Crystal vs glass formation in lattice models with many coexisting ordered phases

We present here new evidence that after a quench the planar Potts model on the square lattice relaxes towards a glassy state if the number of states q is larger than four. By extrapolating the finite size data we compute the average energy of these states for the infinite system with periodic boundary conditions, and find that it is comparable with that previously found using fixed boundary conditions. We also report preliminary results on the behaviour of these states in the presence of thermal fluctuationsComment: 7 pages with 5 figure

An Empirical Analysis of the External Finance Premium of Public Non-Financial Corporations in Brazil

Our objective in this paper is to analyze empirically the relationship between the external finance premium of non-financial corporations in Brazil with their default probability and with their demand for inventories. As for the former relation, we find that corporations that have greater external finance premium have greater probability of default. As for the latter, we find that the external finance premium is positive and statistically significantly correlated. The results confirm previous results of the literature that indicate that the balance sheet channel of monetary policy is relevant in Brazil.

A Model-Predictive Motion Planner for the IARA Autonomous Car

We present the Model-Predictive Motion Planner (MPMP) of the Intelligent Autonomous Robotic Automobile (IARA). IARA is a fully autonomous car that uses a path planner to compute a path from its current position to the desired destination. Using this path, the current position, a goal in the path and a map, IARA's MPMP is able to compute smooth trajectories from its current position to the goal in less than 50 ms. MPMP computes the poses of these trajectories so that they follow the path closely and, at the same time, are at a safe distance of eventual obstacles. Our experiments have shown that MPMP is able to compute trajectories that precisely follow a path produced by a Human driver (distance of 0.15 m in average) while smoothly driving IARA at speeds of up to 32.4 km/h (9 m/s).Comment: This is a preprint. Accepted by 2017 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA

Aprendizagem baseada em projetos no ensino de bioquímica metabólica

Biochemistry is a curricular component that is present in Chemistry and Biology Teacher Training Courses and students usually consider it complex. The use of active learning methodologies seeks to make the learning process of this component significant using real and authentic learning situations and placing the student at the center of the teaching-learning process. Project-Based Learning (PBL) was chosen to teach Metabolic Biochemistry to 4th-year students of Teacher Training Course in Nature Sciences with Qualification in Chemistry of IFMT - Campus Confresa. The theme "Metabolic diseases" was defined as the starting point for the execution of the projects and the following diseases were addressed: diabetes, hypothyroidism and lactose intolerance. PBL was an efficient strategy in the teaching of Metabolic Biochemistry because it was able to gather the three dimensions for the development of competences: the construction of knowledge (through the content approach), the development of skills (teamwork, oral and written communication skills, the use of digital tools) and demonstration of attitudes (through awareness of current problems in society and the use of Biochemistry in the prevention or solution of these problems).La Bioquímica es un componente curricular que está presente en los cursos de Licenciatura en Química y Biología y los alumnos suelen considerarlo complejo. La utilización de metodologías activas de aprendizaje busca hacer el aprendizaje de ese componente significativo utilizando situaciones de aprendizaje reales y auténticas y como centro del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje el estudiante. El Aprendizaje Basado en Proyectos (ABPr) fue elegido para trabajar Bioquímica Metabólica con alumnos del 4º año del curso de Licenciatura en Ciencias de la Naturaleza con Habilitación en Química del IFMT - Campus Confresa. El tema "enfermedades metabólicas" fue definido como punto de partida para la ejecución de los proyectos y se abordaron las enfermedades: diabetes, hipotiroidismo e intolerancia a la lactosa. La ABPr se mostró una estrategia eficiente en la enseñanza de Bioquímica Metabólica pues fue capaz de unir las tres dimensiones para el desarrollo de competencias: la construcción del conocimiento (a través del abordaje del contenido), el desarrollo de habilidades (trabajo en equipo, comunicación oral y escrita, utilización de herramientas digitales) y la demostración de actitudes (por medio de la concientización sobre problemas presentes en la sociedad y la utilización de la Bioquímica en la prevención o solución de estos problemas).A Bioquímica é um componente curricular que está presente nos cursos de Licenciatura em Química e Biologia e os alunos costumam considerá-lo complexo. A utilização de metodologias ativas de aprendizagem busca tornar o aprendizado desse componente significativo aplicando situações de aprendizagem reais e autênticas e colocando o estudante no centro do processo de ensino-aprendizagem. A Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos (ABPr) foi escolhida para se trabalhar Bioquímica Metabólica com alunos do 4° ano do curso de Licenciatura em Ciências da Natureza com Habilitação em Química do IFMT – Campus Confresa. O tema “doenças metabólicas” foi definido como ponto de partida para a execução dos projetos e foram abordadas as doenças: diabetes, hipotireoidismo e intolerância à lactose. A ABPr mostrou-se uma estratégia eficiente no ensino de Bioquímica Metabólica, pois foi capaz de unir as três dimensões para o desenvolvimento de competências: a construção do conhecimento (por meio da abordagem do conteúdo), o desenvolvimento de habilidades (trabalho em equipe, comunicação oral e escrita, utilização de ferramentas digitais) e a demonstração de atitudes (por meio da conscientização sobre problemas presentes na sociedade e a utilização da Bioquímica na prevenção ou solução destes problemas)