Development of a Collaborative Design Tool for Structural Analysis in an Immersive Virtual Environment

This paper contains the results of an on-going collaborative research effort by the departments of Architecture and Computer Science of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, U.S.A., to develop a computer visualization application for the structural analysis of building structures. The VIRTUAL-SAP computer program is being developed by linking PC-SAP4 (Structural Analysis Program), and virtual environment software developed using the SVE (Simple Virtual Environment) library. VIRTUAL-SAP is intended for use as a collaborative design tool to facilitate the interaction between the architect, engineer, and contractor by providing an environment that they can walk-through and observe the consequences of design alterations. Therefore, this software can be used as an interactive computer-aided analysis of building systems

A Journey into Cultural Marvels: Tourist Perception and Satisfaction with Cultural Heritage Sites in Muscat, Oman

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine tourists’ perceptions of cultural heritage sites in Muscat and analyze their satisfaction with cultural heritage tourist sites in Muscat. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed a quantitative approach and adopted a descriptive research design, as it describes primary relationships to increase the understanding of the questions. This study employed a multistage sampling technique and collected data using a questionnaire. The sample size in this study was 118. Findings: The most frequently visited cultural heritage tourist site in Muscat was Mutrah Souq. The highest mean score for the perception of tourists with cultural heritage tourism in Muscat was Wonderful historical sites – architectures, forts, and mosques. The highest mean score for the satisfaction of tourists with cultural heritage tourism in Muscat was that the tourist sites were culturally and traditionally aesthetic. The highest expectation by the tourists (difference between satisfaction and perception) was that the tourists like to ensure safety and security at the tourist sites during their visit to Muscat. Research limitations/implications: Tourists get more opportunities to become familiar with Omani customs and civilization. Therefore, the accessibility to cultural and historical sites must be easy, and various transportation options must be offered. As most tourists find it difficult to access, food, drinks, and amenities must be made available at all the tourist sites since it might be challenging for tourists to get to cultural heritage sites, the approach and accessibility must be uncomplicated. Social Implications: Economic factors are tied to the promotion of cultural heritage tourism because they benefit the economy, initiatives by the Government, tourism development agencies, business owners, and other stakeholders, including local authorities should stimulate new and repeated market potential so as to to sustain and maintain foreign tourist visits. Based on the findings of this study, more activities should be conducted for tourists visiting cultural heritage sites. Prioritising the cultural heritage tourism locations, careful planning and strategic measures must be taken to improve visitor perceptions, expectations, and satisfaction. Originality / Value: Research on the satisfaction of visitors to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as research on the Nizwa and Bahla Forts, is available, and the majority of these studies center on the Sultanate of Oman’s Aldhkhiliyah region. However, no research has been conducted on cultural heritage tourism in Muscat to date; therefore, many stakeholders will find great value in this study

The Digital Frontier: Exhibiting the Transformative Impact of Technology on Enhancing Event Attendees' Experiences in Oman

Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to review the benefits of technology in transforming events based on attendees’ perspectives and to evaluate the influence of technology on event attendees’ experiences in Oman. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a quantitative research approach and a descriptive research design. Non-probability sampling was used in this study. The data was collected from 137 respondents through a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, rank, weighted mean, and Pearson’s coefficient. Findings: Among the participants, the majority of the visitors attended more than five events per year and most of the people liked attending physical events. The highest mean score for the benefits of technology in transforming events based on attendees’ perspectives was ‘Using technology to post comments, read others comments, and enquiring about the events. The highest mean score for the influence of technology on event attendees’ experiences in Oman was ‘Technology helped to learn about the events, search for promo codes, discount coupons, and get tickets at discounted prices.’ Research limitations/implications: Technology and events interaction help in the creation of culturally relevant technology-driven events in Oman. Event planners and organizers can think of various ways to improve the attendees’ experience through various technologies. Social media integration, new mobile applications, and other interactive technologies provide customized experiences. The results of this provide opportunities for further analysis of the effects of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) on Omani event experiences. It will help attract more people to events and thus increase tourism in the country. Social Implications: Technology impacts people’s attendance at events in Oman with significant social ramifications that touch on some societal concerns. It provides insights into how technical advancements and cultural values and customs could be harmonized to create mutually beneficial relationships of both the past and the present. Events that increasingly rely on technology may require programs to improve people’s digital literacy to guarantee that people can take full advantage of and participate in tech-driven experiences. Originality / Value: It is critical to investigate the technological developments in the event industry and determine how event planners and organizers may use them to provide their guests with an experience. Despite its significance, to date, no research has been conducted on how technology affects the experiences of event participants in Oman. As a result, the current study is crucial, and its findings will be useful to many stakeholders, including the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, tourism organizations, tour planners, planners, and organizers of events.  

Design of large time constant switched-capacitor filters for biomedical applications

This thesis investigates the various techniques to achieve large time constants and the ultimate limitations therein. A novel circuit technique for the realization of large time constants for high pass corners in switched-capacitor filters is also proposed and compared with existing techniques. The switched-capacitor technique is insensitive to parasitic capacitances and is area efficient and it requires only two clock phases. The circuit is used to build a typical switched-capacitor front end with a gain of 10. The low pass corner is fixed at 200 Hz. The high pass corner is varied from 0.159Hz to 4 Hz and various performance parameters, such as power consumption, silicon area etc., are compared with conventional techniques and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are demonstrated. The front-ends are fully differential and are chopper stabilized to protect against DC offsets and 1/f noise. The front-end is implemented in AMI0.6um technology with a supply voltage of 1.6V and all transistors operate in weak inversion with currents in the range of tens of nano-amperes

Haemato-biochemical Changes in Natural Cases of Canine Babesiosis

Incidence of severe anemia due to babesiosis in dogs resulting in death in a short time of illness is on the increase in Punjab, during last few decades due to introduction of exotic breeds like Grey Hound, German shepherd, Doberman, Labrador and others. In the present study the hematological and biochemical changes in blood samples obtained from 4 dogs naturally infected with Babesia were evaluated. The dogs were presented to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Services Complex, GADVASU, Ludhiana from August 2008 to April 2009. The evaluation included Hemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell count (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), leucocyte counts, platelet counts and reticulocyte counts. The serum biochemistry included Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, Aspartate amino Transferase (AST), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), The hematological findings in most of these dogs were normocytic normochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia. The total and differential leukocyte counts were not specific. Biochemical values were within normal ranges but serum biochemistry varied for each dog. This study indicated that Babesia infection in dogs apparently caused anemia and thrombocytopenia, while other clinical values did not change

Functional network topology associated with apathy in Alzheimer's disease

Background: Apathy, a common neuropsychiatric (NPS) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), is associated with structural and metabolic brain changes. However, functional connectivity changes across the brain in association with apathy remain unclear. In this study, graph theoretical measures of integration and segregation from resting state functional connectivity in MCI and AD patients with low depression scores, and healthy controls. Methods: In MCI and AD patients with low depression scores, graph theoretical measures of integration and segregation were derived from resting state functional connectivity in patients, which were compared between those with apathy (NPS_A, n = 21) to those without NPS (NPS_None, n = 28) and those with NPS other than apathy (NPS_NA, n = 38). Additionally, the same measures were compared between AD patients and healthy controls (amyloid uptake below threshold levels). Results: Altered whole brain global efficiency and reduced local efficiency were found in NPS_A compared to NPS_None and NPS_NA. In similar contrasts, apathy was associated with increased participation coefficient in the frontoparietal and cingulo-opercular template-based networks. A study-specific network definition also showed similar results. In comparison, AD patients showed higher modularity compared to controls at the whole brain level and higher participation coefficient in the ventral attention network. Limitations: The severity and dimensions of apathy were not assessed. Conclusions: Loss of segregation in the frontoparietal and cingulo-opercular network, which are involved in the control of goal-directed behavior, was associated with apathy in MCI/AD. The results also suggest that network-level changes in AD patients may underlie specific NPS

Evaluating the role of digital media in language development among pre-schoolers: An observational study

Background: Digital media consumption is prevalent among pre-schoolers, but its impact on language development remains unclear. Aims and Objectives: This study investigates the effects of different types of digital media on pre-school children’s language outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 pre-school-aged children (mean age 4.2±0.5 years; 51% male) were observed for 12 months. Digital media exposure was categorized into educational interactive, educational passive, and non-educational content, with average screen time being 1.5±0.45 h daily. Language development was assessed using the Preschool Language Scale-5 (PLS-5) at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Results: At the 12-month follow-up, the study participants exhibited an average Total Language Score (TLS) increase from 100±10 to 107±12. Interactive educational app users showed significant language improvements (TLS: 112±10; P<0.05), exceeding gains seen in passive educational (TLS: 104±10) and non-educational content users (TLS: 102±12). Vocabulary size, expressive language, and receptive language improvements were highest in the interactive group (20%, 15%, and 10%, respectively). Behavioral assessments indicated enhanced use of complex sentences and turn-taking skills in the interactive group. Parental co-viewing correlated with higher TLS gains across all groups, with the most pronounced benefit in the interactive group (9 points vs. 6 without co-viewing). Interactive app users also exhibited higher cognitive (40%) and emotional engagement. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the positive influence of interactive educational apps on pre-schoolers’ language development, with notable gains and augmented outcomes through parental involvement. This highlights the value of guided media use in early childhood education