Pattern aggregation of wind energy conversion technologies using clustering analysis

The main objective of this research is the identification of homogeneous groups within a set of wind farms of a major wind energy promoter in Portugal, based on two multivariate analyses: Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and K-means Clustering, using two independent variables, capacity factor and net production, both per year. K-means Clustering output provides the same results as the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Outputs allowed the identification of three homogenous groups of wind farms: (1) medium installed capacity and asynchronous generator based technologies, (2) high installed capacity and direct driven synchronous generator based technology and (3) low installed capacity with no differentiation on the technology concept, but including the wind farms with the higher capacity factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Probabilistic clustering of wind energy conversion systems using classification models

This research intends to give insights on the pattern aggregation of wind energy conversion systems technologies through identification of homogeneous groups within a set of wind farms installed in Portugal. Pattern aggregation is performed using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis followed by Discriminant Analysis, in order to validate the results produced by the first one. The clustering support matrix uses three independent variables: installed capacity, net production and capacity factor, in a per year basis. Cluster labelling allows the identification of two homogenous groups of wind farms, whose main attributes are based on the technological conversion system trend: (1) asynchronous generator based technology and (2) direct driven synchronous generator based technology, with higher capacity factors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structural analysis, modeling and forecasting o electricity prices of the iberian electricity market

The Iberian Electricity Market (MIBEL) resulted from a cooperation process developed by the Portuguese and Spanish administrations aiming to promote the integration of the electrical systems of both countries. With the liberalization of the electricity markets, price forecasting has become fundamental to the process of decision-making and strategy development by market participants. The unique characteristics of electricity prices such as non-stationarity, non-linearity and high volatility make this task very difficult. For this reason, instead of a simple timely forecast, market participants are more interested in a causal forecast that is essential to estimate the uncertainty involved in the price. This work analyses the impact of external variables on energy prices such as Per Capita Consumption, Heating Degrees-day, Cooling Degrees-day, Hydroelectric Productivity Index and Industrial Productivity Index, using a Multiple Linear Regression Model.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A linear regression pattern for electricity price forecasting in the Iberian electricity market

The Iberian Market for Electricity resulted from a cooperation process developed by the Portuguese and Spanish administrations, aiming to promote the integration of the electrical systems of both countries. This common market consists of organised markets or power exchanges, and non-organised markets where bilateral over-the-counter trading takes place with or without brokers. Within this scenario, electricity price forecasts have become fundamental to the process of decision-making and strategy development by market participants. The unique characteristics of electricity prices such as non-stationarity, non-linearity and high volatility make this task very difficult. For this reason, instead of a simple time forecast, market participants are more interested in a causal forecast that is essential to estimate the uncertainty involved in the price. This work focuses on modelling the impact of various explanatory variables on the electricity price through a multiple linear regression analysis. The quality of the estimated models obtained validates the use of statistical or causal methods, such as the Multiple Linear Regression Model, as a plausible strategy to achieve causal forecasts of electricity prices in medium and long-term electricity price forecasting. From the evaluation of the electricity price forecasting for Portugal and Spain, in the year of 2017, the mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) were 9.02% and 12.02%, respectively. In 2018, the MAPE, evaluated for 9 months, for Portugal and Spain equals 7.12% and 6.45%, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Environmental risk assessment in a contaminated estuary: an integrated weight of evidence approach as a decision support tool

Environmental risk assessment of complex ecosystems such as estuaries is a challenge, where innovative and integrated approaches are needed. The present work aimed at developing an innovative integrative methodology to evaluate in an impacted estuary (the Sado, in Portugal, was taken as case study), the adverse effects onto both ecosystem and human health. For the purpose, new standardized lines of evidence based on multiple quantitative data were integrated into a weight of evidence according to a best expert judgment approach. The best professional judgment for a weight of evidence approach in the present study was based on the following lines of evidence: i) human contamination pathways; ii) human health effects: chronic disease; iii) human health effects: reproductive health; iv) human health effects: health care; v) human exposure through consumption of local agriculture produce; vi) exposure to contaminated of water wells and agriculture soils; vii) contamination of the estuarine sedimentary environment (metal and organic contaminants); viii) effects on benthic organisms with commercial value; and ix) genotoxic potential of sediments. Each line of evidence was then ordinally ranked by levels of ecological or human health risk, according to a tabular decision matrix and expert judgment. Fifteen experts scored two fishing areas of the Sado estuary and a control estuarine area, in a scale of increasing environmental risk and management actions to be taken. The integrated assessment allowed concluding that the estuary should not be regarded as impacted by a specific toxicant, such as metals and organic compounds hitherto measured, but by the cumulative risk of a complex mixture of contaminants. The proven adverse effects on species with commercial value may be used to witness the environmental quality of the estuarine ecosystem. This method argues in favor of expert judgment and qualitative assessment as a decision support tool to the integrative management of estuaries. Namely it allows communicating environmental risk and proposing mitigation measures to local authorities and population under a holistic perspective as an alternative to narrow single line of evidence approaches, which is mandatory to understand cause and effect relationships in complex areas like estuaries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Consumption of nuts and similar dried foods in Portugal and level of knowledge about their chemical composition and health effects

Nuts are consumed worldwide and have valuable nutritional compositions. However, few studies exist about the consumers‘ knowledge regarding nuts and similar dried fruits. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge on nuts composition (KNC) and health effects (KNHE) associated with nuts consumption and evaluate eating habits and preferences. A questionnaire survey was applied by direct interview to 300 Portuguese citizens, recruited by convenience. Anthropometric properties, behavioural and health aspects, knowledge about nuts composition and health effects, and consumption habits and preferences were evaluated and statistically analysed. Globally, the participants were not well informed on the chemical composition of nuts and about their effects on human health. Regarding age, the middle-aged adults showed a little higher level of KNC. However, no statistical differences were observed for KNC and KNHE across groups of Body Mass Index, physical exercise practice or balanced diet. Concerning eating habits and preferences, most participants (84%) like nuts, and usually consume them (58%). Among different nuts, the most consumed ones were peanuts and walnuts, followed by almonds and hazelnuts. A vast majority of participants (86%) preferred to eat the nuts in their simple form and consume them between meals. In conclusion, improvement of communication on nuts benefits to human health might be a way to increase their consumption. Our data can also help the nut industries to formulate a better strategy.This work was supported by National Funds through the FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the projects Refª UIDB/00681/2020 and UID/AGR/00690/2019. Furthermore, we would like to thank the CERNAS Research Centre and the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, as well as to CIMO (Instituto Politécnico de Bragança), for their support. Thanks also to PDR2020 Program through projects ValNuts (PDR2020-101-030759 and PDR2020-101-030756) and ValorCast (PDR2020-101-032035 and PDR2020-101-032034).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antibiotic resistance in wastewater: Occurrence and fate ofEnterobacteriaceaeproducers of Class A and Class C β-lactamases

Antibiotics have been intensively used over the last decades in human and animal therapy and livestock, resulting in serious environmental and public health problems, namely due to the antibiotic residues concentration in wastewaters and to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to access the contribution of some anthropological activities, namely urban household, hospital and a wastewater treatment plant, to the spread of antibiotic resistances in the treated wastewater released into the Mondego River, Coimbra, Portugal. Six sampling sites were selected in the wastewater network and in the river. The ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae of the water samples were enumerated, isolated and phenotypically characterized in relation to their resistance profile to 13 antibiotics. Some isolates were identified into species level and investigated for the presence of class A and class C -lactamases. Results revealed high frequency of resistance to the -lactam group, cefoxitin (53.5%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combination (43.5%), cefotaxime (22.7%), aztreonam (21.3) cefpirome (19.2%), ceftazidime (16.2%) and to the non--lactam group, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol (21.1%), tetracycline (18.2%), followed by ciprofloxacin (14.1%). The hospital effluent showed the higher rates of resistance to all antibiotic, except two (chloramphenicol and gentamicin). Similarly, higher resistance rates were detected in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent compared with the untreated affluent. Regarding the multidrug resistance, the highest incidence was recorded in the hospital sewage and the lowest in the urban waste. The majority of the isolates altogether are potentially extended-spectrum -lactamases positive (ESBL(+)) (51.9%), followed by AmpC(+) (44.4%) and ESBL(+)/AmpC(+) (35.2%). The most prevalent genes among the potential ESBL producers were blaOXA (33.3%), blaTEM (24.1%) and blaCTX-M (5.6%) and among the AmpC producers were blaEBC (38.9%), blaFOX (1.9%) and blaCIT (1.9%). In conclusion, the hospital and the WWTP activities revealed to have the highest contribution to the spread of multidrug resistant bacteria in the study area. Such data is important for future management of the environmental and public health risk of these contaminants. This is the first embracing study in the water network of Coimbra region on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance determinants. Moreover, it is also the first report with the simultaneous detection of multiresistant bacteria producers of AmpC and ESBLs -lactamases in aquatic systems in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Internacionalização e Tradução Institucional na UFSC: construção de uma identidade universitária em língua inglesa

Este artigo relata o processo de construção da identidade internacional da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), a partir do trabalho de Tradução Institucional realizado pelo Serviço de Tradução da Secretaria de Relações Institucionais (SINTER). Apresentamos as ações realizadas entre 2016 e 2022 que contribuíram para ampliar e uniformizar a comunicação institucional em língua inglesa e dar maior visibilidade à instituição no cenário global. Dentre elas, destacam-se: a tradução de websites institucionais; a disponibilização de um glossário português-inglês, contendo termos relevantes da estrutura acadêmica e administrativa da UFSC; e a elaboração de um guia de redação em língua inglesa. Essas e outras ações complementares buscaram aproximação com a comunidade universitária, unindo-se aos esforços do processo de internacionalização transversal em curso na UFSC

Ritmo e perfil circadiano em pacientes com epilepsia mioclônica juvenil e epilepsia de lobo temporal

v. 73n.13

Circadian Rhythm And Profile In Patients With Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy And Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

This study intended to compare the circadian rhythm and circadian profile between patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We enrolled 16 patients with JME and 37 patients with TLE from the Outpatient Clinic of UNICAMP. We applied a questionnaire about sleep-wake cycle and circadian profile. Fourteen (87%) out of 16 patients with JME, and 22 out of 37 (59%) patients with TLE reported that they would sleep after seizure (p < 0.05). Three (19%) patients with JME, and 17 (46%) reported to be in better state before 10:00 AM (p < 0.05). There is no clear distinct profile and circadian pattern in patients with JME in comparison to TLE patients. However, our data suggest that most JME patients do not feel in better shape early in the day.733-