155 research outputs found
A Neural Model of How the Brain Computes Heading from Optic Flow in Realistic Scenes
Animals avoid obstacles and approach goals in novel cluttered environments using visual information, notably optic flow, to compute heading, or direction of travel, with respect to objects in the environment. We present a neural model of how heading is computed that describes interactions among neurons in several visual areas of the primate magnocellular pathway, from retina through V1, MT+, and MSTd. The model produces outputs which are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to human heading estimation data in response to complex natural scenes. The model estimates heading to within 1.5° in random dot or photo-realistically rendered scenes and within 3° in video streams from driving in real-world environments. Simulated rotations of less than 1 degree per second do not affect model performance, but faster simulated rotation rates deteriorate performance, as in humans. The model is part of a larger navigational system that identifies and tracks objects while navigating in cluttered environments.National Science Foundation (SBE-0354378, BCS-0235398); Office of Naval Research (N00014-01-1-0624); National-Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NMA201-01-1-2016
The hydraulic windmill
An hydraulic windmill is described. It pumps pressurized oil from rotor shaft level to the ground where a motor generator produces electricity. Alternatively, the useful output may be heat. Rotor speed is governed by a flow valve. Over pressure, the result of high wind velocity, rotates the tail to move the rotor blades out-of-the-wind. Loss of oil pressure causes a brake to close as well as to swing the tail to its maximum distance from the rotor plane
Crisis Management: How to Stay out of Court
Crisis Management in higher education is often unpredictable. It requires immediate decision making and quick resolution based on the outcome of an event that has taken place. Institutions have an obligation to reduce uncertainty in the event of crisis and to mitigate the circumstances of potential volatile situations. A crisis management policy should be established and implemented in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for all. In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, a report was provided to the President of Virginia Tech that stated “a strong, vibrant and supportive community is essential in ensuring a safe campus environment. An environment that promotes civility, works toward the acceptance of others‟ differences, strives to include rather than exclude and provides assistance to those in need is fundamental to a safe campus” (Rinehart, 2007). This assignment will cover and provide tips on crises currently facing institutions such as: campus security; fraud; disruptive behavior; cheating/theft; technology, rape/assault; hazing and binge drinking; natural disasters; media relations/communication; and training
The influence of Ga-irradiation on the transport properties of mesoscopic conducting thin films
We studied the influence of 30keV Ga-ions -- commonly used in focused ion
beam (FIB) devices -- on the transport properties of thin crystalline graphite
flake, LaCaMnO and Co thin films. The changes of the
electrical resistance were measured in-situ during irradiation and also the
temperature and magnetic field dependence before and after irradiation. Our
results show that the transport properties of these materials strongly change
at Ga fluences much below those used for patterning and ion beam induced
deposition (IBID), limiting seriously the use of FIB when the intrinsic
properties of the materials of interest are of importance. We present a method
that can be used to protect the sample as well as to produce selectively
irradiation-induced changes.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, will be published in Nanotechnology 201
Strong interconversion of non-polar phonons and Josephson plasma oscillations induced by equilibrium Josephson currents in high T_c superconductors
We analyze consequences of dynamical modulations of Josephson current by
non-polar lattice mode in the Josephson junction barrier. In the high
junctions, the effect of such modulations can be anomalously strong due to the
proximity of the insulating barrier to the superconducting state. Accordingly,
the interconversion of sound (as well as other non-polar phonons) and the
Josephson plasma oscillations mediated by stationary Josephson currents, which
may be present in the junction due to various reasons, becomes possible. We
suggest that this effect can be employed for imaging of the stationary
Josephson currents. Estimates of the effect are given.Comment: 11 RevTeX pages, no figure
A Survey of Ocean Simulation and Rendering Techniques in Computer Graphics
This paper presents a survey of ocean simulation and rendering methods in
computer graphics. To model and animate the ocean's surface, these methods
mainly rely on two main approaches: on the one hand, those which approximate
ocean dynamics with parametric, spectral or hybrid models and use empirical
laws from oceanographic research. We will see that this type of methods
essentially allows the simulation of ocean scenes in the deep water domain,
without breaking waves. On the other hand, physically-based methods use
Navier-Stokes Equations (NSE) to represent breaking waves and more generally
ocean surface near the shore. We also describe ocean rendering methods in
computer graphics, with a special interest in the simulation of phenomena such
as foam and spray, and light's interaction with the ocean surface
An alternative application to the portuguese agro-industrial residue : wheat straw
The effects of alkaline treatments of the wheat straw with sodium hydroxide were investigated. The optimal condition for extraction of hemicelluloses was found to be with 0.50 mol/l sodium hydroxide at 55 °C for 2 h. This resulted in the release of 17.3% of hemicellulose (% dry starting material), corresponding to the dissolution of 49.3% of the original hemicellulose. The yields were determined by gravimetric analysis and expressed as a proportion of the starting material. Chemical composition and physico-chemical properties of the samples of hemicelluloses were elucidated by a combination of sugar analyses, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermal analysis. The results showed that the treatments were very effective on the extraction of hemicelluloses from wheat straw and that the extraction intensity (expressed in terms of alkali concentration) had a great influence on the yield and chemical features of the hemicelluloses. The FTIR analysis revealed typical signal pattern for the hemicellulosic fraction in the 1,200–1,000 cm−1 region. Bands between 1,166 and 1,000 cm−1 are typical of xylans.Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/Brazil (FAPESP)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BPD/26156/2005, SFRH/BPD/26108/200
Cellulosic films obtained from the treatment of sugarcane bagasse fibers with N -methylmorpholine- N -oxide (NMMO)
Ethanol/water organosolv pulping was used to obtain sugarcane bagasse pulp
that was bleached with sodium chlorite. This bleached pulp was used to obtain cellulosic
films that were further evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A good film
formation was observed when temperature of 74 °C and baths of distilled water were used,
which after FTIR, TGA, and SEM analysis indicated no significant difference between the
reaction times. The results showed this to be an interesting and promising process,
combining the prerequisites for a more efficient utilization of agro-industrial residues.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa
do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), (CNPq), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and CEMU
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