Physical and neural entrainment to rhythm: human sensorimotor coordination across tasks and effector systems.

The human sensorimotor system can be readily entrained to environmental rhythms, through multiple sensory modalities. In this review, we provide an overview of theories of timekeeping that make this neuroentrainment possible. First, we present recent evidence that contests the assumptions made in classic timekeeper models. The role of state estimation, sensory feedback and movement parameters on the organization of sensorimotor timing are discussed in the context of recent experiments that examined simultaneous timing and force control. This discussion is extended to the study of coordinated multi-effector movements and how they may be entrained

Spectral convergence in tapping and physiological fluctuations: coupling and independence of 1/f noise in the central and autonomic nervous systems.

When humans perform a response task or timing task repeatedly, fluctuations in measures of timing from one action to the next exhibit long-range correlations known as 1/f noise. The origins of 1/f noise in timing have been debated for over 20 years, with one common explanation serving as a default: humans are composed of physiological processes throughout the brain and body that operate over a wide range of timescales, and these processes combine to be expressed as a general source of 1/f noise. To test this explanation, the present study investigated the coupling vs. independence of 1/f noise in timing deviations, key-press durations, pupil dilations, and heartbeat intervals while tapping to an audiovisual metronome. All four dependent measures exhibited clear 1/f noise, regardless of whether tapping was synchronized or syncopated. 1/f spectra for timing deviations were found to match those for key-press durations on an individual basis, and 1/f spectra for pupil dilations matched those in heartbeat intervals. Results indicate a complex, multiscale relationship among 1/f noises arising from common sources, such as those arising from timing functions vs. those arising from autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions. Results also provide further evidence against the default hypothesis that 1/f noise in human timing is just the additive combination of processes throughout the brain and body. Our findings are better accommodated by theories of complexity matching that begin to formalize multiscale coordination as a foundation of human behavior

Applicability of molding procedures in laboratory mix tests for quality control and assurance of the deep mixing method

The deep mixing method (DMM) has been applied in many construction projects. The laboratory mix test is essential to the quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) of deep mixing methods. The procedures used for the preparation of specimens in the laboratory mix test greatly affect the physical and mechanical properties of the stabilized soils. Different procedures are applied in different countries/regions. With the increasingly globalized DMM market, it is desirable that a common understanding of the nature of the laboratory mix test and internationally accepted guidelines to conduct it be established in order to guarantee the QC/QA of DMMs. As part of an international collaborative study, the influence of different molding techniques for the laboratory preparation of specimens was studied. Five different molding techniques were tested in four organizations. The results showed that the molding techniques considerably influenced the magnitude and variation of the unconfined compressive strength and the wet unit weight of the stabilized specimens. The applicability of the molding techniques was discussed in terms of their undrained shear strength and the liquidity index of the soil and binder mixture, and the usefulness of the techniques was demonstrated. (C) 2015 The Japanese Geotechnical Societ

Proposal for a study of computer mapping of terrain using multispectral data from ERTS-A for the Yellowstone National Park test site

The author has identified the following significant results. A terrain map of Yellowstone National Park showed plant community types and other classes of ground cover in what is basically a wild land. The map comprised 12 classes, six of which were mapped with accuracies of 70 to 95%. The remaining six classes had spectral reflectances that overlapped appreciably, and hence, those were mapped less accurately. Techniques were devised for quantitatively comparing the recognition map of the park with control data acquired from ground inspection and from analysis of sidelooking radar images, a thermal IR mosaic, and IR aerial photos of several scales. Quantitative analyses were made in ten 40 sq km test areas. Comparison mechanics were performed by computer with the final results displayed on line printer output. Forested areas were mapped by computer using ERTS data for less than 1/4 the cost of the conventional forest mapping technique for topographic base maps

Identifying parameters of a broaching design using non-linear optimisation

Broaching is one of the most recognised machining processes that can yield high productivity and high quality when applied properly. One big disadvantage of broaching is that all process parameters, except cutting speed, are built into the broaching tools. Therefore, it is not possible to modify the cutting conditions during the process once the tool is manufactured. Optimal design of broaching tools has a significant impact to increase the productivity and to obtain high quality products. In this paper, an optimisation model for broaching design is presented. The model results in a non-linear non-convex optimisation problem. Analysis of the model structure indicates that the model can be decomposed into smaller problems. The model is applied to a turbine disc broaching problem which is considered as one of the most complex broaching operations