The effect of time manipulation on immersion in digital games

Many empirical studies look into identifying factors that influence the quality of experience in video games. In this paper, we present research into the effect of playing time and players’ perception of the time on their immersion in the game. We invited 20 participants to play a puzzle game Bejeweled 2 for 7 min. They played the game in two conditions, namely, correct time (timer was programmed to be exactly 7 min) and wrong time (the countdown was set to be for 6 min, but was presented as a 7 min timer to the player). Players’ immersion scores were measured after the game using the IEQ. The results show no significant difference in immersion scores between the two conditions and participants’ comments also revealed that they perceived no difference in playing time between the conditions. This suggests that there is a dissociation between gaming time and subjective experience of gaming. Further research is required to investigate the relationship between playing time and positive gaming experiences

Numerical modelling of thermo-hydromechanical (THM) in deforming porous media for subsurface systems

The study of multiphase flow and heat flow in partially saturated porous media is important in environmental geomechanics engineering because of its relevance to consolidation of porous media in unsaturated zone. A numerical model which describes the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled problems in deformable porous material with two-phase flow has been developed. The relationships between capillary pressure, saturation of water and relative permeabilities of water and gas, proposed by Brooks and Corey was used. An extended study of the numerical model, based on the COMES-GEO code was conducted recently to solve unsaturated problems in local condition of Kg. Puteh wellfield, Kota Bharu. This site is a potential shallow aquifer which contribute to the largest groundwater supply in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Some numerical investigation on the proposed formulation is discussed with illustrative example problems to demonstrate solution procedures and validating of the model

Effects of Organic Load on Basic Geotechnical Properties of Compacted Sand-kaolinite Mixture

In the laboratory, four PVC sand-kaolinite mixture columns, each of 150 cm depth and 15 cm diameter, were fed with solutions of sodium acetate equivalent to 20,000 p.p.m., 30,000 p.p.m., 40,000 p.p.m., and 50,000 p.p.m. BOD (biochemical oxygen demand). Soil physical and chemical properties, such as Atterberg limits, specific gravity, soil pH and soil organic content, altered markedly within 40 days of continuous feeding. The results showed that feed with higher BOD values increased the soil organic content as well as soil pH; and thereby the specific gravity and Atterberg limits were lowered

Pre service teachers’ development of pedagogic content knowledge: a multifaceted case study

One important aspect of research with regards to teacher’s knowledge is explaining in detail how student teachers develop their pedagogic content knowledge. Pedagogic content knowledge is multidimensional, such research needs to be able to represent a rich picture of how pre-service teachers develop this knowledge during a teacher education programme. Therefore, research into teachers’ pedagogic content knowledge requires not only multiple instruments for its exploration but also multi-method triangulation of data analysis. In this way not only are perspectives of pedagogic content knowledge explored but the practicality of focusing on and studying pedagogic content knowledge can also be estimated by corroborating the data to represent a rich picture of pedagogic content knowledge. Thus, this paper illustrates the so-called multifaceted case study that was conducted at a university Department of Educational Studies in England. Quantitative and qualitative data that resulted from the study were analysed and interpreted to measure whether the instruments and research design are adequate for constructing the judgment of the nature of pedagogic content knowledge among student teachers

A Novel Transparent UWB Antenna for Photovoltaic Solar Panel Integration and RF Energy Harvesting

A novel transparent ultra-wideband antenna for photovoltaic solar-panel integration and RF energy harvesting is proposed in this paper. Since the approval by the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) in 2002, much research has been undertaken on UWB technology, especially for wireless communications. However, in the last decade, UWB has also been proposed as a power harvester. In this paper, a transparent cone-top-tapered slot antenna covering the frequency range from 2.2 to 12.1 GHz is designed and fabricated to provide UWB communications whilst integrated onto solar panels as well as harvest electromagnetic waves from free space and convert them into electrical energy. The antenna when sandwiched between an a-Si solar panel and glass is able to demonstrate a quasi omni-directional pattern that is characteristic of a UWB. The antenna when connected to a 2.55-GHz rectifier is able to produce 18-mV dc in free space and 4.4-mV dc on glass for an input power of 10 dBm at a distance of 5 cm. Although the antenna presented in this paper is a UWB antenna, only an operating range of 2.49 to 2.58 GHz for power scavenging is possible due to the limitation of the narrowband rectifier used for the study

Accounting for Watershed Management Services in the Forest Reserves of Osun State, Nigeria

The role of forests in watershed productivity has been a subject of serious concern at various forums. The significance of forests in watersheds is evidenced by the prevention of siltation of water bodies as well as maintenance of water quality. In Osun state-Nigeria, the main services carried out by the watershed is domestic, industrial and community water supply, not much of navigation is possible. Thus, it was aimed to evaluate the contributions of forest reserves of Osun state-Nigeria to watershed management. Primary and secondary data were adopted in the study. The relationship between decline in forest holdings and water supply was examined; the contingent valuation of forest contributions to watershed was undertaken; and the mean WTP was extrapolated over the population to arrive at the total value of watershed service of forests as a guide to determining the accounting value to take for depreciation or accretion. Results showed that there was a strong relationship between both variables. Furthermore, the mean value of WTP is ?3,623.29 and the total value is ?12.40 billion. This value provides a basis for accounting for annual costing of services consumed. It was concluded that deforestation has adverse effect on watershed services and its value will enhance accountability and well informed decisions towards sustainability. Keywords: Accounting, Watershed, Forests, Contingent Valuation