Nowcasting day-ahead marginal emissions using multi-headed CNNs and deep generative models

Nowcasting day-ahead marginal emissions factors is increasingly important for power systems with high flexibility and penetration of distributed energy resources. With a significant share of firm generation from natural gas and coal power plants, forecasting day-ahead emissions in the current energy system has been widely studied. In contrast, as we shift to an energy system characterized by flexible power markets, dispatchable sources, and competing low-cost generation such as large-scale battery or hydrogen storage, system operators will be able to choose from a mix of different generation as well as emission pathways. To fully develop the emissions implications of a given dispatch schedule, we need a near real-time workflow with two layers. The first layer is a market model that continuously solves a security-constrained economic dispatch model. The second layer determines the marginal emissions based on the output of the market model, which is the subject of this paper. We propose using multi-headed convolutional neural networks to generate day-ahead forecasts of marginal and average emissions for a given independent system operator.Comment: NeurIPS 2023 Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning Worksho

Lifecycle CO2 emissions from US bioethanol production with CCS

There is growing consensus that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies – also referred to as “negative emissions” technologies (NETs) – will be part of the portfolio of strategies and technologies needed to hold the increase in the global average temperature to “well below 2 °C” (1), as agreed by parties to the Paris Agreement. The production of bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) is one class of CDR technology (2), involving the capture and geologic storage of CO2 (CCS) that would otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere from use of biomass as a fuel for electricity generation or feedstock for production of liquid fuels. Use of CCS typically imposes two energy penalties that can diminish its benefits: energy is needed to separate CO2 from dilute CO2-containing mixtures (e.g. flue gas), and to liquefy CO2 so that it can be transported and injected into geologic formations. The predominant biofuel production pathway in the United States (U.S.) today is conversion of corn starch to ethanol, which generates relatively high-concentration CO2 from fermentation and dilute-CO2 from fuel combustion for process heat. In 2015, the U.S. produced approximately 53 billion liters of bioethanol from nearly 200 facilities (3) releasing approximately 40 MtCO2 of CO2 from fermentation and a further 20 MtCO2 from process heat (4). The climate benefit of applying CCS to biofuel production – and BECCS more generally – can only be accurately assessed in the context of emissions over the entire fuel production pathway, including the biomass supply chain. Few prior studies have quantified the carbon intensity of biofuels, such as ethanol, produced from processes including CCS (5–8). While previous studies consider a range of feedstocks (i.e., sugar cane, beets, and corn), none consider the emissions from direct and indirect land-use change associated with feedstock production and some use dated assumptions for key parameters, such as corn and ethanol yields (7,8). However, all conclude that, with the addition of CCS, GHG intensity of produced fuels decreases and can become negative (even without credit for displacement). In this paper, we quantify the life-cycle emissions of several corn-ethanol production pathways coupled with CCS at different process steps. Specifically, we assess the lifecycle emissions for dry-mill ethanol production with and without CCS for fermentation process emissions and for onsite boiler or cogeneration emissions. We run these scenarios for representative U.S. corn ethanol plants, and include recent estimates of indirect land use change. Finally, we do a detailed parametric sensitivity analysis of our results. 1. Sanderson BM, O’Neill BC, Tebaldi C. What would it take to achieve the Paris temperature targets? Geophys Res Lett. 2016 Jul 16;43(13):7133–42. 2. The Royal Society. Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty [Internet]. London, UK: The Royal Society; 2009. Available from: https://royalsociety.org/topics- policy/publications/2009/geoengineering-climate/ 3. U.S. DOE. Renewable & Alternative Fuels - Data [Internet]. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). [cited 2017 Jan 14]. Available from: http://www.eia.gov/renewable/data.cfm#alternative 4. U.S. EPA. EPA Facility Level GHG Emissions Data [Internet]. [cited 2017 Jan 14]. Available from: https://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do 5. Lindfeldt EG, Westermark MO. System study of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture in bio-based motor fuel production. 19th Int Conf Effic Cost Optim Simul Environ Impactof Energy Syst 2006. 2008 Feb;33(2):352–61. 6. Laude A, Ricci O, Bureau G, Royer-Adnot J, Fabbri A. CO2 capture and storage from a bioethanol plant: Carbon and energy footprint and economic assessment. Int J Greenh Gas Control. 2011;5(5):1220–31. 7. Möllersten K, Yan J, R. Moreira J. Potential market niches for biomass energy with CO2 capture and storage--Opportunities for energy supply with negative CO2 emissions. Biomass Bioenergy. 2003;25(3):273–85. 8. Kheshgi HS, Prince RC. Sequestration of fermentation CO2 from ethanol production. Energy. 2005 Jul;30(10):1865–71

Cyber Dating Abuse: What Is the Relationship With Moral Sensitivity in a Sample of University Students?

Trabalho apresentado no XVI Congresso Internacional Galego-Português de Psicopedagogia, realizado na Universidade do Minho, em Braga (Portugal), nos dias 1 a 3 de setembro de 2021, com patrocínio da Associação Científica Internacional de Psicopedagogia (ACIP)[Resumo] A presente investigação procurou explorar a relação entre ciberabuso no namoro e sensibilidade moral numa amostra de estudantes universitários. A amostra foi constituída por 239 estudantes universitários com idades compreendidas entre os 17 e os 49 anos (M = 21.50; DP = 4.70). Foram utilizados como instrumentos a Escala de Sensibilidade Moral (ESE), o Questionário sobre Ciberabuso no Namoro (CibAN) e um questionário sociodemográfico. Os principais resultados sugerem que existem diferenças em função do sexo nas dimensões Ler e Expressar Emoções, Tomar Perspetiva dos Outros, Cuidado ao conectar-se com outros e Gerar Interpretações e Opções, sendo que o sexo feminino, de um modo geral, apresentou níveis superiores comparativamente ao sexo masculino. Relativamente à variável ciberabuso no namoro, foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas em função do sexo nas dimensões vitimação – agressão direta e perpetração – agressão direta, sendo que o sexo masculino apresentou maior pontuação face ao sexo feminino em ambas. Verificaram-se ainda correlações negativas significativas entre dimensões do ciberabuso e dimensões da sensibilidade moral. Face aos resultados evidenciados, considera-se de extrema relevância a implementação de programas de intervenção direcionados para o desenvolvimento de competências ligadas à sensibilidade moral pois estas parecem permitir o desenvolvimento de comportamentos pró-sociais, contribuindo assim para a diminuição de comportamentos desviantes.[Abstract] The present investigation sought to explore the relationship between cyber dating abuse and ethical sensitivity in a sample of university students. The sample consisted of 239 university students aged between 17 and 49 years (M = 21.50; SD = 4.70). The Ethical Sensitivity Scale (ESS), the Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire (CDAQ) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were used as instruments. The main results suggest that there are differences in terms of gender in the dimensions: Reading and expressing emotions, Taking the perspective of others, Caring by connecting to others and Generating interpretations and options, with females, in general, showing higher levels when compared with males. Regarding the variable cyber dating abuse, statistically significant differences were found according to gender in the victimization – direct aggression and in the perpetration – direct aggression, with males scoring higher than females in both dimensions. There were also significant negative correlations between dimensions of cyber abuse and dimensions of ethical sensitivity. Regarding the results, the implementation of intervention programs aimed to the development of skills linked to ethical sensitivity is considered extremely relevant, as these seem to allow the development of pro-social behaviour, thus contributing to the reduction of deviant behaviour.Fundos nacionais apoiam o trabalho da autora Inês Relva ([email protected]) através da FCT-Fundação Portuguesa para a Ciência e Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto Estímulo ao Emprego Científico - Chamada Institucional - CEECINST / 00127/2018Portugal. Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia; CEECINST/00127/201

JÚRI SIMULADO E PHILLIPS 66: ESTRATÉGIAS DE ENSINO COM ALUNOS DO 2º ANO DO ENSINO MÉDIO

Este artigo apresenta atividades desenvolvidas com alunos do 2º ano do Ensino Médio de uma escola pública do Vale do Taquari-RS, buscando a construção de conhecimentos vinculados à utilização das estratégias de ensino, Júri simulado e Phillips 66, nas aulas da disciplina de Matemática. Nesta perspectiva, este relato tem por objetivo socializar as atividades que foram desenvolvidas, buscando demonstrar que as estratégias de ensino podem tornar as aulas mais atraentes, proporcionar o trabalho em grupo, promover a autonomia e o diálogo. Para tanto, utilizou-se autores que abordam o uso de socializações. Durante a realização da estratégia do Júri Simulado, os alunos tomaram o lugar de promotores e advogados, visualizando, interpretando e analisando as situações, a socializações. Durante a realização da estratégia do Júri Simulado, os alunos tomaram o lugar de promotores e advogados, visualizando, interpretando e analisando as situações, a fim de defender ou acusar, de acordo com orientações dadas. Já na estratégia Phillips 66, e não diferentemente da anterior, eles conseguiram tornar a Matemática, que aparentemente é complexa, em uma ciência visível, agradável, desafiadora e compreensível. Destaca-se que os resultados superaram as expectativas, mostrando que os alunos são atores ativos dos processos de ensino e de aprendizagem quando desafiados a alcançarem objetivos que venham a instigar sua curiosidade

Experimental and data analysis workflow for soft matter nanoindentation

Nanoindentation refers to a class of experimental techniques where a micrometric force probe is used to quantify the local mechanical properties of soft biomaterials and cells. This approach has gained a central role in the fields of mechanobiology, biomaterials design and tissue engineering, to obtain a proper mechanical characterization of soft materials with a resolution comparable to the size of single cells (μm). The most popular strategy to acquire such experimental data is to employ an atomic force microscope (AFM); while this instrument offers an unprecedented resolution in force (down to pN) and space (sub-nm), its usability is often limited by its complexity that prevents routine measurements of integral indicators of mechanical properties, such as Young's Modulus (E). A new generation of nanoindenters, such as those based on optical fiber sensing technology, has recently gained popularity for its ease of integration while allowing to apply sub-nN forces with µm spatial resolution, therefore being suitable to probe local mechanical properties of hydrogels and cells. In this protocol, a step-by-step guide detailing the experimental procedure to acquire nanoindentation data on hydrogels and cells using a commercially available ferrule-top optical fiber sensing nanoindenter is presented. Whereas some steps are specific to the instrument used herein, the proposed protocol can be taken as a guide for other nanoindentation devices, granted some steps are adapted according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Further, a new open-source Python software equipped with a user-friendly graphical user interface for the analysis of nanoindentation data is presented, which allows for screening of incorrectly acquired curves, data filtering, computation of the contact point through different numerical procedures, the conventional computation of E, as well as a more advanced analysis particularly suited for single-cell nanoindentation data

Neuron-Microglia Contact-Dependent Mechanisms Attenuate Methamphetamine-Induced Microglia Reactivity and Enhance Neuronal Plasticity

Exposure to methamphetamine (Meth) has been classically associated with damage to neuronal terminals. However, it is now becoming clear that addiction may also result from the interplay between glial cells and neurons. Recently, we demonstrated that binge Meth administration promotes microgliosis and microglia pro-inflammation via astrocytic glutamate release in a TNF/IP(3)R2-Ca2+-dependent manner. Here, we investigated the contribution of neuronal cells to this process. As the crosstalk between microglia and neurons may occur by contact-dependent and/or contact-independent mechanisms, we developed co-cultures of primary neurons and microglia in microfluidic devices to investigate how their interaction affects Meth-induced microglia activation. Our results show that neurons exposed to Meth do not activate microglia in a cell-autonomous way but require astrocyte mediation. Importantly, we found that neurons can partially prevent Meth-induced microglia activation via astrocytes, which seems to be achieved by increasing arginase 1 expression and strengthening the CD200/CD200r pathway. We also observed an increase in synaptic individual area, as determined by co-localization of pre- and post-synaptic markers. The present study provides evidence that contact-dependent mechanisms between neurons and microglia can attenuate pro-inflammatory events such as Meth-induced microglia activation

Interlaboratory study for the evaluation of three microtiter plate-based biofilm quantification methods

Microtiter plate methods are commonly used for biofilm assessment. However, results obtained with these methods have often been difficult to reproduce. Hence, it is important to obtain a better understanding of the repeatability and reproducibility of these methods. An interlaboratory study was performed in five different laboratories to evaluate the reproducibility and responsiveness of three methods to quantify Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in 96-well microtiter plates: crystal violet, resazurin, and plate counts. An inter-lab protocol was developed for the study. The protocol was separated into three steps: biofilm growth, biofilm challenge, biofilm assessment. For control experiments participants performed the growth and assessment steps only. For treatment experiments, all three steps were performed and the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in killing S. aureus biofilms was evaluated. In control experiments, on the log(10)-scale, the reproducibility SD (S-R) was 0.44 for crystal violet, 0.53 for resazurin, and 0.92 for the plate counts. In the treatment experiments, plate counts had the best responsiveness to different levels of efficacy and also the best reproducibility with respect to responsiveness (Slope/S-R=1.02), making it the more reliable method to use in an antimicrobial efficacy test. This study showed that the microtiter plate is a versatile and easy-to-use biofilm reactor, which exhibits good repeatability and reproducibility for different types of assessment methods, as long as a suitable experimental design and statistical analysis is applied.Peer reviewe

Erica: Prevalences Of Hypertension And Obesity In Brazilian Adolescents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)To estimate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and obesity and the population attributable fraction of hypertension that is due to obesity in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: Data from participants in the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), which was the first national school-based, cross-section study performed in Brazil were evaluated. The sample was divided into 32 geographical strata and clusters from 32 schools and classes, with regional and national representation. Obesity was classified using the body mass index according to age and sex. Arterial hypertension was defined when the average systolic or diastolic blood pressure was greater than or equal to the 95th percentile of the reference curve. Prevalences and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of arterial hypertension and obesity, both on a national basis and in the macro-regions of Brazil, were estimated by sex and age group, as were the fractions of hypertension attributable to obesity in the population. RESULTS: We evaluated 73,399 students, 55.4% female, with an average age of 14.7 years (SD = 1.6). The prevalence of hypertension was 9.6% (95% CI 9.0-10.3); with the lowest being in the North, 8.4% (95% CI 7.7-9.2) and Northeast regions, 8.4% (95% CI 7.6-9.2), and the highest being in the South, 12.5% (95% CI 11.0-14.2). The prevalence of obesity was 8.4% (95% CI 7.9-8.9), which was lower in the North region and higher in the South region. The prevalences of arterial hypertension and obesity were higher in males. Obese adolescents presented a higher prevalence of hypertension, 28.4% (95% CI 25.5-31.2), than overweight adolescents, 15.4% (95% CI 17.0-13.8), or eutrophic adolescents, 6.3% (95% CI 5.6-7.0). The fraction of hypertension attributable to obesity was 17.8%. CONCLUSIONS: ERICA was the first nationally representative Brazilian study providing prevalence estimates of hypertension in adolescents. Regional and sex differences were observed. The study indicates that the control of obesity would lower the prevalence of hypertension among Brazilian adolescents by 1/5.501Brazilian Department of Science and Technology at the Secretariat of Science and TechnologyStrategic Inputs of the Ministry of Health (Departamento de Ciencia e Tecnologia da Secretaria de Ciencia e Tecnologia e Insumos Estrategicos do Ministerio da Saude - Decit/SCTIE/MS)Health Fund Sector (Fundo Setorial de Saude - CT-health) at the Ministry of science, Technology and Innovation (Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Inovacao - MCTI)FINEP [01090421]CNPq [2010/565037-2]hospital research incentive fund for Clinics in Porto Alegre (fundo de incentivo a Pesquisa do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre - HCPA) [405,009/FIPE-2012-7]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Erica: Prevalence Of Metabolic Syndrome In Brazilian Adolescents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: We evaluated 37,504 adolescents who were participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, school-based, national study. The adolescents, aged from 12 to 17 years, lived in cities with populations greater than 100,000 inhabitants. The sample was stratified and clustered into schools and classes. The criteria set out by the International Diabetes Federation were used to define metabolic syndrome. Prevalences of metabolic syndrome were estimated according to sex, age group, school type and nutritional status. RESULTS: Of the 37,504 adolescents who were evaluated: 50.2% were female; 54.3% were aged from 15 to 17 years, and 73.3% were from public schools. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.6% (95% CI 2.3-2.9), slightly higher in males and in those aged from 15 to 17 years in most macro-regions. The prevalence was the highest in residents from the South macro-region, in the younger female adolescents and in the older male adolescents. The prevalence was higher in public schools (2.8% [95% CI 2.4-3.2]), when compared with private schools (1.9% [95% CI 1.4-2.4]) and higher in obese adolescents when compared with nonobese ones. The most common combinations of components, referring to 3/4 of combinations, were: enlarged waist circumference (WC), low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) and high blood pressure; followed by enlarged WC, low HDL-c and high triglycerides; and enlarged WC, low HDL-c, high triglycerides and blood pressure. Low HDL was the second most frequent component, but the highest prevalence of metabolic syndrome (26.8%) was observed in the presence of high triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: ERICA is the first Brazilian nation-wide study to present the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and describe the role of its components. Despite the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome being low, the high prevalences of some components and participation of others in the syndrome composition shows the importance of early diagnosis of this changes, even if not grouped within the metabolic syndrome.501Department of Science and Technology of the Secretariat of Science, Technology and Strategic Inputs of the Ministry of Health (Decit/SCTIE/MS)Health Sectorial Fund (Fundo Setorial de Saude - CT-Saude) of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI)FINEP [01090421]CNPq [2010/565037-2]Research Incentive Fund of the Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre - (Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre - FIPE-HCPA) [405.009/2012-7]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq