Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Publish period'

Monitoring of the carbon dioxide concentration in the building is carried out for several reasons. One is to ensure hygiene conditions. With the advent of Bluetooth 5.0 came the support of mesh network technology, which is defined by the Bluetooth Mesh standard. By implementing this standard, we can create an extensive network of devices monitoring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the building. Based on the monitored concentration, we can control the air conditioning and ventilation of the spaces, ensuring that the hygiene conditions are met. Thanks to the compatibility of Bluetooth Mesh with Bluetooth Low Energy, it is possible to access individual nodes, e.g. from a mobile phone. The aim of this work is to design and implement a measuring system whose elements will communicate with each other using Bluetooth Mesh wireless technology.

Three archaeological cases from different areas of the Andes are employed to study the rise of social and cultural complexity in varying social and economic contexts, with the intention of distinguishing certain environmental and cultural factors in each case. The purpose also is to search not only for differences but for commonalities to be used for cross-cultural comparisons and to learn more about the developmental cultural history of the societies representing these cases.
En el presente trabajo se analizan tres casos de diferentes áreas de los Andes para estudiar el incremento de la complejidad cultural en contextos sociales y económicos variados con el fin de distinguir factores definidos de carácter ambiental y cultural en cada caso. El propósito final es el de la búsqueda de diferencias, así como de las características en común que se utilizan para hacer comparaciones culturales y para aprender más acerca de la historia del desarrollo cultural de las sociedades que representan estos ejemplos.

There are two principal models that purport to interpret the evidence for the origins of the Neolithic period in Thailand. Both stress the importance of rice cultivation and the domestication of a range of animals. One incorporates archaeological and linguistic evidence in identifying the origins as the result of the diffusion of farming communities into Southeast Asia and India from a source in the Yangtze River valley. The alternative stresses a local evolutionary pathway whereby indigenous hunter-gatherers began to cultivate rice within Thailand. This dissertation is centred on the results of the excavation of Ban Non Wat, in the Upper Mun Valley of Northeast Thailand. This has provided one of the largest, best dated and provenanced samples of occupation and mortuary remains of a Neolithic community so far available in Southeast Asia. Its principal objective is to define the motifs incised, impressed and painted onto the surface of ceramic mortuary vessels, in order to permit a comparison with other assemblages first in Thailand, then in Southeast Asia north into China. It is held that if there are close parallels over a wide geographic area, in these motifs, then it would support a model of diffusion. If there are not, then the alternative of local origins would need to be examined closely. It is argued that the similarity in motifs, particularly a stylised human figure, between Thai and Vietnamese sites lends support to a common origin for these groups. The motifs are not so obvious when examining the southern Chinese data, although the mode of decoration by painting, incising and impressing recur there. This, in conjunction with mortuary rituals, weaving technology, the domestic dog, and the linguistic evidence, sustains a model for demic diffusion. However, the presence of ceramic vessels also decorated with impressed/incised techniques in maritime hunter-gatherer contexts stresses that the actual Neolithic settlement may have been more complex.

An analysis of the architecture and spatial organization of the Caral-Chupacigarro complex is compared with Pachacamac and other Central Andean prehispanic settlements and also with Çatal Hüyük in Anatolia. It is concluded that the term "settled ceremonial center" describes these sites better than the term "city". The formal diversity of the architectural spaces that make up these early monumental complexes is explained by the ritual activities carried out at them, including banquets, feasts, dances, offerings, sacrifices, etc. The differences in size, volume, and duration of continuous use of buildings in the same complexes, as well as the ceremonial centers, is believe to have no relationship with the number of permanent settlers at them; rather, it is suggested to be directly proportional to the number of regular visitors, and therefore, to the religious and political prestige of these sites. The construction of monumental ceremonial spaces, jointly used by a single community or by an alliance of several communities, and their maintenance and eventual expansion are, in this context, a mechanism for the materialization of the memory of the ritual kinship relations established and periodically legitimized through shared rituals at these localities.
El análisis de la arquitectura y de la organización espacial del complejo Caral-Chupacigarro en comparación con Çatal Hüyük, por un lado, y con Pachacamac y otros asentamientos complejos prehispánicos en los Andes centrales por el otro, lleva al autor a la conclusión de que la expresión "centro ceremonial poblado" describe mejor sus características que el término "ciudad". La diversidad formal de ambientes arquitectónicos de la que se componen los edificios monumentales tempranos se explicaría por las necesidades involucradas en el culto como, por ejemplo, banquetes, ayunos, bailes, ofrendas y sacrificios. Las diferencias en la extensión, volumen construido y duración del uso continuo tanto entre los edificios del mismo complejo como entre diferentes centros ceremoniales no guardan relación proporcional directa con el número de eventuales habitantes permanentes, pero sí con el de la cantidad de visitantes periódicos y, por ende, con su prestigio religioso y político. En este contexto, la construcción del espacio ceremonial y monumental de manera mancomunada por una comunidad o por una alianza de varias comunidades, su mantenimiento y eventuales ampliaciones se constituyen en el mecanismo de materialización de la memoria sobre los lazos de parentesco ritual establecidos por este medio, el que se legitima periódicamente gracias a determinados rituales compartidos.

Buddhism is an integral part of Burmese culture. While Buddhism has been practiced in Burma for around 1500 years and evidence of the religion is found throughout the country, nothing surpasses the concentration of Buddhist monuments found at Bagan. Bagan represents not only the beginnings of a unified Burmese country, but also symbolises Burmese 'ownership' of Theravada Buddhism. ¶ While there is an abundance of artistic material throughout Burma, the study of Burmese Buddhist art by western scholars remains in it infancy due to historical events. In recent years, opportunities for further research have increased, and Bagan, as the region of Buddhism's principal flowering in Burma, is the starting point for the study of Burmese Buddhist art. To date, there has been no systematic review of the stylistic or iconographic characteristics of the Buddhist images of this period. This thesis proposes, for the first time, a chronological framework for sculptural depictions of the Buddha, and identifies the characteristics of Buddha images for each identified phase. The framework and features identified should provide a valuable resource for the dating of future discoveries of Buddhist sculpture at Bagan. ¶ As epigraphic material from this period is very scant, the reconstruction of Bagan's history has relied heavily to this point in time on non-contemporaneous accounts from Burma, and foreign chronicles. The usefulness of Bagan's visual material in broadening our understanding of the early Bagan period has been largely overlooked. This is addressed by relating the identified stylistic trends with purported historical events and it is demonstrated that, in the absence of other contemporaneous material, visual imagery is a valid and valuable resource for both supporting and refuting historical events. ¶ Buddhist imagery of Bagan widely regarded to represent the beginnings of 'pure' Theravada practice that King Anawrahta, the first Burman ruler, actively encouraged. This simplistic view has limited the potential of the imagery to provide a greater understanding of Buddhist practice at Bagan, and subsequently, the cross-cultural interactions that may have been occurring. In this light the narrative sculptural imagery of the period is interrogated against the principal Mahayana and Theravada texts relating to the life of Gotama Buddha. This review, along with the discussion regarding potential agencies for stylistic change, reveals that during the early Bagan period, Buddhism was an eclectic mix of both Theravada and Mahayana, which integrated with pre-existing spiritual traditions. Towards the end of the early Bagan period, trends were emerging which would lead to a distinctly Burmese form of Buddhist practice and visual expression.

The study presents estimates and analyses of the social expenditure in Poland. Changes which occurred during the transformation period are a reflection of consciously launched political transformations as well as decisions taken as a result of current needs and political pressures. This has an impact on the volume and structure of expenditures which are under consolidation. The debate devoted to budget issues, which gets more intense every autumn, testifies to increasing problems with correcting guidelines for distribution of expenditures. Even slight changes stand for depriving a specified group of transfers, what in democratic conditions produces strong protests. A similar negative attitude to changes became evident with regard to taxation. Recommendations presented in 1998 by the Polish government [see Ministry of Finance, 1998a, 1998b] introduce substantial modifications to the current tax system (withdrawal from tax exemptions and introduction of a tax-free minimum income) and thus met with a massive reluctance of major political fractions. This study provides readers with information on the volume of public expenditures, the source of public revenue, that is taxes, and a thorough study on expenditures allocated to social goals. The analysis was carried out on the basis of own estimates, which employ data acquired from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

In October 1944, Pablo Picasso joined the Parti communiste français (PCF) alongside numerous friends and intellectuals. Despite the fact that Picasso remained a member until his death, the sincerity of his political commitment and the connections between his art and his politics are difficult to assess. What are the methodological issues associated with being a politically engaged artist? More specifically, how can we relate art and politics in a way that problematises the question of Picasso’s political commitment? This thesis will explore the various ways of evaluating Picasso’s engagement with the PCF. Focus will be placed on the foundations of Picasso’s involvement with the Party, the World Peace Movement, and various Communist-affiliated groups. His actions, statements, artworks, and donations must all be assessed within a broad historical framework in an effort to piece together a cohesive picture of Picasso’s twenty-nine years as a PCF member. However, sincerity and personal motivations cannot be fully determined; therefore, we must also consider how Picasso’s politics were constructed by others. The outside perceptions of Picasso’s commitment to Communism will demonstrate the importance of public opinion in the formation of Picasso’s political image. Archival findings in Paris, New York, and Texas have revealed the thousands of letters Picasso received from Communist parties, peace groups, comrades, friends, critics, and fans. The majority of this material only became available in 1992 and includes a substantial number of requests from political and charitable organisations, which demonstrate the extent of Picasso’s support for Communist causes and reveal how these groups understood Picasso’s values. Further documentation exposes the strategies employed by the Museum of Modern Art to separate art from politics; thus, making Picasso—and a range of modern artwork—palatable to an American audience throughout the Cold War. The diverse political uses and depoliticising strategies deployed by Picasso, his admirers, his dealers, and various institutions illustrates the discrepancy in his political significance depending on context, place, audience, and personal objectives. This thesis tells the story of a political brand and an artistic icon by challenging the way Picasso’s politics have been understood throughout history and by constructing associations between personal commitment, public perception, and consumption.

This article shows the results of the Public Procurement Administrative Court’s performance from 2012 to 2014, mainly referred to opportunity and predictability on resolutions issuing process, supporting on statistics the evolution of the caseload as well as the time record of closing the procedures related to matters of Administrative Court’s jurisdiction which had a direct effect on the public procurement contracts’ efficiency.Additionally, we go through some Plenary Chamber Rulings, witch jointly with uniform interpretation criteria are the best mechanism to ensure equality in law application and thus institutional framework of Public Procurement Administrative Court.
En el presente artículo, se muestran los resultados de la gestión del Tribunal de Contrataciones del Estado en los años 2012 a 2014, referidos, principalmente, a la oportunidad y predictibilidad en la emisión de resoluciones.Apoyada de algunos datos estadísticos, se muestra la evolución de la carga procesal del Tribunal de Contrataciones y los tiempos de atención de los procedimientos de competencia del Tribunal y que inciden, directamente, en la eficiencia de la compra pública. Asimismo, se revisan algunos de los Acuerdos de Sala Plena emitidos, que junto a criterios de interpretación uniforme, son el mejor mecanismo para garantizar la igualdad en la aplicaciónde la ley y por tanto, la institucionalidad del Tribunal de Contrataciones del Estado.

Excavations at the site of Cerro Lampay allow evaluation of the role of ritual activities, such as feasting, in the organization of construction during the late Archaic Period. Excavations have provided a detailed documentation of building procedures that ended in the entombment of architectural compounds. Particularly important is that there was not a single, large-scale construction event, but several small-scale events that were accompanied by processing and consumption activities. This pattern strongly suggests a permanent reinforcement of ties and commitments between groups through feasting, which was as a required activity in order to complete the construction of public works. This scenario supports the idea of emerging leadership capable of mobilizing labor for the construction requirements. Nevertheless, the reliance on feasting as ritual practices, and the small scale of these events, suggests a limited power capacity and a weakly formalized authority, which needed to be constantly reinforced through the inferred ritual practices.
Las excavaciones realizadas en el sitio de Cerro Lampay, ubicado en el valle de Fortaleza, costa norcentral del Perú, permiten evaluar el rol de actividades, como los festines, en la organización de labores constructivas dentro del contexto del Periodo Arcaico Tardío. Estas excavaciones permitieron obtener un registro detallado de un proceso constructivo que concluyó con el "enterramiento" de los conjuntos arquitectónicos. Algo notorio es que la construcción no se dio en un solo evento, sino a lo largo de varios de pequeña escala antecedidos por actividades de procesamiento y consumo de alimentos. Este patrón de comportamiento sugiere que las actividades de consumo eran requeridas para la conducción de la construcción, probablemente como un mecanismo de refuerzo de compromisos establecidos entre el anfitrión del acto de consumo y quienes realizarían la construcción. Este escenario plantea la existencia de liderazgos emergentes, capaces de movilizar mano de obra para construcción. Sin embargo, el recurso de convocatoria a "festines" como prácticas ritualizadas y la pequeña escala de dichos eventos sugieren una capacidad de poder y convocatoria limitada y una autoridad no formalizada que requerirían de un reforzamiento constante por medio de las prácticas inferidas.

In the Lake Titicaca Basin, the sunken court complex has long been considered the archetypal public space. It is generally assumed that courts served as the major setting for ritual performance during the Formative period and possibly during the subsequent Middle Horizon; however, sunken courts are only one of several types of public architecture in use during these time periods. A diachronic study of public spaces within the ceremonial district at Pukara, specifically focused on the Qalasaya complex and central pampa areas, is directed at addressing the relationship between ritual architecture and early leadership during the Late Formative period (500 BC-AD400). Based on excavation data from the investigations of Alfred Kidder II in 1939, the Plan COPESCO excavations of the Qalasaya in the 1970s, and recent excavations on the central pampa in 2001, it is possible to develop a framework for characterizing temporal and functional changes in Pukara’s public spaces. Changes in the location, layout, and use of these spaces by both hosts and intended audiences are used as indicators of a shift from inclusive to exclusive leadership strategies at Pukara during the Late Formative period.
En la cuenca del lago Titicaca, el Complejo Patio Hundido ha sido considerado por largo tiempo como el arquetipo del espacio público. Por lo general, se asume que los patios sirvieron como el escenario principal para la escenificación ritual durante el Periodo Formativo y, posiblemente, durante el subsiguiente Horizonte Medio. Sin embargo, los patios hundidos son solo uno de los muchos tipos de arquitectura pública en uso durante estos periodos. Un estudio diacrónico de los espacios públicos dentro del área ceremonial del sitio de Pukara, centrado específicamente en las áreas del complejo Qalasaya y la "pampa" central, aborda la relación entre la arquitectura ritual y el liderazgo temprano durante el Periodo Formativo Tardío (500 a.C.-400 d.C.). Sobre la base de los datos de excavaciones como resultado de las investigaciones de Alfred Kidder II en 1939, las excavaciones del Plan COPESCO en el Qalasaya en la década de los setenta y excavaciones recientes en la pampa central en 2001 se plantea la posibilidad de desarrollar un marco para caracterizar los cambios temporales y funcionales en los espacios públicos de Pukara. Los cambios en la ubicación, trazado y uso de estos espacios tanto por los anfitriones como por las audiencias proyectadas son utilizados como indicadores de un cambio en las estrategias de liderazgo, las que pasan de tener un carácter inclusivo a uno de tipo excluyente en Pukara durante el Periodo Formativo Tardío.

The maxilla and mandible may be affected by a wide variety of lesions of developmental, neoplastic or inflammatory origin. These lesions have a vast array of clinical and radiographic presentations from which a dentist forms a clinical provisional diagnosis and treats the lesions accordingly. The aim of this study was to determine the range, demographic and clinical features of all histologically diagnosed radiolucent jaw lesions in a New Zealand population over a twenty-year period. Additionally, the provisional diagnosis was compared to the histopathological diagnosis in an effort to gain an insight into the difficulties practitioners face in clinically diagnosing radiolucent jaw lesions. Material and Methods: From the histopathology diagnostic service at the University of Otago School of Dentistry all specimens with a diagnosis of a radiolucent jaw lesion between 1986 and 2006 were retrieved and classified into six diagnostic categories. For each lesion the age, gender, site, clinical presentation, clinicians provisional diagnosis and the final histological diagnosis was gathered and analysed. Results: During the study period 4983 specimens were identified as radiolucent jaw lesions. The diagnostic category with the largest number of specimens was inflammatory lesions (72.8%), followed by developmental odontogenic cysts (21.8%). Malignant tumours accounted for less than 1% of all specimens. Concordance of provisional and histopathological diagnoses ranged from 81.0% for nasopalatine duct cyst to 0% for the majority of intra-osseous malignant tumours. Conclusions: The range and demographic features of radiolucent jaw lesions in this study are comparable to that of other populations with a European majority. No radiolucent jaw lesion can be reliably accurately diagnosed from clinical presentation and radiographic appearance alone.

Esta dissertação visa encontrar os determinantes da duração da dívida pública brasileira no período pós-Real. Primeiramente, discutem-se os modelos de gestão de dívida pública existentes na literatura e em que medida as considerações dos mesmos se aplicam à gestão da maturidade (particularmente, da duração) da dívida pública brasileira no período estudado. A seguir, apresenta-se uma análise da gestão da dívida, em termos da evolução do tamanho, composição e denominação e maturidade da mesma. É realizado um exercício de decomposição da dívida, a partir do qual se verifica que o principal responsável pelo aumento da Dívida Mobiliária Federal de R$ 57.632 milhões em julho de 1994 para R$ 600.018 milhões em dezembro de 2002 é a parcela de juros, o que é reflexo de questões estruturais. É importante estudar a evolução do tamanho e da composição da dívida devido à sua influência sobre a escolha da maturidade. Finalmente, realiza-se um estudo empírico dos determinantes da duração da dívida pública brasileira no período de agosto de 1996 a dezembro de 2002, em que se mostra que quanto maiores forem o tamanho da dívida pública (medido pela razão dívida-PIB) e a Necessidade de Financiamento do Setor Público (NFSP), menor será a duração da mesma.
This dissertation aims to find out the determinants of Brazilian public debt duration after the Real Plan. First, one discusses the models of public debt management and to what extent they can be applied to the evolution of Brazilian duration in the period studied. Then, an analysis of Brazilian public debt management is made, concerning debt´s size, composition, denomination and maturity. In a decomposition exercise, it can be verified that the main factor responsible for the enormous growth of the Federal Bonded Debt are interest payments, which are consequence of structural questions. The reason to study debt´s size and composition is due to their influence in terms of maturity. Finally, an empirical study is conducted evaluating the determinants of Brazilian public debt duration from August 1996 to December 2002. The results show that the higher is debt´s size (measured by the ratio debt/GDP) and the PSBR (Public Sector Borrowing Requirements), the lower is the duration.

Reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and shrinking the environmental footprint are priority themes of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy of Canada. Public buildings account for the major portion of the corporate GHG footprint of public sector institutions. Improving the energy efficiency in buildings is vital in achieving the climate action targets pertaining to the public sector. According to Canadian Infrastructure Report Card, the physical condition of public buildings is expected to deteriorate in the future. In order to make the best use of the limited financial resources, hybrid building management plans which combine energy efficiency with physical condition improvement need to be developed. Building maintenance and retrofit plans are formulated for medium and long terms in the capital asset planning process. There is significant uncertainty associated with asset management decision making due to macro-economic variations such as technological advancements and new policies. At present, there are no pragmatic decision making methods that assist building asset management while incorporating future macro-economic changes. This research aims to bridge the aforementioned gap in literature by developing a multi-period asset management framework. The overall objective of the proposed research is aimed at developing a decision support framework for small and medium scale municipalities in Canada to attain climate action targets of municipal buildings, while prolonging the service life of the building components. This research will help to identify, evaluate, and prioritize maintenance or repair or replacement strategies, and to develop a comprehensive multi-period life cycle asset management plan based on allocated funding, targeted sustainability performance and future macro-economic changes. The findings of this research will extend the current body of knowledge by incorporating potential future technological advancement and climate action targets into the asset management decision making. The proposed asset management decision support framework consists of a retrofit investment planning method, a level of service (LOS) index, life cycle costing (LCC) technique, and a risk based maintenance planning approach. This research is expected to assist at all decision making levels in public sector institutions related to building asset management, and thereby in achieving corporate climate action targets.
Applied Science, Faculty of
Engineering, School of (Okanagan)
Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Maryland, College Park, 2006.
Thesis research directed by: American Studies. Title from t.p. of PDF. Includes bibliographical references. Published by UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, Mich. Also available in paper.

Tese de Doutoramento em Arquitetura com a especialização em Desenho e Computação, Doutor, Arquitetura - Desenho e Computação, apresentada na Faculdade de Arquitetura da Universidade de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Doutor.
Com o processo de industrialização do país e subsequente concentração populacional nos grandes centros urbanos, emergem, desde o início do século XX, programas públicos de habitação. As primeiras tipologias adotadas durante o Estado Novo para as populações oriundas de zonas rurais pobres, adaptam-se à perceção tradicionalista do regime de um modo de vida português. Os conjuntos habitacionais de grande escala que lhes sucederam visavam responder ao modelo de urbanização que se afirmava com a intensificação da industrialização do país. Nos finais dos anos 1960, o investimento público em habitação permitiu um forte desenvolvimento da investigação teórica e empírica marcada por preocupações sociais e previsões sobre o futuro. Concebida como um mecanismo espacial com consequências sociais, a habitação era pensada como um instrumento de progresso. Em documentos e relatórios de investigação científica deste período, encontram-se repetidas referências à emancipação da mulher, ao desenvolvimento de laços e sentimentos de comunidade e à resposta às necessidades do momento e às aspirações futuras. Este pensamento progressista emergiu nalgumas instituições estatais permitindo algumas transformações institucionais no último período do Estado Novo, ao longo dos anos 1960 e início dos anos 1970. Todavia, os programas de habitação então desenvolvidos foram limitados, tanto na sua escala como no leque de populações a que se dirigiam, e os conjuntos habitacionais públicos implementados eram entendidos pelo poder político dominante como instrumento de controlo social. Com o golpe militar do 25 de Abril de 1974, operou-se uma maior transformação do aparelho de estado associada ao fim da guerra colonial e à transformação do modelo económico do país, gerando alterações profundas no balanço de forças e permitindo a organização de movimentos populares fortes, alguns dos quais centrados no direito à habitação. Neste contexto, a promoção habitacional ganhou novos contornos ao nível quantitativo e qualitativo. Esta dissertação foca a sua atenção neste período, estudando um conjunto de empreendimentos habitacionais de promoção pública e cooperativa construídos na cidade do Porto nos anos que antecedem e sucedem ao 25 de Abril de 1974. Incluem-se nesta leitura quatro grupos de empreendimentos: (i) os que integram a segunda fase do Plano de Melhoramentos da Cidade do Porto, construídos maioritariamente entre 1969 e 1974; (ii) os que são desenvolvidos no âmbito do Serviço de Apoio Ambulatório Local (SAAL) durante o período revolucionário de 1974-1976; (iii) e aqueles que foram construídos para associações de moradores, no mesmo período mas dentro de outros enquadramentos legais; (iv) os conjuntos promovidos pela Câmara Municipal do Porto, pelo Fundo Fomento da Habitação e os que resultam da articulação entre estas duas entidades, desenvolvidos desde antes do 25 de Abril de 1974 até 1982; (v) e, por último, as cooperativas de habitação económica construídas ao longo deste período. Ao fazê-lo, pretende-se trazer para o campo da investigação em arquitetura casos de estudo que têm sido descurados pela disciplina. Simultaneamente, pretende-se proporcionar uma visão global deste período que possa representar um contraponto à crítica de que a promoção pública de habitação de grande escala tem frequentemente sido alvo. Uma crítica que se tem tendencialmente focado nas suas características urbanas e arquitetónicas, apresentando-as como causa da segregação social dos seus residentes. A dissertação começa por explorar reflexões de autores que se referem à relação recursiva entre a habitação e a sociedade que a produz. A habitação é entendida como um produto social, o qual tem a capacidade de agir sobre as relações sociais. Isto ocorre de duas formas: o mercado imobiliário atua na diferenciação de classe, determinando quem tem acesso às infraestruturas e equipamentos urbanos e em que condições; a habitação organiza espacialmente a atividade humana - socialmente determinada e atribuída a diferentes indivíduos e grupos - no sistema de sistemas que compõem o conjunto “casa-assentamento”, como definido por Rapoport. Com base na leitura de diversos autores (Harvey, Bourdieu, Lefebvre), considera-se que esta interação assume formas coerentes com a reprodução das relações de produção. Embebida no aparelho ideológico, esta interação materializa-se na educação, gosto e prática arquitetónica. Esta ideia de recursividade na relação entre o espaço e a sociedade é explorada aproveitando a dualidade interna da metodologia da “sintaxe espacial”, desenvolvida inicialmente por autores como Hillier e Hanson. Em primeiro lugar, procura demonstrar-se que as características espaciais dos espaços domésticos influenciam, até certo ponto, a forma como as pessoas vivem. Para o efeito, sistematiza-se a informação produzida por inquéritos sobre dinâmicas familiares realizados durante o período estudado, ao longo dos anos 1970 e 1980. Estes dados são explorados preliminarmente no sentido de perceber de que forma diferentes organizações das atividades domésticas nos fogos se podem refletir em variações nas suas formas de uso pela família. Demonstra-se que é possível detetar características mais ou menos potencializadoras de uso coletivo ou individual dos diferentes espaços da casa, e com maior ou menor potencial para contrariar tendências de segregação e diferenciação de uso por género verificadas dentro das famílias estudadas. Explora-se também a capacidade da investigação em “sintaxe espacial” realizada nas últimas décadas de relacionar atributos espaciais com padrões de uso do espaço. Tendo em conta essas relações, articulam-se conceitos espaciais da “sintaxe espacial” com as hipóteses de diferenciação residencial desenvolvidas por Harvey. Através de uma leitura de outros autores (Bourdieu, Marcuse, Gros), constroem-se e analisam-se nos casos estudados os conceitos sócio-espaciais de segregação, “outro” (othering), hierarquização, domesticação e adaptabilidade. Argumenta-se que é através destes conceitos que a habitação funciona como regulador dos padrões de interação entre indivíduos, grupos e classes sociais na cidade, e dessa forma também de conformação de diferentes vivências. Em segundo lugar, a análise sintática é utilizada para encontrar padrões espaciais no conjunto dos empreendimentos habitacionais estudados, que são posteriormente descritos de acordo com os conceitos sócio-espaciais definidos. Estes padrões são comparados entre os diferentes programas habitacionais estudados - programas dirigidos a problemas específicos de diferentes populações, com preocupações e propósitos diferentes entre eles - com o objetivo de identificar paradigmas de projeto diferentes ou contrastantes que, através da sua contextualização histórica, possam ser relacionados com transformações sociais. Desta forma, procura-se compreender o papel desses conjuntos e programas habitacionais como parte de um processo de transformação social e urbana. Embora os grandes conjuntos habitacionais dos anos 1960 tenham sido construídos fora do centro, sendo intencionalmente segregados, a investigação mostra que eles se encontram em zonas da cidade que hoje estão bem integradas no tecido urbano. Com a transformação do contexto social, o regulamento moral e político, que no Estado Novo acentuava o papel da casa como mecanismo de controlo, foi extinto, alterando-se o significado social da localização dos edifícios na malha urbana, organizados no período anterior de forma a facilitar a vigilância dos seus moradores. Na promoção pública de habitação após o 25 de Abril são também identificados constrangimentos e contradições. Por um lado, a promoção habitacional continuou, em grande parte, a expressar uma estratégia de expansão urbana necessária ao crescimento da cidade capitalista, criando conjuntos residenciais muitas vezes ligados a áreas industriais, mas, por outro lado, a habitação produzida nos primeiros anos de democracia tornou-se mais acessível e de forma geral mais articulada com o tecido urbano existente. Os fogos tornaram-se maiores, embora descurando relações espaciais anteriormente consideradas importantes. A habitação pública nos empreendimentos produzidos nesses primeiros anos de democracia afastou-se do paradigma de isolamento e clara marcação do “outro”, embora mantendo uma ideia espacial de comunidade local. Demonstra-se que o crescimento da cidade do Porto no período estudado esteve, em grande medida, articulado com o desenvolvimento público de habitação, e que isto só pode ser percebido a uma escala global. A habitação - como todo o espaço socialmente produzido - é simultaneamente um produto do seu tempo com consequências sociais imediatas e um conjunto de artefactos cujo significado social é transformado por mudanças que lhe são externas.
ABSTRCT: This dissertation studies a set of public housing estates in Porto developed in the period surrounding the Portuguese revolution, part of which have rarely been examined in architectural research. In doing so, it seeks to provide a global reading of this period that may represent a counterpoint to the criticism large-scale public housing development has been the target for decades, which often points out its urban and architectural characteristics as the root cause of continued patterns of social segregation in their residents. In this sense, the dissertation first explores the question of how housing is both shaped by society and has the capacity to act back on social relations. It argues that the process through which this happens is twofold: the real estate market acts in class-differentiation, which determines who has access to the city and in which conditions; housing spatially organises socially defined human activity in the system of systems which comprise the house-settlement, as defined by Rapoport. Through a reading of different authors (Harvey, Bourdieu, Lefebvre), it is considered that this interaction most often takes a form favourable for or at least coherent with the reproduction of the relations of production, which have an impact on the ideological apparatus, which will, in turn, be materialised in architectural education, taste and action. The dissertation relies on the internal duality of space syntax’ methods to explore this idea of recursivity in the relationship between built space and society. Firstly, it seeks to demonstrate that the spatial characteristics of domestic environments do have some impact on how people live. It does so through the systematisation of data available on family dynamics during the studied period and the preliminary exploration of how different patterns of organisation of domestic activities in apartment plans may be reflected in variances in the way people use the space of the house. It further explores how space syntax research has consistently been able to relate spatial attributes with patterns of space-use and articulates these attributes with the hypotheses of residential differentiation developed by Harvey. Through the examination of other authors (Marcuse, Bourdieu, Gros) the socio-spatial concepts of segregation, othering, hierarchisation, domestication and adaptability are developed and analysed in the studied cases. It is argued that it is through these concepts that housing acts as a regulator of patterns of interaction between individuals, groups and social classes in the city, and as such also has an impact on the conformation of different living experiences. Secondly, syntactic analysis is used to retrieve design patterns from the set of built housing estates, which are then described according to the defined socio-spatial concepts. These are compared across housing programmes to identify shifting or contrasting design paradigms, and informed by historical knowledge to link them to social and ideological transformations, as well as to understand the role of these housing estates as part of a process of social and urban change. It is shown that while these estates were initially built outside the centre and even purposely segregated, they are often located in what are today well-integrated areas of the city. A paradigm shift is identified as taking place during this period, as a trend can be detected in later housing developments of articulating the estate with its surroundings while maintaining a local community. It is demonstrated that Porto’s growth was, to a great extent, articulated with the development of public housing and that this can only be understood globally: Housing - like all human-produced space - it is simultaneously a product of its time that has immediate social consequences; and also a set artefactual elements whose social meaning is transformed by changes that take place around them
N/A

O Sistema de InformaÃÃo Hospitalar do SUS (SIH/SUS) cobre a produÃÃo hospitalar de todos os serviÃos financiados pelo setor pÃblico no paÃs, constituindo uma fonte de dados extremamente relevante para estudos epidemiolÃgicos, sendo ainda, a Ãnica fonte de dados de internaÃÃo hospitalar no Brasil. A utilizaÃÃo de dados de morbidade torna-se cada vez mais importante como indicador do nÃvel de saÃde da populaÃÃo. Com o objetivo de caracterizar os padrÃes de morbidade hospitalar na rede do Sistema Ãnico de SaÃde (SUS), foram analisadas as internaÃÃes realizadas em hospitais pÃblicos e privados conveniados ao SUS, no municÃpio de Fortaleza, capital do estado do CearÃ, no perÃodo de 2001 a 2005, segundo as variÃveis: sexo, idade, diagnÃstico principal de internaÃÃo, segundo os capÃtulos da ClassificaÃÃo EstatÃstica Internacional de DoenÃas e Problemas relacionados à SaÃde (CID-10), e ano de internaÃÃo. Foram calculados coeficientes e proporÃÃes de internaÃÃo por sexo e faixa etÃria, proporÃÃes e Ãndice de dissimilitude (ID) de internaÃÃo por esfera administrativa e grupos diagnÃsticos. Para o cÃlculo de coeficientes aproximou-se o nÃmero de internaÃÃes ao nÃmero de pacientes, por meio da aplicaÃÃo de algoritmo proposto em estudo anterior, obtendo-se uma reduÃÃo de 5,42% no nÃmero de eventos, no perÃodo. Realizada distribuiÃÃo espacial dos coeficientes de internaÃÃo, utilizando o software GeoDA versÃo 0.9.5-1(BETA). Os hospitais pÃblicos responderam por 53% das internaÃÃes, com mÃdia de 83.539 hospitalizaÃÃes e a rede contratada conveniada por 46,2% das mesmas, com mÃdia de 72.923 atendimentos. Hospitais localizados no interior do estado foram responsÃveis por 0,8% das hospitalizaÃÃes de residentes no municÃpio de Fortaleza. A assistÃncia hospitalar pÃblica nÃo atingiu o parÃmetro de 8 a 10% da populaÃÃo/ano, permanecendo com uma mÃdia de 7%. O coeficiente geral de internaÃÃo passou de 70,7 internaÃÃes por mil habitantes, para 68,7 internaÃÃes por mil habitantes ao final. ExcluÃdas as internaÃÃes pelos capÃtulos XV. Gravidez, parto e puerpÃrio, as do capÃtulo XX. Causas externas de morbidade e de mortalidade (diagnÃstico secundÃrio), e XXI, Fatores que influenciam o estado de saÃde e o contato com os serviÃos de saÃde, os coeficientes de morbidade hospitalar variaram de 48,6/1000 habitantes, em 2001, para 51,3 internaÃÃes/1000 habitantes, em 2005, com variaÃÃo de 5,6%, menor que o crescimento populacional. Os principais diagnÃsticos, por ordem de grandeza de suas proporÃÃes, excetuado as internaÃÃes por complicaÃÃes da gravidez, parto e puerpÃrio foram: doenÃas do aparelho respiratÃrio, algumas doenÃas infecciosas e parasitÃrias, lesÃes, envenenamentos e algumas outras conseqÃÃncias de causas externas, doenÃas do aparelho digestivo, doenÃas do aparelho circulatÃrio e Neoplasias [tumores]. A distribuiÃÃo espacial das internaÃÃes, segundo o bairro apresentou pequenas variaÃÃes no tocante ao coeficiente de internaÃÃo/1000 habitantes.
O Sistema de InformaÃÃo Hospitalar do SUS (SIH/SUS) cobre a produÃÃo hospitalar de todos os serviÃos financiados pelo setor pÃblico no paÃs, constituindo uma fonte de dados extremamente relevante para estudos epidemiolÃgicos, sendo ainda, a Ãnica fonte de dados de internaÃÃo hospitalar no Brasil. A utilizaÃÃo de dados de morbidade torna-se cada vez mais importante como indicador do nÃvel de saÃde da populaÃÃo. Com o objetivo de caracterizar os padrÃes de morbidade hospitalar na rede do Sistema Ãnico de SaÃde (SUS), foram analisadas as internaÃÃes realizadas em hospitais pÃblicos e privados conveniados ao SUS, no municÃpio de Fortaleza, capital do estado do CearÃ, no perÃodo de 2001 a 2005, segundo as variÃveis: sexo, idade, diagnÃstico principal de internaÃÃo, segundo os capÃtulos da ClassificaÃÃo EstatÃstica Internacional de DoenÃas e Problemas relacionados à SaÃde (CID-10), e ano de internaÃÃo. Foram calculados coeficientes e proporÃÃes de internaÃÃo por sexo e faixa etÃria, proporÃÃes e Ãndice de dissimilitude (ID) de internaÃÃo por esfera administrativa e grupos diagnÃsticos. Para o cÃlculo de coeficientes aproximou-se o nÃmero de internaÃÃes ao nÃmero de pacientes, por meio da aplicaÃÃo de algoritmo proposto em estudo anterior, obtendo-se uma reduÃÃo de 5,42% no nÃmero de eventos, no perÃodo. Realizada distribuiÃÃo espacial dos coeficientes de internaÃÃo, utilizando o software GeoDA versÃo 0.9.5-1(BETA). Os hospitais pÃblicos responderam por 53% das internaÃÃes, com mÃdia de 83.539 hospitalizaÃÃes e a rede contratada conveniada por 46,2% das mesmas, com mÃdia de 72.923 atendimentos. Hospitais localizados no interior do estado foram responsÃveis por 0,8% das hospitalizaÃÃes de residentes no municÃpio de Fortaleza. A assistÃncia hospitalar pÃblica nÃo atingiu o parÃmetro de 8 a 10% da populaÃÃo/ano, permanecendo com uma mÃdia de 7%. O coeficiente geral de internaÃÃo passou de 70,7 internaÃÃes por mil habitantes, para 68,7 internaÃÃes por mil habitantes ao final. ExcluÃdas as internaÃÃes pelos capÃtulos XV. Gravidez, parto e puerpÃrio, as do capÃtulo XX. Causas externas de morbidade e de mortalidade (diagnÃstico secundÃrio), e XXI, Fatores que influenciam o estado de saÃde e o contato com os serviÃos de saÃde, os coeficientes de morbidade hospitalar variaram de 48,6/1000 habitantes, em 2001, para 51,3 internaÃÃes/1000 habitantes, em 2005, com variaÃÃo de 5,6%, menor que o crescimento populacional. Os principais diagnÃsticos, por ordem de grandeza de suas proporÃÃes, excetuado as internaÃÃes por complicaÃÃes da gravidez, parto e puerpÃrio foram: doenÃas do aparelho respiratÃrio, algumas doenÃas infecciosas e parasitÃrias, lesÃes, envenenamentos e algumas outras conseqÃÃncias de causas externas, doenÃas do aparelho digestivo, doenÃas do aparelho circulatÃrio e Neoplasias [tumores]. A distribuiÃÃo espacial das internaÃÃes, segundo o bairro apresentou pequenas variaÃÃes no tocante ao coeficiente de internaÃÃo/1000 habitantes.

This dissertation investigates the supply of and demand for High School teachers, working in prescribed faculty areas in Government schools in the A.C.T., over the period from January 1983 to July 1984, for all new temporary teachers appointed to the Service. Statistical details of vacancies for assistant teachers, in the 12 defined faculties of this study, were obtained from the Assistant Principals (Staffing) of the 17 A.C.T. High Schools, as well as from records maintained by the Staffing Officers of the A.C.T. Schools Office. The levels of High School teacher demand, for the period under investigation, are compared with similar statistics obtained for previous years in the A.C.T., as well with other Australian and international figures on teacher supply and demand. Through these comparisons, suggestions are made regarding emerging trends of teacher shortage, in particular faculty areas. Historical parallels are presented to supplement these arguments and to give underlying reasons for the projections that are made. The potential supply of faculty teachers over the period is investigated through an analysis of teacher faculty waiting lists. Numbers from these lists are compared with the actual demand statistics previously collected and a potential supply to vacancy ratio collected for each faculty area. A major part of the study is the construction of supply satisfaction indices, under the headings of: "Overall Satisfaction, Teaching Skills, Academic Qualifications, Other Requirements and Recruitment". These indices were derived from Likert type rating scales completed by the Assistant Principals, in respect of each of the 397 temporary teachers employed. After obtaining an average rating in each faculty, for the five measures of satisfaction, as determined by the Assistant Principals, observations are made as to how closely these indices match the corresponding potential supply indices. Particular emphasis is placed on the comparisons between the recruitment satisfaction index (i.e. - how quickly recruitment was expedited) and the potential supply ratio for each faculty. Reasons are advanced for any significant differences detected, and the overall findings interpreted in terms of possible future trends. The study concludes with an analysis of factors affecting the market for teachers. Recommendations are made for future planning that may offset problems which were detected in the A.C.T. market for High School teachers.

As a case study in cultural production and consumption and of the commodification of culture in late seventeenth- and eighteenth-century England, this study examines how musicians in London began to emerge from their dependence on the patronage of court, aristocracy and church into a more public sphere, moving from positions as salaried employees to a more freelance existence where they contributed to their income by putting on public commercial concerts. Taking as its starting point the almost 50,000 references to music recorded in the Register of Music in London Newspapers 1660–1750, a database has been built to record detailed information extracted from over 12,000 advertisements, puffs and news items related to commercial concert giving in London between 1660 and 1750. Concert advertisements and other material may thus be studied longitudinally in relation to each other, providing a valuable source of data for the growth of concert giving in London over a long and important period of its development. Public commercial concerts emerged in London in the period following the restoration of Charles II in 1660, developing from private music meetings dominated by amateur performers and informal public performances by professionals in taverns via John Banister's first advertised concerts in 1672. By 1750, public commercial concerts in London may not have achieved their final form or the heights of popularity that accompanied the ‘rage for music' of the 1790s, but they were promoted regularly and with a clear sense of programme planning, laying the foundations for later expansion. The possibility for musicians to make a living as freelance professionals without having to rely solely on patronage, their development of commercial skills, their emerging links with music publishers, all this is witness to the birth of music as a business in London in the period between 1660 and 1750.

The ways in which climate change is understood by members of the UK public, are considered across a fifteen year period spanning 1997-2011. Qualitative datasets from six separate projects are analysed to trace commonalities and variation over time in the conceptualisation of climate change as a physical, social and personal phenomenon. Ways of understanding are presented as a series of discourses. These relate to people’s appraisal of climate science, the apprehension of climate change through informal evidence, and how climate is seen in relation to natural systems; as well as the means by which climate change is contextualised to social systems, to cultural and historical conditions, and with respect to daily life. Climate discourses across all domains are found to be relatively stable over time, though with subtle shifts in meaning and emphasis. Emergent trends include recent evidence of climate ‘fatigue’ and an increased tendency to question the anthropogenic component to climate change, but also the view that action on climate change has become normalised in recent years. Survey data are also used to explore the prevalence of identified ways of understanding, and to examine longitudinal changes in these. There is some evidence of decline in climate change concern and increase in scepticism over the past decade, though these trends are not pronounced. Cold weather events from 2009/2010 are interpreted by people as evidence of the veracity of climate change (more so than as disconfirming it). Cultural worldviews are found to underlie perceptions. Findings are interpreted in the context of cultural theoretical and discursive frameworks. These present the opportunity to explain the recurrent, patterned and socially-shared nature of public perspectives, and the ways in which these are used both to understand climate change and to account for the actions of oneself and others. The development of combined secondary and longitudinal qualitative analytic techniques is a central methodological concern of the thesis. The advantages and drawbacks, practicalities, and epistemological considerations of such an approach, are outlined in detail.

This study examines the implicit assumptions underpinning reforms to the tax and benefit system by the Labour Governments since 1997. It questions whether individuals are income-maximising individuals responsive to changes in the costs and benefits associated with employment. The Working Families' Tax Credit and its replacements the Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, elements of the Government's strategy for encouraging employment and reducing child poverty (HM Treasury, 2001), contain an unspoken acceptance of a particular 'rational economic man' model of behaviour. Recent sociological research around employment and parenting indicates that decision-making is more nuanced than the rational economic model allows. Duncan and Edwards (1999) suggest instead a 'gendered moral rationalities' model, placing specific socially negotiated moral understandings of children's needs at the centre of employment decisions, with financial incentives, a secondary concern. A central question of this thesis is therefore, do prior policy assumptions about employment and budgeting decisions accord with reality? How has the reform of the tax and benefit system affected decision-making around employment and family budgeting, and what has it meant for individuals and their families? Little longitudinal qualitative research has been conducted into the employment and family budgeting decisions made by families in receipt of tax credits and how these alter over time. Based on two waves of interviews with lone parent and couple families receiving income from the tax credit system this study, as such, contributes to the above debates about employment and budgeting behaviour. The study suggests there is a need to focus greater attention on the temporality of decision-making, as economic and social processes are themselves temporally situated. Participants sought a 'welfare balance' that reconciled their current commitments to care and material needs. Decisions shifted in response to changes in policy structures, notions of moral behaviour, caring responsibilities and financial needs over time.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Land reform as a topic has engendered universal debate. In certain parts of the world, land reform is seen as the redistribution of property or rights in property for the benefit of the landless, tenants and farm labourers but in others it has been a tool of oppression. Worldwide, land reform arose mainly because of inequalities of resources or in other to control resources. In South Africa, the need for land reform started as early as 1658, where blacks were not afforded equal opportunities as white people and therefore were forced off farm land and properties. Since, 1994 when South Africa’s first democratic Government came into power, one of its goals was to redress the injustices of the past and give back land to the previously disadvantaged people through various land reform programmes. The goal of this study is to evaluate the delivery land reform programmes of South Africa, namely: Land Restitution, Land Redistribution and Land Tenure Reform. The impact of land reform is not measured in this thesis. This research is however focussed on answering the following question: To what extent has land reform achieved its intended output? Land reform in South Africa could be viewed as an act of development, as it focuses on meeting the basic needs of the marginalised and underdeveloped people, which is in turn an objective of development. Marginalised and underdeveloped people as well as communities need land in order to ensure that their living conditions improve. Programme evaluation is used to evaluate land restitution, land redistribution and land tenure reform in order to determine the successes and failures of the land reform programme in South Africa. Land reform has mixed opinions on whether the programmes have been implemented effectively and efficiently. The process has received criticism, even though land has been restored and redistributed to claimants and beneficiaries, it has not been occurring at a fast enough pace.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Grondhervorming is ’n onderwerp wat universeel bespreek word. In Suid-Afrika, word grondhervorming gesien as die herverdeling van eiendom of regte in eiendom vir die voordeel van die grondlose, huurders en plaaswerkers. Wêreldwyd, het grondhervorming ontstaan hoofsaaklik as gevolg van ongelykhede van hulpbronne. Die behoefte vir grondhervorming in Suid-Afrika het so vroeg as 1658 begin, waar swartes nie gelyke geleenthede gegun was soos blankes en was gedwing om hulle plaasgrond en eiendomme te verlaat. Sedert, 1994, toe Suid-Afrika se eerste demokratiese regering aan bewind gekom het, was een van sy doelwitte om die ongeregtighede van die verlede reg te stel en grond aan die voorheen benadeelde mense deur middel van verskeie grond hervormingsprogramme terug te gee. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die lewering van die grondhervorming programme van Suid-Afrika te evalueer, naamlik: Grond Restitusie, die Herverdeling van Grond en Grondbesit Hervorming. Die impak van grondhervorming word nie in hierdie tesis gemeet nie. Hierdie navorsing is egter gefokus om die volgende vraag te beantwoord: In watter mate het grondhervorming die beoogde uitsette bereik? Grondhervorming kan gesien word as 'n daad van ontwikkeling, aangesien dit fokus op die basiese behoeftes van die gemarginaliseerde en onderontwikkelde mense, wat op sy beurt 'n doelwit van ontwikkeling is. Gemarginaliseerde en onderontwikkelde mense sowel as gemeenskappe moet land besit om te verseker dat hul lewensomstandighede verbeter kan word. Program evaluering word gebruik om Grond Restitusie, die Herverdeling van Grond en Grondbesit Hervorming te evalueer ten einde die suksesse en mislukkings van die grondhervormingsprogram in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Grondhervorming het gemengde menings oor die vraag of die programme doeltreffend en effektief geïmplementeer word. Die proses ontvang kritiek, alhoewel land herstel en versprei aan grondeisers en begunstigdes is, gebeur dit nie op ’n vinnig genoeg pas nie.

La plupart des idées conceptuelles sur l'architecture sédimentaire et l'évolution tectonique des marges passives profondes sont fondées sur des études de rifts continentaux ou de marges proximales. Le problème est que, au contraire des marges distales, ces domaines n'ont subi que de faibles taux d'extension. Le travail de thèse présenté dans ce manuscrit a eu pour but d'analyser plus précisément l'architecture de ces marges distales. Il s'est concentré sur le segment central de la marge ouest Ibérique: la Plaine Abyssale Ibérique Sud (PAIS). J'y ai étudié l'évolution des structures de rifting, spatialement et temporellement, en me basant sur une cartographie détaillée de l'architecture sédimentaire et de socle en 3D sur des profils de sismique réflexion. L'évolution polyphase des processus tectoniques de la phase finale du rifting a pu y être identifiée. Les mécanismes d'extension changent du sud au nord de la PAIS depuis des zones de manteau exhumé par des failles de détachement concaves vers le bas à des demi-grabens classiques formés par le basculement normal de blocs continentaux le long de failles de détachement concaves vers le haut. Sur la base de ces résultats, j'ai pu développer un modèle conceptuel pour l'évolution 3D de la PAIS. Ce modèle suggère une migration générale de l'activité de faille normale vers le futur océan et un changement dans le mode d'extension latéralement à la marge, imagé par un changement de géométrie des structures tectoniques. Ces résultats ont des conséquences importantes pour l'approche théorique de la formation d'une marge passive distale. Par exemple, les concepts de breakup continental et de discordance sédimentaire de breakup, censés caractériser le début de l'accrétion océanique, se révèlent en définitive inadaptés: le rifting est fondamentalement polyphase et poly-processus avec une évolution graduelle vers l'océanisation et non une limite temporelle ou spatiale continent-océan cartographiable
Most of the conceptual ideas concerning sedimentary architecture and tectonic evolution of deep rifted margins are based on either continental rifts or proximal margins, both of which underwent only small amounts of crustal thinning. In my PhD thesis I investigated the sediment and basement architecture of the distal magma-poor rifted margin in the Southern Iberia Abyssal Plain (SIAP). The spatial and temporal evolution of the rifting structures have been studied, based on a detailed mapping of the sedimentary and basement architecture in 3D on seismic reflection profiles. The polyphase evolution of the final phase of rifting has been identified and described. The data suggest that the extensional mechanisms change from south to north within the SIAP from zones of mantle exhumed via downward concave detachment faults to classical half-grabens formed by the normal tilting of continental blocks along upward concave detachment faults. On the base of these results, I developed a 3D conceptual model for the SIAP evolution. This model suggests a general migration of normal fault activity during final break-up towards the future ocean and a change in the fault geometry during final rifting. This 3D evolution of rifting in deep margins is described for the first time and has important implications for the interpretation of seismic sections from OCT as well as for the interpretation of the deformation processes at distal margins. The concepts of continental breakup and the breakup unconformity, supposed to characterise the beginning of oceanic accretion, are not applicable to Iberia-type margins. At these margins, rifting is fundamentally polyphase and includes various modes of extension that evolve and superpose in time and space migrating and finally localizing in the area of final seafloor spreading

The intention of this study is to analyze the economic impact of redeveloped Major League Baseball stadiums opened between 1991 and 2004. Using two empirical models, including an event study, this impact analysis captures the economic conditions of the cities during the opening year of the stadium, as well as the prior conditions leading up to the opening of the stadium, along with any lingering effects or gradual changes in conditions. The impact was measured in relation to the Metropolitan Statistical Areas corresponding to the 18 ballparks included, specifically looking at the impact on employment rates and per capita personal income. The common assumption is that stadium redevelopment will provide a positive impact on the surrounding community, initiating revitalization of urban neighborhoods as well as increasing job opportunities, income levels, and city revenues. While previous research on the effects of stadium development have mostly concluded that there is no positive or significant quantitative impact resulting from stadiums, this study shows that the boom of ballpark redevelopment may actually have positive effects, contrasting this prior research. With the results showing small, yet positive effects, the recent boom period may actually have been so far effective in initiating new development and revitalized culture in urban areas, and will therefore be useful in further developing future plans for modernizing and redeveloping baseball stadiums.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1991.
Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2957. Abstract precedes thesis as [3] preliminary leaves. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77).

Unlimited demands of development and non-stopped destruction of surrounding environments cause many environmental problems. In this paper, Climate Change as one important issue has been studied against an Asian background. For the purpose of showing a clear trend of communicated corporate awareness in global Climate Change issues, in this report, seventy Asian companies have been studied. The results show a relatively low-level growth curve of communicated corporate Climate Change awareness by dissecting companies’ CEO Letters during years 2000 to 2009, followed by a comparison study with European results and five possible explanations in the discussion part. As the conclusion of this paper, an increased interest among Asian governments and companies during year 2000-2009 has been observed. However, there is still lack of knowledge on a general level compared with the European results. According to the five possible explanations, several possible future studies have also been recommended in the paper: 1) Comparison study under the same scope within Asia or other continents; 2) Case-study on specific interested companies; 3) On-going study on the future curve trend with the same target group.

Much research has been done on interventions to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) at the workplace. However, this problem is still a major concern in working life. The economic cost for WMSDs corresponds to between 0.5% and 2% of the gross national product in some European countries, and in 2007, 8.6% of workers in the EU had experienced work-related health problems during the previous 12 months. In Sweden, one in five of all employees have rated occurrence of WMSDs during the previous 12 months. In spite of comprehensive ergonomic improvements of workplace and tool design in dentistry the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in neck, upper arms and back is reported to be between 64% and 93%. The present thesis investigates if the perceived high exertion during work corresponds to actual physical exposures. Further, it is investigated if risk full physical exposures may be generated due to rationalisations. Specifically, changes in physical exposures are investigated prospectively during a period of rationalisations. Empirical data on production system performance, individual measured physical workload, and self-rated physical workload are provided. High estimates of self-rated workload were found. These high scores for perceived workload were associated with high measured muscular workload in the upper trapezius muscles. Also, negative correlations were found between low angular velocities in the head, neck and upper extremities on the one hand, and estimates for perceived workload on the other. Both measured muscular workload and mechanical exposure among dentists indicate a higher risk of developing WMSDs than in occupational groups with more varied work content. Value-Adding Work (VAW) comprised about 57% of the total working time and compared to industrial work an increase with about 20 percent units is hypothesised. Furthermore, VAW compared to non-VAW (“waste”) implies more awkward postures and especially low angular velocities interpreted as constrained postures. Consequently, when increasing the proportion of time spent in VAW due to rationalisations, work intensification is expected. However, at follow up, we did not find such work intensification. Previous research indicates that rationalisation in working life may be a key factor in the development of WMSD. The present thesis suggests that ergonomics may then be considered proactively as part of the rationalisation process.

This thesis examines the influence of institutional and government policy change, in the form of public management reform, on the professional development of teachers, nurses and social workers, described as 'social service professionals', delivering public services in England between 1979 and 2010. The influence of institutional and government policy changes were assessed through a textual analysis of public policy documents; an analysis of the changing size and structure of the three groups highlighting gender, age and ethnicity; an analysis of training reforms through changing institutional arrangements and course content and: the perceptions of six key informants from trade unions and professional associations which represent these professions. These findings were tested on a consultative group of twelve experts in the field of employment relations in the public sector. This thesis found that there were similarities in the reforms introduced by government throughout this period to these three professional groups, which were characterised by the imposition of increased documentation and record keeping, targets and inspections. The control of the work process decreased, with a reduction of professional autonomy and accompanying reforms to professional training. All three professions have been dominated by women throughout the period and the proportion of men has changed little but they are disproportionately represented in management. The introduction of senior practitioner roles has not resulted in women exerting a stronger control over their profession. For all three groups, there has been a tension between higher education institution (HEIs) providers of training, government and employers as well as a lack of consensus about what constitutes appropriate professional training. This is not necessarily a new phenomenon but public management reforms have intensified it and the introduction of ‘learning on the job’ training will further weaken the role of HEIs in vocational training. One of the criticisms used to justify public service reforms was the apparent insensitivity of public services to the needs of users. Some of the responses by trade union and professional organisations to these attacks on professional autonomy have resulted in the exploration of a concept of democratic professionalism, which aims to strengthen the relationship between professionals and service users, so addressing one of the original criticisms of these professionals. This concept represents a different response to public management reforms which has the potential to address problems of democratic involvement in public services and defend them from government attacks. This thesis has two main original contributions to knowledge: it contributes to research showing how 'social services professionals' have been affected by public management reforms and how they are building a concept of democratic professionalism and; it further develops comparative professional studies.

Thesis (MPA. (Public Administration)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 requires the Legislature in Local, Provincial and National Governments to hold the Executive accountable and continue to do oversight on the work of government. The Legislature in executing its work, sometimes make use of the Auditor General’s reports, Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) reports and all other reports submitted by constitutional institutions, the Executive and other agents of the State. The study investigates whether the Legislature understands its mandate as legislated and whether the legislation is efficient and effective in ensuring accountability and conducting oversight of the work of the Executive. The research methodology used in this study is the qualitative approach. The respondents were clear that the Legislature understand its business as legislated, and further that there is a challenge at implementation of these important functions of the Legislature. There is varying implementation due to resources, capacity constraints and lack of commitment. The study recommends that the training of Members of the Legislature and staff, allocation of adequate resources and proper planning. The commitment of the Members of the Executive to the process and implementation of consequence management for poor performance and key interventions to ensure efficient and effective oversight of public finances in the province

This thesis focuses on the concept and style of quarrelling in the writings of four British Romantic authors: General John Burgoyne (1722-1792), Thomas Paine (1737-1809), William Cobbett (1763-1835), and Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822). All four authors engaged in radical writing about war, politics and various controversial social issues during the American War of Independence and the Regency period (1811-1820). This study situates their political arguments in the historical context and the political discourse of the time. It demonstrates how their style of arguing is particularly aptly described by the term 'quarrelling' because of the combination of personal motives, interests and conflicts with the discussion of larger public problems during this turbulent historical period. I start with a discussion of General Burgoyne’s pamphlets, through which he sought both to justify the political decision of the surrender of British troops at Saratoga and to clear his name of accusations of being personally responsible for losing the war. I compare Burgoyne’s suppression of anger and use of a polite style of arguing to Thomas Paine’s gradual transition from a humble quarrelling approach in his pamphlet The Case of the Officers of Excise to a more openly angry and sarcastic attitude in his later works in support of America’s independence. Paine’s predominantly rational and objective rhetoric is then contrasted to William Cobbett’s cantankerous attitude in his pamphlets, letters and his own newspaper The Political Register, through which he conducted polemical battles blending public issues with personal conflicts. Finally, the thesis compares the rhetorical devices of quarrelling exemplified in the political prose of Burgoyne, Paine and Cobbett to the use of poetry for the purposes of political quarrelling by Shelley. In this wide range of quarrelling attitudes, the thesis outlines the fluctuation between personal emotions, in particular anger, and an objective or polite tone in the written quarrels of each author, as well as between these authors. It thus demonstrates how their stylistic choices were affected by their social positions and circumstances and the different audiences they were addressing. The comparison of these four authors’ methods of combining personal and public arguing aims to give a sense of how quarrels were conducted within the public sphere in the Romantic period.

The collapse of the communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989-1990 heralded the beginning of an economic transition from central planning to market economies. The subsequent period was marked by malfunctioning of these countries’ social sectors, including their health care systems, raising serious issues of equity. This thesis examines the impact of the transition period and the introduction of social insurance on equity in health care provision in Bulgaria. Equity in health care is investigated with respect to function - i.e. financing (according to ability to pay) and delivery (according to need) - and outcomes - i.e. health status, income inequality and poverty. Differences in health, health care financing and delivery are explored by income, education, ethnic, employment, marital status, age and sex groups. Furthermore, the thesis outlines the impact of health care provision, in particular social insurance, on poverty and health inequalities. The thesis employs empirical analysis based on household data. Its methodology includes concentration and decomposition analysis, and provides new ways of modelling health care financing and delivery, as well as the link between health and health care delivery. The thesis concludes that social insurance does not provide a uniform means of improving equity and that the root cause of the problem lies in the large proportion of out-of-pocket payments and the rather limited size of the health insurance sector. Inequity in health care provision leads to poverty and untreated illness. The data suggests that there are differences between socio-economic groups as regards their likelihood to seek treatment for their ill health, which result in differences in their health status. The social factors that have impacted the most on health are low education and low income.

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O presente estudo foi desenvolvido no âmbito dos trabalhos do Grupo de Pesquisa “Políticas Públicas, Organização Escolar e Formação de Professores” e teve como objetivo analisar e compreender as representações sociais construídas pelos professores do Ensino Fundamental (Ciclo I) da Rede Municipal de Presidente Prudente-SP sobre a Hora de Trabalho Pedagógico Coletivo tendo como aporte teórico a Teoria das Representações Sociais de Serge Moscovici. É uma pesquisa com traços de pesquisa participante, pois como professora, faço parte do grupo de profissionais desta Rede. Foram utilizadas técnicas tais como o questionário aplicado junto a 170 professores; a entrevista semi-estruturada com 10 professores e um grupo de discussão com 9 Orientadores Pedagógicos, profissionais responsáveis pela organização da HTPC, momento de formação na escola. Os dados coletados foram tratados com base na análise de conteúdo, mais precisamente no processo de categorização dos dados tendo como ponto de partida o grau de aprovação dos professores a este momento de formação. Os resultados obtidos revelam que os profissionais representam a HTPC como Hora de Tempo perdido, ou seja, que esse momento apesar de ser importante não tem atingido seus objetivos tendo em vista a sua forma de organização. Os profissionais apontam que a forma de gestão, a condução do Orientador Pedagógico e a participação do professor não têm contribuído para que mudanças significativas ocorram na prática dos professores com reflexos positivos na aprendizagem dos alunos...
The present study was developed current to the Research Group “Public policy, scholar organization and teachers’ formation”. Its objective was to analyze and understand the social representations of the teachers from the Primary School (Circle I) of the municipal schools of Presidente Prudente – SP about the Collective Pedagogic Work Time (HTPC). The theoretical support was the Theory of Social Representations by Serge Moscovici. This study has some characteristics of participative research, since as a researcher I am a constituent of the group of teachers who work at the municipal schools. In order to do so we used questionnaires applied to 170 teachers; semi-structured interview with 10 teachers and a discussion group with 9 Pedagogic Coordinators, who were responsible for the HTPC organization, which is a moment for teachers’ development in school. The data collected were treated according to the content analysis, more precisely to the process of data categorization from the level of teachers’ approval about the HTPC. The results showed that the teachers think the HTPC is waste of time, what means that despite the fact that it is an important moment, it has not reached their objectives because of the way it is organized. The teachers assert that the way it is conducted by the Pedagogic Coordinator and the teachers’ participation has not contributed to effective changes in teachers’ practice with positive reflections in students’ learning...(Complete abstract, click electronic access below)

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The availability and provision of good antenatal care services ensure early detection and prompt management of any complication or disease that may adversely affect pregnancy outcome. To ensure high quality care, an ongoing health education and empowerment of pregnant women with pregnancy related information, need to be provided by midwives throughout pregnancy. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore the pregnant women`s experiences and perceptions regarding health education given during the antenatal period. The objectives set were to - explore the content of the health education given to pregnant women by midwives during the antenatal period - determine whether the health education offered by midwives is understood by pregnant women - determine whether information regarding Health Education during antenatal period is applicable and is used by pregnant women. A qualitative approach with an explorative descriptive design was applied for the purpose of this study. The population included pregnant women who attended an antenatal clinic for the second time in 2012. Ten pregnant women were selected purposively who consented to participate in the study. The trustworthiness of this study was assured by using Lincoln and Guba`s criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. A pretest was done with one participant not included in the actual study. Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University, reference: S12/05/136. Informed written consent was obtained from each participant which included a recording of the interview. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide and a tape recorder. The researcher approached two women per day for five days. A total of ten (10) pregnant women were interviewed until data saturation reached. The use of Tesch's eight steps of data analysis was used to analyse the transcribed data as described in De Vos et al. (2004:331). Findings revealed that health education was given to pregnant women at the institution under study but with minimum explanations. The midwives were perceived as supportive and regarded as a source of information and self-care agents. Antenatal attendance was regarded as important by participants. Participants indicated that their unborn babies were monitored by the midwives in order to detect abnormalities early. However, midwives emphasised non-pregnancy related complications specifically HIV/AIDS and neglected to give basic antenatal care, such as antenatal exercises, personal hygiene and diet. Language was found to be a barrier and contributed to a lack of information. Recommendations include basic antenatal aspects to be covered in the health education, such as emphasis on personal hygiene, exercises, diet and avoidance of harmful sociocultural practices. With the implementation of appropriate teaching principles language, age and involvement of influential people during health education should be considered. In conclusion, to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates and promoting self-care reliance, antenatal care services should be accessible to facilitate ongoing health education by midwives throughout pregnancy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beskikbaarheid en voorsiening van goeie voorgeboortesorgdienste verseker die vroeë en vinnige bestuur van enige komplikasie of siekte wat swangerskap-uitkomste nadelig mag beïnvloed. Om hoë gehalte sorg te verseker, moet gesondheidsvoorligting en bemagtiging van swangervroue rakende swangerskap inligting deurlopend deur vroedvroue verskaf word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om vervolgens die swangervrou se ervaringe en persepsies ten opsigte van gesondheidsopvoeding gedurende die voorgeboortelike stadium te ondersoek. .Die doelwitte soos gestel was om: - die inhoud van die gesondheidsvoorligting wat deur vroedvroue gedurende die voorgeboorte periode aan swangervroue verskaf word, te ondersoek - te bepaal of die gesondheidsvoorligting wat verskaf word deur vroedvroue deur swangervroue verstaan word - vas te stel of die ligting aan swangervroue gepas is en te bepaal of dit toegepas word deur swangervroue. ’n Kwalitatiewe benadering met ’n beskrywende ontwerp is vir die doel van hierdie studie toegepas. Die populasie het swangervroue ingesluit wat ’n voorgeboortekliniek vir die tweede keer gedurende 2012 besoek het. Tien vrouens is doelgerig geselekteer wat daartoe ingestem het om aan die navorsing deel te neem. Die betroubaarheid van hierdie studie was verseker deur van Lincoln en Guba se kriteria van geloofwaardigheid, oordraagbaarheid, betroubaarheid en bevestigbaarheid gebruik te maak. ’n Loodsondersoek was met een deelnemer wat nie in die werklike studie ingesluit was nie, gedoen. Etiese goedkeuring is verkry van die Etiese Komitee van die Fakulteit van Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, verwysing: S12/05/136. Ingeligte skriftelike toestemming is verkry van elke deelnemer wat ook ’n opname van die onderhoud ingesluit het. Data is ingesamel deur van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude gebruik te maak met behulp van ’n onderhoudsgids en ’n bandopnemer. Die gebruik van Tesch se ag stappe van data-analise is gebruik om die getranskribeerde data te analiseer (De Vos et al., 2004:331). Bevindinge het getoon dat gesondheidsvoorligting wel aan swangervroue by die inrigting onder die soeklig met die minimum verduidelikings verskaf is. Die vroedvroue is as ondersteunend en as ’n bron van inligting, asook as selfsorgagente waargeneem. Voorgeboorte bywoning is as belangrik deur deelnemers gesien. Deelnemers het aangedui dat hulle ongebore babas gemonitor is deur vroedvroue om abnormaliteite vroeg op te spoor. Nietemin, vroedvroue het nie-verwante swangerskap komplikasies, spesifiek MIV/VIGS beklemtoon en het nagelaat om aandag te gee aan basiese voorgeboortesorg soos voorgeboorte oefeninge, persoonlike higiëne en dieet. Daar is bevind dat taal ’n hindernis is en dat dit bygedra het tot ’n gebrek aan inligting. Aanbevelings sluit in basiese voorgeboorte aspekte wat gedek moet word in gesondheidsvoorligting, soos die beklemtoning van persoonlike higiëne, oefeninge, dieet en die vermyding van nadelige sosio-kulturele praktyke. Met die implimentering van doeltreffende onderrigbeginsels moet taal, ouderdom en die betrokkenheid van invloedryke mense gedurende gesondheidsvoorligting in ag geneem word. Ten slotte, om moeder-morbiditeit en-mortaliteitsyfers te verminder en selfsorgvertroue te bevorder, behoort voorgeboortesorgdienste toeganklik te wees, sodat vroedvroue volgehoue gesondheidsvoorligting tydens swangerskap kan fasiliteer.

The recurrence in the use of enclosed courtyards and porches where people sat in the shade, back against the wall, and with platforms accessible only by ramps or stairs, are unique characteristics found in late period Andean structures. This particularity as well as some another features make difficult to understand the functions and uses of monumental architecture in the ancient Central Andes. The recent discussion about these architectural features found in prehispanic Andean palaces proves the common disagreements even with substantial archaeological evidence where seems not easy to distinct between governors main residences and temples. The investigations carried out at Pueblo Viejo-Pucará, "Lomas de Lurín" Archaeological Project-Field School, Convenio Cementos Lima S.A.-Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, under the direction of Krzysztof Makowski from 1999 to present, have provided valuable information to this topic. The excavations covers more than 6000 square meters of architectonic evidence in four of its five sections, including two residential structures of the elite, with palace features, and one temple located at the top of a mountain. Comparing the hypothetical households of two curacas, two residential elite homes and other residential units excavated in Pueblo Viejo-Pucara, show the common use of a central patio with wide open kitchens and areas of entertainment, such as structures next to the patio and porches facing it; which differentiate the elite ones from the commoners’ homes. The patio is the central area of public activity where offers were made during banquets and the food was served in a festive manner, including camelid and cervid meats, chicha served in fine ceramic ware. The main palace is differentiated from the rest of the residences, based on the presence of an ushnu with funerary chambers and two plazas that are related with the cult of two huancas and at least one rocky outcrop seen as a sacred huaca, with offerings of Spondylus princeps, gold and silver.
La recurrencia de patios cercados (canchas), "audiencias" y pórticos, lugares destinados para albergar largas filas de personas sentadas de manera cómoda a la sombra de techo y de espaldas a una pared, así como la presencia de plataformas accesibles por medio de rampas o escaleras cuentan entre los rasgos que definen el carácter peculiar de la arquitectura de los periodos tardíos en los Andes, un aspecto difícil de interpretar desde el punto de vista de la función. Recientes discusiones sobre las características de la arquitectura palaciega en los Andes prehispánicos han puesto en evidencia los problemas con los que tropiezan los intentos de hacer el deslinde formal y funcional entre la residencia principal del gobernante y el templo a partir de las evidencias arqueológicas. Las investigaciones realizadas en Pueblo Viejo-Pucará desde 1999 hasta el presente en el marco del Proyecto Arqueológico-Taller de Campo "Lomas de Lurín", Convenio Cementos Lima S.A.-Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, bajo la dirección de Krzysztof Makowski, aportan datos valiosos a la discusión del tema dado que han abarcado más de 6000 metros cuadrados de superficie excavada en cuatro de los cinco sectores del sitio, incluidas dos estructuras residenciales de elite de carácter palaciego y un templo que corona una elevación, denominado "Templo de la Cima". La comparación entre las hipotéticas moradas de dos curacas, dos residencias de elite y las demás unidades residenciales excavadas en Pueblo Viejo-Pucará deja en claro que la presencia del patio central con amplias cocinas y áreas de agasajo en forma de recintos anexos y pórticos constituye la principal diferencia entre la residencia de elite y la casa común. El patio es el área central de la vida pública, donde, de manera frecuente, se ofrecen banquetes con comida de carácter festivo, rica en la preciada carne de camélidos y de cérvidos, así como en chicha, la que se sirve en vasijas finas ejecutadas en estilos de prestigio. El palacio principal difiere de las demás residencias por la presencia de un ushnu con cámaras funerarias adosadas, dos plazas relacionadas con el culto de dos huancas y de, por lo menos, un afloramiento rocoso con ofrendas de conchas Spondylus princeps, oro y plata, el que habría sido venerado como huaca.

This thesis investigates topology optimization techniques for periodic continuum structures at the macroscopic level. Periodic structures are increasingly used in the design of structural systems and sub-systems of buildings, vehicles, aircrafts, etc. The duplication of identical or similar modules significantly reduces the manufacturing cost and greatly simplifies the assembly process. Optimization of periodic structures in the micro level has been extensively researched in the context of material design, while research on topology optimization for macrostructures is very limited and has great potential both economically and intellectually. In the present thesis, numerical algorithms based on the bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization method (BESO) are developed for topology optimization for various objectives and constraints. Soft-kill (replacing void elements with soft elements) formulations of topology optimization problems for solid-void solutions are developed through appropriate material interpolation schemes. Incorporating the optimality criteria and algorithms for mesh-independence and solution-convergence, the present BESO becomes a reliable gradient based technique for topology optimization. Additionally, a new combination of genetic algorithms (GAs) with BESO is developed in order to stochastically search for the global optima. These enhanced BESO algorithms are applied to various optimization problems with the periodicity requirement as an extra constraint aiming at producing periodicity in the layout. For structures under static loading, the present thesis addresses minimization of the mean compliance and explores the applications of conventional stiffness optimization for periodic structures. Furthermore, this thesis develops a volume minimization formulation where the maximum deflection is constrained. For the design of structures subject to dynamic loading, this thesis develops two different approaches (hard-kill and soft-kill) to resolving the problem of localized or artificial modes. In the hard-kill (completely removing void elements) approach, extra control measures are taken in order to eliminate the localized modes in an explicit manner. In the soft-kill approach, a modified power low material model is presented to prevent the occurrence of artificial and localized modes. Periodic stress and strain fields cannot be assumed in structures under arbitrary loadings and boundaries at the macroscopic level. Therefore being different from material design, no natural base cell can be directly extracted from macrostructures. In this thesis, the concept of an imaginary representative unit cell (RUC) is presented. For situations when the structure cannot be discretized into equally-sized elements, the concept of sensitivity density is developed in order for mesh-independent robust solutions to be produced. The RUC and sensitivity density based approach is incorporated into various topology optimization problems to obtain absolute or scaled periodicities in structure layouts. The influence of this extra constraint on the final optima is investigated based on a large number of numerical experiments. The findings shown in this thesis have established appropriate techniques for designing and optimizing periodic structures. The work has provided a solid foundation for creating a practical design tool in the form of a user-friendly computer program suitable for the conceptual design of a wide range of structures.

El presente artículo propone una metodología comparativa que evalúa la eficiencia entre modos de transporte. Esto permitirá elegir a los usuarios de forma más equitativa el modo de transporte más adecuado para desplazarse sin contratiempos hacia sus centros laborales, educativos, y ocio. Por tal motivo, es fundamental utilizar el itinerario de los usuarios para cada modo de transporte, en este caso se comparan el transporte público (modo habitual) y la bicicleta (modo activo). Se establece que la metodología consiste en la definición de los centros de actividades de los usuarios (centroides) y los paraderos de los modos de transporte (nodos). Se procede con la recopilación de la información vehicular de los modos de transporte y establecer el itinerario de los usuarios. Con los datos se construye el modelo de microsimulación del estado actual de la zona de estudio, para luego ser calibrado y validado. Se comparan el periodo total de movilización del itinerario de los usuarios de ambos modos de transporte y se establece cuál de estos es más eficiente para movilizarse en la zona de estudio. Los resultados demuestran que para la bicicleta el tiempo de llegada (centroide – nodo) fue de 2 minutos y el tiempo de viaje (nodo – modo activo – nodo) fue de 20 minutos. Así mismo, para el transporte público el tiempo de llegada (centroide – nodo) fue de 5 minutos y el tiempo de viaje (nodo – modo habitual – nodo) fue entre 32 y 42 minutos.
This article proposes a comparative methodology that evaluates the efficiency between modes of transport. This will allow users to choose more equitably the most appropriate mode of transport to move smoothly to their work, educational and leisure centers. For this reason, it is essential to use the users' itinerary for each mode of transport, in this case public transport (usual mode) and bicycle (proposed mode) are compared. It is established that the methodology consists of defining the activity centers of the users (centroids) and the stops of the modes of transport (nodes). We proceed with the compilation of vehicular information of the modes of transport and establish the itinerary of the users. With the data, the microsimulation model of the current state of the study area is built, to later be calibrated and validated. The total period of mobilization of the itinerary of the users of both transport modes is compared and it is established which of these is more efficient to mobilize in the study area. The results show that for the bicycle the arrival time (centroid - node) was 3 minutes and the travel time (node - proposed mode - node) was 17 minutes. Likewise, for public transport the arrival time (centroid - node) was 8 minutes and the travel time (node - usual mode - node) was between 25 to 35 minutes.
Trabajo de investigación