YOLOv3: Traffic signs & lights detection and recognition for autonomous driving

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) relates to various in-vehicle systems intended to improve road traffic safety by assisting drivers with improved road awareness, inherent dangers and other drivers nearby. Traffic sign detection and recognition is an integral part of ADAS since these provide information about traffic rules, road conditions, route directions and assistance for safe driving. In addition, traffic sign detection and recognition are essential research topics for safe and efficient driving when considering intelligent transportation systems. An approach to traffic sign/light detection and recognition using YOLOv3 and YOLOv3_tiny is presented in this paper in two different environments. The first is on a simulated and real autonomous driving robot for RoboCup Portuguese Open Autonomous Driving Competition. The robot must detect both traffic signs and lights in real-time and behave accordingly. The second environment is on public roads. A computer vision system inside the car points to the road, detecting and classifying traffic signs/lights (T S/L) in different weather and lighting conditions. YOLOv3 and YOLOv3_tiny were tested on both environments with an extensive hyperparameters search. The final result showcases videos of the two algorithms on the two environments.This work has been supported by FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020. In addition, this work has also been funded through a doctoral scholarship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia) [grant number SFRH/BD/06944/2020], with funds from the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and the European Social Fund through the Programa Operacional do Capital Humano (POCH)

Accommodating renewable energy sources in a small electricity market: An analysis considering the interactions of sources within Portugal and Spain

The Portuguese and the Spanish electricity generation systems are analysed in this paper. The Iberian market hasbeen isolated and has an increasing proportion of renewable sources. The main objective of this study is to un-derstand how electricity generation sources are interacting with electricity wholesale prices. The VAR approachwas used because of its high robustness to cope with the endogeneity detected by Granger block Exogeneity tests.To do this, workweek data recorded since the opening of the Iberian market (July 2, 2007) was used. Despite thegeographical proximity of the countries and their access to natural resources, the results provide empirical evi-dence of different modes of interaction in the market. This outcome could be due to the different sizes of thenational systems. The Portuguese electricity generating system does not have an extensive structure to share back-up with Spain via conventional sources. Spain's substantial generation structure could be used to provide inter-mittent back-up generation for Portugal. Considering the similar supply and demand patterns of the Iberiangeneration systems, their openness to the other markets with different consumption and generation patterns couldallow a more rational utilization of the renewables already deployed and, consequently, bring greater efficiency tothe Iberian electricity market.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contributos para a qualidade dos serviços de animação turística nos Açores

O turismo apresenta-se como um setor cada vez mais dinâmico e globalizado. Simultaneamente, os turistas são cada vez mais motivados por experiências genuínas, serviços personalizados e atividades mais sustentáveis, adequados às necessidades individuais ou de pequenos grupos. Num mercado mais especializado, segmentado e exigente, o sucesso das organizações e, em particular, das empresas de reduzida dimensão, associa-se naturalmente à qualidade dos serviços que estas promovem. Desta forma, a qualidade e a responsabilidade de um destino encontram-se naturalmente associadas, reunindo o conjunto de políticas e processos de operação que servem de base ao seu desenvolvimento sustentável. A Região Autónoma dos Açores constitui um destino turístico emergente, caraterizado por especificidades de desenvolvimento particulares em resultado de algumas das suas limitações a nível de insularidade, dimensão e localização. Não obstante, o turismo apresenta neste território um importante potencial de crescimento e valorização, associando-se ao elevado valor dos seus recursos patrimoniais naturais e socioculturais, sob a forma dos seus segmentos estratégicos - o turismo na natureza e náutico e o touring cultural e paisagístico. A presente dissertação visa contribuir para uma prática mais responsável e de qualidade nos serviços de animação turística associados às atividades de turismo na natureza nos Açores. São analisadas e enquadradas as principais temáticas de análise, caracterizado o território de estudo e desenvolvida uma investigação empírica no sentido de se auscultar o universo de agentes e operadores, permitindo aferir a aceitação pelos inquiridos de um conjunto de propostas para a consolidação, estruturação e melhoria da qualidade e responsabilidade no setor, tendo em consideração as especificidades setoriais e territoriais envolvidas. Conclui-se, de uma forma geral, a necessidade de se desenvolverem ações estruturantes sobre as bases de responsabilidade e qualidade dos serviços de animação turística na região, bem como a existência de interesse e motivação dos agentes para o efeito, se enquadrados numa ação devidamente coordenada, apoiada e colaborativa, derivada de um compromisso global do destino para com as suas representações estratégicas.Tourism presents itself as an increasingly dynamic and globalized sector. Simultaneously, tourists are more interested in genuine experiences, personalized services and sustainable activities, tailored to individual or small group’s needs. In a specialized, segmented and demanding market, the success of organizations, in particular the smaller ones, is naturally associated to the quality of the services they promote. Thus, the destination’s quality and responsibility are naturally associated, gathering the set of operational policies and processes that constitute the basis for sustainable development. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is an emerging tourist destination, characterized by particular development specificities as result of some of its limitations in terms of insularity, size and location. Nevertheless, tourism presents in this territory a significant growth and valorization potential, associated to the high value of its natural and socio-cultural heritage, in the form of its strategic segments - nature tourism, nautical tourism and cultural and landscape touring. This dissertation aims to contribute to a more responsible and qualified nature tourism’s recreation services in the Azores. The main thematic subjects are analyzed and classified, the field of study characterized and an empirical investigation is developed in order to survey the universe of agents and operators allowing the measure of respondent’s acceptance of a set of proposals for consolidation, structuring and improving responsibility and quality in the sector, taking into account the sectorial and territorial specificities involved. This study discloses, in general, the need to develop structural actions to empower the responsibility and quality of nature tourism’s recreation services in the region, as well as the existence of agent’s interest and motivation for this purpose, if properly framed in a coordinated, supported and collaborative action, grounded in a global destination strategy based on its representations

A PARÓDIA DA CENA DO BALCÃO DE ROMEU E JULIETA NO ESPETÁCULO MÔNICA E CEBOLINHA NO MUNDO DE ROMEU E JULIETA

As obras de Shakespeare têm sido veiculadas nos mais variados suportes, começando pelo próprio palco até as mídias digitais, conquistando e cativando um vasto número de leitores. Romeu e Julieta, uma de suas peças trágicas mais adaptadas, é o texto elencado para esse trabalho de pesquisa. Do teatro para a televisão, em que existe um processo de adaptação e também de paródia, esse artigo tem como propósito analisar a recriação da famosa cena do balcão para o espetáculo infantil Mônica e Cebolinha no Mundo de Romeu e Julieta, produto cultural da Mauricio de Sousa Produções, veiculado pela TV Bandeirantes em 1979. Por meio do teor cômico que existe nas narrativas da Turma da Mônica, Mauricio parodia o texto trágico, recriando-o de forma criativa e agradável, como forma de lançar um novo olhar para Shakespeare: o da criança

Sustainability Assessment of 2G Bioethanol Production from Residual Lignocellulosic Biomass

ABSTRACT: The development of sustainable biofuels can help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change. This study analyzes bioethanol production from agro-forestry residual biomass, namely eucalyptus residues and corn stover. The study includes process simulation using Aspen Plus software, followed by economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) with the help of SimaPro software and by applying the environmental footprint (EF) 3.0 method. The economic analysis on the biorefinery’s economic viability, equipment, and production costs reveals a positive decision for bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues due to logistical and transportation costs. The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) obtained was 2.19 €/L and 2.45 €/L for eucalyptus residues and corn stover, respectively. From the LCA with a functional unit of 1 MJ of ethanol, bioethanol production from eucalyptus residues results in a single score impact of 37.86 µPt, whereas for corn stover, it is 33.47 µPt. In the climate change impact category, the eucalyptus residues scenario has an impact of 0.264 kg CO2 eq/MJ ethanol while corn stover leads to 0.254 kg CO2 eq/MJ ethanol. In-situ enzyme production, heat integration, and the use of renewable energy sources were also analyzed. Combining in situ enzyme production with renewable energy sources lowers CO2 equivalent emissions by 89% for both feedstocks, in comparison to the base-case scenario.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Creative tourist experiences in peri-urban natural areas: Sintra-CascaisNaturalPark

| O presente artigo aborda a temática do turismo na natureza responsável e oferta de experiências criativas como elementos potenciadores da sustentabilidade de espaços naturais, focando, em particular, o caso dos cenários periurbanos. Os dados apresentados resultam de uma pesquisa empírica em três territórios de gestão de habitat integrados no Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, envolvendo a aplicação de questionários aos visitantes e entrevistas semiestruturadas aos stakeholders com responsabilidade direta ou indireta na gestão destes territórios. Conclui-se o potencial da dinamização de experiências criativas nestes territórios, na medida em que o envolvimento dos visitantes num cenário de cocriação das experiências pode estimular a sua sensibilização, mudança de comportamentos e sentido de apropriação dos espaços, com consequências na resiliência global das áreas naturais periurbanas.This paper assumes responsible nature tourism and the supply of creative experiences as elements that enhance the sustainability of natural spaces, focusing on peri-urban scenarios. The presented data results from empirical research in three habitat management territories of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park with speci c conservation goals, involving the application questionnaires to visitors and semi-structured interviews to stakeholders with direct or indirect responsibility on the management of these territories. The interest of stimulating creative experiences in these territories is concluded, as the involvement of visitors in co-creation scenarios may stimulate their sensitization, behavioural changes and sense of appropriation, reinforcing the resilience of peri-urban natural areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Social Infrastructure and the Preservation of Physical Capital: Equilibria and Transitional Dynamics

We study the mechanisms according to which social infrastructure influences the preser- vation of physical capital and, consequently, economic growth. The model considers that social infrastructure is a specific type of human capital, which acts in order to preserve already existing physical capital, by, e.g., reducing the incentive for rent seeking or cor- ruption. Using an innovative methodology in economics, the Gröbner bases, we study the equilibrium of our model and conclude for the existence of two feasible steady-states or of unicity according to different combinations of parameters, highlighting a trade-off between consumption and production on one hand and social infrastructure and physical capital accumulation, on the other. We also present sufficient conditions for saddle-path stabil- ity. Finally, we describe transitional dynamics and calculate welfare effects from which we show that strengthening social infrastructure increases welfare

ARTICULAÇÃO ENTRE TRADUÇÃO, ADAPTAÇÃO, INTERTEXTUALIDADE E PARÓDIA

A partir da leitura de teorias que levantam temas como tradução, adaptação e da paródia, vemos que existe um elo intertextual entre elas, possibilitando aqui uma articulação teórica. O instrumental teórico parte de nomes como Silviano Santiago, Linda Hutcheon, Gerard Genette, Umberto Eco, entre outros nomes críticos, cujas reflexões elencamos aqui por domínio de atuação e aproximação. Após o cotejo da articulação teórica desses domínios, pode-se notar que existe uma ponte da Intertextualidade entre eles, não vendo aqui como uma segregação, mas uma conjunção profícua sobre o modo como esses temas do campo das Letras e das Artes dialogam de modo dialógico com a presença dos intertextos, até mesmo porque se pensarmos em teorias de tradução, adaptação, paródia e intertextualidade, cada enunciando é uma releitura, uma presença (mesmo que não explicita) intertextual de uma proposição teórica anterior. Assim, no âmbito da teoria, esse trabalho aqui opta por mostrar separadamente como cada um desses temas dialoga com a teoria da intertextualidade

Evaluation of the potential of collagen from codfish skin as a biomaterial for biomedical applications

Collagen is one of the most widely used biomaterials, not only due its biocompatibility, biodegradability and weak antigenic potential, but also due to its role in the structure and function of tissues. Searching for alternative collagen sources, the aim of this study was to extract collagen from the skin of codfish, previously obtained as a by-product of fish industrial plants, and characterize it regarding its use as a biomaterial for biomedical application, according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Guidelines. Collagen type I with a high degree of purity was obtained through acid-extraction, as confirmed by colorimetric assays, SDS-PAGE and amino acid composition. Thermal analysis revealed a denaturing temperature around 16 C. Moreover, collagen showed a concentration-dependent effect in metabolism and on cell adhesion of lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells. In conclusion, this study shows that collagen can be obtained from marine-origin sources, while preserving its bioactivity, supporting its use in biomedical applications.European Research Council grant agreement ERC-2012-ADG 20120216-321266 for the project ComplexiTEinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A multifactorial approach to untangle graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets effects on plants: plant growth-promoting bacteria inoculation, bacterial survival, and drought

Drought is a limiting factor for agricultural productivity. Climate change threatens to expand the areas of the globe subjected to drought, as well as to increase the severity and duration of water shortage. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are widely studied and applied as biostimulants to increase plant production and to enhance tolerance to abiotic and biotic constraints. Besides PGPB, studies on the potential of nanoparticles to be used as biostimulants are also thriving. However, many studies report toxicity of tested nanoparticles in bacteria and plants in laboratory conditions, but few studies have reported effects of nanoparticles towards bacterial cells and communities in the soil. The combined application of nanoparticles and PGPB as biostimulant formulations are poorly explored and it is important to unravel the potentialities of their combined application as a way to potentiate food production. In this study, Rhizobium sp. E20-8 and graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were applied on container-grown maize seedlings in watered and drought conditions. Bacterial survival, seedling growth (dry weight), and biochemical endpoints (photosynthetic pigments, soluble and insoluble carbohydrates, proline, lipid peroxidation, protein, electron transport system, and superoxide dismutase) were evaluated. Results showed that the simultaneous exposure to GO and Rhizobium sp. E20-8 was able to alleviate the stress induced by drought on maize seedlings through osmotic and antioxidant protection by GO and mitigation of GO effects on the plant's biochemistry by Rhizobium sp. E20-8. These results constitute a new lead on the development of biostimulant formulations to improve plant performance and increase food production in water-limited conditions.publishe