From simulation to development in MAS a JADE-based approach

Multi-agent systems (MAS) present an effective approach to the efficient development of modular systemscomposed of interacting agents. Several frameworks exist that aid the development of MAS, but they areoften not very appropriate for some kind of uses, such as for Multi-Agent-based Simulation (MABS). Otherframeworks exist for running simulations, sharing little with the former. While open agent-based applicationsbenefit from adopting development and interaction standards, such as those proposed by FIPA, mostMABS frameworks do not support them. In this paper we propose an approach to bridge the gap betweenthe development and simulation of MAS, by putting forward two complementary tools. The Simple API forJADE-based Simulations (SAJaS) enhances MABS frameworks with JADE-based features, and the MAS Simulationto Development (MASSim2Dev) tool allows the automatic conversion of a SAJaS-based simulationinto a JADE MAS, and vice-versa. Repast Simphony was used as the base MABS framework. Our proposalprovides increased simulation performance while enabling JADE programmers to quickly develop their simulationmodels using familiar concepts. Validation tests demonstrate the significant performance gain in usingSAJaS with Repast Simphony when compared with JADE and show that using MASSim2Dev preserves theoriginal functionality of the system

Near-infrared spectroscopy for the detection and quantification of bacterial contaminations in pharmaceutical products

Accurate detection and quantification of microbiological contaminations remains an issue mainly due the lack of rapid and precise analytical techniques. Standard methods are expensive and time-consuming being associated to high economic losses and public health threats. In the context of pharmaceutical industry, the development of fast analytical techniques able to overcome these limitations is crucial and spectroscopic techniques might constitute a reliable alternative. In this work we proved the ability of Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) to detect and quantify bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus epidermidis) from 10-108 CFUs/mL in sterile saline solutions (NaCl 0.9%). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) models showed that FT-NIRS was able to discriminate between sterile and contaminated solutions for all bacteria as well as to identify contaminant bacteria. Partial least squares (PLS) models allowed bacterial quantification with limits of detection ranging from 5.1 to 9CFU/mL for E. coli and B. subtilis, respectively. This methodology was successfully validated in three pharmaceutical preparations (contact lens solution, cough syrup and topic anti-inflammatory solution) proving that this technique possess a high potential to be routinely used for the detection and quantification of bacterial contaminations.This work was funded by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) under the project UID/QUI/50006/2013. The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project "BioInd-Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes", REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON. 2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. Daniela Mesquita (SFRH/BPD/82558/2011) and Cristina Quintelas were funded by post-doctoral grants from FCT and ON.2. Clara Sousa was funded by a CIENCIA2008 contract from FCT

Identifying a quick and efficient method of removing organic matter without damaging microplastic samples

Natural organic matter may confound the detection of microplastics, requiring a removal step. However, most available protocols are long and lack information on removal efficiency and polymer degradation. Thus, we have determined the digestion efficiency (%) for a pool of organic matter (algae, driftwood, feathers, fish muscle, paraffin, palm oil) for five digestion solutions, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydrogen peroxide with iron catalyst (H2O2 + Fe), potassium hydroxide (KOH), nitric acid (HNO3), and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), under two temperatures (room temperature at 25 °C, 50 °C) and two periods (1, 6 h). H2O2 + Fe and KOH at 50 °C for 1 h had the highest digestion efficiencies, of 65.9% and 58.3% respectively (mostly limited by driftwood and paraffin). Further testing revealed that H2O2 + Fe is more appropriate for plant material and KOH for animal tissue. Weight loss (%), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and carbonyl index of 9 virgin and 6 weathered polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, nylon) revealed that only identification of cellulose acetate was hindered. Filters were also tested revealing that quartz and glass fibre filters are resistant to these protocols. Thus, a digestion protocol based on H2O2 + Fe or KOH at 50 °C for 1 h may be used on microplastic samples.publishe

Development of a UV/Vis spectrophotometric method for analysis of total polyphenols from Caesalpinia peltophoroides Benth

Caesalpinia peltophoroides is a domesticated tree found in Brazil. It was necessary to develop an analytical method to determine the content of total polyphenols (TP) in this herbal drug. The pre-analytical method was standardized for analysis time, wavelength, and the best standard to use. The optimum conditions were: pyrogallol, 760 nm, and 30 min respectively. Under these conditions, validation by UV/Vis spectrophotometry proved to be reliable for TP of the crude extract and semipurified fractions from C. peltophoroides. Standardization is required for every herbal drug, and this method proved to be linear, precise, accurate, reproducible, robust, and easy to perform

Synthesis of fluorescent tetracyclic lactams by a “one pot” three steps palladium-catalyzed borylation, Suzuki coupling (BSC) and lactamization. DNA and polynucleotides binding studies

Tetracyclic lactams (benzothieno[2,3-c]quinolones) were prepared by “one pot” three steps palladium-catalyzed borylation, Suzuki coupling (BSC) and lactamization, starting from ortho-haloanilines and alkyl 3-bromobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylates. The former were used as the components to be borylated with pinacolborane, and the latter as the brominated component in the Suzuki coupling. The amidation occurred with loss of the alkyl alcohol, presumably in the Suzuki coupling product, giving the corresponding tetracyclic lactam. This constitutes a novel application of the BSC reaction using sterically hindered substrates. In this work studies of absorption and fluorescence in several solvents and in presence of salmon sperm DNA or synthetic double stranded (ds) heteropolynucleotides, poly(dA-dT)•(dA-dT) and poly(dG-dC)•(dG-dC), were performed. The binding constants values (Ki = 2.6x10^5- 4.5x10^5 M^-1) point to a high affinity of the lactams to DNA. It was shown that the intercalation is the prefered mode of binding and that the substituted new lactams (with F or OMe) exhibit a higher affinity for A-T regions. Quenching experiments with iodide show that the methoxylated lactam is the more intercalative in DNA. The same type of experiments using this compound bound to heteropolynucleotides show a very low accessibility (fa = 0.07) of the lactam in poly(dG-dC)•(dG-dC) to the quencher showing a large majority of intercalative binding while the high affinity for A-T regions together with a higher accessiblity (fa = 0.25) point to the possiblity of intercalative and groove binding.Foundation for the Science and Technology (Portugal) and FEDER for financial support through a research project POCI/QUI/59407/2004 and through Centro de Química and Centro de Física of Univ. Minho

Low Serum Levels of DKK2 Predict Incident Low-Impact Fracture in Older Women

There are currently no robust noninvasive markers of fragility fractures. Secreted frizzled related protein-1 (sFRP-1), dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) and DKK2, and sclerostin (SOST) inhibit Wnt signaling and interfere with osteoblast-mediated bone formation. We evaluated associations of serum levels of sFRP-1, DKK1, DKK2, and SOST with incident low-impact fracture and BMD in 828 women aged ≥65 years from EpiDoC, a longitudinal population-based cohort. A structured questionnaire during a baseline clinical appointment assessed prevalent fragility fractures and clinical risk factors (CRFs) for fracture. Blood was collected to measure serum levels of bone turnover markers and Wnt regulators. Lumbar spine and hip BMD were determined by DXA scanning. Follow-up assessment was performed through a phone interview; incident fragility fracture was defined by any new self-reported low-impact fracture. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze fracture risk adjusted for CRFs and BMD. During a mean follow-up of 2.3 ± 1.0 years, 62 low-impact fractures were sustained in 58 women. A low serum DKK2 level (per 1 SD decrease) was associated with a 1.5-fold increase in fracture risk independently of BMD and CRFs. Women in the two lowest DKK2 quartiles had a fracture incidence rate of 32 per 1000 person-years, whereas women in the two highest quartiles had 14 fragility fractures per 1000 person-years. A high serum sFRP1 level was associated with a 1.6-fold increase in fracture risk adjusted for CRFs, but not independently of BMD. Serum levels of SOST (r = 0.191; p = 0.0025) and DKK1(r = -0.1725; p = 0.011) were correlated with hip BMD, but not with incident fragility fracture. These results indicate that serum DKK2 and sFRP1 may predict low-impact fracture. The low number of incident fractures recorded is a limitation and serum levels of Wnt regulators should be further studied in other populations as potential noninvasive markers of fragility fractures. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.publishersversionpublishe

Нейросекреторная активность супраоптического ядра переднего гипоталамуса кроликов под действием транскутанной электростимуляции зрительного анализатора

На 8 кролях породи Метелик вивчали вплив непрямої черезшкірної електростимуляції зорового аналізатора на нейросекреторну активність магноцелюлярних клітин супраоптичного ядра переднього гіпоталамусу. На мікропрепаратах інтактних тварин переважали нейрони II морфофункціонального типу, що перебувають у стадії синтезу нейросекрету. Показано, що за дії электростимуляції спостерігається перерозподіл головних морфо-функціональних типів нейронів. Відзначено збільшення змісту клітин I й III типів, відповідно у стадіях спокою після виведення секрету й накопичення, що вказує на активацію процесів звільнення нейросекрету і його акумуляції. Виразність реакції нервової тканини однакова при силі стимулюючого струму 100 мкА й 300 мкА.The influence of indirect through-skin electrostimulation (different doses) of the optical analyser on neurosecretory activity of anterior hypothalamus magnocellular nucleus was stading during chronic experiment. The stady was carried out on rabbits. Five morphological types of neurons was exposed in the supraoptical nucleus of control animal groop: I type- phase of rest after neurosecrets leading, II- phase of synthesis, III- phase of accumulation, IV - leading phase, V - phase of degerneration, but neurons of II types was prevalenced (51%). The indirect electrostimulation of the optical analyser provokes quantitative changes of keeping same neurons types. The number of I and III types neurons increases (on 20% and 7%) . The kind of changes is indicative of electrostimulation activation influense on neurosecrets leading and accumulation. Expression of nervous tissue reaction was identical under different doses (100 mkA and 300 mkA) of afferent electrostimulation