Intelligent Playful Environments for Animals

© Owner/Author 2015. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive Version of Record was published in Interacción '15 Proceedings of the XVI International Conference on Human Computer Interaction, http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2829875.2829879We are evolving towards an interconnected and ubiquitous world, where digital devices and interfaces progressively adapt themselves to fit our needs and ease our daily activities. Although we coexist with plenty of animal species, such as our pets, we are approaching the evolution of technology in a strictly human-centric manner. A new field in Computer Science, called Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI), aims at filling this technological gap by developing systems and interfaces specifically designed for animals. Supporting animals' natural behavior and habits with suitable technology could improve both humans and animals' wellbeing. As a consequence, this doctoral research aims to explore, design and develop animal-centered intelligent systems that focus on enhancing one of the most natural animal behaviors: play. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to expand ACI with the ability of automatically manage and adapt animals play activity in order to improve their wellbeing.Work supported by MINECO (TIN2010-20488 and TIN2014-60077-R), UPV (UPV-FE-2014-24), MECD (FPU13/03831) and GVA (APOSTD/2013/013).Pons Tomás, P.; Jaén Martínez, FJ.; Catalá Bolós, A. (2015). Intelligent Playful Environments for Animals. ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/2829875.2829879SHu, F., Silver, D., and Trude, A. LonelyDog@Home. 2007 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conferences on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology - Workshops, IEEE (2007), 333--337.Huizinga, J.Homo ludens. Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen, The Nederlands, 1985.Mancini, C. Animal-computer interaction: a manifesto. Magazine interactions 18, 4 (2011), 69--73.Mancini, C. Animal-computer interaction (ACI): changing perspective on HCI, participation and sustainability. CHI '13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, ACM Press (2013), 2227--2236.Matsuzawa, T. The Ai project: historical and ecological contexts. Animal cognition 6, 4 (2003), 199--211.Pons, P., Jaen, J., and Catala, A. Animal Ludens: Building Intelligent Playful Environments for Animals. 11th Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment - Workshop on Animal Human Computer Interaction, (2014).Pons, P., Jaen, J., and Catala, A. Envisioning Future Playful Interactive Environments for Animals. In A. Nijholt, ed., More Playful User Interfaces. Springer, 2015.Robinson, C., Mancini, C., van der Linden, J., Guest, C., and Harris, R. Empowering assistance dogs: an alarm interface for canine use. Intelligent Systems for Animal Welfare, (2014).Rumbaugh, D.M., Gill, T. V., Brown, J. V., et al. A computer-controlled language training system for investigating the language skills of young apes. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation 5, 5 (1973), 385--392.Westerlaken, M. and Gualeni, S. Felino: The Philosophical Practice of Making an Interspecies Videogame. The Philosophy of Computer Games Conference, (2014), 1--12.Wingrave, C.A., Rose, J., Langston, T., and LaViola, J.J.J. Early explorations of CAT: canine amusement and training. CHI '10 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, (2010), 2661--2669.SpeakDolphin. http://www.speakdolphin.com

De rentabiliteitsindex en het productiegetal

De waarderingsnormen voor de rentabiliteitsindex 1995 komen voor alle kengetallen hoger uit dan voor de rentabiliteitsindex 1994, met uitzondering van de waarderingsnorm voor het vleespercentage

IL-1RL1a serum levels and IL1RL1 SNPs in the prediction of food allergy

Food allergy is a common disorder in the Western world, with increasing prevalence and substantial healthcare costs(1). Food allergy is often accompanied by the presence of specific IgE against harmless proteins in food, but not all sensitized children show clinical reactions upon exposure. Therefore, double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) remain the gold standard to diagnose food allergy, yet this test is demanding. Biomarkers that can predict clinical response to food are urgently needed

Environmental aspects of tensile membrane enclosed spaces

Buildings enclosed by fabric membranes are very sensitive to changes in environmental conditions as a result of their low mass and low thermal insulation values. Development in material technology and the understanding of the structural behaviour of tensile membrane structures along with the vast progress in computer formfinding software, has made it possible for structural design of tensile membrane structures to be approached with almost total confidence. On the contrary, understanding of the environmental behaviour in the spaces enclosed by fabric membrane and their thermal performance is still in its infancy, which to some extent has hindered their wide acceptance by the building industry. The environmental behaviour of tensile membrane structures is outlined and the possible use of the fabric’s topology and geometry particularly to enhance ventilation rates and airflow velocities within the enclosed space is discussed. A need for further research in this area is identified in order to fully realise the potential benefits offered by these structures

Final height in girls with turner syndrome after long-term growth hormone treatment in three dosages and low dose estrogens

Although GH treatment for short stature in Turner syndrome is an accepted treatment in many countries, which GH dosage to use and which age to start puberty induction are issues of debate. This study shows final height (FH) in 60 girls with Turner syndrome treated in a randomized dose-response trial, combining GH treatment with low dose estrogens at a relatively young age. Girls were randomly assigned to group A (4 IU/m(2).d; approximately 0.045 mg/kg/d), group B (first year, 4 IU/m(2).d; thereafter 6 IU/m(2).d), or group C (first year, 4 IU/m(2).d; second year, 6 IU/m(2).d; thereafter, 8 IU/m(2).d). After a minimum of 4 yr of GH treatment, at a mean age of 12.7 +/- 0.7 yr, low dose micronized 17beta-estradiol was given orally. After a mean duration of GH treatment of 8.6 +/- 1.9 yr, FH was reached at a mean age of 15.8 +/- 0.9 yr. FH, expressed in centimeters or SD score, was 157.6 +/- 6.5 or -1.6 +/- 1.0 in group A, 162.9 +/- 6.1 or -0.7 +/- 1.0 in group B, and 163.6 +/- 6.0 or -0.6 +/- 1.0 in group C. The difference in FH in centimeters, corrected for height SD score and age at start of treatment, was significant between groups A and B [regression coefficient, 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4, 6.9; P < 0.01], and groups A and C (coefficient, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.3, 7.7; P < 0.001), but not between groups B and C (coefficient, 0.9; 95% CI, -1.8, 3.6). Fifty of the 60 girls (83%) had reached a normal FH (FH SD score, more than -2). After starting estrogen treatment, the decrease in height velocity (HV) changed significantly to a stable HV, without affecting bone maturation (change in bone age/change in chronological age). The following variables contributed significantly to predicting FH SD score: GH dose, height SD score (ref. normal girls), chronological age at start of treatment, and HV in the first year of GH treatment. GH treatment was well tolerated. In conclusion, GH treatment leads to a normalization of FH in most girls, even when puberty is induced at a normal pubertal age. The optimal GH dosage depends on height and age at the start of treatment and first year HV

Immunological parameters in girls with Turner syndrome

Disturbances in the immune system has been described in Turner syndrome, with an association to low levels of IgG and IgM and decreased levels of T- and B-lymphocytes. Also different autoimmune diseases have been connected to Turner syndrome (45, X), thyroiditis being the most common. Besides the typical features of Turner syndrome (short stature, failure to enter puberty spontaneously and infertility due to ovarian insufficiency) ear problems are common (recurrent otitis media and progressive sensorineural hearing disorder). Levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and the four IgG subclasses as well as T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations were investigated in 15 girls with Turners syndrome to examine whether an immunodeficiency may be the cause of their high incidence of otitis media. No major immunological deficiency was found that could explain the increased incidence of otitis media in the young Turner girls

Effect of parental and ART treatment characteristics on perinatal outcomes

Funding This study was funded by Foreest Medical School, Alkmaar, the Netherlands (grants: FIO 1307 and FIO 1505). Acknowledgements We thank the Foundation of the Netherlands Perinatal Registry for permission to use their registry data (approval number 12.43). We thank G.P. Kroon and H.W.W. van Leeuwen for their assistance in collecting the necessary IVF data. Furthermore, we thank the medical informatics students A. Wong for the first deterministic data linkage and S. Wortel for assisting in the database validation process. In addition, we thank all care providers for the registration of the perinatal data as well as the IVF laboratory data.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Absence of autoantibodies connected to autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I and II and Addison's disease in girls and women with Turner syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A disturbance in the immune system has been described in Turner syndrome (45,X), with an association to low levels of IgG and IgM and decreased levels of T- and B-lymphocytes. Also different autoimmune diseases have been connected to Turner syndrome (45,X), thyroiditis being the most common. Other autoimmune diseases seen are inflammatory bowel disease, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Addison's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, vitiligo, alopecia, pernicious anaemia and hypoparathyroidism, but the association to Turner syndrome is not definite.</p> <p>Besides the typical features of Turner syndrome (short stature, failure to enter puberty spontaneously and infertility due to ovarian insufficiency) ear problems are common. Otitis media and a progressive sensorineural hearing disorder are commonly seen. In the normal population there are known inner ear disorders related to autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate patients with Turner syndrome regarding autoantibodies connected to the autoimmune disorders; autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I and II and Addison's disease, to screen for overlapping profile of autoantibodies.</p> <p>Blood samples from 110 Turner patients (7–65 years) were investigated using <it>in vitro </it>transcription, translation and immunoprecipitation techniques regarding autoantibodies connected to autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I and II and Addison's disease (21-hydroxylase, 17α-hydroxylase, side-chain cleavage enzyme, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The autoantibodies investigated were not overrepresented among the Turner patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The autoimmune disorders associated with Turner syndrome do not seem to be of the same origin as Addison's disease, the type I or II autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome.</p

Risk of cancer in children and young adults conceived by assisted reproductive technology

STUDY QUESTION: Do children conceived by ART have an increased risk of cancer? SUMMARY ANSWER: Overall, ART-conceived children do not appear to have an increased risk of cancer. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Despite the increasing use of ART, i.e. IVF or ICSI worldwide, information about possible long-term health risks for children conceived by these techniques is scarce. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A nationwide historical cohort study with prospective follow-up (median 21 years), including all live-born offspring from women treated with subfertility treatments between 1980 and 2001. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All offspring of a nationwide cohort of subfertile women (OMEGA study) treated in one of the 12 Dutch IVF clinics or two fertility clinics. Of 47 690 live-born children, 24 269 were ART-conceived, 13 761 naturally conceived and 9660 were conceived naturally or through fertility drugs, but not by ART. Information on the conception method of each child and potential confounders were collected through the mothers’ questionnaires and medical records. Cancer incidence was ascertained through linkage with The Netherlands Cancer Registry from 1 January 1989 until 1 November 2016. Cancer risk in ART-conceived children was compared with risks in naturally conceived children from subfertile women (hazard ratios [HRs]) and with the general population (standardized incidence ratios [SIRs]). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The median follow-up was 21 years (interquartile range (IQR): 17–25) and was shorter in ART-conceived children (20 years, IQR: 17–23) compared with naturally conceived children (24 years, IQR: 20–30). In total, 231 cancers were observed. Overall cancer risk was not increased in ART-conceived children, neither compared with naturally conceived children from subfertile women (HR: 1.00, 95% CI 0.72–1.38) nor compared with the general population (SIR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.90–1.36). From 18 years of age onwards, the HR of cancer in ART-conceived versus naturally conceived individuals was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.73–2.13). Slightly but non-significantly increased risks were observed in children conceived by ICSI or cryopreservation (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.81–2.85; 1.80, 95% CI: 0.65–4.95, respectively). Risks of lymphoblastic leukemia (HR = 2.44, 95% CI: 0.81–7.37) and melanoma (HR = 1.86, 95% CI: 0