A Continuation Method for Nash Equilibria in Structured Games

Structured game representations have recently attracted interest as models for multi-agent artificial intelligence scenarios, with rational behavior most commonly characterized by Nash equilibria. This paper presents efficient, exact algorithms for computing Nash equilibria in structured game representations, including both graphical games and multi-agent influence diagrams (MAIDs). The algorithms are derived from a continuation method for normal-form and extensive-form games due to Govindan and Wilson; they follow a trajectory through a space of perturbed games and their equilibria, exploiting game structure through fast computation of the Jacobian of the payoff function. They are theoretically guaranteed to find at least one equilibrium of the game, and may find more. Our approach provides the first efficient algorithm for computing exact equilibria in graphical games with arbitrary topology, and the first algorithm to exploit fine-grained structural properties of MAIDs. Experimental results are presented demonstrating the effectiveness of the algorithms and comparing them to predecessors. The running time of the graphical game algorithm is similar to, and often better than, the running time of previous approximate algorithms. The algorithm for MAIDs can effectively solve games that are much larger than those solvable by previous methods

Adult Female Spruce Bedworm, \u3ci\u3eChoristoneura Fumiferana\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Dry Weight in Relationship to Pupal Fresh Weight and Case Diameter

(excerpt) The weights of adult insects are often measured in production and population studies in order to estimate such variables as growth rates, food conversion efficiencies, fecundity, and others. For the eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), both pupal fresh weights and pupal case diameters have been measured as indicators of adult fecundity and adult dry weights (Miller 1957). However, there are no reports explicitly showing the relationship between these metric pupal variables and adult dry weights. This is the goal of this note

Rapport sur le contrôle des pratiques salariales au regard de l'égalité entre femmes et hommes dans les administrations cantonales et communales : résultats de l'enquête EPSACC-2014

L'objectif de cette étude est de faire le point sur les analyses et contrôles des pratiques salariales du point de vue de l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes dans et par les administrations cantonales et communales en Suisse. La première partie du rapport décrit le niveau et la répartition de l'emploi selon le sexe et le type d'employeur ainsi que le niveau des salaires et les écarts salariaux dans l'administration publique centrale (APC), cantonale et communale, sur la base des données de l'OFS. Ce domaine est encore très peu étudié et les sources y sont rares et difficiles d'accès. La deuxième partie décrit la situation du contrôle des pratiques salariales (CPS) dans les administrations publiques cantonales et communales ainsi que pour les marchés publics et les subventions octroyés par ces institutions. 64 % des administrations cantonales et communales déclarent vérifier leurs pratiques salariales, ou avoir l'intention de le faire dans un avenir proche. En revanche, les contrôles des marchés publics sont plus rares - seules onze administrations (16 %) en réalisent. Or, le principe de l'égalité entre femmes et hommes figure dans l'Accord intercantonal sur les marchés publics et doit également être respecté lors de l'attribution de mandats publics. Sur 26 cantons, 22 ont répondu au sondage en ligne, ainsi que 47 villes de plus de 10 000 habitants sur 137

Dynamic response functions for the Holstein-Hubbard model

We present results on the dynamical correlation functions of the particle-hole symmetric Holstein-Hubbard model at zero temperature, calculated using the dynamical mean field theory which is solved by the numerical renormalization group method. We clarify the competing influences of the electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions particularity at the different metal to insulator transitions. The Coulomb repulsion is found to dominate the behaviour in large parts of the metallic regime. By suppressing charge fluctuations, it effectively decouples electrons from phonons. The phonon propagator shows a characteristic softening near the metal to bipolaronic transition but there is very little softening on the approach to the Mott transition.Comment: 13 pages, 19 figure