8. The evolution of consciousness

2017 ◽  
pp. 117-134
Author(s):  
Susan Blackmore
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Evolution Of Consciousness ◽  
Theories Of Evolution

‘The evolution of consciousness’ begins with two questions. First, which living creatures are conscious and in what way? Secondly, when and how did consciousness evolve? Consciousness could be an all-or-nothing phenomenon, with some creatures having it and others not. Or it might be a continuous variable, with some having more than others. Different theories of evolution of consciousness are considered alongside the function of consciousness. Why are we conscious at all? Is consciousness an adaptation or a useless by-product of some other adaptation? It concludes with the suggestion that consciousness is an enticing and compelling illusion that lures us into believing that our minds are separate from our bodies.

Yeats's Barfieldian Rebellion: Locating Yeats's Synthetic Symbolism in Barfield's Evolution of Consciousness

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-82
Author(s):  
Clayton McReynolds
Keyword(s):  
William Butler Yeats ◽  
Evolution Of Consciousness ◽  
The World

In this paper, I draw on Barfield's theory of the evolution of consciousness and language to argue that William Butler Yeats employs language in his poetry in a way which resembles the older, ‘organic’ poetry Barfield describes. I observe how Yeats's ‘concrete’ understanding allowed him to weave a rich web of meaning into his poetry without feeling confined by T.S. Eliot's ‘dissociation of sensibility’. Many of Yeats's Modernist contemporaries struggled to bridge a perceived gap between thought and feeling, but Yeats's view of the world as innately symbolic allowed him to use language both literally and symbolically at once, speaking simultaneously of a literal rock, a symbol for stasis, and an emblem of the idée fixe. Thus, Yeats creates, in Barfield's terms, ‘organic’ poetry where the multilayered meanings arise naturally from Yeats's understanding. I further note how Yeats attempts to create a mythology in A Vision that would function much as Barfield describes mythology operating in ancient, concrete societies. Through this study, I hope to illuminate both the interconnectedness of Yeats's symbolic metaphysic and poetic technique and the relevance of Barfield for understanding Yeats and, perhaps, other poets finding new ways to communicate through an evolving language.

Constructing and model-fitting receiver operator characteristics using continuous data.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Ann Urquhart ◽  
Akira O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Signal Detection ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Continuous Data ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Unequal Variance ◽  
Discrete Discrimination

Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) are plots which provide a visual summary of a classifier’s decision response accuracy at varying discrimination thresholds. Typical practice, particularly within psychological studies, involves plotting an ROC from a limited number of discrete thresholds before fitting signal detection parameters to the plot. We propose that additional insight into decision-making could be gained through increasing ROC resolution, using trial-by-trial measurements derived from a continuous variable, in place of discrete discrimination thresholds. Such continuous ROCs are not yet routinely used in behavioural research, which we attribute to issues of practicality (i.e. the difficulty of applying standard ROC model-fitting methodologies to continuous data). Consequently, the purpose of the current article is to provide a documented method of fitting signal detection parameters to continuous ROCs. This method reliably produces model fits equivalent to the unequal variance least squares method of model-fitting (Yonelinas et al., 1998), irrespective of the number of data points used in ROC construction. We present the suggested method in three main stages: I) building continuous ROCs, II) model-fitting to continuous ROCs and III) extracting model parameters from continuous ROCs. Throughout the article, procedures are demonstrated in Microsoft Excel, using an example continuous variable: reaction time, taken from a single-item recognition memory. Supplementary MATLAB code used for automating our procedures is also presented in Appendix B, with a validation of the procedure using simulated data shown in Appendix C.

Prediction of Haemoglobin Level by Some Probability Distribution

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88
Author(s):  
Govinda Prasad Dhungana ◽  
Laxmi Prasad Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Probability Distribution ◽  
Normal Distribution ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Hemoglobin Level ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Log Normal ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Best Fit

 Hemoglobin level is a continuous variable. So, it follows some theoretical probability distribution Normal, Log-normal, Gamma and Weibull distribution having two parameters. There is low variation in observed and expected frequency of Normal distribution in bar diagram. Similarly, calculated value of chi-square test (goodness of fit) is observed which is lower in Normal distribution. Furthermore, plot of PDFof Normal distribution covers larger area of histogram than all of other distribution. Hence Normal distribution is the best fit to predict the hemoglobin level in future.

scholarly journals Aortic Valve Calcification is Associated with Future Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Hojune E. Chung ◽  
Jessica Chen ◽  
Dhairyasheel Ghosalkar ◽  
Jared L. Christensen ◽  
Alice J. Chu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Aortic Valve ◽  
Lung Cancer Screening ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Event Analysis ◽  
Aortic Valve Calcification ◽  
Valve Calcification ◽  
Ckd Stage ◽  
New Diagnosis

Background: While an association between atherosclerosis and dementia has been identified, few studies have assessed the longitudinal relationship between aortic valve calcification (AVC) and cognitive impairment (CI). Objective: We sought to determine whether AVC derived from lung cancer screening CT (LCSCT) was associated with CI in a moderate-to-high atherosclerotic risk cohort. Methods: This was a single site, retrospective analysis of 1401 U.S. veterans (65 years [IQI: 61, 68] years; 97%male) who underwent quantification of AVC from LCSCT indicated for smoking history. The primary outcome was new diagnosis of CI identified by objective testing (Mini-Mental Status Exam or Montreal Cognitive Assessment) or by ICD coding. Time-to-event analysis was carried out using AVC as a continuous variable. Results: Over 5 years, 110 patients (8%) were diagnosed with CI. AVC was associated with new diagnosis of CI using 3 Models for adjustment: 1) age (HR: 1.104; CI: 1.023–1.191; p = 0.011); 2) Model 1 plus hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, CKD stage 3 or higher (glomerular filtration rate <  60 mL/min) and CAD (HR: 1.097; CI: 1.014–1.186; p = 0.020); and 3) Model 2 plus CVA (HR: 1.094; CI: 1.011–1.182; p = 0.024). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the association between AVC and new diagnosis of CI remained significant upon exclusion of severe AVC (HR: 1.100 [1.013–1.194]; p = 0.023). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that this association remained significant when including education in the multivariate analysis (HR: 1.127 [1.030–1.233]; p = 0.009). Conclusion: This is the first study demonstrating that among mostly male individuals who underwent LCSCT, quantified aortic valve calcification is associated with new diagnosis of CI.

scholarly journals An FPGA-Based LDPC Decoder With Ultra-Long Codes for Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution

IEEE Access ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 47687-47697
Author(s):  
Shen-Shen Yang ◽  
Jian-Qiang Liu ◽  
Zhen-Guo Lu ◽  
Zeng-Liang Bai ◽  
Xu-Yang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Key Distribution ◽  
Key Distribution ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Ldpc Decoder

scholarly journals Serum urate and cardiovascular events in the DCCT/EDIC study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia J. Jenkins ◽  
Barbara H. Braffett ◽  
Arpita Basu ◽  
Ionut Bebu ◽  
Samuel Dagogo-Jack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Serum Urate ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Routine Measurement

AbstractIn type 2 diabetes, hyperuricemia is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but associations in type 1 diabetes (T1D) have not been well-defined. This study examined the relationships between serum urate (SU) concentrations, clinical and biochemical factors, and subsequent cardiovascular events in a well-characterized cohort of adults with T1D. In 973 participants with T1D in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications Study (DCCT/EDIC), associations were defined between SU, measured once in blood collected 1997–2000, and (a) concurrent MetS and (b) incident ‘any CVD’ and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) through 2013. SU was higher in men than women [mean (SD): 4.47 (0.99) vs. 3.39 (0.97) mg/dl, respectively, p < 0.0001], and was associated with MetS features in both (men: p = 0.0016; women: p < 0.0001). During follow-up, 110 participants (11%) experienced “any CVD”, and 53 (5%) a MACE. Analyzed by quartiles, SU was not associated with subsequent CVD or MACE. In women, SU as a continuous variable was associated with MACE (unadjusted HR: 1.52; 95% CI 1.07–2.16; p = 0.0211) even after adjustment for age and HbA1c (HR: 1.47; 95% CI 1.01–2.14; p = 0.0467). Predominantly normal range serum urate concentrations in T1D were higher in men than women and were associated with features of the MetS. In some analyses of women only, SU was associated with subsequent MACE. Routine measurement of SU to assess cardiovascular risk in T1D is not merited.Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT00360815 and NCT00360893.

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