SimOutUtils - Utilities for analyzing time series simulation output

SimOutUtils is a suite of MATLAB/Octave functions for studying and analyzing time series-like output from stochastic simulation models. More specifically, SimOutUtils allows modelers to study and visualize simulation output dynamics, perform distributional analysis of output statistical summaries, as well as compare these summaries in order to assert the statistical equivalence of two or more model implementations. Additionally, the provided functions are able to produce publication quality figures and tables showcasing results from the specified simulation output studies.Comment: The peer-reviewed version of this paper is published in the Journal of Open Research Software at http://doi.org/10.5334/jors.110 . This version is typeset by the authors and differs only in pagination and typographical detai

Simulations of Antigenic Variability in Influenza A

Computational models of the immune system (IS) and pathogenic agents have several applications, such as theory testing and validation, or as a complement to first stages of drug trials. One possible application is the prediction of the lethality of new Influenza A strains, which are constantly created due to antigenic drift and shift. Here, we present several simulations of antigenic variability in Influenza A using an agent-based approach, where low level molecular antigen-antibody interactions are explicitly described. Antigenic drift and shift events are analyzed regarding the virulence of emergent strains against the IS. Results are discussed from a qualitative point of view taking into account recent and generally recognized immunology and influenza literature

Monetary Policy in Brazil: Remarks on the Inflation Targeting Regime, Public Debt Management and Open Market Operations

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main features in the conduct of monetary policy in Brazil. Initially, we focus on the inflation targeting regime, reviewing the background that led to its adoption in mid-1999, the institutional framework implemented in the country, and the challenges and achievements reached so far. Then we move to the analysis of the public debt management, highlighting its objectives and results, with particular emphasis on the debt composition and average maturity. The third section discusses the open market procedures. The paper ends with a brief description of specific policy issues to be addressed by the Central Bank in the near future.

Parallelization Strategies for Spatial Agent-Based Models

Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a bottom-up modeling approach, where each entity of the system being modeled is uniquely represented as an independent decision-making agent. Large scale emergent behavior in ABMs is population sensitive. As such, the number of agents in a simulation should be able to reflect the reality of the system being modeled, which can be in the order of millions or billions of individuals in certain domains. A natural solution to reach acceptable scalability in commodity multi-core processors consists of decomposing models such that each component can be independently processed by a different thread in a concurrent manner. In this paper we present a multithreaded Java implementation of the PPHPC ABM, with two goals in mind: 1) compare the performance of this implementation with an existing NetLogo implementation; and, 2) study how different parallelization strategies impact simulation performance on a shared memory architecture. Results show that: 1) model parallelization can yield considerable performance gains; 2) distinct parallelization strategies offer specific trade-offs in terms of performance and simulation reproducibility; and, 3) PPHPC is a valid reference model for comparing distinct implementations or parallelization strategies, from both performance and statistical accuracy perspectives.Comment: The peer-reviewed version of this paper is published in the International Journal of Parallel Programming at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10766-015-0399-9 . This version is typeset by the authors and differs only in pagination and typographical detai

Simulation of immune system response to bacterial challenge

Immune system (IS) simulations have several applications, such as biological theory testing or as a complement in the development of improved drugs. This paper presents an agent based approach to simulate the IS response to bacterial infection challenge. The agent simulator is implemented in a discrete time and twodimensional space, and composed by two layers: a) a specialized cellular automata responsible for substance di usion and reactions; and b) the layer where agents move, act and interact. The IS model focuses upon low level cellular receptor interactions, receptor diversity and genetic-ruled agents, aiming to observe and study the resultant emergent behavior. The model reproduces the following IS behavioral characteristics: speci city and specialization, immune memory and vaccine immunization

Comprobación de la estabilidad de la estructura sustentante de la fachada

En intervenciones en edificios protegidos de centros urbanos, es habitual la obligatoriedad de respetar el diseño de la fachada primitiva a la hora de acometer cualquier tipo de actuación en el edificio. En el caso extremo de realizar una nueva edificación, normalmente se mantienen la fachada original mientras se realizan los trabajos en su interior. Para sustentar la fachada se recurre a un sistema de estabilización que sujeta linealmente la fachada en todas las plantas aprovechando generalmente sus huecos de ventanas y balcones. En la actualidad, el desarrollo de proyectos de sistemas de estabilización se encuentra mayoritariamente en manos de empresas instaladores especializadas, por lo que los técnicos no intervienen en modo alguno en su diseño. Tomando como referencia una estructura de estabilización ya colocada, se han calculado sus elementos considerando las acciones a las que está sometida y comprobando que es posible una optimización de la cantidad de material utilizada así como de los sistemas de montaje empleados

Efectos de los dispositivos de protección solar en el aislamiento acústico a ruido aéreo de las fachadas de los recintos. Estudio de casos

La fachada es la parte visible de un edificio que en general consta de diferentes sistemas constructivos. El índice de reducción acústica del cerramiento del hueco de la fachada de un recinto es determinante en el aislamiento acústico a ruido aéreo de la fachada del mismo. Una ventana es la parte transparente de la fachada y para mejorar su comportamiento térmico y controlar la radiación solar, se ha equipado con diferentes protecciones externas o internas, como por ejemplo las contraventanas, celosías, persianas, etc. En este trabajo se muestran los resultados experimentales de varias decenas de ensayos realizados, de las mediciones in situ del aislamiento acústico a ruido aéreo de las fachadas de recintos mediante la aplicación de la Norma UNE-EN ISO 140-5:1999. En cada uno de los recintos, los ensayos acústicos se han realizado en dos situaciones, con y sin protección solar. Posteriormente se ha analizado el comportamiento acústico de cada una de las protecciones solares

Verificação experimental do comportamento térmico de uma fachada de dupla pele com ventilação natural

Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o comportamento térmico de uma fachada de dupla pele com ventilação natural. A avaliação foi efectuada para uma célula de teste que permite adaptar várias configurações de fachada para a qual foram registados dados num determinado período de tempo através de um sistema de aquisição de dados. Os dados registados foram devidamente tratados e comparados para as diversas configurações. Para as configurações testadas, utilizaram-se dois parâmetros adimensionais que permitiram a comparação da capacidade de pré aquecer o ar (aplicável à estação de aquecimento) e de isolar dinamicamente (aplicável à estação de arrefecimento). Foram comparados os desempenhos da fachada quando a funcionar com os sistemas de sombreamento por persiana veneziana e por cortina têxtil. Em pré aquecimento, o fluxo de insuflação mostrou-se uma boa opção. Em isolamento dinâmico, a fachada retira o melhor partido do fluxo de extracção. Os resultados obtidos para os sistemas de sombreamento recaem a favor do sombreamento por persiana veneziana. As medições efectuadas na célula de teste vêm permitir futuros estudos de comparação com métodos de simulação numérica. Os resultados obtidos demonstram a sensibilidade das fachadas de dupla pele ao clima onde se inserem. Contudo, os resultados obtidos não demonstram por si só a veracidade do desempenho desta tecnologia no clima em Portugal