Agent Bodies: An Interface Between Agent and Environment

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23850-0_2Interfacing the agents with their environment is a classical problem when designing multiagent systems. However, the models pertaining to this interface generally choose to either embed it in the agents, or in the environment. In this position paper, we propose to highlight the role of agent bodies as primary components of the multiagent system design. We propose a tentative definition of an agent body, and discuss its responsibilities in terms of MAS components. The agent body takes from both agent and environment: low-level agent mechanisms such as perception and influences are treated locally in the agent bodies. These mechanism participate in the cognitive process, but are not driven by symbol manipulation. Furthermore, it allows to define several bodies for one mind, either to simulate different capabilities, or to interact in the different environments - physical, social- the agent is immersed in. We also draw the main challenges to apply this concept effectively.Saunier, J.; Carrascosa Casamayor, C.; Galland, S.; Kanmeugne, PS. (2015). Agent Bodies: An Interface Between Agent and Environment. En Agent Environments for Multi-Agent Systems IV. 4th International Workshop, E4MAS 2014 - 10 Years Later, Paris, France, May 6, 2014. 25-40. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-23850-0_2S2540Barella, A., Ricci, A., Boissier, O., Carrascosa, C.: MAM5: Multi-agent model for intelligent virtual environments. In: 10th European Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems (EUMAS 2012), pp. 16–30 (2012)Behe, F., Galland, S., Gaud, N., Nicolle, C., Koukam, A.: An ontology-based metamodel for multiagent-based simulations. Int. J. Simul. Model. Pract. 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An Equine Model for Vaccination against a Hepacivirus: Insights into Host Responses to E2 Recombinant Protein Vaccination and Subsequent Equine Hepacivirus Inoculation

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is the closest known genetic homologue of hepatitis C virus. An effective prophylactic vaccine is currently not available for either of these hepaciviruses. The equine as potential surrogate model for hepacivirus vaccine studies was investigated, while equine host responses following vaccination with EqHV E2 recombinant protein and subsequent EqHV inoculation were elucidated. Four ponies received prime and booster vaccinations (recombinant protein, adjuvant) four weeks apart (day −55 and −27). Two control ponies received adjuvant only. Ponies were inoculated with EqHV RNA-positive plasma on day 0. Blood samples and liver biopsies were collected over 26 weeks (day −70 to +112). Serum analyses included detection of EqHV RNA, isotypes of E2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), nonstructural protein 3-specific IgG, haematology, serum biochemistry, and metabolomics. Liver tissue analyses included EqHV RNA detection, RNA sequencing, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Al-though vaccination did not result in complete protective immunity against experimental EqHV inoculation, the majority of vaccinated ponies cleared the serum EqHV RNA earlier than the control ponies. The majority of vaccinated ponies appeared to recover from the EqHV-associated liver insult earlier than the control ponies. The equine model shows promise as a surrogate model for future hepacivirus vaccine research

Studies on the Cobalt Deficiency in Ruminants (III) : Effects of Thiamine, Glucose and Cobalamin Injection on the Metabolism of Cobalt-deficient Sheep

International audienceN-terminal acetylation is a common protein modification in eukaryotes associated with numerous cellular processes. Inherited mutations in NAA10, encoding the catalytic subunit of the major N-terminal acetylation complex NatA have been associated with diverse, syndromic X-linked recessive disorders, whereas de novo missense mutations have been reported in one male and one female individual with severe intellectual disability but otherwise unspecific phenotypes. Thus, the full genetic and clinical spectrum of NAA10 deficiency is yet to be delineated. We identified three different novel and one known missense mutation in NAA10, de novo in 11 females, and due to maternal germ line mosaicism in another girl and her more severely affected and deceased brother. In vitro enzymatic assays for the novel, recurrent mutations p.(Arg83Cys) and p.(Phe128Leu) revealed reduced catalytic activity. X-inactivation was random in five females. The core phenotype of X-linked NAA10-related N-terminal-acetyltransferase deficiency in both males and females includes developmental delay, severe intellectual disability, postnatal growth failure with severe microcephaly, and skeletal or cardiac anomalies. Genotype–phenotype correlations within and between both genders are complex and may include various factors such as location and nature of mutations, enzymatic stability and activity, and X-inactivation in females

Agent Environments for Multi-agent Systems – A Research Roadmap

Ten years ago, researchers in multi-agent systems became more and more aware that agent systems consist of more than only agents. The series of workshops on Environments for Multi-Agent Systems (E4MAS 2004-2006) emerged from this awareness. One of the primary outcomes of this endeavor was a principled understanding that the agent environment should be considered as a primary design abstraction, equally important as the agents. A special issue in JAAMAS 2007 contributed a set of influential papers that define the role of agent environments, describe their engineering, and outline challenges in the field that have been the drivers for numerous follow up research efforts. The goal of this paper is to wrap up what has been achieved in the past 10 years and identify challenges for future research on agent environments. Instead of taking a broad perspective, we focus on three particularly relevant topics of modern software intensive systems: large scale, openness, and humans in the loop. For each topic, we reflect on the challenges outlined 10 years ago, present an example application that highlights the current trends, and from that outline challenges for the future. We conclude with a roadmap on how the different challenges could be tackled. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015.Peer reviewe

An Equine Model for Vaccination against a Hepacivirus: Insights into Host Responses to E2 Recombinant Protein Vaccination and Subsequent Equine Hepacivirus Inoculation

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is the closest known genetic homologue of hepatitis C virus. An effective prophylactic vaccine is currently not available for either of these hepaciviruses. The equine as potential surrogate model for hepacivirus vaccine studies was investigated, while equine host responses following vaccination with EqHV E2 recombinant protein and subsequent EqHV inoculation were elucidated. Four ponies received prime and booster vaccinations (recombinant protein, adjuvant) four weeks apart (day −55 and −27). Two control ponies received adjuvant only. Ponies were inoculated with EqHV RNA-positive plasma on day 0. Blood samples and liver biopsies were collected over 26 weeks (day −70 to +112). Serum analyses included detection of EqHV RNA, isotypes of E2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), nonstructural protein 3-specific IgG, haematology, serum biochemistry, and metabolomics. Liver tissue analyses included EqHV RNA detection, RNA sequencing, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Al-though vaccination did not result in complete protective immunity against experimental EqHV inoculation, the majority of vaccinated ponies cleared the serum EqHV RNA earlier than the control ponies. The majority of vaccinated ponies appeared to recover from the EqHV-associated liver insult earlier than the control ponies. The equine model shows promise as a surrogate model for future hepacivirus vaccine research

Fifteen years of research on oral–facial–digital syndromes: from 1 to 16 causal genes

Oral–facial–digital syndromes (OFDS) gather rare genetic disorders characterised by facial, oral and digital abnormalities associated with a wide range of additional features (polycystic kidney disease, cerebral malformations and several others) to delineate a growing list of OFDS subtypes. The most frequent, OFD type I, is caused by a heterozygous mutation in the OFD1 gene encoding a centrosomal protein. The wide clinical heterogeneity of OFDS suggests the involvement of other ciliary genes. For 15 years, we have aimed to identify the molecular bases of OFDS. This effort has been greatly helped by the recent development of whole-exome sequencing (WES). Here, we present all our published and unpublished results for WES in 24 cases with OFDS. We identified causal variants in five new genes (C2CD3, TMEM107, INTU, KIAA0753 and IFT57) and related the clinical spectrum of four genes in other ciliopathies (C5orf42, TMEM138, TMEM231 and WDPCP) to OFDS. Mutations were also detected in two genes previously implicated in OFDS. Functional studies revealed the involvement of centriole elongation, transition zone and intraflagellar transport defects in OFDS, thus characterising three ciliary protein modules: the complex KIAA0753-FOPNL-OFD1, a regulator of centriole elongation; the Meckel-Gruber syndrome module, a major component of the transition zone; and the CPLANE complex necessary for IFT-A assembly. OFDS now appear to be a distinct subgroup of ciliopathies with wide heterogeneity, which makes the initial classification obsolete. A clinical classification restricted to the three frequent/well-delineated subtypes could be proposed, and for patients who do not fit one of these three main subtypes, a further classification could be based on the genotype

Simulation du comportement latéral des véhicules fondée sur une approche à base de forces

International audienceIn the field of road safety, consideration is being given to sharing the road between the various modes of transport, in particular by repositio-ning the lateral marking. However, the effect of a change in the profile across the road on driver behaviour has so far been little studied. The PROFIL project aimed to study this impact in different situations (instrumented vehicle, driving simulator, traffic simulator). In this framework, we propose the LFM (Lateral Force Model) Model , taking into account the longitudinal and lateral effects of the cross-sectional profile within the traffic lane. We show that this model, based on IDM (Intelligent Driver Model) in its longitudinal component, effectively reproduces the effects of crossed vehicles, the width of the lane in free traffic, and crossing and turning situations according to the data collected in real-life and simulator experiments.Dans le domaine de la sécurité routière a lieu une réflexion sur le partage de la route aux dif-férents modes de déplacements, notamment via le repositionnement du marquage latéral. Ce-pendant, l'effet d'un changement du profil en travers de la route sur les comportements des conducteurs a été jusqu'ici peu étudié. Le pro-jet PROFIL a eu pour objectif d'étudier cet impact dans différentes situations (véhicule ins-trumenté, simulateur de conduite, simulateur de trafic). Dans ce cadre, nous proposons le modèle LFM (Lateral Force Model), prenant en compte les effets longitudinaux et latéraux du profil en travers au sein de la voie de circulation. Nous montrons que ce modèle, fondé sur IDM (Intel-ligent Driver Model) dans sa composante lon-gitudinale, reproduit de façon effective les effets des véhicules croisés, de la largeur de la voie en circulation libre, et des situations de croise-ment et de virage selon les données recueillies dans des expérimentations en situation réelle et en simulateur

Simulation du comportement latéral des véhicules fondée sur une approche à base de forces

International audienceIn the field of road safety, consideration is being given to sharing the road between the various modes of transport, in particular by repositio-ning the lateral marking. However, the effect of a change in the profile across the road on driver behaviour has so far been little studied. The PROFIL project aimed to study this impact in different situations (instrumented vehicle, driving simulator, traffic simulator). In this framework, we propose the LFM (Lateral Force Model) Model , taking into account the longitudinal and lateral effects of the cross-sectional profile within the traffic lane. We show that this model, based on IDM (Intelligent Driver Model) in its longitudinal component, effectively reproduces the effects of crossed vehicles, the width of the lane in free traffic, and crossing and turning situations according to the data collected in real-life and simulator experiments.Dans le domaine de la sécurité routière a lieu une réflexion sur le partage de la route aux dif-férents modes de déplacements, notamment via le repositionnement du marquage latéral. Ce-pendant, l'effet d'un changement du profil en travers de la route sur les comportements des conducteurs a été jusqu'ici peu étudié. Le pro-jet PROFIL a eu pour objectif d'étudier cet impact dans différentes situations (véhicule ins-trumenté, simulateur de conduite, simulateur de trafic). Dans ce cadre, nous proposons le modèle LFM (Lateral Force Model), prenant en compte les effets longitudinaux et latéraux du profil en travers au sein de la voie de circulation. Nous montrons que ce modèle, fondé sur IDM (Intel-ligent Driver Model) dans sa composante lon-gitudinale, reproduit de façon effective les effets des véhicules croisés, de la largeur de la voie en circulation libre, et des situations de croise-ment et de virage selon les données recueillies dans des expérimentations en situation réelle et en simulateur

Bridging the gap between agent and environment: the missing body

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