Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reference Frame Effects on Shape Perception in Two versus Three Dimensions

Three experiments are reported in which it is tested whether the Gestalt effect of configural orientation on shape perception operates on two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) representations of space. It is known that gravitationally defined squares and diamonds take longer to discriminate in diagonal arrays than in horizontal or vertical arrays. In the first experiment it is shown that this interference effect decreases dramatically in magnitude when pictorial depth information is added so that subjects perceive the target shapes in different depth planes. In the second experiment this difference is shown not to be due to relative size of the target shapes or to occlusion of a background plane. It is also shown, in the final experiment, that this difference is not due to linear perspective information or merely to perception of the target figures in a 3-D scene. The overall pattern of results supports the position that this configural reference frame effect arises primarily when the elements of the configuration are coplanar, and that the principal organization underlying it is the structure of the perceived 3-D environment rather than that of the 2-D image. In all three experiments, however, there is also a small interference effect in the noncoplanar 3-D conditions. This might be due either to some aspect of reference frame selection operating on the 2-D image representation or to the failure of subjects to see depth in the 3-D stimuli on some proportion of the trials.
The Diffusion of Risks in Public Private Partnership Contracts

Purpose - The UK government argues that the benefits of public private partnership (PPP) in delivering public infrastructure stem from transferring risks to the private sector within a structure in which financiers put their own capital at risk, and the performance-based payment mechanism, reinforced by the due diligence requirements imposed by the lenders financing the projects. Prior studies of risk in PPPs have investigated “what” risks are allocated and to “whom”, that is to the public or the private sector. The purpose of this study is to examine “how” and “why” PPP risks are diffused by their financiers. Design/methodology/approach - This study focuses on the financial structure of PPPs and on their financiers. Empirical evidence comes from interviews conducted with equity and debt financiers. Findings - The findings show that the financial structure of the deals generates risk aversion in both debt and equity financiers and that the need to attract affordable finance leads to risk diffusion through a network of companies using various means that include contractual mitigation through insurance, performance support guarantees, interest rate swaps and inflation hedges. Because of the complexity this process generates, both procurers and suppliers need expensive expert advice. The risk aversion and diffusion and the consequent need for advice add cost to the projects, impacting on the government's economic argument for risk transfer. Originality/value - The expectation inherent in PPP is that the private sector will better manage those risks allocated to it and because private capital is at risk, financiers will perform due diligence with the ultimate outcome that only viable projects will proceed. This paper presents empirical evidence that raises questions about these expectations.
Quantifying the Performance of P-Type Transparent Conducting Oxides by Experimental Methods

Screening for potential new materials with experimental and theoretical methods has led to the discovery of many promising candidate materials for p-type transparent conducting oxides. It is difficult to reliably assess a good p-type transparent conducting oxide (TCO) from limited information available at an early experimental stage. In this paper we discuss the influence of sample thickness on simple transmission measurements and how the sample thickness can skew the commonly used figure of merit of TCOs and their estimated band gap. We discuss this using copper-deficient CuCrO2 as an example, as it was already shown to be a good p-type TCO grown at low temperatures. We outline a modified figure of merit reducing thickness-dependent errors, as well as how modern ab initio screening methods can be used to augment experimental methods to assess new materials for potential applications as p-type TCOs, p-channel transparent thin film transistors, and selective contacts in solar cells.
Receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and soluble RAGE (sRAGE): cardiovascular implications

Disorders of glucose metabolism are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications, including coronary, peripheral and cerebral arterial disease, that account for the majority of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). These associations between glucose and CVD risk extend continuously well below the glycaemic thresholds established for the diagnosis of diabetes, including significantly increased risk associated with impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and even high normal glucose concentrations. While these epidemiological observations have established a clear association between cardiovascular disease and dysglycaemia and suggest a direct causal link, the mechanisms by which hyperglycaemia may contribute to the development, progression and instability of atherosclerosis remain unclear. A number of recent advances in the realm of vascular biology have identified several novel, plausible pathways that might link hyperglycaemia with atherosclerosis, individually or in aggregate. Key among them are the interaction between advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and the receptor for AGEs (RAGE), which exists as a trans-membrane signalling receptor and as a circulating form, soluble RAGE (sRAGE). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the present understanding of RAGE and sRAGE, their plausible role linking perturbed glucose metabolism with the development, progression and instability of atherosclerosis, and the potential therapeutic implications of modulation of this biological system.
Privatization and Strategic Monitoring with Gaussian Priors

This article describes the sale and optimal regulation of a sequence of public utilities, where monitoring of regulatory compliance is costly. The government is concerned with the revenue raised by successive privatizations as well as the standard objective of efficiency in production. The costs of monitoring are private information to the government. At each stage in the sequence of privatizations, the public Bayes updates its distribution of posterior beliefs over the government’s regulatory enforcement strategy. The government knows that this “learning” is taking place and chooses the time path of monitoring levels accordingly.
Direct plating of Cu on ALD TaN for 45nm node Cu BEOL metallization

Direct electro-deposition of a highly conformal and adherent Cu seed on ALD TaN by means of electro-grafting technique is presented. Both the adhesion of Cu seed to the underlying ALD TaN and EM lifetime performance were greatly enhanced by electro-grafting process, while the benefit of low via and line resistance of ALD TaN were maintained. This direct plated Cu seed layer on ALD TaN was demonstrated to successfully extend the current ECP to 45nm-node metallization and beyond.
UK Public Attitudes to Urban Traffic Problems and Possible Countermeasures: A Poll of Polls

Urban traffic congestion and the environmental and safety impacts of traffic now represent key political issues in many countries, and disputes over how they should be tackled have precipitated changes in national and local governments. Despite the rhetoric, however, few cities have yet taken firm action to control traffic. This inaction does not reflect a lack of suitable techniques and technologies so much as a concern over the degree of public support, either for the consequences of catering for the car (for example, housing demolition) or of restraining it. Twelve recent opinion surveys in the United Kingdom on public awareness of traffic-related problems and support for different solutions are examined. Despite differences in methodology, the overall findings are consistent and clear. These are presented and assessed, and the implications for urban transport policy are discussed.
Grapheme-colour synaesthesia improves detection of embedded shapes, but without pre-attentive ‘pop-out’ of synaesthetic colour

For people with synaesthesia letters and numbers may evoke experiences of colour. It has been previously demonstrated that these synaesthetes may be better at detecting a triangle made of 2s among a background of 5s if they perceive 5 and 2 as having different synaesthetic colours. However, other studies using this task (or tasks based on the same principle) have failed to replicate the effect or have suggested alternative explanations of the effect. In this study, we repeat the original study on a larger group of synaesthetes (n = 36) and include, for the first time, an assessment of their self-reported colour experiences. We show that synaesthetes do have a general advantage over controls on this task. However, many synaesthetes report no colour experiences at all during the task. Synaesthetes who do report colour typically experience around one third of the graphemes in the display as coloured. This is more consistent with theories of synaesthesia in which spatial attention needs to be deployed to graphemes for conscious colour experiences to emerge than the interpretation based on ‘pop-out’.
Generalized Predictive Tests and Structural Change Analysis in Econometrics

A generalized predictive testing procedure for structural stability in nonlinear dynamic simultaneous equations models is presented. It has several attractive features: (1) the tests are based on easy-to-compute predicted residuals; (2) the prediction subsample can be arbitrarily small; (3) only consistency is required and allowance is made for data-based model selection; (4) it is possible to analyze the timing and form of structural change equation by equation or globally, allowing an exploratory analysis of structural change conveniently summarized in a predictive analysis table; and (5) general forms of temporal dependence between model disturbances are allowed. Copyright 1994 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Cost-Effective Climate Policy in a Small Country

Unilateral action to curb C02 emissions in a small country or a group of countries has only a limited effect on global C02 emissions. However, it could be a first step toward a broader climate treaty. So far, unilateral commitments have been aimed at reducing national consumption of fossilfuels. A country that produces and consumes fossil fuels can also influence the global C02 emissions by reducing its production. The estimated cost of reducing national C02 emissions in Norway, through a reduction in fossilfuel consumption, is presented in a report from the Environmental Tax Committee (1992). In this paper, that cost is compared with an estimated cost of reducing fossil fuel production. The calculation reveals that it could be less costly to reduce the production than the consumption, given that the effect on global C02 emissions is identical.
Multiple functions of a multi-component mating pheromone in sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus.

The role of the C24 sulphate in the mating pheromone component, 7α,12α,24-trihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one 24-sulphate (3kPZS), to specifically induce upstream movement in ovulated female sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus was investigated. 7α,12α-dihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one 24-oic acid (3kACA), a structurally similar bile acid released by spermiated males, but lacking the C24 sulphate ester, was tested in bioassays at concentrations between 10(-11) and 10(-14) molar (M). 3kACA did not induce upstream movement in females or additional reproductive behaviours. In contrast, spermiated male washings induced upstream movement, prolonged retention on a nest and induced an array of nesting behaviours. Differential extraction and elution by solid-phase extraction resins showed that components other than 3kPZS + 3kACA are necessary to retain females on nests and induce nest cleaning behaviours. All pheromone components, including components in addition to 3kPZS + 3kACA that retain females and induce nest cleaning behaviours were released from the anterior region of the males, as had been reported for 3kPZS. It is concluded that the sea lamprey male mating pheromone has multiple functions and is composed of multiple components.
Mitophagy in maintaining skeletal muscle mitochondrial proteostasis and metabolic health with ageing

Skeletal muscle is important for overall functionality and health. Ageing is associated with an accumulation of damage to mitochondrial DNA and proteins. In particular, damage to mitochondrial proteins in skeletal muscle, which is a loss of mitochondrial proteostasis, contributes to tissue dysfunction and negatively impacts systemic health. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the regulation of mitochondrial proteostasis and how those mechanisms change with age is important for the development of interventions to promote healthy ageing. Herein, we examine how impairment in the selective degradation of damaged/dysfunctional mitochondria through mitophagy may play a central role in the loss of mitochondrial proteostasis in skeletal muscle ageing, as well as its broader implications for systemic health. Further, we explore how stimulating mitophagy through exercise may promote healthy ageing.
Farm Size and Returns to Cultivation in India: Revisiting an Old Debate

This paper revisits the long-debated question of the relationship between farm size and productivity by studying the relationship between area cultivated and net returns to cultivation in India using a nationally representative data-set. The analysis is carried out separately for the two major agricultural seasons, kharif and rabi, and for both the seasons pooled together. Our findings suggest the existence of an inverse relationship, even when we control for a number of household and farm characteristics and even when we treat factors such as household type (occupation), social group (caste), agro-climatic zone (region) and agricultural season as fixed effects. The result is also robust to correction for selection bias. However, the efficiency of the smallholder as a result of this greater productivity has to be treated with some caution as it ignores the low absolute levels of their returns, which raise questions about the sustainability of their livelihoods. This is further aggravated by the fact that they pay relatively higher unit costs and because of their greater dependence on purchased inputs.
Associative Learning of Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera:Pteromalidae) to Methyldisulfanylmethane

Traditional methods of volatile detection used by police typically consist of reliance on canine olfaction. However, dogs have some limitations such as cost of training and time of conditioning. The possibility of using parasitic wasps for detecting explosives and narcotics has been developed. Moreover, wasps are cheap to produce and can be conditioned with impressive speed for a specific chemical detection task. We examined the ability of Nasonia vitripennis Walker to learn and respond to methyldisulfanylmethane (DMDS), a volatile discriminator of cadaver. The training aimed to form an association between an unconditioned stimulus (pupae) and the conditioned stimulus (odor source). After the training, the time spent by conditioned wasps in the DMDS chamber was measured. Statistical analysis showed that the increasing concentrations involved an increase in the time spent in the chamber containing DMDS. This study indicates that N. vitripennis can respond to DMDS, which provide further support for its development as a biological sensor.
Tool wear prediction using evolutionary Dynamic Fuzzy Neural (EDFNN) Network

In development of self-organizing fuzzy neural network, selection of optimal parameters is one of the key issues. This is especially so for a system with more than 10 parameters whereby it will be challenging for expert users to determine the optimal parameters. This paper presents a hybrid Dynamic Fuzzy Neural Network (DFNN), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) termed Evolutionary Dynamic Fuzzy Neural Network (EDFNN) for the prediction of tool wear of ball nose end milling process. GA, well known for its powerful search method, is implemented to obtain optimal parameters of DFNN, so as to circumvent the complex time varying property without prior knowledge or exhaustive trials. Degradation of machine tools in ball nose end milling process is highly non-linear and time varying. Benchmarked again original DFNN in the experimental study, EDFNN demonstrates the effectiveness and versatility of proposed algorithm which not only produces higher prediction accuracy, and faster training time, but also serves to more compact and parsimonious network structure.
Sectoral social dialogue at EU level - recent results and implementation challenges

This article deals with recent developments in EU social dialogue, namely so-called ‘new generation texts’, which are non-binding legally, but ‘implementation-oriented’. Aspects of their follow-up, implementation and multi-level characteristics are therefore discussed. Findings from two sectoral dialogues indicate that follow-up procedures can vary considerably. Furthermore, the implementation or impact of such ‘new generation texts’ seem hard to prove. It is argued that characteristics of national industrial relations systems are insufficient to explain implementation results, since both the interests and attitudes of the actors involved and the specific topic of a given ‘new generation text’ must be taken into account. The main difficulty is found to be the lack of adequate implementation structures due to missing inter- and intraorganizational ‘level linkage’. Cet article traite de récents développements du dialogue social européen, à savoir les « textes de la nouvelle génération », qui ne sont pas légalement contraignants, mais « orientés vers la mise en œuvre » (implementation-oriented); il analyse certains aspects du suivi et de la mise en œuvre et les spécificités d’une problématique à niveaux multiples. L’observation de deux dialogues sectoriels montre que les procédures de suivi peuvent considérablement varier. D’autre part, la mise en œuvre ou l’impact d’un « texte de la nouvelle génération » semblent difficiles à déterminer. L’auteur estime que les caractéristiques des systèmes nationaux de relations professionnelles ne suffisent pas pour expliquer les résultats de mise en œuvre: il faut tenir compte à la fois des intérêts et des attitudes des acteurs impliqués et de la thématique spécifique d’un « texte de la nouvelle génération ». La principale difficulté réside dans le manque d’adéquation des structures de mise en oeuvre dû à l’absence d’articulation des niveaux entre et au sein des organisations. Dieser Beitrag befasst sich mit den jüngsten Entwicklungen des sozialen Dialogs auf EU-Ebene, insbesondere ,,Vereinbarungen der neuen Generation‘‘, das heißt Vereinbarungen, die zwar nicht rechtsverbindlich, aber dennoch ,,implementationsorientiert‘‘ sind. In diesem Zusammenhang werden verschiedene Aspekte von Folge- und Implementationsmaßnahmen und Merkmale der Beziehungen zwischen den verschiedenen Ebenen erörtert. Die Untersuchung des sozialen Dialogs in zwei Branchen zeigt, dass Verfahren für Folgemaßnahmen äußerst unterschiedlich sein können. Die Implementation bzw. Auswirkungen einer ,,Vereinbarung der neuen Generation‘‘ sind nur schwer zu belegen. Neben Merkmalen der nationalen Systeme der Arbeitsbeziehungen müssen die Interessen und Strategien der beteiligten Akteure sowie die spezifische Thematik der betreffenden Vereinbarungen in die Erklärung einbezogen werden. Das Hauptproblem besteht in fehlenden adäquaten Implementationsstrukturen, da häufig weder innerhalb noch zwischen den betreffenden Organisationen die relevanten Ebenen miteinander verknüpft sind.
Investigation of binding process of chlorpromazine to bovine serum albumin by means of passive and active experiments.

The association process of chlorpromazine with bovine serum albumin by both onefactoral passive and multifactoral active experiments were investigated in model systems. The dependence of absolute concentration of the free fraction of chlorpromazine on the total concentration of chlorpromazine is described by the increasing function, but the dependence of the relative concentration (free/total) on this factor is influenced by external characteristics. The concentrations of chlorpromazine, bovine serum albumin and Tritons' mixture, as principal factors of a multifactoral experiment, influence the absolute and relative values of the free fraction of chlorpromazine non-additively, ie the interaction of factors is significant.
Who's Driving the Asylum Debate? Newspaper and Government Representations of Asylum Seekers

The welfare and future of asylum seekers in Australia have been very contentious contemporary issues. Findings based on content analysis of media releases in 2001 and 2002 reveal the unrelentingly negative way in which the federal government portrayed asylum seekers. While the government's negative tenor was constant during the study period, the specific terms of reference altered, from ‘threat’ through ‘other’, to ‘illegality’ and to ‘burden’. The negative construction of asylum seekers was clearly mutable. Analysis of newspaper reporting during the same period indicates that the media largely adopted the negativity and specific references of the government. The media dependence upon government statements and spokespersons in part explains this relation. The findings generally support the ‘propaganda model’ that holds a pessimistic view of the news media's critical abilities. However, the media departed somewhat slightly from the government's unchanging stance following some key events and revelations. Clearly, there is scope for disrupting the flow of negative constructions from government to media, and ultimately to audiences.
Wages and Politics: Evidence from the Norwegian Public Sector

The paper presents empirical results for wage setting in the Norwegian local and central public sector. Our results imply that central and local government wages are completely autonomous processes both in the short-run and in the long-run. This suggests that the formal strong coordination of wage setting in the two sectors at the national level does not determine the final outcome. We find that a stronger central government will reduce wages in the local government sector. The evidence also suggests an electoral cycle in the local--but not in the central government sector. Copyright 2001 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd