Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epistemic Permissiveness

A rational person doesn't believe just anything. There are limits on what it is rational to believe. How wide are these limits? That's the main question that interests me here. But a secondary question immediately arises: What factors impose these limits? A first stab is to say that one's evidence determines what it is epistemically permissible for one to believe. Many will claim that there are further, non-evidentiary factors relevant to the epistemic rationality of belief. I will be ignoring the details of alternative answers in order to focus on the question of what kind of rational constraints one's evidence puts on belief. Our main question concerns how far epistemic permission and obligation can come apart. 1 Suppose I am epistemically permitted to believe P, i.e., it would not be irrational for me to believe it. Am I thereby obliged to believe P, or are other options rationally available to me? 2 Might I be equally rational in remaining agnostic about P, or even believing not-P? Or could even a slightly stronger or weaker degree of confidence be just as reasonable? 1. Examples and Motivations for Permissive Epistemology Following Feldman (forthcoming) we can call the negative answer the Uniqueness thesis. Uniqueness: Given one's total evidence, there is a unique rational doxastic attitude that one can take to any proposition. 3 I call positions that depart from Uniqueness ''permissive'' as they entail that epistemic rationality permits a range of alternative doxastic attitudes. Many philosophers hold permissive epistemologies. Rejection of Uniqueness is promi-suggest that you are prima facie justified in maintaining your beliefs until you have a reason to abandon them.
Sexual Minority Youth in the Schools: Issues and Desirable Counselor Responses.

Counseling Association by Dr. Garry R. Walz and Dr. Jeanne C. Bleuer of Counseling Outfitters, LLC. Its purpose is to provide a means of capturing the ideas, information and experiences generated by the annual ACA Conference and selected ACA Division Conferences. Papers on a program or practice that has been validated through research or experience may also be submitted. This digital collection of peer-reviewed articles is authored by counselors, for counselors. VISTAS Online contains the full text of over 500 proprietary counseling articles published from 2004 to present.
Communism and the Incentive to Share in Science

The communist norm requires that scientists widely share the results of their work. Where did this norm come from, and how does it persist? I argue on the basis of a game-theoretic model that rational credit-maximizing scientists will in many cases conform to the norm. This means that the origins and persistence of the communist norm can be explained even in the absence of a social contract or enforcement, contrary to recent work by Michael Strevens but adding to previous work emphasizing the benefits of the incentive structure created by the priority rule.
Context and Decision: Utility on a Union of Mixture Spaces

Suppose a decision-maker is willing to make statements of the form : I prefer to choose alternative a when in context p, than to choose alternative b when in context q”. Contexts p and q may refer to given probability distributions over a set of states, and b and c to alternatives such as: “turn left” or “turn right” at a junction. In such decision problems, the set of alternatives is discrete and there is a continuum of possible contexts. I assume there is a is a mixture operation on the space of contexts (eg. convex combinations of lotteries), and propose a model that defines preferences over a collection of mixture spaces indexed by a discrete set. The model yields a spectrum of possibilities: some decision-makers are well represented by a standard von Neumann–Morgenstern type of utility function; whilst for others, utility across some or all the mixture spaces is only ordinally comparable. An application to the decision problem of Karni and Safra (2000) leads to a generalization, and shows that state-dependence and comparability are distinct concepts. A final application provides a novel way modeling incomplete preferences and explaining the Allais paradox.
Mineralogical constraints on the paleoenvironments of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation

Assemblages of clay minerals are routinely used as proxies for paleoclimatic change and paleoenvironmental conditions in Phanerozoic rocks. However, this tool is rarely applied in older sedimentary units. In this paper, the clay mineralogy of the Doushantuo Formation in South China is documented, providing constraints on depositional conditions of the Ediacaran Yangtze platform that host the earliest animal fossils in the geological record. In multiple sections from the Yangtze Gorges area, trioctahedral smectite (saponite) and its diagenetic products (mixed-layer chlorite/smectite, corrensite, and chlorite) are the dominant clays through the lower 80 m of the formation and constitute up to 30 wt% of the bulk rock. Saponite is interpreted as an in situ early diagenetic phase that formed in alkaline conditions (pH ≥ 9). The absence of saponite in stratigraphically equivalent basin sections, 200–400 km to the south, indicates that alkaline conditions were localized in a nonmarine basin near the Yangtze Gorges region. This interpretation is consistent with crustal abundances of redox-sensitive trace elements in saponitic mudstones deposited under anoxic conditions, as well as a 10‰ difference in the carbon isotope record between Yangtze Gorges and basin sections. Our findings suggest that nonmarine environments may have been hospitable for the fauna preserved in the Yangtze Gorges, which includes the oldest examples of animal embryo fossils and acanthomorphic acritarchs.
Space and selective attention

his chapter is divided into three parts. In the first part we discuss the issue of how space is represented in the brain. After reviewing a series of recent anatomical and physiological data we reach the following conclusions: (1) space representation derives from the activity of several independent brain drcuits, (2) those cortical areas that code space are also involved in programming motor actions (spatial pragmatic maps), and (3) neuron mechanisms for coding space are different in the oculomotor and in the somatomotor pragmatic maps. The second part deals with spatial attention. After dismissing the possibility that there is something like a unitary superordinate system for selective attention. we argue that there is no need to postulate for spatial attention a system anatomically separated from the systems processing data. In contrast to this theoretical position. we propose a theory of attention (premotor theory) whose main tenets are the following : (1) Spatial selective attention is a consequence of an activation of neurons located in the spatial pragmatic maps. (2) The activation of these neurons starts in concomitance with the preparation to perform goal-directed spatially coded movements and depends upon this preparation. (3) DiHerent spatial pragmatic maps become active according to the task requirements. Spatial attention can originate therefore from any map that codes space. (4) In primates and in man, as a consequence of the strong development of the foveal vision and the neural apparatus for foveation. a central role in selective spatial attention is played by the oculomotor pragmatic maps. In the last part of the chapter we present a series of new data that strongly support the premotor theory. We show that the trajectory of vertical saccades in response to an imperative (visual or acoustic) stimulus deviates according to the location of subject 's attention on different positions along a horizontal line. We argue that if spatial attention were independent of motor programming, there would be no reason why a vertical saccade should be influenced by where the subject 's attention was allocated.
Can Business and Social Networks Explain the Border Effect Puzzle?

McCallum (1995) shows in an influential contribution that, even when controlling for the impact of bilateral distance and region size, borders sharply reduce trade volumes between countries. We use in this Paper data on bilateral trade flows between 94 French regions, for 10 industries and two years (1978 and 1993) to study the magnitude and variations over time of trade impediments, both distance-related and (administrative) border-related. We focus on assessing the role that business and social networks can play in shaping trade patterns and explaining the border effect puzzle. Using a structural econometric approach, we show that intranational administrative borders significantly affect trade patterns inside France. The impact is of the same order of magnitude as in Wolf (2000) for trade inside the United States. We show that more than 60% of these (puzzling) intranational border effects can be explained by the composition of local labour force in terms of birth place (social networks) and by inter-plants connections (business networks). In addition, controlling for these network effects reduces the impact of transport cost on trade flows by a comparable factor. Thus, business and social networks that help to reduce informational trade barriers are shown to be strong determinants of trade patterns and to explain a large part of the border puzzle.
A specific c-type cytochrome maturation system is required for oxygenic photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthesis is an important bioenergetic process that maintains the Earth's atmosphere and allows carbon fixation. A critical enzyme in this process, the cytochrome b6f complex, differs from other protein complexes of the same family by an unusual covalently attached cofactor chemically defined as a c′ heme. We have identified a set of pioneer proteins that carry the biogenesis of this c′ heme and started their characterization. They are encoded by the genomes of all organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis, whatever their phylogenetic distances. These proteins are thus among the few that distinguish photosynthetic cells evolving oxygen from other types of living cells.
Three-dimensional Limit Cycle Walking with joint actuation

This paper describes 3D biped walking generation and control based on Limit Cycle Walking. In our study, we use the simplest possible 3D biped model with three DOFs, incorporating roll and pitch motions in the frontal/sagittal planes, respectively. Our approach dynamically decouples these two motions, stabilizes pitch motion in the sagittal plane via the Limit Cycle Walking approach, introduces robustness for this motion using energy feedback control, and robustness for roll motion based on reference trajectory feedback tracking control. The roll reference trajectory is generated via analysis of the impact dynamics. Performance is verified via simulations.
Glycolysis plays an important role in energy transfer from the base to the distal end of the flagellum in mouse sperm

Many studies have been conducted to elucidate the relationship between energy metabolic pathways (glycolysis and respiration) and flagellar motility in mammalian sperm, but the contribution of glycolysis to sperm motility has not yet been fully elucidated. In the present study, we performed detailed analysis of mouse sperm flagellar motility for further understanding of the contribution of glycolysis to mammalian sperm motility. Mouse sperm maintained vigorous motility in the presence of substrates either for glycolysis or for respiration. By contrast, inhibition of glycolysis by alpha-chlorohydrine caused a significant decrease in the bend angle of the flagellar bending wave, sliding velocity of outer doublet microtubules and ATP content even in the presence of respiratory substrates (pyruvate or β-hydroxybutyrate). The decrease of flagellar bend angle and sliding velocity are prominent in the distal part of the flagellum, indicating that glycolysis inhibition caused the decrease in ATP concentration threrein. These results suggest that glycolysis potentially acts as a spatial ATP buffering system, transferring energy (ATP) synthesized by respiration at the mitochondria located in the basal part of the flagellum to the distal part. In order to validate that glycolytic enzymes can transfer high energy phosphoryls, we calculated intraflagellar concentration profiles of adenine nucleotides along the flagellum by computer simulation analysis. The result demonstrated the involvement of glycolysis for maintaining the ATP concentration at the tip of the flagellum. It is likely that glycolysis plays a key role in energy homeostasis in mouse sperm not only through ATP production but also through energy transfer.
Differential ontogeny of multiple opioid receptors (mu, delta, and kappa)

We investigated the postnatal ontogeny of opioid receptors in rat brain under assay conditions which, when combined with computerized analysis, effectively reflect the developmental profile of high affinity binding to mu, delta, and kappa subpopulations. Concentrations of mu sites were assessed with the selective ligand 3H-[D-ala2,mePhe4,gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAGO). The other two sites were analyzed in binding assays with less selective radioligands but in the presence of specific unlabeled ligands which suppress cross-reactivity. We utilized 3H-[D-ala2,D- leu5]enkephalin (DADL) in the presence of 10 nM DAGO to label delta sites and 3H-ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) in the presence of 100 nM DADL + 100 nM [D-ala2,mePhe4,Met(0)ol5]enkephalin to detect kappa receptors. After birth, the density (femtomoles per milligram of wet weight) of mu sites declined for several days and then rose sharply over the next 2 weeks, increasing 2-fold by adulthood. Delta (delta) sites appeared in the second week postnatal and increased more than 8-fold in the next 2 weeks. Levels of kappa receptors were relatively low at birth and increased slowly (2-fold, overall). Computerized analyses of binding data revealed that DAGO and DADL were binding to single populations of sites throughout the postnatal period. DAGO and EKC affinities did not fluctuate in this period, whereas DADL affinities were low for the first week and then rose to adult levels. In summary, mu, kappa, and delta receptors exhibit differential postnatal developmental profiles. The former two are present at birth, whereas the latter appears in the second week. The postnatal increase for all three sites appear to be preceded by the previously demonstrated emergence of opioid peptides.
Designing and evaluating interfaces for domestic eco-feedback: a blended educational experience

In this work we describe an educational experience focused on the design of eco-feedback interfaces for improving the environmental awareness and optimizing the energy consumption in domestic contexts. The experience was held during the HCI course for the Laurea degree in Computer Science of the Università Ca' Foscari Venezia and involved about 80 undergraduate students that worked on 20 independent projects. All the projects were focused on the same conceptual design goal: proposing an ecosystem of interfaces for a family of four components (mother, father and two children aged between 6 and 11), capable of monitoring energy consumption and production of a photovoltaic plant and making different types of comparison, even with neighbors and selected members of social networks. The result of the students' work was evaluated by adults (i.e., researchers and peers) but also by a class of children of the Primary School. The interest of this educational experience is threefold. On one side the study has permitted to focus on the themes of environmental awareness and has led to define interesting conceptual projects that go beyond the commercially available eco-feedback solutions. Then the study has been an occasion for reflecting about methods and goals of an HCI course for undergraduate students, originating a design experience that will be further refined in the next editions of the course. Finally the experience has been an interesting occasion for testing the points of strength and weakness of tools for remote learning. This has led to identify some possible solutions supporting design thinking in a remote or blended educational context, which should foster the shift from simple project sharing to true collaborative design.
Continuous Measurement of Cerebral Oxygenation with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy after Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Objective. The aim of our prospective study was to investigate the applicability and the diagnostic value of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in SAH patients using the cerebral oximeter INVOS 5100C. Methods. Measurement of cerebral oximetry was done continuously after spontaneous SAH. Decrease of regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) was analyzed and interpreted in view of the determined intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Changes of rSO2 values were matched with the values of ICP, tipO2, and TCD and the results of additional neuroimaging. Results. Continuous measurement of rSO2 was performed in nine patients with SAH (7 females and 2 males). Mean measurement time was 8.6 days (range 2–12 days). The clinical course was uneventful in 7 patients without occurrence of CVS. In these patients, NIRS measured constant and stable rSO2 values without relevant alterations. Special findings are demonstrated in 3 cases. Conclusion. Measurement of rSO2 with NIRS is a safe, easy to use, noninvasive additional measurement tool for cerebral oxygenation, which is used routinely during vascular and cardiac surgical procedures. NIRS is applicable over a long time period after SAH, especially in alert patients without invasive probes. Our observations were promising, whereby larger studies are needed to answer the open questions.
Development of Hybrid Braided Composite Rods for Reinforcement and Health Monitoring of Structures

In the present study, core-reinforced braided composite rods (BCRs) were developed and characterized for strain sensing capability. A mixture of carbon and glass fibre was used in the core, which was surrounded by a braided cover of polyester fibres. Three compositions of core with different carbon fibre/glass fibre weight ratios (23/77, 47/53, and 100/0) were studied to find out the optimum composition for both strain sensitivity and mechanical performance. The influence of carbon fibre positioning in BCR cross-section on the strain sensing behaviour was also investigated. Strain sensing property of BCRs was characterized by measuring the change in electrical resistance with flexural strain. It was observed that BCRs exhibited increase (positive response) or decrease (negative response) in electrical resistance depending on carbon fibre positioning. The BCR with lowest amount of carbon fibre was found to give the best strain sensitivity as well as the highest tensile strength and breaking extension. The developed BCRs showed reversible strain sensing behaviour under cyclic flexural loading with a maximum gauge factor of 23.4 at very low strain level (0.55%). Concrete beams reinforced with the optimum BCR (23/77) also exhibited strain sensing under cyclic flexural strain, although the piezoresistive behaviour in this case was irreversible.
Attribute Search in Online Retailing

&NA; Online retailing has created an empirical opportunity to examine consumer search behavior using click stream data. In this article we examine the implications of greater variety online for consumer search intensity, and equilibrium prices. We test our hypothesis using consumer data on online search and purchase behavior from the comScore Web Behavior Panel. We find that search intensity systematically decreases in categories with broader product ranges, and equilibrium prices rise. Our findings suggests that broader product ranges in online retail markets can produce anti‐competitive effects that are mediated through equilibrium responses in consumer search behavior.
Deficits in Adult Neurogenesis, Contextual Fear Conditioning, and Spatial Learning in a Gfap Mutant Mouse Model of Alexander Disease

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the major intermediate filament of mature astrocytes in the mammalian CNS. Dominant gain of function mutations in GFAP lead to the fatal neurodegenerative disorder, Alexander disease (AxD), which is characterized by cytoplasmic protein aggregates known as Rosenthal fibers along with variable degrees of leukodystrophy and intellectual disability. The mechanisms by which mutant GFAP leads to these pleiotropic effects are unknown. In addition to astrocytes, GFAP is also expressed in other cell types, particularly neural stem cells that form the reservoir supporting adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles. Here, we show that mouse models of AxD exhibit significant pathology in GFAP-positive radial glia-like cells in the dentate gyrus, and suffer from deficits in adult neurogenesis. In addition, they display impairments in contextual learning and spatial memory. This is the first demonstration of cognitive phenotypes in a model of primary astrocyte disease.
Smoking and Risk for Diabetes Incidence and Mortality in Korean Men and Women

OBJECTIVE Mounting evidence suggests that smoking is a cause of type 2 diabetes. We explored the association of cigarette smoking with diabetes incidence and mortality in a large cohort of Koreans. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A 14-year prospective cohort study was performed on 1,236,443 Korean men and women, aged 30–95 years at baseline, who underwent standardized biennial medical examinations provided by the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC). Incident diabetes was identified on the basis of outpatient visits, hospitalization, or prescription medication treatment for diabetes, as captured in the NHIC database. Diabetes mortality was obtained through the national statistical office. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate associations of smoking with indicators of diabetes and diabetes mortality. RESULTS Smoking was significantly associated with increased risk for diabetic outpatient treatment, hospitalization, and mortality among both men and women, and the risk among current smokers increased modestly with the number of cigarettes smoked daily (Ptrend < 0.0001 for all associations). Compared with never smokers, current male smokers who smoked ≥20 cigarettes/day had increased risk for incident diabetes defined by outpatient treatment (adjusted hazard ratio 1.55 [1.51–1.60]), incident diabetes defined by ≥3 prescription medications for diabetes (1.71 [1.63–1.80]), and death from diabetes (1.60 [1.25–2.06]). The risks for outpatient treatment among smokers were higher in men than in women with evidence for effect modification by sex and age (Pinteraction < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides longitudinal evidence that smoking increases the risk of incident diabetes and mortality.
The importance of the color information in face recognition

A common feature found in practically all technical approaches proposed for face recognition is the use of only the luminance information associated to the face image. One may wonder if this is due to the low importance of the color information in face recognition or due to other less technical reasons such as the no availability of color image database. Motivated by this reasoning, we have performed a variety of tests using a global eigen approach developed previously, which has been modified to cope with the color information. Our results show that the use of the color information embedded in a eigen approach, improve the recognition rate when compared to the same scheme which uses only the luminance information.