Background: The volatility in the interest rate market have increased during the last decade and this have made interest rate risk management more important for  both financial institutions and non-financial companies with short- and long term financial commitments. Objective: The main objective of this thesis is to analyze different ways of measuring interest rate risk in the treasury operations an international industrial company group. Further, the study will also examine the way treasury departments of international industrial company group’s measure interest rate risk and explain why this method have been chosen. Method: The research method of the thesis is a case study and a mix of both quantitative and qualitative data has been used to conduct it. The quantitative data have been secondary data received from TIFI’s treasury management software and the qualitative data have been collected through a survey with eight treasury managers from other international industrial company groups. Conclusion: The repricing model is suitable because it is straight forward, fairly easy to communicate to management and it focuses on the book value. However, defining relevant time buckets might be difficult. The duration model is a good measurement tool because it can be used in a variety of ways, but a disadvantage is that it focuses on the market value, which might not be appropriate for treasury departments. Stress testing captures the true change in market value, but demands forecasts about future interest rate movements and lacks tools to manage the interest rate risk. Treasury departments of international industrial company groups use a variety of measurement methods. The most frequently used methods are duration-, maturity- and Value at Risk models and different kinds of stress tests. The method should not only measure the interest rate risk in a correct way but it should also be easily explained to management and other executives in the company that might not have knowledge about financial economics. The main difference between treasury departments and commercial banks is that commercial banks try to earn money on interest rate fluctuations, whereas treasury departments want to minimize the impact of interest rate fluctuations in order to support the company group’s core business.

Tre tydliga svagheter kunde identifieras i den globala banksektorn under den stora finanskrisen år 2007. Dessa tre svagheter var brist på kapital av tillräcklig kvalitet för att kunna hantera förluster, en för tätt sammankopplad finansmarknad samt otillräcklig likviditetshantering och för små likviditetsbuffertar. I syfte att främja en banksektor med starkare motståndskraft togs regelverket Basel III fram för att reglera bland annat bankernas likviditet, kapitaltäckning och riskhantering. De nya kapitaltäckningskraven från Basel III innebär bland annat att kärnprimärkapitalrelationen ska uppgå till minst sju procent senast år 2019, Sverige och Storbritannien har dock valt att ställa högre krav på sina storbanker. Kärnprimärkapitalet är den del av primärkapitalet som håller högst kvalitet och har bäst förmåga att absorbera förluster. Europeiska bankmyndigheten (EBA) genomför årligen stresstester på bankerna inom Europeiska unionen (EU) med syfte att se hur bankerna kan hantera ogynnsamma scenarier. På liknande sätt genomför även Finansinspektionen stresstester på de svenska storbankerna.Syftet med denna studie är att ur ett internationellt perspektiv undersöka vilka resultat storbankerna i Sverige, Storbritannien och Tyskland uppnår i EBA:s stresstester för två olika år. Studien syftar även till att ur ett nationellt perspektiv studera hur de fyra svenska storbankerna Handelsbanken, SEB, Nordea och Swedbank klarar sig i Finansinspektionens egna stresstester över en fyraårsperiod. Slutligen syftar studien till att studera hur väl de fyra svenska storbankerna lever upp till de nya kraven som Basel III medför med avseende på kärnprimärkapitalrelation för åren 2006, 2011 och 2014 samt hur bankernas riskrapportering har förändrats sedan år 2011. För att besvara våra frågeställningar studerades tryckt material i form av bland annat årsredovisningar och vi genomförde även två intervjuer med en respondent från Finansinspektionen respektive två respondenter från Sveriges Riksbank.Studiens resultat för den internationella frågeställningen visar att det är de svenska storbankerna som har den lägsta genomsnittliga procentuella differensen mellan ett normalscenario och ett stressat scenario. Det är även de svenska storbankerna som har de högsta genomsnittliga kärnprimärkapitalrelationerna i EBA:s stresstester för åren 2011 respektive 2014. De brittiska och de tyska storbankerna uppnår lägre resultat än de svenska storbankerna. Det finns banker i dessa länder som det krävs ytterligare arbete ifrån för att de vid ett normalscenario ska uppnå Basel III:s grundkrav där kärnprimärkapitalrelationen ska uppgå till minst sju procent. Utifrån vår analys kan vi dra slutsatsen att de svenska storbankerna är de banker som klarar sig bäst med avseende på EBA:s stresstester och bankernas kärnprimärkapitalrelationer.Studiens resultat för den nationella frågeställningen visar att Handelsbanken och Swedbank är de svenska storbanker som klarar sig bäst i Finansinspektionens stresstester. SEB och Nordea däremot uppvisar något sämre resultat och vid något tillfälle når de inte upp till de formella eller de individuella kraven under ett mycket stressat scenario. Vid analys av bankernas årsredovisningar kan vi se en positiv utveckling av deras kärnprimärkapitalrelationer då samtliga svenska storbanker når upp till de strängare formella kraven på 10 respektive 12 procent och även når upp till Finansinspektionens strängare individuella krav för respektive storbank. Vi kan även se en positiv utveckling av de svenska storbankernas riskrapportering och vi kan se att många av bankerna offentliggör mer riskinformation än vad som krävs. Vi kan konstatera att de svenska storbankerna över lag är välkapitaliserade och har inga problem med att nå upp till de nya kraven i Basel III. / Three weaknesses were identified in the global banking sector during the great financial crisis in 2007. These three weaknesses were a lack of capital of sufficient quality to cope with losses, a too closely linked financial market and finally an insufficient liquidity management and too small liquidity buffers. In order to promote a banking sector with stronger resistance Basel III regulations was established to regulate the banks' liquidity, capital adequacy and risk management. The new capital requirements of Basel III means that the core Tier I capital ratio must at least reach seven percent by the year 2019, Sweden and the UK have, however, chosen to set higher standards for their largest banks. Core Tier I capital is the part of Tier I capital that keeps the highest quality and has the best ability to absorb losses. The European Banking Authority (EBA) conducts annual stress tests on banks in the European Union (EU) in order to study how banks can handle adverse scenarios. In a similar way, Finansinspektionen also conducts stress tests on the major Swedish banks.The purpose of this study is from an international perspective to examine what results the major banks in Sweden, the UK and Germany achieve in the EBA's stress test for two years. The study also aims to study from a national perspective how the four major Swedish banks, Handelsbanken, SEB, Nordea and Swedbank achieve in Finansinspektionens own stress tests over a four year period. Finally, the study aims to examine how well the four major Swedish banks live up to the new requirements under the Basel III, with regard to core Tier I capital ratio for the years 2006, 2011 and 2014, as well as how banks' risk reporting has changed since the year 2011. In order to answer our questions, printed material in the form of e.g. annual reports were studied and we also conducted two interviews with respondents from Finansinspektionen and Sveriges Riksbank (the Swedish national bank).The study's results of the international perspective shows that it is the major Swedish banks that have the lowest average percentage difference between a normal scenario and a stressed scenario. It is also the Swedish banks that have the highest average core tier 1 ratios in the EBAs' stress tests for the years 2011 and 2014. The British and German banks achieved lower results than the Swedish banks. There are banks in these countries where further work is needed in order for them at a normal scenario to reach a core Tier 1 capital ratio of at least seven percent. Based on our analysis, we can conclude that the major Swedish banks have the best results both regarding EBAs' stress tests and the banks' core Tier 1 capital ratio.The study's results of the national perspective shows that Handelsbanken and Swedbank are the major Swedish banks with the best results in Finansinspektionens stress tests. SEB and Nordea present slightly lower results and at some time during the test they do not reach the formal or individual requirements in a highly stressed scenario. In the analysis of banks' annual reports, we observe a positive development of their core tier 1 ratios and all major Swedish banks reach the stricter formal requirements of 10 and 12 percent. All the banks also reach Finansinspektionens stricter individual requirements for each major bank. We also observe a positive development of the Swedish banks' risk reporting and we can also see that many of the banks disclose more risk information than is required. We can conclude that the major Swedish banks are well capitalized and have no problems reaching up to the new requirements of Basel III.This essay is written in Swedish

Η εργασία αυτή σκοπό έχει στην επίτευξη ενός συστήματος,η συμπεριφορά του οποίου καθορίζεται βάσει του ιατρικού πρωτοκόλλου του καρδιοτοκογραφήματος ηρεμίας. Έμφαση δίνεται, στον τρόπο προσέγγισης του εμβρυικού καρδιακού ρυθμού (ΕΚΡ). Επιπλέον, αναπτύσσεται ένα πρόγραμμα που αναγνωρίζει τις τέσσερις βασικές παραμέτρους του ΕΚΡ, οι οποίες είναι:η βασική γραμμή του ΕΚΡ,η μεταβλητότητα του ΕΚΡ,ο αριθμός των επιταχύνσεων και επιβραδύνσεων . / This project is designed to create a system whose behaviour is based on the structure of non stress test (NST) protocol. Emphasis is given on the way of approaching the fetal heart rate(FHR). Moreover ,I would like to submit that a program has been developed for recognition of the four basic parameters of the FHR,which are:the FHR baseline,the FHR variability,the number of accelerations and decelerations.

Fatigue is common in the general population, and is the hallmark of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Although the occurrence of sleep difficulties is known to be common in subjects with fatigue, research on insomnia in such subjects is absent. The current study sought to examine the impact comorbid insomnia has on level of fatigue in subjects with chronic fatigue. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between insomnia and chronic fatigue, and examine if the relationship is affected by the endocrine activity in the HPA axis. The following hypotheses were tested: 1) Do patients with chronic fatigue and comorbid insomnia experience more fatigue than patients with chronic fatigue without comorbid insomnia? 2) Do patients with chronic fatigue and with initially comorbid insomnia experience more fatigue after treatment than chronic fatigue patients without comorbid insomnia? 3) Do patients with chronic fatigue who experience improvement in insomnia after treatment also experience less fatigue by the end of treatment compared with patients who do not experience improvement in insomnia? 4) Is the potential relationship between insomnia and chronic fatigue influenced by the activity of the HPA axis as expressed by variation in cortisol output measured by Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G)? The study sample consisted of 75 patients with chronic fatigue. Thirty-three met criteria for insomnia, while 42 did not. While staying at Hysnes Rehabilitation Center in Trondheim, Norway, they received a work-related Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) treatment intervention lasting 3.5 weeks. In addition, they participated in a standardized stress test (Trier Social Stress Test) pre- and post-treatment. Saliva cortisol samples were collected during the test in order to measure variation in cortisol output. The current finding is the first description of how insomnia in patients with chronic fatigue is associated with higher levels of fatigue (p < .05). Further, this study gives preliminary support indicating that remission of insomnia in patients with chronic fatigue can significantly reduce levels of fatigue (p < .05), and furthermore improve the physiological stress-response (p < .05). These results might encourage clinicians to assess and provide specific treatment for insomnia in patients with chronic fatigue as this might improve their treatment results. An aim for further research should be to investigate the effect of specified treatment for insomnia in patients with chronic fatigue.

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) have appeared as attractive candidates for high power, high frequency, and high temperature operation at microwave frequencies. In particular, these devices are being considered for use in the area of high RF power for microwave and millimeter wave communications transmitter applications at frequencies greater than 100 GHz and at temperatures greater than about 150 °C. However, there are concerns regarding the reliability of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. First of all, thermal reliability is the chief concern since high channel temperatures significantly affect the lifetime of the devices. Therefore, it is necessary to find the solutions to decrease the temperature of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. In this study, we explored the methods to reduce the channel temperature via high thermal conductivity diamond as substrates of GaN. Experimental verification of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on diamond substrates was performed using micro-Raman spectroscopy, and investigation of the design space for devices was conducted using finite element analysis as well. In addition to the thermal impact on reliability, environmental effects can also play a role in device degradation. Using high density and pinhole free films deposited using atomic layer deposition, we also explore the use of ultra-thin barrier films for the protection of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs in high humidity and high temperature environments. The results show that it is possible to protect the devices from the effects of moisture under high negative gate bias stress testing, whereas devices, which were unprotected, failed under the same bias stress conditions. Thus, the use of the atomic layer deposition (ALD) coatings may provide added benefits in the protection and packaging of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are attractive energy sources for power trains in vehicles because of their low operating temperature that enables fast start-up and high power densities. Cost reduction and durability are the key issues to be solved before PEMFCs can be successfully commercialized. The major portion of fuel cell cost is associated with the catalyst layer which is typically comprised of carbon-supported Pt and ionomer. The degradation of the catalyst layer is one of the major failure modes that can cause voltage degradation and limit the service life of the fuel cell stack during operation. To develop a highly durable and better performing catalyst layer, topics such as the causes for the degradation, modes of failure, different mechanisms and effect of degradation on fuel cell performance must be studied thoroughly. Key degradation modes of catalyst layer are carbon corrosion and Pt dissolution. These two modes change the electrode structure in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and result in catalyst layer thinning, CO2 evolution, Pt deposition in the membrane and Pt agglomeration. Alteration of the electrode morphology can lead to voltage degradation. Accelerated stress tests (ASTs) which simulate the conditions and environments to which fuel cells are subject, but which can be completed in a timely manner, are commonly used to investigate the degradation of the various components. One of the current challenges in employing these ASTs is to relate the performance loss under a given set of conditions to the various life-limiting factors and material changes. In this study, various degradation modes of the cathode catalyst layer are isolated to study their relative impact on performance loss ‗Fingerprints‘ of identifiable performance losses due to carbon corrosion are developed for MEAs with 0.4 mg cm−2 cathode platinum loadings. The fingerprint is used to determine the extent of performance loss due to carbon corrosion and Pt dissolution in cases where both mechanisms operate. This method of deconvoluting the contributions to performance loss is validated by comparison to the measured performance losses when the catalyst layer is subjected to an AST in which Pt dissolution is predominant. The limitations of this method iv are discussed in detail. The developed fingerprint suggests that carbon loss leading to CO2 evolution during carbon corrosion ASTs contributes to performance loss of the cell. A mechanistic model for carbon corrosion of the cathode catalyst layer based on one appearing in the literature is developed and validated by comparison of the predicted carbon losses to those measured during various carbon corrosion ASTs. Practical use of the model is verified by comparing the predicted and experimentally observed performance losses. Analysis of the model reveals that the reversible adsorption of water and subsequent oxidation of the carbon site onto which water is adsorbed is the main cause of the current decay during ASTs. Operation of PEM fuel cells at higher cell temperatures and lower relative humidities accelerates Pt dissolution in the catalyst layer during ASTs. In this study, the effects of temperature and relative humidity on MEA degradation are investigated by applying a newly developed AST protocol in which Pt dissolution is predominant and involves the application of a potentiostatic square-wave pulse with a repeating pattern of 3s at 0.6 V followed by 3s at 1.0 V. This protocol is applied at three different temperatures (40°C, 60°C and 80°C) to the same MEA. A diagnostic signature is developed to estimate kinetic losses by making use of the effective platinum surface area (EPSA) obtained from cyclic voltammograms. The analysis indicates that performance degradation occurs mainly due to the loss of Pt in electrical contact with the support and becomes particularly large at 80°C. This Pt dissolution AST protocol is also investigated at three different relative humidities (100%, 50% and 0%). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of the MEAs show an increase in both the polarization and ohmic resistances during the course of the AST. Analysis by cyclic voltammetry shows a slight increase in EPSA when the humidity increases from 50% to 100%. The proton resistivity of the ionomer measured by carrying out impedance measurements on MEAs with H2 being fed on the anode side and N2 on the cathode side is found to increase by the time it reaches its end-of-life state when operated under 0 % RH conditions.

Introduction: During cardiac surgery several factors contribute to the development of pulmonary complications and the installation of postoperative comorbidities. Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV) is being used as promising therapeutic instrument to improve the functionality in this cases. Objective: To evaluate the functional capacity of patients in the postoperative period of myocardial revascularization and heart valve replacement submitted to non-invasive prophylactic ventilation. Method: Randomized controlled clinical trial developed in four groups of patients submitted to two cardiac surgeries: Revascularization and Valve Replacement. It was enrolled patients of both genders, aged 20 to 70 years. In the revascularized group, the sample consisted of 40 patients, assigned to the Experimental Group (GE) with 21 patients and Control Group (CG) with 19 patients. The group undergoing valve replacement was composed of 50 patients, 25 in the GE and 25 in the CG. At the time of hospital admission, the patient underwent a preoperative evaluation, which included patient identification, vital signs, clinical diagnosis, type of surgery, personal history, medication and ejection fraction and Functional Independence Measure (MIF). After the surgical procedure, the patients were referred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and submitted to the standard physiotherapeutic treatment. Patients enrolled in experimental groups, also used NIV in the CPAP mode, 3 times within the first 26 hours after extubation, with positive pressure of 10 cmH2O and treatment duration of 1h each application. A functional reevaluation was made on the 3rd and 5th postoperative day (POD) and in the 7th POD/ discharge hospital day, besides the functional evaluation, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and gait velocity test (T10) was performed. It was also monitored the length of surgery, extracorporeal circulation, ICU and hospital stay, in addition to the postoperative ejection fraction of both groups. Results: In the group of revascularized patients, the TC6 analysis presented a difference between groups, where the GC 207.05 ± 68.8 meters and the GE 284.73 ± 94.8 meters (p = 0.006). The variable T10 also presented difference, where the GC 0.68 ± 0.22 m / s and the GE 1.08 ± 0.39 m / s (p <0.0001). The total MIF at hospital discharge was 117.19 ± 11.04 and the GC was 82.52 ± 13.26 (p = 0.01). There was no difference in ICU and hospital admission times between groups. The heart valve replacement patients groups, the 6MWT analysis also showed a significance diference between groups, the GC 264.34 ± 76 meters and the GE 334.07 ± 71 meters (p = 0.002). On the other hand, the analysis of T10, MIF and ICU and hospital admission times did not present differences between the groups. Conclusion: NIV as a therapeutic resource proved to be effective, suggesting an improvement in the functionality of the patients studied in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery, however, it did not influence the length of ICU stay or the general time of hospitalization of the patients with cardiopathy. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR - 8bxdd3. / Introdução: A cirurgia cardíaca está atrelada a alguns fatores que contribuem para o desenvolvimento de complicações pulmonares e instalação de comorbidades pós-operatórias. A Ventilação Não Invasiva (VNI) é um recurso terapêutico utilizado na melhora da funcionalidade deste tipo de paciente. Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade funcional de pacientes no pós-operatório de revascularização do miocárdio e de troca valvar cardíaca submetidos à ventilação não invasiva profilática. Método: Ensaio clínico controlado, randomizado, desenvolvido em dois grupos de cirurgias cardíacas: Revascularização (RM) e Troca Valvar (TV), em indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idade de 20 a 70 anos. No grupo dos revascularizados, a amostra foi composta por 40 pacientes, alocados em Grupo Experimental (GE) com 21 pacientes e Grupo Controle (GC) com 19 pacientes. Já o grupo submetido à troca valvar foi composto por 50 pacientes, sendo 25 no GE e 25 no GC. No momento da internação hospitalar o paciente foi submetido a uma avaliação pré-operatória, que constava da sua identificação, sinais vitais, diagnóstico clínico, tipo de cirurgia, antecedentes pessoais, medicamentos e fração de ejeção e Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF). Após procedimento cirúrgico, os pacientes foram encaminhados à Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e submetidos ao tratamento fisioterapêutico padrão, sendo acrescido ao GE o uso da VNI, no modo CPAP, por 3 aplicações dentro das primeiras 26h pós extubação, com pressão positiva de 10 cmH2O, duração de tratamento de 1h cada aplicação. Foi realizada reavaliação no 3º e 5ºDPO através da MIF e no 7ºDPO/Alta além da MIF, foram aplicados o teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6) e o teste de velocidade de marcha (T10), realizado o monitoramento dos tempos de cirurgia, de circulação extra-corpórea, de UTI e de internação hospitalar, além da fração de ejeção pós-operatória de ambos os grupos. Resultados: Avaliando os pacientes revascularizados, a variável TC6 apresentou diferença entre os grupos, o GC = 207,05 ± 68,8 metros e o GE = 284,73 ± 94,8 metros (p= 0,006). A variável T10 também apresentou diferença, o GC = 0,68 ± 0,22 m/s e o GE = 1,08 ± 0,39 m/s (p<0,0001). A MIF total na alta hospitalar GE 117,19 ± 11,04 e do GC 82,52 ± 13,26 (p=0,01). Não houve diferença estatística nos tempos de UTI e de internamento hospitalar entre os grupos. Os pacientes de troca valvar, na análise do TC6, o GC = 264,34 ± 76 metros e o GE = 334,07 ± 71 metros (p=0,002). Já a análise do T10, MIF e dos tempos de UTI e de internamento hospitalar, não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos. Conclusão: A VNI como recurso terapêutico se mostrou eficaz, sugerindo melhora da funcionalidade dos pacientes no pós-operatório de RM e TV, porém não influenciou no tempo de internação na UTI, nem no tempo geral de hospitalização dos pacientes cardiopatas estudados. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos RBR – 8bxdd3. / Aracaju, SE

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2018-07-20T20:50:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanderson Cunha do Nascimento.pdf: 1194346 bytes, checksum: ddb63f49374d9261ba822c5740a4bddf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-20T20:50:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanderson Cunha do Nascimento.pdf: 1194346 bytes, checksum: ddb63f49374d9261ba822c5740a4bddf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-08 / Objective: to verify in elderly women practitioners of resistance training (RT) the behavior of Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (Mip) and Expiratory (Mep), amplitude ring, Axillary (AAx), Xifoideana (AXi) and Abdominal (AAb), the peak of Expiratory flow (PEF) and the distance travelled in Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT). Methodology: Two studies were developed with elderly women aged between 60 and 79 years. In study I, the sample consisted of 53 elderly women divided into two groups. The group of trained (GT) was composed of 28 women participants of a RT program and the group of non-trained (GNT) was composed of 25 sedentary or irregularly active women. In study II, the sample consisted of 24 elderly women, sedentary or irregularly active, who underwent a 12-week RT program. The elderly women were evaluated for Mip and Mep with the use of manovacuometry, thoracoabdominal amplitudes by cirtometry, PEF using the PEF or Peak-Flow meter and walking performance through the ISWT. In the statistical analysis in the study I was applied the Unpaired Student's t-Test and in Study II Student's t-Test was applied for related samples. The Pearson Correlation Test was used to correlate the respiratory variables with the distance covered in the ISWT. The level of significance was p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: In the study I of the walk and the respiratory variables studied, except for AAb, found significant and superior differences in GT in relation to GNT, as well as in study II in the post-RT study. Correlation between respiratory variables and ISWT performance was only observed between this and AXi in study I. Conclusion: In study I, elderly women participating in a RT extension program presented higher and significant differences in Mip, Mep, AAx , AXi, Peak-Flow and performance in the ISWT when compared to sedentary or irregularly active elderly women, as well as, showed a significant correlation between AXi and ISWT performance. In study II, the RT promoted significant changes in respiratory variables and walking performance, except in AAb, however, no correlation was found between the respiratory variables studied and the results in the ISWT. / Objetivo: Verificar em mulheres idosas praticantes de Treinamento Resistido (TR) o comportamento das Pressões Máximas Inspiratória (PImáx) e Expiratória (PEmáx), das Amplitudes toracoabdominal, Axilar (AAx), Xifoideana (AXi) e Abdominal (AAb), do Pico de Fluxo Expiratório (PFE) e da distância percorrida no Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT). Metodologia: Foram desenvolvidos dois estudos com mulheres idosas com idade entre 60 e 79 anos. No estudo I, a amostra foi constituída de 53 idosas divididas em dois grupos. O grupo de treinadas (GT) foi composto por 28 mulheres participantes de um programa de TR e o grupo de não treinadas (GNT) foi composto por 25 mulheres sedentárias ou irregularmente ativas. No estudo II, a amostra foi constituída de 24 idosas, sedentárias ou irregularmente ativas, submetidas a um programa de TR com duração de 12 semanas. As mulheres idosas foram avaliadas em relação a PImáx e PEmáx com uso da manovacuometria, as amplitudes toracoabdominal pela cirtometria, o PFE através do medidor de PFE ou Peak-Flow e do desempenho na caminhada através do ISWT. Na análise estatística no estudo I foi aplicado o Teste t de Student não pareado e no estudo II foi aplicado o Test t de Student para amostras relacionadas. O Teste de Correlação de Pearson foi utilizado para correlacionar as variáveis respiratórias com a distância percorrida no ISWT. O nível de significância foi de p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: No desempenho da caminhada e nas variáveis respiratórias estudadas, exceto na AAb, constataram-se no estudo I diferenças superiores e significativas no GT em relação ao GNT, bem como, no estudo II no pós-TR. Correlação entre as variáveis respiratórias e o desempenho no ISWT só foi observada entre este e a AXi no estudo I. Conclusão: No estudo I, mulheres idosas participantes de um programa de extensão de TR, apresentaram diferenças superiores e significativas na PImáx, PEmáx, AAx, AXi, Peak-Flow e desempenho no ISWT, quando comparadas com mulheres idosas sedentárias ou irregularmente ativas, bem como, apresentaram correlação significativa entre AXi e desempenho no ISWT. No estudo II o TR promoveu alterações significativas nas variáveis respiratórias e no desempenho da caminhada, exceto na AAb, no entanto, não foram verificadas correlações entre as variáveis respiratórias estudadas e os resultados no ISWT.

Ett konsortium bestående av Scania, JOAB, Powercell, KTH och Renova samarbetade för att designa och konstruera en bränslecellsdriven sopbil inom ett FFI-finansierade projekt. Sopbilen har sedan dess varit i drift i Göteborg från 2020 till 2023, med en vätgasinfrastruktur bestående av en tankstation vid tidpunkten för detta arbete. Under den tiden har bränslecellen genomgått kör- och stillastående tester. Verkliga kördata på sopbilens system och bränslecell registrerades. Databaserna var osynkroniserade i tid och därför krävdes datasynkronisering. Detta examensarbete inleddes med huvudsyftet att utveckla ett accelererat åldringstest för bränslecellen baserat på denna applikation. Ett ytterligare syfte var att utvärdera bränslecellens åldrande. På grund av de tillgängliga variablerna baserades bränslecellens åldrande på försämring av elektrisk effekt vid konstanta temperaturer och strömmar. En testcykel (eller effekt-cykel) baserad på testkörningen av sopbilen utvecklades istället. Genom att använda den etablerade metoden "k-means clustering" på bränslecellens effekt-cykler skapades en testcykel som var representativ för sopbils-körning från 2020 till 2023. Testcykeln validerades baserat på ett statistiskt kriterium, verifiering och ytterligare arbete krävs dock. Efter 141,80 timmars bränslecellsdrift kunde ingen åldring identifieras. Mer data från sopbilen behövs och faktumet att ytterligare en vätgastankstation kommer att installeras under 2023 i Göteborg innebär att sopbilens körmönster kan förändras. Resultaten från denna avhandling lägger dock grunden för framtida forskning och erbjuder ett tillvägagångssätt för att studera den bränslecellsdrivna sopbilen. / A consortium consisting of Scania, JOAB, Powercell Sweden AB, KTH, and Renova collaborated to design and engineer a fuel cell-powered refuse truck within a FFI-funded project. The refuse truck has been operational in Gothenburg since 2020, with a hydrogen gas infrastructure of one refuelling station at the time of this work. From 2020 to 2023, the fuel cell has gone through driving and standing still tests. Real drive data on the truck's system and fuel cell was recorded. The databases were unsynchronised in time, hence data synchronisation was required.  This thesis began with the main aim of developing an accelerated stress test for the fuel cell based on this application. Additionally, the aim was to evaluate the ageing of the fuel cell. Due to the available variables, fuel cell ageing was based on deterioration of fuel cell powers at constant temperatures and currents.  A test cycle (or power cycle) based on refuse truck test driving was developed instead. By utilising the established “k-means clustering” method on fuel cell power cycles, a test cycle representative of the truck operation from 2020 to 2023 was made. The test cycle was validated based on a statistical criterion, although verification and further work are required. After 141.80 hours of fuel cell power requests no ageing could be identified. More data from refuse truck operation is needed, also considering that an additional hydrogen refuelling station will be put in place in 2023 in Gothenburg, hence the drive pattern might vary. In this context, however, the results from this thesis lay the foundation for future research and offer an approach to study the fuel cell truck.

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