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Two new models have been recently introduced for studying the remaining rotational ambiguity in the bilinear decomposition of matrix data. One of the models is N‐BANDS, which yields two extreme profiles per sample component, corresponding to maximum or minimum signal contribution function or relative component area under its concentration profile. It is highly useful for computing the relative root mean square error due to rotational ambiguity in estimated analyte concentrations (RMSERA), which numerically quantifies the impact of the phenomenon in terms of prediction uncertainty. Since N‐BANDS successfully consider the presence of instrumental noise in the data, it is extremely useful for the analysis of real data sets. The other model is SW‐N‐BANDS, which is similar to N‐BANDS, but is applied in a sensor wise manner, that is, computing the maximum and minimum intensity value at each sensor. It provides the boundaries of the full set of feasible profiles, and helps to better understand the behavior of a given component under the application of several constraints. Both models are described in light of both simulations and experimental data, illustrating their main characteristics of importance to analytical chemistry studies. The new N‐BANDS and SW‐N‐BANDS are described for estimating and interpreting rotational ambiguity effects in analytical chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we explore students' engagement with critical feedback in an authentic university setting. Findings support the centrality of strong relationships in the feedback process. Study 1 was the first conceptual replication and extension of Yeager et al.'s (2014) wise feedback intervention to test the effectiveness/efficacy in a new setting. Undergraduate students (n = 94) were randomly assigned to receive a wise feedback message (explicitly stated the instructor's high expectations and belief in the student's ability to meet those expectations) or a control message. Although we did not replicate prior findings, we observed high initial levels of institutional and relational trust, which was maintained across the semester for students in both conditions. In Study 2, we conducted interviews with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students (n = 6), to explore the underlying assumptions of wise feedback (i.e., attributional ambiguity) and their experiences with critical feedback in higher education. Although these discussions were nuanced, and will be unpacked further, generally students highlighted the role of feedback in bolstering or deteriorating their relationships with instructors. These findings have implications for educators who are tasked with providing critical feedback while simultaneously protecting relational dynamics with students. Practitioner points: Undergraduate students who received wise feedback did not report statistically significant changes in school or relational trust. These findings stand in contrast to earlier research conducted with middle school students. Because older students have more experience with feedback throughout their academic career (for better or worse), it is possible that a more intensive intervention may be necessary to help overcome their pre‐existing expectations.Instructional decisions such as planning for students to have opportunities to meaningfully engage with feedback (through time in class or encouraging resubmissions) may contribute to students' development of feedback literacy and comfort/confidence actively participating in the feedback process.Not only do educators need to provide students with high‐quality feedback comments (e.g., specific, timely, action‐oriented), they should also consider how the broader learning environment, including student–teacher relationships, facilitate or discourage feedback interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes two robust Kalman filters to solve the issue of inaccurate modeling in multiplicative noise systems due to epistemic limitations. First, we construct all conceivable state/measurement transition probability densities as an ambiguity set. This ambiguity set chooses the Wasserstein distance or the moment‐based metric as the distance metric. Besides, this set is an inequality set with a chosen tolerance, which can be seen as a non‐negative radius ball. Then, by combining the robust solution of the least favorable model in that ball with the alternating direction method of multipliers or an efficient direct solution method, we propose two robust Kalman filters based on the minimum mean square error criterion. A classical example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed robust filters in comparison to existing state‐of‐the‐art filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, MapReduce has become a popular tool for handling big data. At the same time, uncertainty is related to arbitrariness, fuzziness, ambiguity, irregularity and incomplete knowledge. In RS theory, the uncertainty behaviour of the data in the dataset of interest is managed by using upper and lower approximate sets and classification accuracy. The RS model is integrated with data clustering technique for optimal outcomes. With this motivation, this study designs an Optimal Clustering with RS‐Based Rule Generation Model (OC‐RSRGM) for data classification on MapReduce environment. The OC‐RSRGM technique aims to generate an optimal set of rules using RST for the data classification process and it involves a two‐stage process namely Optimal Fuzzy c‐Means Clustering (OFCM) and RSRGM‐based rule generation with classification. The OFCM technique is derived to eradicate the local optimal problem of the FCM (Fuzzy c‐Means) model using Barnacles Mating Optimizer (BMO). It provides the decision‐makers with all the information needed to design appropriate mechanisms to support their decision‐making activities. The Hadoop MapReduce tool is used to handle big data. The proposed method combines an FCM, BMO, RS theory to accomplish effective decision‐making. The OC‐RSRGM technique can be employed to continuous value dataset where data point does not offer any class details and it might be uncertain. To validate the performance of OC‐RSRGM technique, a detailed experimental analysis is carried out to highlights the betterment of OC‐RSRGM technique. The proposed OC‐RSRGM technique has obtained an effective outcome with the CT of 5.43 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artists based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are pressured by international art elites to critique the illiberal regime under which they live. But doing so is illegal. It can lead the state to retaliate with harassment, detention, cancellation of residency visas, and expulsion. Nonetheless, gatekeeping curators and critics validate UAE‐based artists' work as worthwhile and good if these artists critique the UAE state. How do these artists balance the perils of retaliation and deportation with an exhortation to critique the state for the sake of career success and international visibility? They do so by deploying a form of critique predicated on omission and ambiguity; I term it conspicuous omission. This practice reveals norms of critique, and the normative expectations placed on contemporary artists based on their place of residence or origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this chapter is to analyse under‐determination, generalisation, vagueness, and ambiguity in the speaker's self‐reference strategies used in Catalan parliamentary debate and Twitter. Parliaments are one of the main arenas where politicians develop their activity. On the other hand, Twitter allows politicians to build their own public image and to be in touch with voters, and citizens in general, in a more direct way. The theoretical background of the analysis includes the classical studies on deixis and on person deixis in Catalan; Goffman (1981)'s participation frameworks; functional linguistics and the ethnography of communication, and Twitter communication analysis. In this corpus‐driven analysis, parliamentary discourses and tweets of two members of the Parliament of Catalonia are analysed. The corpus has been drawn from their speeches in the 2020 general politics debate and from the Twitter messages they published in the same period, in autumn 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gives an explanation of how recent results on ambiguity logics are relevant to the linguistic and philosophical theory of ambiguity. To this aim, some fundamental definitions and results are explained. We formulate and provide evidence for three main hypotheses: Firstly, ambiguity is not a vague notion. Secondly, in (explicit) reasoning with ambiguity, we always have to consider the parameter ±trust. Thirdly, ambiguous propositions exist, but they cannot have the same rights and properties as unambiguous propositions; rather they should be considered "second class". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambiguity is conventionally defined in Linguistics as a property of a word or an utterance that has two meanings or two interpretations, and is usually classified as lexical, morphological, syntactic (or structural), and pragmatic. Giving an adequate definition of linguistic ambiguity is not trivial, nor is there unanimity in accepting it. Most researchers tend to agree that ambiguity should be distinguished from related concepts such as vagueness, context sensitivity, reference transfer, and underdetermination or generality of meaning. The distinction between these concepts is also related to the divergences or connections between the perspectives of analysis of ambiguity, and the aim of each work. In this introduction, we define the limits of ambiguity with respect to related concepts and summarize the studies contained within this special issue. These studies do not cover all possible approaches to linguistic ambiguity, but provide a broad overview that can be useful in different fields. We trust that they will contribute to deepening into a phenomenon that is not yet well described and that seems to be consubstantial with the use of language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study aims to offer new insights into the lexical ambiguity in the interlanguage arising from the use of false cognates. The study is based on written texts from two learners' corpora. Utterances including false cognates were retrieved from both corpora and presented to two groups of native speakers who assessed their correctness and stated whether or not they were ambiguous. While the first group was informed beforehand that the sentences had been produced by non‐native speakers (as well as the meaning of the false cognates in their L1), the second group had no information regarding the speakers who wrote them. The goal of this analysis is to shed light on the different perceptions that can arise from native vs. non‐native speakers' productions, focusing on lexical ambiguity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates what structural ambiguity reveals about the architecture of language. It analyzes two basic types of structural ambiguity, constituent ambiguity and chain formation ambiguity, and illustrates with a small class of selected case studies how they interweave. It observes that several movement locality constraints have the effect of reducing chain formation ambiguities; however, it argues that movement locality constraints are not primarily motivated to reduce ambiguity. Finally, it defends that structural ambiguity is due to a loss of resolution at the PF branch of the language faculty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work is to put forward a pragmatic and translational framework for analysing target texts (TT) and source texts (ST) containing conversational implicatures that lead to pragmatic ambiguity. Ambiguity, sensu lato, is deemed to be related to indeterminacy and vagueness. Nevertheless, in the strict sense, ambiguity is understood as 'more than a single processing instruction for a given utterance'. More specifically, pragmatic ambiguity arises whenever differences in cultural conventions between SL speakers and TL speakers lead to differences in the existence, meaning and salience of implicatures among ST and TT. Using real translation cases selected from a purpose‐built corpus containing fiction written and oral texts, we show which pragmatic ambiguities translators come across, and how translation techniques are used, either to maintain ambiguity or to select one intended processing instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political discourse has been characterised as being 'vague' and 'ambiguous'. It is argued that politicians tend to use generic and unspecific words in order to avoid explicit commitment (McGee 2018). Although this situation may describe discourse genres such as political interviews and election debates, it is unclear that it can be applied to parliamentary debate. This study analyses a corpus consisting of two parliamentary debates in English and Catalan with respect to ambiguity, vagueness and generality in connection to referential cohesion. Three variables are qualitatively and quantitatively analysed: a) the abstractness of the topics, b) the non‐specific or specific nature of these entities, and c) the grammatical or lexical nature of the units that maintain referential cohesion. The results show that ambiguity and vagueness are rather infrequent in parliamentary debate. However, the high frequencies of non‐concrete referential entities, and of non‐specific referents characterise parliamentary debate as a general discourse. As a counterpart, lexical cohesion devices as repetition and encapsulation highlight the topics under discussion, what leads to avoid ambiguity and vagueness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular polysemes are sets of ambiguous words that all share the same relationship between their meanings, such as CHICKEN and LOBSTER both referring to an animal or its meat. To probe how a distributional semantic model, here exemplified by bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT), represents regular polysemy, we analyzed whether its embeddings support answering sense analogy questions similar to "is the mapping between CHICKEN (as an animal) and CHICKEN (as a meat) similar to that which maps between LOBSTER (as an animal) to LOBSTER (as a meat)?" We did so using the LRcos model, which combines a logistic regression classifier of different categories (e.g., animal vs. meat) with a measure of cosine similarity. We found that (a) the model was sensitive to the shared structure within a given regular relationship; (b) the shared structure varies across different regular relationships (e.g., animal/meat vs. location/organization), potentially reflective of a "regularity continuum;" (c) some high‐order latent structure is shared across different regular relationships, suggestive of a similar latent structure across different types of relationships; and (d) there is a lack of evidence for the aforementioned effects being explained by meaning overlap. Lastly, we found that both components of the LRcos model made important contributions to accurate responding and that a variation of this method could yield an accuracy boost of 10% in answering sense analogy questions. These findings enrich previous theoretical work on regular polysemy with a computationally explicit theory and methods, and provide evidence for an important organizational principle for the mental lexicon and the broader conceptual knowledge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two primary physical methods for identifying lithium titanate, a negative electrode material used commercially, are X-Ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Although there are many publications on this topic, they are focused mainly on chemistry, so there are still some points that require clarification from a physical and methodological point of view. Difference of experimentally observed and theoretically predicted Raman spectra was explained through a combination of experiments and computations. The work comprises experiments and computations to explain why there are different numbers of predicted and observed Raman-active bands. Our low-temperature study and the analysis of thermal shifts during heating led us to conclude that the approach with surplus bands is advantageous and we recommend using major F2g band shifts to estimate the sample heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scomberomorus guttatus has been subjected to a series of synonym assignations over the years. Its taxonomy has been mired with ambiguities due to the greater‐than‐average morphological variations observed in samples from different regions. An integrated taxonomic revision with molecular support indicated that the species that was thought to be a single entity, in reality, is a complex of three distinct species. They are morphologically distinct with respect to the body depth and elongation, cephalic morphometry, and meristic characteristics. Otolith morphometry and phylogenetic evidence further established the taxonomic divergence within the spotted seerfish complex. The phylogenetic characteristic as indicated by the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence unveiled that S. guttatus had a high intraspecific divergence of 11.1% from its two identical congeners and a divergence of 2.34% between the congeners, indicating scope for categorizing them as separate species. Based on the morphological and molecular evidence, S. guttatus is redescribed; the senior synonym Scomberomorus leopardus is resurrected as a valid species; and a new species Scomberomorus avirostrus n. sp. is described with keys for species distinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2015 is one of the most fundamental systems engineering international standards. In this work, the major system lifecycle processes specified in 15288 and, equally importantly, the objects interacting through them, are modeled meticulously using OPM ISO 19450. The conceptual model, based on this standard's text, reflects the implied authors' intent, bringing up ambiguities that arise from the informality of natural language text and reference to related figures. The resulting OPM model is an exact, formal, and detailed expression of the processes and related objects in the first part of 15288, making it machine interpretable. The gaps discovered during the modeling process are testimony to the value of the model‐based standards authoring approach and the centrality of a formal yet humanly accessible model as the underlying backbone of international standards and key technical documents in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper defends the claim that if a person P exists, there can be true positive comparisons between P's existence and P's never having existed at all in terms of what is better or worse for P. If correct, this view will have significant implications for various fundamental issues in population ethics. I try to show how arguments to the contrary fail to take note of a general ambiguity in comparisons when compared alternatives contain their own different standards (or, in the case of non‐existence, a lack thereof) on which to base these comparisons. After having answered arguments against the possibility of making positive comparisons, the paper develops a positive account of how to make existence/non‐existence comparisons in terms of personal value whilst accepting that a person's non‐existence fails to make any contact with the relevant categories of personal value. The guiding idea is the following: When some item satisfies some relevant standard, we can, I argue, infer that it satisfies this standard better than something that fails to satisfy this standard (be this failure due to empirical or conceptual reasons). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the integration detection of near space hypersonic weak targets by high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) radar, a novel method named Multi‐Hypothesis Fuzzy‐Matching Radon transform (MHFM‐RT) is proposed for the near space hypersonic target detection and tracking. For remote hypersonic target detection, to avoid range ambiguity, current radars always use a low PRF mode, which limit the number of pulse accumulations. Using the high PRF mode, the fuzzy folding will appear in the target range measurements when target trajectory crosses range fuzzy intervals. Therefore, there is a contradiction between range ambiguity and energy accumulation. The proposed method is used to match the fuzzy measurements, so as to realise the correct integration in the condition of range ambiguity. Firstly, considering the need of range ambiguity resolution, the mode of staggered PRF is used. Secondly, the first frame measurements are periodically extended for multiple‐fuzzy hypothesis. Finally, the weak target track is accumulated in MHFM‐RT domain, and the signal integration and ambiguity resolution can be realised simultaneously. The proposed method expands the Variable‐Diameter‐Arc‐Helix Radon transform (VDAH‐RT) method to fuzzy folding conditions. Compared with the existing methods, for 7‐scan measurements non‐coherent integration, the detection sensitivity of the proposed method is about 0.5–1 dB higher than that of the IMM hybrid filter algorithm, and about 1 dB higher than that of the RHT‐TBD approach, and it needs less storage space and has higher detection probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article articulates and defends a dissolution of the so‐called repugnant conclusion, which focuses on the notion of life worth living figuring both in Parfit's formulation of the repugnant conclusion and in most responses to such a conclusion. The proposed dissolution demonstrates that the notion of life worth living is plagued by multiple ambiguities and that these ambiguities, in turn, hamper meaningful debate about both the issue of whether the repugnant conclusion can be avoided and the issue of whether the repugnant conclusion is actually repugnant. This result does not exclude that some modified versions of the repugnant conclusion may yield valuable insights about the value of populations and the tenability of different axiological/ethical theories. Still, if the proposed dissolution is correct, then the repugnant conclusion rests on an ill‐defined notion and we lack the information required to assess the merits of the repugnant conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Investigating what contributes to perceptions of ambiguity in stepfamily relationships among adolescents, and which strategies adolescents use to deal with ambiguity. Background: Relational losses or acquisitions marked by ambiguity (i.e., ambiguous losses and gains) are taxing as they often evade resolution. The frequent assumption that family relationships in postdivorce stepfamilies are per se ambiguous has only received limited empirical foundation. Little is known about how adolescents experience ambiguity, how and why ambiguity emerges, and what strategies adolescents develop to deal with ambiguity. Method: Semi‐structured interviews with 30 Dutch adolescents (aged 16–20) living in diverse postdivorce stepfamilies were conducted. The data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Results: Relationships with stepparents, stepsiblings, and biological parents were especially likely to be experienced as ambiguous. Two key categories of reasons emerged that helped to explain the emergence of ambiguity: information (i.e., incomplete or contradictory knowledge about family relationships), and relationality (i.e., the ways in which family relationships were assessed and compared to each other). Results point towards potential chains of ambiguity in stepfamilies, and show that respondents compared their relations with constructed archetypes of stepparents. Respondents used three strategies to deal with ambiguity: (a) improving relationships, (b) accepting ambiguity, and (c) creating distance. Conclusion: Ambiguity was common in postdivorce stepfamilies, yet mostly confined to relationships between adolescents and stepparents, stepsiblings, and biological parents. This suggests that, in stepfamilies, ambiguous gain might occur more frequently than ambiguous loss. The negative feelings associated with ambiguity might explain why many adolescents perceive living in stepfamilies as burdensome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous eye blinks are modulated around perceptual events. Our previous study, using a visual ambiguous stimulus, indicated that blink probability decreases before a reported perceptual switch. In the current study, we tested our hypothesis that an absence of blinks marks a time in which perceptual switches are facilitated in‐ and outside the visual domain. In three experiments, presenting either a visual motion quartet in light or darkness or a bistable auditory streaming stimulus, we found a co‐occurrence of blink rate reduction with increased perceptual switch probability. In the visual domain, perceptual switches induced by a short interruption of visual input (blank) allowed an estimate of the timing of the perceptual event with respect to the motor response. This provided the first evidence that the blink reduction was not a consequence of the perceptual switch. Importantly, by showing that the time between switches and the previous blink was significantly longer than the inter‐blink interval, our studies allowed to conclude that perceptual switches did not happen at random but followed a prolonged period of nonblinking. Correspondingly, blink rate and switch rate showed an inverse relationship. Our study supports the idea that the absence or presence of blinks maps perceptual processes independent of the sensory modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty has long been of interest to economists and psychologists and has more recently gained attention among ecologists. In the ecological world, animals must regularly make decisions related to finding resources and avoiding threats. Here, we describe uncertainty as a perceptual phenomenon of decision‐makers, and we focus specifically on the functional ecology of such uncertainty regarding predation risk. Like all uncertainty, uncertainty about predation risk reflects informational limitations. When cues are available, they may be novel (i.e. unknown information), incomplete, unreliable, overly abundant and complex, or conflicting. We review recent studies that have used these informational limitations to induce uncertainty of predation risk. These studies have typically used either over‐responses to novelty (i.e. neophobia) or memory attenuation as proxies for measuring uncertainty. Because changes in the environment, particularly unpredictable changes, drive informational limitations, we describe studies assessing unpredictable variance in spatio‐temporal predation risk, intensity of predation risk, predator encounter rate, and predator diversity. We also highlight anthropogenic changes within habitats that are likely to have dramatic impacts on information availability and thus uncertainty in antipredator decisions in the modern world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the disruptions the COVID‐19 pandemic has engendered in people's professional lives, the importance and contribution of certain workforces has been under particular scrutiny. In England, the teaching profession has been under particularly close public scrutiny, with concerns that teachers' perceived social appreciation may have decreased throughout the pandemic. Thus, the current study examined the trajectory of teachers' perceptions of how much society, policymakers and the media had valued the teaching profession throughout this time. With an initial sample of 24 primary and secondary teachers in mainstream state schools in England, 54 online interviews took place at three time points: when school buildings were partially reopened for the first time (June 2020), when they were partially closed for the second time (February 2021) and when they were fully reopened for 16 months (July 2022). Three themes were identified in the data using a longitudinal trajectory analysis based on reflexive thematic analysis: 'initial admiration from local communities progressively waned', 'continuous government disrespect towards teachers' and 'initial media vitriol towards teachers was sustained'. Implications for how teachers and other stakeholders in education can most effectively work together for the benefit of the health and effectiveness of the teaching profession and the educational system are considered in the context of the associated risks when teachers have low levels of perceived social appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species delimitation is a contentious topic. The genomics revolution initially brought hope that identifying and classifying species would be easier through better methods and more data, but genomics has also brought complexity and controversy to delimitation. One solution can be to collect a larger sample of individuals at a finer geographic scale. But what if taxa are rare and collecting more samples is difficult or detrimental to the organisms at hand? In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Opatova et al. (2023) tackle the ambiguity of species delimitation in rare and endangered trapdoor spiders (genus Cyclocosmia). The authors propose a framework for delimiting species when samples are hard to come by, such as in these rare and cryptic spiders. The authors combine extensive genomic sampling with statistical approaches that consider both the genetic distinctiveness of each population of spiders and how much gene flow occurs between these populations. Their proposed taxonomy balances two opposing signals, structure and gene flow, to count eight lineages of Cyclocosmia, and to point the way for future taxonomic studies of the rare or difficult to obtain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]