Cochineal, a precious source of red: cochineal dyes characterization by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and principal component analysis

Presented at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologias, Universidade de Lisboa, to obtain the Master Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Textiles

PV inverters for module level applications

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Energias Renováveis – Conversão Eléctrica e Utilização Sustentáveis

Le plurilinguisme dans le roman portugais contemporain (1963- 1983): caractéristiques, configurations linguistiques et énonciatives

THÈSE pour l’obtention du grade de DOCTEUR

Produção de eletricidade a partir de energia solar fotovoltaica de larga escala PV e CPV na zona rural do município de Évora: área disponível e potencial técnico

No sentido de diminuir a dependência externa de energia nomeadamente de combustíveis fósseis, combater as alterações climáticas e colmatar o défice potencial de energia associada à dependência de energia hídrica, Portugal necessita aumentar o investimento noutras fontes de energia renovável (FER) para produção de eletricidade, nomeadamente na energia solar. Sendo uma das zonas com maior radiação solar da Europa (1 900 kWh/m2), Portugal não aproveita este recurso como poderia. O presente estudo avalia o potencial técnico de produção de energia solar fotovoltaica centralizado de larga escala (> 1 MW), no Concelho de Évora. Recorrendo ao sistema de informação geográfica ArcGIS, foram estimadas as áreas disponíveis e as áreas úteis potenciais para implementação de projetos de aproveitamento de energia solar fotovoltaica, por forma a calcular o potencial de potência instalada (MW) e de produção de energia elétrica (GWh/ano). Foram considerados diferentes cenários relativos ao uso do solo, no contexto do Plano Diretor Municipal, e ao tipo de projeto, tendo sido consideradas as tecnologias de sistema fotovoltaico sem concentração (PV) e de sistema fotovoltaico concentrado (CPV). No cenário mais restritivo sobre a ocupação do solo foi estimada uma área útil de 4 978 ha (cerca de 4% da área total do Município) que corresponde a um potencial técnico de produção de energia de 2 357 GWh/ano, se se considerar um sistema CPV com 1 MW de potência instalada. Para efeitos de comparação, esta produção corresponde a 9 vezes o valor do consumo de eletricidade anual do Concelho de Évora e a cerca de 5% do consumo anual de eletricidade em Portugal continental em 2012. O potencial muito significativo de produção de eletricidade solar é justificada pela disponibilidade de ocupação do solo, pelo declive suave do terreno e pelo excelente nível de radiação solar incidente. Da análise dos diversos cenários avaliados, concluiu-se que o sistema mais vantajoso, em termos de produção de energia por unidade de área, independentemente do cenário de ocupação do solo, é o sistema CPV de larga escala (20 a 30 MW) que apresenta valores de produção da ordem de 0,64 GWh/ha.

Digital microfluidic devices: the role of the dielectric layer

Digital microfluidics (DMF) is a field which has emerged in the last decade as a re-liable and versatile tool for sensing applications based on liquid reactions. DMF allows the discrete displacement of droplets, over an array of electrodes, by the application of voltage, and also the dispensing from a reservoir, mixing, merging and splitting fluidic operations. The main drawback of these devices is due to the need of high driving volt-ages for droplet operations. In this work, alternative dielectric layers combinations were studied aiming the reduction of these driving voltages. DMF chips were designed, pro-duced and optimized according to the theory of electrowetting-on-dielectric, adopting different combinations of parylene-C and tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) as dielectric ma-terials, and Teflon as hydrophobic layer. With both devices’ configurations, i.e., Parylene as single dielectric, and multilayer chips combining Parylene and Ta2O5, it was possible to perform all the fluidic opera-tions in the microliter down to hundreds of nanoliters range. Multilayer chips presented significant reduction on driving voltages for droplet op-erations in silicone oil filler medium: from 70 V (parylene only) down to 30 V (parylene/Ta2O5) for dispensing; and from 50 V (parylene only) down to 15 V (parylene/Ta2O5) for movement. Peroxidase colorimetric reactions were successfully performed as proof-of-concept, using multilayer configuration devices.

Portuguese business groups at the beginning of the 21st century: Trends, characteristics and configurations

This study considers the literature on the persistence of business groups in developed economies and analyzes the Portuguese case. The reconstruction of the largest business groups assembles information relevant to define characteristics that enable them to thrive. Increasing internationalization, more specialization in core activities and family control define these types of big businesses. New sectors also emerge as a characteristic of these business groups when compared to the ones existing 40 years ago.

PV systems linked to the grid: parameter identification with a heuristic procedure

This paper focuses on a PV system linked to the electric grid by power electronic converters, identification of the five parameters modeling for photovoltaic systems and the assessment of the shading effect. Normally, the technical information for photovoltaic panels is too restricted to identify the five parameters. An undemanding heuristic method is used to find the five parameters for photovoltaic systems, requiring only the open circuit, maximum power, and short circuit data. The I–V and the P–V curves for a monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous photovoltaic systems are computed from the parameters identification and validated by comparison with experimental ones. Also, the I–V and the P–V curves under the effect of partial shading are obtained from those parameters. The modeling for the converters emulates the association of a DC–DC boost with a two-level power inverter in order to follow the performance of a testing commercial inverter employed on an experimental system.

Uncertain Spaces: Virtual Configurations in Contemporary Art and Museums

Contém artigos apresentados na International Conference “Uncertain Spaces: Virtual Configurations in Contemporary Art and Museums”, na Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisboa), 31 Outubro - 1 de Novembro de 2014) de: Helena Barranha e Susana S. Martins - Introduction: Art, Museums and Uncertainty (pp.1-12); Alexandra Bounia e Eleni Myrivili - Beyond the ‘Virtual’: Intangible Museographies and Collaborative Museum Experiences (pp.15-32); Annet Dekker - Curating in Progress. Moving Between Objects and Processes (pp.33-54); Giselle Beiguelman - Corrupted Memories. The aesthetics of Digital Ruins and the Museum of the Unfinished (pp.55-82); Andrew Vaas Brooks - The Planetary Datalinks (pp.85-110); Sören Meschede - Curators’ Network: Creating a Promotional Database for Contemporary Visual Arts (pp.11-130); Stefanie Kogler - Divergent Histories and Digital Archives of Latin American and Latino Art in the United States – Old Problems in New Digital Formats (pp.131-156); Luise Reitstätter e Florian Bettel - Right to the City! Right to the Museum!(pp.159-182); Roberto Terracciano - On Geo-poetic systems: virtual interventions inside and outside the museum space (pp.183-210); e, Catarina Carneiro de Sousa e Luís Eustáquio - Art Practice in Collaborative Virtual Environments (pp.211-240).

Antioxidant extraction process for Andean Oca by a photodiode array detector using response surface methodology

Application of Experimental Design techniques has proven to be essential in various research fields, due to its statistical capability of processing the effect of interactions among independent variables, known as factors, in a system’s response. Advantages of this methodology can be summarized in more resource and time efficient experimentations while providing more accurate results. This research emphasizes the quantification of 4 antioxidants extraction, at two different concentration, prepared according to an experimental procedure and measured by a Photodiode Array Detector. Experimental planning was made following a Central Composite Design, which is a type of DoE that allows to consider the quadratic component in Response Surfaces, a component that includes pure curvature studies on the model produced. This work was executed with the intention of analyzing responses, peak areas obtained from chromatograms plotted by the Detector’s system, and comprehending if the factors considered – acquired from an extensive literary review – produced the expected effect in response. Completion of this work will allow to take conclusions regarding what factors should be considered for the optimization studies of antioxidants extraction in a Oca (Oxalis tuberosa) matrix.

A systematic methodology to analyse the performance and design configurations of business interoperability in cooperative industrial networks

This thesis proposes a methodology for modelling business interoperability in a context of cooperative industrial networks. The purpose is to develop a methodology that enables the design of cooperative industrial network platforms that are able to deliver business interoperability and the analysis of its impact on the performance of these platforms. To achieve the proposed objective, two modelling tools have been employed: the Axiomatic Design Theory for the design of interoperable platforms; and Agent-Based Simulation for the analysis of the impact of business interoperability. The sequence of the application of the two modelling tools depends on the scenario under analysis, i.e. whether the cooperative industrial network platform exists or not. If the cooperative industrial network platform does not exist, the methodology suggests first the application of the Axiomatic Design Theory to design different configurations of interoperable cooperative industrial network platforms, and then the use of Agent-Based Simulation to analyse or predict the business interoperability and operational performance of the designed configurations. Otherwise, one should start by analysing the performance of the existing platform and based on the achieved results, decide whether it is necessary to redesign it or not. If the redesign is needed, simulation is once again used to predict the performance of the redesigned platform. To explain how those two modelling tools can be applied in practice, a theoretical modelling framework, a theoretical Axiomatic Design model and a theoretical Agent-Based Simulation model are proposed. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology and/or to validate the proposed theoretical models, a case study regarding a Portuguese Reverse Logistics cooperative network (Valorpneu network) and a case study regarding a Portuguese construction project (Dam Baixo Sabor network) are presented. The findings of the application of the proposed methodology to these two case studies suggest that indeed the Axiomatic Design Theory can effectively contribute in the design of interoperable cooperative industrial network platforms and that Agent-Based Simulation provides an effective set of tools for analysing the impact of business interoperability on the performance of those platforms. However, these conclusions cannot be generalised as only two case studies have been carried out. In terms of relevance to theory, this is the first time that the network effect is addressed in the analysis of the impact of business interoperability on the performance of networked companies and also the first time that a holistic approach is proposed to design interoperable cooperative industrial network platforms. Regarding the practical implications, the proposed methodology is intended to provide industrial managers a management tool that can guide them easily, and in practical and systematic way, in the design of configurations of interoperable cooperative industrial network platforms and/or in the analysis of the impact of business interoperability on the performance of their companies and the networks where their companies operate.

Seleção de genótipos de pimentão resistentes à Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Doidge) Dye. sob condições naturais de infecção

Devido à ocorrência de epidemias severas de pústula bacteriana ou mancha bacteriana no pimentão, causada pela bactéria Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Doidge) Dye., o cultivo do pimentão na várzea do Rio Solimões, próximo à Manaus, encontra-se em decadência. O INPA, desde 1976, desenvolve um Programa de Melhoramento Genético do Pimentão visando incorporar resistência ao patógeno. Neste trabalho são relatados os resultados obtidos em três ensaios, nas áreas de terra firme e várzea do Estado do Amazonas, envolvendo progênies F13 e F14 do cruzamento interespecífico entre Capsicum annuum e C. chinense, denominado HP-12, em cujas progênies vêm sendo realizadas seleções genealógicas visando obter variedades resistentes ao patógeno X. campestris pv. vesicatoria e alta capacidade produtiva, sob condição de cultivo em ambientes quentes e úmidos. Quando a população de hospedeiros foi constituída por indivíduos resistentes e suscetíveis, a curva de progresso da doença adaptou-se melhor ao modelo monomolecular, onde níveis mais elevados de resistência, conferidos por um genótipo, foram devidos à sua capacidade de restringir a velocidade do progresso da doença. Nos três ensaios, as progênies selecionadas pelo Programa apresentaram maior resistência e capacidade produtiva, quando comparadas à testemunha suscetível (Cascadura Ikeda), em condições de ocorrência da doença e verificou-se que a capacidade de produção de frutos está relacionada aos níveis de resistência do hospedeiro ao patógeno. Por outro lado, levando-se em conta os caracteres de resistência e capacidade produtiva das progênies inferiu-se que a espécie C. chinense é um recurso genético importante como fonte de resistência a X. campestris pv. vesicatoria nos programas de melhoramento do pimentão.

Controlador com FPGA para um motor-in-wheel CA de fluxo axial

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Eletrónica Industrial e de Computadores

Disposable, micro-fluidic biosensor array for online analysis of adherent cells activity combining quartz crystal resonators and impedance measurement techniques

Magdeburg, Univ., Fak. für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, Diss., 2011

Mejora de la competitividad de las plantaciones frutales de nogal: selección de material vegetal, desarrollo de un modelo de predicción de la infección de Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis y optimización de las podas de formación y producción

En las colecciones del IRTA-Mas Bové se han caracterizado más de 150 clones de nogal procedentes de prospección, material extranjero y de selecciones de distintos programas de mejora. El material se ha caracterizado agronómicamente siguiendo los descriptores del IPGRI (1994). Actualmente existen fichas descriptivas muy amplias de 43 accesiones. Toda esta información sobre el comportamiento del material vegetal en las condiciones climáticas de Tarragona, tiene interés a nivel científico y es muy válida para posibles plantaciones con nuevo material. El estudio de los caracteres de sensibilidad a Bacteriosis y afección de la caída prematura de flores (PFA), en dos decendencias de nogal de cruzamientos controlados, ha permitido obvervar que estos caracteres tienen una herencia compleja. Se ha establecido la virulencia de distintos aislados de Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis, en nogal. Los aislados más virulentos se han utilizado para establecer un modelo de predicción, en condiciones de laboratorio, de esta bacteria en nogal. La temperatura a la que la severidad de la enfermedad es máxima es 26ºC. A esta temperatura un aumento en la duración del período de humedad relativa elevada de 0-24 horas, produce un aumento de la afección. En los próximos años, este modelo de predicción se validará en campo. Si los resultados son positivos, permitirán racionalizar los tratamientos para la Bacteriosis en las plantaciones de nogal. Los primeros resultados de un control de la iluminación en el interior de las copas de los árboles, realizado mediante medidas de iluminación interceptadas con un ceptómetro Delta T (SunScan), han puesto de manifiesto que la gran influencia de la luz en el crecimiento anual de las ramas. Así, en la formación y poda de los árbles hay que tener presente estos resultados, en especial en las formaciones en ejes libres, y favorecer la máxima entrada de luz en el interior de la copa de los árboles.