Using SWISH to realise interactive web based tutorials for logic based languages

Programming environments have evolved from purely text based to using graphical user interfaces, and now we see a move towards web based interfaces, such as Jupyter. Web based interfaces allow for the creation of interactive documents that consist of text and programs, as well as their output. The output can be rendered using web technology as, e.g., text, tables, charts or graphs. This approach is particularly suitable for capturing data analysis workflows and creating interactive educational material. This article describes SWISH, a web front-end for Prolog that consists of a web server implemented in SWI-Prolog and a client web application written in JavaScript. SWISH provides a web server where multiple users can manipulate and run the same material, and it can be adapted to support Prolog extensions. In this paper we describe the architecture of SWISH, and describe two case studies of extensions of Prolog, namely Probabilistic Logic Programming (PLP) and Logic Production System (LPS), which have used SWISH to provide tutorial sites

Random scenarios generation with minimun energy consumption model for sectoring optimization in pressurized irrigation networks using a simulated annealing approach

A pressurized irrigation network may operate in two ways, namely, on demand and organized under operating sectors. In the first case, the user decides when to irrigate, and the pumping station has to meet the discharge and pressure head requirements of the group of users that is demanding water at any time. In the second case, the operating hydrants at a given moment are previously established, which permits identification of scenarios related to lesser energy consumption. In this work, a new model was developed that identifies such scenarios. The optimization process is carried out by means of simulated annealing (SA). The model was applied to an example and the result obtained was compared with the same network operating on demand and sectorized using the criterion of hydrant elevation with respect to the pumping station. The scenario adopted for SA saved 11.8% and 15.5% in energy consumption compared with the two other scenarios, and decreased the installed power requirement by 38.3% and 21.6%, respectively.García Prats, A.; Guillem Picó, S.; Martínez Alzamora, F.; Jiménez Bello, MA. (2012). Random scenarios generation with minimun energy consumption model for sectoring optimization in pressurized irrigation networks using a simulated annealing approach. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 138(7):613-624. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000452S613624138

Comparative effects of aluminum and ouabain on synaptosomal choline uptake, acetylcholine release and (Na+/K+)ATPase

Closing the gap between adverse health effects of aluminum and its mechanisms of action still represents a huge challenge. Cholinergic dysfunction has been implicated in neuronal injury induced by aluminum. Previously reported data also indicate that in vivo and in vitro exposure to aluminum inhibits the mammalian (Na+/K+)ATPase, an ubiquitous plasma membrane pump. This study was undertaken with the specific aim of determining whether in vitro exposure to AlCl3 and ouabain, the foremost utilized selective inhibitor of (Na+/K+)ATPase, induce similar functional modifications of cholinergic presynaptic nerve terminals, by comparing their effects on choline uptake, acetylcholine release and (Na+/K+)ATPase activity, on subcellular fractions enriched in synaptic nerve endings isolated from rat brain, cuttlefish optic lobe and torpedo electric organ. Results obtained show that choline uptake by rat synaptosomes was inhibited by submillimolar AlCl3, whereas the amount of choline taken up by synaptosomes isolated from cuttlefish and torpedo remained unchanged. Conversely, choline uptake was reduced by ouabain to a large extent in all synaptosomal preparations analyzed. In contrast to ouabain, which modified the K+ depolarization evoked release of acetylcholine by rat, cuttlefish and torpedo synaptosomal fractions, AlCl3 induced reduction of stimulated acetylcholine release was only observed when rat synaptosomes were challenged. Finally, it was observed that the aluminum effect on cuttlefish and torpedo synaptosomal (Na+/K+)ATPase activity was slight when compared to its inhibitory action on mammalian (Na+/K+)ATPase. In conclusion, inhibition of (Na+/K+)ATPase by AlCl3 and ouabain jeopardized the high-affinity (Na+-dependent, hemicholinium-3 sensitive) uptake of choline and the Ca2+-dependent, K+ depolarization evoked release of acetylcholine by rat, cuttlefish and torpedo synaptosomal fractions. The effects of submillimolar AlCl3 On choline uptake and acetylcholine release only resembled those of ouabain when rat synaptosomes were assayed. Therefore, important differences were found between the species regarding the cholinotoxic action of aluminum. The variability of (Na+/K+)ATPase sensitivity to aluminum of cholinergic neurons might contribute to their differential susceptibility to this neurotoxic agent. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.FCTPOCTI/BSE/46721/2002SFRH/BPD/14677/2003SFRH/BD/1079/2000SFRH/BD/6403/2001SFRH/BD/18101/2004EC (to Y.D.)LIPIDIET - QLK1-CT-2002-0017