Abstract not available. / by Wong Lai-hung, Grace. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-04, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 218-252). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.

A cobrança pelo uso da água é um instrumento de gestão de recursos hídricos previsto na Lei 9433/97, dentre outros objetivos, para incentivar o uso racional da água. Porém, os estudos e simulações feitos tratam a cobrança apenas como instrumento de arrecadação. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de propor preços unitários para a água com base na necessidade de redução da demanda futura na bacia do Tietê-Jacaré. Para isso, apoia-se em cenários de demanda e oferta hídricas para os anos de 2010, 2025 e 2050 elaborados por Macêdo (2005), cujas estimativas de demanda são também melhoradas neste trabalho. Para modelar a relação entre cobrança e demanda, são usados modelos econométricos adaptados de outras bacias, especialmente a do Paraíba do Sul. Tudo isso serve de base para um algoritmo de otimização, usado para propor mudanças na política de cobrança, levando ao atendimento de metas como a redução da escassez dos recursos hídricos no futuro. / Water pricing is a water resources management tool according to brazilian law 9433/97 and it serves the purpose of giving incentive to rational use of water, among others. However, studies and simulations treat pricing as a revenue generator mechanism only. This dissertation aims to propose water unit prices based on demand reduction needs in the Tietê-Jacaré basin, Brazil. In order to do it, it uses demand and supply scenarios for 2010, 2025 and 2050 developed by Macêdo (2005), whose estimates are also slightly improved here. Econometric models are used to model the relationship between pricing and demand and they are adapted from other basins, mainly the Paraíba do Sul one. All this serves as base for an optimization algorithm, which is used to propose changes in water pricing policy, leading to the attainment of water stress reduction goals in the future.

Le Cloud Computing est de plus en plus utilisé pour le déploiement et l'exécution des applications métiers et plus particulièrement des applications à base de services (AbSs). L'élasticité à différents niveaux est l'une des propriétés fournies par le Cloud. Son principe est de garantir la fourniture des ressources nécessaires et suffisantes pour la continuité de l'exécution optimale des services Cloud. La fourniture des ressources doit considérer la variation de la demande pour éviter la sous-utilisation et la surutilisation de ces dernières. Il est évident que la fourniture d'infrastructures et/ou de plateformes élastiques n'est pas suffisante pour assurer l'élasticité des applications métiers déployées. En effet, il est aussi nécessaire de considérer l'élasticité au niveau des applications. Ceci permet l'adaptation dynamique des applications déployées selon la variation des demandes. Par conséquent, les applications métiers doivent être fournies avec des mécanismes d'élasticité permettant leur adaptation tout en assurant les propriétés fonctionnelles et non-fonctionnelles désirées. Dans nos travaux, nous nous sommes intéressés à la fourniture d'une approche holistique pour la modélisation, l'évaluation et la mise en oeuvre des mécanismes d'élasticité des AbSs dans le Cloud. En premier lieu, nous avons proposé un modèle formel pour l'élasticité des AbSs. Pour cela, nous avons modélisé les AbSs en utilisant les réseaux de Petri et défini deux opérations d'élasticité (la duplication et la consolidation). En outre, nous avons proposé de coupler ces deux opérations avec un contrôleur d'élasticité. Pour assurer l'élasticité des AbSs, le contrôleur analyse l'exécution des AbSs et prend des décisions sur les opérations d'élasticité (duplication/consolidation). Après la définition de notre modèle pour l'élasticité des AbSs, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'évaluation de l'élasticité avant de l'implémenter dans des environnements Cloud réels. Pour cela, nous avons proposé d'utiliser notre contrôleur d'élasticité comme un Framework pour la validation et l'évaluation de l'élasticité en utilisant des techniques de vérification et de simulation. Enfin, nous avons mis en oeuvre l'élasticité des AbSs dans des environnements Cloud réels. Pour cela, nous avons proposé deux approches. La première approche encapsule les AbSs non-élastiques dans des micro-conteneurs, étendus avec nos mécanismes d'élasticité, avant de les déployer sur des infrastructures Cloud. La seconde approche intègre notre contrôleur d'élasticité dans une infrastructure autonomique afin de permettre l'ajout dynamique des fonctionnalités d'élasticité aux AbSs déployées sur des plateformes Cloud / Cloud computing is being increasingly used for deploying and executing business processes and particularly Service-based Business Processes (SBPs). Among other properties, Cloud environments provide elasticity at different scopes. The principle of elasticity is to ensure the provisioning of necessary and sufficient resources such that a Cloud service continues running smoothly even when the number or quantity of its utilization scales up or down, thereby avoiding under-utilization and over-utilization of resources. It is obvious that provisioning of elastic infrastructures and/or platforms is not sufficient to provide elasticity of deployed business processes. In fact, it is also necessary to consider the elasticity at the application scope. This allows the adaptation of deployed applications during their execution according to demands variation. Therefore, business processes should be provided with elasticity mechanisms allowing their adaptation to the workload changes while ensuring the desired functional and non-functional properties. In our work, we were interested in providing a holistic approach for modeling, evaluating and provisioning of elastic SBPs in the Cloud. We started by proposing a formal model for SBPs elasticity. To do this, we modeled SBPs using Petri nets and defined two elasticity operations (duplication / consolidation). In addition, we proposed to intertwine these elasticity operations with an elasticity controller that monitors SBPs execution, analyzes monitoring information and executes the appropriate elasticity operation (duplication/consolidation) in order to enforce the elasticity of SBPs. After facing the challenge of defining a model and mechanisms for SBPs elasticity, we were interested in the evaluation of elasticity before implementing it in real environments. To this end, we proposed to use our elasticity controller as a framework for the validation and evaluation of elasticity using verification and simulation techniques. Finally, we were interested in the provisioning of elasticity mechanisms for SBPs in real Cloud environments. For this aim, we proposed two approaches. The first approach packages non-elastic SBPs in micro-containers, extended with our elasticity mechanisms, before deploying them in Cloud infrastructures. The second approach integrates our elasticity controller in an autonomic infrastructure to dynamically add elasticity facilities to SBPs deployed on Cloud platforms

Em um ambiente de computação em nuvem, as empresas têm a capacidade de alocar recursos de acordo com a demanda. No entanto, há um atraso que pode levar alguns minutos entre o pedido de um novo recurso e o mesmo estar pronto para uso. Por esse motivo, as técnicas reativas, que solicitam um novo recurso apenas quando o sistema atinge um determinado limiar de carga, não são adequadas para o processo de alocação de recursos. Para resolver esse problema, é necessário prever as requisições que chegam ao sistema, no próximo período de tempo, para alocar os recursos necessários antes que o sistema fique sobrecarregado. Existem vários modelos de previsão de séries temporais para calcular as previsões de carga de trabalho com base no histórico de dados de monitoramento. No entanto, é difícil saber qual é o melhor modelo de previsão a ser utilizado em cada caso. A tarefa se torna ainda mais complicada quando o usuário não tem muitos dados históricos a serem analisados. A maioria dos trabalhos relacionados, considera apenas modelos de previsão isolados para avaliar os resultados. Outros trabalhos propõem uma abordagem que seleciona modelos de previsão adequados para um determinado contexto. Mas, neste caso, é necessário ter uma quantidade significativa de dados para treinar o classificador. Além disso, a melhor solução pode não ser um modelo específico, mas sim uma combinação de modelos. Neste trabalho propomos um método de previsão adaptativo, usando técnicas de otimização multiobjetivo, para combinar modelos de previsão de séries temporais. O nosso método não requer uma fase prévia de treinamento, uma vez que se adapta constantemente a medida em que os dados chegam ao sistema. Para avaliar a nossa proposta usamos quatro logs extraídos de servidores reais. Os resultados mostram que a nossa proposta frequentemente converge para o melhor resultado, e é suficientemente genérica para se adaptar a diferentes tipos de séries temporais. / In a cloud computing environment, companies have the ability to allocate resources according to demand. However, there is a delay that may take minutes between the request for a new resource and it is ready for using. The reactive techniques, which request a new resource only when the system reaches a certain load threshold, are not suitable for the resource allocation process. To address this problem, it is necessary to predict requests that arrive at the system in the next period of time to allocate the necessary resources, before the system becomes overloaded. There are several time-series forecasting models to calculate the workload predictions based on history of monitoring data. However, it is difficult to know which is the best time series forecasting model to be used in each case. The work becomes even more complicated when the user does not have much historical data to be analyzed. Most related work considers only single methods to evaluate the results of the forecast. Other work propose an approach that selects suitable forecasting methods for a given context. But in this case, it is necessary to have a significant amount of data to train the classifier. Moreover, the best solution may not be a specific model, but rather a combination of models. In this work we propose an adaptive prediction method using multi-objective optimization techniques to combine time-series forecasting models. Our method does not require a previous phase of training, because it constantly adapts the extent to which the data is coming. To evaluate our proposal we use four logs extracted from real servers. The results show that our proposal often brings the best result, and is generic enough to adapt to various types of time series.

Nos projetos hidráulicos de irrigação são contabilizadas as perdas de carga totais, que seriam as perdas contínuas ou principais e as localizadas, objetivando maximizar a uniformidade de distribuição de água, caracterizando um conjunto motobomba adequado ao sistema de irrigação e com isso, minimizando os custos anuais e de implantação do projeto. Com o uso da informática, problemas de cálculos complexos são resolvidos com muita facilidade; desta forma pode-se aplicar modelos mais complexo para calculo da perda de carga nos sistemas de irrigação, resultando em valores mais próximos da realidade, com maiores riquezas de detalhes. A perda de carga representa a dissipação de energia da água em forma de calor, ao longo da tubulação, decorrente da resistência ao escoamento oferecida pela viscosidade do fluido e pela inércia das partículas. É variável de acordo com o tamanho das rugosidades da parede do tubo, diâmetro da tubulação e com a velocidade da água. A indústria de plásticos e seus derivados, com o auxilio da engenharia, tem aprimorado a qualidade dos materiais destinados à fabricação dos tubos, principalmente de polietileno. A utilização de tubos fabricados de matérias plásticos, de menor custo, destinados à irrigação tem aumentado nos últimos anos. A flexibilidade desses tubos traz como consequência o aumento do diâmetro interno com o aumento da pressão, fato este já observado em pesquisa e que não são levados em consideração pelos equacionamentos matemáticos utilizados para determinação da perda de carga. O presente trabalho propõe um modelo onde leva em consideração o módulo de elasticidade (E) do tubo para determinar a alteração do diâmetro em tubos elásticos provocada pela pressão, afetando assim a determinação da perda de carga contínua. Conhecer detalhadamente a causa da perda de energia, com intuito de cada vez mais otimizar a energia gasta por área irrigada no cenário brasileiro, passa a ser de fundamental importância. O Modelo Elástico proposto associado à Equação Universal, apresentou índice de desempenho médio de 0,9 sendo considerado com uma estimativa muito boa da realidade. / Total head losses are accounted in the irrigation hydraulic projects, that would be the continuous losses and the local head losses, aiming to maximize the uniformity of water distribution, characterizing an adequate pump set to the irrigation system e thus, minimizing the project implantation and annual costs. With informatics support, complex calculation problems are solved with ease, therefore it is possible to apply more complex models for head loss calculation in the irrigation system, resulting in values closer to the reality, with greater details. The head loss represents the water energy dissipation as heat, along the piping, due to the resistance to the flow offered by the fluid viscosity and by the particles inertia. It is variable according to the size of the rugosities of the pipe wall, piping diameter and the water velocity. plastic industry and its derivates, with engineering support, have improved the quality of the materials for the pipe manufacturing, mainly polyethylene. The usage of plastic material pipes for irrigation, of lowest cost, has risen in the latest years. The flexibility of these pipes leads to the internal diameter increase with pressure increase, fact already observed in research and that are not taken into account by mathematics equating used to determine the head loss. This paper proposes a model where it takes into account the elastic module (E) of the pipe to determine the diameter alteration in elastic pipes due to the pressure, affecting the determination of continuous head loss. Elastic Module proposed associated to Universal Equation, showed average performance rate of 0,9% being considered a extremely good estimative of reality.

Co-users of alcohol and nicotine are the largest group of polysubstance users worldwide. Although pharmacotherapies are available for alcohol (EtOH) or tobacco use disorders individually, it may be possible to develop a single pharmacotherapy to treat heavy drinking tobacco smokers through capitalizing on the commonalities in their mechanisms of action. Towards this goal, several models of concurrent access to EtOH and nicotine were explored as potential preclinical models of co-use using female alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Additionally, potential pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of EtOH and nicotine co-use disorder were tested using different variations of our model. Treatments tested included (1) varenicline, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist with high affinity for the α4β2* subtype; (2) r-bPiDI, a subtype-selective antagonist at α6β2* nAChRs; (3) (R)-modafinil, an atypical inhibitor of the dopamine transporter (DAT); and (4) naltrexone, a clinically available µ-opioid receptor antagonist used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). Results from the current dissertation show success in developing a translational animal model in female P rats for co-use of EtOH and nicotine under which pharmacologically relevant levels of both EtOH consumption and nicotine intake are achieved. Additionally, our model was successfully used in testing potential pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of EtOH and nicotine co-use disorder. Although none of the drugs tested were effective as a monotherapy, results from testing the known smoking cessation agent varenicline and the known AUD treatment naltrexone indicate that our model is effective for selectively measuring changes in EtOH and nicotine intake separately, which suggests the beneficial utility of this model for future treatment research. Furthermore, by applying behavioral economic principles to our findings, we found that EtOH acts as an economic substitute for nicotine. Additionally, our behavioral economic analyses revealed that when the cost of nicotine is changed via response requirements vs dose per infusion, there are differences in the elasticity of demand for concurrently available EtOH and nicotine. Finally, the relatively flat consumption curve for EtOH following varenicline pretreatment suggests that pretreatment with varenicline acts to disrupt the relationship between EtOH and nicotine such that EtOH no longer acts as an economic substitute for nicotine.

Le développement des systèmes houlomoteurs ainsi que la gestion du littoral reposent sur une bonne compréhension des mécanismes liés aux interactions houle-structure. Dans cette thèse, nous nous intéressons à l'étude d'un champ de structures flexibles soumises à des ondes de surface, en vue de développer un système qui puisse à la fois atténuer les vagues et absorber l'énergie qui leur est associée de manière efficace. Les résultats présentés se basent autour d'expériences réalisées dans des installations de petite échelle, dans lesquelles la disposition spatiale des objets flexibles est le principal paramètre étudié. Dans un premier temps, nous caractérisons notre champ modèle afin d'évaluer l'influence de divers paramètres (configuration, flexibilité, fréquences des vagues) sur la distribution de l'énergie dans le système. Sur la base de ces résultats, nous développons ensuite un modèle d'interférences permettant de décrire les observations globales du système à partir de paramètres locaux connus, associés à une portion unitaire du champ. Ce modèle nous sert ensuite d'outil pour l'exploration d'une multitude de configurations spatiales, afin de déterminer le choix optimal vis-à-vis de l'atténuation et de l'absorption des vagues incidentes. Enfin, une campagne de mesures supplémentaire est utilisée afin d'expliquer les résultats obtenus avec le modèle et d'identifier les principes sous-jacents à cette optimisation / Understanding the mechanisms involved in wave-structure interactions is of high interest for the development of efficient wave energy harvesters as well as for coastal management. In this thesis, we study the interactions of surface waves with a model array of slender flexible structures, in view of developing an efficient system for both attenuating and harvesting wave energy. The presented results are based around experimental investigations, by means of small scale facilities, in which the spatial arrangement of the flexible objects is the key parameter of study. The model array is first characterised by evaluating the role played by various parameters (configuration, flexibility, wave frequency) on the energy distribution in our system. Following these first observations, an interference model is then developed in order to describe the observed global effects of the array on both the wave field and the blade dynamics, based on known local parameters of a unit item of the array. This model then serves as a tool for exploring many possible array configurations, in order to determine the optimal choice regarding both the attenuation and the absorption of the imposed waves. A final experimental study is presented, in which the key results from the interference model are evaluated and the underlying principles of array optimisation are identified

L’os présente la propriété remarquable de s’adapter à son environnement et s’est forgé au cours de l’évolution des caractéristiques exceptionnelles qui fascinent les scientifiques mais aussi les ingénieurs : léger mais d’une rigidité à toute épreuve, une capacité de résistance à la fracture hors norme tout en gardant une certaine flexibilité. Ces propriétés mécaniques de l’os sont l’œuvre d’une optimisation de sa composition et d’une structure fortement hiérarchisée et organisée en multiples niveaux allant de l'échelle nanométrique à l'échelle macroscopique. L’amélioration de la prise en charge des maladies osseuses, l’optimisation des implants orthopédiques et la conception de nouveaux matériaux bio-inspirés passent par une connaissance approfondie des multiples facteurs qui déterminent les propriétés mécaniques de l’os. Dans ce travail, nous mettons l’accent sur les propriétés élastiques de l'os cortical humain à la fois aux échelles millimétrique et micrométrique. Nous avons caractérisé l’élasticité (à l’échelle mésoscopique), la composition et la microstructure de l’os cortical, à partir d’échantillons de fémur, tibia et radius prélevés sur des donneurs âgés, à l’aide d’une batterie de tests expérimentaux comportant des mesures en résonance ultrasonore spectroscopique, micro-tomographie par rayonnement synchrotron, microscopie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier et analyse biochimique. Ces mesures mettent à jour le rôle prépondérant joué par la porosité et le degré de minéralisation dans la détermination de l’élasticité et suffisent à eux seuls à en expliquer les variations. En particulier, les caractéristiques de la microstructure, comme la forme des pores, leur nombre, taille ou connectivité ne semblent pas avoir d’effets mesurables sur l’élasticité à l’échelle mésoscopique. Dans un second temps, une nouvelle approche d’homogénéisation inverse introduite dans cette thèse a permis l’estimation du tenseur des coefficients élastiques de la matrice osseuse à l’échelle microscopique. Connaissant l’élasticité de la matrice, nous avons évalué la gamme des microdéformations qui se produisent localement en réponse à des contraintes physiologiques. Les microdéformations étant à l’origine des signaux qui déclenchent la réponse des cellules mécanosensibles, ce dernier résultat devrait contribuer à une meilleure compréhension du comportement mécanique osseux au niveau microscopique. En conclusion, ce travail de thèse a permis l’obtention d’une base de données unique sur les caractéristiques élastiques de l’os cortical humain et la caractérisation des relations qui existent entre l’élasticité, la microstructure et la composition. / Bone as an important organ in human body is an extraordinary material which exhibits highly optimized properties, strong yet light weight, stiff yet flexible. Its distinct mechanical properties which fascinates not only scientists but also engineers are the results of the highly hierarchized and organized structure and the compositional properties spanning over several lengths from the nanoscale to the macroscale. Hence, a deep understanding of the parameters affecting bone mechanical behavior is necessary to better predict and treat bone diseases, improve orthopedic implants design, and engineer bio-inspired materials. In this work, a special focus is placed on human cortical bone elastic properties both at the millimeter and micrometer scales. Based on a multimodal approach (resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and biochemistry experiments) involving an exhaustive amount of microstructural and compositional properties, our results provide strong evidence that intra-cortical porosity and degree of mineralization are the most important determinants of bone stiffness at millimeter scale in an elderly population. Further, the other microstructure characteristics independent of porosity have non measurable effects on bone stiffness at this level. At the micrometer scale, a novel inverse homogenization approach is introduced in this work which can evaluate bone matrix anisotropic elastic properties with a good accuracy for all the stiffness constants. Based on the determined bone matrix elasticity data, we investigated the possible range of the magnitude of microstrain experienced by bone matrix. This work opens a way to better evaluate and understand bone mechanical behaviour at the micrometer level, such as the microstrain that can be sensed by osteocytes and builds the bridge to comprehensively investigate the connections between bone anisotropic properties at the millimeter and micrometer scale, and between the anisotropic microelastic properties and the characteristics at the nanometer scale.

Abstract This thesis correlates rheological data into a non-linear blown film model that describes the stress and cooling-induced morphological transformations in the axial and flow profiles of the blown films. This will help to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the films in a cost effective way, which will in turn be of great benefit to the food and packaging industries. In this research, experimental and numerical studies of a blown film extrusion were carried out using two different low-density polyethylenes (LDPEs). In the experiment, the key parameters measured and analysed were molecular, rheological and crystalline properties of the LDPEs. In the numerical study, blown film simulation was carried out to determine the bubble characteristics and freeze line height (FLH). A new rheological constitutive equation was developed by combining the Hookean model with the well known Phan-Thien and Tanner (PTT) model to permit a more accurate viscoelastic behaviour of the material. For experimental verification of the simulation results, resins were processed in a blown film extrusion pilot plant using identical die temperatures and cooling rates as used in the simulation study. Molecular characteristics of both LDPEs were compared in terms of their processing benefit in the film blowing process. Based on the experimental investigation, it was found that molecular weight and its distribution, degree of long chain branching and cooling rate play an important role on melt rheology, molecular orientation, blown film processability, film crystallinity and film properties. Effect of short chain branching was found insignificant for both LDPEs. Statistical analysis was carried out using MINITAB-14 software with a confidence level of 95% to determine the effect of process variables (such as die temperature and cooling rate) on the film properties. Film properties of the LDPEs were found to vary with their molecular properties and the process variables used. Blown film model performance based on the newly established PTT-Hookean model was compared with that based on the Kelvin model. Justification of the use of PTT-Hookean model is also reported here using two different material properties. From the simulation study, it has been found that predictions of the blown film characteristics conformed very well to the experimental data of this research and previous studies using different materials and different die geometries. Long chain branching has been found as the most prominent molecular parameter for both LDPEs affecting melt rheology and hence the processability. Die temperature and cooling rate have been observed to provide similar effect on the tear strength and shrinkage properties of blown film for both LDPEs. In comparison to the Kelvin model, the PTT-Hookean model is better suited for the modelling of the film blowing process. It has also been demonstrated in this study that the PTT-Hookean model conformed well to the experimental data near the freeze line height and is suitable for materials of lower melt elasticity and relaxation time.

Work-related disorders due to biomechanical exposures have been subject to extensive research. Studies addressing these exposures have, however, paid limited attention to an efficient use of resources in exposure assessment. The present thesis investigates cost-efficient procedures for assessment of work-related biomechanical exposures, i.e. procedures aiming at a proper balance between statistical and economic performance. Paper I is a systematic review of tools used in literature providing cost-efficient data collection designs. Two main approaches were identified in nine publications, i.e. comparing cost efficiency among alternative data collection designs, and optimizing resource allocation between different stages of data collection, e.g. subjects and samples within subjects. The studies presented, in general, simplified analyses, in particular with respect to economics. Paper II compared the cost-efficiency of four video-based techniques for assessing upper arm postures. The comparison was based both on a comprehensive model of cost and error and additionally on two simplified models. Labour costs were a dominant factor in the cost efficiency comparison. Measurement bias and costs other than labour cost influenced the rank and economic evaluation of the assessment techniques. Paper III compared the cost efficiency of different combinations of direct and indirect methods for exposure assessments. Although a combination of methods could significantly reduce the total cost of obtaining a desired level of precision, the total cost was, in the investigated scenario, lowest when only direct measurements were performed. However, when the total number of measurements was fixed, a combination was the most cost efficient choice. In Paper IV, demand functions were derived for a four-stage measurement strategy with the focus of either minimizing the cost for a required precision, or maximizing the precision for a predetermined budget. The paper presents algorithms for identifying optimal values of measurement inputs at all four stages, adjusted to integers, as necessary for practical application. In summary, the thesis shows that it is important to address all sources of costs and errors associated with alternative measurement designs in any particular study, and that an optimal determination of samples at different stages can be identified in several cases not previously addressed in the literature.