Getting the Best of Both Worlds? Developing Complementary Equation-Based and Agent-Based Models

We argue that building agent-based and equation-based versions of the same theoretical model is a fruitful way of gaining insights into real-world phenomena. We use the epistemological concept of “models as isolations and surrogate systems” as the philosophical underpinning of this argument. In particular, we show that agent-based and equation-based approaches align well when used simultaneously and, contrary to some common misconceptions, should be considered complements rather than substitutes. We illustrate the usefulness of the approach by examining a model of the long-run relationship between economic development and inequality (i.e., the Kuznets hypothesis)

Production of new neutron-rich isotopes of heavy elements in fragmentation reactions of 238^{238}U projectiles at 1 A GeV

The production of heavy neutron-rich nuclei has been investigated using cold fragmentation reactions of $^{238}$U projectiles at relativistic energies. The experiment performed at the high-resolving-power magnetic spectrometer FRS at GSI allowed to identify 45 new heavy neutron-rich nuclei: $^{205}$Pt, $^{207-210}$Au, $^{211-216}$Hg, $^{213-217}$Tl, $^{215-220}$Pb, $^{219-224}$Bi, $^{221-227}$Po, $^{224-229}$At, $^{229-231}$Rn and $^{233}$Fr. The production cross sections of these nuclei were also determined and used to benchmark reaction codes that predict the production of nuclei far from stability.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Multi-tissue transcriptomic-informed in silico investigation of drugs for the treatment of dengue fever disease

Transcriptomics, proteomics and pathogen-host interactomics data are being explored for the in silico–informed selection of drugs, prior to their functional evaluation. The effectiveness of this kind of strategy has been put to the test in the current COVID-19 pandemic, and it has been paying off, leading to a few drugs being rapidly repurposed as treatment against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several neglected tropical diseases, for which treatment remains unavailable, would benefit from informed in silico investigations of drugs, as performed in this work for Dengue fever disease. We analyzed transcriptomic data in the key tissues of liver, spleen and blood profiles and verified that despite transcriptomic differences due to tissue specialization, the common mechanisms of action, “Adrenergic receptor antagonist”, “ATPase inhibitor”, “NF-kB pathway inhibitor” and “Serotonin receptor antagonist”, were identified as druggable (e.g., oxprenolol, digoxin, auranofin and palonosetron, respectively) to oppose the effects of severe Dengue infection in these tissues. These are good candidates for future functional evaluation and clinical trials.Funding was provided by FEDER, Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds, through the COMPETE 2020, Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Programme (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, in the framework of the project “Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274)

Dynamics of a hyperbolic system that applies at the onset of the oscillatory instability

A real hyperbolic system is considered that applies near the onset of the oscillatory instability in large spatial domains. The validity of that system requires that some intermediate scales (large compared with the basic wavelength of the unstable modes but small compared with the size of the system) remain inhibited; that condition is analysed in some detail. The dynamics associated with the hyperbolic system is fully analysed to conclude that it is very simple if the coefficient of the cross-nonlinearity is such that , while the system exhibits increasing complexity (including period-doubling sequences, quasiperiodic transitions, crises) as the bifurcation parameter grows if ; if then the system behaves subcritically. Our results are seen to compare well, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with the experimentally obtained ones for the oscillatory instability of straight rolls in pure Rayleigh - Bénard convection

Errata in "The Political Economy of the Kuznets Curve"

Correction comment on the article ACEMOGLU, D. & ROBINSON, J. A. 2002. The Political Economy of the Kuznets Curve. Review of Development Economics, 6, 183-203

Social Institutions and Economic Inequality Modeling the onset of the Kuznets Curve

Theoretical models of the Kuznets Curve have been purely analytical with little contribution to the timing of the process and to the presence of additional mechanisms affecting its timing. This paper proposes an agent-based version of Acemoglu and Robinsons model of the political economy of the Kuznets Curve. In extending their analytical framework we include heterogeneity of agents' income and a mating mechanism that together represent elements of social mobility. These two simple changes proved to be enough to shed light on the length and timing before high inequality implies regime change. Thus, this work may contribute to an effective empirical assessment of the Kuznets curve as it explicitly considers the time dimension of the process and the e ects of considering social dynamics

Unconventional methods for food preservation and recovery of phytochemicals from plant wastes: towards a science for sustainable development

Plants are irreplaceable sources of food and bioactive phytochemicals. In this sense, this work has been focused on valorisation and processing of traditional plant foods, including medicinal plants (consumed in herbal beverages), leafy vegetables, and tomato farmers’ varieties, but also biowastes (source of biomolecules), using non-conventional and emerging technologies [1]. The preservation of dried medicinal plants (Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. and Malva neglecta Wallr.) and fresh vegetables (Nasturtium officinale R. Br. and Rumex induratus Boiss. & Reut.) by using gamma irradiation treatments [2–4] and/or inert gas-enriched modified atmospheres [4,6] was investigated. The main goal was to ensure food safety and shelf-life extension without negatively affect quality parameters, and therefore reduce food waste. Argon was a suitable choice for preserving the overall postharvest quality of the selected vegetables during refrigerated storage. The adequacy of post-packaging irradiation treatments for shelf-life extension was also demonstrated. This extensive work also highlights the bioactive compounds of tomatoes as health promoters [7] and described for the 1st time the chemical and nutritional composition of four tomato farmers’ varieties in Northeastern Portugal homegardens [8,9]. The optimization of microwave- and high pressure-assisted extraction processes for recovery of valuable phytochemicals and production of antioxidant and nutrient-rich ingredients has been carried out using response surface methodology. Relevant independent variables and optimal processing condition for recovery of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants [10] and phenolic compounds [11] from tomato wastes were determined. Green solvents have been used. The current research focuses on the optimization of high pressure-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from N. officinale and in the effects of the treatment on antioxidant and antitumor properties of this fast growing cruciferous plant rich in glucosinolates. It is also intended to investigate the combined effects of modified atmosphere packaging and antioxidant coatings in the preservation of plant foods.PRODER - Project AROMAP for financial support of the work; FCT (Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013), REQUIMTE (UID/ QUI/50006/2013 - POCI/01/0145/FERDER/007265) and J. Pinela (SFRH/BD/92994/2013); L. Barros for the expertise in chromatographic techniques; A.L. Antonio and S. Cabo Verde for the ionizing radiation treatments; M.A. Prieto for the optimization statistics tools; J.C.M. Barreira for the statistical analysis; M.F. Barreiro for the microwave equipment; and J.A. Saraiva for the ongoing work on high hydrostatic pressure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio