Stochastic neural networks

Artificial neural networks are brain-like models of parallel computations and cognitive phenomena. We sample some basic results about neural networks as they relate to stochastic and statistical processes. Given the explosivo amount of material, only models bearing a stochastic component in the function or analysis are presented, such as Hopfield and feedforward nets, Boltzman machines and some recurrent networks. Basic algorithms for learning such as backpropagation and gradient descent are sketched. A handful of applications (associative memories, pattem recognition, time series forecast) aredescribed. Finally, some current trends in the field are discussed

Recuperación etnobotánica del uso tradicional no maderable del bosque secundario en el municipio de Nocaima, Cundinamarca

Considering that the traditional non-timber use of the secondary forest –important for the rural welfare and sustainable management of forest resources– has been diminishing. Strategic points were identified considering the presence of forest and local knowledgeable townsfolk, where semi-structured interviews, dialogues and guided tours were developed. Information was captured through oral recordings, photographs, and botanical samples identified in the UDBC forest herbarium. 161 Species belonging to 68 families were found, 126 of these native and 4 endemic. Rates were calculated for Cultural Importance, Level of Significant Use, Consensus Factor and Fidelity Levels for which 15 native species were prioritized. The following 10 categories of use were established: medical (57.8 %), nutritional (23.6 %), cultural (12.4 %), magical-religious (8.7 %) cosmetic (8.1 %), artisanal (6.2 %), fodder (3.1 %), dyes (4.3 %) and protective (4.3 %). New usage reports were found within these categories. On the other hand, 65.2 % of the interviewed population considered that the knowledge of use will be gradually lost over time, yet, 86.9 % stated to transmit this knowledge to other people and 89.1 % uses them with their family. It was concluded that the medical and nutritional categories stand out within the traditional non-timber user of the secondary forest, and their importance of said categories was evidenced in households. Having discovered that the population recognizes that the knowledge of use may be lost in time, the value of the ethnobotany studies for its preservation and the sustainable use of the secondary forests is highlighted.El uso tradicional no maderable del bosque secundario es importante para el bienestar rural y el manejo sostenible del recurso forestal, sin embargo se ha ido perdiendo. Con la recuperación etnobotánica del uso tradicional no maderable del bosque secundario en el municipio de Nocaima, se buscó identificar los puntos estratégicos relacionados con la presencia de bosque y sabedores locales, mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas, diálogos y recorridos guiados. La información se capturó por medio de grabaciones orales, fotografías y muestras botánicas identificadas en el herbario forestal UDBC. Se encontraron 161 especies pertenecientes a 68 familias, 126 de ellas nativas y 4 endémicas. El cálculo de los índices de importancia cultural, nivel de uso significativo, factor de consenso y nivel de fidelidad, priorizaron 15 especies nativas para sistemas agroecológicos. Los porcentajes de uso tradicional no maderable encontrados para 10 categorías determinadas fueron: medicinal (57.8%), alimenticia (28.6%), ornamental (23.6%), cultural (12.4%), mágico – religiosa (8.7%), cosmética (8.1%), artesanal (6.2%), forrajera (3.1%), tintes (4.3%) y protectora (4.3%). En algunas categorías se encontraron nuevos reportes de uso. Por otra parte, la población entrevistada manifestó que un 86.9% transmite el conocimiento sobre el uso a otras personas, mientras que un 89.1% lo usa en su núcleo familiar; sin embargo el 65.2% consideró que el conocimiento se perderá con el tiempo. Se concluyó que las categorías medicinal y alimenticia sobresalen entre los usos tradicionales no maderables del bosque secundario y se evidenció la importancia de estos usos en el núcleo familiar, aspecto que favorecerá la preservación y el uso sostenible de los bosques secundarios

Slime mould: The fundamental mechanisms of biological cognition

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The slime mould Physarum polycephalum has been used in developing unconventional computing devices for in which the slime mould played a role of a sensing, actuating, and computing device. These devices treated the slime mould as an active living substrate, yet it is a self-consistent living creature which evolved over millions of years and occupied most parts of the world, but in any case, that living entity did not own true cognition, just automated biochemical mechanisms. To “rehabilitate” slime mould from the rank of a purely living electronics element to a “creature of thoughts” we are analyzing the cognitive potential of P. polycephalum. We base our theory of minimal cognition of the slime mould on a bottom-up approach, from the biological and biophysical nature of the slime mould and its regulatory systems using frameworks such as Lyon's biogenic cognition, Muller, di Primio-Lengelerś modifiable pathways, Bateson's “patterns that connect” framework, Maturana's autopoietic network, or proto-consciousness and Morgan's Canon

On permutation properties in groups and semigroups

A semigroup S satisfies PPn, the permutation property of degree n (n≥2) if every product of n elements in S remains invariant under some nontrivial permutation of its factors. It is shown that a semigroup satisfies PP3 if and only if it contains at most one nontrivial commutator. Further a regular semigroup is a semilattice of PP3 right or left groups, and a subdirect product of PP3 semigroups of a simple type. A negative answer to a question posed by Restivo and Reutenauer is provided by a suitable PP3 group. © 1987 Springer-Verlag New York Inc

Diagonal Cero - Número 28

Textos: Antonin Artaud. Lenguaje y civilización, por Marx Bense (traducción por Norberto Silvetti Paz). Despedida a un guerrillero, por Francisco Garzón Céspedes. Trabajos plásticos Edgardo Vigo. Hernán Damen. Annalisa Alldatti. Gerld Rocher. Michele Perfetti. Nicola Andreace.Centro de Arte Experimental Vig

Diagonal Cero - Número 28

Textos: Antonin Artaud. Lenguaje y civilización, por Marx Bense (traducción por Norberto Silvetti Paz). Despedida a un guerrillero, por Francisco Garzón Céspedes. Trabajos plásticos Edgardo Vigo. Hernán Damen. Annalisa Alldatti. Gerld Rocher. Michele Perfetti. Nicola Andreace.Centro de Arte Experimental Vig

Characterization of adverse drug reactions causing admission to an intensive care unit

Aims: This study aimed to determine the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that caused admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. Methods: Clinical records were reviewed for patients meeting the inclusion criteria who were admitted to the ICU between September and December 2012. Suspected cases of ADRs were documented. Nine researchers later evaluated causality using the Naranjo Algorithm, preventability using the Schumock and Thornton criteria, and clinical classification based on the dose–time–susceptibility system. Results: In total, 96 patients presented 108 cases of ADR (13.8%, 95% confidence interval 11.2–16.4%) as the cause of admission. The most frequent ADRs were bradyarrhythmias and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (12%). Therapeutic failure accounted for 20%. The most commonly associated medications were acetylsalicylic acid (16%) and losartan (10%). Forty-six cases were categorized as possible, and only one as definite. According to the dose–time–susceptibility classification, in 82% of the cases, the dosage was collateral (within the therapeutic range), and 90% were independent of time; the factors most associated with susceptibility to ADRs were comorbidities (42%) and age (49%). Forty-four percent of the ADRs were considered possibly preventable. Conclusions: ADRs contribute significantly to ICU admissions, and a significant number of ADRs are preventable. National studies are needed to assess their incidence and to establish classification standards to reduce their clinical impact. © 2016 The British Pharmacological Societ