ECOSIMNET: A Framework For Ecological Simulations

Abstract

Simulating ecological models is always a difficult task, not only because of its complexity but also due to the slowness associated with each simulation run as more variables and processes are incorporated into the complex ecosystem model. The computational overhead becomes a very important limitation for model calibration and scenario analysis, due to the large number of model runs generally required. This paper presents a framework for ecological simulations that intends to increase system performance through the ability to do parallel simulations, allowing the joint analysis of different scenarios. This framework evolved from the usage of one simulator and several agents, that configure the simulator to run specific scenarios, related to possible ecosystem management options, one at a time, to the use of several simulators, each one simulating a different scenario concurrently, speeding up the process and reducing the time for decision between the alternative scenarios proposed by the agents. This approach was tested with a farmer agent that seeks optimal combinations of bivalve seeding areas in a large mariculture region, maximizing the production without exceeding the total allowed seeding area. Results obtained showed that the time needed to acquire a "near" optimal solution decreases proportionally with the number of simulators in the network, improving the performance of the agent's optimization process, without compromising its rationality. This work is a step forward towards an agent based decision support system to optimize complex environmental problems.

Phase Formation Specifics in the High-Alumina Region of the СаО–Al2О3 System

“…As a result, heterogeneous products of variable phase composition are formed, containing various amounts of CA and CA 2 as the major phases, and C 12 A 7 and unreacted α-Al 2 O 3 as side phases. However, there are only a few contemporary works devoted to the theoretical and practical aspects of the preparation of ultra-pure highalumina clinkers [16][17][18].…”

“…As a consequence of the great practical importance of CA and CA 2 , the synthesis of these compounds has become the subject of a number of studies aimed at increasing the yield of target phases and decreasing the process temperature and time [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Various technological approaches were used in those studies, namely, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis [19,20], spray drying [21], mechanochemical activation of precursors [22], the Pechini process [23], and the sol-gel method [24,25].…”

Features of the Immune Status in Patients With Congenital Humoral Immunity

“…It was also found the increase in number of cells with the phenotype level Tfh2 -3,2% (the rate of conditionally healthy people -1,98±0,63%), Tfh1 from 3.62% (the rate of conditionally healthy individuals -a 2.85±0,92%) in the patients with sIgAD. During the examination of the patients with common variable immunodeficiency a significant decrease of IgA level (8.8 mg/l) and IgG (0,0775 mg/l) in nasopharyngeal swabs in comparison with the values in the control group 5±4,(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)3±2,20) and the indicators in the group of patients with immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgA -14,6 mg/l IgG is 3.0 mg/l) was revealed. The revealed changes require the further study and the statistical treatment that is planned in our work.Prospects of further researches.…”

“…The most common is a congenital humoral immunity. The prevalence of such a PID as common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) according to domestic and foreign authors is 1:25000 -50000 [1], but a selective immunoglobulin A deficiency (sIgAD) is 1:163 people in the world [2]. Primary immunodeficiency with a defect of humoral arm is characterized by a high incidence of chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases [3], severe allergic disorders [4], development of recurrent parasitic infestations, malabsorption syndrome and celiac disease [5], as well as the development of different autoimmune and cancer [6].…”

Actividad asistida por animales, como una alternativa complementaria para el tratamiento de los pacientes: la búsqueda por la evidencia científica

“…Um fator extremamente importante é que a atividade assistida por animais poderá ser desenvolvida em grupo ou de forma individual, respeitando, sempre, a vontade dos participantes (Pereira et al, 2007) e tendo como objetivo o auxílio na busca pelo bem-estar pleno do individuo, resguardadas as especificidades de cada caso. Isto remete, na área da Bioética, à obra de Beauchamp e Childress, The Principles of Bioethics (1994), escrita em 1979, que estabeleceu uma linha conhecida como "principialismo" orientando a análise de problemas das áreas biomédicas englobando o campo da prática clínica e assistencial, a partir de quatro princípios básicos não absolutos: não maleficência, beneficência, respeito à autonomia e justiça (Costa et al, 1998).…”