Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'EOS Model'

In this thesis the idea of using neural networks as a forward model for the EOS-MLS (Earth Observation System – Microwave Limb Sounder) is considered for a direct assimilation scheme. Neural networks are a type of non-linear regression technique that can provide fast, accurate results and are used extensively in many different fields. Here a neural network is constructed to act as a forward model for the EOS-MLS. The neural network uses a temperature profile and tangent pressure levels as inputs and produces the corresponding radiance profile for one channel of the EOS-MLS. The work here primarily concentrates on one band of the EOS-MLS that is centred on an oxygen line and whose radiances are affected only by temperature for the majority of the channels. It shows that a neural network can function as a forward model in this case, producing radiances that are within instrument noise and for most channels, within half the instrument noise. Adding ozone to the forward model affects the radiances in only two channels of this band, increasing the radiances in some minor frames by around ~10K. It was found that this difference could be accounted for in the neural network forward model by adding ozone to the inputs. A second band, which is centred on an ozone line, is briefly considered. It was found that above 150hPa the radiances from this band could be modelled well using a neural network. Below this height, the neural network produced large errors in radiance (of around 1.5K – four times the instrument noise). This is thought to be due to the effects of water vapour. A problem specific to limb sounders that must be faced when doing direct assimilation is determining the tangent pressures of the radiances. During retrieval, these tangent pressures are normally retrieved as part of the state vector and discarded. For an assimilation process, these tangent pressures may be unavailable and have to be deduced in some way. Here, a neural network is used to retrieve tangent pressures outside the assimilation process. These retrieved tangent pressures can then be used by the forward model and assumed to be correct. It was found that tangent pressures could be retrieved with an accuracy of around 50m, much better than required for a forward model. The final problem faced within this thesis is the creation of the Jacobian of the instrument forward model. This is the derivative of the radiances with respect to the state vector and is used by the assimilation process to update the model fields during the assimilation process.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 20-23, 2003 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada<br>As part of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP), the Direct Readout Laboratory (DRL) of NASA/GSFC Code 935, is developing the prototype NPP In-Situ Ground System (NISGS). The NISGS supports earth remote sensing, and its functions bridge from all EOS satellites to planning for future NASA and interagency launches. The NISGS solution enables the end user to acquire and process NPP and predecessor instrument data, and provide a means to make these technologies and data products available to the Direct Broadcast Community. This document describes the NISGS model, methodology, and system architecture.

Between 2002 and 2005, Lufthansa, Swiss and KLM in cooperation with PrivatAir, start-up airlines Eos and MAXjet individually, launched scheduled business class-only services between Europe and the US. This paper qualitatively analyses the new business model from the strategic and operational point of view. Different approaches based on pull or push motivation have been identified and the characteristics of the service offerings extensively examined. From the strategic aspect, the analysis has proven that the products have an inherent value benefit for the respective target group. It has been established that short and ultra-long haul routes are not viable for the business model. The main shortcoming of the offering is the lack of connectivity as opposed to network carriers, resulting in dependency on the local demand. For the start-up airlines, establishment of market presence and goodwill is critical. In the area of operating economics, pilot crew and navigation charges have a higher impact than in the mixed class operation. Airport charges and administrative overhead build a larger portion of total expenses in case of traditional airline services. No significant evidence against the viability of the premium airline model could be found. (author's abstract)<br>Series: Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Transportwirtschaft und Logistik - Verkehr

Afin d’étudier la question de l’usure du genou et de la douleur lors du développement de l’arthrose, relié à la fois aux pressions sur les cartilages et la stabilité du genou, un modèle de l’articulation du genou a été créé. Cette étude propose une approche mixte, utilisant à la fois des imageries médicales (IRM, système EOS) et un capteur de force en conjonction avec un modèle EF. Deux modèles EF ont été créés ici, se focalisant sur la stabilité passive du genou lors de la recréation d’un processus expérimental : la décomposition en 4 images EOS statiques du mouvement de montée de marche d’escalier. Pour ce faire, un modèle géométrique du genou du sujet a été recalé sur la position physiologique des os obtenue par les images EOS. Les conditions aux limites expérimentales ont été ajoutées et la simulation numérique a été menée jusqu’à ce que l’équilibre mécanique global soit atteint. Ensuite la position simulée des os a pu être comparée avec la position expérimentale, et les surfaces de pression et les contraintes dans les ligaments été obtenues.Pour des angles de flexion faibles les modèles montrent une très bonne concordance avec les données expérimentales mesurées, les os étant dans leur position physiologique une fois l’équilibre mécanique atteint. Les résultats pour des angles de flexion plus importants restent satisfaisants et sont prometteurs, indiquant des pistes claires d’amélioration du modèle<br>Knee degradation and pain when developing osteoarthritis are strongly related not only to the pressure on the cartilage, but also to the knee stability and to the subsequent loadings on the ligaments. Here, we propose a mixed approach, both using medical imaging (MRI, EOS X-ray system) and force platform in conjunction with a finite element model.Two finite element model were created, focusing on the passive stability of the knee while modelling an experiment: the acquisition of the movement of climbing a step decomposed in 4 static EOS images. To do so, a geometric model of the subject’s knee have been fused on the bone physiological positions obtained by EOS imaging. The FEA was carried out according to the experimental boundary conditions so as to ensure the global knee mechanical equilibrium. This allow the model to be validated by comparing its numerical results with the EOS data. This model will reveal the roles of the ligaments during the knee flexion and give pressure maps on the cartilages.For low flexion angles, both models’ results concord well with the experimental data: the bones are in their physiological position once the mechanical equilibrium reached. For higher flexion angles the results are satisfying and promising, showing clear ways to improve the models

The phase behavior of CO2 + polymer systems is of interest in polymer synthesis, flue and natural gas processing, polymer foam and nanoparticle processing, and drug delivery. Theoretical and experimental evidence suggests that CO2 is able to interact with electron donating functional groups in polymers to form weak Lewis acid – base or EDA (Electron Donor Acceptor) complexes. These complexes can have a significant effect on the phase behavior of associated CO2 + polymer systems. In spite of this, however, the phase equilibria of only a few associated CO2 + polymer systems have been measured. Some success in modeling the phase behavior of polymer solutions has been achieved by various versions of the Statistical Association Fluid Theory (SAFT), as well as by several Lattice Models. However, many of these models incorporate two to four adjustable parameters that often depend on temperature (T), pressure (P), and/or molecular weight (MW). As a result, a large amount of experimental data is required to apply these models. The goal of the present work was therefore to develop a new thermodynamic model for associating systems that would include no more than two temperature-independent adjustable parameters. The new model presented in this work is based on the Guggenheim-Huggins-Miller lattice and includes complex formation in the development of the partition function. The EOS obtained from the resulting partition function includes two mixture parameters – the enthalpy of association or complex formation and a reference value of the equilibrium constant for complex formation . Most importantly, can be obtained from in situ Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR – FTIR) measurements. This work therefore demonstrates the use of ATR – FTIR spectra to obtain molecular level information regarding the interaction of CO2 and electron donating functional groups in polymers. Unlike other studies, this work uses the bending vibration of CO2 to estimate the enthalpies of association ( ) of CO2 + polymer systems. Values of were directly incorporated in the new model and were found to lie between -7 and -12 kJ/mol for the systems investigated in this work. They increased (i.e. became more negative) in the order: CO2 + PS-co-PMMA < CO2 + PMMA <CO2 + PBMA < CO2 + PSF < CO2 + PVAc < CO2 + EVA40 < CO2 + PEG. Values of the second parameter in the new EOS ( ) were obtained by fitting solubility data at one temperature. Both and were found to be temperature independent. The application of the new EOS was demonstrated by calculating the solubility (sorption) of CO2 in polymers, the extent of swelling of polymers due to CO2, and the solubility of polymers in CO2 (cloud points). Both sorption and cloud point behavior in CO2 + polymer systems could be calculated using a single value of for each binary system. Ionic Liquids (ILs) can also incorporate electron donating functional groups in their structure. Evidence for the interaction of such ILs with CO2 can be found in the large values of the enthalpies of absorption of CO2 in these ILs. The ALF EOS was therefore extended to CO2 + IL systems using the enthalpy of absorption as a measure of association ( ) in these systems. was again treated as an adjustable parameter in the calculation of the CO2 solubility in ILs. A single value of was sufficient to predict swelling in these systems within experimental error.

[EN] This last few years, the trend in diesel engines has been to use different kinds of fuels to identify their influence and behaviour on the emissions and performance. Among the wide variety of fuels employed are the so called Primary Reference Fuels (PRFs), which represent the behaviour of diesel and gasoline in terms of ignition properties, as they are located at both ends of the octane rating scale and also have very different cetane numbers. One of the disadvantages of using pure gasoline or diesel-gasoline blends in diesel engines is the time needed for the mixture to ignite and to completely burn the fuel. This generally requires working with partial loads or with premixed charges. In order to isolate the fuel effects on the spray processes and to be able to study the characteristic parameters of ignition delay time, lift-off length, vapour and liquid penetration, among others; different experiments under parametric variations of diesel like conditions have been performed. The tests were performed under inert and reactive conditions in a 2-stroke optical engine and a constant-pressure flow (CPF) high-pressure high-temperature vessel using single-hole nozzles, while diverse optical techniques were being employed. To study the influence of the fuel properties, different single-component fuels were employed as well as binary blends and a six-component diesel surrogate, which was also compared to conventional diesel. Additionally, the results have been contrasted with a one-dimensional model in order to further explain the values and trends found. The results presented a strong dependency on the fuel properties for the tests performed under inert and reactive conditions. The difference in physical properties of n-decane and n-hexadecane showed an almost linear reduction of the stabilized liquid penetration down to approximately 60% under some conditions. Additionally, due to the composition of the surrogate fuel, pure n-hexadecane was demonstrated to have almost identical evaporation characteristics, hence proving itself as a good candidate for a single-component surrogate of diesel fuel. In a similar way, the chemical properties of the PRFs n-heptane and iso-octane also proved to be influential on the spray development and radiation emitted. Ignition delay values up to one order of magnitude larger where obtained for both extremes of the blend range, as well as lift-off lengths up to three times longer. The radiation emitted by the soot incandescence presented the highest variations, as some conditions showed a reduction of almost four orders of magnitude among the blend range. Moreover, some cases did not present any radiation corresponding to the soot, and increasing the sensitivity of the camera only caused the chemiluminescence of the OH* radical to be captured. On a different way, the stabilized flame length determined also by the soot radiation did not present much variation as the fuel properties or the air temperature were changed; in fact, the only noticeable differences were caused by the changes in the oxygen composition of the ambient air. In conclusion, the fuel properties proved to have a significant effect on the spray processes. Lighter fuels favoured the evaporation of the spray under a range of conditions, while fuels with lower octane numbers ignited sooner and closer to the spray tip but with more soot luminosity measured.<br>[ES] Estos últimos años, la tendencia en motores diesel ha sido la de emplear distintos tipos de combustibles para identificar su influencia y comportamiento sobre las emisiones y rendimiento. Dentro de la amplia variedad de combustibles empleados están los llamados combustibles de referencia (PRFs ingl. Primary Reference Fuels), los cuales representan el comportamiento del diesel y la gasolina en lo que respecta a propiedades de encendido, ya que se encuentran en ambos extremos de la escala del número de octano y también poseen números de cetano muy distintos. Una de las desventajas de utilizar gasolina pura o mezclas de diesel-gasolina en motores diesel es el tiempo que toma la mezcla en encender y quemar completamente el combustible. Esto generalmente requiere trabajar con cargas parciales o cargas premezcladas. Para poder aislar los efectos del combustibles sobre los procesos de un chorro y que sea capaz estudiar los parámetros característicos de tiempo de retraso de encendido, longitud de despegue de llama, penetración de líquido y vapor, entre otros, se han realizado distintos experimentos bajo variaciones paramétricas de condiciones de motor diesel. Los ensayos han sido realizados bajo condiciones inertes y reactivas en un motor óptico de dos tiempos y una instalación de alta presión y alta temperatura de flujo continuo a presión constante (CPF ingl. Constant-Pressure Flow) empleando toberas mono-orificio, con aplicación de diversas técnicas ópticas. Para estudiar la influencia de las propiedades de los combustibles se utilizaron distintos mono-componentes, así como mezclas binarias y un sustituto de diesel conformado por seis componentes, el cual fuel comparado con diesel convencional. Adicionalmente, los resultados han sido contrastados con un modelo unidimensional para ayudar a explicar los valores y tendencias encontrados. Los resultados presentaron una fuerte dependencia de las propiedades de los combustibles en los ensayos realizados bajo condiciones inertes y reactivas. La diferencia entre las propiedades físicas del n-decano y n-hexadecano mostraron una reducción casi lineal sobre la longitud líquida estabilizada hasta aproximadamente un 60% bajo ciertas condiciones. Adicionalmente, debido a la composición del combustible de sustitución, el n-hexadecano puro demostró tener características de evaporación prácticamente idénticas, probándose a sí mismo como un buen candidato para ser un sustituto mono-componente del diesel convencional. De una manera similar, las propiedades químicas de los PRFs n-heptano e iso-octano también probaron tener influencia sobre el desarrollo del chorro y radiación emitida. Se obtuvieron valores de tiempo de retraso con diferencias de hasta un orden de magnitud entre ambos extremos del rango de las mezclas, así como longitudes de despegue de llama hasta tres veces más largas. La radiación emitida por la incandescencia del hollín presentó las variaciones más altas, ya que algunas condiciones mostraron reducciones de hasta cuatro órdenes de magnitud dentro del rango de mezclas. Es más, algunos casos no presentaron radiación correspondiente al hollín, e incrementar la sensibilidad de la cámara solo ocasionó que la quimioluminiscencia del radical OH* sea detectada. Por otro lado, la longitud estabilizada de llama calculada mediante la radiación del hollín no presentó mucha variación respecto a las propiedades del combustible o la temperatura del aire. De hecho, la única diferencia apreciable fue causada por los cambios en la composición del oxígeno del aire ambiente. En conclusión, las propiedades de los combustibles demostraron tener un efecto significativo en los procesos de un chorro diesel. Los combustibles más ligeros favorecieron la evaporación del chorro en un rango de condiciones, mientras que combustibles con números de octano más bajos encendieron más pronto y cerca de la tobera pero con mayor luminosidad del hollín medida.<br>[CAT] En aquests últims anys, la tendència en motors Diesel ha estat la d'emprar diferents tipus de combustibles per a identificar la seva influència i comportament sobre les emissions i rendiment. Dintre de l'àmplia varietat de combustibles emprats estan els anomenats combustibles de referència (PRFs angl. Primary Reference Fuels), els quals representen el comportament del dièsel i la gasolina pel que fa a propietats d'encesa, ja que es troben en ambdós extrems de l'escala del nombre d'octà i també posseeixen nombres de cetà molt diferents. Un dels desavantatges d'utilitzar benzina pura o barreges de Diesel-benzina en motors Diesel és el temps que pren la barreja a encendre i cremar completament el combustible. Això generalment requereix treballar amb càrregues parcials o càrregues premesclades. Per a poder aïllar els efectes del combustibles sobre els processos d'un doll i que sigui capaç estudiar els paràmetres característics de de temps de retard d'encesa, longitud d'enlairament de flama, penetració de líquid i vapor, entre altres, s'han estudiat diferents experiments sota variacions paramètriques de condicions de motor Diesel. Els assajos han estat realitzats sota condicions inertes i reactives en un motor de dos temps i una instal·lació d'alta pressió i alta temperatura de flux continu a pressió constant (CPF angl. Constant-Pressure Flow) emprant toberes mono-orifici, amb aplicació de diverses tècniques òptiques. Per a estudiar la influència de les propietats dels combustibles, van ser utilitzats distints mono-components, així com barreges binàries i un substitut de Diesel conformat per sis components, el qual fuel comparat amb Diesel convencional. Addicionalment, els resultats han estat contrastats amb un model unidimensional per a ajudar a explicar els valors i tendències trobats. Els resultats van presentar una forta dependència de les propietats dels combustibles en els assajos realitzats sota condicions inertes i reactives. La diferència entre les propietats físiques del n-decà i n-hexadecà van mostrar una reducció gairebé lineal sobre la longitud líquida estabilitzada fins a aproximadament un 60% sota certes condicions. Addicionalment, degut a la composició del combustible de substitució, el n-hexadecà pur va demostrar ser tindre característiques d'evaporació pràcticament idèntiques a aquell, demostrant ser un bon candidat per a ser un substitut mono-component del dièsel convencional. D'una manera similar, les propietats químiques dels PRFs n-heptà i iso-octà també provaren tindre influència sobre el desenvolupament del doll i la radiació emesa. Es van obtenir valors de temps de retard amb diferències de fins a un ordre de magnitud entre ambdós extrems del rang de les barreges, així com longituds d'enlairament de flama fins a tres vegades més llargues. La radiació emesa per la incandescència del sutge va presentar les variacions més grans, ja que algunes condicions van mostrar reduccions de fins a quatre ordres de magnitud dintre del rang de barreges. Encara més, alguns casos no van presentar radiació corresponent al sutge, i incrementar la sensibilitat de la càmera solament va ocasionar que la quimioluminiscència del radical OH* sigui detectada. D'altra banda, la longitud estabilitzada de flama calculada mitjançant la radiació del sutge no va presentar molta variació respecte a les propietats del combustible o la temperatura del aire. De fet, la única diferència apreciable va ser causada pels canvis en la composició del oxigen de l'aire ambient. En conclusió, les propietats dels combustibles van demostrar tenir un efecte significatiu en els processos d'un doll dièsel. Els combustibles més lleugers van afavorir l'evaporació del doll en un rang de condicions, mentres que els combustibles amb nombre d'octà més baixos van prendre més aviat i prop de la tovera però amb més lluminositat del sutge mesurat.<br>Vera-Tudela Fajardo, WM. (2015). An experimental study of the effects of fuel properties on diesel spray processes using blends of single-component fuels [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/58865<br>TESIS

In the present work, the deviations in the solubility of CO2, CH4, and N2 at 30 °c in the mixed gases (CO2/CH4) and (CO2/N2) from the pure gas behavior were studied using the dual-mode model over a wide range of equilibrium composition and pressure values in two glassy polymers. The first of which was PI-DAR which is the polyimide formed by the reaction between 4, 6-diaminoresorcinol dihydrochloride (DAR-Cl) and 2, 2’-bis-(3, 4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA). The other glassy polymer was TR-DAR which is the corresponding thermally rearranged polymer of PI-DAR. Also, mixed gas sorption experiments for the gas mixture (CO2/CH4) in TR-DAR at 30°c took place in order to assess the degree of accuracy of the dual-mode model in predicting the true mixed gas behavior. The experiments were conducted on a pressure decay apparatus coupled with a gas chromatography column. On the other hand, the solubility of CO2 and CH4 in two rubbery polymers at 30⁰c in the mixed gas (CO2/CH4) was modelled using the Lacombe and Sanchez equation of state at various values of equilibrium composition and pressure. These two rubbery polymers were cross-linked poly (ethylene oxide) (XLPEO) and poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Moreover, data about the sorption of CO2 and CH4 in liquid methyl dietahnolamine MDEA that was collected from literature65-67 was used to determine the deviations in the sorption behavior in the mixed gas from that in the pure gases. It was observed that the competition effects between the penetrants were prevailing in the glassy polymers while swelling effects were predominant in the rubbery polymers above a certain value of the fugacity of CO2. Also, it was found that the dual-mode model showed a good prediction of the sorption of CH4 in the mixed gas for small pressure values but in general, it failed to predict the actual sorption of the penetrants in the mixed gas.

Des de l’últim quart del segle XX, un dels canvis rellevants que ha patit el mercat laboral a Europa i als EUA ha estat l’emergència de negocis i establiments comercials regentats per immigrants i minories ètniques a les ciutats post-industrials i cosmopolites. Barcelona no és cap excepció. Gràcies a la seva internacionalització, l’elevat flux de moviments migratoris i la presència d’un teixit comercial dinàmic, se situa en una posició privilegiada a l’hora d’afavorir l’emergència de negocis ètnics. D’entre els diferents grups d’estrangers, el col·lectiu pakistanès destaca per un doble patró: és el primer grup extracomunitari de la ciutat en nombre de residents, i alhora, és un dels més emprenedors. Tot i això, a dia d’avui encara és un col·lectiu força desconegut. L’hermetisme de la comunitat i les especificitats del modus operandi dels seus negocis, no només susciten una sèrie d’estereotips i rumors entre la població local, sinó que fan difícil l’aproximació científica a aquest objecte d’estudi. A tal efecte, aquesta tesi doctoral té com a finalitat analitzar els factors que expliquen el desenvolupament i consolidació d’una economia ètnica pakistanesa en temps de crisi (post 2008), així com les lògiques de funcionament intern dels seus negocis i la diversitat inherent al col·lectiu d’empresaris que els regenten. A través de l’enfocament teòric del mixed embeddedness (Kloosterman, van der Leun i Rath 1999), s’examina la interacció entre els factors associats a l’oferta (el col·lectiu pakistanès) i a la demanda (l’estructura d’oportunitats de la ciutat), des d’un model d’anàlisi multinivell que integra tant el marc macro-estructural, com les característiques dels negocis (nivell meso) i les dels empresaris (nivell micro). Seguint un disseny metodològic mixt, que combina tècniques quantitatives i qualitatives, els resultats d’aquest estudi revelen que l’èxit de la implantació comercial dels pakistanesos s’explica per la imbricació mixta entre una estructura d’oportunitats favorable, amb poques barreres d’entrada, i les xarxes comunitàries del col·lectiu per les quals circulen recursos i capitals en clau transnacional.<br>Over the last quarter of the 20th century one of the major changes affecting labour market in Europe and the USA has been the emergence of businesses and commercial establishments run by immigrants and ethnic minorities in post-industrial and cosmopolitan cities. In this regard Barcelona is no exception. The internationalisation of the city combined with high levels of migration alongside the presence of a dynamic commercial fabric have created favourable opportunity structures, which has encouraged the emergence of ethnic businesses. Among the different groups of foreigners, the Pakistani community stands out for two reasons: they are the most populous community in the city from outside the EU, and; they are one of the most entrepreneurial groups. Despite this little is known about this group. The enclosed character of the community and the particular modus operandi of its businesses, not only raise a number of stereotypes and rumours among the local population, but contribute to limit access to the group for academic researchers. To this end, this PhD thesis aims to analyse factors that explain the development and consolidation of the Pakistani ethnic economy since crisis (post 2008), as well as the logics of the internal functioning of its businesses and the internal diversity of the entrepreneurial community that runs them. Through the theoretical approach of ‘mixed embeddedness’ (Kloosterman, van der Leun and Rath 1999), the interaction between the factors associated with the supply-side (the Pakistani entrepreneurs) and the demand-side (the opportunity structure of the city) are examined from a multilevel analysis model. This approach integrates the macro-structural framework, as well as the characteristics of businesses (meso level) and those of the businessmen (micro level) and contributes to the further theoretical development of mixed embededdness. Following a mixed methodological design, which combines quantitative and qualitative techniques, the results of this study reveal that the success of the Pakistani commercial establishments in the city is explained by its mixed embeddedness between a favourable opportunity structure, with few entry barriers, and the networks of the group through which resources and capitals circulate on a transnational basis.

Realizou-se neste trabalho uma investigação comparativa do comportamento dos aços ferramenta H13 e THYROTHERM 2999 EFS SUPRA, destinados à fabricação de matrizes para conformação a quente, quando submetidos à fadiga de baixo ciclo a altas temperaturas (FBCAT). A partir de suas curvas de revenimento, foram definidas três durezas de trabalho para cada material (durezas de 42, 52 e 58 HRC), correspondendo a três temperaturas de revenimento distintas e três condições de estudo, buscando-se a condição ótima apresentada por estes materiais para este tipo de aplicação, visando-se então analisar a influência da dureza inicial do material na vida do componente. Foi determinada também a temperatura de ensaio de fadiga isotérmica, em 400&#176;C, correspondente à temperatura de utilização da matriz, ou seja, uma temperatura crítica típica que a matriz atinge durante a solicitação em trabalho. A seguir foram realizados para cada material os ensaios de tração a temperatura ambiente, e na seqüência, os ensaios de tração na temperatura de trabalho definida, que permitiram a determinação dos primeiros parâmetros monotônicos dos materiais, dentre eles uma previsão para os níveis de deformação a serem utilizados nos ensaios de fadiga (0.5,0.6,0.7,0.8,0.9,1.0 e 1.1%), e demais parâmetros como E, k, n, &#963;e, &#963;&#8217;f, &#949;&#8217;f, b, c, que permitiram a elaboração de curvas &#949;&#8722;N, com um modelo estimativo já existente. Finalmente, foram então realizados os ensaios de fadiga isotérmica de baixo ciclo, à temperatura de 400&#176;C, e os resultados foram utilizados para a elaboração das curvas &#949;&#8722;N, resultando então na proposta de um modelo de previsão de resistência à fadiga específico para os materiais pesquisados.<br>It was made in this work an investigative comparison of the behavior of the tool steels H13 and THYROTHERM 2999 EFS SUPRA, designed for die steels for hot forming, when exposed to high temperature low cycle fatigue (HTLCF). From their tempering curves three material working hardness were defined for each material (hardness of 42, 52 and 58 HRC), corresponding to three different tempering temperatures, and so three study cases for each material, searching for the best condition for this kind of application, and to assess the influence of the initial hardness on the part material life. The isothermal low cycle fatigue test temperature was either defined at 400&#176;C, corresponding to the used temperature at the die steel, i.e., a critical typical temperature that the forging dies reach on hot working. After that, tensile tests were performed for both materials, at room temperature, and at the working temperature formerly defined, and these tests allowed the definition of the first monotonic parameters for these materials, among them predictions for strain levels (0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0 and 1.1%), to be used on fatigue tests, and further parameters like E, k, n, &#963;e, &#963;&#8217;f, &#949;&#8217;f, b, c, that allowed the elaboration of &#949;&#8722;N curves, based on a still existing prediction model. Finally, isothermal low cycle fatigue tests were performed, at 400&#176;C, and the results were used for &#949;&#8722;N curves elaboration, resulting on a prediction model of the fatigue strength specified for the assessed materials.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful technique that can be applied in-situ to deconvolute the various loss mechanisms in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) that occur at different rates. The frequency response of a PEFC that results from EIS is in essence characterised by energy dissipating and energy storing elements of the cell. It can be represented by an equivalent circuit that is composed of resistors and capacitors respectively. By understanding the arrangement and magnitude of the electrical components in the equivalent electrical circuit, it is possible to generate a deeper understanding of how and where the electrical energy that is generated due to the redox reaction is being dissipated and retained within the real physical system. Although the use of equivalent circuits is often an adequate approach, some electrochemical processes are not adequately described by electrical components. In which case, it is necessary to adopt a more rigorous approach of describing processes through the use of differential equations to describe the physics of the electrochemical system at the frequency domain. Studies in the literature have attempted to construct mathematical models to describe the impedance response of the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) based on conservation equations describing the electrochemical and diffusion processes. However this has resulted in a complicated mathematical analysis which in turn results in complicated solutions. The resulting equations cannot be easily validated against real-world EIS measurements and only analytical results have been reported. In this thesis a mathematical model to describe the impedance response of the CCL has been developed. This model is derived from fundamental electrochemical theory describing the physics of the CCL. The mathematical treatment is simplified by taking into account some considerations based on the EIS theory. The resulting model can be easily applied to real-world EIS measurements of PEFCs and presents parameters commonly known in the electrochemical area. The scientific contribution of this doctoral thesis is mainly divided in two sections: Modelling and Application. The first step of the modelling section develops an equation describing charge conservation in the CCL and together with Ohm s Law equation accounting for ionic conduction, predicts the impedance response of the CCL at low currents. The second step includes the change of oxygen concentration during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) into the equation accounting for CCL low current operation. The study of mass transport in the CCL is very complex; the literature has treated it with simplifications and approximations. The finite diffusion distance for oxygen to reach the reaction sites in the CCL forms a complicated network of multi-phase parallel and serial paths and can change in dimension at different operating conditions (flooding, drying). In the mathematical treatment of this doctoral thesis the finite diffusion distance and surface concentration of oxygen in the CCL are considered to be independent of the thickness of the CCL. EIS reflects only bulk measurements based on the total CCL thickness. Even though this results in an over-simplification for the oxygen diffusion in the total CCL, this approach simplifies the mathematical treatment to predict the impedance response of the CCL at high current operation, and as result it can be successfully validated against real-world EIS measurements. In the application section the model is applied with real-world EIS measurements of PEFCs. First the model is applied with EIS measurements presenting inductive effects at high frequencies. The model reveals mechanisms masked at high frequencies of the impedance spectrum by inductance effects. The results demonstrate that the practice of using the real part of the Nyquist plot where the imaginary part is equal to zero to quantify the ohmic resistance in PEFCs can be subject to an erroneous interpretation due to inductive effects at high frequencies. Secondly the model is applied to cathode impedance data obtained through a three-electrode configuration in the measurement system and gives an insight into the mechanisms represented at low frequencies of the impedance complex-plot. The model predicts that the low frequency semicircle in PEFC measurements is attributed to low equilibrium oxygen concentration in the CCL-gas diffusion layer (GDL) interface and low diffusivity of oxygen through the CCL. In addition the model is applied with simultaneous EIS measurements in an Open-Cathode PEFC stack. The factors that limit the performance of the PEFC stack are evaluated with simultaneous EIS measurements and the model. The results show that the change in impedance response of individual cells within the stack is attributed to oxygen limitations, degradation in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and temperature distribution. This EIS knowledge enables an assessment of the state of health in operational fuel cell stacks. In the last section of the application section, the mathematical model translated in the time domain via reverse Laplace Transform predicts the current distribution through the CCL. This provides information to improve the performance of the CCL as well as determine the uptake of product water in the membrane. Finally the conclusions and future work are presented. This doctoral thesis has established a backbone understanding of how the electrochemical and diffusion mechanisms relate to the electrochemical impedance spectra of PEFCs. The goal of a future work is to develop this EIS knowledge into a real-time EIS system for non-intrusive diagnostics of degradation in operational PEFCs. This implies a modification of the model to consider oxygen transport through the CCL thickness as part of a multi-species mixture using mass transport theory including concentrated solution theory to fuel cell engineering.

This thesis has developed a Temporal Meta-Model Framework for semi-automated Enterprise System Development, which can help drastically reduce the time and cost to develop, deploy and maintain Enterprise Information Systems throughout their lifecycle. It proposes that the analysis and requirements gathering can also perform the bulk of the design phase, stored and available in a suitable model which would then be capable of automated execution with the availability of a set of specific runtime components.

As ligas de Al utilizadas na indústria aeroespacial com finalidade estrutural apresentam microestrutura complexa devido aos tratamentos termo-mecânicos a que são submetidas visando o aumento da resistência mecânica. Estas ligas se caracterizam pela presença de um grande número de intermetálicos (IMs) em sua microestrutura, os quais possuem atividade eletroquímica diferente da matriz provocando problemas de corrosão localizada devido à formação de microcélulas galvânicas. Na última década a espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (LEIS) tem se estabelecido como uma poderosa técnica na elucidação de aspectos locais relacionados à corrosão, e também tem servido para estudos de aspectos teóricos referentes à distribuição de potencial e corrente na superfície de eletrodos e suas correlações com a reatividade superficial. Esta técnica se baseia na análise de diferentes impedâncias locais obtidas por meio de um bi-eletrodo posicionado nas proximidades do eletrodo de trabalho. O presente trabalho visa estudar a corrosão localizada da liga de Al 7475-T761, utilizada na estrutura de asas e na fuselagem de aeronaves, em meios contendo íons sulfato por meio de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica global (EIS) e por LEIS, associadas à caracterização microestrutural por MEV/EDS. Os resultados dos estudos com as técnicas eletroquímicas globais, juntamente com a caracterização microestrutural, confirmaram que o aumento local do pH devido à reação catódica sobre os IMs é um dos fatores mais importantes na incidência corrosão localizada da liga de Al. Este fenômeno leva à dissolução local da película passiva e a uma importante despolarização da reação de oxidação do Al com grande aumento da corrosão. Já os estudos com o eletrodo de disco rotatório (EDR) mostraram que os íons sulfato melhoram o desempenho da película passiva formada sobre a matriz da liga, e evidenciaram o ataque preferencial dos IMs ricos em cobre por estes íons. No que se refere aos estudos realizados com a LEIS, os mesmos foram desenvolvidos principalmente com pares galvânicos modelos Al 7475/Cu visando simular a atividade eletroquímica que ocorre na interface entre os IMs e a liga. Este enfoque apresentou um aspecto inovador ao empregar pela primeira vez uma liga comercial como um dos componentes de um par galvânico simulado em estudos com a LEIS. Os resultados obtidos com este estudo confirmaram as previsões de modelos teóricos já desenvolvidos para os efeitos da geometria do eletrodo sobre a reatividade na superfície do mesmo, e também mostraram que o bi-eletrodo foi sensível a pequenas mudanças na atividade eletroquímica na interface do par galvânico, o que foi confirmado pelas análises por MEV/EDS. Outro aspecto inovador do presente trabalho com relação ao uso da LEIS foi que, pela primeira vez, foi utilizado um tri-eletrodo para a obtenção dos diagramas de impedância locais. Este sistema permite medir simultaneamente as componentes radial e normal da corrente local, possibilitando um maior refinamento da compreensão dos fenômenos interfaciais locais. Os resultados das medidas com este novo sistema apresentaram boa concordância com o modelo teórico desenvolvido para a resposta de impedância local apresentado neste trabalho, indicando que o mesmo pode se constituir em uma poderosa ferramenta para uma melhor compreensão dos processos interfaciais locais.<br>Aluminum alloys used in the aerospace industry with structural purpose exhibit a complex microstructure due to thermal and mechanical treatments they are submitted for improving their strength. The microstructure of these alloys is characterized by the presence of a great number of intermetallic (IM) particles, the electrochemical activity of which is different from the matrix leading to the onset of localized corrosion phenomena associated with local galvanic cells. In the last decade local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (LEIS) has been used as a powerful tool to elucidate local features associated with corrosion and also to study theoretical issues related to current and potential distributions at electrode surfaces and their correlation with surface reactivity. This technique is based on the calculation and analysis of different local impedances acquired by a bi-electrode probe positioned in the vicinity of the electrode surface. The aim of the present work is to study localized corrosion of Al alloy 7475-T761, used with structural purpose in aircraft wings and fuselages, in sulfate containing media using global electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and LEIS associated with microstructural characterization by SEM/EDS. The results of the investigations with the global techniques together with the microstructural characterization confirmed that local pH increasing at the matrix/IM interface due to the cathodic reaction on the IMs is the most important cause for the localized corrosion of the alloy. This process leads to local dissolution of the passive layer and to an important depolarization of the Al oxidation reaction leading to a great increase in the corrosion rate of the metal. On the other hand the investigations using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) revealed that sulfate ions increase the anticorrosion performance of the passive layer and are particularly aggressive at Cu-rich IMs. Regarding the studies with the LEIS technique they were mainly performed using an Al 7475/Cu model electrode aiming to simulate the electrochemical activity at the IM/alloy interface. This approach was new as, to the best of our knowledge, it was the first time a commercial alloy was used as one of the component of a model electrode for local electrochemical investigation. The results were in accordance with theoretical models already developed for the effects of geometry induced current and potential distributions on the electrode surface reactivity, and also showed that the bi-electrode was sensitive to minute change of the electrochemical activity at the interface of the galvanic couple, which was confirmed by SEM/EDS analysis. Another originality of the present work regarding the use of LEIS was that, for the first time, a tri-electrode was used to acquire the local impedance diagrams. This system allows the simultaneous measurement of the normal and radial components of the local current making possible a better comprehension of the local interfacial phenomena. The results of the measurements with this new system were in good agreement with the theoretical model for the local electrochemical response presented in this work, indicating that it can be a valuable tool for a better comprehension of the local interfacial processes.

Des del document 00TESI.pdf s'accedeix a la resta de documents mitjançant enllaços.El tamany dels arxius pot retardar la seva descàrrega.<br>La present tesi neix de les inquietuds que generen els singulars arcs de les obres de Gaudí, a voltes de perfil parabòlic, a voltes catenari, així com de la singular manera de calcular i modelar la forma mitjançant el mètode dels models penjats de cordes i pesos.La tesi s'estructura en tres grans parts. La primera fa un recorregut històric abans de Gaudí des de la geometria grega cercant l'orígen de la corba paràbola i de la resta de corbes còniques i cercant les regles antigues de dimensionar els arcs que recolliren els tractats de construcció, fins arribar al descobriment de la corba catenària, i el naixement de la resistència de materials i l'estàtica gràfica. Aquestes corbes planes, dutes a l'espai i posades en moviment, generaran una sèrie de superfícies, entre elles, les reglades que tan interessaran a Gaudí per les seves aplicacions a la construcció de les seves obres: paraboloides hiperbòlics, hiperboloides d'un full, helicoides, conoides... Ens interessarà de buscar quan Gaudí comença a familiaritzar-se amb la representació d'aquestes superfícies, qüestió absolutament necessària i prèvia a la posterior utilització exhaustiva en els seus projectes.En la segona part abarca el període de Gaudí estudiant i de Gaudí arquitecte. S'analitzen en detall els seus expedients acadèmics, cercant els llibres i publicacions pròpies de cada un dels seus professors així com dels apunts de classes d'altres alumnes o companys de Gaudí que s'hagin conservat fins avui. L'estudi permet fer-se una bona idea del perfil personal de cada un d'aquests professors així com dels continguts docents que impartien, sobretot en aquelles matèries relacionades amb el tema que ens ocupa, la geometria i la mecànica.Aquesta part dóna resposta a un dels interrogants que motivaren l'inici del present estudi, i és la de determinar com i quan Gaudí va formar-se per emprendre el camí en solitari de calcular arcs i voltes amb el singular mètode dels models de cordes i pesos, de la mateixa manera que mostra el moment en què comença a veure superfícies reglades en tractats de descriptiva i realitza complexos exercicis d'ombres on aquestes superfícies hi són implicades.D'altra banda, de l'observació dels càlculs gràfics de Gaudí i dels seus col·laboradors, es desprèn que el mètode que utilitzaven és molt pròxim al mètode que explicava el professor Torras a les classes de Resistència de materials. L'ànalisi i reconstrucció d'uns càlculs gràfics, exemplificadors, dels tres principals col·laboradors de Gaudí serveixen per explicar amb la màxima claretat didàctica el funcionament del mètode, des del cas simple resoluble en el pla fins als casos de composició de funiculars a l'espai. L'exposició "Gaudí: la recerca de la forma" la reconstrucció física, que seguí a la reconstrucció virtual, d'un model inèdit del projecte previ de l'església de la Colònia Güell va servir per experimentar i explicar al gran públic, sempre amb aquesta visió pedagògica del tema, el singular mètode creatiu i de comprovació estructural simultània.La darrera part s'obre cap al futur amb una proposta de recuperar l'esperit del mètode, la intensa connexió entre al fase de disseny i la de càlcul. La viabilitat de la proposta pasa per l'oferiment d'un programa que permeti processos gràfics de càlcul iteratiu amb un dinamisme i interactivitat tal que refaci en un instant tot un plànol que abans necessitava molt d'esforç, quan cada una de les proves implicaven refer a mà tot el procés.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited<br>The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit TWO (EODTEU TWO) trains Explosive Ordnance and Disposal (EOD) and Mobile Diving and Salvage (MDS) companies and platoons prior to worldwide deployments. This thesis describes EODSKED, an optimization model designed to assist EODTEU TWO in scheduling platoons that optimizes the use of limited resources and maximizes training value. EODSKED produces an optimized schedule that respects a large number of manpower and materiel resource constraints, such a schedule is difficult to achieve with the current manual scheduling process. Schedule modifications are often required after a schedule has been published; therefore, EODSKED incorporates persistence constraints to generate new schedules that match existing schedules closely.

In this paper we investigate how well residents of the Andaman coast in Phang Nga province, Thailand, are prepared for earthquakes and tsunami. It is hypothesized that formal education can promote disaster preparedness because education enhances individual cognitive and learning skills, as well as access to information. A survey was conducted of 557 households in the areas that received tsunami warnings following the Indian Ocean earthquakes on 11 April 2012. Interviews were carried out during the period of numerous aftershocks, which put residents in the region on high alert. The respondents were asked what emergency preparedness measures they had taken following the 11 April earthquakes. Using the partial proportional odds model, the paper investigates determinants of personal disaster preparedness measured as the number of preparedness actions taken. Controlling for village effects, we find that formal education, measured at the individual, household, and community levels, has a positive relationship with taking preparedness measures. For the survey group without past disaster experience, the education level of household members is positively related to disaster preparedness. The findings also show that disaster-related training is most effective for individuals with high educational attainment. Furthermore, living in a community with a higher proportion of women who have at least a secondary education increases the likelihood of disaster preparedness. In conclusion, we found that formal education can increase disaster preparedness and reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.

Liver biopsy is a very common, but invasive procedure for diagnosing liver disease. However, such a biopsy may result in severe complications and in some cases even death. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to develop a non-invasive method which would provide the same amount of information on staging of the disease and also the location of pathologies. This thesis describes the implementation of such a non-invasive method for visualizing and quantifying liver function by the combination of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), image reconstruction, and image analysis, and pharmacokinetic modeling. The first attempt involved automatic segmentation, functional clustering (k-means) and classification (kNN) of in-data (liver, spleen and blood vessel segments) in the pharmacokinetic model. However, after implementing and analyzing this method some important issues were identified and the image segmentation method was therefore revised. The segmentation method that was subsequently developed involved a semi-automatic procedure, based on a modified image forest transform (IFT). The data were then simulated and optimized using a pharmacokinetic model describing the pharmacokinetics of the liver specific contrast agent Gd-EOB-DTPA in the human body. The output from the modeling procedure was then further analyzed, using a least-squares method, in order to assess liver function by estimating the fractions of hepatocytes, extracellular extravascular space (EES) and blood plasma in each voxel of the image. The result were in fair agreement with literature values, although further analyses and developments will be required in order to validate and also to confirm the accuracy of the method.

Absorption Heat Pumps (AHP) have been developed since the late 19th century. They enable to produce cooling and heating directly from a heat source, unlike Compression Heat Pumps that require mechanical work. In the context of scarcity of resources and global warming, the company Helioclim develops solar air conditioning using an Absorption Heat Pump. The heat is gathered at rooftop solar concentrators and powers an ammonia-water AHP. The present study proposes an EES model of Helioclim’s AHP allowing assessing its performances under various operating conditions. Another aspect developed is the Modelling of the whole system (from solar energy to the economic assessment) in order to find the best parameters to propose to a potential client. Regarding EES model, three existing EES examples of AHP have been used. Those models, ranging from the simple single-stage ammonia AHP to a more complex GAX-cycle, did not correspond exactly to the features of Helioclim’s cycle. Therefore, a new model has been built: the position of the GAX and its connections to the other heat exchangers have been adapted and a recirculation in the generator has been proposed in order to correspond to Helioclim’s design. The model obtained is then used to assess the improvement of the performances with the GAX. It is also compared to the available experimental data. In the present study, a software program representing the whole solar air conditioning system is also developed, integrating the previous EES model. The software program considers the solar energy gathered by the collectors and deduces the energy transmitted to the heat pump. The EES model is then used to assess the performances of the heat pump in the operating conditions, allowing determining the produced cooling and heating. An economic and energy synthesis is produced, summarizing effectively the parameters and economic advantages of the installation. This software program allows sizing an installation for a client much more quickly than before.

Aquesta tesi doctoral està centrada en el funcionament dels partits d'àmbit estatal (PAES) en estats compostos a través de tres perspectives desenvolupades en quatre capítols: la dimensió orgànica, la institucional i l’electoral. Els PAE que operen en un context institucional multinivell han de fer front a una nova realitat política que modifica el seu funcionament ordinari, tant a les institucions de govern i oposició com en el funcionament orgànic i electoral del partit. Operar en estat compost implica per als partits la necessitat d’establir uns espais de decisió interna entre el partit i les organitzacions territorials del mateix partit, però també pot implicar donar respostes a l’aparició d’arenes electorals diverses, fent front a electorats que competeixen en clivelles electorals diverses i Partits d’Àmbit No Estatal que reclamen nous mecanismes d’autogovern o de govern compartit amb l’Estat. Aquest context ha contribuït al sorgiment d’una literatura que connecta la influència de l’element territorial en els partits. Concretament, durant la dècada dels 2000 s’han donat les primeres passes en la incidència de la descentraltizació en les estructures orgàniques i els mecanismes de decisió interna; l’impacte en l’arena electoral i l’evolució dels sistemes de partits en diversos nivells territorials. Aquest treball es desenvolupa seguint el camí iniciat durant la dècada dels 2000, amb l’interès de conceptualització aquesta qüestió, a través de l’anàlisi de continguts empírics en funció d’estudis de cas enfocats al cas del PSOE. Aquesta tesi contribueix a aquest debat presentant quatre capitols que adrecen la qüestió de com s’adapten els PAES, i més concretament el PSOE, a un context multinivell. La tesi analitza el període 2003-2011 i planteja els mecanismes que contribueixen a que les seccions subestatals dels PAES puguin dur a terme estratègies pròpies.<br>This doctoral thesis is focused on how Statewide Parties (SWP) operate in compound states. SWP operating in multi-level institutional contexts need to face a new political reality that modifies their regular activity. In this thesis three dimensions are considered in the four chapters, not including the conclusions: the organic dimension; the electoral dimension and the institutional one. Parties operating in a compound state need to stablish intern decision-making rules between the central organization and the regional branches of the organization. But it needs to find out new responses regarding the plurality of electoral arenas, confronting Non Statewide Parties claiming for more self-rule or share-rule dynamics. This context has fostered the proliferation of literature connecting the effect of the territorial issue on parties. More specifically, during the 2000s literature has paid attention on the effect of political decentralization on organic structures of the party, including intern decision-making; the impact on the electoral arena and the evolution of party systems on a plurality of territorial levels. This thesis responds to the literature on this question by presenting both conceptual and empirical contents on this topic. This doctoral thesis addresses the conceptual and empirical debate by presenting four chapters addressing this topic. The thesis addresses the mechanisms affecting the capacity of substate PSOE branches to develop their own strategies. The thesis focuses the analysis on an eight years period (2003-2011), including a comparative paper of the Statewide Parties capacity to drive to modify the Italian and Spanish Territorial Models.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado.<br>Empirical methods play an important role in the field of geomechanics due to the recognized complexity of the nature of rock mass. This study aims to analyze the applicability of empirical design methods in vein-shaped hydrothermal mining deposits (narrow vein) using Bieniawski and Barton classification systems, Mathews stability graphs, Potvin and Mawdesley geomechanics classification systems, and mining pit dilution based on the equivalent linear overbreak/slough (ELOS). In most cases, these methods are applied without understanding the underlying assumptions and limits of the database in relation to the inherent hidden risks. Herein, the dilutions obtained using the empirical methods oscillate between 8% and 11% (according to the frontal dimension), which are inferior to the operative dilution of the mine at 15%. The proposed model can be used as a practical tool to predict and reduce dilution in narrow veins.

L’objecte d’estudi d’aquesta tesi, que porta per títol “Models sindicals al món de la fàbrica (1976-1982)”, és l’anàlisi de l’organització i de les reivindicacions principals de la classe obrera a la Transició a sis de les empreses del metall més importants a Catalunya durant els darrers anys del franquisme i la Transició: SEAT, ENASA, Maquinista Terrestre i Marítima, Hispano Olivetti, Motor Ibérica i Roca Radiadores. A través del seu estudi, aquest treball recull com va ser l’evolució del moviment obrer en aquestes fàbriques (des dels seus inicis a finals dels anys cinquanta fins l’any 1982) i quines van ser les seves principals reivindicacions. L’estudi de la lluita obrera d’aquestes empreses s’ha desenvolupant seguint les reivindicacions més importants, en funció de les accions que van promoure per defensar-les, i que es cataloguen en: la millora de les condicions laborals i salarials, la defensa de les llibertats democràtiques i la defensa dels llocs de treball. En aquest treball no s’han abordat altres qüestions, també importants per a la classe obrera del moment, com la qüestió nacional a Catalunya, ja que s’ha focalitzat essencialment en la problemàtica a l’interior de la fàbrica. Tampoc no s’ha fet un estudi de la dona a la fàbrica perquè les empreses escollides pertanyen al sector del metall, i encara que hi havia presència femenina en aquestes fàbriques (fonamentalment a l’àmbit administratiu), a la cadena de muntatge la immensa majoria eren homes, encara que d’aquestes empreses han sortit dones sindicalistes destacades en la lluita sindical, com Isabel López a SEAT. El marc cronològic en què s’emmarca aquesta tesi comença l’any 1976, després de la mort del dictador, fins l’any 1982. Tot i així, el primer capítol és un resum del moviment obrer, any per any, a cadascuna d’aquestes fàbriques, des de 1958 aproximadament, fins 1975, que serveix per situar la lluita obrera a cada empresa a l’inici de la Transició. D’altra banda, posar una data com a punt final per aquest estudi ha estat un fet complex, ja que si ens fixéssim en l’evolució sindical, el final de la 9 transició es podria donar l’any 1985 amb l‟aprovació de la Llei Orgànica de Llibertat Sindical (LOLS) del 2 d’agost d’aquell any, on finalment es dóna una protecció definitiva a les centrals sindicals o el 1986, quan s’aprova la Llei 4/1986, del 8 de gener del Patrimoni Sindical Acumulat, i que posava fi a una reivindicació de dècades pel retorn del patrimoni sindical, pres pel franquisme als sindicats obrers d’abans de la dictadura. En canvi, en aquesta tesi s’ha escollit 1982 entenent que es donen els canvis suficients tant a l’àmbit polític (victòria del PSOE a les eleccions d’octubre) com sindical (on el model de representació sindical ja s’ha consolidat i, a més, és el moment en què la UGT supera per primera vegada CCOO a les eleccions sindicals, excepte a les comunitats de Catalunya i Madrid) com per tancar una etapa del moviment obrer a Espanya.

L’électrostimulation (EMS) est l’envoi d’impulsion électrique par le biais d’électrodes. Ces électrodes de surface sont posées sur la zone musculaire à stimuler. Cette technique est de plus en plus utilisée dans la rééducation musculaire lors de blessures, de pertes de mouvement ou d’atrophie. Ces EMS sont généralement combinées avec l’électromyogramme (EMG) qui enregistre l’activité électrique du muscle. Le but de la thèse est d’optimiser les paramètres de stimulation en temps réel lors d’une EMS. Pour ce faire, de nouvelles stratégies de contrôle robustes sont à développer. Nous avons convenu durant la thèse de travailler sur un modèle spécifique<br>This project aims to optimize smart electromyostimulators for the muscular reeducation. The electrostimulator optimization aims to improve the electrostimulation sessions (EMS) by obtaining informations on the muscular electical stimulations and the control application in real time in order to control the muscular response. Various control methods of the muscular force are been developed and applied on an accurate model. In first, the techniques will be applied on the partial model without taking into account the muscular fatigue then in second in taking into account the presence of fatigue and its effects. Theses control methods act on the stimulation parameters in frequency and in amplitude in function of the muscular response

The aim of this study was to compare the barrier properties of organic coatings with the same polymer matrix but different types of iron oxide particles, commercial and recycled. The work was carried out for the company SSAB with the aim of investigating whether the pigment Merox ferric oxide, which is produced in-house at the company during the pickling process, can be used and replace commercial iron oxide pigment. Evaluation of the barrier properties was done using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy where the capacitance of the coatings is calculated and reflects the water absorption of the coating over a period of exposure to the electrolyte. By comparing the capacitance of the different coatings, an estimation of the water transport through the different coatings was made. Complementary methods used were digital optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.  In this project, 6 lab samples were evaluated. In common, the samples consisted of the same metal substrate, hot-dip galvanized steel, and the binder in the coatings was polyester-melamine. Sample 1 consisted of the binder only, sample 2 contained the commercial iron oxide pigment, samples 3 and 4 consisted of Merox pigments but different levels of chlorine in the pigment. The thickness of the coatings of the 4 samples was 6 m. Sample 5 had a thicker coating of 20 m and contained Merox pigment. The last sample evaluated was a reference sample with anti-corrosive pigment with a thickness of 20 m. Furthermore, exposure tests were carried out with sample 5 to test how different electrolyte solutions affected the samples. The electrolytes tested were 1 M Na2SO4 (for reference), 1 M NaNO3 and 0.1 M NaCl.  The impedance measurements were performed in 3 parallel measurements on the samples with thinner coating (6 m) and an average of the capacitance was used to analyze how the capacitance changes over time. The results showed that sample 1 had much better barrier properties than the samples containing iron oxide pigments, although the exposure time to electrolyte was longer for this sample, the capacitance was lower. Both samples 2 and 4 increased rapidly in capacitance over a short period of time. Sample 3 had a rapid increase at the beginning which later decreased, the sample showed better barrier properties compared to samples 2 and 4. Cross-sectional studies carried out by scanning electron microscopy detected corrosion formation between the zinc and the coating on all samples with thinner coatings. Only one impedance measurement was made on samples 5 and 6, hence multiple measurements need to be performed to calculate the capacitance over time and provide complete and reliable results for these samples.  The results of the exposure tests indicated that the electrolyte used for the electrochemical impedance measurements, 1 M Na2SO4 is more corrosive than the other electrolytes tested, 1 M NaNO3 and 0.1 M NaCl.<br>Syftet med denna studie var att jämföra barriärsegenskaper hos organiska beläggningar med samma polymer matris men olika typer av järnoxidpartiklar, kommersiella och återvunna. Arbetet utfördes åt företaget SSAB med målet att undersöka om pigmentet Merox ferric oxide, vilket produceras internt på företaget under betningsprocessen, kan användas och ersätta kommersiellt järnoxidpigment. Utvärdering av barriärsegenskaperna gjordes med elektrokemisk impedansspektroskopi där beläggningarnas kapacitans beräknas och avspeglar vattenabsorption av beläggningen över en tidsperiod av exponering till elektrolyt. Genom att jämföra kapacitansen för de olika beläggningarna, har en estimering av vattentransporten genom de olika beläggningarna gjorts. Kompletterande metoder som användes var digitalt optiskt mikroskop och svepelektronmikroskopi.  I detta projekt utvärderades 6 labb-prover. Gemensamt bestod proverna av samma metallsubstrat, varmförzinkat stål och bindaren i beläggningarna var polyester-melamine. Prov 1 bestod endast av bindaren, prov 2 innehöll kommersiellt järnoxidpigmentet. Prov 3 och 4 bestod av Merox pigment men olika halter av klor i pigmentet. Tjockleken på beläggningarna hos de 4 proverna var 6 m. Prov 5 hade en tjockare beläggning på 20 m och innehöll Merox pigment. Det sista provet som utvärderades var ett referensprov med anti-korrosivt pigment med en tjocklek på 20 m. Vidare gjordes exponeringstester med prov 5 för att testa hur olika elektrolytlösningar påverkade proverna. Elektrolyterna som testades var 1 M Na2SO4 (som referens), 1 M NaNO3 och 0,1 M NaCl.  Impendansmätningarna utfördes i 3 parallella mätningar på proverna med tunnare beläggning (6 m) och ett medelvärde av kapacitansen användes för att analysera hur kapacitansen förändras över tiden. Resultatet visade att prov 1 hade mycket bättre barriärsegenskaper än proverna som innehöll järnoxid pigment, även fast exponeringstiden gentemot elektrolyt var längre för detta prov så var kapacitansen lägre. Både prov 2 och 4 ökade snabbt i kapacitans under en kort tidsperiod. Prov 3 hade en snabb ökning i början som senare avtog, provet visade bättre barriärsegenskaper jämfört med prov 2 och 4. Tvärsnittsstudier som genomfördes med svepelektronmikroskopi detekterade korrosionsbildning mellan zink och beläggningen på alla prover med tunnare beläggning. Endast en impedansmätning på prov 5 och 6 utfördes, därav behövs flera mätningar genomföras för att kunna beräkna kapacitansen över tid och ge fullständiga och pålitliga resultat för dessa prover.  Resultaten från exponeringstesterna visade på att elektrolyten som använts för elektrokemiska impedansmätningarna, 1 M Na2SO4 är mer korrosiv än de andra elektrolyterna som testades, 1 M NaNO3 och 0,1 M NaCl.

Estudis recents sobre les relacions entre la personalitat i els ritmes circadiaris indiquen que els vespertins tendeixen a ser més extravertits, impulsius i buscadors de novetats, mentre que els matutins tendeixen a ser més introvertits, responsables, amables i emocionalment estables, suggerint que la vespertinitat és un factor de risc per a problemes relacionats amb les conductes de risc i el control dels impulsos. El propòsit del present treball ha estat examinar les diferències entre les tipologies circadiàries amb el model biològic dels cinc factors alternatius de la personalitat (AFFM), recentment desenvolupat i actualitzat com a un dels models teòrics amb bases biològiques més sòlides. La investigació es va dividir en dos estudis: en el primer estudi, el Qüestionari de Personalitat Zuckerman-Kuhlman (ZKPQ) i el qüestionari reduït Matutinitat-Evenigness es van administrar a una mostra de 533 estudiants universitaris (168 homes) amb un rang d'edat 18-33 anys. Els resultats van mostrar que els subjectes matutins van obtenir puntuacions significativament més altes Activitat, i en les seves sub-escales Activitat General i Activitat Laboral. Una interacció significativa entre la tipologia circadiària i el sexe es va trobar en Neuroticisme-Ansietat: els homes matutins van mostrar una major puntuació que els vespertins i els intermedis, mentre que les dones van presentar el patró oposat: les intermèdies van obtenir les puntuacions més altes, mentre que les matutines van mostrar les més baixes. En el segon estudi, es van analitzar un total de 412 dones de 18 a 55 anys d'edat. Els resultats mostren que les dones també van obtenir puntuacions significativament més altes Activitat i en les seves sub-escales, i més baixes en Agressivitat-Hostilitat i Percaça de Sensacions. També es va observar una tendència a la significació en Neuroticisme-Ansietat, replicant els resultats del primer estudi. En tots els grups, els resultats van ser independents de l'edat. Aquests resultats estan d'acord amb els obtinguts en treballs anteriors i afegeixen noves dades, ja que és la primera vegada que s’utilitza l’ AFFM en el context de la investigació dels ritmes circadiaris. Es discuteixen les seves implicacions en l’àmbit laboral, acadèmic i clínic i es suggereix la idoneïtat de l’ús d’aquest model de personalitat ateses les seves bases biològiques.<br>Estudios recientes sobre las relaciones entre la personalidad y los ritmos circadianos indican que los vespertinos tienden a ser más extrovertidos, impulsivos y buscadores de novedades, mientras que los matutinos tienden a ser más introvertidos, responsables, amables y emocionalmente estables, sugiriendo que la vespertinidad es un factor de riesgo para problemas relacionados con las conductas de riesgo y el control de los impulsos. El propósito del presente trabajo ha sido examinar las diferencias entre las tipologías circadianas con el modelo biológico de los cinco factores alternativos de la personalidad (AFFM), recientemente desarrollado y actualizado como uno de los modelos teóricos con bases biológicas más sólidas. La investigación se dividió en dos estudios: en el primer estudio, el Cuestionario de Personalidad Zuckerman-Kuhlman (ZKPQ) y el cuestionario reducido Matutinidad-Evenigness se administró a una muestra de 533 estudiantes universitarios (168 hombres) con un rango de edad 18-33 años. Los resultados mostraron que los sujetos matutinos obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente más altas Actividad, y en sus sub-escalas Actividad General y Actividad Laboral. Una interacción significativa entre la tipología circadiana y el sexo se encontró en Neuroticismo-Ansiedad: los hombres matutinos mostraron una mayor puntuación que los vespertinos y los intermedios, mientras que las mujeres presentaron el patrón opuesto: las intermedias obtuvieron las puntuaciones más altas, mientras que las matutinas mostraron las más bajas. En el segundo estudio, se analizaron un total de 412 mujeres de 18 a 55 años de edad. Los resultados muestran que las mujeres también obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente más altas Actividad y en sus subescalas, y más bajas en Agresividad-Hostilidad y Búsqueda de Sensaciones. También se observó una tendencia a la significación en Neuroticismo-Ansiedad, replicando los resultados del primer estudio. En todos los grupos, los resultados fueron independientes de la edad. Estos resultados están de acuerdo con los obtenidos en trabajos anteriores y añaden nuevos datos, ya que es la primera vez que utiliza el AFFM en el contexto de la investigación de los ritmos circadianos. Se discuten sus implicaciones en el ámbito laboral, académico y clínico y se sugiere la idoneidad del uso de este modelo de personalidad debido a sus bases biológicas.<br>Recent research on the relationship between personality and circadian rhythms indicates that the evening-types tend to be more extravert, impulsive and novelty seekers, while the morning-types tend to be more introverted, conscious, agreeable and emotionally stable, suggesting that eveningness a risk factor for problems related to risk taking and impulse control. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between the circadian types with alternative biological model of the five factors of personality (AFFMAT), recently developed and updated as a theoretical model with a solid biological basis. The research was divided into two studies: in the first study, the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire and the reduced Morningness-Evenigness Questionnaire were administered to a sample of 533 college students (168 men) from 18 to 33 years. The results showed that morning-type subjects scored significantly higher in Activity, and its sub-scales General Activity and Work Activity. A significant interaction between sex and circadian typology was found in neuroticism-Anxiety: morning-type men showed higher scores than evening and intermediate types, while women showed the opposite pattern: the intermediate obtained the highest scores, while the morning-types showed the lowest. In the second study, a sample of 412 women from 18 to 55 years of age was analyzed. The results also show that women scored again significantly higher in Activity and its subscales, and lower in Aggression-Hostility and Impulsive Sensation Seeking. We also observed a trend towards significance in Neuroticism-Anxiety, replicating the results of the first study. In all groups, the results were independent of age. These results agree with those obtained in previous studies and add new data as it is the first time the AFFM is used in the context of circadian rhythms research. We discuss the implications of these results in the professional, academic and clinical areas and it is suggested the suitability of using this personality model given its biological basis.

The aim of this thesis is to create an application in MS Excel, which would have been able to count on basic stock models, and Markov decision processes with alternatives. This issue is devoted to the first part of the work. This is the theory needed to understand the basic principles and method of calculation tasks. The second part describes the developed application that can be solved one-product and multiproduct deterministic stock models, stochastic stock models and Markov decision processes with alternatives, and changing valuation of the transition. The description is supplemented with graphic images directly from the application, which makes using applications easier to understand. The part of work is also CD with created application.

<p>Samverkansarbete har under det senaste decenniet genomgående förändrats bland svenska högskolor på grund av bland annat lagändringar, samhällsförändringar och internationell påverkan. År 1997 instiftades en samverkanslag i högskolelagen vid namn den tredje uppgiften. Den tredje uppgiften är idag en naturlig del bland svenska högskolor och syftar till samverkan av utbildning och forskning med det omgivande samhället. Diskussionen har varit omfattande när det gäller hur samhället och högskolan tjänar på att samverka, på vilket sätt det ska ske och hur man på ett konkret sätt kan påvisa de bästa tillvägagångssätten. </p><p>Samverkan är ett brett och komplext ämne. Vi har i denna uppsats valt att beröra två enheter vid Högskolan i Halmstad. Enheterna är Centrum för Arbetsutveckling, CAU, som är en nerlagd forskningsorganisation och Enheten för Kontakter och Samverkan, EKS, som är en paraplyorganisation för samverkan. Syftet med uppsatsen är att beskriva och analysera olika uppfattningar om samverkansarbetet på Högskolan i Halmstad och att studera tidigare befintliga erfarenheter. Studien baseras på berättelser kring CAU:s och EKS:s arbetssätt och syftar till att beskriva inställningar, erfarenheter och idéer kring samverkan bland personal vid Högskolan. </p><p>Vi har intervjuat personal som arbetar eller har arbetat inom någon av de två organisationerna. Intervjuerna resulterade i berättelser kring olika arbetssätt, inställningar, erfarenheter samt idéer kring hur samverkan kan organiseras och integreras med det omgivande näringslivet. De teoretiska verktygen vi använt oss av är ”Mode 1” & ”Mode 2” samt Trippelhelixmodellen. Resultatet indikerar att CAU var en organisation som i hög grad arbetade i enlighet med Mode 2 medan EKS strävar mot en kombination av både Mode 1 & Mode 2. Trippelhelixmodellen förklarar samtidigt varför det fanns vissa svårigheter att integrera CAU i högskolans verksamhet och hur EKS är uppbyggt och anpassat för att främja ett starkt samverkansorganisatoriskt arbete.</p><p>Slutsatsen är att det finns centrala skillnader mellan CAU och EKS när det gäller på vilket sätt dessa enheter kan beskrivas utifrån tidsperspektiv, acceptans och arbetssätt. I denna uppsats framgår till exempel att ett kortsiktigt samverkansarbete, baserat på projektverksamhet, kan skapa oroligheter och hämma acceptansen bland personal i högskolans övriga verksamheter. Bygger verksamheten, å andra sidan, på en mer långsiktig och hög grad av både intern och extern samverkan så uppfattas den som mer dynamisk och snabb på att svara mot förändrade yttre omständigheter.</p>

Tra le diverse tipologie di sistemi di accumulo energetico, i supercondensatori, grazie alla elevata densità di potenza, alla scarsa manutenzione richiesta e alla lunga vita utile in termini di numero di cicli, vedono grande flessibilità e possibilità di applicazione in molteplici settori del mercato, sia in utilizzo esclusivo sia all’interno di sistemi ibridi, dove vengono affiancati ad un'altra tecnologia di accumulo con caratteristiche complementari in grado di migliorarne le performance. Nell’ottica di estendere le applicazioni e ottimizzare il progetto e le prestazioni dei sistemi a supercondensatore è fondamentale lo sviluppo di modelli efficaci, in grado di simulare in maniera fedele il comportamento reale. L’elaborazione di modelli permette di eseguire test e simulare diverse condizioni operative, anche estreme, contenendo i costi e senza generare situazioni di pericolo. In questa tesi vengono esposti i principali modelli elettrici di celle a supercondensatore (SCs) presenti in letteratura e ne viene proposta l’implementazione in ambiente Matlab-Simulink, avvalendosi anche degli strumenti forniti dalle librerie Stateflow e Simscape. La procedura di stima dei parametri viene condotta attraverso la apposita toolbox di Simulink e i risultati dei modelli ottimizzati vengono confrontati con i profili sperimentali, ricavati da test eseguiti in laboratorio su un supercondensatore Maxwell Technologies BCAP3000. Infine, vista la possibilità offerta dai SC di sopportare veloci cicli di carica e scarica, viene eseguita un’analisi della risposta in frequenza, sempre in ambiente Simulink, in cui si realizza il diagramma complesso di impedenza nel range di frequenza da 1 mHz a 100 kHz. Tale analisi consentirà di individuare i valori di frequenza limite oltre i quali il supercondensatore non risulta più efficiente e sarà completata da un’interpretazione sia elettrica circuitale, sia fisica dei grafici di impedenza.

Efterfrågan på elfordon växer snabbt, med en ökning i Europa från 734 nyregistrerade elbilar 2010 till 550 000 år 2019 (Europeiska miljöbyrån, 2020). Medan denna trend fortsätter följer efterfrågan på litiumjonbatterier (LIB) en liknande väg. Europeiska unionen visar stort intresse för marknadsutvecklingen eftersom elektrifieringen av transporter är ett viktigt delmål på vägen mot noll-utsläpp av växthusgaser. EU utvecklar därför ett nytt direktiv för batterier där EV-batterier (EVB) har mer fokus än i det tidigare batteridirektivet från 2006. I det nya direktivet kommer EVB-tillverkaren att ha ett utökat ansvar, vilket innebär att den ansvarar för de EVB:er den för till marknaden i slutet av livslängden (EOL). Denna studie syftar till att undersöka den aktuella försörjningskedjan och designen av EVB:er, liksom de nuvarande och kommande tekniska lösningarna för återvinning av EVB:er. Detta för att sedan diskutera hur EVB-tillverkare ska agera gällande återvinning som svar på det nya EUdirektivet om batterier. Studien avgränsas till supply-chain och materialförsörjning; hur man utformar EVB:er för återvinning; och de nuvarande tekniska lösningarna för EVB:er som nått EOL. Grunden till studien är till fullo genomgång av vetenskapliga publikationer, tekniska rapporter och prognoser för marknads- och teknisk utveckling. Resultaten av den inlästa litteraturen visar en allmän enighet om att det kommer uppstå brist på litium och andra kritiska material för EVB-tillverkning vilket i slutändan kommer att leda till volatila priser. Det uppdaterade batteridirektivet är konstaterat att sätta tydliga mål för högre nivåer av återvunnet material i nya EVB:er, men det kommer också sätta tydliga mål att EVB:er som kan återanvändas i andra applikationer än EV:er måste återanvändas fram till EOL. Man har dragit slutsatsen att design för återvinning kommer att vara viktigt för att göra återvinningsprocessen lönsam. Vi har diskuterat möjligheterna och utmaningarna som leasing av EVB:er ger EVB-tillverkare i samband med leasing av EVB:er. Leasingen ger EVB-tillverkaren möjligheten att säkra EVB:er ochdärmed batterimaterial genom återvinning vid EOL. Positioneringen i värdekedjan har också diskuterats. Vi ser att det finns en uppenbar avvägning mellan att integrera uppströms och att förbli flexibel. Integrering uppströms möjliggör kontroll över EVB:er till EOL samt möjlighet att välja om man vill sälja det återvunna litiumet eller att använda det i sin egen produktion.<br>The demand of electric vehicles (EV) grows rapidly, with an increase in Europe from 734 newly registered EVs in 2010, to 550 000 in 2019 (European Environment Agency, 2020). While this trend continues, the demand of lithium ion batteries (LIB) follows a similar path. With electrified transportation being an important sub-goal on the road to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union shows great interest for the development of the market. The EU is therefore developing a new directive for batteries in which EV batteries (EVB) have more focus than in theearlier Batteries Directive from 2006. In the new directive, producers of EVBs will have an extended responsibility, meaning that they are responsible for the batteries at end of life (EOL). This study aims at investigating the current supply-chain and design of EVBs, as well as the current and upcoming technical solutions for recycling of EVBs, in order to discuss how EVB manufacturers can and should act regarding recycling, as a response to the new EU directive on batteries. The study is delimited to supply-chain and material sourcing; how to design batteries for recycling; and the current technical solutions for EOL batteries. The research is solely based on literature review of scientific publications, technical reports and forecasts of market and technical development. The results of the literature shows a general consensus that there will be shortage of lithium andother critical materials for EVB manufacturing which ultimately will lead to unstable prices. The updated battery directive will most certainly set clear goals of higher levels of recycled material in new EVBs, but it will also implicate that batteries that can be used for other applications than EVs need to be reused until EOL. It has been concluded that designing for recycling will be importantfor making the recycling process economically viable. We have discussed the possibilities and challenges for EVB manufacturers associated with leasing EVBs as a business model where they can secure batteries and by extension material for recycling at EOL. The positioning in the value chain has also been discussed. We see that there is an apparent tradeoff between integrating upstream and remaining flexible. Integrating upstream will enable control over batteries at EOL as well as the opportunity to choose whether to sell the recycled lithium or to use it in their own production.

Although investment in IT is growing rapidly, a number of studies have shown that the full benefits of this technology are not realised. One explanation is that these benefits exist, but have not been correctly measured. The other explanation is that they have not been achieved because of lack of management attention. Experience and common sense supports the latter assumption. Hence, the aim of this research is to develop and to trial a method which assists in the realisation of the benefits of a particularly problematic technology, executive information systems (EIS).The proposed method introduces the concept of generic benefits models into previous research on IT benefits management. This construct improves existing methods of benefits management in three respects. First, it employs reuse of benefits models in order to speed their development. Secondly, it allows these methods to be employed at any stage of a project, not just at the outset, in order to extract benefits. Thirdly, it provides a conceptual object which serves as the focus of organisational learning. The major focus of the research is on the development of generic benefits models of EIS. This requires an understanding of the role which information plays in executive work and how EIS technology may affect the manner in which executives use information. Unfortunately, the literature on executive work does not make this clear. Moreover, it seems that there is no agreed definition of EIS. As a result, it is necessary to create different generic models for different theories of executive work and different forms of EIS. The methodological approach adopted is pragmatism, in particular the experimentalism proposed by John Dewey and implemented by Donald Schon. The justification for this is that the primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the utility of the proposed method rather than its ability to explain, predict, or provide insight. The study includes six experiments conducted within the office of the Malaysian Prime Minister. Different types of EIS, with different degrees of benefits already realised, and at different stages of development are the subjects of these experiments. The results largely affirm the proposed method, but they do suggest some refinement of the original benefits models. They also indicate simplification of the models is possible. In addition the executives who participated in these experiments favour the proposed method. However, the IS practitioners in the organisation are less enthusiastic. The study proposes a solution to this problem which includes both changes to organisational structure and to the education of IS practitioners. The research also produced a number of supplementary findings. It reaffirmed the findings of Mintzberg's study of executive work. It demonstrated once again that executives rarely use EIS directly and that they mostly depended on subordinates to access information. When executives do employ EIS themselves, they are more likely to use it to enhance their learning than to support decision-making.

The development of tool steels for making and shaping other materials requires a better understanding of the material's properties during manufacture. These high-quality steels include many alloying elements, which give increased hardness during tempering. For producing hardened microstructures, austenite generation is essential. The martensite formed by rapid quenching of austenite followed by tempering helps develop high strength steels. Studying carbide precipitation is a challenge as they are very small in size, present only in small volume fractions and high number densities. The carbide reactions are complicated due to so-called metastable carbides, which are only present as part of the precipitation process. This work focuses on model alloys with two main elements in addition to iron and carbon, molybdenum, and vanadium, to clarify and simplify the carbide characterization. This is done to determine the effect of molybdenum and vanadium carbides on the overall hardness. In this work, two model alloys, A and B, are tempered at 550°C and 600°C with the same vanadium content but different molybdenum contents. The hardness of the materials is evaluated and compared at these temperatures. A more detailed characterization work is done for material A with Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) to understand the microstructure and analyze the precipitates. Simulations are performed with Thermo-Calc Prisma (TC-Prisma) to support the experimental work, which includes the simulation of the secondary carbide precipitation, mainly molybdenum carbides in material A tempered for 24h at 600°C, and predicts the carbide precipitation behavior in this steel. The results from STEM-EDS and TC-Prisma for material A, show that the small secondary carbides in the martensite contribute to the increased strength of material A. Due to the overaging of the carbides at 600°C, the hardness at 550°C is higher than at 600°C for material A. The given thesis work is an attempt to interpret the development of secondary carbides of Mo and V in the martensitic matrix and their role in the overall hardness.<br>Den ständiga utvecklingen av högpresterande stål för transport, konstruktion och energisektorn kräver bättre förståelse för materialets egenskaper vid tillverkning. Dessa martensitiska stål inkluderar många legeringselement vilket ger ökad hårdhet vid härdning och anlöpning. Att studera utskiljning av karbider är en utmaning eftersom de är närvarande endast i liten volymsfraktion. Karbidreaktionerna är komplexa till följd av så kallade metastabila karbider vilka endast är närvarande vid en del av utskiljningsförloppet. För att tydliggöra och förenkla karbidkarakteriseringen fokuserar detta arbete på modellegeringar med två huvudelement utöver järn och kol, molybden och vanadin. Detta görs för att fastställa effekten av molybden och vanadinkarbider på den totala hårdheten. I detta arbete studeras två modellegeringar, A och B, härdade och anlöpta vid 550 °C och 600 °C med samma vanadininnehåll men olika molybdeninnehåll. Materialens hårdhet utvärderas och jämförs vid dessa temperaturer. Ett mer detaljerat karaktäriseringsarbete görs för material A med hjälp av STEM-EDS för att förstå mikrostrukturen och analysera utskiljningarna. Simuleringar görs med TC-PRISMA för att stödja det experimentella arbetet, vilket inkluderar simulering av den sekundära karbidutskiljningen och predikterar karbidstrukturen i dessa stål. Resultaten visar att de små sekundärkarbiderna i martensiten bidrar till den ökade styrkan hos material A. Hårdheten vid 550 °C är högre än vid 600 °C för material A eftersom både utskiljningen av karbider är sker långsammare och även dislokationsåterhämtning.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver is an important non-invasive tool for diagnosing liver disease. A key application is dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). With the use of the hepatocyte specific contrast agent (CA) Gd-EOB-DTPA it is now possible to evaluate the liver function. Beyond traditional qualitative evaluation of the DCE-MRI images, parametric quantitative techniques are on the rise which yields more objective evaluations. Systems biology is a gradually expanding field using mathematical modeling to gain deeper mechanistic understanding in complex biological systems. The aim of this thesis to combine these two fields in order to derive a physiologically accurate minimal whole body model that can be used to quantitatively evaluate liver function using clinical DCE-MRI examinations.  The work is based on two previously published sources of data using Gd-EOB-DTPA in healthy humans; i) a region of interest analysis of the liver using DCE-MRI ii) a pre-clinical evaluation of the contrast agent using blood sampling.  The modeling framework consists of a system of ordinary differential equations for the contrast agent dynamics and non-linear models for conversion of contrast agent concentrations to relaxivity values in the DCE-MRI image volumes. Using a χ2-test I have shown that the model, with high probability, can fit the experimental data for doses up to twenty times the clinically used one, using the same parameters for all doses. The results also show that some of the parameters governing the hepatocyte flux of CA can be numerically identifiable. Future applications with the model might be as a basis for regional liver function assessment. This can lead to disease diagnosis and progression evaluation for physicians as well as support for surgeons planning liver resection.

<p>Environmental (‘Green’) issues have become an increasingly important issue in contemporary business management. Pressure on business regarding environmental issues is increasing and is expected to continue to do so into the future. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are thought to have a large combined effect on the environment and this area has been cited as problematic for the SME sector. This thesis investigates collaboration amongst SMEs through networks as a way to increase environmental activity in this sector – focusing on the Hackefors model (a joint ISO 14001 certification network). The empirical study of this thesis involved a survey study of 4 networks that have implemented the Hackefors model to achieve ISO 14001 in Sweden. The networks represented SMEs from a large variety of industries and the study brought a 75% response rate. It explored different aspects of the Hackefors model, such as the motives and benefits for entering the network, drawbacks and disadvantages of the model, network relations, pressures for ISO 14001 certification and the possibility of extended network relations after certification. The results showed that group ISO 14001 certification using the Hackefors model is an effective way for an SME to implement an EMS. Not only is the model successful in achieving certification, it also brings many other benefits with it. The Hackefors model can be seen as an effective way to encourage SMEs who may not have previously considered an EMS, to implement ISO 14001. In addition, it helps companies become ISO 14001 certified at a significantly lower cost and to overcome some of the problems traditionally associated with SMEs, such as size and lack of time.</p>

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), with incidence and prevalence increasing worldwide. It is considered a complex, multifactorial disease with no cure. Even though large progress has been made in recent years, current therapies are far from satisfactory, and show extreme variability of outcomes due to patient heterogeneity. The traditional therapy consists of anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, antibiotics, and immunomodulatory drugs. This non-specific immunosuppression guarantees disease-control in some patients although the long-term use of these drugs is correlated with a significant number of therapy-associated complications and side-effects. A dramatic improvement in disease management was achieved by the introduction of biological agents targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines such as anti-TNF-α. Despite the revolutionary impact of these agents in IBD disease management, treatments such as anti-TNF-α do show several drawbacks – for example, up to 50% of patients do not respond at all or eventually lose response. This variability in clinical outcome is reflecting the variability of individuals due to different genetics, life style and inflammatory state. Therefore, there is a need to define the specific inflammatory state of a given patient, considering individual complications and develop new in-vitro systems and biomarkers that predict drug responsiveness and allow developing patient-specific treatment In this thesis, different in-vitro models were developed addressing different aspects and compartments of IBD pathology including the enteric nervous system, the ECM component fibrillin-1, as well as patient-derived, three dimensional short-term and long-term cultures that will bring us a step closer towards personalized medicine.<br>Le malattie infiammatorie croniche intestinali (MICI) sono un gruppo di patologie complesse ad eziologia multifattoriale, caratterizzate da uno stato infiammatorio cronico del tratto gastrointestinale, la cui incidenza a livello mondiale è in continuo aumento. Nonostante nel corso degli ultimi anni siano stati fatti numerosi progressi nel controllo della malattia, l’attuale approccio terapeutico rimane ancora lontano dall’essere soddisfacente e l’esito clinico che ne deriva è estremamente variabile a causa della vasta eterogeneità tra i pazienti. La terapia tradizionale, che consiste nella somministrazione di farmaci antinfiammatori, corticosteroidi, antibiotici o farmaci immunomodulatori, garantisce il controllo della malattia in alcuni pazienti, ma, a causa della non-specificità e del lungo periodo di utilizzo, è correlata all’insorgenza di numerose complicanze ed effetti collaterali. Un significativo miglioramento nella gestione della malattia è stato raggiunto attraverso l’introduzione di farmaci biologici, il cui target è rappresentato principalmente dalle citochine pro-infiammatorie implicate nella patologia, come ad esempio il TNF-α. Nonostante il forte impatto clinico, l’utilizzo di farmaci biologici, come l’anti-TNF-α ha mostrato diversi svantaggi, tra cui un’alta percentuale di non-responsività al trattamento oppure la perdita di risposta nel corso del tempo. La grande variabilità che si riscontra nella risposta clinica riflette di fatto la variabilità che sussiste tra i diversi individui, ed è dovuta principalmente a differenze a livello genetico, nello stile di vita e nello stato infiammatorio. Di conseguenza, cresce sempre più la necessità di definire nello specifico lo stato infiammatorio e le complicanze caratteristiche di ciascun paziente e di sviluppare nuovi sistemi di screening in-vitro che possano predire la risposta al trattamento e quindi consentire un approccio terapeutico specifico per ciascun individuo. Nell’ottica di una medicina predittiva e della terapia personalizzata, in questa tesi sono stati sviluppati differenti modelli in-vitro, che prendono in considerazione diversi aspetti e compartimenti implicati nelle malattie infiammatorie croniche intestinali, quali il sistema nervoso enterico, la fibrillina-1, componente della matrice extracellulare, così come colture tridimensionali a breve e lungo termine derivate da campioni bioptici umani. Questi modelli sperimentali di infiammazione cronica intestinale potranno costituire uno strumento clinico utile per applicazioni di medicina personalizzata.

La stima dei parametri fisici degli eventi di onde gravitazionali rilevati da LIGO e Virgo si basa su modelli di forme d'onda analitiche, eventualmente calibrati da simulazioni di Relatività Numerica. Il modello EOB (Effective-One-Body) è uno dei principali modelli analitici per l’analisi dei segnali gravitazionali emessi da buchi neri e stelle di neutroni. La qui presente tesi, a grandi linee, è un lavoro di “potenziamento” di questo modello, e in particolare I) lo miglioriamo nei suoi vari settori, con l'obiettivo finale di costruire un modello che includa tutte le informazioni fisiche disponibili: in particolare, quelle riguardanti i multipoli subdominanti, utili per ottimizzare la risoluzione angolare dell'analisi dati degli esperimenti di onde gravitazionali [ 1, 4, 5, 7]; II) usarlo per sviluppare approssimanti Post-Newtoniani veloci, di ordine elevato, molto utili per le analisi bayesiane inerenti le pipeline LIGO e Virgo [3]; III) utilizzarlo per studiare, nel caso delle stelle binarie di neutroni, l’influenza degli effetti di self-spin sulla loro forma d'onda [2]. Uno degli elementi costitutivi centrali del modello EOB è la forma d'onda multipolare Post-Newtoniana (PN) fattorizzata e circolarizzata introdotta in [8] per binarie senza spin. In[4], estendiamo fino a l= 6 (cioè a multipoli alti) l'approccio di Nagar e Shah [9], poiché ha un accordo con la relatività numerica (utilizzata come punto di riferimento per la calibrazione) migliore del suo precursore [8]. In [4], questo approccio è stato aggiornato al caso di una particella rotante intorno ad un buco nero di Schwartzschild. Lo stesso approccio è stato altresì adattato in [5] al fine di aggiornare il modello EOB quadrupolare TEOBResumS, un codice C ++ [1] disponibile nella LIGO Advanced Library (LAL) e citato nel catalogo [10], a una sua naturale versione multipolare [7]. Fatto salvo ciò, mediante la tecnica di espansione EOB-PN definita in [11], il lavoro svolto in [3] conduce a un approssimante fenomenologico di ordine 5.5PN veloce e preciso che, includendo più informazioni sulle correzioni test-particle rispetto a quello standard a 3.5PN, ottimizza la stima dei parametri di marea dell'analisi dei dati BNS. Nel lavoro [2], incorporiamo in TEOBResumS i termini di self-spin dipendenti dall’equazione di stato (EOS) all'ordine next-to-next-to-leading (NNLO), insieme ad altri effetti (bilineari, cubici e quartici) al leading-order (LO). Qui, con la stessa cassetta degli attrezzi usata in[3], studiamo la dipendenza degli effetti di self spin legati all’EOS, e dimostriamo che le correzioni di ordine NLO e NNLO, a livello di interazione monopolo-quadrupolo, producono effetti di accelerazione di fase più marcati rispetto al corrispondente contributo LO; oltre a questo, si osserva altresì che una volta inclusi gli effetti di auto spin al NLO (3PN) nel Taylor F2, essi sono più attrattivi rispetto a quanto previsto dalla corrispondente descrizione EOB. Infine, abbiamo ottenuto un approssimante TaylorF2 che fornisce una rappresentazione analiticamente semplificata, ma fedele all'EOB, degli effetti di self-spin (effetti di coda inclusi) che può essere utile per migliorare gli attuali modelli di forma d'onda PN (o fenomenologici) per l’inspiralling di stelle di neutroni. Referenze: References: [1] Phys. Rev., D98(10):104052, 2018. [2] Phys. Rev., D99:044007, 2019. [3] Phys. Rev., D99:124051, 2019. [4] Phys. Rev., D97(8): 084016, 2018. [5] Phys. Rev., D100(10):104056, 2019. [6] Phys. Rev., D99(4):044051, 2019. [7] Phys. Rev. D 102, 024077 (2020) [8]Phys. Rev., D79:064004, 2009. [9] Phys. Rev., D94(10):104017, 2016. [10] Phys. Rev. X 9, 031040 [11] Phys. Rev., D95(12):124001, 2017.<br>The parameter estimation of gravitational wave events detected by LIGO and Virgo relies on analytical waveforms models, possibly calibrated (or informed) by Numerical Relativity simulations. The effective-one-body (EOB) model is one of the main analytical models available that can be efficiently used for analyzing both black hole and neutron star binaries. In this script we I) improve it in its various sectors, with the final aim to build a model that includes all the physical information available: in particular, the higher subdominant multipoles information, that is useful to optimize GW data analysis’ angular resolution [1, 4, 5, 7]; II) use it to develop high-order fast PN approximants for Bayesian analysis in LIGO and Virgo pipelines [3]; III) use it to study the self-spin effects of binary Neutron Stars on their own waveform [2]. One of the central building blocks of the EOB model is the factorized and resummed (circularized) multipolar post-Newtonian (PN) waveform introduced in Ref. [8] for nonspinning binaries. In Ref. [4], we extend up to ` = 6 (i.e. to high multipoles) the resummation approach of Nagar and Shah [9], since it has a better analytical/numerical relativity agreement than its precursor [8]. Ref. [4], updated to the case of a spinning particle of Schwartzschild problem in Ref. [5], has been used in order to update the spin-aligned, quadrupolar EOB model TEOBResumS, a C++ code [1] available in the LIGO Advanced Library (LAL) and cited in the GW catalogue [10], to a multipolar version [7]. Therefore, following the EOB-PN expansion technique defined in [11], Ref. [3] leads to a fast and accurate 5.5PN phenomenological approximant that, by including more point-mass information than the standard 3.5PN one, optimizes the tidal-parameter estimation of BNS data analysis. In Ref [2], we incorporate the EOS-dependent selfspin terms in TEOBResumS at next-to-next-to-leading (NNLO) order, together with other (bilinear, cubic and quartic) nonlinear-in-spin effects (at leading order, LO). Here, with the same toolbox used in Ref. [3], we study the EOS dependence of the self-spin effects and show that the next-to-leading order (NLO) and NNLO monopole-quadrupole corrections yield increasingly phase-accelerating effects compared to the corresponding LO contribution; that the standard TaylorF2 post-Newtonian (PN) treatment of NLO (3PN) EOS-dependent self-spin effects makes their action stronger than the corresponding EOB description; and, finally, we obtain a tail-augmented TaylorF2 approximant that yields an analytically simplified, EOB-faithful, representation of the EOS-dependent self-spin phasing that can be useful to improve current PN-based (or phenomenological) waveform models for inspiralling neutron star binaries. References: [1] Phys. Rev., D98(10):104052, 2018. [2] Phys. Rev., D99:044007, 2019. [3] Phys. Rev., D99:124051, 2019. [4] Phys. Rev., D97(8): 084016, 2018. [5] Phys. Rev., D100(10):104056, 2019. [6] Phys. Rev., D99(4):044051, 2019. [7] Phys. Rev. D 102, 024077 (2020) [8]Phys. Rev., D79:064004, 2009. [9] Phys. Rev., D94(10):104017, 2016. [10] Phys. Rev. X 9, 031040 [11] Phys. Rev., D95(12):124001, 2017.

Sistemas manipuladores flexíveis apresentam muitas vantagens sobre os sistemas tradicionais (manipuladores com braço rígido). No entanto, sua utilização em diversas áreas industriais não tem sido favorecida devido às dificuldades no controle destes manipuladores flexíveis. Esta tese apresenta um estudo teórico da modelagem e caracterização de um sistema manipulador com dois elos flexíveis. O produto desta modelagem, obtida através do Maple é usado para simular o sistema manipulador com dois elos flexíveis no software do MATLAB. Os resultados práticos são obtidos a partir da montagem experimental em conjunto com o software do dSPACE e do MATLAB, estes programas são utilizados para tratamento dos sinais coletados da planta. Após a obtenção dos resultados teóricos e experimentais é feita uma análise comparativa não paramétrica com o objetivo de verificar a precisão associada ao modelo não paramétrico obtido na teoria. A modelagem do sistema é baseada no método dos modos assumidos, obtendo-se os dois primeiros modos de vibração para os dois elos flexíveis utilizados no experimento.

[EN] Water is the foundation for all biological life on Earth and one of the basic links between the biosphere and atmosphere. It is equally fundamental for humans and nature (Tolba, 1982). In an environment of growing scarcity and competition for water, increasing the understanding of all fluxes of the water cycle lies at the heart of the scientific community's goals. Traditionally, water and vegetation have been considered as different systems. However, it is necessary to take a holistic approach which considers the question of the water cycle in an integrated manner by taking into account both: blue water and green water (Birot et al., 2011). Around this idea, the new discipline Ecohydrology emerged in the early 20th century and, from then; it has grown steadily as shown by the increasing number of research lines and scientific papers related to this new field. However, most of the current hydrological models includes the vegetation as static parameter and not as state variable. There are some exceptions taking explicitly the vegetation as state variable but in those cases, the models' complexity and parametrical requirements increase substantially. In practice, we have to deal against the 'data scarcity - high parametrical requirements' issue really often. To reduce that issue, two strategies can be applied: (1) simplification of the models' conceptual scheme and (2) increase of data availability by incorporating new sources of information. In this thesis, we explored the use of a distributed parsimonious ecohydrological modelling (with low parametrical requirements) calibrated and validated exclusively with remote sensing data. First, we used the parsimonious ecohydrological model proposed by Pasquato et al. (2015) in an experimental plot located in a semi-arid Mediterranean forest. The results in this previous stage suggested that the model was able to adequately reproduce the dynamics of vegetation as well as the soil moisture variations. In other words, it has been shown that a parsimonious model with simple equations can achieve good results in general terms. But, as long as we applied the model at plot scale, the challenging task to reproduce the spatial variation of the vegetation and water cycle remained. To explore the spatio-temporal variation of the vegetation and the water cycle, the distributed version of the parsimonious ecohydrological model used previously was applied in a basin located in Kenya, concretely in the Upper Ewaso Ngiro River basin. In order to explore the potential applicability of the satellite data, we calibrated the model using exclusively the NDVI provided by NASA. First of all, we had to deal with the fact that we were not calibrating the model with only one temporal series such as historical streamflow as usual. In fact, satellite data is composed by one temporal series per pixel. We had to identify how to use spatio-temporal (and not only temporal) data during models' calibration and validation. In that sense, unfortunately, there is still a deep lack in literature. A methodology based on the use of Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis was proposed and successfully applied. This experience provided amazing and promising results. The obtained results demonstrated that: (1) satellite data of vegetation dynamics contains an extraordinary amount of information that can be used to implement ecohydrological models in scarce data regions; (2) the proposed semi-automatic calibration methodology works satisfactorily and it allows to incorporate spatio-temporal data in the model parameterization and (3) the model calibrated only using satellite data is able to reproduce both the spatio-temporal vegetation dynamics and the observed discharge at the outlet point. It is important to highlight the positive consequences of this last result particularly in ungauged basins where the use of satellite data could be an alternative in order to obtain a proxy of the streamflow at outlet point.<br>[ES] El agua es la base de toda vida biológica en la Tierra y uno de los enlaces básicos entre la biosfera y la atmósfera. Es igualmente fundamental para los seres humanos y la naturaleza (Tolba, 1982). Tradicionalmente, el agua y la vegetación se han considerado como sistemas diferentes pero es claramente necesario tomar un enfoque holístico que considere la cuestión del ciclo del agua de una manera integrada, teniendo en cuenta tanto el agua azul como el agua verde (Birot et al., 2011). Alrededor de esta idea surgió la nueva disciplina llamada Ecohidrología a principios del siglo XX y desde entonces, no ha dejado de crecer tal y como demuestran el creciente aumento de líneas de investigación y publicaciones científicas relacionadas con este nuevo campo. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los modelos hidrológicos actuales incluye la vegetación como un parámetro estático y no como una variable de estado. Hay algunas excepciones que toman explícitamente la vegetación como variable de estado, pero en esos casos, la complejidad y el número de parámetros a determinar de los modelos aumentan sustancialmente. En la práctica, tenemos que hacer frente a la temible combinación de "escasez de datos - alto número de parámetros a determinar" con mucha frecuencia. Para reducir este problema, se pueden aplicar dos estrategias: (1) simplificar la complejidad conceptual de los modelos y así reducir el número de parámetros a calibrar, y/o (2) aumentar la disponibilidad de datos mediante la incorporación de nuevas fuentes de información. En esta tesis, hemos explorado el uso de un modelo ecohidrológico distribuido y parsimonioso (con pocos parámetros a determinar) que ha sido completamente calibrado y validado exclusivamente con datos de teledetección. En primer lugar, se utilizó el modelo ecohidrológico parsimonioso propuesto por Pasquato et al. (2015) en una parcela experimental situada en un bosque mediterráneo semiárido. Los resultados obtenidos en esta primera etapa de la tesis sugirieron que el modelo era capaz de reproducir adecuadamente la dinámica de la vegetación, así como las variaciones de humedad del suelo. En otras palabras, se pudo demostrar que un modelo parsimonioso con ecuaciones simples puede lograr buenos resultados en términos generales. Pero, como el modelo había sido aplicado a escala de parcela, todavía quedaba como tarea pendiente reproducir la variación espacial de la vegetación y del ciclo hidrológico. Para explorar la variación espacio-temporal de la vegetación y del ciclo del agua, se aplicó la versión distribuida del modelo ecohidrológico y parsimonioso utilizado previamente en una cuenca situada en Kenia. Con el fin de explorar la posible aplicabilidad de los datos de satélite, calibramos el modelo utilizando exclusivamente el NDVI proporcionada por la NASA. Se aplicó con éxito una metodología basada en el uso de la identificación de las funciones ortogonales empíricas (EOF por sus siglas en inglés). Esta última prueba proporcionó resultados prometedores: (1) los datos de satélite contienen una cantidad extraordinaria de información que puede ser usado para implementar modelos ecohidrológicos en regiones donde no se dispone de tal cantidad de información; (2) la metodología de calibración propuesta funciona satisfactoriamente y permite incorporar datos espacio-temporales en el proceso de parametrización del modelo, y (3) el modelo calibrado sólo con datos de satélite es capaz de reproducir tanto la dinámica espacio-temporal de la vegetación así como el caudal observado en el punto de desagüe de la cuenca. Es importante destacar las consecuencias positivas de este último resultado sobre todo en cuencas no aforadas, donde el uso de datos de satélite podría ser una alternativa para obtener una aproximación del recurso en el punto de desagüe.<br>[CAT] L'aigua és la base de tota vida biològica a la Terra i un dels enllaços bàsics entre la biosfera i l'atmosfera. És igualment fonamental per als éssers humans i la naturalesa (Tolba, 1982). Tradicionalment, l'aigua i la vegetació s'han considerat com a sistemes diferents però és clarament necessari prendre un enfocament holístic que considere la qüestió del cicle de l'aigua d'una manera integrada, tenint en compte tant l'aigua blava com l'aigua verda (Birot et al., 2011). Al voltant d'aquesta idea va sorgir la nova disciplina anomenada Ecohidrología a principis del segle XX i des de llavors, no ha deixat de créixer tal com demostren el creixent augment de línies de recerca i publicacions científiques relacionades amb aquest nou camp. No obstant això, la majoria dels models hidrològics actuals inclou la vegetació com un paràmetre estàtic i no com una variable d'estat. Hi ha algunes excepcions que prenen explícitament la vegetació com a variable d'estat, però en aquests casos, la complexitat i el nombre de paràmetres a determinar dels models augmenten substancialment. En la pràctica, hem de fer front a la temible combinació de "escassetat de dades - alt nombre de paràmetres a determinar" amb molta freqüència. Per reduir aquest problema, es poden aplicar dues estratègies: (1) simplificar la complexitat conceptual dels models i així reduir el nombre de paràmetres a calibrar, i/o (2) augmentar la disponibilitat de dades mitjançant la incorporació de noves fonts d'informació. En aquesta tesi, hem explorat l'ús d'un model ecohidrològic distribuït i parsimoniòs (amb pocs paràmetres a determinar) que ha estat completament calibrat i validat exclusivament amb dades de teledetecció. En primer lloc, es va utilitzar el model ecohidrològic i parsimoniòs proposat per Pasquato et al. (2015) en una parcel·la experimental situada en un bosc mediterrani semi-àrid. Els resultats obtinguts en aquesta primera etapa de la tesi van suggerir que el model era capaç de reproduir adequadament la dinàmica de la vegetació, així com les variacions d'humitat del sòl. En altres paraules, es va poder demostrar que un model parsimoniòs amb equacions simples pot aconseguir bons resultats en termes generals. Però, com el model havia estat aplicat a escala de parcel·la, encara quedava com a tasca pendent reproduir la variació espacial de la vegetació i del cicle hidrològic. Per explorar la variació espai-temporal de la vegetació i del cicle de l'aigua, es va aplicar la versió distribuïda del model ecohidrològic i parsimoniòs utilitzat prèviament en una conca situada a Kenya. Al mateix temps, amb la finalitat d'explorar la possible aplicabilitat de les dades de satèl·lit, calibrem el model utilitzant exclusivament el NDVI proporcionat per la NASA. Es va aplicar amb èxit una metodologia basada en l'ús de la identificació de les funcions ortogonals empíriques (EOF per les seues sigles en anglès). Aquesta última prova va proporcionar resultats sorprenents i prometedors. De fet, els resultats obtinguts van demostrar que: (1) les dades de satèl·lit contenen una quantitat extraordinària d'informació que pot ser usada per implementar models ecohidrològics en regions on no es disposa de tal quantitat d'informació; (2) la metodologia de calibratge proposat funciona satisfactòriament i permet incorporar dades espai-temporals en el procés de parametrització del model, i (3) el model calibrat només amb dades de satèl·lit és capaç de reproduir tant la dinàmica espai-temporal de la vegetació així com el cabal observat en el punt de desguàs de la conca. És important destacar les conseqüències positives d'aquest últim resultat sobretot en conques no aforades, on l'ús de dades de satèl·lit podria ser una alternativa per obtenir una aproximació del recurs en el punt de desguàs.<br>Ruiz Pérez, G. (2016). On the use of satellite data to calibrate a parsimonious ecohydrological model in ungauged basins [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/72639<br>TESIS

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-13T15:28:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 POLLYANNA KELLY DE OLIVEIRA SILVA - TESE (PPGMet) 2017.pdf: 11004478 bytes, checksum: 0d5e098181f432beffc2fd8155027f1e (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T15:28:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 POLLYANNA KELLY DE OLIVEIRA SILVA - TESE (PPGMet) 2017.pdf: 11004478 bytes, checksum: 0d5e098181f432beffc2fd8155027f1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-30<br>CNPq<br>O vento como fonte para geração de energia elétrica é analisado neste trabalho através de sua variabilidade e da obtenção de previsões de curto prazo para o ano de 2010, período de atuação de El Niño-Oscilação Sul (ENOS) moderado. Modelos de séries temporais propostos por Box-Jenkins e o indicador de desempenho de predição MMREE são usados para obter as melhores estimativas da velocidade do vento com base nas séries observadas. São utilizados dados anemométricos do Projeto SONDA situado às margens do Rio São Francisco em Petrolina – PE, e de dois parques eólicos localizados no litoral do Estado do Ceará: Quixaba (litoral leste), na cidade de Aracati, e Lagoa Seca (litoral oeste), na cidade de Acaraú. O ciclo diário do vento tem velocidades mais baixas (altas) no período da madrugada-início da manhã (pela manhã e final da noite, com exceção do litoral oeste, cujas máximas ocorrem no final da tarde). Um cisalhamento vertical negativo, no vento local, é observado em períodos distintos do dia nas três áreas de estudo. No Ceará ele ocorre no período da manhã (início da tarde e meio da noite) no litoral leste (oeste) e no Lago de Sobradinho durante a noite até o início da manhã. Foi observado que no litoral leste os ventos são mais fortes, provavelmente devido à curvatura côncava do litoral. As estimativas da velocidade do vento no horizonte de 24 horas pelo modelo SARIMA, com dados horários dos 30 dias anteriores ao dia da previsão para treino (Caso 2), mostraram redução nos erros e melhora significativa na série estimada no período da madrugada-início da manhã; no Lago de Sobradinho essas estimativas são mais precisas, quando comparadas àquelas feitas com base em toda a série de dados (Caso 1). Os resultados indicam que o modelo SARIMA com período de entrada de dados menor pode ser aplicado para a previsão da velocidade do vento em áreas de potencial eólico, dando suporte ao operador da rede elétrica na programação da geração despachável para o dia seguinte.<br>The wind as a source for power generation is analyzed in this work by means of its variability and short-range wind forecasts for the year of 2010, period of moderate El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Time series models proposed by Box-Jenkins and the indicator of forecast accuracy MMREE are used to obtain the best wind speed estimates based on the observed series. Anemometric data of the SONDA Project located on the shore of the São Francisco River in Petrolina-PE, and of two wind power plants located on the coast of the Ceará State, Quixaba (east coast), in the city of Aracati, and Lagoa Seca (west coast), in the city of Acaraú, are used. The daily wind cycle has lower (higher) speeds in late night-early morning (in the morning and end of the night, with exception of the west coast, whose maxima occur in late afternoon). A negative vertical shear in the local wind is observed in distinct periods of the day in the three study areas. In Ceará it occurs in the morning (early afternoon and middle of the night) on the east (west) coast and on Sobradinho Lake at night until early in the morning. It was observed that the winds are stronger on the east coast, probably due to the coast’s concave curvature. The wind speed estimates in a 24-hour horizon by the SARIMA model, with hourly data of the 30 days that precede the forecast day for training (Case 2), showed reduction in the errors and significant improvement in the estimated series in late night-early morning; in Sobradinho Lake these estimates are more accurate, as compared to the estimates based on the entire data series (Case 1). The results indicate that the SARIMA model with horter time series as input may be applied to forecast wind speed in areas of eolic potential, giving support to the system operator in programming the dispatchable distributed generation for the next day.

A localização de fábricas, fornecedores e/ou CDs é um problema de grande complexidade, principalmente em empresas com operações internacionais. Na literatura mundial são poucos os modelos desenvolvidos que tratam da localização de instalações em escala global. Este trabalho propõe um modelo de Programação Linear Inteira Mista que soluciona o problema minimizando os custos logísticos (custos fixos, custos de transferência, custos de distribuição, impostos não recuperáveis, estoques, take-or-pay, matéria-prima e custos de agregação de valor e transbordo) levando em consideração vários elos da cadeia de suprimentos. Como principais contribuições do modelo citam-se a inclusão de benefícios fiscais em transações internacionais, tais como o drawback, o cálculo pioneiro para custo no carregamento dos estoques e o tratamento dado aos custos tipo take-or-pay. São sugeridas adaptações do modelo para utilização em quaisquer segmentos de indústria. O modelo foi aplicado com sucesso em um caso real de uma indústria do segmento químico.<br>The location of factories, suppliers and distribution centers has always been a problem of great complexity, mainly for companies with global operations. In the literature, there are a few models developed for facilities location in a global scale. This work proposes a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model that solves the problem minimizing the total logistic cost (fixed, transfer and distribution costs, non recoverable duties, carrying, take-or-pay, raw material, added value and handling costs) taking into consideration several echelons in the supply chain network. The main contributions of the proposed model are the considerations regarding fiscal benefits in international trade such as drawback, the pioneer carrying cost calculation and the treatment given to the take-or-pay costs. Some adaptations of the model have been suggested for use in any type of industry. The model was successfully applied in a real case of a chemical industry.

Els liposomes o vesícules lipídiques van ésser descrites per primera vegada als anys seixanta per Bangham i Horne (1962), després de l'observació per microscopia electronica d'una suspensió de fosfolípids d'orígen cel·lular aillats i purificats, com una sèrie de bicapes concèntriques de lípid que incloïen un espai aquós. Des del seu descobriment, els liposomes han sigut objecte d'estudi per part d'un gran número de laboratoris degut a la seva versatilitat en tamany, càrrega superficial, composició lipídica i varietat de principis actius que poden encapsular tant en la fase aquosa com en la lipídica. Aquest sistema lipídic s'ha emprat en multitud d'experiments de biologia cel·lular, farmacologia, immunologia, enginyeria genetica, terapèutica i medicina preventiva mitjançant la modulació o control dels paràmetres abans esmentats. L'us potencial dels liposomes corn a portadors de fàrmacs s'ha vist afavorit per la disponibilitat d'anticossos, glicoproteïnes o glicolípids reconeixedors de receptors ja que la unió d'aquestes entitats a la superfície dels liposomes ha permés controlar millor l'arribada de molécules actives encapsulades a les cel·lules diana. Així mateix, la biodegradabilitat i l'absència toxicitat dels seus components ha afavorit la difusió seu ús i la contínua aparició de noves aplicacions. En els apartats següents es comentarà amb detall mètodes d'obtenció dels liposomes més usuals, les estructures cel·lulars amb què interaccionen, el seu destí quan són administrats per diferents vies i les seves aplicacions presents i futures.

We give an overview of quantum chemical methods with a particular emphasis on the development of high-accuracy quantum chemical models. The reliability of these methods often hinges on whether enough electron correlation is included in the truncated wave function. As an example, we investigate the structures of m-benzyne and its fluorinated derivative, tetrafluoro-m-benzyne where the inclusion of triple excitations is paramount to correctly describe through-bond delocalization of the monocyclic form. At the CCSDT/6-31G** level of theory, the C1â C3 distance of the minimum energy form of m-benzyne is 2.0°A and the profile of the PES along the C1â C3 distance is that of an asymmetric, single-well, in agreement with previous density-functional theory and coupled cluster studies. In addition, the calculated CCSD(T) fundamental frequencies are in excellent agreement with the measured infrared frequencies, thus confirming the monocyclic form of m-benzyne. For tetrafluoro-m-benzyne, however, the increased eclipsing strain between the ring-external Câ X bonds stabilizes the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexatriene form: the C1â C3 distance is calculated at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level to be approximately 1.75 °A, which is in the range of elongated CC bonds. Computed harmonic vibrational frequencies compare reasonably well with the experimental neon-matrix difference spectrum and provide further evidence for the existence of a bicyclic form. We also report an extension of the coupled cluster iterative-triples model, CC3, to excited states of open-shell molecules, including radicals. We define the method for both spin-unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) and spin-restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock (ROHF) reference determinants and discuss its efficient implementation in the PSI3 program package. The program is streamlined to use at most O(N7) computational steps and avoids storage of the triple-excitation amplitudes for both the ground-and excited-state calculations. The excitation-energy program makes use of a Lowdin projection formalism (comparable to that of earlier implementations) that allows computational reduction of the Davidson algorithm to only the single- and double-excitation space, but limits the calculation to only one excited state at a time. However, a root-following algorithm may be used to compute energies for multiple states of the same symmetry. Benchmark applications of the new methods to the lowest valence 2B1 state of the allyl radical, low-lying states of the CH and CO+ diatomics, and the nitromethyl radical show substantial improvement over ROHF- and UHF-based CCSD excitation energies for states with strong double-excitation character or cases suffering from significant spin contamination. For the allyl radical, CC3 adiabatic excitation energies differ from experiment by less than 0.02 eV, while for the 2§+ state of CH, significant errors of more than 0.4 eV remain. Finally, ground- and excited-state dipole moments are derived diagramatically and were recently developed within the PSI3 quantum chemistry package. However, convergence problems with computing the left-hand excited-state has prevented us from reporting any meaningful results. Thus, future work includes solving this convergence problem before the effects of triple excitations on one-electron properties can be reported with certainty.<br>Ph. D.

Cette étude terminologique des défilés de mode comprend le lexique de la mode contemporaine, les styles et tendances du XXe siècle, les caractéristiques techniques des vêtements, la couture, les matériaux, le jargon des professionnels des podiums, ainsi que les grands noms de la haute couture. Il s'agit d'un vocabulaire en langue catalane de 907 définitions, qui présente également des équivalents en langue française et espagnole. Les éléments anthropologiques, psychologiques et sociologiques de la mode permettent de faire un bilan sur les aspects non verbaux de la communication de l'habit. Les langues ciblées restent le catalan, le français et l'espagnol, toutes trois des langues latines, tout de même les emprunts de l'anglais sont très fréquents dans le circuit international des défilés de mode. L'aire géographique choisie pour la recherche comprend la France, l'Espagne et surtout la Catalogne. Les capitales comme Milan, Londres ou New York sont aussi le cadre de référence de la mode à niveau planétaire, et elles ne pouvaient être ignorées. L'époque concernée par la recherche commence avec la naissance des défilés de haute couture mise au point par Charles Frédérich Worth, considéré le premier couturier. La période analysée débute donc pendant la deuxième moitié du XIXe siècle et termine avec le XXe. Tout de même l'objectif de ce travail est plus précisément l'étude de la langue actuelle. La compilation de termes se fonde sur l'analyse bibliographique de la mode et de l'habit, la presse, les mass médias, les magazines spécialisés et de nombreux entretiens avec les professionnels des défilés: créateurs, mannequins, stylistes, producteurs, photographes, journalistes<br>The present terminological study of catwalks contains the lexicon of the contemporary fashion language, the styles and trends of the XX century, the technical characteristics of clothes and dressmaking, the materials, the argots of the professionals of fashion shows, as well as the big names of the world of fashion. It consists in a vocabulary in Catalan language that includes over 900 terms and definitions, with equivalences in French and Spanish. Besides these 3 languages, there are also incorporated other English terms, which are commonly used in international catwalks. The geographical area selected for this study is France, Spain and Catalunya, although important capitals such as Milan, London and New York are considered, as important international references. The historical period covered by the research is mostly the XX century, although catwalks were initiated in the middle of the XIX century. The compilation of terms is based on the bibliographical analysis of books on fashion, mass media, newspapers, fashion reviews and personal interviews to professionals of fashion shows

This study focused on measuring the importance and contribution of information obtained from the library, particularly electronic information services (EIS), to success in solving clinical problems in hospitals. Three research questions with three main hypotheses were advanced and tested on clinicians in 44 hospitals in Hong Kong. The findings were tested against the framework from Wilson's (1996) existing general information behaviour model, from which a new extended model for clinicians was built. Measures of EIS were then derived from the new model. The research was broadly divided into a series of five studies in two stages: nominal group, quantitative survey, and interviews in the first stage, and randomized controlled study as well as the analyses of statistical data and computer transaction logs in the second stage. The key results in Stage I led to the studies in Stage 11. The randomized controlled study in Stage 11 attempted to reduce the barriers identified in the information environment, with a view to test the results of an educational intervention, and to confirm that the hypotheses were true given reduced barriers and the presence of enabling conditions. The effects of the interventions in this experimental study were validated and verified by statistical data and transaction logs. Corroborative evidence from the two-stage studies showed that the three main inter-connected hypotheses were supported: success in problem-solving is related to the information sources used; user satisfaction is related to success in problem-solving; and EIS use is an indicator of user satisfaction. EIS use is determined by a number of factors: the preference for EIS, the use of the library, the skills and knowledge in searching, the profession of the user and the characteristics of the work environment. Educational intervention was found to improve success in problem-solving, the attitudes, skills and knowledge in searching, the satisfaction with and use of EIS, and is an important enabling condition. The research rejected part of the first hypothesis posed that success in problem-solving is related to clinical question posed and suggests that further research is needed in this area. The study supported the extension of the general model to clinical information needs and behaviours and found new relationships. The study found an additional determinant of EIS satisfaction, the satisfaction with the information obtained. EIS satisfaction would not be changed by educational intervention alone if the information obtained was not satisfactory. On the other hand, education can improve EIS satisfaction regardless of whether the problem has been solved. Of critical importance is the time factor in determining the use (or non-use) of EIS. There is new evidence that the awareness of the user of an answer in literature is a determining factor for active searching. Borrowing the concept of opportunity cost from economic theory, the researcher relates it with the differing levels of self-efficacy and postulates a model for planning EIS and related library services. From the new extended model of information behaviour, sixteen main measures or indicators were tested on a proposed framework in developing performance measures to diagnose information behaviours and predict EIS use, satisfaction and success in problem-solving. In measuring EIS, the researcher suggested the holistic approach in assessing traditional (non-electronic) library and information services as part of information behaviours of clinicians. The study pointed to the imbalance between self-efficacy and the actual skills and knowledge of users in their searching mentality and activities and the implication for library practice. Qualitative aspects that require further research on measurement were suggested. The study has important ramifications for theory and practice for the information professional. The new extended model of information behaviour for clinicians establishes deterministic relationships that help explain why an information search is pursued actively, continuously, or not at all. Measures that have been derived from these relationships can help diagnose and predict information behaviours. The study highlights the flexibility and utility of the general model of information behaviour. Also, this is the first time that such a methodological approach has been adopted to derive EIS measures. The application of the randomized controlled study methodology in information science was proven to be feasible and yielded definitive results. The researcher proposes that further development of information behaviour model should incorporate the element of knowledge generation process in an organization.

In recent years, rules and regulations regarding fuel consumption of vehicles and the amount of emissions produced by them are becoming stricter. This has led the automotive industry to develop more advanced solutions to propel vehicles to meet the legal requirements. The Hybrid Electric Vehicle is one of the solutions that is becoming more popular in the automotive industry. It consists of an electrical driveline combined with a conventional powertrain, propelled by either a diesel or petrol engine. Two power sources create the possibility to choose when and how to use the power sources to propel the vehicle. The strategy that decides how this is done is referred to as an energy management strategy. Today most energy management strategies only try to reduce fuel consumption using models that describe the steady state behaviour of the engine. In other words, no reduction of emissions is achieved and all transient behaviour is considered negligible.  In this thesis, an energy management strategy incorporating engine dynamics to reduce fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions have been designed. First, the models that describe how fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions behave during transient engine operation are developed. Then, an energy management strategy is developed consisting of a model predictive controller that combines the equivalent consumption minimization strategy and convex optimization. Results indicate that by considering engine dynamics in the energy management strategy, both fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions can be reduced. Furthermore, it is also shown that the major reduction in fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions is achieved for short prediction horizons.

Estabelecer, adequadamente, o conhecimento sobre o papel que um software deve desempenhar é atividade crítica, e de difícil execução, para a Engenharia de Software, sendo que tal responsabilidade é atribuída às atividades da Engenharia de Requisitos. Entre essas atividades destaca-se, neste trabalho, a Rastreabilidade, que possui como meta a definição dos relacionamentos entre requisitos e demais artefatos produzidos durante o processo de desenvolvimento. Para tanto, a Rastreabilidade faz uso de elos como o principal elemento para manter e representar esses relacionamentos. A Rastreabilidade está diretamente associada à qualidade dos requisitos, exercendo um papel extremamente importante no gerenciamento desses elementos, bem como nas atividades de análise de impacto, de validação de requisitos, de testes de regressão, entre outras. Esta tese discute as principais características da Rastreabilidade. É apresentado como a área é tratada através de modelos que, no caso da Rastreabilidade, são criados com base em informações como as necessidades dos envolvidos, as práticas, as metodologias, as normas ou os padrões disponíveis. Neste trabalho são avaliados os pontos positivos e negativos dos principais modelos existentes e como os elos são abordados nessas pesquisas. Com o intuito de apresentar melhorias e facilidades, para a execução da Rastreabilidade, esta tese propõe um modelo para a generalização de diferentes elos, visando permitir a definição de elos e possibilitando a inserção de atributos a esses itens. Também é desenvolvida uma arquitetura de software que possui como objetivo a construção do projeto para a implementação de um protótipo. O protótipo é implementado para execução em ambiente WEB fazendo uso de tecnologias de código aberto. Ao final do trabalho são apresentados os resultados de um estudo experimental. Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a aplicação do modelo frente a projetos que não fazem uso das facilidades apresentadas pelo modelo proposto. Os resultados são analisados e discutidos visando à apresentação das contribuições obtidas que podem ser utilizadas para aperfeiçoar a prática e motivar a continuidade da pesquisa.<br>To correctly provide the knowledge about the role that software should execute is a critical and difficult activity for the Software Engineering, and this responsibility belongs to the activities of the Requirements Engineering. Among these activities the main point, in this work, is the traceability, which has a target to define the relationships between requirements and other artifacts produced during the software development process. It is conducted with the use of links that are a main resource to provide and represent the relationships. The traceability is directly associated with quality requirements, performing an extremely important role in the management of these elements, as well as the activities of impact analysis, requirements validation, testing of regression, among others. This thesis discusses the main features of Traceability. It presents how the area is covered by models which are created based on information on those involved, practices, methods, or available standards. The positive and negative aspects of the main existing models are investigated and describe how the links are addressed in these existing models. In order to make improvements and facilities for the traceability implementation, this thesis proposes a model for the generalization of different links, to allow the definition of links and allowing the insertion of attributes to these items. Also, a software architecture has been developed by implementing a prototype. The prototype is developed to run in WEB using open source technologies. At the end of this thesis the results of an experimental study are presented. This study aimed to evaluate the model comparing it with some projects that do not make use of the facilities presented by this research. The results are analyzed and discussed focusing on illustrating the contributions obtained so that they may be used to improve the practice and to motivate the research in the Traceability.

Actualmente, los países industrializados generan la mayoría de su electricidad en grandes instalaciones. Estas centrales explotan economías de escala en inversión y operación, pero se encuentran ubicadas a grandes distancias de los puntos de consumo y muchas de ellas causan gran impacto medioambiental. En este contexto aparece el concepto de Generación Distribuida (GD), basado en energía renovable. Estas tecnologías consisten en centrales de mediana y pequeña escala, conectadas directamente a los sistemas de distribución. Para explotar los beneficios de la GD, es necesario que exista una correcta coordinación de las unidades en una red local. De aquí nace la idea del Generador Virtual (GeVi), ente encargado de la coordinación operacional de distintas unidades de GD, optimizando su desempeño conjunto. El objetivo general del presente trabajo de título es proponer, desarrollar y evaluar un sistema de gestión de energía (Energy Management System o EMS) automatizado, para una aplicación real en la comunidad rural de Huatacondo, primera región de Tarapacá. Para ello, en base de un trabajo previo se desarrolla una herramienta computacional, integrando predictores de consumo, potencia eólica y potencia fotovoltaica con un optimizador lineal entero mixto. Tomando en cuenta la naturaleza estocástica de la velocidad del viento y del movimiento de las nubes, se hace imprescindible contar con una herramienta que sea capaz de reaccionar ante diferencias importantes entre las predicciones y la realidad, de manera de optimizar y dar una mayor confiabilidad al GeVi. Con el fin de lograr esto, se utiliza la metodología de ventana deslizante. La metodología propuesta se valida empíricamente a través de una simulación de tipo Monte Carlo, generándose 500 escenarios de la operación del EMS, tanto para el caso con y sin ventana deslizante. Como entradas relevantes de las pruebas se utilizan perfiles reales y predicciones de: consumo eléctrico, potencia solar y potencia eólica. Para realizar este trabajo, se analizan datos históricos de velocidad de viento, consumos y potencias fotovoltaicas en la microred de Huatacondo. Dado que al momento de realizar este trabajo la microrred no se encontraba en pleno funcionamiento, se simula la operación de ésta. Se trabaja con un horizonte de evaluación de 2 días y una tasa de refresco de 1 hora. Los resultados obtenidos corroboran los beneficios del uso de ventana deslizante. Se determina el ahorro o gasto adicional con respecto a no haber implementado la metodología de ventana deslizante. En un 98.8% de los casos se presenta reducción de costos. El promedio de ahorro fue de un 10.4% al utilizar ventana deslizante. Esta metodología requiere 23 veces más recursos computacionales que sin hacer uso de ella, tardando 31 segundos por ejecución en un computador personal para un total de 12 minutos con 19 segundos en promedio para el predespacho de un día. Como líneas de investigación futura se propone realizar un análisis de la operación real en Huatacondo y el predespacho dado por el EMS. Además, se puede analizar el impacto del desplazamiento de demanda que no fue considerada en este trabajo. Finalmente, se propone generalizar el EMS para permitir una fácil aplicación a otras microrredes de características distintas.