When and where do feed-forward neural networks learn localist representations?

According to parallel distributed processing (PDP) theory in psychology, neural networks (NN) learn distributed rather than interpretable localist representations. This view has been held so strongly that few researchers have analysed single units to determine if this assumption is correct. However, recent results from psychology, neuroscience and computer science have shown the occasional existence of local codes emerging in artificial and biological neural networks. In this paper, we undertake the first systematic survey of when local codes emerge in a feed-forward neural network, using generated input and output data with known qualities. We find that the number of local codes that emerge from a NN follows a well-defined distribution across the number of hidden layer neurons, with a peak determined by the size of input data, number of examples presented and the sparsity of input data. Using a 1-hot output code drastically decreases the number of local codes on the hidden layer. The number of emergent local codes increases with the percentage of dropout applied to the hidden layer, suggesting that the localist encoding may offer a resilience to noisy networks. This data suggests that localist coding can emerge from feed-forward PDP networks and suggests some of the conditions that may lead to interpretable localist representations in the cortex. The findings highlight how local codes should not be dismissed out of hand

Underdetermined blind source separation based on Fuzzy C-Means and Semi-Nonnegative Matrix Factorization

Conventional blind source separation is based on over-determined with more sensors than sources but the underdetermined is a challenging case and more convenient to actual situation. Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) has been widely applied to Blind Source Separation (BSS) problems. However, the separation results are sensitive to the initialization of parameters of NMF. Avoiding the subjectivity of choosing parameters, we used the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering technique to estimate the mixing matrix and to reduce the requirement for sparsity. Also, decreasing the constraints is regarded in this paper by using Semi-NMF. In this paper we propose a new two-step algorithm in order to solve the underdetermined blind source separation. We show how to combine the FCM clustering technique with the gradient-based NMF with the multi-layer technique. The simulation results show that our proposed algorithm can separate the source signals with high signal-to-noise ratio and quite low cost time compared with some algorithms

Drama therapy as an intervention for autism spectrum disorder: The potential benefits for youth and adulthood

There are many interventions commonly used for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, one that has not been researched as often is drama therapy. Though there are not many studies on drama therapy and ASD, the ones that do exist seem to indicate positive results. The goal of this proposed study is to assess whether drama therapy could be a good intervention for ASD and if it could potentially be a better option compared to applied behavioral analysis (ABA). The proposed study is broken into two smaller studies. The first study explores the potential benefits of drama therapy for social and communication skill development for autistic youth. The study design will assess the social and communication skills at the beginning and end of a 3-month drama therapy course. It is hypothesized that there will be an increase in social and communication skills following the 3 months. The second study then investigates whether drama therapy in childhood could lower the risk of post-traumatic stress responses in autistic adults as compared to autistic adults who received ABA in childhood. In this design, participants will be asked to complete two scales assessing the number of traumas they have experienced and post-traumatic stress levels. It is hypothesized that participants exposed to drama therapy will have lower post-traumatic stress levels than those exposed to ABA. These two studies together could help to expand the options for interventions available to autistic people and potentially find drama therapy to be a better alternative than the current options

The energy and thermal performance of UK modular residential buildings

This research concerns the in-use performance of light-gauge steel modular construction used for residential purposes. The aim was to investigate ways to reduce the in-use energy consumption of new buildings, while ensuring thermal comfort. Data were collected from two case study buildings in the UK, one in Loughborough and the other in London, using a variety of methods including building measurement, building monitoring, inspections, and a detailed review of the construction documentation. The case study buildings were monitored using EnOcean enabled wireless sensor networks and standalone temperature sensors. Monitoring data included electricity consumption in individual rooms, often by end use, space heating use, internal temperature and relative humidity, and external temperature. Building measurements included blower door tests to measure fabric air leakage rates, infrared thermal imaging to identify fabric defects and weaknesses, and ventilation system flowrate measurements. Inspections and the review of documentation allowed problems with design, manufacture and construction to be identified. A particular concern for thermally lightweight construction is the risk of overheating, therefore overheating analyses were undertaken. The research identified weaknesses in the design, construction and operation of the case study buildings resulting in increased energy use and poor thermal comfort, particularly overheating. The modular construction studied requires specific design changes to improve the fabric and building services, in order to reduce energy use. There are also specific recommendations for quality control on site to ensure critical stages are correctly completed, such as installing rigid insulation. There are also more general recommendations for how a company operates because this can influence performance; there ought to be greater attention to holistic design and greater collaboration with suppliers and contractors to determine robust solutions. Overheating was a problem in the London case study, and more research is required to understand the scale of the problem. Avoidance of overheating must be a focus in the design of new buildings. The findings suggest that once the problems with the design and quality control on site are rectified, offsite modular construction can be used to consistently and reliably provide low energy homes

Payout Policy in the 21st Century

We survey 384 CFOs and Treasurers, and conduct in-depth interviews with an additional two dozen, to determine the key factors that drive dividend and share repurchase policies. We find that managers are very reluctant to cut dividends, that dividends are smoothed through time, and that dividend increases are tied to long-run sustainable earnings but much less so than in the past. Rather than increasing dividends, many firms now use repurchases as an alternative. Paying out with repurchases is viewed by managers as being more flexible than using dividends, permitting a better opportunity to optimize investment. Managers like to repurchase shares when they feel their stock is undervalued and in an effort to affect EPS. Dividend increases and the level of share repurchases are generally paid out of residual cash flow, after investment and liquidity needs are met. Financial executives believe that retail investors have a strong preference for dividends, in spite of the tax disadvantage relative to repurchases. In contrast, executives believe that institutional investors as a class have no strong preference between dividends and repurchases. In general, management views provide at most moderate support for agency, signaling, and clientele hypotheses of payout policy. Tax considerations play only a secondary role. By highlighting where the theory and practice of corporate payout policy are consistent and where they are not, we attempt to shed new light on important unresolved issues related to payout policy in the 21st century.

Analisis Produksi dan Pendapatan USAha Ternak Kambing Pedaging Sistem Kandang (Kasus: Kelurahan Tanah Enam Ratus, Kecamatan Medan Marelan, Kota Medan)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan besar hasil produksi USAha ternak kambing; menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pertambahan berat kambing; menjelaskan keuntungan dan kelayakan USAha ternak kambing pedaging di daerah penelitian; menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pendapatan USAha ternak kambing. Metode untuk mengidentifikasi tingkat produksi kambing dianalisis dengan metode deskriptif; untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi hasil produksi kambing digunakan model fungsi produksi Cobb-Douglas; untuk menjelaskan keuntungan dan kelayakan USAha ternak kambing digunakan perhitungan pendapatan bersih (π), R/C, dan BEP; untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pendapatan USAha ternak kambing digunakan metode penduga regresi linear berganda dengan alat bantu perangkat lunak SPSS. Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan bahwa rata-rata pertambahan berat kambing selama satu periode pemeliharaan di daerah penelitian adalah 237.45 kg/peternak atau 11.73 kg/ekor. Pengalaman beternak, kepadatan kandang, pakan, obat-obatan, dan tenaga kerja secara serempak berpengaruh nyata terhadap hasil produksi kambing, namun secara parsial yang berpengaruh nyata terhadap hasil produksi hanya pakan dan obat-obatan.Pendapatan bersih USAha ternak kambing adalah Rp 7,321,447/peternak, atau sebesar Rp 324,765/ekor.Secara ekonomi, USAha ternak kambing layak diusahakan di daerah penelitian dengan nilai R/C sebesar 1.43, yaitu lebih besar dari 1 (R/C >1).Nilai BEP volume adalah 13 ekor dan nilai BEP harga sebesar Rp 787,766/ekor.Biaya anakan, biaya obat, biaya pengambilan pakan, dan biaya tenaga kerja secara serempak berpengaruh nyata terhadap pendapatan USAha ternak kambing namun secara parsial hanya biaya anakan dan biaya pengambilan pakan yang berpengaruh nyata terhadap pendapatan USAha ternak kambing