@proceedings {211, title = {El S{\'\i}ndrome de los Datos Ricos e Informaci{\'o}n Pobre en Deportes de Competici{\'o}n: Perspectiva desde las Ciencias Computacionales y Ciencia de Datos}, year = {2019}, address = {Pachuca, M{\'e}xico}, abstract = {La gran capacidad existente de capturar datos, conlleva la subsecuente responsabilidad de producir informaci{\'o}n confiable, verificable y auditable para la toma de decisiones. En el futbol, la existencia de compa{\~n}{\'\i}as y plataformas con capacidad de medir un sinn{\'u}mero de variables de desempe{\~n}o, ha generado una explosi{\'o}n de datos de dif{\'\i}cil interpretaci{\'o}n. En este sentido, las dificultades relativas al an{\'a}lisis y visualizaci{\'o}n de estos datos, ha derivado en el {\textquotedblleft}S{\'\i}ndrome de los datos ricos e informaci{\'o}n pobre{\textquotedblright}. En este contexto, esta pl{\'a}tica se centra en evaluar las lecciones aprendidas y las perspectivas futuras en el manejo de datos en el futbol, desde una perspectiva computacional y de ciencia de datos. Nuestro enfoque metodol{\'o}gico, parte de la evaluaci{\'o}n de los formatos en que se produce los datos y los tipos de reportes generados para distintos tipos de usuarios. Planteamos una forma adecuada de manejar e interpretar m{\'u}ltiples variables con soporte en t{\'e}cnicas de aprendizaje autom{\'a}tico, con t{\'e}cnicas de ordenaci{\'o}n y clasificaci{\'o}n para discriminar los factores y variables que tienen mayor contribuci{\'o}n en el juego. Finalmente, brindamos informaci{\'o}n sobre perspectivas novedosas para el modelado de los eventos espacio-temporales, que tienen lugar en los partidos, como la aplicaci{\'o}n desde la ciencia de redes, redes de latencia y modelos de gravitaci{\'o}n para el modelado. Nuestra perspectiva computacional y de ciencia de datos brinda la posibilidad de mejores visualizaciones, con el prop{\'o}sito de simplificar el gran n{\'u}mero de dimensiones y categor{\'\i}as que se inspeccionan en el futbol. De esta forma, nos enfocamos en las interacciones relevantes del juego, que dar{\'\i}an soporte a una mejor toma de decisiones por parte de distintos tipos de usuarios, como jugadores, entrenadores y directivos.}, author = {Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and Mart{\'\i}n Zumaya and Carlos Gershenson} } @article {Cocho2019, title = {Rank-frequency distribution of natural languages: A difference of probabilities approach}, journal = {Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications}, volume = {532}, year = {2019}, pages = {121795}, abstract = {In this paper we investigate the time variation of the rank k of words for six Indo-European languages using the Google Books N-gram Dataset. Based on numerical evidence, we regard k as a random variable whose dynamics may be described by a Fokker{\textendash}Planck equation which we solve analytically. For low ranks the distinct languages behave differently, maybe due to the syntax rules, whereas for k>50 the law of large numbers predominates. We analyze the frequency distribution of words using the data and their adjustment in terms of time-dependent probability density distributions. We find small differences between the data and the fits due to conflicting dynamic mechanisms, but the data show a consistent behavior with our general approach. For the lower ranks the behavior of the data changes among languages presumably, again, due to distinct dynamic mechanisms. We discuss a possible origin of these differences and assess the novel features and limitations of our work.}, keywords = {Fokker{\textendash}Planck equation, Languages, Master equation, Rank dynamics}, issn = {0378-4371}, doi = {10.1016/j.physa.2019.121795}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2019.121795}, author = {Germinal Cocho and Rosal{\'\i}o F. Rodr{\'\i}guez and Sergio S{\'a}nchez and Jorge Flores and Carlos Pineda and Carlos Gershenson} } @proceedings {212, title = {Sistemas con Din{\'a}mica Acoplada y Redes de Defensa y Ataque: Representaci{\'o}n de las Interacciones en Juegos de Competici{\'o}n}, year = {2019}, address = {Pachuca, M{\'e}xico}, author = {Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and V{\'\i}ctor Rivera and Carlos Gershenson} } @article {Siqueiros-Garcia2018, title = {ALife and Society: Editorial Introduction to the Artificial Life Conference 2016 Special Issue}, journal = {Artificial Life}, volume = {24}, year = {2018}, pages = {1{\textendash}4}, publisher = {MIT Press}, isbn = {1064-5462}, doi = {10.1162/ARTL_e_00256}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1162/ARTL_e_00256}, author = {Siqueiros-Garc{\'\i}a, Jes{\'u}s M. and Froese, Tom and Gershenson, Carlos and Aguilar, Wendy and Sayama, Hiroki and Izquierdo, Eduardo} } @conference {184, title = {Coupled Dynamical Systems and Defense-Attack Networks: Representation of Soccer Players Interactions}, booktitle = {Conference on Complex Systems}, year = {2018}, address = {Thessaloniki, Greece}, author = {Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and V{\'\i}ctor Rivera and Yesid Madrid and Guillermo Restrepo and Wilmer Leal and Carlos Gershenson} } @conference {183, title = {Modeling Systems with Coupled Dynamics (SCDs): A Multi-Agent, Networks, and Game Theory-based Approach}, booktitle = {Conference on Complex Systems}, year = {2018}, address = {Thessaloniki, Greece}, author = {Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and Osman Ortega and Yesid Madrid and Guillermo Restrepo and Wilmer Leal and Carlos Gershenson} } @article {10.3389/fphy.2018.00045, title = {Rank Dynamics of Word Usage at Multiple Scales}, journal = {Frontiers in Physics}, volume = {6}, year = {2018}, pages = {45}, abstract = {The recent dramatic increase in online data availability has allowed researchers to explore human culture with unprecedented detail, such as the growth and diversification of language. In particular, it provides statistical tools to explore whether word use is similar across languages, and if so, whether these generic features appear at different scales of language structure. Here we use the Google Books $N$-grams dataset to analyze the temporal evolution of word usage in several languages. We apply measures proposed recently to study rank dynamics, such as the diversity of $N$-grams in a given rank, the probability that an $N$-gram changes rank between successive time intervals, the rank entropy, and the rank complexity. Using different methods, results show that there are generic properties for different languages at different scales, such as a core of words necessary to minimally understand a language. We also propose a null model to explore the relevance of linguistic structure across multiple scales, concluding that $N$-gram statistics cannot be reduced to word statistics. We expect our results to be useful in improving text prediction algorithms, as well as in shedding light on the large-scale features of language use, beyond linguistic and cultural differences across human populations.}, issn = {2296-424X}, doi = {10.3389/fphy.2018.00045}, url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphy.2018.00045}, author = {Morales, Jos{\'e} A. and Colman, Ewan and S{\'a}nchez, Sergio and S{\'a}nchez-Puig, Fernanda and Pineda, Carlos and I{\~n}iguez, Gerardo and Cocho, Germinal and Flores, Jorge and Gershenson, Carlos} } @article {Sanchez2018, title = {Trajectory Stability in the Traveling Salesman Problem}, journal = {Complexity}, volume = {2018}, year = {2018}, pages = {2826082}, type = {10.1155/2018/2826082}, abstract = {Two generalizations of the traveling salesman problem in which sites change their position in time are presented. The way the rank of different trajectory lengths changes in time is studied using the rank diversity. We analyze the statistical properties of rank distributions and rank dynamics and give evidence that the shortest and longest trajectories are more predictable and robust to change, that is, more stable.}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2826082}, author = {S{\'a}nchez, Sergio and Cocho, Germinal and Flores, Jorge and Gershenson, Carlos and I{\~n}iguez, Gerardo and Pineda, Carlos} } @article {165, title = {Complexity of lakes in a latitudinal gradient}, journal = {Ecological Complexity}, volume = {31}, year = {2017}, month = {9}, pages = {1{\textendash}20}, abstract = {Measuring complexity is fast becoming a key instrument to compare different ecosystems at various scales in ecology. To date there has been little agreement on how to properly describe complexity in terms of ecology. In this regard, this manuscript assesses the significance of using a set of proposed measures based on information theory. These measures are as follows: emergence, self-organization, complexity, homeostasis and autopoiesis. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used in the data analysis with the aim to apply these proposed measures. This study systematically reviews the data previously collected and generated by a model carried out on four aquatic ecosystems located between the Arctic region and the tropical zone. Thus, this research discusses the case of exploring a high level of self-organization in terms of movement, distribution, and quality of water between the northern temperate zone and the tropics. Moreover, it was assessed the significance of the presence of a complex variable (pH) in the middle of the latitudinal transect. Similarly, this study explores the relationship between self-organization and limiting nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and silicates). Furthermore, the importance of how a biomass subsystem is affected by seasonal variations is highlighted in this manuscript. This case study seeks to examine the changing nature of how seasonality affects the complexity dynamics of photosynthetic taxa (lakes located in northern temperate zone) at high latitudes, and it also investigates how a high level of self-organization at the tropical zone can lead to increase the amount of planktonic and benthic fish which determines the dynamics of complexity. This research also compares the emerging role of how a biomass subsystem has a highest temporal dynamics compared to he limiting nutrients{\textquoteright} subsystem. In the same way, the results associated to autopoiesis reflect a moderate degree of autonomy of photosynthetic biomass. It is also discussed the case of how complexity values change in the middle of the latitudinal gradient for all components. Finally, a comparison with Tsallis information was carried out in order to determine that these proposed measures are more suitable due to they are independent of any other parameter. Thus, this approach considers some elements closely related to information theory which determine and better describe ecological dynamics.}, keywords = {Autopoiesis, Biocomplexity, Emergence, Homeostasis, Information theory, Self-organization}, isbn = {1476-945X}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecocom.2017.02.002}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2017.02.002}, author = {Fern{\'a}ndez, Nelson and Aguilar, Jos{\'e} and Pi{\~n}a-Garc{\'\i}a, C. A. and Gershenson, Carlos} } @article {10.3389/frobt.2017.00010, title = {A Package for Measuring Emergence, Self-organization, and Complexity Based on Shannon Entropy}, journal = {Frontiers in Robotics and AI}, volume = {4}, year = {2017}, pages = {10}, abstract = {We present Matlab/Octave functions to calculate measures of emergence, self-organization, and complexity of discrete and continuous data. The measures are based on Shannon{\textquoteright}s information and differential entropy, respectively. Examples from different datasets and probability distributions are used to illustrate the usage of the code.}, issn = {2296-9144}, doi = {10.3389/frobt.2017.00010}, url = {http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frobt.2017.00010}, author = {Santamar{\'\i}a-Bonfil, Guillermo and Gershenson, Carlos and Fern{\'a}ndez, Nelson} } @inbook {Madrid2016, title = {Complexity and Structural Properties in Scale-free Networks}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Artificial Life Conference 2016}, year = {2016}, pages = {730{\textendash}731}, abstract = {We apply formal information measures of emergence, self-organization and complexity to scale-free random networks, to explore their association with structural indicators of network topology. Results show that the cumulative number of nodes and edges coincides with an increment of the self-organization and relative complexity, and a loss of the emergence and complexity. Our approach shows a complementary way of studying networks in terms of information.}, author = {Yesid Madrid and Carlos Gershenson and Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez} } @article {Morales2016, title = {Generic temporal features of performance rankings in sports and games}, journal = {EPJ Data Science}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, year = {2016}, pages = {33}, abstract = {Many complex phenomena, from trait selection in biological systems to hierarchy formation in social and economic entities, show signs of competition and heterogeneous performance in the temporal evolution of their components, which may eventually lead to stratified structures such as the worldwide wealth distribution. However, it is still unclear whether the road to hierarchical complexity is determined by the particularities of each phenomena, or if there are generic mechanisms of stratification common to many systems. Human sports and games, with their (varied but simple) rules of competition and measures of performance, serve as an ideal test-bed to look for universal features of hierarchy formation. With this goal in mind, we analyse here the behaviour of performance rankings over time of players and teams for several sports and games, and find statistical regularities in the dynamics of ranks. Specifically the rank diversity, a measure of the number of elements occupying a given rank over a length of time, has the same functional form in sports and games as in languages, another system where competition is determined by the use or disuse of grammatical structures. We use a Gaussian random walk model to reproduce the rank diversity of the studied sports and games. We also discuss the relation between rank diversity and the cumulative rank distribution. Our results support the notion that hierarchical phenomena may be driven by the same underlying mechanisms of rank formation, regardless of the nature of their components. Moreover, such regularities can in principle be used to predict lifetimes of rank occupancy, thus increasing our ability to forecast stratification in the presence of competition.}, issn = {2193-1127}, doi = {10.1140/epjds/s13688-016-0096-y}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjds/s13688-016-0096-y}, author = {Morales, Jos{\'e} A. and S{\'a}nchez, Sergio and Flores, Jorge and Pineda, Carlos and Gershenson, Carlos and Cocho, Germinal and Zizumbo, Jer{\'o}nimo and Rodr{\'\i}guez, Rosal{\'\i}o F. and I{\~n}iguez, Gerardo} } @inbook {ALifeXVIntro, title = {Introduction}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Artificial Life Conference 2016}, year = {2016}, pages = {3{\textendash}9}, author = {Tom Froese and J. Mario Siqueiros and Wendy Aguilar and Eduardo J. Izquierdo and Hiroki Sayama and Carlos Gershenson} } @article {CxContinuous2016, title = {Measuring the Complexity of Continuous Distributions}, journal = {Entropy}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, year = {2016}, pages = {72}, abstract = {We extend previously proposed measures of complexity, emergence, and self-organization to continuous distributions using differential entropy. Given that the measures were based on Shannon{\textquoteright}s information, the novel continuous complexity measures describe how a system{\textquoteright}s predictability changes in terms of the probability distribution parameters. This allows us to calculate the complexity of phenomena for which distributions are known. We find that a broad range of common parameters found in Gaussian and scale-free distributions present high complexity values. We also explore the relationship between our measure of complexity and information adaptation.}, issn = {1099-4300}, doi = {10.3390/e18030072}, url = {http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/18/3/72}, author = {Santamar{\'\i}a-Bonfil, Guillermo and Fern{\'a}ndez, Nelson and Gershenson, Carlos} } @book {ALifeXV, title = {Proceedings of the Artificial Life Conference 2016}, series = {Complex Adaptive Systems}, year = {2016}, month = {July}, publisher = {MIT Press}, organization = {MIT Press}, address = {Cambridge, MA, USA}, abstract = {The ALife conferences are the major meeting of the artificial life research community since 1987. For its 15th edition in 2016, it was held in Latin America for the first time, in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico, from July 4 -8. The special them of the conference: How can the synthetic study of living systems contribute to societies: scientifically, technically, and culturally? The goal of the conference theme is to better understand societies with the purpose of using this understanding for a more efficient management and development of social systems.}, isbn = {9780262339360}, url = {https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/proceedings-artificial-life-conference-2016}, editor = {Carlos Gershenson and Tom Froese and Jesus M. Siqueiros and Wendy Aguilar and Eduardo J. Izquierdo and Hiroki Sayama} } @article {154, title = {Complexity measurement of natural and artificial languages}, journal = {Complexity}, volume = {20}, year = {2015}, month = {July/August}, pages = {25{\textendash}48}, abstract = {We compared entropy for texts written in natural languages (English, Spanish) and artificial languages (computer software) based on a simple expression for the entropy as a function of message length and specific word diversity. Code text written in artificial languages showed higher entropy than text of similar length expressed in natural languages. Spanish texts exhibit more symbolic diversity than English ones. Results showed that algorithms based on complexity measures differentiate artificial from natural languages, and that text analysis based on complexity measures allows the unveiling of important aspects of their nature. We propose specific expressions to examine entropy related aspects of tests and estimate the values of entropy, emergence, self-organization, and complexity based on specific diversity and message length.}, doi = {10.1002/cplx.21529}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/1311.5427}, author = {Gerardo Febres and Klaus Jaffe and Carlos Gershenson} } @article {10.1371/journal.pone.0121898, title = {Rank Diversity of Languages: Generic Behavior in Computational Linguistics}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, year = {2015}, month = {04}, pages = {e0121898}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, abstract = {

Statistical studies of languages have focused on the rank-frequency distribution of words. Instead, we introduce here a measure of how word ranks change in time and call this distribution rank diversity. We calculate this diversity for books published in six European languages since 1800, and find that it follows a universal lognormal distribution. Based on the mean and standard deviation associated with the lognormal distribution, we define three different word regimes of languages: {\textquotedblleft}heads{\textquotedblright} consist of words which almost do not change their rank in time, {\textquotedblleft}bodies{\textquotedblright} are words of general use, while {\textquotedblleft}tails{\textquotedblright} are comprised by context-specific words and vary their rank considerably in time. The heads and bodies reflect the size of language cores identified by linguists for basic communication. We propose a Gaussian random walk model which reproduces the rank variation of words in time and thus the diversity. Rank diversity of words can be understood as the result of random variations in rank, where the size of the variation depends on the rank itself. We find that the core size is similar for all languages studied.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0121898}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371\%2Fjournal.pone.0121898}, author = {Cocho, Germinal and Flores, Jorge and Gershenson, Carlos and Pineda, Carlos and S{\'a}nchez, Sergio} } @article {Froese2014Teotihuacan, title = {Can Government Be Self-Organized? A Mathematical Model of the Collective Social Organization of Ancient {Teotihuacan}, Central {Mexico}}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {9}, number = {10}, year = {2014}, month = {10}, pages = {e109966}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, abstract = {

Teotihuacan was the first urban civilization of Mesoamerica and one of the largest of the ancient world. Following a tradition in archaeology to equate social complexity with centralized hierarchy, it is widely believed that the city{\textquoteright}s origin and growth was controlled by a lineage of powerful individuals. However, much data is indicative of a government of co-rulers, and artistic traditions expressed an egalitarian ideology. Yet this alternative keeps being marginalized because the problems of collective action make it difficult to conceive how such a coalition could have functioned in principle. We therefore devised a mathematical model of the city{\textquoteright}s hypothetical network of representatives as a formal proof of concept that widespread cooperation was realizable in a fully distributed manner. In the model, decisions become self-organized into globally optimal configurations even though local representatives behave and modify their relations in a rational and selfish manner. This self-optimization crucially depends on occasional communal interruptions of normal activity, and it is impeded when sections of the network are too independent. We relate these insights to theories about community-wide rituals at Teotihuacan and the city{\textquoteright}s eventual disintegration.

}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0109966}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371\%2Fjournal.pone.0109966}, author = {Froese, Tom and Gershenson, Carlos and Manzanilla, Linda R.} } @inbook {Fernandez2013Information-Mea, title = {Information Measures of Complexity, Emergence, Self-organization, Homeostasis, and Autopoiesis}, booktitle = {Guided Self-Organization: Inception}, year = {2014}, note = {In Press}, pages = {19-51}, publisher = {Springer}, organization = {Springer}, abstract = {

This chapter reviews measures of emergence, self-organization, complexity, homeostasis, and autopoiesis based on information theory. These measures are derived from proposed axioms and tested in two case studies: random Boolean networks and an Arctic lake ecosystem. Emergence is defined as the information produced by a system or process. Self-organization is defined as the opposite of emergence, while complexity is defined as the balance between emergence and self-organization. Homeostasis reflects the stability of a system. Autopoiesis is defined as the ratio between the complexity of a system and the complexity of its environment. The proposed measures can be applied at different scales, which can be studied with multi-scale profiles.

}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/1304.1842}, author = {Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and Carlos Maldonado and Carlos Gershenson}, editor = {Mikhail Prokopenko} } @inbook {Fernandez_Gershenson_2014, title = {Measuring Complexity in an Aquatic Ecosystem}, booktitle = {Advances in Computational Biology}, series = {Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing}, volume = {232}, year = {2014}, pages = {83-89}, publisher = {Springer}, organization = {Springer}, abstract = {We apply formal measures of emergence, self-organization, homeostasis, autopoiesis and complexity to an aquatic ecosystem; in particular to the physiochemical component of an Arctic lake. These measures are based on information theory. Variables with an homogeneous distribution have higher values of emergence, while variables with a more heterogeneous distribution have a higher self-organization. Variables with a high complexity reflect a balance between change (emergence) and regularity/order (self-organization). In addition, homeostasis values coincide with the variation of the winter and summer seasons. Autopoiesis values show a higher degree of independence of biological components over their environment. Our approach shows how the ecological dynamics can be described in terms of information.}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-01568-2_12}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/1305.5413}, author = {Fern{\'a}ndez, Nelson and Gershenson, Carlos}, editor = {Castillo, Luis F. and Cristancho, Marco and Isaza, Gustavo and Pinz{\'o}n, Andr{\'e}s and Corchado Rodr{\'\i}guez, Juan Manuel} } @article {Zubillaga2014Measuring-the-C, title = {Measuring the Complexity of Self-organizing Traffic Lights}, journal = {Entropy}, volume = {16}, number = {5}, year = {2014}, pages = {2384{\textendash}2407}, abstract = {We apply measures of complexity, emergence, and self-organization to an urban traffic model for comparing a traditional traffic-light coordination method with a self-organizing method in two scenarios: cyclic boundaries and non-orientable boundaries. We show that the measures are useful to identify and characterize different dynamical phases. It becomes clear that different operation regimes are required for different traffic demands. Thus, not only is traffic a non-stationary problem, requiring controllers to adapt constantly; controllers must also change drastically the complexity of their behavior depending on the demand. Based on our measures and extending Ashby{\textquoteright}s law of requisite variety, we can say that the self-organizing method achieves an adaptability level comparable to that of a living system.}, doi = {10.3390/e16052384}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/e16052384}, author = {Dar{\'\i}o Zubillaga and Geovany Cruz and Luis Daniel Aguilar and Jorge Zapot{\'e}catl and Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and Jos{\'e} Aguilar and David A. Rosenblueth and Carlos Gershenson} } @article {140, title = {The Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Life}, journal = {Frontiers in Robotics and AI}, volume = {1}, year = {2014}, abstract = {

For millennia people have wondered what makes the living different from the non-living. Beginning in the mid-1980s, artificial life has studied living systems using a synthetic approach: build life in order to understand it better, be it by means of software, hardware, or wetware. This review provides a summary of the advances that led to the development of artificial life, its current research topics, and open problems and opportunities. We classify artificial life research into fourteen themes: origins of life, autonomy, self-organization, adaptation (including evolution, development, and learning), ecology, artificial societies, behavior, computational biology, artificial chemistries, information, living technology, art, and philosophy. Being interdisciplinary, artificial life seems to be losing its boundaries and merging with other fields.

}, issn = {2296-9144}, doi = {10.3389/frobt.2014.00008}, url = {http://www.frontiersin.org/computational_intelligence/10.3389/frobt.2014.00008/abstract}, author = {Aguilar, Wendy and Santamar{\'\i}a Bonfil, Guillermo and Froese, Tom and Gershenson, Carlos} } @article {Farnsworth2013Living-is-Infor, title = {Living is Information Processing: From Molecules to Global Systems}, journal = {Acta Biotheoretica}, volume = {61}, number = {2}, year = {2013}, month = {June}, pages = {203-222}, abstract = {We extend the concept that life is an informational phenomenon, at every level of organisation, from molecules to the global ecological system. According to this thesis: (a) living is information processing, in which memory is maintained by both molecular states and ecological states as well as the more obvious nucleic acid coding; (b) this information processing has one overall function{\textendash}-to perpetuate itself; and (c) the processing method is filtration (cognition) of, and synthesis of, information at lower levels to appear at higher levels in complex systems (emergence). We show how information patterns, are united by the creation of mutual context, generating persistent consequences, to result in {\textquoteleft}functional information{\textquoteright}. This constructive process forms arbitrarily large complexes of information, the combined effects of which include the functions of life. Molecules and simple organisms have already been measured in terms of functional information content; we show how quantification may be extended to each level of organisation up to the ecological. In terms of a computer analogy, life is both the data and the program and its biochemical structure is the way the information is embodied. This idea supports the seamless integration of life at all scales with the physical universe. The innovation reported here is essentially to integrate these ideas, basing information on the {\textquoteleft}general definition{\textquoteright} of information, rather than simply the statistics of information, thereby explaining how functional information operates throughout life.}, doi = {10.1007/s10441-013-9179-3}, url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.5908}, author = {Farnsworth, Keith D. and Nelson, John and Gershenson, Carlos} } @article {GershensonFernandez:2012, title = {Complexity and Information: Measuring Emergence, Self-organization, and Homeostasis at Multiple Scales}, journal = {Complexity}, volume = {18}, number = {2}, year = {2012}, pages = {29-44}, abstract = {Concepts used in the scientific study of complex systems have become so widespread that their use and abuse has led to ambiguity and confusion in their meaning. In this paper we use information theory to provide abstract and concise measures of complexity, emergence, self-organization, and homeostasis. The purpose is to clarify the meaning of these concepts with the aid of the proposed formal measures. In a simplified version of the measures (focusing on the information produced by a system), emergence becomes the opposite of self-organization, while complexity represents their balance. Homeostasis can be seen as a measure of the stability of the system. We use computational experiments on random Boolean networks and elementary cellular automata to illustrate our measures at multiple scales.}, doi = {10.1002/cplx.21424}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cplx.21424}, author = {Carlos Gershenson and Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez} } @conference {Fernandez:2012, title = {Sistemas Din{\'a}micos como Redes Computacionales de Agentes para la evaluaci{\'o}n de sus Propiedades Emergentes.}, booktitle = {II Simposio Cient{\'{\i}fico y Tecnol{\'o}gico en Computaci{\'o}n SCTC 2012}, year = {2012}, address = {Universidad Central de Venezuela}, author = {Nelson Fern{\'a}ndez and Jos{\'e} Aguilar and Carlos Gershenson and Oswaldo Ter{\'a}n} } @inbook {BalpoGershenson:2010, title = {Modular Random {Boolean} Networks}, booktitle = {{Artificial Life XII} Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems}, year = {2010}, pages = {303-304}, publisher = {MIT Press}, organization = {MIT Press}, address = {Odense, Denmark}, url = {http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chapters/0262290758chap56.pdf}, author = {Rodrigo {Poblanno-Balp} and Carlos Gershenson}, editor = {Harold Fellermann and Mark D{\"o}rr and Martin M. Hanczyc and Lone Ladegaard Laursen and Sarah Maurer and Daniel Merkle and Pierre-Alain Monnard and Kasper St${\o}$y and Steen Rasmussen} } @conference {GershensonEtAl2006, title = {The Role of Redundancy in the Robustness of Random {Boolean} Networks}, booktitle = {{Artificial Life X}, Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on the Simulation and Synthesis of Living Systems.}, year = {2006}, pages = {35{\textendash}42}, publisher = {MIT Press}, organization = {MIT Press}, abstract = {Evolution depends on the possibility of successfully exploring fitness landscapes via mutation and recombination. With these search procedures, exploration is difficult in "rugged" fitness landscapes, where small mutations can drastically change functionalities in an organism. Random Boolean networks (RBNs), being general models, can be used to explore theories of how evolution can take place in rugged landscapes; or even change the landscapes. In this paper, we study the effect that redundant nodes have on the robustness of RBNs. Using computer simulations, we have found that the addition of redundant nodes to RBNs increases their robustness. We conjecture that redundancy is a way of "smoothening" fitness landscapes. Therefore, redundancy can facilitate evolutionary searches. However, too much redundancy could reduce the rate of adaptation of an evolutionary process. Our results also provide supporting evidence in favour of Kauffman{\textquoteright}s conjecture (Kauffman, 2000, p.195).}, url = {http://uk.arxiv.org/abs/nlin.AO/0511018}, author = {Carlos Gershenson and Stuart A. Kauffman and Ilya Shmulevich}, editor = {Rocha, L. M. and L. S. Yaeger and M. A. Bedau and D. Floreano and R. L. Goldstone and A. Vespignani} } @conference {GershensonEtAl2000b, title = {Thinking Adaptive: Towards a Behaviours Virtual Laboratory}, booktitle = {{SAB} 2000 Proceedings Supplement}, year = {2000}, publisher = {ISAB press}, organization = {ISAB press}, address = {Paris, France}, abstract = {In this paper we name some of the advantages of virtual laboratories; and propose that a Behaviours Virtual Laboratory should be useful for both biologists and AI researchers, offering a new perspective for understanding adaptive behaviour. We present our development of a Behaviours Virtual Laboratory, which at this stage is focused in action selection, and show some experiments to illustrate the properties of our proposal, which can be accessed via Internet.}, url = {http://uk.arxiv.org/abs/cs/0211028}, author = {C. Gershenson and P. P. Gonz{\'a}lez and J. Negrete}, editor = {Jean-Arcady Meyer and Alain Berthoz and Dario Floreano and Herbert L. Roitblat and Stewart W. Wilson} }