Embedding Robotic Agents in the Social Environment

This paper discusses the interactive vision approach, which advocates using knowledge from the human sciences on the structure and dynamics of human-human interaction in the development of machine vision systems and interactive robots. While this approach is discussed generally, the particular case of the system being developed for the Aurora project (which aims to produce a robot to be used as a tool in the therapy of children with autism) is especially considered, with description of the design of the machine vision system being employed and discussion of ideas from the human sciences with particular reference to the Aurora system. An example architecture for a simple interactive agent, which will likely form the basis for the first implementation of this system, is briefly described and a description of hardware used for the Aurora system is given.Peer reviewe

Polaritonic characteristics of insulator and superfluid phases in a coupled-cavity array

Recent studies of quantum phase transitions in coupled atom-cavity arrays have focused on the similarities between such systems and the Bose-Hubbard model. However, the bipartite nature of the atom-cavity systems that make up the array introduces some differences. In order to examine the unique features of the coupled-cavity system, the behavior of a simple two-site model is studied over a wide range of parameters. Four regions are identified, in which the ground state of the system may be classified as either a polaritonic insulator, a photonic superfluid, an atomic insulator, or a polaritonic superfluid.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, REVTeX 4; published versio

Accident Analysis and Investigation: the role of road safety engineering

This paper was presented at a VicRoads Workshop for road safety engineers, held in Geelong on 2-5 June, 1996. It presents an overview of accident analysis and investigation, with particular emphasis on the role which the road safety engineer plays in road safety. The paper briefly reviews the road safety situation, highlighting different ways of viewing it, and then discusses generic approaches to road safety. The contribution of road safety engineering is discussed in terms of the road traffic system, hazardous road locations, identification of hazardous sites, diagnosis of accident problems, the development of countermeasures, and orad safety audit. Brief mention is made of the appraisal of road saferty programs, and monitoring and evaluation

Southern Arizona riparian habitat: Spatial distribution and analysis

The objectives of this study were centered around the demonstration of remote sensing as an inventory tool and researching the multiple uses of riparian vegetation. Specific study objectives were to: (1) map riparian vegetation along the Gila River, San Simon Creek, San Pedro River, Pantano Wash, (2) determine the feasibility of automated mapping using LANDSAT-1 computer compatible tapes, (3) locate and summarize existing mpas delineating riparian vegetation, (4) summarize data relevant to Southern Arizona's riparian products and uses, (5) document recent riparian vegetation changes along a selected portion of the San Pedro River, (6) summarize historical changes in composition and distribution of riparian vegetation, and (7) summarize sources of available photography pertinent to Southern Arizona

Damages: Expert Testimony and Future Inflation

The question of the measure of compensatory damages in personal injury and wrongful death actions is of paramount concern to both aggrieved parties and defendants. In the determination of total compensation for the plaintiff, one frequently occurring issue —future damages — involves complex economic theory and statistical projections in the computation of such items of prospective loss as future earnings. At this point in the trial it is crucial that expert testimony be admitted so that jurors can fathom the technical complexities of these future financial determinations. Inflation has become an accepted ingredient of our contemporary society. Whether or not a jury should be allowed to consider testimony by expert economists on possible future rates of inflation, however, has become a source of controversy in both state and federal courts

The Common Shrew (Sorex araneus): A neglected host of tick-borne infections?

Although the importance of rodents as reservoirs for a number of tick-borne infections is well established, comparatively little is known about the potential role of shrews, despite them occupying similar habitats. To address this, blood and tick samples were collected from common shrews (Sorex araneus) and field voles (Microtus agrestis), a known reservoir of various tick-borne infections, from sites located within a plantation forest in northern England over a 2-year period. Of 647 blood samples collected from shrews, 121 (18.7%) showed evidence of infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and 196 (30.3%) with Babesia microti. By comparison, of 1505 blood samples from field voles, 96 (6.4%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum and 458 (30.4%) for Ba. microti. Both species were infested with the ticks Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes trianguliceps, although they had different burdens: on average, shrews carried almost six times as many I. trianguliceps larvae, more than twice as many I. ricinus larvae, and over twice as many nymphs (both tick species combined). The finding that the nymphs collected from shrews were almost exclusively I. trianguliceps highlights that this species is the key vector of these infections in this small mammal community. These findings suggest that common shrews are a reservoir of tick-borne infections and that the role of shrews in the ecology and epidemiology of tick-borne infections elsewhere needs to be comprehensively investigated

Dynamics in a coupled-cavity array

The dynamics of a system composed of two coupled optical cavities, each containing a single two-level atom, is studied over a wide range of detuning and coupling values. A description of the field in terms of delocalized modes reveals that the detuning between the atoms and these modes is controlled by the coupling between the cavities; this detuning in turn governs the nature of the dynamics. If the atoms are highly detuned from both delocalized field modes, the dynamics becomes dispersive and an excitation may be transferred from the first atom to the second without populating the field. In the case of resonance between the atoms and one of the delocalized modes, state transfer between the atoms requires intermediate excitation of the field. Thus the interaction between the two atoms can be controlled by adjusting the coupling between the cavities.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Comparative Study of the Application of Chelating Resins for Rare Earth Recovery

The adsorption properties of chelating ion exchange resins containing mixed sulfonic/phosphonic (SP), aminophosphonic (AP) or iminodiacetic (IDA) acid functional groups were investigated towards the rare earth elements (REE). The aim of this work was to determine the potential for such resins to assist in the isolation of a mixed rare earth product under conditions relevant to the hydrometallurgical processing of rare earth containing minerals. The selectivity of the resins towards La, Sm and Ho, versus the common impurity metals; Al, Fe and Th, was determined in sulfuric acid media. The chelating resins all displayed a similar selectivity with Fe and Th adsorbed in preference to the REE and Al (i.e.Th≃ Fe>> REE≃ Al). The IDA resin displayed a far superior performance compared to both phosphonic resins (SP and AP) as well as a strong acid cation exchange resin for the adsorption of REE in the presence of very high Na or Ca concentrations. Equilibrium and kinetic adsorption isotherms for La were measured and successfully modelled with all resins, and the elution characteristics of selected resins investigated in both batch and column operation. A number of areas were identified where these resins could be exploited to provide an advantage in the hydrometallurgical processing of RE

‘Knit “n” natter’: A feminist methodological assessment of using creative ‘women’s work’ in focus groups

This article outlines the methodological innovations generated in a study of knitting and femininity in Britain. The study utilised ‘knit “n” natter’ focus groups during which female participants were encouraged to knit and talk. The research design encompassed a traditionally undervalued form of domestic ‘women’s work’ to recognise the creative skills of female practitioners. ‘Knit “n” natter’ is a fruitful feminist research method in relation to its capitalisation on female participants’ creativity, its disruption of expertise and its feminisation of academic space. The method challenges patriarchal conventions of knowledge production and gendered power relations in research, but it also reproduces problematic constructions of gender, which are acknowledged. The study contributes to a growing body of work on creative participatory methods and finds that the ‘knit “n” natter’ format has utility beyond investigations of crafting and may be used productively in other contexts where in-depth research with women is desirable