Modeling and Assessing of Omni-Directional Robots with Three and Four Wheels

Non

Combining Artificial Neural Networks and GIS Fundamentals for Coastal Erosion Prediction Modeling

The complexities of coupled environmental and human systems across the space and time of fragile systems challenge new data-driven methodologies. Combining geographic information systems (GIS) and artificial neural networks (ANN) allows us to design a model that forecasts the erosion changes in Costa da Caparica, Lisbon, Portugal, for 2021, with a high accuracy level. The GIS–ANN model proves to be a powerful tool, as it analyzes and provides the “where” and the “why” dynamics that have happened or will happen in the future. According to the literature, ANNs present noteworthy advantages compared to the other methods that are used for prediction and decision making in urban coastal areas. In order to conduct a sensitivity analysis on natural and social forces, as well as dynamic relations in the dune–beach system of the study area, two types of ANNs were tested on a GIS environment: radial basis function (RBF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP). The GIS–ANN model helps to understand the factors that impact coastal erosion changes, and the importance of having an intelligent environmental decision support system to address these risks. This quantitative knowledge of the erosion changes and the analytical map-based frame are essential for an integrated management of the area and the establishment of pro-sustainability policies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Road infrastructure resilience to climate change: a hydrological-based model for flood risk assessment and preventive asset management

Climate change is increasing the incidence and severity of extreme weather events around the world, and flooding is a growing risk factor for road infrastructure drainage systems. Extreme events are becoming more frequent, more intense and of longer duration, and heavy precipitation is no exception, so flooding is also becoming more frequent and of greater magnitude. Hydrodynamic modelling of the hydrological phenomena and processes associated with the generation of surface runoff is of paramount importance in improving the resilience of road infrastructure to extreme precipitation and flood events. In this paper, a hydrological-based model is proposed, tested, and validated for a selected case study and then will be extended to several case studies. The PH29 culvert of the A41 highway of the Ascendi network in northern Portugal is the starting point for the development of a simple hydrological-based model for the estimation of flood hydrographs, taking into account the temporal variability of precipitation and the spatial and temporal variation of the runoff coefficient in the catchment area. To this end, robust precipitation data recorded in recent years and higher resolution satellite data for land use mapping will be considered in the development of the hydrological-based model to better represent the space-time variability of precipitation events and the variation of land use over time. It should be noted that the PH29 culvert is an interesting case study as it has already undergone two major interventions and there have been hydraulic and land use changes in the catchment area. The ultimate aim is to establish a relationship between changing precipitation patterns (and land use) and flood hydrographs for the catchment area, and thereby identify risk mitigation measures to increase the resilience of drainage systems to extreme events and prevent potential damage to road infrastructure. This will also increase the resilience of road infrastructure to natural hazards and improve design criteria, while reducing operating costs and contributing to more effective asset management policy

The LSTS open-source communication and autonomy software: enabling networked vehicle systems to find track, and sample dynamic features of the ocean

Peer Reviewe

Experimental measurement of bridge deflection using Digital Image Correlation

Civil engineering bridges usually face a multitude of loads, ranging from strong winds to intense traffic. Thus, it is important to understand their behaviour for adequate maintenance design and prevention of catastrophic failure. The present work reports an image sensing methodology for deflection measurement that was successfully employed on the Entre-Águas bridge in Caniçal, Madeira, Portugal. For the application of two-dimensional Digital Image Correlation, it was necessary to build and deploy a patterned target onto the bridge in the monitored area and a camera setup in stable ground on a plane orthogonal to the target. Two different 2D DIC software packages were used for calculations, one commercial and one self-developed, enabling their comparison and increasing the confidence in the experimental results. The developed system was applied in order to analyze the effects of the passage of 30-ton trucks in the bridge, with promising results.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anaerobic Threshold Individualized Assessment in a Young Swimmer

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of Prior Exercise on VO2 Kinetics Subsequent Exhaustive Rowing Performance

Prior exercise has the potential to enhance subsequent performance by accelerating the oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics. The present study investigated the effects of two different intensities of prior exercise on pulmonary VO2 kinetics and exercisetime during subsequent exhaustive rowing exercise. It was hypothesized that in prior heavy, but not prior moderateexercise condition, overall VO2 kinetics would be faster and the VO2 primary amplitude would be higher, leading to longerexercise time at VO2max. Six subjects (mean 6 SD; age: 22.964.5 yr; height: 181.267.1 cm and body mass: 75.563.4 kg)completed square-wave transitions to 100% of VO2max from three different conditions: without prior exercise, with priormoderate and heavy exercise. VO2 was measured using a telemetric portable gas analyser (K4b2, Cosmed, Rome, Italy) andthe data were modelled using either mono or double exponential fittings. The use of prior moderate exercise resulted in afaster VO2 pulmonary kinetics response (t1 = 13.4163.96 s), an improved performance in the time to xhaustion(238.8650.2 s) and similar blood lactate concentrations ([La2]) values (11.861.7 mmol.L21) compared to the onditionwithout prior exercise (16.065.56 s, 215.3660.1 s and 10.761.2 mmol.L21, for t1, time sustained at VO2max and [La2], respectively). Performance of prior heavy exercise, although useful in accelerating the VO2 pulmonary kinetics responseduring a subsequent time to exhaustion exercise (t1 = 9.1861.60 s), resulted in a shorter time sustained at VO2max(155.5646.0 s), while [La2] was similar (13.561.7 mmol.L21) compared to the other two conditions. Although both priormoderate and heavy exercise ulted in a faster pulmonary VO2 kinetics response, only prior moderate exercise lead to improved rowing performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of individual anaerobic threshold and stroking parameters in swimmers aged 10–11 years

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reproductive performance of danbred sows on a commercial pig farm

Avaliou-se o desempenho produtivo de uma linha genética de suínos hiperprolífica, numa exploração industrial intensiva de produção de porcos para abate. Utilizou-se um total de 238 fêmeas da linha genética DanBred, beneficiadas com sémen de varrascos de raça Duroc ou Pietrain. Analisaram-se diversos parâmetros produtivos, considerando como variáveis de resposta o número de leitões nascidos por parto: totais, vivos, mortos e mumificados. Nos primeiros dias pós-parto, procedeu-se à uniformização das ninhadas e, posteriormente, avaliou-se o número leitões desmamados. Determinaram-se algumas estatísticas descritivas dos parâmetros produtivos em estudo com recurso ao Proc Means do SAS. Procedeu-se a uma análise de variância com o Proc GLM do SAS e através de um modelo linear que incluiu os efeitos da linha genética do varrasco e o efeito linear e quadrático do número de parto, com o objetivo de avaliar como estes efeitos ambientais influenciaram as variáveis de resposta. O número médio de leitões por parto totais, vivos, mortos e mumificados foi 19,04 ± 4,87, 16,69 ± 3,87, 1,57 ± 1,82 e 0,79 ± 1,83, respetivamente. O número médio de leitões nascidos vivos foi superior aos valores médios obtidos em Portugal e em explorações dinamarquesas, incluindo explorações que se encontram no top 10% mais produtivas, situando-se próximo do limite inferior do Top 3 dinamarquês. O número médio de leitões desmamados (13,34 ± 2,00) sugere que devam ser melhoradas as condições pós-parto e/ou aleitamento.The reproductive performance of a hyperprolific line of pigs on an intensive farrow-to-finish farm was analyzed. A total of 238 DanBred sows, inseminated with Duroc or Pietrain semen, were used. On the first days post-partum, litters were equalized; at weaning, litter size was recorded. Several productive parameters were analyzed, considering as response variables the total number of piglets born, and the numbers of born alive, stillborn and mummified piglets, per farrowing. Some descriptive statistics of the productive parameters under study have been determined with SAS Proc Means. Analysis of variance was performed with SAS Proc Mixed and a linear model including sire genetic line and linear and quadratic parity effects. The average number of piglets born alive per farrowing (16.69 ± 3.87) was higher than average numbers attained in Portugal and on Danish farms, including part of the top 10 percent, being close to the lower limit of the Danish Top 3. The average number of piglets weaned (13.34 ± 2.00) suggests that post-partum and/or suckling conditions should be improved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desempenho produtivo de porcas da linha genética DANBRED (DF1-LW X LR) exploradas em suinicultura industria

A utilização de porcas hiperprolificas na suinicultura industrial é uma filosofia produtiva com especial relevância em países como França e Dinamarca. Nos últimos anos, também Portugal tem incorporado algumas destas linhas genéticas hiperpolíticas nos seus efectivos reprodutores. Porém, a maximização da produtividade numérica envolve alguma controvérsia, face aos seus efeitos colaterais. Há necessidade de encontrar resposta para o maneio destas linhas hiperpolíticas e garantir a viabilidade do leitão. A uma maior produtividade numérica e, consequente, rentabilidade económica / porca, contrapõem-se maior taxa de mortalidade de leitões, maior variabilidade de peso ao nascimento e menor peso individual, maior risco sanitário e a necessidade de mão-de obra especializada. O trabalho realizado teve com objetivo avaliar o desempenho produtivo de uma linha genética de suínos hiperprolifica, numa exploração industrial intensiva de produção de porcos para abate. Utilizou-se um total de 238 fêmeas da linha genética DanBred (DF1-LWxLR), beneficiadas com sémen de varrascos de raça Duroc ou Pietrain. As porcas foram distribuídas aleatoriamente por dois grupos, homogéneos no que respeita ao respetivo número de parto. Analisaram-se diversos parâmetros produtivos, considerando como variáveis de resposta o número de leitões nascidos por parto: totais (NascTot), vivos (NascViv), mortos (NascMort) e mumificados (NascMum). Nos primeiros dias pós-parto, procedeu-se à uniformização das ninhadas e, posteriormente, avaliou-se o número leitões desmamados (Desm). Determinaram-se algumas estatísticas descritivas dos parâmetros produtivos em estudo com recurso ao Proc Means do SAS. Procedeu-se a uma análise de variância com o Proc Mixed do SAS e através de um modelo linear que incluiu os efeitos da linha genética do varrasco e o efeito linear e quadrático do número de parto, com o objetivo de avaliar como estes efeitos ambientais influenciaram as variáveis de resposta. O número médio de leitões por parto NascTot, NascViv, NascMort e NascMum foi 19.04±4.87, 16.69±3.87, 1.57±1.82 e 0.79±1.83, respetivamente. O número médio de leitões nascidos vivos (NascViv) foi superior aos valores médios obtidos em Portugal e em explorações dinamarquesas, incluindo explorações que se encontram no top 10% mais produtivas, situando-se próximo do limite inferior do Top 3 dinamarquês. Já o número médio de leitões desmamados (Desm) observado (13.34±2.00), embora superior aos valores médios obtidos em Portugal, ficou aquém dos valores médios obtidos em explorações dinamarquesas. Esta observação sugere que devam ser melhoradas as condições pós-parto e/ou aleitamento, que permitam minorar a taxa de mortalidade de leitões.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio