In max-plus algebra we work with the max-plus semi-ring which is the set ℝ_max=[-∞)∪ℝ together with operations 𝑎⊕𝑏 = max(𝑎,𝑏) and 𝑎⊗𝑏= 𝑎+𝑏.  The additive and multiplicative identities are taken to be ε=-∞ and ε=0 respectively. Max-plus algebra is one of many idempotent semi-rings which have been considered in various fields of mathematics. Max-plus algebra is becoming more popular not only because its operations are associative, commutative and distributive as in conventional algebra but because it takes systems that are non-linear in conventional algebra and makes them linear. Max-plus algebra also arises as the algebra of asymptotic growth rates of functions in conventional algebra which will play a significant role in several aspects of this thesis. This thesis is a survey of max-plus algebra that will concentrate on max-plus linear algebra results. We will then consider from a max-plus perspective several results by Wentzell and Freidlin for finite state Markov chains with an asymptotic dependence. / Master of Science

Within the last few years, retail sales have averaged an annual growth of about 4% with electronic commerce retail sales averaging an increase of over 20% per year (U.S Census Bureau, 2008). The e-commerce retail sector of apparel, accessories, and footwear reached $18.3 billion in sales and ranked as a top selling category (Shop.org, 2007). A growing apparel market with strong buying power is the plus-size clothing industry with approximately $32 billion in sales in 2005, and an average of about a 10% growth rate each year (Yadegaran, 2006). Despite the growth in the industry, little empirical research has been conducted regarding plus-size Internet apparel shoppers. Additionally the field lacks research that focuses on garment fit for the plus-size market. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of product presentation factors, visual fit information (size of model photographed) and written fit information (fit related product description), on plus-size women's perceived fit risk, purchase intention, and loyalty intentions in Internet apparel shopping. This study employed a 2 x 2 between subjects' factorial design: visual fit information (plus-size model vs. non plus-size model) by written fit information (more elaborate vs. less elaborate). Four mock web pages were created to closely mimic the design of a true plus-size Internet apparel retailer. Each web page presented a model wearing the same dress for plus-size women and a written product description. The stimuli consisted of an identical dress in color and style, presented on both a plus-size model and a non plus-size model, and similar written fit information with more detailed information about garment style, garment dimensions, and fit editorial presentation for more elaborate stimuli. One hundred fourteen women between the ages of 19 and 64 participated in this study for incentives such as a free plus-size apparel gift-card, using snowball sampling method. Using descriptive statistics, multivariate analyses of variance and univariate analyses of variance, the present research showed (1) no main effects of visual fit information on perceived fit risk, purchase intention, and loyalty intention, and (2) no main effects of written fit information on perceived fit risk, purchase intention and loyalty intention. The study added valuable empirical findings to the literature on the relationship between fit related information and perceived fit risk, purchase intention and loyalty intention among plus-size Internet apparel shoppers. / Master of Science

Nos últimos anos o mercado de moda plus-size, segmento especializado em tamanhos grandes, vem crescendo no Brasil e ganhando relativa visibilidade por meio da construção de seus próprios espaços legitimação - como desfiles, ensaios fotográficos, concursos de beleza, marcas e lojas - e da divulgação feita por blogs e veículos de comunicação. As interlocutoras desta pesquisa, mulheres que se identificam como gordinhas, têm acompanhado de perto a expansão deste mercado, atuando como consumidoras ou como profissionais do segmento e defendendo que não é preciso ser magra para se vestir bem e para se sentir bonita e atraente. Um dos principais objetivos desta pesquisa é investigar este recente boom da moda plus-size, mostrando a importância dos eventos do segmento, dos blogs e dos discursos de profissionais e consumidoras. Outro objetivo importante é analisar de que maneira as interlocutoras, frente aos estereótipos que as definem de maneira negativa em função de sua forma física, procuram construir uma imagem mais positiva de si mesmas e de seus corpos, reelaborando discursos de saúde, beleza e feminilidade. / In the last years, the plus-size fashion market, specialized in larger sizes, has been growing and gaining a relative visibility in Brazil through the constitution of its own spaces of legitimacy - fashion shows, photo shoots, beauty pageants, brands and stores - and its diffusion via blogs and media. The subjects of this research, women who identify themselves as chubby, have closely followed the expansion of this market, acting as consumers or as professionals of this area, supporting it is not necessary be skinny to be well-dressed and to feel beautiful and attractive. A major goal of this research involves investigating this recent boom in plus-size fashion, pointing out the importance of the events, blogs and discourses of professionals and consumers. Another important objective is to analyze how the subjects, facing stereotypes that define them negatively because of their body size and shape, seek to build a more positive image of themselves and their bodies, reworking discourses of health, beauty and femininity.

Algumas propriedades físico-químicas do cimento AH Plus® como tempo de presa, escoamento e solubilidade foram analisadas in vitro, relacionando-as com o local (início, metade ou final) das bisnagas, de onde as pastas foram retiradas. Foram usados nove conjuntos com duas bisnagas (pasta A e pasta B) cada, do cimento AH Plus®, sendo três por propriedade. Para cada propriedade foram formados três grupos, de acordo com o local da retirada da pasta do interior das bisnagas: Grupo I correspondendo à retirada da pasta das porções iniciais das bisnagas, o Grupo M das porções intermediárias e o Grupo F correspondeu à retirada das últimas porções de pasta existentes nas bisnagas. Para o teste do tempo de presa, utilizaram-se anéis metálicos para a confecção dos corpos de prova e, com auxílio de agulha Gilmore de 113,5g e 456,3g de peso, foram determinados os tempos de presa inicial e final, respectivamente. Na avaliação do escoamento, o cimento foi proporcionado e espatulado e 0,5mL dele foi depositado sobre uma placa de vidro e, em seguida, outra placa com um peso totalizando 120 gramas foi sobreposta ao cimento e após 10 minutos mediram-se o maior e menor diâmetro do circulo formado pela quantidade de cimento e a média dos dois diâmetros obtidos foi considerada como valor do escoamento. Para o teste de solubilidade, após a presa do cimento e retirada dos anéis manteve-se os espécimes imersos em água destilada por um período de 24 horas. Foi considerada como solubilidade a porcentagem de material perdido durante a imersão dos corpos de prova. Os resultados mostraram que, exceto para a solubilidade, estatisticamente, o comportamento do cimento AH Plus®, considerando as porções de pasta retiradas do início das bisnagas, é diferente quando comparado às do meio e final das mesmas, propiciando valores bastante altos. / Some physicochemical properties of the sealer AH Plus®, including setting time, flow and solubility were analyzed in vitro and correlated to the site (beginning, middle or end) of the tubes from which the pastes were taken. Nine kits of the sealer AH Plus® were used, containing two tubes each (paste A and paste B), being three for each property. Three groups were constituted for each property, according to the site of the tubes from which the pastes were taken: Group B corresponded to the past taken from the beginning of the tubes, Group M corresponded to the middle portion, and Group E corresponded to the paste taken from the end of the tubes. The setting time was analyzed using metallic rings for fabrication of specimens; Gilmore needles weighing 113.5g and 456.3g were used to determine the initial and final setting times, respectively. For the evaluation of flow, the sealer was measured and mixed and 0.5mL of the sealer was placed on a glass slab; another glass slab weighing 120 grams was then placed on the sealer; after 10 minutes, the larger and smaller diameters of the circle formed by the sealer were measured, and the mean of the two diameters was calculated and considered as the flow value. For the solubility test, after setting of the sealer and removal of the rings, the specimens were immersed in distilled water for 24h. Solubility was calculated as the percentage of material lost during immersion of the specimens. The results revealed that, except for solubility, the performance of the sealer AH Plus® considering the portions of paste taken from the beginning of the tubes was statistically different compared to the middle and end of the tubes, displaying very high values.

Nos últimos anos o mercado de moda plus-size, segmento especializado em tamanhos grandes, vem crescendo no Brasil e ganhando relativa visibilidade por meio da construção de seus próprios espaços legitimação - como desfiles, ensaios fotográficos, concursos de beleza, marcas e lojas - e da divulgação feita por blogs e veículos de comunicação. As interlocutoras desta pesquisa, mulheres que se identificam como gordinhas, têm acompanhado de perto a expansão deste mercado, atuando como consumidoras ou como profissionais do segmento e defendendo que não é preciso ser magra para se vestir bem e para se sentir bonita e atraente. Um dos principais objetivos desta pesquisa é investigar este recente boom da moda plus-size, mostrando a importância dos eventos do segmento, dos blogs e dos discursos de profissionais e consumidoras. Outro objetivo importante é analisar de que maneira as interlocutoras, frente aos estereótipos que as definem de maneira negativa em função de sua forma física, procuram construir uma imagem mais positiva de si mesmas e de seus corpos, reelaborando discursos de saúde, beleza e feminilidade. / In the last years, the plus-size fashion market, specialized in larger sizes, has been growing and gaining a relative visibility in Brazil through the constitution of its own spaces of legitimacy - fashion shows, photo shoots, beauty pageants, brands and stores - and its diffusion via blogs and media. The subjects of this research, women who identify themselves as chubby, have closely followed the expansion of this market, acting as consumers or as professionals of this area, supporting it is not necessary be skinny to be well-dressed and to feel beautiful and attractive. A major goal of this research involves investigating this recent boom in plus-size fashion, pointing out the importance of the events, blogs and discourses of professionals and consumers. Another important objective is to analyze how the subjects, facing stereotypes that define them negatively because of their body size and shape, seek to build a more positive image of themselves and their bodies, reworking discourses of health, beauty and femininity.

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of Sport for Development (SFD) in addressing health disparities in low-SES communities. This was done using a multiple case study design, in which administrators, staff, and youth participants from five SFD programs were interviewed. A theoretical model, consisting of the theory of fundamental causes (Link & Phelan, 1995), the classification of SFD programs (Coalter, 2007), and the ecological model of health promotion (McLeroy, 1988), was developed to guide this study. Interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using a deductive coding process (Gilgun, 2005). The findings revealed that the SFD programs in this study were driven by goals such as providing access and opportunity to sport, helping youth develop life skills, and promoting health. The programs worked to achieve those goals by providing education, through their use of sport, and by providing resources and services. Finally, the programs in this study promote health at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organization, environment, and policy levels. These findings hold various practical, scholarly, and policy implications and could shed light on how SFD programs may operate in order to reduce health disparities among low-SES populations.

Les industriels ont de plus en plus souvent recours à des pratiques de production plus propre. Ces pratiques, nombreuses et variées, sont génératrices de multiples effets bénéfiques. Néanmoins, l'impact global de leur mise en œuvre sur l'entreprise peut être difficilement appréhendable. Afin d'aider les industriels d'une part, à évaluer les impacts liés à la mise en œuvre de ces pratiques, et d'autre part, dans le choix de l'implantation de pratiques de production plus propre et plus sûre, une méthodologie qui repose sur une approche globale de la gestion de cette implémentation en vue d'obtenir un outil de Production Plus Propre et Plus Sûre (4PS) est proposée. Cette méthodologie a été développée pour le secteur du traitement de surface. La structuration de cette méthodologie d'évaluation des impacts des pratiques de 4PS s'appuie sur une arborescence à 4 niveaux (système, sous-systèmes, critères, indicateurs) élaborée grâce à une analyse systémique (modèle MADS) et fonctionnelle de l'installation. Les critères sont pondérés en utilisant la méthode hiérarchique multicritère. Sur la base des 15 critères de 4PS identifiés, deux méthodes distinctes mais complémentaires ont été élaborées. Une méthode de diagnostic qui permet de rendre compte d'une situation, d'aider à la prise de décision, et de mesurer les progrès et évolutions suite à la mise en place d'une pratique de production plus propre. Dans ce but, la méthode s'appuie sur l'utilisation de 38 indicateurs de 4PS alimentant les 15 critères précédemment définis. Une méthode d'aide au choix de pratiques de 4PS qui fait ressortir, dans un panel de 86 pratiques tirées du BREF traitement de surface (STM), les pratiques les plus adaptées à l'entreprise en utilisant la méthode d'analyse multicritère ELECTRE I.

Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 2003--Dresden.

Algumas propriedades físico-químicas do cimento AH Plus® como tempo de presa, escoamento e solubilidade foram analisadas in vitro, relacionando-as com o local (início, metade ou final) das bisnagas, de onde as pastas foram retiradas. Foram usados nove conjuntos com duas bisnagas (pasta A e pasta B) cada, do cimento AH Plus®, sendo três por propriedade. Para cada propriedade foram formados três grupos, de acordo com o local da retirada da pasta do interior das bisnagas: Grupo I correspondendo à retirada da pasta das porções iniciais das bisnagas, o Grupo M das porções intermediárias e o Grupo F correspondeu à retirada das últimas porções de pasta existentes nas bisnagas. Para o teste do tempo de presa, utilizaram-se anéis metálicos para a confecção dos corpos de prova e, com auxílio de agulha Gilmore de 113,5g e 456,3g de peso, foram determinados os tempos de presa inicial e final, respectivamente. Na avaliação do escoamento, o cimento foi proporcionado e espatulado e 0,5mL dele foi depositado sobre uma placa de vidro e, em seguida, outra placa com um peso totalizando 120 gramas foi sobreposta ao cimento e após 10 minutos mediram-se o maior e menor diâmetro do circulo formado pela quantidade de cimento e a média dos dois diâmetros obtidos foi considerada como valor do escoamento. Para o teste de solubilidade, após a presa do cimento e retirada dos anéis manteve-se os espécimes imersos em água destilada por um período de 24 horas. Foi considerada como solubilidade a porcentagem de material perdido durante a imersão dos corpos de prova. Os resultados mostraram que, exceto para a solubilidade, estatisticamente, o comportamento do cimento AH Plus®, considerando as porções de pasta retiradas do início das bisnagas, é diferente quando comparado às do meio e final das mesmas, propiciando valores bastante altos. / Some physicochemical properties of the sealer AH Plus®, including setting time, flow and solubility were analyzed in vitro and correlated to the site (beginning, middle or end) of the tubes from which the pastes were taken. Nine kits of the sealer AH Plus® were used, containing two tubes each (paste A and paste B), being three for each property. Three groups were constituted for each property, according to the site of the tubes from which the pastes were taken: Group B corresponded to the past taken from the beginning of the tubes, Group M corresponded to the middle portion, and Group E corresponded to the paste taken from the end of the tubes. The setting time was analyzed using metallic rings for fabrication of specimens; Gilmore needles weighing 113.5g and 456.3g were used to determine the initial and final setting times, respectively. For the evaluation of flow, the sealer was measured and mixed and 0.5mL of the sealer was placed on a glass slab; another glass slab weighing 120 grams was then placed on the sealer; after 10 minutes, the larger and smaller diameters of the circle formed by the sealer were measured, and the mean of the two diameters was calculated and considered as the flow value. For the solubility test, after setting of the sealer and removal of the rings, the specimens were immersed in distilled water for 24h. Solubility was calculated as the percentage of material lost during immersion of the specimens. The results revealed that, except for solubility, the performance of the sealer AH Plus® considering the portions of paste taken from the beginning of the tubes was statistically different compared to the middle and end of the tubes, displaying very high values.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the interference of substances with effect of growth regulator, applied to seeds in physiological quality of rice seed subjected to the condition of low temperature stress, seeking to identify the enzymatic mechanism of action of these products, well as their performance on the field, on different sowing dates and cropping systems. For this reason, various experiments were conducted at the experimental of field and in the laboratory using the phytohormone gibberellic acid, the insecticide thiamethoxam and an organo-mineral fertilizer, Haf Plus®. In general, the products tested increased the germination end of most rice cultivars, and their efficiency linked to the existence of low temperature, with greater emphasis on the gibberellic acid, which also influence the final germination, increases seed germination. In cold-sensitive cultivars, as Irga 424, there is no influence of the products in the physiological. The products act beneficially on the antioxidant system of plants, mainly on the activity of superoxide dismutase, reducing free radical production and lipid peroxidation. However, the difference in vigour between the samples were not sufficiently large so that manifest themselves in the field, for the establishment of the crop. As environmental conditions become less favorable, as in an early planting season or in the conventional tillage is a major contribution of the products on the agronomic performance, not reflecting, however, on yield. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a interferência de substâncias com efeito de regulador de crescimento, aplicados via semente, no potencial fisiológico de sementes de cultivares de arroz submetidas à condição de estresse por temperatura baixa, buscando identificar o mecanismo enzimático de atuação desses produtos, bem como seu desempenho em campo, sobre diferentes épocas de semeadura e sistemas de cultivo. Para isso, diferentes experimentos foram conduzidos em área experimental de várzea e em laboratório, utilizando o fito-hormônio ácido giberélico, o inseticida tiametoxam e um fertilizante organo-mineral, Haf Plus®. De maneira geral, os produtos testados aumentam a germinação final da maioria das cultivares de arroz, tendo sua eficiência atrelada a existência de temperatura baixa, com maior destaque para o ácido giberélico, que além de influenciar a germinação final, aumenta o vigor das sementes. Nas cultivares sensíveis ao frio, como Irga 424, não há influência dos produtos no potencial fisiológico. Os produtos atuam de forma benéfica sobre o sistema antioxidante das plantas, principalmente sobre a atividade da enzima superóxido dismutase, diminuindo a produção de radicais livres e a peroxidação lipídica. No entanto, as diferenças de vigor entre as amostras não foram suficientemente amplas para que se manifestassem em condições de campo, em relação ao estabelecimento da lavoura. À medida que as condições do ambiente tornam-se menos favoráveis, como em uma época antecipada de semeadura ou em sistema de cultivo convencional há uma contribuição maior dos produtos sobre o desempenho agronômico, não se refletindo, no entanto, sobre o rendimento.