Towards e-Cities: an Atlas to enhance the public realm through interactive urban cyber-physical devices

Cyber-physical devices are the backbone of a postdigital society in which the virtual and real spaces are seamlessly integrated by ubiquitous computing and networking. The incorporation of such devices in public space is a central subject of a strategic Research Project that gathers a multidisciplinary team from architecture, product design, polymer science and ICT R&D units. This paper frames the key roles of public space and ICTs for UN Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable smart cities. It also reports the architecture R&D unit review on the relations between public space, community, environment and digital interfaces. This review was materialized in an Atlas that collects, classifies and relates a corpus of heterogeneous urban cyber-physical projects case studies. We expand on three main framing concepts (Digital Twin, Interface, Awareness) and identify trends on the devices’ design and deployment strategies to counteract digitally hostile environments and early obsolescence. We also suggest the rising of new types of urban devices aiming at expanding the liveliness of urban places, the knowledge of urban life and the users’ environmental consciousness. The lessons learned from the Atlas fed the design guidelines for a developing demonstrator of a new breed of environmentally sensible interactive urban devices.Work co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) thru Norte 2020: Project “Lab4U&Spaces - Living Lab of Interactive Urban Space Solution” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000072); and Project Lab2PT - Landscapes, Heritage and Territory laboratory - UIDB/04509/2020 thru FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Application of chemometric tools for the comparison of volatile profile from raw and roasted regional and foreign almond cultivars (Prunus dulcis)

In almonds, volatile compounds are major contributors to flavour, being scarce the current knowledge about their volatile profile. Hence, this work intended to characterize the volatile profile, using headspace solidphase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, in raw and roasted almond cultivars (regional cvs. Amendoa˜o, Bonita, Casanova, Molar and Pegarinhos and foreign cvs. Ferragne`s and Glorieta). Overall, 35 compounds were identified, with major chemical classes being alcohols and aldehydes. In raw fruits, benzaldehyde and 3-methyl-1-butanol were key compounds, with roasting changing volatile profiles, increasing release of compounds, with predominance of hexanal and benzaldehyde. Cultivars Glorieta and Molar didn’t show significant increase in aldehyde content after roasting, which may indicate higher resistance to heat-caused oxidation. The use of linear discriminant analysis and principal components analysis permitted the recognition of patterns in the volatile profiles, that can be useful for cultivars identification. This work allowed the characterization and monitoring changes caused by roasting of volatile components of less studied almond cultivars, identifying some that can withstand roasting procedures with reduced formation of compounds associated with off-flavours.Ivo Oliveira is grateful to FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for the Post-doctoral Fellowship SFRH/BPD/111005/2015. This work is supported by: European Investment Funds by FEDER/ COMPETE/POCI—Operational Competitiveness and Internacionalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and National Funds by FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the Project UID/AGR/04033/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Towards e-cities. An Atlas to enhance the public realm through interactive urban cyber-physical devices

Cyber-physical devices are the backbone of a postdigital society in which the virtual and real spaces are seamlessly integrated by ubiquitous computing and networking. The incorporation of such devices in public space is a central subject of a strategic Research Project that gathers a multidisciplinary team from architecture, product design, polymer science and ICT R&D units. This paper frames the key roles of public space and ICTs for UN Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable smart cities. It also reports the architecture R&D unit review on the relations between public space, community, environment and digital interfaces. This review was materialized in an Atlas that collects, classifies and relates a corpus of heterogeneous urban cyber-physical projects case studies. We expand on three main framing concepts (Digital Twin, Interface, Awareness) and identify trends on the devices’ design and deployment strategies to counteract digitally hostile environments and early obsolescence. We also suggest the rising of new types of urban devices aiming at expanding the liveliness of urban places, the knowledge of urban life and the users’ environmental consciousness. The lessons learned from the Atlas fed the design guidelines for a developing demonstrator of a new breed of environmentally sensible interactive urban devices

Treatment of winery wastewater by combined almond skin coagulant and sulfate radicals: assessment of HSO5− activators

The large production of wine and almonds leads to the generation of sub-products, such as winery wastewater (WW) and almond skin. WW is characterized by its high content of recalcitrant organic matter (biodegradability index < 0.30). Therefore, the aim of this work was to (1) apply the coagulation–flocculation–decantation (CFD) process with an organic coagulant based on almond skin extract (ASE), (2) treat the organic recalcitrant matter through sulfate radical advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) and (3) evaluate the efficiency of combined CFD with UV-A, UV-C and ultrasound (US) reactors. The CFD process was applied with variation in the ASE concentration vs. pH, with results showing a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 61.2% (0.5 g/L ASE, pH = 3.0). After CFD, the germination index (GI) of cucumber and corn seeds was ≥80%; thus, the sludge can be recycled as fertilizer. The SR-AOP initial conditions were achieved by the application of a Box–Behnken response surface methodology, which described the relationship between three independent variables (peroxymonosulfate (PMS) concentration, cobalt (Co2+) concentration and UV-A radiation intensity). Afterwards, the SR-AOPs were optimized by varying the pH, temperature, catalyst type and reagent addition manner. With the application of CFD as a pre-treatment followed by SR-AOP under optimal conditions (pH = 6.0, [PMS] = 5.88 mM, [Co2+] = 5 mM, T = 343 K, reaction time 240 min), the COD removal increased to 85.9, 82.6 and 80.2%, respectively, for UV-A, UV-C and US reactors. All treated wastewater met the Portuguese legislation for discharge in a municipal sewage network (COD ≤ 1000 mg O2/L). As a final remark, the combination of CFD with SR-AOPs is a sustainable, safe and clean strategy for WW treatment and subproduct valorization.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/00616/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UI/BD/150847/2020CCRN - Comissão de Coordenação da Região Norte | Ref. NORTE-01- 0145-FEDER-00004

Reconfiguração ótima de sistemas de distribuição para minimização de perdas de energia

This paper presents an algorithm for reconfiguration of Electrical Distribution Systems in order to minimize energy losses considering different load levels. This problem is considered as mixed integer non linear programming, in which a continuous function is used to handle the discrete variables. As consequence, the proposed model is solved using a step by step approach where the primal-dual interior point technique is solved at each step. The Lagrange multiplies are used to evaluate the sensitivity index for the reconfiguration process. The developed algorithm is tested in three systems of the literature.Este artigo apresenta um algoritmo para a reconfiguração ótima de Sistemas de Distribuição de Energia Elétrica (SDE), com o objetivo de minimizar a perda total de energia considerando diferentes níveis de carregamento. Trata-se de um problema de programação não linear inteira mista onde a variável discreta é modelada como uma função contínua. Como conseqüência, o problema proposto é resolvido através de um algoritmo passo a passo, onde em cada passo é utilizado o Método Primal-Dual de Pontos Interiores. Os multiplicadores de Lagrange são utilizados para compor o índice de sensibilidade no processo de reconfiguração. O algoritmo proposto é testado em três sistemas encontrados na literatura

Innovation for Sustainability and Networking

Throughout human history, innovation has been the main factor in adapting humanity to its settings. On the basis of earlier practice, human creativity allows the finding of new, permanent ways to do things. their applications encourage new spaces, new necessities and new lifestyles. Innovation has been an element of human capacities from its earlier stages, but it has been recognized only recently as a clear device of social and economic change

HIDROCARBONETOS EM SOLOS E SEDIMENTOS DO ENTORNO DA ESTAÇÃO ANTÁRTICA BRASILEIRA COMANDANTE FERRAZ

Despite being remote and uninhabited, the Antartic Continent is not free from the impact of human presence. Among the possible impacts, the presence of oilderived hydrocarbons has been a matter of concern. The ships operating in the region and the transportation of diesel oil to the power plant of Comandante Ferraz Station (EACF) have contributed to the introduction of oil hydrocartbons into the environment. This work, as part of Criosols project, aimed to evaluate the presence of oil hydrocarbons at the surrounds of EACF. Soils samples were collected in a prestablished area during the summer of 2003. The aliphatic and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons were extracted by Soxhlet. The hydrocarbons were isolated, identified and quantified by CGMS. The aliphatic and aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons found in the soil and sediments were similar to those found in the diesel fuel and their areas of dispersion, mainly in the sub-surface, were larger than those of the volatile aromatic hydrocarbons. The aliphatic hydrocarbons with the highest concentrations were pentadecane, octadecane and pentacosane. Among the aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons, acenaftene, fluorantene and chysene had the highest concentrations and a larger area of dispersion.    Por mais remoto e desabitado que o continente Antártico seja, ele não está livre do impacto da presença humana. Dentre os possíveis impactos, a presença de hidrocarbonetos derivados de petróleo têm sido objeto de preocupação. A ocorrência de embarcações operando na região e o transporte de óleo diesel para os geradores da Estação Antártica Comandante Ferraz (EACF) tem contribuído para a introdução de hidrocarbonetos de petróleo no ambiente. Este trabalho, como parte do projeto Criossolos, teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de hidrocarbonetos de petróleo no entorno da EACF. As amostras de solos foram coletadas numa grade rígida durante o verão de 2003. Os hidrocarbonetos alifáticos e policíclicos aromáticos foram extraídos por Soxhlet. Os hidrocarbonetos foram separados, identificados e quantificados por meio de CGMS. Os hidrocarbonetos alifáticos e policíclicos aromáticos encontrados no solo e sedimentos assemelharam-se àqueles do diesel e a sua área de dispersão, principalmente em sub-superfície, foi maior que aquela dos hidrocarbonetos voláteis. Os hidrocarbonetos alifáticos com maiores concentrações foram o pentadecano, octadecano e o pentacosano. Dentre os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos os compostos acenafteno, fluoranteno e criseno obtiveram maiores concentrações e uma maior área de dispersão

Rheological properties of alkaline activated fly ash used in jet grouting applications

The application of alkaline activated fly ash to soil stabilisation has been recently studied, and although the structural behaviour was adequate, some concerns were raised regarding its apparent viscosity, which proved to be an important issue in jet grouting applications. Therefore, this paper deals with the experimental study of rheology of alkaline activated fly ash-based grouts, namely with: setting time of the freshly mixed grout; fluidity; capillary absorption; shrinkage and expansion behaviour; mass variation during the curing process and density. In order to establish some correlation points with structural performance, uniaxial compression strength (UCS) at 28 days curing was also determined. Six different grout compositions, defined based on Na2O (alkali)/ash and activator / ash ratios, were analysed. The activator was composed of sodium silicate and two different sodium hydroxide concentrations: 10.0 and 12.5 molal. Results show that the fluidity of the grouts correlate very well with UCS, with an increase of the former resulting in a decrease in the latter, which is a concern in jet grouting applications since this parameter controls the velocity of the grout at the nozzle and the soil/grout mixing capability. In terms of porosity, this type of material seems to be less porous than cement-based grouts. However, drying shrinkage values obtained were in general higher than usual for concrete, which is in accordance with results obtained by other researchers.Teixeira Duarte Engenharia e Construções S.A. e Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT

Cryptic Speciation in Brazilian Epiperipatus (Onychophora: Peripatidae) Reveals an Underestimated Diversity among the Peripatid Velvet Worms

Taxonomical studies of the neotropical Peripatidae (Onychophora, velvet worms) have proven difficult, due to intraspecific variation and uniformity of morphological characters across this onychophoran subgroup. We therefore used molecular approaches, in addition to morphological methods, to explore the diversity of Epiperipatus from the Minas Gerais State of Brazil.Our analyses revealed three new species. While Epiperipatus diadenoproctussp. nov. can be distinguished from E. adenocryptussp. nov. and E. paurognostussp. nov. based on morphology and specific nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and small ribosomal subunit RNA gene sequences (12S rRNA), anatomical differences between the two latter species are not evident. However, our phylogenetic analyses of molecular data suggest that they are cryptic species, with high Bayesian posterior probabilities and bootstrap and Bremer support values for each species clade. The sister group relationship of E. adenocryptussp. nov. and E. paurognostussp. nov. in our analyses correlates with the remarkable morphological similarity of these two species. To assess the species status of the new species, we performed a statistical parsimony network analysis based on 582 base pairs of the COI gene in our specimens, with the connection probability set to 95%. Our findings revealed no connections between groups of haplotypes, which have been recognized as allopatric lineages in our phylogenetic analyses, thus supporting our suggestion that they are separate species.Our findings suggest high cryptic species diversity and endemism among the neotropical Peripatidae and demonstrate that the combination of morphological and molecular approaches is helpful for clarifying the taxonomy and species diversity of this apparently large and diverse onychophoran group