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Publications

2021

Azbot-1C: An Educational Robot Prototype for Learning Mathematical Concepts

Authors
Pedro F.; Cascalho J.; Medeiros P.; Novo P.; Funk M.; Ramos A.; Mendes A.; Lima J.;

Publication
Communications in Computer and Information Science

Abstract
Nowadays, educational robotics is part of the learning activities in many K-12 schools. With the increasing interest in Computer Thinking education and acknowledging the importance of using tangible devices, many different educational robots for primary education have become available. With them, new research activities bring about new results concerning the use of robots in classes and how they can improve learning in STEAM areas. In this paper, a prototype of a new robot for primary school is presented. It has similar features to many other robots used in early school years (e.g. easy robot’s interface and one or two sensors, motor actuators), but with the advantage of having a low cost, being a do-it-yourself (DIY) kit and including a participation strategy, clarifying some of the learning targets, addressing the concept of alignment in learning activities.

2021

Amination of Cyclohexanol over a Ni-Based Catalyst - Part II: Catalyst Stability and Reaction Pathway

Authors
Churro, R; Mendes, F; Araujo, P; Ribeiro, MF; Madeira, LM;

Publication
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Abstract
Ni-based catalysts present a highly interesting performance for the reductive amination of cyclohexanol (CHOL). The stability of a commercial Ni-based catalyst was evaluated and a high stability over the tested time-on-stream (TOS) was observed. The reaction network was evaluated by analysis of selectivity profiles as a function of CHOL conversion. The formation of cyclohexylamine (CHA) was found to be consistent with the proposed borrowing hydrogen method (BHM). The formation of heavy-end (HE) by-products also follows the BHM pathway as parallel reaction. The effect of individual molar proportions of NH3 and H-2 was evaluated. It was found that when H-2 is present in a high excess, side reactions were favored, but its presence is mandatory towards keeping the catalyst active.

2021

The Entropy Universe

Authors
Ribeiro, M; Henriques, T; Castro, L; Souto, A; Antunes, L; Costa Santos, C; Teixeira, A;

Publication
ENTROPY

Abstract
About 160 years ago, the concept of entropy was introduced in thermodynamics by Rudolf Clausius. Since then, it has been continually extended, interpreted, and applied by researchers in many scientific fields, such as general physics, information theory, chaos theory, data mining, and mathematical linguistics. This paper presents The Entropy Universe, which aims to review the many variants of entropies applied to time-series. The purpose is to answer research questions such as: How did each entropy emerge? What is the mathematical definition of each variant of entropy? How are entropies related to each other? What are the most applied scientific fields for each entropy? We describe in-depth the relationship between the most applied entropies in time-series for different scientific fields, establishing bases for researchers to properly choose the variant of entropy most suitable for their data. The number of citations over the past sixteen years of each paper proposing a new entropy was also accessed. The Shannon/differential, the Tsallis, the sample, the permutation, and the approximate entropies were the most cited ones. Based on the ten research areas with the most significant number of records obtained in the Web of Science and Scopus, the areas in which the entropies are more applied are computer science, physics, mathematics, and engineering. The universe of entropies is growing each day, either due to the introducing new variants either due to novel applications. Knowing each entropy's strengths and of limitations is essential to ensure the proper improvement of this research field.

2021

Traffic-aware Gateway Placement for High-capacity Flying Networks

Authors
Coelho, A; Fontes, H; Campos, R; Ricardo, M;

Publication
2021 IEEE 93RD VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE (VTC2021-SPRING)

Abstract
The ability to operate virtually anywhere and carry payload makes Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) perfect platforms to carry communications nodes, including Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) and cellular Base Stations (BSs). This is paving the way to the deployment of flying networks that enable communications to ground users on demand. Still, flying networks impose significant challenges in order to meet the Quality of Experience expectations. State of the art works addressed these challenges, but have been focused on routing and the placement of the UAVs as APs and BSs serving the ground users, overlooking the backhaul network design. The main contribution of this paper is a centralized traffic-aware Gateway UAV Placement (GWP) algorithm for flying networks with controlled topology. GWP takes advantage of the knowledge of the offered traffic and the future topologies of the flying network to enable backhaul communications paths with high enough capacity. The performance achieved using the GWP algorithm is evaluated using ns-3 simulations. The obtained results demonstrate significant gains regarding aggregate throughput and delay.

2021

EMOS reloaded: Unlock the future of education in official statistics with a new partnership with Universities

Authors
Pratesi M.; Campos P.;

Publication
Statistical Journal of the IAOS

Abstract
After 12 years of EMOS experience it is time to open the discussion on the future of EMOS. This papers briefly describes the experience from the perspective of the Universities, trying also to describe the needs and role of the NSIs, Banks and other possible actors to join the network, and unlock the future. EMOS should reload (or evolute) to stay current and attractive. Statistical 'thinking' evolved and a major change and challenge for EMOS is to pick up this trend in its cooperation with the universities.

2021

COLLECTION AND LIFE SUPPORT IN A HYPERBARIC SYSTEM FOR DEEP-SEA ORGANISMS

Authors
Viegas, D; Figueiredo, A; Coimbra, J; Dos Santos, A; Almeida, J; Dias, N; Lima, L; Silva, H; Ferreira, H; Almeida, C; Amaro, T; Arenas, F; Castro, F; Santos, M; Martins, A; Silva, E;

Publication
OCEANS 2021: SAN DIEGO - PORTO

Abstract
This paper presents the development of a hyperbaric system able to collect, transport and maintain deep-sea species in controlled condition from the sea floor up to the surface (HiperSea System). The system is composed by two chambers coupled with a transference set-up. The first chamber is able to reach a maximum of 1km depth collecting both benthic and pelagic deep-sea species. The second chamber is a life support compartment to maintain the specimens alive at the surface, in hyperbaric conditions.

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