Deductive databases for computing certain and consistent answers from mediated data integration systems

We address the problem of retrieving certain and consistent answers to queries posed to a mediated data integration system under the local-as-view paradigm with open sources and conjunctive and disjunctive view definitions. For obtaining certain answers a query program is run under the cautious stable model semantics on top of a normal deductive database with choice operator that specifies the class of minimal legal instances of the integration system. This methodology works for all monotone Datalog queries. To compute answers to queries that are consistent with respect to given global integrity constraints, the specification of minimal legal instances is combined with another disjunctive deductive database that specifies the repairs of those legal instances. This allows to retrieve the answers to any Datalog^¬ query that are consistent with respect to global universal and referential integrity constraints.     

How Financial Constraints Influence Consumer Behavior: An Integrative Framework

Financial constraints are economic limitations on behavior. Given that millions of people experience chronic or episodic financial constraints, we sought to review research that provides insight into how they affect consumer behavior. We propose an integrative framework that draws insights from multiple literatures that have examined financial constraints from different perspectives. The framework distinguishes between four perspectives, which are rooted in literatures on resource scarcity, choice restriction, social comparison, and environmental uncertainty and highlights different temporal stages of responding to financial constraints, distinguishing between reacting, coping, and adapting. Beyond the obvious negative effects of financial constraints, our framework emphasizes consumer resilience, highlighting that consumers often successfully cope with and devise adaptive strategies to deal with financial constraints. By broadening the behavioral and temporal scope of financial constraints considered within consumer psychology, this framework helps us to understand the often strong and sometimes counterintuitive effects of financial constraints on consumer behavior.     

Cultural difference in maladaptive functions of perfectionistic self‐presentation

Perfectionistic self‐presentation (PSP), which describes an expressive aspect of perfectionism in the interpersonal domain, is a defensive form of perfectionism that has been relatively understudied. Although existing evidence obtained from Western societies has consistently shown maladaptive functions of PSP, the question of whether these patterns are universal remains unanswered. The current research explored the potential moderating effect of culture by evaluating whether the negative influence of PSP is weaker in Asian societies that encourage the use of defensive interpersonal strategies than in Western societies. Two studies recruiting Chinese and North American participants were conducted. In Study 1 (n = 302), the results showed that the relation between PSP and personal mastery was positive among Chinese participants and was negative among North American participants. In contrast, a positive relation between PSP and perceived constraints was observed in both cultures. Study 2 (n = 295) replicated the findings obtained in Study 1. In addition, the findings showed that the relation between PSP and self‐esteem, but not that between PSP and depression, was moderated by participants’ cultural backgrounds. Taken together, these results indicate both universal and culturally specific patterns regarding the influence of PSP, suggesting that PSP is a complex construct.     

Non-Compliance Shouldn't Be Better

Agent-relative consequentialism is thought attractive because it can secure agent-centred constraints while retaining consequentialism's compelling idea—the idea that it is always permissible to bring about the best available outcome. We argue, however, that the commitments of agent-relative consequentialism lead it to run afoul of a plausibility requirement on moral theories. A moral theory must not be such that, in any possible circumstance, were every agent to act impermissibly, each would have more reason (by the lights of the very same theory) to prefer the world thereby actualized over the world that would have been actualized if every agent had instead acted permissibly.     

预测视角下双因子模型与高阶因子模型的一般性模拟比较

高阶因子模型本质上是一种特殊的双因子模型, 应用中却常被当做双因子模型的竞争模型。已有研究以满足比例约束的双因子模型(此时等价于一个高阶因子模型)为真实测量模型产生模拟数据, 比较了用双因子模型和高阶因子模型作为测量模型的预测效果。本文使用不满足比例约束的双因子模型(此时不与任何高阶因子模型等价)为真实测量模型产生模拟数据进行比较, 所得结果与满足比例约束的双因子模型的结果有很大差别, 双因子模型结构系数的相对偏差较小、检验力较高, 但第Ⅰ类错误率略高。结论是, 在比例约束条件成立时可以使用高阶因子模型, 否则, 从统计角度看, 一般情况下使用双因子模型进行预测比较好。     

Task specificity and the timing of discrete aiming movements

In discrete aiming movements the task criteria of time-minimization to a spatial target (e.g., Fitts, 1954) and time-matching to a spatial-temporal goal (e.g., Schmidt et al., 1979) tend to produce different functions of the speed-accuracy trade-off. Here we examined whether the task-related movement speed-accuracy characteristics were due to differential space-time trade-offs in time-matching, velocity-matching and time-minimizing task goals. Twenty participants performed 100 aiming trials for each of 15 combinations of task-type (3) and space-time condition (5). The prevalence of the primary types of sub-movement (none, pre-peak, post-peak, undershooting and overshooting) was determined from the kinematics of the movement trajectory. There were comparable distributions of trajectory sub-movement profiles and space-time movement outcomes across the three tasks at the short movement duration that became increasingly dissimilar over decreasing movement velocity and increasing movement time conditions. Movement time was the most influential variable in mediating sub-movement characteristics and the spatial/temporal outcome accuracy and variability of discrete aiming tasks – a role that was magnified in the explicit task demands of time-matching. The time-matching and time-minimization task goals in discrete aiming induce qualitatively different control processes that progressively contribute beyond the minimal time conditions to task-specific space-time accuracy and variability characteristics of the respective movement speed-accuracy functions.     

Regularized Partial and/or Constrained Redundancy Analysis

Methods of incorporating a ridge type of regularization into partial redundancy analysis (PRA), constrained redundancy analysis (CRA), and partial and constrained redundancy analysis (PCRA) were discussed. The usefulness of ridge estimation in reducing mean square error (MSE) has been recognized in multiple regression analysis for some time, especially when predictor variables are nearly collinear, and the ordinary least squares estimator is poorly determined. The ridge estimation method was extended to PRA, CRA, and PCRA, where the reduced rank ridge estimates of regression coefficients were obtained by minimizing the ridge least squares criterion. It was shown that in all cases they could be obtained in closed form for a fixed value of ridge parameter. An optimal value of the ridge parameter is found by G-fold cross validation. Illustrative examples were given to demonstrate the usefulness of the method in practical data analysis situations. We thank Jim Ramsay for his insightful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. The work reported in this paper is supported by Grants 10630 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to the first author.     

A qualitative aspect of learning-sensitive open field ambulation in mice

Maze training was shown to affect qualitative aspects of the learning-sensitive open-field (OF) ambulation in male Swiss albino mice. The changes in thigmotactic (wall-seeking) behaviour were most pronounced when significant signs of learning occurred, usually on the third day of training. Also daily changes in thigmotaxis from before to after training were found. Mice not subjected to maze training exhibited a different thigmotactic pattern of behaviour. The present series of experiments indicated that separate starting-points (centre or wall) influenced the thigmotactic behaviour as opposed to the shape of the OF (circular or square).     

Parameterizing inequality constraints on unique variances in linear structural models

Current computer programs for analyzing linear structural models will apparently handle only two types of constraints: fixed parameters, and equality of parameters. An important constraint not handled is inequality; this is particularly crucial for preventing negative variance estimates. In this paper, a method is described for imposing several kinds of inequality constraints in models, without the necessity for having computer programs which explicitly allow such constraints. The examples discussed include the prevention of Heywood cases, extension to inequalities of parameters to be greater than a specified value, and imposing ordered inequalities. Work on this project was aided by the City University of New York—Professional Staff Congress Research Award Program Grant Number 13631.