Swarm intelligence in cooperative environments: N-step dynamic tree search algorithm extended analysis

Reinforcement learning tree-based planning methods have been gaining popularity in the last few years due to their success in single-agent domains, where a perfect simulator model is available, e.g., Go and chess strategic board games. This paper pretends to extend tree search algorithms to the multi-agent setting in a decentralized structure, dealing with scalability issues and exponential growth of computational resources. The N-Step Dynamic Tree Search combines forward planning and direct temporal-difference updates, outperforming markedly state-of-the-art algorithms such as Q-Learning and SARSA. Future state transitions and rewards are predicted with a model built and learned from real interactions between agents and the environment. As an extension of previous work, this paper analyses the developed algorithm in the Hunter-Pursuit cooperative game against intelligent evaders. The N-Step Dynamic Tree Search aims to adapt the most successful single-agent learning methods to the multi-agent boundaries and demonstrates to be a remarkable advance compared to conventional temporal-difference techniques.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC): 2454254. BAE System

Swarm intelligence in cooperative environments: introducing the N-step dynamic tree search algorithm

Uncertainty and partial or unknown information about environment dynamics have led reward-based methods to play a key role in the Single-Agent and Multi-Agent Learning problem. Tree-based planning approaches such as Monte Carlo Tree Search algorithm have been a striking success in single-agent domains where a perfect simulator model is available, e.g., Go and chess strategic board games. This paper presents a decentralized tree-based planning scheme, that combines forward planning with direct reinforcement learning temporal-difference updates applied to the multi-agent setting. Forward planning requires an engine model which is learned from experience and represented via function approximation. Evaluation and validation are carried out in the Hunter-Prey Pursuit cooperative environment and performance is compared with state-of-the-art RL techniques. N-Step Dynamic Tree Search (NSDTS) pretends to adapt the most successful single-agent learning methods to the multi-agent boundaries in a decentralized system structure, dealing with scalability issues and exponential growth of computational resources suffered by centralized systems. NSDTS demonstrates to be a remarkable advance compared to the conventional Q-Learning temporal-difference method

Implementation of Migrant Education Program in the Richgrove School District

Justification of the problem. A significant percentage of the children attending school in the Richgrove School District are identified as migrant students. Migratory children often were two or more grades below grade level in reading, spoke little or no English, tended to withdraw from the school environment, had poor self-concepts, lacked nutritionally balanced meals, and had few, if any, previous health records. The present study is an outgrowth of the Richgrove School District\u27s effort to develop and provide an educational program designed to meet the needs of migratory children residing within its attendance boundaries. The problem. The problem was to examine student achievement in pull-out instruction classes in reading and in English as a second language, student self-image improvement, food and health services, and 2 community involvement for migrants. Delimits of the study. The study was limited to those aspects of the Richgrove School District\u27s migrant education program during the 1970-71 school year. Hypothesis. It was the hypothesis of this study that migrant education programs can be designed to improve student achievement in reading and English as a second language classes, improve the self image of the student and improve food and health services for migrant children. Method of procedure. The procedure followed in this study was to describe the development, implementation, and observed results of the Richgrove School District\u27s 1970-71 migrant education program. The effectiveness of the migrant education program was determined by student achievement, teacher and student ratings, observed results, records of food and health services provided, and an evaluation of nutritional and health services by a medical doctor. Findings. Migrant pupils in the Language Comprehension Improvement classes who were enrolled for pre-test and post-test evaluations of reading achievement gains in grades two through eight, as measured by the California Achievement Test, averaged more than one month\u27s gain for each month in class . The English as a Second Language pre-class and post-class ratings revealed that children in the English as a Second Language classes learned to speak English at an accelerated rate. Teacher and student opinion indicated that children in the E.S.L. classes learned to speak English more quickly and took part in classroom activities sooner than previous migrant children who did not have the benefit of supplemental instruction. The food and nutritional services provided 11,612 free lunches to migrant students. Migrant families had the option of purchasing reduced priced lunches for their children at a cost of 10 cents per meal. The findings indicated that the food services were available for all migrant children. The findings revealed that health services were improved for migrant children. Fluoride brush-in treatment was provided for 96 migrant children. In addition, 85 dental examinations and treatments were conducted as well as complete physical examinations for 76 migrant children. Migrant families were assisted by the school district in obtaining glasses, shoes, and clothing for their children. Observations, student ratings, and teacher opinions indicated that migrant pupils experienced opportunities that aided the improvement of self-image and that migrant children seemed to develop a better self-concept. The related services which included cross-age tutors, recreational programs, learning experience field trips, summer school, and migrant parent involvement were deemed by the findings to have a positive influence on the school experiences offered migratory children. Implications . The project findings revealed that migrant education programs can be designed to increase achievement in reading and English as a second language, offer opportunities to improve self image, and offer increased nutritional and health services for migrant children. The findings of this study may be used to help improve educational services provided migratory children by other school districts or states

Initial Primary Teacher Education in Lesotho: Multi-Site Teacher Education Research Project (MUSTER), Country Report Two

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Multi-Agent Systems

A multi-agent system (MAS) is a system composed of multiple interacting intelligent agents. Multi-agent systems can be used to solve problems which are difficult or impossible for an individual agent or monolithic system to solve. Agent systems are open and extensible systems that allow for the deployment of autonomous and proactive software components. Multi-agent systems have been brought up and used in several application domains

In the business of doing good: Effective return on donation (ROD) mechanisms in philanthropy and impact investing

The Business of Doing Good is not made up of organizations but people. People bring change, substantial change to society as a whole as well as individuals. I was born in India and saw severe injustice that affected me profoundly. I vowed to myself that a day would come and I would do my share to contribute and leave behind a world that is a little bit better than I found it. After a few good years in the business world, I received the opportunity to establish and run two philanthropic foundations that operated in a large variety of areas like science and medical research, K-12 and higher education, leadership, environment and social issues and managed over $10M a year with philanthropists that preferred to enjoy the fruits of their giving by seeing actual bottom line results and change rather than having their names on a plaque. In the work that follows, I would like to demonstrate to you that it is possible as well as highly recommended and essential to run effective philanthropic organizations with tools from the world of business and just as businesses are profit oriented through Return on Investment (ROI), philanthropies can be impact oriented. Just as the investor in the world of business looks for the ROI, the donor can look for the unconventional bottom line, and measure impact of his giving through Return on Donation (ROD). ROD is a phrase I coined to represent measurable impact just as ROI in businesses. I also realized that just the tools from the business world would not suffice. Something additional was missing and needed to be an integral part in order to succeed in impactful giving. Since I entered the philanthropic world, this Business of Doing Good, as I term it, I have gradually evolved with an understanding how successful philanthropy and impact investing should look like. This paper is centered upon my journey, my successes and failures and my insights after eighteen years of constantly evaluating and reflecting on this question. This search warranted that I develop proper research methodologies within my own organizations that would lead us to achieve objectivity, reliability and validity for our work processes, so we could learn and grow from it. All this while understanding that in philanthropy we act as change agents and as such we affect people’s lives. Therefore, the most important rule to follow is to – Do no harm. The second rule is to – Do your best and in order to be objective as possible the third rule is – Practice Humility. As a believer in leading by example, and embracing my role as a First Person Action Researcher in the process, I set to explore if business practices that led to ROI could be incorporated in the Business of Doing Good by means of ROD and to understand what ROD mechanisms needed to be put in place for successful impact and sustainability. In the scope of my work, although I have vast experience in a variety of fields, I have chosen to concentrate on two main examples which are in the fields of leadership and education. During my years of practice, I was on a quest to seek counsel of philosophers like Spinoza and Aristotle, psychologists and social influencers like Maslow and Tom Friedman and many other authors, who have given us management models in the field of business. I have studied a wide range of research methodologies that have developed over the years. All this together with my own inner compass and my personal experience, have led me to build effective mechanisms for ROD in philanthropy and impact investing. Based on a solid intention over the years to find a mechanism for effective giving, there has been a process of knowing, and I have developed a model which I call the Goodness Factor Model, which has been tested and proven to be the most effective tool for practicing effective philanthropy and impact investing