Universal functions and exactly solvable chaotic systems

A universal differential equation is a nontrivial differential equation the solutions of which approximate to arbitrary accuracy any continuous function on any interval of the real line. On the other hand, there has been much interest in exactly solvable chaotic maps. An important problem is to generalize these results to continuous systems. Theoretical analysis would allow us to prove theorems about these systems and predict new phenomena. In the present paper we discuss the concept of universal functions and their relevance to the theory of universal differential equations. We present a connection between universal functions and solutions to chaotic systems. We will show the statistical independence between $X(t)$ and $X(t + \tau)$ (when $\tau$ is not equal to zero) and $X(t)$ is a solution to some chaotic systems. We will construct universal functions that behave as delta-correlated noise. We will construct universal dynamical systems with truly noisy solutions. We will discuss physically realizable dynamical systems with universal-like properties.Comment: 12 Pages, 9 figures. Proceedings 1st Meeting IST-IM

Rule Derivation for Agent-Based Models of Complex Systems: Nuclear Waste Management and Road Networks Case Studies

This thesis explores the relation between equation-based models (EBMs) and agent-based models (ABMs), in particular, the derivation of agent rules from equations such that agent collective behavior produces results that match or are close to those from EBMs. This allows studying phenomena using both approaches and obtaining an understanding of the aggregate behavior as well as the individual mechanisms that produce them. The use of ABMs allows the inclusion of more realistic features that would not be possible (or would be difficult to include) using EBMs. The first part of the thesis studies the derivation of molecule displacement probabilities from the diffusion equation using cellular automata. The derivation is extended to include reaction and advection terms. This procedure is later applied to estimate lifetimes of nuclear waste containers for various scenarios of interest and the inclusion of uncertainty. The second part is concerned with the derivation of a Bayesian state algorithm that consolidates collective real-time information about the state of a given system and outputs a probability density function of state domain, from which the most probable state can be computed at any given time. This estimation is provided to agents so that they can choose the best option for them. The algorithm includes a diffusion or diffusion-like term to account for the deterioration of information as time goes on. This algorithm is applied to a couple of road networks where drivers, prior to selecting a route, have access to current information about the traffic and are able to decide which path to follow. Both problems are complex due to heterogeneous components, nonlinearities, and stochastic behavior; which make them difficult to describe using classical equation models such as the diffusion equation or optimization models. The use of ABMs allowed for the inclusion of such complex features in the study of their respective systems

Cycle Time Improvement by a Six Sigma Project for the Increase of New Business Accounts

This paper reports the application of a 6σ project about the reduction of the cycle time for acquiring a new credit account in a finance group. The methodology used in this project was the DMAI technique of 6σ. The paper documents the analysis and tasks performed by the management team that reduced cycle time from 49 days to 30 days which resulted in an expected annual savings of $300,000.00. Also an increased customer satisfaction and an increase of sales is expected

About masculinities and institutional violence in school organization.

En este trabajo se presentan los hallazgos preliminares de una investigación que examina las expresiones de masculinidad hegemónica en el ejercicio de actos de violencia institucional por parte de autoridades o grupos dominantes en una organización escolar de nivel superior. Los actos de violencia institucional se caracterizan por una aplicación parcial, discrecional, inequitativa, incluso ilegal, de las políticas y reglamentos institucionales. Como todo acto violento, la expresión institucional de éste va orientada a obligar a los otros al cumplimiento de la voluntad de quien ejerce el poder. Se describen las prácticas violentas que aplica un grupo dominante al interior de una universidad pública cuyos datos se reservan. Hasta el momento han sido reconocidos los siguientes elementos en el ejercicio de la violencia institucional por parte de este grupo: a) líderes ideológicos y morales, que son hombres, b) subjefes o líderes de segundo orden (donde figuran dos mujeres, una de ellas esposa de un líder ideológico), c) la comparsa, quienes son mujeres en su totalidad. Se identifican con claridad algunas expresiones asociadas con la masculinidad hegemónica, tales como: el ejercicio del poder reservado en los hombres, la posición jerárquicamente inferior por parte de las mujeres y su uso como agentes de mantenimiento del status quo

Pan-Canadian Hydro-Economic Model to Study the Economy-Wide Impacts of Climate Change and Water Markets as a Coping Mechanism

This research was undertaken thanks, in part, with support from the Global Water Futures Program funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF)Canada’s economic development and long-term sustainability require having access to water in adequate quantity and acceptable quality. Despite Canada being abundant on water resources, assessing the effect of future water challenges on its economy is crucial for the design of adaptation and mitigation strategies and to timely inform society and spark the behavioral changes needed. The Pan-Canadian hydro-economic model presented here represents an improvement from previous macro-economic modeling in GWF of water resources management. This model iteration contains a more thorough description of the macro-economic variables and is, therefore, capable of describing more realistic responses such as technology change and factor substitution. The model is based on general equilibrium theory where the economy is modelled as an open system and constrained by an accounting balance. Water is introduced as a factor of production for industries and as a commodity for consumption. Crop production is divided into irrigated and rainfed production. Other water-relevant industries and commodities are explicitly modelled. Consistent with GWF’s goal of developing decision-making tools for water-associated risks, the model presented here is used to examine the effect of having Canada-wide water supply shocks due to climate change and to explore the benefits of implementing a water market as a mechanism to cope with such adverse events. Results show the Canadian economy is most sensible to water disruptions to the paper manufacturing and irrigated crop production industries among the large water consumer industries. Overall, it was found that water supply variations have a relatively small effect on the Canadian economy, but that it responds more pronouncedly to shortages than to exceedances on water endowment. Implementing a water market across Canada has the effect of balancing out the economic costs that otherwise industry-specific water disruptions would produce. This effect acts in both directions, damping the economic loss due to water cutbacks but also the gains from increasing the water endowment. Another insight from the model runs is the linkage between water availability and trade balance, which indicates that when water becomes scarce and its price increases, the production of domestic water-intensive commodities becomes costlier. These commodities then must be satisfied on foreign markets, which amplifies the trade deficit on the economy. Current work aims at disaggregating the model following the major drainage basin areas to allow spatially targeted scenarios.Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF

From violence to love, romantic desmytificatión: a gendered analysis.

La idea del amor romántico es un producto cultural que se ha construido desde la narrativa difundida en diversos textos literarios que se han encargado de mostrar enseñanzas que a través del tiempo han contribuido a identificar los comportamientos, las conductas, los sentimientos y las emociones como naturales y morales designadas diferencialmente para mujeres y hombres. Se cree que el amor es único, verdadero y complementario y a cada persona se le educa de una manera particular y diferente. El presente escrito tiene el propósito de reflexionar en torno a la construcción del amor romántico y desmitificar las ideas que se siguen perpetuando por medio de significados como los provenientes de los ámbitos familiar y religioso que perfilan la ilusión de la idealización sobre el amor, en específico, una relación únicamente entre hombre y mujer

Métodos cromatográficos para la determinación de endosulfán en alimentos

Artículo de revisión sobre las técnicas de extracción, limpieza y cualificación de endosulfán y sus isómeros de muestras alimentarias.Se revisaron las técnicas de extracción, limpieza y cuantificación de endosulfán por métodos cromatográficos en matrices alimentarias como productos lácteos, frutas y vegetales, así como pescados y mariscos, publicados en los últimos veinte años. Independientemente del tipo de matriz, su extracción se realiza principalmente con disolventes orgánicos como hexano, metanol, acetonitrilo y acetona. Para la limpieza, lo más comúnmente empleado fueron cartuchos de sílice, columnas de florisil, o C18. En cuanto a la cuantificación, el método más sensible resultó ser la cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrofotometría de masas (CG-MS). Los alimentos en los que se reportó la presencia de α, β y/o sulfato de endosulfán fueron: productos lácteos y sus derivados con un intervalo de concentraciones de 23.99 a 52.2 ng/g; pescados y mariscos de 1.07 a 49.7 ng/g; y vegetales de 0.5 a 5460.0 ng/g. En leche materna se reportaron concentraciones de 0.4 a 10.7 ng/mL y en grasa hasta 277.39 ng/g

Primary elections and electoral outcomes: evidence from the Spanish Socialist Party

Using a regression discontinuity design and primary elections to select Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) mayoral candidates as a case study, this paper investigates the causal link between primary elections and electoral outcomes. The results suggest that selecting the PSOE’s mayoral candidate through primary elections has no effect on the percentage of votes and total votes received by the PSOE’s candidate in local elections, the probability of gaining the mayorship and the local government’s stability. On the other hand, the results suggest that PSOE’s primary elections result in increased votes for competing political parties to the right of the PSOE and in reduced votes for competing parties to the left of the PSO

Voltage collapse point evaluation considering the load dependence in a power system stability problem

Voltage Stability has emerged in recent decades as one of the most common phenomena, occurrence in Electrical Power Systems. Prior researches focused on the development of algorithm indices to solve the stability problem and in the determination of factors with most influence in voltage collapse to solve the stability problem. This paper evaluates the influence that the load dependence has with the voltage on the phenomenon of the voltage stability and especially on the characteristics the collapse point or instability point. Load modeling used is detailed and comparisons of the results obtained are made with those described in the bibliography and those obtained with commercial software. The results of the load margin are also compared when a constant load or a voltage-dependent load is considered as well as the values obtained at the maximum load point and the point of voltage instability