History, Memory and Fiction: What Boundaries?

20th century sociologists and historians established a clear distinction between history and memory. But in the last decades our attention has been called to what exists in common between these two fields that do not always coincide. In this article, I intend to problematize the complex relationship between history and memory: the critical demands of history writing and the register of the various memories (individual memory, collective memory), also equating the relationship between memory and -forgetfulness. And what about history? What distinguishes it from fiction? To what extent are memories permeable to imagination? We all fictionalize our past. Could we reduce the writing of history to a narrative dimension

Cost Action TU1406: qualitative specifications for roadway bridges: standardization at a european level (BridgeSpec)

Durante la implementación de estrategias de gestión de activos se requieren acciones de mantenimiento para conservar las infraestructuras a un nivel de rendimiento deseado. En el caso de los puentes de carretera, se establecen indicadores de rendimiento específicos para sus componentes que, cuando se combinan, permiten evaluar el rendimiento general. Estos indicadores pueden ser cualitativos o cuantitativos y pueden obtenerse durante inspecciones principales mediante examen visual, ensayos no destructivos o mediante sistemas de vigilancia temporales o permanentes. A continuación, se comparan los indicadores obtenidos con los objetivos de desempeño, para evaluar los planes de control de calidad. En Europa existe una gran disparidad de país a país cuanto a la forma como se cuantifican los indicadores de rendimiento y se especifican los objetivos. COST Action TU1406 pretende reunir, por la primera vez, tanto las comunidades investigadoras como las practicantes, con el fin de establecer una guía europea en esta materia, abordando nuevos indicadores relacionados con el desempeño sostenible y económico de los puentes viales. La aplicación de esta norma dependerá en gran medida de los cambios en la filosofía y los métodos operativos (inspección, ensayos, ...) que las nuevas especificaciones requieren en el futuro como resultado de su aplicación. Por lo tanto, para reducir al mínimo la posible reticencia de las agencias de gestión de carreteras a cambiar los indicadores de rendimiento actuales y los métodos para obtenerlos y también aprovechar los antecedentes, conocimientos y bases de datos existentes, es obligatorio que la nueva especificación de calidad homogeneizada sea más o menos basada en la práctica actual.During the implementation of asset management strategies, maintenance actions are required in order to keep infrastructures at a desired performance level. In case of roadway bridges, specific performance indicators are established for their components which, when combined, allow to evaluate the overall performance. These indicators can be qualitative or quantitative based, and can be obtained during principal inspections through visual examination, nondestructive testing or by temporary or permanent monitoring systems. Then, obtained indicators are compared with performance goals, in order to evaluate if quality control plans are accomplished. In Europe, there is a large disparity from country to country regarding the way performance indicators are quantified and goals specified. COST Action TU1406 aims to bring together, for the first time, both research and practicing communities in order to establish a European guideline in this matter, addressing new indicators related to sustainable and economic performance of roadway bridges. The application of this standard will be highly dependent on the changes in philosophy and operational methods (inspection, testing, …) that new specifications require in the future as a result of their implementation. Therefore, to reduce to a minimum the possible reluctance of highway managing Agencies to change the actual performance indicators and the methods to obtain them and also to take advantage of existing background, knowledge and databases, it is mandatory for the new homogenized quality specification to be more or less based on current practice.This article is based upon the work from COST Action TU1406, Quality specifications for roadway bridges, standardization at a European level (BridgeSpec), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An algebraic approach to synthetic aperture sonar image reconstruction

A new approach for synthetic aperture image formation is presented in this paper. With the presented method image formation is regarded as a signal arrangement that can be described by a matrix. This method integrates the sonar platform motion in the image formation process but more importantly it acknowledges the non ideal data gathering process and implements means to mitigate these shortcomings. This method is illustrated with real data obtained in test mission in the Douro River, Portugal by a synthetic aperture sonar developed at the University of Porto

How cyber governance influences relationships between companies

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Information Systems and Technologies ManagementThe growing complexity, variety and sheer volume of cyber-attacks have proven companies are facing a significant level of pressure from both internal and external threats. These, impact on their daily operation and, consequently, on the market perception of their various stakeholders. For companies to fight these threats and keep their data protected, the need to implement a robust security framework is gaining more importance. What is also clear is that companies can no longer rely solely on technological tools to keep data safe and secure. This study focuses on how the relationships between a company's business and its partners (customers, suppliers, etc.) are affected by the cyber governance strategies. Furter an understanding of the organization's culture of governance and security implemented within The article analysis suggests that although cyber governance plays a crucial role in business these days, companies appear to find it challenging to identify the best policies and strategies to implement both internally and also with their corporate partners