Comparison and Mapping Facilitate Relation Discovery and Predication

Relational concepts play a central role in human perception and cognition, but little is known about how they are acquired. For example, how do we come to understand that physical force is a higher-order multiplicative relation between mass and acceleration, or that two circles are the same-shape in the same way that two squares are? A recent model of relational learning, DORA (Discovery of Relations by Analogy; Doumas, Hummel & Sandhofer, 2008), predicts that comparison and analogical mapping play a central role in the discovery and predication of novel higher-order relations. We report two experiments testing and confirming this prediction

VEGF is indirectly associated with NO production

Background? Increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been observed in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Nitric oxide (NO) formation is reduced in MetS, but its relationship to VEGF production remains poorly defined. We evaluated the association between VEGF/NO synthesis and insulin sensitivity in obese subjects and investigated the secretory response of VEGF to an acute elevation of glucose.Materials and methods? Seven healthy normal-weight subjects, seven obese subjects without MetS and seven obese subjects with MetS were recruited. Anthropometry, body composition and cardiometabolic functions (blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C and VEGF) were measured, and a novel stable isotope method was used to assess in vivo rates of NO production. A frequent sampling intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed to study the dynamics of VEGF release.Results? Fasting VEGF levels were significantly higher in the two obese groups compared to the control group (P for trend = 0·02), but the difference was not significant after adjustment for age. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels were associated with systolic blood pressure (? = 0·54; P = 0·01) and NO production (? = ?0·44; P = 0·04). Vascular endothelial growth factor levels increased in response to acute hyperglycaemia in normal-weight and obese subjects (P < 0·001).Conclusions? Vascular endothelial growth factor levels rapidly increase during hyperglycaemia and are inversely related to NO production at steady state. The potential link between the acute secretion of VEGF and atherosclerotic risk in subjects with poorly controlled glycaemia as well as the potential of lowering elevated VEGF levels by increasing NO production and/or availability warrants further investigation

大学の組織と就職指導活動 : 教員と職員の意見調査を中心に

日本教育社会学会第46回大会, 1994年10月(椙山女学園大学), Ⅱ-4部会 大学と就

Applicable Mitigation Strategies and Technology Propositions: Preventing Scamming in Marginalized Populations

This essay serves as a proposal for new technology and mitigation against the scamming of marginalized individuals (i.e., those over the age of 65). Research supports this outline, giving background to the types of scams, and prevention strategies currently seen in the cybersecurity landscape. It is evident that the methods we currently use to combat scamming attacks are not effective, therefore, I propose a new solution. This proposed telecommunications strategy is necessary to prevent scamming of all internet users, no matter the device. This telecommunication strategy would use artificial intelligence and machine learning to constantly improve its detection over time, nullifying the scamming issue that plagues senior citizens. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Telecommunication Leverage, Senior Adults, Educational Mitigation, Technological Mitigation, Scam-Prevention, Scammin

Who is she? Changes in the person context affect categorization

Changes between the learning and testing contexts affect learning, memory, and generalization. We examined whether a change (between learning and testing) in the person children were interacting with affects generalization. Three-, four-, and five-year-old children were trained on eight novel noun categories by one experimenter. Children were tested for their ability to generalize the label to a new category member by either the same experimenter who trained them or by a novel experimenter. Three-year-old children's performance was not affected by who they were tested by. Four- and five-year-old children's performance was lower when tested by the novel experimenter. The results are discussed in terms of source monitoring and the effect of perceptual context change on category generalization

Balancing Conventional Pairings and Semantic Fit: Classifier Production in Mandarin-Speaking Children

This study examined how classifier-noun conventions and classifier semantic compatibility influence the selection of classifiers in Mandarin- speaking children aged five to seven. Results indicated that children's classifier use was shaped not only by conventional associations between classifiers and noun categories but also by semantic congruence, particularly in the absence of explicit noun labels. Older children demonstrated greater sensitivity to labels in guiding classifier selection than younger children. Furthermore, explicit noun labels most strongly boosted children's choice of conventional classifiers for non‑prototypical stimuli, while having a much smaller impact on prototypical stimuli. Overall, these results highlight the interplay between memorization and semantic compatibility in classifier acquisition and underscore the importance of semantic and perceptual features in shaping language learning

Revolutionäre Aufbrüche in der "Theology of Struggle"

Die philippinische Identität ist seit Beginn der Kolonialherrschaft von einer Sehnsucht nach Unabhängigkeit, Partizipation und Selbstbestimmung geprägt. Die politischen, wirtschaftlichen und sozialen Missstände des Landes führten zu Unterdrückung und Verarmung des Großteils der Bevölkerung. Aus der festen und mutigen Entschlossenheit, diese bestehenden ungerechten Strukturen zu bekämpfen, formierten sich im Laufe der Widerstandsgeschichte des südostasiatischen Inselstaates diverse christliche und nichtchristliche Organisationen, um an der Seite der Armen und Schwachen nachhaltig für mehr Gerechtigkeit im Land einzutreten. Das solidarische Engagement vieler Gläubiger wurde als verpflichtende christliche Nachfolgepraxis verstanden und in den Mittelpunkt aufkeimender theologischer Reflexionen gestellt. Entstanden aus dem täglichen Ringen der unterdrückten Bevölkerung, versucht die hier analysierte Theology of Struggle, die Theologie des Kampfes, durch die unmittelbare Verbindung von Glauben und Lebensrealität Hoffnung und Beistand zu schenken. Die rebellisch-praktischen Einsätze vieler Priester, Ordensleute und LaiInnen verweisen auf die praxisorientierten Methoden und nötigen Mittel zur Erlangung von nationaler Freiheit. Voraussetzung für diese solidarisch-kämpferische Position ist das Eintauchen in die bitteren Lebenserfahrungen der Armen und die Parteilichkeit und Teilnahme an deren täglichen (Überlebens)Kämpfen. Insofern verwirklichen philippinische ChristInnen die geforderte Kirche der Armen und stellen sich tatkräftig in den Dienst der Menschen, um gemeinsam mit den Unterdrückten dieses Volkes strukturelle Sünden zu bekämpfen. Diese Arbeit begibt sich auf die Spurensuche nach revolutionären Aufbrüchen im Christentum und versucht ausgehend von pastoralen, biblischen und theologischen Beispielen die Eigenart der Theologie des Kampfes zu erforschen.Since the beginning of colonial rule the Filipino identity has been shaped by the quest for independence, participation and self-determination. Political, economical and societal grievances have lead to oppression and impoverishment of the bigger part of the Filipino population. Based on the solid and courageous decision to actively oppose unjust structures, Christian and non-Christian organisations had been formed during the Filipino history of resistance. The solidary commitment of many Christians was perceived as the postulated Imitation of Christ and hence put in the centre of upcoming theological reflections. Emerged from the daily struggles of the people the theology of struggle assists and encourages the poor by contextually relating faith with every day life. The rebellious and energetic mission of church people points at the transformative, contextual and practically relevant methodology of this theology and the progressive tools for achieving national liberation. The immersion in the harsh living conditions of the poor, as well as the sincere participation in the daily struggles of the oppressed are preconditions for the courageous positions taken by many theologians. Through biblical vision and mission progressive Filipino Christians realize the postulated Church of the Poor. Based on pastoral, biblical and theological examples this paper explores the tracks of revolution in Christianity and consequently tries to analyse the insurgent character of this Filipino theology

Electron phonon coupling and momentrum resolved electronic properties of the Pb/Si(111) hybrid system

Die immer stärker werdende Miniaturisierung elektronischer Bauteile bringt die dafür nötigen Größenordnungen immer näher an das Limit quantenmechanischer Effekte. Die räumliche Einschränkung der elektronischen Wellenfunktion im nm Bereich führt dazu, dass sich Quantenpotenzial Zustände (QPZ) bilden, welche dafür verantwortlich sind, dass die physikalischen Eigenschaften z.B. einer dünnen Schicht von dessen Schichtdicke abhängen. Dabei spielen nicht nur die Eigenschaften der verkleinerten Materialien, sondern auch der Einfluss der Umgebung auf diese Eigenschaften eine wichtige Rolle. Diese Arbeit erforscht den Einfluss des Si Substrats auf die elektronische Struktur, Dynamik und die Wechselwirkung der Elektronen mit Phononen in dünnen epitaktischen Pb Schichten. Mittels eines Vergleichs von experimentellen Ergebnissen aus Femtosekunden zeit- und impulsaufgelöster Laser Photoemissionsspektroskopie an Pb/Si(111) und Berechnungen im Rahmen der Dichtefunktionaltheorie für freistehende Pb Filme wird in Richtung Γ → M in der Nähe des Brillouin-Zonenzentrums die Wechselwirkung von Pb 6pz Zuständen mit dem Si Substrat und dem Atomgitter untersucht. Die Energieabhängigkeit unbesetzter QPZ mit der elektronischen Wellenzahl parallel zur Oberfläche k|| wurde bei verschiedenen Energien, entartet und nicht-entartet mit dem Si Leitungsband, gemessen und zeigt keine direkte Beeinflussung durch die Si Volumenbänder. Daraus wird eine verschwindende direkte Wechselwirkung der Pb 6pz Zustände mit den Si Bändern gefolgert. Allerdings ist der Wert von k||, bei dem eine Mischung von 6pz und 6px,y abgeleiteten Bändern auftritt näher an Γ als bei freistehenden Filmen. Die Analyse der Relaxationsdynamik zeigt zudem eine konstante Relaxationszeit heißer Elektronen in unbesetzten QPZ mit k||. Diese Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass aus 6pz Orbitalen abgeleitete QPZ nicht mit den elektronischen Substratzuständen wechselwirken, sondern eine px,y vermittelte Wechselwirkung der pz Zustände mit dem Si Leitungsband vorliegt. Die Identifikation eines Grenzflächenzustandes verdeutlicht zudem die Bedeutung der Verzahnung zwischen Pb und Si an der Grenzfläche. Weiterhin wurde die energieabhängige Elektron-Phonon Kopplungskonstante λ(E) von Pb/Si(111) mittels temperaturabhängiger Laser Photoemission an QPZ innerhalb der Bandlücke untersucht und mit Berechnungen im Rahmen der Dichtefunktionaltheorie von Pb Filmen verglichen. Es zeigt sich eine Reduktion von λ im Vergleich zum Pb Volumenkristall, die nicht allein durch Größeneffekte oder strukturelle Modifikationen in der Pb Schicht erklärt werden kann. Vielmehr wird die Reduktion durch den Einfluss des Substrats auf die elektronische und vibronische Struktur von Pb verursacht. Aus all diesen Ergebnissen kann gefolgert werden, dass Pb/Si(111) nur unter Einbeziehung des Substrats und der Struktur der Grenzfläche vollständig verstanden werden kann.The constant drive to miniaturization of electronic devices forces the manufactured sizes into dimensions of quantum mechanical effects. The spacial confinement of the electron wave function in the region of nm leads to the formation of quantum well states (QPZ) which are responsible for the dependence of the physical properties on e.g. the thickness of a small film. Not only the properties of confined materials, but also the influence of the surroundings on these properties are playing a crucial role. This work investigates the influence of a Si substrate on the electronic structure, dynamic and the interaction of the electrons with phonons in a thin epitaxial Pb film. By means of a comparison between experimental results obtained by femtosecond time and momentum resolved laser photoemission spectroscopy on Pb/Si(111) and density functional theory calculations for freestanding Pb films in Γ → M direction near the brillouin zone center the interaction of the Pb 6pz states with the Si substrate and the atomic lattice is studied. The energy dependence of unoccupied QPZ on the electronic wave number parallel to the surface k||, degenerate and nondegenerate with the Si band gap, was measured and shows no direct influence from the Si bulk bands. Hence a vanishing direct interaction of the Pb 6pz states with the Si bands can be deduced. However, the momentum range at which a mixing of 6pz and 6px,y derived bands is found is closer to Γ compared to freestanding films. Additionally, the analysis of the relaxation dynamics shows a constant relaxation time of hot electrons in unoccupied QPZ with respect to k||. These results indicate, that QPZ which are derived from 6pz orbitals do not interact with the electronic substrate states, but that a px,y mediated interaction of the pz states with the Si conduction band can be concluded. Moreover, the identification of an interface state point out the importance of the toothing between Pb and Si at the interface. Furthermore, the energy dependent electron phonon coupling constant λ(E) of Pb/Si(111) was investigated via temperature dependent laser photoemission from QPZ degenerate with the band gap and compared to density fundtional theory calculations of Pb films. In comparison to Pb bulk, a reduction of λ is found which can not be explained by size effects of structural modifications in the Pb layer. In fact the reduction is caused by the influence of the substrate on the electronic and vibronic structure of Pb. From all these results it can be concluded, that Pb/Si(111) can be fully understood only by taking into account the substrate and the structure of the interface

How Bilingual Parents Talk to Children About Number in Mandarin and English

Number-related language input has been shown to influence children’s number word acquisition and mathematical ability. Significant differences exist between how Mandarin Chinese speaking parents and monolingual English-speaking parents use numeric language in speech to children. In particular, Mandarin Chinese speaking parents use cardinal number much more frequently in speech to children than do English speaking parents. However, because previous studies have been conducted cross-nationally, research has been unable to disentangle the influences of language from parental influence. The current study examined numeric language input to preschool children with bilingual Mandarin-English American parents. Results show that when parents speak to their children in Mandarin Chinese, children hear more instances and examples of the cardinal number principle than when parents speak to their children in English. This suggests that differences between how the Mandarin Chinese and English languages are structured leads to disparities in how frequently children hear cardinal number in everyday speech