196,110 research outputs found

    Reconciling Predictive Coding and Biased Competition Models of Cortical Function

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    A simple variation of the standard biased competition model is shown, via some trivial mathematical manipulations, to be identical to predictive coding. Specifically, it is shown that a particular implementation of the biased competition model, in which nodes compete via inhibition that targets the inputs to a cortical region, is mathematically equivalent to the linear predictive coding model. This observation demonstrates that these two important and influential rival theories of cortical function are minor variations on the same underlying mathematical model

    An integrated system based on binocular learned receptive fields for saccade-vergence on visually salient targets

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    The human visual system uses saccadic and vergence eyes movements to foveate interesting objects with both eyes, and thus exploring the visual scene. To mimic this biological behavior in active vision, we proposed a bio-inspired integrated system able to learn a functional sensory representation of the environment, together with the motor commands for binocular eye coordination, directly by interacting with the environment itself. The proposed architecture, rather than sequentially combining different functionalities, is a robust integration of different modules that rely on a front-end of learned binocular receptive fields to specialize on different sub-Tasks. The resulting modular architecture is able to detect salient targets in the scene and perform precise binocular saccadic and vergence movement on it. The performances of the proposed approach has been tested on the iCub Simulator, providing a quantitative evaluation of the computational potentiality of the learned sensory and motor resources

    Unsupervised learning of overlapping image components using divisive input modulation

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    This paper demonstrates that nonnegative matrix factorisation is mathematically related to a class of neural networks that employ negative feedback as a mechanism of competition. This observation inspires a novel learning algorithm which we call Divisive Input Modulation (DIM). The proposed algorithm provides a mathematically simple and computationally efficient method for the unsupervised learning of image components, even in conditions where these elementary features overlap considerably. To test the proposed algorithm, a novel artificial task is introduced which is similar to the frequently-used bars problem but employs squares rather than bars to increase the degree of overlap between components. Using this task, we investigate how the proposed method performs on the parsing of artificial images composed of overlapping features, given the correct representation of the individual components; and secondly, we investigate how well it can learn the elementary components from artificial training images. We compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with its predecessors including variations on these algorithms that have produced state-of-the-art performance on the bars problem. The proposed algorithm is more successful than its predecessors in dealing with overlap and occlusion in the artificial task that has been used to assess performance

    Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011

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    This video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer

    "Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States" By M. Carey.

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    "Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States: containing bried sketches of the moral and political character of those states. By M. Carey, member of the American philosophical, and of the American Antiquarian Society, and author of The Olive Branch, Cindiciae Hibernicae, essays on banking, on political economy, and on internal improvement. To which are now added the English editor's comments on the subject; together with Important Advice to Emigrants, and Cautions Against Impositions Practiced in the Outports

    Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts

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    We conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more sophisticated methods

    Dr. Glendon Swarthout

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    Hosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness

    Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses

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    Following an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied

    Iron Age and Roman copper alloys from northern Britain.

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    SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX185540 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

    Intern experience at CH���M Hill, Inc.: an internship report

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    Includes author's vita"Submitted to the College of Engineering of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Engineering."Includes bibliographical referencesA review of the author's internship experience with CH���M HILL, Inc. during the period September 1975 through May 1976 is presented. During this nine month internship the author worked as an Engineer II in the Industrial Processes discipline of this large consulting engineering firm... The author's prime responsibility was as one of three lead design engineers on the design of a large wastewater treatment facility for a pulp mill in Hoquiam, Washington owned by ITT Rayonier Inc. The work generally consisted of the design of individual treatment units and associated piping and pumping. The purpose of the project was to provide wastewater treatment capabilities that would satisfy the effluent limitations (standards) imposed upon the mill by the State of Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The author's assignment also entailed necessary interaction with the project manager and other CH���M HILL design engineers and support staff members, the client's representatives, and representatives of two other consulting engineering firms working on the project. Thus, the internship position at CH���M HILL provided considerable experience coordinating the author's work with the work of other engineers, guiding the design and administrative efforts of a support staff, and interacting regularly with the client and other consulting firms. This broad exposure to a variety of engineering and organizational problems provided a valuable educational experience
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