Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2018-11-07T09:20:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 385555 bytes, checksum: 6d6c845da89ef76d244a2e2bfac6daaa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-07T09:20:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 385555 bytes, checksum: 6d6c845da89ef76d244a2e2bfac6daaa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-26 / A utilização da biomassa vegetal residual da agroindústria, rica em materiais lignocelulósicos, tem despertado o interesse de muitos setores industriais tais como o de polpa celulósica e sucroenergético, por exemplo. Dentre os vários tipos de resíduos agrícolas disponíveis, se destaca o bagaço da cana de açúcar. A produtividade anual da cana energia está entre 180-250 toneladas de matéria verde total por hectare, dependendo do ambiente de produção. Ainda no que diz respeito a esse tipo de biomassa, as indústrias e institutos de pesquisa tem desenvolvido espécies de cana com maior conteúdo de material fibroso, o que é uma inovação recente desse setor. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar a cana com elevado conteúdo de fibras quanto a sua densidade, a composição química e ao potencial para a produção de polpa celulósica pelo processo Soda-AQ. Os resultados desse estudo foram comparados com dados da literatura quanto a espécies de cana-de-açúcar convencional e à madeira de eucalipto. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a cana energia possui potencial para produção de polpa celulósica, apresentando os seguintes pontos positivos: (1) baixo conteúdo de lignina comparado a madeira; (2) conteúdo de carboidratos superior comparado a madeira; e (3) rendimento da polpação próximo ao reportado para a madeira de eucalipto. Entretanto, alguns parâmetros da cana energia são negativos ao processo de polpação e necessitam de mais estudos para o seu aprimoramento, tais como a baixa densidade básica e o elevado conteúdo de metais e extrativos. / The use of residual biomass from the agroindustry, rich in lignocellulosic materials, has aroused the interest of many industrial sectors such as pulp and sugarcane sector, for example. Among the various types of agricultural waste available, sugarcane bagasse stands out, the annual productivity of sugarcane is between 180-250 tons of total green matter per hectare, depending on the production environment. Still with respect to this type of biomass, the industries and research institutes have developed cane species with greater content of fibrous material, which is a recent innovation of this sector. The objective of this work was to characterize a sample of cane with high fiber content as to its density, chemical composition and pulping performance by the Soda-AQ process. The results of this study were compared with data from the literature regarding conventional sugarcane and eucalypt wood. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the fibrous cane has a potential for pulp production, presenting the following positive points: (1) low lignin content compared to wood; (2) higher carbohydrate content compared to wood; and (3) pulp yield were close to that reported for eucalyptus wood. However, some parameters of the fibrous cane are negative to the pulping process and require further studies for their improvement, such as low basic density and high contents of metal and extractives.

Vidros comerciais de base silicato do tipo sodo-cálcico, apresentam coloração pela presença de óxidos de metais de transição, tais como ferro e cobalto, ou pela presença de elementos não-metálicos, tais como o selênio. Geralmente, a presença de selênio metálico (Se°) num vidro silicato confere-lhe a cor rosa (depende de seu estado de oxidação). Desse modo, industrialmente, adiciona-se selênio à composição de vidros quando se deseja produzir vidros róseos ou, mais freqüentemente, quando se deseja mascarar a cor esverdeada conferida pela presença de ferro, o principal contaminante das matérias-primas naturais. Entretanto, o selênio é encontrado em pequenas quantidades na natureza, daí seu alto custo. Além disso, da quantidade inicial de selênio colocada na composição de vidros industriais sodo-cálcicos, quase 80% são vaporizados durante a etapa de fusão do vidro. Este trabalho é dedicado ao estudo do efeito da adição de diferentes compostos portadores de selênio como matéria-prima em substituição ao selênio metálico, visando a redução da volatilização de selênio durante a fusão. Além do selênio metálico, foram utilizados selenitos de sódio, de bário, de zinco e de ferro. Os vidros foram obtidos por fusões em escala de laboratório, em cadinhos de alta alumina, a 1500°C, em forno elétrico. A seguir determinou-se a composição química de cada vidro obtido, por fluorescência de raios X e sua cor, através da determinação de suas coordenadas cromáticas no sistema CIEL*a*b*. A análise dos resultados teve como principal conclusão que a concentração final de selênio no vidro é função apenas de sua quantidade no banho, independentemente do composto químico que lhe forneceu. / Commercial silicate glasses of the soda-lime system attain color by the presence of transition metal oxides, such as iron and cobalt, or by the presence of non-metallic elements, like selenium. Usually, the presence of metallic selenium (Se°) in a silicate glass results in a light pink coloration (depends on its oxidation state). Therefore, industrially, selenium is added to a glass composition when the objective is to obtain a pink color glass, or, more often, when the objective is to mask the greenish coloration resultant from the presence of iron, the most usual contaminant in the natural raw-materials. However, selenium occurs in the nature only in small quantities. Besides, from the initial selenium added to industrial soda-lime batch compositions, almost 80% volatilize during melting. This work is dedicated to the study of the effect of adding selenium from different raw-materials, substituting for the metallic selenium, with the principal objective of reducing the loss of this element during glass melting. Along with metallic selenium, sodium, barium, zinc, and iron selenites were employed. The glasses were obtained in laboratory scale meltings in alumina crucibles, at 1500°C, in an electrical furnace. After that, the chemical composition of each glass was obtained by X-ray fluorescence, and its color was measured according to the chromatic coordinates in the CIEL*a*b* method. The main conclusion that can be drawn from the analysis of the results is that the selenium concentration in the final glass is a function only of the quantity of selenium present in the melt, independently of the chemical compound which supplied such selenium.

Submitted by Teruyuki Morita (teruyuki.morita@gvmail.br) on 2013-02-22T11:46:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TERUYUKI MORITA TESE DOUTORADO 2013.pdf: 3162443 bytes, checksum: 13f4c5c6a5721021a5d6814cb120c1a4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzinei Teles Garcia Garcia (suzinei.garcia@fgv.br) on 2013-02-22T12:12:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TERUYUKI MORITA TESE DOUTORADO 2013.pdf: 3162443 bytes, checksum: 13f4c5c6a5721021a5d6814cb120c1a4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-02-22T12:27:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TERUYUKI MORITA TESE DOUTORADO 2013.pdf: 3162443 bytes, checksum: 13f4c5c6a5721021a5d6814cb120c1a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-07 / This doctoral dissertation aims to expand the scope and application of SODA maps, preserving the originally developed methodology. We start with a review of the method, addressing jointly the SODA´s seminal articles, the Kelly´s psychological theory and the graph theory, and at the end we propose an identity between the concepts of SODA maps with explicit and tacit knowledge, from de knowledge management field (KM). This introductory sequence is completed with a vision of how the SODA maps have been applied. In the next stage we critically examine some points of the method that gives ambiguous interpretation. On these points we propose the application of theories from several fields, such as means-end theory (Marketing), the attribution theory and the concepts of attitude (Psychology), allowing inferences that lead us to the proposition of the first thesis : SODA maps are descriptors of attitudes. The next stage continues critically analyzing the method, and focuses on the paradigm established by Eden, which does not give the status of behavior descriptors. We propose here a change of paradigm, adopting the theory of communicative action (HABERMAS). Over this framework we build a prescriptive method, based on the theory of action and the ladder of inference (Action Science) and a theory of emotion (neuroscience), which allows us new inferences, leading to the proposition of the second thesis: SODA maps can describe behaviors. These two theses are the basis for the proposition to extending the SODA method scopes. It is proposed here the use of the theory of deterministic finite-state machines, called here automaton. We demonstrate a mapping between automaton with SODA maps, getting the SODA automaton, and over them we performed the last contribution, a hierarchy of SODA maps, which will enable the description of sequences of reasoning, ordering deterministically attitudes and behaviors, in a structured way. A vision of how it can be applied is performed through a case study. / Este trabalho de tese tem por objetivo ampliar o alcance e aplicação de mapas SODA, preservando a metodologia originalmente desenvolvida. Inicialmente é realizada uma revisão do método, abordando de forma conjunta os artigos seminais, a teoria psicológica de Kelly e a teoria dos grafos; e ao final propomos uma identidade entre construtos de mapas SODA com os conhecimentos tácitos e explícitos, da gestão do conhecimento (KM). Essa sequencia introdutória é completada com uma visão de como os mapas SODA tem sido aplicado. No estágio seguinte o trabalho passa a analisar de forma crítica alguns pontos do método que dão margens a interpretações equivocadas. Sobre elas passamos a propor a aplicação de teorias, de diversos campos, tais como a teoria de means-end (Marketing), a teoria da atribuição e os conceitos de atitude (Psicologia), permitindo inferências que conduzem à proposição da primeira tese: mapas SODA são descritores de atitudes. O próximo estágio prossegue analisando criticamente o método, e foca no paradigma estabelecido por Eden, que não permite conferir ao método o status de descritor de comportamento. Propomos aqui uma mudança de paradigma, adotando a teoria da ação comunicativa, de Habermas, e sobre ela prescrevemos a teoria da ação e da escada da inferência (Action Science) e uma teoria da emoção (neuro ciência), o que permite novas inferências, que conduzem à proposição da segunda tese: mapas SODA podem descrever comportamentos. Essas teses servem de base para o alargamento de escopos do método SODA. É proposta aqui a utilização da teoria de máquinas de estado finito determinístico, designadas por autômato. Demonstramos um mapeamento entre autômato com mapas SODA, obtendo assim o autômato SODA, e sobre ele realizamos a última contribuição, uma proposta de mapas SODA hierárquicos, o que vem a possibilitar a descrição de sequencias de raciocínio, ordenando de forma determinística atitudes e comportamentos, de forma estruturada. A visão de como ela pode ser aplicada é realizada por meio de estudo de caso.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The aim of the project was to study the manufacturing of synthetic soda ash (sodium carbonate, Na2CO3) on an industrial scale. Currently all Soda ash that is used in South Africa for manufacturing glass is imported at a high cost, and the company Nampak Wiegand Glass (South Africa) is investigating the possibility to locally manufacture synthetic soda ash. About 75% of soda ash is synthetically produced from either the Leblanc process, Solvay process, Modified Solvay (Dual) process or dry lime process. This study concentrated on the Solvay process on a laboratory scale for eventual input into a larger pilot plant. The produced material was analyzed using analytical techniques such as FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). There are certain standard requirements for impurities in the soda ash, and this needed to be measured and determined what changes to the process will bring the impurities to the required minimum standard. Environmental issues around the manufacturing process were also studied. After completing of the laboratory experiments and the extraction of required data from the results, Nampak will use the information to decide on a followup to the building of a small pilot plant to further test and develop the engineering and economical aspects of a full plant. If successful a full scale manufacturing plant can be developed in South Africa for producing soda ash. This study thus will not only help Nampak Wiegand Glass in finalizing the decision to go ahead, but its result will also benefit other companies that use the soda ash in oil refining, water treatment, pulp and paper, chemical industry etc. Some parts of the work done will be proprietary to Nampak and subject to confidentiality agreement. / South Africa

Botswana Ash (Pty) Ltd which is situated in Sua Pan, north east Bostwana, is one of Africa's largest suppliers of salt and soda ash. For a number of years, the company has been experiencing problems which have resulted in the final soda ash product being contaminated and discoloured. The problems experienced at Sua Pan have been reported also to occur in other salt works all over the world. It has been suggested that contamination in many salt works could be possibly be due to the microbial activity by halophilic algae and bacteria that grow in the solar ponds. This study was undertaken to investigate the nature of the contaminating organic compounds present in the brine, to identify the compounds, and to establish how these components vary during the various stages of the soda ash processing. For this study, two sets of brine samples were used; the first set was collected before the summer rains and the second set was collected after the summer rains. Solid bicarbonate and soda ash samples were also used. Extractions, desalting, UV and HPLC analysis and oxidative biotransformations using four enzymes, were used for developing profiles and characterizing the brine components. From these studies, we were able to confirm that the components of the brine are organic in nature. A thorough study of one of the compounds isolated,from solid bicarbonate and soda ash was conducted using UV, HPLC, IR, NMR, HPLC-MS, GC-MS and TLC. The results of these analyses, show that the. isolated compound was benzyl butyl phthalate which is generally regarded to be humic in nature. This compound was found to be present in all the brine samples collected after the summer rains including the well brine, suggesting this compound occurs naturally and is not formed during the processing.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The class Actinobacteria consists of a heterogeneous group of filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria that colonise most terrestrial and aquatic environments. The industrial and biotechnological importance of the secondary metabolites produced by members of this class has propelled it into the forefront of metagenomics studies. The Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes are characterized by several physical extremes, making it a polyextremophilic environment and a possible untapped source of novel actinobacterial species. The aims of the current study were to identify and compare the eubacterial diversity between three geographically divided soda lakes within the ERV focusing on the actinobacterial subpopulation. This was done by means of a culture-dependent (classical culturing) and culture-independent (DGGE and ARDRA) approach. The results indicate that the eubacterial 16S rRNA gene libraries were similar in composition with a predominance of α-Proteobacteria and Firmicutes in all three lakes. Conversely, the actinobacterial 16S rRNA gene libraries were significantly different and could be used to distinguish between sites. The actinobacterial OTUs detected belonged to both the Rubrobacterales and Actinomycetales orders with members of the genus Arthrobacter being found in all three lakes. Geochemical properties were significantly different between the lakes, although more than one property attributed to the variance between community compositions. The diversity detected in the culture-based study differed significantly and all isolates belonged to the genus Streptomyces. Two novel strains were characterized by means of phylogenetic (16S rRNA gene sequence), physiological, morphological and biochemical analyses. Both novel isolates were capable of growing under "extreme" conditions- pH 12, 10% NaCl and 45°C. Partial enzyme characterization revealed that both strains produced xylanase enzymes that were active at pH 6.5 and 8.5 with an increase in activity up to 45°C. The results obtained revealed a previously undetected diversity of actinobacteria in the Ethiopian Rift Valley with a potentially novel subpopulation adapted to haloalkaline conditions. The low 16S rRNA sequence similarity of a substantial proportion of the libraries suggests that culture-based isolation may play a vital role in deciphering the community fingerprint. / The National Research Foundation and the Norwegian Research Council

This dissertation presents an application of multicriteria decision analysis to understand and support pricing decisions in fields where goods are unique and described by their characteristics. The specific application area of this research is antique silver objects, where a complete iteration of the multicritia decision process is performed. This includes two problem structurings using SODA which provide rich detail into this application area. Multi-attribute additive models are constructed, with attribute partial value functions elicited using different methods: directly (bisection methods), indirectly (MACBETH and linear interpolation) and with discrete choice experiments. The applicability and advantages of each method is discussed. Additionally, an open source R package to implement the design of discrete choice experiments is created. The multi-attribute models provide key insights into decision maker's reasoning for price; and contrasting different decision maker's models explains the market. A risk adverse relationship between multicriteria model score and price is characterised and various inverse utility functions investigated. Two decision support systems are fully developed to address the needs of Cape silver decision makers in South Africa.

Evolution is a key distinguishing trait of Systems-of-Systems (SoS) that introduces a layer of complexity in analysis that is not present when considering static systems. Some SoS analysis tools exist to determine and evaluate the evolution of an SoS, while other tools are better suited for studying individual instances of an SoS. System Operational Dependency Analysis (SODA) is one such method that has been used previously to study static SoS networks. SODA that has been proven effective in investigating the impacts of partial system disruptions and would benefit from a framework to apply SODA to evolving SoS. This thesis provides an approach to modeling evolving SoS in SODA and presents new data visualization methods to highlight the effects of changing network configurations across evolutionary phases. These visualization enhancements include Failure Impact Range sequence plots to show effects of deterministic system disruptions on capabilities of interest across evolutionary phases, as well as Stochastic Impact plots to quantify the impact of disruptions in particular systems in the context of the probabilistic operating statuses assigned to each system. Integration of SODA and the related method of System Developmental Dependency Analysis (SDDA) is explored to model how operational disruptions and developmental delays might interact and compound during the evolution of an SoS. The SODA enhancements provide decision makers with new information that can be used to explore design and implementation tradeoffs in an evolving SoS under budget and scheduling constraints. These ideas are demonstrated through a case study based on NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the Moon in commercially-built Human Landing Systems (HLS). The HLS concepts proposed to NASA consist of multiple elements that provide distinct capabilities in different phases of the lunar mission, and therefore can be considered an evolving SoS architecture. The operational dependencies of two HLS concepts are modeled across a four-phase lunar landing mission and results are generated using the new visualization methods to highlight the impacts of changing SoS configuration on the performance of key mission capabilities. The development timeline of the first three planned Artemis lunar landing missions is analyzed with SDDA and integrated with SODA results from one HLS concept to explore how developmental delays impact the likelihood of HLS mission completion and how operational failures requiring system redesign impact the program schedule. Connections between SDDA and Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) are discussed to show how SDDA results can be useful in a context more familiar to program managers.

In the U.S., over 67 million adults are obese and 300,000 annual deaths are related to obesity. Among college-aged women, over 60% report daily consumption of caloric beverages. Prior studies indicate positive associations between these beverages and obesity, but conflicting results for diet drinks. Studies were limited, however, by obesity measures that failed to accurately assess abdominal adiposity or percent body fat, and few studies included college-aged women. We examined this relationship among participants aged 18-30 in the University of Massachusetts Vitamin D Status Study (n=237). We assessed average diet in the past two months using a modified version of the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire and calculated percent body fat by dual-energy X-ray absorptiomtery. Confounding factors were assessed using a lifestyle questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust for important risk factors. We found no association between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages or juice and obesity after controlling for confounding factors. However, high consumption of diet drinks (i.e., >2 servings per week) was associated with an increased risk of overweight (BMI>25) (OR=2.88, 95% CI 1.34, 6.21), high waist circumference (>80 cm) (OR=3.14, 95% CI 1.56, 6.35) and high percent body fat (>33%) (OR=2.86, 95% CI 1.42, 5.77) as compared to light consumption (i.e, <1 serving per>month). These associations were not attenuated by controlling for total caloric intake. Findings should be evaluated in additional longitudinal studies to determine whether diet drinks contribute to adiposity or if the association is due to higher diet drink consumption by overweight women.

No description available.