LWA 2013. Lernen, Wissen & Adaptivität ; Workshop Proceedings Bamberg, 7.-9. October 2013

LWA Workshop Proceedings: LWA stands for "Lernen, Wissen, Adaption" (Learning, Knowledge, Adaptation). It is the joint forum of four special interest groups of the German Computer Science Society (GI). Following the tradition of the last years, LWA provides a joint forum for experienced and for young researchers, to bring insights to recent trends, technologies and applications, and to promote interaction among the SIGs

On the multi-agent stochastic simulation of occupants in buildings

This paper introduces a new general platform for the simulation of occupants' presence and behaviours. Called No-MASS (Nottingham Multi-Agent Stochastic Simulation), this generates a synthetic population of agents, predicts their presence and, in the case of residences also their activities and inferred locations, as well as their use of windows, lights and blinds. Using the Functional Mockup Interface, No-MASS is coupled with EnergyPlus: EnergyPlus parses environmental parameters to No-MASS which in turn parses back the energetic consequences of agents' behaviours. After describing the architecture of No-MASS and the form of the integrated models, we demonstrate its utility through two use cases: a house and an office. We close by outlining how No-MASS has been extended to more comprehensively simulate the behaviours of agents occupying multiple buildings, including behaviours for which data is scarce, social interactions between agents, and a generalization of No-MASS to simulate electrical devices and their interactions

Una mirada simbólica la color. Reflexiones sobre fobias y filias en el mundo occidental

El color es un componente esencial de los códigos sociales, cargado de significados pertenecientes a la memoria colectiva. Este signo, con alta injerencia connotativa y elevado valor significativo en la imagen, es el resultado de la construcción de un lenguaje simbólico que posee sus propias leyes y reglas de funcionamiento. Los colores han sido un referente para la expresión del pensamiento a través del discurso visual, a la vez que su inmediatez para transmitir el mensaje los ha hecho ser considerados en determinados momentos un factor de amenaza latente. En este artículo se analizan aspectos relativos al papel jugado por el color en el campo del arte y se exponen las causas por las cuales este elemento ha sido objeto de rechazo en unas épocas y de exaltación en otras, posibilitando en ambos casos la transmisión de múltiples mensajes

A Framework for Developing the Structure of Public Health Economic Models

Background: A conceptual modeling framework is a methodology that assists modelers through the process of developing a model structure. Public health interventions tend to operate in dynamically complex systems. Modeling public health interventions requires broader considerations than clinical ones. Inappropriately simple models may lead to poor validity and credibility, resulting in suboptimal allocation of resources. Objective: This article presents the first conceptual modeling framework for public health economic evaluation. Methods: The framework presented here was informed by literature reviews of the key challenges in public health economic modeling and existing conceptual modeling frameworks; qualitative research to understand the experiences of modelers when developing public health economic models; and piloting a draft version of the framework. Results: The conceptual modeling framework comprises four key principles of good practice and a proposed methodology. The key principles are that 1) a systems approach to modeling should be taken; 2) a documented understanding of the problem is imperative before and alongside developing and justifying the model structure; 3) strong communication with stakeholders and members of the team throughout model development is essential; and 4) a systematic consideration of the determinants of health is central to identifying the key impacts of public health interventions. The methodology consists of four phases: phase A, aligning the framework with the decision-making process; phase B, identifying relevant stakeholders; phase C, understanding the problem; and phase D, developing and justifying the model structure. Key areas for further research involve evaluation of the framework in diverse case studies and the development of methods for modeling individual and social behavior. Conclusions: This approach could improve the quality of Public Health economic models, supporting efficient allocation of scarce resources

Pre-segmented 2-Step IMRT with subsequent direct machine parameter optimisation – a planning study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Modern intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) mostly uses iterative optimisation methods. The integration of machine parameters into the optimisation process of step and shoot leaf positions has been shown to be successful. For IMRT segmentation algorithms based on the analysis of the geometrical structure of the planning target volumes (PTV) and the organs at risk (OAR), the potential of such procedures has not yet been fully explored. In this work, 2-Step IMRT was combined with subsequent direct machine parameter optimisation (DMPO-Raysearch Laboratories, Sweden) to investigate this potential.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a planning study DMPO on a commercial planning system was compared with manual primary 2-Step IMRT segment generation followed by DMPO optimisation. 15 clinical cases and the ESTRO Quasimodo phantom were employed. Both the same number of optimisation steps and the same set of objective values were used. The plans were compared with a clinical DMPO reference plan and a traditional IMRT plan based on fluence optimisation and consequent segmentation. The composite objective value (the weighted sum of quadratic deviations of the objective values and the related points in the dose volume histogram) was used as a measure for the plan quality. Additionally, a more extended set of parameters was used for the breast cases to compare the plans.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The plans with segments pre-defined with 2-Step IMRT were slightly superior to DMPO alone in the majority of cases. The composite objective value tended to be even lower for a smaller number of segments. The total number of monitor units was slightly higher than for the DMPO-plans. Traditional IMRT fluence optimisation with subsequent segmentation could not compete.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>2-Step IMRT segmentation is suitable as starting point for further DMPO optimisation and, in general, results in less complex plans which are equal or superior to plans generated by DMPO alone.</p

Conservation of thermospermine synthase activity in vascular and non-vascular plants

[EN] In plants, the only confirmed function for thermospermine is regulating xylem cells maturation. However, genes putatively encoding thermospermine synthases have been identified in the genomes of both vascular and non-vascular plants. Here, we verify the activity of the thermospermine synthase genes and the presence of thermospermine in vascular and non-vascular land plants as well as in the aquatic plant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In addition, we provide information about differential content of thermospermine in diverse organs at different developmental stages in some vascular species that suggest that, although the major role of thermospermine in vascular plants is likely to be xylem development, other potential roles in development and/or responses to stress conditions could be associated to such polyamine. In summary, our results in vascular and non-vascular species indicate that the capacity to synthesize thermospermine is conserved throughout the entire plant kingdom.This work in the laboratories was funded by grants BFU2016-80621-P and BIO2016-79147-R of the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness. AS-G and JH-G are recipients of Fellowships of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities BES-2017-080387 and of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport FPU15/01756, respectively. JA holds a Ramón y Cajal Contract RYC-2014-15752.Solé-Gil, A.; Hernández-García, J.; López-Gresa, MP.; Blazquez Rodriguez, MA.; Agusti Feliu, J. (2019). Conservation of thermospermine synthase activity in vascular and non-vascular plants. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10:1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00663S11010Ashton, N. W., & Cove, D. J. (1977). 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