Application of Model-driven engineering to multi-agent systems: a language to model behaviors of reactive agents

Many users of multi-agent systems (MAS) are very commonly disinclined to model and simulate using current MAS platforms. More specifically, modeling the dynamics of a system (in particular the agents' behaviors) is very often a challenge to MAS users. This issue is more often observed in the domain of socio-ecological systems (SES), because SES domain experts are rarely programmers. Indeed, the majority of MAS platforms were not conceived taking into consideration domain-experts who are non-programmers. Most current MAS tools are not dedicated to SES, or nor do they possess an easily understandable formalism to represent the behaviors of agents. Moreover, because it is platform-dependent, a model realized in a given MAS platform cannot be properly used on another platform due to incompatibility between MAS platforms. To overcome these limitations, we propose a domain-specific language (DSL) to describe the behaviors of reactive agents, regardless of the MAS platform used for simulation. To achieve this result, we used model-driven engineering (MDE), an approach that provides tools to develop DSLs from a meta-model (abstract syntax), textual editors with syntax highlighting (for the concrete syntax) and code generation capabilities (for source-code generation of a model). As a result, we implemented a language and a textual editor that allow SES domain experts to describe behaviors in three different ways that are close to their natural expression: as equations when they are familiar with these, as a sequence of activities close to natural language or as an activity diagram to represent decisions and a sequence of behaviors using a graphic formalism. To demonstrate interoperability, we also developed code generators targeting two different MAS platforms (Cormas and Netlogo). We tested the code generators by implementing two SES models with the developed DSL. The generated code was targeted to both MAS platforms (Cormas and Netlogo), and successfully simulated in one of them. We conclude that the MDE approach provides adequate tools to develop DSL and code generators to facilitate MAS modeling and simulation by non-programmers. Concerning the DSL developed, although the behavioral aspect of MAS simulation is part of the complexity of modeling in MAS, there are still other essential aspects of model and simulation of MAS that are yet to be explored, such as model initialization and points of view on the model simulated worl

The taxonomy and anatomy of rauisuchian archosaurs from the Late Triassic of Germany and Poland

The German Late Triassic archosaur Teratosaurus suevicus is a historically important taxon, being the first described rauisuchian. Unfortunately the holotype is a single element, a maxilla, which is poorly preserved and incomplete. We redescribe this maxilla and identify a single potential autapomorphy. The fragmentary type specimen complicates attempts to refer additional material to this taxon, and other unassociated archosaur and rauisuchian specimens from the Mittlerer Stubensandstein of Germany cannot be referred to T. suevicus with any degree of confidence. The stratigraphically older T. silesiacus, from the upper Carnian of Poland, is represented by a much more complete and better preserved specimen. Comparison of the maxillae of T. suevicus and T. silesiacus reveals that the two are distinct taxa, contra recent suggestions, but also that they do not share any synapomorphies or a unique combination of characters relative to Postosuchus kirkpatricki and other rauisuchians. Thus, the Polish material must be transferred to a new genus, Polonosuchus gen. nov. Both Polonosuchus and Teratosaurus are very similar to Postosuchus kirkpatricki, and the three taxa are likely closely related

Simulations and performance of the QUBIC optical beam combiner

QUBIC, the Q & U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology, is a novel ground-based instrument that aims to measure the extremely faint B-mode polarisation anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background at intermediate angular scales (multipoles o

Proposal for developing maize hybrids by combining heterotic patterns [Propuesta para formar híbridos de maíz combinando patrones heteróticos]

In this work we present a proposal to incorporate genes from exotic maize populations and heterotic patterns to adapted heterotic patterns, so that in addition to obtain the recovered original crosses, using the strategy of combining exotic and adapted heterotic patterns, it takes advantage of genetic diversity generated trough developing new options of maize hybrids with the alleles of interest. To describe the strategy, a case study for developing yellow maize hybrids from adapted maize heterotic patterns of white grain and exotic yellow heterotic patterns as donors, was used. In a comparative analysis, it was determined that the proposal could be more efficient than using reciprocal recurrent selection beginning with yellow populations and the conventional backcrossing methods. The included early test in this proposal, would lead to select segregating yellow lines with outstanding general combining ability to reduce costs in line evaluation and would allow being more successful in selecting recovered yellow lines. The combination and complementation between adapted and exotic populations or heterotic patterns would allow taking advantage of adapted and exotic germplasm, because it would be possible to develop different types of yellow maize hybrids with the recovered yellow lines, in comparison to reciprocal recurrent selection and conventional methods where only recovered crosses similar to the originals could be developed

Proposal for developing maize hybrids by combining heterotic patterns [Propuesta para formar híbridos de maíz combinando patrones heteróticos]

In this work we present a proposal to incorporate genes from exotic maize populations and heterotic patterns to adapted heterotic patterns, so that in addition to obtain the recovered original crosses, using the strategy of combining exotic and adapted heterotic patterns, it takes advantage of genetic diversity generated trough developing new options of maize hybrids with the alleles of interest. To describe the strategy, a case study for developing yellow maize hybrids from adapted maize heterotic patterns of white grain and exotic yellow heterotic patterns as donors, was used. In a comparative analysis, it was determined that the proposal could be more efficient than using reciprocal recurrent selection beginning with yellow populations and the conventional backcrossing methods. The included early test in this proposal, would lead to select segregating yellow lines with outstanding general combining ability to reduce costs in line evaluation and would allow being more successful in selecting recovered yellow lines. The combination and complementation between adapted and exotic populations or heterotic patterns would allow taking advantage of adapted and exotic germplasm, because it would be possible to develop different types of yellow maize hybrids with the recovered yellow lines, in comparison to reciprocal recurrent selection and conventional methods where only recovered crosses similar to the originals could be developed

Phenotipic relationships and heterosis among commercial hybrids and exotic germplasm of maize in Jalisco, México [Relaciones fenotópicas y heterosis entre híbridos comerciales y germoplasma exótico de maíz en Jalisco, México]

Maize (Zea mays L.) breeding programs in central-western México have been using adapted genetic materials, mainly commercial hybrids, improved populations, and exotic materials introduced from other areas. In this study, phenotypic and genotypic relationships among adapted and exotic populations were measured to define the best way to use these materials in breeding programs. Multivariate analysis techniques (Biplot analysis) and cluster analysis applied to adapted and exotic materials and their crosses, were used with regard to agronomic traits and ear yield components. It was confirmed that grain yield is still the most important variable in the characterization of genetic materials, in combination with lodging, ear quality and descriptive variables of the maturity cycle (days to tassel and silking flowering). Cluster analysis, clearly separated the adapted from the exotic materials, with the exception of some of the high yielding exotic crosses ('Pob49 x P-3394', and 'Pob32 x P-3394'), which involved exotic materials with sub-tropical and tropical germplasm in their pedigree ('Pob32 x SynB73' and 'Pob49 x Pob32'), and crosses that possibly involved temperate materials ('A-7573 x P-3066'). In crosses of adapted x exotic materials, the combinations with 'SynB73' and 'P-3394' were located in the opposite group from the crosses with 'SynMo17' and 'Blanco de Ocho', while in the intermediate group predominated crosses with 'Pob49' and 'Pob32'