1,038 research outputs found
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Dance as a Subject for Empirical Aesthetics
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the possibilities that research on dance appreciation offers empirical aesthetics, as well as the challenges it poses. Behavioral and neuroimaging approaches have, to date, mainly focused on the perception and recognition of human body movement and structure. A small number of studies, nonetheless, have explicitly taken the basic research on the perceptual, emotional and cognitive processes engaged during movement observation, together with their neural concomitants, as a starting point to understand the aesthetic experience triggered by the observation of a dance. We provide an overview of these studies and, thereafter, point out avenues for future research on dance appreciation within the scope of empirical aesthetics. We also note some methodological and conceptual issues that should be taken into account in the design of empirical studies of the aesthetic appreciation of dance, including dance theory scholarship and humanistic approaches to dance practice. Finally, we describe how common movement features of dance styles around the world suggest that humans may be endowed with an evolved cognitive ability to appreciate and to be aesthetically moved by dance
Properties of the Z(3) Interface in (2+1)-D SU(3) Gauge Theory
A study is made of some properties of this interface in the SU(3) pure gauge
theory in 2+1 dimensions. At high temperatures, the interface tension is
measured and shows agreement with the perturbative prediction. Near the
critical temperature, the behaviour of the interface is examined, and its
fluctuations compared to a scalar field theory model.Comment: 4 pages with 4 figures as one uuencoded, gzipped postscript file;
presented at Lattice '9
Critical properties of the Z(3) interface in (2+1)-D SU(3) gauge theory
We study the interface between two different Z(3) vacua in the deconfined
phase of SU(3) pure gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions just above the critical
temperature. In simulations of the Euclidean lattice gauge theory formulation
of the system we measure the fluctuations of the interface as the critical
temperature is approached and as a function of system size. We show that the
intrinsic width of the interface remains small even very close to the critical
temperature. Some dynamical exponents which govern the interaction of the
interface with our Monte Carlo algorithm are also estimated. We conclude that
the Z(3) interface has properties broadly similar to those in many other
comparable statistical mechanical systems.Comment: 26 pages, LaTex with 16 postscript figure
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Tax us if you can
A comprehensive introduction to tax justice. Second edition
High-Temperature Properties of the Z(3) Interface in (2+1)-D SU(3) Gauge Theory
We study the high-temperature properties of the Z(3) interface which forms
between the various ordered phases of pure SU(3) gauge theory above a critical
temperature. On a (2+1)-D Euclidean lattice, we perform an accurate measurement
of the interface tension, which shows good agreement with the prediction of
perturbation theory. We also examine the behaviour of the Debye electric
screening mass, and compare this with theoretical predictions.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, uuencoded gzipped tar fil
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Dance Expertise modulates behavioural and psychophysiological responses to affective body movement
The present study shows how motor expertise increases sensitivity to affective body movement at the behavioural and physiological level. Nineteen affective movement experts (professional ballet dancers) and twenty-four controls watched 96 video clips of emotionally expressive body movements while they performed an affect rating task (subjective response) and their galvanic skin response was recorded (psychophysiological response). The movements in the clips were either sad or happy, and in half of the trials movements were played in the order in which they are learned (forward presentation), and in the other half, backwards (control condition). Results showed that motor expertise in affective body movement specifically modulated both behavioural and physiological sensitivity to othersâ affective body movement, and that this sensitivity is particularly strong when movements are shown in the way they are learnt (forward presentation). The evidence is discussed within current theories of proprioceptive arousal feedback and motor simulation accounts
Keep it simple: three indicators to deal with overfishing
Three simple fisheries indicators are presented: (i) percentage of mature fish in catch, with 100% as target; (ii) percent of specimens with optimum length in catch, with 100% as target; and (iii) percentage of âmega-spawnersâ in catch, with 0% as target, and 30â40% as representative of reasonable stock structure if no upper size limit exists. Application of these indicators to stocks of Gadus morhua, Sardinella aurita and Epinephelus aeneus demonstrate their usefulness. It is argued that such simple indicators have the potential to allow more stakeholders such as fishers, fish dealers, supermarket managers, consumers and politicians to participate in fisheries management and eventually hold and reverse the global pattern of convenience overfishing, which is defined here as deliberate overfishing sanctioned by official bodies who find it more convenient to risk eventual collapse of fish stocks than to risk social and political conflicts
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Interoceptive impairments do not lie at the heart of Autism or Alexithymia
Background: Quattrocki and Friston (2012) argued that abnormalities in interoceptionâthe process of representing oneâs internal physiological statesâcould lie at the heart of autism, because of the critical role interoception plays in the ontogeny of social-affective processes. This proposal drew criticism from proponents of the alexithymia hypothesis, who argue that social-affective and underlying interoceptive impairments are not a feature of autism per se, but of alexithymia (a condition characterised by difficulties describing and identifying one's own emotions), which commonly co-occurs with autism. Despite the importance of this debate for our understanding of ASD, and of the role of interoceptive impairments in psychopathology more generally, direct empirical evidence is scarce and inconsistent.
Methods: Experiment 1 examined in a sample of 137 neurotypical individuals the association among autistic traits, alexithymia, and interoceptive accuracy on a standard heartbeat tracking measure of interoceptive accuracy. In Experiment 2, interoceptive accuracy was assessed in 46 adults with ASD (27 of whom had clinically-significant alexithymia) and 48 neurotypical adults.
Results: Experiment 1 confirmed strong associations between autistic traits and alexithymia, but yielded no evidence to suggest that either was associated with interoceptive difficulties. Similarly, Experiment 2 provided no evidence for interoceptive impairments in autistic adults, irrespective of any co-occurring alexithymia. Bayesian analyses consistently supported the null hypothesis.
Conclusions: The observations pose a significant challenge to notions that interoceptive impairments constitute a core feature of either ASD or alexithymia, at least as far as the direct perception of interoceptive signals is concerned.
General scientific summary: This article suggests that impairments in interoceptionâthe process of representing oneâs internal physiological statesâdo not lie at the heart of either autism or alexithymia
Electronic structure and ferroelectricity in SrBi2Ta2O9
The electronic structure of SrBi2Ta2O9 is investigated from first-principles,
within the local density approximation, using the full-potential linearized
augmented plane wave (LAPW) method. The results show that, besides the large
Ta(5d)-O(2p) hybridization which is a common feature of the ferroelectric
perovskites, there is an important hybridization between bismuth and oxygen
states. The underlying static potential for the ferroelectric distortion and
the primary source for ferroelectricity is investigated by a lattice-dynamics
study using the Frozen Phonon approach.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures. Phys. Rev. B, in pres
Low Background Micromegas in CAST
Solar axions could be converted into x-rays inside the strong magnetic field
of an axion helioscope, triggering the detection of this elusive particle. Low
background x-ray detectors are an essential component for the sensitivity of
these searches. We report on the latest developments of the Micromegas
detectors for the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST), including technological
pathfinder activities for the future International Axion Observatory (IAXO).
The use of low background techniques and the application of discrimination
algorithms based on the high granularity of the readout have led to background
levels below 10 counts/keV/cm/s, more than a factor 100 lower than
the first generation of Micromegas detectors. The best levels achieved at the
Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) are as low as 10
counts/keV/cm/s, showing good prospects for the application of this
technology in IAXO. The current background model, based on underground and
surface measurements, is presented, as well as the strategies to further reduce
the background level. Finally, we will describe the R&D paths to achieve
sub-keV energy thresholds, which could broaden the physics case of axion
helioscopes.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Large TPC Conference 2014, Pari
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