University of Coimbra

About: University of Coimbra is a education organization based out in Coimbra, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 14318 authors who have published 43067 publications receiving 994733 citations. The organization is also known as: UC & Universidade dos Estudos Gerais.

A New Approach for Real-Time Multiple Open-Circuit Fault Diagnosis in Voltage-Source Inverters

Abstract: Practically all the diagnostic methods for opencircuit faults in voltage-source inverters (VSI) developed during the last decades are focused on the occurrence of single faults and do not have the capability to handle and identify multiple failures This paper presents a new method for real-time diagnostics of multiple open-circuit faults in VSI feeding ac machines In contrast with the majority of the methods found in the literature which are based on the motor phase currents average values, the average absolute values are used here as principal quantities to formulate the diagnostic variables These prove to be more robust against the issue of false alarms, carrying also information about multiple open-circuit failures Furthermore, by the combination of these variables with the machine phase currents average values, it is possible to obtain characteristic signatures, which allow for the detection and identification of single and multiple open-circuit faults

Viruses and bacteria in acute asthma exacerbations--a GA² LEN-DARE systematic review.

Abstract: A major part of the burden of asthma is caused by acute exacerbations. Exacerbations have been strongly and consistently associated with respiratory infections. Respiratory viruses and bacteria are therefore possible treatment targets. To have a reasonable estimate of the burden of disease induced by such infectious agents on asthmatic patients, it is necessary to understand their nature and be able to identify them in clinical samples by employing accurate and sensitive methodologies. This systematic review summarizes current knowledge and developments in infection epidemiology of acute asthma in children and adults, describing the known impact for each individual agent and highlighting knowledge gaps. Among infectious agents, human rhinoviruses are the most prevalent in regard to asthma exacerbations. The newly identified type-C rhinoviruses may prove to be particularly relevant. Respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus are important in infants, while influenza viruses seem to induce severe exacerbations mostly in adults. Other agents are relatively less or not clearly associated. Mycoplasma and Chlamydophila pneumoniae seem to be involved more with asthma persistence rather than with disease exacerbations. Recent data suggest that common bacteria may also be involved, but this should be confirmed. Although current information is considerable, improvements in detection methodologies, as well as the wide variation in respect to location, time and populations, underline the need for additional studies that should also take into account interacting factors.

Direct multisearch for multiobjective optimization

Abstract: In practical applications of optimization it is common to have several conflicting objective functions to optimize. Frequently, these functions are subject to noise or can be of black-box type, preventing the use of derivative-based techniques. We propose a novel multiobjective derivative-free methodology, calling it direct multisearch (DMS), which does not aggregate any of the objective functions. Our framework is inspired by the search/poll paradigm of direct-search methods of directional type and uses the concept of Pareto dominance to maintain a list of nondominated points (from which the new iterates or poll centers are chosen). The aim of our method is to generate as many points in the Pareto front as possible from the polling procedure itself, while keeping the whole framework general enough to accommodate other disseminating strategies, in particular, when using the (here also) optional search step. DMS generalizes to multiobjective optimization (MOO) all direct-search methods of directional type....

Relative Pose Calibration Between Visual and Inertial Sensors

Abstract: This paper proposes an approach to calibrate off-the-shelf cameras and inertial sensors to have a useful integrated system to be used in static and dynamic situations. When both sensors are integrated in a system their relative pose needs to be determined. The rotation between the camera and the inertial sensor can be estimated, concurrently with camera calibration, by having both sensors observe the vertical direction in several poses. The camera relies on a vertical chequered planar target and the inertial sensor on gravity to obtain a vertical reference. Depending on the setup and system motion, the translation between the two sensors can also be important. Using a simple passive turntable and static images, the translation can be estimated. The system needs to be placed in several poses and adjusted to turn about the inertial sensor centre, so that the lever arm to the camera can be determined. Simulation and real data results are presented to show the validity and simple requirements of the proposed methods.