CTRANSPORT: Multi-agent-based simulation

Pollution nowadays is a really important issue that must be solved. Big cities suffer from overcrowding which result in traffic congestion and a lot of air pollution. Adapting to the idea of cities bike lane expansion, we design a Multi-agent simulation to distribute among the users green energy vehicles; concretely bikes, scooters and electric cars.Pollution nowadays is a really important issue that must be solved. Big cities suffer from overcrowding which result in traffic congestion and a lot of air pollution. Adapting to the idea of cities bike lane expansion, we design a Multi-agent simulation to distribute among the users green energy vehicles; concretely bikes, scooters and electric cars

Finite element studies of the mechanical behaviour of the diaphragm in normal and pathological cases

The diaphragm is a muscular membrane separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities, and its motion is directly linked to respiration. In this study, using data from a 59-year-old female cadaver obtained from the Visible Human Project, the diaphragm is reconstructed and, from the corresponding solid object, a shell finite element mesh is generated and used in several analyses performed with the ABAQUS 6.7 software. These analyses consider the direction of the muscle fibres and the incompressibility of the tissue. The constitutive model for the isotropic strain energy as well as the passive and active strain energy stored in the fibres is adapted from Humphrey's model for cardiac muscles. Furthermore, numerical results for the diaphragmatic floor under pressure and active contraction in normal and pathological cases are presented

Variability of mercury distribution and exchanges between the Ria de Aveiro and the Atlantic Ocean

Doutoramento em QuímicaA Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) é uma laguna mesotidal que comunica com o Oceano Atlântico através de um único e estreito canal. Durante quatro décadas, foram descarregados num braço da Ria efluentes contaminados com mercúrio provenientes de uma indústria de produção de cloro e soda caustica e estudos anteriores documentam que cerca de 33 toneladas de mercúrio foram retidos nos sedimentos da laguna. O presente trabalho teve como objectivo aumentar o conhecimento dos processos de dispersão e sobre o comportamento do mercúrio durante o percurso estuarino (incluindo a importância do plâncton nestes processos), e a avaliação da extensão da transferência para o Oceano Atlântico. Tirando partido do privilégio da existência de uma única conexão com o Oceano, o canal de interface entre a Ria de Aveiro e o Oceano Atlântico serviu como um ponto ideal para a monitorização da variabilidade do transporte. Para tal, foram recolhidas amostras de água no canal mencionado durante ciclos de maré com amplitudes de maré e descargas fluviais contrastantes. Para estudar os factores que controlam a partição do mercúrio, foi realizada uma caracterização físico-química da fracção dissolvida e dos sólidos suspensos finos e grosseiros. Relativamente à distribuição de mercúrio durante os ciclos de maré, as concentrações na fracção dissolvida, na matéria suspensa particulada e no seston variaram ao longo dos ciclos de maré e entre os ciclos de maré de diferente descarga fluvial e amplitude de maré. De um modo geral, e principalmente nas marés mortas, o mercúrio encontra-se associado maioritariamente à matéria suspensa particulada. As maiores concentrações foram observadas no Inverno, devido a maior erosão de sedimentos superficiais das zonas contaminadas por conjugação de maiores correntes e maior efeito de resuspensão induzido pelo do vento e pelas ondas. A composição, quer da matéria suspensa particulada, quer do seston variou ao longo dos ciclos de maré, com a diferente descarga fluvial e amplitude de maré, influenciando os níveis de mercúrio das partículas e a partição entre as fracções dissolvida e particuladas. Os resultados observados no canal são consistentes com a eficiente retenção de mercúrio na área contaminada. Para avaliar a importância (e variação sazonal) do impacto da contribuição da Ria na distribuição do mercúrio na área costeira Atlântica, foram medidos os níveis de mercúrio em vários compartimentos da zona costeira adjacente: em sedimentos superficiais, em águas superficiais e profundas (incluindo na matéria suspensa particulada e na fracção dissolvida) e no biota. As concentrações de mercúrio dissolvido (reactivo e total) observadas em águas superficiais e profundas foram baixas. Os valores médios de mercúrio na matéria suspensa particulada variaram entre 0.2 e 0.6 μg g-1 e nos sedimentos entre 1 e 9 ng g-1. Os organismos aquáticos apresentam níveis abaixo da legislação mas exibem alguma bioacumulação de mercúrio, com concentrações variando entre 0.05 e 0.8 μg g-1 (peso seco). Além disso, não se encontrou nenhum padrão sazonal nas determinações relacionadas com mercúrio. Os níveis encontrados na embocadura do estuário durante a vazante evidenciam a existência de transporte de mercúrio para a zona costeira. Apesar das elevadas concentrações de mercúrio encontradas em algumas zonas do interior da laguna, a vasta rede de ilhas e canais permite alguma dispersão e retenção dos contaminantes antes de estes atingirem as águas costeiras. Além disso, a baixa eficiência de retenção dos sedimentos marinhos locais contribui para a diluição do mercúrio transportado na matéria suspensa particulada numa área mais vasta, reduzindo o impacto na zona costeira adjacente. A variabilidade das trocas do mercúrio dissolvido e particulado entre a Ria e o Oceano Atlântico sobre diferentes descargas fluviais e amplitudes de maré, foi estimada através de modelação numérica. Os fluxos de mercúrio foram estimados através do produto das concentrações de mercúrio de interesse pelos fluxos de água, os quais foram calculados por um modelo hidrodinâmico 2D de integração vertical. Os resultados demonstraram que comparativamente com o mercúrio total dissolvido e com o mercúrio total no seston, a fracção particulada tem um papel muito importante no seu transporte enquanto que a contribuição da fracção do seston foi sempre menor que 0.5%. Durante a maré viva de verão, cerca de 2% do mercúrio transportado no seston encontrava-se em formas orgânicas. O balanço de massa para as fracções de mercúrio revelou que a sua exportação para o Oceano Atlântico varia com o regime sazonal e das marés, principalmente em termos da importância relativa das fracções dissolvida e particulada. Esta variabilidade é particularmente importante no estabelecimento de estimativas de trocas de metais e na avaliação do risco ecológico associado ao impacto de transporte de mercúrio para o Oceano. As trocas mais elevadas de mercúrio durante a enchente e vazante foram observadas na maré viva de Inverno como resultado de diversos factores que promoveram a remobilização de mercúrio na zona contaminada. Uma gama aproximada de valores de balanço de massa anual entre 42 e 77 kg mostra que a exportação de mercúrio dissolvido e particulado tem pouco impacto na zona costeira Atlântica adjacente à Ria de Aveiro, e que a recuperação da laguna da contaminação com mercúrio deverá ser um problema a longo prazo. A alternância de processos de erosão e deposição em zonas muito pouco profundas e a complexa geometria da laguna parecem limitar o transporte advectivo de mercúrio em direcção ao mar. Os tempos de residências na zona contaminada (cerca de duas semanas ou mais) parecem desempenhar um papel preponderante na retenção de mercúrio, ao dificultar a exportação para a zona central da laguna.The Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) is a mesotidal lagoon that connects to the Atlantic Ocean by a single narrow opening. During four decades, a remote branch received a discharge of a mercury contaminated effluent from a chlor-alkali plant and previous studies documented that about 33 tonnes of mercury were retained in the sediments of the lagoon. The present work is aimed at increasing the understanding of the processes of dispersion and of mercury behaviour during the estuarine transit (including the importance of plankton in these processes), and of evaluating the extent of transfer to the Atlantic Ocean. Taking advantage of the existence of a unique connection with the Ocean, the outlet channel between the Ria de Aveiro and the Atlantic Ocean served as an ideal monitoring point for the variability of the inputs. Water samples were collected in the mentioned channel during tidal cycles with contrasting tidal ranges and river discharges. To study the factors controlling the mercury partitioning, a comprehensive physico-chemical characterization of the dissolved fraction and of fine and course suspended solids was performed. Considering the distribution of mercury during the tidal cycles, concentrations in the dissolved fraction, suspended particulate matter and seston varied during the tidal cycles and between the tidal cycles of different river discharge and tidal range. In general, and mainly in neap tides, most of the mercury is associated with suspended particulate matter. The higher concentrations were observed in winter as a result of the higher erosion of surface sediments in the contaminated areas by conjunction of wave and wind-driven resuspension and higher currents. The composition of both the suspended particulate matter and the seston varied during the tidal cycles, with the different river discharges and with tidal ranges, influencing the mercury content of particles and partitioning between dissolved and particulate phases. The results observed in the channel are consistent with an efficient retention of mercury in the contaminated area. To assess the importance (and seasonal variation) of the impact of the Ria input on the mercury distribution in the Atlantic coastal area, total mercury levels were measured in several compartments of the adjacent coastal zone: in surface sediments, in surface and deep waters (including the dissolved phase and the particulate matter) and in biota. Dissolved (reactive and total) mercury concentrations, both at surface and at deep waters, were low. Mean mercury values in suspended particulate matter varied between 0.2 and 0.6 μg g-1 and in sediments between 1 and 9 ng g-1. Aquatic organisms displayed levels below regulatory limits, but exhibited some bioaccumulation of mercury, with concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.8 μg g-1 (dry weight). No seasonal pattern was found in this study for mercury related determinations. Levels found in the estuary mouth during ebb tide provide evidence for the transport of mercury to the coastal zone. In spite of the high levels of mercury found inside some areas of the lagoon, the wide web of islands and channels allows some spreading and retention of contaminants before they reach the coastal waters. Moreover, the low efficiency of local marine sediments in trapping mercury contributes to a dilution of mercury transported in suspended particulate matter over a broader area, reducing the impact in the nearby marine coastal zone. Numerical modelling was used to estimate the variability of dissolved and particulate mercury exchanges between the Ria de Aveiro and the Atlantic Ocean under different river discharges and tidal ranges. The mercury fluxes were estimated as the product of the appropriate mercury concentrations by the water fluxes calculated by a two-dimensional vertically integrated hydrodynamic model. Results showed that, compared to the total dissolved mercury and total mercury in seston, the particulate fraction plays an important role in the transport, while the contribution of the seston fraction to the transport of mercury was always lower than 0.5%. During spring tides, in summer, about 2% of mercury transported in seston was present in an organic form. The mass balance for the mercury fractions revealed that the mercury exports to the Atlantic Ocean varied with the season and tidal regime, mainly in terms of the relative importance of the dissolved and particulate fractions. This variability is particularly important for the establishment of long term metal budgets and to assess the ecological risks due to the local Oceanic budget of mercury. The highest mercury exchanges during flood and ebb were observed in winter spring tide conditions as a result of several factors that promoted the resuspension of mercury in the contaminated area. An approximate range of values for the annual mass balance between 42 and 77 kg show that the export of dissolved and particulate mercury has little impact on the near shore region of the Atlantic Ocean and that the recovery of the lagoon from mercury contamination is likely to remain a long-term issue. Alternating process of erosion and deposition associated with very shallow areas and the complex geometry of the lagoon seems to limit the advective seaward transport of mercury. The residence time in the contaminated area (about 2 weeks or more), appears to play a crucial role in the retention of mercury, by hindering the export to the main body of the lagoon

Influence of sex and age on PCBs accumulation in the commercial fish Chelon labrosus

Thicklip grey mullet, Chelon labrosus, is an important commercial fish species and has been studied worldwide. However, no recent studies have been made regarding polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in wild C. labrosus. Due to that, the concentration of 13 PCBs congeners was measured in muscles and livers, of males and females, of C. labrosus of different ages, allowing the estimation of PCB bioaccumulation throughout the species lifespan, in the Mondego estuary, a southern European temperate estuary. Male muscle sample concentrations ranged from 32 to 96 ng g− 1 (lipid wt.) and in females from 32 to 62 ng g− 1 (lipid wt.). In male liver sample concentrations ranged from 106 to 158 ng g− 1 (lipid wt.), while female concentrations ranged from 88 to 129 ng g− 1 (lipid wt.). The most abundant congeners presenting higher percentages in all samples were CB 138, 153 and 180. No significant differences were found between the concentrations in both sexes, but muscle and liver PCB concentrations in males tended to increase with age whereas in females concentrations remained stable throughout the species lifespan. Significant differences were found between concentrations in muscle and liver

PCB bioaccumulationin three mullet species — A comparison study

Polychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)arelipophiliccontaminantsthattendtoaccumulateinorganisms.PCBs weredetectedin Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata and Liza ramada, alongdifferentagegroups. L. ramada presentedthehighestconcentration,anditincreasedwithage,whereas C. labrosus and L. aurata concentration remainedconstant. L. ramada high concentrationcanbeattributedtoitsecologicalniche, since thisspeciesisabletoaccumulatePCBsalongitsdifferentagegroupseveninlowenvironmental contamination conditions.PCBs101,118,138,149,153,170and180werethecongenersthatmore contributed tothesespeciescontamination,beingPCB138and153thecongenerswithhigher concentration. Mulletsareedibleinmanycountries,beingimportantin fisheries andaquaculture. L. ramada is themostcommonmulletforcaptureandhumanconsumption.Allspeciespresented concentrations belowtheregulationlimitestablishbytheEuropeanUnion,andthereforesafeforhuman consumption.The authorswishtothankallthecolleaguesthathelpedinthe field and laboratorywork.ThisworkwassupportedbyFCT(Fundaçãopara a CiênciaeTecnologia)throughaPhDgrantattributedtoJ.Baptista (SFRH/BD/48262/2008),fundedbyProgramaOperacionalPotencial HumanoofQRENPortugalandbythe Portuguesebudgetthroughthe Ministry ofScienceTechnologyandEducation.P.Patoacknowledgesa postdoctoralfellowshipfromFCT(SFRH/BPD/35068/2007)

Análise do ciclo de vida do cimento. Caso de estudo: fábrica da Secil-Outão

O cimento é o material de construção mais utilizado na edificação de estruturas. A sua produção compreende um consumo material e energético muito significativo que se traduz numa contribuição igualmente relevante para a deterioração do ambiente. A presente dissertação consistiu na aplicação da abordagem de ciclo de vida ao processo de produção de dois tipos de cimento – CEM I 42,5 e CEM II 32,5 – com a finalidade de calcular o impacte ambiental de cada um e comprovar o desempenho ambiental superior do segundo. A análise do ciclo de vida foi desenvolvida de acordo com uma abordagem cradle-to-gate, segundo os requisitos das normas ISO 14040 e 14044 e da Norma Europeia 15804/2012. Os dados utilizados são específicos do processo de produção de cimento na fábrica de cimento Secil-Outão. Os resultados dos inventários do ciclo de vida demonstraram que, decorrente da utilização de uma maior quantidade de clínquer no seu fabrico, o CEM I 42,5 exige um maior consumo de matérias-primas naturais e de energia, tanto elétrica como térmica. O CEM II 32,5 apresenta consumos materiais e energéticos inferiores ao cimento do tipo I, devido a uma taxa de incorporação de clínquer mais baixa, mas compreende um consumo de matérias-primas secundárias mais alto. Em relação aos fluxos de saída, o CEM I 42,5 é responsável por níveis de emissão de CO2, PM10 e outros poluentes superiores aos do CEM II 32,5, em consequência do consumo elevado de combustíveis. A produção do cimento do tipo I é responsável por uma maior contribuição para a ecotoxicidade de sistemas marinhos e terrestres e para a deterioração da saúde pública, através da emissão de metais pesados, e para o agravamento das alterações climáticas, devido às emissões de CO2. A produção do cimento do tipo II apresenta um menor impacte ambiental e, por isso, um desempenho ambiental superior

Fijación, fijeza y variación en las locuciones nominales: el caso de metedura de pata, tomadura de pelo y comedura de coc

Focusing our attention on the description of nominal locutions, not so abundant in Spanish dictionaries, the current research has the aim to study both the history and the fixing process of the nominal derivatives of meter la pata, tomar el pelo and comer el coco, from the application of the theoretical concept of lexical family and variation. In addition, it is also relevant to describe precisely its geographical distribution in the Spanish-speaking world from the analysis of data based in linguistic corpora. In this way, it will be possible to shed some new light on the institutionalization process of these living phraseological units in the cultural heritage.Centrando la atención en las locuciones nominales, no muy abundantes en los diccionarios de la lengua española, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo estudiar tanto la historia como el proceso de fijación de los derivados nominales de meter la pata, tomar el pelo y comer el coco, desde el concepto teórico de familia léxica y la variación. Asimismo, busca conocer con precisión su distribución geográfica en el mundo hispanohablante, a partir del análisis de datos de corpus lingüísticos. De este modo, será posible arrojar luz nueva sobre la institucionalización de estas unidades fraseológicas vivas en el acervo colectivo.En se concentrant sur les locutions nominales, qui ne sont pas très abondantes dans les dictionnaires espagnols, l'objectif de cet article est d'étudier à la fois l'histoire et le processus de fixation des dérivés nominaux de meter la pata, tomar el pelo et comer el coco, à partir du concept théorique de famille et de variation lexicale. De même, elle cherche à connaître précisément leur répartition géographique dans le monde hispanophone, à partir de l'analyse de données issues de corpus linguistiques. Il sera ainsi possible d'apporter un nouvel éclairage sur l'institutionnalisation de ces unités phraséologiques vivantes dans le patrimoine collectif

HABIT BASED CONSUMPTIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC PARAMETERS IN YOUNG FEMALE KAYAKERS

Introducción: Los hábitos alimentarios y la composición corporal son posiblemente dos de los aspectos modificables que más pueden influir en el rendimiento deportivo, principalmente en los deportes individuales. Objetivo: Determinar la adhesión a la dieta mediterránea de un grupo de mujeres jóvenes kayakistas y la relación de este parámetro con sus variables antropométricas y su somatotipo. Metodología: A 90 mujeres jóvenes kayakistas se les realizó una valoración antropométrica completa siguiendo las indicaciones de la ISAK; además, cumplimentaron el cuestionario KIDMED para conocer su adherencia a la dieta mediterránea. Posteriormente, se compararon las características antropométricas y el somatotipo en función del grado de adherencia a la dieta mediterránea. Resultados y discusión: Una kayakista mostró una adhesión baja a la dieta mediterránea, 38 una adhesión mediana y 51 una adhesión excelente. No obstante, una de cada tres no solía comer frutos secos y una de cada cinco tomaban dulces y golosinas más de una vez al día o bollería industrial en el desayuno. Al comparar a las kayakistas en función de su adhesión a la dieta mediterránea (adhesión baja-media y adhesión excelente) se obtuvieron valores similares en la mayoría de las variables antropométricas, en los porcentajes de composición corporal, en el somatotipo y en el índice de masa corporal. Conclusiones: Las piragüistas mostraron una adhesión media o excelente a la dieta mediterránea. No se encontró una relación clara entre los parámetros antropométricos y el grado de adhesión de las deportistas a la dieta mediterránea. Es preciso seguir analizando la interacción de estas variables para identificar posibles relaciones con la salud y el rendimiento en las piragüistas de élite.Introduction: Dietary habits and body composition are possibly two of the most modifiable aspects that influence athletic performance in competition and training, especially in individual sports. Objective: To determine Mediterranean diet adherence in a group of elite women paddlers and the relationship between these variables with anthropometric parameters and somatotype of the athlete. Methods: A 90 women cadets who belonged to the national elite canoeing underwent a complete anthropometry according to ISAK instructions; and they self-completed KIDMED test to know their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. After that, anthropometric characteristics were compared based on their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Results and discussion: One kayaker had a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 38 a medium adherence and 51 an excellent adherence. However, one in every three not eats nuts and one in every five makes sweets more than once a day or industrial pastries for breakfast. When it was dividing paddlers based on their Mediterranean diet adherence it was found that the two groups (low and medium adherence and excellent adherence) did not show differences in most of the anthropometric variables, composition body percentages, somatotype and body mass index. Conclusions: The paddlers show a medium or excellent Mediterranean diet adherence. There was not clear relationship between anthropometric parameters and the degree of Mediterranean diet adherence in these athletes. It is necessary to continue researching the interaction between these fields in order to indentify possible relationships with health and sport performance in elite kayakers.Actividad Física y DeporteCiencias de la Alimentació

Recommending Words Using a Bayesian Network

Funding Information: This work was supported by the REV@CONSTRUCTION mobiliser project, under the grant LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-046123 from ANI (National Innovation Agency), with financial support from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), through national funds. This work contributes to the Strategic Research Plan of the Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering (CENTEC), which is financed by FCT under contract UIDB/UIDP/00134/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Asset management involves the coordinated activities of an organisation to derive value from assets, which may include physical assets. It encompasses activities related to design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, renewal, and asset disposal. Asset management ensures the coordination of all activities, resources, and data related to physical assets. Recording and monitoring all maintenance activities is a key part of asset management, often done using work orders (WOs). Technicians typically create WOs using “free text”, which can result in missing or ungrammatical words, making it difficult to identify trends and analyse information. To standardise the terminology used for the same asset maintenance operation, this paper proposes a method that suggests words to technicians as they complete WOs. The word suggestion algorithm is based on past maintenance records, and a Bayesian network-based recommender system adapts to present needs verified by technicians using implicit user feedback. Implementing this system aims to normalise the terms used by technicians when filling in a WO. The corpus for this work comes from asset management records collected in a health facility in Portugal operated by a private company.publishersversionpublishe