Neural Network Architecture Construction

Neural Network Architecture Construction Introduction This article is going to discuss neural network construction from a different perspective than is usual in conventional approaches. This approach, which will be referred to as Neural Architecture, is intended to explore construction of neural networks using neurons as explicit building blocks rather than anonymous elements trained en mass. Simple Python programs will be used to demonstrate the concept for simple boolean logic functions. The approach of this article is intentionally named Neural Architecture because it is meant to parallel the way in which a traditional architect systematically constructs a fine building: by developing well-known patterns of construction elements, which may be re-used to create ever more sophisticated structures. The conventional approach to neural network development is to define a network as consisting of a few layers in a multilayer-perceptron type of topology with an input layer, output layer, and one or two hidden layers. Then a training algorithm such as backpropagation is applied to develop the interconnection weights. Sometimes a more sophisticated approach is taken such as using a cascade or recurrent topology but for all intents and purposes, the end result is a standard topology of a few highly-connected layers. This approach was a major breakthrough in the field because it led some people to start thinking outside the box of symbolic reasoning that dominated Artificial In telligence at the time. It has also been successfully used in a variety of pattern recognition and control applications that are not effectively handled by other AI paradigms. However, these applications would not generally be considered to represent higher levels of intelligence or cognitive processing. For example, suppose a neural network is developed that can successfully recognize human faces under a variety of conditions. This is a highly useful application and well within the realm of conventional neural networks. However, that is where the capability of the network leaves offat recognizing the facial image. Aside from generalizing facial features, it can offer nothing more in terms of reasoning about those facial features. Further, it is asserted that the standard approach to neural network development is not suitable for realizing these higher levels of intelligence. One of the fundamental problems is the limited manner in which we approach the neural architecture. To illustrate this problem, we will return to the building architecture analogy. In this way, our standard approach to neural architecture can be likened to designing a building using bricks. An architect who always thinks in terms of bricks will not likely progress beyond a certain level of sophistication, because as a component, a brick only offers one purpose: to support other bricks. Instead, an architecture progressively develops more sophisticated, proven structures based on the brick (or other primitive components) which can be re-used to develop higher-level components. A house is conceived, not in terms of bricks and wood, but rather in terms of walls, doors, and rooms. A sophisticated architect might even find these components mundane and instead think in more abstract terms of spaces, energy and flow of human traffic. This is the notion of patterns, and in fact these (architectural) patterns were exactly the inspiration for the field of software patterns. The same thinking can be applied to neural networks: a neuron by itself only serves the function of exciting other neurons. And conventional neural net learning algorithms are geared toward categorization or other mapping operations. As a proponent of neural networks, one believes that arbitrarily complex intelligence processes can be realized, and we have the human brain as pretty convincing support of that belief. However, to continue progress in this direction, it is likely that we have to develop more sophisticated abilities as neural architects and develop useful, proven neural patterns similar to the way that building architects have done over time, and in the way software architects are now doing. Enough philosophy we will now be taking a fresh look at how patterns can be constructed starting with simple neural elements, and specifically we will start with boolean logic elements. Architecting using boolean logic does not immediately offer an advantage over using regular logic gates, but illustrates how crisp logic or symbolic elements can arise from fuzzy neural processing elements. It will also provide a conceptual foundation for future articles. Neural networks Neural network: information processing paradigm inspired by biological nervous systems, such as our brain Structure: large number of highly interconnected processing elements (neurons) working together Like people, they learn from experience. Neural networks are configured for a specific application, such as pattern recognition or data classification, through a learning process In a biological system, learning involves adjustments to the synaptic connections between neurons. The first step in the architecture process is to define the primitive building block, and if you havent fallen asleep at this point, you have no doubt figured out that this will be a neuron. The neuron model we will use is a version of the tried-and-true model used for software neural networks, also known as the perceptron. As illustrated in , the perceptron has multiple inputs and one output. The mathematical model of the perceptron is given by: a = squash(ÃŽ £(iiwi)) where: is input i to the perceptron is the weight for input i is the activation (output) and squash(x) = { 1 if x >threshold 0 otherwise The nature of the perceptron has been discussed many times elsewhere, including in Matthews, so we wont dwell on it here. But basically, the perceptron calculates a weighted sum of the inputs and then subjects it to a nonlinear squashing functionin our case, this is a simple threshold operation. The nonlinear threshold operation is part of what makes a neural net exhibit interesting behavior. Otherwise it would amount to matrix operations. Nature of the game Now that we have the model for a basic neuron defined, we can now proceed to define basic logic gates by simply working out two things: the weight values the threshold For our discussion we will assume that weights can be positive (excitory) or negative (inhibitory) and be in the range between -1 and 1. The threshold will also be assumed to be in the range -1 to 1. If we cast this in terms of signals, then it equates to the requirement that both inputs have to be sufficiently high to produce an output. So, we will set our threshold to a high value of 0.8. Next we will set the weights for the two inputs at 0.5 each. If one input is one (=1) then the neuron activation (output) will be given by a = squash( 1 * 0.5 + 0 * 0.5) = squash( 0.5 ) = 0 since 0.5

Does Hong Kong Recovered from the Subprime Crisis

Background In 2007, the soaring mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures in the United States triggered the sub-prime crisis and soon spread over the world. In this report, major causes of the sub-prime crisis and its impacts on Hong Kong’s economy will be examined. Different measures made by regulators and financial institutions to tackle this crisis will be discussed also. Lastly, evidence about the recovery of Hong Kong will be provided. The sub-prime crisisIn 2007, the collapse of subprime mortgage-backed securities (MBSs) brought to a huge loss among mortgage lenders. Many large financial firms including New Centaury Financial Corporation and Lehman Brothers Holdings Incorporation declared bankruptcy, which resulted in a downturn in the global financial market and a series of chain reactions spreading over the world afterwards. Impact of the sub-prime crisis on the Hong Kong financial institutions After the outbreak of the subprime crisis, the Hong Kong financial market sh rank along with the global economic recession.The stock market in Hong Kong declined from recorded high of 31,000 in October 2007 to 20,700 in March 2008 (Diagram 1) as investors losses their confidence and withdrew money from the market. Moreover, many banks wrote down huge amount of money for numerous sub-prime related securities. For example, HSBC wrote off US$17. 284 billion for potential losses in MBS or MBS related investments (HSBC 2008). Bank of China (Hong Kong) also wrote down HK$550m subprime-linked assets (Liu 2008). Lastly, there was a credit crunch due to the uncertainty about the amount of MBS related assets held by banks and insurance companies.As a result, many financial institutions reduced loans to each other and increased the interest rate because of high credit risk. Many new companies and corporations were unable to obtain fund to further develop and improve liquidity. Measures undertaken by the regulators and financial institutions In order to strengthen the c onfidence of the citizens and stabilize the banking system, the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board strengthened and amended the Deposit Protection Scheme Bill in 2011. The 100 % deposit protection scheme of HK $100,000 was first launched in 2008.The amount of protection was increased to HK$500,000 in 2011. Besides, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has made certain measures to deal with the problem. Firstly, HKMA announced a temporary policy which allowed licensed banks to access to liquidity assistance through the Discount Window with US dollar assets and extended the duration of liquidity assistance up to three months on 30th September 2008. These measures helped to improve liquidity within the banking system and further ease pressures in the interbank market (HKMA, 2008).The Hong Kong Interbank Overnight Offered Rates dropped from 3% to 0. 3% in a few weeks time after the announcement of these measures (HKMA, 2010). Secondly, the HKMA implemented a macro stress testing of the bank ing sector’s vulnerability to shocks such as the sub-prime crisis. Meanwhile, HKMA used the macroeconomic credit risk models to improve the stress testing of banks’ residential mortgage loans and other loan portfolios (Carse, 2008). The objective of this testing is to help HKMA monitor the banking sector and avoid problems similar to sub-prime crisis from happening in Hong Kong.Financial institutions wrote off large amount of money and tried to raise money in the market to improve their liquidity. In 2009, HSBC announced a USD$17. 7 billion rights issue. Shareholders were offered five new ordinary shares for every 12 existing shares at a price of HK$28 per new share (HSBC, 2009). This helped HSBC to restore its capital-debt ratio and allowed it to go over bad times without government assistance. Has Hong Kong economy fully recovered? According to the statistic in 2011, the real GDP growth rate was restored to 5% from -2. % in 2009. And the unemployment rate was dropped to pre-crisis level, it decreased from 5. 4% in January 2009 to 3% in December 2011 (Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department , 2012). The supply of money is in an increasing trend as well. Both M3 and domestic credit were having a 10% increase in 2010, compared with a decrease in 2008 and 2009. And the inter-bank offered rate dropped to a very low level of 0. 09% (Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department , 2012). These figures show that Hong Kong economy has restored gradually to pre-crisis level.However, there are certain hidden problems. Firstly, regulators worry about the inflation problem in Hong Kong after the injection of trillions of funds into the market from the Federal Reserve. Since HK dollar is linked with US dollar, the large increase in money supply in U. S dollar will in turn accelerate the inflation in Hong Kong. Secondly, the case of Lehman Brothers Mini Bond has shown that current regulations on financial products are not sufficient, small individual investor s can be misled easily.Further regulations and monitoring on financial products is necessary. Lastly, after the â€Å"lesson† of subprime crisis, many people lost their belief in financial investment which as a result restricted the development of financial market in Hong Kong. To conclude, the subprime does not only cause many adverse consequences to the global financial market including Hong Kong, but also brings some hidden problems. The cooperation between government and financial institutions is vital to help Hong Kong economy recover from the sub-prime crisis.

Monitor Disease And Spread Health And Social Care Essay

Epidemiologic surveies are meant to supervise disease and spread within assorted populations. The results of surveies are meant to supply valid, accurate information about causes, bars, and interventions for disease ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008 ) . Experimental surveies are believed to supply more scientifically accurate information than experimental surveies. When get downing an experimental survey, before enrolling participants, research workers must take a survey design and suggest a hypothesis. The hypothesis will explicate the intent of the survey, the survey design, and the exact lineation, timeline, and execution of the survey. For illustration, a survey conducted by Berman, Jones, & A ; McCloskey ( 2005 ) was proposed to turn out that the side effects of Valium cause suicidal, self- aggressive Acts of the Apostless. Research workers wanted to carry on the survey in a research lab puting where three randomly- assigned groups would be administered a placebo, 5 milligram, or 10 mg Valium. Self- aggressive behaviour was measured by research workers after the capsules were distributed to all experimental groups. Participants were so provided the opportunity to self- administer electric dazes to themselves. After the survey was approved, participants were recruited based on the eligibility criterions and include inclusion and exclusion standards. Inclusion standards were based on the participant ‘s wellness history. Diazepam respondents were screened by telephone, to unwrap medical information that would except them from the survey, such as chronic or neurological unwellness and prescription drug use. The exclusion standards were incompatibilities to the surveies agents, or participants intending the participants had features that made them ineligible for the survey. Using either a random or non-random method to delegate persons into a survey group, during an experimental survey participants are separated into either two or more groups. In the Valium survey, 46 healthy grownups, 27 work forces and 19 adult females, that are a average age of 22.87 old ages old ( Berman, Jones, & A ; McCloskey, 2005 ) . One group is treated with the agent while the control group is receives inactive intervention, or no intervention at all. Research workers will so administer the interventions and observe participants. The concluding phase is known as the follow-up phase where the testers collect consequences. â€Å" If the end of the survey is to forestall the happening of disease, the result may include the precursors of disease or the first happening of disease. On the other manus, if the survey is proving a new intervention among persons who already have a disease, outcomes may include disease return, symptom betterment, length of endurance, or side effects † ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008, p. 172 ) . Diazepam participants were observed 40 proceedingss after taking the medicine. Consequences proved that Valium is related to self- aggressive behaviours. â€Å" Diazepam ( 10 milligram ) was associated with higher norm shock self-administered than placebo. Subjects having 10 mg Valium were besides more likely to try to self-administer a daze that they were led to believe was â€Å" terrible † and painful † ( Berman, Jones, & A ; McCloskey, 2005, p.100 ) . Experimental surveies besides have benefits. They are considered to be more relaxed surveies because they, â€Å" take advantage of the fact that people are exposed to noxious and/or healthy substances through their personal wonts, business, topographic point of abode, and so on † ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008, p. 140 ) . There are two different types of observation surveies, one being cohort surveies and the other being case- control surveies. Although experimental surveies provide utile scientifically accurate information they can be impractical because they are dearly-won, sometimes unethical, and participants are non ever willing to be involved in a survey that involves digesting non-prescribed medicine ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008 ) . Because of this, experimental surveies are used most frequently by epidemiologists. Cohort surveies look at one or more instances of exposure, intending participants with similar features are looked at based their initial exposure position and followed over a period of clip to find the wellness results. For illustration Tomson, Perucca, and Battino ( 2004 ) conducted a survey on adult females of childbearing age with epilepsy and the effects of antiepileptic drugs on gestation results. The populations studied in cohort surveies are: unfastened, fixed, or closed. No affair the survey chosen, participants are still grouped harmonizing to their exposure and followed over clip. Open cohort surveies involve participants who leave the survey if they are no longer eligible. For illustration, research workers are carry oning a cohort survey of birth defect frequence among Arizona occupants, aged 20-40, who are female, between the old ages 2000-2012, who have epilepsy. This specific population is being used to understand the high hazard of birth defects within people with those features. If person turned 41, and moved to New York they would no longer be eligible for the survey. A fixed cohort is one in which a participant is involved in an irrevokable event, â€Å" for illustration, undergoing a medical process, giving birth to a kid, functioning in the military, eating contaminated nutrient at a field day, or being present a adult male made or natural catastrophe † ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008, p. 204 ) . Cohort surveies use clocking to find a participant ‘s exposure to disease. Prospective surveies group instances based on past or current exposure and follow them to understand their wellness results in the hereafter. Retrospective survey participants are grouped based on past exposure and research workers look at results that have already occurred. In ambidirectional cohort surveies elements of both prospective and retrospective surveies are used. Cohort surveies, like experimental surveies, test a hypothesis based on exposures, results, and other lending factors. For illustration, research workers follow participants by roll uping medical records and consequences, interviews, physical scrutinies, and detecting their environment ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008 ) . While analyzing the effects of antiepileptic drugs on gestation, research workers followed adult females by carry oning phone interviews monthly and administering studies. These adult females were diagnosed epileptics taking medicine ; the research workers followed them throughout their gestations to understand the affects of different anti-epileptic drugs on birth results ( Tomson, Perucca, & A ; Battino, 2004 ) . A case-control survey is another experimental survey that is similar to a cohort survey. Case- control surveies look at the correlativity between exposure and disease. They can be used alternatively of cohort surveies if, â€Å" the exposure informations is hard or expensive to obtain, the disease is rare, the disease has long initiation and latent period, small is known about the disease, or the implicit in population is dynamic † ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008, p. 234 ) . Alternatively of making a hypothesis, in case- control surveies research workers create a instance definition and they separate their participants into groups based on whether or non they have the disease or do non hold the disease. The ground that case- control surveies are less expensive is because research workers collect informations from infirmaries, clinics, decease certifications, studies, particular describing systems, friends, and relations of instances ; control groups are besides selected from the se resources. Control groups are the population that provides information on exposure distribution ( Ashengrau & A ; Seage, 2008 ) . Data collected is similar to cohort surveies. Depending on the survey, research workers will carry on personal interviews ; administer studies, request research lab consequences, and medical records to find the disease rates. All surveies have their advantages and disadvantages. Experimental surveies provide utile statistics that prove whether agents involved in intervention of a disease work. But, there are multiple disadvantages to experimental surveies. They are expensive and some surveies are considered unethical. Medical professionals and the general population are non willing to take part in a survey where absolutely healthy persons could have intervention for a status they do non hold. Experimental surveies are popular among epidemiologists because they are less expensive, unlike experimental surveies. Cohort surveies can straight mensurate disease, incident, or hazard. They can besides measure multiple effects of an exposure, but they are still expensive and inefficient when used on diseases that began a long clip ago with hibernating periods. Case- control surveies are utile when analyzing rare diseases within a big population. All three surveies are used by epidemiologists. Different surveies ar e chosen depending on the research being conducted and the population being studied.

Aristotle s Views On Friendship - 1357 Words

It is well known that Aristotle attaches importance to friendship within his ethical reflections. It suffices to recall that the Nicomachean Ethics, the most representative of the ethical works of Aristotle, contains two complete books, books VIII and IX, dedicated to friendship. This means that the theme of friendship is given a much wider space than other fundamental ethical issues. However, this breadth in his explanations is not something casual, but rather responds to Aristotle’s belief that friendship is something particularly valuable and we would say that is something unique in the life of human beings. Friendship, in fact, is an incentive, among others, for a happy life is --in Aristotle’s words-- as necessary for life as necessary for a happy life itself. Therefore, Aristotle says, For no one would choose to live without friends even if he had all the other goods† (Nicomachean Ethics VIII 1155a, pp. 119). Moreover, besides necessary, friendship is something noble, something beautiful, for it is a virtue, or it involves virtue. Ultimately, since human being is a social animal, which naturally tends to coexistence with other human beings, friendship is the fullest realization of sociability and more fulfilling way of living. Aristotle a little further on states that there are three kinds of friendship; friendships for utility, pleasure and complete friendship. The first two, friendship of utility and pleasure, I will say they are directly selfish because,Show MoreRelatedAristotle s Views On Friendship890 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Aristotle s views on friendships he believes that friendship is necessary to live a good life, inspires us to be virtuous, and is a kind of love. Aristotle also believes friendships help people predispose their character and keeps the youth away from errors. 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