An integrated approach to remanufacturing: Model of a remanufacturing system

Remanufacturing is the process of rebuilding used products that ensures that the quality of remanufactured products is equivalent to that of new ones. Although the theme is gaining ground, it is still little explored due to lack of knowledge, the difficulty of visualizing it systemically, and implementing it effectively. Few models treat remanufacturing as a system. Most of the studies still treated remanufacturing as an isolated process, preventing it from being seen in an integrated manner. Therefore, the aim of this work is to organize the knowledge about remanufacturing, offering a vision of remanufacturing system and contributing to an integrated view about the theme. The methodology employed was a literature review, adopting the General Theory of Systems to characterize the remanufacturing system. This work consolidates and organizes the elements of this system, enabling a better understanding of remanufacturing and assisting companies in adopting the concept

Classificação comercial indicativa das cultivares de trigo da Embrapa - Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina, safra 2016.

A classificação comercial de trigo é regida pela Instrução Normativa nº 38, do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil, 2010). Objetivando a adequação ao regulamento, e seguindo os critérios definidos por obtentores vegetais de trigo no Brasil, as cultivares da Embrapa indicadas para semeadura na safra de 2020 no Rio Grande do Sul e em Santa Catarina foram classificadas pela seguinte metodologia: 1 ? as amostras de trigo usadas para a classificação comercial de cultivares foram provenientes de vários ensaios: preliminares, Valor de Cultivo e Uso (VCU), ensaio estadual de cultivares, ensaio de qualidade industrial de trigo (EQIT), unidades demonstrativas, unidades de observação, entre outros; 2 ? a classificação comercial das cultivares foi realizada por Regiões Homogêneas de Adaptação de Cultivares de Trigo (RHACT) (Reunião..., 2018), de acordo com os seguintes agrupamentos e número mínimo de amostras: Região 1 do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina (mínimo três amostras); Região 2 do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina (mínimo três amostras); 3 ? a classificação comercial foi obtida com base nos valores de força de glúten e de número de queda, de acordo com o estabelecido no Anexo III da Instrução Normativa nº 38 (Brasil, 2010), não considerando os valores de estabilidade apresentados neste mesmo Anexo; e 4 ? para que uma cultivar fosse enquadrada em uma classe comercial, de acordo com a IN n° 38, foi utilizada, como critério de classificação, a frequência relativa acumulada mínima de 60% das amostras na classe comercial, somando-se a partir da classe Melhorador até a classe Outros Usos

Floquet theory of electronic stopping processes of projectiles in solids

The Thesis proposes a new theoretical framework for the study of electronic stopping of particle projectiles in crystalline solids. It does not rely on perturbative or linear response approximations. Moreover, it goes beyond nonlinear models for the homogeneous electron gas, which assume ideal metal hosts. The theory exploits a discrete symmetry in the trajectory of the projectile following a direction of crystalline periodicity, which allows a treatment based on Floquet theory for time-periodic systems. Floquet theory allows to find the solutions of time-periodic Hamiltonians through the same techniques used in time-independent problems: this provides the new framework with an intrinsic advantage over the the real time first principles calculations that are currently employed for analysing electronic stopping, which rely on the explicit solution of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation, and are therefore very computationally expensive. The (stroboscopic) stationary solutions of the stopping problem are found using a Bloch-Floquet scattering treatment. The expressions for electronic stopping of previous perturbative and nonlinear models are readily recovered from the theory in the corresponding limits. The so-called “threshold velocity effect” for stopping is analysed and interpreted using quasienergy conservation, and it is suggested to display a much richer behaviour compared to both experimental observations (due to limited resolution), and previous phenomenological theoretical explanations. A method for numerical calculations is proposed: it is based on a tight-binding model, in which a time-evolving localised basis set is introduced to allow the treatment of the moving crystal in the projectile frame of reference and a Dyson equation can be solved for the Green’s function in the local basis set. While the model is presented for the one-band tight-binding model for simplicity, it can be generalised to higher dimensions and to arbitrary number of basis states per unit cell. In addition, other fundamental questions on this paradigmatic nonequilibrium problem, such as the adiabatic limit for a slow projectile, are discussed

Floquet theory for the electronic stopping of projectiles in solids

A general theoretical framework for the study of electronic stopping of particle projectiles in crystalline solids is proposed. It neither relies on perturbative or linear response approximations, nor on an ideal metal host. Instead, it exploits the discrete translational symmetries in a space-time diagonal determined by a projectile with constant velocity moving along a trajectory with crystalline periodicity. This allows for the characterisation of (stroboscopically) stationary solutions, by means of Floquet theory for time-periodic systems. Previous perturbative and non-linear jellium models are recovered from this general theory. An analysis of the threshold velocity effect in insulators is presented based on Floquet quasi-energy conservation

Self-assessment in higher education institutions: literature analysis and research opportunities

A autoavaliação nas instituições de ensino superior é um tema que vem atraindo cada vez mais interesse da comunidade acadêmica, de pesquisadores, do governo e da sociedade. É um processo por meio do qual se busca mapear a realidade da instituição, sendo a base para propostas de ações de melhoria. A autoavaliação oferece potencial de gerenciar mudanças, desde que seja considerada na tomada de decisões; há, porém, dificuldade em se utilizar a autoavaliação como instrumento na gestão universitária. Além disso, o passo a passo desse processo e o uso de seus resultados não são apresentados efetivamente na literatura. Assim, este artigo tem por objetivo analisar diretrizes para métodos de autoavaliação em instituições de ensino superior sob o viés de processos, resultados e eficácia. A análise dos atributos já propostos auxilia na apresentação dos potenciais existentes para desenvolver uma possível melhor prática nessa área. Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi realizada em bases de dados e na Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações. Sem limitação de tempo, foram encontrados 119 documentos relevantes para esta pesquisa, sendo que 62 deles apresentaram alguma diretriz que considerou planejamento e gestão para tomada de decisão. Como resultado, foram obtidas diretrizes para serem consideradas em uma possível sistemática para a autoavaliação institucional. A partir disso, identificaram-se lacunas que apoiaram a identificação de oportunidades para pesquisadores e gestores no âmbito da gestão de processos, rotina de trabalho e recursos humanos.Self-assessment in higher education institutions is a topic of increasing interest for the academic community, researchers, the government, and society. This process allows us to map the reality of the institution, becoming the foundation for proposing improvement actions. Self-assessment offers the potential to manage changes if they are considered in decision-making; universities, however, have difficulty using self-assessment as an management instrument; the step-by-step of this process and the use of its results are not effectively presented in the literature. Thus, this study aims to analyze the guidelines for self-assessment methods in higher education institutions, considering their processes, results, and effectiveness. The analysis of previously proposed attributes help to present the potential for developing a better practice in this area. A systematic review of the literature was conducted in several databases, including the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. A total of 119 documents, relevant to this research were found, in which 62 presented some guideline that considered planning and management for decision-making. These guidelines may be considered as a possible systematic approach for institutional self-assessment. Additionally, research gaps were identified, supporting the appointment of opportunities for researchers and managers within the scope of process management, work routine, and human resources

A New Methodology to Assess Indirect Losses in Bridges Subjected to Multiple Hazards

Decision making approaches to manage bridge recovering after the impact of multiple hazards are increasing all over the world. In particular, bridges can be considered critical links in highway networks because of their vulnerability and their resilience can be assessed on the basis of evaluation of direct and indirect losses. This paper aims at proposing a new methodology to assess indirect losses for bridges subjected to multiple hazards. The method applied to calculate direct costs is the credited Performance Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) methodology by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) center. Therefore, the main objective of the study consists in the assessment of indirect losses that are generally neglected elsewhere. In particular, the paper proposes to calculate indirect losses from direct costs and to divide them into connectivity losses and prolongation of time. The presented formulation has been applied to a real case study aimed at strengthening a benchmark bridge with several isolated configurations. The results show that the application of the proposed methodology allows to evaluate possible solutions to strengthen the original configuration

Properties of dissipative Floquet Majorana modes using a quantum dot

We study the electronic conductance of dissipative Floquet Majorana zero modes (FMZMs) in a periodically driven nanowire coupled to a quantum dot. We use a numerical method which can accurately take into account the dissipation effects from the superconducting bath, which causes the FMZMs to have a finite lifetime. Our results show that, in the weak nanowire-dot coupling regime, the peak conductance at zero temperature of the resonant dot can be well approximated by a universal function of the FMZM lifetime rescaled with the nanowire-dot coupling strength: For a long FMZM's lifetime, the conductance approaches the characteristic quantized value of $G = e^2/2h$, whereas $G \rightarrow e^2/h$ (uncoupled dot) as the FMZMs' lifetime goes to zero. In principle, our method can be used to test the presence and lifetime of FMZMs in such devices, which is key for any practical application of these topological states.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Conception, synthèse et évaluation de l'activité biologique d'inhibiteurs d'une ectonucléotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiestérase de type 1 (NPP1)

La calcification de la valve aortique (CVA) est l’un des plus importants types de maladies cardiovasculaires dans les pays industrialisés. Il s’agit notamment de la condition la plus fréquente de valvulopathie cardiaque aux États-Unis et en Europe de l’Ouest. À ce jour, il n’existe aucun agent thérapeutique pour guérir ou prévenir la progression de la maladie et le remplacement chirurgical de la valve aortique est réalisé uniquement pour les patients ayant atteint un stade sévère de la maladie. Un facteur clé dans le processus de calcification est le pyrophosphate inorganique extracellulaire (PPi) qui agit en tant qu’inhibiteur de calcification. Il est donc nécessaire de maintenir les niveaux de PPi à une certaine concentration pour contrôler les dépôts de calcium dans les tissus afin d’éviter la minéralisation pathologique. Des études récentes, réalisées dans le laboratoire du Dr Patrick Mathieu (Faculté de médecine, U. Laval), ont montré qu’une enzyme régulant les niveaux de PPi était impliquée dans la maladie. En effet, une augmentation de l'expression et de l'activité d'une ectonucléotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiestérase de type 1 (NPP1) favorise le processus de minéralisation dans la valve aortique. L’inhibition de cette enzyme représente donc un enjeu majeur dans le développement de médicaments, d’où la naissance de mon projet dans le design et la synthèse d’inhibiteurs de NPP1. Dans la présente thèse, une librairie de molécules a été développée. Dans un premier temps, la littérature nous a guidés quant au choix d’une structure phare d’inhibiteur. Par la suite, des modifications structurales de cette dernière appuyées par la modélisation moléculaire et les résultats biologiques ont permis d’établir des relations structure-activité pour l’inhibition de NPP1. Enfin, parmi les nombreux inhibiteurs synthétisés, il sera possible de réaliser une étude in vivo pour l’un des composés afin de mieux évaluer le potentiel thérapeutique de ce dernier.Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the most important types of cardiovascular diseases in industrialized countries. In particular, CAVD is the most common heart valve disorder in the United States and Western Europe. So far, there are no therapeutic agents available to cure or prevent progression of aortic valve mineralization and valve replacements are performed only when the disease stage is advanced. Extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) acting as an inhibitor of calcification is a key factor in the calcification process. Therefore, PPi levels must be maintained at certain concentration which control calcium deposits in tissues in order to avoid pathological mineralization. Recent studies from Mathieu group (Faculty of medicine, U. Laval) have shown that an enzyme which regulates PPi levels was involved in CAVD. Indeed, an increase of the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1) enzymatic activity promotes mineralization process in the aortic valve. Therefore, NPP1 inhibition represents a major challenge in drug development, hence the origin of my research project for the design and the synthesis of NPP1 inhibitors. In this thesis, a library of compounds has been developed. First, literature was very helpful for choosing a lead compound. Then, structure diversification of this compound supported by molecular modelling and biological results allowed us to establish a structure-activity relationship for NPP1 inhibition. Among the synthesized inhibitors, it will be possible to realize an in vivo study for one of them in order to evaluate its therapeutic potential