Human-level artificial intelligence must be a science

Human-level artificial intelligence (HAI) surely is a special research endeavor in more than one way: The very nature of intelligence is in the first place not entirely clear, there are no criteria commonly agreed upon necessary or sufficient for the ascription of intelligence other than similarity to human performance, there is a lack of clarity concerning how to properly investigate artificial intelligence and how to proceed after the very first steps of implementing an artificially intelligent system, etc. These and similar observations have led some researchers to claim that HAI might not be a science in the normal sense and would require a different approach. Taking a recently published paper by Cassimatis as starting point, I oppose this view, giving arguments why HAI should (and even has to) conform to normal scientific standards and methods, using the approach of psychometric artificial intelligence as one of the main foundations of my position

Hommage à Annie Caubet, Actes du colloque international « Chypre et la côte du Levant aux IIe et Ier millénaires », Paris, 14-16 juin 2007

C’est avec joie que nous avons tous rendu hommage à Annie Caubet, à l’amie fidèle, dont la générosité scientifique mérite d’être soulignée, nos disciplines en étant avares. On la remerciera également d’avoir imprimé vie et mouvement à son secteur, dans l’exercice de ses tâches, n’hésitant pas à sortir des sentiers battus. La bibliographie d’Annie, p. 9-14, témoigne de cette variété d’intérêts dans un domaine constant. L’ouvrage (le 37e des Cahiers du Centre d’Études Chypriotes) réunit 24 aute..

The OnTrack Diabetes Group Therapy Project: Feasibility Trial of a Web-based CBT Program with Conjunctive Group Therapy

Context. Type 2 diabetes is a global public health concern due to its wide-spread impacts on mortality, morbidity and quality of life, which are largely preventable through adequate self-management. However, emotional and psychological barriers to effective self-management remain a challenge for health systems to address. Interventions targeting diabetes self-management, emotional and psychological issues can lead to improvements in patients’ physical and mental health outcomes. Furthermore, there is a significant, positive relationship between social support and psychological wellbeing in people with diabetes and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in this population. Intervention. This paper presents on the feasibility trial of an intervention that includes social support in the form of CBT-based group therapy delivered in conjunction with a web-based CBT type 2 diabetes self-management and mood intervention. Methods. Aims of this study include: (i) to evaluate user uptake, engagement, perceived usefulness and acceptability of the intervention; and (ii) to evaluate the implementation fidelity of both intervention components, as well as group cohesion and group-facilitator alliance, and their relationship to participant engagement in the group therapy program. A sample of 30 adults with type 2 diabetes is recruited to take part in the trial at three locations, including metropolitan Victoria and regional areas of Victoria and Queensland. Results. Results will indicate the feasibility of delivering a face-to-face group therapy program with web-based support and will inform the future roll-out of the program as a complete web-based intervention. Conclusions. Implications for the future implementation of the program based on feasibility trial findings will be discussed

Using an integrated social cognition model to identify the determinants of QR code check-in compliance behaviors in the COVID-19 pandemic

In Australia, checking in while entering venues was a legal requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic to track potential infection sites. This two-wave correlational study used an integrated theory of planned behavior model including moral norms, anticipated regret, and habit to predict check-in compliance in a sample of 181 Victorians (Mean Age = 41.88, 56.4% female) and 162 Queenslanders (Mean Age = 43.26, 47.5% female). Habit and intention predicted behavior, while perceived behavioral control did not. Intention was predicted by baseline habit, attitude, subjective norm, and moral norm in the Victorian sample, while only baseline habit and moral norm predicted intention in the Queensland sample. This study has potential implications for reviewing previous strategies and for future pandemic preparedness, both by identifying the drivers of infection control compliance, and through the discussion of how differences in effects between states may be linked to each state’s experience of the pandemic (e.g. infection rates, lockdown length)

CRIMINALIZING CORRUPTION: THE GLOBAL INITIATIVES

THE CHAPTER REVIEWS THE UNITED NATIONAL CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION (UNCAC)AND THE ANTI-CORRUPTION INITIATIVES IN AFRICA, EUROPE, THE AMERICAS AND ASIA-PACIFIC REGION. IT CRITICALLY REVIEWS THE SCOPE OF THE KEY PROVISIONS OF THE UNCAC AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MONITORING PROCEDURES

A systematic review of geographical differences in management and outcomes for colorectal cancer in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world, presenting considerable health, economic, and societal burden. Over a third of the Australian population live in regional areas and research has shown they experience a range of health disadvantages that result in a higher disease burden and lower life expectancy. The extent to which geographical disparities exist in CRC management and outcomes has not been systematically explored. The present review aims to identify the nature of geographical disparities in CRC survival, clinical management, and psychosocial outcomes. METHODS: The review followed PRISMA guidelines and searches were undertaken using seven databases covering articles between 1 January 1990 and 20 April 2016 in an Australian setting. Inclusion criteria stipulated studies had to be peer-reviewed, in English, reporting data from Australia on CRC patients and relevant to one of fourteen questions examining geographical variations in a) survival outcomes, b) patient and cancer characteristics, c) diagnostic and treatment characteristics and d) psychosocial and quality of life outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-eight quantitative, two qualitative, and three mixed-methods studies met review criteria. Twenty-seven studies were of high quality, sixteen studies were of moderate quality, and no studies were found to be low quality. Individuals with CRC living in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia showed poorer survival and experienced less optimal clinical management. However, this effect is likely moderated by a range of other factors (e.g., SES, age, gender) and did appear to vary linearly with increasing distance from metropolitan centres. No studies examined differences in use of stoma, or support with stomas, by geographic location. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, despite evidence of disparity in CRC survival and clinical management across geographic locations, the evidence was limited and at times inconsistent. Further, access to treatment and services may not be the main driver of disparities, with individual patient characteristics and type of region also playing an important role. A better understanding of factors driving ongoing and significant geographical disparities in cancer related outcomes is required to inform the development of effective interventions to improve the health and welfare of regional Australians

Integrating perception, narrative, premonition and confabulatory continuation

Current state-of-the-art AI algorithms outperform humans on several well delimited tasks but have difficulty emulating general human behavior. One of the reasons for this is that human behavior, even in short scenarios, requires the integration of multiple cognitive mechanisms which are deployed simultaneously and are interacting with each other in complex and subtle ways. In this paper we show how a simple scenario of watching television requires at least four different cognitive mechanisms: perception, narrative, premonition and confabulatory continuation. We describe the general requirements of these mechanisms and outline the techniques through which the Xapagy cognitive architecture implements them

A systematic review of geographical differences in management and outcomes for colorectal cancer in Australia

Background Australia and New Zealand have the highest incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the world, presenting considerable health, economic, and societal burden. Over a third of the Australian population live in regional areas and research has shown they experience a range of health disadvantages that result in a higher disease burden and lower life expectancy. The extent to which geographical disparities exist in CRC management and outcomes has not been systematically explored. The present review aims to identify the nature of geographical disparities in CRC survival, clinical management, and psychosocial outcomes. Methods The review followed PRISMA guidelines and searches were undertaken using seven databases covering articles between 1 January 1990 and 20 April 2016 in an Australian setting. Inclusion criteria stipulated studies had to be peer-reviewed, in English, reporting data from Australia on CRC patients and relevant to one of fourteen questions examining geographical variations in a) survival outcomes, b) patient and cancer characteristics, c) diagnostic and treatment characteristics and d) psychosocial and quality of life outcomes. Results Thirty-eight quantitative, two qualitative, and three mixed-methods studies met review criteria. Twenty-seven studies were of high quality, sixteen studies were of moderate quality, and no studies were found to be low quality. Individuals with CRC living in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia showed poorer survival and experienced less optimal clinical management. However, this effect is likely moderated by a range of other factors (e.g., SES, age, gender) and did appear to vary linearly with increasing distance from metropolitan centres. No studies examined differences in use of stoma, or support with stomas, by geographic location. Conclusions Overall, despite evidence of disparity in CRC survival and clinical management across geographic locations, the evidence was limited and at times inconsistent. Further, access to treatment and services may not be the main driver of disparities, with individual patient characteristics and type of region also playing an important role. A better understanding of factors driving ongoing and significant geographical disparities in cancer related outcomes is required to inform the development of effective interventions to improve the health and welfare of regional Australians