Surface Energy Budget over the Pantanal Wetland During the dry Season

In this work, the diurnal cycle of components of the surfaceenergy budget (SEB) are computed to the Brazilian Pantanal wetlandduring the dry season (September 1999). The analyzed data were collectedduring the Interdisciplinary Pantanal Experiment (IPE-2) realized by INPEand UFMS. A very defined diurnal cycle is observed, suggesting that theavailable energy at surface is mainly employed in the evapotranspirationeven during the dry season.Neste trabalho os componentes do balanço de radiação e energiaà superfície são investigados para o Pantanal Sul Mato-Grossense. Osdados experimentais foram coletados por uma torre meteorológica durantea Campanha Interdisciplinar do Pantanal (IPE-2) em setembro de1999 realizada pelo INPE e UFMS

Marine Operations with the SWORDFISH Autonomous Surface Vehicle

IEEE Robótica 2007 - 7th Conference on Mobile Robots and Competitions, Paderne, Portugal 2007This paper describes the design and development of the Swordfish Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) system. The work focuses the sensors, actuators, communications and C4I of an unmanned vehicle for marine operations. SWORDFISH is an autonomous surface vehicle used as the central communications link between air, undersea, and terrestrial robotic vehicles of a network centric operation. It is used as a test bed platform for deployment and testing of advanced control and operational concepts for multi-vehicles systems. This new unmanned marine vehicle was done in the context of the PISCIS project. The PISCIS project concerns the development, test and evaluation of new vehicles and new concepts of operation for networked vehicle systems in oceanographic data collection. The PISCIS system includes two autonomous underwater vehicles, the Swordfish ASV, an acoustic navigation system, acoustic and radio communications and a distributed command and control system

Simulação numérica do transporte de um poluente inerte e passivo na CLP convectiva através de um modelo LES

This work describes the time evolution of three dimensional structure of an inert and passive atmospheric pollutant, continuously emitted by an area source located at surface. These and other dynamic and thermodynamic properties of PBL are simulated numerically by the large eddy simulation model (LES) proposed by Moeng. The vertical structure of mean pollutant concentration and the associated vertical turbulent fluxes are consistent with a Mixed Layer, with approximately zero vertical gradients and vertical fluxes varying linearly with height. The vertical distribution of pollutant concentration variance does not follow the Mixed Layer Similarity Theory. The instantaneous vertical wind field shows an asymmetric spatial distribution, with skewness varying from 0.4, near the surface, to 1.62 at the PBL top. This result indicates that the updrafts are more intense and localized than the downdrafts. The spatial distribution of pollutant is consistent with the wind field pattern associated with the large eddies, mainly near to the top.Neste trabalho é descrita a evolução temporal da estrutura tridimensional de um poluente inerte e passivo, emitido continuamente por uma fonte do tipo área na superfície. Estas, e outras propriedades dinâmicas e termodinâmicas da Camada Limite Planetária (CLP), são simuladas numericamente através do modelo LES (Large-Eddy Simulation Model) desenvolvido por Moeng. Os perfis verticais médios de concentração do poluente e dos respectivos fluxos verticais turbulentos são consistentes com os de uma Camada de Mistura, com gradientes verticais aproximadamente nulos e fluxos verticais turbulentos variando linearmente com a altura. Por outro lado, a distribuição vertical da variância de concentração do poluente não segue a Teoria da Similaridade da Camada de Mistura. O campo de velocidade vertical instantâneo apresentou uma distribuição espacial assimétrica, com o coeficiente de assimetria variando entre 0,4 junto à superfície a 1,62 junto ao topo. Este resultado confirma a ocorrência de movimentos verticais positivos mais intensos e localizados (“updrafts”) do que os movimentos verticais negativos (“downdrafts”). A distribuição espacial do poluente é determinada pela distribuição dos turbilhões de grande escala, principalmente próximo ao topo da CLP

CT ​EvaLuation ​by ​ARtificial ​Intelligence ​For ​Atherosclerosis, Stenosis and Vascular ​MorphologY ​(CLARIFY): ​A ​Multi-center, international study

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis evaluation by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is promising for coronary artery disease (CAD) risk stratification, but time consuming and requires high expertise. Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to CCTA for comprehensive CAD assessment may overcome these limitations. We hypothesized AI aided analysis allows for rapid, accurate evaluation of vessel morphology and stenosis. METHODS: This was a multi-site study of 232 patients undergoing CCTA. Studies were analyzed by FDA-cleared software service that performs AI-driven coronary artery segmentation and labeling, lumen and vessel wall determination, plaque quantification and characterization with comparison to ground truth of consensus by three L3 readers. CCTAs were analyzed for: % maximal diameter stenosis, plaque volume and composition, presence of high-risk plaque and Coronary Artery Disease Reporting & Data System (CAD-RADS) category. RESULTS: AI performance was excellent for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value as follows: >70% stenosis: 99.7%, 90.9%, 99.8%, 93.3%, 99.9%, respectively; >50% stenosis: 94.8%, 80.0%, 97.0, 80.0%, 97.0%, respectively. Bland-Altman plots depict agreement between expert reader and AI determined maximal diameter stenosis for per-vessel (mean difference -0.8%; 95% CI 13.8% to -15.3%) and per-patient (mean difference -2.3%; 95% CI 15.8% to -20.4%). L3 and AI agreed within one CAD-RADS category in 228/232 (98.3%) exams per-patient and 923/924 (99.9%) vessels on a per-vessel basis. There was a wide range of atherosclerosis in the coronary artery territories assessed by AI when stratified by CAD-RADS distribution. CONCLUSIONS: AI-aided approach to CCTA interpretation determines coronary stenosis and CAD-RADS category in close agreement with consensus of L3 expert readers. There was a wide range of atherosclerosis identified through AI.proofpublishe

Ambipolar Pentacyclic Diamides with Interesting Electrochemical and Optoelectronic Properties

Developing organic semiconductors (OSCs) for organic thin film transistors (OTFT) and optoelectronic applications is a challenge. We developed highly crystalline pentacyclic diamides (3) and (4) which showed good OTFT and OLED potential and energy gaps of 2.60 eV and 2.54 eV. They exhibited interesting photo and eletroluminescence activity. Both compounds showed good quantum yields (0.56 for (3) and 0.6 for (4))

Structural laterality is associated with cognitive and mood outcomes: An assessment of 105 healthy aged volunteers

The human brain presents multiple asymmetries that dynamically change throughout life. These phenomena have been associated with cognitive impairments and psychiatric disorders although possible associations with specific patterns of cognitive aging are yet to be determined. We have therefore mapped and quantified morphological asymmetries in a heterogeneous and aged population (65.2 +/- 8.0 years old, 52 male and 53 female) to explore potential associations between the asymmetries in specific brain regions and cognitive performance. The sample was characterized in a battery of neuropsychological tests and in terms of brain structural asymmetries using a ROI-based approach. A substantial number of brain areas presented some degree of asymmetry. Such biases survived a stringent statistical correction and were largely confirmed in a voxel-based analysis. In specific brain areas, like the thalamus and insula, asymmetry was correlated with cognition and mood descriptors as the Stroop words/colors test or depressive mood scale, respectively. Curiously in the latter, the association was independent of its left/right direction. Altogether, results reveal that asymmetry is widespread in the aged brain and that area-specific biases (degree and direction) associate with the functional profile of the individual.European Commission (FP7): “SwitchBox” [contract HEALTH-F2-2010-259772] and Portuguese North Regional Operational Program (ON.2 – O Novo Norte) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) – PM and NCS; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) [grant numbers SFRH/BD/52291/2013 to ME via Inter-University Doctoral Programme in Ageing and Chronic Disease (PhDOC), SFRH/BPD/80118/2011 to HA and SFRH/BD/90078/2012 to TCC]; and FCT/MEC and ON.2 – ONOVONORTE – North Portugal Regional Operational Programme 2007/2013, of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007/2013, through FEDER [project FCTANR/NEU-OSD/0258/2012 to RM]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

a CLARIFY trial sub-study

Publisher Copyright: © 2022Background: The difference between expert level (L3) reader and artificial intelligence (AI) performance for quantifying coronary plaque and plaque components is unknown. Objective: This study evaluates the interobserver variability among expert readers for quantifying the volume of coronary plaque and plaque components on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) using an artificial intelligence enabled quantitative CCTA analysis software as a reference (AI-QCT). Methods: This study uses CCTA imaging obtained from 232 patients enrolled in the CLARIFY (CT EvaLuation by ARtificial Intelligence For Atherosclerosis, Stenosis and Vascular MorphologY) study. Readers quantified overall plaque volume and the % breakdown of noncalcified plaque (NCP) and calcified plaque (CP) on a per vessel basis. Readers categorized high risk plaque (HRP) based on the presence of low-attenuation-noncalcified plaque (LA-NCP) and positive remodeling (PR; ≥1.10). All CCTAs were analyzed by an FDA-cleared software service that performs AI-driven plaque characterization and quantification (AI-QCT) for comparison to L3 readers. Reader generated analyses were compared among readers and to AI-QCT generated analyses. Results: When evaluating plaque volume on a per vessel basis, expert readers achieved moderate to high interobserver consistency with an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.78 for a single reader score and 0.91 for mean scores. There was a moderate trend between readers 1, 2, and 3 and AI with spearman coefficients of 0.70, 0.68 and 0.74, respectively. There was high discordance between readers and AI plaque component analyses. When quantifying %NCP v. %CP, readers 1, 2, and 3 achieved a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.23, 0.34 and 0.24, respectively, compared to AI with a spearman coefficient of 0.38, 0.51, and 0.60, respectively. The intra-class correlation coefficient among readers for plaque composition assessment was 0.68. With respect to HRP, readers 1, 2, and 3 achieved a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.22, 0.26, and 0.17, respectively, and a spearman coefficient of 0.36, 0.35, and 0.44, respectively. Conclusion: Expert readers performed moderately well quantifying total plaque volumes with high consistency. However, there was both significant interobserver variability and high discordance with AI-QCT when quantifying plaque composition.publishersversionpublishe

Tropical Urban heat Island Simulation Using the Topographic Vorticity Mesoscale (tvm) Model

In this work, a numerical simulation of the Urban Heat Island(UHI) of Rio de Janeiro City is set up using the Topographic VorticityMesoscale (TVM) model. At noon, the resulting surface potentialtemperature presents a strong UHI core across the Fluminense Lowlands(Baixada Fluminense), whereas the specific humidity reaches its lowestvalues.Neste trabalho, uma simulação numérica da Ilha de Calor Urbana(ICU) da cidade de Rio de Janeiro é feita usando o modeloTopographic Vorticity Mesoscale (TVM). A temperatura potencial resultantemostra ao meio dia uma forte ICU na região da Baixada Fluminensee um mínimo de umidade específica

Irradiância Solar em Cânions Urbanos

Neste trabalho apresenta-se a metodologia de derivação das equaçõesda média azimutal da irradiância solar incidente sobre superfícies quecompõem os cânions urbanos (telhados, paredes e vias), exemplificada nestetrabalho para a irradiância sobre as vias. As equações foram implementadasem um modelo de superfície urbana derivado do modelo Town EnergyBudget (TEB). Os resultados obtidos em um teste de sensibilidade domodelo, em relação aos fatores (1) variação do albedo e (2) razão de aspectodos cânions urbanos, indicam a importância relativa destes fatores para aintensidade e evolução do fluxo de calor sensível da cidade e da temperaturado ar dentro dos cânions