The harm principle and the greatest happiness principle: the missing link

In this article I present a possible solution for the classic problem of the apparent incompatibility between Mill's Greatest Happiness Principle and his Principle of Liberty arguing that in the other-regarding sphere the judgments of experience and knowledge accumulated through history have moral and legal force, whilst in the self-regarding sphere the judgments of the experienced people only have prudential value and the reason for this is the idea according to which each of us is a better judge than anyone else to decide what causes us pain and which kind of pleasure we prefer (the so-called epistemological argument). Considering that the Greatest Happiness Principle is nothing but the aggregate of each person's happiness, given the epistemological claim we conclude that, by leaving people free even to cause harm to themselves, we still would be maximizing happiness, so both principles (the Greatest Happiness Principle and the Principle of Liberty) could be compatible.

Analysis and Control of Excitation, Field Weakening and Stability in Direct Torque Controlled Electrically Excited Synchronous Motor Drives

Direct torque control (DTC) is a new control method for rotating field electrical machines. DTC controls directly the motor stator flux linkage with the stator voltage, and no stator current controllers are used. With the DTC method very good torque dynamics can be achieved. Until now, DTC has been applied to asynchronous motor drives. The purpose of this work is to analyse the applicability of DTC to electrically excited synchronous motor drives. Compared with asynchronous motor drives, electrically excited synchronous motor drives require an additional control for the rotor field current. The field current control is called excitation control in this study. The dependence of the static and dynamic performance of DTC synchronous motor drives on the excitation control has been analysed and a straightforward excitation control method has been developed and tested. In the field weakening range the stator flux linkage modulus must be reduced in order to keep the electro motive force of the synchronous motor smaller than the stator voltage and in order to maintain a sufficient voltage reserve. The dynamic performance of the DTC synchronous motor drive depends on the stator flux linkage modulus. Another important factor for the dynamic performance in the field weakening range is the excitation control. The field weakening analysis considers both dependencies. A modified excitation control method, which maximises the dynamic performance in the field weakening range, has been developed. In synchronous motor drives the load angle must be kept in a stabile working area in order to avoid loss of synchronism. The traditional vector control methods allow to adjust the load angle of the synchronous motor directly by the stator current control. In the DTC synchronous motor drive the load angle is not a directly controllable variable, but it is formed freely according to the motor’s electromagnetic state and load. The load angle can be limited indirectly by limiting the torque reference. This method is however parameter sensitive and requires a safety margin between the theoretical torque maximum and the actual torque limit. The DTC modulation principle allows however a direct load angle adjustment without any current control. In this work a direct load angle control method has been developed. The method keeps the drive stabile and allows the maximal utilisation of the drive without a safety margin in the torque limitation.

Boundary identification in the domain of a parabolic partial differential equation

Bakgrunden och inspirationen till föreliggande studie är tidigare forskning i tillämpningar på randidentifiering i metallindustrin. Effektiv randidentifiering möjliggör mindre säkerhetsmarginaler och längre serviceintervall för apparaturen i industriella högtemperaturprocesser, utan ökad risk för materielhaverier. I idealfallet vore en metod för randidentifiering baserad på uppföljning av någon indirekt variabel som kan mätas rutinmässigt eller till en ringa kostnad. En dylik variabel för smältugnar är temperaturen i olika positioner i väggen. Denna kan utnyttjas som insignal till en randidentifieringsmetod för att övervaka ugnens väggtjocklek. Vi ger en bakgrund och motivering till valet av den geometriskt endimensionella dynamiska modellen för randidentifiering, som diskuteras i arbetets senare del, framom en flerdimensionell geometrisk beskrivning. I de aktuella industriella tillämpningarna är dynamiken samt fördelarna med en enkel modellstruktur viktigare än exakt geometrisk beskrivning. Lösningsmetoder för den s.k. sidledes värmeledningsekvationen har många saker gemensamt med randidentifiering. Därför studerar vi egenskaper hos lösningarna till denna ekvation, inverkan av mätfel och något som brukar kallas förorening av mätbrus, regularisering och allmännare följder av icke-välställdheten hos sidledes värmeledningsekvationen. Vi studerar en uppsättning av tre olika metoder för randidentifiering, av vilka de två första är utvecklade från en strikt matematisk och den tredje från en mera tillämpad utgångspunkt. Metoderna har olika egenskaper med specifika fördelar och nackdelar. De rent matematiskt baserade metoderna karakteriseras av god noggrannhet och låg numerisk kostnad, dock till priset av låg flexibilitet i formuleringen av den modellbeskrivande partiella differentialekvationen. Den tredje, mera tillämpade, metoden kännetecknas av en sämre noggrannhet förorsakad av en högre grad av icke-välställdhet hos den mera flexibla modellen. För denna gjordes även en ansats till feluppskattning, som senare kunde observeras överensstämma med praktiska beräkningar med metoden. Studien kan anses vara en god startpunkt och matematisk bas för utveckling av industriella tillämpningar av randidentifiering, speciellt mot hantering av olinjära och diskontinuerliga materialegenskaper och plötsliga förändringar orsakade av “nedfallande” väggmaterial. Med de behandlade metoderna förefaller det möjligt att uppnå en robust, snabb och tillräckligt noggrann metod av begränsad komplexitet för randidentifiering.

Reação de acessos e cultivares de Brachiaria spp. e Panicum maximum à Pratylenchus brachyurus

A utilização de gramíneas forrageiras em sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária tem sido cada vez mais frequente no Brasil. Entretanto, alguns genótipos forrageiros podem hospedar fitonematoides, contribuindo para manter populações elevadas destes organismos no solo. Objetivando-se avaliar a reação de acessos e cultivares de Brachiaria spp. (B. ruziziensis, B. brizantha cvs. BRS Piatã e BRS Paiaguás, B. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi, e os genótipos B4 e HBGC 331) e Panicum maximum (cvs. Tanzânia-1 e Massai e os genótipos PM32, PM36, PM45 e PM46) à Pratylenchus brachyurus, realizou-se este trabalho. Como testemunhas utilizaram-se o milho BRS 2020 (suscetível) e milheto ADR 300 (resistente) à P. brachyurus. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação, na Embrapa Gado de Corte, Campo Grande-MS, em blocos casualizados com sete repetições, de maio a setembro de 2011 e de março a maio de 2012. Utilizaram-se cinco plantas por vaso, que foram inoculadas com 1.000 espécimes de P. brachyurus. Após 90 dias, avaliaram-se as populações de nematoides na raiz e no solo, com a finalidade de obtenção da população final dos nematoides e o fator de reprodução (FR). Determinou-se ainda a reação dos genótipos em relação à porcentagem de redução do FR. Com exceção de B. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi, com FR de 0,98 e 0,44, no primeiro e segundo experimentos, respectivamente, todos os materiais avaliados permitiram a multiplicação do nematoide. Em relação à porcentagem de redução do FR, apenas a B. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi e o milheto ADR 300 foram classificados como moderadamente resistentes, com reduções de, no máximo 90,58% e 94,73%, no primeiro e segundo experimento, respectivamente. Entre os genótipos de forrageiras estudados a maioria mostrou-se suscetível à P. brachyurus, apesar de variação do grau de suscetibilidade entre os mesmos. Dessa forma, em áreas com histórico de presença de P. brachyurus, a B. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi pode ser indicada nos sistemas de integração e/ou em rotação de culturas, como estratégia de manejo para a redução populacional de P. brachyurus.

Avaliação de genótipos de Panicum maximum Jacq. à cárie do sino e à mancha foliar

Cultivares de Panicum maximumvêm apresentando danos elevados com doenças, como a cárie do sino e a mancha foliar, causadas por Tilletia ayresiie Bipolaris maydis,respectivamente. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a reação de genótipos desta gramínea forrageira a essas doenças. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Embrapa Gado de Corte, em Campo Grande (MS), no período de fevereiro a julho de 2012. Avaliaram-se, semanalmente, as intensidades das doenças em 26 genótipos de P. maximum.Dentre os genótipos avaliados, houve variação de graus de resistência para a cárie do sino e para a mancha foliar. As condições ambientais de temperatura e umidade relativa favoráveis à cárie do sino foram 16ºC a 27ºC e 62% a 88% e à mancha foliar 22ºC a 27°C e 62% a 83%. A resistência à cárie do sino mostrou ser caráter herdável e o genótipo PM40 comportou-se como a testemunha suscetível, Tanzânia-1, em relação à mancha foliar. O manejo de P. maximumcom corte de uniformização mostrou-se promissor na composição das estratégias de controle para redução da intensidade da mancha foliar.

Reação à Bipolaris maydis, agente causal da mancha foliar, em híbridos apomíticos de Panicum maximum

A mancha foliar, causada por Bipolaris maydis, é a principal doença de Panicum maximum. A seleção de genótipos resistentes é a melhor estratégia para o controle desta doença. Com o objetivo de identificar fontes de resistência de P. maximum à mancha foliar, 92 híbridos apomíticos, originários de cruzamentos das cultivares Tanzânia-1 e Mombaça, e outros três genótipos sexuais foram testados. Em blocos casualizados, com oito repetições cada, inocularam-se plantas com 30 dias de idade e, após 12 dias, a severidade da doença foi avaliada. Foram verificadas diferenças significativas (P<0,05), de genótipos entre e dentro das progênies, com relação a resistência à mancha foliar. Identificaram-se híbridos com resistência à doença, com destaque para os híbridos MS81, A109, B109, B89 e A4.

The relation between the general maxim of causality and the principle of uniformity in hume's theory of knowledge

ABSTRACT When Hume, in the Treatise on Human Nature, began his examination of the relation of cause and effect, in particular, of the idea of necessary connection which is its essential constituent, he identified two preliminary questions that should guide his research: (1) For what reason we pronounce it necessary that every thing whose existence has a beginning should also have a cause and (2) Why we conclude that such particular causes must necessarily have such particular effects? (1.3.2, 14-15) Hume observes that our belief in these principles can result neither from an intuitive grasp of their truth nor from a reasoning that could establish them by demonstrative means. In particular, with respect to the first, Hume examines and rejects some arguments with which Locke, Hobbes and Clarke tried to demonstrate it, and suggests, by exclusion, that the belief that we place on it can only come from experience. Somewhat surprisingly, however, Hume does not proceed to show how that derivation of experience could be made, but proposes instead to move directly to an examination of the second principle, saying that, "perhaps, be found in the end, that the same answer will serve for both questions" (1.3.3, 9). Hume's answer to the second question is well known, but the first question is never answered in the rest of the Treatise, and it is even doubtful that it could be, which would explain why Hume has simply chosen to remove any mention of it when he recompiled his theses on causation in the Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. Given this situation, an interesting question that naturally arises is to investigate the relations of logical or conceptual implication between these two principles. Hume seems to have thought that an answer to (2) would also be sufficient to provide an answer to (1). Henry Allison, in his turn, argued (in Custom and Reason in Hume, p. 94-97) that the two questions are logically independent. My proposal here is to try to show that there is indeed a logical dependency between them, but the implication is, rather, from (1) to (2). If accepted, this result may be particularly interesting for an interpretation of the scope of the so-called "Kant's reply to Hume" in the Second Analogy of Experience, which is structured as a proof of the a priori character of (1), but whose implications for (2) remain controversial.

Evapotranspiração máxima do capim "Tanzânia" (Panicum maximum J.) em pastejo rotacionado, baseada na evaporação do tanque "Classe A " e no índice de área foliar

Em função do índice de área foliar (IAF) do Capim Tanzânia (Panicum maximum J.) e da lâmina de evaporação do tanque "Classe A" (ECA), foi gerado um modelo multiplicativo para determinar a evapotranspiração máxima (ETm) desse cultivo forrageiro. Foi adotada uma correlação entre a ETm em função da evaporação do tanque "Classe A" e do índice de área foliar (IAF), por meio de uma regressão linear múltipla dos valores logarítmicos, correspondentes a períodos diários durante 11 meses (janeiro a novembro de 2000). Considerando a dificuldade para determinar o IAF e aplicar como variável no modelo proposto, foi desenvolvido outro modelo por meio da correlação entre a ETm e as variáveis ECA e o valor equivalente de IAF, em dias de descanso (NDd), adotando-se como padrão o número de 33 dias como o máximo recomendado de descanso para capim Tanzânia, em condições irrigadas. Para avaliar os modelos, foram utilizados valores de ETm observados a campo durante quatro meses (agosto a novembro-2000) por meio do método de balanço hídrico do solo, monitorado com tensiômetros. Na validação do modelo, foram utilizados testes estatísticos recomendados na literatura, verificando-se bons ajustes entre os valores observados e estimados, recomendando-se a sua utilização para o manejo da irrigação de Capim Tanzânia, no Estado de São Paulo.

Fitorremediação de solo contaminado com o herbicida picloram por plantas de Panicum maximum em função do teor de água

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de lâminas de água no solo sobre a fitorremediação de solo contaminado com o herbicida picloram por plantas de Panicum maximum cv Tanzânia. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, e os tratamentos, em número de 12, foram compostos pela combinação entre quatro níveis diários de reposição da água, através das lâminas de água evaporada (80; 90; 100 e 110% da quantidade de água evaporada) e de três doses do picloram (0; 80 e 160 g ha-1). A quantidade de água evaporada foi determinada por meio de dois evaporímetros. Após a aplicação do herbicida, foi realizada a semeadura da espécie vegetal fitorremediadora. Noventa dias após a emergência, as plantas de capim-tanzânia foram dessecadas, e a parte aérea, descartada. Terminada esta etapa, efetuou-se a semeadura da soja como bioindicadora da presença do picloram, determinando-se fitotoxicidade, altura e massa verde e seca. A soja mostrou-se extremamente sensível à presença do picloram no solo. Constatou-se que os valores extremos de umidade avaliados, 80 e 110% da reposição diária da lâmina de água evaporada, favoreceram a remediação de solos contaminados com o herbicida picloram. A otimização da fitorremediação não é significativa quando se avaliou o resíduo correspondente a 160 g ha-1 do herbicida.

Mathematical analysis of maximum power generated by photovoltaic systems and fitting curves for standard test conditions

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I-100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Analysis of the relationship intensity, duration, frequency of disaggregated daily rainfall in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The intensity, duration, and frequency relationship (IDF) of rainfall occurrence may be done through continuous records of pluviographs or daily pluviometer values . The objective of this study was to estimate the intensity-duration-frequency relationships of precipitation, using the method of daily rainfall disaggregation, at weather stations located to the southern half of the state of Rio Grande do Sul; comparing them with those obtained by rain gauge records, in places considered homogeneous from the meteorological point of view. The IDF equation parameters were estimated from daily rainfall disaggregation data, using the method of nonlinear optimization. To validate the equations confidence indices and efficiency and the "t" Student test, among maximum intensity values obtained from the disaggregated daily rainfall durations of 10; 30; 60 min and 6; 12 and 24 h and those extracted from existing IDF equations. For all studied stations and return periods, the trust index values were regarded as "optimal", i.e., greater than 0.85. The maximal intensity of rainfall obtained by daily rainfall disaggregation have similarity with those obtained by relations IDF standards. Thus, the method constitutes a feasible alternative in obtaining the IDF relationships.

Method adjustment and equation set of maximum rainfall intensity, duration and frequency in the Mato Grosso do Sul State

Due to the lack of information concerning maximum rainfall equations for most locations in Mato Grosso do Sul State, the alternative for carrying out hydraulic work projects has been information from meteorological stations closest to the location in which the project is carried out. Alternative methods, such as 24 hours rain disaggregation method from rainfall data due to greater availability of stations and longer observations can work. Based on this approach, the objective of this study was to estimate maximum rainfall equations for Mato Grosso do Sul State by adjusting the 24 hours rain disaggregation method, depending on data obtained from rain gauge stations from Dourado and Campo Grande. For this purpose, data consisting of 105 rainfall stations were used, which are available in the ANA (Water Resources Management National Agency) database. Based on the results we concluded: the intense rainfall equations obtained by pluviogram analysis showed determination coefficient above 99%; and the performance of 24 hours rain disaggregation method was classified as excellent, based on relative average error WILMOTT concordance index (1982).

Memristive Computing

Memristive computing refers to the utilization of the memristor, the fourth fundamental passive circuit element, in computational tasks. The existence of the memristor was theoretically predicted in 1971 by Leon O. Chua, but experimentally validated only in 2008 by HP Labs. A memristor is essentially a nonvolatile nanoscale programmable resistor — indeed, memory resistor — whose resistance, or memristance to be precise, is changed by applying a voltage across, or current through, the device. Memristive computing is a new area of research, and many of its fundamental questions still remain open. For example, it is yet unclear which applications would benefit the most from the inherent nonlinear dynamics of memristors. In any case, these dynamics should be exploited to allow memristors to perform computation in a natural way instead of attempting to emulate existing technologies such as CMOS logic. Examples of such methods of computation presented in this thesis are memristive stateful logic operations, memristive multiplication based on the translinear principle, and the exploitation of nonlinear dynamics to construct chaotic memristive circuits. This thesis considers memristive computing at various levels of abstraction. The first part of the thesis analyses the physical properties and the current-voltage behaviour of a single device. The middle part presents memristor programming methods, and describes microcircuits for logic and analog operations. The final chapters discuss memristive computing in largescale applications. In particular, cellular neural networks, and associative memory architectures are proposed as applications that significantly benefit from memristive implementation. The work presents several new results on memristor modeling and programming, memristive logic, analog arithmetic operations on memristors, and applications of memristors. The main conclusion of this thesis is that memristive computing will be advantageous in large-scale, highly parallel mixed-mode processing architectures. This can be justified by the following two arguments. First, since processing can be performed directly within memristive memory architectures, the required circuitry, processing time, and possibly also power consumption can be reduced compared to a conventional CMOS implementation. Second, intrachip communication can be naturally implemented by a memristive crossbar structure.

The principle of autonomy in Brazil: one needs to discuss it ...

The principle of patient autonomy is a cornerstone of bioethics. According to this concept, patients should be given the power to make decisions related to their treatment. It is an important component of modern medical ethics, which has received much interest in current literature. However, the rate of participation of patients and their willingness to participate are variable according to the cultural, social and family environments in which they are inserted. The aim of this paper is to promote a brief descriptive review on autonomy, the preferences of patients and the use of informed consent as an instrument for the exercise of autonomy in literature, and to stress the lack of debate, as well as the pressing need for discussion of these current issues nationwide.