Miel I is a 188 m high RCC dam in Colombia, at elevation 454 m a.s.l. The RCC mix has a cement content of 85 to 160 kg/m3. To meet contractual schedule, the original design of an upstream face made of slip formed reinforced concrete was changed to a Carpi drained exposed composite Polyvinylchloride geomembrane (= PVC geocomposite) system, placed on a 0.4 m thick zone of RCC material enriched with cement grout and vibrated. Placement of the geocomposite system in horizontal stages allowed starting of dam impoundment while RCC placement was still ongoing at higher elevation. The geocomposite system was completed in 2002, before finishing of complementary concrete works. ISAGEN, the owner of the dam, constantly monitors the dam’s and geocomposite system’s performance. The average leakage of the dam registered since the first impoundment of the reservoir has been of 2 l/s for the geocomposite’s drainage system, and of 25 l/s from the abutments. Such levels are below the design parameters that defined the maximum acceptable leakage through the geocomposite in 9.7 l/s and the maximum acceptable leakage through the abutments in 30 l/s. The measured leakage has never surpassed the historical values (with stable lecture through 11 years), or overcome the maximum allowed drainage design values defined during the design stage. After 11 years of good performance and operation, in summer 2013 ISAGEN decided to have a comprehensive monitoring of the general conditions and the weathering behaviour of the waterproofing geocomposite at Miel I. The objectives of the investigation were: assessing the reason of small cuts that had been detected and repaired (in total 15 in 11 years on a 31,000 square meters surface), assessing the conditions of the PVC geocomposite, ascertaining at which extent its characteristics had changed over service, and evaluating if the weathering behaviour was in accordance with the expected durability. Investigation started with inspection at the upstream face and in the drainage galleries, followed by sampling of the exposed PVC geocomposites. Testing in an independent laboratory allowed comparing the physical and chemical properties of the aged geocomposite sample collected at the dam with the physical and chemical properties of the same geocomposite as manufactured. Evaluation of test results, based also on most recent research on geomembrane weathering mechanisms, completed the investigation. Results confirmed that the behaviour of the PVC geocomposite is extremely good and fully in line with expectations. The paper, after a brief outline of the geocomposite system installed at the dam, will describe all steps of the investigation, and detail the test results and the conclusions drawn.

In this work, an hybrid, self-configurable, multilayered and evolutionary subsumption architecture for cognitive agents is developed. Each layer of the multilayered architecture is modeled by one different Machine Learning System (MLS) based on bio-inspired techniques such as Extended Classifier Systems (XCS), Artificial Immune Systems (AIS), Neuro Connectionist Q-Learning (NQL) and Learning Classifier Systems (LCS) among others. In this research an evolutionary mechanism based on Gene Expression Programming (GEP) to self-configure the behaviour arbitration between layers is suggested. In addition, a co-evolutionary mechanism to evolve behaviours in an independent and parallel fashion is used. The proposed approach was tested in an animat environment using a multi-agent platform and it exhibited several learning capabilities and emergent properties for self-configuring internal agent’s architecture.

The mechanisms and pathways by which nitrogen in its various forms is removed from waste stabilization ponds (WSP) have been a subject of much debate. In order to improve current understanding of the dynamics of inorganic and organic nitrogen removal in WSP systems, a study using stable nitrogen isotopes (15N) was undertaken on an experimental pilot-scale WSP system at Esholt Wastewater Treatment Works (Bradford, UK) in summer 2005 and 2006. A primary maturation pond was spiked with 15N-labelled ammonia (15NH4Cl) and 15N-labelled algae (Chlorella vulgaris) to track nitrogen transformations and removal associated with ammonia volatilization, nitrification, and algal uptake and its subsequent sedimentation and retention/hydrolysis in the sludge layer. Stable isotope analysis of 15N, in conjunction with performance indicators, revealed that total nitrogen is poorly removed (? 8%) but ammonium nitrogen removal is very good in summer (effluent concentration <2 mg NH4 + -N/L). The nitrogen cycle in maturation ponds is dominated by biological uptake as ammonium nitrogen is rapidly transformed into algal biomass as suspended organic nitrogen which then either leaves in the pond effluent or is sedimented as dead cells. Ammonia removal by volatilization makes little or no contribution to nitrogen removal and biological nitrate uptake prevents classical nitrification. Thus algal uptake of ammonium and subsequent sedimentation and retention in the sludge layer, after parti al ammonification of the algal organic nitrogen, appears to be the dominant mechanism for permanent nitrogen removal in maturation ponds during warm summer months in England.

Managing and arbitrating behaviours, processes and components in multilayered cognitive architectures when a huge amount of environmental variables are changing continuously with increasing complexity, ensue in a very comprehensive task. The presented framework proposes an hybrid cognitive architecture that relies on subsumption theory and includes some important extensions. These extensions can be condensed in inclusion of learning capabilities through bio-inspired reinforcement machine learning systems, an evolutionary mechanism based on gene expression programming to self-configure the behaviour arbitration between layers, a co-evolutionary mechanism to evolve behaviour repertories in a parallel fashion and finally, an aggregation mechanism to combine the learning algorithms outputs to improve the learning quality and increase the robustness and fault tolerance ability of the cognitive agent. The proposed architecture was proved in an animat environment using a multi-agent platform where several learning capabilities and emergent properties for self-configuring internal agent’s architecture arise.

I. Allegro molto appassionato (12 min. 52 sec.) / Mendelssohn -- II. Andante (07 min. 56 sec.) / Mendelssohn -- II. Allegretto non troppo - III. Allegro molto vivace (06 min. 56 sec.) / Mendelssohn -- I. Allegro (09 min. 04 sec.) / Mendelssohn -- II. Andante (09 min. 15 sec.) / Mendelssohn -- III. Allegro (03 min. 56 sec.) / Mendelssohn

I. Allegro (15 min. 13 sec.) / Bruckner -- II. Andante (12 min. 43 sec.) / Bruckner -- III. Scherzo: Presto - Trio: Langsamer und ruhiger (06 min. 49 sec.) / Bruckner -- IV. Finale: Moderato (11 min. 02 sec.) / Bruckner -- Helgoland in G Minor, WAB 71 (13 min. 49 sec.) / Bruckner -- Psalm 150, WAB 38 (08 min. 45 sec.) / Bruckner

I. Toccata (05 min. 42 sec.) / Stravinsky -- II. Aria I (04 min. 17 sec.) / Stravinsky -- III. Aria II (05 min. 53 sec.) / Stravinsky -- IV. Capriccio (06 min. 04 sec.) / Stravinsky -- I. Vivace assai - (06 min. 10 sec.) / Szymanowski -- II. Tempo comodo - Andantino - (05 min. 35 sec.) / Szymanowski -- III. Subito vivace assai scherzando (02 min. 57 sec.) / Szymanowski -- IV. Vivace assai (10 min. 45 sec.) / Szymanowski -- I. Moderato, molto tranquillo - (12 min. 22 sec.) / Szymanowski -- II. Allegramente, molto energico - (04 min. 45 sec.) / Szymanowski -- III. Andantino, molto tranquillo - (02 min. 23 sec.) / Szymanowski -- IV. Tempo I allegramente, animato (03 min. 14 sec.) / Szymanowski

I. Allegro non troppo (18 min. NaN sec.) / Brahms -- II. Adagio non troppo - L'istesso tempo, ma grazioso (12 min. 20 sec.) / Brahms -- III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andantino) - Presto ma non assai (06 min. 02 sec.) / Brahms -- IV. Allegro con spirito (11 min. 05 sec.) / Brahms

Sextet (06 min. 58 sec.) / Fitkin -- 1 - 100 (21 min. 59 sec.) / Nyman -- 16 (04 min. 41 sec.) / Seddon -- Which ever way your nose bends (03 min. 04 sec.) / Rackham

Requiem et Kyrie (11 min. 50 sec.) / Berlioz -- Dies Irae - Tuba Mirum (12 min. 27 sec.) / Berlioz -- Quid sum miser (03 min. 01 sec.) / Berlioz -- Rex tremendae (05 min. 46 sec.) / Berlioz -- Quaerens me (05 min. 31 sec.) / Berlioz -- Lacrimosa (11 min. 08 sec.) / Berlioz -- Domine Jesu Christe (08 min. 27 sec.) / Berlioz -- Hostias (03 min. 31 sec.) / Berlioz -- Sanctus (10 min. 35 sec.) / Berlioz -- Agnus Dei (12 min. 16 sec.) / Berlioz -- I. Harold aux Montagnes. Scenes de melancolie, de bonheur et de joie: Adagio (15 min. 07 sec.) / Berlioz -- II. Marche de pelerins chantant la priere du soir: Allegretto (07 min. 10 sec.) / Berlioz -- III. Serenade d'un montagnard des Abruzzes a sa maitresse: Allegro assai (06 min. 11 sec.) / Berlioz -- IV. Orgie de brigands. Souvenirs des scenes precedentes: Allegro frenetico (09 min. 16 sec.) / Berlioz