The Right Mutation Strength for Multi-Valued Decision Variables

The most common representation in evolutionary computation are bit strings. This is ideal to model binary decision variables, but less useful for variables taking more values. With very little theoretical work existing on how to use evolutionary algorithms for such optimization problems, we study the run time of simple evolutionary algorithms on some OneMax-like functions defined over $\Omega = \{0, 1, \dots, r-1\}^n$. More precisely, we regard a variety of problem classes requesting the component-wise minimization of the distance to an unknown target vector $z \in \Omega$. For such problems we see a crucial difference in how we extend the standard-bit mutation operator to these multi-valued domains. While it is natural to select each position of the solution vector to be changed independently with probability $1/n$, there are various ways to then change such a position. If we change each selected position to a random value different from the original one, we obtain an expected run time of $\Theta(nr \log n)$. If we change each selected position by either $+1$ or $-1$ (random choice), the optimization time reduces to $\Theta(nr + n\log n)$. If we use a random mutation strength $i \in \{0,1,\ldots,r-1\}^n$ with probability inversely proportional to $i$ and change the selected position by either $+i$ or $-i$ (random choice), then the optimization time becomes $\Theta(n \log(r)(\log(n)+\log(r)))$, bringing down the dependence on $r$ from linear to polylogarithmic. One of our results depends on a new variant of the lower bounding multiplicative drift theorem.Comment: an extended abstract of this work is to appear at GECCO 201

Hydrological and erosion response at micro-plot to -catchment scale following forest wildfire, north-central Portugal

Wildfires can have important impacts on hydrological and soil erosion processes, due to the destruction of vegetation cover and changes to soil properties. According to Shakesby and Doerr (2006), these wildfire effects are: i) much better known at small spatial scales (especially erosion plots) than at the scale of catchments; ii) much better studied with respect to overland flow and streamflow (and, then, especially peak discharges) than to soil erosion. Following up on a precursor project studying runoff generation and the associated soil losses from micro-plot to slope-scale in Portuguese eucalypt forests, the EROSFIRE-II project addresses the connectivity of these processes across hillslopes as well as within the channel network. This is done in the Colmeal study area in central Portugal, where the outlet of an entirely burnt catchment of roughly 10 ha was instrumented with a gauging station continuously recording water level and tubidity, and five slopes were each equipped with 4 runoff plots of < 0,5 m2 (“micro-plot”) and 4 slope-scale plots as well as 1 slope-scale sediment fence. Starting one month after the August 2008 wildfire, the plots were monitored at 1- to 2-weekly intervals, depending on the occurrence of rainfall. The gauging station became operational at the end of November 2008, since the in-situ construction of an H-flume required several weeks. A preliminary analysis of the data collected till the end of 2008, focusing on two slopes with contrasting slope lengths as well as the gauging station: revealed clear differences in runoff and erosion between: (i) the micro-plot and slope-scale plots on the same hillslope; (ii) the two slopes; (iii) an initial dry period and a subsequent much wetter period; (iv) the slopes and the catchment-scale, also depending on the sampling period. These results suggest that the different processes govern the hydrological and erosion response at different spatial scales as well as for different periods, with soil water repellency playing a role during the initial post-fire period. The current presentation will review these preliminary results based on the data collected during the first year after the wildfire

Spartan Daily, November 16, 1953

Volume 42, Issue 38https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/11942/thumbnail.jp

A New Project in Systematic Theology

The article explores the possibility of a new collaborative venture in systematic theology based in the work of Bernard Lonergan and Robert Doran. A prospectus is offered of five volumes intended as texts to be used at the level of MA and MDiv students

The Wooster Voice (Wooster, OH), 1963-03-01

The Student-Faculty Relations Committee is struggling to keep alive. They have also passed a resolution that will allow students to lend their cars to other students. Dr. John H. Hick, a professor from Princeton, will be giving a lecture on The Hidden God this Sunday. Suzanne Bloch will be performing a concert on Monday. Dr. Wallace Fowlie will be giving a lecture on Thursday titled, Picasso\u27s Paris at the Turn of the Century. The college has received a grant of $9,859 from the Atomic Energy Commission that will be used to purchase nuclear laboratory equipment. In an article titled Overcritical Students? Dean Bricker states that, If the students don\u27t like the way the college is being run, they don\u27t have to stay. The athletics section is printed on the third page, and continues onto the fourth page of this edition of the Voice.https://openworks.wooster.edu/voice1961-1970/1053/thumbnail.jp

How To Raise Social Capital: An Experiential Exercise

Social capital is a critical aspect for launching a new venture. In the popular press and entrepreneurial education classrooms, “develop your network” is one of the most common pieces of entrepreneurial advice. Developing social capital is a crucial entrepreneurial competence. Three common questions are: What is the idea of a network of relationships as social capital? What are the dimensions of effective networks? How can nascent entrepreneurs develop strategies and abilities for building a valuable network?  At Sierra Nevada College, the Sharon M. Croom Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Teaching Fellows have designed the “Entrepreneur Network Experiential Exercise” to get students into thinking about these social capital resource questions and taking action in developing social networks

Spartan Daily, February 6, 1935

Volume 23, Issue 78https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/2257/thumbnail.jp

Factor analytic reduction of the carotid-cardiac baroreflex parameters

An accepted method for measuring the responsiveness of the carotid-cardiac baroreflex to arterial pressure changes is to artificially stimulate the baroreceptors in the neck. This is accomplished by using a pressurized neck cuff which constricts and distends the carotid artery and subsequently stimulates the baroreceptors. Nine physiological responses to this type of stimulation are quantified and used as indicators of the baroreflex. Thirty male humans between the ages 27 and 46 underwent the carotid-cardiac baroreflex test. The data for the nine response parameters were analyzed by principle component factor analysis. The results of this analysis indicated that 93 percent of the total variance across all nine parameters could be explained in four dimensions. Examination of the factor loadings following an orthogonal rotation of the principle components indicated four well defined dimensions. The first two dimensions reflected location points for R-R interval and carotid distending pressure respectively. The third dimension was composed of measures reflecting the gain of the reflex. The fourth dimension was the ratio of the resting R-R interval to R-R interval during simulated hypertension. The data suggests that the analysis of all nine baroreflex parameters is redundant