Virtual Reality Rhythm Game

Virtual reality headsets such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift bring robust virtual reality technology in the hands of consumers. However, virtual reality technology is still a very new and unexplored domain with a dearth of compelling software that takes advantage of what virtual reality has to offer. Current rhythm games on the virtual reality platform lack a sense of immersion for the player. These games also require players to remain stationary during gameplay. Our solution is a game where players have to hit musical notes that appear in a trail around them. The trail will move in different directions and players have to move and turn around accordingly in order to hit every note and pass a song

Evaluation and Comparison of Wearable Technology Device Data Between Devices During Trail Running

An estimated 20 million people participate in trail running with this number expected grow at a rate of 15% annually. Wearable technology devices have become more relied upon to track running data such as distance, cadence, elevation gain, etc. The consistency between these devices is not well-established. PURPOSE: To determine the consistency of data across wearable technology devices. METHODS: Seventeen participants (F = 7) ran on the Thunderbird Gardens Lighting Switch trail in Cedar City, UT. The participants were each fitted with two Garmin Instincts, two Polar Vantage M2s, and two Stryd sensors. One device from each manufacturer was placed on the left side (wrist for watches and foot for Stryd), and the other devices were placed on the right. Each pair of devices was started simultaneously, and the participant then completed a self-paced out-and-back trail run of approximately 20 minutes. All devices were stopped simultaneously at the completion of the run. Data collected across all devices includes average pace, best pace, average cadence, distance, ascent, and descent. The average percent difference and coefficient of variation (CV) between similar and different devices was calculated. RESULTS: The pairs of devices from the same manufacturer were found to be most consistent with each other (Garmin to Garmin: 3.27%; Polar to Polar: 1.4%; Stryd to Stryd: 1.15%) while devices from different manufacturers were found to be very different (Garmin to Polar: 12.75%; Garmin to Stryd: 10.11%; Polar to Stryd: 17.75%). Between devices from the same manufacturer, ascent was found to be least reliable (Garmin: CoV=0.20; Polar: CoV=0.12; Stryd: CoV=0.26). CONCLUSION: Data collected by wearable technologies of the same manufacturer will be mostly consistent with each other. However, data collected by a technology from a different manufacturer may be inconsistent with data from another device. In addition, elevation data may vary more than other data between watches. This finding is important because trail runners tend to compare their trail runs with other runners and often find ascent data important to measure progress. The location of the trail in a canyon may have impeded accuracy. Based on our findings, it may not be accurate to compare trail runs completed by runners with a different wearable technology device manufacturer

Design and Construction of Trail of the Senses, A Universally Accessible Outdoor Trail System at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge

Hirundo Wildlife Refuge partnered with the University of Maine Construction Engineering Technology Department to construct the Trail of the Senses, a three-phase universally accessible outdoor trail system totaling a little over half a mile. The ultimate goal of Trail of the Senses is to maximize accessibility to nature while minimizing the negative effect on the environment, in order to provide better connections and experiences for all. This thesis focuses on the second phase, the Lac d’Or Trail. This trail is a quarter mile long and travels across a berm, through a forest, and culminates in an observation deck of the lake. The trail and observation deck are in accordance with the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines, and the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines, which are similar to the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Besides the physical design and construction of the project, a major focus was the importance of exposing students to community involvement prior to graduation. This project allowed for students to use their specialized skillset learned through classes and apply it to a project that positively influenced the lives of others

Granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells increased in early phases of primary HIV infection depending on TRAIL plasma level

Background It has been demonstrated that Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC) are expanded in HIV-1 infected individuals and correlated with disease progression. The phase of HIV infection during which MDSC expansion occurs, and the mechanisms that regulate this expansion remain to be established. In this study we evaluated the frequency of MDSC in patients during primary HIV infection, and factors involved in MDSC control. Methods Patients with primary (PHI) and chronic (CHI) HIV infection were enrolled. PHI staging was performed according to Fiebig classification, and circulating MDSC frequency and function were evaluated by flow cytometry. Cytokine levels were evaluated by Luminex technology. Results We found that granulocytic MDSC (Gr-MDSC) frequency was higher in PHI compared to healthy donors, but lower than CHI. Interestingly, Gr-MDSC expansion was observed in the early phases of HIV infection (Fiebig II/III), but it was not associated to HIV viral load and CD4 T cell count. Interestingly, in PHI Gr-MDSC frequency was inversely correlated with plasmatic level of TRAIL, while a direct correlation was observed in CHI. Further, lower level of GMCSF was observed in PHI compared with CHI. In vitro experiments demonstrated that, differently from CHI, recombinant TRAIL induced apoptosis of Gr-MDSC from PHI, can effect that can be abrogated by GM-CSF. Conclusion We found that Gr-MDSC are expanded early during primary HIV infection and may be regulated by TRAIL and GM-CSF levels. These findings shed light on the fine mechanisms regulating the immune system during HIV infection, and open new perspectives for immune-based strategies

Applying a Mt. Mazama Volcanic Ash Treatment as a Trail Accessibility Improvement

A procedure has been developed for implementing a topically applied Mt. Mazama volcanic ash trail surface amendment for improving trail firmness and stability. This project involved implementation of previously conducted Mt. Mazama volcanic research by applying a Mazama Ash and Portland Cement solution over a 0.2-mile section of the Geo Trail at the Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls campus. Testing was performed to verify ideal Ash-to-Cement-to-Water ratios. A procedure was developed and applied for batching and mixing the dry materials on-site, spreading and integrating the dry material with the existing trail surface, and wetting and compacting the surface. After the pilot application, visual inconsistencies were observed in the treated trail surface. Firmness and stability were measured at different locations along the treated trail surface and on the untreated surface with a rotational penetrometer apparatus. Roughness was quantified using a modified Wheelchair Pathway Roughness Index at different locations along the treated rail surface and on the untreated surface. At each of the testing locations on the treated surface, stability was shown to have improved, firmness was relatively consistent, and the ability to roll an occupied wheelchair without rutting was markedly improved

Combined therapy with oncolytic adenoviruses encoding TRAIL and IL-12 genes markedly suppressed human hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in an orthotopic transplanted mouse model

Background: Gene-based virotherapy mediated by oncolytic viruses is currently experiencing a renaissance in cancer therapy. However, relatively little attention has been given to the potentiality of dual gene virotherapy strategy as a novel therapeutic approach to mediate triplex anticancer combination effects, particularly if the two suitable genes are well chosen. Both tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) have been emerged as promising pharmacological candidates in cancer therapy; however, the combined efficacy of TRAIL and IL-12 genes for treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be determined. Methods: Herein, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of concurrent therapy with two armed oncolytic adenoviruses encoding human TRAIL gene (Ad-Delta B/TRAIL) and IL-12 gene (Ad-Delta B/IL-12), respectively, on preclinical models of human HCC, and also elucidated the possible underlying mechanisms. The effects of Ad-Delta B/TRAIL+Ad-Delta B/IL-12 combination therapy were assessed both in vitro on Hep3B and HuH7 human HCC cell lines and in vivo on HCC-orthotopic model established in the livers of athymic nude mice by intrahepatic implantation of human Hep3B cells. Results: Compared to therapy with non-armed control Ad-Delta B, combined therapy with Ad-Delta B/TRAIL+Ad-Delta B/IL-12 elicited profound anti-HCC killing effects on Hep3B and HuH7 cells and on the transplanted Hep3B-orthotopic model. Efficient viral replication and TRAIL and IL-12 expression were also confirmed in HCC cells and the harvested tumor tissues treated with this combination therapy. Mechanistically, co-therapy with Ad-Delta B/TRAIL+Ad-Delta B/IL-12 exhibited an enhanced effect on apoptosis promotion, activation of caspase-3 and-8, generation of anti-tumor immune response evidenced by upregulation of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production and infiltration of natural killer-and antigen presenting cells, and remarkable repression of intratumor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) expression and tumor microvessel density. Conclusions: Overall, our data showed a favorable therapeutic effect of Ad-Delta B/TRAIL+Ad-Delta B/IL-12 combination therapy against human HCC, and may therefore constitute a promising and effective therapeutic strategy for treating human HCC. However, further studies are warranted for its reliable clinical translation.This project was funded by the National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan (MARRIFAH)-King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number (11-MED2065-10)

Never Lost: On the Pacific Crest Trail Before Smartphones, a Hiker Never Had to Choose

On the Pacific Crest Trail before smartphones, Dan White never had to choose between technology and quiet. Hikers left notes under dried cow droppings

ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM WITH APPLIED USE OF TRAIL CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHS

Place-based conservation education programs are continuously adapting to ever evolving technological advancements to remain effective and connected to K-12 schools and students. One response to this challenge was an inquiry based, learner centered pedagogy which teaches science-based concepts via real life images captured on trail cameras. This paper will describe the benefits of a distance learning program which teaches students about wildlife science using trail camera photos and associated lessons. In a time when students are more disconnected from the outdoors than ever. The use of trail cameras, based on these experiences, has the potential to reconnect students to the great outdoors. Now is the time to get kids into the outdoors using technology

The Diffusion and Adoption of Advanced Technologies in Canada: An Overview of the Issues

The adoption of advanced technologies is a means of fostering productivity improvement. Many theories seek to explain the process of advanced technology diffusion and adoption. Canadian firms generally trail their U.S. counterparts in the adoption of advanced technology. There are many critical gaps in our knowledge and understanding of technological diffusion in Canada. Key gaps include the identification of leading and lagging industries in terms of adoption; key barriers to technological diffusion in Canada including economic-policy-related barriers; appropriate direct policy interventions to overcome specific barriers; the impact of increasing globalization and the economic ascendancy of the large developing countries on diffusion in Canada; and specific challenges small and medium enterprises face in adopting technology. Another issue requiring more research is whether strong R&D performance is a prerequisite for the broad diffusion of technologies. Possible tradeoffs between supporting R&D and supporting diffusion in the presence of limited public funds to promote innovation merit discussion.Diffusion, Adoption, Technologies, Technological diffusion, Innovation, Research and Development, R&D, Advanced technology, Technological competitiveness