Autonomic ubiquitous computing: a home environment management system

Tese de doutoramento em Electrónica Industrial (ramo do conhecimento Informática Industrial)The Ubiquitous Computing and Autonomic Computing reached a point of convergence in which pervasive technology in the environment meets the ability of people to interact with it, making use of all the possibilities made available by this technology. Ubiquitous computing envisions a habitat where the abundance of devices, services and applications allows the physical and virtual worlds to become seamlessly merged. The promise of ubiquitous computing environments is not feasible unless these systems can effectively "disappear". In order to achieve this goal, they need to become autonomic, by managing their own evolution and configuration with minimal user intervention. It is in this context that aspects like self-configuration and self-healing from the autonomic computing concept were adopted in this project. The context awareness and the creation of applications which use that context are the core concern of Ubiquitous Computing Systems and represent the fundamentals for autonomic actions in this type of systems. Such research raises questions on context acquisition, distribution and manipulation, as well as on artificial intelligence algorithms that decide autonomic actions in the environment, having implications in the human interaction with Autonomic Ubiquitous Systems. The research presented in this thesis concentrates on some of those issues. During this project it was developed an experimental setup for context acquisition, in an effortless way, of some activities of a small group of users. This experimental setup was installed in a real home where a young family, a couple and a small child, were actually living. This experimental setup was mainly responsible for the control of the light system of the house, by a network of several inter-connected devices scattered in the home with limited resources. This prototype installation allowed the validation of the system ability, to capture daily life behaviour patterns of the inhabitants. The system architecture was designed based on the concept of a high level and a low level autonomic management system taking from nature the model of the human reflex arc. A reflexive behaviour is managed at a local level by the small devices, with limited resources, high level management is responsible for processing and analysis of the events broadcast by the group of small devices, and run in a centralized mode in a PC. The concept of device information broadcast, to the communication medium, as events was used as an approach to: inter-connect future systems, monitor correct operation of the system devices, capture raw data for estimation of context; allow the visualization of system feedback in user interface devices. Finally, an algorithm using artificial neural networks in combination with simple statistics was developed which allowed the house to learn the routines of its inhabitants, making it truly intelligent by embedding the knowledge about patterns of activities of the users in the devices scattered in the environment, increasing their comfort and, at same time, leading to more energy efficiency. The analysis of the data captured, during two complete years, shows that the reduction of power consumption could be as high as 50%, depending on the profile of the usage of the light.A Computação Ubíqua e a Computação Autónoma atingiram um ponto de convergência no qual a tecnologia dispersa nos ambientes, juntamente com a capacidade das pessoas interagirem, permite tirar partido do seu uso para novas potencialidades. A computação ubíqua vislumbra habitats repletos de dispositivos, serviços e aplicações que permitem a união perfeita do mundo real com o mundo virtual, mas de uma forma natural. A promessa da criação de tais ambientes de computação ubíqua não se tornará possível sem que a complexidade destes sistemas “desapareçam” efectivamente da percepção dos utilizadores. Para que isso seja possível, estes necessitam de ser autónomos, gerindo a sua própria evolução e configuração com o mínimo de intervenção do utilizador. É neste contexto que a noção de Sistemas Ubíquos Autónomos envolvendo as facetas de auto-configuração e auto-reparação derivadas do conceito da computação autónoma, será usada nesta tese. A percepção do contexto e a criação de aplicações que o usam são as principais preocupações na investigação dos Sistemas de Computação Ubíqua, constituindo também a base para as acções autónomas neste tipo de sistemas. Essa investigação levanta questões sobre a forma como o contexto é capturado, distribuído e manipulado. Por outro lado, provoca impacto nos algoritmos de inteligência artificial que efectuam as decisões de acções autónomas no ambiente, afectando consequentemente a interacção humana com os Sistemas Ubíquos Autónomos. A investigação apresentada nesta dissertação concentra-se efectivamente em alguns destes aspectos. Durante a tese foi desenvolvido um sistema experimental com o objectivo de capturar o contexto, de uma forma perceptível, das actividades de um pequeno grupo de utilizadores. Este sistema experimental foi instalado numa casa real, onde vive uma jovem família constituída por uma casal e uma pequena criança. O sistema experimental era responsável por controlar toda a iluminação eléctrica da casa, através de um conjunto de dispositivos, com recursos limitados, conectados em rede e espalhados pela casa. A instalação permitiu validar a capacidade do sistema de capturar os padrões de comportamento quotidiano dos habitantes da casa. A arquitectura do sistema foi projectada baseando-se no conceito de alto-nível e baixo-nivel dos sistemas de gestão autónoma, inspirando-se no modelo dos processos que ocorrem num acto reflexo no corpo humano. As acções de reflexo ou acções básicas são geridas pelo baixo-nivel nos pequenos dispositivos e com recursos limitados, e quanto o gestão de alto-nivel é responsável pelo processamento e analise dos eventos disponíveis no barramento de dados da rede dos pequenos dispositivos. Foi também usado o conceito da difusão (broadcast) da informação, para o barramento de dados, na forma de eventos para permitir: a interligação com sistema futuros, monitorização do correcto funcionamento do sistema, captura da informação para posterior determinação do contexto; e por fim permitir a visualização do estado do sistema na interface com os utilizadores. Por último, foi desenvolvido um algoritmo usando redes neuronais artificiais e em combinação com estatística básica que permite aprender, de uma forma autónoma, as rotinas dos habitantes em casa, conferindo a esta um ambiente inteligente. Desta forma, a casa contém o conhecimento dos padrões quotidianos dos habitantes, aumentando consequentemente o seu conforto e ao mesmo tempo, permitindo melhor eficiência energética. As análises dos dados capturados, durante dois anos completos, mostram que a redução no consumo energético pode chegar os 50%, dependendo do perfil de uso da iluminação.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)Scholarship number SFRH/BD/8290/2004

Sistema inteligente para auto–parametrização em tempo real de serra circular para corte de tubos metálicos

Dissertação mestrado em engenharia electrónica industrialA crescente necessidade do aumento de produtividade e da eficiência nas máquinas e nos processos industriais, impulsiona a adaptação de técnicas cada vez mais sofisticadas, sendo possíveis graças a tecnologias de controlo por computador. No corte por arranque de apara, usando um controlo em tempo real, é possível adaptar os parâmetros de corte para obter mais produtividade, eficiência e qualidade de corte. É neste contexto que se apresenta o trabalho efectuado no âmbito desta dissertação, orientado ao estudo e implementação de um sistema de auto-parametrização em tempo real de serra circular para corte de tubos metálicos. As máquinas tradicionais de corte por arranque de apara de tubos metálicos usam uma velocidade constante de corte. Este modo de funcionamento, em conjunto com os diferentes perfis de tubos, expõe a serra de corte a forças variáveis. Estas forças variáveis contribuem para uma má qualidade de corte e um maior desgaste na serra. Assim, o processo é parametrizado tendo em conta as piores condições que ocorrem na serra e na máquina. Usando um algoritmo de controlo, de forma a ajustar a velocidade de corte em função do esforço da serra, é possível obter um corte mais rápido e eficiente. A solução proposta baseou-se na implementação, num serrote automático, de um sistema de corte inteligente, controlado por um autómato industrial, com o objectivo de se obter um sistema de imediata comercialização. Foi ainda implementado um sistema de monitorização do processo corte, usando LabView e OPC (Object Linking and Embedding – for Process Control).The growing need in machines and industrial processes´ increasing productivity and efficiency leads to the appliance of more sophisticated techniques, which are possible due to computer control technologies. In the shred extract cutting-off, using a real time control, it is possible to adapt the cutting-off parameters, in order to obtain more productivity, more efficiency and a better cutting-off quality. This is what this dissertation is actually about, which is oriented to the study and to the implementation of an auto-parameterization system, in real time, of the circular saw cutting-off for metallic tubes. The traditional shred cutting-off machines for metallic tubes use a constant cutting-off velocity. This mode of operation, combined with different tube profiles, exposes the cutting saw to variable forces. These variable forces contribute to a bad quality in the cutting-off process and also to a greater saw worn-out. This way, the parameterization is set in the worst cases which both occur in the saw and in the machine. Using a control algorithm, in order to adjust the cutting-off velocity to the saw strain, it is possible to get a more efficient and faster cutting-off. The proposed solution was based on the implementation of an intelligent cutting-off system in an automatic cutting-off machine, controlled by an industrial programmable logic controller, in order to obtain a system of immediate commerce. A cutting-off process monitor system has also been implemented, using LabView and OPC (Object Linking and Embedding – for Process Control)

Sports practice is related to parasympathetic activity in adolescents

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze the relationship among sports practice, physical education class, habitual physical activity and cardiovascular risk in adolescents.MethodsCross-sectional study with 120 schoolchildren (mean: 11.7±0.7 years old), with no regular use of medicines. Sports practice and physical education classes were assessed through face-to-face interview, while habitual physical activity was assessed by pedometers. Bodyweight, height and height-cephalic trunk were used to estimate maturation. The following variables were measured: body fatness, blood pressure, resting heart rate, blood flow velocity, intima-media thickness (carotid and femoral) and heart rate variability (mean between consecutive heartbeats and statistical index in the time domain that show the autonomic parasympathetic nervous system activity root-mean by the square of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals in a time interval). Statistical treatment used Spearman correlation adjusted by sex, ethnicity, age, body fatness and maturation.ResultsIndependently of potential confounders, sports practice was positively related to autonomic parasympathetic nervous system activity (β=0.039 [0.01; 0.76]). On the other hand, the relationship between sport practice and mean between consecutive heartbeats (β=0,031 [–0.01; 0.07]) was significantly mediated by biological maturation.ConclusionsSport practice was related to higher heart rate variability at rest

Towards a multivariate analysis of genome-scale metabolic models derived from the BiGG models database

First Online: 28 August 2021Genome-Scale metabolic models (GEMs) are a relevant tool in systems biology for in silico strain optimisation and drug discovery. An easier way to reconstruct a model is to use available GEMs as templates to create the initial draft, which can be curated up until a simulation-ready model is obtained. This approach is implemented in merlin's BiGG Integration Tool, which reconstructs models from existing GEMs present in the BiGG Models database. This study aims to assess draft models generated using models from BiGG as templates for three distinct organisms, namely, Streptococcus thermophilus, Xylella fastidiosa and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Several draft models were reconstructed using the BiGG Integration Tool and different templates (all, selected and random). The variability of the models was assessed using the reactions and metabolic functions associated with the model's genes. This analysis showed that, even though the models shared a significant portion of reactions and metabolic functions, models from different organisms are still differentiated. Moreover, there also seems to be variability among the templates used to generate the draft models to a lower extent. This study concluded that the BiGG Integration Tool provides a fast and reliable alternative for draft reconstruction for bacteria.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. A. Oliveira (DFA/BD/10205/2020), E. Cunha (DFA/BD/8076/2020), F. Cruz (SFRH /BD/139198/2018), J. Sequeira (SFRH/BD/147271/2019), and M. Sampaio (SFRH/BD/144643/2019) hold a doctoral fellowship provided by the FCT. Oscar Dias acknowledge FCT for the Assistant Research contract obtained under CEEC Individual 2018.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Drives a Glycan Switch of Peripheral T Cells at Diagnosis

COVID-19 is a highly selective disease in which SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in different clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic/mild to severe disease that requires hospitalization. In this study, we demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in a glycosylation reprogramming of circulating lymphocytes at diagnosis. We identified a specific glycosignature of T cells, defined upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and apparently triggered by a serological factor. This specific glycan switch of T cells is detected at diagnosis being more pronounced in asymptomatic patients. We further demonstrated that asymptomatic patients display an increased expression of a viral-sensing receptor through the upregulation of DC-SIGN in monocytes. We showed that higher levels of DC-SIGN in monocytes at diagnosis correlates with better COVID-19 prognosis. This new evidence pave the way to the identification of a novel glycan-based response in T cells that may confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic patients, highlighting a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Movimentos de vertente no norte de Portugal: importância do comportamento hidrológico das formações superficiais

A ocorrência de movimentos de vertente no Norte de Portugal tem motivado o desenvolvimento de vários estudos de caso, ensaiando-se diversas metodologias que visam defi nir e caracterizar os factores condicionantes que maior infl uência exercem sobre os processos de instabilidade. Neste trabalho apresentam-se os resultados obtidos para o fl uxo de detritos de Frades (Arcos de Valdevez), discutindo-se a importância do contexto morfo-estrutural, das formações superfi ciais e do seu comportamento hidrológico, analisados através de ensaios laboratoriais e in situ, designadamente, granulometria, composição mineralógica, condutividade hidráulica, resistência à penetração e refracção sísmica. O estudo desenvolvido, para além de demonstrar a existência de caminhos preferenciais da circulação interna da água, em associação com condicionamentos ligados às características das formações superfi ciais, revela que a rede de drenagem subsuperfi cial tem uma ligação evidente com o escoamento que se processa à superfície, embora possa sofrer alterações motivadas por estruturas subjacentes.The occurrence of landslides in northern Portugal has motivated the development of several case studies, rehearsing different methodologies that seek to defi ne and characterize the conditioning factors with the greatest infl uence over the geomorphologic instability processes. This paper presents the results obtained for Frades (Arcos de Valdevez) debris fl ow, discussing the importance of morphostructural context, surfi cial formations and their hydrological behavior, analyzed by in situ and laboratory tests, namely, grain size, mineralogy, hydraulic conductivity, penetration resistance and seismic refraction. The developed study shows the existence of preferential paths of internal water circulation, in combination with constraints linked to the characteristics of the surfi cial formations, revealing also that the subsurface drainage network has an obvious link with the fl ow that takes place at the surface, although it may present changes motivated by underlying structures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO