Incremental Cardinality Constraints for MaxSAT

Maximum Satisfiability (MaxSAT) is an optimization variant of the Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) problem. In general, MaxSAT algorithms perform a succession of SAT solver calls to reach an optimum solution making extensive use of cardinality constraints. Many of these algorithms are non-incremental in nature, i.e. at each iteration the formula is rebuilt and no knowledge is reused from one iteration to another. In this paper, we exploit the knowledge acquired across iterations using novel schemes to use cardinality constraints in an incremental fashion. We integrate these schemes with several MaxSAT algorithms. Our experimental results show a significant performance boost for these algo- rithms as compared to their non-incremental counterparts. These results suggest that incremental cardinality constraints could be beneficial for other constraint solving domains.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Final version published in Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP) 201

Estratégias de Desenvolvimento Regional: Geoturismo e Património Industrial na Região dos Mármores em Portugal.

Um passado superior a dois mil anos de atividade extrativa na Região dos Mármores, Alentejo - Portugal (RM - correspondente à estrutura geológica conhecida por anticlinal de Estremoz, entre Sousel, a noroeste, e Alandroal, a sudeste, com destaque para triângulo geográfico entre as localidades de Estremoz - Borba - Vila Viçosa), constituí um legado mineiro demasiado enraizado para que possa ser esquecido. Nos últimos 50 anos o incremento desta atividade modificou de tal modo a paisagem tornando-a irreconhecível até para quem coabita nesse espaço. As pedreiras só por si constituem um pólo interesse onde a geologia, a indústria e o património industrial e intangível, se cruzam num misto de emoções e vertigens (Figura 1). Entre pedreiras ativas, com lavra suspensa, abandonadas, sanjas, valas e poços de prospeção, existem na RM mais de quinhentas cavidades. Apesar disso e graças ao sentido de responsabilidades de algumas empresas ainda é possível encontrar in situ vestígios mineiros que remontam ao Período Romano. São inúmeras as referências à utilização dos «mármores de Estremoz» em monumentos, obras de arte, peças utilitárias e ornamentais assim como elemento estrutural, em antigas cidades romanas por todos os países circum-mediterrâneos. Também os estudos de proveniência de materiais utilizados nessas cidades se têm multiplicado demonstrando o carácter único e excecional dos mármores (rosados) de Estremoz [e.g. Antonelli et al., 2009, Taelman et al, 2013]

Global Heritage Stone: Estremoz Marbles from Portugal

The Estremoz Anticline is a Variscan structure that has a Precambrian core and younger rocks aged Devonian Period. The marbles exploited as dimension stone occupy an intermediate stratigraphic position in the Cambrian age Volcano Sedimentary Sequence. The Variscan Orogeny was performed twice with different intensities under ductile and brittle tension fields. The Alpine Cycle also acts and causes more fracturing of the marbles. The geological features imprinted in the marbles are beautiful aesthetic patterns highlighted when used as Dimension Stone. A long term continuous exploitation have been carried out since the Roman period. Pieces of art made with Estremoz Marbles were exported abroad and can be found in Museums and Archaeological Sites throughout Europe and North Africa countries. Present day Estremoz Marble’s production can be found all over the World. The marble based built heritage is omnipresent in the cities region. The historical and widespread application of these marbles in National and International Monuments, some of them already part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a condition to propose them as Global Heritage Stone Resource for their international recognition. References Lopes, L. & Martins, R. 2014. Global Heritage Stone: Estremoz Marbles, Portugal. From: Pereira, D., Marker, B. R., Kramar, S., Cooper, B. J. & Schouenborg, B. E. (eds) Global Heritage Stone: Towards International Recognition of Building and Ornamental Stones. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 407, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP407.1

Global Heritage Stone: The Excellence of Portuguese Estremoz Marbles

Palaeozoic calcitic marbles are found in the Estremoz Anticline, Ossa-Morena Zone (Southern Branch of the European Variscides in Portugal). The 40 km NW-SE structure present outcrops continuity and intense mining activity since the Roman Period (fourth century BC). The structure has a Precambrian core and the younger rocks aged Devonian Period. The marbles occupy an intermediate stratigraphic position in the Cambrian age Volcano Sedimentary Sequence. The Variscan Orogeny performed twice with different intensities under ductile and brittle tension fields. The Alpine Cycle also acts and causes more fracturing of the marbles. These show spatial-temporal continuity of the deformation where a complete Wilson Cycle can be described. The geological features imprint the marbles beautiful aesthetic patterns that are highlighted when used as Dimension Stone (DS). The marbles exhibit physical properties allowing fabrication of structural and decorative elements. In the Roman period, pieces of art made with Estremoz Marbles were exported abroad and can be found in Museums and Archaeological Sites throughout Europe and North Africa countries. During the maritime expansion, altars, stairways, columns, statues, etc., were carried as ballast in the holds of ships. At the destination the Portuguese had built monuments which can now be found in South America and Africa countries. The Modern DS Industry Global Market allows Portuguese Marbles to be present all over the World. Notice that every variety of marble has enough reserves to sustain the mining activity for several hundreds of years. The Alentejo hallmark whitewashed houses are a landscape that can only have been developed by the availability of marbles to produce quicklime. The marble based built heritage is very rich and is always present. The countryside is marked by intense mining activity living side by side with rural industries, namely wheat fields, groves, orchards and vineyards; therefore the region has unique characteristics allowing the development of integrated industrial tourism routes, promoting sustainable development of industrial, scientific and technological culture opportunities. This work has been financially supported by INOVSTONE: FCOMP-01-202-FEDER-013854 (QREN-Portugal, COMPETE/FEDER) and by the Geophysics Centre of Évora

Geological Heritage and Geotourism in the Marbles region, Portugal: The emergence of new economic activities

In recent years, Portugal, Alentejo and the marbles region in particular, have been promoted overseas as a tourist destination of excellence. Climate, historic and cultural heritage, cuisine, crafts, hosting, quality and quantity hotel facilities are arguments that support this promotion on the ground. Until the 21st century there was no significant record of unemployment in the marble region. Now, the based marble economy cannot create jobs enough to occupy the population and new proposals business has been developed. A strong artisanal production of organic food, recovering old traditions and making high quality products, handicraft in stone, wood, tin and pottery has been growing. There's also a reuse of quarries and surrounding land, In either case, the marble is always present. This work presents examples of actions implemented in the region contributed to minimize the negative impact left by the lower rate of human occupation in the ornamental stone sector. These examples can be replicated in analogous regions all over the World where the need to preserve old mining activity tools and techniques must strongly advised from now on. Initiatives such as the Route Shades of Marble begin to be known in Portugal and abroad. The Marble Museum of Vila Viçosa, located within the city perimeter, occupies a former quarry being ideal to in situ illustrate the techniques used to dismantle the marble for more than two thousand years. A five-star hotel applied local marble illustrating multiple combinations of textures, colors and patterns that they permit. Abandoned quarries are opportunities for wildlife that found conditions good enough to establish and develop. Nature observation tourism, in particular bird watching, it is also an alternative to consider, especially because the region his already in the route that comprises places where this activity has been established with a regular public. References Germano, D.; Lopes, L.; Gomes, C.; Santos, P. & Martins, R. 2014. O impacte das pedreiras inactivas na fauna, flora e vegetação da zona dos mármores: problema ou benefício? Callipole, 21, Vila Viçosa, in press. Lopes, L. & Martins, R. 2014. Global Heritage Stone: Estremoz Marbles, Portugal. From: Pereira, D., Marker, B. R., Kramar, S., Cooper, B. J. & Schouenborg, B. E. (eds) Global Heritage Stone: Towards International Recognition of Building and Ornamental Stones. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 407, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP407.10 Lopes, L.; Martins, R.; Falé, P.; Passos, J.; Bilou, F.; Branco, M. & Pereira, M. F. 2013. Development of a Tourist Route around the Mining Heritage of the Estremoz Anticline. From: Rosa, L.; Silva, Z. & Lopes, L., (eds), Proceedings of the Global Stone Congress, Key Engineering Materials Vol. 548 (2013) 348-362; Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.548.34

Management consulting labs Galp loyalty

The main objective of this project was to investigate methods to create a new loyalty approach for Galp Energia in order to improve customer retention and reduce churn, related with the expansion of hypermarket chains’ in the Fuel Retail Market and the country’s economical situation. The team carried out on-spot surveys and focus groups, researched loyalty programs’ best practices, analyzed peers practices and the company’s past performance in order to find important customer insights. These were used to develop the final recommendations resulting in a new paradigm to the group’s loyalty approach alongside incremental improvements to the current loyalty solutions

Studies of organic ligands at the nanoparticle surface with solution NMR

When studying colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) with NMR, we focus on the ligands that surround them. Used during synthesis to control nucleation and growth, they end up as a monolayer covering the NP surface and stabilizing the NP colloidal suspension. In the last few years we have develop the application of NMR techniques to characterize these systems [1]. It turns out that plenty of information on the characteristics of NP systems is already present in the 1D proton spectrum. For instance, when studying NPs stabilized with oleic acid or oleylamine ligands (OL), we focus especially on the alkene resonance at around 5.5 ppm. Looking at different OL-NP systems with a different core composition, a different ligand density or in a different solvent, we noticed that the peak shape of the alkene resonance varies considerably

Underground Marble Exploitation - A Portuguese Case Study and Technical Aspects

The underground ornamental rocks (dimension stones) exploitation has its specificities, according to the type of rock to be extracted and the geological characteristics of the rock mass. For economic and security reasons, the option to go for underground exploitation should be taken if an open pit is completely impossible. This study makes a brief historical introduction to the subject, presents the technical foundations that support it and presents the study of a case of application of underground marble exploitation in the anticlinal of Estremoz, Portugal