Composição faunística, ecologia e história natural de serpentes em uma região no sudoeste da Amazônia, Rondônia, Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo comparativo da taxocenose de anuros de quatro municípios do Lagamar Paulista

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

Direct laser writing by two-photon polymerization as a tool for developing microenvironments for evaluation of bacterial growth

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

Entre a individualização e a multiplicidade: possibilidades de rupturas com os modos de gestão e administração dos corpos infantis

Placing the management of childhood forms considered at risk, we discuss the operation of a welfare institution and its effects on the subjective process. Created to manage the virtues of the poor behavior of children, makes visible to the way technology features disciplinary policies: surveillance is evident of cameras, high walls, electric fences and in the eyes of educators, the penalty stands normalizing practices corrective aimed at standardization bodies, educational meetings are compared to the examination, as they produce dossiers of individual behavior, emphasizing characteristics that are considered dangerous anticipates the administration and production of docile individuals, useful, productive, applying identity models. Following the lines of knowledge and power relations that constitute this space, we used the genealogy in the analysis of discursive practices that cross society in its historical construction, the genealogy allows us to achieve these movements in the consolidation process of the government of life, and also, the deconstruction of hegemonic practices. In an attempt to escape the set, we propose the realization of artistic and cultural activities within a process of collective construction as a strategy of resistance and confrontation with the dominant logic, consolidating practices that favor the enhancement of life in its manifold possibilities.

Deer Guards and Bump Gates for Excluding White-Tailed Deer From Fenced Resources

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) causing damage is a reoccurring theme in the realm of wildlife damage management, especially regarding human safety, disease transmission, and agricultural losses. Fences often are the only reliable long-term nonlethal means of controlling deer damage. The efficacy of fences, however, relies on their weakest link: human-operated gates. Although not overly time-consuming, the act of closing a gate appears to be a burden to individuals, resulting in open-access to an otherwise protected resource. We examined the efficacy of 2 alternatives to traditional gates to evaluate their potential to be used for excluding or containing deer. We evaluated a commercially available kit for mechanically opening and closing gates and a modified deer guard that resembles a common cattle guard but incorporates bearing-mounted rollers as cross members. The gate kit proved effective in restricting deer access to bait throughout the study, but, in supplemental evaluations, we observed excessive rates of functional failure. Deer guards reduced deer entry into exclosures, but efficacy declined with time as deer walked and jumped across guards. With some refining, both guards and gates have potential to be useful components of an integrated biosecurity strategy.

Use of Confined Dogs for Reducing Deer Damage to Apple Orchards

We assessed the efficacy of free-ranging dogs, confined by buried fences and electronic collars, for reducing deer damage to apple trees in three commercial apple orchards in Oswego County, New York State. During 1995 and 1996, we monitored paired dog-protected and control plots in each orchard. Within dog-protected areas, the percentage of damaged buds was lower, and fruit yield was higher in both 1995 and 1996 than for control plots. Gross economic returns were higher from dog-protected than control plots in both 1995 (by 51%) and 1996 (by 184%). After two seasons of growth, trees planted in May 1995 had nearly three times the cross-sectional area, and were 60% taller if they were in dog-protected rather than control plots. Dogs provided increased economic returns for growers at much lower cost than conventional barrier fencing.

Use of Natural Vegetative Barriers to Limit Expansion of Blacktailed Prairie Dog Towns

Prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) control has historically consisted of lethal methods to maintain, reduce, or eliminate populations in South Dakota and throughout the species range. Non-lethal methods of control are desired to meet changing management objectives for the black-tailed prairie dog. The use of naturally occurring buffer strips as vegetative barriers may be effective in limiting prairie dog town expansion. The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate effective width of vegetative barriers in limiting prairie dog towns expansion in western South Dakota; and 2) to document effect native vegetation height on expansion of prairie dog towns in western South Dakota. Five study sites were established in western South Dakota on rangelands containing prairie dog towns of adequate size. Electric fences were constructed for the purpose of excluding cattle and creating buffer strips of native grasses and shrubs. Prairie dogs were poisoned to create a prairie dog free buffer zone adjacent to active prairie dog towns. Grazing was allowed on both sides of the buffer strip. When grazing pressure was not sufficient, mowing was used to simulate grazing. Buffer strips were 100 meters long and 10, 25, and 40 meters in width. A zero meter control was included on all study sites. Quadrats (25) were randomly distributed throughout the buffer strips. Evaluation of study sites included visual obstruction, vegetation cover, vegetation frequency, vegetation height, and vegetation identification. Barrier penetration was evaluated by the presence of new active burrows behind vegetative barriers. Significant relationships were documented for both VOR and vegetation height. No significant difference was found between frequency of breakthroughs and buffer widths.

Analisi e valutazione delle performance acustiche degli aeromobili nella fase di atterraggio

Nella tesi si analizzano le principali fonti del rumore aeronautico, lo stato dell'arte dal punto di vista normativo, tecnologico e procedurale. Si analizza lo stato dell'arte anche riguardo alla classificazione degli aeromobili, proponendo un nuovo indice prestazionale in alternativa a quello indicato dalla metodologia di certificazione (AC36-ICAO) Allo scopo di diminuire l'impatto acustico degli aeromobili in fase di atterraggio, si analizzano col programma INM i benefici di procedure CDA a 3° rispetto alle procedure tradizionali e, di seguito di procedure CDA ad angoli maggiori in termini di riduzione di lunghezza e di area delle isofoniche SEL85, SEL80 e SEL75.

Associating optical measurements and estimating orbits of geocentric objects through population-based meta-heuristic methods

Currently several thousands of objects are being tracked in the MEO and GEO regions through optical means. The problem faced in this framework is that of Multiple Target Tracking (MTT). In this context both, the correct associations among the observations and the orbits of the objects have to be determined. The complexity of the MTT problem is defined by its dimension S. The number S corresponds to the number of fences involved in the problem. Each fence consists of a set of observations where each observation belongs to a different object. The S ≥ 3 MTT problem is an NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem. There are two general ways to solve this. One way is to seek the optimum solution, this can be achieved by applying a branch-and- bound algorithm. When using these algorithms the problem has to be greatly simplified to keep the computational cost at a reasonable level. Another option is to approximate the solution by using meta-heuristic methods. These methods aim to efficiently explore the different possible combinations so that a reasonable result can be obtained with a reasonable computational effort. To this end several population-based meta-heuristic methods are implemented and tested on simulated optical measurements. With the advent of improved sensors and a heightened interest in the problem of space debris, it is expected that the number of tracked objects will grow by an order of magnitude in the near future. This research aims to provide a method that can treat the correlation and orbit determination problems simultaneously, and is able to efficiently process large data sets with minimal manual intervention.

A study of the time complexity of an Elitist Genetic Algorithm used for associating optical observations of MEO and GEO Space Debris

Currently several thousands of objects are being tracked in the MEO and GEO regions through optical means. The problem faced in this framework is that of Multiple Target Tracking (MTT). In this context both the correct associations among the observations, and the orbits of the objects have to be determined. The complexity of the MTT problem is defined by its dimension S. Where S stands for the number of ’fences’ used in the problem, each fence consists of a set of observations that all originate from dierent targets. For a dimension of S ˃ the MTT problem becomes NP-hard. As of now no algorithm exists that can solve an NP-hard problem in an optimal manner within a reasonable (polynomial) computation time. However, there are algorithms that can approximate the solution with a realistic computational e ort. To this end an Elitist Genetic Algorithm is implemented to approximately solve the S ˃ MTT problem in an e cient manner. Its complexity is studied and it is found that an approximate solution can be obtained in a polynomial time. With the advent of improved sensors and a heightened interest in the problem of space debris, it is expected that the number of tracked objects will grow by an order of magnitude in the near future. This research aims to provide a method that can treat the correlation and orbit determination problems simultaneously, and is able to e ciently process large data sets with minimal manual intervention.

Adverse aerodynamics effects of a high speed train under the influence of cross winds, analysis and optimization of wind fence

The research work that here is summarized, it is classed on the area of dynamics and measures of railway safety, specifically in the study of the influence of the cross wind on the high-speed trains as well as the study of new mitigation measures like wind breaking structures or wind fences, with optimized shapes. The work has been developed in the Research Center in Rail Technology (CITEF), and supported by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain.

Aerodinámica experimental de elementos de parques energéticos

La creciente demanda de energía eléctrica y la necesidad de implementar energías no contaminantes hace que las llamadas tecnologías verdes sean cada día más solicitadas. Entre estas tecnologías encontramos la energía solar y la energía eólica; ambas tienen una trayectoria de uso e investigación bastante amplia, sin embargo aún presentan problemas de fondo que impiden dar mayor impulso a su uso. El objetivo de la presente tesis es presentar soluciones a problemas de optimización en campos conversores de energía. Para ello se analizan y resuelven dos problemas por medio de técnicas de aerodinámica experimental: el primero sobre campos de colectores solares y el segundo sobre campos eólicos. Las técnicas de medición utilizadas en aerodinámica, y en el presente trabajo, son: medición de cargas, anemometría de hilo caliente, velocimetría por imagen de partículas y escaneo de presiones; además de un análisis estadístico de los datos. En el primer caso se ensayan experimentalmente colectores solares parabólicos en donde, por cuestiones de seguridad o por protección contra el viento, se utilizan cercas. Éstas modifican el comportamiento del flujo corriente abajo y se ha encontrado que la distancia a la cual se colocan, así como el tipo de cercas (sólida o permeable), modifican las cargas estructurales a las que los colectores están expuestos. Los resultados demuestran que existe una distancia crítica en la cual la presencia de la cerca aumenta la carga en lugar de disminuirla, por lo cual la selección adecuada del parapeto y la distancia a la cual se coloca son de suma importancia para la optimización de la estructura. En el segundo caso se ensaya experimentalmente y simula numéricamente la estela de turbinas eólicas por medio de discos porosos. En donde un disco permeable simula el rotor de una turbina. El disco es capaz de semejar la estela y los efectos que ésta puede causar corriente abajo. Los resultados muestran que seleccionando adecuadamente la porosidad, es posible simular coeficientes de empuje similares a los desarrollados por los aerogeneradores, además la estela y sus efectos son semejantes a los medidos en campo. ABSTRACT The called green energy technologies are increasingly required because of the growing demand for electricity and the need to implement nonpolluting energy. Among the green energy technologies it is found the solar and the wind energy, both have a history of use and fairly extensive research; however they still have problems which limit to give them further impetus to its use. The aim of this thesis is to present solutions to optimization problems in energy harvesting. To this end it is analysed, and solved, two problems by means of techniques in experimental aerodynamics: the first issue with regard to parabolic troughs and the second about wind farms. The measurement techniques commonly used in aerodynamics, and used in this research work, are: measurement of loads, hot wire anemometry, particle image velocimetry and scanning of pressures; where data are collected and then an statistical analysis is done. In the first case it is tested parabolic troughs where, either for security reasons or protection against the wind actions, fences are used. These fences modify the behaviour of flow downstream and it was found that the distance at which they are placed, and the type of fences (solid or permeable) modify the structural loads to which the parabolic troughs are exposed. The results show that there is a critical distance at which the presence of the fence increases the load instead of protecting the parabolic trough, hence making the proper selection of the parapet and the distance at which it stands are paramount for the optimization of the structure. In the second case it is tested, experimentally and numerically, the wake of wind turbines by means of porous disks; where the permeable disc simulates a turbine rotor. The disc is able to mimic the wake and the effects that it can cause downstream. The results show that by properly selecting the porosity, it is possible to simulate drag coefficients similar to those developed by wind turbines; moreover the porous disk wake and its effects are similar to those measured on field.

Experimental and numerical study of wind flow behind windbreaks

The shelter effect of a windbreak protects aggregate piles and provides a reduction of particle emissions in harbours. RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations) simulations using three variants of k–ε (standard k–ε, RNG k–ε and realizable k–ε) turbulence closure models have been performed to analyse wind flow characteristics behind an isolated fence located on a flat surface without roughness elements. The performance of the three turbulence models has been assessed by wind tunnel experiments. Cases of fences with different porosities (φ) have been evaluated using wind tunnel experiments as well as numerical simulations. The aim is to determine an optimum porosity for sheltering effect of an isolated windbreak. A value of 0.35 was found as the optimum value among the studied porosities (φ=0, 0.1, 0.24, 0.35, 0.4, 0.5).

A questão da terra no livro de Jó - Um estudo exegético de Jó 15

O sofrimento que aparece no livro de Jó pode ser considerado de diversas formas. Esta dissertação analisa a questão da terra como um eixo em torno do qual Jó e seus interlocutores debatem. Não se trata de um simples debate entre sábios, mas de uma situação de violência social, vitimando principalmente os pobres. Estes, não tendo como pagar os tributos exigidos pelo sistema imperial, vêem suas terras e casas invadidas, as marcas divisórias de suas propriedades mudadas, seus animais roubados e suas vidas reduzidas à escravidão. A terra está sendo violada, a injustiça é visível e o tribunal encontra-se fechado para ouvir o clamor dos injustiçados. Contemplando toda essa realidade, Jó lança seu grito de protesto. Três amigos chegam para o consolar, mas não entram a fundo na questão levantada. Elifaz e seus companheiros têm uma posição diferente da de Jó. A dissertação está organizada em três capítulos. O primeiro apresenta uma visão geral do livro de Jó, com observações necessárias em função do estudo a ser feito, com enfoque no diálogo de Elifaz, na questão da terra na Bíblia e no período persa. O segundo capítulo é dedicado à análise exegética do capítulo 15. A divisão em três partes respeita o argumento de Elifaz: a condenação às palavras de Jó, um ensinamento em relação à terra e a condenação do ímpio. O último capítulo amplia a visão da questão da terra para todo o livro de Jó e procura identificar cada um dos personagens: os estrangeiros, os ímpios, os interlocutores de Jó, os pobres e o próprio Jó. O importante é saber qual o lugar que cada um ocupa na sociedade e o que eles representam na questão da terra. (AU)