Application of computational intelligence techniques for monitoring and prediction of biological wastewater treatment systems

Computational intelligence models are being increasingly employed for the supervision and control of biological wastewater treatment systems. These models can be described as mathematical methodologies which explain relations between cause (input data) and effects (output data) irrespective to the process and without the need for making assumptions considering the nature of the relations. In this work both Artificial Neural Network and Neural Fuzzy models were used for monitoring and prediction of biological wastewater treatment systems. The proposed approaches were tested for their ability to detect external and internal disturbances in data obtained from the IWA/COST Benchmark Simulation Model. The models were also applied to predict, with one hour is advance, the response of the system to a sequence of two large increases in the influent flow rate. Both models learned well from the training data and exhibited good and fast predictions of the performance of the system submitted to the tested shocks. The results obtained indicate that the Neural Fuzzy model is slightly superior to the Neural Network model being however the correlation coefficients obtained for both models superior to 0.96.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - POCTI/AMB/60141/2001

Determinants of continuance intention to use mobile self-scanning applications in retail

Retailers are increasingly using self-service technologies to improve customer experience and reduce costs. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that could explain the level of continuance intention of mobile self-scanning applications in retail. Based on previous theoretical streams, the present study integrates technology readiness (TR) and service quality into the technology acceptance model (TAM). Using data collected through an online survey of 217 users of a mobile self-scanning application of a large supermarket chain operating in Portugal, the study uses partial least squares structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate that the continuance usage of the self-scanning Apps is directly driven by users’ satisfaction, and perceived usefulness. Findings also show that technology readiness has a positive and significant impact on ease of use and perceived usefulness. Ease of use has a positive impact on users’ satisfaction and perceived usefulness but has no direct effect on the continuance intention to use the application. Perceived quality has a positive direct effect on satisfaction, and a positive indirect effect on continuance intention. Finally, need for interaction has a negative effect on technological readiness. This work contributes to a better understanding of the emerging market for mobile self-scanning applications in retail applications, particularly relevant in a digital transition context.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

On the distribution of an effective channel estimator for multi-cell massive MIMO

Accurate channel estimation is of utmost importance for massive MIMO systems to provide significant improvements in spectral and energy efficiency. In this work, we present a study on the distribution of a simple but yet effective and practical channel estimator for multi-cell massive MIMO systems suffering from pilot-contamination. The proposed channel estimator performs well under moderate to aggressive pilot contamination scenarios without previous knowledge of the inter-cell large-scale channel coefficients and noise power, asymptotically approximating the performance of the linear MMSE estimator as the number of antennas increases. We prove that the distribution of the proposed channel estimator can be accurately approximated by the circularly-symmetric complex normal distribution, when the number of antennas, M, deployed at the base station is greater than 10

Correlation between sludge settleability and image analysis information using Partial Least Squares

In the last years there has been an increase on the research of the activated sludge processes, and mainly on the solid–liquid separation stage, considered of critical importance, due to the different problems that may arise affecting the compaction and the settling of the sludge. Furthermore, image analysis procedures are, nowadays considered to be an adequate method to characterize both aggregated and filamentous bacteria, and increasingly used to monitor bulking events in pilot plants. As a result of that, in this work, image analysis routines were developed in Matlab environment, allowing the identification and characterization of microbial aggregates and protruding filaments. Moreover, the large amount of activated sludge data collected with the image analysis implementation can be subsequently treated by multivariate statistical procedures such as PLS. In the current work the implementation of image analysis and PLS techniques has shown to provide important information for better understanding the behavior of activated sludge processes, and to predict, at some extent, the sludge volume index. As a matter of fact, the obtained results allowed explaining the strong relationships between the sludge settling properties and the free filamentous bacteria contents, aggregates size and aggregates morphology, establishing relevant relationships between macroscopic and microscopic properties of the biological system.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/32329/2006, POCI/AMB/57069/2004AGERE - Empresa de Águas, Efluentes e Resíduos de Braga, Portugal - E

Preliminary results of the Cacela Peninsula (southern Portugal) replenishment

Cacela Peninsula, located on the eastern edge of the Ria Formosa barrier island system (southern Portugal), had a very low-breached and poorly-vegetated dune field. During the winter of 1995/1996, several overwashes occurred, which led to the opening of a new inlet. After this event, a major dune replenishment of 325 000 m³ of sediment was begun. To evaluate the replenishment's effect on beach behaviour, a monitoring program was established consisting of monthly profile surveys at sites located both in the replenished area (5 sites) and eastwards of this area (3 sites). Two topographic maps made immediately pre- and post-replenishment, were used for volume comparisons between sites, together with profile surveys. The Levante erosive event that occurred in March 1997 was responsible for erosion of about 10 % of the total replenishment. This erosion was more pronounced at sites 2 and 3, the most prominent places of the replenished area. After this event, no major volume changes were observed in the replenished area's subaerial beach during the period studied (February 1997-August 1997). Eastwards of this area some accretion occurred, which was not necessarily related to the replenished sediments' erosion. The replenished area's beach profiles showed relatively slow evolution from a generally dissipative profile (winter 1997) to a berm-type profile (summer 1997). For non-replenished areas of the peninsula, this evolutionary trend was less evident. In light of the present data, a readjustment of the profile is expected, including probable new bluff retreat on the prominent sites.La península de Cacela, localizada en el límite oeste del sistema de islas barrera de Ria Formosa (sur de Portugal), tiene un campo de dunas poco desarrollado y escasamente vegetado. En el invierno de 1995/1996 una serie de inundaciones dieron lugar a su rotura, con la formación de un nuevo inlet. Después de este evento tiene lugar una importante operación de realimentación de las dunas utilizando 325 000 m³ de sedimento. Para evaluar el efecto de esta realimentación en las características de las playas anexas, se estableció un programa de monitorización, consistente en una serie de levantamientos topográficos mensuales, en el área de realimentación (5 perfiles), así como al este de ésta (3 perfiles). Se utilizaron dos mapas topográficos, obtenidos antes y después del evento, para la comparación volumétrica entre perfiles conjuntamente con los levantamientos topográficos. Los eventos erosivos de marzo de 1997 fueron responsables de la erosión de cerca del 10 % del total de realimentación. La erosión fue más pronunciada en los perfiles 2 y 3, correspondientes a los sectores más prominentes del área de realimentación. Después de este evento no se observaron grandes cambios en la playa emergida, situada en este sector, en el periodo de estudio (febrero-agosto de 1997). Hacia el este del sector realimentado se produjo un proceso de acreción, no necesariamente debido a la erosión de los materiales de realimentación. Los perfiles de playa localizados en el área de realimentación mostraron un grado relativo de evolución lento, desde perfiles generalmente disipativos (invierno de 1997) a perfiles tipo berma (verano de 1997). Para los sectores no reconstituidos de la península la evolución de los perfiles fue menos evidente. A la vista de estos datos, un reajuste de los perfiles es todavía previsible, incluido un probable nuevo retroceso en las áreas más prominentes.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Monogenoideas nas brânquias de quatro espécies de Cichlidae (Perciformes) do Rio Matapi, Estado do Amapá.

PAR056

Improving the information flow internal and external traceability in a slaughterhouse

Several global aspects are affecting the world's food supply chain. In this study a slaughterhouse was used as a "laboratory" to get conclusions that can be applied to all the meat industry and in other automated industries. The aim is to provide tools to solve this gap. The global standards for traceability are now beginning to evolve in the market place, and as a result, early adopters and standard setters will take a lead role and the advantages that come from it. The focus is to describe relevant references that help to support the approaches and to support the recommendations, with the tools for a suitable decision analysis. This analysis considers the RFID identification of each unique "Christmas-tree", and the Physical Marking of the "Christmas-trees" as the most relevant approaches in the long term. The Bar-code identification before shipping is also a pertinent approach, especially in the short term

A response surface methodology study on the role of factors affecting growth and volatile phenol production by Brettanomyces bruxellensis ISA 2211 in wine

The present study was aimed at determining the effect of glucose, ethanol and sulphur dioxide on the growth and volatile phenol production by Brettanomyces bruxellensis in red wines using a response surface methodology approach. Sulphur dioxide proved to have a significant (p < 0.05) negative linear and quadratic effect on growth and 4-ethylphenol production. Concentrations of sulphur dioxide higher than 20 mg L 1, at pH 3.50, induced immediate loss of cell culturability under growth permissive levels of ethanol. Under high ethanol concentrations (14% v/v), the lag phase increased from 3 to 10 days, growth being fully arrested at 15% (v/v). Glucose up to 10 g L 1 was found to be a significant factor (quadratic level) in biomass increase under low ethanol (<12.5% v/v) and low sulphite concentrations. However, when cells were inactivated by sulphur dioxide and ethanol, glucose (up to 10 g L 1) did not prevent cell death. Production of more than 50 mg L 1 day 1 of 4-ethylphenol was only observed in the presence of high numbers (106 CFU mL 1) of culturable cells, being stimulated by increasing glucose concentrations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Será o Implante de iStent® uma Cirurgia do Canal de Schlemm? Avaliação por OCT Spectral Domain de Segmento Anterior

Introdução: O iStent® “trabecular micro-bypass stent modelo GTS100R/L” tem resultados comprovados na cirurgia do glaucoma de ângulo aberto. Descrito como cirurgia ab interno do canal de Schlemm, visa criar um bypass entre a câmara anterior e este canal, ultrapassando a malha trabecular – principal resistência à drenagem de humor aquoso. Os autores visam estudar o papel do OCT de segmento anterior (SA) na localização do iStent® e uma eventual relação entre o seu posicionamento a eficácia hipotensora. Material e Métodos: Estudo transversal descritivo em que se avaliaram 17 olhos de 17 doentes submetidos a cirurgia de facoemulsificação combinada com iStent®, com um ano de follow-up. Estudou-se o ângulo irido-corneano com OCT spectral domain de SA (Heidelberg Spectralis®) e realizou-se uma avaliação oftalmológica que incluiu medição da pressão intra-ocular (PIO) com tonómetro de Goldmann e gonioscopia. Resultados: Em todos os olhos foi possível localizar o iStent® no ângulo da câmara anterior, porém apenas 4 pareciam estar no canal de Schlemm, estando os restantes na malha trabecular ou esporão escleral. Nos 4 olhos com implante no canal verificou-se uma redução média da PIO de 6,0 mmHg relativamente aos valores pré-operatórios, nos restantes essa redução foi 5,36 mmHg. Esta diferença não é estatisticamente significativa (p>0,05). Conclusões: O OCT spectral domain de SA é um método eficiente para determinar o posicionamento do iStent® no ângulo. Apesar da maioria das extremidades distais dos dispositivos não se encontrarem no canal de Schlemm, estes ultrapassaram a resistência da malha trabecular, pelo que a localização não parece comprometer a eficácia hipotensora.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structural elucidation of natural 2-hydroxy di- and tricarboxilic acids and esters, phenylpropanoid esters, and flavonoids extracted from the bulbs of Autonoë madeirensis using GC-EIMS, ESIMS and MS/MS techniques

Comunicação oral sob a forma de PosterAutonoë madeirensis (Menezes) Speta is a Hyacinthaceae endemic from the Portuguese Archipelago of Madeira.1,2 Previous studies on Hyacinthaceae species have shown that they produce a large number of biologically important secondary metabolites, such as triterpenoid and steroid glycosides3, flavone and homoisoflavanone glycosides4 and polyhydroxyalkaloids.5 Included in a systematic phytochemical study of the bulbs of A. madeirensis, we report now the structural identification of three different classes of compounds, mainly by GC-EIMS, ESIMS and tandem mass spectrometry. The phytochemical study was performed using total ethanolic extracts that were fractionated by solvents of increasing polarity. The compounds identified were 2-hydroxy di- and tricarboxilic acids and esters (malic acid, ethylmethylmalate, diethylmalate, citric acid, monomethylcitrate, monoethylcitrate and triethylcitrate), hydroxycinnamic esters (methyl p-coumarate, ethyl p-coumarate, and methyl ferulate), and the three major anthocyanins (cyanidin coumaroyl glycoside, peonidin coumaroyl glycoside and delphinidin diacetyl diglycoside) and a flavone diglucoside, being the interglucosidic linkage (12), to the best of our knowledge, reported for the first time in a diglucoside of apigenin. The analytic conditions, retention times and fragmentation pattern reported now may constitute a fast tool for the systematic identification of these compounds in plant extracts. References: 1- Speta, F., 1998. Systematishe Analyse de gattung Scilla L. s.l. (Hyacinthaceae). Phyton 38(1), 87-95, 121-123. 2- Speta, F., 1998. Hyacinthaceae. In: Kubitzki, K., (Ed.). The families and genera of vascular plants. III. Flowering plants: Monocotyledons. Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp. 261-285. 3- Kopp, B., Krenn, L., Draxler, M., Hoyer, A., Terkola, R., Vallaster, P., Robien, W., 1996. Bufadienolides from Urginea maritima from Egypt. Phytochemistry 42(2), 513-522. 4- Harborne, J.B., Williams, C.A., 1994. Recent advances in the chemosystematics of the monocotyledons. Phytochemistry 37(1), 3-18. 5- Kite, G.C., Grayer, R., Rudall, P., Simmonds, M.S.J., 2000. The potential for chemical characters in monocotyledon systematics. in: Wilson, K.L., Morrison, D.A., (Eds.). Monocotyledons: systematics and evolution. CSIRO, Melbourne, pp. 101-113.This research was carried out with financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT/POCTI/FEDER) and Project POCTI QUI/119/94 “Structure and Reactivity of Flavonoid Glycosides and Synthetic Analogues: A Fundamental Research by Mass Spectrometry”