Paris West University Nanterre La Défense

About: Paris West University Nanterre La Défense is a education organization based out in Paris, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Computer science & Politics. The organization has 895 authors who have published 1430 publications receiving 21712 citations.

Phylogenetic relationships among the Galaginae as indicated by erythrocytic allozymes

Abstract: At least four hypotheses regarding the phylogenetic relationships within the Galaginae have been proposed, based on features of karyology, morphology, and behaviour, but these hypotheses share few common elements. Here we investigate erythrocytic allozymes as potential phylogenetic markers, and subject our results to a cladistic analysis. Our study offers little support for the previous models, but suggests instead that the greater galagos andG. alleni form a clade since they share character states for eight of the ten systems examined. The two lesser galago species could not be distinguished using these enzymes, and character states common to them and theallenicrassicaudatus-garnettii clade were found in only four systems. Our resultant cladogram accords well with the rather scant galagine fossil record. The data also show strong concordance with results obtained using highly repeated DNA sequences, which indicate that the galagos form a close-knit genetic group, while the Malagasy lemurids show considerably more inter-taxic variation.

Digital hermeneutics: from interpreting with machines to interpretational machines

Abstract: Today, there is an emerging interest for the potential role of hermeneutics in reflecting on the practices related to digital technologies and their consequences. Nonetheless, such an interest has neither given rise to a unitary approach nor to a shared debate. The primary goal of this paper is to map and synthetize the different existing perspectives to pave the way for an open discussion on the topic. The article is developed in two steps. In the first section, the authors analyze digital hermeneutics “in theory” by confronting and systematizing the existing literature. In particular, they stress three main distinctions among the approaches: (1) between “methodological” and “ontological” digital hermeneutics; (2) between data- and text-oriented digital hermeneutics; and (3) between “quantitative” and “qualitative” credos in digital hermeneutics. In the second section, they consider digital hermeneutics “in action”, by critically analyzing the uses of digital data (notably tweets) for studying a classical object such as the political opinion. In the conclusion, we will pave the way to an ontological turn in digital hermeneutics. Most of this article is devoted to the methodological issue of interpreting with digital machines. The main task of an ontological digital hermeneutics would consist instead in wondering if it is legitimate, and eventually to which extent, to speak of digital technologies, or at least of some of them, as interpretational machines.

What do blind people “see” with retinal prostheses? Observations and qualitative reports of epiretinal implant users

Abstract: Introduction: Retinal implants have now been approved and commercially available for certain clinical populations for over 5 years, with hundreds of individuals implanted, scores of them closely followed in research trials. Despite these numbers, however, few data are available that would help us answer basic questions regarding the nature and outcomes of artificial vision: what do participants see when the device is turned on for the first time, and how does that change over time? Methods: Semi-structured interviews and observations were undertaken at two sites in France and the UK with 16 participants who had received either the Argus II or IRIS II devices. Data were collected at various time points in the process that implant recipients went through in receiving and learning to use the device, including initial evaluation, implantation, initial activation and systems fitting, re-education and finally post-education. These data were supplemented with data from interviews conducted with vision rehabilitation specialists at the clinical sites and clinical researchers at the device manufacturers (Second Sight and Pixium Vision). Observational and interview data were transcribed, coded and analyzed using an approach guided by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Implant recipients described the perceptual experience produced by their epiretinal implants as fundamentally, qualitatively different than natural vision. All used terms that invoked electrical stimuli to describe the appearance of their percepts, yet the characteristics used to describe the percepts varied significantly between participants. Artificial vision for these participants was a highly specific, learned skill-set that combined particular bodily techniques, associative learning and deductive reasoning in order to build a “lexicon of flashes” - a distinct perceptual vocabulary that they then used to decompose, recompose and interpret their surroundings. The percept did not transform over time; rather, the participant became better at interpreting the signals they received. The process of using the device never ceased to be cognitively fatiguing, and did not come without risk or cost to the participant. In exchange, participants received hope and purpose through participation, as well as a new kind of sensory signal that may not have afforded practical or functional use in daily life but, for some, provided a kind of “contemplative perception” that participants tailored to individualized activities. Conclusion: Attending to the qualitative reports of participants regarding the experience of artificial vision provides valuable information not captured by extant clinical outcome measures. These data can both inform device design and rehabilitative techniques, as well as grant a more holistic understanding of the phenomenon of artificial vision.

Effects of Eavesdropping on Subsequent Signalling Behaviours in Male Canaries

Abstract: Signalling interactions could provide information for an observing third party. This behaviour has been labelled as eavesdropping. Studies on eavesdropping in birds have concerned only few species and have mainly been conducted in the wild. Our experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of eavesdropping on subsequent interactions in male canaries in a controlled laboratory context. The experiment had two stages: a presentation stage and a test stage. During the presentation stage, subjects heard three different interaction types: an alternating interaction, an overlapping interaction or two song sequences presented separately one after the other, i.e. without interaction. Then during the test stage, subjects were allowed to listen to the songs previously heard separately. We noted calls emitted by subjects during the two stages. During the presentation stage, responses of male canaries did not differ according to the type of interaction they could hear. During the test stage, we found a clear effect of the song status on the calls emitted by subjects. They emitted less calls during the songs of the winner than during all other songs. Surprisingly, subjects also produced intermediate responses by emitting fewer calls during the second song previously heard during the presentation phase, and during the song of the looser when compared to the three other songs. Our results show that male canaries obtain information on the relative threat from an overlapping interaction whereas an alternating interaction does not seem to provide any kind of relative information on singers’ status. In following encounters, the higher the potential threat of a singer was, the less the subjects emitted calls, probably to avoid the more serious rival. This inhibiting effect is discussed.