Polar rectification of stereo images implemented on a GPU

Polar rectification of stereo image pairs is reviewed and the implementation on a graphics processing unit (GPU) discussed. The rectification process requires the fundamental matrix as the only parameter and its performance will be tested using images with varying SNR. The computational time for the process as implemented will also be discussed

Ethics assessment via game play?

Abstract: In a previous paper the ethical nature of academic staff at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) was evaluated. Since engineering education research is flourishing world-wide a serious question was raised about staff adherence to basic ethical standards. An internal research programme was launched to evaluate staff’s ethical orientation using a survey based methodology. The results indicated that a significant percentage acted in ethically problematic ways. As a consequence the idea of using a role playing game (RPG) was mooted to further investigate academic staff’s situational ethics. This paper discusses the proposed game playing device that was designed as a manner of investigating the staff’s understanding of engineering education research ethics. This paper reviews basic material on nature of play and in particular ethical role play in RPGs and analyses the manner in which an RPG would have to be designed to ensure reliable data collection of the staff’s ethical standards when applied to educational research. From the basic review of game playing ethics and the necessary design elements it was clear that it would not be possible to develop such a measurement device. It is an open question whether any form of situated ethics can be evaluated or taught using a closed form RPG

A subsidy driven decision procedure to mitigate the tragedy of the commons and anti-commons

One of the main aims of telecommunication subsidies in developing countries is to extend the information and communication services to the information “have nots” through subsidized communication services. However, subsidies may have an impact on network resource utilization, quality of service and the amount of revenue generated. For example, subsidies may lead to low Quality of Service (QoS) and high resource utilization while in some instances unsubsidized services may lead to high quality of services and low utilization of resources. This see-saw effect may eventually lead to market failure and it may, now and then, destroy market efficiency. This phenomenon calls for a combined study, in which the relationship between subsidy, price, QoS and resource utilization is investigated. In this paper, the impact of subsidies on quality of service and resource utilization in multitier communities is investigated. We try to find a middle ground between implementation of subsidy policy and its effects on QoS and resource utilization in a network

Subsidy and revenue maximization in developing countries

Developing countries have embarked on the promotion of “ICT access for all” through subsidized Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), especially in underserviced areas of such countries. The main aim of the “ICT access for all” is to extend the communication services to the large areas of underserviced regions through subsidized communication services. In some instances, subsidies may lead to high ICT penetration and high resource utilization while in some instances unsubsidized services may lead to low utilization of resources and low ICT penetration, which may eventually lead to market failure and destroy market efficiency. With explicitly defined objectives, regarding subsidy policy, however, developing countries always fall short on the implementation of such subsidy policy due to economic reasons and unrealistic subsidy driven pricing models. In this paper we investigate the impact of subsidy driven pricing model on resource utilization and revenue maximization in a developing country. In this paper we try to find a middle ground between promoting “ICT access for all” (given a subsidy and diverse income variations between the groups) and resource utilization in a network

Retention of engineering students

Abstract: Retention of engineering students is an international concern. Most countries report a shortage of engineers. By increasing the number of retained engineering students it is potentially possible to increase the number of engineering graduates. The purpose of this article is to identify and analyse what retention research has been done in the past to avoid unnecessary duplication. Although duplication may bring valuable new information, progress in this field has been slow. Therefore, the focus is on facilitating progress rather than seeking more accurate results. The three main themes identified in literature are: the individual’s internal and external characteristics that affect retention, the models that describe retention, conceptual and predictive, and the interventions attempted to improve retention. Further research into methods for improving student retention is certainly justified since in spite of existing research most institutions still struggle to retain engineering students

Agreement between estimated and measured heights and weights in hospitalised patients – a restrospective study

No Abstrac

Nouveaux Orthoptères (Ensifera, Insecta) du Trias des Vosges (France)

Three new Orthoptera, Ensifera (Hagloidea and Gryllavoidea) from the Grés à Voltzia (Upper Buntsandstein, transition Lower / Middle Triassic) of the Vosges (France) are described based on forewings. Galliagryllavus vogesiacus n.gen., n.sp. (Gryllavidae) shows affinities with Gryllavus madygenicus SHAROV 1968 from the Triassic of Madygen (Kirghizistan). Triassoparacyrtophyllites bifurcatus n.gen., n.sp. (Tuphellidae) displays some similarities with Paracyrtophillites undulatus SHAROV 1968 from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau (Kazakhstan). Voltziahagla pseudoveinosa n.gen., n.sp. (Haglidae) seems close to the genus Archaboilus MARTYNOV 1937 from the Lower Jurassic of Shurab (Tadjikistan). These three Ensifera which belong to distinct families underscore the diversity of the Hagloidea and the Gryllavoidea at the boundary between the Lower and Middle Triassic. A cladistic study would be necessary to determine the phylogenetical relationships between the different families

Design life cycle of a 3-D printed hydrocyclone

Abstract: In mineral processing solid-fluid mixtures are separated in various ways. Of these, hydrocyclones are found to be a simple and low cost technique for particle separation. Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology has the potential to improve the design and testing process for hydrocyclones. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using AM and surface treatments to optimise hydrocyclone design. The hydrocyclone used in these experiments is based on a commercial model used in practice. The hydrocyclone was manufactured with a common plastic material (ABS+) and was fabricated by use a Rapid Prototyping Additive Manufacturing (RPAM) technique. This paper describes the 3-D design printing (3DDP) and manufacture of a hydrocyclone design based on a commercial design using RPAM and a surface protection process. Based on the results of this study, this process has the potential to reduce development time and cost to produce an optimal hydrocyclone design iteration

Structural and magnetic properties of CoPt mixed clusters

In this present work, we report a structural and magnetic study of mixed Co58Pt42 clusters. MgO, Nb and Si matrix can be used to embed clusters, avoiding any magnetic interactions between particles. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observations show that Co58Pt42 supported isolated clusters are about 2nm in diameter and crystallized in the A1 fcc chemically disordered phase. Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS) and Grazing Incidence Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (GIWAXS) reveal that buried clusters conserve these properties, interaction with matrix atoms being limited to their first atomic layers. Considering that 60% of particle atoms are located at surface, this interactions leads to a drastic change in magnetic properties which were investigated with conventional magnetometry and X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichro\"{i}sm (XMCD). Magnetization and blocking temperature are weaker for clusters embedded in Nb than in MgO, and totally vanish in silicon as silicides are formed. Magnetic volume of clusters embedded in MgO is close to the crystallized volume determined by GIWAXS experiments. Cluster can be seen as a pure ferromagnetic CoPt crystallized core surrounded by a cluster-matrix mixed shell. The outer shell plays a predominant role in magnetic properties, especially for clusters embedded in niobium which have a blocking temperature 3 times smaller than clusters embedded in MgO

DECREASE IN NUMBERS OF THE EASTERN ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN EUDYPTES CHRYSOCOME FILHOLI AT MARION ISLAND, 1994/95–2002/03

The number of eastern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome filholi breeding at subantarctic Marion Island decreased from about 173 000 pairs in 1994/95 to about 67 000 pairs in 2001/02. During 1994/95–2002/03 pairs fledged on average 0.40 chicks per year, an amount thought insufficient to balance mortality of breeding adults, and there was a decrease in the mass at arrival at breeding colonies of both males and females. Except in 1997/98, the mass of chicks at fledging was less than that recorded at two other localities. These factors suggest an inadequate supply of food for rockhopper penguins at Marion Island. Decreases of rockhopper penguins at several other localities also have been attributed to inadequate food. Rockhopper penguins at Marion Island continued to feed mainly on crustaceans during chick rearing. There was a marked increase in the contribution of fish to the diet in 1999/00 that coincided with an increase in mass at arrival at colonies of both males and females. Trends in numbers of pairs breeding in different sections of Marion Island were not always consistent, indicating the need for island-wide monitoring to establish the overall trend. Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 487–49