On the Effective Configuration of Planning Domain Models

The development of domain-independent planners within the AI Planning community is leading to “off the shelf” technology that can be used in a wide range of applications. Moreover, it allows a modular approach – in which planners and domain knowledge are modules of larger software applications – that facilitates substitutions or improvements of individual modules without changing the rest of the system. This approach also supports the use of reformulation and configuration techniques, which transform how a model is represented in order to improve the efficiency of plan generation. In this paper, we investigate how the performance of planners is affected by domain model configuration. We introduce a fully automated method for this configuration task, and show in an extensive experimental analysis with six planners and seven domains that this process (which can, in principle, be combined with other forms of reformulation and configuration) can have a remarkable impact on performance across planners. Furthermore, studying the obtained domain model configurations can provide useful information to effectively engineer planning domain models

efficiency and evolution of R&D Networks.

This work introduces a new model to investigate the efficiency and evolution of networks of firms exchanging knowledge in R&D partnerships. We first examine the efficiency of a given network structure from the point of view of maximizing total profits in the industry. We show that the efficient network structure depends on the marginal cost of collaboration. When the marginal cost is low, the complete graph is efficient. However, a high marginal cost implies that the efficient network is sparser and has a core-periphery structure. Next, we examine the evolution of the network structure when the decision on collaborating partners is decentralized. We show the existence of multiple equilibrium structures which are in general inefficient. This is due to (i) the path dependent character of the partner selection process, (ii) the presence of knowledge externalities and (iii) the presence of severance costs involved in link deletion. Finally, we study the properties of the emerging equilibrium networks and we show that they are coherent with the stylized facts on R&D networks.R&D networks;technology spillovers;network efficiency;network formation;

Electroweak Corrections at High Energies

We present a survey of the most abundant processes at the LHC for sensitivity to electroweak corrections at \sqrt{s} = 8, 14, 33, and 100 TeV proton-proton collision energies. The processes studied are pp -> dijet, inclusive W and Z, W/Z+jets, and WW. In each case we compare the experimental uncertainty in the highest kinematic regions of interest with the relative magnitude of electroweak corrections and fixed-order \alpha_S calculations.Comment: Contribution to the Snowmass-2013 report of the QCD Working Group. 15 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables. Version 2: Added a new section 4A and updated the author list, acknowledgements, and references. Version 3: Added a new reference Ref.[36

Leveraging Crowdsourcing and Crowdsensing Data for HADR Operations in a Smart City Environment

The future of the world's population concentration lies within the bounds of urban cities. Citizens, or humans, are the most important tangible resources in a smart city environment, and they need to be served as well as protected. The concept of smart cities is trying to accomplish the idea of serving the citizens by leveraging the potential of information and communications technology assets. Citizens have access to smart technologies and applications, and thus they form an indispensable component to complement and supplement a smart city's operation. Especially in humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery (HADR) operations, where a smart city's core infrastructure might be compromised, the assets of citizens can be put to use. This article aims to describe the current state of affairs for safety in cities and humanitarian assistance in emergency situations, which require leveraging situational awareness data. We discuss and propose mechanisms for connecting to and utilizing crowdsourcing and crowdsensing data in a smart city environment, which can assist in efficient HADR operations

EFFECT OF INCREASING THE FERTILIZER DOSE ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden

With the recent expansion of Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden cultivation in central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, recurrent questions arise from both research and operational silviculture, especially in relation to mineral fertilization. The objective of this study was to test the effect of fertilizer dose increase (150, 225 and 450 g plant-1 of N-P2O5-K2O, in 24:00:24 proportion) on the biomass production, carbon stock and nutrients in Eucalyptus dunnii trees cultivated in dystrophic Inceptisol, in central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. This study revealed that there is no effect of the fertilizer dose increase on the accumulation of biomass, carbon and nutrients in components of Eucalyptus dunnii trees. The nutrients were more concentrated in leaves; in stemwood there was greater stock of carbon and potassium; in branches and stembark the calcium prevailed. Due to the significant biomass production, regardless of fertilizer dose, aiming at reducing costs and environmental impacts, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilization with 150 g plant-1 of N-P2O5-K2O, in 24:00:24 proportion, in Eucalyptus dunnii stand cultivated in dystrophic Inceptisol, in central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

Fertilização em Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden no bioma Pampa - Brasil

In silviculture, mineral fertilization is necessary to supply the nutritional demand, however, the recommendation of the quantities to be applied should aim at maintaining the productive capacity of the soil. The purpose of this study is to test whether increasing the recommended fertilizer dose improves soil fertility and increases the productivity of Eucalyptus dunnii in sites in the central region of the Pampa biome, Brazil. The doses of 150 g (T0), 225 g (T1) and 450 g (T2) of N-P2O5-K2O were applied 24:00:24 per plant, after 14 months of planting. In all tested doses, the species productivity is considered satisfactory for the site. There was an improvement in soil fertility, especially in potassium contents, in addition to a higher individual volume of Eucalyptus dunnii trees after the application of the dose of 450 g plant-1 of N-P2O5-K2O, 24:00:24 in coverage (T2).Na silvicultura a fertilização mineral é necessária para suprir a demanda nutricional, no entanto, a recomendação das quantidades a serem aplicadas devem almejar à manutenção da capacidade produtiva do solo. O objetivo deste estudo é testar se o aumento da dose recomendada de fertilizante, melhora a fertilidade do solo e incrementa a produtividade de Eucalyptus dunnii em sítios da região central do bioma Pampa, Brasil. Foram aplicadas as doses de 150 g (T0), 225 g (T1) e 450 g (T2) de N-P2O5-K2O 24:00:24 por planta, após 14 meses do plantio. Em todas as doses testadas, a produtividade da espécie é considerada satisfatória para o sítio. Houve melhoria da fertilidade do solo, especialmente nos teores de potássio, além de maior volume individual das árvores de Eucalyptus dunnii após a aplicação da dose de 450 g planta-1 de N-P2O5-K2O, 24:00:24 em cobertura (T2)

Adaptive facade network — Europe

Energy efficient buildings significantly contribute to meeting the EU climate and energy sustainability targets for 2020 as approximately one-third of all end-user energy in Europe today is consumed by space heating/cooling, ventilation and lighting of buildings. In this context, the energy performance of future building envelopes will play a key role.  The main aim of COST Action TU1403 with 120 participants from 26 European countries is to harmonise, share and disseminate technological knowledge on adaptive facades on a European level and to generate ideas for new innovative technologies and solutions

A multi-sensor approach for volcanic ash cloud retrieval and eruption characterization: the 23 November 2013 Etna lava fountain

Volcanic activity is observed worldwide with a variety of ground and space-based remote sensing instruments, each with advantages and drawbacks. No single system can give a comprehensive description of eruptive activity, and so, a multi-sensor approach is required. This work integrates infrared and microwave volcanic ash retrievals obtained from the geostationary Meteosat Second Generation (MSG)-Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), the polar-orbiting Aqua-MODIS and ground-based weather radar. The expected outcomes are improvements in satellite volcanic ash cloud retrieval (altitude, mass, aerosol optical depth and effective radius), the generation of new satellite products (ash concentration and particle number density in the thermal infrared) and better characterization of volcanic eruptions (plume altitude, total ash mass erupted and particle number density from thermal infrared to microwave). This approach is the core of the multi-platform volcanic ash cloud estimation procedure being developed within the European FP7-APhoRISM project. The Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy) volcano lava fountaining event of 23 November 2013 was considered as a test case. The results of the integration show the presence of two volcanic cloud layers at different altitudes. The improvement of the volcanic ash cloud altitude leads to a mean difference between the SEVIRI ash mass estimations, before and after the integration, of about the 30%. Moreover, the percentage of the airborne “fine” ash retrieved from the satellite is estimated to be about 1%–2% of the total ash emitted during the eruption. Finally, all of the estimated parameters (volcanic ash cloud altitude, thickness and total mass) were also validated with ground-based visible camera measurements, HYSPLIT forward trajectories, Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) satellite data and tephra deposits