Local and global gestalt laws: A neurally based spectral approach

A mathematical model of figure-ground articulation is presented, taking into account both local and global gestalt laws. The model is compatible with the functional architecture of the primary visual cortex (V1). Particularly the local gestalt law of good continuity is described by means of suitable connectivity kernels, that are derived from Lie group theory and are neurally implemented in long range connectivity in V1. Different kernels are compatible with the geometric structure of cortical connectivity and they are derived as the fundamental solutions of the Fokker Planck, the Sub-Riemannian Laplacian and the isotropic Laplacian equations. The kernels are used to construct matrices of connectivity among the features present in a visual stimulus. Global gestalt constraints are then introduced in terms of spectral analysis of the connectivity matrix, showing that this processing can be cortically implemented in V1 by mean field neural equations. This analysis performs grouping of local features and individuates perceptual units with the highest saliency. Numerical simulations are performed and results are obtained applying the technique to a number of stimuli.Comment: submitted to Neural Computatio

European Multidisciplinary and Water-Column Observatory - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (EMSO ERIC): Challenges and opportunities for Strategic European Marine Sciences

EMSO (European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water-column Observatory, www.emso-eu.org) is a large-scale European Research Infrastructure I. It is a distributed infrastructure of strategically placed, deep-sea seafloor and water column observatory nodes with the essential scientific objective of real-time, long-term observation of environmental processes related to the interaction between the geosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. The geographic locations of the EMSO observatory nodes represent key sites in European waters, from the Arctic, through the Atlantic and Mediterranean, to the Black Sea (Figure 1), as defined through previous studies performed in FP6 and FP7 EC projects such as ESONET-CA, ESONET-NoE, EMSO-PP (Person et al., 2015).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Beautiful Dreams of You : Ballad

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mmb-vp/4334/thumbnail.jp

Seafloor Observatory Science: a Review

The ocean exerts a pervasive influence on Earth’s environment. It is therefore important that we learn how this system operates (NRC, 1998b; 1999). For example, the ocean is an important regulator of climate change (e.g., IPCC, 1995). Understanding the link between natural and anthropogenic climate change and ocean circulation is essential for predicting the magnitude and impact of future changes in Earth’s climate. Understanding the ocean, and the complex physical, biological, chemical, and geological systems operating within it, should be an important goal for the opening decades of the 21st century. Another fundamental reason for increasing our understanding of ocean systems is that the global economy is highly dependent on the ocean (e.g., for tourism, fisheries, hydrocarbons, and mineral resources) (Summerhayes, 1996). The establishment of a global network of seafloor observatories will help to provide the means to accomplish this goal. These observatories will have power and communication capabilities and will provide support for spatially distributed sensing systems and mobile platforms. Sensors and instruments will potentially collect data from above the air-sea interface to below the seafloor. Seafloor observatories will also be a powerful complement to satellite measurement systems by providing the ability to collect vertically distributed measurements within the water column for use with the spatial measurements acquired by satellites while also providing the capability to calibrate remotely sensed satellite measurements (NRC, 2000). Ocean observatory science has already had major successes. For example the TAO array has enabled the detection, understanding and prediction of El Niño events (e.g., Fujimoto et al., 2003). This paper is a world-wide review of the new emerging “Seafloor Observatory Science”, and describes both the scientific motivations for seafloor observatories and the technical solutions applied to their architecture. A description of world-wide past and ongoing experiments, as well as concepts presently under study, is also given, with particular attention to European projects and to the Italian contribution. Finally, there is a discussion on “Seafloor Observatory Science” perspectives

Local and global gestalt laws: A neurally based spectral approach

This letter presents a mathematical model of figure-ground articulation that takes into account both local and global gestalt laws and is compatiblewith the functional architecture of the primary visual cortex (V1). The local gestalt law of good continuation is described by means of suitable connectivity kernels that are derived from Lie group theory and quantitatively compared with long-range connectivity in V1. Global gestalt constraints are then introduced in terms of spectral analysis of a connectivity matrix derived from these kernels. This analysis performs grouping of local features and individuates perceptual units with the highest salience. Numerical simulations are performed, and results are obtained by applying the technique to a number of stimuli

Rock properties of the upper-crust in Central Apennines (Italy) derived from high-resolution 3-D tomography

High-resolution 3-D P and S-wave velocity models of a central sector of the Apennines (Central Italy) are computed by inverting first arrival times from an aftershock sequence (September–December, 1997) following the Mw 5.7 and Mw 6.0 Umbria-Marche earthquakes that occurred on September 26, 1997. The high quality of the data set, especially for the S-wave, allows us to compute 3-D variations in Vp, Vp/Vs and Vp · Vs. The anomalies can be interpreted as lateral changes in rock type and fracturing, which control fluid diffusion and variation in pore pressure. This is in agreement with a poro-elastic view that can be inferred from the spatio-temporal evolution of the seismic sequence

Shapes and notes: transforming images into musical structures

The relation between colours and sounds has been investigated by a number of composers and theorists throughout the history of music and especially during the last century. I have always been fascinated by this idea. Since I was young, I have tried to find diverse ways to ‘draw’ shapes and images through notes and to consider how they may be coloured. In this technical commentary, first of all I will focus my attention on how some European composers (from different countries) have interpreted the relation of shapes and colours to sounds. Then I will examine the compositions in my portfolio explaining how I worked on this relation that has been the central point on which I focused my attention during my doctoral studies. In particular I will explain how I have transformed images from painting and poetry, in my music (for example in Time, Old Age and Beauty and Quando passai di qui era di notte), as well as from other more ‘extreme’ concepts, to do with the cosmos (for example in Hypothetical Spaces and Kosmogonia). In so doing, I will also look in detail at the relationships between pitch and colour, rhythm and colour, and form and colour

Contribution to the study of the Apulian microplate geodynamics

The fragmentation of the collisional border between the African and European plates has also originated the Apulian (Adriatic) microplate. Recent studies show the possibility of a non-unitary geodynamic evolution of this microplate: palaeomagnetic data from North-Western Greece and Southern Apulia indicate a different rotational behaviour. Between 41' and 43' latitude North, regional strike-slip fault systems cut crosswise the Adriatic basin, breaking the Adriatic block in at least two minor elements. The intense seismicity points out an active defonnational area. In the same region also other geophysical data identify a transitional zone

La Giudicatura di Pace di Castelnuovo Garfagnana in età napoleonica: protagonisti e vicende di una provincia di confine

Attraverso l'analisi delle sentenze della Giudicatura di Pace di Castelnuovo Garfagnana nel periodo di maggior estensione della parabola imperiale (1809-1812) si cercherà di riportare una fotografia dinamica della società del tempo, con attenzione ai casi più significativi e vicini alla quotidianità in una provincia storicamente segnata da lotte intestine, legalità al limite e situazioni critiche