Geological realism in hydrogeological and geophysical inverse modeling: A review

Scientific curiosity, exploration of georesources and environmental concerns are pushing the geoscientific research community toward subsurface investigations of ever-increasing complexity. This review explores various approaches to formulate and solve inverse problems in ways that effectively integrate geological concepts with geophysical and hydrogeological data. Modern geostatistical simulation algorithms can produce multiple subsurface realizations that are in agreement with conceptual geological models and statistical rock physics can be used to map these realizations into physical properties that are sensed by the geophysical or hydrogeological data. The inverse problem consists of finding one or an ensemble of such subsurface realizations that are in agreement with the data. The most general inversion frameworks are presently often computationally intractable when applied to large-scale problems and it is necessary to better understand the implications of simplifying (1) the conceptual geological model (e.g., using model compression); (2) the physical forward problem (e.g., using proxy models); and (3) the algorithm used to solve the inverse problem (e.g., Markov chain Monte Carlo or local optimization methods) to reach practical and robust solutions given today's computer resources and knowledge. We also highlight the need to not only use geophysical and hydrogeological data for parameter estimation purposes, but also to use them to falsify or corroborate alternative geological scenarios.

Natal qual é a sua cara?: análise do perfil edilício da avenida Eng. Roberto Freire (Natal/RN) à luz da acessibilidade

This study focuses on the building ensemble of Avenida Roberto Freire, a main road in Natal, Brazil, as a material expression of the confluence of various factors among which the following may be emphasized: high level of accessibility due to urban spatial re-structuring and the growth of the real estate market, in view of the increasing number of consumers, who arrived in Natal within the last decades. The intense urban modification process that has been going on in Natal since at least the 1980s, has engendered the formation of long axial lines which express the expansion dynamics and some of the forces subjacent to it. Avenida Roberto Freire has been an iconic example of an urban thoroughfare where architecture becomes primarily a communication support that can be perceived by fast moving passers-by, what brings it close to the venturian concept of strip (Venturi at al, 1972). The building types that line the road not only respond to the dynamics in process but also contribute to intensify it, as they house a variety of uses which attract people and generate more movement. The dynamics is further strengthened by the action of the real estate business which benefits from the increase of highly accessible locations, and from the private and public investments and incentives to tourism that aim to insert this city into the globalized world. Although the intention of reconstituting part of the history of density increase on this avenue in a diachronical perspective was attempted within the limits of the available references and documentation, the central contribution of this study is to understand the relations between topological accessibility and the typological nature of the building ensemble. By observing the synchronic morphological frame resulting from the spatial configuration analysis pertinent to this avenue (cf. Hillier and Hanson,1984) and the inventory and classification of the building ensemble there existing, this study aims to understand how architecture responds to accessibility in view of the real estate pressure, boosted by a cosmopolitanizing process brought about by the continuous flow of foreign and Brazilian arrivals as visitors, temporary or permanent residents

Dimensionamento automático de pilares de betão armado aplicando o método da capacidade real

Dissertação de Mestrado, Engenharia Civil, Especialização em Estruturas, Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

Os Fragmentos 19 e 20 dos Systementwürfe 1803/1804, de G.W.F. Hegel : introdução e tradução

O objetivo deste trabalho é traduzir e apresentar os fragmentos 19 e 20 dos Esboços de Sistema de Jena, escritos por Hegel entre 1803 e 1804. Primeiramente, farei uma rápida consideração do significado filosófico desses fragmentos, os quais tratam, desde a peculiar concepção hegeliana da consciência como espírito, da razão teórica e da razão prática como equivalentes, respectivamente, à linguagem e ao trabalho. Procuro sublinhar essa relevância filosófica a partir da interpretação habermasiana dos fragmentos, a qual lhes conferiu notoriedade como tentativa de reconstrução do materialismo histórico. A partir desta breve contextualização, apresenta-se, a seguir, uma tradução para o português dos mencionados fragmentos. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

Reconstructing the last interglacial at Summit, Greenland: Insights from GISP2

The Eemian (last interglacial, 130-115 ka) was likely the warmest of all interglacials of the last 800 ka, with summer Arctic temperatures 3-5 degrees C above present. Here, we present improved Eemian climate records from central Greenland, reconstructed from the base of the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2) ice core. Our record comes from clean, stratigraphically disturbed, and isotopically warm ice from 2,750 to 3,040 m depth. The age of this ice is constrained by measuring CH_4 and delta O^18 of O_2, and comparing with the historical record of these properties from the North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP) and North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) ice cores. The d^18 O_ice, d^15N of N_2, and total air content for samples dating discontinuously from 128 to 115 ka indicate a warming of similar to 6 degrees C between 127-121 ka, and a similar elevation history between GISP2 and NEEM. The reconstructed climate and elevation histories are compared with an ensemble of coupled climate-ice-sheet model simulations of the Greenland ice sheet. Those most consistent with the reconstructed temperatures indicate that the Greenland ice sheet contributed 5.1 m (4.1-6.2 m, 95% credible interval) to global eustatic sea level toward the end of the Eemian. Greenland likely did not contribute to anomalously high sea levels at ~127 ka, or to a rapid jump in sea level at ~120 ka. However, several unexplained discrepancies remain between the inferred and simulated histories of temperature and accumulation rate at GISP2 and NEEM, as well as between the climatic reconstructions themselves.

Recensement cartographique des anciens cours d’eau de l’île de Montréal et tracé des creux et des crêtes

Pdf en couleur au format 119 x 84 cm, échelle 1:10.000 et 1:50.000

Recensement cartographique des anciens cours d’eau de l’île de Montréal et tracé des creux et des crêtes

Pdf en couleur au format 119 x 84 cm, échelle 1:10.000 et 1:50.000

Os tímpanos como instrumento solista no contexto da percussão de altura definida

Com este projecto pretende-se abordar uma vertente no estudo dos Tímpanos que, ao longo da sua história, tem sido marginal, relativamente à sua utilização "normal" de instrumento de orquestra - A utilização de Tímpanos como instrumento solista, especialmente na situação de solista não concertista. Para a persecução deste objectivo será traçada a trajectória evolutiva do instrumento ao longo da História da Música, tanto do ponto de vista das suas características de construção como da sua utilização pelos compositores ao longo do tempo. Não pode, por isso, deixar de ser feita uma abordagem da utilização dos Tímpanos em Orquestra, pois foi a utilização orquestral o "motor" da evolução do instrumento. Em complemento ao atrás enunciado, será igualmente desenvolvido o tema das preocupações de respeito pelo contexto histórico aplicado ao caso específico dos Tímpanos. Será igualmente feita uma tentativa de identificação de existência de exemplares antigos em Bandas de Música amadoras, através da realização de um inquérito. Por fim será traçado o quadro geral da utilização dos Tímpanos em Portugal nos dias de hoje. Atenção especial será dada a composições onde o objecto de estudo deste projecto está, mais directamente, em evidência. É este o caso de Marche (1685) dos irmãos Philidor, de um conjunto de Concertos e Sinfonias para múltiplos Tímpanos do final do século XVIII e das Eight Pieces for Four Timpani (1950/1966) de Elliott Carter. No caso da Marche será feita uma pequena análise e realizada uma edição moderna. No caso das peças para Tímpanos de Elliott Carter, será analisada com mais profundidade a peça Moto Perpetuo. Até ao final do século XVIII os Tímpanos foram, quase exclusivamente, os únicos instrumentos de Percussão usados na Música Erudita Ocidental. A partir do século XIX a secção da Percussão foi enriquecida com inúmeros novos elementos. Entre eles, novos instrumentos de Percussão de altura definida a que os Tímpanos pertencem. Será, tal como para os Tímpanos, traçado o seu trajecto de evolução e assim será completado o quadro actual da Percussão de altura definida. O Recital concretiza os principais pontos explorados no trabalho escrito, através da apresentação de um conjunto de obras apresentadas por ordem cronológica: -Marche de André e Jacques Philidor (1685) - Eight Pieces for Four Timpani de Elliott Carter (1950/1966) (March, Saeta, Moto Perpetuo, Recitative) - Concerto pour Percussion et Orquestre de André Jolivet (1958) (andamentos I, II e III) - OMAR Due pezzi per Vibrafono de Franco Donatoni (1985) ABSTRACT: Investigate the marginal use of the Timpani as a solo instrument is the main object of this study. ln order to achieve this main goal, we will point out the evolution of the instrument along Music History. We will focus both: the main characteristics of its construction and the way they have been used by composers. Bearing these facts in mind, we will also center our attention on the way that Timpani have been used at Orchestras, which had certainly leaded to the development of the instrument we are studying. At the same time, we will study historical respect and performance, by contextualizing the different historical periods of Timpani. It is also important to have information about the quantity of Timpani used at amateur musical bands in Portugal, mainly in what concerns ancient instruments. These elements will allow us to draw a general idea about the way Timpani are used in Portugal. ln order to have concrete examples of the Timpani as a solo instrument, we will analyze the following compositions: Marche de Timba/les (1685) by André and Jacques Philidor; The ensemble of Concerts and Symphonies for multiple Timpani from the end of the XVIIIth century; The Eight Pieces for Four Timpani (1950/1966) by Elliott Carter. Bearing in mind that other Defined Pitch Percussion Instruments have emerged at the beginning of the XIXth century, we will also study the evolution of those instruments. The Recital will materialize the main aspects we have focused at our written work and already mentioned above. The presentation will follow a chronological sequence as indicated: Marche de Timballes by André and Jacques Philidor (1685) Eight Pieces for Four Timpani by Elliott Carter (1950/1966) (March, Saeta, Moto Perpetuo, Recitative) - Concerto pour Percussion et Orquestre by André Jolivet (1958) (Movements I, II, III) Omar Due Pezzi per Vibrafono by Franco Donatoni (1985)

Evapotranspiration: Present and Future Challenges

The thesis first explored and evaluated some of the most used models that were developed to account for the effect of CO2 on evapotranspiration. This review depicts the complexity of the modeling procedure and underlines the advantages and shortcomings of each model. Then, the projected climate change in the near future (2021-2050) in different locations in Emilia-Romagna (Italy) was studied, with an emphasis on the opposite effect of an increase in both air temperature and CO2 levels on ETo. The case study used reanalysis data as a surrogate to historical weather stations measurements and an ensemble of regional climate models (RCMs) for the future projections. Results show that higher CO2 levels moderated the increase in ETo that accompanies an increase in air temperature, taking in consideration the change in other weather variables i.e. solar radiation, wind speed and dew point temperature. The outcomes of this study show that considering the CO2 fertilization effect when calculating reference evapotranspiration might give a more realistic estimation of water use efficiency and irrigation requirements in Emilia-Romagna and a better analysis of the future availability and distribution of water resources in the region. Finally, data from a model forecasting reference evapotranspiration (FRET) and the different variables involved in its calculation for the state of California (USA) were compared with similar data from the regional weather station network (CIMIS) to evaluate their accuracy and reliability. The evaluation was done in locations with different microclimates and included also sample irrigation schedules developed using FRET ETo. The obtained results demonstrate that FRET ETo forecasts are a viable alternative to traditional ETo measurements with some differences depending on the climatic condition of the location considered in this study. This implies that FRET could be replicated in other areas with similar climate settings.

A take on complexity: bio-molecules and human metabolism interaction modelling for health and nutrition with machine learning

The advent of omic data production has opened many new perspectives in the quest for modelling complexity in biophysical systems. With the capability of characterizing a complex organism through the patterns of its molecular states, observed at different levels through various omics, a new paradigm of investigation is arising. In this thesis, we investigate the links between perturbations of the human organism, described as the ensemble of crosstalk of its molecular states, and health. Machine learning plays a key role within this picture, both in omic data analysis and model building. We propose and discuss different frameworks developed by the author using machine learning for data reduction, integration, projection on latent features, pattern analysis, classification and clustering of omic data, with a focus on 1H NMR metabolomic spectral data. The aim is to link different levels of omic observations of molecular states, from nanoscale to macroscale, to study perturbations such as diseases and diet interpreted as changes in molecular patterns. The first part of this work focuses on the fingerprinting of diseases, linking cellular and systemic metabolomics with genomic to asses and predict the downstream of perturbations all the way down to the enzymatic network. The second part is a set of frameworks and models, developed with 1H NMR metabolomic at its core, to study the exposure of the human organism to diet and food intake in its full complexity, from epidemiological data analysis to molecular characterization of food structure.

Urban air quality: new high-resolution modeling approaches and forecasting tools for citizens

Air pollution is one of the greatest health risks in the world. At the same time, the strong correlation with climate change, as well as with Urban Heat Island and Heat Waves, make more intense the effects of all these phenomena. A good air quality and high levels of thermal comfort are the big goals to be reached in urban areas in coming years. Air quality forecast help decision makers to improve air quality and public health strategies, mitigating the occurrence of acute air pollution episodes. Air quality forecasting approaches combine an ensemble of models to provide forecasts from global to regional air pollution and downscaling for selected countries and regions. The development of models dedicated to urban air quality issues requires a good set of data regarding the urban morphology and building material characteristics. Only few examples of air quality forecast system at urban scale exist in the literature and often they are limited to selected cities. This thesis develops by setting up a methodology for the development of a forecasting tool. The forecasting tool can be adapted to all cities and uses a new parametrization for vegetated areas. The parametrization method, based on aerodynamic parameters, produce the urban spatially varying roughness. At the core of the forecasting tool there is a dispersion model (urban scale) used in forecasting mode, and the meteorological and background concentration forecasts provided by two regional numerical weather forecasting models. The tool produces the 1-day spatial forecast of NO2, PM10, O3 concentration, the air temperature, the air humidity and BLQ-Air index values. The tool is automatized to run every day, the maps produced are displayed on the e-Globus platform, updated every day. The results obtained indicate that the forecasting output were in good agreement with the observed measurements.

Misura della non-linearità nella risposta dello scintillatore GAGG:Ce per la missione HERMES

HERMES (High Energy Rapid Modular Ensemble of Satellites) è una missione basata su una costellazione di nano-satelliti in orbita terrestre bassa, ospitanti rivelatori di raggi X e gamma, avente l'obiettivo di indagare l'emissione di Gamma Ray Burst (GRB). Si tratta di un insieme di spettrografi ad alta risoluzione temporale, attivi nella banda 3–2000 keV, che operando congiuntamente sono in grado di localizzare eventi transienti. Questo esperimento fornirà un metodo veloce e complementare alla rivelazione di onde gravitazionali per l'osservazione di eventi brillanti come i GRB nell'ambito dell'astrofisica multimessaggero. Il rivelatore di ogni nano-satellite di HERMES è composto da Silicon Drift Deterctors (SDD) collegati otticamente a cristalli scintillatori di tipo GAGG:Ce. Il GAGG:Ce è uno scintillatore inorganico di nuova generazione (sviluppato attorno al 2012). L'obiettivo di questa tesi è studiare la risposta, in termini di ampiezza assoluta e uscita luce, del GAGG:Ce accoppiato a una SDD, concentrandosi nello studio della risposta non lineare dello scintillatore, dovuta al K-edge del gadolinio all'energia di 50.23 keV, per contribuire all'ottimizzazione della calibrazione strumentale per il satellite HERMES. Per l'esperimento sono stati usati tre diversi campioni di scintillatore GAGG:Ce. L'esperimento si è basato sull'osservazione di sorgenti radioattive di calibrazione e di un fascio monocromatico di fotoni X, prodotto attraverso il generatore disponibile presso la facility LARIX-A dell'Università di Ferrara, con un rivelatore composto dallo scintillatore in analisi letto con una SDD. L'intervallo di energie scelto per il fascio monocromatico è di 20-160 keV, mentre i radioisotopi consentono di acquisire dati anche ad energie maggiori. La risposta dello scintillatore è stata quindi studiata dalla minima energia rivelabile (20-40 keV) all'energia della riga del 137Cs a 661.65 keV.

Sensitivity and specificity of machine learning classifiers for glaucoma diagnosis using Spectral Domain OCT and standard automated perimetry

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of machine learning classifiers (MLCs) for glaucoma diagnosis using Spectral Domain OCT (SD-OCT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP). METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study. Sixty two glaucoma patients and 48 healthy individuals were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, achromatic standard automated perimetry (SAP) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) imaging with SD-OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, California). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained for all SD-OCT parameters and global indices of SAP. Subsequently, the following MLCs were tested using parameters from the SD-OCT and SAP: Bagging (BAG), Naive-Bayes (NB), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Radial Basis Function (RBF), Random Forest (RAN), Ensemble Selection (ENS), Classification Tree (CTREE), Ada Boost M1(ADA),Support Vector Machine Linear (SVML) and Support Vector Machine Gaussian (SVMG). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (aROC) obtained for isolated SAP and OCT parameters were compared with MLCs using OCT+SAP data. RESULTS: Combining OCT and SAP data, MLCs' aROCs varied from 0.777(CTREE) to 0.946 (RAN).The best OCT+SAP aROC obtained with RAN (0.946) was significantly larger the best single OCT parameter (p<0.05), but was not significantly different from the aROC obtained with the best single SAP parameter (p=0.19). CONCLUSION: Machine learning classifiers trained on OCT and SAP data can successfully discriminate between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. The combination of OCT and SAP measurements improved the diagnostic accuracy compared with OCT data alone.

Ensemble classifiers in remote sensing: a comparative analysis

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Deformed Gaussian-orthogonal-ensemble description of small-world networks

The study of spectral behavior of networks has gained enthusiasm over the last few years. In particular, random matrix theory (RMT) concepts have proven to be useful. In discussing transition from regular behavior to fully chaotic behavior it has been found that an extrapolation formula of the Brody type can be used. In the present paper we analyze the regular to chaotic behavior of small world (SW) networks using an extension of the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble. This RMT ensemble, coined the deformed Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (DGOE), supplies a natural foundation of the Brody formula. SW networks follow GOE statistics until a certain range of eigenvalue correlations depending upon the strength of random connections. We show that for these regimes of SW networks where spectral correlations do not follow GOE beyond a certain range, DGOE statistics models the correlations very well. The analysis performed in this paper proves the utility of the DGOE in network physics, as much as it has been useful in other physical systems.