Issues in delivering multimedia content to mobile devices

The scalability of a computer system is its response to growth. It is also depended on its hardware, its operating system and the applications it is running. Most distributed systems technology today still depends on bus-based shared memory which do not scale well, and systems based on the grid or hypercube scheme requires significantly less connections than a full inter-connection that would exhibit a quadratic growth rate. The rapid convergence of mobile communication, digital broadcasting and network infrastructures calls for rich multimedia content that is adaptive and responsive to the needs of individuals, businesses and the public organisations. This paper will discuss the emergence of mobile Multimedia systems and provides an overview of the issues regarding design and delivery of multimedia content to mobile devices.

The effects of thermo-electrically induced convection in alloy solidification

The effects of a constant uniform magnetic field on thermoelectric currents during dendritic solidification were investigated using a 2-dimensional enthalpy based numerical model. Using an approximation of the dendrite growing in free space it was found that the resulting Lorentz force generates a circulating flow influencing the solidification pattern. As the magnetic field strength increases it was found that secondary growth on the clockwise side of the primary arm of the dendrite was encouraged, while the anticlockwise side is suppressed due to a reduction in local free energy. The preferred direction of growth rotated in the clockwise sense under an anti-clockwise flow for both the binary alloy and pure material. The tip velociy is significantly increased compared to growth in stagnant flow. This is due to a small recirculation that follows the tip of the dendrite; bringing in colder liquid and lower concentrations of solute. The recirculation being not normally incident on the tip is most likely the cause for the rotation. Grain growth consisting of multiple seeds with the same anisotropy growing in the same plane, gives a competition to release latent heat resulting in stunted growth. The initial growth for each dendrite is very similar to the single seed cases indicating that dendrites must become before the thermoelectric interactions are significant.

Paying the price for loss of light

Considers the Court of Appeal ruling in Forsyth-Grant v Allen on the principles to be applied in assessing damages for the loss of light. Outlines the method for calculating damages for loss of right to light, the type of amenity which will be included in calculations for loss of amenity and the process applied in this case for assessing damages arising from the loss of profits that would have been made by the owner of the right to light if they had negotiated to relax the covenant, with reference to case law. Notes the limits to damages available for hypothetical loss and the difference between this award of profits and an account of profits.

Changes in the properties of Bacillus thuringiensis after prolonged culture in a rich medium

AIM: To investigate the effect of repeated culture in a rich medium on certain genetic, metabolic, pathogenic and structural characteristics of fresh isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four strains of B. thuringiensis, which had been isolated in vegetative form from leaf surfaces, were grown for 500 generations in batch culture in a rich medium. One of the strains, S4g, differed from the parent in the following respects: greater cell width; changed plasmid profile; complete loss of ability to produce delta-endotoxins; loss of ability to produce beta-exotoxin and disruption of vip3 gene; radically different fatty acid composition; and altered metabolic activity. Two of the other evolved strains (S1g and S6g) showed differences in fatty acid profiles compared with the parents. Genetic finger-printing showed that there were also mutations in the cry genes of two of the evolved strains (S1g and S2g). The delta-endotoxins of strain S6g were significantly less toxic to the larvae of Pieris brassica compared with those of the parent and it also differed in the plasmid content. CONCLUSION: Radical and unpredictable changes can occur in fresh isolates of B. thuringiensis when subjected to growth in the laboratory. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first analysis of a Gram positive and biotechnologically significant bacterium after repeated laboratory culture. It is of great relevance to the biotechnological exploitation of B. thuringiensis that prolonged growth of environmental isolates on laboratory culture media can have profound effects on their structure, genome and virulence determinants.