Baigiamajame magistro darbe yra nagrinėjama ekspeditoriaus veikla ir jo vieta krovinių gabenime, analizuojama ekspedicijos sutartis, ekspeditoriaus veikla pagal sutartį, jo įsipareigojimai, taip pat aptarta tarptautinių krovinių vežimo organizavimas ekspedicijos sistemoje, tarptautinių gabenimų teisės normos ir dokumentai. Darbe išsamiai išnagrinėta ekspedicijos sutartis, kurioje numatoma ekspeditoriaus teisės, pareigos ir atsakomybė. Darbe nagrinėjama bendri krovinių vežimo automobilių, geležinkelių, vandens ir oro transportu klausimai, bendroji krovinių vežimo koncepcija, transporto rūšies parinkimas, vežimo dokumentacija. Pakankamai detaliai darbe yra apibrėžta ekspeditoriaus veiklos sritys, ekspedicijų rūšys, prekių fizinis išskirstymas. Atskirose dalyse nagrinėjami krovinių vežimai kelių, geležinkelių, jūrų ir oro transportu, jų komercinė esmė, analizuojami kombinuotieji vežimai. Siekiant praktiškiau įvertinti ekspeditorių veiklą buvo pasirinkta Lietuvos įmonė AB „Lietuvos Geležinkeliai“. Atlikti trijų metų statistiniai palyginimai. Ekspedijavimo paslaugos, kurias teikia AB „Lietuvos Geležinkeliai“, turi didelę paklausą. Tą rodo gabenami kroviniai tranzitu per Lietuvos teritoriją, taip pat importo ir eksporto operacijų kasmetinis apimčių didėjimas. Darbo pabaigoje pateiktos išvados, kurios atspindi darbo tikslą ir darbe panaudotos medžiagos apibendrinimą. Darbo išvados, autorės nuomone, padės atskleisti krovinių ekspedijavimo įmonių, ekspeditorių reikšmingumą... [to full text] / The contens of the summary: the goal of Master thesis is to analyze the dispatcher’s activity and his place in the loads carrying. There are analyzed the contract of expeditionary, dispatcher’s activity according the contract, commitments, the organization of international loads in the expeditionary system, and international documents of loads under a right in the international law, - discussed also. The contract of expeditionary with its rights, obligations and liabilities are described properly. In the work are analyzed the general questions of carrying loads by cars, railways, air and water transport, general concept of load carrying, selection of transportation sort, carrying documentation. In the very properly way are detailed the dispatcher’s activity field, types of expeditions, physical distribution of goods. Carrying of loads by ways, railways, air and water transport with all commercial points are analyzed in the separate parts of the work. The combinative hauls are analyzed too. The theoretical solutions of expeditionary activity are illustrated using invoking analysis of ST “Lietuvos Geležinkeliai”. There are described the statistics of three last year. Expeditionary service of ST “Lietuvos Geležinkeliai” has a very big demand. This is shown of the carrying loads by transit and yearly spread increasement of import and export operations. In the part of conclusions the result are presented. The conclusions will help us to reveal the importance of dispatchers and... [to full text]

Shape Memory Alloy is an amazing material, which can “remember” and return to its original shape when heated due to its temperature dependent phase transformation. Shape Memory Alloy wire has significant potential for application in the automobile industry due to its high ratio of energy / weight and silent actuation. However, a dependable method to measure the operating temperature of SMA wire and a reliable heat transfer model to characterize the dynamics of the SMA wire limit its widespread use in the automobile industry. This thesis presents a detailed description of the work performed to develop a reliable method for determining surface temperature of current carrying SMA wires and the development of a heat transfer correlation for natural convection cooling of heated SMA wires. The major findings of the research are as follows: When a spot welded thermocouple measures the temperature of a current carrying SMA wire, there is a “spurious voltage” ΔV added to the thermo electro-motive force (EMF) of the thermocouple as a result of a voltage drop across the two points of contact that the thermocouple wires make with the SMA wire. This leads to an erroneous temperature reading that can be higher or lower than the actual temperature depending on the direction of current flow. When the carrying current is reversed in direction, the “spurious voltage” becomes –ΔV allowing a correct temperature reading to be obtained by averaging the readings based on opposed current flow. A two-step spot welding procedure for attaching thermocouples to SMA wire can eliminate the influence of the “spurious voltage” in the temperature reading. By spot welding the thermocouple wires onto the SMA wire one by one, the thermocouple lead offset is eliminated and the thermocouple provides an accurate point source reading. Infrared thermal imaging can be a good supplement in the experiment to monitor errors in temperature readings from thermocouples. Due to the curvature of the SMA wire, the temperatures of the locations on the SMA wire that are the closest to the infrared camera represent the temperature of the SMA wire. So a line analysis across the SMA wire on the software “ThermaCAM” is required to determine the temperature of the SMA wire by infrared thermal imaging and the highest temperature on the line is the temperature of the SMA wire. A new natural convective heat transfer correlation comprising the inclination angle φ is developed based on experimental results, which can be used to predict the temperature of a SMA wire given its diameter and inclination angle. The comparisons show that the new correlation agrees with existing correlations in a vertical orientation and for small Rayleigh numbers (0.001 < RaD < 0.05) in the horizontal orientation. The correlation developed in this work for horizontal orientation tends to overestimate values of Nusselt numbers as predicted in other correlations when the Rayleigh number is high (0.05 < RaD < 0.6). It is speculated that this overestimation can be attributed to a temperature distortion associated with thermocouple measurement at or near ambient pressure conditions.

Thomas Schelling proposed a simple spatial model to illustrate how, even with relatively mild assumptions on each individual's nearest neighbor preferences, an integrated city would likely unravel to a segregated city, even if all individuals prefer integration. Many authors assumed that the segregation which Schelling observed in simulations on very small cities persists for larger, realistic size cities. We describe how different measures can be used to quantify the segregation and unlock its dependence on city size, disparate neighbor comfortability threshold, and population density. We develop highly efficient simulation algorithms and quantify aggregation in large cities based on thousands of trials. In particular, we show that for the values of disparate neighbor comfortability threshold used by Schelling, the striking global aggregation Schelling observed is strictly a small city phenomenon. Along the way we prove that in the Schelling model, in the process of evolution, the total perimeter of the interface between the different agents always decreases, which provides a useful analytical tool to study the evolution. At the isolated reef Kingman, it was recently discovered that apex predators constitute 85% of the total fish biomass. This is in sharp contrast to most reefs, where the prey biomass substantially dominates the total fish biomass. The recent study at the two pristine reefs, Kingman and Palmyra also indicates that the predator:prey fish biomass ratio is an increasing function of reef cover. Based on these field observations, we model the fish biomass structure at a pristine coral reef. We introduce a new refuge based mechanism for predator-prey interaction with an explicit dependence on refuge size. Our refuge based model does not assume mass action interaction between predators and prey and may provide a new mechanism in ecology to produce inverted biomass pyramids. Our model yields both the inverted biomass pyramid and the increasing dependence of the predator:prey biomass ratio on reef cover. We add various forms of fishing to our model, and show that sufficiently high fishing pressure with quite general types of fishing transforms the inverted biomass pyramid to be bottom heavy.

"Back injuries have consistently been the most common types of injuries suffered by people at work. They have been a significant worker injury problem in most, if not all, industrialised countries for many years and manual handling has long been established as a significant task related back injury causal factor.[...] This research project established that the manufacturers of the jet airlines used by the airlines in this study had not previously been acquainted with the issue of baggage handler back injuries.[...] This study also canvassed the opinion of airline safety professionals and airline baggage handlers concerning baggage handling tasks and working environment related causal factors. [...] A major focus of this research project was also to measure the effect of ACE and Sliding Carpet, two commercially available retro-fit baggage systems, on the risk of back injuries to baggage handlers stacking baggage within Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft." / Doctor of Philosophy

"Back injuries have consistently been the most common types of injuries suffered by people at work. They have been a significant worker injury problem in most, if not all, industrialised countries for many years and manual handling has long been established as a significant task related back injury causal factor.[...] This research project established that the manufacturers of the jet airlines used by the airlines in this study had not previously been acquainted with the issue of baggage handler back injuries.[...] This study also canvassed the opinion of airline safety professionals and airline baggage handlers concerning baggage handling tasks and working environment related causal factors. [...] A major focus of this research project was also to measure the effect of ACE and Sliding Carpet, two commercially available retro-fit baggage systems, on the risk of back injuries to baggage handlers stacking baggage within Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft." / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Pushing and pulling research has yet to fully elucidate the demands placed on manual workers despite established epidemiological links to musculoskeletal disorders. The current study therefore aimed to quantify biomechanical and perceptual responses of male operators to dynamic pushing and pulling tasks. Three common push/pull techniques (pushing, one handed and two handed pulling) were performed at loads of 250kg and 500kg using an industrial pallet jack in a laboratory environment. Thirty six healthy male subjects (age: 21 ±2 years, stature: 1791 ±43 mm and body mass: 77 ±10 kg) were required to perform six loaded experimental and two unloaded control conditions. Hand force exertion, muscle activity and gait pattern responses were collected during 10m push/pull trials on a coefficient controlled walkway; body discomfort was assessed on completion of the condition. Horizontal hand force responses were significantly (p<0.05) affected by load, with a linear relationship existing between the two. This relationship is determined by specific environmental and trolley factors and is context specific, depending on factors such as trolley maintenance and type of flooring. Hand force exertion responses were tenuously affected by technique at higher loads in the initial and sustained phases, with pushing inducing the greatest hand forces. Comparison of the motion phases revealed significant differences between all three phases, with the initial phase evidencing the greatest hand forces. Muscle activity responses demonstrated that unloaded backward walking evoked significantly higher muscle activation than did unloaded forward walking whilst increased muscular activity during load movement compared to unloaded walking was observed. However increasing load from 250kg to 500kg did not significantly impact the majority of muscle activity responses. When considering technique effects on muscle activity, of the significant differences found, all indicated that pushing imposed the least demand on the musculoskeletal system. Gait pattern responses were not significantly affected by load/technique combinations and were similar to those elicited during normal, unloaded walking. Perceptually, increased load led to increased perception of discomfort while pushing resulted in the least discomfort at both loads. From these psychophysical responses, the calves, shoulders and biceps were identified as areas of potential musculoskeletal injury, particularly during one and two handed pulling. Pushing elicited the highest hand forces and the lowest muscle activity responses in the majority of the conditions whilst psychophysical responses identified this technique as most satisfactory. Current results advocate the use of pushing when moving a load using a wheeled device. Suitability of one and two handed pulling remains contradictory, however results suggest that one handed pulling be employed at lower loads and two handed pulling at higher loads.

A população de cães errantes tem sido um problema na sociedade moderna e levanta discussão sobre o bem estar dos animais, a responsabilidade ambiental e assuntos relacionados saúde pública, como agressão, zoonoses e acidentes de trânsito. São Paulo é uma cidade com mais de dez milhões de habitantes e uma população de cães domiciliados em torno de 2,5 milhões de animais. Não há pesquisas a respeito da distribuição da população de cães errantes e isso dificulta o planejamento de ações de intervenção neste campo. O problema foi abordado do ponto de vista da probabilidade de abandono e capacidade de suporte ambiental. Foi criado um escore composto por treze variáveis de risco de abandono. Os dados foram agrupados por distrito administrativo e estes classificados em três categorias (tercis). Foi definida uma amostra de conveniência de seis áreas a serem visitadas, duas em cada categoria, que fossem pequenas e isoladas, passiveis de percorrer a pé. O número de animais foi estimado pelo método de pseudo-captura, utilizando fotos e anotações para identificar os animais. Simultaneamente, foi aplicado um questionário em uma amostra aleatória sistemática dos domicílios de cada área. Das seis áreas visitadas, em duas foi observada presença de cães errantes e em apenas uma delas, uma população fixa. Dos fatores associados a presença de cães errantes, destacam-se os relacionados a proximidade homem-cão e ao ambiente. Intervenções nestes fatores e incentivo à guarda responsável podem ser soluções desejáveis para redução gradativa da população de cães errantes / The stray dog\'s population of has been a problem in modern society and raises discussion on different issues like animal welfare, environmental responsibility and public health matters such as dogs bites, zoonosis and traffic accidents. Sao Paulo is a city with over ten million inhabitants and a population of owned dogs around 2.5 million animals. There are no surveys on the distribution of the population of stray dogs and this hampers any plan of intervention. The problem was accessed from the standpoint of relinquishment probability and environmental carrying capacity. A score was created with thirteen variables, of known risk factors of relinquishment. The data was grouped by district and classified in to three categories (terciles). a convenience sample of six areas was defined, two in each category, which were small and isolated, liable to go through on foot. The number of animals was estimated by the pseudo capture method, using photos and notes to identify the animals. Simultaneously, a questionnaire was administered in a systematic random sample of households in each area. Of the six areas visited, in only two it the presence of stray dogs was observed and only one showing a fixed stray population. Of the factors associated to the presence of stray dogs, one can distinguish: degree of human-dog proximity and those related to environment. Intervention on these factors and encouraging responsible ownership could be a solution to gradually reduce the population of stray dogs.

Ecotourism may be a sustainable alternative for the exploration and conservation of the natural resources in the semi-arid region of Sergipe, affording an actual experience in an ecosystem with unique characteristics to the visitors. Before the increasing flux of touristic visitation to the Canindé do São Francisco region, and, as a consequence, to the Mundo Novo farm trails, this work has tried to calculate the carrying capacity of the five trails on the Mundo Novo farm due to the fact that they have had a small flux of tourists, which allows to make, in advance, its plan of management whose implantation will depend on the venture view of farm owner. The property, which lies in the Canindé do São Francisco municipality, has 673 hectares and has been open to touristic visitation since January 2003. The Veados, Refúgio de Lampião, Alto do Céu, das Craibeiras and Descida do Ferreira trails are visited by tourists from Aracaju and other states. The theoretical reference has been based on issues relating to society and nature, the tourism phenomenon, the ecotourism, the carrying capacity. The methodology adopted to calculate the carrying capacity has been the one by Miguel Cifuentes (1992) which uses three levels of carrying capacity physical, real and effective. As a result, the advisable number of carrying capacity for the Veados trail is 92 visits a day; 40 visits a day for the Refúgio de Lampião trail; 8 visits a day for the Alto do Céu trail; 286 visits a day for the das Craibeiras; and 103 visits a day for the Descida do Ferreira trail. It was also held a survey along with the local population who are directly or indirectly involved with the touristic practice. The result of these surveys showed that the population wishes the touristic practice increase in the region, generating employment and income, despite their lack of knowledge of what exactly means the activity, how it works, and how it is its management. / O ecoturismo pode ser uma alternativa sustentável para exploração e conservação dos recursos naturais no semi-árido sergipano proporcionando aos visitantes uma vivência real em um ecossistema com características únicas. Diante do crescente fluxo de visitação turística à região de Canindé do São Francisco e, por conseqüência, às trilhas da Fazenda Mundo Novo, esse trabalho procurou determinar o cálculo da capacidade de carga das cinco trilhas da Fazenda Mundo Novo pelo fato de receberem pequeno fluxo de turistas, o que possibilita realizar previamente seu plano de manejo cuja implantação vai depender da visão empreendedora e responsável do proprietário da fazenda. A propriedade localiza-se no município de Canindé do São Francisco, possui 673 hectares e está aberta à visitação turística desde janeiro de 2003. As trilhas dos Veados, Refúgio de Lampião, Alto do Céu, das Craibeiras e Descida do Ferreira recebem visitação turística de pessoas oriundas de Aracaju e outros Estados. O referencial teórico foi fundamentado nas questões relacionadas à sociedade e natureza, o fenômeno turismo, o ecoturismo, capacidade de carga. A metodologia adotada para o cálculo de capacidade de carga foi a de Miguel Cifuentes (1992) que adota três níveis para capacidade de carga: Física, Real e Efetiva. Como resultado, chegou-se ao número aconselhável de capacidade de carga para a trilha dos Veados de 92 visitas/dia; para a trilha Refúgio de Lampião, 40 visitas/dia, na trilha Alto do Céu, 8 visitas/dia; a trilha das Craibeiras 286 visitas/dia e a trilha Descida do Ferreira, 103 visitas/dia. Também foi realizada entrevista junto à população envolvida direta ou indiretamente com a prática turística. O resultado das entrevistas mostrou que a população deseja que a região cresça com a prática turística, gerando emprego e renda, apesar de não saberem exatamente o que significa a atividade e como funciona a sua gestão.

Contexto - O estudo de alternativas de localização é uma etapa importante do processo de avaliação de impacto ambiental, tratado por muitos como o \"coração\" do processo e através do qual o empreendedor busca responder aos interessados sobre a viabilidade ambiental de seu empreendimento. Porém, apesar da conhecida importância, existem deficiências nos estudos ambientais com relação à consideração e à discussão de alternativas locacionais de atividades, principalmente em relação àquelas potencialmente causadoras de significativos impactos ambientais, como são os aeroportos. Responsáveis por relevantes impactos ambientais nos centros urbanos, os aeroportos geralmente estão envolvidos em conflitos referentes ao uso e ocupação do solo, representando um dos maiores agentes de degradação ambiental e social, necessitando, portanto, de um eficiente estudo locacional que contemple parâmetros sociais, ambientais, além dos técnicos e econômicos. Objetivo - Assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar como as alternativas de localização de atividades, com foco em aeroportos, são contempladas nos estudos de impacto ambiental. Metodologia Para se atingir esse objetivo, aplicou-se uma metodologia de base qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória, que apresenta como etapas: revisão bibliográfica, levantamento de critérios utilizados para definição da localização de aeroportos em âmbito nacional e internacional, organização e avaliação dos critérios levantados e, por fim, aplicação desses critérios no caso do aeroporto de Ribeirão Preto, SP. Resultados - Ficou em destaque a necessidade da prévia análise do território, baseada nos possíveis impactos da atividade e nas aptidões e restrições do meio, a fim de se analisar a viabilidade ambiental do empreendimento, evitando-se, desse modo, futuros conflitos de ordem social e ambiental. Especificamente para o caso estudado, os resultados mostram que houve falhas na metodologia de análise das alternativas locacionais utilizadas no EIA, sobretudo em relação à escolha dos critérios e omissão de informações relevantes para a tomada de decisão. Também, o presente trabalho conclui pela existência de sítios aptos e indicados para a localização de aeroportos em Ribeirão Preto, SP e a inviabilidade do sitio apontado pelo EIA como a melhor opção. / Context - The study of alternative localizations is an important step in the process of environmental impact assessment, treated by many as the \"heart\" of the process and through which the entrepreneur seeks to answer to stakeholders the environmental viability of their enterprise. However, although this known importance, there are shortcomings in environmental studies in relation to consideration and discussion of alternative locational activities, establishing a contradiction and a gap in which the present study staff. Objective - The objective of this study is to evaluate how the alternative locations of activities are contemplated in environmental impact statement. Methodology - To achieve this goal was applied a methodology based on qualitative, descriptive and exploratory character, which presents the following steps: a literature review, survey of criteria used to define the location of airports nationally and internationally, organization and evaluation the data collected and, finally, application of these criteria in the case of airport Ribeirão Preto, SP. Results - It was highlighted the need for preliminary analysis of the territory, based on the potential impacts of activities and capabilities and constraints of the environment, in order to analyze the environmental feasibility of the project, avoiding thus future conflicts social and environmental . Specifically for the case study, the results show that there were flaws in the methodology used locational analysis of alternatives in EIA, especially in relation to the choice of criteria and omission of relevant information for decision making. Also, this study indicates the existence of other suitable sites and more pointed than that indicated by EIA as the best option.