Learning adjectives and nouns from affordances on the iCub humanoid robot

This article studies how a robot can learn nouns and adjectives in language. Towards this end, we extended a framework that enabled robots to learn affordances from its sensorimotor interactions, to learn nouns and adjectives using labeling from humans. Specifically, an iCub humanoid robot interacted with a set of objects (each labeled with a set of adjectives and a noun) and learned to predict the effects (as labeled with a set of verbs) it can generate on them with its behaviors. Different from appearance-based studies that directly link the appearances of objects to nouns and adjectives, we first predict the affordances of an object through a set of Support Vector Machine classifiers which provided a functional view of the object. Then, we learned the mapping between these predicted affordance values and nouns and adjectives. We evaluated and compared a number of different approaches towards the learning of nouns and adjectives on a small set of novel objects. The results show that the proposed method provides better generalization than the appearance-based approaches towards learning adjectives whereas, for nouns, the reverse is the case. We conclude that affordances of objects can be more informative for (a subset of) adjectives describing objects in language. © 2012 Springer-Verlag

Efectos del genotipo y el año de cosecha en las propiedades fitoquímicas y de calidad de la fruta de genotipos turcos de higuera

This study was conducted over three harvest years to determine effects of Turkish fig genotypes grown in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey on phytochemical and fruit quality characters. Fruit quality characters such as fruit weight, fruit width, fruit neck length, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, acidity, and TSS/acidity were examined. Total phenolics (TP), total anthocyanins (TA), antioxidant capacity (TAC), fructose (FRUC), glucose (GLUC), sucrose (SUC), and variables describing fruit skin and flesh colors (L*, a*, C, and hº) were also determined. Analysis of the data obtained from 12 fig genotypes, and three harvest years demonstrated a highly significant influence of genotype on phytochemical and fruit quality characters. ‘Bursa Siyahı’, which has dark black fruit skin, had the highest levels of TA (113.6 μg cy-3-rutinoside g-1 fw), TP (105.2 mg GAE/100 g fw), and TAC (10.9 mmol Fe2+ kg-1 fw). Three yearly averages of fruit weight ranged from 22.8 g (‘Sarı İncir’) to 57.5 g (‘Bursa Siyahı’), and ostiole width ranged from 0.9 mm (‘Bursa Siyahı’) to 3.7 mm (31-IN-16). These results indicate that TP (r=0.77) contents correlated moderately to TAC, more so than with TA (r=0.56). Both FRUC and SUC were negatively correlated with TA (r=-0.34 and r=-0.42, respectively). These data demonstrate that genotype is the main influence on the phytochemical and fruit quality characters of figs.Este trabajo se llevó a cabo para determinar los efectos que producen distintos genotipos turcos de higuera cultivados en la región mediterránea del este de Turquía sobre los caracteres fitoquímicos y de calidad de la fruta (como peso del fruto, ancho del fruto, longitud del cuello del fruto, sólidos solubles totales (TSS), pH, acidez y TSS/acidez). También se determinaron los fenoles totales (TP), antocianinas totales (TA), capacidad antioxidante (TAC), fructosa (FRUC), glucosa (GLUC), sacarosa (SUC) y las variables que describe la piel del fruto y colores de su carne (L*, a*, C y hº). El análisis de los datos obtenidos con 12 genotipos en tres años de cultivo demostró que hay una influencia altamente significativa del genotipo sobre los caracteres fitoquímicos y de calidad de la fruta. ˈBursa Siyahıˈ, que tiene la piel del fruto negro oscuro, tuvo los niveles de TA más altos (113,6 μg de cianidina-3-rutinósido g-1 peso fresco), TP (105,2 mg GAE/100 g peso fresco) y TAC (10,9 mmol Fe2+ kg-1 peso fresco). Las tres medias anuales del peso del fruto variaron entre 22,8 g ('Sarı İncir') y 57,5 g ('Bursa Siyahı'), y el ancho del ostiolo varió entre 0,9 mm ('Bursa Siyahı') y 3,7 mm (31-IN-16). Los contenidos de TP (r=0,77) estuvieron moderadamente correlacionados con los de TAC, más que con los de TA (r=0,56). Tanto FRUC como SUC se correlacionaron negativamente con TA (r= -0,34 y r= -0,42, respectivamente). Estos datos demuestran que el genotipo es el que más influencia tiene sobre los caracteres fitoquímicos y de calidad de los higos

Comparison of pollen production and quality characteristics of cultivated and wild almond species [Comparación de producción y características de calidad del polen de especies de almendro cultivadas y silvestres]

There are several wild almond species in Turkey included Amygdalus orientalis (Mill.), Amygdalus turcomanica (Lincz.), Amygdalus fenzliana (Fritsch) Lipsky, Amygdalus trichamygdalus (Hand.-Mazz.) Woronow, Amygdalus arabica (Olivier), and Amygdalus webbii (Spach). These species offer a great value for the almond improvement; we studied the pollen viability, germination ratio and pollen yield for seven genotypes of A. orientalis, seven genotypes of A. turcomanica all growing under natural conditions in Southeastern Anatolia (Gaziantep and Şanli{dotless}urfa provinces, Turkey). Almond cultivars (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D.A. Webb) obtained from Pozanti{dotless} Agricultural Experimental Station, Çukurova University, were also used in the experiment. The pollen viabilities of various almond genotypes were determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) tests. At the end, pollen germination ratios were established according to Petri dishes method in vitro conditions (1% agar + 0, 10, 15 and 20% sucrose) while pollen yield was estimated with hemacytometric methods. The results indicated that pollen viability ratios were close to each other in both methods for the genotypes A. orientalis and A. turcomanica. Pollen germination ratios were found to be dependent on the sucrose content as well as on the genotypes used. The pollen of almond cultivars showed similar germination ratios in all of the sucrose concentrations while those pollens of A. orientalis and A. turcomanica genotypes displayed higher germination ratios in 10% sucrose. The number of anthers in one flower was higher in cultivars whereas the number of pollen grains was lower in other almond species. While the number of pollen grains in one flower was relatively high in A. orientalis genotypes, pollen quality was high in all the three species under research. The results suggested that these two species, namely A. orientalis and A. turcomanica could be employed for future almond breeding programs

The views of academics about Web-Based Instruction [Web Tabanli{dotless} Ögretime yönelik akademisyen görüşleri*]

The purpose of this study is to examine views of academics about Web-Based Instruction (WBI). Within this study, twenty-four academics in Nigde University Faculty of Education were interviewed. For this purpose, the personal information form and the interview form were used which were developed by researchers based on an intensive review of the relevant literature review, the researchers' past experiences and the views of other experts in the field. The interview form is composed of three sub-dimensions; 'Instructional Dimension of WBI', 'The Positive and Negative Aspects of WBI' and 'Difficulties in WBI Practices'. The data obtained from the interview were analyzed using content analysis method. According to findings, academics find WBI useful. However, they lack knowledge and practice in this regard

Determination of pollen production and quality attributes of some almond cultivars (Prunus dulcis) and selected wild almond (Amygdalus orientalis) genotypes

This study was carried out to establish pollen production, viability and germination ratios for five almond genotypes of Amygdalus orientalis Mill. (Orientalis 5, Orientalis 6, Orientalis 7, Orientalis 9 & Orientalis 10) and four cultivars of Prunus dulcis Mill., (Nonpareil, Texas, Ferragnes & Ferraduel). For determination of pollen viability of selected almond genotypes, 2.3.5 Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Fluorescent diacetat tests were made. Pollen germination ratios in vitro conditions were determined with petri dishes methods. For A. orientalis genotypes, pollen viability ratios according to the TTC test were found to be 61.80% and 72.88% in 2006 and 2007, respectively whereas the same ratios according to the FDA test carried out in 2006 and 2007 were 63.44% and 57.50%, respectively. The number of anthers in one flower, the number of pollen in one anther and the number of pollen in one flower were found higher in cultivars, whereas these traits turned out to be lower in A. orientalis genotypes. 'Orientalis 6' was notable pollen viability, the number of anthers in one flower, the number of pollen in one anther and the number of pollen in one flower, while the highest pollen germination percentage was recovered from 'Orientalis 9' had in 2006 and from 'Orientalis 5' in 2007. Morphological homogeneity (%) was found to be high in all orientalis types both experimental years. The results obtained with A. orientalis genotypes proved that they could well be employed as pollinizer for hybrid improving work to be made with almond cultivars. © 2012 Friends Science Publishers

Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic studies of a mixed ligand copper (II) complex: trans-bis(succinimidato)-bis(benzylamino)Cu(II)

The molecules of the title compound, [Cu(C11H13N 2O2)2], lie across centres of inversion in space group P21/c and are linked by intermolecular N-H?O and C-H?O hydrogen bonds. The central Cu atom has a slightly distorted square-planar coordination comprised of four N atoms. Cu-N bond distances are 1.975(2) and 2.020(2) Å. The interplanar angle between the phenyl and succinimidato ring is 87.34(10)°. © 2006 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung