Physically‐based forehead animation including wrinkles

Physically‐based animation techniques enable more realistic and accurate animation to be created. We present a fully physically‐based approach for efficiently producing realistic‐looking animations of facial movement, including animation of expressive wrinkles. This involves simulation of detailed voxel‐based models using a graphics processing unit‐based total Lagrangian explicit dynamic finite element solver with an anatomical muscle contraction model, and advanced boundary conditions that can model the sliding of soft tissue over the skull. The flexibility of our approach enables detailed animations of gross and fine‐scale soft‐tissue movement to be easily produced with different muscle structures and material parameters, for example, to animate different aged skins. Although we focus on the forehead, our approach can be used to animate any multi‐layered soft body. © 2014 The Authors. Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Attentional effects of single dose triazolam

1. While the effects of benzodiazepines on human memory have been extensively studied little is known about the effects of these agents on attentional processes. The authors studied the effects of a single dose of triazolam on selective visual-spatial attention using a double blind, placebo controlled design. 2. In each of 2 sessions 12 normal volunteers ingested either 0.25 mg of triazolam or placebo. Attentional performance was evaluated using two versions of the covert orienting paradigm which measured automatic (exogenous) and controlled (endogenous) aspects of attentional orienting, respectively. 3. Triazolam selectively modified performance on automatic orienting to exogenous cues. Specifically, triazolam increased the facilitation of target detection seen at shorter (150 msec) SOA's. This may indicate an increase in facilitation and a reduction in inhibition or a slowing of the time course of the biphasic attentional effect normally resulting from exogenous cuing. 4. These results indicate the importance of using experimental paradigms which effectively dissociate endogenous and exogenous mechanisms of spatial orienting in studies evaluating the effects of pharmacological agents on visual-spatial attention.     

Very low birth weight children at school age: comparison of neonatal management methods

The outcome of 293 infants born to a geographically defined community and weighing 501-1500 g was investigated. Medical intervention in the newborn period had been avoided. Morbidity was assessed at school age. Of the infants, 236 had been live born in the labour ward of this hospital; of these, 117 (49.6%) died in the neonatal period, one (0.4%) died in the first year, four (1.7%) were untraced, 13 (5.5%) had major handicap, 29 (12.3%) had minor handicap, and 72 (30.5%) were considered to be normal. In terms of survival, handicap, and intellectual with that of infants born over the same period (1963-71) in areas where intensive methods of perinatal care were used. These results imply that postnatal survival and potential of infants of very low birth weight are by no means prejudiced when only experienced nursing care is available.     

The effect of interturn heat flow on the recovery currents of a superconducting magnet: A comparison of calculated and measured values

Cryostatic stabilization is appropriate for superconducting magnets producing steady fields over large volumes. The measured recovery currents for a 10 cm bore 6.4 T experimental solenoid are compared with values derived from a stability analysis which includes heat flow from the resistive region to adjacent conductors as well as to the helium coolant. Agreement is excellent despite some uncertainty in the helium heat transfer characteristic and in the thermal conductivity of the interturn insulation. Given good data for these it should be possible, using the method presented, to design cryostatically stabilized windings with precision just from basic data for the conductor and its intended environment.Details of the behaviour of large and small resistive regions in this solenoid are given. The critical currents are also accurately predicted from the performance of short samples of the conductor after taking account of anisotropy with respect to the direction of the ambient magnetic field.     

Factors associated with surface iridescence in fresh beef

The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with surface iridescence in fresh beef. Eight muscles were evaluated for occurrence of surface iridescence: Biceps femoris (BF), Gluteus medius (GM), Longissimus lumborum (LD), Psoas major (PM), Rectus femoris (RF), Semimembranosus (SM), Semitendinosus (ST), and Tensor fasciae latae (TF). Incidence of surface iridescence was 91% for ST, 34% for SM, 27% for LD, 20% for GM, 12% for RF, 9% for BF, 8% for TF, and 6% for PM (P<0.05). Factors associated with surface iridescence in the ST were further examined because iridescence was observed to a much higher degree in the ST as compared with other muscles evaluated. Greater ST surface iridescence was associated with larger ribeye areas, more youthful lean maturity scores, higher L^*, a^* and b^* colorimeter values, lower ultimate pH values, and faster cooking (P<0.05).     

The development of hydraulic and geomorphic complexity in recently formed streams in Glacier Bay National Park,Alaska

Geomorphic and hydraulic complexity within five streams representing 200 years of stream development were examined in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. Channel geomorphic units (CGUs) were mapped using a hierarchical approach, which defined stream habitat according to morphological and hydraulic characteristics. Detailed hydraulic assessment within the geomorphic units allowed differences in hydraulic characteristics across the 200‐year chronosequence to be documented. Channel geomorphology and hydrology changed as stream age increased. Younger streams were dominated by fast flowing geomorphic units such as rapids and riffles with little hydraulic or landscape diversity. As stream age increased, slower flowing habitat units such as glides and pools became more dominant, resulting in increased geomorphic, hydraulic and landscape diversity. These results suggest that geomorphic and hydraulic complexity develop over time, creating habitat features likely to be favoured by instream biota, enhancing biodiversity and abundance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electromagnetic field and ac power loss enhancements at the edges of adjacent strips in a superconducting cable

In most flexible superconducting cables the current is carried by a series of strips laid along the length of the cable with small gaps between their edges to accommodate bending. One consequence of dividing the conductor into strips is an enhancement of the electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the gaps. The ac losses in the superconductor are thereby also enhanced. Data are presented which enable the effects of these field and loss enhancements on cable performance to be assessed. In particular it is found that there is an optimum corner radius for the strips to achieve a minimum increase in loss compared to a smooth tube and that this increase need not be large for a suitably rounded corner. A non-uniform distribution of the strips around the cross-section of the cable can be deleterious while any radial displacements are likely to increase the losses considerably.     

Effects of lorazepam on the distribution of spatial attention

A left persistent primitive sciatic artery was observed in a Japanese male cadaver. The sciatic artery arose from the internal iliac artery and perforated the ventral division of the sacral plexus. The sciatic artery did not anastomose with the perforating arteries nor the popliteal artery. The left femoral artery was incompletely developed, attenuating and terminating as the saphenous artery. Instead of the femoral artery, direct continuation of the profunda femoris artery, which probably corresponded to the fourth perforating artery, became the popliteal artery. Other vessel anomalies were observed in various regions. They included; (1) the retroesophageal right subclavian artery; (2) the left vertebral artery entering the transverse foramen of the 4th cervical vertebra; (3) bilateral occurrence of the superficial brachial artery; (4) the left gastric artery independently arising from the abdominal aorta; (5) a hepatolienomesenteric trunk; (6) three accessory renal arteries; (7) double testicular arteries; (8) the arteria intermesenterica; (9) a venous ring termed the 'renal collar', and (10) paired thoracic ducts. The present cadaver was considered to be a very rare case in which many primitive vascular systems had extensively persisted in various parts of the body.     

A Community‐Level,Mesoscale Analysis of Fish Assemblage Structure in Shoreline Habitats of a Large River Using Multivariate Regression Trees

The mesoscale (10⁰–10² m) of river habitats has been identified as the scale that simultaneously offers insights into ecological structure and falls within the practical bounds of river management. Mesoscale habitat (mesohabitat) classifications for relatively large rivers, however, are underdeveloped compared with those produced for smaller streams. Approaches to habitat modelling have traditionally focused on individual species or proceeded on a species‐by‐species basis. This is particularly problematic in larger rivers where the effects of biological interactions are more complex and intense. Community‐level approaches can rapidly model many species simultaneously, thereby integrating the effects of biological interactions while providing information on the relative importance of environmental variables in structuring the community. One such community‐level approach, multivariate regression trees, was applied in order to determine the relative influences of abiotic factors on fish assemblages within shoreline mesohabitats of San Pedro River, Chile, and to define reference communities prior to the planned construction of a hydroelectric power plant. Flow depth, bank materials and the availability of riparian and instream cover, including woody debris, were the main variables driving differences between the assemblages. Species strongly indicative of distinctive mesohabitat types included the endemic Galaxias platei. Among other outcomes, the results provide information on the impact of non‐native salmonids on river‐dwelling Galaxias platei, suggesting a degree of habitat segregation between these taxa based on flow depth. The results support the use of the mesohabitat concept in large, relatively pristine river systems, and they represent a basis for assessing the impact of any future hydroelectric power plant construction and operation. By combing community classifications with simple sets of environmental rules, the multivariate regression trees produced can be used to predict the community structure of any mesohabitat along the reach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.