Autonomous vehicles in the response to maritime incidents

The future role of autonomous vehicles in the emergency response to maritime incidents isdiscussed and a framework for their integration into existing response plans is proposed. This is done inthe context of the developments on autonomous vehicle systems from the Underwater Systems andTechnologies Laboratory from Porto University

Remotely Sensed Variables of Ecosystem Functioning Support Robust Predictions of Abundance Patterns for Rare Species

Global environmental changes are affecting both the distribution and abundance of species at an unprecedented rate. To assess these effects, species distribution models (SDMs) have been greatly developed over the last decades, while species abundance models (SAMs) have generally received less attention even though these models provide essential information for conservation management. With population abundance defined as an essential biodiversity variable (EBV), SAMs could offer spatially explicit predictions of species abundance across space and time. Satellite-derived ecosystem functioning attributes (EFAs) are known to inform on processes controlling species distribution, but they have not been tested as predictors of species abundance. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of SAMs calibrated with EFAs (as process-related variables) to predict local abundance patterns for a rare and threatened species (the narrow Iberian endemic ‘Gerês lily’ Iris boissieri; protected under the European Union Habitats Directive), and to project inter-annual fluctuations of predicted abundance. We compared the predictive accuracy of SAMs calibrated with climate (CLI), topography (DEM), land cover (LCC), EFAs, and combinations of these. Models fitted only with EFAs explained the greatest variance in species abundance, compared to models based only on CLI, DEM, or LCC variables. The combination of EFAs and topography slightly increased model performance. Predictions of the inter-annual dynamics of species abundance were related to inter-annual fluctuations in climate, which holds important implications for tracking global change effects on species abundance. This study underlines the potential of EFAs as robust predictors of biodiversity change through population size trends. The combination of EFA-based SAMs and SDMs would provide an essential toolkit for species monitoring programs.This work has been carried out within the H2020 project ECOPOTENTIAL: Improving Future Ecosystem Benefits Through Earth Observations (http://www.ecopotential-project.eu). The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 641762. S.A.-C., D.A.-S., and J.H. received funding from the ECOPOTENTIAL project. A.R. was financially supported by the Xunta de Galicia, Spain (post-doctoral fellowship ED481B2016/084-0). J.F.G. was funded by the Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus Program (2017) by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT CEEC-2017)

Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging in obsessive-compulsive disorder

The current literature provides substantial evidence of brain alterations associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms (eg, checking, cleaning/decontamination, counting compulsions; harm or sexual, symmetry/exactness obsessions), and emotional problems (eg, defensive/appetitive emotional imbalance, disgust, guilt, shame, and fear learning/extinction) and cognitive impairments associated with this disorder (eg, inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility). Building on this evidence, new clinical trials can now target specific brain regions/networks. Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) was introduced as a new therapeutic tool for the self-regulation of brain-mind. In this review, we describe initial trials testing the use of rtfMRI to target brain regions associated with specific OCD symptoms (eg, contamination), and other mind-brain processes (eg, cognitive -working memory, inhibitory control, emotional - defensive, appetitive systems, fear reduction through counter-conditioning) found impaired in OCD patients. While this is a novel topic of research, initial evidence shows the promise of using rtfMRI in training the self-regulation of brain regions and mental processes associated with OCD. Additionally, studies with healthy populations have shown that individuals can regulate brain regions associated with cognitive and emotional processes found impaired in OCD. After the initial "proof-of-concept" stage, there is a need to follow up with controlled clinical trials that could test rtfMRI innovative treatments targeting brain regions and networks associated with different OCD symptoms and cognitive-emotional impairments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Maximum power point tracking CMOS circuit to connect a solar cell into a solid-state battery

This paper presents a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) circuit in CMOS technology for integration into an energy harvesting solution, comprising a solid-state thin-film lithium battery fabricated in the back side of a plastic solar cell. The MPPT CMOS circuit is required in the energy transfer process from the solar cell to the battery. The MPPT circuit was designed in the 0.7 µm CMOS process from on semiconductor (former AMIS, Alcatel-Mietec). The pulse width modulation (PWM) gate control of the DC-DC step-up converter is obtained only with analog circuits, which are composed by rail-to-rail operational amplifiers, analog multipliers and a ring oscillator. The ripple correlation control algorithm is used in the implementation of the analog MPPT circuit. This is a dynamically rapid method (e.g., 5 ms step response was measured) where the inevitable ripple of the inductor current of the DC-DC converter is analyzed and used to adjust the set-point of the same DC-DC converter. The full energy harvesting is also described in this paper

Phenomenology of vector-like leptons with Deep Learning at the Large Hadron Collider

In this paper, a model inspired by Grand Unification principles featuring three generations of vector-like fermions, new Higgs doublets and a rich neutrino sector at the low scale is presented. Using the state-of-the-art Deep Learning techniques we perform the first phenomenological analysis of this model focusing on the study of new charged vector-like leptons (VLLs) and their possible signatures at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In our numerical analysis we consider signal events for vector-boson fusion and VLL pair production topologies, both involving a final state containing a pair of charged leptons of different flavor and two sterile neutrinos that provide a missing energy. We also consider the case of VLL single production where, in addition to a pair of sterile neutrinos, the final state contains only one charged lepton. We propose a novel method to identify missing transverse energy vectors by comparing the detector response with Monte-Carlo simulated data. All calculated observables are provided as data sets for Deep Learning analysis, where a neural network is constructed, based on results obtained via an evolutive algorithm, whose objective is to maximise either the accuracy metric or the Asimov significance for different masses of the VLL. Taking into account the effect of the three analysed topologies, we have found that the combined significance for the observation of new VLLs at the high-luminosity LHC can range from 5.7σ, for a mass of 1.25 TeV, all the way up to 28σ if the VLL mass is 200 GeV. We have also shown that by the end of the LHC Run-III a 200 GeV VLL can be excluded with a confidence of 8.8 standard deviations. The results obtained show that our model can be probed well before the end of the LHC operations and, in particular, providing important phenomenological information to constrain the energy scale at which new gauge symmetries emergent from the considered Grand Unification picture can be manifest.publishe

Towards a microscopic traffic simulation framework to assess vehicle-to-vehicle networks

This paper presents the specification of a framework based on the concept of service-oriented architectures (SOA) to support the assessment of vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANET). A preliminary study of concepts related to SOA was carried out, as well as of those technologies that allow real-time data acquisition and dissemination within urban environments, and simulation tools to aid the simulation of the VANET. The requirements for our simulation framework were identified and a two-layered architecture was specified, which rely on the abstraction levels of services for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. A prototypical application was implemented, which was used to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach presented through experimental results

On interplay between flavour anomalies and neutrino properties

A minimal extension of the Standard Model (SM) featuring two scalar leptoquarks, an SU(2) doublet with hypercharge 1/6 and a singlet with hypercharge 1/3, is proposed as an economical benchmark model for studies of an interplay between flavour physics and properties of the neutrino sector. The presence of such type of leptoquarks radiatively generates neutrino masses and offers a simultaneous explanation for the current B-physics anomalies involving $b \to c \ell \nu_\ell$ decays. The model can also accommodate both the muon magnetic moment and the recently reported $W$ mass anomalies, while complying with the most stringent lepton flavour violating observables.Comment: Accepted versio

Estabilidade de fundações e taludes em maciços rochosos

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil - Perfil GeotecniaNo Projecto Geotécnico corrente, a estabilidade de fundações e taludes é, habitualmente, analisada através de metodologias nas quais os maciços são tidos como meios particulados, contínuos e homogéneos. Os tipos de mecanismos de colapso nelas considerados são, assim, adequados para a análise de maciços terrosos e, eventualmente, para maciços rochosos muito alterados a decompostos, mas não são generalizáveis a todos os maciços rochosos, onde o comportamento mecânico é fortemente condicionado por eventuais descontinuidades da massa rochosa. Com este trabalho procura-se sistematizar as metodologias disponíveis para o estudo da estabilidade de fundações e de taludes em maciços rochosos. Neste âmbito, deverão ser abordadas as formas mais adequadas de proceder à caracterização do comportamento mecânico dos maciços, os tipos de mecanismos de colapso mais frequentes e os procedimentos associados à verificação da segurança. Neste aspecto, deverão ser analisadas as abordagens previstas no EC7

A planar thermoelectric power generator for integration in wearable microsystems

A technique for IC-compatible fabrication of a planar (in-plane) thermoelectric (TE) power generator using a thermopile composed of n-type bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and p-type antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) thin-films is presented. The research demonstrates that the thermal co-evaporation of bismuth/antimony (Bi/Sb) and telluride (Te) is the most suitable deposition technique. The measurements showed TE performance properties of the deposited thin-films that are comparable to those reported for the same materials in the bulk form. The measurements showed absolute values of the Seebeck coefficient in the range 91–248 VK−1, an electrical resistivity in the 7.6–39.1 m range and a thermal conduction between 1.3 and 1.8Wm−1 K−1. The best resulting figures-of-merit, ZT, at room temperatures were 0.97 and 0.56 (equivalent to power-factors, PF, of 4.87×10−3 and 2.8×10−3WK−1m−2) for the Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 thin-films, respectively. The IC-compatibility and the dependence of the TE performance on technological details, such as photolithography and wet etching used for patterning the thin-films have also been investigated. The converter dimensions for best performance were analysed and a prototype of a planar TE power generator was fabricated

New Nile blue derivatives as NIR fluorescent probes and antifungal agents

The synthesis of four new Nile Blue derivatives with hydrogen, propyl and/or aminopropyl groups as substituents of the amines of 5- and 9-positions is described. Photophysical properties were evaluated in acidified ethanol and aqueous solution at physiological pH. Antifungal activity is also studied through the obtention of MIC values.Thanks are due to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QRENEU for financial support through the Chemistry Research Centre of the University of Minho (Ref. UID/QUI/00686/2013 and UID/QUI/0686/2016), CBMA (PEst OE/BIA/UI4050/2014) and a PhD grant to J.C.F. (SFRH/BD/133207/2017). The NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance III 400 is part of the National NMR Network (PTNMR) and are partially supported by Infrastructure Project No 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL and FCT through PIDDAC)