Spazio urbano e dinamiche sociali nel Distretto Federale del Brasile: iperpianificazione, politiche di emergenza ed insediamenti abusivi.

La costruzione della capitale brasiliana alla fine degli anni Cinquanta ebbe il suo fondamento su un sistema di pianificazione dello spazio urbano dove la funzionalità delle forme e la distribuzione organica degli insediamenti legali contrasta con la dinamica dei movimenti umani e socioeconomici che si manifestano sul suo territorio. Il Distretto Federale si è costituito in modo completamente diverso da quello immaginato dai suoi creatori. In realtà, Brasilia e il Distretto Federale come regione concepita per svilupparsi in maniera razionale, avrà svolgimenti alternativi che sfideranno tutti i tentativi di pianificazione. Questo lavoro ha per obiettivo principale l’analisi degli strumenti di pianificazione realizzati dal Governo del Distretto Federale e il rapporto con i processi insediativi informali. Nel primo capitolo vengono trattati gli aspetti relativi al fenomeno del sottosviluppo. Il capitolo secondo sarà dedicato ad una descrizione storica della formazione del Distretto Federale e della regione circostante. La formazione dello spazio regionale con la creazione della regione Geo-Economica di Brasilia e l’Entorno del Distretto Federale. Nel capitolo terzo verranno esposti i diversi piani di sviluppo economico e d’assetto del territorio oltre alle relazioni tra la disponibilità d'infrastrutture urbane e di attrezzature collettive ed il tenore di vita della popolazione. Nel quarto capitolo il rapporto tra formale ed informale diventa il tema dominante e il senso più originale della mia ricerca

An Analysis of Partially-Guaranteed-Price Contracts between Farmers and Agri-Food Companies

Global agri-food companies such as Barilla and SABMiller are purchasing agricultural products directly from farmers using different types of contracts to ensure stable supply. We examine one such contract with partially-guaranteed prices (PGP). Under a PGP contract, around sowing time, the buying firm agrees to purchase the crop when harvested by the farmer, offering a guaranteed unit price for any fraction of the produce and offering the commodity market price prevailing at the time of delivery for the remainder. The farmer then chooses the fraction. By analyzing a Stackelberg game, we show (1) how the PGP contract creates mutual benefits when the firm’s purchase quantity is taken as being exogenous. We also analyze how the PGP contract is robust in creating value for both the firm and the farmer (2) when the firm’s purchase quantity is endogenously determined; (3) when the firm provides advisory services to the farmer; and (4) when the firm offers a price premium as an incentive for farmers to exert efforts to comply with ‘sustainable’ agricultural practices

Oversampled deadbeat current control strategy for PMSM drives

This paper presents a novel deadbeat current control approach for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) drives capable of operating at a controller sampling frequency multiple of the power converter switching frequency. The proposed technique permits to achieve a constant switching frequency and an optimal current ripple along with a high current loop bandwidth and robust behaviour to parameter variation

Mitochondria-mediated energy adaption in cancer: The H+-ATP synthase-geared switch of metabolism in human tumors

Significance: Since the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971, cancer still remains a major cause of death despite significant progresses made in understanding the biology and treatment of the disease. After many years of ostracism, the peculiar energy metabolism of tumors has been recognized as an additional phenotypic trait of the cancer cell. Recent Advances: While the enhanced aerobic glycolysis of carcinomas has already been translated to bedside for precise tumor imaging and staging of cancer patients, accepting that an impaired bioenergetic function of mitochondria is pivotal to understand energy metabolism of tumors and in its progression is debated. However, mitochondrial bioenergetics and cell death are tightly connected. Critical Issues: Recent clinical findings indicate that H+-ATP synthase, a core component of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, is repressed at both the protein and activity levels in human carcinomas. This review summarizes the relevance that mitochondrial function has to understand energy metabolism of tumors and explores the connection between the bioenergetic function of the organelle and the activity of mitochondria as tumor suppressors. Future Directions: The reversible nature of energy metabolism in tumors highlights the relevance that the microenvironment has for tumor progression. Moreover, the stimulation of mitochondrial activity or the inhibition of glycolysis suppresses tumor growth. Future research should elucidate the mechanisms promoting the silencing of oxidative phosphorylation in carcinomas. The aim is the development of new therapeutic strategies tackling energy metabolism to eradicate tumors or at least, to maintain tumor dormancy and transform cancer into a chronic disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 19, 285-298Supported by JCI2009-03918 Juan de la Cierva Grant, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain. Work in the authors’ laboratory was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (BFU2010-18903), by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII and by Comunidad de Madrid (S2011/BMD-2402), Spain. The CBMSO receives an institutional grant from Fundación Ramón Arece

Multi-sensor analysis of extreme events in North-Eastern Italy

International audienceThe North-eastern part of Italy is known to be one of the most rainy regions in Europe. In this paper three extreme events are analysed, using a multi-sensor observing system including a weather radar and a dense telemetric network of surface stations, recording precipitation, wind, temperature and relative humidity. The cases examined comprise two long lasting rainfall events impacting two distinct areas, and a vigorous hail-producing thunderstorm event over the plains. In all cases, inter-comparison between remotely sensed and surface observations, including estimates and measures of precipitation and wind, helps to better understand the behaviour of the atmosphere, thus supporting operational fore- and now-casting. In the case of widespread precipitation, a relation is suggested between the wind speed and direction at medium/low levels with the location of the maximum precipitation relative to the mountains. This reflects the dynamical interaction between the mountain barrier and the atmospheric flux impinging upon it. This flux can be estimated by the automatic weather station of Mt. Cesen, a focal point for a now-casting of the rain in the Veneto Region. Analysis of strong thunderstorm activity makes extensive use of radar data. In the examined case the interaction of a sea breeze-like circulation with a mesoscale trough gave rise to a distinct convergence line that triggered a severe and long-lived hail-producing multi-cell thunderstorm. The hail was successfully detected by the radar's hail detection algorithm

A fractional delay variable frequency repetitive control for torque ripple reduction in PMSMs

Based on the internal model principle, repetitive controller (RC) is capable to reduce periodic torque ripple by generating a compensating action that consequently need to be synchronized with the original ripple. However, the synchronization is difficult to achieve using the conventional RC when the sampling frequency is not integer multiple of the speed (known as fractional delay issue), or when the speed varies widely. To solve this problem, this paper presents a fractional delay variable frequency torque ripple reduction method for PMSM drives using the combination of angle-based RC and deadbeat current control (DBCC). Four aspects of innovations are included in the proposed control to improve the synchronization. The experimental results show that the proposed control can effectively reduce torque ripple even during speed and load transient

Suscetibilidade de Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Lizer & Trelles) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) a Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill

Gyropsylla spegazziniana is one of the most prominent pest insects of yerba mate culture in all production regions in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Natural enemies have been recorded on G. spegazziniana nymphs and adults, including the Zoophthora radicans entomopathogenic fungus. Since there are no reports of Beauveria bassiana, the aim of this study was to register its pathogenicity with respect to this insect in a laboratory setting. Yerba mate branches were kept in glass flasks with water and we infested each leaf with 20 newly-emerged nymphs. We prepared three replicates per treatment. We sprayed conidia suspensions (1 × 109 conidia/mL) onto the branches, which we transferred to cages and kept in an acclimatized room (26 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% of relative humidity (R.H.) with a photophase of 14 hours). We evaluated insect mortality daily, and after five days we observed a high level of pathogenicity due to the presence of the fungus, that could be visually observed on the cadaver. The total mortality varied from 25 to 70% (respectively for Unioeste 4 and CG 716) and the confirmed mortality was 30% for Unioeste 52, revealing the fungus’ potential. However, more studies are necessary in order to evaluate the strains of this fungus, as well as other species.Gyropsylla spegazziniana é uma das principais pragas da cultura de erva-mate em todas as regiões produtoras do Brasil, da Argentina e do Paraguai. Inimigos naturais têm sido registrados sobre ninfas e adultos de G. spegazziniana, incluindo o fungo entomopatogênico Zoophthora radicans. Como não há relatos sobre Beauveria bassiana, o objetivo deste estudo foi registrar sua patogenicidade sobre esse inseto em condições de laboratório. Ramos de erva-mate foram infestados com insetos e mantidos em frascos de vidro com água. Cada um dos ramos tinha cerca de 20 ninfas recém-emergidas/ folha, sendo preparadas 3 repetições/tratamento. As suspensões dos isolados do fungo (1 × 109 conídios/mL) foram pulverizadas sobre os ramos, que foram transferidos para gaiolas e mantidos em sala climatizada (26 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% de Umidade Relativa (U.R.) e 14 horas de fotofase). Diariamente, realizou-se a avaliação da mortalidade do inseto, observando-se, após cinco dias da aplicação, alto nível de patogenicidade devido à presença do fungo, constatada visualmente sobre os cadáveres. A mortalidade total variou entre 25 e 70% (respectivamente para Unioeste 4 e CG 716) e a mortalidade confirmada foi de 30% para o isolado Unioeste 52, revelando o potencial do fungo. No entanto, mais estudos são necessários para avaliar novos isolados do fungo, bem como outras espécies.Fil: Alves, Luis Francisco. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná; BrasilFil: Formentini, Marina Andresa. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná; BrasilFil: Fanti, André Luis. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná; BrasilFil: Schapovaloff, María Elena. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Barzotto, Ionete. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná; Brasi

Speed Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control of a PMSM fed by Matrix Converter

This paper presents a new speed Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) algorithm which has been applied to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) driven by a Matrix Converter (MC). This method replaces the classical cascaded control scheme with a single control law that controls the motor currents and speed. Additionally, unlike classical MC modulation methods, the method allows direct control of the MC input currents. The performance of the proposed work has been verified by simulation studies and experimental results

Radial force control of Multi-Sector Permanent Magnet machines considering radial rotor displacement

A mathematical model enabling to predict the electromagnetic x-y forces and torque for a given input current in a Multi-Sector Permanent Magnet Synchronous (MSPMS) machine is presented. The rotor static eccentricity is also accounted and the analytical calculations are validated by means Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Furthermore, a novel force and torque control is proposed based on input current minimization and is applied to suppress the Unbalanced Magnetic Pull (UMP) caused by the rotor eccentricity. The effective operation of the force suppression technique is verified by means of FEA

Sensorless finite-control set model predictive control for IPMSM drives

This paper investigates the feasibility of a sensorless field oriented control (FOC) combined with a finite control set model predictive current control (FCS-MPC) for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM). The use of a FCS-MPC makes the implementation of most of the existing sensorless techniques difficult due to the lack of a modulator. The proposed sensorless algorithm exploits the saliency of the motor and the intrinsic higher current ripple of the FCS-MPC to extract position and speed information using a model-based approach. This method does not require the injection of additional voltage vectors or the periodic interruption of the control algorithm and consequently it has no impact on the performance of the current control. The proposed algorithm has been tested in simulation and validated on an experimental set-up, showing promising results