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International audience; This paper first investigates logical characterizations of different structures of opposition that extend the square of opposition in a way or in another. Blanché's hexagon of opposition is based on three disjoint sets. There are at least two meaningful cubes of opposition, proposed respectively by two of the authors and by Moretti, and pioneered by philosophers such as J. N. Keynes, W. E. Johnson, for the former, and H. Reichenbach for the latter. These cubes exhibit four and six squares of opposition respectively. We clarify the differences between these two cubes, and discuss their gradual extensions, as well as the one of the hexagon when vertices are no longer two-valued. The second part of the paper is dedicated to the use of these structures of opposition (hexagon, cubes) for discussing the comparison of two items. Comparing two items (objects, images) usually involves a set of relevant attributes whose values are compared, and may be expressed in terms of different modalities such as identity, similarity, difference, opposition, analogy. Recently, J.-Y. Béziau has proposed an "analogical hexagon" that organizes the relations linking these modalities. Elementary comparisons may be a matter of degree, attributes may not have the same importance. The paper studies in which ways the structure of the hexagon may be preserved in such gradual extensions. As another illustration of the graded hexagon, we start with the hexagon of equality and inequality due to R. Blanché and extend it with fuzzy equality and fuzzy inequality. Besides, the cube induced by a tetra-partition can account for the comparison of two items in terms of preference, reversed preference, indifference and non-comparability even if these notions are a matter of degree. The other cube, which organizes the relations between the different weighted qualitative aggregation modes, is more relevant for the attribute-based comparison of items in terms of similarity.

International audience; This paper investigates the expression of comparison of equality and similarity in Mojeño Trinitario, an Arawak language spoken in Lowland Bolivia. A methodological introduction discusses the fact that within a first-hand corpus of spontaneous texts, the root kuti that expresses similarity occurs in five different constructions, while comparisons of equality are not found. The paper therefore focuses on this polycategorial root, which shows the two major functions of similative predicate ‘be like, resemble’ and similative preposition ‘like’. The root kuti is also used in verbal compounds, as a subordinator, and as an epistemic marker. The paper carefully describes the five similative constructions, and the form and function of the similative root kuti in each of these constructions. Two major issues discussed throughout the paper are the characterization of this polycategorial root in terms of parts of speech, and its diachronic evolution via grammaticalization and pragmaticalization.; Cet article s'intéresse à l'expression de la comparaison d'égalité et de la similarité en mojeño trinitario, une langue arawak des basses terres de Bolivie. Une introduction méthodologique discute du fait que, dans le corpus de textes spontanés recueilli par l'auteur, la racine kuti exprimant la similarité apparaît dans cinq constructions, alors qu'on ne trouve pas de comparaison d'égalité. L'article se concentre donc sur cette racine polycatégorielle, qui a les deux fonctions de prédicat similatif "être comme, ressembler", et de préposition similative "comme". Cette racine est aussi utilisée dans des verbes composés, comme subordonnant et comme marque épistémique. L'article décrit en détail les cinq constructions similatives, et les formes et les fonctions de la racine similative kuti dans chacune de ces constructions. Deux questions principales sont discutées le long de l'article: la catégorisation de cette racine polycatégorielle en termes de parties du discours, et les changements diachroniques qu'elle a subi, par grammaticalisation et pragmaticalisation.

International audience; This paper is an in-depth study of the expression of comparison in Kambaata, a Highland East Cushitic language of Ethiopia. It discusses not only quantitative comparison, i.e. comparison of relative and absolute inequality and comparison of equality, but also analyses the morphology and syntax of expressions of qualitative comparison, i.e. comparison of similarity. Apart from predicative constructions, the analysis takes into account attributive comparative, superlative, equative and similative constructions. In the comparative construction (lit. ‘X is tall from Y’), the standard of comparison is marked by the ablative case, as in most languages spoken in the Horn of Africa. Kambaata distinguishes between two superlative constructions, one of which is based on the comparative construction (‘X is tall from all’), while the other is characterised by a locative standard of comparison (‘X is tall among Y’). Furthermore, Kambaata has two equative constructions. The first is based on the similative construction (‘X is tall like Y’); the second is a periphrastic construction (‘X is tall to the extent Y’). The paper also argues that the enclitic morpheme which marks the standard of comparison in the similative construction originates from a noun meaning ‘manner’.

Given a protein complex involving two partners, the receptor and the ligand, this paper addresses the problem of comparing their binding patches, i.e. the sets of atoms accounting for their interaction. This problem has been classically addressed by searching quasi-isometric subsets of atoms within the patches, a task equivalent to a maximum clique problem, a NP-hard problem, so that practical binding patches involving up to 300 atoms cannot be handled. We extend previous work in two directions. First, we present a generic encoding of shapes represented as cell complexes. We partition a shape into concentric shells, based on the shelling order of the cells of the complex. The shelling order yields a shelling tree encoding the geometry and the topology of the shape. Second, for the particular case of cell complexes representing protein binding patches, we present three novel shape comparison algorithms. These algorithms combine a Tree Edit Distance calculation (TED) on shelling trees, together with Edit operations respectively favoring a topological or a geometric comparison of the patches. We show in particular that the geometric TED calculation strikes a balance, in terms of accuracy and running time between a purely geometric and topological comparisons, and we briefly comment on the biological findings reported in a companion paper., Étant donné un complexe protéique impliquant deux partenaires, un récepteur et un ligand, ce papier étudie le problème de comparer leur patchs de liaison, i.e. les ensembles d'atomes participant à leur interaction. Ce problème est classiquement formulé comme une recherche de sous-ensembles d'atomes quasi-isométriques entre les deux patchs, une tâche qui est équivalente à une recherche de cliques maximums. Ce problème étant NP-difficile, des patchs de liaison impliquant plus de 300 atomes ne peuvent-être traités. Nous étendons les travaux précédant dans deux directions. Premièrement, nous présentons un encodage générique pour les formes représentées par des complexes cellulaires. Nous partitionnons une forme en couches concentriques, basées sur ''l'ordre de couche'' des cellules du complexe. L'ordre des couches produisant un arbre de couches qui encode la géométrie et la topologie de la forme. Deuxièmement, pour le cas particulier de complexes cellulaires représentant des patchs de liaison de complexes protéiques, nous proposons trois algorithmes de comparaison de formes. Ces algorithmes combinent une distance d'édition d'arbre (TED, pour tree-edit-distance) sur les arbres de couches, avec des opérations d'éditions favorisant respectivement la comparaison topologique ou géométrique des patchs. Nous montrons en particulier que la TED géométrique établit un équilibre, en termes de précision et de temps de calculs, entre des comparaisons purement géométriques ou purement topologiques, et nous commentons brièvement les résultats biologiques qui sont détaillés dans un article compagnon.

In this paper, new oscillation results for nonlinear third-order difference equations with mixed neutral terms are established. Unlike previously used techniques, which often were based on Riccati transformation and involve limsup or liminf conditions for the oscillation, the main results are obtained by means of a new approach, which is based on a comparison technique. Our new results extend, simplify, and improve existing results in the literature. Two examples with specific values of parameters are offered.

In this paper we introduce a new alignment-free method for comparing sequences which is combinatorial by nature and does not use any compressor nor any information-theoretic notion. Such a method is based on an extension of the Burrows-Wheeler Transform, a transformation widely used in the context of Data Compression. The new extended transformation takes as input a multiset of sequences and produces as output a string obtained by a suitable rearrangement of the characters of all the input sequences. By using such a transformation we give a general method for comparing sequences that takes into account how much the characters coming from the different input sequences are mixed in the output string. Such a method is tested on a real data set for the whole mitochondrial genome phylogeny problem. However, the goal of this paper is to introduce a new and general methodology for automatic categorization of sequences.

The Stochastically Perturbed Parametrization Tendencies (SPPT) approach is widely used in ensemble prediction systems (EPSs) to represent model error. In this paper two different versions of SPPT, independent SPPT (iSPPT) and parametrization based SPPT (pSPPT), are implemented and tested in the Convection-permitting – Limited Area Ensemble Forecasting system (C‑LAEF) developed at ZAMG (Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik). iSPPT and pSPPT are both very flexible approaches in which the uncertainties of different physical parametrizations are considered by applying individually adapted stochastic patterns. In iSPPT, the uncertainties from the physical parametrizations are treated independently, while in pSPPT an interaction between the uncertainties of the different parametrization schemes are sustained. Both schemes are evaluated over one summer and one winter month and compared to a reference C‑LAEF ensemble without any stochastic physics. Verification of upper-air and surface variables reveals an increased ensemble spread for all variables when using stochastic physics. Probabilistic scores show that pSPPT is able to outperform iSPPT, particularly near the surface. Precipitation verification on the grid confirms the additional skill of pSPPT especially in convective situations in summer.

This is an expository paper, focussing on the following scenario. We have two Markov chains, $\mathcal {M}$ and $\mathcal {M}'$. By some means, we have obtained a bound on the mixing time of $\mathcal {M}'$. We wish to compare $\mathcal {M}$ with $\mathcal {M}'$ in order to derive a corresponding bound on the mixing time of $\mathcal {M}$. We investigate the application of the comparison method of Diaconis and Saloff-Coste to this scenario, giving a number of theorems which characterize the applicability of the method. We focus particularly on the case in which the chains are not reversible. The purpose of the paper is to provide a catalogue of theorems which can be easily applied to bound mixing times., Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/154957806000000041 in the Probability Surveys (http://www.i-journals.org/ps/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org)

An insurance premium principle is a way of assigning to every risk, represented by a non-negative bounded random variable on a given probability space, a non-negative real number. Such a number is interpreted as a premium for the insuring risk. In this paper the implicitly defined principle of equivalent utility is investigated. Using the properties of the quasideviation means, we characterize a comparison in the class of principles of equivalent utility under Rank-Dependent Utility, one of the important behavioral models of decision making under risk. Then we apply this result to establish characterizations of equality and positive homogeneity of the principle. Some further applications are discussed as well.

This paper describes the development of an NVH measurement procedure that can be used for comparisons to Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA). In SEA, the outputs of the simulation are ensemble averaged quantities for each subsystem, which can be obtained in measurements by averaging some measurement point results. For several reasons, the number of measurement points must be as few as possible, but at the same time, they have to provide a well approximated averaged response of the system. The sufficient number of evaluation points and excitation load cases are determined via Finite Element (FE) simulations. It is shown that in case of a simple, flat plate, 17 randomly chosen evaluation points in at least 3 load cases are enough to properly approximate the SEA results.

The paper deals with investigation of the important problem of processing the ophthalmic data on the post-operation status of patients. The groups of patients differ by the type (technology) of fixing the intraocular lenses (IOL). Validity of each type of technology is estimated by computation of criteria for distinction of data between groups. The initial information comprises measurements of several ophthalmic indices. The samples on each index are very short; in each index, as a rule, the samples of patients' groups overlap each other; any probabilistic characteristics of the measuring indices are unknown; any probabilistic characteristics of the measuring errors are also unknown. So, the standard methods of mathematical statistics can be applied only in the formal way and have shown to be inefficient. In contrast, the Hausdorff distance (from the set theory) as the criterion of distinction between two samples (both for one- and, especially, for two-dimensional indices) demonstrated to be reliable to distinct the patient's status. Computations of the Hausdorff distance are valid for any relative location of point sets under comparison. © 2020 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved. The work was supported by the RFBR grant, project no. 18-01-00410.

A bilateral key comparison between INRiM (National Metrology Institute of Italy) and TUBITAK UME (National Metrology Institute of Turkey) had been decided to be organized in the field of Hardness Metrology to determine the consistency of the national hardness standards in both countries realizing Vickers Hardness measurements in accordance with ISO 6507–1:2018 [1] and ISO 6507–3:2018 [2] standards. Widely used Vickers Hardness scales such as HV1 and HV30 constitute the scope of the comparison which was piloted by INRiM. In this paper the procedure and measurement results of the bilateral EURAMET key comparison between the two laboratories are explained.

Sometimes a list of models can be compared using a set of indicators, ordered by the user’s criterion, given that it is known whether the growth of the indicators value affect the user’s interests. This paper proposes a computational algorithm that compares models, assigning them a numerical value that corresponds to the priority given to each model indicator by the user. The proposed algorithm allows to rank the models as other known algorithms do, such as the vector space model; however, it takes into account user comparison priorities. When working with lineal functions, the margin of error in the algorithm calculations is null. The algorithm is validated by the software Ambiens v1.0, whose purpose is to manage the waste control information, showing relevant results in the comparison of models. The algorithm essence is the need to identify the best model of the group, according to the user’s criterion per indicator.

In this paper, we compare solutions of q-order fractional differential equations of Caputo type for q near 1 with solutions of the corresponding 1-order ordinary differential equations. By establishing the explicit lower and upper bounds of Mittag-Leffler functions, we obtain the effective convergence results. It is shown that the limit cases $q\to1_{+}$ and $q\to1_{-}$ are different. A simple illustrative example is also presented.

This paper presents the differences and similarities of ΔΣ-PWM as a hysteresis-based PWM scheme with direct torque control (DTC) using simulation models. The variable switching frequency caused by the hysteresis element is examined with regard to its instantaneous values. The comparison is based on an equal maximum switching frequency as a design criterion. With this first assumption, the variation of the instantaneous switching frequency is higher when using DTC because of the temporary prioritization of one inverter leg. Besides the lower variation, ΔΣ-PWM shows a higher average switching frequency. Because the switching frequency is related to the torque ripple, the usage of ΔΣ-PWM results in a smaller torque ripple. Due to the dependence of torque ripple on switching frequency, a second comparison is carried out based on the same average switching frequency. In this comparison the ΔΣ-PWM shows higher torque ripple than DTC.

Phenylenes are a class of conjugated hydrocarbons composed of a special arrangement of six- and four-membered rings. In this paper, the expected values of the atom-bond connectivity (ABC), geometric-arithmetic (GA), and Zagreb indices of this class of conjugated hydrocarbons have been determined. At the end, the comparisons with respect to the random phenylene chains among the expected values of these indices, have been determined explicitly. The graphical profiles of these indices have been shown in order to support our results., Applied mathematics; Theoretical chemistry; First and second Zagreb index; Random phenylene chain; Expected values; Comparison; ABC and GA index

International audience; Very different connectivity patterns may arise from using different simulation methods or sets of parameters, and therefore different flow properties. This paper proposes a systematic method to compare ensemble of categorical simulations from a static connectivity point of view. The differences of static connectivity cannot always be distinguished using two point statistics. In addition, multiple-point histograms only provide a statistical comparison of patterns regardless of the connectivity. Thus, we propose to characterize the static connectivity from a set of 12 indicators based on the connected components of the realizations. Some indicators describe the spatial repartition of the connected components, others their global shape or their topology through the component skeletons. We also gather all the indicators into dissimilarity values to easily compare hundreds of realizations. Heat maps and multidimensional scaling then facilitate the dissimilarity analysis. The application to a synthetic case highlights the impact of the grid size on the connectivity and the indicators. Such impact disappears when comparing samples of the realizations with the same sizes. The method is then able to rank realizations from a referring model based on their static connectivity. This application also gives rise to more practical advices. The multidimensional scaling appears as a powerful visualization tool, but it also induces dissimilarity misrepresentations: it should always be interpreted cautiously with a look at the point position confidence. The heat map displays the real dissimilarities and is more appropriate for a detailed analysis. The comparison with a multiple-point histogram method shows the benefit of the connected components: the large-scale connectivity seems better characterized by our indicators, especially the skeleton indicators.

The atom-bond connectivity (ABC) index and geometric–arithmetic (GA) index are two well-studied topological indices, which are useful tools in QSPR and QSAR investigations. In this paper, we first obtain explicit formulae for the expected values of ABC and GA indices in random spiro chains, which are graphs of a class of unbranched polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Based on these formulae, we then present the average values of ABC and GA indices with respect to the set of all spiro chains with n hexagons and make a comparison between the expected values of ABC and GA indices in random spiro chains.

The standard degree analysis of gradability in English holds that the function of degree morphology, such as the comparative, measure phrases, and degree adverbs, is to bind a degree variable located in the lexical semantics of gradable predicates. In this paper, I investigate gradation structures in Washo (isolate/Hokan), and claim that this language systematically lacks degree morphology of this sort. I propose that this gap in the functional inventory of Washo stems from a parameter on whether languages are able to introduce degree variables into the logical form that can be bound by such operators, providing further cross-linguistic support for a similar proposal made by Beck et al. (2009) for Motu (Austronesian). Specifically, I argue that gradable predicates in Washo do not introduce a degree variable. Consequently, if we assume that gradable predicates in English are type ⟨d, ⟨e, t⟩⟩, then Washo and English must differ in their lexical semantics for gradable predicates. Alternatively, if we want to maintain lexical uniformity between the two languages (i.e., that gradable predicates in English don’t themselves introduce degrees), then we must place variation at the level of a grammatical mechanism that introduces degrees in English for degree operators to bind, but which is lacking in Washo. The results of this investigation thus inform questions about the nature of cross-linguistic variation, specifically the division of labor between variation in functional categories and the lexicon. http://dx.doi.org/10.3765/sp.8.6 BibTeX info

In this paper we consider an initial boundary value problem for a parabolic inclusion whose multivalued nonlinearity is characterized by Clarke's generalized gradient of some locally Lipschitz function, and whose elliptic operator may be a general quasilinear operator of Leray–Lions type. Recently, extremality results have been obtained in case that the governing multivalued term is of special structure such as, multifunctions given by the usual subdifferential of convex functions or subgradients of so-called dc-functions. The main goal of this paper is to prove the existence of extremal solutions within a sector of appropriately defined upper and lower solutions for quasilinear parabolic inclusions with general Clarke's gradient. The main tools used in the proof are abstract results on nonlinear evolution equations, regularization, comparison, truncation, and special test function techniques as well as tools from nonsmooth analysis.

This paper presents an experimental study of multidimensional gradability across categories. The study tests whether and to what extent the naturalness of multidimensional adjectives and nouns in degree constructions is predictable from their conceptual-semantic properties – the way their dimensions are typically bound to create a unified interpretation. Past research suggests that binding by counting operations is common in multidimensional adjectives, possible in certain nouns (labeled additive nouns), and rare in others (dubbed multiplicative nouns; Hampton et al. 2009). We hypothesize that the higher naturalness of adjectives in degree constructions (Kennedy 1999) stems from a preference for dimension-binding by counting operations. Accordingly, we predict that additive nouns would be judged more natural than multiplicative nouns in any construction whose interpretation involves dimension-counting, e.g., dimensional quantifiers (as in: in {some, most, every} respect}) and degree modifiers (as in more P {than y, than Q, than y is Q}). The results of a naturalness survey involving 139 English speakers confirm our predictions. Moreover, our results indicate that the naturalness of a predicate in degree constructions and dimensional-quantifier constructions are tightly correlated, suggesting that dimension accessibility for counting is indeed an important predictor of morphological gradability.

The paper is a comparison of living standards indicators as a measure of the prevailing situation for the citizens of selected EU countries. The indicators used for comparison were representative of economic, social and environmental influence factors. The indicators were compared by means of meta-analysis, comprising a selection of all 11 chosen indexes (with a set of calculated indicators) and living-standards focused studies. The selected methodology for the meta-analysis is a weighted multiple linear regression. The results of the meta-analysis point to those studies whose indexes show a positive effect and indexes which show a negative effect as regards living standards. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

It was decided at the EURAMET TC-M meeting in Torino in 2006 to realize a comparison in gauge and absolute pressure up to 200 kPa as it would allow a link to the CCM.P-K6 and CCM.P-K2 comparisons to be established. This project interested a lot of laboratories from the beginning with 23 participants, 22 of which have submitted results. The circulation of the transfer standard began in July 2009 and lasted until January 2012. No major problems occurred during the transport. The measurand of the comparison is the effective area of a piston-cylinder determined in gauge and absolute pressure from 25 kPa to 200 kPa with pressure steps of 25 kPa. The transfer standard is a gas lubricated tungsten carbide piston-cylinder with an effective area of ~9.8 cm2, fabricated by DH Instruments and compatible with a PG-7601 pressure balance. Some participants used their own pressure balance while a pressure balance with a reference vacuum sensor has been circulated for the participants not equipped with this system. One participant (SMU, Slovakia) has never provided the measurement results and another participant (FORCE Technology, Denmark) submitted a revised set of measurement results after the pilot laboratory mentioned that the equivalence was not met. After the determination of the reference value, all the 22 participants who delivered the results in gauge pressure demonstrated equivalence respective to the reference value on most of the range. In absolute pressure the equivalence is demonstrated, for all nominal pressures, by all 17 participants who submitted results. The comparison is linked to the CCM.P-K6 for gauge pressure and to CCM.P-K2 for absolute pressure. The link does not strongly affect the equivalence of the results and an excellent degree of equivalence is achieved in gauge and absolute pressure. Main text To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Heel strike instants are an important component of gait analyses, yet accurate detection can be difficult without a force plate. This paper presents two novel techniques for kinematic heel strike instant (kHSI) detection which examined maximal resultant horizontal heel displacement (HHD). Each of these HHD techniques calculates HHD from a selected reference location of either the stance ankle or stance heel to the swing heel. The proposed techniques, along with other previously established techniques, were validated against a 10N force plate threshold. Fifty-four healthy adults walked overground at both normal and fast speeds while wearing athletic shoes. The reported true and absolute errors were as low as 3.2 (4.4) and 5.7 (3.4)ms, respectively, across 8678kHSI when using the stance ankle as a reference, which significantly outperformed (p

This paper explicates the precise meaning of weak generic sentences of the form Ks are P, best represented by the Port Royal Puzzle sentence Dutchmen are good sailors. The sentence is true even though the majority of Dutchmen do not know how to sail at all and a fortiori do not sail well. Two observations motivate my analysis. One is that weak generic sentences express a property that “distinguishes the subject referent from other entities that might belong to the same category” (Krifka et al. 1995). This leads to the use of alternative set in my analysis. The other observation is that the scale structure of the predicate P affects the availability of weak generic reading for sentences of the form Ks are P. I argue that the interpretation of weak generic sentences involves: (i) partitioning the set of entities denoted by the bare plural subject based on the property denoted by the predicate P; (ii) partitioning the set of entities alternative to the denotation of the subject in a similar fashion; and (iii) comparing an appropriate partition in (i) to its counterpart in (ii) with respect to the predicate P. The Port Royal Puzzle sentence is true if and only if: those Dutchmen who can sail and who are good at sailing in comparison with the Dutch-internal standard of being good at sailing and those international citizens who can sail and who are good at sailing in comparison to the international standard of being good at sailing are such that the former population generally have better sailing skills than the latter population.

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsAnalysis on the efficiency of EAs when evolving cryptographic Boolean functions.Three fitness functions, four evolutionary algorithms.Wide set of experiments with different algorithm parameter values.The best results are obtained with GP and CGP.We show the problem representation plays a crucial role for reaching top solutions. Boolean functions represent an important primitive in the design of various cryptographic algorithms. There exist several well-known schemes where a Boolean function is used to add nonlinearity to the cipher. Thus, methods to generate Boolean functions that possess good cryptographic properties present an important research goal. Among other techniques, evolutionary computation has proved to be a well-suited approach for this problem. In this paper, we present three different objective functions, where each inspects important cryptographic properties of Boolean functions, and examine four evolutionary algorithms. Our research confirms previous results, but also sheds new insights on the effectiveness and comparison of different evolutionary algorithms for this problem.