On-Chip Optical Technology in Future Bus-Based Multicore Designs

This work investigates the integration of CMOS-compatible optical technology to on-chip coherent buses for future CMPs. The analysis results in a hierarchical optoelectrical bus that exploits the advantages of optical technology while abiding by projected limitations. This bus achieves significant performance improvement for high-bandwidth applications relative to a state-of-the-art fully electrical bus     

Blowtooth: a provocative pervasive game for smuggling virtual drugs through real airport security

In this paper, we describe a pervasive game, Blowtooth, in which players use their mobile phones to hide virtual drugs on nearby airline passengers in real airport check-in queues. After passing through airport security, the player must find and recover their drugs from the innocent bystanders, without them ever realising they were involved in the game. The game explores the nature of pervasive game playing in environments that are not, generally, regarded as playful or “fun”. This paper describes the game’s design and implementation as well as an evaluation conducted with participants in real airports. It explores the players’ reactions to the game through questionnaire responses and in-game activity. The technologies used in Blowtooth are, intentionally, simple in order for the enjoyment of the game to be reliant more on the physical environment rather than the enabling technologies. We conclude that situating pervasive games in unexpected and challenging environments, such as international airports, may provide interesting and unique gaming experiences for players. In addition, we argue that pervasive games benefit most from using the specific features and nature of interesting real-world environments rather than focusing on the enabling technologies.     

Sex-selection of human spermatozoa: evolution of current techniques and applications

The present paper examines the occurrence of matters relating to the ending of life, including active euthanasia, which is, technically speaking, illegal worldwide. Interest in this most controversial area is drawn from many varied sources, from legal and medical practitioners to religious and moral ethicists. In some countries, public interest has been mobilized into organizations that attempt to influence legislation relating to euthanasia. Despite the obvious international importance of euthanasia, very little is known about the extent of its practice, whether passive or active, voluntary or involuntary. This examination is based on questionnaires completed by 49 national representatives of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), dealing with legal and religious aspects of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, as well as suicide. A dichotomy between the law and medical practices relating to the end of life was uncovered by the results of the survey. In 12 of the 49 countries active euthanasia is said to occur while a general acceptance of passive euthanasia was reported to be widespread. Clearly, definition is crucial in making the distinction between active and passive euthanasia; otherwise, the entire concept may become distorted, and legal acceptance may become more widespread with the effect of broadening the category of individuals to whom euthanasia becomes an available option. The "slippery slope" argument is briefly considered.     

The precipitation of Ni3Nb phases in a Ni−Fe−Cr−Nb alloy

The age hardening of a Ni?Fe?Cr?Nb alloy containing 4.85 wt pct Nb has been studied using transmission electron microscopy. The major hardening phase in this alloy isγ*, DO₂₂-ordered Ni₃Nb, which precipitates as a fine dispersion of square plates. It is shown that nucleation ofγ* plates may be dependent upon matrix excess vacancy concentration, but nucleation ofγ* plates is also observed at dislocations and extrinsic stacking faults. Theγ* phase is metastable with respect to the orthorhombic Ni₃Nb phase, β, which precipitates by either a cellular or an intragranular reaction, depending upon the aging temperature. It is proposed that the intragranular nucleation of β laths proceeds by the growth of stacking faults from withinγ* plates; theγ* plates subsequently dissolve in favor of the β laths. Room temperature deformation of theγ* dispersion is shown to produce faults within theγ* plates; possible dislocation reactions occurring during this deformation are discussed.     

The relation between microstructure and toughness in 7075 aluminum alloy

Electron microscopy, fractography, and notched tear tests have been used to investigate the effects of heat treatment upon the fracture behavior of aged 7075 aluminum alloy sheet. Toughness, as measured by crack propagation energy, decreases as the yield stress increases; the toughness of an overaged structure is inferior to that of an underaged structure at the same yield stress. The decrease of toughness with increased aging time is accompanied by a change in fracture mode from predominantly transgranular to intergranular. Transgranular fracture proceeds by dimple rupture and is facilitated by chromium-rich particles which are dispersed throughout the microstructure. Intergranular fracture proceeds by the fracture of grain boundary precipitate particles. The variation of fracture mode with aging time is attributed to a steady decrease of the intergranular fracture stress relative to the transgranular fracture stress, due to increasing grain boundary particle size. A possible explanation of this effect is discussed using the stress concentration due to colinear crack arrays as an analogy. The effects of quenching variations and two-step aging are discussed. It is shown that, in aged 7075, microstructural variables such as the width of precipitate-free zones and the nature of the matrix precipitate do not have a controlling effect on toughness.     

Tactile communication of speech: A review and an analysis.

Reviews research attempts to present the acoustic speech signal to the skin by means of various electromechanical devices. 2 explanations for the relative failure of these speech-to-tactile transformations are critically examined: a current theory that speech is a special code necessarily incomprehensible to the skin; and evidence that tactile masking effects preclude analysis of a signal as complex as speech by the skin. Both of these explanations are rejected. It is suggested that the displays reviewed failed to provide the stimulus structure necessary for effective tactile perception. The stimulus requirements for perceptual organization by the skin of various levels of linguistic structure are discussed. Suggestions are made for the future development of tactile displays of speech that may be comprehended at rapid rates. (93 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Complex dynamics and empirical evidence

Standard macroeconomics, based on a reductionist approach centered on the representative agent, is badly equipped to explain the empirical evidence where heterogeneity and industrial dynamics are the rule. In this paper we show that a simple agent-based model of heterogeneous financially fragile agents is able to replicate a large number of scaling type stylized facts with a remarkable degree of statistical precision.