Economics consulting project for the Iberian Marketing Oil department of Galp Energia: Strategy and Marketing guidelines for Galp Energia’sconvenience business in the Iberian market

Field lab: Consulting la

An Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian SPH-MLS Method for the Computation of Compressible Viscous Flows

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] In this work we present a high-accurate discretization to solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations using an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian meshless method (SPH-MLS), which can be seen as a general formulation that includes some well-known meshfree methods as a particular case. The formulation is based on the use of Moving Least Squares (MLS) approximants as weight functions on a Galerkin formulation and to accurate discretize the convective and viscous fluxes. This formulation also verifies the discrete partition of unity and reproduces the zero-gradient condition for constant functions. Convective fluxes are discretized using Riemann solvers. In order to obtain high accuracy MLS is also used for the high-order reconstruction of the Riemann states. The accuracy and performance of the proposed method is demonstrated by solving different steady and unsteady benchmark problems.This work has been partially supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades of the Spanish Government (grant #RTI2018-093366-B-I00) and by the Consellería de Educación e Ordenación Universitaria of the Xunta de Galicia (grant# ED431C 2018/41), cofinanced with FEDER funds of the European Union. Luis Ramírez also acknowledges the funding provided by the Xunta de Galicia through the program Axudas para a mellora, creación, recoñecemento e estruturación de agrupacións estratéxicas do Sistema universitario de Galicia (reference # ED431E 2018/11)Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/41Xunta de Galicia; ED431E 2018/1

SPH-ALE Scheme for Weakly Compressible Viscous Flow with a Posteriori Stabilization

[Abstract] A highly accurate SPH method with a new stabilization paradigm has been introduced by the authors in a recent paper aimed to solve Euler equations for ideal gases. We present here the extension of the method to viscous incompressible flow. Incompressibility is tackled assuming a weakly compressible approach. The method adopts the SPH-ALE framework and improves accuracy by taking high-order variable reconstruction of the Riemann states at the midpoints between interacting particles. The moving least squares technique is used to estimate the derivatives required for the Taylor approximations for convective fluxes, and also provides the derivatives needed to discretize the viscous flux terms. Stability is preserved by implementing the a posteriori Multi-dimensional Optimal Order Detection (MOOD) method procedure thus avoiding the utilization of any slope/flux limiter or artificial viscosity. The capabilities of the method are illustrated by solving one- and two-dimensional Riemann problems and benchmark cases. The proposed methodology shows improvements in accuracy in the Riemann problems and does not require any parameter calibration. In addition, the method is extended to the solution of viscous flow and results are validated with the analytical Taylor–Green, Couette and Poiseuille flows, and lid-driven cavity test cases.This research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades of the Spanish Government Grant #RTI2018-093366-B-I00, by the Consellería de Educación e Ordenación Universitaria of the Xunta de Galicia (grant#ED431C 2018/41)Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/4

MLS-SPH-ALE: A Review of Meshless-FV Methods and a Unifying Formulation for Particle Discretizations

Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature.[Abstract:] Mesh-based and particle methods were conceived as two different discretization strategies to solve partial differential equations. In the last two decades computational methods have diversified and a myriad of hybrid formulations that combine elements of these two approaches have been developed to solve Computational fluid dynamics problems. In this work we present a review about the meshless-FV family of methods, an analysis is carried out showing that the MLS-SPH-ALE method can be considered as a general formulation from which a set of particle-based methods can be recovered. Moreover, we show the relations between the MLS-SPH-ALE method and the finite volume method. The MLS-SPH-ALE method is a versatile particle-based method that was developed to circumvent the consistency issues of particle methods caused by the use of the kernel approximation. The MLS-SPH-ALE method is developed from the differential equation in ALE form using the partition unity property which is automatically fulfilled by the Moving Least Squares approximation.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the [Grant PID2021-125447OB-I00] funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, and the funds by [Grant TED2021–129805B-I00] funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”. They also acknowledge the funding provided by the Xunta de Galicia (Grant #ED431C 2022/06). J. Fernández-Fidalgo acknowledges the support provided by “Ayudas para la recualificación del sistema universitario español para 2021–2023. Modalidad Margarita Salas RSU.UDC.MS20" by the Ministerio de Universidades of the Spanish Government and European Union through the NextGenerationEU funds.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2022/0

Psychometric properties of CAST for early detection of problematic cannabis use in Spanish adolescents

The high prevalence rates of cannabis use in adolescents and its early onset constitutes a major public health problem, raising the need for its early detection. The availability of validated tools to analyze early cannabis use is essential to detect problematic use at an early age. The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) (Legleye et al., 2007) is widely applied in Europe; however, the CAST cut-off scores vary according to the setting, the screening objective, and the correction version (CAST-f or CAST-b), creating therefore confusion in its application. Moreover, the psychometric properties of the CAST as a tool for detecting problematic cannabis use are understudied. To fill this gap, such psychometric properties have been analyzed in a sample of Spanish adolescents while using different cut-off scores for CAST-f and CAST-b. Based on our findings, the optimal cut-off scores are 2 points for CAST-b and 4 points for CAST-f. The internal reliability of CAST-f (α = 0.83) and CAST-b (KR-20 = 0.80) are satisfactory. Factorial analysis suggested the assumption of a one-dimension model. The CAST seems to be a valid and reliable tool for early screening of problematic cannabis use in Spanish adolescentsS

Mecanismos químicos e mineralógicos de transformação da magnesioferrita de solo derivado de tufito, da região do Alto Paranaíba, MG

Magnetic soils forming on tuffite of the region of Alto Paranaíba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, usually contain iron-rich spinels exceptionally rich in magnesium and titanium. In this work, samples of the magnetically separated portion from the sand fraction of a Brunizém (Chernossolo) and from its mother-rock material were analyzed with synchrotron X-ray diffraction and 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnesioferite (MgFe2O4) and maghemite (its pure non-stoichiometric spinel structure, Fe8/3 ⊕ 1/3 O4, where ⊕ = cation vacancy, corresponds to γFe2O3) were the magnetic iron oxides so identified. Basing on these data, a consistent chemical-mineralogical model is proposed for the main transformation steps involving these iron oxides in the pedosystem, starting on magnesioferrite to finally render hematite (αFe2O3), passing through maghemite as an intermediate specie

Antibody persistence and booster responses 24-36 months after different 4CMenB vaccination schedules in infants and children: A randomised trial.

This phase IIIb, open-label, multicentre, extension study (NCT01894919) evaluated long-term antibody persistence and booster responses in participants who received a reduced 2 + 1 or licensed 3 + 1 meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB)-schedule (infants), or 2-dose catch-up schedule (2-10-year-olds) in parent study NCT01339923. Children aged 35 months to 12 years (N = 851) were enrolled. Follow-on participants (N = 646) were randomised 2:1 to vaccination and non-vaccination subsets; vaccination subsets received an additional 4CMenB dose. Newly enrolled vaccine-naïve participants (N = 205) received 2 catch-up doses, 1 month apart (accelerated schedule). Antibody levels were determined using human serum bactericidal assay (hSBA) against MenB indicator strains for fHbp, NadA, PorA and NHBA. Safety was also evaluated. Antibody levels declined across follow-on groups at 24-36 months versus 1 month post-vaccination. Antibody persistence and booster responses were similar between infants receiving the reduced or licensed 4CMenB-schedule. An additional dose in follow-on participants induced higher hSBA titres than a first dose in vaccine-naïve children. Two catch-up doses in vaccine-naïve participants induced robust antibody responses. No safety concerns were identified. Antibody persistence, booster responses, and safety profiles were similar with either 2 + 1 or 3 + 1 vaccination schedules. The accelerated schedule in vaccine-naïve children induced robust antibody responses.Novartis Vaccines DivisionGlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S

Investigar em educação: desafios da construção de conhecimento e da formação de investigadores num campo multi-referenciado

O livro que agora se apresenta decorre do trabalho desenvolvido num ciclo de seminários realizados no ano lectivio de 2008/09 e pretende explicitar e sistematizar alguns elementos em torno das principais questões organizadoras: o quê investigar em educação? Como se investiga em educação? Para quê investigar em educação? Porém, não são respostas definitivas ou acabadas que se pretendem alcançar, nem tão pouco podemos escamotear que se tratam de respostas situadas em função dos percursos formativos e profissionais dos investigadores, mestrandos e doutorandos envolvidos nos seminários. Procuramos, acima de tudo, explicitar o posicionamento que, no nosso caso, tem vindo a ser privilegiado em termos de trabalho científico no campo da investigação em educaçãoFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia(FCT