Knowledge representation for missing persons investigations

Purpose: The application of situation calculus for knowledge representation in missing persons investigations. Design/methodology/approach: The development of a knowledge representation model for the missing persons investigation process based upon situation calculus, with a demonstration of the use of the model for a missing persons example case. Findings: Situation calculus is valuable for knowledge representation for missing persons investigations, since such investigations have state changes over time, and due to the complexity of the differing investigation activities applicable to different situations, can be difficult to represent using simpler approaches such as tables or flowcharts. Research limitations/implications: Situation calculus modelling for missing persons investigations adds formalism to the process beyond that which can be afforded by the current use of text, tables or flowcharts. The additional formalism is useful in dealing with the uncertainty present in such investigations. Practical implications: A simplification of the application of the current police guidelines, and thoroughness in the application of such guidelines for missing persons investigations via situation calculus modelling. Social implications: Supporting the management of missing person investigations, by utilizing the most critical variables in a missing persons investigation to determine relevant investigation and search activities applicable to the circumstances of a given case. Originality/value: The novelty of the knowledge representation approach is the application of situation calculus via state and action vectors and a matrix of fluents to the process of missing persons investigations

An access control management protocol for Internet of things devices

Internet enabled computing devices are increasingly at risk of misuse by individuals or malware. Initially such misuse was targeted mainly at computers, however there is increasing targeting of tablet and smartphone devices. In this paper we examine an access control management protocol for Internet of things devices in order to attempt to provide some protection against misuse of such devices. Although anti-malware software is commonly used in computers, and is increasingly being used for tablets and smartphones, this may be a less practicable approach for Internet of things devices. The access control management protocol for Internet of things devices examined in this paper involves the use of physical proximity ‘registration’ for remote control of such devices, encryption of communications, verification of geo-location of the mobile device used to control the IoT device, safe operation controls, and exception reporting as a means of providing a tiered security approach for such devices

Keeping an Eye

The internet of things is being used increasingly in the home, so Doctors Emma Dean, Mark Taylor and Denis Reilly set out here the fire safety requirements for remote controlled cookers

Internet of things support for marketing activities

Internet enabled consumer devices are beginning to be developed by manufacturers. In this paper, we examine how the internet of things can support marketing activities including customer relationship management, business intelligence and product design. In particular, the research reported in this paper examines how the internet of things can provide communication channels to support targeted marketing for product owners and enhance customer relationship management and product support. In addition, in this paper we examine how data gained from the operational use of internet-enabled devices can support business intelligence in terms of how consumers actually use a product, and can also support new product design in terms what features of current internet enabled products are most commonly used, and how they are used

Game theory modelling of retail marketing discount strategies

Purpose: The use of game theory combined with Monte Carlo simulation modelling to support the analysis of different retail marketing strategies, in particular the use of payoff matrices for modelling the likely outcomes from different retail marketing strategies. Design/methodology/approach: Theoretical research was utilised to develop a practical approach for applying game theory to retail marketing strategies via payoff matrices combined with Monte Carlo simulation modelling. Findings: Game theory combined with Monte Carlo simulation modelling can provide a formal approach to understanding consumer decision making in a retail environment, which can support the development of retail marketing strategies. Research limitations/implications: Game theory combined with Monte Carlo simulation modelling can support the modelling of the interaction between retail marketing actions and consumer responses in a practical formal probabilistic manner, which can inform marketing strategies used by retail companies in a practical manner. Practical implications: Game theory combined with Monte Carlo simulation modelling can provide a formalised mechanism for examining how consumers may respond to different retail marketing strategies. Originality/value: The originality of this research is the practical application of game theory to retail marketing, in particular the use of payoff matrices combined with Monte Carlo simulation modelling to examine likely consumer behaviour in response to different retail marketing approaches

Double quantum dot with integrated charge sensor based on Ge/Si heterostructure nanowires

Coupled electron spins in semiconductor double quantum dots hold promise as the basis for solid-state qubits. To date, most experiments have used III-V materials, in which coherence is limited by hyperfine interactions. Ge/Si heterostructure nanowires seem ideally suited to overcome this limitation: the predominance of spin-zero nuclei suppresses the hyperfine interaction and chemical synthesis creates a clean and defect-free system with highly controllable properties. Here we present a top gate-defined double quantum dot based on Ge/Si heterostructure nanowires with fully tunable coupling between the dots and to the leads. We also demonstrate a novel approach to charge sensing in a one-dimensional nanostructure by capacitively coupling the double dot to a single dot on an adjacent nanowire. The double quantum dot and integrated charge sensor serve as an essential building block required to form a solid-state spin qubit free of nuclear spin.Comment: Related work at http://marcuslab.harvard.edu and http://cmliris.harvard.ed

Sodium bicarbonate and high-intensity-cycling capacity: variability in responses

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether gastrointestinal (GI) distress affects the ergogenicity of sodium bicarbonate and whether the degree of alkalaemia or other metabolic responses are different between individuals who improve exercise capacity and those who do not. Methods: Twenty-one males completed two cycling capacity tests at 110% of maximum power output. Participants were supplemented with 0.3 g∙kg-1BM of either placebo (maltodextrin) or sodium bicarbonate (SB). Blood pH, bicarbonate, base excess and lactate were determined at baseline, pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise and 5 minutes post-exercise. Results: SB supplementation did not significantly increase total work done (TWD) (P = 0.16, 46.8 ± 9.1 vs. 45.6 ± 8.4 kJ, d = 0.14), although magnitude based inferences suggested a 63% likelihood of a positive effect. When data were analysed without four participants who experienced GI discomfort, TWD (P = 0.01) was significantly improved with SB. Immediately post-exercise blood lactate was higher in SB for the individuals who improved but not for those who didn’t. There were also differences in the pre to post-exercise change in blood pH, bicarbonate and base excess between individuals who improved and individuals who did not. Conclusions: SB improved high intensity cycling capacity, but only with the exclusion of participants experiencing GI discomfort. Differences in blood responses suggest that sodium bicarbonate may not be beneficial to all individuals. Magnitude based inferences suggested that the exercise effects are unlikely to be negative; therefore individuals should determine whether they respond well to sodium bicarbonate supplementation prior to competition

Wisdom tooth extraction causing lingual nerve and styloglossus muscle damage: a mimic of multiple cranial nerve palsies

The combination of tongue hemianaesthesia, dysgeusia, dysarthria and dysphagia suggests the involvement of multiple cranial nerves. We present a case with sudden onset of these symptoms immediately following wisdom tooth extraction and highlight the clinical features that allowed localisation of the lesion to a focal, iatrogenic injury of the lingual nerve and adjacent styloglossus muscle