Understanding sorting algorithms using music and spatial distribution

This thesis is concerned with the communication of information using auditory techniques. In particular, a music-based interface has been used to communicate the operation of a number of sorting algorithms to users. This auditory interface has been further enhanced by the creation of an auditory scene including a sound wall, which enables the auditory interface to utilise music parameters in conjunction with 2D/3D spatial distribution to communicate the essential processes in the algorithms. The sound wall has been constructed from a grid of measurements using a human head to create a spatial distribution. The algorithm designer can therefore communicate events using pitch, rhythm and timbre and associate these with particular positions in space. A number of experiments have been carried out to investigate the usefulness of music and the sound wall in communicating information relevant to the algorithms. Further, user understanding of the six algorithms has been tested. In all experiments the effects of previous musical experience has been allowed for. The results show that users can utilise musical parameters in understanding algorithms and that in all cases improvements have been observed using the sound wall. Different user performance was observed with different algorithms and it is concluded that certain types of information lend themselves more readily to communication through auditory interfaces than others. As a result of the experimental analysis, recommendations are given on how to improve the sound wall and user understanding by improved choice of the musical mappings

Cinema as mnemotechnics

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Optimal Control of Spreading Biological Invasions: For How Long Should We Apply the Brake?

Identifying the optimal switching point between different invasive alien species (IAS) management policies is a very complex task and policy makers are in need of modelling tools to assist them. In this paper we develop an optimal control bioeconomic model to estimate the type of optimal policy and switching point of control efforts against a spreading IAS. We apply the models to the case study of Colorado potato beetle in the UK. The results demonstrate that eradication is optimal for small initial sizes of invasion at discovery. High capacity of the agency to reduce spread velocity for several years leads to smaller total overall costs of invasion and makes eradication optimal for larger sizes of initial invasion. In many cases, it is optimal to switch from control to acceptance within the time horizon. The switching point depends on the capacity of the agency, initial size of invasion, spread velocity of the IAS and the ratio of unit cost of damage and removal. We encourage the integration of the dispersal patterns of the invader and the geometry of the invasion in the theoretical development of the economics of IAS invasion management.barrier zone, biosecurity, dynamic optimization, eradication, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, pest risk analysis, reaction-diffusion., Risk and Uncertainty, Q1, Q28, Q57,

Fertility and the Personal Exemption: Comment

One of the most commonly cited studies on the effect of child subsidies on fertility, Whittington, Alm and Peters (1990), claimed a large positive effect of child tax benefits on fertility using time series methods. We revisit this question in light of recent increases in child tax benefits by replicating this earlier study and extending the analysis. We do not find strong evidence to justify the model specification from the original paper. Moreover, even if the original specfication is appropriate, we show that the Whittington et al. results are not robust to more general measures of child tax benefits. While we do not find evidence that child tax benefits affect the level of fertility, we find some evidence of a short-run fertility response that occurs with a two-year lag.

Restoration action effectiveness: employing the concept of net ecosystem improvement

The mission statement of the Northwest Straits Initiative includes ‘improving ecosystem health’ of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Northern Puget Sound by restoring and protecting natural habitats and resources. For the Initiative, and many other programs, defining ‘ecosystem health’ and developing relevant and measureable health metrics is problematic, and yet critical to both assessing program action effectiveness as well as justifying investments. The Initiative is exploring utilizing the concept of net ecosystem improvement (NEI) to summarize results of actions and couch the results in a broader ecosystem perspective. Net improvement is defined as following development; there is an increase in the size and natural functions of an ecosystem or natural components of the ecosystem (Thom et al. 2005. Restoration Ecol. v. 13). Conceptual models are used to summarize knowledge and guide actions to improve the ecosystem. NEI is calculated by estimating the change in function times the change in area over which this change in function occurred including both temporal and spatial aspects. For example, the anchor out zone project managed by the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee in Port Townsend protects 21.6ha (52 acres) of eelgrass. Without this protection most if not all of the eelgrass would be lost. Using data from other areas, we estimated that 3,998 - 66,077 Dungeness crab (primarily juveniles) and net production by eelgrass of 2,083 metric tons wet wt y-1, are protected. Based on WDNR monitoring (Christiaen et al. 2017), this area of eelgrass protected amounts to 0.5 – 0.8% of the total eelgrass area in the Straits, and 0.5% of the Puget Sound Partnership 2020 eelgrass recovery goal of ~4000ha. Estimating NEI and placing the results in a broader ecosystem perspective is possible for many actions taken by the Initiative’s Marine Resource Committees, and may be appropriate for other programs

The Role of the Primary Visual Cortex in Higher Level Vision

In the classical feed-forward, modular view of visual processing, the primary visual cortex (area V1) is a module that serves to extract local features such as edges and bars. Representation and recognition of objects are thought to be functions of higher extrastriate cortical areas. This paper presents neurophysiological data that show the later part of V1 neurons’ responses reflecting higher order perceptual computations related to Ullman’s (Cognition 1984;18:97–159) visual routines and Marr’s (Vision NJ: Freeman 1982) full primal sketch, 2Image D sketch and 3D model. Based on theoretical reasoning and the experimental evidence, we propose a possible reinterpretation of the functional role of V1. In this framework, because of V1 neurons’ precise encoding of orientation and spatial information, higher level perceptual computations and representations that involve high resolution details, fine geometry and spatial precision would necessarily involve V1 and be reflected in the later part of its neurons’ activities.Mathematic

Dense and accurate motion and strain estimation in high resolution speckle images using an image-adaptive approach

Digital image processing methods represent a viable and well acknowledged alternative to strain gauges and interferometric techniques for determining full-field displacements and strains in materials under stress. This paper presents an image adaptive technique for dense motion and strain estimation using high-resolution speckle images that show the analyzed material in its original and deformed states. The algorithm starts by dividing the speckle image showing the original state into irregular cells taking into consideration both spatial and gradient image information present. Subsequently the Newton-Raphson digital image correlation technique is applied to calculate the corresponding motion for each cell. Adaptive spatial regularization in the form of the Geman-McClure robust spatial estimator is employed to increase the spatial consistency of the motion components of a cell with respect to the components of neighbouring cells. To obtain the final strain information, local least-squares fitting using a linear displacement model is performed on the horizontal and vertical displacement fields. To evaluate the presented image partitioning and strain estimation techniques two numerical and two real experiments are employed. The numerical experiments simulate the deformation of a specimen with constant strain across the surface as well as small rigid-body rotations present while real experiments consist specimens that undergo uniaxial stress. The results indicate very good accuracy of the recovered strains as well as better rotation insensitivity compared to classical techniques

Application of a library of near isogenic lines to understand context dependent expression of QTL for grain yield and adaptive traits in bread wheat

(a) Summary of the mixed model analysis performed for the grain number components studied comprising 553 NILs carrying the Avalon or Cadenza alleles in the introgressed region in 2013. (b) Average values for the two groups (carrying the Avalon or Cadenza alleles in the QTL region) based on the chromosome and background in 2013. Significant difference between Avalon and Cadenza alleles are highlighted in bold (spikes/m2 (S), spikelet/spike (s/S) and grains/spikelet (G/S). (PDF 111 kb