Publications 2019


Books


180.  The variable order fractional calculus of variations

Almeida, Ricardo and Tavares, Dina and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Springer

This book intends to deepen the study of the fractional calculus, giving special emphasis to variable-order operators

ria.ua.pt | doi

179.  Molecular logic and computational synthetic biology: first international symposium, MLCSB 2018, Santiago, Chile, December 17–18, 2018, Revised Selected Papers

Chaves, Madalena and Martins, Manuel A.

Springer

ria.ua.pt | doi

178.  Equações diferenciais ordinárias: resumos teóricos, exercícios resolvidos e propostos

Tchemisova, Tatiana and Kharlamova, Vera and Freitas, Adelaide and Plakhov, Alexander

UA Editora

O presente livro tem como base uma publicação interna da Universidade de Aveiro realizada pelas primeiras três autoras na forma de sebenta com resumos teóricos e exercícios propostos de equações diferenciais ordinárias. Neste livro os tópicos abordados na sebenta foram melhorados e novos exemplos, exercícios resolvidos e exercícios propostos, acompanhados das respetivas soluções, fora,m acrescentados (...)

ria.ua.pt

Book Chapters


177.  Non-invasive control of the fractional Hegselmann-Krause type model

Almeida, Ricardo and Malinowska, A.B. and Odzijewicz, T.

Non-Integer Order Calculus and its Applications. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering

Springer

In this paper, the fractional order Hegselmann–Krause type model with leadership is studied. We seek an optimal control strategy for the system to reach a consensus in such a way that the control mechanism is included in the leader dynamics. Necessary optimality conditions are obtained by the use of a fractional counterpart of Pontryagin Maximum Principle. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is illustrated by numerical examples.

ria.ua.pt | doi

176.  A survey on fractional variational calculus

Almeida, Ricardo and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Handbook of Fractional Calculus with Applications

De Gruyter

Main results and techniques of the fractional calculus of variations are surveyed. We consider variational problems containing Caputo derivatives and study them using both indirect and direct methods. In particular, we provide necessary optimality conditions of Euler-Lagrange type for the fundamental, higher-order, and isoperimetric problems, and we compute approximate solutions based on truncated Grünwald-Letnikov approximations of the Caputo derivatives.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

175.  Analysis of fractional integro-differential equations of thermistor type

Sidi Ammi, Moulay Rchid and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Handbook of Fractional Calculus with Applications. Vol 1: Basic Theory

De Gruyter

We survey methods and results of fractional differential equations in which an unknown function is under the operation of integration and/or differentiation of fractional order. As an illustrative example, we review results as regards fractional integral and differential equations of thermistor type. Several nonlocal problems are considered: problems concerned with Riemann–Liouville, Caputo, and time-scale fractional operators. The existence and uniqueness of positive solutions are obtained through suitable fixed-point theorems in proper Banach spaces. Additionally, existence and continuation theorems are given, ensuring global existence.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

174.  Variable order Mittag–Leffler fractional operators on isolated time scales and application to the calculus of variations

Abdeljawad, Thabet and Mert, Raziye and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Fractional Derivatives with Mittag-Leffler Kernel. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control

Springer

We introduce new fractional operators of variable order in isolated time scales with Mittag–Leffler kernels. This allows a general formulation of a class of fractional variational problems involving variable-order difference operators. Main results give fractional integration by parts formulas and necessary optimality conditions of Euler–Lagrange type.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

173.  Reactive models for biological regulatory networks

Figueiredo, Daniel and Barbosa, Luís Soares

Molecular Logic and Computational Synthetic Biology: First International Symposium, MLCSB 2018, Santiago, Chile, December 17–18, 2018, Revised Selected Papers

Springer

A reactive model, as studied by D. Gabbay and his collaborators, can be regarded as a graph whose set of edges may be altered whenever one of them is crossed. In this paper we show how reactive models can describe biological regulatory networks and compare them to Boolean networks and piecewise-linear models, which are some of the most common kinds of models used nowadays. In particular, we show that, with respect to the identification of steady states, reactive Boolean networks lie between piecewise linear models and the usual, plain Boolean networks. We also show this ability is preserved by a suitable notion of bisimulation, and, therefore, by network minimisation.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

172.  Verification for Everyone? An Overview of Dynamic Logic

Madeira, Alexandre

Molecular Logic and Computational Synthetic Biology. MLCSB 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer

This note, reporting the homonym keynote presented in the International Symposium on Molecular Logic and Computational Synthetic Biology 2018, traces an informal roadmap on Dynamic Logic (DL) field, focusing on its versatility and resilience to be adjusted and adopted in a wide class of application domains and computational paradigms. The exposition argues the room for developments on tagging DL to the analysis of synthetic biologic domain.

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171.  A Hybrid Dynamic Logic for Event/Data-Based Systems

Hennicker, Rolf and Madeira, Alexandre and Knapp, Alexander

Lecture Notes in Computer Science - 22nd International Conference on Fundamental Approaches to Software Engineering, FASE 2019

Springer

We propose E↓ -logic as a formal foundation for the specification and development of event-based systems with local data states. The logic is intended to cover a broad range of abstraction levels from abstract requirements specifications up to constructive specifications. Our logic uses diamond and box modalities over structured actions adopted from dynamic logic. Atomic actions are pairs Open image in new window where e is an event and ? a state transition predicate capturing the allowed reactions to the event. To write concrete specifications of recursive process structures we integrate (control) state variables and binders of hybrid logic. The semantic interpretation relies on event/data transition systems; specification refinement is defined by model class inclusion. For the presentation of constructive specifications we propose operational event/data specifications allowing for familiar, diagrammatic representations by state transition graphs. We show that E↓-logic is powerful enough to characterise the semantics of an operational specification by a single E↓-sentence. Thus the whole development process can rely on E↓-logic and its semantics as a common basis. This includes also a variety of implementation constructors to support, among others, event refinement and parallel composition.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

170.  Oscillatory behaviour on a non-autonomous hybrid SIR-Model

Rocha, Eugénio

Molecular Logic and Computational Synthetic Biology. MLCSB 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer

We study the impact of some abstract agent intervention on the disease spread modelled by a SIR-model with linear growth infectivity. The intervention is meant to decrease the infectivity, which are activated by a threshold on the number of infected individuals. The coupled model is represented as a nonlinear non-autonomous hybrid system. Stability and reduction results are obtained using the notions of non-autonomous attractors, Bohl exponents, and dichotomy spectrum. Numerical examples are given where the number of infected individuals can oscillate around a equilibrium point or be a succession of bump functions, which are validated with a tool based on the notion of delta-complete decision procedures for solving satisfiability modulo theories problems over the real numbers and bounded delta-reachability. These findings seem to show that hybrid SIR-models are more flexible than standard models and generate a vast set of solution profiles. It also raises questions regarding the possibility of the agent intervention been somehow responsible for the shape and intensity of future outbreaks.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

169.  Periodic INAR(1) Models with Skellam-Distributed Innovations

Santos, Cláudia and Pereira, Isabel and Scotto, Manuel

Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2019. ICCSA 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer

In this paper, an integer-valued autoregressive model of order one (INAR(1)) with time-varying parameters and driven by a periodic sequence of innovations is introduced. The proposed INAR(1) model is based on the signed thinning operator defined by Kachour and Truquet (2011) and conveniently adapted to the periodic case. Basic notations and definitions concerning the periodic signed thinning operator are provided. Based on this thinning operator, Chesneau and Kachour (2012) established a signed INAR(1) model. Motivated by the work of Chesneau and Kachour (2012), we introduce a periodic model, denoted by S-PINAR(1), with period s. In contrast to conventional INAR(1) models, these models are defined in Z allowing for negative values both for the series and its autocorrelation function. For a proper Z-valued time series, a distribution for the innovation term defined on Z is required. The S-PINAR(1) model assumes a specific innovation distribution, the Skellam distribution. Regarding parameter estimation, two methods are considered: conditional least squares and conditional maximum likelihood. The performance of the S-PINAR(1) model is assessed through a simulation study.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

168.  Rigid first-order hybrid logic

Blackburn, Patrick and Martins, Manuel and Manzano, María and Huertas, Antonia

Logic, Language, Information, and Computation. WoLLIC 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer Verlag

Hybrid logic is usually viewed as a variant of modal logic in which it is possible to refer to worlds. But when one moves beyond propositional hybrid logic to first- or higher-order hybrid logic, it becomes useful to view it as a systematic modal language of rigidification. The key point is this: @ can be used to rigidify not merely formulas, but other types of symbol as well. This idea was first explored in first-order hybrid logic (without function symbols) where @ was used to rigidify the firstorder constants. It has since been used in hybrid type-theory: here one only has function symbols, but they are of every finite type, and @ can rigidify any of them. This paper fills the remaining gap: it introduces a first-order hybrid language which handles function symbols, and allows predicate symbols to be rigidified. The basic idea is straightforward, but there is a slight complication: transferring information about rigidity between the level of terms and formulas. We develop a syntax to deal with this, provide an axiomatization, and prove a strong completeness result for a varying domain (actualist) semantics.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

167.  rPrism: a software for reactive weighted state transition models

Figueiredo, Daniel and Rocha, Eugénio and Martins, Manuel António and Chaves, Madalena

Hybrid Systems Biology

Springer, Cham

In this work we introduce the software rPrism, as a branch of the software PRISM model checker, in order to be able to study weighted reactive state transition models. This kind of model gathers together the concepts of reactivity { which consists of the capacity of a state transition model to alter its accessibility relation { and weights, which can be seen as costs, rates, etc.. Given a speci c model, the tool performs a simulation based on a Continuous Time Markov Chain. In particular, we show an example of its application for biological systems.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

166.  The educational math board game 3DM6

Almeida, M. R. and Barros, P. and Breda, A. and Resende, H. and Rocha, E.

EDULEARN19 Proceedings

IATED Digital Library

In this paper, we describe the conception and the difficulties behind the implementation of the three-dimensional and educational math game 3DM6 with features that make it engaging and suitable for different audiences. The 3DM6 game scope encompasses a school population attending three distinct levels of education that go from the 1st year of the 1st cycle to the 6th year of the 2nd cycle of the Portuguese Basic Education. Its fundamental purpose is to sharpen the curiosity of the players, integrating knowledge of various natures with special emphasis on mathematical knowledge. It includes both the general concept of a traditional board game and the main idea of a quiz, comprising features that differentiate it from a general game, among which are the learning opportunities resulting of the three-dimensional dynamics of the board where the game unfolds. The option by the design of a game in a 3D format took into account the barely inexistence of this type of game both in the commercial circuit and in the research field on serious games. Besides, and above all, this characteristic may bring a source of new learning opportunities acting also as a motivating agent making players feel more interested and engaged. There are several studies pointing to a possible relationship between games, including board games, and the development of spatial processing. However, little is known about the influence of 3D board games in the development of this type of capability or in any other math capability. At this stage of the 3DM6 game development, we have designed and implemented the physical structure of the game along with three distinct sets of card decks, taking into account the target audience and the goals to be achieved. Within this context, during the design phase, the incorporation of features to help players to acquire mathematical knowledge and/or to reinforce the learning of some specific academic contents were, as expected, taken into account. The math contents present in the game respects the curricular national programs of the Portuguese Basic Education and the proposed challenges have in consideration, essentially, the awakening or the development of the following capabilities: mental calculus, math reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving. The other contents are, basically, ludic and of historical and cultural nature.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

165.  A digital puzzle game for the elderly

Barros, P. and Almeida, M. R. and Breda, A. and Rocha, E.

EDULEARN19 Proceedings

IATED Digital Library

Several works in the literature show the importance that serious digital games have in maintaining the cognitive levels in the elderly population. However, there are important factors which limit their effective use, such as the game rules complexity and diversity, motivation and empathy with the tasks to be carried, users’ abilities to deal with technology (e.g. understanding the functionalities of a mouse device), physical limitations (e.g. mobility, reduced vision), psychological and mental limitations (e.g. reduced memory, social embarrassment), and behaviour limitations as neophobia (i.e. fear of newness or novelty). While addressing the previous factors, serious games need to find an adequate balance between the difficulty required in the game tasks and the user capabilities, in order to be able to maintain the elderly interest but still challenge their cognitive skills. Such implies that serious games for elderly people must have a clear and smooth way to tune the difficulty of the game level. Puzzle games seem to be good candidates for accomplishing the above requirements by changing the number of puzzle pieces, the number of allowed transformations (e.g. rotations, reflexions), colour stimulation, and/or theme selection of the puzzle images. Moreover, the rules are simple and intuitive, and there is a high probability that elderly people have already played some version of a puzzle. In this work, we describe the conception and difficulties behind the implementation of a digital puzzle game targeting the senior population, either institutionalized, being taken care at home, or living autonomously. It is well known that puzzle solving is a highly intensive mental process which strengthens mental fitness and slows the natural degradation process that comes with aging. In our proposed game, we tried not only to create an engaging experience but also, supported by scientific evidence, implement some features to train their mental abilities which are known to degrade over time; in an attempt to slow or even revert such degradation process. Also, since the game data is gathered with the informed consent of all the players, our second aim is to analyse the statistical data collected together with complementary medical information, in order to measure/determine some of the effects of playing digital puzzle games in the long term of mental degradation/fitness. The game is presented with a careful set of images from several sources. A preloaded gallery covers a wide range of popular themes (e.g. animals, nature, social gatherings) and targeting personal issues as the degree of visual impairment and cognitive/memory degradation. To promote further engagement, users can also customize the game experience by selecting themselves images from online resources (as google images) or images stored on their devices. Additionally, relatives or friends may remotely send images to the user’s account which may further promote their willing to play, if the images have some emotional connection attached. By saving data to a central server, caretakers can monitor the elderly activity and difficulties which may help to early diagnose their mental degradation. The proposed game was already used in 4 different elderly care centres, by more than 40 selected seniors with different profiles, in order to evaluate and benchmark the fulfilment of the work aims.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

164.  Time-fractional optimal control of initial value problems on time scales

Bahaa, Gaber M. and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Nonlinear Analysis and Boundary Value Problems. NABVP 2018. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics

Springer

We investigate Optimal Control Problems (OCP) for fractional systems involving fractional-time derivatives on time scales. The fractional-time derivatives and integrals are considered, on time scales, in the Riemann–Liouville sense. By using the Banach fixed point theorem, sufficient conditions for existence and uniqueness of solution to initial value problems described by fractional order differential equations on time scales are known. Here we consider a fractional OCP with a performance index given as a delta-integral function of both state and control variables, with time evolving on an arbitrarily given time scale. Interpreting the Euler–Lagrange first order optimality condition with an adjoint problem, defined by means of right Riemann–Liouville fractional delta derivatives, we obtain an optimality system for the considered fractional OCP. For that, we first prove new fractional integration by parts formulas on time scales.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

163.  Boundary values of discrete monogenic functions over bounded domains in $$ mathbb{R}^3 $$

Cerejeiras, Paula and Kähler, Uwe and Legatiuk, Anastasiia and Legatiuk, Dmitrii

Linear Systems, Signal Processing and Hypercomplex Analysis

Birkhäuser

In this paper we are going to study boundary values for discrete monogenic functions over bounded spatial domains. After establishing the discrete Stokes formula and the Borel–Pompeiu formula we are going to construct discrete Plemelj–Sokhotzki formulae, discrete Plemelj projections and discrete Hardy spaces. A further extension to the n-dimensional case can be done in a straightforward way based on the results presented in this paper.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

162.  Finite element exterior calculus with script geometry

Cerejeiras, Paula and Kähler, Uwe and Legatiuk, Dmitrii

AIP Conference Proceedings

AIP Publishing

Finite element method is probably the most popular numerical method used in different fields of applications nowadays. While approximation properties of the classical finite element method, as well as its various modifications, are well understood, stability of the method is still a crucial problem in practice. Therefore, alternative approaches based not on an approximation of continuous differential equations, but working directly with discrete structures associated with these equations, have gained an increasing interest in recent years. Finite element exterior calculus is one of such approaches. The finite element exterior calculus utilises tools of algebraic topology, such as de Rham cohomology and Hodge theory, to address the stability of the continuous problem. By its construction, the finite element exterior calculus is limited to triangulation based on simplicial complexes. However, practical applications often require triangulations containing elements of more general shapes. Therefore, it is necessary to extend the finite element exterior calculus to overcome the restriction to simplicial complexes. In this paper, the script geometry, a recently introduced new kind of discrete geometry and calculus, is used as a basis for the further extension of the finite element exterior calculus.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

161.  Modelling overdispersion with integer-valued moving average processes

Silva, Maria Eduarda and Silva, Isabel and Torres, Cristina

Stochastic Models, Statistics and Their Applications

Springer International Publishing

A new first-order integer-valued moving average, INMA(1), model based on the negative binomial thinning operation defined by Risti´c et al. [21] is proposed and characterized. It is shown that this model has negative binomial (NB) marginal distribution when the innovations follow a NB distribution and therefore it can be used in situations where the data present overdispersion. Additionally, this model is extended to the bivariate context. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is used to estimate the unknown parameters of the proposed models and the results of a simulation study that intends to investigate the performance of the method show that, in general, the estimates are consistent and symmetric. Finally, the proposed model is fitted to a real dataset and the quality of the adjustment is evaluated.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

160.  Does teacher's education affect student performance?

Murillo, K. and Rocha, E. and Freitas, A. and Pardo, C.

EDULEARN19 Proceedings

IATED

Increasingly questions arise regarding the educational process and which factors are of key importance to increase the quality of education. According to Clare Kosnik, "Quality in education depends directly on the quality of teachers and the quality of the curriculum." However, to what extent is this true? It is known that, many agents intervene in the educational process as the quality of curriculum, students, teachers, teaching methods, governance, financing, evaluation and linkage with other apex institutions. In this sense, it is interesting to analyse how the quality of education should be evaluated, as a direct consequence of teacher training, the results of students, the conditions and strategies in which teaching is developed, or an evaluation in which all do these aspects interfere. This work aims to address one of the above questions, which causes major debates among educational analysts: to what extent does education level and research outcomes of teachers interfere with the skills and performance of higher education students? Specifically, we examined 165 higher education institutions (HEI), public and private, in Colombia in the year of 2016. The Colombian HEI system is composed of technical institutes focused on vocational education, university institutions focused on technological education, and universities focused on under-graduate degrees (e.g. bachelor or diploma) and post-graduate degrees (e.g. specialisation, master or doctorate). The data include twelve variables: six variables related with teacher education level and research outcomes (i.e. teachers with specialisation, teachers with masters, teachers with doctorate, teachers without postgraduate, number of citations and intellectual production score) and six variables related with student performance (i.e. quantitative reasoning, critical reading, written communication, employability and postgraduate ingresses). A canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was performed to establish correlations between the formation of the teachers of higher education and the results of their students, aiming to identify the main association degree and the impact of them. The methodology involves CCA with filtering to deal with outliers and the application of Box-Cox transformations to transform non-normal variables in near normal ones. Statistical tests based on Wilks Lambda, Hotelling-Lawley Trace, Pillai-Bartlett Trace and Roy's Largest Root were applied in order to verify the significance of the results. These approaches identify the degree and the most relevant relationships between variables of teacher training/research and variables of student performance in higher education.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

159.  Applications of parabolic Dirac operators to the instationary viscous MHD equations on conformally flat manifolds

Cerejeiras, Paula and Kähler, Uwe and Kraußhar, Sören R.

Topics in Clifford Analysis. Trends in Mathematics

Birkhäuser

In this paper we apply classical and recent techniques from quaternionic analysis using parabolic Dirac type operators and related Teodorescu and Cauchy-Bitzadse type operators to set up some analytic representation formulas for the solutions to the time dependent incompressible viscous magnetohydrodynamic equations on some conformally flat manifolds, such as cylinders and tori associated with different spinor bundles. Also in this context a special variant of hypercomplex Eisenstein series related to the parabolic Dirac operator serve as kernel functions.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

158.  Normalized entropy aggregation for inhomogeneous large-scale data

Costa, Maria da Conceição and Macedo, Pedro

Theory and Applications of Time Series Analysis. ITISE 2018. Contributions to Statistic

Springer

It was already in the fifties of the last century that the relationship between information theory, statistics, and maximum entropy was established, following the works of Kullback, Leibler, Lindley and Jaynes. However, the applications were restricted to very specific domains and it was not until recently that the convergence between information processing, data analysis and inference demanded the foundation of a new scientific area, commonly referred to as Info-Metrics. As huge amount of information and large-scale data have become available, the term "big data" has been used to refer to the many kinds of challenges presented in its analysis: many observations, many variables (or both), limited computational resources, different time regimes or multiple sources. In this work, we consider one particular aspect of big data analysis which is the presence of inhomogeneities, compromising the use of the classical framework in regression modelling. A new approach is proposed, based on the introduction of the concepts of info-metrics to the analysis of inhomogeneous large-scale data. The framework of information-theoretic estimation methods is presented, along with some information measures. In particular, the normalized entropy is tested in aggregation procedures and some simulation results are presented.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

157.  O Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro e a sua relação com o turismo na Região Norte de Portugal

Barros, Helena de and Alonso, Hugo

26th APDR Congress

Associação Portuguesa para o Desenvolvimento Regional

O Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro e o turismo na região Norte de Portugal têm crescido de forma muito significativa nos últimos anos. Este artigo apresenta um estudo da relação entre o número de passageiros que circulam no aeroporto e as dormidas na região. O estudo é baseado numa análise de regressão linear simples. Como resultado, propõe-se uma forma de prever as dormidas, conhecido o número de passageiros.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

156.  The HJ-biplot visualization of the Singular Spectrum Analysis method

Silva, Alberto Oliveira da and Freitas, Adelaide

ITISE 2019: International Conference on Time Series and Forecasting: Proceedings of Papers

Godel Impresiones Digitales S.L.

Time series data usually emerge in many scientific domains. The extraction of essential characteristics of this type of data is crucial to characterize the time series and produce, for example, forecasts. In this work, we take advantage of the trajectory matrix constructed in the Singular Spectrum Analysis, as well as of its decomposition through the Principal Component Analysis via Partial Least Squares, to implement a graphical display employing the Biplot method. In these graphs, one can visualize and identify patterns in time series from the simultaneous representation of both rows and columns of such decomposed matrices. The interpretation of various features of the proposed biplot is discussed from a real-world data set.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

155.  New inequalities for η-quasiconvex function

Nwaeze, Eze R. and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Frontiers in Functional Equations and Analytic Inequalities

Springer

The class of η-quasiconvex functions was introduced in 2016. Here we establish novel inequalities of Ostrowski type for functions whose second derivative, in absolute value raised to the power q ≥ 1, is η-quasiconvex. Several interesting inequalities are deduced as special cases. Furthermore, we apply our results to the arithmetic, geometric, Harmonic, logarithmic, generalized log and identric means, getting new relations amongst them.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

154.  Harmonic and trace inequalities in Lipschitz domains

Touhami, Soumia and Chaira, Abdellatif and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Frontiers in Functional Equations and Analytic Inequalities

Springer

We prove boundary inequalities in arbitrary bounded Lipschitz domains on the trace space of Sobolev spaces. For that, we make use of the trace operator, its Moore–Penrose inverse, and of a special inner product. We show that our trace inequalities are particularly useful to prove harmonic inequalities, which serve as powerful tools to characterize the harmonic functions on Sobolev spaces of non-integer order.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

153.  Logics for Petri nets with propagating failures

Gomes, Leandro and Madeira, Alexandre and Benevides, Mario

Fundamentals of Software Engineering. FSEN 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer International Publishing

Petri nets play a central role in the formal modelling of a wide range of complex systems and scenarios. Their ability to handle with both concurrency and resource awareness justifies their spread in the current formal development practices. On the logic side, Dynamic Logics are widely accepted as the de facto formalisms to reason about computational systems. However, as usual, the application to new situations raises new challenges and issues. The ubiquity of failures in the execution of current systems, interpreted in these models as triggered events that are not followed by the corresponding transition, entails not only the adjustment of these structures to deal with this reality, but also the introduction of new logics adequate to this emerging phenomenon. This paper contributes to this challenge by exploring a combination of two previous works of the authors, namely the Propositional Dynamic Logic for Petri Nets [1] and a parametric construction of multi-valued dynamic logics presented in [13]. This exercise results in a new family of Dynamic Logics for Petri Nets suitable to deal with firing failures.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

152.  Taming hierarchical connectors

Proença, José and Madeira, Alexandre

Fundamentals of Software Engineering. FSEN 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer

Building and maintaining complex systems requires good software engineering practices, including code modularity and reuse. The same applies in the context of coordination of complex component-based systems. This paper investigates how to verify properties of complex coordination patterns built hierarchically, i.e., built from composing blocks that are in turn built from smaller blocks. Most existing approaches to verify properties flatten these hierarchical models before the verification process, losing the hierarchical structure. We propose an approach to verify hierarchical models using containers as actions; more concretely, containers interacting with their neighbours. We present a dynamic modal logic tailored for hierarchical connectors, using Reo and Petri Nets to illustrate our approach. We realise our approach via a prototype implementation available online to verify hierarchical Reo connectors, encoding connectors and formulas into mCRL2 specifications and formulas.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

151.  On the generation of equational dynamic logics for weighted imperative programs

Gomes, Leandro and Madeira, Alexandre and Jain, Manisha and Barbosa, Luis S.

Formal Methods and Software Engineering. ICFEM 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Springer

Dynamic logic is a powerful framework for reasoning about imperative programs. This paper extends previous work [9] on the systematic generation of dynamic logics from the propositional to the equational case, to capture ‘full-fledged’ imperative programs. The generation process is parametric on a structure specifying a notion of ‘weight’ assigned to programs. The paper introduces also a notion of bisimilarity on models of the generated logics, which is shown to entail modal equivalence with respect to the latter.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

150.  Logistic operations in a hospital: a multi-item inventory distribution problem with heterogeneous fleet

Agra, Agostinho and Cerveira, Adelaide and Requejo, Cristina

Pharmaceutical Supply Chains - Medicines Shortages. Lecture Notes in Logistics

Springer

A multi-item inventory distribution problem motivated by a practical case study occurring in the logistic operations of a hospital is considered. There, a single warehouse supplies several nursing wards. The distribution of medical products is done by two different teams of workers using a heterogeneous fleet, that is, the available vehicles have different capacities and different structures required to be used in specific nursing wards. The goal is to define a weekly distribution plan of medical products ensuring a balanced workload of both working teams and satisfying all the required constraints (inventory capacities, safety stock levels, vehicle capacities, etc.) that minimizes the total number of visits to locations. A mixed integer formulation is presented and several improvements are discussed. This is a NP-hard problem hardly solved to optimality within a reasonable amount of time, and more so for real size instances, with hundreds to few thousand of products. To circumvent this issue, a matheuristic is proposed to solve the problem. Finally, computational tests are reported and discussed.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

149.  Smart grid topology designs

Carroll, Paula and Requejo, Cristina

Proceedings of the 9th International Network Optimization Conference (INOC 2019)

OpenProceedings

This paper addresses supports for evolving design demands of electricity low voltage networks in urban areas. Innovations in how electricity is generated and supplied are required to support transformation of energy systems in response to climate change. We describe a MIP model to support grid upgrade decisions in the context of an energy community in an existing urban setting. We evaluate the MIP model on an adaption of an IEEE radial network benchmark instance augmented with geographic data. We present interesting computational results which suggest additional arcs to be added. Our results highlight potential research opportunities for the network optimisation community to facilitate the desired energy systems transformation challenge.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

Articles


148.  Periodic state-space representations of periodic convolutional codes

Napp, Diego and Pereira, Ricardo and Pinto, Raquel and Rocha, Paula

Cryptography and Communications

Springer Verlag

In this paper we study the representation of periodically time-varying convolutional codes by means of periodic input-state-output models. In particular, we focus on period two and investigate under which conditions a given two-periodic convolutional code (obtained by alternating two time-invariant encoders) can be represented by a periodic input-state-output system. We first show that one cannot expect, in general, to obtain a periodic input-state-output representation of a periodic convolutional code by means of the individual realizations of each of the associated time-invariant codes. We, however, provide sufficient conditions for this to hold in terms of the column degrees of the associated column reduced generator matrices. Moreover, we derive a sufficient condition to obtain a periodic state-space realization that is minimal. Finally, examples to illustrate the results are presented.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

147.  Direct transcription methods based on fractional integral approximation formulas for solving nonlinear fractional optimal control problems

Salati, Abubakar Bello and Shamsi, Mostafa and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation

Elsevier

This paper presents three direct methods based on Grünwald–Letnikov, trapezoidal and Simpson fractional integral formulas to solve fractional optimal control problems (FOCPs). At first, the fractional integral form of FOCP is considered, then the fractional integral is approximated by Grünwald–Letnikov, trapezoidal and Simpson formulas in a matrix approach. Thereafter, the performance index is approximated either by trapezoidal or Simpson quadrature. As a result, FOCPs are reduced to nonlinear programming problems, which can be solved by many well-developed algorithms. To improve the efficiency of the presented method, the gradient of the objective function and the Jacobian of constraints are prepared in closed forms. It is pointed out that the implementation of the methods is simple and, due to the fact that there is no need to derive necessary conditions, the methods can be simply and quickly used to solve a wide class of FOCPs. The efficiency and reliability of the presented methods are assessed by ample numerical tests involving a free final time with path constraint FOCP, a bang-bang FOCP and an optimal control of a fractional-order HIV-immune system.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

146.  Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy as a career choice-perspective of students and physiotherapists in Portugal

Marques, Alda and Oliveira, Ana and Machado, Ana and Jácome, Cristina and Cruz, Joana and Pinho, Tânia and Hall, Andreia and Alvelos, Helena and Brooks, Dina

Physiotherapy theory and practice

Taylor & Francis

We investigated Portuguese physiotherapy students' and physiotherapists' (1) perceptions of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy (CRP); (2) factors that influenced their decision to pursue a career in CRP; and (3) suggestions to develop CRP. Online surveys were disseminated to final year students and physiotherapists. A number of 189 students (mean age 23 [SD 6] years; 78% ♀) and 375 physiotherapists (mean age 31 [SD 8] years; 78% ♀) participated. Students' opinions about CRP were positively influenced by lecturers (n = 112, 69%), clinical experiences (n = 110, 68%), and scientific evidence (n = 93, 57%). Only 13% of students were "extremely interested" in specializing in CRP. Interest in the area and clinical exposure were the main factors influencing students to pursue a career in CRP. A percentage of 15 of responding physiotherapists were working in CRP. Their decision to pursue a CRP career was most influenced by their interest in the area (n = 37, 67%) and opportunity to work in acute settings (n = 31; 56%). Main suggestions to develop CRP were (1) include placements in CRP; (2) emphasize health promotion within the curriculum; and (3) develop CRP skills in broader contexts and training. Strategies focusing on changing the curriculum, increasing exposure to CRP, providing good mentorship, developing health promotion activities, and creating postgraduate courses may increase the attractiveness for CRP.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

145.  Solutions of systems with the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional delta derivative on time scales

Mozyrska, Dorota and Torres, Delfim F. M. and Wyrwas, Malgorzata

Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems

Elsevier

Caputo-Fabrizio fractional delta derivatives on an arbitrary time scale are presented. When the time scale is chosen to be the set of real numbers, then the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative is recovered. For isolated or partly continuous and partly discrete, i.e., hybrid time scales, one gets new fractional operators. We concentrate on the behavior of solutions to initial value problems with the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional delta derivative on an arbitrary time scale. In particular, the exponential stability of linear systems is studied. A necessary and sufficient condition for the exponential stability of linear systems with the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional delta derivative on time scales is presented. By considering a suitable fractional dynamic equation and the Laplace transform on time scales, we also propose a proper definition of Caputo-Fabrizio fractional integral on time scales. Finally, by using the Banach fixed point theorem, we prove existence and uniqueness of solution to a nonlinear initial value problem with the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional delta derivative on time scales.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

144.  New bounds for the signless Laplacian spread

Andrade, Enide and Dahl, Geir and Leal, Laura and Robbiano, María

Linear Algebra and its Applications

Elsevier

Let $G$ be an undirected simple graph. The signless Laplacian spread of $G$ is defined as the maximum distance of pairs of its signless Laplacian eigenvalues. This paper establishes some new bounds, both lower and upper, for the signless Laplacian spread. Several of these bounds depend on invariant parameters of the graph. We also use a minmax principle to find several lower bounds for this spectral invariant.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

143.  Combinatorial Perron parameters for trees

Andrade, Enide and Ciardo, Lorenzo and Dahl, Geir

Linear Algebra and its Applications

Elsevier

The notion of combinatorial Perron value was introduced in [2]. We continue the study of this parameter and also introduce a new parameter πe(M) which gives a new lower bound on the spectral radius of the bottleneck matrix M of a rooted tree. We prove a bound on the approximation error for πe(M). Several properties of these two parameters are shown. These ideas are motivated by the concept of algebraic connectivity. A certain extension property for the combinatorial Perron value is shown and it allows us to define a new center concept for caterpillars. We also compare computationally this new center to the so-called characteristic set, i.e., the center obtained from algebraic connectivity.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

142.  A recurrent nova super-remnant in the Andromeda galaxy

Darnley, M. J. and Hounsell, R. and O’Brien, T. J. and Henze, M. and Rodríguez-Gil, P. and Shafter, A. W. and Shara, M. M. and Vaytet, N. M. H. and Bode, M. F. and Ciardullo, R. and Davis, B. D. and Galera-Rosillo, R. and Harman, D. J. and Harvey, E. J. and Healy, M. W. and Ness, J.-U. and Ribeiro, V. A. R. M. and Williams, S. C.

Nature

Nature Research

The accretion of hydrogen onto a white dwarf star ignites a classical nova eruption 1,2 —a thermonuclear runaway in the accumulated envelope of gas, leading to luminosities up to a million times that of the Sun and a high-velocity mass ejection that produces a remnant shell (mainly consisting of insterstellar medium). Close to the upper mass limit of a white dwarf 3 (1.4 solar masses), rapid accretion of hydrogen (about 10 −7 solar masses per year) from a stellar companion leads to frequent eruptions on timescales of years 4,5 to decades 6 . Such binary systems are known as recurrent novae. The ejecta of recurrent novae, initially moving at velocities of up to 10,000 kilometres per second 7 , must ‘sweep up’ the surrounding interstellar medium, creating cavities in space around the nova binary. No remnant larger than one parsec across from any single classical or recurrent nova eruption is known 8–10 , but thousands of successive recurrent nova eruptions should be capable of generating shells hundreds of parsecs across. Here we report that the most frequently recurring nova, M31N 2008-12a in the Andromeda galaxy (Messier 31 or NGC 224), which erupts annually 11 , is indeed surrounded by such a super-remnant with a projected size of at least 134 by 90 parsecs. Larger than almost all known remnants of even supernova explosions 12 , the existence of this shell demonstrates that the nova M31N 2008-12a has erupted with high frequency for millions of years.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

141.  Algorithmic determination of immobile indices in convex SIP problems with polyhedral index sets

Kostyukova, O.I. and Tchemisova, T.V.

INFOR, Information Systems and Operational Research

Taylor & Francis

The concepts of immobile indices and their immobility orders are objective and important characteristics of feasible sets of semi-infinite programming (SIP) problems. They can be used for the formulation of new efficient optimality conditions without constraint qualifications. Given a class of convex SIP problems with polyhedral index sets, we describe and justify a finite constructive algorithm (algorithm DIIPS) that allows to find in a finite number of steps all immobile indices and the corresponding immobility orders along the feasible directions. This algorithm is based on a representation of the cones of feasible directions in the polyhedral index sets in the form of linear combinations of extremal rays and on the approach proposed in our previous papers for the cases of immobile indices’ sets of simpler structures. A constructive procedure of determination of the extremal rays is described, and an example illustrating the application of the DIIPS algorithm is provided.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

140.  The spread of a financial virus through Europe and beyond

Kostylenko, Olena and Rodrigues, Helena Sofia and Torres, Delfim F. M.

AIMS Mathematics

AIMS Press

We analyse the importance of international relations between countries on the financial stability. The contagion effect in the network is tested by implementing an epidemiological model, comprising a number of European countries and using bilateral data on foreign claims between them. Banking statistics of consolidated foreign claims on ultimate risk bases, obtained from the Banks of International Settlements, allow us to measure the exposure of contagion spreading from a particular country to the other national banking systems. We show that the financial system of some countries, experiencing the debt crisis, is a source of global systemic risk because they threaten the stability of a larger system, being a global threat to the intoxication of the world economy and resulting in what we call a `financial virus'. Illustrative simulations were done in the NetLogo multi-agent programmable modelling environment and in MATLAB.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

139.  Partial parking functions

Duarte, Rui and Guedes de Oliveira, António

Discrete Mathematics

Elsevier

We characterise the Pak-Stanley labels of the regions of a family of hyperplane arrangements that interpolate between the Shi arrangement and the Ish arrangement.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

138.  A Dawson-like clustering of human mitochondrial DNA sequences based on protein coding region

Soares, Inês and Duarte, Rui and Guedes de Oliveira, António and Amorim, António

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Elsevier

In the present paper, our main goal is focused in developing fast algorithms for human mtDNA sequence analyses, requiring minimum and explicit assumptions on mutation models and evolutionary pathways. We propose a new approach based on a construction of Dawson, a technique based on the ordering of the variable sites. In this approach, the first step corresponds to the computation of the order of the positions according to their capacity to separate the sequences into dichotomous groups. Aiming to avoid or at least to minimize the consideration of ambiguous evolutionary events such as insertions/deletions and recurrence, which cause well-known alignment problems, in the present study we only work with the protein coding sequence, the clearly more stable region in human mitochondrial genomes. This method was tested in a small set of 99 human mtDNA comprising representatives of all major haplogroups. The developed approach showed to be a choice to automate the clustering of human mtDNA sequences into broad groups, the output being in agreement with the canonical classification into macro-haplogroups deposited in the Phylotree database.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

137.  Column distances of convolutional codes over Z_p^r

Napp, Diego and Pinto, Raquel and Toste, Marisa

IEEE Transactions on Information Theory

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Maximum distance profile codes over finite nonbinary fields have been introduced and thoroughly studied in the last decade. These codes have the property that their column distances are maximal among all codes of the same rate and degree. In this paper, we aim at studying this fundamental concept in the context of convolutional codes over a finite ring. We extensively use the concept of p-encoder to establish the theoretical framework and derive several bounds on the column distances. In particular, a method for constructing (not necessarily free) maximum distance profile convolutional codes over Zpr is presented.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

136.  Existence of solution to a nonlocal conformable fractional thermistor problem

Moulay Rchid Sidi Ammi and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Communications Faculty of Sciences University of Ankara Series A1 Mathematics and Statistics

Faculty of Sciences University of Ankara

We study a nonlocal thermistor problem for fractional derivatives in the conformable sense. Classical Schauder's fixed point theorem is used to derive the existence of a tube solution.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

135.  A space-time pseudospectral discretization method for solving diffusion optimal control problems with two-sided fractional derivatives

Mushtaq Salh Ali and Mostafa Shamsi and Hassan Khosravian-Arab and Torres, Delfim F. M. and Farid Bozorgnia

Journal of Vibration and Control

SAGE Publications

We propose a direct numerical method for the solution of an optimal control problem governed by a two-side space-fractional diffusion equation. The presented method contains two main steps. In the first step, the space variable is discretized by using the Jacobi–Gauss pseudospectral discretization and, in this way, the original problem is transformed into a classical integer–order optimal control problem. The main challenge, which we faced in this step, is to derive the left and right fractional differentiation matrices. In this respect, novel techniques for derivation of these matrices are presented. In the second step, the Legendre–Gauss–Radau pseudospectral method is employed. With these two steps, the original problem is converted into a convex quadratic optimization problem, which can be solved efficiently by available methods. Our approach can be easily implemented and extended to cover fractional optimal control problems with state constraints. Five test examples are provided to demonstrate the efficiency and validity of the presented method. The results show that our method reaches the solutions with good accuracy and a low central processing unit time.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

134.  Fractional order version of the HJB equation

Razminia, Abolhassan and AsadiZadehShiraz, Mehdi and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

We consider an extension of the well-known Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation for fractional order dynamical systems in which a generalized performance index is considered for the related optimal control problem. Owing to the nonlocality of the fractional order operators, the classical HJB equation, in the usual form, does not hold true for fractional problems. Effectiveness of the proposed technique is illustrated through a numerical example.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

133.  Structural derivatives on time scales

Bayour, Benaoumeur and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Communications Faculty of Sciences University of Ankara Series A1 Mathematics and Statistics

Faculty of Sciences University of Ankara

We introduce the notion of structural derivative on time scales. The new operator of differentiation unifies the concepts of fractal and fractional order derivative and is motivated by lack of classical differentiability of some self-similar functions. Some properties of the new operator are proved and illustrated with examples.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

132.  Functional characterizations of trace spaces in Lipschitz domains

Touhami, Soumia and Chaira, Abdellatif and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Banach Journal of Mathematical Analysis

Duke University Press

Using a factorization theorem of Douglas, we prove functional characterizations of trace spaces Hs (∂Ω) involving a family of positive selfadjoint operators. Our method is based on the use of a suitable operator by taking the trace on the boundary ∂Ω of a bounded Lipschitz domain Ω ⊂ R d and applying Moore–Penrose pseudoinverse properties together with a special inner product on H1 (Ω). We also establish generalized results of the Moore– Penrose pseudoinverse.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

131.  Exact solution to a dynamic SIR model

Bohner, Martin and Streipert, Sabrina and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems

Elsevier

We investigate an epidemic model based on Bailey's continuous differential system. In the continuous time domain, we extend the classical model to time-dependent coefficients and present an alternative solution method to Gleissner's approach. If the coefficients are constant, both solution methods yield the same result. After a brief introduction to time scales, we formulate the SIR (susceptible–infected–removed) model in the general time domain and derive its solution. In the discrete case, this provides the solution to a new discrete epidemic system, which exhibits the same behavior as the continuous model. The last part is dedicated to the analysis of the limiting behavior of susceptible, infected, and removed, which contains biological relevance.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

130.  Efficiency analysis of optimal inspection management for reinforced concrete structures under carbonation-induced corrosion risk

Benítez, Pablo and Rocha, Eugénio and Talukdar, Sudip and Varum, Humberto and Rodrigues, Fernanda

Construction and Building Materials

Elsevier

Reinforced concrete is one of the most predominant materials used in constructed structures and infrastructures throughout the world. For this reason, the maintenance management of these structures is a frequent subject of study in material science and civil engineering. Thereby, several studies conclude that corrosion of reinforcement in concrete structures may become an expensive degradation mechanism whether a suitable intervention strategy throughout its service life is not applied. In this context, maintenance management is crucial to slow down the degradation process and to extend the lifespan, which can comprise two stages: inspection planning, and an assessment of repair probabilities according to the inspection results. The paper herein presented focuses on a decision-making model for the optimal inspection planning for concrete structures subject to carbonation-induced corrosion. A structured approach to optimise inspection times considering the uncertainty inherent in the corrosion-induced degradation and a trade-off between inspection costs and the structure serviceability is performed.The main objective of this work is to elaborate an efficiency analysis for a set of optimal inspection strategies that is conducted through two approaches: the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and the Multi-direction Enveloping Analysis (MEA). This analysis provides an appraisal that reduces the number of inspection techniques necessary and the time gap between inspections to provide not only an optimal solution but the most efficient as well. Therefore, the outcome of this paper provides an inspection strategy that establishes the optimal solution for both the inspection times and the most suitable inspection technique to be applied considering the efficiency of the solution.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

129.  A sufficient optimality condition for delayed state-linear optimal control problems

Lemos-Paião, Ana Pedro and Silva, Cristiana J. and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems - Series B

American Institute of Mathematical Sciences

We give answer to an open question by proving a sufficient optimality condition for state-linear optimal control problems with time delays in state and control variables. In the proof of our main result, we transform a delayed state-linear optimal control problem to an equivalent non-delayed problem. This allows us to use a well-known theorem that ensures a sufficient optimality condition for non-delayed state-linear optimal control problems. An example is given in order to illustrate the obtained result.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

128.  On interval dynamic logic: Introducing quasi-action lattices

Santiago, Regivan and Bedregal, Benjamín and Madeira, Alexandre and Martins, Manuel A.

Science of Computer Programming

Elsevier

In this paper we discuss the incompatibility between the notions of validity and impreciseness in the context of Dynamic Logics. To achieve that we consider the Łukasiewicz action lattice and its interval counterpart, we show how some validities fail in the context of intervals. In order to capture the properties of action lattices that remain valid for intervals we propose a new structure called Quasi-action Lattices which generalizes action lattices and is able to model both: The Łukasiewicz action lattice, Ł, and its interval counterpart, Łˆ. The notion of graded satisfaction relation is extended to quasi-action lattices. We demonstrate that, in the case of intervals, the relation of graded satisfaction is correct (cf. Theorem 3) with respect to the graded satisfaction relation on the Łukasiewicz action lattice. Although this theorem guarantees that satisfiability is preserved on intervals, we show that validity is not. We propose, then, to weaken the notion of validity on action lattices to designated validity on quasi-action lattices. In this context, Theorem 4 guarantees that the dynamic formulæ which are valid with respect to Ł will be designated valid with respect to Łˆ

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

127.  Exploring symmetry in rosettes of Truchet tiles

Hall, Andreia and Almeida, Paulo J. and Teixeira, Ricardo

Journal of Mathematics and the Arts

Taylor & Francis

In 1704 the French priest S ebastien Truchet published a paper where he explored and counted patterns made up from a square divided by a diagonal line into two colored parts,, now known as a Truchet tile. A few years later, Father Dominique Douat continued Truchet's work and published a book in 1722 containing many more patterns and further counts of con gurations. In this paper, we extend the work introduced by Truchet and Douat by considering all possible rosettes made up of an mXn array of square or non-square Truchet tiles. We then classify the rosettes according to their symmetry group and count all the distinct rosettes in each group, for all possible sizes. The results are summarized in a separate section where we further analyze the asymptotic behavior of the counts for square arrays. Finally, some applications are shown using two types of square flexagons.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

126.  On Herbrand’s Theorem for Hybrid Logic

Costa, Diana and Martins, Manuel and Marcos, João

Journal of Applied Logics – IfCoLog Journal of Logics and their Applications

Colege Publications

The original version of Herbrand’s theorem [8] for first-order logic provided the theoretical underpinning for automated theorem proving, by allowing a constructive method for associating with each first-order formula χ a sequence of quantifier-free formulas χ1, χ2, χ3, · · · so that χ has a first-order proof if and only if some χi is a tautology. Some other versions of Herbrand’s theorem have been developed for classical logic, such as the one in [6], which states that a set of quantifier-free sentences is satisfiable if and only if it is propositionally satisfiable. The literature concerning versions of Herbrand’s theorem proved in the context of non-classical logics is meager. We aim to investigate in this paper two versions of Herbrand’s theorem for hybrid logic, which is an extension of modal logic that is expressive enough so as to allow identifying specific sates of the corresponding models, as well as describing the accessibility relation that connects these states, thus being completely suitable to deal with relational structures [3]. Our main results state that a set of satisfaction statements is satisfiable in a hybrid interpretation if and only if it is propositionally satisfiable

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

125.  The number of parking functions with center of a given length

Duarte, Rui and Guedes de Oliveira, António

Advances in Applied Mathematics

Elsevier

Let 1≤r≤n and suppose that, when the Depth-first Search Algorithm is applied to a given rooted labeled tree on n+1 vertices, exactly r vertices are visited before backtracking. Let R be the set of trees with this property. We count the number of elements of R. For this purpose, we first consider a bijection, due to Perkinson, Yang and Yu, that maps R onto the set of parking function with center (defined by the authors in a previous article) of size r. A second bijection maps this set onto the set of parking functions with run r, a property that we introduce here. We then prove that the number of length n parking functions with a given run is the number of length n rook words (defined by Leven, Rhoades and Wilson) with the same run. This is done by counting related lattice paths in a ladder-shaped region. We finally count the number of length n rook words with run r, which is the answer to our initial question.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

124.  The orthogonality of the fractional circle polynomials and its application in modeling of ophthalmic surfaces

Rodrigues, Maria Manuela Fernandes and Vieira, Nelson Felipe

Journal of Physics: Conference Series

IOP Publishing

In this paper we establish some new fractional differential properties for a class of fractional circle polynomials. We apply the Zernike polynomials and a new class of fractional circle polynomials in modeling ophthalmic surfaces in visual optics and we compare the obtained results. The total RMS error is presented when addressing capability of these functions in fitting with surfaces, and it is showed that the new fractional circle polynomials can be used as an alternative to the Zernike Polynomials to represent the complete anterior corneal surface.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

123.  Modeling ophthalmic surfaces using Zernike, Bessel and Chebyshev type functions

Rodrigues, Maria Manuela Fernandes and Rosa, Andreia and Vieira, Nelson Felipe Loureiro and Murta, Joaquim

Journal of Physics: Conference Series

IOP Publishing

The visual system of the human eye is a part of the central nervous system by which the human body sees and interprets the information provided by the visible light in order to build a representation of the world around. During the propagations of the light through the eye, the retinal image can be deteriorated by diseases and disorders. For retinal images, the most important sources of images quality degradation are diffraction and optical aberrations. In order to measure and correct aberrations, there is a number of surfaces related to the anatomy and physiology of the eye. It is important to measure and mathematically model these surfaces to study their properties.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

122.  Famílias e mobilidade interna: uma análise com base nos dados do recenseamento de 2011

Gomes, Maria Cristina Sousa and Freitas, Adelaide and Pinto, Maria Luís Rocha

Análise Social

Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Ciências Sociais

Não é frequente considerar-se no âmbito das migrações internas a mobilidade familiar. No entanto, os dados mostram que há características dos municípios que determinam como as famílias se movimentam e se distribuem. A análise de associações entre características populacionais e familiares e variações de fluxos migratórios dos 308 municípios, desenvolvida com base na informação do recenseamento de 2011, pretende refletir sobre a mobilidade familiar em Portugal, salientando aspetos diferenciadores. As associações encontradas, sob duas escalas territoriais, permitem ressaltar dinâmicas territoriais distintas no que respeita aos fenómenos de atração e repulsão associadas à deslocação ou permanência da população nos territórios.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

121.  Invisibility in billiards is impossible in an infinite number of directions

Plakhov, Alexander and Roshchina, Vera

Journal of Dynamical and Control Systems

Springer

We show that the maximum number of directions of invisibility in a planar billiard defined in the exterior of a piecewise smooth body is at most finite.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

120.  Local properties of the surface measure of convex bodies

Plakhov, Alexander

Journal of Convex Analysis

Heldermann Verlag

It is well known that any measure in S^2 satisfying certain simple conditions is the surface measure of a bounded convex body in R^3. It is also known that a local perturbation of the surface measure may lead to a nonlocal perturbation of the corresponding convex body. We prove that, under mild conditions on the convex body, there are families of perturbations of its surface measure forming line segments, with the original measure at the midpoint, corresponding to {it local} perturbations of the body. Moreover, there is, in a sense, a huge amount of such families. We apply this result to Newton's problem of minimal resistance for convex bodies.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

119.  On duals and parity-checks of convolutional codes over Z p r

El Oued, Mohamed and Napp, Diego and Pinto, Raquel and Toste, Marisa

Finite fields and their applications

Elsevier

A convolutional code C over Z_{p^r}((D)) is a Z_{p^r}((D))-submodule of Z_{p^r}^n((D)) that admits a polynomial set of generators, where Z_{p^r}((D)) stands for the ring of (semi-infinity) Laurent series. In this paper we study several structural properties of its dual C^{perp} . We use these results to provide a constructive algorithm to build an explicit generator matrix of C^{perp}. Moreover, we show that the transpose of such a matrix is a parity-check matrix (also called syndrome former) of C.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

118.  Warm little inflaton becomes cold dark matter

Rosa, João Pedro Trancoso Gomes and Ventura, Luís Bastos

Physical Review Letters

American Physical Society

We present a model where the inflaton can naturally account for all the dark matter in the Universe within the warm inflation paradigm. In particular, we show that the symmetries of the Warm Little Inflaton scenario (i) avoid large thermal and radiative corrections to the scalar potential, (ii) allow for sufficiently strong dissipative effects to sustain a radiation bath during inflation that becomes dominant at the end of the slow-roll regime, and (iii) enable a stable inflaton remnant in the post-inflationary epochs. The latter behaves as dark radiation until parametrically before matter-radiation equality, leading to a non-negligible contribution to the effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom during nucleosynthesis, becoming the dominant cold dark matter component in the Universe for inflaton masses in the $10^{-4}-10^{-1}$ eV range. Cold dark matter isocurvature perturbations, anti-correlated with the main adiabatic component, provide a smoking gun for this scenario that can be tested in the near future.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

117.  Boris Rufimovich Vainberg

Lakshtanov, Evgeny and Egorov, Yu. V. and A. I. Komech and Kuchment, P. A. and Maz'ya, V. G. and Molchanov, S. A. and Novikov, R. G. and Freidlin, M. I.

Russian Mathematical Surveys

Turpion

Boris R. Vainberg was born on March 17, 1938, in Moscow. His father was a Lead Engineer in an aviation design institute. His mother was a homemaker. From early age, Boris was attracted to mathematics and spent much of his time at home and in school working through collections of practice problems for the Moscow Mathematical Olympiad. His first mathematical library consisted of the books he received as one of the prize-winners of these olympiads.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

116.  Scale hierarchies, symmetry breaking and particle spectra in SU(3)-family extended SUSY trinification

Camargo-Molina, José E. and Morais, António P. and Ordell, Astrid and Pasechnik, Roman and Wessén, Jonas

Physical Review D

American Physical Society

A unification of left-right $rm{SU}(3)_rm{L}times rm{SU}(3)_rm{R}$, colour $rm{SU}(3)_rm{C}$ and family $rm{SU}(3)_rm{F}$ symmetries in a maximal rank-8 subgroup of ${rm{E}}_8$ is proposed as a landmark for future explorations beyond the Standard Model (SM). We discuss the implications of this scheme in a supersymmetric (SUSY) model based on the trinification gauge $left[rm{SU}(3)right]^3$ and global $rm{SU}(3)_rm{F}$ family symmetries. Among the key properties of this model are the unification of SM Higgs and lepton sectors, a common Yukawa coupling for chiral fermions, the absence of the $mu$-problem, gauge couplings unification and proton stability to all orders in perturbation theory. The minimal field content consistent with a SM-like effective theory at low energies is composed of one $mathrm{E}_6$ $27$-plet per generation as well as three gauge and one family $rm{SU}(3)$ octets inspired by the fundamental sector of ${rm{E}}_8$. The details of the corresponding (SUSY and gauge) symmetry breaking scheme, multi-scale gauge couplings' evolution, and resulting effective low-energy scenarios are discussed.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

115.  Designing lasing and perfectly absorbing potentials

Lakshtanov, Evgeny and Vainberg, Boris and Konotop, Vladimir

Physical Review A

American Physical Society

Existence of a spectral singularity (SS) in the spectrum of a Schrödinger operator with a non-Hermitian potential requires exact matching of parameters of the potential. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a potential to have a SS at a given wavelength. It is shown that potentials with SSs at prescribed wavelengths can be obtained by a simple and effective procedure. In particular, the developed approach allows one to obtain potentials with several SSs and with SSs of the second order, as well as potentials obeying a given symmetry, say, PT -symmetric potentials. We illustrate all these opportunities with examples. We also describe splitting of a second-order SS under change of the potential parameters, and discuss possibilities of experimental observation of SSs of different orders.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

114.  ν-inflaton dark matter

Manso, Antonio Torres and Trancoso, João Pedro

Journal of High Energy Physics

Springer

We present a unified model where the same scalar field can drive inflation and account for the present dark matter abundance. This scenario is based on the incomplete decay of the inflaton field into right-handed neutrino pairs, which is accomplished by imposing a discrete interchange symmetry on the inflaton and on two of the right-handed neutrinos. We show that this can lead to a successful reheating of the Universe after inflation, while leaving a stable inflaton remnant at late times. This remnant may be in the form of WIMP-like inflaton particles or of an oscillating inflaton condensate, depending on whether or not the latter evaporates and reaches thermal equilibrium with the cosmic plasma. We further show that this scenario is compatible with generating light neutrino masses and mixings through the seesaw mechanism, predicting at least one massless neutrino, and also the observed baryon asymmetry via thermal leptogenesis.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

113.  The scalarised Schwarzschild-NUT spacetime

Brihaye, Yves and Herdeiro, Carlos and Radu, Eugen

Physics Letters B

Elsevier

t has recently been suggested that vacuum black holes of General Relativity (GR) can become spontaneously scalarised when appropriate non-minimal couplings to curvature invariants are considered. These models circumvent the standard black hole no scalar hair theorems of GR, allowing both the standard GR solutions and new scalarised (a.k.a. hairy) solutions, which in some cases are thermodynamically preferred. Up to now, however, only (static and spherically symmetric) scalarised Schwarzschild solutions have been considered. It would be desirable to take into account the effect of rotation; however, the higher curvature invariants introduce a considerable challenge in obtaining the corresponding scalarised rotating black holes. As a toy model for rotation, we present here the scalarised generalisation of the Schwarzschild-NUT solution, taking either the Gauss–Bonnet (GB) or the Chern–Simons (CS) curvature invariant. The NUT charge n endows spacetime with “rotation” but the angular dependence of the corresponding scalarised solutions factorises, leading to a considerable technical simplification. For GB, but not for CS, scalarisation occurs for n=0. This basic difference leads to a distinct space of solutions in the CS case, in particular exhibiting a double branch structure. In the GB case, increasing the horizon area demands a stronger non-minimal coupling for scalarisation; in the CS case, due to the double branch structure, both this and the opposite trend are found. We briefly comment also on the scalarised Reissner–Nordström-NUT solutions.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

112.  Head-on collisions and orbital mergers of Proca stars

Sanchis-Gual, Nicolas and Herdeiro, Carlos and Font, José A. and Radu, Eugen and Di Giovanni, Fabrizio

Physical Review D

American Physical Society

Proca stars, aka vector boson stars, are self-gravitating Bose-Einstein condensates obtained as numerical stationary solutions of the Einstein-(complex)-Proca system. These solitonic objects can achieve a compactness comparable to that of black holes, thus yielding an example of a black hole mimicker, which, moreover, can be both stable and form dynamically from generic initial data by the mechanism of gravitational cooling. In this paper we further explore the dynamical properties of these solitonic objects by performing both head-on collisions and orbital mergers of equal mass Proca stars, using fully nonlinear numerical evolutions. For the head-on collisions, we show that the end point and the gravitational waveform from these collisions depends on the compactness of the Proca star. Proca stars with sufficiently small compactness collide emitting gravitational radiation and leaving a stable Proca star remnant. But more compact Proca stars collide to form a transient hypermassive Proca star, which ends up decaying into a black hole, albeit temporarily surrounded by Proca quasibound states. The unstable intermediate stage can leave an imprint in the waveform, making it distinct from that of a head-on collision of black holes. The final quasinormal ringing matches that of Schwarzschild black hole, even though small deviations may occur, as a signature of sufficiently nonlinear and long-lived Proca quasibound states. For the orbital mergers, we have considered eccentric orbits and the outcome also depends on the compactness of the stars. For the binaries with the most compact stars, the binary merger forms a Kerr black hole which retains part of the initial orbital angular momentum, being surrounded by a transient Proca field remnant; in cases with lower compactness, the binary merger forms a massive Proca star with angular momentum, but out of equilibrium. As in previous studies of (scalar) boson stars, the angular momentum of such objects appears to converge to zero as a final equilibrium state is approached.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

111.  On the topological charge of S O(2) gauged Skyrmions in 2 + 1 and 3 + 1 dimensions

Navarro-Lerida, Francisco and Radu, Eugen and Tchrakian, D. H.

Physics Letters B

Elsevier

The question of the dependence of the topological charge q of a gauged Skyrmion, on the gauge field, is studied quantitatively. Two examples, both gauged with SO(2) are studied and contrasted: i) The O(3) model in 2+1 dimensions, and ii) The O(4) model in 3+1 dimensions. In case i), where the (usual) Chern–Simons (CS) term is present, the value of q changes sign, going through zero. This evolution is tracked by a parameter characterising the solutions in the given theory. In case ii), in which dimensions no CS density is available, the evolution of q is not observed.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

110.  Compact objects and the swampland

Herdeiro, Carlos A. R. and Radu, Eugen and Uzawa, Kunihito

Journal of High Energy Physics

Springer Verlag

Recently, two simple criteria were proposed to assess if vacua emerging from an effective scalar field theory are part of the string “landscape” or “swampland”. The former are the vacua that emerge from string compactifications; the latter are not obtained by any such compactification and hence may not survive in a UV completed theory of gravity. So far, these criteria have been applied to inflationary and dark energy models. Here we consider them in the context of solitonic compact objects made up of scalar fields: boson stars. Analysing several models (static, rotating, with and without self-interactions), we find that, in this context, the criteria are not independent. Furthermore, we find the universal behaviour that in the region wherein the boson stars are expected to be perturbatively stable, the compact objects may be part of the landscape. By contrast, in the region where they may be faithful black hole mimickers, in the sense they possess a light ring, the criteria fail (are obeyed) for static (rotating) ultracompact boson stars, which should thus be part of the swampland (landscape). We also consider hairy black holes interpolating between these boson stars and the Kerr solution and establish the part of the domain of existence where the swampland criteria are violated. In interpreting these results one should bear in mind, however, that the swampland criteria are not quantitatively strict.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

109.  Magnetized accretion disks around Kerr black holes with scalar hair: Constant angular momentum disks

Gimeno-Soler, Sergio and Font, José A. and Herdeiro, Carlos and Radu, Eugen

Physical Review D

American Physical Society

Testing the true nature of black holes - the no-hair hypothesis - will become increasingly more precise in the next few years as new observational data is collected in both the gravitational-wave channel and the electromagnetic channel. In this paper we consider numerically generated spacetimes of Kerr black holes with synchronized scalar hair and build stationary models of magnetized thick disks (or tori) around them. Our approach assumes that the disks are not self-gravitating, they obey a polytropic equation of state, the distribution of their specific angular momentum is constant, and they are marginally stable, i.e., the disks completely fill their Roche lobe. Moreover, contrary to existing approaches in the literature, our models are thermodynamically relativist, as the specific enthalpy of the fluid can adopt values significantly larger than unity. We study the dependence of the morphology and properties of the accretion tori on the type of black hole considered, from purely Kerr black holes with varying degrees of spin parameter, namely from a Schwarzschild black hole to a nearly extremal Kerr case, to Kerr black holes with scalar hair with different Arnowitt-Deser-Misner mass and horizon angular velocity. Comparisons between the disk properties for both types of black holes are presented. The sequences of magnetized, equilibrium disks around Kerr black holes with scalar hair discussed in this study are morphologically and thermodynamically different than their Kerr black hole counterparts, namely their vertical size is larger, the high-density central region is more extended, and the fluid is more relativistic. Therefore, we expect significant differences to appear when these sequences are used as initial data for numerical relativity codes to investigate their dynamical (nonlinear) stability and used in tandem with ray-tracing codes to obtain synthetic images of black holes (i.e., shadows) in astrophysically relevant situations where the light source is provided by an emitting accretion disk

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

108.  Gravitating solitons and black holes with synchronised hair in the four dimensional O(3) sigma-model

Herdeiro, C. and Perapechka, I. and Radu, E. and Shnir, Ya

Journal of High Energy Physics

Springer Verlag

We consider the O(3) non-linear sigma-model, composed of three real scalar fields with a standard kinetic term and with a symmetry breaking potential in four space-time dimensions. We show that this simple, geometrically motivated model, admits both self-gravitating, asymptotically flat, non-topological solitons and hairy black holes, when minimally coupled to Einstein’s gravity, without the need to introduce higher order kinetic terms in the scalar fields action. Both spherically symmetric and spinning, axially symmetric solutions are studied. The solutions are obtained under a ansatz with oscillation (in the static case) or rotation (in the spinning case) in the internal space. Thus, there is symmetry non-inheritance: the matter sector is not invariant under the individual spacetime isometries. For the hairy black holes, which are necessarily spinning, the internal rotation (isorotation) must be synchronous with the rotational angular velocity of the event horizon. We explore the domain of existence of the solutions and some of their physical properties, that resemble closely those of (mini) boson stars and Kerr black holes with synchronised scalar hair in Einstein-(massive, complex)-Klein-Gordon theory

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

107.  Black hole scalarisation from the breakdown of scale-invariance

Herdeiro, Carlos A. R. and Radu, Eugen

Physical Review D

American Physical Society

Electro-vacuum black holes are scale-invariant; their energy-momentum tensor is traceless. Quantum corrections of various sorts, however, can often produce a trace anomaly and a breakdown of scale-invariance. The (quantum-corrected) black hole solutions of the corresponding gravitational effective field theory (EFT) have a non-vanishing Ricci scalar. Then, the presence of a scalar field with the standard non-minimal coupling $xi phi^2 R$ naturally triggers a spontaneous scalarisation of the corresponding black holes. This scalarisation phenomenon occurs for an (infinite) discrete set of $xi$. We illustrate the occurrence of this phenomenon for two examples of static, spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat black hole solution of EFTs. In one example the trace anomaly comes from the matter sector -- a novel, closed form, generalisation of the Reissner-Nordstr"om solution with an $F^4$ correction -- whereas in the other example it comes from the geometry sector -- a noncommutative geometry generalization of the Schwarzschild black hole. For comparison, we also consider the scalarisation of a black hole surrounded by (non-conformally invariant) classical matter (Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton black holes). We find that the scalarised solutions are, generically, entropically favoured.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

106.  Boson and Dirac stars in D ≥ 4 dimensions

Blázquez-Salcedo, Jose Luis and Knoll, Christian and Radu, Eugen

Physics Letters B

Elsevier

We present a comparative study of spherically symmetric, localized, particle-like solutions for spin s=0,1/2 and 1 gravitating fields in a D-dimensional, asymptotically flat spacetime. These fields are massive, possessing a harmonic time dependence and no self-interaction. Special attention is paid to the mathematical similarities and physical differences between the bosonic and fermionic cases. We find that the generic pattern of solutions is similar for any value of the spin s, depending only on the dimensionality of spacetime, the cases D=4,5 being special.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

105.  Kerr black holes with synchronised scalar hair and higher azimuthal harmonic index

Delgado, Jorge F. M. and Herdeiro, Carlos A. R. and Radu, Eugen

Physics Letters B

Elsevier

Kerr black holes with synchronised scalar hair and azimuthal harmonic index m>1 are constructed and studied. The corresponding domain of existence has a broader frequency range than the fundamental m=1 family; moreover, larger ADM masses, M and angular momenta J are allowed. Amongst other salient features, non-uniqueness of solutions for fixed global quantities is observed: solutions with the same M and J co-exist, for consecutive values of m, and the ones with larger m are always entropically favoured. Our analysis demonstrates, moreover, the qualitative universality of various features observed for m=1 solutions, such as the shape of the domain of existence, the typology of ergo-regions, and the horizon geometry, which is studied through its isometric embedding in Euclidean 3-space.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

104.  Investigating the use and acceptance of technologies by professors in a higher education institution

Costa, Carolina and Alvelos, Helena and Teixeira, Leonor

International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design

IGI Global

This article analyses the use and acceptance of technologies by professors in the teaching and learning context in a higher education institution. In the empirical study, a questionnaire based on the technology acceptance model was applied. The results indicated that the most used technologies are Moodle, Facebook and YouTube and it was concluded that in general, those technologies are well accepted. Few statistically significant differences between respondents’ gender, scientific areas or ages were found, revealing that the use of those technologies is already widespread in the studied institution. Results also showed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are two important determinants of Moodle acceptance, and that the majority of respondents did not know the MOOC concept. This article is valuable for researchers in the area and for professors that want to implement the use technologies in the teaching and learning context.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

103.  Product preservation and stable units for reflections into idempotent subvarieties

Xarez, João José and Xarez, Isabel Andrade

Categories and General Algebraic Structures with Applications

Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the preservation of finite products by a reflection of a variety of universal algebras into an idempotent subvariety. It is also shown that simple and semi-left-exact reflections into subvarieties of universal algebras are the same. It then follows that a reflection of a variety of universal algebras into an idempotent subvariety has stable units if and only if it is simple and the above-mentioned condition holds.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

102.  Analysis and numerical approximation of tempered fractional calculus of variations problems

Almeida, Ricardo and Morgado, M. Luísa

Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics

Elsevier

In this paper, we study variational problems where the cost functional involves the tempered Caputo fractional derivative. Several important optimization conditions are derived to find the optimal solution. Sufficient and necessary conditions are presented for different variational problems. For example, the cases of integral (isoperimetric problem) and holonomic constraints are considered, as well as problems with high order derivatives. A numerical scheme is proposed to determine approximations of the solution and it is illustrated through some examples

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

101.  Optimal control measures for a susceptible‐carrier‐infectious‐recovered‐susceptible malware propagation model

Gonçalves, João N.C. and Rodrigues, Helena Sofia and Monteiro, M. Teresa T.

Optimal Control Applications and Methods

Wiley

Purposing to lessen malware propagation, this paper proposes optimal control measures for a susceptible-carrier-infectious-recovered-susceptible (SCIRS) epidemiological model formed by a system of ordinary differential equations. By taking advantage of real-world data related to the number of reported cybercrimes in Japan from 2012 to 2017, an optimal control problem is formulated to minimize the number of infected devices in a cost-effective way. The existence and uniqueness of the results related to the optimality system are proved. Overall, numerical simulations show the usefulness of the proposed control strategies in reducing the spread of malware infections.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

100.  The risk of contagion spreading and its optimal control in the economy

Kostylenko, Olena and Rodrigues, Helena Sofia and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Statistics, Optimization and Information Computing

International Academic Press

The global crisis of 2008 provoked a heightened interest among scientists to study the phenomenon, its propagation and negative consequences. The process of modelling the spread of a virus is commonly used in epidemiology. Conceptually, the spread of a disease among a population is similar to the contagion process in economy. This similarity allows considering the contagion in the world financial system using the same mathematical model of infection spread that is often used in epidemiology. Our research focuses on the dynamic behaviour of contagion spreading in the global financial network. The effect of infection by a systemic spread of risks in the network of national banking systems of countries is tested. An optimal control problem is then formulated to simulate a control that may avoid significant financial losses. The results show that the proposed approach describes well the reality of the world economy, and emphasizes the importance of international relations between countries on the financial stability.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

99.  New sampling theorem and multiplicative filtering in the FRFT domain

Anh, P. K. and Castro, Luís P. and Thao, P. T. and Tuan, N. M.

Signal, Image and Video Processing

Springer Verlag

Having in consideration a fractional convolution associated with the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT), we propose a novel reconstruction formula for bandlimited signals in the FRFT domain without using the classical Shannon theorem. This may be considered the main contribution of this work, and numerical experiments are implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed sampling theorem. As a second goal, we also look for the designing of multiplicative filters. Indeed, we also convert the multiplicative filtering in FRFT domain to the time domain, which can be realized by Fast Fourier transform. Two concrete examples are included where the use of the present results is illustrated.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

98.  Multiscale information storage of linear long-range correlated stochastic processes

Faes, Luca and Pereira, Margarida Almeida and Silva, Maria Eduarda and Pernice, Riccardo and Busacca, Alessandro and Javorka, Michal and Rocha, Ana Paula

Physical review. E

American Physical Society

Information storage, reflecting the capability of a dynamical system to keep predictable information during its evolution over time, is a key element of intrinsic distributed computation, useful for the description of the dynamical complexity of several physical and biological processes. Here we introduce a parametric approach which allows one to compute information storage across multiple timescales in stochastic processes displaying both short-term dynamics and long-range correlations (LRC). Our analysis is performed in the popular framework of multiscale entropy, whereby a time series is first "coarse grained" at the chosen timescale through low-pass filtering and downsampling, and then its complexity is evaluated in terms of conditional entropy. Within this framework, our approach makes use of linear fractionally integrated autoregressive (ARFI) models to derive analytical expressions for the information storage computed at multiple timescales. Specifically, we exploit state space models to provide the representation of lowpass filtered and downsampled ARFI processes, from which information storage is computed at any given timescale relating the process variance to the prediction error variance. This enhances the practical usability of multiscale information storage, as it enables a computationally reliable quantification of a complexity measure which incorporates the effects of LRC together with that of short-term dynamics. The proposed measure is first assessed in simulated ARFI processes reproducing different types of autoregressive dynamics and different degrees of LRC, studying both the theoretical values and the finite sample performance. We find that LRC alter substantially the complexity of ARFI processes even at short timescales, and that reliable estimation of complexity can be achieved at longer timescales only when LRC are properly modeled. Then, we assess multiscale information storage in physiological time series measured in humans during resting state and postural stress, revealing unprecedented responses to stress of the complexity of heart period and systolic arterial pressure variability, which are related to the different role played by LRC in the two conditions.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

97.  Chaos analysis and explicit series solutions to the seasonally forced SIR epidemic model

Duarte, Jorge and Martins, Nuno and Rogovchenko, Svitlana and Rogovchenko, Yuriy and Januário, Cristina

Journal of Mathematical Biology

Springer

Despite numerous studies of epidemiological systems, the role of seasonality in the recurrent epidemics is not entirely understood. During certain periods of the year incidence rates of a number of endemic infectious diseases may fluctuate dramatically. This influences the dynamics of mathematical models describing the spread of infection and often leads to chaotic oscillations. In this paper, we are concerned with a generalization of a classical Susceptible-Infected-Recovered epidemic model which accounts for seasonal effects. Combining numerical and analytic techniques, we gain new insights into the complex dynamics of a recurrent disease influenced by the seasonality. Computation of the Lyapunov spectrum allows us to identify different chaotic regimes, determine the fractal dimension and estimate the predictability of the appearance of attractors in the system. Applying the homotopy analysis method, we obtain series solutions to the original nonautonomous SIR model with a high level of accuracy and use these approximations to analyze the dynamics of the system. The efficiency of the method is guaranteed by the optimal choice of an auxiliary control parameter which ensures the rapid convergence of the series to the exact solution of the forced SIR epidemic model.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

96.  New convolutions weighted by Hermite functions and their applications

Castro, L. P. and Guerra, R. C. and Tuan, N. M.

Mathematical Inequalities and Applications

Element D.O.O.

We introduce eight new convolutions weighted by multi-dimensional Hermite functions, prove two Young-type inequalities, and exhibit their applications in different subjects. One application consists in the study of the solvability of a very general class of integral equations whose kernel depends on four different functions. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the unique solvability of such integral equations are here obtained.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

95.  An epidemiological MSEIR model described by the Caputo fractional derivative

Almeida, Ricardo and Cruz, Artur Miguel and Martins, Natália and Monteiro, Maria Teresa

International Journal of Dynamics and Control

Springer

A fractional MSEIR model is presented, involving the Caputo fractional derivative. The equilibrium points and the basic reproduction number are computed. An analysis of the local asymptotic stability at the disease free equilibrium is given. Finally a numerical simulation, using Matlab based on optimization techniques, of the varicella outbreak among Shenzhen school children, China, is carried out.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

94.  Optimal impulse control of dynamical systems

Piunovskiy, Alexey and Plakhov, Alexander and Torres, Delfim F. M. and Zhang, Yi

SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization

Using the tools of the Markov Decision Processes, we justify the dynamic programming approach to the optimal impulse control of deterministic dynamical systems. We prove the equivalence of the integral and differential forms of the optimality equation. The theory is illustrated by an example from mathematical epidemiology. The developed methods can be also useful for the study of piecewise deterministic Markov processes.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

93.  A numerical approach for solving fractional optimal control problems using modified hat functions

Nemati, Somayeh and Lima, Pedro M. and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation

Elsevier

We introduce a numerical method, based on modified hat functions, for solving a class of fractional optimal control problems. In our scheme, the control and the fractional derivative of the state function are considered as linear combinations of the modified hat functions. The fractional derivative is considered in the Caputo sense while the Riemann-Liouville integral operator is used to give approximations for the state function and some of its derivatives. To this aim, we use the fractional order integration operational matrix of the modified hat functions and some properties of the Caputo derivative and Riemann-Liouville integral operators. Using results of the considered basis functions, solving the fractional optimal control problem is reduced to the solution of a system of nonlinear algebraic equations. An error bound is proved for the approximate optimal value of the performance index obtained by the proposed method. The method is then generalized for solving a class of fractional optimal control problems with inequality constraints. The most important advantages of our method are easy implementation, simple operations, and elimination of numerical integration. Some illustrative examples are considered to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed technique.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

92.  Ground state, bound states and bifurcation properties for a Schrodinger-Poisson system with critical exponent

Chen, Jianqing and Huang, Lirong and Rocha, Eugénio

Electronic Journal of Differential Equations

Texas State University, Department of Mathematics

This article concerns the existence of ground state and bound states, and the study of their bifurcation properties for the Schrödinger-Poisson system(Forumala Presented). Under suitable assumptions on the coefficient h(x), we prove that the ground state must bifurcate from zero, and that another bound state bifurcates from a solution, when µ = µ 1 is the first eigenvalue of −∆u + u = µh(x)u in H 1 (R 3 )

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

91.  Three nontrivial solutions for nonlocal anisotropic inclusions under nonresonance

Frassu, Silvia and Rocha, Eugénio and Staicu, Vasile

Electronic Journal of Differential Equations

Texas State University, Department of Mathematics

In this article, we study a pseudo-differential inclusion driven by a nonlocal anisotropic operator and a Clarke generalized subdifferential of a nonsmooth potential, which satisfies nonresonance conditions both at the origin and at infinity. We prove the existence of three nontrivial solutions: one positive, one negative and one of unknown sign, using variational methods based on nosmooth critical point theory, more precisely applying the second deformation theorem and spectral theory. Here, a nosmooth anisotropic version of the Holder versus Sobolev minimizers relation play an important role.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

90.  A collocation method of lines for two-sided space-fractional advection-diffusion equations with variable coefficients

Almoaeet, Mohammed K. and Shamsi, Mostafa and Khosravian-Arab, Hassan and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences

Wiley

We present the method of lines (MOL), which is based on the spectral collocation method, to solve space-fractional advection-diffusion equations (SFADEs) on a finite domain with variable coefficients. We focus on the cases in which the SFADEs consist of both left- and right-sided fractional derivatives. To do so, we begin by introducing a new set of basis functions with some interesting features. The MOL, together with the spectral collocation method based on the new basis functions, are successfully applied to the SFADEs. Finally, four numerical examples, including benchmark problems and a problem with discontinuous advection and diffusion coefficients, are provided to illustrate the efficiency and exponentially accuracy of the proposed method

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

89.  A numerical study of fractional relaxation–oscillation equations involving ψ-Caputo fractional derivative

Almeida, Ricardo and Jleli, Mohamed and Samet, Bessem

Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Serie A. Matemáticas

Springer

We provide a numerical method to solve a certain class of fractional differential equations involving ψ -Caputo fractional derivative. The considered class includes as particular case fractional relaxation–oscillation equations. Our approach is based on operational matrix of fractional integration of a new type of orthogonal polynomials. More precisely, we introduce ψ -shifted Legendre polynomial basis, and we derive an explicit formula for the ψ -fractional integral of ψ -shifted Legendre polynomials. Next, via an orthogonal projection on this polynomial basis, the problem is reduced to an algebraic equation that can be easily solved. The convergence of the method is justified rigorously and confirmed by some numerical experiments.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

88.  A higher dimensional fractional Borel‐Pompeiu formula and a related hypercomplex fractional operator calculus

Ferreira, Milton and Kraußhar, R. Sören and Rodrigues, M. Manuela and Vieira, Nelson

Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences

Wiley

In this paper we develop a fractional integro-differential operator calculus for Clifford-algebra valued functions. To do that we introduce fractional analogues of the Teodorescu and Cauchy-Bitsadze operators and we investigate some of their mapping properties. As a main result we prove a fractional Borel-Pompeiu formula based on a fractional Stokes formula. This tool in hand allows us to present a Hodge-type decomposition for the fractional Dirac operator. Our results exhibit an amazing duality relation between left and right operators and between Caputo and Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives. We round off this paper by presenting a direct application to the resolution of boundary value problems related to Laplace operators of fractional order.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

87.  Stability of a fractional HIV/AIDS model

Silva, Cristiana J. and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Mathematics and Computers in Simulation

Elsevier

We propose a fractional order model for HIV/AIDS transmission. Local and uniform stability of the fractional order model is studied. The theoretical results are illustrated through numerical simulations.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

86.  A space-based method for the generation of a SchwartzFunction with infinitely many vanishing moments of higher order with applications in image processing

Fink, Thomas and Kahler, Uwe

Complex Analysis and Operator Theory

Birkhäuser

In this article we construct a function with infinitely many vanishing (generalized) moments. This is motivated by an application to the Taylorlet transform which is based on the continuous shearlet transform. It can detect curvature and other higher order geometric information of singularities in addition to their position and the direction. For a robust detection of these features a function with higher order vanishing moments is needed. We show that the presented construction produces an explicit formula of a function with ∞ many vanishing moments of arbitrary order and thus allows for a robust detection of certain geometric features. The construction has an inherent connection to q-calculus, the Euler function and the partition function.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

85.  Perturbation of normal quaternionic operators

Cerejeiras, Paula and Colombo, Fabrizio and Kahler, Uwe and Sabadini, Irene

Transactions of the American Mathematical Society

American Mathematical Society

The theory of quaternionic operators has applications in several different fields, such as quantum mechanics, fractional evolution problems, and quaternionic Schur analysis, just to name a few. The main difference between complex and quaternionic operator theory is based on the definition of a spectrum. In fact, in quaternionic operator theory the classical notion of a resolvent operator and the one of a spectrum need to be replaced by the two $ S$-resolvent operators and the $ S$-spectrum. This is a consequence of the noncommutativity of the quaternionic setting. Indeed, the $ S$-spectrum of a quaternionic linear operator $ T$ is given by the noninvertibility of a second order operator. This presents new challenges which make our approach to perturbation theory of quaternionic operators different from the classical case. In this paper we study the problem of perturbation of a quaternionic normal operator in a Hilbert space by making use of the concepts of $ S$-spectrum and of slice hyperholomorphicity of the $ S$-resolvent operators. For this new setting we prove results on the perturbation of quaternionic normal operators by operators belonging to a Schatten class and give conditions which guarantee the existence of a nontrivial hyperinvariant subspace of a quaternionic linear operator.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

84.  Bounds for different spreads of line and total graphs

Andrade, Enide and Lenes, Eber and Mallea-Zepeda, Exequiel and Robbiano, María and Rodríguez Z., Jonnathan

Linear Algebra and its Applications

Elsevier

In this paper we explore some results concerning the spread of the line and the total graph of a given graph. A sufficient condition for the spread of a unicyclic graph with an odd girth to be at most the spread of its line graph is presented. Additionally, we derive an upper bound for the spread of the line graph of graphs on $n$ vertices having a vertex (edge) connectivity at most a positive integer $k$. Combining techniques of interlacing of eigenvalues, we derive lower bounds for the Laplacian and signless Laplacian spread of the total graph of a connected graph. Moreover, for a regular graph, an upper and lower bound for the spread of its total graph is given.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

83.  A sufficient optimality condition for non-linear delayed optimal control problems

Lemos-Paião, Ana P. and Silva, Cristiana J. and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Pure and Applied Functional Analysis

Yokohama Publishers

We prove a sufficient optimality condition for non-linear optimal control problems with delays in both state and control variables. Our result requires the verification of a Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equation and is obtained through a transformation that allow us to rewrite a delayed optimal control problem as an equivalent non-delayed one.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

82.  On Wiener’s Tauberian theorems and convolution for oscillatory integral operators

Castro, Luís Pinheiro de and Guerra, Rita Correia and Tuan, Nguyen Minh

Turkish Journal of Mathematics

TÜBİTAK - The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

The main aim of this work is to obtain Paley–Wiener and Wiener’s Tauberian results associated with an oscillatory integral operator, which depends on cosine and sine kernels, as well as to introduce a consequent new convolution. Additionally, a new Young-type inequality for the obtained convolution is proven, and a new Wiener-type algebra is also associated with this convolution.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

81.  Fractional differential equations with mixed boundary conditions

Almeida, Ricardo Miguel

Bulletin of the Malaysian Mathematical Sciences Society

Springer

In this paper, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of solutions of a boundary value problem for a fractional differential equation of order α ∈ (2, 3), involving a general form of fractional derivative. First, we prove an equivalence between the Cauchy problem and the Volterra equation. Then, two results on the existence of solutions are proven, and we end with some illustrative examples.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

80.  Construction sectors efficiency analysis on seven European countries

Murillo, Kelly Patricia and Rocha, Eugénio and Rodrigues, Maria Fernanda

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

Emerald

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure and compare the technical efficiency of construction companies in seven European countries: Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain, during the 2008–2015 period. The analysis involves nine sectors grouped into three divisions: construction of buildings (F41), civil engineering (F42) and specialized construction activities (F43), by NACE classification. Design/methodology/approach – Multidirectional efficiency analysis was adopted to investigate the levels of efficiencies, the differences in those levels and the possible causes of such differences by further defining two new indices. Findings – It showed that F43 is the most efficient division during the study period, followed by F42 and F41. The sectors/countries with less efficiency are: construction of roads and railways/Poland, construction of other civil engineering projects/Hungary, demolition and site preparation/Poland, other specialized construction activities/Portugal. Globally, the development of building projects sector uses resources in the most inefficient way and there was a drop in the efficiency in 2011 and 2013, showing a delay in the crisis impact. After 2010, civil engineering projects required a substantial effort to access resources. Other features regarding (in)efficiency were further identified. Originality/value – The analysis was conducted with one of the most effective techniques in frontier analysis. The first introduced index allows for comparing efficient/inefficient subgroups, and the other index measures the resource acquisition effort, allowing a better comparison along years. The study provides a good understanding of the performance of the construction industry and indirectly exposes the strategies to overcome the crisis, through the identification of the inputs/outputs which are well/badly used.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

79.  Some inequalities for interval-valued functions on time scales

Zhao, Dafang and Ye, Guoju and Liu, Wei and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Soft Computing

Springer

We introduce the interval Darboux delta integral (shortly, the IDΔ -integral) and the interval Riemann delta integral (shortly, the IR Δ -integral) for interval-valued functions on time scales. Fundamental properties of ID and IR Δ -integrals and examples are given. Finally, we prove Jensen’s, Hölder’s and Minkowski’s inequalities for the IR Δ -integral. Also, some examples are given to illustrate our theorems

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

78.  Maximum entropy: a stochastic frontier approach for electricity distribution regulation

Silva, Elvira and Macedo, Pedro and Soares, Isabel

Journal of Regulatory Economics

Springer

The literature on incentive-based regulation in the electricity sector indicates that the size of this sector in a country constrains the choice of frontier methods as well as the model specification itself to measure economic efficiency of regulated firms. The aim of this study is to propose a stochastic frontier approach with maximum entropy estimation, which is designed to extract information from limited and noisy data with minimal statements on the data generation process. Stochastic frontier analysis with generalized maximum entropy and data envelopment analysis – the latter one has been widely used by national regulators – are applied to a cross-section data on thirteen European electricity distribution companies. Technical efficiency scores and rankings of the distribution companies generated by both approaches are sensitive to model specification. Nevertheless, the stochastic frontier analysis with generalized maximum entropy results indicate that technical efficiency scores have similar distributional properties and these scores as well as the rankings of the companies are not very sensitive to the prior information. In general, the same electricity distribution companies are found to be in the highest and lowest efficient groups, reflecting weak sensitivity to the prior information considered in the estimation procedure.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

77.  Item pre-knowledge true prevalence in clinical anatomy- application of gated item response theory model

Severo, Milton and Silva-Pereira, Fernanda and Ferreira, Maria Amélia and Monteiro, Magda and Pereira, Isabel

BMC Medical Education

Springer Nature

Background: Computer and paper examinations in our days are constructed from an item pool which is regularly updated. Given the way that exams are created, one of the major concerns is the security of the items that are being used in order to ensure a good estimation of abilities. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of item pre-knowledge in our medical school. Methods: The Deterministic, Gated Item Response Theory Model (DGM) was applied to estimate the prevalence of students who have had item pre-knowledge from six multiple choice examinations of the Clinical Anatomy course at the Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto. Each examination consisted of 100 items with an average of 200 students and 20% repeated items per examination. The estimation of the sensitivity and specificity was based on a simulation study. The sensitivity and specificity estimates, and apparent prevalence were used to estimate true prevalence of cheating students in the examinations under study. Results: The specificity in the DGM for different simulation scenarios was between 68 and 98%, while the sensitivity ranged from 60 to 91%. The apparent prevalence was between 0.0 and 3.4%, while the true prevalence ranged from 1.2 to 3.7%. Conclusions: The true prevalence was much lower compared to the students self-reported copying of responses from other students; however, it is important to keep monitoring the pre-knowledge prevalence in order to enforce measures in case an increase occurs.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

76.  Optimal leader–follower control for the fractional opinion formation model

Almeida, Ricardo and Malinowska, Agnieszka B. and Odzijewicz, Tatiana

Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications

Springer

This paper deals with an opinion formation model, that obeys a nonlinear system of fractional-order differential equations. We introduce a virtual leader in order to attain a consensus. Sufficient conditions are established to ensure that the opinions of all agents globally asymptotically approach the opinion of the leader. We also address the problem of designing optimal control strategies for the leader so that the followers tend to consensus in the most efficient way. A variational integrator scheme is applied to solve the leader–follower optimal control problem. Finally, in order to verify the theoretical analysis, several particular examples are presented.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

75.  Caputo fractional differential equation with state dependent delay and practical stability

Agarwal, Ravi and Almeida, Ricardo and Hristova, Snezhana and O'Regan, Donal

Dynamic Systems and Applications

Dynamic Publishers, Inc

Practical stability properties of Caputo fractional delay differential equations is studied and, in particular, the case with state dependent delays is considered. These type of delays is a generalization of several types of delays such as constant delays, time variable delays, or distributed delays. In connection with the presence of a delay in a fractional differential equation and the application of the fractional generalization of the Razumikhin method, we give a brief overview of the most popular fractional order derivatives of Lyapunov functions among Caputo fractional delay differential equations. Three types of derivatives for Lyapunov functions, the Caputo fractional derivative, the Dini fractional derivative, and the Caputo fractional Dini derivative, are applied to obtain several sufficient conditions for practical stability. An appropriate Razumikhin condition is applied. These derivatives allow the application of non-quadratic Lyapunov function for studying stability properties. We illustrate our theory on several nonlinear Caputo fractional differential equations with different types of delays

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

74.  Bayesian outlier detection in non‐Gaussian autoregressive time series

Silva, Maria Eduarda and Pereira, Isabel and McCabe, Brendan

Journal of Time Series Analysis

Wiley

This work investigates outlier detection and modelling in non-Gaussian autoregressive time series models with margins in the class of a convolution closed parametric family. This framework allows for a wide variety of models for count and positive data types. The article investigates additive outliers which do not enter the dynamics of the process but whose presence may adversely influence statistical inference based on the data. The Bayesian approach proposed here allows one to estimate, at each time point, the probability of an outlier occurrence and its corresponding size thus identifying the observations that require further investigation. The methodology is illustrated using simulated and observed data sets.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

73.  Optimal control of a nonlocal thermistor problem with ABC fractional time derivatives

Ammi, Moulay Rchid Sidi and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Computers and Mathematics with Applications

Elsevier

We study an optimal control problem associated to a fractional nonlocal thermistor problem involving the ABC (Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo) fractional time derivative. We first prove the existence and uniqueness of solution. Then, we show that an optimal control exists. Moreover, we obtain the optimality system that characterizes the control.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

72.  A finite element approximation for a class of Caputo time-fractional diffusion equations

Ammi, Moulay Rchid Sidi and Jamiai, Ismail and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Computers and Mathematics with Applications

Elsevier

We develop a fully discrete scheme for time-fractional diffusion equations by using a finite difference method in time and a finite element method in space. The fractional derivatives are used in Caputo sense. Stability and error estimates are derived. The accuracy and efficiency of the presented method is shown by conducting two numerical examples.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

71.  Leader-following consensus for fractional multi-agent systems

Almeida, Ricardo and Girejko, Ewa and Hristova, Snezhana and Malinowska, Agnieszka B.

Advances in Difference Equations

SpringerOpen

A leader-following consensus for Caputo fractional multi-agent systems with nonlinear intrinsic dynamics is investigated. The second Lyapunov method is used to design a control protocol ensuring a consensus for two types of multi-agent systems. Contrary to the previous studies on leader-following consensus, the investigation covers systems with bounded and unbounded time-dependent Lipschitz coefficients in the intrinsic dynamics. Moreover, coupling strength describing the interactions between agents is considered to be a function of time.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

70.  Solution of the initial value problem for the focusing Davey-Stewartson II system

Lakshtanov, E. and Vainberg, B.

Contemporary Mathematics

American Mathematical Society

We consider a focusing Davey-Stewartson system and construct the solution of the Cauchy problem in the possible presence of exceptional points (and/or curves).

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

69.  The Portuguese Meeting in Biomathematics

Torres, Delfim F. M. and Area, Iván and Silva, César and Silva, Cristiana J.

Statistics, Optimization and Information Computing

IAPress

The main contributions of [Stat. Optim. Inf. Comput. Vol. 7, No. 3 (2019)], consisting of 7 papers selected and revised from the 2nd Portuguese Meeting in Biomathematics (EPB’2018), are highlighted.

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68.  Analysis of a SIRI epidemic model with distributed delay and relapse

Elazzouzi, Abdelhai and Alaoui, Abdesslem Lamrani and Tilioua, Mouhcine and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Statistics, Optimization and Information Computing

IAPress

We investigate the global behaviour of a SIRI epidemic model with distributed delay and relapse. From the theory of functional differential equations with delay, we prove that the solution of the system is unique, bounded, and positive, for all time. The basic reproduction number R0 for the model is computed. By means of the direct Lyapunov method and LaSalle invariance principle, we prove that the disease free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable when R0 < 1. Moreover,we show that there is a unique endemic equilibrium, which is globally asymptotically stable, when R0 > 1.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

67.  A minimal HIV-AIDS infection model with general incidence rate and application to Morocco data

Lotfi, El Mehdi and Mahrouf, Marouane and Maziane, Mehdi and Silva, Cristiana J. and Torres, Delfim F. M. and Yousfi, Noura

Statistics, Optimization and Information Computing

IAPress

We study the global dynamics of a SICA infection model with general incidence rate. The proposed model is calibrated with cumulative cases of infection by HIV–AIDS in Morocco from 1986 to 2015. We first prove that our model is biologically and mathematically well-posed. Stability analysis of different steady states is performed and threshold parameters are identified where the model exhibits clearance of infection or maintenance of a chronic infection. Furthermore, we examine the robustness of the model to some parameter values by examining the sensitivity of the basic reproduction number. Finally, using numerical simulations with real data from Morocco, we show that the model predicts well such reality.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

66.  Optimal control and sensitivity analysis of a fractional order TB model

Rosa, Silvério and Torres, Delfim F. M.

Statistics, Optimization and Information Computing

A Caputo fractional-order mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis (TB) was recently proposed in [Math. Model. Nat. Phenom. 13 (2018), no. 1, Art. 9]. Here, a sensitivity analysis of that model is done, showing the importance of accuracy of parameter values. A fractional optimal control (FOC) problem is then formulated and solved,with the rate of treatment as the control variable. Finally, a cost-effectiveness analysis is performed to assess the cost and the effectiveness of the control measures during the intervention, showing in which conditions FOC is useful with respect to classical (integer-order) optimal control.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

65.  Influence of the topology on the dynamics of a complex network of HIV/AIDS epidemic models

Cantin, Guillaume and Silva, Cristiana J.

AIMS Mathematics

AIMS Press

In this paper, we propose an original complex network model for an epidemic problem in an heterogeneous geographical area. The complex network is constructed by coupling nonidentical instances of a HIV/AIDS epidemiological model for which a disease-free equilibrium and an endemic equilibrium can coexist. After proving the existence of a positively invariant region for the solutions of the complex network problem, we investigate the effect of the coupling on the dynamics of the network, and establish the existence of a unique disease-free equilibrium for the whole network, which is globally asymptotically stable. We prove the existence of an optimal topology that minimizes the level of infected individuals, and apply the theoretical results to the case of the Cape Verde archipelago.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

64.  AAD: breaking the primal barrier

Goloubentsev, Dmitri and Lakshtanov, Evgeny

Wilmott

Wiley

In this article we present a new approach for automatic adjoint differentiation (AAD) with a special focus on computations where derivatives ∂F(X) ∂X are required for multiple instances of vectors X. In practice, the presented approach is able to calculate all the differentials faster than the primal (original) C++ program for F.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

63.  Spherical tiling with GeoGebra

Breda, Ana and Santos, José dos

Resonance

Indian Academy of Sciences, Springer

The theory of spherical tilings is an interesting and fruitful field, attracting, among other researchers, mathematicians. It is a transverse topic crossing several mathematical areas such as geometry, algebra, topology and number theory, but it is also an object of interest for other scientific fields such as chemistry, physics, art and architecture. Here, we make use of GeoGebra to establish some results, describing a class of monohedral spherical tilings and inferring some conjectures. This will highlight how the use of this software has been crucial for the construction of new knowledge in mathematics with applications in different areas of engineering.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

62.  A time-fractional Borel-Pompeiu formula and a related hypercomplex operator calculus

Ferreira, M. and Rodrigues, M. M. and Vieira, M.

Complex Analysis and Operator Theory

Springer

In this paper we develop a time-fractional operator calculus in fractional Clifford analysis. Initially we study the $L_p$-integrability of the fundamental solutions of the multi-dimensional time-fractional diffusion operator and the associated time-fractional parabolic Dirac operator. Then we introduce the time-fractional analogues of the Teodorescu and Cauchy-Bitsadze operators in a cylindrical domain, and we investigate their main mapping properties. As a main result, we prove a time-fractional version of the Borel-Pompeiu formula based on a time-fractional Stokes' formula. This tool in hand allows us to present a Hodge-type decomposition for the forward time-fractional parabolic Dirac operator with left Caputo fractional derivative in the time coordinate. The obtained results exhibit an interesting duality relation between forward and backward parabolic Dirac operators and Caputo and Riemann-Liouville time-fractional derivatives. We round off this paper by giving a direct application of the obtained results for solving time-fractional boundary value problems.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

61.  Realization of 2D (2,2)-periodic encoders by means of 2D periodic separable Roesser models

Pereira, Ricardo and Napp, Diego and Pinto, Raquel and Rocha, Paula

International Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science

University of Zielona Gora Press

It is well-known that convolutional codes are linear systems when they are defined over a finite field. A fundamental issue in the implementation of convolutional codes is to obtain a minimal state representation of the code. In comparison to the literature on one-dimensional (1D) time-invariant convolutional codes, there exists only relatively few results on the realization problem for the time-varying 1D convolutional codes and even fewer if the convolutional codes are two-dimensional (2D). In this paper we consider 2D periodic convolutional codes and address the minimal state space realization problem for this class of codes. This is, in general, a highly nontrivial problem. Here, we focus on separable Roesser models and show that in this case it is possible to derive, under weak conditions, concrete formulas for obtaining a 2D Roesser state space representation. Moreover, we study minimility and present necessary conditions for these representations to be minimal. Our results immediately lead to constructive algorithms to build these representations.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

60.  Towards a geometric theory for nD behaviors: conditioned invariance and detectability subspaces

Pereira, Ricardo and Rocha, Paula

IFAC-PapersOnLine

Elsevier

We introduce the definitions of observer, conditioned invariance and detectability subspaces for discrete multidimensional behavioral systems, based on our previous work for the continuous 1D case, as a step forward in the attempt to develop a geometric theory for nD behaviors.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

59.  Faithful permutation representations of toroidal regular maps

Fernandes, Maria Elisa and Piedade, Cláudio Alexandre

Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics

Springer Verlag

In this paper we list all possible degrees of a faithful transitive permutation representation of the group of symmetries of a regular map of types ${4,4}$ and ${3,6}$ and we give examples of graphs, called CPR-graphs, representing some of these permutation representations.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

58.  Fractional differential equations and Volterra–Stieltjes integral equations of the second kind

Asanov, Avyt and Almeida, Ricardo and Malinowska, Agnieszka B.

Computational and Applied Mathematics

Springer

In this paper, we construct a method to find approximate solutions to fractional differential equations involving fractional derivatives with respect to another function. The method is based on an equivalence relation between the fractional differential equation and the Volterra– Stieltjes integral equation of the second kind. The generalized midpoint rule is applied to solve numerically the integral equation and an estimation for the error is given. Results of numerical experiments demonstrate that satisfactory and reliable results could be obtained by the proposed method.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

57.  An overview of (k,t)-regular sets and their applications

Cardoso, Domingos M.

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Elsevier

A (k,t)-regular set is a vertex subset S inducing a k-regular subgraph such that every vertex out of S has t neighbors in S. This article is an expository overview of the main results obtained for graphs with (k,t)-regular sets. The graphs with classical combinatorial structures, like perfect matchings, Hamilton cycles, efficient dominating sets, etc, are characterized by (k,t)-regular sets whose determination is equivalent to the determination of those classical combinatorial structures. The characterization of graphs with these combinatorial structures are presented. The determination of (k,t)-regular sets in a finite number of steps is deduced and the main spectral properties of these sets are described.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

56.  Preference for death at home and associated factors among older people in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Jorge, Rafaela and Calanzani, Natália and Freitas, Adelaide and Nunes, Rui and Sousa, Liliana

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva

ABRASCO - Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva

We examined people's preferences for place of death and identified factors associated with a home death preference. We asked a representative sample (N = 400) of older people (≥ 60 years) residents in the city of Belo Horizonte, about their preferences for place of death in a situation of serious illness with less than a year to live. Data were analyzed using binomial regression to identify associated factors. 52.2% indicate home as the preferred place of death. Five variables were associated with preference for death at home: those living with 1 child (odds ratio (OR)0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI):0.18-0.92; ref: without children); being in education for up to 4 years (OR0.42; 95% CI:0.20-0.89; ref: higher education); finding it difficult to live with the present income (OR3.18; 95% CI:1.53-6.62; ref: living comfortably); self-assessed fair overall health (OR2.07; 95% CI:1.06-4.03; ref: very good health) and selecting "choosing who makes decisions about your care" as the care priority that would matter to them the most (OR2.43; 95%CI:1.34-4.40; ref: dying in the place you want). Most respondents chose home as preferred place of death. However, most residents of Belo Horizonte die in hospitals, suggesting that preferences are not being considered.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

55.  String C-group representations of alternating groups

Fernandes, Maria Elisa and Leemans, Dimitri

Ars Mathematica Contemporanea

We prove that for any integer n ≥ 12, and for every r in the interval [3, . . . , Floor((n−1)/2)], the group A_n has a string C-group representation of rank r, and hence that the only alternating group whose set of such ranks is not an interval is A_11.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

54.  Convolution theorems related with the solvability of Wiener-Hopf plus Hankel integral equations and Shannon’s sampling formula

Castro, Luís Pinheiro and Guerra, Rita Correia and Tuan, Nguyen Minh

Mathematica Slovaca

De Gruyter

This paper considers two nite integral transforms of Fourier-type, in view to propose a set of eight new convolutions, and to analyze the solvability of a class of the integral equations of Wiener-Hopf plus Hankel type, de ned on nite intervals, which is involved in engineering problems. The solvability and solution of the considered equations are investigated by means of Fourier-type series, and a Shannon-type sampling formula is obtained. Some concluding remarks with respect to theoretical issues and engineering applications are emphasized in the last section, along with the analysis of some illustrative cases, which exemplify that the present method solves cases which are not under the conditions of previously known techniques.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

53.  Reliability and validity evidence of the Assessment of Language Use in Social Contexts for Adults (ALUSCA)

Valente, Ana Rita S. and Hall, Andreia and Alvelos, Helena and Leahy, Margaret and Jesus, Luis M. T.

Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology

Taylor & Francis

Background: The appropriate use of language in context depends on the speaker's pragmatic language competencies. A coding system was used to develop a specific and adult-focused self-administered questionnaire to adults who stutter and adults who do not stutter, The Assessment of Language Use in Social Contexts for Adults, with three categories: precursors, basic exchanges, and extended literal/non-literal discourse. This paper presents the content validity, item analysis, reliability coefficients and evidences of construct validity of the instrument. Methods: Content validity analysis was based on a two-stage process: first, 11 pragmatic questionnaires were assessed to identify items that probe each pragmatic competency and to create the first version of the instrument; second, items were assessed qualitatively by an expert panel composed by adults who stutter and controls, and quantitatively and qualitatively by an expert panel composed by clinicians. A pilot study was conducted with five adults who stutter and five controls to analyse items and calculate reliability. Construct validity evidences were obtained using the hypothesized relationships method and factor analysis with 28 adults who stutter and 28 controls. Results: Concerning content validity, the questionnaires assessed up to 13 pragmatic competencies. Qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed ambiguities in items construction. Disagreement between experts was solved through item modification. The pilot study showed that the instrument presented internal consistency and temporal stability. Significant differences between adults who stutter and controls and different response profiles revealed the instrument's underlying construct. Conclusion: The instrument is reliable and presented evidences of construct validity.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

52.  Preface of the “4th Symposium on Modelling and Simulation in Computer Sciences and Engineering”

Miranda, Francisco and Abreu, Carlos and Miranda, Daniel

AIP Conference Proceedings

AIP Publishing

The 4th Symposium on Modelling and Simulation in Computer Sciences and Engineering was held in the 16th International Conference of Numerical Analysis and Applied Mathematics (ICNAAM 2018), Rhodes, Greece, 13-18 September 2018.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

51.  Theoretical simulation of the influence of cathode formulation on lithium-ion battery performance

Miranda, D. and Miranda, F. and Almeida, A. M. and Lanceros-Méndez, S. and Costa, C. M.

AIP Conference Proceedings

AIP Publishing

Optimizing cathode electrode formulation is essential in the development and performance of lithium-ion batteries, as the cathode affects the capacity of the battery. Cathode electrode formulation is based on different materials and relative contents. In this work, the cathode performance for the LiMn2O4, LMO, active material has been obtained by theoretical simulations for different materials formulations and at various discharge rates. Further, the simulations were compared with experimental results. It is demonstrated that the optimization of the electrode formulation strongly depends on the percentage of conductive material, existing a minimum conductive filler content that optimizes the delivered capacity of the battery and being that delivery capacity independent of the conductive filler content for higher concentrations.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

50.  Carbohydrate counting: how accurate should it be to achieve glycemic control in patients on intensive insulin regimens?

Abreu, Carlos and Miranda, Francisco and Felgueiras, Paula

AIP Conference Proceedings

AIP Publishing

Carbohydrate counting is an important meal-planning tool for patients on intensive insulin regimens. Preprandial insulin bolus is adjusted taking into account the carbohydrate content of each meal and the insulin-to-carb ratio of each patient throughout the day. Evidence suggests that accurate carbohydrate counting may have positive effects not only on reducing glycosylated hemoglobin concentration but also on decreasing the incidence of hypoglycemic episodes. Nevertheless, despite its benefits, the efficacy of carbohydrate counting depends on the ability of each patient, or its caregiver, to accurately estimate the carbohydrate content of each meal. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand how accurate should carbohydrate counting be, and the impact of inaccurate carbohydrate counting on the glycemic control of each patient. Within this work, we propose an analytic method that uses the insulin-to-carb ratio and the insulin sensitivity factor, along with the glycemic targets of each patient to calculate the limits of accurate carbohydrate counting, in order to achieve better glycemic control and to reduce hypoglycemic episodes.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

49.  Home glucose meters: how accurate should they be to avoid dysglycemia in patients using carbohydrate counting?

Abreu, Carlos and Miranda, Francisco and Dabrowska, Anna and Felgueiras, Paula

AIP Conference Proceedings

AIP Publishing

Accurate self-monitoring of blood glucose is the key to an effective and safe intensive insulin therapy. Indeed, most insulin dosing decisions are made based on the blood glucose values obtained from home glucose meters, in particular for those using diet planning and carbohydrate counting. Patients on that therapeutic regimen depend not only on their ability to accurately estimate the carbohydrate content of each meal but also on the accuracy of the glucose meter being used. Therefore, in order to avoid postprandial hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, it is of great importance to realize how important is the accuracy of blood glucose meters according to the particular characteristics of each patient. In this regard, we propose an analytic method to find the limits of the blood glucose meters accuracy according to the insulin-to-carb ratio, the insulin sensitivity factor and the ability of each patient to estimate the carbohydrate content of each meal.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

48.  An adaptive mealtime bolus calculator to minimize the effects of inaccurate carbohydrate counting

Abreu, Carlos and Miranda, Francisco and Felgueiras, Paula

AIP Conference Proceedings

AIP Publishing

Evidence suggests that accurate carbohydrate counting along with self-monitoring of blood glucose is the key to a successful diabetes management, in particular for patients on intensive insulin regimens. However, despite its benefits, accurate carbohydrate counting is a complex, difficult, time-consuming, and error-prone task for most patients. Several studies show that most patients frequently estimate the carbohydrate content of meals within an error of about 10-15 g of the real value. In addition, fearing hypoglycemic events, patients frequently underestimate the carbohydrate content of meals and, consequently, they have high levels of HbA1C. Therefore, is important to avoid the consequences of incorrect carbohydrate counting in order to improve the patient’s glycemic control. To that end, this work presents an adaptive mealtime bolus calculator that uses the patient’s glycemic data to dynamically adjust the mealtime bolus and counterbalance the negative effects of inaccurate carbohydrate counting.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

47.  More on geometry of Krein space C-numerical range

Guterman, Alexander and Lemos, Rute and Soares, Graça

Applied Mathematics and Computation

Elsevier

For n × n complex matrices A, C and H, where H is non-singular Hermitian, the Krein space C-numerical range of A induced by H is the subset of the complex plane given by {Tr(CU^[*]AU: U^{-1}= U^[*] )} with U^[*]=H^{-1}U*H the H-adjoint matrix of U. We revisit several results on the geometry of Krein space C-numerical range of A and in particular we obtain a condition for the Krein space C-numerical range to be a subset of the real line.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

46.  Warm Little Inflaton becomes Dark Energy

Rosa, João G. and Ventura, Luís B.

Physics Letters B

Elsevier

We present a model where the inflaton field behaves like quintessence at late times, generating the present phase of accelerated expansion. This is achieved within the framework of warm inflation, in particular the Warm Little Inflaton scenario, where the underlying symmetries guarantee a successful inflationary period in a warm regime sustained by dissipative effects without significant backreaction on the scalar potential. This yields a smooth transition into a radiation-dominated epoch, at which point dissipative effects naturally shut down as the temperature drops below the mass of the fermions directly coupled to the inflaton. The post-inflationary dynamics is then analogous to a thawing quintessence scenario, with no kination phase at the end of inflation. Observational signatures of this scenario include the modified consistency relation between the tensor-to-scalar ratio and tensor spectral index typical of warm inflation models, the variation of the dark energy equation of state at low redshifts characteristic of thawing quintessence scenarios, and correlated dark energy isocurvature perturbations.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

45.  A fractional measles model having monotonic real statistical data for constant transmission rate of the disease

Almeida, Ricardo and Qureshi, Sania

Fractal and Fractional

MDPI

Non-Markovian effects have a vital role in modeling the processes related with natural phenomena such as epidemiology. Various infectious diseases have long-range memory characteristics and, thus, non-local operators are one of the best choices to be used to understand the transmission dynamics of such diseases and epidemics. In this paper, we study a fractional order epidemiological model of measles. Some relevant features, such as well-posedness and stability of the underlying Cauchy problem, are considered accompanying the proofs for a locally asymptotically stable equilibrium point for basic reproduction number R0 < 1, which is most sensitive to the fractional order parameter and to the percentage of vaccination. We show the efficiency of the model through a real life application of the spread of the epidemic in Pakistan, comparing the fractional and classical models, while assuming constant transmission rate of the epidemic with monotonically increasing and decreasing behavior of the infected population. Secondly, the fractional Caputo type model, based upon nonlinear least squares curve fitting technique, is found to have smaller residuals when compared with the classical model.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

44.  Balancing a static black ring with a phantom scalar field

Kleihaus, Burkhard and Kunz, Jutta and Radu, Eugen

Physics Letters B

Elsevier

All known five dimensional, asymptotically flat, static black rings possess conical singularities. However, there is no fundamental obstruction forbidding the existence of balanced configurations, and we show that the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations admit (numerical) solutions describing static asymptotically flat black rings, which are regular on and outside the event horizon. The scalar field is 'phantom', which creates the self-repulsion necessary to balance the black rings. Similar solutions are likely to exist in other spacetime dimensions, the basic properties of a line element describing a four dimensional, asymptotically flat black ring geometry being discussed.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

43.  Completeness in Equational Hybrid Propositional Type Theory

Manzano, Maria and Martins, Manuel and Huertas, Antonia

Studia Logica

Springer Verlag

Equational Hybrid Propositional Type Theory (EHPTT) is a combination of propositional type theory, equational logic and hybrid modal logic. The structures used to interpret the language contain a hierarchy of propositional types, an algebra (a nonempty set with functions) and a Kripke frame. The main result in this paper is the proof of completeness of a calculus specifically defined for this logic. The completeness proof is based on the three proofs Henkin published last century: (i) Completeness in type theory (ii) The completeness of the first-order functional calculus and (iii) Completeness in propositional type theory. More precisely, from (i) and (ii) we take the idea of building the model described by the maximal consistent set; in our case the maximal consistent set has to be named, ♦- saturated and extensionally algebraic-saturated due to the hybrid and equational nature of EHPTT. From (iii), we use the result that any element in the hierarchy has a name. The challenge was to deal with all the heterogeneous components in an integrated system.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

42.  Charged black holes with axionic-type couplings: classes of solutions and dynamical scalarization

Fernandes, Pedro G. S. and Herdeiro, Carlos A. R. and Pombo, Alexandre M. and Radu, Eugen and Sanchis-Gual, Nicolas

Physical Review D

American Physical Society

We consider an augmented Einstein-Maxwell-scalar model including an axionic-type coupling between the scalar and electromagnetic field. We study dyonic black hole solutions in this model. For the canonical axionic coupling emerging from high energy physics, all charged black holes have axion hair. We present their domain of existence and investigate some physical properties. For other axionic-type couplings, two classes of black hole solutions may coexist in the model: scalar-free Reissner-Nordström black holes and scalarized black holes. We show that in some region of the parameter space the scalar-free solutions are unstable. Then, there is nonuniqueness since new scalarized black hole solutions with the same global charges, which are entropically preferred over the scalar-free solutions and, moreover, emerge dynamically from the instability of the former, also exist.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

41.  Einstein-Maxwell-scalar black holes: classes of solutions, dyons and extremality

Astefanesei, D. and Herdeiro, C. and Pombo, A. and Radu, E.

Journal of High Energy Physics

Springer Verlag

Spherical black hole (BH) solutions in Einstein-Maxwell-scalar (EMS) models wherein the scalar field is non-minimally coupled to the Maxwell invariant by some coupling function are discussed. We suggest a classification for these models into two classes, based on the properties of the coupling function, which, in particular, allow, or not, the ReissnerNordstr¨om (RN) BH solution of electrovacuum to solve a given model. Then, a comparative analysis of two illustrative families of solutions, one belonging to each class is performed: dilatonic versus scalarised BHs. By including magnetic charge, that is considering dyons, we show that scalarised BHs can have a smooth extremal limit, unlike purely electric or magnetic solutions. In particular, we study this extremal limit using the entropy function formalism, which provides insight on why both charges are necessary for extremal solutions to exist.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

40.  Spontaneously scalarized Kerr black holes in extended scalar-tensor-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

Cunha, Pedro V. P. and Herdeiro, Carlos A. R. and Radu, Eugen

Physical Review Letters

American Physical Society

We construct asymptotically flat, spinning, regular on and outside an event horizon, scalarized black holes (SBHs) in extended scalar-tensor-Gauss-Bonnet models. They reduce to Kerr BHs when the scalar field vanishes. For an illustrative choice of nonminimal coupling, we scan the domain of existence. For each value of spin, SBHs exist in an interval between two critical masses, with the lowest one vanishing in the static limit. Non-uniqueness with Kerr BHs of equal global charges is observed; the SBHs are entropically favoured. This suggests that SBHs form dynamically from the spontaneous scalarization of Kerr BHs, which are prone to a scalar-triggered tachyonic instability, below the largest critical mass. Phenomenologically, the introduction of BH spin damps the maximal observable difference between comparable scalarized and vacuum BHs. In the static limit, (perturbatively stable) SBHs can store over 20% of the spacetime energy outside the event horizon; in comparison with Schwarzschild BHs, their geodesic frequency at the ISCO can differ by a factor of 2.5 and deviations in the shadow areal radius may top 40%. As the BH spin grows, low mass SBHs are excluded, and the maximal relative differences decrease, becoming of the order of a few percent for dimensionless spin j≳0.5. This reveals a spin selection effect: non-GR effects are only significant for low spin. We discuss if and how the recently measured shadow size of the M87 supermassive BH constrains the length scale of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling.

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39.  Spontaneous scalarisation of charged black holes: coupling dependence and dynamical features

Fernandes, Pedro G. S. and Herdeiro, Carlos A. R. and Pombo, Alexandre M. and Radu, Eugen and Sanchis-Gual, Nicolas

Classical and Quantum Gravity

IOP Publishing

Spontaneous scalarisation of electrically charged, asymptotically flat Reissner–Nordström black holes (BHs) has been recently demonstrated to occur in Einstein–Maxwell–Scalar (EMS) models. This phenomenon is allowed by a non-minimal coupling between the scalar and the Maxwell fields, and does not require non-minimal couplings of the scalar field to curvature invariants. EMS BH scalarisation presents a technical simplification over the BH scalarisation that has been conjectured to occur in extended scalar–tensor Gauss–Bonnet (eSTGB) models. It is then natural to ask: (1) how universal are the conclusions extracted from the EMS model? And (2) how much do these conclusions depend on the choice of the non-minimal coupling function? Here we address these questions by performing a comparative analysis of several different forms for the coupling function including: exponential, hyperbolic, power-law and a rational function (fraction) couplings. In all of them we obtain and study the domain of existence of fundamental, spherically symmetric, scalarised BHs and compute, in particular, their entropy. The latter shows that scalarised EMS BHs are always entropically preferred over the RN BHs with the same total charge to mass ratio q. This contrasts with the case of eSTGB, where for the same power-law coupling the spherical, fundamental scalarised BHs are not entropically preferred over the Schwarzschild solution. Also, while the scalarised solutions in the EMS model for the exponential, hyperbolic and power-law coupling are very similar, the rational function coupling leads to a transition in the domain of existence, by virtue of a pole in the coupling function, into a region of 'exotic' solutions that violate the weak energy condition. Furthermore, fully non-linear dynamical evolutions of unstable RN BHs with different values of q are presented. These show: (1) for sufficiently small q, scalarised solutions with (approximately) the same q form dynamically; (2) for large q, spontaneous scalarisation visibly decreases q; thus evolutions are non-conservative; (3) despite the existence of non-spherical, static scalarised solutions, the evolution of unstable RN BHs under non-spherical perturbations leads to a spherical scalarised BH.

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38.  Nonlinear dynamics of spinning bosonic stars: formation and stability

Sanchis-Gual, N. and Di Giovanni, F. and Zilhão, M. and Herdeiro, C. and Cerdá-Durán, P. and Font, J. A. and Radu, E.

Physical Review Letters

American Physical Society

We perform numerical evolutions of the fully nonlinear Einstein (complex, massive) Klein-Gordon and Einstein (complex) Proca systems, to assess the formation and stability of spinning bosonic stars. In the scalar (vector) case these are known as boson (Proca) stars. Firstly, we consider the formation scenario. Starting with constraint-obeying initial data, describing a dilute, axisymmetric cloud of spinning scalar or Proca field, gravitational collapse toward a spinning star occurs, via gravitational cooling. In the scalar case the formation is transient, even for a nonperturbed initial cloud; a nonaxisymmetric instability always develops ejecting all the angular momentum from the scalar star. In the Proca case, by contrast, no instability is observed and the evolutions are compatible with the formation of a spinning Proca star. Secondly, we address the stability of an existing star, a stationary solution of the field equations. In the scalar case, a nonaxisymmetric perturbation develops, collapsing the star to a spinning black hole. No such instability is found in the Proca case, where the star survives large amplitude perturbations; moreover, some excited Proca stars decay to, and remain as, fundamental states. Our analysis suggests bosonic stars have different stability properties in the scalar (vector) case, which we tentatively relate to its toroidal (spheroidal) morphology. A parallelism with instabilities of spinning fluid stars is briefly discussed.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

37.  On the invariance of certain vanishing subspaces of Morrey spaces with respect to some classical operators

Alabalik, Aysegul Ç. and Almeida, Alexandre and Samko, Stefan

ArXiv

ArXiv

We consider subspaces of Morrey spaces defined in terms of various vanishing properties of functions. Such subspaces were recently used to describe the closure of $C_0^infty(mathbb{R}^n)$ in Morrey norm. We show that these subspaces are invariant with respect to some classical operators of harmonic analysis, such as the Hardy-Littlewood maximal operator, singular type operators and Hardy operators. We also show that the vanishing properties defining those subspaces are preserved under the action of Riesz potential operators and fractional maximal operators.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

36.  Epistemic logics with structured knowledge

Madeira, Alexandre and Martins, Manuel A. and Benevides, Mario R. F.

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

Elsevier

Multi-agent Dynamic Epistemic Logic, as a suitable modal logic to reason about knowledge evolving systems, has emerged in a number of contexts and scenarios. The agents knowledge in this logic is simply characterised by valuations of propositions. This paper discusses the adoption of other richer structures to make these representations, as graphs, algebras or even epistemic models. This method of building epistemic logics over richer structures is called “Epistemisation”. On this view a parametric method to build such Epistemic Logics with Public Announcements is introduced. Moreover, a parametric notion of bisimulation is presented, and the modal invariance of the proposed logics, with respect to this relation, are proved. Some interesting application horizons opened with this construction are stated.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

35.  Construção e interpretação de diagramas de extremos e quartis por alunos portugueses do 9.° ano de escolaridade

Carvalho, Maria José and Fernandes, José António and Freitas, Adelaide

Bolema: Boletim de Educação Matemática

Universidade Estadual Paulista

This study deals with the difficulties of 9th grade Portuguese students in the building and interpreting of boxplots (DEQ). The study is based on the responses given by 93 9th grade students to 2 questions on the DEQ in a written diagnostic test. By examining the configurations of the objects and mathematical processes that intervene in the students' resolutions, we have identified discrepancies between the personal meanings reached by the students and the institutional meanings intended in the construction and interpretation of the DEQ, noting that: (i) in the construction of the DEQ we observed confusions in the form of presenting a DEQ by incorporating its numeric support in the diagram itself, and difficulties in the accuracy to be considered for the support scale of the support when the data's variation domain is greater; and (ii) in the interpretation of DEQ, there are clear difficulties in analyzing the distributional form of the data through a DEQ, observing the tendency for the student to respond based on the intuitive perception of the symmetry and dispersion of the distribution, without resorting to statistical measures in their justifications. We also observed that the construction of the DEQ is easier than its interpretation. These results corroborate the idea that the analysis of aggregate data, using DEQ, is not an easy task to understand by students of this level of education, so we suggest a greater articulation between DEQ construction activities and interpretation activities.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

34.  Comparing traditional and tablet-based intervention for children with speech sound disorders: a randomised control trial

Jesus, Luis M. T. and Martinez, Joana and Santos, Joaquim and Hall, Andreia and Joffe, Victoria

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Purpose: This article reports on the effectiveness of a novel tablet-based approach to phonological intervention and compares it to a traditional tabletop approach, targeting children with phonologically based speech sound disorders (SSD). Method: Twenty-two Portuguese children with phonologically based SSD were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 interventions, tabletop or tablet (11 children in each group), and received intervention based on the same activities, with the only difference being the delivery. All children were treated by the same speech-language pathologist over 2 blocks of 6 weekly sessions, for 12 sessions of intervention. Participants were assessed at 3 time points: baseline; pre-intervention, after a 3-month waiting period; and post-intervention. Outcome measures included percentage of consonants correct, percentage of vowels correct, and percentage of honemes correct. A generalization of target sounds was also explored. Results: Both tabletop and tablet-based interventions were effective in improving percentage of consonants correct and percentage of phonemes correct scores, with an intervention effect only evident for percentage of vowels correct in the tablet group. Change scores across both interventions were significantly greater after the intervention, compared to baseline, indicating that the change was due to the intervention. High levels of generalization (60% and above for the majority of participants) were obtained across both tabletop and tablet groups. Conclusions: The software proved to be as effective as a traditional tabletop approach in treating children with phonologically based SSD. These findings provide new evidence regarding the use of digital materials in improving speech in children with SSD. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9989816

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

33.  Using mathematical magic to improve student’s motivation in mathematics classes

Pais, Sónia and Hall, Andreia

Indagatio Didactica

Centro de Investigação Didática e Tecnologia na Formação de Formadores (CIDTFF/UA)

One of the problems identified in the failure of mathematics teaching is the lack of motivation that students feel towards the discipline. Considering that it is imperative to make the teaching and learning processes of mathematics more stimulating, taking into account modern society and student’s interests, the authors have developed several strategies to increase the interest and improve the success of students in mathematics. Thus, they decided to use mathematical magic tricks in their classes to raise the motivation of the students, captivating them and stimulating their interest in mathematics. In this work, a case study to evaluate how mathematical magic can contribute to increase students’ motivation for learning mathematics is presented. In order to develop this experience, the techniques of inquiry, direct observation and analysis of documents were applied and the following instruments were used: questionnaires and respective analysis grids; production of a battery of tasks of a diversified nature and field notes. The analysis of the collected data allows us to conclude that the use of mathematical magic tricks in the classroom, with the purpose of motivating the students to learn mathematics, revealed to be effective.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

32.  On the competitive harvesting of marine resources

Bressan, Alberto and Staicu, Vasile

SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization

Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

The paper is concerned with the optimal harvesting of a marine resource, described by an elliptic equation with Neumann boundary conditions and a nonlinear source term. We first consider a single agent, whose harvesting effort at various locations is described by a positive Radon measure. Necessary conditions for optimality are derived, complementing the existence result proved in [A. Bressan, G. Coclite, and W. Shen, SIAM J. Control Optim., 51 (2013), pp. 1186--1202]. The second part of the paper deals with a competitive scenario, where several groups of fishermen, from different coastal towns and hence with different cost functions, harvest the same marine resource. We prove the existence of a Nash equilibrium, which is characterized in terms of a suitable variational inequality.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

31.  Selection and Application of graphical and numerical statistical tools by prospective primary school teachers

Fernandes, José António and Freitas, Adelaide

Acta Scientiae

Universidade Luterana do Brasil

Teaching statistics in the early years requires that teachers at this school level develop skills to analyze small collections of data. Given a collection of quantitative data (12 observations), in this paper we looked at how students and prospective primary school teachers select and make appropriate graphs and identify and determine statistical measures suitable for summarizing the data, including the interpretation of the third quartile. The study involved 50 students who were attending the 2nd year of the Basic Education Bachelor’s program at a university in northern Portugal. The collected data correspond to the answers given by the students in a formal examination in a Probability and Statistics course. An analysis of the answers showed that the students had difficulties in both the selection and application of statistical methods, which were more pronounced when they had to identify the appropriate graphs to represent the data and to determine the quartiles and to interpret the third quartile, and less pronounced in the case of determining other statistical measures.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

30.  Optimal control of HIV treatment and immunotherapy combination with state and control delays

Silva, Cristiana J. and Maurer, Helmut

Optimal Control Applications and Methods

Wiley

In this paper, we propose and analyze an optimal control problem where human immunodeficiency virus treatment and immunotherapy are described by two control functions that are subject to time delays representing pharmacological and absorption delays, respectively. The goal is to propose effective optimal control solutions for the combination of human immunodeficiency virus treatment and immunotherapy, ensuring a functional behavior of the immune system. The incubation period is mathematically represented by a time delay in the virus load, and the local asymptotic and Hopf bifurcation analysis of the CTL-equilibrium point of the uncontrolled delayed system is studied. We obtain optimal controls of bang-singular type both for the nondelayed and delayed optimal control problem with and without state constraints.We study boundary arcs of state constraints and junction properties of the control and adjoint variables at entry and exit points of boundary arcs. Moreover, we derive an explicit formula of the multiplier associated with the state constraint.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

29.  Generalising KAT to verify weighted computations

Gomes, Leandro and Madeira, Alexandre and Barbosa, Luis S.

Scientific Annals of Computer Science

Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi

Kleene algebra with tests (KAT) was introduced as an algebraic structure to model and reason about classic imperative programs, i.e. sequences of discrete transitions guarded by Boolean tests. This paper introduces two generalisations of this structure able to express programs as weighted transitions and tests with outcomes in non necessarily bivalent truth spaces: graded Kleene algebra with tests (GKAT) and a variant where tests are also idempotent (I-GKAT). In this context, and in analogy to Kozen’s encoding of Propositional Hoare Logic (PHL) in KAT we discuss the encoding of a graded PHL in I-GKAT and of its while-free fragment in GKAT. Moreover, to establish semantics for these structures four new algebras are defined: F SET (T ), F REL(K, T ) and F LANG(K, T ) over complete residuated lattices K and T , and M(n, A) over a GKAT or I-GKAT A. As a final exercise, the paper discusses some program equivalence proofs in a graded context.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

28.  Comparing techniques for modelling uncertainty in a maritime inventory routing problem

Rodrigues, Filipe and Agra, Agostinho and Christiansen, Marielle and Hvattum, Lars Magnus and Requejo, Cristina

European Journal of Operational Research

Elsevier

Uncertainty is inherent in many planning situations. One example is in maritime transportation, where weather conditions and port occupancy are typically characterized by high levels of uncertainty. This paper considers a maritime inventory routing problem where travel times are uncertain. Taking into account possible delays in the travel times is of main importance to avoid inventory surplus or shortages at the storages located at ports. Several techniques to deal with uncertainty, namely deterministic models with inventory buffers; robust optimization; stochastic programming and models incorporating conditional value-at-risk measures, are considered. The different techniques are tested for their ability to deal with uncertain travel times for a single product maritime inventory routing problem with constant production and consumption rates, a fleet of heterogeneous vessels and multiple ports. At the ports, the product is either produced or consumed and stored in storages with limited capacity. We assume two-stages of decisions, where the routing, the visit order of the ports and the quantities to load/unload are first-stage decisions (fixed before the uncertainty is revealed), while the visit time and the inventory levels at ports are second-stage decisions (adjusted to the observed travel times). Several solution approaches resulting from the proposed techniques are considered. A computational comparison of the resulting solution approaches is performed to compare the routing costs, the amount of inventory bounds deviation, the total quantities loaded and unloaded, and the running times. This computational experiment is reported for a set of maritime instances having up to six ports and five ships.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

27.  A computational comparison of compact MILP formulations for the zero forcing number

Agra, Agostinho and Cerdeira, Jorge Orestes and Requejo, Cristina

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Elsevier

Consider a graph where some of its vertices are colored. A colored vertex with a single uncolored neighbor forces that neighbor to become colored. A zero forcing set is a set of colored vertices that forces all vertices to become colored. The zero forcing number is the size of a minimum forcing set. Finding the minimum forcing set of a graph is NP-hard. We give a new compact mixed integer linear programming formulation (MILP) for this problem, and analyse this formulation and establish relation to an existing compact formulation and to two variants. In order to solve large size instances we propose a sequential search algorithm which can also be used as a heuristic to derive upper bounds for the zero forcing number. A computational study using Xpress (a MILP solver) is conducted to test the performances of the discussed compact formulations and the sequential search algorithm. We report results on cubic, Watts-Strogatz and randomly generated graphs with 10, 20 and 30 vertices.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

26.  Suppliers selection problem with quantity discounts and price changes: a heuristic approach

Rodrigues, Filipe and Requejo, Cristina

RAIRO: Operations Research

EDP Sciences

This paper addresses a complex suppliers selection problem with multiple products, considering minimum package quantities, minimum order values related to delivery costs and discounted pricing schemes. Its main contribution is to present an integer linear programming (ILP) model for this suppliers selection problem as well as a model to analyse the impact of prices change. Furthermore, a hybrid heuristic and a genetic algorithm to obtain feasible solutions for this problem are presented. Several randomly generated examples are solved by using the above two models and the heuristic approaches. Experimental results demonstrate the robustness of the genetic algorithm and allow to realize which are the most important decisions in the suppliers selection problem.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

25.  Injective edge coloring of graphs

Cardoso, Domingos M. and Cerdeira, J. Orestes and Dominic, Charles and Cruz, J. Pedro

Filomat

Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Nis

Three edges $e_{1}, e_{2}$ and $e_{3}$ in a graph $G$ are consecutive if they form a path (in this order) or a cycle of lengths three. An injective edge coloring of a graph $G = (V,E)$ is a coloring $c$ of the edges of $G$ such that if $e_{1}, e_{2}$ and $e_{3}$ are consecutive edges in $G$, then $c(e_{1})neq c(e_3)$. The injective edge coloring number $chi_{i}^{'}(G)$ is the minimum number of colors permitted in such a coloring. In this paper, exact values of $chi_{i}^{'}(G)$ for several classes of graphs are obtained, upper and lower bounds for $chi_{i}^{'}(G)$ are introduced and it is proven that checking whether $chi_{i}^{'}(G)= k$ is NP-complete.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

24.  Further properties of Osler's generalized fractional integrals and derivatives with respect to another function

Almeida, Ricardo

Rocky Mountain Journal of Mathematics

Rocky Mountain Mathematics Consortium

In this paper we discuss fractional integrals and fractional derivatives of a function with respect to another function. We present some fundamental properties for both types of fractional operators, such as Taylor’s theorem, Leibniz and semigroup rules. We also provide a numerical tool to deal with these operators, by approximating them with a sum involving integer-order derivatives.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

23.  A stochastic analysis of the impact of fluctuations in the environment on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection

Djordević, Jasmina and Silva, Cristiana J.

Soft Computing

Springer Nature

We propose a stochastic model for HIV/AIDS transmission where pre-exposure prophylaxis is considered as a prevention measure for new HIV infections. A white noise is introduced into the model, representing fluctuations in the environment that manifest themselves on the transmission coefficient rate. We prove the existence and uniqueness of a global positive solution of the stochastic model and establish conditions under which extinction and persistence in mean hold. Numerical simulations are provided which illustrate the theoretical results, and conclusions are derived on the impact of the fluctuations in the environment on the number of the susceptible individuals that are under pre-exposure prophylaxis.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

22.  Distribution of distances between symmetric words in the human genome: analysis of regular peaks

Bastos, Carlos A. C. and Afreixo, Vera and Rodrigues, João M. O. S. and Pinho, Armando J. and Silva, Raquel M.

Interdisciplinary Sciences: Computational Life Sciences

Springer Verlag

Finding DNA sites with high potential for the formation of hairpin/cruciform structures is an important task. Previous works studied the distances between adjacent reversed complement words (symmetric word pairs) and also for non-adjacent words. It was observed that for some words a few distances were favoured (peaks) and that in some distributions there was strong peak regularity. The present work extends previous studies, by improving the detection and characterization of peak regularities in the symmetric word pairs distance distributions of the human genome. This work also analyzes the location of the sequences that originate the observed strong peak periodicity in the distance distribution. The results obtained in this work may indicate genomic sites with potential for the formation of hairpin/cruciform structures.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

21.  Meta-analysis of the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine neosporosis

Ribeiro, Claudia Mello and Soares, Isabela Ribeiro and Mendes, Rodrigo Guerrero and Bastos, Paula Andrea de Santis and Katagiri, Satie and Zavilenski, Renato Bacarin and Abreu, Hudson Felipe Porto de and Afreixo, Vera

Tropical Animal Health and Production

Springer

Neospora caninum is one of the main infectious agents that cause reproductive disorders in cattle. However, knowledge about the prevalence and causal factors of bovine neosporosis is needed in order to establish control measures. The purpose of this study was to estimate the pooled prevalence and determine the risk factors of bovine neosporosis using meta-analytic methods. Searches for data on N. caninum seroprevalence and potential risk factors were conducted in the PubMed, LILACS, and SciElo databases. The random effects model was used for the meta-analysis of the included studies. The pooled prevalence of N. caninum in cattle was 24% (95% confidence interval (CI), 19-29) in North and Central America, 24% (95% CI, 20-28) in South America, 18% (95% CI, 14-21) in Asia, 15% (95% CI, 12-18) in Europe, 13% (95% CI, 11-16) in Africa, and 8% (95% CI, 4-14) in Oceania. A significant correlation was found between N. caninum infection and abortion in cows (odds ratio (OR) = 2.66, 95% CI, 1.97-3.59). The following risk factors were signicantly associated with N. caninum seroprevalence: presence of dogs on the farm (OR = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.40-5.80) and the type of cattle production system, with dairy cattle being more susceptible to bovine neosporosis (OR = 1.60; 95% CI, 1.16-2.19) than beef cattle. The adoption of measures to prevent the dissemination of N. caninum in cattle herds is suggested, aiming to reduce the economic losses incurred to the dairy and beef industry.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

20.  L-TRUST: long-term risk of cancer in patients under statins therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Craveiro, Nuno Sales and Lopes, Bruno Silva and Tomás, Lara and Almeida, Sofia Fraga and Palma, Helena and Afreixo, Vera and Matos, Luís Costa

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety

Wiley

Statins are widely prescribed drugs with established efficacy in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Although they are mostly well tolerated, several authors have been emphasizing that the statins' safety profile is not totally clarified especially when considering risk of cancer in patients with long-term exposure to statins. This meta-analysis was aimed at evaluating the risk of cancer in patients with prolonged exposure to statins.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

19.  Effects of physical exercise on outcomes of cardiac (dys)function in women with breast cancer undergoing anthracycline or trastuzumab treatment: study protocol for a systematic review

Antunes, Pedro and Esteves, Dulce and Nunes, Célia and Amarelo, Anabela and Fonseca-Moutinho, José and Afreixo, Vera and Costa, Henrique and Alves, Alberto and Joaquim, Ana

Systematic Reviews

BMC

Background: Cardiotoxicity is a known complication and one of the most adverse effects from the use of conventional treatments such as anthracyclines and trastuzumab in breast cancer (BC) care. This phenomenon has been associated with the restriction of therapeutic options and the increase of cardiovascular complications, which may compromise the survival of patients. Implementation of preventive strategies is an important approach for the management of this issue. Physical exercise has been proposed as a non-pharmacological strategy to counteracting cardiotoxicity. The aim of this protocol is to describe the rationale and methods for a systematic review of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have analysed the effects of physical exercise on outcomes of cardiac (dys)function in women with BC undergoing neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment containing anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab. Methods and analysis: This is a protocol for a systematic review reported according to the PRISMA-P 2015 checklist. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) will be included. The literature will be screened on MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ISI Web of Science and Scopus. The risk of bias of the included RCTs will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. The primary outcomes will be systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction), diastolic function (E/A’ ratio, deceleration time of early left ventricular filling, isovolumetric relaxation time, E/E’ septal and lateral ratio) and myocardial deformation imaging outcomes (strain and strain rate [measured in longitudinal, radial, or circumferential directions]). Secondary outcomes will be cardiac biomarkers (troponin I or T, highsensitivity troponin I or T, brain natriuretic peptide, amino terminal of B-type natriuretic peptide). Data will be descriptively reported, and quantitative synthesis will also be considered if the included studies are sufficiently homogenous. Discussion: This systematic review will help to understand the effectiveness of physical exercise on counteracting cardiotoxicity related to anticancer therapies in women with BC.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

18.  Meta-analysis of a very low proportion through adjusted wald confidence intervals

Afreixo, V. and Cruz, S. and Freitas, A. and Hernandez, M. A.

Open Access Biostatistics & Bioinformatics

Crimson Publishers

In this paper we will discuss the meta-analysis of one low proportion. It is well known, that there are several methods to perform the meta-analysis of one proportion, based on a linear combination of proportions or transformed proportions. However, in the context of a linear combination of binomial proportions has been proposed some approximate estimators with some improvements on low proportion estimation. In this paper we will show, with a simple adaptation, the possible contribution of several approximate adjusted Wald confidence intervals (CIs) for the meta-analysis of proportions. In the context of low proportions, a simulation study scenario is carried out to compare these CIs amongst themselves and with other available methods with respect to bias and coverage probabilities, using the fixed effect or the random-effects model. Pointing our interest in rare events (analogous for the abundant events) and taking into account the prevalence estimation of the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with mecc gene, we discuss the choice of the meta-analysis methods on this low proportion. The default meta-analysis methods of meta-analysis software programs are not always the best choice, in particular to the meta-analysis of one low proportion, where the methods including the adjusted Wald can outperform.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

17.  On time-periodic solutions of some nonlinear parabolic equations with nonmonotone multivalued terms

Otani, Mitsuharu and Staicu, Vasile

Topological Methods in Nonlinear Analysis

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun

In this paper we study the existence of time periodic solutions to a class of nonlinear parabolic equations with multivalued nonlinear terms subject to the homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition. We give two types of existence results: one for large periodic solutions with any large data, and the other for small periodic solutions with small data. Both concern the case where the nonlinear terms contain either a upper semi- continuous multivalued term or a lower semicontinuous multivalued term. Some applications of our results are also given.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

16.  Nonlinear periodic systems with unilateral constraints

Aizicovici, Sergiu and Papageorgiou, Nikolaos S. and Staicu, Vasile

Topological Methods in Nonlinear Analysis

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun

We consider a general periodic system driven by a nonlinear, nonhomogeneous differential operator, with a maximal monotone term which is not defined everywhere. Using a topological approach based on Leray-Schauder alternative principle, we show the existence of a periodic solution.

ria.ua.pt | doi | Peer Reviewed

Proceedings


15.  Using an artistic approach to the teaching of non-euclidean geometry in a professional development course for mathematics teachers

Hall, Andreia and Brás, Isabel and Pais, Sónia

INTED 2019 Proceedings

IATED

Elliot Eisner (1933-2014), a pioneer in arts education, suggested that an artistic approach to education could improve its quality and lead to a new vision for teaching and learning [1]. This is true for any subject, including mathematics. Geometry related topics make a perfect setting for a deeper contribution of art to education and allow for a complete symbiosis between the teaching of mathematics and an artistic education. One such topic is the study of non-Euclidean geometry which is now briefly addressed in the middle school mathematics curriculum in Portugal [2]. We believe that the learning and teaching of non-Euclidean geometry can be facilitated by taking the role of an artist and creating works of art, eventually inspired by renowned artists such as M.C. Escher. In this paper, we present some results of a professional development course for mathematics teachers where the participants studied basic non-Euclidean geometry concepts and created ceramic pieces using the Poincaré disk. The course took place in a Portuguese university, from January to March 2018, and involved 20 teachers of grades 1 to 12. The authors have developed a qualitative case study to evaluate how an artistic approach to the teaching of non-Euclidean geometry is perceived, by the mathematics teachers, as a contribution to the learning process. Overall, the activities developed have proved to be successful examples of interdisciplinary methodologies that bring into the teaching of mathematics usual procedures in the teaching of the arts. Moreover, the artistic approach followed during the course helped the teachers develop their geometric competences concerning non-Euclidean geometry in a more solid appropriation and application of the geometric concepts involved.

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14.  Mathematical magic in undergraduate mathematical classes for pre-service teachers

Hall, Andreia and Pais, Sónia

INTED 2019 Proceedings

IATED

Nowadays we live in an ever-changing society. The educational context is no exception, and requires a renewal of paradigms. Profound changes to the role and function of the teacher and the students are particularly vital [1], [2], [3]. The current University students have different motivations, different attitudes towards the teaching and learning process, and different responses to specific classroom environments and instructional practices [4]. The challenge that teachers face today is to motivate students to learn, get them to commit to and have an active role in their learning [5]. Considering that it is imperative to make the teaching and learning process of mathematics more stimulating, taking into account modern society and student’s interests [6], the authors have developed several strategies to increase the interest and improve the success of students in mathematics. Thus, they decided to use mathematical magic tricks in their classes to raise the motivation of the students, captivating them and stimulating their interest in mathematics. In this work, a case study to evaluate how mathematical magic can contribute to increase students' motivation for learning mathematics is presented. The paper describes how it is conceived as well as the main results.

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13.  New classes of monohedral spherical tilings by non-convex spherical hexagons and non-convex spherical Pentagons with GeoGebra

Breda, Ana and Santos, José Santos dos

34th International Conference on Computers and Their Applications - CATA 2019

In previous works we have ilustrate a procedure to obtain spherical tiling with GeoGebra. We have found new classes of monohedral spherical tiling by four spherical pentagons, and new class of dihedral spherical tiling by twelve spherical pentagons. One again, we would make use of GeoGebra to show how we can do generate new classes of monohedral non-convex hexagonal spherical tilings, H(C,τ), changing the side gluing rules of the regular spherical octahedral tiling, by local action of particular subgroups of spherical isometries. In relation to one of the new classes, by hexagonal tiles, we describe some of its properties. We also show the existence of a a new family of monohedral pentagonal tiling which arises as a degenarated case associated to the family H(C ,0) . All these classes of spherical tilings have emerged as a result of an interactive construction process, only possible by the use of newly produced GeoGebra tools and the dynamic interaction capabilities of this software.

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12.  Dificuldades de alunos do 8.º ano na construção de diagramas de extremos e quartis

Carvalho, Maria José and Fernandes, José António and Freitas, Adelaide

Actas del Tercer Congreso Internacional Virtual de Educación Estadística

Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Ciencias de la Educacion

Neste estudo são analisadas as resoluções de 23 alunos portugueses, do 8.º ano, de tarefas sobre o tema diagramas de extremos e quartis (DEQ) quando os dados são fornecidos de duas formas distintas: dados não organizados e dados representados num...

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11.  Analyzing the practices of knowledge sharing and collaboration considering faculty members and researchers: an empirical study

Chedid, Marcello and Alvelos, Helena and Teixeira, Leonor

INTED2019 Proceedings - 13th International Technology, Education and Development Conference

IATED

Knowledge sharing and collaboration among university researchers and/or teachers are impacted by: (i) life cycles associated with technological innovations; (ii) economic and cultural globalization; (iii) the educational needs of an increasingly knowledge-driven society; and (iv) the training needs for highperforming professional activities. These factors constitute major opportunities for change in higher education institutions around the world and can be found in internal and/or external collaboration relationships. A collaboration relationship is expected to benefit the related members and teams (teachers, researchers, students and professionals), the communities/organizations that establish the relationship and, consequently, the surrounding society. Several studies reveal that collaboration can be strongly influenced by knowledge sharing. However, often universities evidence an individualistic culture where knowledge is related to the experience and the competence of each researcher and/or teacher. Thus, knowledge is frequently considered as property and as a differentiation factor of each individual. Additionally, the perception of little benefits and rewards in sharing knowledge within the institution lead to the existence of a real distance among the work of the referred actors, who focus their efforts towards individual objectives rather than in common goals. In this context, the individual characteristics tend to show a major impact on knowledge sharing. Considering the limited number of studies in the university’s context regarding knowledge sharing and collaboration practices, especially within Portuguese higher education institutions, the need to explore and deepen the understanding of these questions was identified. Taking this issue into account, this work aims at analyzing the practices of knowledge sharing and collaboration among researchers and/or teachers at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. The empirical study was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire prepared taking into account the literature on the area. The sample consisted of teachers and researchers from University of Aveiro, Portugal, and the questionnaire was provided online. The data was collected anonymously and analyzed with the statistical software SPSS IBM 24. The results present some important facts that can help higher education institutions and their members to define and implement strategies and practices in order to promote higher levels of knowledge sharing and stronger collaboration relationships.

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10.  About the financial efficiency of the Iberian Peninsula education

Murillo, K. and Rocha, E.

INTED2019 Proceedings

IATED

This work examines the financial efficiency of private institutions of secondary and higher education in the Iberian Peninsula, during the period 2013-2016. In particular, we study the evolution of 117 Portuguese institutions and 1885 Spanish institutions. To this end, we analyze the evolution of financial statements of each institution regarding its efficiency at three distinct stages: efficiency levels; efficiency patterns; and efficiency determinants. We use a nonparametric method that allows us to investigate changes in the institutions' efficiency standards, namely a model based on the Multidirectional Efficiency Analysis (MEA) in combination with other mathematical techniques, such that principal component analysis, clustering analysis and accumulated effort. The study allows a parallel between Spain and Portugal, characterizing the behavior of the educational levels after the financial crisis that Europe suffered in mid-2008. Our results indicate which are the levels of education that are more efficient and those that are less efficient, and which improvements could be applied to propose more effective measures according to other European experiences. The results show that Spanish higher education is more efficient than Portuguese one and the same conclusion can be inferred, with a lower degree, for the secondary education, except in 2016. Looking to higher versus secondary education, secondary education presents the biggest resource management inefficiency. Cluster analysis was applied to avoid the disparity of data in Spain. In 2015, Spain cluster 1 presents the greatest difference between the accumulated efforts of the two education levels. In contrast, Spain cluster 2 attains the smallest difference.

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9.  On the importance of assessment on flipped learning

Descalço, Luís and Carvalho, Paula

EDULEARN19

IATED

We have been using a combination of computer systems in Calculus for some years. The system MEGUA on Sagemath for authoring parameterized contents, system SIACUA for helping autonomous learning with the parameterized contents created, with Bayesian feedback and finally PmatE, a computer system used in Portuguese national competitions, for doing the assessment. Although this combined use of the systems accomplishes one of our goals, to motivate study during the whole semester instead of only before the main tests, it does not seem to be enough to convince students to work before the classes in an inverted learning environment. Students tend to use the systems only before the assessment tests. In the academic year 2018/2019, we have confirmed this thesis. Although our effort to provide to students the best possible conditions for working before the classes, they correspond to this motivation only it this work is assessed in the beginning of the class. Hence, giving the materials and assuming they work is, at least in our context, an ineffective approach. We compare two topics in flipped learning in a course with 99 students of Industrial Management Engineering (IME): a topic where assessment took place in the beginning of the class with another one for which, there was no assessment in the beginning of the class. Moreover, we compare the performance of these students in IME with others of a similar sample, from other engineering courses, on the same topic in flipped learning. The first ones knew they would be evaluated by a mini-test and the later knew that they would not be subject to evaluation. Our main conclusion is that, at least in our context, it is not safe to assume students work seriously before classes in flipped learning. In the absence of intrinsic motivation, using assessment in the beginning of the class is the best approach to convince students to do the previous work. Also, in some simple topics, providing appropriate learning materials, including short videos, this approach can improve learning outcomes. The data we use include, computer systems usage data, student’s marks and interviews of IME students with the best final marks in the Calculus course.

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8.  Application of the hypercomplex fractional integro-differential operators to the fractional Stokes equation

Ferreira, M. and Kraußhar, R. S. and Rodrigues, M. M. and Vieira, N.

16th International Conference of Numerical Analysis and Applied Mathematics (ICNAAM 2018)

AIP Publishing

We present a generalization of several results of the classical continuous Clifford function theory to the context of fractional Clifford analysis. The aim of this paper is to show how the fractional integro-differential hypercomplex operator calculus can be applied to a concrete fractional Stokes problem in arbitrary dimensions which has been attracting recent interest (cf. cite{CNP,LAX}).

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7.  Forecasting temperature time series for irrigation planning problems

Costa, Cláudia and Gonçalves, A. Manuela and Costa, Marco and Lopes, Sofia O.

34th International Workshop on Statistical Modelling (IWSM 2019)

IWSM2019

Climate change is a reality and efficient use of scarce resources is vital. The challenge of this project is to study the behaviour of humidity in the soil by mathematical/statistical modeling in order to find optimal solutions to improve the efficiency of daily water use in irrigation systems. For that, it is necessary to estimate and forecast weather variables, in this particular case daily maximum and minimum air temperature. These time series present strong trend and high- frequency seasonality. This way, we perform a state space modeling framework using exponential smoothing by incorporating Box-Cox transformations, ARMA residuals, Trend and Seasonality.

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6.  A note on the estimation of stochastic and deterministic production frontiers with maximum entropy

Macedo, Pedro

26th APDR Congress

APDR

Stochastic frontier analysis with maximum entropy estimation has received considerable attention in the literature in the recent years. In this work, the estimation of stochastic and deterministic production frontiers with maximum entropy methods, the advantages and disadvantages relatively to maximum likelihood, and some proposals to improve maximum entropy estimation in this context are presented and discussed.

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5.  An examination of food distribution and specialised retail sales in Portugal

Sério, Filipe and Costa, Marco and Ribeiro, Humberto

43rd International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development

Varazdin Development and Entrepreneurship Agency (VADEA)

The food retail sector in Portugal is mostly concentrated in five main players holding 69.6% of its market share, with two groups leading the Portuguese preference, Continente with 21.9% market share, Pingo Doce with 20.8% market share, followed by Jumbo, Lidl and Intermarché with 9.5%, 8.8% and 8.6%, respectively. These operators up to the year 2012 have guided their performance and price strategy by applying the strategy Every-day-Low-Price that privileges the application of low and stable prices. In this paper we aim to characterize the food retail market in Portugal after the year 2012, identifying the main factors and contextualizing the economic climate. This analysis takes into account that most retailers opted to follow a strategy of high low pricing, which determined that 47% of sales of the year 2018 correspond to promotional sales; in this way, we will devote the analysis of the promotion and the impacts that it has for forecasting sales and supply chain management. Thus, to evaluate the influence of promotions on global sales, we will use weekly data referring to sales in the hypermarkets & "Superstores" channel that includes hypermarkets> 2,500 m2; Supermarkets 400-2,500 m2; Proximity <400 m2, in the period between the first week of 2012 and the last week of 2018, and also data on the number of promotions printed on promotional leaflets on the same the period in question. Applying multiple linear regression models and a previous exploratory analysis of the data we can conclude that the promotions carried out via leaflets actions have a weak capacity to explain the sales obtained in the Hypermarkets & Superstores channel and that are explained in large scale by other variables and the impact of these variables should be object of study in future works.

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4.  Fuel retail market: assessing the determinants that influences the performance of sales of fuel stations

Espadilha, Stephanie and Costa, Marco and Magueta, Daniel

43rd International Scientific Conference on Economic and Social Development

Varazdin Development and Entrepreneurship Agency (VADEA)

The oil and energy sector is a very traditional, controversial and competitive sector. This study is based on a Portuguese fuel company and its main objective is to identify and characterize potential variables with predictive capacity for sales of new fuel stations. The database consists of a set of context variables with predictive potential for sales of fuel stations and monthly sales in terms of fuel volume. The research methodology focused on statistical methods of exploratory data analysis, clusters analysis and regression models. The fuel station context variables tend to characterize the socio-economic conditions of the area of influence of each station, such as population density variable, others related to the similar existing supply of both the company itself and the competing companies, and others related to geographical location and accessibility. The exploratory data analysis allowed to identify several patterns in the time series of sales indicating that the investigation of factors must be segmented. Homogeneous groups of fuel stations were identified through a hierarchical agglomerative clustering procedure considering the Ward's minimum variance method and the square Euclidian distance as distance measure. For each of the groups identified, multiple linear regression models were adjusted considering the annual fuel sales in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years of operation of the stations as dependent variables. The results show that not all the exogenous variables are statistically significant. However, it is possible to conclude that the average daily traffic is the variable with predicted capacity for the most of the groups of fuel stations analyzed.

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3.  Problem based learning in a Biostatistics course

Cruz, J. P.

Proceeding of the 12th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation

IATED Academy

We have introduced statistical problems, to be solved using the R software, into a Biostatistics course, in order to increase motivation for the field that requires a certain level of mathematical knowledge when most students are not always inspired for it. Our traditional class style used to be based only on slide presentations followed by pen and paper exercises with a calculator. Our aim was to complement this method with the use of software as a professional tool creating a active learning environment. Students came from Biology degree, Teaching of Geology and Biology degree and Marine Sciences degree. Each of the 200 students were presented with a total of four problems, during the semester, in the topics of Descriptive Statistics, Inference in One Variable, ANOVA and Simple Linear Regression. Students were requested to solve them at home and answer them in a form available in the “Moodle Inquiry” tool. Each student has his own different sample and also, questions were parameterized. For example, questions about Confidence Intervals were posed with different confidence levels (90%, 95% or 99%). Each students sees a different problem. Each of these has more than ten parameterized questions related to the same dataset exposed in the beginning of the text. Moodle doesn’t do this type of deliver different composed problems to each student so a small Python library was used to generate different problems and evaluate each individual student answer (numerical, textual or multiple choice types). To evaluate our methodology, we request students to “Share ideas, thoughts and constructive judgments about the Problems and also about the course” while students were working in the third Problem and also after the First Written Evaluation. The last and fourth Problem has been answered in class and students were requested to grade sentences in a five item Likert scale. Questions were about effort, time, help from other students and help from teacher. The analysis of answers suggest that the methodology of Problem Solving should be used again, with improvements, given the motivation and enthusiasm it promotes.

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2.  Interlacing mathematics and art: hands-on non-Euclidean geometry

Hall, Andreia and Brás, Isabel and Pais, Sónia

Proceedings of Bridges 2019: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Education, Culture

Tessellations Publishing

Elliot Eisner (1933-2014), a pioneer in arts education, suggested that an artistic approach to education could improve its quality and lead to a new vision for teaching and learning. This is true for any subject, including mathematics. Geometry related topics make a perfect setting for a deeper contribution of art to education. One such topic is the study of non-Euclidean geometry. In this paper, we present some results of a professional development course for mathematics teachers where the participants studied non-Euclidean geometry concepts. The participants created ceramic pieces using the Poincaré disk and styrofoam balls covered with fabrics using spherical geometry.

ria.ua.pt | Peer Reviewed

1.  The impact of accurate carbohydrate counting on patient’s glycemic targets

Abreu, C. and Miranda, F. and Felgueiras, P.

Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics

Mary Ann Liebert

Preprandial insulin bolus is adjusted taking into account the carbohydrate content of each meal, the patient’s glycemic targets (GHyper, GT and GHypo), the insulin sensitivity factor (ISF), and the insulin-to-carb ratio (ICR) throughout the day. Evidence suggests that accurate carbohydrate counting may have positive effects not only on reducing glycosylated hemoglobin concentration but also on decreasing the incidence of hypoglycemic episodes. Therefore, the efficacy of carbohydrate counting depends not only on the ability of each patient accurately estimate the carbohydrate content of each meal but also on each patient glycemic targets.

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