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ancient Mexico ͉ ethnographic models ͉ reciprocal exchange

Cultural Algorithms are computational self-adaptive models which consist of a population and a belief space. The problem-solving experience of individuals selected from the population space by the acceptance function is generalized and stored in the belief space. This knowledge can then control the evolution of the population component by means of the influence function. Here, we examine the role that different forms of knowledge can play in the self-adaptation process within cultural systems. In particular, we compare various approaches that use normative and situational knowledge in different ways to guide the function optimization process. The results in this study demonstrate that Cultural Algorithms are a naturally useful framework for self-adaptation and that the use of a cultural framework to support self-adaptation in Evolutionary Programming can produce substantial performance improvements over population-only systems as expressed in terms of (1) systems success ratio, (2) execution CPU time, and (3) convergence (mean best solution) for a given set of 34 function minimization problems. The nature of these improvements and the type of knowledge that is most effective in producing them depend on the problem's functional landscape. In addition, it was found that the same held true for the population-only self-adaptive EP systems. Each level of self-adaptation (component, individual, and population) outperformed the others for problems with particular landscape features.

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Abstract-This paper describes the simulated car racing competition held in association with the IEEE WCCI 2008 conference. The organization of the competition is described, along with the rules, the software used, and the submitted car racing controllers. The results of the competition are presented, followed by a discussion about what can be learned from this competition, both about learning controllers with evolutionary methods and about competition organization. The paper is coauthored by the organizers and participants of the competition.

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Significance Some of the most pivotal questions in human history necessitate the investigation of archaeological sites that are now under water. These contexts have unique potentials for preserving ancient sites without disturbance from later human occupation. The Alpena-Amberley Ridge beneath modern Lake Huron in the Great Lakes offers unique evidence of prehistoric caribou hunters for a time period that is very poorly known on land. The newly discovered Drop 45 Drive Lane and associated artifacts presented here provide unprecedented insight into the social and seasonal organization of early peoples in the Great Lakes region, while the interdisciplinary research program provides a model for the archaeological investigation of submerged prehistoric landscapes.

In this paper, the advantages of a fuzzy representation in problem solving and search is investigated using the framework of Cultural algorithms (CAs). Since all natural languages contain a fuzzy component, the natural question is "Does this fuzzy representation facilitate the problem-solving process, within these systems". In order to investigate this question we use the CA framework of Reynolds (1996), CAs are a computational model of cultural evolution derived from and used to express basic anthropological models of culture and its development. A mathematical model of a full fuzzy CA is developed there. In it, the problem solving knowledge is represented using a fuzzy framework. Several theoretical results concerning its properties are presented. The model is then applied to the solution of a set of 12 difficult, benchmark problems in nonlinear real-valued function optimization. The performance of the full fuzzy model is compared with 8 other fuzzy and crisp architectures. The results suggest that a fuzzy approach can produce a statistically significant improvement in search efficiency over nonfuzzy versions for the entire set of functions, the then investigate the class of performance functions for which the full fuzzy system exhibits the greatest improvements over nonfuzzy systems. In general, these are functions which require some preliminary investigation in order to embark on an effective search.