scholarly journals Open Issues in Evolutionary Robotics

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Silva ◽  
Miguel Duarte ◽  
Luís Correia ◽  
Sancho Moura Oliveira ◽  
Anders Lyhne Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Computation ◽  
Autonomous Robots ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Evolutionary Robotics ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Canonical Approach ◽  
Task Specification ◽  
Open Issues

One of the long-term goals in evolutionary robotics is to be able to automatically synthesize controllers for real autonomous robots based only on a task specification. While a number of studies have shown the applicability of evolutionary robotics techniques for the synthesis of behavioral control, researchers have consistently been faced with a number of issues preventing the widespread adoption of evolutionary robotics for engineering purposes. In this article, we review and discuss the open issues in evolutionary robotics. First, we analyze the benefits and challenges of simulation-based evolution and subsequent deployment of controllers versus evolution on real robotic hardware. Second, we discuss specific evolutionary computation issues that have plagued evolutionary robotics: (1) the bootstrap problem, (2) deception, and (3) the role of genomic encoding and genotype-phenotype mapping in the evolution of controllers for complex tasks. Finally, we address the absence of standard research practices in the field. We also discuss promising avenues of research. Our underlying motivation is the reduction of the current gap between evolutionary robotics and mainstream robotics, and the establishment of evolutionary robotics as a canonical approach for the engineering of autonomous robots.

scholarly journals The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (48) ◽  
pp. e2104642118
Author(s):  
Marty Kardos ◽  
Ellie E. Armstrong ◽  
Sarah W. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Samantha Hauser ◽  
Philip W. Hedrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Adaptive Potential ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Functional Genetic Variation

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on conserving genome-wide genetic variation, and that the field should instead focus on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations toward extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide genetic variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.

The Role of Responsible Gambling Strategy in Forming Behavioral Intention

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hak-Jun Song ◽  
Choong-Ki Lee ◽  
William C. Norman ◽  
Heesup Han
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Responsible Gambling ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Extended Model ◽  
Responsible Gambling Strategy

By examining the perception of a responsible gambling strategy, this study developed an extended model of goal-directed behavior (EMGB) with respect to the behavioral intentions of casino visitors. The results of the EMGB, which uses structural equation modeling, indicate that desire had the strongest relationship with casino visitors’ intention to gamble, followed by positive anticipated emotion, perceived behavioral control, perceptions of a responsible gambling strategy, negative anticipated emotion, and attitude. The perception of a responsible gambling strategy was also a significant predictor of both desire and behavioral intention, as casino visitors had positive perceptions of casinos that implemented responsible gambling strategies. Casino managers should consider a responsible gambling strategy as an important long-term business activity to increase casino visitor’s intention to gamble.

scholarly journals The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kardos ◽  
Ellie Armstrong ◽  
Sarah W Fitzpatrick ◽  
Samantha Hauser ◽  
Philip Hedrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Adaptive Potential ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Functional Genetic Variation

The unprecedented rate of extinction calls for efficient use of genetics to help conserve biodiversity. Several recent genomic and simulation-based studies have argued that the field of conservation biology has placed too much focus on the conservation of genome-wide genetic variation, and that this approach should be replaced with another that focuses instead on managing the subset of functional genetic variation that is thought to affect fitness. Here, we critically evaluate the feasibility and likely benefits of this approach in conservation. We find that population genetics theory and empirical results show that the conserving genome-wide genetic variation is generally the best approach to prevent inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential from driving populations towards extinction. Focusing conservation efforts on presumably functional genetic variation will only be feasible occasionally, often misleading, and counterproductive when prioritized over genome-wide genetic variation. Given the increasing rate of habitat loss and other environmental changes, failure to recognize the detrimental effects of lost genome-wide variation on long-term population viability will only worsen the biodiversity crisis.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) outcome at long-term follow-up and the role of elective neurosurgical approach: A report of 22 cases

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Menegazzo ◽  
Melissa Rosa Rizzotto ◽  
Martina Bua ◽  
Luisa Pinello ◽  
Elisabetta Tono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head Trauma ◽  
Abusive Head Trauma ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

The Second Start of Transformation in Ukraine?

2014 ◽  
pp. 30-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Grigoryev ◽  
E. Buryak ◽  
A. Golyashev
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Investment Climate ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Personal Consumption ◽  
Governance Quality ◽  
Political Turmoil

The Ukrainian socio-economic crisis has been developing for years and resulted in the open socio-political turmoil and armed conflict. The Ukrainian population didn’t meet objectives of the post-Soviet transformation, and people were disillusioned for years, losing trust in the state and the Future. The role of workers’ remittances in the Ukrainian economy is underestimated, since the personal consumption and stability depend strongly on them. Social inequality, oligarchic control of key national assets contributed to instability as well as regional disparity, aggravated by identity differences. Economic growth is slow due to a long-term underinvestment, and prospects of improvement are dependent on some difficult institutional reforms, macro stability, open external markets and the elites’ consensus. Recovering after socio-economic and political crisis will need not merely time, but also governance quality improvement, institutions reform, the investment climate revival - that can be attributed as the second transformation in Ukraine.

Thoughts on the Long-Term Strategy, Science and Democracy

2006 ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Abalkin
Keyword(s):  
Strategy Development ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
The World ◽  
World Development ◽  
Crucial Condition

The article covers unified issues of the long-term strategy development, the role of science as well as democracy development in present-day Russia. The problems of budget proficit, the Stabilization Fund issues, implementation of the adopted national projects, an increasing role of regions in strengthening the integrity and prosperity of the country are analyzed. The author reveals that the protection of businessmen and citizens from the all-embracing power of bureaucrats is the crucial condition of democratization of the society. Global trends of the world development and expert functions of the Russian science are presented as well.

Development of Social and Economic Forecasting and Ideas of A. Anchishkin

2013 ◽  
pp. 143-155
Author(s):  
A. Klepach ◽  
G. Kuranov
Keyword(s):  
Economic Planning ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Economic Management ◽  
Economic Forecasting ◽  
Russian Economy ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Long Term Forecasting ◽  
Working Out

The role of the prominent Soviet economist, academician A. Anchishkin (1933—1987), whose 80th birth anniversary we celebrate this year, in the development of ideas and formation of economic forecasting in the country at the time when the directive planning acted as a leading tool of economic management is explored in the article. Besides, Anchishkin’s special role is noted in developing a comprehensive program of scientific and technical progress, an information basis for working out long-term forecasts of the country’s development, moreover, his contribution to the creation of long-term forecasting methodology and improvement of the statistical basis for economic analysis and economic planning. The authors show that social and economic forecasting in the period after 1991, which has undertaken a number of functions of economic planning, has largely relied on further development of Anchishkin’s ideas, at the same time responding to new challenges for the Russian economy development during its entry into the world economic system.

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