Mapping joint ROM on a cube using electromagnetic trackers

This paper presents a unified framework using the unit cube for measurement, representation and usage of the range of motion (ROM) of body joints with multiple degrees of freedom (d.o.f) to be used for digital human models (DHM). Traditional goniometry needs skill and kn owledge; it is intrusive and has limited applicability for multi-d.o.f. joints. Measurements using motion capture systems often involve complicated mathematics which itself need validation. In this paper we use change of orientation as the measure of rotation; this definition does not require the identification of any fixed axis of rotation. A two-d.o.f. joint ROM can be represented as a Gaussian map. Spherical polygon representation of ROM, though popular, remains inaccurate, vulnerable due to singularities on parametric sphere and difficult to use for point classification. The unit cube representation overcomes these difficulties. In the work presented here, electromagnetic trackers have been effectively used for measuring the relative orientation of a body segment of interest with respect to another body segment. The orientation is then mapped on a surface gridded cube. As the body segment is moved, the grid cells visited are identified and visualized. Using the visual display as a feedback, the subject is instructed to cover as many grid cells as he can. In this way we get a connected patch of contiguous grid cells. The boundary of this patch represents the active ROM of the concerned joint. The tracker data is converted into the motion of a direction aligned with the axis of the segment and a rotation about this axis later on. The direction identifies the grid cells on the cube and rotation about the axis is represented as a range and visualized using color codes. Thus the present methodology provides a simple, intuitive and accura te determination and representation of up to 3 d.o.f. joints. Basic results are presented for the shoulder. The measurement scheme to be used for wrist and neck, and approach for estimation of the statistical distribution of ROM for a given population are also discussed.

The influence of some environmental variables on the apparent abundance of skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: The abundance of skipjack larvae in the central and western Pacific approximately doubled for every 1°C increase in sea-surface temperature (SST) from 23°C to a maximum of about 29°C, and then usually decreased with further increases in SST. Skipjack larvae are scarce in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), so most skipjack recruits and adults in this area are believed to have originated in the central and, possibly, the western Pacific. The catch per unit of effort (CPUE), in short tons per day's fishing, and the catch rate, in number of fish per day's fishing, are estimates of apparent abundance in a fishery. The logarithm of the annual CPUE for skipjack for international baitboats in the EPO for the 1934-1960 period was positively correlated with SST in the spawning area in the central Pacific 18 months earlier (r2 0.31), during the July-June period when most of the recruits in each cohort were presumed to have been spawned. Adequate data for other environmental variables were not available for testing with the baitboat data. The other environmental variables available and selected for testing for correlation with estimates of skipjack abundance for purse seiners for the 1961-1984 period and the reasons for their selection are as follows. 1)Wind-mixing index (WMI). The degree of mixing in the upper layers of the ocean is proportional to the cube of the wind speed, called WMI. The degree of mixing in the spawning areas of the central and the western Pacific may affect the concentration of organisms that skipjack larvae feed upon, thereby influencing their survival, and ultimately determining cohort strength and the number of recruits to the eastern Pacific fishery. 2) SST in the fishing areas at the time of fishing (SST). The CPUE for yellowfin tuna has been shown to be inversely related to SST in the fishing areas, and there are indications that skipjack CPUE is lower during EI Nino events when SST is higher than normal. 3) North-south SST gradient across the thermal front off the Gulf of Guayaquil. This is a measure of the degree of upwelling and nutrient enrichment of the upper waters south of the front and ultimately of the production of food for tunas. 4) Speed of the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC). Young skipjack may migrate from the central Pacific to the EPO in the eastward flowing NECC; if so, the number of recruits might be affected by variations in the speed of the current. The logarithm of the annual catch rate of skipjack recruits by international purse seiners in the EPO for the 1961-1984 period was positively correlated with SST in the spawning area of the central Pacific 18 months earlier (r2 = 0.21),and inversely correlated with WMI in the spawning area 18 months earlier (r2 0.46). The logarithm of CPUE for purse seiners in the area off the Gulf of Guayaquil was not correlated with SST in the spawning area 18 months earlier, but was inversely correlated with WMI in the spawning area 18 months earlier (r2 = 0.19), and inversely correlated with the north-south SST gradient in the fishing area at the time of fishing (r2 0.32). Neither of these estimates of apparent abundance from purse seiners were correlated with SST in the fishing areas, or with the speed of the NECC at earlier times. SPANISH: La abundancia de larvas de barrilete en el Pacífico central y occidental se multiplicó por dos, aproximadamente, por cada aumento de 1°Cen la temperatura de la superficie del mar (TSM) entre 23°C y un máximo de unos 29°C, y luego generalmente disminuyó con más aumentos en la TSM. Las larvas de barrilete son escasas en el Océano Pacífico oriental (OPO), y por lo tanto se cree que la mayoría de los reclutas y adultos en esta zona surgieron del Pacífico central, y posiblemente también del Pacífico occidental. La captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE), en toneladas cortas por día de pesca, y la tasa de captura, en número de peces por día de pesca, son estimaciones de la abundancia aparente en una pesquería. El logaritmo de la CPUE anual de barrilete lograda por barcos de carnada en el OPO en el período 1934-1960 se correlacionó positivamente con la TSM en la zona de desove en el Pacífico central de 18 meses antes (r2 = 0.31), durante el período de junio-julio en el cual se cree que nació la mayoría de los reclutas en cada cohorte. No se dispuso de datos suficientes sobre otras variables ambientales para comprobarlos con los datos de los barcos de carnada. Las demás variables ambientales disponibles y seleccionadas para someterlas a pruebas de correlación con las estimaciones de la abundancia del barrilete de barcos cerqueros en el período 1961-1984, y las razones por su selección, son las siguientes: 1) Indice de mezcla por el viento (IMV). El grado de mezcla en las capas superiores del océano es proporcional al cubo de la velocidad del viento, llamado IMV. Es posible que el grado de mezcla en las zonas de desove del Pacífico central y occidental afecte la concentración de los organismos que alimentan a las larvas del barrilete, afectando así la supervivencia de éstas, y finalmente determinando el tamaño de las cohortes y el número de reclutas a la pesquería del OPO. 2) TSM en la zona de pesca al realizarse la pesca (TSM). Se ha mostrado que la relación de la CPUE del atún aleta amarilla a la TSM en la zona de pesca es inversa, y existen indicaciones que la CPUE de barrilete es inferior durante eventos del Niño, cuando las TSM son superiores a lo normal. 3) Gradiente norte-sur de las TSM a través del frente térmico frente al Golfo de Guayaquil. Esto es una medida del grado de afloramiento y enriquecimiento nutritivo del nivel superior de las aguas al sur de dicho frente, y finalmente de la producción de alimento para los atunes. 4) La velocidad de la Contracorriente Ecuatorial del Norte (CCEN). Es posible que los bariletes juveniles migren del Pacífico central al Pacífico oriental en la CCEN, que fluye hacia el este; de ser así, es posible que la cantidad de reclutas se vea afectada por variaciones en la velocidad de la corriente. El logaritmo de la tasa anual de captura de reclutas de barrilete por cerqueros de varias banderas en el OPO en el período 1961-1964 estuvo correlacionado de forma positiva con las TSM en la zona de desove del Pacífico central de 18meses antes (r2 0.21),y de forma inversa con el IMV de la zona de desove de 18 meses antes (r2 0.46). El logaritmo de la CPUE de los cerqueros en la zona frente al Golfo de Guayaquil no estuvo correlacionado con las TSM en la zona de desove de 18 meses antes, pero sí estuvo correlacionado de forma inversa con el IMV en la zona de desove de 18 meses antes (r2 0.19),y con el gradiente norte-sur de las TSM en la zona de pesca al realizarse la pesca (r2 0.32). Ninguna de estas estimaciones de abundancia aparente provenientes de barcos cerqueros estuvo correlacionada con las TSM en las zonas de pesca o con la velocidad de la CCEN en épocas anteriores. (PDF contains 140 pages.)

Breeding, age and growth of the freshwater shark Wallago attu (Bloch and Schneider) from the Dhir Beel of the Brahmaputra Basin, Assam, India

The Dhir Beel, one of the major live beels of the Brahmaputra Basin, Assam, has an area of 689 ha and situated in Dhubri district of Assam. The dominance of freshwater shark, Wallago attu (8.10%) in the beel is a striking feature. Restricted breeding of W. attu once a year from June to September was observed. The mean observed length was 37.5, 65.0, 84.5 and 99.0 cm in the 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th months of age respectively. The length growth coefficient (K), the asymptotic length (L infinity ), and the arbitrary origin of the growth curve (t omicron ), for W. attu were estimated to be 0.054484 per month, 136.16 cm and 0.0355 month respectively. The calculated life span (T infinity ) of the fish is 123.86 months (about 10 years). The weight growth parameters were estimated where the monthly growth coefficient (K), the asymptotic weight (W infinity) and the arbitrary origin of the growth curve (t omicron) were found to be 0.0743 per month, 7636.92 gram and 0.431908 month respectively. The length-weight relationship follows the cube law.

The unidirectional emptying box

A theoretical description of the turbulent mixing within and the draining of a dense fluid layer from a box connected to a uniform density, quiescent environment through openings in the top and the base of the box is presented in this paper. This is an extension of the draining model developed by Linden et al. (Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. vol. 31, 1990, pp. 201-238) and includes terms that describe localized mixing within the emptying box at the density interface. Mixing is induced by a turbulent flow of replacement fluid into the box and as a consequence we predict, and observe in complementary experiments, the development of a three-layer stratification. Based on the data collated from previous researchers, three distinct formulations for entrainment fluxes across density interfaces are used to account for this localized mixing. The model was then solved numerically for the three mixing formulations. Analytical solutions were developed for one formulation directly and for a second on assuming that localized mixing is relatively weak though still significant in redistributing buoyancy on the timescale of the draining process. Comparisons between our theoretical predictions and the experimental data, which we have collected on the developing layer depths and their densities show good agreement. The differences in predictions between the three mixing formulations suggest that the normalized flux turbulently entrained across a density interface tends to a constant value for large values of a Froude number FrT, based on conditions of the inflow through the top of the box, and scales as the cube of FrT for small values of FrT. The upper limit on the rate of entrainment into the mixed layer results in a minimum time (tD) to remove the original dense layer. Using our analytical solutions, we bound this time and show that 0.2tE ≈tD tE, i.e. the original dense layer may be depleted up to five times more rapidly than when there is no internal mixing and the box empties in a time tE. © 2010 Cambridge University Press.

A method to determine fracture toughness using cube-corner indentation

For the cube-corner indenter, an approximate linear relationship between the ratio of hardness (H) to reduced modulus (E-r) and the ratio of unloading work (W-u) to total loading work (W-t) is confirmed by finite-element calculations and by experiments. Based on this relationship a convenient method to determine the fracture toughness (K-IC) of brittle materials, especially for those at small scale, using cube-corner indentations is proposed. Finally, the method is calibrated by indentation experiments on a set of brittle materials. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The use of recycled demolition aggregate in precast concrete products – Phase III: Concrete pavement flags

A study undertaken at the University of Liverpool has investigated the potential for using construction and demolition waste (C&DW) derived aggregate in the manufacture of a range of precast concrete products, i.e. building and paving blocks and pavement flags. Phase III, which is reported here, investigated
concrete pavement flags. This was subsequent to studies on building and paving blocks. Recycled demolition aggregate can be used to replace newly quarried limestone aggregate, usually used in coarse (6 mm) and fine (4 mm-to-dust) gradings. The first objective was, as was the case with concrete building
and paving blocks, to replicate the process used by industry in fabricating concrete pavement flags in the laboratory. The ‘‘wet’’ casting technique used by industry for making concrete flags requires a very workable mix so that the concrete flows into the mould before it is compressed. Compression squeezes out water from the top as well as the bottom of the mould. This industrial casting procedure was successfully replicated in the laboratory by using an appropriately modified cube crushing machine and a special mould typical of what is used by industry. The mould could be filled outside of the cube crushing machine and then rolled onto a steel frame and into the machine for it to be compressed. The texture and mechanical properties of the laboratory concrete flags were found to be similar to the factory ones. The experimental work involved two main series of tests, i.e. concrete flags made with concrete- and
masonry-derived aggregate. Investigation of flexural strength was required for concrete paving flags. This is different from building blocks and paving blocks which required compressive and tensile splitting strength respectively. Upper levels of replacement with recycled demolition aggregate were determined
that produced similar flexural strength to paving flags made with newly quarried aggregates, without requiring an increase in the cement content. With up to 60% of the coarse or 40% of the fine fractions replaced with concrete-derived aggregates, the target mean flexural strength of 5.0 N/mm2 was still
achieved at the age of 28 days. There was similar detrimental effect by incorporating the fine masonry-derived aggregate. A replacement level of 70% for coarse was found to be satisfactory and also conservative. However, the fine fraction replacement could only be up to 30% and even reduced to 15% when used for mixes where 60% of the coarse fraction was also masonry-derived aggregate.

Cube, cylinder, core and pull-off strength relationships

This limited experimental investigation examined the relationships between the compressive strengths of cubes, cylinders, cores and the estimated compressive strengths derived from pull-off tests for a relatively low-strength structural-grade concrete (<35 N/mm2). Test specimens were cast and tested at 7, 14, 28, 56 and 84 days. The relationships of the trends of the test results to the trends of results of standard cube specimens and standard cylinder specimens were compared. It was found that the mean strength of each type of specimen tended to increase as a function of the natural logarithm of the specimen age. The mean strength of cylinders of length/diameter ratio 2.0 was found to be slightly greater (by about 7.5%) than the generally accepted value of 80% of the mean cube strength. Core results were corrected using correction factors defined in BS 6089 and the UK national annex to BS EN 12504-1. The mean corrected cube strength of cores taken from cubes was approximately 12% greater than the mean companion cube strength. The mean corrected cylinder strength of cores taken from cubes was approximately 5% greater than the mean companion cylinder strength. The potential cube and cylinder strengths of cores taken from slabs cured under different environmental conditions correlated well with companion cube and cylinder strengths respectively at 28 days. The pull-off test results gave a variable but, on average, slightly conservative estimate of the cube compressive strength of the relatively low-strength structural-grade concrete, using a simple general linear estimated compressive cube strength to tensile strength correlation factor of 10.

Assessing the effectiveness of the internationalization process in Higher Education Institutions: A case study of Florida International University

The purpose of this study was to examine a Higher Education Institution’s (HEI) process of internationalization. The theoretical model developed by Van Dijk and Miejer (1997) was used to review Florida International University (FIU)’s policy, support, and implementation dimensions and determine its position on the Internationalization Cube, and assess how FIU’s international activities fit into its different organizational processes. In addition, the study sought to shed light on student and faculty attitudes toward internationalization. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from examining organizational documents, interviews, descriptive data on FIU’s international activities using the International Dimension Index, and the Student and Faculty Survey on Internationalization. FIU’s international activities results were analyzed in relation to a panel of experts’ item relevancy index. The Likert-type survey scales’ frequencies and percentages were calculated as well as Spearman Rho correlations between the survey’s three scales and demographic and experiences variables. The study found that FIU is located on position six of a possible eight positions on the Van Dijk and Meijer Internationalization Cube with the following characteristics: Priority Policy, One-Sided Support, and Structured Implementation toward internationalization. The analysis of FIU’s results on international activities showed that FIU exhibits all the activities considered to be strong indicators of internationalization but for position seven placement special attention is needed in the areas of foreign language study, international students, study abroad, faculty movement and involvement in international projects. The survey indicated students and faculty rated the Benefits of Internationalization highly but didn’t perceive strong institutional Support for Internationalization. Faculty age and offshore programs participation; student gender, race/ethnicity and class status; and for both, study abroad and knowledge of students travel grant had significant positive correlations with student and faculty attitudes. The study concluded that an association exists between FIU’s position on the Internationalization Cube and its international activities. Recommendations for policy, implementation, and future studies were made. It was concluded that advancing FIU’s position on the Cube will require adjustments in FIU’s policy, support and implementation dimensions. Differences in student and faculty views toward internationalization should be taken into account when planning internationalization efforts.

L'échantillonnage équilibré par la méthode du cube et la méthode rejective

Au cours de ces dernières années, les techniques d’échantillonnage équilibré ont connu un regain d’intérêt. En effet, ces techniques permettent de reproduire la structure de la population dans des échantillons afin d’améliorer l’efficacité des estimations. La reproduction de cette structure est effectuée par l’introduction des contraintes aux plans de sondage. Encore récemment, des nouvelles procédures d’échantillonnage équilibré ont été proposées. Il s’agit notamment de la méthode du cube présentée par Deville et Tillé (2004) et de l’algorithme réjectif de Fuller (2009). Alors que la première est une méthode exacte de sélection, la seconde est une approche approximative qui admet une certaine tolérance dans la sélection. Alors, après une brève présentation de ces deux méthodes dans le cadre d’un inventaire de pêcheurs, nous comparons à l’aide de simulations Monte Carlo, les plans de sondage produits par ces deux méthodes. Aussi, cela a été l’occasion pour nous de vérifier si ces méthodes modifient les probabilités de sélection des unités.

Bias in full effect

Interview and discussion on Robot University and AUTHENTIC IN ALL CAPS, transmedia creative works by Christy Dena.

Every One, Every Day

Creative Statement: “There are those who see Planet Earth as a gigantic living being, one that feeds and nurtures humanity and myriad other species – an entity that must be cared for. Then there are those who see it as a rock full of riches to be pilfered heedlessly in a short-term quest for over-abundance. This ‘cradle to grave’ mentality, it would seem, is taking its toll (unless you’re a virulent disbeliever in climate change). Why not, ask artists Priscilla Bracks and Gavin Sade, take a different approach? To this end they have set out on a near impossible task; to visualise the staggering quantity of carbon produced by Australia every year. Their eerie, glowing plastic cube resembles something straight out of Dr Who or The X Files. And, like the best science fiction, it has technical realities at its heart. Every One, Every Day tangibly illustrates our greenhouse gas output – its 27m3 volume is approximately the amount of green-house gas emitted per capita, daily. Every One, Every Dayis lit by an array of LED’s displaying light patterns representing energy use generated by data from the Australian Energy Market. Every One, Every Day was formed from recycled, polyethylene – used milk bottles – ‘lent’ to the artists by a Visy recycling facility. At the end of the Vivid Festival this plastic will be returned to Visy, where it will re-enter the stream of ‘technical nutrients.’ Could we make another world? One that emulates the continuing cycles of nature? One that uses our ‘technical nutrients’ such as plastic and steel in continual cycles, just like a deciduous tree dropping leaves to compost itself and keep it’s roots warm and moist?” (Ashleigh Crawford. Melbourne – April, 2013) Artistic Research Statement: The research focus of this work is on exploring how to represent complex statistics and data at a human scale, and how produce a work where a large percentage of the materials could be recycled. The surface of Every One, Every Day is clad in tiles made from polyethylene, from primarily recycled milk bottles, ‘lent’ to the artists by the Visy recycling facility in Sydney. The tiles will be returned to Visy for recycling. As such the work can be viewed as an intervention in the industrial ecology of polyethylene, and in the process demonstrates how to sustain cycles of technical materials – by taking the output of a recycling facility back to a manufacturer to produce usable materials. In terms of data visualisation, Every One, Every Day takes the form of a cube with a volume of 27 cubic meters. The annual per capita emissions figures for Australia are cited as ranging between 18 to 25 tons. Assuming the lower figure, 18tons per capital annually, the 27 cubic meters represents approximately one day per capita of CO2 emissions – where CO2 is a gas at 15C and 1 atmosphere of pressure. The work also explores real time data visualisation by using an array of 600 controllable LEDs inside the cube. Illumination patterns are derived from a real time data from the Australian Energy Market, using the dispatch interval price and demand graph for New South Wales. The two variables of demand and price are mapped to properties of the illumination - hue, brightness, movement, frequency etc. The research underpinning the project spanned industrial ecology to data visualization and public art practices. The result is that Every One, Every Day is one of the first public artworks that successfully bring together materials, physical form, and real time data representation in a unified whole.

CubIT : Large-scale multi-user presentation and collaboration

CubIT is a multi-user, large-scale presentation and collaboration framework installed at the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Cube facility, an interactive facility made up 48 multi-touch screens and very large projected display screens. CubIT was built to make the Cube facility accessible to QUT’s academic and student population. The system allows users to upload, interact with and share media content on the Cube’s very large display surfaces. CubIT implements a unique combination of features including RFID authentication, content management through multiple interfaces, multi-user shared workspace support, drag and drop upload and sharing, dynamic state control between different parts of the system and execution and synchronisation of the system across multiple computing nodes.

Long time, no see?

Long Time, No See? is a crowd-sourced project that asks people to reflect upon what kind of long term future they would each like to promote. It is an evolving experiment in the social practice of ‘everyday futuring’. To participate download the Long Time, No See? IPhone APP that gently guides you during a short walk, encouraging you to experience new places, sensations and thoughts in your locality. At nine stages along that journey you donate ‘field notes’ as images, texts, sounds and ‘themes’, offering a unique opportunity to reveal possible pathways towards more sustaining futures. The APP records the shape of your walk on the ground and draws an island on the ‘map’ shown here, populated by your nine sets of responses. The themes you have chosen then connect your island into an evolving ‘world’ map of connections and possibilities, which you can then explore at your leisure. In these ways, Long Time, No See? doesn’t ask you for lofty visions or ask you to lay out a program of action, but instead asks you to consider what is around you today, steering your eyes, ears and embodied experiences towards new futures that demonstrate your ‘care’ for what comes after you. Please use the contribute tab below to learn how to add your voice! PARTICIPATE To contribute 1: Download the APP {bit.do/ltns}, iPhone/iPad is supported right now. 2: Register a ‘walker name’. 3: Take a leisurely walk (30 -60mins) and contribute image, text, sound and themes when asked. 4: Wait while we verify and upload your walk (allow about 24 hours) 5: View your contributions via your ‘walker name’ and discover how it relates to others, here at the Cube and at www.long-time-no-see.org. NB You can undertake each walk over more than one day if that suits. You may even drive, cycle or move by other modes. DOWNLOAD THE APP: bit.do/ltns (insert QI Code) FIND OUT MORE www.long-time-no-see.org

CubIT presentation and collaboration framework

Cubit is a public installation developed for QUT's Cube. It allows QUT staff and students to upload and exhibit media content on the Cube's display surfaces. Interact with the work of QUT's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) research projects with CubIT, a unique system at the Cube that allows the general public to collaborate with and access research content shared by QUT's students and academics. QUT students and staff can easily present and share their work at The Cube on a set of large multi-touch displays. To access The Cube, all they need to do is swipe their staff or student card at the CubIT system. They will then be able to instantly upload presentations, videos or visualisation of their work. CubIT boasts a host of collaborative features that allows users to share content across user accounts, annotate content and create shared presentations. Interactive features allow the public to engage and collaborate with content hands-on. In addition to being accessible through The Cube, CubIT allows users to interact with their work through alternative mediums and devices, including mobile phones, tablets and Dropbox. Please note you must be on the QUT network to access CubIT. CubIT can be booked to appear on the Cube Level 5 at specfic times for student and staff purposes. Please email booking requests

Extending building information models to specifications and cost planning

This digital poster (which was on display at "The Cube", Queensland University of Technology) demonstrates how specification parameters can be extracted from a product library repository for use in augmenting the information contents of the objects in a local BIM tool (Revit in this instance).