Embodiment as a means for scaffolding young childrenʼs social skill acquisition

In this paper, we discuss the notion of embodiment in the context of the ECHOES project, which aims at developing a multi-modal interactive environment for scaffolding young typically developing (TD) children and children with Asperger Syndrome (AS) in acquiring social interaction skills. Whilst, our approach to embodiment is in line with the current HCI trends, the pedagogical nature of ECHOES and the specific target users pose unusual challenges to the design and implementation of embodied interaction

Intellectual Property Rights in Malaysia

In the light of Malaysia's determination to move into the Information Age by the turn of the century, mainly through the development of the Multimedia Super Corridor, it is important to evaluate the role of the Intellectual Property Rights in Malaysia. This paper, therefore,traces the development of laws in respect of Intellectual Property Rights in Malaysia and the problem faced in ensuring that the conflicting interests in the free flow of information and the need for protection of individual proprietary rights are balanced. The objective of the study is to examine the ways and means used for striking a balance between free flow of information and the protection of individual rights. The methodology adopted is exploratory and comparative. It is exploratory owing to the novelty of the subject matter and comparative as the experiences of advanced nations in this field are drawn upon to enable an appropriate model to be developed for Malaysia. As Intellectual Property Rights are related to information technology, which is charactarised by change and challenge, the issues involved, like those inherent in the Internet and the place of the consumer in these Rights, are noted. Overall, the observance of Intellectual Property Rights is expected to provide Malaysia with an edge in the competitive world of international trade and move Malaysian economy to a service orientated one through the Multimedia Super Corridor. In addition, the promotion of Intellectual Property Rights and the development of the Multimedia Super Corridor signals the move towards an immersion into information technology to stay abrest/ahead of developments in the fast approaching process of globalisation

Matter wave switching in Bose-Einstein condensates via intensity redistribution soliton interactions

Using time dependent nonlinear (s-wave scattering length) coupling between the components of a weakly interacting two component Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), we show the possibility of matter wave switching (fraction of atoms transfer) between the components via shape changing/intensity redistribution (matter redistribution) soliton interactions. We investigate the exact bright-bright N-soliton solution of an effective one-dimensional (1D) two component BEC by suitably tailoring the trap potential, atomic scattering length and atom gain or loss. In particular, we show that the effective 1D coupled Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equations with time dependent parameters can be transformed into the well known completely integrable Manakov model described by coupled nonlinear Schr\"odinger (CNLS) equations by effecting a change of variables of the coordinates and the wave functions under certain conditions related to the time dependent parameters. We obtain the one-soliton solution and demonstrate the shape changing/matter redistribution interactions of two and three soliton solutions for the time independent expulsive harmonic trap potential, periodically modulated harmonic trap potential and kink-like modulated harmonic trap potential. The standard elastic collision of solitons occur only for a specific choice of soliton parameters.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figures, 1 tabl

Change in the room temperature magnetic property of ZnO upon Mn doping

We present in this paper the changes in the room temperature magnetic property of ZnO on Mn doping prepared using solvo-thermal process. The zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetisation of undoped ZnO showed bifurcation and magnetic hysteresis at room temperature. Upon Mn doping the magnetic hysteresis at room temperature and the bifurcation in ZFC-FC magnetization vanishes. The results seem to indicate that undoped ZnO is ferromagnetic while on the other hand the Mn doped ZnO is not a ferromagnetic system. We observe that on addition of Mn atoms the system shows antiferromagnetism with very giant magnetic moments.Comment: 5 figure

Anesthetizing the Fibrillating Heart.

See Article Lee et al

Studies on species of Halimeda from Lakshadweep

Four Species of Halimeda viz. H. incrassata, H. opuntia. H simulans and H taenicola collected from Lakshadweep islands are described in detail

Plants used as Medicine by Paliyar Tribes of Shenbagathope in Virudhunagar District of Tamilnadu, India

The traditional medicinal uses of 58 angiospermic plant species belonging to 54 genera of 31 families for various diseases and ailments like wounds, cuts, stomach pain, diabetes, fever, cold, poisonous bites etc., by the Paliyar tribes of Shenbagathope in Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu, India, are mentioned. Generally, fresh part of the plant is used for the preparation of medicine. When fresh plant parts are not available, dried parts are also used. Attention should be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these ethnomedicinally important plant species

Ethnomedicinal Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Diabetes and Jaundice Among the Villagers of Sivagangai District, Tamilnadu

The present study revealed that totally 12 and 10 modes of treatment were followed by the rural people of Sivagangai district to cure diabetes and jaundice respectively. The rural people of the study area were used 17 plants for diabetes and 12 for jaundice. Among them, 6 plants viz., Azadirachta indica, Carum nothum, Cynodon dactylon, Lablab purpureus, Momordica charantia and Phyllanthus amarus were used to cure both diabetes and jaundice. The plants were used either separately or in combination with other plants. These ethnomedicinal data may provide a base to start the search the new compounds related to phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacognosy. Attention should also be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinal plants