Interactive Multiagent Adaptation of Individual Classification Models for Decision Support

An essential prerequisite for informed decision-making of intelligent agents is direct access to empirical knowledge for situation assessment. This contribution introduces an agent-oriented knowledge management framework for learning agents facing impediments in self-contained acquisition of classification models. The framework enables the emergence of dynamic knowledge networks among benevolent agents forming a community of practice in open multiagent systems. Agents in an advisee role are enabled to pinpoint learning impediments in terms of critical training cases and to engage in a goal-directed discourse with an advisor panel to overcome identified issues. The advisors provide arguments supporting and hence explaining those critical cases. Using such input as additional background knowledge, advisees can adapt their models in iterative relearning organized as a search through model space. An extensive empirical evaluation in two real-world domains validates the presented approach

Probleme und Chancen der Benutzerschnittstellen bei Wearable Computern

"Das Thema mobiles Arbeiten ist in letzter Zeit durch die Entwicklung immer besserer mobiler Rechnersysteme wie Laptops und PDAs stark in den Vordergrund getreten. Diese Ausarbeitung soll sich mit einem anderen Bereich, nämlich dem der ultra-mobilen Geräte, den tragbaren, 'wearable' Computern befassen und konzentriert sich auf die Probleme hinsichtlich der Bedienschnittstellen für diese Systeme. Dabei beschränkt sich dieser Text auf den Bereich Hardware. Probleme betreffend der Software bzw. der GUI-Ergonomie wurden von uns explizit nicht betrachtet. Insbesondere sollen folgende Themen behandelt werden: Was wird zur Zeit unter dem Begriff Wearable Computer verstanden, wie werden solche Computer definiert und welche Anforderungen existieren bezüglich solcher Systeme? Welche Anforderungen an die Bedienschnittstellen ergeben sich durch diese Definition und wieweit werden momentan erhältliche Eingabegeräte diesen Anforderungen gerecht? Existieren Alternativkonzepte hinsichtlich des Begriffes Wearable Computing? Die Ergebisse der Behandlung dieser Fragestellungen sollen die folgende Thesen untermauern: Die durch die klassische Form der Computernutzung etablierte Desktop-Metapher behindert die Entwicklung von optimal an den Kontext wearable angepassten Anwendungen und Bedienschnittstellen. Die momentan verfügbaren Bedienschnittstellen für Wearable Computer sind im ergonomischen Sinne schlechtere Abbildungen der auf dem Desktop-PC gebräuchlichen Geräte. Die Richtung, in der die momentane Entwicklung im Bereich Wearable Computer und deren Bedienschnittstellen geht, ist nicht uneingeschränkt sinnvoll. Es besteht Bedarf, neue Alternativkonzepte zu entwickeln und bereits bestehende auf ihre Brauchbarkeit hin zu überprüfen, was eventuell in einer Neudefinition des Begriffes Wearable Computing resultieren könnte." (Autorenreferat

Functional polymorphisms in the P2X7 receptor gene are associated with stress fracture injury

Context: Military recruits and elite athletes are susceptible to stress fracture injuries. Genetic predisposition has been postulated to have a role in their development. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) gene, a key regulator of bone remodelling, is a genetic candidate that may contribute to stress fracture predisposition. Objective: To evaluate the putative contribution of P2X7R to stress fracture injury in two separate cohorts, military personnel and elite athletes. Methods: In 210 Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) military conscripts, stress fracture injury was diagnosed (n=43) based on symptoms and a positive bone scan. In a separate cohort of 518 elite athletes, self-reported medical imaging scan-certified stress fracture injuries were recorded (n=125). Non-stress fracture controls were identified from these cohorts who had a normal bone scan or no history or symptoms of stress fracture injury. Study participants were genotyped for functional SNPs within the P2X7R gene using proprietary fluorescence-based competitive allele-specific PCR assay. Pearson Chi-square (χ2) tests, corrected for multiple comparisons, were used to assess associations in genotype frequencies. Results: The variant allele of P2X7R SNP rs3751143 (Glu496Ala- loss of function) was associated with stress fracture injury, while the variant allele of rs1718119 (Ala348Thr- gain of function) was associated with a reduced occurrence of stress fracture injury in military conscripts (P<0.05). The association of the variant allele of rs3751143 with stress fractures was replicated in elite athletes (P<0.05), whereas the variant allele of rs1718119 was also associated with reduced multiple stress fracture cases in elite athletes (P<0.05). Conclusions: The association between independent P2X7R polymorphisms with stress fracture prevalence supports the role of a genetic predisposition in the development of stress fracture injury

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Interaktive multiagenten-basierte Adaption individueller Klassifikationsmodelle zur Unterstützung von Entscheidungsfindungsprozessen

An essential prerequisite for informed decision-making of intelligent agents is direct access to empirical knowledge for situation assessment. This contribution introduces an agent-oriented knowledge management framework for learning agents facing impediments in self-contained acquisition of classification models. The framework enables the emergence of dynamic knowledge networks among benevolent agents forming a community of practice in open multiagent systems. Agents in an advisee role are enabled to pinpoint learning impediments in terms of critical training cases and to engage in a goal-directed discourse with an advisor panel to overcome identified issues. The advisors provide arguments supporting and hence explaining those critical cases. Using such input as additional background knowledge, advisees can adapt their models in iterative relearning organized as a search through model space. An extensive empirical evaluation in two real-world domains validates the presented approach

Probleme und Chancen der Benutzerschnittstellen bei Wearable Computern

Das Thema mobiles Arbeiten ist in letzter Zeit durch die Entwicklung immer besserer mobiler Rechnersysteme wie Laptops und PDAs stark in den Vordergrund getreten. Diese Ausarbeitung soll sich mit einem anderen Bereich, nämlich dem der ultra-mobilen Geräte, den tragbaren, ”wearable” Computern befassen und konzentriert sich auf die Probleme hinsichtlich der Bedienschnittstellen für diese Systeme. Dabei beschränkt sich dieser Text auf den Bereich Hardware. Probleme betreffend der Software bzw. der GUI-Ergonomie wurden von uns explizit nicht betrachtet.11