Connectionism Reconsidered: Minds, Machines and Models

In this paper the issue of drawing inferences about biological cognitive systems on the basis of connectionist simulations is addressed. In particular, the justification of inferences based on connectionist models trained using the backpropagation learning algorithm is examined. First it is noted that a justification commonly found in the philosophical literature is inapplicable. Then some general issues are raised about the relationships between models and biological systems. A way of conceiving the role of hidden units in connectionist networks is then introduced. This, in combination with an assumption about the way evolution goes about solving problems, is then used to suggest a means of justifying inferences about biological systems based on connectionist research

Phantom Pain Reduction by Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Treatment

Based on our years of experience testing a technique called non-ionizing Electromagnetic-Own-Signal-Treatment (EMOST), here, we present our preliminary results for phantom pain reduction by this method under clinical circumstances. Our preliminary results showed not only a reduction in phantom pain in patients but also a marked improvement in their sleep and mood quality after the treatments. Here, we also suggest that some of the important effects of our method may be achieved via the redox balance of the body and redox-related neural plasticity. However, low-frequency and intensity electromagnetic fields can potentially provide useful methods for the treatment of various problematic disorders and can play important roles in public health of the 21st century medicine

Test of lepton universality and search for lepton flavor violation in Upsilon(1S,2S,3S) decays at CLEO

We present the analysis technique and preliminary results of two ongoing analyses at CLEO which put lepton universality and lepton flavor conservation to the test in Upsilon decays.Comment: 3 pages, contributed to the proceedings of Particles and Nuclei International Conference (PANIC05), October 24-28, 2005, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US

Stability analysis of second- and fourth-order finite-difference modelling of wave propagation in orthotropic media

The stability of the finite-difference approximation of elastic wave propagation in orthotropic homogeneous media in the three-dimensional case is discussed. The model applies second- and fourth-order finite-difference approaches with staggered grid and stress-free boundary conditions in the space domain and second-order finite-difference approach in the time domain. The numerical integration of the wave equation by central differences is conditionally stable and the corresponding stability criterion for the time domain discretisation has been deduced as a function of the material properties and the geometrical discretization. The problem is discussed by applying the method of VonNeumann. Solutions and the calculation of the critical time steps is presented for orthotropic material in both the second- and fourth-order case. The criterion is verified for the special case of isotropy and results in the well-known formula from the literature. In the case of orthotropy the method was verified by long time simulations and by calculating the total energy of the system

Does the third law of black hole thermodynamics really have a serious failure?

The almost perfect correspondence between certain laws of classical black hole mechanics and the ordinary laws of thermodynamics is spoiled by the failure of the conventional back hole analogue of the third law. Our aim here is to contribute to the associated discussion by flashing light on some simple facts of black hole physics. However, no attempt is made to lay to rest the corresponding long lasting debate. Instead, merely some evidence is provided to make it clear that although the borderline between extremal and non-extremal black holes is very thin they are essentially different. Hopefully, a careful investigation of the related issues will end up with an appropriate form of the third law and hence with an unblemished setting of black hole thermodynamics.Comment: 6 pages, Latex. accepted for publication in Class. Quant. Gra