Facilitating Mobile Music Sharing and Social Interaction with Push!Music

Push!Music is a novel mobile music listening and sharing system, where users automatically receive songs that have autonomously recommended themselves from nearby players depending on similar listening behaviour and music history. Push!Music also enables users to wirelessly send songs between each other as personal recommendations. We conducted a two-week preliminary user study of Push!Music, where a group of five friends used the application in their everyday life. We learned for example that the shared music in Push!Music became a start for social interaction and that received songs in general were highly appreciated and could be looked upon as ‘treats’

Life satisfaction 6–15 years after a traumatic brain injury

Objectives: To assess satisfaction with life as a whole and 10 domains of life satisfaction in Swedish individuals after a traumatic brain injury, to describe the relationship with demographic, social and injury related variables, and to compare the level of life satisfaction with a Swedish reference sample. Subjects: Fifty-one men and sixteen women, 6-15 years after a traumatic brain injury. Methods: Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LiSat-11). Results: Many of the participants were, to some degree, satisfied with life as a whole and with all 10 domains of life satisfaction, but significantly less satisfied with life as whole and with 6 of the other 10 domains of life satisfaction in comparison with the Swedish reference sample. The participants' sex, injury severity or years post-injury was not related to any domains in LiSat-11, whereas age at time of injury, marital status and vocational situation were significantly related to a few of the domains. Conclusion: This study shows that life satisfaction can be affected several years after a traumatic brain injury. It appears that individuals who are married or cohabiting and productive had higher life satisfaction. This implies that regaining social participation is an important factor for life satisfaction many years after a traumatic brain injury

GlowBots: Robots that Evolve Relationships

GlowBots are small wheeled robots that develop complex relationships between each other and with their owner. They develop attractive patterns which are affected both by user interaction and communication between the robots. The project shows how robots can interact with humans in subtle and sustainable ways for entertainment and enjoyment

On the experience of stigma by persons with epilepsy in Sweden and Iran—A comparative study

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this paper is to compare the experience of stigma by persons with epilepsy in Sweden and Iran.MethodAn adapted version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale was completed by 130 persons with epilepsy in Tehran and 93 patients at a neurology clinic in Sweden.ResultsThe Swedish subjects reported a significantly lower level of experienced stigmatization than the Iranian patients, which we think is an effect of a more individualized medical treatment and a longer experience of health education in the Swedish society.ConclusionImproved seizure control, legislative measures and health education are major contributory factors for stigma reduction in a society as regards epilepsy and probably also other medical conditions

The see-Puck

We present the see-Puck, a round display module that extends an open robot platform, the e-Puck. It holds 148 LEDs (light emitting diodes) to enable the presentation of eye-catching visual animated patterns, while keeping hardware costs and energy consumption at a minimum. The see-Puck was a result of a study of future robot applications, where relationship and interaction qualities found in owners of unusual pets (e.g. spiders, snakes, and lizards) were transferred to the robotic domain. In our first proof-of-concept application, humans and robots can engage in a playful open ended interaction. We argue that open interactive robot platforms such as the see-Puck point to opportunities not only in robotics but also future user interfaces and ubiquitous computing

Förbättringspotential i avverkningsplanering : en fallstudie av ett års avvekningar på två distrikt inom SCA skog, Jämtlands förvaltning

Denna studie undersöker möjligheterna att förbättra den avverkningsplaneringen hos ett stort svenskt skogsföretag. Studien avser i huvudsak den operativa planeringen men berör också delvis strategisk planering. Arbetet baseras på en fallstudie som är genomförd inom två distrikt på SCA skog AB, Jämtlands förvaltning och inkluderar fyra delar som är; 1. Att kartlägga avverkningar ett år bakåt i tiden och insamla olika variabler för att kunna åskådliggöra hur verksamheten fortskridit under året. 2. Att med hjälp av framtaget data studera verksamheten och om möjligt konstruera en alternativ plan och analysera de ekonomiska effekterna av möjliga förbättringar. 3. Utifrån del 1 och 2 söka lösningar eller metoder att arbeta efter för att åstadkomma mera effektiva planer och när det är möjligt ge praktiska rekommendationer på förbättringar. 4. Undersöka i vilken utsträckning som uppskattad volym i planer och det verkliga utfallet skiljer sig och, om så är fallet, undersöka orsakerna till detta. Resultaten visar att man med sparade data hos SCA kan kartlägga avverkningsaktiviteter under ett år bakåt. Förflyttningar av avverkningsmaskiner, både i tid och rum är spårade. Den alternativa planen som gjordes visade att det finns potential till att förbättra planeringen så att förflyttningar av maskiner, och med det kostnaderna, minskar. Resultatet visade att förbättringarna kunde nås på fyra olika vis. 1. Genom bättre kommunikation mellan produktionsledare som sköter den operativa planeringen vilket leder till bättre urval från traktbanken när planerna etableras. 2. Utveckla verktyg som kan användas i det existerande systemet som underlättar urvalet lämpliga avverkningstrakter från traktbanken. 3. Genom att expandera traktbanken ökar antalet avverkningstrakter att välja på från traktbanken. 4. Genom att ändra kriterierna som avverkningstrakter väljs ut till traktbanken från långsiktsplaneringen. Resultatet visade också att de volymer som avverkades över året under ett år på ett SCA distrikt stämde väl överens med vad som uppskattats från beståndsdata när planerna upprättades. På individuella avverkningstrakter kunde däremot volymdifferenserna ibland vara väldigt stora. En orsak till dessa skillnader kan vara att avverkningstrakter inte alltid avverkas som det från början var planerat. Detta kan bero på flera olika saker som till exempel hög decentralisation av beslut inom företaget. En annan orsak för dessa stora volymdifferenser kan vara dåliga avgränsningar av bestånd. Det kan också bero på svåra drivningspartier som påverkar det slutgiltiga resultatet.This paper concerns the possibilities to improve the planning of harvest activities at a large Swedish forest company. It focus on operative planning but concerns to some extent also strategic planning. The paper is based on a case study carried put at two districts of SCA skog AB, Jämtlands förvaltning. The case study includes four sections which are; 1. To map out logging activities of one year and collect different operational variables to visualize how the work has proceeded during the year. 2. To construct an alternative logging plan for the same year and analyse the economical consequences of any improvements. 3. From the experience of 1 and 2, seek solutions or methods of work which result in more efficient plans and, whenever possible, give practical recommendations for improvements. 4. Examining to which extent the volume of timber in plans and at real timber landing sites differ and, if so, examine the reasons for the differences. The results from the attempts of mapping the logging activities of one year show that this can be done based on the data stored at SCA. The movements of the logging equipment, both in time and space are traced. The alternative plan that was made showed that there was a potential to improve the planning so that movements of machines, and hence the costs, decreased. The result showed that this improvements could be done in four different ways; 1. Better communication between the different employees who handle the operative production (productionleaders) which can lead to more accurate selection from the logging compartment bank when the plan is established. 2. Develop tools which can be used in the existing system to make the selection of regular and appropriate logging compartments easier. 3. By expanding the logging compartment bank, the number of stands to select from increases. 4. By changing the criteria of choosing compartments to the logging compartment bank from the long range plan. The result also showed that the volume of timber actually harvested in one year and at one SCA district differed only negligible from what had been estimated from stand data when setting up the plans. On individual logging compartments level, the differences were sometimes very large. One reason for these discrepancies is that logging compartments aren’t always cut as prescribed in the original plan. This may depend on different things as for example high decentralization of decisions within the company. Another reason for these sometimes large differences can be inadequate marked borders so the machines take more or less then the initial plan. Another cause is that parts within the stand can not be logged because of rake or big rocks

Mapping the Mayo-Portland adaptability inventory to the international classification of functioning, disability and health

Objective: To examine the contents of the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) by mapping it to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: Each of the 30 scoreable items in the MPAI-4 was mapped to the most precise ICF categories. Results: All 30 items could be mapped to components and categories in the ICF. A total of 88 meaningful concepts were identified. There were, on average, 2.9 meaningful concepts per item, and 65% of all concepts could be mapped. Items in the Ability and Adjustment subscales mapped to categories in both the Body Functions and Activity/Participation components of the ICF, whereas all except 1 in the Participation subscale were to categories in the Activity/Participation component. The items could also be mapped to 34 (13%) of the 258 Environmental Factors in the ICF. Conclusion: This mapping provides better definition through more concrete examples (as listed in the ICF) of the types of body functions, activities, and participation indicators that are represented by the 30 scoreable MPAI-4 items. This may assist users throughout the world in understanding the intent of each item, and support further development and the possibility to report results in the form of an ICF categorical profile, making it universally interpretable

A novel von Willebrand factor binding protein expressed by Staphylococcus aureus

When a shotgun phage-display library of Staphylococcus aureus Newman was affinity selected (panned) against recombinant von Willebrand factor (vWf), a novel von Willebrand factor binding protein (vWbp) was found. Experimental data indicate that the interaction between vWbp and vWf is very specific and mediated by a region of 26 aa residues in the C-terminal part of vWbp. vWbp has an N-terminal secretory signal sequence but no cell wall anchoring motif, suggesting a soluble extracellular location. Mature vWbp could be purified from the culture supernatant and the identity of the protein was confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. vWbp migrates with an apparent molecular mass of 66 kDa and the deduced protein consists of 482 aa. The gene encoding vWbp, named vwb, was present in all S. aureus strains investigated

BDNF polymorphisms are linked to poorer working memory performance, reduced cerebellar and hippocampal volumes and differences in prefrontal cortex in a Swedish elderly population

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) links learning, memory and cognitive decline in elderly, but evidence linking BDNF allele variation, cognition and brain structural differences is lacking. METHODS: 367 elderly Swedish men (n = 181) and women (n = 186) from Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala seniors (PIVUS) were genotyped and the BDNF functional rs6265 SNP was further examined in subjects who completed the Trail Making Task (TMT), verbal fluency task, and had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) examined brain structure, cognition and links with BDNF. RESULTS: The functional BDNF SNP (rs6265,) predicted better working memory performance on the TMT with positive association of the Met rs6265, and was linked with greater cerebellar, precuneus, left superior frontal gyrus and bilateral hippocampal volume, and reduced brainstem and bilateral posterior cingulate volumes. CONCLUSIONS: The functional BDNF polymorphism influences brain volume in regions associated with memory and regulation of sensorimotor control, with the Met rs6265 allele potentially being more beneficial to these functions in the elderly

Detailed Analysis of Variants in FTO in Association with Body Composition in a Cohort of 70-Year-Olds Suggests a Weakened Effect among Elderly

The rs9939609 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the fat mass and obesity (FTO) gene has previously been associated with higher BMI levels in children and young adults. In contrast, this association was not found in elderly men. BMI is a measure of overweight in relation to the individuals' height, but offers no insight into the regional body fat composition or distribution.To examine whether the FTO gene is associated with overweight and body composition-related phenotypes rather than BMI, we measured waist circumference, total fat mass, trunk fat mass, leg fat mass, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and daily energy intake in 985 humans (493 women) at the age of 70 years. In total, 733 SNPs located in the FTO gene were genotyped in order to examine whether rs9939609 alone or the other SNPs, or their combinations, are linked to obesity-related measures in elderly humans.Cross-sectional analysis of the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) cohort.Neither a single SNP, such as rs9939609, nor a SNP combination was significantly linked to overweight, body composition-related measures, or daily energy intake in elderly humans. Of note, these observations hold both among men and women.Due to the diversity of measurements included in the study, our findings strengthen the view that the effect of FTO on body composition appears to be less profound in later life compared to younger ages and that this is seemingly independent of gender