Using First Order Inductive Learning as an Alternative to a Simulator in a Game Artificial Intelligence

Currently many game artificial intelligences attempt to determine their next moves by using a simulator to predict the effect of actions in the world. However, writing such a simulator is time-consuming, and the simulator must be changed substantially whenever a detail in the game design is modified. As such, this research project set out to determine if a version of the first order inductive learning algorithm could be used to learn rules that could then be used in place of a simulator. By eliminating the need to write a simulator for each game by hand, the entire Darmok 2 project could more easily adapt to additional real-time strategy games. Over time, Darmok 2 would also be able to provide better competition for human players by training the artificial intelligences to play against the style of a specific player. Most importantly, Darmok 2 might also be able to create a general solution for creating game artificial intelligences, which could save game development companies a substantial amount of money, time, and effort.Ram, Ashwin - Faculty Mentor ; Ontañón, Santi - Committee Member/Second Reade

A Comparative Analysis of Henry Fuseli\u27s Nibelungen Series and Drawings of Courtesans

In a series of drawings completed in 1805, artist Henry Fuseli illustrated Kriemhild, the female protagonist of the medieval German epic The Niebelungenlied. Around the same time period, Fuseli was also creating highly sexualized illustrations of courtesans. While other scholars have proposed that Fuseli’s sketches of courtesans show that he held a positive view of women, this essay compares his images of Kriemhild and courtesans to suggest that Fuseli saw Kriemhild a symbol of righteous fury, loyalty and justice, and as a moral opposite to contemporary sex workers. Fuseli’s idealization of Kriemhild combined with his posthumously published lectures reveal his negative perception of 19th-century women, offering an alternative interpretation of Fuseli’s artistic intent

Fly with me : algorithms and methods for influencing a flock

As robots become more affordable, they will begin to exist in the world in greater quantities. Some of these robots will likely be designed to act as components in specific teams. These teams could work on tasks that are too large or complex for a single robot - or that are merely more efficiently accomplished by a team - such as surveillance in a large building or product delivery to packers in a warehouse. Multiagent systems research studies how these teams are formed and how they work together. Ad hoc teamwork, a newer area of multiagent systems research, studies how new robots can join these pre-existing teams and assist the team in accomplishing its goal. This dissertation extends and applies research in ad hoc teamwork towards the general area of flocking, which is an emergent swarm behavior. In particular, the work in this dissertation considers how ad hoc agents - called influencing agents in this dissertation - can join a flock, be recognized by the rest of the flock as part of the flock, influence the flock towards particular behaviors through their own behavior, and then separate from the flock. Specifically, the primary research question addressed in this dissertation is How can influencing agents be utilized in various types of flocks to influence the flock towards a particular behavior? In order to address this research question, this dissertation makes six main types of contributions. First, this dissertation formalizes the problem of using influencing agents to influence a flock. Second, this dissertation contributes and analyzes algorithms for influencing a flock to a desired orientation. Third, this dissertation presents methods for determining how to best add influencing agents to a flock. Fourth, this dissertation provides methods by which influencing agents can join and then leave a flock in motion. Fifth, this dissertation evaluates some of the influencing agent algorithms on a robot platform. Sixth, although the majority of this dissertation assumes the influencing agents will join a flock that behaves similarly to European starlings, this dissertation also provides insight into when and how its algorithms are generalizable to other types of flocks as well as to general teamwork and coordination research. All of the methods presented in this dissertation are empirically evaluated using a simulator that can support large flocks.Computer Science

Characterization of Mmp37p, a \u3cem\u3eSaccharomyces cerevisiae\u3c/em\u3e Mitochondrial Matrix Protein with a Role in Mitochondrial Protein Import

Many mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and after translation in the cytoplasm are imported via translocases in the outer and inner membranes, the TOM and TIM complexes, respectively. Here, we report the characterization of the mitochondrial protein, Mmp37p (YGR046w) and demonstrate its involvement in the process of protein import into mitochondria. Haploid cells deleted of MMP37 are viable but display a temperature-sensitive growth phenotype and are inviable in the absence of mitochondrial DNA. Mmp37p is located in the mitochondrial matrix where it is peripherally associated with the inner membrane. We show that Mmp37p has a role in the translocation of proteins across the mitochondrial inner membrane via the TIM23-PAM complex and further demonstrate that substrates containing a tightly folded domain in close proximity to their mitochondrial targeting sequences display a particular dependency on Mmp37p for mitochondrial import. Prior unfolding of the preprotein, or extension of the region between the targeting signal and the tightly folded domain, relieves their dependency for Mmp37p. Furthermore, evidence is presented to show that Mmp37 may affect the assembly state of the TIM23 complex. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesize that the presence of Mmp37p enhances the early stages of the TIM23 matrix import pathway to ensure engagement of incoming preproteins with the mtHsp70p/PAM complex, a step that is necessary to drive the unfolding and complete translocation of the preprotein into the matrix

Exploring Mindfulness: College Students\u27 Journey Through an Abbreviated Program

The transition into college is the first time that students are given control over their own schedules and routines. Despite this newfound freedom, more than 80 percent of college students have reported feeling overwhelmed by all the demands placed on them (American College Health Association, 2013) and studies have shown that poor time management is a predictor of academic stress (Misra & McKean, 2000). Without a structured routine, many college students struggle to find a balance between academics and their social lives, leading them to procrastinate on their coursework. Studies in mindfulness and mindfulness programs have been on the rise over the past decade. Jon Kabat-Zinn (2003) defines mindfulness as: “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (p. 145). A common method of teaching mindfulness for all age groups is the eight- week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which involves a three-hour weekly meeting and 45 minutes of daily practice. Many studies have found that practicing MBSR is effective in decreasing feelings of stress and anxiety in daily life (Cullen, 2011). However, less is known about the relationship between mindfulness and stress in regards to time management within the busy lives of college students. The purpose of this study is to examine whether an abbreviated mindfulness intervention will lead to improved time management skills for college students, resulting in reduced stress and better self-care. The proposed study defines time management using a five-factor model, developed by Bond and Feather (1988), consisting of sense of purpose, structured routine, present orientation, effective organization, and persistence. The methodology consisted of six weekly one-hour group meetings with five volunteer participants, emphasizing the participants’ experiences learning mindfulness with ten minutes of daily practice. Personal journal reflections were collected weekly, focusing on their personal growth and insight. Preliminary analysis revealed that participants reported a greater sense of calm and increased energy and productivity. Since lack of time is a major concern for college students, the findings of this study may offer implications for the development of an abbreviated mindfulness program that is more manageable for college students’ schedules

Clicks or bricks? Online shopping adoption in Australia

Purpose: This research identifies and ranks the decision factors associated with online shopping adoption in Australia. Design/Methodology/Approach: Primary data for this study was collected with self-administered questionnaires and analysed using EFA and logit regression. Findings: The following factors, ranked in order of importance, influence online shopping behaviour in Australia: perceived risk, service quality, website factors, brand image, product variety and Australian product loyalty. The findings also show that demographic characteristics also influence the probability that Australian consumers will shop online. Originality/value: This is the first empirical study in which the decision factors influencing Australian consumers’ decisions to shop online are examined. The research contributes to the empirical literature on online shopping from a theoretical perspective as the modelling framework can be used to analyse online shopping behaviour in different cultural settings. Longitudinal studies based on the modelling framework can also be undertaken to identify emerging decision factors and to track the changes in importance of the current factors. The results will also enable retailers to make informed decisions on their existing or future shopping channels

Basal metabolic rate as a potential determinant in risk sensitive foraging.

In foraging, there are many possible determinants of an individual’s sensitivity to risk, such as an animal’s learning or various biological imperatives. However, few studies on risk sensitivity incorporate information about an animal’s metabolism. One measure of metabolic rate is basal metabolic rate (BMR), or the minimum rate at which metabolism must produce energy to maintain homeostasis, which is highly plastic. Therefore, we investigated a potential relationship between risk sensitivity and BMR. This metaanalysis revealed little to no relationship between BMR and risk sensitivity, perhaps because of the high intraspecific variation of each of these traits

On Dirac Factorization, Fractional Calculus, and Polynomial Linearization

We postulate the existence of fractional order derivative operators that satisfy a semi-group property in order to further factor the Klein-Gordon equation in Dirac's fashion. The analog of Dirac's matrices are found and we study the generalization of the Dirac algebra generated by these matrices. In this way, a hierarchy of generalized Clifford algebras is formed. We then apply this procedure to Schr\"odinger's equation, and examine the resulting coefficients before moving to a more general setting in which we study the linearization of polynomials with coefficients that do not commute with the indeterminates. Partial differential equations with non-constant coefficients are the archetypal example in this setting.Comment: 15 page

Treatment initiation among persons diagnosed with drug resistant tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa

In South Africa, roughly half of the drug-resistant TB cases diagnosed are reported to have been started on treatment. We determined the proportion of persons diagnosed with rifampicin resistant (RR-) TB who initiated treatment in Johannesburg after the introduction of decentralized RR-TB care in 2011