•Passenger invisibility is the cause of a weak link between the user and fixed-route bus controls.•A bus e-hailing application is specified to make it responsive to passengers.•The UX method applied ...in the concept validation phase avoid a prototype misconstruction.•Results show that bus e-hailing application to be easy, low-cost, and responsive enough.•The proposed solution can be an interim step towards on-demand service and MaaS.
The bus system accounts for a significant part of trips in the city of Sao Paulo. However, in recent years the percentage of users has been falling concerning the growth modes such as individual transport and the new modes of transport on-demand based on applications. The loss of attractiveness is associated with users' negative perceptions of the quality of the service provided. One of the complaints is the recurring occurrences of buses that do not halt at the stop, even when the user signals his intention to embark or disembark. One way to address this problem would be to use technology like on-demand mobility services based on mobile applications. Although the idea itself seems to be simple, there is no report to date about a fixed route bus service that has implemented a bus hailing application that allows the user the possibility of requesting a bus to halt at a given stop. This paper proposes a new operation model of fixed-route buses that ensures the user requests fulfillment. The proposed model consists of functionalities that make the bus user visible to the operation, creating a more reliable connection between drivers and users. We evaluated the specified functionalities by a group of typical bus users in Sao Paulo, using a User Experience (UX) method. The evaluation clearly showed users' needs and desires regarding the features they would appreciate in the application. We collected clear evidence of the usefulness or not of the improvements suggested by users. Based on the study, we concluded that users agreed with the need to have greater control over their bus trips, in particular, to ensure that their intentions are adequately served and have a confirmation of the recognition of their requests. The study may become an interim solution that may be applied to existing bus services by taking them closer to on-demand services and MaaS (Mobility as a Service).
The present study evaluates the discrete element method (DEM) as a tool for understanding the step-path failure mechanism in fractured rock masses. Initially, the study simulates crack propagation ...and coalescence in biaxial and triaxial laboratory tests. The results of this analysis show that the DEM accurately represents these processes in comparison to other studies in the technical literature. The crack propagation and coalescence processes are important in the step-path failure mechanism for slopes. Simple examples of this mechanism were modeled, and their results were compared with those of the analytical model proposed by Jennings (1970). Among the possibilities suggested by Jennings, modeling with DEM did not provide a good approximation for the case of coplanar cracks, for which failures in the intact rock bridges should only be caused by shear forces. In modeling with DEM, tensile failures occur within the sliding block, generating forces that are not considered in the Jennings model. The non-coplanar crack condition provided a better approximation, since the Jennings model formulation for this case includes the tensile failure of the rock. The main advantage of the DEM over other computational tools is its micromechanical representation of discontinuous media, which permits a better understanding of the step-path failure mechanism. However, good calibration of the macroscopic parameters of the rock and its discontinuities is necessary to obtain good results.
► No specific highlights as the modifications required were minor.
Fission-track annealing models describe the recovery kinetics of a crystalline structure damaged by the interaction with fission fragments during the geological thermal history of a mineral sample. ...Arrhenius type equations have been successfully applied to model annealing and are at the core of thermal history (temperature,
T
, as a function of time,
t
, paths) reconstruction programs for fission-track thermochronology. In this work, the Arrhenius equations are generalized and synthesized in a composite equation that allows for the generation of Arrhenius-type equations by turning on/off parameters and by appropriately choosing functions of
ln
t
and
T
-
1
. Geometrical features of the Arrhenius-type equations in the Arrhenius pseudo-space
(
T
-
1
,
ln
t
)
are explored. Three examples of new models for annealing of fission tracks in apatite, obtained from the composite model, are presented, and their extrapolation to the geological timescale is discussed. The presented composite model can be applied to other studies involving annealing experiments, such as the annealing of alpha recoil damage in minerals.
Graphic Abstract
Since the last decade of the last century, it is known that many old grapevine varieties are descendants of other varieties through natural crossing. Portugal has an important program for the ...conservation of representative samples of intra-varietal variability of all autochthonous varieties, managed by the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity (PORVID), which makes looking for genotypes with dubious identification an important activity from a perspective of its valorisation. This communication presents the results of the molecular analysis of 5,000 samples (accessions) from the PORVID’s collection, using nine microsatellite
loci
currently recommended by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) for genetic grapevine identification. The results obtained confirmed the molecular identity of 4,220 samples corresponding to 214 varieties present in the official list of Portuguese varieties. In 780 samples, 95 profiles with a plural number of accessions revealed not to be listed in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) database, corresponding to possible varieties either descendent from natural crossing from at least one known parental variety, or from undetermined origin. Furthermore, the need for a comprehensive strategy aimed at uncovering other hidden varieties is discussed to prevent their imminent loss, deepen understanding of their origin, and add economic value and sustainability to the vine and wine sector.
BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of knowledge regarding the effects of different warm-up strategies not much is known about these effects and specific strategies with respect to basketball players. ...OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of different warm-up strategies on two specific functional actions of basketball, countermovement jump and speed. METHODS: Nineteen male basketball players aged between 19 and 27 (23.7 ± 1.1 years) were recruited. Experimental sessions were conducted with a 24 h interval in-between. The athletes performed randomly the five warm-up conditions (aerobic + resistance training, aerobic + jumps, resistance training + jumps, jumps only, and control condition) followed by the physical tests (countermovement jump and a 20-m sprint). RESULTS: All warm-up conditions increased significantly the countermovement jump and sprint performance mainly for the jumps only condition for countermovement jump performance (p= 0.01) and resistance training + jumps for sprint performance (p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: Warm-up with jumps was the most effective method for increasing countermovement jump while resistance training + jumps was the best strategy to enhance 20 m speed performance.
Identifying low skeletal muscle strength (SMS), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and skeletal muscle quality (SMQ) is pivotal for diagnosing sarcopenia cases. Age-related declines in SMS, SMM, and SMQ are ...dissimilar between the upper (UL) and lower limbs (LL). Despite this, both UL and LL measures have been used to assess SMS, SMM and SMQ in older adults. However, it is not clear whether there is agreement between UL and LL measures to identify older adults with low SMS, SMM and SMQ.
To investigate the agreement between UL and LL measures to identify older adults with low SMS, SMM and SMQ.
Participants (n = 385; 66.1 ± 5.1 years; 75,4% females) performed the handgrip strength test (HGS) and the 30-s chair stand test (CST) to assess UL- and LL-SMS, respectively. The SMM was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The UL-SMQ was determined as: handgrip strength (kgf) ÷ arm SMM (kg). LL-SMQ was determined as: 30-s CST performance (repetitions) ÷ leg SMM (kg). Results below the 25th percentile stratified by sex and age group (60-69 and 70-80 years) were used to determine low SMS, SMM and SMQ. Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) was used for the agreement analyses.
There was a slight and non-significant agreement between UL and LL measures to identify older adults with low SMS (κ = 0.046; 95% CI 0.093-0.185; p = 0.352). There was a moderate agreement to identify low SMM (κ = 0.473; 95% CI 0.371-0.574; p = 0.001) and a fair agreement to identify low SMQ (κ = 0.206; 95% CI 0.082 to 0.330; p = 0.005).
The agreement between UL and LL measures to identify older adults with low SMS, SMM and SMQ is limited, which might generate different clinical interpretations for diagnosing sarcopenia cases.
To analyze bone mineral content (BMC) and area bone mineral density (aBMD) accrual in adolescent male footballers who started their first football season.
17 athletes (14.8 ± 0.4 years) were ...monitored across 15 weeks of football training. Participants were evaluated for somatic maturation (HPHV), BMC, and aBMD at three time points: before (M1) and after (M2) a preparatory phase, and at the end of the competitive phase (M3). BMC and aBMD were measured using DXA scans. Participants were divided into groups according to maturation status (circa-PHV and post-PHV), and the amount of accumulated training load (median split).
A significant effect (12.1 g/week, standard error (SE) = 2.6 g/week) was observed for lower limbs BMC across the three time points. There were no significant effects of time for upper limbs BMC. There was a significant effect of time for total body aBMD (0.007, SE = 0.003 g/cm2/week) across the three time points. Adolescents at post-PHV had a significant 245.6 g (SE = 56.1 g) higher BMC compared to adolescents at circa-PHV. No significant effects were observed for the accumulated training load.
Systematic football training, even during the growth spurt, has a positive impact on adolescent bone markers despite the accumulated training load and maturation.
This paper aims to analyze the constitutional principle of budget balance and stability and its impact on fiscal sustainability. It considers budget management as the instrument that seeks to ...preserve the fiscal balance, from which it follows that it is a primary principle that guides the budget constitution and requires the State to discipline and safeguard the sustainability of public finances. However, the unequal distribution of income is presented as a failure within the market, which implies using public spending, taxes and social programs as instruments to correct said inequality. The method used is the hermeneutic-documentary. It concludes in the urgency of constitutionalizing budget balance and stability, as a control mechanism against public indebtedness, keeping aside the excessive increase in public spending, which hinders private investment within the market.
El artículo tiene por objetivo analizar el principio constitucional del equilibrio y estabilidad presupuestaria y su incidencia sobre la sostenibilidad fiscal. Considera la gestión presupuestaria como el instrumento que busca conservar el equilibrio fiscal, de donde se sigue, que es un principio primordial, que orienta la constitución presupuestaria y exige al Estado disciplina y salvaguardar la sostenibilidad de las finanzas públicas. No obstante, la distribución desigual del ingreso se presenta como una falla dentro del mercado, que implica utilizar el gasto público, tributos y programas sociales como instrumentos para corregir dicha desigualdad. El método empleado es el hermenéutico-documental. Se concluye en la urgencia de constitucionalizar el equilibrio y estabilidad presupuestaria, como mecanismo de control ante el endeudamiento público, manteniendo al margen el aumento desmesurado del gasto público, que obstaculizan la inversión privada dentro del mercado
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