Optimising Humanness: Designing the best human-like Bot for Unreal Tournament 2004

This paper presents multiple hybridizations of the two best bots on the BotPrize 2014 competition, which sought for the best humanlike bot playing the First Person Shooter game Unreal Tournament 2004. To this aim the participants were evaluated using a Turing test in the game. The work considers MirrorBot (the winner) and NizorBot (the second) codes and combines them in two different approaches, aiming to obtain a bot able to show the best behaviour overall. There is also an evolutionary version on MirrorBot, which has been optimized by means of a Genetic Algorithm. The new and the original bots have been tested in a new, open, and public Turing test whose results show that the evolutionary version of MirrorBot apparently improves the original bot, and also that one of the novel approaches gets a good humanness level.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Nuevos datos para la caracterización arqueológica de la vida municipal en la Bética: primeras notas en torno a un edificio público documentado en la antigua "Ilipa" (Alcalá del Río, Sevilla)

Tan sólo como noticia preliminar, se presenta en el breve trabajo que sigue un nuevo edificio público de excavación muy reciente en la actual población sevillana de Alcalá del Río, antigua Ilipa romana. El excelente estado de conservación en el que se encuentra el conjunto, tanto en lo que se refiere a su planta íntegra como a sus acabados, hacen de él un edificio del todo excepcional en la Bética e, incluso, en la totalidad de las provincias hispanas. No obstante, su probable identificación con la curia de la ciudad, hace tomarlo con el justo valor de un elemento indispensable en el funcionamiento cívico de todo núcleo provincial con estatuto privilegiado.In the following paper we present the preliminary results obtained from the recent excavation of a public building from the ancient Roman Ilipa, nowadays Alcalá del Río (Seville). It offers an excellent conservation, -not only what corresponds to the preservation of the whole plan, but to the finishing materials and techniques of walls and pavement, that makes it an exceptional building in the province of Baetica and further, in whole Hispania. Its features make probable its identification as the curia of the Roman city, due to this it must be considered in a wider way as an example of a fundamental piece of the municipal life of the provincial cities

CON: carbapenems are NOT necessary for all infections caused by ceftriaxone-resistant enterobacterales

Carbapenems are considered the drugs of choice for the treatment of serious infections caused by ceftriaxone resistant Enterobacterales. However, because of the dramatic increase in carbapenem-resistant organisms worldwide, finding alternatives to carbapenems is a must. The potential options include b-lactam/b-lactamase inhibitor combinations, temocillin, cephamycins and some non-b-lactam drugs. The most controversial is pipera cillin/tazobactam; the results of the MERINO trial are challenged because the isolates of patients with worse out comes were frequently not susceptible to piperacillin/tazobactam when studied by reference methods, and also because the drug was not administered in extended infusion. Other potential options are briefly discussed. We conclude that carbapenems are not necessary for all patients with infections caused by ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacterales

Hybridization of 'humanized' bots from Unreal Tournament 2004 using Computational Intelligence techniques.

Este proyecto presenta múltiples hibridaciones de dos de los mejores bots de la competición Botprize de la edición de 2014, competición que buscaba el bot con el mejor comportamiento humano jugando al famoso videojuego del género First Person Player, Unreal Tournament 2004. Para ello se evaluaban a los participantes mediante un Test de Turing aplicado a videojuegos. El trabajo considera los códigos de MirrorBot (el ganador) y NizorBot (el segundo) y los combina en dos enfoques diferentes, con el objetivo de obtener un bot que pueda mostrar el mejor comportamiento humano. También se ha realizado una versión evolutiva de Mirrorbot, el cuál fue optimizado mediante un algoritmo genético. Tanto los bot originales como las hibridaciones creadas, han sido evaluadas mediante un Test de Turing aplicado a videojuegos cuyos resultados muestran que la versión evolutiva de Mirrorbot ha superado a la versión original en cuanto a tener un comportamiento humano. Además, una de las hibridaciones ha obtenido un nivel de humanidad bastante alto

An Evolutionary Computational Approach for the Problem of Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch in Microgrids under Several Operation Modes

In the last decades, new types of generation technologies have emerged and have been gradually integrated into the existing power systems, moving their classical architectures to distributed systems. Despite the positive features associated to this paradigm, new problems arise such as coordination and uncertainty. In this framework, microgrids constitute an effective solution to deal with the coordination and operation of these distributed energy resources. This paper proposes a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to address the combined problem of Unit Commitment (UC) and Economic Dispatch (ED). With this end, a model of a microgrid is introduced together with all the control variables and physical constraints. To optimally operate the microgrid, three operation modes are introduced. The first two attend to optimize economical and environmental factors, while the last operation mode considers the errors induced by the uncertainties in the demand forecasting. Therefore, it achieves a robust design that guarantees the power supply for different confidence levels. Finally, the algorithm was applied to an example scenario to illustrate its performance. The achieved simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades TEC2016-80242-PMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad PCIN-2015-043Universidad de Sevilla Programa propio de I+D+

A MPC Strategy for the Optimal Management of Microgrids Based on Evolutionary Optimization

In this paper, a novel model predictive control strategy, with a 24-h prediction horizon, is proposed to reduce the operational cost of microgrids. To overcome the complexity of the optimization problems arising from the operation of the microgrid at each step, an adaptive evolutionary strategy with a satisfactory trade-off between exploration and exploitation capabilities was added to the model predictive control. The proposed strategy was evaluated using a representative microgrid that includes a wind turbine, a photovoltaic plant, a microturbine, a diesel engine, and an energy storage system. The achieved results demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach, outperforming a global scheduling planner-based on a genetic algorithm by 14.2% in terms of operational cost. In addition, the proposed approach also better manages the use of the energy storage system.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad DPI2016-75294-C2-2-RUnión Europea (Programa Horizonte 2020) 76409

Measuring what is not seen—Transparency and good governance nonprofit indicators to overcome the limitations of accounting models

One of the most complex challenges currently faced by non-profit organizations (NPOs) is demonstrating that they manage resources with the highest levels of efficiency and excellence, and do not deviate from the accomplishment of their mission. Transparency and good governance are highly valuable issues for the survival of these organizations. However, empirical studies and models to measure these concepts are scarce and lack consensus. The objective of this article is to develop a uniform procedure for measuring the levels of transparency and good governance in NPOs, validated by experts, that integrates the most important contributions. The main proposals are supported by lists of indicators whose compliance they try to verify. Finally, we considered the experts’ preferences to obtain the indicator weights by means of the Best–Worst Method and Minimum Cost Consensus model. The result of our work is the development of a list of indicators, which integrates the existing battery of Spanish indicators. We contribute, with this work, to improving the credibility of the third sector from the perspective of donors, users, public administrations, and society. This is an essential issue for the survival of these NPOs.Universidad de Jaén, Instituto de Estudios Giennenses (Diputación de Jaén), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Gobierno de España) a través del Proyecto de Investigación Nacional del Gobierno de España PGC2018-099402-B-I00 y el Contrato Postdoctoral Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2017-21978)

Neuroprotective efect of indomethacin in normal perfusion pressure breakthrough phenomenon

Loss of cerebral autoregulation in normal perfusion pressure breakthrough (NPPB) phenomenon has been reported in other Central Nervous System diseases such as neonatal intraventricular haemorrhage. Several studies have demonstrated that low-dose indomethacin prevents this latter condition. A previous rat model was used to resemble NPPB phenomenon. Study animals were distributed in 4 groups that received 3 doses of indomethacin at different concentrations prior to fistula occlusion 60 days after its creation. Control animals received saline solution. Intracranial pressure (ICP) increased in all groups following fistula creation, whereas mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) decreased as a manifestation of cerebral hypoperfusion and intracranial hypertension. The administration of indomethacin was associated with raised MAP and CPP, as well as decreased ICP. Sodium fluorescein extravasation was slight in study animals when comparing with control ones. Histological analysis evidenced diffuse ischaemic changes with signs of neuronal apoptosis in all brain layers in control animals. These findings were only focal and slight in study animals. The results suggest the usefulness of indomethacin to revert, at least partially, the haemodynamic effects of NPPB phenomenon in this experimental model, as well as to reduce BBB disruption and histological ischemia observed in absence of indomethacinThis study has been supported by the Spanish Ministries of Economy and Competitiveness in collaboration with the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under Grant FIS PI 12/0290

The orchids of Megamexico and their interactions with pollinators

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the pollination syndromes of the orchids of Megamexico and the importance of the interactions between the orchids and their respective pollinators for the conservation of both groups. Design/Methodology/Approach: An exhaustive search was carried out on the pollinators of each of the orchids that grow in Megamexico. With the information sources available, a data matrix was prepared that includes orchids and all their pollinators. Subsequently, it was quantified which group of pollinators the orchids interact with the most. Finally, it is described what physiological adaptations and morphologies orchids have developed to attract specific pollinators. Results: Orchids from Megamexico maintain close relationships with specific pollinators. Said interaction is mediated by the shape, size, production of aromas, nectar, and the color of the flower. Thus, four large groups of pollinators are those that interact with the orchids of Megamexico, with the Hymenoptera being the group of pollinators that pollinates the most orchid species in Megamexico and birds to a lesser extent. Study Limitations/Implications: This study describes the importance of pollinators and their interactions with orchids for orchid prevalence. Findings/Conclusions: It is of vital importance to include orchid pollinators in conservation programs to ensure that interactions between orchids and pollinators continue to be effective and thus guarantee the permanence of the two groups.Objective: To describe the pollination syndromes of the orchids of Megamexico and the importance of the interactions between the orchids and their respective pollinators for the conservation of both groups. Design/Methodology/Approach: An exhaustive search was carried out on the pollinators of each of the orchids that grow in Megamexico. With the information sources available, a data matrix was prepared that includes orchids and all their pollinators. Subsequently, it was quantified which group of pollinators the orchids interact with the most. Finally, it is described what physiological adaptations and morphologies orchids have developed to attract specific pollinators. Results: Orchids from Megamexico maintain close relationships with specific pollinators. Said interaction is mediated by the shape, size, production of aromas, nectar, and the color of the flower. Thus, four large groups of pollinators are those that interact with the orchids of Megamexico, with the Hymenoptera being the group of pollinators that pollinates the most orchid species in Megamexico and birds to a lesser extent. Study Limitations/Implications: This study describes the importance of pollinators and their interactions with orchids for orchid prevalence. Findings/Conclusions: It is of vital importance to include orchid pollinators in conservation programs to ensure that interactions between orchids and pollinators continue to be effective and thus guarantee the permanence of the two groups

Three-dimensional optimization of penstock layouts for micro-hydropower plants using genetic algorithms

A Micro Hydro-Power Plant is a suitable and effective mean to provide electric power to rural remote communities without harming the environment. However, the lack of resources and technical training in these communities frequently leads to designs based of rules of thumb, compromising both the generation capacity and efficiency. This work makes an attempt to address this problem by developing a new tool to design the layout of the plants. The proposed mechanism relies on a discrete topographic survey of the terrain and utilizes a Genetic Algorithm to optimize the installation layout, making it possible to explicitly incorporate requirements and constraints, such as power supply, cost of the installation, available water flow, and layout feasibility in accordance with the real terrain profile. The algorithm can operate in both single-objective mode (cost minimization) and multi-objective mode (cost minimization and power supply maximization), including in the latter Pareto dominance analyses. The algorithm is applied to a real scenario in a remote community in Honduras, obtaining good results in terms of generation capacity and cost reduction