Learning Mazes with Aliasing States: An LCS Algorithm with Associative Perception

Learning classifier systems (LCSs) belong to a class of algorithms based on the principle of self-organization and have frequently been applied to the task of solving mazes, an important type of reinforcement learning (RL) problem. Maze problems represent a simplified virtual model of real environments that can be used for developing core algorithms of many real-world applications related to the problem of navigation. However, the best achievements of LCSs in maze problems are still mostly bounded to non-aliasing environments, while LCS complexity seems to obstruct a proper analysis of the reasons of failure. We construct a new LCS agent that has a simpler and more transparent performance mechanism, but that can still solve mazes better than existing algorithms. We use the structure of a predictive LCS model, strip out the evolutionary mechanism, simplify the reinforcement learning procedure and equip the agent with the ability of associative perception, adopted from psychology. To improve our understanding of the nature and structure of maze environments, we analyze mazes used in research for the last two decades, introduce a set of maze complexity characteristics, and develop a set of new maze environments. We then run our new LCS with associative perception through the old and new aliasing mazes, which represent partially observable Markov decision problems (POMDP) and demonstrate that it performs at least as well as, and in some cases better than, other published systems

The sensorium at work: the sensory phenomenology of the working body

The sociology of the body and the sociology of work and occupations have both neglected to some extent the study of the ‘working body’ in paid employment, particularly with regard to empirical research into the sensory aspects of working practices. This gap is perhaps surprising given how strongly the sensory dimension features in much of working life. This article is very much a first step in calling for a more phenomenological, embodied and ‘fleshy’ perspective on the body in employment, and examines some of the theoretical and conceptual resources available to researchers wishing to focus on the lived working-body experiences of the sensorium. We also consider some possible representational forms for a more evocative, phenomenologically-inspired portrayal of sensory, lived-working-body experiences, and offer suggestions for future avenues of research

Size Doesn't Matter: Towards a More Inclusive Philosophy of Biology

notes: As the primary author, O’Malley drafted the paper, and gathered and analysed data (scientific papers and talks). Conceptual analysis was conducted by both authors.publication-status: Publishedtypes: ArticlePhilosophers of biology, along with everyone else, generally perceive life to fall into two broad categories, the microbes and macrobes, and then pay most of their attention to the latter. ‘Macrobe’ is the word we propose for larger life forms, and we use it as part of an argument for microbial equality. We suggest that taking more notice of microbes – the dominant life form on the planet, both now and throughout evolutionary history – will transform some of the philosophy of biology’s standard ideas on ontology, evolution, taxonomy and biodiversity. We set out a number of recent developments in microbiology – including biofilm formation, chemotaxis, quorum sensing and gene transfer – that highlight microbial capacities for cooperation and communication and break down conventional thinking that microbes are solely or primarily single-celled organisms. These insights also bring new perspectives to the levels of selection debate, as well as to discussions of the evolution and nature of multicellularity, and to neo-Darwinian understandings of evolutionary mechanisms. We show how these revisions lead to further complications for microbial classification and the philosophies of systematics and biodiversity. Incorporating microbial insights into the philosophy of biology will challenge many of its assumptions, but also give greater scope and depth to its investigations

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Iii. Influence Of The Grip In The Capacity Of The Rowing Exercises In Determining Action Potential Levels For The Deltoid And The Pectoralis Major Muscle

The electromyographic activity of the shoulder muscles Deltoid-anterior portion (DA) and Pectoralis major-clavicular portion (PMC) was tested on 24 male volunteers using a 2 channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes during the execution of three different modalities of rowing exercises comparing middle grip with close grip. Statistical comparison showed that in both PMC and DA closed grip determined muscular solicitation higher than middlegrip excepting sitting rowing. The authors present some suggestions to the use of the tested exercises.3628690Basmajian, J.V., (1978) Muscles Alive: Their Functions Revealed by Electromyography. 4 Ed., , Williams & Wilkins, BaltimoreBasmajian, J.V., Electromyography: Dynamic gross anatomy. A review (1980) Am. J. Anat., 159, pp. 245-260Basmajian, J.V., De Luca, C.J., (1985) Muscles Alive: Their Functions Revealed by Etectromyography, , Williams & Wilkins, BaltimoreChandler, T.J., Kibler, W.B., Uhl, T.L., Flexibility comparisons of junior elite tennis players to other athletes (1990) Am. Orth. Soc. Sports Med., 18, pp. 134-135De Luca, C.J., Forrest, W.J., Force analysis of individual muscles acting simultaneously on the shoulder joint during isometric abduction (1973) J. Biomech. (Oxford), 6, pp. 385-393Godin, G., Lagasse, P., Boucher, J., Validation electromyographique d'exercises de conditionnement physique (1981) Can. J. Appl. Sport. Sci., 6 (1), pp. 45-51Jonsson, S., Jonsson, B., Function of the muscles of the upper limb in car driving (1975) Ergonomics, 18, pp. 643-649Lambert, G., (1987) Musculacão: Guia de Treinamento, , Manole, São PauloLawrence, J.H., De Luca, C.J., Myoelectric signal versus force relationship in different human muscles (1983) J. Appl. Physiol. (Bethesda), 54, pp. 1653-1659Levin, J., (1987) Estatística Aplicada Às Ciências Humanas. 2 Ed., pp. 241-244. , Harper & Row do Brasil, ScrantonMachado, I.L., (1980) Modelagem do Físico: Musculação ao Alcance de Todos, , Tecnoprint, Rio de JaneiroOkamoto, T., A study of the variation of discharge pattern during flexion of the upper extremity (1968) J. Lib. Arts. Dept., 2, pp. 11-122. , Kansay Med. SchoolO'Shea, J.P., (1976) Scientific Principles and Methods of Strength Fitness. 2 Ed., , Addison-Wesley, MassachussetsRodrigues, A., (1975) A Pesquisa Experimental em Psicologia e Educação, pp. 121-123. , Vozes, Rio de JaneiroRyu, R.K.N., Mccormick, J., Jobe, F.W., Electromyographic analysis of shoulder function in tennis players (1988) Am. J. Sports Med., Columbus, 16, pp. 481-485Sousa, O.M., Berzin, F., Berardi, A.C., Electromyographic study of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscle during medial rotation of the arm (1969) Electromyography, 4, pp. 407-416. , BeauvechainWirned, R., (1986) Atlas de Anatomia do Movimento, , Manole, São PauloYamshon, L.J., Bierman, W., Kinesiologic electromyography. III. The deltoid (1949) Arch. Phys. Med., 30, pp. 386-389. , Chicag