Intelligent Information-Gathering: Using Control for Sensing and Decision-Making

Information is everywhere and evolving, which necessitates both deliberate and efficient processing to acquire a good understanding of the dynamic situation, environment, or system of interest. Intelligent agents such as autonomous mobile sensors can control the way they gather information and thereby take advantage of feedback to improve the quality of that information. This approach reflects a shift from traditional "sensing for control" notions to "control for sensing" methods for addressing information-based objectives. This thesis presents several algorithms for distributed sensing tasks in the context of a team of mobile sensing agents. Applications of these types of mobile sensor networks include target tracking, dynamic environment monitoring, and distributed classification. These methods point beyond the use of sensory data for control and toward a framework for using control to improve information-based decisions made by intelligent agents. The sequential decision-theoretic framework presented herein has relevant applications in engineered systems such as search and rescue using a robotic team, as well as potential connections to natural systems including search strategies in the human vision system

Exercise vs Calcium Intake – The Best Strategy to Reduce Hip Fracture Risk

Background: Hip fractures are a growing problem in Canada and account for approximately 35% of all fall-related hospitalizations among seniors aged 65 and older. Exercise and calcium supplements have been shown to decrease the risk associated with hip fractures. However, most studies do not exclusively compare the associations between exercise and calcium intake as preventative strategies to reduce hip fracture risk. Objective: To summarize relevant literature and critically assess the evidence to determine the best preventative strategy to reduce hip fracture risk by assessing its relationship with exercise and calcium intake. Methods: A literature review of studies published between 1988 to 2015 was conducted using Medline and Cochrane Reviews. Keywords included “Risk of Hip Fractures” AND “Exercise” or “Physical Activity”, “Risk of Hip Fractures” AND “Calcium”, “Prevention” AND “Intervention” AND “Risk of Hip Fractures”. Exempted studies were those that focused on populations with osteoporosis and fall risk, or lacked relative risk measurements; the remaining nine articles were examined. Results: The majority of studies indicated negative associations between exercise and hip fractures, and mixed associations between calcium intake and hip fracture risk. Conclusion: Although the majority of studies concluded a negative association between exercise and hip fracture risk, there were mixed results for calcium intake that could be explained by an addition of vitamin D intake. Only a few studies included multiple preventative strategies to assess hip fracture risk, however, there are no studies that specifically examine the relationship between exercise and calcium intake and hip fracture risk. Further studies are required to make definitive conclusions

Coffee and Coronary Heart Disease, is there a relationship?

Context: Coffee has been shown to increase the risk factors associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including serum cholesterol, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and plasma homocysteine; however studies examining the association between coffee consumption and CHD have been inconclusive. Objective: To determine if there is a relationship between coffee consumption and development of CHD among adults. Methods: A literature review of studies published between the years 2000 to 2015, using PubMed and Medline, with the titles containing the keywords “Coffee” AND “Coronary Heart Disease”, “Coffee” AND “Artery”, or “Coffee” AND “Coronary” was conducted. Review articles, editorials, and studies conducted on clinical subpopulations were excluded; the ten articles which remained were examined. Results: While the majority of case-control studies demonstrate a positive association between coffee consumption and CHD, most cohort studies have reported no such association. Conclusions: Inconclusive results may be explained by the acute detrimental effects of coffee on coronary events, rather than a long-term adverse effect of coffee consumption