Abstract
In this work, the analytical use of facilitated ion transfer of catecholamines by dibenzo-18-crown-6 was investigated at the water/1,6-dichlorohexane interface using electrochemical methods (cyclic and square wave voltammetry). The experimental conditions for the analytical determination of noradrenaline and dopamine were established and detection limits of 1.7 and 0.35µM were obtained, respectively. The effect of excess ascorbic acid on the transfer and detection of the two catecholamines was investigated. The selectivity coefficients obtained for dopamine and noradrenaline in the presence of ascorbic acid were 3.5×10-4 and 2.5×10-3, respectively. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Abstract
Mechanizing the development of hard-to-write and costly-to-maintain software is the core problem of automated software design. Encoding expert knowledge (a. k. a. dark knowledge) about a software domain is central to its solution. We assert that a solution can be cast in terms of the ideas of language design and engineering. Graph grammars can be a foundation for modern automated software development. The sentences of a grammar are designs of complex dataflow systems. We explain how graph grammars provide a framework to encode expert knowledge, produce correct-by-construction derivations of dataflow applications, enable the generation of high-performance code, and improve how software design of dataflow applications can be taught to undergraduates.

Abstract
This paper proposes a novel agent-based approach to Meta-Heuristics self-configuration. Meta-heuristics are algorithms with parameters which need to be set up as efficient as possible in order to unsure its performance. A learning module for self-parameterization of Meta-heuristics (MH) in a Multi-Agent System (MAS) for resolution of scheduling problems is proposed in this work. The learning module is based on Case-based Reasoning (CBR) and two different integration approaches are proposed. A computational study is made for comparing the two CBR integration perspectives. Finally, some conclusions are reached and future work outlined. © 2013, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Abstract

Abstract
A magneto-optical sensor, using a dual quadrature polarimetric processing scheme, was evaluated for current metering and protection applications in high voltage lines. Sensor calibration and resolution were obtained in different operational conditions using illumination in the 1550-nm band. Results obtained indicated the feasibility of interrogating such sensor via the optical ground wire (OPGW) link installed in standard high power grids. The polarimetric bulk optical current sensor also was theoretically studied, and the effects of different sources of error considering practical deployment were evaluated. In particular, the interference from external magnetic fields in a tree-phase system was analyzed. © 2012 The Author(s).

Abstract
An analytical model based on geometrical optics and multilayer transfer matrix method is applied to determine the sensing properties of tapered optical fiber based SPR sensors incorporating bimetallic (Gold and Silver) layers, particularly when phase interrogation is considered. Phase interrogation is studied as a methodology to attain enhanced sensitivities. The performance of the sensing heads as function of the bimetallic layers and taper parameters is analyzed. It is shown the bimetallic combination is capable to provide larger values of sensitivity compared with the single layer approach. The results derived from this study are guiding the experimental study of these structures.