Search

Cerebral Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are presumed congenital anomalies of the blood vessels, which can increase intracranial pressure by uncertain mechanisms.

Copyright of Neurocirugía is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recent evidence with a spatial interference paradigm has shown that arrows and eye gaze yield opposite congruency effects, arrow target eliciting faster responses when their direction is congruent with their position (standard congruency effect), and gaze producing faster reaction times for incongruent conditions (reversed congruency effect). But in ecological contexts eye gaze tend to be more perceptually complex (i.e., embedded in the whole face) than simple arrows. The present study aimed to replicate this dissociation using whole faces and a comparable non-social target, formed by arrows embedded in a colored geometric background. Whereas the reversed congruency effect with gaze was replicated, the standard spatial interference with arrows was surprisingly absent. A similar outcome appeared when the contrast between the arrows and the task-irrelevant background increased. The results confirm the robustness of the reversed congruency effect with eyes, regardless of whether they are presented alone or within a face. In addition, and importantly, the unexpected absence of the spatial conflict with complex arrow targets seems to be a consequence of higher figure-ground segregation demands, which extend the processing of the task-relevant spatial dimension and, in turn, cause the decay of the location code. This pattern of results, and the provided interpretation, can explain previous unexplained findings in the spatial interference literature.

One of the main advantages of declarative languages is their clearly established formal semantics, that allows programmers to reason about the properties of programs and to establish the correctness of tools. In particular, declarative debugging is a technique that analyses the proof trees of computations to locate bugs in programs. However, in the case of commercial declarative languages such as the functional language Erlang, sometimes the semantics is only informally defined, and this precludes these possibilities. Moreover, defining semantics for these languages is far from trivial because they include complex features needed in real applications, such as concurrency. In this paper we define a semantics for Core Erlang, the intermediate language underlying Erlang programs. We focus on the problem of concurrency and show how a medium-sized-step calculus, that avoids the details of small-step semantics but still captures the most common program errors, can be used to define an algorithmic debugger that is sound and complete.

Despite the growing number of concurrent applications in nowadays systems, debugging concurrent programs remains an open issue due to its intrinsic complexity. In this work, we present a declarative debugger for the concurrent language Erlang. Following the ideas of algorithmic debugging, our tool asks questions to the user about the validity of transitions between those program points that involve message passing, and also about the expected results of the function calls occurred during the computation. The differences between the user answers, which represent the intended behavior of the program, and the actual program execution, allow the debugger to detect the function responsible for the error, and to point out the pieces of source code responsible for the bugs. The proposal is based on a concurrent calculus for Erlang programs, and we show a benchmark that assesses its scalability both in terms of resources usage and considering the number of questions asked to the user and their complexity. Furthermore, we check the usability of our proposal, applying the debugger to the Erlang library poolboy.

Nowadays the traffic congestion is being a common problem in major cities, every time the travel time is increasing and also the number of private cars. It is urgent to take actions to solve this problem. The urban transport is becoming into the best way to fight against congestion; but to make it more attractive to users it has to be more efficient (less travel time, less waiting time, low fare). The urban transport process has four main activities: Network design, Timetabling, Vehicle scheduling and Crew scheduling. The problem presented here is about the integration of the frequency and departure time scheduled both are subactivities of the timetable construction, besides it includes multiple periods planning and multiperiod synchronization, also the authors consider uncertainty in demand and travel time using fuzzy numbers. The planners faced this problem everyday. The authors created a mathematical model including the characteristics previously mentioned, the objectives of this model are to minimize the total operation cost, to maximize the number of multiperiod synchronization between routes, and to minimize the total waiting time for passengers. The SAugmecon method is used to solve the problem, 32 instances were randomly generated based on real data, and the comparison of two defuzzification methods (k-preference and second index of Yager) is presented. Also, the comparison of the problem with uncertainty on demand and uncertainty on demand and travel time is presented.

Our purpose in this paper is to assist decision-makers in the task of selecting project portfolios to satisfy their requirements and guarantee profitable growth. This task usually involves decision-makers having to face multiple objectives and constraints, as well as the uncertainty associated with certain parameters of the problem. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a multiobjective programming model, which includes uncertainty through the use of fuzzy parameters and allows us to represent information not fully known by the decision-makers. The resulting model has been applied to a project portfolio selection process in a public organisation.

Cerebral Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are presumed congenital anomalies of the blood vessels, which can increase intracranial pressure by uncertain mechanisms.

Declarative debugging has been proposed as a suitable technique for developing debuggers in the context of declarative languages. However, to become really useful debuggers must be able to deal with those parts of the languages that have no clear declarative semantics but are widely used in realistic programs. We explain in this paper how a declarative debugger of wrong answers for the lazy functional-logic language Curry can be extended to debug programs including the encapsulated search, an important feature of this language designed to control non-deterministic computation steps. We show how this can be done without introducing any changes in the compiler. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a declarative debugger for lazy functional logic programs with polymorphic type discipline. Whenever a 0computed answer is considered wrong by the user (error symptom), the debugger locates a program fragment (function defining rule) responsible for the error. The notions of symptom and error have a declarative meaning w.r.t. to an intended program semantics. Debugging is performed by searching in a computation tree which is a logical representation of the computation. Following a known technique, our tool is based on a program transformation: transformed programs return computation trees along with the results expected by source programs. Our transformation is provably correct w.r.t. well-typing and program semantics. As additional improvements w.r.t. related approaches, we solve a previously open problem concerning the use of curried functions, and we provide a correct method for avoiding redundant questions to the user during debugging. A prototype implementation of the debugger is available. Case studies and extensions are planned as future work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many commentators and experts arguethat extensive agricultural systems across theEuropean Union (EU) should be supported toreach the two main functions of the EuropeanModel of Agriculture (EMA): lively economicsystems and environmental awareness. We arguethat the main current policy instrument of theEMA, the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy),should be targeted to take advantage ofexisting regional diversity in social realitiesand agricultural structures. Community-basedresearch work has been carried out throughoutthe 1990s in the cereal–sheep farming system ofCastile-La Mancha (south-central Spain), wherea system of land-use operates in which cerealcropping and sheep farming are carried out onthe same land. Local agricultural staff andfarmers acted as collaborators in rating themain constraints and devising proposals forstructural, social, and institutional reforms.Results showed that the two social groupsinvolved (cultivators and pastoralists) haddivergent interests and unbalanced numbers forcollective action to be effective. Governmentintervention is required, but current EUagricultural policy is not accomplishing therestructuring objectives. Results of theopinion survey also support switching the EUsubsidy scheme to sheep from a per-head basisto a per-hectare basis and making grazing landmore accessible to landless shepherds. Regionalpolicy schemes should be devised that aretailored to meet the circumstances ofparticular land areas, but sensible policyschemes can only be devised after properknowledge of the structure and institutionalframework of EU agricultural systems.

Mixed cereal and sheep (Ovis aries) production systems in the Mediterranean area and the Middle East region rely on annual forage legumes as a source of complementary forage. Fractionation of carbohydrates (CHO) and crude protein (CP) into chemical entities of refined biological significance may improve the forage utilization of these feed resources. Fresh and dried (field‐cured) common vetch (Vicia sativaL.) samples were collected during two growing seasons (1996–1997 and 1997–1998) at La Poveda Field Station in central Spain with the objective of determining chemical CHO and CP fractions required for application of new feed models (Cornell System). Fresh and dried samples were harvested at three maturity stages—flowering (>50% of plants with flowers), seed filling phase 1 (280 g DM kg−1seed), and seed filling phase 2 (380 g DM kg−1seed)—and the treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. Nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) and neutral‐detergent fiber (NDF), corrected for neutral‐detergent insoluble protein (NDIP), were evenly distributed in fresh and dried samples, and were not affected by maturity. The B1and B2CHO fractions were the most abundant with mean values of 342 and 303 g kg−1of total carbohydrates (TC), respectively, across maturities, harvest forms, and years. Fraction CP B2was the most abundant CP fraction with mean value of 408 g kg−1of total CP. Fraction CP B3was <100 g kg−1of total CP and increased with maturity. Harvesting common vetch within the seed filling phase would increase ruminal escape protein in vetch.

Hay samples from common vetch and hairy vetch were collected at three maturity stages (bloom and two stages during pod-filling) with the aims of assessing the optimum harvesting stage and comparing the nutritive value of the two species. As maturation progressed, the hay content in cell wall increased and that of CP decreased. The two species showed different patterns in line with the maturing process, regarding digestibility of nutrients and effective degradability of DM and CP. Common vetch hay showed a progressive decrease of digestibility and degradability values in line with the maturing process of vegetative structures. Hairy vetch hay, however, showed a compensatory effect produced by an increasing grain proportion at later maturity stages. The nutritive value at flowering was higher for common vetch hay than for hairy vetch hay, but the opposite was observed at the stage of mature legumes. Voluntary DM intake was not affected by the species or harvest stages. Degradation studies, carried out by the nylon bag technique, showed that in these hays CP was extensively rumen degraded. Consequently, their digestible bypass protein should be low.

Forage hay from the common vetch-oat intercrop has the potential to meet the forage deficit and integrate crop and livestock production in Mediterranean cereal-sheep systems. Groups of three wethers (1$-$2 year-old) were randomly allocated to individual on-farm hays of a sample size of 12 with the aim of assessing variability of botanical and chemical fractions, digestibility of nutrients, and DM intake. Vetch content (g$\cdot$kg$^{-1}$ DM) of hays (mean value = 557) ranged from 125 to 917. Mean contents (g$\cdot$kg$^{-1}$ DM) of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were 126, 486, and 45 respectively. Variations of chemical composition between hays, and especially those of CP and ADL were partially explained by vetch proportion. Voluntary intake (g DM$\cdot$kg$^{-1}\cdot$BW$^{0.75}$) had a mean value of 64.2 and ranged from 49.0 to 78.9. Organic matter digestibility (mean value = 68.8% ) ranged from 59.9 to 72.6% . The digestibility coefficient of nutrients and voluntary intake showed lower variability than that of chemical fractions, which, in turn, had a lower variability than that of botanical composition. The mean digestible energy (DE) concentration of the study sample was 11.72 MJ DE$\cdot$kg$^{-1}$ DM. Low variability of this value (CV = 5.9% ) indicated a compensatory effect between vetch and oat. Vetch proportion in hay gave a better explanation of the variation of CP intake (r$^2$ = 0.63) than of the variation of DE intake (r$^2$ = 0.37). On-farm hays with at least 50 production objective. This criterion may contribute to standardisation and marketing operations at the farm level.

Rumen degradation characteristics and effective degradability (ED) of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) of 11 samples of common vetch-oat hay were determined using the nylon bag technique in three rumen fistulated wethers. Animals were fed at an intake level of 40 g DM$\cdot$kg$^{-1}\cdot$BW$^{0.75}$ with a mixed diet of vetch-oat hay and concentrate (2:1 on DM). Mean values of ED of DM and CP, calculated for rumen outflow rates determined in each sheep, presented a moderate variation (mean = 65.8% ; CV = 7.9% for DM and mean = 79.3% ; CV = 4.7% for CP). Vetch proportion in hay was positively correlated with ED of DM (r = 0.412; $P < 0.05$) and ED of CP (r = 0.583; $P < 0.001$). Predictive equations of ED from chemical composition were obtained using the step wise procedure. The contents of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin explained 79.4% of the total variation of ED of DM. The best prediction of ED of CP was obtained with the concentration of cellulose as an independent variable (r$^2$ = 0.839). Degradation studies in these hays also indicated that the content of bypass protein, potentially digestible in the small intestine, was low. Thus, most N available to animals was derived from rumen microbial synthesis.

Common vetch (Vicia sativaL.) is a high‐quality alternative forage legume in rainfed areas of the Mediterranean basin. Determining harvest strategies to maximize yield of available nutrients must include an assessment of morphological development, forage and grain yields, and changes in forage quality during seed filling. Field studies were conducted near Madrid, Spain, during the 1991–1992 and 1992–1993 growing seasons on a Typic Xerofluvent Entisol soil. Common vetch was sown in November and harvested in May and June of the following year. Maturity stages during pod filling were defined by progressively higher seed dry matter (DM) concentration (full bloom and 250–300, 450–550, and >800 g kg−1seed DM). Total herbage, seed, and crude protein yields were compared. Measurements of plant partitioning, acid‐detergent fiber, and acid‐detergent lignin were carried out by harvesting individual plants at seven maturity stages, similarly defined, during pod filling (200‐250, 250‐300, 350‐450, 450‐550, 600‐700, 700–800, and >800 g kg−1seed DM). Before 450–550 g kg−1seed DM, forage, seed, and crude protein yields increased with advancing maturity. As maturity advanced beyond 450–550 g kg−1seed DM, negative crop growth rates were found in the two growing seasons. Plant partitioning showed that the seed fraction in the harvested biomass varied from 74 g kg−1DM at 200‐250 g kg−1seed DM to 491 g kg−1DM at 450–550 g kg−1seed DM. Little change was observed in plant parts or seed weight beyond 450–550 g kg−1seed DM. This last stage of maturity is recommended for maximizing nutrient yield for common vetch hay production.

Common vetch (Vicia sativaL.) is an annual legume used for hay and grain. Field studies were conducted during two growing seasons (1991–1992 and 1992–1993) in a Mediterranean continental area of central Spain with the objectives of determining optimum harvest maturities for mineral composition and redistribution patterns of nutrient elements during seed‐filling. Maturity stages were defined as progressively higher DM concentration in the seed (full bloom and 200‐250, 250–300, 350–450, 450–550, 600–700, 700–800, and >800 g kg−1seed DM). Concentrations of most mineral nutrients showed a decreasing trend with advancing maturity. Maximum accumulation of N, P, Cu, and Zn was reached at the end of the period of rapid seed growth (450–550 g kg−1seed DM). These elements showed the greatest mobilization from vegetative structures, but did not supply the total needs for seed development during the phase of rapid seed growth. Potassium, Ca, and Mn showed the lowest level of remobilization to the seed, with maximum accumulation at the beginning of seed formation (200–250 g kg−1seed DM). In this case, remobilization oversupplied the seed needs. When harvested for hay at the 450–550 g kg−1seed DM, common vetch can return 30% of accumulated K, Ca, and Mn to the soil in unharvested biomass. If harvested for grain at maturity (>800 g kg−1seed DM), only 30 to 40% of accumulated N, P, Cu, and Zn remained in the crop residue; however, 75 to 95% of accumulated K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn remained. Both individual mineral nutrients accumulation‐redistribution patterns and diverse uses of the aerial biomass must be considered in assessing common vetch mineral nutrient needs.

Cyantraniliprole is the second xylem-systemic active ingredient in the new anthranilic diamide class. Greenhouse (2006), growth chamber (2007), and field studies (2009–2010) were conducted to determine the efficacy of cyantraniliprole for managing Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B and in interfering with transmission of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) by this whitefly. Cyantraniliprole applied as soil treatments (200 SC) or foliar sprays (100 OD) provided excellent adult whitefly control, TYLCV suppression, and reduced oviposition and nymph survival, comparable to current standards. The positive results observed in these greenhouse experiments with a high level of insect pressure (10× the field threshold of one adult per plant) and disease pressure (five adults per plant, with a high level of confidence that TYLCV virulent adults were used), indicate a great potential for cyantraniliprole to be used in a whitefly management program. Field evaluations of soil drench treatments confirmed the suppression of TYLCV transmission demonstrated in the greenhouse studies. Field studies in 2009 and 2010 showed that cyantraniliprole (200 SC) provided TYLCV suppression for 2 wk after a drench application, when using a susceptible (2009) or imidacloprid-tolerant (2010) whitefly population. Cyantraniliprole was demonstrated to be a promising tool for management of TYLCV in tomato production, which is very difficult and expensive, and which has limited options. The integration of cyantraniliprole into a resistance management program will help to ensure the continued sustainability of this and current insecticides used for the management of insect vectors, including whiteflies and the TYLCV they spreads.