Behaviour Driven Development for Multi-Agent Systems

This paper presents a testing methodology to apply Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) techniques while developing Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), so called BEhavioural Agent Simple Testing (BEAST) methodology. It is supported by the developed open source framework (BEAST Tool) which automatically generates test cases skeletons from BDD scenarios specifications. The developed framework allows testing MASs based on JADE or JADEX platforms and offers a set of configurable Mock Agents which allow the execution of tests while the system is under development. BEAST tool has been validated in the development of a MAS for fault diagnosis in FTTH (Fiber To The Home) networks

Tunable uptake of poly(ethylene oxide) by graphite-oxide-based materials

We investigate the role of structure and chemical composition on the uptake of poly(ethylene oxide) by a series of graphite oxides (GOs) and thermally reduced GOs, leading to the formation of polymer-intercalated GO and polymer-adsorbed graphene nanostructures. To this end, a series of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) - GO hybrid materials exhibiting a variable degree of GO oxidation and exfoliation has been investigated in detail using a combination of techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, scanning-electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. Intercalation of the polymer phase into well-defined GO galleries is found to correlate well with both the degree of GO oxidation and with the presence of hydroxyl groups. The latter feature is an essential prerequisite to optimize polymer uptake owing to the predominance of hydrogen-bonding interactions between intercalant and host. Unlike the bulk polymer, these intercalation compounds show neither crystallisation nor glass-transition associated with the polymer phase. Exfoliation and reduction of GO result in high-surface-area graphene layers exhibiting the highest polymer uptake in these GO-based materials. In this case, PEO undergoes surface adsorption, where we observe the recovery of glass and melting transitions associated with the polymer phase albeit at significantly lower temperatures than the bulk

Modulatory effect of diphenyl diselenide in Carioca High- and Low-conditioned Freezing rats

AbstractDiphenyl diselenide ([PhSe]2)is an organoselenium compound that has interesting pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase-mimetic, and neuroprotective effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible modulatory effect of (PhSe)2 in 17th-generation Carioca high-and low-conditioned freezing (CHF and CLF) rats, an animal model of generalized anxiety disorders. (PhSe)2 was administered at three doses (10, 50, and 100mg/kg) in CHF and CLF rats, and their anxiety-like profiles (conditioned freezing patterns) were measured before and 30min after treatment. A significant difference was found in freezing scores between CHF and CLF animals before treatment (t70=12.50, p<0.001). Treatment with (PhSe)2 at 10 and 50mg/kg decreased freezing in CHF rats but significantly increased freezing at 100mg/kg. (PhSe)2 increased freezing in CLF animals at 50 and 100mg/kg (p<0.01). These results indicate that (PhSe)2 exerts both anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like effects in bi-directional rat lines. Distinct genetic profiles of the CHF and CLF lines may influence biochemical functions and lead to differential responses to aversive situations and various drugs like (PhSe)2

B2DI a bayesian BDI agent model with causal belief updating based on MSBN

In this paper, we introduce B2DI model that extends BDI model to perform Bayesian inference under uncertainty. For scalability and flexibility purposes, Multiply Sectioned Bayesian Network (MSBN) technology has been selected and adapted to BDI agent reasoning. A belief update mechanism has been defined for agents, whose belief models are connected by public shared beliefs, and the certainty of these beliefs is updated based on MSBN. The classical BDI agent architecture has been extended in order to manage uncertainty using Bayesian reasoning. The resulting extended model, so-called B2DI, proposes a new control loop. The proposed B2DI model has been evaluated in a network fault diagnosis scenario. The evaluation has compared this model with two previously developed agent models. The evaluation has been carried out with a real testbed diagnosis scenario using JADEX. As a result, the proposed model exhibits significant improvements in the cost and time required to carry out a reliable diagnosis

El papel de la movilidad geográfica en la expansión de Aedes albopictus y en la transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas

Ponencia sobre el papel de la movilidad geográfica en la expansión de Aedes albopictus y en la transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas. Se estudia la dispersión de Aedes albopictus basados en el análisis de datos de la invasión en la provincia de Girona durante 2009-2011; y la dispersión epidémica en redes desarrollando un marco teórico para la modelización de la propagación de enfermedades infecciosas.N

Scabies in Spain? A comprehensive epidemiological picture

Introduction: Scabies is a neglected disease stablished worldwide with a fairy well determined incidence. In high-income countries, it often causes outbreaks affecting the residents and staff of institutions and long-term facilities, usually hard to detect and control due to the difficult diagnosis and notification delay. This study aim at characterizing the affected population, geographical distribution, and evolution of scabies in Spain from 1997-2019 as well as to describe the main environments of transmission using different data sources. Methods: We carried out a nationwide retrospective study using four databases, which record data from different perspectives: hospital admissions, patients attended at primary healthcare services, outbreaks, and occupational diseases. We described the main characteristics from each database and calculated annual incidences in order to evaluate temporal and geographical patterns. We also analyzed outbreaks and occupational settings to characterize the main transmission foci and applied Joinpoint regression models to detect trend changes. Results: The elderly was the most frequent collective among the hospital admitted patients and notified cases in outbreaks, while children and young adults were the most affected according to primary care databases. The majority of the outbreaks occurred in homes and nursing homes; however, the facilities with more cases per outbreak were military barracks, healthcare settings and nursing homes. Most occupational cases occurred also in healthcare and social services settings, being healthcare workers the most common affected professional group. We detected a decreasing trend in scabies admissions from 1997 to 2014 (annual percentage change -APC- = -11.2%) and an increasing trend from 2014 to 2017 (APC = 23.6%). Wide geographical differences were observed depending on the database explored. Discussion: An increasing trend in scabies admissions was observed in Spain since 2014, probably due to cutbacks in social services and healthcare in addition to worsen of living conditions as a result of the 2008 economic crisis, among other reasons. The main transmission foci were healthcare and social settings. Measures including enhancing epidemic studies and national registries, reinforcing clinical diagnosis and early detection of cases, hygiene improvements and training of the staff and wide implementation of scabies treatment (considering mass drug administration in institutions outbreaks) should be considered to reduce the impact of scabies among most vulnerable groups in Spain.S

La leishmaniasis en España: evolución de los casos notificados a la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica desde 2005 a 2017 y resultados de la vigilancia de 2014 a 2017

[ES] La leishmaniasis es una enfermedad endémica en España. Es de declaración obligatoria en todo el territorio desde 2015 a través de la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica (RENAVE). Los objetivos son conocer su distribución temporal y espacial, describir la epidemiología de los casos autóctonos y conocer la calidad de las notificaciones. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en el que se analizó la distribución temporal de casos y las tasas de las comunidades autónomas (CCAA) con notificación estable (2005 a 2017). Además, a partir de los casos autóctonos notificados entre 2014 y 2017 se realizó un estudio descriptivo que incluyó la distribución temporal y espacial (casos y tasas). La calidad se midió según la exhaustividad en la cumplimentación de las variables. Entre 2005 y 2017 hubo 8 CCAA con notificación estable (media 141 casos/año, tasa de período 0,62 casos/100.000 hab.). Hubo picos en 2011 y 2012 debidos principalmente a la Comunidad de Madrid. Excluyendo los casos de la C. de Madrid (TI Otras) la evolución observada fue más estable, con tendencia ascendente desde 2012. Entre 2014 y 2017 hubo 1359 casos autóctonos (media 340 casos/año; tasa 0,76) de 15 CCAA, con una tendencia ascendente. El mayor número correspondió a enero y junio. 5 CCAA acumularon el 89,9% de los casos del período: Comunidad Valenciana, Comunidad de Madrid, Cataluña, Baleares y Andalucía. Presentaron tasas superiores a la del período Baleares, Comunidad Valenciana, Comunidad de Madrid y Castilla La-Mancha. El 61,1% de los casos eran hombres y la edad mediana 48 años. Las tasas más elevadas se observan en los niños y niñas <1 año y de 1 a 4. El 51,6% fueron formas viscerales. La cumplimentación de las variables de riesgo fue muy escasa o nula. Del resto, las variables con mayor frecuencia de datos desconocidos fueron: municipio del caso (63,2%), defunción (57,9%), fecha de diagnóstico (52%), hospitalización (49,4%) y país de nacimiento (37,7%). La tendencia ascendente de notificación de leishmaniasis observada en los últimos años es probablemente multifactorial. La enfermedad se distribuye por todo el país durante todo el año, con regiones y épocas de mayor riesgo. El grupo de mayor riesgo son niños menores de 5 años. Existe amplio margen de mejora en la calidad de la información.[EN] Leishmaniasis is a disease endemic in Spain. Reporting is compulsory for every Autonomous Region (CCAA) through the National Surveillance Network since 2015. The objectives are to know its temporal and spatial distribution, to describe the epidemiology of autochthonous cases and to find out the quality of case reporting. A descriptive analysis was carried out. Temporal distribution of the cases and rates by CCAA were conducted considering regions with stable notification (2005 to 2017). Using autochthonous cases from 2014 to 2017, a descriptive analysis including temporal and spatial distribution (cases and rates) was also performed. Quality was measured according to the completeness in the completion of variables. From 2005 to 2017 there were 8 CCAA with stable reporting (mean 141 cases/year, period rate 0.62 cases/100.000 inhabitants). Peaks in 2011 and 2012 were mainly due to the Community of Madrid. Excluding these cases (TIOtras), a more stable trend was observed with an increase since 2012. Between 2014 and 2017 there were 1359 autochthonous cases (mean 340 cases/year; rate 0.76) from 15 CCAA, with an upward trend. The largest number corresponded to January and June. 89.9% of cases corresponded to 5 CCAA: Valencian Community, Madrid, Catalonia, Balearic Islands and Andalusia. Rates higher than the period one were observed in Balearics, Valencian Community, Madrid and Castilla La-Mancha. Men represented 61.1% of the cases. The median age was 48 years. The highest rates corresponded to children <1 year and from 1 to 4. 51.6% of cases were visceral diseases. The completion of risk variables was almost null. Among the other variables, those with highest missing values proportion were: municipality of the case (63.2%), death (57.9%), date of diagnosis (52%), hospitalization (49.4%) and country of birth (37.7%). The recent upward trend of leishmaniasis notification is probably multifactorial. The disease is distributed throughout the country along the year, with variable risk by regions and periods. The highest risk group are children under 5 years-old. There is a large scope for improvement in the quality of data.N

Big Mosquito Bytes. Ciencia ciudadana y Salud Pública

Comunicación presentada en las II Jornada del Centro Nacional de Epidemiología - 2021.Se expone la aplicación "Mosquito Alert" como proyecto de ciencia ciudadana. La ciencia ciudadana hace referencia a involucrar al público general en actividades de investigación científica. Está herramienta pretende tener una predicción en tiempo real de la interacción mosquito-humano

Resolving galaxies in time and space: II: Uncertainties in the spectral synthesis of datacubes

In a companion paper we have presented many products derived from the application of the spectral synthesis code STARLIGHT to datacubes from the CALIFA survey, including 2D maps of stellar population properties and 1D averages in the temporal and spatial dimensions. Here we evaluate the uncertainties in these products. Uncertainties due to noise and spectral shape calibration errors and to the synthesis method are investigated by means of a suite of simulations based on 1638 CALIFA spectra for NGC 2916, with perturbations amplitudes gauged in terms of the expected errors. A separate study was conducted to assess uncertainties related to the choice of evolutionary synthesis models. We compare results obtained with the Bruzual & Charlot models, a preliminary update of them, and a combination of spectra derived from the Granada and MILES models. About 100k CALIFA spectra are used in this comparison. Noise and shape-related errors at the level expected for CALIFA propagate to 0.10-0.15 dex uncertainties in stellar masses, mean ages and metallicities. Uncertainties in A_V increase from 0.06 mag in the case of random noise to 0.16 mag for shape errors. Higher order products such as SFHs are more uncertain, but still relatively stable. Due to the large number statistics of datacubes, spatial averaging reduces uncertainties while preserving information on the history and structure of stellar populations. Radial profiles of global properties, as well as SFHs averaged over different regions are much more stable than for individual spaxels. Uncertainties related to the choice of base models are larger than those associated with data and method. Differences in mean age, mass and metallicity are ~ 0.15 to 0.25 dex, and 0.1 mag in A_V. Spectral residuals are ~ 1% on average, but with systematic features of up to 4%. The origin of these features is discussed. (Abridged)Comment: A&A, accepte