Accessibility dynamics and regional cross-border cooperation (CBC) perspectives in the portuguese—spanish borderland

Accessibility plays a major role in achieving sustainable transport, and therefore urban and regional sustainability. The urban public transport system promotes mobility and realizes a large part of urban movements. Moreover, improving accessibility in order to promote sustainable transport requires the application of new concepts and indicators as a powerful tool in the process of creating a balanced urban transport system. In this regard, one of the main goals of this research is to present an overview of the relevant accessibility indicators and assessment of accessibility in regional Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) in order to transcendence challenges and obstacles for sustainable transportation in these regions along of Portuguese-Spanish border. This paper focuses on the accessibility of cross-border cooperation scenarios along the border regions of Alto Alentejo (Portugal) and Badajoz (Spain) where the Case Study Research Method (CSR) made it possible to recognize accessibility as a key factor in territorial success. Also, accessibility analysis can assess improvements as well as regional imbalances. In addition, this methodology can be used to identify missing links, which requires new investments enabling long-term sustainability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GeoGebra as a learning mathematical environment

GeoGebra, a software system for dynamic geometry and algebra in the plane, since its inception in 2001, has gone from a dynamic geometry software (DGS), to a powerful computational tool in several areas of mathematics. Powerful algebraic capabilities have joined GeoGebra, an efficient spreadsheet that can deal with many kinds of objects, an algebraic and symbolic calculation system and several graphical views that expand the possibility of multidimensional representations, namely, by using colouring domain techniques, expanded to representations in the Riemann sphere, making this DGS a powerful research tool in mathematics. On the other hand, GeoGebra can create applications easily and export to HTML, and the possibility to quickly integrating these applets in several web platforms provides this DGS with an excellent way to create strong collaborative environments to teach and learn mathematics. Recently was added to GeoGebra powerful capabilities that transform this software a real Learning Mathematical Environment, using the GeoGebraBooks and GeoGebraGroups, plain of collaborative functionality between students and teachers

Importance of gender in students demand for higher education in tourism: The case study of a tourism and hospitality higher education institution

The importance of the scientific area of tourism, particularly in higher education, requires an analysis and interpretation of its evolution in Portugal. Assuming the widespread recognition of tourism and leisure transversal influence in the contemporary society, one considers the need for rigorous studies on the implications of gender issues in knowledge production in higher education institutions (HEI). Therefore, this study intends to understand the trends in students’ demand for a degree in the tourism field and the importance of gender in higher education, and also their implication in the tourism sector labour market. This study is aimed mainly at interpreting the concern to understand the need and importance of studies on gender issues in tourism higher education, from different perspectives. To determine that the image of an HEI and the students’ demand for this field of study may rely on a policy and strategy that include these relevant gender issues, both in an educational and in an employment perspective, which is also a purpose of this study. In the tourism sector, according to Costa, Carvalho and Breda (2011, p. 39), the Portuguese reality is vertically segregated and, despite being a feminised sector, men occupy most top-level positions. Moreover, tourism workers, particularly female workers, are in general subject to poorer conditions of employment, such as low-pay, long working hours and more precarious contracts. The data [collected by these authors] hint at a very wide gender pay gap in the tourism industry. Costa, Carvalho, Caçador and Breda (2012, p. 70) also analysed the higher education and the labour market in the tourism sector and concluded that although women prevail among tourism graduates in Portugal, men earn higher salaries and fill most top-level positions in the tourism sector. [Their] study diagnose[d] disparities between male and female tourism graduates in the following domains: areas of activity, positions, and salary

Comparação entre perfis térmicos do solo e do ar num montado de sobro

Os montados de sobro, pela área que ocupam (cerca de 700000 ha) e por serem fonte de cortiça, de pastagens, de plantas aromáticas e medicinais, de madeira e de habitat para espécies cinegéticas, constituem sistemas agroflorestais de enorme importância nas economias das áreas rurais do sul de Portugal. A sua sustentabilidade a longo prazo está dependente da sua gestão. O pedoclima e as características termodinâmicas da camada de ar acima da superfície do solo são de relevante importância na gestão dos montados. O objectivo deste estudo consistiu em caracterizar o ambiente térmico numa parcela de um montado de sobro, na camada supercial do solo e no ar imediatamente acima deste, sob influência directa da copa do sobreiro (Quercus suber L.), do esteval associado (Cistus ladanifer L.) e sob a influência da vegetação herbácea (pasto) apenas. As experiências decorreram na Herdade do Olival, concelho de Estremoz, entre Janeiro de 2012 e Janeiro de 2013. Foram medidos, em cada uma das três situações, os perfis térmicos com termopares cobre-constantan a 2, 4, 8 e 16 cm de profundidade, à superfície do solo e a 10 cm, 50 cm e 110 cm acima da superfície do solo. Temperaturas médias, máximas e mínimas diárias (do solo e do ar) foram significativamente diferentes nos três perfis estudados. As diferenças entre os parâmetros térmicos variaram ao longo do ano, assim como a localização da superfície activa. A dinâmica do sub-coberto herbáceo parece influenciar em larga medida a variação dos gradientes térmicos (horizontais e verticais) nos montados

Desempenho de alunos de engenharia em testes de hipóteses

Neste trabalho analisamos o desempenho de 223 alunos da Licenciatura de Engenharia Informática do Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, no ano letivo 2012-2013, quando confrontados com várias questões sobre testes de hipóteses. Em termos de resultados, os alunos apresentaram muitas dificuldades no tema, a maior parte das quais similares às que são relatadas na literatura.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Do you need to see it to believe it? Let's see statistics and geometry dynamically together!

Statistical graphs, measures of central tendency and measures of spread are key concepts in the statistics curriculum, so we present here a dynamic method (software) that may be used in the classroom. In this work we begin with an introductory approach. This is done to emphasize the importance of stimulating the visualization of statistical measures by using available technology as a means of overcoming difficulties and errors related to interpretations and also to motivate students in the classroom. With the help of the dynamic geometry software Cabri-Géomètre II Plus, some applications will be presented from a didactic viewpoint as a means to give visual stimulation, to motivate and to facilitate the familiarization with statistical concepts involved in statistical graphs, measures of central tendency and measures of spread. The applications presented here may be implemented by any teacher with basic knowledge of Cabri-Géomètre or any other dynamic geometry software. We hope that they will also be elements that promote further interaction within the classroom

Prescribed burning mitigates the severity of subsequent wildfires in Mediterranean shrublands

[EN] Background Prescribed burning (PB) is becoming relevant in fuel reduction and thus fire hazard abatement in fire‑prone ecosystems of southern Europe. Yet, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of this practice to mitigate wildfire severity in Mediterranean shrublands is non‑existent, despite being the focus of PB efforts in this region. Here, we intended to quantify the protective effect of PB treatment units (2005–2021) to subsequent wildfire severity in shrublands across mainland Portugal, as well as the relative contribution and complex interactions between drivers of wildfire severity in PB‑treated areas and untreated neighboring counterparts through Random Forest regression. We leveraged cloud‑computing remote sensing data processing in Google Earth Engine to estimate fire severity (PB and wildfire) as the Relativized Burn Ratio (RBR) using Landsat data catalog.Results PB treatment was particularly effective at mitigating wildfire severity at the first PB‑wildfire encounter in shrublands, with a mean reduction of around 24% in RBR units. Fuel age (i.e., time since prescribed burning) in PB‑wildfire intersection areas overwhelmed to a large extent the effect of fire weather, burning probability, and PB severity. The mitigating effect of PB on wildfire severity persisted for a fuel age of around 5 years. However, this effect decreased with increasingly adverse fire weather conditions, such that variation in wildfire severity was somewhat insensitive to fuel age under extreme fire weather. Similarly, the lowest wildfire severity experienced in sites with high burning probability, along with the interaction effect observed between burning probability and fuel age, suggest that repeated PB treatments may be useful in controlling fuel accumulation and mitigating wildfire severity. The relative contribution of fire weather in explaining wildfire severity was exceedingly high in untreated areas, doubling that of the other variables in the model in the absence of PB treatment variables.Conclusions Our results suggest that the implementation of PB treatments at intervals of less than 5 years is of para‑mount importance to control fuel build‑up and fire hazard under extreme fire weather in productive Mediterranean shrublands. Further research on this topic is warranted in other shrublands worldwide, namely in Mediterranean‑type climate regions[ES] Antecedentes: Las quemas prescritas (PB) se han tornado relevantes en la reducción de combustibles y por lo tanto en la disminución del riesgo de incendios en ecosistemas proclives al fuego. Así todo, la evidencia empírica sobre la efectividad de esta práctica para mitigar la severidad del fuego en matorrales de ecosistemas del Mediterráneo es inexistente, a pesar de ser el foco de los esfuerzos de las PB en la región. En este trabajo, intentamos cuantificar el efecto protector en unidades de tratamientos de PB (2005‑2021) sobre la severidad subsecuente de incendios en matorrales a lo largo del centro de Portugal, como así también, la contribución relativa e interacciones complejas entre los factores conducentes a la severidad del fuego en áreas tratadas con PB y aquellas vecinas sin tratar (PB y No tratadas), a través de regresión Random Forest. Utilizamos la capacidad de procesamiento de sensores remotos en Google Earth Engine para estimar tanto la severidad del fuego (en PB y áreas no tratadas ) como la Ratio Relativa de Quemado (Relativized Burn Ratio, RBR) usando los datos del catálogo de Landsat. Resultados: Los tratamientos de PB fueron efectivos para mitigar los efectos de severidad del fuego en las primeras interacciones de PB con áreas incendiadas no tratadas, con una reducción media de alrededor del 24% en unidades de RBR. La edad del combustible (i.e. el tiempo transcurrido desde la PB) en la intersección PB‑incendio superó en gran medida los efectos de la meteorología del incendio, la probabilidad de quema, y la severidad de la PB. El efecto mitigador de la PB en la severidad de los incendios persistió en el combustible por unos 5 años luego de la PB. Desde luego, este efecto decreció con el incremento de condiciones adversas en la meteorología del incendio, tal como que la variación en la severidad del incendio fue no sensible a la edad del combustible bajo condiciones meteorológicas extremas. Similarmente, las severidades más bajas experimentadas en sitios con alta probabilidad de quema, junto con los efectos de las interacciones observadas entre probabilidad de quema y la edad del combustible, sugiere que la repetición de los tratamientos de PB puede ser útil para controlar la acumulación de combustible y mitigar la severidad de los incendios. La contribución relativa de las condiciones meteorológicas en la severidad del fuego fue notablemente alta en áreas no tratadas, duplicando el efecto de otras variables del modelo en ausencia de las variables de las PB. Conclusiones: Nuestros Resultados sugieren que la implementación de tratamientos de PB a intervalos menores de 5 años es de una alta importancia para controlar la acumulación de combustible y reducir el riesgo de incendios bajo eventos meteorológicos extremos en matorrales de ecosistemas Mediterráneos. Más investigaciones en este tema deben garantizarse en otros matorrales del mundo, fundamentalmente en aquellos que se desarrollan bajo climas de tipo MediterráneoSIThis study was financially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology in the frame of project UIDB/04033/2020. José Manuel Fernández-Guisuraga was supported by a Ramón Areces Foundation postdoctoral fellowshi

The wonderful lamp of Aladdin? Project work in engineering courses

In the first semester of the 2012/2013 academic year we approached teaching and learning statistics using project work. Here we will present and discuss the proposal made to the students in the Probability and Statistics course for different engineering degrees – Civil, Energy and Mechanics Engineering from a Portuguese university. In the first cycle a survey from a Master’s thesis in civil engineering was the basis of a hands-on project work developed by second year students in their courses. We examined the results of the project work written reports based on the approach of Pimenta (2006) and Nascimento and Martins (2008) and related it to the Dublin Descriptors of the Bologna Process for the Higher Education in Europe