Structural Flyby Characterization of Nanoporosity

Recently, Ferreira da Silva et al. [3] have performed a gradient pattern analysis of a canonical sample set (CSS) of scanning force microscopy (SFM) images of p-Si. They applied the so-called Gradient Pattern Analysis to images of three typical p-Si samples distinguished by different absorption energy levels and aspect ratios. Taking into account the measures of spatial asymmetric fluctuations they interpreted the global porosity not only in terms of the amount of roughness, but rather in terms of the structural complexity (e.g., walls and fine structures as slots). This analysis has been adapted in order to operate in a OpenGL flyby environment (the StrFB code), whose application give the numerical characterization of the structure during the flyby real time. Using this analysis we compare the levels of asymmetric fragmentation of active porosity related to different materials as p-Si and "porous diamond-like" carbon. In summary we have shown that the gradient pattern analysis technique in a flyby environment is a reliable sensitive method to investigate, qualitatively and quantitatively, the complex morphology of active nanostructures

Desafios do projeto Tandem UNILA: pedalando juntos em espanhol e português

Anais do IV Encontro de Iniciação Científica da Unila - “UNILA 5 anos: Integração em Ciência, Tecnologia e Cultura na Tríplice Fronteira” - 05 e 06 de novembro de 2015 – Sessão Letras, Linguística, Artes e MúsicaEssa pesquisa almeja relatar e discutir a institucionalização do projeto Tandem UNILA: pedalando juntos em espanhol e português na Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-americana (UNILA). Com o auxílio das novas tecnologias, o tandem tem se expandido pelas Universidades brasileiras, sobretudo dentro dos cursos de línguas, como uma nova ferramenta de ensino- aprendizagem de idiomas (TELLES, 2009; RUANO, 2012; ARANHA & CAVALARI, 2014). O projeto acima mencionado, contudo, desenvolve sessões de tandem presencial (face a face), executável por causa do caráter bilíngue e multicultural da UNILA e das cidades da Tríplice Fronteira entre Brasil, Argentina e Paraguai (RAMMÉ, 2014). Assim, nosso objetivo específico é investigar o processo de integração, com suas possibilidades e dificuldades, de atividades desse projeto de extensão nas disciplinas de Português e Espanhol como línguas adicionais do Ciclo Comum de Estudos da instituição. O método utilizado para a pesquisa é o estudo de caso, a partir da discussão obtida através da análise de questionários e entrevistas com os professores e instâncias universitárias envolvidas. Tendo em vista que alguns professores da UNILA já utilizam o tandem como ferramenta pedagógica durante as aulas, apesar do projeto ainda não ser institucionalizado, já observamos que essa prática tem causado efeitos positivos no rendimento linguístico e intercultural dos discentes

Temporal and Spatial Variability of Soil-Vegetation Variables in the West Region of Santa Catarina State

The western region of the state of Santa Catarina (SC) has suffered several episodes of drought, thus impacting vegetation, agricultural production and water availability. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of soil-vegetation parameters in the region. Monthly data of evapotranspiration, precipitation, radiation, air and soil moisture and temperature were obtained from the NASA-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) project, Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS). The study focused on the western region of SC. Evapotranspiration anomalies showed that the years 2015 and 2020 had the lowest values in the last years (i.e. 1990 and 2022). Precipitation had greater variability in recent years, having months of high rainfall combined with periods of severe drought. An evaluation for the Xanxerê city region showed that the year 2020 presented records of low precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and NDVI, compared to the entire time series. Spatial correlation of the evapotranspiration controlling variables showed that precipitation, air temperature and humidity, and short-wave radiation presented variable correlations in different regions of SC. Soil moisture, however, had the highest positive correlation in the entire territory, showing that this is the main controlling variable of local evapotranspiration and therefore an indicator of the importance of vegetation transpiration in the latent heat fluxes. Equivalent water thickness obtained from the GRACE satellite show that after a maximum occurred in December 2015 its magnitudes steadily decreased, reaching very low groundwater values in 2022. This trend represents a 3.3 mm decrease per year. These results show that the region is undergoing a change in these soil-vegetation parameters that needs to be better monitored and understood

Brain activity on encoding different textures EEG signal acquisition with ExoAtlet®

Powered exoskeletons play a crucial role in the rehabilitation field improving the quality of life for those who need them. Thus, being a major contribution for patients integration into society, providing them with more autonomy and freedom. In spite of these positive outcomes, a thorough description of the brain correlates connected to exoskeleton control is still needed. For instance, the perception of different pavement textures when wearing an exoskeleton is probably going to cause changes in cerebral activity, which could impact both sensory encoding and Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) control. Therefore, the main goal of this work is to describe the brain activity response to different textured pavements using ExoAtlet ® powered exoskeleton. In order to measure, process, analyze and classify the impact of different textures on neurophysiological rhythms, 4-minute signals were recorded by Electroencephalogram (EEG) with a 16-channel cap (actiCAP by Brain Products). Each of the three experimental subjects was instructed to walk in place on four different types of pavement (flat, carpet, foam, and rubber circles) with and without the exoskeleton, for a total of eight different experimental conditions. A counterbalanced design was applied, and informed consent was obtained from participants (Committee for Health Sciences of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa - 99/2022). Additionally, four machine learning methods, Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), were selected in order to analyze three distinct classification problems. This study found that there were changes associated with the delta frequency band for electrodes C3 and C4, and when comparing the classifiers performance, LDA presented the best accuracy across the three classification problems involving all subjects. Thereby, this work concludes that the results are consistent with the hypothesis that sensory processing of pavement textures during exoskeleton control induces neural changes and delta variations of the C3 and C4 electrodes. Additionally, LDA demonstrated the best performance across the three classifications of subject-independent problems.Os exoesqueletos motorizados desempenham um papel crucial no campo da reabilitação, melhorando a qualidade de vida das pessoas que deles necessitam. Deste modo, são um contributo importante para que os pacientes com condições físicas limitadas sejam mais facilmente integrados na sociedade, proporcionando-lhes mais autonomia e liberdade. Embora esta tecnologia tenha os seus aspetos positivos, ainda existe a necessidade de descrever os correlatos cerebrais direcionados para o controlo do exoesqueleto. Por exemplo, a percepção de diferentes pavimentos quando se usa um exoesqueleto vai provavelmente causar alterações na actividade cerebral, o que pode ter impacto tanto na codificação sensorial como no controlo da interface cérebro-máquina (BCI). Deste modo, o principal objetivo deste trabalho é descrever a atividade cerebral às diferentes texturas dos pavimentos, utilizando o exoesqueleto ExoAtlet ®. A fim de medir, processar, analisar e classificar o impacto de diferentes texturas em ritmos neurofisiológicos, foram registados sinais de 4 minutos atravês the Eletroencefalograma (EEG) com uma touca de 16 canais (actiCAP by Brain Products). Cada um dos três voluntários foi instruído a dar passos no lugar em quatro tipos diferentes de pavimento (plano, alcatifa, espuma, e círculos de borracha) com e sem o exosqueleto, num total de oito condições experimentais diferentes. Foi aplicado um desenho contrabalançado e foi obtido o consentimento informado dos participantes (Comissão para as Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Católica Portuguesa - 99/2022). Adicionalmente, foram selecionados quatro classificadores: máquinas de vetores de suporte (SVM), k-vizinhos mais próximos (KNN), análise discriminante linear (LDA) e redes neuronais artificiais (ANN) para analisar três problemas de classificação distintos. Os resultados obtidos por este estudo demonstraram que existiam alterações associadas à banda de frequência delta para os eléctrodos C3 e C4 e, ao comparar o desempenho dos classificadores, o LDA apresentou a melhor exatidão nos três problemas de classificação envolvendo todos os sujeitos. Assim, estes resultados são consistentes com a hipótese de que o processamento sensorial dos pavimentos durante o controlo do exoesqueleto induz alterações neuronais

Ethan Kleinberg: Theory of History as Hauntology

Ethan Kleinberg is Professor of History and Letters of Wesleyan University. He is the Director of the Center for Humanities and the Editor-in-Chief of History and Theory. His first book, Generation Existential: Heidegger’s Philosophy in France, 1927-1961, published by Cornell University Press, was awarded the 2006 Morris D. Forkosch prize for the best book in intellectual history, by the Journal of the History of Ideas. Recently, Professor Kleinberg co-edited with Ranjan Ghosh the volume Presence: Philosophy, History and Cultural Theory for the 21st Century, published by Cornell University Press as well. His book, Haunting History: For a Deconstructive Approach to the Past, will appear in the Meridian Series from Stanford University Press in Fall 2017. He is also finishing the book The Myth of Emmanuel Levinas, centered on the Talmudic Lectures that the French-Jewish philosopher presented in Paris between 1960 and 1990. I had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Professor Kleinberg in June 2016, when I was a Visiting Student Researcher in the Center for Humanities at Wesleyan University. We also took the advantage of the Second International Network for Theory of History conference (2nd INTH), that happened in Brazil at Ouro Preto from August 23 to August 26, to expand the interview.

McDonald´s inc- leading the QSR industry at all velocity

After the former CEO exit and quarterly disappointing results, McDonald’s stock went down 10.7% of its all-time high of $221.93 (Aug19). We provide an in-depth DCF valuation an a lys is explaining the main assumptions behind our BUY recommendation. We propose a price-target of$225.91,mainly driven by the re-franchising success–that is boosting operating margin;and by same-store sales –which have been benefiting from further implementations of the Velocity Growth Plan. Moreover,we looked further to strategy, share holders and capital’s structure, making sure that McDonald’s comparables we reconsidered in order to provide a relative valuation and benchmark our DCF valuation