Nearshore Bathymetry Retrieval from Wave-Based Inversion for Video Imagery

A wavelet-based method for bathymetry retrieval using a sequence of static images of the surface wave field, as obtained from video imagery, is proposed. Synthetic images of the water surface are generated from a numerical Boussinesq type model simulating the propagation of irregular waves. The spectral analysis is used to retrieve both wave periods and wavelengths by evaluating the spectral peaks in the time and spatial domains, respectively. The water depths are estimated using the linear dispersion relation and the results are validated with the model’s bathymetry. To verify the proposed methodology, 2D and 3D simulations considering effects of wave shoaling and refraction were performed for different sea conditions over different seafloors. The method’s ability to reproduce the original bathymetry is shown to be robust in intermediate and shallow waters, being also validated with a real case with images obtained with a shore-based video station. The main improvements of the new method compared to the consideration of a single image, as often used in Satellite Derived Bathymetry, is that the use of successive images enables the consideration of different wave periods, improving depth estimations and not requiring the use of subdomains or filters. This image processing methodology shows very positive results to provide bathymetry maps for shallow marine environments and can be useful to monitor the nearshore with high time- and space-resolution at low cost.This research was funded by Direção Geral da Política do Mar, through projectNAVSAFETY of the Fundo Azul program. Thanks are due to FCT/MCTES (PT) for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020 + UIDB/50017/2020 + LA/P/0094/2020), through national funds and to the project Space for Shore funded through EOEP 5 Coastal Erosion Program (ESA/AO/1-9219/18/I-LG).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Construction of a tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometer (WCAES)

It is here discussed the development of a low cost analytical instrument with capacity for metals determination using atomic emission measurements in an electrothermal atomization system with a tungsten coil atomizer. The main goal was to show a new frontier for using this atomizer and to demonstrate that the simple instrumental arrangement here proposed has potential for portability and for solving analytical tasks related to metals determination. Atomic emission of calcium was selected for the adjustment of instrumental parameters and to evaluate the main characteristics of the lab-built instrument. Cobalt was determined in medicines and one alloy to demonstrate its feasibility.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPES

Uma revisão da literatura Sobre Técnicas de Inteligência Artificial Aplicadas a Redes Inteligentes de Autocura/ A Review of Literature on Artificial Intelligence Techniques Applied to Self-Healing Smart Grids

The development of self-healing in smart grids is an attractive research topic. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for this purpose has been studied recently, and works published in this area show the effectiveness of AI. This article's purpose is to conduct a literature review of research articles published in recent years between 2014 and 2019, with the main theme related directly to self-healing and AI. Compared to the total number of articles published in smart grids, there is a small number of papers with this specific theme, mostly concentrated in Multi-Agent System (MAS). Performing an attribute agreement analysis, it is possible to look for relations between common characteristics of the articles and the chosen AI technique option. The methodology is applicable for educational and research purposes to facilitate the learning and investigation process.

Harmless or Threatening? Interpreting the Results of Molecular Diagnosis in the Context of Virus-Host Relationships

Molecular methods, established in the 1980s, expanded and delivered tools for the detection of vestigial quantities of nucleic acids in biological samples. Nucleotide sequencing of these molecules reveals the identity of the organism it belongs to. However, the implications of such detection are often misinterpreted as pathogenic, even in the absence of corroborating clinical evidence. This is particularly significant in the field of virology where the concepts of commensalism, and other benign or neutral relationships, are still very new. In this manuscript, we review some fundamental microbiological concepts including commensalism, mutualism, pathogenicity, and infection, giving special emphasis to their application in virology, in order to clarify the difference between detection and infection. We also propose a system for the correct attribution of terminology in this context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Elemental mapping of Portuguese ceramic pieces with a full-field XRF scanner based on a 2D-THCOBRA detector

UID/FIS/04559/2020In this work, we present a novel application of the full-field energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) imaging system based on a MicroPattern Gaseous Detector (2D-THCOBRA) in the cultural heritage field. The detector has an intrinsic imaging capability with spatial resolution of 400μmFWHM, and is energy sensitive, presenting an energy resolution of approximately 1keVFWHM at 5.9keV. The full-field XRF scanner based on the 2D-THCOBRA detector allows mapping the distribution of elements in large area samples with high detection efficiency (75 % at 5.9keV), being a very promising choice for elemental mapping analysis of large area cultural heritage samples. In this work, we have demonstrated the imaging capabilities of the full-field XRF scanner and used it to assess the restoration of a Portuguese faience piece.publishersversionpublishe

Fósseis pleistocênicos de Scelidodon (Mylodontidae) e Tapirus (Tapiridae) em cavernas paranaenses (PR, sul do Brasil)

Notifica-se a primeira ocorrência de Scelidodon e Tapirus para a mastofauna pleistocênica paranaense. O material é procedente de cavernas calcárias da localidade de Gramados, Município de Cerro Azul, Estado do Paraná, Brasil. O gênero Scelidodon foi reconhecido por um fragmento do dentário esquerdo onde está inserida a série molariforme completa. O gênero Tapirus está representado por um fragmento do dentário direito, no qual está implantado o M3. Estas ocorrências ampliam a lista de fauna para o Estado do Paraná, além de expandir a distribuição geográfica destes gêneros no Brasil. ABSTRACT Two Pleistocene mammals, Scelidodon and Tapirus, are reported at Paraná State, Southern Brazil for the first time. The specimens were obtained from calcareous caves located at Gramados, Cerro Azul City. The Scelidodon sp. is represented by a fragment of the middle portion of the left dentary with a complete molariform teeth series, and Tapirus sp. is represented by a fragment of the right dentary in which M3 is found inserted. These occurrences enlarge the Paraná paleomastofauna list and the brazilian geographical distribution of these genera. RÉSUMÉ Ce travail rapport la première occurrence, pour letat du Paraná, sud du Brésil, de deux mammifères du pléistocène, Scelidodon et Tapirus. Les exemplaires provienent des cavernes calcaires de Gramados, à la ville de Cerro Azul. Le genre Scelidodon est représenté par un fragment du dentaire gauche oú est implanté la serie complète des molaires. Le genre Tapirus est représenté par un fragment du dentaire droite oú est implanté le M3. Ces occurrences amplifient la liste de la faune de letat du Paraná, au-delà détendre la distribution geographique de ces genres

Urban traffic simulation using mobility patterns synthesized from real sensors

Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are openly available in Zenodo at 10.5281/zenodo.7997433 and were produced using the code available at https://github.com/fabio-r-goncalves/norte (accessed on 1 November 2023).Smart cities are an ongoing research topic with multiple sub-research areas, from traffic control to optimization and even safety. However, testing the new methodologies or technologies directly in the real world is an almost impossible feat that, inclusively, can result in disaster. Thus, there is the importance of simulation. Simulation enables testing new and complex methodologies and gauging their impact in a realistic context without adding any safety issues. Additionally, these can accurately map real-world conditions depending on the simulation configuration. One key aspect of the simulation is the traffic flows in the simulated region. These may be hard to find and, if ill-set, may introduce bias in the results. This work is on the characterization of the traffic in the city center of Guimarães, Portugal. An urban simulation scenario was established, using SUMO as the mobility traffic simulator, with traffic patterns derived from real-world data provided by Guimarães City Hall and using Eclipse MOSAIC for extended vehicular simulation. Apart from mobility patterns analysis, this work also provides publicly accessible datasets, simulations, and applications made available to future research works.Funding: This work has been supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020 by FEDER funds, through the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), Portugal 2020, within the Project Scope NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000086

Isolation of Chitinolytic Bacteria from European Sea Bass Gut Microbiota Fed Diets with Distinct Insect Meals

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The ever-growing human population is increasingly demanding more fish. As a response, aquaculture has become the fastest growing industry in its sector. Alternatives to fish meal, an unsustainable commodity used as the main protein source for carnivorous species, are urgently needed in aquafeeds. Recently, in Europe, seven insect species have been approved as potential ingredients for animal feeds, including fish feed. However, chitin, one of the components of an insect’s exoskeleton, is indigestible for several economically valuable fish species, decreasing fish performance upon inclusion. This work aimed to isolate, from the European sea bass gastrointestinal tract, probiotic bacteria capable of producing chitinases to improve the use of diets containing high levels of insect meal. Based on the enhanced adaptability of gut microbial communities and the selective pressure of chitin-enriched diets on fish gut microbiota, bacteria were first isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of European sea bass fed chitin-enriched diets. Isolates were then comprehensively screened in vitro for important traits such as their ability to utilize chitin, gut-survival aptitude, and biosafety-related issues required to be considered eligible as probiotics by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). ABSTRACT: Insect meal (IM), recently authorized for use in aquafeeds, positions itself as a promising commodity for aquafeed inclusion. However, insects are also rich in chitin, a structural polysaccharide present in the exoskeleton, which is not digested by fish, resulting in lower fish performance. Through the application of a dietary pressure, this study aimed to modulate European sea bass gut microbiota towards the enrichment of chitinolytic bacteria to allow the isolation of novel probiotics capable of improving the use of IM-containing diets, overcoming chitin drawbacks. Five isoproteic (44%) and isolipidic (18%) diets were used: a fish meal (FM)-based diet (diet CTR), a chitin-supplemented diet (diet CHIT5), and three diets with either 25% of Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor larvae meals (HM25 and TM25, respectively) or H. illucens exuviae meal (diet HEM25) as partial FM substitutes. After an 8-week feeding trial, the results showed a clear modulatory effect towards spore-forming bacteria by HM25 and HEM25 diets, with the latter being responsible for the majority of the chitinolytic fish isolates (FIs) obtained. Sequential evaluation of the FI hemolytic activity, antibiotic resistance, total chitinolytic activity, sporulation, and survival in gastrointestinal-like conditions identified FI645 and FI658 as the most promising chitinolytic probiotics for in vivo application