Design for emergence: experiments with a mixed reality urban playground game

In this paper we present our work in the design of ubiquitous social experiences, aiming to foster group participation and spontaneous playful behaviours in a city environment. We outline our approach of design for emergence: to provide just enough of a game context and challenge for people to be creative, to extend and enrich the experience of play through their interaction in the real world. CitiTag is our mixed reality testbed, a wireless location-based multiplayer game based on the concept of playground ‘tag’. We describe the design and implementation of CitiTag and discuss results from two user studies.     

Image watermarking: an evolution to content based approaches

The paper is focused on the evolution of the watermarking schemes from pixel-based approaches to content based methods. Firstly, the field of watermarking is presented, its implication in the real word is outlined. The second section gives a brief overview of different approaches in the spatial and the frequential domain. We then present different content-based approaches used to improve the invisibility or the synchronisation of the mark. The last section describes our content-based scheme; the synchronisation of the mark after image processing lies in the use of feature point detectors. The image is decomposed into a set of triangles and each triangle is individually marked.     

Stand-alone programmable controller for time-critical robotic systems

This paper proposes and describes a new technique in the design and implementation of stand-alone programmable controllers which implement complex control algorithms for complex systems in general and time-critical systems in particular. Unlike other existing commercially available controllers, the proposed controller is capable of implementing all kinds of simple and complex control algorithm techniques such as PIDs, adaptive, optimal, etc. The controller is designed to handle timed events accurately due to the utilization of a new software approach based on Petri net technique as well as the use of an optimized simulation language designed for control and data acquisition applications. The most significant aspects of the proposed controller are its low cost, high speed, and easy implementation. Using the new approach, it is possible to effortlessly and efficiently simulate any controller algorithm and controlled plant, verify results if they meet pre-defined system specifications and then immediately generate and save codes on EPROMs to be placed on the controller board. The proposed controller system consists of a hardware portion and a software package. The software package is written in C and assembly languages and consists of four different programs. A prototype of the proposed controller was designed, constructed and successfully tested to implement various control algorithms. The data obtained suggest that the proposed technique will significantly aid engineers to simplify the task of implementing complex algorithms industry such as robotics.     

IGBA and the national geochemical data bank in the U.K.: Design and systems

The evolution of geochemical data banking in the UK is summarized, and the relation of the IGBA data base to the National Geochemical Data Bank explained. The method of collecting data into IGBA is through authors at the time they are preparing for publication, papers carrying the geochemical information. The data are collected in fixed card image format in hard copy or machine-readable form. The format permits storage and retrieval not only of chemically determined major and trace element contents per sample, but also of the name, sample number, locality, mineral assemblage, petrography, texture, mode of occurrence, degree of alteration, precision of mineralogical and petrographic information, age, isotopic data, analytical procedure and quality control, and if appropriate oceanographic information for ship-borne collected samples. The path of data from the research operator's file to retrievable national data base is described, and an example given.     

Unusual evolution to immunoblastic lymphoma of a case of Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia presenting with thrombocytopenia

Family planning practices were reported by 491 married women, aged 15-49, who applied to the Family Planning Centre in Isparta, Turkey. Eighty-four percent of the women used contraception, the IUD being used most frequently. Almost half of the women married before age 18 years.     

Utilization of waste loquat (Eriobotrya Japonica Lindley) kernels as substrate for scleroglucan production by locally isolated Sclerotium rolfsii

Present study mainly focused on investigating the feasibility of waste loquat kernels as substrate in submerged culture of Sclerotium rolfsii MT-6 for scleroglucan production. Loquat kernel contained high protein (22.5%) and total carbohydrate (71.2%) contents. Dried and powdered kernels were subjected to acid hydrolysis with 2 N HCl. The obtained hydrolysate was used for the preparation of loquat kernel extract (LKE) and detoxified loquat kernel extract (DLKE). S. rolfsii MT-6 was isolated from fermented squash (Cucurbita pepo). Optimal conditions for scleroglucan production were initial pH 5.0, shaking speed 150 rpm, 28°C, and cultivation time of 72 hr. Production media prepared with DLKE or LKE gave maximum biomass concentrations of 17.06 and 16.21 g/L, and maximum scleroglucan concentrations of 12.08 and 10.53 g/L, respectively. DLKE was also favorable substrate for mycelial growth in a uniform pellet form. This is a first report on the application of waste loquat kernels as scleroglucan production substrate and on the use of a local S. rolfsii isolate for this purpose.     

LTE‐based satellite communications in LEO mega‐constellations

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks is a promising solution for extending broadband coverage to areas not connected to a terrestrial infrastructure, as also demonstrated by recent commercial and standardisation endeavours. However, the large delays and Doppler shifts over the satellite channel pose severe technical challenges to traditional terrestrial systems, as long‐term evolution (LTE) or 5G. In this paper, 2 architectures are proposed for a low Earth orbit mega‐constellation realising a satellite‐enabled LTE system, in which the on‐ground LTE entity is either an eNB (Sat‐eNB) or a relay node (Sat‐RN). The impact of satellite channel impairments as large delays and Doppler shifts on LTE PHY/MAC procedures is discussed and assessed. The proposed analysis shows that, while carrier spacings, random access and RN attach procedures do not pose specific issues and hybrid automatic repeat request requires substantial modifications. Moreover, advanced handover procedures will be also required due to the satellites' movement.     

Caregivers’ attitudes toward potential robot coworkers in elder care

Technological advances in robotics increase progressively. Elder care is one of the work areas which have potential to involve robotic workforce. So, it is important to focus on interaction between humans and potential robot workers to prepare the organization for possible challenges. The current study examined the relationships between trust in robots and anthropomorphism of robots, intention to work with robots and preference of automation levels. For this purpose, 102 caregivers who work for elder care in a nursing home (aged between 19 and 40) participated in an experimental study. According to the results, anthropomorphism of robots did not make any difference in terms of trust in them. Trust in robots was significantly related to intention to work and preference of automation levels. Organizations may consider employees’ trust in robots as an important factor before adapting them to workplace area.

     

The interleukin-10 promoter genotype predicts diastolic dysfunction in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) predominantly acts as an anti-inflammatory factor. Polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter determine quantitative cytokine production. Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) are superior to conventional echocardiography to evaluate diastolic dysfunction. The IL-10 gene promoter polymorphism at position (-1082) was studied for its association with conventional and Doppler echocardiographic and TDI parameters in 112 hemodialysis (HD) patients. Blood pressure, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin levels were also examined for the association study. The genetic association study showed that among the HD patients, there was no difference in the prevalence of systolic and diastolic dysfunction between genotypes on conventional echocardiography. However, using Doppler echocardiography and TDI, high producers for the IL-10 -1082 promoter (-1082/GG) have higher E velocities, E/A values, lateral, and septal E' velocities and a lower isovolumic ventricular relaxation time than low (-1082/AA) and intermediate producers (-1082/GA). Significantly higher levels of serum CRP levels and lower plasma albumin levels were found in low and intermediate producers for the IL-10 -1082 promoter than high producers. The IL-10 genotype may balance the effects of inflammatory cytokines on the myocardium and may be a determinant of LV function in HD patients.