Consciosusness in Cognitive Architectures. A Principled Analysis of RCS, Soar and ACT-R

This report analyses the aplicability of the principles of consciousness developed in the ASys project to three of the most relevant cognitive architectures. This is done in relation to their aplicability to build integrated control systems and studying their support for general mechanisms of real-time consciousness.\ud To analyse these architectures the ASys Framework is employed. This is a conceptual framework based on an extension for cognitive autonomous systems of the General Systems Theory (GST).\ud A general qualitative evaluation criteria for cognitive architectures is established based upon: a) requirements for a cognitive architecture, b) the theoretical framework based on the GST and c) core design principles for integrated cognitive conscious control systems

Dynamical Systems

Complex systems are pervasive in many areas of science integrated in our daily lives. Examples include financial markets, highway transportation networks, telecommunication networks, world and country economies, social networks, immunological systems, living organisms, computational systems and electrical and mechanical structures. Complex systems are often composed of a large number of interconnected and interacting entities, exhibiting much richer global scale dynamics than the properties and behavior of individual entities. Complex systems are studied in many areas of natural sciences, social sciences, engineering and mathematical sciences. This special issue therefore intends to contribute towards the dissemination of the multifaceted concepts in accepted use by the scientific community. We hope readers enjoy this pertinent selection of papers which represents relevant examples of the state of the art in present day research. [...

Undergraduate and Graduate Course Descriptions, 2007 Fall

Wright State University undergraduate and graduate course descriptions from Fall 2007

Effects of agricultural intensification on the ecology of upland stream invertebrate communities

Agricultural land use is a leading cause of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in streams. Understanding the mechanisms by which land use change affects stream ecosystems is essential for their effective management. Despite this, the consequences of agricultural intensification for community composition and ecosystem functioning in streams remain poorly resolved. Using national-scale monitoring data and new field data from upland streams in South Wales, this study investigated the effects of pastoral intensification on the community composition, functional diversity and feeding interactions of stream macroinvertebrates. A combination of analytical tools were used, including propensity modelling, ecological traits, stable isotopes and Next Generation DNA sequencing to quantify diet. Taxonomic and functional diversity had non-linear relationships with pastoral intensity, declining beyond a threshold of 4 mg L-1 nitrate and 8% fine sediment cover. This decline occurred as a non-random loss of species possessing specific traits, including large body size and lack of resistance forms. Although monitoring data showed that at a UK-wide scale pastoral agriculture (cf. other land uses) had a positive effect on richness and sensitive species representation, the threshold intensity at which effects become negative is exceeded in many locations within the U.K. and globally. Invertebrates that feed by grazing algae were particularly vulnerable to agricultural stressors. Combined with changes in the availability and quality of basal resources with pastoral intensification, this decline in grazer representation resulted in invertebrate communities becoming increasingly reliant on detrital resources. Further, there was indication that methane-derived carbon contributed to the food web in high intensity sites, which has not previously been observed in upland streams. Although only relatively minor changes were observed in predator-prey interactions across the intensity gradient, there was a suggestion of simplification of the food web in high intensity sites. Together these changes could radically alter ecosystem properties such as secondary production, nutrient processing and resilience. Overall, the results highlight the management priorities of reducing fine sediment and nutrient inputs to agricultural streams. The identification of a threshold at which agricultural effects become deleterious will assist in guiding mitigation efforts. Further work is required to determine the generality of this threshold across stream ecosystems

URI Graduate School Course Catalog 1983-1984

This is a digitized, downloadable version of the University of Rhode Island Graduate School Course Catalog.https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/course-catalogs/1025/thumbnail.jp