Ce travail de thèse introduit une nouvelle méthode pour la caractérisation radiologique des déchets très faiblement radioactifs produits au sein de l’Organisation Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN). La méthode se base sur : 1. le calcul des radionucléides en présence, i.e. les radionucléides qui peuvent être produits lors de l’interaction des particules avec la matière et les structures environnantes les accélérateurs, 2. la mesure directe des émetteurs gamma et, 3. la quantification des émetteurs alpha et beta purs et de rayons X de faible énergie, appelés radionucléides difficile-a-mesurer (DTM), en utilisant les méthodes dites des «scaling factor» (SF), «correlation factor» (CF) et activité moyenne (MA). La première phase du processus de caractérisation est le calcul des radionucléides en présence à l’aide de codes de calcul analytiques ou Monte Carlo. Après le calcul de l’inventaire radiologique, les radionucléides émetteurs gamma sont mesurés par spectrométrie gamma dans chaque colis de la population. L’émetteur gamma dominant, appelé « key nuclide » (KN), est identifié. La méthode dite des «scaling factors» permet d’estimer l’activité des radionucléides DTM après évaluation de la corrélation entre l’activité des DTM et l’activité de l’émetteur gamma dominant obtenue à partir d’échantillons. Si une corrélation existe, l’activité des radionucléides DTM peut être évaluée grâce à des facteurs de corrélation expérimentaux appelés « scaling factors », sinon l’activité moyenne obtenue à partir d’échantillons prélevés dans la population est attribuée à chaque colis. Lorsque les activités des émetteurs alpha et beta purs et des émetteurs X de faible énergie ne peuvent pas être estimées par mesure la méthode des « correlation factors » s’applique. La méthode des « correlation factors » se base sur le calcul de corrélations théoriques entre l’émetteur gamma dominant et les radionucléides de très faible activité. Cette thèse décrit en détail la nouvelle technique de caractérisation radiologique, montre un cas d’application complet et présente les résultats de l’industrialisation de la méthode ayant permis la caractérisation radiologique de plus de 1000 m3 de déchets radioactifs au CERN entre 2015 et 2017. / This thesis introduces a new method to characterize metallic very-low-level radioactive waste produced at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The method is based on: 1. the calculation of a preliminary radionuclide inventory, which is the list of the radionuclides that can be produced when particles interact with a surrounding medium, 2. the direct measurement of gamma emitters and, 3. the quantification of pure-alpha, pure-beta and low-energy X-ray emitters, called difficult-to-measure (DTM) radionuclides, using the so-called scaling factor (SF), correlation factor (CF) and mean activity (MA) techniques. The first stage of the characterization process is the calculation of the radionuclide inventory via either analytical or Monte Carlo codes. Once the preliminary radionuclide inventory is obtained, the gamma-emitting radionuclides are measured via gamma-ray spectrometry on each package of the waste population. The major gamma-emitter, called key nuclide (KN), is also identified. The scaling factor method estimates the activity of DTM radionuclides by checking for a consistent and repeated relationship between the key nuclide and the activity of the difficult to measure radionuclides from samples. If a correlation exists the activity of DTM radiodionuclides can be evaluated using the scaling factor otherwise the mean activity from the samples collected is applied to the entire waste population. Finally, the correlation factor is used when the activity of pure-alpha, pure-beta and low-energy X-ray emitters is so low that cannot be quantified using experimental values. In this case a theoretical correlation factor is obtained from the calculations to link the activity of the radionuclides we want to quantify and the activity of the key nuclide. The thesis describes in detail the characterization method, shows a complete case study and describes the industrial-scale application of the characterization method on over 1’000 m3 of radioactive waste, which was carried out at CERN between 2015 and 2017.

This thesis focuses particularly on the application of chemometrics in the field of analytical chemistry. Chemometrics (or multivariate analysis) consists in finding a relationship between two groups of variables, often called dependent and independent variables. In infrared spectroscopy for instance, chemometrics consists in the prediction of a quantitative variable (the obtention of which is delicate, requiring a chemical analysis and a qualified operator), such as the concentration of a component present in the studied product from spectral data measured on various wavelengths or wavenumbers (several hundreds, even several thousands). In this research we propose a methodology in the field of chemometrics to handle the chemical data (spectrophotometric data) which are often in high dimension. To handle these data, we first propose a new incremental method (step-by-step) for the selection of spectral data using linear and non-linear regression based on the combination of three principles: linear or non-linear regression, incremental procedure for the variable selection, and use of a validation set. This procedure allows on one hand to benefit from the advantages of non-linear methods to predict chemical data (there is often a non-linear relationship between dependent and independent variables), and on the other hand to avoid the overfitting phenomenon, one of the most crucial problems encountered with non-linear models. Secondly, we propose to improve the previous method by a judicious choice of the first selected variable, which has a very important influence on the final performances of the prediction. The idea is to use a measure of the mutual information between the independent and dependent variables to select the first one; then the previous incremental method (step-by-step) is used to select the next variables. The variable selected by mutual information can have a good interpretation from the spectrochemical point of view, and does not depend on the data distribution in the training and validation sets. On the contrary, the traditional chemometric linear methods such as PCR or PLSR produce new variables which do not have any interpretation from the spectrochemical point of view. Four real-life datasets (wine, orange juice, milk powder and apples) are presented in order to show the efficiency and advantages of both proposed procedures compared to the traditional chemometric linear methods often used, such as MLR, PCR and PLSR.

My diploma thesis focuses on the comparison of possibilities of the statistical software SAS and SPSS in the area of the factor and cluster analysis and the multidimensional scaling. They deal with the methods for identifying groups of the similar statistical values (variables). The ascertained relations among the variables can serve to decrease the proportion vectors of the variables, which describe the individual monitored objects (statistical units), which helps us to apply other various methods, for example the regression or discriminant analysis. By one of the ways for finding the similarity of variables in the cluster analysis or the multidimensional scaling is searching for their relations. Whereas the base of the factor analysis is the formulation of the relation between two variables by means of the covariances, eventually Pearson correlation coefficient, it is possible to use also coefficients of correlation for the cluster analysis and the multidimensional scaling, in some case other measures. The thesis describes mainly the command syntax of the procedures implemented in SAS and SPSS. The meaning of the individual parametres and the partial specifications of each command are explained. The results gained by various types of analyses are compared on the basis of the real dataset. The possibilities of the statistical software SAS and SPSS are evaluated in the conclusion and it is referred to their advantages or disadvantages. The attention is also paid, for example, to the form of the input dataset, to the quaility of outputs or to the partial methods.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-12-21T12:24:14Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rênica Alves de Morais Rocha - 2017.pdf: 2260972 bytes, checksum: a83ed3f29bbd36d22772760b5f5354b2 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-12-21T12:24:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rênica Alves de Morais Rocha - 2017.pdf: 2260972 bytes, checksum: a83ed3f29bbd36d22772760b5f5354b2 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-21T12:24:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rênica Alves de Morais Rocha - 2017.pdf: 2260972 bytes, checksum: a83ed3f29bbd36d22772760b5f5354b2 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-30 / Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one powerful experimental techniques for obtaining three-dimensional structures of complex molecules, mainly for the analysis of the relative and absolute configurations of organic compounds. For this reason, this has become one of the most promising tools in the field of chemistry. From the theoretical point of view, advanced computational protocols have been developed for calculating NMR, mainly 1 H and 13 C, parameters of isolated molecules, in which the environmental effects are neglected. These effects are predominantly related to the inherently large size of such systems, making conventional ab initio theories either very computationally demanding or even prohibitive. Despite the current advances in spectroscopic techniques, instances of revision of structures erroneously established for natural products are still common in the literature. Therefore, it is still necessary the development of quantum-chemical protocols that may assist in the correct structural determination of these compounds. This work aimed to generate a universal scaling factor, based on a linear regression, for the calculation of 13 C NMR chemical shifts for rigid molecules, which has low computational cost and great accuracy to aid in the structural determination of natural products. So, 22 small molecules, whose chemical shifts were obtained experimentally, were selected and submitted to randomized conformational searches using Monte Carlo method and MMFF force field. The most significant conformations for each compound were selected to energy minimization calculations carried out at the PM7 level of theory, followed by vibrational frequency calculations at the same level. The 13 C chemical shifts were calculated using the GIAO-mPW1PW91/3-21G level of theory. Scaled chemical shifts (δesc) were obtained according to the relation δ esc = 1,14 δ cal – 4,71. The robustness of the new protocol and its applicability to practical problems was evaluated by the calculation of the chemical shifts for two natural compounds with biological and therapeutic interest: tryptanthrin and (-)-loliolide. In order to test the application of the created scaling factor to problems related to stereochemistry, we investigated its ability to differentiate pentacyclic triterpenes regioisomers. Thus the 13 C NMR chemical shifts of the α-amirin, β-amirin, glutinol, α-amirin acetate, β-amirin acetate and glutinyl acetate molecules were calculated and scaloned. Our results show that the GIAO-mPW1PW91/3-21G//PM7 level of theory applied to the calculations, together with the use of the scaling factor, is an efficient and low-cost tool as an alternative to computational requirement approaches, usually applied to the calculation of 13 C NMR chemical shifts. / A espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN) é uma técnica experimental poderosa para a obtenção de estruturas tridimensionais de moléculas complexas, principalmente para a análise das configurações relativas e absolutas de compostos orgânicos. Por esta razão, esta se tornou uma das ferramentas mais promissoras no campo da química. Do ponto de vista teórico, protocolos computacionais avançados foram desenvolvidos para o cálculo de RMN, principalmente de 1 H e 13 C, parâmetros de moléculas isoladas, em que os efeitos do meio ambiente são negligenciados. Estes efeitos são predominantemente relacionados com o tamanho inerentemente elevado de tais sistemas, tornando teorias convencionais ab initio computacionalmente muito exigentes ou mesmo inviáveis. Apesar dos recentes avanços em técnicas espectroscópicas, casos de revisão de estruturas de produtos naturais erroneamente estabelecidas ainda são encontrados na literatura. Portanto, é necessário o desenvolvimento de protocolos de cálculos quânticos que possam auxiliar na determinação estrutural correta destes compostos. Neste trabalho buscou-se gerar um fator de escalonamento universal, baseado emuma regressão linear, para o cálculo de deslocamentos químicos de RMN de 13 C, para moléculas rígidas, com baixo custo computacional e grande acurácia para auxiliar na determinação estrutural de produtos naturais. Para tal, 22 pequenas moléculas, cujos deslocamentos químicos foram obtidos experimentalmente, foram selecionadas e submetidas a buscas conformacionais estocásticas utilizando o método de Monte Carlo e o campo de forças MMFF. As conformações de menor energia de cada molécula foram selecionadas para a etapa de otimização de geometria, realizada no nível PM7, seguido por cálculos de frequência vibracional em mesmo nível. Os deslocamentos químicos de 13 C foram calculados utilizando o nível de teoria GIAO- mPW1PW91/3-21G. Já os deslocamentos químicos escalonados (δ esc ) foram obtidos de acordo com a relação δ esc = 1,14 δ cal – 4,71. A robustez do novo protocolo e sua aplicabilidade a problemas práticos foi avaliada através do cálculo de deslocamentos químicos para dois compostos naturais com interesse biológico e terapêutico: triptantrina e loliolida. De maneira a testar a aplicação do fator de escalonamento criado a problemas relacionados à estereoquímica investigou-se a sua capacidade em diferenciar triterpenos pentacíclicos regioisômeros. Assim os deslocamentos químicos de RMN de 13 C das moléculas de α-amirina, β-amirina, glutinol, acetato de α-amirina, acetato de β-amirin e acetato de glutinila, foram calculados e escalonados. Os resultados mostram que o nível de teoria GIAO-mPW1PW91/3-21G//PM7 aplicado para os cálculos, juntamente com a utilização do fator de escalonamento se mostra uma ferramenta eficaz e de baixo custo como uma alternativa para abordagens de exigência computacional, que são usualmente aplicados para a obtenção de cálculo de deslocamentos químicos de RMN de 13 C.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2019-02-01T09:56:12Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Thaís Forest Giacomello - 2019.pdf: 3222145 bytes, checksum: 30b7cb27105455314142954d1f75610f (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2019-02-01T10:05:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Thaís Forest Giacomello - 2019.pdf: 3222145 bytes, checksum: 30b7cb27105455314142954d1f75610f (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-01T10:05:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Thaís Forest Giacomello - 2019.pdf: 3222145 bytes, checksum: 30b7cb27105455314142954d1f75610f (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019-01-17 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / Chalcone is a class of natural products that has a lot of interest, mainly pharmaceutical because of its biological actions. They are several classes and in addition they are non rigid and complex molecules making their structural characterizations become difficult task in experimental techniques. Spectroscopic techniques, in the last years, have developed very fast, greatly aiding the elucidation of natural products. However, several cases of review of natural product structures have been found in the literature due to erroneous elucidations in analytical techniques of experimental routines. Thus, it is extremely important to develop protocols that can assist in determining the correct structures of these molecules. In this work aimed to develop a parameterized protocol for NMR 13C chemical shift calculations with the purpose of assisting in the correct determination of polyphenol type molecules. Thus, a group of polyphenols, specifically a subclass of these, chalcones, having varied substituents and experimental structural elucidation were selected in the literature. This base of chalcones was submitted to randomized conformational searches using Monte Carlo method and MMFF force field. In addition, the configurators with energy of up to 3 kcal/mol of each chalcone were calculations optimization of geometry and frequency. The chemical shift of 13C was calculated after assuming Boltzmann statics. All of these calculations were performed using the mPW1PW91 / 6-31G (d) level. After that, the scaled chemical shifts (δesc) was defined. This was obtained using the expression δ𝑒𝑠𝑐 = 𝑎 𝑥 δ𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐 + 𝑏, where a and b are the coefficients of linear regressions obtained between calculated (δcalc) versus experimental chemical shift. In order to validate the protocol, the scaling factor were used to obtain δesc values for chalcones different from those used in the base. The result shows that the level of theory applied reproduced excellently the experimental data. Calculations performed with a scaling factor lead to a better result than when there is no use of this factor. In addition, the applicability of the scaling factor allows the cancellation of systematic errors, which make δesc are closer to the experimental ones. Thus, the parameterized protocol was shown to be an important tool for the structural elucidation of polyphenols through theorotical calculations of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts. / Chalcona é uma classe de produtos naturais que tem muito interesse, principalmente farmacêutico, devido as suas ações biológicas. São moléculas não rígidas e complexas fazendo com que suas caracterizações estruturais se tornem tarefa difícil em técnicas experimentais. As técnicas espectroscópicas, nos últimos anos, tiveram um desenvolvimento muito rápido auxiliando bastante a elucidação de produtos naturais. No entanto, vários casos de revisão de estruturas de produtos naturais foram encontrados na literatura devido a ter elucidações errôneas em técnicas analíticas de rotinas experimentais. Com isso, é de extrema importância desenvolver protocolos que podem auxiliar na determinação de estruturas corretas dessas moléculas. Este trabalho buscou desenvolver um protocolo parametrizado para cálculo de deslocamento químico de RMN 13C com o intuíto de auxilar a determinação correta de moléculas tipo polifenóis. Assim, selecionou-se um grupo de polifenóis, especificamente uma subclasse desses, as chalconas, que possuissem substituintes variados e elucidação estrutural experimental na literatura. Essa base de chalconas foi submetida a buscas conformacionais estocásticas, onde usa-se o método Monte Carlo e campo de forças merck. Então, os confôrmeros com energia de até 3 kcal/mol de cada chalcona foram selecionados e assim feito cálculos de otimização de geometria e frequência. O deslocamento químico de 13C foi calculado após, considerando a distribuição populacional de Boltzmann. Todos esses cálculos foram realizados utilizando o nível mPW1PW91/6-31G(d). Após, com esses dados foi definido o deslocamento químico escalonado (δesc). Esse, foi obtido utilizando a expressão 𝛿𝑒𝑠𝑐=𝑎 𝑥 𝛿𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐+𝑏, onde a e b são os coeficientes de regressões lineares obtidas entre os deslocamentos químicos calculados (δcalc) e experimentais. Para validação do método, o fator de escalonamento foi utilizado para obter os valores de δesc em outras chalconas diferentes das utilizadas na base. O resultado mostra que o nível de teoria aplicado permite uma boa reprodução dos dados experimentais. Os cálculos realizados com fator de escalonamento levam a um melhor resultado do que quando não há o uso deste fator. Além disso a aplicabilidade do fator de escalonamento permite o cancelamento de erros sistemáticos, o que faz com que os valores de δesc sejam mais próximos aos experimentais. Assim, o protocolo parametrizado mostrou-se uma importante ferramenta para a elucidação estrutural de polifenois através de cálculos de deslocamentos químicos de RMN ¹³C.

O setor elétrico brasileiro é composto, majoritariamente, por usinas hidrelétricas, cuja operação é realizada de forma centralizada pelo Operador Nacional do Sistema (ONS). Devido às características do setor, foi criado durante a década de 1990 o Mecanismo de Realocação de Energia (MRE) com o intuito de compartilhar o risco hidrológico entre as usinas participantes deste mecanismo, o qual é medido pelo Generation Scaling Factor (GSF). Entre os anos de 2014 e 2015, o Brasil enfrentou um período de escassez hídrica que impactou negativamente o caixa dos geradores hídricos. Estes, insatisfeitos com o cenário, articularam-se junto à Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL) e ao Ministério de Minas e Energia (MME) para que o risco hidrológico fosse transferido para os consumidores. A agência reguladora posicionou-se contrária ao pleito dos geradores na primeira fase da Audiência Pública 32/2015, que tratou do tema em questão, entretanto o governo editou a Medida Provisória 688/2015 que possibilitou a repactuação do risco hidrológico mediante um pagamento de prêmio de risco pelos geradores hídricos. Neste contexto, esta dissertação foi desenvolvida com o objetivo principal de avaliar o processo de repactuação do risco hidrológico, a partir dos estudos sobre a evolução da Teoria da Regulação, com foco na atuação dos grupos de interesse. Os resultados indicam possibilidade em aplicar os pressupostos da Teoria dos Grupos de Interesse, principalmente a abordagem de Pelztman (1976), no processo de repactuação do risco hidrológico, demonstrando que: (i) a regulação surge como demanda dos grupos de interesse; (ii) a regulação tende a beneficiar os grupos de interesse que forem mais ativos politicamente; (iii) os agentes envolvidos no processo de regulação atuam para maximizar sua própria utilidade; e (iv) a regulação tende a beneficiar grupos de interesse cujo benefício per capita seja maior. / The Brazilian Power sector consists of hydroelectric plants, whose operation is performed centrally by the mainly National System Operator. Due to the system characteristics, during the 1990s, was created the Energy Reallocation Mechanism in order to share hydrological risk among mechanism\'s participating, which is measured by the Generation Scaling Factor (GSF). Between 2014 and 2015, Brazil faced a water scarcity period that negatively affected the hydropower generators revenue. The generators unsatisfied with this situation have started seek to influence the electricity regulatory agency and the Ministry of Mines and Energy in order to transferred the hydrologic risk to consumers. The regulatory agency has positioned itself against the claim of the generators in the first phase of the Public Hearing 32/2015, but the government has published Interim Measure 688/2015 which allowed the renegotiation of the hydrological risk through a premium risk payment by hydropower generators. In this context, this work was developed with the main objective of analysing the renegotiation process of hydrological risk, such analysis was based on the evolution of regulation theory studies, focusing on the role of interest groups. The results indicate the possibility of applying the assumptions of Theory of Economics Regulation, mainly the Pelztman (1976) approach, on the renegotiation of the hydrological risk process demonstrating that: (i) regulation is supplied in reponse to the interest groups demand for regulation; (ii) regulation is most likely to benefit the interest groups that are more active politically; (iii) agents involved in the regulatory process act to maximize their own utility; and (iv) regulation trends to benefit interest groups which highest per capita benefit.

Le conflit fémoro-acétabulaire (femoroacetabular impingement, FAI) est une pathologie mécanique de la hanche qui peut causer des douleurs et limitations fonctionnelles. Le but de cette thèse était d’étudier la fonction musculaire au niveau de la hanche chez des patients présentant un FAI symptomatique. La fonction musculaire de la hanche a été évaluée, dans un premier temps, chez des patients avant qu’ils ne subissent une opération. Ces patients démontraient un déficit de force qui pourrait être expliqué par de l’inhibition musculaire. Cependant, ce déficit de force n’était pas associé à une plus grande fatigabilité musculaire. Dans un deuxième temps, les altérations de force musculaire ont été évaluées chez des patients ayant subi une arthroscopie de la hanche. Après l’opération, les patients récupéraient un niveau de force normal au niveau de tous les groupes musculaires de la hanche excepté les fléchisseurs. Le cas d’un joueur de hockey sur glace ayant subi une chirurgie ouverte aux deux hanches pour traiter un FAI bilatéral a aussi été décrit. On a démontré que la déhiscence de la bandelette iléo-tibiale pouvait survenir après chirurgie, empêcher l’augmentation de force musculaire des abducteurs de la hanche, et retarder la reprise du sport. Enfin, un protocole d’évaluation du taux de développement de la force normalisé, variable permettant d’estimer l’inhibition musculaire de la hanche, a été proposé chez des sujets sains. La fiabilité et reproductibilité des résultats ont été montrées au niveau des adducteurs, rotateurs externes, et fléchisseurs de la hanche. Ces résultats montrent que ces patients ont une fonction musculaire altérée au niveau de la hanche, qui est toutefois récupéré après une opération. / Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a pathomechanical process of the hip joint, which could lead to hip pain and functional disability. Aim of this thesis was to investigate hip muscle function in patients with a symptomatic FAI. Hip muscle function was first investigated before patients underwent any surgical treatment for managing FAI. It was shown that they present with reduced hip muscle strength (i.e., muscle weakness), probably due to hip muscle inhibition. Nevertheless, hip muscle weakness was not associated with exaggerated hip muscle fatigue. Hip muscle strength recovery was then evaluated in a series of patients after hip arthroscopy to treat FAI. These patients demonstrated a good recovery for all hip muscle groups, except for hip flexors. The case of a professional ice hockey player who underwent bilateral hip open surgeries for treating bilateral FAI was also documented. This report showed that iliotibial band dehiscence could occur after hip open surgery, thereby preventing hip abductor strength increase during rehabilitation and delaying the return to sport. In addition, the assessment of the rate of force development scaling factor for the hip muscles was evaluated in a group of healthy adults. This parameter seems to be promising for the evaluation of hip muscle inhibition. The testing protocol was feasible and reproducible for hip adductors, external rotators and flexors. Taken as a whole, these findings show that patients with symptomatic FAI demonstrate an impaired hip muscle function, which is however mainly resolved after surgical treatment.

O setor elétrico brasileiro é composto, majoritariamente, por usinas hidrelétricas, cuja operação é realizada de forma centralizada pelo Operador Nacional do Sistema (ONS). Devido às características do setor, foi criado durante a década de 1990 o Mecanismo de Realocação de Energia (MRE) com o intuito de compartilhar o risco hidrológico entre as usinas participantes deste mecanismo, o qual é medido pelo Generation Scaling Factor (GSF). Entre os anos de 2014 e 2015, o Brasil enfrentou um período de escassez hídrica que impactou negativamente o caixa dos geradores hídricos. Estes, insatisfeitos com o cenário, articularam-se junto à Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL) e ao Ministério de Minas e Energia (MME) para que o risco hidrológico fosse transferido para os consumidores. A agência reguladora posicionou-se contrária ao pleito dos geradores na primeira fase da Audiência Pública 32/2015, que tratou do tema em questão, entretanto o governo editou a Medida Provisória 688/2015 que possibilitou a repactuação do risco hidrológico mediante um pagamento de prêmio de risco pelos geradores hídricos. Neste contexto, esta dissertação foi desenvolvida com o objetivo principal de avaliar o processo de repactuação do risco hidrológico, a partir dos estudos sobre a evolução da Teoria da Regulação, com foco na atuação dos grupos de interesse. Os resultados indicam possibilidade em aplicar os pressupostos da Teoria dos Grupos de Interesse, principalmente a abordagem de Pelztman (1976), no processo de repactuação do risco hidrológico, demonstrando que: (i) a regulação surge como demanda dos grupos de interesse; (ii) a regulação tende a beneficiar os grupos de interesse que forem mais ativos politicamente; (iii) os agentes envolvidos no processo de regulação atuam para maximizar sua própria utilidade; e (iv) a regulação tende a beneficiar grupos de interesse cujo benefício per capita seja maior. / The Brazilian Power sector consists of hydroelectric plants, whose operation is performed centrally by the mainly National System Operator. Due to the system characteristics, during the 1990s, was created the Energy Reallocation Mechanism in order to share hydrological risk among mechanism\'s participating, which is measured by the Generation Scaling Factor (GSF). Between 2014 and 2015, Brazil faced a water scarcity period that negatively affected the hydropower generators revenue. The generators unsatisfied with this situation have started seek to influence the electricity regulatory agency and the Ministry of Mines and Energy in order to transferred the hydrologic risk to consumers. The regulatory agency has positioned itself against the claim of the generators in the first phase of the Public Hearing 32/2015, but the government has published Interim Measure 688/2015 which allowed the renegotiation of the hydrological risk through a premium risk payment by hydropower generators. In this context, this work was developed with the main objective of analysing the renegotiation process of hydrological risk, such analysis was based on the evolution of regulation theory studies, focusing on the role of interest groups. The results indicate the possibility of applying the assumptions of Theory of Economics Regulation, mainly the Pelztman (1976) approach, on the renegotiation of the hydrological risk process demonstrating that: (i) regulation is supplied in reponse to the interest groups demand for regulation; (ii) regulation is most likely to benefit the interest groups that are more active politically; (iii) agents involved in the regulatory process act to maximize their own utility; and (iv) regulation trends to benefit interest groups which highest per capita benefit.

For the most recent and correct article, please click here: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/9780784412787.086 This study examines the use of performance-based approaches in liquefaction hazard analysis. Two new methods of performance-based liquefaction initiation analysis are proposed which use the works of Juang et al. (2012) and Boulanger and Idriss (2012). Further advances are made by incorporating the performance-based magnitude scaling factors as proposed by Cetin et al. (2012). Using these new equations a comparative study is made between the three methods. Further comparisons are made between the performance-based approaches and the more widely used deterministic approaches. The comparisons reveal that on average for the 11 sites used in this study, the performance-based approaches tend to be slightly less conservative than deterministic approaches overall, with large differences possible for some locations in the country. They also reveal that the newer performance-based approaches are generally less conservative than the approach proposed by Kramer and Mayfield (2007). Some cases where this relationship does not hold true and the new relationships are more conservative are outlined.

In this thesis I hope to provide a clear and concise introduction to Feigenbaum scaling accessible to undergraduate students. This is accompanied by a description of how to obtain numerical results by various means. A more intricate approach drawing from renormalization theory as well as a short consideration of some of the topological properties will also be presented. I was furthermore trying to put great emphasis on diagrams throughout the text to make the contents more comprehensible and intuitive.