Publications

Abstract The popularity of electric scooters (EC) has increased significantly in recent years and understanding the diverse impacts of EC use on health is crucial for ensuring its safe integration in urban mobility. To address this, a systematic review was conducted with the aim of identifying areas, objectives, and results of academic production dedicated to studying the impacts of EC use on health. Articles were sourced from four databases: Inspec, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. 36 articles were analyzed, and relevant information was systematically retrieved, organized, and codified into a structured database. While the increase in accidents and subsequent healthcare burden is acknowledged, further research is needed to determine whether the rise in accidents results from increased recklessness or simply a surge in usage. The potential association with moral panic, fueled by negative media portrayals, underscores the importance of a balanced public discourse and accurate representation of ECs. The predominant focus of studies on accidents indicates a gap in a holistic understanding of the impacts of EC use on health. Future research and policy considerations should strive to strike a balance between fostering the benefits and challenges of EC use, ensuring the development of sustainable and safe micromobility solutions. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Abstract During the Decade of Ocean Science, oceans and the deep sea have gained attention for their vital ecological roles, prompting increased scientific investment. However, this growing body of research has not effectively reached the public, especially regarding deep-sea ecosystems. Public perception studies are limited, particularly those focused on the deep sea. This article compares findings from a U.S. study with previous research in Portugal on social representations of the deep sea. A total of 521 U.S. participants completed tasks assessing representations, perceptions, and attitudes. Results mirror the Portuguese study, revealing vague and conflicting representations. Both populations use contrasting terms (known vs. unknown, literal vs. abstract) to describe the deep sea. Despite cultural differences, similar results emerge: the deep sea is linked to education, science, and climate, while perceived threats reflect current concerns. Attitudes are generally positive toward preservation, economic use, and scientific exploration, contrasting earlier findings that showed skepticism toward economic exploitation. This study highlights the value of cross-cultural comparisons in understanding public views on complex environmental topics and supports the need for tailored communication strategies.

Abstract <jats:p>In this workshop, we explored a research example on the field of utopian studies and, within it, feminist criticism to illustrate text analysis with R language using metadata from the Lyman Tower Sargent Bibliography. Participants were introduced to the research topic, the R Studio environment, and guided through the iterative process of text analysis (word frequency and network analysis) with the Quanteda library. We aimed to show that visualizations are, more than results, part of a process that triggers new, more complex research questions</jats:p>

Abstract Travel writing reflects placed subjective human experience and participates in the collective processes of assembling stable, consensual, or polemical geographical entities and identities. In this chapter, we reflect on the contributions of Critical Digital Humanities to the communication of travel writing studies. Using R language, we are exploring the Anglophone Travelers in Portugal databases—which provide annotated information on almost 200 foreigner travel accounts in English published since the eighteenth century—to visualize geographical entities, analyze topics, and design visualization tools for non-expert audiences. In the process, four contributions of Critical Digital Humanities became evident. First, toponymical and semantic sources of ambiguity require us to develop a strong understanding of data as an artifact or capta (Drucker, Digital Humanities Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1–21, 2011) construed in the annotating process that may affect the accuracy of automatic geocoding and processing based on named entity recognition. Critical digital humanist scholars, even if aware of such issues, lack creative solutions to express ambiguity as informative per se of the liquid nature of social labeling. Second, digital humanities open doors to enhanced interactivity (for instance, web applications) but require thoughtful, parsimonious solutions to express complexity which raises issues related to minimal computing (Risam and Gil, Digital Humanities Quarterly, vol. 16, no. 2, 2022). Third, Critical Digital Humanities helped to understand that communicating foreign perspectives may impact the audiences’ understanding of the traveled territory, but also of the travelers as an exogroup, a social category built on stereotyped views. Fourth, Critical Digital Humanities allowed us to better communicate the entangled nature of traveling and socio-historical circumstances. The challenge is to use such information to promote meaningful, centrifugal travel experiences rather than centripetal, massive travel itineraries. In the future, the project aims to grow via participatory citizen science (crowdsourcing) and to extend its scope to online digital sources related to travel (for instance, blogs). These new steps will foster the need to examine web scraping and text cleaning techniques and develop suitable storytelling approaches to engage people and create narratives that reflect their inputs in a critical way. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.

Abstract As artificial intelligence driver monitoring systems gain momentum in intelligent mobility, it is critical to analyse how distraction is defined and induced. This systematic review was specifically focused on studies conducted in driving simulators. A Boolean query was iteratively developed to retrieve articles from Scopus that fulfil the following criteria: (1) being an empirical study, (2) addressing driver distraction, (3) using a driving simulator, (4) aiming at developing an artificial intelligence monitoring system. After screening, 34 articles remained and were analysed according to four general themes: definition of distraction, characteristics of the scenarios used in the driving simulator, sampling of participants, and procedures. Results showed that the most common definitions of distraction consider it as a shift in the driver’s attention towards a secondary task, which implicates in a degradation of the execution of the primary task (i.e., driving the vehicle), and, consequently, a reduction in driving safety. Most articles described the scenarios used in the simulator in greater detail and, in some cases, variations in traffic density, visibility, and environmental conditions were observed. Furthermore, scripted critical events in the scenario (e.g., car in front of the participant breaking) were also used. Recruitment and samples varied greatly between studies, with the smallest population consisting of two and the largest of 97 participants. Despite the sample size, participants still needed to meet eligibility criteria such as having a driver’s license, possessing minimum driving experience, health prerequisites, being part of a specific group, age, and gender. Procedures and tasks were not always described in detail. However, several studies described an initial moment where participants could familiarize themselves with the simulator without taking measurements, while fewer reported that participants were allowed to familiarize themselves with the tasks. Session length varied from eight to 90 minutes. Regarding the operationalization of distraction in experiments, some studies required drivers to perform a single type of distraction-inducing task (mental calculations, use of In-Vehicle Information System (IVIS), cell phone operation, and manual tasks) with varying difficulty levels. Still, most studies relied on a combination of different tasks, such as cell phone use, physical tasks (e.g., drinking, moving objects, and applying makeup), and IVIS use. Results showed studies favour the description of the digital systems over the experiment design and procedures and a preference for locating the studies at the individual level of analysis, precluding a broader understanding of human behaviour as socially constructed and signified. We argue that articulation with higher levels of analysis would bring relevant explanations for actual road behaviour and personal and social factors should be considered when developing driver monitoring systems aimed at reducing distraction. Our results may assist future studies within the same scope, guiding the definition of effective experimental designs to test artificial intelligence driving monitoring systems, while contributing to a more holistic understanding of driver’s behaviour. © 2023. Published by AHFE Open Access. All rights reserved.

Abstract Recent developments in vehicle automation are leading a paradigm change in respect to mobility of goods and people. Pushed by environmental concerns, researchers and practitioners seek new and innovative solutions. Nevertheless, the challenge of sustainable transport does not end with the use of clean fuels, as faster, cheaper, and more efficient transport is still desired by operators. The concepts behind truck automation and truck platooning technologies present potential for operations management efficiency and cost reduction. On the other hand, as drivers are still the main piece on a safe and efficient transport system, their working conditions must be ensured. Therefore, a multidisciplinary perspective on truck platooning is required, comprising the view of all the stakeholders involved in the development of safe and easily adopted technologies. In the context of the project TRAIN, we have developed exploratory research towards understanding and mapping the requirements for deploying truck platooning technology. Through a qualitative research, based on focus groups, we have identified three main areas of requirements from logistics companies: (i) labor, (ii) safety and liability, and (iii) transport and logistics. The analysis also showed that these areas are related to three research domains: (i) human factors and human-machine interaction, (ii) operations research and management, and (iii) policy and regulation. © 2023. Published by AHFE Open Access. All rights reserved.

Abstract This paper focuses on developing and assessing a non-obtrusive and transformative method, based on virtual reality, to evaluate science communication projects in science centres. The method was tested using deep-sea cutting-edge scientific content. We applied a mixed design, with 72 adult participants randomly assigned to experimental conditions (with/without exhibition exposure). Results showed that the exhibition promoted a better understanding of science. The non-obtrusive measures on awareness and engagement were positively related with questions posed via questionnaire and interview. The study adds theoretical and empirical support to the design and implementation of non-obtrusive and transformative evaluation experiences in science exhibitions in science centres and museums.

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between science and religion in the education system of Roman-Catholic Portuguese society. In particular, we explored perceptions of the relationship between science and religion for religious education teachers. We surveyed 198 Portuguese religious education teachers about how they view science and religion. The questionnaires' results revealed a number of similarities: religious education teachers are highly involved in religious practices and exposed to science; they perceived a compatibility between science and religion; and they have an openness to dialogue between both. They do not adhere to anti-scientific perspectives, but they simultaneously try to limit what can be explained by science. Thus, an interpretative view of dialogue and/or integration seems to best explain the perceptions of religious education teachers of the relationship between science and religion. These findings allow a space of discussion, enabling teachers to possibly foster the science-religion dialogue in their contexts of pedagogical activity.