Edge-region grouping in figure-ground organization and depth perception.

Edge-region grouping (ERG) is proposed as a unifying and previously unrecognized class of relational information that influences figure-ground organization and perceived depth across an edge. ERG occurs when the edge between two regions is differentially grouped with one region based on classic principles of similarity grouping. The ERG hypothesis predicts that the grouped side will tend to be perceived as the closer, figural region. Six experiments are reported that test the predictions of the ERG hypothesis for 6 similarity-based factors: common fate, blur similarity, color similarity, orientation similarity, proximity, and flicker synchrony. All 6 factors produce the predicted effects, although to different degrees. In a 7th experiment, the strengths of these figural/depth effects were found to correlate highly with the strength of explicit grouping ratings of the same visual displays. The relations of ERG to prior results in the literature are discussed, and possible reasons for ERG-based figural/depth effects are considered. We argue that grouping processes mediate at least some of the effects we report here, although ecological explanations are also likely to be relevant in the majority of cases

The narrative coherence of witness transcripts in children on the autism spectrum

Background and Aims. Autistic children often recall fewer details about witnessed events than typically developing children (of comparable age and ability), although the information they recall is generally no less accurate. Previous research has not examined the narrative coherence of such accounts, despite higher quality narratives potentially being perceived more favourably by criminal justice professionals and juries. This study compared the narrative coherence of witness transcripts produced by autistic and typically developing (TD) children (ages 6-11 years, IQs 70+). Methods and Procedures. Secondary analysis was carried out on interview transcripts from a subset of 104 participants (autism=52, TD=52) who had taken part in a larger study of eyewitness skills in autistic and TD children. Groups were matched on chronological age, IQ and receptive language ability. Coding frameworks were adopted from existing narrative research, featuring elements of ‘story grammar’. Outcomes and Results. Whilst fewer event details were reported by autistic children, there were no group differences in narrative coherence (number and diversity of ‘story grammar’ elements used), narrative length or semantic diversity. Conclusions and Implications. These findings suggest that the narrative coherence of autistic children’s witness accounts is equivalent to TD peers of comparable age and ability

Determination of the radionuclide content of feces and urine from astronauts engaged in space flight

Measurement of radiation exposure of Apollo 7, 8, 9, and 10 astronauts by determination of radionuclide content of feces and urin

Zeros of the Jimbo, Miwa, Ueno tau function

We introduce a family of local deformations for meromorphic connections on the Riemann sphere in the neighborhood of a higher rank (simple) singularity. Following a scheme introduced by Malgrange we use these local models to prove that the zeros of the tau function introduced by Jimbo, Miwa and Ueno occur precisely at those points in the deformation space at which a certain Birkhoff-Riemann- Hilbert problem fails to have a solution.Comment: 59 page

Launch vehicle wind and turbulence response by nonstationary statistical methods

Nonstationary adjoint algorithm for determining launch vehicle flight loads due to winds and turbulenc

A Seed Key to Some Common Weeds and Plants

The aim of this thesis is three-fold. Primarily, it is written to furnish a method of determining accurately the names of various seeds and seed-like fruits with the express purpose of detecting adulterants in commercial seeds. The key should also aid in determining plants in the fruiting condition when the flower parts are too far advanced for identification by the ordinary method. Further, it should serve as a check to determinations from a study of the flowers

Animal Tracks, Food and Disposition: Is There Any Relation?

He that runs may read but he that runs may also be read and the reading of the tracks of birds and animals may lead to some very interesting observations. When speeding all animals move essentially alike so the following conclusions are based upon the method of locomotion adopted by the animal when moving slowly. This is shown in the first line of tracks under those given for each species

Extreme distributions of ground winds /3 to 150 meters/ at Cape Kennedy, Florida

Statistical analysis of wind distribution probabilities at Cape Kenned

A systems approach to the engineering workforce

The engineering function, work force and associations should be viewed as a system, for an adequate understanding of the complex interactions involved, for development of coherent policies and for achieving optimal overall performance. Such an approach embraces professional, para-professional and other categories, and requires a coherent system of qualifications, education, occupational identifiers and role definitions. For engineering education, it facilitates effective design of educational programs for each category and educational articulation between them. For industry and society, it fosters work force effectiveness and harmony. The paper provides the basis for systematising the complex of elements that make up the engineering system.<br /