61 research outputs found
New electric utility management and control systems : proceedings of conference, held in Boxborough, Massachusetts, May 30-June 1, 1979
Get PDF"This work was supported by the Center for Energy Policy Research and the Electric Power Systems Engineering Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
HIV status, breastfeeding modality at 5 months and postpartum maternal weight changes over 24 months in rural South Africa
Get PDFObjective:
To determine the effect of infant feeding practices on postpartum weight change among HIV-infected and -uninfected women in South Africa.<p></p>
Methods:
In a non-randomised intervention cohort study of antiretroviral therapy-naïve women in South Africa, infants were classified as exclusive (EBF), mixed (MF) or non-breastfed (NBF) at each visit. We analysed infant feeding cumulatively from birth to 5 months using 24-hour feeding history (collected weekly for each of the preceding 7 days). Using generalised estimating equation mixed models, allowing for repeated measures, we compared postpartum weight change (kg) from the first maternal postpartum weight within the first 6 weeks (baseline weight) to each subsequent visit through 24 months among 2340 HIV-infected and -uninfected women with live births and at least two postpartum weight measurements.<p></p>
Results:
HIV-infected (−0.2 kg CI: −1.7 to 1.3 kg; P = 0.81) and -uninfected women (−0.5 kg; 95% CI: −2.1 to 1.2 kg; P = 0.58) had marginal non-significant weight loss from baseline to 24 months postpartum. Adjusting for HIV status, socio-demographic, pregnancy-related and infant factors, 5-month feeding modality was not significantly associated with postpartum weight change: weight change by 24 months postpartum, compared to the change in the reference EBF group, was 0.03 kg in NBF (95% CI: −2.5 to +2.5 kg; P = 0.90) and 0.1 kg in MF (95% CI: −3.0 to +3.2 kg; P = 0.78).<p></p>
Conclusion:
HIV-infected and -uninfected women experienced similar weight loss over 24 months. Weight change postpartum was not associated with 5-month breastfeeding modality among HIV-infected and -uninfected women
Doing the laundry with agents: a field trial of a future smart energy system in the home
Get PDFFuture energy systems that rely on renewable energy may bring about a radical shift in how we use energy in our homes. We developed and prototyped a future scenario with highly variable, real-time electricity prices due to a grid that mainly relies on renewables. We designed and deployed an agent-based interactive system that enables users to effectively operate the washing machine in this scenario. The system is used to book timeslots of washing machine use so that the agent can help to minimize the cost of a wash by charging a battery at times when electricity is cheap. We carried out a deployment in 10 households in order to uncover the socio-technical challenges around integrating new technologies into everyday routines. The findings reveal tensions that arise when deploying a rationalistic system to manage contingently and socially organized domestic practices. We discuss the trade-offs between utility and convenience inherent in smart grid applications; and illustrate how certain design choices position applications along this spectrum
Artificial Hormone Network for Adaptable Robots
Get PDFWith current robotic technologies, it generally remains unreliable to use fully autonomous robots in high-risk robotic applications such as search and rescue, surveillance or exploration in disaster scenarios. One of the main issues comes from the fact that unstructured real-world environments are dynamic and full of interventions. Therefore, for autonomous robots to operate in such environments, the ability to adapt to both internal and external environmental changes is crucial. Being unable to deal with such changes not only could downgrade the performance of the robots but also potentially cause devastating consequences in risky environments. Looking towards nature, it can be observed that biological organisms can cope well with the dynamic unpredictability of real-world environments. One of the key properties which assist biological organisms is the ability to adapt to changing environments by the utilization of hormones in response to environmental cues. This biological feature provides an inspiration for this research which investigates a novel Artificial Hormone Network architecture in providing adaptability for autonomous robots to deal with both internal and external environmental changes in simulations of unstructured real-world environments. The Artificial Hormone Network architecture proposes a new method which allows constructions and interactions of several hormones in order to provide adaptability for autonomous robots in different application scenarios. Two Artificial Hormone Networks (AHN1 and AHN2) are proposed and investigated in this research. Results from experiments correspondingly report better performance in dealing with considered internal and external environmental changes on a robot implemented with the Artificial Hormone Networks than a robot implemented without them. Another important aspect of the Artificial Hormone Network architecture is the ability to be constructed automatically to provide particular adaptability using Cartesian Genetic Programming. Experiment results show that the construction of Artificial Hormone Networks can be evolved and that this evolved system not only performed to a level of adaptability that was acceptable but actually performed better than the “hand-coded” system
Towards The Evolution Of An Artificial Homeostatic System
No full textThis paper presents an artificial homeostatic system (AHS) devoted to the autonomous navigation of mobile robots, with emphasis on neuro-endocrine interactions. The AHS is composed of two modules, each one associated with a particular reactive task and both implemented using an extended version of the GasNet neural model, denoted spatially unconstrained GasNet model or simply non-spatial GasNet (NS-GasNet). There is a coordination system, which is responsible for the specific role of each NSGasNet at a given operational condition. The switching among the NSGasNets is implemented as an artificial endocrine system (AES), which is based on a system of coupled nonlinear difference equations. The NSGasNets are synthesized by means of an evolutionary algorithm. The obtained neuro-endocrine controller is adopted in simulated and real benchmark applications, and the additional flexibility provided by the use of NSGasNet, together with the existence of an automatic coordination system, guides to convincing levels of performance. © 2008 IEEE.40234030Haykin, S., (1999) Neural Networks: A Comprehensive Foundation, , Prentice Hall, 2nd editionNeal, M., Timmis, J., Timidity: A useful mechanism for robot control (2003) Informatica, 7, pp. 197-203P. A. Vargas, R. C. Moioli, L, N. Castro, J. Timmis, M, Neal, and F.J. Von Zuben. Artificial homeostatic system: a novel approach. In Proceedings of the VIIIth European Conference on Artificial Life, 2005Besendovsky, H.O., Del Rey, A., Immune-neuro-endocrine interactions: Facts and hypotheses (1996) Endocrine Reviews, 17, pp. 64-102Levine, D.S., (1998) Explorations in Common Sense and Common Nonsense, , http://www.uta.edu/psychology/faculty/levine/EBOOK/index.htm, On-line bookCannon, W.B., Organization for physiological homeostasis (1929) Physiological Review, 9, pp. 399-431Pfeifer, R., Scheier, C., (1999) Understanding Intelligence, , MIT PressAshby, W.R., (1960) Design for a Brain: The Origin of Adaptive Behaviour, , London: Chapman and HallDi Paolo, E.A., Homeostatic adaptation to inversion of the visual field and other sensorimotor disruptions (2000) From Animals to Animals, Proc. of the Sixth International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior, SAB'2000, pp. 440-449. , MIT PressHarvey, I., Homeostasis and rein control: From daisyworld to active perception (2004) Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of Living Systems, ALIFE9, , MIT PressWelch, R.B., Research on adaptation to rearranged vision (1974) Perception, 3, pp. 367-392(1984) Sensory Experience, Adaptation and Perception: A Festschrift for ho Kohler, , L. Spillman and B. Wooten, editors, Lawrence ErlbaumHoinville, T., Hnaff, P., Comparative study of two homeostatic mechanisms in evolved neural controllers for legged locomotion (2004) Proccedings of 2004 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and SystemsMcClintic, J.R., (1975) Basic Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body, , J. Wiley & SonsPurves, W.K., Heller, H.C., Orians, G.H., Sadava, D., Life: The Science of Biology (2001) IE-Macmillan UK, , 6th editionTimmis, J., Neal, M., Once More Unto the Breach: Towards Artificial Homeostasis (2004) Recent Developments in Biologically Inspired Computing, pp. 340-366. , L. N. de Castro and F. J. Von Zuben editors, Idea Group Inc. Chapter XIVNolfi, S., Floreano, D., (2004) Evolutionary Robotics: The Biology, Intelligence, and Technology of Self-Organizing Machines, , MIT PressJakobi, N., Evolutionary robotics and the radical envelope of noise hypothesis (1998) Adaptive Behaviour, 6, pp. 325-368Jakobi, N., Running across the reality gap: Octopod locomotion evolved in a minimal simulation (1998) Evolutionary Robotics: First European Workshop, EvoRobot98, pp. 39-58. , Husbands, P. and Meyer, J.-A, editors, Springer-VerlagRumelhart, D.E., McClelland, J.L., Parallel Distributed Processing: Explorations in the Microstructure of Cognition (1986) Foundations, 1. , and The PDP Research Group, The MIT PressMcClelland, J.L., Rumelhart, D.E., Parallel Distributed Processing: Explorations in the Microsiructure of Cognition (1986) Psychological and Biological Models, 2. , and The PDF Research Group, The MTT PressChurchland, P., Sejnowski, T.J., (1994) The Computational Brain, , MTT PressO'Reilly, R.C., Munakata, Y., (2000) Computational Explorations in Cognitive Neuroscience: Understanding the Mind by Simulating the Brain, , MIT PressDayan, P., Abbot, L.F., (2001) Theoretical Neuroscience: Computational and Mathematical Modelling of Neural Systems, , MIT PressHusbands, P., Smith, T., Jakobi, N., OShea, M., Better living through chemistry: Evolving GasNets for robot control (1998) Connection Science, 10, pp. 185-210Vargas, P.A., Di Paolo, E.A., Husbands, P., Preliminary investigations on the evolvability of a non-spatial GasNet model (2007) Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Artificial life ECAL 2007, , Springer-VerlagYao, X., Evolving artificial neural networks (1999) Proceedings of the IEEE, 87, pp. 1423-1447Yao, X., Liu, Y., Fast evolution strategies (1997) Control Cybern, 26, pp. 467-496Fogel, D.B., Fogel, L.J., Porto, V.W., Evolving neural networks (1990) Biological Cybern, 63, pp. 487-493Whitley, D., Starkweather, T., Bogart, C., Genetic algorithms and neural networks: Optimizing connections and connectivity (1990) Parallel Compute, 14, pp. 347-361Husbands, P., Evolving robot behaviours with diffusing gas networks (1998) Evolutionary Robotics: First European Workshop, EvoRobot98, pp. 71-86. , Springer-VerlagSmith, T.M.C., (2002) The Evolvability of Artificial Neural Networks for Robot Control, , PhD thesis, CCNR, Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, UKPhilippides, A., Husbands, P., Smith, T., O'Shea, M., Flexible couplings: Diffusing neuromodulators and adaptive robotics (2005) Artificial Life, 11, pp. 139-160KTEAM, S.A., (2007), http://www.k-team.comStorm, T., Kiks, a Khepera simulator for Matlab 5.3 and 6.0, , http://theodor.zoomin.se/index/2866.htmlCollins, R., Jefferson, D., Selection in massively parallel genetic algorithms (1991) Proccedings of the Fourth Intl Conf. on Genetic Algorithms, ICGA-91, pp. 249-256. , Morgan KaufmannHillis, W.D., Co-evolving parasites improve simulated evolution as an optimization procedure (1990) Physica D, 42, pp. 228-23
Artificial Homeostatic System: A Novel Approach
No full textMany researchers are developing frameworks inspired by natural, especially biological, systems to solve complex real-world problems. This work extends previous work in the field of biologically inspired computing, proposing an artificial endocrine system for autonomous robot navigation. Having intrinsic self-organizing behaviour, the novel artificial endocrine system can be applied to a wide range of problems, particularly those that involve decision making under changing environmental conditions, such as autonomous robot navigation. This work draws on "embodied cognitive science", including the study of intelligence, adaptivity, homeostasis, and the dynamic aspects of cognition, in order to help lay down fundamental principles and techniques for a novel approach to more biologically plausible artificial homeostatic systems. Results from using the artificial endocrine system to control a simulated robot are presented. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.3630 LNAI754764Besendovsky, H.O., Del Rey, A., Immune-neuro-endocrine interactions: Facts and hypotheses (1996) Endocrine Reviews, 17 (1), pp. 64-102Brooks, R., Breazeal, C., Embodied Intelligence, , in press Cambridge, MA, MIT PressBrooks, R., (1991) Intelligence Without Representation, 47, pp. 139-160. , AIBrooks, R., Intelligence without reason (1991) Proceedings of the 12th Int. Joint Conference on AI, , J. Mylopoulos and R. Reiter (Eds.) Morgan KaufmannDe Castro, L.N., Timmis, J., The immune system in context with other biological systems (2002) Artificial Immune Systems: A New Computational Intelligence Approach, , Chapter 5 Springer-Verlag: LondonDorigo, M., Colombetti, M., (1997) Robot Shaping: An Experiment in Behavior Engineering (Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents), , MIT PressFloreano, D., Mondada, F., Evolution of homing navigation in a real mobile robot (1995) IEEE Transactions on System, Man and CyberneticsFloreano, D., Mondada, F., From evolution of innate behaviours to evolution of learning in robotics agents (1995) Technical Report R95.06I, , Laboratory of Microcomputing, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at Lausanne(1996) Comprehensive Human Physiology, 1-2. , Greger, R. and Windhorst, U. eds. SpringerGuyton, A.C., Hall, J.E., (1996) Textbook of Medical Physiology, 9th Ed., , W. B. Saunders Company, PhiladelphiaHaykin, S., (1999) Neural Networks: A Comprehensive Foundation, 2nd, , Prentice HallKlopf, A.H., (1982) The Hedonistic Neuron: A Theory of Memory, Learning, and Intelligence, , Washington: Hemisphere(2003), URL:http://www.k-team.comMcClintic, J.R., (1975) Basic Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body, , J.Wiley & SonsMcClintic, J.R., (1985) Physiology of the Human Body, 3rd Ed., , John Wiley & SonsNeal, M., Timmis, J., Timidity: A useful mechanism for robot control? (2003) Informatica, 27 (4), pp. 197-204Nolfi, S., Floreano, D., (2000) Evolutionary Robotics: The Biology, Intelligence, and Technology of Self-organizing Machines, , The MIT PressPerretta, S.J., Gallagher, J.C., (2003) The Java Khepera Simulator from the Wright State University, , http://ehrg.cs.wright.edu/ksim/ksim.html, Ohio, USAPfeifer, R., Scheier, C., (1999) Understanding Intelligence, , MIT PressPurves, W.K., Heller, H.C., Orians, G.H., Sadava, D., (2001) Life: The Science of Biology, 6th Edition, , IE-Macmillan UKThagard, P., (1996) Mind: Introduction to Cognitive Science, , The MIT Press, USATimmis, J., Neal, M., Once more unto the breach: Towards artificial homeostasis (2004) Recent Developments in Biologically Inspired Computing, pp. 340-366. , L. N. de Castro and F. .J. Von Zuben, Idea Group Inc., Chapter XI
Fertility as a process of social exchange
Get PDFBy marrying and raising children, parents participate in a system of gift-exchange in which the gifts in question are human lives, and the parties to the exchange are the kinship groups recognised in the society concerned. Fertility reflects the attitudes of prospective parents to their place in the existing system of reproductive exchange, and the relationships of cooperation and authority which it implies - as well as their confidence in the system’s continuing viability. It is shown that this view is compatible with earlier ideas about self-regulating population systems - and that changing economic circumstances are an important source of discrepancy between existing exchange systems and the attitudes and expectations of prospective parents. The discussion is developed with reference to data on European societies, including a case-study from the Alps, and concludes with an assessment of the relevance of the anthropological theory of gift exchange to contemporary fertility patterns in Europe and beyond.anthropological demography, cooperation, exchange marriage, fertility, homeostatic population regulation, reciprocity, second demographic transition
Salivary markers quantification of oxidative stress in patients with periodontitis, before and after intensive periodontal treatment: a one-blinded, randomized, clinical trial
No full textAIM: The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of electric or sonic toothbrushes on periodontal inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled, one-blind study was conducted. Patients in the test group used sonic toothbrushes (Sonicare FlexCare with ProResults brush head, HX6011, Philips Oral Healthcare Inc, Bothell, Wash), whereas those in the control group used electric toothbrushes (Oral B Professional Care Triumph 4000, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio). Periodontal status was recorded at baseline and 3 months. In total, 60 patients were recruited for the study at baseline. Plaque Index (PI) and Loe and Silness Gingival Index (GI) were used. Student’s t-test repeated was used to compare the mean PI and GI scores obtained between the test and control groups at each time point. RESULTS: In total, 56 subjects completed the study. Significant differences were recorded between the two groups for periodontal parameters at 3 months. In addition, the indices of group Sonic were significantly reduced at 3 months compared to the Roto-oscillatory Group (P <.005). CONCLUSION: Sonic toothbrush reduced parameters of periodontal inflammation more effectively than the electric toothbrush. © by BIOLIFE, s.a.s.
Author keywords
electric toothbrush; gingival inflammation; manual toothbrus; powered toothbrush; sonic toothbrus
Acute glutamine ingestion modulates lymphocytic responses to exhaustive exercise in the heat
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to determine if acute intake of glutamine modulates homeostatic, hematologic, immune, and inflammatory responses to exhaustive exercise in the heat. Thirteen healthy untrained young men participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. They served as their own control and completed two trials of treadmill exercise at 40% VO2max to exhaustion in a hot environment (38.0 ± 1.0 °C, 60.0 ± 5.0 % relative humidity, and 20.8% oxygen) following placebo (PLA) and glutamine (GLN) consumption. Heart rate, gastrointestinal temperature, forehead temperature, the rating of perceived exertion, and body weight were measured. Blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise. After exhaustive exercise in the heat (PLA vs. GLN: 42.0 ± 9.5 vs. 39.6 ± 7.8 min, p>0.05), significant changes in homeostatic, hematologic, and immune parameters (elevated natural killer [NK] cells and neutrophils, and reduced CD4+/CD8+ ratio and CD19+ lymphocytes) were found in the control group due to the time effect (pThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Meal-time Matters: An 8-week Randomized Control Trial to Examine the Effects of a Daily 18-hour Fast on Diet Quality in College Students
No full textabstract: ABSTRACT
Background. College students’ modifiable health behaviors, including unhealthful eating patterns, predispose them to risk for future cardiometabolic conditions.
Purpose. This novel 8-week randomized control parallel-arm study compared the effects of a daily 18-hour Time-Restricted Feeding protocol vs. an 8-hour fast on diet quality in college students. Secondary outcomes were resting morning blood pressure, biomarkers of glucose regulation, biomarkers of lipid metabolism, and anthropometric measures.
Methods. Eighteen healthy college students (age = 23 ± 4 years; BMI = 23.2 ± 2.3 kg/m2; MET = 58.8 ± 32.9 min/wk) completed this study. Participants were randomized to a daily 18-hour fasting protocol (Intervention; n = 8) or a daily 8-hour fasting protocol (Control; n = 10) for eight weeks. One ‘cheat’ day was permitted each week. Outcomes were measured at weeks 0 (baseline), 4, and 8. A non-parametric Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the week 4 change from baseline between groups. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.
Results. Diet quality (p = 0.030) and body weight (p = 0.016) improved from baseline to week 4 for the INV group in comparison to the CON group. The data suggest these improvements may be related to reductions in snacking frequency and increased breakfast consumption. Fasting blood glucose and hip circumference tended to improve for the INV group in comparison to the CON group (p = 0.091 and p = 0.100). However, saturated fat intake tended to increase in the INV group in comparison to the CON group (p = 0.064). Finally, there were no treatment differences between groups (p>0.05) for the 4-week change in total calories, dietary vitamin C, added sugars, resting systolic blood pressure, resting diastolic blood pressure, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, waist circumference, or MET.
Conclusion. These data, although preliminary, suggest that the 18-hour fasting protocol was effective for improving diet quality and reducing weight in comparison to the 8-hour fasting protocol in healthy college students. Future intervention trials will need to confirm these findings and determine the long-term relevance of these improvements for health outcomes.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Nutrition 202
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