C-tests revisited: back and forth with complexity

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21365-1_28We explore the aggregation of tasks by weighting them using a difficulty function that depends on the complexity of the (acceptable) policy for the task (instead of a universal distribution over tasks or an adaptive test). The resulting aggregations and decompositions are (now retrospectively) seen as the natural (and trivial) interactive generalisation of the C-tests.This work has been partially supported by the EU (FEDER) and the Spanish MINECO under grants TIN 2010-21062-C02-02, PCIN-2013-037 and TIN 2013-45732-C4-1-P, and by Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEOII 2015/013.Hernández Orallo, J. (2015). C-tests revisited: back and forth with complexity. En Artificial General Intelligence 8th International Conference, AGI 2015, AGI 2015, Berlin, Germany, July 22-25, 2015, Proceedings. Springer International Publishing. 272-282. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21365-1_28S272282Bellemare, M.G., Naddaf, Y., Veness, J., Bowling, M.: The arcade learning environment: An evaluation platform for general agents. Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research 47, 253–279 (2013)Hernández-Orallo, J.: Beyond the Turing Test. J. Logic, Language & Information 9(4), 447–466 (2000)Hernández-Orallo, J.: Computational measures of information gain and reinforcement in inference processes. AI Communications 13(1), 49–50 (2000)Hernández-Orallo, J.: On the computational measurement of intelligence factors. In: Meystel, A. (ed.) Performance metrics for intelligent systems workshop, pp. 1–8. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg (2000)Hernández-Orallo, J.: AI evaluation: past, present and future (2014). arXiv preprint arXiv:1408.6908Hernández-Orallo, J.: On environment difficulty and discriminating power. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 1–53 (2014). http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10458-014-9257-1Hernández-Orallo, J., Dowe, D.L.: Measuring universal intelligence: Towards an anytime intelligence test. Artificial Intelligence 174(18), 1508–1539 (2010)Hernández-Orallo, J., Dowe, D.L., Hernández-Lloreda, M.V.: Universal psychometrics: Measuring cognitive abilities in the machine kingdom. Cognitive Systems Research 27, 50–74 (2014)Hernández-Orallo, J., Minaya-Collado, N.: A formal definition of intelligence based on an intensional variant of Kolmogorov complexity. In: Proc. Intl. Symposium of Engineering of Intelligent Systems (EIS 1998), pp. 146–163. ICSC Press (1998)Hibbard, B.: Bias and no free lunch in formal measures of intelligence. Journal of Artificial General Intelligence 1(1), 54–61 (2009)Legg, S., Hutter, M.: Universal intelligence: A definition of machine intelligence. Minds and Machines 17(4), 391–444 (2007)Li, M., Vitányi, P.: An introduction to Kolmogorov complexity and its applications, 3 edn. Springer-Verlag (2008)Schaul, T.: An extensible description language for video games. IEEE Transactions on Computational Intelligence and AI in Games PP(99), 1–1 (2014)Solomonoff, R.J.: A formal theory of inductive inference. Part I. Information and control 7(1), 1–22 (1964

Global Solutions vs. Local Solutions for the AI Safety Problem

There are two types of artificial general intelligence (AGI) safety solutions: global and local. Most previously suggested solutions are local: they explain how to align or “box” a specific AI (Artificial Intelligence), but do not explain how to prevent the creation of dangerous AI in other places. Global solutions are those that ensure any AI on Earth is not dangerous. The number of suggested global solutions is much smaller than the number of proposed local solutions. Global solutions can be divided into four groups: 1. No AI: AGI technology is banned or its use is otherwise prevented; 2. One AI: the first superintelligent AI is used to prevent the creation of any others; 3. Net of AIs as AI police: a balance is created between many AIs, so they evolve as a net and can prevent any rogue AI from taking over the world; 4. Humans inside AI: humans are augmented or part of AI. We explore many ideas, both old and new, regarding global solutions for AI safety. They include changing the number of AI teams, different forms of “AI Nanny” (non-self-improving global control AI system able to prevent creation of dangerous AIs), selling AI safety solutions, and sending messages to future AI. Not every local solution scales to a global solution or does it ethically and safely. The choice of the best local solution should include understanding of the ways in which it will be scaled up. Human-AI teams or a superintelligent AI Service as suggested by Drexler may be examples of such ethically scalable local solutions, but the final choice depends on some unknown variables such as the speed of AI progres

Functional renormalization group for three-dimensional quantum magnetism

We formulate a pseudofermion functional renormalization group (PFFRG) scheme to address frustrated quantum magnetism in three dimensions. In a scenario where many numerical approaches fail due to sign problem or small system size, three-dimensional (3D) PFFRG allows for a quantitative investigation of the quantum spin problem and its observables. We illustrate 3D PFFRG for the simple cubic $J_1$-$J_2$-$J_3$ quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet, and benchmark it against other approaches, if available.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Published versio

Epidemiologische Untersuchungen von Infektionskrankheiten, die durch Lebensmittel übertragen werden

Lebensmittelübertragende Infektionen durch kontaminierte Nahrungsmittel sind häufig und haben ein hohes Erregungspotential in der Öffentlichkeit. Ziel der Arbeiten in dieser Schrift ist die Bestimmung der Häufigkeit von lebensmittelübertragenen Infektionen und Erkrankungsfällen (Inzidenz oder Prävalenz) und die Erforschung der Krankheitsursachen, um die Präventionsmaßnahmen dieser Erkrankungen zu verbessern. Eine bundesweit durchgeführte Querschnittsstudie zur Häufigkeit und den assoziierten Faktoren von Gastroenteritiden konnte aufzeigen, dass in Deutschland jeder erwachsener Bürger pro Jahr im Durchschnitt ungefähr einen (0,95 Episoden) infektionsbedingten Durchfall durchmacht. In einer weiteren bundesweit repräsentativen Querschnittsstudie wurde anhand gewonnener Blutproben eine Prävalenz von 49,1% seropositiven Studienteilnehmern mit dem Parasiten Toxoplasma gondii bestimmt. Dieses Ergebnis war hoch im Vergleich zu ähnlichen internationalen Studien. Darüber hinaus konnte geschätzt werden, dass es jährlich 6.393 Toxoplasma gondii-Infektionen bei schwangeren Frauen gibt. Während eines großen Ausbruchs von Enterohämorrhagische Escherichia coli (EHEC) und des assoziierten Hämolytisch Urämischen Syndroms (HUS) in Deutschland im Jahr 2011 konnte eine ad Hoc durchgeführte Fall-Kontroll-Studie in Frankfurt (Main) den Einkauf an der Salatbar eines Unternehmens als assoziierten Faktor identifizieren. Dies konnte anhand der Daten aus dem bargeldlosen Bezahlsystem in zwei Kantinen ermittelt werden. Im gleichen Ausbruch konnte mittels einer ad Hoc durchgeführten retrospektiven Kohortenstudie bei den Restaurantbesuchern Sprossen auf den bestellten Gerichten als assoziierter Faktor identifiziert werden. Hierfür wurden die Daten der Menüpläne des Kochs genutzt. Durch diese Vorgehensweise konnten Schwierigkeiten mit dem Erinnerungsvermögen der Studienteilnehmer umgangen werden. In einer anderen mehrere Bundesländer betreffenden Krisensituation mit über 10.000 Gastroenteritis-Erkrankungen bei Kindern konnte durch die Implementierung einer Surveillance das Ausmaß des Ausbruchs aufgezeigt werden, sowie deren Verlauf beschrieben werden. Inspiriert von den Erfahrungen innerhalb des EHEC/HUS-Ausbruchs aus Frankfurt und Lübeck konnte in einer Studie zur Validität von Datenerhebungen von Lebensmittel-Expositionen in einer Kantine in Berlin der Anteil von Fehlklassifikationen beschrieben werden und somit die Notwendigkeit von schnellen Untersuchungen belegt werden. Die in dieser Schrift vorgestellten Arbeiten bildeten die Grundlage für konkrete Präventionsempfehlungen und waren die empirische Grundlage für Reaktionen auf bedeutende Public Health-Krisen. Das Erkrankungsrisiko durch lebensmittelübertragende Erreger in Deutschland ist signifikant. Daher müssen die Verantwortlichen im öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienst weiterhin auf große lebensmittelbedingte Ausbrüche vorbereitet sein. Entsprechend dieser Entwicklungen beschäftigt sich diese Arbeit mit epidemiologischen Aspekten dieser lebensmittelübertragener Erreger und zeigt neue Lösungsansätze für Vorgehensweisen in Ausbruchssituationen.Foodborne infections caused by contaminated foodstuffs are common and have a high potential for public attention. The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of foodborne infections and diseases cases (incidence or prevalence) and to investigate the determinants in order to improve disease prevention. A nationwide cross-sectional study on the incidence and associated factors of gastroenteritis indicates that in Germany every adult citizen experiences an average of almost one (0.95 episodes) episode of infectious diarrhea per year. In another nationwide representative cross-sectional study, a prevalence of 49.1% seropositive study participants with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii was determined on the basis of their study blood samples. This result was surprisingly high compared to similar studies in the international context. In addition, it was estimated that there are 6,393 Toxoplasma gondii-infections in pregnant women each year. During a large outbreak of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and the associated Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) in Germany in 2011 an ad hoc case control study in Frankfurt (Main) was able to identify purchases at the salad bar of a company as an associated factor. This could be determined using the data from the cashless payment system in two company cafeterias. In the same outbreak, an ad hoc retrospective cohort study of restaurant visitors identified sprouts on the as part of the visitor’s dishes as an associated factor in Lübeck. The data from the chef's menu plans were used for this. With this method, difficulties with the memory ability of the study participants could be avoided. In another crisis situation affecting several federal states with more than 10,000 gastroenteritis diseases in children, the extent of the outbreak could be shown by the implementation of an ad hoc disease surveillance and the course of the outbreak described. Inspired by the experiences within the EHEC / HUS outbreak from Frankfurt and Lübeck, the proportion of misclassifications could be estimated in a study on the validity of recall of food exposures in a company cafeteria in Berlin and thus the need for quick examinations could be demonstrated. The work presented in this publication formed the basis for specific prevention recommendations and was the empirical basis for reactions to major public health crises. The risk of disease from foodborne pathogens in Germany is significant. Therefore, public health service must continue to be prepared for major foodborne outbreaks. In line with these developments, this work deals with epidemiological aspects of these foodborne pathogens and indicates new approaches for dealing with outbreak situations

Deep Learning: Our Miraculous Year 1990-1991

In 2020, we will celebrate that many of the basic ideas behind the deep learning revolution were published three decades ago within fewer than 12 months in our "Annus Mirabilis" or "Miraculous Year" 1990-1991 at TU Munich. Back then, few people were interested, but a quarter century later, neural networks based on these ideas were on over 3 billion devices such as smartphones, and used many billions of times per day, consuming a significant fraction of the world's compute.Comment: 37 pages, 188 references, based on work of 4 Oct 201

Semiclassical atom theory applied to solid-state physics

Using the semiclassical neutral atom theory, we extend to fourth order the modified gradient expansion of the exchange energy of density functional theory. This expansion can be applied both to large atoms and solid-state problems. Moreover, we show that it can be employed to construct a simple and non-empirical generalized gradient approximation (GGA) exchange-correlation functional competitive with state-of-the-art GGAs for solids, but also reasonably accurate for large atoms and ordinary chemistry.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Low airborne tenacity and spread of ESBL-/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from fertilized soil by wind erosion

ESBL-/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from organic fertilizers were previously detected on soil surfaces of arable land and might be emitted by wind erosion. To investigate this potential environmental transmission path, we exposed ESBL-/AmpC-positive chicken litter, incorporated in agricultural soils, to different wind velocities in a wind tunnel and took air samples for microbiological analysis. No data exist concerning the airborne tenacity of ESBL-/AmpC-producing E. coli. Therefore, we explored the tenacity of two ESBL/AmpC E. coli strains and E. coli K12 in aerosol chamber experiments at different environmental conditions. In the wind tunnel, ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli were detected in none of the air samples (n = 66). Non-resistant E. coli were qualitatively detected in 40.7% of air samples taken at wind velocities exceeding 7.3 m s(-1). Significantly increased emission of total viable bacteria with increasing wind velocity was observed. In the aerosol chamber trials, recovery rates of airborne E. coli ranged from 0.003% to 2.8%, indicating a low airborne tenacity. Concluding, an emission of ESBL/AmpC E. coli by wind erosion in relevant concentrations appears unlikely because of the low concentration in chicken litter compared with non-resistant E. coli and their low airborne tenacity, proven in the aerosol chamber trials

Quantum disordered insulating phase in the frustrated cubic-lattice Hubbard model

In the quest for quantum spin liquids in three spatial dimensions (3D), we study the half-filled Hubbard model on the simple cubic lattice with hopping processes up to third neighbors. Employing the variational cluster approach (VCA), we determine the zero-temperature phase diagram: In addition to a paramagnetic metal at small interaction strength $U$ and various antiferromagnetic insulators at large $U$, we find an intermediate-$U$ antiferromagnetic metal. Most interestingly, we also identify a non-magnetic insulating region, extending from intermediate to strong $U$. Using VCA results in the large-$U$ limit, we establish the phase diagram of the corresponding $J_1$-$J_2$-$J_3$ Heisenberg model. This is qualitatively confirmed - including the non-magnetic region - using spin-wave theory. Further analysis reveals a striking similarity to the behavior of the $J_1$-$J_2$ square-lattice Heisenberg model, suggesting that the non-magnetic region hosts a 3D spin-liquid phase.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; final version incl. discussion about material

Effect of daptomycin and vancomycin on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms: An in vitro assessment using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Colonization of in-dwelling catheters by microbial biofilms is a major concern in patient health eventually leading to catheter-related blood stream infections. Biofilms are less susceptible to standard antibiotic therapies that are effective against planktonic bacteria. Standard procedure for the detection of microorganisms on the catheter tip is culture. However, viable but non-culturable cells (VBNCs) may be missed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) as an indicator to visualize and quantify the effect of the antibiotics daptomycin and vancomycin on biofilms in situ. We established an in vitro catheter biofilm model of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms on polyurethane catheters. Biofilm activity was measured by FISH and correlated to colony forming units (CFU) data. Digital image analysis was used for quantification of total biofilm mass and the area of the FISH positive biofilm cells. FISH showed a pronounced effect of both antibiotics on the biofilms, with daptomycin having a significantly stronger effect in terms of both reduction of biofilm mass and number of FISH-positive cells. This supports the anti-biofilm capacity of daptomycin. Interestingly, neither antibiotic was able to eradicate all of the FISH-positive cells. In summary, FISH succeeded in visualization, quantification, and localization of antibiotic activity on biofilms. This technique adds a new tool to the arsenal of test systems for anti-biofilm compounds. FISH is a valuable complementary technique to CFU since it can be highly standardized and provides information on biofilm architecture and quantity and localization of survivor cells