692 research outputs found
Fractal Dimensions in Perceptual Color Space: A Comparison Study Using Jackson Pollock's Art
The fractal dimensions of color-specific paint patterns in various Jackson
Pollock paintings are calculated using a filtering process which models
perceptual response to color differences (\Lab color space). The advantage of
the \Lab space filtering method over traditional RGB spaces is that the
former is a perceptually-uniform (metric) space, leading to a more consistent
definition of ``perceptually different'' colors. It is determined that the RGB
filtering method underestimates the perceived fractal dimension of lighter
colored patterns but not of darker ones, if the same selection criteria is
applied to each. Implications of the findings to Fechner's 'Principle of the
Aesthetic Middle' and Berlyne's work on perception of complexity are discussed.Comment: 21 pp LaTeX; two postscript figure
The modelling cycle for collective animal behaviour
Collective animal behaviour is the study of how interactions between individuals produce group level patterns, and why these interactions have evolved. This study has proved itself uniquely interdisciplinary, involving physicists, mathematicians, engineers as well as biologists. Almost all experimental work in this area is related directly or indirectly to mathematical models, with regular movement back and forth between models, experimental data and statistical fitting. In this paper, we describe how the modelling cycle works in the study of collective animal behaviour. We classify studies as addressing questions at different levels or linking different levels, i.e. as local, local to global, global to local or global. We also describe three distinct approaches—theory-driven, data-driven and model selection—to these questions. We show, with reference to our own research on species across different taxa, how we move between these different levels of description and how these various approaches can be applied to link levels together
An HST/COS legacy survey of high-velocity ultraviolet absorption in the Milky Way's circumgalactic medium and the Local Group
To characterize the absorption properties of this circumgalactic medium (CGM)
and its relation to the LG we present the so-far largest survey of metal
absorption in Galactic high-velocity clouds (HVCs) using archival ultraviolet
(UV) spectra of extragalactic background sources. The UV data are obtained with
the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
and are supplemented by 21 cm radio observations of neutral hydrogen. Along 270
sightlines we measure metal absorption in the lines of SiII, SiIII, CII, and
CIV and associated HI 21 cm emission in HVCs in the velocity range
|v_LSR|=100-500 km s^-1. With this unprecedented large HVC sample we were able
to improve the statistics on HVC covering fractions, ionization conditions,
small-scale structure, CGM mass, and inflow rate. For the first time, we
determine robustly the angular two point correlation function of the
high-velocity absorbers, systematically analyze antipodal sightlines on the
celestial sphere, and compare the absorption characteristics with that of
Damped Lyman alpha absorbers (DLAs) and constrained cosmological simulations of
the LG. Our study demonstrates that the Milky Way CGM contains sufficient
gaseous material to maintain the Galactic star-formation rate at its current
level. We show that the CGM is composed of discrete gaseous structures that
exhibit a large-scale kinematics together with small-scale variations in
physical conditions. The Magellanic Stream clearly dominates both the cross
section and mass flow of high-velocity gas in the Milky Way's CGM. The possible
presence of high-velocity LG gas underlines the important role of the local
cosmological environment in the large-scale gas-circulation processes in and
around the Milky Way (abridged).Comment: 37 pages, 25 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in A&
On the perceptual aesthetics of interactive objects
In this paper we measured the aesthetics of interactive objects (IOs), which are three-dimensional physical artefacts that exhibit autonomous behaviour when handled.
The aim of the research was threefold: firstly, to investigate whether aesthetic preference for distinctive objects' structures emerges in compound stimulation; secondly, to explore whether there exists aesthetic preference for distinctive objects’ behaviours; and lastly, to test whether there exists aesthetic preference for specific combinations of objects' structures and behaviours. The following variables were systematically manipulated: 1) IOs’ contour (rounded vs. angular); 2) IOs’ size (small vs. large); 3) IOs’ surface texture (rough vs. smooth); and 4) IOs’ behaviour (Lighting, Sounding, Vibrating, and Quiescent). Results show that behaviour was the dominant factor: it influenced aesthetics more than any other characteristic; Vibrating IOs were preferred over Lighting and Sounding IOs, supporting the importance of haptic processing in aesthetics. Results did not confirm the size and smoothness effects previously reported in vision and touch respectively, which suggests that for the aesthetics preference that emerges in isolated conditions may be different in compound stimulation. Finally, results corroborate the smooth curvature effect
Neuroaesthetics: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Aesthetic Experience
This research was supported by Grant AAEE124/09 from the Govern de les Illes Balears, Spain
A Latent Class Binomial Logit Methodology for the Analysis of Paired Comparison Choice Data
A latent class model for identifying classes of subjects in paired comparison choice experiments is developed. The model simultaneously estimates a probabilistic classification of subjects and the logit models' coefficients relating characteristics of objects to choices for each respective group among two alternatives in paired comparison experiments. A modest Monte Carlo analysis of algorithm performance is presented. The proposed model is illustrated with empirical data from a consumer psychology experiment that examines the determinants of perceived consumer risk. The predictive validity of the method is assessed and compared to that of several other procedures. The sensitivity of the method to (randomly) eliminate comparisons, which is important in view of reducing respondent fatigue in the task, is investigated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74931/1/j.1540-5915.1993.tb00508.x.pd
The UV spectrum of HS1700+6416 II. FUSE observations of the HeII Lyman alpha forest
We present the far-UV spectrum of the quasar HS1700+6416 taken with FUSE.
This QSO provides the second line of sight with the HeII absorption resolved
into a Ly alpha forest structure. Since HS1700+6416 is slightly less redshifted
(z=2.72) than HE2347-4342, we only probe the post-reionization phase of HeII,
seen in the evolution of the HeII opacity, which is consistent with a simple
power law. The HeII/HI ratio eta is estimated using a line profile-fitting
procedure and an apparent optical depth approach, respectively. The expected
metal line absorption in the far-UV is taken into account as well as molecular
absorption of galactic H_2. About 27% of the eta values are affected by metal
line absorption. In order to investigate the applicability of the analysis
methods, we create simple artificial spectra based on the statistical
properties of the HI Ly alpha forest. The analysis of the artificial data
demonstrates that the apparent optical depth method as well as the line
profile-fitting procedure lead to confident results for restricted data samples
only (12.0 < log N(HI) < 13.0). The reasons are saturation in the case of the
apparent optical depth and thermal line widths in the case of the profile fits.
Furthermore, applying the methods to the unrestricted data set may mimic a
correlation between eta and the strength of the HI absorption. For the
restricted data samples a scatter of 10 - 15% in eta would be expected even if
the underlying value is constant. The observed scatter is significantly larger
than expected, indicating that the intergalactic radiation background is indeed
fluctuating. In the redshift range 2.58 < z < 2.72, where the data quality is
best, we find eta ~ 100, suggesting a contribution of soft sources like
galaxies to the UV background.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Diabetes Distress but Not Clinical Depression or Depressive Symptoms Is Associated With Glycemic Control in Both Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses
ObjectiveTo determine the concurrent, prospective, and time-concordant relationships among major depressive disorder (MDD), depressive symptoms, and diabetes distress with glycemic control.Research design and methodsIn a noninterventional study, we assessed 506 type 2 diabetic patients for MDD (Composite International Diagnostic Interview), for depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression), and for diabetes distress (Diabetes Distress Scale), along with self-management, stress, demographics, and diabetes status, at baseline and 9 and 18 months later. Using multilevel modeling (MLM), we explored the cross-sectional relationships of the three affective variables with A1C, the prospective relationships of baseline variables with change in A1C over time, and the time-concordant relationships with A1C.ResultsAll three affective variables were moderately intercorrelated, although the relationship between depressive symptoms and diabetes distress was greater than the relationship of either with MDD. In the cross-sectional MLM, only diabetes distress but not MDD or depressive symptoms was significantly associated with A1C. None of the three affective variables were linked with A1C in prospective analyses. Only diabetes distress displayed significant time-concordant relationships with A1C.ConclusionsWe found no concurrent or longitudinal association between MDD or depressive symptoms with A1C, whereas both concurrent and time-concordant relationships were found between diabetes distress and A1C. What has been called "depression" among type 2 diabetic patients may really be two conditions, MDD and diabetes distress, with only the latter displaying significant associations with A1C. Ongoing evaluation of both diabetes distress and MDD may be helpful in clinical settings
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