This paper describes the use of spatially-sparse inputs to influence global changes in the behavior of Dynamic Movement Primitives (DMPs). The dynamics of DMPs are analyzed through the framework of contraction theory as networked hierarchies of contracting or transversely contracting systems. Within this framework, sparsely-inhibited rhythmic DMPs (SI-RDMPs) are introduced to both inhibit or en...

A processing pipeline for diffraction data acquired using the `serial crystallography' methodology with a free-electron laser source is described with reference to the crystallographic analysis suite CrystFEL and the pre-processing program Cheetah. A detailed analysis of the nature and impact of indexing ambiguities is presented. Simulations of the Monte Carlo integration scheme, which accounts...

Novel ambiguous N-N combinations were created that had both a thematic relation and a property mapping interpretation (e.g., a cheetah truck = a fast truck vs. a truck for transporting cheetahs). Experiment 1 asked people to generate their own interpretations, which were then classified as involving thematic relations, property mapping or other. Experiment 2 asked people to choose which of the ...

Various robotic quadrupeds have been introduced to investigate the realization of dynamically-stable running behaviors. The majority of these platforms involve rigid, nondeformable torsos, a feature that distinguishes them from their counterparts in the animal world, which owe much of their remarkable locomotion abilities to their flexible bodies. Only a few quadrupedal robots employ torso flex...

Received: March 20, 2015. Received in revised form: July 31, 2015. Accepted: August 28, 2015. This paper studies the effect of flexible linear torso on the dynamics of passive quadruped bounding. A reduced-order passive and conservative model with linear flexible torso and springy legs is introduced. The model features extensive spine deformation during high-speed bounding, resembling those obs...

Alexandra Switzer*, Linda Munson, Cari Beesley, Patricia Wilkins, Jason K. Blackburn & Laurie Marker UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A. Stanford School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, U.S.A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A. Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory,...

Due to global biodiversity declines, conservation programmes have increasingly had consider reintroducing captive animals into the wild. However, reintroductions often fail as individuals may be naïve predators and do not recognise or respond appropriately predatory cues, contributing high mortality rates soon after release. This study evaluates differences in predator-response behaviours betwe...

The Microsoft SQL Server storage engine was rearchitected to support row level locking in Version 7.0. This required significant changes throughout the store; from page update primitives, logging and recovery, to accessmethods. One interesting engineering aspect of this project was the fact that we kept the system running during the entire transformation of the underlying architecture – a task ...

Vocalization is a rich potential source of information on the internal state of animals. This information is necessary for assessing the animal behavior and ensuring the most favorable conditions for holding and breeding animals in captivity. The sound indicators of animal's behavioral and physiological well-being can be applied without traumatic manipulations, which is especially important for...