The Branched Polymer Growth Model Revisited

The Branched Polymer Growth Model (BPGM) has been employed to study the kinetic growth of ramified polymers in the presence of impurities. In this article, the BPGM is revisited on the square lattice and a subtle modification in its dynamics is proposed in order to adapt it to a scenario closer to reality and experimentation. This new version of the model is denominated the Adapted Branched Polymer Growth Model (ABPGM). It is shown that the ABPGM preserves the functionalities of the monomers and so recovers the branching probability b as an input parameter which effectively controls the relative incidence of bifurcations. The critical locus separating infinite from finite growth regimes of the ABPGM is obtained in the (b,c) space (where c is the impurity concentration). Unlike the original model, the phase diagram of the ABPGM exhibits a peculiar reentrance.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures. To be published in PHYSICA

Sobre o Encontro da Política Consigo Mesma: O Paradoxo entre as Possibilidades Amenas dos Arranjos Democrático-Liberais e o Real Disruptivo da Política

O presente trabalho é um esforço teórico. Esforço, no sentido de que pensar a política na atualidade – crises no modelo democrático e neoliberal – é uma atividade de tal nível de amplitude que jamais será encerrada em si mesma. A ideia do presente trabalho é debater que há uma demanda urgente de encontro da política consigo mesma. Que a política é, na sua essência a realização do impossível, como afirma o filósofo francês Alain Badiou. E que, por ser aquilo que força o impossível a acontecer, a política não está nas instâncias limitantes das possibilidades institucionais oferecidas, atualmente. A conjuntura atual indica a existência de um paradoxo: soluções para as crises oferecidas nos limites dos modelos já existentes e necessidade de ampliação do potencial disruptivo da política. O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir o paradoxo político da atualidade, no sentido de afirmar a necessidade de que a política seja recobrada no seu poder de inconformidade com as formas institucionais presentes. Para além de Alain Badiou, outros pensadores norteiam a discussão proposta, a exemplo de Slajov Zizek, Perry Anderson e Vladimir Safatle. Do ponto de vista metodológico, trata-se de uma revisão de literatura. Concluímos pela necessidade de se afirmar o real disruptivo da política, no contemporâneo

O Papel do Direito no desenvolvimento: tributação

Este artigo pretende estudar a atuação do Direito e suas instituições no novo cenário de desenvolvimento do Brasil, buscando propor caminhos objetivos pelos quais a tributação possa contribuir para o desenvolvimento, sob a ótica da sustentabilidade

Cross-country multi-sectorial LMDI decomposition of aggregate energy consumption

Although a cornerstone for development, past and current energy uses have often posed a major challenge for policy makers regarding energy planning and management. Within this context, in this paper an updated multi-sectorial cross-country assessment of energy consumption trends was undertaken, contributing to existing literature and to the public debate over policy efforts towards sustainable development of the energy sector. This cross-country assessment encompasses a set of developed and emerging countries (United Kingdom, Portugal, Brazil and China). Resorting to a Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI), aggregate energy consumption was decomposed into three main explanatory effects: activity, structure and intensity. The major findings achieved reflect the relevance of intensity and activity effects in detriment of structural effect, since for all countries the main variations have been associated to both overall activity and intensity effect. Assessment of energy consumption trends through decomposition lens provides critical information regarding which is the dominant factor that should be focused during policy design, in order to improve overall energy consumption.This research was supported by a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme Fellowship within the 7th European Union Framework Programme, under project NETEP- European Brazilian Network on Energy Planning (PIRSES-GA-2013-612263)

A cross-country assessment of energy-related CO2 emissions: An extended Kaya Index Decomposition Approach

As the threat of climate change becomes increasingly acknowledged, it becomes more evident that past and current unsustainable energy consumption patterns cannot be pursued or maintained. In order to help policy makers across the globe to address this challenging goal, decomposition techniques have been applied to identify the main drivers of changes in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This study presents a cross-country assessment of main energy- related CO2 emission drivers for Portugal, United Kingdom, Brazil and China, resorting to an approach that differentiates the contribution of all fuel alternatives – both renewable and non-renewable, including nuclear energy. The results obtained have shown the relevance of energy intensity and affluence effects as well as RES contribution as main emission drivers which means that their relationships constitute areas that require a more immediate action by energy policy decision-makers. In terms of policy implications, it seems clear that Brazil and Portugal need to focus on measures improving energy efficiency whereas China and UK need to prioritize issues regarding the weight of non-renewable energy sources in their energy mix. Another important implication is the need to promote synergies within the energy sector, regarding energy security, climate change and pollution mitigation goals.This research was supported by a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme Fellowship within the 7th European Union Framework Programme, under project NETEP- European Brazilian Network on Energy Planning (PIRSES-GA-2013-612263) and by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013. Support from CNPq is also acknowledged

Energy indicators: crucial tool towards sustainability assessment

Energy has been considered an intrinsic factor to attain Sustainable Development (SD). However, it has not always been viewed, projected or recognized within sustainability’s scope. To address this issue, the use of indicators, namely Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development (EISD), allows to convey to policy-makers multidimensional implications of energy related decision-making. Besides contributing to assess current energy trends at a national level, this tool, contextualized within a country’s economic and energy mix, allows to establish a comparison between different countries. This effectively contributes to identifying common concerns and strategies to overcome barriers towards sustainable development. This paper compares the path to SD in Portugal and Brazil by making use of the EISD framework

Driving forces for aggregate energy consumption: a cross-country approach

Although a cornerstone for development, past and current energy use has often posed a major challenge for policymakers with respect to planning and management. Within this context, in this paper an updated multi-sectorial cross-country assessment of energy consumption trends was undertaken, aiming at identifying the main drivers of changes in aggregate energy consumption. These drivers have been interpreted in the light of the policy measures that have been implemented over the years by different countries to achieve a sustainable development of the energy sector. The cross-country assessment encompasses a set of developed (United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain) and emerging (Brazil, China, and India) countries. Resorting to the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) decomposition method, changes in the aggregate energy consumption were decomposed into three main explanatory effects: activity, structure and intensity. The major findings achieved reflect the relevance of intensity and activity effects in detriment of the structural effect. The assessment of energy consumption trends using the LMDI decomposition method provides critical information regarding which is the dominant factor that should be focused in policy design.This research was supported by a Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme Fellowship within the 7th European Union Framework Programme, under project NETEP-European Brazilian Network on Energy Planning (PIRSES-GA-2013-612263). Support from CNPq is also acknowledged, as well as the support of ALGORITMI, a research Centre at the University of Minho. This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013

Duties to the union of wills: formation of political society in the dialogue between Pufendorf and Rousseau

Este trabalho examina a formação da sociedade política na crítica de Rousseau ao jusnaturalista Samuel von Pufendorf. Enquanto o autor do Le Droit de la Nature et des Gens postula uma sociedade fundada nos mandatos da recta ratio, sociabilidade e cumprimento dos Deveres, Rousseau critica aqueles mandatos no que o faz reexaminar a natureza humana e as exigência da sociedade política. Daí, a oposição entre uma legitimidade baseada na alienação ao representante ou assembleia, e outra, formada pela vontade geral e liberdade do cidadão. Os temas implicam, portanto, em um e (ou) outro autor, na apresentação da teoria dos Seres Morais e dos princípios do direito político, do estado de natureza e das fórmulas contratuais.This work examines the formation of the political society in criticism of Rousseau to the jusnaturalist Samuel Von Pufendorf. While the author of Le Droit La Nature et desgens posits a society founded in the mandates of the recta ratio,sociability and the fulfilment of duties, Rosseau criticizes those terms that makes him review the human nature and the requirement of the political society. Hence, the opposition between a legitimacy based on the alienation to the representative or House. And another one, formed by the citizen general will and freedom. The topics imply, therefore, in either of the author, on presentation of moral beings theory, the political right principles, the nature state as well as the contractual formulas.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Reabilitação de quintas no Douro : manual de boas práticas : Região do Baixo Corgo

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Civil. Área de Especialização de Construções. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201