Marked-up maps: combining paper maps and electronic information resources

Mobile devices have been used as tools for navigation and geographic information retrieval with some success. However, screen size, glare, and the cognitive demands of the interface are often cited as weaknesses when compared with traditional tools such as paper maps and guidebooks. In this paper, a simple mixed media approach is presented which tries to address some of these concerns by combining paper maps with electronic guide resources. Information about a landmark or region is accessed by waving a handheld computer equipped with an radio frequency identification (RFID) reader above the region of interest on a paper map. We discuss our prototyping efforts, including lessons learned about using RFID for mixed media interfaces. We then present and discuss evaluations conducted in the field and in a comparative, exploratory study. Results indicate that the method is promising for tourism and other activities requiring mobile, geographically-related information access.

A conceptual framework proposed to formalize the scientific investigation of automobile seat comfort

Consumer expectations for automobile seat comfort continue to rise. With this said, it is evident that the current automobile seat comfort development process, which is only sporadically successful, needs to change. In this context, there has been growing recognition of the need for automobile seat comfort researchers to establish a theoretical and methodological foundation. Only in this way can automobile seat comfort achieve recognition as a true scientific discipline and enable its further development. The present contribution hopes to stimulate and lead researchers to focus on a framework through which this recognition and development can take place. This paper describes the current automobile seat comfort development process and details the associated limitations. The limitations were the catalysts for the creation of a systematized framework intended to direct the investigative process associated with seat comfort research. The framework is expected to produce theories and methods that can explain, guide, and further legitimize the discipline of automobile seat comfort.     

Principles and applications of ultrasound backscatter microscopy

The development of ultrasound backscatter microscopy (UBM) is described together with initial clinical and biological applications. UBM is essentially an extension of the powerful B-mode backscatter methods developed for clinical imaging in the 3-10-MHz frequency range. The development of new high sensitivity transducers in the 40-100-MHz range now permits visualization of tissue structures with resolution approaching 20 mum and a maximum penetration of approximately 4 mm. The performance characteristics and trade-offs of these new polymer and ceramic devices are reviewed, and the implementation of high-frequency imaging systems is described. Initial clinical applications of UBM include ophthalmic, skin, and intravascular imaging. Examples of images and progress in these areas are presented. The biological application of UBM is illustrated by studies of drug uptake in living tumor spheroids. Significant increases in backscatter levels resulting from drugs targeting oxic and hypoxic cell populations are demonstrated.     

Contact-Sorption Drying of Penicillium bilaii in a Fluidized Bed Dryer

A fluidized bed dryer and drying system have been designed, constructed and operated to produce a powdered formulation of the fungus Penicillium bilaii. The dryer includes an air-shear atomizer and rotatable air vibrator to produce particles which are evenly coated with P. bilaii. The drying system included a humidifier, oven, vacuum pump and instrumentation to ensure precise control of operating conditions. Instant skim milk powder was found to be the best particle source for fixing the spores due to its solubility in water, its highly porous nature and because its moisture isotherms were similar to those of the spores. The dryer was operated at 35°C to maximize the drying rate while still preventing thermal death of the spores. The fluidizing air was best provided at an RH of 30%, thereby producing skim milk/spore particles with just the right amount of moisture to ensure long term storage viability. Storage under refrigeration conditions showed little long term decline in spore viability after 3 months of tests. Room temperature storage demonstrated a small decline rate in spore viability with little significant change if held at room temperature for a few days. © 1997 SCI.     

A secure on‐line submission system

As student numbers on computer science courses continue to increase, the corresponding demands placed on teaching staff in terms of assessment grow ever stronger. In particular, the submission and assessment of practical work on large programming courses can present very significant problems. In response to this, we have developed a networked suite of software utilities that allow on‐line submission, testing and marking of coursework. It has been developed and used over the course of five years, and has evolved into a mature tool that has greatly reduced the administrative time spent managing the processes of submission and assessment. In this paper, we describe the software and its implementation, and discuss the issues involved in its construction. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of dietary fat type,pentosan level,and xylanases on digestibility of fatty acids,liver lipids,and vitamin E in broilers

A complete two by two by four factorial design was used to examine the main effects of dietary fat type (10% soy oil or 10% beef tallow), xylanase supplementation (with or without Avizyme 1300 at 1 g/kg diet), and pentosan level (calculated values: 7.7 g/kg, 11.0 g/kg, 14.3 g/kg, and 17.6 g/kg soluble pentosans, respectively, by varying wheat/rye proportions) as well as their interactions on intestinal chyme conditions, fat and fatty acid digestibility, fatty acid profile, and vitamin E content of livers in broilers. Jejunal and ileal supernatant viscosity increased in an exponential manner as dietary pentosan concentration was increased. This increase was most pronounced in enzyme unsupplemented, tallow-fed birds but was also found in enzyme-treated groups albeit at a much lower level. Lipase activity in jejunal samples was significantly enhanced in broilers fed tallow-containing and unsupplemented rye-based diet (17.6 g/kg soluble pentosans). Digestibility of fat at the terminal ileum was significantly decreased as dietary pentosan concentration was increased and significantly improved by xylanase addition, this effect being most apparent in tallow-fed birds. In addition, enzyme effects became greater at higher pentosan concentrations. Generally, fatty acid digestibilities responded in a similar manner. Saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acid) responded mostly to dietary treatments compared with unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid), and fatty acids derived from tallow were more affected than those from soy oil. Xylanase supplementation shifted absorption of both into the more proximal regions. Vitamin E content of livers was significantly improved by xylanase addition but not influenced by the other dietary treatments. The fatty acid profile of liver lipids was markedly affected by dietary fat type but the effects of pentosan concentration and of xylanase supplementation were not always consistent.     

Air-Liquid-Interface Differentiated Human Nose Epithelium: A Robust Primary Tissue Culture Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The global urgency to uncover medical countermeasures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has revealed an unmet need for robust tissue culture models that faithfully recapitulate key features of human tissues and disease. Infection of the nose is considered the dominant initial site for SARS-CoV-2 infection and models that replicate this entry portal offer the greatest potential for examining and demonstrating the effectiveness of countermeasures designed to prevent or manage this highly communicable disease. Here, we test an air–liquid-interface (ALI) differentiated human nasal epithelium (HNE) culture system as a model of authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Progenitor cells (basal cells) were isolated from nasal turbinate brushings, expanded under conditionally reprogrammed cell (CRC) culture conditions and differentiated at ALI. Differentiated cells were inoculated with different SARS-CoV-2 clinical isolates. Infectious virus release into apical washes was determined by TCID₅₀, while infected cells were visualized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. We demonstrate robust, reproducible SARS-CoV-2 infection of ALI-HNE established from different donors. Viral entry and release occurred from the apical surface, and infection was primarily observed in ciliated cells. In contrast to the ancestral clinical isolate, the Delta variant caused considerable cell damage. Successful establishment of ALI-HNE is donor dependent. ALI-HNE recapitulate key features of human SARS-CoV-2 infection of the nose and can serve as a pre-clinical model without the need for invasive collection of human respiratory tissue samples.     

使用CPLD实现QWERTY键盘

随着手机及其他便携手持装置的功能不断增加,设计的取舍平衡亦日趋精细.文本信息与网络浏览等流行功能都要求更多的数据输入,而这对于传统的双音多频(DTMF)(0-9,#,*)键盘会比较困难.使用这种键盘要求多端数据输入,输入效率低而且容易出错.     

Cure monitoring of photosensitive resins by photo-dynamic mechanical analysis

A new technique, photo-dynamic mechanical analysis, was developed to monitor the cure of photosensitive resins. In this technique, the resin is dispensed on a low modulus substrate and the force needed to maintain a prescribed elongation on the sample is measured while the sample is exposed to an ultraviolet source. The force increases with the extent of cure and reaches a plateau when the resin is fully cured. Photo-dynamic mechanical analysis was found to be a rapid, continuous, and reliable technique to monitor the extent of cure of photopolymerizable resins. A finite element analysis was developed to calculate the resin modulus from the experimental force data. Thus, it was possible to monitor the resin modulus from the liquid state to the solid state.     

Aktive und wandelbare Ingenieurbauten

Active and convertible systems. The application of bionics and modern technologiesto light‐weight engineering structures and their potential for active and convertible systems is studied in this paper. Looking at the future, the use of active micro‐systems to achieve self‐directed structures will be investigated. Returning to the current reality, examples of existing convertible bridges and roof structures that adapt to changing requirements will be presented.