421 research outputs found
Dogs distinguish human intentional and unintentional action
When dogs interact with humans, they often show appropriate reactions to human intentional action. But it is unclear from these everyday observations whether the dogs simply respond to the action outcomes or whether they are able to discriminate between different categories of actions. Are dogs able to distinguish intentional human actions from unintentional ones, even when the action outcomes are the same? We tested dogsâ ability to discriminate these action categories by adapting the so-called âUnwilling vs. Unableâ paradigm. This paradigm compares subjectsâ reactions to intentional and unintentional human behaviour. All dogs received three conditions: In the unwilling-condition, an experimenter intentionally withheld a reward from them. In the two unable-conditions, she unintentionally withheld the reward, either because she was clumsy or because she was physically prevented from giving the reward to the dog. Dogs clearly distinguished in their spontaneous behaviour between unwilling- and unable-conditions. This indicates that dogs indeed distinguish intentional actions from unintentional behaviour. We critically discuss our findings with regard to dogsâ understanding of human intentional action.Results - Analysis of waiting - Other behavioural reactions Discussion Methods - Ethical statement - Subjects - Experimental setâup - Procedure - Codin
Process for the modification of polymers, in particular polymer nanoparticles
The present invention relates to a highly efficient and ultra fast process for the photo-initiated preparation of polymers by polymerization using photoinitiators comprising a phosphorous oxide or -sulfide group and modification of said polymers. In particular the invention relates to an ultra fast process for the photo-initiated preparation of latices comprising polymer nanoparticles by heterophase polymerization using photoinitiators comprising a phosphorous oxide or -sulfide group and their modification. In another aspect, the invention relates to polymers and polymer nanoparticles obtainable by said process
Molecular traffic control in single-file networks with fast catalysts
As a model for molecular traffic control (MTC) we investigate the diffusion
of hard core particles in crossed single-file systems. We consider a square
lattice of single-files being connected to external reservoirs. The (vertical)
alpha-channels, carrying only A-particles, are connected to reservoirs with
constant density ra. B-particles move along the (horizontal) beta-channels,
which are connected to reservoirs of density rB. We allow the irreversible
transition A to B at intersections. We are interested in the stationary density
profile in the alpha- and beta- channels, which is the distribution of the
occupation probabilities over the lattice. We calculate the stationary currents
of the system and show that for sufficiently long channels the currents (as a
function of the reservoir densities) show in the limit of large transition
rates non analytic behavior. The results obtained by direct solution of the
master equation are verified by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 11 page
Scenarios and models for exploring future trends of biodiversity and ecosystem services changes. Final report to the European Commission, DG Environment on Contract
Statistical properties of genealogical trees
We analyse the statistical properties of genealogical trees in a neutral
model of a closed population with sexual reproduction and non-overlapping
generations. By reconstructing the genealogy of an individual from the
population evolution, we measure the distribution of ancestors appearing more
than once in a given tree. After a transient time, the probability of
repetition follows, up to a rescaling, a stationary distribution which we
calculate both numerically and analytically. This distribution exhibits a
universal shape with a non-trivial power law which can be understood by an
exact, though simple, renormalization calculation. Some real data on human
genealogy illustrate the problem, which is relevant to the study of the real
degree of diversity in closed interbreeding communities.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Dogs (Canis familiaris), but Not Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Understand Imperative Pointing
Chimpanzees routinely follow the gaze of humans to outside targets. However, in most studies using object choice they fail to use communicative gestures (e.g. pointing) to find hidden food. Chimpanzees' failure to do this may be due to several difficulties with this paradigm. They may, for example, misinterpret the gesture as referring to the opaque cup instead of the hidden food. Or perhaps they do not understand informative communicative intentions. In contrast, dogs seem to be skilful in using human communicative cues in the context of finding food, but as of yet there is not much data showing whether they also use pointing in the context of finding non-food objects. Here we directly compare chimpanzees' (Nâ=â20) and dogs' (Nâ=â32) skills in using a communicative gesture directed at a visible object out of reach of the human but within reach of the subject. Pairs of objects were placed in view of and behind the subjects. The task was to retrieve the object the experimenter wanted. To indicate which one she desired, the experimenter pointed imperatively to it and directly rewarded the subject for handing over the correct one. While dogs performed well on this task, chimpanzees failed to identify the referent. Implications for great apes' and dogs' understanding of human communicative intentions are discussed
Why do dogs (Canis familiaris) select the empty container in an observational learning task?
Many argue that dogs show unique susceptibility to human communicative signals that make them suitable for being engaged in complex co-operation with humans. It has also been revealed that socially provided information is particularly effective in influencing the behaviour of dogs even when the humanâs action demonstration conveys inefficient or mistaken solution of task. It is unclear, however, how the communicative nature of the demonstration context and the presence of the human demonstrator affect the dogsâ object-choice behaviour in observational learning situations. In order to unfold the effects of these factors, 76 adult pet dogs could observe a communicative or a non-communicative demonstration in which the human retrieved a tennis ball from under an opaque container while manipulating another distant and obviously empty (transparent) one. Subjects were then allowed to choose either in the presence of the demonstrator or after she left the room. Results showed a significant main effect of the demonstration context (presence or absence of the humanâs communicative signals), and we also found some evidence for the response-modifying effect of the presence of the human demonstrator during the dogsâ choice. That is, dogs predominantly chose the baited container, but if the demonstration context was communicative and the human was present during the dogsâ choice, subjectsâ tendency to select the baited container has been reduced. In agreement with the studies showing sensitivity to humanâs communicative signals in dogs, these findings point to a special form of social influence in observational learning situations when it comes to learning about causally opaque and less efficient (compared to what comes natural to the dog) action demonstrations
Determination of the sâphase formation coefficient of plasma nitrided austenitic steel
Plasma nitriding is an effective surface hardening treatment for austenitic stainless steels. During plasma nitriding, sâphase formation takes place which is not only responsible for high hardness and wear resistance but also for good corrosion resistance. In order to estimate the thickness of the sâphase for austenitic stainless steel in a plasma nitriding process, an empirical model is devised. A number of plasma nitriding processes of austenitic stainless steel (304 L) were carried out with varying treatment temperature from 360 °C to 450 °C and process duration ranging from 10 hours to 24 hours with constant pressure, voltage, pulseâtoâpauseâratio and gas mixture. A timeâtemperature dependent sâphase formation coefficient is determined by measuring the thickness of the sâphase using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES). The developed model is verified by three controlled experiments. This model fits the thickness of the sâphase with an error of less than 6 %
Artifical compound eyes - Different concepts and their application to ultra flat image acquisition sensors
Two different approaches for ultra flat image acquisition sensors on the basis of artificial compound eyes are examined. In apposition optics the image reconstruction is based on moirĂŠ- or static sampling while the superposition eye approach produces an overall image. Both types of sensors are compared with respect to theoretical limitations of resolution, sensitivity and system thickness. Explicit design rules are given. A paraxial 3Ă3 matrix formalism is used to describe the arrangement of three microlens arrays with different pitches to find first order parameters of artificial superposition eyes. The model is validated by analysis of the system with raytracing software. Measurements of focal length of anamorphic reflow lenses, which are key components of the superposition approach, under oblique incidence are performed. For the second approach, the artificial apposition eye, a first demonstrator system is presented. The monolithic device consists of a UV-replicated reflow microlens array on a thin silica-substrate with a pinhole array in a metal layer on the backside. The pitch of the pinholes differs from the lens array pitch to enable an individual viewing angle for each channel. Imaged test patterns are presented and measurements of the angular sensitivity function are compared to calculations using commercial raytracing software
Quark-model study of few-baryon systems
We review the application of non-relativistic constituent quark models to
study one, two and three non-strange baryon systems. We present results for the
baryon spectra, potentials and observables of the NN, N,
and NN systems, and also for the binding energies of three
non-strange baryon systems. We make emphasis on observable effects related to
quark antisymmetry and its interplay with quark dynamics.Comment: 82 pages, 36 figures, 18 tables. Accepted for publication in Reports
on Progress in Physic
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