The meteorologically driven circulation in mid-Chesapeake Bay

Utilizing 20 days of sea level elevation and current records in mid-Chesapeake Bay, the frequency structure of the meteorological forcing is investigated. For periods longer than 8 days the residual sea level inside the Bay is coupled to the coastal elevation forced by the onshore-offshore component of the wind, while at the 3–8 day scale the system was driven by the local longitudinal wind component. It is suggested, however, that the partition of energy between the longitudinal and lateral wind components may determine whether the Bay responds locally to the wind or to the coastal elevations. The 2–2.5 day sea level oscillations could not be identified with a seiche in the Bay; their source is not clear, but the atmospheric pressure is a possibility.The vertical structure of the residual currents through two cross-sections shows that the layers in the upper 8 m are directly driven by the wind, while in the deeper layers the flow is opposite the wind as a result of the surface slope associated with it. The lag in this counter flow increases from the bottom up and is explained in terms of the phase lag of the surface slope response to the wind and the depth dependence of the current response to the wind

Musicians as Public Intellectuals

PEst-OE/EAT/UI0693/2014In Ronald Harwood’s play “Taking Sides” music appears as a “pure”, separate world, protecting those involved in it of any contamination by common life. The German conductor Furtwaengler is presented as the type of artist only concerned with this “pure” world, in a sense then also shared by his French colleague and composer Milhaud: “Musicians have no ideal other than music” (1935). Accordingly, musicians would be the opposite of “public intellectuals”. However, it is not so. There are numerous examples that invalidate such idea: just think of Verdi and Wagner, two of the biggest names in European music whose bicentenary is celebrated this year. They were both really “public intellectuals”, not only because of their active participation in political life, but also because of the social, political, and ideological repercussion of their own music. This is just my point: To what extent may the medium of music, as such, participate in the intellectual debate? To what extent is music in itself able to “take sides”? To what extent has music the power to say, to silence, to persuade, to argue, in short, to be active in the ideological, political, social conflicts? I will approach these issues, starting from the case study of two Communist composers living in the Western world: one, in Portugal, resisting a dictatorship of fascist type (Lopes-Graça, 1906-1994); the other, in Italy, under the conditions of a liberal democracy (Luigi Nono, 1924-1990). Some short music examples may contribute to stimulate the discussion.publishersversionpublishe

Pequenas cidades históricas e seus visitantes: aplicação a uma cidade histórica do Norte de Portuga

A caracterização da procura turística de uma determinada localidade é uma temática relevante, tanto para a análise da atual situação da atividade turística quanto para o seu planeamento e desenvolvimento. Este artigo tem como objetivo geral descrever o perfil do visitante de pequenas cidades históricas, bem como a opinião destes acerca da gestão patrimonial efetuada. O estudo foi aplicado a uma cidade histórica do norte de Portugal (Lamego) que integra a delimitação do Douro Património da Humanidade. Em termos metodológicos, foi usada uma abordagem quantitativa, através da realização de uma inquirição por questionário aplicado a 339 visitantes desta cidade histórica. Os resultados permitiram obter um melhor conhecimento dos visitantes em termos de perfil sociodemográfico, do produto consumido, da gestão e experiência turística e do tipo de viagem. Este conhecimento revela‑se indispensável para adequar a oferta à procura numa visão de desenvolvimento sustentável, sendo útil para as diversas partes interessadas (stakeholders) deste destino turístico.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Utilizing Visible Light Communication and Learning-Driven Control for Improved Traffic Signal Performance

Funding Information: This research received support from FCT\u2014Funda\u00E7\u00E3o para a Ci\u00EAncia e a Tecnologia, through the Research Unit CTS\u2014Center of Technology and Systems, with references UIDB/00066/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.This paper introduces an approach to enhance the efficiency of urban intersections by integrating Visible Light Communication (VLC) into a multi-intersection traffic control system. The main objectives include the reduction in waiting times for vehicles and pedestrians, the improvement of overall traffic safety, and the accommodation of diverse traffic movements during multiple signal phases. The proposed system utilizes VLC to facilitate communication among interconnected vehicles and infrastructure. This is achieved by utilizing streetlights, headlamps, and traffic signals for transmitting information. By integrating VLC localization services with learning-driven traffic signal control, the multi-intersection traffic management system is established. A reinforcement learning scheme, based on VLC queuing/request/response behaviors, is utilized to schedule traffic signals effectively. Agents placed at each intersection control traffic lights by incorporating information from VLC-ready cars, including their positions, destinations, and intended routes. The agents devise optimal strategies to improve traffic flow and engage in communication to optimize the collective traffic performance. An assessment of the multi-intersection scenario through the SUMO urban mobility simulator reveals considerable benefits. The system successfully reduces both waiting and travel times. The reinforcement learning approach effectively schedules traffic signals, and the results highlight the decentralized and scalable nature of the proposed method, especially in multi-intersection scenarios. The discussion emphasizes the possibility of applying reinforcement learning in everyday traffic scenarios, showcasing the potential for the dynamic identification of control actions and improved traffic management.publishersversionpublishe

Equalization effects of local financing models in Portugal

One objective frequently found in models of decentralized financing is that of equalization. The concern is that poorer jurisdictions receive enough resources for basic services and for development promotion, thus eliminating horizontal and vertical imbalances. In Portugal, decentralization has occurred at two levels: the local, for the whole country and the regional for the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira. Decentralization to local governments has undergone several changes in recent decades. The current paper focuses on testing for the presence of an equalization effect in the models adopted to finance municipalities in Portugal, since the nineteen nineties. Using the theoretical background that maintains that for the presence of an equalizing effect it is necessary that, on a per capita basis, poorer regions or localities receive relatively more transfers than the richer jurisdictions, a test is made using a data set that includes all municipalities of Portugal. The situation of the two autonomous regions is controlled with dummy variables. The hypothesis that the models used have an equalizing effect is tested through the sign of the coefficient of the regression of per capita transfers on per capita own resources. In the presence of an equalizing effect the sign will be significant and negative. It is confirmed that, for the period under analysis, the municipalities with lower per capita own revenues are those that receive more transfers per capita. There is, therefore, an equalizing effect in the current transfer system to municipalities. Using pooled data, one can also conclude that the equalization effect has become stronger with the 1998 and 2002 reviews of the system, when compared to the system in effect in 1991

Visible Light Communication and Learning-Based Control for Traffic Signal Optimization and Vehicle Management

Funding Information: This work was sponsored by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, within the Research Unit CTS—Center of Technology and systems, reference IPL/2022/POSEIDON_ISEL. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.This paper introduces a novel approach, Visible Light Communication (VLC), to optimize urban intersections by integrating VLC localization services with learning-based traffic signal control. The system enhances communication between connected vehicles and infrastructure using headlights, streetlights, and traffic signals to transmit information. Through Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V) interactions, joint data transmission and collection occur via mobile optical receivers. The goal is to reduce waiting times for pedestrians and vehicles, enhancing overall traffic safety by employing flexible and adaptive measures accommodating diverse traffic movements. VLC cooperative mechanisms, transmission range, relative pose concepts, and queue/request/response interactions help balance traffic flow and improve road network performance. Evaluation in the SUMO urban mobility simulator demonstrates advantages, reducing waiting and travel times for both vehicles and pedestrians. The system employs a reinforcement learning scheme for effective traffic signal scheduling, utilizing VLC-ready vehicles to communicate positions, destinations, and routes. Agents at intersections calculate optimal strategies, communicating to optimize overall traffic flow. The proposed decentralized and scalable approach, especially suitable for multi-intersection scenarios, showcases the feasibility of applying reinforcement learning in real-world traffic scenarios.publishersversionpublishe

Evaluation of the European Policies in Support of Ultraperipheric Regions, Azores, Madeira, Canarias, Guadalupe, Martinique, Guyane and Reunion

The paper looks at the development of the EU's outermost regions. We develop a model not only to explain the effects caused by peripherality but also to evaluate the European policies towards ultra peripheral regions. Ultra-peripherality is an economic and social phenomenon associated to a geographical structure characterised by two attributes: size and access. The structure of the model to analyse size, or supply performance, can be represented in three interrelated blocks: i) the first block explains the effect on the population of driving activities in island economies: exports, external aid for employment and external subsidies; ii) the second block establishes the relationships between population and activities associated to the provision of goods and services not receiving external aid; iii) the third block estimates the product and the income of the region by multiplying the quantity of each type of activity, measured in terms of the number of jobs involved. The structure of the model for access, or demand performance, is in a way implicit in the model of size through the population indicator; however, the population indicator does not clearly translate variations of accessibility to the region being. The present study uses the demographic potential to arrive at an accessibility indicator that uses easily accessible statistical data: the population and the traffic of passengers. We conclude that the impact of ultra-peripheral policies are weaker in the regions more dependent on external public transferences, the connection with neighbour countries can produce important effects in the economy, the elimination of the "sea rights" in most of the regions could generate important impacts in the respective development process, the effective liberalisation of air transportation will lead to a strong increase in the accessibility and the development process based on import substitution and external public transferences can led to a big increase in the population and created a great dependence on the "sea rights".

Modelo de previsão da produção de biogás em aterro sanitário: aplicação ao Aterro de Matosinhos

O conhecimento da quantidade e da qualidade do biogás gerado num aterro sanitário de resíduos sólidos urbanos constitui informação imprescindível para a tomada de decisão quanto à gestão desta emissão gasosa, dado que o seu aproveitamento como combustível para produção de energia eléctrica exige quantidades mínimas para que o investimento seja sustentável economicamente. Uma forma de previsão do biogás produzido pressupõe a medição in situ, através da realização de furos na massa de resíduos de um aterro em funcionamento. Uma outra forma de o conseguir pode ser através de modelação matemática, aplicada ao cálculo do potencial de biogás de um aterro em funcionamento ou em projecto, entrando com as quantidades a movimentar em cada ano, as características dos resíduos e condições meteorológicas do local. No presente trabalho apresentam-se alguns aspectos importantes da construção de um modelo de previsão de produção de biogás aplicado ao caso do aterro sanitário de Matosinhos. Foram tidas em consideração as quantidades e características dos resíduos, as condições meteorológicas do local e utilizaram-se os resultados obtidos na calibação/avaliação das características do biogás produzido neste aterro sanitário. Foi, ainda, realizado um estudo comparado dos resultados assim obtidos com os resultantes da aplicação de outros modelos de previsão, recolhidos da literatura

Novos Dados sobre Lepidópteros, Ondonatos e Himenópteros (Insecta) da Ilha de São Jorge, Açores

XV Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - São Jorge 2011.Apresenta-se uma lista de 22 borboletas diurnas e noturnas (Lepidoptera) observadas na ilha de São Jorge (Açores), entre 25 e 31 de julho de 2011. Stigmella aurella (Fabricius) (Nepticulidae) e Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Tortricidae) são citadas pela primeira vez para a ilha. À exceção de Hadena azorica Meyer & Fibiger (Noctuidae), os endemismos registados são comuns a outras ilhas do arquipélago. Confirmou-se a presença na ilha das 4 espécies de libélulas (Odonata) conhecidas dos Açores: Ischnura hastata (Say), Ischnura pumilio (Charpentier), Anax imperator Leach e Sympetrum fonscolombii (Selys). Também, foi observado o ácaro terrestre Leptus killingtoni (Turk, 1945) (Acari: Parasitengona) a parasitar adultos das espécies I. hastata e I. pumilio, sendo considerado um dado novo para São Jorge. Em relação aos Himenópteros de São Jorge, observou-se a existência de Glyptapanteles militaris (Walsh) (Braconidae) e Lisibia nana (Gravenhorst) (Ichneumonidae), respetivamente, um parasitóide larvar e um hiperparasitóide da “lagarta das pastagens” Pseudaletia (=Mythimna) unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Também foi observado o himenóptero parasitóide Telenomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) em ovos de Lepidoptera. Os parasitóides G. militaris e Telenomus sp. são muito importantes como potenciadores do controlo biológico de diversas pragas agrícolas que, geralmente, se encontram em São Jorge

Apoio da comunidade residente ao desenvolvimento turístico sustentável: um modelo de equações estruturais aplicado a uma cidade histórica do Norte de Portugal

Este estudo investiga os inter-relacionamentos entre a ligação à comunidade, o envolvimento na comunidade, a gestão do poder público (GPP), os benefícios e custos percebidos do turismo e o apoio ao desenvolvimento turístico sustentável (DTS). Foi adoptada uma metodologia quantitativa sendo a recolha de dados feita através de um questionário aplicado pessoalmente a uma amostra de 300 residentes da cidade histórica de Lamego, no Norte de Portugal. Para analisar os relacionamentos propostos foi usada a técnica de modelos de equações estruturais. Os resultados mostram que a ligação à comunidade e a GPP na actividade turística exercem uma influência positiva e significativa nos benefícios percebidos do turismo. O efeito do envolvimento da comunidade no apoio (dos residentes) ao DTS foi suportado. No que diz respeito aos impactes do turismo, este estudo sugere, também, uma influência positiva entre os benefícios percebidos e o apoio ao DTS. Os resultados reforçam a importância de analisar a percepção dos residentes no planeamento e tomada de decisão de políticas para o desenvolvimento do turismo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio