Coppélius’ concoction: Similarity and complementarity among three affect-related agent models

Abstract We propose an agent-based architecture for providing partially automated support to large, concurrent engineering environments that have adopted Integrated Product Team (IPT) practices. We describe classes of agents, show various views from the individual users to the network with a hierarchy for control and coordination, and sketch our strategies for incremental implementation. We have built a Task Structure Specification Tool to delineate and manage the IPT tasks, using blackboard data structures and World-Wide Web compatibility. We review related agent-based engineering efforts, which generally are not sufficient for IPT integration. We suggest that implementing computational IPTs remains a large challenge awaiting agent technologies.

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A New Organotypic Culture of Adipose Tissue Fragments Maintains Viable Mature Adipocytes for a Long Term, Together with Development of Immature Adipocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Like Cells

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2008-0525 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 149 (10) ◽

pp. 4794-4798 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Emiko Sonoda ◽

Shigehisa Aoki ◽

Kazuyoshi Uchihashi ◽

Hidenobu Soejima ◽

Sachiko Kanaji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adipose Tissue ◽

Organotypic Culture ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Collagen Gel ◽

Cell Types ◽

Ppar Γ ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Multiple Cell ◽

Related Agent

Adipose tissue that consists of mature and immature adipocytes is suggested to contain mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), but a culture system for analyzing their cell types within the tissue has not been established. Here we show that three-dimensional collagen gel culture of rat sc adipose tissue fragments maintained viable mature adipocytes for a long term, producing immature adipocytes and MSC-like cells from the fragments, using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and real time RT-PCR. Bromodeoxyuridine uptake of mature adipocytes was detected. Adiponectin and leptin, and adipocyte-specific genes of adiponectin, leptin, and PPAR-γ were detected in culture assembly, whereas the lipogenesis factor insulin (20 mU/ml) and inflammation-related agent TNF-α (2 nm) increased and decreased, respectively, all of their displays. Both spindle-shaped cell types with oil red O-positive lipid droplets and those with expression of MSC markers (CD105 and CD44) developed around the fragments. The data indicate that adipose tissue-organotypic culture retains unilocular structure, proliferative ability, and some functions of mature adipocytes, generating both immature adipocytes and CD105+/CD44+ MSC-like cells. This suggests that our method will open up a new way for studying both multiple cell types within adipose tissue and the cell-based mechanisms of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

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OCKELBO DISEASE: ARTHRALGIA 3=4 YEARS AFTER INFECTION WITH A SINDBIS VIRUS RELATED AGENT

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(86)91315-2 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 327 (8488) ◽

pp. 1039-1040 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Bo Niklasson ◽

Åke Espmark

Keyword(s):

Sindbis Virus ◽

Related Agent

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Legionnaires' Disease in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.67.3.329 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 329-332

Author(s):

Robert L. Muldoon ◽

Donna L. Jaecker ◽

Harry K. Kiefer

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Variation ◽

Clinical Diagnosis ◽

Legionella Pneumophila ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Geometric Mean Titer ◽

Retrospective Survey ◽

The Third ◽

Legionnaires Disease ◽

Related Agent ◽

In Infants And Children

In a retrospective survey of sera collected from 126 patients under the age of 10 years, seroreactivity was first detected at 1 year of age when the geometric mean titer rose from 12 to 24. This activity increased to a titer of 102 in the 4- to 6-year-old group and was maintained in the 7- to 9-year-old group. At the time of serum collection, at least 25% of those sampled had a titer of 256 or greater, a level currently thought to be presumptive evidence of infection at some undetermined time. No difference in the geometric mean titer could be ascertained when the population was divided by clinical diagnosis or by sex. No seasonal variation was observed. Of 35 paired sera from children under the age of 5 years, three fourfold rises were observed. One rise to a titer of 128 was detected in an 11-month-old girl with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis. The second rise in a 5-year-old boy with pneumonia was an increase from 256 to 2,048. The third rise in a 6-month-old with pneumonia did not meet the currently accepted level necessary for confirmed diagnosis. These data suggest that infection with Legionella pneumophila, or a closely related agent, is common in this population, occurring before 9 years of age, and may be a cause of mild respiratory disease in infants and children.

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Assisting Learners to Dynamically Adjust Learning Processes Through Software Agents

Software Applications ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-060-8.ch077 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 1345-1357

Author(s):

Weidong Pan ◽

Igor Hawrysiewycz

Keyword(s):

Online Learning ◽

Domain Knowledge ◽

Software Agents ◽

Learning Processes ◽

Agent Technology ◽

Pedagogical Agents ◽

Supportive Services ◽

Multi Agent ◽

Related Agent ◽

Learning Plans

To make online learning more productive, software agent technology has been applied to provide services for learners in order to assist them to construct knowledge in constructivist ways. This paper is focused on the application of software agents in assisting learners to dynamically adjust learning processes. Unlike pedagogical agents, the agents in this application do not hold domain knowledge but simply assist learners to get through learning processes by a variety of supportive services. They assist learners to develop personalized preferred learning plans and to guide them to dynamically adjust learning toward their goals. In this article, the online learning process is first investigated, and an approach to assisting learners to dynamically adjust learning is outlined. Then, the structure of the UOL (unit of learning) database that provides links between a practical learning scenario and the required services is explored. A multi-agent architecture for realizing the services is configured, and the roles of the involved agents are described. After that, the related agent algorithms for guiding learners to dynamically adjust learning are described.

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Phase I trial of dacarbazine and bortezomib in melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2006.24.18_suppl.18008 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽

pp. 18008-18008 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. D. Roberts ◽

M. S. Ernstoff ◽

C. Birdsell

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Dose Escalation ◽

Progressive Disease ◽

Single Agent ◽

Soft Tissue Sarcomas ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Anticancer Effects ◽

Melanoma Patients ◽

Related Agent

18008 Background: Dacarbazine (D) has modest single agent activity against melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas. NFκB is a transcription factor that in general promotes cell survival and antagonizes apoptosis. In melanoma NFκB is constitutively activated and increases further in response to D. Bortezomib (B) is a prosteasome inhibitor that down-regulates NFκB. In tissue culture and xenograft melanoma models B potentiates anticancer effects of D and the related agent temozolomide. Methods: The primary objective is to identify recommended phase II doses for D+B administered weekly. Patients with advanced melanoma or sarcoma are enrolled in a traditional ‘3+3‘ dose escalation format. Results: Recommended phase II doses will be at least D 250 mg/m2 and B 1.6 mg/m2, and dose escalation continues. Treatment has been generally well tolerated with known D and B toxicities. Among 8 melanoma patients there is 1 partial response (PR), 1 with stable disease on treatment 15 weeks, 6 with progressive disease (PD) 6, 7, 8, 8, 13, and 13 weeks. Among 5 sarcoma patients there is 1 PR and 4 with PD 4, 8, 16, and 24 wks. Conclusions: At full dose B and moderate dose D for this schedule, D+B is feasible and generally well-tolerated. Activity beyond that of D alone is not apparent to date, but several or all patients have been treated at less than maximum tolerated doses. [Table: see text]

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