O desempenho e a viabilidade econômica dos processos de separação por membranas (PSM) estão diretamente relacionados com o fluxo de permeado e a retenção de substâncias. Em escala de laboratório, onde são utilizadas pequenas áreas de permeação, pode ser observada uma elevada variabilidade dos parâmetros de desempenho dos PSM, quando comparada com a obtida para os módulos industriais. Isto pode dificultar a análise de resultados, a comparação com dados da literatura e as ações de escalonamento. Apesar dos avanços constantemente obtidos na área de membranas, os resultados obtidos para estes parâmetros ainda são susceptíveis a problemas de repetitividade e reprodutibilidade. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a variabilidade experimental de membranas comerciais de ultrafiltração (UF) de polietersulfona (PES), poli(fluoreto de vinilideno) (PVDF) e poliacrilonitrila (PAN) com diferentes massas molares de corte (MMC). Os experimentos foram realizados em dois módulos de permeação com área efetiva de membrana de 28 e 60 cm2. Durante os ensaios de UF foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros de desempenho: fluxo inicial e final de água pura, tempo de compactação da membrana, redução do fluxo (RF), permeância hidráulica antes e após a filtração da solução de polietilenoglicol (PEG), fluxo de permeado com a solução de PEG e retenção observada. A variabilidade experimental foi investigada através da identificação dos efeitos principais do processo de UF a partir da análise de variância (ANOVA). O teste F foi utilizado para identificar diferenças significativas entre as variâncias obtidas para os parâmetros de resposta determinados A partir das análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura e de ângulo de contato observou-se que as membranas fabricadas a partir do mesmo material apresentaram estrutura e caráter hidrofílico semelhantes, não sendo observadas diferenças significativas na estrutura das membranas quando comparadas às membranas novas e às membranas após a UF. Na etapa de compactação foi observado que as membranas de mesmo material apresentaram tempo de compactação estatisticamente igual e que a RF para as membranas de PAN é semelhante. De forma geral a variabilidade experimental é menor conforme as membranas são reutilizadas no processo. Os efeitos principais de MMC e material têm influência significativa sobre os parâmetros de resposta da etapa de compactação, com exceção do efeito do material da membrana sobre o tempo de compactação e sobre a RF. Os efeitos principais de MMC, material e pressão de operação também exercem influência significativa sobre a permeância hidráulica antes e após a filtração da solução de PEG e sobre o fluxo de permeado com a solução de PEG Quando comparadas as variâncias obtidas para os parâmetros de desempenho, estas são estatisticamente semelhantes para membranas de mesmo material. Estes resultados indicam que a variabilidade experimental do processo UF (entre 10 e 40 %) não é alta o suficiente para impedir a correta identificação dos efeitos principais das variáveis do processo dentro das condições de operação avaliadas. A retenção observada foi superior a 88 % para as membranas de PES e PVDF, porém este resultado não condiz com a MMC informada pelo fabricante, uma vez que foram utilizadas soluções de PEG com massa molar menor que a MMC da membrana e a distribuição de massa molar dos PEG utilizados estão dentro da faixa especificada. Uma tendência de aumento da variabilidade dos parâmetros de resposta foi obtida quando utilizado o módulo com menor área de permeação, indicando que para as condições de área investigadas a variabilidade é aparentemente dependente da área de permeação. / The performance and the economic viability of the membrane separation processes (PSM) are directly related to permeate flux and solute retention. In laboratory scale, where small permeation areas are used, a large variability in the performance parameters of the PSM could be observed, when compared with the obtained for industrial modules. This variability may difficult analysis of the results, comparison with literature data and scale-up actions. Despite the advances that are constantly achieved in membrane technology, the results obtained experimentally for the membranes performance parameters are still prone to repeatability and reproducibility problems. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the experimental variability of commercial ultrafiltration (UF) membranes of polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with different molar mass cut-off (MMCO). The experiments were performed in a lab-scale cross-flow unit in two permeation modules with effective membrane area of 28 and 60 cm2. During the UF tests were evaluated the performance parameters: initial and final pure water flux, membrane compaction time, flux reduction (RF), hydraulic permeance before and after the filtration of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution, permeate flux with the PEG solution and observed retention. The experimental variability was investigated through the identification of the main effects of the UF process using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The F-test was used to identify significant differences between the variances obtained for the response parameters determined According to the scanning electron microscopy and the water contact angle analysis, membranes made from the same material presented similar structure and hydrophilic character and were not observed significant differences in the membranes structure, when compared the new membranes with the membranes after the UF. In the compaction step it was observed that membranes of the same material presented statistically equal compaction time and the RF for the PAN membranes is similar. In general, the experimental variability is lower as the membranes are reused in the process. The main effects of MMCO and material have significant influence on the response parameters of the compaction step, the exception occur for the membrane material effect on the compaction time and RF. The main effects of MMCO, material and transmembrane pressure also exert significant influence on the hydraulic permeance before and after the PEG filtration and on the permeate flux with the PEG solution. When comparing the variances obtained for the performance parameters, they are statistically similar for membranes of the same material These results indicate that the experimental variability of the UF process (between 10 and 40%) was not high enough to prevent the correct identification of the effects of the main process variables within the evaluated operation conditions. The observed retention was greater than 88 % for the PES and PVDF membranes, but this result is not consistent with the MMCO reported by the manufacturer, since PEG solutions with lower molar mass than membrane MMCO were used and the molar mass distribution of the PEGs are within the specified range. A tendency to increase the experimental variability of the response parameters was observed when using the modulus with lower permeation area, indicating that for the range of effective membrane area investigated the variability is apparently dependent of the permeation area.

abstract: The current study delineated the developmental trajectories of early childhood externalizing and internalizing symptoms reported by mothers and fathers, and examined the role of the 18-month observed parenting quality × Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) interaction in predicting these trajectories. Child sex was tested as a covariate and moderator. It was found that children's low baseline RSA or high RSA reactivity , in comparison to high baseline RSA or low RSA reactivity , was more reactive as a function of early parenting quality when predicting the development of early childhood problem symptoms. Differential patterns of the interaction between parenting quality and RSA were detected for mothers' and fathers' reports. Mother-reported models showed a diathesis-stress pattern, whereas the father-reported model showed a vantage-sensitivity pattern, especially for internalizing symptoms. This may imply the potential benefit of fathers' active engagement in children's early development. In addition, the effect of the parenting quality × RSA interaction in predicting the mother-reported models was found to be further moderated by child sex. Specifically, the parenting quality × baseline RSA interaction was significantly predictive of girls' 54-month internalizing, and the parenting quality × RSA reactivity interaction significantly predicted boys' internalizing slope. Girls with low baseline RSA or boys with high RSA reactivity were vulnerable to the less positive parenting, exhibiting high levels of 54-month internalizing symptoms or slow decline in internalizing over time, respectively. Future research directions were discussed in terms of integrating the measures of SNS and PNS in psychopathology study, exploring the mechanisms underlying the sex difference in parenting quality × RSA interaction, and comparing the findings of children's typical and atypical development. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2014

Compreendendo a tuberculose enquanto problema de saúde pública, desde meados dos anos 1990 a Organização Mundial da Saúde recomenda ações de controle da doença, dentre estas a Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) que, junto às demais recomendações, é transferida e executada em diferentes cenários, sendo essa transferência merecedora de atenção e aprofundamento, o que deve ocorrer por meio da utilização de métodos válidos e confiáveis. Trata-se de um estudo metodológico, cujo objetivo é elaborar e validar um instrumento voltado à avaliação da transferência da política do Tratamento Diretamente Observado, segundo a perspectiva de profissionais de saúde, por meio das dimensões \"Informação\", \"Conhecimento\" e \"Inovação\". O estudo foi realizado em três fases, a saber: validação semântica, primeira fase do estudo de campo e segunda fase do estudo de campo. A validação semântica contou com 24 profissionais; a primeira fase do estudo de campo, com 101 profissionais; e a segunda fase do estudo de campo, com 401 profissionais. Na validação semântica, o instrumento foi ajustado segundo as sugestões dos entrevistados, tendo ocorrido também a retirada de dois itens dos 49 inicialmente propostos. Na primeira fase do estudo de campo, o instrumento não apresentou efeito floor and ceiling e foram retirados 8 itens com carga fatorial < 0,30 na Análise Fatorial Exploratória. O instrumento apresentou um bom alfa de Cronbach (?=0,87), e a dimensão \"Conhecimento\" apresentou alfa baixo (?=0,645). Na segunda fase do estudo de campo, o efeito floor and ceiling manteve- se ausente, com baixo coeficiente de correlação linear de Pearson (r), baixo ajuste (55%) e baixo alfa de Cronbach (?=0,61) para a dimensão \"Conhecimento\", tendo as dimensões \"Informação\" e \"Inovação\" atingido valores aceitáveis. Para o instrumento como um todo, o Alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,872. O KMO e o Teste de Esfericidade de Bartlett foram satisfatórios, permitindo a Análise Fatorial Confirmatória. Entretanto, identificou-se baixo valor de ajuste do modelo no CFI e RMSEA (0,576 e 0,088, respectivamente), com uma baixa correlação entre as dimensões propostas. Conclui-se que o instrumento elaborado é capaz de avaliar a transferência do TDO segundo a perspectiva de profissionais de saúde de nível médio e superior de forma unidimensional, sem a utilização das três dimensões inicialmente propostas / Understanding tuberculosis as a public health problem since the mid-1990s, the World Health Organization recommended disease control actions, among them the Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) that, together with other recommendations, is transferred and executed in different scenarios, being this transfer worthy of attention and deepening, what should be made using valid and reliable methods. This is a methodological study, which aims to develop and validate a tool, which aims to assess the transfer of the Directly Observed Treatment policy, from the perspective of health professionals, through the dimensions \"Information\", \"Knowledge\" and \"Innovation \". The study was conducted in three stages, namely: semantic validation, the first phase of the field study and the second stage of the field study. The semantic validation was attended by 24 professionals; the first phase of the field study by 101 professionals; and the second phase of the field study by 401 professionals. In the semantic validation, the instrument was adjusted according to respondent\'s suggestions, having also been removed two of the 49 items initially proposed. In the first phase of the field study, the tool had no effect floor and ceiling, and were removed 8 items with factor loadings <0.30 in Exploratory Factor Analysis. The tool showed a good Cronbach\'s alpha (?=0.872), and the dimension \"Knowledge\" presented low alpha (?=0.645). In the second phase of the field study, the effect of floor and ceiling remained absent with a low Pearson\'s coefficient of linear correlation (r), a low fit (55%) and low Cronbach\'s alpha (?=0.61) for the dimension \"Knowledge\", having the dimensions \"Information\" and \"Innovation\" reached acceptable values, and the tool showed a good Cronhbach\'s Alpha (?=0,89). The KMO and Bartlett\'s sphericity test were satisfactory, allowing the Confirmatory Factor Analysis. However, it identified a low value of model\'s fit in CFI and RMSEA (0.576 and 0.088, respectively), with a low correlation between the proposed dimensions. It was concluded that the elaborated tool is able to assess the transfer of the Directly Observed Therapy from the perspective of mid and high-level health professionals in the unidimensional form, without the use of the three dimensions originally proposed

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2017-04-27T18:34:36Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação para biblioteca.pdf: 2019803 bytes, checksum: 5b2c8e4210d0dd6f5c0f10165b0c455b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-27T18:34:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação para biblioteca.pdf: 2019803 bytes, checksum: 5b2c8e4210d0dd6f5c0f10165b0c455b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-09 / A tuberculose (TB) é uma das doenças infecciosas mais antigas no mundo, e até os dias atuais ainda permanece sendo um sério problema para a saúde pública global. O Tratamento Diretamente Observado (TDO) caracteriza-se como elemento chave, no fortalecimento da adesão ao tratamento da TB e na prevenção do aparecimento de cepas resistentes aos medicamentos, uma vez que ainda existem taxas de cura inferiores a meta preconizada e um número ainda elevado de abandono do tratamento. Em Pernambuco a estratégia TDO foi implantada inicialmente pela capital Recife a partir de 2005-2007 e segundo dados, no ano de 2013 chegou a uma cobertura de 63,5% em todo o estado. Para o presente estudo foram utilizados dados secundários retirados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificações (SINAN) no período 2005 a 2014. Os resultados apontam que a maioria dos pacientes são adultos jovens do sexo masculino, não brancos, alfabetizados, moradores de zona urbana e entre as doenças e agravos o mais presente foi o alcoolismo. A taxa de incidência da TB apresentou uma média em torno de 48,6%. Os casos de óbitos, no estado, apresentou uma média de 4,3. A forma pulmonar predomina diante das demais, com uma média de mais de 4000 (85%) casos ao ano no Estado. A média de cura e abandono ficou em torno de 71,3% e 9,9% respectivamente. A realização do TDO só veio a surtir efeito no estado a partir de 2007 (53,86%) seguindo até o ano de 2014 com 60,37%.Foi observado que nos últimos 10 anos de estudo (2005-2014) a probabilidade de cura, a partir da diferença de médias entre os grupos, foi de 26% a mais para o grupo dos tratados (TDO) do que para o grupo controle (não TDO). Esses resultados são corroborados por três diferentes critérios de Matching (pareamento) via Propensity Score (escore de propensão): o vizinho mais próximo, indicando que os indivíduos submetidos ao TDO têm em média 23% de chances a mais de cura, com base nos Estratos, este percentual é de 21% e o Kernel, apresentou 23% a mais de chances de cura. / Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest infectious diseases in the world, and to this day still remains a serious problem for global public health. The Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) is characterized as a key element in strengthening adherence to TB treatment and prevention of the emergence of resistant strains to drugs, since there are still healing rates below the recommended target and an even higher number abandonment of treatment. In Pernambuco the DOTS strategy was implemented initially by Recife capital from 2005-2007 and second data, in 2013 reached a 63.5% coverage throughout the state. For the present study were used secondary data taken from Diseases and Notifications Information System (SINAN) in the period 2005 to 2014. The results show that most patients are young, adult males, not white, literate, urban residents and among the diseases and disorders the most present was alcoholism. The TB incidence rate in PE averaged around 48.6%. The cases of deaths, in the state, showing that PE is an average of 4.3. The pulmonary form predominates on the others, with an average of more than 4000 (85%) cases per year in the state. The average healing and abandonment was around 71.3% and 9.9% respectively. The realization of the DOTS only came to take effect in the state from 2007 (53.86%) followed by the year 2014 with 60.37%. It was observed that in the last 10 years of study (2005-2014) the probability of cure from the mean of difference between the groups was 26% higher for the group of treated (DOTS) than for the control group ( not DOT). These results are supported by three different criteria Matching by Propensity Score: the nearest neighbor matching, indicating that individuals submitted to DOTS have averaged 23% chance more healing, based on Strata this percentage is 21% and Kernel, showed 23% more chances of cure

A tuberculose se constitui historicamente como um dos grandes desafios para os serviços de saúde. A política pública do Tratamento Diretamente Observado objetiva o fortalecimento da adesão do doente ao tratamento e requer que a gestão em saúde se responsabilize no desenvolvimento e implantação da mesma, junto à organização dos serviços de saúde. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a discursividade dos gestores de saúde na transferência de política do Tratamento Diretamente Observado da tuberculose no município de Manaus/AM. Pesquisa qualitativa no campo analítico da Análise de Discurso de linha francesa. Participaram oito gestores de saúde que atuavam como integrantes de equipes gestoras. As entrevistas transcritas foram organizadas com uso do software Atlas.ti versão 6.0. Após leitura minuciosa do material empírico procedeu-se a análise por meio da base conceitual da Análise de Discurso onde procurou-se compreender os processos polissêmicos, parafrásticos e metafóricos, além da interdiscursividade dos gestores, os quais possibilitaram a identificação de três blocos discursivos: atenção à saúde na tuberculose; multiculturalidade do cenário na atenção à tuberculose; e, sentidos da transferência de políticas. Nos discursos dos gestores evidenciam-se elementos constitutivos da atenção à saúde na tuberculose, da multiculturalidade do cenário na atenção à doença e na transferência de políticas do Tratamento Diretamente Observado, os quais estão ancorados em movimentos discursivos promissores para novas formas de organização dos serviços de saúde; novas composições e desafios na gestão em saúde; na adoção da transferência de políticas enquanto políticas de Estado; e, discursos que movimentam e se assentam em formações ideológicas. Conclui-se que o atual momento vivenciado pelo cenário sugere benefícios quanto a real incorporação da política do TDO em Manaus/AM / Tuberculosis constitute, historically, in one of the big challenges to health services. The public policy of Directly Observed Therapy aims to improve patient adherence to treatment and requires that health management became responsible for the development and implementation of them, together with the organization of health services. This study had the goal to analyze the discourse of health managers in policy transfer of Directly Observed Therapy in Manaus/AM. Qualitative research in the analytical field of French Discourse Analysis framework. Eigth health managers, who worked as management teams members, participate of the study. The interviews were transcribed and then organized using Atlas. TI 6.0. After carefully reading of the empirical data, the analyze was performed through conceptual base in Discourse Analysis, when there was sought to comprehend the process of polysemy, paraphrase and metaphor, besides of health manager\'s interdiscursivity, which enable the identification of three discursive blocks: attention to health in tuberculosis; multiculturality in tuberculosis\' attention setting; and, senses of policy transfer. In the discourses of health managers, it were evident the constitutive elements of health attention in tuberculosis, of the multiculturality at the setting of disease attention and policies transfer of Directly Observed Therapy, which are anchored in promissory discourses movements to new ways of health services organization; new compositions and challenges in health management; in the adoption of policies transfer as State Policies; and discourses that moves and solidify in ideological formations. Concluding that the actual setting suggests benefices regarding the real incorporation of Directly Observed Therapy policies in Manaus/AM

Este trabalho versa sobre a aplicação do princípio da confiança legítima no Direito Tributário brasileiro, com foco no art. 100, inciso III, do Código Tributário Nacional (CTN), que trata das práticas reiteradamente observadas pelas autoridades administrativas. Parte-se da origem do princípio, aproximando a investigação por meio do princípio da segurança jurídica, da certeza do direito e da irretroatividade; em seguida, diferencia-se a proteção da confiança da boa-fé objetiva e prossegue-se pelo princípio da legalidade e a evolução jurisprudencial a respeito da conservação positiva ou negativa dos atos eivados de vícios quando deles se originaram direitos. Foca-se, então, nos requisitos para a configuração da confiança digna de proteção e os mecanismos de proteção positiva ou negativa dessa confiança. Desse ponto em diante, o estudo passa a desenhar a proteção da confiança legítima nos atos do Poder Executivo, por meio da análise do art. 100 do CTN, como fonte secundária de direito tributário. Conceituam-se as normas complementares, a origem e sua função, para então proceder-se ao exame específico das práticas reiteradamente observadas pelas autoridades administrativas e sua relação com o princípio da confiança legítima. Em seguida, analisa-se o parágrafo único do art. 100 do CTN para avaliar se são corretas a não atualização monetária da base de cálculo do tributo e a admissão de retroatividade parcial dos efeitos do reconhecimento da ilegalidade da prática administrativa em que confiou o contribuinte. Examina-se, de início, se a inércia da Administração Pública acerca de lançamento cuja homologação se dê de maneira tácita seria um silêncio positivo a configurar prática reiterada suficiente para dar respaldo à proteção do parágrafo único do art. 100 do CTN. O estudo avalia se, no caso dos tributos indiretos, pela impossibilidade de o contribuinte transferir ao consumidor a exação, justificaria uma proteção maior do que aquela conferida pelo próprio parágrafo único do art. 100 do CTN. Por derradeiro, a norma do art. 146 é confrontada com a do art. 100, inciso III, ambos do CTN, para fins de estabelecer os campos de aplicação de uma e de outra e em que medida elas se relacionam com a proteção da confiança legítima. / This work deals with the application of the principle of legitimate expectations in Brazilian tax law, focusing on Article 100, section III of the Brazilian Tax Code, which deals with the practices observed repeatedly by administrative authorities. The proposed scientific part of the origin of the principle, approaching research through the principle of legal security, legal certainty and non-retroactivity. Then differentiates the protection of reliable objective good faith and goes by the principle of legality and judicial developments regarding conservation (positive or negative) of the acts riddled with addictions when their rights originated. Focuses, then, on the requirements for setting up trust worthy of protection and the protection mechanisms positive or negative that trust. Thereafter the study is to draw back the protection of legitimate expectations in the acts of the Executive, through the analysis of Article 100 of the Internal Revenue Code, as secondary sources of tax law. Conceptualize themselves supplementary rules, the origin and function, down to the specific scope of practice repeatedly observed by the administrative authorities and their relation to the principle of legitimate expectations. Then we analyze the sole paragraph of article 100 of the Internal Revenue Code to assess whether it is correct not to monetary base tax calculation and admission of retroactivity of the effects of partial recognition of the illegality of administrative practice that relied on the taxpayer. Turning to specific issues initially analyzed is the inertia of public administration, which tacitly approves taxes charged for approval, would be a positive silence configuring repeated practice enough to give birth to protect the sole paragraph of article 100 of the Tax Code national. The study evaluates whether, in the case of indirect taxes, the inability of the taxpayer to transfer the consumer the exaction would justify greater protection than that afforded by the sole paragraph of article 100 of the Internal Revenue Code. Finally, the norm of Article 146 is confronted with Article 100, item III, both of the National Tax Code, for purposes of establishing fields of application of one and the other and the extent to which both relate to the protection of legitimate expectations.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem worldwide, with an estimated 9 million new cases accounting for an estimated 1.5 million deaths in 2012. Non-compliance with TB treatment has become a major barrier to achieving global TB control targets. Namibia is one of the worst affected countries in Africa with a high case notification rate (CNR) of all forms of TB and relatively low treatment success rate compared to the WHO targets. The study aimed at investigating TB treatment compliance and measuring its association to patient characteristics and treatment outcomes, in determining the effects of compliance on treatment outcomes in Windhoek District. This information is crucial for TB programme management and development of targeted strategies. A quantitative observational analytic study using a retrospective cohort design was adopted. New adult Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients treated under DOTS in Windhoek District between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2013 were included in the study based on specified criteria. Data was collected from the patients TB treatment cards using an extraction tool. Selection and information bias was eliminated by using clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria using a pre-tested standardised tool. Statistical analysis using descriptive and analytic statistics was done using Epi Info 7 to determine compliance, treatment outcomes and to measure the associations. Overall treatment compliance (89%), initial phase compliance (97.2%) and continuation phase compliance (88.1%) were reported in the study. Age (OR=4.3 95% CI (1.72 – 9.90), p-value=<0.01) and type of area (OR=0.02 95% CI (1.00 – 1.13), p-value=0.05) were associated with compliance in the continuation phase. Overall, type of area (OR=0.03 95% CI (0.00 – 0.91), p-value=0.04) remains associated with treatment compliance. Treatment success is reported among 86.1% of patients. Poor treatment outcomes are associated with non-compliance in the initial phase ( =49.98, p-value=<0.01), continuation phase ( =98.81, p-value=<0.01) and overall ( =110.02, p-value=<0.01). Overall treatment compliance (89%) although higher than expected was lower than the WHO recommended 90% compliance. Very high compliance (97.2%) were reported in the initial phase of treatment whilst compliance was also lower than desired (88.1%) in the continuation phase. Non-compliance recorded in the continuation phase is in agreement with the literature. Age and type of area are associated with compliance as reported in the continuation phase and overall in this study is new contribution of knowledge. The findings suggest that treatment compliance is associated with treatment success in both phases of treatment and overall. Low compliance especially in the continuation phase could lead to poor treatment outcomes such as prolonged infections, relapse, high TB mortality and drug resistance leading to increased programme costs. The study concludes that non-compliance results in poor treatment outcomes highlighting the need for interventions that address compliance in all phases but specifically within the continuation phase and amongst those at risk of having reduced compliance such as those in rural areas and young adult patients aged (15 – 34 years). Recommendations to the District Management Team and TB Programme Managers include: identification of measures that promote treatment compliance; support and monitoring of TB patients’ compliance continuously; strengthening CB-DOT by increasing CB-DOT points and enhancing CB-DOT supporters’ capacity as well as strengthening record keeping as a monitoring tool to increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes.

Scientific evidence points to a changing global climate. The most vital and visible impacts of this phenomenon for sea-level communities are sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and more frequent severe coastal storms. However, limited research has been conducted to date to project the damage from rising maximum water levels and corresponding storm surges, and their impacts on the sustainability of coastal communities. This research focuses on the urban coastal community of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Canada as part of the C-Change International Community University research Alliance (ICURA), “Managing Adaptation to Environmental Change in Coastal Communities: Canada and the Caribbean.” The stochastic process that underlies, maximum observed water levels in Charlottetown, is modeled using historical data. Maximum observed water levels and storm surges are represented by fitted conditional and marginal univariate probability density functions. The statistical package “Easy-Fit” is used as a tool for analyzing goodness of fit to the historical data for maximum observed water levels in Charlottetown. A System Dynamics (SD) model, using STELLA, is developed to simulate the projected impacts of maximum observed water levels on the City of Charlottetown. The SD model captures the dynamics of the four pillars of community sustainability, namely Environmental, Economic, Social-Cultural and Human sectors identified for the City of Charlottetown. The model defines and evaluates the robustness of alternative adaptation strategies for various model scenarios to projected storms over a long-term planning period. The results quantify the vulnerability of Charlottetown. The analysis of the results from implementing 3 main adaptation strategies for protection, accommodation, and retreat scenarios as well as the ones from the most common current response of “doing nothing”, provide information on the dynamic and pillar-related impacts of storms on Charlottetown. Analysis of these strategy options clearly indicates that doing nothing in the face of more frequent severe storms is an inefficient strategy. Model results show that the protect strategy is unlikely to deliver complete protection, and the retreat option is costly and not well received. The accommodation strategy including a combination of protection options and controlled retreat will provide the most robust option for the coastal City of Charlottetown. The SD model and analysis provides a framework for the evaluation of adaptation strategies for alternative coastal communities.

abstract: The accurate monitoring of the bulk transmission system of the electric power grid by sensors, such as Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), is essential for maintaining the reliability of the modern power system. One of the primary objectives of power system monitoring is the identification of the snapshots of the system at regular intervals by performing state estimation using the available measurements from the sensors. The process of state estimation corresponds to the estimation of the complex voltages at all buses of the system. PMU measurements play an important role in this regard, because of the time-synchronized nature of these measurements as well as the faster rates at which they are produced. However, a model-based linear state estimator created using PMU-only data requires complete observability of the system by PMUs for its continuous functioning. The conventional model-based techniques also make certain assumptions in the modeling of the physical system, such as the constant values of the line parameters. The measurement error models in the conventional state estimators are also assumed to follow a Gaussian distribution. In this research, a data mining technique using Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) is proposed for performing a high-speed, time-synchronized state estimation of the transmission system of the power system. The proposed technique uses historical data to identify the correlation between the measurements and the system states as opposed to directly using the physical model of the system. Therefore, the highlight of the proposed technique is its ability to provide an accurate, fast, time-synchronized estimate of the system states even in the absence of complete system observability by PMUs. The state estimator is formulated for the IEEE 118-bus system and its reliable performance is demonstrated in the presence of redundant observability, complete observability, and incomplete observability. The robustness of the state estimator is also demonstrated by performing the estimation in presence of Non-Gaussian measurement errors and varying line parameters. The consistency of the DNN state estimator is demonstrated by performing state estimation for an entire day. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Electrical Engineering 2020

No description available.