Cookies Policy
The website need some cookies and similar means to function. If you permit us, we will use those means to collect data on your visits for aggregated statistics to improve our service. Find out More
Accept Reject
  • Menu
Publications

2021

Energy Hub Design in the Presence of P2G System Considering the Variable Efficiencies of Gas-Fired Converters

Authors
Mansouri, SA; Ahmarinejad, A; Nematbakhsh, E; Javadi, MS; Jordehi, AR; Catalao, JPS;

Publication
2021 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SMART ENERGY SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES (SEST)

Abstract
This paper presents a scenario-based framework for energy hub (Ell) design considering the variable efficiencies of gas-fired converters, wind turbines and integrated demand response (MR) programs. The proposed hub is able to meet the electrical, heating and cooling demands and is also equipped with a power-to-gas (P2G) system. Electrical, cooling, and heating loads uncertainties have been taken into account and the final problem is modeled as a mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) problem. The P2G system is precisely modeled and its impacts on hub planning, emission, and the efficiency of gas-fired converters are thoroughly investigated. The results demonstrate that the P2G system reduced CO2 emissions by 37.4% by consuming CO2 emitted by gas-fired units. In addition, the results indicate that the P2G system injects hydrogen into the gas-fired units and increases their efficiencies. Therefore, the generation rate of these units has increased and consequently a smaller capacity has been installed for them. Numerical results illustrate that the presence of the P2G system has led to a reduction of 7.7% and 16.2% of investment and operation costs, respectively. Finally, the results indicate that the implementation of the IDR program reduces the installed capacity of the equipment, thereby reducing 3.3% of total cost. Overall, the results prove that the implementation of IDR programs along with the installation of the P2G system lead to reduce costs and CO2 emissions.

2021

Hyper-parameter Optimization for Latent Spaces

Authors
Veloso, B; Caroprese, L; Konig, M; Teixeira, S; Manco, G; Hoos, HH; Gama, J;

Publication
MACHINE LEARNING AND KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY IN DATABASES, ECML PKDD 2021: RESEARCH TRACK, PT III

Abstract
We present an online optimization method for time-evolving data streams that can automatically adapt the hyper-parameters of an embedding model. More specifically, we employ the Nelder-Mead algorithm, which uses a set of heuristics to produce and exploit several potentially good configurations, from which the best one is selected and deployed. This step is repeated whenever the distribution of the data is changing. We evaluate our approach on streams of real-world as well as synthetic data, where the latter is generated in such way that its characteristics change over time (concept drift). Overall, we achieve good performance in terms of accuracy compared to state-of-the-art AutoML techniques.

2021

Using Video Games to Improve Capabilities in Decision Making and Cognitive Skill: A Literature Review

Authors
Castro, H; Pinto, N; Pereira, F; Ferreira, L; Ávila, P; Bastos, J; Putnik, GD; Cruz Cunha, M;

Publication
5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER SCIENCE AND COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE 2020

Abstract
Video games provide a means to improve a human's cognitive skills. There are several genres of games that affect different cognitive subcategory. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether video games could really improve cognitive skills and decision-making; and which video games genre affect which cognitive skills. The authors assess previous experiments related to video games and cognitive skills. The paper reviewed 27 experimental and literature review studies. The results of the review proved that video games do improve cognitive skills and decision-making. Cognitive skills such as perception, attentional control, and decision-making improves when subjects were trained with video games. In relation to video games genre, Real-time strategy (RTS) players outperforms First-person shooter (FPS) players on cognitive flexibility while FPS players tend to have lower switching cost in work. People with profession such as nurses and doctors showed improved decision-making and risk assessment when trained with serious simulation games. High school and undergraduate students who played video games exhibit better result when given tasks related to cognitive abilities compared to students who do not played video games. We encourage further studies to conduct a much bigger experiment to correlate with our findings. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

2021

ATOCS: Automatic Configuration of Encryption Schemes for Secure NoSQL Databases

Authors
Ferreira, D; Paulo, J; Matos, M;

Publication
2021 17TH EUROPEAN DEPENDABLE COMPUTING CONFERENCE (EDCC 2021)

Abstract
Secure databases have emerged to securely store and process sensitive data at untrusted infrastructures (e.g., Cloud Computing). To be secure and efficient, the encryption schemes used by these systems must be carefully chosen. Indeed, this task requires expertise both in databases and security, and is currently being done manually, which is time-consuming and error-prone and can lead to security violations, poor performance, or both. This paper presents ATOCS, a novel framework that analyses the applications' code and, from the inferred requirements, determines the best combination of encryption schemes and related configurations for the underlying secure NoSQL database. Its design is modular and extensible thus facilitating the support of different applications and database solutions. Our evaluation with real-world applications shows that ATOCS is fast (it takes 44 seconds to analyse more than 12K LoC), accurate, and simplifies the configuration of secure databases.

2021

Environmental radioactivity in the Atlantic marine boundary layer from the SAIL monitoring campaign  

Authors
Barbosa, S; Amaral, G; Almeida, C; Dias, N; Ferreira, A; Camilo, M; Silva, E;

Publication

Abstract
<p>Ambient radioactivity reflects a wide range of physical processes, including atmospheric and geological processes, as well as space weather and solar conditions. Gamma radiation near the Earth’s surface comes from diverse sources, including space (cosmic radiation), the earth’s atmosphere, and solid earth. In addition to the terrestrial gamma radiation originating from the radioactive decay of primordial radionuclides present in every soil and rock, gamma radiation is also continuously produced in the atmosphere from the interaction of secondary cosmic rays and upper-atmosphere gases, as well as from the decay of airborne radon (Rn-222) progeny. Therefore the temporal variability of gamma radiation contains information on a wide range of physical processes and space-earth interactions, but disentangling the different contributions remains a challenging endeavor. Continuous monitoring of gamma radiation at sea enables to remove both the terrestrial and radon exhalation contributions, allowing to examine in detail the space and atmospheric sources of ambient gamma radiation.</p><p>Gamma radiation over the Atlantic Ocean was measured on board the ship-rigged sailing ship NRP Sagres in the framework of the SAIL (Space-Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions in the marine boundary Layer) project. The measurements were performed continuously (every 1-second) with a NaI(Tl) scintillator counting all the gamma rays from 475 keV to 3 MeV. The casing of the instrument was adapted in order to endure the harsh oceanic conditions and installed in the mizzen mast of the ship. The counts were linked to a rigorous temporal reference frame and precise positioning through GNSS.</p><p>Here preliminary results based on the gamma radiation measurements performed from January 5<sup>th</sup> to May 9<sup>th </sup>2020 are presented, corresponding to the journey of the ship from Lisboa to Cabo Verde, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideu, Cape Town, and back to Lisboa. The data exhibit a clear transition from the coastal to the marine environment, enabling to study in detail the temporal variation of gamma radiation in the marine boundary layer, as well as the interface between land and marine conditions in terms of environmental radioactivity.</p>

2021

Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases

Authors
Kamp, M; Koprinska, I; Bibal, A; Bouadi, T; Frénay, B; Galárraga, L; Oramas, J; Adilova, L; Krishnamurthy, Y; Kang, B; Largeron, C; Lijffijt, J; Viard, T; Welke, P; Ruocco, M; Aune, E; Gallicchio, C; Schiele, G; Pernkopf, F; Blott, M; Fröning, H; Schindler, G; Guidotti, R; Monreale, A; Rinzivillo, S; Biecek, P; Ntoutsi, E; Pechenizkiy, M; Rosenhahn, B; Buckley, C; Cialfi, D; Lanillos, P; Ramstead, M; Verbelen, T; Ferreira, PM; Andresini, G; Malerba, D; Medeiros, I; Fournier-Viger, P; Nawaz, MS; Ventura, S; Sun, M; Zhou, M; Bitetta, V; Bordino, I; Ferretti, A; Gullo, F; Ponti, G; Severini, L; Ribeiro, R; Gama, J; Gavaldà, R; Cooper, L; Ghazaleh, N; Richiardi, J; Roqueiro, D; Saldana Miranda, D; Sechidis, K; Graça, G;

Publication
Communications in Computer and Information Science

Abstract

  • 1044
  • 4212