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Publicações

2021

Simultaneous Calibration of Grapevine Phenology and Yield with a Soil-Plant-Atmosphere System Model Using the Frequentist Method

Autores
Yang, CY; Menz, C; Fraga, H; Reis, S; Machado, N; Malheiro, AC; Santos, JA;

Publicação
AGRONOMY-BASEL

Abstract
Reliable estimations of parameter values and associated uncertainties are crucial for crop model applications in agro-environmental research. However, estimating many parameters simultaneously for different types of response variables is difficult. This becomes more complicated for grapevines with different phenotypes between varieties and training systems. Our study aims to evaluate how a standard least square approach can be used to calibrate a complex grapevine model for simulating both the phenology (flowering and harvest date) and yield of four different variety-training systems in the Douro Demarcated Region, northern Portugal. An objective function is defined to search for the best-fit parameters that result in the minimum value of the unweighted sum of the normalized Root Mean Squared Error (nRMSE) of the studied variables. Parameter uncertainties are estimated as how a given parameter value can determine the total prediction variability caused by variations in the other parameter combinations. The results indicate that the best-estimated parameters show a satisfactory predictive performance, with a mean bias of -2 to 4 days for phenology and -232 to 159 kg/ha for yield. The corresponding variance in the observed data was generally well reproduced, except for one occasion. These parameters are a good trade-off to achieve results close to the best possible fit of each response variable. No parameter combinations can achieve minimum errors simultaneously for phenology and yield, where the best fit to one variable can lead to a poor fit to another. The proposed parameter uncertainty analysis is particularly useful to select the best-fit parameter values when several choices with equal performance occur. A global sensitivity analysis is applied where the fruit-setting parameters are identified as key determinants for yield simulations. Overall, the approach (including uncertainty analysis) is relatively simple and straightforward without specific pre-conditions (e.g., model continuity), which can be easily applied for other models and crops. However, a challenge has been identified, which is associated with the appropriate assumption of the model errors, where a combination of various calibration approaches might be essential to have a more robust parameter estimation.

2021

Enhanced Ultraviolet Spectroscopy by Optical Clearing for Biomedical Applications

Autores
Carneiro, I; Carvalho, S; Henrique, R; Selifonov, A; Oliveira, L; Tuchin, VV;

Publicação
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS

Abstract
In this paper, we describe the combination of ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy with the optical clearing technique to induce new tissue windows, evaluate their efficiency, study the diffusion properties of agents and discriminate cancer. The use of highly concentrated glycerol solutions has induced high efficiency clearing effects in the UV, both in human colorectal and gingival tissues. The protein dissociation rate obtained for colorectal tissues was approximately 3 times higher in pathological than in normal mucosa and the kinetics of diffuse reflectance in the UV allowed to estimate the diffusion coefficient for water in gingival mucosa at glycerol action as (1.78 +/- 0.26) x 10(-6) cm(2)/s.

2021

Housing situation of students during the COVID-19 pandemic – a case study from Poland and Portugal

Autores
Grzywinska-Rapca, M; Duarte, N; Janusz, M;

Publicação
Olsztyn Economic Journal

Abstract
The occurrence of the first illnesses of the inhabitants of Poland and Portugal caused decision-makers to introduce many changes in the functioning of economic units in various areas. This document aims to answer the questions of whether the changes related to the occurrence of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the housing situation of students by answering two questions: (1) How has the pandemic affected the change in the form of residence? (2) What changes in the provisions of the contract do students expect after returning to the full-time form? The empirical study was conducted based on data obtained from a survey. The research was conducted in May and June 2021 on a sample of 599 students at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and the School of Technology and Management of Porto Polytechnic in Portugal. The analysis related to the determination of statistically significant interdependencies of socio-demographic characteristics of respondents with their attitudes, and a multidimensional method of comparative analysis was used, known as correspondence analysis. As a method of recording data in the analysis of correspondence, the Burt matrix was used. The result of the statistical analysis was the identification of structural relationships between variables and objects (respondents). The results showed different behaviours related to housing conditions in Poland and Portugal. Polish students, due to the epidemiological situation, were mostly forced to change their place of residence, which was usually associated with returning to their family home. This trend was not observed for students in Portugal (median response: Housing had not been affected in any way by the pandemic).

2021

Delivering Critical Stimuli for Decision Making in VR Training: Evaluation Study of a Firefighter Training Scenario

Autores
Monteiro, P; Melo, M; Valente, A; Vasconcelos Raposo, J; Bessa, M;

Publicação
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HUMAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS

Abstract
The goal for a virtual reality (VR) training system is to enable trainees to acquire all the knowledge they need to perform effectively in a real environment. Such a system should provide an experience so authentic that no further real-world training is necessary, meaning that it is sufficient to train in VR. We evaluate the impact of a haptic thermal stimulus, which is of paramount importance to decision making, on trainees performance and knowledge acquisition. A thermal device was created to deliver the stimulus. As a proof of concept, a procedure from firefighter training is selected, in which sensing the temperature of a door with one's hand is essential. The sample consisted of 48 subjects divided among three experimental scenarios: one in which a virtual thermometer is used (visual stimulus), another in which the temperature is felt with the hand (thermal stimulus) and a third in which both methods are used (visual + thermal stimuli). For the performance evaluation, we measured the total time taken, the numbers of correctly executed procedures and identified neutral planes, the deviation from the target height, and the responses to a knowledge transfer questionnaire. Presence, cybersickness, and usability are measured to evaluate the impact of the haptic thermal stimulus. Considering the thermal stimulus condition as the baseline, we conclude that the significantly different results in the performance among the conditions indicate that the better performance in the visual-only condition is not representative of the real-life performance. Consequently, VR training applications need to deliver the correct stimuli for decision making.

2021

Force control heuristics for surpassing pose uncertainty in mobile robotic assembly platforms

Autores
Moutinho, D; Rebelo, P; Costa, C; Rocha, L; Veiga, G;

Publicação
2021 IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AUTONOMOUS ROBOT SYSTEMS AND COMPETITIONS (ICARSC)

Abstract
This paper presents a collaborative mobile manipulator assembly station, which uses force control to surpass the positional uncertainties arising from unstructured work environments and positional errors of the mobile platform. For this purpose, the use case of an internal combustion engine for the automotive industry was considered. Several force control heuristics relying on blind searches using oscillations and/or environment exploration were developed and implemented. Particular attention was given to the orientation errors of the mobile platform, as it was proved that they have a significant impact on the assembly task. The proposed heuristics showed great potential for the use case at hand. Particularly, when the orientation error of the platform is limited to +/- 2 degrees, the oscillation method complemented by environment exploration was able to surpass a maximum translation error of 32.3mm, whereas the environment exploration complemented by orientation correction was able to surpass an error of 73.3mm. Moreover, a generalization strategy was proposed, intending to expand the scope of the developed heuristics to other assembly applications.

2021

New metrology for radon at the environmental level

Autores
Rottger, A; Rottger, S; Grossi, C; Vargas, A; Curcoll, R; Otahal, P; Hernandez Ceballos, MA; Cinelli, G; Chambers, S; Barbosa, SA; Ioan, MR; Radulescu, I; Kikaj, D; Chung, ED; Arnold, T; Yver Kwok, C; Fuente, M; Mertes, F; Morosh, V;

Publicação
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Abstract
Radon gas is the largest source of public exposure to naturally occurring radioactivity. However, radon is also a useful tracer for understanding atmospheric processes, assessing the accuracy of chemical transport models, and enabling integrated emissions estimates of greenhouse gases. A sound metrological system for low level atmospheric radon observations is therefore needed for the benefit of the atmospheric, climate and radiation protection research communities. To this end, here we present a new calibration method for activity concentrations below 20 Bq m(-3) and a prototype of the first portable radon monitor capable of achieving uncertainties of 5% (at k = 2) at these concentrations. Compliance checking of policy-driven regulations regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is an essential component of climate change mitigation efforts. Independent, reliable 'top down' methods that can be applied consistently for estimating local- to regional-scale GHG emissions (such as the radon tracer method (RTM)) are an essential part of this process. The RTM relies upon observed radon and GHG concentrations and measured or modeled radon fluxes. Reliable radon flux maps could also significantly aid EU member states comply with European COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2013/59/EURATOM. This article also introduces the traceRadon project, key aims of which include outlining a standardized approach for application of the RTM, creating infrastructure with a traceability chain for radon concentration and radon flux measurements, and developing tools for the validation of radon flux models. Since radon progeny dominate the terrestrial gamma dose rate, the planned traceRadon activities are also expected to improve the sensitivity of radiation protection early warning networks because of the correlation known to exist between radon flux and ambient equivalent dose rates.

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