Self-organized space partitioning for multi-agent optimization

In conjunction with AAMAS 2013. http://www.emse.fr/~picard/publications/vplh13optmas.pdfInternational audienceIn this paper we explore the use of multi-agent systems to tackle optimization problems in which each point is expensive to get and there are multiple local optima. The proposed strategy dynamically partitions the search space between several agents that use different surrogates to approximate their subregion landscape. Agents coordinate by exchanging points to compute their surrogate and by modifying the boundaries of their subregions. Through a self-organized process of creation and deletion, agents adapt the partition as to exploit potential local optima and explore unknown regions. The overarching goal of this technique is to all local optima rather than just the global one. The rationale behind this is to assign adequate surrogate to each subregion so that (i) optimization is cheaper, (ii) the overall optimization process is not only global in scope but also stabilizes on local optima and (iii) the final partitioning provides a better understanding of the optimization problem

Engineering Music to Slow Breathing and Invite Relaxed Physiology

We engineered an interactive music system that influences a user's breathing rate to induce a relaxation response. This system generates ambient music containing periodic shifts in loudness that are determined by the user's own breathing patterns. We evaluated the efficacy of this music intervention for participants who were engaged in an attention-demanding task, and thus explicitly not focusing on their breathing or on listening to the music. We measured breathing patterns in addition to multiple peripheral and cortical indicators of physiological arousal while users experienced three different interaction designs: (1) a "Fixed Tempo" amplitude modulation rate at six beats per minute; (2) a "Personalized Tempo" modulation rate fixed at 75\% of each individual's breathing rate baseline, and (3) a "Personalized Envelope" design in which the amplitude modulation matches each individual's breathing pattern in real-time. Our results revealed that each interactive music design slowed down breathing rates, with the "Personalized Tempo" design having the largest effect, one that was more significant than the non-personalized design. The physiological arousal indicators (electrodermal activity, heart rate, and slow cortical potentials measured in EEG) showed concomitant reductions, suggesting that slowing users' breathing rates shifted them towards a more calmed state. These results suggest that interactive music incorporating biometric data may have greater effects on physiology than traditional recorded music.Comment: Accepted at 2019 8th International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction (ACII

An agent approach to finding local optima and other ideas about distributed resolution of optimization problems

http://www.emse.fr/~leriche/fayol2013-noanim.pdfInvited Seminar at Institut Henri Fayo

Squaring the engineering optimization circle : distributed global optimization algorithms for computationally expensive problems

http://www.emse.fr/~leriche/rio2012_LeRiche.pdfNational audienc

Exhaustive analysis of BH4 and dopamine biosynthesis genes in patients with Dopa-responsive dystonia

Dopa-responsive dystonia is a childhood-onset dystonic disorder, characterized by a dramatic response to low dose of l-Dopa. Dopa-responsive dystonia is mostly caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the GCH1 gene (GTP cyclohydrolase1) and more rarely by autosomal recessive mutations in the TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) or SPR (sepiapterin reductase) genes. In addition, mutations in the PARK2 gene (parkin) which causes autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism may present as Dopa-responsive dystonia. In order to evaluate the relative frequency of the mutations in these genes, but also in the genes involved in the biosynthesis and recycling of BH4, and to evaluate the associated clinical spectrum, we have studied a large series of index patients (n = 64) with Dopa-responsive dystonia, in whom dystonia improved by at least 50% after l-Dopa treatment. Fifty seven of these patients were classified as pure Dopa-responsive dystonia and seven as Dopa-responsive dystonia-plus syndromes. All patients were screened for point mutations and large rearrangements in the GCH1 gene, followed by sequencing of the TH and SPR genes, then PTS (pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase), PCBD (pterin-4a-carbinolamine dehydratase), QDPR (dihydropteridin reductase) and PARK2 (parkin) genes. We identified 34 different heterozygous point mutations in 40 patients, and six different large deletions in seven patients in the GCH1 gene. Except for one patient with mental retardation and a large deletion of 2.3 Mb encompassing 10 genes, all patients had stereotyped clinical features, characterized by pure Dopa-responsive dystonia with onset in the lower limbs and an excellent response to low doses of l-Dopa. Dystonia started in the first decade of life in 40 patients (85%) and before the age of 1 year in one patient (2.2%). Three of the 17 negative GCH1 patients had mutations in the TH gene, two in the SPR gene and one in the PARK2 gene. No mutations in the three genes involved in the biosynthesis and recycling of BH4 were identified. The clinical presentations of patients with mutations in TH and SPR genes were strikingly more complex, characterized by mental retardation, oculogyric crises and parkinsonism and they were all classified as Dopa-responsive dystonia-plus syndromes. Patient with mutation in the PARK2 gene had Dopa-responsive dystonia with a good improvement with l-Dopa, similar to Dopa-responsive dystonia secondary to GCH1 mutations. Although the yield of mutations exceeds 80% in pure Dopa-responsive dystonia and Dopa-responsive dystonia-plus syndromes groups, the genes involved are clearly different: GCH1 in the former and TH and SPR in the late

Tourism and autism: Journeys of mixed emotions

There is an evolving tourism literature around psychological wellbeing, social exclusion and disability. This paper advances tourism knowledge into the terrain of psychological health and developmental complexities, and psychological distress. It draws on a phe-nomenological position to understand the lived experiences of mothers of children with developmental difficulties, in this case diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It discusses the emotional and everyday challenges of caring for a child diagnosed with ASD on holiday, discusses the perceived benefits holidays offer and outlines care-giving strategies adopted by mothers to manage their children’s tourism experiences. The paper discusses the uniqueness of the context of autism and problematizes popular discourses, which predominantly frame tourism as pleasurable settings of escape, stimulation, novelty and relaxation

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Production et perception des émotions chez les patients paralysés faciaux : marqueurs respiratoires, phonatoires et expressivité faciale

Bell’s palsy impacts patients’ communication. As patients are unable to smile symmetrically, they have difficulties to convey their emotions during social interactions. The main objective of this thesis was to identify markers of Bell’s palsy during emotional contagion. We studied the respiration, the phonation and the facial motor skills of 60 patients with Bell’s palsy. First, we observed an increases of respiratory rate, a usual sign of a stress episode, in patients with postparalytic hemispasm (F(57)=6.49, p=.0014). Then, we analysed the production and perception of emotional prosody in Bell’s palsy. The more severe the facial palsy, the more patients increased their speech rate (F(59)=7,589, p=.008). In addition, patients who did not correctly identify auditory smile had more severe facial palsy (Z=2.733, p=.006). Finally, we confirmed emotion perception difficulties in Bell’s palsy. Arousal of facial expression of joy decreased when the patients’ smiles were asymmetric (F(59)=5.502, p=.022). Based on these results, we developed a model of emotional contagion in Bell’s palsy, according to Prochazkova & Kret’s (2017) new model of emotional contagion. We suggested perspectives for improving the social interactions of patients with Bell’s palsy and their healthcare.La paralysie faciale périphérique idiopathique (PFPI) altère la communication verbale et nonverbale des patients. L’objectif principal de ce travail de thèse consistait en l’identification d’un ou plusieurs marqueurs de la PFPI lors de la contagion émotionnelle. Nous nous sommes particulièrement intéressés aux implications respiratoires, vocales et faciales de la contagion de l’émotion, auprès de 60 patients présentant une PFPI. Dans une première étude, nous avons observé une accélération de la fréquence respiratoire, signe habituel d’un épisode de stress, en cas d’hémispasme séquellaire (F(57)=6,49, p=0,0014) et de difficultés de perception des émotions faciales (F(58)=13,10, p<0,001). Notre deuxième étude portait sur la production et la perception de la prosodie émotionnelle. Plus la PFPI était sévère, plus les patients accéléraient leur débit de parole (F(59)=7,589, p=0,008). De plus, les patients n’identifiant pas correctement les expressions vocales de joie (sourire sonore), présentaient une PFPI plus sévère (Z=2,733, p=0,006). Finalement, nous avons confirmé les difficultés de perception des émotions des patients PFPI par modification de leur rétroaction faciale. Plus le sourire des patients était asymétrique, plus la perception de l’expression faciale de joie était émoussée (F(59)=5,502, p=0,022). À partir de ces résultats, nous avons développé un modèle de contagion émotionnelle appliquée à la PFPI, où nous y suggérions des perspectives d’optimisation des interactions sociales des patients