Abstract
In this paper we present a model for beat-synchronous analysis of musical audio signals. Introducing a real-time beat tracking model with performance comparable to offline techniques, we discuss its application to the analysis of musical performances segmented by beat. We discuss the various design choices for beat-synchronous analysis and their implications for real-time implementations before presenting some beat-synchronous harmonic analysis examples. We make available our beat tracker and beat-synchronous analysis techniques as externals for Max/MSP.

Abstract
One of the challenges that generation companies having hydro stations are facing corresponds to build the most adequate bids to send to day-ahead markets, maximizing their profit and taking into account the expect inflows, market prices and the interdependency between hydro plants in cascades. As a contribution to address this problem, this paper describes a short-term optimization model to build one-week schedules for a set of hydro power plants so that the outputs can be used to bid in the day-ahead market. This model is coordinated with a medium-scale (one year) model that inputs the value of using the water in the short-term problem. The developed model considers the non-linear relationship between the electric power, the net head and the turbine discharge and it takes in consideration pumping as well. The solution approach is based on an under-relaxed iterative procedure based on the algorithm described in [1] and the players are considered as price-takers, so that market prices are input variables. To solve the medium-term problem we propose a similar model that sends information about the final week volumes of each power plant to the short-term problem. On the other hand, we conducted a scenario analysis regarding market prices and inflows to internalize uncertainty. Finally, the model was successfully applied to a real size Portuguese cascade and the paper includes several results to illustrate the application of the developed models.

Abstract
Emotional contagion is a process by which a person or group induces emotions, consciously or unconsciously, to another person. In this work, the authors present a model for contagion of emotions using the Emotional Contagion Scale (ECS). The model focuses on the unconscious aspect of Emotional Contagion, and is implemented using the NetLogo environment. The results show that the model can simulate different contagious patterns according to different emotions and different sizes of the groups, simulating what is found in human groups. ©2009 IEEE.

Abstract
A case study involving a new method to support the collaborative construction of semantic artefacts in an inter-organizational context is described. The method aims at being applied, in particular, in the early phases of ontology development. We share the view that the development of semantic artefacts in collaborative networks of organizations should be based on a continuous construction of meaning, rather than pursuing the delivery of highly formalized accounts of domains. For that, our research is directed to the application of cognitive semantics results, specifically by developing and extending the Conceptual Blending Theory to cope with the socio-cognitive aspects of inter-organizational ontology development. An evaluation experiment for this method is accomplished in the scope of a large European project in the area of industrial engineering. The method evaluation and its results are described.

Abstract
Due to the degradation of the earth during the past years, we are assisting to the increase of the number and intensity of natural catastrophes, with growing material and human losses. There's a recognized need to either improve or establish new Early Warning Systems. In fact, it isn't yet well known a normalized proceeding to organize the gathering and treatment of data, for a posterior analyses and emission of alerts, nor the acceptance of a architecture, either in terms of data or system, that allow the integration with other similar systems, in order to do a consistent analysis over larger territories. This paper aims to contribute to a proposal of an architecture to organize the needed resources of a Catastrophes Early Warning System. © 2009 IADIS.

Abstract