Epistemological Observations about Mind-Machine Equivalence

One of the highly contraversial discussions in philosophy of mind is equivalence of human being mind and machines. Here we show that no one could prove that, in certain he is a machin

An Investigation and Simulation of Novel Dynamic Routing Methods

Routing in networks is a multi-objective and multi-constraint optimization problem due to the nature of current networks being highly dynamic environments. Currently implemented solutions are single metric solutions where instead an optimal multi-metric solution is needed to solve this problem. This research work investigates novel multi-metric solutions to this optimization problem. Recently, it is found that the employment of a natural optimization process called the ant colony optimization process to the routing problem, resulted in a multi-metric dynamic solution. Latest research work reported two slightly different implementations of this employment. Network agents are used to sensor the status of the network and feedback the network nodes with the necessary information. This is used to update its routing tables based on the network status. These two implementations differ in the method (philosophy) used to update the information in the routing tables held by the network nodes. This research work suggests a new method to update the routing tables held by the nodes in the network. This done by merging modified versions of the previous two methods in order to overcome the disadvantages of each. A discrete event simulation system is built to test the routing method suggested by this research work together with the previous two routing methods for companson purposes. This simulation system represents a prototype for the development of a general network simulation tool. It is capable of collecting various types of simulation statistical data and generating tracing files for detailed studies of the network and for testing purposes. An expandable structured C-pointer based implementation is used to code the system. The system is tested on various networks and the results of the simulation show improvements on the performance of the network by reducing the overall delay in the network and increasing throughput. Moreover, the use of the suggested routing method results in balancing the load in the network

Azimuthally-Differential Pion Femtoscopy Relative To The Second And Third Harmonic In Pb-Pb Collisions

Heavy-ion collisions at LHC energies create a hot and dense medium of deconned quarks and gluons, known as the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) [56]. The QGP reball rst expands, cools and then freezes out into a collection of nal-state hadrons. Correlations between the free particles carry information about the space-time extent of the emitting source, and are imprinted on the nal-state spectra due to a quantum-mechanical interference eect [18]. The correlation of two identical particles at small relative momentum, commonly known as intensity, or Hanbury Brown-Twiss (HBT), interferometry, is an eective tool to study the space-time structure of the emitting source in relativistic heavy-ion collisions [23]. Due to the position-momentum correlations in particle emission, the HBT radii become sensitive to the collective velocity fields, from which information about the dynamics of the system evolution can be extracted. The spatial anisotropies in the initial state are converted, via pressure gradients and interactions between constituents, to momentum anisotropies, leading to anisotropic particle flow. Anisotropic flow is usually characterized by the Fourier decomposition of the particle azimuthal distribution and quantied by the flow harmonic strength vn and the event plane angle [48]. Elliptic flow is dened by the second flow harmonic strength (n = 2), whereas triangular flow is dened by the third flow harmonic strength (n = 3) [48]. Azimuthally-dierential femtoscopic measurements can be performed relative to the di100 rection of dierent harmonic event planes [25]. The harmonic event planes are determined using the event plane method [48]. The measurements of HBT radii with respect to the first harmonic (directed) flow at the AGS [30] revealed that the source was tilted relative to the beam direction [31]. In particular, measurements of the HBT radii relative to the second harmonic event plane angle ( 2) provide information on the nal shape of the system, which is expected to become more spherical compared to the initial state due to stronger in-plane expansion [55]. In contrast, hydrodynamics model studies have shown that the azimuthal dependence of the HBT radii relative to the third harmonic event plane angle can originate from the anisotropies in collective velocity gradients or the initial spatial anisotropy (triangular) [33]. The signs of the HBT radii relative to the third harmonic event plane angle oscillations constrain the origin of these oscillation [33]

インドネシアにおける機能的都市圏域の設定と集積の経済の推定

政策分析プログラム / Policy Analysis Program政策研究大学院大学 / National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies論文審査委員: 金本 良嗣（主査）, Roberto Leon-Gonzalez, 山内 慎子, 長谷川 誠, 園部 哲史, 高橋 孝明（東京大学

A Solution of Single Server and Multiserver General Queueing Systems Using a Linear Algebraic Approach

Performance evaluation of computer systems and communication networks is very important due to the essential need of finding such systems which can meet all the objectives, for which these resources are built, at an acceptable cost. Many methods h ave been applied to describe the performance of these resources and to find possible ways of improving performance. Each of these methods has its own characteristics and procedure in dealing with the performance concept. These procedure describe these systems such that a previously specified technique can be used to evaluate useful performance measurements which will help decision making. The queueing network model is the most widely used computer systems and communication networks description method. Traditional techniques used in solving the above method use unrelated mathematical techniques. The linear algebraic approach has been chosen as the mathematical approach in this thesis. This approach transforms the queuing theory problems from those of integral equations into those of algebraic equations over a finite dimensional vector space. The solutions obtained using this approach can now make use of the high-speed parallel processors since the components of these solutions are in matrixvector format. In this research, the linear algebraic approach is used to derive explicit solutions for single server and multi server general queueing systems

The Influence of Online Product Recommendations on Consumer Choice-Making Confidence, Effort, and Satisfaction

The number of products and services available online is growing at a tremendous pace. Consumers increasingly desire the ability to filter through the noise and quickly discover the products that are most relevant to their needs. Many businesses are implementing product recommender systems to provide this ability to consumers, and the result is often increased sales and more satisfied customers. However, recommender systems can also have negative consequences for consumers. For example, a recommender system can bias consumers to purchase more expensive products. Additionally, theories of consumer choice-making suggest that recommender systems can sometimes make purchase choices more difficult, resulting in outcomes that are contrary to the intended purposes of the system, such as customers expending greater shopping effort and feeling less satisfied as a result of receiving too many suggestions. The purpose of this dissertation is to further explore when recommender systems can negatively affect consumers’ online shopping experiences. I investigate three research questions: 1) When do product recommendations increase, rather than decrease, shopping effort? 2) When do product recommendations decrease, rather than increase, shopping satisfaction? And 3) When do recommender systems decrease, rather than increase, consumers’ choice-making confidence? I propose to study these questions by conducting an experiment using a fictitious retail website and online survey

The Working Pillars of the Internal Audit Committees in Improving the Financial Performance of the Jordanian Commercial Banks

This study aims to recognize the effect of the working pillars of the internal audit committees in improving the financial performance in the commercial banks in Jordan.The study population included all the banks listed in Amman's stock exchange market, the whole 23 banks, while the sample consisted of 184 of the audit committee members, internal auditors and financial managers.The research then reached a conclusion that there are statistically significant effects of the working pillars of the internal audit committees represented by committing to the tasks and responsibilities, powers of the internal audit committees, their financial experience and the number of the audit committees.The study wants to ensure the importance of the banks adherence by presenting reports about the effectiveness of the internal audit committees in their yearly reports, for their obvious influence in improving the banks financial performance, moreover ensuring that the standards set by the current study are met by the committees working pillar ensuring effectiveness and efficiency Keywords:  Internal Audit Committees, Financial performance, Jordanian commercial banks

Avicenna's Philosophy of Mathematics

I discuss four different aspects of Avicenna’s philosophical views on mathematics, as scattered across his various works. I first explore the negative aspect of his ontology of mathematics, which concerns the question of what mathematical objects (i.e., numbers and geometrical shapes) are not. Avicenna argues that mathematical objects are not independent immaterial substances. They cannot be fully separated from matter. He rejects what is now called mathematical Platonism. However, his understanding of Plato’s view about the nature of mathematical objects differs from both Plato’s actual view and the view that Aristotle attributes to Plato. Second, I explore the positive aspect of Avicenna’s ontology of mathematics, which is developed in response to the question of what mathematical objects are. He considers mathematical objects to be specific properties of material objects actually existing in the extramental world. Mathematical objects can be separated, in mind, from all the specific kinds of matter to which they are actually attached in the extramental word. Nonetheless, inasmuch as they are subject to mathematical study, they cannot be separated from materiality itself. Even in mind they should be considered as properties of material entities. Third, I scrutinize Avicenna’s understanding of mathematical infinity. Like Aristotle, he rejects the infinity of numbers and magnitudes. But he does so by providing arguments that are much more sophisticated than their Aristotelian ancestors. By analyzing the structure of his Mapping Argument against the actuality of infinity, I show that his understanding of the notion of infinity is much more modern than we might expect. Finally, I engage with Avicenna’s views on the epistemology of mathematics. He endorses concept empiricism and judgment rationalism regarding mathematics. He believes that we cannot grasp any mathematical concepts unless we first have had some specific perceptual experiences. It is only through the ineliminable and irreplaceable operation of the faculties of estimation and imagination upon some sensible data that we can grasp mathematical concepts. By contrast, after grasping the required mathematical concepts, independently from all other faculties, the intellect alone can prove mathematical theorems. Other faculties, and in particular the cogitative faculty, can assist the intellect in this regard; but the participation of such faculties is merely facilitative and by no means necessary