Picbreeder: a case study in collaborative evolutionary exploration of design space

For domains in which fitness is subjective or difficult to express formally, interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) is a natural choice. It is possible that a collaborative process combining feedback from multiple users can improve the quality and quantity of generated artifacts. Picbreeder, a large-scale online experiment in collaborative interactive evolution (CIE), explores this potential. Picbreeder is an online community in which users can evolve and share images, and most importantly, continue evolving others' images. Through this process of branching from other images, and through continually increasing image complexity made possible by the underlying neuroevolution of augmenting topologies (NEAT) algorithm, evolved images proliferate unlike in any other current IEC system. This paper discusses not only the strengths of the Picbreeder approach, but its challenges and shortcomings as well, in the hope that lessons learned will inform the design of future CIE systems.     

Comprehensive characterization of the functional activities of pressurized liquid and ultrasound-assisted extracts from Chlorella vulgaris

Chlorella vulgaris has been referred as a potential source of bioactive compounds (carotenoids and fatty acids). In this work, the ability of an environmentally friendly extraction technique such as Pressurized Liquid Extraction (PLE) and a traditional extraction technique such as Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) to obtain functional compounds from C. vulgaris, at analytical scale, has been demonstrated. Seeked bioactivities were antioxidant and antimicrobial, for their interest in the food industry. Therefore, a methodology including analytical extraction, in-vitro assays and chemical characterization via HPLC-DAD and GC–MS has been used to determine the interest of Chlorella as a source of functional food ingredients. Results demonstrated that PLE provide higher yields than UAE while similar bioactivities were obtained. Important concentration of carotenoids (lutein, neoxanthin, β-carotene, etc.), chlorophylls, sterols, phytols, and fatty acids (among others) have been found in Chlorella extracts that could be correlated to the observed biological activity.     

Methanol Conversion to Hydrocarbons (MTH) Over H-ITQ-13 (ITH) Zeolite

Product flexibility is key to meeting fluctuating chemicals demands in the future. In this contribution, the methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH) reaction was investigated over two Ge-containing H-ITQ-13 samples, one with needle-like (H-ITQ-13(N), with (Si+Ge)/Al) = 42) and another with plate-like (H-ITQ-13(P), with (Si+Ge)/Al > 100) morphology. The samples were characterised using XRD, BET, SEM/EDS and FTIR spectroscopy, and their MTH performance was compared with the performance of H-ZSM-5 and H-ZSM-22. Similar specific surface areas (413 and 455 m² g^?1 for H-ITQ-13(N) and (P), respectively) and similar acid strength (Δν ~ ?327(?310) cm^?1) was observed for the two H-ITQ-13 samples. Testing of H-ITQ-13(N) at weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) = 2–8 h^?1 at 350–450 °C revealed that C₅₊ alkenes were the main products (35–45 % selectivity at 400 °C), followed by propene and butene. A low but significant selectivity for aromatic products was observed (6–8 % selectivity at 400 °C). Product selectivity was found to be independent of deactivation. The methanol conversion capacity of H-ITQ-13(N) was 120–150 g methanol g^?1 catalyst at 400 °C. Testing H-ITQ-13 at high (30 atm) and ambient pressure, respectively, at 350 °C showed that a high pressure led to enhanced C₅₊ selectivity, but close to a tenfold decrease in methanol conversion capacity. H-ITQ-13(P) was tested at 400 °C and 2 h^?1. It gave lower conversion than H-ITQ-13(N). Furthermore, when compared at the same conversion level, H-ITQ-13(P) gave higher C₅₊ alkene selectivity, lower aromatics selectivity, and a higher propene to ethene ratio than H-ITQ-13(N). The H-ITQ-13 samples yielded a product spectrum intermediate of H-ZSM-22 and H-ZSM-5. The effluent product cut-off of H-ITQ-13 was similar to that of H-ZSM-5 with tetramethylbenzene as the largest significant product, while H-ZSM-22 produced mainly linear and branched alkenes. The lifetime of H-ITQ-13(N) was clearly enhanced compared to H-ZSM-22, but inferior to H-ZSM-5.     

Thermotropic, Thermo-morphologic, and Thermo-optical Properties of New Smectogenic Calamitic Compounds Containing Imine Linking Groups

The synthesis and investigations of the mesomorphic, thermotropic, thermo-morphologic, and thermo-optical properties of two new salicylaldimine compounds, synthesized by our group, are reported in this work. Temperature transformations of specific textures of the smectic C mesophase, taking place in these compounds, and thermo-morphologic and thermotropic properties of the biphasic regions for direct and reverse phase transitions have been investigated. Temperature hysteresis and enlargement of the biphasic regions have been found. The character of texture transformations and temperature behavior of the optical birefringence indicate to the first order a smectic C–isotropic liquid-phase transition in these salicylaldimine compounds.     

Production of human growth hormone by Lactococcus lactis

A synthetic gene coding for human growth hormone was expressed in Lactococcus lactis. The presence of the recombinant protein was assayed and quantified using ELISA tests. Human growth hormone was detected at high concentrations and displayed a biological activity similar to the one shown by commercial human growth hormone.     

Incidence on power system dynamics of high penetration of fixed speed and doubly fed wind energy systems: study of the Spanish case

In this paper, a preliminary analysis of the impact of high wind power penetration in the planning and operation of the Spanish power system is presented. The problems studied in the paper are those related to the stability of the power system. This key subject could be deeply influenced by the installation of up to 15000 MW of wind power generation as it has been planned for the next six years. The analysis presented here is based on the results of dynamic simulations. Dynamic models of the induction generator (squirrel cage and doubly fed) and models of the wind farms have been developed to make possible the simulations. From the simulation results some conclusions and recommendations have been extracted, which would contribute to the appropriate integration of the new wind generation foreseen for the Spanish power system.     

Microbial resistance: what is to be done? Information from the panel of experts

This document represents the recommendations of a panel of Spanish experts on antibiotic use and resistance. In a Task Force, under the auspices of the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs that took place in 1994 in Madrid, the members were gravely concerned about the national increase in antibiotic resistance. They analysed the development, evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance among community-acquired human bacterial pathogens in Spain, its relation with antibiotic consumption, and they proposed future surveillance strategies for monitoring the patterns of antibiotic use and consumption. Success will require a collective action among the producers (pharmaceutical industry), prescribers (doctors, veterinarians), dispensers (pharmacists), and consumers (patients). Two similar documents have been recently published by the American Society of Microbiology and the World Health Organization showing the global concern about this topic.     

Prevention of acute allograft rejection by antibody targeting of TIRC7, a novel T cell membrane protein

The in vitro activity of trovafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, was compared with that of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, fleroxacin, ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam, and meropenem against 613 consecutively recovered blood isolates from recently hospitalized patients. Susceptibility testing was performed by agar dilution according to NCCLS guidelines. Test strains included Acinetobacter species (n = 26), Escherichia coli (n = 137), Enterobacter species (n = 27), Klebsiella species (n = 42), Proteus species (n = 16), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 28), Serratia marcescens (n = 13), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 7), enterococci (n = 54), coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 38), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 137), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 27), beta-haemolytic streptococci (n = 13), and viridans group streptococci (n = 48). The overall respective MICs at which 50% and 90% of isolates were inhibited (MIC50s and MIC90s) were as follows: trovafloxacin, 0.06 and 1 mg/l; ciprofloxacin, 0.25 and 4 mg/l; ofloxacin, 0.5 and 4 mg/l; fleroxacin, 0.5 and 16 mg/l; ceftazidime, 2 and 128 mg/l; piperacillin/tazobactam, 2 and 8 mg/l; meropenem, 0.06 and 4 mg/l. For the quinolones, the rank order of activity against gram-negative microorganisms was ciprofloxacin > trovafloxacin > ofloxacin = fleroxacin, against gram-positive organisms, trovafloxacin > ciprofloxacin = ofloxacin > fleroxacin. Data obtained showed the similar activity of trovafloxacin and ciprofloxacin against gram-negative pathogens and the superior activity of trovafloxacin against gram-positive bacteria thus making it a potential candidate for the empiric treatment of patients with suspected bacteremia and sepsis.     

Validation of a steel dual-core self-centering brace (DC-SCB) for seismic resistance: from brace member to one-story one-bay braced frame tests

A steel dual-core self-centering brace (DC-SCB) is an innovative structural member that provides both energy dissipation and self-centering properties to structures, reducing maximum and residual drifts of structures in earthquakes. The axial deformation capacity of the DC-SCB is doubled by a parallel arrangement of two inner cores, one outer box and two sets of tensioning elements. This paper presents cyclic test results of a DC-SCB component and a fullscale one-story, one-bay steel frame with a DC-SCB. The DC-SCB that was near 8 m-long was tested to evaluate its cyclic behavior and durability. The DC-SCB performed well under a total of three increasing cyclic loading tests and 60 lowcycle fatigue loading tests without failure. The maximum axial load of the DC-SCB was near 1700 kN at an interstory drift of 2.5%. Moreover, a three-story dual-core self-centering braced frame (DC-SCBF) with a single-diagonal DC-SCB was designed and its first-story, one-bay DC-SCBF subassembly specimen was tested in multiple earthquake-type loadings. The one-story, one-bay subassembly frame specimen performed well up to an interstory drift of 2% with yielding at the column base and local buckling in the steel beam; no damage of the DC-SCB was found after all tests. The maximum residual drift of the DC-SCBF caused by beam local buckling was 0.5% in 2.0% drift cycles.