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

Study of stars of early spectral type: with special reference to emission line spectra

PART I: EMISSION LINES IN EARLY TYPE SPECTRA - GENERAL SURVEY The present state of the study of emission line stars of early spectral types is briefly reviewed, mainly from the observational point of view. PART II: THE BE- VARIABLE SPECTRUM OF O PERSEI Radial velocities of central hydrogen absorption lines were measured on 23 quartz -prism spectrograms, covering the star's period of variation. The new observations agree well with the period given by Dustheimer, but it is probable that the decrease in the velocity range is real. The secondary variation is discussed. It is likely that the extent of this variation increases for lines of shorter wave -length. The observations are compared with Schiefer's results. The variation of the number of Balmer lines with sharp central cores is examined. It is shown that this variation is not likely to occur in the same atmosphere, and therefore the binary hypothesis seems necessary. PART III: LINE INTENSITITES IN SOME BE- STARS Line intensities in seven plates of `. Per., covering about 30 days of the star' s period were measured. A clear correlation is found between emission line intensity and the colour of the star as given by Roach. The widths of emission lines in some Be -stars are compared with the value computed from Curtiss' formula. The possibility of measuring the hydrogen-decrement in Be -stars is discussed and the previous observations criticised. Equivalent widths of helium and hydrogen lines in K Cas. and B Ceph. are also given. H a is definitely variable in K Cas., while HB is apparently constant. The most probable turbulent velocity is obtained for the two stars. PART IV: TOTAL INTENSITIES OF A TRIPLET OF SiIII IN STELLAR SPECTRA Total intensities of the three Si III lines, 4552, 4567 and 4574 were measured on 81 plates of 32 -early type stars. Deviations from the square roots of the multiplet intensities are small, but nevertheless real. Previous measures are included in a discussion of the differences between high and low luminosity stars and between wide and narrow line stars. The formation of the lines, mainly through damping, is examined. A definite discrepancy is observed between observation and theory. This discrepancy may be removed by assuming a negative turbulence velocity in the atmosphere, an incipient emission filling the lines, or a damping constant more than 440 times the classical value. This last assumption may be nearest the truth

High-Dimensional Stochastic Design Optimization by Adaptive-Sparse Polynomial Dimensional Decomposition

This paper presents a novel adaptive-sparse polynomial dimensional decomposition (PDD) method for stochastic design optimization of complex systems. The method entails an adaptive-sparse PDD approximation of a high-dimensional stochastic response for statistical moment and reliability analyses; a novel integration of the adaptive-sparse PDD approximation and score functions for estimating the first-order design sensitivities of the statistical moments and failure probability; and standard gradient-based optimization algorithms. New analytical formulae are presented for the design sensitivities that are simultaneously determined along with the moments or the failure probability. Numerical results stemming from mathematical functions indicate that the new method provides more computationally efficient design solutions than the existing methods. Finally, stochastic shape optimization of a jet engine bracket with 79 variables was performed, demonstrating the power of the new method to tackle practical engineering problems.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Sparse Grids and Applications--Stuttgart 2014, Lecture Notes in Computational Science and Engineering 109, edited by J. Garcke and D. Pfl\"{u}ger, Springer International Publishing, 201

Temperature Dependent Polarized XANES Spectra for Zn-doped LSCO system

The cuprates seem to exhibit statistics, dimensionality and phase transitions in novel ways. The nature of excitations [i.e. quasiparticle or collective], spin-charge separation, stripes [static and dynamics], inhomogeneities, psuedogap, effect of impurity dopings [e.g. Zn, Ni] and any other phenomenon in these materials must be consistently understood. Zn-doped LSCO single crystal were grown by TSFZ technique. Temperature dependent Polarized XANES [near edge local structure] spectra were measured at the BL13-B1 [Photon Factory] in the Flourescence mode from 10 K to 300 K. Since both stripes and nonmagnetic Zn impurities substituted for Cu give rise to inhomogeneous charge and spin distribution it is interesting to understand the interplay of Zn impurities and stripes. To understand these points we have used Zn-doping and some of the results obtained are as follows: The spectra show a strong dependence with respect to the polarization angle, $\theta$, as is evident at any temperature by comparing the spectra where the electric field vector is parallel with ab-plane to the one where it is parallel to the c-axis. By using the XANES [temperature] difference spectra we have determined T* [experimentally we find, T* $\approx$ 160-170 K] for this sample. The XANES difference spectra shows that the changes in XANES features are larger in the ab-plane than the c-axis, this trend is expected since zinc is doped in the ab-plane at the copper site. Our study also complements the results in literature namely that zinc doping does not affect the c-axis transport.Comment: To appear in Physica C [ISS2001 Special Issue], related talk presented at ISS2001 as PC-16, 10 pages revtex and 7 pages of figures (pdf

Analysis of DC Fault for Dual Active Bridge DC/DC Converter including Prototype Verification

Peer reviewedPostprin

Madrasah Education System and Terrorism: Reality and Misconception

Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Islamic schools known as madrasah havebeen of increasing interest to analysts and to officials involved in formulating U.S. foreign policytoward the Middle East, Central, and Southeast Asia. Madrasah drew added attention when itbecame known that several Taliban leaders and Al-Qaeda members had developed radicalpolitical views at madrasah in Pakistan, some of which allegedly were built and partially financedthrough Saudi Arabian sources. These revelations have led to accusations that madrasah promoteIslamic extremism and militancy, and are a recruiting ground for terrorism. Others maintain thatmost of these religious schools have been blamed unfairly for fostering anti-U.S. sentiments andargue that madrasah play an important role in countries where millions of Muslims live in povertyand the educational infrastructure is in decay. This paper aims to study a misconception of therole and functions of Islamic traditional religious schools which have been linked with theactivities of terrorism. The study will be specifically focus on practice of the traditional Islamicschool, which is locally called as ‘madrasah system\u27

Molecular mechanisms involved in human platelet aggregation by synergistic interaction of platelet-activating factor and 5-hydroxytryptamine

Our recent studies have shown that co-activation of Gq and Gi proteins by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and adrenaline show synergism in human platelet aggregation. This study was conducted to examine the mechanism(s) of synergistic interaction of 5-HT and platelet activating factor (PAF) in human platelets. We show that PAF, but not 5-HT, increased platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. However, low concentrations of 5-HT (2 microM) potentiated platelet aggregation induced by subthreshold concentration of PAF (40 nM) indicating a synergistic interaction between the two agonists and this synergism was blocked by receptor antagonists to either 5-HT or PAF. 5-HT also potentiated the effect of PAF on thromboxane A2 (TXA2) formation and phosphorylation of extracellularly regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/2). The synergism of 5-HT and PAF in platelet aggregation was inhibited by calcium (Ca2+) channel blockers, verapamil and diltiazem, phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, U73122, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, indomethacin, and MEK inhibitor, PD98059. These data suggest that synergistic effect of 5-HT and PAF on human platelet aggregation involves activation of PLC/Ca2+, COX and MAP kinase pathways

Efficacy of Protein, Symbiotic and Probiotic Supplementation on Body Performance and Organs Weight in Molted Layers

Two hundred White Leg Horn Layers (70 week age) were arranged and brought to the poultry research station, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Four groups were made (n=50 each) into keeping G1 as control (CP 16%, No other supplement), G2 (CP 18% diet), G3 (CP16% diet; symbiotic @ 85 mg L-1/day) and G4 (CP 16% diet; probiotic @ 85 mg L-1/day). The body and organs (heart, liver, spleen, kidney, brain and pituitary) weight from fifteen birds in each group at 5% (5P), peak (PP) and end (EP) of post molt production stage were determined. The overall mean heart weight in G2 and pituitary weight in G2 and G3 reduced (P≤0.05) as compared to G1. The mean kidney weight found increased (P≤0.05) in G3 and G4 as compared to G1. The results show metabolic relation of protein and probiotics with body organs

Uterine arteriovenous malformation: a rare cause of abnormal uterine bleeding

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare gynecological entity that usually presents with vaginal bleeding of variable spectrum. High level of suspicion aided by color Doppler ultrasound is needed to confirm the diagnosis. This case report describes a 52-year-old woman G7P6A1 who presented with irregular pervaginal bleeding for 5 years. Her symptom was recurrent, on and off and refractory to hormone therapy. She was diagnosed with uterine AVM on pelvic color Doppler ultrasound that revealed a dilated and hypervascular cystic mass of 6.2×4.1 cm located at right uterine wall where blood flow was bidirectional. As a definitive treatment, open abdominal hysterectomy was performed successfully. This report reminds gynecologists to consider uterine AVM as a rare differential diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB)