercial. Modern aircraft engines have achieved a high level of reliability while manufacturers and users continually strive to further improve the safety record. A major safety concern today includes common-cause events which involve significant power loss on more than one engine. These are externally-inflicted occurrences, with the most frequent being encounters with flocks of birds. Most frequently these encounters occur during flight operations in the area on or near airports, near the ground instead of at cruise altitude conditions. This paper focuses on the increasing threat to aircraft and engines posed by the recorded growth in geese populations in North America. Service data show that goose strikes are increasing, especially in North America, consistent with the growing resident geese populations estimated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Airport managers, along with the governmental authorities, need to develop a strategy to address this large flocking bird issue. This paper also presents statistics on the overall status of the bird threat for birds of all sizes in North America relative to other geographic regions. Overall, the data shows that Canada and the USA have had marked improvements in controlling the threat from damaging birds - except for the increase in geese strikes. To reduce bird ingestion hazards, more aggressive corrective measures are needed in international air transport to reduce the chances of serious incidents or accidents from bird ingestion encounters. Air transport authorities must continue to take preventative and avoidance actions to counter the threat of birdstrikes to aircraft. The primary objective of this paper is to increase awareness of, and focus attention on, the safety hazards presented by large flocking birds such as geese. In the worst case, multiple engine power loss due to large bird ingestion could result in an off-airport forced landing accident. Hopefully, such awareness will prompt governmental regulatory agencies to address the hazards associated with growing populations of geese in North America.

Desenvolvimento de células solares de perovskita baseadas em filmes de óxidos nanoestruturados

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

Predicting epidemic outbreak from individual features of the spreaders

Knowing which individuals can be more efficient in spreading a pathogen throughout a determinate environment is a fundamental question in disease control. Indeed, over recent years the spread of epidemic diseases and its relationship with the topology of the involved system have been a recurrent topic in complex network theory, taking into account both network models and real-world data. In this paper we explore possible correlations between the heterogeneous spread of an epidemic disease governed by the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model, and several attributes of the originating vertices, considering Erdos-Renyi (ER), Barabasi-Albert (BA) and random geometric graphs (RGG), as well as a real case study, the US air transportation network, which comprises the 500 busiest airports in the US along with inter-connections. Initially, the heterogeneity of the spreading is achieved by considering the RGG networks, in which we analytically derive an expression for the distribution of the spreading rates among the established contacts, by assuming that such rates decay exponentially with the distance that separates the individuals. Such a distribution is also considered for the ER and BA models, where we observe topological effects on the correlations. In the case of the airport network, the spreading rates are empirically defined, assumed to be directly proportional to the seat availability. Among both the theoretical and real networks considered, we observe a high correlation between the total epidemic prevalence and the degree, as well as the strength and the accessibility of the epidemic sources. For attributes such as the betweenness centrality and the k-shell index, however, the correlation depends on the topology considered.

An integrated approach of software development and test processes to distributed teams

The Distributed Software Development (DSD) is a development strategy that meets the globalization needs concerned with the increase productivity and cost reduction. However, the temporal distance, geographical dispersion and the socio-cultural differences, increased some challenges and, especially, added new requirements related with the communication, coordination and control of projects. Among these new demands there is the necessity of a software process that provides adequate support to the distributed software development. This paper presents an integrated approach of software development and test that considers distributed teams peculiarities. The approach purpose is to offer support to DSD, providing a better project visibility, improving the communication between the development and test teams, minimizing the ambiguity and difficulty to understand the artifacts and activities. This integrated approach was conceived based on four pillars: (i) to identify the DSD peculiarities concerned with development and test processes, (ii) to define the necessary elements to compose the integrated approach of development and test to support the distributed teams, (iii) to describe and specify the workflows, artifacts, and roles of the approach, and (iv) to represent appropriately the approach to enable the effective communication and understanding of it.

Ecosystem approach and the Fuzzy logic: a dialectical proposal for information on Environmental Health

The ever-growing production and the problematization of Environmental Health have shown the need to apprehend complex realities and deal with uncertainties from the most diversified instruments which may even incorporate local aspects and subjectivities by means of qualitative realities, while broadening the capacity of the information system. This paper presents a view on the reflection upon some challenges and possible convergences between the ecosystemic approach and the Fuzzy logic in the process of dealing with scientific information and decision-making in Environmental Health.

O ciclo da comunicação científica na semiosfera

Este ensaio apresenta a construção de um objeto de pesquisa com base na teoria da semiótica da cultura. São feitas reflexões sobre os sistemas modelizantes envolvidos no ciclo da comunicação científica em grupo de pesquisa de universidade, desde a busca da informação até a publicação dos resultados dos estudos. As linguagens naturais (idiomas) e artificiais (linguagem de busca em computadores e vocabulários controlados) são identificadas. A partir disso, o objeto se delineia como o conjunto de textos da cultura e a própria semiosfera, representada pelos diálogos dos sujeitos da cultura e o processo de comunicação envolvido. Alguns desafios se apresentam, como: a necessidade de aprofundamento na teoria da semiótica da cultura, a participação do pesquisador também como sujeito da pesquisa e o trabalho com a interdisciplinaridade para estudar um objeto com as vertentes da ciência da informação, biomedicina, semiótica e outras disciplinas a elas relacionadas.