A stochastic model for the evolution of a growing population is proposed, in order to explain empirical power-law distributions in the frequency of family names as a function of the family size. Preliminary results show that the predicted exponents are in good agreement with real data. The evolution of family-name distributions is discussed in the frame of vertical transmission of cultural feat...

Slice-based visualizations of CT and MRI data are frequently used for diagnosis, intervention planning and intraoperative navigation since they allow a precise analysis and localization. We present new techniques to enhance the visualization of cross sectional medical image data. Our work is focussed on intervention planning and intraoperative navigation. We address the following problems of sl...

In the horizontal-vertical illusion (HVI), the length of the vertical line is overestimated, whereas in the bisection illusion (BI), the horizontal bisecting line is expected to be overestimated. Here, only half of our 22 observers showed the expected BI, whereas the other half underestimated the bisecting line. Observers also differed in their judgments of the strength of the HVI: The HVI was ...

We propose a new model for structured temporal composition of interactive dynamic multimedia presentations. It extends the notion of basic media segments to include executable code, live feeds, and links. The model is based on Interval Expressions that involve media segments of unknown duration.

Improved prevention of vertical transmission of HIV is an essential part of the global response to HIV. The Option B+ strategy took the extraordinary step of treating many non-pregnant women living with HIV (those with CD4 cell counts >350 cells/mm3) in the absence of evidence that they themselves would benefit from ART. This example of so-called AIDS exceptionalism reflects an understanding th...

Much existing literature in anthropology suggests that teaching is rare in non-Western societies, and that cultural transmission is mostly vertical (parent-to-offspring). However, applications of evolutionary theory to humans predict both teaching and non-vertical transmission of culturally learned skills, behaviors, and knowledge should be common cross-culturally. Here, we review this body of ...

Chicken anemia virus is commonly found in commercially produced chickens and has a worldwide distribution. It is difficult to inactivate thermally or with common disinfectants, which limits the utility of normal sanitization practices. The virus is important because of the disease it produces following transovarian transmission and because of its potential for inducing immunosuppression alone o...

Data obtained through measurement always contain random error. Random error is readily observed by sampling—making repeated measurements while all experimental conditions remain the same. For various reasons, the measurements will not all be the same and a frequency distribution (see Fig. 1) is one way to display the resulting data. The height of each vertical bar indicates the number of times ...

A common tactile display design uses an array of mechanical pins covered by a rubber layer which acts as a spatial low pass filter. To characterize the perceptual relationship between this rubber layer and shape rendering, we conducted psychophysical experiments to examine the perception of a vertical line stimulus felt using rubber covers of varying thickness and stiffness. We found no signifi...

In a rectangular drawing of a plane graph, each edge is drawn as a horizontal or vertical line segment, and all faces including the outer face are drawn as rectangles. In this paper, we introduce an “extended rectangular drawing” in which all inner faces are drawn as rectangles but the outer face is drawn as a rectilinear polygon with designated corners, and give a necessary and sufficient cond...