In this work, we consider immersive Virtual Reality (VR) as a communication process between humans, mediated by computer systems, which uses interaction, visualization, and other sensory stimuli to convey information. From this viewpoint, it is relevant to understand how VR can solve a given communication problem, what is therefore the expressive power of VR system, i.e., its ability in establishing the communication, what are the guidelines to design an effective system, and what are the more relevant models of VR applications. Firstly, we try to clarify the notion of reality in Virtual Reality systems and conclude that reality is not an intrinsic characteristic of VR, rather the result of a conventional way of coding information. The purpose of coding is to lead the observer to the conclusion that the VR set is what is called in italian as verisimile (from Latin veri similis), i.e., ??similar-to-the-real-thing??. So the creation of an effective VR application is an artifice or an illusion. But in order to avoid an over-reliance on the creativity of the VR designer, we intend to identify a solid ground on which different kinds of VR solutions can be considered in terms of their ability to solve the desired communication objective. To this aim, we will rely on methods derived from rhetoric to semiotics. 相似文献
The asymptotic convergence of a switched nonlinear system in the presence of disturbances is studied. The system switches among a family of integral input-to-state stable systems. The time between two consecutive switchings is not less than a value τD. This dwell-time τD is allowed to take different values according to a function whose argument is the state of the system at the switching times. We propose a dwell-time function which depends on the comparison functions which characterize the integral input-to-state stability property and guarantees the state of the switched system to converge to zero under the action of disturbances with “bounded energy”. The main feature of the analysis is that it does not rely on the property for the switching to stop in finite time. The two important cases of locally exponentially stable and feedforward systems are analyzed in detail. 相似文献
Summary: A customized instrument has been developed as part of multidisciplinary research work relating to the development of a biodegradable vascular scaffold. This instrument aims to measure the mechanical properties of elastic and viscoelastic thin membranes with tissue engineering applications. Uniform and omni‐directional pressure is applied on the whole membrane which is uniformly clamped and submerged into a liquid medium. The mechanical testing described in this study is focused on the stress‐strain curves of polycaprolactone (PCL) films after different treatments. The influence of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's culture medium, L929 fibroblast culture, NaOH treatment and film thickness on the mechanical properties of PCL films was evaluated after different times. These studies show that the PCL degradation process is influenced by immersion in the culture medium, inducing an increment in the slope of the pressure‐dilation curve which is indicative of an increase in the polymer stiffness. On the other hand, long NaOH treatments make PCL films have more flexible behavior.
A computerized version of the instrument: (1) Electrical compressor; (2) Filter; (3) Voltage‐pressure converter; (5) Pressure sensor; (6) Differential pressure sensor; (7–8) Main and auxiliary pipettes; (9) Printed circuit board; (10) Personal computer. 相似文献
Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of heart-related deaths worldwide. Following MI, the hypoxic microenvironment triggers apoptosis, disrupts the extracellular matrix and forms a non-functional scar that leads towards adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling. If left untreated this eventually leads to heart failure. Besides extensive advancement in medical therapy, complete functional recovery is never accomplished, as the heart possesses limited regenerative ability. In recent decades, the focus has shifted towards tissue engineering and regenerative strategies that provide an attractive option to improve cardiac regeneration, limit adverse LV remodelling and restore function in an infarcted heart. Acellular scaffolds possess attractive features that have made them a promising therapeutic candidate. Their application in infarcted areas has been shown to improve LV remodelling and enhance functional recovery in post-MI hearts. This review will summarise the updates on acellular scaffolds developed and tested in pre-clinical and clinical scenarios in the past five years with a focus on their ability to overcome damage caused by MI. It will also describe how acellular scaffolds alone or in combination with biomolecules have been employed for MI treatment. A better understanding of acellular scaffolds potentialities may guide the development of customised and optimised therapeutic strategies for MI treatment. 相似文献
We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding eIF4A from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The deduced protein sequence is similar in length and sequence to other eIF4A proteins and exhibits highest similarity with the mammalian eIF4A protein. Hybridization with genomic DNA reveals two eIF4A genes located on two different chromosomes. This sequence has been deposited in the EMBL Data Library under Accession Number X80796. 相似文献