Faith in the Algorithm, Part 1: Beyond the Turing Test

Since the Turing test was first proposed by Alan Turing in 1950, the primary goal of artificial intelligence has been predicated on the ability for computers to imitate human behavior. However, the majority of uses for the computer can be said to fall outside the domain of human abilities and it is exactly outside of this domain where computers have demonstrated their greatest contribution to intelligence. Another goal for artificial intelligence is one that is not predicated on human mimicry, but instead, on human amplification. This article surveys various systems that contribute to the advancement of human and social intelligence

Multifractal analysis with the probability density function at the three-dimensional Anderson transition

The probability density function (PDF) for critical wavefunction amplitudes is studied in the three-dimensional Anderson model. We present a formal expression between the PDF and the multifractal spectrum f(alpha) in which the role of finite-size corrections is properly analyzed. We show the non-gaussian nature and the existence of a symmetry relation in the PDF. From the PDF, we extract information about f(alpha) at criticality such as the presence of negative fractal dimensions and we comment on the possible existence of termination points. A PDF-based multifractal analysis is hence shown to be a valid alternative to the standard approach based on the scaling of general inverse participation ratios.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figure

Rational design for the recombinant expression of the Receptor Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein

Background: COVID-19 represents a significant threat to global human health. SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic viral agent, needs to be under-covered at the structural biology level to facilitate the rational design of diagnostic tests and vaccine candidates. SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain of Spike protein (RBD-S) acts as the key to open the gate, to enter the cells during infection. Thus, it is a stronger candidate for designing effective antigens for vaccines and diagnostics. Here, we relied on the viral DNA codifying to RBD-S to use synthetic biology for optimizing the recombinant expression of this (rRBD-S) as a proof of concept of rational designs of bioprocess for vaccine candidates and immunogens to improved rapid diagnostic tests. Methods: rRBD-S coding sequences inspired on RBD-S ectodomain from SARS-CoV-2 were designed, codon-optimized, tagged, synthesized, cloned in an expression vector (pD444-MR), and transformed into C41(DE3)pLysS E. coli strain. Expression of recombinant RBD-S was resulting in a protein purified using Ni-IMAC (Nickel Immobilized metal affinity chromatography). Results: rRBD-S produced result in a ~30KDa protein with yields of 4.618 gr L-1. Protein was recovered from the bacterial soluble fraction without refolding process. Conclusions: rRBD-S is an important tool for immunity diagnostics as Lateral-Flow-Devices, structural biology studies, and even as vaccine candidate for combating SARS-CoV-2. Notably considering the advantages of rational subunit vaccines for immune response against other vaccines technologies whose effectiveness in the long-term process has not been demonstrated yet. Acknowledgements: We thank HIDALGO´s Council of Science, Technology and Innovation (CITNOVA) for the GRANT 20201122 to LMRM

Imaginarios colectivos de la violencia de los habitantes del Municipio de Pasto

Este trabajo de investigación, es una aproximación al análisis de la violencia colombiana en sus múltiples manifestaciones, expresadas por rostros humanos, cargados de terror, que no quieren seguir siendo las víctimas incondicionales de este terrible mal que se ha apoderado del país. Es una descripción y significación de los imaginarios de la violencia, que toma como pretexto a los habitantes del municipio de Pasto, para ser vista por los niños y adolescentes, mujeres y habitantes de la calle, ejecutivos y religiosos, guerrilleros, excombatientes y militares, quienes desde su perspectiva opinaron acerca de este fenómeno. En síntesis, los capítulos que aquí se presentan son, en primer lugar, la Justificación, que radica principalmente en la posibilidad de aportar una visión de la realidad del colectivo social, centrándose básicamente en el impacto de esta investigación. En segundo lugar, se hace una descripción de los Antecedentes del proyecto, en donde se citan brevemente algunos estudios de violencia que aportan en la construcción social desde lo local

Dual use display systems for telerobotics

This paper describes a telerobotics display system, the Multi-mode Manipulator Display System (MMDS), that has applications for a variety of remotely controlled tasks. Designed primarily to assist astronauts with the control of space robotics systems, the MMDS has applications for ground control of space robotics as well as for toxic waste cleanup, undersea, remotely operated vehicles, and other environments which require remote operations. The MMDS has three modes: (1) Manipulator Position Display (MPD) mode, (2) Joint Angle Display (JAD) mode, and (3) Sensory Substitution (SS) mode. These three modes are discussed in the paper

Controlled engineering of extended states in disordered systems

We describe how to engineer wavefunction delocalization in disordered systems modelled by tight-binding Hamiltonians in d>1 dimensions. We show analytically that a simple product structure for the random onsite potential energies, together with suitably chosen hopping strengths, allows a resonant scattering process leading to ballistic transport along one direction, and a controlled coexistence of extended Bloch states and anisotropically localized states in the spectrum. We demonstrate that these features persist in the thermodynamic limit for a continuous range of the system parameters. Numerical results support these findings and highlight the robustness of the extended regime with respect to deviations from the exact resonance condition for finite systems. The localization and transport properties of the system can be engineered almost at will and independently in each direction. This study gives rise to the possibility of designing disordered potentials that work as switching devices and band-pass filters for quantum waves, such as matter waves in optical lattices.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure

Understanding the two-dimensional ionization structure in luminous infrared galaxies. A near-IR integral field spectroscopy perspective

We investigate the 2D excitation structure of the ISM in a sample of LIRGs and Seyferts using near-IR IFS. This study extends to the near-IR the well-known optical and mid-IR emission line diagnostics used to classify activity in galaxies. Based on the spatially resolved spectroscopy of prototypes, we identify in the [FeII]1.64/Br$\gamma$ - H_2 1-0S(1)/Br$\gamma$ plane regions dominated by the different heating sources, i.e. AGNs, young MS massive stars, and evolved stars i.e. supernovae. The ISM in LIRGs occupy a wide region in the near-IR diagnostic plane from -0.6 to +1.5 and from -1.2 to +0.8 (in log units) for the [FeII]/Br$\gamma$ and H_2/Br$\gamma$ line ratios, respectively. The corresponding median(mode) ratios are +0.18(0.16) and +0.02(-0.04). Seyferts show on average larger values by factors ~2.5 and ~1.4 for the [FeII]/Br$\gamma$ and H_2/Br$\gamma$ ratios, respectively. New areas and relations in the near-IR diagnostic plane are defined for the compact, high surface brightness regions dominated by AGN, young ionizing stars, and SNe explosions, respectively. In addition, the diffuse regions affected by the AGN radiation field cover an area similar to that of Seyferts, but with high values in [FeII]/Br$\gamma$ that are not as extreme. The extended, non-AGN diffuse regions cover a wide area in the diagnostic diagram that overlaps that of individual excitation mechanisms (i.e. AGN, young stars, and SNe), but with its mode value to that of the young SF clumps. This indicates that the excitation conditions of the diffuse ISM are likely due to a mixture of the different ionization sources. The integrated line ratios in LIRGs show higher excitation conditions i.e. towards AGNs, than those measured by the spatially resolved spectroscopy. If this behaviour is representative, it would have clear consequences when classifying high-z, SF galaxies based on their near-IR integrated spectra.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in A&