The effect of time manipulation on immersion in digital games

Many empirical studies look into identifying factors that influence the quality of experience in video games. In this paper, we present research into the effect of playing time and players’ perception of the time on their immersion in the game. We invited 20 participants to play a puzzle game Bejeweled 2 for 7 min. They played the game in two conditions, namely, correct time (timer was programmed to be exactly 7 min) and wrong time (the countdown was set to be for 6 min, but was presented as a 7 min timer to the player). Players’ immersion scores were measured after the game using the IEQ. The results show no significant difference in immersion scores between the two conditions and participants’ comments also revealed that they perceived no difference in playing time between the conditions. This suggests that there is a dissociation between gaming time and subjective experience of gaming. Further research is required to investigate the relationship between playing time and positive gaming experiences

Effects of Organic Load on Basic Geotechnical Properties of Compacted Sand-kaolinite Mixture

In the laboratory, four PVC sand-kaolinite mixture columns, each of 150 cm depth and 15 cm diameter, were fed with solutions of sodium acetate equivalent to 20,000 p.p.m., 30,000 p.p.m., 40,000 p.p.m., and 50,000 p.p.m. BOD (biochemical oxygen demand). Soil physical and chemical properties, such as Atterberg limits, specific gravity, soil pH and soil organic content, altered markedly within 40 days of continuous feeding. The results showed that feed with higher BOD values increased the soil organic content as well as soil pH; and thereby the specific gravity and Atterberg limits were lowered

Influence of certain carbon and nitrogen sources on antagonistic potentiality of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtillus against Botrytis allii the incitant of onion neck rot

Gliotoxin Fermentation Agar (GFA) Medium and Nutrient Glucose Agar   (NGA) medium with different carbon and nitrogen sources were used to study the impact of carbon and nitrogen sources on Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Bacillus subtillus Cohn antagonistic efficiency against growth of Botrytis allii Munn. Results indicated that Trichoderma harzianum gave the highest inhibition % in growth of Botrytis allii when Sucrose was used as a carbon source while the lowest values of inhibition% were appeared by application of Mannitol as a carbon source. Trichoderma harzianum gave the highest inhibition% in growth of B.allii when use Potassium nitrate  as a nitrogen source while the lowest values of inhibition% in growth of B.allii were obtained by application of Beef extract as a nitrogen source. Results showed also that Bacillus subtillus gave the highest inhibition% in growth of B.allii when Mannitol was used as a carbon source while the lowest values of inhibition% in growth of B.allii were appeared by application of Sucrose as a carbon source. Bacillus subtillus gave the highest inhibition% in growth of B.allii when use Glutamic acid as a nitrogen source while the lowest values of inhibition% in growth of B.allii were appeared by application of Tryptophan as a nitrogen source.

Painting process improvement through six sigma approach in a Malaysian vehicle assembly company

Painting is an important process in the automotive assembly to give more attractive appearance to the vehicles and to provide the layer of protection against corrosion and weathering. The objective of this paper is to identify and analyze the factors affecting the quality of painting process at Company RST’s Paint Shop. The paint shop was unable to perform the painting process satisfactorily and deliver the painted vehicle bodies as per customer specifications. The study concentrated on the fiber defect detected at Top Coat Area as the major problem of paint deficiency. Using activities like Genba investigation, data collection, trials and data analysis, the root causes of the problem were identified. Six Sigma DMAIC approach was utilized in conducting the improvement activities. Through designed experiments conducted to determine the best parameter setting of the spray gun used in the painting process, it was found that 3.5 bars for air pressure and 450 ml/minutes for fluid delivery resulted in the lowest paint defect. The use of Six Sigma DMAIC approach had succeeded in helping the company to minimize paint fiber defect per unit (DPU) from 10 to less than 3 DPU. The results from the study have provided an insight on successful deployment of DMAIC through application of its various statistical tools and techniques, and as the systematic problem-solving framework on solving actual industrial issues such as automotive painting problem

Effect of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-Fumaric Acid Coupled Addition on the In Vitro

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of sodium lauryl sulfate-fumaric acid coupled addition on in vitro methangenesis and rumen fermentation. Evaluation was carried out using in vitro gas production technique. Ruminal contents were collected from five steers immediately after slaughtering and used for preparation of inoculums of mixed rumen microorganisms. Rumen fluid was then mixed with the basal diet of steers and used to generate four treatments, negative control (no additives), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) treated, fumaric acid treated, and SLS-fumaric acid coupled addition treated. The results revealed that, relative to control, efficiency in reduction of methanogenesis was as follows: coupled addition > SLS-addition > fumaric acid addition. Both SLS-addition and SLS-fumaric acid coupled addition demonstrated a decremental effect on ammonia nitrogen (NH(3)–N), total short chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFAs) concentrations and the amount of substrate degraded, and an increment effect on microbial mass and microbial yield (Y(ATP)). Nevertheless, fumaric acid did not alter any of the previously mentioned parameters but induced a decremental effect on NH(3)–N. Furthermore, both fumaric acid and SLS-fumaric acid coupled addition increased propionate at the expense of acetate and butyrate, while, defaunation increased acetate at the expense of propionate and butyrate. The pH value was decreased by all treatments relative to control, while, cellulase activity did not differ by different treatments. The current study can be promising strategies for suppressing ruminal methane emissions and improving ruminants feed efficiency

Electrical performance study of a large area multicrystalline silicon solar cell using a current shunt and a micropotentiometer

In this paper, a new technique using a Current Shunt and a Micropotentiometer has been used to study the electrical performance of a large area multicrystalline silicon solar cell at outdoor conditions. The electrical performance is mainly described by measuring both cell short circuit current and open circuit voltage. The measurements of this cell by using multimeters suffer from some problems because the cell has high current intensity with low output voltage. So, the solar cell short circuit current values are obtained by measuring the voltage developed across a known resistance Current Shunt. Samples of the obtained current values are accurately calibrated by using a Micropotentiometer (μpot) thermal element (TE) to validate this new measuring technique. Moreover, the solar cell open circuit voltage has been measured. Besides, the cell output power has been calculated and can be correlated with the measured incident radiation

Analgesic efficacy and safety of peri-operative pregabalin following radical cystectomy: A dose grading study

AbstractPurposeAdding novel drugs like pregabalin to analgesic regimens might reduce postoperative pain, total opioid consumption and side effects, this study compares multiple doses of pregabalin for postoperative analgesia following radical cystectomy.MethodsThis study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov at no.: NCT02724293. Sixty patients were randomized into 4 groups: Group I: control (placebo) group, Group II: received pregabalin 300mg 2h preoperatively, Group III: received pregabalin 300mg 2h preoperatively and 12h thereafter, Group IV: received pregabalin 600mg 2h preoperatively. Postoperative pain, time to first request of analgesia, and total morphine consumption were recorded.ResultsVAS was significantly reduced in groups II, III, IV in comparison with group I immediately postoperative, and after 2h (P<0.05). Sedation score was significantly higher in groups II, III, IV compared to group I immediately postoperative (P<0.05). First request of analgesia was significantly delayed in groups II, III, IV compared to control group (P=0.000). Total analgesic consumption was significantly reduced in groups II, III, IV compared to group I (P=0.000). Group IV showed a significantly higher incidence of dizziness compared to group I.ConclusionPeri-operative pregabalin at doses of 300mg and 600mg reduced postoperative opioid consumption and prolonged time to first request of analgesia in patients who underwent radical cystectomy, and a single preoperative dose of 600mg is superior in analgesia to others, without serious side effects

A novel green antenna phase-shift system with data acquisition boards

A novel green phase shifter system is proposed in this research. The system is developed by a combination of reconfigurable beam steering antennas and data acquisition (DAQ) boards. A combination of two reconfigurable beam steering antennas, located side-by-side, forms a spatial configuration structure with a fabricated ‘green’ element plank of rice husk placed in between. The concept of a spatial configuration technique has been ‘mutated’ by shifting the structure of spiral feed line and aperture slots of first beam steering antenna by as much as 45 ◦ . The PIN diode switches connected to the DAQ boards enable the intelligent capability of the spatial antennas. The activation of certain degree radiation patterns of either the first beam steering antenna or the second beam steering antenna depends on the memory of the DAQ boards — Beam Manager. When an intruder comes from the cardinal angles of 0◦/ 360◦, 90◦, 180◦, or 270◦, its range and angles’ location will be automatically detected by the first antenna through the output ports of the 1st DAQ: P1.0, P1.1, P1.2, and P1.3. The second antenna is then activated by the output ports of the 2nd DAQ: P2.0 up to P2.3, to adaptively maneuver the beam towards four different ordinal directions of 45◦, 135◦, 225◦, and 315◦