The Hague Fighting Crime with Science!

the // Issue 02 // Spring 2013

GlasgGow Insight inIto ScSience and TTechnology

CSI: The Hague Fighting crime with science!

Homeopathy // Emotional Recognition // The Glasgow Effect // Medical Reporting // INSIDE THE GIST TEAM GIST EDITORIAL MANAGING Alan Boyd & Adam Stock We made it! Thanks for picking up The GIST's sophomore issue, EDITORS once again bringing you the finest science writing this side of Falkirk. ASSISTANT Craig McInnes EDITOR WHAT NOW? WRITERS Paul McCool, Craig McInnes, Due to the work of science communicators, starting with Carl Johnny Stormonth Darling, Sagan in the 1970's, through the BBC's Horizon documentaries, the Emilie Steinmark, Timothy Naked Scientists, Brian Cox, Alice Roberts and Richard Dawkins to Revell, Robert Hallam, David name a few, scientific research (in the UK at least) has the public's Iain Houston, Felicity Carlysle, full attention. There are now no less than 10 student science Luke Dicken, Scott McKellar, magazines in the UK, with React (Newcastle), Spark (York) and Steven Davies, Victoria Smith, Synergy (Lancaster) all starting in the last year. Science blogs are Joy Leckie, Jenny Ferguson too numerous to count. My question is this: Now that we have the EDITORS Robert Hallam, Steven Davies, public's attention, what do we do with it? David Houston, Yulia Revina Journalism's highest moral function is to hold to account the LAYOUT Emilie Steinmark, Yulia Revina, industries and sectors it reports on. In this respect, a large amount Ryan Imrie & Johnny of science journalism has been 'soft' journalism, and with good Stormonth-Darling. reason, as simply taking academic papers and giving the non- expert reader the gist (sorry) of the work is important and difficult COPY- Sophie Brennan-Jones & to do well. You'll find some excellent examples of how to do it well in EDITORS Steven Davies this issue. However, we may now be in a position to show the public SNIPPETS Chris Brennan-Jones that science, like any other large industry, has its problems. We've EDITOR started with the quality of medical science reporting in this issue, ART Nijole Ukelyte but there are many other areas that require scrutiny. The recent EDITOR backlash against paying for publication is a good example and has thrown up older questions about the quality of the peer-review IMAGES Beverley Caie, Ailsa McCaffery, system itself. Far from weakening the standing of research in the Courtney Gunn, Emily Fountain, eyes of the public, a little bit of negative press might serve to pull Sanja Gjenero down the final vestiges of the ivory tower previously inhabited by // 00 scientific research. WEBSITE Steven Davies // Alan Boyd is a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Strathclyde. FINANCE David Iain Houston, Kirsten Findlay, Cornelia Eisenach SUPPORTED BY THE GIST NEEDS YOU!

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// 00 COVER ART by Nijole Ukelyte

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // INSIDE THE GIST CONTENTS

02 Craig McInnes and Scott McKellar take a fresh look at homeopathy and ask,"Why should we care?" // 02

05 David Iain Houston shines a light on Glasgow's shocking health record and explores a recently discovered phenomenon known as the 'Glasgow Effect'

08 Felicity Carlysle experiences a place where fact is cooler than fiction.

10 Paul McCool investigates advanced image processing techniques.

// 01 12

Tim Revell rediscovers some of the forgotten names associated with the world’s most famous equation.

14 Victoria Smith looks at the secret lives of spiders.

16 Luke Dicken discusses the work being undertaken by the Strathclyde Artificial Intelligence and Games research group to enhance our understanding of AI through games, as well as enhance our games through AI.

18 Emilie Steinmark looks at new research from the University of Glasgow looks into the development of emotion recognition from body language in children and adolescents.

21 It’s tricky to get science reporting correct. Why do we still see so many misleading headlines? Rob Hallam finds out. 20

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 Beverley Caie // HOMEOPATHY

HOMHOEMOEPOPAATTHHYHYOMEOPATHY HOMEOPHOAMETOPHATHHYHYOMOEMOPAETHOY PATHY

If you're reading this there is a reason that there are no side ibuprofen. Homeopathic tablets are reasonably good chance that, effects is because you are lucky if also available, but here just one having an interest in science, you there is any active ingredient drop of the homeopathic solution is think homeopathy is nonsensical whatsoever in the 'medicine'. added to a little ball of sugar, quackery peddled (mostly) by diminishing your chances even opportunists and charlatans. And Homeopaths believe that if a further of getting any of the active you’re right, it is. If the object of an substance causes an effect, then a ingredient. There is a good reason opinion-piece is to win the reader to small dose of that substance can why you cannot overdose on the writer’s point of view, then we cure an ailment with the symptoms homeopathic pills. The worst you have already succeeded. Hurrah. that match that effect. For example, are likely to get is a dental cavity. Strychnos Ignatia causes people to Unfortunately, writing critically suffer feelings of grief, so a small So, given that homeopathic about homeopathy has become dose of the Ignatia tree is remedies are a few gazillion something of a cliché because the apparently a cure for grief. This 'like molecules short of a medicine, how very nature of this "alternative cures like' argument sounds do homeopaths justify ripping medicine" is fundamentally plausible enough when you people off? Well, they use a highly laughable. So why are we consider vaccines, where a small scientific process called succussion bothering? Well firstly, we recently amount of a virus (or virus-like (invented by Samuel Hahnemann). attended a Glasgow Skeptics particle) is administered to allow After each dilution the homeopath 03 lecture by Kevin Smith, a senior your body to learn how to fight hits the mixture with an 'elastic // lecturer at Abertay University and a against it. Alas, that is where the body', often a book (fiction/non- renowned opponent of pseudo- similarity to conventional medicine fiction, all genres are acceptable), medicine, in which he galvanised ends. to imprint the 'memory' of the opinion within the room that homeopathic remedy into the homeopathy is at best amusing Homeopathic products are sold in surrounding water. Modern-day hokum and at worst dangerous, terms of their strength. Your local homeopaths still cite the theory deliberate misinformation. This homeopath will sell Ignatia, for from 1988 that water has a seemed like a good starting point instance, under a name like 'Ignatia memory of what has been in it for us to write a self-righteously 30C'. The word ‘Ignatia’ implies, before. Despite being roundly angry GIST article with all the raw unsurprisingly, that this ingredient debunked by the journal Nature[3], power of sugar pills and crystal is in the thing you are buying (a and despite a grand total of zero healing. Secondly, it seems that good start) and the '30C' term tells studies being able to provide homeopathy is still a thriving you the strength, or rather the lack evidence of water's memory, and business in the UK[1]. The NHS thereof. You may think 'the higher despite the fact that the notion is continues to fund homeopathic the number, the stronger the dose', just plain stupid, homeopaths remedies, including four but you would be wrong, worthless worldwide have kept calm and homeopathic hospitals, one of human! Take your logic elsewhere. carried on regardless in The Great which is in Glasgow. Public figures '30C' is a measure of dilution so the Dilution Swindle. such as The Prince of Wales, Nicola higher the number, the more diluted Sturgeon MSP and Jeremy Hunt MP the initial product is. In this case, it Our problem with homeopathy is have all given homeopathic care means that 1ml of the Ignatia not one that can be criticised as [2] extract (or 'active' compound) has being scientific elitism. This is their approval . These people really 54 should know better. been effectively diluted into 10 common sense elitism – an elite cubic metres of water. That's a cube that, frankly, everyone could easily Surprisingly, not many people know of water where each side is 106 be a part of. We live on a planet what homeopathy really is (not light years in length, which is bigger where the environment is governed enough people anyway). Sometimes than our solar system. This means by the hydrological system. Water billed as an alternative medicine, that a whole bottle of Ignatia 30C is evaporates continuously from the we would suggest that it is an statistically unlikely to contain even oceans, forms clouds, precipitates alternative in the same way that a one molecule of Ignatia extract, and as rain and makes its way into the crash mat is an alternative to a the higher the dilution, the less your water system until it eventually parachute. You may conjure up chances are of – maybe – getting pours out of your tap. If water had a images of 'natural remedies' and that one molecule that probably memory, surely it would remember, 'plant extracts' and remember wouldn’t treat your illness anyway. for example, the fish? Since hearing that there are no side For comparison, a 200mg ibuprofen sufferers of seafood allergies have effects associated with tablet contains around six hundred a horrible reaction to, say, lobster, homeopathic medicines. The million trillion molecules of the homeopathic approach would

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // HOMEOPATHY

dictate that we give them a 'small travellers foregoing conventional the importance of the scientific dose' of the pesky thing, or the malaria treatment in favour of method and that this stagnation of water that remembers him to be homeopathic remedies, for reason that has manifested itself in more precise. Yet people with instance, with some horrendous the 21st century is only a temporary shellfish allergies, who at some consequences[4]. Frighteningly, hiccup in human evolution. stage we assume will drink water, there are even homeopaths can still have lethal reactions to a claiming to be able to treat As we mentioned earlier, the recent plate of lobster bisque. cancer[5]. Believers in homeopathy cabinet re-shuffle brought to our may be wilfully ignorant or they may attention that some MPs, not to Of course, this is all well and good – be gullible, but as much as there is mention MSPs and certain lampooning homeopathy for fun – a line between the two there is a members of the Royal Family, hold but why do we care? Well, we do line between inefficacious flu the view that homeopathy is good. and we don’t. Most of the time, remedy and inefficacious cancer Not only do they hold this view homeopathy is amusing nonsense. treatment – a line we don’t think privately, but they publicly defend it Since no actual scientific evidence should need to be drawn. – and defend it defiantly in the face exists (despite innumerable Homeopathy is the beginning of a of reasonable evidence. These attempts) that proves the efficacy of slippery slope to abandoning people have influence; indeed, homeopathic remedies, reason and rationality in medicine. Jeremy Hunt essentially now runs homeopaths rely heavily on cherry- The moment we ignore evidence (or the NHS. Furthermore, with the picked results, anecdotal evidence plough on despite evidence) is the refusal to publish the private letters and testimonials from die-hard moment science is lost to medicine, of Prince Charles to MPs we’re only homeopathy fans. Familiar and the moment we as a species left guessing how this problem is sentiments are usually displayed on take a(nother) step backwards. being dealt with behind-the-scenes. homeopathy websites: "I tried Is homeopathy being slipped in everything to treat my Unfortunately, there’s not much through the back door of the NHS? cold/flu/diminished brain capacity that one person can actually do Or rather, is the door being opened but nothing worked, and then I tried about it. You can refuse to buy wider? Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, this homeopathic shit and it worked these products but the problem is the UK Secretary of State for like a boss". We’re paraphrasing, that homeopathy is more a belief Health, supports homeopathic care. obviously, but you get the GIST. system than anything else. Jeremy Sleep well. Hunt's views were brought to light in This does pose an ethical dilemma: // Scott McKellar and Craig McInnes are his reply to a constituent stating chemists and rational thinkers who provide even though homeopathic remedies that they’d have to 'agree to an undiluted version of their opinions. work by the placebo effect alone, disagree' on the matter. This gets to can the fact that some patients feel // References // 04 the very heart of the problem; once [1]http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/media better justify the use of people hold a view-point, they rarely _centre/facts_about_homeopathy/popularity homeopathy? We don’t believe it abandon it. Challenging an entire _and_market_place.html can. There is most definitely a point belief system is not an easy thing to [2]http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/ where the amusing nonsense sep/04/jeremy-hunt-nhs-tribute-homeopathy do. We’re not even sure how one [3]http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v3 becomes dangerous can reasonably go about doing it 34/n6180/pdf/334287a0.pdf misinformation. Since most without becoming a shouty science [4]http://www.1023.org.uk/whats-the-harm- homeopaths have no medical in-homeopathy.php extremist. The best we can hope [5]http://www.cancure.org/homeopathy.htm training and do not understand for is that science education medical diagnoses, there are many continues to reach further and examples of homeopaths offering wider, that the layman understands treatment for serious illnesses which a placebo cannot cure:

by Beverley Caie

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // GLASGOW

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// GALLOWGATE TOWERS Highest residential structures in Scotland, located in the East End of Glasgow. These will be demolished in the near future, due to their unpopularity with residents and high maintenance costs. n n u G y e n t r u o C & n

o GLASGOW – LIVE FAST, t s u o H d i v a

D DIE YOUNG // GLASGOW

Its 2013 and we live in Glasgow – resulted in higher employment rates Glasgow's 'excess' in mortality was one of the westernmost cities in than the likes of Manchester and most prevalent in the 15–44 age one of the westernmost countries in Liverpool – very similar cities with group which had 46% higher Europe. Stark it is then, when you respect to a shared history of mortality than in the equivalent consider that the life expectancy of industrialisation and de- group in the two English cities. a man in the East End district of industrialisation and similar levels Across most ages SMRs were Calton is 54, while in more affluent of deprivation. However, in the considerably higher for areas like the North Glasgow Scottish city, the far higher rates of comparisons of deaths among suburb of Lenzie male life morbidity and mortality than can be males. expectancy rises to 82. It is hard to explained by deprivation have led avoid making comparisons with war- public health groups to explore a The SMRs for each deprivation torn states like Iraq and the Gaza phenomenon known as the decile (each cities' total population strip where male life expectancies 'Glasgow Effect'. was split into 10 equal groups 06 are 67.5 and 70.5, respectively. based on their income deprivation) // In a 2010 study[1] carried out by the were also calculated for each of the Historically Scotland's status as the Glasgow Centre for Population three cities. When considering all most unhealthy country in Western Health (GCPH) the health of deaths, Glasgow had consistently Europe has been attributed to its Glasgow was compared with that of higher mortality rates across all higher levels of socio-economic Liverpool and Manchester. Mortality deprivation deciles with 19% deprivation. Recently however and population data were collected 'excess' mortality in the most researchers have observed a from national survey agencies over deprived decile (decile 10) but also 'Scottish Effect' where Scotland has a five year period from 2003–2007 15% 'excess' mortality in the least been compared with similarly in order to generate a series of deprived decile (decile 1). When deprived populations and standardised mortality ratios premature deaths are considered, discovered that we Scots live (SMRs) for Glasgow relative to this 'excess' mortality seen across significantly shorter lives despite Liverpool and Manchester pooled all of Glasgow's deprivation deciles sharing very similar health factors together. Each city was split into increases significantly where those and employment rates. These multiple neighbourhoods – 350, represented by the most deprived higher than expected morbidity and 291, and 251 in Glasgow, Liverpool, deciles are the worst affected. mortality rates are present across and Manchester respectively – the country as a whole – not just in each with a population in the region The study further analysed different all geographic regions but across all of 1600. Within each causes of death. SMRs for the most levels of the wealth spectrum. No neighbourhood 'income deprivation' common causes of death – all more so is this effect evident than – a measure of the proportion of cancers (except lung cancers) and in the metropolis of Glasgow, with the population reliant on income- diseases of the circulatory system male life expectancy 72 and female related benefits, including children including heart disease and strokes life expectancy 78 compared to dependent on adults who are in - were similar to the SMRs Scottish life expectancies of 76 and receipt of these benefits – was calculated for all Glasgow deaths, 80, respectively. used as a reliable index of overall however SMRs for other causes of deprivation. death reveal much higher 'excesses' Glasgow's industrial rise to power in relative to Liverpool and the 19th century as the engine of Deprivation was almost the same Manchester. These 'excesses' were the Great British Empire, followed for the three cities, with just under a 27% higher for lung cancer; 32% by its almighty fall from grace in the quarter of the total populations higher for external causes, including de-industrialisation which took defined as income deprived. murders; 68% higher for suicide; place during the latter half of the Despite extremely similar 230% higher for alcohol related 20th century, left a city scarred by: deprivation profiles overall mortality deaths; and 249% higher for drug mass-unemployment; urban decay; was 14% higher in Glasgow than related poisonings. population decline; welfare Liverpool and Manchester. Mortality dependency; and the knock-on in Glasgow for premature death From 2003–2007 'excess' deaths in health effects. In today's Glasgow, (<65 years) was 31% higher relative Glasgow relative to those expected decades of urban regeneration has to Liverpool and Manchester. based on similarly deprived cities in

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // GLASGOW

North West England amounted to nuances that may be specific to average gross income per head and 4500; of which 2090 were in the Glasgow's deprivation. Saying that, its index of health and social <65 age group with around half of in the GCPH study Glasgow proved problems; however when comparing those in the premature mortality to have similar numbers of the same developed nations there range dying from alcohol (32%) and smokers, binge-drinkers and drug is a clear correlation between drug-related (17%) causes. users; as well as having similarly income inequality within countries poor diets and levels of obesity as and their index of health and social By looking at historical trends in Liverpool and Manchester. There problems whereby countries with premature mortality data for the are numerous potential the greatest income inequality have three cities researchers in this explanations for the 'Glasgow Effect' the most severe health and social study show that the 'Glasgow Effect' including: extremes in substance problems. Whatever amplifies the is a recent phenomenon, with abuse not detected in routine 'Glasgow Effect' is not clear, increases in excess mortality in health surveys; genetic factors; a however, what is evident is that the Glasgow relative to Liverpool and culture of boundlessness and most direct and effective way to Manchester first appearing in the alienation; low social capital; a tackle poor health and social 1980s and widening over a 30 year background of rapid de- deprivation in the Western world is period to present day levels. industrialisation; limited social to narrow the gap between how mobility; sectarianism; a sense of much the poorest and the richest political abandonment particularly earn in our societies. during the Thatcher years; poorer // David Iain Houston is a 3rd year PhD access to healthcare; and poor student at the University of Glasgow. parenting and early years development. Perhaps a number of // References [1] D Welsh, N Bendel, R Jones, P Hanlon. these factors act in concert to give (2010). It's not ‘just deprivation’: Why do Glasgow that certain je ne sais equally deprived UK cities experience quoi. different health outcomes? Public Health Vol. 124, Issue 9, pages 487-495 Although the causes behind the [2] Professor Richard Wilkinson: How economic inequality harms societies. TED 'Glasgow Effect' are much debated, Global, Edinburgh 2011 In truth, there are a great many a picture emerges from the GCPH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ7LzE3u unknowns surrounding the causes study and many other studies 7Bw&feature=related of the 'Glasgow Effect'; the next carried out over the last decade stage of the GCPH's investigation where populations with the greatest will look at qualitative data, which inequalities in wealth have the will delve deeper into the highest levels of social and health // 07 differences in mortality between problems. At the 2011 TED Global cities with seemingly identical conference in Edinburgh, Professor CAUSES OF DEATH socio-economic deprivation. Richard Wilkinson presented research[2] which conclusively Standardised mortality ratios While income deprivation appears shows a fascinating paradox: in the 2003–07; all ages, all sexes; to be a reliable marker for overall comparison of developed nations Glasgow relative to Liverpool & deprivation, it is possible that there there is no relationship between Manchester; standardised by is a failure to pick up certain how wealthy a country is in terms of age, sex and deprivation decile g n i l r a D - h t n o m r o t S y n n h o J & n o t s u o H d i v a D

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // CSI BECOMES REALITY CSI BECOMES REALITY ) 0 . 2 C C , s n o m m o c i k i W ( a r u m i K i m u Y Felicity Carlysle experiences a place 08 As a forensic science student I am a mock street, complete with fake where fact is cooler // naturally suspicious of anything tulips, and some technology that with CSI in the title. While the TV surpasses that imagined by the than fiction. show (and its assorted spin-offs creators of the TV show. and variants) has done wonders to boost the profile of the forensic more it can be done within minutes, science profession, it has also had leaving plenty of time for a game of a detrimental effect by creating Let's Dance! unrealistic expectations – the so called 'CSI effect'. Therefore when One of the primary aims of the CSI: The Hague has developed attending the European Academy of project is to develop novel methods augmented reality glasses for use Forensic Science (EAFS) conference for crime scene examination. The at crime scenes. Despite being no I took the title of the workshop "CSI main way that CSI: The Hague has larger than a pair of sunglasses, [1] The Hague: To the crime scene" decided to approach this is through these glasses allow you to record with a pinch of salt. However what I digitising the crime scene. This what you view, bring up information saw blew me away, and means that while the scene can on items using hand controls and demonstrated what can be only be investigated once, data speak to other experts who aren't at achieved when a government and from the crime scene can be re- the scene. While they may not be private companies come together examined, and furthermore the height of fashion these glasses with a common goal. evidence that might be missed by a are certainly a cool piece of kit. human could be detected using a So what is CSI The Hague? The machine. 3D rendering of the How many of us have been fooled Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) scene, augmented reality glasses, a by the old fake blood trick? It is has brought together a device to scan a room for amazing how at a quick glance conglomerate of technological bloodstains, it all sounds a bit many red liquids can look like companies to bring crime scene science fiction but CSI: The Hague blood, so imagine the challenge for examination well and truly into the has made it a reality. crime scene investigators to figure 21st century. This three year project out what is and what isn't blood at a has two aims, developing new and Who'd have thought an Xbox Kinect scene. In step CSI: The Hague with cutting edge equipment for use at could help solve crime. CSI: The their fantastic new instrument crime scenes, and developing Hague has developed a system which can not only distinguish innovative new ways to train not using an Kinect sensor linked to a between blood and other red only crime-scene examiners but computer to produce 3D imaging of coloured stains it can also give an also first responders so as to a crime scene, complete with approximate age for a bloodstain increase the useable evidence accurate distance measurements allowing investigators to collected, in particular, minute and angle calculations. It is also differentiate quickly between blood traces which are otherwise easily possible to place virtual markers on evidence relevant to a case and missed or accidentally destroyed. the image rather than placing blood that has been at the scene This has resulted in the creation of markers on the crime scene. What's

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // CSI BECOMES REALITY

for a long time. So no more chasing first responders. There is a briefing a real crime scene, therefore what after a person who wasn't involved room, an observation room and is effectively a video game on a but was unfortunate enough to then the mock street with a three larger scale can provide some much have a nosebleed at the scene two roomed house – bedroom, needed training. While this cannot weeks prior to the incident! bathroom and kitchen/living area. beat hands on training, the immersive virtual environment So how does this miracle scanner The briefing room does exactly what comes a close second, with the work? The theory is actually pretty it says on the tin, in here the definite advantage that mistakes do simple, and is all to do with what trainees are briefed on the scenario not have significant consequences. happens to oxygenated before being let loose on the scene. This system can be particularly haemoglobin as it breaks down. The observation room is where the useful for training of first Haemoglobin is converted to two trainees are monitored during the responders, primarily members of chromophores, met-hemoglobin exercise, with cameras in all areas the emergency services, who are and hemichrome, and this results in and also motion capture panels on unlikely to have any forensic a subtle colour change to a blood the ceilings which enable the experience. While looking for stain. The system, developed by mapping of the movements around forensic evidence is not the role of Forensic Technical Solutions, is a each room. This means that it is the first responder, an awareness of spectral imager. It uses the possible to see which areas of a forensic can help the preservation absorption of light to determine the room a scene examiner spent most of evidence for collection by chemical composition of suspect time in, and if they covered all of investigators when they arrive. stains, as different chemicals the area. The heart rate and absorb different wavelengths of temperature of the trainees is also light. This means blood at different monitored. Finally the video taken stages of decomposition will from each room can be annotated produce a different absorption to note errors so that the trainees spectrum, and compounds that are can be fully briefed on their So it turns out science fiction can not blood such as lipstick or red performance afterwards. Also in the become science fact, all it takes is paint will also produce a different observation room is a computer a co-ordinated effort between the spectrum. The means that the dedicated to creating realistic crime government, forensic scientists and technique is non-destructive and scene scenarios which are then set technology companies. Many of the the results are virtually up in the house. This takes away technologies at CSI: The Hague are instantaneous. In addition the any bias from the teacher who may at the validation stage, and the technique can be expanded to other well be experienced in one Forensic Technical Solutions blood bodily fluids using the breakdown of particular type of crime scene and detection system has already been specific proteins within them. so have taught this in far more used in some forensic // 09 detail to the trainees. Forensic Technical Solutions have investigations in the Netherlands. taken measurements of blood The mock street and house are The success of the project means stains as they age in order to where all the action happens. The that it is likely that the technology determine the concentration of the street has two projection screens at will be sold to other countries and chromophores present at each time either end for 'serious gaming', and hopefully similar projects will be period. This means they can now the house itself is fully kitted out started across the globe to further determine how old a bloodstain is with all the clutter you would expect improve the technology and training based upon the chromophore plus, of course, a crime scene. available for crime scene concentration. examiners. So keep an eye out as It is a reasonably well known fact CSI: The Hague may be coming to a that much of our learning as small crime scene near you. children comes through play, and at // Felicity Carlysle is a 3rd year Forensic CSI: The Hague they have realised Chemistry PhD student at the University of that this can also apply to adults. Strathclyde. Serious gaming is the term used for CSI: The Hague and its ‘innovation virtual learning programs created to // References lab’ is hidden away inside the NFI [1] http://www.csithehague.com/ help train scene examiners and first field lab. The main area is set up to responders. For obvious reasons allow for testing of the new kit, and new trainees cannot be let loose on training of scene examiners and

// AUGMENTED REALITY GLASSES Although not very fashionable, the high tech glasses are incredibly handy with their e t camera, heads-up display and u t i t inbuilt communication system. s n I c i s n e r o F s d n a l r e h t e N

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // COMPRESSED SENSING COMPRESSED SENSING Every time data is transferred between a digital device and the outside world, it is subject to digital signal processing, or DSP. In other words, DSP is in virtually everything these days. When you talk into your mobile phone, the microphone converts your voice into an known as aliasing can occur, in this would indeed be possible in electrical signal. The voltage of the which higher frequencies certain circumstances, and so signal is measured many times a masquerade as lower. The Nyquist ‘compressed sensing’ was invented. Sampling Theorem is so important second and converted into binary Imagine a black-and-white digital numbers, in a process known as that the first question that DSP engineers ask when designing a camera sensor. The sensor is sampling. The amount of data effectively a rectangular array of generated depends on how often new system is “what’s the sampling rate”? For example, compact discs small square sensors, each of measurements are taken, known as which generates a number based the sample rate. The sampled have a sampling rate of 44.1kHz because it is slightly more than on the amount of light it receives signal is then compressed, through the lens. These are the transmitted and reconstructed as a double the 20kHz limit of human hearing. The human voice has a pixels, and the number represents representation of your voice the shade of grey of the pixel. through the loudspeaker at the limited frequency range so the other end. sample rate need only be 8kHz for Now instead of taking a phone calls. conventional image using all the The digital representation of your It turns out that it is possible to get pixels at once, we choose a few voice is not very precise because random pixels from across the mainly because of the sampling around the Nyquist theorem, at least in some cases. In the 1980s, sensor and sum their values. This is process. This does not matter so done a few times with different much for phone calls: you only need seismologists realised that they could detect geological phenomena random groups of pixels. We now to be understood at the other end have a set of equations that can be 10 and sound quality is a secondary in their data that should not have // been possible. They had stumbled solved mathematically to show, with concern. A mobile network is a strong probability, what the entire finite resource, so how low a on something that was not mathematically analysed until image across the sensor must have sample rate can a mobile phone been. operator get away with before your 2004, when Terence Tao and voice becomes unintelligible? Emanuel Candès working at the You might have recognised that California Institute of Technology there is little point in having all In the 1920s, an engineer called were wondering whether a digital those pixels on the camera sensor Harry Nyquist discovered that the camera could take a photo and only and then not using most of them minimum frequency at which a gather the amount of data most of the time. A method of signal must be sampled is twice the equivalent to the compression ratio summing up the totals for each maximum frequency present within that the JPEG image standard could group of pixels would do the same the signal, otherwise distortion achieve. Tao soon calculated that job. The Single-Pixel Camera from g n i l r a D - h t n o m o t S y n n h o J

// By capturing and summing groups of samples through known random masks (left), compressed sensing enables a near perfect image reconstruction (right) from this sparse data set.

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // COMPRESSED SENSING

Rice University works in exactly this data, but it is mathematically astronomy. You will benefit from it way: a single sensor is used, and a intensive. Compressing data as it is when you go for an MRI scan, or mask is used to represent the collected, as compressed sensing curse it when a compressed random pixel pattern. effectively does, reduces complexity sensing radar is hunting your fighter and therefore lowers cost and jet. The author speculates that it For this to work properly, the signal power consumption at the sensing will eventually augment the abilities must be ‘sparse’. A sparse signal is end. This is useful, for example, for of consumer devices like digital one that has most values the same making sensors out of exotic cameras, so maybe in a few years or zero. It turns out that most materials to work in different you will be showing off the new signals are sparse in some way. For wavelengths. The trade-off is single-pixel infrared camera in your example, a picture taken outdoors greater complexity at the processing mobile phone. might have mostly blue sky, or an end. audio sample might have only a few // Paul McCool is currently pursuing a PhD in electronic engineering at the University of frequencies present. Compression Compressed sensing and its Strathclyde. techniques such as JPEG and ZIP mathematical toolkit are already files already take advantage of being developed for use in many // Thanks to Dr Matthew Edgar, Optics Group, University of Glasgow for information about signal sparseness to compress fields such as radar, medicine and Computational Ghost Imaging.

// References: [1] http://www.smithsonianmag.com The Optics Group in University of Glasgow’s Physics Department is /science-nature/tao.html [2] http://dsp.rice.edu/cscamera developing an imaging system that uses Compressed Sensing, called [3] http://dsp.rice.edu/sites/dsp.rice.edu/ Computational Ghost Imaging, which uses a Spatial Light Modulator to files/cs/CSintro.pdf generate and record the random patterns of light that are needed for the [4] http://www.stanford.edu/~mlustig/ Compressed Sensing principle to work, instead of the camera and mask. CSMRI.pdf

// ESOTERIC PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

// 11 Esoteric programming languages are designed to test the boundaries // An example of whitespace of computer programming programming... Mmm, check out language design, as a proof of that syntax. concept, or even as a (bad) joke. d Steven Davies presents some of y o B

the most noteworthy. n a l A

The granddaddy of esoteric A language so difficult it allegedly Without a doubt the most elegantly languages, INTERCAL – or Compiler took 2 years to actually write the minimalist programming language Language With No Pronounceable first program in, Malbolge is more ever developed, every command in Acronym to give it its full name – is cryptographic puzzle than Whitespace is made up of just three famous for its humorous manual programming language. Self- tokens: , and and silly operator names like rabbit- modifying instructions, ternary number systems and the aptly- Since all other characters are ears ("), wow (!) and ampersand (&). ignored Whitespace is ideal for Enforcing the kind of politeness named crazy operator all combine to transport anybody foolhardy literate programming. It's also fully your mum would be proud of, the independent of any natural initial implementation was sadly enough to attempt programming in Malbolge to the circle of hell the language so is perfect for globally only capable of outputting roman distributed development. It's also numerals. Later implementations language is named for. And yet somehow several people have great for any companies required to would introduce text output as well keep hard copies of their code, but as sidestep all the problems of managed to create, or perhaps conjure, versions of Hello World, that still want to keep their ink costs GOTO in other languages with the down. There's only really one revolutionary COME FROM and even a strangely hypnotizing version of 99 Bottles of Beer. Of disadvantage to Whitespace: since instruction, and were capable of it's an interpreted language it's not pretty much anything you could do course, if you're not feeling quite up to tackling writing Malbolge by hand suitable for tasks requiring high- in another language. Just as long as performance. you remember to ask politely.* you could cheat by using a compiler to translate another language into // Steven Davies is a PhD student studying * But not too politely of course. Malbolge. It's just a pity the other software engineering at the University of language is Brainfuck... Strathclyde.

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // E = mc2 E=MC2 WHO'S EQUATION IS IT ANYWAY? ) 0 . 3 C C , s n o m m o c i k i W ( z l u h c S d r a h n e i // Probably the most famous L In the introduction to Stephen their activity from the particles of equation in human history, the Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" light which enter their [1] mass-energy equivalence is he says that his publisher told him composition?" in his book Opticks . universally attributed to the that every equation he included in Here he suggests that a mass- equally famous Albert Einstein. the book would cut its sales figures energy equivalence exists. Of But was Albert really the only in half. He included only one course this is not the same as man behind the maths? equation and that was E=mc2. This giving the equation, but the seeds equation – also known as the mass- had been sewn some time before energy equivalence – is probably Einstein's first paper on relativity, the most famous equation in all of “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend correct expression for this science. It states the fundamental Upon Its Energy Content?” in relationship, he was out by a factor relationship between mass (m) and 1905[2]. Towards the end of the of 3/8, he did deduce that energy energy (E) – that they are related by 19th century and the beginning of and mass were equivalent. The the speed of light squared (c2). the 20th century much work was work of Poincaré and Hasenöhrl // 12 being done on electromagnetic was in some ways incomplete, Under the right circumstances the radiation. J. J. Thompson (1885) neither managed to produce a equation allows for energy to be suggested that the energy of rigorous argument as to why the converted into mass (or vice-versa) electromagnetic waves corresponds 2 [3] 2 equation E=mc should be true . and c is the exchange rate. The to a certain mass. O. Heaviside Einstein managed to add to this process of converting mass into (1889) and H. Lorentz (1904) also work, but subsequent investigations energy is how stars (including our published work relating to this idea, have shown that he also was sun) produce light, heat and all of but it is the work of H. Poincaré unable to provide a rigorous the different elements that we find (1900) and later F. Hasenöhrl explanation. elsewhere in the universe. This (1904) that first show the equation includes all of the atoms that make E=mc2. The first of Einstein's attempts to up our bodies, our planet and our derive the mass-energy equivalence solar system. In the words of Moby, was deemed by Herbert Ives in "we are all made of stars". 1952 to be "begging the question". This is a term that is used in logic to The importance of this equation describe the situation when one (and especially the theory behind it) uses the conclusion to deduce the is substantial and well publicised. conclusion. For example if we Its applications affect our lives on a assume that everyone in Glasgow daily basis in areas ranging from Henri Poincaré was a very gifted drinks whisky then we can conclude GPS to carbon dating. The credit for French scientist; he made that everyone in Glasgow drinks this equation is generally attributed significant contributions in pure and whisky. The inference made in this to one man – Albert Einstein. applied mathematics, physics and statement is clearly true even if the In science there are normally two philosophy. In 1900 Poincaré premise is not. Essentially ways to make your name published a paper deriving the Einstein’s proof used the argument 2 synonymous with an equation – equation E=mc2. He arrived at the E=mc – just because. Therefore either be the first person to state it result by describing electromagnetic Einstein’s derivation was not or the first person to correctly radiation as a fluid. However, he did logically sound and hence incorrect. reason why it is true. Since this not believe that his result suggested In the 2008 paper "Einstein's 2 equation is most associated with that mass and energy were E=mc mistakes" by Hans C. 2 Albert Einstein, which of these did interchangeable but that he had Ohanian every derivation of E=mc he do? The answer, surprisingly, is discovered a sort of "recoil effect". that was produced by Einstein neither. This interpretation is now known to throughout his life was meticulously be incorrect but his equation still assessed. The paper states that all In 1717 Isaac Newton wrote, "Are stands. Following on from this, in of Einstein’s derivations suffered not the gross bodies and light 1904 Hasenöhrl managed to derive from mistakes, including logical convertible into one another, and that E was proportional to mc2. blunders and unrealistic may not bodies receive much of Although he couldn’t derive a approximations[4].

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // E = mc2

The story so far might cause one to Einstein was also a brilliant discovery of the remarkable lose some faith in brilliance of conveyor of science; he was able to equation E=mc2. Let the final Albert Einstein, but despair not. promote his subject in a way that thought of this article be from Einstein may not have been the first engaged not just physicists, but Einstein himself: "A person who to suggest the mass-energy also the public. He travelled round never made a mistake never tried equivalence nor was he the first to the world presenting his ideas. In anything new"[5]. produce a correct derivation, but his Tokyo an impromptu talk turned into // Tim Revell is currently studying for a PhD name has become synonymous a four hour lecture due to the in computer science at the University of with this equation and for good demand from the thousands that Strathclyde. reason. Einstein's works on had come to hear him speak. He // References relativity provided beautiful insights captured the imagination of those [1] Newton, Isaac. Opticks or, a treatise of the into the world of physics that had who read his work or heard him reflexions, refractions, inflexions and colours not been fully realised before he speak and made great of light : also two treatises of the species and became involved. He may never magnitude of curvilinear figures. contributions to his field. His Commentary by Nicholas Humez. ISBN 1- have produced a perfectly popularity can be considered one of 891788-04-3. structured argument as to why the main reasons why his [2] Einstein, A. Ist die Trägheit eines Körpers E=mc2, but he certainly came close. association with E=mc2 is so well von seinem Energieinhalt abhängig? Issue 13, pp.639-641, s.l. : Annalen der Physik, As is the way of science he built on known compared to the others 19505, Vol. vol. 323. the work of others, using their involved in the discovery. Einstein [3] Robert A. Herrmann, E=mc2 Not understanding to advance his. The was a genius, arguably the greatest Einstein’s Discovery, September 2000, great man only had a basic Revised September 2009 physicist (if not scientist) to have [4] Ohanian, Hans C. Einstein's E = mc2 knowledge of the physics of his time ever lived, but it should be mistakes. arXiv:0805.1400 [physics.hist-ph]. and it is generally accepted that he remembered that he was not the [5] St Peter, Anthony, The Greatest had not read many of the works only person involved in the Quotations of All Time, Xlibris, Corp. (28 Oct mentioned in this article. 2010) , s n o ) . m m m g o o n i c D

// Albert Einstein's signature i . w k i b e u (Can anyone see the 'E'?) c W S ( P

// 13

// FROM MARS TO CALLISTO

Unless you live under an furthest Galilean moon, and seeing impressively sized rock, you will before you not only the awe- have heard of the recent landing of inspiring gas giant dominating your NASA’s Curiosity Rover on Mars. view, but also the transient masses But what are the possibilities for of the other Galilean moons Io, ) n human exploration beyond the Red Europa and Ganemede. A human i a

Planet? base on this distant rock is not m o

entirely out of the question and it D c i

As the rover Curiosity continues to l

has been considered as a potential b send back a wealth of fascinating u P

location for a human outpost for the ( data, and possibly evidence that A

exploration of Jupiter’s other moons S Mars once harboured life, it is only A and the further reaches of solar N natural that we begin to think [2] system . Both Europa and Callisto // Quite a view, eh? forward to the possibilities of show evidence for the presence of human travel to the Red Planet and liquid water beneath their surfaces beyond. There are many who and oxygen in their thin believe that we should be well on only become more so), it will take a [1] atmospheres, making them our way to Mars already , but for possible candidates for harbouring suitable political climate and the whatever technical, financial or life. While Ganemede’s larger size right financial incentives before any political reasons we are still (twice the mass of our moon) might lucky astronaut will have the decades away from achieving that make it more gravitationally pleasure gazing up at that Jovian milestone in human exploration. comfortable for humans, Callisto’s sky for the first time. Nevertheless, the thought of human greater distance from Jupiter’s // Johnny Stormonth-Darling is a PhD student colonisation of Mars opens our radioactive emissions make it at The University of Glasgow studying minds to the other amazing places somewhat safer in that regard… nanofabrication. within our solar system that human and the view is better. //References feet may one day take their first [1] Zubrin R. The Case For Mars, Free Press, steps. Sadly, despite our collective human 2011. desire for adventure, and the fact [2] Troutman, P. & Bethke, K. Revolutionary For example, imagine looking up at Concepts for Human Outer Planet Exploration that even now all this is largely (HOPE). Presentation for STAIF, 2003. the sky from Callisto, Jupiter’s within our grasp technically (and will

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // SILK, SEX & DECEPTION SILK, SEX AND DECEPTION: THE SECRET LIVES OF SPIDERS

// SPIDER SILK Most spiders produce silk to create beautiful webs. The style of the web depends on the kind of spider and the use of the web. // 14 Recent research has been looking into creating spider's silk

n for industrial purposes; as an i a t alternative to glass and plastic. n u

o Some silk is ten times tougher F y l

i than Kevlar. m E

What do Justin Timberlake, Ron pests[1]. They also control using modified silkworms and Weasley and Kim Kardashian have dangerous insects that spread bacteria, but let's not forget that in common? They are all afraid of diseases such as malaria[2]. But the spiders made it first. spiders, like many other people. But virtues of spiders extend far beyond why? Spiders lead perilous lives and their hunting proficiency. Spiders are everywhere, all the are much too busy saving their own time. You may not always see them, skins to go after humans. These Some spiders have venom with a but that is not surprising given their animals are fascinating and useful, low molecular weight which could usually small size. Inside your home and those who suffer from Miss be used in medical research and you may occasionally see the [3] Muffet syndrome are missing out. In drug development . Spider silk is friendly face of Tegenaria, the leggy light of the recent bee craze, where researched intensively due to its corner-lurker and regular bath the plight of the UK's stinging incredible strength and elasticity. It spider. Female Tegenaria can grow furballs has called the British public is the toughest known biomaterial: to gargantuan proportions by UK to arms, I would like to celebrate silk from Darwin’s bark spider is ten standards, with bodies up to 18mm [4] our new-found love for the many- times tougher than Kevla . Silk is long. The males are smaller and legged by ensuring that spiders currently being discussed as an more timid, as you would be if you receive some positive media alternative to glass and plastic in had to mate with something twice attention, for once. high-tech optical equipment, due to your size. If you look at a male its recently discovered light- closely you will see that he sports a When faced with a horrifying manipulating capabilities. pair of appendages at the front situation in which somebody is Potentially, future medical whose tips are swollen like boxing about to purposefully squash a instruments may use spider silk, gloves; these are his sex organs. His spider, most arachnophiles give the making some medical procedures, aim in life is to thrust these ungainly usual spiel about spiders being such as internal sensing and but beautifully elaborate structures useful agents for the control of imaging, less invasive, less into the epigynum of a female, household pests. It is true that expensive, and more eco-friendly. which is located on the underside of spiders catch other invertebrates Through genetic engineering it is her abdomen. To do this he must such as beetles and flies, and can now possible to mass-produce the be good at controlling agricultural amazing properties of spider silk

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // SILK, SEX & DECEPTION

get past her fangs. He is the The largest spiders belong to the conspicuous, glowing tantalisingly invertebrate version of St. George, Theraphosidae, or tarantula family. with ultraviolet light. The presence except that the dragon and the These ancient spiders can have of Thomisus in a flower makes its princess are the same character. huge fangs and look monstrous, but insect prey more likely to visit that their bites are not lethal except flower, with gory consequences[8]. All around the world, male spiders where an allergic reaction occurs. Still more impressive are ant- face situations that could lead to The more commonly kept tarantulas mimicking jumping spiders, which sex or suicide (and sometimes of the Americas, such as Mexican really do look like ants, and even both). Many go to elaborate lengths red-kneed tarantulas, are generally wave their front legs in the air, to ensure their survival. Self- docile and would rather run away pretending they are antennae. One respecting jumping spiders, for than bite. However, they do have species has been documented instance, will parade spectacular another trick to get would-be helping its adopted ant colony build [5] costumes in startling dances . predators off their backs: they can their nest, adding some nice warm Others will sing their female a flick specialised hairs into the air, silk to the structure[9]. Spiders can seismic song. Wolf spiders can sing which stick in the skin and itch like make friends too. [6] and dance , a touching crazy. performance considering they make The next time you see a little spider, a living from hunting other spiders. European, Australian and Asian think twice about how you react. His It isn’t all about self-preservation, tarantulas are a little different. They life is hard enough as it is without though: spare a thought for the can be pretty feisty but their venom you throwing him out into the cold brave male redback, who gives his is not lethal. There are some or stamping on him, and doing so life for his babies. Upon finding a breathtakingly beautiful species, will not significantly reduce the mate, seducing her by plucking out such as the Gooty sapphire which number of spiders in your house. special rhythms on her web, and has a vivid blue body and white He is only after dinner and a girl, penetrating her epigynum, he blaze markings. and has his work cut out already. somersaults, exposing his juicy You can just, you know... look the abdomen which she then Other spiders are less conspicuous. other way. devours[7]. His gallant sacrifice You will probably have noticed small, brown spiders that hide // Victoria Smith is currently studying for her gives the female nourishment which MSci in Zoology at the University of Glasgow. appears to help their offspring under rocks and in crevices, and all Her interests include arachnology and develop. If, however, the female was spiders (particularly pet tarantulas) conservation. seem able to squeeze themselves impressed with her mate's effort in // References courtship, she may spare him. into impossibly small spaces. [1] Nyffeler, M. & Benz, G. (1987). Spiders in Australian bark spiders live on tree natural pest control: A review1. Journal of Female spiders may be a little trunks and are well camouflaged, Applied Entomology 103: 321-339. // 15 unforgiving as far as relationships with flattened bodies to avoid being [2] Nelson, X.J. & Jackson, R.R. (2006). A Predator from East Africa that Chooses go, but they are not all bad. Some detected by predators. If you put Malaria Vectors as Preferred Prey. PLoS ONE are attentive mothers, carrying their your hand on a tree near a bark 1: e132. young piggy-back and even spider, it will spring into life, zipping [3] Jackson, H. & Usherwood, P.N.R. (1988). Spider toxins as tools for dissecting elements producing droplets of food for them. around the trunk with incredible of excitatory amino acid transmission. Trends Females are typically longer lived speed, somehow maintaining its in Neurosciences 11: 278-283. than males, and are also usually flattened profile. [4] Agnarsson, I., Kuntner, M. & Blackledge, bigger and more spectacular T.A. (2010). Bioprospecting Finds the However, some spiders go a little Toughest Biological Material: Extraordinary looking – and believe me when I say Silk from a Giant Riverine Orb Spider. PLoS that spiders know how to do further towards disguising ONE 5: e11234. spectacular. Nephila, for example, themselves. Thomisus, a crab [5] Girard, M.B., Kasumovic, M.M. & Elias, are brightly-coloured spiders the spider, is so good at being a flower D.O. (2011). Multi-Modal Courtship in the petal that you would have to know it Peacock Spider, Maratus volans (O.P.- size of your hand. They spin Cambridge, 1874). PLoS ONE 6: e25390. complex golden webs over a metre was there before you (or a predator) across, and have been reported noticed it. To an insect, on the other Further references can be found online at www.the-gist.org catching birds and even snakes. hand, the spider appears

// A VERY, VERY TINY SPIDER There are several tiny spiders. One of the tiniest ones out there is the Patu Digua (not pictured) from Borneo. Apparently, this little guy when h t i fully grown only measures up m

S to around 0.37 mm in full body a i r

o length. t c i V

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // GAME A.I. THE SCIENCE OF GAME A.I. Poker is a very good example of this, as well as a game we focus a lot on at SAIG. Poker is a game of imperfect information, which is to say we don't know what cards the other players have. It is zero-sum, which means that for someone to gain money, the other players must lose the same amount of money. It's a game of probabilities but also posturing. These characteristics make it a very interesting challenge to try to solve using AI techniques. y r

e They also make any solution we can f f

a come up likely to be at least C c

M somewhat applicable to the stock a s

l market. i A 16 Pac-Man is another game of // interest to this group – specifically the Ms. Pac-Man variant, in which the behaviour of the enemy ghosts is unpredictable. The focus of the research is on producing AI to play the game by controlling the Pac- Man and maximising its score. In Pac-Man, the character needs to navigate a maze, avoid the enemies and collect all the items within the maze to allow it to progress to the next one. This makes Pac-Man a For as long as there have been there are two separate teams at really good abstract representation games, there have always been work, with different emphases and of some sort of security scenario, people wanting to play with fewer justifications for their research. perhaps involving hostages that than the rules have intended. Back need to be collected, and different in the 1770s the public's The team that might most closely floors of an office building that imagination was captured by the identify with the Mechanical Turk need to be moved around whilst 'Mechanical Turk', a device which works in an area dubbed 'Chips as avoiding the bad guys. Even was allegedly an automated chess Champions'. These researchers are something as trivial and nonsense opponent. Despite the attention, it dedicated to using games to as finding better ways to play Pac- was unfortunately revealed to be a advance the state of the art of Man then might have broader hoax and was actually operated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), helping to implications and real-world a small man sat with the Turk's create machines better capable of applications, which makes the cabinet but it highlights just how reasoning and consequently more 'Chips as Champions' approach to long there has been a desire to play likely to win. This might seem a bit games research particularly against artificial opponents. trivial – even with a computer compelling. capable of beating a chess grand Within the University of master, our quality of life hasn't On the other side of our group is a Strathclyde’s Department of improved much, so why should team that is a little bit more Computer and Information people be interested? On the face pragmatic. Video games are a huge Sciences, the Strathclyde Artificial of it, it's a fair point, but the (and growing) entertainment Intelligence and Games (SAIG) important thing to factor in is that a industry, and by their nature the research group is taking a much lot of times, the games we are products are one of the largest more scientifically rigorous (not to working with can also be seen as applications of AI going. Every game mention more ethical) approach to abstract representations of less relies to some extent on AI to create the problem. Broadly speaking, trivial circumstances. the world that the player interacts with, the characters that populate

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // GAME A.I.

. we talk about video games, that’s react to a certain set of actions that b u not an appropriate metric. The point the player takes, because these are P , s of the game isn't to beat the player - the combinations of actions that n o

m – if it were, then it would be a pretty the developers predicted. A great m

o easy task, we'd just make the game example of this is The Elder Scrolls c i k

i give the AI players an advantage in V: Skyrim (Bethesda Softworks, W ( the game. That might be more 2011), which allowed players to 3

1 resources in a strategy game, more pick items up and move them ) . m m m health in a shooting game or even around with a relatively realistic o u

B D cars that can move a bit faster in a physics simulation. At the same racing game. Putting that kind of time, the player could take items // Even the earliest video bias into the game would make it lying around in people’s homes and games, such as Pong required harder, and make the AI system if the person saw you do it, they basic AI for one-player modes more likely to win. would react to the theft. Ingenious players around the world discovered It’s relatively easy to see though that by combining these two that this wouldn’t make for a better elements, they were able to place that world and so on. This is true game experience. There's even for Pong (Atari, 1972), but is items like buckets on AI characters something else at work, and just heads, which meant that they increasingly true as game making an unbeatable AI system developers aim for compelling and couldn't see anything. As the isn’t going to achieve what the developers hadn’t predicted this immersive recreations of industry wants. At SAIG, we instead environments. There's a need to possibility, the characters would sit think in terms of trying to 'optimise passively, leaving the players free to enhance the AI techniques used the fun'. This lets us look at how our within the industry to provide better pilfer to their heart's content. This techniques are going to affect the highlights why we need better AI in experiences for players, and this is whole game, and what they are the focus of the second team. We our games – the game developers adding to the player’s experience of can’t predict these emergent work with industry experts around the game. the world to establish where there interactions, yet the characters is scope for improvement and to At SAIG one of our big projects in need to be able to react both find solutions that reflect the this vein is working to try to create quickly and intelligently when things realities of development in the more believable characters in game happen. games industry. This is an worlds. Typically, the characters that Artificial Intelligence is a very important aspect because AI is a the player interacts with are exciting field, and at SAIG we're able very intensive field in terms of the relatively simple in their logic. They to combine our passion for games // 17 computing power required. Some of need to be due to the processing with this, allowing us to undertake the state of the art approaches we constraints already mentioned. In some unique research that will have in academia right now involve turn however, that makes them hopefully be of value not just in a powerful computer working solely relatively naive, and a lot of the terms of the games we play, but on one problem for up to half an richness that typical games exhibit also more applicable to society as a hour. In games, that same is actually layers of smoke and whole. computer is also working on mirrors, carefully designed to give generating a rich graphical an illusion of intelligence. This can // Luke Dicken is a PhD student at the University of Strathclyde in the UK, as well as environment for the player to look lead to a very wooden-feeling world the founder of Robot Overlord Games. at, processing the input from the however, where characters will only player, perhaps handling a physical simulation of the objects in the world and how they are interacting. And of course it's typically happening in real-time, so the AI problems will have to be very quick – rather than taking a half hour, the solutions need to be generated in a handful of milliseconds. Just making AI systems run that fast would be hard enough, but at the same time we need to alter what we are trying to achieve with that AI. The 'Chips as Champions' team is focused exclusively on winning the game, and achieving the highest score where applicable, but when

// Complex AI rules can lead to y r

loopholes that can be explioted e f f

by gamers, such as the "bucket a C on the head technique" c M a

discovered by Skyrim players s l i A

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // PUBERTAL DIP THE PUBERTAL DIP

In contrast to earlier findings, recent research from Duke University (2007)[1] found that emotion recognition continues to develop in adolescence. The study focused specifically on the excited giggle, or a quick, hurt look. emotions of fear and anger – two of Had we not been experts on social the most important and interaction the concept 'an excited fundamental emotions of human giggle' or 'an irritated shrug' would interaction. The researchers used As humans we tend to establish never have made sense – because, images of different facial emotions groups amongst ourselves; a sense in reality, a giggle is a giggle, it can't and morphed these together in of belonging is completely essential be excited or otherwise. However, varying proportions of neutral and for our wellbeing and our self- this does make sense because this anger, neutral and fear, and fear image. How well we work in social is exactly how we use giggles, and anger. Results showed that contexts is largely dependent on our shrugs and looks: as information when adults and young people were ability to interpret the signals and providers. They inform us about the asked to indicate which emotion behaviours of the people around us. emotional state of the person we’re was being shown adults were more The ability to read and interpret interacting with. The ability to read sensitive to the subtle changes in visual signals (visual stimuli) is not and interpret these signals is called facial expression. Hence, it was a given constant, but develops emotion recognition. concluded that emotion recognition through childhood and for facial expressions of fear and adolescence. Psychological Emotion recognition is very much anger do not reach adult-like levels research has revealed a crucial central to our social understanding, until after adolescence. // 18 change in this development around and psychologists have been puberty. interested in this area for years. Not only does development During this time, a clearer picture of continue into adolescence, an Generally, we are experts on the development of this ability has change in the rate of development interaction. Most people, whether begun to take shape. Naturally, a has been identified around the they are a 'people person' or not, critical point in our social lives is onset of puberty. In 2002, clearly and without any conscious when we start to orient ourselves researchers from San Diego effort understand that if their little not only towards our parents and University[2] found that there was a sister starts crying, something is closest family but increasingly "pubertal dip" for processing wrong and she needs to be towards our peer group: the early emotionally related stimuli around comforted. Similarly, we become teenage years. This period, for many the age of 11–12. The reaction very good at interpreting everything reasons, is a sensitive one – also time for correctly answering about the people around us: an with regards to emotion recognition. whether a presented mood word irritated, aggressive shrug, an o r e n e j G a j n a S

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // PUBERTAL DIP

This leads to another aspect important in social recognition: the social environment. Hugely important in a number of developmental processes, such as attachment in the early stages of life, our social environment has a lot to say. It has been suggested that as our social environment changes in the beginning of adolescence, young teenagers must adopt new cognitive strategies to continue their improvement in emotion

e recognition. A cognitive strategy is a t y l

e specific strategy for mental k

U processes in a particular task. At e l o

j this point in time, new research is i N focusing on the functional // How do we read situations underpinnings of this possible shift like this? in cognitive strategy. This means investigating how recognition of different visual stimuli measurably differs over time in terms of for matched the presented picture was maturation of 'The Social Brain'[4] a example brain area size: "There are significantly longer than in younger collective term for brain areas specific areas of the brain which children, catching up again at involved in social interaction – respond to human bodies and around age 15 before subsequent including the prefrontal cortices faces. What we and other groups improvement. Clearly the young (PFC)[5], associated with recognition are starting to show with fMRI teenagers seem challenged. of angry expressions (more (functional Magnetic Resonance specifically the orbitofrontal cortex Imaging) is that the areas involved These two studies focused on OFC)[6], and the amygdala, in emotional body perception may // 19 emotion recognition of facial associated with fearful facial be adult like by late childhood, but expressions. Although it is true that expressions[7]. The Duke University the areas dealing with faces are we obtain a lot of our information researchers mention that their actually getting bigger and more about emotional state from results indicate a slightly later selective right into mid people’s faces, it is far from the maturation in recognition of anger adolescence", Ross says. only way that we can obtain it. compared to that of fear. This is On a social scale, several important Recent research from the University unsurprising as it has previously of Glasgow[3] examined the things happen around puberty, been found that the PFC is one of most noticeably a change of focus development of emotion recognition the latest brain areas to mature[8]. from another form of visual stimuli: toward one’s peers as opposed to body language, a so far Another reason often brought up in one’s parents. An additional factor unexamined area within this field. connection with puberty and the which may seem surprisingly simple The researchers found that early teenage years is that of also appears to be playing a large although children in general hormones. As part of the team role: our height. Focusing on what is performed poorer than adults in behind the body language research right in front of us we simply grow recognising basic emotions from at the University of Glasgow, PhD up to focus on faces. Ross explains: body language, there was a clear student Patrick Ross argues that "As children, our main point of difference in improvement over the although hormones may have some reference to determine an adult’s years. From age 4 till age 8.5 the role in this development, it’s emotional state is their body. researchers found a steep unlikely to be the sole reason: "It However, as we get older, the face improvement rate in performance. has to be a combination of two, and becomes the main point of However, from late childhood into possibly more, variables. As an reference in our peers. Coupling adolescence, the rate of extreme example, a child that has this simplistic solution with the fact improvement proved to be much only been exposed to a few faces in that as we get older we will be slower. their life will have a stunted exposed to many more faces, the development of the ability to increase in size and selectivity of Overall, the studies show a steady, recognise emotion from faces. The the face areas of the brain really steep improvement rate during delay of improvement in this come as no great surprise." childhood, then a period of little or example would be purely down to Ross also identifies one of the no improvement starting at puberty social environment, so hormonal and continuing until the late research goals as plotting of the reasons can’t be the only reason for developmental trajectory for teenage years, followed by a change in ability." subsequent steep improvement emotion recognition – not only for rate until adulthood. The reasons facial expressions, but for voice and behind these changes in rate have body language as well: "If we can been linked to several factors, a chart the developmental trajectory prominent one being the late for typically developing subjects,

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // PUBERTAL DIP

can we then shift this same // Emilie Steinmark is a first year Psychology 9, 267-277. and Chemistry undergraduate at the [5] Thomas, L.A., De Bellis, M.D., Graham, R., paradigm and apply it to atypical University of Glasgow. LaBar, K.S. (2007). Development of developing subjects?" In order to emotional facial recognition in late childhood accurately chart the trajectory of //References and adolescence. Developmental Science, emotion recognition development, [1] Thomas, L.A., De Bellis, M.D., Graham, R., 10, 547-558. LaBar, K.S. (2007). Development of [6] Blair, R.J., Dolan, R.J., Frith, C.D., Morris, further research is needed and emotional facial recognition in late childhood J.S. (1999). Dissociable neural responses to investigations have already been and adolescence. Developmental Science, facial expressions of sadness and anger. started. This will certainly lead us to 10, 547-558. Brain, 122, 883-893. [2] McGivern, R. F., Andersen, J., Byrd, D., [7] Anderson, A.K., & Phelps, E.A. (2000). a better understanding of emotion Mutter, K. L. & Reilly, J. (2002). Cognitive Expression with recognition: contributions of recognition in normally developing efficiency on a match to sample task the human amygdala to emotional children and teenagers – and decreases at the onset of puberty in children. communication. Psychological Science, 11, hopefully also to better insight into Brain Cognition, 50, 73–89. 106-111. [3] Ross, P.D., Polson, L,, Grosbras, M-H. [8] Casey, B.J., Giedd, J.N., & Thomas, K.M. atypical development. Several (2012). Developmental change in emotion (2000). Structural and functional brain disorders which may have recognition from full-light and point-light development and its relation to cognitive impairments in emotion recognition, displays of body movement. PloS ONE. 7, development. Biological Psychology. 54, e44815. 241–257. such as autism, schizophrenia and [4] Blakemore, S. (2008). The social brain in anorexia nervosa, have already adolescence. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, made their way to the labs. And that's just for starters.

// MINIATURE ENZYME 'SHUTTLES'

Joy Leckie investigates the tracking that at this size range, the effect of section of the fuel molecule. The of fluorescent enzyme-quantum gravity on the particles is negligible resulting molecules interact with dot 'nano-shuttles' propelled by so the particles remain in each other, aligning and extending fibre formation, using 'bio-inspired suspension. The surrounding fluid into fibre structures that in turn motion at the nanoscale. molecules bump into the particles, propel the enzyme. displacing them leading to random Directed motion at the nanoscale Brownian motion. Another problem "In recent years the investigation of occurs within living cells by specific is that it’s impossible to see miniature motors has become an 20 biomolecules called motor proteins. nanoscale particles without increasingly popular area of // These proteins have the ability to powerful magnification. research. So far, similar overcome random Brownian polymerization powered motors fluctuations and move in a Therefore, attaching the enzyme to have been either purely artificial or controlled fashion through the cell’s a fluorescence nanoparticle such take advantage of biological cytoplasm. In some cases, the as a quantum dot (QD) allows polymerization of the protein actin. proteins can deliver essential cargo visualisation of the enzyme by This study incorporates enzymatic to target areas in the cell. fluorescent microscopy (see figure conversion of chemical energy to below). The resulting nanosized mechanical energy for motion of The author is investigating a enzyme-QD will exhibit Brownian nanoparticles." says Rein Ulijn, simplified bio-hybrid 'motor', motion in water and upon addition Professor of Chemistry and Vice inspired by the directed motion of the fuel will show directed Dean Research (Science) at the occurring within cells. An enzyme's motion. The enzyme-QD is expected University of Strathclyde and leader movement can be tracked by to be propelled and directed by self- of the research. fluorescence microscopy by assembly of the fuel molecules into attaching it to a fluorescent fibre structures. Biohybrid 'motors', containing nanoparticle. The enzyme-particle biological catalysts, could provide a 'shuttle' is driven by self-assembly The fuel in this study is a simple route to the directed motion, of a fuel molecule into fibre biomolecule derivative called Fmoc- transportation, construction and structures. This can be thought of phenylalanine-tyrosine(phosphate). separation of materials at the as a rocket being propelled by the Self-assembly of the fuel molecule nanoscale. expulsion of gas, where the fibres is initiated when the enzyme, // Joy Leckie is a PhD student in Chemical represent the gas and the particle alkaline phosphatase, chops off a and Process Engineering & Pure and Applied as the rocket. Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde. This study can provide an understanding of enzyme movement during catalytic reactions, as well as a step towards transportation of cargo for nanoscale construction. One of the main challenges in working with such small materials is e i k

// Fluorescent microscopy of c e enzyme-quantum dot conjugates L y o J

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // MED SCIENCE REPORTING WHAT IS WRONG WITH MEDICAL SCIENCE REPORTING?

Health is an oft-broached matter in These pitfalls are well-known, so Bemoaning journals for lack of the mainstream press, but it is not surely scientists can make their accessibility is tilting at windmills in always broached correctly. Medical work as accessible as possible? some respects. After all, they are a science reporting often misses the Well, to pick an example from the forum for scientists to report their point, which is a source of both latest (at time of writing) edition of findings to other scientists; not a endless amusement and the New England Journal of venue for explaining implications to frustration; witness the Daily Mail Medicine, I'm not so sure: the general public. declaring items either causing 'Combined BRAF and MEK cancer or curing it[1]. But why does Inhibition in Melanoma with BRAF Scientists aren’t supposed to reporting of clinical research fall V600 Mutations'[2]. That title isn’t simplify; that is for journalists to do. short of the high standards to which accessible to mainstream So journalists often get their it should be held? journalists, at least not to those information from press releases, without a degree in biology. Perhaps and here is the crux of the problem: // 21 It’s easy to point the finger at those this isn’t a huge problem – after all, press releases often over-sell in charge running the media, to say the article is behind a paywall, so a research. owners and editors are more hypothetical journalist wouldn’t be interested in increasing circulation The problem of overstated press able to read the article to find out releases is widespread, but one figures than reporting accurately. It what the title meant. If they did would be quite straightforward to example will suffice. The Jupiter have access, the specialist trial[3] made headlines in 2008 and apply a little editorial creative terminology within has an even misinterpretation to make a story has been back in the press again as greater chance of confusing a of a couple months ago. That study where there is none, or to ascribe layperson than the title. The way in importance to a finding above what which research is presented falls would be warranted. It would be well short of the mark in naïve to claim that the press has no accessibility. standards – the Leveson Inquiry will // How do we make sure suffice in that regard – so there medical reports are accurate? must be more to the issue than sexing up headlines to boost sales. So if it is not those printing the papers, how about the people doing the writing? There are many possibilities as to why science reporting may fall short of the mark. Ideally journalists reporting would be well-versed on the particular subject, but this isn’t possible given the diversity of research being ) 0 conducted. Ideally, the journalists . 1 - would have adequate time to A S - investigate the background of the C C , topic. But deadlines and churn in s n mainstream reporting means that o m at best there may only be scope for m o c i

an occasional feature around a k i W

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// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // MED SCIENCE REPORTING // MED SCIENCE REPORTING

compared giving rosuvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug in the class known as statins) to people with normal cholesterol but raised CRP (C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation) to giving a Is it a front-page or other very prominent article? placebo, and examined whether → Treat with caution. Headlines are designed to grab attention; front- this had any effect on heart page articles are (more or less) there to convince you to buy a newspaper disease. Back when the original or magazine. article appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, there Is the research being called a ‘wonder drug’, ‘silver bullet’ or ‘wake-up were reports in the press that the call’? 'astonishing' results showed that the "risk of a heart attack was → We will eventually (hopefully!) find cures and excellent treatments, but reduced by 54%". A flurry of most of the time what we find are slightly better ways of treating diseases discussion and debate followed, than we already do. centring around the suggestion of Are percentages large? giving statins to healthy individuals with low risk of heart disease. There → Often relative risk reductions are reported as these are bigger, as was even a slightly-facetious bigger numbers have a greater impact. It is worth finding out what the suggestion to put statins in drinking absolute risk is as this may be surprisingly low. water. Is the type of research mentioned? The points that were missed were that the "54% reduction in heart → ‘Double-blinded randomised controlled trials’ have been called the attacks" result referred to a relative “gold standard” of clinical research, but these aren’t always possible. reduction (that is, a comparison of Some basics should be borne in mind, however – the Lancet once the ratio between the groups being questioned whether sage was a superfood... based on a study conducted studied of heart attacks), instead of on a small group of rats! an absolute reduction. Expressed in absolute terms, the probabilities of each group having a heart attack diagnosed in the group that was figures come from? The journalists was 0.35% for those that took given rosuvastatin, which should didn’t cherry-pick data from the rosuvastatin and 0.76% for those also indicate caution. Unfortunately, tables in the paper; it came from // 22 who took a placebo. The trial was here and in similar cases the the press release announcing the // 22 also stopped early, although this headline figure is remembered and results. It is hard to castigate lent weight to the suggestion to give the problems are forgotten or supposedly lazy journalists or everyone statins, rather than raising dismissed – if they were even greedy newspaper owners when cautions about the long-term discussed in the first place. their source is misleading. Here conclusions of the study. There was again, it is easy to see why the also a higher rate of diabetes Where did the emphasis on these press releases may be written this ) 0 . 2 C C , r k c i l F ( c i g a m - e

// Magic pills or real medicine?

WWW.THE-GIST.ORG // MED SCIENCE REPORTING way: universities want to trumpet media, and there is an effort caution and forethought are their achievements in the hope of underway to bring this about. merited. Poor reporting has the raising or maintaining their profile, potential to undermine trust in or if it was a drug company that But in the meantime, what can be science – many have heard the conducted research, stating the done given the paucity of good argument 'Well, science doesn’t importance could result in their medical science reporting? Who really know what’s best for us' used financial gain. The writing of press and what should we believe? There as a dismissal of good, practical releases may occur totally or mostly are those out there who are advice. I do sympathise with that independent of the team that did interested in seeing accuracy over view as it’s true, no-one yet knows the research, instead handled by sensation. Margaret McCartney, a what’s best. Research is an 'corporate communications'. If the Glasgow GP who writes about incremental process, slowly institution has a PR company to evidence-based medicine, is trying expanding the boundaries of 'manage their image', writing the to establish a standard for writing understanding into the unknown. To press release may even happen press releases and was the main herald each small step as a through them. This is not a good inspiration for the article. The blogs breakthrough, wonder drug or silver way to avoid being misleading. Bad Science (Ben Goldacre) and DC bullet is to overlook the importance Science (David Colquhoun) are also of what we already know, and each How can this problem be fixed? One good places to start. 'Behind the apparent contradiction compounds way would be for newspapers to Headlines' from NHS Choices can the weariness and cynicism employ very specialised journalists be helpful too. When taking other directed at medical science. and give them free reign to people’s views on clinical research investigate a topic without into account, perhaps the most // Rob Hallam is a medical student at the constraints of time or resource. important page to read is the University of Glasgow. While we’re wishing, I'd like a pony. person’s 'About' page. It’s worth // References Perhaps a more realistic solution knowing what a person’s biases or [1] ‘The Daily Mail Oncological Ontology Project’; “classifying inanimate objects into would be to instigate a conflicts of interest are and the two categories: those which cause cancer, standardised reporting format for more up-front they are about who and those which cure it”. press releases. There are already they are and why they write, the http://dailymailoncology.tumblr.com standardised formats for reporting clearer it is to interpret what they [2] Flaherty, K. T. et al. Combined BRAF and MEK Inhibition in Melanoma with BRAF V600 results in literature (for example see say. Mutations. New England Journal of Medicine the CONSORT initiatives for 2012; 367: 1694–1703. reporting randomised controlled Research in any field generates [3] Ridker, P. M. et al. Rosuvastatin to Prevent trials[4]) which have gained controversy and disagreement. Vascular Events in Men and Women with Medical science is no different. But Elevated C-Reactive Protein. New England acceptance. A standard format for Journal of Medicine 2008;359: 2195–2207. press releases that established when the reporting has the [4] http://www.consort- // 23 good practices would help improve potential to impact on the fears and statement.org/consort-statement/ the standard of reporting in the anxieties of the public, a degree of

// CANCER OF THE UNKNOWN PRIMARY ) .

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is death. Even after autopsy, 15–25% m o D a diagnosis of metastatic disease remain undiagnosed. There are two . b without detection of a primary hypotheses as to why the primary is u P , tumour site despite a complete so difficult to detect in genuine CUP. s n routine diagnostic work-up. CUP The first states that CUP is in fact a o m accounts for 3–5% of all cancer primary metastatic disease which m o c i diagnoses, putting it in the top ten therefore has no site of origin. The k i W cancers worldwide. It is also a second hypothesis is that a primary ( e t

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Even after more advanced Whether the focus of CUP diagnosis . r investigations to discover the remains finding the site of origin or D primary site in CUP such as shifts to treating CUP as its own combined PET/CT imaging and medical entity, it is generally immunohistochemical staining of accepted that the treatment of CUP or from better diagnoses of a the tumour cells to detect any (like that of all other cancers) will primary site in these patients known cellular markers, a primary become increasingly targeted. remains to be seen. tumour site is currently found in Whether this will come from a // Jenny Ferguson is a student at the only 25% of CUP patients before better understanding of CUP itself University of Strathclyde.

// theGIST // SPRING 2013 // THE BACK PAGE THE BACK PAGE

Sby DavCid IainIHo-usCton IRCLE 1. the intrinsic property of matter responsible for all electric phenomena 2. an organism that requires oxygen to grow 3. radar and infrared photography are forms of ____ sensing 4. peas and beans are examples of this plant family 5. a bone in the wrist adjacent to the scaphoid, also meaning crescent or moon- shaped 6. a halogen, its name comes from the Greek for purple 7. types of species at risk to foreign invaders 8. common name for the flowering plants of the genus Utrica, makes a mean soup but be careful when preparing 9. a class of monosaccharide sugars containing an aldehyde group 10. machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion / discovered by // 24 Faraday this chemical compound has two carbons and is an odourless and colourless gas 11. in astronomy the completely dark portion of the shadow cast by the earth, moon, or other body during an eclipse (pl.) 12. the volume of what is defined as: V = 4/3πr3

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Occasionally potatoes have been known to show an outstanding morphological similarity to the common duck. Is this an intriguing insight into a hitherto unexplored subfield of genetics, or merely a visually humorous coincidence?