GEMINI: A Generic Multi-Modal Natural Interface Framework for Videogames

In recent years videogame companies have recognized the role of player engagement as a major factor in user experience and enjoyment. This encouraged a greater investment in new types of game controllers such as the WiiMote, Rock Band instruments and the Kinect. However, the native software of these controllers was not originally designed to be used in other game applications. This work addresses this issue by building a middleware framework, which maps body poses or voice commands to actions in any game. This not only warrants a more natural and customized user-experience but it also defines an interoperable virtual controller. In this version of the framework, body poses and voice commands are respectively recognized through the Kinect's built-in cameras and microphones. The acquired data is then translated into the native interaction scheme in real time using a lightweight method based on spatial restrictions. The system is also prepared to use Nintendo's Wiimote as an auxiliary and unobtrusive gamepad for physically or verbally impractical commands. System validation was performed by analyzing the performance of certain tasks and examining user reports. Both confirmed this approach as a practical and alluring alternative to the game's native interaction scheme. In sum, this framework provides a game-controlling tool that is totally customizable and very flexible, thus expanding the market of game consumers.Comment: WorldCIST'13 Internacional Conferenc

A peculiar composite structure of carbon nanofibers growing on a microsized tin whisker

In this work, we report a method to synthesize a peculiar composite structure of tubular carbon nanofibers (CNFs) growing, on a microsized tin (Sri) whisker. The material used is a commercially available copper clad laminate (CCL). The CCL is composed of a surface copper (Cu) layer and a bottom polymer (phenol-formaldehyde resin) board, in which the polymer board is used as the carbon source. Using, lithography and lift-off techniques, the Cu layer was patterned to a stripelike Cu trace. A Sn thin film was then evaporated on the polymer board near the Cu trace. To release the residue stress that resulted from the evaporation; Sn whiskers with diameters of about 2 to 5 mu m were formed on the Sn thin film after evaporation. By passing an electric current through the Cu trace, the Cu trace was heated due to Joule heating and served as a heating source for the thermal decomposition of phenol-formaldehyde. After heat treatment, the CNFs grew on the surface of the Sn whiskers with tubular hollow-cored structure. The diameter of the tubular CNFs is about hundreds of nanometers and their length can reach several micrometers. The growth mechanism of the brushlike composite structure is also discussed

Sensitive and Simple Flow Injection Analysis of Formaldehyde Using an Activated Barrel Plating Nickel Electrode

A flow injection analysis coupled with electrochemical detection at an activated barrel plating nickel electrode (Ni-BPE) was developed as a sensitive, simple, and low-cost formaldehyde sensor. The mechanism of Ni-BPE toward the electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde in alkaline medium at ambient temperature was proposed to be based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde by Ni(III)iO(OH) species. Under the optimized conditions (flow rate = 1.2 mL/min; detection potential = +0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl), a good linearity in the window of 0.037 to 10 mu g/mL formaldehyde was observed, and the LOD of 0.23 mu g/L was calculated. The RSDs of intraday (n = 10) and interday (n = 6) replicate measurements of 0.185-5 mu g/mL formaldehyde ranged from 1.45 to 3.60%, indicating good reproducibility of the proposed method. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of formaldehyde in commercial nail polish samples and a drinking water sample

Synthesis of Nanostructured Carbon Materials on a Tin Thin Film Using Phenol Formaldehyde as the Carbon Source

Nanostructured carbon materials were successfully synthesized on a tin thin film using a commercially available paper phenolic (PP) board, which is composed mainly of phenol formaldehyde (PF), as the carbon source. The heating source for thermal decomposition of PF is a current-stressed Cu trace which was patterned on the PP board near the tin thin film. The tin thin film was deposited on the PP board near the Cu trace using evaporation. During thermal treatment, nanostructured carbon materials were formed on the tin thin film. The synthesized products contain carbon nanosheets and tubular carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in which the former was formed near the heating Cu trace and the latter was found at a more distant location. A potential mechanism for the formation of nanostructured carbon materials is also discussed

A current-induced localized heating technique for fabrication of carbon nanomaterials

A commercial copper clad laminate was used to fabricate the carbon nanomaterials using a localized heating technique. The surface Cu layer was patterned to a Cu trace and served as a localized heating source as it was current-stressed. Thermal decomposition of phenol formaldehyde, which was the primary constituent of the bottom paper phenolic board, took place primarily near the Cu trace and the carbon nanomaterials were formed directly on the board. The products contain carbon nanosheets and tubular carbon nanofibers. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Flow injection analysis of zinc pyrithione in hair care products on a cobalt phthalocyanine modified screen-printed carbon electrode

Zinc pyrithione (ZPT) is an antibacterial and antifungal reagent that is often utilized for the antidandruff activity in hair-care shampoos with a composition level up to 1% in the formulation. It has some adverse effects to human and animal if consumed orally. A disposable type of cobalt phthalocyanide modified screen-printed carbon electrode (CoPc/SPE) in couple with flow injection analysis (FIA) was developed for easy and selective analysis of ZPT in commercial hair-care products. Under the optimized FIA conditions, the CoPc/SPE yielded a linear calibration plot in the window of 6-576 muM with sensitivity and detection limit of 1.65 nA muM(-1) and 0.9 muM (i.e. 1.42 pg in 5 mul sample loop), respectively, in 0.1 M KOH solution at an applied potential of 0.3 V versus Ag/AgCl. Since the approach is simple, easy, selective, and inexpensive, it offers a potential application of daily ZPT analysis in hair-care products. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Cosmetic Hydrogen Peroxide Detection Using Nano Bismuth Species Deposited Built-in Three-in-One Screen-Printed Silver Electrode

A built-in three-in-one screen-printed electrode assembly containing nano bismuth species deposited silver as working, pre-oxidized silver as reference and unmodified silver as counter electrodes (designated as SPAgE-Bi(nano)), has been developed for simple electrochemical sensing of H(2)O(2) in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution. The working electrode showed similar to 250 mV reduction in over-potential and a two-fold increased peak current values for electrocatalytic reduction of H(2)O(2) over the respective unmodified silver working electrode (i.e. SPAgE) following a diffusion-controlled electron-transfer mechanism. 50 nm sized Bi particles on SPAgE surface was seen in SEM picture of the working electrode. Linear range of H(2)O(2) detection from 100 mu M to 5 mM, a sensitivity of 0.627 mu A/mM and detection limit (S/N = 3) of 56.59 mu M were obtained. Finally, SPAgE-Bi(nano) sensor assembly was utilized for cosmetic H(2)O(2) determination, where obtained values and labeled values were in good agreement with recovery in the range of 94.75-101.03 %

Ultrasensitive cell-based bioassay for the measurement of global estrogenic activity of flavonoid mixtures revealing additive, restrictive, and enhanced actions in binary and higher order combinations

10.1089/adt.2007.056Assay and Drug Development Technologies53355-36

Avian reovirus S1133-induced DNA damage signaling and subsequent apoptosis in cultured cells and in chickens

In this study, intracellular signaling in ARV S1133-mediated apoptosis was investigated. A microarray was used to examine the gene expression profiles of cells upon ARV S1133 infection and ARV-encoded pro-apoptotic protein sigma C overexpression. The analysis indicated that in the set of DNA-damage-responsive genes, DDIT-3 and GADD45 alpha were both upregulated by viral infection and sigma C overexpression. Further investigation demonstrated that both treatments caused DNA breaks, which increased the expression and/or phosphorylation of DNA damage response proteins. ROS and lipid peroxidation levels were increased, and ARV S1133 and sigma C caused apoptosis mediated by DNA damage signaling. ROS scavenger NAC, caffeine and an ATM-specific inhibitor significantly reduced ARV S1133- and sigma C-induced DNA breaks, DDIT-3 and GADD45 alpha expression, H2AX phosphorylation, and apoptosis. Overexpression of DDIT-3 and GADD45 alpha enhanced the oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by ARV S1133 and sigma C. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the involvement of the DNA-damage-signaling pathway in ARV S1133- and sigma C-induced apoptosis