Dance reveals symmetry especially in young men

Dance is believed to be important in the courtship of a variety of species, including humans, but nothing is known about what dance reveals about the underlying phenotypic--or genotypic--quality of the dancer. One measure of quality in evolutionary studies is the degree of bodily symmetry (fluctuating asymmetry, FA), because it measures developmental stability. Does dance quality reveal FA to the observer and is the effect stronger for male dancers than female? To answer these questions, we chose a population that has been measured twice for FA since 1996 (ref. 9) in a society (Jamaican) in which dancing is important in the lives of both sexes. Motion-capture cameras created controlled stimuli (in the form of videos) that isolated dance movements from all other aspects of visual appearance (including FA), and the same population evaluated these videos for dancing ability. Here we report that there are strong positive associations between symmetry and dancing ability, and these associations were stronger in men than in women. In addition, women rate dances by symmetrical men relatively more positively than do men, and more-symmetrical men value symmetry in women dancers more than do less-symmetrical men. In summary, dance in Jamaica seems to show evidence of sexual selection and to reveal important information about the dancer.     

The concepts of 'sameness' and 'difference' in an insect

Insects process and learn information flexibly to adapt to their environment. The honeybee Apis mellifera constitutes a traditional model for studying learning and memory at behavioural, cellular and molecular levels. Earlier studies focused on elementary associative and non-associative forms of learning determined by either olfactory conditioning of the proboscis extension reflex or the learning of visual stimuli in an operant context. However, research has indicated that bees are capable of cognitive performances that were thought to occur only in some vertebrate species. For example, honeybees can interpolate visual information, exhibit associative recall, categorize visual information and learn contextual information. Here we show that honeybees can form 'sameness' and 'difference' concepts. They learn to solve 'delayed matching-to-sample' tasks, in which they are required to respond to a matching stimulus, and 'delayed non-matching-to-sample' tasks, in which they are required to respond to a different stimulus; they can also transfer the learned rules to new stimuli of the same or a different sensory modality. Thus, not only can bees learn specific objects and their physical parameters, but they can also master abstract inter-relationships, such as sameness and difference.     

Imaging cortical correlates of illusion in early visual cortex

Exploring visual illusions reveals fundamental principles of cortical processing. Illusory motion perception of non-moving stimuli was described almost a century ago by Gestalt psychologists. However, the underlying neuronal mechanisms remain unknown. To explore cortical mechanisms underlying the 'line-motion' illusion, we used real-time optical imaging, which is highly sensitive to subthreshold activity. We examined, in the visual cortex of the anaesthetized cat, responses to five stimuli: a stationary small square and a long bar; a moving square; a drawn-out bar; and the well-known line-motion illusion, a stationary square briefly preceding a long stationary bar presentation. Whereas flashing the bar alone evoked the expected localized, short latency and high amplitude activity patterns, presenting a square 60-100 ms before a bar induced the dynamic activity patterns resembling that of fast movement. The preceding square, even though physically non-moving, created gradually propagating subthreshold cortical activity that must contribute to illusory motion, because it was indistinguishable from cortical representations of real motion in this area. These findings demonstrate the effect of spatio-temporal patterns of subthreshold synaptic potentials on cortical processing and the shaping of perception.     

Aerodynamics of the hovering hummingbird

Despite profound musculoskeletal differences, hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are widely thought to employ aerodynamic mechanisms similar to those used by insects. The kinematic symmetry of the hummingbird upstroke and downstroke has led to the assumption that these halves of the wingbeat cycle contribute equally to weight support during hovering, as exhibited by insects of similar size. This assumption has been applied, either explicitly or implicitly, in widely used aerodynamic models and in a variety of empirical tests. Here we provide measurements of the wake of hovering rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) obtained with digital particle image velocimetry that show force asymmetry: hummingbirds produce 75% of their weight support during the downstroke and only 25% during the upstroke. Some of this asymmetry is probably due to inversion of their cambered wings during upstroke. The wake of hummingbird wings also reveals evidence of leading-edge vortices created during the downstroke, indicating that they may operate at Reynolds numbers sufficiently low to exploit a key mechanism typical of insect hovering. Hummingbird hovering approaches that of insects, yet remains distinct because of effects resulting from an inherently dissimilar-avian-body plan.     

人称称谓语的非对称性浅析

在前人研究的基础上,通过搜集大量的相关材料探讨人称称谓语的非对称性。首先从人称称谓语的对称性入手,分析了对称性的主要类型,着重探讨了人称称谓语非对称性的种种表现形式,最后对造成非对称性的制约因素进行了阐述。以期能够对现代汉语词汇方面的学习起到一定的促进作用。     

The evolutionary origin of flatfish asymmetry

All adult flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes), including the gastronomically familiar plaice, sole, turbot and halibut, have highly asymmetrical skulls, with both eyes placed on one side of the head. This arrangement, one of the most extraordinary anatomical specializations among vertebrates, arises through migration of one eye during late larval development. Although the transformation of symmetrical larvae into asymmetrical juveniles is well documented, the evolutionary origins of flatfish asymmetry are uncertain because there are no transitional forms linking flatfishes with their symmetrical relatives. The supposed inviability of such intermediates gave pleuronectiforms a prominent role in evolutionary debates, leading to attacks on natural selection and arguments for saltatory change. Here I show that Amphistium and the new genus Heteronectes, both extinct spiny-finned fishes from the Eocene epoch of Europe, are the most primitive pleuronectiforms known. The orbital region of the skull in both taxa is strongly asymmetrical, as in living flatfishes, but these genera retain many primitive characters unknown in extant forms. Most remarkably, orbital migration was incomplete in Amphistium and Heteronectes, with eyes remaining on opposite sides of the head in post-metamorphic individuals. This condition is intermediate between that in living pleuronectiforms and the arrangement found in other fishes. Amphistium and Heteronectes indicate that the evolution of the profound cranial asymmetry of extant flatfishes was gradual in nature.     

Visual place learning in Drosophila melanogaster

The ability of insects to learn and navigate to specific locations in the environment has fascinated naturalists for decades. The impressive navigational abilities of ants, bees, wasps and other insects demonstrate that insects are capable of visual place learning, but little is known about the underlying neural circuits that mediate these behaviours. Drosophila melanogaster (common fruit fly) is a powerful model organism for dissecting the neural circuitry underlying complex behaviours, from sensory perception to learning and memory. Drosophila can identify and remember visual features such as size, colour and contour orientation. However, the extent to which they use vision to recall specific locations remains unclear. Here we describe a visual place learning platform and demonstrate that Drosophila are capable of forming and retaining visual place memories to guide selective navigation. By targeted genetic silencing of small subsets of cells in the Drosophila brain, we show that neurons in the ellipsoid body, but not in the mushroom bodies, are necessary for visual place learning. Together, these studies reveal distinct neuroanatomical substrates for spatial versus non-spatial learning, and establish Drosophila as a powerful model for the study of spatial memories.     

Perceptual basis of bimanual coordination.

Periodic bimanual movements are often the focus of studies of the basic organizational principles of human actions. In such movements there is a typical spontaneous tendency towards mirror symmetry. Even involuntary slips from asymmetrical movement patterns into symmetry occur, but not vice versa. Traditionally, this phenomenon has been interpreted as a tendency towards co-activation of homologous muscles, probably originating in motoric neuronal structures. Here we provide evidence contrary to this widespread assumption. We show for two prominent experimental models-bimanual finger oscillation and bimanual four-finger tapping-that the symmetry bias is actually towards spatial, perceptual symmetry, without regard to the muscles involved. We suggest that spontaneous coordination phenomena of this kind are purely perceptual in nature. In the case of a bimanual circling model, our findings reveal that highly complex, even 'impossible' movements can easily be performed with only simple visual feedback. A 'motoric' representation of the performed perceptual oscillation patterns is not necessary. Thus there is no need to translate such a 'motoric' into a 'perceptual' representation or vice versa, using 'internal models' (ref. 29). We suggest that voluntary movements are organized by way of a representation of the perceptual goals, whereas the corresponding motor activity, of sometimes high complexity, is spontaneously and flexibly tuned in.     

基于小脑模型神经网络的对称阀控非对称缸复合控制方法

针对对称阀控非对称缸系统的不对称性和非线性,为了提高系统控制精度,分析了该系统的工作特性,提出了基于小脑模型神经网络(CMAC)的控制策略,设计了CMAC复合控制器;为验证CMAC复合控制器的有效性,进行了实验研究,并与普通的PID控制器进行比较.实验表明,基于CMAC的复合控制方法无须精确获取系统数学模型和负载状态,适合于对称阀控非对称缸系统的实时控制.     

Neuroanatomy: brain asymmetry and long-term memory

The asymmetrical positioning of neural structures on the left or right side of the brain in vertebrates and in invertebrates may be correlated with brain laterality, which is associated with cognitive skills. But until now this has not been illustrated experimentally. Here we describe an asymmetrically positioned brain structure in the fruitfly Drosophila and find that the small proportion of wild-type flies that have symmetrical brains with two such structures lack a normal long-term memory, although their short-term memory is intact. Our results indicate that brain asymmetry may be required for generating or retrieving long-term memory.     

基于瞬时无功功率理论的无功电流检测

为了实现电网谐波和无功电流的准确实时检测,在对同步坐标变换思路进行改进的基础上,提出了一种结合广义瞬时无功功率理论的无功电流检测方法,并进行了仿真。结果表明,该方法能更加准确地检测出广义瞬时无功补偿电流即不对称三相系统中的谐波、不对称分量以及无功电流分量的和,并能适用于三相电源电压对称无畸变和三相电源电压不对称且畸变的情况。理论推导和仿真实验结果验证了该方法的正确性和有效性。     

用于控制图模式识别的广义神经网络系统

面向过程控制图的模式识别,提出了一个广义神经网络系统.该系统基于广义过程对象模型发生数据,离线训练后能够在线识别各类工业过程常见的控制图模式,模块化的设计使得神经网络系统的结构相对简单,有效地提高了网络的训练速度和模式识别的准确率.首先研究了广义过程对象模型参数对神经网络控制图模式识别率的影响,并基于此影响规律设计了包含模式识别分类模块与模式参数估计模块的集成化神经网络系统结构;其次使用基于广义对象模型产生的数据对神经网络系统进行了训练和验证,讨论了学习训练方法,并进行了控制图模式识别性能的仿真测试,获得了满意的结果.在TE过程仿真平台上进行了实验,给出了对上升阶跃模式和下降阶跃模式的识别结果,表明了具有较高的识别率.     

对称与不对称Y型混合器混合机理

为了探明Y型混合器的混合机理,通过实验研究了混合时间、旋转速度、不同初始装粉方式以及改变混合器结构的对称性对混合均匀度的影响.通过观察左右装填粉末和上下装填粉末2种初始条件下硅胶颗粒在Y型混合器内的混合运动,定性比较了对称和不对称Y型混合器的混合过程与效果.在此基础上,通过测定混合物的取样成分,定量研究了氧化铝粉-铁粉的混合过程.研究结果表明,粉体的对流和扩散运动是Y型混合器的主要混合机理,在混合初期以对流运动为主,在混合后期经扩散运动进一步均匀混合;与对称Y型混合器相比,不对称Y型混合器中粉体的径向对流运动明显增强,从而有利于提高混合效率.     

Central role of detachment faults in accretion of slow-spreading oceanic lithosphere

The formation of oceanic detachment faults is well established from inactive, corrugated fault planes exposed on sea floor formed along ridges spreading at less than 80 km Myr(-1) (refs 1-4). These faults can accommodate extension for up to 1-3 Myr (ref. 5), and are associated with one of the two contrasting modes of accretion operating along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The first mode is asymmetrical accretion involving an active detachment fault along one ridge flank. The second mode is the well-known symmetrical accretion, dominated by magmatic processes with subsidiary high-angle faulting and the formation of abyssal hills on both flanks. Here we present an examination of approximately 2,500 km of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 12.5 and 35 degrees N, which reveals asymmetrical accretion along almost half of the ridge. Hydrothermal activity identified so far in the study region is closely associated with asymmetrical accretion, which also shows high levels of near-continuous hydroacoustically and teleseismically recorded seismicity. Increased seismicity is probably generated along detachment faults that accommodate a sizeable proportion of the total plate separation. In contrast, symmetrical segments have lower levels of seismicity, which occurs primarily at segment ends. Basalts erupted along asymmetrical segments have compositions that are consistent with crystallization at higher pressures than basalts from symmetrical segments, and with lower extents of partial melting of the mantle. Both seismic evidence and geochemical evidence indicate that the axial lithosphere is thicker and colder at asymmetrical sections of the ridge, either because associated hydrothermal circulation efficiently penetrates to greater depths or because the rising mantle is cooler. We suggest that much of the variability in sea-floor morphology, seismicity and basalt chemistry found along slow-spreading ridges can be thus attributed to the frequent involvement of detachment faults in oceanic lithospheric accretion.     

Sparse representation of global features of visual images in human primary visual cortex: Evidence from fMRI

In fMRI experiments on object representation in visual cortex, we designed two types of stimuli： one is the gray face image and its line drawing, and the other is the illusion and its corresponding completed illusion. Both of them have the same global features with different minute details so that the results of fMRI experiments can be compared with each other. The first kind of visual stimuli was used in a block design fMRI experiment, and the second was used in an event-related fMRI experiment. Comparing and analyzing interesting visual cortex activity patterns and blood oxygenation level dependent （BOLD）- fMRI signal, we obtained results to show some invariance of global features of visual images. A plausible explanation about the invariant mechanism is related with the cooperation of synchronized response to the global features of the visual image with a feedback of shape perception from higher cortex to cortex V1, namely the integration of global features and embodiment of sparse representation and distributed population code.     

Sustained division of the attentional spotlight

By voluntarily directing attention to a specific region of a visual scene, we can improve our perception of stimuli at that location. This ability to focus attention upon specific zones of the visual field has been described metaphorically as a moveable spotlight or zoom lens that facilitates the processing of stimuli within its 'beam'. A long-standing controversy has centred on the question of whether the spotlight of spatial attention has a unitary beam or whether it can be divided flexibly to disparate locations. Evidence supporting the unitary spotlight view has come from numerous behavioural and electrophysiological studies. Recent experiments, however, indicate that the spotlight of spatial attention may be divided between non-contiguous zones of the visual field for very brief stimulus exposures (&<100 ms). Here we use an electrophysiological measure of attentional allocation (the steady-state visual evoked potential) to show that the spotlight may be divided between spatially separated locations (excluding interposed locations) over more extended time periods. This spotlight division appears to be accomplished at an early stage of visual-cortical processing.     

基于网络等效变换的配电网负荷不对称运行

提出了一种网络结构等效变换方法,该方法主要将电力网络中三相参数不对称部分等效变换成带有某种故障的三相参数对称网络,且新增故障端口外电路的三相参数是对称的,从而满足对称分量法的使用条件,充分发挥对称分量法结构简单、计算进度快的优势.针对几种负荷不对称的配电网搭建仿真平台并进行了仿真实验,实验结果验证了该方法的准确性与可行性.     

Two types of orientation-sensitive responses of amacrine cells in the mammalian retina.

Neurons sensitive to the orientation of light stimuli exist throughout the mammalian visual system, suggesting that this spatial feature is a fundamental cue used by the brain to decipher visual information. The most peripheral neurons known to show orientation sensitivity are the retinal ganglion cells. Considerable morphological and pharmacological data suggest that the orientation sensitivity of ganglion cells is formed, at least partly, by the amacrine cells, which are laterally oriented interneurons presynaptic to the ganglion cells in the inner plexiform layer. So far there have been few studies of the responses of amacrine cells to oriented visual stimuli and their role in forming orientation-sensitive responses in the retina remains unclear. Here I report the novel finding of a population of amacrine cells in the rabbit retina which are orientation-sensitive. These amacrine cells can be divided into two subtypes, whose orientation sensitivity is manufactured by two distinct mechanisms. The orientation sensitivity of the first subtype of amacrine cell is formed from the interactions of excitatory, centre-receptive field synaptic inputs and inhibitory inputs of opposite polarity, whereas that for cells of the second subtype seems to be the product of a marked asymmetry in their dendritic arbors.     

Attentional modulation of motion-induced blindness

When a global moving pattern is superimposed on high-contrast stationary or slowly moving stimuli, the stimuli can be perceived as disappearing and reappearing alternately for periods of several sec- onds.This visual illusory phenomenon was named“motion-induced blindness”(MIB)in recent litera- ture.So far there is no consensus on the mechanism of MIB,especially on the role of attention in this phenomenon.To examine the effect of spatial attention on MIB,the present study manipulated the participants’spatial attention by asking them to respond to two targets simultaneously presented in bilateral visual fields(the divided-attention condition)or only respond to one of them(the fo- cused-attention condition).A central arrow was presented as an endogenous cue to index the target visual field in the focused-attention condition,while a point was presented instead in the di- vided-attention condition.The results show that the percentage of accumulated invisibility period was larger for the targets in the focused-attention condition than for those in the divided-attention condition. This effect of attention is significant in upper visual field(UVF)and left lower visual field(left LVF);that is,this effect shows a hemispheric asymmetry in LVF but not in UVF.Furthermore,the percentage of accumulated invisibility period was larger for targets in left LVF than for those in right LVF in the fo- cused-attention condition,but no hemispheric asymmetry was found in the divided-attention condition. In addition,the increased percentage of accumulated invisibility period in the focused-attention condi- tion originated merely in the enhancement of the mean phase duration of disappearance in LVF,while the disappearance occurred more frequently and lasted longer for each occurrence,which led to an increase in the total invisibility period,in the focused-than divided-attention condition in UVF.These results suggest that the modulation of spatial attention on MIB has different patterns in UVF and LVF.