The interaction of chromostereopsis and stereopsis in stereoscopic CRT displays

To give operators of high-speed, highly-manoeuvrable vehicles the ability to keep pace with their increasingly dynamic environment, stereoscopic 3-D displays may soon replace conventional 2-D displays. Important to the development of stereoscopic 3-D displays is the interaction of perceived depth created by hues (chromostereopsis) and perceived depth created by presenting different images of a single object to the left and right eye of the observer (stereopsis). The purpose of this research is to evaluate the interaction of chromostereopsis and stereopsis on a stereoscopic CRT by determining the level of accuracy with which subjects can properly interpret the relative depth differences of adjacent symbols containing six levels of hue and seven levels of stereoscopic disparity. This research demonstrated that hue, disparity, and the interaction of hue and disparity significantly influenced one's perception of depth on a stereoscopic monitor. The results suggest that caution should be exercised by the stereoscopic 3-D display format designer when choosing hues to represent images located in close proximity on a stereoscopic display. Due to the chromostereoscopic effect on the perception of depth, hues on extreme ends of the colour spectrum should not be used in situations where less than 3.39 arc minutes of disparity difference is being portrayed on a stereoscopic display, unless the hues are consistently being used to alter the depth presented by stereoscopic disparity, or the chromostereoscopic depth resulting from certain hues is consistently nullified by altering disparity levels accordingly.     

Estimating meme fitness in adaptive memetic algorithms for combinatorial problems

Among the most promising and active research areas in heuristic optimisation is the field of adaptive memetic algorithms (AMAs). These gain much of their reported robustness by adapting the probability with which each of a set of local improvement operators is applied, according to an estimate of their current value to the search process. This paper addresses the issue of how the current value should be estimated. Assuming the estimate occurs over several applications of a meme, we consider whether the extreme or mean improvements should be used, and whether this aggregation should be global, or local to some part of the solution space. To investigate these issues, we use the well-established COMA framework that coevolves the specification of a population of memes (representing different local search algorithms) alongside a population of candidate solutions to the problem at hand. Two very different memetic algorithms are considered: the first using adaptive operator pursuit to adjust the probabilities of applying a fixed set of memes, and a second which applies genetic operators to dynamically adapt and create memes and their functional definitions. For the latter, especially on combinatorial problems, credit assignment mechanisms based on historical records, or on notions of landscape locality, will have limited application, and it is necessary to estimate the value of a meme via some form of sampling. The results on a set of binary encoded combinatorial problems show that both methods are very effective, and that for some problems it is necessary to use thousands of variables in order to tease apart the differences between different reward schemes. However, for both memetic algorithms, a significant pattern emerges that reward based on mean improvement is better than that based on extreme improvement. This contradicts recent findings from adapting the parameters of operators involved in global evolutionary search. The results also show that local reward schemes outperform global reward schemes in combinatorial spaces, unlike in continuous spaces. An analysis of evolving meme behaviour is used to explain these findings.     

A theoretical approach for inverse filter design in ultrasonic applications

A comparison between simulation- and measurement-based characterization is provided for the design of one-dimensional, nonadaptive, inverse filters for ultrasonic applications. Both prefiltering and postfiltering are considered by means of two different filtering strategies performed in the time and frequency domains. The results clearly indicate that theoretical methods can be used successfully, provided that the physical limitations of the simulation process are fully appreciated. In some instances, the simulation-based approach is shown to provide superior results, and the reasons for this are explained.     

Quantitative real-time imaging of myocardium based on ultrasonic integrated backscatter

The integrated backscatter calculation over the full, two-dimensional echocardiographic sector is implemented to produce images from closed-chest dogs. This new real-time integrated backscatter measurement system allows a continuous determination of integrated backscatter from all myocardial regions in the ultrasonic view. By replacing the conventional video processor in a commercial two-dimensional echocardiographic imager with this new real-time backscatter measurement system, it is possible to produce real-time two-dimensional images based on integrated backscatter.     

First Identification of a Putative Sex Pheromone in a Praying Mantid

Praying mantids are models for a wide variety of behavioral, physiological, and ecological studies, and sex pheromones have been assumed to be important components of their biology. However, no mantid pheromone has ever been identified. We collected volatiles emitted by females of the mantid, Sphodromantis lineola, via solid phase microextraction (SPME). Mass spectral analysis revealed the collected volatiles to be a mixture of pentadecanal and tetradecanal. We prepared a synthetic mixture of these compounds, and found that males were both attracted to this mixture and stimulated to exhibit typical precopulatory behavior. We then examined male antennae with scanning electron microscopy, and confirmed the presence of porous antennal sensilla typical of insect pheromone receptors, i.e., that male mantids are equipped with the appropriate morphological apparatus to receive volatile chemical signals. Pheromones, in conjunction with visual and tactile cues, are thus an important feature of the reproductive biology of this, and undoubtedly other species of mantids. In addition to adding a crucial aspect of behavioral biology to our knowledge of this group, identification and synthesis of mantid pheromones may be a first step in attracting and aggregating these generalist predators for use in pest control.     

Studies on effects of dietary fatty acids as related to their position on triglycerides

This article reviews published literature on how the stereospecific structure of dietary triglycerides may affect lipid metabolism in humans. Animal studies have shown enhanced absorption of fatty acids in the sn-2 position of dietary triglycerides. Increasing the level of the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid in the sn-2 position (e.g., by interesterification of the fat to randomize the positions of the fatty acids along the glycerol backbone) has been shown in rabbits to increase the atherogenic potential of the fat without impacting levels of blood lipids and lipoproteins. In contrast, enhancing the level of stearic acid in the sn-2 position has not been found to affect either atherogenic potential or levels of blood lipids and lipoproteins in rabbit. Fatty acids other than palmitic and stearic have not been studied systematically with respect to possible positional effects. A limited number of human studies have shown no significant effects of interesterified fats on blood lipid parameters. However, it is unknown whether modifying the stereospecific structure of dietary triglycerides would affect atherogenicity or other long-term health conditions in humans. It is possible that incorporation of palmitic acid into the sn-2 position of milk fat is beneficial to the human infant (as a source of energy for growth and development) but not to human adults. Additional research is needed to determine whether processes like interesterification, which can be used to alter physical parameters of dietary fats (e.g., melting characteristics), may result in favorable or unfavorable long-term effects in humans.     

Fiber optic sensing technology for detecting gas hydrate formation and decomposition

A fiber optic-based distributed sensing system (DSS) has been integrated with a large volume (72 l) pressure vessel providing high spatial resolution, time-resolved, 3D measurement of hybrid temperature-strain (TS) values within experimental sediment-gas hydrate systems. Areas of gas hydrate formation (exothermic) and decomposition (endothermic) can be characterized through this proxy by time series analysis of discrete data points collected along the length of optical fibers placed within a sediment system. Data are visualized as an animation of TS values along the length of each fiber over time. Experiments conducted in the Seafloor Process Simulator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory clearly indicate hydrate formation and dissociation events at expected pressure-temperature conditions given the thermodynamics of the CH(4)-H(2)O system. The high spatial resolution achieved with fiber optic technology makes the DSS a useful tool for visualizing time-resolved formation and dissociation of gas hydrates in large-scale sediment experiments.