Marionettes are string-operated puppets. It is an ancient and universal form of performing art which still evolves slowly today. From the engineering perspective, the marionette is a wire(or string-) driven multi-limbed under-actuated mechanism under gravity influence that exhibits rich kinematic and dynamic behaviours. This article introduces the evolution and the engineering aspect of traditi...

This article reports a systematic review of literature published between 1994 and 2004 on the effects of performing arts for health in young people aged 11-18. The review includes research on music, performance, drama and dance in community settings and non-curricular mainstream education. A total of 17 electronic databases were searched and 3670 papers identified, 104 of which met relevance cr...

BACKGROUND Overcrowding in emergency departments is a worldwide problem. A systematic literature review was undertaken to scientifically explore which interventions improve patient flow in emergency departments. METHODS A systematic literature search for flow processes in emergency departments was followed by assessment of relevance and methodological quality of each individual study fulfilli...

In this paper we focus on the interaction between performers and machines using linguistic tools. Indeed the Computing with Words (CW) framework is well-suited to human performances when linguistically expressed. We thus address the problem of designing a library that implements such concepts in the performing arts framework. The proposal takes place in the Max/MSP software where our patches ha...

This paper presents some results of a research work concerning algorithms and computational models for real-time analysis of expressive gestures in human full-body movement. As a main concrete result of our research work, we present a collection of software modules for the EyesWeb open architecture (distributed for free at www.eyesweb.org). These software modules, collected in the EyesWeb Expre...

editorial In the context of academic research, depending on a community's worldview, interpretation will be a benefit or a problem. The definition of interpretation, its relevance and role in academic research and, as a result, the need or possibility of promoting or controlling it will be framed by this world-view. Through styles of academic writing, for example, the role of interpretation can...

In her article "The Canon and Shakespeare's Plays on the Contemporary East Asian Stage" I-Chun Wang argues that although globalization often refers to the phenomenon of international trade and (im)migrants, globalization has made strong impacts in all aspects of culture and literature. Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar have attracted attention of East Asian playwrights and di...

This article discusses the use of beta-blockers by performing artists, the reasons why they are taken, and the potential associated risks. We argue that there are high levels of usage within sectors of the professional performing arts community and that there may be high levels of risk in using these medications, particularly without medical supervision. Previous studies have mentioned potentia...

How much of a doctor–patient interaction is acting by one or both participants? Doctors seem to dislike the word acting as a descriptor for the part they play in a clinical consultation, preferring words like professionalism to account for their approach and behaviour with patients. Having no difficulty with the concept of patients being cast in a sick role, they demur from the notion of themse...

287 A TRIBUTE TO MICHEL G BERGERON Dr Michel G Bergeron founded, more than 40 years ago, the Infectious Diseases Research Center (IDRC) in Quebec City, Quebec, and has been director since then. He has now decided to pass the torch as director, but will remain a researcher at the IDRC. As a way to express their sincere gratitude toward all that Dr Bergeron has achieved throughout the years, some...