Distortions in predicted motion: Pitch and direction influence imagined speed for a visual object during occlusion

<p>Visual motion prediction is essential for making key judgements about objects in the environment. These judgements are typically investigated using a time-to-contact (TTC) task, in which an object travels along a straight trajectory and disappears behind an occluder. Participants make a response coinciding with the moment the object would have contacted a visual landmark. The assumption is that the motion continues behind the occluder. This task is used to measure how we perceive and predict the arrival-time of objects. The addition of sound to TTC tasks generally enhances visual judgements. One characteristic which may affect how sound influences visual motion judgements is pitch. A rising pitch is associated with speeded motion and a falling pitch with slowed motion. Pitch change could therefore lead to biases in visual motion judgements; however, this has not yet been investigated. Furthermore, TTC tasks can utilise horizontal or vertical motion. In vertical motion, an additional variable that may be critical for TTC estimations is gravity. It is postulated that humans possess an internal model of gravity that allows us to make accurate predictions for downward motion. This model assumes faster downward than upward motion. However, this model can be wrongfully applied in constant speed tasks, producing faster speed estimations for downward stimuli when there is no acceleration. Therefore, vertical motion could lead to additional biases in visual motion judgements. This thesis investigated whether pitch and gravity could affect the imagined speed of an object under occlusion. Specifically, a rising pitch was hypothesised to produce speeded predicted motion and falling pitch, slowed predicted motion. I investigated the influence of pitch change in vertical and horizontal planes. I also investigated two different aspects of pitch change, since dynamic pitch is a novel addition to TTC paradigms. Experiment 1A explored gradual pitch change and Experiment 1B used sudden pitch change. The hypothesised pitch effects were observed for a gradual, but not a sudden pitch change. However, a gravity effect was observed across both Experiments 1A and 1B, suggesting the presence of sound does not moderate this effect. I also examined the cortical substrates of the audio-visual TTC task components by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in Experiment 2. The superior temporal sulcus (STS) was targeted in this experiment, as it has been implicated in audio-visual integration. TMS causes neuronal inhibition, and as such, can be used to determine whether an area is involved in a task. If the STS is responsible for audio-visual integration in a TTC task, then TMS to the STS should disrupt the pitch effects evidenced in Experiment 1A. That is, a change in pitch should have no effect on TTC judgements compared to a constant tone. This result was evident only for rising tones, suggesting the involvement of the STS in the generating speeded predicted motion. The pitch effects observed in Experiment 1A and Experiment 2 implicate pitch in the production of biases in motion imagery for visual motion judgements, particularly for visual stimuli under occlusion.</p>

Distortions in predicted motion: Pitch and direction influence imagined speed for a visual object during occlusion

<p>Visual motion prediction is essential for making key judgements about objects in the environment. These judgements are typically investigated using a time-to-contact (TTC) task, in which an object travels along a straight trajectory and disappears behind an occluder. Participants make a response coinciding with the moment the object would have contacted a visual landmark. The assumption is that the motion continues behind the occluder. This task is used to measure how we perceive and predict the arrival-time of objects. The addition of sound to TTC tasks generally enhances visual judgements. One characteristic which may affect how sound influences visual motion judgements is pitch. A rising pitch is associated with speeded motion and a falling pitch with slowed motion. Pitch change could therefore lead to biases in visual motion judgements; however, this has not yet been investigated. Furthermore, TTC tasks can utilise horizontal or vertical motion. In vertical motion, an additional variable that may be critical for TTC estimations is gravity. It is postulated that humans possess an internal model of gravity that allows us to make accurate predictions for downward motion. This model assumes faster downward than upward motion. However, this model can be wrongfully applied in constant speed tasks, producing faster speed estimations for downward stimuli when there is no acceleration. Therefore, vertical motion could lead to additional biases in visual motion judgements. This thesis investigated whether pitch and gravity could affect the imagined speed of an object under occlusion. Specifically, a rising pitch was hypothesised to produce speeded predicted motion and falling pitch, slowed predicted motion. I investigated the influence of pitch change in vertical and horizontal planes. I also investigated two different aspects of pitch change, since dynamic pitch is a novel addition to TTC paradigms. Experiment 1A explored gradual pitch change and Experiment 1B used sudden pitch change. The hypothesised pitch effects were observed for a gradual, but not a sudden pitch change. However, a gravity effect was observed across both Experiments 1A and 1B, suggesting the presence of sound does not moderate this effect. I also examined the cortical substrates of the audio-visual TTC task components by using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in Experiment 2. The superior temporal sulcus (STS) was targeted in this experiment, as it has been implicated in audio-visual integration. TMS causes neuronal inhibition, and as such, can be used to determine whether an area is involved in a task. If the STS is responsible for audio-visual integration in a TTC task, then TMS to the STS should disrupt the pitch effects evidenced in Experiment 1A. That is, a change in pitch should have no effect on TTC judgements compared to a constant tone. This result was evident only for rising tones, suggesting the involvement of the STS in the generating speeded predicted motion. The pitch effects observed in Experiment 1A and Experiment 2 implicate pitch in the production of biases in motion imagery for visual motion judgements, particularly for visual stimuli under occlusion.</p>

Ubiquitous organic molecule-based free-standing nanowires with ultra-high aspect ratios

The critical dimension of semiconductor devices is approaching the single-nm regime, and a variety of practical devices of this scale are targeted for production. Planar structures of nano-devices are still the center of fabrication techniques, which limit further integration of devices into a chip. Extension into 3D space is a promising strategy for future; however, the surface interaction in 3D nanospace make it hard to integrate nanostructures with ultrahigh aspect ratios. Here we report a unique technique using high-energy charged particles to produce free-standing 1D organic nanostructures with high aspect ratios over 100 and controlled number density. Along the straight trajectory of particles penetrating the films of various sublimable organic molecules, 1D nanowires were formed with approximately 10~15 nm thickness and controlled length. An all-dry process was developed to isolate the nanowires, and planar or coaxial heterojunction structures were built into the nanowires. Electrical and structural functions of the developed standing nanowire arrays were investigated, demonstrating the potential of the present ultrathin organic nanowire systems.

Determination of the regularities of the soil punching process by the working body with the asymetric tip

The presence of analytical dependencies describing the process of static soil puncture by a working body with a conical asymmetric tip is necessary to create installations with the ability to control the trajectory of the soil puncture. The paper considers the features of the process of interaction of an asymmetric conical tip with the ground. Analytical relationships were obtained to determine its reactions during a static puncture, the deviation of the head trajectory from a straight line, to determine the size of the soil compaction zone and the magnitude of the destructive force that acts on adjacent communications and other underground objects. It was found that with an increase in the value of the displacement of the top of the cone, for example, from its axis from 0.02 m to 0.08 m with a borehole diameter of 0.2 m, the value of soil resistance increases almost four times. The greatest resistance is achieved when piercing a hard sandy sand. It was found that with an increase in the displacement of the tip of the tip cone, the deviation of the trajectory increases. The piercing head achieves the greatest deviation from the straight trajectory of movement with a sharper cone and a greater asymmetric deviation of its top, and, for example, in hard sandy loam can be up to 0.17 m with a span of 10 m. It was found that the size of the soil destruction zone will be almost 1.8 times larger than the tip in the form of a symmetrical cone and reaches from 8 to 12 borehole diameters, depending on the type of soil. The maximum pressure on adjacent objects can reach from 0.06 MPa in hard-plastic clay to 0.09 MPa in hard sandy loam. The calculated dependences obtained for determining the power and technological parameters depending on the geometric dimensions of the asymmetric tip of the working body can be used to create installations with a controlled static puncture for use in the most common soil conditions.

Ubiquitous Organic Molecule-based Free-standing Nanowires with Ultra-high Aspect Ratios

The critical dimension of semiconductor devices is approaching the single-nm regime, and a variety of practical devices of this scale are targeted for production this decade. Planar structures of nano-devices are still the center of fabrication techniques, which limit further integration of devices into a chip. Extension into 3D space is a promising strategy for future device integration; however, the steep increase in the number of surfaces and their interaction in 3D nanospace make it hard to integrate nanostructures with aspect ratios over ~ 10. We report herein a unique technique to produce uniform free-standing 1D nanostructures with extremely high aspect ratios over 100, borrowing from technology developed for cancer radiotherapy with high-energy charged particles. Along the straight trajectory of particles penetrating the condensed phase of a variety of sublimable organic molecules, 1D nanowires were formed with single-nm thickness and perfectly controlled length. An all-dry process was developed to isolate the nanowire plexus, and hetero-junction structures could be facilely built into the nanowires by the new technique. Coaxial extension of nanowires by a chemical process allowed us to freely design the nanowires both in axial and radial directions.

Learning a reach trajectory based on binary reward feedback

Binary reward feedback on movement success is sufficient for learning some simple sensorimotor mappings in a reaching task, but not for some other tasks in which multiple kinematic factors contribute to performance. The critical condition for learning in more complex tasks remains unclear. Here, we investigate whether reward-based motor learning is possible in a multi-dimensional trajectory matching task and whether simplifying the task by providing feedback on one factor at a time (‘factorized feedback’) can improve learning. In two experiments, participants performed a trajectory matching task in which learning was measured as a reduction in the error. In Experiment 1, participants matched a straight trajectory slanted in depth. We factorized the task by providing feedback on the slant error, the length error, or on their composite. In Experiment 2, participants matched a curved trajectory, also slanted in depth. In this experiment, we factorized the feedback by providing feedback on the slant error, the curvature error, or on the integral difference between the matched and target trajectory. In Experiment 1, there was anecdotal evidence that participants learnt the multidimensional task. Factorization did not improve learning. In Experiment 2, there was anecdotal evidence the multidimensional task could not be learnt. We conclude that, within a complexity range, multiple kinematic factors can be learnt in parallel.

Sacred and profane in the Olympic running event of Antiquity

Stadion (running race) is the first and for a long time the only type of Olympic Agon, the &ldquo;founder&rdquo; of sports in its modern sense. The sociocultural background related to the emergence, development and modification of running sport of Antiquity is the spiritual foundation of the athletic competitiveness of modernity (&ldquo;Olympism&rdquo;), which underlines the philosophical importance and the relevance of research. The dualism of sacred and profane permeated not only athletic Agons, but Antiquity as w whole, being its Zeitgeist &ndash; 0 &ldquo;spirit of the time&rsquo;&rdquo;. Through the prism of this binary opposition, running race is viewed as the original type of Olympic competitions. The acquired results can be applies in social philosophy, philosophical anthropology, and philosophy of sports. The novelty of this article consists in determination of attributes of the sacred (gratitude to the gods, obedience to their will, fear of their anger, and being rewarded by the deity), as well as attributes of the profane (cultivated &ldquo;sprint&rdquo; race as a symbol of a higher stage of development of the society, professionalization of running, running as a means of upbringing, health promotion and social dynamics, an indicator of civic maturity, etc.) components of the Olympic running race of Antiquity. The author also conducts their dialectical correlation within the framework of explanation of the straight trajectory of Olympic running, unity of the peacekeeping and military-applied significance of the Agons, as well as the pursuit of God-likeness and channeling of the socially dangerous energy of ambitiousness in running competitions of the athletes.

Feasibility for arteriovenous fistula creation with Ellipsys®

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation in consecutive patients screened for first access creation. Methods: Prospective study of ultrasound mapping based on the following minimal anatomic requirements: a patent proximal radial artery and adjacent elbow perforating vein with straight trajectory, each greater than or equal to 2 mm in diameter and within 1.5 mm of each other. In addition, the same population was evaluated for feasibility of a distal radiocephalic fistula established. Results: One hundred consecutive patients were examined between November 2018 and January 2019. Sixty-seven were male (67%) and mean age was 61 years. Sixty-three patients (63%) and a total of 100 limbs (50%) were found to be eligible for a percutaneous fistula creation with Ellipsys®. Thirty-seven percent of patients were ineligible because of the absence of both median cephalic and median cubital veins (15%), absence or inadequate elbow perforating vein and/or smaller than 2 mm proximal radial artery (14%), and/or distance greater than 1.5 mm (8%). We found suitable vessels for a surgical distal fistula creation in 91 extremities (45%), but this percentage dropped to 17% in patients over 70 years old. Among the 100 limbs eligible for percutaneous arteriovenous fistula, only 30 (30%) were eligible for radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula. Conclusion: More than 60% of patients were eligible for Ellipsys. The absence of veins at the elbow and a large distance between vessels were the most common limiting factors. Less than one half of the patients were candidates for surgical fistula and this percentage dropped significantly for older individuals.

Connotation of Workout Variables with Surface Unevenness Throughout CNC Turning of ASTM 316 Steel Exhausting RSM

Series of explorations vis-à-vis RSM stays developed and executed for estimating outcome of several workout variables like V, F and D on surface unevenness throughout CNC turning of ASTM 316 steel using coated carbide insert. 2D graphs through momentous surface unevenness got developed and utilized for evaluating average surface unevenness through ideal design situations. Evidently, text interface impressions are extraneous. Research findings through different mathematical analyses provided the effective guideline for choosing appropriate machine settings to realize surface unevenness within the stipulated limit during stated turning operation. Ideal machining situations got determined to minimize the surface unevenness of same. Current research evidently divulges that multicoated carbide inserts performed marvelously at optimum workout variables combination of V = 150 m/min, F = 0.10 mm/rev with D = 0.4 mm. Ultimate range of Ra with Rz are 0.16 µm ≤ Ra ≤ 0.52 µm and 1.4 µm ≤ Rz ≤ 3.1 µm, respectively. Besides, Ra is below recommended safety limit 1.5 µm (i.e. Ra < 1.5 µm) for turning using coated carbide inserts. 2D contour plots got developed with changing 2 variables and unchanging third one. Exclusively, both unevenness variables (Ra and Rz) increase with F. Nevertheless, D got quite insignificant impact on both unevenness variables (Ra and Rz). Furthermore, both unevenness variables decrease with V. Probability plot of Rz is depicted for trialing statistical cogency of representations. Residuals deviations look like meticulously straight trajectory.