Master of Science

thesisAnimated avatars are becoming increasingly prevalent in three-dimensional virtual environments due to modern motion tracking hardware and their falling cost. As this opens up new possibilities and ways of interaction within such virtual worlds, an important question that arises is how does the presence of an avatar alter the perception and performance of an action in a virtual environment when a user interacts with an object in the virtual environment through their avatar. This research attempts to answer this question by studying the effects of presence of an animated self-avatar in an object manipulation task in a virtual environment. Two experiments were conducted as part of this research. In Experiment 1, the feasibility of an interaction system involving animated self-avatars to manipulate objects in a virtual environment was examined. It was observed that the presence of self-avatars had an affect on the performance of a subset of subjects. Male subjects with gaming experience performed similarly across both visual feedback conditions while female subjects who also had low gaming experience performed better in the condition with avatar feedback than in the condition without avatar feedback. In Experiment 2, we further analyzed the effect of presence of self-avatar visual feedback by looking at the effect of visual immersion in the virtual environment, task difficulty, and individual difference factors such as spatial ability and gaming experience. It was observed that difficult trials were completed significantly faster by subjects in the avatar feedback condition while in the case of the easy trials, there was no significant difference between performance of subjects in the avatar and sphere feedback conditions. No significant interaction was observed between visual feedback condition and either immersiveness or individual difference factors

A factor in a wild-isolated Neurospora crassa strain enables a chromosome segment duplication to suppress repeat-induced point mutation (RIP)

Repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) is a sexual stage-specific mutational process of Neurospora crassa and other fungi that alters duplicated DNA sequences. Previous studies from our laboratory showed that chromosome segment duplications (Dps) longer than ~300 kbp can dominantly suppress RIP, presumably by titration of the RIP machinery, and that although Dps <200 kbp did not individually suppress RIP, they could do so in homozygous and multiply heterozygous crosses, provided the sum of the duplicated DNA exceeds ~300 kbp. Here we demonstrate suppression of RIP in a subset of progeny carrying the normally sub-threshold 154 kbp Dp(R2394) from a cross of T(R2394) to the wild isolated Carrefour Mme. Gras strain (CMG). Thus, the CMG strain contains a factor that together with Dp(R2394) produces a synthetic RIP suppressor phenotype. It is possible that the factor is a cryptic Dp that together with Dp(R2394) can exceed the size threshold for titration of the RIP machinery and thereby causes RIP suppression

Future Indian Space-Risk Assessment and Organisational Structuring

The main emphasis of the future Indian Space Programme extending up to the year 2030 is stated to be contributing to the national developmental goals of sustainable development. This is envisaged to be pursued through activities and programmes mainly in the areas of Space Transportation Systems, Space Infrastructure (satellites), Space Applications, Capacity Building, and Institutional Support. As the investments envisaged by the government alone will be about three trillion Indian rupees (over the next 13 years) and also that the Programme is well poised to evolve risk sharing partnerships with Industry besides many international collaborative relationships, a systematic risk assessment and management assumes paramount importance. Hence a study is made to identify and assess risks and discuss on the risk management planning perspectives for the national space activities. The methodology adopted comprised of generating a register of top level risks under two broad categories of programmatic risks within space sector and risks due to environmental factors. The programmatic risks are analyzed in terms of likely design, developmental and operational risks, which will be manifested in terms of financial, technical performance and schedule impacts beyond specified limits as well as the human resource/organization related impacts. Environmental risks are classified into factors related to political stability, possible policy and regulatory changes, major technological advances and disruptions, economic trends, factors relating to international environment and risks due to changing space environment. Impacts and likelihoods are mapped for all major planned initiatives in space transportation, earth observations, space communications, navigation and space exploration missions as well as applications- resulting out of the imperatives and trends in domestic and international environment like increasing private sector participation, disruptive technological trends that can change cost trajectories (such as reusable launch systems concepts), upheavals in the space situation, and the national /international regulatory trends. In the third part, implications for organisation and governance is analyzed from the perspectives of risk management. The analysis establishes the key needs of governance structure and organizational change springing from the transformation of stakeholder profile and other trends of the environment

Indian Space – Towards A “National Eco-System” For Future Space Activities

The vision of Indian Space was enunciated (in early 1970) by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai - who envisioned the development of Indian space capability for benefit to society a nd meeting national development goals. The programm e is founded on self-reliance and indigenous capability developm ent. Indian space activities have made tremendous p rogress in the past 50 years with successful satellites that have contributed to national development, science endeav or and technological capability. Indian communication sate llites in INSAT; Indian EO satellites in IRS; India n positioning satellites in IRNSS; various science missions; Indi an launch vehicles in the PSLV and GSLV; mission to Moon - Chandrayaan-1; a mission to Mars have paved the way for advanced successful development of space capab ility in India. Successful foray into global markets have al so been achieved. All this has enabled a high-class end-to-end systemic capability of design, development and oper ations of Indian space assets and applications. Space based services have created a huge and growin g user base - which is a unique opportunity for dev eloping space industry and creating high technology jobs. Changin g policy environment in India - favoring deregulati on; investments and thrusted privatization; impetus to manufacturin g; intensive co-operation etc are generating a stro ng market drive for space activities in India. Indian space needs t o orient for a quantum jump in technological growth , adopt organisational models that will ensure economic eff iciency and position a vibrant private sector. Nati onal consequences for Indian human space-flight and plan etary exploration programme; quest for a larger sha re and role in global space market; strategies to deal with changi ng political and economic environments and focused imperatives of international cooperation need strategic focus. National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) has t aken up a policy-research study to determine a fut uristic Indian Space Policy - a comprehensive “Indian Space Policy " which addresses the long-term strategy of Indian space and promotes a holistic Indian Space enterprise - align ment to national goals of industrialization and dev elopment; evolving a vibrant eco-system of government-private sector p artnership that assures operational space services (communications, EO and navigation etc) and advanced technology deve lopment; national commitment for \long-term' human space- flight and planetary exploration mission investment s and a strategic international cooperation regime. NIAS has undertaken wide consultation with Indian space prof essionals and is organising a National Space Policy Workshop - all of which will be assimilated into the Policy do cument. The paper presents the outcome of this stud y and the future Indian Space Policy

Future Indian Space-Perspectives of Game Changers, (IAC-16.E3.3.12)

In the past 50 years, Indian Space has seen many successful milestones – demonstrating excelling Indian technology and widespread utilization of space services in different areas of national economy. Present capabilities and capacities of Indian Space are mainly in the unitary capabilities of the national space agency – this has enabled the nation to significantly achieve about 10-12 high-quality missions every year. Meeting future domestic needs AND benefitting by access to large global market of space will require a quantum jump in capabilities and capacities to be served. Another important development is the aspirational growth of Indian economy and the people. With a GDP growth hover around 7-8% and a few trillion dollar economy, the nation has launched important developmental initiatives - Digital India, Make in India, Smart City, Swach Bharat, National Education Mission and National Skill Mission programmes. Thus, demands for diverse applications of space technology are inevitable – integrating across geographical, sectoral and temporal domains of the country. In an earlier suo-moto study, we have outlined the future 10-20 years of policy perspectives for Indian Space development and also outlined the perspectives of how a National Space Eco-system would emerge – evolving from the present national space agency into a “public-private-academia triad”. Looking ahead of such a national eco-system, we now visualize critical developments that will bring impacting and paradigm shifts to holistic Indian Space through the “triad” – Game Changers. With about 100-150 possible missions in coming 10-20 years – encompassing EO, satellite communications, positioning, space science, planetary missions, operational and advanced launch access missions and the initiation of a human space flight programme, the “critical shifts” would be not just technological advancements but organizational re-structuring from emerging newer organizational arrangements, industrialization and emergence of private space industry, deeper penetration of space services in Indian society, increasing global presence of Indian players and a vibrant cooperative and collaboration at international level. What will drive these game-changers? Cost efficiency will be one key driver - amply demonstrated in many sectors for global markets, this will impact global space markets and bring a “levelling effect” across global markets. Indian skills and human resources will be another driver – with Indian scientists, engineers and managers playing a major role in national and global space. Third will be “Indian innovation” – ability to improvise and innovate with simple, low-cost BUT effective solutions. These 3 drivers will bring a new economic model that balances systems, costs and performance. The paper provides a perspective of future Indian Space and outlines “game changers” impacts that will emerge for space activities in India. The paper also discusses how, in an integrated manner, Indian Space can and should reach greater heights by key policy, strategy and actions for the coming few decades

Future Indian (New)Space – Contours of a National Space Policy That Positions A New Public-Private Regime

Indian space activities have made tremendous progress in the past 50 years with successful programmes of Indian communication satellites in INSAT; Indian EO satellites in IRS and Indian launch vehicles in the PSLV and GSLV. India has also had a mission to Moon - Chandrayaan-1; a mission on-way to Mars and the IRNSS. Successful foray into global markets have also been achieved. In the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017), India is planning for 58 missions with an investment of almost 6 B USD (at 2013 rates). Today, Indian Space Programme is at a cusp with the need for a LONG TERM STRATEGY FOR SPACE – basically creating a roadmap that will look 30-50 years ahead and address several key questions in the public domain. Indian space needs to orient for a quantum jump in technological growth, adopt organisational models and collaborative strategies that will ensure economic efficiency and position a vibrant private sector. Important questions are being raised on the public and national consequences for Indian human space-flight and planetary exploration programme; how India must quest for a larger share and role in global space market; strategies to deal with changing political and economic environments and focused imperatives of international cooperation. Based on the in-depth analysis the evolving eco-system, unique performance dimensions, achievements and critical gaps of the past 40 years, along with a careful analysis of the existing policies – SATCOM-1999 policy and RSDP -2000/2011, the future contours of next 10-20 years of Indian Space activities have been studied. Looking ahead, a comprehensive “Indian Space Policy” which addresses the long-term strategy of Indian space – public goal of space as a national capability building; a national commitment to provide operational space service in the country; a good regulatory regime that promotes the Indian Space enterprise; enabling a vibrant and equitable eco-system of government-private sector partnership; systems to undertake advanced technology development; public and national commitment for human space-flight and planetary exploration mission investments; performance and social audits of space exploration activities etc. The paper, resulting from 2 papers that NIAS prepared as part of its Policy Research studies and presented in International Astronautical Congress, discuses salient aspects of the newer policy regime (in a way – (new)Space for India) and outlines key highlights and strong arguments for a 2-pronged strategy for future – one, for growth of innovation and advanced space technologies through public investments that will spur riskbased future technologies and applications development AND second, carving a clearly larger role for Indian private sector that takes over operational space assets manufacturing/ownership/services and downstream application services – apart from becoming a “space-hub” for global space manufacturing

Deep Hierarchical Super-Resolution for Scientific Data Reduction and Visualization

We present an approach for hierarchical super resolution (SR) using neural networks on an octree data representation. We train a hierarchy of neural networks, each capable of 2x upscaling in each spatial dimension between two levels of detail, and use these networks in tandem to facilitate large scale factor super resolution, scaling with the number of trained networks. We utilize these networks in a hierarchical super resolution algorithm that upscales multiresolution data to a uniform high resolution without introducing seam artifacts on octree node boundaries. We evaluate application of this algorithm in a data reduction framework by dynamically downscaling input data to an octree-based data structure to represent the multiresolution data before compressing for additional storage reduction. We demonstrate that our approach avoids seam artifacts common to multiresolution data formats, and show how neural network super resolution assisted data reduction can preserve global features better than compressors alone at the same compression ratios

Comparison of Fissure Healing and The Incidence of Headache Among the Patients Treated with Endo- and Perianal Application of 0.2% Glyceryl Trinitrate for Chronic Anal Fissure

Introduction: Chronic anal fissure is associated with significant morbidity and reduction in quality of life mostly in young healthy adults. Glyceryl Trinitrate, a most commonly used agent for treatment, is associated with incidence of headache causing discontinuation of treatment. There is belief that endoanal application instead of perianal is associated with lower incidence of headache. This study is to compare the incidence and severity of headache in between perianal and endoanal application of GTN ointment. Methods: Thirty patients were taken in each perianal and endoanal group. They were given orientation to apply 375gm of ointment either endoanally or perianally and to record severity of headache according to visual analogue scale. This record was noted by independent observer in telephonic conversation. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks for evaluation fissure. Results: The mean age, male female ratio and features of chronicity was similar in both the group however the duration of symptoms between the group was different. Regarding outcome, Overall incidence of headache was seen in two-third of patient with severe headache in approx. 10%. Severity of headache was slightly lower in endoanal group but the difference was not significant. Healing rate was comparable. Two patient in perianal and 3 in endoanal group were lost for follow up.  Conclusions: Endoanal application of GTN ointment is associated with slight decrease in intensity of headache and is comparable with perianal application for fissure healing.  Keywords: anal fissure; endoanal; glyceryl trinitrate;headache; perianal.| PubMe