The thermal velocity fluctuations of microscopic particles mediate the transition from microscopic statistical mechanics to macroscopic long-time diffusion. Prior to this work, detection methods lacked the sensitivity necessary to resolve motion at the length and time scales at which thermal velocity fluctuations occur. This dissertation details two experiments which resulted in velocity measurement of the thermal motion of dielectric microspheres suspended by an optical trap in gases and liquids. First, optical tweezers were used to trap glass microspheres in air over a wide range of pressures and a detection system was developed to track the trapped microspheres' trajectories with MHz bandwidth and <100 fm/rt(Hz) position sensitivity. Low-noise trajectory measurements allowed for observation of fluctuations in the instantaneous velocity of a trapped particle with a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 26 dB, and provided direct verification of the equipartition theorem and of the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution for a single Brownian particle. Next, the detection technology was further optimized and used to track optically trapped silica and barium titanate glass microspheres in water and acetone with >50 MHz bandwidth and <3 fm/rt(Hz) sensitivity. Brownian motion in a liquid is influenced by hydrodynamic, time-retarded coupling between the particle and the fluid flow its motion generates. Our measurements allowed for instantaneous velocity measurement with an SNR of up to 16 dB and confirmed the Maxwell Boltzmann distribution for Brownian motion in a liquid. The measurements also revealed several unusual features predicted for Brownian motion in the regime of hydrodynamic coupling, including faster-than-exponential decay of the velocity autocorrelation function, correlation of the thermal force and non-zero cross-correlation between the particle's velocity and the thermal force preceding it. / text

As propriedades hidráulicas do solo de interesse são a curva de retenção da água no solo, a condutividade hidráulica e difusividade hidráulica, ambas em função do conteúdo de água no solo. Estas propriedades dependem do tamanho, forma, distribuição e grau de interconexões dos poros. O método do perfil instantâneo é um dos métodos mais utilizados na determinação da condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado pela sua simplicidade experimental e matemática. Assim, este projeto visa avaliar a) a condutividade hidráulica em função do conteúdo de água em dois solos bem distintos estruturalmente pelo método do perfil instantâneo, com e sem a remoção de horizontes sobrejacentes, estimando o conteúdo de água via curvas de retenção determinadas em laboratório e em campo, e b) o sistema poroso do solo por meio de técnicas de análise de imagens e correlacionar os resultados à condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado obtido pelo método do perfil instantâneo. O experimento foi conduzido em quatro horizontes de um Latossolo e de um Nitossolo. A CRA em campo foi elaborada utilizando-se tensiômetros com manômetro de mercúrio, enquanto que a CRA em laboratório foi determinada com amostras de solo com estrutura indeformada em funis de placa porosa e em câmara de pressão com placa porosa. A condutividade hidráulica não saturada foi determinada pelo método indireto em laboratório e em campo, seguindo a metodologia do método do perfil instantâneo, sem e com a remoção dos horizontes sobrejacentes. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que: (a) os valores do conteúdo de água médio à base de volume para cada tensão em campo foram menores que os obtidos em laboratório em praticamente todas as tensões; (b) a eficiência da equação de ajuste da curva de retenção da água foi maior para o método de laboratório; (c) as análises micromorfométricas tenderam a subestimar os valores de área de poro para todas as classes de tamanho de poros e horizontes; (d) a análise micromorfométrica fornece uma estimativa do grau de interconexões do sistema poroso; (e) pequenas mudanças no conteúdo de água no solo afetam o valor de difusividade hidráulica em um grau muito menor que a condutividade hidráulica; e (f) é necessário ter cautela ao utilizar dados de laboratório para representar as condições de campo, visto que os valores de K(&theta;) foram superestimados pela CRA obtida em laboratório, em relação ao método de campo, ocorrendo de forma mais pronunciada nas menores tensões da água no solo. / The soil hydraulic properties of interest are the soil water retention curve, hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic diffusivity, both as a function of the soil water content. These properties depend on the size, shape, distribution and degree of pore interconnections. The instantaneous profile method is one of the most used methods to determine the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity due to its experimental and mathematical simplicity. Thus, this project aims to evaluate a) hydraulic conductivity as a function of water content in two distinct structured soils by the instant profile method, without/with removal of overlying horizons, estimating the soil water content through retention curves determined in the laboratory and in the field, and b) the soil porous system using image analysis techniques and correlation the results to the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity obtained by the instant profile method. The experiment was conducted on four horizons of a Ferralsols and a Nitisol. The SWRC was made with tensiometers with mercury manometers, while a SWRC in the laboratory was made with undisturbed soil samples in porous plate funnels and in porous plate pressure chamber. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was determined by the indirect method in the laboratory and using the instant profile method in the field, without/with removal of the overlying horizons. The conclusions are: (a) the water content for each tension in the field are smaller than those obtained in the laboratory at practically all tensions; (b) the efficiency of the water retention curve fitting equation was greater for the laboratory method; (c) the micromorphometric analysis tended to underestimate pore area values for all pore size classes and horizons; (d) the micromorphometric analysis provides an estimation of the porous system interconnections degree; (e) small changes in soil water content affect the hydraulic diffusion values to a much lower degree than the hydraulic conductivity; and (f) it is necessary to take care in using laboratory data to represent field conditions, since the values of K(&theta;) were overrated by the laboratory SWRC, compared to the field, more pronounced in smaller water tensions.

The largely unstudied extension of ultrasonic circulation measurement techniques (UCMT) to determine instantaneous lift in unsteady and three-dimensional flows has been addressed in this work. A combined analytical-numerical-experimental approach was undertaken with the goal of developing methods to properly convert the measurable time-dependent bound circulation to instantaneous lift force in unsteady flows. The measurement of mean sectional lift distribution along structure spans in three-dimensional flows was also studied. An unsteady correction method for thin airfoils was developed analytically and validated numerically (with finite element solutions) to properly convert bound circulation to instantaneous lift based on unsteady potential flow theory. Results show that the unsteady correction method can provide increased accuracy for unsteady lift prediction over the Kutta-Joukowski method used in previous unsteady flow studies. The unsteady correction model generally should be included for instantaneous lift prediction as long as the bound circulation is time-dependent. Using the same framework, we also studied determination of instantaneous lift forces on stationary bluff bodies (circular cylinders) at low Reynolds number (Re=100). Various force models, including an approximate vortex force model, were studied. A new unsteady model, similar to that developed for the thin airfoils, using instantaneous bound circulation values, was proposed. Another important issue studied in this thesis is the effect of acoustic path sensitivity on bound circulation determination, which we found to be crucial for accurately predicting the instantaneous lift in both unsteady flat plate and cylinder flows. Proper path selection should take into account the location of boundary layers, attached and shed vortices. These findings will be useful in future experimental design of UCMT, PIV and LDV methods. Finally, we used the UCMT method to experimentally study the mean spatial lift distribution along structures. Low Reynolds number low aspect ratio (AR) wings that have application in micro-aerial-vehicles (MAV) were studied. The spanwise circulation (lift) distribution along the MAV wings exhibits a peak (maximum), and deviates from predictions of Prandtl's lifting line theory. Although only 'linear' lift (due to bound circulation) was measured, comparison with force balance results showed that reasonable integrated lift values on low Re, low AR wings can be obtained using UCMT.

Neste trabalho é abordada a estimação de parâmetros de motores de indução trifásicos através de métodos diferentes daqueles normalizados por normas técnicas. Inicialmente é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica dos principais métodos alternativos encontrados na literatura, onde são discutidas as vantagens e desvantagens de cada um deles. Também é abordado o problema da variação dos parâmetros durante a operação do motor devido a fenômenos como o efeito pelicular e a saturação no ferro. São propostos três métodos de estimação dos parâmetros da máquina de indução trifásica que utilizam apenas medições de tensões e correntes do estator. O primeiro método utiliza a impedância instantânea vista dos terminais do estator na estimação dos parâmetros. O segundo é baseado em ensaios de decaimento, visando a obtenção do valor de regime permanente da constante de tempo do rotor. Já o terceiro método proposto envolve a aplicação do primeiro método em segmentos do conjunto de dados, denominados de janelas móveis, a fim de se obter a variação dos parâmetros com a frequência das tensões e correntes induzidas no rotor. Esta variação ocorre principalmente devido ao efeito pelicular. São apresentados algoritmos para a estimação das grandezas não medidas porém necessárias nos métodos propostos, tais como a velocidade do rotor, fluxo do estator e torque eletromagnético. Também é realizada a estimação dos parâmetros mecânicos do motor. Os três métodos são validados através de simulações e experimentos envolvendo motores de diferentes potências, onde é possível observar os efeitos da variação dos parâmetros. Por fim, a eficácia dos métodos é avaliada através de comparações entre as correntes obtidas da simulação do motor com os parâmetros estimados e as correntes efetivamente medidas durante os ensaios. Observa-se que no caso do motor de baixa potência, admitir a variação dos parâmetros não melhora os resultados. Por outro lado, no caso dos motores de maior potência os erros envolvidos quando se admite variação nos parâmetros com a frequência do rotor é consideravelmente menor do que os erros obtidos através da simulação com parâmetros constantes. / In this work, the estimation of the parameters of three phase induction motor is approached through alternative methods. Firstly, it is presented a literature review of the commonly used methods, where the advantages and disadvantages of each one are discussed. The problem of parameter variation during the motor operation due to phenomena as skin-effect and iron saturation is also discussed. Three methods aiming at the estimation of the induction motors parameters are presented, where only stator voltages and currents measurements are required. The first method uses the instantaneous impedance as seen from the stator terminals for the parameter estimation. The second one is based on deceleration tests, aiming to obtain the steady-state value of the rotor time constant. The third method involves the application of the first method to segments of the data, named moving windows. The objective is to assess the parameter variation with the rotor frequency, mainly due to skin-effect. Algorithms for estimation of quantities such as rotor speed, stator flux and electromagnetic torque are presented. A method to estimate mechanical parameters is also presented. The three methods are validated through simulation and experimental tests with motors of different power. Using the proposed methods, it is possible to observe the parameter variation effects. Finally, the accuracy of the methods is evaluated through comparisons between the stator currents simulated with the estimated parameters and the measured currents. In the case of low power motor, no significant improvement in the results were observed when varying parameters are assumed. On the other hand, in the case of high power motors the errors considering varying parameters with the rotor frequency are considerably lower than those obtained through simulation with constant parameters.

This doctoral thesis outlines several methodological advances in network science aimed towards uncovering rapid, complex interdependencies of electromagnetic brain activity recorded from the Electroencephalogram (EEG). This entails both new analyses and modelling of EEG brain network topologies and a novel approach to analyse rapid dynamics of connectivity. Importantly, we implement these advances to provide novel insights into pathological brain function in Alzheimer's disease. We introduce the concept of hierarchical complexity of network topology, providing both an index to measure it and a model to simulate it. We then show that the topology of functional connectivity estimated from EEG recordings is hierarchically complex, existing in a scale between random and star-like topologies, this is a paradigm shift from the established understanding that complexity arises between random and regular topologies. We go on to consider the density appropriate for binarisation of EEG functional connectivity, a methodological step recommended to produce compact and unbiased networks, in light of its new-found hierarchical complexity. Through simulations and real EEG data, we show the benefit of going beyond often recommended sparse representations to account for a broader range of hierarchy level interactions. After this, we turn our attention to assessing dynamic changes in connectivity. By constructing a unified framework for multivariate signals and graphs, inspired by network science and graph signal processing, we introduce graph-variate signal analysis which allows us to capture rapid fluctuations in connectivity robust to spurious short-term correlations. We define this for three pertinent brain connectivity estimates - Pearson's correlation coefficient, coherence and phase-lag index - and show its benefit over standard dynamic connectivity measures in a range of simulations and real data. Applying these novel methods to EEG datasets of the performance of visual short-term memory binding tasks by familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease patients, we uncover disorganisation of the topological hierarchy of EEG brain function and abnormalities of transient phase-based activity which paves the way for new interpretations of the disease's affect on brain function. Hierarchical complexity and graph-variate dynamic connectivity are entirely new methods for analysing EEG brain networks. The former provides new interpretations of complexity in static connectivity patterns while the latter enables robust analysis of transient temporal connectivity patterns, both at the frontiers of analysis. Although designed with EEG functional connectivity in mind, we hope these techniques will be picked up in the broader field, having consequences for research into complex networks in general.

Processos K começaram a ser estudados nos anos 50 como uma fonte de contraexemplos e de comportamento patológico. Recentemente descobriu-se que eles são um limite de escalas para modelos de armadilha, fato que voltou a trazer certa atenção para eles. Nesse trabalho vamos adotar uma abordagem construtiva, usando-a para mostrar a propriedade forte de Markov e calcular as taxas de transição e o gerador infinitesimal. / K processes were studied in the 50\'s as a source of counter examples and of pathological behaviour. It is now know that they are a scaling limit for trap models, which led attention back to them. In this work, we will adopt a constructive approach, using it to show the strong Markov propriety, calculate the transition rates and the infinitesimal generator.

As propriedades hidráulicas do solo de interesse são a curva de retenção da água no solo, a condutividade hidráulica e difusividade hidráulica, ambas em função do conteúdo de água no solo. Estas propriedades dependem do tamanho, forma, distribuição e grau de interconexões dos poros. O método do perfil instantâneo é um dos métodos mais utilizados na determinação da condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado pela sua simplicidade experimental e matemática. Assim, este projeto visa avaliar a) a condutividade hidráulica em função do conteúdo de água em dois solos bem distintos estruturalmente pelo método do perfil instantâneo, com e sem a remoção de horizontes sobrejacentes, estimando o conteúdo de água via curvas de retenção determinadas em laboratório e em campo, e b) o sistema poroso do solo por meio de técnicas de análise de imagens e correlacionar os resultados à condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado obtido pelo método do perfil instantâneo. O experimento foi conduzido em quatro horizontes de um Latossolo e de um Nitossolo. A CRA em campo foi elaborada utilizando-se tensiômetros com manômetro de mercúrio, enquanto que a CRA em laboratório foi determinada com amostras de solo com estrutura indeformada em funis de placa porosa e em câmara de pressão com placa porosa. A condutividade hidráulica não saturada foi determinada pelo método indireto em laboratório e em campo, seguindo a metodologia do método do perfil instantâneo, sem e com a remoção dos horizontes sobrejacentes. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que: (a) os valores do conteúdo de água médio à base de volume para cada tensão em campo foram menores que os obtidos em laboratório em praticamente todas as tensões; (b) a eficiência da equação de ajuste da curva de retenção da água foi maior para o método de laboratório; (c) as análises micromorfométricas tenderam a subestimar os valores de área de poro para todas as classes de tamanho de poros e horizontes; (d) a análise micromorfométrica fornece uma estimativa do grau de interconexões do sistema poroso; (e) pequenas mudanças no conteúdo de água no solo afetam o valor de difusividade hidráulica em um grau muito menor que a condutividade hidráulica; e (f) é necessário ter cautela ao utilizar dados de laboratório para representar as condições de campo, visto que os valores de K(&theta;) foram superestimados pela CRA obtida em laboratório, em relação ao método de campo, ocorrendo de forma mais pronunciada nas menores tensões da água no solo. / The soil hydraulic properties of interest are the soil water retention curve, hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic diffusivity, both as a function of the soil water content. These properties depend on the size, shape, distribution and degree of pore interconnections. The instantaneous profile method is one of the most used methods to determine the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity due to its experimental and mathematical simplicity. Thus, this project aims to evaluate a) hydraulic conductivity as a function of water content in two distinct structured soils by the instant profile method, without/with removal of overlying horizons, estimating the soil water content through retention curves determined in the laboratory and in the field, and b) the soil porous system using image analysis techniques and correlation the results to the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity obtained by the instant profile method. The experiment was conducted on four horizons of a Ferralsols and a Nitisol. The SWRC was made with tensiometers with mercury manometers, while a SWRC in the laboratory was made with undisturbed soil samples in porous plate funnels and in porous plate pressure chamber. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was determined by the indirect method in the laboratory and using the instant profile method in the field, without/with removal of the overlying horizons. The conclusions are: (a) the water content for each tension in the field are smaller than those obtained in the laboratory at practically all tensions; (b) the efficiency of the water retention curve fitting equation was greater for the laboratory method; (c) the micromorphometric analysis tended to underestimate pore area values for all pore size classes and horizons; (d) the micromorphometric analysis provides an estimation of the porous system interconnections degree; (e) small changes in soil water content affect the hydraulic diffusion values to a much lower degree than the hydraulic conductivity; and (f) it is necessary to take care in using laboratory data to represent field conditions, since the values of K(&theta;) were overrated by the laboratory SWRC, compared to the field, more pronounced in smaller water tensions.

Inegavelmente a decisão é algo presente no dia-a-dia de todos, independentemente do tipo de atividades nas quais estamos envolvidos. Como característica do ambiente, verifica-se que este é muito dinâmico, exigindo respostas cada vez mais rápidas por parte dos executivos. Como outros autores já colocaram, há uma grande dificuldade por parte dos modelos atuais em contemplar todos os elementos presentes nos processos decisórios, levando os indivíduos a recorrerem a fontes de cunho mais informal, de mais fácil acesso e, entre elas a intuição tem um papel de destaque. Dessa forma, este estudo busca apresentar indícios que permitam responder à seguinte questão de pesquisa: como a intuição atua no processo decisório instantâneo? O objetivo principal é compreender de que forma executivos ou gerentes fazem uso da intuição neste tipo específico de decisão. A partir de uma literatura que buscou elementos tanto de processo decisório, bem como da intuição, no campo da gestão e da psicologia, foi possível estabelecer pontos de intersecção, que permitiram a elaboração de um instrumento para a condução de entrevistas junto a alguns executivos da área de TI. Com base em uma seleção de gestores da região Sul do Brasil, se obteve acesso a presidentes e executivos, dentre os quais alguns aceitaram participar da pesquisa. Após a coleta e análise dos dados, foi possível encontrar indícios que levam a crer que a intuição seja o elemento de maior confiança desses gestores. Além disso, são feitas contribuições ao conceito de intuição do campo da gestão, bem como são apresentados os elementos, e como eles se relacionam entre si, para possibilitar o pensamento intuitivo em situações que exigem uma resposta instantânea. Como contribuição teórica pode-se ressaltar, em primeiro lugar, a discussão do tema intuição, bem como alguns pontos divergentes da literatura estudada. Para gestores em geral, verifica-se que, apesar do desconhecimento e desconfiança, a intuição pode ser uma fonte confiável e que pode ser trabalhada, como qualquer outra habilidade. / It’s undeniably that decision making is something present in the day-to-day of everyone, regardless of the type of activities in which we are involved. As a characteristic of the environment which is very dynamic, demanding rapid responses from executives. As others authors have posted, there is a great difficulty on the part of current models to include all the elements present in decision making, leading people to consider the use of more informal sources, with easier access, among them intuition has an important role. Thus, this study seeks to present evidence for addressing the following research question: how intuition works in the instantaneous decision-making process? The main objective is to understand how executives and managers make use of intuition in this specific type of decision. Making use of a literature that sought elements of decisionmaking as well as intuition in the field of management and psychology, it was possible to establish points of intersection, which allowed the development of an instrument for conducting interviews with some executives of IT. Based on a selection of managers from south of Brazil, we obtained access to presidents and executives, some of whom agreed to participate. After collecting and analyzing data, it was possible to find evidence to suggest that intuition is the more important element of trust of managers. In addition, contributions are made to the concept of intuition in the field of management, and how the elements presented are related to each other to enable intuitive thinking in situations that require an instant response. As a theoretical contribution, can be noted the discussion of the topic intuition, as well as some points of divergence from the literature studied. For managers in general, it appears that despite the ignorance and suspicion, intuition can be a reliable source and that can be worked like any other skill.

Processos K começaram a ser estudados nos anos 50 como uma fonte de contraexemplos e de comportamento patológico. Recentemente descobriu-se que eles são um limite de escalas para modelos de armadilha, fato que voltou a trazer certa atenção para eles. Nesse trabalho vamos adotar uma abordagem construtiva, usando-a para mostrar a propriedade forte de Markov e calcular as taxas de transição e o gerador infinitesimal. / K processes were studied in the 50\'s as a source of counter examples and of pathological behaviour. It is now know that they are a scaling limit for trap models, which led attention back to them. In this work, we will adopt a constructive approach, using it to show the strong Markov propriety, calculate the transition rates and the infinitesimal generator.

Nowadays power transmission networks are capable of delivering contracted power from any supplier to any consumer over a large geographic area under market control, and thus transmission lines are incorporated with FACTs series compensated devices to increase the power transfer capability with improvement to system integrity. Conventional fault location methods developed in the past many years are not suitable for FACTs transmission networks. The obvious reason is that FACTs devices in transmission networks introduce non-linearity in the system and hence linear fault detection methods are no longer valid. Therefore, it is still a matter of research to investigate developing new fault detection techniques to cater for modern transmission network configurations and solve implementation issues maintaining required accuracy. This PhD research work is based on developing an accurate and robust new fault location algorithm for series compensated high voltage transmission lines, considering many issues such as transmission line models, configurations with series compensation features. Building on the existing knowledge, a new algorithm has been developed for the estimation of fault location using the time domain approach. In this algorithm, instantaneous fault signals from the transmission line ends are measured and applied to the algorithm to calculate the distance to fault. The new algorithm was tested on two port transmission line model developed using EMTP/ATP software and measured fault data from the simulations are exported to the MATLAB space to run the algorithm. Broad range of faults has been simulated considering various fault cases to test the algorithm and statistical results obtained. It was observed that the accuracy of location of fault on series compensated transmission line using this algorithm is in the range from 99.7 % to 99.9% in 90% of fault cases. In addition, this algorithm was further improved considering many practical issues related to modern series compensated transmission lines (with TCSC var compensators) achieving similar accuracies in the estimation of fault location.