Olhares cruzados sobre o Tibete: as cartas do jesuíta António de Andrade e Viagem ao tecto do mundo de Joaquim Magalhães de Castro

Esta dissertação insere-se na abordagem teórico-metodológica dos Estudos Culturais em forma de comparação, utilizando uma apreciação crítica de duas obras publicadas em Portugal por autores portugueses numa distância temporal bastante considerável (a primeira em 1624 e a segunda em 2010) e sobre uma região específica do continente asiático: o Tibete. Viagens na Ásia Central em Demanda do Cataio escrita pelo padre jesuíta António de Andrade e Viagem ao Tecto do Mundo de Joaquim Magalhães de Castro são analisadas num contexto comparativo que dá ênfase aos aspetos históricos e contextuais, como também aos do domínio socio-cultural de ambas. Sendo dois autores provenientes de um enquadramento cultural distinto daquele que as suas obras retratam, procura-se auscultar, no fundo, quais as formas encontradas por cada um dos autores para representar a “outra” cultura, ou o “outro”, ou aquilo que escapa à sua perceção enquanto estrangeiros numa terra “distante” da sua.This dissertation is part of a theoretical-methodological approach of Cultural Studies in the form of a comparison, using a critical assessment of two works published in Portugal by Portuguese authors with a considerable chronological distance (the first in 1624 and the second in 2010) of a specific region in Asia: Tibet. Viagens na Ásia Central em Demanda do Cataio written by the Jesuit priest António de Andrade and Viagem ao Tecto do Mundo by Joaquim Magalhães de Castro are analyzed in a comparative approach that emphasize the historical and contextual aspects, as well as the social and cultural dimensions. Being two authors from a different cultural background from the one in which their respective works are concerned, what method they find appropriate to represent the "other" culture or the "other", and more importantly, the limits and exclusions of that approach due to their condition of foreigners in a "distant" and “mysterious” land.Mestrado em Português Língua Estrangeira/Língua Segund

Embodied carbon determination in the transportation stage of prefabricated constructions: A micro-level model using the bin-packing algorithm and modal analysis model

The prefabricated construction generates considerable embodied carbon emissions during the manufacture, transportation, and construction stages. However, the contribution from the transportation stage is usually overlooked, leading to biases in life-cycle sustainability analysis of these projects. This article provides a micro-level transportation CE calculation method that estimates the project-specific emissions according to the features of prefabricated elements. The method simulates the transportation status of prefabricated elements as bin packing (BP) problems. Then, a modal analysis model is employed to calculate the CE of each vehicle based on vehicle type, road condition, and freight weight. Considering the minimum transportation CE as objective, a genetic algorithm is then used to search for the optimal solution and corresponding CE values. The comparative results among different CE calculation methods show that this BP-algorithm-based method provides reliable data across different loading rates, rendering the method suitable for calculating the transportation CE of prefabricated construction projects. Additionally, the BP-algorithm-based method differs the emission characteristics among different element types—the prefabricated floor generates the highest emissions, followed by prefabricated beam, wall, and column—suggesting the need to identify disparate emission factors for different element types and considering the sustainability aspects when selecting prefabricated approaches of projects. The results also highlight the efficiency of considering more prefabricated elements in a single transportation batch and selecting suitable vehicles for the optimisation of embodied carbon emissions. Architects, engineers, and contractors can use the method for project-specific transportation CE calculations and transportation planning. The calculation variables concerning the geometric features of prefabricated elements and vehicles can be adopted in the optimisation of project design and construction management for achieving less embodied carbon

Graph-based Molecular Representation Learning

Molecular representation learning (MRL) is a key step to build the connection between machine learning and chemical science. In particular, it encodes molecules as numerical vectors preserving the molecular structures and features, on top of which the downstream tasks (e.g., property prediction) can be performed. Recently, MRL has achieved considerable progress, especially in methods based on deep molecular graph learning. In this survey, we systematically review these graph-based molecular representation techniques, especially the methods incorporating chemical domain knowledge. Specifically, we first introduce the features of 2D and 3D molecular graphs. Then we summarize and categorize MRL methods into three groups based on their input. Furthermore, we discuss some typical chemical applications supported by MRL. To facilitate studies in this fast-developing area, we also list the benchmarks and commonly used datasets in the paper. Finally, we share our thoughts on future research directions

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Optimization Design of Planar Circle Coil for Limited-Size Wireless Power Transfer System

Power Transfer Efficiency (PTE) and Transferred Power (TP) are two crucial indicators of the wireless power transfer (WPT) system. However, in most compensatory topologies, the ideal coils design parameters of PTE and TP are inconsistent, implying that optimizing for one indicator would make another indicator less effective. As a result, in this article, the Thompson sampling efficient multi-objective optimization (TSEMO) algorithm is used to simultaneously optimize PTE and TP in the S-S compensation topology. Through the co-calculation of MATLAB and COMSOL, the coils can be optimized in the environment of magnetic material (ferrite) and conductive material (aluminum). Coils larger than the underwater vehicle’s size are deleted during the data interaction between MATLAB and COMSOL to guarantee that the optimal PTE and TP can be attained within the constrained area. Due to the open standard external software packages between MATLAB and COMSOL, the entire optimization process may be automated. The results show that for WPT systems with restricted input voltage, such as the battery, this design strategy can achieve better TP at the expense of lower PTE, which is highly beneficial in improving the system’s overall performance

Optimization Design of Planar Circle Coil for Limited-Size Wireless Power Transfer System

Power Transfer Efficiency (PTE) and Transferred Power (TP) are two crucial indicators of the wireless power transfer (WPT) system. However, in most compensatory topologies, the ideal coils design parameters of PTE and TP are inconsistent, implying that optimizing for one indicator would make another indicator less effective. As a result, in this article, the Thompson sampling efficient multi-objective optimization (TSEMO) algorithm is used to simultaneously optimize PTE and TP in the S-S compensation topology. Through the co-calculation of MATLAB and COMSOL, the coils can be optimized in the environment of magnetic material (ferrite) and conductive material (aluminum). Coils larger than the underwater vehicle’s size are deleted during the data interaction between MATLAB and COMSOL to guarantee that the optimal PTE and TP can be attained within the constrained area. Due to the open standard external software packages between MATLAB and COMSOL, the entire optimization process may be automated. The results show that for WPT systems with restricted input voltage, such as the battery, this design strategy can achieve better TP at the expense of lower PTE, which is highly beneficial in improving the system’s overall performance

Alumina Extraction from Coal Fly Ash via Low-Temperature Potassium Bisulfate Calcination

Owing to the depletion of bauxite and increasing demand for alumina, calcination methods for extracting alumina from coal fly ash (CFA) were developed. However, these methods have disadvantages such as the need for high temperatures and the emission of toxic gases. Hence, in this study, Al2O3 was extracted from CFA via low-temperature potassium bisulfate calcination technology. Effects of the potassium bisulfate amount, calcination temperature, and calcination time on the alumina extraction efficiency were investigated using X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. It was found that this technique could recover alumina efficiently, and potassium bisulfate significantly contributed to the degradation of mullite and corundum phases. Al2O3 in CFA was converted into soluble K3Al(SO4)(3). With a KHSO4/Al2O3 molar ratio of 7:1, calcining temperature of 230 degrees C, and calcining time of 3 h, the alumina extraction efficiency reached a maximum of 92.8%. The Avrami-Erofeev equation showed the best fit with the kinetic data for the low-temperature calcination of CFA with KHSO4. The activation energy was 28.36 kJ/mol

Edge Restoration of a 3D Building Model Based on Oblique Photography

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) oblique photography technology is widely used in a variety of fields because of its excellent efficiency, realism, and low cost of manufacturing. However, due to the influence of lighting, occlusion, weak textures, and other factors in aerial images, the modeling results can have the problem of an incorrect structure that is inconsistent with the real scene. The edge line of a building is the main external expression of its structure. Whether the edge line is straight or not will directly affect the realism of the building, so the restoration of the edge line can improve the realism of the building. In this study, we proposed and developed a method for the restoration of the edge line of a 3D building model based on triangular mesh cutting. Firstly, the feature line of the edge line was drawn using human–computer interaction, and axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) collision detection was carried out around the feature line to determine the triangular patches to be cut. Then, the triangular cutting algorithm was used to cut the triangular patches projected onto the plane. Finally, the structure and texture of the 3D building model were reconstructed. This method allowed us to actualize the physical separation of continuous triangulation; the triangulation around the edge line was cut, and the plane was fitted. This method was able to improve cutting accuracy and edge flatness and enhance the edge features of buildings and the rendering quality of models. The experimental results showed that the edge restoration method proposed in this paper is reliable and that it can effectively improve the building rendering effect of a 3D building model based on UAV oblique photography and can also enhance the realism of the model

Prognostic nomograms for predicting overall and cancer-specific survival of high-grade osteosarcoma patients

Aim: The present study aimed to develop nomograms estimating survival for patients with high-grade osteosarcoma. Methods: 1990 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma between 1994 and 2013 were retrospectively retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Data from 12 cancer registries (n = 1460) were used to conduct multivariate Cox analysis to identify independent prognostic factors. Nomograms which estimate 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were constructed. The nomograms were internally validated for calibration and were also externally validated with an independent patient cohort from 1 cancer registry (n = 530). Results: Age, primary site, tumor size, use of surgery, and extent of disease were found to be independently associated with OS and CSS (p < 0.05). The nomograms estimating 3- and 5-year OS and CSS were developed based on these prognostic factors. The concordance indices were high in internal validation (0.726 for OS and 0.731 for CSS) and external validation (0.716 for OS and 0.724 for CSS). Internal and external calibration plots demonstrated a good agreement between nomogram prediction and actual observation. Conclusions: We constructed nomograms that accurately predict OS and CSS of high-grade osteosarcoma patients. The nomograms can be used for counseling patients and establishing risk stratification. Keywords: Osteosarcoma, Prognostic factor, Survival, Nomogram, Validatio

Energy-Efficient 3D Path Planning for Complex Field Scenes Using the Digital Model with Landcover and Terrain

Path planning is widely used in many domains, and it is crucial for the advancement of map navigation, autonomous driving, and robot path planning. However, existing path planning methods have certain limitations for complex field scenes with undulating terrain and diverse landcover types. This paper presents an energy-efficient 3D path planning algorithm based on an improved A* algorithm and the particle swarm algorithm in complex field scenes. The evaluation function of the A* algorithm was improved to be suitable for complex field scenes. The slope parameter and friction coefficient were respectively used in the evaluation function to represent different terrain features and landcover types. The selection of expanding nodes in the algorithm depends not only on the minimum distance but also on the minimum consumption cost. Furthermore, the turning radius factor and slope threshold factor of vehicles were added to the definition of impassable points in the improved A* algorithm, so that the accessibility of path planning could be guaranteed by excluding some bends and steep slopes. To meet the requirements for multi-target path planning, the improved A* algorithm was used as the fitness function of the particle swarm algorithm to solve the traveling salesman problem. The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm is capable of multi-target path planning in complex field scenes. Furthermore, the path planned by this algorithm is more passable and more energy efficient. In this experimental environment model, the average energy-saving efficiency of the path planned by the improved algorithm is 14.7% compared to the traditional A* algorithm. This would be beneficial to the development of ecotourism and geological exploration