Modeling the time-dependent effect of the Ebbinghaus illusion on grasping

Various authors have reported a small but consistent effect of the Ebbinghaus illusion on the maximum opening of the hand during prehension. This effect has been interpreted in various ways. In the present study, we focus on the time-course of the effect of contextual elements on grasping. The analysis presented here is based on a model for the control of the digits that uses two movement parameters (the approach parameter and the intended contact positions). These two parameters are based on different spatial attributes (flanker-target distance and target-edge position). As we assume that the perception of both attributes is veridical, there is no need for on-line corrections in the model. We show that this model predicts all time-dependent effects of the Ebbinghaus display on grasping. Human behavior can show a reduction in context effects over time without assuming an underlying shift from illusory towards veridical size information.     

The dissociation between perception and action in the Ebbinghaus illusion: nonillusory effects of pictorial cues on grasp

According to a recently proposed distinction [1] between vision for perception and vision for action, visually guided movements should be largely immune to the perceptually compelling changes in size produced by pictorial illusions. Tests of this prediction that use the Ebbinghaus illusion have revealed only small effects of the illusion on grasp scaling as compared to its effect on perception [2-4]. Nevertheless, some have argued that the small effect on grasp implies that there is a single representation of size for both perception and action [5]. Recent findings, however, suggest that the 2-D pictorial elements, such as those comprising illusory backgrounds, can sometimes be treated as obstacles and thereby influence the programming of grasp [6]. The arrangement of the 2-D elements commonly used in previous studies examining the Ebbinghaus illusion could therefore give rise to an effect on grasp scaling that is independent of its effect on perceptual judgements, even though the two effects are in the same direction. We present evidence demonstrating that when the gap between the target and the illusion-making elements in the Ebbinghaus illusion is equidistant across different perceptual conditions (Figure 1a), the apparent effect of the illusion on grasp scaling is eliminated.     

Influence of the feature space on the estimation of hand grasping force from intramuscular EMG

The study compares the performance of different combinations of nine features extracted from intramuscular electromyogram (EMG) recordings for the estimation of grasping force within the range 0–100% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Single-channel intramuscular EMG was recorded from the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscle from 11 subjects who exerted three force profiles during power grasping. The ability of the features to estimate force with a 1st order polynomial (poly1) and an artificial neural network (ANN) model was assessed using the adjusted coefficient of determination (R²). Willison amplitude (WAMP) and root mean square (RMS) showed the highest R² (～0.88) values for poly1. The performance of all the features to predict force significantly increased (P < 0.01) when an ANN was applied. In this case, the Modified Mean Absolute Value (MMAV) demonstrated the best performance (～0.91). The results showed that a single channel intramuscular EMG recording represents the entire grasping force range (0–100% MVC) measured from the FDP muscle. The association between EMG and force depends on the features extracted and on the model.     

Racial regimes,comparative politics,and the problem of judgment

This review essay examines the practice of judgment that characterized the subfield of comparative politics from its origins in openly racist ideas of the capacity for self-rule through to its twentieth-century behavioralist and positivist iterations. Though continually faced with new political phenomena that called into question its inherited criteria of judgment, comparative politics tended to practice determinative rather than reflective judgment, that is, to subsume the particulars of other cultures under known rules. Further, the essay examines the racialized conception of self-rule described by Michael Hanchard as embedded in a larger problem of Western political thinking: the flight from action into rule and tendency to think of politics wholly in terms of ruling and being ruled.     

Effects of training on the physiological responses to one- and two-leg work.

The effects of training resulting from one-leg exercise on a stationary bicycle ergometer have been studied. Seven subjects were habituated to one- and two-leg progressive exercise tests on 11 successive days and were then trained for 60 min-day-1 (30 min each leg) 3 times per wk for 5-6 wk at approximately 80% of their one-leg VO2 max. VE max increased (P less than 0.05) by approximately 14 1-min-1 and VO2 max by approximately 0.34 1-min-1 (+14%; P less than 0.05) in one-leg exercise. This latter increase was not, however, reflected in the two-leg VO2 max which only increased 145 ml-min-1 (4.7%). It was concluded that training is specific and in one-leg work the phenomenon is mainly peripheral in origin, but in two-leg work the limitation to maximal exercise is still provided by the capacity of the central cardiovascular system to transport oxygen to a given effective muscle mass.     

不同波长LED光源对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊生殖行为的影响

【目的】明确不同波长的LED光源对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang求偶、交配及繁殖等生殖行为的影响。【方法】采用红(625~630 nm)、橙(600~605 nm)、黄(590~595nm)、绿(525~530 nm)、蓝(455~460 nm)和白(6 000~6 500 k)6种LED光源在韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫交配期进行照光处理,观察统计其求偶和交配行为以及单雌产卵量、卵孵化情况和有效后代数量。【结果】韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫求偶前期时长在橙光下最长,为28.48 min。求偶率在蓝光下最高,为86%;橙光下最低,为48%。交配期时长在蓝光下最长,为4.59 min;橙光下较短,为4.23 min。单雌产卵量在各波长光源下与对照均无显著差异。卵孵化率在蓝光下最低,仅为43.41%。有效后代数量在蓝光下最低,仅为27.00头;橙光下次之,为43.40头。【结论】LED光源的波长可影响韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的生殖行为,其中橙光(600~605 nm)不利于其求偶、交配和繁殖;蓝光(455~460nm)虽有利于其求偶和交配,但明显抑制其繁殖。     

番茄褪绿病毒对MED烟粉虱成虫在不同寄主植物上的寄主选择性和取食行为的影响

【目的】由粉虱传播的番茄褪绿病毒(tomato chlorosis virus, ToCV)具有较强的暴发性和流行性,目前该病毒现已蔓延至世界各地,可为害多种作物,对农林经济生产造成严重危害。病毒侵染会影响介体昆虫的寄主选择性和取食行为,从而影响病毒传播。本研究旨在明确ToCV对MED烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci在不同寄主上的寄主选择性及取食行为的影响。【方法】利用Y型嗅觉仪测定携带和未携带ToCV的MED烟粉虱雌成虫的寄主选择性,利用刺吸电位(electrical penetration graph, EPG)技术比较携带和未携带ToCV的烟粉虱雌成虫在健康的番茄、辣椒、棉花和豇豆4种寄主植株上的取食行为差异。【结果】未携带ToCV的MED型烟粉虱雌成虫对于4种寄主植物的选择偏好性排序为番茄、辣椒>棉花>豇豆;携带ToCV烟粉虱雌成虫对4种寄主植物的选择性偏好性降低,排序为番茄、辣椒、棉花>豇豆。与未携带ToCV烟粉虱雌成虫相比,携带ToCV烟粉虱雌成虫取食4种植物所产生的刺探次数均显著增加,第1次到达韧皮部的时间有明显延后,取食总时间与韧皮部的取食时间明显减...     

Intact carcasses as enrichment for large felids: Effects on on‐ and off‐exhibit behaviors

Reducing stereotypic behaviors in captive animals is a goal for zoological institutions worldwide, and environmental enrichment is one tool commonly used to meet that end. Behavioral needs associated with feeding, however, are often neglected in large carnivores. To address these needs, I tested the effects of calf carcasses as enrichment for large felids. Over 14 weeks, I provided nine animals with up to seven intact carcasses. The cats were housed at Toledo Zoo, Potawatomi Zoo, and Binder Park Zoo. Animals were observed off and on exhibit for changes in feeding, natural, stereotypic, active, and inactive behaviors. I compared treatment behaviors with behaviors observed during a baseline period in which the animals were fed traditional processed diets. For these nine cats, carcass provision decreased off‐exhibit stereotypic behaviors but had little impact on on‐exhibit behaviors. Zoo Biol 21:37–47, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Assessment of temporary streams: the robustness of metric and multimetric indices under different hydrological conditions

The generalization of ecological results from temporary streams needs the study of those ecosystems across a broad scale of running waters, covering the geographical ecological constraints involved (e.g., precipitation, temperature and geology). For the particular situation of Mediterranean streams in Southern Europe, high changes in water level, with unpredicting flood events, represent an important factor determining the structure and function of Mediterranean streams. This variability, inducing accentuated changes in the macroinvertebrate community, tends to influence the assessment methodologies. A set of metrics commonly used in Europe to assess organic degradation (Shannon–Wiener index, evenness, richness, BBI, IBE, BMWP′, ASPT′, DSFI, EPT, number of Trichoptera families, percentage of Gasteropoda, Oligochaeta and Diptera) and a multimetric index (IM9) developed to assess organic degradation in southern siliceous Portuguese basins were tested to evaluate quality at two contrasting sites (one unimpaired and another impaired by an identified point source of pollution). The multimetric index (IM9) composed by: ASPT′ (average score per taxon); GOLD (one minus percentage of Gasteropoda, Oligochaeta and Diptera); and TRICF (number of Trichoptera families), was the most suitable assessment methodology. IM9 presented a quite stable temporal pattern from February in late winter until June in early summer, even under the effect of episodic floods. A stepwise regression showed that most of tested metrics were significantly related to environmental variables (soluble reactive phosphorous, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved oxygen). Only richness, IBE and BMWP′ were not significantly influenced by environmental variables. Future research must be done covering the complete gradient of organic degradation, including the extension of multimetric assessment methodologies to temporary streams located in other regions under different geological and climatic conditions.     

不同参考温度取值对三温模型反演植被蒸腾精度的影响

参考温度的参数化过程一直是三温模型反演蒸散发及其蒸发、蒸腾组分的关键和难点。该研究基于典型城市草坪的波文比与热红外观测数据, 对三温模型植被蒸腾子模型中涉及的输入变量进行敏感性分析和误差分析, 确定对三温模型反演植被蒸腾精度最为关键的变量, 而后量化和对比输入变量参数化方法对三温模型计算草坪蒸腾的影响, 由此确定最佳的参考温度取值。结果表明: 1)参考叶片温度选择为整个纸片温度的最大值时反演效果最好(R² = 0.91, 均方根误差(RMSE) = 0.078 mm·h^-1); 2)采用植被冠层温度的最大值为参考温度时, 直接假定了植被最高温度冠层蒸腾为0 (实际存在一定的蒸腾速率), 所以容易低估实际蒸腾量, 造成三温模型反演精度略低于取值参考叶片温度最大值的方法, 但反演效果仍然较好(R² = 0.87, RMSE = 0.080 mm·h^-1)。因此, 考虑到参考叶片设置的局限性, 如果在实际应用中无法或者没有实际测量参考叶片温度时, 使用植被最大温度为参考温度也可达到较好的反演效果。     

Effects of anger on dominance-seeking and aggressive behaviors

Anger may have evolved to orchestrate social bargaining behaviors, which ultimately can lead to establishment of dominance hierarchies. Although the relationship between anger and dominance has strong empirical support, most studies have focused on visual cues of dominance. Across two experiments, we tested the hypothesis that anger increases dominance-seeking and agonistic behaviors in those who feel it. In the first experiment (n?=?82), we induced anger through a hostile mock debate and measured corrugator electromyographic activity, testosterone and cortisol levels, status-seeking tendency, and aggression using behavioral tasks. Compared with the control group, the anger group showed higher levels of aggression and status seeking, with the moderator effect of anger intensity. In the second experiment (n?=?162), anger, fear, sadness, and neutral state were induced by film clips, after which dominance-related behavioral tendencies were assessed. The anger group showed higher dominance scores, differing significantly from the fear, sadness, and/or control groups. These findings reinforce the notion that feelings of anger can cause an increase in status-seeking and agonistic behaviors, leading to possible action tendencies for the establishment of dominance hierarchies.     

Effects of visitors and cage changes on the behaviors of mangabeys

Three groups of golden-bellied mangabeys were studied to determine the effects of visitors and cage changes on their aggressive displays, grooming and sexual behavior, and play. Assessments of changes in behavior were made by comparing categorized observer comments. Animals moved to cages having more visitors increased their aggressive displays toward people, decreased their aggressive displays toward other species in neighboring cages, and increased their withingroup aggression. On the other hand, grooming, sexual behavior, and play increased after cage changes regardless of numbers of visitors. The view that it is the pattern of behavior changes in enrichment that is important in assessment of attempted enrichment was supported. Aggressive and affiliative behaviors are affected quite differently by different environmental stimuli in the zoo.     

Effects of light environment on the induction of chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves: a comparative study of Tradescantia species of different ecotypes

In this work, using a PAM-fluorimetry technique, we have compared effects of plant adaptation to the light or dark conditions on the kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence yield in Tradecantia leaves of several species (Tradescantia albiflora, Tradescantia fluminensis, Tradescantia navicularis, and Tradescantia sillamontana), which represent plants of different ecotypes. Two fluorescence parameters were used to assess photosynthetic performance in vivo: non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence (q_NPQ) determined by energy losses in the light-harvesting antenna of photosystem 2 (PS2), and PS2 operating efficiency (Φ_PSII). Comparative study of light-induced changes in q_NPQ and Φ_PSII has demonstrated that shade-tolerant Tradecantia species (T. albiflora Kunth, T. fluminensis Vell.) reveal higher capacities for NPQ and demonstrate slower transitions between the ‘light-adapted’ and ‘dark-adapted’ states than succulent species T. navicularis and T. sillamontana, which are typical habitats of semi-deserts. We analyze the photosynthetic performance of Tradescantia species in the context of their adaptabilities to variable environment conditions. The ability of shade-tolerant plants to retain a relatively long-term (∼40-60 min) ‘memory’ for illumination history may be associated with the regulatory mechanisms that provide the flexibility of photosynthetic apparatus in response to fluctuations of light intensity.