A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process that includes obtaining a porous medium comprising a porous material having a first shape and an initial porosity profile. The metal connecting composition contains metal particles and hydrocarbon compound having CH bonding dissociation energy of a value equal to or lower than 950 KJmol. A resistor is connected in parallel with the reference MOS resistor between the drain and source thereof, the resistor including a pair of resistors having the same resistance connected in series. The actuator, which displaces the member between the first and second configurations, includes a stator and an armature. Varying at least one environmental condition near the person experiencing one or more cycles of the sleep architecture influences the quality of the person’s sleep. Possible signals include change in electrical current, change in force, and change in fluorescence.