A salient and task-irrelevant collinear structure hurts visual search

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LS Penrose’s limit theorem: Tests by simulation

LS Penrose’s limit theorem (PLT) – which is implicit in Penrose [5, p. 72] and for which he gave no rigorous proof – says that, in simple weighted voting games, if the number of voters increases indefinitely while existing voters retain their weights and the relative quota is pegged, then – under certain conditions – the ratio between the voting powers of any two voters converges to the ratio between their weights. Lindner and Machover [3] prove some special cases of PLT; and conjecture that the theorem holds, under rather general conditions, for large classes of weighted voting games, various values of the quota, and with respect to several measures of voting power. We use simulation to test this conjecture. It is corroborated w.r.t. the Penrose–Banzhaf index for a quota of 50% but not for other values; w.r.t. the Shapley–Shubik index the conjecture is corroborated for all values of the quota (short of 100%).limit theorems, majority games, simulation, weighted voting games

Une Etude Comparée de L’oralité et de L’écriture Dans La Littérature Africaine D’expression Française: Le Cas Des Romans d’Ahmadou Kourouma

Il n’est plus possible aujourd’hui que l’oralité et l’écriture s’ignorent, bien que l’oralité ait existé pendant longtemps dans la société traditionnelle africaine. La raison est qu’il n’existe plus une société traditionnelle à l’état pur. La plupart des membres de cette société ont fréquenté l’école de type européen, ils ont séjourné en ville et ont également eu des contacts avec une langue européenne ou une autre liée à l’écriture. Les fervents de l’instruction scolaire se sont aussi rendus compte des limites de l’écriture et ont voulu bien retrouver certaines valeurs de la société traditionnelle africaine. Cependant, il convient ici de savoir que le message de la tradition orale est certainement au carrefour de deux axes : l’émetteur-récepteur et la tradition-situation. Par ailleurs, on constate également que le message écrit aussi est au carrefour de deux axes, mais ces axes sont nettement différents de ceux de la tradition orale. C’est à cet égard que dans ce travail, nous allons examiner de près les deux axes et voir leurs conséquences sur chacun d’eux

Key factors and network model for location-based cultural mobile game design

The use of smart devices as media for digital learning constitutes a new-generation digital learning paradigm. Therefore, context-aware game-based learning has attracted considerable attention. Location-based games have not only positive effects on learning but also pronounced effects on culture and history. Accordingly, focusing on railway cultural heritages, we attempted to assess interdependent relationships between key factors crucial for the design of a location-based mobile game for cultural heritages. We adopted the analytic network process (ANP) for our assessment. We initially performed a literature review to generalize relevant criteria and elements and developed a questionnaire based on the fuzzy delphi method (FDM); which lead to the selection of key factors, namely 3 criteria and 15 elements. We also applied an online ANP-based questionnaire; on the basis of the experts' opinions, we established a network model and determined the priority order of the key factors. The results revealed that experts considered “culture learning” to be of the highest importance, with the most important three elements being “prior knowledge,” “challenge levels,” and “cultural narrative.” Moreover, culture learning exhibited a strong interaction with content design. In addition, each element had a considerable influence on the remaining elements that could provide references for the construction of location-based cultural mobile games in the future

Electrooptic and electroabsorptive modulation properties in interdiffusion-modified AlGaAs-GaAs quantum wells

The electric field induced refractive index change and absorption coefficient change in TE polarization are analyzed at room temperature for several interdiffusion modified Al0.3Ga0.7As-GaAs quantum-well structures. The results show that for the small and medium interdiffusion lengths with fields of 100 and 50 kV/cm, respectively, improved chirping and electroabsorption can be obtained. Further, in a selected set of interdiffusion lengths and fields, the material can be used for an electroabsorption modulator with reduced chirping in a wide range of operation wavelengths (758-874 nm).published_or_final_versio

Scalable solid-state quantum computation in decoherence-free subspaces with trapped ions

We propose a decoherence-free subspaces (DFS) scheme to realize scalable quantum computation with trapped ions. The spin-dependent Coulomb interaction is exploited, and the universal set of unconventional geometric quantum gates is achieved in encoded subspaces that are immune from decoherence by collective dephasing. The scalability of the scheme for the ion array system is demonstrated, either by an adiabatic way of switching on and off the interactions, or by a fast gate scheme with comprehensive DFS encoding and noise decoupling techniques.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Acupuncture and needle-stimulation, differences in concepts and methods

Based on related elaboration of the Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, this article analyzed and summarized the clinical meaning, application principles and the basic operating methods of Traditional Acupuncture (TA), and demonstrated that the TA is completely different to modern needle stimulation. TA has a specific application background, direct-viewing thinking mode and clear operational connotation. The key of operation in TA is how to grasp and control Qi, which typically reflect the unique image of the Chinese civilization with intuitive perceptual characteristics of thinking. In contrast, modern needle-stimulation uses needles as a stimulus, to activate a series of physical and functional reactions in a body. There have great differences between the two. It was indicated that correctly understanding with the basic principle and specific meaning of TA is very important in acupuncture clinical and research works.published_or_final_versio

CFD Analysis of Pollutant Removal Mechanism in Urban Street Canyons

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A metal–organic framework/α-alumina composite with a novel geometry for enhanced adsorptive separation

The development of a metal–organic framework/α-alumina composite leads to a novel concept: efficient adsorption occurs within a plurality of radial micro-channels with no loss of the active adsorbents during the process. This composite can effectively remediate arsenic contaminated water producing potable water recovery, whereas the conventional fixed bed requires eight times the amount of active adsorbents to achieve a similar performance

Citizen science on the Chinese mainland

Citizen science, the active participation of the public in scientific research projects, is a rapidly expanding field in open science and open innovation. It provides an integrated model of public knowledge production and engagement with science. As a growing worldwide phenomenon, it is invigorated by evolving new technologies that connect people easily and effectively with the scientific community. Catalysed by citizens’ wishes to be actively involved in scientific processes, as a result of recent societal trends, it also offers contributions to the rise in tertiary education. In addition, citizen science provides a valuable tool for citizens to play a more active role in sustainable development. This book identifies and explains the role of citizen science within innovation in science and society, and as a vibrant and productive science-policy interface. The scope of this volume is global, geared towards identifying solutions and lessons to be applied across science, practice and policy. The chapters consider the role of citizen science in the context of the wider agenda of open science and open innovation, and discuss progress towards responsible research and innovation, two of the most critical aspects of science today