Tap or swipe? Effects of interaction gestures for retrieval of match statistics via second screen on watching soccer on TV

Accessing match statistics through second screen while watching soccer matches on TV has grown into a popular practice. Although early works have shown how gestures on touch screens performed under distracting environments, little is known regarding how specific gestures (swiping and tapping) to retrieve information on second screen affect the viewing experience of soccer games on TV. For this, a mixed-method user study, which included prototype tests of watching short clips of a soccer match, questionnaires and short interviews, was conducted with 28 participants. The results revealed that the number of people who preferred tapping was more than the number of people who favored swiping under two different second screen activity time scenarios i.e. On-Play or Off-Play. However, neither swiping nor tapping yield better performance of recalling verbatim match stats and exact comparisons in both On-Play and Off-Play. Participant evaluations in On-Play and interviews give us clues regarding such difference.</p

Genetic consequences of tropical second-growth forest regeneration

Secondary forests are more extensive than old-growth forests in many tropical regions, yet the genetic composition of colonizing populations is poorly understood. We analyzed the parentage of a founder population of 130 individuals of the canopy palm Iriartea deltoidea in a 24-year-old second-growth forest in lowland Costa Rica. Among 66 trees in adjacent old-growth forest, only two individuals contributed 56% of the genes in founders. Second-growth trees had lower genetic diversity and larger patches of similar genotypes than old-growth trees. Recovery of genetic diversity of populations in tropical second-growth forests may take many generations and will require continued dispersal from genetically diverse source populations

Optimization of F2 layer parameters using IRI-Plas and IONOLAB-TEC

In this study, the relation of the maximum ionization height (HmF2) and the critical frequency (FoF2) of F2 layer is examined within their parametric range through the International Reference Ionosphere extended towards the plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model and the IONOLAB-TEC. HmF2 and FoF2 are optimized using an iterational loop through Non-Linear Least Squares method. HmF2 and FoF2 are obtained for various locations including Turkey for the same quiet day. Results are compared with ionosonde data where available. This study enables the modification and update of empirical and deterministic IRI Model to include instantaneous variability of the ionosphere. © 2011 IEEE

Optimization of F2 layer parameters using IRI-Plas model and IONOLAB Total Electron Content

In this study, the relation of the maximum ionization height (HmF2) and the critical frequency (FoF2) of F2 layer is examined within their parametric range through the International Reference Ionosphere extended towards the plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model and the IONOLAB-TEC (Total Electron Content) observations. HmF2 and FoF2 are optimized using an iterational loop through Non-Linear Least Squares method by also using a physical relation constraint between these two parameters. Performance evaluation of optimization algorithm is performed separately for the cases running IRI-Plas with optimized parameters and TEC input; only with optimized parameters; only with TEC and finally with no optimized parameter and TEC input. As a conclusion, it is seen that using optimized parameters and TEC together as input produces best IRI-TEC estimates. But also using only optimized parameters (without TEC update) gives estimates with also very low RMS errors and is suitable to use in optimizations. HmF2 and FoF2 estimates are obtained separately for a quiet day, positively corrupted day, negatively corrupted day, a northern latitude and a southern latitude. HmF2 and FoF2 estimation results are compared with ionosonde data where available. This study enables the modification and update of empirical and deterministic IRI Model to include instantaneous variability of the ionosphere. © 2011 IEEE

Observed Ionospheric Effects of 23 October 2011 Van, Turkey Earthquake

On 23 October 2011, a very strong earthquake with a magnitude of Mw = 7.2 shook Eastern Anatolia, and tremors were felt up to 500 km from the epicentre. In this study, we present an early analysis of ionospheric disturbance due to this earthquake using Global Positioning Satellite-Total Electron Content (GPS-TEC). The variability with respect to average quiet day TEC (AQDT) and variability between the consecutive days are measured with symmetric Kullback-Leibler divergence (SKLD). A significant variability in total electron content (TEC) is observed from the GPS stations in the 150 km neighbourhood of the epicentre eight and nine days prior to the earthquake. An ionospheric disturbance is observed from GPS stations even more than 1,000 km to the epicentre, especially those on the North Anatolian fault (NAF). The present results support the existence of lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling (LAIC) associated with Van, Turkey earthquake. © 2012 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

The Douglas-Fir Genome Sequence Reveals Specialization of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Pinaceae.

A reference genome sequence for Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Coastal Douglas-fir) is reported, thus providing a reference sequence for a third genus of the family Pinaceae. The contiguity and quality of the genome assembly far exceeds that of other conifer reference genome sequences (contig N50 = 44,136 bp and scaffold N50 = 340,704 bp). Incremental improvements in sequencing and assembly technologies are in part responsible for the higher quality reference genome, but it may also be due to a slightly lower exact repeat content in Douglas-fir vs. pine and spruce. Comparative genome annotation with angiosperm species reveals gene-family expansion and contraction in Douglas-fir and other conifers which may account for some of the major morphological and physiological differences between the two major plant groups. Notable differences in the size of the NDH-complex gene family and genes underlying the functional basis of shade tolerance/intolerance were observed. This reference genome sequence not only provides an important resource for Douglas-fir breeders and geneticists but also sheds additional light on the evolutionary processes that have led to the divergence of modern angiosperms from the more ancient gymnosperms

Space-time interpolation and automatic mapping of TEC using TNPGN-active

Turkish National Permanent GPS Network (TNPGN) is the Reference Station Network of 146 continuously-operating GNSS stations o which are distributed uniformly across Turkey and North Cyprus Turkish Republic since May 2009. IONOLAB group, formed by researchers and students in Hacettepe University, Bilkent University and General Command of Mapping is currently investigating new techniques for space-time interpolation, and automatic mapping of TEC through a TUBITAK research grant. This study presents the developments in monitoring of space weather, and correction of geodetic positioning errors due to ionosphere using TNPGN. © 2011 IEEE

Space weather activities of IONOLAB group using TNPGN GPS Network

Characterization and constant monitoring of variability of the ionosphere is of utmost importance for the performance improvement of HF communication, Satellite communication, navigation and guidance systems, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems, Space Craft exit and entry into the atmosphere and space weather. Turkish National Permanent GPS Network (TNPGN) is the Reference Station Network of 146 continuously-operating GNSS stations of which are distributed uniformly across Turkey and North Cyprus Turkish Republic since May 2009. IONOLAB group is currently investigating new techniques for space-time interpolation, and automatic mapping of TEC through a TUBITAK research grant. It is utmost importance to develop regional stochastic models for correction of ionospheric delay in geodetic systems and also form a scientific basis for communication link characterization. This study is a brief summary of the efforts of IONOLAB group in monitoring of space weather, and correction of geodetic positioning errors due to ionosphere using TNPGN. © 2011 IEEE

Space weather studies of IONOLAB group

IONOLAB is an interdisciplinary research group dedicated for handling the challenges of near earth environment on communication, positioning and remote sensing systems. IONOLAB group contributes to the space weather studies by developing state-of-the-art analysis and imaging techniques. On the website of IONOLAB group, www.ionolab.org, four unique space weather services, namely, IONOLAB-TEC, IRI-PLAS-2015, IRI-PLAS-MAP and IRI-PLAS-STEC, are provided in a user friendly graphical interface unit. Newly developed algorithm for ionospheric tomography, IONOLAB-CIT, provides not only 3-D electron density but also tracking of ionospheric state with high reliability and fidelity. The algorithm for ray tracing through ionosphere, IONOLAB-RAY, provides a simulation environment in all communication bands. The background ionosphere is generated in voxels where IRI-Plas electron density is used to obtain refractive index. One unique feature is the possible update of ionospheric state by insertion of Total Electron Content (TEC) values into IRI-Plas. Both ordinary and extraordinary paths can be traced with high ray and low ray scenarios for any desired date, time and transmitter location. 2-D regional interpolation and mapping algorithm, IONOLAB-MAP, is another tool of IONOLAB group where automatic TEC maps with Kriging algorithm are generated from GPS network with high spatio-temporal resolution. IONOLAB group continues its studies in all aspects of ionospheric and plasmaspheric signal propagation, imaging and mapping. © 2016 IEEE