Class Of Cones Research Articles

L- and M-Cone isolating ERGs: LED versus CRT stimulation

Using double silent substitution, it is possible to generate L-cone and M-cone isolating electroretinograms (ERGs) on a CRT. A major limitation of the technique is that the depth of modulation of cone classes is limited by the restricted luminance of the phosphors and their spectral overlap. To address this problem we have ported the technique to a four-color LED Ganzfeld stimulus (Diagnosis ColorDome). This allows higher retinal illuminances, higher contrasts, and triple silent substitution. With careful control over the retinal area stimulated, we show that the same data can be recorded from both CRT and LED stimuli when luminance, size and cone contrast are kept constant. Importantly, the different temporal profiles of the two devices do not influence the ERG amplitude and phase plots. We present data over a much wider range of luminances (up to about 10,000 trolands) and contrasts with the LED stimulator than previously reported with CRT screens. We conclude that the close resemblance between data obtained with an LED stimulator and with a CRT screen indicate that the differences have a purely physiological origin.

Radar Detection and Classification of Jamming Signals Belonging to a Cone Class

This paper considers the problem of detecting and classifying a radar target signal and a jamming signal produced by a deception electronic counter measure (ECM) system based on a digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) device. The disturbance is modeled as a complex correlated Gaussian process. The jamming is modeled as a signal belonging to a cone whose axis is the true target signal. Two different approaches are analyzed, based on the adaptive coherent estimator (ACE) and on the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT), yielding both to a two-block device. The performance of the two detection/classification algorithms are evaluated, analytically, when possible, and by Monte Carlo simulation.

Eggshell colour does not predict measures of maternal investment in eggs of Turdus thrushes

The striking diversity of avian eggshell colour has long fascinated biologists. Recently, it has been proposed that the blue-green colour of some eggs may function as a post-mating sexually selected signal of female phenotypic quality to their mates to induce higher allocation of paternal care. It has been suggested that maternally deposited yolk carotenoids may be the specific aspect of reproductive quality that the female is signalling via eggshell colour. We use the known properties of the thrush visual system (Turdus sp.) to calculate photon capture for the four single cone photoreceptors, and the principal member of the double cone class for eggs in clutches of two introduced European thrush species (Turdus merula and Turdus philomelos) in New Zealand. We show that differences in the avian-perceived colours of individual eggs are not consistently correlated with different measures of maternal investment in the egg. Given the growing extent of the knowledge between maternal quality, parental investment and eggshell pigmentation across avian taxa, we encourage the use of avian perceptual modelling for testing alternative non-signalling explanations for the structural and physiological basis of these relationships.

Eel visual pigments revisited: The fate of retinal cones during metamorphosis

During their complex life history, anguilliform eels go through a major metamorphosis when developing from a fresh water yellow eel into a deep-sea silver eel. In addition to major changes in body morphology, the visual system also adapts from a fresh water teleost duplex retina with rods and cones, to a specialized deep-sea retina containing only rods. The history of the rods is well documented with an initial switch from a porphyropsin to a rhodopsin (P523(2) to P501(1)) and then a total change in gene expression with the down regulation of a "freshwater" opsin and its concomitant replacement by the expression of a typical "deep-sea" opsin (P501(1) to P482(1)). Yellow eels possess only two spectral classes of single cones, one sensitive in the green presumably expressing an RH2 opsin gene and the second sensitive in the blue expressing an SWS2 opsin gene. In immature glass eels, entering into rivers from the sea, the cones contain mixtures of rhodopsins and porphyropsins, whereas the fully freshwater yellow eels have cone pigments that are almost pure porphyropsins with peak sensitivities at about 540-545 nm and 435-440 nm, respectively. However, during the early stages of metamorphosis, the pigments switch to rhodopsins with the maximum sensitivity of the "green"-sensitive cone shifting to about 525 nm, somewhat paralleling, but preceding the change in rods. During metamorphosis, the cones are almost completely lost.

An index theorem for Wiener–Hopf operators

We study the multivariate generalisation of the classical Wiener–Hopf algebra, which is the C ∗ -algebra generated by the Wiener–Hopf operators, given by convolutions restricted to convex cones. By the work of Muhly and Renault, this C ∗ -algebra is known to be isomorphic to the reduced C ∗ -algebra of a certain restricted action groupoid. It admits a composition series, and therefore, a ‘symbol’ calculus. Using groupoid methods, we obtain, in the framework of Kasparov's bivariant KK-theory, a topological expression of the index maps associated to these symbol maps in terms of geometric-topological data of the underlying convex cone. This generalises an index theorem by Upmeier concerning Wiener–Hopf operators on symmetric cones. Our result covers a wide class of cones containing polyhedral and homogeneous cones.

Retinal cone topography of artiodactyl mammals: Influence of body height and habitat

This study addresses the correlation of retinal topography with factors such as the visual environment, life style, and behavior for a major mammalian group, the artiodactyls. To provide a broader basis for semiquantitative comparison, short-wavelength-sensitive (S)- and middle-to-long-wavelength-sensitive (M)-opsin cone receptor populations from 25 species from five artiodactyl families and of the African elephant were labeled and sampled. The resulting topographic maps were analyzed with respect to the position and extension of high-density regions. For better parameter differentiation, systematic relationships were statistically normalized. In all species examined, two classes of cones have been detected. In most species, the S-cone maxima were located in the temporodorsal retina, but there are exceptions such as the roe deer with accumulation in the ventral retina. For M-cones, as a consequence of their role in terrain/food assessment and predator detection, the standard topography is L-shaped: a horizontal visual streak including a temporal area centralis is extended by a temporal rim. Its extension is correlated with the animal's body height (P = 0.0017): small species (pudu, mouse deer) tend to have a visual streak only, whereas the giraffe shows a complete dorsal arch of elevated densities. Furthermore, a size-independent habitat correlation was revealed for a similar M-cone pattern (P < 0.0001): mountainous species show a striking specialization around the dorsal retina, pointing to the importance of the inferior visual field in precipitous terrain.

Visual pigment and oil droplet characteristics of the bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus), a new world migratory bird

The retinal photoreceptors of a New World migratory bird, the bobolink ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus) were examined using microspectrophotometry. Based on the absorbance spectra of their visual pigments and oil droplets, retinal photoreceptors include five classes of single cones, one double cone, and one rod. The single cones contain a long-wavelength pigment ( λ max = 564 nm) paired with a red or clear droplet, a medium-wavelength pigment ( λ max = 505 nm) with an orange or yellow droplet, and an ultraviolet pigment ( λ max = 372 nm) with a transparent droplet. No violet- or blue-sensitive single cone was found. The Bobolink double cone is unique: the Accessory member possesses the violet sensitive pigment ( λ max = 403 nm), in contrast to the long-wavelength sensitive pigment present in the double cones of other avian species.

The ecology of visual pigments.

The visual systems of vertebrates have adapted to function in photic environments ranging from the broad spectrum of full sunlight to almost total darkness, including the restricted spectral ranges found in different coloured aquatic environments. Such adaptations are immediately obvious at the level of retinal photoreceptors. The basic vertebrate photoreceptor pattern consists of rods and four spectrally distinct classes of cone that span the spectrum from the near ultraviolet to the far red. This arrangement is found in many diurnal species including shallow-living teleosts, reptiles and birds, but is noticeably absent in mammals. In freshwater teleosts the visual pigments may be porphyropsins which have maximum sensitivities displaced to longer wavelengths than their equivalent rhodopsins. Water acts as a monochromator, so that with increasing depth the spectral range of the ambient light is restricted, primarily at long wavelengths. Therefore, at depth the down-welling daylight is not only attenuated in intensity, but is restricted to a narrow spectral band centred around 470 nm. Closely related species that live at increasing depths show a loss of long-wave-sensitive cones and a displacement of the maximum sensitivities of middle-wave-sensitive cones and rods to shorter wavelengths. Such species offer a natural model for determining specific amino acids in opsin responsible for the spectral tuning of these middle-wave-sensitive pigments.

Spectral sensitivities of the seahorsesHippocampus subelongatusandHippocampus barbouriand the pipefishStigmatopora argus

The Syngnathidae are specialized diurnal feeders that are known to possess a retinal fovea and use independent eye movements to locate, track, and strike individual planktonic prey items. In this study, we have investigated the spectral sensitivities of three syngnathid species: a pipefish and two seahorses. We used spectrophotometry to measure the spectral transmission properties of ocular lenses and microspectrophotometry to measure the spectral absorption characteristics of visual pigments in the retinal photoreceptors. The pipefish, Stigmatopora argus, together with the seahorse Hippocampus subelongatus, is found in "green-water" temperate coastal seagrass habitats, whereas the second seahorse, H. barbouri, originates from a "blue-water" tropical coral reef habitat. All species were found to possess short wavelength absorbing pigment(s) in their lenses, with the 50% cut-off point of S. argus and H. subelongatus at 429 and 425 nm respectively, whereas that of H. barbouri was located at 409 nm. Microspectrophotometry of the photoreceptors revealed that the rods of all three species contained visual pigment with the wavelength of maximum absorption (lambda(max)) at approximately 500 nm. The visual pigment complement of the cones varied between the species: all possessed single cones with a lambda(max) close to 460 nm but H. barbouri also possessed an additional class of single cone with lambda(max) at 430 nm. Three classes of visual pigment were found in the double cones, the lambda(max) being approximately 520, 537, and 560 nm in the two seahorses and 520, 537, and 580 nm in the pipefish. The spectral sensitivities of the syngnathids investigated here do not appear to conform to generally accepted trends for fishes inhabiting different spectral environments. The influence of the specialized feeding regime of the syngnathids is discussed in relation to our findings that ultra-violet sensitivity is apparently not necessary for zooplanktivory in certain habitats.

Invariant sets and comparison of dynamical systems

We propose a method for the construction and investigation of invariant sets of differential systems described by cone inequalities with the use of the operator of differentiation along the trajectories of the system. Well-known conditions for the positivity of linear and nonlinear differential systems with respect to typical classes of cones are generalized. A method for comparison and ordering is developed for a family of dynamical systems.

Angular analysis of two classes of non-polyhedral convex cones: the point of view of optimization theory

There are three related concepts that arise in connection with the angular analysis of a convex cone: antipodality, criticality, and Nash equilibria. These concepts are geometric in nature but they can also be approached from the perspective of optimization theory. A detailed angular analysis of polyhedral convex cones has been carried out in a recent work of ours. This note focus on two important classes of non-polyhedral convex cones: elliptic cones in an Euclidean vector space and spectral cones in a space of symmetric matrices.

Positivity of Schur function expansions of Thom polynomials

Combining the approach to Thom polynomials via classifying spaces of singularities with the Fulton-Lazarsfeld theory of cone classes and positive polynomials for ample vector bundles, we show that the coefcients of the Schur function expansions of the Thom polynomials of stable singularities are nonnegative with positive sum.

Invariant cones and stability of linear dynamical systems

We present a method for the investigation of the stability and positivity of systems of linear differential equations of arbitrary order. Conditions for the invariance of classes of cones of circular and ellipsoidal types are established. We propose algebraic conditions for the exponential stability of linear positive systems based on the notion of maximal eigenpairs of a matrix polynomial.

On the geometry of complete intersection toric varieties

In this paper we give a geometric characterization of the cones of toric varieties that are complete intersections. In particular, we prove that the class of complete intersection cones is the smallest class of cones which is closed under direct sum and contains all simplex cones. Further, we show that the number of the extreme rays of such a cone, which is less than or equal to 2n − 2, is exactly 2n − 2 if and only if the cone is a bipyramidal cone, where n > 1 is the dimension of the cone. Finally, we characterize all toric varieties whose associated cones are complete intersection cones.

Optimal cones intersection technique

This paper presents an extension to the classical cones intersection technique, which was, and is, exhaustively used to estimate the spin axis direction of spin stabilized spacecraft. The resulting optimal cones intersection technique is derived from a demonstrated co-planarity condition and does not present ambiguities or singularities. The proposed method allows an optimal estimation of any on-board direction in a closed-form by fully complying with Wahba's optimality criterion of spacecraft attitude. Numerical tests show that the optimal cones intersection technique is faster than ESOQ-2, the presently fastest optimal attitude estimator, for two vector observation case.

Measuring the degree of pointedness of a closed convex cone: a metric approach

AbstractWe introduce the concept of radius of pointedness for a closed convex cone in a finite dimensional Hilbert space. Such radius measures the degree of pointedness of the cone: the bigger the radius, the higher its degree of pointedness. We also discuss the question of measuring the degree of solidity of a closed convex cone. Pointedness and solidity radiuses are related to each other through a simple duality formula. Explicit computations are carried out for several classical cones appearing in the literature. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Polyhedral divisors and algebraic torus actions

We provide a complete description of normal affine varieties with effective algebraic torus action in terms of what we call proper polyhedral divisors on semiprojective varieties. Our approach extends classical cone constructions of Dolgachev, Demazure and Pinkham to the multigraded case, and it comprises the theory of affine toric varieties.

Radon transforms on a class of cones with fixed axis direction

Integral transforms which map functions on R 3 onto their integrals on circular cones having fixed axis direction and variable opening angle are introduced and studied as generalizations of the known Radon transform. Besides their intrinsic mathematical interest, they serve as backbone support to emission imaging based on Compton scattered radiation, the way the standard Radon transform does for emission imaging based on non-scattered radiation. In this work, we establish its basic properties and prove analytically its invertibility. Formulae to express it in terms of the standard Radon transform (or vice versa) are given. We also discuss some extensions as applications.

The cone photoreceptors and visual pigments of chameleons

Visual pigments, oil droplets and photoreceptor types in the retinas of four species of true chameleons have been examined by microspectrophotometry. The species occupy different photic environments: two species of Chamaeleo are from Madagascar and two species of Furcifer are from Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In addition to double cones, four spectrally distinct classes of single cone were identified. No rod photoreceptors were observed. The visual pigments appear to be mixtures of rhodopsins and porphyropsins. Double cones contained a pale oil droplet in the principle member and both outer segments contained a long-wave-sensitive visual pigment with a spectral maximum between about 555 nm and 610 nm, depending on the rhodopsin/porphyropsin mixture. Long-wave-sensitive single cones contained a visual pigment spectrally identical to the double cones, but combined with a yellow oil droplet. The other three classes of single cone contained visual pigments with maxima at about 480-505, 440-450 and 375-385 nm, combined with yellow, clear and transparent oil droplets respectively. The latter two classes were sparsely distributed. The transmission of the lens and cornea of C. dilepis was measured and found to be transparent throughout the visible and near ultraviolet, with a cut off at about 350 nm.

Photopic Vision in Eels: Evidences of Color Discrimination

Several classes of second-order retinal neurons have been studied electrophysiologically in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from two different localities, Lake Seliger in Russia and the coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea in Montenegro. The majority of L-horizontal cells (68 explored) had both rod and cone inputs, an uncommon phenomenon among teleosts. Pronounced color-opponent properties, often taken as pointing to the capacity of color vision, were identified in one amacrine cell, apparently of the "blue/yellow" (or "blue/green") type. Microspectrophotometric measurements revealed two different spectral classes of cones with absorption maxima at about 525 and 434 nm. The existence of green-sensitive and blue-sensitive cone units was thus revealed by both electrophysiological and microspectrophotometric techniques.