We have been left with a big challenge, to articulate consciousness and also to prove it in an artificial agent against a biological standard. After introducing Boltuc’s h-consciousness in the last paper, we briefly reviewed some salient neurology in order to sketch less of a standard than a series of targets for artificial consciousness, “most-consciousness” and “myth-consciousness.” With these targets on the horizon, we began reviewing the research program pursued by Jun Tani and colleagues in the isolation of the formal (...) dynamics essential to either. In this paper, we describe in detail Tani’s research program, in order to make the clearest case for artificial consciousness in these systems. In the next paper, the third in the series, we will return to Boltuc’s naturalistic non-reductionism in light of the neurorobotics models introduced (alongside some others), and evaluate them more completely. (shrink)

This third paper locates the synthetic neurorobotics research reviewed in the second paper in terms of themes introduced in the first paper. It begins with biological non-reductionism as understood by Searle. It emphasizes the role of synthetic neurorobotics studies in accessing the dynamic structure essential to consciousness with a focus on system criticality and self, develops a distinction between simulated and formal consciousness based on this emphasis, reviews Tani and colleagues' work in light of this distinction, and ends by forecasting (...) the increasing importance of synthetic neurorobotics studies for cognitive science and philosophy of mind going forward, finally in regards to most- and myth-consciousness. (shrink)

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that causes scar tissue in the nervous system and seriously affects the quality of life of people. Muscle weakness, spasticity and coordination problems are seen primarily in the lower extremities. Strengthening exercises improve muscle strength in people with multiple sclerosis, but there is no consensus on their effect on walking capacity. -/- Methods: To determine the relationship between gluteus maximus muscle strength, ataxia, balance and walking capacity in Multiple Sclerosis. An experimental study (...) design was applied. Gluteus maximus muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer. Walking capacity was determined by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and dynamic gait index (DGI). Balance was evaluated with the one-leg standing test (SLS). The severity of ataxia was measured with the International Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). Fatigue was evaluated with VAS and quality of life of all patients with SF36 short form. -/- Results: EDSS mean of the study = 3.39 ± 1.4; 2 men and 16 women with mean age = 37.17 ± 9.16 years were included. 6MWT, DGI, ALS, ICARS, VAS were different before and after treatment (p<0.05). There was no significant difference other than physical function and general health among the sub-parameters of SF36 (p>0.05). Correlation of muscle strength with ataxia, gait and balance was not significant (p>0.05) -/- Conclusion: In individuals with MS, the fact that the treatment program consists of modalities that include balance and sensory exercises as well as muscle strengthening exercises increases the success of rehabilitation. (shrink)

Objectives: It is clinically essential to know the location of accessory mental foramen in the mental nerve anesthesia. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of accessory mental foramen and examining its morphometric properties. Methods: A total of 35 adult mandibles of unknown age, gender, and ethnicity were examined. The presence of accessory mental foramen of the mandible was investigated bilaterally. In cases with the accessory mental foramen, its localization, number, and distance relative to the mental foramen (...) were evaluated. Results: Eleven (15.71%) accessory mental foramens were detected in the 35 mandibles (70 sides) examined. Six (54.55%) of the accessory mental foramens were on the left side, and 5 (45.45%) were on the right side. Conclusion: Knowing the frequency and localization of the accessory mental foramen will make the mental nerve block more effective and facilitate surgical procedures. It should be kept in mind that the presence of accessory mental foramen should be considered in cases where mental nerve block applications are insufficient. (shrink)

Direct neurological and especially imaging-driven investigations into the structures essential to naturally occurring cognitive systems in their development and operation have motivated broadening interest in the potential for artificial consciousness modeled on these systems. This first paper in a series of three begins with a brief review of Boltuc’s (2009) “brain-based” thesis on the prospect of artificial consciousness, focusing on his formulation of h-consciousness. We then explore some of the implications of brain research on the structure of consciousness, finding limitations (...) in biological approaches to the study of consciousness. Looking past these limitations, we introduce research in artificial consciousness designed to test for the emergence of consciousness, a phenomenon beyond the purview of the study of existing biological systems. (shrink)

Bu makalede, Milet Okulu doğa filozoflarının ontolojileri çerçevesinde töz hakkındaki görüşlerine yer verilmektedir. Buna göre, öncelikle, töz kavramının felsefi tartışmalarda neden farklı şekillerde ele alındığını açıklamak için kavramın kökeni ve çeşitli anlamlarına yönelik tespitler aktarılmaktadır. Bu tespitlerden hareketle, Thales, Anaksimandros ve Anaksimenes'in her şeyin ilk ilkesi (arkhe) arayışında ulaştıkları sonuçların töz olarak kabul edilebileceği ve onların farklı nitelikte olan tözlerinin felsefi töz kavramının çeşitli özelliklerine atıfta bulunduğu ortaya konulmaktadır. Nihai olarak, makalenin amacı Miletli filozofların töze ilişkin kavrayışlarının birbirine paralel olduğunu, (...) ancak töze atfettikleri özelliklerin farklılaştığını ve bu noktada Anaksimenes’in töz kavrayışının diğer düşünürlere oranla daha kapsayıcı olduğunu ortaya koymaktır. (shrink)

Although an inverse relationship between religion and deviance is empirically well-established in the western context, previous studies on Islam and deviance conducted in non-western countries are limited. To address this gap in deviance research, we hypothesized that individual religiosity would be inversely related to deviance with the inverse relationship being more likely for ascetic than anti-ascetic or secular deviance. To test this hypothesis, we applied ordinary least squares and logistic regression methods to analyze data collected from 2,005 survey participants of (...) a Turkish public university student population. Regression results provided partial support for the hypothesis, as we found that religiosity was inversely related to both ascetic and secular deviance. The observed inverse relationship is noteworthy in that it was found in an institutionally secular, Muslim country. Implications of our findings are discussed. (shrink)

Florentin Smarandache është një nga shkrimtarët më të talentuar në letërsinë rumune të diasporës. Dashuria e saj për librin ripërtërihet gjithmonë, duke arrdhur tani para lexuesve tanë me një libër të ri të ilustruar dhe të destinuar për lexuesit më të vegjël. Kjo është një befasi e re me disa tregime të bukura për shijen e fëmijëve të ditëve tona. Florentin Smarandache është një adhurues i leximit, një krijesë frymëzimesh të zjarrta për të cilin leximi është bërë një mënyrë e (...) vërtetë jetese, një lloj zgjatje e qenies së tij. Nuk e dimë saktësisht se kur i imagjinonte krijimet e para, por e dimë se ai mësoi të lexonte e të shkruante, me hirin hyjnor, përpara se të hynte në shkollë. Ai ka qenë I magjepsur që atëherë nga fuqia e fjalës, nga mënyra se si u bashkuan për të formuar fjalë dhe nga kuptimet dhe fuqia që mund të sillnin. Pastaj e di se ai mezi priste të huazonte libra nga biblioteka e shkollës dhe se hyri në atë dhomë që dukej e madhe me shumë emocion. Florentini lexonte libër pas libri, duke dashur gjithmonë më shumë, duke pasur parasysh se nuk kalonte mjaftueshëm kohë në shoqërinë e miqve më të mirë që kishte pasur ndonjëherë. Në momentin që hap një libër të ilustruar për fëmijë, hyn në një botë tjetër, ndryshe nga ajo e të rriturve. Jeni të zhytur nga bukuria e botëve të pikturuara me ngjyra nga krijues dhe ilustrues të talentuar, pastaj takoni heronj fantastikë me të cilët gjithçka është e mundur. Autori gjithmonë i ka dashur fëmijët, poezitë dhe tregimet për të vegjlit, sepse librat për fëmijë e kanë magjepsur. Nëse e pyesni veten se si ka nisur të shkruajë, për krimtarin Florentin Smarandache, historia është shumë e bukur. Kur fëmijët filluan të shkonin në shkollë, kishin nevojë për përralla dhe poezi për raste të ndryshme, për vjeshtë, për Vitin e Ri, për dimër, për pranverë, dhe kështu ai filloi të shkruante poezi në letër, ku fëmijët ishin lexuesit dhe kritikët e saj të parë letrarë. (shrink)