University of Bolton

About: University of Bolton is a education organization based out in Bolton, Manchester, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Fire retardant & Higher education. The organization has 886 authors who have published 1980 publications receiving 41597 citations. The organization is also known as: Bolton Institute of Higher Education & Bolton Institute.

Virtual Worlds, Standards and Interoperability

Abstract: It is well documented that virtual worlds today are applied in both educational and commercial teaching and learning contexts. Where virtual worlds were once the reserve of entertainment, they have now taken on a variety of roles as platforms for business meetings, simulation, and training and education. In this context, the integration and interoperability with both online and offline resources and technologies is important. In this paper, the authors review progress toward increased integration and interoperability from the first virtual world games to today's virtual world platforms. This paper highlights opportunities that will arise from further improvements in the ability to create virtual world platforms, content and activities that are truly interoperable, as well as more significant challenges along the way.

Light‐Induced Ion Rectification in Zigzag Nanochannels

Abstract: Ion transport through nanoporous systems has attracted broad interest due to its crucial role in physiological processes in living organisms and artificial bionic devices. In this work, a nanochannel system with a zigzag inner surface was fabricated by using a two-step anodizing technique. The rectification performance of the zigzag channels was observed by I-V measurement in KCl solution. Unlike channels with asymmetric geometry, the mechanism was analyzed based on the "point effect" of charge distribution and "shape effect" of the zigzag channel. The current rectification ratio decreases from nearly 3.0 to 1.0 when the KCl concentration increased from 0.1 mM to 100 mM. The fabrication of different nanopore systems and exploration of novel mechanisms will help to develop biomimetic membranes for practical applications.

Auxetic Cellular Materials and Structures

Abstract: Auxetic materials and structures exhibit the very unusual property of becoming wider when stretched and narrower when squashed (i.e. they have a negative ‘Poisson’s ratio’). This property results in many beneficial effects in the characteristics of the system that make auxetics superior to conventional systems in many practical and high tech applications, including aeronautics where, for example, auxetics are being proposed as potential components for the production of better quality lifting devices such as helicopter rotor blades or airplane wings. This work reviews and discusses the behaviour of known and novel cellular systems, which exhibit this unusual but highly desirable property.Copyright © 2005 by ASME

Presence in social networks

Abstract: This chapter describes the mechanisms of presence in social networks and presents an ontology that frames the purpose, content, methods of production and methods of consuming presence information. The concept of presence in social networks has been steadily evolving along with the Internet. Recognised as an essential feature of all instant messaging services from the IRC onwards, mechanisms for constructing and consuming presence information have become more elaborate, with the addition of more sophisticated mechanisms for producing, consuming and representing presence. A model for systems that offer presence services is developed, and this enables a number of future trends to be identified.