Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Invariance Hypothesis: is abstract reason based on image-schemas?

I view cognitive linguistics äs defined by the commitment to characterize the füll ränge of linguistic generalizations while being faithful to empirical discoveries about the nature of the mind/brain. The Invariance Hypothesis is a proposed general principle intended to characterize a broad ränge or regularities in both our conceptual and linguistic Systems. Given that all metaphorical mappings are partial, the Invariance Hypothesis claims that the portion of the source domain structure that is mapped preserves cognitive topology (though, of course, not all the cognitive topology ofthe source domain need be mapped). Since the cognitive topology of Image-Schemas determines their inference patterns, the Invariance Hypothesis claims that imagistic reasoning patterns are mapped onto abstract reasoning patterns via metaphorical mappings. It entails that at least some (and perhaps all) abstract reasoning is a metaphorical version of image-based reasoning. The data covered by the Invariance Hypothesis includes the metaphorical understanding of time, states, events, actions, purposes, means, causes, modalities, linear scales, and categories. Because the source domains of these metaphorical concepts are structured by image-schemas, the Invariance Hypothesis suggests that reasoning involving these concepts is fundamentally image-based. This includes the subject matter of Boolean, scalar, modal, temporal, and causal reasoning. These cases cover such a large ränge of abstract reasoning that the question naturally arises äs to whether all abstract human reasoning is a metaphorical version of imagistic reasoning. I see this äs a major question for future research in cognitive linguistics. 1. What is cognitive linguistics? I generally prefer not to engage in methodological discussions and would rather just get on with my work. But I feel that the Formation of a new Cognitive Linguistics 1-1 (1990), 39-74 0936-5907/90/0001-0039 $2.00 © Walter de Gruyter
Sex As a Coping Strategy and Its Relationship to Juvenile Sexual History and Intimacy in Sexual Offenders

The current research examined the hypothesis that sexual activity functions as a coping strategy for sexual offenders. A 16-item scale, the Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI), was developed to assess the presence of and the degree to which sex was used to deal with problematic situations. Sexual offenders consistently reported, using sexual activities, both consenting and nonconsenting, as a coping strategy to deal with stressful and problematic situations. In the first study, when compared to nonsexual violent offenders, sexual offenders showed evidence of sexual preoccupation during adolescence, and this preoccupation was related to the latter use of sex as a coping strategy. In the second study, intimacy deficits and loneliness were related to greater use of sexual activity as a coping mechanism. The third study examined the psychometric properties of the CUSI. A factor analysis revealed 3 factors in the CUSI corresponding to consenting sexual themes, rape themes, and child sexual abuse themes. Sexual offenders reported higher use of each type of sexual activity to cope with stressful and difficult situations as compared to nonsexual offenders. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed here.
Data Mining applied to Forensic Speaker Identification

In this paper we analyze the advantages of using data mining techniques and tools for data fusion in forensic speaker recognition. Segmental and suprasegmental features were employed in 28 different classifiers, in order to compare their performances. The selected classifiers have different learning techniques: lazy or instance-based, eager and ensemble. Two approaches were employed on the classification task: the use of all features and the use of a feature subset, selected with a gain ratio methodology. The best performances, with all features, were obtained by three classifiers: Logistic Model Tree (eager), LogitBoost (ensemble) and Multilayer Perceptron (eager). Support Vector Machine (eager) proved to be a good classifier if a Pearson VII function-based universal kernel was used. When low dimensional features were selected, ensemble classifiers exceeded the performance of all others classifiers. Segmental and tone features demonstrated the best speaker discrimination capabilities, followed by duration and quality voice features. Evaluation was performed on Argentine-Spanish voice samples from the Speech_Dat database recorded on a fixed telephone environment. Different recording sessions and channels for the test segments were added and the Z-norm procedure was applied for channel compensation.
Design and Implementation of an Optimized Sliding Mode Controller and Compared with a Conventional MPPT Controller for a Solar System

This article gives a broad idea about Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) implementation to a DC-DC Boost Converter for a Photovoltaic (PV) system to track Maximum Power Point (MPP). SMC implementation meets three conditions like (i) Hitting, (ii) Existence and (iii) Stability. Single exponential PV model is designed for lighting applications, and PV output is connected to a Boost converter to regulate and increase the voltage up to desired level. SMC is implemented in a feedback manner with capacitor voltage and inductor current. The steady state condition occurred at around 0.1sec, and tracking 1.13% extra power at Standard Test Conditions (STC). The results of SMC are compared with Incremental conductance (Inc Cond) Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller; the models are simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK. Key-Words: DC DC Boost Converter, Incremental Conductance Controller, Maximum Power Point, Photovoltaic, SMC, STC
Towards establishing a mute communication: An Indian Sign Language perspective

To automate the communication between a deaf and a hearing person, both channels i.e. from deaf to hearing and vice-versa must be emphasized equally. Sign Language Recognition System helps to understand the sign language gestures made by a deaf, while a Sign Language Animation System enables a deaf person to interpret a hearing person who does not know sign language. In this survey, various techniques to implement these two systems are explored and compared separately. Though Indian Sign language (ISL) is in focus, research work in other sign languages is explored as well.
A high-speed method of dynamic comparators for SAR analog to digital converters

A low-power high-speed two-stage dynamic comparator is presented. The voltage fluctuation at the first stage of the comparator (pre-amplifier stage) is limited to Vdd/2. Therefore, the power consumption of the first stage which is the dominant part of the total power consumption is reduced. The output voltage of the first stage is kept above Vdd/2. As a result, during the comparison the second stage of the comparator (latch) is activated stronger compared to the conventional comparator. To prove the benefits of the proposed comparator, the proposed and the other circuits are simulated in the equal budget of power and offset. Simulation results prove that the proposed comparator is faster by a factor of two. The comparator delay, dynamic offset, and power consumption (at 500 MHz) are 255 ps, 2.6 mV, and 420 uW respectively. Moreover, the maximum input common mode of the proposed circuit is 94%Vdd at 500MHz which is better than the conventional method (68%Vdd).
VISUALIZING UNCERTAINTY IN VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTIONS

The virtual reconstruction of lost buildings as means of recreating lost cultural heritage has become a strongly growing field of application for computer graphics [1]. Research results of historians and archeologists are used by computer scientists to create computer models as base for visualizations. Typically, off-the-shelf software is employed that allows generating images with the quality of photographs (see, for example, Figure 1).
Low Rank Global Geometric Consistency for Partial-Duplicate Image Search

All existing feature point based partial-duplicate image retrieval systems are confronted with the false feature point matching problem. To resolve this issue, geometric contexts are widely used to verify the geometric consistency in order to remove false matches. However, most of the existing methods focus on local geometric contexts rather than global. Seeking global contexts has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. This paper introduces a novel global geometric consistency, based on the low rankness of squared distance matrices of feature points, to detect false matches. We cast the problem of detecting false matches as a problem of decomposing a squared distance matrix into a low rank matrix, which models the global geometric consistency, and a sparse matrix, which models the mismatched feature points. So we arrive at a model of Robust Principal Component Analysis. Our Low Rank Global Geometric Consistency (LRGGC) is simple yet effective and theoretically sound. Extensive experimental results show that our LRGGC is much more accurate than state of the art geometric verification methods in detecting false matches and is robust to all kinds of similarity transformation (scaling, rotation, and translation) and even slight change in 3D views. Its speed is also highly competitive even compared with local geometric consistency based methods.
Early morphological effects in word recognition in Hebrew: Evidence from parafoveal preview benefit

Hebrew words are composed of two interwoven morphemes: a triconsonantal root and a word pattern. Two experiments examined the effect of the root morpheme on word identification by assessing parafoveal preview benefit effects. Although the information of the preview was not consciously perceived, preview of the root's letters facilitated both naming and lexical decisions of target words derived from these roots. These results converge with previous results in Hebrew using the masked priming paradigm, suggesting that morphological units mediate early stages of word identification in Hebrew.
Private for-profit higher education in Australia: widening access, participation and opportunities for public-private collaboration

Private for-profit higher education has grown rapidly in many parts of the world. This growth is attributed to many factors, including a broadening of the student population and the recognition that wider access to higher education will be economically beneficial to individuals, governments and society as a whole. In Australia, the number of students in private for-profit higher education is rising, with dramatic projections for the next 10 years. The Australian government has set a target to increase the participation of students in higher education, with a focus on increasing the access and success of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is unclear, however, what role the burgeoning private for-profit institutions will play in meeting the government's targets, and what incentives will be provided for them to increase the access and participation of students from disadvantaged groups. This paper analyses the key drivers of growth in private for-profit higher education in Australia, and discusses issues around quality and standards. It examines the strengths and limitations of the sector, and the extent to which it contributes to diversity, access and the participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It argues that the sector needs clear government directions to improve levels of access, and new government policies to encourage public-private collaborations to help ensure sustainability. The paper also briefly touches on the need for a review into the current structure of Australia's higher education sector as a whole, and whether higher education would benefit from the formation of public community colleges with the explicit aim of widening access for disadvantaged student groups. Further, the paper suggests that encouraging such public-private collaboration may be beneficial to ensure access and participation of students from all walks of life, including disadvantaged groups.
Modelling issues for tall reinforced concrete core wall buildings

Reinforced concrete walls are commonly used as the primary lateral force‐resisting system for tall buildings. As the tools for conducting nonlinear response history analysis have improved and with the advent of performance‐based seismic design, reinforced concrete walls and core walls are often employed as the only lateral force‐resisting system. Proper modelling of the load versus deformation behaviour of reinforced concrete walls and link beams is essential to accurately predict important response quantities. Given this critical need, an overview of modelling approaches appropriate to capture the lateral load responses of both slender and stout reinforced concrete walls, as well as link beams, is presented. Modelling of both flexural and shear responses is addressed, as well as the potential impact of coupled flexure–shear behaviour. Model results are compared with experimental results to assess the ability of common modelling approaches to accurately predict both global and local experimental responses. Based on the findings, specific recommendations are made for general modelling issues, limiting material strains for combined bending and axial load, and shear backbone relations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Equilinguisme ou dominance? Le bilinguisme d'enfants de couples franco-américains en France et en Angleterre

The bilingualism of children of one American and one French parent is described here in comparative perspective against the background of residence in France or Great Britain. Allfour parents are somewhat proficient in both languages. Certain similarities and differences in their situations are pointed out, and the role ofbilingual socializer filled by the parents is analyzed. The conclusions are based on the study ofexcerpts ofrecordings of two bilingual children playing or talking with their parents, Thibaud (3,5 years old) in France, and Samuel (4,9) in England.
Calcium reduces the sodium permeability of luminal membrane vesicles from toad bladder. Studies using a fast-reaction apparatus

Regulation of the sodium permeability of the luminal membrane is the major mechanism by which the net rate of sodium transport across tight epithelia is varied. Previous evidence has suggested that the permeability of the luminal membrane might be regulated by changes in intracellular sodium or calcium activities. To test this directly, we isolated a fraction of the plasma membrane from the toad urinary bladder, which contains a fast, amiloride-sensitive sodium flux with characteristics similar to those of the native luminal membrane. Using a flow-quench apparatus to measure the initial rate of sodium efflux from these vesicles in the millisecond time range, we have demonstrated that the isotope exchange permeability of these vesicles is very sensitive to calcium. Calcium reduces the sodium permeability, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration is 0.5 microM, well within the range of calcium activity found in cells. Also, the permeability of the luminal membrane vesicles is little affected by the ambient sodium concentration. These results, when taken together with studies on whole tissue, suggest that cell calcium may be an important regulator of transepithelial sodium transport by its effect on luminal sodium permeability. The effect of cell sodium on permeability may be mediated by calcium rather than by sodium itself.
Skin Color Segmentation Based on Improved 2D Otsu and YCgCr

A new algorithm for skin color segmentation is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the skin color sample images are light-compensated and transferred from RGB to YCgCr color space. Secondly, the Gaussian skin color model is established from 179221 skin pixels. Thirdly, the skin like similarity degree is computed and the skin color similarity image is obtained. Finally, an improved 2D Otsu method is used into skin color segmentation. Experimental results show that the new skin color segmentation method is superior to the traditional methods.
Retreat from multiculturalism: community cohesion, civic integration and the disciplinary politics of gender

Abstract The intersections of gender, religion and migration status have attracted only limited commentary to date. The significance of migration status as a marker of gender inequality, and one that further increases the burden of intersecting axes of discrimination, requires further scrutiny. This article examines the rise of civic integration requirements within the European Union and the significance of this rise for religious freedoms and complex ideals of gender equality. Particular attention is given to recent developments in the UK and France in the context of wider debates on immigration and integration policies. Against the background of diminishing sovereignty and the expansion of rights to non-citizens, states are rethinking the significance of citizenship and migration status and the criteria to be applied in determining membership and access to the nation-state. The adoption in France of the Charte des Droits et des Devoirs du Citoyen Français marks a further step in the expansion of integration conditions imposed by states, and signals a continuing willingness to deploy juridical forms to enforce such conditions. Of particular concern to this Special Issue are the implications of civic integration requirements for migrant religious women and for feminist engagement with migration laws and the discourse of rights.
CD40 is expressed and functional on neuronal cells

We show here that CD40 mRNA and protein are expressed by neuronal cells, and are increased in differentiated versus undifferentiated N2a and PC12 cells as measured by RT–PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, immunohistochemistry reveals that neurons from adult mouse and human brain also express CD40 in situ. CD40 ligation results in a time‐dependent increase in p44/42 MAPK activation in neuronal cells. Furthermore, ligation of CD40 opposes JNK phosphorylation and activity induced by NGF‐β removal from differentiated PC12 cells or serum withdrawal from primary cultured neurons. Importantly, CD40 ligation also protects neuronal cells from NGF‐β or serum withdrawal‐induced injury and affects neuronal differentiation. Finally, adult mice deficient for the CD40 receptor demonstrate neuronal dysfunction as evidenced by decreased neurofilament isoforms, reduced Bcl‐xL:Bax ratio, neuronal morphological change, increased DNA fragmentation, and gross brain abnormality. These changes occur with age, and are clearly evident at 16 months. Taken together, these data demonstrate a role of CD40 in neuronal development, maintenance and protection in vitro and in vivo.
Golgi protein 73(GP73), a useful serum marker in liver diseases

Abstract Background: This study was performed to quantify the expression of Golgi protein-73 (GP73) in healthy controls and in patients with liver disease, and to evaluate the correlations between GP73 and other serum markers in different liver diseases. Methods: Serum GP73 was measured in 478 healthy controls and 296 patients with different types of liver disease. Quantitative hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was determined in two chronic hepatitis B (CHB) groups. Other serum liver fibrosis markers were measured in the liver fibrosis group and α-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group. The correlations between GP73 and these markers were evaluated. Results: The GP73 value in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB group, HBeAg-negative CHB group, liver fibrosis group and HCC group was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that in healthy controls. GP73 showed significant correlation with other markers in the liver fibrosis group and with AFP in the HCC group. Conclusions: Compared with healthy controls, GP73 in patients with liver disease was significantly increased. With the progression of liver disease, GP73 showed a significantly increasing trend. These results suggest that GP73 might be used as a serum marker for the diagnosis of liver diseases and for monitoring disease progression.
Toll‐like receptors and their adaptors are regulated in macrophages after phagocytosis of lipopolysaccharide‐coated titanium particles

Macrophages phagocytose metallic wear particles and produce mediators, which can induce cellular host response and aseptic implant loosening. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the wear debris can stimulate macrophages via Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and enhance the response. However, the precise functional role and interaction of TLRs and their adaptor molecules is still unclear. Rat bone marrow macrophages were stimulated with titanium particle (Ti) coated by LPS (Ti/LPS+) and LPS‐free Ti (Ti/LPS−). mRNA levels of cytokines, TLRs and their adaptor molecules were measured using real time PCR. mRNA levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 increased in Ti/LPS+ than Ti/LPS−. In contrast, mRNA levels of TLR4, TLR5, and TLR9 decreased in Ti/LPS+ compared to Ti/LPS−. mRNA levels of MyD88, IRAK1, IRAK4 decreased gradually, and TRAF6 underwent an initial transient increase, followed by suppression in Ti/LPS+. However, mRNA levels of TLR2 and IRAK2 increased after phagocytosis of Ti/LPS+ than Ti/LPS−. The increased expressions of proinflammatory cytokines found in Ti/LPS+ indicated that their productions cytokines could be enhanced by phagocytosis of LPS‐coated particles. Subsequent down‐regulation of TLR4, TLR5, TLR9, MyD88, IRAK1, and IRAK4 suggests that self‐protective mechanisms to regulate excessive host responses are activated in macrophages. Increase of TLR2 and IRAK2 and a transient increase of TRAF6 in Ti/LPS+ suggest that another possible pathway to modulate TLR‐mediated cellular response to prolong inflammatory response in foreign body reaction of aseptic loosening. This down‐ and/or up‐regulation of the potential TLR‐mediated responses to LPS‐coated particles reflects the proactive behavior of effector cells. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 984–992, 2011
Automatic Static Signature Verification Systems : A Review

Handwritten signature is a distinguishing biometric feature which is the most widely employed form of secure personal authentication. Signature verification is used in a large number of fields starting from online banking, passport verification systems to even authenticating candidates in public examinations from their signatures. Even today thousands of financial and business transactions are being authorized via signatures. Therefore an automatic signature verification system is needed. This paper represents a brief review on various approaches used in Static signature verification systems.
Flavour effects on leptogenesis predictions

We show that flavour effects in leptogenesis reduce the region of the seesaw parameter space where the final predictions do not depend on the initial conditions, the strong wash-out regime. In this case the lowest bounds holding on the lightest right-handed (RH) neutrino mass and on the reheating temperature for hierarchical heavy neutrinos do not get relaxed compared to the usual ones in the one-flavour approximation, GeV. Flavour effects can however relax down to these minimal values the lower bounds holding for fixed large values of the decay parameter K1. We discuss a relevant definite example showing that, when the known information on the neutrino mixing matrix is employed, the lower bounds for are relaxed by a factor 2–3 for fully hierarchical light neutrinos, without any dependence on θ13 and on possible phases. On the other hand, going beyond the limit of hierarchical light neutrinos and taking into account Majorana phases, the lower bounds can be relaxed by one order of magnitude. Therefore, Majorana phases can play an important role in leptogenesis when flavour effects are included.