Using Data From the Web to Predict Public Transport Arrivals Under Special Events Scenarios

The Internet has become the preferred resource to announce, search, and comment about social events such as concerts, sports games, parades, demonstrations, sales, or any other public event that potentially gathers a large group of people. These planned special events often carry a potential disruptive impact to the transportation system, because they correspond to nonhabitual behavior patterns that are hard to predict and plan for. Except for very large and mega events (e.g., Olympic games, football world cup), operators seldom apply special planning measures for two major reasons: The task of manually tracking which events are happening in large cities is labor-intensive; and, even with a list of events, their impact is hard to estimate, especially when more than one event happens simultaneously. In this article, we utilize the Internet as a resource for contextual information about special events and develop a model that predicts public transport arrivals in event areas. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of this solution for practitioners, we apply off-the-shelf techniques both for Internet data collection and for the prediction model development. We demonstrate the results with a case study from the city-state of Singapore using public transport tap-in/tap-out data and local event information obtained from the Internet. Keywords: Data mining; Demand Prediction; Public Transport; Smartcard; Urban Computing; Web Minin

Black-bounce solution in kk-essence theories

In the present work, we construct black-bounce configurations in the context of $k$-essence theory. The solutions have a regular metric function at the origin. The area metric function is linked to the black-bounce area initially considered by Simpson-Visser, $\Sigma^2=x^2+a^2$. Subsequently, the expressions for the scalar field and scalar potential corresponding to the found solutions are determined, exhibiting phantom behavior everywhere due to violation of Null Energy Condition $(NEC^\phi)$. The Kretschmann scalar is regular throughout spacetime, and the geodesics are complete. The energy conditions are analyzed, verifying that the null $(NEC^\phi_1)$ and dominant energy conditions $(DEC^\phi_1)$ are violated inside and outside the event horizon. Finally, the extrinsic curvature method was applied to determine the sign of the mass on the junction surface.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figure

Coupled PermSMBR – Process design and development for 1,1-dibutoxyethane production

AbstractIn this work, a new configuration of the simulated moving bed membrane reactor (PermSMBR) technology is presented, the coupled PermSMBR, where the tubular membranes are located after fixed-bed columns packed with the catalyst/adsorbent. By this way the membranes are not in contact with the solid, which from an industrial point of view is easier to implement since the process of membranes installation/replacement and clean-up is simpler than in the previous considered set-up (tubular membranes packed with the catalyst/adsorbent – integrated PermSMBR). The 1,1-dibutoxyethane production is used, as an example, and the features of the new “coupled PermSMBR” and the previous set-up (integrated PermSMBR) are discussed. The coupled PermSMBR revealed to be a very attractive solution for the sustainable 1,1-dibutoxyethane production, proved by the high productivity and low desorbent consumption obtained within the studied conditions

Science communication in UNESCO global geoparks

Research in science communication has brought many contributions to improving society's relationship with science, unfortunately very little incorporated in geoscience communication. Science communication and public engagement are among the main priorities of UNESCO Global Geoparks, privileged territories for science, culture, education, and sustainable development. Geological heritage of international relevance, integrated strategies for geodiversity, together with geoscientific research and geoconservation make UGGps ideal arenas for effective geoscience communication. Today 197 UGGps in 48 countries are developing tremendous endeavours to bring society closer to science, being a reference for the communication of geosciences on a global scale. In this sense, we start to study these contexts, conducting a comprehensive analysis on science communication practices in UGGps, including literature review and documentation analysis. This stage has already revealed a great variety of strategies, tools, approaches and terminology, which allowed the identification of theoretical communication models and paradigms. Besides it was also possible to recognize the diversity of terminology and different understandings or scopes referring to science comunicação. In a second phase, a benchmarking methodology is being conducted to strategically analyse best practices in selected Geoparks. The data collection includes site visits, direct observation and interviews applying specific data collection instruments for qualitative analysis. This more refined analysis of the territories is finding relevant strategies and solutions, regarding situ interpretation, hands on modules, films, digital and augmented reality tools, targeted communication, and storylines, among many others. This study is part of a larger project that included the identification and discussion of the main challenges on geoscience communication (Rodrigues et al 2023a) and the study of the representations and practices of geoscientists (Rodrigues et al 2023b). Previous and new results will be integrated in order to develop a strategy to promote, stimulate and improve geoscience communication, addressing the identified challenges and meeting the specific segmented needs. Although the strategy to be developed fits into the specific context of Geoparks, we think that this kind of strategy, currently non-existent even in other areas, could contribute as a reference for the promotion of geosciences and the sustainability of planet Earth on a global level, and could be used as a parameter in UGGps, but also in other contexts

How can geoscience communication foster public engagement with geoconservation?

Geoscience and geodiversity, two sides of the same coin, deal with very poor social visibility and recognition. Ensuring the protection of geodiversity is not only in the geoscientists’ hands and all of society needs to be involved. Therefore, public engagement with geodiversity demands new solutions and a change of paradigm in geoscience communication. Most of the science communication activities undertaken by geoscientists, even when they use modern approaches and technologies, are mainly designed based on empirical experience, laid on didactical approaches and assuming the public’s knowledge deficit. In order to engage the society with geodiversity, it is not enough to focus on scientific literacy and deficit models in which lack of knowledge is considered to be the main obstacle between science and society. It is fundamental to establish a commitment between society and science based on dialogue where lay public is not seen anymore as a single entity with a knowledge deficit. Non-experts must become also protagonists in scientific decisions with social impact and integrate their knowledge and concerns in public participation and decision-making. Engagement with geoscience and geodiversity would benefit from more effective and targeted communication strategies, with different approaches to engage with com- munities, local stakeholders, media, students and teachers, scientific community, tourists, politicians or policy-makers, and groups with different concerns and distinct relations with science. In the last 20 years, science communication research has made many relevant contributions in order to promote more participatory processes with which society is asked to engage. Regarding geoscience communication as a discipline, it is a very recent Earth science branch that also incorporates social science, behavioral science, and science communication, but still lacks a clear and formal definition. This study provides a comprehensive review of the literature in order to develop a conceptual framework for geoscience communication research, identifying the main challenges and opportunities.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - projects UIDB/04683/2020 and UIDP/04683/2020

Queima das folhas de Heliconia bihai cv. Lobster Clow.

Resumos do XXXVIII Congresso Brasileiro de Fitopatologia. Resumo 555

Secretory breast carcinoma--case report and review of the medical literature.

Secretory breast carcinoma (SBC) is a rare type of invasive breast cancer. Since little is known about the biology of this rare tumour, it is useful to report every such case, in order to make as much information as possible available in the medical literature. We present the case of an 18-year-old woman with a SBC treated by mastectomy (Madden) and axillary node dissection (stage pT3N1M0) followed by chemotherapy (FEC regimen) and radiotherapy. The patient has meanwhile completed 4 years of follow-up with no evidence of recurrence. The authors review the literature and summarize relevant findings concerning definition, pathology, clinical picture, treatment, and follow-up

A Symbian-based mobile solution for intra-body temperature monitoring

Copyright © [2010] IEEE. Reprinted from 12th IEEE International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services . ISBN: 978-1-4244-6374-9. This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to [email protected]. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it.”Biofeedback data acquisition is an extremely important task in body sensor networks (BSNs). Data collected by sensors need to be processed in order to be shown in an easy and meaningful way for the user. The use of mobile devices may support and offer new user experiences. When connected to a BSN they can aggregate and process data collected by each sensor, providing a mobile solution for a healthcare system. This mobility offers a better patients' quality of life allowing a regular daily routine and always under monitoring. This paper proposes a Symbian-based mobile solution for intra-body temperature monitoring. Mobile device connects wirelessly to an intra-vaginal temperature sensor and interacts with sensor for temperature data collection and monitoring. This system helps women to detect their fertile and ovulation periods by the increasing of their intra-vaginal temperature. The mobile system was tested and validated with success and it is available for regular use

Mobile solution for three-tier biofeedback data acquisition and processing

“Copyright © [2008] IEEE. Reprinted from Global Telecommunications Conference. (GLOBECOM 2008).IEEE ISBN:978-1-4244-2324-8. This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to [email protected]. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it.”Wireless sensor networks span from military applications into everyday life. Body sensor networks greatly benefit from wireless sensor networks to answer the biofeedback challenges in healthcare applications. In such applications, data is of fundamental importance, it must be reliable and within easy reach. However, most solutions rely on a personal computer to process and display sensor data. In this paper we propose a mobile solution that draws on three-tier body sensor networks to dramatically improve data accessibility, through the use of a Java and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. The mobile tool features data monitoring and presentation. This approach allows data visualization by the patient or medical staff without a portable computer or specific monitoring hardware. We hope to contribute to the adoption of biofeedback for early detection of health abnormalities and lower the budget that governments spend each year in healthcare