Adaptive General Search Framework for Games and Beyond

The research field of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is concerned with the creation of adaptive programs that can autonomously address tasks of a different nature. Search and planning have been identified as core capabilities of AGI, and have been successful in many scenarios that require sequential decision-making. However, many search algorithms are developed for specific problems and exploit domain-specific knowledge, which makes them not applicable to perform different tasks autonomously. Although some domain-independent search algorithms have been proposed, a programmer still has to make decisions on their design, setup and enhancements. Thus, the performance is limited by the programmer's decisions, which are usually biased. This paper proposes to develop a framework that, in line with the goals of AGI, autonomously addresses a wide variety of search tasks, adapting automatically to each new, unknown task. To achieve this, we propose to encode search algorithms in a formal language and combine algorithm portfolios with automatic algorithm generation. In addition, we see games as the ideal test bed for the framework, because they can model a wide variety of complex problems. Finally, we believe that this research will have an impact not only on the AGI research field, but also on the game industry and on real-world problems

Archetypal games generate diverse models of power, conflict, and cooperation

Interdependence takes many forms. We show how three patterns of power generate diverse models for understanding dynamics and transformations in social-ecological systems. Archetypal games trace pathways that go beyond a focus on a few social dilemmas to recognize and understand diversity and complexity in a landscape of social situations, including families of coordination and defection problems. We apply the extended topology of two-person two-choice (2 × 2) games to derive simple archetypes of interdependence that generate models with overlapping opportunities and challenges for collective action. Simplifying payoff matrices by equalizing outcome ranks (making ties to show indifference among outcomes) yields three archetypal games that are ordinally equivalent to payoff structures for independence, coordination, and exchange, as identified by interdependence theory in social psychology. These three symmetric patterns of power combine to make an asymmetric archetype for zero-sum conflict and further structures of power and dependence. Differentiating the ranking of outcomes (breaking ties) transforms these primal archetypes into more complex configurations, including intermediate archetypes for synergy, compromise, convention, rivalry, and advantage. Archetypal models of interdependence, and the pathways through which they generate diverse situations, could help to understand institutional diversity and potential transformations in social-ecological systems, to distinguish between convergent and divergent collective action problems for organizations, and to clarify elementary patterns of power in governance

Activity Strategy Workbook for Mothers Experiencing Multiple Sclerosis

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a resource for mothers diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) to promote optimal success and independence in the motherhood role. The resulting workbook targets the mothering activities of individuals who have been newly diagnosed with MS and are raising young, pre-school aged children. The product provides education and guidance to optimize the mother\u27s ability to care for herself and her child or children. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine current best practice and treatment guidelines for MS, the influence of MS on both the parent and child, and also common symptoms and their effects on occupational functioning. The literature revealed a common underuse of energy promotion during the treatment of MS and an overemphasis on energy conservation strategies. Research also demonstrated a correlation between the mother\u27s symptom level and her ability to provide care and nurturing to her child. Specific focus was therefore placed on adapting mothering activities to balance energy conservation and energy promotion techniques according to fatigue fluctuations and symptom exacerbation. Emphasis was given to providing mothers with the opportunity to gain insight into the effectiveness of strategies used to carry out self-care, household management, and childcare activities. Guided by the Occupational Adaptation (OA) Model, the workbook promotes occupational mastery and skill generalization and is intended to be used as a supplement to occupational therapy (OT) services

Emergence and Implications of Conservation Opinion Propagation in Dynamic Coupled Socio-Ecological Systems

Human behaviour is rarely a static phenomenon. In life, individuals are presented with choices that define the trajectories they will experience days, weeks or months later. As an example consider farmer decision-making and orchard dynamics. If an avocado orchard is well taken care of, a bountiful harvest can lead to a lower price of avocados that will more easily attract grocers to stock the product. Alternatively, if the orchard is not properly cared for, avocado prices can surge (due to their low supply) and become a greater risk for grocers, causing them to seek other suppliers. If a particular 'care' routine is developed by the farmer, this can have a significant impact on the long-term trajectories of orchard dynamics. From this simple example, it is clear how dynamic human behaviour can interact with environmental system dynamics. This motivates the potential value of capturing this interaction in mathematical modelling. In this thesis, we develop two different coupled human-environment system (CHES) models that incorporate a dynamic feedback loop mechanism to link human impact and environmental system responses and vice versa. The first model is developed using a game-theoretic approach to describe dynamics of opinion spread. The model is then coupled to a previously established coral reef ecosystem model. We investigate the effects of key factors such as social learning, social norms, and exploitation rate on the trajectories predicted by the model. We discover stable regimes that are made possible by the presence of human coupling and we identify the potentially harmful role of social norms. In the second model, we utilize a similar game-theoretic approach to couple a dynamic human component to a previously established grassland model of the Southeastern Australian grasslands. The aim of this model is to determine conditions that suppress invasive exotic grasses, in the presence of human feedback that determines how strongly the local population mitigates its own pollution. Finally, we conduct a systematic review of the CHES modelling literature between May 2009 and April 2019 using the Web of Knowledge and PUBMED databases. Results reveal an increasing trend in the number of mathematical models using a CHES approach. Results also show that these models utilize a wide range of techniques of varying complexity. In general, most work focuses on agricultural systems. We postulate that application to other environmental systems is relatively unexplored and can be implemented using techniques similar to those of the models developed in this thesis, or via adaptations of other modelling techniques from different fields of research. We suggest that including dynamic human behaviour is necessary in order to improve existing environmental policies and improve the predictive power of mathematical modelling techniques in environmental systems research

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation - 2005 Annual Report

Contains president's message, program information, profiles of MacArthur Fellows Program recipients, grants list, financial statements, list of board members and staff, and a description of the impact of technological change on the foundation's programs

A Guideline for Environmental Games (GEG) and a randomized controlled evaluation of a game to increase environmental knowledge related to human population growth

People often have very little knowledge about the impact of unsustainable human population growth on the environment and social well-being especially in developing countries. Therefore, an efficient method should be explored in order to educate, and if possible, to convince the members of the public to realize the environmental and social problems caused by the unsustainable population growth. Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) has been highlighted by some studies as an innovative tool for learning enhancement. While only a handful of studies have scientifically evaluated the impact of DGBL on knowledge outcomes, the approach is an attractive tool to increase knowledge and motivate engagement with environmental issues surrounding population growth because of its potential to improve learners’ motivation and engagement thereby compared to traditional learning approaches. Therefore, the three primary research questions for this study are: 1) "Can a single-player digital game be an appropriate and attractive learning application for the players to gain insight about the relationship between the growing human population and the environmental issues?" 2) "How can we design environmental games for the players to gain insights about the relationship between the growing human population and the environmental issues via playing a game?" and 3) "What are the obstacles preventing the players from adapting environmental knowledge obtained from the learning mediums into the real-life?" To inform the development of an efficacious DGBL game to impact learning outcomes, critical reviews of environmental issues related to population growth as well as critical reviews of commercial and serious environmental games in terms of their educational and motivational values were undertaken in this study. The results of these critical reviews informed the development of a Guideline for Environmental Games (or GEG). The GEG was developed by combining the engaging game technology with environmental learning and persuasion theories. The GEG was then used to inform the development of a prototype game called THE GROWTH; a single-player, quiz-based, city-management game targeting young adolescents and adults. Multiple evaluation methods of the game were used to answer the three key research questions mentioned earlier. These methods included: 1) The Randomized Controlled Trial approach (RCT) where the participants were systematically divided into the experimental and the control group respectively and their knowledge scores (quantitative data) compared and analyzed, 2) The participants’ abilities to recall and describe the environmental and well-being issues were collected and analyzed qualitatively using The Content Analysis method (CA) and, 3) The participants’ overall feedback on the learning mediums was collected and analyzed to evaluate the motivational values of THE GROWTH itself. To this end, THE GROWTH was evaluated with 82 Thai-nationality participants (70 males and 12 females). The results showed that participants assigned to play THE GROWTH demonstrated greater environmental and social-well-being knowledge related to population growth (F(1,40) = 43.86, p = .006) compared to the control group participants assigned to a non-interactive reading activity (consistent with material presented in THE GROWTH). Furthermore, participants who played THE GROWTH recalled on average more content presented in the game when compared to participants who were presented with similar content in the reading material (t (59) = 3.35, p = .001). In terms of level of engagement, the study suggested that participants assigned to the game were more engaging with their learning medium on average when compared to participants assigned to the non-interactive reading activity. This is evidenced by the longer time participants spent on the task, the activity observed from participants’ recorded gameplay, and their positive responses in the survey. The semi-structured interviews used in this study highlighted the participants’ attitudes towards the environmental, social, and technological issues. Although the participants’ perceived behavioural intention towards the environmental commitments were not statistically differed between the two study group, their responses still provide some evidences that leaps may occur from the learning mediums to the real-world context. Furthermore, these responses can be valuable evidences for the policy makers and for the future development of environmental serious games. Overall, the results suggested that digital environmental games such as THE GROWTH might be an effective and motivational tool in promote the learning about sustainable population size, the environment, and the social well-being. The game’s ability to convince the participants to change towards sustainable lifestyles, however, might be subjected to the future research and other real-world circumstances such as the governmental and public supports. In summary, the research in this thesis makes the following contributions to knowledge: • The Guideline for Environmental Games (GEG) contributes to knowledge about making theoretically-based environmental games. It has particular significance because the guideline was validated by demonstrating learning improvements in a systematic randomized controlled trial. • The use of Multi-Strategy Study Design where multiple systematic evaluation methods were used in conjunction to provide conclusive findings about the efficacy of DGBL to impact outcomes. • THE GROWTH itself is a contribution to applied research as an example of an effective DGBL learning tool

Evolutionary Computation

This book presents several recent advances on Evolutionary Computation, specially evolution-based optimization methods and hybrid algorithms for several applications, from optimization and learning to pattern recognition and bioinformatics. This book also presents new algorithms based on several analogies and metafores, where one of them is based on philosophy, specifically on the philosophy of praxis and dialectics. In this book it is also presented interesting applications on bioinformatics, specially the use of particle swarms to discover gene expression patterns in DNA microarrays. Therefore, this book features representative work on the field of evolutionary computation and applied sciences. The intended audience is graduate, undergraduate, researchers, and anyone who wishes to become familiar with the latest research work on this field

Sustainable Development and Resource Productivity

The fourth Factor X publication from the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA), Sustainable Development and Resource Productivity: The Nexus Approaches explores the interdependencies of sustainable development paths and associated resource requirements, describing and analysing the necessities for a more resource efficient world. The use of and competition for increasingly scarce resources are growing worldwide with current production and consumption patterns of industrialised economies soon to reach the point where the ecosphere will be overtaxed far beyond its limits. Against this background, this volume examines the important initiatives to monitor resource use at the international, EU and national level. The current trends and challenges related to sustainable resource use are discussed, including international challenges for a resource efficient world, megatrends, justice and equitable access to resources. In the second part of the book, contributions examine implementation strategies. They assess the concept known as circular economy and discuss the theory of growth and the role of the financial and education systems. The final section places special emphasis on practical examples. Overall, the book presents concrete ways and examples of achieving more sustainability in practice. Discussing solutions for a more sustainable use of natural resources, this book is essential reading for scholars and students of natural resources and sustainable development and decision-makers and experts from the fields of policy development, industry and civil society