scholarly journals Pre-linguistic infants employ complex communicative loops to engage mothers in social exchanges and repair interaction ruptures

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 170274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadège Bourvis ◽  
Magi Singer ◽  
Catherine Saint Georges ◽  
Nicolas Bodeau ◽  
Mohamed Chetouani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Free Play ◽  
Linguistic Meaning ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Linguistic Communication ◽  
Social Exchanges ◽  
The Past ◽  
Emotional Component ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Interactive Loop ◽  
Still Face Paradigm

Language has long been identified as a powerful communicative tool among humans. Yet, pre-linguistic communication, which is common in many species, is also used by human infants prior to the acquisition of language. The potential communicational value of pre-linguistic vocal interactions between human infants and mothers has been studied in the past decades. With 120 dyads (mothers and three- or six-month-old infants), we used the classical Still Face Paradigm (SFP) in which mothers interact freely with their infants, then refrain from communication (Still Face, SF), and finally resume play. We employed innovative automated techniques to measure infant and maternal vocalization and pause, and dyadic parameters (infant response to mother, joint silence and overlap) and the emotional component of Infant Directed Speech (e-IDS) throughout the interaction. We showed that: (i) during the initial free play mothers use longer vocalizations and more e-IDS when they interact with older infants and (ii) infant boys exhibit longer vocalizations and shorter pauses than girls. (iii) During the SF and reunion phases, infants show marked and sustained changes in vocalizations but their mothers do not and (iv) mother–infant dyadic parameters increase in the reunion phase. Our quantitative results show that infants, from the age of three months, actively participate to restore the interactive loop after communicative ruptures long before vocalizations show clear linguistic meaning. Thus, auditory signals provide from early in life a channel by which infants co-create interactions, enhancing the mother–infant bond.

Shifting Concepts

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Philosophy ◽  
Central Area ◽  
Linguistic Meaning ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Important Work ◽  
Linguistic Communication ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Semantic Properties ◽  
Conceptual Variation

Concepts stand at the centre of human cognition. We use concepts in categorizing objects and events in the world, in reasoning and action, and in social interaction. It is therefore not surprising that the study of concepts constitutes a central area of research in philosophy and psychology. Since the 1970s, psychologists have carried out intriguing experiments testing the role of concepts in categorizing and reasoning, and have found a great deal of variation in categorization behaviour across individuals and cultures. During the same period, philosophers of language and mind did important work on the semantic properties of concepts, and on how concepts are related to linguistic meaning and linguistic communication. An important motivation behind this was the idea that concepts must be shared, across individuals and cultures. However, there was little interaction between these two research programs until recently. With the dawn of experimental philosophy, the proposal that the experimental data from psychology lacks relevance to semantics is increasingly difficult to defend. Moreover, in the last decade, philosophers have approached questions about the tension between conceptual variation and shared concepts in communication from a new perspective: that of ameliorating concepts for theoretical or for social and political purposes. The volume brings together leading psychologists and philosophers working on concepts who come from these different research traditions.

scholarly journals Night-nursing and Supervision in Asylums

1899 ◽  
Vol 45 (191) ◽  
pp. 713-724
Author(s):  
F. Ashby Elkins ◽  
Jas. Middlemass
Keyword(s):  
Essential Feature ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Hospital Ward ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Past ◽  
First Results ◽  
Suicidal Patients ◽  
Selection Of

We think it will be generally acknowledged that the problem which the treatment of noisy, destructive, and dirty patients sets to their medical officers is greatest as regards their management at night. It is then undoubtedly that noise, destructiveness, and dirty habits have the greatest chance of getting free play, and it is then that the efforts for reformation have to be greatest. If these efforts are successful considerably more than half the problem will have been solved. It is to this part of the question, viz. the supervision of such patients during the night, that we desire in this paper to direct attention. At the outset it may be stated that our proposals are not theoretical. They are the result of practical experience gained during the past four years in the Sunderland Asylum. The special arrangements we propose to describe were instituted by one of us at the opening of the institution four years ago. At first a few cases were dealt with tentatively, but, as the first results were so encouraging, the number of cases was gradually increased, until all the patients who were restless, noisy, destructive, or of dirty habits came without exception to be dealt with. The asylum, situated at Ryhope, is a small one, containing only 350 beds, and on this account, as well as because it was new, it was conveniently suited for such an experiment. It may be well before going further to describe the arrangements now in existence there. There are 175 beds for each sex, made up as follows:—45 single rooms, one fully padded, and 2 half-padded; 2 small dormitories of 7 each, 2 of 13 each, 2 of 19 each, and 2 of 26 each. In the last two there is a night attendant, and one also in one of the dormitories for 19, which is the hospital ward. There is, in addition, a head night attendant who visits the patients in these dormitories and also all the remaining patients every hour, or oftener when necessary. There are thus 4 of a night staff for 175 patients. Though this is probably a large proportion compared to most public asylums, it is not claimed as a new departure in asylum management, as we are aware that in a number of asylums the advantage of having a large night staff is fully realised and acted on. The essential feature of the arrangements at Ryhope, to which we wish to direct attention, is the selection of cases placed in dormitories under constant supervision. Of course, all epileptics and suicidal patients are placed there. But, in addition, all recent cases of whatever kind, all dirty and destructive cases, and those who sleep badly and are in consequence inclined to chatter or be noisy, are also placed under constant supervision. Looked at from the other side, all single rooms and dormitories not under constant supervision are reserved for quiet and well-behaved patients who do not require any special attention during the night. This plan has been found to work exceedingly well, and since it was organised we have never had occasion to think of adopting any other. Another testimony to its effectiveness is that those of the staff who have the actual supervision of the patients and have had experience in other asylums are unanimous in their opinion that the arrangement is a very decided improvement. This opinion, let it be observed, is not based on the ground that now their duties are lighter than they were, because, as a matter of fact, they are more onerous.

scholarly journals A Search History-Driven Offspring Generation Method for the Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Takumi Nakane ◽  
Xuequan Lu ◽  
Chao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Genetic Operators ◽  
The Real ◽  
Model Driven ◽  
The Past ◽  
Limited Budget ◽  
Real Coded Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Offspring Generation ◽  
Search History

In evolutionary algorithms, genetic operators iteratively generate new offspring which constitute a potentially valuable set of search history. To boost the performance of offspring generation in the real-coded genetic algorithm (RCGA), in this paper, we propose to exploit the search history cached so far in an online style during the iteration. Specifically, survivor individuals over the past few generations are collected and stored in the archive to form the search history. We introduce a simple yet effective crossover model driven by the search history (abbreviated as SHX). In particular, the search history is clustered, and each cluster is assigned a score for SHX. In essence, the proposed SHX is a data-driven method which exploits the search history to perform offspring selection after the offspring generation. Since no additional fitness evaluations are needed, SHX is favorable for the tasks with limited budget or expensive fitness evaluations. We experimentally verify the effectiveness of SHX over 15 benchmark functions. Quantitative results show that our SHX can significantly enhance the performance of RCGA, in terms of both accuracy and convergence speed. Also, the induced additional runtime is negligible compared to the total processing time.

scholarly journals The Secret Economy of Charitable Giving

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Anna Tait
Keyword(s):  
Charitable Giving ◽  
Internal Revenue Service ◽  
Warm Glow ◽  
Social Exchanges ◽  
High Profile ◽  
The Past ◽  
Gift Economy ◽  
Tax Benefits ◽  
Gates Foundation ◽  
Flexible Application

Charitable giving is big business. In 2009, the Internal Revenue Service reported close to 100,000 private foundations, almost double the number from fifteen years earlier. Some of these charitable trusts, like the Gates Foundation, are multi-billion dollar enterprises. Trust instruments and other governing documents set forth the terms that control these gifts. Because charitable trusts can exist in perpetuity, however, changing circumstances sometimes render the terms difficult to fulfill. Courts can apply cy pres, a doctrine that allows for the modification of gift restrictions, but in the past courts have tended to apply cy pres narrowly and privilege donor intent above all other considerations. Recent reforms, however, have moved courts toward a more flexible application of the doctrine. In this Article, I analyze certain high-profile cases that have driven these reforms-including the presumption of general charitable intent, the recognition of "wasteful" as a criterion, and the deployment of deviation-and explain how these reforms represent positive change. Moreover, I provide a theoretical grounding to account for the correctness of these reforms. I argue that charitable giving should be understood as embedded in a nexus of material and social exchanges-part of the "charitable gift economy. " I describe how charitable giving provides a range of benefits to donors, including both tangible tax benefits and intangible benefits such as status, social identity, and "warm glow. " Based on this understanding of the charitable gift economy, courts and charities alike should embrace current reforms and seek to expand them further.

scholarly journals Competing collective narratives in intergroup rapprochement: A transgenerational perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-400
Author(s):  
Margareta Jelić ◽  
Dinka Čorkalo Biruški ◽  
Dean Ajduković
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Violent Conflict ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Future Expectations ◽  
Personal Impact ◽  
The Past ◽  
Collective Narratives ◽  
Majority Group ◽  
Quantitative Results

In the context of an ethnically divided community, we explored the role of competing group narratives for intergroup rapprochement after violent conflict. In Study 1, data from a community survey conducted in Vukovar, Croatia, among 198 Croats, the local majority, and 119 Serbs, the local minority, were analysed to gain perspective on different narratives about the recent war and effects they may have on intergroup relations. In Study 2, focus groups with Croat and Serb children provided data to explore how these narratives were transmitted and transformed in living experience within the second generation. The quantitative results confirm the existence of opposing narratives of war among local Croats and Serbs. Multiple regression analyses show that, after controlling for exposure to war event and their personal impact, different factors predict rapprochement within the two groups. In the minority status group, that displayed higher overall levels of readiness for rapprochement, perceived ingroup victimization and outgroup stereotypes appeared more predictive than the outgroup affect. In contrast, within the majority group, variations in readiness for intergroup rapprochement were primarily predicted by outgroup affect, followed by perceived ingroup victimization. The qualitative inquiry complemented the findings from the survey. Despite the overwhelming dominant narrative, some alternative positions exist, but not consistent enough to be declared publicly. Perception of one’s own group as the primary victim of the war influences not only interpretations of the past, but also shapes identity, everyday life and future expectations. Mechanisms of perpetuating opposed narratives, as well as possible interventions, are discussed.

Laryngeal apnea in rat pups: effects of age and body temperature

2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luxi Xia ◽  
James C. Leiter ◽  
Donald Bartlett
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
The Past ◽  
Rat Pups ◽  
Respiratory Disturbance ◽  
Temporal Profiles ◽  
Stimulation Of

In neonatal mammals of many species, including human infants, apnea and other reflex responses frequently arise from stimulation of laryngeal receptors by ingested or regurgitated liquids. These reflexes, mediated by afferents in the superior laryngeal nerves (SLNs), are collectively known as the laryngeal chemoreflex (LCR) and are suspected to be responsible for some cases of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The LCR is strongly enhanced by mild increases in body temperature in decerebrate piglets, a finding that is of interest because SIDS victims are often found in overheated environments. Because of the experimental advantages of studying reflex development and mechanisms in neonatal rodents, we have developed methods for eliciting laryngeal apnea in anesthetized rat pups and have examined the influence of mild hyperthermia in animals ranging in age from 3 to 21 days. We found that apnea and respiratory disruption, elicited either by intralaryngeal water or by electrical stimulation of the SLN, occurred at all ages studied. Raising body temperature by 2–3°C prolonged the respiratory disturbance in response to either stimulus. This effect of hyperthermia was prominent in the youngest animals and diminished with age. We conclude that many studies of the LCR restricted to larger neonatal animals in the past can be performed in infant rodents using appropriate methods. Moreover, the developmental changes in the LCR and in the thermal modulation of the LCR seem to follow different temporal profiles, implying that distinct neurophysiological processes may mediate the LCR and thermal prolongation of the LCR.

scholarly journals Magnitude determination for deep-focus earthquakes*

1945 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-130
Author(s):  
B. Gutenberg
Keyword(s):  
Epicentral Distance ◽  
Focal Depth ◽  
Earthquake Activity ◽  
Shadow Zone ◽  
Transverse Waves ◽  
S Waves ◽  
The Past ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Deep Focus ◽  
Magnitude Determination

Summary The magnitude of deep-focus earthquakes is so defined as to make the energy released in two shocks of the same magnitude equal, regardless of focal depth.—Charts are given which, in connection with the equations for the magnitude of shallow shocks, permit the calculation of the magnitude of a shock at any given depth if the maximum ground amplitude and the corresponding wave period of P, PP, or S at a given epicentral distance are known.—It is found that the energies released in the longitudinal and transverse waves of an earthquake are about equal, regardless of focal depth.—The “shadow zone” for P and S waves at epicentral distances near 10°, indicating a slight minimum in wave velocity at a depth near 100 km., has been confirmed, and quantitative results for amplitudes of P as a function of focal depth are given.—Earthquake magnitudes of 7 ¾ to 8 have been found throughout the range of focal depths, but, during the past forty years, seem to have been relatively less frequent in deep-focus than in shallow shocks. In contrast with shallow shocks, no deep-focus earthquakes of magnitudes 8 ¼ to 8 ½ have been established thus far. This indicates (but does not yet prove) that at depths of about 100 to 700 km. roughly one-tenth as much energy can be stored as at depths of 15 to 40 km. At a depth of about 700 km. earthquake activity seems to stop abruptly.—The amplitudes of surface waves in deep-focus shocks decrease with increasing focal depth approximately as given by the theory.

scholarly journals Quality of Mother-Child Interaction Before, During, and After Smartphone Use

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Konrad ◽  
Mona Hillmann ◽  
Janine Rispler ◽  
Luisa Niehaus ◽  
Lina Neuhoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Parenting Quality ◽  
Parent Child Interactions ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Paper And Pencil ◽  
Maternal Interaction ◽  
Still Face Paradigm ◽  
Parent Child

Studies have demonstrated that parents often exhibit a still face while silently reading their cell phones when responding to texts. Such disruptions to parent-child interactions have been observed during parental media use such as texting and these disruptions have been termed technoference. In the present study, we explored changes to mother-child interactions that occur before, during and after interruptions due to texting using an adapted naturalistic still face paradigm. Specifically, we examined the effect of an interruption due to either maternal smartphone use or use of an analog medium on maternal interaction quality with their 20- to 22-month-old children. Mother-child interactions during free play were interrupted for 2 min by asking the mothers to fill out a questionnaire either (a) by typing on the smartphone (smartphone group) or (b) on paper with a pen (paper-pencil group). Interactional quality was compared between free-play and interruption phases and to a no-interruption control group. Mixed ANOVA across phase and condition indicated that maternal responsiveness and pedagogical behavior decreased during the interruption phase for both the interruption groups (smartphone and paper-and-pencil) but not for the no-interruption group. Children also increased their positive bids for attention during the paper-and-pencil and the smartphone conditions relative to the no-interruption control. These findings are consistent with a large body of research on the still-face paradigm and with a recent study demonstrating that smartphone interruptions decreased parenting quality. The present study, however, connects these lines of research showing the many everyday disruptions to parent-child interactions are likely to decrease parenting quality and that toddlers are likely to detect and attempt to repair such interruptions.

PCB profiles in sediments of Lakes Maggiore, Como and Garda (Italy)

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Provini ◽  
S Galassi ◽  
L Guzzella ◽  
G Valli
Keyword(s):  
General Trend ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Sediment Layer ◽  
Surrounding Area ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Past ◽  
Lake Garda ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Net Flux ◽  
Recent Sediments

Single PCB congeners were determined in dated sediment cores taken from the three greatest Italian lakes. The PCB profile is fairly constant with time in the three lakes and similar to that of a mixture of Aroclor 1254 and 1260 (35 : 65). Qualitative and quantitative results are consistent with the amounts of Aroclor sold, showing a general trend towards less in recent sediments than in the 1970s. However, this decrease was sharper in Lakes Maggiore and Como, which in the past had PCB concentration peaks of 197 ng g-1 and 822 ng g-1, repectively, than in Lake Garda (peak 38 ng g-1). There is disequilibrium between the top sediment layer and the water column due to freshly settled algae, which can adsorb PCBs to a greater extent than can abiotic particulate matter. A comparison of PCB loads in rain and in sediment shows that there are still local sources of contamination in Lake Como. The net flux of less chlorinated PCBs from Lake Maggiore to the atmosphere indicates that this waterbody can be a source of pollution for the surrounding area.

An Ultrahigh-Vacuum Specimen Chamber for In-Situ Electron Microscopy of Vapor Deposition Processes

1969 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 116-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Dale Moorhead ◽  
Helmut Poppa
Keyword(s):  
Vapor Deposition ◽  
Saturation Ratio ◽  
The Past ◽  
Deposition Parameters ◽  
In Situ Electron Microscopy ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Residual Gas ◽  
Deposition Processes ◽  
Film Nucleation

The electron microscope has often been used in the past to study in-situ the details of thin film nucleation and growth processes. However, a lack of adequate control of important experimental deposition parameters, such as substrate cleanliness, residual gas pressure and composition, and super-saturation ratio, has limited the usefulness of the technique and in most cases prevented the acquisition of reliable quantitative results.Accordingly, a new specimen chamber for use on a RCA EMU-4 instrument was built that regularly reaches base pressures of 3x10-10 torr, maintains pressures of less than 5x10-9 torr during the vapor deposition phase, and affords accurate control of the other deposition parameters.

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