The actual industrial development linked to the financial situation over the world lead automotive and other companies to expand their production level to stay competitive. Changing an organization to raise its production or profit is not a one day journey, but requires some steps. Tools exist to develop the production level of manufacturing industry since more or less the fifties, and the continuous improvement is measured by some available and famous indicators around lean manufacturing mainly. Pressing equipment especially like a metal stamping press expressed through the following case study can be improved by respecting some fundamentals. Lean manufacturing aspects as 5 S’s and TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) for example are tools that can be applied to improve the production rate of a stamping press. To even better improve the OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) of the same machine, a tool like SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies) reveals to be really powerful when improving the global output rate of the machine. The case study developed inside this present report aims to investigate all the possibilities to improve the OEE of pressing equipment facing theoretical aspects and reality issues. The tools involved are part of the content, but the way to support a company for the organizational change required to the success is another part of the content. Technical solutions are taking part of the outcome, and a strong link to change management is included. Correlation between both technical and managerial aspects is the main line followed to get the final results. An experimental and actual OEE is calculated, and improved following a rating according to the possible improvements. Those results are analyzed to provide a weighted feedback related to the whole research.

Climate change is currently identified as one of the most challenging global issues, which makes low-carbon development an increasingly popular topic that needs serious consideration. Therefore, the way cities are planned, managed, and use energy will play a vital role in mitigating climate change and its impact on the environment. Some simple city facilities such as pedestrian walkways, safe bikeways, and different modes of transportations, as well as sustainable policies and action programs, could reduce automobile dependency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in many cities. This project will explore such sufficient and practical rules and policies to redesign neighborhoods to create more sustainable, livable, and low-carbon cities, which will be accessible and attractive for all groups of people. This study reviews, compares, and analyzes different sustainable urbanism principles under three pillars of the sustainable development concept, including environmental, economical, and social. It also analyzes similar successful projects in Europe to find the appropriate and practical rules that are compatible with community requirements. The results show that all the sustainable principles should work together to create a sustainable community with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to care about the future. It is necessary for urban planners, architects, and any related divisions of government to follow the proper rules to make cities a better place to live and also to increase residents’ awareness of both climate change issues and practical solutions. Urban planners are responsible for inviting people to be involved in making decisions and sharing their ideas to enrich communication, with the purpose of making a better city to live in.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 1997. / "May 1997." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-159). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 1998. / "July 1998." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-119). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 1999. / "December 1999." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-104). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-169). Also available on the Internet.

Introdução: Doentes Hepáticos mesmo após o Transplante de Fígado (TF) apresentam heranças fisiopatológicas que podem influenciar na diminuição da Capacidade Funcional (CF). Objetivo: Traçar o perfil dos pacientes pós TF em relação à CF, e definir quais os melhores exercícios físicos para compor futuro programa de condicionamento físico dos pacientes, tanto antes como depois do TF. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 52 pacientes submetidos ao TF entre os anos de 2002 e 2013. Foi realizado o Teste de Caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6). Resultados: 51,9% dos pacientes eram homens, sendo a média de idade da amostra 58 + 10,26 anos. Entre os participantes, 48,1% eram hipertensos, 42,3% obesos e 40,4% tinham diabetes tipo II. Tacrolimus é o medicamento mais utilizado em 84,6% dos pacientes. O DPTC6 média total foi de 497 + 90 metros, onde os homens andavam distância média mais alta que as mulheres (531 + 70 e 460 + 95 metros respectivamente). Sexo e Idade foram significativas (p=0,002 e p=0,011), evidenciando que a média do TC6 é maior em homens mais jovens do que em mulheres, independentemente do tempo transcorrido após o TF (p>0,05). Em relação a prática de exercícios físicos, apesar de não ser estatisticamente significativa, evidenciou-se que praticantes possuem melhores DPTC6. Conclusão: A DPTC6 por pacientes já submetidos ao Transplante de Fígado no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, é indicativa de boa capacidade funcional, principalmente entre os pacientes mais jovens, os do sexo masculino e praticantes de exercícios físicos. / Introduction: The pathophysiological profile of patients with liver disease may impact functional capacity even after liver transplantation (LT). Objective: To describe functional capacity after LT in a group of Brazilian patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 52 patients submitted to LT between 2002 and 2013. Functional capacity was determined using the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: The mean age of the overall sample was 58 ± 10.26 years, and 51.9% were male. Hypertension was detected in 48.1%, obesity in 42.3%, and type 2 diabetes in 40.4%. Tacrolimus was the most used medicine (84.6% of patients). The mean distance traveled in the 6MWT was 497 + 90 m (531 ± 70 m for males vs. 460 ± 95 m for females). Gender and age were significantly associated with 6MWT results (p=0.002 and p=0.011), showing a higher mean 6MWT distance in younger men than in women, regardless of the time elapsed since LT (p<0.05). In relation to physical exercise, physically active individuals had more favorable 6MWT results; however, this association was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The present group of LT patients had good functional capacity as measured by the 6MWT, especially younger patients, male patients, and physically active patients.

Objetivo: Estudar o efeito da monitorização contínua da oximetria de pulso (SpO2) durante o teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6m), na detecção da hipoxemia induzida pelo exercício, em pacientes com sintomas respiratórios. Métodos: Os pacientes realizaram testes de função pulmonar e TC6m. A saturação e a freqüência cardíaca foram determinadas por um oxímetro de pulso e os dados transferidos simultaneamente para um computador através de telemetria. Comparamos a menor saturação atingida durante o teste com os valores da SpO2 obtidos imediatamente após o TC6m. Também foram comparadas as diferenças clínico funcionais dos pacientes agrupados de acordo com a presença de dessaturação (SpO2 repouso – SpO2 no exercício 4%) e SpO2 88%. Resultados: Foram estudados 452 pacientes (236 homens, 61 ± 13 anos). A capacidade vital forçada (CVF), o volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1), a relação VEF1/CVF e a capacidade de difusão pulmonar (DCO) foram respectivamente 65,8 ± 18,6% do previsto, 52,6 ± 23,7% do previsto, 62,8 ± 18,8% e 51,7 ± 20,9% do previsto. A média da SpO2 mínima registrada com auxílio de telemetria durante o TC6m foi de 89,9 ± 6,5% e da SpO2 no final do teste foi de 91,1 ± 6,5% (p<0,001). Em 241 pacientes (53,3%) ocorreu dessaturação no TC6m. Foram observados dois padrões diferenciados de dessaturação durante o exercício: um grupo de pacientes dessaturou no início do TC6m e recuperou a SpO2 antes do final do mesmo (57 pacientes, 23,7% dos pacientes que dessaturaram) e o outro grupo apresentou queda da SpO2 persistente até o final do exercício. A SpO2 basal e os valores de função pulmonar foram significativamente mais altos no grupo de pacientes com o primeiro padrão de dessaturação. A SpO2 foi 88% em 148 pacientes; em 26 destes (17,6%) níveis de SpO2 88% foram detectados somente durante o TC6m. Conclusão: Nosso estudo demonstra que a mensuração contínua da SpO2 durante o TC6m é melhor que a mensuração da SpO2 imediatamente após o teste para detectar dessaturação induzida por exercício. / Objective: To study the effect of continuous measurement of pulse oximetry (SpO2) during six-minute walk test (6MWT) on detection of exercise induced hypoxemia in patients with respiratory complaints. Methods: Patients performed lung function tests and 6MWT. SpO2 and pulse rate were obtained by a pulse oximeter and continuously transferred to a computer using telemetry. The lowest saturation reached during the test was compared with the SpO2 measured immediately after the 6MWT. We also compared functional and clinical differences of patients grouped according to desaturation (rest SpO2 - exercise SpO2 4%) and SpO2 88%. Results: We studied 452 patients (236 men, 61 ± 13 years old). Mean forced vital capacity (FCV), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FCV and pulmonary diffusion capacity (DLCO) were 65.8 ± 18.6% of predicted, 52.6 ± 23.7% of predicted, 62.8 ± 18.8% and 51.7 ± 20.9% of predicted, respectively. Mean of lowest SpO2 registered using telemetry during 6MWT was 89.9% ± 6.5% and at the end of test 91.1% ± 6.5% (p<0.001). Desaturation was observed in 241 patients (53.3%). There were two different patterns of desaturation: SpO2 decrease at the beginning of the 6MWT with recovery before the test end (57 patients, 23.7% of the patients with desaturation) and SpO2 decrease maintained at the end of exercise. Rest SpO2 and lung function values were significantly higher in patients with the first desaturation pattern. SpO2 88% was observed in 148 patients; in 26 of these cases (17.6%) SpO2 88% levels were only detected during the 6MWT. Conclusion: Continuous SpO2 measuring is better than SpO2 measurement performed immediately after 6MWT in detecting exercise induced desaturation.

Objetivos: Avaliar o desempenho no teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6M) em pacientes adultos com bronquiectasias não fibrocísticas, estabelecendo associações entre TC6M e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS). Secundariamente, determinar relações entre TC6M, achados clínicos e função pulmonar a fim de identificar preditores de tolerância ao exercíco. Métodos: Estudo transversal envolvendo pacientes com bronquiectasias não fibrocística, idade ≥ 18 anos, com pelo menos um sintoma respiratório por 2 ou mais anos e volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1) ≤ 70% do previsto. Realizou-se avaliação clínica, função pulmonar, TC6M e QVRS pelo questionário Short-Form 36. Resultados: Foram incluídos 70 pacientes (48 mulheres; idade média 54,5±17,7 anos; VEF1 médio 44,9±14,5%). Desempenho alterado no TC6M foi observado em 23 pacientes (Grupo 1) e desempenho normal em 47 pacientes (Grupo 2). Em comparação aos pacientes do Grupo 2, os pacientes do Grupo 1 apresentaram menor idade (p<0,001), menor idade de diagnóstico das bronquiectasias (p=0,006), menor proporção de ex fumantes (p=0,048), menor índice de massa corporal (IMC) (p=0,003), pior VEF1 % previsto (p=0,041) e pior pressão expiratória máxima % previsto (p=0,021). Não houve diferença significante entre grupos nos escores de QVRS (p>0,05). No modelo de regressão logística, idade menor (p=0,002) e IMC menor (p=0,034) se associaram significantemente com desempenho precário no TC6M. Conclusão: Elevada proporção de pacientes com bronquiectasias não fibrocísticas apresenta desempenho precário no TC6M. O desempenho ao exercício não se relacionou com a QVRS. Idade e IMC se associaram com performance ao exercício. / Objective: To determine the performance in 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in adult patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, establishing the relationship between 6-MWT and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Secondarily, to determine the relationship between 6MWT, clinical findings and lung function in order to identify predictors for exercise tolerance. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis aged ≥ 18 years, with at least one respiratory symptom for 2 years or more, and with predicted forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) ≤ 70%. Patients were submitted to clinical evaluation, pulmonary function tests, 6MWT and HRQL using the Short-Form 36 Questionnaire. Results: Seventy patients were included (48 females; mean age, 54.5±17.7 years; mean FEV1, 44.9 ±14.5%). We observed poor performance in 6MWT in 23 patients (Group 1) and normal performance in 47 patients (Group 2). In comparison with Group 2 patients, Group 1 patients presented lower age (p<0.001), lower age at diagnosis of bronchiectasis (p=0.006), lower proportion of ex-smokers (p=0.048), lower body mass index (BMI) (p=0.003), worse FEV1 % predicted (p=0.041), and worse maximum expiratory pressure % predicted (p=0.021). There was no significant difference between groups on scores for HRQL (p>0.05). In a logistic regression model, lower age (p=0.002) and lower BMI (p=0.034) were significantly associated with poor performance in 6MWT. Conclusion: There is a high rate of poor performance in 6MWT in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The exercise performance was not related to HRQL. Age and BMI were associated with the exercise performance.

Objetivo: Estudar o efeito da monitorização contínua da oximetria de pulso (SpO2) durante o teste de caminhada de 6 minutos (TC6m), na detecção da hipoxemia induzida pelo exercício, em pacientes com sintomas respiratórios. Métodos: Os pacientes realizaram testes de função pulmonar e TC6m. A saturação e a freqüência cardíaca foram determinadas por um oxímetro de pulso e os dados transferidos simultaneamente para um computador através de telemetria. Comparamos a menor saturação atingida durante o teste com os valores da SpO2 obtidos imediatamente após o TC6m. Também foram comparadas as diferenças clínico funcionais dos pacientes agrupados de acordo com a presença de dessaturação (SpO2 repouso – SpO2 no exercício 4%) e SpO2 88%. Resultados: Foram estudados 452 pacientes (236 homens, 61 ± 13 anos). A capacidade vital forçada (CVF), o volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1), a relação VEF1/CVF e a capacidade de difusão pulmonar (DCO) foram respectivamente 65,8 ± 18,6% do previsto, 52,6 ± 23,7% do previsto, 62,8 ± 18,8% e 51,7 ± 20,9% do previsto. A média da SpO2 mínima registrada com auxílio de telemetria durante o TC6m foi de 89,9 ± 6,5% e da SpO2 no final do teste foi de 91,1 ± 6,5% (p<0,001). Em 241 pacientes (53,3%) ocorreu dessaturação no TC6m. Foram observados dois padrões diferenciados de dessaturação durante o exercício: um grupo de pacientes dessaturou no início do TC6m e recuperou a SpO2 antes do final do mesmo (57 pacientes, 23,7% dos pacientes que dessaturaram) e o outro grupo apresentou queda da SpO2 persistente até o final do exercício. A SpO2 basal e os valores de função pulmonar foram significativamente mais altos no grupo de pacientes com o primeiro padrão de dessaturação. A SpO2 foi 88% em 148 pacientes; em 26 destes (17,6%) níveis de SpO2 88% foram detectados somente durante o TC6m. Conclusão: Nosso estudo demonstra que a mensuração contínua da SpO2 durante o TC6m é melhor que a mensuração da SpO2 imediatamente após o teste para detectar dessaturação induzida por exercício. / Objective: To study the effect of continuous measurement of pulse oximetry (SpO2) during six-minute walk test (6MWT) on detection of exercise induced hypoxemia in patients with respiratory complaints. Methods: Patients performed lung function tests and 6MWT. SpO2 and pulse rate were obtained by a pulse oximeter and continuously transferred to a computer using telemetry. The lowest saturation reached during the test was compared with the SpO2 measured immediately after the 6MWT. We also compared functional and clinical differences of patients grouped according to desaturation (rest SpO2 - exercise SpO2 4%) and SpO2 88%. Results: We studied 452 patients (236 men, 61 ± 13 years old). Mean forced vital capacity (FCV), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FCV and pulmonary diffusion capacity (DLCO) were 65.8 ± 18.6% of predicted, 52.6 ± 23.7% of predicted, 62.8 ± 18.8% and 51.7 ± 20.9% of predicted, respectively. Mean of lowest SpO2 registered using telemetry during 6MWT was 89.9% ± 6.5% and at the end of test 91.1% ± 6.5% (p<0.001). Desaturation was observed in 241 patients (53.3%). There were two different patterns of desaturation: SpO2 decrease at the beginning of the 6MWT with recovery before the test end (57 patients, 23.7% of the patients with desaturation) and SpO2 decrease maintained at the end of exercise. Rest SpO2 and lung function values were significantly higher in patients with the first desaturation pattern. SpO2 88% was observed in 148 patients; in 26 of these cases (17.6%) SpO2 88% levels were only detected during the 6MWT. Conclusion: Continuous SpO2 measuring is better than SpO2 measurement performed immediately after 6MWT in detecting exercise induced desaturation.