A perceptually based comparison of image similarity metrics

The assessment of how well one image matches another forms a critical component both of models of human visual processing and of many image analysis systems. Two of the most commonly used norms for quantifying image similarity are L1 and L2, which are specific instances of the Minkowski metric. However, there is often not a principled reason for selecting one norm over the other. One way to address this problem is by examining whether one metric, better than the other, captures the perceptual notion of image similarity. This can be used to derive inferences regarding similarity criteria the human visual system uses, as well as to evaluate and design metrics for use in image-analysis applications. With this goal, we examined perceptual preferences for images retrieved on the basis of the L1 versus the L2 norm. These images were either small fragments without recognizable content, or larger patterns with recognizable content created by vector quantization. In both conditions the participants showed a small but consistent preference for images matched with the L1 metric. These results suggest that, in the domain of natural images of the kind we have used, the L1 metric may better capture human notions of image similarity.     

Psychological symptoms and body image in individuals with gender dysphoria: A comparison between Iranian and Dutch clinics

Background: Few studies have compared the psychological functioning of individuals with gender dysphoria in Western and non-Western cultures. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing the mental health of transgender individuals from an Islamic and non-Islamic country (Iran and the Netherlands).

Methods: In this study, the psychological functioning and body image of 163 individuals with gender dysphoria (100 transgender women (75 in the Netherlands, 25 in Iran) and 63 transgender men (45 in the Netherlands, 18 in Iran) in two clinics located in Iran (N = 43) and the Netherlands (N = 120) was evaluated using the SCL-90 and the Body Image Scale (BIS). Also, none of these individuals had yet received hormonal therapy and/or surgery in their clinics.

Results: Dutch participants (M = 31.56, SD = 12.26) were older than Iranian participants (M = 25.21, SD = 3.04). Dutch transwomen were less often androphilic (sexually attracted to men) than Iranian transwomen, and Iranian trans people were more often bisexual than the Dutch trans people. Significantly more Dutch transgender people were married (we had no information about the gender of the spouse), and indicated to have more contact with their families than the participants in Iran. The participants from Iran had significantly more psychological complaints than the Dutch participants. Compared to participants in Iran, participants in the Netherlands were more dissatisfied with their secondary sexual characteristics and neutral body characteristics, but there was no significant difference between the countries in terms of satisfaction with primary sex characteristics.

Conclusions: Although transgender people in many countries face social and mental health problems, this study suggests that socio-cultural factors may increase the likelihood of psychopathology.     

躯体表情与面部表情加工进程比较

躯体和面孔是个体情绪识别的敏感线索。与面部表情的早期视觉加工相似, P1成分对恐惧、愤怒等负性躯体表情更加敏感, 反映了对躯体威胁信息快速且无意识的加工。情绪躯体和面孔还有着类似的构型加工, 表现为二者都能诱发颞枕区视觉皮层相似的N170成分, 但涉及的神经基础并不完全相同。在构型编码加工中, 面部表情的N170与顶中正成分(Vertex Positive Potential, VPP)较躯体表情的N170、VPP更加明显。在面部表情和躯体表情的后期加工阶段, 早期后部负波(Early Posterior Negativity, EPN)反映了面孔和躯体视觉编码的注意指向加工, 随后出现的P3与晚期正成分(Late Positive Component, LPC)代表了顶额皮层对复杂情绪信息的高级认知加工。躯体表情还存在与外纹状皮层躯体区相关的N190成分, 其对躯体的情绪和动作信息敏感。今后的研究应进一步探讨动作对情绪知觉的影响、动态面孔−躯体情绪的加工机制等。     

Dimensionality and factor satisfaction of the body image construct: A gender comparison

Sex Roles - The internal structure of the Body Cathexis Scale has been investigated twice with male subjects, but never with female subjects. This study was conducted to determine the...     

A comparison of human and automated instruction of autistic children

While it appears reasonable to assume that the autistic child might benefit from the development of programmed instruction and teaching machines to teach imitation, concepts, and receptive vocabulary skills, no systematic research to date has seriously investigated such possibilities. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of automated versus teacher-controlled instruction in the education of autistic children. Four autistic children, each with extreme deficits in language, social, and self-care behaviors, were trained on a matching-to-sample task under three different instructional situations within an intrasubject replication design and multiple baseline procedure. Analysis of the data showed the following results: (1) The teacher, manually operating the teaching machine, was able to teach and maintain the matching-to-sample task; (2) the same autistic children did not acquire or maintain the task when taught by the machine alone; and (3) the teacher alone (without the machine) was able to teach and maintain the task. The results suggest that automated instruction may, at least, serve as a valuable aid to teachers of autistic children. However, before machines can be used without the participation of a trained teacher, further research appears necessary. Several areas, including the role of motivation in automated instructional settings, the saliency and effectiveness of reinforcers, and the importance of controlling antecedent stimulus conditions and off-task behavior are discussed as areas of primary concern in the development of automated instruction for autistic children.     

A comparison of temperament in nonhuman apes and human infants

The adaptive behavior of primates, including humans, is often mediated by temperament. Human behavior likely differs from that of other primates in part due to temperament. In the current study we compared the reaction of bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans, and 2.5-year-old human infants to novel objects and people - as a measure of their shyness-boldness, a key temperamental trait. Human children at the age of 2.5 years avoided novelty of all kinds far more than the other ape species. This response was most similar to that seen in bonobos and least like that of chimpanzees and orangutans. This comparison represents a first step in characterizing the temperamental profiles of species in the hominoid clade, and these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that human temperament has evolved since our lineage diverged from the other apes in ways that likely have broad effects on behavior. These findings also provide new insights into how species differences in ecology may shape differences in temperament.     

A structural comparison between state and trait self-regulation models

State and trait-regulation models were compared in 315 eleventh-graders using simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis. Each of the first-, second-, and third-order factor models was found to describe the data from both state and trait measures well. In both state and trait self-regulation models, the third-order factor, self-regulation, is composed of metacognition and effort, and the second-order factor, metacognition, is composed of awareness, cognitive strategy, planning, and self-checking. Findings of invariant factor loadings and factor correlations across state and trait measures indicate that the state and trait self-regulatory factor structures are similar. Unlike the state-trait distinctions found in affective personality domain, clear state-trait distinction was not found in this cognitive domain. In both measures, students who engaged more frequently in metacognitive activities and effort use in their mathematical problem solving performed better than those who did not.     

孔子与柏拉图治国思想之比较互鉴

轴心时代让人类拥有了精神觉醒的意识,并开始了理想治理模式的探索。孔子与柏拉图是分别屹立于东西方的思想巨人,在治国理政方面都阐发过系统精湛且意义深远的论述。孔子以杰出的历史理性,将以修己为本、安百姓为旨归的仁学之道导入体现尊尊之制的君臣父子伦理关系之中,确立了以道德与政治的高度统一来治平天下的德治路径。柏拉图则以卓越的逻辑理性,运用正义与善的理念构建了三个等级各司其职、互不僭越的理想城邦治理模式。通过较为深入的比较互鉴,可为我们中华民族伟大复兴背景下的治国理政提供思想资源。     

A comparison of LRT and VOT values between stutterers and nonstutterers

The experiment reported here found no significant group differences in laryngeal reaction time (LRT) and voice onset time (VOT) values. Rank-order correlations between the stutterers' LRT and VOT values were also nonsignificant. A model of the LRT paradigm is presented that (1) allows for systematic assessment of factors possibly contributing to the failure to replicate the often reported LRT group difference, and (2) is useful in examining the relationship between the LRT experimental condition and normal speaking conditions. We argue that two factors were particularly critical to our results. First, simple reaction time procedures included (1) a warning signal that preceded a response signal by a variable 1–3-sec foreperiod, and (2) a single response. We argue that foreperiod durations exceeded the stutterers' speech posture time for a known response. Second, the stuttering severity rating of our experimental group was less severe than ratings in other experiments.     

Evangelicals and politics: A comparison between Africa and Latin America

The article looks at the growing evangelical involvement in Third World politics through a comparison of Latin America and Africa. The key Latin American cases (Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Colombia and, at greater length, Brazil) are surveyed, the burgeoning literature on evangelical politics in sub‐Saharan Africa is critically reviewed and suggestions are made for further research in both continents, stressing the need for detailed country‐level studies in the increasing understanding of this major trend in global religion.     

Body image of children and adolescents with chronic illness: A meta-analytic comparison with healthy peers

This meta-analysis integrates results from 330 studies on differences between body image of children and adolescents with and without chronic physical illness. Young people with a chronic illness had a less positive body image than their healthy peers although the average size of differences was small (g = ?.30 standard deviation units). A comparison of diseases showed that young people with obesity (g = ?.79), cystic fibrosis (g = ?.50), scoliosis (g = ?.41), asthma (g = ?.37), growth hormone deficits (g = ?.35), spina bifida (g = ?.23), cancer (g = ?.20), and diabetes (g = ?.17) evaluated their body less positively than their healthy peers. Furthermore, levels of body dissatisfaction varied by age at onset of the disease, method for assessing body image, ethnicity, year of publication, and comparison group. Recommendations are stated for reducing effects of chronic illness on the body image of people with chronic illness.     

A comparison of forward blocking and reduced overshadowing in human causal learning

In this study, we directly compared forward blocking with reduced overshadowing in a human causal learning study using an A+, B- (first learning stage), AX+, BY+, KL+ (second learning stage) design. The results showed that reduced overshadowing was significantly stronger than forward blocking. These results are problematic for at least some associative learning models but were predicted on the basis of higher order reasoning accounts of cue competition in human causal learning.     

Activity level: A comparison between actometer scores and observer ratings

Activity level of 13 boys (aged 9–13) from a day hospital program was measured using actometers in classroom, gym, woodshop, and group therapy settings. Ratings of Ss' activity were obtained from mothers using the Werry scale, and from six clinical staff familiar with the Ss using the Davids scale. It was predicted that activity ratings would have situationally specific relationships with actometermeasured activity level according to the rater's opportunities for observation. Comparisons between measures indicated that all clinical staff ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in the classroom (r=.49 to r=.73), while mothers' ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in gym (r=.67), and woodshop (r=.77), and with overall activity (r=.65), a combined measure derived from actometer scores in the four conditions tested. Five of six clinical staff raters showed significant interrater reliability (r=.58 to r=.83). Results are discussed in terms of their implications for solution of current problems in assessment of activity level and hyperactivity.     

A comparison between elemental and compound training of cues in retrospective revaluation

Associative learning theories assume that cue interaction and, specifically, retrospective revaluation occur only when the target cue is previously trained in compound with the to-be-revalued cue. However, there are recent demonstrations of retrospective revaluation in the absence of compound training (e.g., Matute & Pine?o, 1998a, 1998b). Nevertheless, it seems reasonable to assume that cue interaction should be stronger when the cues are trained together than when they are trained apart. In two experiments with humans, we directly compared compound and elemental training of cues. The results showed that retrospective revaluation in the elemental condition can be as strong as and, sometimes, stronger than that in the compound condition. This suggests that within-compound associations are not necessary for retrospective revaluation to occur and that these effects can possibly be best understood in the framework of general interference theory.     

君主与基督教--关于《君主论》与《论基督君主的教育》的比较研究

在对晚期文艺复兴不同潮流、不同著作地分析中,我们看到一种新的,围绕于君主与基督教的核心历史关系重新解读历史的可能性途径,看到文艺复兴核心概念群的不同组织方式.从而,文艺复兴以一种与"近代起源"拉开了差距的面目呈现出来,它意味着重写历史,尤其是概念史的必要性.