Modeling Dynamic Hair as a Continuum

In this paper we address the difficult problem of hair dynamics, particularly hair-hair and hair-air interactions. To model these interactions, we propose to consider hair volume as a continuum. Subsequently, we treat the interaction dynamics to be fluid dynamics. This proves to be a strong as well as viable approach for an otherwise very complex phenomenon. However, we retain the individual character of hair, which is vital to visually realistic rendering of hair animation. For that, we develop an elaborate model for stiffness and inertial dynamics of individual hair strand. Being a reduced coordinate formulation, the stiffness dynamics is numerically stable and fast. We then unify the continuum interaction dynamics and the individual hair's stiffness dynamics.     

The antioxidant effect of a diet rich in Maillard reaction products is attenuated after consumption by healthy male adolescents. In vitro and in vivo comparative study

BACKGROUND: Maillard reaction products (MRPs) are widely consumed as a part of the human diet. A 2 week randomised two‐period crossover trial to determine whether MRP intake affects the antioxidant defence system in male adolescents (11–14 years, n = 18) was carried out using two diets rich and poor in MRPs (brown diet, BD, and white diet, WD, respectively). Fasting blood samples were collected after the dietary intervention periods to measure oxidative status. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the diets was also assessed. RESULTS: The BD had stronger in vitro antioxidant activity to scavenge free radicals and greater ability to reduce lipid peroxidation. However, in the in vivo assay, markers of oxidative damage (serum thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances and erythrocyte hydroperoxides) and antioxidant defence parameters (serum antioxidants and enzymatic activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were unchanged after the dietary treatments. Only treatment of biological samples with external oxidants revealed higher values of the antioxidant capacity after consumption of the MRP‐rich diet. CONCLUSION: In spite of the higher antioxidant activity of the BD shown in vitro, consumption of diets rich in MRPs does not seem to modify oxidative status in healthy male adolescents. However, a protective effect against induced oxidation was shown. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Where to Look? Automating Attending Behaviors of Virtual Human Characters

This research proposes a computational framework for generating visual attending behavior in an embodied simulated human agent. Such behaviors directly control eye and head motions, and guide other actions such as locomotion and reach. The implementation of these concepts, referred to as the AVA, draws on empirical and qualitative observations known from psychology, human factors and computer vision. Deliberate behaviors, the analogs of scanpaths in visual psychology, compete with involuntary attention capture and lapses into idling or free viewing. Insights provided by implementing this framework are: a defined set of parameters that impact the observable effects of attention, a defined vocabulary of looking behaviors for certain motor and cognitive activity, a defined hierarchy of three levels of eye behavior (endogenous, exogenous and idling) and a proposed method of how these types interact.     

Correction to King and Montgomery.

A recent article by Neville J. King and Robert B. Montgomery, "Biofeedback-Induced Control of Human Peripheral Temperature: A Critical Review of the Literature" (Psychological Bulletin, 1980, Vol. 88, No. 3, pp. 738-752; see record 1981-07368-001), briefly described two studies by A. H. Roberts and his colleagues. These studies were "Voluntary Control of Skin Temperature: Unilateral Changes Using Hypnosis and Feedback" by A. H. Roberts, D. G. Kewman, and H. MacDonald (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1973, Vol. 82, No. 1, pp. 163-168; see record 1974-04422-001) and "Individual Differences and Autonomic Control: Absorption, Hypnotic Susceptibility, and the Unilateral Control of Skin Temperature" by A. H. Roberts, J. Schuler, J. G. Bacon, R. L. Zimmermann, and R. Patterson (Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1975, Vol. 84, No. 3, pp. 272-279; see record 1975-24689-001). At issue here is a conclusion by King and Montgomery that "The obvious problem associated with the research of Roberts and his colleagues is the confounding of hypnosis and auditory feedback. Thus it is impossible to ascertain to what extent the data [are] due to biofeedback." Although the 1973 study did confound hypnosis and biofeedback, the second study (1975) was designed to unconfound these variables. A brief explanation is published here. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Generalized Stochastic Sampling Method for Visualization and Investigation of Implicit Surfaces

Recently we proposed the stochastic sampling method (SSM), which can numerically generate sample points on complicated implicit surfaces quickly and uniformly. In this paper we generalize the method in two aspects: (1) We introduce two kinds of boundary conditions, so that we can sample a finite part of an open surface spreading infinitely. (2) We generalize the stochastic differential equation used in the SSM, so that its solutions can satisfy plural constraint conditions simultaneously. The first generalization enables us to visualize cut views of open surfaces. The second generalization enables us to visualize intersections of static and moving implicit surfaces, which leads to detailed investigation of intersections and other interesting applications such as visualization of contour maps.     

L-canavanine: A natural feed-intake inhibitor for pigs (isolation,identification and significance)

Abstract : A major feed-intake inhibitor for pigs is present in seeds of Vicia villosa spp dasycarpa Roth cv Namoi. When the seed is fed for 4 days at only 80 g kg^?1 of the diet, it produces a steady diminution in daily feed intake to 25% or less of their pre-treatment consumption (P < 0·001), after the first feeding. The inhibitor has been isolated and identified as L -canavanine. When analytically pure L -canavanine dihydrochloride is supplied at an equivalent dietary concentration (13·0 mmol kg^?1) to that supplied by 80 g kg^?1 of Namoi vetch seed, it successfully mimics the response. The response is only observed after the first meal. A review of published literature showed the diversity of animal species exhibiting a feed-inhibition response to canavanine-containing seeds. These reports suggest that this well-documented arginine analogue will be a useful molecule for the study of post-ingestion feed-intake regulation. An ambient temperature procedure for the large-scale isolation of L -canavanine dihydrochloride is described.     

基于多人遮挡的定位跟踪算法

针对传统视频跟踪算法中存在的问题,提出一种基于多人遮挡问题的定位跟踪算法,该算法采用改进的投影分析方法对运动目标进行定位,并结合Kalman滤波进行匹配跟踪。仿真实验结果表明,该算法能够有效区分、定位、跟踪处于2种不同遮挡状态下的每个人的位置,具有一定应用价值。     

What meaning means for same and different: Analogical reasoning in humans (Homo sapiens), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Thus far, language- and token-trained apes (e.g., D. Premack, 1976; R. K. R. Thompson, D. L. Oden, & S. T. Boysen, 1997) have provided the best evidence that nonhuman animals can solve, complete, and construct analogies, thus implicating symbolic representation as the mechanism enabling the phenomenon. In this study, the authors examined the role of stimulus meaning in the analogical reasoning abilities of three different primate species. Humans (Homo sapiens), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), and rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) completed the same relational matching-to-sample (RMTS) tasks with both meaningful and nonmeaningful stimuli. This discrimination of relations-between-relations serves as the basis for analogical reasoning. Meaningfulness facilitated the acquisition of analogical matching for human participants, whereas individual differences among the chimpanzees suggest that meaning can either enable or hinder their ability to complete analogies. Rhesus monkeys did not succeed in the RMTS task regardless of stimulus meaning, suggesting that their ability to reason analogically, if present at all, may be dependent on a dimension other than the representational value of stimuli. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)