Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perception and Cognition Are Largely Independent, but Still Affect Each Other in Systematic Ways: Arguments from Evolution and the Consciousness-Attention Dissociation

The main thesis of this paper is that two prevailing theories about cognitive penetration are too extreme, namely, the view that cognitive penetration is pervasive and the view that there is a sharp and fundamental distinction between cognition and perception, which precludes any type of cognitive penetration. These opposite views have clear merits and empirical support. To eliminate this puzzling situation, we present an alternative theoretical approach that incorporates the merits of these views into a broader and more nuanced explanatory framework. A key argument we present in favor of this framework concerns the evolution of intentionality and perceptual capacities. An implication of this argument is that cases of cognitive penetration must have evolved more recently and that this is compatible with the cognitive impenetrability of early perceptual stages of processing information. A theoretical approach that explains why this should be the case is the consciousness and attention dissociation framework. The paper discusses why concepts, particularly issues concerning concept acquisition, play an important role in the interaction between perception and cognition.
In This Issue

One of the main problems in pension policy is to develop an institutional framework that guarantees that public and private pensions promises are kept. This paper discusses how the governance of public and private pensions is key to making such promises credible. It argues that credibility concerns undermine the case for earnings-related pensions run by the state and private defined benefit plans.
Identification of Land and Water Regions in a Satellite Image : A Texture Based Approach

Vision is the most important resource of information for human beings which contain several activities. Amongst these activities, object recognition and classification are widely used. Although, images are representation of vision which can be interpreted by machines, some images often do not exhibit regions of uniform intensity, but these images may contain variation of intensities which form certain repeated patterns. These repeated patterns are known as visual texture. These patterns can be the result of physical surface properties such as roughness, reflectance and color difference of surface. This special variation in pixel intensities is useful in a variety of applications. One such application is analysis of satellite images, whose purpose is to identify various regions in a given image. In this paper we try to exploit knowledge of texture i.e. repeated patterns of non uniform intensity, to recognize regions in the satellite images. There are many approaches used for texture analysis, mainly these are categorized as statistical, structural, filter and model based. In statistical approaches, a GLCM approach is used to find various regions i.e. land and water in a satellite image by extracting its texture information. KeywordsTexture, Satellite Images, GLCM, Clustering.
Practical large scale what-if queries: case studies with software risk assessment

When a lack of data inhibits decision-making, large-scale what-if queries can be conducted over the uncertain parameter ranges. Such queries can generate an overwhelming amount of data. We describe a general method for understanding that data. Large-scale what-if queries can guide Monte Carlo simulations of a model. Machine learning can then be used to summarize the output. The summarization is an ensemble of decision trees. The TARZAN system [so-called because it swings through (or searches) the decision trees] can poll the ensemble looking for majority conclusions regarding what factors change the classifications of the data. TARZAN can succinctly present the results from very large what-if queries. For example, in one of the studies presented, we can view the significant features from 10/sup 9/ what-if queries on half a page.
Learning From EEG Error-Related Potentials in Noninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces

We describe error-related potentials generated while a human user monitors the performance of an external agent and discuss their use for a new type of brain-computer interaction. In this approach, single trial detection of error-related electroencephalography (EEG) potentials is used to infer the optimal agent behavior by decreasing the probability of agent decisions that elicited such potentials. Contrasting with traditional approaches, the user acts as a critic of an external autonomous system instead of continuously generating control commands. This sets a cognitive monitoring loop where the human directly provides information about the overall system performance that, in turn, can be used for its improvement. We show that it is possible to recognize erroneous and correct agent decisions from EEG (average recognition rates of 75.8% and 63.2%, respectively), and that the elicited signals are stable over long periods of time (from 50 to > 600 days). Moreover, these performances allow to infer the optimal behavior of a simple agent in a brain-computer interaction paradigm after a few trials.
BOLD Granger Causality Reflects Vascular Anatomy

A number of studies have tried to exploit subtle phase differences in BOLD time series to resolve the order of sequential activation of brain regions, or more generally the ability of signal in one region to predict subsequent signal in another region. More recently, such lag-based measures have been applied to investigate directed functional connectivity, although this application has been controversial. We attempted to use large publicly available datasets (FCON 1000, ADHD 200, Human Connectome Project) to determine whether consistent spatial patterns of Granger Causality are observed in typical fMRI data. For BOLD datasets from 1,240 typically developing subjects ages 7–40, we measured Granger causality between time series for every pair of 7,266 spherical ROIs covering the gray matter and 264 seed ROIs at hubs of the brain’s functional network architecture. Granger causality estimates were strongly reproducible for connections in a test and replication sample (n=620 subjects for each group), as well as in data from a single subject scanned repeatedly, both during resting and passive video viewing. The same effect was even stronger in high temporal resolution fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project, and was observed independently in data collected during performance of 7 task paradigms. The spatial distribution of Granger causality reflected vascular anatomy with a progression from Granger causality sources, in Circle of Willis arterial inflow distributions, to sinks, near large venous vascular structures such as dural venous sinuses and at the periphery of the brain. Attempts to resolve BOLD phase differences with Granger causality should consider the possibility of reproducible vascular confounds, a problem that is independent of the known regional variability of the hemodynamic response.
Representation without Participation: Dilemmas of Quotas for Women in Post-apartheid South Africa

This article provides a sketch of ways in which ‘formal’ institutions of democratic representation work in practice for women in South Africa (SA). In doing so, the state of women’s participation and representation in the political process in SA is explored. Available data substantiates that women’s organisations and women’s wings of political parties have influenced the Government of SA and political parties to introduce quotas for women. Although quotas have increased the descriptive representation of women in political arenas, their representation in the decision-making process has not yet been ensured. Women face several social, cultural and political challenges that hinder their participation, and are still neglected by their male counterparts. Election of women councillors does not resolve a series of dilemmas concerning how to institutionalise democratic representation within a racially diverse, spatially divided and rapidly changing political landscape in SA. Key words : women, participation, representation, government, quota
Estimating HIV Incidence during Pregnancy and Knowledge of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission with an Ad Hoc Analysis of Potential Cofactors

Background. We determined the incidence of HIV seroconversion during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and ad hoc potential cofactors associated with HIV seroconversion after having an HIV-negative result antenatally. We also studied knowledge of PMTCT among pregnant women in seven health facilities in Fako Division, South West Region, Cameroon. Method. During the period between September 12 and December 4, 2011, we recruited a cohort of 477 HIV-negative pregnant women by cluster sampling. Data collection was with a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Sociodemographic information, knowledge of PMTCT, and methods of HIV prevention were obtained from the study population and we did Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) for HIV. Results. The incidence rate of HIV seroconversion during pregnancy was 6.8/100 woman-years. Ninety percent of the participants did not use condoms throughout pregnancy but had a good knowledge of PMTCT of HIV. Only 31.9% of participants knew their HIV status before the booking visit and 33% did not know the HIV status of their partners. Conclusion. The incidence rate of HIV seroconversion in the Fako Division, Cameroon, was 6.8/100 woman-years. No risk factors associated with HIV seroconversion were identified among the study participants because of lack of power to do so.
Supplemental Table 1

MAP2K3 chr17-21204210 Activated TLR4 signalling, IL-2 pathway, 4-1BB pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, CNTF signaling//Activation of MAPK activity, protein phosphorylation, inflammatory response, signal transduction, phosphorylation Dual specificity kinase activated by cytokines and environmental stress in vivo. Catalyzes the concomitant phosphorylation of a threonine and a tyrosine residue in the MAP kinase p38//Chlamydia pneumonia, inhalation anthrax, cerebral cavernous malformations
3 Sex ‐ Specific Cultures : Hormone ‐ Independent Cell Death or Survival

Biological sex is an important genetic determinant of outcome from cerebral ischemia and clinical stroke. Emerging data suggest that sex, as well as reproductive steroids, shapes ischemic cell death in brain. Female sex steroids, the estrogens and progesterone, provide robust neuroprotection in a variety of experimental settings and strongly contribute to sex‐specific responses to ischemia. The purpose of this chapter is: (1) to review the importance of biological sex to ischemic outcome and mechanisms of brain injury, (2) to evaluate the role of female sex steroids as endogenous or exogenous ischemic neuroprotectants, and (3) to review most likely mechanisms by which female sex steroids act to interrupt ischemic cell death pathways. List of Abbreviations: AP1, activator protein 1; AMPA, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid; Ca, calcium; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CREB, cAMP-responsive element-binding protein; E14, embryonic day 14; E2, estradiol; ER, estrogen receptors; αERKO, estrogen receptor deficient knockout mice subtype α; βERKO, estrogen receptor deficient knockout mice subtype β; ERE, estrogen-response elements; GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase; i.p., intraperitoneal; MCA, middle cerebral artery; MCAO, middle cerebral artery occlusion; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; nNOS, neuronal nitric oxide synthase; NO, nitric oxide; NMDA, N-methyl-D aspartate; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; OVX, ovariectomized; ERK1 and ERK2, p42/p44 extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2; ONOO, peroxynitrate; PARP-1, poly-ADP ribose polymerase; PR, progesterone receptor; PKC, protein kinase C; RSF, reproductively senescent female; SHRSP, spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone; SD, SpragueDawley; TBI, traumatic brain injury
Interferential Multispectral Image Compression with Classified Weighted Rate-Distortion Optimization and Adaptive Coding Depth Control

A compression algorithm based on partial SPIHT with classified weighted rate-distortion optimization and adaptive coding depth control is proposed. The different significance weights are initially given to every coding passes in each zero tree, according to the category of interferential regions and the significance of coding bitplanes. Then we determine the coding depth of each zero tree by significance weights and depth control factor, and code zero trees independently by Partial SPIHT, which selects adaptively one of three coding modes relying on the probability of significant coefficients in each bitplane. Finally the classified weighted rate-distortion optimization truncation is applied within the coding depth, according to the distortion contribution to constructed spectrum of zero trees in different interferential regions. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm improves the performance in spatial and spectral domain, and efficiently reduces the computation complexity and memory.
Circuits and System Design of RF Polar Transmitters Using Envelope-Tracking and SiGe Power Amplifiers for Mobile WiMAX

This paper discusses the circuits and system design methodology of a highly-efficient wideband RF polar transmitter (TX) using the envelope-tracking (ET) technique for mobile WiMAX applications. Monolithic power amplifiers (PAs) are designed and fabricated in IBM 0.18 μm SiGe BiCMOS technology, and a linear-assisted switch-mode envelope amplifier is applied to modulate the PA supply voltage to form the core of the RF polar TX. Nonlinearities caused by bandwidth limitation of the envelope amplifier and timing misalignment have been investigated. When driven by WiMAX 64QAM 8.75 MHz signals, the overall PAE of our ET-based polar TX system reaches 30.5% at 17 dBm average output power, while also meeting the stringent WiMAX linearity specs without using any predistortion. When the decresting algorithm using the soft limiter is applied to the baseband, the overall PAE increases to 33%, at the expense of a higher EVM of 4.9%. Based on measurement results, our ET-based polar TX system has demonstrated excellent efficiency with good linearity for high peak-to-average ratio (PAR) broadband signals when compared with the recent literature on state-of-the-arts polar TX designs.
Semaphorin-3F Is an Inhibitor of Tumor Angiogenesis

The neuropilin-1 (np1) and neuropilin-2 (np2) receptors form complexes with type-A plexins. These complexes serve as signaling receptors for specific class-3 semaphorins. Np1 and np2 function in addition as receptors for heparin-binding forms of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), such as VEGF165. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express tyrosine-kinase receptors for VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), as well as np1, np2, and several type-A plexins. We have found that semaphorin-3F (s3f), a semaphorin which signals through the np2 receptor, was able to inhibit VEGF165, as well as bFGF-induced proliferation of HUVECs. Furthermore, s3f inhibited VEGF as well as bFGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2. Our experiments indicate that bFGF does not bind to neuropilins, nor does s3f inhibit the binding of bFGF to FGF receptors. It is therefore possible that s3f inhibits the activity of bFGF by a mechanism that requires active s3f signal transduction rather than by inhibition of bFGF binding to FGF receptors. s3f also inhibited VEGF165, as well as bFGF-induced in vivo angiogenesis as determined by the alginate micro-encapsulation and Matrigel plug assays. Overexpression of s3f in tumorigenic human HEK293 cells inhibited their tumor-forming ability but not their proliferation in cell culture. The tumors that did develop from s3f-expressing HEK293 cells developed at a much slower rate and had a significantly lower concentration of tumor-associated blood vessels, indicating that s3f is an inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis.
Comparative sport development : systems, participation and public policy

1. Introduction to sport development, sport participation and sport policies including theoretical framework. PART I: Europe. - 2. Belgium. - 3. Estonia. - 4.Finland. - 5.France. - 6.Germany. - 7.Hungary. - 8.Ireland. - 9.The Netherlands. - 10.Poland. - 11.Russia. - 12.Spain. - 13.UK. - PART II: The Rest of the World. - 14.Israel. - 15.China. - 16.Japan. - 17.India. - 18.Australia. - 19.New Zealand. - 20.South Africa. - 21.Uganda. - 22.Argentina. - 23.Brazil. - 24.USA. - 25.Canada. - PART III: Conclusion. - 26.Conclusion.
Linking Informal and Formal Electronics Recycling via an Interface Organization

Informal recycling of electronics in the developing world has emerged as a new global environmental concern. The primary approach to address this problem has been command-and-control policies that ban informal recycling and international trade in electronic scrap. These bans are difficult to enforce and also have negative effects by reducing reuse of electronics, and employment for people in poverty. An alternate approach is to link informal and formal sectors so as to maintain economic activity while mitigating environmental damages. This article explores the idea of an interface organization that purchases components and waste from informal dismantlers and passes them on to formal processors. Environmental, economic and social implications of interface organizations are discussed. The main environmental questions to resolve are what e-scrap components should be targeted by the interface organization, i.e., circuit boards, wires, and/or plastic parts. Economically, when formal recycling is more profitable (e.g., for circuit boards), the interface organization is revenue positive. However, price subsidies are needed for copper wires and residual waste to incentivize informal dismantlers to turn in for formal processing. Socially, the potential for corruption and gaming of the system is critical and needs to be addressed.
Forestland and property rights in China: evolution towards private rights and public regulation.

This thesis examines the impact of the current land ownership arrangement on the use and management of collective forestland in China. Increasingly, the focus of China's forest and forestry is shifting from timber production to the conservation and protection of the forest ecosystem. So far the Chinese government has carried out a number of major programmes that seek to increase the forest cover and to reduce commercial exploitation in its natural forests. These large-scale state-sponsored programmes involved not only the state but also the collective forests. The government has overwhelming control over the collective forests in relation to the production and use of forest resources. This thesis argues that this is mainly induced by the current land ownership arrangement. Although the collectives are 'self-governing' bodies and democratic elections are practised, the collectives nevertheless act more like the 'agents' of the government than true representatives of the collective members. By retaining control over collective governance, the state manages to assert control over the use of collective forests in other words, the state has chosen to regulate land and forest use via the ownership structure. With little protection for individual rights, the state imposes rigid and intrusive measures that severely limit the autonomy of land users and create instances of abuse of power by those who are in control. This has resulted in various serious and negative consequences: inefficient use of forest and land resources slow growth of rural economy limited and incomplete private rights increasing wealth gap and last but not the least, slow development in the rule of law. As a result, future reforms of collective forests will be futile if the ownership regime is not changed. It is argued that a private ownership regime is now viable and will help China's rural society to achieve further economic, social and legal development. Under a private ownership regime, the government can exercise control over forest and land use via public regulation, which would allow land use to be regulated in a more transparent and efficient way without compromising individual autonomy.
The safety and feasibility of the inhaled mannitol challenge test in young children

To the Editor : The mannitol challenge is an indirect challenge that increases airway surface liquid osmolality resulting in bronchoconstriction [1, 2]. Mannitol challenge tests are used clinically to diagnose asthma and, in particular, exercise-induced broncoconstriction (EIB) in adults and children above 6 years of age [3]. To date, mannitol has not been used as a challenge agent in children under 6 years of age and the feasibility and safety of its use in this age group is unknown. The assessment of bronchial responsiveness in young children is difficult and limited by the cooperation of the child. The standardisation of lung function tests suitable for use in young children, such as the interrupter technique or the forced oscillation technique (FOT), provide an opportunity to assist in the assessment of bronchial responsiveness in young children and a variety of challenge tests using FOT have been reported in young children [4]. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the feasibility and safety of the mannitol challenge test in young children using the FOT as the objective outcome measure. 20 children aged 3–7 years were recruited; 10 of these children were healthy and 10 children had a history of parentally reported exercise-induced symptoms (EIS) in the past year. The mannitol challenge test (Aridol; Pharmaxis, Frenchs Forest, Australia) was performed as previously published [2], with the exceptions that the respiratory resistance at 8 Hz ( R rs8) from the FOT was used as the primary outcome and the definition of a positive response was altered, as detailed below. Prior to …
Youth in Europe

What is youth? Olivier Galland youth in France, a new age in life, Olivier Galland prolonging youth in Italy - being in no hurry, Alessandro Cavalli growing up in two worlds - being young in Germany today, Gunter Cremer and Peter Wahler always the trainee, never the employee? increasing protracted transitions in the UK, Frank Coffield access to working life in Germany and in Britian, Walter R. Heinz future orientations of Dutch youth - the emergence of a choice-biography, Manuela du Bois-Reymond from youth to adulthood in the Spain of the 1990s - the changing feminine role, Joaquim Casal and Maribel Garcia access thresholds to politics - between inheritance and experiment, Anne Muxel Czech youth and social change, Vladimir Dubsky Europe, Europeanization and young people - a triad of confusing images, Lynne Chisholm.
A Bayesian Framework for Single Image Dehazing considering Noise

The single image dehazing algorithms in existence can only satisfy the demand for dehazing efficiency, not for denoising. In order to solve the problem, a Bayesian framework for single image dehazing considering noise is proposed. Firstly, the Bayesian framework is transformed to meet the dehazing algorithm. Then, the probability density function of the improved atmospheric scattering model is estimated by using the statistical prior and objective assumption of degraded image. Finally, the reflectance image is achieved by an iterative approach with feedback to reach the balance between dehazing and denoising. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can remove haze and noise simultaneously and effectively.