Event-related brain potentials in the study of inhibition: cognitive control, source localization and age-related modulations

In the previous 15 years, a variety of experimental paradigms and methods have been employed to study inhibition. In the current review, we analyze studies that have used the high temporal resolution of the event-related potential (ERP) technique to identify the temporal course of inhibition to understand the various processes that contribute to inhibition. ERP studies with a focus on normal aging are specifically analyzed because they contribute to a deeper understanding of inhibition. Three time windows are proposed to organize the ERP data collected using inhibition paradigms: the 200 ms period following stimulus onset; the period between 200 and 400 ms after stimulus onset; and the period between 400 and 800 ms after stimulus onset. In the first 200 ms, ERP inhibition research has primarily focused on N1 and P1 as the ERP components associated with inhibition. The inhibitory processing in the second time window has been associated with the N2 and P3 ERP components. Finally, in the third time window, inhibition has primarily been associated with the N400 and N450 ERP components. Source localization studies are analyzed to examine the association between the inhibition processes that are indexed by the ERP components and their functional brain areas. Inhibition can be organized in a complex functional structure that is not constrained to a specific time point but, rather, extends its activity through different time windows. This review characterizes inhibition as a set of processes rather than a unitary process

Ibero-American Research on Local Development. An Analysis of Its Evolution and New Trends

Local development is a subject that arouses significant interest in the international scientific community in general, and in the Ibero-American one, in particular. The process of globalization has transformed the management of local development, altering the role that is played by local and regional entities, and it is the object of an important follow-up and analysis by academia. This research uses a bibliometric methodology and a fractional counting method, reviewing the 738 articles from the Scopus database in order to understand the state of Ibero-American research on local development, and analyze the scientific literature on the topic. The results show a significant increase in the number of publications in the 21st century, with Spain and Brazil leading the way. In addition, this research provides interesting results regarding the most influential authors on this topic, the most relevant journals, and the most important institutions and funding organizations. There are several areas of knowledge involved since local development is a transversal field, such as Social Science, environment, business, economics, and agriculture. A deep analysis of authors’ keywords identified new trends, linking local development with tourism, education, geotourism, climate change, local sustainable development, social innovation, and creativity, which provides academia with potential new lines of research

Case-based reasoning approach to adaptive web-based educational systems

Virtual learning environments systems are based on the classroom paradigm, in which the knowledge is transmitted for all the students in the same way.To enhance e-learning, adapting the contents to the needs of each student is essential, and a more personalized learning support is required. The adoption of pedagogical agents and new artificial intelligence methodologies can response to the needs of individual students and provide a more effective collaboration in virtual learning environments.The learning experience of each student can be adapted to others students with the same characteristics. The adaptation of past cases to solve new problems is one of the features of case-based reasoning methodology, which can provide an effective knowledge transmission, based on learning activities.In this paper, we present a case-based reasoning approach to Adaptive Web-based Educational Systems using fuzzy logic to adapt e-learning contents and contexts according to the student learning style and individual needs.- (undefined

The role of learning styles in intelligent tutoring systems

The Bologna Process changes the educational paradigm, to be focus on the student and in the learning outcomes. The majority of e-learning platforms are used as mere repositories of content, based on the classroom paradigm and don't support the individualism of each student learning process. Through the integration of new pedagogical methodologies based on students learning styles, we present an approach to intelligent tutoring systems in order to improve the learning process. This article is focused on the importance of learning styles to create the student model in intelligent tutoring systems and what was the student's feedback about the adaptation of the system to each learning experience.- (undefined

Caenorhabditis elegans longevity when fed with Bacillus subtilis mutants

Introduction: Diet has a strong influence on aging and lifespan. Thus, understanding the mechanisms by which diet influences lifespan has implications for age-related and diet-related diseases. Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful system to study the effects of diet on lifespan because it has a short life history, a simple anatomy and can be fed a variety of bacterial species and strains (1). In this project, we will use the nematode model C. elegans to uncover possible dietary factors that cause changes in the activation of diet-responsive genes. We will use a transgenic C. elegans strain that harbours a GFP promoter fusion to  acdh-1. This transgenic dietary sensor strain, when submitted to diet restriction (a treatment that extends lifespan (2)) has a reduced GFP expression (3). We will use Bacillus subtilis large deletion mutants of non essential genes as a food source to screen for factors that change the GFP expression in the sensor strain. This project will indicate which kinds of factors in the diet are important for lifespan. Methods: -Generate a transgenic worm carrying two fluorescent constructs: Pacdh-1::GFP to monitor diet sensing and Pdop-3::RFP to serve as standard for worm number normalization.-Perform high-throughput screening of the fluorescent C. elegans strain with B. subtillis deletion mutants.-If a significant variation of the diet sensor is found during the screening we will perform lifespan experiments to clarify if that diet affects the life history of the worm. If there is a noticeable change in lifespan a screen with single deletion mutants of that large deletion will be used to clarify which mutation is producing a change in life history.Results:-The fluorescent strain APS9 (vsIs33 [dop-3::RFP] ; wwIs24 [Pacdh-1::GFP + unc-119(+)]) was generated via sexual crossing of the strains VL749 x LX811. Heat shock treatment and RNAi of him-14 were used to increase male ratio.-We are currently screening the activity of Pacdh-1::GFP when C. elegans is feed with single strains of the library of 250 B. subitilis mutants.-Future milestones: lifespan experiments and single-deletion mutants screen.Conclusions: To be determined

Domus tutor: A CBR tutoring agent for student support

The changes introduced by the Bologna process in the educational paradigm, moving from a lecturer centered paradigm to a learner centered paradigm, involves a more supported learning process based on learning outcomes and the adoption of new pedagogical methodologies. In this paper we present our strategy of integration of tutoring agents in learning environments, using the features of intelligent tutoring systems adapted to collaborative environments. The Domus Tutor agent is the face of the adaptive learning environment that integrates Learning Design, groupware and collaborative work technologies. The adaptation of the system to the learner profile is based on case-based reasoning methodology; witch is one of the major reasoning paradigms in artificial intelligence.- (undefined