As intervenções com neurofeedback têm tido grande difusão na área como uma alternativa possível para tratamento do Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH). Este estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade da utilização de um sistema de neurofeedback de baixo custo chamado Near Infrared Spectroscopy/Hemoencephalography Neurofeedback (NIR/HEG-NF) para tratar crianças com TDAH. Método: trata-se de um estudo clínico piloto aberto, que incluiu 5 crianças (3 meninos e 2 meninas - idade 10,4 ± 0,89 anos) com TDAH-C (tipo combinado). Os indivíduos completaram um programa de 24 sessões de NIR/HEG-NF, duas ou três vezes por semana. Os seguintes desfechos foram avaliados pré e pós-tratamento: 1) sintomas de desatenção e hiperatividade; 2) desempenho neuropsicológico; 3) imagens de SPECT cerebral; 4) qualidade de vida; e 5) efeitos adversos. Resultados: houve maior resistência do que o esperado para a participação dos indivíduos devido a vários fatores, tais como logísticos para a participação nas sessões e requerimento de não uso de medicação durante o protocolo. Detectamos uma diferença significativa na comparação pré e pós-intervenção nos escores atribuídos pelos pais na dimensão de hiperatividade e impulsividade do Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire (SNAP-IV) (p = .042; tamanho de efeito [ES] =.38) e uma tendência de melhora nos escores atribuídos pelos pais e professores na dimensão desatenção (p = .066; ES = .47 / p = .068; ES = .60) naquelas crianças que finalizaram o tratamento. Detectamos uma tendência de aumento perfusional em diferentes partes do córtex cerebral em três indivíduos. As comparações pré e pós-intervenção nas outras medidas não indicaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Não foram relatados efeitos adversos significativos. Discussão: Os achados iniciais sugerem que o NIR/HEG-NF como tratamento para sintomas de TDAH pode ser promissor e deve ser melhor investigado. O protocolo lança luz sobre novas abordagens para avaliar a eficácia da intervenção. Pode-se, por exemplo, implementar o programa de intervenção no ambiente escolar e com uso concomitante de medicamentos para superar as resistências na alocação de pacientes e para uma avaliação com maior validade externa. / Background and objectives: Neurofeedback interventions have been quick and extensively introduced for clinicians to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aims to assess the feasibility of using a low cost neurofeedback system called Near Infrared Spectroscopy/ Hemoencephalography Neurofeedback (NIR/HEG-NF) for treating children with ADHD. Method: This open pilot clinical study included 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls - age 10.4 ± 0.89 years) with ADHD-C (combined type). The subjects completed a program of 24 sessions of NIR/HEG-NF, two or three times a week. The following outcomes were assessed pre and post-treatment: 1) clinical symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity; 2) neuropsychological performance; 3) brain SPECT images; 4) quality of life and; 5) adverse effects. Results: Higher resistance than expected was experienced for patient allocation due to logistic reasons to attend the sessions in the hospital and the requirement of not using medication during the protocol. We detected a significant decrease in hyperactivity/impulsivity comparing pre and post-intervention scores in the parent’s Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Questionnaire - SNAP-IV (p = .042; Effect Size [ES] r = .38) and a trend of improvement in scores attributed by parents and teachers in inattention (p = .066; r = .47 / p = .068; r = .68) . We detected a trend for increased perfusion in different parts of the entire cortex in 3 subjects. Comparisons between pre and post-intervention scores in other measures did not suggest meaningful differences. No significant adverse effects were reported. Discussion: Our initial findings suggest that NIR/HEG-NF technique might be promising and should be further investigated. The protocol shed light on new approaches to assess the effectiveness of the intervention such as the need to both implement the intervention program in a school environment and to pursue the investigation of the treatment effects with concomitant use of medications to surpass resistances to enroll patients and to have an assessment with more external validity.

O Estatuto da Cidade reorientou o temário referente à organização e à regularização fundiária urbana. Dentro desse contexto, destaca-se a usucapião coletiva. Este instrumento, de grande alcance social, tem como uma de suas pretensões o combate à exclusão social, facilitando o direito à propriedade por camadas carentes da população. A usucapião coletiva, da forma como foi tratada no Estatuto da Cidade, tem plena eficácia como instituto jurídico a ser implementado. Tal instituto não depende de qualquer novo diploma legal ou regulamentação, bastando que esta seja orientada pelos princípios constitucionais que regem a matéria. A sentença de usucapião coletiva, prevista nos parágrafos 2. e 3., do artigo 10., do Estatuto da Cidade, servirá como título a ser registrado no Registro de Imóveis. A referida sentença, por sua vez, deverá definir a fração respectiva de solo de cada novo proprietário. Não há que se discutir sobre a viabilidade da sua aplicação, e sim implementá-la. A sentença prolatada nos autos de um processo de usucapião coletiva deve ser levada a registro como qualquer outra concernente a usucapião, devendo ser consignada a descrição das frações individuais, tudo na forma do já existente item 28, inciso I, do artigo 167, da Lei de Registros Públicos (Lei n. 6.015/1973). / The Statute of the City reoriented the group of themes regarding the urban landing organization and regularization. In this context, the collective adverse possession is significant. The adverse possession, which is an instrument of great social consequence, has as one of its purposes to oppose the social exclusion, facilitating the right to own the property to the lacking layers of the population. The way the collective adverse possession was treated in the Statute of the City is effective, as legal institute, to be implemented. Such institute does not depend on any new statute to regulate its application, needing to be oriented only by its own constitutional principles that already govern the matter. The adjudication of collective adverse possession, which is reported on paragraphs 2nd and 3rd, of section 10, of the Statute of the City, will serve as title deed to be recorded on the Register of Property. The referred adjudication will define the respective fraction of soil of each new holder. There is nothing to discuss about the feasibility of the applicability of this matter, except that it has to be implemented. The adjudication rended on the records of a trial of collective adverse possession should be taken to be recorded such as any another adverse possession, in other words, the description of the individual fractions has to be consigned the same way it already exists in section 28, subsection I, section 167 of the Law of Public Records (Law n. 6.015/1973).

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / The objective of this thesis is to determine if contract farming of fresh strawberries in Oceanside California is financially feasible. This is being considered as an alternative to managing the 185 acre fresh strawberry farm. The farming business is owned by a large fresh fruit marketing firm. As an independent custom grower I would not be subject to the same constraints as the marketing firm. No changes to management structure or product quality would be necessitated by this change. Assumptions for this study are specific to operating requirements for producing winter strawberries in North San Diego County in California. The cultural practices described and inputs used are considered to be usual for a well-managed commercial farm. The cost and returns are based upon actual historical data and representative of similar if not exact cultural practices and material inputs. The conceptual model used to guide the development of this study was taken from a generic feasibility study framework. It served as a controlled process to analyze the situation and determine the financial outcomes. The economic and financial viability analysis includes costs and returns per acre, monthly cash costs, sensitivity analysis, and overall profitability. The method used to assess the dimensions of viability was to weight them by evaluating key characteristics for relative strengths and weaknesses. The recommendation based upon this assessment is that the overall viability of the proposal is more than 80% and therefore merits the development of a comprehensive business plan.

abstract: ABSTRACT The population of older adults in the United States is growing disproportionately, with corresponding medical, social and economic implications. The number of Americans 65 years and older constitutes 13.7% of the U.S. population, and is expected to grow to 21% by 2040. As the adults age, they are at risk for developing chronic illness and disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5.7 million Americans have heart failure, and almost 80% of these are 65 years and older. The prevalence of heart failure will increase with the increase in aging population, thus increasing the costs associated with heart failure from 34.7 billion dollars in 2010 to 77.7 billion dollars by 2020. Of all cardiovascular hospitalizations, 28.9% are due to heart failure, and almost 60,000 deaths are accounted for heart failure. Marked disparities in heart failure persist within and between population subgroups. Living with heart failure is challenging for older adults, because being a chronic condition, the responsibility of day to day management of heart failure principally rests with patient. Approaches to improve self-management are targeted at adherence, compliance, and physiologic variables, little attention has been paid to personal and social contextual resources of older adults, crucial for decision making, and purposeful participation in goal attainment, representing a critical area for intervention. Several strategies based on empowerment perspective are focused on outcomes; paying less attention to the process. To address these gaps between research and practice, this feasibility study was guided by a tested theory, the Theory of Health Empowerment, to optimize self-management, functional health and well-being in older adults with heart failure. The study sample included older adults with heart failure attending senior centers. Specific aims of this feasibility study were to: (a) examine the feasibility of the Health Empowerment Intervention in older adults with heart failure, (b) evaluate the effect of the health empowerment intervention on self-management, functional health, and well-being among older adults with heart failure. The Health Empowerment Intervention was delivered focusing on strategies to identify and building upon self-capacity, and supportive social network, informed decision making and goal setting, and purposefully participating in the attainment of personal health goals for well-being. Study was feasible and significantly increased personal growth, and purposeful participation in the attainment of personal health goals. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Nursing and Healthcare Innovation 2017

abstract: The energy consumption by public drinking water and wastewater utilities represent up to 30%-40% of a municipality energy bill. The largest energy consumption is used to operate motors for pumping. As a result, the engineering and control community develop the Variable Speed Pumps (VSPs) which allow for regulating valves in the network instead of the traditional binary ON/OFF pumps. Potentially, VSPs save up to 90% of annual energy cost compared to the binary pump. The control problem has been tackled in the literature as “Pump Scheduling Optimization” (PSO) with a main focus on the cost minimization. Nonetheless, engineering literature is mostly concerned with the problem of understanding “healthy working conditions” (e.g., leakages, breakages) for a water infrastructure rather than the costs. This is very critical because if we operate a network under stress, it may satisfy the demand at present but will likely hinder network functionality in the future. This research addresses the problem of analyzing working conditions of large water systems by means of a detailed hydraulic simulation model (e.g., EPANet) to gain insights into feasibility with respect to pressure, tank level, etc. This work presents a new framework called Feasible Set Approximation – Probabilistic Branch and Bound (FSA-PBnB) for the definition and determination of feasible solutions in terms of pumps regulation. We propose the concept of feasibility distance, which is measured as the distance of the current solution from the feasibility frontier to estimate the distribution of the feasibility values across the solution space. Based on this estimate, pruning the infeasible regions and maintaining the feasible regions are proposed to identify the desired feasible solutions. We test the proposed algorithm with both theoretical and real water networks. The results demonstrate that FSA-PBnB has the capability to identify the feasibility profile in an efficient way. Additionally, with the feasibility distance, we can understand the quality of sub-region in terms of feasibility. The present work provides a basic feasibility determination framework on the low dimension problems. When FSA-PBnB extends to large scale constraint optimization problems, a more intelligent sampling method may be developed to further reduce the computational effort. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Industrial Engineering 2018

O uso da biomassa como fonte de energia elétrica corresponde a uma alternativa de grande importância para o planejamento estratégico do crescimento econômico de diversos países. A vasta extensão territorial e o clima favorável ao desenvolvimento da agricultura no Brasil trazem como vantagem o poder de planejar sua matriz energética utilizando variadas fontes primárias renováveis. A cana-de-açúcar destaca-se pela rusticidade e grande produtividade. O bagaço como um subproduto resultante do processamento da cana é utilizado como fonte para a cogeração de energia e pode contribuir significativamente para a descentralização das fontes de energia nacional. Com o desenvolvimento da tecnologia de etanol de segunda geração, a busca pela maior produção de biomassa ganha relevância. Os programas de melhoramento identificaram que se caso com redução de 25 a 35% da sacarose na cana, a planta teria um potencial de aumento de mais de 100% da biomassa. Os híbridos derivados de programas de melhoramento da espécie Saccharum spp., direcionados exclusivamente para a produção de biomassa, foram denominados de cana energia. Tendo em vista o potencial de produtividade da cultura e consequentemente de geração de energia, torna-se necessário conhecer se esse potencial se traduz em resultado econômico. Com esse enfoque, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a viabilidade econômica da produção de biomassa da cana energia. Para tanto foi desenvolvido um modelo em planilha eletrônica e o modelo foi empregado na simulação de cenários e alternativas. A planilha integra modelos de balanço hídrico, produtividade da cultura e distribuição de chuvas, e suas relações com aspectos econômicos e produtivos. O preço de venda da biomassa, a produtividade da cultura e a distância de transporte se mostraram como os itens que mais influem sobre os indicadores de viabilidade econômica. Diferentemente da eficiência gerencial, a eficiência de campo corresponde a um fator de grande importância a ser considerado para reduzir o custo de produção. A análise da área de colheita como uma variável crítica indicou que existem módulos ideais para a utilização de máquinas agrícolas, reduzindo o seu custo operacional devido ao uso melhor atribuído das máquinas na propriedade. A análise da textura do solo como variável crítica mostrou que o cultivo da planta em diferentes tipos de solos reflete em diferentes custos operacionais, produtividade potencial e no montante de investimento. O ano de reforma corresponde a um fator crítico para a viabilização da atividade. Para o cenário base, o indicador de atratividade financeira apresenta um Valor Presente Líquido de 6,4 milhões de reais e uma Taxa Interna de Retorno de 15,2%, com um horizonte de 20 anos de produção. As análises de sensibilidade mostram que as variáveis que mais impactam nos indicadores de viabilidade econômica financeira são o preço de venda da biomassa e a produtividade média da lavoura. / The use of biomass as energy source is an alternative of great importance to the strategic planning of growth for any economy in the world. The vast territory and favorable climate for Brazilian agriculture development, brings advantage to plan its energy matrix using various renewable primary sources. The sugarcane is highlighted by its rusticity and large amount of biomass generated by area. Since the bagasse is a sugarcane by product, it can be used as a source for energy cogeneration, which can significantly contribute to the strengthening of the Brazilian energy matrix. Genetic improvement of the culture has always sought the highest sucrose content, due to the needs of the industrial process. With the development of second generation ethanol technology, the quest for higher biomass production becomes important. If the cane were fully harvested, the total biomass would be increased in more than 100%, with a loss of 25 to 35% in sucrose. The hybrids derived from Saccharum spp. breeding programs directed exclusively for biomass production were named energy cane. Considering the potential crop yield and consequently the energy generation, it is very important to know if this potential is related to economic results. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a model to analyze the economic feasibility of biomass production from energy cane. It was developed an electronic spreadsheet and the model was used in different scenarios and alternatives. In the base scenario, the financial attractiveness indicators shows a Net Present Value of 6.4 million and an Internal Rate of Return of 15.2%, in 20 years of production. Sensitivity analyzes shows that the variables that most impact the financial viability of economic indicators are the sales price of biomass and the average productivity of the crop.

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:53:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2409659 bytes, checksum: 5f98156b19f8d6fc903dd01bf32ad103 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper will analyze the application of Real Options Analysis - ROA at an investment project at steel industry. ROA is an investment analysis model that associate the management flexibility with the traditional analysis, in this case the expansion flexibility will be used. ROA will be applied in a case study where a steel plant will be expanded from 3.0Mt/year slab capacity to 3.0Mt/year coil capacity product with higher added value. The data used in this study are the historical data from an actual production unit and the data available in the Brazilian Steel Institute - IBS. After whole analysis concluded that ROA can get a more complete result and it will be a mistake whether expansion flexibility does not been considered. The NPV would be underestimated and therefore the final decisions could be wrong. / Esse trabalho analisará a aplicação da Teoria de Opções Reais TOR em um projeto de investimento do setor siderúrgico. A TOR é um modelo de análise de investimento que utiliza como base o modelo tradicional de análise de investimento associado às flexibilidades gerenciais, no caso desse estudo, a flexibilidade de expansão de uma unidade siderúrgica. A TOR será aplicada em um estudo de caso onde uma planta siderúrgica será expandida, passando de uma capacidade de produção de 3.0Mt/ano de placa para 3.0Mt/ano de bobina, produto esse de maior valor agregado. Os dados utilizados nesse estudo de caso são os dados históricos de uma unidade de produção real e os dados disponíveis no Instituto Brasileiro de Siderurgia IBS. Após a conclusão das análises, verificou-se que a TOR traz um resultado mais completo e que a não consideração do valor da flexibilidade de expansão pode levar a resultados subestimados do valor do VPL e por consequência a decisões finais equivocadas.