Integrating multiple sensor modalities for environmental monitoring of marine locations

In this paper we present preliminary work on integrating visual sensing with the more traditional sensing modalities for marine locations. We have deployed visual sensing at one of the Smart Coast WSN sites in Ireland and have built a software platform for gathering and synchronizing all sensed data. We describe how the analysis of a range of different sensor modalities can reinforce readings from a given noisy, unreliable sensor

Pump less wearable microfluidic device for real time pH sweat monitoring

This paper presents the fabrication and the performance of a novel, wearable, robust, flexible and disposable microfluidic device which incorporates micro-Light Emitting Diodes (μ-LEDs) as a detection system, for monitoring in real time mode the pH of the sweat generated during an exercising period

Moral Violence in Organizations: Hierarchic Dominance and the Absence of Potential Space

Further issues of the journal "Organisational and Social Dynamics: An International Journal of Psychoanalytic, Systemic and Group Relations Perspectives" may be found at http://karnacbooks.metapress.com/content/120476/?p=afbd0cccf1964497a232ef8eeea8d8eaπ=0The authors introduce the concept of moral violence in organizations, by which they refer to emotionally and psychologically abusive and harmful workplace cultures. These narcissistic, organizational cultures, are, hierarchically, governed by arbitrary use of power and authority, sadistic-masochistic, relational patterns of dominance and submission, and an absence of potential space for dialogue and play. Providing several vignettes, the authors illustrate the prevalence of moral violence in managerial practices that result in dehumanizing and demoralizing the workforce. In so doing, the authors take an object relational and self-psychological, psychoanalytic perspective in understanding and working with morally violent organizations.Includes bibliographical reference

Image processing for smart browsing of ocean colour data products and subsequent incorporation into a multi-modal sensing framework

Ocean colour is defined as the water hue due to the presence of tiny plants containing the pigment chlorophyll, sediments and coloured dissolved organic material and so water colour can provide valuable information on coastal ecosystems. The ‘Ocean Colour project’ collects data from various satellites (e.g. MERIS, MODIS) and makes this data available online. One method of searching the Ocean Colour project data is to visually browse level 1 and level 2 data. Users can search via location (regions), time and data type. They are presented with images which cover chlorophyll, quasi-true colour and sea surface temperature (11 μ) and links to the source data. However it is often preferable for users to search such a complex and large dataset by event and analyse the distribution of colour in an image before examination of the source data. This will allow users to browse and search ocean colour data more efficiently and to include this information more seamlessly into a framework that incorporates sensor information from a variety of modalities. This paper presents a system for more efficient management and analysis of ocean colour data and suggests how this information can be incorporated into a multi-modal sensing framework for a smarter, more adaptive environmental sensor network

Image processing for smarter browsing of ocean color data products: investigating algal blooms

Remote sensing technology continues to play a significant role in the understanding of our environment and the investigation of the Earth. Ocean color is the water hue due to the presence of tiny plants containing the pigment chlorophyll, sediments, and colored dissolved organic material and so can provide valuable information on coastal ecosystems. We propose to make the browsing of Ocean Color data more efficient for users by using image processing techniques to extract useful information which can be accessible through browser searching. Image processing is applied to chlorophyll and sea surface temperature images. The automatic image processing of the visual level 1 and level 2 data allow us to investigate the occurrence of algal blooms. Images with colors in a certain range (red, orange etc.) are used to address possible algal blooms and allow us to examine the seasonal variation of algal blooms in Europe (around Ireland and in the Baltic Sea). Yearly seasonal variation of algal blooms in Europe based on image processing for smarting browsing of Ocean Color are presented

Video analysis of events within chemical sensor networks

This paper describes how we deploy video surveillance techniques to monitor the activities within a sensor network in order to detect environmental events. This approach combines video and sensor networks in a completely different way to what would be considered the norm. Sensor networks consist of a collection of autonomous, self-powered nodes which sample their environment to detect anything from chemical pollutants to atypical sound patterns which they report through an ad hoc network. In order to reduce power consumption nodes have the capacity to communicate with neighbouring nodes only. Typically these communications are via radio waves but in this paper the sensor nodes communicate to a base station through patterns emitted by LEDs and captured by a video camera. The LEDs are chemically coated to react to their environment and on doing so emit light which is then picked up by video analysis. There are several advantages to this approach and to demonstrate we have constructed a controlled test environment. In this paper we introduce and briefly describe this environment and the sensor nodes but focus mainly on the video capture, image processing and data visualisation techniques used to indicate these events to a user monitoring the network

Surfacing Perversions of Democracy in the Workplace: A Contemporary Psychoanalytic Project

doi:10.1057/palgrave.pcs.2100064In this paper, we explore the psychodynamics of democracy in the workplace with a particular focus on unconscious and collusive forms of perverting democratic processes at work. We suggest that interpersonally and collectively the dialectical interplay between (1) autistic-contiguous, (2) paranoid-schizoid, and (3) depressive modes of experience and organized perceptions, which are necessary to the containment of divisions and conflicts in democratic organizations, is vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and psychological defenses that foster regression and collapse into more oppressive, authoritarian, and sadistic political cultures. With the objective of understanding perversions to democracy in the workplace, we find that a contemporary psychoanalytic view of organizations is more instructive than mainstream organization theory or that found in Foucault's writings on power and institutions.Includes bibliographical reference

The CDVPlex biometric cinema: sensing physiological responses to emotional stimuli in film

We describe a study conducted to investigate the potential correlations between human subject responses to emotional stimuli in movies, and observed biometric responses. The experimental set-up and procedure are described, including details of the range of sensors used to detect and record observed physiological data (such as heart-rate, galvanic skin response, body temperature and movement). Finally, applications and future analysis of the results of the study are discussed

Sensor node localisation using a stereo camera rig

In this paper, we use stereo vision processing techniques to detect and localise sensors used for monitoring simulated environmental events within an experimental sensor network testbed. Our sensor nodes communicate to the camera through patterns emitted by light emitting diodes (LEDs). Ultimately, we envisage the use of very low-cost, low-power, compact microcontroller-based sensing nodes that employ LED communication rather than power hungry RF to transmit data that is gathered via existing CCTV infrastructure. To facilitate our research, we have constructed a controlled environment where nodes and cameras can be deployed and potentially hazardous chemical or physical plumes can be introduced to simulate environmental pollution events in a controlled manner. In this paper we show how 3D spatial localisation of sensors becomes a straightforward task when a stereo camera rig is used rather than a more usual 2D CCTV camera