A Cognitive Information Theory of Music: A Computational Memetics Approach

This thesis offers an account of music cognition based on information theory and memetics. My research strategy is to split the memetic modelling into four layers: Data, Information, Psychology and Application. Multiple cognitive models are proposed for the Information and Psychology layers, and the MDL best-fit models with published human data are selected. Then, for the Psychology layer only, new experiments are conducted to validate the best-fit models. In the information chapter, an information-theoretic model of musical memory is proposed, along with two competing models. The proposed model exhibited a better fit with human data than the competing models. Higher-level psychological theories are then built on top of this information layer. In the similarity chapter, I proposed three competing models of musical similarity, and conducted a new experiment to validate the best-fit model. In the fitness chapter, I again proposed three competing models of musical fitness, and conducted a new experiment to validate the best-fit model. In both cases, the correlations with human data are statistically significant. All in all, my research has shown that the memetic strategy is sound, and the modelling results are encouraging. Implications of this research are discussed

Dynamical clustering of counterions on flexible polyelectrolytes

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the local dynamics of counterion-charged polymer association at charge densities above and below the counterion condensation threshold. Surprisingly, the counterions form weakly-interacting clusters which exhibit short range orientational order, and which decay slowly due to migration of ions across the diffuse double layer. The cluster dynamics are insensitive to an applied electric field, and qualitatively agree with the available experimental data. The results are consistent with predictions of the classical theory only over much longer time scales

Will new residential developments stimulate the transaction volume of nearby property developments?

Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-68).Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2008.published_or_final_versio

A framework for computer-aided validation

This paper presents a framework to incorporate computer-based validation techniques to the independent validation and verification (IV&V) of software systems. The framework allows the IV&V team to capture its own understanding of the problem and the expected behavior of any proposed system for solving the problem via an executable system reference model, which uses formal assertions to specify mission- and safety-critical behaviors. The framework uses execution-based model checking to validate the correctness of the assertions and to verify the correctness and adequacy of the system under test.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited