Evaluation report of the regional workshop on the measurement of poverty in the Caribbean

1. The member and associate member countries of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean/Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (ECLAC/CDCC) have committed to pursuing and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, a common set of goals and targets to bring all people up to minimum acceptable standards of human development by 2015. 2. However, in spite of various capacity-building initiatives, Caribbean countries continued to experience difficulties in addressing additional demands of monitoring and measuring progress created by the Millennium Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals. Therefore, it was necessary to implement activities to ensure the further building/strengthening of institutional capabilities for generating reliable social, economic and environmental statistics among Caribbean States. 3. The ECLAC project entitled “Strengthening the Capacity of National Statistical Offices in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals” sought to build and strengthen institutional capabilities for generating and compiling reliable social, economic and environmental statistics in the Caribbean subregion, through the provision of technical support, as well as the conduct of training workshops for statisticians and policymakers. 4. Within the objectives of that project, ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean convened a regional training workshop on the measurement of poverty in the Caribbean in Port of Spain, to build the capacity of government officials and other relevant stakeholders. 5. The overall objective of the workshop was to develop and strengthen the national technical capacity of public officials in data processing, systematization and dissemination of poverty indicators and measurement in the Caribbean subregion. The workshop further sought to review and discuss the current approaches to poverty measurement and monitoring in an effort to identify methods to ensure that monitoring and reporting of the Millennium Development Goals were conducted according to internationally agreed upon methodologies. Furthermore, the workshop also intended to review different methods of poverty measurements, including the multidimensional methodology for the measurement of poverty. 6. Participants were introduced to different methods of poverty measurements and other aggregation proposals which would enable countries to better measure progress towards Goal 1 on poverty, report on it and apply evidence-based approaches to national policymaking and planning.

Uma metodologia para predição do campo elétrico de radiodifusão sonora em ondas médias utilizando inferências bayesianas

A adoção de sistemas digitais de radiodifusão sonora, que estão em fase de testes no país, permite realizar novos estudos visando um melhor planejamento para a implementação dessas novas emissoras. O que significa reavaliar os principais modelos de radiopropagação existentes ou propor novas alternativas para atender as demandas inerentes dos sistemas digitais. Os modelos atuais, conforme Recomendações ITU-R P. 1546 e ITU-R P. 1812, não condizem fielmente com a realidade de algumas regiões do Brasil, principalmente com as regiões de clima tropical, como a Região Amazônica, seja pelo elevado índice pluviométrico seja pela vasta flora existente. A partir dos modelos adequados ao canal de propagação, torna-se viável desenvolver ferramentas de planejamento de cobertura mais precisas e eficientes. A utilização destas ferramentas é cabível tanto para a ANATEL, para a elaboração dos planos básicos de distribuição de canais quanto para os radiodifusores. No presente trabalho é apresentada uma metodologia utilizando a inteligência computacional, baseada em Inferênciass Baysianas, para predição da intensidade de campo elétrico, a qual pode ser aplicada ao planejamento ou expansão de áreas de cobertura em sistemas de radiodifusão para frequências na faixa de ondas médias (de 300 kHz a 3MHz). Esta metodologia gera valores de campo elétrico estimados a partir dos valores de altitude do terreno (através de análises de tabelas de probabilidade condicional) e estabelece a comparação destes com valores de campo elétrico medidos. Os dados utilizados neste trabalho foram coletados na região central do Brasil, próximo à cidade de Brasília. O sinal transmitido era um sinal de rádio AM transmitido na frequência de 980 kHz. De posse dos dados coletados durante as campanhas de medição, foram realizadas simulações utilizando tabelas de probabilidade condicional geradas por Inferências Bayesianas. Assim, é proposto um método para predizer valores de campo elétrico com base na correlação entre o campo elétrico medido e altitude, através da utilização de inteligência computacional. Se comparados a inúmeros trabalhos existentes na literatura que têm o mesmo objetivo, os resultados encontrados neste trabalho validam o uso da metodologia para determinar o campo elétrico de radiodifusão sonora em ondas médias utilizando Inferências Bayesianas.

Modelagem de eletrorresistividade 2-D a partir do potencial elétrico secundário

Um dos métodos clássicos da geofísica de exploração é o Método de Eletrorresistividade, estabelecido há um século pelos irmãos Schlumberger e desde então amplamente empregado em prospecção mineral, estudos ambientais e hidrogeologia e em pesquisa de fontes geotermais. Conceitualmente o método consiste de injeção de corrente elétrica na subsuperfície e de medida de diferença de potencial elétrico, resultante da interação da corrente com o meio. As localizações dessas fontes e receptores são determinadas pelo arranjo escolhido para o levantamento. Após o processamento, obtém-se pseudo-seções de resistividade aparente que indicam a distribuição de condutividade em subsuperfície. Devido à simplicidade dos fundamentos físicos de sua formulação, o método apresenta fácil implementação computacional quando comparado aos métodos eletromagnéticos de fonte controlada. Na literatura há inúmeros trabalhos de modelagem computacional, onde se calcula a resposta para problemas 2-D e 3-D. Nestes trabalhos, as pseudo-seções são obtidas a partir do cálculo do potencial elétrico total. Neste trabalho, apresentaremos a resposta da modelagem de eletroresistividade 2-D com o arranjo dipolo-dipolo, obtida a partir do potencial elétrico secundário. A solução é calculada através do método de elementos finitos usando malhas não estruturadas. Para efeito de validação, os resultados são comparados com a resposta 2-D obtida a partir dos potencias totais.

Modelagem de perfis de indução no domínio do tempo por diferenças finitas

Apresentamos aqui uma metodologia alternativa para modelagem de ferramentas de indução diretamente no domínio do tempo. Este trabalho consiste na solução da equação de difusão do campo eletromagnético através do método de diferenças finitas. O nosso modelo consiste de um meio estratificado horizontalmente, através do qual simulamos um deslocamento da ferramenta na direção perpendicular às interfaces. A fonte consiste de uma bobina excitada por uma função degrau de corrente e o registro do campo induzido no meio é feito através de uma bobina receptora localizada acima da bobina transmissora. Na solução da equação de difusão determinamos o campo primário e o campo secundário separadamente. O campo primário é obtido analiticamente e o campo secundário é determinado utilizando-se o método de Direção Alternada Implícita, resultando num sistema tri-diagonal que é resolvido através do método recursivo proposto por Claerbout. Finalmente, determina-se o valor máximo do campo elétrico secundário em cada posição da ferramenta ao longo da formação, obtendo-se assim uma perfilagem no domínio do tempo. Os resultados obtidos mostram que este método é bastante eficiente na determinação do contato entre camadas, inclusive para camadas de pequena espessura.

Profile of micronucleus frequencies and nuclear abnormalities in different species of electric fishes (Gymnotiformes) from the Eastern Amazon

The frequency of spontaneous micronucleus (MN) formation in fish species needs to be determined to evaluate their usefulness for genotoxic biomonitoring. The definition of a good bioindicator takes into account the current knowledge of its metabolic traits as well as other factors including its feeding behavior and relationship to the environment. In this study, we compared the basal frequencies of micronucleated erythrocytes and nuclear abnormalities (NA) among different species of the fish Order Gymnotiformes (Rhamphichthys marmoratus, Steatogenys elegans, Sternopygus macrurus, Parapteronotus hasemani, Gymnotus mamiraua, Gymnotus arapaima, Brachyhypopomus beebei, Brachyhypopomus n. sp. BENN) sampled in several localities of the Eastern Amazon. A baseline of MN and NA frequency in these fish was determined, enabling the identification of potentially useful species as models for genotoxicity studies. Only one impacted sample collected at a site in the River Caripetuba showed a significant number of NAs, which may be due to the release of wastewater by neighbouring mining industries and by the burnt fuel released by the small boats used by a local community. Our results may provide support for further studies in areas of the Eastern Amazon affected by mining, deforestation and other anthropogenic activities.

Measurement of Radiant Energy using Pyroelectric Polymer/Ceramic Composite

Monitoring non-ionizing radiant energy is increasingly demanded for many applications such as automobile, biomedical and security system. Thermal type infrared (IR) sensors can operate at room temperature and pyroelectric materials have high sensitivity and accuracy for that application. Working as thermal transducer pyroelectric sensor converts the non-quantified thermal flux into the output measurable quantity of electrical charge, voltage or current. In the present study the composite made of poly(vinylidene fluoride) -PVDF and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) partially recovered with polyaniline (PAni) conductor polymer has been used as sensor element. The pyroelectric coefficient p(T) was obtained by measuring the pyroelectric reversible current, i.e., measuring the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) after removing all irreversible contribution to the current such as injected charge during polarization of the sample. To analyze the sensing property of the pyroelectric material, the sensor is irradiated by a high power light source (halogen lamp of 250 W) that is chopped providing a modulated radiation. A device assembled in the laboratory is used to change the light intensity sensor, an aluminum strip having openings with diameters ranging from 1 to 10 mm incremented by one millimeter. The sensor element is assembled between two electrodes while its frontal surface is painted black ink to maximize the light absorption. The signal from the sensor is measured by a Lock-In amplifier model SR530 -Stanford Research Systems. The behavior of the output voltage for an input power at several frequencies for PZT-PAni/PVDF (30/ 70 vol%) composite follows the inverse power law (1/ f) and the linearity can be observed in the frequency range used.

Measurement of the ratio B(t -> Wb)/B(t -> Wq) in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATIONS FOR THE COMPREHENSION OF PHYSICAL PHENOMENA INVOLVED IN ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY OF MASONRY STRUCTURES

The paper describes the preliminary studies of University of Minho on the use of Electric Impedance/Resistance Tomography to assess masonry structures. The study is focused on the analysis of values of current and voltage resulting from the use of an electrical source with voltage and frequency values from a distribution network. The analysis is made from results obtained through computer simulations, using a three-dimensional model of the idealized masonry structures. A finite element program was used for the simulations. Three types of electrodes were used in simulations, and the analysis of the results led to significant conclusions. Later masonry specimens were built and a series of preliminary tests were carried out in the laboratory. The comparative analysis of simulated and experimental results allowed identifying the factors that have influence on the physical results.

Planejamento e organização das atividades de manutenção em instalações elétricas prediais e seus componentes

Are presented on this paper, concepts of corrective, preventive and predictive maintenances, following the prerequisites for planning and implementation of a maintenance plan. You also find the theoretical introduction of some measurement instruments accompanied by the necessary and recommended activities during routine maintenances of the electrical equipments in a building installation. Using case study, it is possible to assess a real maintenance plan applied to two occupied floors in a financial institution. The developing of a case study consolidates the effectiveness of the present concepts on this theoretical introduction and shows that the current maintenance plan can be improved in order to obtain better results on company productivity and reliability of equipments. As a conclusion, we can notice the importance of a solid maintenance plan and the need of including this theme on the graduation in Electrical Engineering

Renal perfusion evaluation by alternating current biosusceptometry of magnetic nanoparticles

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

Hopping-tunneling model to describe electric charge injection at metal/organic semiconductor heterojunctions

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

An MILP model for the plug-in electric vehicle charging coordination problem in electrical distribution systems

A new mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed to represent the plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) charging coordination problem in electrical distribution systems. The proposed model defines the optimal charging schedule for each division of the considered period of time that minimizes the total energy costs. Moreover, priority charging criteria is taken into account. The steady-state operation of the electrical distribution system, as well as the PEV batteries charging is mathematically represented; furthermore, constraints related to limits of voltage, current and power generation are included. The proposed mathematical model was applied in an electrical distribution system used in the specialized literature and the results show that the model can be used in the solution of the PEVs charging problem.

Disintegration of magnetic tablets in human stomach evaluated by alternate current biosusceptometry

Oral administration is the most convenient route for drug therapy. The knowledge of the gastrointestinal transit and specific site for drug delivery is a prerequisite for development of dosage forms. The aim of this work was to demonstrate that is possible to monitor the disintegration process of film-coated magnetic tablets by multi-sensor alternate current Biosusceptometry (ACB) in vivo and in vitro. This method is based on the recording of signals produced by the magnetic tablet using a seven sensors array and signal-processing techniques. The disintegration was confirmed by signals analysis in healthy human volunteers' measurements and in vitro experiments. Results showed that ACB is efficient to characterize the disintegration of dosage forms in the stomach, being a research tool for the development of new pharmaceutical dosage forms.

A new family of zero-current-switching PWM converters and a novel HPF-ZCS-PWM boost rectifier

A new family of direct current (DC) to DC converters based on a zero current switching pulse width modulated (ZCS-PWM) soft commutation cell is presented. This ZCS-PWM cell is consists of two transistors, two diodes, two inductors and one capacitor; and provides zero voltage turn-on to the diodes, a zero-current turn-on and a zero-current zero-voltage turn-off to the transistors. In addition, a new commutation cell in a new ZCS-PWM boost rectifier is developed, obtaining a structure with power factor near the unity, high efficiency at wide load range and low total harmonic distortion in the input current.

The feasibility of using wind energy for rural populations lacking electric power in Brazil

In the wake of current global image involving environmental impacts, the use of wind power has had a remarkable growth in recent years as a technique for generating electricity. In fact, it is a source featuring strong dissemination of technology which provides decrease in costs and a greater access to low-income electricity. PROINFA (Incentive Program for Alternative Energy Sources) promotes a greater diffusion of new technologies for power generation, in particular wind-produced. Due to such a scenario on the exploitation of such energy source, current analysis discusses strategies for the development of domestic wind technology and the implications for electricity-lacking rural areas. Analysis shows a similar behavior between rural populations lacking electricity and the amount of potential energy available in the region. It is expected that this assay will contribute towards the establishment of public policies for wind-energy parks on rural farms in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil.