台灣地區地層下陷問題肇始於六十年代迄今已逾三十餘載，持續下陷面積已達1,194平方公里，最大累積下陷量達到三公尺以上。而目前地層下陷地表監測所採用的傳統水準測量耗費人力、時間較多，且不易獲得連續和全面性之地層下陷資料，目前國內水利單位限於人力時間，無法針對所有監測區域每年皆施測一次。近年來由於空載光達測量技術興起，其具有短時間內獲取大區域高密度、高精度高程資料的特性，因此本研究之目的在探討如何利用空載光達測量技術快速獲取高精度之三維點雲資訊，進行大區域的地層下陷監測及其成效。 研究方法係首先將監測區內掃瞄的光達點雲資料進行網格化分群；接著，計算網格區域內所有光達點擬合平面的中心高程；然後，以人工或自動方法萃取出平坦、穩固的網格區域做為監測面；最後，進行不同時期網格監測面高程差異之統計測試分析，以求出地層下陷量。 實驗結果顯示改善點雲高程精度至5公分以內後，經由網格監測面的精度、坡度、坡向、反射強度、道路範圍等為門檻值，可萃取出80%以上正確率的穩固監測面，且其高差成果與長期監測成果的平均值差異在1.3公分至2.9公分之間，由此成果可以說明本研究成果對建立一套省時省力的監測模式，進而達到地層下陷監測自動化的目的有相當幫助。 / The issue of land subsidence in Taiwan has been concerned for over 30 years since 1970. Land subsidence area has been already over 1194 km2, the maximum amount of accumulative subsidence is more than 3 meters. The conventional leveling for the land subsidence monitoring is labor-intensive and time-consuming, so that the Water Resources Agency could not monitor all the subsidence area every year. Airborne LIDAR technology was developed in recent years, it has the characteristics of collecting 3-D point data at the high density and high elevation accuracy in short time. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to discuss how to utilize the airborne LIDAR technology to monitor the land subsidence. The proposed approach, therefore, is first to divide the collecting DSM points in the monitor area into regular grids. Secondly, all the points in the regular grids are fitted to one set planar parameters by least squares principle and the centric elevation of each grid is calculated. Third, the flatness and well-defined planar grids are selected as the monitoring surfaces with the manual or automatic method. Finally, the difference of centric elevation in each monitoring surfaces at different period is calculated and analyzed with statistical approach. This study shows that after refining the elevation accuracy of point clouds within 5 cm, our approach can extract stable monitoring surfaces by limiting planar fitting accuracy, flatness, slope, intensity, or by using road information. The extracted correct rate can be more than 80%. The discrepancy of elevation difference between this study and long-term monitoring result is between 1.3 cm and 2.9 cm. It proves the proposed approach is helpful on constructing the monitoring model in timesaving and efficient way, and our proposed approach has the potential for developing automatic land subsidence monitoring method.

This research examines the safety and cost effectiveness of an institutional policy on discharge of preterm infants with Apnea of Prematurity (AOP) from the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Newborn Intensive Care Unit (VCUNC NICU) with caffeine therapy and a cardiorespiratory monitor. This practice policy was developed over a decade ago as a cost containment measure in neonatal care and continues to be implemented today despite the lack of a formal evaluation. The secondary objective was to examine through a review of the literature the psychosocial impact of premature birth on the family and the potential effect on the infant's hospital discharge. The evaluation of this policy is based on the conceptual framework of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in health care. Results were used to generate policy recommendations.This is a retrospective case study of 933 infants admitted to the VCU Medical Center and the community hospital NICU between 1993 and 2002 diagnosed with Apnea of Prematurity. Data was obtained from the Neonatal Information System database at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS), the Virginia Department of Health, and the VCUHS hospital information system. In this mixed methods study, the infants were divided into two groups: 1) those discharged from the hospital on caffeine citrate therapy, and a cardiorespiratory monitor for continued management of apnea; and 2) those that were hospitalized until resolution of apnea. Data was analyzed for differences in mortality and morbidity, hospital readmissions and cost of hospital care from birth to 1 year of age. Interviews were conducted with NICU clinicians to obtain a qualitative perspective on this policy. No significant differences were found in the mortality rate between the two groups (p=.65), and the causes of the four deaths were unrelated to Apnea of Prematurity. Mean hospital costs were approximately $58,000 in both groups. Bronchiolitis was the leading cause for hospital readmission and there was no difference in the rate of hospital readmissions. Based on interviews with NICU clinicians, the policy works well and early discharge is advantageous to the infant and family. Therefore, we find no reason to not continue this policy. Study results support the importance and direction for further research on early discharge of infants with AOP and enhanced epidemiologic surveillance of this population.

Les programmes éducatifs de jardinage alimentaire avec les jeunes offrent l’opportunité d’agir sur leurs connaissances nutritionnelles, préférences pour des légumes, sentiment d'efficacité personnelle à consommer des fruits et légumes, envie d'y goûter et leur consommation. Dans ces activités, certains obstacles peuvent freiner l'éducation alimentaire et nutritionnelle faite par des animateurs qui ne sont pas professionnels de la nutrition ou de la santé. Le présent projet consistait à développer un volet alimentaire et nutritionnel éducatif pour les "Jardins-jeunes" (JJ), un camp d'été en jardinage du Jardin botanique de Montréal, à offrir une courte formation en nutrition à ses animatrices, puis à évaluer leurs niveaux d'intérêt et de confiance personnelle à intégrer ce volet à l'édition 2013. Les méthodes d'évaluation auprès des animatrices comprenaient des entrevues de groupe, des questionnaires et une observation-terrain. La taille d'échantillon permettait uniquement une analyse qualitative des résultats. La formation semble avoir maintenu ou élevé les niveaux de confiance et de connaissances des animatrices sur plusieurs sujets alimentaires et nutritionnels. Les animatrices évoquent que les trois activités de trente minutes en alimentation et nutrition, intégrées aux JJ 2013, auraient favorisé l'éducation nutritionnelle, qui par ailleurs, fut limitée par manque de temps. Elles rapportent avoir perçu des effets positifs du programme sur les connaissances, attitudes et comportements alimentaires des jeunes. Nos résultats suggèrent qu'un volet d’éducation alimentaire et nutritionnelle peut être intégré à un programme de jardinage par des animateurs non spécialisés dans ces domaines, outillés et encadrés pour se sentir motivés et confiants dans leur rôle. / Food garden curricula for children provide opportunities to work on their nutritional knowledge, vegetables preferences, self-efficacy to consume fruits and vegetables, willingness to taste them and their consumption. In such programs, certain obstacles can restrain the implementation or use of a food and nutrition curriculum by summer camp monitor/animator who are not nutrition or health professionals. This project consisted in developing and adding a food and nutrition educational component to "Jardins-jeunes", a gardening summer camp offered by Jardin Botanique de Montréal. A brief nutrition training was given to the camp’s monitors. Their level of interest and self-efficacy to implement this component trough the 2013 edition were evaluated. Evaluating methods included group interviews, questionnaires and a field observation. Qualitative analysis was conducted due to the small sample size. The nutrition training appears to have maintained or enhanced monitors' interests and knowledge on food and nutrition related subjects. They reported that the thirty minute food and nutrition activities integrated in the 2013 program presented opportunities to offer nutrition education, although limited by a lack of time. They report perceiving positive effects on children's knowledge, attitudes and behaviors on their food after their participation to the program. Our results suggest that a food and nutrition curriculum can be implemented in a garden program by summer camp monitor/animator who are not specialists in those fields, but who are provided with the adequate tools and support to be confident and interested in this task.

The γ-ray characterizing possibility of the neutron collimated flux monitor (in short, Neutron Camera) at the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST) is explored. Typically used to monitor neutron emission, the Neutron Camera has excellent neutron/γ-ray discrimination properties and thus presents the opportunity to measure spatially and temporally resolved γ-ray emission - a possibility of an additional fusion diagnostics method with already existing equipment. An Online Data Analysis (ODA) code was used to analyze the data on γ-rays from several plasma discharges with similar plasma parameters. A high statistics temporal distribution of the γ-ray emission and a lower statistics spatial distribution were analyzed. However, the low energy resolution and range for the Neutron Camera γ-ray measurements revealed few conclusive results on the origin of the higher energy γ-rays. Detection systems with higher energy resolution and range are suggested for an extensive analysis of γ-ray emission at MAST Upgrade.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar estratégias de iluminação natural utilizadas nos estágios iniciais do projeto de arquitetura capazes de aumentar a qualidade da iluminação e a conservação de energia nos edifícios escolares. Essas estratégias têm sido aplicadas com sucesso em edifícios escolares em vários países, melhorando o desempenho e o bem-estar dos estudantes e conservando energia. Entre essas estratégias, o autor selecionou um dispositivo zenital para iluminação natural com seleção angular e difusores opacos, realizou um ensaio experimental em um modelo físico reduzido de uma sala de aula padrão, sob condições de céu real e analisou comparativamente os resultados. O estudo mostrou que a adoção de uma metodologia para utilizar estratégias como a analisada neste trabalho pode conseguir um adequado controle da radiação solar para evitar a incidência direta da luz do Sol, evitar o ofuscamento e o aquecimento excessivo de ambientes de salas de aula em climas quentes e, ao mesmo tempo, aproveitar a iluminação natural, tanto difusa quanto direta refletida, para obter maior conforto visual e economizar energia. / This work aims to analyse daylighting strategies applied in early stages of architectural design as to improve lighting quality and energy savings in school buildings. Similar strategies have already been successfully applied in many countries around the world, enhancing student?s performance and well being while helping to save energy. Among the strategies studied, the author describes an experiment under real sky conditions using a physical scale model of a standard classroom equipped with a roof monitor combined with an overhang and interior vertical diffusing baffles as a way to check its influence in interior lighting conditions. The experiment has shown that the use of daylighting strategies can promote an adequate control of solar radiation, avoiding direct sunlight penetration inside the classrooms, limiting glare problems and excessive heat of hot climates. At the same time, such strategies optimise both direct and defuse use of daylight to improve visual comfort and energy savings.

A relação trabalho e visão é tão remota que determinou a adaptação da espécie humana ao meio em que está inserida. Demonstrou-se que trabalhar em um ambiente confortável, sem doenças ocular, favorece o desempenho visual e aumenta a produtividade. Conhecer os efeitos do monitor de computador (VDT) sobre o sistema visual significa planejar melhor o ambiente de trabalho e a atividade laboral para se obter máximo conforto e produtividade. Este estudo teve como objetivo geral analisar as alterações do piscar, do filme lacrimal e da superfície ocular induzidas pelo uso de monitor de computador (VDT). Para sua realização efetivou-se um estudo transversal, descritivo, observacional, analítico, realizado na Volkswagen do Brasil, São José dos Pinhais (PR), tendo como amostra, a população de funcionários do setor administrativo que utiliza VDT, com idade acima de 18 anos, sem doenças da superfície ocular, sistema palpebral e lacrimal. O ambiente de trabalho foi caracterizado pela temperatura, grau de umidade, velocidade do ar e iluminamento. Preencheram os critérios de inclusão 108 funcionários (idade média 34,1±7,88 anos e tempo mínimo de utilização do VDT 6 horas/dia). Foram avaliados as sintomatologias, filmagem da face para mensuração do tempo entre piscadas na situação de conversação, exame do olho externo e biomicroscopia das pálpebras, conjuntiva e córnea, filmagem videoceratoscópica para determinar tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, avaliação da quantidade de lágrima do lago lacrimal pelo Zone-Quick Phenol Red Thread tear test, avaliação do epitélio corneano pelo teste da lissamina verde, filmagem da face dos sujeitos para mensuração do tempo entre piscadas em leitura de VDT. Ao final da jornada de trabalho, foram feitas a reavaliação do tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal da quantidade de lágrima e a avaliação do epitélio corneano. Compararamse o tempo entre as piscadas em conversação e em uso de VDT e o tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, antes e ao final da jornada de trabalho. A comparação desses tempos classificou os sujeitos como expostos, com tempo médio de ruptura do filme lacrimal menor que o tempo médio entre piscadas e não expostos com tempo médio de ruptura do filme lacrimal maior que o tempo médio entre piscadas. Nas condições do estudo, em jornada de trabalho com tempo mínimo de 6 horas de uso de VDT, houve aumento da exposição da superfície ocular causada pelo aumento do tempo entre piscadas. O aumento da exposição da superfície ocular foi causado pela diminuição do tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal constatado ao final da jornada de trabalho. O tempo entre piscadas na situação de leitura em VDT que foi significantemente maior que na situação de conversação. O tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, ao final da jornada de trabalho, foi significativamente menor que em seu início. A exposição ocular observada durante a jornada de trabalho com usuários de VDT, nas condições deste estudo, não causou alteração epitelial detectável ao teste da lissamina verde. Não houve alteração do volume lacrimal em olhos com exposição, antes da jornada de trabalho com VDT, nem houve alteração do volume lacrimal em olhos com exposição ocular, após a jornada de trabalho com VDT. / The relationship between work and vision is so remote that has determined the adaptation of human beings to the environment in which they are inserted. It has been demonstrated that working in a pleasant environment, without any ocular disease, has favored visual performance and increased productivity. Knowing the effects of video terminal display (VDT) on the visual system helps plan labor environments and labor activities more effectively so that optimal comfort and productivity are obtained. This transversal study, performed at Volkswagen do Brasil, São José dos Pinhais, PR, has the objective to investigate the influence of VDT labor activities on blinking, tear film and ocular surface, ocular exposure and amount of tear in the lacrimal lake. The population sample comprised VDT administrative department employees older than 18, without diseases on the ocular surface, tear film and blinking system. The evaluation of the working environment included measurements of temperature, humidity, air speed and lighting. One hundred and eight employees met the study criteria (mean age 34.1±7.88 and minimal VDT use time of 6 hours/day). Several evaluations were performed: the ocular surface symptomatology; the measurement of the blink time in conversation situations; the examination of the ocular surface and lacrimal film; a videokeratoscopy to establish the tear film break-up time; evaluation of the amount of tears of the lacrimal lake by means of the Zone-Quick Phenol Red Thread tear test; evaluation of the corneal epithelium by means of the lissamine green test; and determination of the blink time in VDT reading situations. At the end of the working period, the amount of tears and the corneal epithelium structure were re-evaluated. Comparisons between the blink time in conversation and VDT reading situations were performed before and at the end of the working day. The comparison data obtained classifies the subjects into two categories: exposed, with a tear film break-up time shorter than the mean time between blinks; and non-exposed, with tear film break-up time longer than the mean time between blinks. The findings obtained reveal that there was an increase in the ocular surface exposure caused by the increase in the time between blinks during the working period and increase of the ocular surface exposure caused by the decrease in the tear film break-up time determined at the end of the working day. The time between blinks at VDT reading situations was significantly longer than at conversation situations. The tear film break-up time at the end of the working day was significantly shorter than at the beginning. The ocular exposure during the VDT use has not caused epithelium alterations detectable at the lissamine green test. There were no alterations in the amount of tears in the eyes which underwent ocular exposure after VDT use situations.

Para a fabricação de filtros ópticos com característica espectral crítica, utiliza-se a tecnologia de filmes finos multicamadas, a qual exige o monitoramento e controle de espessura dos filmes com alta precisão. O sistema tradicional de monitoramento de espessura de filmes, baseado em cristal ressonante, não atende aos requisitos de precisão e repetibilidade do processo exigidos para a fabricação deste tipo de filtro. Já o monitoramento óptico, por sua vez, é um sistema que atende aos requisitos de fabricação destes filtros. Neste trabalho apresenta-se o desenvolvimento de um sistema automático de monitoramento óptico banda larga, para fabricação de filtros com filmes finos multicamadas, que se baseia na utilização de equipamentos ópticos de uso geral disponíveis no mercado. Para realizar análises de desempenho referentes exclusivamente ao algoritmo de automatização, um ambiente de simulação foi preparado, no qual os dados fornecidos pelo equipamento de aquisição de características ópticas durante a deposição efetiva foram substituídos por dados gerados por um algoritmo de simulação de crescimento do filme. Deste modo, o algoritmo de automatização e seus sistemas de segurança puderam ser exercitados. As simulações mostraram que o sistema proposto possui potencial para tornar mais preciso e repetitivo o processo de fabricação de filtros, de modo que atendam aos requisitos das aplicações especiais. / Optical filter manufacturing with critical spectral characteristics uses multilayer thin film technology, which demandas film thickness monitoring and control with high precision. Traditional monitoring systems based on oscillating crystal do not fulfill requirements of accuracy and process repeatability for manufacturing such type of filter. On the other hand, optical broadband monitoring system fulfills the manufacturing requirements to produce these filters. This work presents the development of a broadband optical monitoring system for multilayer thin film filters production, based on general optical equipment commercially available. In order to make the performance analysis related to automation algorithm, a simulation environment has been prepared, where the data supplied by optical data acquisition equipment has been replaced by simulating signals of film growing. Thus the automation algorithm and security systems could be worked. Simulations showed that the system has potential to improve the accuracy and repeatability of the manufacturing process so that the produced filters are able to fulfill the requirements of special applications.

Um monitor de tensão de limiar (VT0) é um circuito que, idealmente, entrega o valor do VT0 como uma tensão na saída, para uma determinada faixa de temperatura, sem a necessidade de polarização externa, configurações paramétricas, ajuste de curvas ou qualquer cálculo subsequente. Estes circuitos podem ser usados em sensores de temperatura, referências de tensão e corrente, dosímetros de radiação e outras aplicações, uma vez que a dependência do VT0 nas condições de operação é um aspecto bem modelado. Além disso, estes circuitos podem ser utilizados para monitoramento de processos de fabricação e para compensação da variabilidade do processo, uma vez que o VT0 é um parâmetro chave para o comportamento do transistor e sua modelagem. Nesta tese, são apresentadas três novas topologias de circuitos, duas são monitores de VT0 NMOS e a terceira é um monitor de VT0 PMOS. As três estruturas são topologias de circuito auto-polarizadas que não utilizam resistências, e apresentam alta rejeição a variações na alimentação, baixa sensibilidade de Linea, e permitem a extração direta da tensão de limiar para grandes intervalos de temperatura e de tensão de alimentação, com pequeno erro. Sua metodologia de projeto é baseada no modelo unificado controlado por corrente (UICM), um modelo MOSFET que é contínuo, desde o nível de inversão fraca a forte e para as regiões de operação de triodo e saturação. Os circuitos ocupam uma pequena área de silício, consomem apenas dezenas de nanowatts, e podem ser implementados em qualquer processo padrão CMOS digital, uma vez que só utilizam transistores MOS (não precisa de nenhum resistor). Os monitores de VT0 são utilizados em diferentes aplicações, a fim de investigar a sua funcionalidade e comportamento como parte de um sistema. As aplicações variam de uma tensão de referência, que apresenta um desempenho comparável ao estado da arte, para uma configuração que permite obter uma menor variabilidade com processo na saída de um circuito auto-polarizado que gera um tensão CTAT. Além disso, explorando a capacidade de funcionar como um gerador de corrente específica (ISQ) que os monitores de VT0 aqui apresentados oferecem, introduz-se um novo circuito auto-polarizado que gera um tensão CTAT, que é menos sensível a variações de processo, e pode ser usado em referências de tensão band-gap. / A threshold voltage (VT0) monitor is a circuit that ideally delivers the estimated VT0 value as a voltage at its output, for a given temperature range, without external biases, parametric setups, curve fitting or any subsequent calculation. It can be used in temperature sensors, voltage and current references, radiation dosimeters and other applications since the MOSFET VT0 dependence on the operation conditions is a very well modeled aspect. Also, it can be used for fabrication process monitoring and process variability compensation, since VT0 is a key parameter for the transistor behavior and modeling. In this thesis, we present three novel circuit topologies, two of them being NMOS VT0 monitors and the last one being a PMOS VT0 monitor. The three structures are resistorless self-biased circuit topologies that present high power supply rejection, low line sensitivity, and allow the direct extraction of the threshold voltage for wide temperature and power supply voltage ranges, with small error. Its design methodology is based on the Unified Current Control Model (UICM), a MOSFET model that is continuous from weak to strong inversion and from triode to saturation regions. The circuits occupy small silicon area, consume just tens of nanoWatts, and can be implemented in any standard digital CMOS process, since they only use MOS transistors (does not need any resistor). The VT0 monitors are used in different applications in order to prove their functionality, and behavior as part of a system. The applications vary from a reference voltage, that presents performance comparable with state-of-the-art works, to a configuration that allows to obtain a lower process variability, in the output of a self-biased circuit that generates a complementary to the absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage. In addition, exploiting the ability to operate as an specific current (ISQ) generator, that the VT0 monitors presented here offer, we introduced a new self-biased circuit that produces a CTAT voltage and is less sensitive to process variations, and can be used in band-gap voltage references.

A presente pesquisa tem como tema principal a alocação otimizada de Monitores de Qualidade da Energia Elétrica (MQEEs) em sistemas de distribuição para a observação das Variações de Tensão de Curta Duração (VTCDs). Busca-se pela pesquisa apresentar adequações que podem ser facilmente incorporadas aos métodos de alocação que se baseiam no uso de algoritmos inteligentes, neste caso em específico, em Algoritmos Genéticos (AGs), para resolver o problema da alocação de MQEEs. Também como contribuição, a pesquisa apresenta uma técnica para a diminuição do espaço de busca das soluções, imprimindo assim, uma melhoria da observação das VTCDs em Sistemas de Distribuição (SDs), e caracterizando um método simplificado para a alocação desejada. A metodologia como formulada (via AG e método simplificado) foi testada através da sua aplicação nos sistemas de distribuição de 13, 34 e 123 nós, simulados via o ATP (Alternative Transients Program), e provindos da base de dados do IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers). A pesquisa também foi testada considerando um alimentador real de uma concessionária regional, e validada através de simulações estatísticas pelo Método de Monte Carlo. / The present research has the optimized allocation of Power Quality Monitors in distribution systems as its main subject aimed at voltage sags and swells observation. The work intention is to propose adjustments that can be easily incorporated into the allocation methods based on the use of intelligent algorithms, in this case specifically, the Genetic Algorithms addressing the problem of monitor allocation. Also, as contribution, the research presents a technique to reduce the search space of solutions, thus printing an improvement on the observation of voltage variations in distribution systems and characterizing a simplified method for the desired allocation. The methodology, as formulated (by the genetic algorithm application and the simplified method), was tested through its application in distribution systems of 13, 34 and 123 nodes, simulated on ATP (Alternative Transients Program), and stemmed by the IEEE database (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers). The research was also tested considering a real feeder of a regional utility, and validated through statistical simulations by the Monte Carlo method.

Nesta tese, dois projetos distintos que usaram a técnica do Espalhamento de Luz foram desenvolvidos. Estudou-se a influência de soluções concentradas de uréia sobre agregados supramoleculares de anfifilicos (ASA\'s), através de condutimetria, supressão de fluorescência e espalhamento de luz. A uréia causou aumento da concentração micelar crítica (CMC) em todos os sistemas micelares estudados. A uréia diminuiu a seletividade da ligação iônica entre cloreto e brometo em micelas de haleto de cetil-trimetil-amônio, estudada através de supressão de fluorescência. Este aditivo causou também aumento na segunda CMC de brometo de tetradeciltrimetil- amônio (TTAB) e diminuição do peso molecular das micelas em bastão formadas. Concluiu-se, desta primeira parte, que a uréia tende a interferir nas transições de fase apresentadas em sistemas micelares, provavelmente através da combinação dos mecanismos direto e indireto. A uréia apresenta potencial para uso como aditivo para modulação das propriedades estruturais de sistemas micelares. Na segunda parte da tese desenvolveu-se um sistema, baseado em espalhamento de luz, capaz de monitorar o peso molecular de polímeros durante a polimerização. O sistema foi eficiente no monitoramento da polimerização da N-vinil-pirrolidinona, mostrando que o peso molecular do polímero formado é constante durante a maior parte da reação. As teorias atuais de cinética de polimerização não foram capazes de explicar esse comportamento. / Light scattering techniques (static and dynamic) were used to detenninate the effect of urea on supramolecular aggregates and to monitor on-line molar mass ofpolymerization reactions. For the first set of investigation it was already established that urea increases the CMC and the dissociation degree (α) of ionic micelles (CTABr, TTABr, and SDS). From fluorescence suppression studies it was found that urea diminishes the ionic binding in zwitterionic and cationic micelles as well as in cationic vesicles. Bromide and chloride ionic selectivity in cationic micelles was found to nearly disappear in the presence of urea. Light scattering (static) detenninations showed that the weight averaged molecular weight (Mw) ofboth SDS and CTABr are invariant by the presence of the denaturant. A slight increase in the excluded volume tenn (A2) was detected for CTABr in the presence of 3M urea. In parallel both A2 and the radius of gyration (γ) of two polyelectrolytes (PAA and Hyaluronic acid) were not affected by the presence of urea. Sphere-to-rod concentration transitions (2nd CMC) of TIABr micelles increased in the presence of urea and the MW of rod particles were observed to decrease. For the insoluble mixture of CTABr/Polystyrenesulfonate solubilization was achieved in the presence of 3M urea. These set of results were explained as a result of the dual effect of urea, that is, the indirect effect by changing the properties of the solvent and the direct effect by solvating the hydrophilic domain of the aggregates and contributing with a stronger dipole moment. The second set of experiments was directed towards the real-time, on-line monitoring of Mw of polymerization reactions. This new approach could be succeeded by the coupling a light scattering detector, an UV photometer and a differential refractometer on line with a HPLC system. Mw growth formed in the polymerization of N-vynil-pirrolidone was accomplished with a small inherent error. Within the studied conditions Mw reached a plateau at early polymerization stages, after that only an increase in the number of polymer kinetic chains was observed. Current kinetic models were unable to predict the observed Mw growth pattern. This system is of great importance in basic and technological applications by virtue of its on-line capability.