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Abstract Predicting oil well behavior regarding the integrity of its equipment during production and anticipating behavioral changes and anomalies are among the main challenges in oil production. In this context, this study focuses on the development of predictive models for real-time monitoring of well behavior using sensor data from production wells. An unsupervised Novelty and Outlier Detection model has been introduced with a specific focus on predicting instances of unexpected subsurface safety valve closures in subsea wells. This model effectively classifies anomalies observed in these systems by leveraging real-world pressure and temperature data sourced from published literature. The methodology involves the implementation of a floating window for assembling training and test sets. Additionally, a comprehensive investigation is conducted into the impact of hyperparameters and the model’s threshold value (cp threshold). The results highlight the effectiveness of the developed model, observed through the accuracy achieved around 99.9% in predicting spurious closure events of the Downhole Safety Valve. On the same dataset, previous works reported 99.9% accuracy by using long short-term memory (LSTM) autoencoder, 87.1% by using random forest, and 60% with the Decision Tree method. Looking at F1-SCORE values, the developed model performs the best, followed by the LSTM model, both of which are significantly superior to the Decision Tree and random forest models. Furthermore, the model’s applicability is validated through testing in ultradeep water subsea wells within the pre-salt area of the Santos Basin. The significance lies in the potential for this research to enhance anomaly prediction in offshore wells, consequently reducing the costly interventions due to equipment malfunctions. Timely detection and corrective actions, facilitated by the model, can mitigate production loss and safeguard well integrity, addressing critical concerns in the oil and gas industry.

The present study investigated the mediating effects of emotional intelligence and self-esteem between youth sports participation and life satisfaction, as well as the comparative effects of different types of sports involvement (team, individual, and non-participation) on these selected variables. A sample of 1053 Portuguese adolescents (612 girls and 441 boys), aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.40; SD = 1.55), completed the following self-report measures: the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The structural equation modeling results indicated a complete mediating role of two emotional intelligence dimensions (use of emotion and self-emotional appraisal) and self-esteem in the relationship between sports participation and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Team sport participants reported higher emotional intelligence and self-esteem scores than their non-sport participant counterparts who revealed lower levels of emotion use than their individual sport participant peers. These findings provide novel insights into the potential emotional and psychological mechanisms underlying the association between youth sports participation and life satisfaction.

Studying proteins associated with sex chromosomes can provide insights into sex-specific proteins. Membrane proteins accessible through the cell surface may serve as excellent targets for diagnostic, therapeutic, or even technological purposes, such as sperm sexing technologies. In this context, proteins encoded by sex chromosomes have the potential to become targets for X- or Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. Due to the limited availability of proteomic studies on rabbit spermatozoa and poorly annotated databases for rabbits compared to humans, a bioinformatic analysis of the available rabbit X chromosome proteome (RX), as well as the human X (HX) and Y (HY) chromosomes proteome, was conducted to identify potential targets that could be accessible from the cell surface and predict which of the potential targets identified in humans might also exist in rabbits. We identified 100, 211, and 3 proteins associated with the plasma membrane or cell surface for RX, HX, and HY, respectively, of which 61, 132, and 3 proteins exhibit potential as targets as they were predicted to be accessible from the cell surface. Cross-referencing the potential HX targets with the rabbit proteome revealed an additional 60 proteins with the potential to be RX targets, resulting in a total of 121 potential RX targets. In addition, at least 53 possible common HX and RX targets have been previously identified in human spermatozoa, emphasizing their potential as targets of X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. Further proteomic studies on rabbit sperm will be essential to identify and validate the usefulness of these proteins for application in rabbit sperm sorting techniques as targets of X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.

This study aims to investigate the potential association between serum levels of cytokines, HSP60, HSP70 and IR (HOMA-IR) in postmenopausal women. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 381 postmenopausal women, including 94 with a breast cancer diagnosis and 278 without. We analyzed anthropometric and laboratory measurements. Immunoassays were used to measure cytokines (TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6) as well as heat shock proteins (HSP) 60 and 70 in the serum using the ELISA technique. Women diagnosed with breast cancer showed higher levels of HOMA-IR, IL-6, TNF, and HSP60, and lower levels of IL-10 and HSP70 compared to women without cancer. An association was found between HSP70 and HOMA-IR only in women with breast cancer (β = 0.22, p =.030; without cancer: β = 0.04, p =.404), regardless of age, waist circumference, smoking, and physical activity. No associations were observed between cytokines, HSP60, and HOMA-IR in both groups of women. HSP70 is positively associated with IR in women diagnosed with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs and cats are potential sources of infection for some zoonotic diseases such as Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, a multiple host pathogen. Q fever outbreaks in dogs and cats have been related with parturition and abortion events, and ticks have a potential role in the transmission of this pathogen. This study aimed to screen for C. burnetii in dogs and cats, and in ticks collected from infested animals. An observational descriptive study was conducted in Portugal at two time points nine years apart, 2012 and 2021. Sera obtained from dogs and cats (total n = 294) were tested for C. burnetii antibodies using a commercial ELISA adapted for multi-species detection. C. burnetii DNA was screened by qPCR assay targeting IS1111 in uterine samples and in ticks. A decrease in the exposure to C. burnetii was observed in cats from 17.2% (95% CI: 5.8–35.8%) in 2012 to 0.0% in 2021, and in dogs from 12.6% (95% CI: 7.7–19.0%) in 2012 to 1.7% (95% CI: 0.3–9.1%) in 2021 (p < 0.05). Overall, and despite differences in the samples, rural habitat seems to favour the exposure to C. burnetii. The DNA of C. burnetii was not detected in ticks. The low seropositivity observed in 2021 and the absence of C. burnetii DNA in the tested samples, suggest that dogs and cats from Portugal are not often exposed to the pathogen. Nevertheless, the monitoring of C. burnetii infection in companion animals is an important tool to prevent human outbreaks, considering the zoonotic potential for owners and veterinarians contacting infected animals, mainly dogs and cats from rural areas which often come into contact with livestock.

This work aims to evaluate the starch/water concentrations (3.6%, 7.1%, 10.7% and 14.3%) effect of different commercial starch sources (namely cassava, maize, high-amylose maize, waxy maize and potato) regarding their pasting properties by using a Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA), gel strength, and intrinsic characteristics (such as morphology, granules size and distribution). The results showed that the 10.7% concentration (standard concentration usually used for evaluating starch properties) is not always predictive for the starches rheological behaviour. Meanwhile, the characteristics of the formed gels were not only related to RVA properties. For instance, decisions based on the results using the concentration of 10.7% can be far different from those used in industrial applications. The data reported can be useful to demonstrate how conditions, properties and starches characteristics are correlated, also to facilitate the selection of the best conditions that are closer to the desired application.

Ultrasound was combined with ethanol to improve different aspects of carrot convective drying, evaluating both processing and product quality. The ultrasound in water treatment resulted in cellular swelling and small impact on texture. Differently, the ultrasound in ethanol and ethanol treatments modified both carrot microstructure (cell wall modifications of parenchymatic tissue) and macrostructure (shrinkage and resistance to perforation). Pre-treatments with ultrasound in ethanol and ethanol improved the drying kinetics, reducing the processing time (~50%) and the energy consumption (42–62%). These pre-treatments also enhanced rehydration, whose initial rate and water retention were higher than the control. In addition, the carotenoid content was preserved after drying, for all the treatments. Any impact on shrinkage was observed. A mechanistic discussion, based on structural modification (microstructure and macrostructure) and physical properties of water and ethanol, was provided. As conclusion, this work not only described positive aspects of combining the technologies of ultrasound and ethanol as pre-treatments to convective drying, but also proposed mechanisms to explain the phenomena.

Em arquitetura o diálogo entre o arquiteto e o cliente e os utilizadores finais do espaço projetado é de extrema importância para a concretização de um projeto que responda às expetativas do utilizador. Desse diálogo deve fazer parte uma participação ativa do utilizador final no processo de conceção do projeto que vai aumentar o seu envolvimento com as propostas que se pretendem executar garantindo assim uma maior satisfação deste com o espaço. O presente estudo foi realizado em parceria com um cliente real, a Galp, e tem como foque a elaboração de um projeto de alteração de uma das suas lojas de conveniência, introduzindo novos conceitos para o espaço comercial. Para além da proposta de alterações pretendia-se consultar os utilizadores finais do espaço e avaliar a sua satisfação perante as propostas apresentadas. Para tal optou-se por realizar testes de satisfação com recurso à Realidade Virtual Imersiva (RVI) enquanto método de simulação do espaço. A RVI foi utilizada em testes com os utilizadores finais e permitiu concluir que os inquiridos consideram que as propostas apresentadas valorizam o espaço comercial e a mobilidade dentro da loja. Conclui-se também que o uso de RVI ajuda a um bom entendimento do espaço.

Abstract In order to avoid mistakes and to save a great deal of time in analysis, an innovative methodology was developed that can analyze the well operations and rig characteristics involved to define the best emergency disconnect sequence (EDS) available. A solution was developed based on the characteristics of the rigs and blowout preventers (BOPs), and six variables were considered that directly affect the choice of EDS. All possible combinations of 64 scenarios were analyzed, and the priority of choice of the EDS was defined empirically. This paper presents an approach to EDS risk management and examples of exposure time (time without riser safety margin and shear capability) for the same well, which can be lowered from 13% to 0.1%. The impact of this reduction is related to the ability of the BOP to cut some of the heavy casings, in addition to improved availability of EDS modes. This implementation opened up many possibilities for the performance of risk exposure analysis, enabling comparison of several BOP configurations of contracted rigs and selection of the best options. This innovative approach allowed a better management of the rig schedules, prioritizing safety aspects and making it possible to allocate the fleet in a systematic way.

The papers published in this book of abstracts / proceedings were submitted to the Scientific Commission of the International Congress of Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences & Human Development, held on 11 and 12 November 2016, at the University of Évora, Évora, Portugal, under the topic of Exercise and Health, Sports and Human Development. The content of the abstracts is solely and exclusively of its authors responsibility. The editors and the Scientific Committee of the International Congress of Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences & Human Development do not assume any responsibility for the opinions and statements expressed by the authors. Partial reproduction of the texts and their use without commercial purposes is allowed, provided the source / reference is duly mentioned.