Data-driven Flood Emulation: Speeding up Urban Flood Predictions by Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Computational complexity has been the bottleneck of applying physically-based simulations on large urban areas with high spatial resolution for efficient and systematic flooding analyses and risk assessments. To address this issue of long computational time, this paper proposes that the prediction of maximum water depth rasters can be considered as an image-to-image translation problem where the results are generated from input elevation rasters using the information learned from data rather than by conducting simulations, which can significantly accelerate the prediction process. The proposed approach was implemented by a deep convolutional neural network trained on flood simulation data of 18 designed hyetographs on three selected catchments. Multiple tests with both designed and real rainfall events were performed and the results show that the flood predictions by neural network uses only 0.5 % of time comparing with physically-based approaches, with promising accuracy and ability of generalizations. The proposed neural network can also potentially be applied to different but relevant problems including flood predictions for urban layout planning

Phase field modelling of fracture and fatigue in Shape Memory Alloys

We present a new phase field framework for modelling fracture and fatigue in Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs). The constitutive model captures the superelastic behaviour of SMAs and damage is driven by the elastic and transformation strain energy densities. We consider both the assumption of a constant fracture energy and the case of a fracture energy dependent on the martensitic volume fraction. The framework is implemented in an implicit time integration scheme, with both monolithic and staggered solution strategies. The potential of this formulation is showcased by modelling a number of paradigmatic problems. First, a boundary layer model is used to examine crack tip fields and compute crack growth resistance curves (R-curves). We show that the model is able to capture the main fracture features associated with SMAs, including the toughening effect associated with stress-induced phase transformation. Insight is gained into the role of temperature, material strength, crack density function and fracture energy homogenisation. Secondly, several 2D and 3D boundary value problems are addressed, demonstrating the capabilities of the model in capturing complex cracking phenomena in SMAs, such as unstable crack growth, mixed-mode fracture or the interaction between several cracks. Finally, the model is extended to fatigue and used to capture crack nucleation and propagation in biomedical stents, a paradigmatic application of nitinol SMAs

Onde posicionar sensores de umidade e de tensão de água do solo próximo da planta para um manejo mais eficiente da água de irrigação.

A irrigação eficiente é aquela com menor consumo de energia e menor perda de água, contribuindo na maior conservação dos recursos hídricos, por ser aplicada no momento correto, isto é, aquele em que a umidade do solo começa a comprometer a absorção de água pela planta. Essa irrigação eficiente requer também a reposição correta da água perdida pelas plantas desde a última irrigação.bitstream/item/118884/1/CircularTecnica-109-Onde-posicionar-sensores.pd

Association of radio polar cap brightening with bright patches and coronal holes

Radio-bright regions near the solar poles are frequently observed in Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) maps at 17 GHz, and often in association with coronal holes. However, the origin of these polar brightening has not been established yet. We propose that small magnetic loops are the source of these bright patches, and present modeling results that reproduce the main observational characteristics of the polar brightening within coronal holes at 17 GHz. The simulations were carried out by calculating the radio emission of the small loops, with several temperature and density profiles, within a 2D coronal hole atmospheric model. If located at high latitudes, the size of the simulated bright patches are much smaller than the beam size and they present the instrument beam size when observed. The larger bright patches can be generated by a great number of small magnetic loops unresolved by the NoRH beam. Loop models that reproduce bright patches contain denser and hotter plasma near the upper chromosphere and lower corona. On the other hand, loops with increased plasma density and temperature only in the corona do not contribute to the emission at 17 GHz. This could explain the absence of a one-to-one association between the 17 GHz bright patches and those observed in extreme ultraviolet. Moreover, the emission arising from small magnetic loops located close to the limb may merge with the usual limb brightening profile, increasing its brightness temperature and width.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Associative olfactory learning in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria

SUMMARY Locusts can learn associations between olfactory stimuli and food rewards, and use the acquired memories to choose between foods according to their nutrient requirements. They are a model system for both the study of olfactory coding and insect nutritional regulation. Previous studies have used operant paradigms for conditioning freely moving locusts, restricting the study of the neural mechanisms underlying the acquisition of olfactory memories, which requires restrained preparations for electrophysiological recordings. Here we present two complementary paradigms for the classical conditioning of olfactory memories in restrained desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria). These paradigms allow precise experimental control over the parameters influencing learning. The first paradigm is based on classical (Pavlovian) appetitive conditioning. We show that opening of the maxillary palps can be used as a measure of memory acquisition. Maxillary palp opening in response to odour presentation is significantly higher in locusts trained with paired presentation of an odour and a food reward than in locusts trained either with unpaired presentation of food and odour or the odour alone. The memory formed by this conditioning paradigm lasts for at least 24 h. In the second paradigm, we show that classical conditioning of an odour memory in restrained locusts influences their decisions in a subsequent operant task. When locusts that have been trained to associate an odour with a food reward are placed in a Y-maze, they choose the arm containing that odour significantly more often than naïve locusts. A single conditioning trial is sufficient to induce a significant bias for that odour for up to 4 h. Multiple- and block-trial training induce a significant bias that lasts at least 24 h. Thus, locusts are capable of forming appetitive olfactory memories in classical conditioning paradigms and can use these memories to modify their decisions.</jats:p

O Critério da Verdade no Contra Acadêmicos de Agostinho

Na obra Contra Academicos, Agostinho parte da questão se pode um homem alcançar sabedoria e felicidade enquanto ele procura a verdade ou somente quando ele a encontra. Ao partir dessa questão, confrontam-se os interlocutores nesse diálogo. Compreender o critério de verdade apresentado na obra pelo autor, contextualizar/analisar as fontes filosóficas, constitui um dos objetivos dessa dissertação, o que exige uma análise detalhada da obra Contra Academicos de Agostinho de Hipona (354-430). O tema da discussão no Contra Academicos é um problema relevante até os dias de hoje, merecendo um debate sério acerca de suas questões. Buscar a verdade não é um assunto banal nem supérfluo, mas necessário e fundamental . As discussões apresentadas nessa obra colocam em pauta a via filosófica na qual Agostinho se direciona, a partir de um encontro consigo mesmo e ao buscar a verdade que habita no interior do homem

Manual de representação do sistema GECAMPE.

O Sistema de Gerenciamento de Campos Experimentais – Gecampe encontra-se na fase piloto de desenvolvimento. Sua interface computacional vem sendo utilizada desde janeiro de 2010, data em que foi implantada a primeira versão da ficha de campo, ferramenta de coleta diária dos dados. Desde então, as diversas atividades realizadas para o aprimoramento do sistema vêm sendo validadas junto aos colaboradores da Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste.bitstream/item/34038/1/Documentos99.pd