Resolving Target Ambiguity in 3D Gaze Interaction through VOR Depth Estimation

Target disambiguation is a common problem in gaze interfaces, as eye tracking has accuracy and precision limitations. In 3D environments this is compounded by objects overlapping in the field of view, as a result of their positioning at different depth with partial occlusion. We introduce \textit{VOR depth estimation}, a method based on the vestibulo-ocular reflex of the eyes in compensation of head movement, and explore its application to resolve target ambiguity. The method estimates gaze depth by comparing the rotations of the eye and the head when the users look at a target and deliberately rotate their head. We show that VOR eye movement presents an alternative to vergence for gaze depth estimation, that is feasible also with monocular tracking. In an evaluation of its use for target disambiguation, our method outperforms vergence for targets presented at greater depth

Influence of coupling agent in compatibility of post-consumer HDPE in thermoplastic composites reinforced with eucalyptus fiber

This study investigates the feasibility of using recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) and wood fiber from species Eucalyptus grandis (EU) to manufacture experimental composite panels. The use of maleated polyethylene as coupling agent (CA) improved the compatibility between the fiber and plastic matrix. The mechanical properties of the resultant composites were compared with polymer with and without compatibilizer. The influence of the coupling agent (CA) in the polymer matrices and composites were evaluated at different concentrations, checking the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of wood plastic composites (WPC). Results of mechanical, physical and thermal properties showed that concentration of 3% w/w CA in the polymer matrices was that which showed the best results, but in the composites properties were very similar in all formulations. Based on the findings in this work, it appears that recycled materials can be used to manufacture value-added panels without having any significant adverse influence on material properties

Where Brain, Body and World Collide

The production cross section of electrons from semileptonic decays of beauty hadrons was measured at mid-rapidity (|y| < 0.8) in the transverse momentum range 1 < pt < 8 Gev/c with the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC in pp collisions at a center of mass energy sqrt{s} = 7 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 2.2 nb^{-1}. Electrons from beauty hadron decays were selected based on the displacement of the decay vertex from the collision vertex. A perturbative QCD calculation agrees with the measurement within uncertainties. The data were extrapolated to the full phase space to determine the total cross section for the production of beauty quark-antiquark pairs

RNA Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Defects in Neurodegenerative Diseases

In eukaryotic cells, transcription and translation are compartmentalized by the nuclear membrane, requiring an active transport of RNA from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. This is accomplished by a variety of transport complexes that contain either a member of the exportin family of proteins and translocation fueled by GTP hydrolysis or in the case of mRNA by complexes containing the export protein NXF1. Recent evidence indicates that RNA transport is altered in a number of different neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington\u27s disease, Alzheimer\u27s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Alterations in RNA transport predominately fall into three categories: Alterations in the nuclear membrane and mislocalization and aggregation of the nucleoporins that make up the nuclear pore; alterations in the Ran gradient and the proteins that control it which impacts exportin based nuclear export; and alterations of proteins that are required for the export of mRNA leading nuclear accumulation of mRNA