Abstract
This paper describes two new active/reactive dispatch models to be used by System Operators in order to assign reactive power and to validate the economic schedules prepared by Market Operators together with the injections related with Bilateral Contracts. When talking about electricity markets one usually refers to active power markets paying less attention to ancillary services, namely to reactive power/voltage control. This usually leads to a chronological sequence of activities that may lead to inefficiencies because active and reactive powers are coupled given the capability diagram of synchronous generators, the ac power flow equations and the branch thermal limits. In this paper, we propose new models to remarry active and reactive allocation procedures based on a market approach as a way to ensure operation transparency. The resulting optimization problems are solved by a Sequential Linear Programming, SLP, approach that allows one to compute active and reactive nodal marginal prices at its final iteration. The paper includes a case study based on the IEEE 24 Bus Test System to illustrate the application of the developed models and demonstrate their interest in the scope of restructured power systems.

Abstract
In this paper a successive approximation approach for MIMO linear parameter varying (LPV) systems with affine parameter dependence is proposed. This new approach is based on an algorithm previously introduced by the authors, which elaborates on a convergent sequence of linear deterministic-stochastic state-space approximations. In the previous algorithm the bilinear term between the time varying parameter vector and the state vector is allowed to behave as a white noise process when the scheduling parameter is a white noise sequence. However, this is a strong limitation in practice since, most often than not, the scheduling parameter is imposed by the process itself and it is typically a non white noise signal. In this paper, the bilinear term is analysed for non white noise scheduling sequences. It is concluded that its behaviour depends on the input sequence itself and it ranges from acting as an independent colored noise source, mostly removed by the identification algorithm, down to a highly input correlated signal that may be incorrectly assumed as being part of the system subspace. Based on the premise that the algorithm performance can be improved by the noise energy reduction, the bilinear term is expressed as a function of past inputs, scheduling parameters, outputs, and states, and the linear terms are included in a new extended input.

Abstract
In this article we present a practical example where the concept of Holistic Metrics (Feliz-Teixeira & Brito, 2006) is used as a way for sensing the results obtained in a simulation study related to the Portuguese enterprise GalpEnergia. Previously described in Feliz-Teixeira & Brito (2005), that case is used again in this article in order to demonstrate the practical value of the Holistic Metrics concept. This is basically a simple method for estimating or characterizing the behaviour of complex systems, in particular when these are studied throughout simulation. Instead of treating the complex output data obtained from this kind of system along the time domain, this perspective encourages analysts to represent such data in the frequency domain, somewhat as is adopted in Fourier Analysis and in Quantum Mechanics.

Abstract
In this work, we address investment decisions in production systems by using real options. As is standard in literature, the stochastic variable is assumed to be normally distributed and then approximated by a binomial distribution, resulting in a binomial lattice. The methodology establishes a discrete-valued lattice of possible future values of the underlying stochastic variable (demand in our case) and then, computes the project value. We have developed and implemented stochastic dynamic programming models both for fixed and flexible capacity systems. In the former case, we consider three standard options: the option to postpone investment, the option to abandon investment, and the option to temporarily shut-down production. For the latter case, we introduce the option of corrective action, in terms of production capacity, that the management can take during the project by considering the existence of one of the following: (i) a capacity expansion option; (ii) a capacity contraction option; or (iii) an option considering both expansion and contraction. The full flexible capacity model, where both the contraction and expansion options exist, leads, as expected, to a better project predicted value and thus, investment policy. However, we have also found that the capacity strategy obtained from the flexible capacity model, when applied to specific demand data series, often does not lead to a better investment decision. This might seem surprising, at first, but it can be explained by the inaccuracy of the binomial model. The binomial model tends to undervalue future decreases in the stochastic variable (demand), while at the same time tending to overvalue an increase in future demand values.

Abstract
System L is a linear version of Gödel's System T, where the ?-calculus is replaced with a linear calculus; or alternatively a linear ?-calculus enriched with some constructs including an iterator. There is thus at the same time in this system a lot of freedom in reduction and a lot of information about resources, which makes it an ideal framework to start a fresh attempt at studying reduction strategies in ?-calculi. In particular, we show that call-by-need, the standard strategy of functional languages, can be defined directly and effectively in System L, and can be shown minimal among weak strategies.

Abstract
This paper introduces INblobs, a visual tool developed at Minho for integrated development with Interaction Nets. Most of the existing tools take as input interaction nets and interaction rules represented in a textual format. INblobs is first of all a visual editor that allows users to edit interaction systems (both interaction nets and interaction rules) graphically, and to convert them to textual notation. This can then be used as input to other tools that implement reduction of nets. INblobs also allows the user to reduce nets within the tool, and includes a mechanism that automatically selects the next active pair to be reduced, following one of the given reduction strategies. The paper also describes other features of the tool, such as the creation of rules from pre-defined templates.