GAMES: A new Scenario for Software and Knowledge Reuse

Games are a well-known test bed for testing search algorithms and learning methods, and many authors have presented numerous reasons for the research in this area. Nevertheless, they have not received the attention they deserve as software projects. In this paper, we analyze the applicability of software and knowledge reuse in the games domain. In spite of the need to find a good evaluation function, search algorithms and interface design can be said to be the primary concerns. In addition, we will discuss the current state of the main statistical learning methods and how they can be addressed from a software engineering point of view. So, this paper proposes a reliable environment and adequate tools, necessary in order to achieve high levels of reuse in the games domain

MS-222 toxicity in juvenile seabream correlates with diurnal activity, as measured by a novel video-tracking method

©2010. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Accepted version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Aquaculture. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.06.028Fish are frequently exposed to anaesthetics since their use is necessary in several aquaculture procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of day night differences in toxicity and effectiveness of a common fish anaesthetic (MS-222) in juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), determining the induction time of anaesthesia and subsequent recovery by a novel video-recording system. Our results showed that MS-222 toxicity was significantly higher at ML (mid-light) (LC50=85.5 mg/L) than at MD (mid-darkness) (LC50=107.6 mg/L) (trimmed Spearman-Karber method). In addition, when fish were exposed to a sublethal but effective MS-222 concentration (65 mg/L), 7 min passed before 50% a reduction in swimming activity was observed at ML compared to the 9 min required at MD. As regards recovery, fish showed activity levels similar to basal levels 10 min after MS-222 removal at ML, but only 6 min at MD. These results indicated that both toxicity and effectiveness were higher during the day than at night, coinciding with the diurnal activity pattern displayed by seabream, which should be taken into account when designing and applying daily protocols for anaesthesia in aquacultur

Modelling of continuous elastic systems by using the Finite Element Method

Propagation of mechanical waves in unidimensional systems is a fundamental part of physics, necessary for learning subjects such as acoustics and vibrations. The vibration of transverse waves in strings is the easiest case of elastic system. Usually, this is the first continuous elastic system in which students apply fundamental mathematical concepts as vibration mode, equation of motion and boundary condition. In this work the use of simulation methods is proposed to reinforce the understanding of vibratory and acoustic simple phenomena. This will be applied to the case of a string, a beam and a membrane of  finite length with different physical characteristics and boundary conditions

Modelling of continuous elastic systems byusing the Finite Element Method

[EN] Propagation of mechanical waves in unidimensional systems is a fundamental part of physics, necessaryfor learning subjects such as acoustics and vibrations. The vibration of transverse waves in strings isthe easiest case of elastic system. Usually, this is the rst continuous elastic system in which studentsapply fundamental mathematical concepts as vibration mode, equation of motion and boundary condition.In this work the use of simulation methods is proposed to reinforce the understanding of vibratory andacoustic simple phenomena. This will be applied to the case of a string, a beam and a membrane of nitelength with di erent physical characteristics and boundary condition[ES] La propagación de ondas mecánicas en sistemas unidimensionales es una parte fundamental de la física, necesaria para el aprendizaje de asignaturas como acústica y vibraciones. La vibración de ondas transversales en cuerdas es el caso más sencillo de sistema elástico. Habitualmente, este es el primer sistema elástico continuo en el cual los alumnos aplican conceptos matemáticos fundamentales como modo de vibración, ecuación de movimiento y condición de contorno. En este trabajo se propone el uso de los métodos de simulación para reforzar la comprensión de fenómenos simples en acústica y vibraciones. Lo aplicaremos a los casos de cuerda vibrante, barras y membranas de longitud finita con diferentes características físicas y condiciones de contornoHerrero-Durá, I.; Picó, R.; Sánchez-Morcillo, V.; Garcia-Raffi, L. (2017). Modelización de sistemas elásticos continuos mediante el Método de Elementos Finitos. Modelling in Science Education and Learning. 10(2):193-202. doi:10.4995/msel.2017.7659SWORD193202102Giere, R. N. (1988). Explaining Science. doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226292038.001.0001Gilbert, S. W. (1991). Model building and a definition of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 28(1), 73-79. doi:10.1002/tea.3660280107Tomasi, J. (1988). Models and modeling in theoretical chemistry. Journal of Molecular Structure: THEOCHEM, 179(1), 273-292. doi:10.1016/0166-1280(88)80128-3Gobert, J. D., & Buckley, B. C. (2000). Introduction to model-based teaching and learning in science education. International Journal of Science Education, 22(9), 891-894. doi:10.1080/095006900416839Gilbert, J. K. (2004). Models and Modelling: Routes to More Authentic Science Education. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 2(2), 115-130. doi:10.1007/s10763-004-3186-4Kinzl, M., Schwiedrzik, J., Zysset, P. K., & Pahr, D. H. (2013). An experimentally validated finite element method for augmented vertebral bodies. Clinical Biomechanics, 28(1), 15-22. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2012.09.008Kabir, K. M. M., Matthews, G. I., Sabri, Y. M., Russo, S. P., Ippolito, S. J., & Bhargava, S. K. (2016). Development and experimental verification of a finite element method for accurate analysis of a surface acoustic wave device. Smart Materials and Structures, 25(3), 035040. doi:10.1088/0964-1726/25/3/035040Yu, C.-C., Chu, J. P., Jia, H., Shen, Y.-L., Gao, Y., Liaw, P. K., & Yokoyama, Y. (2017). Influence of thin-film metallic glass coating on fatigue behavior of bulk metallic glass: Experiments and finite element modeling. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 692, 146-155. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2017.03.071Oladejo K.A., Abu R. and Adewale M.D. (2012). Effective Modeling and Simulation of Engineering Problems with COMSOL Multiphysics. International Journal of Science and Technology 2(10), 742-748.Kinsler L.E., Frey A.R., Coppens A.B. and Sanders J.V. (2000). Fundamentals of Acoustics (4th ed.). United States of America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Influence of light intensity on plasma melatonin and locomotor activity rhythms in tench

©2005. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Accepted version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Chronobiology International: The Journal of Biological and Medical Rhythm Research.Melatonin production by the pineal organ is influenced by light intensity, as has been described in most vertebrate species, in which melatonin is considered a synchronizer of circadian rhythms. In the case of tench, strict nocturnal activity rhythms have been described although the role of melatonin has not been clarified. In this study we investigated daily activity and melatonin rhythms under 12:12 light-dark (LD) conditions with two different light intensities (58.6 and 1091µW/cm2 ), and the effect of one hour broad spectrum white light pulses of different intensities (3.3, 5.3, 10.5, 1091.4 µW/cm2 ) applied at mid darkness (MD) on nocturnal circulating melatonin. The results showed that plasma melatonin in tench under LD 12:12 and high light conditions displayed a rhythmic variation, where values at MD (255.8 ± 65.9 pg/ml) were higher than at mid light (ML) (70.7 ± 31.9 pg/ml). Such a difference between MD and ML values was reduced in animals exposed to LD 12:12 and low light intensity. The application of one hour light pulses at MD lowered plasma melatonin to 111.6 ± 3.2 pg/ml (in the 3.3-10.5 µW/cm2 range) and to 61.8 ± 18.3 pg/ml (with the 1091.4 µW/cm2 light pulse) and totally suppressed nocturnal locomotor activity. These results showed that melatonin rhythms persisted in tench exposed to low light intensity although the amplitude of the rhythm is affected. In addition, it was observed that light pulses applied at MD affected plasma melatonin content and locomotor activity. Such a low threshold suggests that the melatonin system is capable of transducing light even under dim conditions, which may be used by this nocturnal fish to synchronize to weak night light signals (e.g. moonlight cycles

Feeding entrainment of locomotor activity rhythms, digestive enzymes and neuroendocrine factors in goldfish

©2007. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Accepted version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of PHYSIOL BEHAV. To access the final edited and published work see http://doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.10.017L.M. VERA, N. DE PEDRO, E. GÓMEZ-MILÁN, M.J. DELGADO, M.J. SÁNCHEZ MUROS, J.A. MADRID, F.J. SÁNCHEZ-VÁZQUEZ. Feeding entrainment of locomotor activity, digestive enzymes and neuroendocrine factors in goldfish. PHYSIOL BEHAV 90 (2-3) 518-524, 2007. The existence of food anticipatory activity (FAA) in animals subjected to daily feeding schedules seems to be mediated by a feeding-entrainable oscillator (FEO). Such an FEO may help in anticipating meal time and so optimizing food acquisition and nutrient utilization. In this study we investigated the existence of FAA and whether digestive enzymes, plasma cortisol, hypothalamic NPY and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and plasma melatonin were entrained by periodic feeding in goldfish. We observed that periodically fed goldfish showed FAA in locomotor activity as well as in amylase and NPY. Alkaline protease and GIT melatonin were higher after feeding, whereas plasma cortisol levels were reduced. Plasma melatonin remained unmodified before and after meal time. These results suggested that scheduled feeding entrained both behavioral and certain physiological patterns in goldfish, FAA being of adaptive value to anticipate a meal and prepare the digestive physiology of fish

Circulation of an object immersed in a bubbling fluidized bed

The motion of a large object in a bubbling fluidized bed was experimentally studied using digital image analysis (DIA). The experiments were performed in a 2 D bubbling fluidized bed with glass spheres as bed material. The object motion was measured using non intrusive tracking techniques, while independent measurements of the dense phase velocity (using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)) and bubble velocity (using DIA) were carried out. The effect of the dimensionless gas velocity on the object motion was also analyzed. This work characterizes the circulation patterns of an object with a density similar to that of the bed, but much larger in size. Object size and density remained constant throughout the experiments. A comparison between the motion of sinking objects and the motion of the dense phase provided evidence of the feeble effect of buoyant forces on the motion of sinking objects. In contrast, the motion of rising objects is linked to the motion of bubbles. It was found that objects may be raised to the surface of the bed either by the action of a single bubble (one jump) or by several passing bubbles (multiple jumps). Based on these results, the circulation time of objects throughout the bed is a function of two parameters: the maximumdepth attained by an object and the number of jumps during its rising path. This relationship is presented along and the multiple jumps phenomenon is studied in detail. Finally, an estimate of the circulation time of an object based on semi empirical expressions is presented for different dimensionless gas velocities. The probability density function of the circulation time shows two different modes as the object was less prone to be raised atmoderate depths. The estimate of the circulation time was found to be in good agreement with our experimental dataThis work has been partially supported by the National Energy Program of the Spanish Department of Science and Education (ENE2006-01401) and the Madrid Community (CCG07-uc3m/amb-3412 andCCG08-uc3m/amb-4227)Publicad

Influence of dose and route of administration on the outcome of infection with the virulent Neospora caninum isolate Nc-Spain7 in pregnant sheep at mid-gestation

Experimental infections in pregnant sheep have been focused on studying the effect of the time of challenge on the outcome of N. caninum infection, whereas the impact of the dose and route of challenge has not been studied in depth. Therefore, clinical outcome, immune responses, parasite detection and burden, and lesion severity in placental tissues and foetal brains were investigated in 90-day-pregnant sheep inoculated intravenously with 105 (G1), 104 (G2), 103 (G3), or 102 (G4) tachyzoites or subcutaneously with 104 (G5) tachyzoites of the virulent Nc-Spain7 isolate and an uninfected group (G6). Comparing challenge doses, G1 was the only group that had 100% abortion. Likewise, IFN¿ levels in G1 increased earlier than those in other intravenously infected groups, and IgG levels on day 21 post-infection (pi) were higher in G1 than those in other intravenously infected groups. Concerning vertical transmission, G1 shows a higher parasite burden in the foetal brain than did G2 and G3. Comparing routes of administration, no differences in foetal survival rate or parasite load in the foetal brain were found. Although G2 had higher IFN¿ levels than G5 on day 10 pi, no differences were found in humoral immune responses. Because the outcome after intravenous infection with 105 tachyzoites was similar to that observed after intravenous infection with 106 tachyzoites used in a previous work (100% abortion and vertical transmission), we conclude that it may be reasonable to use 105 tachyzoites administered by the intravenous route in further experiments when assessing drugs or vaccine candidates