Computational Complexity Results for Genetic Programming and the Sorting Problem

Genetic Programming (GP) has found various applications. Understanding this type of algorithm from a theoretical point of view is a challenging task. The first results on the computational complexity of GP have been obtained for problems with isolated program semantics. With this paper, we push forward the computational complexity analysis of GP on a problem with dependent program semantics. We study the well-known sorting problem in this context and analyze rigorously how GP can deal with different measures of sortedness.Comment: 12 page

[How] Can Pluralist Approaches to Computational Cognitive Modeling of Human Needs and Values Save our Democracies?

In our increasingly digital societies, many companies have business models that perceive users’ (or customers’) personal data as a siloed resource, owned and controlled by the data controller rather than the data subjects. Collecting and processing such a massive amount of personal data could have many negative technical, social and economic consequences, including invading people’s privacy and autonomy. As a result, regulations such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have tried to take steps towards a better implementation of the right to digital privacy. This paper proposes that such legal acts should be accompanied by the development of complementary technical solutions such as Cognitive Personal Assistant Systems to support people to effectively manage their personal data processing on the Internet. Considering the importance and sensitivity of personal data processing, such assistant systems should not only consider their owner’s needs and values, but also be transparent, accountable and controllable. Pluralist approaches in computational cognitive modelling of human needs and values which are not bound to traditional paradigmatic borders such as cognitivism, connectionism, or enactivism, we argue, can create a balance between practicality and usefulness, on the one hand, and transparency, accountability, and controllability, on the other, while supporting and empowering humans in the digital world. Considering the threat to digital privacy as significant to contemporary democracies, the future implementation of such pluralist models could contribute to power-balance, fairness and inclusion in our societies

Entwicklung eines schnellen Bio-Tests zur Untersuchung des Wirkungs-potentials von mikrobiellen Pflanzenstärkungsmitteln

Plant-growth-promoting soil microorganisms are increasingly distributed on the world market. Nutrient mobilization, stimulation of root growth, enhanced resistance to envi-ronmental stress factors are discussed as possible mechanisms. These assumptions are based only on scarce scientific evidence due to limited reproducibility of pot and field experiments, limited information concerning the conditions for successful applica-tion, limited standardization of inoculum preparation and quality. Thus, the develop-ment of rapid screening tests is to demonstrate the principle effectiveness of biofertil-izers prior to set-up of labourous pot or field experiments is urgently required. In this study, a rapid bio-test with cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.) as an indicator plant was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of five commercial biofertilizers based on Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp. (Biohealth-G, Biohealth-WSG, Biomex, Vitalin T50 and SP11) using germination rate, root and shoot biomass, maximum root length, and leaf area as test parameters. The experiment was repeated twice with 6 replicates in hydroponic culture under controlled conditions (pH 5.5, 22° C; Light: 230 mmol cm2 sec-1). Biofertilizers were applied at the rate of 3 g per 2.5 l mineral nutrient solution. Germination rate was increased by 20 - 25% in all biofertilizer treatments compared to the control. After 2 weeks culture period, root dry weight and leaf area of Biohealth-G, Vitalin T50, SP-11 and Biomex-treated cucumber seedlings were significantly in-creased. Biohealth-G and Vitalin T50 showed significantly higher main root length and Biohealth-G higher shoot dry weight than the remaining treatments, while Biohealth-WSG did not cause differences compared to untreated control plants. The pathogen-antagonistic potential of Trichoderma strains can be easily tested by co-inoculation with the pathogenic fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis on malt extract peptone agar plates. The results suggest that the activity potential of different Trichoderma-based biofertilizers could be easily screened by using the described bio-test with cucumber seedlings