Facial Electromyography-based Adaptive Virtual Reality Gaming for Cognitive Training

Cognitive training has shown promising results for delivering improvements in human cognition related to attention, problem solving, reading comprehension and information retrieval. However, two frequently cited problems in cognitive training literature are a lack of user engagement with the training programme, and a failure of developed skills to generalise to daily life. This paper introduces a new cognitive training (CT) paradigm designed to address these two limitations by combining the benefits of gamification, virtual reality (VR), and affective adaptation in the development of an engaging, ecologically valid, CT task. Additionally, it incorporates facial electromyography (EMG) as a means of determining user affect while engaged in the CT task. This information is then utilised to dynamically adjust the game's difficulty in real-time as users play, with the aim of leading them into a state of flow. Affect recognition rates of 64.1% and 76.2%, for valence and arousal respectively, were achieved by classifying a DWT-Haar approximation of the input signal using kNN. The affect-aware VR cognitive training intervention was then evaluated with a control group of older adults. The results obtained substantiate the notion that adaptation techniques can lead to greater feelings of competence and a more appropriate challenge of the user's skills

The Daily Consequences of Widowhood: The Role of Gender and Intergenerational Transfers on subsequent Housework Performance

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142738/1/Nesse-Carr-House_Perf-JFI-2004.pd

In Search of Modifiable Risk and Protective Factors for Teen Dating Violence

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137513/1/jora12280_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137513/2/jora12280.pd

Salt-assisted vapor-liquid-solid growth of one-dimensional van der Waals materials

We have combined the benefits of two catalytic growth phenomena to form nanostructures of transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTs), materials that are challenging to grow in a nanostructured form by conventional techniques, as required to exploit their exotic physics. Our growth strategy combines the benefits of vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth in controlling dimension and growth location, and salt-assisted growth for fast growth at moderate temperatures. This salt-assisted VLS growth is enabled through use of a catalyst that includes Au and an alkali metal halide. We demonstrate high yields of NbS3 1D nanostructures with sub-ten nanometer diameter, tens of micrometers length, and distinct 1D morphologies consisting of nanowires and nanoribbons with [010] and [100] growth orientations, respectively. We present strategies to control the growth location, size, and morphology. We extend the growth method to synthesize other TMTs, NbSe3 and TiS3, as nanowires. Finally, we discuss the growth mechanism based on the relationships we measure between the materials characteristics (growth orientation, morphology and dimensions) and the growth conditions (catalyst volume and growth time). Our study introduces opportunities to expand the library of emerging 1D vdW materials and their heterostructures with controllable nanoscale dimensions.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Oxidation behavior and microstructural evolution of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V-1B sheet

A direct comparison between the oxidation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V + 1B has been conducted to elucidate whether the addition of boron to Ti-6Al-4V impacts the oxidation behavior. Industrially prepared sheet of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V + 1B were oxidized at temperatures between 650 and 950 °C for holding times of 25 and 50 h. Weight-gain measurements and characterization of surface and near-surface microstructures showed that the addition of 1 wt% B increased the material’s oxidation resistance. Additionally, the ingress of oxygen tends to decrease the solubility of other alloying species in α-Ti and leads to the formation of a distinctive and atypical microstructure with a distinct morphology

Oxidation behavior and microstructural evolution of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V-1B sheet

A direct comparison between the oxidation behavior of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V + 1B has been conducted to elucidate whether the addition of boron to Ti-6Al-4V impacts the oxidation behavior. Industrially prepared sheet of Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-4V + 1B were oxidized at temperatures between 650 and 950 °C for holding times of 25 and 50 h. Weight-gain measurements and characterization of surface and near-surface microstructures showed that the addition of 1 wt% B increased the material’s oxidation resistance. Additionally, the ingress of oxygen tends to decrease the solubility of other alloying species in α-Ti and leads to the formation of a distinctive and atypical microstructure with a distinct morphology

Revisiting (some of) the Lasting Impacts of the Liberty Ships Via A Metallurgical Analysis of Rivets from the SS John W. Brown

During World War II, 2710 Liberty ships were built in the United States across 18 ship yards. The rate of production of these ships was at a scale not previously witnessed, reflecting a strategic marshaling of national assets critical to the war effort. For the metallurgist, metallurgical engineer, or materials scientist, these ships also struck commanding images regarding their catastrophic failures. The study of these failures led to increased understanding of brittle fracture, fracture mechanics, and ductile-to-brittle transition temperatures. The post-mortem studies of Liberty ships highlighted the importance of composition and microstructure in controlling the properties of steel in fracture-critical applications. This study examines a rivet from the SS “John W. Brown”, which was assembled in Baltimore, Maryland, and launched in September 1942, The “John W. Brown” was restored between 1988 and 1991. Classical metallurgical analysis of a rivet from the original 1942 vessel is compared with modern rivets used during its restoration. The rivets provide an analogue to the plate material used in these ships. A comparison of these materials is presented along with a discussion of the importance of composition–microstructure–property relationships that concomitantly evolved

Coronary arterial fistulas

ABSTRACT: A coronary arterial fistula is a connection between one or more of the coronary arteries and a cardiac chamber or great vessel. This is a rare defect and usually occurs in isolation. Its exact incidence is unknown. The majority of these fistulas are congenital in origin although they may occasionally be detected after cardiac surgery. They do not usually cause symptoms or complications in the first two decades, especially when small. After this age, the frequency of both symptoms and complications increases. Complications include 'steal' from the adjacent myocardium, thrombosis and embolism, cardiac failure, atrial fibrillation, rupture, endocarditis/endarteritis and arrhythmias. Thrombosis within the fistula is rare but may cause acute myocardial infarction, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias. Spontaneous rupture of the aneurysmal fistula causing haemopericardium has also been reported. The main differential diagnosis is patent arterial duct, although other congenital arteriovenous shunts need to be excluded. Whilst two-dimensional echocardiography helps to differentiate between the different shunts, coronary angiography is the main diagnostic tool for the delineation of the anatomy. Surgery was the traditional method of treatment but nowadays catheter closure is recommended using a variety of closure devices, such as coils, or other devices. With the catheter technique, the results are excellent with infrequent complications. DISEASE NAME AND SYNONYMS: Coronary arterial fistulas Coronary arterial fistulas or malformation

Author correction to: Structure and distribution of an unrecognized interstitium in human tissues

© 2018 The Author(s). The Supplementary Figure file that accompanies this Article contains an error in Supplementary Figure S1, where the Small Intestine CD34 panel was duplicated from the Gallbladder CD34 panel. The correct Figure S1 appears below as Figure 1. (Figure Presented)