Environmental Factors Affecting the Expression of Bilateral-Symmetrical Traits in Plants

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the problem of asymmetry of bilateral traits in plants. Three types of bilateral asymmetry are found in the leaf blade, of interest to ecologists and evolutionists. A brief review of the methods used in testing bilateral asymmetry and developmental stability discusses their role in the development of homeostasis and ontogenesis. Intra- and interspecific differences are considered on the example of woody plants under the influence of factors influencing the expression of bilaterally symmetry. The influence of stress on the manifestation of asymmetric traits is considered. Apparently, the climate and topography of the area play a more important role, determining the plastic and fluctuating variability. The relationship of plasticity, evolutionary canalization, and development stability is considered on the example of woody and cultivated plants. Plasticity and fluctuation variability are in a relationship coordinated by climatic conditions, primarily lighting and temperature. This, in turn, determines the mechanisms of gene regulatory networks. Thus, phenogenetics, which studies the patterns and mechanisms of gene expression and ontogenesis, is based on the data from field botanical studies of plant shape and asymmetry. Epigenetic and population studies of phenotypic variations play a role in standardizing and finding suitable plant species and varieties

Estimating Symmetry/Asymmetry in the Human Torso: A Novel Computational Method

Asymmetry in human body has largely been based on bilateral traits and/or subjective estimates, with potential usage in fields such as medicine, rehabilitation and apparel product design. In case of apparel, asymmetry in human body has been measured primarily by estimating differential linear measurement of bilateral traits. However, the characteristics of asymmetry can be better understood and be useful for clinicians and designers if it is quantified by considering the whole 3D surface. To address the prevailing issues in measuring asymmetry objectively, this research attempts to develop a novel method to quantify asymmetry that is robust, effective and non-invasive in operation. The method discussed here uses 3D scans of human torso to estimate asymmetry as a numerical index. Furthermore, using skeletal landmarks, twist and tilt measurements of the torsos are computed numerically. Together, these three measures can characterize the asymmetric/symmetric nature of a human torso. The approach taken in this research uses cross sections of torso to estimate local plane of symmetry that equi-divides a given cross section on the basis of its area, and connecting those planes to form a global surface that divides the torso volumetrically. The computational approach in estimating the area of cross section is based on the Green's theorem. The developed method was validated by both testing it on a known geometric model and by comparing the estimated index with subjective ratings by experts. This method has potential applications in various fields requiring characterizing asymmetry i.e., in case of scoliosis patients as diagnostic tool or an evaluation metric for rehabilitation efficiency, for body builders, and fashion models as an evaluation tool.Design, Housing and Merchandisin

Gene Expression and Phenotypic Traits

Gene expression is the most fundamental level at which genotype gives rise to phenotype, which is an obvious, observable, and measurable trait. Phenotype is dependent on genetic makeup of the organism and influenced by environmental conditions. This book explores the significance, mechanism, function, characteristic, determination, and application of gene expression and phenotypic traits

Mecanismos de captura y procesado de imágenes de venas para identificación personal

Actualmente la identificación biométrica para el acceso a recintos o servicios está cobrando bastante importancia. La biometría es una tecnología que, además de realizar funciones de reconocimiento, aporta mayores niveles de seguridad que otros métodos de identificación externos, al llevar intrínsecamente la información en el cuerpo. La identificación biométrica vascular ofrece un futuro muy prometedor en ambos aspectos. La mayoría de los sistemas biométricos se basan en sistemas hardware (HW) para la captura de muestras del usuario más una solución software (SW) para el procesado de las mismas. La tarea de la investigación en biometría vascular hoy en día es crear sistemas fiables y seguros para obtener soluciones aplicables. En esta Tesis, hemos propuesto dos importantes contribuciones a la identificación mediante esta modalidad biométrica: 1. Un sistema hardware novedoso y económico para la captura de patrones y muestras del usuario, tanto de palma como de muñeca, que ofrece imágenes de una calidad suficiente para su procesado posterior. Además, a diferencia de los trabajos previos realizados, las especificaciones y diseño de este sistema se ofrecen abiertamente a la comunidad científica. 2. Un sistema de procesamiento de las imágenes de las venas extraídas, basado en las conocidas función Gaussiana y función de Convolución, y un nuevo sistema de toma de decisiones, basado en una comparación orientable de las líneas extraídas apoyado con el dato obtenido del ancho de la muñeca de cada usuario. Esto también se ofrece a la comunidad científica, mostrando todas las fases del proceso, al contrario de lo que ocurre con las escasas publicaciones existentes que se analizarán a lo largo del presente documento. Para demostrar la viabilidad de esta propuesta se ha desarrollado e implementado un sistema HW y SW completo, y se ha probado finalmente con 100 usuarios de diferentes edades, razas y sexo, obteniendo los resultados mostrados al final de esta Tesis que confirman la viabilidad futura de la solución propuesta. Finalmente se indican las líneas de investigación futuras para mejorar la solución y obtener mejores resultados, así como para obtener una mayor comodidad a la hora de la captura de muestras del usuario. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Biometric identification for the compartment or service access is more and more important nowadays. Biometrics is a technology which brings higher security leves than other external identification methods because the information is inherently inside the human body, apart from providing recognition functions. Vascular biometric identification offers a very hopeful future in both subjects. Most of the biometric systems are based on hardware systems (HW) in order to take user samples in addition to software systems (SW) so as to process these ones. The investigation task in vascular biometrics is focused on creating reliable and secure systems at this moment to obtain relevant solutions. We propose in this PhD thesis two important contributions for the identification using the above mentioned biometric modality: 1. A novel and economic hardware system in order to capture user patterns and samples, palm and wrist both, which offers images with enough quality for its further processing. Furthermore, unlike the previous found works, the design and specifications of this system are available openly to the scientific community. 2. An image processing system for the extracted veins images, based on the well-known Gauss and Convolution functions, and a novel decision making system, based on an orientation comparison of the extracted lines with the support of the wrist width value obtained for every user. All of this is also available to the scientific community, explaining every step in the whole process, unlike what happens with the limited existing scientific publications, which will be discussed along the present document. A complete HW and SW system has been designed and developed so as to demonstrate the viability of these works, and this one has been finally tested with 100 users from different ages, races and sex, obtaining the results shown at the end of this PhD thesis, which confirm the future viability of the proposed solution. Finally, future investigation points are given to enhance the solution and to get better results, as well as to obtain a major comfort for the user sample captures