RRL: A Rich Representation Language for the Description of Agent Behaviour in NECA

In this paper, we describe the Rich Representation Language (RRL) which is used in the NECA system. The NECA system generates interactions between two or more animated characters. The RRL is a formal framework for representing the information that is exchanged at the interfaces between the various NECA system modules

Evaluation of Salmon (<i>Salmo salar</i>) and Rainbow Trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) pin bones using textural analysis and micro X-ray computational tomography

Industrially, common problems arise with the deboning pin bone process, where Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets, post rigor, are subjected to a pulling process to remove the pin bones from the fillet. This study measured the length of pin bones from two species of fish and two different industrial graded weights, and then used a texture analyser and lCT X-ray to measure the pulling force, break point and volume of the pin bones of both species of fish. Results showed that salmon pin bones required significantly higher pulling force to remove pin bones from the fish fillet when compared with Trout pin bones. Interestingly Trout pin bones were significantly longer and stronger than Salmon pin bones, but had significantly lower volume. This research has progressed the issues surrounding pin boning industrially, however, more studies are required in order to understand if these differences affect the overall deboning pin bone process

The effect of collagenase, water and calcium chloride on the removal of <i>Salmo salar</i> (salmon) and <i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i> (trout) pin bones

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the fillet structure on the deboning force required to remove salmon and trout pin bones. Salmon and trout fillets with differing fillet structure were used, in order to study the importance of the fillet structure on the deboning process. In the first test naturally gaping and non-gaping fillets were compared. To confirm the role that the collagen plays within the fillet structure, the fillets underwent series of treatments. Fillets were put into (i) a collagenase solution to remove the collagen in the fillet (ii) a calcium chloride solution to determine if collagen was the main influential factor. Both treated salmon and trout fillets were again compared to untreated fillets from the same batch. The results indicate that collagenase and calcium chloride have a large interaction on deboning force compared to water or no treatments

Existenz und Explosion

Les personnages de la pièce de Wolfram Lotz Einige Nachrichten an das All traitent de l’humanité en proie à la souffrance face à la connaissance philosophique, à la prise de conscience de la mort et à la déficience du langage. Toutefois, les personnages ne se limitent pas à une réflexion sur eux-mêmes, sur le sens de l’existence et le manque de cohérence entre le sens et la signification de toute chose, mais ils s’interrogent également sur leur propre existence en tant que personnages dramatiques, ainsi que sur la pièce dont ils sont les acteurs. Ainsi, n’étant toutefois qu’apparente, la désintégration de la pièce en ses différents éléments formels reflète l’interrogation de l’être sur l’absurdité et l’incohérence de l’existence en général. À partir du leitmotiv de l’explosion et de la « Explosionszeichnung », Lotz se sert du drame comme métaphore pour la vie en elle-même et s’interroge sur les éléments du contenu et de la forme, non pas en les détruisant, mais en montrant les problèmes qu’ils posent, en les isolant, les exposant et les dévoilant littéralement. En traitant ces structures traditionnelles telles que le langage, les personnages, l’action et les liens de causalité, la pièce Einige Nachrichten an das All n’est pas un texte postdramatique ou un texte « qui n’est plus dramatique », selon Hans-Thies Lehmann et Gerda Poschmann, mais c’est un texte qui va bien au-delà du « drame dramatique » selon Birgit Haas.Die Figuren in Wolfram Lotz’ Theatertext Einige Nachrichten an das All repräsentieren die an Erkenntnisfähigkeit, Todesbewusstsein und an der Unzulänglichkeit der Sprache leidende Menschheit. Sie räsonieren allerdings nicht nur über sich selbst, den Sinn des Daseins und den fehlenden ordnenden Sinn- und Bedeutungszusammenhang aller Dinge, sondern auch über ihre Existenz als dramatische Figuren und das Stück, dessen Bestandteile sie sind. Dabei spiegelt die nur vordergründige Auflösung des Theatertextes in seine formalen Einzelteile die inhaltliche Auseinandersetzung mit der Sinn- und Zusammenhanglosigkeit der Existenz im Allgemeinen. Ausgehend vom Leitmotiv der Explosion und der Explosionszeichnung nutzt Lotz das Drama als Metapher für das Leben selbst und hinterfragt die Komponenten von Inhalt und Form nicht etwa dadurch, dass er sie zerstört, sondern dass er sie in ihrer Funktion problematisiert, isoliert, ausstellt und geradezu bloßstellt. Im Umgang mit traditionellen Strukturmerkmalen wie Sprache, Figuren, Handlung und Kausalzusammenhang erweist sich Einige Nachrichten an das All gerade nicht als postdramatischer oder „nicht mehr dramatischer“ Theatertext nach Hans-Thies Lehmann und Gerda Poschmann, weist allerdings auch über das „dramatische Drama“ im Sinne von Birgit Haas hinaus.In Wolfram Lotz’ play Einige Nachrichten an das All the characters represent mankind which suffers from philosophical knowledge, awareness of death and the deficiency of language. But the characters are not only talking about themselves, the meaning of life and the missing structure of everything, they are also reflecting their existence as dramatic characters and the play they belong to. The ostensible disassembling of the play’s formal elements mirrors the content which deals with the lack of meaning, structure and context in general existence. According to the leitmotifs ‘explosion’ and ‘exploded drawing’ Lotz uses ‘drama’ as a metaphor for life and questions the elements of content and form not by destroying them but by showing their problems, by isolating and by exposing them. Dealing with traditional dramatic elements as language, character, plot and causality Einige Nachrichten an das All is not a postdramatic or “no longer dramatic” text according to Hans-Thies Lehmann or Gerda Poschmann, but is also more than a “dramatic drama” according to Birgit Haas

Achieving Competence-Based Curriculum In Engineering Education In Spain

5 tables, 5 figures, 26 pagesThe fact of placing competences and outcomes learning at the heart of the academic activity means overhauling the curricular architecture of higher education in Europe. Some universities have undergone important transformations moving toward a competence-based learning environment, while others maintain traditional curriculum packaged formats. In the realm of the European Higher Education Area, this paper examines the use of competence-based initiatives in curricular development for engineering degrees with special focus to the Spanish case. Although the concept of competence and competence-based learning have a long history in education and training research, these terms are still very diffuse and demand a clear conceptualization. In the first part of this paper, we provide a conceptual overview and a critical reflection of competences as implemented in a wide range of settings, including its origins, key concepts and definitions. Next, we discuss the purposes, principles, pitfalls, and processes that enable to define a map of competences within Engineering Education. Finally, we present a pilot project involving curriculum development and faculty enhancement within a competence-based learning initiative in Electronic Engineering

The QCD equation of state and the effects of the charm

We present an update on the QCD equation of state of the Wuppertal-Budapest Collaboration, extending our previous studies [JHEP 0601 (2006) 089, JHEP 1011 (2010) 077]. A Symanzik improved gauge and a stout-link improved staggered fermion action is utilized. We discuss partial quenching and present preliminary results for the fully dynamical charmed equation of state.Comment: Talk presented at the XXIX International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory, July 10-16, 2011, Lake Tahoe, Californi

MAPK phosphatase-1 represents a novel antiinflammatory target of glucocorticoids in the human endothelium

Glucocorticoids are well-established anti- inflammatory drugs thought to mainly act by inhibition of proinflammatory transcription factors like NF-κB. In recent years, however, transcription factorindependent mechanisms of glucocorticoid action have been proposed, namely the influence on MAPK pathways. Here we identify MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) as a pivotal mediator of the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids in the human endothelium. We applied dexamethasone (Dex) to TNF-α-activated human endothelial cells and used the adhesion molecule E-selectin as inflammatory read-out parameter. Dex is known to reduce the expression of E-selectin, which is largely regulated by NF-κB. Here, we communicate that Dex at low concentrations (1–100 nM) markedly attenuates E-selectin expression without affecting NF-κB. Importantly, Dex is able to increase the expression of MKP-1, which causes an inactivation of TNF-α-induced p38 MAPK and mediates inhibition of E-selectin expression. In endothelial MKP-1ˉ/ˉ cells differentiated from MKP-1ˉ/ˉ embryonic stem cells and in MKP-1-silenced human endothelial cells, Dex did not inhibit TNF-α-evoked E-selectin expression. Thus, our findings introduce MKP-1 as a novel and crucial mediator of the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids at low concentrations in the human endothelium and highlight MKP-1 as an important and promising antiinflammatory drug target

Towards a Multi-Agent Logistics and Commercial Transport Model: The Transport Service Provider's View

AbstractIt is widely recognized that micro-simulation and agent-based approaches can successfully be applied in transport policy analysis. However, logistic decisions and the complex relationships among freight actors make this a challenging task and a reason why the development of freight models is still behind the development of passenger models. In this paper, we present a multi-agent freight transport model in which logistics decisions are separated into two different roles: Transport service providers, which create transport chains, and carriers, which plan tours and schedule vehicles. Both agent types can consolidate on their respective level and realise economies of scale. The lowest tier of the model, which contains individual freight vehicles, is integrated into the MATSim traffic simulation to create an integrated model for freight and passenger traffic. Changes in passenger demand, disturbances in the traffic system or policy measures can be picked up by freight drivers and propagated upwards to influence decisions on the levels of vehicle scheduling and transport chain building. As proof of concept, we set up a scenario with a fictitious freight operator serving a set of customers. We demonstrate that freight traffic can be simulated under different traffic conditions and policy measures