Evolving readable Perl

A program is informally deemed readable, for the purpose of this experiment, if it is easy for a person to follow the steps that the program takes to solve the problem. In this experiment, readability is achieved by constraining the available syntax for generating solutions. The Genetic Programming (GP) system created uses the target language Perl because it is an interpreted, untyped, robust procedural language which has good error handling and recovery

Evolving the user interface

A method is presented for evolving Graphical User Interfaces using Genetic Algorithms. The fitness evaluation is based on a series of constraints, which must be met by the user interface. Examples are used to demonstrate the use of positional, style and functionality constraints and the final example shows the evolution of a complete (although simple) software application

Evolving Perl

A list of requirements for a genetic programming representation is put forward and a representation separating the genotype and phenotype with a linear genome is presented. The target language for the genetic program is Perl. The mapping process, between the genotype and phenotype, converts blocks of four genes into program statements. This process is context-free and therefore provides inheritable characteristics. The representation is tested by evolving a selection of list evaluation and manipulation functions which are all evolved from the same language subset, with good results

Packet transmission optimisation using Genetic Algorithms

A Genetic Algorithm (ga) is used to optimise the parameters for a sequence of packets sent over the Internet. Only the parameters that a client machine can change are used and the fitness is based on the delay time returned by the Traceroute program. The ga performance is compared to a fixed packet size with no priority used to assess the status of the network. The ga generally performed to the same level as the control settings but in some cases significant improvements were made

Development of a physical activity programme for people with recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis

Background People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are less physically active (PA) than the general population and lower PA levels are associated with work disability, reduced physical function and co-morbidities. This suggests an urgent need to identify programmes that effectively promote sustainable PA to improve physical function in RA.Objectives The purpose of this research was to seek patient's views in relation to a range of potential PA programmes.Methods Focus groups were carried out with adults with RA with participants purposefully sampled to reflect a range of age and gender. Prior to commencing the research a draft interview guide was reviewed by the study Patient Research Partner and a pilot interview conducted. The interview guide was designed to explore PA support needs and experiences since diagnosis as well as motivators and facilitators to support engagement in PA. Each focus group was subsequently provided with information regarding potential PA programmes and invited to comment upon their suitability for people with a recent diagnosis of RA. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed and anonymised. Ethics approval for the study was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify the main themes across the groups. Emerging themes were verified through discussion and a coding framework based on these themes developed. Themes and sub-themes were subsequently reviewed and the interpretation and analysis discussed and agreed.Results Three focus groups were conducted with 19 patients in total (15 female, 4 male); mean age (SD) 60 (±10) years; mean time (SD) since diagnosis 44 (±34) months. There was strong support for a PA programme with four key themes garnered from the focus groups:Recruitment and adherence included programme endorsement from peers and PA endorsement from health professionals; the need for support to overcome barriers to PA, such as pain and fatigue; and prompts such as text messages to improve adherence.Programme scheduling included timing with most suggesting six to 12 months following diagnosis, once a stable drug regime was established; afternoon sessions were preferred; views on frequency of sessions and duration of the programme were disparate.Programme content included support for education on relaxation and coping strategies, medication, flare, fatigue and pain; supervised exercise sessions; home exercise training; and expert physiotherapy input. Goal setting received mixed opinions with emphasis on the need to be patient-led.Programme delivery suggested group sessions were preferred by most, but not all; individual sessions in addition to the group were positively received; telephone support polarised opinion; but an accessible location was an agreed priority.Conclusions Participants supported development of a PA programme delivered at an accessible location, by physiotherapists within six to 12 months of diagnosis. Mixed views relating to delivery suggests a flexible approach may need to be developed.Disclosure of Interest None declare

Bumblebee electric charge stimulates floral volatile emissions in Petunia integrifolia but not in Antirrhinum majus

The timing of volatile organic compound (VOC) emission by flowering plants often coincides with pollinator foraging activity. Volatile emission is often considered to be paced by environmental variables, such as light intensity, and/or by circadian rhythmicity. The question arises as to what extent pollinators themselves provide information about their presence, in keeping with their long co-evolution with flowering plants. Bumblebees are electrically charged and provide electrical stimulation when visiting plants, as measured via the depolarisation of electric potential in the stem of flowers. Here, we test the hypothesis that the electric charge of foraging bumblebees increases the floral volatile emissions of bee pollinated plants. We investigate the change in VOC emissions of two bee-pollinated plants (Petunia integrifolia and Antirrhinum majus) exposed to the electric charge typical of foraging bumblebees. P. integrifolia slightly increases its emissions of a behaviorally and physiologically active compound in response to visits by foraging bumblebees, presenting on average 121 pC of electric charge. We show that for P. integrifolia, strong electrical stimulation (600-700 pC) promotes increased volatile emissions, but this is not found when using weaker electrical charges more representative of flying pollinators (100 pC). Floral volatile emissions of A. majus were not affected by either strong (600-700 pC) or weak electric charges (100 pC). This study opens a new area of research whereby the electrical charge of flying insects may provide information to plants on the presence and phenology of their pollinators. As a form of electroreception, this sensory process would bear adaptive value, enabling plants to better ensure that their attractive chemical messages are released when a potential recipient is present

Honey Plotter and the Web of Terror

Honeypots are a useful tool for discovering the distribution of malicious traffic on the Internet and how that traffic evolves over time. In addition, they allow an insight into new attacks appearing. One major problem is analysing the large amounts of data generated by such honeypots and correlating between multiple honeypots. Honey Plotter is a web-based query and visualisation tool to allow investigation into data gathered by a distributed honeypot network. It is built on top of a relational database, which allows great flexibility in the questions that can be asked and has automatic generation of visualisations based on the results of queries. The main focus is on aggregate statistics but individual attacks can also be analysed. Statistical comparison of distributions is also provided to assist with detecting anomalies in the data; helping separate out common malicious traffic from new threats and trends. Two short case studies are presented to give an example of the types of analysis that can be performed

Levels of frailty and frailty progression in older urban- and regional-living First Nations Australians

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of frailty, association between frailty and mortality, and transitions between frailty states in urban- and regional-living First Nations Australians.STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Koori Growing Old Well Study. First Nations Australians aged 60 years or more from five non-remote communities were recruited in 2010-2012 and followed up six years later (2016-2018). Data collected at both visits were used to derive a 38-item Frailty Index (FI). The FI (range 0-1.0) was classified as robust (&lt;0.1), pre-frail (0.1- &lt; 0.2), mildly (0.2- &lt; 0.3), moderately (0.3- &lt; 0.4) or severely frail (≥0.4).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association between frailty and mortality, examined using logistic regression and transitions in frailty (the percentage of participants who changed frailty category) during follow-up.RESULTS: At baseline, 313 of 336 participants (93 %) had sufficient data to calculate a FI. Median FI score was 0.26 (interquartile range 0.21-0.39); 4.79 % were robust, 20.1 % pre-frail, 31.6 % mildly frail, 23.0 % moderately frail and 20.5 % severely frail. Higher baseline frailty was associated with mortality among severely frail participants (adjusted odds ratio 7.11, 95 % confidence interval 2.51-20.09) but not moderately or mildly frail participants. Of the 153 participants with a FI at both baseline and follow-up, their median FI score increased from 0.26 to 0.28.CONCLUSIONS: Levels of frailty in this First Nations cohort are substantially higher than in similar-aged non-Indigenous populations. Screening for frailty before the age of 70 years may be warranted in First Nations Australians. Further research is urgently needed to determine the factors that are driving such high levels of frailty and propose solutions to prevent or manage frailty in this population.</p