Embedding Multi-Task Address-Event- Representation Computation

Address-Event-Representation, AER, is a communication protocol that is intended to transfer neuronal spikes between bioinspired chips. There are several AER tools to help to develop and test AER based systems, which may consist of a hierarchical structure with several chips that transmit spikes among them in real-time, while performing some processing. Although these tools reach very high bandwidth at the AER communication level, they require the use of a personal computer to allow the higher level processing of the event information. We propose the use of an embedded platform based on a multi-task operating system to allow both, the AER communication and processing without the requirement of either a laptop or a computer. In this paper, we present and study the performance of an embedded multi-task AER tool, connecting and programming it for processing Address-Event information from a spiking generator.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2006-11730-C03-0

Multi-task Implementation for Image Reconstruction of an AER Communication

Address-Event-Representation (AER) is a communication protocol for transferring spikes between bio-inspired chips. Such systems may consist of a hierarchical structure with several chips that transmit spikes among them in real time, while performing some processing. There exist several AER tools to help in developing and testing AER based systems. These tools require the use of a computer to allow the processing of the event information, reaching very high bandwidth at the AER communication level. We propose to use an embedded platform based on multi-task operating system to allow both, the AER communication and the AER processing without a laptop or a computer. We have connected and programmed a Gumstix computer to process Address- Event information and measured the performance referred to the previous AER tools solutions. In this paper, we present and study the performance of a new philosophy of a frame-grabber AER tool based on a multi-task environment, composed by the Intel XScale processor governed by an embedded GNU/Linux system.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2006-11730-C03-0

Low-cost mobile open-circuit hood system for measuring gas exchange in small ruminants: from manual to automatic recording

Table 2 contained an incorrect footnote. The correct version is supplied at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859615000556[EN] Improvements of a home-made mobile open-circuit respirometry system for the rapid determination of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) production, oxygen (O-2) consumption and, thereafter, heat production (HP) for small ruminants are described and validated. Upgrades consisted of three main features: utilization of a head hood (replacing the previous face mask); use of a computerized control system, data acquisition and recording for gases and air flux (replacing collecting bags for air sampling); and use of a gas cooler to remove the air sample moisture (replacing the chemical drier (silica gel) approach). Calibration factors were established by injecting nitrogen (N-2) and CO2 in the system into the head hood. Repetitive and consistent values for the calibration factor were obtained for O-2 and CO2 which confirmed the absence of leaks and the good performance of the system. In addition, an experimental test with 12 Manchega female dry sheep was conducted to validate the system. Three diets based on cereal grain, fibrous by-products and alfalfa hay (ALH) were used with four sheep per diet. Metabolizable energy intake was close to metabolizable energy for maintenance. Average HP measured by indirect calorimetry (respiratory quotient (RQ) method) was close to the average HP determined from Carbon-Nitrogen balance (CN method) accounting for 443 and 426 kJ/kg(075) body weight (BW) per day, respectively. Fasting HP was determined by the RQ method with two sheep from the ALH diet accounting for 269 kJ/kg(075) BW per day. The head hood and computerized control, data acquisition and recording as well as the gas cooler improved the system by reducing the labour input without loss of functionality for measuring gas exchange and energy metabolism in small ruminantsThis study was supported by INIA Project (ref. no. RTA2011-00107-C02-02).Fernández Martínez, CJ.; López Luján, MDC.; Lachica, M. (2015). Low-cost mobile open-circuit hood system for measuring gas exchange in small ruminants: from manual to automatic recording. Journal of Agricultural Science. 153(7):1302-1309. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859615000416S130213091537Tovar-Luna, I., Puchala, R., Sahlu, T., Freetly, H. C., & Goetsch, A. L. (2010). Effects of stage of lactation and dietary concentrate level on energy utilization by Alpine dairy goats. Journal of Dairy Science, 93(10), 4818-4828. doi:10.3168/jds.2010-3315Freetly, H. C., Nienaber, J. A., Leymaster, K. A., & Jenkins, T. G. (1995). Relationships among heat production, body weight, and age in Suffolk and Texel ewes. Journal of Animal Science, 73(4), 1030-1037. doi:10.2527/1995.7341030xJust A. , Fernández J. A. & Jørgensen H. (1982). Nitrogen balance studies and nitrogen retention. In Digestive Physiology in the Pig. 2nd International Seminar Jouy-en-Josas, Versailles, 27–29 October 1982 (Eds J. P. LaPlace , J. Corring & A. Rerat ), pp. 111–122. Paris, France: INRA.Blaxter, K. L. (1967). Techniques in energy metabolism studies and their limitations. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 26(1), 86-96. doi:10.1079/pns19670016Fernández, C., López, M. C., & Lachica, M. (2012). Heat production determined by the RQ and CN methods, fasting heat production and effect of the energy intake on substrates oxidation of indigenous Manchega sheep. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 178(1-2), 115-119. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.09.007Lachica, M., & Aguilera, J. F. (2008). Methods to estimate the energy expenditure of goats: From the lab to the field. Small Ruminant Research, 79(2-3), 179-182. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2008.07.016Lachia, M., Aguilera, J. F., & Prieto, L. C. (1997). Energy expenditure related to the act of eating in Granadina goats given diets of different physical form. British Journal of Nutrition, 77(3), 417-426. doi:10.1079/bjn19970042Fernández, C., López, M. C., & Lachica, M. (2012). Description and function of a mobile open-circuit respirometry system to measure gas exchange in small ruminants. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 172(3-4), 242-246. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2012.01.006Freetly, H. C., Nienaber, J. A., & Brown-Brandl, T. (2002). Relationships among heat production, body weight, and age in Finnsheep and Rambouillet ewes2. Journal of Animal Science, 80(3), 825-832. doi:10.2527/2002.803825xKelly, J. M., Kerrigan, B., Milligan, L. P., & McBride, B. W. (1994). Development of a mobile, open-circuit indirect calorimetry system. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 74(1), 65-71. doi:10.4141/cjas94-010Christensen, K., Chwalibog, A., Henckel, S., & Thorbek, G. (1988). Heat production in growing pigs calculated according to the RQ and CN methods. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 91(3), 463-468. doi:10.1016/0300-9629(88)90619-6YOUNG, B. A., WALKER, V. A., & WHITMORE, W. T. (1988). PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING RESTING AND SUMMIT METABOLISM IN SHEEP AND CALVES. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 68(1), 173-182. doi:10.4141/cjas88-016Brouwer E. (1965). Report of subcommittee on constraints and factors. In Proceedings of the 3rd Symposium on Energy Metabolism (Ed. K. L. Blaxter ), pp. 441–445. EAAP Publication No. 11. London: Academic Press.Brockway, J. M., Boyne, A. W., & Gordon, J. G. (1971). Simultaneous calibration of gas analyzers and meters. Journal of Applied Physiology, 31(2), 296-297. doi:10.1152/jappl.1971.31.2.296Lachica, M., & Aguilera, J. F. (2005). Energy expenditure of walk in grassland for small ruminants. Small Ruminant Research, 59(2-3), 105-121. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.05.002Puchala, R., Tovar-Luna, I., Goetsch, A. L., Sahlu, T., Carstens, G. E., & Freetly, H. C. (2007). The relationship between heart rate and energy expenditure in Alpine, Angora, Boer and Spanish goat wethers consuming different quality diets at level of intake near maintenance or fasting. Small Ruminant Research, 70(2-3), 183-193. doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.03.002Takahashi, J., Chaudhry, A. ., Beneke, R. ., & Young, B. . (1999). An open-circuit hood system for gaseous exchange measurements in small ruminants. Small Ruminant Research, 32(1), 31-36. doi:10.1016/s0921-4488(98)00163-1Takahashi, J., & Young, B. A. (1992). The modulation of nitrate-enhanced hypothermia by sulphur compounds in cold-exposed sheep. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 39(3-4), 347-355. doi:10.1016/0377-8401(92)90053-9Olthoff, J. C., Dickerson, G. E., & Nienaber, J. A. (1989). Energy Utilization in Mature Ewes from Seven Breeds with Diverse Production Potentials. Journal of Animal Science, 67(10), 2550. doi:10.2527/jas1989.67102550xBrosh, A. (2007). Heart rate measurements as an index of energy expenditure and energy balance in ruminants: A review1. Journal of Animal Science, 85(5), 1213-1227. doi:10.2527/jas.2006-29

AER and dynamic systems co-simulation over Simulink with Xilinx System Generator

Address-Event Representation (AER) is a neuromorphic communication protocol for transferring information of spiking neurons implemented into VLSI chips. These neuro-inspired implementations have been used to design sensor chips (retina, cochleas), processing chips (convolutions, filters) and learning chips, what makes possible the development of complex, multilayer, multichip neuromorphic systems. In biology one of the last steps of the processing is to move a muscle, to apply the results of these complex neuromorphic processing to the real world. One interesting question is to be able to transform, or translate, the AER information into robot movements, like for example, moving a DC motor. This paper presents several ways to translate AER spikes into DC motor power, and to control a DC motor speed, based on Pulse Frequency Modulation. These methods have been simulated into Simulink with Xilinx System Generator, and tested into the AER-Robot platform.Junta de Andalucía P06-TIC-01417Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-11730-C03-0

From Vision Sensor to Actuators, Spike Based Robot Control through Address-Event-Representation

One field of the neuroscience is the neuroinformatic whose aim is to develop auto-reconfigurable systems that mimic the human body and brain. In this paper we present a neuro-inspired spike based mobile robot. From commercial cheap vision sensors converted into spike information, through spike filtering for object recognition, to spike based motor control models. A two wheel mobile robot powered by DC motors can be autonomously controlled to follow a line drown in the floor. This spike system has been developed around the well-known Address-Event-Representation mechanism to communicate the different neuro-inspired layers of the system. RTC lab has developed all the components presented in this work, from the vision sensor, to the robot platform and the FPGA based platforms for AER processing.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2006-11730-C03-02Junta de Andalucía P06-TIC-0141

Spike Processing on an Embedded Multi-task Computer: Image Reconstruction

There is an emerging philosophy, called Neuro-informatics, contained in the Artificial Intelligence field, that aims to emulate how living beings do tasks such as taking a decision based on the interpretation of an image by emulating spiking neurons into VLSI designs and, therefore, trying to re-create the human brain at its highest level. Address-Event-Representation (AER) is a communication protocol that has embedded part of the processing. It is intended to transfer spikes between bioinspired chips. An AER based system may consist of a hierarchical structure with several chips that transmit spikes among them in real-time, while performing some processing. There are several AER tools to help to develop and test AER based systems. These tools require the use of a computer to allow the higher level processing of the event information, reaching very high bandwidth at the AER communication level. We propose the use of an embedded platform based on a multi-task operating system to allow both, the AER communication and processing without the requirement of either a laptop or a computer. In this paper, we present and study the performance of a new philosophy of a frame-grabber AER tool based on a multi-task environment. This embedded platform is based on the Intel XScale processor which is governed by an embedded GNU/Linux system. We have connected and programmed it for processing Address-Event information from a spiking generator.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-11730-C03-0

Differences in seed dormancy associated with the domestication of <i>Cucurbita maxima</i> : Elucidation of some mechanisms behind this response

This work presents the results of physiological studies developed to understand modifications linked to the reduction of seed dormancy provoked by domestication processes. The experiments performed compared wild and domesticated Cucurbita subspecies and their hybrids developed by reciprocal crossings. Seeds of two accessions of the wild subspecies presented dormancy, but it was largely reduced in seeds from the domesticated genotype, and partially reverted in hybrids, especially in those obtained when the domesticated genotype was used as the mother plant. In addition, naked embryos of all subspecies did not display dormancy when incubation was performed at 28°C, but embryo germination was progressively reduced only in the wild genotype under decreasing incubation temperatures (22 and 16°C). In the embryos, abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations were similar in both domesticated and wild subspecies, whereas in the seed coat, it was threefold higher in the wild subspecies. The naked embryos from the wild subspecies were far more responsive to ABA than those from the domesticated subspecies. These results indicate that dormancy in the wild subspecies is imposed by the seed coat tissues and that this effect is mediated by their high ABA content and the sensitivity of the embryos to ABA. These physiological aspects were apparently removed by domestication along with the temperature-dependent response for germination.Instituto de Fisiología VegetalLaboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica AplicadaFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

A Real-Time Wireless Sensor Network for Wheelchair Navigation

Today, the availability of inexpensive, low power hardware including CMOS cameras and wireless devices make it possible to deploy a wireless sensor network (WSN) with nodes equipped with cameras for a variety of applications. In this paper, we discuss the use of one of these WSNs as a navigation aid for wheelchairs. Instead of having complicated wheelchairs with lots of on-board sensors, we argue that a viable alternative is to have simpler wheelchairs that are able to interact with an intelligent environment so that the wheelchair bases its navigation on its software intelligence, supported by the information sent by external sensors. Many questions have to be investigated, for instance how sensors should be deployed or whether the wireless links would be able to meet our temporal requirements. We describe some of the solutions we adopted, particularly how to implement with Zigbee devices a polling mechanism that allows us to guarantee a real-time secure navigation.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TIN2006-15617- C03-03Junta de Andalucía P06-TIC-229

Supraspecific units in correlative niche modeling improves the prediction of geographic potential of biological invasions

Background Biological invasions rank among the most significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. Correlative ecological niche modeling is among the most frequently used tools with which to estimate potential distributions of invasive species. However, when areas accessible to the species across its native distribution do not represent the full spectrum of environmental conditions that the species can tolerate, correlative studies often underestimate fundamental niches. Methods Here, we explore the utility of supraspecific modeling units to improve the predictive ability of models focused on biological invasions. Taking into account phylogenetic relationships in correlative ecological niche models, we studied the invasion patterns of three species (Aedes aegypti, Pterois volitans and Oreochromis mossambicus). Results Use of supraspecific modeling units improved the predictive ability of correlative niche models in anticipating potential distributions of three invasive species. We demonstrated that integrating data on closely related species allowed a more complete characterization of fundamental niches. This approach could be used to model species with invasive potential but that have not yet invaded new regions

The Percepción Smart Campus system

Ponènica presentada a IberSPEECH 2014, VIII Jornadas en Tecnología del Habla and IV Iberian SLTech Workshop, celebrat a Las Palmas de Gran Canaria els dies 19-21 de novembre de 2014This paper presents the capabilities of the Smart Campus system developed during the Percepcion project. The Smart Campus system is able to locate the user of the application in a limited environment, including indoor location. The system is able to show routes and data (using virtual reality) on the different elements of the environment. Speech queries could be used to locate places and get routes and information on that places