A note on a new variant of Murty’s ranking assignments algorithm

In this paper a variant of Murty’s algorithm for ranking assignments according to cost is presented. It is shown that the worst-case computational complexity is better in this variant than in the original form of the algorithm. Computational results comparing three methods for ranking assignments are reported. They show that the behaviour of the new variant is also better in practice

Finding non-dominated bicriteria shortest pairs of disjoint simple paths

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VC5-4VBDKNX-1/2/b7e59602a9fb4eb885f498b0d8c779c

Constructing minimal cost/minimal SRLG spanning trees Over optical networks - An exact approach

The construction of overlay or broadcast networks, based on spanning trees, over WDM optical networks with SRLG information has important applications in telecommunications. In this paper we propose a bicriteria optimisation model for calculating communication spanning trees over WDM networks the objectives of which are the minimisation of the total number of different SRLGs of the tree links (seeking to maximise reliability) and the minimisation of the total bandwidth usage cost. An exact algorithm for generating the whole set of non-dominated solutions and methods for selecting a final solution in various decision environments, are put forward. An extensive experimental study on the application of the model, including two sets of experiments based on reference transport network topologies, with random link bandwidth occupations and with random SRLG assignments to the links, is also presented, together with a discussion on potential advantages of the model

The University of Lisbon’s cultural heritage survey (2010–2011)

In this paper, a survey of the cultural heritage of the University of Lisbon (2010–2011) will be presented, with a focus on the methodological approach. Main results will be discussed, as well as future perspectives regarding management, preservation and access of the university’s scientific and artistic collections, and buildings of artistic, architectonic and historical significance

Do Real ao Possível: Utopias do Documentário Contemporâneo

A presente proposta tem como objectivo principal identificar e analisar a relação que o documentário contemporâneo, na sua forma mais livre e pessoal, tem vindo a estabelecer com uma representação utópica da realidade. O ponto de partida é um estágio de seis meses realizado no Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, cuja programação se caracteriza precisamente pelo cruzamento do documentário com uma visão mais subjectiva, artística e pessoal. A minha análise baseia-se na concepção dos diferentes modos de documentário desenvolvida pelo teórico de cinema americano Bill Nichols e na definição de art film elaborada pelo historiador de cinema americano David Bordwell. A delimitação e concretização da ideia de utopia é feita através do filósofo alemão Ernst Bloch e do teórico político e crítico literário Fredric Jameson. Os conceitos teóricos aqui apresentados são posteriormente aplicados a três filmes programados pelo festival com a finalidade de mostrar como estas obras se situam entre os dois géneros (documentário e art film) e como desta tendência resulta uma revitalização do próprio documentário enquanto objecto que promove reflexão. Ao longo da minha análise argumento ainda que a presença de traços utópicos nestas obras é símbolo de um cinema de possibilidades, capaz de apresentar uma visão crítica e comprometida da sociedade.This proposal aims to identify and analyze the relationship between contemporary documentary, in it’s most personal and loose approach, and utopic representations of reality. My starting point is a six month internship at the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, whose program choices are characterized precisely by a more subjective, personal and above all artistic view on documentary. My analysis departs from the american film theorist Bill Nichols’ understanding of documentary modes of representation and the american film historian David Bordwell’s definition of ‘art cinema’. The theoretical concepts presented herein are subsequently applied to three films programmed by the festival in order to show how these film works can be placed somewhere between the two genres and how this leads to a revitalization of the documentary genre itself as a thought provoking practice. In this analysis is furthermore argued that the utopian traits that can be found in these works represent an idea of a cinema of infinite possibilities, where a critical and committed vision of society can be found

Optimizing the profit from a complex cascade of hydroelectric stations with recirculating water

In modern reversible hydroelectric power stations it is possible to reverse the turbine and pump water up from a downstream reservoir to an upstream one. This allows the use of the same volume of water repeatedly and was speci cally developed for hydro-electric stations operating with in- su cient water supply. Pumping water upstream is usually done at times of low demand for electricity, to build up reserves in order to be able to produce energy during peak hours, thus balancing the load and making a pro t on the price di erence. In this paper, we consider a branched model for hydroelectric power stations interacting in a complex cascade arrangement. The goal of this study is to provide guidance in decision-making aimed at maximizing the pro t. A detailed analysis is made of a simpler reservoir con guration, which indicates that even though the problem is nonlinear, a bang-bang type of control is optimal, where the power stations are operated at maximum rates of flow. Some simple relationships between price and timing of decisions are calculated directly. A numerical algorithm is also developed.This problem was brought by Redes Energéticas Nacionais to the 69th European Study Group with Industry, April 20–24, 2009, Departamento de Matemática da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal. Andrei Korobeinikov and Mark McGuinness are very grateful to the organizers of the 69th ESGI for financial support and for their kind and generous hospitality. Andrei Korobeinikov and Mark McGuinness are supported by the Mathematics Applications132 Optimizing the profit from a complex cascade of hydroelectric stations with recirculating water Consortium for Science and Industry, funded by the Science Foundation Ireland Mathematics Initiative Grant 06/MI/005. Mark McGuinness also thanks OCCAM in Oxford for supporting his travels. Marta Pascoal is partially funded by the Portuguese FCT under project POSC/U308/1.3/NRE/04

Multifaceted roles of nitric oxide in tomato fruit ripening: NO-induced metabolic rewiring and consequences for fruit quality traits

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as part of the ripening regulatory network in fleshy fruits. However, very little is known about the simultaneous action of NO on the network of regulatory events and metabolic reactions behind ripening-related changes in fruit color, taste, aroma and nutritional value. Here, we performed an in-depth characterization of the concomitant changes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit transcriptome and metabolome associated with the delayed-ripening phenotype caused by NO supplementation at the pre-climacteric stage. Approximately one-third of the fruit transcriptome was altered in response to NO, including a multilevel down-regulation of ripening regulatory genes, which in turn restricted the production and tissue sensitivity to ethylene. NO also repressed hydrogen peroxide-scavenging enzymes, intensifying nitro-oxidative stress and S-nitrosation and nitration events throughout ripening. Carotenoid, tocopherol, flavonoid and ascorbate biosynthesis were differentially affected by NO, resulting in overaccumulation of ascorbate (25%) and flavonoids (60%), and impaired lycopene production. In contrast, the biosynthesis of compounds related to tomato taste (sugars, organic acids, amino acids) and aroma (volatiles) was slightly affected by NO. Our findings indicate that NO triggers extensive transcriptional and metabolic rewiring at the early ripening stage, modifying tomato antioxidant composition with minimal impact on fruit taste and aroma.This work was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grants 2018/16389-8, 2016/04924-0, 2017/17935-3 and 2016/01128-9), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (grants 422287/2018-0, 305012/2018-5, 303332/2019-0 and 300986/2018-1), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. The research work of FJC and JMP is supported by a European Regional Development Fund cofinanced grant from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (AGL2015-65104-P and PID2019-103924GB-I00), Spain

Traffic splitting in MPLS networks – a hierarchical multicriteria approach, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2007, nr 4

In this paper we address a new hierarchical multicriteria routing model associated with a two-path traffic splitting routing method in MPLS networks whereby the bandwidth required by a given node-to-node traffic flow is divided by two disjoint paths. The model has two levels of objective functions and several constraints. An algorithmic approach is presented for calculating non-dominated solutions and selecting good compromise solutions to this problem. Also a number of computational experiments are presented

Organisation du Comite des tremblements de terre

International audienc

Global and regional ecological boundaries explain abrupt spatial discontinuities in avian frugivory interactions

Species interactions can propagate disturbances across space via direct and indirect effects, potentially connecting species at a global scale. However, ecological and biogeographic boundaries may mitigate this spread by demarcating the limits of ecological networks. We tested whether large-scale ecological boundaries (ecoregions and biomes) and human disturbance gradients increase dissimilarity among plant-frugivore networks, while accounting for background spatial and elevational gradients and differences in network sampling. We assessed network dissimilarity patterns over a broad spatial scale, using 196 quantitative avian frugivory networks (encompassing 1496 plant and 1004 bird species) distributed across 67 ecoregions, 11 biomes, and 6 continents. We show that dissimilarities in species and interaction composition, but not network structure, are greater across ecoregion and biome boundaries and along different levels of human disturbance. Our findings indicate that biogeographic boundaries delineate the world’s biodiversity of interactions and likely contribute to mitigating the propagation of disturbances at large spatial scales.The authors acknowledge the following funding: University of Canterbury Doctoral Scholarship (L.P.M.); The Marsden Fund grant UOC1705 (J.M.T., L.P.M.); The São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP 2014/01986-0 (M.G., C.E.), 2015/15172-7 and 2016/18355-8 (C.E.), 2004/00810-3 and 2008/10154-7 (C.I.D., M.G., M.A.P.); Earthwatch Institute and Conservation International for financial support (C.I.D., M.G., M.A.P.); Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Supporting Research in the Rio de Janeiro State – FAPERJ grant E-26/200.610/2022 (C.E.); Brazilian Research Council grants 540481/01-7 and 304742/2019-8 (M.A.P.) and 300970/2015-3 (M.G.); Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation No. 22426–1 (J.C.M., I.M.), No. 9163-1 (G.B.J.) and No. 11042-1 (MCM); Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (Propp-UESC; No. 00220.1100.1644/10-2018) (J.C.M., I.M.); Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia - FAPESB (No. 0525/2016) (J.C.M., I.M.); European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant 787638) and The Swiss National Science Foundation (grant 173342), both awarded to C. Graham (D.M.D.); ARC SRIEAS grant SR200100005 Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (D.M.D.); German Science Foundation—Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft PAK 825/1 and FOR 2730 (K.B.G., E.L.N., M.Q., V.S., M.S.), FOR 1246 (K.B.G., M.S., M.G.R.V.) and HE2041/20-1 (F.S., M.S.); Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology - FCT/MCTES contract CEECIND/00135/2017 and grant UID/BIA/04004/2020 (S.T.) and contract CEECIND/02064/2017 (L.P.S.); National Scientific and Technical Research Council, PIP 592 (P.G.B.); Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas - Project 898 (V.S.D.)