An historical based adaptation mechanism for BDI agents

One of the limitations of the BDI (Belief-Desire-Intention) model is the lack of any explicit mechanisms within the architecture to be able to learn. In particular, BDI agents do not possess the ability to adapt based on past experience. This is important in dynamic environments as they can change, causing previously successful methods for achieving goals to become inefficient or ineffective. We present a model in which learning, analogous reasoning, data pruning and learner accuracy evaluation can be utilised by a BDI agent and verify this model experimentally using Inductive and Statistical learning. Intelligent Agents are a new way of developing software applications. They are an amalgam of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Software Engineering concepts that are highly suited to domains that are inherently complex and dynamic. Agents are software entities that are autonomous, reactive, proactive, situated and social. They are autonomous in that they are able to make decisions on their own volition. They are situated in some environment and are reactive to this environment yet are also capable of proactive behaviour where they actively pursue goals. They are capable of social behaviour where communication can occur between agents. BDI (Belief Desire Intention) agents are one popular type of agent that support complex behaviour in dynamic environments. Agent adaptation can be viewed as the process of changing the way in which an agent achieves its goals. We distinguish between 'reactive' or short-term adaptation, 'long-term' or historical adaptation and 'very long term' or evolutionary adaptation. Short-term adaptation, an ability that current BDI agents already possess, involves reacting to changes in the environment and choosing alternative plans of action which may involve choosing new plans if the current plan fails. 'Long-term' or historical adaptation entails the use of past cases during the reasoning process which enables agents to avoid repeating past mistakes. 'Evolutionary adaptation' could involve the use of genetic programming or similar techniques to mutate plans to lead to altered behaviour. Our work aims to improve BDI agents by introducing a framework that allows BDI agents to alter their behaviour based on past experience, i.e. to learn

Analysis of circadian rhythms from online communities of individuals with affective disorders

The circadian system regulates 24 hour rhythms in biological creatures. It impacts mood regulation. The disruptions of circadian rhythms cause destabilization in individuals with affective disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorders. Previous work has examined the role of the circadian system on effects of light interactions on mood-related systems, the effects of light manipulation on brain, the impact of chronic stress on rhythms. However, such studies have been conducted in small, preselected populations. The deluge of data is now changing the landscape of research practice. The unprecedented growth of social media data allows one to study individual behavior across large and diverse populations. In particular, individuals with affective disorders from online communities have not been examined rigorously. In this paper, we aim to use social media as a sensor to identify circadian patterns for individuals with affective disorders in online communities.We use a large scale study cohort of data collecting from online affective disorder communities. We analyze changes in hourly, daily, weekly and seasonal affect of these clinical groups in contrast with control groups of general communities. By comparing the behaviors between the clinical groups and the control groups, our findings show that individuals with affective disorders show a significant distinction in their circadian rhythms across the online activity. The results shed light on the potential of using social media for identifying diurnal individual variation in affective state, providing key indicators and risk factors for noninvasive wellbeing monitoring and prediction

Redescription of the sole species of the enigmatic solifuge genus Dinorhax Simon, 1879 (Solifugae: Melanoblossiidae) in Southeast Asia

We present the first recorded description of females of the species Dinorhax rostrumpsittaci (Simon, 1877) from solifugae specimens obtained from southern Vietnam. As a result of DNA barcoding using males identified as D. rostrumpsittaci and unidentified females, these female specimens made a highly supported cluster with male D. rostrumpsittaci. Hereby, we describe the female D. rostrumpsittaci and its natural habitats

Impulse voltage distribution and frequency response of intershield windings

Impulse voltage distributions in continuous disk windings are nonlinear, due to the small series capacitance of the winding. Consequently, transformer manufacturers often design large power transformers with interleaved windings to increase series capacitance, but in doing so reduce the value of the initial impulse voltage distribution coefficient α given by α = √(Cg/Cs), (1) where Cg is the shunt capacitance and Cs is the series capacitance of the winding. Sometimes fully interleaved windings are employed because they are more reliable, ensuring that the transformer will operate properly under lightning strike

Structural geology and mineralization of the White Devil Mine, Tennant Creek, Northern Territory

This item is only available electronically.Thesis (B.Sc.(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, Dept of Geology and Geophysics, 198