Justin Lloyd's Thinkering

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Archives for 2005

Paper – Unsupervised Learning in a Framework of Information Compression by Multiple Alignment, Unification and Search

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Today I read a paper titled “Unsupervised Learning in a Framework of Information Compression by Multiple Alignment, Unification and Search”

The abstract is:
This paper describes a novel approach to unsupervised learning that has been developed within a framework of “information compression by multiple alignment, unification and search” (ICMAUS), designed to integrate learning with other AI functions such as parsing and production of language, fuzzy pattern recognition, probabilistic and exact forms of reasoning, and others.

Paper – The Complexity of Clickomania

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Today I read a paper titled “The Complexity of Clickomania”

The abstract is:
We study a popular puzzle game known variously as Clickomania and Same Game.

Basically, a rectangular grid of blocks is initially colored with some number of colors, and the player repeatedly removes a chosen connected monochromatic group of at least two square blocks, and any blocks above it fall down.

We show that one-column puzzles can be solved, i.e., the maximum possible number of blocks can be removed, in linear time for two colors, and in polynomial time for an arbitrary number of colors.

On the other hand, deciding whether a puzzle is solvable (all blocks can be removed) is NP-complete for two columns and five colors, or five columns and three colors.

Paper – A Learning Algorithm for Evolving Cascade Neural Networks

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Today I read a paper titled “A Learning Algorithm for Evolving Cascade Neural Networks”

The abstract is:
A new learning algorithm for Evolving Cascade Neural Networks (ECNNs) is described.

An ECNN starts to learn with one input node and then adding new inputs as well as new hidden neurons evolves it.

The trained ECNN has a nearly minimal number of input and hidden neurons as well as connections.

The algorithm was successfully applied to classify artifacts and normal segments in clinical electroencephalograms (EEGs).

The EEG segments were visually labeled by EEG-viewer.

The trained ECNN has correctly classified 96.69% of the testing segments.

It is slightly better than a standard fully connected neural network.

Paper – Semi-automatic vectorization of linear networks on rasterized cartographic maps

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Today I read a paper titled “Semi-automatic vectorization of linear networks on rasterized cartographic maps”

The abstract is:
A system for semi-automatic vectorization of linear networks (roads, rivers, etc.) on rasterized cartographic maps is presented.

In this system, human intervention is limited to a graphic, interactive selection of the color attributes of the information to be obtained.

Using this data, the system performs a preliminary extraction of the linear network, which is subsequently completed, refined and vectorized by means of an automatic procedure.

Results on maps of different sources and scales are included.

—– Se presenta un sistema semi-automatico de vectorizacion de redes de objetos lineales (carreteras, rios, etc.) en mapas cartograficos digitalizados.

En este sistema, la intervencion humana queda reducida a la seleccion grafica interactiva de los atributos de color de la informacion a obtener.

Con estos datos, el sistema realiza una extraccion preliminar de la red lineal, que se completa, refina y vectoriza mediante un procedimiento automatico.

Se presentan resultados de la aplicacion del sistema sobre imagenes digitalizadas de mapas de distinta procedencia y escala.

Paper – Stochastic fuzzy controller

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Today I read a paper titled “Stochastic fuzzy controller”

The abstract is:
A standard approach to building a fuzzy controller based on stochastic logic uses binary random signals with an average (expected value of a random variable) in the range [0, 1].

A different approach is presented, founded on a representation of the membership functions with the probability density functions.

Paper – Computing Conformal Structure of Surfaces

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Today I read a paper titled “Computing Conformal Structure of Surfaces”

The abstract is:
This paper solves the problem of computing conformal structures of general 2-manifolds represented as triangle meshes.

We compute conformal structures in the following way: first compute homology bases from simplicial complex structures, then construct dual cohomology bases and diffuse them to harmonic 1-forms.

Next, we construct bases of holomorphic differentials.

We then obtain period matrices by integrating holomorphic differentials along homology bases.

We also study the global conformal mapping between genus zero surfaces and spheres, and between general meshes and planes.

Our method of computing conformal structures can be applied to tackle fundamental problems in computer aid design and computer graphics, such as geometry classification and identification, and surface global parametrization.

Audacious Confidence

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Many years ago I had a friend (or someone who I thought was a friend) who we shall refer to as S.

My friend, S, wanted to go out for a ride.

I didn’t. I had work to do. And it was a cold, wet week day.

He convinced me to go and he would gladly pick up the tab.

We ride out.

We get to a garage to fill up our bikes.

But S had forgotten his wallet.

Legitimately had forgotten his wallet.

So I filled up the bikes.

We rode around for a bit before getting hungry.

We went to a local pub called the Arms where I paid for lunch for the both of us.

And a couple of coffees at the tea trailer on Caerphilly mountain.

S promised to “pay me back” for the day out that he was supposed to pay for.

Months went by and S never paid me back.

But he did mention once or twice that he had treated me to a day out, and I sort of owed him.

In 1990 I wanted to buy a new bike, but I had to sell my current GSX-R first.

S agreed to buy it from me for £3,500.

S gave me a cheque for five hundred quid but made me promise to not cash it until he got paid from his job.

S never did pay me for the bike.

And he was always a bit short so I couldn’t cash the cheque.

Eventually, late in 1993 I just tore up the cheque.

S got in to a bit of financial trouble, couldn’t make rent.

I loaned him £1,500 cash to pay his rent. Buy some food.

He gave me £200 back as “part payment for the bike” so he wouldn’t have too “listen too me go on about it” those two times I had mentioned he owed me for the bike in a three year period.

He bought £100 of food. I was there when he did it. He spent the remainder (or most of it) on parts for his (actually my) bike (that he still owed me for).

In 1994 S was planning to get married to a girl.

We went to the jeweler because he wanted to look at engagement rings.

He picked out one for £800.

So there we were. Myself, another chap called J, and S.

J and I agreed to chip in £500 each for the cost of the ring because S didn’t have the money.

Don’t ask why S needed £1000, it isn’t germane to this story.

S bought the ring.

Proposed to this girl three days later.

Got turned down.

S took the ring back to the shop and got his money back.

But didn’t pay back either J or myself any of the money he owed us.

In November of 1995 I bumped in S at a Chinese takeaway.

We struck up a conversation, or rather S badgered me and I reluctantly listened. I had not spoken to S in 18 months, not until a few months after he cashed in the engagement ring.

I said that I absolved him of all his debts to me and that the money no longer mattered.

S said to me “You still owe me fifty quid. If you pay me back I’ll treat you to some takeaway.”

“For what?” I asked.

“That day we went out to Caerphilly and I treated you to lunch and a tank of petrol for the bike. You owe me fifty quid as your half for the day out.”

Bear in mind, two coffees, two pints of cider, two plates of chicken and chips and two tanks of petrol for the bikes probably only came out to about 40 quid for the two of us.

Which I paid for.

My “half” — that S wanted me to pay for seven years later — was going to be fifty quid. On the day we went out I paid for everything because S forgot his wallet.

This is a time when I surprisingly was not inclined to violence — I was about to emigrate to the US and didn’t want to be in legal trouble.

“I hope you die of an aggressive brain cancer you little fucker.” I said and I walked away.

I don’t need that kind of parasite in my life.

I got an email years later (in 2002) from S asking if I could loan him rent money.

Right out of the blue.

“Can you loan me money to pay my rent?”

And you are left to scratch your head and ponder the temerity of some people.

Paper – A Cartography for 2×2 Symmetric Games

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Today I read a paper titled “A Cartography for 2×2 Symmetric Games”

The abstract is:
A bidimensional representation of the space of 2×2 Symmetric Games in the strategic representation is proposed.

This representation provides a tool for the classification of 2×2 symmetric games, quantification of the fraction of them having a certain feature, and predictions of changes in the characteristics of a game when a change in done on the payoff matrix that defines it.

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