Investigation of the applicability of a functional programming model to fault-tolerant parallel processing for knowledge-based systems

In a fault-tolerant parallel computer, a functional programming model can facilitate distributed checkpointing, error recovery, load balancing, and graceful degradation. Such a model has been implemented on the Draper Fault-Tolerant Parallel Processor (FTPP). When used in conjunction with the FTPP's fault detection and masking capabilities, this implementation results in a graceful degradation of system performance after faults. Three graceful degradation algorithms have been implemented and are presented. A user interface has been implemented which requires minimal cognitive overhead by the application programmer, masking such complexities as the system's redundancy, distributed nature, variable complement of processing resources, load balancing, fault occurrence and recovery. This user interface is described and its use demonstrated. The applicability of the functional programming style to the Activation Framework, a paradigm for intelligent systems, is then briefly described

Wittgenstein and Communication Technology : A conversation between Richard Harper and Constantine Sandis

Special Issue: PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH WITTGENSTEIN SOCIETY 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE: WITTGENSTEIN IN THE 21ST CENTURY © 2018 John Wiley & Sons LtdThis paper documents a conversation between a philosopher and a human computer interaction researcher whose research has been enormously influenced by Wittgenstein. In particular, the in vivo use of categories in the design of communications and AI technologies are discussed, and how this meaning needs to evolve to allow creative design to flourish. The paper will be of interest to anyone concerned with philosophical tools in everyday action.Non peer reviewe

Australia\u27s solution to disability discrimination enforcement

[Excerpt] Until recently, Australian disability discrimination law was similar to that of the United States and much of the rest of the world: it defined disability relatively narrowly, its penalties for noncompliance were relatively paltry, and it depended on enforcement of lawsuits brought by aggrieved private citizens. In 2009, however, Australia adopted the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act). The FW Act defined disability much more broadly, increased substantially the penalties for noncompliance, and created a state institution to enforce disability rights. This article analyses the FW Act, compares it to the workplace disability law in the United States, and argues that the FW Act is a transformational development in the struggle to achieve workplace equality and is an approach that should attract significant international interest

Knowledge representation into Ada parallel processing

The Knowledge Representation into Ada Parallel Processing project is a joint NASA and Air Force funded project to demonstrate the execution of intelligent systems in Ada on the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory fault-tolerant parallel processor (FTPP). Two applications were demonstrated - a portion of the adaptive tactical navigator and a real time controller. Both systems are implemented as Activation Framework Objects on the Activation Framework intelligent scheduling mechanism developed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The implementations, results of performance analyses showing speedup due to parallelism and initial efficiency improvements are detailed and further areas for performance improvements are suggested

GREENHOUSE GAS POLICIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF THE HOG INDUSTRY

This paper was presented at the INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS SYMPOSIUM in Auckland, New Zealand, January 18-19, 2001. The Symposium was sponsored by: the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium, the Venture Trust, Massey University, New Zealand, and the Centre for Applied Economics and Policy Studies, Massey University. Dietary changes, especially in developing countries, are driving a massive increase in demand for livestock products. The objective of this symposium was to examine the consequences of this phenomenon, which some have even called a "revolution." How are dietary patterns changing, and can increased demands for livestock products be satisfied from domestic resources? If so, at what cost? What will be the flow-on impacts, for example, in terms of increased demands for feedgrains and the pressures for change within marketing systems? A supply-side response has been the continued development of large-scale, urban-based industrial livestock production systems that in many cases give rise to environmental concerns. If additional imports seem required, where will they originate and what about food security in the importing regions? How might market access conditions be re-negotiated to make increased imports achievable? Other important issues discussed involved food safety, animal health and welfare and the adoption of biotechnology, and their interactions with the negotiation of reforms to domestic and trade policies. Individual papers from this conference are available on AgEcon Search. If you would like to see the complete agenda and set of papers from this conference, please visit the IATRC Symposium web page at: http://www1.umn.edu/iatrc.intro.htmEnvironmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics,

The Effects of Sex and Levels of Acquaintance on Risk-Taking in Groups

Problem: This study had three purposes: (1) to test for differences in risk-taking among all male, all female, and mixed-sex groups; (2) to test for differences in risk-taking between low acquaintance groups and high acquaintance groups; and (3) to investigate whether or not familiarity with the risk-taking instrument, the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire, affected risk-taking. Procedure: The subjects used in this study were 144 male and female freshmen who were enrolled in Humanities 101 at the University of North Dakota in the fall semester of 1969. The subjects were randomly selected from the total male and female freshmen population who were enrolled in Humanities 101. The instrument employed to measure risk-taking in this study was the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire. The statistical tests utilized were: (1) two-way analysis of covariance, (2) Scheffe\u27s test, and (3) test. The .05 level was established as the criterion for significance for all statistical tests. Findings: The findings of this study were as follows: 1. There was a significant difference in risk-taking means among all male, all female, and mixed-sex groups. 2. A significant difference in risk-taking means was found between low and high acquaintance groups. 3. There was a significant difference in risk-taking means as a result of the interaction of sex composition of the groups and the groups\u27 acquaintance level. Specifically, low acquaintance mixed-sex groups took significantly more risks than low acquaintance male groups, low acquaintance female groups, high acquaintance male groups, high acquaintance female groups, and high acquaintance mixed-sex groups. 4. Familiarity with the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire did not significantly influence risk-taking. Conclusions: It was concluded that the sex composition of the groups affects the amount of shift toward risk made by the group members. Moreover, it was concluded that low acquaintance groups take greater risks than high acquaintance groups. Thus, making generalizations from the behavior of low acquaintance groups to high acquaintance groups is inappropriate . Furthermore, the results indicate that sex and acquaintance level should be considered together when investigating risk-taking behavior in groups. Finally, it was concluded that familiarization does not influence risk-taking behavior

Criminal Procedure - Rape Victim Shield Statute

Recently the Supreme Court of North Carolina considered for the first time the constitutionality of North Carolina\u27s rape victim shield statute, N.C. GEN. STAT. § 8-58.6 (hereinafter referred to as G. S. 8-58.6, or the statute ). In State v. Fortney, the court upheld the statute as free from constitutional defect. Mr. Justice Carlton, writing for the court, examined the defendant\u27s argument that his constitutional right of confrontation had been violated because the statute prevented him from automatically questioning a prosecuting witness about her prior sexual experiences. The court did not concur. In upholding the statute, the court cited three reasons for rejecting the defendant\u27s contentions: (1) there is no constitutional right to ask a witness irrelevant questions; (2) in its impact and application, G. S. 8-58.6 is primarily procedural and does not alter any of the defendant\u27s substantive rights; and (3) valid policy reasons support the statute. The apparently liberal construction of its language may have weakened the statute\u27s capacity to shield rape victims, but the Fortney court\u27s interpretation significantly strengthened the statute\u27s defense against constitutional attack