Upright posture and the meaning of meronymy: A synthesis of metaphoric and analytic accounts

Cross-linguistic strategies for mapping lexical and spatial relations from body partonym systems to external object meronymies (as in English ‘table leg’, ‘mountain face’) have attracted substantial research and debate over the past three decades. Due to the systematic mappings, lexical productivity and geometric complexities of body-based meronymies found in many Mesoamerican languages, the region has become focal for these discussions, prominently including contrastive accounts of the phenomenon in Zapotec and Tzeltal, leading researchers to question whether such systems should be explained as global metaphorical mappings from bodily source to target holonym or as vector mappings of shape and axis generated “algorithmically”. I propose a synthesis of these accounts in this paper by drawing on the species-specific cognitive affordances of human upright posture grounded in the reorganization of the anatomical planes, with a special emphasis on antisymmetrical relations that emerge between arm-leg and face-groin antinomies cross-culturally. Whereas Levinson argues that the internal geometry of objects “stripped of their bodily associations” (1994: 821) is sufficient to account for Tzeltal meronymy, making metaphorical explanations entirely unnecessary, I propose a more powerful, elegant explanation of Tzeltal meronymic mapping that affirms both the geometric-analytic and the global-metaphorical nature of Tzeltal meaning construal. I do this by demonstrating that the “algorithm” in question arises from the phenomenology of movement and correlative body memories—an experiential ground which generates a culturally selected pair of inverse contrastive paradigm sets with marked and unmarked membership emerging antithetically relative to the transverse anatomical plane. These relations are then selected diagrammatically for the classification of object orientations according to systematic geometric iconicities. Results not only serve to clarify the case in question but also point to the relatively untapped potential that upright posture holds for theorizing the emergence of human cognition, highlighting in the process the nature, origins and theoretical validity of markedness and double scope conceptual integration

REAL-TIME CAPTURE AND RENDERING OF PHYSICAL SCENE WITH AN EFFICIENTLY CALIBRATED RGB-D CAMERA NETWORK

From object tracking to 3D reconstruction, RGB-Depth (RGB-D) camera networks play an increasingly important role in many vision and graphics applications. With the recent explosive growth of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) platforms, utilizing camera RGB-D camera networks to capture and render dynamic physical space can enhance immersive experiences for users. To maximize coverage and minimize costs, practical applications often use a small number of RGB-D cameras and sparsely place them around the environment for data capturing. While sparse color camera networks have been studied for decades, the problems of extrinsic calibration of and rendering with sparse RGB-D camera networks are less well understood. Extrinsic calibration is difficult because of inappropriate RGB-D camera models and lack of shared scene features. Due to the significant camera noise and sparse coverage of the scene, the quality of rendering 3D point clouds is much lower compared with synthetic models. Adding virtual objects whose rendering depend on the physical environment such as those with reflective surfaces further complicate the rendering pipeline. In this dissertation, I propose novel solutions to tackle these challenges faced by RGB-D camera systems. First, I propose a novel extrinsic calibration algorithm that can accurately and rapidly calibrate the geometric relationships across an arbitrary number of RGB-D cameras on a network. Second, I propose a novel rendering pipeline that can capture and render, in real-time, dynamic scenes in the presence of arbitrary-shaped reflective virtual objects. Third, I have demonstrated a teleportation application that uses the proposed system to merge two geographically separated 3D captured scenes into the same reconstructed environment. To provide a fast and robust calibration for a sparse RGB-D camera network, first, the correspondences between different camera views are established by using a spherical calibration object. We show that this approach outperforms other techniques based on planar calibration objects. Second, instead of modeling camera extrinsic using rigid transformation that is optimal only for pinhole cameras, different view transformation functions including rigid transformation, polynomial transformation, and manifold regression are systematically tested to determine the most robust mapping that generalizes well to unseen data. Third, the celebrated bundle adjustment procedure is reformulated to minimize the global 3D projection error so as to fine-tune the initial estimates. To achieve a realistic mirror rendering, a robust eye detector is used to identify the viewer\u27s 3D location and render the reflective scene accordingly. The limited field of view obtained from a single camera is overcome by our calibrated RGB-D camera network system that is scalable to capture an arbitrarily large environment. The rendering is accomplished by raytracing light rays from the viewpoint to the scene reflected by the virtual curved surface. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed system is the first to render reflective dynamic scenes from real 3D data in large environments. Our scalable client-server architecture is computationally efficient - the calibration of a camera network system, including data capture, can be done in minutes using only commodity PCs

Towards quantitative computed tomography

Computed tomography is introduced along with an overview of its diverse applications in many scientific endeavours. A unified approach for the treatment of scattering from linear scalar wave motion is introduced. The assumptions under which wave motion within a medium can be characterised by concourses of rays are presented along with comment on the validity of these assumptions. Early and conventional theory applied for modelling the behaviour of rays, within media for which ray assumptions are valid, are reviewed. A new computerised method is described for reconstruction of a refractive index distribution from time-of-flight measurements of radiation/waves passing through the distribution and taken on a known boundary surrounding it. The reconstruction method, aimed at solving the bent-ray computed tomography (CT) problem, is based on a novel ray description which doesn't require the ray paths to be known. This allows the refractive index to be found by iterative solution of a set of linear equations, rather than through the computationally intensive procedure of ray tracing, which normally accompanies iterative solutions to problems of this type. The preliminary results show that this method is capable of handling appreciable spatial refractive index variations in large bodies. A review containing theory and techniques for image reconstruction from projections is presented, along with their historical development. The mathematical derivation of a recently developed reconstruction technique, the method of linograms is considered. An idea, termed the plethora of views idea, which aims to improve quantitative CT image reconstruction, is introduced. The theoretical foundation for this is the idea that when presented with a plethora of projections, by which is meant a number greater than that required to reconstruct the known region of support of an image, so that the permissible reconstruction region can be extended, then the intensity of the reconstructed distribution should be negligible throughout the extended region. Any reconstruction within the extended region, that departs from what would be termed negligible, is deduced to have been caused by imperfections of the projections. The implicit expectation of novel schemes which are presented for improving CT image reconstruction, is that contributions within the extended region can be utilised to ameliorate the effects of the imperfections on the reconstruction where the distribution is known to be contained. Preliminary experimental results are reported for an iterative algorithm proposed to correct a plethora of X-ray CT projection data containing imperfections. An extended definition is presented for the consistency of projections, termed spatial consistency, that incorporates the region with which the projection data is consistent. Using this definition and an associated definition, spatial inconsistency, an original technique is proposed and reported on for the recovery of inconsistencies that are contained in the projection data over a narrow range of angles

Brachyphyllum crassum complex of fossil conifers

The holotype of Brachyphyllum crassurn Tenison Woods, is re-examined, and this species reclassified as Araucaria crassa (Tenison Woods) com. nov.; it is probably Tertiary in age. Of shoots referred to A. crassa one belongs to the Taxodiaceae,Athrotaxus tasmnanica com. nov. also almost certainly Tertiary; while the other, Jurassic in age, is referred to Pagiophyllum feistrnanteli Halle, which is redescribed. Another group of shoots sometimes confused with A, crassa. is described as Allocladus gen. nov., with three species Al. rajmahalense (Feistmantel) com. nov. Al. milneanus (Tenison Woods) com. nov. and Al. cribbii sp. nov. The supposed cone of Al. milneanus is examined, and doubt is thrown on its ascription to Allocladus. It is renamed Conites tenison-woodsi nom. nov

On Computer Stereo Vision with Wire Frame Models

Coordinated Science Laboratory changed its name from Control Systems LaboratoryShould have been numbered UILU-ENG 77-2252, and that number may have been distributed on some copies.Joint Services Electronics Program / DAAB-07-72-C-0259Ope

Wake of super-hydrophobic falling spheres: influence of the air layer deformation

We report an experimental investigation of the wake of free falling super-hydrophobic spheres. The mutual interaction between the air layer (plastron) encapsulating the super-hydrophobic spheres and the flow is emphasised by studying the hydrodynamic performances. It is found that the air plastron adapts its shape to the flow-induced stresses which compete with the surface tension. This competition is characterised by introducing the Weber number $\mathcal{W}e$, whilst the plastron deformation is estimated via the aspect ratio $\chi$. While noticeable distortions are locally observed, the plastron becomes more and more spherical in average (i.e. $\chi \rightarrow 1$) as far as $\mathcal{W}e$ increases. In comparison to the reference spheres, high deformation of the air plastron plastron (oblate shape) leads to lift and drag increase, whereas low deformation (spherical shape) yields lift and drag mitigation. Accordingly, taking into account the plastron deformation provides an attractive way to explain the somehow discordant results reported in other studies at comparable Reynolds numbers. If confirmed by additional studies, our findings would imply that plastron compliance and its feedback on the flow, which are currently neglected in most theoretical works and numerical simulations, must be accounted for to design super-hydrophobic surfaces and/or predict their performances

The effect of implant misalignment on shoulder replacement outcomes

Total shoulder arthroplasty is a well-established treatment to relieve pain and restore joint function particularly in arthritis patients. The damaged shoulder joint is replaced with humeral and glenoid components. For success, all replacement components must be aligned properly. However, errors in glenoid component alignment particularly in version is not infrequent due to the complexities such as limited monitoring available during the surgical procedure and glenoid posterior wear, commonly observed in glenohumeral osteoarthritis. Glenoid component version has been found to induce eccentric load and may result in component loosening which is the main indicator for revision surgery. The overall aim of this thesis is to gain the in-depth understanding of how the component version affects the fixation loosening in both cementless and cemented shoulder arthroplasty. Early loosening in cementless arthroplasty is associated with failed biological fixation due to excessive micromotion at the implant-bone interface. To measure interface micromotion, this thesis developed an in-vitro technique based on the application of digital volume correlation (DVC) and micro-computed tomography (μCT). This technique was validated and verified the use of the finite element (FE) method as a tool for investigating the effect of glenoid component version on micromotion. The FE predicted micromotion during a full range of shoulder abduction confirmed that 60° of abduction was the critical position inducting the largest micromotion and large micromotions were shown to be related to increased component retroversion. The condition of the bone was also found to be an important parameter as less stiff bone caused large micromotions.Open Acces

Electron tomography of cells

The electron microscope has contributed deep insights into biological structure since its invention nearly 80 years ago. Advances in instrumentation and methodology in recent decades have now enabled electron tomography to become the highest resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging technique available for unique objects such as cells. Cells can be imaged either plastic-embedded or frozen-hydrated. Then the series of projection images are aligned and back-projected to generate a 3D reconstruction or ‘tomogram’. Here, we review how electron tomography has begun to reveal the molecular organization of cells and how the existing and upcoming technologies promise even greater insights into structural cell biology