HeteroGenius: A Framework for Hybrid Analysis of Heterogeneous Software Specifications

Nowadays, software artifacts are ubiquitous in our lives being an essential part of home appliances, cars, cell phones, and even in more critical activities like aeronautics and health sciences. In this context software failures may produce enormous losses, either economical or, in the worst case, in human lives. Software analysis is an area in software engineering concerned with the application of diverse techniques in order to prove the absence of errors in software pieces. In many cases different analysis techniques are applied by following specific methodological combinations that ensure better results. These interactions between tools are usually carried out at the user level and it is not supported by the tools. In this work we present HeteroGenius, a framework conceived to develop tools that allow users to perform hybrid analysis of heterogeneous software specifications. HeteroGenius was designed prioritising the possibility of adding new specification languages and analysis tools and enabling a synergic relation of the techniques under a graphical interface satisfying several well-known usability enhancement criteria. As a case-study we implemented the functionality of Dynamite on top of HeteroGenius.Comment: In Proceedings LAFM 2013, arXiv:1401.056

Detection of Haplosporidium pinnae from Pinna nobilis Faeces

Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest bivalve endemic to the Mediterranean. It is distributed in a wide range of coastal environments, including estuaries. Pinna nobilis has recently become a critically endangered species (with almost 100% mortality) along the entire Spanish Mediterranean coast. This may be due to coinfections caused by Haplosporidium pinnae and bacterial pathogens such as Mycobacterium spp. We extensively sampled P. nobilis from Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain), a site where individuals still survive. Using conventional PCR, we found Haplosporidium spp. in 7.1% of mantle and faecal DNA samples in different individuals of P. nobilis. We identified and quantified Haplosporidium pinnae in P. nobilis using Sanger sequencing and qPCR. Faecal H. pinnae detection is non-invasive, unlike biopsies. Therefore, this non-lethal and non-invasive sampling method could contribute to the welfare of living populations, particularly in eutrophic environments, where they are prone to septicaemia. The use of faecal DNA analysis could be a major advance in epidemiology and recovery assessment studies of P. nobilis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Parallel Application of Matheuristics in Data Envelopment Analysis

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a non-parametric methodology for estimating technical efficiency and benchmarking. In general, it is desirable that DEA generates the efficient closest targets as benchmarks for each assessed unit. This may be achieved through the application of the Principle of Least Action. However, the mathematical models associated with this principle are based fundamentally on combinatorial NP-hard problems, difficult to be solved. For this reason, this paper uses a parallel matheuristic algorithm, where metaheuristics and exact methods work together to find optimal solutions. Several parallel schemes are used in the algorithm, being possible for them to be configured at different stages of the algorithm. The main intention is to divide the number of problems to be evaluated in equal groups, so that they are resolved in different threads. The DEA problems to be evaluated in this paper are independent of each other, an indispensable requirement for this algorithm. In addition, taking into account that the main algorithm uses exact methods to solve the mathematical problems, different optimization software has been evaluated to compare their performance when executed in parallel. The method is competitive with exact methods, obtaining fitness close to the optimum with low computational time.J. Aparicio and M. González thank the financial support from the Spanish ‘Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad’ (MINECO), the ‘Agencia Estatal de Investigacion’ and the ‘Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional’ under grant MTM2016-79765-P (AEI/FEDER, UE)

A parameterized scheme of metaheuristics with exact methods for determining the Principle of Least Action in Data Envelopment Analysis

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a nonparametric methodology for estimating technical efficiency of a set of Decision Making Units (DMUs) from a dataset of inputs and outputs. This paper is devoted to computational aspects of DEA models under the application of the Principle of Least Action. This principle guarantees that the efficient closest targets are determined as benchmarks for each assessed unit. Usually, these models have been addressed in the literature by applying unsatisfactory techniques, based fundamentally on combinatorial NPhard problems. Recently, some heuristics have been developed to partially solve these DEA models. This paper improves the heuristic methods used in previous works by applying a combination of metaheuristics and an exact method. Also, a parameterized scheme of metaheuristics is developed in order to implement metaheuristics and hybridations/combinations, adapting them to the particular problem proposed here. In this scheme, some parameters are used to study several types of metaheuristics, like Greedy Random Adaptative Search Procedure, Genetic Algorithms or Scatter Search. The exact method is included inside the metaheuristic to solve the particular model presented in this paper. A hyperheuristic is used on top of the parameterized scheme in order to search, in the space of metaheuristics, for metaheuristics that provide solutions close to the optimum. The method is competitive with exact methods, obtaining fitness close to the optimum with low computational timeJ. Aparicio and M. González thank the financial support from the Spanish ‘Ministerio de Economa, Industria y Competitividad’ (MINECO), the ‘Agencia Estatal de Investigacion’ and the ‘Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional’ under grant MTM2016-79765-P (AEI/FEDER, UE).Additionally, D. Giméenez thanks the financial support from the Spanish MINECO, as well as by European Commission FEDER funds, under grant TIN2015-66972-C5-3-R

Clasificación integrada de revistas científicas (CIRC): propuesta de categorización de las revistas en ciencias sociales y humanas

A proposal for a qualitative classification of scientific journals specialized in social sciences and humanities is presented. The main objective of CIRC (in Spanish, “Clasificación integrada de revistas científicas”) is to become a tool to obtain bibliometrics indicators for different levels of aggregation based on the quality of publications. The ranking is the result of consensus of experts in the field of bibliometrics and research evaluation. The resulting classification consists of four groups of journals (gA, gB, gC, gD) configured according to the visibility of the journals; a fifth group of excellence was created with the most relevant journals (gEx). To create groups and determine quality of the journals, various lists and databases referenced in Cneai and Aneca standards were used. Finally, we illustrate the use of CIRC applying it to the scientific production of the departments of Social sciences at the University of Granada

A New Type of Supramolecular Fluid Based on H₂O-Alkylammonium/Phosphonium Solutions

Here we show that by adjusting the concentration of tetrabutyl ammonium and phosphonium salts in water (approximate to 1.5-2.0 m), hydrophobic solvation triggers the formation of a unique, highly incompressible supramolecular liquid, with a dynamic structure similar to clathrates, involving essentially all H2O molecules of the solvent. Despite the increasing local order, the thermal diffusivity, and compressibility of these supramolecular liquids is strongly decreased with respect to bulk water due to slower relaxation dynamics. The results presented in this paper open an avenue to design a new family of supramolecular fluids, stable under atmospheric conditions, which can find important technological applications in energy storage and conversion

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: diagnosis and monitoring

Multiple sclerosis; Neurophysiological monitoring; Neuropsychological testsEsclerosi múltiple; Monitorització neurofisiològica; Proves neuropsicològiquesEsclerosis múltiple; Monitoreo neurofisiológico; Pruebas neuropsicológicasIntroduction Cognitive impairment (CI) has a prevalence of 45–70% in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), producing a negative impact on their quality of life, personal life, and work. Early detection of CI has become an important aspect to be considered for an adequate follow-up, to optimize social adaptation and to implement specific cognitive rehabilitation strategies. The aim of this work is to propose a suitable cognitive evaluation of patients with MS based on available and efficient tools for diagnosis and monitoring purposes well supported by literature review and clinical experience. Methods A multidisciplinary panel of professionals from the field of neurology, neuropsychology, and neuroimaging performed a literature review of the topic of cognitive impairment assessment. This was combined and completed with their clinical experience to produce a set of recommendations. Results Some limitations to cognitive evaluation are described: shortage of time and resources during the neurology consultation, scarceness or absence of specialized professionals’ availability, importance of tests adaptation, and doubts about its use to define therapeutic efficiency. We recommend a baseline and annual screening evaluation, and we suggest a baseline and periodic neuropsychological assessment. The latter ought to change to a recommendation with the presence of either positive screening test, or subjective to cognitive complaints, screening-test results and patient or family report mismatch, or in specific social/work situations. Conclusions Cognitive evaluation should be performed on all patients diagnosed with MS and throughout follow-up. It is necessary to support the creation of multidisciplinary MS teams to optimize the evaluation and follow-up of MS patients

FreatChaco: Red Colaborativa de Monitoreo de la napa freática del sudoeste de Chaco

El presente trabajo presenta una red de monitoreo freático colaborativa, basada en el uso de una planilla de cálculo compartida (Google sheets) y de aplicaciones web sencillas (Shiny de R studio), para facilitar la carga, intercambio y visualización en tiempo casi real de datos freáticos, pluviométricos y de manejo de los cultivos ingresados directamente por productores agrícolas del sudoeste de Chaco. La prueba de concepto fue exitosa, ya que para la campaña 2020/21 se generaron un total de 1312 registros de nivel freático medidos en 89 lotes de producción de 19 campos diferentes.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ