Análise estequiométrica da dinâmica não-linear de redes de reações químicas

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Química, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, 2016.

The EU and the Domestic Politics of Welfare State Reforms

Does European integration influence national social policies? What is the use of EU laws, orientations and guidelines? Based on a systematic comparison of ten national cases, including both old and new member states, representing all families of welfare regimes, this volume explores and specifies the mechanisms through which the EU plays a role in domestic social policy changes. It focuses on where, when and how national actors use the tools and resources offered by the process of European integration to support them in the national welfare reforms they are engaged in. The comprehensive research design and the systematic comparisons provide a unique opportunity to fully grasp the mechanisms of domestic welfare state change within the context of the European Union multilevel political system. This book proposes both a new step within the Europeanization and the welfare state literatures. It confirms the idea that Europe matters in a differential way since EU social policy will be selectively used by domestic political actors in accordance with their political preferences. It provides a clear explanation of why no EU-induced social policy change can occur without an overall support offered by key domestic decision-makers. (Résumé éditeur)

Problema del agente viajero selectivo con restricciones adicionales

En esta tesis se introduce una variante del Problema del Agente Viajero Selectivo, también conocido en la literatura como Orienteering Problem (OP). En el OP se tiene un conjunto de clientes potenciales, a cada uno de los cuales se le asocia una puntuación o beneficio que recibe el agente al visitarlo, el objetivo es el de diseñar una ruta que comience y termine en el depósito y que maximice el puntaje colectado, tomando en cuenta que existe un límite máximo en la duración de la ruta. En este trabajo se consideran restricciones de conflictos entre clientes, es decir, si dos de ellos tienen conflicto, no pueden ser incluidos ambos en la ruta; por otra parte, existe un subconjunto de clientes que deben ser visitados de manera obligatoria. Se proponen dos modelos matemáticos del problema, cuya diferencia principal es la manera en que aborda la eliminación de ciclos. El primer modelo usa restricciones de tipo secuencial inspiradas en las propuestas por Miller et al. (1960) y el segundo utiliza restricciones basadas en flujo de múltiples productos y se basan en las restricciones propuestas por Wong (1980) y Claus (1984). Asimismo, se proponen dos algoritmos para la solución del problema planteado, el primero es de tipo heurístico y está basado en un esquema GRASP (Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure) reactivo, cuya fase de mejora es un método tipo VNS (Variable Neighborhood Search) general, el segundo es una estrategia de descomposición basada en generación de columnas. El desempeño de los algoritmos propuestos es evaluado a través de experimentos computacionales sobre un gran conjunto de instancias y los resultados obtenidos son comparados contra las soluciones ´optimas obtenidas al resolver los modelos matemáticos haciendo uso del solver Cplex 12.6.

Habitat selection and phenotypic diversity in the anchovy of the Bay of Biscay

Diversity among individuals in a population is an important feature linking vital rates with behaviour and spatial occupation. We measured the growth increments in the otolith of individual fishes collected on the annual fisheries survey PELGAS from 2001 to 2015. Individuals who grew larger at juvenile stage occupied later in life more off-shore habitats. Further, we analysed the allozymes of 13 different loci from 2001 to 2006. Alleles of the enzyme IDH showed different frequencies in inshore and offshore habitats. The population spatially segregates along a coast to off-shore gradient with individuals showing different early growth and allele frequencies. Results show how individuals in a population segregate spatially in different habitats in relation with phenotypic diversity. This implies modelling the population with individual-based and physiological approaches to fully grasp its dynamics. It also implies developing management strategies to conserve infra-population diversity as a means to garantee the occupation of the full range of habitats.

Action and perception: Neural indices of learning in infants

Early human development offers a unique perspective in investigating the potential cognitive and social implications of action and perception. Specifically, during infancy, action production and action perception undergo foundational developments. One essential component to examine developments in action processing is the analysis of others’ actions as meaningful and goal-directed. Little research, however, has examined the underlying neural systems that may be associated with emerging action and perception abilities, and infants’ learning of goal-directed actions. The current study examines the mu rhythm—a brain oscillation found in the electroencephalogram (EEG)—that has been associated with action and perception. Specifically, the present work investigates whether the mu signal is related to 9-month-olds’ learning of a novel goal-directed means-end task. The findings of this study demonstrate a relation between variations in mu rhythm activity and infants’ ability to learn a novel goal-directed means-end action task (compared to a visual pattern learning task used as a comparison task). Additionally, we examined the relations between standardized assessments of early motor competence, infants’ ability to learn a novel goal-directed task, and mu rhythm activity. We found that: 1a) mu rhythm activity during observation of a grasp uniquely predicted infants’ learning on the cane training task, 1b) mu rhythm activity during observation and execution of a grasp did not uniquely predict infants’ learning on the visual pattern learning task (comparison learning task), 2) infants’ motor competence did not predict infants’ learning on the cane training task, 3) mu rhythm activity during observation and execution was not related to infants’ measure of motor competence, and 4) mu rhythm activity did not predict infants’ learning on the cane task above and beyond infants’ motor competence. The results from this study demonstrate that mu rhythm activity is a sensitive measure to detect individual differences in infants’ action and perception abilities, specifically their learning of a novel goal-directed action.

Wave impedance selection for passivity-based bilateral teleoperation

When a task must be executed in a remote or dangerous environment, teleoperation systems may be employed to extend the influence of the human operator. In the case of manipulation tasks, haptic feedback of the forces experienced by the remote (slave) system is often highly useful in improving an operator's ability to perform effectively. In many of these cases (especially teleoperation over the internet and ground-to-space teleoperation), substantial communication latency exists in the control loop and has the strong tendency to cause instability of the system. The first viable solution to this problem in the literature was based on a scattering/wave transformation from transmission line theory. This wave transformation requires the designer to select a wave impedance parameter appropriate to the teleoperation system. It is widely recognized that a small value of wave impedance is well suited to free motion and a large value is preferable for contact tasks. Beyond this basic observation, however, very little guidance exists in the literature regarding the selection of an appropriate value. Moreover, prior research on impedance selection generally fails to account for the fact that in any realistic contact task there will simultaneously exist contact considerations (perpendicular to the surface of contact) and quasi-free-motion considerations (parallel to the surface of contact). The primary contribution of the present work is to introduce an approximate linearized optimum for the choice of wave impedance and to apply this quasi-optimal choice to the Cartesian reality of such a contact task, in which it cannot be expected that a given joint will be either perfectly normal to or perfectly parallel to the motion constraint. The proposed scheme selects a wave impedance matrix that is appropriate to the conditions encountered by the manipulator. This choice may be implemented as a static wave impedance value or as a time-varying choice updated according to the instantaneous conditions encountered. A Lyapunov-like analysis is presented demonstrating that time variation in wave impedance will not violate the passivity of the system. Experimental trials, both in simulation and on a haptic feedback device, are presented validating the technique. Consideration is also given to the case of an uncertain environment, in which an a priori impedance choice may not be possible.

Visual Insight in Geometry

According to a traditional rationalist proposal, it is possible to attain knowledge of certain necessary truths by means of insight—an epistemic mental act that combines the 'presentational' character of perception with the a priori status usually reserved for discursive reasoning. In this dissertation, I defend the insight proposal in relation to a specific subject matter: elementary Euclidean plane geometry, as set out in Book I of Euclid's Elements. In particular, I argue that visualizations and visual experiences of diagrams allow human subjects to grasp truths of geometry by means of visual insight. In the first two chapters, I provide an initial defense of the geometrical insight proposal, drawing on a novel interpretation of Plato's Meno to motivate the view and to reply to some objections. In the remaining three chapters, I provide an account of the psychological underpinnings of geometrical insight, a task that requires considering the psychology of visual imagery alongside the details of Euclid's geometrical system. One important challenge is to explain how basic features of human visual representations can serve to ground our intuitive grasp of Euclid's postulates and other initial assumptions. A second challenge is to explain how we are able to grasp general theorems by considering diagrams that depict only special cases. I argue that both of these challenges can be met by an account that regards geometrical insight as based in visual experiences involving the combined deployment of two varieties of 'dynamic' visual imagery: one that allows the subject to visually rehearse spatial transformations of a figure's parts, and another that allows the subject to entertain alternative ways of structurally integrating the figure as a whole. It is the interplay between these two forms of dynamic imagery that enables a visual experience of a diagram, suitably animated in visual imagination, to justify belief in the propositions of Euclid’s geometry. The upshot is a novel dynamic imagery account that explains how intuitive knowledge of elementary Euclidean plane geometry can be understood as grounded in visual insight.

Sucesso e insucesso no licenciamento: uma perspectiva integrada.

Doutoramento em Gestão.

Estudio y aplicación de metaheurísticas y comparación con métodos exhaustivos

Cuando nos enfrentamos a problemas reales haciendo uso de recursos computacionales, hemos de tener en cuenta que el número de posibles soluciones candidatas a tener en cuenta puede llegar a ser tan inmenso que abordarlas mediante técnicas algorítmicas clásicas, en la mayoría de los casos, pueden llegar a convertirse en un problema en sí mismo debido al gran coste en recursos que pueden llegar a generar. En este contexto, aspectos como el tiempo utilizado en la búsqueda de una solución mediante algoritmos de búsqueda exhaustiva tales como fuerza bruta, vuelta atrás, ramificación y poda, etc., puede llegar a ser prohibitivo en la práctica. Ante este problema que se nos plantea, podemos hacer un estudio sobre otros métodos, tales como los metaheurísticos, que, aunque no siempre aseguran la optimalidad de las soluciones producidas; tienen un tiempo de ejecución mucho menor que los métodos exhaustivos. En el presente trabajo hemos seleccionado dos problemas NP-completos de entre los más famosos de la literatura y hemos realizado un estudio de ambos. Concretamente, los problemas seleccionados han sido el TSP (Traveling Salesman Problem) y el problema de la Mochila 0-1. Por otro lado, hemos llevado a cabo un estudio sobre distintas metaheurísticas para poder resolver los problemas mencionados. Entre estas metaheurísticas, hemos seleccionado cuatro: metaheurísticas evolutivas, metaheurísticas inspiradas en colonias de hormigas, metaheurísticas simulated annealing (enfriamiento simulado) y metaheurísticas GRASP (Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure). Después de esto, cada problema ha sido resuelto aplicando tanto algoritmos de búsqueda exhaustiva como metaheurísticas. Una vez adaptados los algoritmos a la resolución de los problemas concretos, hemos realizado un estudio experimental, donde se realizaron comparativas de rendimiento. Finalmente, todo este trabajo ha sido plasmado en el desarrollo de una aplicación software, la cual consta de dos partes: una que contiene la implementación los algoritmos adaptados para la resolución de los problemas y que son ofrecidos a modo de servicios web y otra parte donde se ha implementado un cliente web que puede consumir estos servicios y realizar una presentación más vistosa de la ejecución de los algoritmos y los resultados obtenidos. Esta arquitectura podrá servir como base para futuras ampliaciones de este estudio.

A análise de performance e o seu impacto no desempenho de uma equipa de futebol profissional

Atualmente, a preparação e desenvolvimento de uma equipa de futebol deve considerar não só aspetos relacionados com a metodologia do treino, como também da análise de performance, quer da própria equipa quer de equipas adversárias. O estágio desenvolveu-se integrado nas equipas técnicas que orientaram o plantel profissional do Estoril Praia SAD, durante a época 2014/2015. Na área 1, foi exposto o objetivo principal do trabalho apresentado neste relatório, que se prendeu com a necessidade de compreender de que forma é importante a análise da própria equipa e da equipa adversária, e ainda como essas análises são enquadradas e utilizadas no treino e na competição. Após a recolha de informação na literatura, relativa à análise de performance, e relacionada essa informação com a prática do dia-a-dia e ainda com as opiniões recolhidas através de entrevistas realizadas a dois elementos de uma das equipas técnicas, foi possível perceber a importância da análise na preparação e operacionalização das ideias de jogo da equipa técnica, não só durante os momentos competitivos, como em situações de treino. Na área 2 (Projeto de investigação/inovação) foi realizado um estudo que teve como finalidade perceber o impacto que tem a alteração de um treinador no decorrer da época desportiva, tentando relacionar essas decisões com diferentes contextos, percebendo se a alteração tem uma influência positiva ou negativa no rendimento das equipas contempladas no estudo. Posteriormente à sua realização, o estudo foi apresentado nas Jornadas Portuguesas de Psicologia do Desporto. Relativamente à área 3 (Relação com a comunidade), foi realizado um torneio que teve como principal foco, alertar os pais dos atletas para os valores positivos que podem ser promovidos e desenvolvidos através do desporto.

New silk road : trade and investment. perspectives for eu and new partnerships

China has already given a fundamental contribution to the present globalization process and have also highly benefited from it by integrating becoming the final stage of the Global Chains Production networks in Asia. This process in China was the result of a survival economic strategy that saw in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment in intensive low cost workmanship oriented to exports, a fundamental condition to overpass it´s millenary delay. This strategy accepted that the add value that remain in China, although very small was very important to give jobs to millions of Chinese and take them out of the absolute poverty line where they were in 1978 when Deng Xiao Ping launch the 4 Modernizations and the Open Door Policies. Other policies token during the first 30 years of the China Economic Reform, like the Grasp the Big Let Go the Small, the Socialist Market Economy, the Go West and the Go Global were equally important transforming Chinese economy in the second world biggest one. This first globalization stage had its big push in 2001 when China joined the WTO we can say that a new world economic order had begun in that date, placing China in the center of the world.

Comportamento alimentar do camarão de agua doce, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) (Crustacea, Palaemonidae) durante a fase larval: análise qualitativa

Feeding behavior of the larvae's prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii de Man, 1879, in each stage of development was studied face alArtemia Linnaeus, 1758 nauplii, dry and wet diets. Groups of ten larvae in each stage were placed in 500 ml beakers at 29ºC in filtered brackish water. After the fasting period of acclimatization, the three types of food were offered separately to the larvae and the feeding behavior was observed during 30 min. Feeding perception, capture, grasp and ingestion of food were used to determine feeding pattern. Stage I lawac do not eat. The feeding behavior of larvae was similar on the stages II - XI. The perception in distance does not occur in most individuais; the feeding process generally started with the physrcal contact of food with the animal. Food is captured by thoracic appendages (maxillipeds until stage III, and maxillipeds + pereopods in stages IV - XI) and particles are grasped and handled by maxillipeds. Inopposition at the capture, the ingestion is a seletive process. Selective responses decrease in later stages and larvae become omnivorous in greater degree.

Diseño y uso de una paleta háptica para prácticas de teleoperación con simulink

En este artículo se presenta el uso de dispositivos de realimentación de fuerzas de un grado de libertad como herramienta para el desarrollo de aplicaciones docentes en asignaturas de teleoperación y telerrobótica, con el objetivo de disponer de una interfaz física que pueda ser utilizada como equipo de prácticas. Estos dispositivos, conocidos como haptic paddle, ya han sido probados satisfactoriamente para aplicaciones educativas de modelado y simulación de sistemas, ntroducción a los haptics e ingeniería de control en diversas Universidades. Para el desarrollo de los experimentos que se muestran en este artículo se han utilizado dos dispositivos haptic paddle con un controlador basado en Arduino y fabricados mediante tecnologías aditivas de impresión 3D. Gracias a los sensores de fuerza y posición incorporados se pueden implementar esquemas bilaterales de teleoperación de posicón-posición y fuerza-posición.

Poïétique de la création sonore au cinéma : la figure de l’artiste-poïéticien

Nous proposons, dans ce mémoire, d’explorer les possibilités pratiques et pédagogiques d’une approche autopoïétique de la création sonore au cinéma. Notre principal souci sera de saisir les modalités de l’ascèse propre aux artistes qui se livrent à une telle activité, comprise comme un « apprentissage de soi par soi » (Foucault), afin de faire celui qui peut faire l’œuvre (processus de subjectivation), et le rôle descriptif et opératoire de cet exercice - en tant qu’effort pour penser de façon critique son propre savoir-faire -, dans le faire-œuvre et l’invention de possibles dans l’écriture audio-visuelle cinématographique. Pour ce faire, d’une part, nous étudierons, à partir de témoignages autopoïétiques, le rapport réflexif de trois créateurs sonores à leur pratique et leur effort pour penser (et mettre en place) les conditions d’une pratique et d’une esthétique du son filmique comme forme d’art sonore dans un contexte audio-visuel, alors qu’ils travaillent dans un cadre normalisant : Randy Thom, Walter Murch et Franck Warner. D’autre part, nous recourrons à différentes considérations théoriques (la théorie de l’art chez Deleuze et Guattari, la « surécoute » chez Szendy, l’histoire de la poïétique à partir de Valéry, etc.) et pratiques (la recherche musicale chez Schaeffer, la relation maître-apprenti, les rapports entre automatisme et pensée dans le cinéma moderne chez Artaud et Godard, etc.), afin de contextualiser et d’analyser ces expériences de création, avec l’objectif de problématiser la figure de l’artiste-poïéticien sur un plan éthique dans le sillage de la théorie des techniques de soi chez Foucault.

Intimité et sensations dans les films d'animation en volume de Girlin Bassovskaja

Peu satisfaite des concepts généralement mentionnés lorsqu’il s’agit d’écrire sur les films réalisés en stop-motion, je propose d’analyser un corpus de quatre films réalisés par un duo estonien peu connu, les réalisatrices Jelena Girlin et Mari-Liis Bassovskaja, en ancrant mon discours dans une recherche plus large sur l’intimité et la sensorialité en art. J’effleure, par l’entremise d’une revue de littérature, le paradoxe d’animer l’inanimé et l’idée du umheimlich freudien, prégnants dans les écrits substantiels autour du cinéma d’animation en volume. Après avoir démontré que l’œuvre de Girlin Bassovskaja s’incrit dans le domaine de l’intime, j’approfondis l’analyse en m’appuyant sur les théories de la visualité haptique appliquée aux films. Je découvre le corpus à la lumière de ces théories, et évoque l’idée du regard caressant du spectateur vers le film, mais aussi de sa réversibilité. De plus, en tant que réalisatrice-animatrice de court-métrages d’animation, les théories susmentionnées outillent ma pensée afin de décrire ma volonté quasi obsessionnelle de rendre l’intimité tangible par une animation sensuelle en pâte à modeler sur verre.