Model checking agent programming languages

In this paper we describe a verification system for multi-agent programs. This is the first comprehensive approach to the verification of programs developed using programming languages based on the BDI (belief-desire-intention) model of agency. In particular, we have developed a specific layer of abstraction, sitting between the underlying verification system and the agent programming language, that maps the semantics of agent programs into the relevant model-checking framework. Crucially, this abstraction layer is both flexible and extensible; not only can a variety of different agent programming languages be implemented and verified, but even heterogeneous multi-agent programs can be captured semantically. In addition to describing this layer, and the semantic mapping inherent within it, we describe how the underlying model-checker is driven and how agent properties are checked. We also present several examples showing how the system can be used. As this is the first system of its kind, it is relatively slow, so we also indicate further work that needs to be tackled to improve performance.     

Parameter estimation in Bayesian reconstruction of SPECT images: An aid in nuclear medicine diagnosis

Despite the adequacy of Bayesian methods to reconstruct nuclear medicine SPECT (single‐photon emission computed tomography) images, they are rarely used in everyday medical practice. This is primarily because of their computational cost and the need to appropriately select the prior model hyperparameters. We propose a simple procedure for the estimation of these hyperparameters and the reconstruction of the original image and test the procedure on both synthetic and real SPECT images. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed hyperparameter estimation method produces satisfactory reconstructions. Although we have used generalized Gaussian Markov random fields (GGMRF) as prior models, the proposed estimation method can be applied to any priors with convex potential and tractable partition function with respect to the scale hyperparameter. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 14, 21–27, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20003     

Organokines,Sarcopenia, and Metabolic Repercussions: The Vicious Cycle and the Interplay with Exercise

Sarcopenia is a disease that becomes more prevalent as the population ages, since it is directly linked to the process of senility, which courses with muscle atrophy and loss of muscle strength. Over time, sarcopenia is linked to obesity, being known as sarcopenic obesity, and leads to other metabolic changes. At the molecular level, organokines act on different tissues and can improve or harm sarcopenia. It all depends on their production process, which is associated with factors such as physical exercise, the aging process, and metabolic diseases. Because of the seriousness of these repercussions, the aim of this literature review is to conduct a review on the relationship between organokines, sarcopenia, diabetes, and other metabolic repercussions, as well the role of physical exercise. To build this review, PubMed-Medline, Embase, and COCHRANE databases were searched, and only studies written in English were included. It was observed that myokines, adipokines, hepatokines, and osteokines had direct impacts on the pathophysiology of sarcopenia and its metabolic repercussions. Therefore, knowing how organokines act is very important to know their impacts on age, disease prevention, and how they can be related to the prevention of muscle loss.     

Alteration in the Synaptic and Extrasynaptic Organization of AMPA Receptors in the Hippocampus of P301S Tau Transgenic Mice

Tau pathology is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other tauopathies, but how pathological tau accumulation alters the glutamate receptor dynamics driving synaptic dysfunction is unclear. Here, we determined the impact of tau pathology on AMPAR expression, density, and subcellular distribution in the hippocampus of P301S mice using immunoblot, histoblot, and quantitative SDS-digested freeze-fracture replica labeling (SDS-FRL). Histoblot and immunoblot showed differential regulation of GluA1 and GluA2 in the hippocampus of P301S mice. The GluA2 subunit was downregulated in the hippocampus at 3 months while both GluA1 and GluA2 subunits were downregulated at 10 months. However, the total amount of GluA1-4 was similar in P301S mice and in age-matched wild-type mice. Using quantitative SDS-FRL, we unraveled the molecular organization of GluA1-4 in various synaptic connections at a high spatial resolution on pyramidal cell spines and interneuron dendrites in the CA1 field of the hippocampus in 10-month-old P301S mice. The labeling density for GluA1-4 in the excitatory synapses established on spines was significantly reduced in P301S mice, compared to age-matched wild-type mice, in the strata radiatum and lacunosum-moleculare but unaltered in the stratum oriens. The density of synaptic GluA1-4 established on interneuron dendrites was significantly reduced in P301S mice in the three strata. The labeling density for GluA1-4 at extrasynaptic sites was significantly reduced in several postsynaptic compartments of CA1 pyramidal cells and interneurons in the three dendritic layers in P301S mice. Our data demonstrate that the progressive accumulation of phospho-tau is associated with alteration of AMPARs on the surface of different neuron types, including synaptic and extrasynaptic membranes, leading to a decline in the trafficking and synaptic transmission, thereby likely contributing to the pathological events taking place in AD.     

Soemmerring’s Rings Developed around IOLs,in Human Donor Eyes,Can Present Internal Transparent Areas

Soemmerring’s rings consist of a ring of lens epithelial derived cells that grow along the periphery of an aphakic lens capsule, or around an intraocular lens. These rings when visualized frontally, appear opaque, however, in some cases the cells that compose these rings are organized in the same fashion as those in normal transparent adult lenses. Thus, our purpose was to test whether any part of the adult Soemmerring’s ring could be transparent and how this related to morphological factors. To study this, 16 Soemmerring’s rings were extracted from donor eye globes. After imaging, they were thickly sectioned sagittally in order to analyze the degrees of transparency of different areas. All samples were also histologically analyzed using alpha smooth muscle actin, Vimentin, wheat germ agglutinin and DAPI. Our results showed that many samples had some transparent areas, mostly towards the center of their cross-section. Of the factors that we analyzed, only lens fiber organization at the bow region and an increased area of mature lens fiber cells had a significant relation to the degree of transparency at the center. Thus, we can conclude that as Soemmerring’s rings mature, they can develop organized and transparent areas of lens cells.     

Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF-2) and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7 (IGFBP-7) Are Upregulated after Atypical Antipsychotics in Spanish Schizophrenia Patients

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) and IGF binding protein 7 (IGFBP-7) have been related to schizophrenia (SZ) due to their implication in neurodevelopment. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the alterations in IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 in SZ patients are intrinsically related to the psychiatric disorder itself or are a secondary phenomenon due to antipsychotic treatment. In order to test this hypothesis, we measured plasma IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 in drug-naïve first episode (FE) and multiple episodes or chronic (ME) SZ Caucasian patients who have been following treatment for years. A total of 55 SZ patients (FE = 15, ME = 40) and 45 healthy controls were recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Self-Assessment Anhedonia Scale (SAAS) were employed to check schizophrenic symptomatology and anhedonia, respectively. Plasma IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 levels were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The FE SZ patients had much lower IGF-2, but not IGFBP-7, than controls. Moreover, both IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 significantly increased after atypical antipsychotic treatment (aripiprazole, olanzapine, or risperidone) in these patients. On the other hand, chronic patients showed higher levels of both proteins when compared to controls. Our study suggests that circulatory IGF-2 and IGFBP-7 increase after antipsychotic treatment, regardless of long-term conditions and being lower in drug-naïve FE patients.     

3′5-Dimaleamylbenzoic Acid Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by parenchymal scarring, leading progressively to alveolar architecture distortion, respiratory failure, and eventually death. Currently, there is no effective treatment for IPF. Previously, 3′5-dimaleamylbenzoic acid (3′5-DMBA), a maleimide, demonstrated pro-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties; however, its potential therapeutic effects on IPF have not been addressed. Bleomycin (BLM) 100 U/kg was administered to CD1 mice through an osmotic minipump. After fourteen days of BLM administration, 3′5-DMBA (6 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) and its vehicle carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were administered intragastrically every two days until day 26. On day 28, all mice were euthanized. The 3′5-DMBA effect was assessed by histological and immunohistochemical staining, as well as by RT-qPCR. The redox status on lung tissue was evaluated by determining the glutathione content and the GSH/GSSG ratio. 3′5-DMBA treatment re-established typical lung histological features and decreased the expression of BLM-induced fibrotic markers: collagen, α-SMA, and TGF-β1. Furthermore, 3′5-DMBA significantly reduced the expression of genes involved in fibrogenesis. In addition, it decreased reduced glutathione and increased oxidized glutathione content without promoting oxidative damage to lipids, as evidenced by the decrease in the lipid peroxidation marker 4-HNE. Therefore, 3′5-DMBA may be a promising candidate for IPF treatment.     

Beacon-Less Geographic Routing in Real Wireless Sensor Networks

Geographic Routing(GR)algorithms require nodes to periodically transmit HELLO messages to allow neigh- bors to know their positions(beaconing mechanism).Beacon-less routing algorithms have recently been proposed to reduce the control overheads due to these messages.However,existing beacon-less algorithms have not considered realistic physical layers.Therefore,those algorithms cannot work properly in realistic scenarios.In this paper we present a new beacon- less routing protocol called BOSS.Its design is based on the conclusions of our open-field experiments using Tmote-sky sensors.BOSS is adapted to error-prone networks and incorporates a new mechanism to reduce collisions and duplicate messages produced during the selection of the next forwarder node.We compare BOSS with Beacon-Less Routing(BLR) and Contention-Based Forwarding(CBF)algorithms through extensive simulations.The results show that our scheme is able to achieve almost perfect packet delivery ratio(like BLR)while having a low bandwidth consumption(even lower than CBF).Additionally,we carried out an empirical evaluation in a real testbed that shows the correctness of our simulation results.