Defending simulation theory against the argument from error

We defend the Simulation Theory of Mind against a challenge from the Theory Theory of Mind. The challenge is that while Simulation Theory can account for Theory of Mind errors, it cannot account for their systematic nature. There are Theory of Mind errors seen in social psychological research with adults where persons are either overly generous or overly cynical in how rational they expect others to be. There are also Theory of Mind errors observable in developmental data drawn from Maxi-type false belief tests. We provide novel responses to several examples showing that Simulation Theory can answer these challenges

Young children's referent selection is guided by novelty for both words and actions

Young children are biased to select novel, name-unknown objects as referents of novel labels (e.g., Markman, 1990) and similarly favour novel, action-unknown objects as referents of novel actions (Riggs, Mather, Hyde & Simpson, 2015). What process underlies these common behaviors? In the case of word learning, children may be driven by a novelty bias favouring novel objects as referents (Horst, Samuelson, Kucker & McMurray, 2011). Our study investigates this bias further by investigating whether novelty also affects children’s selection of novel objects when a new action is given. In a pre-exposure session, 40, three- and four-year-olds were shown eight novel objects for one minute. In subsequent referent selection trials children were shown two pre-exposed and one super-novel object and heard either a novel name or saw a novel action. The super-novel object was selected significantly more that the pre-exposed objects on both word and action trials. Our data add to the growing literature suggesting that an endogenous attentional bias to novelty plays a role in children’s referent selection and demonstrates further parallels between word and action learning

Autistic Adults Show Similar Performance and Sensitivity to Social Cues on a Visual Perspective Taking Task as Non-autistic Adults

Autistic and non-autistic adults completed a visual perspective taking (VPT) task, reporting an object’s location from an actor’s perspective, or their own. On half the trials the actor looked at and reached for the object, and on half did not. Accuracy and reaction time were measured. In Experiment 1, both groups (N = 34, mean age = 24 years) responded slower when reporting the actor’s perspective, with no group differences in this effect. Experiment 2 included “other” VPT trials only. Both groups (N = 30, mean age = 25 years) showed sensitivity to the actor’s behaviour, more accurately reporting his perspective when he acted upon the object. No group differences were observed. In contrast to developmental studies, these experiments suggest similar VPT abilities in autistic and non-autistic adults

The Overlooked Potential of Generalized Linear Models in Astronomy-III: Bayesian Negative Binomial Regression and Globular Cluster Populations

In this paper, the third in a series illustrating the power of generalized linear models (GLMs) for the astronomical community, we elucidate the potential of the class of GLMs which handles count data. The size of a galaxy's globular cluster population $N_{\rm GC}$ is a prolonged puzzle in the astronomical literature. It falls in the category of count data analysis, yet it is usually modelled as if it were a continuous response variable. We have developed a Bayesian negative binomial regression model to study the connection between $N_{\rm GC}$ and the following galaxy properties: central black hole mass, dynamical bulge mass, bulge velocity dispersion, and absolute visual magnitude. The methodology introduced herein naturally accounts for heteroscedasticity, intrinsic scatter, errors in measurements in both axes (either discrete or continuous), and allows modelling the population of globular clusters on their natural scale as a non-negative integer variable. Prediction intervals of 99% around the trend for expected $N_{\rm GC}$comfortably envelope the data, notably including the Milky Way, which has hitherto been considered a problematic outlier. Finally, we demonstrate how random intercept models can incorporate information of each particular galaxy morphological type. Bayesian variable selection methodology allows for automatically identifying galaxy types with different productions of GCs, suggesting that on average S0 galaxies have a GC population 35% smaller than other types with similar brightness.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Free-Range Pre-Programmed RC Car

There is a growing interest in the capabilities and utilization of autonomous vehicles. The objective of this project is to design a small scale illustration of an autonomous vehicle driven by user input. An application will be designed that will allow a user to create a track that an RC car will accurately follow. As the car follows the track, a microcontroller on the vehicle will send movement information back to the application. This information is used by the application to process where the vehicle is currently at and where it needs to go. While in motion, on-board sensors will actively detect obstacles in the path and adjust the vehicle’s direction to avoid collision

Cultural Resources Report for the Salt Creek Midstream, LLC Proposed Quito Draw Pipeline Project on University Lands, UT System Property in Ward County, Texas

Enercon Services, Inc. (ENERCON), in support of Salt Creek Midstream, LLC, conducted an intensive archeological survey for the proposed Quito Draw Pipeline Project. The proposed pipeline is approximately 19.3 miles (31.1 km) in length, located near Barstow and Pyote, Texas in Ward County. This report encompasses only the University Lands, UT System property segment of the proposed Quito Draw Pipeline Project which is approximately 11.8 miles (19.0km) in length. The University Lands, UT System property segment of the project area is depicted on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Wink South, Tex. (1968), Soda Lake NE, Tex. (1968), and Soda Lake SE, Tex. (1968) 7.5 Minute Quadrangle maps. The construction corridor consists of a 50 foot (15m) wide permanent pipeline right-of-way (ROW) and a 50 foot (15m) wide temporary workspace corridor. The entire 50 foot (15m) wide ROW will be cleared of vegetation and the eight-inch gas pipeline will be installed in an open cut trench. The cultural resources survey corridor and area of potential effect (APE) was 100 foot (30m) wide for the entire 11.8 mile (19.0km) length of the pipeline segment through the University Lands, UT System property segment of the project, for a total of 143.03 acres (57.88 hectares). The survey of the University Lands, UT System, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, property, was completed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 9011. The initial cultural resources field investigation on University Lands, UT System property was conducted October 7, 2018 to October 9, 2018 by Christopher Flowers and Gary D. Edington and consisted of an intensive pedestrian survey utilizing transects spaced no greater than 15m apart with shovel tests in areas which had the potential for buried cultural resources. The field investigation was conducted in accordance with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) Archeological Survey Standards for Texas. The entire project was supervised by Gary D. Edington, an ENERCON archeologist who meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for archeology as set forth in 36 CFR 61. The initial cultural resources investigation of the proposed Quito Draw Pipeline Project on University Lands, UT System property resulted in the observation of one isolated find (IF). IF#1 consists of a mottled pink and white tertiary chert flake. Ground Surface Visibility (GSV) at the location of IF#1 averaged around 65 percent. Five shovel tests were excavated in the vicinity of IF#1, all of which were negative for cultural resources. A pedestrian survey grid at 3-5m intervals at the location of IF#1 failed to identify any additional cultural materials and the location was noted as an isolated find. IF#1 lacks important information potential and is not recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or designation as a State Antiquities Landmark (SAL), and no further work is recommended at the location of IF#1. Prior to the initial survey, a site file check was conducted which resulted in the determination that no previously recorded sites are within the APE, or within 1-mile of the APE on University Lands, UT System property. Unfortunately, the Atlas was updated after the site file check was completed. A post facto site file check was conducted which resulted in the determination that seven previously recorded sites are recorded within 1-mile of the APE. Two of which, 41WR106 and 41WR107, are recorded within the APE and were partially impacted by the construction of the Quito Draw Pipeline on University Lands, UT System property. The field crew did not know 41WR106 and 41WR107 were recorded adjacent to the APE prior to fieldwork and these site locations were not observed during the initial survey. Prior to this Cultural Resources Report being presented to THC construction began on both the Quito Draw and Olifant 12-Inch pipelines. Thus, a post facto revisit of 41WR106 and 41WR107 was conducted on February 22, 2020 by J. Matthew Oliver and Gary D. Edington to assess the impact damage to both sites. Both sites, 41WR106 and 41WR107 were negatively impacted by the construction of the Quito Draw and Olifant 12-inch Pipelines on University Lands, UT System property. At site 41WR106 it appears that less than two percent of the previously recorded site area has been destroyed while at site 41WR107 it appears that approximately four percent of the site has been destroyed by the clearing of the Quito Draw and Olifant 12-inch pipelines. The cultural resources investigations did not result in finding any additional historic or prehistoric artifacts, features, cultural lenses, or sites over 50 years of age on University Lands, UT System property. Therefore, it is recommended that the project will have no effect on any additional historic property that may qualify for inclusion in the NRHP or determination as a SAL on University Lands, UT System property. No further cultural resources investigations are recommended for the Quito Draw Pipeline Project on University Lands, UT System property. If cultural material, including sites, features, or artifacts that are 50 years old or older are encountered within the ROW during maintenance activities of the Quito Draw and Olifant Pipelines on University Lands, UT System property, work in the area must cease and the THC (512-463- 5853) must be immediately be notified

Final Cultural Resources Report of the Salt Creek Midstream, LLC Proposed Olifant Eight Inch Pipeline Project on University Lands in Ward County, Texas

Enercon Services, Inc. (ENERCON), in support of Salt Creek Midstream, LLC, conducted an intensive archeological survey for the proposed Olifant Eight Inch Pipeline Project located near Pyote in Ward County, Texas. The proposed project consists of the construction of an approximately 800 foot (244 m) long eight inch steel pipeline on University Lands, extending from a tie-in at an existing well pad, trending generally south-southeast to a tie-in on the existing Quito Draw pipeline. The Olifant Eight Inch Pipeline Project area is mapped on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Soda Lake NE, Texas (1967, photorevised 1981) 7.5 Minute Quadrangle map. The construction corridor consists of a 50 foot (15 m) wide permanent pipeline right-of-way (ROW) and a 50 foot (15 m) wide temporary workspace corridor. The cultural resources survey corridor and the area of potential effect (APE) was 100 feet (30 m) wide for the entire 800 foot (244 m) length of the proposed Olifant Eight Inch Pipeline Project, totaling 1.84 acres (.74 hectares). The proposed project is entirely on University Lands, a political subdivision of the State of Texas. The archeological survey was completed under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 9012. The cultural resources field investigation on University Lands was conducted on February 26, 2019 by ENERCON archeologist Gary Edington, who meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for archeology as set forth in 36 CFR 61, and consisted of an intensive pedestrian survey utilizing transects spaced no greater than 15 m apart, with shovel tests in areas which had the potential for buried cultural resources. The field investigation was conducted in accordance with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) Archeological Survey Standards for Texas. The entire project was supervised by Michael Margolis, an ENERCON archeologist who meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for archeology as set forth in 36 CFR 61. The cultural resources survey did not result in finding any historic or prehistoric artifacts, features, cultural lenses, or sites over 50 years of age on University Lands. Therefore, it is recommended that the project will have no effect on any historic property that may qualify for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on University Lands. No further cultural resources investigations are recommended prior to construction of the proposed Olifant Eight Inch Pipeline Project on University Lands. If cultural material, including sites, features, or artifacts that are 50 years old or older are encountered within the ROW during construction of this project, work in the area must cease and the THC must be immediately be notified

Genetic and biochemical analysis of the adenylyl cyclase-associated protein, cap, in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We have identified, cloned, and studied a gene, cap, encoding a protein that is associated with adenylyl cyclase in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. This protein shares significant sequence homology with the adenylyl cyclase-associated CAP protein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CAP is a bifunctional protein; the N-terminal domain appears to be involved in cellular responsiveness to RAS, whereas loss of the C-terminal portion is associated with morphological and nutritional defects. S. pombe cap can suppress phenotypes associated with deletion of the C-terminal CAP domain in S. cerevisiae but does not suppress phenotypes associated with deletion of the N-terminal domain. Analysis of cap disruptants also mapped the function of cap to two domains. The functional loss of the C-terminal region of S. pombe cap results in abnormal cellular morphology, slow growth, and failure to grow at 37-degrees-C. Increases in mating and sporulation were observed when the entire gene was disrupted. Overproduction of both cap and adenylyl cyclase results in highly elongated large cells that are sterile and have measurably higher levels of adenylyl cyclase activity. Our results indicate that cap is required for the proper function of S. pombe adenylyl cyclase but that the C-terminal domain of cap has other functions that are shared with the C-terminal domain of S. cerevisiae CAP

Transfer of spectral weight across the gap of Sr2IrO4 induced by La doping

We study with Angle Resolved PhotoElectron Spectroscopy (ARPES) the evolution of the electronic structure of Sr2IrO4, when holes or electrons are introduced, through Rh or La substitutions. At low dopings, the added carriers occupy the first available states, at bottom or top of the gap, revealing an anisotropic gap of 0.7eV in good agreement with STM measurements. At further doping, we observe a reduction of the gap and a transfer of spectral weight across the gap, although the quasiparticle weight remains very small. We discuss the origin of the in-gap spectral weight as a local distribution of gap values