Abstract
Speedup in distributed executions of Constraint Logic Programming (CLP) applications are directed related to a good constraint partitioning algorithm. In this work we study different mechanisms to distribute constraints to processors based on straightforward mechanisms such as Round-Robin and Block distribution, and on a more sophisticated automatic distribution method, Grouping-Sink, that takes into account the connectivity of the constraint network graph. This aims at reducing the communication overhead in distributed environments. Our results show that Grouping-Sink is, in general, the best alternative for partitioning constraints as it produces results as good or better than Round-Robin or Blocks with low communication rate.

Abstract
This paper presents a topic map approach to PubMed in order to create a knowledge representation for this information system. PubMed is a free search engine that gives very full coverage of the related biomedical sciences. With more than 17 millions of citations since 1865, PubMed users have several problems to find the papers desired. So, it is necessary to organize these concepts in a semantic network. To achieve this objective, we use the Metamorphosis system, choosing the keywords from MeSH ontology. This way, we obtain an ontological index for PubMed, making easier to find specific papers. Copyright © 2007 Giovani Rubert Librelotto, Henrique Tamiosso Machado, Mirkos Martins, Pedro Gabriel Dias Ferreira, José Carlos Ramalho, and Pedro Rangel Henriques.

Abstract

Abstract
Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the lateralizing significance of ictal head movements of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Methods: We investigated EEG-video recorded seizures of patients with TLE, in which the camera position was perpendicular to the head facing the camera in an upright position and bilateral head movement was recorded. Thirty-eight seizures (31 patients) with head movement in both directions were investigated. Ipsilateral and contralateral head movements were defined according to ictal EEG. Head movements were quantified by selecting the movement of the nose in relation to a defined point on the thorax (25/s) in a defined plane facing the camera. The duration of the head version was determined independently of the camera angle. The angle, duration, and angular speed of the head movements were computed and inter and intrasubject analyses were performed (Wilcoxon rank sum). Results: Ipsilateral movement always preceded contralateral movement. The positive predictive value was 100% for movement in both directions. The duration of contralateral head version was significantly longer than ipsilateral head movement (6.4 +/- 4.1 s vs. 3.9 +/- 3.1 s, p < 0.001). The angular speed of both movements was similar (15.5 +/- 12.1 deg/s vs. 17.3 +/- 13.0 deg/s). Conclusion: The quantitative analysis shows the importance of sequence in the seizure's evolution and duration, but not angular speed for correct lateralization of versive head movement. This quantitative method shows the high lateralizing value of ictal lateral head movements in TLE.

Abstract
In this paper we study a heat diffusion system on a fractional calculus perspective. Bearing theses ideas in mind, several fractional PID tuning methodologies are investigated and compared. The simulations demonstrate the good performance of the proposed fractional-order algorithm.

Abstract
This work presents a methodology for modelling and simulating aquatic ecological systems and an associated methodology and software for creating Decision Support Systems (DSS) for this kind of environment. Both are based on object oriented programming (OOP) and, in the case of the DSS, on Autonomous Intelligent Agents. The modelling software (EcoDynamo) includes several object dynamic link libraries to simulate different physical and biogeochemical ecosystem processes. These libraries were designed to be possible their linkage with different model shells, for the sake of portability and usability. A high level communication language (ECOLANG) was developed to allow the communication between EcoDynamo and the agents. The DSS uses one methodology of discrete multi-criteria, where given a users preference structure (elicited with the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology - AHP), a priority ranking of the preprocessed scenarios is achieved. To validate the approach, EcoDynamo was used with the DSS to simulate different management scenarios in a coastal lagoon at the South of Portugal - Ria Formosa. The experiments performed showed that these tools may be widely used by people involved in the management of coastal areas to integrate environmental, economic and social issues in the decision process, without an in-depth knowledge of modelling methodologies.