Haptically enabled interactive virtual reality prototype for general assembly

Desktop computers based virtual training systems are attracting paramount attention from manufacturing industries due to their potential advantages over the conventional training practices. Significant cost savings can be realized due to the shorter training-scenarios development times and reuse of existing engineering models. In addition, by using computer based virtual reality (VR) training systems, the time span from the product design to commercial production can be shortened due to non-reliance on hardware parts. Within the aforementioned conceptual framework, a haptically enabled interactive and immersive virtual reality (HIIVR) system is presented. Unlike existing VR systems, the presented idea tries to imitate real physical training scenarios by providing comprehensive user interaction, constrained within the physical limitations of the real world imposed by the haptics devices within the virtual environment. As a result, in contrast to the existing VR systems, capable of providing knowledge generally about assembly sequences only, the proposed system helps in procedural learning and procedural skill development as well, due to its high physically interactive nature.

A parallel DNA fragment assembly algorithm based on eulerian superpath approach

Fragments assembly is among the core problems in the research of Genome. Although many assembly tools based on the "overlap-layout-consensus" paradigm are widely used such as in the Human Genome Project currently, they still can not resolve the "repeats problem" in the DNA sequencing. For the purpose of resolving such problem, Pevzner et al. put forward a new Euler Superpath assembly algorithm. But it needs a big and complex de Bruijin graph which consumes large amounts of memories i.e. becomes the bottleneck of the performance. We present a parallel DNA fragment assembly algorithm based on the Eularian Superpath theory and solve the bottleneck in the current assembly program. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach has a good scalability, and can be used in DNA assembly of middle and large size of eukaryote genome.

The impact of general and carbon-related environmental knowledge on attitudes and behaviour of US consumers

Global warming and carbon emissions have gained international attention. However, it would appear that consumers are still unclear about what it encompasses and how it relates to their individual behaviour. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) as a guiding framework, this study presents a structural equation model that tests the relationships between carbon and environmental knowledge, environmental attitude and behaviour using a sample of US consumers. The findings of the research suggest that a positive relationship was found between general and carbon-specific knowledge, attitude towards the environment, and general and carbon-specific behaviours. Therefore, general and carbon-specific environmental behaviours are related and may be driven by general attitudes and knowledge (i.e. both carbon-specific and general environmental knowledge). The implications of the study would suggest that marketers, working in tandem with government policymakers, need to focus efforts on developing consumers’ knowledge about specific sub-issues, such as global warming. However, additional research needs to be undertaken to develop marketing communication that accurately reflects the environmental impact of consumption behaviour, thereby allowing for considered consumption.