Transformaciones territoriales en áreas de riesgo de inundación. El caso del Arroyo El Gato. Partido de La Plata. Período 1980-2004

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar el estudio de los cambios territoriales a partir de la evolución en los usos de suelo, la estructura morfológica urbana y aspectos socio-económicos de la población en uno de los asentamientos poblacionales situados en las márgenes del Arroyo El Gato. El mismo se llevará a cabo a partir de la implementación de la teledetección, análisis de datos estadísticos y encuestas. El estudio de las transformaciones territoriales nos ayudará a abordar en una primera aproximación las dimensiones de peligrosidad y exposición enmarcadas en la teoría social del riesgo. Este análisis servirá como insumo para la determinación de áreas de riesgo de inundación que se está desarrollando dentro del proyecto "Inundaciones en la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Factores naturales y antrópicos desde la Teoría Social del Riesgo. Cuenca Parano-Platense. 1980-2000".

Migration and Wellbeing at the Lower Echelons of the Economy: A Study of Delhi Slums

This paper based on a primary survey of households (2004-05) in the slum clusters of Delhi examines whether migrants are likely to experience upward mobility in their place of destination or alternatively, if they merely transfer their poverty from rural areas to large cities. First, a simple bifurcation of population in terms of poor and non-poor sub-groups is examined along with the incidence of poverty across different categories of occupations and non-workers. Then, an explanation of the variations in per capita expenditure across households is provided, and a binomial logit model (poor/non-poor) is developed identifying the variables which raise (or reduce) the probability of being non-poor (or poor). Next, an estimate of the wellbeing (deprivation) index is derived from factor analysis of a large number of variables including demographic and economic aspects of households. Empirical findings suggest that while duration of migration and the wellbeing index do not have a definite relationship, migrant households who have been in the city for a very long time have a higher wellbeing index on average than those who migrated in the last ten years. This tends to support the view that migrants do not merely transfer rural poverty to urban areas, and further that population mobility yields improvement in the living standard, if only in the very long term. Implementation of "employment-cum-shelter" support schemes in the urban areas may contribute to their wellbeing.

Viabilidad técnica para la explotación y separación isotópica de Li y prospectiva en el mercado de baterías de ION-7Li y de 6Li como material base de diseño en reactores de fusión nuclear

En claro alineamiento con estrategias de sostenibilidad en el uso de recursos naturales en un escenario constante de aumento de la demanda energética mundial, el desarrollo de la tecnología energética en la Historia de la Especie Humana muestra un vector de evolución permanente desde su origen en el sentido del desarrollo y uso de nuevas fuentes energéticas con la explotación de recursos naturales de manera más eficiente: soluciones energéticas con aumento de la densidad energética (exoenergía de proceso por unidad de masa de recurso natural). Así el cambio de escala en la demanda de explotación del Litio como recurso natural se viene presentando en la última década ligada al desarrollo del mercado de las baterías "ion-Litio" y los requisitos de combustible (Deuterio y Litio) en el camino de la fusión nuclear como opción energética próxima. El análisis anticipado de las demandas sinérgicas a escala de ambos mercados aparece de enorme interés prospectivo en sus aspectos técnicos: (1) tecnologías de base para la extracción mineral y de agua marina y (2) su enriquecimiento isotópico (de interés sinérgico; 7Li para baterías eficientes ion-litio; 6Li como regenerador de tritio en ciclo de combustible en fusión nuclear) a la vez que en sus aspectos económicos. Este Proyecto realiza: (1) un ejercicio de análisis prospectivo de la demanda y de mercado para el enriquecimiento 6Li/7Li para las próximas décadas, (2) se califican los desarrollos tecnológicos específicos que van a poder permitir la producción a escala conforme a la demanda; (3) se selecciona y califica una técnica [de centrifugación / termo-difusión/ destilación combinada] como opción tecnológicamente viable para la producción a escala de formas litiadas; (4) se propone un diseño conceptual de planta de producción y finalmente (5) propone un estudio de viabilidad para la demostración de proceso y construcción de dicha planta de demostración de la nueva capacidad tecnológica. ABSTRACT Clearly aligned with sustainability strategies under growing world energy demand in the use of natural resources the development of energy technology in the history of the human species shows a vector of ongoing evolution from its origin in the sense of the development and use of new energy sources with the exploitation of natural resources in a more efficient manner. The change of scale in the demand for exploitation of Lithium as a natural resource appears during the last decade as bound to the deployment of "lithium-ion" batteries market and to the Nuclear Fusion fuels (deuterium and lithium) supply scaled demands. The prospective analysis of demands to scale in both markets appears in scene with huge prospective interest in its technical aspects: (1) base technologies for mineral and water marine extraction (2) its isotopic enrichment (synergistic interests; 7Li efficient battery Li-ion; 6Li as fusion nuclear fuel breeder (tritium) as well as in its economic aspects. This Project: (1) propose a prospective analysis exercise of the synergistic supply demand for coming decades for the enrichment of 6Li and 7Li, (2) qualifies specific technological developments ongoing to respond to supply demand; (3) select and qualifies an appropriate technique [combined centrifugation/thermo-diffusion/distillation] as technologically viable option for lithiated forms scaled-production; (4) proposes a conceptual design of production plant based on the technique and finally (5) proposes a feasibility study for the process demonstration and construction of this new technological capability Demonstration Plant.

Naturaleza, ética, y arquitectura: Autenticidad y criterios éticos que integran el desarrollo de una arquitectura más sostenible = Nature, ethics and architecture: Authenticity and ethics criteria that integrate the development of a more sustainable architecture

La ecología no solamente ha puesto de manifiesto problemas ambientales, sino que ha confirmado la necesidad de una nueva armonía entre los propios seres humanos y de éstos con la naturaleza y con todos los seres que la habitan. Es necesario un nuevo contrato que determine nuestras relaciones con la Naturaleza (Serrs1), y una nueva Ética para nuestras vidas (Guattari2). La ética medioambiental nos ha dado una visión universal y supra-generacional de la gestión de la naturaleza y como consecuencia, una nueva forma de construir nuestra ‘segunda’ Naturaleza, que es la arquitectura. ¿Qué es lo esencial que esta nueva ética exige para la arquitectura? Este es un momento crucial para reconsiderar los objetivos de la arquitectura, porque lo ‘eco’ está produciendo grandes cambios. ¿Implica esta era post-ecológica una particular ética, es decir, referida a sus fines y medios? ¿Porqué, para qué, para quién, cómo debemos hacer la arquitectura de nuestro tiempo? Es momento de afrontar críticamente el discurso de la eco-arquitectura, e incluso de repensar los propios límites de la arquitectura. El desarrollo actual del conocimiento medioambiental es esencialmente técnico y utilitario, pero ¿es el reto solamente técnico?¿Es suficiente la suma de lo medioambiental-social-económico-cultural para definirla? ¿Hay claves que nos puedan dar la dimensión ética de esta aproximación técnica-empírica? ¿Sabemos lo que estamos haciendo cuando aplicamos este conocimiento? Y, sobre todo, ¿cuál es el sentido de lo que estamos haciendo? La tesis que se propone puede resumirse: De acuerdo con el actual conocimiento que tenemos de la Naturaleza, la Arquitectura de nuestro tiempo deber reconsiderar sus fines y medios, puesto que la ética medioambiental está definiendo nuevos objetivos. Para fundamentar y profundizar en esta afirmación la tesis analiza cómo son hoy día las relaciones entre Ética-Naturaleza-Arquitectura (Fig.1), lo que facilitará las claves de cuáles son los criterios éticos (en cuanto a fines y medios) que deben definir la arquitectura del tiempo de la ecología. ABSTRACT Ecology shows us not only environmental problems; it shows that we need a new balance and harmony between individuals, beings, communities and Nature. We need a new contract with Nature according to Serres576, and a new Ethics for our lives according to Guattari577. Environmental ethics have given us a universal and supra-generational vision of the management of our Nature and, as a consequence, a new way to construct our ‘second’ nature, which is architecture. What is essential for this new architecture that the new ethics demand? This is a critical moment to reconsider the object of architecture, because the ‘eco’ is making significant changes in it. Are there any specifically ethical concerns (ends and means) in the post-ecological era? Why, for what, for whom, how should we make architecture in our times? This is the time to approach the eco-architectural discourse critically and to question the current boundaries of architecture itself: Where is eco-architecture going? The current development of environmental knowledge is essentially technical and utilitarian, but it is its technical aspect the only challenge? Is the sum of environmental-social-economic aspects enough to define it? Are there any clues which can give an ethical sense to this technical-empirical approach? Do we know what we are doing when we apply this knowledge? And overall, what is the meaning of what we are doing? Exploring this subject, this thesis makes a statement: In accordance with the actual knowledge of Nature, Architecture of our time must reconsider its ends and means, since the environmental ethics is defining new objectives. To support that, the thesis analyzes what the relationships between Ethics –Nature- Architecture (Fig. 53) are like nowadays, this will provide the clues of which ethical criteria (ends and means) must architecture of an ecological era define.

Co-simulation Methodologies for Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Dynamics

In recent decades, full electric and hybrid electric vehicles have emerged as an alternative to conventional cars due to a range of factors, including environmental and economic aspects. These vehicles are the result of considerable efforts to seek ways of reducing the use of fossil fuel for vehicle propulsion. Sophisticated technologies such as hybrid and electric powertrains require careful study and optimization. Mathematical models play a key role at this point. Currently, many advanced mathematical analysis tools, as well as computer applications have been built for vehicle simulation purposes. Given the great interest of hybrid and electric powertrains, along with the increasing importance of reliable computer-based models, the author decided to integrate both aspects in the research purpose of this work. Furthermore, this is one of the first final degree projects held at the ETSII (Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineers) that covers the study of hybrid and electric propulsion systems. The present project is based on MBS3D 2.0, a specialized software for the dynamic simulation of multibody systems developed at the UPM Institute of Automobile Research (INSIA). Automobiles are a clear example of complex multibody systems, which are present in nearly every field of engineering. The work presented here benefits from the availability of MBS3D software. This program has proven to be a very efficient tool, with a highly developed underlying mathematical formulation. On this basis, the focus of this project is the extension of MBS3D features in order to be able to perform dynamic simulations of hybrid and electric vehicle models. This requires the joint simulation of the mechanical model of the vehicle, together with the model of the hybrid or electric powertrain. These sub-models belong to completely different physical domains. In fact the powertrain consists of energy storage systems, electrical machines and power electronics, connected to purely mechanical components (wheels, suspension, transmission, clutch…). The challenge today is to create a global vehicle model that is valid for computer simulation. Therefore, the main goal of this project is to apply co-simulation methodologies to a comprehensive model of an electric vehicle, where sub-models from different areas of engineering are coupled. The created electric vehicle (EV) model consists of a separately excited DC electric motor, a Li-ion battery pack, a DC/DC chopper converter and a multibody vehicle model. Co-simulation techniques allow car designers to simulate complex vehicle architectures and behaviors, which are usually difficult to implement in a real environment due to safety and/or economic reasons. In addition, multi-domain computational models help to detect the effects of different driving patterns and parameters and improve the models in a fast and effective way. Automotive designers can greatly benefit from a multidisciplinary approach of new hybrid and electric vehicles. In this case, the global electric vehicle model includes an electrical subsystem and a mechanical subsystem. The electrical subsystem consists of three basic components: electric motor, battery pack and power converter. A modular representation is used for building the dynamic model of the vehicle drivetrain. This means that every component of the drivetrain (submodule) is modeled separately and has its own general dynamic model, with clearly defined inputs and outputs. Then, all the particular submodules are assembled according to the drivetrain configuration and, in this way, the power flow across the components is completely determined. Dynamic models of electrical components are often based on equivalent circuits, where Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws are applied to draw the algebraic and differential equations. Here, Randles circuit is used for dynamic modeling of the battery and the electric motor is modeled through the analysis of the equivalent circuit of a separately excited DC motor, where the power converter is included. The mechanical subsystem is defined by MBS3D equations. These equations consider the position, velocity and acceleration of all the bodies comprising the vehicle multibody system. MBS3D 2.0 is entirely written in MATLAB and the structure of the program has been thoroughly studied and understood by the author. MBS3D software is adapted according to the requirements of the applied co-simulation method. Some of the core functions are modified, such as integrator and graphics, and several auxiliary functions are added in order to compute the mathematical model of the electrical components. By coupling and co-simulating both subsystems, it is possible to evaluate the dynamic interaction among all the components of the drivetrain. ‘Tight-coupling’ method is used to cosimulate the sub-models. This approach integrates all subsystems simultaneously and the results of the integration are exchanged by function-call. This means that the integration is done jointly for the mechanical and the electrical subsystem, under a single integrator and then, the speed of integration is determined by the slower subsystem. Simulations are then used to show the performance of the developed EV model. However, this project focuses more on the validation of the computational and mathematical tool for electric and hybrid vehicle simulation. For this purpose, a detailed study and comparison of different integrators within the MATLAB environment is done. Consequently, the main efforts are directed towards the implementation of co-simulation techniques in MBS3D software. In this regard, it is not intended to create an extremely precise EV model in terms of real vehicle performance, although an acceptable level of accuracy is achieved. The gap between the EV model and the real system is filled, in a way, by introducing the gas and brake pedals input, which reflects the actual driver behavior. This input is included directly in the differential equations of the model, and determines the amount of current provided to the electric motor. For a separately excited DC motor, the rotor current is proportional to the traction torque delivered to the car wheels. Therefore, as it occurs in the case of real vehicle models, the propulsion torque in the mathematical model is controlled through acceleration and brake pedal commands. The designed transmission system also includes a reduction gear that adapts the torque coming for the motor drive and transfers it. The main contribution of this project is, therefore, the implementation of a new calculation path for the wheel torques, based on performance characteristics and outputs of the electric powertrain model. Originally, the wheel traction and braking torques were input to MBS3D through a vector directly computed by the user in a MATLAB script. Now, they are calculated as a function of the motor current which, in turn, depends on the current provided by the battery pack across the DC/DC chopper converter. The motor and battery currents and voltages are the solutions of the electrical ODE (Ordinary Differential Equation) system coupled to the multibody system. Simultaneously, the outputs of MBS3D model are the position, velocity and acceleration of the vehicle at all times. The motor shaft speed is computed from the output vehicle speed considering the wheel radius, the gear reduction ratio and the transmission efficiency. This motor shaft speed, somehow available from MBS3D model, is then introduced in the differential equations corresponding to the electrical subsystem. In this way, MBS3D and the electrical powertrain model are interconnected and both subsystems exchange values resulting as expected with tight-coupling approach.When programming mathematical models of complex systems, code optimization is a key step in the process. A way to improve the overall performance of the integration, making use of C/C++ as an alternative programming language, is described and implemented. Although this entails a higher computational burden, it leads to important advantages regarding cosimulation speed and stability. In order to do this, it is necessary to integrate MATLAB with another integrated development environment (IDE), where C/C++ code can be generated and executed. In this project, C/C++ files are programmed in Microsoft Visual Studio and the interface between both IDEs is created by building C/C++ MEX file functions. These programs contain functions or subroutines that can be dynamically linked and executed from MATLAB. This process achieves reductions in simulation time up to two orders of magnitude. The tests performed with different integrators, also reveal the stiff character of the differential equations corresponding to the electrical subsystem, and allow the improvement of the cosimulation process. When varying the parameters of the integration and/or the initial conditions of the problem, the solutions of the system of equations show better dynamic response and stability, depending on the integrator used. Several integrators, with variable and non-variable step-size, and for stiff and non-stiff problems are applied to the coupled ODE system. Then, the results are analyzed, compared and discussed. From all the above, the project can be divided into four main parts: 1. Creation of the equation-based electric vehicle model; 2. Programming, simulation and adjustment of the electric vehicle model; 3. Application of co-simulation methodologies to MBS3D and the electric powertrain subsystem; and 4. Code optimization and study of different integrators. Additionally, in order to deeply understand the context of the project, the first chapters include an introduction to basic vehicle dynamics, current classification of hybrid and electric vehicles and an explanation of the involved technologies such as brake energy regeneration, electric and non-electric propulsion systems for EVs and HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) and their control strategies. Later, the problem of dynamic modeling of hybrid and electric vehicles is discussed. The integrated development environment and the simulation tool are also briefly described. The core chapters include an explanation of the major co-simulation methodologies and how they have been programmed and applied to the electric powertrain model together with the multibody system dynamic model. Finally, the last chapters summarize the main results and conclusions of the project and propose further research topics. In conclusion, co-simulation methodologies are applicable within the integrated development environments MATLAB and Visual Studio, and the simulation tool MBS3D 2.0, where equation-based models of multidisciplinary subsystems, consisting of mechanical and electrical components, are coupled and integrated in a very efficient way.

Las Redes de Petri Interpretadas en el Diagnóstico de Fallos de Sistemas Híbridos. Aplicación a un Helicóptero no Tripulado

La seguridad y fiabilidad de los procesos industriales son la principal preocupación de los ingenieros encargados de las plantas industriales. Por lo tanto, desde un punto de vista económico, el objetivo principal es reducir el costo del mantenimiento, el tiempo de inactividad y las pérdidas causadas por los fallos. Por otra parte, la seguridad de los operadores, que afecta a los aspectos sociales y económicos, es el factor más relevante a considerar en cualquier sistema Debido a esto, el diagnóstico de fallos se ha convertido en un foco importante de interés para los investigadores de todo el mundo e ingenieros en la industria. Los principales trabajos enfocados en detección de fallos se basan en modelos de los procesos. Existen diferentes técnicas para el modelado de procesos industriales tales como máquinas de estado, árboles de decisión y Redes de Petri (RdP). Por lo tanto, esta tesis se centra en el modelado de procesos utilizando redes de petri interpretadas. Redes de Petri es una herramienta usada en el modelado gráfico y matemático con la habilidad para describir información de los sistemas de una manera concurrente, paralela, asincrona, distribuida y no determinística o estocástica. RdP son también una herramienta de comunicación visual gráfica útil como lo son las cartas de flujo o diagramas de bloques. Adicionalmente, las marcas de las RdP simulan la dinámica y concurrencia de los sistemas. Finalmente, ellas tienen la capacidad de definir ecuaciones de estado específicas, ecuaciones algebraicas y otros modelos que representan el comportamiento común de los sistemas. Entre los diferentes tipos de redes de petri (Interpretadas, Coloreadas, etc.), este trabajo de investigación trata con redes de petri interpretadas principalmente debido a características tales como sincronización, lugares temporizados, aparte de su capacidad para procesamiento de datos. Esta investigación comienza con el proceso para diseñar y construir el modelo y diagnosticador para detectar fallos definitivos, posteriormente, la dinámica temporal fue adicionada para detectar fallos intermitentes. Dos procesos industriales, concretamente un HVAC (Calefacción, Ventilación y Aire Acondicionado) y un Proceso de Envasado de Líquidos fueron usados como banco de pruebas para implementar la herramienta de diagnóstico de fallos (FD) creada. Finalmente, su capacidad de diagnóstico fue ampliada en orden a detectar fallos en sistemas híbridos. Finalmente, un pequeño helicóptero no tripulado fue elegido como ejemplo de sistema donde la seguridad es un desafío, y las técnicas de detección de fallos desarrolladas en esta tesis llevan a ser una herramienta valorada, desde que los accidentes de las aeronaves no tripuladas (UAVs) envuelven un alto costo económico y son la principal razón para introducir restricciones de volar sobre áreas pobladas. Así, este trabajo introduce un proceso sistemático para construir un Diagnosticador de Fallos del sistema mencionado basado en RdR Esta novedosa herramienta es capaz de detectar fallos definitivos e intermitentes. El trabajo realizado es discutido desde un punto de vista teórico y práctico. El procedimiento comienza con la división del sistema en subsistemas para seguido integrar en una RdP diagnosticadora global que es capaz de monitorear el sistema completo y mostrar las variables críticas al operador en orden a determinar la salud del UAV, para de esta manera prevenir accidentes. Un Sistema de Adquisición de Datos (DAQ) ha sido también diseñado para recoger datos durante los vuelos y alimentar la RdP diagnosticadora. Vuelos reales realizados bajo condiciones normales y de fallo han sido requeridos para llevar a cabo la configuración del diagnosticador y verificar su comportamiento. Vale la pena señalar que un alto riesgo fue asumido en la generación de fallos durante los vuelos, a pesar de eso esto permitió recoger datos básicos para desarrollar el diagnóstico de fallos, técnicas de aislamiento, protocolos de mantenimiento, modelos de comportamiento, etc. Finalmente, un resumen de la validación de resultados obtenidos durante las pruebas de vuelo es también incluido. Un extensivo uso de esta herramienta mejorará los protocolos de mantenimiento para UAVs (especialmente helicópteros) y permite establecer recomendaciones en regulaciones. El uso del diagnosticador usando redes de petri es considerado un novedoso enfoque. ABSTRACT Safety and reliability of industrial processes are the main concern of the engineers in charge of industrial plants. Thus, from an economic point of view, the main goal is to reduce the maintenance downtime cost and the losses caused by failures. Moreover, the safety of the operators, which affects to social and economic aspects, is the most relevant factor to consider in any system. Due to this, fault diagnosis has become a relevant focus of interest for worldwide researchers and engineers in the industry. The main works focused on failure detection are based on models of the processes. There are different techniques for modelling industrial processes such as state machines, decision trees and Petri Nets (PN). Thus, this Thesis is focused on modelling processes by using Interpreted Petri Nets. Petri Nets is a tool used in the graphic and mathematical modelling with ability to describe information of the systems in a concurrent, parallel, asynchronous, distributed and not deterministic or stochastic manner. PNs are also useful graphical visual communication tools as flow chart or block diagram. Additionally, the marks of the PN simulate the dynamics and concurrence of the systems. Finally, they are able to define specific state equations, algebraic equations and other models that represent the common behaviour of systems. Among the different types of PN (Interpreted, Coloured, etc.), this research work deals with the interpreted Petri Nets mainly due to features such as synchronization capabilities, timed places, apart from their capability for processing data. This Research begins with the process for designing and building the model and diagnoser to detect permanent faults, subsequently, the temporal dynamic was added for detecting intermittent faults. Two industrial processes, namely HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition) and Liquids Packaging Process were used as testbed for implementing the Fault Diagnosis (FD) tool created. Finally, its diagnostic capability was enhanced in order to detect faults in hybrid systems. Finally, a small unmanned helicopter was chosen as example of system where safety is a challenge and fault detection techniques developed in this Thesis turn out to be a valuable tool since UAVs accidents involve high economic cost and are the main reason for setting restrictions to fly over populated areas. Thus, this work introduces a systematic process for building a Fault Diagnoser of the mentioned system based on Petri Nets. This novel tool is able to detect both intermittent and permanent faults. The work carried out is discussed from theoretical and practical point of view. The procedure begins with a division of the system into subsystems for further integration into a global PN diagnoser that is able to monitor the whole system and show critical variables to the operator in order to determine the UAV health, preventing accidents in this manner. A Data Acquisition System (DAQ) has been also designed for collecting data during the flights and feed PN Diagnoser. Real flights carried out under nominal and failure conditions have been required to perform the diagnoser setup and verify its performance. It is worth noting that a high risk was assumed in the generation of faults during the flights, nevertheless this allowed collecting basic data so as to develop fault diagnosis, isolations techniques, maintenance protocols, behaviour models, etc. Finally, a summary of the validation results obtained during real flight tests is also included. An extensive use of this tool will improve preventive maintenance protocols for UAVs (especially helicopters) and allow establishing recommendations in regulations. The use of the diagnoser by using Petri Nets is considered as novel approach.

Capacidade funcional e saúde bucal relacionada à qualidade de vida de idosos

É de extrema importância estudar a relação entre capacidade funcional e saúde bucal relacionado à qualidade vida, para auxiliar nos fatores intervenientes tanto no cuidado odontológico como em outras áreas de atenção à saúde do idoso, além de adequar planos de tratamento as reais necessidades de cada indivíduo, proporcionando melhor qualidade de vida. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a capacidade funcional e saúde bucal relacionada à qualidade de vida do idoso. Foram incluídos na pesquisa idosos acima de 65 anos que residem em área de cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família de Bauru. Foram investigadas, através de entrevistas, as variáveis capacidade funcional (Índice de Katz), saúde bucal relacionada à qualidade de vida (OHIP-14), condições socioeconômicas e comorbidades. Foram excluídos da pesquisa idosos que apresentavam alterações de compreensão e expressão da comunicação, Para a realização da análise estatística foi utilizado o Teste de Pearson ao nível de significância de 0,05 e a Regressão Linear Multivariada, ao nível de significância de p 0,01. Participaram da pesquisa 238 idosos com 65 anos ou mais, sendo que 56,3% tinham entre 65 e 74 anos e 43,7% tinham 75 anos ou mais, a média geral de idade foi 74,5 anos. Quanto ao sexo, 55,5% eram mulheres, houve predominância da raça branca (65,1%). Quanto a variável capacidade funcional, 8,8% apresentaram incapacidade funcional intermediária ou severa. Sobre os aspectos socioeconômicos, 61,3% dos idosos apresentaram renda mensal de até dois salários mínimos, 88,2% eram aposentados ou pensionistas, 68,9% tinham algum grau de escolaridade e 57,1% eram casados ou mantinham uma união estável. Quanto a saúde bucal relacionada à qualidade de vida, 20,6% dos entrevistados se sentiram desconfortáveis para mastigar alguns tipos de alimentos. A hipertensão arterial foi a comorbidade mais relatada pelos entrevistados (75,6%). As dimensões dificuldade para mastigar (0,21; p<0,05) e necessidade de parar as refeições (0,21; p<0,05) do instrumento OHIP-14 apresentaram correlação estatisticamente significante com o Índice de Katz. Através da análise multivariada, foi observado que quanto maior a incapacidade menos o idoso se preocupa com a saúde bucal. A alimentação é um aspecto importante da vida diária de qualquer pessoa, especialmente o idoso que apresenta doenças crônicas em maior quantidade e severidade conforme o envelhecimento acontece. Além disso, a incapacidade apresentou tendência de aumento com a idade, no entanto a literatura não permite concluir que o envelhecimento em si seja causa da incapacidade funcional. A maior limitação do estudo se relaciona ao próprio desenho epidemiológico, pois o estudo transversal não permite inferências de causalidade, no entanto a amplitude do grupo etário nesta pesquisa permite observar tendências sobre a capacidade funcional e a saúde bucal relacionada à qualidade de vida em idosos. A incapacidade funcional aumentou com a idade e apresentou tendência de maior impacto negativo na saúde bucal relacionada a qualidade de vida dificultando a realização de refeições.

Real time optimization in chemical process: evaluation of strategies, improvements and industrial application.

The increasing economic competition drives the industry to implement tools that improve their processes efficiencies. The process automation is one of these tools, and the Real Time Optimization (RTO) is an automation methodology that considers economic aspects to update the process control in accordance with market prices and disturbances. Basically, RTO uses a steady-state phenomenological model to predict the process behavior, and then, optimizes an economic objective function subject to this model. Although largely implemented in industry, there is not a general agreement about the benefits of implementing RTO due to some limitations discussed in the present work: structural plant/model mismatch, identifiability issues and low frequency of set points update. Some alternative RTO approaches have been proposed in literature to handle the problem of structural plant/model mismatch. However, there is not a sensible comparison evaluating the scope and limitations of these RTO approaches under different aspects. For this reason, the classical two-step method is compared to more recently derivative-based methods (Modifier Adaptation, Integrated System Optimization and Parameter estimation, and Sufficient Conditions of Feasibility and Optimality) using a Monte Carlo methodology. The results of this comparison show that the classical RTO method is consistent, providing a model flexible enough to represent the process topology, a parameter estimation method appropriate to handle measurement noise characteristics and a method to improve the sample information quality. At each iteration, the RTO methodology updates some key parameter of the model, where it is possible to observe identifiability issues caused by lack of measurements and measurement noise, resulting in bad prediction ability. Therefore, four different parameter estimation approaches (Rotational Discrimination, Automatic Selection and Parameter estimation, Reparametrization via Differential Geometry and classical nonlinear Least Square) are evaluated with respect to their prediction accuracy, robustness and speed. The results show that the Rotational Discrimination method is the most suitable to be implemented in a RTO framework, since it requires less a priori information, it is simple to be implemented and avoid the overfitting caused by the Least Square method. The third RTO drawback discussed in the present thesis is the low frequency of set points update, this problem increases the period in which the process operates at suboptimum conditions. An alternative to handle this problem is proposed in this thesis, by integrating the classic RTO and Self-Optimizing control (SOC) using a new Model Predictive Control strategy. The new approach demonstrates that it is possible to reduce the problem of low frequency of set points updates, improving the economic performance. Finally, the practical aspects of the RTO implementation are carried out in an industrial case study, a Vapor Recompression Distillation (VRD) process located in Paulínea refinery from Petrobras. The conclusions of this study suggest that the model parameters are successfully estimated by the Rotational Discrimination method; the RTO is able to improve the process profit in about 3%, equivalent to 2 million dollars per year; and the integration of SOC and RTO may be an interesting control alternative for the VRD process.

Particle Swarm Optimization Based Reactive Power Dispatch for Power Networks with Distributed Generation

Reactive power is critical to the operation of the power networks on both safety aspects and economic aspects. Unreasonable distribution of the reactive power would severely affect the power quality of the power networks and increases the transmission loss. Currently, the most economical and practical approach to minimizing the real power loss remains using reactive power dispatch method. Reactive power dispatch problem is nonlinear and has both equality constraints and inequality constraints. In this thesis, PSO algorithm and MATPOWER 5.1 toolbox are applied to solve the reactive power dispatch problem. PSO is a global optimization technique that is equipped with excellent searching capability. The biggest advantage of PSO is that the efficiency of PSO is less sensitive to the complexity of the objective function. MATPOWER 5.1 is an open source MATLAB toolbox focusing on solving the power flow problems. The benefit of MATPOWER is that its code can be easily used and modified. The proposed method in this thesis minimizes the real power loss in a practical power system and determines the optimal placement of a new installed DG. IEEE 14 bus system is used to evaluate the performance. Test results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

La migración residencial de noreuropeos en España

El proceso de unificación europea ha facilitado la aparición de nuevos flujos migratorios entre los distintos Estados. Uno muy significativo lo forman los noreuropeos (británicos y alemanes, principalmente) que se trasladan a los países mediterráneos. En este artículo se analizan los problemas que enfrentan los inmigrantes residenciales noreuropeos en el sur de España a la hora de establecer vínculos con la sociedad española. Con este fin, se lleva a cabo un estudio en el municipio de San Miguel de Salinas, ubicado en el sudeste del país. La perspectiva metodológica articula la investigación cuantitativa con la cualitativa. Los hallazgos obtenidos muestran cómo la barrera idiomática esconde en realidad un entramado de relaciones entre aspectos socioespaciales, políticos y económicos. Se configura así un sistema que dificulta el establecimiento de interacciones entre los residentes españoles y los noreuropeos, generando además procesos de fragmentación social.

Business problems of the war

Diversity, fertilize, motorize, specialize.--The truth about the price of meat.--Lest women realize.--Our diminishing herds.--Why the banker should help to increase livestock production.--Food shortage: an appeal to physicians.--Stabilizing business.--Enthusiam.--Thoroughness.

A comparison of prices during the civil war and present war

Price section. Division of planning and statistics. War industries board. November,1918.

Kitāb al-Itḥāf bi-bayān aḥkām ijārat al-awqāf / li-Khātimat al-Fuqahāʼ al-Muḥaqqiqīn Mawlānā al-ʻAllāmah Aḥmad Shihāb al-Dīn Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī al-Makkī : manuscript, 1876

According to the colophon, (f. 63r), copy completed on 14 Ṣafar 1293 AH [March 10, 1876 AD].

Análise do regime de produção distribuída fotovoltaica para autoconsumo

Tese de mestrado integrado em Engenharia da Energia e do Ambiente, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2016