Presenting in Virtual Worlds: Towards an Architecture for a 3D Presenter explaining 2D-Presented Information

Entertainment, education and training are changing because of multi-party interaction technology. In the past we have seen the introduction of embodied agents and robots that take the role of a museum guide, a news presenter, a teacher, a receptionist, or someone who is trying to sell you insurances, houses or tickets. In all these cases the embodied agent needs to explain and describe. In this paper we contribute the design of a 3D virtual presenter that uses different output channels to present and explain. Speech and animation (posture, pointing and involuntary movements) are among these channels. The behavior is scripted and synchronized with the display of a 2D presentation with associated text and regions that can be pointed at (sheets, drawings, and paintings). In this paper the emphasis is on the interaction between 3D presenter and the 2D presentation

Visual function and serous retinal detachment in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The influence of serous retinal detachment (SRD) on retinal sensitivity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular edema remains unclear. This is despite the frequent co-existence of SRD and cystoid macular edema (CME) in BRVO patients on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the fact that CME is the most common form of macular edema secondary to BRVO. We investigated visual function (visual acuity and macular sensitivity), macular thickness, and macular volume in patients with BRVO and macular edema.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty-three consecutive BRVO patients (26 women and 27 men) were divided into two groups based on optical coherence tomography findings. Macular function was documented by microperimetry, while macular thickness and volume were measured by OCT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 15 patients with SRD and 38 patients with CME. Fourteen of the 15 patients with SRD also had CME. Visual acuity was significantly worse in the SRD group than in the CME group (P = 0.049). Also, macular thickness and macular volume within the central 4°, 10°, and 20° fields were significantly greater in the SRD group (P = 0.008, and P = 0.007, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, and P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, macular sensitivity within the central 4°, 10°, and 20° fields was not significantly worse in the SRD group than in the CME group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>SRD itself may decrease visual acuity together with CME, because nearly all SRD patients also had CME. SRD does not seem to influence macular function on microperimetry.</p

Design and Implementation of an Iris Biometric Door Access Control System

Over the years, security has soared in importance as concerned individuals, companies and organizations continue to implement measures to improve the security of lives and properties. Door-access control is a physical security system that secures a room or building by limiting access to specific people and keeping records of such accesses. The significance of iris technology among others, for security and access control applications are numerous. In terms of physical security, iris technology is already making inroads into the access control market because of the reliability of its authentication process. In this paper, the researchers present an aspect of the system relating to the design and construction of an iris biometric door access control. The system was developed as a means of getting into a specified area by securing the door and limiting access. The database created contains the particulars of those allowed access in order to work in tandem with the mandatory iris authentication process. The implemented design worked satisfactorily

Ionic mechanisms and Ca2+ dynamics underlying the glucose response of pancreatic β cells: a simulation study

To clarify the mechanisms underlying the pancreatic β-cell response to varying glucose concentrations ([G]), electrophysiological findings were integrated into a mathematical cell model. The Ca2+ dynamics of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were also improved. The model was validated by demonstrating quiescent potential, burst–interburst electrical events accompanied by Ca2+ transients, and continuous firing of action potentials over [G] ranges of 0–6, 7–18, and >19 mM, respectively. These responses to glucose were completely reversible. The action potential, input impedance, and Ca2+ transients were in good agreement with experimental measurements. The ionic mechanisms underlying the burst–interburst rhythm were investigated by lead potential analysis, which quantified the contributions of individual current components. This analysis demonstrated that slow potential changes during the interburst period were attributable to modifications of ion channels or transporters by intracellular ions and/or metabolites to different degrees depending on [G]. The predominant role of adenosine triphosphate–sensitive K+ current in switching on and off the repetitive firing of action potentials at 8 mM [G] was taken over at a higher [G] by Ca2+- or Na+-dependent currents, which were generated by the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump, Na+/K+ pump, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and TRPM channel. Accumulation and release of Ca2+ by the ER also had a strong influence on the slow electrical rhythm. We conclude that the present mathematical model is useful for quantifying the role of individual functional components in the whole cell responses based on experimental findings

A new solution to the problem of finding all numerical solutions to ordered metric structures

A new algorithm is used to test and describe the set of all possible solutions for any linear model of an empirical ordering derived from techniques such as additive conjoint measurement, unfolding theory, general Fechnerian scaling and ordinal multiple regression. The algorithm is computationally faster and numerically superior to previous algorithms.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45740/1/11336_2005_Article_BF02293603.pd

What does touch tell us about emotions in touchscreen-based gameplay?

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 ACM. It is posted here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution.Nowadays, more and more people play games on touch-screen mobile phones. This phenomenon raises a very interesting question: does touch behaviour reflect the player’s emotional state? If possible, this would not only be a valuable evaluation indicator for game designers, but also for real-time personalization of the game experience. Psychology studies on acted touch behaviour show the existence of discriminative affective profiles. In this paper, finger-stroke features during gameplay on an iPod were extracted and their discriminative power analysed. Based on touch-behaviour, machine learning algorithms were used to build systems for automatically discriminating between four emotional states (Excited, Relaxed, Frustrated, Bored), two levels of arousal and two levels of valence. The results were very interesting reaching between 69% and 77% of correct discrimination between the four emotional states. Higher results (~89%) were obtained for discriminating between two levels of arousal and two levels of valence

Performance of MPLS-based virtual private networks and classic virtual private networks using advanced metrics

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is effective in managing and utilizing available network bandwidth. It has advanced security features and a lower time delay. The existing literature has covered the performance of MPLS-based networks in relation to conventional Internet Protocol (IP) networks. But, too few literatures exist on the performance of MPLS-based Virtual Private Networks (VPN) in relation to traditional VPN networks. In this paper, a comparison is made between the effectiveness of the MPLS-VPN network and a classic VPN network using simulation studies done on OPNET®. The performance metrics used to carry out the comparison include; End to End Delay, Voice Packet Sent/Received and Label Switched Path's Traffic. The simulation study was carried out with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as the test bed. The result of the study showed that MPLS-based VPN networks outperform classic VPN networks

Comparative analysis of the performance of various active queue management techniques to varying wireless network conditions

This paper demonstrates the robustness of active queue management techniques to varying load, link capacity and propagation delay in a wireless environment. The performances of four standard controllers used in Transmission Control Protocol/Active Queue Management (TCP/AQM) systems were compared. The active queue management controllers were the Fixed-Parameter Proportional Integral (PI), Random Early Detection (RED), Self-Tuning Regulator (STR) and the Model Predictive Control (MPC). The robustness of the congestion control algorithm of each technique was documented by simulating the varying conditions using MATLAB® and Simulink® software. From the results obtained, the MPC controller gives the best result in terms of response time and controllability in a wireless network with varying link capacity and propagation delay. Thus, the MPC controller is the best bet when adaptive algorithms are to be employed in a wireless network environment. The MPC controller can also be recommended for heterogeneous networks where the network load cannot be estimated

A model and algorithm for multidimensional scaling with external constraints on the distances

A method for externally constraining certain distances in multidimensional scaling configurations is introduced and illustrated. The approach defines an objective function which is a linear composite of the loss function of the point configuration X relative to the proximity data P and the loss of X relative to a pseudo-data matrix R . The matrix R is set up such that the side constraints to be imposed on X 's distances are expressed by the relations among R 's numerical elements. One then uses a double-phase procedure with relative penalties on the loss components to generate a constrained solution X . Various possibilities for constructing actual MDS algorithms are conceivable: the major classes are defined by the specification of metric or nonmetric loss for data and/or constraints, and by the various possibilities for partitioning the matrices P and R . Further generalizations are introduced by substituting R by a set of R matrices, R i , i =1, ... r , which opens the way for formulating overlapping constraints as, e.g., in patterns that are both row- and column-conditional at the same time.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45739/1/11336_2005_Article_BF02293597.pd

Healthy Campus Trial: A multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) fully factorial trial to optimize the smartphone cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) app for mental health promotion among university students: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.After the publication of the primary findings, the de-identified and completely anonymized individual participant-level dataset will be posted on the UMIN-ICDR website (http://www.umin.ac.jp/icdr/index-j.html) so that it can be accessed by qualified researchers.Background: Youth in general and college life in particular are characterized by new educational, vocational, and interpersonal challenges, opportunities, and substantial stress. It is estimated that 30-50% of university students meet criteria for some mental disorder, especially depression, in any given year. The university has traditionally provided many channels to promote students' mental health, but until now only a minority have sought such help, possibly owing to lack of time and/or to stigma related to mental illness. Smartphone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) shows promise for its accessibility and effectiveness. However, its most effective components and for whom it is more (or less) effective are not known. Methods/design: Based on the multiphase optimization strategy framework, this study is a parallel-group, multicenter, open, fully factorial trial examining five smartphone-delivered CBT components (self-monitoring, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, assertion training, and problem solving) among university students with elevated distress, defined as scoring 5 or more on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The primary outcome is change in PHQ-9 scores from baseline to week 8. We will estimate specific efficacy of the five components and their interactions through the mixed-effects repeated-measures analysis and propose the most effective and efficacious combinations of components. Effect modification by selected baseline characteristics will be examined in exploratory analyses. Discussion: The highly efficient experimental design will allow identification of the most effective components and the most efficient combinations thereof among the five components of smartphone CBT for university students. Pragmatically, the findings will help make the most efficacious CBT package accessible to a large number of distressed university students at reduced cost; theoretically, they will shed light on the underlying mechanisms of CBT and help further advance CBT for depression