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Publications

2022

The spatial distribution and biogeochemical drivers of nitrogen cycle genes in an Antarctic desert

Authors
Pascoal, F; Areosa, I; Torgo, L; Branco, P; Baptista, MS; Lee, CK; Cary, SC; Magalhaes, C;

Publication
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY

Abstract
Antarctic deserts, such as the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), represent extremely cold and dry environments. Consequently, MDV are suitable for studying the environment limits on the cycling of key elements that are necessary for life, like nitrogen. The spatial distribution and biogeochemical drivers of nitrogen-cycling pathways remain elusive in the Antarctic deserts because most studies focus on specific nitrogen-cycling genes and/or organisms. In this study, we analyzed metagenome and relevant environmental data of 32 MDV soils to generate a complete picture of the nitrogen-cycling potential in MDV microbial communities and advance our knowledge of the complexity and distribution of nitrogen biogeochemistry in these harsh environments. We found evidence of nitrogen-cycling genes potentially capable of fully oxidizing and reducing molecular nitrogen, despite the inhospitable conditions of MDV. Strong positive correlations were identified between genes involved in nitrogen cycling. Clear relationships between nitrogen-cycling pathways and environmental parameters also indicate abiotic and biotic variables, like pH, water availability, and biological complexity that collectively impose limits on the distribution of nitrogen-cycling genes. Accordingly, the spatial distribution of nitrogen-cycling genes was more concentrated near the lakes and glaciers. Association rules revealed non-linear correlations between complex combinations of environmental variables and nitrogen-cycling genes. Association rules for the presence of denitrification genes presented a distinct combination of environmental variables from the remaining nitrogen-cycling genes. This study contributes to an integrative picture of the nitrogen-cycling potential in MDV.

2022

A Machine Learning-based Vulnerability Analysis for Cascading Failures of Integrated Power-Gas Systems

Authors
Li, S; Ding, T; Jia, WH; Huang, C; Catalao, JPS; Li, FX;

Publication
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER SYSTEMS

Abstract
This paper proposes a cascading failure simulation (CFS) method and a hybrid machine learning method for vulnerability analysis of integrated power-gas systems (IPGSs). The CFS method is designed to study the propagating process of cascading failures between the two systems, generating data for machine learning with initial states randomly sampled. The proposed method considers generator and gas well ramping, transmission line and gas pipeline tripping, island issue handling and load shedding strategies. Then, a hybrid machine learning model with a combined random forest (RF) classification and regression algorithms is proposed to investigate the impact of random initial states on the vulnerability metrics of IPGSs. Extensive case studies are carried out on three test IPGSs to verify the proposed models and algorithms. Simulation results show that the proposed models and algorithms can achieve high accuracy for the vulnerability analysis of IPGSs.

2022

Clinical 3-D gait assessment of patients with polyneuropathy associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (vol 11, 605282, 2020)

Authors
Vilas-Boas, MD; Rocha, AP; Cardoso, MN; Fernandes, JM; Coelho, T; Cunha, JPS;

Publication
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY

Abstract
In the published article, there was an error in Table 2 as published. The units of the Total body center of mass sway in x-axis (TBCMx) and y-axis (TBCMy) were shown in mm when they should be in cm. The corrected Table 2 and its caption appear below. In the published article, there was an error in Table 3 as published. The units of the Total body center of mass sway in x-axis (TBCMx) and y-axis (TBCMy) were shown in mm. The correct unit is cm. The corrected Table 3 and its caption appear below. In the published article, there was an error in Figure 3 as published. The units of the Total body center of mass sway in x-axis were shown in mm in the vertical axis of the plot. The correct unit is cm. The corrected Figure 3 and its caption appear below. In the published article, there was an error in Supplementary Table S.I. The units of the Total body center of mass sway in x-axis (TBCMx) and y-axis (TBCMy) were shown in mm. The correct unit is cm. The correct material statement appears below. In the published article, there was a mistake on the computation description of one of the assessed parameters (total body center of mass). A correction has been made to “Data Processing,” Paragraph 3: “For each gait cycle, we computed the 24 spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters listed in Table 2 and defined in (15). The total body center of mass (TBCM) sway was computed as the standard deviation of the distance (in the x/y-axis, i.e., medial-lateral and vertical directions) of the total body center of mass (TBCM), in relation to the RGBD sensor’s coordinate system, for all gait cycle frames. For each frame, TBCM’s position is the mean position of all body segments’ CM, which was obtained according to (21).” The authors apologize for these errors and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated. © 2022 Vilas-Boas, Rocha, Cardoso, Fernandes, Coelho and Cunha.

2022

Bragg Grating Tuning Techniques for Interferometry Applications

Authors
Dionísio, R;

Publication
Optical Interferometry - A Multidisciplinary Technique in Science and Engineering

Abstract
Fiber Bragg grating is widely used in optical fiber applications as a filter or a sensor due to its compact size and high sensitivity to physical conditions, such as temperature and strain. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the implementation and characterization of two tuning methods for optical fiber Bragg gratings, varying the temperature or the length of the fiber. Among the methods using mechanical deformation, compression of the fiber by bending a flexible sheet aggregated with the Bragg grating has shown very interesting tuning results, reaching 19.0 nm with minimum reflection bandwidth variation over the entire tuning range. Stretching the fiber has presented several drawbacks, including breaking of the fiber and a lower tuning range of 4.9 nm. Temperature tuning technique presents good linearity between tuning range and temperature variation but at the cost of a low tuning range (0.4 nm) and a permanent high current electrical source.

2022

Myope Models - Are face presentation attack detection models short-sighted?

Authors
Neto, PC; Sequeira, AF; Cardoso, JS;

Publication
2022 IEEE/CVF WINTER CONFERENCE ON APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER VISION WORKSHOPS (WACVW 2022)

Abstract

2022

Theories, constructs, and methodologies to study COVID-19 in the service industries

Authors
Cambra-Fierro, J; Gao, L; Melero-Polo, I; Patricio, L;

Publication
SERVICE INDUSTRIES JOURNAL

Abstract
Despite the wide variety of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the service industry, there is still a lack of an integrated systematized view of these multiple impacts. This study contributes to service research by identifying a variety of academic and managerial perspectives about the influence of COVID-19. We pay attention to the service industry, but with an especial focus on the tourism and hospitality industries, which have been more severely affected. This paper presents two multi-approach studies blending a systematic literature review (SLR) and a focus group methodology. Hence, it integrates and synthesizes the main results of the two studies considered to assist researchers and practitioners. It offers a complete overview of the state of the art and identifies three key service trends that have been accelerated by COVID-19: (1) the increasingly digital and autonomous customer; (2) the growing potential of data-driven services versus privacy concerns, and (3) the evolution from firm-centric to customer-centric and networked business models. Finally, this study provides relevant theoretical implications where we suggest relevant theories, constructs, and methodologies for future research to advance the current knowledge, and useful guidelines for business managers to better understand how to respond to market changes.

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