Air-sea CO2 exchange in the Kuroshio and its importance to the global CO2 uptake

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 444

Monetary policy, exchange rates and stock prices in the Middle East region

A structural vector autoregressive model is employed to investigate the impact of monetary policy and real exchange rate shocks on the stock market performance of Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. In order to identify the structural shocks both short run and long run restrictions are applied. Unlike previous literature the contemporaneous interdependence between the financial variables are left unrestricted to give a more accurate depiction of the relationships. The heterogeneity of the results reflect the different monetary policy frameworks and stock market characteristics of these countries. Mainly, monetary policy and the real exchange rate shocks have a significant short run impact on the stock prices of the countries that apply a relatively more independent monetary policy and flexible exchange rates.

Volatility and VaR Forecasting in the Madrid Stock Exchange

This paper provides an empirical study to assess the forecasting performance of a wide range of models for predicting volatility and VaR in the Madrid Stock Exchange. The models performance was measured by using different loss functions and criteria. The results show that FIAPARCH processes capture and forecast more accurately the dynamics of IBEX-35 returns volatility. It is also observed that assuming a heavy-tailed distribution does not improve models ability for predicting volatility. However, when the aim is forecasting VaR, we find evidence of that the Student’s t FIAPARCH outperforms the models it nests the lower the target quantile.

Urban transformations and rail stations system - the study case of Naples

The aim of this study is to give an interpretation of the urban transformations connected to rail transit system investments; in particular the main research goal is to analyze and give a methodological support for the urban transformation phenomena government in the rail transit stations areas. The article proposes an empirical studies comparative analysis and an application in the Naples urban area, in which a new rail transit network has been developed. In particular the socio-economic transit impacts on the urban system are measured and interpretated with the support of a GIS; therefore an application of the node-place interpretative model (Bertolini 1999) is proposed in order to support transit–land use planning processes in the stations areas.

A relação terapeuta-cliente: na perspectiva do cliente

O presente estudo resulta de uma crescente preocupação e percepção da importância da relação terapeuta-cliente e procura compreender a perspectiva do cliente e a forma como este sente e vive essa relação ao longo de todo o seu processo terapêutico. O estudo realizado, de natureza qualitativa e de carácter exploratório, visa sobretudo analisar a influência da relação terapeuta-cliente na perspectiva do cliente, identificar e descrever os fatores que a influenciam e perceber a mais-valia desta relação ao longo do processo terapêutico. Para tal, foram entrevistadas dezanove pessoas que estão a receber tratamento de terapia ocupacional. Para a recolha dos dados foi aplicada a entrevista semi-estruturada por se pretender um contributo mais envolvente, particularizado e subjetivo dos clientes. Através da realização do estudo e de acordo com a perspetiva dos clientes entrevistados, concluiu-se que a capacidade do terapeuta em construir e estabelecer um vínculo com o cliente ditará grande parte do sucesso ou insucesso do processo terapêutico. Porém, tão importante como formar e estabelecer um vínculo terapeuta-cliente é preciso ter a preocupação contínua de o manter sempre vivo e fortalecido. Para que tal aconteça, o terapeuta não pode menosprezar a experiência de vida e expectativas do cliente e deve assumir um papel de permanente preocupação e atenção a todas as transformações quotidianas pois estas influenciam o envolvimento do cliente nas suas atividades/ocupações e afetam a sua saúde e desempenho. O novo milénio requer dos profissionais de saúde em geral e dos terapeutas ocupacionais em particular, novas habilidades e competências. É fundamental adquirir a consciência de que os clientes são o centro de todo o processo terapêutico. É necessário ter uma visão holística e não fragmentada do cliente. É importante interagir com os clientes e permitir uma troca de conhecimento, entre o saber do cliente e o saber do terapeuta. Essa troca gera convergências, fortalece laços e o processo terapêutico avança. Nesse relacionamento, ambos aprendem, progridem e crescem.

New insights on integer-programming models for the kidney exchange problem

In recent years several countries have set up policies that allow exchange of kidneys between two or more incompatible patient–donor pairs. These policies lead to what is commonly known as kidney exchange programs. The underlying optimization problems can be formulated as integer programming models. Previously proposed models for kidney exchange programs have exponential numbers of constraints or variables, which makes them fairly difficult to solve when the problem size is large. In this work we propose two compact formulations for the problem, explain how these formulations can be adapted to address some problem variants, and provide results on the dominance of some models over others. Finally we present a systematic comparison between our models and two previously proposed ones via thorough computational analysis. Results show that compact formulations have advantages over non-compact ones when the problem size is large.

Sequencing cutting patterns with colored interval graphs

The problem addressed here originates in the industry of flat glass cutting and wood panel sawing, where smaller items are cut from larger items accordingly to predefined cutting patterns. In this type of industry the smaller pieces that are cut from the patterns are piled around the machine in stacks according to the size of the pieces, which are moved to the warehouse only when all items of the same size have been cut. If the cutting machine can process only one pattern at a time, and the workspace is limited, it is desirable to set the sequence in which the cutting patterns are processed in a way to minimize the maximum number of open stacks around the machine. This problem is known in literature as the minimization of open stacks (MOSP). To find the best sequence of the cutting patterns, we propose an integer programming model, based on interval graphs, that searches for an appropriate edge completion of the given graph of the problem, while defining a suitable coloring of its vertices.

Cantor exchange systems and renormalization

We prove a one-to-one correspondence between (i) C1+ conjugacy classes of C1+H Cantor exchange systems that are C1+H fixed points of renormalization and (ii) C1+ conjugacy classes of C1+H diffeomorphisms f with a codimension 1 hyperbolic attractor Lambda that admit an invariant measure absolutely continuous with respect to the Hausdorff measure on Lambda. However, we prove that there is no C1+alpha Cantor exchange system, with bounded geometry, that is a C1+alpha fixed point of renormalization with regularity alpha greater than the Hausdorff dimension of its invariant Cantor set.

Arc exchange systems and renormalization

We exhibit the construction of stable arc exchange systems from the stable laminations of hyperbolic diffeomorphisms. We prove a one-to-one correspondence between (i) Lipshitz conjugacy classes of C(1+H) stable arc exchange systems that are C(1+H) fixed points of renormalization and (ii) Lipshitz conjugacy classes of C(1+H) diffeomorphisms f with hyperbolic basic sets Lambda that admit an invariant measure absolutely continuous with respect to the Hausdorff measure on Lambda. Let HD(s)(Lambda) and HD(u)(Lambda) be, respectively, the Hausdorff dimension of the stable and unstable leaves intersected with the hyperbolic basic set L. If HD(u)(Lambda) = 1, then the Lipschitz conjugacy is, in fact, a C(1+H) conjugacy in (i) and (ii). We prove that if the stable arc exchange system is a C(1+HDs+alpha) fixed point of renormalization with bounded geometry, then the stable arc exchange system is smooth conjugate to an affine stable arc exchange system.

Modelling and optimization of the ion exchange membrane bioreactor for removal of anionic pollutants from drinking water streams

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Química, especialidade de Engenharia Bioquímica

How differently do our non-large companies listed on the Portuguese Stock Exchange perform?

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Pricing of exchange traded funds

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Finance from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Tracking error of exchange-traded funds: Evidence from the UK

This paper is mainly concerned with the tracking accuracy of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) but also evaluates their performance and pricing efficiency. The findings show that ETFs offer virtually the same return but exhibit higher volatility than their benchmark. It seems that the pricing efficiency, which should come from the creation and redemption process, does not fully hold as equity ETFs show consistent price premiums. The tracking error of the funds is generally small and is decreasing over time. The risk of the ETF, daily price volatility and the total expense ratio explain a large part of the tracking error. Trading volume, fund size, bid-ask spread and average price premium or discount did not have an impact on the tracking error. Finally, it is concluded that market volatility and the tracking error are positively correlated.