Assessment of urban parameterizations in the WRF model for air quality modelling purposes in Madrid (Spain)

This study aims to assess the performance or multi-layer canopy parameterizations implemented in the mesoscale WRF model in order to understand their potential contribution to improve the description of energy fluxes and wind fields in the Madrid city. It was found that the Building Energy Model (BEP+BEM) parameterization yielded better results than the bulk standard scheme implemented in the Noah LSM, but very close to those of the Building Energy Parameterization (BEP). The later was deemed as the best option since data requirements and CPU time were smaller. Two annual runs were made to feed the CMAQ chemical-transport model to assess the impact of this feature in routinely air quality modelling activities.

Cytoskeletal microdifferentiation: A mechanism for organizing morphological plasticity in dendrites

Experimental evidence suggests that microfilaments and microtubules play contrasting roles in regulating the balance between motility and stability in neuronal structures. Actin-containing microfilaments are associated with structural plasticity, both during development when their dynamic activity drives the exploratory activity of growth cones and after circuit formation when the actin-rich dendritic spines of excitatory synapses retain a capacity for rapid changes in morphology. By contrast, microtubules predominate in axonal and dendritic processes, which appear to be morphologically relatively more stable. To compare the cytoplasmic distributions and dynamics of microfilaments and microtubules we made time-lapse recordings of actin or the microtubule-associated protein 2 tagged with green fluorescent protein in neurons growing in dispersed culture or in tissue slices from transgenic mice. The results complement existing evidence indicating that the high concentrations of actin present in dendritic spines is a specialization for morphological plasticity. By contrast, microtubule-associated protein 2 is limited to the shafts of dendrites where time-lapse recordings show little evidence for dynamic activity. A parallel exists between the partitioning of microfilaments and microtubules in motile and stable domains of growing processes during development and between dendrite shafts and spines at excitatory synapses in established neuronal circuits. These data thus suggest a mechanism, conserved through development and adulthood, in which the differential dynamics of actin and microtubules determine the plasticity of neuronal structures.

Aplicação de mapas auto-organizáveis na classificação de padrões de escoamento bifásico

O escoamento bifásico de gás-líquido é encontrado em muitos circuitos fechados que utilizam circulação natural para fins de resfriamento. O fenômeno da circulação natural é importante nos recentes projetos de centrais nucleares para a remoção de calor. O circuito de circulação natural (Circuito de Circulação Natural - CCN), instalado no Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN / CNEN, é um circuito experimento concebido para fornecer dados termo-hidráulicos relacionados com escoamento monofásico ou bifásico em condições de circulação natural. A estimativa de transferência de calor tem sido melhorada com base em modelos que requerem uma previsão precisa de transições de padrão de escoamento. Este trabalho apresenta testes experimentais desenvolvidos no CCN para a visualização dos fenômenos de instabilidade em ciclos de circulação natural básica e classificar os padrões de escoamento bifásico associados aos transientes e instabilidades estáticas de escoamento. As imagens são comparadas e agrupadas utilizando mapas auto-organizáveis de Kohonen (SOM), aplicados em diferentes características da imagem digital. Coeficientes da Transformada Discreta de Cossenos de Quadro Completo (FFDCT) foram utilizados como entrada para a tarefa de classificação, levando a bons resultados. Os protótipos de FFDCT obtidos podem ser associados a cada padrão de escoamento possibilitando uma melhor compreensão da instabilidade observada. Uma metodologia sistemática foi utilizada para verificar a robustez do método.

COMPENDIUM: a text summarisation tool for generating summaries of multiple purposes, domains, and genres

In this paper, we present a Text Summarisation tool, compendium, capable of generating the most common types of summaries. Regarding the input, single- and multi-document summaries can be produced; as the output, the summaries can be extractive or abstractive-oriented; and finally, concerning their purpose, the summaries can be generic, query-focused, or sentiment-based. The proposed architecture for compendium is divided in various stages, making a distinction between core and additional stages. The former constitute the backbone of the tool and are common for the generation of any type of summary, whereas the latter are used for enhancing the capabilities of the tool. The main contributions of compendium with respect to the state-of-the-art summarisation systems are that (i) it specifically deals with the problem of redundancy, by means of textual entailment; (ii) it combines statistical and cognitive-based techniques for determining relevant content; and (iii) it proposes an abstractive-oriented approach for facing the challenge of abstractive summarisation. The evaluation performed in different domains and textual genres, comprising traditional texts, as well as texts extracted from the Web 2.0, shows that compendium is very competitive and appropriate to be used as a tool for generating summaries.

Constrained self-organizing feature map to preserve feature extraction topology

In many classification problems, it is necessary to consider the specific location of an n-dimensional space from which features have been calculated. For example, considering the location of features extracted from specific areas of a two-dimensional space, as an image, could improve the understanding of a scene for a video surveillance system. In the same way, the same features extracted from different locations could mean different actions for a 3D HCI system. In this paper, we present a self-organizing feature map able to preserve the topology of locations of an n-dimensional space in which the vector of features have been extracted. The main contribution is to implicitly preserving the topology of the original space because considering the locations of the extracted features and their topology could ease the solution to certain problems. Specifically, the paper proposes the n-dimensional constrained self-organizing map preserving the input topology (nD-SOM-PINT). Features in adjacent areas of the n-dimensional space, used to extract the feature vectors, are explicitly in adjacent areas of the nD-SOM-PINT constraining the neural network structure and learning. As a study case, the neural network has been instantiate to represent and classify features as trajectories extracted from a sequence of images into a high level of semantic understanding. Experiments have been thoroughly carried out using the CAVIAR datasets (Corridor, Frontal and Inria) taken into account the global behaviour of an individual in order to validate the ability to preserve the topology of the two-dimensional space to obtain high-performance classification for trajectory classification in contrast of non-considering the location of features. Moreover, a brief example has been included to focus on validate the nD-SOM-PINT proposal in other domain than the individual trajectory. Results confirm the high accuracy of the nD-SOM-PINT outperforming previous methods aimed to classify the same datasets.

World Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans, 1899 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Bathymetrical chart of the oceans, showing the "deeps" according to Sir John Murray. It was published by the Royal Geographical Society in 1899. Scale [ca. 1:100,000,000]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the 'World Gall Stereographic' projection with the central meridian at 20.00000 degrees west. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by hypsometric tints. Depths shown by gradient tints. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Atmospheric Temperature Isotherms (January), 1884 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Karte der Januar-Isotherme. It is part of a two map set: [Karten der Isothermen, von Alexander Supan]. It was published by Ed. Holzel in 1884. Scale [ca. 1:110,000,000]. Map in German. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to a non-standard 'Mercator' projection with the central meridian at 17.666 degrees west. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, selected cities, shoreline features, and more. Isotherms are shown at 2 degree intervals for January. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Atmospheric Temperature Isotherms (July), 1884 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Karte der Juli-Isothermen. It is part of a two map set: [Karten der Isothermen, von Alexander Supan]. It was published by Ed. Holzel in 1884. Scale [ca. 1:110,000,000]. Map in German. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to a non-standard 'Mercator' projection with the central meridian at 17.666 degrees west. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, selected cities, shoreline features, and more. Isotherms are shown at 2 degree intervals for July. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Map Showing Geomagnetic Meridians and Parallels, 1849 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Wachsende Karte der Magnetischen Meridiane und Parallelen : Gegründet auf die Beobachtungen der Declination welche sämmtlich auf das Jahr 1825 reducirt worden sind, von dem Schiffs Kapitain L. I. Duperrey. It was published by Stablstich (diretion v. Kleinecht) aus der Schweinfurter Geographischen Graviranstalt de Bibliographischen Instituts in [1849]. Scale [ca. 1:190,000,000]. Map in German. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to a non-standard 'Mercator' projection with the central meridian at 180 degrees west. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as geomagnetic meridians, parallels, and magnetic declination, selected cities and other human settlements, shoreline features, and more. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Map, 1725 (Image 1 of 2) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Carte generale de toutes les costes du Monde : et les pays nouvellement decouvert, dressé sur les relations les plus nouvelles et principalement sur le carte que Monsieur N. Witsen à donnée au public. It was published by Iean Cóvens et Corneille Mortier Libraires in [1725]. Scale [ca. 1:450,000]. This layer is image 1 of 2 total images of the two sheet source map representing the western portion of the map. Text in French. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the 'World Mercator' projection. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Map Showing Isodynamic Lines, 1849 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Darstellung der isodynamischen Linien : nach den Beobachtungen der magnetischen Intensität, die in den Jahren 1790 bis 1830 gemacht worden sind, Namen der Beobachter: De Rossel, A. v. Humboldt, Sabine, Hansteen, Duperrey, Keilhau u. Boeck, Keilhau, Litke, King, Due, Erman, Kupffer. Die vorlieg. Darstellung ist von Duperry, Kapitain der französ. Marine, entworfen. It was published by [Stablstich (diretion v. Kleinecht) aus der Schweinfurter Geographischen Graviranstalt de Bibliographischen Instituts] in [1849]. Scale [ca. 1:190,000,000]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to a non-standard 'Mercator' projection with the central meridian at 180 degrees west. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as geomagnetic isodynamic lines, selected cities and other human settlements, shoreline features, and more. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Map, ca. 1774 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: An accurate chart of the world with the new discoveries : also a view of the general &c coasting trade winds, monsoons or shifting trade winds & the variations of the compass ; from the latest and best authorities by T. Kitchin, Geographer for the Lond. Mag. It was published ca. 1774. Scale [ca. 1:90,000,000]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the 'World Mercator' projection. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, trade winds, magnetic variations, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown pictorially. Includes text and notes. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Map Showing Routes of Exploration and Discovery, 1790 (Image 1 of 8) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Chart of the world on Mercators projection : exhibiting all the new discoveries to the present time, with the tracks of the most distinguished navigators since the year 1700 carefully collected from the best charts, maps, voyages, &c. extant and regulated from the accurate astronomical observations made in three voyages performed under the command of Captn. James Cook in the years 1768, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 & 80, compiled and published by A. Arrowsmith, geographer; by permission of Simon McTavish Esq[r] is correctly delineated the discoveries of Mr. McKenzie laid down from his original journal in the year 1789. It was published by A. Arrowsmith, April 1, 1790. Scale [ca. 1:20,000,000]. This layer is image 1 of 8 total images of the seven sheet source map. Covers portions of eastern Asia, Siberia, Russia, Pacific Islands, and western portions of Canada and the United States including Alaska. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to a non-standard 'World Mercator' projection, with the central meridian at 180 degrees west. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. Note: The central meridian of this map is not the same as the Prime Meridian and may wrap the International Date Line or overlap itself when displayed in GIS software. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Depths shown by soundings. Includes routes, locations, and dates of James Cook's voyages. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

World Map Showing Routes of Exploration and Discovery, 1790 (Image 2 of 8) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Chart of the world on Mercators projection : exhibiting all the new discoveries to the present time, with the tracks of the most distinguished navigators since the year 1700 carefully collected from the best charts, maps, voyages, &c. extant and regulated from the accurate astronomical observations made in three voyages performed under the command of Captn. James Cook in the years 1768, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 & 80, compiled and published by A. Arrowsmith, geographer; by permission of Simon McTavish Esq[r] is correctly delineated the discoveries of Mr. McKenzie laid down from his original journal in the year 1789. It was published by A. Arrowsmith, April 1, 1790. Scale [ca. 1:20,000,000]. This layer is image 2 of 8 total images of the seven sheet source map. Covers portions of Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the 'World Mercator' projection. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Relief shown by hachures. Depths shown by soundings. Includes routes, locations, and dates of James Cook's voyages. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection and the Harvard University Library as part of the Open Collections Program at Harvard University project: Organizing Our World: Sponsored Exploration and Scientific Discovery in the Modern Age. Maps selected for the project correspond to various expeditions and represent a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.