Migrating Borders and Moving Times:Temporality and the Crossing of Borders in Europe

Edited book, with 12,000 word contributed authored chapter 'Crossing borders, changing times'

What is Crossing the Virtual Window? Collaboration in Virtual Team Teaching

Virtual Team Teaching (VTT) is a form of collaborative teaching and learning at the college level that involves two teachers with their respective classes working together in real time from two distant classrooms. This paper looks at collaboration that occurs during VTT practice in order to examine factors that support and inhibit collaboration. It is aimed at teachers, administrators, technical support, and pedagogical advisors concerned with collaborative practices at the college level. What kind of affordances does Virtual Team Teaching provide for teachers and students in terms of collaboration? 1) How do teachers collaborate to build the activities and content for a VTT session? 2) What are some of the outcomes of this collaboration between these teachers? 3) How do students collaborate across the two classrooms? 4) What are some outcomes of this collaboration between students? And 5) Does the teachers’ collaborative effort impact the students’ collaboration, and vice versa?

Fiber Bragg Gratings Strain Sensors for Railway Applications

Fiber optical sensors have played an important role in applications for monitoring the health of civil infrastructures, such as bridges, oil rigs, and railroads. Due to the reduction in cost of fiber-optic components and systems, fiber optical sensors have been studied extensively for their higher sensitivity, precision and immunity to electrical interference compared to their electrical counterparts. A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor has been employed for this study to detect and distinguish normal and lateral loads on rail tracks. A theoretical analysis of the relationship between strain and displacement under vertical and horizontal strains on an aluminum beam has been performed, and the results are in excellent agreement with the measured strain data. Then a single FBG sensor system with erbium-doped fiber amplifier broadband source has been carried out. Force and temperature applied on the system have resulted in changes of 0.05 nm per 50 με and 0.094 nm per 10 oC at the center wavelength of the FBG. Furthermore, a low cost fiber-optic sensor system with a distributed feedback (DFB) laser as the light source has been implemented. We show that it has superior noise and sensitivity performances compared to strain gauge sensors. The design has been extended to accommodate multiple sensors with negligible cross talk. When two cascaded sensors on a rail track section are tested, strain readings of the sensor 20 inches away from the position of applied force decay to one seventh of the data of the sensor at the applied force location. The two FBG sensor systems can detect 1 ton of vertical load with a square wave pattern and 0.1 ton of lateral loads (3 tons and 0.5 ton, respectively, for strain gauges). Moreover, a single FBG sensor has been found capable of detecting and distinguishing lateral and normal strains applied at different frequencies. FBG sensors are promising alternatives to electrical sensors for their high sensitivity,ease of installation, and immunity to electromagnetic interferences.

Map showing the Metropolitan Street Railway system and lines operated in connection therewith : 232.07 miles : [borough of Manhattan, New York City].

Covers Manhattan Island south of 166th Street.

GENETIC EVALUATION OF SEED TRAITS FROM INTRASPECIFIC CROSSING OF GENETICALLY DISTINCT WATERMELON VARIETIES

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsumura and Nakai (Cucurbitaceae) is an important cucurbit crop worldwide. Global production of watermelon is about 90 million metric tonnes per annum, making it among the top five most consumed fresh fruits. The objective of this study was to evaluate seed variability in different segregating populations, and determine heritability of traits of watermelon. Interspecific crosses were made between two cultivars of C. lanatus (Bebu and Wlêwlê Small Seeds (WSS) were performed at Research Station of Nangui Abrogoua University in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. There was wide variability between parental, F1, BC1 (first generation of back-crossing) and F2 seeds. Seeds of all hybrid populations were intermediate versus those of the parents. Also, crossing did not affect F1 and F2 seed characters, but affected those of BC1 because of maternal effects. Thus, back-crossing on Bebu cultivar produced seeds which looked like those of Bebu; while back-crossing on WSS cultivar produced seeds similar to those of WSS. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and individuals repartitioning revealed that Bebu and WSS cultivars were genetically distinct and showed three main groups: two groups from each parental line and one from a recombinant line (hybrids). F2 population had a wide individual’s dispersion, and contained seeds of all other populations. High heritability was observed for all evaluated characters.

Transcript of proceedings of Emergency Board No. 106, appointed by the President of the United States. Chicago, Illinois, 1954. Vacations, holidays, health and welfare benefits, rules. Fifteen cooperating railway labor organizations, vs. designated railroads.

Mode of access: Internet.

The ways behind the railways: Algarve's railway line. Technique transfers and transport development in Southern Portugal

Esta dissertação pretende contribuir para um melhor conhecimento da complexidade das redes de transferência de conhecimentos e técnicas, no domínio da engenharia civil e mais concretamente através dos caminhos-de-ferro, nos séculos XIX e XX. Em Portugal, os caminhos-de-ferro estiveram no cerne de um vasto debate, sobretudo político, concomitante com uma instabilidade crescente no cenário político e uma fase de fragilidade económica. É neste contexto que a Linha do Sul e Sueste vai ser construída (seguida pela sua extensão até Vila Real de Santo António e pela construção do ramal de Portimão, que chegará a Lagos). Este empreendimento é uma clara ilustração da realidade portuguesa de então, no que concerne ao desenvolvimento desta rede de transportes, que nos permite, igualmente, conhecer e compreender quem interveio no processo de construção da linha (os engenheiros, as empresas, entre outros aspectos) e assim determinar quais as influências e transferências técnicas que tiveram lugar; RESUMEE: Cette mémoire attire à la contribution pour une meilleure connaissance de la complexité des réseaux de transfert de techniques et connaissances qui ont eu lieu dans le domaine de l’ingénierie civile, surtout dans les chemins de fer, au XIXème et XXème siècles. Au Portugal, les chemins de fer sont été le cerne d’un très vaste débat, coïncidant avec une croissante instabilité dans le scenario politique et aussi une phase économique fragile. C’est dans ce contexte que la Ligne du Sud et Sud-est va être bâti (suivi par l’extension jusqu’à Vila Real de Santo António et la construction de l’embranchement ferroviaire Portimão). Cette entreprise c’est une illustration claire de la réalité portugaise, en concernant l’implémentation de cette réseau de transport, que nous permettre de comprendre et également bien connaitre qui a intervenu dans le processus de construction de la ligne (les ingénieurs, entreprises, etcetera), ainsi que déterminer les influences et les transferts techniques qui ont eu lieu; ABSTRACT: With this master’s thesis, the aim is to be able to contribute to a better understanding of the complex network of technique’s and knowledge transfers, that took place within the field of civil engineering, in the 19th and 20th centuries, namely on the railways. In Portugal, railways take-up was a wide and ample debate, coinciding with an uprising turmoil on the Portuguese political outskirt and a phase of economic frailty. It’s in this context that the construction of the South and Southeast Line took place (followed, later on, by its extension until Vila Real de Santo António and by the construction of the Portimão’s branch). This enterprise is, as we pretend to prove in this master’s thesis, a clear example of the Portuguese reality, enabling us to understand and to get to know those who intervened in the construction’s process (the engineers and the companies) as well as determining influences and technique transfers that have taken place.

A machine learning approach for recognising woody plants on railway trackbeds

The purpose of this work in progress study was to test the concept of recognising plants using images acquired by image sensors in a controlled noise-free environment. The presence of vegetation on railway trackbeds and embankments presents potential problems. Woody plants (e.g. Scots pine, Norway spruce and birch) often establish themselves on railway trackbeds. This may cause problems because legal herbicides are not effective in controlling them; this is particularly the case for conifers. Thus, if maintenance administrators knew the spatial position of plants along the railway system, it may be feasible to mechanically harvest them. Primary data were collected outdoors comprising around 700 leaves and conifer seedlings from 11 species. These were then photographed in a laboratory environment. In order to classify the species in the acquired image set, a machine learning approach known as Bag-of-Features (BoF) was chosen. Irrespective of the chosen type of feature extraction and classifier, the ability to classify a previously unseen plant correctly was greater than 85%. The maintenance planning of vegetation control could be improved if plants were recognised and localised. It may be feasible to mechanically harvest them (in particular, woody plants). In addition, listed endangered species growing on the trackbeds can be avoided. Both cases are likely to reduce the amount of herbicides, which often is in the interest of public opinion. Bearing in mind that natural objects like plants are often more heterogeneous within their own class rather than outside it, the results do indeed present a stable classification performance, which is a sound prerequisite in order to later take the next step to include a natural background. Where relevant, species can also be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Crossing frontiers between tourism and demography. An empirical analysis based on European travellers’ behaviour

This paper aims to establish possible tourism demand scenarios of European travellers to Portugal based on the relationship with changing population structures. A combination of the EuROBAROMETER report 370 (“Attitudes of Europeans towards Tourism in 2013”) and the cohort-component method for population projections will allow the development of different possible tourism demand scenarios. Following the European report, individuals who travelled in 2013 were most likely to live in a household with two or more individuals. Thus, if elderly couples are together till later in their life and in better physiological shape, it is possible that the number of elderly individuals travelling for tourism purposes will increase in the near future. If we can expect tourists from developing countries to be younger due to their demographic dynamics than those from developed countries, where the ageing population is growing fast, we can expect that the percentage of the elderly among tourists will increase. Furthermore, the 2013 European report found that the combination of socio-demographic variables, such as, age, population, gender, household dimension, country of residence and trip purpose explained tourism demand scenarios for Portugal, confirming that seniors and families evidence a paramount sense of importance for the destination. In the literature there is a lack of discussion about the effects of demography in the future and the role of an ageing population in tourism demand choice patterns. We aim to contribute to filling this gap. Consequently, we strongly believe that this paper contributes to the literature by introducing a new field of discussion about the importance of demographic changes in shaping travel trends.

Product/Brand co-creation methodology crossing marketing, design thinking, creativity and management: ideas(r)evolution

This thesis introduce a new innovation methodology called IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION that was developed according to an on-going experimental research project started in 2007. This new approach to innovation has initial based on Design thinking for innovation theory and practice. The concept of design thinking for innovation has received much attention in recent years. This innovation approach has climbed from the design and designers knowledge field towards other knowledge areas, mainly business management and marketing. Human centered approach, radical collaboration, creativity and breakthrough thinking are the main founding principles of Design thinking that were adapted by those knowledge areas due to their assertively and fitness to the business context and market complexity evolution. Also Open innovation, User-centered innovation and later on Living Labs models emerge as answers to the market and consumers pressure and desire for new products, new services or new business models. Innovation became the principal business management focus and strategic orientation. All this changes had an impact also in the marketing theory. It is possible now to have better strategies, communications plans and continuous dialogue systems with the target audience, incorporating their insights and promoting them to the main dissemination ambassadors of our innovations in the market. Drawing upon data from five case studies, the empirical findings in this dissertation suggest that companies need to shift from Design thinking for innovation approach to an holistic, multidimensional and integrated innovation system. The innovation context it is complex, companies need deeper systems then the success formulas that “commercial “Design thinking for innovation “preaches”. They need to learn how to change their organization culture, how to empower their workforce and collaborators, how to incorporate external stakeholders in their innovation processes, hoe to measure and create key performance indicators throughout the innovation process to give them better decision making data, how to integrate meaning and purpose in their innovation philosophy. Finally they need to understand that the strategic innovation effort it is not a “one shot” story it is about creating a continuous flow of interaction and dialogue with their clients within a “value creation chain“ mindset; RESUMO: Metodologia de co-criação de um produto/marca cruzando Marketing, Design Thinking, Criativity and Management - IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION. Esta dissertação apresenta uma nova metodologia de inovação chamada IDEAS(R)EVOLUTION, que foi desenvolvida segundo um projecto de investigação experimental contínuo que teve o seu início em 2007. Esta nova abordagem baseou-se, inicialmente, na teoria e na práctica do Design thinking para a inovação. Actualmente o conceito do Design Thinking para a inovação “saiu” do dominio da area de conhecimento do Design e dos Designers, tendo despertado muito interesse noutras áreas como a Gestão e o Marketing. Uma abordagem centrada na Pessoa, a colaboração radical, a criatividade e o pensamento disruptivo são principios fundadores do movimento do Design thinking que têm sido adaptados por essas novas áreas de conhecimento devido assertividade e adaptabilidade ao contexto dos negócios e à evolução e complexidade do Mercado. Também os modelos de Inovação Aberta, a inovação centrada no utilizador e mais tarde os Living Labs, emergem como possiveis soluções para o Mercado e para a pressão e desejo dos consumidores para novos productos, serviços ou modelos de negócio. A inovação passou a ser o principal foco e orientação estratégica na Gestão. Todas estas mudanças também tiveram impacto na teoria do Marketing. Hoje é possivel criar melhores estratégias, planos de comunicação e sistemas continuos de diálogo com o público alvo, incorporando os seus insights e promovendo os consumidores como embaixadores na disseminação da inovação das empresas no Mercado Os resultados empiricos desta tese, construídos com a informação obtida nos cinco casos realizados, sugerem que as empresas precisam de se re-orientar do paradigma do Design thinking para a inovação, para um sistema de inovação mais holistico, multidimensional e integrado. O contexto da Inovação é complexo, por isso as empresas precisam de sistemas mais profundos e não apenas de “fórmulas comerciais” como o Design thinking para a inovação advoga. As Empresas precisam de aprender como mudar a sua cultura organizacional, como capacitar sua força de trabalho e colaboradores, como incorporar os públicos externos no processo de inovação, como medir o processo de inovação criando indicadores chave de performance e obter dados para um tomada de decisão mais informada, como integrar significado e propósito na sua filosofia de inovação. Por fim, precisam de perceber que uma estratégia de inovação não passa por ter “sucesso uma vez”, mas sim por criar um fluxo contínuo de interação e diálogo com os seus clientes com uma mentalidade de “cadeia de criação de valor”

Crossing frontiers between tourism and demography. An empirical analysis based on European travellers’ behaviour

This paper aims to establish possible tourism demand scenarios of European travellers to Portugal based on the relationship with changing population structures. A combination of the EUROBAROMETER report 370 (“Attitudes of Europeans towards Tourism in 2013”) and the cohort-component method for population projections will allow the development of different possible tourism demand scenarios. Following the European report, individuals who travelled in 2013 were most likely to live in a household with two or more individuals. Thus, if elderly couples are together till later in their life and in better physiological shape, it is possible that the number of elderly individuals travelling for tourism purposes will increase in the near future. If we can expect tourists from developing countries to be younger due to their demographic dynamics than those from developed countries, where the ageing population is growing fast, we can expect that the percentage of the elderly among tourists will increase. Furthermore, the 2013 European report found that the combination of socio-demographic variables, such as, age, population, gender, household dimension, country of residence and trip purpose explained tourism demand scenarios for Portugal, confirming that seniors and families evidence a paramount sense of importance for the destination. In the literature there is a lack of discussion about the effects of demography in the future and the role of an ageing population in tourism demand choice patterns. We aim to contribute to filling this gap. Consequently, we strongly believe that this paper contributes to the literature by introducing a new field of discussion about the importance of demographic changes in shaping travel trends.

Shaping transverse beam distributions by means of adiabatic crossing of resonances

Non-linear effects are responsible for peculiar phenomena in charged particles dynamics in circular accelerators. Recently, they have been used to propose novel beam manipulations where one can modify the transverse beam distribution in a controlled way, to fulfil the constraints posed by new applications. One example is the resonant beam splitting used at CERN for the Multi-Turn Extraction (MTE), to transfer proton beams from PS to SPS. The theoretical description of these effects relies on the formulation of the particle's dynamics in terms of Hamiltonian systems and symplectic maps, and on the theory of adiabatic invariance and resonant separatrix crossing. Close to resonance, new stable regions and new separatrices appear in the phase space. As non-linear effects do not preserve the Courant-Snyder invariant, it is possible for a particle to cross a separatrix, changing the value of its adiabatic invariant. This process opens the path to new beam manipulations. This thesis deals with various possible effects that can be used to shape the transverse beam dynamics, using 2D and 4D models of particles' motion. We show the possibility of splitting a beam using a resonant external exciter, or combining its action with MTE-like tune modulation close to resonance. Non-linear effects can also be used to cool a beam acting on its transverse beam distribution. We discuss the case of an annular beam distribution, showing that emittance can be reduced modulating amplitude and frequency of a resonant oscillating dipole. We then consider 4D models where, close to resonance, motion in the two transverse planes is coupled. This is exploited to operate on the transverse emittances with a 2D resonance crossing. Depending on the resonance, the result is an emittance exchange between the two planes, or an emittance sharing. These phenomena are described and understood in terms of adiabatic invariance theory.

Radio frequency communication and fault detection for railway signalling

The continuous and swift progression of both wireless and wired communication technologies in today's world owes its success to the foundational systems established earlier. These systems serve as the building blocks that enable the enhancement of services to cater to evolving requirements. Studying the vulnerabilities of previously designed systems and their current usage leads to the development of new communication technologies replacing the old ones such as GSM-R in the railway field. The current industrial research has a specific focus on finding an appropriate telecommunication solution for railway communications that will replace the GSM-R standard which will be switched off in the next years. Various standardization organizations are currently exploring and designing a radiofrequency technology based standard solution to serve railway communications in the form of FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System) to substitute the current GSM-R. Bearing on this topic, the primary strategic objective of the research is to assess the feasibility to leverage on the current public network technologies such as LTE to cater to mission and safety critical communication for low density lines. The research aims to identify the constraints, define a service level agreement with telecom operators, and establish the necessary implementations to make the system as reliable as possible over an open and public network, while considering safety and cybersecurity aspects. The LTE infrastructure would be utilized to transmit the vital data for the communication of a railway system and to gather and transmit all the field measurements to the control room for maintenance purposes. Given the significance of maintenance activities in the railway sector, the ongoing research includes the implementation of a machine learning algorithm to detect railway equipment faults, reducing time and human analysis errors due to the large volume of measurements from the field.