bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of cricoid pressure application by emergency department staff
Authors: Clark Rachel K , Trethewy Christopher E
Published: August 2005

Objective:  To assess the accuracy of cricoid force applied by ED staff working in two hospitals based on the New South Wales central coast.

Methods:  A prospective, observational study of 38 doctors and 69 nurses working in the ED. Each staff member was asked to demonstrate cricoid pressure using a model based on a set of weighing scales. Five attempts were measured and a mean value calculated for each participant. Subgroup analysis was also performed for specific variables of interest.

Results:  Twenty‐seven (25%) participants applied the target cricoid force. Of the 80 participants who were outside of the target range, 50 (63%) applied less than the target range and 30 (37%) applied more than the target range. No statistically significant difference was demonstrated for sex, age, qualification or years of experience and the ability to apply cricoid force within the target range.

More candidates (27) applied the target range than those who correctly identified it (12). When methods of instruction were compared there was no difference between candidates with one and more than one modality of instruction (t‐test: t (105) = −0.09, P = 0.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]−0.66–0.6) and the mean cricoid force applied. Those who had greater than one form of instruction applied correct cricoid force at the target range more often than those who had received only one form of instruction, this result was significant. (χ2 = 4.24, d.f. = 1, P = 0.04; odds ratio = 2.6; 95% CI 1.03–6.41).

Conclusion:  The application of cricoid force by ED staff participating in the present study is unreliable, often providing inadequate protection against regurgitation. Training using a model integrating the concept of force is recommended. The role of cricoid pressure in rapid sequence induction needs to be further investigated.
Equitable emergency access: Rhetoric or reality?
Authors: Kennedy Marcus
Published: August 2005

The present paper is based on an address given at the Australian Financial Review Health Congress in February, 2005. Let's start with the underlying premise that patients have a valid right to fair and just access to emergency care. Fairness and justice are concepts more comfortably placed within legal and sociological settings than within health. They refer to our ability to deliver care without bias or favour. Our college has published a statement asserting patients’ right to appropriate access (Patients’ Right to Access Emergency Department Care. ACEM Policy Statement P31, March 2004). The other underlying premise in this discussion is that this issue of equity of access actually matters. It may be of significance at a moral level, at a relative resource consumption level, at the level of occupation of system capacity, or at the level of clinical outcomes for individual patients.
Thyrotoxic, hypokalaemic periodic paralysis
Authors: Gillett Melissa J
Published: August 2005

Thyrotoxic, hypokalaemic periodic paralysis is an uncommon, potentially life‐threatening endocrine emergency. Because of the acute onset of neurological symptoms patients often initially present to hospital ED. To reduce patient morbidity and costs of unnecessary investigations, early recognition and appropriate treatment is required. The case of a young man of Singaporean origin is presented to highlight current treatment, management and pathophysiology of this condition.
Mathematical Model and Surface Deviation of Cylindrical Gears With Curvilinear Shaped Teeth Cut by a Hob Cutter
Authors: Tseng Jui-Tang , Tsay Chung-Biau
Published: August 2005

The generating motion of a cylindrical gear with curvilinear shaped teeth cut by a CNC hobbing machine is proposed. On the basis of the cutting mechanism and the gear theory, the surface equation of this type of gear is developed as a function of hob cutter design parameters. Computer graphs of the curvilinear-tooth gear are presented based on the developed gear’s mathematical model, and the tooth surface deviations due to machine-tool settings with nominal radius of circular tooth traces are also investigated.
First-Order Approximation Methods in Reliability-Based Design Optimization
Authors: Chiralaksanakul Anukal , Mahadevan Sankaran
Published: August 2005

Efficiency of reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) methods is a critical criterion as to whether they are viable for real-world problems. Early RBDO methods are thus based primarily on the first-order reliability method (FORM) due to its efficiency. Recently, several first-order RBDO methods have been proposed, and their efficiency is significantly improved through problem reformulation and/or the use of inverse FORM. Our goal is to present these RBDO methods from a mathematical optimization perspective by formalizing FORM, inverse FORM, and associated RBDO reformulations. Through the formalization, their relationships are revealed. Using reported numerical studies, we discuss their numerical efficiency, convergence, and accuracy.
Atmospheric pressure operation of a field emission diode based on self-assembled silicon nanostructures
Authors: Lu C.-T. , Johnson S. , Lansley S. P. , Blaikie R. J. , Markwitz A.
Published: August 2005

We report on the field emission from self-assembled silicon nanostructures fabricated on n-type silicon (100) substrates using electron beam annealing. Arrays of nanostructures with an average height of 8nm were formed by substrate annealing at 1100°C for 15s. Simple field emission diode structures were fabricated using these nanostructured silicon substrates as cathodes separated from an aluminium anode by a 1μm thick layer of photoresist. The dielectric leakage current was less than 0.4nA which was found to be a negligible component of the field emitted current flowing through the diode. Following conditioning, the Si nanostructure field emission characteristics become stable and reproducible with Fowler–Nordheim tunneling occurring for fields as low as 3.2Vμm−1. At higher fields, current saturation effects are observed with current-field characteristics typical of space charge limited conduction. The low voltage operation of this device results in suppression of ionizing electron–molecule collisions and the diode has thus been shown to work well at atmospheric pressure.
Patterned growth of self-assembled silicon nanostructures by ion implantation and electron beam annealing
Authors: Johnson S. , Markwitz A. , Rudolphi M. , Baumann H.
Published: August 2005

This paper discusses the suppression of self-assembled silicon nanostructure growth through high fluence ion implantation. The nanofabrication procedure involves annealing of untreated Si(100) substrates at 1100°C for 15s using a raster scanned 20keV electron beam. Nanostructuring occurs as a result of kinetic amplification of the surface disorder induced by thermal decomposition of the native oxide. Radiation induced disorder of the Si substrate prior to annealing by ion-implantation modifies the potential energy surface and thus the growth of self-assembled nanostructures. Highly disordered Si(100) surfaces produced by high fluence implantation with nitrogen and silicon ions are shown to completely suppress nanostructure growth. Exploiting this phenomenon we have demonstrated selective area nanostructure growth in microscale regions.
Porosity-induced effects during C4F8∕90% Ar plasma etching of silica-based ultralow-k dielectrics
Authors: Lazzeri P. , Hua X. , Oehrlein G. S. , Barozzi M. , Iacob E. , Anderle M.
Published: August 2005

We describe time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), depth profiling, and atomic force microscopy studies of nanoporous silica (NPS) ultralow-k (ULK) dielectric films after C4F8∕90% Ar plasma etching. The goal of this work was to establish the role of materials chemistry and porosity on determining the character of plasma/material interactions. To this end, NPS materials with overall porosity ranging from 15% up to 50% were used. For comparison, identical studies were performed on organosilicate glass (OSG, porosity ≈7%) and SiO2. The etching time of the samples varied between 0 and 30 s. Our work clearly shows two distinct regimes of plasma/nanoporous material interactions: fluorinated compounds are formed upon the reaction of the plasma species with the NPS dielectrics, resulting in severe chemical changes of the pristine materials and causing an almost constant distribution of fluorine throughout the entire residual low-k layer. Surface roughness is also introduced as a function of the etching time, with the final morphology strongly increasing with NPS porosity. On the other hand, no surface roughness develops on OSG and SiO2 even after prolonged plasma treatments. No compounds directly related to the chemical modification of these dielectrics are observed while the deposition of a surface layer of fluorocarbon species characterizes the etching regime. The in-depth distribution of fluorine in SiO2 is restricted to the very near-surface region. F is present throughout the whole residual layer in OSG but its concentration is lower than in NPS bulk. Our results suggest a model where the overall porosity of the dielectric plays a dominant role in controlling the plasma/ULK surface interaction. Porosity influences the surface coverage of fluorocarbon compounds. This in turn affects the interaction of the plasma species with the dielectrics, and results in chemical modifications and surface coarsening of the materials. The threshold in the onset of the two interaction regimes is established for porosity values around 10%. It is possible that this porosity threshold signifies the onset of pore interconnectivity (open pores), which becomes important for the higher porosity values.
Deposition of gold nanofeatures on silicon samples by field-induced deposition using a scanning tunneling microscope
Authors: Abed H. , Jamgotchian H. , Dallaporta H. , Gely B. , Bindzi P. , Chatain D. , Nitsche S. , Chaudanson D. , Cambril E. , Safarov V. , Tonneau D.
Published: August 2005

Gold islands of diameter as small as 15 nm and 6 nm high were deposited on a standard silicon (100) surface by field-induced deposition using a scanning tunneling microscope operating with Pt or W tips coated by a gold film. Gold atoms are transferred by applying to the sample negative voltage pulses of few volts in magnitude, and of some tens of microseconds in duration. The scanning tunneling microscope tip morphology and composition have been analyzed systematically by field-emission gun scanning electron microscope plus energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) microanalysis before and after its use for lithography. The deposits composition have also been analyzed by EDX. Finally, preliminary results on trials of direct bonding of microscopic contact leads are presented.
Effect of plasma treatments on a low-k dielectric polymer surface
Authors: Hoyas A. Martin , Schuhmacher J. , Whelan C. M. , Baklanov M. R. , Carbonell L. , Celis J. P. , Maex K.
Published: August 2005

The ongoing transition to lower dimension devices requires the replacement of SiO2 by a lower-k dielectric insulator. Such materials are porous, introducing the need for sealing against penetration of gaseous and/or liquid species during subsequent processing. In this work, we investigate the effect of different plasma treatments on a porous low-k polymer film. Ion bombardment induces the formation of a dense surface layer capable of sealing the polymer. A competing etching reaction by the plasma gases determines the extent of the densified layer. Structural and chemical changes induced by the plasma treatments can extend into the bulk of the film and irreversibly change its properties. Exposing the plasma treated films to chemical precursors during an atomic layer deposition process is used to test sealing. The sealing behavior is discussed in view of the reactivity of the plasma and the post sealing temperature treatment.
Growth of β-SiC nanowires and thin films by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using dichloromethylvinylsilane
Authors: Kang B.-C. , Lee S.-B. , Boo J.-H.
Published: August 2005

We deposited β-SiC thin films and β-SiC nanowires by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on bare Si(100) and Ni-coated Si(100) substrates using dichloromethylvinylsilane [CH2CHSi(CH3)Cl2] as a single molecular precursor. Deposition pressures and temperatures were about 50 mTorr and 800–1200 °C, respectively, and deposition durations were 0.5–2 h. Nickel plays an important role as a catalyst in growing β-SiC nanowires. As-deposited zinc-blende SiC thin films and nanowires were grown separately. Initial growth rates are strongly dependent on deposition temperature. TEM analysis showed that the as-deposited β-SiC nanowires are wrapped with very thin amorphous carbon layers, have a [111] growth direction with well-crystallized structure, and modulated diameters. XPS and EDX analyses show that the Si:C compositions are about 1.0:1.2, suggesting possible applications to both field emitters and electronic devices.
Fabrication and mechanism of relaxed SiGe-on-insulator by modified Ge condensation
Authors: Di Zengfeng , Zhang Miao , Liu Weili , Luo Suhua , Song Zhitang , Lin Chenglu , Huang Anping , Chu Paul K.
Published: August 2005

We have developed a modified technique to fabricate silicon–germanium on insulator (SGOI) starting with a sandwiched structure of Si∕SiGe∕Si. By means of oxidation and annealing, relaxed SiGe-on-insulator (SGOI) with a Ge fraction of 34% has been produced. Our results indicate that oxidation of the silicon cap suppresses Ge loss at the initial stage of the SiGe oxidation and the subsequent annealing process homogenizes the Ge fraction and also reduces Ge enrichment under the oxide. It is found that the strain in the SiGe layer is almost fully relaxed at high oxidation temperature (∼1150°C) without generating any dislocations and crosshatch patterns that are commonly observed on the surface of a relaxed or partially relaxed SiGe layer on bulk Si substrate.
High-rate and low-temperature synthesis of TiO2, TiN, and TiO2∕TiN∕TiO2 thin films and study of their optical and interfacial characteristics
Authors: Jung Min Jae , Lee Ho Young , Han Jeon G. , Jung Chung-K. , Moon Jong-S. , Boo Jin-Hyo
Published: August 2005

Using a newly developed pulsed dc sputtering source with unbalanced magnetrons, we deposited advanced inorganic functional thin films such as TiO2, TiN, and TiO2∕TiN∕TiO2 on glass at 200°C at rates 3 to 4 times greater than those deposited by conventional dc sputtering. The TiO2(101) and TiN(100) thin films were stoichiometric and polycrystalline but highly oriented. The TiO2 films showed high transmittances (90%) in the visible range. The TiN films showed very high reflectances (70%) in the infrared region. However, both transmittance and reflectance are strongly influenced by the thickness and surface roughness. Multilayer films of TiO2∕TiN∕TiO2 were also deposited on glass, and exhibited good optical properties. The best transmittances (85%) and reflectances (80%) were obtained with a thin film with TiO2(370nm)∕TiN(22nm)∕TiO2(450nm)∕glass structure. The high IR reflectance suggests the as-grown multilayer film can be used as a heat mirror.
Optical waveguide loss induced by metal cladding
Authors: Lin Jie , Leven Andreas , Reyes R. , Chen Y. K. , Choa Fow-sen
Published: August 2005

Optical waveguides with metal cladding are important for a number of applications. However, metal cladding causes undesirable optical waveguide loss. In this work, the influence of high temperature process and different metals (Ti, NiCr, Cr) on waveguide loss is examined. Cr turns out to be the best candidate metal to deliver reasonable waveguide loss for more than 30min heat-treating temperatures up to 250°C.
Growth and magnetic properties of self-assembled (In, Mn)As quantum dots
Authors: Chen Y. F. , Lee W. N. , Huang J. H. , Chin T. S. , Huang R. T. , Chen F. R. , Kai J. J. , Aravind K. , Lin I. N. , Ku H. C.
Published: August 2005

Self-assembled In0.79Mn0.21As quantum dots were successfully grown on GaAs (001) substrates by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy. Atomic force microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirm the formation of quantum dots. High-resolution lattice image suggests that In0.79Mn0.21As dots are single phase with zinc-blend structure. The dots exhibit typical ferromagnetic state at 5K and demonstrate a Curie temperature of ∼290K which is much higher than those of (In, Mn)As diluted magnetic semiconductor alloys ever reported. The significant increase in Curie temperature can be attributed to the much higher Mn content in the dots, and the possible enhancement of the hybridization strength between the quantum-confined holes in the dots and the itinerant holes in the semiconductor valence band.
Thermal stability of nitrogen in WNx barriers applied to polymetal gates
Authors: Yamamoto Naoki , Hanaoka Yuko , Yoshida Takehiko
Published: August 2005

A polymetal gate needs a thin barrier layer for avoiding reactions between the metal layer and the polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) layer. A tungsten nitride (WNx) barrier is better than a titanium nitride (TiNx) barrier from the viewpoint of thermal resistance to the wet hydrogen oxidizing process in H2O+H2 atmosphere. This oxidizing process is used to recover the integrity of the SiO2 gate oxide film of a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, whose electrical characteristics such as breakdown voltage are degraded by the dry etching process for patterning the gate electrode. Nitrogen in WNx barriers formed in N2+Ar using sputtering equipment moves to the surface and the interface with the poly-Si layer in the stacked structure during high-temperature device fabrication processes. As a result, the WNx layer changes into a W layer. We developed a technology for retaining nitrogen in the tungsten nitride barrier layers. The key is that at above 400°C, a WNx layer is formed on the sample when the flowing ratio of N2∕Ar gases into the sputtering chamber is above 0.4.
A pilot study of the quality of informed consent materials for Aboriginal participants in clinical trials
Authors: Russell F M , Carapetis J R , Liddle H , Edwards T , Ruff T A , Devitt J
Published: August 2005

Objective:To pilot informed consent materials developed for Aboriginal parents in a vaccine trial, and evaluate their design and the informed consent process.

Methods:Cross sectional quantitative and qualitative survey of 20 Aboriginal and 20 non-Aboriginal women in Alice Springs. Information about the proposed research was presented to Aboriginal participants by an Aboriginal researcher, using purpose designed verbal, visual, and written materials. Non-Aboriginal participants received standard materials developed by the sponsor. Questionnaires were used to evaluate recall and understanding immediately and five days later. Qualitative analysis of Aboriginal participants’ interviews was performed.

Results:There were no differences between the groups in understanding of diseases prevented by the vaccine, the potential risks of participating, or the voluntary nature of participation. Most Aboriginal participants had difficulty with the concept of a “licensed” versus “unlicensed” vaccine. The non-Aboriginal group had a good understanding of this. Aboriginal participants identified the use of the flipchart, along with a presentation by a doctor and Aboriginal health worker, as preferred delivery modes. Group presentations were preferred rather than one-on-one discussions. The use of the questionnaire posed considerable methodological difficulties.

Conclusions:A one-off oral presentation to Aboriginal participants is unlikely to produce “informed consent”. Key but unfamiliar concepts require identification and particularly considered presentation.
Disclosure preferences regarding cancer diagnosis and prognosis: to tell or not to tell?
Authors: Miyata H , Takahashi M , Saito T , Tachimori H , Kai I
Published: August 2005

Telling people that they have cancer has a great impact on their lives, so many doctors are concerned about how they should inform patients about a cancer diagnosis and its prognosis. We conducted a general population survey in Japan to investigate people’s preferences on receiving this information. There were no significant differences in respondents’ preferences according to the seriousness of the cancer. Full disclosure of the diagnosis was preferred by 86.1% of the respondents, while 2.7% wanted non-disclosure. As for the initial provision of information, the majority preferred partial disclosure concerning the prospects of complete recovery (64.5%) and the expected length of survival (64.1%). Those who responded negatively to the statement, “If I am close to the end of my life, I want to be informed of the fact so I can choose my own way of life”, were more likely to want non-disclosure on diagnosis. The results suggest that, at the first opportunity of providing information, a disclosure policy of giving patients full details of their diagnosis and some information on prognosis can satisfy the preferences of most patients. Contrary to popular belief, the seriousness of the cancer and people’s demographic characteristics displayed little impact in this study.
Responsibility in health care: a liberal egalitarian approach: Table 1
Authors: Cappelen A W , Norheim O F
Published: August 2005

Lifestyle diseases constitute an increasing proportion of health problems and this trend is likely to continue. A better understanding of the responsibility argument is important for the assessment of policies aimed at meeting this challenge. Holding individuals accountable for their choices in the context of health care is, however, controversial. There are powerful arguments both for and against such policies. In this article the main arguments for and the traditional arguments against the use of individual responsibility as a criterion for the distribution of scarce health resources will be briefly outlined. It is argued that one of the most prominent contemporary normative traditions, liberal egalitarianism, presents a way of holding individuals accountable for their choices that avoids most of the problems pointed out by the critics. The aim of the article is to propose a plausible interpretation of liberal egalitarianism with respect to responsibility and health care and assess it against reasonable counter-arguments.
The reform of UK research ethics committees: throwing the baby out with the bath water?
Authors: Kerrison S , Pollock A M
Published: August 2005

On 1 May 2004 research ethics committees became legally accountable to a new government body, the United Kingdom Ethics Committee Authority. This marks the end of the self regulation of research ethics. This paper describes how this change in research ethics committee status has come about and explores the implications for research subjects, researchers, institutions, and for regulation of research.
STEADY STOKES FLOWS WITH THRESHOLD SLIP BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: LE ROUX C.
Published: August 2005

We prove the existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence on the data of weak solutions to boundary-value problems that model steady flows of incompressible Newtonian fluids with wall slip in bounded domains. The flows satisfy the Stokes equations and a nonlinear slip boundary condition: for slip to occur, the magnitude of the tangential traction must exceed a prescribed threshold, which is independent of the normal stress, and where slip occurs the tangential traction is equal to a prescribed, possibly nonlinear, function of the slip velocity. In addition, a Dirichlet condition is imposed on a component of the boundary if the domain is rotationally symmetric. The method of proof is based on a variational inequality formulation of the problem and fixed point arguments which utilize wellposedness results for the Stokes problem with a slip condition of the "friction type".
THE IVP FOR THE SCHRÖDINGER–POISSON-Xα EQUATION IN ONE DIMENSION
Authors: STIMMING H. P.
Published: August 2005

The Schrödinger–Poisson-Xα equation is an effective one-particle approximation of a many-electron quantum system. In space dimension d<3, existence analysis for this equation is not contained in standard results for nonlinear Schrödinger equations. We obtain existence and uniqueness of the Cauchy problem in d = 1 using semigroup theory. Furthermore, we discuss the semiclassical limit.
A NEW APPROACH TO LINEAR SHELL THEORY
Authors: CIARLET PHILIPPE G. , GRATIE LILIANA
Published: August 2005

We propose a new approach to the existence theory for quadratic minimization problems that arise in linear shell theory. The novelty consists in considering the linearized change of metric and change of curvature tensors as the new unknowns, instead of the displacement vector field as is customary.

Such an approach naturally yields a constrained minimization problem, the constraints being ad hoc compatibility relations that these new unknowns must satisfy in order that they indeed correspond to a displacement vector field. Our major objective is thus to specify and justify such compatibility relations in appropriate function spaces. Interestingly, this result provides as a corollary a new proof of Korn's inequality on a surface. While the classical proof of this fundamental inequality essentially relies on a basic lemma of J. L. Lions, the keystone in the proposed approach is instead an appropriate weak version of a classical theorem of Poincaré.

The existence of a solution to the above constrained minimization problem is then established, also providing as a simple corollary a new existence proof for the original quadratic minimization problem.
RUNGE–KUTTA METHODS FOR RETARDED FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: MASET STEFANO , TORELLI LUCIO , VERMIGLIO ROSSANA
Published: August 2005

We introduce Runge–Kutta (RK) methods for Retarded Functional Differential Equations (RFDEs). With respect to RK methods (A, b, c) for Ordinary Differential Equations the weights vector b ∈ ℝs and the coefficients matrix A ∈ ℝs×s are replaced by ℝs-valued and ℝs×s-valued polynomial functions b(·) and A(·) respectively. Such methods for RFDEs are different from Continuous RK (CRK) methods where only the weights vector is replaced by a polynomial function. We develop order conditions and construct explicit methods up to the convergence order four.
Cache-conscious sorting of large sets of strings with dynamic tries
Authors: Sinha Ranjan , Zobel Justin
Published: August 2005

Ongoing changes in computer architecture are affecting the efficiency of string-sorting algorithms. The size of main memory in typical computers continues to grow but memory accesses require increasing numbers of instruction cycles, which is a problem for the most efficient of the existing string-sorting algorithms as they do not utilize cache well for large data sets. We propose a new sorting algorithm for strings, burstsort, based on dynamic construction of a compact trie in which strings are kept in buckets. It is simple, fast, and efficient. We experimentally explore key implementation options and compare burstsort to existing string-sorting algorithms on large and small sets of strings with a range of characteristics. These experiments show that, for large sets of strings, burstsort is almost twice as fast as any previous algorithm, primarily due to a lower rate of cache miss.
Welcome
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

Welcome to the third issue of the ACM Computers in Entertainment online magazine!In this exciting issue we present two interviews and eight articles on a diversity of entertainment technology topics including nomadic computing, digital cinema, Internet movie piracy, performing arts, animatronics, robotics, music, games, and interactive television. Enjoy!
Coming soon
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

RoBallet: Creativity Can Be Hard Fun

Contextual Information Access and Storytelling in Mixed Reality
Using Hypermedia

Affective Usability Evaluation for an Interactive Music
Television Channel

High Performance Data Recording Architecture and High
Definition Video

Java Game Server Technology

Jabber for Multiplayer Online Games

Mobile Digital Rights Management for Multimedia

Why We Play Games: Gaming Beyond Games

Creating Emotion in Games

and more...
The women's game conference
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

The Women's Game Conference focuses on women in the computer and video game industry. The conference will focus on a variety of women's topics in the computer and video game industry including examining career paths for women in the industry and issues related to working in the industry as women as well as how women are portrayed in games and women and girls as consumers of games.The Women's Game Conference runs concurrently with the Austin Game Conference September 9-10, 2004 at the Austin Convention Center and is open to anyone interested in the game industry and game development.
Interviews with Leonard Kleinrock
Authors: Kleinrock Leonard
Published: August 2005

Dr. Leonard Kleinrock created the basic principles of packet
switching, the technology underpinning the Internet, while a
graduate student at MIT. This was a decade before the birth of the
Internet which occurred when his host computer at UCLA became the
first node of the ARPANET in September 1969. He wrote the first
paper and published the first book on the subject; he also directed
the transmission of the first message ever to pass over the
Internet. Dr. Kleinrock was listed by the Los Angeles Times in 1999
as among the "50 People Who Most Influenced Business This Century."
Others listed include Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, the Wright brothers, Martin Luther King Jr.,
and Bill Gates. More information can be found at
http://www.lk.ucla.edu
Mixing dance realities
Authors: Meador W. Scott , Rogers Timothy J. , O'Neal Kevin , Kurt Eric , Cunningham Carol
Published: August 2005

An experimental dance performance featuring live-motion capture, real-time computer graphics, and multi-image projection was produced by a cross-departmental team of faculty and students at Purdue University. Dancers occupied and traversed performance mediums or "frames," including a virtual performance frame occupied by a 3D character, driven by a dancer in motion-capture equipment. Developing and facilitating the relationships between the dancers in various performance frames became a primary focus for the project, but other areas, e.g., creating an artistically sound and technologically seamless performance, helping the various team members collaborate, and exploring the nature of the technology, were important focus points as well.
A friendly face in robotics
Authors: Decuir John D. , Kozuki Todd , Matsuda Victor , Piazza Jon
Published: August 2005

We have developed a way to encourage schools and other institutions to introduce robotics to very young students in their core curriculum. Many schools are understandably nervous about bringing new technology, especially one perceived to be as complicated as robotics, into their classrooms. Our work involves using Sony's AIBO Entertainment Robot in a non-threatening and attractive way so that children can interact with it using two different approaches: a "storybook" program and a "listener" program.
Welcome
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

Welcome to the fourth issue of the ACM Computers in Entertainment online magazine!

In this exciting new issue, we publish six interesting papers on entertainment technologies from authors around the world including Greece, Malaysia, Portugal, UK, and USA. We also feature video interviews with our distinguished advisory board members Prof. Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, MIT Media Lab's Robotic Life Group, and MP3 inventor Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg, the Fraunhofer Institute.
Coming soon
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

High Resolution Live Streaming with the HYDRA Architecture

Technology Induced Change in Film/Television Distribution

Augmenting the Virtual Domain with Physical and Social Elements

The Soul of ActiveCube - Implementing a Flexible, Multimodal, Three-Dimensional Spatial Tangible Interface

High Performance Data Recording Architecture and High Definition Video

Jabber for Multiplayer Online Games

Mobile Digital Rights Management for Multimedia

Why We Play Games: Gaming Beyond Games

and more...
Samsung Electronics brings the world cyber games finals to the U.S. for the first time in 2004
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

More Than One Million Gamers Expected To Participate Worldwide

Finals of World's Top Digital Entertainment Event To Be Held This October in San Francisco

First Online Qualifying Events In U.S. and Canada "Go Live" May 15

Los Angeles, CA -- San Francisco will be the world's Cyber capital this coming October when Samsung Electronics, a global digital entertainment leader, brings the World Cyber Games (WCG) Grand Final to the U.S. for the first time. The tournament, which has grown into the greatest global festival for gamers and digital entertainment culture, will allow 700 of the world's best gamers from 60 countries to compete for the #1 position at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, October 4-10. The announcement was made at the E3 show in Los Angeles. In addition to holding the finals in the U.S., the World Cyber Games 2004 and Samsung are giving more gamers than ever a chance to win $400,000 in prizes via the Internet. For the first time ever, beginning May 15, 2004, an extensive roster of WCG online qualifier events will be held in the U.S. and Canada each month through August. Online competition will include four world renowned games -- Half-Life: Counter-Strike (team-based), Unreal Tournament 2004, Starcraft: Brood War, and Warcraft III: Frozen Throne - and the top 2 players or teams in each game in each country advance directly to the WCG 2004 USA Final and WCG 2004 Canada Final. Casual gamers can also join in the excitement by logging on to play special Samsung-developed Flash games.
Interviews with Cynthia Breazeal
Authors: Breazeal Cynthia
Published: August 2005

Interviews with Cynthia Breazeal and Karlheinz Brandenburg—September 10, 2003 and July 22, 2004

Prof. Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, Director of the Robotic Life Group at the MIT Media Lab, and Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg, inventor of MP3, have graciously appeared on camera for interviews and joined the ACM Computers in Entertainment magazine's editorial board. Cynthia and Karlheinz are two of the nicest people to talk to and work with. Cynthia talks about her sociable robot Kismet, her role in Steven Spielberg's movie "Artificial Intelligence: AI," and the future of robotics. Karlheinz shares with us the history of MP3, the new spatial audio technology called Wave Field Synthesis, and other fascinating research at the Fraunhofer Institute. The video clips of the interviews are available at http://www.acm.org/pubs/cie.html

Dr. Cynthia Breazeal directs the Robotic Life Group at the MIT Media Lab. She is internationally known for seamlessly blending scientific theories, artistic insights, and engineering principles to create compelling robotic creatures that have a lively and compelling social presence to those who interact with them. Her current research extends these themes in the area of human-robot relations to create cooperative and capable robots that can work and learn in partnership with people. Her research program strives to revolutionize the art and science of human-robot interaction and cooperation - to develop robots that engage us as helpful partners that will ultimately play an valuable, rewarding, and unprecedented role in the everyday lives or ordinary people. More information can be found at http://web.media.mit.edu/~cynthiab/

Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg manages The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology founded in January 2004. He is well known for his work on digital audio coding and perceptual measurement techniques. He received the German Future Award for the development and commercialization of the MP3 music format at the Erlangen based Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits together with his colleagues Harald Popp and Bernhard Grill in 2000. He is also a full professor and the director of the Institute for Media Technology at Ilmenau Technical University. His current research includes the IOSONO Wave Field Synthesis, audio metadata technologies, and audio applications for specific technological demands. More information can be found at http://www.idmt.fraunhofer.de/presse/textarchiv/vita_brandenburg.pdf
Information flow in hybrid systems
Authors: Lanotte Ruggero , Maggiolo-Schettini Andrea , Tini Simone
Published: August 2005

Our aim is to study the information flow problem in hybrid systems, namely systems consisting of a discrete program with an analog environment. Information flows compromise the security of a system because they cause leakage of protected information. In order to tackle information flow in real-life systems, we introduce new classes of hybrid systems that extend the known ones while preserving their properties. Then, we define a logic to specify information flow. By means of some examples, we show that, by this logic, we are able to express information flows in hybrid systems and to certify that some suspect behaviors of these systems do not give rise to any information flow. We give a model checking procedure for our logic, and we prove that it gives a correct answer whenever it terminates. Moreover, for a particular class of hybrid systems, we give a version of the procedure that always terminates.
Welcome
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

Welcome to the first anniversary issue of the ACM Computers in Entertainment! It has been a year since the magazine was launched in October 2003.

In this anniversary issue we publish eight interesting papers on entertainment technologies, including games, audio media, user interface, live HD media streaming, and digital cinema. We also feature video interviews with two of our distinguished advisory board members, John Gage and Tomlinson Holman. John Gage, chief researcher and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, talks about the volunteer project NetDay, the wireless and broadband Internet, digital media, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Tom Holman, creator of the THX sound system and professor at USC, speaks of the history of THX, the 10.2 channel sound system, multichannel music, and digital cinema.
Call for papers
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

The ACM Computers in Entertainment online magazine (http://www.acmcie.org) covers a wide range of theoretical and practical computer applications in the field of entertainment. It features video interviews of leading professionals. It publishes high-quality papers on the latest development in software, hardware, and business policies that improve existing mainstream entertainment and that create new genres of entertainment. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: animation, animatronics, digital asset management, digital cinema, digital rights management, games, interactive television, Internet, movies, music, performing arts, robotics, toys, and virtual reality. The magazine welcomes submissions of articles from scholars and professionals involved in all aspects of entertainment technology.

GUIDELINE FOR AUTHORS

Papers should be submitted to the editor-in-chief via email, preferably in MS Word or PDF format. Rich media such as MP3, QuickTime, and Flash movies are also acceptable. Manuscripts should contain no more than 10,000 words. Submissions should include the paper title, abstract, keywords, classification (www.acm.org/class/1998/overview.html), name of authors, their affiliation, email, and postal address.
Hidden agenda year 2 launches
Authors: Davis Lauren
Published: August 2005

I'm very excited to announce Year 2 of the Hidden Agenda College Video Game Development Contest! Thanks to all of you for your continued interest in the project.

Attached is a link to the latest contest press release: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/?epi_menuItemID=8529ea2ad8631dcd3bb97904c6908a0c&epi_menuID=887566059a3aedb6efaaa9e27a808a0c&epi_baseMenuID=384979e8cc48c441ef0130f5c6908a0c&ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20040831005459

With a successful first year under our belt, we have even higher hopes for this year -- I'd especially love to see MORE FACULTY INVOLVED, encouraging their students to enter the contest for credit or as a resume builder and networking tool. I'd also love to see MORE SCHOOLS INVOLVED -- especially those with specialized game development curriculum!

Please forward information about the contest to any faculty, students, message boards, listserves & organizations that may be interested. As a nonprofit foundation, these are our best marketing tools.

If anyone has questions about the project, I'd be happy to discuss with them directly. As well, I can connect them with students and advisors who participated in last year's successful inaugural event.

Thank you so much for your continued support -- we couldn't do it without you!

Best,

Lauren Davis Director,

Stealth Education

Liemandt Foundation
Khronos Developer University OpenGL ES 1.1 coding challenge
Authors: Lee Newton
Published: August 2005

Khronos is pleased to announce the launch of the OpenGL ES 1.1 Coding Challenge. The contest will run in conjunction with the Khronos Developer University events beginning in Helsinki on Sept 17, 2004. The purpose of the contest is to create a library of sample code and applications for hardware accelerated OpenGL ES games, demos and screensavers that make people stop and stare with their mouths wide open, asking "That's running on a cell phone!?"
Interview with John Gage
Authors: Gage John
Published: August 2005

Mr. John Gage is the Chief Researcher and Director of the Science Office, for Sun Microsystems. He was one of the founders of Sun, in 1982, when a group of students and professors from Stanford and UC Berkeley joined to create open systems in hardware and software. In 1995, John created NetDay, a volunteer project to bring the resources of world high-technology companies to all schools and libraries to connect them to the Internet. Since then over 500,000 volunteers have wired over 50,000 schools and libraries in the United States. John has served on the Boards of Trustees of the United States National Library of Medicine, FermiLabs, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, NetDay, Schools OnLine, United States National Research Council, the Internet Society (ISOC) and other scientific and educational groups. He serves on the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security, the Board of Advisors of the United States Institute of Peace, the National Academy of Sciences, and the International Advisory Board of the Malaysian Multimedia Corridor. More information can be found at http://www.johngage.com/ and http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/media/bios/bios-gage.html.
Interviews with Tomlinson Holman
Authors: Holman Tomlinson
Published: August 2005

Winner of the 2001 Academy Award for Scientific and Technical
Achievement, Mr. Tomlinson Holman is Professor of Film Sound at the
USC School of Cinema-Television and a Principal Investigator in the
Integrated Media Systems Center at the university. Tom was chief
electrical engineer at Advent Corporation, founded Apt Corporation,
maker of the Apt/Holman preamplifier, and was at Lucasfilm for 15
years where he developed the THX Sound System and its companions
the Theater Alignment Program, Home THX, and the THX Digital
Mastering program. He is founding editor of Surround Professional
magazine, and author of the books Sound for Film and Television and
5.1 Surround Sound Up and Running. He is an honorary member of the
Cinema Audio Society and the Motion Picture Sound Editors. He is a
fellow of the Audio Engineering Society, the British Kinematograph
Sound and Television Society, and the Society of Motion Picture and
Television Engineers. He is a member of the Acoustical Society of
America and the IEEE. He has lifetime or career achievement awards
from the CAS and the Custom Electronics Design and Installation
Association. Tom holds 7 U.S. and corresponding foreign patents
totaling 23, and they have been licensed to over 45 companies. More
information can be found at
http://www.tmhlabs.com/research/research.html
A look at Intel's research council funding in sensor networks for feature film production and interactive drama
Authors: Plautz Dana
Published: August 2005

Intel tackles a broad range of research initiatives worldwide with a decentralized R&D operation consisting of about 75 labs and more than 7000 researchers and scientists around the world. In addition, Intel conducts long-range exploratory research into emerging and disruptive technologies beyond the corporation's product road map. It funds special strategic research projects within the company, manages more than 300 individual academic research grants through the Research Council, and manages the Intel Research Network, a group of small research facilities adjacent to top universities where Intel encourages an open and deeply collaborative research environment. www.intel.com/research
Adapting motion capture data using weighted real-time inverse kinematics
Authors: Meredith Michael , Maddock Steve
Published: August 2005

In this article we present a technique that enhances an inverse kinematics (IK) solver such that when the results are applied to a computer character, we can generate a level of individualization tailored to both the character and the environment, e.g., a walking motion can become "stiffer" or can be turned into a limping motion. Since the technique is based on an IK solver, we also have the desirable effect of solving retargetting issues when mapping motion data between characters. As the individualization aspect of our technique is very tightly coupled with the inverse kinematics solver, we can achieve both the individualization and retargetting of characters in real time.
A highly configurable cache for low energy embedded systems
Authors: Zhang Chuanjun , Vahid Frank , Najjar Walid
Published: August 2005

Energy consumption is a major concern in many embedded computing systems. Several studies have shown that cache memories account for about 50% of the total energy consumed in these systems. The performance of a given cache architecture is determined, to a large degree, by the behavior of the application executing on the architecture. Desktop systems have to accommodate a very wide range of applications and therefore the cache architecture is usually set by the manufacturer as a best compromise given current applications, technology, and cost. Unlike desktop systems, embedded systems are designed to run a small range of well-defined applications. In this context, a cache architecture that is tuned for that narrow range of applications can have both increased performance as well as lower energy consumption. We introduce a novel cache architecture intended for embedded microprocessor platforms. The cache has three software-configurable parameters that can be tuned to particular applications. First, the cache's associativity can be configured to be direct-mapped, two-way, or four-way set-associative, using a novel technique we call way
concatenation
. Second, the cache's total size can be configured by shutting down ways. Finally, the cache's line size can be configured to have 16, 32, or 64 bytes. A study of 23 programs drawn from Powerstone, MediaBench, and Spec2000 benchmark suites shows that the configurable cache tuned to each program saved energy for every program compared to a conventional four-way set-associative cache as well as compared to a conventional direct-mapped cache, with an average savings of energy related to memory access of over 40%.