608 research outputs found
Presence 2005: the eighth annual international workshop on presence, 21-23 September, 2005 University College London (Conference proceedings)
No full textOVERVIEW (taken from the CALL FOR PAPERS)
Academics and practitioners with an interest in the concept of (tele)presence are invited to submit their work for presentation at PRESENCE 2005 at University College London in London, England, September 21-23, 2005.
The eighth in a series of highly successful international workshops, PRESENCE 2005 will provide an open discussion forum to share ideas regarding concepts and theories, measurement techniques, technology, and applications related to presence, the psychological state or subjective perception in which a person fails to accurately and completely acknowledge the role of technology in an experience, including the sense of 'being there' experienced by users of advanced media such as virtual reality.
The concept of presence in virtual environments has been around for at least 15 years, and the earlier idea of telepresence at least since Minsky's seminal paper in 1980. Recently there has been a burst of funded research activity in this area for the first time with the European FET Presence Research initiative. What do we really know about presence and its determinants? How can presence be successfully delivered with today's technology? This conference invites papers that are based on empirical results from studies of presence and related issues and/or which contribute to the technology for the delivery of presence. Papers that make substantial advances in theoretical understanding of presence are also welcome. The interest is not solely in virtual environments but in mixed reality environments. Submissions will be reviewed more rigorously than in previous conferences. High quality papers are therefore sought which make substantial contributions to the field.
Approximately 20 papers will be selected for two successive special issues for the journal Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments.
PRESENCE 2005 takes place in London and is hosted by University College London. The conference is organized by ISPR, the International Society for Presence Research and is supported by the European Commission's FET Presence Research Initiative through the Presencia and IST OMNIPRES projects and by University College London
Assessment of available anatomical characters for linking living mammals to fossil taxa in phylogenetic analyses
No full textORCID: 0000-0003-4919-8655© 2016 The Authors.
Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited. The file attached is the published version of the article.NHM Repositor
Current, emerging and future technologies for sensing the environment
No full textThis paper reviews current technologies that are used for environmental monitoring, and presents emerging technologies that will dramatically improve our ability to obtain spatially distributed, real-time data about key indicators of environmental quality at specific locations. Futuristic approaches to environmental monitoring that employ fundamental breakthroughs in materials science to revolutionise the way we monitor our environment will also be considered. In particular, approaches employing biomimetic and 'adaptive'/'stimuli-responsive' materials will be highlighted, as these could play an important role in the realization of small, low power, low cost, autonomous sensing and communications platforms that could form the building blocks of the much vaunted environmental 'sensor web'
Supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids or olive oil in men and women with renal disease induces differential changes in the DNA methylation of FADS2 and ELOVL5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
No full textBACKGROUND: Studies in animal models and in cultured cells have shown that fatty acids can induce alterations in the DNA methylation of specific genes. There have been no studies of the effects of fatty acid supplementation on the epigenetic regulation of genes in adult humans.METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the effect of supplementing renal patients with 4 g daily of either n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) or olive oil (OO) for 8 weeks on the methylation status of individual CpG loci in the 5' regulatory region of genes involved in PUFA biosynthesis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from men and women (aged 53 to 63 years). OO and n-3 LCPUFA each altered (>10% difference in methylation) 2/22 fatty acid desaturase (FADS)-2 CpGs, while n-3 LCPUFA, but not OO, altered (>10%) 1/12 ELOVL5 CpGs in men. OO altered (>6%) 8/22 FADS2 CpGs and (>3%) 3/12 elongase (ELOVL)-5 CpGs, while n-3 LCPUFA altered (>5%) 3/22 FADS2 CpGs and 2/12 (>3%) ELOVL5 CpGs in women. FADS1 or ELOVL2 methylation was unchanged. The n-3 PUFA supplementation findings were replicated in blood DNA from healthy adults (aged 23 to 30 years). The methylation status of the altered CpGs in FADS2 and ELOVL5 was associated negatively with the level of their transcripts.CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that modest fatty acid supplementation can induce altered methylation of specific CpG loci in adult humans, contingent on the nature of the supplement and on sex. This has implications for understanding the effect of fatty acids on PUFA metabolism and cell function
Do Market Oriented Firms Demonstrate Clarity on Their Value Discipline? Evidence from Illinois Beef Producers
No full textA market orientation has been shown to lead to improved firm performance in a variety of industries (Narver and Slater, 1990; Deshpande et al., 1993). In previous research, it has been argued that performance benefits are a result of a greater awareness of the sources of value the product provides to the consumer, without specifically describing how value was created. Treacy and Wiersema (1993) developed the concept of value disciplines, which are three distinctive means of value provision, namely operational excellence, customer intimacy and product leadership. More recently, Narver et al. (1998) argued that market oriented firms have a clear understanding of how they provide value to customers, but this assertion has yet to be empirically tested. A new scale was developed and tested to measure the choice and clarity of value discipline. Using a sample of 343 Illinois beef producers, results show that organizational learning, innovativeness, and extreme levels of market orientation contribute to value discipline clarity while moderate levels of market orientation have the opposite effect.innovation, market orientation, organizational learning, value disciplines, Marketing, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession, Q10, Q13, Q16,
Two- to Eight-Month-Old Infants' Perception of Dynamic Auditory-Visual Spatial Colocation
No full textFrom birth, infants detect associations between the locations of static visual objects and sounds they emit, but there is limited evidence regarding their sensitivity to the dynamic equivalent when a sound-emitting object moves. In 4 experiments involving thirty-six 2-month-olds, forty-eight 5-month-olds, and forty-eight 8-month-olds, we investigated infants' ability to process this form of spatial colocation. Whereas there was no evidence of spontaneous sensitivity, all age groups detected a dynamic colocation during habituation and looked longer at test trials in which sound and sight were dislocated. Only 2-month-olds showed clear sensitivity to the dislocation relation, although 8-month-olds did so following additional habituation. These results are discussed relative to the intersensory redundancy hypothesis and work suggesting increasing specificity in processing with age
Layer specific differences in the mouse auditory corticocollicular system
No full textRecent data suggest that there may be distinct processing streams emanating from auditory cortical layer 5 and layer 6 that influence the auditory midbrain. To examine the functional properties of neurons in these two layers that project to the midbrain, we performed three sets of experiments. First, to determine whether these projections have different physiological properties, we injected rhodamine-tagged latex tracer beads into the inferior colliculus (IC) of >30 day old mice to label these corticofugal cells. Whole-cell recordings were performed on 62 labeled cells to determine their basic electrophysiological properties and cells were filled with biocytin to determine their morphological characteristics. We observed that layer 5 auditory corticocollicular cells have prominent Ih-mediated sag and rebound currents, generate calcium-dependent rhythmic bursts, and have relatively sluggish time constants. In contrast, layer 6 auditory corticocollicular cells are non-bursting, do not demonstrate sag or rebound currents, and have short time constants. Quantitative (Sholl) analysis of morphology showed that layer 6 cells are smaller, have a horizontal orientation, and have very long dendrites (> 500μm) that branch profusely both near the soma and distally near the pia. Layer 5 corticocollicular cells are large pyramidal cells with a long apical dendrite with most of the branching near the pial surface. The marked differences in physiological properties and dendritic arborization between neurons in layer 5 and layer 6 make it likely that each type plays a distinct role in controlling auditory information processing in the midbrain.
Very little is currently known about the nature of the inputs from the rest of the auditory cortex onto these cells. Therefore, our second set of experiments was designed to investigate these local inputs. To do this, we utilized laser photo-uncaging of glutamate to stimulate the cells that synapse onto the layer 5 and layer 6 corticocollicular cells in brain slices taken from adult mice. Pre-identified cells were recorded in a whole cell patch configuration then stimulated with a larger grid covering the area from the white matter to the pia. To isolate synaptic responses, in this preparation, we used a low calcium artificial cerebral spinal fluid method which uses a physiological method of parsing out synaptic versus direct stimulation. We contrast this method with the more commonly used time window method. In identified layer 5 and layer 6 corticocollicular recordings, cells show spatial differences in their respective input maps. Layer 5 corticocollicular neurons were shown to receive inputs coming from various layers compared to layer 6 corticocollicular neurons which almost exclusively receives input from layer 6. Combined with our first set of studies, which showed that layer 5 and layer 6 corticocollicular neurons have different electrophysiological properties, the current data suggest that neurons in these two layers play different roles in modifying ascending information at the IC. These differences may explain the varied results seen in the inferior colliculus during in vivo stimulation of the auditory cortex.
In sensory cortices, layer 4 is generally considered to be the primary thalamorecipient layer. Recent data, however, have shown that other layers receive thalamic input. With many of the direct inputs of these thalamocortical collaterals onto inhibitory interneurons. Therefore, in our third set of studies, to investigate these inputs, we used a laser to stimulate thalamocortical axons which have been labeled with channelrhodopsin. Pre-identified corticocollicular cells were recorded in a whole cell patch configuration then stimulated with a larger grid covering the area from the white matter to the pia. We compared the excitatory and inhibitory input from the thalamus in both layer 5 and layer 6 corticocollicular neurons. We found that similar to previous results, layer 5 corticocollicular neurons received more input in general than layer 6. However, interestingly, there are both layer 5 and layer 6 corticocollicular neurons that receive considerable thalamic inputs compared to those assessed with glutamate uncaging. It is likely that the coordinated stimulation of these afferents cause spatial summation of input compared to the very focal nature inherent to the methods in glutamate uncaging.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2018-12-01The student, Bernard Slater, accepted the attached license on 2016-11-18 at 14:33.The student, Bernard Slater, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2016-11-18 at 14:35.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2016-11-21 at 11:34.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10274 on 2017-02-28 at 14:36:34Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-01T16:36:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3
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Previous issue date: 2016-11-21Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 98594
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Value proposition analysis for solid state lighting: A case study of Ahmedali Ahmed Electrical Contracting; Marketing the product in the Kingdom of Bahrain
No full textThe proposition given to a product or service in terms of its worth given by a customer is researched and analysed to find the underlying factors contributing to the value. The study is undertaken to investigate the different factors that lays ground for increased ‘Customer value’ and ‘Product Value’. The research objective is to find the “Value Proposition Analysis for Solid State Lighting: a Case Study AhmedAli Ahmed Electrical Contracting; Marketing the product in the Kingdom of Bahrain” Most businesses generate profits, when the customers give a certain value(s) to the service/product provided by the business entity. This could involve many attributes to consider. The project overlooks in to this value significantly to understand the attributes that collectively contributes to ‘Valued Relation’ between the customer and the business. This is achieved by making effective use of literature suggested by various authors and by employing research strategies to validate the literature through the findings. The research also looks in to the case study organisation to fully understand the capabilities of the company to market the product. Thus, this analysis will be specifically looking in to the value proposition given to Solid State Lighting by the current UK customers and by clients of AhamedAli Ahmed Electrical Contracting, Kingdom of Bahrain. However, this analysis must viewed critically, as the product comes at a premium price and the study will be much centred in the Kingdom of Bahrain and cannot be generalised for the other GCC countries or the Middle East. This study is focused to generate strategies in marketing Solid State Lighting in Bahrain taking A.A.E as the Case Study Organisation understanding the Value Proposition for Solid State Lighting
Distributions of rank-order correlations between clade age and species richness predicted under MEDUSA model of rate variation for 12 major taxonomic groups.
No full text<p>Vertical red lines show the observed correlation for each group. Observed correlations are significantly lower than the corresponding model-predicted value for 10 of the 12 groups. The high variance of the MEDUSA-predicted distributions for gymnosperms and actinopterygiians is largely explained by the small number of clades (<i>N</i> = 12) available for those groups (<a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001381#pbio.1001381.s005" target="_blank">Figure S5</a>).</p
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