Comparison of relative versus absolute pointing devices

In this study, a relative pointing device was compared with two different absolute pointing devices. Participants used a Wii Remote™ controller with the Wii MotionPlus™ attachment in three different configurations of motion sensing: Relative (6-axis: 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope), Camera Absolute (camera only), and Stabilized Absolute (camera + 6-axis). Twenty-four participants were given a series of movement tasks based on Fitts’ test to complete at three different distances. In terms of information throughput, pointing accuracy, and user preference, relative pointing was clearly superior to absolute pointing, even when absolute pointing included stabilization

Crafting a critical technical practice

In recent years, the category of practice-based research has become an essential component of discourse around public funding and evaluation of the arts in British higher education. When included under the umbrella of public policy concerned with the creative industries", technology researchers often find themselves collaborating with artists who consider their own participation to be a form of practice-based research. We are conducting a study under the Creator Digital Economies project asking whether technologists, themselves, should be considered as engaging in practice-based research, whether this occurs in collaborative situations, or even as a component of their own personal research [1]

Pathophysiology of anoctaminopathy (LGMD2L)

PhD ThesisAgeing is a natural process, which is characterised by progressive decline in physiological functions and increased susceptibility to disease and death. Brain is particularly susceptible to structural and functional changes, which is more evident in disorders associated with ageing such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Copper is necessary for the protection against oxidative stress, energy production and neurotransmitter processing in the brain. However, higher copper levels can increase oxidative stress, resulting in neuronal damage. In order to avoid copper induced cytotoxicity, cells have to regulate copper levels through distribution into three intracellular pathways. By identifying changes in the copper pathways in the healthy and AD brain and by estimating the effects of copper chelation or supplementation in model cell line a better understanding of copper function in the brain will be obtained. In order to accomplish that copper, activity and protein levels of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in the healthy, AD brain and in HEK293 cell treated with copper chelators or supplemented with copper. Copper concentration was significantly decrease by more than 40% in healthy ageing brain and in the AD brain. Copper loss did not seem to affect the activity or protein level of the COX and SOD, since their levels were significantly increased in the ageing and AD brain. On the other hand, cells treated with copper chelators for three days faced a more than 75% decrease in intracellular copper concentration, which led to a more than 85% inhibition of the COX and SOD activity. Copper levels should be regulated properly in order to meet body’s metabolic demands and avoid cytotoxicity. Brain seems to have a mechanism where its energy demands have to be fulfilled even under low copper concentrations. Whereas, the prolonged and severe copper loss can dramatically affect the energy production and antioxidant defence systems which could be fatal to the cells.National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre based at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle Universit

Synthesis and structural characterisation of new ettringite and thaumasite type phases: Ca6[Ga(OH)6•12H2O]2(SO4)3•2H2O and Ca6[M(OH)6•12H2O]2(SO4)2(CO3)2, M = Mn, Sn

Investigations into the formation of new ettringite-type phases with a range of trivalent and tetravalent cations were carried out to further study the potential this structure type has to incorporate cations covering a range of ionic radii (0.53–0.69 Å). We report the synthesis and structural characterisation of a new ettringite-type phase, Ca6[Ga(OH)6•12H2O]2(SO4)3•2H2O, which was indexed in space group P31c with the unit cell parameters a = 11.202(2) Å, c = 21.797(3) Å and two new thaumasite-type phases Ca6[M(OH)6•12H2O]2(SO4)2(CO3)2, M = Mn, Sn which were indexed in space group P63 with the unit cell parameters a = 11.071(5) Å, c = 21.156(8) Å and a = 11.066(1) Å, c = 22.420(1) Å respectively. These new phases show the versatility of the ettringite family of structures to tolerate a large range of cation sizes on the octahedral M site and highlights the preference of tetravalent cations to crystallise with the thaumasite structure over the ettringite structure

Investigation of a Fatal Fire in a Moving Vehicle

Paper reporting forensic work on a real fire case.This paper summarizes the essentials of an investigation conducted by the authors to test conflicting scenarios regarding the cause and origin of an accidental fire. Fire investigators proposed that an underbody fuel-leak ignited while the vehicle was in motion and transferred sufficient heat through the steel floor to cause rapid, but undetectable, ignition and fire growth in the interior of the vehicle. To assess the feasibility of the proposed scenario, a series of experiments were designed together with the development of a priori modeling studies. The transient heating across the vehicle floor was modeled, which allowed determining the characteristics for fire ignition inside the vehicle depending on the scenario studied. The post-ignition regime was studied using computational fire modeling to obtain an approximate time for smoke detection by the passengers. Results from these models provided input to the design of experimental tests with a real-scale vehicle under a forced flow imitating driving conditions. The tests showed that the only situation for which the scenario was feasible was for the condition where unexpected perforations existed in the floor pan. In the case where the floor pan did not contain perforations (as in the subject accident vehicle), heat transfer from the under-floor flame was insufficient to cause ignition of interior materials

The Journal of the Friends' Historical Society vol. 2 No. 4

1. Notices. 2. Notes and Queries. 3. Pennsylvania History Club. 4. Editors' Notes. 5. William Miller at the King's Gardens II. 6. An Appeal to George Fox. 7. Friends' Libraries in Maryland. 8. Occurrences for the Progress of Truth II. 9. Extracts from the Bishop of Chester's Visitation, 1665 II. 10. Friends on the Atlantic II. 11. Friends in Current Literature. 12. List of Members. 13. Obituary. 14. Index to Volume II

Dual Navigation of Computerized Self-Administered Questionnaires and Organizational Records

This research explored dual navigation between organizational records and a computerized self-administered questionnaire. Two alternative interface designs for on-line questionnaire presentation were investigated. The form-based version of the questionnaire was divided into sections by question topic and each section was displayed as a single web page. In the item-based version, each question item was displayed individually on the screen. The navigational data collected was used to examine how participants moved between the organizational records and the questionnaire items as they completed the computerized questionnaire. Along with the navigational data, responses from pre- and post- questionnaires were analyzed. There were no significant differences in terms of accuracy, completion time, and ratings given in the pre- and post- questionnaires. However, there were significantly different navigational patterns between the two groups. Respondents in the form-based group tended to answer questions in more of a non-linear sequence. Additionally, the item-based group had more organizational record to organizational record traversals while the form-based group had more questionnaire item to questionnaire item traversals. Keywords : Questionnaires, Surveys, User Interface, World Wide Web, CSAQ, Navigation, Break-Dancing (Also corss-referenced as HCIL-TR-2000-22) (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-2000-71

The acceptability and feasibility of peer worker support role in community based HCV treatment for injecting drug users

Hepatitis C is the most common blood borne virus in Australia affecting over 200 000 people. Effective treatment for hepatitis C has only become accessible in Australia since the late 1990's, although active injecting drug use (IDU) remained an exclusion criteria for government-funded treatment until 2001. Treatment uptake has been slow, particularly among injecting drug users, the largest affected group. We developed a peer-based integrated model of hepatitis C care at a community drug and alcohol clinic. Clients interested and eligible for hepatitis C treatment had their substance use, mental health and other psychosocial comorbidities co-managed onsite at the clinic prior to and during treatment. In a qualitative preliminary evaluation of the project, nine current patients of the clinic were interviewed, as was the clinic peer worker. A high level of patient acceptability of the peer-based model and an endorsement the integrated model of care was found. This paper describes the acceptability of a peer-based integrated model of hepatitis C care by the clients using the service

In vivo mapping of cholinergic terminals in normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease

To map presynaptic cholinergic terminal densities in normal aging (n = 36), Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 22), and Parkinson's disease (PD) (n = 15), we performed single-photon emission computed tomography using [ 123 I]iodoben-zovesamicol (IBVM), an in vivo marker of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter. We used coregistered positron emission tomography with [ 18 F]fluorodexyglucose for metabolic assessment and coregistered magnetic resonance imaging for atrophy assessment. In controls (age, 22–91 years), cortical IBVM binding declined only 3.7% per decade. In AD, cortical binding correlated inversely with dementia severity. In mild dementia, binding differed according to age of onset, but metabolism did not. With an onset age of less than 65 years, binding was reduced severely throughout the entire cerebral cortex and hippocapus (about 30%), but with an onset age of 65 years or more, binding reductions were restricted to temporal cortex and hippocampus. In PD without dementia, binding was reduced only in parietal and occipital cortex, but demented PD subjects had extensive cortical binding decreases similar to early-onset AD. We conclude that cholinergic neuron integrity can be monitored in living AD and PD patients, and that it is not so devastated in vivo as suggested by postmortem choline acetylransferase activity (50–80%).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50361/1/410400309_ftp.pd