Perceptual consequence of normalization revealed by a novel brightness induction

AbstractThe human brain is renowned for its dynamic regulation of sensory inputs, which enables our brain to operate under an enormous range of physical energy with sensory neurons whose processing range is limited. Here we present a novel and strong brightness induction that reflects neural mechanisms underlying this dynamic regulation of sensory inputs. When physically identical, stationary and moving objects are viewed simultaneously, the stationary and moving objects appear largely different. Experiments reveal that normalization at multiple stages of visual processing provides a plausible account for the large shifts in perceptual experiences, observed in both the stationary and the moving objects. This novel brightness induction suggests that brightness of an object is influenced not only by variations in surrounding light (i.e. simultaneous contrast) but also by dynamically changing neural responses associated with stimulus motion

Low-Power Sliding Correlation CMOS UWB Pulsed Radar Receiver for Motion Detection

This paper presents a low-power coherent receiver for UWB pulsed Radar for motion detection. Due to accuracy of the radar motion detection, coherent detection scheme is adopted in the receiver. To relax the stringent requirement of timing synchronization, sliding correlation detection is proposed. The clocking step which determines detection resolution is determined by 2ns which is half of a pulse width or equivalent to 30cm. Receiver is designed in 0.13-μm CMOS process from 1.5 V supply. The pulse center frequency is 4GHz. The receiver includes a high voltage gain L3A, a analog correlator, a sampling comparator and a Flip Flop. The wholereceiver excluding an L3A consumes 0.9 mA of DC current and 10pJ/pulse

In vitro selection of salt-tolerant Ailanthus altissimaSwingle

Salt-tolerant cell lines of Ailanthus altissima were selected from callus derived protoplasts. Murashige–Skoog (MS) liquid medium incorporated with various concentrations of NaCl was employed to enrich salt-tolerant A. altissima cell lines. Salt-resistant A. altissima cells were transferred on MS solid medium supplemented with 2.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 0.5 μM benzyl adenine (BA) and various NaCl concentrations. The callus was cultured on MS medium containing NaCl for 5 months, to determine the survival rate as an index of salt tolerance. The measurement of growth parameters for salt-tolerant cells showed that the selected plant cell lines grew better than the unselected ones at all levels of NaCl tested. The salt-tolerant callus accumulated proline in correlation to the concentration of salts. Media supplemented with BA induced shoot differentiation of salt-resistant A. altissima cells

Effect of rhBMP-2 applied with a 3D-printed titanium implant on new bone formation in rabbit calvarium

Objective: This study sought to compare the biocompatibility of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium implant with a conventional machined titanium product, as well as the effect of such implant applied with recombinant human Bone Morphogenetic Protein Type 2 (rhBMP-2) for guided bone regeneration. Methodology: Disk-shaped titanium specimens fabricated either by the conventional machining technique or by the 3D-printing technique were compared by MC3T3-E1 cells cytotoxicity assay. New bone formation was evaluated using a rapid prototype titanium cap applied to the calvaria of 10 rabbits, which were divided into two groups: one including an atelopeptide collagen plug on one side of the cap (group I) and the other including a plug with rhBMP-2 on the other side (group II). At six and 12 weeks after euthanasia, rabbits calvaria underwent morphometric analysis through radiological and histological examination. Results: Through the cytotoxicity assay, we identified a significantly higher number of MC3T3-E1 cells in the 3D-printed specimen when compared to the machined specimen after 48 hours of culture. Moreover, morphometric analysis indicated significantly greater bone formation at week 12 on the side where rhBMP-2 was applied when evaluating the upper portion immediately below the ca p. Conclusion: The results suggest that 3D-printed titanium implant applied with rhBMP-2 enables new bone formation

On the Claims of Weak Block Synchronization in Bitcoin

Recent Bitcoin attacks [CCS\u2721, CCS\u2721, ICDCS\u2719] commonly exploit the phenomenon of so-called weak block synchronization in Bitcoin. The attacks use two independently-operated Bitcoin monitors — i.e., Bitnodes and a system of customized supernodes — to confirm that block propagation in Bitcoin is surprisingly slow. In particular, Bitnodes constantly reports that around 30% of nodes are 3 blocks (or more) behind the blockchain tip and the supernodes show that on average more than 60% of nodes do not receive the latest block even after waiting for 10 minutes. In this paper, we carefully re-evaluate these controversial claims with our own experiments in the live Bitcoin network and show that block propagation in Bitcoin is, in fact, fast enough (e.g., most peers we monitor receive new blocks in about 4 seconds) for its safety property. We identify several limitations and bugs of the two monitors, which have led to these inaccurate claims about the Bitcoin block synchronization. We finally ask several open-ended questions regarding the technical and ethical issues around monitoring blockchain networks