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A computer-vision-based method is widely employed to support the development of a variety of applications. In this vein, this study uses a computer-vision-based method to develop a playful learning system, which is a robot-based learning companion named RobotTell. Unlike existing playful learning systems, a user-centered design (UCD) approach is applied to assess the interface design of the RobotTell System so that the human–robot interaction can be enhanced during the design process. More specifically, the interface of the RobotTell system is assessed based on Nielsen's heuristics. Based on the results of Nielsen's heuristic evaluation, three versions of the RobotTell system were produced. The implications for the design of these three versions of the RobotTell system are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Balanced translocation between chromosomes 3q26 and 8q24 is a very rare event. Here we report six patients with t(3;8)(q26;q24) either as a sole or as a part of genetic abnormalities. Five of the six patients were men with ages ranging from 41 to 84 years old. One patient had a long history of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment. Three of the patients were initially diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, two with myelodysplastic syndrome and one with chronic myelogenous leukemia with blast crisis. The peripheral blood in all patients showed severe to moderate anemia; one had absolute neutropenia, one with neutrophilia; four had thrombocytopenia, two with thrombocytosis. The bone marrows from all patients showed dysmegakaryopoiesis with additional erythroid (three patients) and granulocytic (two patients) dysplasia. Cytogenetics revealed t(3;8)(q26;q24) as the sole abnormality in three patients. The majority of patients (4/6) had a poor clinical course, with an average survival of 10 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoon Morakot has been the most severe typhoon disaster to strike Taiwan in recent decades causing tremendous damage to bridge surroundings in 2009. However, we still lack a means of assessing post-typhoon damage for follow-up rebuilding. This paper presents an integrated model that automatically measures changes in rivers, areas of damage to bridge surroundings, and changes in vegetation. The proposed model is based on a neurofuzzy mechanism enhanced by the self-organising map optimisation algorithm and also includes the particular functions of dilation, erosion, and skeletonisation to deal with river imagery. High resolution FORMOSAT-2 satellite imagery from before and after the invasion period is adopted. A bridge is randomly selected from the 129 destroyed due to the typhoon for applications of the model. The recognition results show that the river average width has increased 66% with a maximum increase of over 200%. The ruined segment of the bridge is located exactly in the most scoured region. There has also been a nearly 10% reduction in the vegetation coverage. The results yielded by the proposed model demonstrate a pinpoint accuracy rate of 99.94%. This study successfully develops a tool for large-scale damage assessment as well as for precise measurement after disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a three-dimensional, virtual reality system for vestibular rehabilitation in patients with intractable Ménière's disease and chronic vestibular dysfunction. Methods: We included 70 patients (36 for study, 34 as control) with a chronic imbalance problem caused by uncompensated Ménière's disease. The virtual reality vestibular rehabilitation comprised four training tasks (modified Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises: eye, head, extension, and coordination exercises) performed in six training sessions (in 4 weeks). Measurements of the task scores and balance parameters obtained at the baseline and after final training sessions were compared. Results: A significant improvement was observed in extension and coordination scores. Patients in the early stages of Ménière's disease had a significantly greater improvement in the center of gravity sway and trajectory excursion in the mediolateral direction than did patients in the late stages of Ménière's disease. Mild functional disability attributable to Ménière's disease was a predictor of improvement in the statokinesigram and maximum trajectory excursion in the anteroposterior direction after rehabilitation. The control group showed no significant improvement in almost all parameters. Conclusion: Virtual reality vestibular rehabilitation may be useful in patients with Ménière's disease, particular those in the early stages or having mild functional disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]