Este trabalho teve como objetivo propor e investigar a contribuição de uma sequência didática para aulas prático-laboratoriais no ensino superior em Química. A sequência didática proposta buscou desenvolver habilidades e competências relacionadas, principalmente, à análise e seleção de resultados experimentais e fundamentais para a formação do profissional químico, de acordo com as Diretrizes Curriculares para o Ensino Superior em Química (BRASIL, 2001). As atividades elaboradas nesta proposta buscaram promover habilidades cognitivas de alta ordem (HOCS - High ordem cognitive skills), para isso foram utilizadas estratégias que não são tradicionalmente empregadas em disciplinas experimentais no ensino superior, como a abordagem investigativa, por exemplo. A aplicação da proposta ocorreu no contexto de uma disciplina experimental obrigatória oferecida para estudantes do primeiro ano de cursos de Química (Licenciatura em Química e Bacharelado em Química - com ênfase em Química Ambiental) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). O tema da proposta desenvolvida foi titulações ácido-base e o principal objeto de estudo foi a curva de titulação e sua interpretação. De forma geral, os estudantes, os docentes e os monitores da disciplina foram receptivos com a proposta e com os objetivos de estudo. Considerando que o trabalho desenvolvido no contexto da disciplina experimental foi pontual e a sequência didática elaborada neste estudo teve duração de apenas cinco aulas do programa, os resultados obtidos foram satisfatórios e responderam questões relacionadas à promoção das HOCS. Foi possível explorar as potencialidades de metodologias que não são tradicionalmente utilizadas no laboratório didático no ensino superior em Química. / This study aimed to propose and investigate the contribution of a didactic sequence for practical and laboratory classes in higher education in chemistry. The proposed didactic sequence sought to develop related skills and competences, especially the analysis and selection of experimental and fundamental results in the formation of the chemical professional, according to the Curriculum Guidelines for Higher Education in Chemistry (BRAZIL, 2001). The activities developed in this proposal sought to promote high order cognitive skills (HOCS), for it was used strategies that are not traditionally used in experimental disciplines in higher education, as the investigative activities, for example. The implementation of the proposal took place in the context of a mandatory experimental subject offered to students in the first year chemistry courses (Degree in Chemistry and Bachelor of Chemistry - with emphasis on Environmental Chemistry) from the University of São Paulo (USP). The theme of the proposal was developed acid-base titrations and the main object of study was the titration curve and its interpretation. In general, students, teachers and instructors of discipline were receptive to the proposal and the study objectives. Whereas the work undertaken in the context of experimental course was timely and the didactic sequence elaborated in this study lasted only five program classes, the results were satisfactory and answered questions related to the promotion of the HOCS. It was possible to exploit the potential of methodologies that are not traditionally used in teaching laboratory in higher education in chemistry.

O propósito deste trabalho é estudar a dinâmica assintótica de problemas parabólicos em domínios tipo dumbbell. Para isto primeiro estudaremos a semi-continuidade superior de atratores para problemas parabólicos com condição de fronteira do tipo Neumann homogênea e depois estudaremos a existência de equilíbrios estáveis não-constantes para problemas de reação-difusão com condições de fronteira tipo Neumann não-lineares. / The aim of this work is to study the asymptotic dynamics of parabolic problems in dumbbell type domains. To that end firstly, we study upper semicontinuity of attractors for parabolic problems with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions and afterwards we study the existence of stable nonconstant equilibria for reaction-diffusion problems with nonlinear Neumann boundary conditions.

Este trabalho apresenta um método numérico rigoroso para encontrar soluções de equilíbrio para equações diferenciais parciais usando base de Chebyshev. Aplicações do método são apresentadas para a equação de Alen-Cahn e Swift-Hohenberg. / This work presents a rigorous numerical method to find equilibrium solutions to partial differential equations using Chebyshev basis. Applications are presented to the Alen-Cahn and Swift-Hohenberg equations.

Investigators in soils have long recognized the importance of the colloidal fraction of soil, and also the almost inseparable problem of replaceable bases. It is generally accepted that the replaceable base fraction of a colloid controls to a large degree the physical properties exhibited by it. Volumes of work have been written on the problem of controlling the reactions of this fraction and on studies of the properties exhibited by it when it is saturated with various cations. Each worker has proceeded in his own individual way or followed the example set by some previous worker with specific modifications.

The theory of ‘punctuated equilibria’ was formulated by two paleontologists, Niles Eldredge and Stephen Gould, in 1972 and has been the focus of considerable controversy within the evolutionary sciences ever since. The primary intentions of this thesis are to relate the history of punctuated equilibria and to examine how it has affected evolutionary science. Several modes of analysis have been used to illuminate the history: The sociological perspectives of Pierre Bourdieu and Bruno Latour (who see scientific debate as a ‘struggle for authority’); Rhetorical analysis of some of the key documents; Communication with practising scientists via questionnaires and correspondence; Citation Analysis. Chapter 1 gives a short summary of the history and introduces the methods and socio-philosophical perspectives used to illuminate the history. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the rhetorical process by which Eldredge and Gould constructed the ‘punctuationist revolution’. Chapters 2, 3, 5 and 6 relate the history of punctuated equilibria.

This thesis studies the Reach Control Problem (RCP) for affine systems defined on simplices. The thesis focuses on cases when it is known that the problem is not solvable by continuous state feedback. Previous work has proposed (discontinuous) piecewise affine feedback to resolve the gap between solvability by open-loop controls and solvability by feedbacks. The first results on solvability by time-varying feedback are presented. Time-varying feedback has the advantage to be more robust to measurement errors circumventing problems of discontinuous controllers. The results are theoretically appealing in light of the strong analogies with the theory of stabilization for linear control systems. The method is shown to solve RCP for all cases in the literature where continuous state feedback fails, provided it is solvable by open loop control. Textbook examples are provided. The motivation for studying RCP and its relevance to complex control specifications is illustrated using a material transfer system.

In this thesis, we applied local analysis tools (eigenvalue and eigenvalue elasticity analysis, global function elasticity/sensitivity analysis), and global analysis tools (deriving the location and stability of fixed points) to both aggregate and individual-level dynamic models of infectious diseases. We sought to use these methods to gain insight into the models and to evaluate the use of these methods to study their short-term and long-term dynamics and the influences of arameters on the models.<p> We found that eigenvalues are effective for understanding short-term behaviours of a nonlinear system, but less effective in providing insights of the long-term impacts of a parameter change on its behaviours. In term of disease control, local changes of behaviours, yielded from the changes of parameters based on eigenvalue elasticity, are able to alter behaviours in a short-term, especially in the period of a disease outbreak. While eigenvalue elasticity analysis can be helpful for understanding the impact of parameter changes for simple aggregate models, such analyses prove unwieldy and complicated, particularly for models with large number of state variables; and easily fall prey to eigenvalue multiplicity problems for large individual-based models, and istracting artifacts associated with small denominators. In response to these concerns, we introduced other local methods (global function elasticity/sensitivity analyses) that capture many of the advantages of eigenvalue elasticity methods with much greater simplicity. Unfortunately, parameter changes guided by these local analysis techniques are often insufficient to alter behaviours in the longer-term, such as when system behaviours approach stable endemic equilibria. By contrast, the global analytic tools, such as fixed point location and stability analysis, are effective for providing insights into the global behaviours of disease spread in the long-term, as well as their dependence on parameters. Using all of the above analysis as a toolset, we gained some possible insights into combination of local and global approaches. Choice of applying local or global analysis tools to infectious disease models is dependent on the specific target of policy makers as well as model type.

In this thesis, we applied local analysis tools (eigenvalue and eigenvalue elasticity analysis, global function elasticity/sensitivity analysis), and global analysis tools (deriving the location and stability of fixed points) to both aggregate and individual-level dynamic models of infectious diseases. We sought to use these methods to gain insight into the models and to evaluate the use of these methods to study their short-term and long-term dynamics and the influences of arameters on the models.<p> We found that eigenvalues are effective for understanding short-term behaviours of a nonlinear system, but less effective in providing insights of the long-term impacts of a parameter change on its behaviours. In term of disease control, local changes of behaviours, yielded from the changes of parameters based on eigenvalue elasticity, are able to alter behaviours in a short-term, especially in the period of a disease outbreak. While eigenvalue elasticity analysis can be helpful for understanding the impact of parameter changes for simple aggregate models, such analyses prove unwieldy and complicated, particularly for models with large number of state variables; and easily fall prey to eigenvalue multiplicity problems for large individual-based models, and istracting artifacts associated with small denominators. In response to these concerns, we introduced other local methods (global function elasticity/sensitivity analyses) that capture many of the advantages of eigenvalue elasticity methods with much greater simplicity. Unfortunately, parameter changes guided by these local analysis techniques are often insufficient to alter behaviours in the longer-term, such as when system behaviours approach stable endemic equilibria. By contrast, the global analytic tools, such as fixed point location and stability analysis, are effective for providing insights into the global behaviours of disease spread in the long-term, as well as their dependence on parameters. Using all of the above analysis as a toolset, we gained some possible insights into combination of local and global approaches. Choice of applying local or global analysis tools to infectious disease models is dependent on the specific target of policy makers as well as model type.

The work conducted in this thesis is two-fold. First, binary vapor liquid equilibria of several solvent/CO2 systems are measured at 40 ?? The systems analyzed are all gas-expanded liquids (GXLs) characterized with a Jerguson Cell apparatus. A Jerguson cell is a windowed pressure vessel that allows one to measure the height of the condensed liquid. Using this height and the known overall contents in the cell, one can calculate the liquid composition without using any external sampling. Secondly, this same setup is attached to a sampling system, and solid solubility (fractional crystallization) is measured for various GXL systems. The CO2 acts as an antisolvent in what is commonly known as a gaseous antisolvent (GAS) system. Essentially, this work shows that expansion of the tested solvents with CO2 will cause the precipitation of the solid solute. This work also analyzes the affect two solutes have on each other in a quaternary GAS system. Gas-expanded liquids combine desirable gaseous properties and liquid properties to yield a very useful solvent for many applications. An advantage of GXLs is that a relatively small change in pressure or temperature can greatly affect the solvation properties. The tunability of GXLs increases as the amount of the gas (usually CO2) increases in the liquid phase. With the benign chemical nature and environmental impact of CO2 processing, GXLs and supercritical fluids (SCFs) have garnered a lot of attention for industry and academia. Supercritical fluids in this work refer to pure CO2 above its critical temperature and pressure.

Rare-earth oxides used in oxide dispersion strengthening are known to provide excellent strength and deformability over ordinary dispersion strengthening. It has been suggested that this may be due to the development of molybdate compounds instead of pure dispersed oxide particles. These alloys are produced by dispersing particles of certain rare-earth oxides in a molybdenum matrix and forming the mixture into a composite ingot. During the high-temperature consolidation process, the oxides are converted into rare-earth molybdates. With subsequent processing, these molybdate phases undergo deformation to form high-surface-area ribbons that serve to inhibit dislocation movement, thus improving the mechanical properties of the molybdenum matrix. It is still unknown what specific compounds, phases, and crystal structures provide these metal-oxides with their high strength and deformability. Because the molybdate phases are formed at high temperatures and low oxygen partial pressures, little is also known of the high-temperature phase equilibria of the REO-Mo systems under these conditions. The primary goal of this study was to deifine phase equilibria on systems of Mo with rare-earth oxides. The project aimed to identify compounds, phases, and specific oxidation states of molybdenum at various processing conditions. Systems of LaO1.5-MoOx, YO1.5-MoOx, and ZrO2- MoOx were investigated at temperatures of 1000??nd 1200??and O2 partial pressures ranging from 10-4 Pa to 10-13 Pa. Samples were prepared using powder starting materials of Mo and rare-earth oxides were combined in stoichiometric ratios. The samples were then electrically heated in a ceramic tube furnace in which the oxygen partial pressure was controlled by means of a combined flow of H2 and CO2 gas. Characterization was performed using x-ray diffraction, with published powder diffraction files for phase identification.