With a growing share of intermittent electrical energy sources in the national grid of Sweden, areview of the safety of using nuclear power for flexible operation is necessary. Today nuclearpower is used as base load power and when examining challenges of flexible power operation,the risk for Pellet-Cladding Interaction (PCI), stands out. Vattenfall Nuclear Fuel lack a methodof calculating the PCI risk which this study will develop. It does this by mapping the risk for PCIthrough calculating power increase margins, in terms of ΔLHGR for full and flexible poweroperation. The results show that cladding strain for all simulated power levels is the limitingfactor. The time at which fuel remain at reduced power also has a large impact and the speed atwhich the PCI margin deteriorates has been calculated. Data from Westinghouse show that theresults compare relatively well for similar experimental set ups with some systemicconservatism. The automated library of code can be easily used to calculate the PCI risk for fuelin the future. The risk for PCI when returning to fuel power, per a Westinghouse conferencepaper, significantly reduces and should be investigated with the use of provided code. Possiblelimits with this study, however unquantified, are the use of 100 W/cm transient speed and theuse of full power axial profiles for reduced power operation in simulations.

O agronegócio das Flores e Plantas Ornamentais (FPO) no Brasil movimenta mais de R$ 5 bilhões ao ano com uma taxa de crescimento anual entre o 8% e 16%, gerando mais de 206.000 empregos diretos. Em 2012, a balança comercial da floricultura brasileira mostrou saldo negativo de US$ 13,468 milhões, devido ao incremento em suas importações por parte de seus maiores concorrentes do grupo MERCOSUL, Equador e Colômbia. A falta de implementação de sistemas de informação e as deficiências do controle nos gargalos de todos os processos, fazem que a maioria das perdas que se produz no elo atacadista sejam originadas da falta de cuidados no transporte, a não conservação da cadeia de frio e as demoras logísticas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo lançar um olhar prospectivo nesse complexo. A prospecção do futuro sempre foi e será apreciada pelos tomadores de decisões. Ao longo das últimas décadas, organizações internacionais, governos, empresas e organizações não governamentais têm realizado estudos sobre panoramas futuros, com o objetivo de ganhar tempo em preparar-se para superar seus concorrentes e ser competitivos em cada área de atuação. Por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica atual, focada na análise de toda a cadeia de suprimento de FPO, somado a uma serie de entrevistas com experts da floricultura nacional e internacional, analisaram-se atividades e ferramentas tecnológicas usadas em cada um dos processos envolvidos no atacado, como as condições do transporte, planejamento das entregas e os registros dos controles que garantem a qualidade do produto final. Com esse aporte construíram-se quatro possíveis cenários futuros para o setor atacadista de FPO brasileiro, baseados na utilização e implementação da Tecnologia de Informação. (1) Cenário Lirio, que apresenta a situação em que as CEASAS serão os maiores aglomerados do negócio de FPO sempre, enquanto eles realizarem uma reestruturação do complexo físico, assim com um plano de capacitação para o pessoal encarregado de manipular e ofertar as FPO. (2) Cenário Tulipa, que propõe um agrupamento por parte dos atacadistas com maior representatividade, com o fim de gerar e compartilhar informações sobre tendências, safras e formação de preços. (3) Cenário Girassol, que sugere que seja analisado o futuro dos métodos de compra de FPO por parte do consumidor final, para assim entender as diferentes ferramentas e estratégias de mercado que devem ser usadas pelas empresas atacadista para conservar e atrair novos clientes. (4) Cenário Agapantho, que mostra como a situação atual em relação a investimento e adoção de Tecnologia (TIC) do setor não muda, o que acarretaria uma série de consequências para o mercado interno e externo, facilitando ainda mais o ingresso de concorrentes internacionais ao Brasil. / Agribusiness of Flowers and Ornamental Plants (FPO) in Brazil handles more than $ 5 billion a year with an annual growth rate between 8% and 16%, generating more than 206,000 direct jobs. In 2012, the trade balance of the Brazilian floriculture showed a deficit of US $ 13.468 million, due to the increase in its imports by their larger competitors MERCOSUR group, Ecuador and Colombia. The lack of implementation of information systems and control deficiencies in bottlenecks of the process, make the most of the loss that occurs in the wholesale link to originate from a lack of care during transport, the failure to keep the cold chain and logistical delays. This paper aims to launch a prospective look at this complex. The prospect of the future has always been and will be greatly appreciated by decision makers. Over the past decades, international organizations, governments, companies and nongovernmental organizations have conducted studies on future panoramas, in order to gain time to prepare to overcome your competitors and be competitive in each area. Through a current literature review focused on the analysis of the entire FPO supply chain, plus a series of interviews with experts of national and international floriculture, analyzed activities and technological tools used in each of the processes involved in wholesale such as transport conditions, planning of deliveries and the records of the controls that guarantee the quality of the final product. With this supply were built four possible future scenarios for the wholesale sector of Brazilian FPO, based on the use and implementation of Information Technology. (1) Lirio Scenario, which shows the situation where the WM will be the largest OPF business of always crowded, as they carry out a restructuring of the physical complex, so with a training plan for staff handling and offer the FPO. (2) Scenario Tulip, which proposes a grouping by wholesalers with greater representation in order to generate and share information on trends, harvests and pricing. (3) Scenario Sunflower, which suggests it is analyzed the future of OPF purchase methods by the final consumer, so as to understand the different tools and market strategies that should be used by wholesale companies to retain and attract new customers. (4) Agapantho scenario that shows how the current situation in relation to investment and adoption of technology (ICT) in full sector does not change, what would entail a number of consequences for the domestic and foreign markets, further facilitating the entry international competitors to Brazil.

O agronegócio das Flores e Plantas Ornamentais (FPO) no Brasil movimenta mais de R$ 5 bilhões ao ano com uma taxa de crescimento anual entre o 8% e 16%, gerando mais de 206.000 empregos diretos. Em 2012, a balança comercial da floricultura brasileira mostrou saldo negativo de US$ 13,468 milhões, devido ao incremento em suas importações por parte de seus maiores concorrentes do grupo MERCOSUL, Equador e Colômbia. A falta de implementação de sistemas de informação e as deficiências do controle nos gargalos de todos os processos, fazem que a maioria das perdas que se produz no elo atacadista sejam originadas da falta de cuidados no transporte, a não conservação da cadeia de frio e as demoras logísticas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo lançar um olhar prospectivo nesse complexo. A prospecção do futuro sempre foi e será apreciada pelos tomadores de decisões. Ao longo das últimas décadas, organizações internacionais, governos, empresas e organizações não governamentais têm realizado estudos sobre panoramas futuros, com o objetivo de ganhar tempo em preparar-se para superar seus concorrentes e ser competitivos em cada área de atuação. Por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica atual, focada na análise de toda a cadeia de suprimento de FPO, somado a uma serie de entrevistas com experts da floricultura nacional e internacional, analisaram-se atividades e ferramentas tecnológicas usadas em cada um dos processos envolvidos no atacado, como as condições do transporte, planejamento das entregas e os registros dos controles que garantem a qualidade do produto final. Com esse aporte construíram-se quatro possíveis cenários futuros para o setor atacadista de FPO brasileiro, baseados na utilização e implementação da Tecnologia de Informação. (1) Cenário Lirio, que apresenta a situação em que as CEASAS serão os maiores aglomerados do negócio de FPO sempre, enquanto eles realizarem uma reestruturação do complexo físico, assim com um plano de capacitação para o pessoal encarregado de manipular e ofertar as FPO. (2) Cenário Tulipa, que propõe um agrupamento por parte dos atacadistas com maior representatividade, com o fim de gerar e compartilhar informações sobre tendências, safras e formação de preços. (3) Cenário Girassol, que sugere que seja analisado o futuro dos métodos de compra de FPO por parte do consumidor final, para assim entender as diferentes ferramentas e estratégias de mercado que devem ser usadas pelas empresas atacadista para conservar e atrair novos clientes. (4) Cenário Agapantho, que mostra como a situação atual em relação a investimento e adoção de Tecnologia (TIC) do setor não muda, o que acarretaria uma série de consequências para o mercado interno e externo, facilitando ainda mais o ingresso de concorrentes internacionais ao Brasil. / Agribusiness of Flowers and Ornamental Plants (FPO) in Brazil handles more than $ 5 billion a year with an annual growth rate between 8% and 16%, generating more than 206,000 direct jobs. In 2012, the trade balance of the Brazilian floriculture showed a deficit of US $ 13.468 million, due to the increase in its imports by their larger competitors MERCOSUR group, Ecuador and Colombia. The lack of implementation of information systems and control deficiencies in bottlenecks of the process, make the most of the loss that occurs in the wholesale link to originate from a lack of care during transport, the failure to keep the cold chain and logistical delays. This paper aims to launch a prospective look at this complex. The prospect of the future has always been and will be greatly appreciated by decision makers. Over the past decades, international organizations, governments, companies and nongovernmental organizations have conducted studies on future panoramas, in order to gain time to prepare to overcome your competitors and be competitive in each area. Through a current literature review focused on the analysis of the entire FPO supply chain, plus a series of interviews with experts of national and international floriculture, analyzed activities and technological tools used in each of the processes involved in wholesale such as transport conditions, planning of deliveries and the records of the controls that guarantee the quality of the final product. With this supply were built four possible future scenarios for the wholesale sector of Brazilian FPO, based on the use and implementation of Information Technology. (1) Lirio Scenario, which shows the situation where the WM will be the largest OPF business of always crowded, as they carry out a restructuring of the physical complex, so with a training plan for staff handling and offer the FPO. (2) Scenario Tulip, which proposes a grouping by wholesalers with greater representation in order to generate and share information on trends, harvests and pricing. (3) Scenario Sunflower, which suggests it is analyzed the future of OPF purchase methods by the final consumer, so as to understand the different tools and market strategies that should be used by wholesale companies to retain and attract new customers. (4) Agapantho scenario that shows how the current situation in relation to investment and adoption of technology (ICT) in full sector does not change, what would entail a number of consequences for the domestic and foreign markets, further facilitating the entry international competitors to Brazil.

O agronegócio das Flores e Plantas Ornamentais (FPO) no Brasil movimenta mais de R$ 5 bilhões ao ano com uma taxa de crescimento anual entre o 8% e 16%, gerando mais de 206.000 empregos diretos. Em 2012, a balança comercial da floricultura brasileira mostrou saldo negativo de US$ 13,468 milhões, devido ao incremento em suas importações por parte de seus maiores concorrentes do grupo MERCOSUL, Equador e Colômbia. A falta de implementação de sistemas de informação e as deficiências do controle nos gargalos de todos os processos, fazem que a maioria das perdas que se produz no elo atacadista sejam originadas da falta de cuidados no transporte, a não conservação da cadeia de frio e as demoras logísticas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo lançar um olhar prospectivo nesse complexo. A prospecção do futuro sempre foi e será apreciada pelos tomadores de decisões. Ao longo das últimas décadas, organizações internacionais, governos, empresas e organizações não governamentais têm realizado estudos sobre panoramas futuros, com o objetivo de ganhar tempo em preparar-se para superar seus concorrentes e ser competitivos em cada área de atuação. Por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica atual, focada na análise de toda a cadeia de suprimento de FPO, somado a uma serie de entrevistas com experts da floricultura nacional e internacional, analisaram-se atividades e ferramentas tecnológicas usadas em cada um dos processos envolvidos no atacado, como as condições do transporte, planejamento das entregas e os registros dos controles que garantem a qualidade do produto final. Com esse aporte construíram-se quatro possíveis cenários futuros para o setor atacadista de FPO brasileiro, baseados na utilização e implementação da Tecnologia de Informação. (1) Cenário Lirio, que apresenta a situação em que as CEASAS serão os maiores aglomerados do negócio de FPO sempre, enquanto eles realizarem uma reestruturação do complexo físico, assim com um plano de capacitação para o pessoal encarregado de manipular e ofertar as FPO. (2) Cenário Tulipa, que propõe um agrupamento por parte dos atacadistas com maior representatividade, com o fim de gerar e compartilhar informações sobre tendências, safras e formação de preços. (3) Cenário Girassol, que sugere que seja analisado o futuro dos métodos de compra de FPO por parte do consumidor final, para assim entender as diferentes ferramentas e estratégias de mercado que devem ser usadas pelas empresas atacadista para conservar e atrair novos clientes. (4) Cenário Agapantho, que mostra como a situação atual em relação a investimento e adoção de Tecnologia (TIC) do setor não muda, o que acarretaria uma série de consequências para o mercado interno e externo, facilitando ainda mais o ingresso de concorrentes internacionais ao Brasil. / Agribusiness of Flowers and Ornamental Plants (FPO) in Brazil handles more than $ 5 billion a year with an annual growth rate between 8% and 16%, generating more than 206,000 direct jobs. In 2012, the trade balance of the Brazilian floriculture showed a deficit of US $ 13.468 million, due to the increase in its imports by their larger competitors MERCOSUR group, Ecuador and Colombia. The lack of implementation of information systems and control deficiencies in bottlenecks of the process, make the most of the loss that occurs in the wholesale link to originate from a lack of care during transport, the failure to keep the cold chain and logistical delays. This paper aims to launch a prospective look at this complex. The prospect of the future has always been and will be greatly appreciated by decision makers. Over the past decades, international organizations, governments, companies and nongovernmental organizations have conducted studies on future panoramas, in order to gain time to prepare to overcome your competitors and be competitive in each area. Through a current literature review focused on the analysis of the entire FPO supply chain, plus a series of interviews with experts of national and international floriculture, analyzed activities and technological tools used in each of the processes involved in wholesale such as transport conditions, planning of deliveries and the records of the controls that guarantee the quality of the final product. With this supply were built four possible future scenarios for the wholesale sector of Brazilian FPO, based on the use and implementation of Information Technology. (1) Lirio Scenario, which shows the situation where the WM will be the largest OPF business of always crowded, as they carry out a restructuring of the physical complex, so with a training plan for staff handling and offer the FPO. (2) Scenario Tulip, which proposes a grouping by wholesalers with greater representation in order to generate and share information on trends, harvests and pricing. (3) Scenario Sunflower, which suggests it is analyzed the future of OPF purchase methods by the final consumer, so as to understand the different tools and market strategies that should be used by wholesale companies to retain and attract new customers. (4) Agapantho scenario that shows how the current situation in relation to investment and adoption of technology (ICT) in full sector does not change, what would entail a number of consequences for the domestic and foreign markets, further facilitating the entry international competitors to Brazil.

Tacit Knowledge Sharing and Self-Efficacy are well developed concepts within the academicfields of Knowledge Management and Social Cognitive Theory. The purpose of the study wasto investigate the antecedents and the relationship between the two concepts in for-profit andnon-profit organisations. The study employed Ipe’s model of knowledge sharing to TacitKnowledge Sharing and Albert Bandura’s contribution to Self-Efficacy. A qualitative studywas conducted and the authors collected data through semi-structured interviews which werelater analysed through a process of content analysis. The findings show that sources ofinformation for self-efficacy judgements can be influenced by the occurrence of TacitKnowledge Sharing. Organisations can benefit from these findings by incorporatingopportunities to share tacit knowledge into their working routines, helping their employeescirculate knowledge and increase their sense of self-efficacy

Neste trabalho propomos uma abordagem que utiliza o método de barreira modificada/penalidade para a resolução de problemas restritos gerais de otimização. Para isso, foram obtidos dados teóricos, a partir de um levantamento bibliográfico, que explicitaram os métodos primal-dual barreira logarítmica e método de barreira modificada. Nesta abordagem, as restrições de desigualdade canalizadas são tratadas pela função barreira de Frisch modificada, ou por uma extrapolação quadrática e as restrições de igualdade do problema através da função Lagrangiana. A implementação consiste num duplo estágio de aproximação: um ciclo externo, onde o problema restrito é convertido em um problema irrestrito, usando a função Lagrangiana barreira modificada/penalidade; e um ciclo interno, onde o método de Newton é utilizado para a atualização das variáveis primais e duais. É apresentada também uma função barreira clássica extrapolada para a inicialização dos multiplicadores de Lagrange. A eficiência do método foi verificada utilizando um problema teste e em problemas de fluxo de potência ótimo (FPO). / In this paper, we propose an approach that utilizes the penalty/modified barrier method to solve the general constrained problems. On this purpose, theoretical data were obtained, from a bibliographical review, which enlightened the logarithmic barrier primal-dual method and modified barrier method. In this approach, the bound constraints are handled by the modified log-barrier function, or by quadratic extrapolation and the equality constraints of the problem through Lagrangian function. The method, as implemented, consists of a two-stage approach: an outer cycle, where the constrained problem is transformed into unconstrained problem, using penalty/modified barrier Lagrangian function; and an inner cycle, where the Newton\'s method is used for update the primal and dual variables. Also, it is presented a classical barrier extrapolated function for initialization of Lagrange multipliers. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been examined by solving a test problem and optimal power flow problems (OPF).

Neste trabalho propomos uma abordagem que utiliza o método de barreira modificada/penalidade para a resolução de problemas restritos gerais de otimização. Para isso, foram obtidos dados teóricos, a partir de um levantamento bibliográfico, que explicitaram os métodos primal-dual barreira logarítmica e método de barreira modificada. Nesta abordagem, as restrições de desigualdade canalizadas são tratadas pela função barreira de Frisch modificada, ou por uma extrapolação quadrática e as restrições de igualdade do problema através da função Lagrangiana. A implementação consiste num duplo estágio de aproximação: um ciclo externo, onde o problema restrito é convertido em um problema irrestrito, usando a função Lagrangiana barreira modificada/penalidade; e um ciclo interno, onde o método de Newton é utilizado para a atualização das variáveis primais e duais. É apresentada também uma função barreira clássica extrapolada para a inicialização dos multiplicadores de Lagrange. A eficiência do método foi verificada utilizando um problema teste e em problemas de fluxo de potência ótimo (FPO). / In this paper, we propose an approach that utilizes the penalty/modified barrier method to solve the general constrained problems. On this purpose, theoretical data were obtained, from a bibliographical review, which enlightened the logarithmic barrier primal-dual method and modified barrier method. In this approach, the bound constraints are handled by the modified log-barrier function, or by quadratic extrapolation and the equality constraints of the problem through Lagrangian function. The method, as implemented, consists of a two-stage approach: an outer cycle, where the constrained problem is transformed into unconstrained problem, using penalty/modified barrier Lagrangian function; and an inner cycle, where the Newton\'s method is used for update the primal and dual variables. Also, it is presented a classical barrier extrapolated function for initialization of Lagrange multipliers. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been examined by solving a test problem and optimal power flow problems (OPF).

Genetic algorithms (GA) are stochastic global search methods based on the mechanics of natural biological evolution, proposed by John Holland in 1975. Here in this thesis, we have exploited possible utilities of Genetic Algorithm optimization in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments. We have performed (i ) Pulse sequence generation and optimization for NMR Quantum Information Processing, (ii ) efficient creation of NOON states, (iii ) Composite operator design and (iv ) delay optimization for refocused quantitative INEPT. We have generated time optimal as well as robust pulse sequences for popular quantum gates. A Matlab package is developed for basic Target unitary operator to pulse sequence optimization and is explained with an example. Chapter 1 contains a brief introduction to NMR, Quantum computation and Genetic algorithm optimization. Experimental unitary operator decomposition using Genetic Algorithm is explained in Chapter 2. Starting from a two spin homonu- clear system (5-Bromofuroic acid), we have generated hard pulse sequences for performing (i ) single qubit rotation, (ii ) controlled NOT gates and (iii ) pseudo pure state creation, which demonstrates universal quantum computation in such systems. The total length of the pulse sequence for the single qubit rotation of an angle π/2 is less than 500µs, whereas the conventional method (using a selective soft pulse) would need a 2ms shaped pulse. This substantial shortening in time can lead to a significant advantage in quantum circuits. We also demonstrate the creation of Long Lived Singlet State and other Bell states, directly from thermal equilibrium state, with the shortest known pulse sequence. All the pulse sequences generated here are generic i.e., independent of the system and the spectrometer. We further generalized this unitary operator decomposition technique for a variable operators termed as Fidelity Profile Optimization (FPO) (Chapter 3) and performed quantum simulations of Hamiltonian such as Heisenberg XY interaction and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Exact phase (φ) dependent experimental unitary decompositions of Controlled-φ and Controlled Controlled-φ are solved using first order FPO. Unitary operator decomposition for experimental quantum simulation of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in the presence of Heisenberg XY interaction is solved using second order FPO for any relative strengths of interactions (γ) and evolution time (τ ). Experimental gate time for this decomposition is invariant under γ or τ , which can be used for relaxation independent studies of the system dynamics. Using these decompositions, we have experimentally verified the entanglement preservation mechanism suggested by Hou et al. [Annals of Physics, 327 292 (2012)]. NOON state or Schrodinger cat state is a maximally entangled N qubit state with superposition of all individual qubits being at |0 and being at |1 . NOON states have received much attention recently for their high precession phase measurements, which enables the design of high sensitivity sensors in optical interfer- ometry and NMR [Jones et al. Science, 324 1166(2009)]. We have used Genetic algorithm optimization for efficient creation of NOON states in NMR (Chapter 4). The decompositions are, (i ) a minimal in terms of required experimental resources – radio frequency pulses and delays – and have (ii ) good experimental fidelity. A composite pulse is a cluster of nearly connected rf pulses which emulate the effect of a simple spin operator with robust response over common experimental imperfections. Composite pulses are mainly used for improving broadband de- coupling, population inversion, coherence transfer and in nuclear overhauser effect experiments. Composite operator is a generalized idea where a basic operator (such as rotation or evolution of zz coupling) is made robust against common experimental errors (such as inhomogeneity / miscalibration of rf power or errror in evaluation of zz coupling strength) by using a sequence of basic operators available for the system. Using Genetic Algorithm optimization, we have designed and experimentally verified following composite operators, (i ) broadband rotation pulses, (ii ) rf inhomogeneity compensated rotation pulses and (iii ) zz evolution operator with robust response over a range of zz coupling strengths (Chapter 5). We also performed rf inhomogeneity compensated Controlled NOT gate. Extending Genetic Algorithm optimization in classical NMR applications, we have improved the quantitative refocused constant-time INEPT experiment (Q-INEPT- CT) of M¨kel¨ et al. [JMR 204(2010) 124-130] with various optimization constraints . The improved ‘average polarization transfer’ and ‘min-max difference’ of new delay sets effectively reduces the experimental time by a factor of two (compared with Q-INEPT-CT, M¨kel¨ et al.) without compromising on accuracy (Chapter 6). We also introduced a quantitative spectral editing technique based on average polarization transfer. These optimized quantitative experiments are also described in Chapter 6. Time optimal pulse sequences for popular quantum gates such as, (i ) Controlled Hadamard (C-H) gate, (ii ) Controlled-Controlled-NOT (CCNOT) Gate and (iii ) Controlled SWAP (C-S) gate are optimized using Genetic Algorithm (Appendix. A). We also generated optimal sequences for Quantum Counter circuits, Quantum Probability Splitter circuits and efficient creation of three spin W state. We have developed a Matlab package based on GA optimization for three spin target operator to pulse sequence generator. The package is named as UOD (Unitary Operator Decomposition) is explained with an example of Controlled SWAP gate in Appendix. B. An algorithm based on quantum phase estimation, which discriminates quantum states non-destructively within a set of arbitrary orthogonal states, is described and experimentally verified by a NMR quantum information processor (Appendix. C). The procedure is scalable and can be applied to any set of orthogonal states. Scalability is demonstrated through Matlab simulation.