CASH FLOW PLANNING AND OPTIMIZATION THROUGH GENETIC ALGRORITMS

This article describes an intelligent system for financial planning and cashflow optimization named ICF: Intelligent Cash Flow. ICF is a computational tool for decision support which provides short-term and long-term financial managing strategies, considering financial products of the market. The ICF system makes use of Genetic Algorithms to elaborate cash flow projections which improve the company's profit for a specific period. ICF helps to deal with the complex aspects of cash flow planning: the large number of alternatives to consider, i. e. the mix of investments which offer the higher profit rates over a period; the intensive numerical processing involved; the dynamic changes in the Financial Market (e.g. rates, terms and tax regulations); and the changes in the company's daily financial position. The ICF system integrates two models: the financial and the genetic models. The financial model is used to calculate the cash flow profitability, based on the IDC (Interbank Deposit Certificate), by projecting profits and taxes for each kind of investment, for any term in the considered period. The genetic model, on the other hand, is used to search for cash flow plannings which promote profitability and liquidity. The chromosome of the ICF genetic model consists of n genes. Each gene stands for a day in the considered period and has four fields. The first two identify an investment option and its term; the last two identify a resource taking option and its term. For each analyzed day, only two of these fields are used, which depends whether the operational balance is positive or negative that day.According to the Evolutionary Computation theory, problems such as the optimization of the cash flow are highly epistatic, which means that there is a strong interdependency between genes of the respective representation (for example, the investment on day d depends on the availability of financial resources that day, which can be due to the redemption made on day d-n). Such genes consist of genetic patterns that can be set apart by the crossover operator. In order to deal with the epistasy in this problem, the chromosome has been adapted in way that each gene is represented by its allele and by its locus (position in the chromosome). This kind of representation has the objective to relax the positional rigidity of the genes, increasing the chances of distant interdependent genes to come closer to each other. Thus, genetic patterns with high fitness have more chances to proliferate in forthcoming generations. To manipulate this chromosome structure we have employed an extension of the partially-mapped crossover (PMX) operator proposed by Goldberg, which explores important similarities of value and order simultaneously. The mutation operator applied in the ICF implements a random choice of a gene (day) and the random assignment of a new term and a new type of financial application (investment or loan). The fitness function calculates the liquid returns (profit or tax) of each suggested application/loan for each day in the considered period, projected to the last day of the same. A more satisfactory planning is obtained by finding the maximum return value to this function.ICF has been tested and is currently in use by a Brazilian company. The model manages to find cash flow plannings which present profits, in average, 38% higher during evolution, making evident the importance of a such decision-supporting system. Comparing to the random search, the ICF in average leads to profits 50% higher. Many experiments were made for different periods of the year. The results show that the profitability is obviously affected by the company's operational balance, but it is also strongly influenced by the planning strategy. In this point, the ICF was capable of identifying strategies, with matched operations of application and redemption, which increased the cashbox in days of the flow, in which there was the option of highly profitable investments.

Morphology and histology of the digestive gland of Oxychilus (Drouetia) atlanticus (Morelet & Drouët) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata).

Little information exists on the histology of Zonitidae digestive system. This study deals with a detailed characterization of the different types of cells comprising epithelium lining the digestive gland of 0xychilus atlanticus. From light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies, three types of differentiated cells can be identified in the digestive gland: digestive cells, excretory cells and calcium cells. Digestive cells are the most numerous, and are present in two forms, one believed to be absorbing food material and the other secreting material. Excretory cells are distinguished by having a large central vacuole, containing excretory granules. Calcium cells contain spherules of calcium salts, which have a characteristic birefringence

Current status and future trends of mechanized fruit thinning devices and sensor technology

This paper reviews the different concepts that have been investigated concerning the mechanization of fruit thinning as well as multiple working principles and solutions that have been developed for feature extraction of horticultural products, both in the field and industrial environments. The research should be committed towards selective methods, which inevitably need to incorporate some kinds of sensor technology. Computer vision often comes out as an obvious solution for unstructured detection problems, although leaves despite the chosen point of view frequently occlude fruits. Further research on non-traditional sensors that are capable of object differentiation is needed. Ultrasonic and Near Infrared (NIR) technologies have been investigated for applications related to horticultural produce and show a potential to satisfy this need while simultaneously providing spatial information as time of flight sensors. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology also shows a huge potential but it implies much greater costs and the related equipment is usually much larger, making it less suitable for portable devices, which may serve a purpose on smaller unstructured orchards. Portable devices may serve a purpose on these types of orchards. In what concerns sensor methods, on-tree fruit detection, major challenge is to overcome the problem of fruits’ occlusion by leaves and branches. Hence, nontraditional sensors capable of providing some type of differentiation should be investigated.This work was developed as part of +Pêssego project which purpose is to promote the innovation and development of peach tree culture in the region of Beira Interior, Portugal. This project was financed by a national rural development and support program, PRODER.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assurance Measures: A solução para a estabilidade no flanco ESTE da Europa?

O relacionamento entre a Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte e a Federação Russa tem sido marcado por processos disjuntivos, de onde se destaca a questão da Ucrânia em 2014. A dinâmica entre estes dois atores, fomentada por líderes e estratégias próprias, coloca à prova a estabilidade do Sistema Político Internacional, especialmente quando se observam interesses antagónicos. A presente investigação tem como objetivo analisar como é que a Aliança, através das Assurance Measures, contribui para a Estabilidade do Leste Europeu, delimitado à região dos países Bálticos. Seguindo um raciocínio dedutivo e uma estratégia qualitativa, procurámos identificar as dinâmicas internas dos Países Bálticos, as capacidades e intenções da Rússia naquele espaço e posteriormente verificar como as Assurance Measures, enquanto objeto do nosso estudo, contribuem para dissuasão das ameaças percebidas e da coesão interna. Verificámos que o contributo essencial das Assurance Measures para a Estabilidade do Leste Europeu centra-se no domínio interno da coesão da Aliança, reforçando a defesa do território e das populações dos Países Bálticos e demonstrando o comprometimento na Defesa Coletiva. No domínio externo da dissuasão as Assurance Measures não afetam o Centro de Gravidade Russo existindo, outras medidas no âmbito do Readiness Action Plan com capacidades para tal. Abstract: The relationship between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Russian Federation has been marked by disjunctive processes, highlighting the issue of Ukraine in 2014. The dynamics between these two actors, fostered by their own leaders and strategies, is testing the stability of the International Political System, especially when opposing interests are observed. The present research aims at analyzing how the Alliance, through the Assurance Measures, contributes to the Stability of Eastern Europe with focus in the Baltic region States. Following deductive argument and a qualitative strategy, we sought to identify the internal dynamics of the Baltic States, the capabilities and intentions of the Russian Federation in that space and later to verify how the Assurance Measures, as object of our study, contribute to deterring the perceived threats and to the internal cohesion. We have found that the essential contribution of the Assurance Measures to the Stability of Eastern Europe focus on the internal cohesion domain of the Alliance, reinforcing the defense of the territory and populations of the Baltic States and demonstrating the commitment in Collective Defense. In the external domain of deterrence, the Assurance Measures do not affect the Russian Center of Gravity, although there are other measures within the scope of the Readiness Action Plan with the capacity to do so.N/

A Segurança nas Unidades: Estudo de Caso

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo fundamental, estudar e analisar a segurança física das unidades de infantaria da Brigada de Reação Rápida, através de um estudo de caso ao Centro de Tropas Comandos, ao Centro de Tropas de Operações Especiais e ao Regimento de Infantaria nº15. Esta investigação parte de um enquadramento conceptual mais abrangente da segurança e das variantes globais que lhe estão associadas, focalizando-se na Segurança Nacional e suas condicionantes. Posteriormente abordar-se-á a Segurança Organizacional, onde se debatem as implicações da segurança numa organização e a sua imperiosa correlação com as classes administrativas. No término desta primeira parte será estudada a Segurança Militar, onde se abordam os conceitos da Segurança das Informações, do Pessoal, e do Material e das Instalações. Para se validarem os conceitos teóricos delimitados, nomeadamente, no concerne às limitações ao nível de segurança e dos meios desejáveis para as colmatar, recorreu -se fundamentalmente à experiência e cooperação dos militares que prestam serviço nas unidades em estudo. Tal foi possível, através da realização de entrevistas e da sua posterior análise, que nos permitiram retirar os dados necessários para a realização das conclusões do estudo. De acordo com os resultados obtidos concluiu-se que, apesar de se ter verificado uma clara alteração das ameaças percepcionadas, não se conseguiram desenvolver medidas de segurança que as acompanhassem. Para atenuar esta situação aconselha -se uma maior aposta na formação, tanto ao nível das classes subordinadas como dos seus comandos.Abstract The present work has as its main objective to analyze the physical security of the infantry units belonging to the Quick Reaction Brigade, through case study to the Comandos Troops Center, to the Special Operations Troops Center and to the 15 thInf antry Regiment. This research derives from a broader security conceptual framework and the global variants associated to it, focusing on the National Security and their constraining factors. It also deals with Organizational Security, in which the implications of security in an organization and its correlation with the administrative classes are debated. The last part of this study deals with Military Security, specifically the concepts of Intelligence security and also facilities and personnel security. To validate these theoretical concepts, particularly what regards to the limitations to security, and the resources to fill the gaps in these limitations, we used the experience of some individuals serving in the studied units. It was done, mostly, through t he making of interviews and their respective analysis, that allowed to retrieve the needed data for the conclusions of this study. According with the obtained results, the conclusion was that, even though there has been a clear change in the perceived threat, the necessary security measures to deal with them were not taken. In order to mitigate this situation, it is advised to increase the commitment to training, both to employees and superiors

Pandemonium During the Pandemic: What is the Role of Health and Science Professionals?

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Reciclagem de escórias de incineração de RSU como agregados para a construção

Mestrado em Engenharia de MateriaisO principal objectivo deste trabalho foi o estudo da potencialidade das escórias provenientes da incineração de resíduos sólidos urbanos como agregado em trabalhos de engenharia civil, nomeadamente em argamassas e betões, e em pavimentação rodoviária. Foram efectuados vários ensaios segundo as directrizes da norma portuguesa NP EN 13242 de 2005, intitulada “Agregados para materiais não ligados ou tratados com ligantes hidráulicos utilizados em trabalhos de engenharia civil e na construção rodoviária”, para caracterizar e categorizar o material. No final os resultados foram comparados com valores de agregados utilizados nas aplicações acima mencionadas. Verificou-se que existem algumas semelhanças, havendo porém alguns parâmetros divergentes, podendo comprometer o desempenho da construção. Foram feitas formulações com argamassa, onde o agregado foi substituído parcialmente pelas escórias. Verificou-se uma diminuição pouco significativa das resistências à flexão e à compressão. Por outro lado, há um aumento muito significativo no tempo de início de presa. A retracção de todos os provetes é da ordem dos 0,167%. Nas misturas betuminosas, com a substituição dos agregados por escórias, verificou-se a diminuição das baridades, da porosidade e da deformação. Houve aumento da estabilidade.The main objective of this work was to study the potential of the bottom ash from the incineration of municipal solid waste as aggregate in civil engineering works, particularly in mortar and concrete, and road paving formulations. Several tests were conducted under the guidelines of the Portuguese standard NP EN 13242 (2005), entitled “Aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound materials for use in civil engineering work and road construction”, to characterize and categorize the material. Characteristics were compared with those of natural aggregates commonly used in the aforementioned applications. It was found that there are some similarities between them, although some detected differences deserve further adaptation steps of the waste and then the study of the performance of formulations where it was used. Two mortar formulations were prepared, where the aggregate was partially replaced by the bottom ash. The curing time tends to increase by the use of the waste. Hardened mortars tend to be low resistant (compression and flexural strength), but differences are minor. The shrinkage upon curing of all samples is similar (about 0.167%). In bituminous mixtures, the substitution of natural aggregates by the bottom ash tends to decrease the porosity and deformation, meaning an increase of stability. This way, the work proves that the use of the bottom ash is technologically feasible, after some minor pre-treatment operations that are easy to implement

Review of sensing methods for fruits and vegetables in the workfield and industrial environments

This review describes the multiple working principles and technological solutions that have been developed and applied in features extraction of horticultural products, both in the field and industrial environments. This paper intends to contribute to the development and utilization of portable agricultural equipments. Currently the research on sensing technology for fruits and vegetables is focused on computer vision equipment and algorithms, being the main purpose to support the automation of various agricultural and industrial processes, although there is a lack of integration of these technologies in useful systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Forecasting temperature time series for irrigation planning problems

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.This research was partially financed by Portuguese funds by the Center for Research and Development in Mathematics and Applications (CIDMA) and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (”Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” - FCT), within project UID/MAT/04106 2019. This research was partially financed by Portuguese funds through Portuguese Foundation for Science and Tech nology (”Funda¸c˜ao para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia” - FCT), within project UID/MAT/00013/2013. FEDER/ COMPETE/- NORTE2020/ POCI/FCT funds through grants PTDC-EEI-AUT-2933-2014116858-TOCCATA and To CHAIR - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028247 Financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) within the frame work of Strategic Financing UIDIFIS/04650/2013 is also acknowledge