Online prediction of others’ actions: the contribution of the target object, action context and movement kinematics

Previous research investigated the contributions of target objects, situational context and movement kinematics to action prediction separately. The current study addresses how these three factors combine in the prediction of observed actions. Participants observed an actor whose movements were constrained by the situational context or not, and object-directed or not. After several steps, participants had to indicate how the action would continue. Experiment 1 shows that predictions were most accurate when the action was constrained and object-directed. Experiments 2A and 2B investigated whether these predictions relied more on the presence of a target object or cues in the actor’s movement kinematics. The target object was artificially moved to another location or occluded. Results suggest a crucial role for kinematics. In sum, observers predict actions based on target objects and situational constraints, and they exploit subtle movement cues of the observed actor rather than the direct visual information about target objects and context

Effects of adverse early-life events on aggression and anti-social behaviours in animals and humans

We review the impact of early adversities on the development of violence and antisocial behaviour in humans, and present three aetiological animal models of escalated rodent aggression, each disentangling the consequences of one particular adverse early-life factor. A review of the human data, as well as those obtained with the animal models of repeated maternal separation, post-weaning social isolation and peripubertal stress, clearly shows that adverse developmental conditions strongly affect aggressive behaviour displayed in adulthood, the emotional responses to social challenges and the neuronal mechanisms activated by conflict. Although similarities between models are evident, important differences were also noted, demonstrating that the behavioural, emotional and neuronal consequences of early adversities are to a large extent dependent on aetiological factors. These findings support recent theories on human aggression, which suggest that particular developmental trajectories lead to specific forms of aggressive behaviour and brain dysfunctions. However, dissecting the roles of particular aetiological factors in humans is difficult because these occur in various combinations; in addition, the neuroscientific tools employed in humans still lack the depth of analysis of those used in animal research. We suggest that the analytical approach of the rodent models presented here may be successfully used to complement human findings and to develop integrative models of the complex relationship between early adversity, brain development and aggressive behaviour. © 2014 British Society for Neuroendocrinology

Broadband Linear-Dichroic Photodetector in a Black Phosphorus Vertical p-n Junction

The ability to detect light over a broad spectral range is central for practical optoelectronic applications, and has been successfully demonstrated with photodetectors of two-dimensional layered crystals such as graphene and MoS2. However, polarization sensitivity within such a photodetector remains elusive. Here we demonstrate a linear-dichroic broadband photodetector with layered black phosphorus transistors, using the strong intrinsic linear dichroism arising from the in-plane optical anisotropy with respect to the atom-buckled direction, which is polarization sensitive over a broad bandwidth from 400 nm to 3750 nm. Especially, a perpendicular build-in electric field induced by gating in black phosphorus transistors can spatially separate the photo-generated electrons and holes in the channel, effectively reducing their recombination rate, and thus enhancing the efficiency and performance for linear dichroism photodetection. This provides new functionality using anisotropic layered black phosphorus, thereby enabling novel optical and optoelectronic device applications.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures in Nature Nanotechnology 201

The Politics of nitrate in Chile. Pressure groups and policies, 1870-1896 ; some unanswered questions

The Chilean nitrate industry history was the subject of a great interest, as much on account of the wealth of the sources as on account of the role of this ore in the Modem History of the Chilean Republic. However, many matters remain debated in the question of the nitrate impact upon the Chilean political and economic life from the 1860s to the end of the last century. We are attempting to concentrate our study on three particular historiographical problems : 1) the role of the Antofagasta Nitrate and Railway Company in the Pacific War ; 2) what was called the «denationalization» of the industry, done by the Chilean government when the war was over ; 3) the generai nitrate impact upon the Chilean economy and upon the President Balmaceda's character and policy. So as to be able to try and give a judgment on the pressure groups which had an active part in those three cases, we are showing their interests and their activities and giving an account of the most recent researches on the subject.L'histoire de l'industrie du nitrate au Chili a été l'objet d'un grand intérêt, tant à cause de la richesse des sources que du rôle de ce minerai dans l'histoire moderne de cette république. Il y a cependant beaucoup de questions sur le rôle du nitrate dans la vie politique et économique du Chili entre les années 1860 et la fin du siècle dernier. Cette étude tente de se centrer sur trois problèmes historiographiques : 1) le rôle de l'Antofagasta Nitrate and Railway Company dans la guerre du Pacifique ; 2) ce qu'on a appelé la « de l'industrie par le gouvernement chilien après la guerre ; 3) générale du nitrate sur l'économie chilienne, le caractère et la politique du président Balmaceda. L'auteur essaye de porter un jugement sur les groupes de pression qui ont joué un rôle actif dans ces trois cas, en montrant leurs et leurs activités et en rendant compte des recherches les plus récentes sur la question.La historia de la industria salitrera de Chile ha recibido mucho atencion, dada la riqueza de las fuentes y tomando en cuenta el roi del minerai en la historia moderna de la repûblica. Sin embargo, hay muchas preguntas controvertidas sobre el impacto del salitre en la vida politica y economica de Chile entre los setenta y el fin del siglo pasado. Este estudio trata de enfoquar sobre très pro- blemas historiograficos : 1 ) el roi del Antofagasta Nitrate and Railway Company en la guerra del Pacifico ; 2) la llamada «desnacionalisacion» de la industria por el gobierno chileno después de la guerra ; 3) el impacto gênerai del salitre sobre la economia chilena y el carâcter y la politica del Présidente Balmaceda. El autor trata de hacer un juicio sobre los grupos de presion activos en estos très casos, mostrando sus intereses y actividades, y notando las investigaciones masrecientes sobre el asunto.Blakemore Harold. The Politics of nitrate in Chile. Pressure groups and policies, 1870-1896 ; some unanswered questions. In: Revue française d'histoire d'outre-mer, tome 66, n°244-245, 3e et 4e trimestres 1979. Histoire et politologie en Amérique Latine. pp. 285-299