立体视觉中误匹配滤波方法的研究

从二维空间和三维空间2种角度研究误匹配滤波算法,提出在匹配前用于降低误匹配的灰度预处理算法和一种基于真实控制点的视差滤波算法。前者只针对2幅图像的重叠区域进行灰度均衡,可以减少计算量,后者在传统视差均值滤波的基础上可进一步提高误匹配的滤波效率。基于真实图像的实验结果表明,新算法可以有效滤除误匹配,提高三维重建精度,保证重建效果。

元谋盆地河湖相沉积记录的上新世印度季风转型事件

The Indian monsoon, an integral part of the global climate system, has been extensively investigated during the past decades. Most of the proxy records are derived from marine sediments and focused on time periods of the late Miocene and Pleistocene. The Pliocene represents a period when Earth’s boundary conditions underwent dramatic changes. However, variations of the Indian monsoon during the Pliocene and its forcing mechanisms have remained unclear. The Yuanmou Basin, located in the region of the Indian monsoon, provides an ideal target for understanding the Pliocene history of Indian monsoon variations. Detailed investigations on the lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and limnology of a 650-m-thick fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary sequence from the basin are carried out in the present study. The clay and clay-plus-fine-silt fractions of the sediments are referred to the midlake-facies components, and changes in the percentages of both fractions generally reflect changes in the water level of the lakes developed in the basin closely related to variations in the intensity of the Indian monsoon. Whereas the greenish-gray lacustrine mud beds represent the environment of deep-water lakes, and the frequency of individual lacustrine mud beds is considered to indicate the frequency of the deep-water lakes developed in the basin associated with the variability of the Indian monsoon. The proxy data suggest that the Indian monsoon experienced abrupt shifts at 3.53, 3.14, 2.78 and 2.42 Ma, respectivey. 1) Since 3.53 Ma, the midlake-facies components displayed a general trend of increase in the concentrations, accompanied by an increase in the sedimentation rate from an average ~10 to 25 cm ka–1. The data suggest that high stands of the lakes in the basin rose progressively, implying a gradual intensification of the Indian monsoon since that time. This shift occurred coeval with the accelerated uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau, denoting a close link between the Indian monsoon strengthening and the Tibetan Plateau uplifting. 2) 2.78 Ma ago, the concentrations of the midlake-facies components decreased abruptly and the dominant fraction of the sediments turned to fluvial sands. The data indicate that lakes in the basin disappeared, reflecting a dramatic decline in the intensity of the Indian monsoon at that time. This shift coincided with the formation of extensive Northern Hemisphere ice sheets, implying a quick response of the low-latitude monsoon regime to the high-latitude glaciation. 3) At 3.14 Ma, the initial appearance of blackish-grey mud beds with long durations and occasional occurrences of lacustrine mud beds indicate that the basin was overall dominated by shallow lakes, implying a shift to decreased variability of the Indian monsoon at that time. At 2.42 Ma, an increase in the frequency and a decrease in the duration of the lacustrine mud beds suggest that deep-water lakes were frequently developed in the basin, denoting a shift to increased variability of the Indian monsoon at that time. The former shift coincides with the onset of large-scale glaciation in the circum Atlantic region and the latter corresponds to the inception of predominance of the 41 ka periodicity in Northern Hemisphere ice-sheet cover fluctuations, presumably suggesting a physical link between the Indian monsoon system and the high-latitude ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.

松辽盆地南部大情字井地区CO2埋存体地质格架及储层建模

Increasing attentions have been paid to the subsurface geological storage for CO2 in view of the huge storage capacity of subsurface reservoirs. The basic requirement for subsurface CO2 storage is that the CO2 should be sequestrated as supercritical fluids (physical trapping), which may also interact with ambient reservoir rocks and formation waters, forming new minerals (chemical trapping). In order to the effective, durable and safe storage for CO2, enough storage space and stable sealing caprock with strong sealing capacity are necessitated, in an appropriate geological framework. Up till now, hydrocarbon reservoirs are to the most valid and appropriate CO2 storage container, which is well proven as the favorable compartment with huge storage capacity and sealing condition. The thesis focuses on two principal issues related to the storage and sealing capacity of storage compartment for the Qingshankou and Yaojia formations in the Daqingzijing block, Southern Songliao Basin, which was selected as the pilot well site for CO2-EOR storage. In the operation area, three facies, including deltaic plain, deltaic front and subdeep-deep lake facies associations, are recognized, in which 11 subfacies such as subaqueous distributary channel, river- mouth bar, interdistributary bay, sheet sandbody, crevasse splay and overflooding plain are further identified. These subfacies are the basic genetic units in the reservoir and sealing rocks. These facies further comprise the retrogradational and progradational depositional cycles, which were formed base- level rise and fall, respectively. During the regressive or lake lowstand stage, various sands including some turbidites and fans occurred mostly at the bottom of the hinged slope. During the progradation stage, these sands became smaller in size and episodically stepped backwards upon the slope, with greatly expanded and deeped lake. However, most of Cretaceous strata in the study area, localized in the basin centre under this stage, are mainly composed of grey or grizzly siltstones and grey or dark grey mudstones intercalated with minor fine sandstones and purple mudstones. On the base of borehole and core data, these siltstones are widespread, thin from 10 to 50 m thick, good grain sorting, and have relative mature sedimentary structures with graded bedding and cross- lamination or crossbeds such as ripples, which reflect strong hydrodynamic causes. Due to late diagenesis, pores are not widespread in the reservoirs, especially the first member of Qingshankou formation. There are two types of pores: primary pore and secondary cores. The primary pores include intergranular pores and micropores, and the secondary pores include emposieus and fracture pores. Throat channels related to pores is also small and the radius of throat in the first, second and third member of Qingshankou formation is only 0.757 μm, 0.802 μm and 0.631 μm respectively. In addition, based on analyzing the probability plot according to frequency of occurrence of porosity and permeability, they appear single- peaked distribution, which reflects strong hetero- geneity. All these facts indicate that the conditions of physical property of reservoirs are not better. One reason may be provided to interpret this question is that physical property of reservoirs in the study area is strong controlled by the depositional microfacies. From the statistics, the average porosity and permeability of microfacies such as subaqueous distributary channel, channel mouth bar, turbidites, is more than 9 percent and 1md respectively. On the contrary, the average porosity and permeability of microfacies including sand sheet, flagstone and crevasse splay are less than 9 percent and 0.2md respectively. Basically, different hydrodynamic environment under different microfacies can decide different physical property. According to the reservoir models of the first member of Qingshankou formation in the No. well Hei47 block, the character of sedimentary according to the facies models is accord to regional disposition evolution. Meantime, the parameter models of physical property of reservoir indicate that low porosity and low permeability reservoirs widespread widely in the study area, but the sand reservoirs located in the channels are better than other places and they are the main sand reservoirs. The distribution and sealing ability of fault- fractures and caprock are the key aspects to evaluate the stable conditions of compartments to store CO2 in the study area. Based on the core observation, the fractures widespread in the study area, especially around the wells, and most of them are located in the first and second member of Qingshankou formation, almost very few in the third member of Qingshankou formation and Yaojia formation instead. In addition, analyzing the sealing ability of eleven faults in the three-dimensional area in the study area demonstrates that most of faults have strong sealing ability, especially in the No. well Hei56 and Qing90-27. To some extent, the sealing ability of faults in the No. well Hei49, Qing4-6 and Qing84-29 are worse than others. Besides, the deposition environment of most of formations in the study area belongs to moderately deep and deep lake facies, which undoubtedly take advantage to caprocks composed of mudstones widespread and large scale under this deposition environment. In the study area, these mudstones distribute widely in the third member of Qingshankou formation, Yaojia and Nenjiang formation. The effective thickness of mudstone is nearly ~550m on an average with few or simple faults and fractures. In addition, there are many reservoir beds with widely- developed insulated interbeds consist of mudstones or silty mudstone, which can be the valid barrier to CO2 upper movement or leakage through diffusion, dispersion and convection. Above all, the closed thick mud caprock with underdeveloped fractures and reservoir beds can be taken regard as the favorable caprocks to provide stable conditions to avoid CO2 leakage.

三峡库区堆积层斜坡稳定性分级与应用研究

Considering the lacking of standard for the classification of Accumulative slopes so far, research working was conducted based on the results of geological investigation, data analysis and experiment carried out in Wanzhou. By mean of statistical method and grey system, the author studied in detail inflationary factors to Accumulative slopes. In order to study the mechanism of Rock-Soil Aggregate (RSA), numerical testing method was used. Coordinates in the two and three dimensional space and its corresponding rock fragments in the sample were generated randomly by VB and Particle flow code. After being built the models of RSA with different rock content, uniaxial and triaxial numerical simulation tests were carried out respectively. In order to study the effect of rainfall in Accumulative slopes, in situ infiltration testing had been conducted on site in Wanzhou, Three Gorges Area. Relationship between the infiltration rate and amount of precipitation has been obtained. Eleven factors are considered in the classification of Accumulative slopes in this paper.(1)On the basis of four basic factors and four inducing factors, sum-and-difference method for the classification system has been built. (2)After weight of factors being determined by analytic hierarchy process and membership function of Accumulative slopes stability being built in virtue of fuzzy mathematics, AHP-FM model of Accumulative slopes stability has been completed. In the end of this paper, having been applied on stability of Accumulative slopes in Three Gorge area and compared with result by limit equilibrium, classification system has good effect.

五台山区义兴寨岩体、车厂－北台岩体地球化学和变质作用及其大地构造意义

There are many Archean TTG grey suites in the Wutaishan area, northern Shanxi Province, China. In the past one hundred years, many geologists have done excellent research work in the Wutaishan and its adjacent regions. However, the TTG suites were almost neglected. Located in the northern slope of Mt. Hengshan-namely the Archean Hengshan Island Arc, intruded the Zhujiafang supercrustal rocks at almost 2.5Ga, the Yixingzhai TTG Suite is originated from partial melting of the ancient lower crust upper mantle by REE and trace elements, and the emplacement occurred in an Archean island arc. The rocks are mainly of tonalitic, I type, and calc-alkaline trends are found in the magmatic evolution. At almost 1.8 Ga, the suite was transformed to be dome-like schists in an arc-arc collision event, and the rocks were metamorphosed to an extent of amphibolitic to granulitic facies. The peak metamorphic condition is of 710-760 ℃/0.68-0.72GPa, and the subsequent cooling history is recorded as 560-620 ℃/0.46-0.60GPa. In the center of the Mt. Wutaishan-known as the Archean Wutaishan Island Arc, intruded the Archean Chechang-Beitai TTG Suite, which is of 2.5Ga old and of trondhjemitic and tonalitic, with coexisting I- and S-types and a trondhjemitic magmatic evolution trend. Through REE and trace elements, the suite is believed to be from the partial melting of the ancient lower crust or upper mantle. The 1.8 Ga collision event also made the suite gneissic and the it was metamorphosed to be amphibolitic facies, whose peak condition is approximately of 680 (±50) ℃/0.7Gpa, and the subsequent cooling process is recorded as 680 (±50) ℃、550(±50) ℃、420(±10) ℃. Crustal growth is fulfilled through magmatic intrusion as well as eruption at about 2.5Ga, arc-arc collision at about 1.8 Ga in the Wutaishan area and its environs. Additionally, the biotite-muscovite and muscovite-plagioclase geothermometers are refined, and the biotite-hornblende geothermometer is developed in this dissertation.

水-岩土反应的力学与环境效应研究

The research on mechanical effects of water-rock and soil interaction on deformation and failure of rocks and soils involves three aspects of mechanics, physics and chemistry. It is the cross between geochemistry and rock mechanics and soil mechanics. To sum up, the mechanical effects of water-rock and soil interaction is related to many complex processes. Research in this respect has been being an important forward field and has broad prospects. In connection with the mechanism of the effects of the chemical action of water-rock on deformation and failure of rocks and soils, the research significance, the present state, the developments in this research domain are summarized. Author prospects the future of this research. The research of the subject should be possessed of important position in studying engineering geology and will lead directly to a new understand on geological hazard and control research. In order to investigation the macroscopic mechanics effects of chemical kinetics of water-rock interaction on the deformation and failure, calcic rock, red sandstone and grey granite reacting chemically with different aqueous solution at atmospheric temperature and atmospheric pressure are uniaxially compressed. The quantitative results concerning the changes of uniaxially compressive strength and elastic modulus under different conditions are obtained. It is found that the mechanical effects of water on rock is closely related to the chemical action of water-rock or the chemical damage in rock, and the intensity of chemical damage is direct ratio to the intensity of chemical action in water-rock system. It is also found that the hydrochemical action on rock is time-dependent through the test. The mechanism of permeation and hydrochemical action resulting in failure of loaded rock mass or propagation of fractures in rocks would be a key question in rock fracture mechanics. In this paper, the fracture mechanical effects of chemical action of water-rock and their time- and chemical environment-dependent behavior in grey granite, green granite, grey sandstone and red sandstone are analyzed by testing K_(IC) and COD of rock under different conditions. It is found that: ①the fracture mechanical effect of chemical action of water-rock is outstanding and time-dependent, and high differences exist in the influence of different aqueous solution, different rocks, different immersion ways and different velocity of cycle flow on the fracture mechanical effects in rock. ②the mechanical effects of water-rock interaction on propagation of fractures is consistent with the mechanical effects on the peak strength of rock. ③the intensity of the mechanical fracture effects increases as the intensity of chemical action of water-rock increases. ④iron and calcium ion bearing mineral or cement in rock are some key ion or chemical composition, and especially iron ion-bearing mineral resulting in chemical action of water-rock to be provided with both positive and negative mechanical effects on rock. Through the above two tests, we suggest that primary factors influencing chemical damage in rock consist of the chemical property of rock and aqueous solution, the structure or homogeneity of rocks, the flow velocity of aqueous solution passing through rock, and cause of formation or evolution of rock. The paper explores the mechanism on the mechanical effects of water-rock interaction on rock by using the theory of chemistry and rock fracture mechanics with chemical damage proposed by author, the modeling method and the energy point of view. In this paper, the concept of absorbed suction between soil grains caused by capillary response is given and expounded, and the relation and basic distinction among this absorbed suction, surface tension and capillary pressure of the soil are analyzed and established. The law of absorbed suction change and the primary factors affecting it are approached. We hold that the structure suction are changeable along with the change of the saturation state in unsaturated soils. In view of this, the concept of intrinsic structure suction and variable structure suction are given and expounded, and this paper points out: What we should study is variable structure suction when studying the effective stress. By IIIy κHH's theory of structure strength of soils, the computer method for variable structure suction is analyzed, the measure method for variable structure suction is discussed, and it reach the conclusions: ①Besides saturation state, variable structure suction is affected by grain composition and packing patter of grains. ②The internal relations are present between structure parameter N in computing structure suction and structure parameter D in computing absorbed suction. We think that some problems exit in available principle of effective stress and shear strength theory for unsaturated soil. Based on the variable structure suction and absorbed suction, the classification of saturation in soil and a principle of narrow sense effective stress are proposed for unsaturated soils. Based on generalized suction, the generalized effective stress formula and a principle of generalized effective stress are proposed for unsaturated soils. The experience parameter χ in Bishop's effective stress formula is defined, and the principal factors influencing effective stress or χ. The primary factor affecting the effective stress in unsaturated soils, and the principle classifying unsaturated soils and its mechanics methods analyzing unsaturated soils are discussed, and this paper points out: The theory on studying unsaturated soil mechanics should adopt the micromechanics method, then raise it to macromechanics and to applying. Researching the mechanical effects of chemical action of water-soil on soil is of great importance to geoenvironmental hazard control. The texture of soil and the fabric of soil mass are set forth. The tests on physical and mechanical property are performed to investigate the mechanism of the positive and negative mechanical effects of different chemical property of aqueous solution. The test results make clear that the plastic limit, liquid limit and plasticity index are changed, and there exists both positive and negative effects on specimens in this test. Based on analyzing the mechanism of the mechanical effects of water-soil interaction on soil, author thinks that hydrochemical actions being provided with mechanical effects on soil comprise three kinds of dissolution, sedimentation or crystallization. The significance of these tests lie in which it is recognized for us that we may improve, adjust and control the quality of soils, and may achieve the goal geological hazard control and prevention.The present and the significance of the research on environmental effects of water-rock and soil interaction. Various living example on geoenvironmental hazard in this field are enumerated. Following above thinking, we have approached such ideals that: ①changing the intensity and distribution of source and sink in groundwater flow system can be used to control the water-rock and soil interaction. ②the chemical action of water-rock and soil can be used to ameliorate the physical and mechanical property of rocks and soils. Lastly, the research thinking and the research methods on mechanical effects and environmental effects of water-rock and soil interaction are put forward and detailed.

沾化凹陷泥质岩油气藏成藏特征研究

Mudstone reservoir is a subtle reservoir with extremely inhomogeneous, whose formation is greatly related to the existence of fracture. For this kind of reservoir, mudstone is oil source rock, cover rock and reservoir strata, reservoir type is various, attitude of oil layer changes greatly, and the distribution of oil and gas is different from igneous or clastic rock reservoir as well as from carbonate reservoir of self-producing and self-containing of oil and gas. No mature experience has been obtained in the description, exploration and development of the reservoir by far. Taking Zhanhua depression as an example, we studied in this thesis the tectonic evolution, deposit characteristics, diagenesis, hydrocarbon formation, abnormal formation pressure, forming of fissure in mudstone reservoir, etc. on the basis of core analysis, physical simulation, numerical simulation, integrated study of well logging and geophysical data, and systematically analyzed the developing and distributing of mudstone fissure reservoir and set up a geological model for the formation of mudstone fissure reservoir, and predicted possible fractural zone in studied area. Mudstone reservoir mainly distributed on the thrown side of sedimentary fault along the sloping area of the petroleum generatiion depression in Zhanhua depression. Growing fault controlled subsidence and sedimentation. Both the rate of subsidence and thickness of mudstone are great on the thrown side of growing fault, which result in the formation of surpressure in the area. The unlocking of fault which leads to the pressure discharges and the upward conduct of below stratum, also makes for the surpressure in mudstone. In Zhanhua depression, mudstone reservior mainly developed in sub-compacted stratum in the third segment of Shahejie formation, which is the best oil source rock because of its wide spread in distribution, great in thickness, and rich in organic matter, and rock types of which are oil source mudstone and shale of deep water or semi-deep water sediment in lacustrine facies. It revealed from core analysis that the stratum is rich in limestone, and consists of lamina of dark mudstone and that of light grey limestone alternately, such rock assemblage is in favor of high pressure and fracture in the process of hydrocarbon generation. Fracture of mudstone in the third segment of Shahejie formation was divided into structure fracture, hydrocarbon generation fracture and compound fracture and six secondary types of fracture for the fist time according to the cause of their formation in the thesis. Structural fracture is formed by tectonic movement such as fold or fault, which develops mainly near the faults, especially in the protrude area and the edge of faults, such fracture has obvious directivity, and tend to have more width and extension in length and obvious direction, and was developed periodically, discontinuously in time and successively as the result of multi-tectonic movement in studied area. Hydrocarbon generation fracture was formed in the process of hydrocarbon generation, the fracture is numerous in number and extensively in distribution, but the scale of it is always small and belongs to microfracture. The compound fracture is the result of both tectonic movement and hydrocarbon forming process. The combination of above fractures in time and space forms the three dimension reservoir space network of mudstone, which satellites with abnormal pressure zone in plane distribution and relates to sedimentary faces, rock combination, organic content, structural evolution, and high pressure, etc.. In Zhanhua depression, the mudstone of third segment in shahejie formation corresponds with a set of seismic reflection with better continuous. When mudstone containing oil and gas of abnormal high pressure, the seismic waveform would change as a result of absorb of oil and gas to the high-frequency composition of seismic reflection, and decrease of seismic reflection frequency resulted from the breakage of mudstone structure. The author solved the problem of mudstone reservoir predicting to some degree through the use of coherent data analysis in Zhanhua depression. Numerical modeling of basin has been used to simulate the ancient liquid pressure field in Zhanhua depression, to quantitative analysis the main controlling factor (such as uncompaction, tectonic movement, hydrocarbon generation) to surpressure in mudstone. Combined with factual geologic information and references, we analyzed the characteristic of basin evolution and factors influence the pressure field, and employed numerical modeling of liquid pressure evolution in 1-D and 2-D section, modeled and analyzed the forming and evolution of pressure in plane for main position in different periods, and made a conclusion that the main factors for surpressure in studied area are tectonic movement, uncompaction and hydrocarbon generation process. In Zhanhua depression, the valid fracture zone in mudstone was mainly formed in the last stage of Dongying movement, the mudstone in the third segment of Shahejie formation turn into fastigium for oil generation and migration in Guantao stage, and oil and gas were preserved since the end of the stage. Tectonic movement was weak after oil and gas to be preserved, and such made for the preserve of oil and gas. The forming of fractured mudstone reservoir can be divided into four different stages, i.e. deposition of muddy oil source rock, draining off water by compacting to producing hydrocarbon, forming of valid fracture and collecting of oil, forming of fracture reservoir. Combined with other regional geologic information, we predicted four prior mudstone fracture reservoirs, which measured 18km2 in area and 1200 X 104t in geological reserves.

山东莱州金城金矿床构造-流体成矿特征

This paper studied the metallotectonics, altered rocks, altered minerals and fluid inclusions. The conclusions are: (1)The gold deposits in Jiaodong district were formed quickly uplifted tectonic setting which was induced by the Mantle doming in Mesozoic era. (2)Both Jiaojia-type and Linglong-type gold mineralizations were formed in the same tectonic-fluid system. (3) The Ar-Ar age of the earlier stage of the gold mineralization is 114～116Ma. (4)The development of the plaiting ore-control tectonic system underwent four stagesrcounterclockwise ductile compresso-shearing, clockwise brittle tenso-shearing and counterclockwise brittle compresso-shearing and brittle normal faulting after mineralization. (5)The mineralization has five stages: quartz and k-feldspar stage, quartz and ferro-carbonate and pyrite stage, quartz and chalcopyrite stage, pyrite and sericite and quartz stage and carbonate stage, and they make up four ore-types: red ore, vein ore, mottled ore and grey ore. (6) The features of mineralizations and ore-forming fluids in different stages are different. But the ore-forming fluids are rich in Si, Fe, P_2O_5, H_2O, CO_2, SO_4~(2-), K~+, Na~+, Ca~(2+) and Cl~- in general and their salinities are from 4 to 18 NaClwt%. (7) The ore-forming fluids came mainly from the Mantle in early stage, then mainly from magma, and mainly from meteoric water in the last stage. (8) Au in the ore-forming fluid was mainly carried in the form of complex of Au and S. (9)The temperature of ore-forming fluid is from 350℃ to 120℃and its pressure is from 20MPa to 38MPa. (10)The gold vein composed by quartz, ferro-carbonate, chalcopyrite and pyrite (vein ore) was filled in the tensional fracture in the top of the magma dome. The disseminated ore bodies composed by pyrite, sericite and quartz (grey ore) was metasomatized in the shearing fault which developed along the contact zone between Linglong intrusive body and Jiaodong Group, which is placed in the flank top of magma dome. In the joint and fracture induced by the shearing fault which developed along the contact zone between Linglong intrusive body and Jiaodong Group, veiniet and stockwork ore (red ore) and veinlet-disseminated ore (mottled ore) composed by quartz and pyrite was formed. (ll)Fluid boiling maybe one of the form of the ore-forming substances precipitation.

Vectorizing Face Images by Interpreting Shape and Texture Computations

The correspondence problem in computer vision is basically a matching task between two or more sets of features. In this paper, we introduce a vectorized image representation, which is a feature-based representation where correspondence has been established with respect to a reference image. This representation has two components: (1) shape, or (x, y) feature locations, and (2) texture, defined as the image grey levels mapped onto the standard reference image. This paper explores an automatic technique for "vectorizing" face images. Our face vectorizer alternates back and forth between computation steps for shape and texture, and a key idea is to structure the two computations so that each one uses the output of the other. A hierarchical coarse-to-fine implementation is discussed, and applications are presented to the problems of facial feature detection and registration of two arbitrary faces.

A Modern Differential Geometric Approach to Shape from Shading

How the visual system extracts shape information from a single grey-level image can be approached by examining how the information about shape is contained in the image. This technical report considers the characteristic equations derived by Horn as a dynamical system. Certain image critical points generate dynamical system critical points. The stable and unstable manifolds of these critical points correspond to convex and concave solution surfaces, giving more general existence and uniqueness results. A new kind of highly parallel, robust shape from shading algorithm is suggested on neighborhoods of these critical points. The information at bounding contours in the image is also analyzed.

Learning Shape Descriptions: Generating and Generalizing Models of Visual Objects

We present the results of an implemented system for learning structural prototypes from grey-scale images. We show how to divide an object into subparts and how to encode the properties of these subparts and the relations between them. We discuss the importance of hierarchy and grouping in representing objects and show how a notion of visual similarities can be embedded in the description language. Finally we exhibit a learning algorithm that forms class models from the descriptions produced and uses these models to recognize new members of the class.

Local Rotational Symmetries

This thesis describes a new representation for two-dimensional round regions called Local Rotational Symmetries. Local Rotational Symmetries are intended as a companion to Brady's Smoothed Local Symmetry Representation for elongated shapes. An algorithm for computing Local Rotational Symmetry representations at multiple scales of resolution has been implemented and results of this implementation are presented. These results suggest that Local Rotational Symmetries provide a more robustly computable and perceptually accurate description of round regions than previous proposed representations. In the course of developing this representation, it has been necessary to modify the way both Smoothed Local Symmetries and Local Rotational Symmetries are computed. First, grey-scale image smoothing proves to be better than boundary smoothing for creating representations at multiple scales of resolution, because it is more robust and it allows qualitative changes in representations between scales. Secondly, it is proposed that shape representations at different scales of resolution be explicitly related, so that information can be passed between scales and computation at each scale can be kept local. Such a model for multi-scale computation is desirable both to allow efficient computation and to accurately model human perceptions.

Water-based exercise for adults with asthma

BackgroundAsthma is a common condition characterised by airway inflammation and airway narrowing, which can result in intermittent symptoms of wheezing, coughing and chest tightness, possibly limiting activities of daily life. Water-based exercise is believed to offer benefits for people with asthma through pollen-free air, humidity and effects of exercise on physical function.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of water-based exercise for adults with asthma.Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register of Trials (CAGR), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), PsycINFO, the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information Database (LILACS), the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), the System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE) and Google Scholar on 13 May 2014. We handsearched ongoing clinical trial registers and meeting abstracts of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the British Thoracic Society (BTS).Selection criteriaWe included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of adults with asthma comparing a water-based exercise group versus one or more of the following groups: usual care, land-based exercise, non-exercise.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors (AJG, VS) independently extracted data fromthe primary studies using a standard form developed for this purpose, which includes methods, participants, interventions and outcomes. We contacted trial authors to request additional data. Data were input by one review author and were double-checked by a second review author.Main resultsIn this systematic review, we provide a narrative synthesis of available evidence from three small studies including 136 adult participants. the studies were at high risk of bias. No meta-analysis was possible because of methodological and interventional heterogeneity between included studies. the primary outcomes of quality of life and exacerbations leading to use of steroids were not reported by these studies. for exacerbations leading to health centre/hospital visits, uncertainty was wide because a very small number of events was reported (in a single study). Secondary outcomes symptoms, lung function, changes in medication and adverse effects, where available, described for each included study. the overall quality of the studies was very low, and no clear differences were noted between water-based exercise and comparator treatments. Therefore, we remain very uncertain about the effects of water-based exercise for adults with asthma.Authors' conclusionsThe small number of participants in the three included studies, the clinical and methodological heterogeneity observed and the high risk of bias assessed mean that we are unable to assess the place of water-based exercise in asthma. Randomised controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of water-based exercise for adults with asthma. for future research, we suggest greater methodological rigour (participant selection, blinding of outcome assessors, reporting of all outcomes analysed and registering of the study protocol).

CO2Y the intelligent green solution: minimising carbon emissions by maximising shared travel opportunity.

It is in the interests of everybody that the environment is protected. In view of the recent leaps in environmental awareness it would seem timely and sensible, therefore, for people to pool vehicle resources to minimise the damaging impact of emissions. However, this is often contrary to how complex social systems behave – local decisions made by self-interested individuals often have emergent effects that are in the interests of nobody. For software engineers a major challenge is to help facilitate individual decision-making such that individual preferences can be met, which, when accumulated, minimise adverse effects at the level of the transport system. We introduce this general problem through a concrete example based on vehicle-sharing. Firstly, we outline the kind of complex transportation problem that is directly addressed by our technology (CO2y™ - pronounced “cosy”), and also show how this differs from other more basic software solutions. The CO2y™ architecture is then briefly introduced. We outline the practical advantages of the advanced, intelligent software technology that is designed to satisfy a number of individual preference criteria and thereby find appropriate matches within a population of vehicle-share users. An example scenario of use is put forward, i.e., minimisation of grey-fleets within a medium-sized company. Here we comment on some of the underlying assumptions of the scenario, and how in a detailed real-world situation such assumptions might differ between different companies, and individual users. Finally, we summarise the paper, and conclude by outlining how the problem of pooled transportation is likely to benefit from the further application of emergent, nature-inspired computing technologies. These technologies allow systems-level behaviour to be optimised with explicit representation of individual actors. With these techniques we hope to make real progress in facing the complexity challenges that transportation problems produce.

Constraining Developmental Learning via Imitation

R. Gunstone and M.H. Lee, (2002) Constraining Developmental Learning via Imitation, in proc. ?Biologically-Inspired Robotics: The Legacy of W. Grey Walter? (WGW'02), EPSRC/BBSRC International Workshop, pp158-165, 14-16 August 2002, HP labs, Bristol.