A situation awareness interface for a bi-wheeled industrial hovercraft: design, development and evaluation

The intention of this thesis is to develop a prototype interface that enables an operator to control a bi-wheeled industrial hovercraft that will work within a fusion power plant if the automation system fails. This fusion power plant is part of the ITER project a conjoint effort of various industrialized countries to develop cleaner sources of energy. The development of the interface prototype will be based on situation awareness concepts, which provide a means to understand how human operators perceive the world around, then process that information and make decisions based on the knowledge that they already have and the projected knowledge of the reactions that will occur in the world in response to the actions the operator makes. Two major situation awareness methods will be used, GDTA as a means to discover the requirements the interface needs to solve, and SAGAT to conduct the evaluation on the three interfaces. This technique can isolate the differences an operator has in situation awareness when presented with relevant information given by each of the three interfaces that were built for this thesis. Where the first interface presents the information within the operator’s focal point of view in a pictorial style, the second interface shows the same information within the same point of view has the first interface but only shows it in a textual manner. While the third interface shows the relevant information in the operator’s peripheral field of view. Also SAGAT can provide insight on the question to know if providing the operator with feed-forward information about the stoppage distances of the bi-wheeled industrial hovercraft has any effect on the operator’s decision making.

Assessment of the ergonomic design of diagnostic ultrasound transducers through wrist movements and subjective evaluation

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

Corpo e aprendizagem em Boris Cyrulnik e em Merleau-Ponty

This research seeks to identify views of the body and learning the authors Boris Cyrulnik and Merleau - Ponty, thus tracing reflective for the educational field in several areas, with emphasis on physical education paths . We notice that the above authors present a wide collection of books, needing to develop this theoretical construct a limitation in their works. Therefore , on the theme of the body , were used mainly books The Sixth Sense , Boris Cyrulnik and Phenomenology of Perception , Merleau- Ponty , as both present in their organizational context a specific chapter on this subject . The phenomenological approach is included as path to be taken to devise this study because it is based on daily reflections that the human being perceives through his experiences with his peers and mainstream culture. The phenomenological reduction was carried out from the readings and interpretations of texts, writers and commentators, as well as approaching with life aspects of experience as a police officer and professor of ethics. The interpretation points to the understanding of body and learning that can be propagated within the Physical Education and as a way to understand and learn the constructs lived through sensitivity. The design of the body, feelings and affections of Boris Cyrulnik firm the empathetic bonds between human beings, bringing confidence to explore the world, learning through the new link with the other. This notion is close to the notion of expressive body Merleau Ponty, who holds intentions in their gestures (movements), entwining in time and space. Boris Cyrulnik and Merleau-Ponty expressed as the human being is enigmatic, lying embedded in a social and cultural world, so the experiences to traçarem existential trajetória and learning need in order to enaltercer freedom of expression as a mechanism that can be deployed in the appropriation of concepts and the criticality of the subject facing widespread theories (biological, social, anthropological , etc.) . From the reflections of the research is that recomneda Physical Education , as epistemological working area apprenticeships stemmed body movements should enable reflection on their practice, other do be done, but enabling the creation of different senses and meanings each body attitude

Inserção do Design em Micro e Pequenas Empresas: o caso de duas indústrias moveleiras no Estado do Rio Grande do Norte /

This work aims to promote design aspects into furniture Small and Medium Enterprises (SME s) at Rio Grande do Norte State. The final outcome will be an increasing on their competitiveness as well as consider design as key strategic aspect for their business. As a consequence, the results are based on two SME companies from the furniture sector located at Natal/RN. The study is based on a literature research followed by a management diagnosis for each company. The diagnosis was base don interviews with the entrepreneurs and their employees as well as meetings, participant observations and document analysis. Based on this analysis, specific aspects were implement in order to boost the production line as well as the product development process (PDP) and the development of a prototype. The results have indicated some limitation of these companies regarding their low technological on their production line, poor management and work skills as well as low perception of design as a competitive tool. Regardless these results, it was observed that design has brought an important contribution for cultural changes within companies as well as for the development of better quality and competitive products

Cuidado de si e hermenêutica do sujeito em Michael Foucault

The work, here present, has as its objective to present in a clear and distinct manner the object of study of Michel Foucault in his last years of teaching at the College de France, namely, the care of the self. We present the care of the self in its birth, in its origin, from the character Socrates and its development until the beginning of the Christian age. With a keen eye, we present Foucault with a work of return and rescue of the care of the self to the personal and academic discussions; we propose, from the self care, to the contemporary subject a problematization of their life so that from this questioning he creates for herself ways of life that are coherence, knowledge and care with which he has of must particular, his himself. Passing by the sources that served as the source of study for Foucault to sketch the birth of care of the self, we design the form with which Foucault has dealt with the documents that speak of the care of self. We present Socrates as one who by excellence ensures that the other will give birth to the forms of knowledge and care of the self or, in other words, we present the care of the self socratic-foucauldian as a constant worry of the other to pay attention to ways in which he conducts her life, it creates for themselves ways of being and, therefore, creates ethics of existence. We present, finally, the care of the self as the cause of continuous immanence of modes of subjectivation of the subject that configure themselves in a non-accepting a determined essence, but a continually updated form . The care of the self leads to a single relationship and educator of modes of subjectivation of the subject; he creates, on the dynamics of temporality, ethical ways of living, which are sustained by an internal coherence of the subject with herself; he admits no stationary nature in the training of the subject, always wants a more beautiful work of himself; he is not isolation, he needs and is made with the other. The care of the self is the principle and the telos of battles and conquests of the subject within his temporality and existence

Design of concrete platforms offshore using the three-layer shell theory

The concrete offshore platforms, which are subjected a several loading combinations and, thus, requires an analysis more generic possible, can be designed using the concepts adopted to shell elements, but the resistance must be verify in particular cross-sections to shear forces. This work about design of shell elements will be make using the three-layer shell theory. The elements are subject to combined loading of membrane and plate, totalizing eight components of internal forces, which are three membrane forces, three moments (two out-of-plane bending moments and one in-plane, or torsion, moment) and two shear forces. The design method adopted, utilizing the iterative process proposed by Lourenco & Figueiras (1993) obtained from equations of equilibrium developed by Gupta (1896) , will be compared to results of experimentally tested shell elements found in the literature using the program DIANA.

O Bullying sob o olhar dos educadores: um estudo em escolas da rede privada de Natal/RN

The school bullying involves all aggressive, intentional, repetitive attitudes, occurring without apparent motivation, adopted by one or more students against another (s) causing pain and anguish, and implemented within an unequal relationship of power, making possible the intimidation of the victim. Its expressions involve defamatory rumors, discrimination, theft or damage to property, harassment, threats, beatings, isolation, exclusion of a person or group, intimidation, intolerance and disrespect. In this study, we sought to identify the design educators have about the bullying, and are known by what means are aware of the problem, is involved when identifying cases of bullying and how to give this speech. This study used for data collection a questionnaire applied to 107 educators from 14 private schools in Natal / RN, who received statistical treatment in the program SPSS and the results analyzed in the light outside of a social and historical reference. Among the results, we found that 83% of the interviewed educators has at least heard about bullying, and the information about the problem are mainly the media, like television, newspapers and magazines. The educators said that the surname and physical attacks are more frequent outbreaks of violence among students and also the most common complaints when they look for help. The necessity for intervention when it identifies a case of bullying is present in 97.03% of respondents and 73.27% of educators are also called by students or school officials to remedy the situations of bullying among students. On the forms of intervention employed, the most common is the conversation and warning the students involved. It is suggested that the intensification of studies related to the subject and the development of actions and programs antibullying involving the school community (educators, parents, students, employees), in partnership with social segments like Tutelar Council and others related to the protection of children and adolescent

Less Conservative Control Design for Linear Systems with Polytopic Uncertainties via State-Derivative Feedback

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The effect of implant design on insertion torque and immediate micromotion

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of insertion torque on micromotion to a lateral force in three different implant designs. Material and methods: Thirty-six implants with identical thread design, but different cutting groove design were divided in three groups: (1) non-fluted (no cutting groove, solid screw-form); (2) fluted (901 cut at the apex, tap design); and (3) Blossomt (Patent pending) (non-fluted with engineered trimmed thread design). The implants were screwed into polyurethane foam blocks and the insertion torque was recorded after each turn of 901 by a digital torque gauge. Controlled lateral loads of 10N followed by increments of 5 up to 100N were sequentially applied by a digital force gauge on a titanium abutment. Statistical comparison was performed with two-way mixed model ANOVA that evaluated implant design group, linear effects of turns and displacement loads, and their interaction. Results: While insertion torque increased as a function of number of turns for each design, the slope and final values increased (Po0.001) progressively from the Blossomt to the fluted to the non-fluted design (M +/- standard deviation [SD] = 64.1 +/- 26.8, 139.4 +/- 17.2, and 205.23 +/- 24.3 Ncm, respectively). While a linear relationship between horizontal displacement and lateral force was observed for each design, the slope and maximal displacement increased (Po0.001) progressively from the Blossomt to the fluted to the non-fluted design (M +/- SD 530 +/- 57.7, 585.9 +/- 82.4, and 782.33 +/- 269.4 mm, respectively). There was negligible to moderate levels of association between insertion torque and lateral displacement in the Blossomt, fluted and non-fluted design groups, respectively. Conclusion: Insertion torque was reduced in implant macrodesigns that incorporated cutting edges, and lesser insertion torque was generally associated with decreased micromovement. However, insertion torque and micromotion were unrelated within implant designs, particularly for those designs showing the least insertion torque.

Influence of chronic alcoholism and oestrogen deficiency on the variation of stoichiometry of hydroxyapatite within alveolar bone crest of rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Economic design of (X)over-bar and R charts under Weibull shock models

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

Design and management optimization of trickle irrigation systems using non-linear programming

A non-linear model is presented which optimizes the lay-out, as well as the design and management of trickle irrigation systems, to achieve maximum net benefit. The model consists of an objective function that maximizes profit at the farm level, subject to appropriate geometric and hydraulic constraints. It can be applied to rectangular shaped fields, with uniform or zero slope. The software used is the Gams-Minos package. The basic inputs are the crop-water-production function, the cost function and cost of system components, and design variables. The main outputs are the annual net benefit and pipe diameters and lengths. To illustrate the capability of the model, a sensitivity analysis of the annual net benefit for a citrus field is evaluated with respect to irrigated area, ground slope, micro-sprinkler discharge and shape of the field. The sensitivity analysis suggests that the greatest benefit is obtained with the smallest microsprinkler discharge, the greatest area, a square field and zero ground slope. The costs of the investment and energy are the components of the objective function that had the greatest effect in the 120 situations evaluated. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited

Joint conomic design of (x)over-bar and R charts under Weibull shock models

This paper deals with the joint economic design of (x) over bar and R charts when the occurrence times of assignable causes follow Weibull distributions with increasing failure rates. The variable quality characteristic is assumed to be normally distributed and the process is subject to two independent assignable causes (such as tool wear-out, overheating, or vibration). One cause changes the process mean and the other changes the process variance. However, the occurrence of one kind of assignable cause does not preclude the occurrence of the other. A cost model is developed and a non-uniform sampling interval scheme is adopted. A two-step search procedure is employed to determine the optimum design parameters. Finally, a sensitivity analysis of the model is conducted, and the cost savings associated with the use of non-uniform sampling intervals instead of constant sampling intervals are evaluated.

Adaptive control charts: A Markovian approach for processes subject to independent disturbances

Recent studies have shown that adaptive X control charts are quicker than traditional X charts in detecting small to moderate shifts in a process. In this article, we propose a joint statistical design of adaptive X and R charts having all design parameters varying adaptively. The process is subjected to two independent assignable causes. One cause changes the process mean and the other changes the process variance. However, the occurrence of one kind of assignable cause does not preclude the occurrence of the other. It is assumed that the quality characteristic is normally distributed and the time that the process remains in control has exponential distribution. Performance measures of these adaptive control charts are obtained through a Markov chain approach. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimum design of microirrigation systems in sloping lands

When an area to be irrigated has a high slope gradient in the manifold line direction, an option is to use a tapered pipeline to economize on pipe costs and to keep pressure head variations within desired limits. The objective of this paper is to develop a linear optimization model to design a microirrigation system with tapered, downhill manifold lines, minimizing the equivalent annual cost of the hydraulic network and the annual pumping cost, and maximizing the emission uniformity previously established to the subunit. The input data are irrigation system layout, cost of all hydraulic network components, and electricity price. The output data are equivalent annual cost, pipeline diameter in each line of the system, pressure head in each node, and total operating pressure head. To illustrate its capability, the model is applied in a citrus orchard in Sao, Paulo State, Brazil, considering slopes of 3, 6, and 9%. The model proved to be efficient in the design of the irrigation system in terms of the emission uniformity desired.