1,038 research outputs found
Challenges in the comparative study of empathy and related phenomena in animals
The aim of this review is to discuss recent arguments and findings in the comparative study of empathy. Based on a multidisciplinary approach including psychology and ethology, we review the non-human animal literature concerning theoretical frameworks, methodology, and research outcomes. One specific objective is to highlight discrepancies between theory and empirical findings, and to discuss ambiguities present in current data and their interpretation. In particular, we focus on emotional contagion and its experimental investigation, and on consolation and targeted helping as measures for sympathy. Additionally, we address the feasibility of comparing across species with behavioural data alone. One main conclusion of our review is that animal research on empathy still faces the challenge of closing the gap between theoretical concepts and empirical evidence. To advance our knowledge, we propose to focus more on the emotional basis of empathy, rather than on possibly ambiguous behavioural indicators, and we provide suggestions to overcome the limitations of previous researchPeer reviewe
Methodological problem with comparing increases in different measures of body weight
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A number of studies have compared proportional increases over time in waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). However this method is flawed. Here, we explain why comparisons of WC and BMI must take into account the relationship between them. We used data from two cross-sectional US surveys (NHANES 1988-94 and 2005-06), and calculated the percentage change in the average BMI and the average WC between the two surveys, comparing the results with a regression analysis of changes in WC relative to BMI.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The crude percentage change in BMI (5.8%) was marginally greater than for WC (5.1%). But these percentages cannot be directly compared, as the relationship between the measures is described by a regression equation with an intercept term that does not equal zero. The coefficient of time from the regression equation will determine whether or not WC is on average larger for a given BMI at the second compared with the first time point.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Differences in the percentage change in WC and the percentage change in BMI cannot be usefully directly compared. Comparisons of increases in the two measures must account for the relationship between them as described by the regression equation.</p
Sagittal Growth of the Nasomaxillary Complex during the Second Trimester of Human Prenatal Development
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66545/2/10.1177_00220345650440010401.pd
Increasing Dominance - the Role of Advertising, Pricing and Product Design
Despite the empirical relevance of advertising strategies in concentrated markets, the economics literature is largely silent on the effect of persuasive advertising
strategies on pricing, market structure and increasing (or decreasing) dominance. In a simple model of persuasive advertising and pricing with differentiated goods,
we analyze the interdependencies between ex-ante asymmetries in consumer appeal, advertising and prices. Products with larger initial appeal to consumers will
be advertised more heavily but priced at a higher level - that is, advertising and price discounts are strategic substitutes for products with asymmetric initial appeal.
We find that the escalating effect of advertising dominates the moderating effect of pricing so that post-competition market shares are more asymmetric than pre-competition differences in consumer appeal. We further find that collusive advertising (but competitive pricing) generates the same market outcomes, and that network effects lead to even more extreme market outcomes, both directly and via
the effect on advertising
Error threshold in optimal coding, numerical criteria and classes of universalities for complexity
The free energy of the Random Energy Model at the transition point between
ferromagnetic and spin glass phases is calculated. At this point, equivalent to
the decoding error threshold in optimal codes, free energy has finite size
corrections proportional to the square root of the number of degrees. The
response of the magnetization to the ferromagnetic couplings is maximal at the
values of magnetization equal to half. We give several criteria of complexity
and define different universality classes. According to our classification, at
the lowest class of complexity are random graph, Markov Models and Hidden
Markov Models. At the next level is Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass,
connected with neuron-network models. On a higher level are critical theories,
spin glass phase of Random Energy Model, percolation, self organized
criticality (SOC). The top level class involves HOT design, error threshold in
optimal coding, language, and, maybe, financial market. Alive systems are also
related with the last class. A concept of anti-resonance is suggested for the
complex systems.Comment: 17 page
Ambipolar Field Effect in Topological Insulator Nanoplates of (BixSb1-x)2Te3
Topological insulators represent a new state of quantum matter attractive to
both fundamental physics and technological applications such as spintronics and
quantum information processing. In a topological insulator, the bulk energy gap
is traversed by spin-momentum locked surface states forming an odd number of
surface bands that possesses unique electronic properties. However, transport
measurements have often been dominated by residual bulk carriers from crystal
defects or environmental doping which mask the topological surface
contribution. Here we demonstrate (BixSb1-x)2Te3 as a tunable topological
insulator system to manipulate bulk conductivity by varying the Bi/Sb
composition ratio. (BixSb1-x)2Te3 ternary compounds are confirmed as
topological insulators for the entire composition range by angle resolved
photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and ab initio calculations.
Additionally, we observe a clear ambipolar gating effect similar to that
observed in graphene using nanoplates of (BixSb1-x)2Te3 in
field-effect-transistor (FET) devices. The manipulation of carrier type and
concentration in topological insulator nanostructures demonstrated in this
study paves the way for implementation of topological insulators in
nanoelectronics and spintronics.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure
Second law, entropy production, and reversibility in thermodynamics of information
We present a pedagogical review of the fundamental concepts in thermodynamics
of information, by focusing on the second law of thermodynamics and the entropy
production. Especially, we discuss the relationship among thermodynamic
reversibility, logical reversibility, and heat emission in the context of the
Landauer principle and clarify that these three concepts are fundamentally
distinct to each other. We also discuss thermodynamics of measurement and
feedback control by Maxwell's demon. We clarify that the demon and the second
law are indeed consistent in the measurement and the feedback processes
individually, by including the mutual information to the entropy production.Comment: 43 pages, 10 figures. As a chapter of: G. Snider et al. (eds.),
"Energy Limits in Computation: A Review of Landauer's Principle, Theory and
Experiments
Towards quantum thermodynamics in electronic circuits
Electronic circuits operating at sub-kelvin temperatures are attractive candidates for studying classical and quantum thermodynamics: their temperature can be controlled and measured locally with exquisite precision, and they allow experiments with large statistical samples. The availability and rapid development of devices such as quantum dots, single-electron boxes and superconducting qubits only enhance their appeal. But although these systems provide fertile ground for studying heat transport, entropy production and work in the context of quantum mechanics, the field remains in its infancy experimentally. Here, we review some recent experiments on quantum heat transport, fluctuation relations and implementations of Maxwell’s demon, revealing the rich physics yet to be fully probed in these systems.Peer reviewe
Exploring the components, asymmetry and distribution of relationship quality in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)
Social relationships between group members are a key feature of many animal societies. The quality of social relationships has been described by three main components: value, compatibility and security, based on the benefits, tenure and stability of social exchanges. We aimed to analyse whether this three component structure could be used to describe the quality of social relationships in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). Moreover, we examined whether relationship quality was affected by the sex, age and rank differences between social partners, and investigated the asymmetric nature of social relationships. We collected over 1,900 hours of focal data on seven behavioural variables measuring relationship quality,
and used principal component analysis to investigate how these variables clustered together. We found that relationship quality in wild Barbary macaques can be described by a three component structure that represents the value, compatibility and security of a relationship. Female-female dyads had more valuable relationships and same-age dyads more compatible relationships than any other dyad. Rank difference had no effect on the quality of a social relationship. Finally, we found a high degree of asymmetry in how members of a dyad exchange social behaviour. We argue that the asymmetry of social
relationships should be taken into account when exploring the pattern and function of social behaviour in animal societies
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