Decision-Making In Real-Time, Noisy, Adversarial and Pressing Multi-Agent System

Abstract: The architecture and decision phase paradigm of decision making in real-time, noisy, adversarial and pressing multi-agent system is presented as the main contribution of this article. Intelligence phase is implemented as world model, design phase as task decomposition, off-line learning, and on-line programming, and choice phase as jointly decision. Robotic soccer simulation, which is a domain that fits the above characteristics, is taken as a case study to verify its effectiveness. In addition, our simulation team was runner-up at the RoboCup2002 competition, in which 44 teams participated. It achieves a total score of 91-13 over 14 different games, and successfully demonstrated its flexible structure in the combination of local optimization and adversarial consideration. Keywords: decision-making, RTNAP, MAS, LOAC, RoboCup

The Impact of Gross Motor Skills on the Development of Emotion Understanding in Children Aged 3–6 Years: The Mediation Role of Executive Functions

This study investigates the impact of gross motor skills on the development of emotion understanding and the role of executive function in the relation between gross motor skills and emotion understanding. A total of 662 children were tested for gross motor skills, emotion understanding, and executive function. Regression analysis showed that gross motor skills were significantly related to executive function. Multiple regression analyses showed that gross motor skills and executive function were significant predictors for emotion understanding. Furthermore, mediation analysis showed that executive function mediated the impact of gross motor skills on emotion understanding. Gross motor skills contributed to emotion understanding by improving children’s executive function. The findings imply that a pathway from gross motor skills to emotion understanding is mediated by executive function, which offers a novel perspective on the developmental mechanisms of children’s emotion understanding

Local Optimization and Adversarial Consideration: Agent Skills in Everest 2002 RoboCup Simulation Team

Abstract: Skilled individual agents are firm basis of a strong soccer team. Agent skills are short-term goals in the soccer simulation game. The skills available to Everest 2002 agents include kicking, dribbling, forwarding, ball interception and tackling. These intermediate sub goals are implemented by a combination of local optimization which hopes to determine the optimal primitive action from a local perspective and adversarial consideration which takes into account opponents and limitations imposed by simulation environment. Everest 2002 RoboCup simulation teams, building on 11 skilled agents and an on-line coach, became the 2 nd place winner of RoboCup2002 simulation league. Keywords: LOAC, agent, skill, RoboCup.

Effects of cellulose/salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone complexes on PVA based hydrogels: Portable, reusable, and high-precision luminescence sensing of Cu

Novel portable, high-precision, and reusable fluorescent polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-borax hydrogel sensors were prepared to detect Cu in aqueous environment. A TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers/salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (TOCN/ST) complex was further incorporated into the PVA-borax matrix. The in situ polymerization of TOCN/ST complex enhanced the mechanical properties of the hydrogels and improved the accuracy of detection. The resultant hydrogels were thermo reversible, and it converted to the liquid state during heating, which could greatly reduce the deviations caused in the detection of solid sensors. After cooling, the hydrogel could transform into the solid condition, which was easily portable. The sensor induced a significant luminescence quenching to the Cu at 485 nm, with a detection limit of 0.086 μM. In the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium, Cu were tightly seized, causing the liberation of TOCN/ST complex and thus, a reversible ON-OFF-ON fluorescence behavior was displayed. The fluorescence intensity was maintained at 82 % after 10 uses, and the mechanical strength was maintained at 85 % after 3 uses. The anti-bacterial activity test also confirmed the TOCN/ST complex was extremely potent in suppressing the growth and reproduction of Escherichia coli. The proposed hydrogel provides a new insight into the detection of Cu in aqueous environments

Facile Two-Step Deposition of Calcium Oxalate Film on Dolomite to Improve Acid Rain Resistance

The deposition of a calcium oxalate layer on dolomite demonstrates potential application in stone culture heritage conservation. However, due to insufficient coverage and the presence of cracks, the film’s usefulness is restricted. In this investigation, we used a simple two-step procedure to create a cohesive and uncracked film. The findings show that the protective layer provides better coverage of the dolomite surface without causing cracks and significantly improves acid resistance. Furthermore, after the simple two-step treatment, the color and adhesive strength of dolomite substrates remained nearly unchanged

Facile Two-Step Deposition of Calcium Oxalate Film on Dolomite to Improve Acid Rain Resistance

The deposition of a calcium oxalate layer on dolomite demonstrates potential application in stone culture heritage conservation. However, due to insufficient coverage and the presence of cracks, the film’s usefulness is restricted. In this investigation, we used a simple two-step procedure to create a cohesive and uncracked film. The findings show that the protective layer provides better coverage of the dolomite surface without causing cracks and significantly improves acid resistance. Furthermore, after the simple two-step treatment, the color and adhesive strength of dolomite substrates remained nearly unchanged

Data_Sheet_1_A study on the impact of health shocks on subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older adults—Evidence from China.pdf

IntroductionThe health issues that afflict middle-aged people and older individuals are a significant factor that affects their quality of life. It is crucial to investigate the impact of health shocks on the subjective wellbeing of this demographic and the mechanisms that underlie this impact to promote healthy aging.MethodsThis study utilized data from the China Family Panel Study in 2018 and 2020 to analyze the effects of HSs and their categories on the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older individuals using the propensity score matching difference-in-differences method. Additionally, the study explored the mediating role of social participation.ResultsThe findings indicate that health shocks, both chronic and acute, diminish the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older adults. Furthermore, these shocks have a more significant negative effect on the subjective wellbeing of individuals aged 60 and above, women in the middle-aged and older demographic, individuals in rural areas who belong to the middle-aged and older age groups, and individuals possessing activities of daily living. The mechanism analysis revealed that health shocks, both chronic and acute, reduce the subjective wellbeing of middle-aged people and older individuals by disrupting partnerships.DiscussionLowering the possibility of health shocks, the government should build a strong health management system and improve the health insurance system to enable timely treatment for persons suffering from health shocks. Individuals and families should live healthy lives and engage in social activities to avoid health shocks and improve subjective wellbeing.</p

Energy Optimization for a Multistage Crude Oil Distillation Process

Energy optimization is a hot research topic for design and operation of crude oil distillation plants. Optimum energy utilization in a multistage crude oil distillation process is achieved by optimizing the distillation load of each distillation column as well as the yield of the sidestreams of distillation columns. A generalized multistage distillation energy consumption model is proposed, and the optimal distillation load distribution is accomplished by minimizing the total energy consumption. Based on the optimal distillation loads, a nonlinear programming model is then formulated to determine the yields of sidestreams by maximizing the thermal exergy recovery for the crude oil plant. Finally, a four-stage crude oil distillation plant is investigated to demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach. The results show a decrease in energy consumption and an increase in heat recovery

Comparative analysis and evaluation of three crude oil vacuum distillation processes for process selection

There exists three practicable crude oil vacuum distillation processes and different processes have a significant impact on material and energy performances, including product yield, economic potential, heat recovery and the efficiencies of recoverable energy and recoverable exergy. Process selection is an important and difficult task for designers with various targets since the material and energy performances of a process do not coordinate with each other. In this work, an approach with simultaneous considerations of material and energy performances is proposed to comparatively analyze and evaluate the three processes, in order to provide insights for designers to screen a suitable process and vacuum furnace outlet temperature. The approach is conducted in three steps. In the first step, a simulation model is rebuilt to obtain basic material and energy data. In the second step, comparative analyses and evaluations are performed to measure the material and energy performances of three process options under the same operating conditions. In the last step, the variations of the material and energy performances are further investigated to determine the vacuum furnace outlet temperature. The results indicate that the cycle process has the highest product yield and best economic potential but the lowest efficiencies of recoverable energy and recoverable exergy, while the drawn process has the highest efficiencies of recoverable energy and recoverable exergy but the worst economic potential. The results also demonstrate that the selection of a vacuum distillation process and the determination of the vacuum furnace outlet temperature play a critical role in designing a crude oil vacuum distillation process. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved