[net.ai] AIList Digest V3 #7

LAWS@SRI-AI.ARPA (01/21/85)

From: AIList Moderator Kenneth Laws <AIList-REQUEST@SRI-AI.ARPA>


AIList Digest            Monday, 21 Jan 1985        Volume 3 : Issue 7

Today's Topics:
  Psychology - Infantile Amnesia,
  Humor - Linguistic Humor,
  Seminars - An Internal Semantics for Modal Logic  (CSLI) &
    Constraint Languages  (SU) & Nonlinear Planning  (BBN) &
    Automated Reasoning  (CMU) & Mathematical Variable Types  (CSLI),
  Conferences - Functional Programming and Computer Architecture &
    Symbolic and Numerical Computing in Expert Systems
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 21 Jan 1985 0830-PST
From: MORAN%hplabs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa
Subject: Infantile Amnesia

   I asked a knowledgeable friend (Linda Acredolo, associate editor for
infancy of Child Development - a major journal) to recommend a list of
good review articles for people reading AILIST but clearly have a lack
of knowledge in the field.  She forwarded the following list, and I have
made one addition:

White, S.H. & Pillemer, D.B. Childhood amnesia and the development of a
socially accessible memory system.  In J.F. Kihlstrom and F.J. Evans (Eds.),
Functional Disorders of Memory.  Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Hillsdale,
New Jersey, 1979.

[This article is particularly good for those interested in merging Freudian
and Cognitive perspectives on the issue.]

Spear, N.E., Experimental analysis of infantile amnesia. [see above reference]

[This articel considers methodlogical problems in the scientific investigation
of the problem.]

Nadel, L. & Zola-Morgan, S., Infantile amnesia a neurobiological perspective.
In M. Moscovitch (Ed.) Infant Memory.  NY: Pleneum, 1984.

Schacter, D. & Moscovitch, M. Infants, amnesia, and dissociable memory systems.
[see above reference]

   All these articles contain good reference sections for persons interested
in further reading on the infantile amnesia topic.

                                Michael A. Moran
                                HP Corporate Human Factors

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 20 Jan 85 13:26:27 est
From: 20568%vax1@cc.delaware (FRAWLEY)
Subject: Linguistic Humor

Here are some contributions to the AI (and related) humor.

A favorite oxymoron:

Exciting half-time show



And some excerpts from the recent Delaware alternative linguistics
course offerings:

1. LING 805  Recursion

     This course is the same as LING 805.


2. LING 843  Cataphora

     See below.


3. LING 844  Anaphora

     See above.


4. LING 870  Pigeons and Creoles

     Principles of tomato-based creoles; Julia Child's theories; how to
     make creoles out of pigeons.

------------------------------

Date: Wed 16 Jan 85 17:31:31-PST
From: Emma Pease <Emma@SU-CSLI.ARPA>
Subject: Seminar - An Internal Semantics for Modal Logic  (CSLI)

         [Forwarded from the CSLI Newsletter by Laws@SRI-AI.]

Thursday, January 24, 1985
2:15 p.m.
Redwood Hall, Room G-19

                 ``An Internal Semantics for Modal Logic''
                             Moshe Vardi

In Kripke semantics for modal logic both notions of possible worlds and the
possibility relation are primitive notions.  This has both technical and
conceptual shortcomings.  From a technical point of view, the mathematics
associated with Kripke semantics is often quite complicated.  From a
conceptual point of view, it is not clear how to model propositional
attitudes by Kripke structures.  We introduce modal structures as models
for modal logic.  We use the idea of possible worlds, but in Leibniz's
style rather than Kripke's style.  It turns out that modal structures model
individual nodes in Kripke structures, while Kripke structures model
collections of modal structures.  Nevertheless, it is much easier to study
the standard logical questions using modal structures.  Furthermore, modal
structure offer a much more intuitive approach to modelling propositional
attitudes.

------------------------------

Date: Fri 18 Jan 85 20:53:56-PST
From: John McDonald <JAM@SU-SCORE.ARPA>
Subject: Seminar - Constraint Languages  (SU)

         [Forwarded from the Stanford BBoard by Laws@SRI-AI.]

LCS Seminar

"Constraint Languages"

John Alan McDonald
Department of Statistics
Stanford University


Time:   4:15 Thursday January 24
Place:  Sequoia Hall 114
Cookies:  at 4:00  in the Lounge

Abstract:

The choice of programming language(s)
is a fundamental decision in the design
of an environment for data analysis.
The goal is to provide appropriate abstractions.

Constraints are an abstraction which is useful
for many problems that arise in data analysis.
A constraint specifies a relation whose truth
 should be maintained in subsequent computation.

For example, in a typical constraint language,
one might assert the relation:

               2
     e == m * c

The "constraint engine" would be responsible
for computing e, given m and c, or c, given e and m.

I will discuss the basic concepts of constraint
languages, review several existing languages,
describe applications to statistics,
and explore possibilities for the future.

------------------------------

Date: 15 Jan 1985 09:10-EST
From: Brad Goodman <BGOODMAN at BBNG>
Subject: Seminar - Nonlinear Planning  (BBN)

           [Forwarded from the MIT bboard by SASW@MIT-MC.]

                    BBN Laboratories
               Science Development Program


Speaker: David Chapman, MIT AI Lab

Title:  "Nonlinear planning: a rigorous reconstruction."

Date: Thursday, January 24th
Time: 10:30am
Place: 3rd floor large conference room
       BBN Laboratories Inc.
       10 Moulton Street
       Cambridge, MA.  02238

Abstract: The problem of achieving several goals simultaneously has
          been central to domain-independent planning research; the
          nonlinear constraint-posting approach has been most
          successful.  Previous planners of this type have been
          complicated, heuristic, and ill-defined.  I will present a
          simple, precise algorithm for nonlinear constraint-posting
          planning which I have proved correct and complete.  The rigor
          of this algorithm makes clear the range of applicability of
          classical planning techniques.  The crucial limitation on the
          state of the art is the traditional add/delete-list
          representation for actions; I will suggest a way to transcend
          this limitation.

------------------------------

Date: 15 Jan 1985 1406-EST
From: Lydia Defilippo <DEFILIPPO@CMU-CS-C.ARPA>
Subject: Seminar - Automated Reasoning  (CMU)

           [Forwarded from the CMU bboard by Laws@SRI-AI.]

Title:    Automated Reasoning:  Introduction and Applications
Speaker:  Larry Wos
          Mathematics and Computer Science Division
          Argonne National Laboratory

Date:     Wednesday, January 23, 1985
Time:     2:00 - 3:15
Place:    2105 Doherty Hall


     What is automated reasoning?  Which hard problems have been solved  with
an  automated  reasoning  program?   How can a single general-purpose program
(such as AURA or ITP) be effective enough to answer previously open questions
from  mathematics  and from formal logic, design superior logic circuits, and
validate existing designs?  You are enthusiastically invited to come and hear
answers   to   these  three  questions--and  more.   This  talk  requires  no
background.

     I shall discuss other existing  applications  that  range  from  solving
puzzles  to  proving  properties  of  computer programs, and tell you about a
portable reasoning program (ITP) that is available for such applications.   I
shall  tell you how such a program reasons, what strategies it uses to direct
and restrict the  reasoning,  and  which  procedures  contribute  to  solving
diverse and difficult problems with the assistance of such a program.

     If you wish a preview, the book "Automated Reasoning:  Introduction  and
Applications"  by Wos, Overbeek, Lusk, and Boyle is a good source.  The book,
published by Prentice-Hall, contains numerous examples and exercises.

     Finally, if you are simply curious about  an  exciting  and  challenging
area  of  computer  science,  I  shall  attempt  to satisfy that curiosity by
focusing on one type of computer program--a  program  that  functions  as  an
automated reasoning assistant.

------------------------------

Date: Wed 16 Jan 85 17:31:31-PST
From: Emma Pease <Emma@SU-CSLI.ARPA>
Subject: Seminar - Mathematical Variable Types  (CSLI)

         [Forwarded from the CSLI Newsletter by Laws@SRI-AI.]

          ``Theories of Variable Types for Mathematical Practice,
                   with Computational Interpretations''

Speaker:   Solomon Feferman, Depts. of Mathematics and Philosophy
Time:      1:30-3:30
Date:      Wednesday, January 23
Place:     Ventura Seminar room

A new class of formal systems is set up with the following characteristics:

1) Significant portions of current mathematical practice (such as in
   algebra and analysis) can be formalized naturally within them.
2) The systems have standard set-theoretical interpretations.
3) They also have direct computational interpretations, in which all
   functions are partial recursive.
4) The proof-theoretical strengths of these systems are surprisingly
   weak (e.g. one is of strength Peano arithmetic).

Roughly speaking, these are axiomatic theories of partial functions and
classes.  The latter serve as types for elements and functions, but they
may be variable (or ``abstract'') as well as constant.  In addition, an
element may fall under many types (``polymorphism'').  Nevertheless, a form
of typed lambda calculus can be set up to define functions.  The result 3)
gets around some of the problems that have been met with the interpretation
of the polymorphic lambda calculus in recent literature on abstract data
types.  Its proof requires a new generalization of the First Recursion
Theorem, which may have independent interest.  The result 4) is of
philosophical interest, since it undermines arguments for impredicative
principles on the grounds of necessity for mathematics (and, in turn, for
physics).  There are simple extensions of these theories, not meeting
condition 2), in which there is a type of all types, so that operations on
types appear simply as special kinds of functions.

------------------------------

Date: 11 Jan 1985 0313-PST
From: JOUANNAUD at SRI-CSL.ARPA
Subject: Conference - Functional Programming and Computer Architecture


CALL FOR PAPERS                                             (REMINDER)

FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES AND COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE

A Conference Sponsored by
The International Federation for Information Processing
Technical Committees 2 and 10

Nancy, France
16 to 19 September, 1985

This conference has been planned as a successor to the highly
successful conference on the same topics held at Wentworth, New
Hampshire, in October 1981.  Papers are solicited on any aspect of
functional or logic programming and on computer architectures to
support the efficient execution of such programs.

Nancy, in the eastern part of France, was the city of the Dukes of Lorraine;
it is known for its ``Place Stanistlas'' and its ``Palais Ducal''.  ``Art
Nouveau'' started there at the beginning of this century.  There are beautiful
buildings and museums and, of course, good restaurants.

Authors should submit five copies of a 3000 to 6000-word paper (counting a
full page figure as 300 words), and ten additional copies of a 300-word
abstract of the paper to the Chairman of the Program Committee by 6 February
1985.  The paper should be typed double spaced, and the names and
affiliations of the authors should be included on both the paper and the
abstract.

Papers will be reviewed by the Program Committee with the assistance of
outside referees; authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection by 30
April 1985.  Camera-ready copy of accepted papers will be required by 22 June
1985 for publication in the Conference Proceedings.

Program Committee:

Makoto Amamiya (NTT, Japan)
David Aspinall (UMIST, UK)
Manfred Broy (Passau University, W Germany)
Jack Dennis (MIT, USA)
Jean-Pierre Jouannaud (CRIN, France)
Manfred Paul (TUM, W Germany)
Joseph Stoy (Oxford University, UK)
John Willliams (IBM, USA)

Address for Submission of Papers:
J.E. Stoy, Balliol College, Oxford OX1 3BJ, England.

Paper Deadline:  6 February 1985.

Return this form to receive a copy of the advance program.

[ ]  I plan to submit a paper:

     Subject .......................................

Name    ...........................................

Organisation    ...................................

Address ..........................................

        ..........................................

        ..........................................

J.E. Stoy,
Balliol College,
Oxford OX1 3BJ,
England.


NOTE:  In the preliminary CALL FOR PAPER, the Conference deadline was
January, 31.  This new deadline is the true one.

------------------------------

Date: 18 Jan 85 15:12:42 EST
From: Patricia.Boyle@CMU-RI-ISL1
Subject: Conference - Symbolic and Numerical Computing in Expert
         Systems

           [Forwarded from the CMU bboard by Laws@SRI-AI.]

WORKSHOP ON COUPLING SYMBOLIC AND NUMBERIAL COMPUTING IN EXPERT
  SYSTEMS, sponsored by American Association for Artificial
  Intelligence (AAAI)
Location:  Boeing Computer Services AI Center
           Bellevue, Washington 98008
Dates:     August 17-29, 1985

A majority of the current expert systems focus on the symbolic oriented
logic and inference mechanisms of AI.  Common rule-based systems employ
empirical associations and are not well suited to deal with problems
that require structural and causal models.  Such problems often arise
in science, engineering analysis, production and design, for example the
VLSI design.  The objective of the workshop is to assemble theoreticians
and practitioners of AI who recognize the need for coupling symbolic
reasoning with conventional mathematical and statistical algorithms to
provide basis for multilevel expert systems.

Papers are invited for consideration in all aspects of expert systems
combining symbolic and numerical computing, but not restricted to:
        -architecture of coupled expert systems
        -configuration of hardware for such systems
        -implementation languages and software systems
        -multilevel expert systems
        -deep reasoning involving quantitative models
        -applications in science and engineering

For more information please contact workshop chairman:
         Janusz S. Kowalik
         Boeing Computer Services
         Advanced Technology Applications Division
         M/S 7A-03
         P.O. Box 24346
         Seattle, Washington 98124
         (206) 763-5392
or-      Mark S. Fox, Robotics Institute, CMU (member, program and
         X3832                       local arrangements committee)

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