Assessing self-organization and emergence in Evolvable Assembly Systems (EAS)

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de ComputadoresThere is a growing interest from industry in the applications of distributed IT. Currently, most modern plants use distributed controllers either to control production processes, monitor them or both. Despite the efforts on the last years to improve the implementation of the new manufacturing paradigms, the industry is still mainly using traditional controllers. Now, more than ever, with an economic crisis the costumers are searching for cheap and customized products, which represents a great opportunity for the new paradigms to claim their space in the market. Most of the research on distributed manufacturing is regarding the control and communication infrastructure. They are key aspects for self-organization and there is a lack of study on the metrics that regulate the self-organization and autonomous response of modern production paradigms. This thesis presents a probabilistic framework that promotes self-organization on a multiagent system based on a new manufacturing concept, the Evolvable Assembly Systems/Evolvable Production Systems. A methodology is proposed to assess the impact of self-organization on the system behavior, by the application of the probabilistic framework that has the dual purpose of controlling and explaining the system dynamics. The probabilistic framework shows the likelihood of some resources being allocated to the production process. This information is constantly updated and exchanged by the agents that compose the system. The emergent effect of this self-organization dynamic is an even load balancing across the system without any centralized controller. The target systems of this work are therefore small systems with small production batches but with a high variability of production conditions and products. The agents that compose the system originated in the agent based architecture of the FP7-IDEAS proejct. This work has extended these agents and the outcome has been tested in the IDEAS demonstrators, as the changes have been incorporated in the latest version of the architecture, and in a simulation and more controlled environment were the proposed metric and its influence were assessed

Disruption and phenotypic analysis of six open reading frames from chromosome VII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals one essential gene

Six open reading frames (ORFs) located on chromosome VII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YGR205w, YGR210c, YGR211w, YGR241c, YGR243w and YGR244c) were disrupted in two different genetic backgrounds using short-flanking homology (SFH) gene replacement. Sporulation and tetrad analysis showed that YGR211w, recently identified as the yeast ZPR1 gene, is an essential gene. The other five genes are non-essential, and no phenotypes could be associated to their inactivation. Two of these genes have recently been further characterized: YGR241c (YAP1802) encodes a yeast adaptor protein and YGR244c (LSC2) encodes the b-subunit of the succinyl-CoA ligase. For each ORF, a replacement cassette with long flanking regions homologous to the target locus was cloned in pUG7, and the cognate wild-type gene was cloned in pRS416

INTERPRETAÇÃO GEOMORFOLÓGICA DA RIBEIRA DAS MERCÊS E AFLORAMENTOS DE TUFO CALCÁRIO ASSOCIADOS (ALGARVE CENTRAL)

A área da flexura de Algibre apresenta-se carsificada, sendo uma área de recarga para os aquíferos formados no seu interior que, em alguns casos estão conectados com os da área envolvente. Aqui, as superfícies aplanadas e o carso nu e subcutâneo das formas de relevo mais salientes são importantes para a recarga de um aquífero cujas águas têm tendência incrustante. Uma recarga eficaz é importante para a manutenção das exsurgências com capacidade para a formação destes afloramentos de tufo calcário, como é o caso do Olho de Paris. A informação recolhida é sintetizada através de um esboço geomorfológico

Os tufos calcários das áreas de Estói, Loulé e ribeira das Mercês (Algarve, Portugal): caracterização e significado paleoambiental

Nesta comunicação tentaremos estabelecer os principais tipos de fácies apresentadas pelos tufos desta área do Algarve Central, articulando os mesmos com os potenciais paleoambientes de formação. Os principais tipos de fácies identificadas correspondem a fácies detríticas (conglomerado e tufos pulverulentos) e de optimum de acumulação (tufo biohérmico), sendo que os primeiros podem corresponder às fases iniciais e erosivas do afloramento e os segundos a períodos construtivos dos tufos calcários

Geomorphological settings and tufa models in Algibre flexure (Algarve, Portugal)

INTRODUCTION Percolating water through organically enriched soil, raises the water pCO2 promoting an increase in carbonates dissolution. Following subaerial exposure, the water-atmosphere interaction, leads to an oversaturation of water CaCO3 and precipitation (PENTECOST, 2005; CHAFTEZ & FOLK, 1984). This precipitation can be inorganic, biologic or both (PEDLEY, 2009). The tufa facies presented in this work, follow GUERREIRO et alii (2010) and PEDLEY (1990) and the accumulation models follow PEDLEY (2009). In Central and Western Algarve over de Mesozoic limestone substrate, there are many tufa outcrops, with main outcrops occurring along the streams of Alte, Mercês, Cadouço, Rio Seco and Asseca. Algarve is the southernmost Portuguese region in the Iberian range, developed in three main geomorphological settings (FEIO, 1952). In the north, the mountainous area is mainly composed by Carboniferous schist and greywacke, and a Late Cretaceous intrusive massif in the west. In the south, develops the meridional Meso-Cenozoic Algarve basin, composed by the Triassic and Jurassic lithologies known as Barrocal with Cretaceous and Cenozoic sediments and the Littoral with Cenozoic topographically lower and eroded by the shore realm. HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM The Algibre flexure is the main geomorphological feature in the area, where the karst is well developed as aquifer’s recharge area (ALMEIDA, 1985). The highest hills (350 to 380 m) are bare and soddy karst plain areas, where surface runoff is very low (e.g. Cabeça Gorda and Rocha). Lower colluvial areas have also low runoff conditions, because most are also low gradients (< 3°) and some have dolines and sinks (e.g. Campina dos Galegos or Rossinas). Discharge areas are located on the North and the South, but in different settings. Discharge to Mercês basin (North) is controlled by impermeable Triassic lithologies along high gradient slopes. All springs are intermittent and discharge is linked to the Mediterranean climate wet season. In the South, the discharge occurs along low gradient streams like Cadouço or São Lourenço. Different discharge settings result in different deposition systems as suggested in PEDLEY (2009). Fig. 1 PERCHED SPRINGLINE TUFA Springs in the Mercês basin are commonly perched and in low runoff karst, enhancing the development of perched springline model, where Pedley (1990) suggested proximal and distal deposits. Mature proximal deposits have wedge morphology with fan-shape, shaping low gradient terrace with a slow braided flow, sometimes with some ponds. In this area only the Olho de Paris can be classified as mature, with a 300 m long and wide, one small pond next to spring and many channels that spread from the old anthropic bank. High gradient at downstream edge enhance the sedimentation on cascades, producing moss curtains (subvertical moss laminar bioherm) intercalated by other bioherms and phytoclastic tufa on small pools and short low gradient channels where the upper macrophytes detritus (stems, fruits and leaves) accumulate leading to the development of tufa microdams and decimeter pools. Due to the high permeability in these systems, sometimes dissolution structures are present (ORDOÑEZ & GARCÍA DEL CURA, 1983). Decimeter scale holes in Penedos A. are covered by syngenetic speleothems and flowstones, however, there could have been a former hollow in the waterfall deposits now partially destroyed. Distal deposits in the above mentioned model are mainly composed by phytoclastic tufa and locally bioherm tufa developed on channels. However, in this model low gradient alluvial deposits exist downstream. Not only Olho de Paris but also Penedos Altos outcrops are followed by important stream sediments fed by the turbidite formations in the surrounding mountainous areas, with the high energy flow destroying the most recently deposited tufa. There are few situations where gravel and cobble is strongly cemented on modern stream, as in the case of the downstream of Olho de Paris or some strata from ancient accumulations. There are other incrusting springs in the area, but the low discharge related to the geomorphological or hydrogeological settings prevent the outcrops maintenance. FLUVIAL TUFA In the southern low-gradient streams, fluvial models develop. The main modern features in the area are the waterfalls up to 5 m and channels, where the main facies are macrophytes, moss and other lamellar bioherm tufa and oncoids. This is an intermediate model for braided fluvial model and barrage model, where valleys are incised but incipient discharge associated to the Mediterranean climate and small aquifer produce a cascade model. In the studied case lakes are absent and few small pools exist due to the low sedimentation. The São Lourenço stream outcrop is developed in a valley floor struggle, where ancient pebble conglomerates with massive carbonate cement are horizontally followed by curtain moss and algae laminar tufas and some low energy pool deposits. Despite the modern deposition, both valleys are currently incised in older tufa deposits which are present on river banks and terraces. The ancient structures show the same facies associations as the modern ones, with some tufa clasts and unconformities interlayered in some sequences of sedimentation. CONCLUSION Algibre flexure is the main geomorphological structure in the area, which include the recharge area feeding the springs on the northern and southern slopes. Geomorphological conditions result in distinct tufa structures, especially when considering slopes gradient. In the northern high gradient slopes, perched springline models are predominant. In low gradient streams like Cadouço and São Lourenço, deposits along the streams can occur. However, in this situation we don’t know lacustrine deposits like other Mediterranean outcrops despite the presence of modern and ancient waterfalls or just stream deposits. Spring regime with long discharges allows the development of bigger and more suitable structures to model the systems, especially when discharge extends to the warmer months like May or June. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Work financed by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Ph.D. grant SFRH/BD/62323/2009. REFERENCES ALMEIDA, C. (1985) – Hidrogeologia do Algarve Central. Ph.D. thesis in Geol. Faculdade de Ciências da U. de Lisboa. CHAFTEZ, H., FOLK, R. (1984) – Travertines: depositional morphology and the bacterially constructed constituents. J. Sed. Petr., 54 (1), 289-316. FEIO, M. (1952) – A Evolução do Relevo do Baixo Alentejo e Algarve. Ph.D Thesis in Geogr. F. de Letras da U. de Lisboa. GUERREIRO, P.; CUNHA, L.; RIBEIRO, C.; CANDEIAS, A. (2010) – Os tufos calcários das áreas de Estoi, Loulé e ribeira das Mercês (Algarve, Portugal): caracterização e significado paleoambiental. In: e-Terra, 21 (7). [http://e-terra.geopor.pt]. 4 pp. ORDOÑEZ, S.; GARCÍA DEL CURA, M. (1983) – Recent and terciary fluvial carbonates in Central Spain. Spec. Publs. Int. Ass. Sed., 6, 485-497. PEDLEY, H.M. (1990) – Classification and environmental models of cool freshwater tufas. Sed. Geol., 68, 143-154. PEDLEY, H.M. (2009) – Tufas and travertines of the Mediterranean region: a testing ground for freshwater carbonate concepts and developments. Sedimentology, 56, 221-246. PENTECOST, A. (2005) – Travertine. Springer. 445 pp

10th European Conference on Information Systems Management

The 10th European Conference on Information Systems Management is being held at The University of Evora, Portugal on the 8 /9 September 2016. The Conference Chair is Paulo Silva and the Programme Chairs are Prof. Rui Quaresma and Prof. António Guerreiro. ECISM provides an opportunity for individuals researching and working in the broad field of information systems management, including IT evaluation to come together to exchange ideas and discuss current research in the field. This has developed into a particularly important forum for the present era, where the modern challenges of managing information and evaluating the effectiveness of related technologies are constantly evolving in the world of Big Data and Cloud Computing. We hope that this year’s conference will provide you with plenty of opportunities to share your expertise with colleagues from around the world. The keynote speakers for the Conference are Carlos Zorrinho from the Portuguese Delegation and Isabel Ramos from University of Minho, Portugal. ECISM 2016 received an initial submission of 84 abstracts. After the double blind peer review process 25 aca demic papers, 7 PhD research papers, 3 Masters research paper and 5 work in progress papers have been ac cepted for publication in these Conference Proceedings. These papers represent research from around the world, including Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, The Netherlands, UK and Vietnam

Clusters of 5S rRNAs in the intergenic region of ubiquitin genes in Tetrahymena pyriformis

Here, we report the molecular analysis of two independent 5S rRNA clusters found in the intergenic region of two ubiquitin genomic clones isolated from Tetrahymena pyriformis. Each cluster contains two 120-bp-long coding regions organized in tandem with 142/145-bp-long spacers

On the Detection of CE-OFDM Signals

In this letter, we study the optimum performance of constant envelope orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CE-OFDM) signals in both ideal additive white Gaussian noise channels and frequency-selective channels, and we compare it to the performance of conventional CE-OFDM receivers based on a phase detector. It is shown that the phase detector can achieve optimum performance, but only in scenarios where the power efficiency is very low. For this reason, the use of CE-OFDM schemes in power-constrained scenarios may demand other type of receivers, such as optimum-based receiver