Empirical Comparisons of Virtual Environment Displays

There are many different visual display devices used in virtual environment (VE) systems. These displays vary along many dimensions, such as resolution, field of view, level of immersion, quality of stereo, and so on. In general, no guidelines exist to choose an appropriate display for a particular VE application. Our goal in this work is to develop such guidelines on the basis of empirical results. We present two initial experiments comparing head-mounted displays with a workbench display and a foursided spatially immersive display. The results indicate that the physical characteristics of the displays, users' prior experiences, and even the order in which the displays are presented can have significant effects on performance

A rare case of a giant epidermal cyst over the back

Epidermoid cysts are commonly called as sebaceous cysts that mostly occur in the subcutaneous plain. Giant epidermoid cysts are rare and generally greater than 5 cm in size. Few cases of malignant transformation of the sebaceous cysts have also been reported in literature

Resilient and affordable housing for all: Lessons on house building from Kochi and Trivandrum, India

This paper analyses lessons from Kochi and Trivandrum, Kerala, India, where municipal government and community partnerships on house building projects have led to better quality new housing stock while reducing costs and environmental impacts. It finds that by placing participation at the heart of their processes, these cities have achieved 100 per cent occupancy rates at a lower cost, while also cutting carbon emissions and providing economic benefits. Nationwide, costs and occupancy levels of Kochi and Trivandrum could save Rs. 118 billion (US$1.71 billion), or build an additional 816,000 homes

An innate pathogen sensing strategy involving ubiquitination of bacterial surface proteins

Sensing of pathogens by ubiquitination is a critical arm of cellular immunity. However, universal ubiquitination targets on microbes remain unidentified. Here, using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies, we identify the first protein-based ubiquitination substrates on phylogenetically diverse bacteria by unveiling a strategy that uses recognition of degron-like motifs. Such motifs form a new class of intra-cytosolic pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Their incorporation enabled recognition of nonubiquitin targets by host ubiquitin ligases. We find that SCFFBW7 E3 ligase, supported by the regulatory kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3β, is crucial for effective pathogen detection and clearance. This provides a mechanistic explanation for enhanced risk of infections in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia bearing mutations in F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7 protein. We conclude that exploitation of this generic pathogen sensing strategy allows conservation of host resources and boosts antimicrobial immunity

Collaboration in architectural design studio pedagogy: a literature review

OnlinePubl.Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of architectural practice. Architectural studio education, however, is often focused on individual problem-solving under the guidance of a teacher. Considering its significance for practice, collaboration seems underexplored within architectural studio research. This literature review investigates the current state of research on collaboration in architectural design studios. 42 peer-reviewed studies were analysed using thematic content analysis. The interrelationship between 7 themes: activities, stakeholders, tools, drivers, benefits, challenges, and recommendations is explored to provide an understanding of the collaborative studio models existing in the literature and opportunities to enhance them. The findings reveal that while collaboration is present in architectural studios, it remains less defined and limited in scope. Most studies emphasise design outcomes over the pedagogical processes that enable collaboration, with limited evaluation of their long-term impacts and strategies for enhancing collaboration. This study recommends a holistic strategy that addresses pedagogical, institutional, and curricular dimensions for better integration of collaboration. It also suggests further testing and evaluation of collaborative tools and deeper exploration of how collaborative studio experiences prepare students for professional practice. This study lays a foundation for future inquiry by identifying critical gaps and offering direction for advancing collaborative pedagogy in architectural education.Annette Joseph, David Kroll, Amit Srivastava, Ehsan Sharifi, Aparna Date

A rare case of a giant epidermal cyst over the back

Epidermoid cysts are commonly called as sebaceous cysts that mostly occur in the subcutaneous plain. Giant epidermoid cysts are rare and generally greater than 5 cm in size. Few cases of malignant transformation of the sebaceous cysts have also been reported in literature.</jats:p

Empirical Comparisons of Virtual Environment Displays

There are many different visual display devices used in virtual environment (VE) systems. These displays vary along many dimensions, such as resolution, field of view, level of immersion, quality of stereo, and so on. In general, no guidelines exist to choose an appropriate display for a particular VE application. Our goal in this work is to develop such guidelines on the basis of empirical results. We present two initial experiments comparing head-mounted displays with a workbench display and a foursided spatially immersive display. The results indicate that the physical characteristics of the displays, users' prior experiences, and even the order in which the displays are presented can have significant effects on performance