Modeling immersive media experiences by sensing impact on subjects

As immersive technologies target to provide higher quality of multimedia experiences, it is important to understand the quality of experience (QoE) perceived by users from various multimedia rendering schemes, in order to design and optimize human-centric immersive multimedia systems. In this study, various QoE-related aspects, such as depth perception, sensation of reality, content preference, and perceived quality are investigated and compared for presentation of 2D and 3D contents. Since the advantages of implicit over explicit QoE assessment have become essential, the way these QoE-related aspects influence brain and periphery is also investigated. In particular, two classification schemes using electroencephalography (EEG) and peripheral signals (electrocardiography and respiration) are carried out, to explore if it is possible to automatically recognize the QoE-related aspects under investigation. In addition, a decision-fusion scheme is applied to EEG and peripheral features, to explore the advantage of integrating information from the two modalities. The results reveal that the highest monomodal average informedness is achieved in the high beta EEG band (0.14 % ± 0.09, p < 0.01), when recognizing sensation of reality. The highest and significantly non-random multimodal average informedness is achieved when high beta EEG band is fused with peripheral features (0.17 % ± 0.1, p < 0.01), for the case of sensation of reality. Finally, a temporal analysis is conducted to explore how the EEG correlates for the case of sensation of reality change over time. The results reveal that the right cortex is more involved when sensation of reality is low, and the left when sensation of reality is high, indicating that approach and withdrawal-related processes occur during sensation of reality.     

Co-designing reform-based online inquiry learning environments as a situated approach to teachers’ professional development

This study examined the contribution of a co-design approach to science teachers’ situated professional development, and explored its effect on student learning and motivation. Study participants were three science teachers who were members of a co-design team; one of the teachers enacted the designed learning environment with her 11th grade, non-science major students. Data were collected from 31 design meetings over two years, teacher interviews, and from pre-post student learning and motivation assessments. Findings indicated that the co-design approach addressed teachers’ reform-based professional development needs, had greater impact on the enacting teacher, and met the enacting students’ learning and motivation needs. The findings talk to the potential of co-design as a successful approach for teachers’ reform-based, situated professional development.     

The impact of the retention of traffic and location data on the internet user

Summary  The data retention directive brings along both promise and peril, while it is not clear which will prevail. The wording of the directive allows for broad interpretation at several points during its implementation in the national legislations of the Member States. Upper goal of the directive was the fight against terrorism and organised crime and the collection of semi-permanent storage of data makes it definitely possible to capture some criminals, especially if their communication consists mainly in email traffic and the servers used are located within the European Union. In this paper we have discussed possibilities and methods to achieve a similar high rate of identification with less privacy invading techniques, like it is the case in web surfing. In addition, we listed a number of threats that are imminent due to the amount and types of data collected, which can turn against every Internet user, by disclosing their private communication and social networks to the public. Finally we have shown that the circumvention of the effect of the directive is possible for technically educated people and technologically savvy criminals, thus rendering it practically ineffective against them.

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Zusammenfassung  Die Autoren diskutieren die Vorratsdatenspeicherung kritisch vor dem Hintergrund der Auswirkungen auf die „durchschnittlichen“ Internet-User.

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Lexi Pimenidis Researcher at RWTH Aachen University on Computer Science, specialized in Privacy, Communication, and IT-Security

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Eleni Kosta Legal researcher, ICRI — K.U.Leuven Eleni is conducting research on privacy and data protection, focusing on electronic communications and new technologies     

Copper and zinc concentrations in serum of healthy Greek adults

Serum copper and zinc concentrations of 506 (414 males and 92 females) apparently healthy Greek blood donors aged 18-60 years old were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean copper and zinc concentrations were 115.46+/-23.56 microg/dl and 77.11+/-17.67 microg/dl, respectively. The mean value for copper and zinc in females was higher than in males, although the difference for zinc was smaller than the one observed for copper. When the subjects were divided into various age groups there appeared to be some increase in copper concentration as a function of age, whereas zinc concentration did not change. There were no significant variations in serum copper and zinc concentrations due to place of residence, occupation and socioeconomic status. This study is the first one evaluating the serum status of copper and zinc in healthy Greeks and it has shown that they are at the highest concentration range for copper and the lowest for zinc compared to literature data on copper and zinc levels for various countries.     

The effect of preparation method on the catalytic activity of amorphous aluminas in ethanol dehydration

The known heterogeneous catalytic dehydration of ethanol on amorphous aluminium oxide samples was adopted as a measure of catalytic activity and selectivity. The aluminium oxide samples were prepared by hydrolysis of aluminium chloride using propylamine, as proton acceptor, in pure and mixed aqueous ethanolic and acetonic media, freeze dried and activated. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the samples was measured in the temperature range 623–698 K for various flow rates of ethanol. The apparent activation energies were calculated (53–78 kJ mol^?1) and depended on the solvent used in the preparation of the aluminas. The effect of solvent medium on the activity and selectivity was discussed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Haloacetic acids in drinking water in the United Kingdom

We measured concentrations of haloacetic acids (HAAs) in the water supply in regions covered by three water companies in the UK Approximately 30 samples in each region were obtained for analysis of both THMs and HAAs to assess the levels of HAAs and the relationship between HAAs and THMs, temperature, pH, free and total chlorine. We have found that there is a range of HAA levels in drinking water with the means ranging from 35-95mug/l and a maximum concentration of 244mug/l. In two out of the three regions there was a high correlation between total THMs and total HAAs, but whereas the HAA and THM levels in one of these companies were approximately equal, in another company the HAA levels were 3-4 times higher than the THM levels. In the third region there was no correlation between total THMs and total HAAs even though the average levels were approximately equal. The ratio of total THM and total HAAs levels was significantly correlated with temperature, pH, free and total chlorine. Overall total THM levels are therefore not considered to be a good indicator of HAA levels. Epidemiological studies using total THM levels should be taking this into account in the interpretation of their results, and regulatory authorities when setting water guidelines.     

Selenium content in selected foods from the Greek market and estimation of the daily intake

The total selenium content of foods purchased from the North West part of Greece was determined using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. The results of this study were within the range from other countries. The overall mean average of selenium concentration of the foods examined, in decreasing order, was found in sesame seeds (783.1 ng g(-1)), fish (246 ng g(-1)), legumes (162.5 ng g(-1)), eggs (123 ng g(-1)), bread (91.9 ng g(-1)), meat (71.7 ng g(-1)), cheese (69.8 ng g(-1)), yoghurt (23.6 ng g(-1)), nuts (19.6 ng g(-1)), milk (15.4 ng g(-1)), vegetables (6.5 ng g(-1)) and fruits (3.4 ng g(-1)). Considering the average daily individual consumption of these foods by Greeks, the average daily dietary intake of selenium supplied by this source is 39.3 microg per capita.     

Organising and Managing boundaries: A structurational view of collaboration with Building Information Modelling (BIM)

The construction industry is currently undergoing digital transformation due to emerging technologies. Hence new forms of organisation are needed. Collaborating with Building Information Modelling (BIM) is complex and challenges the management of projects. The ubiquitous digital information sharing among multi-disciplinary actors in BIM-based projects, activates dense inter-organisational processes. This study offers insights into collaboration with BIM, through the theoretical lens of boundaries. By analysing two projects of BIM-based collaboration in the Netherlands, the interplay between structure and agency of collaboration was discussed. The various artefacts of BIM, as boundary objects were interpreted in multiple ways by different communities of practice and this resulted in poor communication and consequently poor collaboration. The findings challenge the prevalent view of BIM as a software artefact and showed that this view only partially supports collaboration. Additionally, a structurational view (enabled by communication, conflict management, negotiation, and teamwork) as opposed to a structural view of collaboration (e.g. BIM as a software) can fully support the implementation of digital innovations. Finally, the paper revealed a ‘tactical gap’ in the implementation of digital between strategic and operational decision-making needs fine-tuning to ensure better collaboration in projects where digital innovations are adopted. The study concludes with propositions for supporting organisation of teams through integration of activities and the management of BIM-based collaboration in projects beyond merely structural and technological approaches, which dominate the field but from a structurational view instead.     

Sulfide removal in wastewater from petrochemical industries by autotrophic denitrification

An alternative flowchart for the biological removal of hydrogen sulfide from oil-refining wastewater is presented; autotrophic denitrification in a multi-stage treatment plant was utilized. A pilot-scale plant was fed with a mixture of the following constituents: (a) original wastewater from an oil refining industry (b), the effluent of the existing nitrification-stage treatment plant and (c) sulfide in the form of Na2S. Anoxic sulfide to sulfate oxidation, with nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor, proved very successful, as incoming concentrations of 110 mg S2-/L were totally converted to SO(4)2-. At complete denitrification, the concentration of S2- in the reactor effluent was less than 0.1mg/L. Fluctuating S2- concentration in the feed could be tolerated without any problems, as the accumulated sulfide in the effluent of the denitrification stage is oxidized aerobically in a subsequent activated-sludge treatment stage. This alternative new treatment scheme was further introduced at the refinery's wastewater processing plant. Thus, complete H2S removal is now accomplished by the combination of the proposed biological method and the existing stripping with CO2. As a result, stripping, and thus its cost, is reduced by 70%.