scholarly journals Modeling Long-Term Intentions and Narratives in Autonomous Agents

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150010
Author(s):  
Christian Kronsted ◽  
Zachariah A. Neemeh ◽  
Sean Kugele ◽  
Stan Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Autonomous Agents ◽  
Action Theory ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
The Self ◽  
Impact Action ◽  
Global Workspace ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Intentional Structure

Across various fields it is argued that the self in part consists of an autobiographical self-narrative and that the self-narrative has an impact on agential behavior. Similarly, within action theory, it is claimed that the intentional structure of coherent long-term action is divided into a hierarchy of distal, proximal, and motor intentions. However, the concrete mechanisms for how narratives and distal intentions are generated and impact action is rarely fleshed out concretely. We here demonstrate how narratives and distal intentions can be generated within cognitive agents and how they can impact agential behavior over long time scales. We integrate narratives and distal intentions into the LIDA model, and demonstrate how they can guide agential action in a manner that is consistent with the Global Workspace Theory of consciousness. This paper serves both as an addition to the LIDA cognitive architecture and an elucidation of how narratives and distal intention emerge and play their role in cognition and action

scholarly journals Body Schema in Autonomous Agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 113-145
Author(s):  
Zachariah A. Neemeh ◽  
Christian Kronsted ◽  
Sean Kugele ◽  
Stan Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Autonomous Agents ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
Body Schema ◽  
Dorsal Stream ◽  
The Body ◽  
Intelligent Decision ◽  
Computational Implementation ◽  
Global Workspace ◽  
Global Workspace Theory

A body schema is an agent’s model of its own body that enables it to act on affordances in the environment. This paper presents a body schema system for the Learning Intelligent Decision Agent (LIDA) cognitive architecture. LIDA is a conceptual and computational implementation of Global Workspace Theory, also integrating other theories from neuroscience and psychology. This paper contends that the ‘body schema’ should be split into three separate functions based on the functional role of consciousness in Global Workspace Theory. There is (1) an online model of the agent’s effectors and effector variables (Current Body Schema), (2) a long-term, recognitional storage of embodied capacities for action and affordances (Habitual Body Schema), and (3) “dorsal” stream information feeding directly from early perception to sensorimotor processes (Online Body Schema). This paper then discusses how the LIDA model of the body schema explains several experiments in psychology and ethology.

The Spread of Pollutants from Harbour Sludge Depots

1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 623-633
Author(s):  
M Loxham ◽  
F Weststrate
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Molecular Diffusion ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Parameter Analysis ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Dilution Effects ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Harbour Sludge

It is generally agreed that both the landfill option, or the civil techniques option for the final disposal of contaminated harbour sludge involves the isolation of the sludge from the environment. For short time scales, engineered barriers such as a bentonite screen, plastic sheets, pumping strategies etc. can be used. However for long time scales the effectiveness of such measures cannot be counted upon. It is thus necessary to be able to predict the long term environmenttal spread of contaminants from a mature landfill. A model is presented that considers diffusion and adsorption in the landfill site and convection and adsorption in the underlaying aquifer. From a parameter analysis starting form practical values it is shown that the adsorption behaviour and the molecular diffusion coefficient of the sludge, are the key parameters involved in the near field. The dilution effects of the far field migration patterns are also illustrated.

Simulated Local and Remote Biophysical Effects of Afforestation over the Southeast United States in Boreal Summer*

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 4511-4522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang-Shan Chen ◽  
Michael Notaro ◽  
Zhengyu Liu ◽  
Yongqiang Liu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Surface Cooling ◽  
Local Cooling ◽  
Southeast United States ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Biophysical Effects

Abstract Afforestation has been proposed as a climate change mitigation strategy by sequestrating atmospheric carbon dioxide. With the goal of increasing carbon sequestration, a Congressional project has been planned to afforest about 18 million acres by 2020 in the Southeast United States (SEUS), the Great Lake states, and the Corn Belt states. However, biophysical feedbacks of afforestation have the potential to counter the beneficial climatic consequences of carbon sequestration. To assess the potential biophysical effects of afforestation over the SEUS, the authors designed a set of initial value ensemble experiments and long-term quasi-equilibrium experiments in a fully coupled Community Climate System Model, version 3.5 (CCSM3.5). Model results show that afforestation over the SEUS not only has a local cooling effect in boreal summer [June–August (JJA)] at short and long time scales but also induces remote warming over adjacent regions of the SEUS at long time scales. Precipitation, in response to afforestation, increases over the SEUS (local effect) and decreases over adjacent regions (remote effect) in JJA. The local surface cooling and increase in precipitation over SEUS in JJA are hydrologically driven by the changes in evapotranspiration and latent heat flux. The remote surface warming and decrease in precipitation over adjacent regions are adiabatically induced by anomalous subsidence. Our results suggest that the planned afforestation efforts should be developed carefully by taking account of short-term (local) and long-term (remote) biophysical effects of afforestation.

scholarly journals Long-Term Brightness Changes in Cool Pulsating Variables

1993 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 425-427
Author(s):  
John R. Percy
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Variable Star ◽  
American Association ◽  
Long Term Changes ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Red Giant

AbstractSeveral types of cool pulsating variables show unexplained long-term changes in brightness, typically on time scales of 10 to 20 times the basic (pulsational) period. The visual and photoelectric programs of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) are well-suited for detecting and studying these changes. Some examples are given here, including yellow hypergiants, RV Tauri stars, small- and large-amplitude red giant and super giant variables. The study of pulsating variables on long time scales provides “new perspectives” on their behavior.

scholarly journals X-ray variability in LINERs

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S304) ◽  
pp. 399-402
Author(s):  
Josefa Masegosa ◽  
Lorena Hernández-García ◽  
Isabel Márquez ◽  
Omaira González-Martín
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Spectral Variability ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Variability Pattern ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Public Archives

AbstractOne of the most important features in active galactic nuclei (AGN) is the variability of their emission. Variability has been discovered at X-ray, UV, and radio frequencies on time scales from hours to years. Among the AGN family and according to theoretical studies, Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission Line Region (LINER) nuclei would be variable objects on long time scales. Our purpose is to investigate spectral X-ray variability in LINERs and to understand the nature of these kinds of objects, as well as their accretion mechanism. Chandra and XMM–Newton public archives were used to compile X-ray spectra of LINER nuclei at different epochs with time scales of years. To search for variability we fit all the spectra from the same object with a set of models, in order to identify the parameters responsible for the variability pattern. We found that long term spectral variability is very common, with variations mostly related to hard energies (2-10 keV). These variations are due to changes in the soft excess, and/or changes in the absorber, and/or intrinsic variations of the source.

scholarly journals Optical variability of quasars: a damped random walk

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S304) ◽  
pp. 395-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Željko Ivezić ◽  
Chelsea MacLeod
Keyword(s):  
Random Walk ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Optical Wavelength ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Asymptotic Variability ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Quasar Variability ◽  
Best Fit

AbstractA damped random walk is a stochastic process, defined by an exponential covariance matrix that behaves as a random walk for short time scales and asymptotically achieves a finite variability amplitude at long time scales. Over the last few years, it has been demonstrated, mostly but not exclusively using SDSS data, that a damped random walk model provides a satisfactory statistical description of observed quasar variability in the optical wavelength range, for rest-frame timescales from 5 days to 2000 days. The best-fit characteristic timescale and asymptotic variability amplitude scale with the luminosity, black hole mass, and rest wavelength, and appear independent of redshift. In addition to providing insights into the physics of quasar variability, the best-fit model parameters can be used to efficiently separate quasars from stars in imaging surveys with adequate long-term multi-epoch data, such as expected from LSST.

scholarly journals On the differences between two semi-empirical sea-level models for the last two millennia

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 3551-3581 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Vermeer ◽  
S. Rahmstorf ◽  
A. Kemp ◽  
B. Horton
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Global Mean Sea Level ◽  
Semi Empirical ◽  
The Last Two Millennia ◽  
Global Mean

Abstract. We compare hindcasts of global mean sea level over the past millennium obtained using two semi-empirical models linking temperature and sea-level rise. The models differ in that one of them includes a term for a very long-term sea-level rise component unfolding over many millennia. On short (century) time scales, both models give very similar results. Proxy sea-level reconstructions from the northern (North Carolina) and southern (New Zealand and Tasmania) hemispheres are used to test the ability of both models to reproduce the longer-term sea-level evolution. In both comparisons the model including the second term produces a markedly better fit from 1000 AD to the present. When both models are used for generating sea-level projections, they behave similarly out to 2100 AD. Further out, to 2300–2500 AD, the projections differ significantly, in no small part due to different values for the sea-level response time scale τ obtained. We conclude that careful model validation on long time scales is important before attempting multi-century projections.

scholarly journals Neuropixels 2.0: A miniaturized high-density probe for stable, long-term brain recordings

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6539) ◽  
pp. eabf4588
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Steinmetz ◽  
Cagatay Aydin ◽  
Anna Lebedeva ◽  
Michael Okun ◽  
Marius Pachitariu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Scales ◽  
Small Animals ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Site Density ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Free Behavior ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Density Probe ◽  
Data Processing Methods

Measuring the dynamics of neural processing across time scales requires following the spiking of thousands of individual neurons over milliseconds and months. To address this need, we introduce the Neuropixels 2.0 probe together with newly designed analysis algorithms. The probe has more than 5000 sites and is miniaturized to facilitate chronic implants in small mammals and recording during unrestrained behavior. High-quality recordings over long time scales were reliably obtained in mice and rats in six laboratories. Improved site density and arrangement combined with newly created data processing methods enable automatic post hoc correction for brain movements, allowing recording from the same neurons for more than 2 months. These probes and algorithms enable stable recordings from thousands of sites during free behavior, even in small animals such as mice.

A Global Workspace Model Implementation and its Relations with Philosophy of Mind

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Eduardo C. Garrido-Mercháin ◽  
Martín Molina ◽  
Francisco M. Mendoza-Soto
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Autonomous Agents ◽  
Cognitive Architecture ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Autonomous Agent ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Global Workspace ◽  
The One ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
Global Workspace Theory

This work seeks to study the beneficial properties that an autonomous agent can obtain by imitating a cognitive architecture similar to that of conscious beings. Throughout this document, a cognitive model of an autonomous agent-based in a global workspace architecture is presented. We hypothesize that consciousness is an evolutionary advantage, so if our autonomous agent can be potentially conscious, its performance will be enhanced. We explore whether an autonomous agent implementing a cognitive architecture like the one proposed in the global workspace theory can be conscious from a philosophy of mind perspective, with a special emphasis on functionalism and multiple realizability. The purposes of our proposed model are to create autonomous agents that can navigate within an environment composed of multiple independent magnitudes, adapting to its surroundings to find the best possible position according to its inner preferences and to test the effectiveness of many of its cognitive mechanisms, such as an attention mechanism for magnitude selection, possession of inner feelings and preferences, usage of a memory system to storage beliefs and past experiences, and incorporating the consciousness bottleneck into the decision-making process, that controls and integrates information processed by all the subsystems of the model, as in global workspace theory. We show in a large experiment set how potentially conscious autonomous agents can benefit from having a cognitive architecture such as the one described.

scholarly journals Skin Cancer, Irradiation, and Sunspots: The Solar Cycle Effect

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Valachovic ◽  
Igor Zurbenko
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Small Variation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Data ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Cancer Irradiation

Skin cancer is diagnosed in more than 2 million individuals annually in the United States. It is strongly associated with ultraviolet exposure, with melanoma risk doubling after five or more sunburns. Solar activity, characterized by features such as irradiance and sunspots, undergoes an 11-year solar cycle. This fingerprint frequency accounts for relatively small variation on Earth when compared to other uncorrelated time scales such as daily and seasonal cycles. Kolmogorov-Zurbenko filters, applied to the solar cycle and skin cancer data, separate the components of different time scales to detect weaker long term signals and investigate the relationships between long term trends. Analyses of crosscorrelations reveal epidemiologically consistent latencies between variables which can then be used for regression analysis to calculate a coefficient of influence. This method reveals that strong numerical associations, with correlations >0.5, exist between these small but distinct long term trends in the solar cycle and skin cancer. This improves modeling skin cancer trends on long time scales despite the stronger variation in other time scales and the destructive presence of noise.

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