A case study of augmented reality serious games

The study introduced in this paper examines some of the issues involved in the design and implementation of serious games that make use of tangible AR environments. Our motivation is to understand how augmented reality serious games (ARSG) can be applied to some very difficult problems in the real gaming world. Emphasis is given on the interface and the interactions between the players and the serious games themselves. In particular, two case studies are presented, ARPuzzle and ARBreakout. Results from both case studies indicate that AR gaming has the potential of revolutionizing the way that current games are played and used as well as that it can help educate players while playing

Flavour and Higgs physics in Z2Z_2-symmetric 2HD models near the decoupling limit

With no evidence of any exotic particle detected so far beyond the Standard Model, the new physics may lie above the presently accessible energies at colliders and, at low-energies, can be accounted for via an effective description. The interplay of flavour and Higgs physics data allows setting stringent bounds on the parameters of the effective Lagrangian. In this paper, we focus on $Z_2$-symmetric two Higgs doublet models near the decoupling limit: the corresponding effective description relies on only a few parameters, thus predicting many interesting correlations between observables that work as tests of the theory. We present the results of a global fit to the existing data, updating and extending over the past literature. We comment on the triple Higgs coupling as a probe of an extended scalar sector and on the recent CDF II measurement of the $W$-mass.Comment: 30 pages, 16 figure

The use of virtual world platforms for supporting an emergency response training exercise

The development of a computer-based simulation for emergency response exercise training to facilitate trainees' learning activities and learning outcomes is proposed. Some limitations in using these simulations in emergency services include a focus on small-scaled individual task training and highly controlled environments designed to measure trainees' performance. These problems decrease the realism of the simulation which should represent more diverse, open-ended, counter-intuitive and unpredictable environmental conditions. These problems could reduce learning outcomes brought about by allowing open-ended discussions and team working. Virtual worlds provide a new methodological framework for conducting emergency response exercises. This paper describes a research agenda for the development of a virtual training exercise for emergency response. It has three objectives: firstly, it highlights the issues of validity of exercises for emergency events; secondly, it reviews possible virtual worlds which could be deployed as test bed environments and presents methodologies for their evaluation. Lastly, it suggests a future development of a virtual environment that may be used to support the emergency planning community by considering an existing similar project

The Herbert Virtual Museum

In recent years, virtual reality and augmented reality have emerged as areas of extreme interest as unique methods for visualising and interacting with digital museum artefacts in a different context, for example, as a virtual museum or exhibition, particularly over the Internet. Modern cultural heritage exhibitions have evolved from static to dynamic exhibitions and challenging explorations. This paper presents two different applications developed for the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery that make the user's experience more immersive, engaging, and interactive. The first application utilizes mobile phone devices in order to enrich the visitors experience in the museum, and the second application is a serious game for cultural heritage and in particular for museum environments focusing on the younger visitors

Outdoor and indoor path loss modeling at the sub-THz band

In this letter, we present new measurement results to model large-scale path loss at the sub-THz (141-145 GHz) band, for both indoor and outdoor scenarios. Extensive measurement campaigns have been carried out, taking into account both line-of-sight (LoS) and non line-of-sight (NLoS) propagation. For all considered propagation scenarios, existing omni-directional and directional path loss model have been developed, based on the so-called close-in (CI) free-space reference distance model. Moreover, path loss modeling is applied for the 2nd and 3rd strongest multipath components (MPCs). Thus, path loss exponent and large-scale shadow fading estimates are provided. Moreover, power angular spread analysis is depicted, using power angular information up to the 3rd strongest MP

Data Discovery Paradigms: User Requirements and Recommendations for Data Repositories

As data repositories make more data openly available it becomes challenging for researchers to find what they need either from a repository or through web search engines. This study attempts to investigate data users’ requirements and the role that data repositories can play in supporting data discoverability by meeting those requirements. We collected 79 data discovery use cases (or data search scenarios), from which we derived nine functional requirements for data repositories through qualitative analysis. We then applied usability heuristic evaluation and expert review methods to identify best practices that data repositories can implement to meet each functional requirement. We propose the following ten recommendations for data repository operators to consider for improving data discoverability and user’s data search experience: 1. Provide a range of query interfaces to accommodate various data search behaviours. 2. Provide multiple access points to find data. 3. Make it easier for researchers to judge relevance, accessibility and reusability of a data collection from a search summary. 4. Make individual metadata records readable and analysable. 5. Enable sharing and downloading of bibliographic references. 6. Expose data usage statistics. 7. Strive for consistency with other repositories. 8. Identify and aggregate metadata records that describe the same data object. 9. Make metadata records easily indexed and searchable by major web search engines. 10. Follow API search standards and community adopted vocabularies for interoperability

Correction of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation Using Image-Based Surgical Planning

The objectives of this study were to develop an image-based surgical planning framework that 1) allows for in-depth analysis of pre-operative hemodynamics by the use of cardiac magnetic resonance and 2) enables surgeons to determine the optimum surgical scenarios before the operation. This framework is tailored for applications in which post-operative hemodynamics are important. In particular, it is exemplified here for a Fontan patient with severe left pulmonary arteriovenous malformations due to abnormal hepatic flow distribution to the lungs. Patients first undergo cardiac magnetic resonance for 3-dimensional anatomy and flow reconstruction. After analysis of the pre-operative flow fields, the 3-dimensional anatomy is imported into an interactive surgical planning interface for the surgeon to virtually perform multiple surgical scenarios. Associated hemodynamics are predicted by the use of a fully validated computational fluid dynamic solver. Finally, efficiency metrics (e.g., pressure decrease and hepatic flow distribution) are weighted against surgical feasibility to determine the optimal surgical option

Magnetic properties of a mixed spin-1/2 and spin-3/2 Ising model with an uniaxial and biaxial crystal-field potential

Magnetic properties of a mixed spin-1/2 and spin-3/2 Ising model on honeycomb lattice are investigated within the framework of an exact star-triangle mapping transformation. The particular attention is focused on the effect of uniaxial and biaxial crystal-field potentials that basically influence the magnetic behaviour of the spin-3/2 atoms. Our results for the basic thermodynamic quantities, as well as the dynamical time-dependent autocorrelation function indicate the spin tunneling between the $| \pm \frac32>$ and $| \mp \frac12>$ states in two different magnetically ordered phases OP$_1$ and OP$_2$, respectively.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure

Mediterranean Diet Score and Its Association with Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The European Eye Study

To examine associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in countries ranging from Southern to Northern Europe. Cross-sectional, population-based epidemiologic study. Of 5060 randomly sampled people aged 65 years or older from 7 study centers across Europe (Norway, Estonia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, and Spain), full dietary data were available in 4753. The mean age of participants was 73.2 years (standard deviation, 5.6), and 55% were women. Participants underwent an eye examination and digital retinal color photography. The images were graded at a single center. Dietary intake during the previous 12 months was assessed by using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). A previously published Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) was used to classify participants according to their responses on the FFQ. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the association of the MDS score and AMD, taking account of potential confounders and the multicenter study design. Images were graded according to the International Classification System for age-related maculopathy and stratified using the Rotterdam staging system into 5 exclusive stages (AMD 0-4) and a separate category of large drusen (≥125 μm). Age-related macular degeneration 4 included neovascular AMD (nvAMD) and geographic atrophy (GA). Increasing MDS was associated with reduced odds of nvAMD in unadjusted and confounder-adjusted analysis. Compared with the lowest MDS adherence (≤4 score), those in the highest category MDS adherence (>6 score) showed lower odds of nvAMD (odds ratio, 0.53; 0.27-1.04; P trend = 0.01). The association with MDS did not differ by Y204H risk allele (P = 0.89). For all early AMD (grade 1-3), there was no relationship with MDS (P trend = 0.9). There was a weak trend (P = 0.1) between MDS and large drusen; those in the highest category of MDS had 20% reduced odds compared with those in the lowest (P = 0.05). This study adds to the limited evidence of the protective effect of adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern in those with late AMD, although it does not support previous reports of a relationship with genetic susceptibility. Interventions to encourage the adoption of the Mediterranean diet should be developed, and methods by which such behavior change can be achieved and maintained investigated