16,860 research outputs found
Human-Machine Collaborative Optimization via Apprenticeship Scheduling
Coordinating agents to complete a set of tasks with intercoupled temporal and
resource constraints is computationally challenging, yet human domain experts
can solve these difficult scheduling problems using paradigms learned through
years of apprenticeship. A process for manually codifying this domain knowledge
within a computational framework is necessary to scale beyond the
``single-expert, single-trainee" apprenticeship model. However, human domain
experts often have difficulty describing their decision-making processes,
causing the codification of this knowledge to become laborious. We propose a
new approach for capturing domain-expert heuristics through a pairwise ranking
formulation. Our approach is model-free and does not require enumerating or
iterating through a large state space. We empirically demonstrate that this
approach accurately learns multifaceted heuristics on a synthetic data set
incorporating job-shop scheduling and vehicle routing problems, as well as on
two real-world data sets consisting of demonstrations of experts solving a
weapon-to-target assignment problem and a hospital resource allocation problem.
We also demonstrate that policies learned from human scheduling demonstration
via apprenticeship learning can substantially improve the efficiency of a
branch-and-bound search for an optimal schedule. We employ this human-machine
collaborative optimization technique on a variant of the weapon-to-target
assignment problem. We demonstrate that this technique generates solutions
substantially superior to those produced by human domain experts at a rate up
to 9.5 times faster than an optimization approach and can be applied to
optimally solve problems twice as complex as those solved by a human
demonstrator.Comment: Portions of this paper were published in the Proceedings of the
International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) in 2016 and
in the Proceedings of Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS) in 2016. The paper
consists of 50 pages with 11 figures and 4 table
Deployable antenna phase A study
Applications for large deployable antennas were re-examined, flight demonstration objectives were defined, the flight article (antenna) was preliminarily designed, and the flight program and ground development program, including the support equipment, were defined for a proposed space transportation system flight experiment to demonstrate a large (50 to 200 meter) deployable antenna system. Tasks described include: (1) performance requirements analysis; (2) system design and definition; (3) orbital operations analysis; and (4) programmatic analysis
Proceedings of the 2011 New York Workshop on Computer, Earth and Space Science
The purpose of the New York Workshop on Computer, Earth and Space Sciences is
to bring together the New York area's finest Astronomers, Statisticians,
Computer Scientists, Space and Earth Scientists to explore potential synergies
between their respective fields. The 2011 edition (CESS2011) was a great
success, and we would like to thank all of the presenters and participants for
attending. This year was also special as it included authors from the upcoming
book titled "Advances in Machine Learning and Data Mining for Astronomy". Over
two days, the latest advanced techniques used to analyze the vast amounts of
information now available for the understanding of our universe and our planet
were presented. These proceedings attempt to provide a small window into what
the current state of research is in this vast interdisciplinary field and we'd
like to thank the speakers who spent the time to contribute to this volume.Comment: Author lists modified. 82 pages. Workshop Proceedings from CESS 2011
in New York City, Goddard Institute for Space Studie
Improving the understanding of cosmological horizons through the use of interactive animations
Animations for educational purposes have been studied for more than 40 years. The results of the research have over time defined some general canons shared by the developers [Adams et al., 2008a, R. E. Mayer, 2009].
The aim of this thesis is to investigate the effectiveness of an interactive didactic graphic software developed ad hoc in a contest of introductory cosmology.\\
The Physics topic addressed in this teaching unit is that of cosmological horizons. The choice of this topic stems from two main reasons: our willingness to test the use of interactive educational animations in an advanced Physics context and the fact that there are documented difficulties in learning these concepts [Davis and Lineweaver, 2004].
In the development of the interactive software we have followed general guidelines that have been defined on the basis of cognitive load theory [Sweller et al., 1998]. In addition, we have try to include in the work a new paradigm, the so-called "Perceptual symbol systems" approach [Barsalou, 1999], which has been used in the context of Physics education with good results [Z. Chen and Gladding, 2014].
In the first chapter of this thesis we will make an analysis of the literature on educational animations. After a brief historical overview of the documented use of these media in literature, we will cover the theoretical aspects involved. In our theoretical analysis we distinguish mainly two levels: âunderstandingâ, or the clarity with which information is used, and âlearningâ, or the mechanisms by which mental models are built in the student. Next we will consider the guidelines for a successful project developing simulation useful for the teaching of Physics: "PhET" from the University of Colorado.
In the second chapter we analyse the Physics involved in the so called Horizon problem in cosmology. First we outline the necessary prerequisites; then, starting from these concepts, we will set a discussion on the cosmological horizons and which problems are connected to its understanding. Finally, we will conclude by talking about the perspectives that are opened in the cosmological field starting from this problem.
In the third chapter we continue the analysis of the same topic from the teaching perspective. We describe the fundamental steps in learning these concepts and identify the teaching objectives.
In the forth chapter we explain in detail the individual choices in the design of a new proposal of interactive simulations useful for the teaching of the cosmological horizons in the light of what emerged in previous chapters. This discussion addresses not only the design of the simulations but also some technical aspects related to data creation and optimization.
In the fifth chapter we discuss the development of a protocol of questions which have guided the interview with three respondent for a first test of the effectiveness of our animation in favoring the learning of cosmological horizons.
In the sixth chapter we discuss on the outcomes of the interviews in relation to our teaching objectives.
The seventh and last chapter is dedicated to final consideration and suggestion for a possible development of the project
Reinventing College Physics for Biologists: Explicating an epistemological curriculum
The University of Maryland Physics Education Research Group (UMd-PERG)
carried out a five-year research project to rethink, observe, and reform
introductory algebra-based (college) physics. This class is one of the Maryland
Physics Department's large service courses, serving primarily life-science
majors. After consultation with biologists, we re-focused the class on helping
the students learn to think scientifically -- to build coherence, think in
terms of mechanism, and to follow the implications of assumptions. We designed
the course to tap into students' productive conceptual and epistemological
resources, based on a theoretical framework from research on learning. The
reformed class retains its traditional structure in terms of time and
instructional personnel, but we modified existing best-practices curricular
materials, including Peer Instruction, Interactive Lecture Demonstrations, and
Tutorials. We provided class-controlled spaces for student collaboration, which
allowed us to observe and record students learning directly. We also scanned
all written homework and examinations, and we administered pre-post conceptual
and epistemological surveys. The reformed class enhanced the strong gains on
pre-post conceptual tests produced by the best-practices materials while
obtaining unprecedented pre-post gains on epistemological surveys instead of
the traditional losses.Comment: 35 pages including a 15 page appendix of supplementary material
Modelling mucociliary clearance
Mathematical modelling of the fluid mechanics of mucociliary clearance (MCC) is reviewed and future challenges for researchers are discussed. The morphology of the bronchial and tracheal airway surface liquid (ASL) and ciliated epithelium are briefly introduced. The cilia beat cycle, beat frequency and metachronal coordination are described, along with the rheology of the mucous layer. Theoretical modelling of MCC from the late 1960s onwards is reviewed, and distinctions between âphenomenologicalâ, âslender body theoryâ and recent âfluidâstructure interactionâ models are explained.\ud
\ud
The ASL consists of two layers, an overlying mucous layer and underlying watery periciliary layer (PCL) which bathes the cilia. Previous models have predicted very little transport of fluid in the PCL compared with the mucous layer. Fluorescent tracer transport experiments on human airway cultures conducted by Matsui et al. [Matsui, H., Randell, S.H., Peretti, S.W., Davis, C.W., Boucher, R.C., 1998. Coordinated clearance of periciliary liquid and mucus from airway surfaces. J. Clin. Invest. 102 (6), 1125â1131] apparently showed equal transport in both the PCL and mucous layer. Recent attempts to resolve this discrepancy by the present authors are reviewed, along with associated modelling findings. These findings have suggested new insights into the interaction of cilia with mucus due to pressure gradients associated with the flat PCL/mucus interface. This phenomenon complements previously known mechanisms for ciliary propulsion. Modelling results are related to clinical findings, in particular the increased MCC observed in patients with pseudohypoaldosteronism. Recent important advances by several groups in modelling the fluidâstructure interaction by which the cilia movement and fluid transport emerge from specification of internal mechanics, viscous and elastic forces are reviewed. Finally, we discuss the limitations of existing work, and the challenges for the next generation of models, which may provide further insight into this complex and vital system
Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 172
This bibliography lists 132 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in September 1977
Modeling and Analysis of Resolve and Morale for the `Long War\u27
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu begins by stating: War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied. Sun Tzu follow\u27s this opening by stating five fundamental factors a commander must master to be successful in combat. The first of these factors is moral influence which Sun Tzu defines as that which causes the people to be in harmony with their leaders, so they will accompany them in life and death without fear of mortal peril. In the face of the instant communication provided by satellites, 24 hour news media coverage, and other technological advances, this factor is even more relevant today. This research provides an analytic framework, based on the principles of fourth generation operations, capturing the effects of will and resolve of the combatant and population. The strategic level model investigates the long term impacts of asymmetric conflict. These results are primarily measured in the socio-political arena rather than the military battlefield. The model developed in this dissertation remains a model of conflict and combat. However, some of the impacts from the political, economic, and informational instruments of power are represented in the model through the dynamic adaptation of public resolve and combat spirit. To paraphrase Sun Tzu, war is vitally important and must be studied. Therefore, this dissertation puts forth a means to model key aspects of conflict in the `long war\u27
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