Bottleneck analysis as a heuristic for self-adaption in multi-agent societies

In this paper, we describe an approach to achieve dynamic adaption of an artificial agent society to environment changes. Such changes cause sub-optimalities in the agent society design, leading to overloaded or underloaded agents or agent groups in the society. Our approach provides a mechanism to reveal these sub-optimalities by integrating bottleneck analysis to structural self-adaption in a generic multi-agent framework which allows to incorporate agents of any architecture

Behavioral and cardiophysiological responses of common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) to confrontations with opposite-sexed strangers

Common marmosets exhibit under captive conditions socially monogamous propensities. During confrontation with opposite-sexed stranger, in the presence of the pairmate, common marmosets often respond aggressively. However, in the absence of their mates, males actively solicit contact and even sexual interactions with strange females whereas mated females are indifferent to strange males. In the present study behavioral and cardiophysiological responses of pairmates of six established pairs of common marmosets were recorded during confrontation with an opposite-sexed stranger (1) in the presence or (2) in the absence of the familiar pairmate. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate as well as locomotor activity were recorded telemetrically through peritoneally implanted transmitters. Behavioral responses were videotaped and in addition, urine samples from the female individuals were analyzed for their estrogen concentrations to monitor their ovarian cycles. The cardiophysiological values did not differ significantly between the two confrontation conditions. However, compared to baseline, heart rate values of both sexes and in males also blood pressure values, were significantly higher during confrontations. Hence, confrontations with an opposite-sexed conspecific clearly affect cardiophysiological parameters. Between confrontees affiliative behaviors could not been recorded but aggressive and sexual behaviors occurre

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty—from the most to the least common complication

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been reported to be associated with a complication rate that is four times that of conventional total shoulder arthroplasty. It is the purpose of this article to identify and understand the most common and most serious complications of RTSA and to review current methods of prevention and treatment. The current literature was reviewed to identify type and prevalence of reported complications and to identify risk factors, preventive measures as well as technical details for management strategies for complications of RTSA. The variable accuracy of reporting and the heterogeneity of methodology in the literature limited our study, however, a definitive ranking of most to least common complication emerged. The currently identified most common complication is scapular notching. The clinically most relevant complications are infection, instability and acromial fractures. Haematoma formation used to be very frequent but can be controlled, glenoid component loosening, however, is rare when compared with conventional total shoulder replacement. In conclusion, RTSA is associated with a high rate of complications. Their incidence and the results of their treatment are inconsistently reported. To document and then prevent complications, a standardised monitoring tool including clear definitions and assessment instructions appears necessar

Holonic multi-agent systems

A holonic multi-agent paradigm is proposed, where agents give up parts of their autonomy and merge into a super-agent"(a holon), that acts - when seen from the outside - just as a single agent again. We explore the spectrum of this new paradigm, ranging from definitorial issues over classification of possible application domains, an algebraic characterization of the merge operation, to implementational aspects: We propose algorithms for holon formation and on-line re-configuration. Based on some general criteria for the distinction between holonic and non-holonic domains, we examine domains suitable for holonic agents and sketch the implementation of holonic agents in these scenarios. Finally, a case study of a holonic agent system is presented in detail: TELETRUCK system is a fleet management system in the transportation domain

Lipids of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Analysis of Molecular Species and Intracellular Site(s) of Biosynthesis

Membrane lipids of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were separated into the major components, MGDG, DGDG, SQDG, DGTS, PG, PE, PI, and the molecular species of each lipid were isolated and analyzed. The fatty acid composition was determined for the total lipid, the particular lipid classes and the molecular species. The positional distribution of fatty acids between the C-1 and C-2 position of the glycerol moiety was also determined. MGDG, DGDG, SQDG, PG and probably PI were found to be of plastidic (prokaryotic) origin, while DGTS and PE were found to be of cytoplasmic (eukaryotic) origin. Prokaryotic lipids mainly contained 18:3(9,12,15), 18:2,16:4 and 16:3, while DGTS and PE were rich in 18:3(5,9,12), 18:4(5,9,12,15), 18:2 and 18:1(11) fatty acids. From the fact that each lipid class was characterized by an individual pattern of molecular species, we conclude that during their biosynthesis, all the lipids act individually as substrates for the lipid-linked desaturation of fatty acids. Moreover, our results suggest that in Chlamydomonas, 18:3(5,9,12) and 18:4(5,9,12,15) are formed in the cytoplasm using DGTS and PE as substrate

Assessment-, Simulations- und Benchmarking-Tool für das Facility Management im Gesundheitswesen : basierend auf LekaS

Im Zuge der Einführung der Fallpauschalen in der Schweiz bzw. den Swiss Diagnosis Related Groups [Swiss DRG] ist der Bedarf an verbesserter Datengrundlage und aussagekräftigen Kennzahlen [KPIs] zwecks Steuerbarkeit im Spital und der Vergleichbarkeit zwischen den Spitälern stark gestiegen. Ziel war es deshalb, Standards für den Schweizer Gesundheitsmarkt zu erarbeiten, um mit einem IT-gestützten Assessment-Tool und einem Einführungshandbuch die tägliche Projektarbeit in Kundenprojekten zu vereinfachen. In Kooperation mit vier Spital- und zwei weiteren Business-partnern wurden im Konsortialforschungsansatz, in zahlreichen Experten-Runden und -Interviews, die einzelnen Bestandteile erarbeitet, welche als fachliche Inhalte in die technische Lösung eingeflossen sind. Unter dem Motto „Benchmarking einfach gemacht“ sind Funktionen für Assessment, Simulation und Benchmarking in einer benutzerfreundlichen Lösung integriert. Sinnvolle Berichtsfunktionen, sowie die Generierung von Berichten und Einführungshandbüchern für das Facility Management, unterstützen die tägliche Projektarbeit. Qualitative und quantitative Analysen werden miteinander in einer ansprechenden, web-basierten Oberfläche kombiniert. Mit der zweisprachigen Ausrichtung in deutscher bzw. englischer Sprache ist die Lösung auch international einsetzbar. Die Bedienung mittels Finger und Touchscreen ist genauso möglich wie der klassische Maus-/ Tastatureinsatz. So sind nicht nur die Erhebung der Ist-Situation und dessen Bewertung abgedeckt, sondern auch Präferenzmatrizen, Simulationen und Industriebenchmarks. Prozess-, Referenz- und Kennzahlenmodell sind integraler Bestandteil der Lösung, genauso wie von Deloitte erarbeitete Reifegrad-Modelle. Business-Analysen vom Business für das Business werden ermöglicht und unterstützt. Mit Durchlaufzeiten von ca. vier bis sechs Wochen stehen Aufwände und Nutzen in einem sehr guten Verhältnis. Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten, dass nicht nur fundierte Grundlagen für strategische Diskussionen und Entscheidungen verfügbar sind, sondern auch die Grundlagen, um aktives Benchmarking mit anderen Spitälern zu betreiben. Das Assessment-, Simulations- und Benchmarking-Tool für das Facility Management im Gesundheitswesen basiert, ebenso wie der Leitfaden zum Einsatz von SAP für das Facility Management im Gesundheitswesen LesapS, auf dem Referenzmodell für nicht-medizinische Supportleistungen in Spitälern RemoS, welches aus dem Kennzahlenkatalog KenkaS, dem Prozessmodell PromoS und dem Applikationenkatalog ApplikaS besteht. Alle erwähnten Themen werden separat im Detail dokumentiert und sind mit Verweis auf die anderen Dokumente unter www.zhaw.ch/ifm/fm-healthcare/remos abruf- und herunterlad- und somit einsetzbar

Non-purulent low-grade infection as cause of pain following shoulder surgery: preliminary results

Low-grade infection was systematically searched for in all revision shoulder surgeries by harvesting tissue samples. Ten consecutive patients were identified with a non-purulent low-grade infection of the shoulder. All of these patients suffered from pain and eight were stiff. Preoperative aspiration in eight patients yielded bacterial growth in only one case. Serum C-reactive protein levels were normal in seven out of 10 cases. Propionibacterium acnes was identified in seven, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in two and Staphylococcus saccharolyticus in one case. The delay between harvesting the tissue samples and detection of bacterial growth averaged eight days (range, 2-17). After debridement and antibiotic treatment for a mean of 4.5 months, tissue samples were repeatedly harvested in nine patients due to persistent pain. The infection was microbiologically eradicated in six out of nine cases that had a repeated biopsy. However, nine out of 10 patients continued to suffer from moderate to severe pain. Low-grade infection of the shoulder can be a cause of persistent pain and stiffness. The results of antibiotic treatment are disappointing. Further studies are necessary to analyse this difficult patholog