Rule-based preprocessing for data stream mining using complex event processing

Data preprocessing is known to be essential to produce accurate data from which mining methods are able to extract valuable knowledge. When data constantly arrives from one or more sources, preprocessing techniques need to be adapted to efficiently handle these data streams. To help domain experts to define and execute preprocessing tasks for data streams, this paper proposes the use of active rule-based systems and, more specifically, complex event processing (CEP) languages and engines. The main contribution of our approach is the formulation of preprocessing procedures as event detection rules, expressed in an SQL-like language, that provide domain experts a simple way to manipulate temporal data. This idea is materialized into a publicly available solution that integrates a CEP engine with a library for online data mining. To evaluate our approach, we present three practical scenarios in which CEP rules preprocess data streams with the aim of adding temporal information, transforming features and handling missing values. Experiments show how CEP rules provide an effective language to express preprocessing tasks in a modular and high-level manner, without significant time and memory overheads. The resulting data streams do not only help improving the predictive accuracy of classification algorithms, but also allow reducing the complexity of the decision models and the time needed for learning in some cases

Groundwater pollution in quaternary aquifer of Vitoria - Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain)

As a result of diverse changes in land use and in water-resource management in the high basin of the Zadorra River (Basque Country), an important loss of water resources and an intense contamination by nitrogen compounds has taken place. The purpose of this paper is to detail the land transformations that have taken place on the aquifer since the 1950s: increase of drainage network, change from dry to irrigated farming, and diversion of rivers at the aquifer unit inlet. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of these transformations on the hydrodynamics and water quality of this aquifer system

Seminal characterization of the menorquina sheep

Menorquina sheep is included in the group of breeds in danger of extinction according the Offcial Spanish Catalogue of Livestock Breeds. In 2003, 2000 animals were enclosed in the herd book, all them belonging to 52 farms. Presently, the breed has, in the ex situ conservation program, a germplasm bank which started in 2008 and continues completing yearly. This paper exposes the preliminary results of the semen characte-rization of the Menorquina sheep breed male, studying variables such as volume, concentration, basal and progressive motility, in relation to the year of collection. A total of 41 ejaculates from 8 males were studied. Preliminary data offered the following means and standard deviations: concentration, 3 897x106±2,74 espermatozoa/ml; 4 456x106±4,43 total spermatozoa; progressive motility 50±16,77 (0-100%); volume 1,06±0,66 ml; basal motility 3,58±1,01 (1-5). The variables shown differences statistically significant among years of collection.La oveja Menorquina está incluida en el grupo de razas en peligro de extinción según el Catálogo Oficial de Razas de Ganado de España. En el año 2003 estaban inscritos en el Libro Genealógico unos 2000 animales pertenecientes a 52 ganaderías. Actualmente, la raza cuenta, dentro del Programa de Conservación ex situ, con un banco de germoplasma que comenzó en 2008 y sigue completándose anualmente. Este trabajo expone los primeros resultados de la caracterización seminal del morueco de raza ovina Menorquina, en el que se ha estudiado el efecto de variables tales como volumen y concentración seminal, así como la motilidad masal y progresiva, en relación al año de la extracción seminal. En total se analizaron 41 eyaculados de 8 sementales. Los datos preliminares ofrecieron las siguientes medias y desviaciones típicas: concentración, 3 897x106±2,74 espermatozoides/ml; 4 456x106±4,43 esperma-tozoides totales; motilidad progresiva 50±16,77 (0-100%); volumen 1,06±0,66 ml; motilidad masal 3,58±1,01 (1-5). Todas las variables mostraron diferencias significativas en relación al año

On duality relations for session types

Session types are a type formalism used to describe communication protocols over private session channels. Each participant in a binary session owns one endpoint of a session channel. A key notion is that of duality: the endpoints of a session channel should have dual session types in order to guarantee communication safety. Duality relations have been independently defined in different ways and different works, without considering their effect on the type system. In this paper we systematically study the existing duality relations and some new ones, and compare them in order to understand their expressiveness. The outcome is that those relations are split into two groups, one related to the na¨ıve inductive duality, and the other related to a notion of mutual compliance, which we borrow from the literature on contracts for web-services

Estudio comparativo de las características físicas del semen de ovino en el laboratorio de reproducción asistida de la Diputación de Córdoba

En el presente trabajo se ha realizado un estudio comparativo de las caracteristicas físicas (volumen y concentración) de semen procedente de las extracciones realizadas en el laboratorio de Reproducción Asistida de Pequeños Rumiantes (código comunitario ES-04-02-0C), ubicado en el Centro Agropecuario Provincial de la Diputación de Córdoba, durante los años 2003, 2004 y 2005. Estos trabajos se vienen desarrollando en el seno de los convenios de colaboración suscritos entre la institución cordobesa y las Asociaciones de Criadores de Ovinos Precoces, Merino y Lacaune, para la mejora genética de los rebaños de la provincia mediante el empleo de técnicas de inseminación artificial como medida de apoyo al desarrollo de los esquemas de selección de estas razas. Se realizó un análisis de varianza para la evaluación de la influencia de los efectos del año de extracción, la raza, la época de extracción y la interacción entre la raza y la época de extracción sobre el volumen y la concentración seminal

Potential of embryos transfer as a tool for the conservation of the spanish-arab horse breed

The Spanish-Arab horse breed is registred in the Spanish catalogue of breeds as an endangered breed into the special protection category. A strategy of conservation basedon the embryos transferring is presented here with the intention of the use so this tool to utilize male and female genetic potentiality. For this assay a total purebreed animals of 8 females and 1 male were selected, all of then submitted by the Spanish Union of Pure Breed Spanish-Arab Breeders. The percentage of embrionary collection was of 100% of the donor females. The rate of gestations at 25 days alter transference was 66.7% and at 50 days was 33.7%.La raza equina Hispano-Árabe esta registrada en el catálogo oficial de razas de España como raza en peligro de extinción en la categoría de protección especial. Se plantea como estrategia de conservación el uso de la técnica de transferencia embrionaria, como herramienta en el aprovechamiento genético no sólo del macho sino también de las hembras. Para dicho ensayo Se seleccionaron un total de 8 yeguas y 1 macho de raza Hispano-Árabe cedidas por la Unión Española de Ganaderos de Pura Raza Hispano-Árabe. Entre las yeguas donantes que fueron mantenidas en este programa de transferencia embrionaria se obtuvo un porcentaje de recogida de embriones del 100%. De este modo, la tasa de gestación a los 25 días fue 66,7%, mientras que a los 50 días sólo alcanzó el 33,7%

Workshop in OCL and Textual Textual Modelling: Report on Recent Trends and Panel Discussion

This paper reports on the panel session of the 17th Workshop in OCL and Textual Modeling, As in previous years, the panel session featured several lightning talks for presenting recent developments and open questions in the area of OCL and textual modeling. During this session, the OCL community discussed, stimulated through short pre- sentations by OCL experts, proposals for improving OCL to increase the attractiveness of textual modeling. This paper contains a summary of the workshop from the workshop organisers as well as summaries of two lightning talks provided by their presenters

Study of sperm parameters in the retuertas horse

Geographical concentration and scarce census of the Retuertas horse force to design a complete conservation plan. One of the used tools as a mean of ex situ conservation was the creation of a germplasm bank. Previously, a study of the se-minal quality and its aptitude for freezing was developed. Results were: volume 23,25±12,72 ml; concentration 335,83±135,60x106 spermatozoa/ml; basal motility 3,83±0,98 (1-5) and progressive motility 60,42±15,42 (0-100%); all of them shown significant differences among stallions.La concentración geográfica y el reducido censo del Caballo de las Retuertas obligaron a diseñar un Plan de Conservación integral. Una de las herramientaspara la conservación ex situ fue la creación de un banco de germoplasma. Previamente, se estudió la calidad seminal y aptitud para congelación. Los resultados obtenidos fueron: volumen 23,25±12,72 ml, concentración 335,83±135,60x106 espermatozoides/ml; motilidad masal 3,83±0,98 (1-5) y motilidad progresiva 60,42±15,42 (0-100%), mostrando todas diferencias significativas en relación al semental

Adopting a cross-scale approach for the deployment of a green infrastructure

The implementation of a Green Infrastructure (GI) involves several actors and governance scales that need adequate knowledge support. The multifunctionality of GI entails the implementation of a cross-scale approach, which combines assessments conducted at different levels and active stakeholder engagement. This paper provides a methodology to implement a cross-scale approach to support the deployment of a Regional GI. The methodology was tested in Lombardy Region (north-west of Italy), considering three relevant territorial scales and relative strategic and planning policies. The continental level representing the overall policy-context; the regional level, with its key role for guaranteeing landscape coherence and connectivity and the local level where planning actions are effectively designed and implemented. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the EU GI strategy were used as references for the continental level; at the regional level, a proposal of Regional GI was evaluated focusing on two Provinces (Varese and Lecco), three regional parks (Ticino, Adda Nord and Campo dei Fiori). At the local scale, the new development plan of the Municipality of Cassano d'Adda (Milan metropolitan area) was evaluated considering different possible scenarios. The regional GI was evaluated with respect to the capacity to provide Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES). CES were mapped using the ESTIMAP-recreation model. The model was adapted to the regional and local level with the active engagement of local stakeholders. Additionally, census data were analysed to obtain an overview of the equitable distribution of the CES amongst inhabitants. Results show that, in 78% of the census blocks of the study area, inhabitants have a high-value recreation resource within 4 km (31% within 4 km and 47% within 300 m). Unmet demand characterises 22% of the census blocks in the study area, clustered in zones with a high population density. The regional GI covers almost completely the two Provinces and the regional parks. In Varese Province: 68% of the territory is included in the regional GI, 82% of the census blocks local demand for recreation opportunities is met, but the population density is higher where the demand is unmet. The Province is characterised by a relatively old population (share of people older than 65 years 23.4%). In Lecco Province, 80% of the territory is included in the regional GI, in 96% of the blocks the local demand is met and the local population is relatively old (share of elderly population 22.12%). The three regional parks present significant differences, strongly influenced by the territorial context. The Campo dei Fiori Park is almost completely included in the regional GI. The entire local population has nature-based recreation opportunities in their close vicinity. Nevertheless, the population density is very low and citizens are relatively old. The majority of the Parco Adda Nord is included in the regional GI providing recreation opportunities to 90% of the census blocks within the Park boundaries. A total of 70% of Ticino Park is included in the regional GI, where local residents are relatively old (share of elderly population 23.78%) and 90% of local census blocks are close to nature-based opportunities. At local scale, we explored how the approach can be used to estimate changes in the CES potential provision and how this can be integrated into a site management plan. This paper demonstrated that the combination of studies in a cross-scale perspective enhances the understanding of GI multifunctionality. It provides a framework to adapt CES mapping models to the local setting with active stakeholders engagement. Moreover, it demonstrates that also highly urbanised areas, such as the Lombardy Region in Italy, can play a role in the deployment of a continental GI and can support biodiversity and nature protection