Cognitive transfer of spatial awareness states from immersive virtual environments to reality.

An individual's prior experience will influence how new visual information in a scene is perceived and remembered. Accuracy of memory performance per se is an imperfect reflection of the cognitive activity (awareness states) that underlies performance in memory tasks. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of varied visual fidelity of training environments on the transfer of training to the real-world after exposure to immersive simulations representing a real-world scene. A between groups experiment was carried out to explore the effect of rendering quality on measurements of location-based recognition memory for objects and associated states of awareness. The immersive simulation, consisted of one room that was either rendered flat-shaded or using radiosity rendering. The simulation was displayed on a stereo head-tracked Head Mounted Display. Post exposure to the synthetic simulation, participants completed a memory recognition task conducted in a real-world scene by physically arranging objects in their physical form in a real world room. Participants also reported one of four states of awareness following object recognition. They were given several options of awareness states that reflected the level of visual mental imagery involved during retrieval, the familiarity of the recollection and related guesses. The scene incorporated objects that 'fitted' into the specific context of the real-world scene, referred to as consistent objects, and objects which were not related to the specific context of the real-world scene, referred to as inconsistent objects. A follow-up study was conducted a week after the initial test. Interestingly, results revealed a higher proportion of correct object recognition associated with mental imagery when participants were exposed to low fidelity flat-shaded training scenes rather than the radiosity rendered ones. Memory psychology indicates that awareness states based on visual imagery require stronger attentional processing in the first instance than those based on familiarity. A tentative claim would therefore be that those immersive environments that are distinctive because of their variation from 'real', such as flat-shaded environments, recruit stronger attentional resources. This additional attentional processing may bring about a change in participants' subjective experiences of 'remembering' when they later transfer the training from that environment into a real-world situation

The effects of world heritage sites and governance on tourist arrivals: worldwide evidence

The tourism sector plays an important role in economic development. Its contributes foreign exchange earnings to the nation; tax revenue to the government; and provide job to the population as well as open-up business opportunities to serve the communities. Thus, international tourist arrival plays a central role in stimulating economic growth by ensuring substantial export income in the form of international tourist receipts to a destination country. A fundamental question that relates international visitors and the destination country is “why do some destination countries attract more visitors than others?” In this study, using a sample of 126 countries, we provide evidences that income, the number of world natural and cultural heritage sites, ethnic diversity and good governance are important factors influencing international visitors’ destination choices (tourism demand)

Qurban Distribution System: A New Dimension Towards A Fair And Equitable Distribution

Qurban is a form of special Islamic ritual which is performed by slaughtering sacrificial animals and distributing the meat to the specified categories of recipients. In Malaysia, it is a common practice that mosques organised qurban on behalf of third parties and handled the entire process of qurban including its distribution. In the absence of a formal internal control system, the qurban distribution might be subject to mishandling. For instance, there is a risk that the distribution might not be made to the poor and needy at the appropriate rate, thus creating substantial doubt on whether the ritual performed has met the religious requirements or not. In order to mitigate the overall risks in qurban distribution, a group of researchers from UiTM Melaka has proposed a Qurban Distribution System (QurDiS). QurDiS is a documented internal control system consisting of policies, procedures and guidelines for qurban distribution in order to achieve a fair and equitable distribution. The system consists of various internal control activities including adequate segregation of duties among committee members, the use of specially labelled containers for meat distribution, policy of distribution over the counter only, maintenance of a computerised database of qurban recipients, acknowledgement of receipts of the distribution and reconciliation of the distribution through the preparation of distribution reports. The application of QurDiS has many advantages such as to promote transparency and accountability and to reduce the risk of unfair and forbidden distribution. QurDiS may be applied suitably by mosques and other managers of qurban

Review on wildlife value orientation for ecotourism resource management

Wildlife value orientation (WVO) is important in the management of conflicts in ecotourism, particularly in human and wildlife concerns as human-wildlife conflict reported cases have increased in recent years. Therefore, this article systematically reviews literatures on WVO globally from the context of theoretical approach as well as the effect of modernization on values towards wildlife. The theoretical approach highlights the cognitive hierarchy model and the development of four theories that shapes the cultural thought towards wildlife relevant to ecotourism products. By understanding, through integrated empirical investigation, the values people hold towards wildlife, it enables the development of effective decision makings in handling the conflicts in the realm of ecotourism product or resource management

Metamaterial sensor based on reflected mirror rectangular split ring resonator for the application of microwave sensing

In this research paper, a new reflected mirror rectangular split-ring resonator-shaped metamaterial sensor is proposed for the detection of materials and thickness of the materials. The metamaterial structure is designed in the same dimension as the opening of the X-band waveguide as if a total guided electromagnetic wave penetrates the structure, and its size is 22.86 × 10.16 mm2. Computer simulation technology (CST) microwave studio is used to design the metamaterial structure and the obtained reflection coefficient is validated with the advanced design system (ADS) results. Various parametric analysis has been done to optimize the design and size of the structure. Three materials FR-4, Rogers RO4350B, Rogers, and RT5880 have been attached to the metamaterial sensor and have shown the overall results both experimentally and theoretically. The resonance frequency shifted 120 MHz between FR-4 and Rogers RO4350B, and 250 MHz shifted between FR-4 and Rogers RT5880. Three different thicknesses of the FR-4 have been used to see the response of the metamaterial sensor. The resonance frequency shifted 80 MHz between 1.6 and 1.3 mm thickness of the FR-4, and 110 MHz shifted between 1.6 and 1 mm thickness of the FR-4. The simulated and measured outcomes are quite similar. The sensitivity of the structure is 1.29 and the quality factor (Q-factor) is 435, the figure of merit (FOM) is also analyzed, and its value is 561.15. Since the proposed sensor has high sensitivity, high Q-factor, and shows better performance, hence it can be used in industry to detect the various materials and thickness of the materials

Orthogonal centre ring field optimization triple-band metamaterial absorber with sensing application

This paper provides a metamaterial for microwave absorbers relying on asymmetric square split rings with a partial E shape in the centre-based resonator. The wideband frequency range shows its sensing capabilities in identifying various oil samples. The optimized MTM unit cell has electrical dimensions of 0.122λο × 0.122λο, where is λο the predicted wavelength at 3.64 GHz resonance frequency, for a total size of 10 × 10 mm2 . The FR-4 dielectric substrate, 1.6 mm in thickness, produces the unit cell. The MTM has a maximum absorption peak of 91.46 % at 3.64 GHz, 99.72 % at 5.99 GHz, 96.89 % at 7.47 GHz, and 98.45 % at 10.01 GHz. This MMA has four absorption peaks, making it suitable for use in the triple band (S, C, and X). The centre split gaps and partial E shapes increase unit cell absorption, and the defective CSRR back layer structure improves the transmission coefficient. High absorption is influenced by the central split gaps and an appropriate electric field and magnetic field optimized in the centre ring when the structure is in an Orthogonal orientation. The research used a frequency domain solver operating between 2 and 12 GHz. The scattering characteristics (coefficient of transmission) of the relevant unit cell’s equivalent circuit were confirmed using ADS software and the CST result. At frequencies between 3 and 5 GHz, the proposed asymmetric unit cell functions as a double negative (DNG) metamaterial absorber due to its negative permeability and permittivity. Since oil samples have different dielectric constants, the resonance frequency and Q factor are likewise different. Here, we receive a spectrum of frequencies that can be adjusted for use in sensing. The data showed that the suggested sensor is sensitive enough to pick up a variety of oils. The proposed sensor is useful for various applications, from liquid detection to microfluidic sensing and beyond, due to its cheap cost, high sensitivity, high-quality factor, and high electromagnetic radiation (EMR)

Triple-Band Square Split-Ring Resonator Metamaterial Absorber Design with High Effective Medium Ratio for 5G Sub-6 GHz Applications

This article proposes a square split-ring resonator (SSRR) metamaterial absorber (MMA) for sub-6 GHz application. The unit cell of the MMA was designed and fabricated on commercially available low-cost FR-4 substrate material with a dielectric constant o 4.3. The higher effective medium ratio (EMR) of the designed unit cell shows the compactness of the MMA. The dimension of the unit cell is 9.5 × 9.5 × 1.6 mm3, which consists of two split rings and two arms with outer SSRR. The proposed MMA operates at 2.5 GHz, 4.9 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands with a 90% absorption peak and shows a single negative metamaterial property. The E-field, H-field, and surface current are also explored in support of absorption analysis. Moreover, the equivalent circuit model of the proposed MMA is modelled and simulated to validate the resonance behavior of the MMA structure. Finally, the proposed MMA can be used for the specific frequency bands of 5G applications such as signal absorption, crowdsensing, SAR reduction, etc

Triple-Band Square Split-Ring Resonator Metamaterial Absorber Design with High Effective Medium Ratio for 5G Sub-6 GHz Applications

This article proposes a square split-ring resonator (SSRR) metamaterial absorber (MMA) for sub-6 GHz application. The unit cell of the MMA was designed and fabricated on commercially available low-cost FR-4 substrate material with a dielectric constant o 4.3. The higher effective medium ratio (EMR) of the designed unit cell shows the compactness of the MMA. The dimension of the unit cell is 9.5 × 9.5 × 1.6 mm3, which consists of two split rings and two arms with outer SSRR. The proposed MMA operates at 2.5 GHz, 4.9 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands with a 90% absorption peak and shows a single negative metamaterial property. The E-field, H-field, and surface current are also explored in support of absorption analysis. Moreover, the equivalent circuit model of the proposed MMA is modelled and simulated to validate the resonance behavior of the MMA structure. Finally, the proposed MMA can be used for the specific frequency bands of 5G applications such as signal absorption, crowdsensing, SAR reduction, etc