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Publications

2023

Cross-Correlation of Lower Limb Joint Angular Kinematic Signal for Coordination Assessment During Impulse Phase on Standard Maximum Vertical Jump

Authors
Rodrigues, C; Correia, M; Abrantes, J; Rodrigues, M; Nadal, J;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Bioengineering

Abstract
This study presents and applies cross-correlation analysis of lower limb joint angular kinematic signal for coordination assessment during impulse phase of standard Maximum Vertical Jump (MVJ). Standard MVJ has been applied for noninvasive subject specific analysis at Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) and Drop Jump (DJ) with long and short Counter Movement (CM) for comparison with Squat Jump (SJ) and no CM. Long and short CM are intrinsically related to the underlying mechanisms of muscle Stretch–Shortening Cycle (SSC) with the integration of muscular action and synergistic joint coordination an open issue on the contribution for the task to perform. Lower limb joint coordination has thus received increasing research interest as an external observed result of the neuromuscular control mechanisms and the hypotheses of training and repetition contribution for stereotyped coordination with the need of objective tools considering entire time series while avoiding subjective point selection for coordination assessment. The results of maximum cross-correlation (CCr max) and corresponding time delay (t) from entire time series of the Hip (H), the Knee (K) and the Ankle (A) joints angular displacement (?), angular velocities (?) and angular accelerations (a) during a fifty-four trial sample with long, short and no CM performed by a group of healthy untrained subjects conduced to detection of maximum synchrony with null t of the lower limb ? at different conditions, whereas ? and a CCr led to detection of different time delay for CCr max with dominant negative t values corresponding to a proximal–distal coordination sequence at H–K-A. These results point thus for the need to consider entire time series of joint ? and a in addition to joint ? to detect different joint coordination and avoid subjective point selection for coordination assessment. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

2023

Capacity Management in Smart Grids Using Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure and Tabu Search

Authors
Serrano, HDM; Reiz, C; Leite, JB;

Publication
PROCESSES

Abstract
Over time, distribution systems have progressed from small-scale systems to complex networks, requiring modernization to adapt to these increasing levels of active loads and devices. It is essential to manage the capacity of distribution networks to support all these new technologies. This work, therefore, presents a method for evaluating the impact of optimal allocation and sizing of DGs and load shedding for response demand programs on distribution networks to improve the reliability and financial performance of electric power systems. The proposed optimization tool uses the Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure and Tabu Search algorithms. The combined optimization of DG allocation simultaneously with load shedding, reliability indices, load transference, and the possibility of islanded operation significantly improves the quality of the planning proposals obtained by the developed method. The results demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the proposed method, improving the voltage profile by up to 2.02%, relieving the network capacity, and increasing the load restoration capability and reliability. Statistical analysis is also carried out to highlight the performance of the proposed methodology.

2023

A Quantitative PED Definition with Contextual Targets

Authors
Schneider, S; Zelger, T; Sengl, D; Baptista, J;

Publication

Abstract
This paper presents the goals and components of a quantitative energy balance assessment framework to define PEDs flexibly in three important contexts: the context of the district's density and RES potential, the context of a district's location, induced mobility and the context of the dis-trict's future environment and its decarbonized energy demand or supply. It starts by introducing the practical goals of this definition approach: achievable, yet sufficiently ambitious to be inline with Paris 2050 for most urban and rural Austrian district typologies. It goes on to identify the main design parts of the definition: system boundaries, balancing weights and balance targets and argue how they can be linked to the definition goals in detail. In particular we specify three levels of system boundaries and argue their individual necessity: operation, including everyday mobili-ty, including embodied energy and emissions. It argues that all three pillars of PEDs, energy effi-ciency, onsite renewables and energy flexibility can be assessed with the single metric of a prima-ry energy balance when using carefully designed, time-dependent conversion factors. Finally, it is discussed how balance targets can be interpreted as information and requirements from the sur-rounding energy system, which we identify as a "context factor". Three examples of such context factors, each corresponding to the balance target of one of the previously defined system bounda-ries operation, mobility and embodied emissions are presented: Density (as a context of opera-tion), sectoral energy balances and location (as a context for mobility) and an outlook of a person-al emission budgets (as a context for embodied emissions). Finally, the proposed definition framework is applied to seven distinct district typologies in Austria and discussed in terms of its design goals.

2023

Differences in Trapezius Muscle H-Reflex between Asymptomatic Subjects and Symptomatic Shoulder Pain Subjects

Authors
Melo, ASC; Taylor, JL; Ferreira, R; Cunha, B; Ascencao, M; Fernandes, M; Sousa, V; Cruz, EB; Vilas-Boas, JP; Sousa, ASP;

Publication
SENSORS

Abstract
In chronic shoulder pain, adaptations in the nervous system such as in motoneuron excitability, could contribute to impairments in scapular muscles, perpetuation and recurrence of pain and reduced improvements during rehabilitation. The present cross-sectional study aims to compare trapezius neural excitability between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. In 12 participants with chronic shoulder pain (symptomatic group) and 12 without shoulder pain (asymptomatic group), the H reflex was evoked in all trapezius muscle parts, through C3/4 nerve stimulation, and the M-wave through accessory nerve stimulation. The current intensity to evoke the maximum H reflex, the latency and the maximum peak-to-peak amplitude of both the H reflex and M-wave, as well as the ratio between these two variables, were calculated. The percentage of responses was considered. Overall, M-waves were elicited in most participants, while the H reflex was elicited only in 58-75% or in 42-58% of the asymptomatic and symptomatic participants, respectively. A comparison between groups revealed that the symptomatic group presented a smaller maximum H reflex as a percentage of M-wave from upper trapezius and longer maximal H reflex latency from the lower trapezius (p < 0.05). Subjects with chronic shoulder pain present changes in trapezius H reflex parameters, highlighting the need to consider trapezius neuromuscular control in these individuals' rehabilitation.

2023

Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases

Authors
Koprinska, I; Mignone, P; Guidotti, R; Jaroszewicz, S; Fröning, H; Gullo, F; Ferreira, PM; Roqueiro, D; Ceddia, G; Nowaczyk, S; Gama, J; Ribeiro, R; Gavaldà, R; Masciari, E; Ras, Z; Ritacco, E; Naretto, F; Theissler, A; Biecek, P; Verbeke, W; Schiele, G; Pernkopf, F; Blott, M; Bordino, I; Danesi, IL; Ponti, G; Severini, L; Appice, A; Andresini, G; Medeiros, I; Graça, G; Cooper, L; Ghazaleh, N; Richiardi, J; Saldana, D; Sechidis, K; Canakoglu, A; Pido, S; Pinoli, P; Bifet, A; Pashami, S;

Publication
Communications in Computer and Information Science

Abstract

2023

Interpreting Deep Machine Learning Models: An Easy Guide for Oncologists

Authors
Amorim, JP; Abreu, PH; Fernandez, A; Reyes, M; Santos, J; Abreu, MH;

Publication
IEEE REVIEWS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Abstract
Healthcare agents, in particular in the oncology field, are currently collecting vast amounts of diverse patient data. In this context, some decision-support systems, mostly based on deep learning techniques, have already been approved for clinical purposes. Despite all the efforts in introducing artificial intelligence methods in the workflow of clinicians, its lack of interpretability - understand how the methods make decisions - still inhibits their dissemination in clinical practice. The aim of this article is to present an easy guide for oncologists explaining how these methods make decisions and illustrating the strategies to explain them. Theoretical concepts were illustrated based on oncological examples and a literature review of research works was performed from PubMed between January 2014 to September 2020, using deep learning techniques, interpretability and oncology as keywords. Overall, more than 60% are related to breast, skin or brain cancers and the majority focused on explaining the importance of tumor characteristics (e.g. dimension, shape) in the predictions. The most used computational methods are multilayer perceptrons and convolutional neural networks. Nevertheless, despite being successfully applied in different cancers scenarios, endowing deep learning techniques with interpretability, while maintaining their performance, continues to be one of the greatest challenges of artificial intelligence.

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