Enhanced reality live role playing

Live role-playing is a form of improvisational theatre played for the experience of the performers and without an audience. These games form a challenging application domain for ubiquitous technology. We discuss the design options for enhanced reality live role-playing and the role of technology in live role-playing games

Do central banks respond to exchange rates and restrictions to capital flows? Evidence from panel data

This paper examines whether central banks consider exchange rates and restrictions to capital flows when setting the policy rate. Specifically, this paper studies if there is a difference in the reaction between inflation targeting central bank and non-inflation targeting central banks in advanced and emerging economies. The recent financial crisis is also covered, that is, did the crisis change whether central banks are considering movements in the exchange rate as well as restrictions to capital flows as determinants of their policy rate. Using a linear monetary policy reaction function where the short-term interest rate reacts to expected future inflation deviation, output-gap and real exchange rate fluctuations. Then in order to investigate the effect of restrictions to capital flows (as measured by the Schindler index) on central bank’s exchange rate policy, these variables are included in the policy function. A panel data set of 48 inflation targeting and non-targeting is employed, and the empirical results suggest that short-term interest rates in both advanced and emerging inflation targeting countries react to real exchange rate deviations and foreign interest rates. When the whole sample period is considered no significant response to the restriction variables is found, however when the sample period is divided in to a pre- and post-crisis period a reaction to the restriction variables is found

Safe Manual Control of Unstable Systems

This thesis deals with manual control of unstable systems, subject to control signal constraints. Allocation of control authority is critical in this situation. The manual control, or reference following, must not be performed at the risk of loosing stability. The conflicting objective is to achieve acceptable reference following performance. Design of control systems under such circumstances is critical, and has several important applications. One example is modern flight control systems for unstable fighter aircrafts. Experiments have been an important part of this work. An inverted pendulum of the Furuta type, has been used for experimental verification of the controller designs. This plant is unstable, but reasonably easy to analyze and perform experiments with. Theoretical as well as practical results are presented in this report. Controllers for the linearized pendulum model have been designed and simulated. Some of the designs were also implemented and evaluated on the real Furuta pendulum. The translation of the controllers from a simulation environment to the real plant proved quite difficult. Some modifications of the controllers had to be made, in order to achieve the desired results on the real Furuta pendulum. Compensation for friction also had to be done

Aspects of Complement Activation in Thrombocytopenic Disorders

The complement system is an essential effector of both innate and acquired immune responses. Due to its destructive potential, tight regulation is required. The contribution of complement has been associated with the pathogeneses in a wide range of diseases. In this thesis, aspects of complement activation were investigated in disorders characterized by thrombocytopenia.In papers I and II, clinical characteristics, complement analyses, and genetic screening for rare variants encoding complement proteins were retrospectively investigated in a cohort suspected to suffer from atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. In paper I, a population (n = 134) was identified whose phenotypes indicated the possibility of a diagnosis of complement-mediated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. In conclusion, laboratory complement analyses and clinical data were consistent with a possible underdiagnosis at the time of discharge. In paper II, recruited patients (n = 20) were subjected to follow-up investigations. Clinical outcomes and the phenotypical relevance of identified genetic variants were assessed. A diagnostic scheme compliant with the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines was presented. In addition to identifying several previously described genetic variants, a novel likely disease-contributing missense variant in the complement factor H gene (c.3450A>G, p.I1150M) was identified. In conclusion, the study illustrated the risk of misdiagnosis and the importance of a comprehensive assessment to reach a diagnosis.In paper III, complement and platelet activation biomarkers were prospectively investigated in thrombocytopenic patients (n = 43) receiving prophylactic platelet transfusions during inpatient care in the hematological department. Neither complement nor platelet activation was shown to correlate with the corrected count increment. In conclusion, complement and platelet activation were not demonstrated contributing to a poor post-transfusion platelet response.In summary, this thesis has contributed to the growing knowledge of diseases potentially affected by complement activation

Event-by-Event Fluctuations in Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

Motivated by forthcoming experiments at RHIC and LHC, we study event-by-event fluctuations in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions in participant nucleon as well as thermal models. The calculated physical observables, including multiplicity, kaon to pion ratios, and transverse momenta agree well with recent NA49 data at the SPS, and indicate that such studies do not yet reveal the presence of new physics. Finally, we present a simple model of how a first order phase transition can be signaled by very large fluctuations.Comment: final version, 4 pages, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Cape Verdean Notions of Migrant Remittances

The transfer of money from migrants to their non-migrant relatives is a key, symbol of the quality and meaning of transnational kinship relations. This article analyses how people in Cape Verde view migrant family members’ economic obligations and it examines the concomitant moral discourse. Through a detailed ethnographic study the article explores how gender and kinship positions interplay with the moral obligation to send remittances, and it also inquires into the differences between rural and urban people’s attitudes towards monetary gifts. Moreover, the importance of the receiver’s status in the local society is discussed and the role of the personal relation between the sender and the receiver. Thus the analysis goes beyond an instrumental and rationalistic approach to remittances, which is common in much research, and explores the significance of this money for emotions and social relations.Para os seus parentes não emigrantes as remessas dos emigrantes são um símbolo chave da qualidade e do significado das relações de parentesco transnacionais. Este artigo analisa como as pessoas em Cabo Verde encaram as obrigações económicas dos emigrantes membros de família e examina o discurso moral concomitante. Através de um estudo etnográfico detalhado o artigo explora como posições de género e parentesco interagem com a obrigação moral de enviar remessas e também investiga as diferenças entre as atitudes das pessoas rurais e urbanas relativamente às ofertas monetárias. Além disso, discute-se a importância do estatuto do receptor na sociedade local e o papel da relação pessoal entre remetente e receptor. Assim, a análise vai além de uma abordagem instrumental e racionalista das remessas, o que é habitual em muitas pesquisas, explorando o significado deste dinheiro em termos de emoções e relações sociais

The application of resistivity and IP-measurements as investigation tools at contaminated sites : a case study from Kv. Renen 13, Varberg, SW Sweden

An old industry estate, Kv. Renen 13, is located in central Varberg, southwest Sweden, and is known from previous investigations as highly polluted. Pollution started in the late 19th century with textile manufacturing, and in the 1960´s changed into a precision mechanics industry using chlorinated solvents, primary trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), as well as cyanide and metals. Wastewater was taken out through an es-cape valve to a sedimentation basin, which most likely leaked. With good subsurface conditions for dispersal, both in the sediments and in the highly fractured bedrock, a large area of the subsurface is polluted from contaminants due to the situation at Kv. Renen 13. This thesis investigates the subsurface conditions by using resistivity and induced polarization measurements, geo-physical methods based on different materials’ physical responses to an electrical current. Resistivity (Ωm) is a physical property of the ability to isolate against electrical current. Induced polarization (IP) measures the chargea-bility of a material, i.e. how electrical charges polarize and depolarize when subjected to an electrical current that is turned off after an interval of time. The aim with these geophysical surveys was to create a 3D model of the subsur-face ground conditions. The measurements were made at three occasions, to be able to investigate if it is possible to measure variation through time, and use the method for monitoring of in situ remediation. As a result of the survey, a fracture zone with a southwest-northeast direction crossing the industrial estate, could be identified. This fracture zone was not identified at the estate before and within the zone, there is a possibility of spreading the contamination. Variations in underground conditions through time in the subsurface were measurable using the geophysical methods, and the method shows good potential to be used for in situ monitoring of pollutant remediation. The work is part of the research project TRansparent Underground STructore, TRUST.Kv. Renen 13 i centrala Varberg är sedan tidigare känt som kraftigt förorenat. På fastigheten har det från slutet av 1800-talet fram till 2003 funnits verksamheter i form av textilindustri som avlösts av finmekanisk verkstadsindustri. Det är framförallt den sistnämnda verksamheten som har orsakat rådande situation med höga halter klorerade lösningsmedel, trikloreten (TCE) och 1,1,1-trikoletan (TCA), som i verksamheten använts som fettlösande medel. Dessutom har det använts en del metaller och cyanid. Processvatten har letts ut via ett internt avloppsystem till en sedimentationsbassäng i trädgården och indikationer finns på att bassängen har läckt. Stora delar av centrala Varberg är förorenat med klorerade lösningsmedel och metaller p.g.a. de tidigare verksamheterna på Kv. Renen 13. Detta till följd av att spridningsförutsättningarna är goda, både i de lösa avlagringar och i den sprickrika berggrunden. I det här examensarbetet har markförhållandena undersökts med geofysikiska mätningar i form av resistivitetsegen-skaper och inducerad polarisation. Resistivitet är en materialegenskap som mäter ett materials resistans mot en elektrisk ström. Inducerad polarisation (IP) undersöker markens uppladdningsförmåga. Geofysik kan vara svårt att använda i urbana miljöer då det finns mycket som stör och ger upphov till brus i mätdata. Målet med undersökning-en har varit att skapa en 3D- modell av markförhållandena. Mätningarna har gjorts vid flera tillfällen för att under-söka möjligheten att se förändringar med tiden och på sikt använda metoden för övervakning av in situ-saneringar. Som kalibrering för de geofysikska mätdata, har grundvattnet provtagits och analyserats. Resultatet av undersökningarna visar en trolig sydvästlig-nordostlig sprickzon som korsar fastigheten och ger goda spridningsförutsättningarna av föroreningen. Förändringar med tiden var mätbara i marken och metoden visar god potential för att användas för övervakning av förändringar. Arbetet ingår i forskningsprojektet TRansparent Underground STructore, TRUST

Naturens rehabiliterande effekt

Stressrelaterad ohälsa är idag vanligt och drabbar allt fler. Utmattningssyndrom är symptom som uppkommer efter att stressfaktorer pågått under en längre tid. Majoriteten av personer som lider av utmattningssyndrom behandlas av primärvården eller företagshälsovården. Inom vissa verksamheter finns en möjlighet att få naturbaserad rehabilitering (NBR). Detta utförs i naturmiljöer som tex. en speciellt utformad trädgård tillsammans med en fysioterapeut, arbetsterapeut, en psykolog och personal med kompetens inom trädgård och natur. Syfte: Syftet är att granska studier genomförda de senaste fem åren utifrån vad naturen har för rehabiliterande effekt på människor med utmattningssyndrom. Detta för att se om forskningen har bytt fokus eller riktning. Metod: 18 artiklar som undersöker naturens rehabiliterande effekter har granskats, jämförts och sammanfattats. Tio artiklar representerade tidigare forskning medan åtta representerade senare forskning. Resultat: Resultatet visade att i båda tidsperioderna låg fokus främst på rehabilitering med inriktning trädgård. Senare studier har fokuserat mer på fördjupad forskning inom rehabilitering i trädgård. Det har forskats mindre på skogens rehabiliterande effekt än tidigare. Den senare forskningen har fokuserat på att jämföra NBR med annan rehabilitering som inte är naturbaserad. Det har gjorts mindre forskning i Norden på naturens rehabiliterande effekter än tidigare.Background: Stress-related illness is common today and affects more and more people. Fatigue syndrome is a symptom that arises after stress factors have been going on for a long time. The majority of people suffering from fatigue syndrome are treated by primary care or occupational health care. In some operations there is an opportunity to get nature-based rehabilitation (NBR). This is often carried out in natural environments such as a specially designed garden together with a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, a psychologist and staff with expertise in garden and nature. Aim: The aim is to review studies conducted over the past five years based on nature’s rehabilitative effect on people with fatigue syndrome. This to see if the research has changed focus or developed. Method: 18 articles examining the rehabilitative effects of nature have been reviewed, compared and summarized. Ten articles represented previous research while eight represented later research. Results: The result showed that in both time periods the focus was mainly on rehabilitation with a garden focus. Recent studies have focused more on deeper research in garden rehabilitation. There has been less research on the forest's rehabilitative effect than before. Recent research has focused on comparing NBR with other rehabilitation that is not nature based. Less research has been done in the Nordic countries on the rehabilitative effects of nature than before

On the scope and assessment of pesticides in groundwater in Skåne, Sweden

Pesticides are known to occur in groundwater worldwide. However, long-term pollution concerns and cause-effect relationships for specific regions remain limited. This thesis explores the occurrence of pesticides in south-Swedish groundwater, with the aims of providing a better knowledge basis for assessment and management of present-day and future pollution risks. The investigations are restricted to Skåne, which is a relatively populous, intensively cultivated and geologically diverse region located at the tip of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The research shows that pesticides are present in very different types of groundwater systems around Skåne, suggesting a wide-ranging, multi-faceted and potentially long-lasting pollution concern. Seemingly, it is only the groundwater environments devoid of influence of waters having recharged since the onset of widespread pesticide use that may be regarded as completely safe and unaffected. Many of the pesticides detected stem from past, less restricted use, primarily for weed control outside of agriculture. Yet, current and future pollution concerns should not be regarded only as a matter of “old sins” as residues from currently used substances manifestly continue to leach towards and into the groundwater system. Through various analyses of comprehensive data sets both at the regional and the catchment scale, a number of particularly important aspects of regional pesticide occurrence in groundwater and future prediction thereof are inferred and investigated. In addition to application intensities and fundamental physicochemical pesticide properties, these include precipitation and recharge patterns in relation to pesticide application events, (mainly superficial) sorption and degradation processes efficiencies, multiple-scale subsurface physical heterogeneity directing water and solute flow (particularly the presence of preferential flow pathways), and groundwater turnover rates. Environmental tracers show great potential as tools for simple but effective calibration of transport models and for deciphering pollution trends and patterns. However, there are certain tracer-specific complications in need of further attention for future application in Skåne. For the future, regional as well as nationwide monitoring of pesticides in groundwater needs to be expanded and regulated for sound groundwater and pollution risk management and in order to be able to comply with environmental directives and the EU Water Framework Directive