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The advent of virtual reality technology has provided a new approach for assessing and training cognitive processing ability, with the design of simulations used to replicate real events in everyday lives. To better understand how head mounted displays/flat screen displays (HMDs/FSDs) and differences in the individuals who use them affect cognitive performance and the use of VR systems, our research group created the Stroop task-embedded virtual reality driving system (STEVRDS) and conducted a 2 × 2 between-group factorial design experiment among college students. The study examined the effects of HMDs and FSDs that differ in monovision/stereovision and field of view, the impact of gender (males vs. females) on users' performances in virtual driving and Stroop trials, and users' psychophysiological responses while using the system. The participants' subjective perceptions toward STEVRDS were also assessed to support the analyses/interpretations of cognitive performance, as well as provide empirical data relating to user experiences. The statistical analyses showed both main and interaction effects of HMDs/FSDs and gender on task performance, psychophysiological responses, and user evaluations of the system. The psychophysiological patterns exhibited during the use of STEVRDS further extended the findings. Overall, our results were comparable with cognitive phenomena reported in other studies/in real-life experiences or explained by logical reasoning, which suggests that the design/development of the STEVRDS is suitable for cognitive assessment/training. Practical implications are discussed for the application of HMDs and FSDs in evaluating and enhancing cognitive processing ability and the need for specific tailoring for male and female users.

The development of the modern global economy and the national competition in trade and commerce has intensified. Thus, overseas study as a major form of human capital formation in the Asian region ...

The researchers of this study designed a new virtual reality (VR)-assisted training system, IFOREAL, for gynecology students at their university and introduced it to potential trainees. Two versions of IFOREAL, each employing different devices, were developed. The consumer version uses a traditional LCD display and computer mouse, whereas the professional version utilizes a head-mounted display (HMD) and joystick controller for the virtual learning. Trainees watched simulated videos and interacted with the system to accomplish tasks. IFOREAL consists of several major learning modules of gynecology. This study used the normal spontaneous delivery module to research user experience and perceptions of the IFOREAL VR training system. The results suggested that most of the trainees' user experiences and perceptions of IFOREAL, using both the types of VR-assisted technology, were positively reported. Trainees who used the consumer version of IFOREAL perceived a stronger internal control, whereas trainees using the professional version perceived a better sense of virtual presence. Overall, trainees perceived the usefulness of the IFOREAL system which predicted their future intention to use the system and other similar VR-assisted training systems for learning. Furthermore, whether the virtual content of IFOREAL grabbed the trainees' attention predicted their future intenon to use professional devices of HMD/joysck for learning other subjects. The gender difference was also explored in the study. Generally speaking, female trainees gave better evaluations of IFOREAL compared to their male counterparts. They perceived a better internal control while using the consumer version than the professional version. Male trainees believed that the gadgets used in the professional version provided a better virtual presence and met their expectation of a virtual experience better. This study suggested that different versions of IFOREAL could serve trainees' different needs. Technology developers and trainers should tailor the application of different VR devices to assist with the training/learning in accordance with different conditions/trainees.

In this study, after doses of 1 g/kg/day of the traditional Chinese formula Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan-Tang (MXSGT), significant reversal of pneumatocysts was achieved in Spague-Dawley rats with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. We found that MXSGT can improve the damaged condition of general cellular membranes. Greatly increased levels of lung NO were found in the bleomycin-induced group, which were then significantly reduced by MXSGT. MXSGT drastically prevented depletion of superoxide disinutase (SOD) and reduced the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in lung tissue of rats treated svith bleomycin. On the basis of the results presented in this paper. MXSGT prevents bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, and the mechanism may be due to the inhibitory effect on nitric oxide generation in the bleomycin-induced lung-fibrosis model of rats.

The current study takes a qualitative approach to examining the unique use of mobile communications in romantic relationships among young Chinese adults, a research field few scholars have evinced interest in at this point in time (Lim & Soriano, 2016: p. 4). The overarching question “What is the ‘Chinese-ness’ of the mobile phone user culture of young romantic couples regarding perpetual contact, boundary maintenance, and the connectedness-autonomy tension?” was answered by 15 semi-structured individual interviews. The findings suggest that 1) WeChat messaging was the most prominent mobile media platform used by the respondents to stay in “perpetual contact”, i.e., defined as a continuous conversation through frequent short messages between individuals not physically in the same location (Katz & Aakhus, 2002: p. 2). The interviewees wished to protect their relationship a couple by not disclosing too much or by preventing others from prying too far into it. 3) Respondents resolved the tension between the needs to connect with each other and to remain independent individuals by adopting the former approach. Respondents frequently practiced perpetual contact, supporting the Apparatgeist theory, which views mobile phones as mystical devices that allow constant communication with unseen others, combined with the collective construction of meaning (Katz & Aakhus, 2002). This current study further discusses relevant theoretical and social implications.

Exposure to low-quality news videos on a newspaper website led a younger audience to see the news organization as less credible and lacking in value. Findings offer a cautionary tale for news organizations because even a few low-quality news videos on a newspaper website might damage newspapers’ fervent effort to attract a younger audience.

In the current era of globalization, higher education is expected not only to educate people to work locally in their home country, but also to foster “global citizens” who can play important roles internationally. In recent years, curriculum design and reform efforts at the higher education level in Taiwan have sought to encourage young people to move out of their comfort zones and connect with people from different cultural and social backgrounds to further expand their international perspectives and intercultural competencies. The main aim of the current research is to explore if students’ international mobility experiences-in this context, studying abroad-would affect their attitudes toward elements of global citizenship and identification as global citizens. This research included an online survey to recruit 69 Taiwanese participants with study abroad experiences at the higher education level to understand their identification as global citizens, their attitudes toward elements of global citizenship, and their interpretations of how studying abroad might affect their perceptions of global citizenship. The results from the regression analysis indicate that participants with international mobility experiences tend to see themselves as global citizens and have stronger agreements toward elements of global citizenship.

In this paper, we proposed a novel electromagnetic targeting system using rotating magnetic-flux concentration method for navigating endo-bronchoscope. This system consists of a magnetic-flux emitting coil, a magnetic-flux receiving electromagnets-array, a 2D model of bronchial tree, the magnetic-flux concentrator embedded on brush-guiding tube which was connected to the guide sheath. When the concentrator in the 2D bronchial tree passes through the air gap between the emitting coil and the receiving electromagnets-array, the concentrator concentrates the magnetic flux between the coil and the array. The concentrated magnetic flux is subsequently received by the receiving electromagnets-array and thus stable voltage output is produced. Furthermore, when the concentrator is rotated, the concentration of the magnetic flux is periodically changed and thereby the voltage output is periodically changed. By analyzing the voltage changes, the location of the concentrator (as well as guide tube and sheath) is targeted. According to the experimental results, the system successfully targets the location of the guide sheath in the 2D model of bronchial tree.Copyright © 2018 by ASME

This study discusses the characteristics of the inductive power transfer (IPT) for T5 fluorescent lamps (FL) lighting system. The advantages of the IPT technology are electrical isolation and capability of operating in dirt environment. The transfer function and frequency response of the IPT for T5 FL lighting system are derived. The experimental results under varied air gap and load are discussed to evaluate the property of the IPT for T5 FL lighting system.

This study reports people prefer longer, high-quality videos to any other type on newspaper websites and poor quality videos can harm the news brand. Editors should be much more critical of the videos they post and journalists should have multi-media training.

Several clinical and animal studies of different pain models reported that motor cortex stimulation (MCS) has an antinociceptive effect. In our previous study, the response of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) to peripheral stimuli decreased after MCS. The aim of the present study was to investigate involvement of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) in this inhibitory effect of MCS. Responses of the SI to electrical stimuli applied to both forepaws of anesthetized rats were monitored to evaluate the effect of MCS. After sensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) were stable, either saline, opioid, or dopamine receptor antagonists were locally microinjected into the PAG. After drug or saline administration, MCS was applied to the forepaw area of the right motor cortex. SEPs after MCS were compared to those before MCS. In the saline group, SEPs ipsilateral to MCS decreased, but SEPs contralateral to MCS did not. The decrease in SEPs was prevented by pretreatment of the PAG with naloxone. Application of a nonspecific dopamine receptor antagonist (α-flupenthixol) to the PAG also blocked the inhibition of SEPs after MCS. Inhibition of SEPs after MCS was blocked by local application of a D1 antagonist (SCH-23390) in the PAG, but not by a D2 antagonist (eticlopride). These results suggest that the PAG participates in the inhibitory effect of MCS, and this effect of MCS may be mediated by opioid and dopamine D1 receptors within thePAG.

To facilitate the enzymatic saccharification of widely available lignocellulosic biomass, napiergrass was subjected to a two-stage pretreatment process consisting of steam explosion (SE) followed by alkaline delignification. SE was performed under various reaction temperatures, reaction times, and particle sizes. The experimental results show that the two-stage pretreatment process was effective at removing xylan and lignin and significantly enhanced the enzymatic digestibility of napiergrass. Up to 85% of the lignin in the original material was removed, leaving a cellulose-rich residue that was highly susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis; the enzymatic digestibility reached 96.1%. SE alone was not sufficient, because considerable amount of lignin still remained in the steam-exploded solids. In addition to experimental work, models predicting digestibility as a function of SE conditions were developed using artificial neural network and regression techniques, and their performance was compared. Three different methods were used, i.e. , the back-propagation neural network (BPNN), the multiple linear regression (MLR), and the partial least-square regression (PLS). The input of the model was the three parameters of steam explosion (temperature, time, and particle size), while the enzymatic digestibility was the output. The results show that the BPNN model provided reasonable predictive performance. In addition, the SE temperature was found to be the most significant factor among the three parameters studied, followed by the SE time.

In this paper, small-scale microprocessor-based human-machine interface (HMI) and programmable logic controller (PLC) standard software libraries are applied to plan, design, implement, and construct models for creating the modular application software. The graphical user interface (GUI) functions used in a specific biomass steam-explosion process, intended to be integrated with the PLC device for HMI, thereby providing excellent GUI-based supervision and control functions. Reviewing these specific case study results, we find that the major advantage is maximum system operating performance at minimum cost. Also, the GUI/HMI operation effectively provides user-friendly and reliable interactions. This GUI/HMI approach is a very cost-effective technique.

In this study, faculty at institutions of higher education in Southern California were surveyed to determine the ways they interpret the effects of globalization dynamics upon their various teaching and research activities. Faculty in the state’s three higher education tiers spoke positively about the intellectual benefits to be gained by exposure to different worldviews made possible by an increasingly diverse faculty and student body. Divisions were noted among the different tiers, however, with respect to their disparate levels of engagement with the private sector. The private sector was seen as having a negative impact upon the public sector’s research agenda while simultaneously being embraced by faculty at the community colleges. Faculty at the research institutions were typically critical of the overarching neoliberal paradigm and spoke in political terms about the ways this largely economic‐efficiency model was reorienting their teaching and research roles.

By adopting the notions of social exchange and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study discusses how young mobile users weigh between benefit and cost (e.g., perceived risk) when determining to accept location-based advertising (LBA). It also examines the role of trust in the process of the information exchange. In addition, this study explores whether young mobile users can be segmented into heterogeneous user groups and the different groups require a unique application of the theoretically-driven factors. An online survey of college students from US universities reveals that benefits of LBA outweigh the perceived risk and that trust plays a key role in increasing LBA acceptance. Results suggest, however, that the determinants may differently influence different mobile user segments: innovative believers and conventional sceptics. The result highlights the importance of crafting marketing messages uniquely for each of the segments. Implications for theories and practitioners using LBA are discussed.

Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) provides two particular features difference from Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) in transport layer. One is Multi-homing, and the other is Multi-streaming, Furthermore, Multi-homing is a good feature for soft-handover. This paper will discuss the issue that the soft-handover efficiency implemented by Multi-homing, and improving it. When SCTP changes to other primary path at handover, the transmission rate will greatly decline. Because the new primary path does not transmit numerous packets, the CWND of the new primary path almost equals to the initial value and starts to increase by congestion control mechanism. This paper presents a Fast Handover Recover - SCTP (FHR-SCTP) mechanism that can fast recover the congestion window (CWND) after handover. FHR-SCTP improves the time of reaching the max CWND about 0.83% to 29.11% with other mechanisms after handover.

This paper presents a practical and effective novel approach to solve the Disaster Prevention and Alert (DPA) management problem. The problem is usually caused by the traditional DAC approach in building's Fire Prevention and Fighting (FPF) system. Web-Enabled Interface/Controller (WEIC), Human-Machine Interface (HMI) display and Data Acquisition and Control (DAC) technologies are applied. Techniques of formalization and modeling of WEIC automation are presented. The benefits of Web-page automation philosophy is to aim at Web-view stylistic managing of all critical functions for monitoring, operating and maintaining. Through this process, communication that supports local and/or remote viewing, the real-time data/ information will be indicated on the browser-based terminals anytime and anywhere. The suggested methods of sequent structuring allow HMI/DAC models using algorithm to develop Web-page DPA management effectively are described. In addition, an actual case of WEIC based HMI/DAC automation system in existing building's FPF application is simulated to validate the feasibility of the methods proposed.

A microprocessor-based touch-screen Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) standard libraries are applied to construct models for creating supervisory control software. This software, in turn, is developed and presented for the Graphical User Interface (GUI) functions used in agriculture wastes reuses process of steam-boiling pretreated to become efficiently produce agricultural biotechnology material and liquid products, such as xylose, xylooligosaccharides, and animal feed, thereby providing excellent GUI-based monitoring and control functions. This HMI/GUI approach was presented a very cost-effective technique. Also, the HMI/GUI operation effectively provides user-friendly and reliable interactions.

The performance of face recognition systems depends on conditions being consistent, including lighting, pose and facial expression. To solve the problem produced by pose variation it is suggested to pre-estimate the pose orientation of the given head image before it is recognized. In this paper, we propose a head pose estimation method that is an improvement on the one proposed by N. Hu et al. [1]. The proposed method trains in a supervised manner a nonlinear interpolative mapping function that maps input images to predicted pose angles. This mapping function is a linear combination of some Radial Basis Functions (RBF). The experimental results show that our proposed method has a better performance than the method proposed by Nan Hu et al. in terms of both time efficiency and estimation accuracy.

A block-based upsampling method for images and videos is proposed in this work. Block classification is first conducted in the DCT domain to categorize 8x8 image blocks into several types: smooth areas, edges and others. For the plain background and smooth surfaces, simple patches are used to enlarge the image size without degrading the resultant visual quality. Since human eyes are more sensitive to edges, a more sophisticated technique is applied to edge blocks. They are approximated by a facet model so that the image data at subpixel positions can be generated accordingly. By taking temporal information into account, this concept can further be applied to videos. To upsample an image block in the current frame, we may borrow the upsampled version of the corresponding block in the reference frame if the residual is tolerable. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the great reduction of computational complexity while the output visual quality still remains satisfactory.

Higher education expansion is not a new development in the world. Different countries have faced various contexts and factors that push the expansion to occur. Since 1996, the Taiwanese government has allowed the private sector to open new higher education institutions or be upgraded for open more access at the higher education level to correspond to the general public’s educational expectations. This article starts by describing the expansion of higher education from the elite to universal stage both globally and locally. The article then specifically introduces the case of the doctoral manpower structure in Taiwan and lists three specific scenarios regarding local PhDs’ reality in the current competitive job market, highlighting the further talent fault crisis in society today. In addition to discussing the consequences and challenges at the doctoral level of talent cultivation, the article further identifies the main issues facing the current manpower planning in Taiwan. The article calls for all stakeholders of the agenda to rethink the purpose of doctoral manpower cultivation in Taiwan over the long run.

Feature extraction is often applied for dimensionality reduction in hyperspectral data classification problems to mitigate the Hughes phenomenon. Some studies had proven that nonparametric weighted feature extraction (NWFE) is a powerful tool to extract well-described features for classification. NWFE concentrates only on the separability of spectral data, however, in many remotely sensed images, objects on the ground are much greater than one pixel. Hence, neighboring pixels are more likely to belong to the same class and form a homogeneous region. We present a scheme to fuse spatial information into NWFE, and from the real data experiments, we can find the proposed method outperforms the original NWFE.