http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/1668 Teses e dissertações Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:46:57 GMT 2026-04-17T07:46:57Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13991 Caracterização da estrutura da crosta do Cinturão Dom Feliciano e das bacias sedimentares no sul do Brasil e no Uruguai com base em dados magnetotelúricos 2-D/3-D Menezes, Aline Muriel da Cunha This thesis presents a regional geophysical investigation aimed at characterizing the structural architecture of the continental crust and the main sedimentary basins of southern Brazil and Uruguay, based on the integrated application of the magnetotelluric (MT) method in twodimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) models. The analyzed dataset was acquired during three field campaigns (2012, 2019, and 2021), covering the Paraná-Sul and Pelotas projects and comprising ten MT profiles that cross Precambrian basement terrains and the Paraná, Camaquã, and Pelotas basins. The workflow integrated MT data acquisition, processing, modeling, and inversion, followed by calibration using complementary geological and geophysical information, including stratigraphic wells, gravity data, seismic profiles, and updated structural maps. The resulting resistivity models allowed the identification of deep crustal features such as ductile shear zones, suture zones, and major tectonic discontinuities, including the Ibaré, Dorsal de Canguçu, and Arroio Grande zones, as well as the Chuí Lineament. Additional structural boundaries were resolved, such as the Punta del Este–Jaguarão Terrane and the Pelotas Batholith. MT imaging proved capable of delineating these structures to depths of approximately 30 km. The results reveal significant lateral and vertical variations in electrical resistivity, reflecting lithological and structural contrasts that delineate crustal blocks, distinct terranes, and sedimentary units. The application of MT demonstrated high effectiveness in defining basement geometry, the thickness of the Phanerozoic basins and the Camaquã Basin, and in interpreting the regional tectonic evolution associated with the amalgamation of the Dom Feliciano Belt with the Rio de la Plata Craton. The integration of geological and geophysical datasets resulted in a refined crustal model and contributed to advancing the understanding of the deep crustal architecture of the região. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13991 2025-11-24T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13988 Análise experimental da mudança de fase de bioPCM em espuma metálica de geometria retangular e perfilada Becker, Fábio As a result of the gradual energy transition, with the increasing use of cleaner energy sources, energy storage becomes inevitable, mainly due to the seasonality of generation from such sources. In this context, one of the main existing alternatives is energy storage through latent heat. The main characteristic of this type of storage is its high energy storage density at a virtually constant temperature—that is, at the temperature at which the phase change occurs—which makes it possible to use it in numerous applications. Materials based on this form of storage are known as Phase Change Materials (PCMs). Due to their wide range of applications, the use of bio-based PCMs (bioPCMs) is important to mitigate potential environmental impacts. However, PCMs generally have low thermal conductivity, which may limit some applications. Therefore, methods that can improve heat transfer are necessary. The incorporation of metallic foams with different morphological characteristics into PCM is an efficient alternative that has been investigated due to its high heat exchange surface area and improved thermal conductivity. In this context, this research proposes a study with different foam geometries, along with the use of palm wax as bioPCM. Thus, two nickel foam geometries were used: one rectangular and the other profiled, which resembles a fin geometry. This allows for increased heat transfer and efficiency with a smaller foam volume. Furthermore, the influence of changing the reservoir orientation, analogous to the tilt of a photovoltaic module, was also analyzed. The main results showed that the case containing rectangular foam reduced the charging (fusion) time by 7.5% and the discharging (solidification) time by 4%, compared to the case without foam, while the case containing the profiled geometry reduced the charging time by 7.1% and increased the discharging time by 10%. The inclusion of foam also improved the energy storage rate by approximately 8.1% for the rectangular geometry and by 7.6% for the profiled geometry. Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13988 2025-11-27T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13987 Análise experimental e numérica do escoamento em coletores solares de tubo a vácuo sob diferentes inclinações Spengler, Fernando Claudio This thesis presents an integrated experimental and numerical investigation of the thermal and fluid dynamic behavior of water in evacuated tube solar collectors operating under natural circulation (thermosiphon regime). The study focuses on the influence of the tube set inclination on the internal circulation of the thermal fluid and the stability of the flow. The experimental methodology involved test bench trials under real operating conditions, with continuous monitoring of temperature and mass flow rate for inclinations of 20°, 30°, and 45°. In parallel, numerical simulations were conducted using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), employing validated numerical models to analyze the local velocity and temperature fields inside the tubes. The results indicate that inclinations higher than 30° enhance natural convection but also induce transient flow instabilities, characterized by abrupt oscillations in the mass flow rate. The coupled analysis confirmed the consistency between experimental and numerical patterns, revealing internal mechanisms associated with the breakdown of thermal stratification and the formation of recirculation. The daily global efficiency of the system was calculated for each inclination configuration, resulting in the following efficiency values: 46.4% for 20°, 69.5% for 30°, and 54.4% for 45°. These results highlight that the 30° inclination provided the highest overall thermal efficiency, due to its more stable behavior throughout the daily cycle. Although the 45° inclination promoted the highest values of flow rate and temperature increase, the system’s behavior did not remain stable at this elevated level throughout the day, which resulted in a lower efficiency compared to the 30° inclination. The conclusions highlight the importance of inclination adjustment to optimize the thermal performance of the collectors and demonstrate that the combination of numerical and experimental methods is effective in understanding the phenomena involved. Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13987 2025-07-22T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13986 Microfabrication of electrode-integrated liver-on-achip for in-vitro cell culture monitoring Dalló, Luíse Cambruzzi The liver is a vital organ responsible for crucial metabolic functions, drug metabolism, detoxification, and the production of proteins necessary for maintaining homeostasis in the body. However, studying liver physiology and drug metabolism has traditionally relied on animal models and two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which often fail to recapitulate the complex and dynamic nature accurately. Liver-on-a-chip is an emerging technology that aims to replicate the structure and functions of the human liver in a miniature and controlled in vitro platform. This study presents the fabrication and characterization of a liver-on-a-chip microfluidic device integrating microelectrodes for real-time cell culture monitoring. The device mimics the hepatic microenvironment by incorporating microchannels connected through endothelial-like capillaries, facilitating controlled nutrient exchange and waste removal under continuous perfusion conditions. The fabrication process involved three main stages: electrode fabrication, mold fabrication, and microchannel manufacturing. HepG2 cells were cultured within the microfluidic device under dynamic perfusion, demonstrating progressive adhesion, proliferation, and viability over multiple days. Impedance spectroscopy was employed to quantitatively assess cell behavior, with measurements indicating stable electrode performance and reliable monitoring of cellular dynamics. The results confirmed that the liver-on-a-chip device successfully supports long-term cell culture while providing real-time electrical characterization. This makes it a promising platform for hepatic disease modeling and pharmaceutical testing. Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13986 2025-04-04T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13985 Aplicação da sistemática Shop Floor Management nas atividades de validação de itens novos de uma fabricante de carrocerias de ônibus Araújo, Fernando Constante de The competitive dimension of quality remains one of the main requirements of the market, where companies have certified their processes and structured areas dedicated to carrying out inspection and quality control activities. Management systems such as Lean Manufacturing are now being adopted by companies to improve quality, reduce lead time and reduce costs. In this scenario, the action research method presents the opportunity to implement a visual management model based on Lean Manufacturing practices in quality activities. The management model defined was Shop Floor Management (SFM), its main characteristic is holistic management, which in turn aims to solve problems and develop the people involved in the process, by presenting the results through KPIs and correcting problems and daily corrections regarding issues of occupational safety, quality, delivery, costs and people's motivation, thus systematizing the continuous improvement of processes and products. The research is applied to the activities of the validation processes of new items in the quality sector of a bus body manufacturer, and the effects on the indicators of the delivery dimension are observed, referring to the average time for validation of new items, approval of new items, average time for warranty of items from suppliers and the accuracy index of the warehouses under the responsibility of quality. A comparison of the before and after results in the delivery issues, as well as the scope in the motivational issues of those involved is also presented, validating the concept of a holistic mechanism for the daily management of factory floor activities. Mon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13985 2025-04-14T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13984 Identificação e análise de riscos à saúde e segurança do trabalhador da construção civil utilizando sensoriamento vestível (wearable) Travi, Nadine Schorr This research demonstrated that the use of wearable sensing technologies can enhance the way health and safety risks are identified in construction. From the analysis of two distinct construction sites — a retrofit project in Porto Alegre and a conventional building site in Portão — 58 occupational risks were mapped, six of which were classified as critical, mainly in physically demanding activities such as the removal of ceramic coatings and plaster. The workers’ profile revealed young professionals, with low levels of schooling and limited experience, exposed to conditions that go beyond physical effort: 25% showed symptoms of Common Mental Disorder (CMD), associated with psychosocial factors such as productivity pressure, task insecurity, and intense heat. Environmental and physiological monitoring highlighted the direct influence of climate (external temperature) and tasks on vital parameters, with increases in heart rate and blood pressure during critical activities. These findings reinforce the importance of scheduled breaks and task redistribution as effective protective measures. The study also advanced by proposing a predictive model capable of explaining 75% of risk variation, showing that wearable sensors can support real-time decisionmaking and anticipate situations of physical and mental illness. In summary, the results reveal that the integration of technology, environmental indicators, and attention to psychosocial aspects not only broadens the understanding of risks but also points to concrete pathways for creating safer, healthier, and more humane construction sites. Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13984 2025-09-10T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13983 Análise da influência das características do substrato e da ausência de ancoragem no reforço de vigas submetidas ao cisalhamento utilizando manta de fibra de carbono Betencourt, Josiani Fatima The present study investigates the use of carbon fiber sheets, without anchorage, for the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beams, thereby assessing the impact caused by potential bonding failures of the sheet. Carbon fiber sheets exhibit characteristics such as high tensile strength, corrosion resistance, durability, and ease of installation, making them an excellent alternative for structural strengthening, especially in cases of architectural constraints. To develop this research, a literature review was conducted in order to deepen the understanding of fiber-reinforced polymers, their properties for use as structural reinforcement, as well as design and detailing techniques. The experimental phase consisted of the fabrication of four batches of reinforced concrete beams, with three beams in each batch, all with the same longitudinal and transverse reinforcement configuration. The first batch was used as a reference, while the others were strengthened: one batch was bonded by the Quartzolit team, and the remaining ones had intentional bonding defects introduced, in order to evaluate their performance in comparison with the others. The test carried out was a three-point bending test with an offset load, designed to induce shear failure. Deformation, displacements, and crack patterns were also analyzed in each tested element. The results showed that beams strengthened with intentional bonding defects achieved values up to 101.55% higher than the average of the reference beams, whereas other elements, despite showing increased strength, yielded lower results. Furthermore, changes in crack patterns and failure modes were observed when compared to the reference beams, where all failures occurred by diagonal tension. Based on the results obtained, the importance of proper preparation of the beam to be strengthened, as well as the use of anchorage devices, became evident, since some failures were caused by sheet debonding along the edges. Nevertheless, this study highlighted the efficiency of carbon fiber sheets as shear reinforcement, confirming their effectiveness among the materials available in civil engineering. Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13983 2025-09-22T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13982 Modelagem numérica de infiltração de água: dois sistemas de cobertura final de aterro sanitário no Vale do Rio dos Sinos Silva, Carlos Alexandre Quadros da Numerical calculation methods have become much more efficient, making their application in problem-solving increasingly widespread. User-friendly interfaces make model configuration much easier and more intuitive, while the increase in computer speed can solve difficult problems in a matter of minutes. A series of computational models for estimating rainfall processes and their impact on the performance of landfill cover systems have become valuable tools in contemporary times, especially for evaluating the final cover layer of compacted soil. Among them, one of the most notable is HYDRUS-1D, a software based on the Finite Element Method that simulates the one-dimensional movement of water, heat and solute in variably saturated porous media for various limit conditions, including precipitation and evaporation. HYDRUS 1D was used to model the water balance in final cover layers of sanitary landfills in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos, using laboratory data on granulometry, Atterberg limits, compaction, permeability and suction of soils collected in São Leopoldo and Esteio (RS), and adjusting meteorological series (1991–2020) of precipitation, temperatures, relative humidity, evapotranspiration, insolation and wind by multiple linear regression (adjusted R² ≈0.895) for the months of highest and lowest rainfall; the performance of conventional and evapotranspiratory cover systems was compared in a one-dimensional regime, finding that the evapotranspiratory cover significantly reduces water percolation by keeping the soil in an unsaturated condition for longer; It is concluded that the integration of characterization tests, statistical analysis and numerical simulation provides precise subsidies for the dimensioning and selection of materials, contributing to the minimization of environmental impacts associated with water inlet the landfill. Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13982 2025-07-31T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13950 Odisseu: um modelo para serviços inteligentes na indústria 4.0 baseado em análise de históricos de contextos Arruda, Helder Moreira The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also called Industry 4.0, has been leveraging many fields of computing today. Industry 4.0 comprises automated tasks in the manufacturing industry that generate large amounts of data obtained through sensors. These data contribute to the interpretation of industrial operations in favor of managerial and technical decision-making. Data Science supports this interpretation due to significant technological advances, particularly data processing methods and software tools. In this sense, this thesis presents a model entitled Odisseu that focuses on supporting the development of intelligent services aimed at Industry 4.0, using context histories, which represent data from a given entity over a certain period of time. The model proposes an ontology that acts as a link between data science methods and smart services. Compared to other models, Odisseu seeks to fill a gap that involves monitoring data from input to storage in context histories format, in addition to proposing an ontology and a model for generic support to intelligent services in the industry. To evaluate the model, two intelligent services are proposed, the first aimed at locating people in an industry and the second aiming to estimate the subjective wellbeing of employees. The services used data from mobile and fixed beacons, vital signs such as blood volume pulse and electrodermal activity, as well as data from self-report questions focused on well-being. The location service achieved 100% accuracy with both the Random Forest and Multilayer Perceptron algorithms. The well-being service achieved the best performance with the Random Forest algorithm, reaching 74% accuracy. Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13950 2024-04-04T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13945 Estudos empíricos sobre o uso de gamificação em modelagem de software com UML Silva Júnior, Ed Wilson Rodrigues Gamification has emerged as a promising strategy to increase engagement and motivation across different domains, including Software Engineering, where UML modeling remains a central activity but faces recurring challenges related to adoption and effective use. Despite its potential, little is known about how gamified elements can support the modeling process or improve the quality of the produced models. In this context, this thesis investigates three main gaps: the lack of empirical knowledge on the use of UML in industry, the absence of a quality model to evaluate gamified modeling activities, and the scarcity of evidence regarding the effects of gamification on the quality of UML models. The general objective is to produce empirical knowledge on the use of gamification in software modeling, proposing mechanisms to evaluate the models generated and analyzing the effects of gamified techniques on learning and on the quality of the artifacts. To achieve this, a survey with IT professionals was conducted, followed by the development and evaluation of a gamified quality model, and a series of empirical studies—including controlled experiments and a case study—aimed at investigating attributes such as completeness, consistency, motivation, and analytical depth. The results indicate that, although well know, UML still encounters adoption barriers associated with organizational culture and language complexity; they also show that the proposed quality model is perceived as useful to support learning; and they provide evidence that gamified elements can improve engagement, the diversity of the produced artifacts, and the accuracy in detecting inconsistencies. It is concluded that gamification has the potential to enhance both the practice and teaching of software modeling, supporting the creation of more complete and robust UML models and contributing to increased participant motivation. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13945 2025-12-18T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13938 Relação da dieta e Helmintofauna de sete espécies de corujas da região sul do Brasil Dums, Marcos Owls are nocturnal birds of prey that play a fundamental ecological role as top predators in various ecosystems. By consuming a wide range of prey and occupying both urban and natural environments, these birds directly reflect environmental changes, revealing complex ecological interactions that, until recently, were largely unexplored in terrestrial habitats under strong anthropogenic influence. Studies on their diet and parasitofauna allow us to understand not only trophic interactions but also the impacts of anthropogenic factors such as pollution and habitat fragmentation. In this context, the integrated analysis of stomach contents and helminths in owls offers an effective approach to assess ecosystem health and monitor the effects of human activities on wildlife. This thesis aimed to characterize, in an integrated manner, the diet and helminth fauna of seven owl species found in conflict situations along the coastal region of Santa Catarina, Brazil. For this purpose, data were collected from necropsies of 64 individuals found along the BR101 highway between 2006 and 2021. Stomach content analysis revealed a generalist and opportunistic diet, composed mainly of insects and small mammals, with interspecific variation. Plastic fragments were also detected in the digestive tract of all analyzed owls, indicating accidental or indirect contact with urban waste—an unprecedented finding that positions these birds as new sentinels of terrestrial pollution. The helminth fauna included representatives from the groups Nematoda, Cestoda, Digenea, and Acanthocephala, with significant differences in prevalence and parasitic load among species. Parasite richness showed a correlation with dietary diversity, indicating that diet directly influences the composition of acquired parasites. The presence of mesoplastics in wild owls reinforces the impact of human activities on ecosystems and highlights the importance of these birds as bioindicators of environmental health. The combination of classical necropsy methods with ecological and parasitological analyses demonstrates the potential of rescued carcasses as valuable data sources for monitoring wildlife and understanding the relationships among environmental contamination, feeding behavior, and parasitism. These results confer a strategic role to owls in the study of trophic networks, parasitic cycles, and environmental impacts in fragmented areas. Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13938 2025-10-20T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13937 Concentração de microplásticos em cérebro, fígado, rim e músculo, de um peixe iliófago no Rio dos Sinos Silveira, Daniela da Cunha This thesis investigated contamination by microplastics (MPs), a xenobiotic present in the environment, in a fish species found in the Sinos River, RS. The main objective was to analyze MP contamination in the brain, liver, kidney, and muscle tissues of the species Cyphocharax voga. The study tested the hypothesis that there are significant differences in the concentration of plastic particles among the organs of 54 individuals, consisting of 25 males and 29 females. For the identification of MPs, the chemical staining technique with Nile Red dye was used, followed by fluorescence microscopy analysis.The results indicated a higher mean concentration of MPs/g in the brain (192 ± 124 MP/g), followed by the liver (65 ± 37 MP/g), kidney (47 ± 25 MP/g), and muscle tissue (39 ± 24 MP/g). The analysis also revealed significant differences in MP contamination between sexes in the brain and liver. A significant mean correlation was observed between the liver and kidney (p = 0.004; r = -0.481), as well as between the brain and kidney (p = 0.012; r = -0.424). Furthermore, the results evidenced the presence of MPs in all sampled tissues and reinforced the brain as a sensitive organ for biomonitoring. MP fragments were the most abundant form, occurring in significantly higher amounts compared to foams/films, spheres, and fibers.Although no correlation was found between MP concentration and the condition factor (Kn), one of the secondary objectives of this study, the research results confirmed the initial hypothesis, highlighting the existence of differences in MP contamination in the brain, liver, kidney, and muscle tissues of aquatic organisms, and underscoring the need for continuous monitoring of MP pollution in humanimpacted environments.This work provides important knowledge on the occurrence of MPs in freshwater fish, which may be useful for future studies on the hazards of these pollutants to the health of aquatic environments, as they can be considered a model for other vertebrates, including humans. Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13937 2025-08-28T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13936 Intensidade do azul em anéis de crescimento da conífera subtropical Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze Nunes, Ânderson Juliano This study investigated the feasibility of Araucaria angustifolia as a dendroclimatic proxy in subtropical regions, focusing on tree-ring width (RW) and maximum latewood blue intensity (MXBI). The analyses revealed synchronicity between RW and MXBI chronologies, reflecting eco-physiological responses to climate variability. RW showed a positive correlation with precipitation from April to June of the previous year, suggesting that higher rainfall in the preceding autumn favors wider rings. In contrast, MXBI correlated with the mean temperature for the same period of the current year, indicating that higher temperatures enhance latewood lignification, resulting in greater optical intensity. These patterns highlight distinct climatic responses for each proxy, reflecting different growth cycle phases. MXBI was more strongly related to thermal variables, particularly mean autumn temperature, than to hydrological variables such as precipitation and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), whose lack of correlation suggests that high water availability at the study site mitigates drought impacts on tree growth. The moderate correlation between MXBI and RW (r = 0.45, p = 0.002) indicates an interaction between anatomical and optical parameters in recording climate conditions. The EPS for MXBI was 0.745, lower than that of RW (0.894), demonstrating RW's greater robustness as a climate proxy. However, combining both proxies proved effective in reconstructing autumn temperatures. MXBI’s ability to reflect local thermal conditions during autumn is valuable for understanding climate changes in subtropical regions. Future studies should integrate multiple proxies and expand analyses to other ecological contexts to improve climate reconstructions and support conservation strategies. Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13936 2024-12-19T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13917 Análise teórico: experimental de um concentrador solar tipo Fresnel Linear Scalco, Patricia Solar radiation, an abundant and renewable source, can be harnessed through solar concentrators, which direct and concentrate incident radiation into small areas, converting it into heat for electricity generation or to supply industrial processes requiring medium to high temperatures. One of the technologies that apply this concept is the Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR), which uses parallel rows of flat (or slightly curved) mirrors that move throughout the day following the movement of the Sun. Solar radiation strikes the mirrors and is reflected to an absorber, where the radiation is converted into thermal energy. In this context, this thesis presents a theoretical and experimental analysis of the performance of an LFR system with a trapezoidal cavity receiver, installed at the Renewable Sources Laboratory of the University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS). The study was structured in three main stages: geometric and analytical modeling, thermal analysis of the receiver, and experimental validation. The first step involved characterizing the mirror array and receiver, applying the gap angle concept to redistribute the mirror rows to minimize blocking and shading losses. Subsequently, a thermal model was developed to simulate heat transfer in the receiver: heat balances were applied to each of the surfaces involved in the heat exchange, properties of the Paratherm HE thermal fluid, conduction, convection, and radiation losses. Subsequently, experimental tests were conducted on different days and flow rates, enabling comparison with theoretical results. The analysis revealed that, although the thermal model accurately predicts thermal trends, discrepancies occur due to operational instabilities and limitations in experimental control. Furthermore, the results showed that the trapezoidal cavity receiver achieved an optical efficiency of 77% and a CAP of 0.24, values higher than those obtained with the CPC combined with the evacuated tube (63% and CAP of 0.10). Mirror redistribution using the gap angle criterion increased efficiency to 89%, albeit with a smaller angular tolerance. Experimental tests confirmed the influence of operating conditions and thermal losses, while the theoretical model adequately reproduced the receiver's behavior, highlighting the importance of convection and radiation losses at high temperatures. Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13917 2025-07-17T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13914 Método para simulação e análise de VTCDs em instalações elétricas industriais Ayres, Ingridt Cezar This work presents a simplified methodology for the analysis of Short-Duration Voltage Variations (SDVV) in Group A consumer units, with an emphasis on industrial facilities composed of motor loads. The proposal is based on the modeling of inrush current profiles of three-phase induction motors, obtained experimentally and incorporated into the OpenDSS simulation environment through LoadShape curves. The approach considers the technical criteria established in Module 8 of PRODIST, with the proposal to include a new severity region representing the ideal operating range. To evaluate the methodology, simulated scenarios were developed with different electrical configurations, and the voltage disturbances were quantified using the Impact Factor (FI) and the Base Impact Factor (FIBASE) indicators. The results obtained demonstrate the applicability of the methodology for preventive analysis of SDVVs, enabling technical diagnostics in the design or operation phase of the plant and contributing to compliance with the regulatory limits for electric power quality. Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13914 2025-06-17T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13913 Metodologia para determinação da capacidade de hospedagem de sistemas fotovoltaicos para consumidor livre Souza, Deivis Marques de The addition of Photovoltaic Systems (PS) to the internal networks of consumers inserted in the Free Contracting Environment (FCE), called free consumers, brings with it a set of challenges related to the planning and integration of such systems. Among these challenges, the present work aims to propose a methodology capable of determining the Hosting Capacity (HC) of PS for free consumers of the self-producer type, without injecting surplus energy produced into the distributor's network, without exceeding limits of predefined technical parameters such as overvoltage (V), overcurrent (I) and reverse power flow (RPF), and obtaining results with low data processing times, through the use of Visual Basic for Application (VBA) and OpenDSS tools. Currently, there are numerous works containing PS of HC analysis methods aimed at distribution networks, and not for private networks of free consumers; and there is a strong trend of increasing the number of consumers migrating from the captive to the free market, due to the lower cost of electricity and the recent changes in the legislation of the sector. The presented method proposes four steps, including activity planning, field survey, modeling of the existing network and determination of the HC; for the latter two, a tool was developed in VBA, called CHSFV Interface, which uses OpenDSS as a tool for calculating power flow. This tool optimizes network modeling time, automates the HC and eliminates the need for indepth knowledge of the OpenDSS programming syntax by the user. The methodology was applied through a case study, based on a theoretical circuit model and contemplating four scenarios, which simulated the insertion of PS in different buses of the circuit, including the possibility of using an energy storage system. The results indicated that the methodology proved to be effective, presenting HC values appropriate to the type of technical parameter responsible for the limitation of each scenario; it was also possible to verify that the parameter V is not applicable to the proposed method, since it did not act in any of the scenarios. Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13913 2025-05-30T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13912 Mensuração da eficiência em serviços de manutenção: estudo de caso no supermercado de uma cooperativa Silva, Vanderlei Amorim da Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13912 2025-09-22T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13911 De volta para o futuro: uma análise dos projetos de melhoria nos sistemas produtivos a partir da contabilidade dos ganhos Silva, Roger Freitas da This study aimed to assess to what extent and under which conditions investment decisions in improvement projects—and their respective outcomes—would differ when analyzed through the lens of throughput accounting, in contrast to traditional cost accounting. To achieve this objective, a two-stage methodological approach was adopted: (i) a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), grounded in the Literature Grounded Theory (LGT), which mapped key methods and existing gaps in the selection and prioritization of improvement projects; and (ii) a single-case study with counterfactual analysis, conducted in an auto parts manufacturing company and involving four implemented projects. The analysis applied both absorption costing and throughput accounting retroactively using real project data. Financial indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period, and Decision Adherence Rate (DAR) were employed, along with a counterfactual sensitivity analysis of the project assumptions. Results indicated that throughput accounting demonstrated a higher alignment between pre-investment decisions and post-implementation outcomes (DAR of 60% compared to 40% for absorption costing), lower sensitivity to assumption changes (40% project reclassification versus 60%), and greater suitability for contexts involving intensive internal manufacturing processes. The main contributions of this study are: (i) the contextual delineation of throughput accounting’s superiority, particularly in high-transformation manufacturing environments; and (ii) the introduction of the concept of decisional sensitivity to assumptions, highlighting throughput accounting’s robustness in uncertain scenarios. This research advances theoretical understanding of the application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to project portfolio management and offers practical implications for resource allocation decisions in production systems. Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13911 2025-07-30T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13910 Eficiência de investimentos em bens de capital: uma avaliação com indicadores compostos por meio da análise envoltória de dados Radmann, Maiquel Sandocan Making investments in capital goods is a strategic decision that can make a decisive contribution to an organization's performance. It is a complex process that involves the evaluation of multiple alternatives and has a high degree of uncertainty. Qualified decisions increase the likelihood of positive returns in the future by choosing the most viable alternative. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of investments in capital goods with composite indicators (CIs) through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). As main results, the study addresses theoretical and managerial issues. On a theoretical level, the integration of DEA into the Directional Distance Function (DDF) model and CIs articulates internal goals and benchmarks, offering a means for measurement and comparison. On a managerial level, the combined use of scores, beta, lambda, and slack provides practical criteria for prioritization, intervention, and monitoring. In terms of decision-making, the procedure increases assertiveness in capital allocation by transforming multiple measures into an operationally clear roadmap. It outlines the path from diagnosis to implementation, contributing to more assertive choices based on well-founded analyses aligned with value creation in the investment portfolio. In addition to covering technical and theoretical aspects, it is combined with widely used financial indicators, which, in this study, form the set of individual indicators applied to generate the aggregate indicator, the CI, which allows direct comparison between the investment projects under analysis. The research not only explores the advantages of DEA, but also identifies and discusses its limitations, providing a balanced and critical view of the applicability of this technique in business practice. It is hoped, therefore, that this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of efficiency assessment methods for capital goods investments, offering support to both researchers and managers seeking to optimize the use of resources in organizations. Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13910 2025-09-30T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13909 Importação de bens de capital: melhorias operacionais por meio de soluções digitais Reis, Lisandra Lutz dos This dissertation investigates how digital solutions improve capital goods import processes in Brazil, as well as the challenges faced by importers. The methodology used was a qualitative, exploratory, and inductive approach, based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with importers, exporters, and digital solutions experts. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The results reveal that the adoption of digital solutions, such as Blockchain, Machine Learning (ML), Big Data Analytics (BDA), and logistics simulation platforms, increases the efficiency of import processes, reducing costs and operational errors, optimizing customs clearance, and promoting integration among stakeholders in the logistics chain. Furthermore, these technologies strengthen real-time decision-making and increase companies' competitiveness in the international arena. This work contributes to the advancement of knowledge about the integration between capital goods imports and digital transformation in the context of international logistics. The academic advance concerns the proposal of a list of theoretical recommendations that relate the main challenges of importing capital goods to emerging digital solutions, providing support for future research. The managerial contribution concerns the identification of practices and tools that can be implemented to improve the operational, strategic, and technological management of importing companies. Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13909 2025-09-10T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13908 Criando valor por meio da servitização digital: um estudo exploratório em uma firma de equipamentos metal mecânico Kunz, Ildo José This study aimed to analyze how digital servitization (DS) can add value to customers and, consequently, increase revenue from product-service systems in a large familyowned company in the metalworking sector. The research, focusing on the case of SAUR company, addresses the "servitization paradox", which describes the challenges companies face in achieving financial returns when transitioning to servicebased models. Using a qualitative and exploratory single-case study approach and the theoretical lens of Knowledge-Based Dynamic Capabilities (KBDC), the company's transformation journey and its ecosystem were investigated. The findings revealed that a successful transition to DS depends on a synergistic orchestration of internal capabilities, external ecosystem management, and the application of enabling technologies. Among the main barriers identified are cultural resistance (both internal and external), a shortage of skilled professionals, and deficiencies in connectivity infrastructure. In response, SAUR demonstrated the practical application of KBDCs: (i) Sensing, by actively monitoring customer needs through tools like Customer Relationship Management (CRM); (ii) Seizing, by capturing opportunities with technologies such as IoT and telemetry to create new business models (e.g., pay-peruse); and (iii) Transformation, by reconfiguring its structure with interdisciplinary teams and innovation units, such as SAUR Tech. This strategy resulted in a 220% growth in service revenue between 2015 and 2024, demonstrating that the paradox was overcome. The conclusions reinforce that DS is a complex and non-linear process. The study contributes to theory by providing a practical and empirically validated model of the DS journey. For managerial practice, it offers a roadmap for transformation, highlighting realistic challenges and effective strategic responses. Limitations, such as the focus on a single case, open avenues for future research, including quantitative studies to validate the model, longitudinal studies to track the evolution of DS, and investigations into emerging technologies and human factors in organizations. Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13908 2025-08-25T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13907 An integrated model incorporating critical success factors and risk management for the development of in vitro diagnostic technologies Dalpiaz, Giovana Health innovation is essential for improving the quality of life, enabling solutions that expand access to and efficiency of healthcare services. Medical devices, particularly in vitro diagnostic tests (IVDs), which are conducted on biological samples outside the human body, play a critical role in diagnosis and treatment management, facilitating decentralized care and bringing healthcare closer to patients. However, developing such technologies is complex, as it involves technical, regulatory, market, and managerial challenges. In this context, the New Product Development (NPD) process helps address these barriers by guiding the use of management practices and tools that support development. Among these, NPD models structure processes, assist decision-making, support risk monitoring, and facilitate cross-functional integration. Although numerous models exist in the literature, a gap was observed regarding models specifically focused on IVD development, which is relevant because more general models may limit applicability in this context. Therefore, this study aimed to propose a model incorporating critical success factors and risk management practices to support the development of new in vitro diagnostic technologies. To achieve this, the Design Science Research (DSR) method was adopted. The DSR method guides the construction of artifacts (the NPD model) capable of solving real-world problems, in this case, providing a structured representation of the NPD process. Initially, a Systematic Literature Review was conducted to map gaps and identify models applicable to medical device development. Based on these findings, the development stages, six critical areas, and a risk management approach were defined, which underpinned the first version of the model (v.1). Subsequently, interviews and questionnaires with seven professionals allowed the identification of challenges, critical factors, and stakeholders, leading to the first optimization (v.2) by integrating empirical data with literature findings. Evaluation with six specialists and a focus group led to a second optimization (v.3), incorporating practical context insights and confirming the model’s potential for IVD applications. Finally, the last stage consolidated the lessons learned, resulting in the final version of the model (v.4), named IRIS (Integrated Risk and Innovation Strategic), accompanied by supporting materials to facilitate its application in real-world scenarios. This study presents an innovative proposal by developing an NPD model tailored to IVDs, even though it integrates existing elements. The tool, which has a national focus, contributes to expanding knowledge and consolidating good practices related to critical success factors and risk management. Among the limitations, the following stand out: the small number of respondents and the fact that the model may not yet address all IVD-specific requirements, necessitating continuous refinement. These limitations, however, open opportunities for future research, such as applying the model in real projects and enhancing it with new tools and metrics. In summary, the developed model not only expands academic knowledge but also serves as a practical resource to support the development of diagnostic technologies that positively impact health and quality of life. Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13907 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13906 Proposição de um método para aplicação integrada das técnicas de lean manufacturing e teoria das restrições em fornecedores da indústria automobilística Vargas, Gilberto Castro In the global value chain (GVC), metal parts suppliers play a key role, as their operations directly affect the quality and efficiency of automakers' final assembly lines. The growing competitiveness of the sector requires companies to adopt new production and operations management strategies in order to improve their economic performance and increase their competitiveness in the market. The incorporation of methods, techniques and tools aimed at continuous improvement is essential, encompassing the identification and elimination of unnecessary processes, the reduction of inefficiencies and the lowering of operating costs, factors which ultimately contribute to increasing suppliers' profitability. Manufacturing excellence strategies play a crucial role in transforming production processes in factories, ensuring sustainable and profitable business growth. Therefore, this study aims, based on a review of existing literature, to develop and implement a method that integrates techniques and tools from Lean and the Theory of Constraints (TOC) in a production system of a supplier of components to automakers in the automotive sector. In addition, the research analyzes the effects of implementing the proposed method in the production flow of a supplier within the global value chain of the automotive sector. These effects were evaluated using economic and financial performance indicators, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the results. The study mentions that the process function should not be interrupted, highlighting the importance of areas such as Production Planning and Control (PCP) and logistics. These areas, often seen as functional and little explored, can create barriers that interrupt the flow of the process. Integrated flow management is presented as an approach that seeks to break down these functional boundaries, promoting a continuous and efficient flow. This suggests that more effective coordination between the different areas can significantly improve the operation as a whole. The findings of this study show that the implementation of the proposed method generates positive and significant effects on the efficiency of the production flow. This finding not only validates the relevance of integrated Lean and TOC practices, but also highlights the importance of a systematic approach to continuous improvement in the automotive supply chain. In summary, the results obtained reinforce the need for suppliers to adopt innovative and effective practices, thus promoting a virtuous cycle of growth and competitiveness in the global market. Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13906 2024-12-20T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13905 Gestão de estoques em indústrias de fluxo contínuo: desafios e estratégias no contexto Make to Order Krindges, Amanda Melo The competitiveness of the global economy, combined with market dynamics and the constant evolution of consumer demands, has directly influenced the efficiency of production chains. This competitive landscape poses a significant challenge for companies, requiring them to meet increasingly specific customer demands. As a result, product variability increases, leading to unpredictability in both the required materials and production lead times. In light of this, it becomes essential to balance often conflicting objectives to ensure the level of service expected by the market. In this context, inventory plays a strategic role in mitigating misalignments between production capacity and market demand. However, inventory management in petrochemical industries becomes particularly complex when production parameters are uncertain, the manufacturing model follows a make-to-order approach, and the production flow is continuous. Recognizing the strategic importance of inventory management, organizations have begun to reassess their current practices in an effort to understand not only what is done, but also how these processes are conducted. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze inventory management in petrochemical industries operating in a continuous flow system, aiming to improve delivery efficiency and reduce lead times in make-to-order contexts. To achieve this objective, a systematic literature review was conducted to understand how the topic is addressed in theory, along with a case study in a thirdgeneration petrochemical company located in Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil) to explore practical strategies. The main findings of the research allowed for a comparison between theory and practice, identifying opportunities for improvement in the inventory management system of the analyzed unit. Furthermore, the study observed interactions among internal departments and their communication with external links in the supply chain. Based on these findings, four guidelines were proposed to support inventory management in an integrated, strategic, and efficiency-oriented manner, including recommendations for tools and technologies that may contribute to their practical implementation and further development. Thu, 28 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13905 2025-08-28T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13904 Estudo de revestimento compósito de porcelanato e borracha reciclada para atenuação do ruído de impacto Klippel Filho, Sérgio When analyzing building acoustics, the propagation of impact sounds through the structure of the building can be considered one of the most relevant problems, being a recurring subject of complaints. In these cases, floating floor systems are efficient solutions to reduce the transmission of vibrations generated by impacts on floors, consisting of a rigid walking surface on a resilient material. Acting as a spring, the resilient layer must have damping properties and compression strength against permanent and accidental loads adequate to guarantee its performance over time. In this context, the objective of this study is to develop and evaluate lightweight floating floors formed by ceramic tiles and recycled rubber agglomerate mats to attenuate the transmission of impact sounds in vertically adjacent rooms, analyzing their current and future performance. The study was based on the development of a lightweight floating floor and the physical and acoustic characterization of its components, proposing a model to predict the reduction of impact sounds, calibrated from full-scale measurements in a laboratory environment (ISO 10140), based on the dynamic stiffness (ISO 9052-1) of the rubber agglomerate mats and the physical characteristics of the rigid walking layer. The determination of the future behavior of the lightweight floating floor was carried out based on the compression creep test (ISO 16534) and the evaluation was carried out from its virtual application in a hypothetical building, considering direct and indirect transmission (ISO 12354-2). The results indicated that the lightweight floating floor compositions have adequate performance, with ΔLw values in the order of 16 to 18 dB, demonstrating efficiency, considering that the compositions have a total thickness of 11.5 to 20.5 mm. In the time domain, when subjected to loads of up to 15 years, the damping capacity, in terms of weighted impact sound pressure levels reduction, of the compositions was reduced by up to 2 dB. However, the developed compositions have a considerable impact sounds reduction and adequate maintenance of performance in the time domain. Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13904 2025-08-18T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13903 Análise das propriedades de pisos de concreto lapidado com diferentes tratamentos superficiais Takeda, Nereu Teixeira Rodrigues Grinding and abrasive polishing are essential processes in the treatment of concrete surfaces, as they improve wear resistance, reduce roughness, and increase durability. These techniques have been applied to indoor concrete floors, aiming to meet performance requirements in commercial, corporate, and residential environments. The efficiency of surface treatments is determined by physical, mechanical, and chemical properties that directly influence the service life of the material. The main objective of this study was to analyze the properties of indoor concrete floors subjected to different levels of abrasive polishing, focusing on their resistance, functional performance, and durability. An experimental program was carried out with 12 concrete slabs, of which 10 received surface treatments and 2 were used as references. After 28 days of wet curing, diamond abrasives, latex-based cement, silicate-based surface hardener, sealant, and polishing pads with progressive grit sizes (#200, #400, #800, #1500, and #3000) were applied. The effectiveness of the treatments was assessed through standardized tests, including abrasion resistance, gloss measurement (GU), surface roughness, hardness, chemical resistance, and stain resistance. The results showed significant improvements in abrasion resistance, with wear reduction of up to 24.86%, progressive increases in gloss, reaching 76.86 GU in the high-gloss finish (#3000), and reductions in surface roughness to 0.85 µm. Hardness increased by up to 82.30% compared with the reference samples, while chemical resistance was classified as Class A. In the stain resistance tests, the highest polishing levels achieved the maximum cleaning classification (Class 5). It was concluded that abrasive polishing of indoor concrete floors provided significant physical, mechanical, and chemical performance improvements, directly contributing to increased durability and reinforcing the importance of choosing appropriate surface treatments. Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13903 2025-09-22T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13902 Avaliação do desempenho da estação de tratamento de esgotos sanitários da Unisinos no decréscimo de ibuprofeno, diclofenaco sódio e metoprolol Santos, Leonardo Zanoelo dos In addition to conventional pollutants, emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals—detected at trace levels (µg/L to ng/L) and not yet regulated by Brazilian environmental legislation—have received increasing scientific and regulatory attention. Due to their persistence and pharmacological specificity, they pose significant challenges to Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTPs and WWTPs), which were not originally designed for their removal. In this context, the present study evaluated, over six sampling campaigns and four monitoring points at the Unisinos WWTP (São Leopoldo Campus, RS, Brazil), the treatment efficiency in reducing the concentrations of pharmaceuticals such as Diclofenac Sodium, Metoprolol, and Ibuprofen. The study also assessed parameters such as COD, TOC, pH, and residual ozone, and compared two analytical techniques for micropollutant detection: UV254 absorbance and Liquid Chromatography. The Unisinos WWTP showed good performance in meeting the standards established by CONSEMA Resolution No. 355 (2017) for pH and COD, with the latter presenting an average removal efficiency above 75%. Regarding pharmaceuticals, influent concentrations of Ibuprofen and Diclofenac Sodium ranged from 21.10 to 987.46 ng/L and 24.58 to 4464.99 ng/L, respectively. Ibuprofen was more susceptible to the applied treatments, with 51.43% removal in the UASB reactor and 65.03% after ozonation. Diclofenac Sodium, on the other hand, showed greater persistence, with only 4.83% removal in the UASB reactor and 35.47% following the ozonation step. Metoprolol was detected in only one sampling event, indicating a low concentration of this compound in the wastewater at the Unisinos WWTP. These findings indicate that the biological processes employed at the University's WWTP are effective in reducing Ibuprofen concentrations, likely due to its higher biodegradability, but appear to be less effective in treating Diclofenac Sodium. The ozonation step showed low efficiency in pharmaceutical removal, suggesting that the current ozone dosage is insufficient. Statistical analyses revealed a strong negative correlation between Diclofenac and TOC, indicating that the pharmaceutical's removal is associated with the reduction of organic load. TOC also showed a positive correlation with COD and UV254 absorbance, reinforcing its role as an indicator of organic matter. Ibuprofen exhibited a moderate correlation with UV254, suggesting that its presence influences absorbance in this spectral range. In contrast, Diclofenac had a weak correlation with UV254, which may be related to its higher resistance to degradation. These results suggest that UV254 monitoring can be useful for the indirect assessment of certain micropollutants, such as Ibuprofen. Overall, the study indicates that while the Unisinos WWTP meets conventional treatment standards, it presents limitations in the removal of persistent pharmaceuticals. The findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and the adoption of advanced technologies in the context of environmental sanitation. Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13902 2025-06-26T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13901 Avaliação da autocicatrização em concretos contendo cimentos ternários do tipo LC³: desenvolvimento e impacto na durabilidade Gil, Leonardo Masiero The objective of this study was to evaluate the self-healing phenomenon and its impact on the durability of concretes containing ternary cements of the LC³ type. For this purpose, concrete mixes with three different water/cement ratios were developed, using, in addition to the LC³ cement, the CPV ARI cement, in order to provide a comparison between both. The cracking of the samples was made by the diametrical compression test, with an opening limiter device, at the age of 7 days, and the curing procedure adopted was submerged in water for a period of 42 days. Self-healing was evaluated through the analysis of crack images by microscopy, the ultrasonic wave propagation velocity test and the low-pressure water penetration test. All concrete mixes also had molded specimens intended for the compressive strength test. For the durability analysis, in addition to the study of water penetration, the amount of material present in the crack was identified, before and after the test, in order to understand its permanence capacity. The material formed on the surface of the cracks was collected and characterized in terms of its mineralogy through the X-ray diffraction (XRD) test. Ternary cement of the LC³ type has self-healing capacity, although at a lower level when compared to CPV ARI cement, under the conditions of this study. The maximum healing achieved by mixtures with LC³ was 64.5% and for CPV ARI cement it was 76.9%. Much of the material formed in the healed cracks remained after the action of water, for both cements analyzed, indicating its probable contribution to durability. The presence of C-S-H, Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3 was identified in the healing products for CPV ARI cement, and the same crystalline phases for LC³, however with the presence also of C-A-S-H and AFm. Regarding compressive strength, a superior performance of LC³ cement was observed. Such behaviors found in the study are probably linked to the fact that ternary cement of the LC³ type culminates in the formation of more stable hydration products and a denser cementitious matrix, which hinders the migration and percolation of this material to the cracks analyzed, and benefits the development of compressive strength. Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13901 2025-06-10T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13900 Avaliação de microplásticos em lixiviado de aterro sanitário Schmitt, Graziela Taís Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles ranging in size from 0.001 to 5 mm, whose presence in the environment has raised increasing concern due to potential risks to biota and human health. Despite advances in research in aquatic environments, the occurrence and characterization of MPs in landfill leachates remain scarcely explored in Brazil. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify and characterize MPs present in raw leachate samples from a landfill located in the municipality of São Leopoldo – RS. Three sampling campaigns were conducted throughout 2024. The samples underwent sieving, oxidative treatment with Fenton’s reagent, vacuum filtration, and subsequently, suspected particles were confirmed as MPs by Raman spectroscopy. Only after this chemical confirmation were the particles physically characterized in terms of morphology, shape, color, and size. Concentrations ranged from 13 to 73 items/L. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) polymers predominated, together representing the majority (80%) of identified MPs. Fragment-type particles were predominant (98%), indicating a secondary origin, i.e., derived from the fragmentation of plastic waste disposed of in the landfill. Most particles were smaller than 75 µm, suggesting high mobility and potential for percolation in the environment. MP abundance correlated with leachate physicochemical variables, such as turbidity, organic load, and color, as well as environmental factors, including temperature and precipitation. The results indicate that landfills may act as significant sources of MPs. This study helps fill knowledge gaps on the topic in Brazil and may support environmental education initiatives and the development of strategies to mitigate plastic pollution. Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13900 2025-09-22T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13869 Developing effective AI and law applications: a methodological proposal for developing natural language processing applications based on transformers, pre-trained models and transfer learning Zanuz, Luciano CONTEXT: The intersection between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Law has been explored since the early days of AI research. In recent years, both judicial institutions and legal professionals have increasingly adopted AI technologies to streamline processes, support legal decision-making, automate repetitive tasks, and extract structured information from legal texts. These applications are predominantly powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP), given the textual nature of legal proceedings. Advances in deep learning, particularly transformer-based architectures and pre-trained language models, have significantly reshaped the development of NLP systems and achieved state-of-the-art results across many downstream tasks. PROBLEM: Despite the potential of these advances, there remains a lack of a unified, domain-specific methodology for developing AI applications in the legal field. This gap limits the effective adoption of NLP-based AI solutions in real-world legal contexts. Additionally, most cutting-edge resources are available primarily in English, creating a barrier for Portuguese-speaking legal systems. SOLUTION: This thesis proposes a structured methodology for developing AI and Law applications, grounded in modern NLP paradigms such as transformers, transfer learning, and domain adaptation. The methodology addresses both technical and domain-specific challenges and includes practical components, such as datasets, fine-tuned models, and evaluation tools, tailored to the Portuguese legal context. PROPOSED METHOD: The proposed methodology is composed of four main steps and emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration between legal and technical teams. It defines a clear development flow, from problem definition to deployment, incorporating iterative validation, the creation of applicationlevel datasets, and the use of Explainable AI mechanisms where applicable. RESULTS: The methodology was validated through multiple experiments, including the development of Legal Named Entity Recognition (NER) models that achieved new state-of-the-art results on the LeNER-Br dataset, alongside experiments with context-specific and parameter-efficient finetuning techniques to enhance model performance and adaptability. A real-world application for AI-generated judgment reports was implemented, supported by a novel evaluation framework combining automated metrics and human assessment. This work also provides practical resources in Portuguese and insights into the correlation between human and automated evaluations of AI outputs in the legal domain, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of a structured, domain-adapted approach to AI development in legal applications. Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13869 2025-06-06T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13868 Detecção da autoeficácia em ambientes computacionais de aprendizagem Campos, Kelis Estatiane de In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in studies focused on the area of Affective Computing, with emphasis on affective states, which comprise studies that relate emotion and learning. Emotions can influence learning both positively and negatively. Thus, this study is directed to the belief of Self-efficacy, which understands the individual's ability to produce certain levels of performance, which implies how the person feels, thinks, is motivated and behaves. Thus, in making use of the Computer Learning Environments (ACA) to assist in the learning process, studies have shown how emotional factors and the relationship between internal (psychic) and external (environmental) variables are fundamental in the teachinglearning process. Thus, the preliminary study carried out in the form of systematic mapping identified a gap pointing to the need for research aimed at detecting self-efficacy or other socioaffective phenomena, since the use of ACA currently presents a significant increase in the number of cases, as a reality present in the different teaching modalities. From this perspective, this study proposed a model for the diagnosis, instruction and monitoring of academic selfefficacy in Computer Learning Environments, in order to promote self-knowledge and contribute to better learning strategies of students. It is hypothesized that the realization of diagnosis, instruction on self-efficacy, as well as follow-up actions when using ACAs can encourage the modification of attitudes of students' studies in order to change the learning path, enabling the improvement of academic performance. Thus, the study included exploratory and descriptive research, based on quantitative and qualitative techniques. The proposed model, called the Self-efficacy Diagnosis, Prevention and Follow-up Model (MDPAA), involved three stages: diagnosis of the level of self-efficacy, from the creation of the student's self-efficacy form; Analysis of student behavior patterns using the Orange tool, and elaboration and evaluation of the Orientation Guide, instructional material created to instruct students about self-efficacy. Based on the results of the experiments performed, it is possible to obtain indicatives of applicability and effectiveness of the MDPAA, being evaluated that the model can enable more assertive choices in relation to the academic trajectory, in order to contribute to the favoring of the teaching-learning process and consequently contribute to the improvement of academic performance, promoting the reduction of dropout and dropout rates in education. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13868 2025-04-28T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13867 Oraculum: a model for self-adaptive system optimization in smart environments Noetzold, Darlan This dissertation introduces Oraculum, a modular self-adaptive framework designed to support the monitoring, prediction, reasoning, and adaptation of distributed systems operating in smart environments. Many existing solutions treat these tasks as disconnected components, relying on static training phases, fixed adaptation logic, and reactive decision-making triggered only after system degradation is detected. Oraculum proposes an integrated approach in which monitored metrics are continuously collected and processed to generate predictions and select actions in advance of performance failures. The framework consists of three key components. SHiELD is a sensor data simulator that generates synthetic time-series data using ARIMA models and applies heuristic methods-such as filtering, aggregation, and compression-to simulate realistic variability and reduce processing overhead. OntOraculum is a semantic ontology that formalizes performance metrics into five categories and enables the system to classify and validate alerts through rule-based reasoning and SPARQL queries. The adaptation engine uses regression and classification models to forecast short-term metric behavior and integrates a reinforcement learning agent based on a Markov Decision Process (MDP), which receives contextual states and selects actions such as resource scaling, scheduling adjustment, or service reconfiguration. The RL engine also includes a retraining mechanism that periodically updates policies using new data. The entire architecture operates in a closed feedback loop, using predictions and inferred knowledge to support earlier and more informed decisions. The model includes automated pipelines for dataset creation, model training, hyperparameter tuning, and continuous learning, covering both predictive models and RL agents. Experimental validation was conducted in a containerized testbed with simulated load variation. Results were collected across multiple performance indicators, including CPU, memory, latency, and model accuracy. The contributions of this work are: (i) the proposal of an integrated framework that combines monitoring, forecasting, semantic validation, and adaptation; (ii) the development of SHiELD for synthetic data generation and heuristic preprocessing; (iii) the design of OntOraculum for metric classification and rule-based inference; (iv) the implementation of a prediction-based strategy for early alert generation to reduce adaptation delay; and (v) the modeling of an RL engine with configurable actions and scheduled policy retraining. Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13867 2025-07-16T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13866 VSAC: um framework de compressão adaptativa para dados de saúde em cidades inteligentes Andrade, Alexandre Luis de The increasing adoption of wearable devices and smart health technologies has highlighted the need for efficient transmission and storage of physiological data in urban-scale health monitoring systems. In this context, one of the major challenges is the ability to manage large volumes of vital-sign data—such as heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure—generated continuously by heterogeneous devices, while ensuring clinical integrity, low latency, and optimized network usage. Current solutions often treat compression techniques in isolation and lack adaptive mechanisms responsive to the clinical condition of each monitored individual. This research addresses that gap by proposing an integrated and context-aware approach for compressing vital-sign data in smart city infrastructures. This study aimed to develop and validate the VSAC (Vital Sign Adaptive Compressor), an adaptive framework for managing the transmission of physiological signals using a combination of lossy and lossless data compression techniques. The framework was designed to dynamically adjust its compression parameters based on the signal type and clinical priority, ensuring a balance between data fidelity and transmission efficiency. The methodology consisted of designing and implementing a two-stage compression prototype in Python, applied to real-world datasets of heart rate collected from wearable devices with different sampling intervals. The evaluation included three operational scenarios—losslessonly, lossy-only, and hybrid compression—tested across datasets of varying sizes and densities. Performance was measured using standard metrics: compression rate, compression time, and distortion. The tests were repeated ten times per scenario to ensure measurement stability. The results confirmed that the hybrid and adaptive strategy proposed by VSAC outperformed traditional static methods. The framework achieved compression rates up to 46.3% higher than lossless-only approaches while maintaining distortion levels below 10% in most cases, especially in medium and large datasets. The compression time was significantly reduced with the use of LZW in the final stage, particularly for large files. The study concludes that the adaptive and hybrid compression approach embodied in VSAC offers a robust and scalable solution for the efficient transmission of vital-sign data in smart healthcare environments. Its context-aware mechanism enables real-time prioritization and efficient resource usage, making it a promising tool for public health policies that rely on connected infrastructures and timely clinical decision-making in smart cities. Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13866 2025-09-23T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13854 Ecologia do forrageiro e quantificação de mercúrio no atobá-pardo (Sula leucogaster) (BODDAERT, 1783) em dois arquipélagos brasileiros Benemann, Victória Renata Fontoura The Optimal Foraging Theory predicts that a predator adjusts its foraging strategies to maximize energy gain, spending the least amount of energy possible to meet its energy demands. Foraging efficiency is a metric used to measure the final energy balance resulting from an individual's foraging activities, where the energy gain obtained by prey consumption should be greater than the energy cost of searching, capturing and ingesting it. The brown booby (Sula leucogaster) is a seabird of the Sulidae family, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical oceans both in coastal and pelagic zones and is characterized by exhibiting a high trophic plasticity. The main goal of this thesis is to investigate the foraging behavior and efficiency of brown boobies in two populations of the species, comparing the environmental conditions and the anthropic influence in each one. The specific goals are to (1) determine the foraging areas in the Moleques do Sul archipelago (MS) and investigate how oceanographic variables and the distribution of trawling fleets influence the foraging habitat use, (2) test intersexual differences in foraging behavior, (3) compare the prey species composition and nutritional quality of brown boobies diet between MS and São Pedro and São Paulo (SPSP) archipelagos, (4) compare foraging efficiency between the two archipelagos, and (5) determine and compare mercury concentration in feathers of juveniles and adults from the two archipelagos. Breeding adults (n = 39) were tracked for three days with biologgers programmed to collect geographic coordinates, acceleration, and depth data during foraging trips in both archipelagos. Of these 39 individuals tracked, 26 had their diet samples collected through spontaneous regurgitation to analyze diet and nutritional composition. To analyze mercury concentration, ventral feathers were collected from 58 individuals: 21 in MS and 37 in SPSP. No significant influence of trawling fleets spatial distribution was found on the choice for foraging areas in MS during the studied period. A significant difference was observed in protein and lipid contents, but not in energy density between the prey of the two archipelagos. Brown boobies from MS performed trips farther from the breeding colony and dived deeper, which resulted in higher energy expenditure than in SPSP. The foraging efficiency of brown boobies was higher in SPSP than in MS, probably due to the greater availability of prey in this archipelago. Regarding mercury contamination, no significant differences were observed concerning sex and age, but there were differences between the archipelagos, where individuals from MS showed higher concentrations. This thesis presents new information on the foraging behavior and mercury contamination of the brown booby in the studied archipelagos, especially for the MS population, which represents the southern limit of the species distribution in the Atlantic Ocean and is still poorly studied. Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13854 2024-12-13T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13853 Eficácia da gestão em unidades de conservação da natureza do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil Witt, Patrícia Bernardes Rodrigues The implementation of protected areas, especially Conservation Units (CUs), is a globally recognized conservation strategy. However, these territories require efficient management to achieve their conservation objectives. When the management of CUs is deficient, it harms their own objectives, affecting biodiversity and ecological processes, in addition to causing social and economic impacts. This study aimed to evaluate, in a qualitative and quantitative way, the effectiveness of management and the threats that affect 11 Conservation Units of the Full Protection group, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. This evaluation was carried out through interviews with managers with application of the parameters, concomitantly with the review of the official documents of each CU. For this analysis, the adapted method of Effectiveness of Management of Protected Areas (EMAP) was used through the Likert scale with five levels, eight scopes, 73 indicators and 65 evaluation scenarios. Of the CUs assessed in southern Brazil, 91% presented results that indicated that their effectiveness ranged from average to very unsatisfactory, with low management effectiveness. In 18% of the CUs, the quality of management was very unsatisfactory, 37% unsatisfactory; 36% average and only 9% satisfactory. Thus, it was found that the main objectives for which the protected areas were created are not being met effectively. To assess the incidence of 23 threat variables in the CUs, attributes such as magnitude, scope, permanence, dynamics, probability of materialization and mitigation actions were adopted. The valuation of the attributes was measured using Likert scales with five levels. The higher the percentage obtained, the lower the risk or severity of threats, and the lower the percentage obtained, the greater the threats assessed, that is, severity alert. The threat factors were selected considering field information surveys, management plans, the reality of protected areas and their characteristics, based on other methods that analyzed threats to the effectiveness of management in protected areas. The results obtained demonstrated that there are threat factors in all 11 analyzed protected areas, with different levels of severity. The Delta do Jacuí State Park (PEDJ) presented the highest value (gradient) of threats (42.21%), followed by the Tainhas State Park (PETA) (59.96%) and Espigão Alto State Park (PEA) (68.48%), considered to have a medium threat value. Seven other protected areas obtained low threat values: Itapeva State Park (PEVA) 72.46%; Ibitiriá State Park (PEIB) 72.64%; Espinilho State Park (PEESP) 74.28%; Itapuã State Park (PEIT) 80.98%; Turvo State Park (PETU) 81.88%; Aratinga Ecological Station (EEA) 84.24% and Serra Geral Biological Reserve (REBIOSG) 84.96%. Only the Banhado dos Pachecos Wildlife Refuge (RVSBP) presented very low threat values (89.13%). In general, actions to be implemented by management to achieve the objectives of the CUs are recommended: adoption of a qualitative and quantitative assessment model; increase in staff; training of teams and managers; improvement of infrastructure, materials and equipment; budget forecasting and headings directed on a regular basis; land regularization, implementation of advisory boards; updating of management plans and implementation of threat monitoring systems for state CUs. Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13853 2025-05-28T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13852 Efeitos das mudanças climáticas globais sobre a distribuição e a dispersão do lobo-marinho-subantártico Arctocephalus tropicalis (Gray, 1872) Oliveira, Carlos de Understanding species’ geographic distribution is essential for comprehending how environmental factors influence biodiversity patterns. By identifying the set of environmental conditions that affect this distribution, it is possible to predict changes in species abundance and spatial occupancy. However, climate change has caused abrupt shifts in distributions in both terrestrial and marine environments, representing a growing threat to biodiversity. Top predators, such as the sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis), are particularly vulnerable, as they rely on the abundance and location of their prey and on the stability of their breeding, foraging, and resting habitats. This study aimed to analyze, from a climate change perspective, the environmental factors that influence the distribution of A. tropicalis, with emphasis on its main breeding colonies on the Tristan da Cunha/Gough Islands (TDC/Gough) and on the species’ extra-limital occurrences along the Brazilian coast. To this end, time series (1982–2021) of oceanographic variables were evaluated in the TDC/Gough region, including sea surface temperature (SST), shifts in the Sub-Antarctic Front (SAF) and northern boundary of the Subtropical Front (STFN), and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration as a proxy for productivity. SST, SAF, and Chl-a showed significant positive annual trends, whereas STFN exhibited a negative trend, indicating a southward shift of the SAF and a northward expansion of the STFN toward the colonies. These changes may negatively impact lactating females by increasing foraging distances and reducing reproductive success. In addition, 656 records of A. tropicalis along the Brazilian coast between 1992 and 2021 were compiled and analyzed, with a predominance in the southern region (69%) and higher frequency during the austral winter months (July to September). Association models revealed that variables such as seasonality (sine and cosine), mixed layer depth (MLD), and SAF were strongly correlated with occurrence patterns. Regional variables such as Chl-a and the South Atlantic Ocean Dipole Index (SAODI) influenced records in the southern region, while the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and the South Atlantic Subtropical Dipole Index (SASDI) affected records in the southeastern and northeastern regions. These results support the hypothesis that multiple environmental factors may differently influence the species’ dispersal routes along the Brazilian coast. Habitat suitability models indicated that the current potential distribution of A. tropicalis (suitability > 0.7) is concentrated around subantarctic and subtropical colonies but also includes areas not currently colonized, such as the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Tierra del Fuego, southern Chile, Kerguelen Islands, southern Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Projections of A. tropicalis distribution for the years 2050 and 2100, based on AR6 climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5), indicated a shift toward sub-Antarctic and polar regions and an increase in moderately suitable areas (0.5–0.9). However, a significant contraction in highly suitable areas (>0.9) was also projected, particularly in current breeding colonies such as TDC/Gough and Amsterdam Island. The results suggest that current breeding colonies of A. tropicalis may become less suitable as the century progresses, while new areas south of its current range may become favorable, indicating a possible geographic expansion of the species. This includes the potential overlap with other otariid species and, consequently, the occurrence of natural hybridization events, as already recorded between A. tropicalis, A. gazella, and A. forsteri on Macquarie Island. On the other hand, the colonization of South American coastal areas as new breeding sites is unlikely due to the lack of suitable ecological conditions. Factors such as the need for remote islands with rocky substrates, a prolonged lactation period, urbanized coastal zones subject to human disturbance, and the risk of pup predation by domestic dogs severely limit the species’ reproductive success in these regions. Together, the results indicate that climate change may reshape the distribution of A. tropicalis, both by altering its breeding areas and by expanding its extra-limital dispersal. Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13852 2025-07-28T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13844 Heimdall: an architecture for online machine learning through imbalanced data Vargas, Vitor Werner de Machine Learning (ML) algorithms have been increasingly applied to domain areas where data is available for process automation. However, in the case of imbalanced data applications, the training process is challenging since ML algorithms intrinsically learn from balanced distributions. This research proposes Heimdall, a resourceful architecture for online ML through imbalanced data. Designed as a service for prediction and analysis requests, Heimdall serves existing applications from external systems, extending artificial intelligence capabilities and automated processes to traditional applications supervised by experts. The architecture focuses on efficiently solving imbalance and improving performance through a set of good practices compiled from mapped studies – such as probability threshold optimization, high-performance sampling, and ensemble learning. Furthermore, Heimdall proposes and evaluates the efficiency of novel functionalities. Firstly, a new performance metric corrects precision-recall balance according to the application’s needs, enhancing probability threshold optimization. Secondly, the architecture independently automates data management and training pipelines through two rule-based reactive agents constantly monitoring data changes and model degradation to trigger processes. These reactive agents compose a strategy for adaptive efficiency, enabling better and more stable performance by sacrificing efficiency in warm-up conditions, and maintaining excellent performance and efficiency in hot conditions. To adequately evaluate the architecture, this study implemented a prototype for one well-studied and severely imbalanced application – Credit Card Fraud Detection (CCFD). Isolating the improvement of each proposed functionality, the analysis evaluated performance over time and overall performance against related works through five scenarios. Namely, the results indicated that the prototype achieved excellent performance even with few anomalies, and improved systemic efficiency over time. Finally, the overall performance achieved comparable results to the best-performing related works. Tue, 26 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13844 2023-09-26T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13788 DNA Barcoding helping the identification of Brazilian cetaceans Silva, Vanessa Souza Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I (COI) is the mitochondrial gene recognized as the DNA Barcoding and used to identify different animal species. In the case of cetaceans (porpoises, whales and dolphins), the COI can assist in more accurate identification and/or confirm the morphological identity of specimens found in advanced state of decomposition on the Brazilian coast, without evident external diagnostic characters. This study aimed to test the efficiency of the COI in the specific identification of most of the 47 species of cetaceans off the Brazilian coast and to generate their respective sequences for depositing them in public sequence databases, in order to subsidize new work by researchers from any country. Part of the world. To this end, the COI was amplified to 152 specimens collected by 13 Brazilian institutions and sent for analysis. The comparison between the sequences obtained and those of cetacean species previously deposited in GenBank was made by the Blast tool, which is based on the similarity between the sequences, which was performed on the Barcode Of Life Data System platform. In addition, most samples had a specimen deposited in a scientific collection as witness material, or specimen images, which allowed their a priori morphological identification in cases where morphological identification diverged from molecular identification. As a result, COI sequences were obtained from 33 species, which represent 70% of the 47 cetacean fauna recorded for the Brazilian coast. Of the 152 sequences analyzed, the COI gene was inefficient in identifying only two species: Stenella coeruleoalba and S. clymene due to the absence of the so-called “gap barcode”, i.g., the absence of well-established inter and intraspecific limits. These results suggest that barcode DNA was efficient in identifying the great majority of cetacean specimens (~93%) studied. However, for species of Delphinidae family the identification should be integrated with other methods, such as Cyt b, nuclear DNA and morphological character analysis whenerver possible. Thu, 28 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13788 2019-11-28T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13785 Estudo da durabilidade do concreto frente à degradação com ataque de sulfatos em Estações de Tratamento de Esgoto (ETE) Bender, Samantha Fernanda The recurrence time established in NBR 8681:2003 for the durability of concrete structures is 50 years. It is expected that concrete structures will not present problems or pathologies within this interval. In this research, the durability and degradation of concrete are addressed due to their relevance and the need for special care in aggressive environments such as Sewage Treatment Plants (ETEs), which have difficulties in developing treatments for concrete with pathologies resulting from sulfate attack. The objective of this study is to evaluate the durability of sewage treatment plants, carrying out inspections, diagnosing anomalies and reporting on their treatment. Within this context, for the analysis and methodology applied in this study, “on-site” inspections were carried out in ten ETEs and samples were collected in one ETE for the sewage and concrete inside the tank in which the tests were subsequently carried out followed The test out followed the produce of NBR 16937 – Aggressive Waters – Durability of Concrete Part 6 with the collection of sewage and the X-ray Fluorescence Test (FRX) to verify degradation with the presence of sulfate with the collection of a sample from the internal wall of a tank in ETE sewage. In addition to the samples collected, to determine the data analysis, it was necessary to carry out a comparison with other researched standards regarding the chemical characteristics of the ETE sewage. The result of the sewage sample collected in June 2024 was SO₄⁻² = 181.10 mg/l. And the result of the collection in October 2024 presented the value found for the study SO₄⁻² = 211.97 mg/l. Regarding the analysis, concrete samples, collected on the inner wall of the treatment tank, were analyzed through FRX, resulting in that the five samples are basically formed by two components, SiO2 = 41.517% and CaO = 10.712% at the depth point at 3.00 cm and alkaline earth metals 6.357% (MgO) during sample collection. It also presented at the point 3.00 centimeters a low concentration of metal oxides (Na2O and K2O) and aluminum (Al2O3). After analyzing the results, it was possible to verify the intensity of the concrete degradation action in ETE in the face of sulfate attack Fri, 02 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13785 2025-05-02T00:00:00Z http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13745 Análise exploratória da eficiência de sistemas produtivos utilizando o Benchmarking interno e a DEA Window Hamdan, Yuri Dias Efficiency is a key indicator for assessing the performance of an organization's production units. Analyzing efficiency allows managers to assess how companies are operating in comparison with the productivity targets set for different periods of time. The aim of this study is to analyze efficiency over time by means of internal benchmarking and the DEA Window of the production process of a company in the metal-mechanics segment. The DEA Window is a non-parametric panel approach that is suitable for measuring the level of efficiency of various decision-making units (DMUs) in relation to their own performance over time. A case study is carried out, seeking to obtain the efficiency scores of the DMUs, as well as comparing the efficiency scores and the targets and gains of the DEA and DEA Window models with windows of three and six periods. The main results show that the conventional DEA model obtained an average efficiency of 75.93%, while the three- and six-period window approaches had average efficiencies of 98.64% and 97.11%, respectively. Furthermore, in the comparative analysis of targets and gains, the conventional DEA model indicated gains of up to ten times the value of certain inputs, when compared to the DEA Window models, highlighting the Window models' discrimination problems. The main contributions of this work indicate that, when a longer time series is available, the window approach associated with internal benchmarking can be an alternative for evaluating efficiency over time. In addition, the DEA Window model allows for a dynamic analysis of efficiency, since the use of moving windows makes it possible to follow the evolution of efficiency over time. Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repositorio.jesuita.org.br/handle/UNISINOS/13745 2025-03-17T00:00:00Z