Hand motion prediction for distributed virtual environments

We use our hands to manipulate objects in our daily life. The hand is capable of accomplishing diverse tasks such as pointing, gripping, twisting and tearing. However, there is not much work that considers using the hand as input in distributed virtual environments (DVEs), in particular over the Internet. The main reasons are that the Internet suffers from high network latency, which affects interaction, and the hand has many degrees of freedom, which adds additional challenges to synchronizing the collaboration. In this paper, we propose a prediction method specifically designed for human hand motion to address the network latency problem in DVEs. Through a thorough analysis of finger motion, we have identified various finger motion constraints and we propose a constraint-based motion prediction method for hand motion. To reduce the average prediction error under high network latency, e.g., over the Internet, we further propose a revised dead reckoning scheme here. Our performance results show that the proposed prediction method produces a lower prediction error than some popular methods while the revised dead reckoning scheme produces a lower average prediction error than the traditional dead reckoning scheme, in particular at high network latency.     

Variation with chain length in acute toxicity of alkylhydroxamic acids to salmon (Salmo salar) fry

The acute toxicity of saturatedn-alkylhydroxamic acids to salmon (Salmo salar) fry was determined. Within the seriesn-C₆H₁₃CONHOH ton-C₁₀H₂₁CONHOH, acute toxicity (indicated by death) increased with chain length. Shorter and longer chain compounds were not toxic under similar conditions. Factors governing the variation in toxicity with chain length and possible mechanisms of action are discussed. Presented in part at the AOCS Meeting, Atlantic City, October 1971.     

An optimal resources scheduling strategy on multimedia cloud computing under multi- device constraint

In view of the problem of inaccurate scheduling by using traditional resource scheduling method, because the method is mainly based on extracting and classifying the resource features to make scheduling, ignoring the effect of the feature relevance between the resources on the scheduling results. This paper presents a model for multimedia cloud resource scheduling based on multi- device constraint. In this method the objective function is no longer constrained only by the CPU computing capacity and the minimized completion time, but to achieve a minimum time-consuming of CPU, memory and other peripherals operation are considered as the scheduling objectives. Then the utilization of solving constrained jointly is employed to obtain the mapping relationship of the optimal virtual and physical machine. Moreover, a regressive dimensionality reduction algorithm is designed for this scheduling model to solve the high dimensional problems aroused by multi-device constraints. Simulation results show that the improved algorithm has a better performance than the traditional algorithm, has a good efficiency and has a certain convergence.     

Interactions between rail and road safety in Great Britain

This paper discusses the results of an investigation into ways in which the safety risks of travel on road and rail interact with each other in Great Britain, other than through physical contact such as at level crossings. The two main foci of the paper are: (1) an analysis of the ‘whole journey’ risks of journeys for which the national rail system is the main mode, but which also include stages by other transport modes to provide access to the railway system; and (2) an analysis of the effect on safety risk of inter-modal transfers between rail and road. On (1), walking to and from stations was estimated to account on average for 65% of the overall door-to-door risk of being killed on rail journeys; the rail system itself accounts for 21% of the risk, and other access modes account for the remaining 14%. The average distance walked to and from stations is 0.9 km per rail journey, and this walking accounts for 5% of all walking nationally. On (2), it was found that increasing rail fares to fund railway safety measures may lead passengers to switch from rail to car, but for most sensible rail safety measures, the additional risks from such diversions are small compared with the intended rail safety benefits. However, for high-cost rail safety measures funded by passengers, the additional risks from diversions may be of the same order as the intended safety benefits. The last section of the paper explores the effects of variations in the casualty rates of rail users as pedestrians and car users, because their road risks may be different from those of all road users. Such variations could alter the detailed conclusions of the paper, but the scale of such effects appears to be modest.     

Determination of the Activation Energy and Master Sintering Curve for NiO/YSZ Composite Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anodes

Master sintering curves (MSCs) were constructed for tape cast NiO, YSZ and NiO/YSZ composite materials using apparent activation energies obtained through dilatometry experiments. A rule of mixtures approach was demonstrated to be a useful analysis tool in understanding the activation energy of the NiO/YSZ composites since NiO and YSZ do not affect the sintering of the other phase. Prediction of the 48 vol% NiO composite was less accurate because of competing sintering modes near the percolation threshold.     

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) in ringed seal (Phoca hispida) from Ulukhaktok (Holman), NT: Trends from 1978 to 2006

Trends in α-, β-, and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) concentrations were examined in blubber lipid of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Ulukhaktok (Holman), NT (Canada) sampled at intervals between 1978 and 2006. α-HCH usually represented approximately 90% of the total HCH isomers. α-HCH and γ-HCH concentrations showed no change over the sampling interval, but β-HCH concentrations increased significantly, about 8-10-fold in females and 4-5-fold in males. Residue concentrations showed no dependence on age. Concentrations (all data as ng/g lipid, GM (range)) of α-HCH were significantly higher (P < 0.001 by t-test) in males (217 (93.9-517), n = 37) than those in females (138 (40.9-402), n = 38). β-HCH concentrations did not differ between the sexes. Concentrations of γ-HCH were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in males (6.74 (0-46.7)) than in females (4.35 (0-19.0)). Although global emissions of both α-HCH and β-HCH have declined since the early 1980's, the “signal” of HCH emission changes has not yet resulted in a “response” in ringed seal residue concentrations. In the light of our current understanding of the dynamics of HCH in the Arctic, we conclude that any such response may not be detected by retrospective analyses of the sort describe here at least for another decade or so, because of the longevity of the seals.     

Creation of GPCR-based chemical sensors by directed evolution in yeast

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form a class of biological chemical sensors with an enormous diversity in ligand binding and sensitivity. To explore structural aspects of ligand recognition, we subjected the human UDP-glucose receptor (P2Y14) functionally expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces to directed evolution. We sought to generate new receptor subtypes with ligand-binding properties that would be useful in the development of practical biosensors. Mutagenesis of the entire UDP-glucose receptor gene yielded receptors with increased activity but similar ligand specificities, while random mutagenesis of residues in the immediate vicinity of the ligand-binding pocket yielded mutants with altered ligand specificity. By first sensitizing the P2Y14 receptor and then redirecting ligand specificity, we were able to create mutant receptors suitable for a simple biosensor. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of altering receptor ligand-binding properties via a directed evolution strategy, using standard yeast genetic techniques. The novel receptor mutants can be used to detect chemical ligands in complex mixtures and to discriminate among chemically or stereochemically related compounds. Specifically, we demonstrate how engineered receptors can be applied in a pairwise manner to differentiate among several chemical analytes that would be indistinguishable with a single receptor. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of a combinatorial approach to detector design based on the principles of olfaction.