Exploring the use of sensors to measure behavioral interactions: an experimental evaluation of using hand trajectories.

Humans appear to be sensitive to relative small changes in their surroundings. These changes are often initially perceived as irrelevant, but they can cause significant changes in behavior. However, how exactly people's behavior changes is often hard to quantify. A reliable and valid tool is needed in order to address such a question, ideally measuring an important point of interaction, such as the hand. Wearable-body-sensor systems can be used to obtain valuable, behavioral information. These systems are particularly useful for assessing functional interactions that occur between the endpoints of the upper limbs and our surroundings. A new method is explored that consists of computing hand position using a wearable sensor system and validating it against a gold standard reference measurement (optical tracking device). Initial outcomes related well to the gold standard measurements (r = 0.81) showing an acceptable average root mean square error of 0.09 meters. Subsequently, the use of this approach was further investigated by measuring differences in motor behavior, in response to a changing environment. Three subjects were asked to perform a water pouring task with three slightly different containers. Wavelet analysis was introduced to assess how motor consistency was affected by these small environmental changes. Results showed that the behavioral motor adjustments to a variable environment could be assessed by applying wavelet coherence techniques. Applying these procedures in everyday life, combined with correct research methodologies, can assist in quantifying how environmental changes can cause alterations in our motor behavior.

Allelopathic interactions between the Potamogeton spp and toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa)

This study aimed to investigate the allelopathic activities between 3 Potamogeton spp. (Potamogeton maackianus, Potamogeton malaianus and Potamogeton pectinatus) and the toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa). All Potamogeton spp inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa in both coexistence and exudates experiments. Inhibition of M. aeruginosa growth by plant exudates depended strongly on the biomass of P malaianus. Initial pH (6.5-9.8) did not influence the inhibitory effects of P. malaianus exudates. However, the M. aeruginosa inhibited the net photosynthesis and respiration of all three pondweed test spp.. The decreases in photosynthesis and respiration were probably caused by the toxic compounds released by M. aeruginosa, rather than its shading effects. The M. aeruginosa also decreased the nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) uptake rates of macrophytes. The absorption rates of phosphorus and nitrogen and net photosynthesis were decreased sharply. These results will help to restore submerged plants in eutrophic waters.

Interactions between a cyanobacterial bloom (Microcystis) and the submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum oryzetorum Kom.

In aquatic ecosystems, macrophytes and phytoplankton are main primary producers, in which macrophyte plays an important role in maintaining clear water state, while phytoplankton often dominates in turbid waterbodies. In the present study, the growth and photosynthetic activity of the submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum oryzetorum Kom. in different cell densities of cyanobacterial bloom are studied. The results show that the plant length and fresh mass of C. oryzetorum are promoted by low cyanobacterial cell densities. Medium and high cyanobacterial cell densities, on the contrary, act as inhibitory. Furthermore, the photosynthetic activity of C. oryzetorum is strongly inhibited by high cyanobacterial cell densities. To a certain extent, the growth of cyanobacteria is inhibited by C. oryzetorum, but no significant effect is found in this study.

Allelopathic interactions between Potamogelon maackianus and Microcystis aeruginosa

The allelopathic interactions between Potamogeton maackianus and toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) were studied. P maackianus inhibited the growth of M. aeruginosa, both in a coexistence culture system and in exudates experimental culture system. M. aeruginosa also showed effects on the secondary metabolic biosynthesis and secreting behavior of P maackianus. The main lipophilic components of the hexane extracts and the exudates from the macrophyte were analyzed through GC-MS determination. The lipophilic components of the hexane extracts and the exudates from P. maackianus were influenced by M. aeruginosa or their released chemicals. Comparing the lipophilic constituents of the hexane extracts with those in the exudates, the results showed that weak polar compounds contained in the macrophytes can be secreted into the surrounding water. Many compounds, such as N-phenyl-2-naphthalenamine and isopropyl myristate, were detected both in the hexane extracts and the exudates. The changes of lipophilic components in the hexane extracts would be a response to the stress of toxic cyanobacteria or their released toxins. Those changes of exudates, especially the increased content of N-phenyl-2-naphthalenamine, might also be an induced defensive behavior mediated by the released toxins from M aeruginosa. The study results about reciprocal allelopathic responses between macrophytes and cyanobacteria can help in the management of eutrophic waters, and is also important information concerning strategies for recovering eutrophic waters.

Effects of electron-electron interactions on the electronic Raman scattering of graphite in high magnetic fields

We report the observation of strongly temperature (T)-dependent spectral lines in electronic Raman-scattering spectra of graphite in a high magnetic field up to 45 T applied along the c axis. The magnetic field quantizes the in-plane motion, while the out-of-plane motion remains free, effectively reducing the system dimension from 3 to 1. Optically created electron-hole pairs interact with, or shake up, the one-dimensional Fermi sea in the lowest Landau subbands. Based on the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory, we show that interaction effects modify the spectral line shape from (ω-Δ)-1/2 to (ω-Δ)2α-1/2 at T = 0. At finite T, we predict a thermal broadening factor that increases linearly with T. Our model reproduces the observed T-dependent line shape, determining the electron-electron interaction parameter α to be ∼0.05 at 40 T. © 2014 American Physical Society.

Self-organization of spinal reflexes involving homonymous, antagonist and synergistic interactions

Recent results in spinal research are challenging the historical view that the spinal reflexes are mostly hardwired and fixed behaviours. In previous work we have shown that three of the simplest spinal reflexes could be self-organised in an agonist-antagonist pair of muscles. The simplicity of these reflexes is given from the fact that they entail at most one interneuron mediating the connectivity between afferent inputs and efferent outputs. These reflexes are: the Myotatic, the Reciprocal Inibition and the Reverse Myotatic reflexes. In this paper we apply our framework to a simulated 2D leg model actuated by six muscles (mono- and bi-articular). Our results show that the framework is successful in learning most of the spinal reflex circuitry as well as the corresponding behaviour in the more complicated muscle arrangement. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Studies on morphogenesis and cellular interactions of Rana grylio virus in an infected fish cell line

A pathogenic virus (RGV), isolated from diseased pig frog Rana grylio with lethal syndrome, was investigated with regard to morphogenesis and cellular interactions in EPC cells, a cell Line from fish. Different stages of virus amplification, maturation and assembly were observed at nucleus, cytoplasm and cellular membranes. The matured virus particles, were not only distributed diffusely in nucleus, cytoplasm and cellular surface, but also aggregated as pseudocrystalline arrays in the cytoplasm. Virions were released by budding from the plasma membranes, or following cell lysis. Various types of cell damage, such as small vacuoles, spherical inclusions, and swollen and empty mitochondria, were also found. Some typical characteristics of RGV, such as the symmetrical shape of the virions, replication process involving both nuclear and cytoplasmic phases, budding release from cellular membrane and intracellular membrane, viromatrix and paracrystalline aggregation in cytoplasm, and its acute pathogenic effects, were observed to be similar to that of other iridoviruses. Therefore, the RGV appears to be a member of the Iridoviridae based on these studies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Anisotropic spin transport in two-terminal mesoscopic rings: Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions

We theoretically investigate the spin transport in two-terminal mesoscopic rings in the presence of both the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI) and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction (DSOI). We find that the interplay between the RSOI and DSOI breaks the original cylindric symmetry of the mesoscopic rings and consequently leads to the anisotropic spin transport, i.e., the conductance is sensitive to the positions of the incoming and outgoing leads. The anisotropic spin transport can survive even in the presence of disorder caused by impurity elastic scattering in a realistic system.

Strong Spin-Orbit Interactions in an InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs Two-Dimensional Electron Gas by Weak Antilocalization Analysis

Spin-orbit interactions in a two-dimensional electron gas were studied in an InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs quantum well. Since weak anti localization effects take place far beyond the diffusive regime, (i.e., the ratio of the characteristic magnetic field, at which the magnetoresistance correction maximum occurs, to the transport magnetic field is more than ten) the experimental data are examined by the Golub theory, which is applicable to both diffusive regime and ballistic regime. Satisfactory fitting lines to the experimental data have been achieved using the Golub theory. In the strong spin-orbit interaction two-dimensional electron gas system, the large spin splitting energy of 6.08 meV is observed mainly due to the high electron concentration in the quantum well. The temperature dependence of the phase-breaking rate is qualitatively in agreement with the theoretical predictions. (C) 2009 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Anisotropic transport in quantum waveguides due to the spin-orbit interactions

We theoretically investigate the charge transport in the quantum waveguides in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction. We find that the interplay between the Rashba spin-orbit interaction and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction can induce a symmetry breaking and consequently leads to the anisotropic charge transport in the quantum waveguides, the conductance through the quantum waveguides depends sensitively on the crystallographic orientations of the quantum waveguides. The anisotropy of the charge transport can even survive in the presence of disorder effect in realistic systems.

Role of interactions in electronic structure of a two-electron quantum dot molecule

We have studied a two-electron quantum dot molecule in a magnetic field. The electron interaction is treated accurately by the direct diagonalization of the Hamiltonian matrix. We calculate two lowest energy levels of the two-electron quantum dot molecule in a magnetic field. Our results show that the electron interactions are significant, as they can change the total spin of the two-electron ground state of the system by adjusting the magnetic field between S = 0 and S = 1. The energy difference DeltaE between the lowest S = 0 and S = 1 states is shown as a function of the axial magnetic field. We found that the energy difference between the lowest S = 0 and S = 1 states in the strong-B S = 0 state varies linearly. Our results provide a possible realization for a qubit to be fabricated by current growth techniques.

Spin states and persistent currents in mesoscopic rings: Spin-orbit interactions

We investigate theoretically electron spin states in one-dimensional and two-dimensional (2D) hard-wall mesoscopic rings in the presence of both the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI) and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction (DSOI) in a perpendicular magnetic field. The Hamiltonian of the RSOI alone is mathematically equivalent to that of the DSOI alone using an SU(2) spin rotation transformation. Our theoretical results show that the interplay between the RSOI and DSOI results in an effective periodic potential, which consequently leads to gaps in the energy spectrum. This periodic potential also weakens and smoothens the oscillations of the persistent charge current and spin current and results in the localization of electrons. For a 2D ring with a finite width, higher radial modes destroy the periodic oscillations of persistent currents.

Quantum dissipation and broadening mechanisms due to electron-phonon interactions in self-formed InGaN quantum dots

Quantum dissipation and broadening mechanisms in Si-doped InGaN quantum dots are studied via the photoluminescence technique. It is found that the dissipative thermal bath that embeds the quantum dots plays an important role in the photon emission processes. Observed spontaneous emission spectra are modeled with the multimode Brownian oscillator model achieving an excellent agreement between experiment and theory for a wide temperature range. The dimensionless Huang-Rhys factor characterizing the strength of electron-LO-phonon coupling and damping constant accounting for the LO-phonon-bath interaction strength are found to be similar to 0.2 and 200 cm(-1), respectively, for the InGaN QDs. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Effect of the electrostatic interactions of chromophores on the macroscopic second-order nonlinear optical properties of the polymer films

The polyetherketone (PEK-c) guest-host system thin films doped with 3-(1,1-dicyanothenyl)-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pryazole (DCNP) were prepared. Their second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) coefficients chi(33)((2)) were measured by using Maker fringe method for the polymer films doped with different weight percents of DCNP. Experimental results indicate that the second-order NLO properties of the poled polymer films could decrease with the chromophore loading increasing when the chromophore loading reaches a fairly high level. In this paper, the relationship between the macroscopic second-order NLO coefficient and the chromophore number density was modified under considering the role of the electrostatic interactions of chromophores in the polymer film. According to the modified relationship, the macroscopic second-order NLO coefficient is no longer in direct proportion with the chromophore number density in the polymer film. The effect of the electrostatic interactions of chromophores on second-order NLO properties was discussed. The attenuation of the macroscopic second-order NLO activity can be demonstrated by the role of the chromophore electrostatic interactions at high loading of chromophore in the polymer systems.