An architecture for heuristic control of real-time processes

Abstract Process management combines complementary approaches of heuristic reasoning and analytical process control. Management of a continuous process requires monitoring the environment and the controlled system, assessing the ongoing situation, developing and revising planned actions, and controlling the execution of the actions. For knowledge-intensive domains, process management entails the potentially time-stressed cooperation among a variety of expert systems. By redesigning a blackboard control architecture in an object-oriented framework, researchers obtain an approach to process management that considerably extends blackboard control mechanisms and overcomes limitations of blackboard systems

Near-future level of CO2-driven ocean acidification radically affects larval survival and development in the brittlestar Ophiothrix fragilis

The world's oceans are slowly becoming more acidic. In the last 150 yr, the pH of the oceans has dropped by similar to 0.1 units, which is equivalent to a 25 % increase in acidity. Modelling predicts the pH of the oceans to fall by 0.2 to 0.4 units by the year 2100. These changes will have significant effects on marine organisms, especially those with calcareous skeletons such as echinoderms. Little is known about the possible long-term impact of predicted pH changes on marine invertebrate larval development. Here we predict the consequences of increased CO2 (corresponding to pH drops of 0.2 and 0.4 units) on the larval development of the brittlestar Ophiothrix fragilis, which is a keystone species occurring in high densities and stable populations throughout the shelf seas of northwestern Europe (eastern Atlantic). Acidification by 0.2 units induced 100 % larval mortality within 8 d while control larvae showed 70 % survival over the same period. Exposure to low pH also resulted in a temporal decrease in larval size as well as abnormal development and skeletogenesis (abnormalities, asymmetry, altered skeletal proportions). If oceans continue to acidify as expected, ecosystems of the Atlantic dominated by this keystone species will be seriously threatened with major changes in many key benthic and pelagic ecosystems. Thus, it may be useful to monitor O. fragilis populations and initiate conservation if needed

The Environmental Contribution to Wayfinding in Museums: Enhancement and Usage by Controlling Flows and Paths

The field of research in which wayfinding is situated refers to the way people move in reaction to environmental stimulation. It therefore fully concerns not just signage but also space designing, its geometric configuration, technical solutions and their material characterization. The focus is consequently on environmental factors that facilitate wayfinding in a museum (accessibility, visibility, etc.) and on other elements such as spatial configuration, architectural features and functional aspects. These factors influence relational phenomena and therefore visitors’ satisfaction. Methods and tools for designing and managing spaces have been studied in the research. The configurational analysis method of space has been used to objectify syntactic features of space. In particular, the outcomes of an experimental project, which have been analyzed in a master’s thesis on the re-functionalization of the museum of Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, are presented. Permeability, proximity, connections of spaces, namely meaningful features to ensure wayfinding have been examined. Space parameters resulting from the geometry of the layout, from the visual connections and from the changes of direction were then evaluated. The outcomes have been used as inputs for designing a unitary tour route circuit, that also reconnects the museum’s second floor, and for planning three independent alternative routes for a differentiated use of the museum

Meta-Analysis of Rodent Behavior in Various Brain Injury and Disease Models

The objective of this study was to identify patterns and profiles present in rodent behavioral assay data to inform methodology of future animal research. Domains of spatial learning, motor function, activity, and emotionality were examined. This study first identified how rodent performance on commonly used behavioral and neurocognitive assays varies by species, sex, and age. Significant differences were observed in spatial learning curves, patterns of motor function, emotionality and activity in rats and mice. Overall, males and females had similar performances on spatial learning and motor function, but sex and species interactions were also observed, indicating varied sex differences in rats and mice. This study also identified neurocognitive profiles specific to rodent models of cortical and subcortical brain injury that grossly resemble deficits observed in human brain injury. This study also used exploratory factor analysis to examine the latent factor structure present in behavioral assay data. The factor structure indicated the prominent contribution of strategic learning and activity level to performance across behavioral domains, explaining more than 50 percent of total variance. The potential for use of this information to design an abbreviated neurocognitive battery was discussed

Assessment of Geriatric Depression: Construction of a New Screening Inventory

Geriatric depression is strongly associated with increased healthcare costs, poor treatment outcomes, and mortality. Existing measures of depression in this population do not adequately account for more recent literature describing the presentation of depressed older adults, and thus may result in the underdiagnosis of depression in this population. The current study consistent of the development of a new, updated measure and examined its psychometric properties and potential clinical utility for diagnosing depression in adults over the age of 65. Participants were be recruited from multiple sources, including a community population from residential retirement communities, as well as inpatients and outpatients from two medical centers. All participants completed the 26-item Thorndyke Geriatric Depression Inventory (TGDI) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). A subset of participant completed the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Factor analysis was used to identify a factor structure in the TGDI data, facilitated deletion of low quality items from the measure, and suggested that TGDI items represented a single factor of depression. Scores on the TGDI were then correlated with MMSE and GDS scores to establish convergent and divergent validity. A finalized version of the TGDI was developed for further research and validation

Impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms-unifying principles and new paradigms

This special issue combines original research with seminal reviews of the biological impact of ocean acidification. The ten contributions cover a wide range of topics from chemical and biological responses to increased CO2 and decreased pH to socio-economical sensitivities and adaptation options. Overall, this special issue also highlights the key knowledge gaps and future challenges. These include the need to develop research strategy and experiments that factor in evolution, incorporate natural variability in physical conditions (e.g.; pH, temperature, oxygen, food quality and quantity) and ecological interactions. The research presented in this special issue demonstrates the need to study more habitats (e.g.; coastal, deep sea) and prioritize species of ecological or economic significance

Police Response Time to Domestic Violence Calls and Its Effects

In 2011, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence stated that 1.3 million individuals are victims of domestic violence (DV) every year. This staggering statistic uncovers just how relevant the issue of domestic violence is in the United States. Research has been relatively silent concerning the examination of police officer response time to DV calls for assistance. Response time is important to all calls for service, but is extremely important in domestic violence calls where victims run the risk of physical injury. This study found that response time did not have a significant effect on whether the offender was present on-scene at the time of their arrival, whether the victim sustained any injuries during the altercation, or whether the victim required medical attention. However, it was found that response time did have a statistically significant effect on offender arrest. More specifically, the odds of an offender being placed under arrest decreased 4.7% for every minute of response time