Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Explaining agency detection within a domain-specific, culturally attuned model

Agency detection is a central concept in the cognitive science of religion (CSR). Experimental studies, however, have so far failed to lend support to some of the most common predictions that follow from current theories on agency detection. In this article, I argue that predictive coding, a highly promising new framework for understanding perception and action, may solve pending theoretical inconsistencies in agency detection research, account for the puzzling experimental findings mentioned above, and provide hypotheses for future experimental testing. Predictive coding explains how the brain, unbeknownst to consciousness, engages in sophisticated Bayesian statistics in an effort to constantly predict the hidden causes of sensory input. My fundamental argument is that most false positives in agency detection can be seen as the result of top-down interference in a Bayesian system generating high prior probabilities in the face of unreliable stimuli, and that such a system can better account for the experimental evidence than previous accounts of a dedicated agency detection system. Finally, I argue that adopting predictive coding as a theoretical framework has radical implications for the effects of culture on the detection of supernatural agency and a range of other religious and spiritual perceptual phenomena. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 26 April 2016 Accepted 24 January 2017
Single‐Gate Bandgap Opening of Bilayer Graphene by Dual Molecular Doping

Dual doping-driven perpendicular electric field with opposite directions remarkably increase the on/off current ratio of bilayer graphene field-effect transistors. This unambiguously proves that it is possible to open a bandgap with two molecular dopants (F4-TCNQ and NH2 -functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)) even in a single-gate device structure.
The Grasp Perturbator: Calibrating human grasp stiffness during a graded force task

In this paper we present a novel and simple handheld device for measuring in vivo human grasp impedance. The measurement method is based on a static identification method and intrinsic impedance is identified inbetween 25 ms. Using this device it is possbile to develop continuous grasp impedance measurement methods as it is an active research topic in physiology as well as in robotics, especially since nowadays (bio-inspired) robotics can be impedance-controlled. Potential applications of human impedance estimation range from impedance-controlled telesurgery to limb prosthetics and rehabilitation robotics. We validate the device through a physiological experiment in which the device is used to show a linear relationship between finger stiffness and grip force.
Spatial disaggregation of bias-corrected GCM precipitation for improved hydrologic simulation: Ping River Basin, Thailand

Abstract. Global Climate Models (GCMs) precipitation scenarios are often characterized by biases and coarse resolution that limit their direct application for basin level hydrological modeling. Bias-correction and spatial disaggregation methods are employed to improve the quality of ECHAM4/OPYC SRES A2 and B2 precipitation for the Ping River Basin in Thailand. Bias-correction method, based on gamma-gamma transformation, is applied to improve the frequency and amount of raw GCM precipitation at the grid nodes. Spatial disaggregation model parameters (β,σ2), based on multiplicative random cascade theory, are estimated using Mandelbrot-Kahane-Peyriere (MKP) function at q=1 for each month. Bias-correction method exhibits ability of reducing biases from the frequency and amount when compared with the computed frequency and amount at grid nodes based on spatially interpolated observed rainfall data. Spatial disaggregation model satisfactorily reproduces the observed trend and variation of average rainfall amount except during heavy rainfall events with certain degree of spatial and temporal variations. Finally, the hydrologic model, HEC-HMS, is applied to simulate the observed runoff for upper Ping River Basin based on the modified GCM precipitation scenarios and the raw GCM precipitation. Precipitation scenario developed with bias-correction and disaggregation provides an improved reproduction of basin level runoff observations.
Neural Mechanisms of Bodily Self-Consciousness and the Experience of Presence in Virtual Reality

Recent neuroscience research emphasizes the embodied origins of the experience of the self. This chapter shows that further advances in the understanding of the phenomenon of VR-induced presence might be achieved in connection with advances in the understanding of the brain mechanisms of bodily self-consciousness. By reviewing the neural mechanisms that make the virtual reality experience possible and the neurocognitive models of bodily self-consciousness, we highlight how the development of applied human computer confluence technologies and the fundamental scientific investigation of bodily self-consciousness benefit from each other in a symbiotic manner.
The Impact of Service Learning on Pre-Service Teachers Preconceptions of Urban Education

Urban schools, especially those serving high minority, high poverty, and low performing students, are in desperate need of high-quality teachers, yet issues with retention, recruitment, and preparedness plague urban districts (Aragon, Culpepper, McKee & Perkins, 2014). Teacher educators are challenged to prepare teacher candidates to overcome misconceptions about urban schools. This study was designed to explore the effects that one sustained, supervised, course-based service learning experience had on preservice teachers’ preconceptions and attitudes towards urban education. Surveys were administered to 38 teacher candidates before and after their service learning experience at an urban charter school. Results were analyzed using paired samples t-tests and indicated significant changes in attitudes towards the facilities, teaching materials and neighborhood safety for urban schools. Implications for teacher educators are examined.
Textual enhancement, grammar learning, reading comprehension, and tag questions

The present study investigates whether textual enhancement had any effects on grammar learning (tag questions) and reading comprehension, and whether the types of tag question contributed to the benefits of textual enhancement. The study employed a pretest–posttest design with three treatment sessions. The target forms were English tag questions, which were grouped into three types: auxiliary (AUX), do-support (DO), and modal (MODAL). Participants were 69 Japanese high school students, who were assigned into three experimental groups (n = 52) and a control group (n = 17). The control group received unenhanced passages, whereas three experimental groups received passages, each of which included one of the target forms visually manipulated. To examine the effects of textual enhancement, the participants performed a multiple-choice grammar task consisting of 18 items. Reading comprehension was assessed using a 10-item multiple-choice test based on information from the passage. The results showed (1) that the effectiveness of textual enhancement on learning the target forms appeared in one enhanced group (Group 3) but it did not appear in the other two groups; (2) that textual enhancement did not detract from reading comprehension; and (3) that enhancing specific types of the target forms seemed to facilitate Group 3’s learning, but did not have any effects for the other groups.
Physical Unclonable Functions and Applications: A Tutorial

This paper describes the use of physical unclonable functions (PUFs) in low-cost authentication and key generation applications. First, it motivates the use of PUFs versus conventional secure nonvolatile memories and defines the two primary PUF types: “strong PUFs” and “weak PUFs. ” It describes strong PUF implementations and their use for low-cost authentication. After this description, the paper covers both attacks and protocols to address errors. Next, the paper covers weak PUF implementations and their use in key generation applications. It covers error-correction schemes such as pattern matching and index-based coding. Finally, this paper reviews several emerging concepts in PUF technologies such as public model PUFs and new PUF implementation technologies.
Use of ultrasonic and electromagnetic NDT to evaluate durability monitoring parameters of concretes

En vue d'utiliser les techniques non destructives (NDT) pour la surveillance des structures en beton arme, il est important de montrer que celles-ci peuvent mesurer les caracteristiques de durabilite du beton d'enrobage. Pour ce faire, differentes NDT ont ete utilisees pour evaluer les proprietes mecaniques et physiques de betons de porosite allant de 12.5 a 18%. En ce qui concerne les ondes mecaniques, une technique fondee sur la propagation d'ondes de surface detectees par interferometrie laser, permet de mesurer la vitesse de phase en fonction de la frequence et de la relier a la densite et au module elastique. Les resultats obtenus sont compares a ceux de l'impact-echo, une technique qui integre les proprietes mecaniques sur toute l'epaisseur des dalles etudiees. En ce qui concerne les ondes electromagnetiques, la permittivite dielectrique est mesuree depuis la surface par differentes sondes capacitives et une technique radar multi-offset en evaluant la teneur en eau entre la surface et differentes profondeurs. Les resultats ND sont compares a des indicateurs de durabilite (porosite) et des parametres de suivi des degradations (teneur en eau et en chlorure) comme a des indicateurs mecaniques (module elastique), tous mesures par des techniques destructives de reference.
Laboratory Surveillance of Rabies in Humans, Domestic Animals, and Bats in Madagascar from 2005 to 2010

Background. Rabies virus (RABV) has circulated in Madagascar at least since the 19th century. Objectives. To assess the circulation of lyssavirus in the island from 2005 to 2010. Materials and Methods. Animal (including bats) and human samples were tested for RABV and other lyssavirus using antigen, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and antibodies detection and virus isolation. Results. Half of the 437 domestic or tame wild terrestrial mammal brains tested were found RABV antigen positive, including 54% of the 341 dogs tested. This percentage ranged from 26% to 75% across the period. Nine of the 10 suspected human cases tested were laboratory confirmed. RABV circulation was confirmed in 34 of the 38 districts sampled. No lyssavirus RNA was detected in 1983 bats specimens. Nevertheless, antibodies against Lagos bat virus were detected in the sera of 12 among 50 Eidolon dupreanum specimens sampled. Conclusion. More than a century after the introduction of the vaccine, rabies still remains endemic in Madagascar.
The impact of contingencies on management accounting system development

Four hypotheses relevant to the contingency theory of management accounting are presented. Data relate to the period 1994–98 for a sample of new Scottish microfirms. First, correlation analysis is applied to test the hypothesis that the introduction of management accounting system (MAS) developments is related to the timing of contingent events such as cashflow crises, shortfalls of finance, and innovation. Second, cluster analysis is used to test the hypothesis that contingencies cluster to form three configurations of small firms, adaptive, running blind, and stagnant. Third, regression analysis is used to test the hypothesis that an index of organizational form, measured by weighted headcount, is explained by aspects of the generic contingencies, technological uncertainty, production systems, business strategy and market environment. The fourth hypothesis is that MAS complexity is determined by sub-unit interdependence, market dynamics, and work methods. The four hypotheses tested support several aspects of contingency theory, as modified to a small firms context.
Embodying Emotion

Recent theories of embodied cognition suggest new ways to look at how we process emotional information. The theories suggest that perceiving and thinking about emotion involve perceptual, somatovisceral, and motoric reexperiencing (collectively referred to as “embodiment”) of the relevant emotion in one's self. The embodiment of emotion, when induced in human participants by manipulations of facial expression and posture in the laboratory, causally affects how emotional information is processed. Congruence between the recipient's bodily expression of emotion and the sender's emotional tone of language, for instance, facilitates comprehension of the communication, whereas incongruence can impair comprehension. Taken all together, recent findings provide a scientific account of the familiar contention that “when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. ”
A Theoretical and Empirical Study of Search-Based Testing: Local, Global, and Hybrid Search

Search-based optimization techniques have been applied to structural software test data generation since 1992, with a recent upsurge in interest and activity within this area. However, despite the large number of recent studies on the applicability of different search-based optimization approaches, there has been very little theoretical analysis of the types of testing problem for which these techniques are well suited. There are also few empirical studies that present results for larger programs. This paper presents a theoretical exploration of the most widely studied approach, the global search technique embodied by Genetic Algorithms. It also presents results from a large empirical study that compares the behavior of both global and local search-based optimization on real-world programs. The results of this study reveal that cases exist of test data generation problem that suit each algorithm, thereby suggesting that a hybrid global-local search (a Memetic Algorithm) may be appropriate. The paper presents a Memetic Algorithm along with further empirical results studying its performance.
The Mirrors for the MAGIC Telescopes

D. Bastieri, D. Agguiaro, J. Arnold, C. Bigongiari, F. Dazzi, M. Doro, N. Galante,M. Garczarczyk, E. Lorenz, D. Maniero, M. Mariotti, R. Mirzoyan, A. Moralejo,D. Pascoli, A. Pepato, L. Peruzzo, M. Rebeschini, A. Saggion, P. Sartori, V. Scalzotto,D. Tescaro, and N. Tonello for the MAGIC Collaboration .
Grazer Functional Roles, Induced Defenses, and Indirect Interactions: Implications for Eelgrass Restoration in San Francisco Bay

Understanding the individual and interactive roles of consumer species is more than academic when the host plant is a subject of intense conservation interest. In a mesocosm experiment, we compared effects of common invertebrate grazers in San Francisco Bay seagrass (Zostera marina, eelgrass) beds, finding that some species (a native opisthobranch, Phyllaplysia taylori; a native isopod, Idotea resecata; and an introduced gastropod, Ilyanassa obsoleta) enhanced eelgrass growth through removal of epiphytic algae, as is often predicted for small invertebrate grazers on seagrasses, while one (an introduced caprellid amphipod, Caprella cf. drepanochir) had neutral effects. In contrast, the putatively-introduced gammaridean amphipod, Ampithoe valida, had strong negative effects on eelgrass (in addition to epiphytes) through consumption, as we had previously observed in the field during restoration programs. We tested whether other common grazer species could influence the effects of the eelgrass-grazing Ampithoe, and found that Idotea induced production of phenolic compounds and limited eelgrass damage by Ampithoe, without affecting Ampithoe abundance. These results have implications for restoration strategies, and contribute to a growing awareness of the importance of trait-mediated indirect grazer interactions through grazer-induced changes in plant traits, providing the first example in a seagrass system.
Neuropsychological impairment in racial/ethnic minorities with HIV infection and low literacy levels: Effects of education and reading level in participant characterization

Educational attainment is an important factor in the interpretation of cognitive test scores but years of education are not necessarily synonymous with educational quality among racial/ethnic minority populations. This study investigated the comparability of educational attainment with reading level and examined whether discrepancies in education and reading level accounted for differences in neuropsychological test performance between HIV+ racial/ethnic minority and nonminority participants. Study participants (N = 200) were derived from the Manhattan HIV Brain Bank (MHBB) where 50% of the cohort had ≤8th grade reading level but only 5% had ≤8 years of education. Significantly lower reading ability and education was found among African Americans and Hispanics, and these participants were more likely to have discrepant reading and education levels compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Discrepancy in reading and education level was associated with worse neuropsychological performance while racial/ethnic minority status was not. As years of schooling overestimated racial/ethnic minority participants' educational quality, standard norms based on education may inflate impairment rates among racial/ethnic minorities. Identifying appropriate normative standards is and will continue to be important in the detection of cognitive impairment in racial/ethnic minorities with HIV. (JINS, 2005, 11, 889–898.)
Does Incidental Disgust Amplify Moral Judgment? A Meta-Analytic Review of Experimental Evidence

The role of emotion in moral judgment is currently a topic of much debate in moral psychology. One specific claim made by many researchers is that irrelevant feelings of disgust can amplify the severity of moral condemnation. Numerous researchers have found this effect, but there have also been several published failures to replicate it. Clarifying this issue would inform important theoretical debates among rival accounts of moral judgment. We meta-analyzed all available studies—published and unpublished—in which incidental disgust was manipulated prior to or concurrent with a moral judgment task (k = 50). We found evidence for a small amplification effect of disgust (d = 0.11), which is strongest for gustatory/olfactory modes of disgust induction. However, there is also some suggestion of publication bias in this literature, and when this is accounted for, the effect disappears entirely (d = −0.01). Moreover, prevalent confounds mean that the effect size that we estimate is best interpreted as an upper bound on the size of the amplification effect. On the basis of the results of this meta-analysis, we argue against strong claims about the causal role of affect in moral judgment and suggest a need for new, more rigorous research on this topic.
The capture of attention and gaze in the search for emotional photographic faces

ABSTRACT Can emotional expressions automatically attract attention in virtue of their affective content? Previous studies mostly used emotional faces (e.g., angry or happy faces) in visual search tasks to assess whether affective contents can automatically attract attention. However, the evidence in support of affective attentional capture is still contentious, as the studies either: (1) did not render affective contents irrelevant to the task, (2) used affective stimuli that were perceptually similar to the target, (3) did not rule out factors occurring later in the visual search process (e.g., disengagement of attention), or (4) used only schematic emotional faces that do not clearly convey affective contents. The present study remedied these shortcomings by measuring the eye movements of observers while they searched for emotional photographic faces. To examine whether irrelevant emotional faces are selected because of their perceptual similarity to the target (top-down), or because of their emotional expressions, we also assessed the perceptual similarity between the emotional distractors and the target. The results show that happy and angry faces can indeed automatically attract attention and the gaze. Perceptual similarity modulated the effect only weakly, indicating that capture was mainly due to bottom-up, stimulus-driven processes. However, post-selectional processes of disengaging attention from the emotional expressions contributed strongly to the overall disruptive effects of emotional expressions. Taken together, these results support a stimulus-driven account of attentional capture by emotional faces, and highlight the need to use measures that can distinguish between early and late processes in visual search.
Learning theory analysis for association rules and sequential event prediction

We present a theoretical analysis for prediction algorithms based on association rules. As part of this analysis, we introduce a problem for which rules are particularly natural, called "sequential event prediction. " In sequential event prediction, events in a sequence are revealed one by one, and the goal is to determine which event will next be revealed. The training set is a collection of past sequences of events. An example application is to predict which item will next be placed into a customer's online shopping cart, given his/her past purchases. In the context of this problem, algorithms based on association rules have distinct advantages over classical statistical and machine learning methods: they look at correlations based on subsets of co-occurring past events (items a and b imply item c), they can be applied to the sequential event prediction problem in a natural way, they can potentially handle the "cold start" problem where the training set is small, and they yield interpretable predictions. In this work, we present two algorithms that incorporate association rules. These algorithms can be used both for sequential event prediction and for supervised classification, and they are simple enough that they can possibly be understood by users, customers, patients, managers, etc. We provide generalization guarantees on these algorithms based on algorithmic stability analysis from statistical learning theory. We include a discussion of the strict minimum support threshold often used in association rule mining, and introduce an "adjusted confidence" measure that provides a weaker minimum support condition that has advantages over the strict minimum support. The paper brings together ideas from statistical learning theory, association rule mining and Bayesian analysis.
Latent Discriminative Modeling for Lesion Detection in PET-CT Images

F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography – computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) is now the best imaging technique to accurately stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While an automated lesion detection system would help to reduce the time consumption and inter-observer differences in manual image interpretation, the accuracy of automated lesion detection is often limited by the intersubject variation in normal and tumoural FDG uptake. In this paper, we propose a latent discriminative model to detect the lesions from thoracic images. With this model design, slice-level thresholds of FDG uptake are derived via latent variables during discriminative learning. We thus leveraged the benefit of supervised learning to address the intersubject variation while explicitly modeling the functional characteristics. We evaluated our proposed method on a clinical dataset and obtained good detection performance.