Dataglove Measurement of Joint Angles in Sign Language Handshapes

In sign language research, we understand little about articulatory factors involved in shaping phonemic boundaries or the amount (and articulatory nature) of acceptable phonetic variation between handshapes. To date, there exists no comprehensive analysis of handshape based on the quantitative measurement of joint angles during sign production. The purpose of our work is to develop a methodology for collecting and visualizing quantitative handshape data in an attempt to better understand how handshapes are produced at a phonetic level. In this pursuit, we seek to quantify the flexion and abduction angles of the finger joints using a commercial data glove (CyberGlove; Immersion Inc.). We present calibration procedures used to convert raw glove signals into joint angles. We then implement those procedures and evaluate their ability to accurately predict joint angle. Finally, we provide examples of how our recording techniques might inform current research questions

Low-energy scattering on the lattice

In this thesis we present precision benchmark calculations for two-component fermions in the unitarity limit using an ab initio method, namely Hamiltonian lattice formalism. We calculate the ground state energy for unpolarized four particles (Fermi gas) in a periodic cube as a fraction of the ground state energy of the non-interacting system for two independent representations of the lattice Hamiltonians. We obtain the values 0.211(2) and 0.210(2). These results are in full agreement with the Euclidean lattice and fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo calculations. We also give an expression for the energy corrections to the binding energy of a bound state in a moving frame. These corrections contain information about the mass and number of the constituents and are topological in origin and will have a broad applications to the lattice calculations of nucleons, nuclei, hadronic molecules and cold atoms. As one of its applications we use this expression and determine the low-energy parameters for the fermion dimer elastic scattering in shallow binding limit. For our lattice calculations we use Lüscher’s finite volume method. From the lattice calculations we find 1.174(9) for the scattering length and -0.029(13) for the effective range. These results are confirmed by the continuum calculations using the Skorniakov-Ter-Martirosian integral equation which gives 1.17907(1) and -0.0383(3) for the scattering length and effective range, respectively. Both results for the fermion dimer effective range are not in agreement with the previous calculation [86] which have found 0.08(1) for the effective range

Proceedings of the sixth international coral reef symposium

... The following step described in this paper is the processing of real SPOT images for the same scope but extended to great areas of New Caledonian lagoon. LATICAL, a multi-purpose remote sensing laboratory, was set up in March 1988 at ORSTOM Center of Noumea. The image processing package TEIS was used to classify the pixels of the barrier reef in front of the Baie de St Vincent. In particular, the Tetembia reef, exploited for trochus and living corals was processed to cartography the different biotope of these resources and the surface areas. Although SPOT spectral bands are designed for terrestrial observations, they can be processed for water depth mapping. In order to find the depth penetration range of SC 1 channel, a topographic map of the lagoon grounds nearby Tetembia reef was performed. Some features, located in the 25-30 m range, could be detected with clear water condition. Remote sensing cannot completely replace field sampling, but helps minimise the need for costly reef survey stations. SPOT thus offers a new approach to the interpretation of bionomic and topographic features of reef environment

The Trochus resource in New Caledonia

Les trocas constituent une ressource importante pour la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Une étude du stock a été entreprise en 1984 par un programme d'échantillonnage systématique du lagon. Les biomasses totale et exploitable ont été estimées et les résultats utilisés dans une analyse des cohortes pour une connaissance détaillée de la mortalité par pêche annuelle. A partir de cette étude, une stratégie d'exploitation a été proposée, le but étant de fournir de façon régulière des coquilles à des ateliers locaux et de développer ainsi une petite industrie d'exportation d'un produit typique du Pacifique sud. (Résumé d'auteur