Review for Cognitive Systems Research of the book The Brain and AI, by authors Karl Schlagenhauf and Fanji Gu

The human brain is often considered the most complex system known. It has a fantastic capacity to learn and remember, to recognize patterns in space and time, solve problems of all kinds, innovate tools and machines, create beautiful art and science. Is it reasonable to believe that we, in a foreseeable future, will be able to understand all the wonders of our own brain, enough to be able to mimic it and build artificial brains and minds that correspond to or even surpass the capacity of the human origin? Can we seriously believe that we (soon, or ever) will be able to build robots that know of and can reflect upon their own existence?This review of the book, The Brain and AI, deals with such issues, but in a very special way. It is written as a fascinating dialogue between the two authors, Chinese scientist Fanji Gu and German engineer Karl Schlagenhauf, where they discuss the development of neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI) with a critical examination of given "truths" in these fields. The Brain and AI is indeed worth reading for many reasons, regardless if you are a student or researcher in any of the many fields of science discussed here (e.g. physics, computer science, neuroscience, cognitive science psychology, social science), or if you are just interested in the current and future development of brain research and artificial intelligence. The book is both educating and entertaining and can be strongly recommended. (C) 2020 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V

A Multilevel Approach to Urban Regional Agglomerations: A Swedish Case of Transition Paths toward a “Fossil-Free Society” by 2050

This article has a focus on the changing patterns of connected urban spaces forming large super-regional aggregates made up of cities of various sizes and regional functions as well as the interconnecting space of much smaller municipalities of agricultural or forestry types of character. The multi-scalar level analysis of these connected clusters is pursued from the level of the individual to the regional, national, Nordic and EU levels. The enfolding of the regional pattern also has global connotations in terms of trade connections, but also in the context of bio-geo challenges as climate change, biodiversity depletion or food security considerations. The transition dynamics involves governance, economic, social and cultural aspects. International negotiations, as the Paris agreement on climate change and agreements at the UN level as the 17 “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDG), or agreements at the EU level, provide an international political frame to this process

Normallönemodell och neutralitetsprincipen

Denna uppsats handlar om vilket inflytande de skattemässiga reglerna har över den enskildes val mellan olika sätt att ta ut sin inkomst ur aktiebolag. Frågan är dels om aktieägaren påverkas att välja att äga aktier i ett fåmansföretag eller ett flermansägt bolag, dels om arbetstagaren påverkas att välja mellan att arbeta i någon annans bolag eller sitt eget. Eftersom fåmansföretagsreglerna kom till för att förhindra att de skattemässiga fördelar som annars följde av att ta ut sin lön i form av utdelning uppkom, följer det naturligt att den enskilde åtminstone styrs i sitt val av ägande. Många artiklar och böcker har skrivits i ämnet och den mest grundläggande, den så kallade 3:12-utredningen, SOU 2002:52, har legat till grund för mitt arbete. Fullständig neutralitet för både olika former av ägande och arbete är en utopi då det skulle kräva att man i varje enskilt fall gjorde bedömningen om inkomsten härrörde från investeringar eller utfört arbete. Dessutom finns gränsfall där det råder delade meningar om till vilket inkomstslag avkastningen hör. Ett sådant system skulle således generera utredningar och beräkningar som omöjligen kan utföras för varje enskild skattskyldig. Man måste därför välja det beskattningsalternativ som man anser är mest rättvisande, utifrån det rådande politiska klimatet. Att beskatta dessa medel på ett för alla tillfredsställande sätt tycks nämligen inte finnas. Sedan 3:12-reglernas tillkomst har man diskuterat om man först skall räkna ut vad som kan anses vara normal lön och sedan kapitalbeskatta överskjutande inkomst eller vice versa. Hittills har alltid den beskattningsmodell där den normala avkastningen räknas ut gått segrande ur leken. Argumenten har främst varit att det skulle kräva alltför komplexa regler för att bestämma normal lön på ett riktigt sätt. Att komplicera de redan svårföljda fåmansföretagsreglerna är en känslig fråga då det redan finns krav från företagarnas sida om enkelhet. För införandet av en normallönemodell har anförts att förutsebarheten skulle öka och att det skulle vara mera rättvist att bestämma den tyngst beskattade delen med klara regler och låta resterande del tas upp till den lindrigare kapitalbeskattningen. För enkelhetens skull har det föreslagits att lönen skall schablonmässigt bestämmas till 7,5 prisbasbelopp som är taket för sjukpenninggrundande inkomst. Vid detta belopp utgörs arbetsgivaravgifterna åtminstone inte i sin helhet av skatt, eftersom en del är en avgift för sociala förmåner som t ex pension. Dessutom är löner avdragsgilla för företaget vilket gör att det blir billigare att betala arbetsgivaravgifter än bolagsskatt. Slutsatsen av det som fram kommit i uppsatsen i detta ämne är således att det blir svårt att hävda att man försvarar normalavkastningsmodellen av rättviseskäl

Linjeavvattning i ny skepnad

Detta examensarbete undersöker om det finns argument för att utforma nya mönster för linjeavvattningsgaller. I uppsatsens första del redovisas observationer kring hur de ser ut idag. Därefter undersöks genom litteraturstudier, plats- och studiebesök om det finns teorier som stödjer hypotesen att mönstret på linjeavvattningens galler kan bidra till upplevelsen av en plats. Slutsatsen dras att upplevelsen skulle kunna fördjupas genom ny utformning av linjeavvattningsgaller som ger platsen starkare karaktär och identitet. Tillgänglig litteratur stödjer min hypotes att i de fall linjeavvattning ingår i platsens utrustning skulle sådan utformning kunna bidra till den totala upplevelsen av en plats. Jag vill med detta arbete visa hur det kan ske. Under studiernas gång framträdde samtidigt fler argument rörande det faktum att om stråk är utformade med individuella särdrag så är det lättare att känna sig hemma, orientera sig kring dem och att kunna referera till platsen. Gallret på linjeavvattningen skulle alltså förutom att ge en starkare upplevelse av platsen även kunna signalera var man befinner sig alternativt vart man är på väg och ge minnesbilder användbara vid berättelser om platsen. Utifrån dessa teorier har därefter nya mönster utformats. Dessa mönster har skapats med hjälp av tekniker som idégenerering, fotografering, skissarbete och digital bearbetning. De nya mönsterförslagen redovisas tillsammans med förslag till tillverkningstekniker och en utvärderang av valda mönster. I den avslutande delen redovisas reflektioner och slutsatser kring arbetet.This study investigates whether there are any arguments for designing new patterns for linear street drainage grates. The first part describes the design of such grates today. Subsequently, through studies of literature, interviews and study visits, it investigates whether there are any theories that support the hypothesis that the design of such grates contributes significantly to the experience of place. The study concludes that the experience of a place may indeed be deepened by designed linear drainage grates and that they give a place stronger characteristics and identity. Available literature supports my hypothesis that if there are designed linear drainage grates in a place, they contribute to the overall experience of that place. It is my aim to demonstrate how this can be accomplished. During the literature studies, several arguments presented themselves to suggest that if sections of a route are given individual characteristics, it is easier to feel at home there, to orientate, and to relate to the place. The drainage grates could, in addition to giving a heightened experience of the place, also give an indication of the location, as well as the direction, and provide mental images of a place that are useful when talking about it afterwards. Based on these theories, new patterns for linear street drainage grates were designed through idea generation, photography, sketching and digital processing. The new patterns are presented, manufacturing techniques are suggested and some selected designs are evaluated. The final part of the paper offers reflections and conclusions based on the work

The value of perennials in urban space

Är perenner ett användbart material för våra grönytor i stadsmiljöer, som kan väcka livslust och förmedla en känsla av livets gång och kontinuitet i en föränderlig värld? När är det bäst att använda sommarblommor och när kan perenner vara ett bättre alternativ? Är murar och buskar det enda sättet att skapa rumslighet i den lilla skalan eller har perennerna en uppgift att fylla även här? Jag söker i denna uppsats svar på dessa frågor och samtidigt förmedla kunskap om perennernas mångskiftande kvalitéer. Material till uppsatsen har i huvudsak varit forskningsrapporter, handböcker och faktaböcker i ämnet. Även intervjuer med företrädare för de som planerar och de som förvaltar stadsmiljöer har gjorts. Uppsatsen belyser perenners roll i stads- och tätortsmiljöer i allmänhet och jämför perennplanteringar med möjliga alternativ. Alternativ till perenn-planteringar kan vara sommarblommor, men också buskar, gräsmatta eller rent av hårdgjorda ytor som t ex asfalt. Nuförtiden är både barn och vuxna mer stressade än förr och ofta lever man i en miljö med många hårdgjorda ytor. (Grahn, Patrik & Stigsdotter, 2003) Därför är det nu är ännu viktigare att städerna erbjuder planteringar som ger en rofylld stimulans året runt. Att uppleva årstidsväxlingar kan fördjupa förståelsen för vår omvärld och ge oss ett lugn i det urbana vimlet. Det gäller bara att vi blir uppmärksamma på de kvalitéer som växterna har.Are perennials useful ingredients in our urban green spaces that can awaken a “joie de vivre” and illustrate the passage of time? When is it best to use annuals and when could perennials be at better choice? Are walls and hedges the only way to create a sense of space in the small scale or do perennials have a role here as well? I will try to find answers to these questions here and at the same time try to convey the intrinsic qualities of perennials. Most of the material I’ve found in research reports, manuals, and textbooks on the subject. My material also includes interviews with planners and landscape gardeners. This paper highlights the role of perennials in townscapes in general and compares the planting of perennials with other possible solutions, for example the use of summer flowers, lawns, bushes or even hard surfaces as for example asphalt. Nowadays both children and adults are subjected to more stress than before and are often forced to live in a more crowded environment, often hard-surfaced. Therefore it’s even more important than before that the urban environment can offer plantations that provide soothing stimuli all year round. To experience the variations during different seasons can bring a deeper understanding of our world and give a piece of relaxation in the urban crowd. The thing is to appreciate the qualities that plants really have

Erratum to: Annual climate impact and primary energy use of Swedish transport infrastructure

In the original version of this paper, some figures and units in Table 5 (in the main text) and Table A1, A2, A6, and A7 (in the Appendix) were found to be incorrect. The corrected tables are presented below. These changes only concern the presentation of data. They do not concern any of the calculations made; hence, they do not affect any of the results or conclusions in the paper. (the original paper was published in volume 19(2)) &nbsp

Annual climate impact and primary energy use of Swedish transport infrastructure

By 2045, Sweden is to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases. To reach this goal, stakeholders involved in planning and construction of Swedish transport infrastructure aim to half their climate impact by 2030. Planning for emission reduction measures require network level studies showing environmental impacts of the infrastructure network. Previous studies do not allow assessment of current hotspots in the infrastructure network, which limits their relevance for decision-support in this question. The aim of this paper is to assess the current annual climate impact and primary energy use of Swedish transport infrastructure by using a methodological approach based on life cycle assessment. The scope includes new construction and management (operation, maintenance, and reinvestment) of existing roads, railways, airports, ports, and fairway channels. The annual climate impact was estimated to 2.8 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalents and the annual primary energy use was estimated to 27 terawatt hours. Mainly road and rail infrastructure contributed to these impacts. Environmental hotspots of the infrastructure network were management of the infrastructure stock (particularly reinvestment of road and rail infrastructure) and material production (particularly production of asphalt, steel, and concrete). If climate targets are to be met, these areas are particularly important to address. Additional research on impacts of small construction measures, the size of biogenic carbon emissions (in standing biomass as well as soil carbon), and the use and impacts of asphalt for road construction and management would further increase the understanding of impacts related to Swedish transport infrastructure at the network level. (Note: an Erratum has been published to this paper in volume 20(2)

Seizure (Ictal)—EEG Characteristics in Subgroups of Depressive Disorder in Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)—A Preliminary Study and Multivariate Approach

Objectives. Examine frequency distributions of ictal EEG after ECT stimulation in diagnostic subgroups of depression. Methods. EEG registration was consecutively monitored in 33 patients after ECT stimulation. Patients were diagnosed according to DSM IV and subdivided into: (1) major depressive disorder with psychotic features (n = 7), (2) unipolar depression (n = 20), and (3) bipolar depression (n = 6). Results. Results indicate that the diagnostically subgroups differ in their ictal EEG frequency spectrumml: (1) psychotic depression has a high occurrence of delta and theta waves, (2) unipolar depression has high occurrence of delta, theta and gamma waves, and (3) bipolar depression has a high occurrence of gamma waves. A linear discriminant function separated the three clinical groups with an accuracy of 94%. Conclusion. Psychotic depressed patients differ from bipolar depression in their frequency based on probability distribution of ictal EEG. Psychotic depressed patients show more prominent slowing of EEG than nonpsychotic depressed patients. Thus the EEG results may be supportive in classifying subgroups of depression already at the start of the ECT treatment

Connecting urban and regional socio-ecological transitions: Paths to a non fossil society in the Swedish Stockholm-Mälar area

Introduction: The embedding of cities in a wider regional frame is central for long term planning regarding the transformation of such parts of society. This holds especially true for urban centers of national or sub national status. In this presentation we are drawing on 4 years of research work and stakeholder consultations in the Swedish part of the EU COMPLEX project dealing with the transition to non fossil societies. In our presentation the regional multi layered governance which encompasses both a large (the Swedish capital) city and its surrounding region with an archipelago of larger and smaller towns is at the heart of the presentation. Our core interest is in the transition to sustainable and resilient urban futures. Especially we are drawing on the experiences from the Swedish case in the EU project COMPLEX. Method: We are relying both on stakeholder consultations with regard to long term planning as well as on specific regional modelling efforts covering specific features as municipality planning, economic regional analysis, land use studies and cognitive analysis regarding decision making by individuals, Results: We have focused on the systemic interactions of many different kinds covering long term developments (up to 2050). Our focus is to analyze features of the transition process of our urban-region at large and the connected decision making features e.g. in terms of scenario elaborations. Discussion: We highlight the differences of opinions among a wide range of stakeholders with regard to their understanding of the issues, their ideological positioning about core matters of concerns and the various positions about appropriate paths for reaching the goals of the transition to a non-fossil urban super region situation in our chosen case area

Modelling stakeholder satisfaction for conflict resolution in wildlife management: a case of wolf population in Sweden

The Swedish wolf population has rebounded from near extinction in the 1960s to around 365 individuals in 2020, after the implementation of the Hunting Act (jaktlagen) in 1966. This recent increase in the wolf population has evoked a serious divide between “pro-wolf” and “anti-wolf” Swedish citizens. Despite the continuous efforts by the Swedish government to reconcile this antagonism, the conflicts are persistent with a sign of impasse. In this paper, we present a modelling tool, which can bring transparent and “structured dialogue to the opposing positions.” This approach includes a stylized framework for quantitative modelling of stakeholders’ satisfaction levels regarding their preferred size of the wildlife population in question, based on the concept of satisfaction functions. We argue that this framework may contribute to conflict resolution by bringing a common understanding among stakeholders, facilitate a societal discourse, and potentially help to assess likely support for conservation policies. We present a showcase application of this modeling tool in the context of the conflict over the Swedish wolf conservation policies. The model is informed using a thorough literature review as well as interviews, which identified relevant stakeholder groups and respective drivers of their attitudes towards wolves