Holes In The Texture Of Time

Since 1991, the edited book series Studies in Perception and Action has appeared in conjunction with the biennial International Conference of Perception and Action (ICPA), a conference that provides an opportunity for individuals who share interests in ecological psychology to come together to present current research, exchange ideas, and engage in conversation on theoretical and methodological concerns. The Studies in Perception and Action series is a way to preserve the dialogues between conference attendees and researchers displaying their latest work. This volume, the eighth in the series, presents the conversations held at the 13th ICPA meeting in the summer of 2005. Studies in Perception and Action VIII includes broad coverage of the most current advances in research on perceiving and acting, including contributions from researchers in Australia, China, Japan, Europe, and North America. It addresses cutting-edge research in dynamics and human movement, recent progress in ecological approaches to perceiving and acting, and substantially extends our knowledge of just how rich a source of information the world is across a wide range of modalities. This volume will appeal to individuals who follow the research literature in ecological psychology, as well as those interested in perception, perceptual development, human movement dynamics, and social processes.

Physicists are pondering on the possibility of simulating black holes in the laboratory by means of various “analog models”. These analog models, typically based on condensed matter physics, can be used to help us understand general relativity (Einstein's gravity); conversely, abstract techniques developed in general relativity can sometimes be used to help us understand certain aspects of condensed matter physics. This book contains 13 chapters — written by experts in general relativity, particle physics, and condensed matter physics — that explore various aspects of this two-way traffic.

The brain has a remarkable ability to adapt in the event of damage - in many cases shifting responsibility for specific cognitive functions to other non-damaged brain regions. This 'plasticity' can be crucial in aiding recovery from stroke, trauma, and peripheral damage such as eye or ear damage. Over the past thirty years our view of cortical plasticity has evolved greatly. Early studies suggested that changes to cortical function due to peripheral lesions could only occur during development and that these plastic changes were specific to a particular temporal window or "critical period". Over time, it has been demonstrated that cortical modifications as a consequence of either peripheral or central lesions can induce adaptive, or beneficial, changes in cortical function in an effort to preserve or enhance function. More recently, studies have identified that many of these adaptive changes, once thought only possible in the developing brain, are also possible in the mature or developed brain. At present, many laboratories are defining the beneficial capabilities of cerebral cortex plasticity, upon which many proactive and therapeutic strategies may be developed in order to maximiSe the "reprogramming" capabilities of the cerebrum. 'Reprogramming the Cerebral Cortex' describes these exciting studies and examines adaptive cortical plasticity in a variety of systems (visual, auditory, somatomotor, cross-modal, language and cognition). The book leads the reader through the complexities and promise of neuroplasticity, and presents insights into current and future research and clinical practice. It is unique in looking at the beneficial capabilities of cerebral cortex plasticity, upon which many proactive and therapeutic strategies may be developed. The book will be a valuable resource for behavioural, systems, computational and cognitive neuroscientists, as well as clinicians and neuropsychologists.

This edited volume explores the use of technology to enable us to visualise the life sciences in a more meaningful and engaging way. It will enable those interested in visualisation techniques to gain a better understanding of the applications that can be used in imaging and analysis, education, engagement and training. The reader will be able to explore the utilisation of technologies from a number of fields to enable an engaging and meaningful visual representation of the life sciences. This use of technology-enhanced learning will be of benefit for the learner, trainer, in patient care and the wider field of education and engagement. By examining a range of techniques in image capture (photogrammetery, stereophotogrammetry, microphotogrammetry and autostereoscopy), this book will showcase the wide range of tools we can use. Researchers in this field will be able to find something suitable to apply to their work to enhance user engagement through improved visual means using the technologies we have available to us today. It will highlight the uses of these technologies to examine many aspects of the human body, and enable improved ways to enhance visual and tactile learning, including 3D printing. By demonstrating co-design processes, working directly with the end-stage users (including patients), it will also highlight successes in adopting tools like hand motion tracking rehabilitation for patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis. The book will also discuss the applications of immersive environments including virtual, augmented and mixed reality. The ultimate aim is to show how, by using these tools, we can enhance communication, mobile applications, health literacy and illustration of both normal and pathological processes in the body. By applying a wide range of tools and technologies, this volume will highlight the wide range of applications in education, training and learning both for students and faculty, but also for patient care and education. Therefore, the work presented here can be accessed by a wide range of users from faculty and students involved in the design and development of these processes, by examining the pedagogy around these technologies. Importantly, it presents material, which will be of benefit for the patient, engaging them to become more involved with techniques like physiotherapy.

Reflecting emerging methods and the evolution of the field, Introduction to Texture Analysis: Macrotexture, Microtexture, and Orientation Mapping keeps mathematics to a minimum in covering both traditional macrotexture analysis and more advanced electron-microscopy-based microtexture analysis. The authors integrate the two techniques and address the subsequent need for a more detailed explanation of philosophy, practice, and analysis associated with texture analysis. The book illustrates approaches to orientation measurement and interpretation and elucidates the fundamental principles on which measurements are based. Thoroughly updated, this Third Edition of a best-seller is a rare introductory-level guide to texture analysis. Discusses terminology associated with orientations, texture, and their representation, as well as the diffraction of radiation, a phenomenon that is the basis for almost all texture analysis Covers data acquisition, as well as representation and evaluation related to the well-established methods of macrotexture analysis Updated to include experimental details of the latest transmission or scanning electron microscope-based techniques for microstructure analysis, including electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) Describes how microtexture data are evaluated and represented and emphasizes the advances in orientation microscopy and mapping, and advanced issues concerning crystallographic aspects of interfaces and connectivity Offers new and innovative grain boundary descriptions and examples This book is an ideal tool to help readers in the materials sciences develop a working understanding of the practice and applications of texture.

The world as it is viewed from modern physics and cosmology has many strange and unexpected features. Often these are in stark contrast with our everyday experience or our preconceptions, such as the concept of space and time as finite and changeable. Nevertheless it is this strange world which is the fundamental basis of our existence. Therefore modern science also has a few things to say about the age-old questions: Who are we? – Where do we come from? – Where are we going? The author, an experienced scientist and teacher, presents the knowledge that we have about our world for non-experts. He takes us on a journey through cosmology and the quantum world of elementary particles. And he sketches the impact of the insights gained into philosophical assumptions and religious beliefs in these disciplines. In the end he asks the speculative question whether there is something beyond the limits of the natural sciences.