A Multi-Stage Stochastic Non-Linear Model for Reactive Power Planning Under Contingencies

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Improved Upper Limits on the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background from 2009-2010 LIGO and Virgo Data

Gravitational waves from a variety of sources are predicted to superpose to create a stochastic background. This background is expected to contain unique information from throughout the history of the Universe that is unavailable through standard electromagnetic observations, making its study of fundamental importance to understanding the evolution of the Universe. We carry out a search for the stochastic background with the latest data from the LIGO and Virgo detectors. Consistent with predictions from most stochastic gravitational-wave background models, the data display no evidence of a stochastic gravitational-wave signal. Assuming a gravitational-wave spectrum of Omega(GW)(f) = Omega(alpha)(f/f(ref))(alpha), we place 95% confidence level upper limits on the energy density of the background in each of four frequency bands spanning 41.5-1726 Hz. In the frequency band of 41.5-169.25 Hz for a spectral index of alpha = 0, we constrain the energy density of the stochastic background to be Omega(GW)(f) < 5.6 x 10(-6). For the 600-1000 Hz band, Omega(GW)(f) < 0.14(f/900 Hz)(3), a factor of 2.5 lower than the best previously reported upper limits. We find Omega(GW)(f) < 1.8 x 10(-4) using a spectral index of zero for 170-600 Hz and Omega(GW)(f) < 1.0(f/1300 Hz)(3) for 1000-1726 Hz, bands in which no previous direct limits have been placed. The limits in these four bands are the lowest direct measurements to date on the stochastic background. We discuss the implications of these results in light of the recent claim by the BICEP2 experiment of the possible evidence for inflationary gravitational waves.

Systemic risk in dynamical networks with stochastic failure criterion

Complex non-linear interactions between banks and assets we model by two time-dependent Erdos-Renyi network models where each node, representing a bank, can invest either to a single asset (model I) or multiple assets (model II). We use a dynamical network approach to evaluate the collective financial failure -systemic risk- quantified by the fraction of active nodes. The systemic risk can be calculated over any future time period, divided into sub-periods, where within each sub-period banks may contiguously fail due to links to either i) assets or ii) other banks, controlled by two parameters, probability of internal failure p and threshold T-h ("solvency" parameter). The systemic risk decreases with the average network degree faster when all assets are equally distributed across banks than if assets are randomly distributed. The more inactive banks each bank can sustain (smaller T-h), the smaller the systemic risk -for some Th values in I we report a discontinuity in systemic risk. When contiguous spreading becomes stochastic ii) controlled by probability p(2) -a condition for the bank to be solvent (active) is stochasticthe- systemic risk decreases with decreasing p(2). We analyse the asset allocation for the U.S. banks. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2014

STOCHASTIC ADDING MACHINE AND 2-DIMENSIONAL JULIA SETS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Personagens e espaço em romances de Aluísio Azevedo

The characters of O mulato, Casa de pensão and O cortiço, well written books by the writer Aluísio Azevedo, may be considered predominantly flat, for they were built with a single or few features. This kind of character can be even defined by the type, which represents certain dominant features (professional, psychological, cultural, economic, religious, etc.) from the diegetic universe in which the action takes place. This character subcategory is present in certain artistic periods such as Realism and Naturalism, and can be understood as the main character between the individual and the collective, between the concrete and the abstract. Yet, the social space, in the novels of the above mentioned literary movements configures itself, especially in terms of the presence and types of extras: it is about describing environments that illustrate, almost always, in a historical period context of critical intent, vices and deformations of the society, as we can see depicted in the three novels of the author. In turn, the narrative categories that most decisively influence the space representation are the instance (the narrator) and the narrative perspective (focusing). In the case of O mulato, Casa de pensão and O cortiço, the dominance is in choosing the omniscient narrator, who prefers a panoramic view, limited to an exterior and strictly objective description. The survey was developed through readings, literary cataloging and corpus discussions, with a theoretical basis determined by three dimensions: a) critical essays about the author and his works, such as those by Jean-Yves Mérian, Aluísio Azevedo, vida e obra: (1857-1913) and parts of the literature histories which deal with Naturalism, such as those by Alfredo Bosi, História concisa da literatura brasileira, b) theoretical studies about the novel character, such as those by Antonio Candido, A personagem do romance, and the romantic space ...

Dinâmica da vegetação de uma floresta paludosa no município de Rio Claro - SP

Swamp forests, are laid down in the lowlands, with almost permanent presence of water on the soil surface and generally occupy portions fairly flat. In 2003 a phytosociological survey was conducted of the tree and shrub component of a swamp forest established on a steep slope in Rio Claro - SP, through the use of 45 permanent plots of 10 mx 10 m (0.45 ha) divided into three blocks: 1, 2 and 3. The present study aimed to review these plots and discuss the dynamics of vegetation in the swamp forest in question period of eight years. Altogether 1529 individuals were found alive, belonging to 29 families and 47 species. It can be observed that there was a decrease of one family (Flacourtiaceae) and two species (Xylosma tweediana, Inga marginata) in relation to 2003. In general there was a loss not only in number of individuals, but basal area and species diversity. The Block 1 was the only one to show a positive balance in terms of numbers of individuals (2.75%); in Block 2, there was little variation (1.72%) which is negative; whereas Block 3 had the largest decrease, 19.18%. The mortality rate (2.74% / year) for the community remained higher than the recruitment (1.81% / year). There was a decrease (3.19%) of total basal area of the sample relative to 2003, with the highest relative dominance by Calophyllum brasiliense. The decline in diversity of species could be evidenced by the Shannon index, which was 2.0 nats.individual-1 and evenness of 0.52. The most important species (IVI) were Euterpe edulis, Calophyllum brasiliense and Magnolia ovata, together accounting for 59% of IVI community. High mortality and low recruitment rates indicate disturbances in the community, some factors such as proximity to roads, the different soil types associated with a high rate of water saturation and the declivity are crucial to the balance within the community

Stay out (almost) all night: contrasting responses in flight activity among tropical moth assemblages

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Transport and dynamical properties for a bouncing ball model with regular and stochastic perturbations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Description of 90 inbred lines of castor plant (Ricinus communis L.)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Distribuição dos desembolsos do BNDES no setor sucroenergético no Brasil

The organization and dynamics of the energetic-sugarcane sector in Brazil have suffered the impacts of the “deregulation” process that took place in the 1990s, since when it is no longer monitored by the State. In this scenario, the agribusiness enterprises, in order to survive, act over production, marketing and management of their activities, among others areas, demanding financial investments. The credit lines offered by BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) are one of the factors that enable the implementation of these actions. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess the connections between BNDES's outlays for the sugarcane sector in Brazil from 2001 to 2008, and the activities of this sector, according to the federation unity and the region in the country. The work is based on: i) literature review and ii) secondary selected data collection aimed at the composition of data series. The organization and analysis of data indicates that the largest amount of money is destined to the south-central region, specifically the state of São Paulo. This is the only state that receives almost all types of financings, an equivalent to 68% of the receptions in the period. The concentration of BNDES's outlays in the south-central region may be linked to the dominance of the sector in this region, either in terms of harvested area, amount of production, employment contracts or number of enterprises.