Industrial location and sectoral linkages: the case of the Brazilian automotive industry

The aim of this article is to analyse the spatial distribution of the automotive industry in Brazil in terms of its various economic categories between 1995 and 2011, and to shed light on its sectoral linkages through inter-regional input-output matrices. By calculating the coefficient of localization (QLij) for that period, it was found that the third wave of investments, which began in the second half of the 1990s, actually caused a slight spatial deconcentration of this sector in the national economy. The coefficient of geographic association (CAik)calculated for different years revealed a slight reduction, while maintaining a high level of concentration, which suggests that vehicle production is closely integrated with other economic activities. This integration was corroborated particularly in terms of input purchases (backward linkages) in all of the analysed regions.

Localização de falhas em linhas de transmissão utilizando decomposição harmônica e redes neurais artificiais

Este trabalho propõe a utilização de uma nova metodologia para a localização de falhas em linhas de transmissão (LT). Esta metodologia consiste na utilização da decomposição harmônica da corrente de fuga de uma linha e na aplicação de uma Rede Neural Artificial (RNA) capaz de distinguir padrões da condição normal de funcionamento e padrões de situações de falhas de uma LT. Foi utilizado um modelo Pi capaz de absorver dados reais de tensão e corrente de três fases e de alterar valores de R, L e C segundo modificações ambientais. Neste modelo foram geradas falhas em todas as torres com diferentes valores de capacitância. A saída fornecida pelo modelo é a decomposição da corrente de fuga do trecho considerado. Os dados de entrada e saída do modelo foram utilizados no treinamento da RNA desenvolvida. A aquisição de dados reais de tensão e corrente foi feita através de analisadores de parâmetros de qualidade de energia elétrica instalados nas extremidades de um trecho de LT, Guamá-Utinga, pertencente à Centrais Elétricas do Norte do Brasil ELETRONORTE. O cálculo dos parâmetros construtivos foi feito através do método matricial e melhorado através da utilização do Método de Elementos Finitos (MEF). A RNA foi desenvolvida com o auxílio do software Matlab. Para treinamento da RNA foi utilizado o algoritmo de Retropropagação Resiliente que apresentou um bom desempenho. A RNA foi treinada com dois conjuntos de dados de treinamento para analisar possíveis diferenças entre as saídas fornecidas pelos dois grupos. Nos dois casos apresentou resultados satisfatórios, possibilitando a localização de falhas no trecho considerado.

Economia dos produtos florestais não-madeireiros no estado do Amapá: sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento endógeno

O extrativismo vegetal, baseado na exploração sustentável dos produtos florestais não madeireiros é uma das alternativas mais consistentes ecologicamente, no que tange a Conservação da biodiversidade e cobertura natural da Floresta Amazônica. Mas, há problemas sistêmicos que não têm deixado este segmento desenvolver-se de forma satisfatória. O vazamento da economia regional dos produtos extrativistas da Amazônia é uma variável que contribui para o baixo nível de desenvolvimento social e econômico da região. É imperativo que sejam realizadas análises econômicas sobre as possibilidades desse novo modelo A solução provisória para esta área foi estabelecida em 1841, com a definição do espaço entre os rios Oiapoque e Araguari como “Área do Contestado”. Ficou definido então, que a gestão da referida área seria feita de forma compartilhada entre os dois Países. A questão da disputa entre Brasil e França pelas terras do Amapá, só se resolveu definitivamente com a intermediação do presidente suíço Walter Hauser, que em 1o de dezembro de 1900, através do protocolo conhecido como “Laudo Suíço”, concedeu a referida área ao Brasil. de desenvolvimento, apoiado nas bases de um capitalismo contemporâneo, que tem procurado aprimorar os mecanismos econômicos de inclusão social de variáveis ambientais como elementos endógenos do sistema produtivo na Amazônia. O Amapá é o estado brasileiro mais preservado (97% de sua cobertura florestal original) e possui 72% do território como áreas protegidas. Este trabalho pretende identificar o nível de contribuição que os produtos não-madeireiros, extraídos nas florestas por populações tradicionais têm na economia do Amapá. Como método central de análise, foi utilizado o modelo de matriz insumo-produto desenvolvido por Wassily Leontief. Este procedimento analítico tem relevante destaque como instrumento prático de análise e planejamento econômico. Além das análises de programação do crescimento econômico setorial, é adequado para estimar, mediante os efeitos multiplicadores, os impactos do crescimento econômico na produção trabalho e renda setorial de toda a economia. O objeto central do trabalho são as análises estruturais dos arranjos produtivos locais dos produtos florestais não-madeireiros do estado do Amapá, em níveis regional e local. O método desenvolvido pelo Francisco de Assis Costa (Contas Sociais Ascendentes Alfa - CS_) foi usado na construção das matrízes, tendo como base os procedimentos analíticos ascendentes de agregação progressiva dos dados locais O setor extrativista dos produtos florestais não -madeireiros do estado do Amapá, com um PIB de R$ 204 milhões no ano de 2009 tem uma participação pequena, com somente 3,07% das riquezas produzidas no estado. Todavia, quando é observado que 86,77% do valor total do PIB (6,65 bilhões de reais) é decorrente de atividades do Setor Terciário e que todo o Setor Produtivo (Primário e Secundário), tem participação de apenas 13,24%, conclui-se que o valor da produção dos produtos florestais não-madeireiros é bem significativo no estado do Amapá.

Extended Daily Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury Patients: Metabolic and Fluid Control and Risk Factors for Death

Intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) and continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) are used as Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) therapy and have certain advantages and disadvantages. Extended daily dialysis (EDD) has emerged as an alternative to CRRT in the management of hemodynamically unstable AKI patients, mainly in developed countries.Objectives: We hypothesized that EDD is a safe option for AKI treatment and aimed to describe metabolic and fluid control of AKI patients undergoing EDD and identify complications and risk factors associated with death.Study Selection: This is an observational and retrospective study describing introduction of EDD at our institution. A total of 231 hemodynamically unstable AKI patients (noradrenalin dose between 0.3 and 1.0 ucg/kg/min) were assigned to 1367 EDD session. EDD consisted of 6-8 h of HD 6 days a week, with blood flow of 200 ml/min, dialysate flows of 300 ml/min.Data Synthesis: Mean age was 60.6 +/- 15.8 years, 97.4% of patients were in the intensive care unit, and sepsis was the main etiology of AKI (76.2). BUN and creatinine levels stabilized after four sessions at around 38 and 2.4 mg/dl, respectively. Fluid balance decreased progressively and stabilized around zero after five sessions. Weekly delivered Kt/V was 5.94 +/- 0.7. Hypotension and filter clotting occurred in 47.5 and 12.4% of treatment session, respectively. Regarding AKI outcome, 22.5% of patients presented renal function recovery, 5.6% of patients remained on dialysis after 30 days, and 71.9% of patients died. Age and focus abdominal sepsis were identified as risk factors for death. Urine output and negative fluid balance were identified as protective factors.Conclusions: EDD is effective for AKI patients, allowing adequate metabolic and fluid control. Age, focus abdominal sepsis, and lower urine output as well as positive fluid balance after two EDD sessions were associated significantly with death.

Thermodynamic analysis and comparison of downdraft gasifiers integrated with gas turbine, spark and compression ignition engines for distributed power generation

The objective of the present article is to assess and compare the performance of electricity generation systems integrated with downdraft biomass gasifiers for distributed power generation. A model for estimating the electric power generation of internal combustion engines and gas turbines powered by syngas was developed. First, the model determines the syngas composition and the lower heating value; and second, these data are used to evaluate power generation in Otto, Diesel, and Brayton cycles. Four synthesis gas compositions were tested for gasification with: air; pure oxygen; 60% oxygen with 40% steam; and 60% air with 40% steam. The results show a maximum power ratio of 0.567 kWh/Nm(3) for the gas turbine system, 0.647 kWh/Nm(3) for the compression ignition engine, and 0.775 kWh/Nm(3) for the spark-ignition engine while running on synthesis gas which was produced using pure oxygen as gasification agent. When these three systems run on synthesis gas produced using atmospheric air as gasification agent, the maximum power ratios were 0.274 kWh/Nm(3) for the gas turbine system, 0.302 kWh/Nm(3) for CIE, and 0.282 kWh/Nm(3) for SIE. The relationship between power output and synthesis gas flow variations is presented as is the dependence of efficiency on compression ratios. Since the maximum attainable power ratio of CIE is higher than that of SIE for gasification with air, more research should be performed on utilization of synthesis gas in CIE. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimação do número de internações por doenças respiratórias utilizando lógica fuzzy tipo-2 intervalar

In this work was developed a fuzzy computational model type-2 predictive interval, using the software of the type-2 fuzzy MATLAB toolbox, the final idea is to estimate the number of hospitalizations of patients with respiratory diseases. The interest in the creation of this model is to assist in decision makeshift hospital environment, where there are no medical or professional equipment available to provide the care that the population need. It began working with the study of fuzzy logic, the fuzzy inference system and fuzzy toolbox. Through a real database provided by the Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS) and Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Básico (CETESB), was possible to start the model. The analyzed database is composed of the number of patients admitted with respiratory diseases a day for the public hospital in São José dos Campos, during the year 2009 and by factors such as PM10, SO2, wind and humidity. These factors were analyzed as input variables and, through these, is possible to get the number of admissions a day, which is the output variable of the model. For data analysis we used the fuzzy control method type-2 Mamdani. In the following steps the performance developed in this work was compared with the performance of the same model using fuzzy logic type-1. Finally, the validity of the models was estimated by the ROC curve

Load-application devices: a comparative strain gauge analysis

In view of the low loading values commonly employed in dentistry, a load-application device (LAD) was developed as option to the universal testing machine (UTM), using strain gauge analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a load-application device (LAD) and compare the LAD with the UTM apparatus under axial and non-axial loads. An external hexagonal implant was inserted into a polyurethane block and one EsthetiCone abutment was connected to the implant. A plastic prosthetic cylinder was screwed onto the abutment and a conical pattern crown was fabricated using acrylic resin. An impression was made and ten identical standard acrylic resin patterns were obtained from the crown impression, which were cast in nickel-chromium alloy (n=10). Four strain gauges were bonded diametrically around the implant. The specimens were subjected to central (C) and lateral (L) axial loads of 30 kgf, on both devices: G1: LAD/C; G2: LAD/L; G3: UTM/C; G4: UTM/L. The data (με) were statistically analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the UTM and LAD devices, regardless of the type of load. It was concluded that the LAD is a reliable alternative, which induces microstrains to implants similar to those obtained with the UTM.

Re-used progesterone devices efficiently synchronise oestrus and ovulation after autoclaving process in Toggenburg goats during the breeding season

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Simulação sequencial na interpolação dos dados de entrada ou saída do modelo de lixiviação do software Araquá

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Irrigação e Drenagem) - FCA

Uso de Redes Neurais ARTMAP Nebulosas para a classificação de padrões em sinais ECoG relacionados ao movimento dos dedos

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Organic coffee under perspective of energy efficiency

The energy analysis development in this study contributes to the understanding of the dynamics of the organic coffee productive system, in particular to assess the independence of this system with respect to the use of industrialized input products. Thus, it provides information about the sustainability of that production system. Technical itineraries used in this study consist of energy expenditure made with coffee cultivation, according to the type, source and form of energy inputs, agricultural machines, equipment and labor force used in that production system. The energy expenditure, converted into energy units, quantified the input energy. And the organic coffee production, measured in kilograms of processed coffee beans, was the output energy. Primary data used in this study were obtained from organic coffee producers in the Southern region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in 2011. Energy balance identified was positive, since the estimated output energy was 626.465 MJ/ha and the energy expenditure was 112.998 MJ/ha, during the useful life of the crop.

Eficiência econômica no sistema de café orgânico: estudo de caso dos cooperados da COOPFAM

Aimed at satisfying a market niche, organic coffee production is a competitiveness-oriented system because it has less input costs and higher income. This study estimates the system’s economic efficiency, using production costs end gross income as economic input and output. This model was designed from original survey data, reported by a sample of producers in different stages of production, which enabled the development of average technical coefficients. Results show that annual gross income exceeds operating costs by 21%, pointing therefore to an economically efficient system.

Validating NCAR-CCSM last glacial maximum sea surface temperature in the tropical and South Atlantic with proxy-data

Last Glacial Maximum simulated sea surface temperature from the Paleo-Climate version of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Coupled Climate Model (NCAR-CCSM) are compared with available reconstructions and data-based products in the tropical and south Atlantic region. Model results are compared to data proxies based on the Multiproxy Approach for the Reconstruction of the Glacial Ocean surface product (MARGO). Results show that the model sea surface temperature is not consistent with the proxy-data in all of the region of interest. Discrepancies are found in the eastern, equatorial and in the high-latitude South Atlantic. The model overestimates the cooling in the southern South Atlantic (near 50 degrees S) shown by the proxy-data. Near the equator, model and proxies are in better agreement. In the eastern part of the equatorial basin the model underestimates the cooling shown by all proxies. A northward shift in the position of the subtropical convergence zone in the simulation suggests a compression or/and an equatorward shift of the subtropical gyre at the surface, consistent with what is observed in the proxy reconstruction. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Tokamak TCABR: Acquisition system, data analysis, and remote participation using MDSplus

Each plasma physics laboratory has a proprietary scheme to control and data acquisition system. Usually, it is different from one laboratory to another. It means that each laboratory has its own way to control the experiment and retrieving data from the database. Fusion research relies to a great extent on international collaboration and this private system makes it difficult to follow the work remotely. The TCABR data analysis and acquisition system has been upgraded to support a joint research programme using remote participation technologies. The choice of MDSplus (Model Driven System plus) is proved by the fact that it is widely utilized, and the scientists from different institutions may use the same system in different experiments in different tokamaks without the need to know how each system treats its acquisition system and data analysis. Another important point is the fact that the MDSplus has a library system that allows communication between different types of language (JAVA, Fortran, C, C++, Python) and programs such as MATLAB, IDL, OCTAVE. In the case of tokamak TCABR interfaces (object of this paper) between the system already in use and MDSplus were developed, instead of using the MDSplus at all stages, from the control, and data acquisition to the data analysis. This was done in the way to preserve a complex system already in operation and otherwise it would take a long time to migrate. This implementation also allows add new components using the MDSplus fully at all stages. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biventricular structural and functional responses to aortic constriction in a rabbit model of chronic right ventricular pressure overload

Objectives: Chronic right ventricular (RV) pressure overload results in pathologic RV hypertrophy and diminished RV function. Although aortic constriction has been shown to improve systolic function in acute RV failure, its effect on RV responses to chronic pressure overload is unknown. Methods: Adjustable vascular banding devices were placed on the main pulmonary artery and descending aorta. In 5 animals (sham group), neither band was inflated. In 9 animals (PAB group), only the pulmonary arterial band was inflated, with adjustments on a weekly basis to generate systemic or suprasystemic RV pressure at 28 days. In 9 animals, both pulmonary arterial and aortic devices were inflated (PAB+AO group), the pulmonary arterial band as for the PAB group and the aortic band adjusted to increase proximal systolic blood pressure by approximately 20 mm Hg. Effects on the functional performance were assessed 5 weeks after surgery by conductance catheters, followed by histologic and molecular assessment. Results: Contractile performance was significantly improved in the PAB+AO group versus the PAB group for both ventricles. Relative to sham-operated animals, both banding groups showed significant differences in myocardial histologic and molecular responses. Relative to the PAB group, the PAB+AO group showed significantly decreased RV cardiomyocyte diameter, decreased RV collagen content, and reduced RV expression of endothelin receptor type B, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and transforming growth factor beta genes. Conclusions: Aortic constriction in an experimental model of chronic RV pressure overload not only resulted in improved biventricular systolic function but also improved myocardial remodeling. These data suggest that chronically increased left ventricular afterload leads to a more physiologically hypertrophic response in the pressure-overloaded RV. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012;144:1494-501)