Learning Interpretable Spatial Operations in a Rich 3D Blocks World

In this paper, we study the problem of mapping natural language instructions to complex spatial actions in a 3D blocks world. We first introduce a new dataset that pairs complex 3D spatial operations to rich natural language descriptions that require complex spatial and pragmatic interpretations such as "mirroring", "twisting", and "balancing". This dataset, built on the simulation environment of Bisk, Yuret, and Marcu (2016), attains language that is significantly richer and more complex, while also doubling the size of the original dataset in the 2D environment with 100 new world configurations and 250,000 tokens. In addition, we propose a new neural architecture that achieves competitive results while automatically discovering an inventory of interpretable spatial operations (Figure 5)Comment: AAAI 201

Thistle: A Vector Database in Rust

We present Thistle, a fully functional vector database. Thistle is an entry into the domain of latent knowledge use in answering search queries, an ongoing research topic at both start-ups and search engine companies. We implement Thistle with several well-known algorithms, and benchmark results on the MS MARCO dataset. Results help clarify the latent knowledge domain as well as the growing Rust ML ecosystem

The Future Self: Promoting Prosocial Decision-Making Through Motivated Episodic Simulation

Vividly imagining the future self can help inform our present decisions. Given that most attempts aimed at understanding the prosocial effect of imagining future episodes have focused on sensory properties, little is known about how prosocial motivations can explain the link between episodic simulation and helping intentions. Here, the current research investigated whether altruistically and reputationally motivated simulation of helping behavior promote a willingness to help a person in need. The study found that imagining helping episodes increased willingness to help relative to a control manipulation, especially when reputational concerns were made salient. Path modeling analyses revealed that the prosocial effect of motivated simulation was mediated by future self-continuity (i.e., the perceived connectedness to the future self). These results shed light on a previously unexplored mechanism underlying the relationship between episodic simulation and prosocial intentions. Implications for future research in prosocial behavior, future-oriented cognition, and moral self-concept is discussed

Impact of Heterogeneity on Flow in Fluvial-Deltaic Reservoirs: Implications for the Giant ACG field, south Caspian Basin

Abstract The Azeri, Chirag and Gunashli (ACG) oilfield is located in the offshore Azerbaijan sector of the south Caspian Basin~ This dissertation focuses on the Azeri Field which has over 8 billion barrels of oil in place. The major reservoir interval is the Pliocene Pereriv Suite, which is characterized by laterally continuous layers of variable net-to-gross (NTG) deposited in a fluvial-deltaic environment. The Azeri Field is being developed by both down-dip water injection and up-dip gas injection. This dissertation uses high-resolution models, derived from outcrop analogue and subsurface data, in conjunction with experimental design techniques, to rank the impact of different geological heterogeneities on recovery by both displacement mechanisms. Firstly, the impact of reservoir-unit scale heterogeneities on water and gas injection is assessed using a simplified fluids PVT description. At this level, the principal controls on oil recovery are the factors that affect sandbody connectivity and sweep efficiency. Secondly, the impact of reservoir- and genetic-unit scale heterogeneities on??????? gas injection in high NTG intervals is assessed. The genetic-unit scale heterogeneities that control the approach to vertical equilibrium (VE) are found to be the principal controls on recovery. Their impact is large when gravity forces dominate the mobility unstable displacement, but decreases with increasing production rate as viscous forces dominate and the displacement moves out of VE. The presence of laterally extensive shales is also important, because they change the geometry of the reservoir layering and yields higher recovery than equivalent homogeneous models. The same rank order of key heterogeneities is obtained for simulations with simplified and a more realistic PVT description. Finally, the results are applied to develop a methodology to identifY the upper and lower boundaries on predicted recovery using a simple analytic approach that incorporates some geological heterogeneity.Imperial Users onl