Validating the Operating Window Concept for Robustness on a Circuit Board Stencil Printing Process

The lifecycle of a system is dependent on the system design. However, the concern with quality has been stressed mostly during its production and use. The understanding of the system variability generated by noise variables shifted the quality focus to the design phase. The development of robustness early on the system lifecycle increases the system reliability through its entire life cycle. Although the robust design approach developed by the Taguchi methods application had a great contribution to this philosophy, there is much criticism of this methodology. One alternative to the Taguchi method is the Operating Window methodology. Its application has successfully been demonstrated as a substitute for the Taguchi methods, especially when the response is not quantitative. However, most of the examples were used repeatedly and the steps on the application of the methodology have not been well detailed. Therefore, this project had the objective of developing a unique application of the methodology with a simple approach. Moreover, with the implementation of the methodology, the project aims to identify the difference between a design with a wide output data distribution and a design with a narrow distribution. The methodology followed the Operating Window methodology steps, applying it to a circuit board printing process. The results have shown that it is possible to have a relationship between the Operating Window range and the distribution variation from the system output

Relacionamento Com Ex-Alunos Como Prática de Gestão Universitária: Estudo do Caso da FEA-USP

O envolvimento de ex-alunos com suas respectivas instituições de ensino superior é desejável e positivo, tanto para os egressos quanto para as instituições. Nas faculdades de outros países como EUA e Europa, esse relacionamento pós-formatura é parte da cultura educacional, sendo que essas instituições possuem um gerenciamento profissionalizado desse relacionamento. No Brasil, essa prática ainda é incipiente, constituindo, portanto, em uma abordagem desafiadora como mudança no paradigma de gestão universitária no país. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo discutir os benefícios de um programa de relacionamento, bem como mostrar as principais dificuldades e características do desenvolvimento e da execução de um programa estruturado de relacionamento. Faz isso por meio de pesquisa exploratória, utilizando como ferramenta o método do estudo de caso, aplicado em uma instituição de ensino superior que lançou um programa deste tipo recentemente. São analisados: as estratégias empregadas; a estrutura organizacional desenvolvida; o relacionamento do programa com a associação de ex-alunos existente e, por fim, são apresentados os principais interesses dos ex-alunos no que tange ao relacionamento com esta instituição. Os resultados mostram que o programa é consistente, diagnosticando corretamente os interesses de relacionamento dos egressos, utilizando adequadamente as fontes de informação e propondo estratégias para o estreitamento da interação. Conclui-se que uma das principais dificuldades no desenvolvimento e introdução de programas de relacionamento é acessar e evolver os ex-alunos da instituição. Recomenda-se a introdução modular de programas desse tipo, de forma a minimizar os riscos e racionalizar os recursos

Medições de longo termo, in situ à superfície, de propriedades ópticas dos aerossóis em Évora, Portuga

Ponencia presentada en: XXXI Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el XI Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en Sevilla, del 1 al 3 de marzo de 2010.This work was supported by the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under grant (SFRH/BD/29008/2006)

An essay on the foreign exchange rate expectations in Brazil

This article analyses the behaviour of the brazilian exchange rate (Real/US dollar) and the corresponding values forecasted by the market agents, from 2001 (november) to 2004 (may). We use the data-base of the Brazilian Central Bank, called “Sistema de Expectativas de Mercado”, which has been created in 1999. We evaluate the rational expectations hypothesis (REH) for the exchange rate market, comparing the mean value predicted by some brazilian financial institutions with the daily exchange rate that has really occurred (PTAX). The particular arrangement of the data-base allows us to make the analysis in two different ways: with fixed-event forecasts and also with “rolling-event” forecasts. The main result suggests that the brazilian exchange rate market support the weak form of the REH, for short horizons of forecasting.taxa de câmbio; volatilidade; expectativas racionais

ANALYSIS AFTER STABILOMETRIC PROPRIOCEPTIVE EXERCISES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY

Objective: identify stabilometric changes before and after a program of proprioceptive training. Methods: a randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 18 subjects, mean age 20.6 ± 2.1 years of age, of both sexes, with a mean body mass index 23.3 ± 5.4 kg/m² that were evaluated in stabilometric platform before and after a program of proprioceptive training using the equipment and proprioceptive hard rocker, and divided into proprioception (n = 10) and control group (n = 8) group. The proprioceptive training consisted of 10 measures with one foot, knee in semiflexion for 30 seconds twice a week for five weeks using the rocker apparatus and proprioceptive disc. Results: D’Agostinotests were performed to test the normality, to which it was noted that the study sample was obtained normal behavior for both groups: proprioception and control, was used the Student t-test for observation the significance of p value (<0.05). At the end of the intervention subjects were reassessed at stabilometric platform on which it was observed that the proprioception group there was a significant reduction in body sway in relation to the control group (p = 0.002). Conclusion: the short time, with oneleg proprioceptive training has been shown to be effective for improving balance by reducing body sway

Conflicto, Estrategias de Resolución y Calidad Conyugal

Son importantes los estudios sobre conflicto y calidad conyugal en la práctica clínica con parejas. Se analizó el poder predictivo de los motivos y estilos de resolución de conflictos sobre la calidad conyugal en una muestra de la región Sur de Brasil. Se aplicó a 750 hombres y a 750 mujeres con un promedio de edad de 40 años (SD = 11.07) la ficha de datos sociodemográficos Marital Conflict Scale, Conflict Resolution Style Inventory y The Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State. La calidad conyugal se asoció con el modo con el cual las parejas resuelven sus conflictos y con sus motivos de discusión. El uso de estrategias constructivas de resolución de conflictos fue el predictor de la calidad conyugal, así como los motivos relacionados con las cuestiones financieras, las tareas domésticas y el tiempo juntos. Los resultados apuntan la importancia de que los profesionales tengan en cuenta la naturaleza de los conflictos conyugales reportados por las parejas y las estrategias utilizadas para resolverlos como los factores implicados en la evaluación de la calidad conyugal.Studies on conflict and marital quality are important for clinical practice involving couples. We analyzed the predictive power of motives and conflict resolution styles on marital quality in a sample from Southern Brazil. The following were applied to 750 men and 750 women aged 40 years old on average (SD = 11.07): sociodemographic data sheet, Marital Conflict Scale, Conflict Resolution Style Inventory and The Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State. Marital quality was associated with how the couples solve their conflicts and the reasons for which they discuss. The use of constructive conflict resolution strategies was a predictor of marital quality, as were the motives related to financial issues, household chores, and time spent together. The results reveal the importance of the professionals paying attention to the nature of the marital conflicts reported by the couples and the strategies employed to solve them as factors involved in the evaluation of marital quality