SKYWare: The Unavoidable Convergence of Software towards Runnable Knowledge

There Has Been A Growing Awareness Of Deep Relations Between Software And Knowledge. Software, From An Efficiency Oriented Way To Program Computing Machines, Gradually Converged To Human Oriented Runnable Knowledge. Apparently This Has Happened Unintentionally, But Knowledge Is Not Incidental To Software. The Basic Thesis: Runnable Knowledge Is The Essence Of Abstract Software. A Knowledge Distillation Procedure Is Offered As A Constructive Feasibility Proof Of The Thesis. A Formal Basis Is Given For These Notions. Runnable Knowledge Is Substantiated In The Association Of Semantic Structural Models (Like Ontologies) With Formal Behavioral Models (Like Uml Statecharts). Meaning Functions Are Defined For Ontologies In Terms Of Concept Densities. Examples Are Provided To Concretely Clarify The Meaning And Implications Of Knowledge Runnability. The Paper Concludes With The Runnable Knowledge Convergence Point: Skyware, A New Term Designating The Domain In Which Content Meaning Is Completely Independent Of Any Underlying Machine

Genetic algorithms: a practical approach to generate textual patterns for requirements authoring

The writing of accurate requirements is a critical factor in assuring the success of a project. Text patterns are knowledge artifacts that are used as templates to guide engineers in the requirements authoring process. However, generating a text pattern set for a particular domain is a time-consuming and costly activity that must be carried out by specialists. This research proposes a method of automatically generating text patterns from an initial corpus of high-quality requirements, using genetic algorithms and a separate-and-conquer strategy to create a complete set of patterns. Our results show this method can generate a valid pattern set suitable for requirements authoring, outperforming existing methods by 233%, with requirements ratio values of 2.87 matched per pattern found; as opposed to 1.23 using alternative methods

Enabling system artefact exchange and selection through a linked data layer

The use of different techniques and tools is a common practice to cover all stages in the systems development lifecycle, generating a very good number of system artefacts. Moreover, these artefacts are commonly encoded in different formats and can only be accessed, in most cases, through proprietary and non-standard protocols. This scenario can be considered a real nightmare for software or systems reuse. Possible solutions imply the creation of a real collaborative development environment where tools can exchange and share data, information and knowledge. In this context, the OSLC (Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration) initiative pursues the creation of public specifications (data shapes) to exchange any artefact generated during the development lifecycle, by applying the principles of the Linked Data initiative. In this paper, the authors present a solution to provide a real multi-format system artefact reuse by means of an OSLC-based specification to share and exchange any artefact under the principles of the Linked Data initiative. Finally, two experiments are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of enabling an input/output interface based on an OSLC implementation on top of an existing commercial tool (the Knowledge Manager). Thus, it is possible to enhance the representation and retrieval capabilities of system artefacts by considering the whole underlying knowledge graph generated by the different system artefacts and their relationships. After performing 45 different queries over logical and physical models stored in Papyrus, IBM Rhapsody and Simulink, results of precision and recall are promising showing average values between 70-80%.The research leading to these results has received funding from the AMASS project (H2020-ECSEL grant agreement no 692474; Spain's MINECO ref. PCIN-2015-262) and the CRYSTAL project (ARTEMIS FP7-CRitical sYSTem engineering AcceLeration project no 332830-CRYSTAL and the Spanish Ministry of Industry)

Photovoltaic Glass Waste Recycling in the Development of Glass Substrates for Photovoltaic Applications

Because of the increasing demand for photovoltaic energy and the generation of end-of-life photovoltaic waste forecast, the feasibility to produce glass substrates for photovoltaic application by recycling photovoltaic glass waste (PVWG) material was analyzed. PVWG was recovered from photovoltaic house roof panels for developing windows glass substrates; PVWG was used as the main material mixed with other industrial waste materials (wSG). The glass was casted by air quenching, annealed, and polished to obtain transparent substrates samples. Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) was deposited as back contact on the glass substrates by spray pyrolysis. The chemical composition of the glass materials was evaluated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), the thermal stability was measured by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the transmittance was determined by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The surface of the glass substrates and the deposited FTO were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the amorphous or crystalline state of the specimens were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the sheet resistance was evaluated by the four-point probe method. The sheet resistance of the deposited FTO on the wSG substrate was 7.84 ± 3.11 Ω/, lower than that deposited on commercial soda-lime glass (8.48 ± 3.67 Ω/), meaning that this material could present improved conduction of the produced electrons by the photovoltaic effect. This process may represent an alternative to produce glass substrates from waste materials that could be destined for photovoltaic applications, especially the production of ecological photovoltaic windows

In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of the Efficacy of Bromoageliferin, an Alkaloid Isolated from the Sponge Agelas dilatata, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

[Abstract] The pyrrole-imidazoles, a group of alkaloids commonly found in marine sponges belonging to the genus Agelas, display a wide range of biological activities. Herein, we report the first chemical study of the secondary metabolites of the sponge A. dilatata from the coastal area of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). In this study, we isolated eight known alkaloids from an organic extract of the sponge. We used NMR and MS analysis and comparison with existing databases to characterize the alkaloids: ageliferin (1), bromoageliferin (2), dibromoageliferin (3), sceptrin (4), nakamuric acid (5), 4-bromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (6), 4,5-dibromopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (7) and 3,7-dimethylisoguanine (8). We also evaluated, for the first time, the activity of these alkaloids against the most problematic multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, i.e., the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Bromoageliferin (2) displayed significant activity against P. aeruginosa. Comparison of the antibacterial activity of ageliferins 1–3 (of similar structure) against P. aeruginosa revealed some relationship between structure and activity. Furthermore, in in vitro assays, 2 inhibited growth and biofilm production in clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Moreover, 2 increased the survival time in an in vivo Galleria mellonella model of infection. The findings confirm bromoageliferin (2) as a potential lead for designing new antibacterial drugs.This work was supported by Grants RTI2018-093634-B-C22 (AEI/FEDER, EU) from the State Agency for Research (AEI) of Spain, both co-funded by the FEDER Programme from the European Union and BLUEBIOLAB (0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_E), Programme INTERREG V A of Spain-Portugal (POCTEP). The study was also funded by projects GRC2018/039 and Agrupación Estratégica CICA-INIBIC ED431E 2018/03 (Consellería de Educación, Universidades e Formación Profesional) from the Xunta de Galicia (autonomous government of the region). This work was also funded by Projects PI17/01482 awarded to AB and PI15/00860 to GB, all within in the National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation 2013-2016 and funded by the ISCIII-General Subdirection of Assessment and Promotion of the Research-European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) “A way of making Europe” and operative program Intelligent Growth 2014-2020. The study was also funded by project IN607A 2016/22 (GAIN- Agencia Gallega de Innovación - Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria) awarded to GB. D.P.-P. received a fellowship from the program National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) of Mexico and the Secretariat of Research, Innovation and Higher Education (SIIES) of Yucatan. Mexico and the Secretariat of Research, Innovation and Higher Education (SIIES) of Yucatan. JCVU was financially supported by the pFIS Program (FI18/00315), MMG by a Clara Roy grant (SEIMC) and CLM by IN606A-2019/029Xunta de Galicia; 0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_EXunta de Galicia; GRC2018/039Xunta de Galicia; ED431E 2018/03Xunta de Galicia; IN607A 2016/22Xunta de Galicia; IN606A-2019/02

PLAN DE MEJORA PARA LA GESTIÓN POR INDICADORES EN UNA ESCUELA DE NIVEL SUPERIOR UTILIZANDO LA ETAPA PLANEACIÓN DE LA METODOLOGÍA PDCA (IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT BY INIDICATORS IN A HIGHER LEVEL SCHOOL USING THE PLANNING STAGE OF THE PDCA METHODOLOGY)

Resumen La gestión por indicadores permite analizar la situación actual de una organización lo que facilita tomar medidas para un mejor funcionamiento. En esta investigación se realiza un análisis de la gestión por indicadores en una escuela de nivel superior con el objetivo de mejorar su cometido en ese aspecto. El método que se utiliza es una adaptación de la etapa de planeación de la metodología de mejora continua PDCA. La herramienta de recopilación de la información que se utiliza es la entrevista. Las entrevistas se analizaron cualitativamente mediante la Teoría fundamentada y a través del Diagrama causa efecto. Los resultados que se obtienen se utilizan para proponer soluciones a los problemas detectados. Por último, se proponen planes de acción a seguir por la institución para mejorar la gestión de indicadores con la colaboración de todas las áreas administrativas y académicas involucradas. Se pronostica que con la puesta en práctica del plan de acción la escuela mejorará la gestión por indicadores. Palabras Clave: entrevista, educación superior, mejora, gestión por indicadores, planeación. Abstract Management by indicators allows analyzing the current situation of an organization, which facilitates taking measures for a better functioning. In this research, an analysis of management by indicators is carried out in a higher-level school with the aim of improving its role in this regard. The method used is an adaptation of the planning stage of the PDCA continuous improvement methodology. The information gathering tool used is the interview. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed using Grounded Theory and the Cause-Effect Diagram. The results obtained are used to propose solutions to the problems detected. Finally, action plans are proposed to be followed by the institution to improve the management of indicators with the collaboration of all the administrative and academic areas involved. It is predicted that with the implementation of the action plan the school will improve the management by indicators. Keywords: higher education, improvement, interview, management by indicators, planning

Marine Organisms from the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) as a Potential Natural Source of Antibacterial Compounds

[Abstract] A total of 51 sponges (Porifera) and 13 ascidians (Chordata) were collected on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and extracted with organic solvents. The resulting extracts were screened for antibacterial activity against four multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens: the Gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the organic extracts of each marine organism were determined using a broth microdilution assay. Extracts of eight of the species, in particular the Agelas citrina and Haliclona (Rhizoniera) curacaoensis, displayed activity against some of the pathogens tested. Some of the extracts showed similar MIC values to known antibiotics such as penicillins and aminoglycosides. This study is the first to carry out antimicrobial screening of extracts of marine sponges and ascidians collected from the Yucatan Peninsula. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active extracts from the sponges Amphimedon compressa and A. citrina displayed, as a preliminary result, that an inseparable mixture of halitoxins and amphitoxins and (-)-agelasine B, respectively, are the major compounds responsible for their corresponding antibacterial activities. This is the first report of the antimicrobial activity of halitoxins and amphitoxins against major multidrug-resistant human pathogens. The promising antibacterial activities detected in this study indicate the coast of Yucatan Peninsula as a potential source of a great variety of marine organisms worthy of further research.This work was supported by Grants RTI2018-093634-B-C22 (AEI/FEDER, EU) from the State Agency for Research (AEI) of Spain, co-funded by the FEDER Programme from the European Union, by projects PI15/00860 and PI18/00501 to GB and PI14/00059 and PI17/01482 to AB (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) and BLUEBIOLAB (0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_E), Programme INTERREG V A of Spain-Portugal (POCTEP). The study was also funded by projects IN607A 2016/22 (GAIN- Agencia Gallega de Innovación - Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria) and GRC2018/039 and Agrupación Estratégica CICA-INIBIC ED431E 2018/03 (Consellería de Educación, Universidades e Formación Profesional) from the Xunta de Galicia (autonomous government of the region). Support was also provided by Planes Nacionales de I+D+i 2013-2016 and ISCIII, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/006) co-financed by European Development Regional Fund "A way to achieve Europe" and the operative program Intelligent Growth 2014-2020. J.C.V.U. was financially supported by the pFIS Programme (FI18/00315), M.M.G. was financially supported by a Clara Roy grant (SEIMC) and C.L.M. by IN606A-2019/029. D.P.P. received a fellowship from the program National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) of Mexico and the Secretariat of Research, Innovation and Higher Education (SIIES) of Yucatan (Mexico)Xunta de Galicia; 0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_EXunta de Galicia; IN607A 2016/22Xunta de Galicia; GRC2018/039Xunta de Galicia; ED431E 2018/03Xunta de Galicia; IN606A-2019/02

2-(Fluoromethoxy)-4′-(S-methanesulfonimidoyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (UCM-1306), an Orally Bioavailable Positive Allosteric Modulator of the Human Dopamine D1 Receptor for Parkinson’s Disease

Tolerance development caused by dopamine replacement with L-DOPA and therapeutic drawbacks upon activation of dopaminergic receptors with orthosteric agonists reveal a significant unmet need for safe and effective treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In search for selective modulators of the D1 receptor, the screening of a chemical library and subsequent medicinal chemistry program around an identified hit resulted in new synthetic compound 26 [UCM-1306, 2-(fluoromethoxy)-4′- (S-methanesulfonimidoyl)-1,1′-biphenyl] that increases the dopamine maximal effect in a dose-dependent manner in human and mouse D1 receptors, is inactive in the absence of dopamine, modulates dopamine affinity for the receptor, exhibits subtype selectivity, and displays low binding competition with orthosteric ligands. The new allosteric modulator potentiates cocaine-induced locomotion and enhances L-DOPA recovery of decreased locomotor activity in reserpinized mice after oral administration. The behavior of compound 26 supports the interest of a positive allosteric modulator of the D1 receptor as a promising therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s disease

MAPPING COMMUNITY INTEREST HABITATS IN THE COLUMBRETES ARCHIPELAGO, AN EXTRAORDINARY HOT SPOT OF BIODIVERSITY

The Columbretes Archipelago and their submerged surroundings are part of an unusual, Pleistocene volcanic field located in the Western Mediterranean designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the Natura 2000 Network. In the present study, 4 benthic habitats of community interest (1110, 1170, 1180 and 8330) have been identified by analyzing several sources of information. Generalized additive models (GAMs) have been used to model the potential distribution of reefs (1170) and maërl beds (1110). Our results highlight the diversity and extent of these habitats and allow comparisons to other marine SCIs of Spain. This can be attributed to the variability of the environment of this site. The Columbretes Islands combine a relatively shallow environment with volcanic structures, hydrothermalism with active degassing, current-driven sedimentary lobes and the influence of inland flows. Understanding high biodiversity spots is crucial as they offer natural laboratories to describe how ecosystems respond to the effects of global change. The knowledge obtained will be of paramount importance for the conservation of species and habitats. Furthermore, it will establish a baseline for future monitoring and assist in the development of effective management plans