Long-Term Hourly Scenario Generation for Correlated Wind and Solar Power combining Variational Autoencoders with Radial Basis Function Kernels

Accurate generation of realistic future scenarios of renewable energy generation is crucial for long-term planning and operation of electrical systems, especially considering the increasing focus on sustainable energy and the growing penetration of renewable generation in energy matrices. These predictions enable power system operators and energy planners to effectively manage the variability and intermittency associated with renewable generation, allowing for better grid stability, improved energy management, and enhanced decision-making processes. In this paper, we propose an innovative method for generating long-term hourly scenarios for wind and solar power generation, taking into consideration the correlation between these two energy sources. To achieve this, we combine the capabilities of a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) with the additional benefits of incorporating the Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernel in our artificial neural network architecture. By incorporating them, we aim to obtain a latent space with improved regularization properties. To evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we conduct experiments in a representative study scenario, utilizing real-world wind and solar power generation data from the Brazil system. We compare the scenarios generated by our model with the observed data and with other sets of scenarios produced by a conventional VAE architecture. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can generate long-term hourly scenarios for wind and solar power generation that are highly correlated, accurately capturing the temporal and spatial characteristics of these energy sources. Taking advantage of the benefits of RBF in obtaining a well-regularized latent space, our approach offers improved accuracy and robustness in generating long-term hourly scenarios for renewable energy generation

Correlação entre a Clearance da Creatinina Estimada e a Taxa de Filtração Glomerular Estimada nos Doentes Muito Idosos e Erros de Prescrição dos Antibióticos: Um Estudo de Coorte

Introduction: Determination of renal function is particularly important when prescribing antibiotics to elderly patients. This study aims to determine the correlation between estimated creatinine clearance and the estimated glomerular filtration rate, for a hospitalized population of very elderly patients, and to audit antibiotic prescribing errors. Material and methods: Retrospective cohort study of all patients ≥ 80 years hospitalized with antibiotic. Creatinine clearance was calculated using Cockcroft-Gault equation and estimated glomerular filtration rate by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations. Dosing errors were determined through adjustment of daily define dose to renal function. Results: The study included 589 patients. The correlation of Cockcroft-Gault with Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration was r = 0.98 and 0.96 for the minimum serum creatinine, and 0.97 and 0.93 for the maximum serum creatinine. Based on Cockcroft-Gault, there were errors in the daily defined dose in 45% in the minimum serum creatinine, and 52% in the maximum serum creatinine day. There was a discrepancy in the recording of errors of 14% to 16% when Cockcroft-Gault was compared with Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration. Discussion: There was a good correlation of Cockcroft-Gault with the estimated glomerular filtration rate by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease or Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration. Regardless of the equation used to estimate renal function there was a high rate of antibiotic dosing errors documented in this population. Conclusion: This study supports the maintenance of the Cockcroft-Gault equation for drug dosing in the very elderly population. Further studies are needed to investigate underlying causes of prescribing errors.Introdução: A determinação da função renal é particularmente importante na prescrição de antibióticos em doentes idosos. O objetivo deste estudo é correlacionar a clearance de creatinina com a taxa de filtração glomerular estimada, numa população hospitalizada de doentes muito idosos, e auditar os erros de prescrição antibiótica. Material e Métodos: Coorte retrospetivo de todos os doentes ≥ 80 anos hospitalizados com antibioterapia prescrita. A clearance de creatinina foi calculada através da equação Cockcroft-Gault, e a filtração glomerular estimada através das equações Modification of Diet in Renal Disease e Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration. Os erros de prescrição foram determinados pelo ajuste da dose diária definida à função renal. Resultados: Foram incluídos 589 doentes. A correlação da Cockcroft-Gault com Modification of Diet in Renal Disease e Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration foi r = 0,98 e 0,96 para a creatinina sérica mínima, e 0,97 e 0,93 para a creatinina sérica máxima. Com base na Cockcroft-Gault, a taxa de erro na dose diária definida foi 45% no dia da creatinina sérica mínima e 52% no dia da creatinina sérica máxima. Quando a Cockcroft-Gault foi comparada com a Modification of Diet in Renal Disease e a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration houve uma discrepância no registo de erros de 14% a 16%, respetivamente. Discussão: Verificou-se uma boa correlação entre a Cockcroft-Gault e as equações que calculam a filtração glomerular: Modification of Diet in Renal Disease ou Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration. Independentemente da equação utilizada para estimar a função renal, foi documentada uma taxa elevada de erros na dose de antibióticos prescrita nesta população. Conclusão: Este estudo reforça a manutenção do uso da equação de Cockcroft-Gault para calcular a dose adequada de antibióticos na população muito idosa. Mais estudos são necessários para investigar as causas subjacentes aos erros de prescrição.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Towards the Evaluation of Software Products from an Environmental Sustainability Perspective

Sustainable development implies resource management that simultaneously guarantees the satisfaction of the present and future generations, considering the social, economic, and environmental dimensions. This paper proposes an approach to quantitatively assess software products\u27 sustainability quality based on a library of requirements (i.e., general goals) considered as criteria in a multicriteria evaluation and analysis. To increase the environmental sustainability of software products, we argue that it is fundamental to comparatively evaluate them, identify the ones most in need of change, and quickly adapt existing products effectively and efficiently

Opuntia ficus-indica fruit: a systematic review of its phytochemicals and pharmacological activities

The use of Opuntia ficus-indica fruits in the agro-food sector is increasing for a multiplicity of players. This renewed interest is, in part, due to its organoleptic characteristics, nutritional value and health benefits. Furthermore, industries from different sectors intend to make use of its vast array of metabolites to be used in different fields. This trend represents an economic growth opportunity for several partners who could find new opportunities exploring non-conventional fruits, and such is the case for Opuntia ficus-indica. O. ficus-indica originates from Mexico, belongs to the Cactaceae family and is commonly known as opuntia, prickly pear or cactus pear. The species produces flowers, cladodes and fruits that are consumed either in raw or in processed products. Recent publications described that consumption of the fruit improves human health, exhibiting antioxidant activity and other relevant pharmacological activities through enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. Thus, we provide a systematic, scientific and rational review for researchers, consumers and other relevant stakeholders regarding the chemical composition and biological activities of O. ficus-indica fruits.This work was supported by the “Contrato-Programa” Financiamento Plurianual de Unidades de I&D, through the FCT I.P., UIDB/04050/2020 and UIDB/04033/2020 and CCDR-N (Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission) through the project AgriFoodXXI (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000041)

Phytochemical and antioxidant characterization of Hypericum perforatum alcoholic extracts

The antioxidant potentials of a total ethanolic extract of Hypericum perforatum (TE) and fractions were evaluated and correlated with their phenolic contents. The extracts were fully characterised by HPLC-DAD-MS-MS. Kaempferol 3-rutinoside and rutin-acetyl were identified for the first time in TE extracts. The free radical-scavenging properties of TE (EC50=21 [mu]g dwb/ml) and fractions were studied using DPPH. Fractions containing flavonoids and/or caffeoylquinic acids were found to be the main contributors to the free radical-scavenging activity of the TE. Lipid peroxidation, induced with ascorbate/Fe2+, was significantly reduced in the presence of the TE (EC50=26 [mu]g dwb/ml) and fractions containing flavonoids and/or caffeoylquinic acids. The fraction containing flavonoid aglycones was found to be responsible for a major part of the TE protection against lipid peroxidation. Hypericins and hyperforins made no significant contributions to the antioxidant properties of TE. Human consumption of H. perforatum extract or fractions could be beneficial.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T6R-4CG2JK5-3/1/ae503f0537dcaaab2ede0770605a66c

Relatório de estágio

O Mestrado de Enfermagem, com especialização em Enfermagem Comunitária, visa a aquisição e desenvolvimento de competências para o exercício autónomo, autorrefletido e com poder de ajuizamento crítico sobre os cuidados prestados e a sua qualidade ao nível dos cinco níveis de prevenção do cliente comunidade. O presente relatório, realizado no âmbito da unidade curricular de Estágio, visa descrever de forma sucinta, clara e reflexiva o percurso da construção de competências específicas para a intervenção especializada em Enfermagem Comunitária. Ele propõe-se a sintetizar as etapas de crescimento pessoal e profissional que permitem uma melhoria da qualidade dos cuidados prestados, um maior desenvolvimento profissional e a melhoria da satisfação dos grupos e comunidades em que intervim. Nele se demonstram as competências desenvolvidas e que entroncam nos objetivos académicos definidos por este Mestrado, bem como no perfil de competências preconizado pela Ordem dos Enfermeiros para o desempenho autónomo de cuidados especializados de Enfermagem a grupos e comunidades. Desde a realização do Diagnóstico de Saúde, realizado no módulo I, que permitiu conhecer a realidade dos cuidadores familiares de idosos dependentes, identificando as principais necessidades em saúde, tantas vezes negligenciadas em detrimento da atenção dispensada ao idoso dependente, em particular em relação ao impacto negativo decorrente da tarefa de Cuidar (ao nível da sobrecarga e funcionalidade familiar). Após a identificação dos problemas, surgiu a necessidade de intervir ativamente e numa lógica multidisciplinar e de proximidade, envolvendo outros profissionais e indo ao encontro das necessidades detetadas nos cuidadores, inclusive no seu domicílio. Assim desenvolvi o projeto de intervenção comunitária: “Cuidar do Cuidador”, que teve como objetivo geral reduzir o impacto do cuidado informal nos cuidadores familiares, por intermédio da intervenção em prol da adesão e desempenho adequado do papel de prestador de cuidados, prevenindo a exaustão do cuidador e, empoderando-o, promovendo as competências para o cuidado informal. Contribuiu-se assim para um exercício mais equilibrado e sustentado do papel de prestador de cuidados. Para isso recorri a diversas estratégias e atividades, de onde se destacam as sessões de empoderamento e educação para a saúde, o grupo de ajuda e a intervenção domiciliária, para além da mobilização de diversas parcerias estratégicas, sem as quais o sucesso, repercutido em ganhos em saúde, não seria possível. Tornou-se exequível avaliar o impacto deste projeto por intermédio de um conjunto de indicadores de desempenho, que demonstraram a sua eficácia e significativa importância na melhoria da qualidade de vida dos cuidadores familiares, demonstrando clara e inequivocamente ganhos em saúde pela intervenção especializada do enfermeiro ao nível comunitário, particularmente ao nível da aquisição de conhecimentos, redução da sobrecarga do cuidador e promoção da adesão ao papel de prestador de cuidados.The Master in Nursing, with a specialization in Community Nursing, seeks to provide de acquisition and development of skills for autonomous, self-reflected and decision-based nursing performance, on the five levels of prevention, on a group/community level. This report aims to describe succinctly and clearly the route towards building skills for the specialized intervention in Community Nursing. Thus, it proposes to summarize the stages of personal and professional growth that can considerably enhance the quality of care, increase professional development and improves the satisfaction of the groups and communities in which I intervened. It demonstrates the skills developed and which converge in the recommended by Ordem dos Enfermeiros to perform specialized nursing actions in groups and communities. From the completion of Diagnostic Health, which helped identify the reality of family caregivers of frail older adults, identifying the main real, potential and latent health needs of this group, so often neglected by nurses at the expense the attention given to dependent elderly, particularly what concerns to the negative impact arising from the task of caring (the level of burden, functionality, and family dynamics). Following the identification of health problems, the need to intervene actively and in a multidisciplinary and proximity way, was a reality. Thus was born the Community Intervention Project: "Caring for the Caregiver," which aims to generally reduce the impact on family caregivers, through the intervention in favor of adherence and adequate performance of the role of provider of care, preventing the burnout of the caregiver and empowering it, promoting the acquisition and development of skills for care giving, contributing that way to a more balanced and sustained exercise the role of carer. This project was based on a multidisciplinary and outreach approach, involving other health professionals and intervening even on the caregivers home, promoting adherence and proper performance of the role of carer. To achieve this the project ran various activities, which highlight the empowerment and health education group sessions and psychological support group, in addition to the mobilization of several strategic partnerships without which the success reflected in measurable gains in health, would not be possible. It became possible to evaluate the impact of this project through a set of performance indicators that have proved the effective and meaningful role of a specialized nurse at Community level in improving the quality of life of family caregivers through the reduction of the negative impact associated with the task of caring, demonstrating clearly and unequivocally health gains by their intervention

Impact of brewery wastewater inhibitors in pure and mixed cultures of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921 and the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus ACOI 204/07

ABSTRACT: Brewery wastewater (BWW) is an appealing low-cost substrate for the production of single cell oils by oleaginous microorganisms. However, it may contain inhibitor compounds that may affect the microbial metabolism. This work investigated, for the first time, the presence of potential inhibitor compounds in primary brewery wastewater (PBWW) and secondary brewery wastewater (SBWW) for the pure and mixed cultivation of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921 and the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus ACOI 204/07. Three organic acids (OrgAc) were identified in the brewery effluents (acetic, propionic and butyric acids). Yeast and microalga pure and mixed cultivations were performed in PBWW and SBWW in order to understand the behaviour of the microorganisms, individually and together. Flow cytometry (FC) was used to monitor each microbial population during the mixed cultivations, and to study the yeast and microalga cell viability throughout all cultivations. The yeast cells in pure cultures grown in both effluents were severely affected by the OrgAc presence confirmed by the cell stress results obtained by FC. However, in the mixed cultures, the yeast cells were able to develop, and the levels of stress conditions were considerably lower. Only in microalga pure and mixed cultures efficient OrgAc removal was observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Qualidade dos meios de hospedagem cearenses: um estudo baseado nas avaliações do consumidor evidenciadas no site TripAdvisor

The general objective of this study was to analyze the influence of two attributes of quality of service evidenced by the TripAdvisor website, for general consumer satisfaction. Sample and composed of 43 places in Ceará that participated in the ranking of the most sought after destinations by tourists, and not in Ceará, constituting a total of 2,293 establishments, whose evaluations were captured by a tracker and later extracted with the use of an analyzer, both executed in Python language. The results generated through quantitative methods. The results suggest that investments in the structure of two rooms, the lack of cleaning service, can increase the satisfaction of two customers, considering that these attributes are, respectively, that they are more likely to influence a customer to give top marks to the establishment. Other experts have shown that the majority of the two establishments with the highest marks are located mainly abroad, with emphasis on Jericoacoara, located in the largest and most populous municipalities, least likely to be recognized with the highest overall satisfaction scores, which guests tend to subscribe to more stringent ones such as spending or time, increasing to assign lower overall satisfaction scores.El objetivo general de este estudio fue analizar la influencia de dos atributos de calidad de servicio evidenciados por el sitio web de TripAdvisor, para la satisfacción general del consumidor. Muestra compuesta por 43 localidades en Ceará que participaron en la clasificación de los destinos más buscados por los turistas, y no en Ceará, lo que constituye un total de 2,293 establecimientos, cuyas evaluaciones fueron capturadas por un rastreador y luego extraídas con el uso de un analizador, ambos ejecutados en lenguaje Python. Los resultados generados a través de métodos cuantitativos. Los resultados sugieren que las inversiones en la estructura de dos habitaciones, la falta de servicio de limpieza, puede aumentar la satisfacción de dos clientes, considerando que estos atributos son, respectivamente, que tienen más probabilidades de influir en un cliente para que otorgue las mejores calificaciones al establecimiento. Otros expertos han demostrado que la mayoría de los dos establecimientos con las calificaciones más altas se encuentran principalmente en el extranjero, con énfasis en Jericoacoara, ubicado en los municipios más grandes y poblados, con menos probabilidades de ser reconocido con los puntajes de satisfacción general más altos, que los huéspedes tienden a suscribir a otros más estrictos, como pasar tiempo o tiempo, aumentando para asignar puntajes de satisfacción general más bajos.O objetivo geral do presente estudo é analisar a influência dos atributos da qualidade do serviço evidenciadas pelo site TripAdvisor, na satisfação geral do consumidor. A amostra é composta por 43 localidades cearenses que participam do ranking de destinos mais procurados pelos turistas no Ceará, constituindo um total de 2.293 estabelecimentos, cujas avaliações foram capturadas por um crawler e, em seguida, extraídas com uso de um parser, ambos executados em linguagem Python. Os resultados gerados por meio de métodos quantitativos. Os resultados sugerem que investimentos na estrutura dos quartos, no atendimento e na limpeza poderiam aumentar a satisfação dos clientes, tendo em vista que são esses atributos, respectivamente, que têm a maior probabilidade de influenciar um cliente a atribuir nota máxima ao estabelecimento. Outros achados mostram que a maioria dos estabelecimentos avaliados com nota máxima estão localizados principalmente no litoral, com destaque para os de Jericoacoara, que hospedagens situadas em municípios mais extensos e populosos têm, em média, menos chances de serem avaliadas com notas máximas de satisfação geral, que os hóspedes tendem a ficar mais rigorosos com o passar o tempo, levando a atribuir notas menores de satisfação geral

Iological and behavioral aspects of two laboratory strains of ceratitis capitata (diptera: tephritidae): the influence of periodic introduction of wild flies in the colony

The healthy maintenance of insects reared under laboratory conditions requires strategies to retain the natural characteristics of their life-histories traits. Rearing strategies include artificial selection to laboratory conditions, hybridization with compatible strains, and supplying the colony with wild individuals. We compared behavioral as well as life-history aspects of two laboratory strains of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera, Tephritidae) that had either been reared for 15-20 years under laboratory conditions with or without introducing wild specimens (Lab-Pop and Hybrid-pop, respectively). The parameters evaluated were: performance and food ingestion of immatures, adult size and longevity, female oviposition preference and fecundity, egg viability, and mating choice. Analyses of these parameters were conducted under laboratory rearing conditions. The largest differences observed between the two strains were related to behavioral components: food ingestion rate at the larval stage and oviposition behavior. In general, Lab-Pop individuals were less selective and more adapted to the artificial diet than Hybrid-Pop individuals (diet consumption), but there were no significant differences between the two strains in terms of percentage of emergence, egg viability, adult size, fecundity, and mating choice. It is suggested that the use of hybrid strains is more appropriate than the use of strains without the incorporation of wild individuals, especially in studies that involve behavioral parameters, as hybrid strains behave very similarly to wild populations, according our previous studies

Concomitant wastewater treatment with lipid and carotenoid production by the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides grown on brewery effluent enriched with sugarcane molasses and urea

ABSTRACT: In this study, secondary brewery wastewater (SBWW) supplemented with sugarcane molasses (SCM) was used for SBWW treatment with concomitant lipid and carotenoid production by the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921. In order to improve the biomass production, ammonium sulfate, yeast extract and urea were tested as nitrogen sources. Urea was chosen as the best low-cost nitrogen source. A fed-batch cultivation was carried out with SBWW supplemented with 10 g L−1 of sugarcane molasses as carbon source, and 2 g L−1 of urea as nitrogen source. A maximum biomass concentration of 42.5 g L−1 was obtained at t=126.5 h and the maximum biomass productivity was 0.55 g L−1 h−1 at t=48.25 h. The maximum lipid content was 29.9 % w/w (DCW) at t=94 h of cultivation and the maximum carotenoid content was 0.23 mg g−1 at 120 h of cultivation. Relatively to the SBWW treatment, after the batch phase, 45.8 % of total Kjeldahl nitrogen removal, 81.7 % of COD removal and 100 % of sugar consumption were observed. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that 27.27 % of the cells had injured membrane after the inoculation. This proportion was reduced to 10.37 % at the end of the cultivation, indicating that cells adapted to the growth conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio