Generating Interpretable Fuzzy Controllers using Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Programming

Autonomously training interpretable control strategies, called policies, using pre-existing plant trajectory data is of great interest in industrial applications. Fuzzy controllers have been used in industry for decades as interpretable and efficient system controllers. In this study, we introduce a fuzzy genetic programming (GP) approach called fuzzy GP reinforcement learning (FGPRL) that can select the relevant state features, determine the size of the required fuzzy rule set, and automatically adjust all the controller parameters simultaneously. Each GP individual's fitness is computed using model-based batch reinforcement learning (RL), which first trains a model using available system samples and subsequently performs Monte Carlo rollouts to predict each policy candidate's performance. We compare FGPRL to an extended version of a related method called fuzzy particle swarm reinforcement learning (FPSRL), which uses swarm intelligence to tune the fuzzy policy parameters. Experiments using an industrial benchmark show that FGPRL is able to autonomously learn interpretable fuzzy policies with high control performance.Comment: Accepted at Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference 2018 (GECCO '18

Proof-of-concept trial of the combination of lactitol with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus for the eradication of intestinal OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Background: The major reservoir of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is the gastrointestinal tract of colonized patients. Colonization is silent and may last for months, but the risk of infection by CPE in colonized patients is significant. Methods: Eight long-Term intestinal carriers of OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae (OXA-PE) were treated during 3 weeks with daily oral lactitol (Emportal®), Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus (Infloran®). Weekly stool samples were collected during the treatment period and 6 weeks later. The presence of OXA-PE was investigated by microbiological cultures and qPCR. Results: At the end of treatment (EoT, secondary endpoint 1), four of the subjects had negative OXA-PE cultures. Three weeks later (secondary endpoint 2), six subjects were negative. Six weeks after the EoT (primary endpoint), three subjects had negative OXA-PE cultures. The relative intestinal load of OXA-PE decreased in all the patients during treatment. Conclusions: The combination of prebiotics and probiotics was well tolerated. A rapid reduction on the OXA-PE intestinal loads was observed. At the EoT, decolonization was achieved in three patients

Assessing job performance using brief self-report scales: The case of the individual work performance questionnaire

Job performance is considered the “ultimate dependent variable” in human resource management, turning its assessment into a capital issue. The present study analyzes the functioning of a brief 18-item self-report scale, the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), which measures the main dimensions of job performance (task performance, contextual performance, and counterproductive behaviors) in a wide variety of jobs. Participants were 368 employees who voluntarily answered a questionnaire including the IWPQ, other performance scales, and the NEO-FFI. Descriptive statistics, exploratory structural equation modeling, and correlations were performed. Results show that the IWPQ has a tridimensional structure with adequate reliability, exhibits significant associations with other measures of performance, and its association with personality traits is similar in terms of direction and strength of the correlations between other job performance measures and personality. We conclude that the IWPQ is an adequate measure of job performance but with emphasis on behaviors aimed toward organizations. El desempeño laboral es considerado la “variable dependiente definitiva” en recursos humanos, convirtiendo su evaluación en algo crucial. El presente estudio analiza el funcionamiento de una escala autoinformada breve de 18 ítems, el Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), que mide las principales dimensiones del desempeño laboral (desempeño de tarea, desempeño contextual y comportamientos contraproductivos en el trabajo) en una amplia variedad de trabajos. Los participantes fueron 368 empleados que voluntariamente completaron un cuestionario que incluía el IWPQ, otras escalas de desempeño y el NEO-FFI. Se llevaron a cabo estadísticos descriptivos, modelos exploratorios de ecuaciones estructurales y correlaciones. Los resultados muestran que el IWPQ tiene una estructura tridimensional con una fiabilidad adecuada, mostrando asociaciones significativas con el resto de medidas de desempeño. En cuanto a los factores de personalidad, el IWPQ muestra correlaciones similares a las de los otros instrumentos de desempeño analizados. Se concluye que el IWPQ es un instrumento adecuado para medir de manera breve y autoinformada el desempeño laboral, pero con énfasis en los comportamientos dirigidos hacia la organización

Do young dating app users and non-users differ in mating orientations?

In recent years, dating apps have changed the way people meet and communicate with potential romantic and/or sexual partners. There exists a stereotype considering that these apps are used only for casual sex, so those apps would not be an adequate resource to find a long-term relationship. The objective of this study was to analyze possible individual differences in the mating orientations (short-term vs. long-term) between users and non-users of dating apps. Participants were 902 single students from a mid-size Spanish university, of both sexes (63% female, and 37% male), aged between 18 and 26 years (M = 20.34, SD = 2.05), who completed a battery of online questionnaires. It was found that, whereas dating apps users had a higher short-term mating orientation than non-users (more frequent behavior, higher desire, and more positive attitude), there were no differences in the long-term orientation as a function of use/non-use. Considering this, dating apps are a resource with a strong presence of people interested on hooking-up while, simultaneously, not a bad (nor good) option for finding long-term love

His-Bundle Pacing in a Patient With Tricuspid and Mitral Prosthetic Valves Without Suitable Coronary Veins for Lead Placement

Atrioventricular block in patients with a prosthetic tricuspid valve and a pacemaker with a dysfunctional epicardial lead is not uncommon. In such instances, coronary sinus lead placement is the preferred option, but it has a failure rate of 10%-15%. An atrial transseptal left ventricular lead placement has been proposed as an alternative, but this approach is not feasible in patients with a prosthetic mitral valve. This analysis represents the first reported case of His-bundle pacing from the atria in a patient with prosthetic tricuspid and mitral valves, with no suitable coronary veins for lead placement. © 2021 The Author

Improved effective mobility extraction in MOSFETs

The standard method of extracting carrier effective mobility from electrical measurements on MOSFETs is reviewed and the assumptions implicit in this method are discussed. A novel technique is suggested that corrects for the difference in drain bias during IV and CV measurements. It is further shown that the lateral field and diffusion corrections, which are both commonly neglected, in fact cancel. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is demonstrated by application to data measured on a quasi-planar SOI finFET at 300 K and 4 K

Fatigue Evaluation through Machine Learning and a Global Fatigue Descriptor

Research in physiology and sports science has shown that fatigue, a complex psychophysiological phenomenon, has a relevant impact in performance and in the correct functioning of our motricity system, potentially being a cause of damage to the human organism. Fatigue can be seen as a subjective or objective phenomenon. Subjective fatigue corresponds to a mental and cognitive event, while fatigue referred as objective is a physical phenomenon. Despite the fact that subjective fatigue is often undervalued, only a physically and mentally healthy athlete is able to achieve top performance in a discipline. )erefore, we argue that physical training programs should address the preventive assessment of both subjective and objective fatigue mechanisms in order to minimize the risk of injuries. In this context, our paper presents a machine-learning system capable of extracting individual fatigue descriptors (IFDs) from electromyographic (EMG) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our novel approach, using two types of biosignals so that a global (mental and physical) fatigue assessment is taken into account, reflects the onset of fatigue by implementing a combination of a dimensionless (0-1) global fatigue descriptor (GFD) and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. )e system, based on 9 main combined features, achieves fatigue regime classification performances of 0.82 ± 0.24, ensuring a successful preventive assessment when dangerous fatigue levels are reached. Training data were acquired in a constant work rate test (executed by 14 subjects using a cycloergometry device), where the variable under study (fatigue) gradually increased until the volunteer reached an objective exhaustion state

Numerical study of efficiencies for box type solar cooker with internal reflectors

En este trabajo se muestran los resultados del estudio de las eficiencias termodinámicas de 1.a y 2.a ley aplicadas a 4 arreglos diferentes de estufas solares de tipo caja con reflectores internos. La estufa solar tiene 2 vidrios en su cubierta para disminuir la pérdida de calor por radiación y convección, y crear así el efecto invernadero. El interior de la estufa tiene espejos colocados a diferentes ángulos para dirigir la radiación solar hacia un recipiente con agua que se encuentra también dentro de la estufa. Los resultados obtenidos están basados en las temperaturas de calentamiento del agua, las cuales fueron obtenidas por medio de una simulación numérica que permite comparar los 4 arreglos de estufas solares bajo condiciones idénticas. El tratamiento de los resultados revela que la cantidad de energía que impacta en las estufas solares no es aprovechada de manera adecuada para los fines de calentamiento de agua. La mayor parte de la energía aprovechable se almacena en los vidrios de la tapa, lo que evidencia la necesidad de trabajar en el desarrollo de mejores materiales para mejorar tal situación.In this work, results of efficiencies for first and second law of thermodynamics applied to four box-type solar cookers with internal reflectors are shown. The solar cooker has two glasses on its cover to diminish the losses of heat for radiation and convection, besides creating the effect hothouse inside the cooker. The interior of the cooker has flat mirrors placed at different angles to reflect the solar radiation toward a recipient with water inside the cooker. The obtained results are based on heating water temperatures which were obtained by means of numeric simulation, allowing comparison under identical conditions of four solar cookers. The treatment of the results revealed that the quantity of energy that impacts on the solar cookers is not used in right way for the heating water ends. Most of the profitable energy is stored in the glasses of the cover, what evidences the necessity to work in the development of better materials to diminish such situation.Peer Reviewe